The Score – Kootenay 5 – Regina 3
What Happened – On the night the city honoured WHL legend Ed Chynoweth, his hockey team offered one of their best efforts of the season and got another step closer to the WHL Playoffs.
One star out, another in – The Pats had two of their stars – defenseman Colten Teubert and forward Brett Leffler – questionable before they dropped the puck Friday. Tuebert, who suffered a cut leg in the Pats 6-3 loss to the Hitmen Wednesday, played but Leffler didn’t and is expected to miss at least a week with a strained MCL.
The Goals – The Ice started the game with jump and the early results showed it. Drew Czwerwonka neatly deflected his 13th past Linden Rowat 5:53 into the game… With Czerwonka gone for instigating a fight with Colten Teubert, Dominic Pacovsky blocked a Pats power play point shot and sent Bailey off the races. He roofed his 23rd and sent Rowat packing for the evening…Tuebert punched his 11th past Todd Mathews with a point shot that Mathews would’ve liked back 1:27 into the second… Kootenay’s power play kicked in later in the second when Kevin King potted his 19th into a gaping net after the Ice tic-tac-toe’d their first power play marker of the game just after a two-man advantage had expired… Tylan Stephens deflected his 24th past Rowat’s replacement, Damien Ketlo on a Hayden Rintoul point-shot to give the home side a 4-1 lead after two… In the third Neal Prokop potted his 4th after super-rookie Jordan Weal dangled through Rintoul after his partner Eric Frere was fingered for the delayed-penalty, fired the puck on Mathews who stopped the puck, only to have it trickle past him for Prokop to bang in the easy one… Halfway through the game Bailey was sent in on yet another breakaway but beat to the puck by Tuebert. Bailey promptly lifted Tuebert’s stick and then beat Ketlo stick-side… Matt Delahey roofed his 6th 32 seconds later when Dominik Favreau sent a nice cross-ice feed in front of Mathews that he had no chance on to make it 5-3.
The mystery that is the Pats – This team, from the top down has a line-up thick with big name players, but they show it rarely. Released Thursday was Jesse Dudas, a 20-year-old talented d-man acquired from the Broncos just before the deadline. Was he a cancer in the room? Does it matter? The Pats still lose their third in a row and have lost 13 of their last 16 games
The Turning Point – With the Pats down 2-1 and pressing for the tying goal goaltender Todd Mathews made a great stop on Jordan Eberle. Not long after Matt Robertson took a mysterious high-sticking penalty that he vehemently protested. Victor Bartley took a lazy hooking penalty and suddenly the Pats are down 5-on-3. King scores late on the two-man advantage, surviving the Pats comeback attempt.
Jersey of their backs – Game-worn jerseys were available for silent auction as fans raised over $9400 for the jerseys at the seasons end.
KIJHL Update – The Kimberley Dynamiters took a 2-1 quarter-final series lead with a 6-5 OT win over the Creston Valley Thunder Friday at the Civic Centre. Lethbridge Hurricane list player Matt Wilkins, who is bound for the NCAA’s University of Alaska, had a goal and an assist… The Golden Rockets held off the Fernie Ghostriders 3-2 to get back into that series. The Ghostriders lead 2-1.
The Crowd – 4015 – A great crowd full of energy to honour the man who brought WHL hockey to the Kootenays. A plaque will be on display in the Rec Plex Wall of Fame and a replica of his Hockey Hall of Fame banner will hang in the Rec Plex rafters beside the club’s 2002 Memorial Cup banner.
KNA Three Stars
1. RW Andrew Bailey – Two goals and an assist.
2. LW Kevin King – Dominant
3. D Colten Teubert – Logged over 30 minutes scored a goal.
What it means – Kootenay gets their 30th win of the season moving up to 30-26-2-6 and still 6th in the Eastern Conference, one point up on the Lethbridge Hurricanes who won 5-2 in Moose Jaw Friday. Edmonton lost in Swift Current, in overtime, while the Raiders lost in Medicine Hat to Tyler Ennis, who scored all six of the Tigers goals. Kootenay’s magic number now sits at three; Any combination of Kootenay wins and Prince Albert losses equalling three puts Kootenay into the WHL Playoffs.
Up Next – The Ice travel to Medicine Hat to take on the Tigers Saturday night.
Game Summary:
Pats 3 @ Ice 5
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Regina Pats and the Kootenay Ice; February 27, 2009
Andrew Bailey scored two goals and added an assist as the Kootenay Ice defeated the Regina Pats 5-3 in WHL action Friday night.
Kootenay took a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Drew Czerwonka, with his 13th, and Bailey with his 23rd before the Pats cut the lead in half in the second period on Colten Tuebert's 11th of the season. The Ice scored two more goals in the second, by Kevin King with his 19th, and Tylans Stephens with his 24th and the eventual game-winner to take a 4-1 lead into the third period.
The Pats sandwiched two goals around Bailey's second of the night and 24th of the season but it was not enough as the Ice held on for the 5-3 win.
Todd Mathews stopped 20 of 23 shots to get the win while Linden Rowat stopped 9 of 11 shots before being pulled in favour of Damien Ketlo, who stopped 21 of 24 shots.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Czerwonka 13 (Barteaux, Fox) 5:53
2. Kootenay, Bailey 23 (Antilla, Frere) 9:57 (sh)
Penalties -- Teubert Reg (inteference, fighting) Bartley Reg (misconduct) Czerwonka Ktn (instigator, fighting, misconduct) Machacek (misconduct) 6:41, Pacovsky Ktn (hooking) 8:38,
Second Period
3. Regina, Teubert 11 (Weal, Eberle) 1:27 (pp)
4. Kootenay, King 19 (McNabb, Bailey) 11:09 (pp)
5. Kootenay, Stephens 24 (Rintoul, King) 15:10 (pp)
Penalties -- McNabb Ktn (high-sticking) 1:08, Rintoul Ktn (slashing) 4:24, Robertson Reg (high-sticking) 9:08, Bartley Reg (holding) 10:26, Favreau Reg (checking-from-behind) Hood Reg (misconduct) 14:15, Rintoul Ktn (tripping) 17:53.
Third Period
6. Regina, Prokop 4 (Weal) 5:33
7. Kootenay, Bailey 24 (Pacovsky) 9:58
8. Regina, Delahey 6 (Czerveny, Favreau) 10:30
Penalties -- Fox Ktn (interference) 7:47, Hricina Reg Rintoul Ktn (roughing) 10:30, Strueby Reg (roughing) 16:58, King Ktn (hooking) 19:45,
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 11 11 13 - 35
Regina: 4 10 9 - 23
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 12-15-0-3); Regina: Linden Rowat (L, 18-23-1-3).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 2-4
Regina: 1-5
Referee -- Devin Klein, Sean Raphael. Linesman -- Matthew Barker, Jim Maniago.
Attendance -- 4015 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Liuewen (concussion - indefinite), James Martin (game three of three-game WHL suspension), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 1-3 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 4-6 weeks), Steele Boomer(concussion - week to week).
Regina: Justin Slobozian (Leg - indefinite), Dominic Perrault (healthy), Brett Leffler (MCL strain - one week).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Score - Ice/PA
The Score – Prince Albert 5 – Kootenay 3
What Happened – The Raiders looked like a desperate team that wanted to make the playoffs. The Ice didn’t.
Out of the slump – 18-year-old forward James Dobrowolski had a career night, scoring his first hat-trick and his first goal in eighteen games, though the first goal looked like it was deflected and could be changed
The Shots – If you looked at the shot totals you’d think that Kootenay peppered shot after shot at Garrett Zemlak for a total of 42 on the night. This game was anything but a 42 shot effort. The score flattered the home side.
The Goalies – Garrett Zemlak, who played well here last season as a member of the Saskatoon Blades, was solid Wednesday night but not spectacular as the shot totals might suggest. Todd Mathews at the other end, who was yanked after the Raiders fifth goal, wasn’t as bad as the score indicated when he was pulled but received little help from his teammates.
The Turning Point – With the Raiders up 1-0 after Dobrowolski’s first goal, Kootenay was on a power play and pressing for the tying goal, Hayden Rintoul teed-up the point shot but took too long and Brandon Herrod blocked it and was off to the races, scoring a short-handed goal, deflated the crowd and the Ice along with it.
The Boo-birds – At one time, with the Raiders 5-1 with over twelve minutes left in the game, the Ice were still playing the 1-2-2 trap, to a chorus of boos from the Rec Plex faithful.
The Ryan’s – The Raiders lead the league in players named Ryan with five: Kowalski, Button, Harrison, Aasman and McDonald. All but the last two figured in the scoring for the feisty Raiders.
The Referendum – Almost ten years to the day voters in Cranbrook voted to fund building the Rec Plex to the tune of $22.5 million by a 55% Yes vote, voters in Moose Jaw voted by a 60% Yes vote Wednesday – for the second time in as many years – to fund a $61 million new ‘Plex of which $34.5 will come from city coffers. The other $27 million will be raised from other levels of government. The new complex, to replace the aging Civic Centre – aka the Crushed Can – which was built in 1959, will include an arena similar in size to the Rec Plex (4500 seats) and a curling rink.
KIJHL Update – The Creston Valley Thunder, trailing the Kimberley Dynamiters 3-1 early in the third period in Creston Wednesday night scored three, third period goals to win game two of their KIJHL Best-of-seven quarter-final series 4-3 and tie the series at a game a piece. Game three goes Friday at the Civic Centre in Kimberley. In the other Eddie Mountain Division series the Fernie Ghostrides won 2-1 in overtime to take a 2-0 series lead over the Golden Rockets.
Ed Chynoweth Night – The City of Cranbrook will honour the late Ice owner with a tribute and a Bronze plaque for the Rec Plex Wall of Fame Friday night when the Ice host the Pats. Local businesses Nutters Bulk and Natural Foods and Law firm Rella and Paolini have donated 300 tickets for laid-off Tembec workers and their families. The forest company is currently shut-down affecting over 1000 workers in the region. Tickets can be picked up at Rella and Paolini in Cranbrook. If you're wondering, in my other life, yes, I'm part of that 1000.
The Crowd – 3707; Large but not very happy on this night at the 5-3 score for the visitors and the fact that the 50/50 was won by a lady from Calgary. They booed her too.
KNA Three Stars
1. LW James Dobrowolski – Scored the hat-trick to break the slump
2. RW Brandon Herrod – A goal and two assists; dangerous all night
3. C Ryan Harrison – Two assists; another dangerous player.
What it means – Kootenay drops to 29-26-2-6 and 66 points, still good for sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Ice are a point up on the Hurricanes, who lost to Brandon Wednesday, and five up on the Raiders and Oil Kings, who also won Wednesday night.
Up Next – The Ice face another desperate team Friday when they host the Regina Pats, who lost Wednesday to the Calgary Hitmen 6-3. The Pats are ten points back of the Ice and five points out of a playoff spot. Kootenay’s magic number, the number of Ice wins or Oil Kings losses that add up to an Ice playoff spot, remains at five.
Game Summary:
Raiders 5 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Prince Albert Raiders and the Kootenay Ice; February 25, 2009
James Dobrowolski scored a hat-trick to lead the Prince Albert Raiders to a 5-3 win over the Kootenay Ice in WHL action Wednesday. The Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Dobrowolski, with his eighth on the year and first in eighteen games, and Brandon Herrod with his 14th before Ian Barteaux got his sixth with the Ice on a power play to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Raiders went up 3-1 when Dobrowolski got his second of the night and 9th on the season. The teams would trade two goals each in the third period as the Raiders went up 5-1 at one point on Dobrowolski's third of the evening and Ryan Kowalski's first of the season. Drew Czerwonka and Brayden McNabb would add power play singles to make it close late in the third.
Garrett Zemlak stopped 39 of 42 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews, who was replaced by Scott Orth for the second time in the last three games, stopped 20 of 25 shots in a losing cause.
First Period
1. Prince Albert, Dobrowolski 8 (Herrod, Golz) 6:40 (pp)
2. Prince Albert, Herrod 14 13:46 (sh)
3. Kootenay, Barteaux 6 (Stephens, King) 18:17 (pp)
Penalties -- King Ktn (hooking) 4:03, McNabb Ktn (interference) 5:32, Tendler PA (checking-from-behind) 8:43, Dobrowolski PA (tripping) 12:34, Fox Ktn (goaltender interference) 14:48, Button PA (hooking) 16:39, Button PA Pacovsky Ktn (roughing) 19:45.
Second Period
4. Prince Albert, Dobrowlski 9 (Harrison) 2:10
Penalties -- Rowley PA (hooking) 18:04, Herrod PA (roughing) 20:00.
Third Period
5. Prince Albert, Dobrowolski 8 (Rowely, Herrod) 4:45 (pp)
6. Prince Albert, Kowalski 1 (Harrison, Button) 7:28
7. Kootenay, Czerwonka 12 (Rintoul, Machacek) 16:43 (pp)
8. Kootenay, McNabb 9 (Reinhart, Frere) 19:32 (pp)
Penalties -- McNabb Ktn (double checking-from-behind- served by Reinhart, fighting) MacAngus PA (instigating, fighting, misconduct) 4:27, Bernhardt PA (slashing) McDonald (slashing), Barteaux Ktn (cross-checking) 14:55, Hickmott PA (roughing, fighting) Czerwonka Ktn (roughing, fighting) 18:26, Harrison PA Magnus Ktn (fighting) 18:53, Thiessen PA (interference) 19:25.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 14 15 13 - 42
Prince Albert: 9 10 9 - 29
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (L, 11-15-0-3 - Orth 7:28 of third; 4 of 4 saves); Prince Albert: Garrett Zemlak (W, 14-10-0-1).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 3-7
Prince Albert: 2-4
Referee -- Tyler Johnson, Colby Smith. Linesman -- Mathew Barker, Jim Maniago.
Attendance -- 3707 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 4-6 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - week-to-week), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 1-3 weeks), James Martin (game two of three-game WHL suspension).
Prince Albert: Jordan Kochan (healthy), Dustin Cameron (ankle sprain), Pat Kozyra (shoulder).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
What Happened – The Raiders looked like a desperate team that wanted to make the playoffs. The Ice didn’t.
Out of the slump – 18-year-old forward James Dobrowolski had a career night, scoring his first hat-trick and his first goal in eighteen games, though the first goal looked like it was deflected and could be changed
The Shots – If you looked at the shot totals you’d think that Kootenay peppered shot after shot at Garrett Zemlak for a total of 42 on the night. This game was anything but a 42 shot effort. The score flattered the home side.
The Goalies – Garrett Zemlak, who played well here last season as a member of the Saskatoon Blades, was solid Wednesday night but not spectacular as the shot totals might suggest. Todd Mathews at the other end, who was yanked after the Raiders fifth goal, wasn’t as bad as the score indicated when he was pulled but received little help from his teammates.
The Turning Point – With the Raiders up 1-0 after Dobrowolski’s first goal, Kootenay was on a power play and pressing for the tying goal, Hayden Rintoul teed-up the point shot but took too long and Brandon Herrod blocked it and was off to the races, scoring a short-handed goal, deflated the crowd and the Ice along with it.
The Boo-birds – At one time, with the Raiders 5-1 with over twelve minutes left in the game, the Ice were still playing the 1-2-2 trap, to a chorus of boos from the Rec Plex faithful.
The Ryan’s – The Raiders lead the league in players named Ryan with five: Kowalski, Button, Harrison, Aasman and McDonald. All but the last two figured in the scoring for the feisty Raiders.
The Referendum – Almost ten years to the day voters in Cranbrook voted to fund building the Rec Plex to the tune of $22.5 million by a 55% Yes vote, voters in Moose Jaw voted by a 60% Yes vote Wednesday – for the second time in as many years – to fund a $61 million new ‘Plex of which $34.5 will come from city coffers. The other $27 million will be raised from other levels of government. The new complex, to replace the aging Civic Centre – aka the Crushed Can – which was built in 1959, will include an arena similar in size to the Rec Plex (4500 seats) and a curling rink.
KIJHL Update – The Creston Valley Thunder, trailing the Kimberley Dynamiters 3-1 early in the third period in Creston Wednesday night scored three, third period goals to win game two of their KIJHL Best-of-seven quarter-final series 4-3 and tie the series at a game a piece. Game three goes Friday at the Civic Centre in Kimberley. In the other Eddie Mountain Division series the Fernie Ghostrides won 2-1 in overtime to take a 2-0 series lead over the Golden Rockets.
Ed Chynoweth Night – The City of Cranbrook will honour the late Ice owner with a tribute and a Bronze plaque for the Rec Plex Wall of Fame Friday night when the Ice host the Pats. Local businesses Nutters Bulk and Natural Foods and Law firm Rella and Paolini have donated 300 tickets for laid-off Tembec workers and their families. The forest company is currently shut-down affecting over 1000 workers in the region. Tickets can be picked up at Rella and Paolini in Cranbrook. If you're wondering, in my other life, yes, I'm part of that 1000.
The Crowd – 3707; Large but not very happy on this night at the 5-3 score for the visitors and the fact that the 50/50 was won by a lady from Calgary. They booed her too.
KNA Three Stars
1. LW James Dobrowolski – Scored the hat-trick to break the slump
2. RW Brandon Herrod – A goal and two assists; dangerous all night
3. C Ryan Harrison – Two assists; another dangerous player.
What it means – Kootenay drops to 29-26-2-6 and 66 points, still good for sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Ice are a point up on the Hurricanes, who lost to Brandon Wednesday, and five up on the Raiders and Oil Kings, who also won Wednesday night.
Up Next – The Ice face another desperate team Friday when they host the Regina Pats, who lost Wednesday to the Calgary Hitmen 6-3. The Pats are ten points back of the Ice and five points out of a playoff spot. Kootenay’s magic number, the number of Ice wins or Oil Kings losses that add up to an Ice playoff spot, remains at five.
Game Summary:
Raiders 5 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Prince Albert Raiders and the Kootenay Ice; February 25, 2009
James Dobrowolski scored a hat-trick to lead the Prince Albert Raiders to a 5-3 win over the Kootenay Ice in WHL action Wednesday. The Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Dobrowolski, with his eighth on the year and first in eighteen games, and Brandon Herrod with his 14th before Ian Barteaux got his sixth with the Ice on a power play to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Raiders went up 3-1 when Dobrowolski got his second of the night and 9th on the season. The teams would trade two goals each in the third period as the Raiders went up 5-1 at one point on Dobrowolski's third of the evening and Ryan Kowalski's first of the season. Drew Czerwonka and Brayden McNabb would add power play singles to make it close late in the third.
Garrett Zemlak stopped 39 of 42 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews, who was replaced by Scott Orth for the second time in the last three games, stopped 20 of 25 shots in a losing cause.
First Period
1. Prince Albert, Dobrowolski 8 (Herrod, Golz) 6:40 (pp)
2. Prince Albert, Herrod 14 13:46 (sh)
3. Kootenay, Barteaux 6 (Stephens, King) 18:17 (pp)
Penalties -- King Ktn (hooking) 4:03, McNabb Ktn (interference) 5:32, Tendler PA (checking-from-behind) 8:43, Dobrowolski PA (tripping) 12:34, Fox Ktn (goaltender interference) 14:48, Button PA (hooking) 16:39, Button PA Pacovsky Ktn (roughing) 19:45.
Second Period
4. Prince Albert, Dobrowlski 9 (Harrison) 2:10
Penalties -- Rowley PA (hooking) 18:04, Herrod PA (roughing) 20:00.
Third Period
5. Prince Albert, Dobrowolski 8 (Rowely, Herrod) 4:45 (pp)
6. Prince Albert, Kowalski 1 (Harrison, Button) 7:28
7. Kootenay, Czerwonka 12 (Rintoul, Machacek) 16:43 (pp)
8. Kootenay, McNabb 9 (Reinhart, Frere) 19:32 (pp)
Penalties -- McNabb Ktn (double checking-from-behind- served by Reinhart, fighting) MacAngus PA (instigating, fighting, misconduct) 4:27, Bernhardt PA (slashing) McDonald (slashing), Barteaux Ktn (cross-checking) 14:55, Hickmott PA (roughing, fighting) Czerwonka Ktn (roughing, fighting) 18:26, Harrison PA Magnus Ktn (fighting) 18:53, Thiessen PA (interference) 19:25.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 14 15 13 - 42
Prince Albert: 9 10 9 - 29
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (L, 11-15-0-3 - Orth 7:28 of third; 4 of 4 saves); Prince Albert: Garrett Zemlak (W, 14-10-0-1).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 3-7
Prince Albert: 2-4
Referee -- Tyler Johnson, Colby Smith. Linesman -- Mathew Barker, Jim Maniago.
Attendance -- 3707 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 4-6 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - week-to-week), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 1-3 weeks), James Martin (game two of three-game WHL suspension).
Prince Albert: Jordan Kochan (healthy), Dustin Cameron (ankle sprain), Pat Kozyra (shoulder).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
More suspension...
Some updated stuff post-suspension with comment from WHL VP Richard Doerksen, for the News-Advertiser - UPDATE - The Raiders leading scorer and 19-year-old captain, Dustin Cameron, will not play tonight after suffering a high-ankle sprain in practice Monday. The injury could be a big blow to the Raiders playoff hopes as they currently tied with the Oil Kings for the final playoff spot.
Ice defenseman suspended after road trip
by Jeff Bromley
The Kootenay Ice managed just one win on the club’s three-game road swing through Saskatchewan last weekend but fortunately it was the one the club needed to put more real estate between themselves and the Raiders in pursuit of a Eastern Conference playoff spot after a 3-2 overtime win Sunday night. At the same time the trip was overshadowed by the suspension of defenseman James Martin following a league investigation of a derogatory comment uttered during the club’s 5-3 loss to Saskatoon Saturday night.
At 14:47 of the second period Saturday with the scored tied at two both Martin and Blade forward Darian Dziurzynski were issued roughing minors after a scuffle. In the process of being escorted to the penalty box one of the linesman heard Martin utter a racial slur in the direction of another Blade forward Josh Nicholls. While the ethnicity of Nicholls, who hails from Tsawwassen, BC, is not known, Dziurzynski is Metis. Martin, who wasn’t available for comment on the issue, maintains he didn’t say it, and the team is reluctant to comment on something that they didn’t hear. “I didn’t hear anything,” said Ice head coach Mark Holick. “I talked to him about it and (Martin) said he didn’t say it. Other than that I’m not going to comment any further.”
The league's investigation however found otherwise and Tuesday the WHL issued a three-game suspension to Martin, who was held out of Sunday’s overtime win over the Raiders in Prince Albert at the league’s request. Sunday will be the first game of the suspension. “We deemed that he made the comment,” said WHL vice-president Richard Doerksen, the league’s disciplinarian. “In discussions with (Martin) he said he didn’t say it and that always makes it a little difficult from our perspective but the linesman was very clear and you can see in the video that the linesman was beside (Martin) the entire time along with one of the Saskatoon Blades who heard the same comment so we levied the suspension accordingly.”
In the heat of battle on the ice it is difficult to prove one way or the other what was exactly was said but Doerksen said after interviewing both the linesman and the Blade players that heard the comment, the stories were consistent. “We ask the officials to report on the matter if they hear a comment of that nature,” said Doerksen. “I talked with the Saskatoon players and the wording that was given by the linesman was exactly what (Nicholls) said he was told.”
The comments aren’t something that occurs everyday in the WHL but through league-initiated training of its players at the beginning of the season it’s hoped that the education of players and their diverse backgrounds would curb such incidents. “Going back over the years we have had situations of inappropriate comments that have been made but it’s certainly been awhile and we anticipate that’ll be awhile before we have another one," continued Doerksen. "If you look at our league now we have many different nationalities of players within our league and we do go through with teams at the start of the year to make sure players are aware of that. There’s going to be comments made in the heat of the moment from player to player but they cannot contain a racial tone.”
Quick Hits - Before Wednesday key match-up with the Raiders at the Rec Plex Kootenay did manage two points with an overtime victory in Prince Albert. Two goals by import forward Dominic Pacovsky, including the OT winner, ended the three-game swing on a positive note after losses in Swift Current and Saskatoon. Pacovsky’s goal, his 7th of the season with 1:09 left in the five minute overtime period, gave the Ice a 29-25-2-6 record on the season before the return bill of the home-and-home between the two clubs Wednesday at the Rec Plex, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference, one point up on the Lethbridge Hurricanes and seven up on the Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot. Ice blue-liner Brayden McNabb, 17, playing a few hours north of his Davidson, Saskatchewan hometown put on an offensive show over the weekend, scoring 2 goals and adding 4 assists. “He was good all weekend long,” said Holick of McNabb. “He was good in all three zones and logged a lot of minutes this weekend.”… The club’s luck on the injury front continued over the weekend as captain Andrew Bailey went down with a shoulder injury Friday forcing him to halt his consecutive game streak at 279 dating back to his rookie season in 2005-06. Had he completed this season intact the 20-year-old would’ve fallen just one short of tying the team record of 289 straight games set by Adam Taylor in 2004-05. Fortunately it isn‘t a serious injury and the captain will likely return by the weekend. “He felt better Sunday and tried to get back into the line-up and we had to really chain him down to keep him out. He just wants to play every night and it drives him crazy sitting out.”... With the win Sunday any combination of Kootenay wins or Edmonton losses equalling five puts the Ice in the WHL playoffs.
Ice defenseman suspended after road trip
by Jeff Bromley
The Kootenay Ice managed just one win on the club’s three-game road swing through Saskatchewan last weekend but fortunately it was the one the club needed to put more real estate between themselves and the Raiders in pursuit of a Eastern Conference playoff spot after a 3-2 overtime win Sunday night. At the same time the trip was overshadowed by the suspension of defenseman James Martin following a league investigation of a derogatory comment uttered during the club’s 5-3 loss to Saskatoon Saturday night.
At 14:47 of the second period Saturday with the scored tied at two both Martin and Blade forward Darian Dziurzynski were issued roughing minors after a scuffle. In the process of being escorted to the penalty box one of the linesman heard Martin utter a racial slur in the direction of another Blade forward Josh Nicholls. While the ethnicity of Nicholls, who hails from Tsawwassen, BC, is not known, Dziurzynski is Metis. Martin, who wasn’t available for comment on the issue, maintains he didn’t say it, and the team is reluctant to comment on something that they didn’t hear. “I didn’t hear anything,” said Ice head coach Mark Holick. “I talked to him about it and (Martin) said he didn’t say it. Other than that I’m not going to comment any further.”
The league's investigation however found otherwise and Tuesday the WHL issued a three-game suspension to Martin, who was held out of Sunday’s overtime win over the Raiders in Prince Albert at the league’s request. Sunday will be the first game of the suspension. “We deemed that he made the comment,” said WHL vice-president Richard Doerksen, the league’s disciplinarian. “In discussions with (Martin) he said he didn’t say it and that always makes it a little difficult from our perspective but the linesman was very clear and you can see in the video that the linesman was beside (Martin) the entire time along with one of the Saskatoon Blades who heard the same comment so we levied the suspension accordingly.”
In the heat of battle on the ice it is difficult to prove one way or the other what was exactly was said but Doerksen said after interviewing both the linesman and the Blade players that heard the comment, the stories were consistent. “We ask the officials to report on the matter if they hear a comment of that nature,” said Doerksen. “I talked with the Saskatoon players and the wording that was given by the linesman was exactly what (Nicholls) said he was told.”
The comments aren’t something that occurs everyday in the WHL but through league-initiated training of its players at the beginning of the season it’s hoped that the education of players and their diverse backgrounds would curb such incidents. “Going back over the years we have had situations of inappropriate comments that have been made but it’s certainly been awhile and we anticipate that’ll be awhile before we have another one," continued Doerksen. "If you look at our league now we have many different nationalities of players within our league and we do go through with teams at the start of the year to make sure players are aware of that. There’s going to be comments made in the heat of the moment from player to player but they cannot contain a racial tone.”
Quick Hits - Before Wednesday key match-up with the Raiders at the Rec Plex Kootenay did manage two points with an overtime victory in Prince Albert. Two goals by import forward Dominic Pacovsky, including the OT winner, ended the three-game swing on a positive note after losses in Swift Current and Saskatoon. Pacovsky’s goal, his 7th of the season with 1:09 left in the five minute overtime period, gave the Ice a 29-25-2-6 record on the season before the return bill of the home-and-home between the two clubs Wednesday at the Rec Plex, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference, one point up on the Lethbridge Hurricanes and seven up on the Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot. Ice blue-liner Brayden McNabb, 17, playing a few hours north of his Davidson, Saskatchewan hometown put on an offensive show over the weekend, scoring 2 goals and adding 4 assists. “He was good all weekend long,” said Holick of McNabb. “He was good in all three zones and logged a lot of minutes this weekend.”… The club’s luck on the injury front continued over the weekend as captain Andrew Bailey went down with a shoulder injury Friday forcing him to halt his consecutive game streak at 279 dating back to his rookie season in 2005-06. Had he completed this season intact the 20-year-old would’ve fallen just one short of tying the team record of 289 straight games set by Adam Taylor in 2004-05. Fortunately it isn‘t a serious injury and the captain will likely return by the weekend. “He felt better Sunday and tried to get back into the line-up and we had to really chain him down to keep him out. He just wants to play every night and it drives him crazy sitting out.”... With the win Sunday any combination of Kootenay wins or Edmonton losses equalling five puts the Ice in the WHL playoffs.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Ice win in PA; League investigates alleged slur
UPDATE: The WHL suspended Ice defenseman James Martin for three games for uttering a racial slur Saturday against the Saskatoon Blades. WHL VP Richard Doerksen found in his investigation that there was enough corroborating evidence to warrant league action. Martin missed Sunday's win against the Raiders which will be counted as one game. More on this later....
Ice get one win in weekend road trip
by Jeff Bromley
On a three-game road swing through the Prairies the Kootenay Ice mustered just one win it was however the most important one. Clinging to a 2-1 lead against the Prince Albert Raiders in Northern Saskatchewan Sunday night the Ice needed overtime and import forward Dominic Pacovsky’s second of the night to get the two points after Raider forward Ryan McDonald scored late on the power play to force the extra session. The win was the club’s first on the road since January 23 after they dropped the first two games of the weekend 4-2 in Swift Current Friday and 5-3 in Saskatoon Saturday night. More importantly the Ice gained the bonus point over the eighth-place Raiders in the race for the final playoff positioning. “I liked our effort all weekend,” said Ice head coach Mark Holick. “Friday and Saturday we showed our age. Our inexperience in playing with the lead in Swift Current showed but I thought we did a good job. It’s just that Swift Current has got such a deep team that if you lay-off at all they’ll strike quickly and they did.”
Pacovsky’s goal, his 7th of the season with 1:09 left in the five minute overtime period, gave the Ice a 29-25-2-6 record on the season before the return bill of the home-and-home between the two clubs Wednesday at the Rec Plex. The win was good enough for a tenuous hold on sixth in the Eastern Conference, one point up on the Lethbridge Hurricanes and seven up on the Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Ice blue-liner Brayden McNabb, 17, playing a few hours north of his Davidson, Saskatchewan hometown put on an offensive show over the weekend, scoring 2 goals and adding 4 assists. “He was good all weekend long,” said Holick of McNabb who is ranked 73rd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings for the NHL Draft in June. “He was good in all three zones and logged a lot of minutes this weekend. He’s just getting better and better and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Brayden yet.”
The club’s luck on the injury front continued over the weekend, all of it of the bad kind, as captain Andrew Bailey went down with a shoulder injury Friday in front of his home-town crowd forcing him to halt his consecutive game streak at 276 dating back to his rookie season in 2005-06. Had he completed this season intact the 20-year-old would’ve fallen just one short of tying the team record of 289 straight games set by Adam Taylor in 2004-05. Fortunately it isn‘t a serious injury and the captain will likely return by the weekend. “He felt better Sunday and tried to get back into the line-up and we had to really chain him down to keep him out. He just wants to play every night and it drives him crazy sitting out.”
Quick Hits - The weekend was marred by an incident Saturday night in Saskatoon in which Ice defenseman James Martin, 17, who was obtained from Swift Current along with 16-year-old Christian Magnus at the trade deadline for John Negrin and Michael Stickland, was issued a game misconduct for issuing a racial slur towards Tsawwassen’s Josh Nicholls. Martin and Blade forward Darian Dziurzynski were issued roughing minors at the time of the incident. Holick didn’t hear the alleged slur but also didn’t want to comment on the matter, which is before the league. “I didn’t hear anything,” said Holick. “I talked to him about it and he said he didn’t say it. I’m not going to comment any further.” WHL Vice-President Richard Doerksen is investigating the alleged derogatory comment uttered by Martin in the direction of Nicholls, whose ethnicity is not known, and Dziurzynski, who is Metis. “We’re certainly looking at it and investigating it,” Doerksen told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix Monday. Martin missed Kootenay’s win Sunday over the Raiders. “I asked them to sit him out while I investigated the comment,” said Doerksen. The league was expected to rule on the matter Tuesday… The club’s coaching staff, headlined by Mark Holick, along with assistant Kris Knoblauch as well as Director of Scouting Garnett Kaziuk and trainer Brad Shaw were all re-signed to new two-year contracts last week. Holick, who along with Knoblauch, joined the club in the summer of 2007 after coach Cory Clouston - now the bench boss of the Ottawa Senators - took a job with the NHL club’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton, New York. In just under two seasons he has amassed a 71-47-7-9 record including a 5-5 record in the playoffs.
Ice get one win in weekend road trip
by Jeff Bromley
On a three-game road swing through the Prairies the Kootenay Ice mustered just one win it was however the most important one. Clinging to a 2-1 lead against the Prince Albert Raiders in Northern Saskatchewan Sunday night the Ice needed overtime and import forward Dominic Pacovsky’s second of the night to get the two points after Raider forward Ryan McDonald scored late on the power play to force the extra session. The win was the club’s first on the road since January 23 after they dropped the first two games of the weekend 4-2 in Swift Current Friday and 5-3 in Saskatoon Saturday night. More importantly the Ice gained the bonus point over the eighth-place Raiders in the race for the final playoff positioning. “I liked our effort all weekend,” said Ice head coach Mark Holick. “Friday and Saturday we showed our age. Our inexperience in playing with the lead in Swift Current showed but I thought we did a good job. It’s just that Swift Current has got such a deep team that if you lay-off at all they’ll strike quickly and they did.”
Pacovsky’s goal, his 7th of the season with 1:09 left in the five minute overtime period, gave the Ice a 29-25-2-6 record on the season before the return bill of the home-and-home between the two clubs Wednesday at the Rec Plex. The win was good enough for a tenuous hold on sixth in the Eastern Conference, one point up on the Lethbridge Hurricanes and seven up on the Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Ice blue-liner Brayden McNabb, 17, playing a few hours north of his Davidson, Saskatchewan hometown put on an offensive show over the weekend, scoring 2 goals and adding 4 assists. “He was good all weekend long,” said Holick of McNabb who is ranked 73rd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings for the NHL Draft in June. “He was good in all three zones and logged a lot of minutes this weekend. He’s just getting better and better and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Brayden yet.”
The club’s luck on the injury front continued over the weekend, all of it of the bad kind, as captain Andrew Bailey went down with a shoulder injury Friday in front of his home-town crowd forcing him to halt his consecutive game streak at 276 dating back to his rookie season in 2005-06. Had he completed this season intact the 20-year-old would’ve fallen just one short of tying the team record of 289 straight games set by Adam Taylor in 2004-05. Fortunately it isn‘t a serious injury and the captain will likely return by the weekend. “He felt better Sunday and tried to get back into the line-up and we had to really chain him down to keep him out. He just wants to play every night and it drives him crazy sitting out.”
Quick Hits - The weekend was marred by an incident Saturday night in Saskatoon in which Ice defenseman James Martin, 17, who was obtained from Swift Current along with 16-year-old Christian Magnus at the trade deadline for John Negrin and Michael Stickland, was issued a game misconduct for issuing a racial slur towards Tsawwassen’s Josh Nicholls. Martin and Blade forward Darian Dziurzynski were issued roughing minors at the time of the incident. Holick didn’t hear the alleged slur but also didn’t want to comment on the matter, which is before the league. “I didn’t hear anything,” said Holick. “I talked to him about it and he said he didn’t say it. I’m not going to comment any further.” WHL Vice-President Richard Doerksen is investigating the alleged derogatory comment uttered by Martin in the direction of Nicholls, whose ethnicity is not known, and Dziurzynski, who is Metis. “We’re certainly looking at it and investigating it,” Doerksen told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix Monday. Martin missed Kootenay’s win Sunday over the Raiders. “I asked them to sit him out while I investigated the comment,” said Doerksen. The league was expected to rule on the matter Tuesday… The club’s coaching staff, headlined by Mark Holick, along with assistant Kris Knoblauch as well as Director of Scouting Garnett Kaziuk and trainer Brad Shaw were all re-signed to new two-year contracts last week. Holick, who along with Knoblauch, joined the club in the summer of 2007 after coach Cory Clouston - now the bench boss of the Ottawa Senators - took a job with the NHL club’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton, New York. In just under two seasons he has amassed a 71-47-7-9 record including a 5-5 record in the playoffs.
WHL Writer's Poll - Week 21
It’s been a subject of debate all season, but the Calgary Hitmen have finally overtaken the Vancouver Giants, at least in the view of those who cover the Western Hockey League.
The two conference leading teams wound up in a deadlocked in last week’s WHL newspaper writers association poll, but the Hitmen came as the clear winner this week.
Calgary (54-7-3-1) earned 11 of 12 first plae votes to take over the top spot in the weekly rankings from previous No. 1 Vancouver (49-7-1-3), who had owned position for 18 straight weeks.
Other division leaders Saskatoon (East) and Tri-City (U.S.) checked in at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. The Brandon Wheat Kings jumped two spots to No. 5, while the Spokane Chiefs fell two to No. 7.
The No. 10 Seattle Thunderbirds cracked the top-10 for the first time this season after recording weekend wins over Spokane and Vancouver.
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — The Western Hockey League writers association poll for Week 21 as released Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, by the office of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers’ Association (with last week's rank, team, first-place votes in parenthesis and total points):
1. (t1) Calgary Hitmen (10), 241
2. (t1) Vancouver Giants (1), 232
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 216
4. (4) Tri-City Americans, 205
5. (7) Brandon Wheat Kings, 199
6. (6) Kelowna Rockets, 188
7. (5) Spokane Chiefs, 182
8. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 164
9. (8) Swift Current Broncos, 151
10. (12) Seattle Thunderbirds, 139
T11. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 130
T11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 130
13. (13) Kamloops Blazers, 106
14. (14) Prince Albert Raiders, 90
15. (15) Everett Silvertips, 89
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 86
17. (17) Regina Pats, 68
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 56
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 45
20. (20) Moose Jaw Warriors, 31
21. (21) Portland Winter Hawks, 23
22. (22) Chilliwack Bruins, 12
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 11 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, Regina LeaderPost, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Tri-City Herald.
The two conference leading teams wound up in a deadlocked in last week’s WHL newspaper writers association poll, but the Hitmen came as the clear winner this week.
Calgary (54-7-3-1) earned 11 of 12 first plae votes to take over the top spot in the weekly rankings from previous No. 1 Vancouver (49-7-1-3), who had owned position for 18 straight weeks.
Other division leaders Saskatoon (East) and Tri-City (U.S.) checked in at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. The Brandon Wheat Kings jumped two spots to No. 5, while the Spokane Chiefs fell two to No. 7.
The No. 10 Seattle Thunderbirds cracked the top-10 for the first time this season after recording weekend wins over Spokane and Vancouver.
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — The Western Hockey League writers association poll for Week 21 as released Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, by the office of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers’ Association (with last week's rank, team, first-place votes in parenthesis and total points):
1. (t1) Calgary Hitmen (10), 241
2. (t1) Vancouver Giants (1), 232
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 216
4. (4) Tri-City Americans, 205
5. (7) Brandon Wheat Kings, 199
6. (6) Kelowna Rockets, 188
7. (5) Spokane Chiefs, 182
8. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 164
9. (8) Swift Current Broncos, 151
10. (12) Seattle Thunderbirds, 139
T11. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 130
T11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 130
13. (13) Kamloops Blazers, 106
14. (14) Prince Albert Raiders, 90
15. (15) Everett Silvertips, 89
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 86
17. (17) Regina Pats, 68
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 56
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 45
20. (20) Moose Jaw Warriors, 31
21. (21) Portland Winter Hawks, 23
22. (22) Chilliwack Bruins, 12
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 11 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, Regina LeaderPost, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Tri-City Herald.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tough night in the Toon...
Kootenay loses again, this time to the East Division-leading Saskatoon Blades 5-3... The Blades got goals from Colin Joe, Walker Wintoneak, Burke Gallimore, Stefan Elliot and Chris Langkow whil D Brayden McNabb notched two goals and assisted on Kevin King's 17th as the Ice lost their second straight game.
The game featured two story sidelines as it was the first time in 276 regular season games Ice captain Andrew Bailey missed a game due to a shoulder injury suffered in Swift Current Friday. Had Bailey finished the season he would've been one game short of Adam Taylor's club record of 289 straight regular season games.
An incident in the second period marred a 2-2 game at the 14:47 mark. Forward Ryan Fox was getting the gate for boarding and at the same time a scrum broke out between D James Martin and Blade forward Darius Dziurzynski. Both went off for roughing but Martin was ejected from the game with a misconduct. The reason for the misconduct wasn't given but Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix is reporting that Martin was tossed for uttering a racial slur directed towards Blade forward Josh Nicholls during/after the scrum, who, if I'm not mistaken, is First Nations. Undoubtedly the league will be looking into this one.
Local goaltender Scott Orth, 19, filling in for the injured Nathan Lieuwen, saw his first WHL action when starter Todd Mathews was lifted after the Blades fifth goal.
Kootenay is in Prince Albert tonight for perhaps their most important game of the season. Lethbridge lost to the Medicine Hat Tigers last night 6-3 in the 'Hat while the Edmonton Oil Kings dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Prince George Cougars. The loser point puts the Oil into the last playoff spot with 59 points, a scant five points back of the Ice who are still in 7th, a point back of the Hurricanes, though the Ice hold three games in hand on the Oil, two on the Raiders and one on the Hurricanes.
Bailey is questionable for tonight's game and likely won't play while Martin will likely face league disciplinary action if the racial slur allegations are founded.
The game featured two story sidelines as it was the first time in 276 regular season games Ice captain Andrew Bailey missed a game due to a shoulder injury suffered in Swift Current Friday. Had Bailey finished the season he would've been one game short of Adam Taylor's club record of 289 straight regular season games.
An incident in the second period marred a 2-2 game at the 14:47 mark. Forward Ryan Fox was getting the gate for boarding and at the same time a scrum broke out between D James Martin and Blade forward Darius Dziurzynski. Both went off for roughing but Martin was ejected from the game with a misconduct. The reason for the misconduct wasn't given but Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix is reporting that Martin was tossed for uttering a racial slur directed towards Blade forward Josh Nicholls during/after the scrum, who, if I'm not mistaken, is First Nations. Undoubtedly the league will be looking into this one.
Local goaltender Scott Orth, 19, filling in for the injured Nathan Lieuwen, saw his first WHL action when starter Todd Mathews was lifted after the Blades fifth goal.
Kootenay is in Prince Albert tonight for perhaps their most important game of the season. Lethbridge lost to the Medicine Hat Tigers last night 6-3 in the 'Hat while the Edmonton Oil Kings dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Prince George Cougars. The loser point puts the Oil into the last playoff spot with 59 points, a scant five points back of the Ice who are still in 7th, a point back of the Hurricanes, though the Ice hold three games in hand on the Oil, two on the Raiders and one on the Hurricanes.
Bailey is questionable for tonight's game and likely won't play while Martin will likely face league disciplinary action if the racial slur allegations are founded.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Loss in SC
Swift Current scored three goals in the third period to beat the Kootenay Ice 4-2 last night in Speedy Creek.
John Negrin (one assist) and Michael Stickland with the game-winner burned their old club in the third as the Broncos scored three goals in 2:03 to take the key Eastern conference game. Stickland then found himself in a scrap with former teammates Ian Barteaux a minute later, in which Barteaux got the instigator and ten minute misconduct.
The loss leaves the Ice exactly where they started the night, at 28-24-2-6; 64pts and in seventh place. Except the room got a little more crowded as the Pats won, finally breaking their seven-game losing streak, as did the Oil Kings, closing the gap between making the playoffs and not making to a measly six points.
To be honest I didn't see/listen to the game as my Atoms won a nail-biter 4-3 over Kimberley last night at the 'Plex.
Looking down the schedule however, it's clear that in order to the get into the playoffs Kootenay's going to need six wins to fend off their pursuers. They've got games-in-hand over the Raiders (two), Oil Kings (three) and Pats (one).
Starting tonight they've got Saskatoon, PA, PA, Regina, MH, MH, Red Deer, Red Deer, MH, Edmonton, Leth, Leth.
Wins against Prince Albert; Red Deer and Edmonton would give them 74 points, needing one more win or Edmonton/Regina loss to put them into the playoffs. Mr. Drinnan also points out this morning on his blog that a tie for the final playoff spot results in a sudden death, one game playoff.
Saskatoon tonight and Prince Albert tomorrow finishes off the three-game road trip.
John Negrin (one assist) and Michael Stickland with the game-winner burned their old club in the third as the Broncos scored three goals in 2:03 to take the key Eastern conference game. Stickland then found himself in a scrap with former teammates Ian Barteaux a minute later, in which Barteaux got the instigator and ten minute misconduct.
The loss leaves the Ice exactly where they started the night, at 28-24-2-6; 64pts and in seventh place. Except the room got a little more crowded as the Pats won, finally breaking their seven-game losing streak, as did the Oil Kings, closing the gap between making the playoffs and not making to a measly six points.
To be honest I didn't see/listen to the game as my Atoms won a nail-biter 4-3 over Kimberley last night at the 'Plex.
Looking down the schedule however, it's clear that in order to the get into the playoffs Kootenay's going to need six wins to fend off their pursuers. They've got games-in-hand over the Raiders (two), Oil Kings (three) and Pats (one).
Starting tonight they've got Saskatoon, PA, PA, Regina, MH, MH, Red Deer, Red Deer, MH, Edmonton, Leth, Leth.
Wins against Prince Albert; Red Deer and Edmonton would give them 74 points, needing one more win or Edmonton/Regina loss to put them into the playoffs. Mr. Drinnan also points out this morning on his blog that a tie for the final playoff spot results in a sudden death, one game playoff.
Saskatoon tonight and Prince Albert tomorrow finishes off the three-game road trip.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Broncos-Ice preview; Coaches re-upped for another two years...
Ryan Dahlman of the Prairie Post sets up the final regular season meeting between the two clubs stats-wise:
Swift Current vs Kootenay Feb. 20
Head to Head Record 2008-09 Regular Season: Swift Current 3-0-0-0;
Kootenay 0-1-1-1
Previous Meetings This Season:
Swift Current 8 @ Kootenay 5 (Jan 17 2009) Final
Kootenay 2 @ Swift Current 3 (Oct 11 2008) Final OT
Swift Current 3 @ Kootenay 2 (Oct 4 2008) Final SO
Last 5 Years record between teams
Swift Current 7-13-0-0
Kootenay 13-3-3-1
Kootenay
28-23-2-6 64 points
Division Ranking-4th Central
Conference Ranking-7th Eastern
League Ranking-11th
Past 10 Games-Past 10 Games-6-3-1-0
Kootenay Away Record: 10-14-1-3
PP (Away)%-(19/123) 15.4
PK (Away)%-(31/140) 77.9
Leading Scorers
Andrew Bailey (22-26-48); vs. Swift Current 3GP-1G 3A
Tylan Stephens (22-24-46); vs.Swift Current 3GP-1G, 1A
Dustin Sylvester (21-20-41); vs. Swift Current 2GP-2G, 1A
Kevin King (16-23-39); vs. Swift Current 3GP-0G, 1A
Ian Barteaux (5-26-31); vs. Swift Current 3GP-1G, 1A
Swift Current
33-26-1-1 68 points
Division Ranking-3rd East
Conference Ranking-5th Eastern
League Ranking-9th
Past 10 Games-6-3-1-0
Swift Current Home Record: 16-13-0-1
PP (Home)-(28/164) 17.1
PK (Home)-(21/152) 86.2
Keegan Dansereau (33-36-69); vs. Kootenay 3GP-2G, 3A
Justin Dowling (18-38-56); vs. Kootenay, 3GP-0G, 3A
Matt Tassone (36-19-55); vs. Kootenay 3GP-1G, 4A, 20 PIM
Eric Doyle (11-38-49); vs. Kootenay 3GP-2G, 1A
Geordie Wudrick (27-18-45); vs. Kootenay 3GP-2G, 1A
It's also the last time, barring a playoff match-up, that former D John Negrin and forward Michael Stickland will face their old club. In 16 games since the deal for Stickland the change of scenery has done him good, producing at over a point a game with 8 goals and 9 nines for 17 points and a +5. Negrin is a hair off that pace, producing 3 goals and 10 assists in 14 games and is also a +5. Negrin also missed a couple of games due to an injury.
The usually reserved Negrin was none too happy following the club's loss to Brandon this week. "Our starts have been slow and it's unacceptable, especially against teams like Brandon," Negrin told Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Broncos on Keen's Korner. "When you get down two or three goals it's tough to come back in this league. So, it starts in the dressing room and getting mentally prepared before the game."
"It's a point of the game with about four minutes left...there's no excuses. That's an opportunity you have to bury on. I don't think we were communicating and not seeing eye-to-eye. It was very disappointing."
Here's something interesting, and now that the Ice coaching staff has been re-signed it can put one rumour to bed but perhaps continue on another. Dean Chynoweth, the brother of Jeff and the Bronco GM and coach has not had his option picked up by the board that runs the community-owned Broncos. Not that it's unusual but Dean has had some moderate success in the past five years running the show in Swift, and yet his option has yet to be picked up. Are they waiting to see what kind of run he has and see how the deal (Negrin and Stickland) pays dividends? Tough to say but the optics don't exactly exude confidence. Here's something to chew on: if Dean doesn't have his option picked up by the Broncos could Dean join his older brother to run the family business here in Cranbrook? Before the recent signing of the coaching staff Dean coming to Cranbrook was a rumour that made coffee shop row a couple of times. Now that Mark Holick is signed the chances of that are not as likely, as least in a coaching role. As a partner/assistant GM/ownership role? It's something to think about...
On that note, here's something that's for the News-Advertiser on the coaches being re-signed by the hockey club.
Coaching staff rewarded with new contracts
by Jeff Bromley
In the 'what of you done for me lately' world of coaching you’re usually only as good as your team is. For Kootenay Ice head Coach Mark Holick and assistant coach Kris Knoblauch, their team is pretty good, or says the club’s GM Jeff Chynoweth who rewarded the pair, along with head scout Garnett Kazuik and trainer Brad Shaw, with two-year contract extensions through the 2010-11 season. “Mark and his entire coaching staff have done an excellent job with the hockey club not only this year, but last season as well,” said Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth. “Despite having the second youngest team in the WHL and having injuries to key players we have remained in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference and in position to qualify for the post season. With the majority of our club eligible to return next season and with the improvement shown by our younger players, it is very important that the continuity between the players and head coach continue.”
A team that should be rebuilding with the current line-up that averages out to be the second-youngest team in terms of average age in the WHL, isn’t acting the part. Not only are they expecting to make the post-season dance, before the weekend road trip through the Prairies they still had a shot at fourth place and home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. “It’s nice to know that Jeff has the confidence in myself and the staff and he feels we’re the right guys for the job,” said Holick, whose amassed a 70-45-7-9 record since taking over for Cory Clouston after he accepted a job with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators in 2007. Holick also guided the club to a first round playoff win over the Medicine Hat Tigers before bowing out to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the second round last spring. “We still have a shot for fourth here and the contract, well, it’s flattering but we’ve got a tough trip upcoming.”
The endorsement is a ringing one for the long-time hockey coach who began his coaching career back in 1994 with the BCHL’s then Penticton Panthers as an assistant. Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 11th round (216th overall) in 1986 Holick also dabbled as a restauranteur with his family during his first coaching gig but as it turns out wouldn’t need a back-up career to fall on. His extension is the closest thing you can come to job security in the coaching business. “It comes with the territory. You’ve got to have thick skin. When the team goes good you get the pats on the back and when it’s not you get a lot of people giving you opinions. But that’s the hockey business and that’s coaching.”
“We’ve got a real good group of kids in that dressing room that have bought in to the system and that compete every night. It’s all we can ask.”
For assistant coach Kris Knoblauch, who arrived about three weeks after Holick did during that summer of upheaval behind the bench, the extension is a reflection of the players. “We expected some bumps along the way when we started here,” said Knoblauch, who is a teacher by trade after graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education after his WHL playing career ended. “But really there hasn’t been than many except maybe the very start. But the players, they’ve played so well for such a young group.”
For that young group, the present season of overachievement notwithstanding, there will be expectations down the line, though generally with a large group of mostly 17-year-olds it should be two years away. This club is being constructed for a serious run both next season and in 2010-11and if the stars keep aligning both Holick and Knoblauch will be able to see the fruits of their labour. “We’re excited about that,” said Knoblauch. “We want to see what this team can do in the next two years. This team of 17-year-olds will be a team full of 19-year-olds and there’ll be a difference. At the same time you have to have an even keel. There are always expectations about players as they grow older and sometimes they disappoint and sometimes the ones you don’t expect become something special. You never know, I guess time will tell”
Swift Current vs Kootenay Feb. 20
Head to Head Record 2008-09 Regular Season: Swift Current 3-0-0-0;
Kootenay 0-1-1-1
Previous Meetings This Season:
Swift Current 8 @ Kootenay 5 (Jan 17 2009) Final
Kootenay 2 @ Swift Current 3 (Oct 11 2008) Final OT
Swift Current 3 @ Kootenay 2 (Oct 4 2008) Final SO
Last 5 Years record between teams
Swift Current 7-13-0-0
Kootenay 13-3-3-1
Kootenay
28-23-2-6 64 points
Division Ranking-4th Central
Conference Ranking-7th Eastern
League Ranking-11th
Past 10 Games-Past 10 Games-6-3-1-0
Kootenay Away Record: 10-14-1-3
PP (Away)%-(19/123) 15.4
PK (Away)%-(31/140) 77.9
Leading Scorers
Andrew Bailey (22-26-48); vs. Swift Current 3GP-1G 3A
Tylan Stephens (22-24-46); vs.Swift Current 3GP-1G, 1A
Dustin Sylvester (21-20-41); vs. Swift Current 2GP-2G, 1A
Kevin King (16-23-39); vs. Swift Current 3GP-0G, 1A
Ian Barteaux (5-26-31); vs. Swift Current 3GP-1G, 1A
Swift Current
33-26-1-1 68 points
Division Ranking-3rd East
Conference Ranking-5th Eastern
League Ranking-9th
Past 10 Games-6-3-1-0
Swift Current Home Record: 16-13-0-1
PP (Home)-(28/164) 17.1
PK (Home)-(21/152) 86.2
Keegan Dansereau (33-36-69); vs. Kootenay 3GP-2G, 3A
Justin Dowling (18-38-56); vs. Kootenay, 3GP-0G, 3A
Matt Tassone (36-19-55); vs. Kootenay 3GP-1G, 4A, 20 PIM
Eric Doyle (11-38-49); vs. Kootenay 3GP-2G, 1A
Geordie Wudrick (27-18-45); vs. Kootenay 3GP-2G, 1A
It's also the last time, barring a playoff match-up, that former D John Negrin and forward Michael Stickland will face their old club. In 16 games since the deal for Stickland the change of scenery has done him good, producing at over a point a game with 8 goals and 9 nines for 17 points and a +5. Negrin is a hair off that pace, producing 3 goals and 10 assists in 14 games and is also a +5. Negrin also missed a couple of games due to an injury.
The usually reserved Negrin was none too happy following the club's loss to Brandon this week. "Our starts have been slow and it's unacceptable, especially against teams like Brandon," Negrin told Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Broncos on Keen's Korner. "When you get down two or three goals it's tough to come back in this league. So, it starts in the dressing room and getting mentally prepared before the game."
"It's a point of the game with about four minutes left...there's no excuses. That's an opportunity you have to bury on. I don't think we were communicating and not seeing eye-to-eye. It was very disappointing."
Here's something interesting, and now that the Ice coaching staff has been re-signed it can put one rumour to bed but perhaps continue on another. Dean Chynoweth, the brother of Jeff and the Bronco GM and coach has not had his option picked up by the board that runs the community-owned Broncos. Not that it's unusual but Dean has had some moderate success in the past five years running the show in Swift, and yet his option has yet to be picked up. Are they waiting to see what kind of run he has and see how the deal (Negrin and Stickland) pays dividends? Tough to say but the optics don't exactly exude confidence. Here's something to chew on: if Dean doesn't have his option picked up by the Broncos could Dean join his older brother to run the family business here in Cranbrook? Before the recent signing of the coaching staff Dean coming to Cranbrook was a rumour that made coffee shop row a couple of times. Now that Mark Holick is signed the chances of that are not as likely, as least in a coaching role. As a partner/assistant GM/ownership role? It's something to think about...
On that note, here's something that's for the News-Advertiser on the coaches being re-signed by the hockey club.
Coaching staff rewarded with new contracts
by Jeff Bromley
In the 'what of you done for me lately' world of coaching you’re usually only as good as your team is. For Kootenay Ice head Coach Mark Holick and assistant coach Kris Knoblauch, their team is pretty good, or says the club’s GM Jeff Chynoweth who rewarded the pair, along with head scout Garnett Kazuik and trainer Brad Shaw, with two-year contract extensions through the 2010-11 season. “Mark and his entire coaching staff have done an excellent job with the hockey club not only this year, but last season as well,” said Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth. “Despite having the second youngest team in the WHL and having injuries to key players we have remained in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference and in position to qualify for the post season. With the majority of our club eligible to return next season and with the improvement shown by our younger players, it is very important that the continuity between the players and head coach continue.”
A team that should be rebuilding with the current line-up that averages out to be the second-youngest team in terms of average age in the WHL, isn’t acting the part. Not only are they expecting to make the post-season dance, before the weekend road trip through the Prairies they still had a shot at fourth place and home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. “It’s nice to know that Jeff has the confidence in myself and the staff and he feels we’re the right guys for the job,” said Holick, whose amassed a 70-45-7-9 record since taking over for Cory Clouston after he accepted a job with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators in 2007. Holick also guided the club to a first round playoff win over the Medicine Hat Tigers before bowing out to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the second round last spring. “We still have a shot for fourth here and the contract, well, it’s flattering but we’ve got a tough trip upcoming.”
The endorsement is a ringing one for the long-time hockey coach who began his coaching career back in 1994 with the BCHL’s then Penticton Panthers as an assistant. Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 11th round (216th overall) in 1986 Holick also dabbled as a restauranteur with his family during his first coaching gig but as it turns out wouldn’t need a back-up career to fall on. His extension is the closest thing you can come to job security in the coaching business. “It comes with the territory. You’ve got to have thick skin. When the team goes good you get the pats on the back and when it’s not you get a lot of people giving you opinions. But that’s the hockey business and that’s coaching.”
“We’ve got a real good group of kids in that dressing room that have bought in to the system and that compete every night. It’s all we can ask.”
For assistant coach Kris Knoblauch, who arrived about three weeks after Holick did during that summer of upheaval behind the bench, the extension is a reflection of the players. “We expected some bumps along the way when we started here,” said Knoblauch, who is a teacher by trade after graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education after his WHL playing career ended. “But really there hasn’t been than many except maybe the very start. But the players, they’ve played so well for such a young group.”
For that young group, the present season of overachievement notwithstanding, there will be expectations down the line, though generally with a large group of mostly 17-year-olds it should be two years away. This club is being constructed for a serious run both next season and in 2010-11and if the stars keep aligning both Holick and Knoblauch will be able to see the fruits of their labour. “We’re excited about that,” said Knoblauch. “We want to see what this team can do in the next two years. This team of 17-year-olds will be a team full of 19-year-olds and there’ll be a difference. At the same time you have to have an even keel. There are always expectations about players as they grow older and sometimes they disappoint and sometimes the ones you don’t expect become something special. You never know, I guess time will tell”
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Ice over Rebs
For the News-Advertiser....
Antilla pushes Ice over Rebels
by Jeff Bromley
Opportunity, meet Joe Antilla.
When the Kootenay Ice decided through necessity that they were going to go with a youth movement the 17-year-old Antilla pushed himself to the front of a long line. With Dustin Sylvester and Steele Boomer out with long-term injuries and forward Michael Stickland traded at the deadline to Swift Current Antilla looked for more ice-time. He got it, alongside Kevin King and Tylan Stephens, Kootenay’s top unit of late and potted two goals in Kootenay’s 4-3 shootout win over the Red Deer Rebels Sunday night. “It was an iffy game,” said Antilla, who was originally credited with an assist on Dominic Pacovsky’s game-tying goal in the third but lost it when it was changed to a Ty Stephens deflection. “A couple of lines were going and a couple weren’t. We pulled it together as a team and really came through.”
Kootenay finally pulled it together after beating themselves most of the night, playing against the lowly Rebels - who played like anything but though the club is 17 points back of the Ice in the Eastern Conference standings - and then tangling with referees Russ Berdusco and Dan Cowley, coming out on the losing end taking 11 minors and giving up all three Rebel goals with a player in the penalty box. “It’s not good to be on the PK most of the game," continued Antilla. "Tonight it was terrible and there was a lot of adversity but the guys pulled through.”
Antilla opened the scoring before many of the 3695 on hand at the Rec Plex made it to their seats. He converted a Kevin King rebound past Rebel goaltender Darcy Kuemper for his fourth goal of the season. The Rebels tied it when team leading scorer Landon Ferraro ripped a power play feed from Brennan Wray past Todd Mathews 14:49 into the first period. With the Rebels on the power play in the second Ferraro once again fired a shot at Mathews which Jordie Deagle got a stick on for his fourth of the season to make 2-1.
With all the momentum going the Rebels way Kootenay got a power play goal of their own and some nice work to get the puck down low by Ian Barteaux tied the game when he fed a hard-charging Antilla who chipped it up with his stopping skate and banged it in, with his stick. The Rebels protested that he kicked it in but it was one of the few calls the Zebras would give the Ice on this night. Carter Smith would get his 18th past Mathews to give the lead back to the Rebels with only 17 seconds left in the second before a strong third period would be highlighted by Stephens’ winning deflection. Both Stephens and Max Reinhart would score in the shootout while only Willy Coetzee could get one past Mathews for the Rebels.
For Ferraro, as well as the NHL draft-eligible Antilla among a myriad of others on the two young WHL rosters, they picked a perfect night to shine as by one account there were almost 40 pro scouts in the building. “No, I didn’t know and I try not to know or think about it,” said Ferraro, who clocked in at number 13 on the Central Scouting mid-term list in January. His father Ray, a Trail native, played 19 NHL seasons and still hold the WHL’s single season goal-scoring mark with 108 set with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1983-84. “It just adds pressure. I already know that I have to play well in order for the team to be successful. That added pressure, I don’t really need to think about it.”
Though he pulled out another two points and is that much closer to clinching a playoff spot Ice head coach Mark Holick is more concerned with the fact his club can’t seem to stay out of the sin bin over the past few contests. “It’s a habit that we have to break,” said Holick, who also watched goaltender Todd Mathews take two of the eleven minors. “We talked to Todd about it but it’s also something we have to get together as a group internally and stop it.”
Quick Hits - The Rebels went 3-11 while Kootenay went 1-7 with the man-advantage… Kootenay’s luck with referees wasn’t any better Friday night in Red Deer as a goal by Andrew Bailey with 2.2 seconds left was waived-off by referee Derek Herman who ruled that the net had come off its supports before the puck went in… With the shootout win Kootenay improves to 28-23-2-6 and 64 points, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. The Ice are a point back of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and four back of the Swift Current Broncos, who’ll they face Friday night in Swift Current. Eight points separate themselves and the Raiders and the Oil Kings, who are tied for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot… Kootenay's magic number - any number of Ice wins and Oil King losses equalling seven (7) will send the Ice to their 11th straight playoff appearance… Kootenay hits the road for three games in three nights starting Friday in Swift Current; Saturday in Saskatoon and Sunday in Prince Albert.
Antilla pushes Ice over Rebels
by Jeff Bromley
Opportunity, meet Joe Antilla.
When the Kootenay Ice decided through necessity that they were going to go with a youth movement the 17-year-old Antilla pushed himself to the front of a long line. With Dustin Sylvester and Steele Boomer out with long-term injuries and forward Michael Stickland traded at the deadline to Swift Current Antilla looked for more ice-time. He got it, alongside Kevin King and Tylan Stephens, Kootenay’s top unit of late and potted two goals in Kootenay’s 4-3 shootout win over the Red Deer Rebels Sunday night. “It was an iffy game,” said Antilla, who was originally credited with an assist on Dominic Pacovsky’s game-tying goal in the third but lost it when it was changed to a Ty Stephens deflection. “A couple of lines were going and a couple weren’t. We pulled it together as a team and really came through.”
Kootenay finally pulled it together after beating themselves most of the night, playing against the lowly Rebels - who played like anything but though the club is 17 points back of the Ice in the Eastern Conference standings - and then tangling with referees Russ Berdusco and Dan Cowley, coming out on the losing end taking 11 minors and giving up all three Rebel goals with a player in the penalty box. “It’s not good to be on the PK most of the game," continued Antilla. "Tonight it was terrible and there was a lot of adversity but the guys pulled through.”
Antilla opened the scoring before many of the 3695 on hand at the Rec Plex made it to their seats. He converted a Kevin King rebound past Rebel goaltender Darcy Kuemper for his fourth goal of the season. The Rebels tied it when team leading scorer Landon Ferraro ripped a power play feed from Brennan Wray past Todd Mathews 14:49 into the first period. With the Rebels on the power play in the second Ferraro once again fired a shot at Mathews which Jordie Deagle got a stick on for his fourth of the season to make 2-1.
With all the momentum going the Rebels way Kootenay got a power play goal of their own and some nice work to get the puck down low by Ian Barteaux tied the game when he fed a hard-charging Antilla who chipped it up with his stopping skate and banged it in, with his stick. The Rebels protested that he kicked it in but it was one of the few calls the Zebras would give the Ice on this night. Carter Smith would get his 18th past Mathews to give the lead back to the Rebels with only 17 seconds left in the second before a strong third period would be highlighted by Stephens’ winning deflection. Both Stephens and Max Reinhart would score in the shootout while only Willy Coetzee could get one past Mathews for the Rebels.
For Ferraro, as well as the NHL draft-eligible Antilla among a myriad of others on the two young WHL rosters, they picked a perfect night to shine as by one account there were almost 40 pro scouts in the building. “No, I didn’t know and I try not to know or think about it,” said Ferraro, who clocked in at number 13 on the Central Scouting mid-term list in January. His father Ray, a Trail native, played 19 NHL seasons and still hold the WHL’s single season goal-scoring mark with 108 set with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1983-84. “It just adds pressure. I already know that I have to play well in order for the team to be successful. That added pressure, I don’t really need to think about it.”
Though he pulled out another two points and is that much closer to clinching a playoff spot Ice head coach Mark Holick is more concerned with the fact his club can’t seem to stay out of the sin bin over the past few contests. “It’s a habit that we have to break,” said Holick, who also watched goaltender Todd Mathews take two of the eleven minors. “We talked to Todd about it but it’s also something we have to get together as a group internally and stop it.”
Quick Hits - The Rebels went 3-11 while Kootenay went 1-7 with the man-advantage… Kootenay’s luck with referees wasn’t any better Friday night in Red Deer as a goal by Andrew Bailey with 2.2 seconds left was waived-off by referee Derek Herman who ruled that the net had come off its supports before the puck went in… With the shootout win Kootenay improves to 28-23-2-6 and 64 points, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. The Ice are a point back of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and four back of the Swift Current Broncos, who’ll they face Friday night in Swift Current. Eight points separate themselves and the Raiders and the Oil Kings, who are tied for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot… Kootenay's magic number - any number of Ice wins and Oil King losses equalling seven (7) will send the Ice to their 11th straight playoff appearance… Kootenay hits the road for three games in three nights starting Friday in Swift Current; Saturday in Saskatoon and Sunday in Prince Albert.
Head coach gets contract extension...
The Kootenay Ice announced this morning a two-year extension of Ice head coach Mark Holick as well as the contracts of assistant coach Kris Knoblauch and trainer Brad Shaw. The releases can be found here. Also extended was the contract of head scout Garnet Kazuik for a two-year term.
More on that later...
Also, the club announced that their annual 'jersey off the back' night will be held in conjunction with Ed Chynoweth night February 27 against the Regina Pats. The City of Cranbrook with be honouring Ed's memory with an unveiling of a bronze bust to displayed in the Rec Plex concourse Wall of Fame.
In the former Ice players department the World Winter Universiade games are being held in China starting next next week in Harbin, China and former team captain Steve Da Silva - CIS West leading scorer with 39 points in 25 games - will make the trip. The CIS playoffs - with Clayton Bauer's UBC T-Birds battling the U of Calgary Dinos for the last playoff spot this weekend - February 27.
There's also a terrific story in the North Shore News about former Ice forward Ben Maxwell. It's a great look at the route taken by two pro hockey players who grew up on the the same street in North Vancouver. It touches on some interesting points on minor hockey players and what it takes to get to the next level and is a good read for minor hockey parents/coaches.
Former Ice forward Brad Tutschek signed a contract extension with the Dusseldorf Metro Stars of the German Elite League. Tutschek with 8g and 10a in 45 games this season, signed a one-year deal... Another former captain, Mike Green, who is in his first season with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (no, I'm not making that up - that's their name), signed a contract extension with the German elite league club. He has 12 goals and 27 assists in 37 games this season.
More on that later...
Also, the club announced that their annual 'jersey off the back' night will be held in conjunction with Ed Chynoweth night February 27 against the Regina Pats. The City of Cranbrook with be honouring Ed's memory with an unveiling of a bronze bust to displayed in the Rec Plex concourse Wall of Fame.
In the former Ice players department the World Winter Universiade games are being held in China starting next next week in Harbin, China and former team captain Steve Da Silva - CIS West leading scorer with 39 points in 25 games - will make the trip. The CIS playoffs - with Clayton Bauer's UBC T-Birds battling the U of Calgary Dinos for the last playoff spot this weekend - February 27.
There's also a terrific story in the North Shore News about former Ice forward Ben Maxwell. It's a great look at the route taken by two pro hockey players who grew up on the the same street in North Vancouver. It touches on some interesting points on minor hockey players and what it takes to get to the next level and is a good read for minor hockey parents/coaches.
Former Ice forward Brad Tutschek signed a contract extension with the Dusseldorf Metro Stars of the German Elite League. Tutschek with 8g and 10a in 45 games this season, signed a one-year deal... Another former captain, Mike Green, who is in his first season with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (no, I'm not making that up - that's their name), signed a contract extension with the German elite league club. He has 12 goals and 27 assists in 37 games this season.
Monday, February 16, 2009
WHL Writer's Poll - Week 21
The Western Hockey League writers association poll for Week 21 as released Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, by the office of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers’ Association (with last week's rank, team, first-place votes in parenthesis and total points):
T1 (1) Vancouver Giants (4), 172
T1 (2) Calgary Hitmen (4), 172
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 154
4. (4) Tri-City Americans, 146
5. (6) Spokane Chiefs, 143
6. (7) Kelowna Rockets, 139
7. (5) Brandon Wheat Kings, 138
8. (8) Swift Current Broncos, 114
9. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 112
10. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 106
11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 96
12. (12) Seattle Thunderbirds, 91
13. (13) Kamloops Blazers, 80
14. (15) Prince Albert Raiders, 67
15. (14) Everett Silvertips, 66
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 56
17. (17) Regina Pats, 47
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 44
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 33
20. (21) Moose Jaw Warriors, 24
21. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 13
22. (20) Chilliwack Bruins, 11
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of eight ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, and Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
T1 (1) Vancouver Giants (4), 172
T1 (2) Calgary Hitmen (4), 172
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 154
4. (4) Tri-City Americans, 146
5. (6) Spokane Chiefs, 143
6. (7) Kelowna Rockets, 139
7. (5) Brandon Wheat Kings, 138
8. (8) Swift Current Broncos, 114
9. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 112
10. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 106
11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 96
12. (12) Seattle Thunderbirds, 91
13. (13) Kamloops Blazers, 80
14. (15) Prince Albert Raiders, 67
15. (14) Everett Silvertips, 66
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 56
17. (17) Regina Pats, 47
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 44
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 33
20. (21) Moose Jaw Warriors, 24
21. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 13
22. (20) Chilliwack Bruins, 11
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of eight ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, and Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Score - Rebels/Ice
The Score – Kootenay 4 – Red Deer 3 (shootout)
What Happened – The Ice couldn’t stay out of the penalty box and it nearly cost them two points. For a team that's supposed to be out of the playoff hunt this one was a war and almost single handedly Rebel forward Carter Smith has re-established a deep-hated rivalry between the two clubs. The Rebels are back March 3.
The Goals – 17-year-old forward Joe Antilla had a career night with two goals and an assist. He opened the scoring early when he converted a Kevin King pass 1:18 into the game… UPDATE - Ty Stephens has been credited with the winning goal, deflecting Pacovsky's shot, taking away the second assist for Antilla. Nonetheless, it was still his best game in an Ice uniform... The Rebels tied it on the power play when Landon Ferraro ripped his 30th from the slot past Todd Mathews… Red Deer went up 2-1 with another power play marker when Jordie Deagle converted a Ferraro shot 4:22 into the second… Antilla would tie it on a nice rush by Ian Barteaux who got deep with the puck and sent a pass to the crease. The puck went off Antilla’s skate and he batted it in. The Rebels protested but to no avail… The Rebels got the lead back later in the period when Carter Smith sent his 18th past Mathews… The Ice tied it in the third when Tylan Stephens deflected a Dominic Pacovsky wrister from the point that got past Darcy Kuemper just as a power play had expired.
The Zebras – The men-in-stripes once again didn’t adorn themselves to the Rec Plex faithful, assessing 18 minors, 11 to the Ice – though to be honest Kootenay didn’t have a lot of discipline on this night. Kootenay took six straight minors in the first including a double minor after Brayden McNabb was fingered for holding and then Ice head coach Mark Holick earned himself a bench minor for disagreeing with the call. In the second the Ice took four of six minors assessed including two by goaltender Todd Mathews; one at the beginning of the period – for playing the puck in the ‘no play zone’ and at the end when he tapped a Rebel with his stick as he skated by a gathering after the second period buzzer. Were they over the top? Yes, by country mile but at the same time the Ice wouldn’t learn from their mistakes.
The Scouts – NHL Draft hopeful Landon Ferraro, son of former NHL’er and Trail native Ray Ferraro, had the offensive touch Sunday night, scoring a goal and setting up the other two Rebel markers. He picked a great night to do it as there were by one estimate almost 40 NHL, Hockey Canada and Central Scouting scouts in the stands. Undoubtedly looking at the likes of D Brayden McNabb and D Hayden Rintoul – both ranked in CSB’s mid-terms – as well as Antilla, who picked a good night to have his best in an Ice uniform. Other CSB ranked players were Rebel forward Willy Coetzee (77th), sixth-ranked goaltender Darcy Kuemper and D Tommy Kovisto (46th) while forward Cass Mappin (27th) is sidelined with an ankle injury. 12th ranked Nathan Lieuwen returned from the concussion specialist in Vancouver and will be out at least another two weeks or longer.
The Shoot-out – Both Stephens and Reinhart would go to the deke to get pucks by Rebel netminder Darcy Kuemper but only Willie Coetzee beat Mathews five-hole for the Rebels. Ferraro missed the net and Carter Smith hit the cross-bar.
The Save – In OT, with Luke Egener in the box for tripping, Dominic Pacovsky’s shot went through Kuemper’s legs and was dribbling across the goal-line before forward Brennan Wray dove and stopped the puck from crossing the line.
The Crowd – 3695; loud, unruly and – shameless plug - my Atom Ice hockey team won fan(s) of the game. Hey, they can dance off the ice as well as they dangle on it and after getting two wins in Golden and then winning Sunday afternoon back at home, they still had energy enough to dance. I was beat, and I just stand behind the bench.
KNA Three Stars
1. LW Joe Antilla – Two goals and a physical force.
2. LW Dominic Pacovsky – terrific third period
3. C Landon Ferraro – Offensive force for all the scouts to see.
What it means – Kootenay improves to 28-23-2-6 and 64 points, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. The Ice are a point back of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and four back of the Swift Current Broncos. The club now has an almost comfortable cushion of eight points seperating themselves and the Raiders and the Oil Kings, who are tied for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot. Kootenay's magic number - any number of Ice wins and Oil King losses equaling seven (7) will send the Ice to their 11th straight playoff appearance.
Up Next – After escaping the weekend with two points of a possible four from a team 17 points back in the Eastern Conference standings the Ice are off until Friday when they make their final road trip into the Prairies until playoffs, if they make it, playing a three games-in-three nights through Swift Current Friday, Saskatoon Saturday and Prince Albert Sunday.
Game Summary:
Rebels 3 @ Ice 4 (shootout)
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Red Deer Rebels and the Kootenay Ice; February 15, 2009
Max Reinhart and Tylan Stephens scored in the shootout as the Kootenay Ice edged the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in WHL action Sunday night.
Joe Antilla opened the scoring 1:18 into the game with his 4th of the season to give the Ice a 1-0. The Rebels tied it on the power play when Landon Ferraro buried his 30th from the slot at 14:39.
Jordie Deagle put the visitors up 2-1 4:22 into the second with the Rebels second power play marker before Antilla, with his second of the night, tied the game with a power play goal of his own. The Rebels then retook the lead when Carter Smith, again on the power play, notched his 18th of the season.
The Ice tied the game in the third when Dominic Pacovsky beat Rebel goaltender Darcy Kuemper at 8:12.
Todd Mathews stopped 29 of 32 shots to get the win while Kuemper turned aside 35 of 39 in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Antilla 4 (King, Stephens) 1:18
2. Red Deer, Ferraro 30 (Wray, Coetzee) 14:39 (pp)
Penalties -- Morin RD (hooking) 2:36, Cassivi Ktn (slashing) 5:58, Smith RD (high-sticking) 8:14, Antilla Ktn (interference) 10:10, McNabb Ktn (holding) Bench Minor Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct - served by Reinhart) 14:27, Archer RD (interference) 16:43, King Ktn (tripping) 18:08, Frere Ktn (roughing) 20:00.
Second Period
3. Red Deer, Deagle 4 (Ferraro, Morin) 4:22 (pp)
4. Kootenay, Antilla 5 (Barteaux, Mathews) 12:40(pp)
5. Red Deer, Smith 18 (Ferraro, Wray) 19:43 (pp)
Penalties -- Mathews Ktn (delay-of-game - served by Czerwonka) 3:45, Fraser Ktn (tripping) 6:02, Kambeitz RD (tripping) 10:47, Kivisto RD (cross-checking) 13:25, Barteaux Ktn (hooking) 18:19, Mathews Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct) 20:00.
Third Period
6. Kootenay, Stephens 22 (Pacovsky, King) 8:12
Penalties -- Petrovic RD (hooking) 6:06, King Ktn (tripping - served by Czerwonka, misconduct) 18:05.
Overtime
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Egener RD (tripping) 2:48.
Shootout -- (Kootenay wins 2-1)
Red Deer -- Coetzee (goal), Fraser (stopped), Stephens (goal).
Kootenay -- Reinhart (goal), Ferraro (missed), Smith (missed).
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 11 7 14 7 - 39
Red Deer: 10 14 8 0 - 32
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 10-12-0-3) Red Deer: Darcy Kuemper (L, 15-20-1-6)
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-7
Red Deer: 3-11
Referee -- Russ Berdusco, Dan Cowley Linesman -- Kelly Reitenbach, Sean Donnelly.
Attendance -- 3695 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (post-concussion sydrome - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder 2-4 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 7-9 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite).
Red Deer: Tomas Polak (healthy), Cody Gross (healthy), Cass Mappin (ankle – indefinite).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
What Happened – The Ice couldn’t stay out of the penalty box and it nearly cost them two points. For a team that's supposed to be out of the playoff hunt this one was a war and almost single handedly Rebel forward Carter Smith has re-established a deep-hated rivalry between the two clubs. The Rebels are back March 3.
The Goals – 17-year-old forward Joe Antilla had a career night with two goals and an assist. He opened the scoring early when he converted a Kevin King pass 1:18 into the game… UPDATE - Ty Stephens has been credited with the winning goal, deflecting Pacovsky's shot, taking away the second assist for Antilla. Nonetheless, it was still his best game in an Ice uniform... The Rebels tied it on the power play when Landon Ferraro ripped his 30th from the slot past Todd Mathews… Red Deer went up 2-1 with another power play marker when Jordie Deagle converted a Ferraro shot 4:22 into the second… Antilla would tie it on a nice rush by Ian Barteaux who got deep with the puck and sent a pass to the crease. The puck went off Antilla’s skate and he batted it in. The Rebels protested but to no avail… The Rebels got the lead back later in the period when Carter Smith sent his 18th past Mathews… The Ice tied it in the third when Tylan Stephens deflected a Dominic Pacovsky wrister from the point that got past Darcy Kuemper just as a power play had expired.
The Zebras – The men-in-stripes once again didn’t adorn themselves to the Rec Plex faithful, assessing 18 minors, 11 to the Ice – though to be honest Kootenay didn’t have a lot of discipline on this night. Kootenay took six straight minors in the first including a double minor after Brayden McNabb was fingered for holding and then Ice head coach Mark Holick earned himself a bench minor for disagreeing with the call. In the second the Ice took four of six minors assessed including two by goaltender Todd Mathews; one at the beginning of the period – for playing the puck in the ‘no play zone’ and at the end when he tapped a Rebel with his stick as he skated by a gathering after the second period buzzer. Were they over the top? Yes, by country mile but at the same time the Ice wouldn’t learn from their mistakes.
The Scouts – NHL Draft hopeful Landon Ferraro, son of former NHL’er and Trail native Ray Ferraro, had the offensive touch Sunday night, scoring a goal and setting up the other two Rebel markers. He picked a great night to do it as there were by one estimate almost 40 NHL, Hockey Canada and Central Scouting scouts in the stands. Undoubtedly looking at the likes of D Brayden McNabb and D Hayden Rintoul – both ranked in CSB’s mid-terms – as well as Antilla, who picked a good night to have his best in an Ice uniform. Other CSB ranked players were Rebel forward Willy Coetzee (77th), sixth-ranked goaltender Darcy Kuemper and D Tommy Kovisto (46th) while forward Cass Mappin (27th) is sidelined with an ankle injury. 12th ranked Nathan Lieuwen returned from the concussion specialist in Vancouver and will be out at least another two weeks or longer.
The Shoot-out – Both Stephens and Reinhart would go to the deke to get pucks by Rebel netminder Darcy Kuemper but only Willie Coetzee beat Mathews five-hole for the Rebels. Ferraro missed the net and Carter Smith hit the cross-bar.
The Save – In OT, with Luke Egener in the box for tripping, Dominic Pacovsky’s shot went through Kuemper’s legs and was dribbling across the goal-line before forward Brennan Wray dove and stopped the puck from crossing the line.
The Crowd – 3695; loud, unruly and – shameless plug - my Atom Ice hockey team won fan(s) of the game. Hey, they can dance off the ice as well as they dangle on it and after getting two wins in Golden and then winning Sunday afternoon back at home, they still had energy enough to dance. I was beat, and I just stand behind the bench.
KNA Three Stars
1. LW Joe Antilla – Two goals and a physical force.
2. LW Dominic Pacovsky – terrific third period
3. C Landon Ferraro – Offensive force for all the scouts to see.
What it means – Kootenay improves to 28-23-2-6 and 64 points, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. The Ice are a point back of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and four back of the Swift Current Broncos. The club now has an almost comfortable cushion of eight points seperating themselves and the Raiders and the Oil Kings, who are tied for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot. Kootenay's magic number - any number of Ice wins and Oil King losses equaling seven (7) will send the Ice to their 11th straight playoff appearance.
Up Next – After escaping the weekend with two points of a possible four from a team 17 points back in the Eastern Conference standings the Ice are off until Friday when they make their final road trip into the Prairies until playoffs, if they make it, playing a three games-in-three nights through Swift Current Friday, Saskatoon Saturday and Prince Albert Sunday.
Game Summary:
Rebels 3 @ Ice 4 (shootout)
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Red Deer Rebels and the Kootenay Ice; February 15, 2009
Max Reinhart and Tylan Stephens scored in the shootout as the Kootenay Ice edged the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in WHL action Sunday night.
Joe Antilla opened the scoring 1:18 into the game with his 4th of the season to give the Ice a 1-0. The Rebels tied it on the power play when Landon Ferraro buried his 30th from the slot at 14:39.
Jordie Deagle put the visitors up 2-1 4:22 into the second with the Rebels second power play marker before Antilla, with his second of the night, tied the game with a power play goal of his own. The Rebels then retook the lead when Carter Smith, again on the power play, notched his 18th of the season.
The Ice tied the game in the third when Dominic Pacovsky beat Rebel goaltender Darcy Kuemper at 8:12.
Todd Mathews stopped 29 of 32 shots to get the win while Kuemper turned aside 35 of 39 in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Antilla 4 (King, Stephens) 1:18
2. Red Deer, Ferraro 30 (Wray, Coetzee) 14:39 (pp)
Penalties -- Morin RD (hooking) 2:36, Cassivi Ktn (slashing) 5:58, Smith RD (high-sticking) 8:14, Antilla Ktn (interference) 10:10, McNabb Ktn (holding) Bench Minor Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct - served by Reinhart) 14:27, Archer RD (interference) 16:43, King Ktn (tripping) 18:08, Frere Ktn (roughing) 20:00.
Second Period
3. Red Deer, Deagle 4 (Ferraro, Morin) 4:22 (pp)
4. Kootenay, Antilla 5 (Barteaux, Mathews) 12:40(pp)
5. Red Deer, Smith 18 (Ferraro, Wray) 19:43 (pp)
Penalties -- Mathews Ktn (delay-of-game - served by Czerwonka) 3:45, Fraser Ktn (tripping) 6:02, Kambeitz RD (tripping) 10:47, Kivisto RD (cross-checking) 13:25, Barteaux Ktn (hooking) 18:19, Mathews Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct) 20:00.
Third Period
6. Kootenay, Stephens 22 (Pacovsky, King) 8:12
Penalties -- Petrovic RD (hooking) 6:06, King Ktn (tripping - served by Czerwonka, misconduct) 18:05.
Overtime
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Egener RD (tripping) 2:48.
Shootout -- (Kootenay wins 2-1)
Red Deer -- Coetzee (goal), Fraser (stopped), Stephens (goal).
Kootenay -- Reinhart (goal), Ferraro (missed), Smith (missed).
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 11 7 14 7 - 39
Red Deer: 10 14 8 0 - 32
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 10-12-0-3) Red Deer: Darcy Kuemper (L, 15-20-1-6)
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-7
Red Deer: 3-11
Referee -- Russ Berdusco, Dan Cowley Linesman -- Kelly Reitenbach, Sean Donnelly.
Attendance -- 3695 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (post-concussion sydrome - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder 2-4 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 7-9 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite).
Red Deer: Tomas Polak (healthy), Cody Gross (healthy), Cass Mappin (ankle – indefinite).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Loss in Red Deer....
On Friday the 13th in Red Deer Kootenay's effort was more ugly than scary in a 2-1 loss to the Central Division basement dwellers, the Red Deer Rebels.
Opportunities, they come and go and the Ice missed a good one last night to a team 16points back in the standings. Willy Coetzee and Carter Smith scored the Rebel goals while Drew Czerwonka got the Ice marker on the power play as the Ice fell into 7th in the Eastern Conference standings last night after the Hurricanes shutout the Blazers 2-0 and leapfrogged the Ice into sixth.
After out-shooting the home squad in the third period 17-3 the most controversial point of the night occurred with 2.2 seconds left when Andrew Bailey scored, only to have the goal waved off by referee Derek Herman because the net was dislodged first, though by accounts of radio it was the wrong call. Ice coach Mark Holick didn't seem to upset with the call you can read Danny Rode's story from the Red Deer Advocate here.
D Cason Machacek missed the game with a head injury. He is day-to-day.
The club is off tonight and will have a rematch with the Rebels Sunday night in Cranbrook.
Opportunities, they come and go and the Ice missed a good one last night to a team 16points back in the standings. Willy Coetzee and Carter Smith scored the Rebel goals while Drew Czerwonka got the Ice marker on the power play as the Ice fell into 7th in the Eastern Conference standings last night after the Hurricanes shutout the Blazers 2-0 and leapfrogged the Ice into sixth.
After out-shooting the home squad in the third period 17-3 the most controversial point of the night occurred with 2.2 seconds left when Andrew Bailey scored, only to have the goal waved off by referee Derek Herman because the net was dislodged first, though by accounts of radio it was the wrong call. Ice coach Mark Holick didn't seem to upset with the call you can read Danny Rode's story from the Red Deer Advocate here.
D Cason Machacek missed the game with a head injury. He is day-to-day.
The club is off tonight and will have a rematch with the Rebels Sunday night in Cranbrook.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Mathews first no-no
For the News-Advertiser...
Mathews gets first shutout as Ice starter
by Jeff Bromley
Kootenay Ice goaltender Todd Mathews isn’t your everyday, ordinary goaltender. Sure, he’ll stop the pucks but the Convina, California product adds another dimension to the hockey club, one that’s changed the look of the club in their own zone; he plays the puck. That and if you’re an opponent in front of him he’ll gently remind you you're in his way, with his paddle. “Todd’s been outstanding for us,” said Ice coach Mark Holick after Mathews earned his first career shutout Wednesday against the Edmonton Oil Kings. “He’s really solidifying himself in there. Nathan’s (Lieuwen) going to see the doctor in Vancouver and if he gets a clean bill of health he’s got some work to do, so we could see Todd in the net for quite some time and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be there.”
Two months ago the 18-year-old former Los Angeles Jr. King’s future was uncertain at best. Fast forward into February of 2009 after incumbent starter Nathan Lieuwen went down with post-concussion syndrome and the California product is the de facto number one goaltender in Iceland, bent on carrying his new club into the WHL playoffs. Following a 3-0 shutout of the Edmonton Oil Kings Mathews is 6-4-2 since joining the Ice, before the home-and-home series with Red Deer, but more importantly sports a goals against average of .287 and a 91% save percentage. “I knew it was going to be tough to come and be a starter,” said Mathews, whose spirited play and ability to move the puck has been a pleasant surprise. “The opportunity I’ve got here has been great for me. I didn’t think it’d ever happen like this. I knew I’d have to work to get the number one spot but I’ve gotten a little lucky here so I’m going to make the most of my opportunity.”
That luck has definitely changed over the past month. Sent down by his club November 11 to the Tier Junior A Notre Dame Hounds after the Moose Jaw Warriors acquired Jeff Bosch from the Regina Pats, he was subsequently dealt to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for forward Cody Smuk and a 2009 Bantam Draft pick. The Hurricanes, acquiring the Covina, California product to add some goaltending depth never recalled Mathews from Notre Dame. One month later, following on the heals of Lieuwen’s bad luck with concussion issues Mathews new motto is carpe diem - seize the day. He’s seized the starter’s job with a vengeance and a throw-back style of goaltending along with his ability to move the puck has added a different dimension to the Ice. As for the throw-back, Mathews’ style contains the standard ‘butterfly’ genre but he’s incorporated the style of Marty Turco (puck-handling) along with some unorthodox play a la Dominic Hasek with a touch of Billy Smith, a lethal combination if you’re an opposing forward standing anywhere near him. “The guys have said they definitely appreciate moving the puck back there,” said Mathews. “It helps when we’re on the power play if I can move the puck up the ice.”
“Some people don’t really like the way I play but that’s the way I play the game. (The Ice) knew that when they got me here. I think it helps out the defenseman in front of me and it makes (opponents) think twice. The coaches have asked me to tone it back a little so I’m going try but I like that style of game. As long as I stay out of the penalty box it’ll be okay.”
His new coach agrees. “I like his fire and we like his competitiveness. We’d like him to calm down on the penalties but we also have to protect him as far as the team is concerned. We want him to stop pucks and make sure that’s all he’s there for. We don’t need the extra-curricular stuff but he’s been one of our best players for sure.”
Quick Hits - Before weekend action in a home and home match-up with the Red Deer Rebels Friday in Red Deer and in Cranbrook Sunday the Ice sat at 27-22-2-6, good for 62 points and sixth place in the conference. Kootenay is six points up on the Prince Albert Raiders and eight up on the Oil Kings, who are eighth and ninth in the conference, respectively… G Nathan Lieuwen was scheduled to see a specialist in Vancouver regarding his continuing concussion problems. He is out indefinitely… In the meantimes the club has listed Cranbrook product Scott Orth, 19, as a back-up to Mathews. Orth, formerly a list player with the Vancouver Giants, played three games with the Brigham Young University Cougars this season… C Dustin Sylvester (broken ankle) is out 8-10 weeks while C Steele Boomer (concussion) is also out indefinitely.
Mathews gets first shutout as Ice starter
by Jeff Bromley
Kootenay Ice goaltender Todd Mathews isn’t your everyday, ordinary goaltender. Sure, he’ll stop the pucks but the Convina, California product adds another dimension to the hockey club, one that’s changed the look of the club in their own zone; he plays the puck. That and if you’re an opponent in front of him he’ll gently remind you you're in his way, with his paddle. “Todd’s been outstanding for us,” said Ice coach Mark Holick after Mathews earned his first career shutout Wednesday against the Edmonton Oil Kings. “He’s really solidifying himself in there. Nathan’s (Lieuwen) going to see the doctor in Vancouver and if he gets a clean bill of health he’s got some work to do, so we could see Todd in the net for quite some time and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be there.”
Two months ago the 18-year-old former Los Angeles Jr. King’s future was uncertain at best. Fast forward into February of 2009 after incumbent starter Nathan Lieuwen went down with post-concussion syndrome and the California product is the de facto number one goaltender in Iceland, bent on carrying his new club into the WHL playoffs. Following a 3-0 shutout of the Edmonton Oil Kings Mathews is 6-4-2 since joining the Ice, before the home-and-home series with Red Deer, but more importantly sports a goals against average of .287 and a 91% save percentage. “I knew it was going to be tough to come and be a starter,” said Mathews, whose spirited play and ability to move the puck has been a pleasant surprise. “The opportunity I’ve got here has been great for me. I didn’t think it’d ever happen like this. I knew I’d have to work to get the number one spot but I’ve gotten a little lucky here so I’m going to make the most of my opportunity.”
That luck has definitely changed over the past month. Sent down by his club November 11 to the Tier Junior A Notre Dame Hounds after the Moose Jaw Warriors acquired Jeff Bosch from the Regina Pats, he was subsequently dealt to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for forward Cody Smuk and a 2009 Bantam Draft pick. The Hurricanes, acquiring the Covina, California product to add some goaltending depth never recalled Mathews from Notre Dame. One month later, following on the heals of Lieuwen’s bad luck with concussion issues Mathews new motto is carpe diem - seize the day. He’s seized the starter’s job with a vengeance and a throw-back style of goaltending along with his ability to move the puck has added a different dimension to the Ice. As for the throw-back, Mathews’ style contains the standard ‘butterfly’ genre but he’s incorporated the style of Marty Turco (puck-handling) along with some unorthodox play a la Dominic Hasek with a touch of Billy Smith, a lethal combination if you’re an opposing forward standing anywhere near him. “The guys have said they definitely appreciate moving the puck back there,” said Mathews. “It helps when we’re on the power play if I can move the puck up the ice.”
“Some people don’t really like the way I play but that’s the way I play the game. (The Ice) knew that when they got me here. I think it helps out the defenseman in front of me and it makes (opponents) think twice. The coaches have asked me to tone it back a little so I’m going try but I like that style of game. As long as I stay out of the penalty box it’ll be okay.”
His new coach agrees. “I like his fire and we like his competitiveness. We’d like him to calm down on the penalties but we also have to protect him as far as the team is concerned. We want him to stop pucks and make sure that’s all he’s there for. We don’t need the extra-curricular stuff but he’s been one of our best players for sure.”
Quick Hits - Before weekend action in a home and home match-up with the Red Deer Rebels Friday in Red Deer and in Cranbrook Sunday the Ice sat at 27-22-2-6, good for 62 points and sixth place in the conference. Kootenay is six points up on the Prince Albert Raiders and eight up on the Oil Kings, who are eighth and ninth in the conference, respectively… G Nathan Lieuwen was scheduled to see a specialist in Vancouver regarding his continuing concussion problems. He is out indefinitely… In the meantimes the club has listed Cranbrook product Scott Orth, 19, as a back-up to Mathews. Orth, formerly a list player with the Vancouver Giants, played three games with the Brigham Young University Cougars this season… C Dustin Sylvester (broken ankle) is out 8-10 weeks while C Steele Boomer (concussion) is also out indefinitely.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Score - Edmonton
The Score – Kootenay 3 – Edmonton 0
What Happened – The Ice got better goaltending than the visitors, pure and simple.
The Turning Point – The Ice had trouble staying out of the box all night but halfway through the second, with the Oil Kings pressing, Christian Magnus took a tripping penalty. 33 seconds later D Ian Barteaux took a high-sticking call when most in the building thought an Oil King was getting the gate for tripping Andrew Bailey. The crowd voiced their displeasure but the Ice killed the two-man advantage and then got the bouncer that deflated the visitors.
The Chances – The Oil Kings had their chances in this one but just couldn’t connect. In the second in a display of firewagon hockey the two clubs traded a 4-on-1 for the Oil, a 3-on-1 back the other way for the Ice and then another 3-on-1 for the Oil in which Brent Raedeke rang one off the post. With Hlookoff off for elbowing the Oil had yet another chance when rookie d-man Mark Pysyk showed a burst of speed not often seen in a 16-year-old defenseman and streaked in on a breakaway that Mathews got a glove on.
The Goals – An errant neutral pass was picked up by Hayden Rintoul, who fed Kevin King, who then crossed the blueline and let go a wicked wrist shot that beat Lanigan over his left shoulder… An errant puck popped out from the right corner right to a passing Max Reinhart. He slid his ninth of the season under Lanigan to give the Ice a 2-0 lead… Kootenay’s third goal was a 60-foot bouncer by Dominic Pacovsky that eluded Lanigan, deflated the bench and killed any momentum the Oil Kings had.
The Hit – Pysyk paid the price for pinching in the third when Eric Frere pasted the rookie against the boards that seemed to shake the building.
The Back-up – 19-year-old Scott Orth, who was listed by the Ice after being used as an emergency back-up while Nathan Lieuwen battles post-concussion syndrome, will be the club’s back-up for the time being. The Cranbrook product played three games for the NCAA Brigham Young University Cougars this season.
The Stand-in – The club had their team picture yesterday and had to use practice goaltender and local hockey equipment store proprietor and hockey school instructor Terry Dupley as a stand-in for Ice forward Steele Boomer, who didn’t make it back from Edmonton in time for the team picture. Boomer’s head shot will be super-imposed over Mr. Dupley’s in the final product.
The Crowd – 4282, the largest of the season at the Rec Plex, pushing the season announced average to 2948. With a hot-tub full of college co-eds (courtesy the College of the Rockies Women's Avalanche team) at the South end of the Rec Plex there was of course no connection to the fact that end of the arena was sold out with mostly young, and old, male hockey enthusiasts. Pure coincidence.
KNA Three Stars
1. G Todd Mathews – Made key saves in getting his first career no-no.
2. LW Kevin King – Physical, opportunistic, his third goal in as many games.
3. C Tylan Stephens – A key penalty killer.
What it means – Kootenay improves to 27-22-2-6 and 62 points, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. Prince Albert beat the Tigers in overtime but Regina Pats lost to the Swift Current Broncos, clogging things up in the conference standings once again. Kootenay is three points back of the Tigers for fifth and four back of the Broncos for fourth. Kootenay’s magic number – the number of Kootenay wins or Edmonton losses – is now nine for the club to clinch its 11th straight playoff spot.
Up Next – A home and home weekend tilt with the Red Deer Rebels. Friday in Red Deer and then back at the Rec Plex Sunday. Gametime is 6PM.
Game Summary:
Oil Kings 0 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Kootenay Ice; February 11, 2009.
Todd Mathews stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first career WHL shutout as the Kootenay Ice dumped the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-0 in WHL action Wednesday.
Kevin King opened the scoring with the Ice short-handed early in the game when he took a pass from Hayden Rintoul and wired his 16th past Cam Lanigan for the eventual game-winner at 4:42. Max Reinhart gave the Ice a 2-0 lead when an errant puck squirted out of the corner and landed on his stick. He slid his 9th of the season underneath Lanigan at 13:26.
Dominic Pacovsky scored his 5th of the season 18:42 into the second when he fired a 60-foot shot that eluded Lanigan to make it 3-0.
Mathews got his ninth win of the season stopping all 25 shots while Lanigan turned aside 21 of 24 shots to take the loss.
The Wednesday night crowd of 4282 was the largest of the season at the 4264-seat Rec Plex.
First Period
1. Kootenay, King 16 (Rintoul, Frere) 4:42 (sh)
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 9 13:26
Penalties -- Machacek Ktn (tripping) 3:29, Antilla Ktn (interference) 16:11, Breitkreuz Edm Antilla Ktn (fighting) 19:06.
Second Period
3. Kootenay, Pascovsky 5 (Antilla, Machacek) 18:42
Penalties -- Martin Ktn (slashing) 2:30, Nichol Edm (hooking) Pearson Edm Czerwonka Ktn (roughing) 7:13, Antilla Ktn (hooking) 8:16, Magnus Ktn (tripping) 11:57, Barteaux Ktn (high-sticking) 12:31, Hlookoff Edm (elbowing) 16:01.
Third Period
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Czerwonka Ktn (hooking) 12:30.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 10 8 6 - 24
Edmonton: 10 12 3 - 25
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 9-11-0-3); Edmonton: Cam Lanigan (L, 5-6-0-0).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-2
Edmonton: 0-7
Referee -- Graham Skilliter, Greg Sarauer. Linesman -- Cody Rude, Brad Yoshida.
Attendance -- 4282 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 2-4 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 7-9 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite).
Edmonton: Torrie Jung (head - day-to-day), Adrian Van de Mosselaer (broken leg - indefinite), Colton Stephenson (concussion - indefinite), Tomas Vincour (shoulder - day-to-day), Clayton Cumiskey (finger - day-to-day).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
What Happened – The Ice got better goaltending than the visitors, pure and simple.
The Turning Point – The Ice had trouble staying out of the box all night but halfway through the second, with the Oil Kings pressing, Christian Magnus took a tripping penalty. 33 seconds later D Ian Barteaux took a high-sticking call when most in the building thought an Oil King was getting the gate for tripping Andrew Bailey. The crowd voiced their displeasure but the Ice killed the two-man advantage and then got the bouncer that deflated the visitors.
The Chances – The Oil Kings had their chances in this one but just couldn’t connect. In the second in a display of firewagon hockey the two clubs traded a 4-on-1 for the Oil, a 3-on-1 back the other way for the Ice and then another 3-on-1 for the Oil in which Brent Raedeke rang one off the post. With Hlookoff off for elbowing the Oil had yet another chance when rookie d-man Mark Pysyk showed a burst of speed not often seen in a 16-year-old defenseman and streaked in on a breakaway that Mathews got a glove on.
The Goals – An errant neutral pass was picked up by Hayden Rintoul, who fed Kevin King, who then crossed the blueline and let go a wicked wrist shot that beat Lanigan over his left shoulder… An errant puck popped out from the right corner right to a passing Max Reinhart. He slid his ninth of the season under Lanigan to give the Ice a 2-0 lead… Kootenay’s third goal was a 60-foot bouncer by Dominic Pacovsky that eluded Lanigan, deflated the bench and killed any momentum the Oil Kings had.
The Hit – Pysyk paid the price for pinching in the third when Eric Frere pasted the rookie against the boards that seemed to shake the building.
The Back-up – 19-year-old Scott Orth, who was listed by the Ice after being used as an emergency back-up while Nathan Lieuwen battles post-concussion syndrome, will be the club’s back-up for the time being. The Cranbrook product played three games for the NCAA Brigham Young University Cougars this season.
The Stand-in – The club had their team picture yesterday and had to use practice goaltender and local hockey equipment store proprietor and hockey school instructor Terry Dupley as a stand-in for Ice forward Steele Boomer, who didn’t make it back from Edmonton in time for the team picture. Boomer’s head shot will be super-imposed over Mr. Dupley’s in the final product.
The Crowd – 4282, the largest of the season at the Rec Plex, pushing the season announced average to 2948. With a hot-tub full of college co-eds (courtesy the College of the Rockies Women's Avalanche team) at the South end of the Rec Plex there was of course no connection to the fact that end of the arena was sold out with mostly young, and old, male hockey enthusiasts. Pure coincidence.
KNA Three Stars
1. G Todd Mathews – Made key saves in getting his first career no-no.
2. LW Kevin King – Physical, opportunistic, his third goal in as many games.
3. C Tylan Stephens – A key penalty killer.
What it means – Kootenay improves to 27-22-2-6 and 62 points, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. Prince Albert beat the Tigers in overtime but Regina Pats lost to the Swift Current Broncos, clogging things up in the conference standings once again. Kootenay is three points back of the Tigers for fifth and four back of the Broncos for fourth. Kootenay’s magic number – the number of Kootenay wins or Edmonton losses – is now nine for the club to clinch its 11th straight playoff spot.
Up Next – A home and home weekend tilt with the Red Deer Rebels. Friday in Red Deer and then back at the Rec Plex Sunday. Gametime is 6PM.
Game Summary:
Oil Kings 0 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Kootenay Ice; February 11, 2009.
Todd Mathews stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first career WHL shutout as the Kootenay Ice dumped the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-0 in WHL action Wednesday.
Kevin King opened the scoring with the Ice short-handed early in the game when he took a pass from Hayden Rintoul and wired his 16th past Cam Lanigan for the eventual game-winner at 4:42. Max Reinhart gave the Ice a 2-0 lead when an errant puck squirted out of the corner and landed on his stick. He slid his 9th of the season underneath Lanigan at 13:26.
Dominic Pacovsky scored his 5th of the season 18:42 into the second when he fired a 60-foot shot that eluded Lanigan to make it 3-0.
Mathews got his ninth win of the season stopping all 25 shots while Lanigan turned aside 21 of 24 shots to take the loss.
The Wednesday night crowd of 4282 was the largest of the season at the 4264-seat Rec Plex.
First Period
1. Kootenay, King 16 (Rintoul, Frere) 4:42 (sh)
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 9 13:26
Penalties -- Machacek Ktn (tripping) 3:29, Antilla Ktn (interference) 16:11, Breitkreuz Edm Antilla Ktn (fighting) 19:06.
Second Period
3. Kootenay, Pascovsky 5 (Antilla, Machacek) 18:42
Penalties -- Martin Ktn (slashing) 2:30, Nichol Edm (hooking) Pearson Edm Czerwonka Ktn (roughing) 7:13, Antilla Ktn (hooking) 8:16, Magnus Ktn (tripping) 11:57, Barteaux Ktn (high-sticking) 12:31, Hlookoff Edm (elbowing) 16:01.
Third Period
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Czerwonka Ktn (hooking) 12:30.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 10 8 6 - 24
Edmonton: 10 12 3 - 25
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 9-11-0-3); Edmonton: Cam Lanigan (L, 5-6-0-0).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-2
Edmonton: 0-7
Referee -- Graham Skilliter, Greg Sarauer. Linesman -- Cody Rude, Brad Yoshida.
Attendance -- 4282 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 2-4 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 7-9 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite).
Edmonton: Torrie Jung (head - day-to-day), Adrian Van de Mosselaer (broken leg - indefinite), Colton Stephenson (concussion - indefinite), Tomas Vincour (shoulder - day-to-day), Clayton Cumiskey (finger - day-to-day).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
Ice round-up..
For the News-Advertiser...
Ice still in hunt despite losing two straight
by Jeff Bromley
January and the early part of February won’t exactly be remembered for the Kootenay Ice’ ability to spread out games against the WHL's top clubs. What it could be remembered for is the club's ability to scratch and claw out points in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Case in point: a 3-2 shootout loss to the Spokane Chiefs Saturday night. Down 2-0 headed into the third frame and having turned a five-on-three advantage into a rare three-on-three, and then down two men the other way, Kootenay could’ve mailed into the third period effort.
They didn’t and though they lost in the circus it never really felt like one. “Our focus all night was to win,” said Ice forward Matt Fraser, who dropped the gloves with Brett Bartman just 32 seconds into the contest, setting the tone for the rest of the night. “We had some bad blood with them leftover from the last game but we didn’t want that to get in the way of the ultimate goal which was to win. But it motivates you a little bit when you’ve got the refs against you and it seems like you’ve got to beat them too so it’s not hard to stay focussed because they give you a lot of reasons to try and win it.”
Ah, yes, the Ryan’s - Bonnett and Thompson - who handed out a total of 14 minors on Saturday night, eight to the Ice and six to the Chiefs, and made the city’s most wanted list after turning the aforementioned two-man advantage into a two-man disadvantage when Andrew Bailey and Ian Barteaux took roughing and goaltender interference penalties 29 seconds apart in the second. Former Kimberley Dynamiter Drayson Bowman scored at the tail end of the power play to put the Chiefs up 2-0 and send the 3236 at the Rec Plex into a uproar.
The list of disgruntles included Ice head coach Mark Holick, who drew a bench minor not less than two minutes later, but was hesitant to comment on the situation. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, but continued nonetheless. “I didn’t say a word (on the play). I pointed at Todd (goaltender Mathews). When the puck came loose and Todd got bumped I asked about it, that's all. But I was on (referee Thompson) pretty hard and probably should’ve got one a lot earlier so it was my fault anyway.”
Despite what appeared to be some lopsided calls against the home side - though to be fair from the Rec Plex press box Chiefs GM Tim Speltz pointed out more than few that didn’t go against the Ice, citing Bryan Maxwell syndrome, referring to the former Chiefs head coach who also coached the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers over a 20-year career, meaning the refs were just tired of calling penalties after the second period flurry - the Ice seemed to feed off the energy in the building and battled back with two goals by Dominic Pacovsky and Kevin King in the third to get them to the shootout. “It was good intensity, the crowd was in it and I’m proud of the guys for hanging in there. They competed real hard and stayed with them step-for-step. It’s not too often that you claw your way back from a deficit against that team,” said Holick.
Quick Hits - G Todd Mathews has seized the starter’s job with a vengeance with the post-concussion syndrome suffered by Nathan Lieuwen that means the California product will be the club's starter for the near future. The throw-back style of goaltending along with his ability to move the puck has added a different dimension to the Ice. Mathews is still the standard ‘butterfly’ style of goaltender but he’s incorporated the style of Marty Turco (puck-handling) with Billy Smith, a lethal combination if you’re an opposing forward standing anywhere near him, as was evident Saturday when he jumped on Chiefs forward Tyler Johnson after he was knocked into him. “The guys have said they definitely appreciate me moving the puck back there,” said Mathews. “It helps when we’re on the power play if I can move the puck up the ice. Some people don’t really like the way I play but that’s the way I play the game. (The Ice) knew that when they got me here. I think it helps out the defenseman in front of me and it makes (opponents) think twice. The coaches have asked me to tone it back a little so I’m going try but I like that style of game. As long as I stay out of the penalty box it’ll be okay.”… It was EK Community Credit Union puck-toss night and more than a few of the orange foam pucks went the referees way during the second period. None connected however... The three-in-three weekend against two of the league’s top clubs after Friday’s 4-1 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors proved too much for the scrappy Ice as they dropped an early evening date with the Hitmen 4-2 at the Saddledome Sunday… The schedule gets easier but that much more important with dates against the Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday (six points back) and a home and home tilt with the Red Deer Rebels Friday and Sunday, who are 16 points back in the Eastern Conference standings… G Nathan Lieuwen is scheduled to see a specialist this week in Vancouver regarding his continuing concussion problems. He is out indefinitely… C Dustin Sylvester (broken ankle) is out 8-10 weeks and C Steele Boomer (concussion) is also out indefinitely.
There's also a piece on the Ice playoff streak trying to get to 11 straight years by Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun here When you see the lack of streak/championships etc by other clubs in this league it gives a good idea of what kind of teams the city's had over the last decade. Spoiled maybe, but it's now expected that this team be decent, all of the time. It's a high bar that's been set.
Ice still in hunt despite losing two straight
by Jeff Bromley
January and the early part of February won’t exactly be remembered for the Kootenay Ice’ ability to spread out games against the WHL's top clubs. What it could be remembered for is the club's ability to scratch and claw out points in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Case in point: a 3-2 shootout loss to the Spokane Chiefs Saturday night. Down 2-0 headed into the third frame and having turned a five-on-three advantage into a rare three-on-three, and then down two men the other way, Kootenay could’ve mailed into the third period effort.
They didn’t and though they lost in the circus it never really felt like one. “Our focus all night was to win,” said Ice forward Matt Fraser, who dropped the gloves with Brett Bartman just 32 seconds into the contest, setting the tone for the rest of the night. “We had some bad blood with them leftover from the last game but we didn’t want that to get in the way of the ultimate goal which was to win. But it motivates you a little bit when you’ve got the refs against you and it seems like you’ve got to beat them too so it’s not hard to stay focussed because they give you a lot of reasons to try and win it.”
Ah, yes, the Ryan’s - Bonnett and Thompson - who handed out a total of 14 minors on Saturday night, eight to the Ice and six to the Chiefs, and made the city’s most wanted list after turning the aforementioned two-man advantage into a two-man disadvantage when Andrew Bailey and Ian Barteaux took roughing and goaltender interference penalties 29 seconds apart in the second. Former Kimberley Dynamiter Drayson Bowman scored at the tail end of the power play to put the Chiefs up 2-0 and send the 3236 at the Rec Plex into a uproar.
The list of disgruntles included Ice head coach Mark Holick, who drew a bench minor not less than two minutes later, but was hesitant to comment on the situation. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, but continued nonetheless. “I didn’t say a word (on the play). I pointed at Todd (goaltender Mathews). When the puck came loose and Todd got bumped I asked about it, that's all. But I was on (referee Thompson) pretty hard and probably should’ve got one a lot earlier so it was my fault anyway.”
Despite what appeared to be some lopsided calls against the home side - though to be fair from the Rec Plex press box Chiefs GM Tim Speltz pointed out more than few that didn’t go against the Ice, citing Bryan Maxwell syndrome, referring to the former Chiefs head coach who also coached the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers over a 20-year career, meaning the refs were just tired of calling penalties after the second period flurry - the Ice seemed to feed off the energy in the building and battled back with two goals by Dominic Pacovsky and Kevin King in the third to get them to the shootout. “It was good intensity, the crowd was in it and I’m proud of the guys for hanging in there. They competed real hard and stayed with them step-for-step. It’s not too often that you claw your way back from a deficit against that team,” said Holick.
Quick Hits - G Todd Mathews has seized the starter’s job with a vengeance with the post-concussion syndrome suffered by Nathan Lieuwen that means the California product will be the club's starter for the near future. The throw-back style of goaltending along with his ability to move the puck has added a different dimension to the Ice. Mathews is still the standard ‘butterfly’ style of goaltender but he’s incorporated the style of Marty Turco (puck-handling) with Billy Smith, a lethal combination if you’re an opposing forward standing anywhere near him, as was evident Saturday when he jumped on Chiefs forward Tyler Johnson after he was knocked into him. “The guys have said they definitely appreciate me moving the puck back there,” said Mathews. “It helps when we’re on the power play if I can move the puck up the ice. Some people don’t really like the way I play but that’s the way I play the game. (The Ice) knew that when they got me here. I think it helps out the defenseman in front of me and it makes (opponents) think twice. The coaches have asked me to tone it back a little so I’m going try but I like that style of game. As long as I stay out of the penalty box it’ll be okay.”… It was EK Community Credit Union puck-toss night and more than a few of the orange foam pucks went the referees way during the second period. None connected however... The three-in-three weekend against two of the league’s top clubs after Friday’s 4-1 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors proved too much for the scrappy Ice as they dropped an early evening date with the Hitmen 4-2 at the Saddledome Sunday… The schedule gets easier but that much more important with dates against the Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday (six points back) and a home and home tilt with the Red Deer Rebels Friday and Sunday, who are 16 points back in the Eastern Conference standings… G Nathan Lieuwen is scheduled to see a specialist this week in Vancouver regarding his continuing concussion problems. He is out indefinitely… C Dustin Sylvester (broken ankle) is out 8-10 weeks and C Steele Boomer (concussion) is also out indefinitely.
There's also a piece on the Ice playoff streak trying to get to 11 straight years by Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun here When you see the lack of streak/championships etc by other clubs in this league it gives a good idea of what kind of teams the city's had over the last decade. Spoiled maybe, but it's now expected that this team be decent, all of the time. It's a high bar that's been set.
Monday, February 9, 2009
WHL Writer's Week 20...
The Western Hockey League writers association poll for Week 20 as released Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, by the office of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers’ Association (with last week's rank, team, first-place votes in parenthesis and total points):
1. (1) Vancouver Giants (11), 263
2. (2) Calgary Hitmen (1), 252
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 241
4. (5) Tri-City Americans, 221
5. (6) Brandon Wheat Kings, 215
6. (4) Spokane Chiefs, 208
7. (7) Kelowna Rockets, 196
8. (8) Swift Current Broncos, 176
9. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 164
10. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 155
11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 150
12. (13) Seattle Thunderbirds, 126
13. (12) Kamloops Blazers, 125
14. (15) Everett Silvertips, 104
15. (17) Prince Albert Raiders, 92
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 89
17. (14) Regina Pats, 77
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 62
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 48
20. (21) Chilliwack Bruins, 27
21. (20) Moose Jaw Warriors, 24
22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 21
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 12 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Chilliwack Progress, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, Regina LeaderPost, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Tri-City Herald.
1. (1) Vancouver Giants (11), 263
2. (2) Calgary Hitmen (1), 252
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 241
4. (5) Tri-City Americans, 221
5. (6) Brandon Wheat Kings, 215
6. (4) Spokane Chiefs, 208
7. (7) Kelowna Rockets, 196
8. (8) Swift Current Broncos, 176
9. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 164
10. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 155
11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 150
12. (13) Seattle Thunderbirds, 126
13. (12) Kamloops Blazers, 125
14. (15) Everett Silvertips, 104
15. (17) Prince Albert Raiders, 92
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 89
17. (14) Regina Pats, 77
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 62
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 48
20. (21) Chilliwack Bruins, 27
21. (20) Moose Jaw Warriors, 24
22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 21
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 12 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Chilliwack Progress, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, Regina LeaderPost, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Tri-City Herald.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Score - Spokane
The Score – Spokane 3 – Kootenay 2 (Shootout)
What Happened – The Ice deserved a better fate in this one but couldn’t put the Chiefs away – yes, you read that correct – when they had the chances.
Run the Goalie night – Shades of last weekend in Spokane erupted in the second as Chiefs goaltender James Reid was ran by Ice forward Jesse Ismond, signalled for goaltender interference by Referee Ryan Thompson and it was open season on the ‘Tenders shortly thereafter. Ice goaltender Todd Mathews was collided with in the second but took matters into his own hands and pounded on the Chiefs forward himself, drawing a roughing minor. Later in the third Reid was clobbered again when he wandered out to play a puck that was chased in by Joe Antilla and Cory Baldwin. The two collided with Reid, his mask went flying and Reid was down for the count, again.
The Zebras – It was a wild night for the guys in the stripes. Brady Calla took an elbowing call at 7:08 of the second and 25 seconds later Jared Spurgeon was fingered for hooking, giving the Ice a five-on-three. Trying to survive the carnage in front of the Chiefs net captain Andrew Bailey somehow received a roughing call that negated the five-on-three at 8:03. Then on a 3-on-2 rush Ian Barteaux gingerly bumped James Reid after he made the save and promptly received another goaltender interference call, signalling the end of the power play for the Ice. Amid a chorus of boos the Chiefs went up 2-0 shortly after on Drayson Bowman’s 26th, who was sent off for roughing at the same time. Ice coach Mark Holick, his fuse almost completely blown by now, said something to Thompson during the play that earned him a bench minor – though Holick stated he said nothing to Thompson following the game. On puck-toss night the crowd, almost unruly by this point, started throwing the odd Styrofoam puck at Thompson but couldn’t connect on any attempt.
The Goals – With under a minute left in the first period Ice D Cason Machacek got caught up ice. Rookie Christian Magnus tried to fill in on D but Brady Calla burned him on the outside and then put the puck around Mathews to make it 1-0… After the bizarre 5-on-3 swing that started with the Ice but ended with the Chiefs with the two-man advantage, Drayson Bowman potted his 26th to give the defending champs a 2-0 lead… After a solid hit on Trevor Glass by Ryan Fox in third, Dominic Pacovsky picks up the puck, dangles into the high slot and catches Reid going the other way with a wrist shot high on the glove side… The Ice tied it up on a burst of speed by Hayden Rintoul who gained the zone and curled toward to the net and let go a shot that rebounded right to Kevin King, who roofed his 14th.
The Local Kid – Dustin Donaghy continued his thorny ways as the Cranbrook product was an energetic pain the backside for the Ice most of the night. Tried on more than one occasion to goad D Ian Barteaux into a battle but Barteaux was having none of it.
The Rivalry – These two clubs hate each other, as was evident by the first minute fight between Fraser and Bartman which set the tone for the rest of the evening. Why or why can’t they play more than five times a year????
The Crowd – 3226 – though in a surly mood one could argue the antics of the Zebras energized the normally subdued Rec Plex faithful, who were treated to a very entertaining hockey game.
KNA Three Stars
1. LW Kevin King – physical, game-tying goal
2. RW Brady Calla – goal, offensive threat all night
3. LW Dominic Pacovsky – goal, his play is getting better by the game
What it means – Despite the shootout loss this one felt like a win, considering the opponent and the result the last time out. Kootenay fought the refs as much as they fought their opponent on this night and that usually doesn’t help. The right teams lost however as both the Oil Kings and the Pats lost their respective games giving the Ice – at 26-21-2-6 and 60 points – a six point cushion on the Oil Kings and Raiders, who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot. The flailing Pats are now eight points back and currently out of the playoff hunt.
Up Next – The schedule maker doesn’t get any nicer as the club travels to Cowtown for a date with the Hitmen. The game was originally scheduled as an afternoon contest but later changed.
Chiefs 3 @ Ice 2 (Shootout)
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Spokane Chiefs and the Kootenay Ice; February 7, 2009.
Drayson Bowman and Ondrej Roman scored in the shootout at the Spokane Chiefs edged the Kootenay Ice 3-2 in WHL action Saturday. Brady Calla and Bowman paced the Chiefs to a 2-0 lead through two periods before the Ice came back with two goals, one by
Dominic Pacovsky with his 4th of the season, and another by Kevin King who roofed a Hayden Rintoul rebound past James Reid to send it to overtime.
Reid stopped 36 of 38 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews stopped 39 of 41 to take the loss.
First Period
1. Spokane, Calla 11 (Donaghy, Glass) 19:03
Penalties -- Fraser Ktn Bartman Spo (fighting) 0:32, Wahl Spo (roughing) 3:34, Pacovsky Ktn (hooking) 12:39, Fraser Ktn Johnson Spo (roughing) 13:09, Bailey Ktn Donaghy Spo (roughing) 16:11.
Second Period
2. Spokane, Bowman 26 (Roman, Ulmer) 10:35 (pp)
Penalties -- Ismond Ktn (goaltender interference) 3:20, Calla Spo (elbowing) 7:08, Spurgeon Spo (hooking) 7:33, Bailey Ktn (roughing) 8:13, Barteaux Ktn (goaltender interference) 8:42, Kootenay Bench (unsportsmanlike conduct - served by Pacovsky) 10:13, Mathews Ktn (roughing - served by Fox) 11:35, Bowman Spo (hooking) 16:58.
Third Period
3. Kootenay, Pacovsky 4 (Fox) 2:40
4. Kootenay, King 14 (Rintoul) 5:56
Penalties -- Reid Spo (delay-of-game - served by Letts) 8:56, Reinhart Ktn (hooking) 17:02.
Overtime
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Stephens Ktn (tripping) 1:39.
Shootout -- Spokane wins 2-1
Kootenay: Ismond (stopped), Pacovsky (missed), Reinhart (goal), Fraser (stopped).
Spokane: Wahl (stopped), Bowman (goal), Spurgeon (stopped), Roman (goal).
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 9 12 15 2 - 38
Spokane: 13 16 9 3 - 41
Goal -- Kootenay:Todd Mathews (L, 8-10-0-3-3); Spokane: James Reid (W, 10-5-0-1).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-6
Spokane: 1-7
Referee -- Ryan Bonnet Linesman -- Steve Cochrane, Tyler Adair.
Attendance -- 3226 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 4-6 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 8-10 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite).
Spokane: Jared Cowen (knee - indefinite), Brendan Kichton (healthy), T.C. Cratsenberg (healthy), David Conrad (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
What Happened – The Ice deserved a better fate in this one but couldn’t put the Chiefs away – yes, you read that correct – when they had the chances.
Run the Goalie night – Shades of last weekend in Spokane erupted in the second as Chiefs goaltender James Reid was ran by Ice forward Jesse Ismond, signalled for goaltender interference by Referee Ryan Thompson and it was open season on the ‘Tenders shortly thereafter. Ice goaltender Todd Mathews was collided with in the second but took matters into his own hands and pounded on the Chiefs forward himself, drawing a roughing minor. Later in the third Reid was clobbered again when he wandered out to play a puck that was chased in by Joe Antilla and Cory Baldwin. The two collided with Reid, his mask went flying and Reid was down for the count, again.
The Zebras – It was a wild night for the guys in the stripes. Brady Calla took an elbowing call at 7:08 of the second and 25 seconds later Jared Spurgeon was fingered for hooking, giving the Ice a five-on-three. Trying to survive the carnage in front of the Chiefs net captain Andrew Bailey somehow received a roughing call that negated the five-on-three at 8:03. Then on a 3-on-2 rush Ian Barteaux gingerly bumped James Reid after he made the save and promptly received another goaltender interference call, signalling the end of the power play for the Ice. Amid a chorus of boos the Chiefs went up 2-0 shortly after on Drayson Bowman’s 26th, who was sent off for roughing at the same time. Ice coach Mark Holick, his fuse almost completely blown by now, said something to Thompson during the play that earned him a bench minor – though Holick stated he said nothing to Thompson following the game. On puck-toss night the crowd, almost unruly by this point, started throwing the odd Styrofoam puck at Thompson but couldn’t connect on any attempt.
The Goals – With under a minute left in the first period Ice D Cason Machacek got caught up ice. Rookie Christian Magnus tried to fill in on D but Brady Calla burned him on the outside and then put the puck around Mathews to make it 1-0… After the bizarre 5-on-3 swing that started with the Ice but ended with the Chiefs with the two-man advantage, Drayson Bowman potted his 26th to give the defending champs a 2-0 lead… After a solid hit on Trevor Glass by Ryan Fox in third, Dominic Pacovsky picks up the puck, dangles into the high slot and catches Reid going the other way with a wrist shot high on the glove side… The Ice tied it up on a burst of speed by Hayden Rintoul who gained the zone and curled toward to the net and let go a shot that rebounded right to Kevin King, who roofed his 14th.
The Local Kid – Dustin Donaghy continued his thorny ways as the Cranbrook product was an energetic pain the backside for the Ice most of the night. Tried on more than one occasion to goad D Ian Barteaux into a battle but Barteaux was having none of it.
The Rivalry – These two clubs hate each other, as was evident by the first minute fight between Fraser and Bartman which set the tone for the rest of the evening. Why or why can’t they play more than five times a year????
The Crowd – 3226 – though in a surly mood one could argue the antics of the Zebras energized the normally subdued Rec Plex faithful, who were treated to a very entertaining hockey game.
KNA Three Stars
1. LW Kevin King – physical, game-tying goal
2. RW Brady Calla – goal, offensive threat all night
3. LW Dominic Pacovsky – goal, his play is getting better by the game
What it means – Despite the shootout loss this one felt like a win, considering the opponent and the result the last time out. Kootenay fought the refs as much as they fought their opponent on this night and that usually doesn’t help. The right teams lost however as both the Oil Kings and the Pats lost their respective games giving the Ice – at 26-21-2-6 and 60 points – a six point cushion on the Oil Kings and Raiders, who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot. The flailing Pats are now eight points back and currently out of the playoff hunt.
Up Next – The schedule maker doesn’t get any nicer as the club travels to Cowtown for a date with the Hitmen. The game was originally scheduled as an afternoon contest but later changed.
Chiefs 3 @ Ice 2 (Shootout)
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Spokane Chiefs and the Kootenay Ice; February 7, 2009.
Drayson Bowman and Ondrej Roman scored in the shootout at the Spokane Chiefs edged the Kootenay Ice 3-2 in WHL action Saturday. Brady Calla and Bowman paced the Chiefs to a 2-0 lead through two periods before the Ice came back with two goals, one by
Dominic Pacovsky with his 4th of the season, and another by Kevin King who roofed a Hayden Rintoul rebound past James Reid to send it to overtime.
Reid stopped 36 of 38 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews stopped 39 of 41 to take the loss.
First Period
1. Spokane, Calla 11 (Donaghy, Glass) 19:03
Penalties -- Fraser Ktn Bartman Spo (fighting) 0:32, Wahl Spo (roughing) 3:34, Pacovsky Ktn (hooking) 12:39, Fraser Ktn Johnson Spo (roughing) 13:09, Bailey Ktn Donaghy Spo (roughing) 16:11.
Second Period
2. Spokane, Bowman 26 (Roman, Ulmer) 10:35 (pp)
Penalties -- Ismond Ktn (goaltender interference) 3:20, Calla Spo (elbowing) 7:08, Spurgeon Spo (hooking) 7:33, Bailey Ktn (roughing) 8:13, Barteaux Ktn (goaltender interference) 8:42, Kootenay Bench (unsportsmanlike conduct - served by Pacovsky) 10:13, Mathews Ktn (roughing - served by Fox) 11:35, Bowman Spo (hooking) 16:58.
Third Period
3. Kootenay, Pacovsky 4 (Fox) 2:40
4. Kootenay, King 14 (Rintoul) 5:56
Penalties -- Reid Spo (delay-of-game - served by Letts) 8:56, Reinhart Ktn (hooking) 17:02.
Overtime
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Stephens Ktn (tripping) 1:39.
Shootout -- Spokane wins 2-1
Kootenay: Ismond (stopped), Pacovsky (missed), Reinhart (goal), Fraser (stopped).
Spokane: Wahl (stopped), Bowman (goal), Spurgeon (stopped), Roman (goal).
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 9 12 15 2 - 38
Spokane: 13 16 9 3 - 41
Goal -- Kootenay:Todd Mathews (L, 8-10-0-3-3); Spokane: James Reid (W, 10-5-0-1).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-6
Spokane: 1-7
Referee -- Ryan Bonnet Linesman -- Steve Cochrane, Tyler Adair.
Attendance -- 3226 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 4-6 weeks), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 8-10 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite).
Spokane: Jared Cowen (knee - indefinite), Brendan Kichton (healthy), T.C. Cratsenberg (healthy), David Conrad (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Score - Moose Jaw
The Score – Kootenay 4 – Moose Jaw 1
What Happened – In a battle of the league’s two youngest teams the Ice took it to the Warriors all night. It wasn’t exactly one for the ages but they’ll take the two points.
The Turning Point – The Warriors had trouble mounting any real sustained pressure on this night but the play of goaltender Jeff Bosch kept the game 1-0 until less than three seconds left in the second period when Max Reinhart stuffed his eighth behind Bosch. The Warriors couldn’t answer the bell in the third period as the Ice ran away with it.
In the crowd – The Reinhart family – Max’s father Paul, mom, and younger brothers Griffin and Sam were in attendance to watch Max get his eighth of the season. The 6’4” Griffin, a blueliner with Hollyburn (West Vancouver) Midget though he's still only 14, is considered a top five prospect for the WHL Bantam Draft at the end of April. Sam, a second-year peewee with Hollyburn, is said to be the best of the bunch.
The Goals – Kootenay seem to generate a lot of chances but few of any real quality until Brayden McNabb fired a point shot that Bosch kicked the rebound right to Matt Fraser, who potted his tenth into an open net… Near the end of the second Max Reinhart took a Dominic Pacovsky feed from behind the net on Bosch’s doorstep and stuffed it past the Warrior netminder. Captain Andrew Bailey paid the price receiving a vicious cross-check from D Chad Sauer on the play … In the third Tylan Stephens scored his 21st on a wraparound to make it 3-0… Just before the halfway mark of the third Todd Mathews made a great stop on a streaking Thomas Frazee. The puck made its way to the right half-wall where Clint Atkinson sent the puck to the net. It surprised Mathews and went between his legs to spoil the shutout attempt… A blocked shot attempt by Eric Frere sent Jesse Ismond away on a breakaway late in the third. Ismond potted his 10th on a nice backhand deke.
The Hit – Late in the first Riley Reinbolt was on the receiving end of a crushing hit against the boards by Ice D James Martin. Reinbolt was slow to get up but somehow finished the shift.
The 50/50 - Former New York Ranger and still the WHL record holder for most goals by a rookie with 82 set in 1974-75 with the Medicine Hat Tigers, The Drive's Colour Commentator Don Murdoch took home just over $2200 in the 50/50.
The Crowd – 2816
KNA Three Stars
1. D Eric Frere – Physical, offensive. What a 20-year-old rearguard needs to be.
2. LW Dominic Pacovsky – His best outing in a while.
3. G Jeff Bosch – Without him this one could be much worse.
What it means – The win gives the Ice a 26-21-2-5 record with 59 points, good for a tie for sixth in the Eastern Conference with the Lethbridge Hurricanes but with two games in hand. They’re within one point of the Swift Current Broncos for fifth, who lost to the Calgary Hitmen 6-3 Friday, and within three points of the Medicine Hat Tigers for fourth spot, with a game in hand on both.
Up Next – It also means that the club got the two points it should have in a three-in-three weekend in which the Spokane Chiefs – who lost 4-0 to the Vancouver Giants Friday night – visit the Rec Plex Saturday before the team heads to Calgary for a Sunday match-up.
Game Summary:
Warriors 1 @ Ice 4
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Kootenay Ice; February 6, 2009.
Matt Fraser had a goal and an assist while Eric Frere had two assists as the Kootenay Ice beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-1 in WHL action Friday night.
Fraser opened the scoring on the power play with his 10th at 18:59 of the first period. The Ice got another power play goal, again late in the period, when Max Reinhart stuffed his 8th of the season past Warrior goaltender Jeff Bosch at 19:57 to make it 2-0.
Tylan Stephens got his 21st of the season five minutes into the third to make it 3-0 before the Warriors finally got on the board with a weak shot that surprised Ice goaltender Todd Mathews halfway through the third period. Jesse Ismond scored on a breakaway at 17:17 to round out the scoring for the Ice.
Todd Mathews stopped 15 of 16 shots to get the win while Jeff Bosch saw 36 shots on the night, stopping 32.
.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Fraser 10 (McNabb, Bailey) 18:59 (pp)
Penalties -- Pacovsky Ktn (holding) 11:07, Hood MJ (interference) 12:12, Barteaux Ktn (holding) 15:26, Sommers MJ (hooking) 17:52, McIlrath MJ Reinhart Ktn (roughing) 18:40.
Second Period
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 8 (Pacovsky, Barteaux) 19:57 (pp)
Penalties -- Frere Ktn (tripping) 2:35, Smuk MJ (boarding) 5:34, Pacovsky Ktn (tripping) 14:43, Howden MJ (holding) 19:13.
Third Period
3. Kootenay, Stephens 21 (Frere, Antilla) 5:02
4. Moose Jaw, Atckinson 1 (Frazee, Bast) 9:58
5. Kootenay, Ismond 10 (Frere, Fraser) 17:17
Penalties -- Stanton MJ (roughing) 11:16, Czerwonka Ktn (slashing) Reinbolt MJ (roughing) 18:16.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 8 10 18 - 36
Moose Jaw: 6 4 6 - 16
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 8-10-0-2); Moose Jaw: Jeff Bosch (L, 7-18-0-3).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 2-5
Moose Jaw: 0-4
Referee -- Sean Rapheal. Linesman -- Tyler Adair, Aidan Henderson.
Attendance -- 2816 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 8-10 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 4-6 weeks).
Moose Jaw: Travis Hamonic (knee - day-to-day), Connor Cox (healthy), Corey Scott (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
What Happened – In a battle of the league’s two youngest teams the Ice took it to the Warriors all night. It wasn’t exactly one for the ages but they’ll take the two points.
The Turning Point – The Warriors had trouble mounting any real sustained pressure on this night but the play of goaltender Jeff Bosch kept the game 1-0 until less than three seconds left in the second period when Max Reinhart stuffed his eighth behind Bosch. The Warriors couldn’t answer the bell in the third period as the Ice ran away with it.
In the crowd – The Reinhart family – Max’s father Paul, mom, and younger brothers Griffin and Sam were in attendance to watch Max get his eighth of the season. The 6’4” Griffin, a blueliner with Hollyburn (West Vancouver) Midget though he's still only 14, is considered a top five prospect for the WHL Bantam Draft at the end of April. Sam, a second-year peewee with Hollyburn, is said to be the best of the bunch.
The Goals – Kootenay seem to generate a lot of chances but few of any real quality until Brayden McNabb fired a point shot that Bosch kicked the rebound right to Matt Fraser, who potted his tenth into an open net… Near the end of the second Max Reinhart took a Dominic Pacovsky feed from behind the net on Bosch’s doorstep and stuffed it past the Warrior netminder. Captain Andrew Bailey paid the price receiving a vicious cross-check from D Chad Sauer on the play … In the third Tylan Stephens scored his 21st on a wraparound to make it 3-0… Just before the halfway mark of the third Todd Mathews made a great stop on a streaking Thomas Frazee. The puck made its way to the right half-wall where Clint Atkinson sent the puck to the net. It surprised Mathews and went between his legs to spoil the shutout attempt… A blocked shot attempt by Eric Frere sent Jesse Ismond away on a breakaway late in the third. Ismond potted his 10th on a nice backhand deke.
The Hit – Late in the first Riley Reinbolt was on the receiving end of a crushing hit against the boards by Ice D James Martin. Reinbolt was slow to get up but somehow finished the shift.
The 50/50 - Former New York Ranger and still the WHL record holder for most goals by a rookie with 82 set in 1974-75 with the Medicine Hat Tigers, The Drive's Colour Commentator Don Murdoch took home just over $2200 in the 50/50.
The Crowd – 2816
KNA Three Stars
1. D Eric Frere – Physical, offensive. What a 20-year-old rearguard needs to be.
2. LW Dominic Pacovsky – His best outing in a while.
3. G Jeff Bosch – Without him this one could be much worse.
What it means – The win gives the Ice a 26-21-2-5 record with 59 points, good for a tie for sixth in the Eastern Conference with the Lethbridge Hurricanes but with two games in hand. They’re within one point of the Swift Current Broncos for fifth, who lost to the Calgary Hitmen 6-3 Friday, and within three points of the Medicine Hat Tigers for fourth spot, with a game in hand on both.
Up Next – It also means that the club got the two points it should have in a three-in-three weekend in which the Spokane Chiefs – who lost 4-0 to the Vancouver Giants Friday night – visit the Rec Plex Saturday before the team heads to Calgary for a Sunday match-up.
Game Summary:
Warriors 1 @ Ice 4
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Kootenay Ice; February 6, 2009.
Matt Fraser had a goal and an assist while Eric Frere had two assists as the Kootenay Ice beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-1 in WHL action Friday night.
Fraser opened the scoring on the power play with his 10th at 18:59 of the first period. The Ice got another power play goal, again late in the period, when Max Reinhart stuffed his 8th of the season past Warrior goaltender Jeff Bosch at 19:57 to make it 2-0.
Tylan Stephens got his 21st of the season five minutes into the third to make it 3-0 before the Warriors finally got on the board with a weak shot that surprised Ice goaltender Todd Mathews halfway through the third period. Jesse Ismond scored on a breakaway at 17:17 to round out the scoring for the Ice.
Todd Mathews stopped 15 of 16 shots to get the win while Jeff Bosch saw 36 shots on the night, stopping 32.
.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Fraser 10 (McNabb, Bailey) 18:59 (pp)
Penalties -- Pacovsky Ktn (holding) 11:07, Hood MJ (interference) 12:12, Barteaux Ktn (holding) 15:26, Sommers MJ (hooking) 17:52, McIlrath MJ Reinhart Ktn (roughing) 18:40.
Second Period
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 8 (Pacovsky, Barteaux) 19:57 (pp)
Penalties -- Frere Ktn (tripping) 2:35, Smuk MJ (boarding) 5:34, Pacovsky Ktn (tripping) 14:43, Howden MJ (holding) 19:13.
Third Period
3. Kootenay, Stephens 21 (Frere, Antilla) 5:02
4. Moose Jaw, Atckinson 1 (Frazee, Bast) 9:58
5. Kootenay, Ismond 10 (Frere, Fraser) 17:17
Penalties -- Stanton MJ (roughing) 11:16, Czerwonka Ktn (slashing) Reinbolt MJ (roughing) 18:16.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 8 10 18 - 36
Moose Jaw: 6 4 6 - 16
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 8-10-0-2); Moose Jaw: Jeff Bosch (L, 7-18-0-3).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 2-5
Moose Jaw: 0-4
Referee -- Sean Rapheal. Linesman -- Tyler Adair, Aidan Henderson.
Attendance -- 2816 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (concussion - indefinite), Dustin Sylvester (ankle - 8-10 weeks), Steele Boomer (concussion - indefinite), Tyler Vanscourt (shoulder - 4-6 weeks).
Moose Jaw: Travis Hamonic (knee - day-to-day), Connor Cox (healthy), Corey Scott (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser
Clouston takes helm of Ottawa Senators...
For the News-Advertiser...
Clouston named coach of the Ottawa Senators
by Jeff Bromley
Former Kootenay Ice head coach Cory Clouston has faced challenges before. Following in the footsteps of a Memorial Cup-winning coach and rebuilding an AHL program in short order, to name a few, but his challenge this time is somewhat harder; turning around the fortunes of the NHL’s ailing Ottawa Senators.
The 39-year-old Viking, Alberta product was named head coach of the Sens after GM Bryan Murray fired Craig Hartsburg after 42 games Sunday night halfway into his second season as bench boss with the AHL’s Baby Sens in Binghamton, New York.
Six days later it’s been a bit of a whirlwind for the two-time WHL coach of the year who never thought his meteoric rise to the coaching ranks of the NHL would happen so fast. “It probably happened sooner than I’d expected,” said Clouston with just a slight glimmer of elation, though in classic Clouston fashion it quickly faded back to the task at hand. “Under the circumstances you would’ve like to have started with your team right from the beginning of the season but these were the cards that were dealt and we’re going to make the best of it.”
Systemic, thorough with an emphasis on the details, even militaristic in style - almost a throw-back to a different era - but a coach with the modern philosophy of player input, Cory Clouston has paid his dues. Following graduation from the University of Alberta where he won a national championship as a player in 1992 and coaching AAA Midget in Edmonton Clouston accepted his first assistant coaching job with the Powell River Paper Kings of the BCHL in 1994-95. Following a three-year stint as coach and GM of the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm he was named assistant coach under Ryan McGill with the Kootenay Ice in 1999. After winning the Memorial Cup in 2002 Clouston took over for McGill as bench boss for five seasons before leaving for the AHL in summer of 2007. From the corridors of the old Cranbrook Memorial Arena to the NHL hallways of ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa, it’s been a long and winding road.
Pulling together a program in disarray in Binghamton Clouston had the Baby Sens at 25-16-3-3 this season, good for a .600 record and in fourth-place in the AHL's Eastern Conference. Compared to the sub-.500 record and a dead-last finish the two seasons prior to his arrival, Clouston cited the turnaround as one of the biggest reasons his name was called Sunday and not the so-called big names currently not coaching in the NHL that GM Bryan Murray could’ve turned to. “The players down in Binghamton are a great group of guys,” said Clouston. “I owe a lot to them and without their commitment to work hard, their success and hard play after they bought into the system I wouldn’t be here. Two years it that was a team that was a laughingstock of the AHL, it’s hard to say that but it’s true. In a span of a year and a half we brought a lot of credibility back to that club.”
Inheriting an underachieving team that went 17-24-7 under Hartsburg with a roster that includes names like Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza and is just 18 months removed from a Stanley Cup final appearance, Clouston is going to be looked upon to perform that same kind of magic for the NHL’s Senators, though with only 31 games left to play before the weekend's action, he's going to need something short of a miracle. In his debut Tuesday the Senators lost to the L.A. Kings 1-0 and then Thursday lost in a shoot-out to the NHL leading Boston Bruins 4-3. His task, to get the Sens into the NHL Playoffs, is monumental considering the club is 16 points back of the eighth and final berth. It’s a pressure-cooker situation that Clouston relishes in. “I’ve got to talk with the media after every game and every practice, that’s probably the biggest adjustment. Other than that I’ve just tried to focus on making the team better. I’m going to be living at the arena.”
“We just don’t have a lot of time but this is what we’ve got and we’ll make the best of it. Everything has to be sped up a little bit. We don’t have the luxury of a lot of practice that I’d like to have but even in the last four days I think we’ve come a long way.”
Clouston named coach of the Ottawa Senators
by Jeff Bromley
Former Kootenay Ice head coach Cory Clouston has faced challenges before. Following in the footsteps of a Memorial Cup-winning coach and rebuilding an AHL program in short order, to name a few, but his challenge this time is somewhat harder; turning around the fortunes of the NHL’s ailing Ottawa Senators.
The 39-year-old Viking, Alberta product was named head coach of the Sens after GM Bryan Murray fired Craig Hartsburg after 42 games Sunday night halfway into his second season as bench boss with the AHL’s Baby Sens in Binghamton, New York.
Six days later it’s been a bit of a whirlwind for the two-time WHL coach of the year who never thought his meteoric rise to the coaching ranks of the NHL would happen so fast. “It probably happened sooner than I’d expected,” said Clouston with just a slight glimmer of elation, though in classic Clouston fashion it quickly faded back to the task at hand. “Under the circumstances you would’ve like to have started with your team right from the beginning of the season but these were the cards that were dealt and we’re going to make the best of it.”
Systemic, thorough with an emphasis on the details, even militaristic in style - almost a throw-back to a different era - but a coach with the modern philosophy of player input, Cory Clouston has paid his dues. Following graduation from the University of Alberta where he won a national championship as a player in 1992 and coaching AAA Midget in Edmonton Clouston accepted his first assistant coaching job with the Powell River Paper Kings of the BCHL in 1994-95. Following a three-year stint as coach and GM of the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm he was named assistant coach under Ryan McGill with the Kootenay Ice in 1999. After winning the Memorial Cup in 2002 Clouston took over for McGill as bench boss for five seasons before leaving for the AHL in summer of 2007. From the corridors of the old Cranbrook Memorial Arena to the NHL hallways of ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa, it’s been a long and winding road.
Pulling together a program in disarray in Binghamton Clouston had the Baby Sens at 25-16-3-3 this season, good for a .600 record and in fourth-place in the AHL's Eastern Conference. Compared to the sub-.500 record and a dead-last finish the two seasons prior to his arrival, Clouston cited the turnaround as one of the biggest reasons his name was called Sunday and not the so-called big names currently not coaching in the NHL that GM Bryan Murray could’ve turned to. “The players down in Binghamton are a great group of guys,” said Clouston. “I owe a lot to them and without their commitment to work hard, their success and hard play after they bought into the system I wouldn’t be here. Two years it that was a team that was a laughingstock of the AHL, it’s hard to say that but it’s true. In a span of a year and a half we brought a lot of credibility back to that club.”
Inheriting an underachieving team that went 17-24-7 under Hartsburg with a roster that includes names like Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza and is just 18 months removed from a Stanley Cup final appearance, Clouston is going to be looked upon to perform that same kind of magic for the NHL’s Senators, though with only 31 games left to play before the weekend's action, he's going to need something short of a miracle. In his debut Tuesday the Senators lost to the L.A. Kings 1-0 and then Thursday lost in a shoot-out to the NHL leading Boston Bruins 4-3. His task, to get the Sens into the NHL Playoffs, is monumental considering the club is 16 points back of the eighth and final berth. It’s a pressure-cooker situation that Clouston relishes in. “I’ve got to talk with the media after every game and every practice, that’s probably the biggest adjustment. Other than that I’ve just tried to focus on making the team better. I’m going to be living at the arena.”
“We just don’t have a lot of time but this is what we’ve got and we’ll make the best of it. Everything has to be sped up a little bit. We don’t have the luxury of a lot of practice that I’d like to have but even in the last four days I think we’ve come a long way.”
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Moose Jaw, Spokane on tap...
Ice looking for points, not revenge this weekend
by Jeff bromley
Kootenay Ice head coach Mark Holick’s immediate goal is to get his hockey club into the WHL playoffs. Considering the logjam that is the latter portion of the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings every game his club plays is just that, a playoff game.
Preparing for two home dates at the Cranbrook Rec Plex this weekend against Moose Jaw Friday and a rematch with the Spokane Chiefs Saturday night Holick said his club can’t afford to take any nights off. “Our playoffs have started,” said Holick. “It’s just the way it is with the three-point games. It gives teams opportunity, including us, to make some progress in the standings, if we stumble though it could be costly.”
The last time the last-place Warriors made an appearance in Cranbrook December 13they made out like bandits with two points in their pockets after a particularly demoralizing effort by the Ice in a 7-4 loss. That was before the trade of the league’s leading goal-scorer Joel Broda to the Calgary Hitmen prior to the trade deadline January 10 and the freefall the young Warriors find themselves in, having lost nine of their past ten games including losses to the Saskatoon Blades by scores of 10-1 and 11-1.
The club’s only win, before Wednesday’s action in Red Deer, during that span was a 4-3 win over those same Blades last weekend. “Anything can happen in this league,” continued Holick. “We’ve had success in our conference and have beaten every team. We should be able to have the type of intensity needed. Are we going to have it every night? I don’t know. We have to make sure these guys are prepared every night.”
Saturday the Spokane Chiefs make their final visit to the Rec Plex this season following a 6-0 thrashing of the Ice in the Lilac City last Saturday. After holding the powerful Chiefs to a 1-0 lead halfway through the chippy affair the Chiefs erupted for five straight goals. The penalty-filled match featured 155 minutes of penalties, including 91 by the Ice, and included what was described as liberties taken by the Chiefs towards Ice goaltender Todd Mathews.
Mathews, making his second straight start due to Nathan Lieuwen’s concussion problems, was the club’s only goaltender after Lieuwen didn’t make the trip and emergency back-up Dylan Tait was busy with his own commitments to the KIJHL’s Kimberley Dynamiters and their race to the playoffs. The shoddy treatment of his goaltender and the fact the Chiefs were intent on running up the score, using their first-line power play unit on a late third period power play when the score was already 5-0, was something Holick wasn’t going to comment on though you can bet it was still on his and the minds of his players. “I don’t know, I don’t blame them, per se,” said Holick, choosing his words carefully. “I’m not going to comment on anything else (to Saturday’s game). Our guys are proud guys too. We got beat pretty good there. You can’t make mistakes against Spokane, they’re such a good team. They’ve got the best goaltender in junior hockey and to beat that group you’ve got to be perfect, we were far from that Saturday.”
Quick Hits – At 25-21-2-5, good for 57 points, the Ice sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, tied with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and three points back of the Swift Current Broncos. The Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders are five back for the eighth and last playoff spot… G Nathan Lieuwen is out indefinitely with a concussion. As for an emergency back-up Nitro goaltender Dylan Tait will not be available as the Dynamiters are on a Okanagan/Shuswap Division swing through Princeton, Summerland and Kamloops. The club’s affiliated goaltender, 16-year-old Derrick Peitsch who is currently playing Manitoba midget with the Interlake Lightning, isn’t readily available, Holick said a decision on who the back-up might be hasn’t been made yet... Moose Jaw D Travis Hamonic (knee) and forward Brendan Rowinski (hip) are both day-to-day while Spokane won't have the services of D Jared Cowen (knee) as well as forwards Ryan Letts (shoulder) and Justin McCrae (foot).
by Jeff bromley
Kootenay Ice head coach Mark Holick’s immediate goal is to get his hockey club into the WHL playoffs. Considering the logjam that is the latter portion of the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings every game his club plays is just that, a playoff game.
Preparing for two home dates at the Cranbrook Rec Plex this weekend against Moose Jaw Friday and a rematch with the Spokane Chiefs Saturday night Holick said his club can’t afford to take any nights off. “Our playoffs have started,” said Holick. “It’s just the way it is with the three-point games. It gives teams opportunity, including us, to make some progress in the standings, if we stumble though it could be costly.”
The last time the last-place Warriors made an appearance in Cranbrook December 13they made out like bandits with two points in their pockets after a particularly demoralizing effort by the Ice in a 7-4 loss. That was before the trade of the league’s leading goal-scorer Joel Broda to the Calgary Hitmen prior to the trade deadline January 10 and the freefall the young Warriors find themselves in, having lost nine of their past ten games including losses to the Saskatoon Blades by scores of 10-1 and 11-1.
The club’s only win, before Wednesday’s action in Red Deer, during that span was a 4-3 win over those same Blades last weekend. “Anything can happen in this league,” continued Holick. “We’ve had success in our conference and have beaten every team. We should be able to have the type of intensity needed. Are we going to have it every night? I don’t know. We have to make sure these guys are prepared every night.”
Saturday the Spokane Chiefs make their final visit to the Rec Plex this season following a 6-0 thrashing of the Ice in the Lilac City last Saturday. After holding the powerful Chiefs to a 1-0 lead halfway through the chippy affair the Chiefs erupted for five straight goals. The penalty-filled match featured 155 minutes of penalties, including 91 by the Ice, and included what was described as liberties taken by the Chiefs towards Ice goaltender Todd Mathews.
Mathews, making his second straight start due to Nathan Lieuwen’s concussion problems, was the club’s only goaltender after Lieuwen didn’t make the trip and emergency back-up Dylan Tait was busy with his own commitments to the KIJHL’s Kimberley Dynamiters and their race to the playoffs. The shoddy treatment of his goaltender and the fact the Chiefs were intent on running up the score, using their first-line power play unit on a late third period power play when the score was already 5-0, was something Holick wasn’t going to comment on though you can bet it was still on his and the minds of his players. “I don’t know, I don’t blame them, per se,” said Holick, choosing his words carefully. “I’m not going to comment on anything else (to Saturday’s game). Our guys are proud guys too. We got beat pretty good there. You can’t make mistakes against Spokane, they’re such a good team. They’ve got the best goaltender in junior hockey and to beat that group you’ve got to be perfect, we were far from that Saturday.”
Quick Hits – At 25-21-2-5, good for 57 points, the Ice sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, tied with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and three points back of the Swift Current Broncos. The Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders are five back for the eighth and last playoff spot… G Nathan Lieuwen is out indefinitely with a concussion. As for an emergency back-up Nitro goaltender Dylan Tait will not be available as the Dynamiters are on a Okanagan/Shuswap Division swing through Princeton, Summerland and Kamloops. The club’s affiliated goaltender, 16-year-old Derrick Peitsch who is currently playing Manitoba midget with the Interlake Lightning, isn’t readily available, Holick said a decision on who the back-up might be hasn’t been made yet... Moose Jaw D Travis Hamonic (knee) and forward Brendan Rowinski (hip) are both day-to-day while Spokane won't have the services of D Jared Cowen (knee) as well as forwards Ryan Letts (shoulder) and Justin McCrae (foot).
Monday, February 2, 2009
WHL Writer's Poll - Week 19
The Western Hockey League writers association poll for Week 19 as released Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, by the office of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers’ Association (with last week's rank, team, first-place votes in parenthesis and total points):
1. (1) Vancouver Giants (11), 242
2. (2) Calgary Hitmen, 231
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 214
4. (5) Spokane Chiefs, 208
5. (4) Tri-City Americans, 203
6. (6) Brandon Wheat Kings, 189
7. (7) Kelowna Rockets, 173
8. (9) Swift Current Broncos, 157
9. (8) Medicine Hat Tigers, 156
10. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 146
11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 129
12. (14) Kamloops Blazers, 119
13. (15) Seattle Thunderbirds, 107
14. (12) Regina Pats, 102
15. (13) Everett Silvertips, 90
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 83
17. (17) Prince Albert Raiders, 68
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 51
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 49
20. (21) Moose Jaw Warriors, 26
21. (20) Chilliwack Bruins, 25
22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 15
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 11 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, Regina LeaderPost, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Tri-City Herald.
1. (1) Vancouver Giants (11), 242
2. (2) Calgary Hitmen, 231
3. (3) Saskatoon Blades, 214
4. (5) Spokane Chiefs, 208
5. (4) Tri-City Americans, 203
6. (6) Brandon Wheat Kings, 189
7. (7) Kelowna Rockets, 173
8. (9) Swift Current Broncos, 157
9. (8) Medicine Hat Tigers, 156
10. (10) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 146
11. (11) Kootenay Ice, 129
12. (14) Kamloops Blazers, 119
13. (15) Seattle Thunderbirds, 107
14. (12) Regina Pats, 102
15. (13) Everett Silvertips, 90
16. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 83
17. (17) Prince Albert Raiders, 68
18. (18) Prince George Cougars, 51
19. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 49
20. (21) Moose Jaw Warriors, 26
21. (20) Chilliwack Bruins, 25
22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 15
Members of the WMJHWA award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 11 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince George Citizen, Red Deer Advocate, Regina LeaderPost, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Tri-City Herald.
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