The infirmary list grew over the weekend as D James Martin suffered a concussion as a result of Curt Gogol's elbowing major in Kelowna Saturday. There is some video of the hit on Youtube.
Judging from Martin's position and WHL past practice on such hits these season you can expect one, maybe a two game suspension. Martin is out indefinitely because of the hit.
F Drew Czerwonka suffered a minor concussion in a first period fight with the Rockets' Mitch Callahan. More video here. He is expected to play Tuesday in Chilliwack as is D Ryan Molle, who had the same concussion issue that kept him out of action in Kelowna.
F Dominick Pacovsky is still in a cast with a broken foot that will likely keep him out until after the Christmas break.
Concussion seems to be the injury this season.....
The WHL announced today that Ice captain Dustin Sylvester is the Husky Player of the week after notching 6 points in two games.... Sylvester has 19 in the month of November in which the team went 7-2-1-1.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Ice get back to .500
The Kootenay Ice chased a couple of leads by the Kelowna Rockets tonight in the Okanagan - Kelowna scored a couple of power play goals by Tyler Halliday and uber-rookie Shane McColgan sandwiched around Max Reinhart's 8th of the season in the first half of the game - before D Brayden McNabb continued kickstarting Kootenay's suddenly potent power play with two straight power play markers to give the Ice a 3-2lead in the third period.
Dustin Sylvester, his 3rd period heroics now at six points on the road trip in the final frame after an assist and then the game's final goal to give the Ice a 4-2 win and a record of 13-13-1-1 - the first time they've broached the .500 mark since October 3.
Since McNabb has returned to quarterback the power play the Ice have scored six goals in two games, going 6-18, a 33% clip.
Red Deer, Edmonton and Lethbridge all lost tonight though the Oil Kings still gained a point losing in OT. The Ice sit alone in 9th place with 28 points and will face Chilliwack Tuesday.
D Ryan Molle missed the game due to the collision yesterday in Kamloops but radio is saying that he passed his concussion test today and should play this week. F Brock Montgomery (healthy) was the other scratch.
The Kelowna Daily Courier will have a recap up overnight.
The Peewee's overcame a lacklustre first half and skated to a 7-4 win over Invermere tonight at the 'Plex with the return match tommorrow morning, with enough time to enjoy the big game.
I'm more of a Lions fan so pulling for the Riders is going to be tough but I still think all the green in the west (See Below for a pic of all the Rider fans in Saskatchewan headed to the game) isn't going to stop the Als. Montreal by 3.
Dustin Sylvester, his 3rd period heroics now at six points on the road trip in the final frame after an assist and then the game's final goal to give the Ice a 4-2 win and a record of 13-13-1-1 - the first time they've broached the .500 mark since October 3.
Since McNabb has returned to quarterback the power play the Ice have scored six goals in two games, going 6-18, a 33% clip.
Red Deer, Edmonton and Lethbridge all lost tonight though the Oil Kings still gained a point losing in OT. The Ice sit alone in 9th place with 28 points and will face Chilliwack Tuesday.
D Ryan Molle missed the game due to the collision yesterday in Kamloops but radio is saying that he passed his concussion test today and should play this week. F Brock Montgomery (healthy) was the other scratch.
The Kelowna Daily Courier will have a recap up overnight.
The Peewee's overcame a lacklustre first half and skated to a 7-4 win over Invermere tonight at the 'Plex with the return match tommorrow morning, with enough time to enjoy the big game.
I'm more of a Lions fan so pulling for the Riders is going to be tough but I still think all the green in the west (See Below for a pic of all the Rider fans in Saskatchewan headed to the game) isn't going to stop the Als. Montreal by 3.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Ice win a wild one....
One player's return from injury is a head-shaker and yet another relieves the headaches a powerless power play was causing Friday in Kootenay's improbable 6-5 shootout win in Kamloops over the Blazers.
G Nathan Lieuwen's first start since returning from injury wasn't a memorable one surrendering three goals on the first seven shots he faced and getting the hook nine minutes into the contest.
Kootenay's special team woes continue as the Blazers, after jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on Brendan Ranford's 8th, give up three straight power play goals going into the third period with a 4-0 lead.
Mail it in, right? Not so fast.
D Brayden McNabb's return from a knee injury after missing eight games, though he returned for the WHL's 4-2 win over the Russia's Thursday in Kelowna with an assist, looks to be the panacea for what ails the Ice power play. Clicking along at just over 12%, Kootenay opened the third period with the man-advantage and Dustin Sylvester got his 11th 31 seconds in. It would open the floodgates. Kootenay would finish the contest with a 47-28 edge in shots and 4-8 on the power play.
Kootenay scored five straight - four of the power play goals - as the Blazers self-destructed in new coach Guy Charron's debut along with goaltender Kurtis Mucha who was obtained from the Portland Winterhawks earlier in the week. By the time the scoring stopped the Ice had a 5-4 lead with less than four minutes left in the game. The Blazers would gain a measure of face with Tyler Shattock's tying goal, his 16th, with 12 seconds left.
After OT Dustin Sylvester - who finished with two goals and two assists - and Jesse Ismond with a laser would score in the shootout to win it.
Was that a cat I saw at Interior Savings Centre on the Shaw Broadcast?
With the win Kootenay moves to 12-13-1-1 on the season with 26 points, tied for 9th in the Eastern Conference with the Red Deer Rebels.
Gregg Drinnan, over at the best WHL Blog going, should have the gamer up around 1AM our time.
The road trip continues Saturday with a date in Kelowna against the Rockets, the elusive .500 record once again on the line.
G Nathan Lieuwen's first start since returning from injury wasn't a memorable one surrendering three goals on the first seven shots he faced and getting the hook nine minutes into the contest.
Kootenay's special team woes continue as the Blazers, after jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on Brendan Ranford's 8th, give up three straight power play goals going into the third period with a 4-0 lead.
Mail it in, right? Not so fast.
D Brayden McNabb's return from a knee injury after missing eight games, though he returned for the WHL's 4-2 win over the Russia's Thursday in Kelowna with an assist, looks to be the panacea for what ails the Ice power play. Clicking along at just over 12%, Kootenay opened the third period with the man-advantage and Dustin Sylvester got his 11th 31 seconds in. It would open the floodgates. Kootenay would finish the contest with a 47-28 edge in shots and 4-8 on the power play.
Kootenay scored five straight - four of the power play goals - as the Blazers self-destructed in new coach Guy Charron's debut along with goaltender Kurtis Mucha who was obtained from the Portland Winterhawks earlier in the week. By the time the scoring stopped the Ice had a 5-4 lead with less than four minutes left in the game. The Blazers would gain a measure of face with Tyler Shattock's tying goal, his 16th, with 12 seconds left.
After OT Dustin Sylvester - who finished with two goals and two assists - and Jesse Ismond with a laser would score in the shootout to win it.
Was that a cat I saw at Interior Savings Centre on the Shaw Broadcast?
With the win Kootenay moves to 12-13-1-1 on the season with 26 points, tied for 9th in the Eastern Conference with the Red Deer Rebels.
Gregg Drinnan, over at the best WHL Blog going, should have the gamer up around 1AM our time.
The road trip continues Saturday with a date in Kelowna against the Rockets, the elusive .500 record once again on the line.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Pacovsky Out....
The foot injury import forward Dominick Pacovsky suffered Friday against the Regina Pats blocking a shot is now a broken foot that will keep the 19-year-old out of the line-up for 4-6 weeks.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Weekend Gamer....
For the Cranbrook Daily Townsman
Broncos dump Ice as Kootenay drops two at ‘Plex
by Jeff Bromley
Heading into the two-game set at the Cranbrook Rec Plex this weekend the Kootenay Ice were head-long in their attempt to reach the .500 record that has somehow eluded the club since game six in early October. Winners of three straight and sporting a 6-2-1-1 record over the last ten games going in, the Ice flirted with the mark Friday in an exciting 3-2 shootout loss to the Regina Pats. On Saturday they were shot-down completely in a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Swift Current Broncos.
“We came out with our ‘B’ game today,” said Ice rearguard James Martin, one of Kootenay’s few bright lights Saturday with a goal and an assist. “They did a good job and when we got into the fights there, it put us behind.”
Down 3-1 but far from out of the game things got nasty halfway through the second period Saturday when former Ice forward Micheal Stickland hit Drew Czerwonka in the neutral zone. Czerwonka wasn’t against the boards but the hit from the behind had the big forward in a vulnerable position and shook the 17-year-old up. D Ryan Molle took exception to the hit, cross-checked Stickland and then started swinging.
Then Bronco captain Derek Claffey got into the act and was promptly challenged by Dustin Sylvester and while those two bouts were going on Bronco rookie Reece Scarlett challenged Kootenay’s Joey Leach. When the dust settled Molle had a double-minor to go along with his scrap, the captains were tossed and Scarlett was in the Broncos training room with a broken nose, courtesy of Leach, both of whom were thrown out. Just under two minutes later Czerwonka took a tripping minor that put the Broncos on a five-on-three for over two minutes but the visitors couldn’t convert, bringing the 2621 in attendance to their feet in appreciation but failing to ignite the home side in terms lighting the lamp. “Personally I wanted to come in here and win,” said Stickland, a thorn in many of his former team-mate's side all night. “Winning big is never a bad thing in my eyes but we were definitely looking for that first road win and tonight’s a big stepping stone for us to get that monkey off our back.”
On the hit on Czerwonka, Stickland questioned his own judgement but also questioned Molle doing the same to him afterwards. “(Molle) had made the pass up to Czerwonka and I could see the hit coming, I hit him and I could hear him yelling from behind,” continued Stickland. “He hit me with a cross-check but if he wants to go or whatever, just ask me, I’ll turn around. But I knew it was coming and I knew that after Molle made that pass he’d feel bad about it.”
The Broncos opened the scoring early in this one with Justin Dowling firing a backhanded laser over the shoulder of Ice starter Todd Mathews 1:03 into the game. Halfway through the period Taylor Vause blocked a Hayden Rintoul point-shot and was off to the races, roofing a wrist-shot past Mathews to make it 2-0. Ice head coach Mark Holick pulled his goaltender after that goal, but only to calm him down, promptly putting Mathews back in the nets 1:31 later. Kootenay’s power play scored their second goal in as many nights when Matt Fraser got the home side back in the game off a feed from James Martin at 15:41 but the Broncos restored their two-goal lead 1:50 later when newly acquired Stepan Novotny backhanded his 15th of the season past Mathews to make it 3-1.
A scoreless second highlighted by the brawl gave way to a motivated Bronco club that stretched the lead to 4-1 2:32 into the third when the WHL’s leading goal getter, Cody Eakin, took a pass from Michael Stickland streaking into the slot and burying his 23rd of the season past Mathews. Martin, playing his best game of the season, wired his second of the year past Morgan Clark to cut the lead to two but Eakin would make the Ice pay again, this time on the power play – there were five chances in the third period alone for the Broncos – when he sniped his 24th and second of the evening to make it 5-2. Swift Current would round out the scoring with another power play marker by Justin Dowling at 9:30 that would send Mathews to the bench in favour of Nathan Lieuwen for the balance of the game.
Kootenay’s bench boss lamented the club’s slow start and factoring in Kootenay’s 2-8 record when their opponent scores first, giving the high-powered offense of the Broncos a chance to free-wheel wasn’t part of the plan. “The first two were pretty good shots and after that we’re playing catch-up,” said Holick. “For a team that doesn’t score very often, playing catch-up is tough.”
“But they’re a better team than their record indicates. They’re big, strong and can score. They’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing right now and when they get things on track they’ll be a force.”
Pats 3 – Ice 2 (SO) – On Friday Kootenay survived a Pat onslaught early and skated to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Joey Leach and Kevin King before the Pats chipped away at it with Jordan Eberle scoring a power play goal in the second period and then Kyle Mulder deflected the tying goal past Todd Mathews to tie the game with just over five minutes to play. After a scoreless overtime Max Reinhart scored for the Ice in the shootout but both Brett Leffler and Matt Strueby beat Mathews to give the Pats the win.
Quick Hits – Kevin King's goal Friday on the power play broke a 0-25 drought with the man-advantage dating back to a November 7th loss to the Red Deer Rebels... D Brayden McNabb missed his 8th game with a knee injury but should return for the first game of the five game road trip in Kamloops; F Dominick Pacovsky took a shot off his foot against the Pats Friday and missed Saturday’s action while D Petr Senkerik was a healthy scratch… McNabb could play for Team WHL in Kelowna Wednesday against the Russian Selects… Both Dustin Sylvester and Kevin King had modest four-game point-scoring streaks snapped Saturday... Kootenay begins a five-game road trip through the BC Division starting Friday in Kamloops.
Broncos dump Ice as Kootenay drops two at ‘Plex
by Jeff Bromley
Heading into the two-game set at the Cranbrook Rec Plex this weekend the Kootenay Ice were head-long in their attempt to reach the .500 record that has somehow eluded the club since game six in early October. Winners of three straight and sporting a 6-2-1-1 record over the last ten games going in, the Ice flirted with the mark Friday in an exciting 3-2 shootout loss to the Regina Pats. On Saturday they were shot-down completely in a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Swift Current Broncos.
“We came out with our ‘B’ game today,” said Ice rearguard James Martin, one of Kootenay’s few bright lights Saturday with a goal and an assist. “They did a good job and when we got into the fights there, it put us behind.”
Down 3-1 but far from out of the game things got nasty halfway through the second period Saturday when former Ice forward Micheal Stickland hit Drew Czerwonka in the neutral zone. Czerwonka wasn’t against the boards but the hit from the behind had the big forward in a vulnerable position and shook the 17-year-old up. D Ryan Molle took exception to the hit, cross-checked Stickland and then started swinging.
Then Bronco captain Derek Claffey got into the act and was promptly challenged by Dustin Sylvester and while those two bouts were going on Bronco rookie Reece Scarlett challenged Kootenay’s Joey Leach. When the dust settled Molle had a double-minor to go along with his scrap, the captains were tossed and Scarlett was in the Broncos training room with a broken nose, courtesy of Leach, both of whom were thrown out. Just under two minutes later Czerwonka took a tripping minor that put the Broncos on a five-on-three for over two minutes but the visitors couldn’t convert, bringing the 2621 in attendance to their feet in appreciation but failing to ignite the home side in terms lighting the lamp. “Personally I wanted to come in here and win,” said Stickland, a thorn in many of his former team-mate's side all night. “Winning big is never a bad thing in my eyes but we were definitely looking for that first road win and tonight’s a big stepping stone for us to get that monkey off our back.”
On the hit on Czerwonka, Stickland questioned his own judgement but also questioned Molle doing the same to him afterwards. “(Molle) had made the pass up to Czerwonka and I could see the hit coming, I hit him and I could hear him yelling from behind,” continued Stickland. “He hit me with a cross-check but if he wants to go or whatever, just ask me, I’ll turn around. But I knew it was coming and I knew that after Molle made that pass he’d feel bad about it.”
The Broncos opened the scoring early in this one with Justin Dowling firing a backhanded laser over the shoulder of Ice starter Todd Mathews 1:03 into the game. Halfway through the period Taylor Vause blocked a Hayden Rintoul point-shot and was off to the races, roofing a wrist-shot past Mathews to make it 2-0. Ice head coach Mark Holick pulled his goaltender after that goal, but only to calm him down, promptly putting Mathews back in the nets 1:31 later. Kootenay’s power play scored their second goal in as many nights when Matt Fraser got the home side back in the game off a feed from James Martin at 15:41 but the Broncos restored their two-goal lead 1:50 later when newly acquired Stepan Novotny backhanded his 15th of the season past Mathews to make it 3-1.
A scoreless second highlighted by the brawl gave way to a motivated Bronco club that stretched the lead to 4-1 2:32 into the third when the WHL’s leading goal getter, Cody Eakin, took a pass from Michael Stickland streaking into the slot and burying his 23rd of the season past Mathews. Martin, playing his best game of the season, wired his second of the year past Morgan Clark to cut the lead to two but Eakin would make the Ice pay again, this time on the power play – there were five chances in the third period alone for the Broncos – when he sniped his 24th and second of the evening to make it 5-2. Swift Current would round out the scoring with another power play marker by Justin Dowling at 9:30 that would send Mathews to the bench in favour of Nathan Lieuwen for the balance of the game.
Kootenay’s bench boss lamented the club’s slow start and factoring in Kootenay’s 2-8 record when their opponent scores first, giving the high-powered offense of the Broncos a chance to free-wheel wasn’t part of the plan. “The first two were pretty good shots and after that we’re playing catch-up,” said Holick. “For a team that doesn’t score very often, playing catch-up is tough.”
“But they’re a better team than their record indicates. They’re big, strong and can score. They’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing right now and when they get things on track they’ll be a force.”
Pats 3 – Ice 2 (SO) – On Friday Kootenay survived a Pat onslaught early and skated to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Joey Leach and Kevin King before the Pats chipped away at it with Jordan Eberle scoring a power play goal in the second period and then Kyle Mulder deflected the tying goal past Todd Mathews to tie the game with just over five minutes to play. After a scoreless overtime Max Reinhart scored for the Ice in the shootout but both Brett Leffler and Matt Strueby beat Mathews to give the Pats the win.
Quick Hits – Kevin King's goal Friday on the power play broke a 0-25 drought with the man-advantage dating back to a November 7th loss to the Red Deer Rebels... D Brayden McNabb missed his 8th game with a knee injury but should return for the first game of the five game road trip in Kamloops; F Dominick Pacovsky took a shot off his foot against the Pats Friday and missed Saturday’s action while D Petr Senkerik was a healthy scratch… McNabb could play for Team WHL in Kelowna Wednesday against the Russian Selects… Both Dustin Sylvester and Kevin King had modest four-game point-scoring streaks snapped Saturday... Kootenay begins a five-game road trip through the BC Division starting Friday in Kamloops.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Score - Kootenay/Swift Current
The Score – Swift Current 6 – Kootenay 2
What Happened – Simply put, the Broncos happened. With firepower the likes of Eakin, Dowling, Hoban and now Novotny, this club is a deep and deadly up front and they showed it tonight, putting the puck in the net almost at will.
The Goals – The Broncos struck first on a beauty of a rush started by Brad Hoban after Matt Fraser threw a blind pass to the point that was intercepted by Hoban and finished by Justin Dowling with a wicked backhand that he roofed by Mathews… D Hayden Rintoul’s luck continued, all of it bad of late, when his point shot is blocked by Taylor Vause at the Bronco blueline and he had a 120 foot breakaway that he wired just under the crossbar to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead and chased Mathews from the nets for 1:31 in favour of Nathan Lieuwen, who was replaced by Mathews at the next whistle… Kootenay would halve the lead on one of those rare plays of late, a power play goal, when D James Martin missed on a great back-door chance but corralled the puck in the corner and found Matt Fraser in the slot, who buried his 9th past Morgan Clark… The Broncos restored their two-goal lead less than two minutes later when Cason Machacek turned the puck over behind his net, to Cody Eakin – bad idea – Eakin found Stickland in the slot for a point-blank chance that Mathews stopped only to have Stepan Novotny backhand the rebound past him… After a scoreless second period the floodgates opened early in third when Micheal Stickland sent a nice pass to Cody Eakin – still the league’s top goal-getter – in the slot. He didn’t miss… James Martin, playing perhaps his best game of the season, wired his 2nd of the year past Clark after rookie Brendan Hurley won a face-off to make the score 4-2…. The two-goal difference didn’t last long after Pearce took a tripping penalty on the same shift, enabling Cody Eakin to get his second of the game on a rebound past Mathews… Mathews took another penalty – his second of the game that let the Broncos power play get back to work – a few minutes later when Brad Hoban found Justin Dowling on a pretty back-door play to make it 6-2.
The Drought’s Over II – The Broncos took 11 games to do it but they finally won a road game, at Kootenay’s expense, a theme of late as Speedy Creek has now won six straight over the Ice dating back to March 8, 2008, a 3-1 win at the ‘Plex.
The (non) Power Play Goal – Just when you thought the power play was going to click – Steele Boomer stuffed one past Morgan Clark during the Broncos third PK of the first period, only to be blown dead by referee Trevor Hanson. The Ice got one for real a minute later on Fraser’s 9th of the season.
The Hook – Coach Mark Holick yanked G Todd Mathews after the Ice gave up the second goal but only for a pep talk. “I wanted to bring Todd in and calm him down a little bit,” said Holick. “He’s was pretty wound up.” He would replace him for good following the sixth goal in the third.
The Line-Brawl – Halfway through the second period former Ice forward Michael Stickland levelled Drew Czerwonka – a borderline, but clean hit – and D Ryan Molle took exception to it. Molle cross-checked Stickland and dropped the gloves in a spirited bout – give Stickland the edge there. A melee then ensued with the two captains squaring-off – Dustin Sylvester and Derek Claffey in a draw – after Claffey jumped into the first scrap and then D Joey Leach and Bronco rookie D Reece Scarlett going toe-to-toe or rather, fist-to-nose at the scrum’s periphery. Leach connected on a right and dropped the rookie, who left the game leaking badly, suffering a broken nose which had to be re-broken at East Kootenay Regional Hospital before the club returned to Swift Current.
The Power plays - The Zebras were busy on this night, giving the Ice six power plays while the Broncos had a whopping ten man-advantages, including five straight in the third period.
The Scratches – D Brayden McNabb should be ready to go this week with the club on the road Friday in Kamloops; F Dominick Pacovsky blocked a shot with his foot Friday against the Pats and is day-to-day with a bruised foot; D Petr Senkerik was a healthy scratch.
What it means – A week of practice for a club that is licking its wounds after losing two straight at home and now heads out on the road for a five-game road trip through the BC Division again searching for ways to fill the net.
The Crowd – 2621; 2600 just seems to be the norm nowadays.
Daily Townsman Three Stars
1. C Justin Dowling – Two goals, an assist.
2. C Cody Eakin – Two goals, assist and the league’s leading scorer proved it
3. RW Brad Hoban – Two assists, helped orchestrate the onslaught
Up Next – The loss draws Kootenay in at 11-13-1-1 with 24 points, tied with the Red Deer Rebels for 9th in the Eastern Conference. On Thursday they’ll travel to Kamloops to begin a five-game trip through the BC Division starting Friday, a televised game on Shaw TV against the Blazers.
Game Summary:
Broncos 6 @ Ice 2
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Swift Current Broncos and Kootenay Ice; November 21, 2009.
The Swift Current Broncos won their first game of the season on the road in style, downing the Kootenay Ice 6-2 in WHL action Saturday night. Swift Current, paced by two goal performances by Justin Dowling and Cody Eakin, with his 23rd and 24th of the season to lead the WHL, had leads of 3-1 after one and 6-2 to finish off the Ice. Kootenay got goals from Matt Fraser, with his 9th, and James Martin with his 2nd of the season in a losing cause. Taylor Vause and Stepan Novotny had the other Bronco goals.
Morgan Clark stopped 17 of 19 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews, who was replaced by Nathan Lieuwen after the Broncos' sixth goal, stopped 24 of 30 in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Swift Current, Dowling 14 (Hoban) 1:03
2. Swift Current, Vause 5 9:36
3. Kootenay, Fraser 9 (Martin, Czerwonka) 15:41 (pp)
4. Swift Current, Novotny 15 (Eakin, Stickland) 17:31,
Penalties -- Dowling SC (slashing) 5:02, Montgomery Ktn (checking-from-behind) 6:26, Novotny SC (delay-of-game) 11:07, Craig SC (delay-of-game) 14:06, Mathews Ktn (interference - served by Boomer) 18:11.
Second Period
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Lowry SC (double - checking-from-behind, fighting) Machacek (instigator, fighting, misconduct) 1:21, Stickland SC (fighting), Scarlett SC (fighting, game misconduct) Claffey SC (fighting, game misconduct) Molle Ktn (cross-checking, instigator - served by Reinhart, fighting, misconduct) Sylvester Ktn (fighting, game misconduct), Leach Ktn (fighting, game misconduct) 7:15, Czerwonka Ktn (tripping) 9:08, Swift Current Bench (too-many-men - served by Blanke) 12:25, Doyle SC (tripping) 16:13.
Third Period
5. Swift Current, Eakin 23 (Stickland, Rogers) 2:32
6. Kootenay, Martin 2 (Pearce, Hurley) 4:58
7. Swift Current, Eakin 24 (Doyle, Dowling) 6:08 (pp)
8. Swift Current, Dowling 15 (Hoban) 9:30 (pp)
Penalties -- Pearce Ktn (tripping) 5:13, Mathews Ktn (tripping - served by Hurley) 8:07, Martin Ktn (tripping) 11:32, Martin Ktn (cross-checking) 17:01, Czerwonka Ktn (elbowing) 18:07.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 11 4 4 - 19
Swift Current: 12 11 12 - 35
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews - Liewen; 9:30 of third; 24 of 30 shots (L, 7-6-1-1); Swift Current: Morgan Clark (W, 11-7-0-1).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-6
Swift Current: 2-10
Referee -- Adam Byblow, Trevor Hanson. Linesman -- Scott Sharun, Matthew Barker.
Attendance -- 2621 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Brayden McNabb (knee - day-to-day), Dominick Pacovsky (foot - indefinite), Petr Senkerik (healthy).
Medicine Hat: Mike Brown (knee - indefinite), Brody Luhning (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman
What Happened – Simply put, the Broncos happened. With firepower the likes of Eakin, Dowling, Hoban and now Novotny, this club is a deep and deadly up front and they showed it tonight, putting the puck in the net almost at will.
The Goals – The Broncos struck first on a beauty of a rush started by Brad Hoban after Matt Fraser threw a blind pass to the point that was intercepted by Hoban and finished by Justin Dowling with a wicked backhand that he roofed by Mathews… D Hayden Rintoul’s luck continued, all of it bad of late, when his point shot is blocked by Taylor Vause at the Bronco blueline and he had a 120 foot breakaway that he wired just under the crossbar to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead and chased Mathews from the nets for 1:31 in favour of Nathan Lieuwen, who was replaced by Mathews at the next whistle… Kootenay would halve the lead on one of those rare plays of late, a power play goal, when D James Martin missed on a great back-door chance but corralled the puck in the corner and found Matt Fraser in the slot, who buried his 9th past Morgan Clark… The Broncos restored their two-goal lead less than two minutes later when Cason Machacek turned the puck over behind his net, to Cody Eakin – bad idea – Eakin found Stickland in the slot for a point-blank chance that Mathews stopped only to have Stepan Novotny backhand the rebound past him… After a scoreless second period the floodgates opened early in third when Micheal Stickland sent a nice pass to Cody Eakin – still the league’s top goal-getter – in the slot. He didn’t miss… James Martin, playing perhaps his best game of the season, wired his 2nd of the year past Clark after rookie Brendan Hurley won a face-off to make the score 4-2…. The two-goal difference didn’t last long after Pearce took a tripping penalty on the same shift, enabling Cody Eakin to get his second of the game on a rebound past Mathews… Mathews took another penalty – his second of the game that let the Broncos power play get back to work – a few minutes later when Brad Hoban found Justin Dowling on a pretty back-door play to make it 6-2.
The Drought’s Over II – The Broncos took 11 games to do it but they finally won a road game, at Kootenay’s expense, a theme of late as Speedy Creek has now won six straight over the Ice dating back to March 8, 2008, a 3-1 win at the ‘Plex.
The (non) Power Play Goal – Just when you thought the power play was going to click – Steele Boomer stuffed one past Morgan Clark during the Broncos third PK of the first period, only to be blown dead by referee Trevor Hanson. The Ice got one for real a minute later on Fraser’s 9th of the season.
The Hook – Coach Mark Holick yanked G Todd Mathews after the Ice gave up the second goal but only for a pep talk. “I wanted to bring Todd in and calm him down a little bit,” said Holick. “He’s was pretty wound up.” He would replace him for good following the sixth goal in the third.
The Line-Brawl – Halfway through the second period former Ice forward Michael Stickland levelled Drew Czerwonka – a borderline, but clean hit – and D Ryan Molle took exception to it. Molle cross-checked Stickland and dropped the gloves in a spirited bout – give Stickland the edge there. A melee then ensued with the two captains squaring-off – Dustin Sylvester and Derek Claffey in a draw – after Claffey jumped into the first scrap and then D Joey Leach and Bronco rookie D Reece Scarlett going toe-to-toe or rather, fist-to-nose at the scrum’s periphery. Leach connected on a right and dropped the rookie, who left the game leaking badly, suffering a broken nose which had to be re-broken at East Kootenay Regional Hospital before the club returned to Swift Current.
The Power plays - The Zebras were busy on this night, giving the Ice six power plays while the Broncos had a whopping ten man-advantages, including five straight in the third period.
The Scratches – D Brayden McNabb should be ready to go this week with the club on the road Friday in Kamloops; F Dominick Pacovsky blocked a shot with his foot Friday against the Pats and is day-to-day with a bruised foot; D Petr Senkerik was a healthy scratch.
What it means – A week of practice for a club that is licking its wounds after losing two straight at home and now heads out on the road for a five-game road trip through the BC Division again searching for ways to fill the net.
The Crowd – 2621; 2600 just seems to be the norm nowadays.
Daily Townsman Three Stars
1. C Justin Dowling – Two goals, an assist.
2. C Cody Eakin – Two goals, assist and the league’s leading scorer proved it
3. RW Brad Hoban – Two assists, helped orchestrate the onslaught
Up Next – The loss draws Kootenay in at 11-13-1-1 with 24 points, tied with the Red Deer Rebels for 9th in the Eastern Conference. On Thursday they’ll travel to Kamloops to begin a five-game trip through the BC Division starting Friday, a televised game on Shaw TV against the Blazers.
Game Summary:
Broncos 6 @ Ice 2
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Swift Current Broncos and Kootenay Ice; November 21, 2009.
The Swift Current Broncos won their first game of the season on the road in style, downing the Kootenay Ice 6-2 in WHL action Saturday night. Swift Current, paced by two goal performances by Justin Dowling and Cody Eakin, with his 23rd and 24th of the season to lead the WHL, had leads of 3-1 after one and 6-2 to finish off the Ice. Kootenay got goals from Matt Fraser, with his 9th, and James Martin with his 2nd of the season in a losing cause. Taylor Vause and Stepan Novotny had the other Bronco goals.
Morgan Clark stopped 17 of 19 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews, who was replaced by Nathan Lieuwen after the Broncos' sixth goal, stopped 24 of 30 in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Swift Current, Dowling 14 (Hoban) 1:03
2. Swift Current, Vause 5 9:36
3. Kootenay, Fraser 9 (Martin, Czerwonka) 15:41 (pp)
4. Swift Current, Novotny 15 (Eakin, Stickland) 17:31,
Penalties -- Dowling SC (slashing) 5:02, Montgomery Ktn (checking-from-behind) 6:26, Novotny SC (delay-of-game) 11:07, Craig SC (delay-of-game) 14:06, Mathews Ktn (interference - served by Boomer) 18:11.
Second Period
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Lowry SC (double - checking-from-behind, fighting) Machacek (instigator, fighting, misconduct) 1:21, Stickland SC (fighting), Scarlett SC (fighting, game misconduct) Claffey SC (fighting, game misconduct) Molle Ktn (cross-checking, instigator - served by Reinhart, fighting, misconduct) Sylvester Ktn (fighting, game misconduct), Leach Ktn (fighting, game misconduct) 7:15, Czerwonka Ktn (tripping) 9:08, Swift Current Bench (too-many-men - served by Blanke) 12:25, Doyle SC (tripping) 16:13.
Third Period
5. Swift Current, Eakin 23 (Stickland, Rogers) 2:32
6. Kootenay, Martin 2 (Pearce, Hurley) 4:58
7. Swift Current, Eakin 24 (Doyle, Dowling) 6:08 (pp)
8. Swift Current, Dowling 15 (Hoban) 9:30 (pp)
Penalties -- Pearce Ktn (tripping) 5:13, Mathews Ktn (tripping - served by Hurley) 8:07, Martin Ktn (tripping) 11:32, Martin Ktn (cross-checking) 17:01, Czerwonka Ktn (elbowing) 18:07.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 11 4 4 - 19
Swift Current: 12 11 12 - 35
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews - Liewen; 9:30 of third; 24 of 30 shots (L, 7-6-1-1); Swift Current: Morgan Clark (W, 11-7-0-1).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-6
Swift Current: 2-10
Referee -- Adam Byblow, Trevor Hanson. Linesman -- Scott Sharun, Matthew Barker.
Attendance -- 2621 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Brayden McNabb (knee - day-to-day), Dominick Pacovsky (foot - indefinite), Petr Senkerik (healthy).
Medicine Hat: Mike Brown (knee - indefinite), Brody Luhning (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Score - Ice/Pats
The Score – Regina 3 – Kootenay 2 (Shootout)
What Happened – Team overtime had numerous chances to put this one away up 2-0 on the Pats but the visitors hung around long enough to tie it and then get the extra point in the shootout.
The Goals – Kootenay’s start to this one wasn’t exactly textbook. The Pats dominated the home side with extended period of play in the Ice end of the rink but it was Kootenay who opened the scoring when Dustin Sylvester jumped on a turnover and skated in on a 2-on-1, delayed and found a streaking Joey Leach who caught G Damien Ketlo back in his net and put it over his shoulder for a 1-0 lead…. Dominick Pacovsky drove to the net less than two minutes later with the Ice on the power play and scored, well, it wasn’t a beauty and it wasn't even his, as the goal-mouth scramble that ensued ended up with Kevin King potting his 9th of the season to give the home-side a 2-0 lead, even though they were out-shot at the time 12-6… 13:41 into the second period Leach took a tripping penalty that put the powerful Pats on the power play. Kootenay almost killed it off with some spectacular saves by Todd Mathews only to have D Cody Carlson find a wide-open Jordan Eberle in the slot. Mathews got over and almost had the one-timer but the Edmonton Oiler prospect got enough of it to make it 2-1… In the third Kootenay had their chances to put the Pats away but a goalpost here and a crossbar there enabled the Pats to tie it with just over five minutes remaining when D Petr Senkerik’s weak clearing pass was intercepted off the half-wall by Colten Tuebert who then fired a point-shot that Kyle (Fox) Mulder deflected past a surprised Mathews to tie the game. In the shootout Max Reinhart scored a beauty to give the Ice a chance to end it but both Matt Strueby and Brett Leffler beat Mathews and Kevin King hit the post to give the visitors the extra point.
Star-Studded - Looking up and down the Pats line-up and you wonder how the club isn't competing with the likes of the Saskatoon and Calgary for top spot in the conference. Jordan Weal and Jordan Eberle give you offence in spades while former first overall pick in 2005 D Colten Teubert anchors the blueline along with former first round bantam picks Brett Leffler (5th overall in 2004) to round out the big name lineup. Solid goaltending and depth to spare, why isn't this club pushing for a title this season?
The Drought’s Over – King’s goal in the first period ended a 0-25 famine on the power play dating back to November 7 against the Red Deer Rebels.
The Fight – Just after Ice forward Matt Fraser pasted RW Garrett Mitchell with a clean hit Pats D Matt Delahey jumped him in an attempt to exact some retribution. He didn’t and got nailed with the instigator and 17 minutes in penalties in one of the rare occurrences this season the Zebras actually called the instigator.
The Scratches – The Brayden McNabb watch continued for the weekend as the 18-year-old rearguard likely won’t return until the 25th when he suits up for Team WHL against the touring Russian Selects. Otherwise it’ll be November 27 in Kamloops against the Blazers. D Luke Paulsen and RW Brock Montgomery were healthy scratches.
The Skinny – Kootenay falls to 11-12-1-1 and 24 points, good for 9th in the Eastern Conference, two points shy of the Swift Current Broncos who hold the 8th spot and are the visitors Saturday night at the Plex.
The Crowd – 2641
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. RW Kevin King – Goal and an assist
2. G Damien Ketlo – Shrugged off a slow start
3. D Joey Leach – 17-year-old is starting to establish himself as a top-four D-man
Up Next – 8th spot in the conference is on the line when the Swift Current Broncos visit the Rec Plex Saturday night.
What Happened – Team overtime had numerous chances to put this one away up 2-0 on the Pats but the visitors hung around long enough to tie it and then get the extra point in the shootout.
The Goals – Kootenay’s start to this one wasn’t exactly textbook. The Pats dominated the home side with extended period of play in the Ice end of the rink but it was Kootenay who opened the scoring when Dustin Sylvester jumped on a turnover and skated in on a 2-on-1, delayed and found a streaking Joey Leach who caught G Damien Ketlo back in his net and put it over his shoulder for a 1-0 lead…. Dominick Pacovsky drove to the net less than two minutes later with the Ice on the power play and scored, well, it wasn’t a beauty and it wasn't even his, as the goal-mouth scramble that ensued ended up with Kevin King potting his 9th of the season to give the home-side a 2-0 lead, even though they were out-shot at the time 12-6… 13:41 into the second period Leach took a tripping penalty that put the powerful Pats on the power play. Kootenay almost killed it off with some spectacular saves by Todd Mathews only to have D Cody Carlson find a wide-open Jordan Eberle in the slot. Mathews got over and almost had the one-timer but the Edmonton Oiler prospect got enough of it to make it 2-1… In the third Kootenay had their chances to put the Pats away but a goalpost here and a crossbar there enabled the Pats to tie it with just over five minutes remaining when D Petr Senkerik’s weak clearing pass was intercepted off the half-wall by Colten Tuebert who then fired a point-shot that Kyle (Fox) Mulder deflected past a surprised Mathews to tie the game. In the shootout Max Reinhart scored a beauty to give the Ice a chance to end it but both Matt Strueby and Brett Leffler beat Mathews and Kevin King hit the post to give the visitors the extra point.
Star-Studded - Looking up and down the Pats line-up and you wonder how the club isn't competing with the likes of the Saskatoon and Calgary for top spot in the conference. Jordan Weal and Jordan Eberle give you offence in spades while former first overall pick in 2005 D Colten Teubert anchors the blueline along with former first round bantam picks Brett Leffler (5th overall in 2004) to round out the big name lineup. Solid goaltending and depth to spare, why isn't this club pushing for a title this season?
The Drought’s Over – King’s goal in the first period ended a 0-25 famine on the power play dating back to November 7 against the Red Deer Rebels.
The Fight – Just after Ice forward Matt Fraser pasted RW Garrett Mitchell with a clean hit Pats D Matt Delahey jumped him in an attempt to exact some retribution. He didn’t and got nailed with the instigator and 17 minutes in penalties in one of the rare occurrences this season the Zebras actually called the instigator.
The Scratches – The Brayden McNabb watch continued for the weekend as the 18-year-old rearguard likely won’t return until the 25th when he suits up for Team WHL against the touring Russian Selects. Otherwise it’ll be November 27 in Kamloops against the Blazers. D Luke Paulsen and RW Brock Montgomery were healthy scratches.
The Skinny – Kootenay falls to 11-12-1-1 and 24 points, good for 9th in the Eastern Conference, two points shy of the Swift Current Broncos who hold the 8th spot and are the visitors Saturday night at the Plex.
The Crowd – 2641
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. RW Kevin King – Goal and an assist
2. G Damien Ketlo – Shrugged off a slow start
3. D Joey Leach – 17-year-old is starting to establish himself as a top-four D-man
Up Next – 8th spot in the conference is on the line when the Swift Current Broncos visit the Rec Plex Saturday night.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Skrudland sent to Junior A
Kootenay's healthy roster was trimmed by one on Wednesday as the Ice sent 18-year-old forward Simon Skrudland to a Junior A club yet to be determined. The Calgary product, a former 3rd round pick (58th overall) in the 2006 Bantam Draft had one assist in 17 games in mostly a fourth-line role for the Ice.
He'll likely join a Calgary area AJHL squad. The club's roster sits at 23 - 2 goalies, 8 defensemen and 13 forwards.
He'll likely join a Calgary area AJHL squad. The club's roster sits at 23 - 2 goalies, 8 defensemen and 13 forwards.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ice win two on weekend
A successful weekend to recover from the Remembrance Day blowout in Calgary, Kootenay dumped the best team in the west Saturday at the 'Plex 7-1 - with a four assist effort from Dustin Sylvester while Steele Boomer, Dominick Pacovsky, Kevin King and Cason Machacek all had a goal and an assist, as well as welcoming back Matt Fraser from a knee injury. Forward Brendan Hurley, 16, with his first WHL goal and D Joey Leach with his first of the season, each got in on the goal barrage.... Todd Mathews stopped 30 of 31 shots to get the win.
On Sunday night in Lethbridge Fraser scored the OT winner with 27 seconds left in the extra frame on a pretty set-up by Steele Boomer. Boomer tied the game for the Ice after the Hurricanes went up 1-0 on Austin Fyten's 9th of the season. Dustin Sylvester notched his 9th of the season short-handed in the middle frame to give the Ice a 2-1 lead. The club had numerous chances to put the tired 'Canes - playing their third game in three nights - away with a five-on-three late in the second and another one 3:50 into the third but instead gave up the short-handed tying goal when Mitch Maxwell scooted out of the penalty box and scored on a partial breakaway. Mathews once again got the start and stopped 27 of 29 shots.
In terms of importance, well, it's November and already every point is important as the OT win put the Ice two points clear of the Hurricanes for last spot in the Eastern Conference but only two out of the top eight with a 10-12-1 record for 21 points. Key games at the Plex this week against Prince Albert Tuesday, Regina Friday and Swift Current Broncos, the latter of which has yet to win on the road this season in ten tries, and all games against opponents just ahead of them in the standings. They'll get their 11th shot at it Saturday at the Rec Plex.
Notes.... D Brayden McNabb looks to be making a miraculous recovery of his knee strain/injury that was supposed to keep the 18-year-old out four-six weeks but is now listed at a week away, meaning he could play this weekend against the Regina Pats. The recovery - oh, I'll bet that brutal rope ladder drill he does to build leg strength after practice every day helped on this one - will undoubtedly put him back in the running for a World Junior team shot and to play in the CHL Canada/Russia series' final game in Kelowna November 25.... Since G Nathan Lieuwen's return last week he's sat squarely in the bench in a back-up role to Todd Mathews, continuing coach Mark Holick's philosophy of you win; you play... Mathews surrendered four goals in the Calgary loss while Lieuwen gave up three but other than that blip Mathews has been solid in winning two straight and five of his last seven games... The infirmary list is getting shorter and shorter with the return of both Fraser and 17-year-old forward Christian Magnus from a broken finger which forced him to miss 19 games. Only D Luke Paulsen, 17, (ankle - day-to-day) and McNabb (knee - one week) are left. The healthy roster will eventually force the club to examine it's size, which currently sits at 24 - one defenseman and one forward over the usual roster of 22 (two goalies, 13 forwards and 7 defensemen). Then again, with the injury problems this season don't be surprised if the roster stays at 24.... With five more points on the weekend - one goal and four assists - Ice captain Dustin Sylvester now has 4 goals and 7 assists in his last five games.... Swift Current Broncos radio voice over on his blog (on the right, a few spots down) states there's a chance that the Broncos could be ready to make a roster move as soon as this week. Overage forward Matt Tassone is getting closer and closer to returning and the Broncos will have to make a move within two weeks of having four healthy 20-year-olds. D Derek Claffey, D Eric Doyle, RW Mike Stickland and C Matt Tassone. One will have to go...... UPDATE: Turns out the deal is more of the blockbuster variety. The Broncos have dealt former first round bantam pick Geordie Wudrick to the Kelowna Rockets for their leading scorer, import forward Stepan Novotny, along with prospect Tanner Clark. More details are at the Broncos Website and over at Jon Keen's blog here.
On Sunday night in Lethbridge Fraser scored the OT winner with 27 seconds left in the extra frame on a pretty set-up by Steele Boomer. Boomer tied the game for the Ice after the Hurricanes went up 1-0 on Austin Fyten's 9th of the season. Dustin Sylvester notched his 9th of the season short-handed in the middle frame to give the Ice a 2-1 lead. The club had numerous chances to put the tired 'Canes - playing their third game in three nights - away with a five-on-three late in the second and another one 3:50 into the third but instead gave up the short-handed tying goal when Mitch Maxwell scooted out of the penalty box and scored on a partial breakaway. Mathews once again got the start and stopped 27 of 29 shots.
In terms of importance, well, it's November and already every point is important as the OT win put the Ice two points clear of the Hurricanes for last spot in the Eastern Conference but only two out of the top eight with a 10-12-1 record for 21 points. Key games at the Plex this week against Prince Albert Tuesday, Regina Friday and Swift Current Broncos, the latter of which has yet to win on the road this season in ten tries, and all games against opponents just ahead of them in the standings. They'll get their 11th shot at it Saturday at the Rec Plex.
Notes.... D Brayden McNabb looks to be making a miraculous recovery of his knee strain/injury that was supposed to keep the 18-year-old out four-six weeks but is now listed at a week away, meaning he could play this weekend against the Regina Pats. The recovery - oh, I'll bet that brutal rope ladder drill he does to build leg strength after practice every day helped on this one - will undoubtedly put him back in the running for a World Junior team shot and to play in the CHL Canada/Russia series' final game in Kelowna November 25.... Since G Nathan Lieuwen's return last week he's sat squarely in the bench in a back-up role to Todd Mathews, continuing coach Mark Holick's philosophy of you win; you play... Mathews surrendered four goals in the Calgary loss while Lieuwen gave up three but other than that blip Mathews has been solid in winning two straight and five of his last seven games... The infirmary list is getting shorter and shorter with the return of both Fraser and 17-year-old forward Christian Magnus from a broken finger which forced him to miss 19 games. Only D Luke Paulsen, 17, (ankle - day-to-day) and McNabb (knee - one week) are left. The healthy roster will eventually force the club to examine it's size, which currently sits at 24 - one defenseman and one forward over the usual roster of 22 (two goalies, 13 forwards and 7 defensemen). Then again, with the injury problems this season don't be surprised if the roster stays at 24.... With five more points on the weekend - one goal and four assists - Ice captain Dustin Sylvester now has 4 goals and 7 assists in his last five games.... Swift Current Broncos radio voice over on his blog (on the right, a few spots down) states there's a chance that the Broncos could be ready to make a roster move as soon as this week. Overage forward Matt Tassone is getting closer and closer to returning and the Broncos will have to make a move within two weeks of having four healthy 20-year-olds. D Derek Claffey, D Eric Doyle, RW Mike Stickland and C Matt Tassone. One will have to go...... UPDATE: Turns out the deal is more of the blockbuster variety. The Broncos have dealt former first round bantam pick Geordie Wudrick to the Kelowna Rockets for their leading scorer, import forward Stepan Novotny, along with prospect Tanner Clark. More details are at the Broncos Website and over at Jon Keen's blog here.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Hitmen blast Ice
Why is it once you crow about the playing ability of a player their play suddenly heads south? Kootenay jumped out to a gratuitous 2-0 lead on goals by Joe Antilla and Brock Montgomery - a gaffe that Hitmen goaltender Martin Jones just missed - before a 12-second stretch by the Hitmen included goals by Ian Schultz and former Ice forward Kris Foucault to tie it after one period.
Letting any team back into a game is dangerous enough. Doing against perhaps the best team in the WHL is usually suicide. But it was discipline against the number one team on the power play that did the Ice in after that when D Joey Leach took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and then the bench - presumably after coach Mark Holick gave the zebras an earful - took another, giving the Hitties a five-on-three and two straight power play goals to make it 4-2 after two, chasing starter Todd Mathews in the process.
Three more goals, one by WHL leading scorer Brandon Kozun who finished the night with four points, in the third turned this one into a romp for a 7-2 final.
Nathan Lieuwen replaced Mathews after four goals on 15 shots for his first action in seven games but didn't fare much better.... C Steele Boomer missed the game due to the flu... Things don't get any easier as the best club in the West, Bob Tory's Tri-City Americans along with Cranbrook product Jim Hiller behind the bench, visit the Rec Plex Saturday.
The Daily Townsman along with Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun will have game recaps up shortly. The Townsman will have Saturday's game coverage as I'm gone for a couple of games with my Peewee team.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Mathews wants the starter's job.....
For HockeyNow...
Mathews take the reigns
by Jeff Bromley
Kootenay Ice goaltender Todd Mathews is an opportunistic hockey player and once again the door is open for the 19-year-old Covina, California product.
Like last season, he’s seizing it.
Pressed into the starter’s role after 18-year-old Nathan Lieuwen went down with what was thought to be a concussion be diagnosed as a neck sprain, Mathews is a respectable 3-3 in the past six games and has the team playing just as well in front of him. “It took me a few games to get going and the first two or three games definitely didn’t go my way,” said Mathews following a 1-0 shutout of the Seattle Thunderbirds November 1. “There’s been some hard practices but I guess there’s some ease (the last six games) not having anybody pushing me but I end up just trying to push myself. The guys seem to have some confidence in me and I have confidence in myself right now which means a lot.”
Like his team-mates Mathews was the victim of a poor start to the season, losing his first start in Kootenay’s second game 7-1 against the Red Deer Rebels, essentially surrendering the starter’s job to Lieuwen. But an injury to Lieuwen after a collision with a Portland forward in a 5-1 loss to the Winter Hawks October 23 sidelined Lieuwen with a possible concussion, given the reigns to Mathews. This time he ran with it. In the six games since he’s produced a 3-3 record but more impressive are the 1.67 goals against average and .944 save percentage he’s garnered along the way, playing well enough to win only to have little support at key times. Last season Mathews joined the club mid-season and played 28 games, going 14-11-0-1 after Lieuwen missed two months due to a concussion.
The last four outings for the club have produced seven of a possible eight points, winning three straight over Brandon, Seattle and Red Deer before losing in overtime to the Rebels Saturday night. Are the wins enough to turn the tide? “How many more games do we got?” Mathews asked rhetorically. “But as long as we keep with this pace the goals are going to start to come. If we keep the goals against and the scoring chances against low I think we’ll be happy with our performance.”
On Monday the club welcomed back Nathan Lieuwen who had left the club to ponder his future after suffering what was thought to be his fourth concussion in two years. The injury had put a promising career in jeopardy until the injury was diagnosed as a neck sprain rather than a concussion. It was welcome news to the Abbotsford product, who will serve as back-up against the Calgary Hitmen on Remembrance Day. "To get this good news is a sigh of relief,” Lieuwen told the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. “Just thinking about if it would have been another concussion — that would have been terrible. Things would be a lot different. I’m very, very thankful and blessed to have this.”
So is there a goaltending controversy brewing in Iceland? Not according to head coach Mark Holick. “I’m not going to get into a debate on who is number one or who is number two,” said Holick. “I just look at who has played well lately and Todd, over the past six games has been great. His save percentage and goals against average is pretty low and he’s done enough to play Wednesday.”
“Lieuwen hasn’t been on the ice for over ten days so we’ll get him skating and see where he’s at but we’ve certainly got to get him back on the horse. It’s a nice problem to have with a couple of goaltenders that are going to fight for playing time.”
Mathews take the reigns
by Jeff Bromley
Kootenay Ice goaltender Todd Mathews is an opportunistic hockey player and once again the door is open for the 19-year-old Covina, California product.
Like last season, he’s seizing it.
Pressed into the starter’s role after 18-year-old Nathan Lieuwen went down with what was thought to be a concussion be diagnosed as a neck sprain, Mathews is a respectable 3-3 in the past six games and has the team playing just as well in front of him. “It took me a few games to get going and the first two or three games definitely didn’t go my way,” said Mathews following a 1-0 shutout of the Seattle Thunderbirds November 1. “There’s been some hard practices but I guess there’s some ease (the last six games) not having anybody pushing me but I end up just trying to push myself. The guys seem to have some confidence in me and I have confidence in myself right now which means a lot.”
Like his team-mates Mathews was the victim of a poor start to the season, losing his first start in Kootenay’s second game 7-1 against the Red Deer Rebels, essentially surrendering the starter’s job to Lieuwen. But an injury to Lieuwen after a collision with a Portland forward in a 5-1 loss to the Winter Hawks October 23 sidelined Lieuwen with a possible concussion, given the reigns to Mathews. This time he ran with it. In the six games since he’s produced a 3-3 record but more impressive are the 1.67 goals against average and .944 save percentage he’s garnered along the way, playing well enough to win only to have little support at key times. Last season Mathews joined the club mid-season and played 28 games, going 14-11-0-1 after Lieuwen missed two months due to a concussion.
The last four outings for the club have produced seven of a possible eight points, winning three straight over Brandon, Seattle and Red Deer before losing in overtime to the Rebels Saturday night. Are the wins enough to turn the tide? “How many more games do we got?” Mathews asked rhetorically. “But as long as we keep with this pace the goals are going to start to come. If we keep the goals against and the scoring chances against low I think we’ll be happy with our performance.”
On Monday the club welcomed back Nathan Lieuwen who had left the club to ponder his future after suffering what was thought to be his fourth concussion in two years. The injury had put a promising career in jeopardy until the injury was diagnosed as a neck sprain rather than a concussion. It was welcome news to the Abbotsford product, who will serve as back-up against the Calgary Hitmen on Remembrance Day. "To get this good news is a sigh of relief,” Lieuwen told the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. “Just thinking about if it would have been another concussion — that would have been terrible. Things would be a lot different. I’m very, very thankful and blessed to have this.”
So is there a goaltending controversy brewing in Iceland? Not according to head coach Mark Holick. “I’m not going to get into a debate on who is number one or who is number two,” said Holick. “I just look at who has played well lately and Todd, over the past six games has been great. His save percentage and goals against average is pretty low and he’s done enough to play Wednesday.”
“Lieuwen hasn’t been on the ice for over ten days so we’ll get him skating and see where he’s at but we’ve certainly got to get him back on the horse. It’s a nice problem to have with a couple of goaltenders that are going to fight for playing time.”
Monday, November 9, 2009
Ice Weekend...
For the Daily Townsman....
Sylvester soars in weekend split with Rebels
by Jeff Bromley
A weekend split against a divisional rival in November doesn’t usually give a team cause for brimming optimism but if you’re the Kootenay Ice, three out of four points against the Red Deer Rebels ain’t bad.
That and the fact they’re scoring again and more importantly, their captain is scoring again.
Dustin Sylvester had a six-point weekend scoring three goals and three assists including his 7th and 8th on the season in a losing cause as Kootenay dropped a 4-3 overtime loss on Colin Archer’s overtime marker Saturday night at the Rec Plex after dumping the Rebels on home-ice Friday 4-1. “We got a bounce or two (Friday) so I think it was their turn tonight,” said Ice head coach Mark Holick. “It was kind of a funny bounce on the winner but their second and third goals were a one-on-three and they made something out of it. Our back-check on both goals wasn’t very good and our attention to detail and the guys behind us wasn’t good. We fell in love with the puck too much tonight. I mean, you’re going to make mistakes but unfortunately those two mistakes cost a point here tonight.”
Kootenay opened the scoring early in the first period when their power play clicked on Dustin Sylvester's 7th of the season with Rebel defenseman Alex Petrovic off for cross-checking. The 20-year-old fired a wrist shot that beat Rebel goaltender Kraymer Barnstable from the slot to make it 1-0. That lead lasted only 1:32 when Red Deer forward Andrej Kudrna sent Willie Coetzee in alone on Ice goaltender Todd Mathews. The Rebels’ leading scorer didn’t miss, roofing his 10th of the season past Mathews to tie the game at one. The start of the second period saw the Ice take the play to the Rebels, finally cashing in on a neutral zone turnover by Rebel forward Landon Ferraro, picked up Sylvester, who streaked in and went five-hole on Barnstable to give the Ice a 2-1 lead and a serious case of momentum.
It wouldn’t last.
By the end of the second period the Rebels would have the lead on a couple of goal-mouth goals by Willie Coetzee and Brett Ferguson and the home side would spend the third period scrambling to get back into the game.
They almost didn’t, save for a dropped stick.
While killing a penalty late in the game that all but killed their chances of a comeback, a two-on-two rush started by – you guessed it – Sylvester, ended with a scrum deep in the Red Deer zone. Rebel blueliner Cullen Morin dropped his stick in the mix and when trying to catch Kevin King skating out of the corner with the puck Morin stepped on the dropped twig and fell, sending King to the front of the net to out-wait Barnstable for the game-tying goal.
Holick felt they deserved a better fate. “I thought we deserved better at that point,” he said. “It should’ve been 3 or 4-1 but we weren’t capitalizing on our chances. We were shooting wide or getting pucks blocked and not paying the price for rebounds but we came out with jump and did a lot of good things. That’s why it’s so disappointing.”
Not so disappointing was the play of 16-year-old rookie Brendan Hurley, who had his best game in an Ice uniform patrolling the right wing on the club’s third line. “(Hurley) has been great for us the last little bit,” said Holick. “With the injuries he’s getting some time to play. He had four or five good chances tonight and a couple last night and I was hoping a couple would’ve gone in for him, he’s played that good. He’s starting to become the player we think he can be and if you play well, you’ll play.”
Rebel coach Jesse Wallin was grateful that his squad was rewarded for their hard work, something that didn’t happen 24 hours earlier as they were stymied by the play of Todd Mathews, Friday’s first star. “This was a big game for us, as was (Friday), but for whatever reason we didn’t play as well as we played here. We faced some adversity early coming back from a 1-0 showing some resilience and then battling back again down 2-1. We never gave up and were rewarded in overtime.”
In Red Deer the Ice rode the stellar goaltending of Todd Mathews and three point efforts from both Sylvester and import defenseman Petr Senkerik, who notched a goal and added two assists in a the 4-1 win. The game welcomed back sophomore forward Drew Czerwonka, who finished with an assist on the night an was plus-2 on the weekend, adding a dimension of size sorely needed with his 6’2” frame in front of the opposition’s net. “That’s my game, I want to be physical and get in front of the net,” said Czerwonka. “The goalie can’t see much when I’m there and it creates scoring chances.”
Quick Hits – Saturday’s crowd was 2713… Kootenay got some welcome news Friday when it was learned that goaltender Nathan Lieuwen did not suffer a concussion when he was injured in game against the Portland Winter Hawks two weeks ago. Lieuwen has since re-joined the club and will start skating Monday and will serve as back-up on Remembrance Day for an afternoon date with the Hitmen in Calgary starting at 2PM… Forward Christian Magnus, who has missed 18 games with a broken finger, could play Wednesday while D Brayden McNabb (knee – 4-6 weeks), Luke Paulsen (ankle 2-4 weeks) and LW Matt Fraser (knee – 1-2 weeks) are still on the injured list. Forward Simon Skrudland missed the weekend’s action with the flu… 16-year-old forward Ryan Bloom, a 2nd round pick from the 2008 Bantam Draft, was called up for Friday’s game in Red Deer from the Calgary Midget Buffaloes… Backing up Mathews over the weekend was Calgary product Kevin Jacyna, 16, who plays for the Calgary Midget AA Royals.
Sylvester soars in weekend split with Rebels
by Jeff Bromley
A weekend split against a divisional rival in November doesn’t usually give a team cause for brimming optimism but if you’re the Kootenay Ice, three out of four points against the Red Deer Rebels ain’t bad.
That and the fact they’re scoring again and more importantly, their captain is scoring again.
Dustin Sylvester had a six-point weekend scoring three goals and three assists including his 7th and 8th on the season in a losing cause as Kootenay dropped a 4-3 overtime loss on Colin Archer’s overtime marker Saturday night at the Rec Plex after dumping the Rebels on home-ice Friday 4-1. “We got a bounce or two (Friday) so I think it was their turn tonight,” said Ice head coach Mark Holick. “It was kind of a funny bounce on the winner but their second and third goals were a one-on-three and they made something out of it. Our back-check on both goals wasn’t very good and our attention to detail and the guys behind us wasn’t good. We fell in love with the puck too much tonight. I mean, you’re going to make mistakes but unfortunately those two mistakes cost a point here tonight.”
Kootenay opened the scoring early in the first period when their power play clicked on Dustin Sylvester's 7th of the season with Rebel defenseman Alex Petrovic off for cross-checking. The 20-year-old fired a wrist shot that beat Rebel goaltender Kraymer Barnstable from the slot to make it 1-0. That lead lasted only 1:32 when Red Deer forward Andrej Kudrna sent Willie Coetzee in alone on Ice goaltender Todd Mathews. The Rebels’ leading scorer didn’t miss, roofing his 10th of the season past Mathews to tie the game at one. The start of the second period saw the Ice take the play to the Rebels, finally cashing in on a neutral zone turnover by Rebel forward Landon Ferraro, picked up Sylvester, who streaked in and went five-hole on Barnstable to give the Ice a 2-1 lead and a serious case of momentum.
It wouldn’t last.
By the end of the second period the Rebels would have the lead on a couple of goal-mouth goals by Willie Coetzee and Brett Ferguson and the home side would spend the third period scrambling to get back into the game.
They almost didn’t, save for a dropped stick.
While killing a penalty late in the game that all but killed their chances of a comeback, a two-on-two rush started by – you guessed it – Sylvester, ended with a scrum deep in the Red Deer zone. Rebel blueliner Cullen Morin dropped his stick in the mix and when trying to catch Kevin King skating out of the corner with the puck Morin stepped on the dropped twig and fell, sending King to the front of the net to out-wait Barnstable for the game-tying goal.
Holick felt they deserved a better fate. “I thought we deserved better at that point,” he said. “It should’ve been 3 or 4-1 but we weren’t capitalizing on our chances. We were shooting wide or getting pucks blocked and not paying the price for rebounds but we came out with jump and did a lot of good things. That’s why it’s so disappointing.”
Not so disappointing was the play of 16-year-old rookie Brendan Hurley, who had his best game in an Ice uniform patrolling the right wing on the club’s third line. “(Hurley) has been great for us the last little bit,” said Holick. “With the injuries he’s getting some time to play. He had four or five good chances tonight and a couple last night and I was hoping a couple would’ve gone in for him, he’s played that good. He’s starting to become the player we think he can be and if you play well, you’ll play.”
Rebel coach Jesse Wallin was grateful that his squad was rewarded for their hard work, something that didn’t happen 24 hours earlier as they were stymied by the play of Todd Mathews, Friday’s first star. “This was a big game for us, as was (Friday), but for whatever reason we didn’t play as well as we played here. We faced some adversity early coming back from a 1-0 showing some resilience and then battling back again down 2-1. We never gave up and were rewarded in overtime.”
In Red Deer the Ice rode the stellar goaltending of Todd Mathews and three point efforts from both Sylvester and import defenseman Petr Senkerik, who notched a goal and added two assists in a the 4-1 win. The game welcomed back sophomore forward Drew Czerwonka, who finished with an assist on the night an was plus-2 on the weekend, adding a dimension of size sorely needed with his 6’2” frame in front of the opposition’s net. “That’s my game, I want to be physical and get in front of the net,” said Czerwonka. “The goalie can’t see much when I’m there and it creates scoring chances.”
Quick Hits – Saturday’s crowd was 2713… Kootenay got some welcome news Friday when it was learned that goaltender Nathan Lieuwen did not suffer a concussion when he was injured in game against the Portland Winter Hawks two weeks ago. Lieuwen has since re-joined the club and will start skating Monday and will serve as back-up on Remembrance Day for an afternoon date with the Hitmen in Calgary starting at 2PM… Forward Christian Magnus, who has missed 18 games with a broken finger, could play Wednesday while D Brayden McNabb (knee – 4-6 weeks), Luke Paulsen (ankle 2-4 weeks) and LW Matt Fraser (knee – 1-2 weeks) are still on the injured list. Forward Simon Skrudland missed the weekend’s action with the flu… 16-year-old forward Ryan Bloom, a 2nd round pick from the 2008 Bantam Draft, was called up for Friday’s game in Red Deer from the Calgary Midget Buffaloes… Backing up Mathews over the weekend was Calgary product Kevin Jacyna, 16, who plays for the Calgary Midget AA Royals.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Rebels/Ice - The Score
The Score – Red Deer 4 – Kootenay 3 (OT)
What Happened – A see-saw battle ended with the Rebels scoring in OT. The Ice capitalized on almost all of their opportunities, they just didn’t have enough of them.
The Rookie – For Kootenay fans it was their first chance to have a good look at rookie phenom Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The former first overall pick in the 2008 Bantam Draft didn’t disappoint with an assist and more chances that I could count. The kid who many expect to go first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft sees the ice better than some that play there right now.
The Goals – Eager to capitalize on some momentum found 24 hours early in Red Deer, Kootenay captain Dustin Sylvester wired his 7th of the season past Rebel starter Kraymer Barnstable 4:01 into the game with Rebel blueliner Alex Petrovic in the box for cross-checking… Just over two minutes later Rebel import forward Andrej Kudrna thread the needle with a beautiful pass that sent Willie Coetzee in alone on Todd Mathews. He went shelf and tied it at one… In the second with the Ice buzzing Dustin Sylvester benefitted from a Rebel neutral zone turnover and went in alone on Barnstable. Sylvester went five-hole and gave the Ice a 2-1 lead… The Rebels tied it on a shot by Nathan Green coming down the left wing that Mathews took off his shoulder. The puck went straight up and straight down his back, sitting on the goal-line for the easy tap in for Coetzee… The Rebels took the lead on another rush in which Josh Cowen centred a pass that Brett Ferguson somehow tapped past Mathews at 16:16… While killing a penalty late in the game and generating next to nothing in terms of offence a two-on-two started by Dustin Sylvester sends the puck to the Rebel corner. A scrum ensued and Rebel D Cullen Morin dropped his stick, steps on it and falls while Kevin Kings walks out of the corner and out-waits Barnstable to tie the game with his sixth of the season, shorthanded, forcing overtime… The Rebels would get the last laugh however when Colin Archer banged into the game-winner in the extra period after Willie Coetzee got in on a great scoring chance in which Mathews kicked out; right to Archer however who buried the winner.
Disgusted with his stick - After being stripped of the puck for the second Sylvester goal Rebel forward Landon Ferraro threw his stick away in disgust. Referee Devin Klein didn't share the same views of his stick and nailed Ferraro with a ten minute misconduct.
The Turning Point – Tough to find a particular point in this one that saw three leads by both clubs evaporate but besides the OT winner the fight following the Sylvester goal between Alex Petrovic and Drew Czerwonka seemed to spur the Rebels after a poor start to the second period.
The Fight – Sophomore blueliner Alex Petrovic dropped the mitts with Ice forward Drew Czerwonka for a tilt that was even and rather uneventful, except it lit a fire under the Rebels and they scored two goals to take the lead not long after.
The Crowd – 2713 – Rather lively for a change with lots of energy. Especially from a kid with a painted face and home-made sign made out of cardboard cheering on the home-side, until he was asked to refrain from waving his sign while the play was on by a rather grumpy usher.
The Skinny – The overtime loss breaks the club’s modest three-game winning streak but still produces a point – with seven of a possible eight points over the last four games – with the Ice sitting at 8-11-1 and 17 points, one shy of the Rebels and two back of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Daily Townsman Three Stars
1. Willie Coetzee – You now see what the Detroit Red Wings saw when they signed him as a free agent out of training camp.
2. Dustin Sylvester – Captain’s got his groove back. A six point weekend over two games including two goals Saturday
3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Two assists; a 16-year-old playing like he’s 19.
Game Summary:
Rebels 4 @ Ice 3 (OT)
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Red Deer Rebels and the Kootenay Ice. November 7, 2009.
Colin Archer streaked in on a rebound and buried his second of the season in overtime as the Red Deer Rebels edged the Kootenay Ice 4-3 in WHL action Saturday night. Dustin Sylvester, with two goals, and Kevin King with a late short-handed marker to send it to overtime scored for the Ice while Willie Coetzee notched two goals and added an assist with Brett Ferguson getting the other Rebel marker.
Kraymer Barnstable stopped 27 of 30 shots to get the win while Todd Mathews turned aside 28 of 32 in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Sylvester 7 (Boomer, Rintoul) 4:01 (pp)
2. Red Deer, Coetzee 10 (Kudrna, Archer) 6:33
Penalties -- Petrovic RD (roughing) 2:19, Borejko RD (roughing) 6:46, Weller RD (elbowing) Morenko RD (roughing) Montgomery Ktn (roughing, slashing) 6:46, Machacek Ktn (roughing) 10:32, Deagle RD (slashing) 13:47,
Second Period
3. Kootenay, Sylvester 8 6:25
4. Red Deer, Coetzee 11 (Green, Kudrna) 11:34,
5. Red Deer, Ferguson 6, (Cowen, Nugent-Hopkins) 16:16
Penalties -- Ferraro RD (misconduct) 6:25, Petrovic RD Czerwonka Ktn (fighting) 6:51, Molle Ktn (holding) 7:31,
Third Period
6. Kootenay, King 6 (Leach, Sylvester) 16:41 (sh)
Penalties -- Weller RD (slashing) 2:24, 'Reinhart Ktn (hooking) 15:07, Green RD Machacek Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct) 16:11.
Overtime
7. Red Deer, Archer 2 (Coetzee, Nugent-Hopkins) 2:54
Penalties -- None.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 10 13 6 1 - 30
Red Deer: 6 13 10 3 - 32
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (L, 4-4-1) Red Deer: Kraymer Barnstable (W, 7-4)
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-4
Red Deer: 0-3
Referee -- Devin Klein. Linesman -- Sean Donnelly, Scott Sharun.
Attendance -- 2713 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Brayden McNabb (knee - 4-6 weeks), Luke Paulsen (ankle - 2-4 weeks), Christian Magnus (finger - day-to-day), Matt Fraser (knee - 1-2 weeks), Simon Skrudland (flu).
Red Deer: Nick Bell (ankle - indefinite), Turner Elson (healthy), Colten Mayor (healthy)
Friday, November 6, 2009
Kootenay wins three
Kootenay pushed their modest winning streak to three after beating the Red Deer Rebels 4-1 Friday in Red Deer.
Jesse Ismond opened the scoring for the Ice when he banged in a rebound off a Petr Senkerik point-shot. Kootenay’s power play – ranked 19th in the league going into the game – clicked early against the Rebels with the return of Drew Czerwonka causing havoc in front of the Rebel net, Senkerik sent a shot from the blueline that produced a rebound for the waiting Ismond, who deposited his third of the year.
In the second some good work on a dump in saw Max Reinhart send a laser of a pass to the slot where Kevin King neatly deflected in the puck past Darcy Kuemper to make it 2-0. Kootenay’s third goal was a strange one in that Kuemper actually lost complete sight of the puck in that he was actually looking at the wrong side of the ice when Dustin Sylvester fired the puck past him to make it 3-0.
Kootenay went up 4-0 in the third period when Petr Senkerik’s shot from the point was deflected past Kraymer Barnstable who had replaced Kuemper after his gaffe on the third Kootenay goal. Red Deer finally solved Mathews with rookie Brendan Hurley in the box on a bit of a phantom call but Rebel phenom Ryan Nugent-Hopkins found Andrej Kudma with a beauty of a saucer pass that he tapped past Mathews to make it 4-1.
Todd Mathews was named the game's first star stopping 34 shots and easily avenged his last visit to Red Deer - a 7-1 loss in the second game of the season - and was Kootenay's best player. Dustin Sylvester notched a goal and couple of assists as did D Petr Senkerik, filling the void left by Brayden McNabb's knee injury, with a goal and two helpers.
The two teams meet in the return bill Saturday night at the Rec Plex. Gametime is 7PM.
In other news there's a couple of Ice prospects - well, drafted players that have chosen the NCAA route but remain on the club's protected list - that will meet in the World Junior A Challenge Gold Medal game in Summerside, PEI. Canada West - made up of Junior A players from the four provinces - features Winnipeg forward Brendan O'Donnell, 17, who plays for the Winnipeg South Blues of the MJHL. Canada West will play Team USA which features forward Colten St. Clair of the Fargo Force of the USHL. O'Donnell and St. Clair were selected with concurrent Ice picks in 2007. O'Donnell in the 9th round (196th overall) and St. Clair, a native of Phoenix, AZ, in the 10th round (218th overall). Both decided that the WHL was not for them with O'Donnell committing to North Dakota next season and St. Clair originally verbally committed to Colorado College. He has since changed his mind and will join O'Donnell at UND next season.
St. Clair sits 8th in tournament scoring with two goals and three assists while O'Donnell has yet to get a point in four games.
Jesse Ismond opened the scoring for the Ice when he banged in a rebound off a Petr Senkerik point-shot. Kootenay’s power play – ranked 19th in the league going into the game – clicked early against the Rebels with the return of Drew Czerwonka causing havoc in front of the Rebel net, Senkerik sent a shot from the blueline that produced a rebound for the waiting Ismond, who deposited his third of the year.
In the second some good work on a dump in saw Max Reinhart send a laser of a pass to the slot where Kevin King neatly deflected in the puck past Darcy Kuemper to make it 2-0. Kootenay’s third goal was a strange one in that Kuemper actually lost complete sight of the puck in that he was actually looking at the wrong side of the ice when Dustin Sylvester fired the puck past him to make it 3-0.
Kootenay went up 4-0 in the third period when Petr Senkerik’s shot from the point was deflected past Kraymer Barnstable who had replaced Kuemper after his gaffe on the third Kootenay goal. Red Deer finally solved Mathews with rookie Brendan Hurley in the box on a bit of a phantom call but Rebel phenom Ryan Nugent-Hopkins found Andrej Kudma with a beauty of a saucer pass that he tapped past Mathews to make it 4-1.
Todd Mathews was named the game's first star stopping 34 shots and easily avenged his last visit to Red Deer - a 7-1 loss in the second game of the season - and was Kootenay's best player. Dustin Sylvester notched a goal and couple of assists as did D Petr Senkerik, filling the void left by Brayden McNabb's knee injury, with a goal and two helpers.
The two teams meet in the return bill Saturday night at the Rec Plex. Gametime is 7PM.
In other news there's a couple of Ice prospects - well, drafted players that have chosen the NCAA route but remain on the club's protected list - that will meet in the World Junior A Challenge Gold Medal game in Summerside, PEI. Canada West - made up of Junior A players from the four provinces - features Winnipeg forward Brendan O'Donnell, 17, who plays for the Winnipeg South Blues of the MJHL. Canada West will play Team USA which features forward Colten St. Clair of the Fargo Force of the USHL. O'Donnell and St. Clair were selected with concurrent Ice picks in 2007. O'Donnell in the 9th round (196th overall) and St. Clair, a native of Phoenix, AZ, in the 10th round (218th overall). Both decided that the WHL was not for them with O'Donnell committing to North Dakota next season and St. Clair originally verbally committed to Colorado College. He has since changed his mind and will join O'Donnell at UND next season.
St. Clair sits 8th in tournament scoring with two goals and three assists while O'Donnell has yet to get a point in four games.
Ice injuries start to heal/changes
UPDATE - 16-year-old former 2nd round pick Ryan Bloom is in the lineup with the Ice tonight against Red Deer. Bloom, a Calgary product, was called up from the Calgary Midget Buffaloes.
Ice radio voice Jeff Hollick over at his blog (Between the Lines - on the right) reports that Nathan Lieuwen has been diagnosed with a migraine and not a concussion as first thought. He'll return to the club this weekend and skate with them on Monday....
Thanks to the reader from Abbottsford for the update who said the same thing a few days back....
G Kevin Jacyna, 17, a goaltender from Calgary who made the club's list after training camp, will be the back-up to Todd Mathews for the weekend.
LW Drew Czerwonka will also see his first action in 16 games this weekend after returing from a leg laceration.... D Cason Machacek also returns from a concussion.
Matt Fraser (shoulder), Lieuwen, D Brayden McNabb (knee), Christian Magnus (finger) and Luke Paulsen (ankle) are all still out.
In league news the Spokane Chiefs had to get down to three overage players with the return of forward Ryan Letts and in the process dealt Cranbrook product Dustin Donaghy, a forward/defense who spent the better part of three seasons with the Chiefs including their Memorial Cup run two years ago, to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for an 8th round bantam pick in 2010. The Lethbridge Herald has the story of Donaghy re-uniting with his old Bantam teammate Carter Bancks who hails from Marysville here.
Kootenay still has room for one more 20-year-old...
On a personal note, as noted a few posts ago things have changed for me in the writing side of things. After almost 14 years I'm no longer writing for the Kootenay News Advertiser effective immediately. However there will be stories posted but they'll be for another publication.
More this weekend...
Ice radio voice Jeff Hollick over at his blog (Between the Lines - on the right) reports that Nathan Lieuwen has been diagnosed with a migraine and not a concussion as first thought. He'll return to the club this weekend and skate with them on Monday....
Thanks to the reader from Abbottsford for the update who said the same thing a few days back....
G Kevin Jacyna, 17, a goaltender from Calgary who made the club's list after training camp, will be the back-up to Todd Mathews for the weekend.
LW Drew Czerwonka will also see his first action in 16 games this weekend after returing from a leg laceration.... D Cason Machacek also returns from a concussion.
Matt Fraser (shoulder), Lieuwen, D Brayden McNabb (knee), Christian Magnus (finger) and Luke Paulsen (ankle) are all still out.
In league news the Spokane Chiefs had to get down to three overage players with the return of forward Ryan Letts and in the process dealt Cranbrook product Dustin Donaghy, a forward/defense who spent the better part of three seasons with the Chiefs including their Memorial Cup run two years ago, to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for an 8th round bantam pick in 2010. The Lethbridge Herald has the story of Donaghy re-uniting with his old Bantam teammate Carter Bancks who hails from Marysville here.
Kootenay still has room for one more 20-year-old...
On a personal note, as noted a few posts ago things have changed for me in the writing side of things. After almost 14 years I'm no longer writing for the Kootenay News Advertiser effective immediately. However there will be stories posted but they'll be for another publication.
More this weekend...
Monday, November 2, 2009
Iron an all-star at Challenge Cup
UPDATE: - The club announced in their weekly release today that D Brayden McNabb will miss 4-6 weeks due to a knee injury while rookie D Luke Paulsen is out four weeks with an ankle injury. That would put McNabb back somewhere around early to mid-December which could mean only one thing: his shot at the World Junior team is all but gone.
Kootenay prospect Jared Iron was named to the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup tournament held in Blackfalds, AB this week.
The tournament, a WHL sponsored event that featured the best 15-year-olds from each of the four Western Provinces in a four-team tournament format, was a good one for the Northern Saskatchewan product. You might remember that the 6th round Bantam pick from last May drove three hours twice a week just to practice in Meadow Lake from his home in Canoe Narrows.
The tournament also featured forward Colby Cave on teams Saskatchewan and goaltender Mackenzie Skapski who played with Team BC and finished fourth after losing the Bronze medal to Iron's Team Saskatchewan.
And finally here's a KIJHL tidbit from the weekend: In Kimberley Saturday night between the hometown Dynamiters and the Fernie Ghostriders there was actually a tie. Yes, somewhere in the hockey world there are still ties in the standings. After a deadlocked 60 minutes with both teams tied at 2, a four-on-four OT for five minutes solved nothing and then a five minute, 3-on-3 overtime solved nothing. No shootout just a good, old-fashioned one point tie.
Kootenay prospect Jared Iron was named to the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup tournament held in Blackfalds, AB this week.
The tournament, a WHL sponsored event that featured the best 15-year-olds from each of the four Western Provinces in a four-team tournament format, was a good one for the Northern Saskatchewan product. You might remember that the 6th round Bantam pick from last May drove three hours twice a week just to practice in Meadow Lake from his home in Canoe Narrows.
The tournament also featured forward Colby Cave on teams Saskatchewan and goaltender Mackenzie Skapski who played with Team BC and finished fourth after losing the Bronze medal to Iron's Team Saskatchewan.
And finally here's a KIJHL tidbit from the weekend: In Kimberley Saturday night between the hometown Dynamiters and the Fernie Ghostriders there was actually a tie. Yes, somewhere in the hockey world there are still ties in the standings. After a deadlocked 60 minutes with both teams tied at 2, a four-on-four OT for five minutes solved nothing and then a five minute, 3-on-3 overtime solved nothing. No shootout just a good, old-fashioned one point tie.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Score - Ice/T-Birds
The Score – Kootenay 1 – Seattle 0 OT
What Happened – Kootenay outplayed a road-weary and sick Seattle T-Bird squad but couldn’t solve goaltender Calvin Pickard until 3:54 of OT.
The Goal – After what seemed like a lifetime Dominik Pacovsky corralled a puck along the half-wall with 1:06 left in overtime and found Ice forward Jesse Ismond in the slot for the one-timer that beat Pickard.
The Flu – No, not H1N1, but the T-Birds were missing three regulars to illness. Not as bad as the seven regulars missing one night prior in Medicine Hat – a 11-2 loss to the Tigers – but short none-the-less. Tonight’s game was also to include a second referee – Brett Iverson – but he was also scratched. It’s not known if it was a healthy one or not.
The Penalties – Ryan Molle took an interference penalty with just over two minutes to go in the second and then rookie Joey Leach sent a puck into the stands for a T-Bird 5-on-3. Goaltender Todd Mathews got into the act with a slash on a T-Bird forward right in front of his net and referee Steve Papp. Kootenay played down two men for almost three minutes but the Birds only managed two shots on the power play that straddled the second and third periods. For good measure Kevin King took a hooking penalty not long after Leach’s expired, putting the Ice down two men once again. T-Bird forward Colin Jacobs negated the three straight two man advantages with a hooking penalty of his own a minute later.
The Hush – Less than a minute into the second period Ice Super-D Brayden McNabb was hit along the blueline boards by T-Bird forward Lindsay Nielsen. It wasn’t a bad hit by any stretch but McNabb went in awkwardly and appeared to strain his left knee. If he’s gone any real length of time this season could get real ugly. Ice head coach Mark Holick said after the game that the knee/ankle injury would keep McNabb sidelined for at least a week. For good measure rookie defenseman Luke Paulsen also suffered an ankle injury and was on crutches after the game.
The Infirmary – If you’re keeping count Kootenay now has McNabb, Paulsen and Cason Machacek – all d-men – as well as forwards Matt Fraser (knee 1-2 weeks), Drew Czwerwonka (leg), Christian Magnus (finger) and goaltender Nathan Lieuwen (concussion) on the injury list.
The Review – At the five minute mark of the third with the Ice on the power play the Rec Plex video review booth was used for the first time when Senkerik rattled a point-shot off both posts. After further review the puck stayed out.
The Kid – The T-Birds called up Connor Sanvido, a 16-year-old forward currently playing for the BC Major Midget Vancouver Northeast Chiefs. Sanvido, you’ll remember, lit up the BC Winter Game tournament held in Kimberley and Cranbrook and led the Fraser Valley team to a gold medal almost two years ago. Sanvido was a 1st round pick for the Birds in 2008 selected one spot ahead of Ice forward Brendan Hurley.
The Save – With the Ice still on the power play Jonathon Parker got free on a shorthanded breakaway and deked goaltender Todd Mathews but Mathews stretched the pad out for the great save.
The Back Judge – How competitive is Mathews? After a particularly ineffective power play late in the game a ‘shoot the expletive-deleted puck’ came from who I thought was one of those impatient fans in Section FG. Turns out it was Mathews. Most of those in attendance whole-heartedly agreed.
The Skinny – Kootenay improves to 7-11 and have won two straight with 14 points, moving two clear of the Hurricanes and tied with the Regina Pats for tenth in the Eastern Conference.
The Crowd – 2695
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. Todd Mathews – Was solid for his first no-no of the season and finally on the winning side of a great performance.
2. Calvin Pickard – The younger brother of Chet was superb, and could even be better.
3. Jesse Ismond – The snake-bitten sniper got his second of the season with the game-winner.
Up Next – Friday the club travels to Red Deer and Saturday the Rebels are back at the Plex with the league’s newest phenom, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
What Happened – Kootenay outplayed a road-weary and sick Seattle T-Bird squad but couldn’t solve goaltender Calvin Pickard until 3:54 of OT.
The Goal – After what seemed like a lifetime Dominik Pacovsky corralled a puck along the half-wall with 1:06 left in overtime and found Ice forward Jesse Ismond in the slot for the one-timer that beat Pickard.
The Flu – No, not H1N1, but the T-Birds were missing three regulars to illness. Not as bad as the seven regulars missing one night prior in Medicine Hat – a 11-2 loss to the Tigers – but short none-the-less. Tonight’s game was also to include a second referee – Brett Iverson – but he was also scratched. It’s not known if it was a healthy one or not.
The Penalties – Ryan Molle took an interference penalty with just over two minutes to go in the second and then rookie Joey Leach sent a puck into the stands for a T-Bird 5-on-3. Goaltender Todd Mathews got into the act with a slash on a T-Bird forward right in front of his net and referee Steve Papp. Kootenay played down two men for almost three minutes but the Birds only managed two shots on the power play that straddled the second and third periods. For good measure Kevin King took a hooking penalty not long after Leach’s expired, putting the Ice down two men once again. T-Bird forward Colin Jacobs negated the three straight two man advantages with a hooking penalty of his own a minute later.
The Hush – Less than a minute into the second period Ice Super-D Brayden McNabb was hit along the blueline boards by T-Bird forward Lindsay Nielsen. It wasn’t a bad hit by any stretch but McNabb went in awkwardly and appeared to strain his left knee. If he’s gone any real length of time this season could get real ugly. Ice head coach Mark Holick said after the game that the knee/ankle injury would keep McNabb sidelined for at least a week. For good measure rookie defenseman Luke Paulsen also suffered an ankle injury and was on crutches after the game.
The Infirmary – If you’re keeping count Kootenay now has McNabb, Paulsen and Cason Machacek – all d-men – as well as forwards Matt Fraser (knee 1-2 weeks), Drew Czwerwonka (leg), Christian Magnus (finger) and goaltender Nathan Lieuwen (concussion) on the injury list.
The Review – At the five minute mark of the third with the Ice on the power play the Rec Plex video review booth was used for the first time when Senkerik rattled a point-shot off both posts. After further review the puck stayed out.
The Kid – The T-Birds called up Connor Sanvido, a 16-year-old forward currently playing for the BC Major Midget Vancouver Northeast Chiefs. Sanvido, you’ll remember, lit up the BC Winter Game tournament held in Kimberley and Cranbrook and led the Fraser Valley team to a gold medal almost two years ago. Sanvido was a 1st round pick for the Birds in 2008 selected one spot ahead of Ice forward Brendan Hurley.
The Save – With the Ice still on the power play Jonathon Parker got free on a shorthanded breakaway and deked goaltender Todd Mathews but Mathews stretched the pad out for the great save.
The Back Judge – How competitive is Mathews? After a particularly ineffective power play late in the game a ‘shoot the expletive-deleted puck’ came from who I thought was one of those impatient fans in Section FG. Turns out it was Mathews. Most of those in attendance whole-heartedly agreed.
The Skinny – Kootenay improves to 7-11 and have won two straight with 14 points, moving two clear of the Hurricanes and tied with the Regina Pats for tenth in the Eastern Conference.
The Crowd – 2695
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. Todd Mathews – Was solid for his first no-no of the season and finally on the winning side of a great performance.
2. Calvin Pickard – The younger brother of Chet was superb, and could even be better.
3. Jesse Ismond – The snake-bitten sniper got his second of the season with the game-winner.
Up Next – Friday the club travels to Red Deer and Saturday the Rebels are back at the Plex with the league’s newest phenom, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
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