From The Daily News of Monday, Oct. 1, 2007 . . .
Over the summer, James Priestner’s father, Mike, tried unsuccessfully to
purchase the Kamloops Blazers.
On Sunday night, James and the Blazers owned the Portland Winter Hawks.
The Blazers handed the Winter Hawks their fourth straight loss, this one 4-0
in front of an Interior Savings Centre crowd announced at 4,377.
This one, the Blazers’ second straight victory after an opening-night loss,
featured five fights, 102 penalty minutes and a rookie goaltender’s first
shutout.
Priestner, a 16-year-old from Edmonton, was making his first start of the
season and second of his WHL career. He was called on to make eight saves in
the first period, but just three in the second and two in the third.
That was somewhat different from his first start, a 6-5 overtime loss to the
visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Feb. 23 in which he stopped 25 shots and his
mates abandoned him while blowing a 4-0 first-period lead.
“I’m going to put that one behind me and say this was the first one,” a
laughing Priestner said.
But seriously . . .
“It was pretty good. I’m happy,” he said. “First game . . . I couldn’t ask
for much better.”
While he wasn’t particularly busy in the game’s latter half, Priestner had
to be sharp early. He made a terrific first-period glove save on
right-winger Luke Walker and later stood his ground as centre Colton
Sceviour got in alone after forcing a turnover at the Kamloops line.
Priestner also got some help from his best friends, like at 13:00 of the
second period when a Sceviour shot rang off the cross-bar.
“It was a 2-on-1 and it actually hit off my glove and then hit the cross-bar
and went out,” Priestner said. “It wasn’t straight on bar. So I actually
gloved it out. . . .I don’t think anyone saw it but I felt it.”
The deterioration of play — 23 of the night’s 34 penalties came in the last
half — and a lack of work meant Priestner had to concentrate to stay in the
game.
“Composure is one thing I’ve worked on for the last couple of years,” said
Priestner, a second-round selection by the Blazers in the 2006 bantam draft.
“It’s something I used to struggle with. As a first-year bantam I wasn’t
great at that. I’ve worked a lot at home with my goalie coach . . . (you
want to) make sure you’re ready at all times.”
One player who especially enjoyed Priestner’s first shutout was defenceman
Ryan White, 20, who also is from Edmonton.
“I’m pretty happy for Priestner. We go way back,” White said. “I’m very
happy for him. He played with my little brother in minor hockey. I’ve known
him for a long, long time.”
White more than did his part, as the Blazers defenders — veterans Victor
Bartley, Ryan Bender and Keaton Ellerby enjoyed their best games of the
young season — didn’t give the visitors a whole lot.
“All that we needed was a strong defensive role,” White said. “We were
trying to help out Priestner all game. We thought he deserved the shutout .
. . and wanted to play a smart defensive game.”
Kamloops was playing just its third game of the season and, in fact, hadn’t
played in eight days, something that showed in the early going.
But by the second period, in which the Blazers held an 11-3 edge in shots,
the rust was gone. Portland goaltender Kurtis Mucha, who had gone the
distance in a 3-1 loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans on Saturday,
finished with 19 saves and was forced to watch the Blazers play tic-tac-toe
on numerous occcasions.
Centre Brock Nixon and left-winger Travis Dunstall got their second goals of
the season in the first period, with left-winger Alex Rodgers and centre
C.J. Stretch scoring their first goals, both on the power play, in the
second period.
“We actually scored five goals,” Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager
and head coach, said. “But I like the fact we didn’t give them anything. We
had about six minutes in penalties to kill at the end, too.
“Early, we looked like we hadn’t played a game in a while. Then the second
period was our best period.”
“It was,” White said, “a long week of practise. We kind of missed the game
atmosphere and it took us about the first period to get into it. After that
I thought we were going pretty good.”
And now the Blazers will be off until Friday when the Swift Current Broncos
come calling. Kamloops then will meet the Bruins in Chilliwack on Saturday
before coming home to face the Calgary Hitmen on Monday.
White, for one, is excited about trading in practice time for games.
“It’s pretty frustrating to have all this time off,” he said. “You get
started and they give you all this time off; you’re winning and you just
want to keep going.”
As for playing three games in four nights over the Thanksgiving weekend,
White added: “I can’t wait. . . . I can’t wait.”
JUST NOTES: Referee Pat Smith gave Portland 12 of 21 minors, five of 10
majors and one of three misconducts. . . . Portland was 0-for-6 on the power
play; the Blazers were 2-for-five. . . . Ellerby played in his 200th
regular-season game. . . . Kamloops D Mark Schneider, who suffered a
dislocated wrist prior to training camp, has had the cast removed and is
back skating. He should be cleared to play in two weeks. . . . Walker, a
17-year-old rookie from Castlegar, is the son of former Winter Hawks/Blazers
sniper Gord Walker. Luke wears No. 14, as did his father when he was with
Portland (1982-84) and here. Gord totaled 134 points, including 67 goals,
with the Blazers in 1984-85.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Blazers box
THE SCORE
Kamloops 4, Portland 0
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers jumped on a team that struggles in its zone. After getting up
4-0, Kamloops concentrated on limiting Portland’s chances.
THE SHUTOUT
Kamloops G James Priestner earned the shutout in his second career start and
first this season. He made one start last season, a 6-5 overtime loss to the
visiting Chilliwack Bruins.
THE FIFTH GOAL
The score should have been 5-0 but a goal scored by ex-Portland RW Sasha
Golin at 12:37 of the third period didn’t count. Coming off the right wing,
Golin’s shot snapped off the pipe in the back of the net and bounced out as
play continued. The three on-ice officials apparently thought the puck
struck a post and never entered the net.
THE HEAD-BUTT
Kamloops D Ryan Bender received a double minor for head-butting during a
third-period scrap with Portland’s 6-foot-7 RW Tayler Jordan. Both players
still had their helmets on, it was a short head-butt and Jordan wasn’t
injured, otherwise Bender would be staring at a suspension.
THE STREAK
C Brock Nixon was in on the Blazers’ first six goals this season — scoring
two of them and drawing assists on the other four. The streak ended with the
Blazers’ third goal last night.
THE ROSTER
The Winter Hawks acquired F Kevin Undershute, 20, from the Medicine Hat
Tigers for a 2008 fourth-round bantam draft pick late last week, bringing
their roster to 28 players, including three goaltenders and 16 forwards.
THE SCOOTER
Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, the longtime radio voice of the Winter Hawks who
left the team prior to training camp, starts a new job today as a retail
branch courier for First Independent Bank. He’ll work out off corporate
headquarters in Vancouver, Wash.
THE INITIALS
The Blazers wore the initials ‘DR’ on the left side of their helmets in
honour of Darcy Robinson, the Kamloops-born defenceman who died Thursday
during an Italian league game. A moment of silence in Robinson’s memory was
held prior to the start of last night’s game.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. D Ryan White, Kamloops. Took charge, especially on the penalty kill.
2. RW Kenton Dulle, Kamloops. Takes care of business, earns two assists.
3. G James Priestner, Kamloops. Second career start, first shutout.
UP NEXT
The Swift Current Broncos are here Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.
Kamloops 4, Portland 0
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers jumped on a team that struggles in its zone. After getting up
4-0, Kamloops concentrated on limiting Portland’s chances.
THE SHUTOUT
Kamloops G James Priestner earned the shutout in his second career start and
first this season. He made one start last season, a 6-5 overtime loss to the
visiting Chilliwack Bruins.
THE FIFTH GOAL
The score should have been 5-0 but a goal scored by ex-Portland RW Sasha
Golin at 12:37 of the third period didn’t count. Coming off the right wing,
Golin’s shot snapped off the pipe in the back of the net and bounced out as
play continued. The three on-ice officials apparently thought the puck
struck a post and never entered the net.
THE HEAD-BUTT
Kamloops D Ryan Bender received a double minor for head-butting during a
third-period scrap with Portland’s 6-foot-7 RW Tayler Jordan. Both players
still had their helmets on, it was a short head-butt and Jordan wasn’t
injured, otherwise Bender would be staring at a suspension.
THE STREAK
C Brock Nixon was in on the Blazers’ first six goals this season — scoring
two of them and drawing assists on the other four. The streak ended with the
Blazers’ third goal last night.
THE ROSTER
The Winter Hawks acquired F Kevin Undershute, 20, from the Medicine Hat
Tigers for a 2008 fourth-round bantam draft pick late last week, bringing
their roster to 28 players, including three goaltenders and 16 forwards.
THE SCOOTER
Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, the longtime radio voice of the Winter Hawks who
left the team prior to training camp, starts a new job today as a retail
branch courier for First Independent Bank. He’ll work out off corporate
headquarters in Vancouver, Wash.
THE INITIALS
The Blazers wore the initials ‘DR’ on the left side of their helmets in
honour of Darcy Robinson, the Kamloops-born defenceman who died Thursday
during an Italian league game. A moment of silence in Robinson’s memory was
held prior to the start of last night’s game.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. D Ryan White, Kamloops. Took charge, especially on the penalty kill.
2. RW Kenton Dulle, Kamloops. Takes care of business, earns two assists.
3. G James Priestner, Kamloops. Second career start, first shutout.
UP NEXT
The Swift Current Broncos are here Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.
We're back . . .
I’m back. . . . Spent a couple of days in Jasper, Alta. . . . Saw plenty of elk, some California bighorn sheep, a bear, some snow and lots of stupid people. . . . The park is full of pipeline crews, especially between Jasper and Hinton, where the going is slow at times. And that means plenty of impatient drivers, so be careful out there. . . .
It was in Jasper where I learned Friday night of the death of D Darcy Robinson, a Kamloops native who played in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Rebels. Robinson, 26, collapsed and died early in the first period of an Italian league game with Asiago, a team for which he had played 66 games over the last two seasons. No word yet on the cause of death. Robinson wasn’t blessed with a lot of talent, but made up for it with his work ethic and really was one of those gentle giants. The one story I meant to do this summer, but didn’t get around to, was on his first season in Italy and how he was enjoying Europe. With the European season starting so early, relative to North American leagues, I just ran out of time and didn’t get it done. Robinson’s phone number and career stats from hockeydb.com have been sitting on my desk for the last few weeks. He was engaged to Kristen Windsor, the daughter of Brian Windsor, who skipped a rink to the B.C. men’s curling championship a couple of winters ago. . . .
Dean Vrooman, the longtime radio voice of the Portland Winter Hawks who left the team just before training camp, starts a new job Monday morning as a retail branch courier with First Independent Bank. . . . He also says he will be involved in internal marketing and business development. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades lost D Brendon Wall during Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Lethbridge. He took a puck to the face in the first period and was taken to a hospital in Calgary with a suspected broken jaw. . . .
In case you missed it, three teams swapped five players Saturday as the Calgary Hitmen traded away RW Keegan Dansereau, 19, who had been sent home a few days ago to ponder his future. When the smoke had cleared, D Paul Postma, 18, and C Kyle Bortis, 19, had moved from the Swift Current Broncos to the Hitmen for Dansereau and D Brett Plouffe, 18. . . . The Broncos then shipped Plouffe to the Tri-City Americans for LW Erik Felde, 20. . . . The Hitmen got rid of a distraction -- Dansereau is a talented player with a reputation for inconsistency and a lack of interest in the defensive side of the game -- and got a good, young defenceman in Postma. The Broncos, by acquiring Dansereau and Felde, took a step forward offensively, assuming GM/head coach Dean Chynoweth can get Dansereau turned around. . . . The Americans solved their 20-year-old problem and added a young defender in the process. . . .
The Medicine Hat Tigers have trimmed D Adrian Van de Mosselaer, 17, from their roster. He was seventh-round pick in the 2005 bantam draft. . . .
The Kelowna Rockets were outshot 16-0 in the first period of Saturday's 5-0 loss to the Giants in Vancouver. Gotta think the Rockets are in for some tough love this week.
It was in Jasper where I learned Friday night of the death of D Darcy Robinson, a Kamloops native who played in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Rebels. Robinson, 26, collapsed and died early in the first period of an Italian league game with Asiago, a team for which he had played 66 games over the last two seasons. No word yet on the cause of death. Robinson wasn’t blessed with a lot of talent, but made up for it with his work ethic and really was one of those gentle giants. The one story I meant to do this summer, but didn’t get around to, was on his first season in Italy and how he was enjoying Europe. With the European season starting so early, relative to North American leagues, I just ran out of time and didn’t get it done. Robinson’s phone number and career stats from hockeydb.com have been sitting on my desk for the last few weeks. He was engaged to Kristen Windsor, the daughter of Brian Windsor, who skipped a rink to the B.C. men’s curling championship a couple of winters ago. . . .
Dean Vrooman, the longtime radio voice of the Portland Winter Hawks who left the team just before training camp, starts a new job Monday morning as a retail branch courier with First Independent Bank. . . . He also says he will be involved in internal marketing and business development. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades lost D Brendon Wall during Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Lethbridge. He took a puck to the face in the first period and was taken to a hospital in Calgary with a suspected broken jaw. . . .
In case you missed it, three teams swapped five players Saturday as the Calgary Hitmen traded away RW Keegan Dansereau, 19, who had been sent home a few days ago to ponder his future. When the smoke had cleared, D Paul Postma, 18, and C Kyle Bortis, 19, had moved from the Swift Current Broncos to the Hitmen for Dansereau and D Brett Plouffe, 18. . . . The Broncos then shipped Plouffe to the Tri-City Americans for LW Erik Felde, 20. . . . The Hitmen got rid of a distraction -- Dansereau is a talented player with a reputation for inconsistency and a lack of interest in the defensive side of the game -- and got a good, young defenceman in Postma. The Broncos, by acquiring Dansereau and Felde, took a step forward offensively, assuming GM/head coach Dean Chynoweth can get Dansereau turned around. . . . The Americans solved their 20-year-old problem and added a young defender in the process. . . .
The Medicine Hat Tigers have trimmed D Adrian Van de Mosselaer, 17, from their roster. He was seventh-round pick in the 2005 bantam draft. . . .
The Kelowna Rockets were outshot 16-0 in the first period of Saturday's 5-0 loss to the Giants in Vancouver. Gotta think the Rockets are in for some tough love this week.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Gone fishin' . . . or something
Taking a few days to recharge the batteries . . . Back here Sunday.
gregg
gregg
Tuesday continues . . .
It turns out that the new name of the Swift Current Centennial Civic Centre is iplex. . . . Yup. That’s it. . . . iplex. . . . No capital letter(s). All lowercase letters. . . . iplex. . . . Actually, the proper name, I think, is Credit Union iplex. . . . That is Credit Union iplex, as opposed, one supposes, to credit union iplex. . . . All of which is rather strange. . . . . Seeing as the title-buying sponsor is the Innovation Credit Union, it would seem that someone has sentenced it to having its facility known as The ICU. . . .
——————————
With thanks to GossipGirls.com (no, don’t ask what I was doing over there):
“What do you get for the girl who has everything? No, really, when you’re buying for Hilary Duff, that question must ring especially true. And her boyfriend decided to take a trip to the Mercedes dealer to celebrate her birthday.
“And oh what a present he got her! Duff’s boyfriend, Mike Comrie, called her up to say that he’d purchased an early 20th birthday present. “I hope you like them,” he told her, faking her out totally. The singer/actress told press she was thinking, “Okay, it’s shoes or something.” But when she went to her sisters house to get the gift, she was awestruck.
“Rather than shoes or earrings, or matching hockey pucks with their names on them (Comrie is an NHL player) she found a $100,000+ Mercedes Benz G-class SUV with a big red bow on top.”
All this after 20 days of dating . . . Geez, what does he get her for Christmas?
——————————
More on the impending move of the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . It seems that sponsors are quickly climbing on board with the Thunderbirds preparing to move to Kent, Wash., early next season. . . . The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the Thunderbirds have signed on nine new sponsors — the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Shuttle Express, the U.S. Army, Greg's Japanese Auto of Kent, the Washington Lottery, ReMax Real Estate, Evergreen Massage Therapy of Kent, Evans Glass of Seattle and United Association Local 32 Seattle, a plumbing workers union. . . . That brings its sponsorship total to 45. . . . Colin Campbell, the team’s vice-president and assistant GM, told the Business Journal that sponsorship revenue is up 17 per cent over one year ago. . . . Campbell added that team sponsors for this season will have dibs on advertising and promotional opportunities in the new arena. . . . Campbell also said that the Thunderbirds have sold 1,200 season-tickets, unchanged from last season, but they also have 100 deposits for tickets for next season in Kent. . . .
——————————
There is an interesting story unfolding in the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, as the NHL’s San Jose Sharks have become involved in a team and have, in fact, supplied five players to the China Sharks, who play out of Beijing. Three of those players — Jason Beeman, Kevin Korol and Keegan McAvoy — are former WHLers. . . . There are a few other ex-WHLers in the league, among them Aaron Keller and Shane Endicott, with Oji Paper; Jand, oel Dyck with the Nippon Paper Cranes. . . .
——————————
The Seattle Thunderbirds are getting back D Scott Jackson, 20, from the camp of the Detroit Red Wings. He was there on a free-agent tryout basis. . . . Jackson will be going into his fifth season with the Thunderbirds. . . . His return leaves the Thunderbirds with four 20-year-olds, meaning one will have to go by the Oct. 11 deadline. . . . The other 20-year-olds are LW Andrew Herman, RW Ian McKenzie and D Benn Olson. . . .
——————————
The Moose Jaw Warriors have released G Kurt Jory, 20, to get down to t he 20-year-old roster deadline of three. . . . The Warriors will go with LW Terrence Delaronde, G Joey Perricone and LW Keith Voytechek as their 20-year-olds. . . .
——————————
Gotta love those Prince George Cougars press releases . . . “The Prince George Cougars have re-assigned F Matthew Belich to the Olds Grizzlies of the AJHL.” . . . That’s it, folks. There ain’t no more. Short and to the point. . . . Actually, Belich is a 17-year-old right-winger who hails from Red Deer. The Cougars took him with the 24th pick of the 2005 bantam draft. . . . F Taylor Stefishen, taken by the Cougars with the 112th selection in that 2005 draft, has committed to attend Ohio State and play for the Buckeyes starting next season. He now is with the BCHL’s Langley Chiefs.
——————————
With thanks to GossipGirls.com (no, don’t ask what I was doing over there):
“What do you get for the girl who has everything? No, really, when you’re buying for Hilary Duff, that question must ring especially true. And her boyfriend decided to take a trip to the Mercedes dealer to celebrate her birthday.
“And oh what a present he got her! Duff’s boyfriend, Mike Comrie, called her up to say that he’d purchased an early 20th birthday present. “I hope you like them,” he told her, faking her out totally. The singer/actress told press she was thinking, “Okay, it’s shoes or something.” But when she went to her sisters house to get the gift, she was awestruck.
“Rather than shoes or earrings, or matching hockey pucks with their names on them (Comrie is an NHL player) she found a $100,000+ Mercedes Benz G-class SUV with a big red bow on top.”
All this after 20 days of dating . . . Geez, what does he get her for Christmas?
——————————
More on the impending move of the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . It seems that sponsors are quickly climbing on board with the Thunderbirds preparing to move to Kent, Wash., early next season. . . . The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the Thunderbirds have signed on nine new sponsors — the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Shuttle Express, the U.S. Army, Greg's Japanese Auto of Kent, the Washington Lottery, ReMax Real Estate, Evergreen Massage Therapy of Kent, Evans Glass of Seattle and United Association Local 32 Seattle, a plumbing workers union. . . . That brings its sponsorship total to 45. . . . Colin Campbell, the team’s vice-president and assistant GM, told the Business Journal that sponsorship revenue is up 17 per cent over one year ago. . . . Campbell added that team sponsors for this season will have dibs on advertising and promotional opportunities in the new arena. . . . Campbell also said that the Thunderbirds have sold 1,200 season-tickets, unchanged from last season, but they also have 100 deposits for tickets for next season in Kent. . . .
——————————
There is an interesting story unfolding in the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, as the NHL’s San Jose Sharks have become involved in a team and have, in fact, supplied five players to the China Sharks, who play out of Beijing. Three of those players — Jason Beeman, Kevin Korol and Keegan McAvoy — are former WHLers. . . . There are a few other ex-WHLers in the league, among them Aaron Keller and Shane Endicott, with Oji Paper; Jand, oel Dyck with the Nippon Paper Cranes. . . .
——————————
The Seattle Thunderbirds are getting back D Scott Jackson, 20, from the camp of the Detroit Red Wings. He was there on a free-agent tryout basis. . . . Jackson will be going into his fifth season with the Thunderbirds. . . . His return leaves the Thunderbirds with four 20-year-olds, meaning one will have to go by the Oct. 11 deadline. . . . The other 20-year-olds are LW Andrew Herman, RW Ian McKenzie and D Benn Olson. . . .
——————————
The Moose Jaw Warriors have released G Kurt Jory, 20, to get down to t he 20-year-old roster deadline of three. . . . The Warriors will go with LW Terrence Delaronde, G Joey Perricone and LW Keith Voytechek as their 20-year-olds. . . .
——————————
Gotta love those Prince George Cougars press releases . . . “The Prince George Cougars have re-assigned F Matthew Belich to the Olds Grizzlies of the AJHL.” . . . That’s it, folks. There ain’t no more. Short and to the point. . . . Actually, Belich is a 17-year-old right-winger who hails from Red Deer. The Cougars took him with the 24th pick of the 2005 bantam draft. . . . F Taylor Stefishen, taken by the Cougars with the 112th selection in that 2005 draft, has committed to attend Ohio State and play for the Buckeyes starting next season. He now is with the BCHL’s Langley Chiefs.
It's the I-Plex
The Centennial Civic Centre in Swift Current is no more. Instead, the home of the Broncos now is The Credit Union I-Plex. . . . It was announced at a news conference today in Swift Current that naming rights have been purchased by Innovation Credit Union. The deal is worth $600,000 over 10 years, with the money to be put back into the facility. . . .
Tuesday trade
The Tri-City Americans have acquired C Jason Reese, 19, from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for C Joel Broda, 18, who is from Prince Albert. Broda played in 127 games for the Americans over the last three seasons, totaling 44 points and 62 penalty minutes. He was the ninth pick in the 2004 bantam draft and have three points in Tri-City’s three games this season. Broda, 6-foot-0 and 196 pounds, leaves in style, having scored the game-winner in the Americans’ come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Bruins in Chilliwack on Sunday. . . . Reese, from Gresham, Ore., was the seventh pick in the 2003 bantam draft by the Vancouver Giants after he had played for the bantam AAA Tri-City Jr. Americans. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Reese had 70 points in 73 games as he split last season between Vancouver and Moose Jaw. In 180 career games, he has 110 points. . . .
Update on Bob Cornell
Press release issued by the Brandon Wheat Kings on Tuesday, at 2 p.m.:
Bob Cornell, a former owner and governor of the Brandon Wheat Kings, was seriously injured in a car accident 40 miles west of Green Bay, Wis., Monday morning.
A longtime fixture on western Manitoba’s golfing scene, Cornell was driving a car that was carrying three passengers. Conditions and details on the other passengers have not been released.
Cornell was the 2007 winner of the Western Hockey League Governors Award, which is presented annually to individuals who through their outstanding achievements, both in the game and in service to the league, have contributed to the overall growth and development of the WHL.
Cornell first became involved with the Wheat Kings as a part-owner in 1974. After saving the franchise from moving in the mid-'80s, Cornell partnered with current Wheat Kings owner Kelly McCrimmon from 1992-2001 before selling his interests to McCrimmon in 2001.
A retired businessmen, Cornell splits his time between Manitoba and Marco Island, Fla.
Tuesday notes . . .
If you haven’t yet seen the goal RW Juuso Puustinen of the Kamloops Blazers scored Saturday night in overtime to beat the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds, now’s your chance. The goal has been posted on You Tube. Go to YouTube.com and search for Puustinen or Kamloops Blazers. . . .
Of all the comments I have seen regarding that goal, this anonymous one off the Internet somewhere was the best: “Let’s not call that a great goal. Let's call that the shift of the decade in hockey. That was a shift that Peter Forsberg would look at and tip his hat. I defy anyone to find me a better shift in hockey. I love Finns. I remember I had a Finn play for me once. I tested him by asking if he was a soft Euro. He said ‘my country is as tough as Canada’ and he was straight faced. Then he said, ‘My country was the only country that didn't lose the war to the Russians.’ “ . . .
The Red Deer Rebels are hopeful that they’ll get back C Brandon Sutter, 18, after he plays in an NHL exhibition game tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes. . . .
The Swift Current Broncos have assigned F Grant Toulmin, 18, to the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. He had five points in 77 games with the Broncos over the last two seasons. . . . That move leaves the Broncos’ roster at 24, including eight defencemen and 14 forwards. . . . The Broncos will announce naming rights to the Centennial Civic Centre this afternoon. . . .
The Prince George Cougars have assigned D Wade Epp, 18, to the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. The 6-foot-5 Epp didn’t play in either of the Cougars’ first two games. He played junior B in Hope, B.C., last season.
Of all the comments I have seen regarding that goal, this anonymous one off the Internet somewhere was the best: “Let’s not call that a great goal. Let's call that the shift of the decade in hockey. That was a shift that Peter Forsberg would look at and tip his hat. I defy anyone to find me a better shift in hockey. I love Finns. I remember I had a Finn play for me once. I tested him by asking if he was a soft Euro. He said ‘my country is as tough as Canada’ and he was straight faced. Then he said, ‘My country was the only country that didn't lose the war to the Russians.’ “ . . .
The Red Deer Rebels are hopeful that they’ll get back C Brandon Sutter, 18, after he plays in an NHL exhibition game tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes. . . .
The Swift Current Broncos have assigned F Grant Toulmin, 18, to the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. He had five points in 77 games with the Broncos over the last two seasons. . . . That move leaves the Broncos’ roster at 24, including eight defencemen and 14 forwards. . . . The Broncos will announce naming rights to the Centennial Civic Centre this afternoon. . . .
The Prince George Cougars have assigned D Wade Epp, 18, to the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. The 6-foot-5 Epp didn’t play in either of the Cougars’ first two games. He played junior B in Hope, B.C., last season.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Column
From The Daily News of Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 . . .
With apologies to the late, great Jimmy Cannon, nobody asked me but . . .
x The Kamloops Blazers paid a price Monday for their performance in a
home-opening 2-1 loss to the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Friday.
They ran the Interior Savings Centre stairs while wearing equipment. They
had what best can be described as a stiff practice that included a lot of
one-on-one battles.
Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, wasn’t at all
thrilled with what he saw Friday. He felt the Bruins dictated the play,
something that isn’t acceptable on the Blazers’ home ice.
“And we need to be mentally tougher,” Clark said.
How tough was the practice”
Sophomore right-winger Juuso Puustinen said it was the toughest one he’s
been through in his time here.
x The Blazers are two games into their 2007-08 WHL regular season.
After one game, you were asking: Where were the Blazers?
After two games, you were asking: Where were the fans?
The answer to the first question lies in some numbers from the exhibition
season — 6-1, 7-1, 44-15.
The first was the Blazers’ record in the silly season. The second was the
score of an exhibition game played in Abbotsford in which the Blazers beat
Chilliwack. The third was the shots on goal, in Kamloops’ favour, in that
game.
Put it all together and you come to realize how it was that the Blazers lost
to those same Bruins in Friday’s home-opener.
The Blazers, it says here, are going to be just fine this season. Oh, there
still is some fine tuning that needs doing — for starters, an experienced
forward who could supply a bit of offence would fit in nicely. And they are
going to have to watch their hat sizes, as they proved Friday.
But, hey, it’s early.
As for the attendance, well, Friday’s opener drew the second-smallest crowd
(4,844) in the history of the facility, which opened in time for the 1992-93
season.
The second game of the weekend drew 4,314 fans, the sixth-smallest home
crowd since the fall of 1993.
Still, the Blazers are 367 fans ahead of their attendance after two games
last season when Games 1 and 2 drew 4,610 and 4,181 fans respectively.
x It’s not unfair to suggest that the Blazers’ biggest question mark going
into the opening weekend hovered over goaltender Justin Leclerc, 18, like a
bunch of gnats. Acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the days leading
up to training camp, Leclerc, a Saskatoon native, was coming off a so-so
season after being considered one of the top 16-year-old goaltenders in the
country in 2005-06.
Two games into the season it’s fair to say that Leclerc more than answered
the questions. He appears to be back from wherever he was — and he was
terrific in practice Monday, too.
He didn’t see a lot of rubber — only 37 shots in the two games, which is 10
shots per game fewer than he tasted last season — but he was more than up to
the task.
Despite the lighter work load, he didn’t appear to have any concentration
problems. In other words, not once was he caught checking out the crowd.
What was most impressive about his game was that he never once gave up on a
puck and the result of that was three or four superb second saves on plays
that easily could have resulted in goals.
And in games as tight as these two were that might have been disastrous.
x Missing from Monday’s practice were defencemen Keaton Ellerby, Mark
Schneider (wrist) and Darcy Huisman (concussion).
Ellerby, who had what can only be described as a hectic summer, has been
given three days off. “He looked like he didn’t have any energy in either
game,” Clark said.
Schneider is to get the cast off his left wrist today. He should skate this
week and could play by mid-October.
Huisman has been symptom-free for 48 hours, so will be back skating this
week and should be ready to play Sunday against the visiting Portland Winter
Hawks.
x Don’t forget that Sunday’s game begins at 6 p.m.
x Don Hay’s Vancouver Giants won their first two games, in Portland and
Everett. The Giants visit Interior Savings Centre four times this season,
the first one Oct. 27.
Hay and Everett Silvertips head coach John Becanic were fined $500 apiece by
the WHL on Monday for their teams’ antics late in the Giants’ 5-2 victory
Saturday in Everett. There were four fights in a 14-second span.
x Former Brandon Wheat Kings owner Bob Cornell was seriously injured in a
car accident near Green Bay, Wis., on Monday morning.
Details are sketchy, but it’s believed that Cornell, who lives in Brandon
and had been in Green Bay for Sunday’s NFL game between the Packers and San
Diego Chargers, was driving a car that was carrying three passengers.
Cornell, who has cared as much as anyone for junior hockey for a long, long
time, is in intensive care in a Green Bay hospital.
With apologies to the late, great Jimmy Cannon, nobody asked me but . . .
x The Kamloops Blazers paid a price Monday for their performance in a
home-opening 2-1 loss to the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Friday.
They ran the Interior Savings Centre stairs while wearing equipment. They
had what best can be described as a stiff practice that included a lot of
one-on-one battles.
Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, wasn’t at all
thrilled with what he saw Friday. He felt the Bruins dictated the play,
something that isn’t acceptable on the Blazers’ home ice.
“And we need to be mentally tougher,” Clark said.
How tough was the practice”
Sophomore right-winger Juuso Puustinen said it was the toughest one he’s
been through in his time here.
x The Blazers are two games into their 2007-08 WHL regular season.
After one game, you were asking: Where were the Blazers?
After two games, you were asking: Where were the fans?
The answer to the first question lies in some numbers from the exhibition
season — 6-1, 7-1, 44-15.
The first was the Blazers’ record in the silly season. The second was the
score of an exhibition game played in Abbotsford in which the Blazers beat
Chilliwack. The third was the shots on goal, in Kamloops’ favour, in that
game.
Put it all together and you come to realize how it was that the Blazers lost
to those same Bruins in Friday’s home-opener.
The Blazers, it says here, are going to be just fine this season. Oh, there
still is some fine tuning that needs doing — for starters, an experienced
forward who could supply a bit of offence would fit in nicely. And they are
going to have to watch their hat sizes, as they proved Friday.
But, hey, it’s early.
As for the attendance, well, Friday’s opener drew the second-smallest crowd
(4,844) in the history of the facility, which opened in time for the 1992-93
season.
The second game of the weekend drew 4,314 fans, the sixth-smallest home
crowd since the fall of 1993.
Still, the Blazers are 367 fans ahead of their attendance after two games
last season when Games 1 and 2 drew 4,610 and 4,181 fans respectively.
x It’s not unfair to suggest that the Blazers’ biggest question mark going
into the opening weekend hovered over goaltender Justin Leclerc, 18, like a
bunch of gnats. Acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the days leading
up to training camp, Leclerc, a Saskatoon native, was coming off a so-so
season after being considered one of the top 16-year-old goaltenders in the
country in 2005-06.
Two games into the season it’s fair to say that Leclerc more than answered
the questions. He appears to be back from wherever he was — and he was
terrific in practice Monday, too.
He didn’t see a lot of rubber — only 37 shots in the two games, which is 10
shots per game fewer than he tasted last season — but he was more than up to
the task.
Despite the lighter work load, he didn’t appear to have any concentration
problems. In other words, not once was he caught checking out the crowd.
What was most impressive about his game was that he never once gave up on a
puck and the result of that was three or four superb second saves on plays
that easily could have resulted in goals.
And in games as tight as these two were that might have been disastrous.
x Missing from Monday’s practice were defencemen Keaton Ellerby, Mark
Schneider (wrist) and Darcy Huisman (concussion).
Ellerby, who had what can only be described as a hectic summer, has been
given three days off. “He looked like he didn’t have any energy in either
game,” Clark said.
Schneider is to get the cast off his left wrist today. He should skate this
week and could play by mid-October.
Huisman has been symptom-free for 48 hours, so will be back skating this
week and should be ready to play Sunday against the visiting Portland Winter
Hawks.
x Don’t forget that Sunday’s game begins at 6 p.m.
x Don Hay’s Vancouver Giants won their first two games, in Portland and
Everett. The Giants visit Interior Savings Centre four times this season,
the first one Oct. 27.
Hay and Everett Silvertips head coach John Becanic were fined $500 apiece by
the WHL on Monday for their teams’ antics late in the Giants’ 5-2 victory
Saturday in Everett. There were four fights in a 14-second span.
x Former Brandon Wheat Kings owner Bob Cornell was seriously injured in a
car accident near Green Bay, Wis., on Monday morning.
Details are sketchy, but it’s believed that Cornell, who lives in Brandon
and had been in Green Bay for Sunday’s NFL game between the Packers and San
Diego Chargers, was driving a car that was carrying three passengers.
Cornell, who has cared as much as anyone for junior hockey for a long, long
time, is in intensive care in a Green Bay hospital.
More from Monday
Coaches Don Hay of the Vancouver Giants and John Becanic of the Everett Silvertips each has been fined $500 after four fights took place in a 14-second span late in Vancouver’s 5-2 victory Saturday in Everett. WHL disciplinarian Richard Doerksen, the league’s vice-president hockey, was at the game. "The coaches have to have better control of their teams," Hay told the Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen on Monday. "I have to do a better job of not letting those things happen." . . .
Also from opening weekend, RW Luke Wiens of the Kootenay Ice drew a two-game suspension from a game with the visiting Edmonton Ice on Saturday and Portland Winter Hawks D Ty Ariss got a one-game sentence for a checking from behind major and game misconduct he incurred against visiting Vancouver on Friday. . . .
The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned Russian LW Kirill Starkov, 20, to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Starkov played for the Red Deer Rebels last season. . . .
LW Dana Tyrell arrived back in Prince George on Monday afternoon from the camp of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is expected to practise with the Cougars on Tuesday. . . . Tyrell joins brother Corey, a 17-year-old rookie forward, on the Cougars’ roster. . . .
Chris Dilks at westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com is reporting that the family of C Luke Moffatt, taken No. 2 overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2007 bantam draft, is saying he is 100 per cent committed to going the NCAA route and attending the U of Michigan. Moffatt and his Detroit Compuware teammates spent part of Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich., watching the Michigan Wolverines defeat Penn State. . . . It will be interesting to see what happens over the next two winters as it involves the Moffatts, the Wolverines and the Rockets. . . .
MONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
The host Calgary Hitmen ran their record to 3-0 with a 5-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice, who fell to 0-3 while giving up two shorthanded goals and two on the power play. C Brett Sonne and C T.J. Galiarda had two goals and an assist each to lead the Hitmen. . . . C Ryan White was back in Calgary’s lineup, having arrived from the Montreal Canadiens’ camp earlier in the day. He had one assist and was plus-1. . . . C Ben Maxwell was back with the Ice as he, too, had been reassigned earlier in the day by Montreal. However, he was pointless and minus-2. . . .
Yes, Hilary Duff has turned into a hockey fan. She was at the exhibition game between the Rangers and Islanders, and saw her boy, Mike Comrie, score the OT winner for the Isles. She also witnessed a brawl that included both goaltenders. . . . If Comrie gets into a brawl, does he throw a brick? Just wondering. . . .
Also from opening weekend, RW Luke Wiens of the Kootenay Ice drew a two-game suspension from a game with the visiting Edmonton Ice on Saturday and Portland Winter Hawks D Ty Ariss got a one-game sentence for a checking from behind major and game misconduct he incurred against visiting Vancouver on Friday. . . .
The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned Russian LW Kirill Starkov, 20, to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Starkov played for the Red Deer Rebels last season. . . .
LW Dana Tyrell arrived back in Prince George on Monday afternoon from the camp of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is expected to practise with the Cougars on Tuesday. . . . Tyrell joins brother Corey, a 17-year-old rookie forward, on the Cougars’ roster. . . .
Chris Dilks at westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com is reporting that the family of C Luke Moffatt, taken No. 2 overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2007 bantam draft, is saying he is 100 per cent committed to going the NCAA route and attending the U of Michigan. Moffatt and his Detroit Compuware teammates spent part of Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich., watching the Michigan Wolverines defeat Penn State. . . . It will be interesting to see what happens over the next two winters as it involves the Moffatts, the Wolverines and the Rockets. . . .
MONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
The host Calgary Hitmen ran their record to 3-0 with a 5-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice, who fell to 0-3 while giving up two shorthanded goals and two on the power play. C Brett Sonne and C T.J. Galiarda had two goals and an assist each to lead the Hitmen. . . . C Ryan White was back in Calgary’s lineup, having arrived from the Montreal Canadiens’ camp earlier in the day. He had one assist and was plus-1. . . . C Ben Maxwell was back with the Ice as he, too, had been reassigned earlier in the day by Montreal. However, he was pointless and minus-2. . . .
Yes, Hilary Duff has turned into a hockey fan. She was at the exhibition game between the Rangers and Islanders, and saw her boy, Mike Comrie, score the OT winner for the Isles. She also witnessed a brawl that included both goaltenders. . . . If Comrie gets into a brawl, does he throw a brick? Just wondering. . . .
Cornell injured in car crash
Details are sketchy so far about a Monday morning car accident near Green Bay, Wis., that involved Bob Cornell, a former owner of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. Cornell is believed to have been driving the car, which contained three other people. It’s not known whether there were other injuries. Cornell is in the intensive care unit of a Green Bay hospital. . . . Cornell, who lives in Brandon, had been in Green Bay where he took in Sunday’s NFL game in which the Packers beat the San Diego Chargers. . . . Cornell has long been one of the best golfer's in the Brandon area.
Monday's musings
Tom Gaglardi, the majority partner in River City Hockey Inc., the five-man group that is in the process of purchasing the Kamloops Blazers, was back in a Vancouver courtroom today. Final arguments began in the lawsuit he and partner Ryan Beedie have brought against Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini and former owner John McCaw. Gaglardi and Beedie are asking the court to overturn the sale of the team and GM Place by McCaw and Aquilini and award the franchise and the arena to them. In short, Gaglardi and Beedie claim they were partners with Aquilini and were working on a deal to purchase the team and the rink when Aquilini went off on his own and pulled the trigger on the deal. . . .
Red Deer Rebels owner Brent Sutter seems to be settling in in New Jersey where he now is head coach of the NHL's Devils. Here’s Peter King in his Monday Morning Quarterback piece at SI.com: “Welcome to the neighborhood, Brent Sutter. (That's the rookie New Jersey Devils coach for those of you who don't know the pucks so well.) Nice to see you've moved right up the street.” . . . Monday Morning Quarterback? That's one of my first stops every Monday morning. . . .
C Ryan White has rejoined the Calgary Hitmen after a stint in camp with the the Montreal Canadiens. White, going into his fourth season in Calgary, was a third-round selection by Montreal in the 2006 NHL draft. He had 89 points in 72 games with the Hitmen last season. . . . If he arrives in Calgary in time, he will play tonight against the Kootenay Ice. He definitely will play in his hometown of Brandon on Friday when Calgary visits the Wheat Kings. . . .
Former Medicine Hat D Kieran Block, who suffered serious leg injuries in a cliff-jumping accident in Jasper National Park over the summer, was at the Tigers’ home-opener Saturday as a guest of GM/head coach Willie Desjardins. “It was just a really nice gesture,” Block told the Medicine Hat News. “It makes me feel like this will always be my home away from home.” . . . Block, 23, who just last week was able to ditch his wheelchair, has walking casts on both feet as he recovers from two broken heels. He plans to return to class at the U of Alberta in January, but his playing career is on hold indefinitely. . . .
Medicine Hat got F Daine Todd, 20, back after he was cut by the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals over the weekend. He joins LW Kevin Undershute and RW Jerrid Sauer as the Tigers’ three 20-year-old players. . . .
What did former Kootenay Ice sniper Mike Comrie buy his gal pal, Hilary Duff, for her 20th birthday? Turns out it was a Mercedes Benz G-class SUV, which goes for more than 100 grand. . . .
Former WHL enforcer Derek Boogaard, who now rides shotgun for the Minnesota Wild, took a puck in the forehead during a weekend practice. He ended up with 20 stitches but, other than that, escaped injury. Later, Boogaard told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "When they were doing the stitches, the doc says, 'I recommend a visor.' I said, 'No, I don't think so.’ "
Red Deer Rebels owner Brent Sutter seems to be settling in in New Jersey where he now is head coach of the NHL's Devils. Here’s Peter King in his Monday Morning Quarterback piece at SI.com: “Welcome to the neighborhood, Brent Sutter. (That's the rookie New Jersey Devils coach for those of you who don't know the pucks so well.) Nice to see you've moved right up the street.” . . . Monday Morning Quarterback? That's one of my first stops every Monday morning. . . .
C Ryan White has rejoined the Calgary Hitmen after a stint in camp with the the Montreal Canadiens. White, going into his fourth season in Calgary, was a third-round selection by Montreal in the 2006 NHL draft. He had 89 points in 72 games with the Hitmen last season. . . . If he arrives in Calgary in time, he will play tonight against the Kootenay Ice. He definitely will play in his hometown of Brandon on Friday when Calgary visits the Wheat Kings. . . .
Former Medicine Hat D Kieran Block, who suffered serious leg injuries in a cliff-jumping accident in Jasper National Park over the summer, was at the Tigers’ home-opener Saturday as a guest of GM/head coach Willie Desjardins. “It was just a really nice gesture,” Block told the Medicine Hat News. “It makes me feel like this will always be my home away from home.” . . . Block, 23, who just last week was able to ditch his wheelchair, has walking casts on both feet as he recovers from two broken heels. He plans to return to class at the U of Alberta in January, but his playing career is on hold indefinitely. . . .
Medicine Hat got F Daine Todd, 20, back after he was cut by the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals over the weekend. He joins LW Kevin Undershute and RW Jerrid Sauer as the Tigers’ three 20-year-old players. . . .
What did former Kootenay Ice sniper Mike Comrie buy his gal pal, Hilary Duff, for her 20th birthday? Turns out it was a Mercedes Benz G-class SUV, which goes for more than 100 grand. . . .
Former WHL enforcer Derek Boogaard, who now rides shotgun for the Minnesota Wild, took a puck in the forehead during a weekend practice. He ended up with 20 stitches but, other than that, escaped injury. Later, Boogaard told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "When they were doing the stitches, the doc says, 'I recommend a visor.' I said, 'No, I don't think so.’ "
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sunday's serving
The Tri-City Americans got some great news Sunday when the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals cut LW Colton Yellow Horn, 20. He had 40 goals in 59 games with the Americans last season. . . . His return will leave the Americans with four 20-year-olds, the others being D T.J. Fast, LW Erik Felde and C Shaun Vey, all of whom are off to pretty good starts. . . .
The AHL’s Norfolk Admirals also released D Dane Crowley, 20, so he is likely to return to the Everett Silvertips. That would leave Everett with five 20-year-olds, the others being RW Brandon Campos, C Dan Gendur, G David Reekie and LW Brennan Sonne. . . . It still is possible that LW Ondrej Fiala, 20, will be assigned to the Silvertips by the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, too. . . .
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
In Regina, the Pats completed a weekend sweep of Prince Albert, beating the Raiders, 5-1. The Pats had won 4-2 in Prince Albert on Friday night. . . . The Pats were 3-for-7 on the PP in the second victory. . . . Regina D Nick Ross scored the game’s final goal, his second in two games. . . . The Pats will be without Latvian RW Kaspars Saulietis, 20, for as long as three months after he suffered a separated shoulder on his first shift in Friday’s game. . . . Without Saulietis, the Pats are down to one import — rookie Rufold Cerveny, who was a healthy scratch for the first two games — and one 20-year-old, that being LW Troy Ofukany. . . . Might Regina GM Brent Parker be on the phone to Tri-City GM Bob Tory in the morning? . . .
In Chilliwack, the Tri-City Americans ran their record to 3-0 with their third victory in as many nights, this one 4-3 over the Bruins. . . . Chilliwack was looking to tie a franchise record — uhh, the franchise is in its second season — with its third straight victory. . . . The Bruins took a 3-2 lead into the third period only to have C Joel Broda set up LW Adam Hughesman for the tying goal at 11:06 and score the game-winner at 16:57. . . . Chilliwack RW Partik Bhungal was in the lineup for the first time after serving a two-game suspension that was left over from last season. . . . The Bruins will be without RW Matt Meropoulis for as long as six weeks after he broke a hand in a fight with Portland D Scott Gabriel on Saturday. Gabriel ended up taking — knit one, purl two — eight stitches.
The AHL’s Norfolk Admirals also released D Dane Crowley, 20, so he is likely to return to the Everett Silvertips. That would leave Everett with five 20-year-olds, the others being RW Brandon Campos, C Dan Gendur, G David Reekie and LW Brennan Sonne. . . . It still is possible that LW Ondrej Fiala, 20, will be assigned to the Silvertips by the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, too. . . .
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
In Regina, the Pats completed a weekend sweep of Prince Albert, beating the Raiders, 5-1. The Pats had won 4-2 in Prince Albert on Friday night. . . . The Pats were 3-for-7 on the PP in the second victory. . . . Regina D Nick Ross scored the game’s final goal, his second in two games. . . . The Pats will be without Latvian RW Kaspars Saulietis, 20, for as long as three months after he suffered a separated shoulder on his first shift in Friday’s game. . . . Without Saulietis, the Pats are down to one import — rookie Rufold Cerveny, who was a healthy scratch for the first two games — and one 20-year-old, that being LW Troy Ofukany. . . . Might Regina GM Brent Parker be on the phone to Tri-City GM Bob Tory in the morning? . . .
In Chilliwack, the Tri-City Americans ran their record to 3-0 with their third victory in as many nights, this one 4-3 over the Bruins. . . . Chilliwack was looking to tie a franchise record — uhh, the franchise is in its second season — with its third straight victory. . . . The Bruins took a 3-2 lead into the third period only to have C Joel Broda set up LW Adam Hughesman for the tying goal at 11:06 and score the game-winner at 16:57. . . . Chilliwack RW Partik Bhungal was in the lineup for the first time after serving a two-game suspension that was left over from last season. . . . The Bruins will be without RW Matt Meropoulis for as long as six weeks after he broke a hand in a fight with Portland D Scott Gabriel on Saturday. Gabriel ended up taking — knit one, purl two — eight stitches.
Blazers win on THE GOAL
From The Daily News of Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 . . .
Those who were there will be talking about THE GOAL for a long, long time.
In time, legend will have it that far more than 4,314 fans were at Interior
Savings Centre on that Saturday night in September 2007 when right-winger
Juuso Puustinen scored THE GOAL that gave his Kamloops Blazers a 3-2
overtime victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds.
But — and don’t let the hockey purists know this — if it hadn’t been for the
fight, THE GOAL may never have happened.
Because the Blazers were treading water in this WHL game, trailing 2-0 more
than halfway through the second period when veteran winger Sasha Golin duked
it out with Seattle’s Brad Bakken. It was a draw, but Golin’s involvement
sparked his mates.
“Golin’s fight got us going,” offered Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general
manager and head coach. “His mixing it up kind of gave us a spark.”
But it was THE GOAL, one that came with 20 seconds left in OT, that gave
them the victory, one that erased the bitter memory of Friday’s 2-1 home-ice
loss to the Chilliwack Bruins.
Puustinen, who had tied the game at 7:24 of the third period, took a nifty
pass from centre Brock Nixon, showed Seattle defenceman Steve Chaffin a move
that would have brought a smile to the face of Max Bentley, the Dipsy Doodle
Dandy from Delisle, then put a Savardian spin-o-rama on goaltender Riku
Helenius and tucked a backhander into the short side.
It was not a goal; it was THE GOAL.
(Chaffin, a 16-year-old rookie from Calgary, had an interesting night. A
couple of minutes before THE GOAL, he took a point shot that hit a skate and
glanced off a post. In the third period, he broke his stick, went to the
bench on a change and Seattle got called for too many men.)
“That was an unbelievable goal,” Clark said. “I don’t think anyone left
their seat until they could see the replay.”
“Nixie,” Puustinen said, “made a nice little backhand saucer pass straight
to my tape. I saw I was one-on-one with the d-man. I had a perfect angle so
I chipped the puck behind him and skated around him. I knew the goalie . . .
he is my good friend . . . I knew he was going to come out a little bit at
me. The short side was open and I knew that so I just made a little
spin-o-rama and backhanded it.”
It was a case of one Finn putting the fin(n)ish on another Finn.
Puustinen and Helenius have been friends for three or four years. They have
been teammates on under-16, 17 and 18 teams and hope to play on the
country’s national junior team in December.
“It’s kind of funny,” Puustinen said. “His first game in the WHL and I
scored two goals against him.”
Only Helenius, a first-round pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL’s
2006 draft, wasn’t laughing. Later, he did stop by to say “howdy do” to
Puustinen. On this night, you know that Puustinen had the last word.
After Puustinen’s goal, there was a pregnant pause as folks looked to their
right and then to their left, to see if anyone else had seen the same thing
they had. Then he joint erupted. The Blazers poured off their bench and held
a celebratory scrum in one corner.
“That,” Nixon said, “was unbelievable. As soon as that went in . . . I don’t
think I breathed for two minutes in that pile in the corner I was yelling so
loud.”
Just like that the Blazers, who trailed 2-0 going into the last minute of
the second period, had pulled one out of the fire.
Right-winger Isak Quakenbush, on a shorthanded breakaway in the first
period, and defenceman Thomas Hickey, on a second-period power play, had
given the visitors a 2-0 lead.
That lasted until 19:02 of the second when Nixon corralled a long rebound
off his own shot and slapped it past Helenius.
“The goal with a minute left in the second period was huge for us,” Clark
said. “It got us back into it. It gave us a chance.”
Puustinen tied it in the third period, snapping a wrist shot through
Helenius while on the power play.
“You have a lead and you end up losing the game,” offered Seattle head coach
Rob Sumner, whose club was playing for the first time in the regular season.
“A sloppy play in our own end with under a minute left in the second period
gave them a goal. And our second too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty leads to a
power-play goal.”
Nixon and Puustinen, who totaled 150 points, including 67 goals, while
playing together through a lot of last season, spent most of the weekend’s
first five periods on different lines. Clark changed things up to start
Saturday’s third period, though, reuniting them and rewarding freshman
Shayne Wiebe for some solid play by putting him on the left side.
“I was just trying to get Nixon and (Puustinen) going a little bit better,”
Clark said. “As soon as (Nixon) got with (Puustinen), all of a sudden he’s
playing better . . .”
One player who was solid through both games was goaltender Justin Leclerc.
“Leclerc was very, very solid,” Clark said. “He gave us a chance to win both
games. If he plays like that, that’s exactly what we need from a
goaltender.”
The Blazers are off until Sunday when they play host to the Portland Winter
Hawks. Game time is 6 p.m.
Fans will be talking about THE GOAL as they file into The ATM.
JUST NOTES: After a strong game from referee Andy Thiessen in Friday’s
opener, the WHL dropped two zebras into The ATM for Saturday’s game. It is
to be hoped that Saad Al-Jadir and Steve Papp have better games this season.
. . . Somehow each team came out of this one with six minors and a major,
and each was 1-for-6 on the power play.
Those who were there will be talking about THE GOAL for a long, long time.
In time, legend will have it that far more than 4,314 fans were at Interior
Savings Centre on that Saturday night in September 2007 when right-winger
Juuso Puustinen scored THE GOAL that gave his Kamloops Blazers a 3-2
overtime victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds.
But — and don’t let the hockey purists know this — if it hadn’t been for the
fight, THE GOAL may never have happened.
Because the Blazers were treading water in this WHL game, trailing 2-0 more
than halfway through the second period when veteran winger Sasha Golin duked
it out with Seattle’s Brad Bakken. It was a draw, but Golin’s involvement
sparked his mates.
“Golin’s fight got us going,” offered Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general
manager and head coach. “His mixing it up kind of gave us a spark.”
But it was THE GOAL, one that came with 20 seconds left in OT, that gave
them the victory, one that erased the bitter memory of Friday’s 2-1 home-ice
loss to the Chilliwack Bruins.
Puustinen, who had tied the game at 7:24 of the third period, took a nifty
pass from centre Brock Nixon, showed Seattle defenceman Steve Chaffin a move
that would have brought a smile to the face of Max Bentley, the Dipsy Doodle
Dandy from Delisle, then put a Savardian spin-o-rama on goaltender Riku
Helenius and tucked a backhander into the short side.
It was not a goal; it was THE GOAL.
(Chaffin, a 16-year-old rookie from Calgary, had an interesting night. A
couple of minutes before THE GOAL, he took a point shot that hit a skate and
glanced off a post. In the third period, he broke his stick, went to the
bench on a change and Seattle got called for too many men.)
“That was an unbelievable goal,” Clark said. “I don’t think anyone left
their seat until they could see the replay.”
“Nixie,” Puustinen said, “made a nice little backhand saucer pass straight
to my tape. I saw I was one-on-one with the d-man. I had a perfect angle so
I chipped the puck behind him and skated around him. I knew the goalie . . .
he is my good friend . . . I knew he was going to come out a little bit at
me. The short side was open and I knew that so I just made a little
spin-o-rama and backhanded it.”
It was a case of one Finn putting the fin(n)ish on another Finn.
Puustinen and Helenius have been friends for three or four years. They have
been teammates on under-16, 17 and 18 teams and hope to play on the
country’s national junior team in December.
“It’s kind of funny,” Puustinen said. “His first game in the WHL and I
scored two goals against him.”
Only Helenius, a first-round pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL’s
2006 draft, wasn’t laughing. Later, he did stop by to say “howdy do” to
Puustinen. On this night, you know that Puustinen had the last word.
After Puustinen’s goal, there was a pregnant pause as folks looked to their
right and then to their left, to see if anyone else had seen the same thing
they had. Then he joint erupted. The Blazers poured off their bench and held
a celebratory scrum in one corner.
“That,” Nixon said, “was unbelievable. As soon as that went in . . . I don’t
think I breathed for two minutes in that pile in the corner I was yelling so
loud.”
Just like that the Blazers, who trailed 2-0 going into the last minute of
the second period, had pulled one out of the fire.
Right-winger Isak Quakenbush, on a shorthanded breakaway in the first
period, and defenceman Thomas Hickey, on a second-period power play, had
given the visitors a 2-0 lead.
That lasted until 19:02 of the second when Nixon corralled a long rebound
off his own shot and slapped it past Helenius.
“The goal with a minute left in the second period was huge for us,” Clark
said. “It got us back into it. It gave us a chance.”
Puustinen tied it in the third period, snapping a wrist shot through
Helenius while on the power play.
“You have a lead and you end up losing the game,” offered Seattle head coach
Rob Sumner, whose club was playing for the first time in the regular season.
“A sloppy play in our own end with under a minute left in the second period
gave them a goal. And our second too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty leads to a
power-play goal.”
Nixon and Puustinen, who totaled 150 points, including 67 goals, while
playing together through a lot of last season, spent most of the weekend’s
first five periods on different lines. Clark changed things up to start
Saturday’s third period, though, reuniting them and rewarding freshman
Shayne Wiebe for some solid play by putting him on the left side.
“I was just trying to get Nixon and (Puustinen) going a little bit better,”
Clark said. “As soon as (Nixon) got with (Puustinen), all of a sudden he’s
playing better . . .”
One player who was solid through both games was goaltender Justin Leclerc.
“Leclerc was very, very solid,” Clark said. “He gave us a chance to win both
games. If he plays like that, that’s exactly what we need from a
goaltender.”
The Blazers are off until Sunday when they play host to the Portland Winter
Hawks. Game time is 6 p.m.
Fans will be talking about THE GOAL as they file into The ATM.
JUST NOTES: After a strong game from referee Andy Thiessen in Friday’s
opener, the WHL dropped two zebras into The ATM for Saturday’s game. It is
to be hoped that Saad Al-Jadir and Steve Papp have better games this season.
. . . Somehow each team came out of this one with six minors and a major,
and each was 1-for-6 on the power play.
Blazers box
From The Daily News of Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 . . .
THE SCORE
Kamloops 3, Seattle 2 (OT)
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers, who were tighter than Michael Jackson’s cheeks in a 2-1 loss to
the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Friday, were better but really didn’t hit
their stride until the third period and overtime.
THE FIN(N)ISH
They’ll be talking about RW Juuso Puustinen’s OT goal for a while. He
undressed a defenceman and then did a spin-o-rama on G Riku Helenius before
tucking a backhander in the short side for his second goal of the game.
Puustinen and Helenius, both from Finland, are buddies.
THE GOALTENDER
G Justin Leclerc, 18, was the best of the Blazers over the two games. He
showed terrific lateral movement and an ability to stay with the puck or the
shooter and make second and third saves. He stopped 33 of 37 shots and gave
his side a chance to win both games.
THE CENTRE
The Blazers have scored four goals in their two games and C Brock Nixon has
four points.
THE CONCUSSION
Kamloops D Darcy Huisman sat out with a concussion incurred in the first
period of Friday’s loss to Chilliwack. Once he is symptom-free for 48 hours,
he will return to practice, something that may happen by Tuesday or
Wednesday.
THE EX-BLAZER
Seattle C Jim O’Brien, who is out with a shoulder injury, originally was
drafted by the Blazers. A Minnesotan, he was in the U.S. National Team
Development Program before spending last season at the U of Minnesota. After
being drafted in the first round of the NHL’s 2007 draft, he signed with the
Ottawa Senators and joined the Thunderbirds, who had picked up his rights
after the Blazers dropped him.
THE CAPTAIN
D Thomas Hickey is the new captain of the Thunderbirds. Hickey, the fourth
overall pick in the NHL's 2007 draft, returned from the camp of the Los
Angeles Kings in time to play against the Blazers.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. RW Juuso Puustinen, Kamloops. Two goals, including one to remember.
2. C Brock Nixon, Kamloops. In on all the offence.
3. RW Isak Quakenbush, Seattle. A goal and hard to play against.
UP NEXT
The Portland Winter Hawks will visit Interior Savings Centre on Sunday. Note
that game time is 6 p.m.
THE SCORE
Kamloops 3, Seattle 2 (OT)
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers, who were tighter than Michael Jackson’s cheeks in a 2-1 loss to
the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Friday, were better but really didn’t hit
their stride until the third period and overtime.
THE FIN(N)ISH
They’ll be talking about RW Juuso Puustinen’s OT goal for a while. He
undressed a defenceman and then did a spin-o-rama on G Riku Helenius before
tucking a backhander in the short side for his second goal of the game.
Puustinen and Helenius, both from Finland, are buddies.
THE GOALTENDER
G Justin Leclerc, 18, was the best of the Blazers over the two games. He
showed terrific lateral movement and an ability to stay with the puck or the
shooter and make second and third saves. He stopped 33 of 37 shots and gave
his side a chance to win both games.
THE CENTRE
The Blazers have scored four goals in their two games and C Brock Nixon has
four points.
THE CONCUSSION
Kamloops D Darcy Huisman sat out with a concussion incurred in the first
period of Friday’s loss to Chilliwack. Once he is symptom-free for 48 hours,
he will return to practice, something that may happen by Tuesday or
Wednesday.
THE EX-BLAZER
Seattle C Jim O’Brien, who is out with a shoulder injury, originally was
drafted by the Blazers. A Minnesotan, he was in the U.S. National Team
Development Program before spending last season at the U of Minnesota. After
being drafted in the first round of the NHL’s 2007 draft, he signed with the
Ottawa Senators and joined the Thunderbirds, who had picked up his rights
after the Blazers dropped him.
THE CAPTAIN
D Thomas Hickey is the new captain of the Thunderbirds. Hickey, the fourth
overall pick in the NHL's 2007 draft, returned from the camp of the Los
Angeles Kings in time to play against the Blazers.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. RW Juuso Puustinen, Kamloops. Two goals, including one to remember.
2. C Brock Nixon, Kamloops. In on all the offence.
3. RW Isak Quakenbush, Seattle. A goal and hard to play against.
UP NEXT
The Portland Winter Hawks will visit Interior Savings Centre on Sunday. Note
that game time is 6 p.m.
Thunderbirds on the move . . . next season
From The Daily News of Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 . . .
The Seattle Thunderbirds are on the move and something of a name change may
be in the works.
Oh, it won’t be anything drastic, but it could be that one year from now the
WHL franchise will be known officially as the Seattle Thunderbirds of Kent.
That’s because the Thunderbirds are moving to Kent, Wash., a community of
80,000 located about 20 miles south of Seattle and 20 miles north of Tacoma.
The city of Kent is building a US$80-million arena that will seat 6,025 for
hockey with the Thunderbirds as the primary tenant. The facility, which has
yet to find a naming sponsor, is scheduled to open between Nov. 15, 2008,
and Jan. 14, 2009. Until then, the Thunderbirds will remain in Key Arena, a
facility that seems likely to also loose its NBA team, the SuperSonics, to
Oklahoma City.
“It is relocation but it’s not,” Russ Farwell, the Thunderbirds’ general
manager said Saturday night, “other than the coach (Rob Sumner) and I will
have to move. We have three employees in our office who live in Kent and
they’re the happiest people in the world. They’ve been driving for 40
minutes north and now we’re coming to them.”
Farwell and Colin Campbell, the Thunderbirds’ vice-president and assistant
GM, have been meeting with folks in Kent for quite a while now as this whole
plan came together.
“I’ve been driving to Kent once a week and sometimes three and four times a
week for a year and a half,” Farwell said, adding that he and Campbell
worked hand-in-hand with a steering committee that included the Kent city
manager and “key city people.”
And even though it will be more than a year before the team plays a game in
its new home there is lots of work to be done.
“We’ve met with the school board already. We’ve done some of that stuff,”
Farwell said. “We may be able to keep one billet.
“So we’ve got new billets and school relationships to set up, and we kind of
need a practice situation.”
At one time, thought was given to changing the team’s name and its uniforms,
but the decision was made not to re-brand the entire operation.
“The reason we kept the name is because we feel advertising-wise and all of
those things we can take everyone with us,” Farwell said, referring
primarily to corporate sponsorships. “We consciously thought it’s better to
have Seattle, and the league wanted us to have Seattle.”
But . . . how about the Seattle Thunderbirds of Kent . . . kind of like
baseball’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?
“That’s exactly what we will be looking at,” Farwell said. “Last week we
were at the council meeting and we gave jerseys to all the council members
and we had a Kent patch on one shoulder.”
Farwell said that although the move still is off in the distance, there is
excitement in the air in Kent.
“The city is excited because . . . it was just a sleepy little town with a
two-street downtown,” he explained, “and all of a sudden they have rebuilt
their downtown. They built a complex kitty-corner to the rink that opened
last year; it’s got 11 restaurants in it. It has made the city a
destination point now.
“The whole downtown is going to be rebuilt in a matter of three or four
years. It’s going to be an exciting time.”
The Seattle Thunderbirds are on the move and something of a name change may
be in the works.
Oh, it won’t be anything drastic, but it could be that one year from now the
WHL franchise will be known officially as the Seattle Thunderbirds of Kent.
That’s because the Thunderbirds are moving to Kent, Wash., a community of
80,000 located about 20 miles south of Seattle and 20 miles north of Tacoma.
The city of Kent is building a US$80-million arena that will seat 6,025 for
hockey with the Thunderbirds as the primary tenant. The facility, which has
yet to find a naming sponsor, is scheduled to open between Nov. 15, 2008,
and Jan. 14, 2009. Until then, the Thunderbirds will remain in Key Arena, a
facility that seems likely to also loose its NBA team, the SuperSonics, to
Oklahoma City.
“It is relocation but it’s not,” Russ Farwell, the Thunderbirds’ general
manager said Saturday night, “other than the coach (Rob Sumner) and I will
have to move. We have three employees in our office who live in Kent and
they’re the happiest people in the world. They’ve been driving for 40
minutes north and now we’re coming to them.”
Farwell and Colin Campbell, the Thunderbirds’ vice-president and assistant
GM, have been meeting with folks in Kent for quite a while now as this whole
plan came together.
“I’ve been driving to Kent once a week and sometimes three and four times a
week for a year and a half,” Farwell said, adding that he and Campbell
worked hand-in-hand with a steering committee that included the Kent city
manager and “key city people.”
And even though it will be more than a year before the team plays a game in
its new home there is lots of work to be done.
“We’ve met with the school board already. We’ve done some of that stuff,”
Farwell said. “We may be able to keep one billet.
“So we’ve got new billets and school relationships to set up, and we kind of
need a practice situation.”
At one time, thought was given to changing the team’s name and its uniforms,
but the decision was made not to re-brand the entire operation.
“The reason we kept the name is because we feel advertising-wise and all of
those things we can take everyone with us,” Farwell said, referring
primarily to corporate sponsorships. “We consciously thought it’s better to
have Seattle, and the league wanted us to have Seattle.”
But . . . how about the Seattle Thunderbirds of Kent . . . kind of like
baseball’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?
“That’s exactly what we will be looking at,” Farwell said. “Last week we
were at the council meeting and we gave jerseys to all the council members
and we had a Kent patch on one shoulder.”
Farwell said that although the move still is off in the distance, there is
excitement in the air in Kent.
“The city is excited because . . . it was just a sleepy little town with a
two-street downtown,” he explained, “and all of a sudden they have rebuilt
their downtown. They built a complex kitty-corner to the rink that opened
last year; it’s got 11 restaurants in it. It has made the city a
destination point now.
“The whole downtown is going to be rebuilt in a matter of three or four
years. It’s going to be an exciting time.”
Saturday's notes . . .
C Riley Holzapfel, 19, has been named captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Alternates will be LW Terrance Delaronde, 20, and RW Brady Calla, 19. . . .
A new name for the Seattle Thunderbirds? Russ Farwell, the Thunderbirds’ general manager, told me Saturday night that with the team moving to Kent, Wash., next season, team officials are pondering changing the name to Seattle Thunderbirds of Kent. Farwell said the team’s jerseys definitely will carry a Kent shoulder patch. More on the Thunderbirds and their impending move sometime Sunday. . . .
D Thomas Hickey, the fourth pick in the 2007 NHL draft, is the new captain of the Thunderbirds. He was told June 10 that he would be the team’s captain. Why was he told so early? Because GM Russ Farwell and head coach Rob Sumner weren’t sure when they would see him again, what with him being involved in the NHL scouting combine, the NHL draft, the Canada-Russia series and the Los Angeles Kings’ training camp. Which is why they flew Hickey into Seattle and met with him over two days. . . . The Thunderbirds didn’t expect to get Hickey back until at least Sunday so were pleasantly surprised when the Kings returned him in time to play Saturday in Kamloops. . . . The alternate captains are RW Bud Holloway, D Benn Olson and RW Josh Schappert. . . .
Glenn Olson, the older brother of Seattle D Benn Olson, is alive and well after escaping with his life when a small plane in which he was a passenger crashed near Port McNeill, B.C., on July 14. The pilot of the plane, which was headed to Merritt, B.C., and the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, was killed in the crash. Reports indicated that Glenn, 23, who played with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice in 2003-04, had suffered a broken right leg, among other injuries. But Benn says that didn’t happen. According to Benn, Glenn suffered six broken ribs, a broken clavicle and a punctured lung. Glenn, who played 21 games last season with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks, is going to take this season off to recuperate and rehab and then give it a try again next season. Glenn attended Saturday’s game in Kamloops between the Thunderbirds and Blazers after being on a hunting trip in the Kootenays. . . .
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
In Kamloops, the Blazers scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Thunderbirds, 3-2, in overtime. Fans in Kamloops will be talking about the game-winner for a long, long time. RW Juuso Puustinen took a nifty pass from C Brock Nixon, tucked it through the legs of D Steve Chaffin, went in on G Reku Helenius and did a Savardian spin-o-rama that finished with a backhander into the net on the short side. . . . It was Puustinen’s second goal of the game. . . . Puustinen and Helenius are good friends. Both are from Finland and were involved in that country’s under-16, under-17 and under-17 teams, and both hope to play on the national junior team at Christmas. . . . The Blazers have scored four goals in two games. Nixon has a goal and three assists. . . .
The Everett Silvertips lost 5-2 to the visiting Vancouver Giants. That means the Silvertips are 0-2 at home and have given up 11 goals. The end of Saturday’s game was marred by four fights in a 14-second span of the last minute. All told, 180 penalty minutes were dished out in the game. . . . Last season, Everett won all six meetings with Vancouver. . . . Everett C Zach Hamill, the WHL’s defending scoring champ, had one assist in his first game after being in camp with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. . . . Everett has surrendered five PP goals in two games. . . . The Giants are 2-0 after opening with a victory in Portland on Friday. . . .
In Kelowna, the Rockets blew a 5-2 third-period -- they gave up three goals in the last four minutes of the third period -- and lost 6-5 in OT to the Tri-City Americans on LW Erik Felde’s goal at 1:02 of overtime. . . . The Rockets held period leads of 4-1 and 4-2. . . . Attendance was 6,238, giving the Rockets their 121st straight sellout. . . . The Americans, with Felde scoring twice, had won 6-5 in Everett in Friday and are looking to open 3-0 as they play the Bruins in Chilliwack on Sunday. . . . Tri-City C Kruise Reddick was in on his club’s last three goals in regulation, setting up PP scores by D T.J. Fast and C Joel Broda and scoring himself to tie the game 5-5 at 18:31 of the third.
The honour of posting the WHL’s first shutout this season goes to Matt (Tony O) Esposito of the Chilliwack Bruins. He stopped 16 shots for his third career blank job as the host Bruins dumped the Portland Winter Hawks, 2-0. . . . One night earlier, Tony O lost his shutout with 0.1 seconds left in the third period as the Bruins won 2-1 in Kamloops. . . . The Bruins have opened with two straight victories and can equal the franchise record for longest winning streak by beating visiting Tri-City on Sunday night. . . . Portland G Jordan White, 19, was superb as his mates were outshot, 32-16, including 23-5 in the second period. . . .
At Cranbrook, the expansion Oil Kings ran their record to 2-0 with their second straight victory over the Kootenay Ice. On this night, the Oil Kings scored three times in the first period, built the lead to 4-0, led 4-3 later and went on to a 6-3 victory. . . . Edmonton import Tomas Vincour scored his first two WHL goals. . . . The Oil Kings were 4-for-10 with the man advantage. . . . Edmonton, in its home-opener Thursday, beat the Ice, 4-3, on a goal at 19:59 of the third period. . . .
The visiting Calgary Hitmen beat Red Deer 4-1 for an opening-weekend sweep of the home-and-home series with the Rebels. . . . Calgary, which won 3-1 at home on Friday, led 4-0 until late in the third period. . . . C T.J. Galiardi, who joined the Hitmen after playing at Dartmouth last season, scored his first WHL goal to give his mates a 2-0 lead after the first period. . . .
In Prince George, the Spokane Chiefs erupted for five first-period goals and went on to a 7-2 victory over the Cougars. That gave the Chiefs a two-game sweep in Prince George, as they had won 5-2 on Friday. . . . LW Drayson Bowman and RW David Rutherford each scored twice in that first period. Rutherford got his third goal in the second period. . . .
In Saskatoon, the Brandon Wheat Kings completed a two-game sweep of the Blades, winning 6-1. On Friday in Brandon, the Wheat Kings beat the Blades, 5-2. . . . Brandon C Brayden Schenn, a 16-year-old from Saskatoon, had two assists Saturday. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 bantam draft. . . . Brandon freshman Scott Glennie scored twice in the first period. . . . “They were on us all night,” Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “They were just like the flies in this building.”
In Medicine Hat, the Tigers got three goals from C Tyler Ennis in beating the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 4-2. One night earlier in Lethbridge, the Hurricanes came from 3-1 down late and won 4-3 in OT. . . . The Tigers hoisted their 2006-07 WHL championship banner into The Arena’s rafters during a pregame ceremony. . . . Medicine Hat G Ryan Holfeld, who made 14 saves, turned aside Lethbridge LW Carter Bancks on a late third-period penalty shot to preserve what was a 3-2 lead.
A new name for the Seattle Thunderbirds? Russ Farwell, the Thunderbirds’ general manager, told me Saturday night that with the team moving to Kent, Wash., next season, team officials are pondering changing the name to Seattle Thunderbirds of Kent. Farwell said the team’s jerseys definitely will carry a Kent shoulder patch. More on the Thunderbirds and their impending move sometime Sunday. . . .
D Thomas Hickey, the fourth pick in the 2007 NHL draft, is the new captain of the Thunderbirds. He was told June 10 that he would be the team’s captain. Why was he told so early? Because GM Russ Farwell and head coach Rob Sumner weren’t sure when they would see him again, what with him being involved in the NHL scouting combine, the NHL draft, the Canada-Russia series and the Los Angeles Kings’ training camp. Which is why they flew Hickey into Seattle and met with him over two days. . . . The Thunderbirds didn’t expect to get Hickey back until at least Sunday so were pleasantly surprised when the Kings returned him in time to play Saturday in Kamloops. . . . The alternate captains are RW Bud Holloway, D Benn Olson and RW Josh Schappert. . . .
Glenn Olson, the older brother of Seattle D Benn Olson, is alive and well after escaping with his life when a small plane in which he was a passenger crashed near Port McNeill, B.C., on July 14. The pilot of the plane, which was headed to Merritt, B.C., and the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, was killed in the crash. Reports indicated that Glenn, 23, who played with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice in 2003-04, had suffered a broken right leg, among other injuries. But Benn says that didn’t happen. According to Benn, Glenn suffered six broken ribs, a broken clavicle and a punctured lung. Glenn, who played 21 games last season with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks, is going to take this season off to recuperate and rehab and then give it a try again next season. Glenn attended Saturday’s game in Kamloops between the Thunderbirds and Blazers after being on a hunting trip in the Kootenays. . . .
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
In Kamloops, the Blazers scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Thunderbirds, 3-2, in overtime. Fans in Kamloops will be talking about the game-winner for a long, long time. RW Juuso Puustinen took a nifty pass from C Brock Nixon, tucked it through the legs of D Steve Chaffin, went in on G Reku Helenius and did a Savardian spin-o-rama that finished with a backhander into the net on the short side. . . . It was Puustinen’s second goal of the game. . . . Puustinen and Helenius are good friends. Both are from Finland and were involved in that country’s under-16, under-17 and under-17 teams, and both hope to play on the national junior team at Christmas. . . . The Blazers have scored four goals in two games. Nixon has a goal and three assists. . . .
The Everett Silvertips lost 5-2 to the visiting Vancouver Giants. That means the Silvertips are 0-2 at home and have given up 11 goals. The end of Saturday’s game was marred by four fights in a 14-second span of the last minute. All told, 180 penalty minutes were dished out in the game. . . . Last season, Everett won all six meetings with Vancouver. . . . Everett C Zach Hamill, the WHL’s defending scoring champ, had one assist in his first game after being in camp with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. . . . Everett has surrendered five PP goals in two games. . . . The Giants are 2-0 after opening with a victory in Portland on Friday. . . .
In Kelowna, the Rockets blew a 5-2 third-period -- they gave up three goals in the last four minutes of the third period -- and lost 6-5 in OT to the Tri-City Americans on LW Erik Felde’s goal at 1:02 of overtime. . . . The Rockets held period leads of 4-1 and 4-2. . . . Attendance was 6,238, giving the Rockets their 121st straight sellout. . . . The Americans, with Felde scoring twice, had won 6-5 in Everett in Friday and are looking to open 3-0 as they play the Bruins in Chilliwack on Sunday. . . . Tri-City C Kruise Reddick was in on his club’s last three goals in regulation, setting up PP scores by D T.J. Fast and C Joel Broda and scoring himself to tie the game 5-5 at 18:31 of the third.
The honour of posting the WHL’s first shutout this season goes to Matt (Tony O) Esposito of the Chilliwack Bruins. He stopped 16 shots for his third career blank job as the host Bruins dumped the Portland Winter Hawks, 2-0. . . . One night earlier, Tony O lost his shutout with 0.1 seconds left in the third period as the Bruins won 2-1 in Kamloops. . . . The Bruins have opened with two straight victories and can equal the franchise record for longest winning streak by beating visiting Tri-City on Sunday night. . . . Portland G Jordan White, 19, was superb as his mates were outshot, 32-16, including 23-5 in the second period. . . .
At Cranbrook, the expansion Oil Kings ran their record to 2-0 with their second straight victory over the Kootenay Ice. On this night, the Oil Kings scored three times in the first period, built the lead to 4-0, led 4-3 later and went on to a 6-3 victory. . . . Edmonton import Tomas Vincour scored his first two WHL goals. . . . The Oil Kings were 4-for-10 with the man advantage. . . . Edmonton, in its home-opener Thursday, beat the Ice, 4-3, on a goal at 19:59 of the third period. . . .
The visiting Calgary Hitmen beat Red Deer 4-1 for an opening-weekend sweep of the home-and-home series with the Rebels. . . . Calgary, which won 3-1 at home on Friday, led 4-0 until late in the third period. . . . C T.J. Galiardi, who joined the Hitmen after playing at Dartmouth last season, scored his first WHL goal to give his mates a 2-0 lead after the first period. . . .
In Prince George, the Spokane Chiefs erupted for five first-period goals and went on to a 7-2 victory over the Cougars. That gave the Chiefs a two-game sweep in Prince George, as they had won 5-2 on Friday. . . . LW Drayson Bowman and RW David Rutherford each scored twice in that first period. Rutherford got his third goal in the second period. . . .
In Saskatoon, the Brandon Wheat Kings completed a two-game sweep of the Blades, winning 6-1. On Friday in Brandon, the Wheat Kings beat the Blades, 5-2. . . . Brandon C Brayden Schenn, a 16-year-old from Saskatoon, had two assists Saturday. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 bantam draft. . . . Brandon freshman Scott Glennie scored twice in the first period. . . . “They were on us all night,” Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “They were just like the flies in this building.”
In Medicine Hat, the Tigers got three goals from C Tyler Ennis in beating the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 4-2. One night earlier in Lethbridge, the Hurricanes came from 3-1 down late and won 4-3 in OT. . . . The Tigers hoisted their 2006-07 WHL championship banner into The Arena’s rafters during a pregame ceremony. . . . Medicine Hat G Ryan Holfeld, who made 14 saves, turned aside Lethbridge LW Carter Bancks on a late third-period penalty shot to preserve what was a 3-2 lead.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Moffatt loves Michigan
The Scouting News is reporting that C Luke Moffatt, taken second overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2007 bantam draft, has made a verbal commitment to attend the U of Michigan and play for the Wolverines. . . . And this from westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com: “Moffatt originally hails from the Phoenix-area, and is considered the best 1992-born forward in the United States. Moffatt has already accepted an offer to play for the NTDP next season, where he will play for two years before joining the Wolverines. . . . Moffatt had offers from many schools including Boston College, Maine, Notre Dame, and Colorado College.” . . . Moffatt is playing the Michigan-based Compuware organization this season.
Friday notes . . .
C Riley Holzapfel, 19, has been named captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Alternates will be LW Terrance Delaronde, 20, and RW Brady Calla, 19. . . .
D Thomas Hickey was returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds by the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. Gotta think he’ll be in Seattle’s lineup Saturday night in Kamloops. . . .
Friday’s Highlights
The Lethbridge Hurricanes overcame a late two-goal deficit — or did Medicine Hat blow a two-goal lead? — and beat the Tigers 4-3 in overtime on Jesse Craige’s goal at 3:30 of extra time. . . . Both teams dressed seven freshmen, although the Hurricanes are carrying eight and the Tigers 12. . . . The Hurricanes managed 11 shots through two periods, but got revved up and fired 15 in the third period and six in OT. . . .
Chilliwack won 2-1 in Kamloops, the fifth straight regular-season victory for the Bruins over the Blazers. Kamloops lost D Darcy Huisman to concussion-like symptoms after a first-period hit. . . .
In Calgary, the Hitmen struck for three goals in about three minutes of the second period and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. The game marked the coaching debut for Red Deer’s Brian Sutter, a veteran of the NHL coaching game but a rookie at this level. . . .
Czech C Daniel Bartel had two goals and an assist to lead the Wheat Kings past the Saskatoon Blades, 5-2, before a near sellout crowd of 5,027 in Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings used Zach Munn from the midget AAA Wheat Kings as their backup goalie because Andrew Hayes (broken finger) is unavailable. . . . Brandon D Daryl Boyle played in his 190th consecutive regular-season game. . . . The Brandon Sun reports that the Wheat Kings had sold 2,586 season-tickets by game time, some 70 fewer than they sold last season. . . . With adult season-tickets going for $250 each, you’ve got to wonder where the Wheat City folks are finding cheaper and better entertainment. . . . Saskatoon was without LW Colton Gillies, who is in camp with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. . . .
Veteran C Shaun Vey got the winner with 2:29 left in the third period as the Tri-City Americans beat the Silvertips 6-5 in Everett. The Americans got two goals each from Erik Felde and Taylor Procyshen. . . . Leland Irving, just back from the camp of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, went the distance in goal for Everett. . . . C Zach Hamill, who returned Friday from the Boston Bruins’ camp, didn’t play for Everett. He is the WHL’s defending scoring champion. . . . Tri-City is without LW Colton Yellow Horn, 20, who is in camp with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. . . . This was Tri-City’s first season-opening victory since 2003. . . . Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president hockey (a/k/a The Hanging Judge), was in attendance at this one. However, like the night before Christmas, all was calm. . . .
In Moose Jaw, the Warriors were 1.3 seconds from beating Swift Current and ended up losing to the Broncos, 3-2 in overtime. Captain Zack Smith’s slot shot changed directions and beat Moose Jaw G Joey Perricone to tie the game and Matt Tassone scored in overtime to win it. . . . Dave Hunchak, a former Broncos assistant coach, made his debut as Moose Jaw’s head coach. . . . Slovakian rookie Martin Filo scored a breakaway goal on his first WHL shift for the Warriors, who led 2-0 just 3:31 into the game. . . . Moose Jaw LW Garrett Robinson, who suffered head injuries in a car accident in October, is with the Warriors but not playing. He received a standing ovation in the pregame introductions. . . .
In Prince George, the Cougars fell 5-2 to the Spokane Chiefs in front of 3,330 fans. That, according to the Prince George Citizen, is “the smallest crowd for a season-opener in the post-Coliseum era — the announced sold-tickets total was 3,330, but there were a lot of no-shows. A year ago, 3,946 appeared for the home-opener.” . . . Prior to the game, the Cougars celebrated the fact that their 50-50 program has resulted in more than $1 million being put back into the community. . . .
The Regina Pats got a goal from D Nick Ross at 10:37 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and spark them to a 4-2 victory over the Raiders in Prince Albert. . . . Regina lost RW Kaspars Saulietis, 20, with what GM Brent Parker told the Regina Leader-Post is a “badly separated” shoulder in the first period. Parker added that Saulietis, who was acquired last season from the Kelowna Rockets, will be out for “a while.” Word is he could miss up to 12 weeks.
D Thomas Hickey was returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds by the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. Gotta think he’ll be in Seattle’s lineup Saturday night in Kamloops. . . .
Friday’s Highlights
The Lethbridge Hurricanes overcame a late two-goal deficit — or did Medicine Hat blow a two-goal lead? — and beat the Tigers 4-3 in overtime on Jesse Craige’s goal at 3:30 of extra time. . . . Both teams dressed seven freshmen, although the Hurricanes are carrying eight and the Tigers 12. . . . The Hurricanes managed 11 shots through two periods, but got revved up and fired 15 in the third period and six in OT. . . .
Chilliwack won 2-1 in Kamloops, the fifth straight regular-season victory for the Bruins over the Blazers. Kamloops lost D Darcy Huisman to concussion-like symptoms after a first-period hit. . . .
In Calgary, the Hitmen struck for three goals in about three minutes of the second period and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. The game marked the coaching debut for Red Deer’s Brian Sutter, a veteran of the NHL coaching game but a rookie at this level. . . .
Czech C Daniel Bartel had two goals and an assist to lead the Wheat Kings past the Saskatoon Blades, 5-2, before a near sellout crowd of 5,027 in Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings used Zach Munn from the midget AAA Wheat Kings as their backup goalie because Andrew Hayes (broken finger) is unavailable. . . . Brandon D Daryl Boyle played in his 190th consecutive regular-season game. . . . The Brandon Sun reports that the Wheat Kings had sold 2,586 season-tickets by game time, some 70 fewer than they sold last season. . . . With adult season-tickets going for $250 each, you’ve got to wonder where the Wheat City folks are finding cheaper and better entertainment. . . . Saskatoon was without LW Colton Gillies, who is in camp with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. . . .
Veteran C Shaun Vey got the winner with 2:29 left in the third period as the Tri-City Americans beat the Silvertips 6-5 in Everett. The Americans got two goals each from Erik Felde and Taylor Procyshen. . . . Leland Irving, just back from the camp of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, went the distance in goal for Everett. . . . C Zach Hamill, who returned Friday from the Boston Bruins’ camp, didn’t play for Everett. He is the WHL’s defending scoring champion. . . . Tri-City is without LW Colton Yellow Horn, 20, who is in camp with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. . . . This was Tri-City’s first season-opening victory since 2003. . . . Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president hockey (a/k/a The Hanging Judge), was in attendance at this one. However, like the night before Christmas, all was calm. . . .
In Moose Jaw, the Warriors were 1.3 seconds from beating Swift Current and ended up losing to the Broncos, 3-2 in overtime. Captain Zack Smith’s slot shot changed directions and beat Moose Jaw G Joey Perricone to tie the game and Matt Tassone scored in overtime to win it. . . . Dave Hunchak, a former Broncos assistant coach, made his debut as Moose Jaw’s head coach. . . . Slovakian rookie Martin Filo scored a breakaway goal on his first WHL shift for the Warriors, who led 2-0 just 3:31 into the game. . . . Moose Jaw LW Garrett Robinson, who suffered head injuries in a car accident in October, is with the Warriors but not playing. He received a standing ovation in the pregame introductions. . . .
In Prince George, the Cougars fell 5-2 to the Spokane Chiefs in front of 3,330 fans. That, according to the Prince George Citizen, is “the smallest crowd for a season-opener in the post-Coliseum era — the announced sold-tickets total was 3,330, but there were a lot of no-shows. A year ago, 3,946 appeared for the home-opener.” . . . Prior to the game, the Cougars celebrated the fact that their 50-50 program has resulted in more than $1 million being put back into the community. . . .
The Regina Pats got a goal from D Nick Ross at 10:37 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and spark them to a 4-2 victory over the Raiders in Prince Albert. . . . Regina lost RW Kaspars Saulietis, 20, with what GM Brent Parker told the Regina Leader-Post is a “badly separated” shoulder in the first period. Parker added that Saulietis, who was acquired last season from the Kelowna Rockets, will be out for “a while.” Word is he could miss up to 12 weeks.
Keeping Score
From The Daily News of Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 . . .
Let’s just say it was not a good week for New England Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick on the pages of North American’s fish wrappers. . . . Greg
Cote, in the Miami Herald: “In the Women’s World Cup in China, officials
from the Denmark team caught two men with video cameras behind a two-way
mirror before the team’s strategy meeting for a match against China. The
Chinese team had no involvement, according to representative Li-Ying
Belichick.” . . . Headline at fark.com: Chinese team coach Chen-Ming
Belichick angrily denies the accusations. . . . One more from Cote: “In
Formula One auto racing, Team McLaren has been fined a record $100 million
for spying on rival Ferrari. However, it was all a big misunderstanding and
a matter of misinterpreting the rules, according to McLaren representative
Giuseppe Belichick.”
After O.J. Simpson was arrested on armed robbery charges in Las Vegas,
NBC-TV’s Jay Leno noted: “There’s a lot of different versions of what
happened but, luckily, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was there and
videotaped the whole thing.” . . . Talk about caught in the middle: Mark
Shapiro, the Cleveland Indians’ general manager, is a brother-in-law of New
York Jets head coach Eric Mangini and a best friend of Scott Pioli, the
Patriots’ vice-president of player personnel. . . . How dominating was Tiger
Woods in the just-completed — it is over, isn’t it? — PGA season? He played
16 tournaments and won $10,867,052. Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh, who
finished Nos. 2 and 3 on the dough list, played in a combined 48 events and
won $10,548,364. . . . Hockey Night in Canada’s first telecast of the season
is Sept. 29 when the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings meet in London,
England. Jim Hughson will call the play, with analysis by Greg Millen.
Dario Franchitti wrapped up the IndyCar title earlier this month. And, as
Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel wrote: "Word then spread that
he'll be switching to NASCAR. He wants to see what it's like to drive when
people are watching." . . . As Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press
pointed out: "NASCAR has the Earnhardts, the Pettys, the Jarretts ˜ why not
the Judds?" . . . Manchester U manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently was
assaulted by Kevin Reynolds, 43, who is a Scot and homeless — not that those
two points are related or anything — and was called a "fighting drunk" in
court. It seems that Reynolds punched Sir Alex in the groin. As Ian Hamilton
of the Regina Leader-Post noted: "Reynolds pleaded guilty to assault and
then was red-carded for a hand-ball in the area."
A happy birthday to Tommy Lasorda, the man who bleeds Dodgers blue. He turns
80 today. His response to a question — What did you think of Dave Kingman’s
performance? — after a June 4, 1976 game in which Kong went deep three times
is a baseball classic. . . . The Los Angeles Kings have unveiled a new
mascot, a 6-foot-0 lion named Bailey. The mascot is named after one of the
hockey world's all-time favourite people, former player and scout Ace
Bailey. He was in one of the 9/11 planes.
Dave Thomas, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "You're the quarterback and
your team is down five points, it's the final two minutes and you're inside
your own 10. You're pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with
two outs and the tying run on third and the winning run on second. Those
aren't pressure situations compared to singing at (Luciano) Pavarotti's
funeral." . . . Tiger Woods wants to spend more time at home with his wife
and infant daughter, so he’s going to walk away from golf for a couple of
months. Upon hearing that, Seattle Times reader Janice Hough noted: "In a
prepared statement, fellow PGA Tour players applauded Tiger's decision and
urged him to keep having more children." . . . Garinger High School in South
Carolina had to move a scheduled football game last week because there had
been too many recent goose visits to its field. The headline in the San
Diego Tribune: Too pooped to play.
Frank Fitzpatrick, in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “In their perpetual search
for goons, the Flyers have signed players who fought with opponents, fans,
cops, spouses, even bar patrons. But until Steve Downie I don’t believe they
ever had one who earned a suspension for fighting on the ice with a
teammate. One suspects that given this evolutionary flow, the Flyers will
soon be drafting a boxing kangaroo.” . . . Don’t be surprised if former
Toronto Blue Jays player and manager Buck Martinez is the next manager of
the Kansas City Royals, replacing Buddy Bell, who has said he is done after
this season. . . . In case you don’t think football coaches have a weird
perspective on life, here’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden after
last weekend’s game: "We need to quit getting hurt. It's ridiculous. We get
too many guys hurt, and that's something that's got to stop. That's one
thing we've got to improve upon.” . . . OK, Chuckie. What’s the first step
in improving on that?
Scott Ostler, in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Memo to Indiana Pacers‚
forward Shawne Williams: If you’re going to drive your car with no driver’s
licence, expired plates, and a stash of marijuana, you might want to
consider using your turn signal. It’s the little stick on the left side.” .
. . No turn signal? Hmm, you may have seen Williams driving around Kamloops.
. . . Shaw Cable released its WHL telecast schedule the other day. No word,
however, on how many games Dan Russell, the host of the Canucks Talk open
mouth radio show, will do. . . . We started with Cote, we’ll close with him,
too: "The WNBA, in the midst of its championship finals, is concerned it
might lose several of its top players to higher-paying leagues overseas,
including (Note to self: Look up names of top WNBA players)."
Let’s just say it was not a good week for New England Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick on the pages of North American’s fish wrappers. . . . Greg
Cote, in the Miami Herald: “In the Women’s World Cup in China, officials
from the Denmark team caught two men with video cameras behind a two-way
mirror before the team’s strategy meeting for a match against China. The
Chinese team had no involvement, according to representative Li-Ying
Belichick.” . . . Headline at fark.com: Chinese team coach Chen-Ming
Belichick angrily denies the accusations. . . . One more from Cote: “In
Formula One auto racing, Team McLaren has been fined a record $100 million
for spying on rival Ferrari. However, it was all a big misunderstanding and
a matter of misinterpreting the rules, according to McLaren representative
Giuseppe Belichick.”
After O.J. Simpson was arrested on armed robbery charges in Las Vegas,
NBC-TV’s Jay Leno noted: “There’s a lot of different versions of what
happened but, luckily, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was there and
videotaped the whole thing.” . . . Talk about caught in the middle: Mark
Shapiro, the Cleveland Indians’ general manager, is a brother-in-law of New
York Jets head coach Eric Mangini and a best friend of Scott Pioli, the
Patriots’ vice-president of player personnel. . . . How dominating was Tiger
Woods in the just-completed — it is over, isn’t it? — PGA season? He played
16 tournaments and won $10,867,052. Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh, who
finished Nos. 2 and 3 on the dough list, played in a combined 48 events and
won $10,548,364. . . . Hockey Night in Canada’s first telecast of the season
is Sept. 29 when the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings meet in London,
England. Jim Hughson will call the play, with analysis by Greg Millen.
Dario Franchitti wrapped up the IndyCar title earlier this month. And, as
Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel wrote: "Word then spread that
he'll be switching to NASCAR. He wants to see what it's like to drive when
people are watching." . . . As Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press
pointed out: "NASCAR has the Earnhardts, the Pettys, the Jarretts ˜ why not
the Judds?" . . . Manchester U manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently was
assaulted by Kevin Reynolds, 43, who is a Scot and homeless — not that those
two points are related or anything — and was called a "fighting drunk" in
court. It seems that Reynolds punched Sir Alex in the groin. As Ian Hamilton
of the Regina Leader-Post noted: "Reynolds pleaded guilty to assault and
then was red-carded for a hand-ball in the area."
A happy birthday to Tommy Lasorda, the man who bleeds Dodgers blue. He turns
80 today. His response to a question — What did you think of Dave Kingman’s
performance? — after a June 4, 1976 game in which Kong went deep three times
is a baseball classic. . . . The Los Angeles Kings have unveiled a new
mascot, a 6-foot-0 lion named Bailey. The mascot is named after one of the
hockey world's all-time favourite people, former player and scout Ace
Bailey. He was in one of the 9/11 planes.
Dave Thomas, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "You're the quarterback and
your team is down five points, it's the final two minutes and you're inside
your own 10. You're pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with
two outs and the tying run on third and the winning run on second. Those
aren't pressure situations compared to singing at (Luciano) Pavarotti's
funeral." . . . Tiger Woods wants to spend more time at home with his wife
and infant daughter, so he’s going to walk away from golf for a couple of
months. Upon hearing that, Seattle Times reader Janice Hough noted: "In a
prepared statement, fellow PGA Tour players applauded Tiger's decision and
urged him to keep having more children." . . . Garinger High School in South
Carolina had to move a scheduled football game last week because there had
been too many recent goose visits to its field. The headline in the San
Diego Tribune: Too pooped to play.
Frank Fitzpatrick, in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “In their perpetual search
for goons, the Flyers have signed players who fought with opponents, fans,
cops, spouses, even bar patrons. But until Steve Downie I don’t believe they
ever had one who earned a suspension for fighting on the ice with a
teammate. One suspects that given this evolutionary flow, the Flyers will
soon be drafting a boxing kangaroo.” . . . Don’t be surprised if former
Toronto Blue Jays player and manager Buck Martinez is the next manager of
the Kansas City Royals, replacing Buddy Bell, who has said he is done after
this season. . . . In case you don’t think football coaches have a weird
perspective on life, here’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden after
last weekend’s game: "We need to quit getting hurt. It's ridiculous. We get
too many guys hurt, and that's something that's got to stop. That's one
thing we've got to improve upon.” . . . OK, Chuckie. What’s the first step
in improving on that?
Scott Ostler, in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Memo to Indiana Pacers‚
forward Shawne Williams: If you’re going to drive your car with no driver’s
licence, expired plates, and a stash of marijuana, you might want to
consider using your turn signal. It’s the little stick on the left side.” .
. . No turn signal? Hmm, you may have seen Williams driving around Kamloops.
. . . Shaw Cable released its WHL telecast schedule the other day. No word,
however, on how many games Dan Russell, the host of the Canucks Talk open
mouth radio show, will do. . . . We started with Cote, we’ll close with him,
too: "The WNBA, in the midst of its championship finals, is concerned it
might lose several of its top players to higher-paying leagues overseas,
including (Note to self: Look up names of top WNBA players)."
Friday, September 21, 2007
Blazers box
From The Daily News of Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 . . .
THE SCORE
Chilliwack 2, Kamloops 1
WHAT HAPPENED
Chilliwack outworked Kamloops and the longer the Blazers went without
scoring, the more frustrated they became and the tighter they squeezed their
sticks.
THE OPENER
This was the 27th home-opener in franchise history — 24 as the Blazers,
three as the Junior Oilers. Overall, the team is 21-4 with two ties in those
games.
THE STREAK
The Bruins now have won five straight regular-season games from the Blazers,
including the last four meetings from last season.
THE DEFENCEMAN
The Blazers lost D Darcy Huisman with concussion-like symptoms after a
first-period hit. He is doubtful for tonight’s game with the visiting
Seattle Thunderbirds, meaning D Kurt Torbohm is likely to play.
THE REUNION
Late in the third period, the Blazers moved RW Juuso Puustinen back onto a
line with C Brock Nixon in an attempt to get the offence going. Their first
shift resulted in offensive pressure — and a 4-on-1 going the other way.
THE TOUR
Tom Gaglardi, the majority partner in River City Hockey Inc., the group that
will take over ownership of the Blazers perhaps as early as next month, was
touring The ATM with GM/head coach Dean Clark two hours before the game.
Gaglardi is expected to be in the house again tonight.
THE OTHER GUY
Mike Priestner of Edmonton, who also made a bid to purchase the franchise,
was in attendance, too. He didn’t get a tour. Actually, he was here to see
his son James, the Blazers’ backup goaltender.
THE WINGER
Talented RW Keegan Dansereau, 19, has been sent home by the Calgary Hitmen
for disciplinary reasons. Clark said he isn't interested in Dansereau who,
although he was Calgary's fourth-leading scorer last season, is known more
for his lack of consistency and disinterested defensive play.
THE GOALTENDER
Seattle goaltending coach Paul Fricker, to the Seattle Times, on Finnish
starter Riku Helenius, a 2006 first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay
Lightning: "He really doesn't fit into a mold. He's really active, really
fast and does what he needs to do to stop the puck. He's fierce and listens
well. He's not conventional." Helenius is expected to start tonight against
the Blazers.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. D Nick Holden, Chilliwack. Workhorse, and a goal.
2. G Matt Esposito, Chilliwack. Should have had a shutout.
3. C Mark Santorelli, Chilliwack. Magician.
UP NEXT
The Blazers are at home tonight with Seattle providing the opposition. Game
time is 7 o’clock.
THE SCORE
Chilliwack 2, Kamloops 1
WHAT HAPPENED
Chilliwack outworked Kamloops and the longer the Blazers went without
scoring, the more frustrated they became and the tighter they squeezed their
sticks.
THE OPENER
This was the 27th home-opener in franchise history — 24 as the Blazers,
three as the Junior Oilers. Overall, the team is 21-4 with two ties in those
games.
THE STREAK
The Bruins now have won five straight regular-season games from the Blazers,
including the last four meetings from last season.
THE DEFENCEMAN
The Blazers lost D Darcy Huisman with concussion-like symptoms after a
first-period hit. He is doubtful for tonight’s game with the visiting
Seattle Thunderbirds, meaning D Kurt Torbohm is likely to play.
THE REUNION
Late in the third period, the Blazers moved RW Juuso Puustinen back onto a
line with C Brock Nixon in an attempt to get the offence going. Their first
shift resulted in offensive pressure — and a 4-on-1 going the other way.
THE TOUR
Tom Gaglardi, the majority partner in River City Hockey Inc., the group that
will take over ownership of the Blazers perhaps as early as next month, was
touring The ATM with GM/head coach Dean Clark two hours before the game.
Gaglardi is expected to be in the house again tonight.
THE OTHER GUY
Mike Priestner of Edmonton, who also made a bid to purchase the franchise,
was in attendance, too. He didn’t get a tour. Actually, he was here to see
his son James, the Blazers’ backup goaltender.
THE WINGER
Talented RW Keegan Dansereau, 19, has been sent home by the Calgary Hitmen
for disciplinary reasons. Clark said he isn't interested in Dansereau who,
although he was Calgary's fourth-leading scorer last season, is known more
for his lack of consistency and disinterested defensive play.
THE GOALTENDER
Seattle goaltending coach Paul Fricker, to the Seattle Times, on Finnish
starter Riku Helenius, a 2006 first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay
Lightning: "He really doesn't fit into a mold. He's really active, really
fast and does what he needs to do to stop the puck. He's fierce and listens
well. He's not conventional." Helenius is expected to start tonight against
the Blazers.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. D Nick Holden, Chilliwack. Workhorse, and a goal.
2. G Matt Esposito, Chilliwack. Should have had a shutout.
3. C Mark Santorelli, Chilliwack. Magician.
UP NEXT
The Blazers are at home tonight with Seattle providing the opposition. Game
time is 7 o’clock.
Bruins 2, Blazers 1
From The Daily News of Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 . . .
They aren’t the expansion Chilliwack Bruins anymore.
The Bruins delivered that message — and it came through loud and clear —
Friday night at Interior Savings Centre as they opened the WHL regular
season by bouncing the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 before 4,844 fans.
It was the second-smallest opening-night crowd in the history of the
facility, which opened for the 1992-93 season, behind only the 4,610 fans
who watched the Blazers beat the Portland Winter Hawks 6-3 to open last
season.
“We have 17 guys back,” offered Chilliwack defenceman Nick Holden, the
Bruins’ 20-year-old captain from St. Albert, Alta. “We know what the (WHL)
and the road trips are all about. I don’t think we’re an expansion team at
all.
“We know our systems. We know our forecheck. We know our (defensive) zone.
We know where guys are going to be because we played with each other for a
year. That is really helping us out.”
The Bruins went into last season as the WHL’s newest baby and scraped into
the playoffs by finishing fourth in the B.C. Division. But there were signs
of improvement in the second half, including four straight victories over
the second-place Blazers.
Last night, the Blazers had their speed game going early but when they
didn’t score quickly the pop in their game went flat. The longer they went
without scoring, the tighter they got.
“We let ourselves get frustrated,” Dean Clark, Kamloops’ general manager and
head coach, acknowledged, adding that, in his opinion, a 7-1 Blazers victory
over the Bruins in a preseason game in Abbotsford came back to bite his
guys.
“I think we (thought) this is going to be easy,” Clark said. “We didn’t
respect the opponent enough. They came in and played a pretty good road
game. They scored first and limited our chances.”
The Bruins scored first when Holden came free in the slot and ripped home an
Oscar Moller pass on a power play with 35 seconds left in the first period.
“Ozzie made a nice pass . . . (Mark Santorelli) and Ozzie were making good
plays in the corner and found me on the power play,” said Holden, a
seven-goal man last season. “It’s great to get that first one out of the way
and it feels good that it helped our team to win.”
The visitors made it 2-0 at 14:42 of the second period when the Blazers
allowed centre Brayden Metz to stop for coffee behind their net. Given time,
he found Colby Kulhanek, who had two goals last season, on the lip of the
crease for the Bruins’ second goal.
“We were on a break and the puck went behind the net,” said Metz, who is
from Regina but isn’t related to the Metz brothers, Don and Nick, who were
from Wilcox, Sask., and combined to win nine Stanley Cups with, yes, the
Toronto Maple Leafs back in the day.
“I didn’t think I saw anything,” Brayden, 17, continued. “But I gave it time
and I saw (Kulhanek’s) stick and put it there. Thankfully, it found a way
in.”
Clark didn’t like that goal at all.
“All our forwards are standing there watching the puck and we didn’t give
(goaltender Justin Leclerc) a lot of help. That was a terrible goal to give
up but it wasn’t our goaltender.”
No, it wasn’t. The Blazers got a solid effort from Leclerc, who stopped 17
shots. Included in his night’s work was a pad save off Moller on a 2-on-0
break with rookie Ryan Howse and a chest save on Michael Proudley on a
2-on-1 break.
At one point in the third period, the Bruins enjoyed a 4-on-1 jailbreak,
only to have Proudley shoot wide right.
At the other end, Matt Esposito lost his shutout with 0.1 seconds to play
when left-winger Travis Dunstall got the puck behind him on a scramble
during the home side’s eighth power play of the game.
“They played a very good road game,” Clark said of the Bruins, pointing out
that “we got outworked for extended periods of the game in our own building,
which didn’t happen to us at all last season.”
Defenceman Ryan Bender, the Blazers’ captain, agreed.
“We got away from our game plan off the start,” he said. “The first period a
few too many guys were nervous and we really struggled at handling the puck.
We were turning the puck over in too many bad areas of the ice. That was a
big part of the game.
“And they just outworked us.”
Bender also agreed with Clark on the impact of that preseason victory.
“I think that had a big-time role in it,” Bender said. “We beat them 7-1 and
outshot them badly (44-15). I think too many guys took them for granted and
it showed out there tonight.”
The good thing about the WHL, though, is that teams play 72 games.
“We play Seattle (tonight),” Bender said, “and we know they’re going to be
coming in here well rested. We are going to have to put this one behind us
and go forward.”
JUST NOTES: Referee Andy Thiessen gave the Bruins nine of 12 minors. . . .
Esposito made 21 saves. . . . Chilliwack was 1-for-2 on the power play; the
Blazers were 1-for-8. . . . Russ Farwell, the long-time general manager of
the Seattle Thunderbirds, watched the game from the catwalk. His club plays
the Blazers tonight. Game time at The ATM is 7 o’clock.
They aren’t the expansion Chilliwack Bruins anymore.
The Bruins delivered that message — and it came through loud and clear —
Friday night at Interior Savings Centre as they opened the WHL regular
season by bouncing the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 before 4,844 fans.
It was the second-smallest opening-night crowd in the history of the
facility, which opened for the 1992-93 season, behind only the 4,610 fans
who watched the Blazers beat the Portland Winter Hawks 6-3 to open last
season.
“We have 17 guys back,” offered Chilliwack defenceman Nick Holden, the
Bruins’ 20-year-old captain from St. Albert, Alta. “We know what the (WHL)
and the road trips are all about. I don’t think we’re an expansion team at
all.
“We know our systems. We know our forecheck. We know our (defensive) zone.
We know where guys are going to be because we played with each other for a
year. That is really helping us out.”
The Bruins went into last season as the WHL’s newest baby and scraped into
the playoffs by finishing fourth in the B.C. Division. But there were signs
of improvement in the second half, including four straight victories over
the second-place Blazers.
Last night, the Blazers had their speed game going early but when they
didn’t score quickly the pop in their game went flat. The longer they went
without scoring, the tighter they got.
“We let ourselves get frustrated,” Dean Clark, Kamloops’ general manager and
head coach, acknowledged, adding that, in his opinion, a 7-1 Blazers victory
over the Bruins in a preseason game in Abbotsford came back to bite his
guys.
“I think we (thought) this is going to be easy,” Clark said. “We didn’t
respect the opponent enough. They came in and played a pretty good road
game. They scored first and limited our chances.”
The Bruins scored first when Holden came free in the slot and ripped home an
Oscar Moller pass on a power play with 35 seconds left in the first period.
“Ozzie made a nice pass . . . (Mark Santorelli) and Ozzie were making good
plays in the corner and found me on the power play,” said Holden, a
seven-goal man last season. “It’s great to get that first one out of the way
and it feels good that it helped our team to win.”
The visitors made it 2-0 at 14:42 of the second period when the Blazers
allowed centre Brayden Metz to stop for coffee behind their net. Given time,
he found Colby Kulhanek, who had two goals last season, on the lip of the
crease for the Bruins’ second goal.
“We were on a break and the puck went behind the net,” said Metz, who is
from Regina but isn’t related to the Metz brothers, Don and Nick, who were
from Wilcox, Sask., and combined to win nine Stanley Cups with, yes, the
Toronto Maple Leafs back in the day.
“I didn’t think I saw anything,” Brayden, 17, continued. “But I gave it time
and I saw (Kulhanek’s) stick and put it there. Thankfully, it found a way
in.”
Clark didn’t like that goal at all.
“All our forwards are standing there watching the puck and we didn’t give
(goaltender Justin Leclerc) a lot of help. That was a terrible goal to give
up but it wasn’t our goaltender.”
No, it wasn’t. The Blazers got a solid effort from Leclerc, who stopped 17
shots. Included in his night’s work was a pad save off Moller on a 2-on-0
break with rookie Ryan Howse and a chest save on Michael Proudley on a
2-on-1 break.
At one point in the third period, the Bruins enjoyed a 4-on-1 jailbreak,
only to have Proudley shoot wide right.
At the other end, Matt Esposito lost his shutout with 0.1 seconds to play
when left-winger Travis Dunstall got the puck behind him on a scramble
during the home side’s eighth power play of the game.
“They played a very good road game,” Clark said of the Bruins, pointing out
that “we got outworked for extended periods of the game in our own building,
which didn’t happen to us at all last season.”
Defenceman Ryan Bender, the Blazers’ captain, agreed.
“We got away from our game plan off the start,” he said. “The first period a
few too many guys were nervous and we really struggled at handling the puck.
We were turning the puck over in too many bad areas of the ice. That was a
big part of the game.
“And they just outworked us.”
Bender also agreed with Clark on the impact of that preseason victory.
“I think that had a big-time role in it,” Bender said. “We beat them 7-1 and
outshot them badly (44-15). I think too many guys took them for granted and
it showed out there tonight.”
The good thing about the WHL, though, is that teams play 72 games.
“We play Seattle (tonight),” Bender said, “and we know they’re going to be
coming in here well rested. We are going to have to put this one behind us
and go forward.”
JUST NOTES: Referee Andy Thiessen gave the Bruins nine of 12 minors. . . .
Esposito made 21 saves. . . . Chilliwack was 1-for-2 on the power play; the
Blazers were 1-for-8. . . . Russ Farwell, the long-time general manager of
the Seattle Thunderbirds, watched the game from the catwalk. His club plays
the Blazers tonight. Game time at The ATM is 7 o’clock.
Friday's happenings
Nice touch by the Edmonton Oil Kings having restaurateur Vic Mah drop the ceremonial puck prior to their inaugural game Thursday against the visiting Kootenay Ice. No one has wanted major hockey in Edmonton worse than Mah, who even held 10 shares in the Kamloops Blazers until selling them to Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi sometime in the past year. Gaglardi was able to take those shares and others he bought and use them in River City Hockey’s successful attempt to purchase the Blazers from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society. . . .
Sources have confirmed that Innovation Credit Union has purchased the naming rights to the Centennial Civic Centre in Swift Current. An official announcement is due to be made Tuesday. Not sure what the official name of the arena will be -- Innovation Place? -- but Joe Arling and Co. should know that The ATM is already taken. (That’s the nickname for Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops.) . . . But the imagination runs wild at the possibilities when one considers the possibilities brought on from the initials for Innovation Credit Union, which has 25 locations across Saskatchewan. . . .
C Greg Gardner, 20, has been named captain of the Prince George Cougars. Alternates are D Ty Wishart, 19, D Chris Vanduynhoven, 18, and LW Dana Tyrell, 18. . . .
D Daryl Boyle, 20, has been selected to serve as the 50th captain in the history of the Brandon Wheat Kings. He replaces LW Mark Derlago, who completed his WHL eligibility last season. Alternates will be D Keith Aulie, 18, D Mark Louis, 20 and D Theran Yeo, 20, with C Tyler Dittmer, 20, (at home) and LW Andrew Clark, 19, (road) sharing an A. Interesting that four of those players are 20, meaning one will be gone shortly when teams have to get down to three 20-year-olds.
Sources have confirmed that Innovation Credit Union has purchased the naming rights to the Centennial Civic Centre in Swift Current. An official announcement is due to be made Tuesday. Not sure what the official name of the arena will be -- Innovation Place? -- but Joe Arling and Co. should know that The ATM is already taken. (That’s the nickname for Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops.) . . . But the imagination runs wild at the possibilities when one considers the possibilities brought on from the initials for Innovation Credit Union, which has 25 locations across Saskatchewan. . . .
C Greg Gardner, 20, has been named captain of the Prince George Cougars. Alternates are D Ty Wishart, 19, D Chris Vanduynhoven, 18, and LW Dana Tyrell, 18. . . .
D Daryl Boyle, 20, has been selected to serve as the 50th captain in the history of the Brandon Wheat Kings. He replaces LW Mark Derlago, who completed his WHL eligibility last season. Alternates will be D Keith Aulie, 18, D Mark Louis, 20 and D Theran Yeo, 20, with C Tyler Dittmer, 20, (at home) and LW Andrew Clark, 19, (road) sharing an A. Interesting that four of those players are 20, meaning one will be gone shortly when teams have to get down to three 20-year-olds.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Jorgensen to U of C; Blazers ready
From The Daily News of Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 . . .
While the Kamloops Blazers are on the ice battling the visiting Chilliwack Bruins in a WHL game tonight, centre Reid Jorgensen will be in Saskatoon with the U of Calgary Dinos.
Jorgensen, who played the last five seasons with the Blazers and was their captain the last two winters, has decided to forgo a professional career, at least for now, and hit the books.
“It was a tough decision to make,” Jorgensen said Thursday night from Calgary. “It’s been tough . . . a tough couple of days. You go back and forth and then you make up your mind.”
Jorgensen, 21, was in camp with the NHL’s Boston Bruins on a free-agent tryout. They offered him an invitation to go to camp with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
“They wanted to take a longer look,” Jorgensen said, adding that there weren’t any guarantees. With the Blazers owing him five years of tuition and books and with the U of C prepared to match that, and with there also being scholarships available, Jorgensen decided he couldn’t turn his back on that kind of package.
“I love this city, too,” he said. “If you don’t end up playing hockey, the business contacts you can make here are second to none.”
The Dinos, whose roster includes ex-Blazers like Ryan Annesley, Jared Aulin, Wade Davis, Paul Gentile, Aaron Richards and Conlan Seder, left this morning for Saskatoon, site of the annual Husky Classic.
In the meantime, the Blazers open their season tonight against the Chilliwack Bruins, with the Seattle Thunderbirds here Saturday. Game time both nights is 7 o’clock at Interior Savings Centre.
Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, is adamant that his team establish its personality early. Like immediately upon the dropping of the first puck.
“We want to make sure we have lots of energy and we’ve got our feet going,” Clark said after Thursday’s practice. “There are still a lot of the fundamentals, little things, that we want to have as characteristics of our team and we want to establish that early.
“With the high energy and the speed that we have, I want to use it. We want to make it hard on teams and the way we do that is with the forecheck, by being physical, not turning away from checks and forcing them to move the puck earlier than they want to.”
The Bruins come to town with two snipers — sophomores Oscar Moller and Mark Santorelli — and foot soldiers who are trying to carve out their own niches. Clark said he isn’t too concerned about matching lines, at least not this early in the season.
“We’ll roll four lines,” he said. “We might do something on the back end, matchup that way. We’ll make sure that whoever is out there . . . you’ve got to be aware when (Moller and Santorelli) are on the ice.”
One of those defenders could be Victor Bartley, a 19-year-old beginning his fourth season here.
Bartley was in camp with the Detroit Red Wings, first with their rookie team and then with the big club. He is hopeful of transferring much of what he learned, especially off the ice, to the Blazers’ dressing room.
In main camp, the likes of Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Daniel Cleary were on Bartley’s team in scrimmages.
“Those guys were great,” Bartley said. “They make the young guys feel really at home in a new organization. They treat you fantastic. They treat you like any other player and demand the same things from you that they demand of themselves. It was a huge eye-opener.”
What especially impressed Bartley was the work ethic displayed by the veteran players.
“Those guys are there before anybody else,” Bartley said. “A 7:30 practice . . . those guys are there at 5 a.m., getting ready for it.
“They showed me a lot of things about how to play the game and how to make things a lot easier on yourself. I can show the leadership and hard work that those guys do on a daily basis.
“When they practise, they go tape to tape every time. There’s lots of talk. They demand perfection at all times.”
When Bartley arrived back in Kamloops, it didn’t take him long to notice the excitement around the Blazers, some of it a hangover from last season, the rest from a 6-1 exhibition record.
“After 40 wins (last season), the guys are pretty excited to get back here and show where we left off,” he said. “We’re working hard. Practice is looking good. Guys are skating hard . . . it’s really important to get that work ethic established early.”
The Blazers plan on doing that tonight.
JUST NOTES: In its previous 26 home-openers, including three as the Junior Oilers, Kamloops is 21-3 with two ties. . . . The Blazers will scratch two defencemen and a forward tonight. One will be D Mark Schneider (wrist), who is the only injured player at the moment. . . . Spike Wallace, the Blazers’ community liaison, wants to remind youngsters that there still is time to join the Blueliner Club. The first of four breakfasts is scheduled for Oct. 28. Call him at 828-1144 for more info.
While the Kamloops Blazers are on the ice battling the visiting Chilliwack Bruins in a WHL game tonight, centre Reid Jorgensen will be in Saskatoon with the U of Calgary Dinos.
Jorgensen, who played the last five seasons with the Blazers and was their captain the last two winters, has decided to forgo a professional career, at least for now, and hit the books.
“It was a tough decision to make,” Jorgensen said Thursday night from Calgary. “It’s been tough . . . a tough couple of days. You go back and forth and then you make up your mind.”
Jorgensen, 21, was in camp with the NHL’s Boston Bruins on a free-agent tryout. They offered him an invitation to go to camp with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
“They wanted to take a longer look,” Jorgensen said, adding that there weren’t any guarantees. With the Blazers owing him five years of tuition and books and with the U of C prepared to match that, and with there also being scholarships available, Jorgensen decided he couldn’t turn his back on that kind of package.
“I love this city, too,” he said. “If you don’t end up playing hockey, the business contacts you can make here are second to none.”
The Dinos, whose roster includes ex-Blazers like Ryan Annesley, Jared Aulin, Wade Davis, Paul Gentile, Aaron Richards and Conlan Seder, left this morning for Saskatoon, site of the annual Husky Classic.
In the meantime, the Blazers open their season tonight against the Chilliwack Bruins, with the Seattle Thunderbirds here Saturday. Game time both nights is 7 o’clock at Interior Savings Centre.
Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, is adamant that his team establish its personality early. Like immediately upon the dropping of the first puck.
“We want to make sure we have lots of energy and we’ve got our feet going,” Clark said after Thursday’s practice. “There are still a lot of the fundamentals, little things, that we want to have as characteristics of our team and we want to establish that early.
“With the high energy and the speed that we have, I want to use it. We want to make it hard on teams and the way we do that is with the forecheck, by being physical, not turning away from checks and forcing them to move the puck earlier than they want to.”
The Bruins come to town with two snipers — sophomores Oscar Moller and Mark Santorelli — and foot soldiers who are trying to carve out their own niches. Clark said he isn’t too concerned about matching lines, at least not this early in the season.
“We’ll roll four lines,” he said. “We might do something on the back end, matchup that way. We’ll make sure that whoever is out there . . . you’ve got to be aware when (Moller and Santorelli) are on the ice.”
One of those defenders could be Victor Bartley, a 19-year-old beginning his fourth season here.
Bartley was in camp with the Detroit Red Wings, first with their rookie team and then with the big club. He is hopeful of transferring much of what he learned, especially off the ice, to the Blazers’ dressing room.
In main camp, the likes of Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Daniel Cleary were on Bartley’s team in scrimmages.
“Those guys were great,” Bartley said. “They make the young guys feel really at home in a new organization. They treat you fantastic. They treat you like any other player and demand the same things from you that they demand of themselves. It was a huge eye-opener.”
What especially impressed Bartley was the work ethic displayed by the veteran players.
“Those guys are there before anybody else,” Bartley said. “A 7:30 practice . . . those guys are there at 5 a.m., getting ready for it.
“They showed me a lot of things about how to play the game and how to make things a lot easier on yourself. I can show the leadership and hard work that those guys do on a daily basis.
“When they practise, they go tape to tape every time. There’s lots of talk. They demand perfection at all times.”
When Bartley arrived back in Kamloops, it didn’t take him long to notice the excitement around the Blazers, some of it a hangover from last season, the rest from a 6-1 exhibition record.
“After 40 wins (last season), the guys are pretty excited to get back here and show where we left off,” he said. “We’re working hard. Practice is looking good. Guys are skating hard . . . it’s really important to get that work ethic established early.”
The Blazers plan on doing that tonight.
JUST NOTES: In its previous 26 home-openers, including three as the Junior Oilers, Kamloops is 21-3 with two ties. . . . The Blazers will scratch two defencemen and a forward tonight. One will be D Mark Schneider (wrist), who is the only injured player at the moment. . . . Spike Wallace, the Blazers’ community liaison, wants to remind youngsters that there still is time to join the Blueliner Club. The first of four breakfasts is scheduled for Oct. 28. Call him at 828-1144 for more info.
Scattershooting on a Thursday
C Reid Jorgensen, who played the last five seasons with the Kamloops Blazers, has decided not to attend camp with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Instead, he will attend the U of Calgary and play for the Dinos. In fact, he was in class there on Thursday. . . . Jorgensen, 21, went to camp with the Boston Bruins and they invited him to attend Providence’s camp. . . . The Dinos held a news conference Wednesday to introduce C Jared Aulin, another former Blazers captain who has chosen to play with them this season. . . . It is typical of the low-key Jorgensen that he would show up and attend class with no fanfare. . . .
The Everett Silvertips will have G Leland Irving, 19, and D Taylor Ellington, 19, in their lineup this weekend as they open with two home games. Irving had been in camp with the Calgary Flames and Ellington with the Vancouver Canucks. . . . The Silvertips are at home to the Tri-Ctiy Americans on Friday and the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. . . . C Zach Hamill, the WHL's defending scoring champ, played Thursday night for the Boston Bruins against the New Jersey Devils in Manchester, N.H. He is to fly out of Boston this morning and rejoin the Silvertips but it isn't know whether he will play Friday night. . . . The Silvertips still have three players at NHL camps — C Peter Mueller (Phoenix Coyotes), LW Ondrej Fiala (Minnesota Wild) and D Dane Crowley (Tampa Bay Lightning). . . . Mueller, 19, is expected to stick with the Coyotes. . . . Fiala and Crowley are 20, with Fiala being a potential two-spotter. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades have dealt D Brett Ward, 19, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a 2008 fourth-round bantam pick. Actually, there is more to the deal than that. The Warriors, as it turns out, don’t have a fourth-round pick in that particular draft — yes, it appears that the WHL allows teams to trade things that they don’t have. In this instance, if the Warriors aren’t able to acquire a fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft, they’ll have to cought up their third-round pick in 2009. . . . Saskatoon also released F Craig Cuthbert, 19. . . . The Blades open in Brandon against the Wheat Kings on Friday and they’ll do it without C Colton Gillies, who remains in camp with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. The Blades did get C Justin McCrae, their captain, back from the Carolina Hurricanes and he’ll be in the lineup. D Colton MacPherson (flu) and LW Cody Wutzke (concussion) are out, as is RW Garrett Klotz who is serving a suspension left over from last season. . . .
Other players assigned to WHL teams by NHL clubs Thursday:
D Ben Wright, to Lethbridge from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
LW Frazer McLaren to Portland from the San Jose Sharks.
D Ty Wishart to Prince George from San Jose.
C Jim O’Brien to Seattle from the Ottawa Senators. O’Brien has a shoulder injury and, while he skated and did some drills with Ottawa, he isn’t expected to play for perhaps a month). . . .
LW Drayson Bowman, who was reassigned this week by the Carolina Hurricanes, will meet the Spokane Chiefs in Prince George and play against the Cougars on Friday and Saturday. Bowman, 18, was a third-round pick by the Hurricanes in the NHL’s 2007 draft and is said to have been terrific in their camp. . . .
D Nick Ross is back in Regina after a stint with the Phoenix Coyotes and will be in the Pats’ lineup tonight in Prince Albert against the Raiders. . . . Regina has named D Logan Pyett, 19, as its captain, with the alternates being C Kirt Hill, RW Brett Leffler and D Craig Schira. . . .
RW J.D. Watt, 20, was reassigned by the Calgary Flames early Thursday and practised with the Red Deer Rebels later in the day. He will be in Red Deer’s lineup tonight against the host Calgary Hitmen. . . . Watt is one of only seven players presently on the Rebels’ roster who have at least one season of WHL experience under their belts. . . .
From the department of nice scheduling: The Portland Winter Hawks open Friday at home to the Vancouver Giants. The next night, Portland is in Chilliwack to face the Bruins. . . . On the season’s second weekend, Portland is at home to the Tri-City Americans (Sept. 29) and in Kamloops the following night. . . . Gotta wonder what Portland trainer Innes Mackie thinks about that? . . . Obviously, the trainers don’t get any input into the scheduling. . . .
THURSDAY’S GAME
Kootenay 3 at Edmonton 4 — The teams were tied 3-3 and, with about eight seconds left and the faceoff was in Edmonton’s zone. Yes, this one was going to overtime. Except that the Oil Kings got the puck into the Kootenay zone and a centring pass by LW J.P. Szaszkiewicz, who is from Edmonton, glanced off the stick of a defender and past G Kris Lazaruk to give the expansionists the victory in their home-opener. Attendance was 6,782. . . . RW Brandon Lockerby, LW Craig McCallum and RW Brett Breitkreuz also scored for Edmonton. Kootenay, which took a 3-2 lead into the third period, got its goals from RW Arnaud Jacquement, D Chad Greenan and LW Kevin King. . . . Lazaruk stopped 18 shots. At the other end, Alex Archibald turned aside 25 shots. . . . Kootenay wsa 1-for-3 on the PP; the Oil Kings were 1-for-4. . . . It’s interesting to note that one year ago Archibald was in goal for the expansion Chilliwack Bruins as they began life with a 3-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
The Everett Silvertips will have G Leland Irving, 19, and D Taylor Ellington, 19, in their lineup this weekend as they open with two home games. Irving had been in camp with the Calgary Flames and Ellington with the Vancouver Canucks. . . . The Silvertips are at home to the Tri-Ctiy Americans on Friday and the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. . . . C Zach Hamill, the WHL's defending scoring champ, played Thursday night for the Boston Bruins against the New Jersey Devils in Manchester, N.H. He is to fly out of Boston this morning and rejoin the Silvertips but it isn't know whether he will play Friday night. . . . The Silvertips still have three players at NHL camps — C Peter Mueller (Phoenix Coyotes), LW Ondrej Fiala (Minnesota Wild) and D Dane Crowley (Tampa Bay Lightning). . . . Mueller, 19, is expected to stick with the Coyotes. . . . Fiala and Crowley are 20, with Fiala being a potential two-spotter. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades have dealt D Brett Ward, 19, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a 2008 fourth-round bantam pick. Actually, there is more to the deal than that. The Warriors, as it turns out, don’t have a fourth-round pick in that particular draft — yes, it appears that the WHL allows teams to trade things that they don’t have. In this instance, if the Warriors aren’t able to acquire a fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft, they’ll have to cought up their third-round pick in 2009. . . . Saskatoon also released F Craig Cuthbert, 19. . . . The Blades open in Brandon against the Wheat Kings on Friday and they’ll do it without C Colton Gillies, who remains in camp with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. The Blades did get C Justin McCrae, their captain, back from the Carolina Hurricanes and he’ll be in the lineup. D Colton MacPherson (flu) and LW Cody Wutzke (concussion) are out, as is RW Garrett Klotz who is serving a suspension left over from last season. . . .
Other players assigned to WHL teams by NHL clubs Thursday:
D Ben Wright, to Lethbridge from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
LW Frazer McLaren to Portland from the San Jose Sharks.
D Ty Wishart to Prince George from San Jose.
C Jim O’Brien to Seattle from the Ottawa Senators. O’Brien has a shoulder injury and, while he skated and did some drills with Ottawa, he isn’t expected to play for perhaps a month). . . .
LW Drayson Bowman, who was reassigned this week by the Carolina Hurricanes, will meet the Spokane Chiefs in Prince George and play against the Cougars on Friday and Saturday. Bowman, 18, was a third-round pick by the Hurricanes in the NHL’s 2007 draft and is said to have been terrific in their camp. . . .
D Nick Ross is back in Regina after a stint with the Phoenix Coyotes and will be in the Pats’ lineup tonight in Prince Albert against the Raiders. . . . Regina has named D Logan Pyett, 19, as its captain, with the alternates being C Kirt Hill, RW Brett Leffler and D Craig Schira. . . .
RW J.D. Watt, 20, was reassigned by the Calgary Flames early Thursday and practised with the Red Deer Rebels later in the day. He will be in Red Deer’s lineup tonight against the host Calgary Hitmen. . . . Watt is one of only seven players presently on the Rebels’ roster who have at least one season of WHL experience under their belts. . . .
From the department of nice scheduling: The Portland Winter Hawks open Friday at home to the Vancouver Giants. The next night, Portland is in Chilliwack to face the Bruins. . . . On the season’s second weekend, Portland is at home to the Tri-City Americans (Sept. 29) and in Kamloops the following night. . . . Gotta wonder what Portland trainer Innes Mackie thinks about that? . . . Obviously, the trainers don’t get any input into the scheduling. . . .
THURSDAY’S GAME
Kootenay 3 at Edmonton 4 — The teams were tied 3-3 and, with about eight seconds left and the faceoff was in Edmonton’s zone. Yes, this one was going to overtime. Except that the Oil Kings got the puck into the Kootenay zone and a centring pass by LW J.P. Szaszkiewicz, who is from Edmonton, glanced off the stick of a defender and past G Kris Lazaruk to give the expansionists the victory in their home-opener. Attendance was 6,782. . . . RW Brandon Lockerby, LW Craig McCallum and RW Brett Breitkreuz also scored for Edmonton. Kootenay, which took a 3-2 lead into the third period, got its goals from RW Arnaud Jacquement, D Chad Greenan and LW Kevin King. . . . Lazaruk stopped 18 shots. At the other end, Alex Archibald turned aside 25 shots. . . . Kootenay wsa 1-for-3 on the PP; the Oil Kings were 1-for-4. . . . It’s interesting to note that one year ago Archibald was in goal for the expansion Chilliwack Bruins as they began life with a 3-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
Leclerc No. 1 in Kamloops
From The Daily News of Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 . . .
Things couldn’t have worked out much better for Justin Leclerc, who is the
Kamloops Blazers’ starting goaltender as they open their WHL regular season
tonight.
“That was my goal. That’s why I asked to be moved,” Leclerc, 18, said, sweat
dripping from his face after a practice session at Interior Savings Centre.
“That’s the mindset I came into camp with. And I’ll be happy to play as many
games as they want.”
He is, as he put it, “No. 1 on a great team . . . a potentially great team.”
Fans will get their first look at that team tonight when the franchise’s
27th regular season begins with a game against the Chilliwack Bruins. Game
time at The ATM is 7 o’clock.
A month ago, Leclerc didn’t know what was in his future.
He had played two seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes but felt his career
starting to get away from him. At the age of 16, Leclerc, who is from
Saskatoon, had been considered one of the country’s best goaltenders in his
age group. Last season, however, things started to go south and the
frustration only got worse when he came down with mononucleosis.
So, thinking he needed a fresh start, Leclerc asked Lethbridge general
manager Roy Stasiuk to look at moving him.
Which is how, on Aug. 23, Leclerc ended up with the Blazers, a second-round
selection in the 2008 bantam draft going the other way.
The Blazers were looking for a goaltender to offer a challenge to Dustin
Butler, who had been acquired from the Portland Winter Hawks in October.
Butler was one of four 20-year-olds the Blazers were looking at, knowing all
the while they could keep only three.
By the end of the exhibition schedule, Leclerc had shown enough that general
manager/head coach Dean Clark chose to trade Butler and install Leclerc as
the starter, with James Priestner, a 16-year-old from Edmonton, as the
backup.
“It’s exciting when we get down to the last two goalies,” said Leclerc, who
has been a goaltender since his second season at the novice level. “Even
though it was my plan to come out on top and be the starter . . . it is nice
to finally have achieved it.
“Having said that, I’m trying to have the same focus and the same mindset as
I did before.”
Being named the go-to guy is the culmination of a journey that began over
the summer.
Coming off last season, Leclerc felt something was missing, that his game
was incomplete and that he had to do something about it. Which is how he
came to spend time with Dr. Kevin Spink of the College of Kinesiology at the
U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
“We worked on a whole range of sports psychology things,” Leclerc said.
“Preparation, during games, how to evaluate games . . . we kind of put
together a plan for the whole season.”
Leclerc is one of those ultra-competitive people, something that doesn’t
mesh well with the part of a goaltender’s skillset that requires a short
memory.
“That’s tough for me,” he admits of the need to quickly forget about having
been beaten. “There is a technique, though. You have your first automatic
reaction of being frustrated and then you correct it in your head . . . you
realize what you could have done better.
“And then you refocus on the next play.”
That, he said, “seems pretty simple but it’s something you learn along the
way.”
It’s something he also hopes that he doesn’t have to worry too much about
this season. And he really is looking forward to playing on a team that
promises to have one of the WHL’s top defences.
Looking at that defence, he said, is “kind of mind-boggling.”
“I know from experience,” he added, “that success comes with team success
and to have that defence . . . that’s such a key part of any winning team.”
Last season, Butler saw an average of 23 shots per game. At the same time,
Leclerc was facing 28 shots per 60 minutes with the Hurricanes. Five shots a
game might not seem like a lot, but over the course of an entire season it
adds up. And then there is the quality of those shots.
“I’ve played on teams where you get 40 shots a night but they’re all from
the outside,” Leclerc explained. “And I’ve played on a team where you get
20, like last season, but they’re coming right up the middle. So it does
make a big difference . . .”
For now, though, Leclerc is working hard . . . on the ice and in trying not
to look too far down the road.
“I’m not looking ahead, just taking it day by day,” he said. “I’m trying to
fit as much work in now as I can because later on, if I am playing a lot of
games, I won’t be able to put in the same time.
“It’ll be nice to find a groove. Right now I feel great in pratice but you
never really have that full confidence until you put a few games behind
you.”
Things couldn’t have worked out much better for Justin Leclerc, who is the
Kamloops Blazers’ starting goaltender as they open their WHL regular season
tonight.
“That was my goal. That’s why I asked to be moved,” Leclerc, 18, said, sweat
dripping from his face after a practice session at Interior Savings Centre.
“That’s the mindset I came into camp with. And I’ll be happy to play as many
games as they want.”
He is, as he put it, “No. 1 on a great team . . . a potentially great team.”
Fans will get their first look at that team tonight when the franchise’s
27th regular season begins with a game against the Chilliwack Bruins. Game
time at The ATM is 7 o’clock.
A month ago, Leclerc didn’t know what was in his future.
He had played two seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes but felt his career
starting to get away from him. At the age of 16, Leclerc, who is from
Saskatoon, had been considered one of the country’s best goaltenders in his
age group. Last season, however, things started to go south and the
frustration only got worse when he came down with mononucleosis.
So, thinking he needed a fresh start, Leclerc asked Lethbridge general
manager Roy Stasiuk to look at moving him.
Which is how, on Aug. 23, Leclerc ended up with the Blazers, a second-round
selection in the 2008 bantam draft going the other way.
The Blazers were looking for a goaltender to offer a challenge to Dustin
Butler, who had been acquired from the Portland Winter Hawks in October.
Butler was one of four 20-year-olds the Blazers were looking at, knowing all
the while they could keep only three.
By the end of the exhibition schedule, Leclerc had shown enough that general
manager/head coach Dean Clark chose to trade Butler and install Leclerc as
the starter, with James Priestner, a 16-year-old from Edmonton, as the
backup.
“It’s exciting when we get down to the last two goalies,” said Leclerc, who
has been a goaltender since his second season at the novice level. “Even
though it was my plan to come out on top and be the starter . . . it is nice
to finally have achieved it.
“Having said that, I’m trying to have the same focus and the same mindset as
I did before.”
Being named the go-to guy is the culmination of a journey that began over
the summer.
Coming off last season, Leclerc felt something was missing, that his game
was incomplete and that he had to do something about it. Which is how he
came to spend time with Dr. Kevin Spink of the College of Kinesiology at the
U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
“We worked on a whole range of sports psychology things,” Leclerc said.
“Preparation, during games, how to evaluate games . . . we kind of put
together a plan for the whole season.”
Leclerc is one of those ultra-competitive people, something that doesn’t
mesh well with the part of a goaltender’s skillset that requires a short
memory.
“That’s tough for me,” he admits of the need to quickly forget about having
been beaten. “There is a technique, though. You have your first automatic
reaction of being frustrated and then you correct it in your head . . . you
realize what you could have done better.
“And then you refocus on the next play.”
That, he said, “seems pretty simple but it’s something you learn along the
way.”
It’s something he also hopes that he doesn’t have to worry too much about
this season. And he really is looking forward to playing on a team that
promises to have one of the WHL’s top defences.
Looking at that defence, he said, is “kind of mind-boggling.”
“I know from experience,” he added, “that success comes with team success
and to have that defence . . . that’s such a key part of any winning team.”
Last season, Butler saw an average of 23 shots per game. At the same time,
Leclerc was facing 28 shots per 60 minutes with the Hurricanes. Five shots a
game might not seem like a lot, but over the course of an entire season it
adds up. And then there is the quality of those shots.
“I’ve played on teams where you get 40 shots a night but they’re all from
the outside,” Leclerc explained. “And I’ve played on a team where you get
20, like last season, but they’re coming right up the middle. So it does
make a big difference . . .”
For now, though, Leclerc is working hard . . . on the ice and in trying not
to look too far down the road.
“I’m not looking ahead, just taking it day by day,” he said. “I’m trying to
fit as much work in now as I can because later on, if I am playing a lot of
games, I won’t be able to put in the same time.
“It’ll be nice to find a groove. Right now I feel great in pratice but you
never really have that full confidence until you put a few games behind
you.”
The Swift Current Pizza Joint?
The Calgary Flames have returned three players to their WHL clubs -- G Leland Irving, to the Everett Silvertips; D John Negrin, to the Kootenay Ice; and, RW J.D. Watt to the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Everett will breathe easier now seeing as G David Reekie, 20, is out with mononucleosis. . . . Negrin may get to Edmonton in time to play for the Ice tonight. . . . Watt, whom the Rebels acquired from the Vancouver Giants over the summer, become the Rebels’ lone 20-year-old. . . .
The Swift Current Broncos will hold a news conference on Tuesday at which they are expected to announce the purchaser of naming rights for the Centennial Civic Centre. The news conference is being held at Houston Pizza. Which leads one to suggest that perhaps Houston Pizza has purchased naming rights and that the facility will be known as the Pizza Joint. . . .
The Calgary Hitmen have sent F Keegan Dansereau, 19, home to Saskatoon for what GM/head coach Kelly Kisio told the Calgary Herald are “disciplinary reasons.“ Dansereau, it turns out, was sent home after the Hitmen’s last preseason game. Kisio tap-danced like Gregory Hines around the questions of whether Dansereau would be back -- “Not necessarily. We'll see.” -- and if he is trying to trade the club’s third-leading scorer from last season -- "Not officially, but there have been enquiries.” Dansereau, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder preparing for his fourth season, is highly skilled but hasn’t yet discovered the key to playing consistently. . . . Calgary has released F Graham Telford, 18, who has WHL experience with the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Calgary D Dan Mercer (broken hand) is about three weeks away, while F Ryan Letts (knee) and D Keith Seabrook (shoulder) are at least a month away. . .
Swift Current has D Ryan Molle back after a stint with the New Jersey Devils. He’ll play Friday against the Warriors in Moose Jaw.
The Swift Current Broncos will hold a news conference on Tuesday at which they are expected to announce the purchaser of naming rights for the Centennial Civic Centre. The news conference is being held at Houston Pizza. Which leads one to suggest that perhaps Houston Pizza has purchased naming rights and that the facility will be known as the Pizza Joint. . . .
The Calgary Hitmen have sent F Keegan Dansereau, 19, home to Saskatoon for what GM/head coach Kelly Kisio told the Calgary Herald are “disciplinary reasons.“ Dansereau, it turns out, was sent home after the Hitmen’s last preseason game. Kisio tap-danced like Gregory Hines around the questions of whether Dansereau would be back -- “Not necessarily. We'll see.” -- and if he is trying to trade the club’s third-leading scorer from last season -- "Not officially, but there have been enquiries.” Dansereau, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder preparing for his fourth season, is highly skilled but hasn’t yet discovered the key to playing consistently. . . . Calgary has released F Graham Telford, 18, who has WHL experience with the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Calgary D Dan Mercer (broken hand) is about three weeks away, while F Ryan Letts (knee) and D Keith Seabrook (shoulder) are at least a month away. . .
Swift Current has D Ryan Molle back after a stint with the New Jersey Devils. He’ll play Friday against the Warriors in Moose Jaw.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Wednesday is over
Back with WHL teams after stints in NHL camps:
D Keaton Ellerby, to Kamloops from the Florida Panthers.
RW Michal Repik, to Vancouver from Florida.
C Mark Santorelli, to Chilliwack from the Nashville Predators.
F Viktor Sjodin, to Portland from Nashville.
D Jonathon Blum, to Vancouver from Nashville.
D Nick Ross, to Regina from the Phoenix Coytoes.
LW Drayson Bowman, to Spokane from the Carolina Hurricanes.
RW Spencer Machacek, to Vancouver from the Atlanta Thrashers.
C Riley Holzapfel, to Moose Jaw from Atlanta.
With Ross’s return, Regina assigned D Matt MacDermott to the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He has been out with a concussion. That move got Regina down to 24 players, including two goalies and 14 forwards. . . .
__._,_.___
RW Patrick Kane, the first pick in the NHL’s 2007 draft, made his Chicago Blackhawks debut Wednesay night and he did it on a line with former WHL’er Kris Versteeg (Lethbridge/Kamloops/Red Deer). The centre on the line was Jonathan Toews, another rookie. . . . As it turned out, Toews suffered a broken right index finter and will miss up to three weeks. . . .
The host ‘Hawks lost the game, 4-3, to Ken Hitchcock’s Columbus Blue Jackets. . . . But you know it’s the exhibition season when Manny Malhotra scores twice for Columbus. . . .
The Kelowna Rockets are a hurtin’ crew as they prepare to open the WHL season at home to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday. D Colin Joe will miss a month with a chipped bone in a wrist; freshman D Kyle Verdino (shoulder) is week-to-week, as is D/LW Matt Brusciano (concussion). LW Justin Bernhardt (groin) and LW James McEwan (flu) are day-to-day. . . . McEwan was named captain earlier this week, with the alternates being Joe, C Colin Long and D Luke Schenn. . . .
The Boston Bruins will keep LW Milan Lucic, the Vancouver Giants’ captain, through the weekend, at least. That means Lucic will miss Friday’s opener against the Winter Hawks in Portland and Saturday’s game in Everett against the Silvertips. . . . The Giants have designated rookie D Linden Saip for assignment, getting their roster to 24, which includes Lucic. They still are carrying 15 forwards, so one is likely to go soon. . . .
The CHL issued its preseason rankings, as selected by a panel of anonymous NHL scouts: 1. London Knights (OHL); 2. Calgary Hitmen (WHL); 3. Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL); 4. Everett Silvertips (WHL); 5. Niagara IceDogs (OHL); 6. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL); 7. Sarnia Sting (OHL); 8. Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL); 9. Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL); 10. Oshawa Generals (OHL). . . . You know it’s early when there are only two WHL teams in the top 10. . . . Talk about no respect: No sign of the defending Memorial Cup-champion Vancouver Giants or the defending WHL-champion Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . By season’s end, I would suggest, you may find the Kamloops Blazers, Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds or Spokane Chiefs in the hunt. . . .
Ken Schneider, a former Brandon Wheat Kings captain, is the new president of the WHL team’s Alumni Association. He takes over from Jeff Lawson, who has relocated to Kelowna (here’s hoping he knows about the goofy bridge). . . . Schneider, whose son Mark is a defenceman with the Kamloops Blazers, and Lawson will handle the opening faceoff prior to Friday’s game with the visiting Saskatoon Blades. . . . If you’re a former Wheat Kings player, check out www.wheatkings.com/alumni . . . Also taking part in the faceoff will be Mac Beaton, 78, who was on the Wheat Kings team that lost the 1949 Memorial Cup final to the Montreal Royals. . . .
RW Ryan DePape, 19, is the new captain of the Prince Albert Raiders. The alternates are to be announced Friday. . . . D Bretton Stamler is the first captain of the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings.
Don’t forget it’s the old Edmonton team (the Kootenay Ice) against the new Edmonton team (the Oil Kings) tonight as the WHL season gets rolling. . . . If you have access to Shaw Cable, the game is to be televised. If you’re like me and you don’t have cable, well, it’s the best time of year for baseball fans. . . .
Do you think New England knows that the Yankees are only a game and a half back? Or is it a case of Sleepless in New England?
D Keaton Ellerby, to Kamloops from the Florida Panthers.
RW Michal Repik, to Vancouver from Florida.
C Mark Santorelli, to Chilliwack from the Nashville Predators.
F Viktor Sjodin, to Portland from Nashville.
D Jonathon Blum, to Vancouver from Nashville.
D Nick Ross, to Regina from the Phoenix Coytoes.
LW Drayson Bowman, to Spokane from the Carolina Hurricanes.
RW Spencer Machacek, to Vancouver from the Atlanta Thrashers.
C Riley Holzapfel, to Moose Jaw from Atlanta.
With Ross’s return, Regina assigned D Matt MacDermott to the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He has been out with a concussion. That move got Regina down to 24 players, including two goalies and 14 forwards. . . .
__._,_.___
RW Patrick Kane, the first pick in the NHL’s 2007 draft, made his Chicago Blackhawks debut Wednesay night and he did it on a line with former WHL’er Kris Versteeg (Lethbridge/Kamloops/Red Deer). The centre on the line was Jonathan Toews, another rookie. . . . As it turned out, Toews suffered a broken right index finter and will miss up to three weeks. . . .
The host ‘Hawks lost the game, 4-3, to Ken Hitchcock’s Columbus Blue Jackets. . . . But you know it’s the exhibition season when Manny Malhotra scores twice for Columbus. . . .
The Kelowna Rockets are a hurtin’ crew as they prepare to open the WHL season at home to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday. D Colin Joe will miss a month with a chipped bone in a wrist; freshman D Kyle Verdino (shoulder) is week-to-week, as is D/LW Matt Brusciano (concussion). LW Justin Bernhardt (groin) and LW James McEwan (flu) are day-to-day. . . . McEwan was named captain earlier this week, with the alternates being Joe, C Colin Long and D Luke Schenn. . . .
The Boston Bruins will keep LW Milan Lucic, the Vancouver Giants’ captain, through the weekend, at least. That means Lucic will miss Friday’s opener against the Winter Hawks in Portland and Saturday’s game in Everett against the Silvertips. . . . The Giants have designated rookie D Linden Saip for assignment, getting their roster to 24, which includes Lucic. They still are carrying 15 forwards, so one is likely to go soon. . . .
The CHL issued its preseason rankings, as selected by a panel of anonymous NHL scouts: 1. London Knights (OHL); 2. Calgary Hitmen (WHL); 3. Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL); 4. Everett Silvertips (WHL); 5. Niagara IceDogs (OHL); 6. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL); 7. Sarnia Sting (OHL); 8. Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL); 9. Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL); 10. Oshawa Generals (OHL). . . . You know it’s early when there are only two WHL teams in the top 10. . . . Talk about no respect: No sign of the defending Memorial Cup-champion Vancouver Giants or the defending WHL-champion Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . By season’s end, I would suggest, you may find the Kamloops Blazers, Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds or Spokane Chiefs in the hunt. . . .
Ken Schneider, a former Brandon Wheat Kings captain, is the new president of the WHL team’s Alumni Association. He takes over from Jeff Lawson, who has relocated to Kelowna (here’s hoping he knows about the goofy bridge). . . . Schneider, whose son Mark is a defenceman with the Kamloops Blazers, and Lawson will handle the opening faceoff prior to Friday’s game with the visiting Saskatoon Blades. . . . If you’re a former Wheat Kings player, check out www.wheatkings.com/alumni . . . Also taking part in the faceoff will be Mac Beaton, 78, who was on the Wheat Kings team that lost the 1949 Memorial Cup final to the Montreal Royals. . . .
RW Ryan DePape, 19, is the new captain of the Prince Albert Raiders. The alternates are to be announced Friday. . . . D Bretton Stamler is the first captain of the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings.
Don’t forget it’s the old Edmonton team (the Kootenay Ice) against the new Edmonton team (the Oil Kings) tonight as the WHL season gets rolling. . . . If you have access to Shaw Cable, the game is to be televised. If you’re like me and you don’t have cable, well, it’s the best time of year for baseball fans. . . .
Do you think New England knows that the Yankees are only a game and a half back? Or is it a case of Sleepless in New England?
A look at WHL coaches . . .
Dean Clark, the general manager and head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, goes into this season looking to crack the WHL’s 400 Club.
Clark, who is into his 12th season as a WHL coach, goes into the regular season with 376 victories, 10th on the alltime list and most among active coaches. He also has coached the Calgary Hitmen and Brandon Wheat Kings.
Bryan Maxwell, who coached the Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Chiefs and Lethbridge Hurricanes, is ninth, with 397 victories.
Three other active coaches have more than 300 victories. Lorne Molleken of the Saskatoon Blades is 12th, with 342. Former Blazers head coach Don Hay, now with the Vancouver Giants, is 14th at 339, and Don Nachbaur of the Tri-City Americans is 15th at 336.
Clark, although only 43 years of age, is the dean of WHL coaches. This will be his 12th season as a head coach. Molleken and Nachbaur are going into their 11th seasons, while Hay is into his 10th.
But it’s Willie Desjardins who has been with his present team the longest.
Desjardins, the general manager and head coach of the defending-champion Medicine Hat Tigers, turned down an offer from the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes to take over as head coach of the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. He has been with the Tigers through five complete seasons. However, Desjardins, who turned 50 on Feb. 11, isn’t the oldest coach in the WHL.
That honour (?) goes to Hay. At 53, the Kamloops native likely would prefer to be known as the most mature of the coaches. Other head coaches to have surpassed 50 years of age are Molleken and Brian Sutter, a veteran NHL coach who is giving the WHL a whirl with the Red Deer Rebels, who are owned by his brother, Brent.
The youngest head coach in the WHL? That would be Ryan Huska of the Kelowna Rockets, who is 32.
It’s interesting that Hay and Huska are the only people in history to have won four Memorial Cups. Hay won three while on the coaching staff of the Blazers and one as head coach of the Giants. Huska was on those championship Blazers teams and also won one as an assistant coach with the Rockets.
Nine teams have head coaches who weren’t there when the previous season began. All the changes came after a relatively quite 2005-06 season during which there only were two coaching changes, those coming with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince George Cougars.
Gone from the WHL are veteran coaches like Kevin Constantine (Everett Silvertips to the AHL’s Houston Aeros), Cory Clouston, (Kootenay Ice to the AHL’s Binghamton Senators), Jeff Truitt (Kelowna to the AHL’s Springfield Falcons), and Brent Sutter (Red Deer to the NHL’s New Jersey Devils). Veteran WHL coaches Mike Williamson (Portland Winter Hawks) and Peter Anholt (Prince Albert Raiders) ended up on the outside looking in and, to this point, remain at that vantage point.
Steve Pleau, an assistant coach with the Spokane Chiefs last season, is the head coach of the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings, so he is the new kid on the block so to speak.
Here’s a look at the WHL’s 22 head coaches, showing ages on opening night and length of service with present team:
John Becanic, Everett Silvertips (41) — May 31, 2007, to present.
Bruno Campese, Prince Albert Raiders (44 ) — June 21, 2007, to present.
Dean Chynoweth, Swift Current Broncos (38) — June 16, 2004, to present.
Dean Clark, Kamloops Blazers (43) — May 16, 2003, to Nov. 12, 2004; Dec. 8, 2005, to present.
Willie Desjardins, Medicine Hat Tigers (50) — July 22, 2002, to present.
Michael Dyck, Lethbridge Hurricanes (39) — Nov. 8, 2005, to present.
Don Hay, Vancouver Giants (53) — May 3, 2004, to present.
Jim Hiller, Chilliwack Bruins (38) — May 30, 2006, to present.
Mark Holick, Kootenay Ice (39) — Aug. 7, 2007, to present.
Dave Hunchak, Moose Jaw Warriors (33) — June 14, 2007, to present.
Curtis Hunt, Regina Pats (40): May 26, 2004, to present.
Ryan Huska, Kelowna Rockets (32) — July 25, 2007, to present.
Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen (48) — May 18, 2004, to present.
Richard Kromm, Portland Winter Hawks (43) — Aug. 8, 2007, to present
Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings (46) — Dec. 17, 1989 to Nov. 11, 1992; March 2, 2004, to present.
Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon Blades (51) — May 21, 2004, to present.
Don Nachbaur, Tri-City Americans (48) — June 16, 2003, to present.
Bill Peters, Spokane Chiefs (42) — June 22, 2005, to present.
Steve Pleau, Edmonton Oil Kings (34) — June 21, 2007, to present.
Drew Schoneck, Prince George Cougars (33) — June 18, 2007, to present.
Rob Sumner, Seattle Thunderbirds (36) — May 6, 2004, to present.
Brian Sutter, Red Deer Rebels (50) — July 12, 2007, to present.
NOTE: Chynoweth, Clark, Desjardins, Kisio, McCrimmon and Molleken double as general managers.
Clark, who is into his 12th season as a WHL coach, goes into the regular season with 376 victories, 10th on the alltime list and most among active coaches. He also has coached the Calgary Hitmen and Brandon Wheat Kings.
Bryan Maxwell, who coached the Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Chiefs and Lethbridge Hurricanes, is ninth, with 397 victories.
Three other active coaches have more than 300 victories. Lorne Molleken of the Saskatoon Blades is 12th, with 342. Former Blazers head coach Don Hay, now with the Vancouver Giants, is 14th at 339, and Don Nachbaur of the Tri-City Americans is 15th at 336.
Clark, although only 43 years of age, is the dean of WHL coaches. This will be his 12th season as a head coach. Molleken and Nachbaur are going into their 11th seasons, while Hay is into his 10th.
But it’s Willie Desjardins who has been with his present team the longest.
Desjardins, the general manager and head coach of the defending-champion Medicine Hat Tigers, turned down an offer from the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes to take over as head coach of the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. He has been with the Tigers through five complete seasons. However, Desjardins, who turned 50 on Feb. 11, isn’t the oldest coach in the WHL.
That honour (?) goes to Hay. At 53, the Kamloops native likely would prefer to be known as the most mature of the coaches. Other head coaches to have surpassed 50 years of age are Molleken and Brian Sutter, a veteran NHL coach who is giving the WHL a whirl with the Red Deer Rebels, who are owned by his brother, Brent.
The youngest head coach in the WHL? That would be Ryan Huska of the Kelowna Rockets, who is 32.
It’s interesting that Hay and Huska are the only people in history to have won four Memorial Cups. Hay won three while on the coaching staff of the Blazers and one as head coach of the Giants. Huska was on those championship Blazers teams and also won one as an assistant coach with the Rockets.
Nine teams have head coaches who weren’t there when the previous season began. All the changes came after a relatively quite 2005-06 season during which there only were two coaching changes, those coming with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince George Cougars.
Gone from the WHL are veteran coaches like Kevin Constantine (Everett Silvertips to the AHL’s Houston Aeros), Cory Clouston, (Kootenay Ice to the AHL’s Binghamton Senators), Jeff Truitt (Kelowna to the AHL’s Springfield Falcons), and Brent Sutter (Red Deer to the NHL’s New Jersey Devils). Veteran WHL coaches Mike Williamson (Portland Winter Hawks) and Peter Anholt (Prince Albert Raiders) ended up on the outside looking in and, to this point, remain at that vantage point.
Steve Pleau, an assistant coach with the Spokane Chiefs last season, is the head coach of the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings, so he is the new kid on the block so to speak.
Here’s a look at the WHL’s 22 head coaches, showing ages on opening night and length of service with present team:
John Becanic, Everett Silvertips (41) — May 31, 2007, to present.
Bruno Campese, Prince Albert Raiders (44 ) — June 21, 2007, to present.
Dean Chynoweth, Swift Current Broncos (38) — June 16, 2004, to present.
Dean Clark, Kamloops Blazers (43) — May 16, 2003, to Nov. 12, 2004; Dec. 8, 2005, to present.
Willie Desjardins, Medicine Hat Tigers (50) — July 22, 2002, to present.
Michael Dyck, Lethbridge Hurricanes (39) — Nov. 8, 2005, to present.
Don Hay, Vancouver Giants (53) — May 3, 2004, to present.
Jim Hiller, Chilliwack Bruins (38) — May 30, 2006, to present.
Mark Holick, Kootenay Ice (39) — Aug. 7, 2007, to present.
Dave Hunchak, Moose Jaw Warriors (33) — June 14, 2007, to present.
Curtis Hunt, Regina Pats (40): May 26, 2004, to present.
Ryan Huska, Kelowna Rockets (32) — July 25, 2007, to present.
Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen (48) — May 18, 2004, to present.
Richard Kromm, Portland Winter Hawks (43) — Aug. 8, 2007, to present
Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings (46) — Dec. 17, 1989 to Nov. 11, 1992; March 2, 2004, to present.
Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon Blades (51) — May 21, 2004, to present.
Don Nachbaur, Tri-City Americans (48) — June 16, 2003, to present.
Bill Peters, Spokane Chiefs (42) — June 22, 2005, to present.
Steve Pleau, Edmonton Oil Kings (34) — June 21, 2007, to present.
Drew Schoneck, Prince George Cougars (33) — June 18, 2007, to present.
Rob Sumner, Seattle Thunderbirds (36) — May 6, 2004, to present.
Brian Sutter, Red Deer Rebels (50) — July 12, 2007, to present.
NOTE: Chynoweth, Clark, Desjardins, Kisio, McCrimmon and Molleken double as general managers.
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