Game Day!

Ahhh Game day!
After a 7 day Hiatus, the Americans are back in action tonight against the Red Deer Rebels who lost a tough one against Portland last night. I was able to listen to bits and pieces of it, and it sounded like a great one. (of course when you have some of the best up and coming and NHL talent on the ice that's what you're going to get)

     Portland went into the third period down 3-2 and it took 17.5 minutes to knot it up to force OT. Then in OT an odd man rush sealed the fate for Red Deer as Portland got the goal and the win. This is unfortunate considering a loss would have given the Americans a chance to gain ground in the standings.
Portland moves to 13-2.....13-2, and sits atop the WHL.

Tri City isn't that far behind and there's plenty of hockey still to play, but getting a win tonight will prove lot.

Below is the Game preview from NHL 11.

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Captain Kruise (Reddick) makes it back Into the lineup after sustaining a concussion during the Eastern Conference swing. Welcome back!
Updating from my phone as we got a late start. More will come later. Including an NHL 11 prediction.



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NHL 11 PREVIEW:

If you haven't heard by now, EA Sports' NHL 11 features all of the CHL teams. This gives us a great opportunity to play out a game to see what may happen:

The game started out great, Americans scorers tallied 3 goals within the first 10 minutes. Brooks Macek had a nice breakaway backhander that went just above the glove. The rest of the first was owned by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the rest of the Rebels who would tie it up with a minute remaining in the period. Nugent-Hopkins scored twice to set up an early hat trick.

The second period saw intense back and forth action. Red Deer would take a couple of tripping penalties but each time The Ams would get called after a short time on the PP, setting up the 4-4. There was no scoring until the last 5 minutes when Red Deer got a lucky break on a missed check (by Schmidt) to enter the zone all alone. Owsley had no chance as he committed too soon and got burned.

Third period started with the Rebels up 4-3. Americans scorers had numerous chances all throughout the period and really dominated the game but couldnt get anything to go through. Finally, in the last minute, 50 seconds remaining Eric Mestery (yeah the game has last years roster) took a shot from the high slot to set up a rebound...but the shot went in on its own (Mestery...scoring a goal...CLUTCH!) The game looked like it was heading to OT until Brooks Macek came in on a 2-1 and took the shot with 18 seconds remaining. The shot went in and the Ams would hold on for the huge win.



5-4 People! you know what that means?? BURGER RANCH! wooo, now lets hope that happens.

Alumni Update: Johnny Lazo

The WHL Radio show catches up with Johnny Lazo as one of the 275 former players to accept the WHL scholarship (for each year a player has in the WHL, they get a full year scholarship to a university of their choice) Johnny is attending the University of Alberta and playing for the Golden Bears. He talks about his decision to go to school, why he picked UA and what he hopes the future holds for him: click here (Lazo's interview follows Nino's interview a few minutes in)

One more Day

One more day until live hockey is back. Red Deer travels in to Portland tonight, hopefully (for our sake) Red Deer can get the win. Its friday, and my day off, AND there's not much news. (Which happens when your team doesnt play for a week)

-Chase

Good Day

...Then again it always is when Spokane loses!

RAIDERS 5, CHIEFS 2

Mark McNeill scored twice and added an assist to lead the Prince Albert Raiders to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday.

Todd Fiddler and Justin Maylan each contributed a goal and an assist and Mike Winther notched his fourth goal of the season for the Raiders (6-8-2-2), who put an end to a seven-game losing skid.  Eric Williams turned aside 34 of 36 shots he faced to claim the victory.

Levko Koper and Brady Brassart scored for the Chiefs (7-8-0-0), who were blanked on four power play chances in the contest.  Mac Engel made 23 saves in a losing cause.

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The Chiefs are now7-8 after 15 games in the basement of the US Division. Definitely not somewhere they wanted or expected to be this early in the season, (look on the bright side, you could be a Calgary fan). All of these loses are a really good thing for us, this team will not keep losing. This is still a dangerous team (A team that put up 11 goals against Regina) backstopped by a strong goalue in James Reid. The Chiefs have proved over the last couple of years that they will play until the end of the season so be sure to celebrate their losses when we can! 

Alumni Update

From Taking Note: F Jason Reese (Vancouver, Moose Jaw, Tri-City, 2003-09) signed a tryout contract with Dortmund (Germany Oberliga). He had seven goals and 18 assists in 57 games split between the Texas Brahmas, Arizona Sundogs and Wichita Thunder (all Central Hockey League) season.

Pickard saves (a lot) in T-Birds Win

From the WHL– Calvin Pickard turned in an outstanding 46-save performance to help the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-1 win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels in Western Hockey League action on Tuesday night.

Burke Gallimore scored twice while Charles Wells and Colin Jacobs – with a goal and an assist – also scored for the Thunderbirds (6-3-2-2), who snap a five-game losing skid despite being outshot 47-17 by the visiting Rebels.  The win was the 45th of Pickard’s WHL career.

Rookie defenseman Matt Dumba scored the only goal for the Rebels (11-6-0-0), who held a 33-10 advantage in shots on goal at the end of two periods, but trailed 2-0.  Bolton Pouliot made 13 saves in a losing effort for the Rebels.
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 So whaddya know? The T-Birds lean heavily on Pickard to get the win (as usual). I was able to listen to the last half of the 3rd, starting when Seattle was up 2-1. Can you believe Seattle only had 17 shots and scored 4 times (one empty). Sounds like the Rebels couldn't get the bounce they needed to get the win, or anything for that matter. Not to mention they were up against one of the best goalies in the league in Pickard (Its alright Red Deer, it runs in the family) Seattle's strategy definitely leaned towards shutting down Andrej Kudrna and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Again RD took a lot of penalties (9 for 21 min) yikes...out of all of that Seattle only made them pay once for their first of the game.
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DS has an interview up with Americans winger David Conrad. check it out

2 Cents Tuesday

 There has been a lot of talk in sports recently about concussions and the effect it has on the brain and body of athletes. For the most part, Ive tried to stay away from it, keeping my opinions to myself.

Concussions no doubt, are a scary thing. I myself have had a concussion, and I know that I don't want another. The difference between myself and a pro athlete though is that I don't have to worry about the millions of dollars I wont make if I don't play. And therein lies the problem:

Athletes play the game to make money (and lots of it), to make a living. Of course they know the dangers of concussions going into it, but they know that's a part of the risk. Hell, if I could make millions of dollars and maybe have the chance of a concussion or two...I'd take it. These players know what they are up against when they sign contracts.

I've related it to smoking. Back in the day when people started, there wasn't that much info on the dangers of smoking and what it can (and will) do to your body. As we as society got smarter, research showed that smoking is actually pretty bad for you, could even kill you. Yet, knowing this information, how many people do you know that smoke everyday? Friends, family members, you name it. All these people now know the risk of smoking yet they decide to do it any way knowing there's a damn good chance they'll wind up dead.

Sound familiar?

Obviously concussions are a bad thing. But so are sprained ankles, broken legs, and dislocated shoulders. I dont think that going in and overhauling a sport is the answer. Sure, take away helmet to helmet hits, that makes sense. but dont soften the games becuase guys are making a choice to play a game they know will hurt them.  It may be an insensitive approach to the subject but honestly, If you cant stop someone from smoking even though they know it will kill them, how are you supposed to tell a kid they should stop playing hockey (football, baseball, basketball, etc) and to give up their chance at millions and fame... I know that by working in front of a computer all day I'm increasing my risk of carpal tunnel, which hurts like an SOB...but you gotta do what ya gotta do right?

Just my 2 cents.

-Chase