Adamyk POTM, injury updates, and more

Quite a few things to get to tonight.

First, congratulations to Braeden Adamyk on being named the SJHL's player of the month for January. It was a big month for all three members of the line and Adamyk posted 13 goals and 25 points over 14 games to earn the award. He now sits third in the league in goals with 35, behind only Travis Eggum (47) and Jeremy Boyer (36). Johnny Calkins was a runner-up for the award.

Two other Klippers were recognized with runner-up honours for their respective awards. Kurt Leedahl was a runner-up for defenceman of the month, which went to Josh Roach, and Sean Cahill was considered for the goalie honour, which not surprisingly went to Russell Abbott.

Also, the weekly honours were announced tonight. Congrats to Andrew Dommett on being named player of the week and Sean Cahill for picking up the puckstopper prize. Roach is the defenseman of the week.

The one thing that surprises me from all the rankings and awards this week is that the Klippers not only didn't crack the CJHL top 20, but fell out of the honourable mentions despite winning three of four. Melfort should also be in the top 20 and Yorkton should be getting at least an HM this week. But that's why you take them with a grain of salt.

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All of a sudden the Klippers' injury list is somewhat long.

D. Jay McGrath's knee injury was described as "week-to-week" by Rockie Zinger. If I were a betting man I'd say we won't see him until the playoffs. As Rockie keeps saying, there's no need to rush him and there will be a layoff before the first round when guys can get healed up.

Riley Down is also considered week-to-week, with the hope of having him back within two weeks. I don't know what his injury is, but he hasn't played since that fight against Craig Eisenhut last Tuesday against Yorkton (which earned him a one-game suspension) and he had been nursing a hand injury a few weeks ago.

Jesse Mysiorek aggravated his groin injury on the road trip and he will not be playing in Humboldt tomorrow (Tuesday). It also sounds highly likely that he'll miss Friday's game against Weyburn and possibly the Humboldt home game next Tuesday.

Wheaton King was injured on the road and is considered day-to-day. No word on whether he'll suit up in Humboldt.

Spencer Braaten had his first all-out practice today and could make his Klipper debut on Friday.

The Klippers have called up '93 forward Brennen Bosovich from the Prince Albert Mintos for tomorrow's game. Bosovich impressed in training camp and currently sits second in scoring in the Sask. midget AAA league. They were also planning on recalling another AP to replace Mysiorek in the lineup, but no word on who that will be.

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Regarding the NHL 94 celebration in Estevan Saturday. Of course, I wasn't in the building and I've only been told about what the atmosphere was like between fans and players. Maybe the celebration would have been better done at home, but some of the comments I'm seeing and hearing are more than a little overboard. I wonder if the Kamloops Blazers got a bunch of flack when they did it in November.

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I had a chance to talk to Rockie Zinger about the results from the road trip this afternoon. Here's what he had to say:

15 goals? Yeah, you read right.

It was a crazy game tonight at the WCEC, but certainly not in the kind of way anyone was expecting.

The Klippers cruised to a 6-0 lead over the Yorkton Terriers in the first period and endured some sloppy play over the final 40 minutes to pull out a 9-6 win over the Sherwood leaders, moving to within two points of the Dogs in the process.

It was obvious that the Klippers got up for this game and the Terriers didn't, but give Yorkton credit for not giving up in the first intermission. They scored four goals in the second period, including a couple of weird ones, and they made a game of it.

It definitely wasn't the best game for any of the three goalies in this one, including Sean Cahill (Peters was yanked after the fifth Klipper goal). A number of Klippers had big nights on the scoresheet, which made it tough to pick the three stars. Wheaton King and Johnny Calkins each had a goal and three assists, Ryan Elliot and Andrew Dommett each had two goals and an apple, Sanfred King had one and two, Braeden Adamyk had one and one, Sean Flanagan had two assists.

The six goals in the first came over a span of less than 10 minutes, including the final four goals in four minutes. It was astounding to watch. Everyone expected such a tight battle between the top two clubs in the Sherwood and the game was all but over in 15 minutes.

The King line set the tone for this one, opening the scoring when Elliot cleaned up the garbage in front of Devin Peters at 6:13. Barely three minutes later, Wheaton King banged a rebound past Peters' glove to make it 2-0. That was just the beginning.

Two minutes later on the power play, Dommett finished off what may have been the prettiest goal of the night. The Terriers tried to clear it and thought they had, but Sanfred King somehow managed to keep it in. Almost immediately he dished it to a surprised Johnny Calkins in the high slot. Calkins corralled the pass and flipped it over to Dommett on the right side, and the captain made no mistake with a shot just beyond Peters' glove.

Less than two minutes after that, Wheaton King pulled off just a dirty between the legs move to shake his man and get the puck across to Sanfred, who scored from the high slot. Then, 84 seconds after that goal (14:56 mark) Peters gave up a big rebound and Hoffman just managed to get his stick on it to poke it between his pad and the right post. Elliot got his second of the night 44 seconds after the Hoffman goal when he tipped a point shot by Cody Lund.

Yorkton got goals in the second period from Blaine Tendler, Riley Paterson, Robbie Ciolfi and Jeremy Boyer. Paterson was credited with a goal after his cross-ice pass attempt ricocheted off Lund's skate and past Cahill. Eight seconds later, Cahill went to play the puck behind the net, only to have it take an odd bounce right onto the stick of Ciolfi. The Klipper top line replied with three goals in the period, one for Adamyk, Dommett and Calkins. Tendler and Justin Buzzeo scored for the Terriers in the third.

One thing's for sure, we won't see the same kind of game the next time Yorkton comes to town on Feb. 12.

The Klippers got some good news on Spencer Braaten and it sounds like he will make his debut sometime next week.

Wheaton King: one goal, three assists

Ryan Elliot: two goals, one assist

Rockie Zinger: First 15-goal game as SJHL coach

Klippers vs. Terriers preview

Well, this should be a dandy tonight. The Klippers are coming off a loss and hungry to gain ground on the Terriers, while Yorkton has won three of their last 10 and they know this is a game they have to win to hold off the Klippers.

I'm sure it will be a playoff atmosphere tonight. There was a great crowd for the Estevan game Saturday and I hope to see that building packed for this game. This is also the first time Kindersley fans have seen Yorkton since October, so I'm sure this will be a highly anticipated contest, especially with the addition of Boyer and Buzzeo to the Dogs' lineup.

Here's a look at the top two teams in the Sherwood Conference.

Yorkton Terriers (27-14-2-4, 1st in Sherwood)

After a seven-game losing skid, the Terriers have suddenly won three of four, including a 9-1 win over the Hounds on Sunday. It was always going to take some time for Boyer, Buzzeo and Brant Remenda (who, by the way, will sit out with a suspension tonight) to adjust to their new teammates. Those two have been on fire since joining the Terriers, with 14 points apiece in six games. But let's not forget the other cogs that have kept Yorkton running all along. It all starts between the pipes with Devin Peters. Yorkton fans say he's been in a funk at times this year, but he's still one of the top goalies in the league for my money.

Yorkton has a solid blueline, although it isn't the team's strength. Still, a back end led by the likes of Blaine Tendler and Kurtis Decker is nothing to sneeze at. Up front, Clarke Breitkreuz, Robbie Ciolfi and Brent Struble are three of the biggest reasons why the team is in contention in the first place. The likes of Zak Majkowski and Craig Eisenhut have also stepped up in a big way.

Physical play is the Terriers' calling card and the Klippers will have to match that tenacious edge tonight, something they definitely didn't do on Saturday.

Kindersley Klippers (27-18-2, 2nd in Sherwood)

The Klippers, who got an honourable mention in Monday's CJHL Top 20 rankings, enter tonight's contest four points behind the Terriers. It's a crucial tilt for them because two points back will have them right in the race, but being six points back with 10 games left could be too much to overcome. Kindersley blew a major opportunity to draw even with Yorkton on Saturday, when they lost the second game of their weekend set 4-2 to Estevan. They came out flat in the first two periods and, as Rockie Zinger pointed out after the game, showed little interest in competing physically. That will have to change tonight.

Johnny Calkins' 14-game point streak was snapped Saturday, but he has been the hottest player in the SJHL over the last six weeks and that line can dominate teams when they're all on their game. Sanfred and Wheaton King have been dynamite together and Wheaton's presence has really rejuvenated that line. That said, it'll be tough going for them without D. Jay McGrath. 

Taylor Duzan hasn't scored since Dec. 1, but he's been playing better and better the last few games, especially on Friday, and as he said the goals will come at some point if he keeps working hard. Tonight would be a great time for him to snap that skid. His linemate Jesse Mysiorek is back in the lineup tonight after missing four games with a groin injury, which will only help.

On the blueline, Sean Flanagan is coming off SJHL defenceman of the week honours (congrats Sean) and he has indeed been playing well of late. Kurt Leedahl has been terrific and John Sonntag had a great game on Friday. 18-year-old David Haaf has really stepped up his game lately as well. No word on who sits tonight. In goal, there is no question Sean Cahill gets the start for what is probably the team's biggest game of the season to date.

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I was busy watching football on Sunday, so I didn't get a recap up from Saturday's loss to the Bruins. Here's what Rockie Zinger had to say about the game, as well as an update on McGrath and a brief look at tonight's game:

Klippers hang on to beat Estevan but lose McGrath

The Klippers are now only two points behind the Yorkton Terriers following a tight 4-2 win over the Estevan Bruins in a huge Sherwood Conference matchup.

If  you were at the game and the score has you confused, John Sonntag was credited with an empty netter after the game for that puck he shot into the net at the buzzer.

After a bit of a slow start, the Klippers picked it up midway through the first and led 2-1 after one and 3-1 after two. The B's made it a tight finish though when Ryan Andersen scored with 13 minutes left.

Chris Daniels opened the scoring at 3:35 off a bad giveaway in the Klipper zone. Braeden Adamyk countered on the power play at 10:50 when he and Dommett both poked at a rebound and Adamyk slipped it past the right pad of Joel Danyluk.

Dommett made it 2-0 at 15:37 on a two-man advantage after Kurt Leedahl circled around the zone, got it to Adamyk for a shot and Dommett knocked in the rebound five-hole.

Midway through the second, D. Jay McGrath scored from the left side on a centering pass from one of the King brothers (not sure which).

But the Klippers will be without McGrath's services for a while after he suffered a knee injury in the third period. McGrath went hard into the end boards behind the Estevan net and had to be helped off the ice. He's on crutches now and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, with no idea how long he could be out. That's a huge loss for the Klippers with the way he's been playing lately. That line had a ton of chemistry.

Johnny Calkins kept his point streak going tonight with an assist, but he didn't gain ground in the scoring race as Travis Eggum had four points and Marc-Andre Carre had three. Doug Lindensmith (the SJ scoring leader going into last night) didn't dress for La Ronge's win over Weyburn.

The Klippers take on Estevan again tonight, with a chance to tie Yorkton for first place if they win. The Bruins  are only four points ahead of Melville, with two extra games played, so they need a win too.

Interviews from last night...

Braeden Adamyk - one goal, one assist

Taylor Duzan - Duzy hasn't scored since Dec. 1 against Estevan (hard to believe, isn't it?) but he and his line had a tremendous game last night. There was a point late in the first, on the PK, where Duzan put in one of the best forechecking efforts I've ever seen. The Estevan defenceman just could not shake him and Duzy ended up with the puck and ragging a good 30 seconds off the clock. He also blocked a couple shots on the PK and had some good chances along with Hoffman and Elliot.

Rockie Zinger

Top line dominates in win over Nipawin

Andrew Dommett, Johnny Calkins and Braeden Adamyk were at their very best in the first period of tonight's 6-2 win over the Nipawin Hawks. The line scored three goals as a result of some unbelievable passing plays to help the Klippers take a 4-0 lead after one.

The rest of the game was much quieter, but in the end Calkins had four points (1-3) and Adamyk (2-1) and Dommett (1-2) had three each. Calkins now has 34 points in his last 13 games and is only three points out of the SJHL scoring lead with 75 points. If he keeps this pace up, he could conceivably hit 100.

Sanfred King and Sean Flanagan had the other goals for the Klippers (26-17-2). Brady Zerr and Jeremy Peeke (on an absolute rocket) scored for the Hawks (16-24-3-1).

Justin McDonald got the start and made 25 saves. The shots were 39-27 for Kindersley.

This was a game in hand for the Klippers on Yorkton. They now sit four points behind the first-place Terriers with one game in hand.

Here are some interviews... (more coming)

Rockie Zinger

Andrew Dommett

Wheaton King

President's Tour stops in Kindersley

The annual President's Tour is in Kindersley today, beginning with a press conference earlier this morning to announce the Klippers' award nominees. They are Johnny Calkins (MVP), Kurt Leedahl (top defenceman) and Tanner Kissick (top rookie).

Given to each award nominee

Laury Ryan speaking at Synergy Credit Union

Johnny Calkins - MVP

Kurt Leedahl - top defenceman

Tanner Kissick - top rookie

Thoughts from the three nominees (first Leedahl, then Kissick and Calkins):

Finally, my annual interview with Laury Ryan about the state of the league. We talked about attendance issues, getting exposure to the league's product, the trade deadline, the Junior A Supplement and other issues.

Adamyk gets POTW; Zinger on last week's trip

First, sorry there hasn't been a new post here in a week. With the team on the road, there wasn't a lot for me to say. Also, I had written a long post with my thoughts on the deadline moves and ended up losing it all, so I got a little frustrated. Anyway, I'm back now.

Congrats to Braeden Adamyk on receiving the SJHL's player of the week award announced this morning. This really could have gone to either Adamyk or Johnny Calkins, who both had a huge week on the road (as did Andrew Dommett after he came back from the flu).

Adamyk potted three goals and 10 points to help the Klippers win three of four games in five nights. Following tonight's games, the Neepawa native sits 10th in SJHL scoring with 28 goals and 58 points.

Speaking of Johnny Calkins, he has got to be the hottest player in the SJHL right now (challenged perhaps by Estevan's Jonathan Ceci). Over his last 12 games, the Kyle product has 12 goals and 30 points. He's now fourth in league scoring, not far behind ex-teammate Travis Eggum.

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The SJHL President's Tour comes to Kindersley tomorrow (Wednesday). The tour stop begins with an 11 a.m. press conference at Synergy Credit Union with league president Laury Ryan along with the Credit Union Cup. The Klippers will announce their nominees for league MVP, top defenceman and top rookie at the presser.

Prior to the Nipawin game tomorrow night, a display will be set up in the WCEC lobby featuring the championship trophy and league awards. The first 200 fans to visit the display receive a Credit Union Cup replica keychain, and there is also an Ultimate Fan contest that gives the grand prize winner an 11-day trip to Europe.

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I'm late getting this up, but I had a chat with Rockie Zinger yesterday about the road trip last week. Some of this was cut out due to a technical issue (mostly talking about how well Wheaton King fit into the lineup and Zane Morin's debut Saturday in Humboldt).

On the injury front, Sanfred King is expected to return to the lineup tonight, while Spencer Braaten is a little behind schedule. The original target for his return was this weekend against Estevan, but he skated recently and now isn't expected back until early February. Rockie said the Klippers won't rush him back.