UPDATE - Matt Coxford has a couple of pieces on last night's game here and here.
Matt Fraser and Max Reinhart were the show in Moose Jaw tonight as the Kootenay Ice held on to beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-4 and win the first round series 4-2.
Watched the game on the Webcast tonite; Some thoughts....
Matt Fraser's stick came alive tonight. Three goals and two of very clutch kind.
Max Reinhart also had the hot hand with a goal and three helpers for the four point night
Brayden McNabb's goal to kick things off was key but his play on the second goal - some of the finest puck handling I've seen in a long, long time, as he skated around the Warriors end of the rink before finding Reinhart on the doorstep. That made up for his clearing gaffe on the Warriors second goals with the Ice on the PK, McNabb's clear was blocked by Edwards whose shot was stopped by Lieuwen but with Howden there to pick up the rebound.
Nathan Lieuwen was there when he had to be including an acrobatic save late with the karate kick with the pad up in the air to stop the puck. He'd probably like a couple back but a win is a win.
Kootenay couldn't get a break on the penalties tonight and took five of them, with the Warriors scoring on two. Only one power play for the Ice.
Heemskerk didn't look all-world tonite like the rest of the series. He was spectacular on Steele Boomer down low and on Cody Eakin on a breakaway that kept the Warriors in it but the Ice got him moving side-to-side tonite and found the net.
That rink is something.... Kinda sad to see it go but at the same time the Warrior fans are going to enjoy that new building. I'm told it's very similar to the Rec Plex with the exception that some of the skyboxes are on the ends of the building.
Some confusion at the end with the Ice scoring into the empty net. The Moose Jaw radio guys had it not counting with an offside call but when I switched over to the Drive they had it a 6-4 final. No matter. Might've been a - what's the radio term for typo?
Possible scenarios almost certainly have the Ice starting on the road next Friday and Saturday. Especially with the Saskatoon Blades having beat the PA Raiders in OT tonight 2-1 to take that series in six (had that one being a sweep so good on the Raiders for pushing the Blades) but the only way Kootenay doesn't open up next weekend in Saskatoon is if the Wheat Kings stave off elimination tomorrow in Winnipeg. Either way Kootenay's in Saskatoon or Red Deer next weekend.
Matt Gourlie of the MJ Times-Herald reported that the Ice took over 14 hours to get to Moose Jaw Saturday due to the snow storm and some bus troubles at Piapot, SK. Normally the trip is about 9.5 hours.
F Brock Montgomery missed his second straight game with Mono and I'm told he's got an enlarged spleen that comes with the affliction so he's likely out for a while... F Drew Czerwonka (shoulder - though announced as upper body) is also likely out for at least another couple of weeks... D Luke Paulsen could've played in game seven Tuesday so he should be ready for Game one in Saskatoon or Red Deer on Friday.
UPDATE AGAIN - Sometimes I wonder if this is even worth posting because it just puts the negative spin on the postive of the Ice moving on in the playoffs but CKNW's Jim Mullin - who's been all over this Chilliwack to Victoria thing - has a new twist on the saga in that though the Bruins are destined for Victoria next season an existing WHL team is being negotiated to move to Chilliwack to replace the Bruins. That story is here Mullin also has a column on the lawyering-up of Brian Burke - part of the majority ownership group with Chilliwack - and him seeking vengeance on the Canucks for wanting to relocate their farm team to Victoria to make room for the Coyotes in Winnipeg. That's here.
I'll admit, I post this stuff because it's important for Ice fans to know what's going behind, at least partially because really, who knows what's going on with these guys, the scenes. But it's getting old. I had a candid conversation with Ice owner Jeff Chynoweth the other day and we talked about all things attendance and making it in a small market. To his credit he did say that he's not even bothering returning calls to Lower Mainland media because he's not interested in perpetuating any more talk about the Ice being involved in this.
But at the end of the day attendance to games is where it's at.
This whole saga has gone from intriguing to compelling to waiting for some kind of end.
8 comments:
Hey Jeff, do you know if any of the injured Ice players will be back in time for the start of the 2nd round?
That game 5 in Cranbrook was one of the best games I've seen in a long time. I hope we can get another good crowd for the next round.
Yahoo
Way to go boys hell of a series!!! Have to agree that game five was unreal, amazing crowd hope it gets better from here on out!!!
GO ICE GO
Interesting that the Warriors get all three star picks when Matt Fraser has the game of his life.
Notice they gave the 3 stars to the Warriors 20 year olds in their last career game. They did that in PA as well for the Raiders overagers.
Yeah, that's standard stuff for 20-year-old's last game in junior at home. I wouldn't read too much into it. Hollick had McNabb, Reinhart and Fraser, I think.
when your worrying about the fluff it time to stop watching!!!good for Moose jaw for recognizing their 20 year olds however I would think those three kids cared to much at that point.
To the anonymous who was inquiring about the power payment plan for season tickets. The informaton I have is based on the past season's prices and it is assumed that prices won't go up. It is a ten month plan with a deposit in May and monthly payments through February. Remember that if you purchase before May 31 you get the early bird price which would be cheaper. I hope that helps. Its great to see the ICE move to the second round. If they play at the top of their game I think they can beat anyone. Now we just need to get the crowds there for next Tuesday and Wednesday. GO ICE GO!!
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