The Klipper news keeps coming down the pipe this afternoon.
Hockey Canada has just announced the 41-man roster for the Team West training camp next Monday and Tuesday in Penticton, B.C. The final roster for the World Junior A Challenge in November will be picked from this group.
Klippers defenceman Sean Flanagan is one of 12 defencemen going to camp. He's on the Team White roster.
The invite should come as no surprise. Hockey Canada scouts watched Flanagan play in two pre-season games and have been in touch with the 18-year-old from Kindersley.
Flanagan is the second Klipper in as many years to be invited to Team West camp. Last year, Braeden Adamyk got the call but, with spots limited for 19-year-olds, didn't make the team.
Larry Wintoneak is the head coach for Team West, of course, but he doesn't have any input into which players are invited to camp. That's up to the scouts, including head scout Leonard Strandberg, and general manager Rylan Ferster.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wintoneak's reaction to suspensions/fine
The Klippers are busy moving their fitness equipment into their new room today, but Larry Wintoneak took a couple of minutes to talk about the disciplinary action his team received today as a result of Sunday's incident.
The suspension to David Haaf and the $500 team fine for his fight with Doug Lindensmith (the second on the same stoppage) are automatic punishments laid out by the new Junior A Supplement:
7.1 Two Fights on the Same Stoppage ‐ When two fights occur during the same stoppage of play, players involved in the second fight shall be subjected to an automatic suspension.
• If there is no instigator in the second fight – each player is suspended 1 game.
• If there is an instigator in the second fight – the instigating player is suspended a minimum of 2 games and the team is fined $500.00. The non‐instigating player shall not be suspended.
The two-game suspension to Taylor Wasden for his hit late in the second period was apparently based on the amount of force applied to the head of the La Ronge player when he hit the boards.
"What I was told is it was the force of the hit and that’s why they suspended him," said Wintoneak. "Sometimes when you get hit to the head, it’s not always a suspension. We had questioned (Dayton) Fossum’s hit on (Jesse) Mysiorek and were told there wasn’t enough force. On Wasden’s, there was enough (for a suspension)."
The Fossum hit, by the way, occurred when Mysiorek did not have the puck and led to the fight between Fossum and Lance Tabin. Both got 10-minute misconducts.
As for the indefinite suspension to Justin Ducharme, Wintoneak said he's satisfied with what has been done so far. He said the length of time Dommett misses will have an impact on how long Ducharme's suspension is.
"I spent pretty much the whole day yesterday emailing and discussing it with the disciplinary management committee. We’re going to lose Andrew probably for 30 games ... I think that’s part of it, absolutely. The severity of the injury and length of time for his recovery."
With only five defencemen on the roster for the next two games (Riley Down will be out for some time), the Klippers will stick with those five - Leedahl, Flanagan, Sonntag, Tabin, Bartel - in Melville and Yorkton.
Wintoneak also wanted to shoot down any notion that Ice Wolves coach Bob Beatty may have had something to do with the incident Sunday.
"I’ve known Bob Beatty for many years and he’s in the same mold as me. I’m sure he’s not happy with what happened with the hit. I sure don’t think he’s sending anybody out there to hurt anybody. That’s not him.
"Bob’s been in this game a long time and I know the way he coaches. There’s no way he’d do something like that.
"Our problem was the fans and players laughing at Andrew. That part will stick in a lot of people’s minds, including myself. That won’t go away."
All that said, Wintoneak says the team won't dwell on the loss of their captain and has to move forward.
"Andrew Dommett’s situation is done. We’re not discussing it any more. It’s just like the fire. It’s over and we’re going to move on."
The suspension to David Haaf and the $500 team fine for his fight with Doug Lindensmith (the second on the same stoppage) are automatic punishments laid out by the new Junior A Supplement:
7.1 Two Fights on the Same Stoppage ‐ When two fights occur during the same stoppage of play, players involved in the second fight shall be subjected to an automatic suspension.
• If there is no instigator in the second fight – each player is suspended 1 game.
• If there is an instigator in the second fight – the instigating player is suspended a minimum of 2 games and the team is fined $500.00. The non‐instigating player shall not be suspended.
The two-game suspension to Taylor Wasden for his hit late in the second period was apparently based on the amount of force applied to the head of the La Ronge player when he hit the boards.
"What I was told is it was the force of the hit and that’s why they suspended him," said Wintoneak. "Sometimes when you get hit to the head, it’s not always a suspension. We had questioned (Dayton) Fossum’s hit on (Jesse) Mysiorek and were told there wasn’t enough force. On Wasden’s, there was enough (for a suspension)."
The Fossum hit, by the way, occurred when Mysiorek did not have the puck and led to the fight between Fossum and Lance Tabin. Both got 10-minute misconducts.
As for the indefinite suspension to Justin Ducharme, Wintoneak said he's satisfied with what has been done so far. He said the length of time Dommett misses will have an impact on how long Ducharme's suspension is.
"I spent pretty much the whole day yesterday emailing and discussing it with the disciplinary management committee. We’re going to lose Andrew probably for 30 games ... I think that’s part of it, absolutely. The severity of the injury and length of time for his recovery."
With only five defencemen on the roster for the next two games (Riley Down will be out for some time), the Klippers will stick with those five - Leedahl, Flanagan, Sonntag, Tabin, Bartel - in Melville and Yorkton.
Wintoneak also wanted to shoot down any notion that Ice Wolves coach Bob Beatty may have had something to do with the incident Sunday.
"I’ve known Bob Beatty for many years and he’s in the same mold as me. I’m sure he’s not happy with what happened with the hit. I sure don’t think he’s sending anybody out there to hurt anybody. That’s not him.
"Bob’s been in this game a long time and I know the way he coaches. There’s no way he’d do something like that.
"Our problem was the fans and players laughing at Andrew. That part will stick in a lot of people’s minds, including myself. That won’t go away."
All that said, Wintoneak says the team won't dwell on the loss of their captain and has to move forward.
"Andrew Dommett’s situation is done. We’re not discussing it any more. It’s just like the fire. It’s over and we’re going to move on."
SJHL comes down hard on Ducharme and Klippers
The SJHL has ruled on the incidents that took place Sunday in La Ronge.
Justin Ducharme has been suspended indefinitely for his hit on Andrew Dommett pending "further documentation and investigation by the league," according to the transactions page on the SJHL website.
David Haaf and Taylor Wasden have both been suspended for two games, meaning they will miss games in Melville and Yorkton Wednesday and Thursday.
Haaf's suspension was for instigating a multiple fight and Wasden's was for a blow to the head.
Furthermore, the Klippers were fined $500 for instigating multiple fights.
I'm sure the organization isn't pleased, given the incident that preceded the fights, but I'll try to contact Larry Wintoneak today and get his thoughts on the matter.
Justin Ducharme has been suspended indefinitely for his hit on Andrew Dommett pending "further documentation and investigation by the league," according to the transactions page on the SJHL website.
David Haaf and Taylor Wasden have both been suspended for two games, meaning they will miss games in Melville and Yorkton Wednesday and Thursday.
Haaf's suspension was for instigating a multiple fight and Wasden's was for a blow to the head.
Furthermore, the Klippers were fined $500 for instigating multiple fights.
I'm sure the organization isn't pleased, given the incident that preceded the fights, but I'll try to contact Larry Wintoneak today and get his thoughts on the matter.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Calkins lets off some steam
I talked to Johnny Calkins about last night's incident not long ago. He's still pretty upset over the whole thing, and you can't blame him.
Here's what he had to say.
On the hit:
"I just looked back and saw him lying on the ice. He’s not the type of kid to lie there when he’s not hurt, so I knew something major was wrong. He’s more than a teammate to me, he’s my best friend and I’d do anything for him. I lost my cool, and it became personal."
On going after Ducharme:
"I knew what I was getting into when I did it. I knew I‘d get an instigator. That didn’t cross my mind, I didn’t think twice. Anybody else on my team would have done the same thing. There wasn’t any question on what I was doing. There’s a point in hockey when it becomes personal.
"When a 19-year-old kid who has not very much experience in our league does something like that to the leading goal scorer in the league, something’s not right there and something needs to be done."
"Their team was laughing at Dommer when he was skating off the ice. That’s what really got me going in the penalty box. That’s no class, no respect. That whole organization should be embarrassed. It’s just a lack of respect."
On seeing Dommett in the La Ronge hospital:
"It was a rough night for me. I went to the hospital and saw him. He was so positive when I walked in. He put his hand up for me to shake his hand, and I couldn’t even do it. It was tough to see him like that.
"I had a tough enough time with it. I just don’t understand how he’s so positive about it.
"It just depends (recovery time). He’s seeing so many different specialists today (Monday). He hasn’t even got his jaw wired shut yet. It just depends whether they have to put plates in it. It broke on both sides."
On how this affects the Klippers:
"It’s going to be tough. You can’t replace a kid like that. We’ve battled lots of adversity, though. Last year we lost our barn. We’ve got a lot of older guys who can step in and hopefully play a bigger role. We have enough leaders that hopefully can pick up the slack. Personally, with me and Adamyk, it’s going to be hard because we played together for over a year. I’m sure whatever line combinations Larry has will be the right ones.
"There’s some upset people ... You can’t do that. It is personal now. You don’t do that."
"I hope that kid woke up this morning and felt terrible for what he did. It’s tough for (Dommett) in his 20-year-old year. You don’t want to see that."
La Ronge visits Kindersley on Oct. 9. If you have plans for that night, you might want to break them.
Here's what he had to say.
On the hit:
"I had the puck on the wall, their D came to me, Dommett was open in the slot and I passed to him. He shot it and then he was watching his shot. From what I saw, it was a late, blindside chicken s*** hit. It was one of those hits you don’t want to see happen to anyone, let alone a guy on your team. You don’t want to see that in hockey whatsoever. It was ugly.
"I just looked back and saw him lying on the ice. He’s not the type of kid to lie there when he’s not hurt, so I knew something major was wrong. He’s more than a teammate to me, he’s my best friend and I’d do anything for him. I lost my cool, and it became personal."
On going after Ducharme:
"I knew what I was getting into when I did it. I knew I‘d get an instigator. That didn’t cross my mind, I didn’t think twice. Anybody else on my team would have done the same thing. There wasn’t any question on what I was doing. There’s a point in hockey when it becomes personal.
"When a 19-year-old kid who has not very much experience in our league does something like that to the leading goal scorer in the league, something’s not right there and something needs to be done."
"Their team was laughing at Dommer when he was skating off the ice. That’s what really got me going in the penalty box. That’s no class, no respect. That whole organization should be embarrassed. It’s just a lack of respect."
On seeing Dommett in the La Ronge hospital:
"It was a rough night for me. I went to the hospital and saw him. He was so positive when I walked in. He put his hand up for me to shake his hand, and I couldn’t even do it. It was tough to see him like that.
"I had a tough enough time with it. I just don’t understand how he’s so positive about it.
"It just depends (recovery time). He’s seeing so many different specialists today (Monday). He hasn’t even got his jaw wired shut yet. It just depends whether they have to put plates in it. It broke on both sides."
On how this affects the Klippers:
"It’s going to be tough. You can’t replace a kid like that. We’ve battled lots of adversity, though. Last year we lost our barn. We’ve got a lot of older guys who can step in and hopefully play a bigger role. We have enough leaders that hopefully can pick up the slack. Personally, with me and Adamyk, it’s going to be hard because we played together for over a year. I’m sure whatever line combinations Larry has will be the right ones.
"There’s some upset people ... You can’t do that. It is personal now. You don’t do that."
"I hope that kid woke up this morning and felt terrible for what he did. It’s tough for (Dommett) in his 20-year-old year. You don’t want to see that."
La Ronge visits Kindersley on Oct. 9. If you have plans for that night, you might want to break them.
A small bit of good news.
After the game last night there was some question as to whether Johnny Calkins had broken his hand when he fought Ducharme after the hit on Dommett. I just spoke with him and he said the hand is good to go.
It's going to be enough of a challenge for the Klips playing without Dommett - they sure didn't need Calkins hurt for a few weeks at the same time.
Dommett is currently in hospital in Saskatoon. I've heard he also sustained a concussion. Let's hope it's not a severe one since that could ultimately be more serious than the broken jaw.
Johnny is going to call me back in an hour to talk about what happened last night. I'll have his comments up later today.
It's going to be enough of a challenge for the Klips playing without Dommett - they sure didn't need Calkins hurt for a few weeks at the same time.
Dommett is currently in hospital in Saskatoon. I've heard he also sustained a concussion. Let's hope it's not a severe one since that could ultimately be more serious than the broken jaw.
Johnny is going to call me back in an hour to talk about what happened last night. I'll have his comments up later today.
Klippers lose Dommett in a gong show up north
I just got back to Kindersley and I have to go to bed, but the Klippers lost Andrew Dommett indefinitely in tonight's 9-6 loss in La Ronge. He took a brutal hit to the head from Justin Ducharme in front of the Ice Wolves net late in the first period. He has a broken jaw and maybe more, I'm not sure, but he'll be out for a while.
After the hit, Johnny Calkins jumped Ducharme sticking up for his friend and linemate and things became pretty much an all-out brawl. At the same time, David Haaf started a fight with Doug Lindensmith in front of the La Ronge bench. As they moved closer to the bench, at least half a dozen players started punching Haaf. That's real class right there.
Out of all this, La Ronge gets a seven-minute major power play, most of it a 5-on-3. They scored four goals over the next five minutes (Klips had been leading 2-0).
Want to guess who reffed this game?
Kyle Paulsen.
Makes you wonder if Larry ever stole his lunch money.
After the hit, Johnny Calkins jumped Ducharme sticking up for his friend and linemate and things became pretty much an all-out brawl. At the same time, David Haaf started a fight with Doug Lindensmith in front of the La Ronge bench. As they moved closer to the bench, at least half a dozen players started punching Haaf. That's real class right there.
Out of all this, La Ronge gets a seven-minute major power play, most of it a 5-on-3. They scored four goals over the next five minutes (Klips had been leading 2-0).
Want to guess who reffed this game?
Kyle Paulsen.
Makes you wonder if Larry ever stole his lunch money.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Post-Game Stuff
Here we are at the Prince Albert Inn. First things first: Riley Down has gone back to Kindersley to have x-rays done on his shoulder, which he injured when he fell awkwardly in his own zone during the first period. It doesn't sound good. David Haaf will take his spot in the line-up against La Ronge.
I spoke with Larry Wintoneak as well as Sanfred King and Andrew Dommett after the game. Probably won't be able to get the audio up until we get back on Monday, but I can give you some tidbits.
Larry said we shouldn't expect to see much change in the forward line-up against the Ice Wolves. He basically said the players who dressed tonight have earned their opportunity until further notice. I'd expect to see the last two cuts made early this week.
Kinger had a goal and two assists tonight and said he felt great, that he had his game back. His line soaked up a ton of ice tonight and if he continues to play like this, he'll become a major go-to guy up front.
I asked Dommett about why he always seems to bring his best game against the Stars. He said there were a couple tricks he didn't want to share, although for him it's mainly the motivation of playing a huge rival. On the winning goal (paraphrasing): "Adamyk tried to hit it with a baseball swing and it bounced to me and I figured the goalie wouldn't be able to get over in time."
Other thoughts from the Klippers' 7-6 win in the season opener:
I spoke with Larry Wintoneak as well as Sanfred King and Andrew Dommett after the game. Probably won't be able to get the audio up until we get back on Monday, but I can give you some tidbits.
Larry said we shouldn't expect to see much change in the forward line-up against the Ice Wolves. He basically said the players who dressed tonight have earned their opportunity until further notice. I'd expect to see the last two cuts made early this week.
Kinger had a goal and two assists tonight and said he felt great, that he had his game back. His line soaked up a ton of ice tonight and if he continues to play like this, he'll become a major go-to guy up front.
I asked Dommett about why he always seems to bring his best game against the Stars. He said there were a couple tricks he didn't want to share, although for him it's mainly the motivation of playing a huge rival. On the winning goal (paraphrasing): "Adamyk tried to hit it with a baseball swing and it bounced to me and I figured the goalie wouldn't be able to get over in time."
Other thoughts from the Klippers' 7-6 win in the season opener:
- It took some time for the big line to get their timing down, but once they did they were a force. By the time the second period rolled around, it was like they picked up from last year's playoffs, moving the puck effortlessly because they knew exactly where each guy was. Although Colin Phaneuf stood out for the Stars, I felt the Calkins line outplayed Battleford's top line as a unit.
- It was a pretty good night for the fourth line too. Brett Penner scored his first SJHL goal in front of his family (from nearby Medstead) and it was a hell of a shot. I had to double-check to make sure it wasn't Dommett. Penner flew down the right side and unleashed a pinpoint short side wrister that beat Sirard over the shoulder and just under the bar. The Stars also held Penner's rights for quite some time, so it had to be satisfying for him. Beau Taylor and Taylor Wasden also looked great and the unit seemed to gel pretty quickly, especially since Beau was playing the left side and Penner is still getting used to playing at centre.
- Kurt Leedahl was a horse, especially after Down got hurt in the first. The SJ doesn't track ice time, but I'm positive he was over 30 minutes. He was with Flanagan most of the time, but also spent some time with Tabin and the odd shift with Sonntag. Flanagan probably played more minutes than he did in any game last season and it didn't seem to affect him as the night went on. Jeff Bartel was impressive, making some sound decisions with the puck and showing a willingness to join the rush. He sure didn't look out of place in his first SJ game.
- Scott Hellyer may have allowed six goals, but he also made some huge saves and shut the door when he had to. Sirard allowed seven and the two points is the stat that matters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)