Yorkton Terriers 3 @ Melville Millionaires 4 (OT)
Summary
Winnipeg Saints 5 @ Swan Valley Stampeders 4 (SO)
Summary
Wayway Wolverines 2 @ Dauphin Kings 7
Summary
It's Quiet On Here. Let's Get LOUD!
2 hours ago
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Terriers (12-11-1) @ Mils (10-12-2)
Where to begin?- It's an 8-point weekend. If the slumping Millionaires can sweep, they'd pass the Terriers and be right back in the thick of things. If Yorkton sweeps, the Mils will have lost 7 of 8, and quite possibly be looking at "selling," even as early as the December 1st roster cut-down date. I'm not just assuming, Jamie Fiesel said this stretch of games (including the Showcase) will go a long way in determining what they do December 1. If the two teams split, like they did Thanksgiving Weekend, well, not much changes!
- Neither team has lit the lamp a lot lately. In their last 10 games, Yorkton's scored 21 goals, while Melville's found the net 29 times. Jordan Menke leads the Terriers with 8 points (4g, 4a) in his last 10 games. Michael Jordan, Mike Desjarlais and Logan Herauf have 9 points each during the same stretch for Melville.
- Torey Stott leads the Terriers with 9 goals, but has one goal in his last 8 games. Even Menke, who does have 4 goals in his last 10 games, is goal-less in 5. Kevin Stringfellow hasn't scored in his last 6. Cody Zubko was originally credited with Yorkton's goal in a 1-0 win in Humboldt last Saturday, but that's since been changed to Nick Dietrich's goal. That makes Zubko without a goal in 14 games. Some of the Terriers' top guys are certainly due heading into the weekend.
- Most under-rated Terrier? Might be Kurtis Decker. I was amazed Tuesday in Weyburn how much #3 was on the ice. Must have been at least 25:00. Decker's got 2 assists on the season but his defensive game has been great, and he'll likely see a lot of Herauf, Decorby and company this weekend.
- The Terrier powerplay was great in the first home and home against Melville, going 5/13 (38.5%). Their overall penalty kill is still a league-best 84.1%.
- Should be Devin Peters' turn to start tonight for Yorkton. Petey is 6-6 with a 3.40 GAA and .897%. Boechler and Danyluk have had better #'s lately, so a strong performance for Peters against Melville would really help his cause as the Terriers look to get down to two goalies in the next 10 days.
- I wasn't just picking on the Terriers. As mentioned the Mils' offense has gone a little cold recently also, with their 6-0 win in Weyburn November 3rd the exception. After getting points in 17 of his first 18 games, Mils' leading scorer Logan Herauf has been held pointless in 3 of his last 6 games, and has put up 1g, 2a in those 6 GP. Aaron Decorby's kept things pretty consistent. Although he's also been kept off the sheet in 3 of his last 6 games, he's scored goals in 3 of his last 4, and now leads the team with 16g. Matt Kinnunen started the season on fire and has 9 goals, but none in his last 7 games. Kinnunen and Michael Jordan lead the Mils with 2g and 4 points against Yorkton this season.
- Coach Fiesel says his best forward of late has been Michael Desjarlais. The rookie has a 3-game point streak heading into tonight (2-2-4), and has points in 11 of his last 15 games (5g-9a-14p).
- Brayden Metz has 1g, 2a in 5 games since his return from the Regina Pats.
- Who starts in goal tonight for Melville? 16-year-old Zach Rakochy's either started or came on in relief in 6 of Melville's last 7 games. Brady Wilyman hasn't been 100% health-wise lately as the flu is going through a lot of hockey teams this time of year.
- A little inconsistent? The Mils started the season 2-and-1, then went 0-5-1 in their next 6, 7-1-1 in their next 9, and are 1-and-5 in their last 6.
- Tonight's game's on the radio, starting at 7:20 with the Pre Game Show. If you're out of town, head to http://www.gx94radio.com/ .
Harvest Qualify For Mac's
For a second straight season, the Yorkton Harvest will spend the Christmas Holidays in Caglary.
The Harvest learned this week they've qualified for the annual Mac's "AAA" Midget Hockey Tournament, which brings in the upper echelon of "AAA" Midget clubs from across North America.
Yorkton went winless last year, but Coach Graham Garrett expects them to draw on that experience and have a much better showing this time.
"Last year it was a goal to make the Mac's. This year, we're going there to compete. We're not just going there for the round robin, to enjoy the scenery. We're going there to show we're one of the top teams in Canada. There are 3 American teams going too. We're there to prove to everybody that we're a team that could be vying for a National Championship."
The Harvest are still first place in the SMAAAHL, with a record of 11-6-3-1, and have a lengthy break in their schedule as teams with games in hand make up some ground. Yorkton doesn't play again until Saturday, November 28th when they host the ND Argos at 4:00.
Speaking of the Harvest, I put some calls in yesterday to try to get Graham Garrett's suspenion clarified. Graham commented off the record but didn't want to be quoted on the air. The SMAAAHL Disciplinarian returned my call after I'd left yesterday... hoping to get him on today. I'll post it on the blog whatever I find out.
**If time allows, stay tuned for a Mils/Terriers preview! We're on the air at 7:20 tonight!
The Harvest learned this week they've qualified for the annual Mac's "AAA" Midget Hockey Tournament, which brings in the upper echelon of "AAA" Midget clubs from across North America.
Yorkton went winless last year, but Coach Graham Garrett expects them to draw on that experience and have a much better showing this time.
"Last year it was a goal to make the Mac's. This year, we're going there to compete. We're not just going there for the round robin, to enjoy the scenery. We're going there to show we're one of the top teams in Canada. There are 3 American teams going too. We're there to prove to everybody that we're a team that could be vying for a National Championship."
The Harvest are still first place in the SMAAAHL, with a record of 11-6-3-1, and have a lengthy break in their schedule as teams with games in hand make up some ground. Yorkton doesn't play again until Saturday, November 28th when they host the ND Argos at 4:00.
Speaking of the Harvest, I put some calls in yesterday to try to get Graham Garrett's suspenion clarified. Graham commented off the record but didn't want to be quoted on the air. The SMAAAHL Disciplinarian returned my call after I'd left yesterday... hoping to get him on today. I'll post it on the blog whatever I find out.
**If time allows, stay tuned for a Mils/Terriers preview! We're on the air at 7:20 tonight!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Nik Lewis Fuels The Fire
This isn't a Rider Blog, but I'm still a die hard supporter, and (Calgary) Stampeder hater. Check out this story from Canoe Slam Sports.
Let's cheer it for Lewis
Stampeder has celebration plans
By IAN BUSBY, SUN MEDIA
If the Saskatchewan Roughriders are annoyed with Nik Lewis' celebrations, they won't appreciate the Calgary Stampeders receiver's weekend plans.
"I'm going there to disappoint a province," Lewis said yesterday responding to comments he celebrates first downs too much.
"Not a stadium, but a province. The whole province is going to be Stamps fans (after this weekend).
"They had a Grey Cup win a couple years ago. They should be good for another 30 years."
Nothing like stoking the rivalry four days before the West final in Regina.
The Stamps refused to get into a war of words last week when Maurice Lloyd and the Edmonton Eskimos felt they were disrespected by the Stamps.
Ignoring those perceived slights seemed to work, and the Stamps came through with a 24-21 victory at McMahon Stadium.
The Riders did fire the first volley, as middle linebacker Rey Williams and defensive back Donovan Alexander both said they don't like Lewis' antics.
"They don't like people celebrating, then stop 'em from doing it," Lewis said.
Riders slotback Chris Getzlaf went as far as to say the motto in his locker-room is those catches are expected from his group and therefore not worth doing until you get into the endzone.
Clearly, Lewis' behaviour is not for everyone's tastes.
The elaborate touchdown celebrations are gone, but the slotback still screams to the heavens when he gets a first down, no matter the length of the reception.
The six-time 1,000-yard receiver gets plenty of publicity for it, and it seems he's part of every TSN intro for Stampeders' games.
Head coach John Hufnagel didn't find the Riders' remarks all that troubling and even took a shot of his own at his receiver when asked about it.
"If Nik got in the endzone a bit more, he wouldn't have to do the other things," Hufnagel said about the receiver who set the record this season for most yards with only one TD.
Lewis did have one of his best games of the season in the West semifinal, catching seven passes for 100 yards -- five of which were for first downs.
So there were plenty of first-down signals from the slotback.
Lewis hopes the Riders keep talking about what the visitors are doing, hoping that means the home side is lacking focus.
"They know who the better team is," Lewis said. "They are worried about us. We're not worried about them. We're not talking about them.
"We don't care about what they are going to do. We care about what we're going to do. When we do what we do, we're a better team than everybody else. When we don't do what we're supposed to do, we lose games."
There are more than a few Stampeders offensive players who believe they are their own worst enemy.
For years, the mantra in the Stampeders' locker-room is if penalties and turnovers weren't committed, the Horsemen would keep winning games easily.
"We know what we have in the locker-room," said Stamps quarterback Henry Burris.
"We have a very good team. If we play the right type of ball, we can beat anybody in this league.
"When we're not doing what we're supposed to do, those teams have cashed in and beat us."
IAN.BUSBY@SUNMEDIA.CA
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2009/11/19/11809221-sun.html
Let's cheer it for Lewis
Stampeder has celebration plans
By IAN BUSBY, SUN MEDIA
If the Saskatchewan Roughriders are annoyed with Nik Lewis' celebrations, they won't appreciate the Calgary Stampeders receiver's weekend plans.
"I'm going there to disappoint a province," Lewis said yesterday responding to comments he celebrates first downs too much.
"Not a stadium, but a province. The whole province is going to be Stamps fans (after this weekend).
"They had a Grey Cup win a couple years ago. They should be good for another 30 years."
Nothing like stoking the rivalry four days before the West final in Regina.
The Stamps refused to get into a war of words last week when Maurice Lloyd and the Edmonton Eskimos felt they were disrespected by the Stamps.
Ignoring those perceived slights seemed to work, and the Stamps came through with a 24-21 victory at McMahon Stadium.
The Riders did fire the first volley, as middle linebacker Rey Williams and defensive back Donovan Alexander both said they don't like Lewis' antics.
"They don't like people celebrating, then stop 'em from doing it," Lewis said.
Riders slotback Chris Getzlaf went as far as to say the motto in his locker-room is those catches are expected from his group and therefore not worth doing until you get into the endzone.
Clearly, Lewis' behaviour is not for everyone's tastes.
The elaborate touchdown celebrations are gone, but the slotback still screams to the heavens when he gets a first down, no matter the length of the reception.
The six-time 1,000-yard receiver gets plenty of publicity for it, and it seems he's part of every TSN intro for Stampeders' games.
Head coach John Hufnagel didn't find the Riders' remarks all that troubling and even took a shot of his own at his receiver when asked about it.
"If Nik got in the endzone a bit more, he wouldn't have to do the other things," Hufnagel said about the receiver who set the record this season for most yards with only one TD.
Lewis did have one of his best games of the season in the West semifinal, catching seven passes for 100 yards -- five of which were for first downs.
So there were plenty of first-down signals from the slotback.
Lewis hopes the Riders keep talking about what the visitors are doing, hoping that means the home side is lacking focus.
"They know who the better team is," Lewis said. "They are worried about us. We're not worried about them. We're not talking about them.
"We don't care about what they are going to do. We care about what we're going to do. When we do what we do, we're a better team than everybody else. When we don't do what we're supposed to do, we lose games."
There are more than a few Stampeders offensive players who believe they are their own worst enemy.
For years, the mantra in the Stampeders' locker-room is if penalties and turnovers weren't committed, the Horsemen would keep winning games easily.
"We know what we have in the locker-room," said Stamps quarterback Henry Burris.
"We have a very good team. If we play the right type of ball, we can beat anybody in this league.
"When we're not doing what we're supposed to do, those teams have cashed in and beat us."
IAN.BUSBY@SUNMEDIA.CA
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2009/11/19/11809221-sun.html
MJHL Sherwood: Percentages
While there's been a lot of parity in the MJHL this season, the games played from team to team, because of various circumstances, have been been anything BUT even.
What I often like to do is figure out teams' winning percentages to see where everyone REALLY stands, since points don't always tell the story in unbalanced schedules. For instance the Neepawa Natives have NINE games in hand on the OCN Blizzard. While it looks like Portage and Neepawa are slipping... really, they just haven't played any games for a while.
So here are the Sherwood standings based on percentages.
1) Dauphin Kings .875 (28 GP, 24-3-1) 49 pts (1st)
2) Swan Valley Stampeders .625 (28 GP, 17-10-1) 35 pts (2nd)
2) Portage Terriers .625 (24 GP, 13-7-1-3) 30 pts (4th)
4) Neepawa Natives .524 (21 GP, 10-9-0-2) 22 pts (5th)
5) OCN Blizzard .517 (30 GP, 14-13-2-1) 31 pts (3rd)
6) Wayway Wolverines .283 (23 GP, 6-16-0-1) 13 pts (6th)
Now of course this early in the season it only takes one or two losses, or wins, to drastically change your winning %, so don't read TOO much into these numbers. Dauphin was playing over .900 hockey before last night's loss to Swan!
And there's no sense even trying to predict first round playoff matchups at this point... it just makes my head spin. 2nd to 5th is up for grabs right now, and there's certainly no guarantee of a second straight cross-over with Winker just under the .500 mark as the 4th place team in the Addison.
I don't think anyone truly wants to see Dauphin in round one, even though the Stamps have had 2 good games against them. That 2 vs 3 matchup already looks like a seven gamer, and we have no clue who's going to be in it!
It's going to be one heck of a race to the finish, and we're not even halfway there!
What I often like to do is figure out teams' winning percentages to see where everyone REALLY stands, since points don't always tell the story in unbalanced schedules. For instance the Neepawa Natives have NINE games in hand on the OCN Blizzard. While it looks like Portage and Neepawa are slipping... really, they just haven't played any games for a while.
So here are the Sherwood standings based on percentages.
1) Dauphin Kings .875 (28 GP, 24-3-1) 49 pts (1st)
2) Swan Valley Stampeders .625 (28 GP, 17-10-1) 35 pts (2nd)
2) Portage Terriers .625 (24 GP, 13-7-1-3) 30 pts (4th)
4) Neepawa Natives .524 (21 GP, 10-9-0-2) 22 pts (5th)
5) OCN Blizzard .517 (30 GP, 14-13-2-1) 31 pts (3rd)
6) Wayway Wolverines .283 (23 GP, 6-16-0-1) 13 pts (6th)
Now of course this early in the season it only takes one or two losses, or wins, to drastically change your winning %, so don't read TOO much into these numbers. Dauphin was playing over .900 hockey before last night's loss to Swan!
And there's no sense even trying to predict first round playoff matchups at this point... it just makes my head spin. 2nd to 5th is up for grabs right now, and there's certainly no guarantee of a second straight cross-over with Winker just under the .500 mark as the 4th place team in the Addison.
I don't think anyone truly wants to see Dauphin in round one, even though the Stamps have had 2 good games against them. That 2 vs 3 matchup already looks like a seven gamer, and we have no clue who's going to be in it!
It's going to be one heck of a race to the finish, and we're not even halfway there!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Stampeder Statement
The Swan Valley Stampeders (17-10-1) built on a solid week on the road, returning home to defeat the first place Dauphin Kings (24-3-1) 7-4 on Wednesday.
The game featured scoring in bunches. Dauphin led 2-1 early in the second, before the Stamps reeled off 4 straight in the middle frame, and two more in the third to lead 7-2 at one point before the Kings chipped away with a couple late markers.
This time the Stamps had two lines firing on all cylinders. Darcy Riddell (2-2-4), Ryan Marshall (1-3-4) and Carter Selinger (2a) combined for 10 points, while Myles Stevens (1-2-3), Chris Reimer (1-1-2) and Shelby Gray (2a) had 7 points between them. Reimer now has 20 goals on the season, and is on pace to pot 44.
Defensemen Cody Straker and Brent Wilson (PP) also scored.
Charlie Pogue made 35/39 saves, as the Stamps did get out-shot 39-24.
The second place Stampeders now have 35 points, which is still 14 back of Dauphin, but gives Swan a 4 point cushion on 3rd place OCN, with 2 games in hand.
The Stampeders are 6-0-1 in their last 7 games. They host the Winnipeg Saints Friday night, then go to Neepawa Sat/Sun.
The game featured scoring in bunches. Dauphin led 2-1 early in the second, before the Stamps reeled off 4 straight in the middle frame, and two more in the third to lead 7-2 at one point before the Kings chipped away with a couple late markers.
This time the Stamps had two lines firing on all cylinders. Darcy Riddell (2-2-4), Ryan Marshall (1-3-4) and Carter Selinger (2a) combined for 10 points, while Myles Stevens (1-2-3), Chris Reimer (1-1-2) and Shelby Gray (2a) had 7 points between them. Reimer now has 20 goals on the season, and is on pace to pot 44.
Defensemen Cody Straker and Brent Wilson (PP) also scored.
Charlie Pogue made 35/39 saves, as the Stamps did get out-shot 39-24.
The second place Stampeders now have 35 points, which is still 14 back of Dauphin, but gives Swan a 4 point cushion on 3rd place OCN, with 2 games in hand.
The Stampeders are 6-0-1 in their last 7 games. They host the Winnipeg Saints Friday night, then go to Neepawa Sat/Sun.
Zawatsky, Fiesel Tellin' It Like It Is
Four teams, roughly 15-20 pre games, 15-20 post games, at least 30 weekly coach's shows, and whenever there's other big news.
In other words I interview each of our four Head Coaches no less than 60, and in some cases close to 100 each year.
When you talk to the same people that much, it runs the risk of becoming redundant, both with the questions asked, and/or the answers given.
But between last night and this morning, I got some great quotes from Yorkton's Ed Zawatsky and Melville's Jamie Fiesel. I know if I was a player, they'd "wake me up!"
Eddie can be heard below in the Yorkton @ Weyburn game recap... Feez is under the Weekly Coach's Shows link... but here are some of their key thoughts.
Zawatsky says his best players need to perform. (Specifically referring to a 1:38 5-on-3 where they didn't score)
"You can't draw that up. You need some guys to step up and take advantage of that and score the big goal. We're still waiting for that guy to emerge and do that. Even at the end of the game, we had chances, we have certain guys out there who've had a lot of opportunities, we're 24 games into the season. Tonight, Niebrandt scores our only goal, Zubko scores our only the other day. If you're gonna win on the road, you need some guys we identify as offensive guys to score some goals."
Zawatsky on their 5-forward unit on the 5-on-3.
"I thought Stringfellow and Breitkreuz did a good job on the backend, Stringer hits the post, but our three forwards we had out there decided to do their own thing and got out of position and we squandered the last 30 seconds. I know it's a developmental league and you give them some leeway, but we really need those guys to step up and score at a time like that."
Fiesel on last night's loss in Estevan.
"It was absolutely self-inflicted. We had a 1-0 lead, and you're not going to win 1-0 very often, but in the third period we took some dumb penalties, a roughing after the whistle, and shooting the puck at the goalie after the whistle to get an unsportsmanlike call. You can't win hockey games with that mentality. We've got guys frustrated right now and it's hurting their game, and we don't have enough guys playing at the level we need to play and we don't deserve to win."
Fiesel on Mils' streaky play of late, questioning idenity.
"It's not enough. We're still debating whether we're a team that can cause some damage in the league this year, or if we're a team that has to suck it up, and maybe we don't need so many 20-year-olds on the team, and build for the future. We are coming into a new rink in a couple years, so these things are going through our head, and when you have games like last night where not enough guys are on board, it makes you wonder, 'are you good enough this year?', and we're still in that stage of deciding."
Fiesel on a key stretch of games (HUM-YOR-YOR-KIN-YOR) possibly determining which way they're going.
"Well absolutely, and then you have December 1st. We were debating going down to 23, or as low as 20 guys by then, leaving 5 cards open. That way if you want to move some 20-year-olds, get 2 for 1, you have room. So there's a lot still open right now, and these next two weeks are really going to decide it. If we're still in the position we're in now, I don't know if that'll be enough, and we'll have to really evaluate our situation at that time."
In other words I interview each of our four Head Coaches no less than 60, and in some cases close to 100 each year.
When you talk to the same people that much, it runs the risk of becoming redundant, both with the questions asked, and/or the answers given.
But between last night and this morning, I got some great quotes from Yorkton's Ed Zawatsky and Melville's Jamie Fiesel. I know if I was a player, they'd "wake me up!"
Eddie can be heard below in the Yorkton @ Weyburn game recap... Feez is under the Weekly Coach's Shows link... but here are some of their key thoughts.
Zawatsky says his best players need to perform. (Specifically referring to a 1:38 5-on-3 where they didn't score)
"You can't draw that up. You need some guys to step up and take advantage of that and score the big goal. We're still waiting for that guy to emerge and do that. Even at the end of the game, we had chances, we have certain guys out there who've had a lot of opportunities, we're 24 games into the season. Tonight, Niebrandt scores our only goal, Zubko scores our only the other day. If you're gonna win on the road, you need some guys we identify as offensive guys to score some goals."
Zawatsky on their 5-forward unit on the 5-on-3.
"I thought Stringfellow and Breitkreuz did a good job on the backend, Stringer hits the post, but our three forwards we had out there decided to do their own thing and got out of position and we squandered the last 30 seconds. I know it's a developmental league and you give them some leeway, but we really need those guys to step up and score at a time like that."
Fiesel on last night's loss in Estevan.
"It was absolutely self-inflicted. We had a 1-0 lead, and you're not going to win 1-0 very often, but in the third period we took some dumb penalties, a roughing after the whistle, and shooting the puck at the goalie after the whistle to get an unsportsmanlike call. You can't win hockey games with that mentality. We've got guys frustrated right now and it's hurting their game, and we don't have enough guys playing at the level we need to play and we don't deserve to win."
Fiesel on Mils' streaky play of late, questioning idenity.
"It's not enough. We're still debating whether we're a team that can cause some damage in the league this year, or if we're a team that has to suck it up, and maybe we don't need so many 20-year-olds on the team, and build for the future. We are coming into a new rink in a couple years, so these things are going through our head, and when you have games like last night where not enough guys are on board, it makes you wonder, 'are you good enough this year?', and we're still in that stage of deciding."
Fiesel on a key stretch of games (HUM-YOR-YOR-KIN-YOR) possibly determining which way they're going.
"Well absolutely, and then you have December 1st. We were debating going down to 23, or as low as 20 guys by then, leaving 5 cards open. That way if you want to move some 20-year-olds, get 2 for 1, you have room. So there's a lot still open right now, and these next two weeks are really going to decide it. If we're still in the position we're in now, I don't know if that'll be enough, and we'll have to really evaluate our situation at that time."
Terriers, Mils Both Come Up Short Away From Home
The Yorkton Terriers dropped a 2-1 decision in Weyburn on Tuesday night. Rhys Thomas opened the scoring for Weyburn on an early powerplay at 2:45 of the first period.
The two teams played to a scoreless second, before Forest Dell made it 2-0 Wings with 7:34 remaining in the game. John Niebrandt scored a powerplay goal with about 2:30 left in the game, and the Terriers thought they'd tied it, but the potential tying goal was waved off as it was ruled Torey Stott re-directed the puck above the crossbar.
AJ Whiffen made 33 saves to get the win, Joel Danyluk took the loss, making 28 saves.
Ed Zawatsky Post Game
Yorkton's in Melville Friday (on GX94), and home to the Mils on Saturday.
----------------
The Melville Millionaires suffered a similar fate in Estevan.
The Mils led 1-0 after the first period, but the Bruins scored four times in the third period, en route to a 4-2 win. Aaron Decorby (team-leading 16th) and Brayden Metz scored for the Mils.
Zach Rakochy made 34/38 saves.
Melville's home to Humboldt tonight, before the weekend home-and-home with the Terriers.
The two teams played to a scoreless second, before Forest Dell made it 2-0 Wings with 7:34 remaining in the game. John Niebrandt scored a powerplay goal with about 2:30 left in the game, and the Terriers thought they'd tied it, but the potential tying goal was waved off as it was ruled Torey Stott re-directed the puck above the crossbar.
AJ Whiffen made 33 saves to get the win, Joel Danyluk took the loss, making 28 saves.
Ed Zawatsky Post Game
Yorkton's in Melville Friday (on GX94), and home to the Mils on Saturday.
----------------
The Melville Millionaires suffered a similar fate in Estevan.
The Mils led 1-0 after the first period, but the Bruins scored four times in the third period, en route to a 4-2 win. Aaron Decorby (team-leading 16th) and Brayden Metz scored for the Mils.
Zach Rakochy made 34/38 saves.
Melville's home to Humboldt tonight, before the weekend home-and-home with the Terriers.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Terriers (12-10-1) @ Red Wings (16-3-0-4)
The Yorkton Terriers hook up with the Weyburn Red Wings for the fourth time this season tonight (7:20 on GX94).- Weyburn leads the season series 2-1. Yorkton won the season opener 3-1 on home ice, but the Wings have since won two games by 5-1 scores, and have out-scored the Terriers 11-5 in the three head-to-head matchups.
- Rhett Bly (pictured) is finding his stride for the Wings. Bly takes a 5 game point streak (1g-6a-7p) into tonight's contest, and has hit the scoresheet in 9 of his last 10 games (6g-8a-14p). He leads the team with 15g, 14a, 29p.- Bly's right-winger is Tyler Penny (13-12-25). Penny's been a model of consistency all season. He's had seven multi-point games, and has never had more than 2 points in a game, but has been held pointless in just 4 of the 22 games he's played in. Penny has a 9-game point streak coming into tonight (9-4-13).
- The third member of Weyburn's top trio is former Estevan Bruin Brennan Wrigley (7-11-18). Wrigley has a 4-game streak going (2g-4a-6p).
- Surprisingly enough, despite 11 goals in 3 games against the Terriers, that top line hasn't been a factor, combining for just 5 points (Bly/Penny 1g, 1a each, Wrigley 1a). Chris Daniels has been Weyburn's top scorer against Yorkton, with 2-2-4 in 3 games. Brock Appelyard (3g) and Lucas Ulmer (3a) have 3 points each vs YOR.
- You might remember at the start of the season I put a poll on the blog asking which Yorkton Terrier has the best chance of scoring 20 goals this season, as it hasn't been done in Terrier land in the last two seasons. I also predicted it would happen at least once. Torey Stott leads the team with 9 goals, and is on pace for 22.7. Jordan Menke has 7 in 23 games, Clarke Breitkreuz has 6 in 17. Both are on pace for just under 20.
- G Luke Boechler leads the SJHL with 3 shutouts. He also has 3 wins (3-2-1). If they keep going with their 3 man rotation, it would make tonight Joel Danyluk's (3-2, 2.88, .912, 1SO) turn to start.
- Weyburn's been rotating their two 20 goalies for the most part this season. Who would you rather face? A.J. Whiffen (7-1-0-3, 2.06, .927, 1SO)? Or Tanner Erickson (9-2-0-1, 2.44, .927, 2SO)? Yikes.
- No member of the Terriers has more than 2 points in 3 games vs Weyburn. Bourhis, Byczynski and Zubko (1g, 1a) and Skagen (2a) are tied for the team lead.
- Kevin Stringfellow (23-5-8-13) leads the Terriers in scoring away from home, with (3-3-6) in 10 games (tied with Clarke Breitkreuz).
- The Terriers' penalty kill is an SJHL-best 84.3%. In the month of November (6 games), Yorkton's given up just 4 powerplay goals in 36 chances, good for 88.9%. Special teams could be in the Terriers' favour, as the Wings, despite leading the league in points, have just the 9th best PP in the league (16.9%).
Alumni Watch: Daniel Hope
Daniel Hope, last year's Melville Millionaire captain, is finding huge success in his rookie season in the Canadian College ranks. The Kelvington kid's in his first campaign with the ACAC's Augustana Vikings, and is currently averaging an even two points per game. Hope is tied for the team lead with 10 goals, to go along with 12 assists and 22 points. Former Nipawin Hawk Torrie Dyck also has 10 goals, and leads the Vikings with 25 points. Hope and Dyck were teammates once before, with the SMAAAHL's Tisdale Trojans. Third in scoring for Augustana is former Humboldt Bronco & Notre Dame Hound defenseman Tanner Vandesype.Hope had a team-high 28g and 63p for the Mils in 55 games last season.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wayway Postpones 5th Straight Game
Portage Terriers @ Waywayseecappo Wolverines scheduled game for Tuesday, November 17th is PPD.
http://mjhlhockey.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=1617
http://mjhlhockey.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=1617
MJHL P.O.W.: Chris Reimer, Swan Valley
Pretty much a no-brainer.Swan Valley Stampeder forward Chris Reimer has been named MJHL Player of the Week, after racking up 7-goals and 12-points during 4 games last week, in which the Stampeders went 3-0-1.
Reimer's 19 goals are third-best in the MJHL (Dauphin's Ryan Dreger leads the league with 21). Reimer leads the league with 10 goals on the powerplay.
The 20-year-old, along with Myles Stevens and Shelby Gray have given the Stamps two lines for the opposition to be scared of, with the Ryan Marshall-Darcy Riddell-Carter Selinger trio supplying the bulk of the Stamps' offense in the first two months of the season.
Stevens, and OCN's Jordan Sinclair were named runners-up for the weekly honour. Stevens had 11 points (4g-7a) in 4 games last week.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Morden, Meilleur, Rakochy Named to World U-17's
A forward, a defenseman, and a goalie, all from GX94 clubs will play in the World Under-17 Hockey Championship during the holidays.Swan Valley Stampeder D Evan Morden (left), Wayway Wolverines' RW Jens Meilleur (right) and Melville Millionaires' G Zach Rakochy (middle) will all be part of Team West, which is made up of 11 Saskatchewan, and 11 Manitoba-born players born in 1993 (16-year-olds).
Two of the three guys are also local products, with Morden from Swan River, and Rakochy from Canora, SK. Rakochy will also be joined at the U17's by his own Coach, as the Millionaires' Jamie Fiesel goes behind the bench for a second straight year, assisting former Notre Dame Hounds' Coach Mike Vandenberge.
Another local tie to Team West is defenseman Ryan Murray. The 16-year-old defenseman is a rookie phenom for the WHL's Everett Silvertips. His brother Nathan plays for the Yorkton Terriers.
Full Roster
The World Under-17 Championship runs from December 29th to January 4th in Timmins, Ontario.
Unger Sticks It to Old Mates
Just a couple weeks ago, 18-year-old Caden Unger was the odd-man out in a crowded Winnipeg South Blues crease. Since a late-October trade to the Swan Valley Stampeders, Unger is 4-and-0, with a 0.98 GAA and a .966%, and on Sunday, made 35 saves in a 2-1 overtime win against his former Blues' team in Winnipeg.The win makes it 6 games without a regulation loss for the Stamps (5-0-1), and they picked up 5 of a possible 6 points on their 3 in 3 trip to the big city (2-0-1).
A red-hot Chris Reimer scored again, his team-leading 19th of the season, and added an assist. Myles Stevens also had 1g, 1a. Reimer's now got 18 points during a 9-game point streak, including 12 goals.
The Stamps also re-take sole possession of second place in the Sherwood Division (16-10-1-0), and welcome the first place Dauphin Kings on Wednesday night.
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