It wasn't a perfect outing from the Klippers by any means, but Jordon Hoffman scored his second of the night 46 seconds into overtime to hand the Yorkton Terriers a 4-3 loss tonight.
Hoffman tipped a Sean Flanagan point shot past Warren Shymko to help the Klippers clinch second place in a game they trailed 2-1 and 3-2.
Andrew Dommett and Johnny Calkins had the other Kindersley goals, Calkins tying the game on a 4-on-3 with under five minutes to go. Clarke Breitkreuz, Devon McMullen and Robbie Ciolfi had the Yorkton goals.
The Klippers were playing without John Sonntag tonight due to a one-game suspension he incurred after his sixth fight of the season in Tuesday's game against Humboldt. The team clearly missed the big minute muncher as the blueline had far from a stellar night.
One defenceman who did stand out to me was Cody Lund. I thought he really stepped up and provided some steady minutes for the Klippers. He blocked a few shots, carried the puck with confidence and generally just played a smart game.
Sean Cahill also had a solid night between the pipes. He probably would have liked to have Ciolfi's goal back, but other than that he made some big saves and got some bounces when he had to scramble. He also got run over a couple of times.
Dommett got the Klippers on the board early in the second period after a scoreless first. He came to play tonight, not only offensively but in a physical sense. His jaw injury earlier this year hasn't scared him off from laying the body at all.
Craig Eisenhut had been awarded a penalty shot late in the first period but missed.
Breitkreuz tied it eight minutes into the second, pouncing on a loose puck in the slot, brushing past Flanagan and slipping it past the left pad of Cahill, who seemed to be caught off guard a little.
Yorkton took the lead three minutes later on a brilliant play by Jeremy Boyer. The Saskatoon native had the puck in the high slot to Cahill's right, spotted rookie defenceman Devon McMullen at the edge of the crease and put a perfect slap pass on his tape for an easy tap-in.
But the Klippers pulled even barely two minutes later on a great shift by Taylor Duzan. He set up Hoffman, who deked Shymko glove side, just inside the post.
The Terriers went ahead again 36 seconds into the third period when Ciolfi's weak shot from the right side beat Cahill five-hole.
The turning point of the game came with 5:01 remaining when Keon Vick was nailed with a double minor for high-sticking Braeden Adamyk along the boards. (I know it says 2 and 5 on the game sheet - but the Klippers didn't get a five-minute PP.)
Taylor Duzan and Nathan Murray were already in the box, setting up a 4-on-3 and tons of open ice for Dommett, Calkins, Sanfred King and Kurt Leedahl. Only 12 seconds into the PP, Calkins wired a shot into the top right corner from the right circle to tie the game.
Kindersley still had the second minor on the board and had a chance to win it, but the Terriers killed it off.
A big plus for the Klippers tonight was their penalty kill. Yorkton really never got anything going on their five PPs as the Klips did a great job of clogging the lanes, winning battles to loose pucks and getting them out.
The power play, on the other hand, continued to struggle. They did get the 4-on-3 goal from Calkins but weren't able to generate anything on the first four PPs before that. So there's still some work to do there.
As for first place, the win means the Klippers are technically still in the race, but failing to score on the second minor to Vick and giving the Terriers a point all but ended any chance they might have had at winning the conference.
The Klippers would need to win all three of their remaining games - Tuesday vs. Melfort and the home-and-home vs. Battlefords - and have Yorkton earn only one of six points in order to finish first.
But as Rockie Zinger said after the game, the team's focus now is more on gauging where they stack up against other teams. The Melfort game should be a good tilt between two of the top four teams in the league.
After Hoffman's OT goal, there wasn't enough time for me to get the three stars off, so the stars on the game sheet aren't mine. Mine would have been 1) Hoffman, 2) Dommett, 3) Breitkreuz with honourable mentions to Calkins and Lund.
Interviews
Jordon Hoffman had a terrific all-around game tonight and was rewarded with two goals. Rockie Zinger said tonight (and I agree with him) that Hoffman and Duzan have been two of the best penalty killers in the SJ over the last little while.
Rockie Zinger (When he talks about bad penalties around the 2:40 mark, he's referring to Taylor Wasden's unsportsmanlike minor early in the third period, which he was not at all happy with.)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday grab bag
Just a few tidbits from around the SJHL this afternoon.
Klippers winger Jesse Mysiorek is back in town after spending more than a week rehabbing his groin injury in Edmonton. It's still unlikely that he'll play against Yorkton on Saturday, with the focus on getting him 100% for the playoffs. The same is true for D. Jay McGrath.
When McGrath does return, the plan is for him to play with Sanfred King and Spencer Braaten. Makes you wonder where Wheaton King would fit in. It's certainly a good problem to have if you're the Klippers. Say you put together a line of Wheaton, Elliot and Wasden (or Kissick or Gerwing) - there's no way you can call that a fourth line. When everyone is healthy the Klippers are basically looking at a first line, followed by 2A, 2B and 2C.
Speaking of injuries, the Yorkton Terriers are also playing without some key guys. Defenceman Blaine Tendler and forwards Robbie Ciolfi and Zak Majkowski are all still out, and I don't know if any will be ready to return for Saturday's game. The Terriers ran into the same problem against Weyburn last night as the Klippers: Mitch Kilgore. He stopped 34 of 35 shots.
Playoff races are going down to the wire all over the SJHL. Notre Dame defeated Estevan 6-2 last night to pull even with the Melville Millionaires for the last playoff berth in the Sherwood. Melville has two games in hand but the Hounds have been on fire over the last few weeks. Notre Dame has six games left, Melville has eight, and two of those are head-to-head (tonight and Monday).
Weyburn and Estevan continue to jockey for that third spot and, most likely, a date with the Klippers in the first round of the playoffs. Weyburn's win over Yorkton last night vaulted them one point ahead of the Bruins, who have a game in hand. It goes without saying that their home-and-home this weekend is absolutely huge, and if one team sweeps they'll pretty much lock up third place. Estevan has five games left, four at home. Weyburn has four left including three at home. They play the same teams (each other, Melville and Notre Dame) along with Estevan's extra game being against Yorkton.
Either team would pose a strong challenge to Kindersley in the first round of the playoffs. Estevan in particular is playing good hockey of late, and with their size and small barn, they're built for the playoffs.
In the north, Humboldt has the inside track on third place although Battlefords is six back with a game in hand. The Stars are also trying to fend off Flin Flon (one point back) for fourth. There's more hockey left to be played in the Bauer than the Sherwood, so that race could get pretty tight.
Here's the story in today's paper from the Weyburn game on Friday:
First place nearly out of reach for Klippers after loss to Wings
JOSH LEWIS
The Clarion
Mitch Kilgore stopped 55 shots and Scott Kirkham scored with 28 seconds left in overtime to lead the Weyburn Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Kindersley Klippers on Friday at the West Central Events Centre on Friday.
Despite getting a point for the overtime defeat, the Klippers (30-20-3) now find themselves seven points behind the surging Yorkton Terriers (32-15-2-4) in the battle for first place in the Sherwood Conference. With five games left, the task has become unlikely.
The Klippers, who hosted Humboldt on Tuesday, will go head-to-head with the Terriers Saturday in a crucial tilt at the WCEC. It doesn’t get any easier next Tuesday with the high-flying Melfort Mustangs in town. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
The Klippers, who were missing centre Johnny Calkins to the flu on Friday, also must keep an eye on Estevan and Weyburn. The Bruins are six points behind with a game in hand, and the Red Wings moved to seven points back with Friday’s win.
Head coach Rockie Zinger said his team has no cause for concern.
“People are losing sight of the fact that we’re (17-7) in our last 24 games. So we’ve lost two in a row for the first time since November, big hairy deal,” he replied, referring to a 3-2 loss in Humboldt last Tuesday that saw the Klippers blow a two-goal lead with four minutes left.
Despite peppering Kilgore with shots all game on Friday - the shot count was 59-31 - the Klippers didn’t really turn on the jets until the third period and it cost them.
“I think the first period for us was a little slow, a little flat and I think if we avoided that period, we would have had a pretty good chance of winning,” said captain Andrew Dommett, who got the Klippers on the board 14 minutes into the second frame.
Jesse Ross drew first blood for the Wings at 7:32 of the first, tapping a feed from Coltyn Sanderson past the glove of netminder Sean Cahill. Weyburn took that lead to the dressing room despite being outshot 16-4.
Lucas Ulmer put the Red Wings up by two at the 94-second mark of the middle period, cranking one past Cahill from the left boards, just inside the blueline.
Dommett made it 2-1 at 13:50, with assists to Braeden Adamyk and Sanfred King, who filled in for Calkins on the top line.
“I liked it. Kinger’s a very good hockey player,” Dommett said of playing with King. “Unfortunately, he’s a little slower with his bad leg, but he definitely makes up for that with his skill. Once he gets into the offensive zone, he’s magic with that puck.”
But Drew George restored Weyburn’s two-goal cushion 57 seconds after the Dommett goal, cutting to the inside off a quick break and beating Cahill with a point blank wrister.
Zinger said that goal was a mental letdown, coming so quickly after the Klippers had finally solved Kilgore.
“You’re firing all those pucks on net and he’s saving it and saving it and saving it, and suddenly you get one and then boom, you let them put one in the back of your net. That next shift after a goal is so crucial.”
The Red Wings stretched their lead to three early in the third stanza when Keegan Bruce slipped the biscuit just inside the left post on the power play.
The Klipper comeback began with 12 minutes left when Adamyk made a slick centering pass to Dommett, whose rebound found King’s stick and the big pivot rang it off the iron and in to make it 4-2.
Kilgore denied the Klipper shooting gallery for another eight minutes before Riley Down inadvertently tipped a Kurt Leedahl point shot to pull the home side within one.
Then, with six Kindersley skaters on the ice, Adamyk deflected another Leedahl shot past Kilgore with 23.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
The Klippers bombarded the Wings throughout overtime, missing a handful of golden opportunities and keeping the puck in the Weyburn zone for virtually the entire time. But the Wings only needed one chance, and when a 2-on-1 broke out, Kirkham kept the puck and lifted a backhander over Cahill to end it.
“When you look at the big picture, if you play that team in a seven-game series and fire that many shots on that guy on a consistent basis, there’s no way he makes that many saves per night,” said Zinger. “It was a good performance by him.”
Forward Spencer Braaten, acquired from the Broncos on Jan. 8, made his Klipper debut after sitting out two months with an ankle injury. The 20-year-old filled in for Jesse Mysiorek on a line with Taylor Duzan and Jordon Hoffman, displaying good offensive instincts and solid board play. He picked up an assist on the tying goal.
“I thought he played really well for us. You could tell his wind wasn’t there as much as he would have liked it to be, but there was zero hesitancy as far as going into corners and battling for pucks and everything of that nature,” said Zinger. “I think once he gets back into game shape, he’s going to be a real nice added bonus for us.”
Klippers winger Jesse Mysiorek is back in town after spending more than a week rehabbing his groin injury in Edmonton. It's still unlikely that he'll play against Yorkton on Saturday, with the focus on getting him 100% for the playoffs. The same is true for D. Jay McGrath.
When McGrath does return, the plan is for him to play with Sanfred King and Spencer Braaten. Makes you wonder where Wheaton King would fit in. It's certainly a good problem to have if you're the Klippers. Say you put together a line of Wheaton, Elliot and Wasden (or Kissick or Gerwing) - there's no way you can call that a fourth line. When everyone is healthy the Klippers are basically looking at a first line, followed by 2A, 2B and 2C.
Speaking of injuries, the Yorkton Terriers are also playing without some key guys. Defenceman Blaine Tendler and forwards Robbie Ciolfi and Zak Majkowski are all still out, and I don't know if any will be ready to return for Saturday's game. The Terriers ran into the same problem against Weyburn last night as the Klippers: Mitch Kilgore. He stopped 34 of 35 shots.
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Playoff races are going down to the wire all over the SJHL. Notre Dame defeated Estevan 6-2 last night to pull even with the Melville Millionaires for the last playoff berth in the Sherwood. Melville has two games in hand but the Hounds have been on fire over the last few weeks. Notre Dame has six games left, Melville has eight, and two of those are head-to-head (tonight and Monday).
Weyburn and Estevan continue to jockey for that third spot and, most likely, a date with the Klippers in the first round of the playoffs. Weyburn's win over Yorkton last night vaulted them one point ahead of the Bruins, who have a game in hand. It goes without saying that their home-and-home this weekend is absolutely huge, and if one team sweeps they'll pretty much lock up third place. Estevan has five games left, four at home. Weyburn has four left including three at home. They play the same teams (each other, Melville and Notre Dame) along with Estevan's extra game being against Yorkton.
Either team would pose a strong challenge to Kindersley in the first round of the playoffs. Estevan in particular is playing good hockey of late, and with their size and small barn, they're built for the playoffs.
In the north, Humboldt has the inside track on third place although Battlefords is six back with a game in hand. The Stars are also trying to fend off Flin Flon (one point back) for fourth. There's more hockey left to be played in the Bauer than the Sherwood, so that race could get pretty tight.
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Here's the story in today's paper from the Weyburn game on Friday:
First place nearly out of reach for Klippers after loss to Wings
JOSH LEWIS
The Clarion
Mitch Kilgore stopped 55 shots and Scott Kirkham scored with 28 seconds left in overtime to lead the Weyburn Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Kindersley Klippers on Friday at the West Central Events Centre on Friday.
Despite getting a point for the overtime defeat, the Klippers (30-20-3) now find themselves seven points behind the surging Yorkton Terriers (32-15-2-4) in the battle for first place in the Sherwood Conference. With five games left, the task has become unlikely.
The Klippers, who hosted Humboldt on Tuesday, will go head-to-head with the Terriers Saturday in a crucial tilt at the WCEC. It doesn’t get any easier next Tuesday with the high-flying Melfort Mustangs in town. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
The Klippers, who were missing centre Johnny Calkins to the flu on Friday, also must keep an eye on Estevan and Weyburn. The Bruins are six points behind with a game in hand, and the Red Wings moved to seven points back with Friday’s win.
Head coach Rockie Zinger said his team has no cause for concern.
“People are losing sight of the fact that we’re (17-7) in our last 24 games. So we’ve lost two in a row for the first time since November, big hairy deal,” he replied, referring to a 3-2 loss in Humboldt last Tuesday that saw the Klippers blow a two-goal lead with four minutes left.
Despite peppering Kilgore with shots all game on Friday - the shot count was 59-31 - the Klippers didn’t really turn on the jets until the third period and it cost them.
“I think the first period for us was a little slow, a little flat and I think if we avoided that period, we would have had a pretty good chance of winning,” said captain Andrew Dommett, who got the Klippers on the board 14 minutes into the second frame.
Jesse Ross drew first blood for the Wings at 7:32 of the first, tapping a feed from Coltyn Sanderson past the glove of netminder Sean Cahill. Weyburn took that lead to the dressing room despite being outshot 16-4.
Lucas Ulmer put the Red Wings up by two at the 94-second mark of the middle period, cranking one past Cahill from the left boards, just inside the blueline.
Dommett made it 2-1 at 13:50, with assists to Braeden Adamyk and Sanfred King, who filled in for Calkins on the top line.
“I liked it. Kinger’s a very good hockey player,” Dommett said of playing with King. “Unfortunately, he’s a little slower with his bad leg, but he definitely makes up for that with his skill. Once he gets into the offensive zone, he’s magic with that puck.”
But Drew George restored Weyburn’s two-goal cushion 57 seconds after the Dommett goal, cutting to the inside off a quick break and beating Cahill with a point blank wrister.
Zinger said that goal was a mental letdown, coming so quickly after the Klippers had finally solved Kilgore.
“You’re firing all those pucks on net and he’s saving it and saving it and saving it, and suddenly you get one and then boom, you let them put one in the back of your net. That next shift after a goal is so crucial.”
The Red Wings stretched their lead to three early in the third stanza when Keegan Bruce slipped the biscuit just inside the left post on the power play.
The Klipper comeback began with 12 minutes left when Adamyk made a slick centering pass to Dommett, whose rebound found King’s stick and the big pivot rang it off the iron and in to make it 4-2.
Kilgore denied the Klipper shooting gallery for another eight minutes before Riley Down inadvertently tipped a Kurt Leedahl point shot to pull the home side within one.
Then, with six Kindersley skaters on the ice, Adamyk deflected another Leedahl shot past Kilgore with 23.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
The Klippers bombarded the Wings throughout overtime, missing a handful of golden opportunities and keeping the puck in the Weyburn zone for virtually the entire time. But the Wings only needed one chance, and when a 2-on-1 broke out, Kirkham kept the puck and lifted a backhander over Cahill to end it.
“When you look at the big picture, if you play that team in a seven-game series and fire that many shots on that guy on a consistent basis, there’s no way he makes that many saves per night,” said Zinger. “It was a good performance by him.”
Forward Spencer Braaten, acquired from the Broncos on Jan. 8, made his Klipper debut after sitting out two months with an ankle injury. The 20-year-old filled in for Jesse Mysiorek on a line with Taylor Duzan and Jordon Hoffman, displaying good offensive instincts and solid board play. He picked up an assist on the tying goal.
“I thought he played really well for us. You could tell his wind wasn’t there as much as he would have liked it to be, but there was zero hesitancy as far as going into corners and battling for pucks and everything of that nature,” said Zinger. “I think once he gets back into game shape, he’s going to be a real nice added bonus for us.”
King line shines in 5-2 win over Broncos
Wheaton King, Sanfred King and Spencer Braaten combined for nine points against Braaten's old team to help the Klippers defeat the Humboldt Broncos 5-2 at the West Central Events Centre tonight.
The Klippers (31-20-3) were in control from the start, leading 1-0 after one and 4-1 after two. Sean Cahill stopped 36 shots, including 16 in the third, to keep the Broncos at bay.
Sanfred King had three points (1-2), Braaten had three (1-2) in his second game back from injury and Wheaton had two (1-1) in what was a standout game for him. Sanfred originally had four points but it looks like his assist on Braaten's goal has been changed to John Sonntag.
The other goals came courtesy of Taylor Duzan on the power play early in the second, and Cody Lund on a low point shot midway through the frame.
Matt Glowa had both of Humboldt's goals. The first came on a nice passing play with Troy Gasper at 12:37 of the second, and Kindersley responded exactly one minute later with Braaten's first goal as a Klipper. Glowa's second marker came 30 seconds into the third on a 5-on-3 created by a double-minor to Jordon Hoffman and a high-sticking call on Braeden Adamyk.
Johnny Calkins played tonight but hadn't fully recovered from the effects of the flu he caught last week.
Yorkton lost to Weyburn in a shootout tonight to pick up a point. The Klippers now trail by six points with four games to go. It goes without saying that Saturday's head-to-head tilt is a must-win for them to finish in first place.
Rockie Zinger said the reports are getting better every day on Jesse Mysiorek and D. Jay McGrath, but reiterated that they won't be rushed. I wouldn't expect either player to suit up Saturday.
Interviews:
Spencer Braaten
Rockie Zinger
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Klippers-Humboldt preview
The Klippers come into tonight's game having lost two straight for the first time in two months, one of those losses coming to the very same Broncos squad they face tonight. Last Tuesday in Humboldt, the Klippers led 2-0 with four minutes to go before blowing that lead and losing 3-2 in regulation. No doubt the team is eager to get revenge for that.
I really like the way Rockie Zinger has been approaching everything with a playoff mentality. The latest example was what he had to say after the loss to Weyburn. The Klippers are approaching the last five games of the season as part of a best-of-7 series where they've already lost the first two games, just to see how they respond when down two games. Obviously it doesn't replicate a real playoff situation, but it's still a good idea over the final games of the season, especially with the first place Terriers pretty much out of reach.
Speaking of first place, here's a rundown of the two teams and what they have left. The Klippers do have an advantage in having four home games left, to one for Yorkton, and they have a slightly better schedule in terms of opponents. But the Klippers would need to run the table and have Yorkton lose four of five; that or win four of five and have Yorkton go winless. Both scenarios look pretty unlikely considering the Terriers have won five straight.
Yorkton: 70 points. Five games left: tonight @ Weyburn, Saturday @ Kindersley, Sunday @ Humboldt, Feb. 15 @ Estevan, Feb. 18 vs. La Ronge.
Kindersley: 63 points. Five games left: tonight vs. Humboldt, Saturday vs. Yorkton, Feb. 15 vs. Melfort, Feb. 18 @ Battlefords, Feb. 22 vs. Battlefords.
On to the preview for tonight.
I really like the way Rockie Zinger has been approaching everything with a playoff mentality. The latest example was what he had to say after the loss to Weyburn. The Klippers are approaching the last five games of the season as part of a best-of-7 series where they've already lost the first two games, just to see how they respond when down two games. Obviously it doesn't replicate a real playoff situation, but it's still a good idea over the final games of the season, especially with the first place Terriers pretty much out of reach.
Speaking of first place, here's a rundown of the two teams and what they have left. The Klippers do have an advantage in having four home games left, to one for Yorkton, and they have a slightly better schedule in terms of opponents. But the Klippers would need to run the table and have Yorkton lose four of five; that or win four of five and have Yorkton go winless. Both scenarios look pretty unlikely considering the Terriers have won five straight.
Yorkton: 70 points. Five games left: tonight @ Weyburn, Saturday @ Kindersley, Sunday @ Humboldt, Feb. 15 @ Estevan, Feb. 18 vs. La Ronge.
Kindersley: 63 points. Five games left: tonight vs. Humboldt, Saturday vs. Yorkton, Feb. 15 vs. Melfort, Feb. 18 @ Battlefords, Feb. 22 vs. Battlefords.
On to the preview for tonight.
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Humboldt Broncos
The Broncs have been playing some inspired hockey of late, riding a four-game winning streak and posting a 7-5 record since shipping out their 20-year-olds, including Spencer Braaten, at the Jan. 10 deadline. The player every opponent needs to key on is 18-year-old defenceman Josh Roach, who boasts 14 goals and 45 points to lead the team in scoring. What this guy has done this year is just remarkable, and he could have two years left.
Up front, a focal point is 19-year-old Ward Szucki, who was part of that Chad Filteau deal between Battlefords and Estevan last year. I really like watching this guy play. With the exodus of vets, he's getting more time to put his skills on display. Troy Gasper, Matt Glowa and Taylor Johnson are other players to watch.
The Broncos are solid between the pipes with reigning MVP Andrew Bodnarchuk, the only 1990 not traded at the deadline, along with Matt Hrynkiw, who got the win against Kindersley last week.
Kindersley Klippers
Jesse Mysiorek remains on the shelf so I would imagine Spencer Braaten will again play with Taylor Duzan and Jordon Hoffman against his old team. Braaten seemed to fit in with the unit on Friday. I was really impressed with his work on the walls, for such a small guy. He finds the open areas and creates scoring chances. Once he takes a few games to get his feet wet, he'll be a dangerous part of the Klipper attack. I've said it before but I find Braaten and Duzan are cut from the same cloth in terms of their skill set and tenacity. Having Johnny Calkins back from the flu will be a big boost, and it allows Sanfred King to go back to his highly effective line with brother Wheaton and Ryan Elliot. And have you checked the scoring leaders lately? Andrew Dommett has clawed his way up to 33rd in SJHL scoring, despite playing only 29 games, and owns the seventh-best point per game average in the SJ. Impressive.
On the back end, Kurt Leedahl has been terrific of late. He's getting more pucks on net and good things are happening. On Friday, two of the three third period goals, including Adamyk's tying marker with 23 seconds left, were deflections off Leedahl shots. I would expect Sean Cahill to get the start, but wouldn't be surprised to see Justin McDonald between the pipes either. Cahill will certainly be getting the nod for the next two games against Yorkton and Melfort.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Klippers fire 59 shots and lose in OT
Well, that sure felt like a playoff game.
Unfortunately for the Klippers, 59 shots on goal, a terrific comeback and an absolutely dominant overtime weren't enough to stop the Weyburn Red Wings from winning 5-4.
Scott Kirkham lifted a backhander over Sean Cahill off an odd-man break late in overtime to give Weyburn the two points in a game they led 4-1 with 12 minutes left in the third.
Mitch Kilgore was phenomenal. The 19-year-old tender from Outlook made some huge stops and although he allowed three in the third, the Klippers were throwing everything at him including the kitchen sink. He was full value for the win and easily the first star.
The Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville tonight, which puts the Klippers five points back with an extra game played. With five games left, they are very close to falling out of the race for first, if they haven't already. Needless to say, they need to win that Yorkton game next Saturday to have any chance.
The deceiving thing about the 59 shots tonight is that the Klippers were once again guilty of playing 20 minutes of hockey instead of 60. It's a concern Rockie Zinger has expressed in the past, that his club sometimes waits until the third period to play their best hockey. They certainly did that tonight.
Jesse Ross got the scoring started at 7:32 of the first after taking a cross-ice, headman pass from Coltyn Sanderson and tapping it past Cahill glove side.
Lucas Ulmer made it 2-0 at the 94-second mark of the middle frame, winding up a clapper from the left boards just inside the line. Cahill probably wanted that one back but he may have been screened, I couldn't tell.
Andrew Dommett got the Klippers on the board at 13:47 to make it 2-1, but Drew George replied 57 seconds later after streaking down the left side, cutting inside and flicking a wrister into the mesh.
Keegan Bruce made it 4-1 with a power play goal 3:39 into the third, slipping the puck just inside the left post. But the Klippers stormed back. With 11:59 left, Braeden Adamyk slipped a quick centering pass to Dommett, who got a low shot off. Sanfred King rung the rebound off the iron and in.
Just when it looked like the Wings had it wrapped up, Riley Down tipped a Kurt Leedahl point shot with 4:11 left - without even realizing it until he turned around to face the net. It was kind of a funny moment.
Then, with Cahill on the bench and 23.1 seconds left, Adamyk deflected Leedahl's lob from the right point past Kilgore to force overtime.
I'm barely keeping my eyes open, so I'll post interviews with Rockie Zinger and Andrew Dommett tomorrow.
Unfortunately for the Klippers, 59 shots on goal, a terrific comeback and an absolutely dominant overtime weren't enough to stop the Weyburn Red Wings from winning 5-4.
Scott Kirkham lifted a backhander over Sean Cahill off an odd-man break late in overtime to give Weyburn the two points in a game they led 4-1 with 12 minutes left in the third.
Mitch Kilgore was phenomenal. The 19-year-old tender from Outlook made some huge stops and although he allowed three in the third, the Klippers were throwing everything at him including the kitchen sink. He was full value for the win and easily the first star.
The Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville tonight, which puts the Klippers five points back with an extra game played. With five games left, they are very close to falling out of the race for first, if they haven't already. Needless to say, they need to win that Yorkton game next Saturday to have any chance.
The deceiving thing about the 59 shots tonight is that the Klippers were once again guilty of playing 20 minutes of hockey instead of 60. It's a concern Rockie Zinger has expressed in the past, that his club sometimes waits until the third period to play their best hockey. They certainly did that tonight.
Jesse Ross got the scoring started at 7:32 of the first after taking a cross-ice, headman pass from Coltyn Sanderson and tapping it past Cahill glove side.
Lucas Ulmer made it 2-0 at the 94-second mark of the middle frame, winding up a clapper from the left boards just inside the line. Cahill probably wanted that one back but he may have been screened, I couldn't tell.
Andrew Dommett got the Klippers on the board at 13:47 to make it 2-1, but Drew George replied 57 seconds later after streaking down the left side, cutting inside and flicking a wrister into the mesh.
Keegan Bruce made it 4-1 with a power play goal 3:39 into the third, slipping the puck just inside the left post. But the Klippers stormed back. With 11:59 left, Braeden Adamyk slipped a quick centering pass to Dommett, who got a low shot off. Sanfred King rung the rebound off the iron and in.
Just when it looked like the Wings had it wrapped up, Riley Down tipped a Kurt Leedahl point shot with 4:11 left - without even realizing it until he turned around to face the net. It was kind of a funny moment.
Then, with Cahill on the bench and 23.1 seconds left, Adamyk deflected Leedahl's lob from the right point past Kilgore to force overtime.
I'm barely keeping my eyes open, so I'll post interviews with Rockie Zinger and Andrew Dommett tomorrow.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Klippers vs. Weyburn preview
The Kindersley Klippers and Weyburn Red Wings face off in their sixth and final game of the regular season tonight at the WCEC. It's a crucial game for both clubs, with the Klippers needing to gain on Yorkton and the Wings trying to overtake the suddenly surging Bruins for third place. The Terriers (four points up with a game in hand) are playing Melville tonight.
By all accounts, the game in Weyburn last Friday was full of bad blood and I'd expect the same tonight. If you don't have plans tonight, this is definitely a game you will want to catch since it could be a first round playoff preview.
Spencer Braaten finally makes his Klipper debut tonight after practicing full tilt since Monday. That's another good reason to take in this one. I'm looking forward to seeing the diminutive scorer in action.
Also, Brenden Ullrich is reporting that Johnny Calkins will miss the game with the flu and that Sanfred King will fill his place on the top line. That's a blow for the Klippers, but with Braaten and Wheaton King back in tonight, they shouldn't be hurting for offence.
But make no mistake, there is plenty of talent left on this club and it starts with Brock Appleyard and Drew George, both among the top forwards in the SJHL. Add the likes of Keegan Bruce, Lucas Ulmer and Coltyn Sanderson and this is not a group to be taken lightly. And the Wings are simply a tough team to play. Opponents really have to work to get two points from them.
Weyburn doesn't have that one stud defenceman (although I really like T.J. Wees) but they get it done by committee and boast the fourth-lowest goals against total in the league. In goal, Mitch Kilgore is outstanding and has been a huge reason why the Red Wings are where they are.
By all accounts, the game in Weyburn last Friday was full of bad blood and I'd expect the same tonight. If you don't have plans tonight, this is definitely a game you will want to catch since it could be a first round playoff preview.
Spencer Braaten finally makes his Klipper debut tonight after practicing full tilt since Monday. That's another good reason to take in this one. I'm looking forward to seeing the diminutive scorer in action.
Also, Brenden Ullrich is reporting that Johnny Calkins will miss the game with the flu and that Sanfred King will fill his place on the top line. That's a blow for the Klippers, but with Braaten and Wheaton King back in tonight, they shouldn't be hurting for offence.
Weyburn Red Wings
The first thing you need to know about Weyburn is that Shawn and Rodney Cowie have left the team. That is a massive loss, especially during a playoff race at this time of year. I don't know the reasons, but that's a very dubious move at best at this time in the season. Either way, the Klippers won't be dealing with those two tonight. Sometimes teams rally around something like this and play at a high level despite the lost talent. Just look at Humboldt's play since shipping out their 20-year-olds. We'll see how it affects the Wings.
But make no mistake, there is plenty of talent left on this club and it starts with Brock Appleyard and Drew George, both among the top forwards in the SJHL. Add the likes of Keegan Bruce, Lucas Ulmer and Coltyn Sanderson and this is not a group to be taken lightly. And the Wings are simply a tough team to play. Opponents really have to work to get two points from them.
Weyburn doesn't have that one stud defenceman (although I really like T.J. Wees) but they get it done by committee and boast the fourth-lowest goals against total in the league. In goal, Mitch Kilgore is outstanding and has been a huge reason why the Red Wings are where they are.
Kindersley Klippers
The Klippers are well-rested coming into this one, not having played since Saturday's win in Estevan. The break was much-needed with several players nursing injuries. Injecting Braaten and King into the lineup tonight is a big boost. I'm looking forward to seeing Sanfred King on the top line. In a lot of ways, he's a similar player to Calkins. Their vision and puck distribution are definitely comparable. King showed good chemistry with Braeden Adamyk early in the season, and when you combine King's playmaking with Dommett's shot, it could be a treat to watch.
Jesse Mysiorek remains out with an aggravated groin injury and was in Edmonton this week to see a specialist. It will be interesting to see Braaten on that line with Duzan and Hoffman. To me, Duzan and Braaten are very similar players.
Most of the Klippers' defencemen have been playing great hockey of late and with a huge divisional match-up tonight I would expect that to continue. Barring something crazy, Sean Cahill will get the nod between the pipes.
See you at the WCEC.
Sask West Hockey League playoff preview
I know a lot of the blog's local readers are fans of senior hockey, the SWHL in particular. Their playoffs begin this weekend so I thought I'd post part of the preview from today's West Central Crossroads.
I'll try to get a Klippers-Weyburn preview up later today.
I've also updated the Articles page with six or seven stories from the last six weeks or so. I've been lagging behind on that.
------
The dust has settled and the match-ups have been determined for the first round of the Sask. West Hockey League playoffs, which begin tonight.
Eston defeated Luseland Sunday to earn top spot and a bye through the first round. Luseland took second and will renew their rivalry with Kerrobert in the opening round. Kindersley finished third and will take on Macklin, which lost out in a three-way tiebreaker with Eatonia and Unity. The Huskies and Miners play each other in a fourth vs. fifth match-up.
Luseland’s Kelsey Muench ended B.J. Becker’s reign atop the scoring race, winning this year’s title with 68 points to Becker’s 65.
2) Luseland vs. 7) Kerrobert
Game 1: Saturday in Luseland. Game 2: Feb. 13 in Kerrobert. Rest to be determined.
The Tigers took a leave of absence last season, but the rivalry between these clubs surely burns just as strong as before, especially at playoff time.
Kerrobert will be hard-pressed to knock off the red-hot Mallards, but Luseland coach Jerry Fischer said his team can’t let its guard down.
“Their goaltending is good and I think as a team, they’ve gotten better all winter. We have to be good at all aspects of the game,” Fischer replied. “They’ve been playing pretty good of late. We’ll try not to take them lightly.”
Tigers’ manager Doug Flahr echoed that sentiment, adding that both Rick Sobry and Mike Aldous are capable between the pipes.
“We’ve played much better of late. We seem to have more energy and we’re playing a little more organized, but we’re still battling the injuries,” said Flahr. “Our goaltending has been very good. They’ve both had lots of practice this year; we’ve allowed a lot of shots. It’s been pretty consistent and kept us in a lot of games.”
But Kerrobert is missing their top two defencemen, Mat Olson and Scott Elstad, both out for the season with shoulder injuries, which will make it much harder to keep the Mallards’ potent attack under wraps.
“Their team revolves around Kelsey Muench. We gotta keep him under control and that’s very hard to do,” said Flahr. “Not that he’s alone, they have other top end guys too, but he seems to run the show.”
The series should help both teams financially at a time when most clubs are struggling at the gate.
“It’ll be good, playing Kerrobert. They’re close. Hopefully we can fill the rinks,” Fischer nodded.
3) Kindersley vs. 6) Macklin
Game 1: Monday in Kindersley. Game 2: Feb. 13 or 16 in Macklin (depending on outcome of Kindersley-Maidstone SHA series). Game 3: Feb. 17 in Kindersley. Game 4: Feb. 20 in Macklin. Game 5: TBD.
The Red Lions took a step forward this season and the Mohawks took a step back, but it’s easy to forget that the two teams were separated by only three points in a league that had tremendous parity this year.
Kindersley has no trouble scoring goals, while Macklin is more of a defence-oriented team which relies on good goaltending, which it got this year from Mike Clague.
“Our penalty kill has been awesome this year and Mike Clague has been great,” said Mohawks coach Jim Meredith. “We just gotta start putting the puck in the net a little more consistently.”
For the Red Lions, much of the focus is on improved defensive play and discipline.
“We can score goals, we can do all the hard hitting and all that stuff, but it’s gotta come from work effort. Macklin’s a (hard working) team. We’re going to have to try to win games 3-2 or 2-1,” said Kindersley coach Dean Dorsett.
“They’re a tough team,” Meredith said of his opponents. “You gotta play them the same way and stay out of the penalty box and put them in it.”
Sheldon Reschny and Cole Fern are the focal point of the Macklin attack and Dorsett said his club will have to shut them down, especially Reschny, to have a chance.
“The guy carries the puck, he does everything. He wins 80 or 90 per cent of the draws. He carries the puck on the power play, he does everything for them. He’s their key guy, and Fern and him play pretty well together and they’ve got some key defencemen.”
Meredith concurred, adding that Reschny is “probably one of the best defensive forwards in the league.”
4) Eatonia vs. 5) Unity
Game 1: Friday in Eatonia. Game 2: Tuesday in Unity. Game 3: Feb. 11 in Eatonia. Game 4: Feb. 13 in Unity. Game 5: Feb. 18 in Eatonia.
These two teams needed a tiebreaker to determine their playoff position, and there is little doubt it will be a long series.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to win this series in three games,” said Miners coach Dale Robertson.
The Huskies came out of the gate on fire, sitting in first place for a time before Christmas. But a second-half slide knocked them to fourth and they are looking to turn it around in a hurry.
“We gotta get better defensively and we’re going to have to shut down the Adam Shirley line and play him fairly close,” said Eatonia coach Sam Somerville. “We have to get quite a few shots on (Unity goalie Ryan Knapton) and get some traffic in front of him.”
Unity has a plethora of offensive weapons, including Adam Shirley, Ashton Hewson, Justin D’Entremont and Scott Hennings, and they are without a doubt a more dangerous team than their record would suggest.
“We’ve got a team that can put the puck in the net. Our defensive team play is sometimes lacking,” said Robertson. “We have played a little better and not allowed so many goals, and hopefully that continues into the playoffs.”
The Huskies, meanwhile, have gotten standout goaltending from Clint Wirth and boast an upgraded offensive corps that includes Jarvis Smigelski, Mike Thompson, Cam Aitken and Jay Hern.
“Their work ethic is great. They’ve got a fairly big team. They’ve got good goaltending,” said Robertson. “I think we stack up pretty good against Eatonia.”
Meanwhile, here are confirmed dates for provincial action involving Sask. West teams:
Kindersley Red Lions vs. Maidstone Jets (A): Wednesday in Maidstone, Feb. 11 in Kindersley, Feb. 13 in Maidstone (if necessary).
Unity Miners vs. Porcupine Plain Blues (B): Saturday in Porcupine Plain, Feb. 12 in Unity.
Eston Ramblers vs. Allan Flames (C): Saturday in Allan, Feb. 12 in Eston.
Macklin Mohawks vs. Conquest Merchants (C): Saturday in Conquest, Feb. 12 in Macklin.
Kerrobert Tigers vs. Wilkie Outlaws (C): Tuesday in Kerrobert, Feb. 11 in Wilkie.
Luseland Mallards vs. Dinsmore/Lucky Lake Dynamos (D): Sunday in Luseland, Feb. 11 in Dinsmore. Luseland defeated Turtleford 7-6 in their first round series.
Eatonia Huskies vs. Dundurn Wheat Kings (D): Saturday in Dundurn, Feb. 12 in Eatonia.
I'll try to get a Klippers-Weyburn preview up later today.
I've also updated the Articles page with six or seven stories from the last six weeks or so. I've been lagging behind on that.
------
The dust has settled and the match-ups have been determined for the first round of the Sask. West Hockey League playoffs, which begin tonight.
Eston defeated Luseland Sunday to earn top spot and a bye through the first round. Luseland took second and will renew their rivalry with Kerrobert in the opening round. Kindersley finished third and will take on Macklin, which lost out in a three-way tiebreaker with Eatonia and Unity. The Huskies and Miners play each other in a fourth vs. fifth match-up.
Luseland’s Kelsey Muench ended B.J. Becker’s reign atop the scoring race, winning this year’s title with 68 points to Becker’s 65.
2) Luseland vs. 7) Kerrobert
Game 1: Saturday in Luseland. Game 2: Feb. 13 in Kerrobert. Rest to be determined.
The Tigers took a leave of absence last season, but the rivalry between these clubs surely burns just as strong as before, especially at playoff time.
Kerrobert will be hard-pressed to knock off the red-hot Mallards, but Luseland coach Jerry Fischer said his team can’t let its guard down.
“Their goaltending is good and I think as a team, they’ve gotten better all winter. We have to be good at all aspects of the game,” Fischer replied. “They’ve been playing pretty good of late. We’ll try not to take them lightly.”
Tigers’ manager Doug Flahr echoed that sentiment, adding that both Rick Sobry and Mike Aldous are capable between the pipes.
“We’ve played much better of late. We seem to have more energy and we’re playing a little more organized, but we’re still battling the injuries,” said Flahr. “Our goaltending has been very good. They’ve both had lots of practice this year; we’ve allowed a lot of shots. It’s been pretty consistent and kept us in a lot of games.”
But Kerrobert is missing their top two defencemen, Mat Olson and Scott Elstad, both out for the season with shoulder injuries, which will make it much harder to keep the Mallards’ potent attack under wraps.
“Their team revolves around Kelsey Muench. We gotta keep him under control and that’s very hard to do,” said Flahr. “Not that he’s alone, they have other top end guys too, but he seems to run the show.”
The series should help both teams financially at a time when most clubs are struggling at the gate.
“It’ll be good, playing Kerrobert. They’re close. Hopefully we can fill the rinks,” Fischer nodded.
3) Kindersley vs. 6) Macklin
Game 1: Monday in Kindersley. Game 2: Feb. 13 or 16 in Macklin (depending on outcome of Kindersley-Maidstone SHA series). Game 3: Feb. 17 in Kindersley. Game 4: Feb. 20 in Macklin. Game 5: TBD.
The Red Lions took a step forward this season and the Mohawks took a step back, but it’s easy to forget that the two teams were separated by only three points in a league that had tremendous parity this year.
Kindersley has no trouble scoring goals, while Macklin is more of a defence-oriented team which relies on good goaltending, which it got this year from Mike Clague.
“Our penalty kill has been awesome this year and Mike Clague has been great,” said Mohawks coach Jim Meredith. “We just gotta start putting the puck in the net a little more consistently.”
For the Red Lions, much of the focus is on improved defensive play and discipline.
“We can score goals, we can do all the hard hitting and all that stuff, but it’s gotta come from work effort. Macklin’s a (hard working) team. We’re going to have to try to win games 3-2 or 2-1,” said Kindersley coach Dean Dorsett.
“They’re a tough team,” Meredith said of his opponents. “You gotta play them the same way and stay out of the penalty box and put them in it.”
Sheldon Reschny and Cole Fern are the focal point of the Macklin attack and Dorsett said his club will have to shut them down, especially Reschny, to have a chance.
“The guy carries the puck, he does everything. He wins 80 or 90 per cent of the draws. He carries the puck on the power play, he does everything for them. He’s their key guy, and Fern and him play pretty well together and they’ve got some key defencemen.”
Meredith concurred, adding that Reschny is “probably one of the best defensive forwards in the league.”
4) Eatonia vs. 5) Unity
Game 1: Friday in Eatonia. Game 2: Tuesday in Unity. Game 3: Feb. 11 in Eatonia. Game 4: Feb. 13 in Unity. Game 5: Feb. 18 in Eatonia.
These two teams needed a tiebreaker to determine their playoff position, and there is little doubt it will be a long series.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to win this series in three games,” said Miners coach Dale Robertson.
The Huskies came out of the gate on fire, sitting in first place for a time before Christmas. But a second-half slide knocked them to fourth and they are looking to turn it around in a hurry.
“We gotta get better defensively and we’re going to have to shut down the Adam Shirley line and play him fairly close,” said Eatonia coach Sam Somerville. “We have to get quite a few shots on (Unity goalie Ryan Knapton) and get some traffic in front of him.”
Unity has a plethora of offensive weapons, including Adam Shirley, Ashton Hewson, Justin D’Entremont and Scott Hennings, and they are without a doubt a more dangerous team than their record would suggest.
“We’ve got a team that can put the puck in the net. Our defensive team play is sometimes lacking,” said Robertson. “We have played a little better and not allowed so many goals, and hopefully that continues into the playoffs.”
The Huskies, meanwhile, have gotten standout goaltending from Clint Wirth and boast an upgraded offensive corps that includes Jarvis Smigelski, Mike Thompson, Cam Aitken and Jay Hern.
“Their work ethic is great. They’ve got a fairly big team. They’ve got good goaltending,” said Robertson. “I think we stack up pretty good against Eatonia.”
Meanwhile, here are confirmed dates for provincial action involving Sask. West teams:
Kindersley Red Lions vs. Maidstone Jets (A): Wednesday in Maidstone, Feb. 11 in Kindersley, Feb. 13 in Maidstone (if necessary).
Unity Miners vs. Porcupine Plain Blues (B): Saturday in Porcupine Plain, Feb. 12 in Unity.
Eston Ramblers vs. Allan Flames (C): Saturday in Allan, Feb. 12 in Eston.
Macklin Mohawks vs. Conquest Merchants (C): Saturday in Conquest, Feb. 12 in Macklin.
Kerrobert Tigers vs. Wilkie Outlaws (C): Tuesday in Kerrobert, Feb. 11 in Wilkie.
Luseland Mallards vs. Dinsmore/Lucky Lake Dynamos (D): Sunday in Luseland, Feb. 11 in Dinsmore. Luseland defeated Turtleford 7-6 in their first round series.
Eatonia Huskies vs. Dundurn Wheat Kings (D): Saturday in Dundurn, Feb. 12 in Eatonia.
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