(photo: Jack Lima Photography)
Rough starts to a season can either make or break a team. When you’ve struggled to win games, it forces a team to reflect on who they want to be. The Stockton Thunder are scrappers, a blue collar team, who have taken their difficult start and turned it around. They are known as the “comeback kids” for a reason. It’s not to say that the road ahead won’t still be rough, but the pieces are beginning to come together with solid wins a result. It helps when you bolster the blueline with sharp defencemen, giving your stellar goaltender room and time to see the puck. Complement that with talented offense who’ve gotten a spark from the return of two top notch goal scorers back from the AHL and you have a recipe for success.
After snapping a losing streak with a win against the Bakersfield Condors in a Thursday morning matchup the Thunder looked to continue the trend into the weekend set of games. There were glimpses of an improved team in the morning tilt, particularly on the defensive end, as goaltender Shane Owen got support from his blueliners and the goal totals were kept to a minimum. The weekend series highlighted the team’s improvements. In all three matchups, the Thunder got on the board first. Both Thursday and Saturday, goals came within the first minute of the opening period. Peter Sivak scored just 30 seconds in the first frame Thursday, and defencemen Austin Levi blasted a shot in just under 40 seconds off the opening faceoff on Saturday. “I was looking at the puck and it came right to me and I let it go,” said Levi about the early goal. “I wasn’t even looking at the net, I just ripped it as hard as I could and I was fortunate enough that it went in.” A flood of pucks then made their way into the net for the Thunder, with the final score a lopsided 7-4 victory.
Sunday goals didn’t appear until the second period of play, but the Thunder netted two power play goals in quick succession. One came from Sivak with Tyler Shattock providing the helper, and the next less than a minute later as a rocket from the blueline by Shaun Boutin, found its way through Condors netminder Ty Rimmer to the back of the net. Two more goals, one from James Henry on a nifty backhand play in front of the net and then Ryan Hayes iced the game with an empty-netter as the Condors scrambled to get a goal in the final minutes with an extra attacker on the ice. The Thunder netminder Owen only allowed the Condors one goal, one that could very likely have been disallowed given the contact forward Connor Jones made as he drove the net, sending both the puck and the goaltender into the back of the net. The final score 4-1.
New Tender Between the Pipes
The weekend series against the Condors featured a new netminder for the Thunder. Kent Simpson had been reassigned by the NHL affiliate New York Islanders. He was part of a trade that sent Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Islanders Organization. Lighthouse Hockey put together a nice summary of Simpson’s goaltending history. He hadn’t seen much action between the pipes, but stepped up with a stellar performance in net, stopping 27 of the 31 shots he faced. “I think I felt a little rusty at the beginning, not having played so much this year, but I think I settled in pretty well. It got a little hectic in the third there but that sometimes happens in those kind of games.”
Simpson’s job was made easier by the defence doing what they were supposed to do, keep the shots to the outside and make sure the goaltender can see the pucks that do come through. These simple things are a difference maker and something the goaltender appreciated. “It was just the simple things they were doing well, getting pucks out and giving them no room to breathe,” said Simpson about the defensive effort in front of him. “We played well in our dzone, played from the inside out and tried to limit their chances as much as we could. Obviously when you are able to see the puck, it definitely helps when you are able to see it all the way in.”
Due to injury with Isles Dave Leggio, Simpson’s time in the Thunder net was brief, as he was recalled to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers early Tuesday morning.
Blueline Bolstering
The Thunder have made some adjustments to their blueline, adding Austin Levi and John Ryder on the backend. Levi was assigned to the Thunder by the Carolina Hurricanes at the beginning of November and his impact in the defensive zone is substantial. He is a big body with good positioning, knows how to get in the lanes to slow down the play and can score from the point.
“He’s very mobile, big guy, he can really skate and he has a long reach,” said Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Rich Kromm. “He’s not necessarily a power play guy, but does have the ability to do it. He’s a guy we’re hoping can come in here, solidify our depth, and play a lot of minutes for us.”
Levi is paired with veteran Thunder defenseman Shaun Boutin, and the two had a lot of success limiting the Condors chances and making key plays at the blueline. “They have a couple good lines that we have to be hard against and not let them get to the front of the net,” Levi said about breaking up Bakersfield’s offensive drive. “That is a big thing that we’ve been trying to do is box out guys in front of the net so that they don’t get second chances on goals.”
John Ryder came to the Thunder on a trade from the Allen Americans. He is a familiar face to the Western Conference as he played with the Colorado Eagles and the Ontario Reign last season. He made his debut with the team in Sundays’ game, adding a solid physical presence along the boards.
Looking Ahead
The Thunder will take on the Bakersfield Condors for a pre-Thanksgiving tilt, continuing their homestand with the Utah Grizzlies on Friday night before the Alaska Aces come into town. If Stockton can keep their game simple, limit their time on the penalty kill and continue to get pucks in the net, they will make a solid climb in the standings.
Once again I read the 2014 induction list for the Hockey Hall of Fame and once again his name is not there.
He is an over looked veteran of the game. A retired French Canadian goalie who played from 1966 to 1982. He stopped pucks from the greatest hockey players of all times but yet, has never got his name into the famous hall.
He has won the Vezina Trophy, played twice on the NHL All Star Team and stopped pucks for the Canada Cup All Star Team four times. Born and raised in Quebec, Canada in 1945, his future was to be goalie to some of the best teams in the league. He played for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and yes, the Montreal Canadiens.
He retired in the 1981-82 season. But like all great hockey players he couldn’t leave the ice for long. He returned to the Kings in 1984 as the general manager, coach and the chief hockey operating manager. What else can a goalie do after retirement but land an office job! In 1985 the Kings honored him and his work, by retiring his number.
To me, it is awful that he is not inducted sooner. Did he not kiss the right baby or shake the right hand last Christmas? Did he get anyone mad enough to get himself kicked off the list for years? Have I missed something, cause I feel like I have? He seems to have the points, the ambition and the ‘retiring office’ part done but yet, he is still an outsider to the great hall of fame.
Do you know who he is yet?
His name is Rogatien (Rogie) Vachon. I hope he gets his place in the famous Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame, which he deserves. I also hope it is sooner than later! Lets get his name into the hall before he passes away or he gets to old to care.
So, the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame, the next move is yours.
(photo: Dinur Blum)
Of course there are players that are just good when they finally get to play their first actual NHL game but then there are the ones who totally blow the expectations out of the water.
Anaheim Ducks’ defenseman Josh Manson has shown the crowd what a standout player he really is. His time to shine came around when the Ducks’ injury list was at its worst with some of their bigger players like Bryan Allen who was recently traded to Montreal, Ben Lovejoy and Mark Fistric out with injuries so bad that they were no doubt going to be gone more than just a couple of games.
He made his debut on Oct. 31 against the Dallas Stars. He had a small role then but gradually grew larger when Francois Beauchemin was out sick. Now he is playing 20 minutes a game if not sometimes more.
Manson was drafted by the Ducks back in 2011 but they did not think that he was going to be up with the big boys playing anytime soon. Their plan was to have him mostly playing in the American Hockey League for the Norfolk Admirals.
Before some of the big trades that Anaheim did, they were not one of the teams that had the gigantic players that could shove guys around and a lot of the guys they already have are injured. At 6’3 and 217-lbs, there is no doubt that calling Manson from Norfolk to help hold up the defense was one of the best choices to get the Ducks rolling again.
At this rate, the 23-year-old will do nothing but keep developing from here. It will take a few bad games here or there but with the impression he has already set, he is going to be a major asset to the team in the very near future.
Yesterday, the hockey world woke to news that it had lost one of its greats.
Pat Quinn, 71, passed away at Vancouver General Hospital on Sunday night following a lengthy illness, announced by the Vancouver Giants early Monday morning. Quinn was currently serving as co-owner of the Vancouver-based WHL team.
“Words cannot express the pain we all feel today for the Quinn family,” said majority owner Ron Toigo in a statement releases by the Giants this morning. “Pat was an inspiration to all of us. He always said that respect was something that should be earned, not given, and the respect that he garnered throughout the hockey world speaks for itself. He will be sorely missed.”
Quinn indisputably left his mark on hockey. After a career on the ice spanning nine seasons, Quinn went on to coach an array of top NHL teams including the Philadelphia Flyers, LA Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and most recently, the Edmonton Oilers (2009-10). Quinn steered teams to a total of 15 playoff appearances and famously led Team Canada to gold medal victory in Salt Lake City in 2002 following a 50-year drought for the men’s national team. Quinn also enjoyed international coaching success at the junior level, claiming gold at both the 2008 Under-18 World Championship and the 2009 World Juniors. Additionally, he secured the Jack Adams award on two separate occasions, first with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1980 and again with the Canucks in 1992.
To say Quinn was widely respected in the league is an understatement, and this was clearly demonstrated yesterday as tributes poured in from throughout the hockey community. Coaches, players and public figures offered their condolences; Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed his grief over the loss of one of hockey’s greats.
The Vancouver Canucks held a press conference today in tribute to Quinn’s passing. The Hamilton, ON native was instrumental in the rebuild of the Canucks franchise, leading the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1993-94 season. Trevor Linden, now President of Hockey Operations for the Vancouver Canucks, served as an integral part of 1993-94 roster, arguably viewing Quinn as a mentor and figure to aspire to.
Above: Quinn with Linden in his rookie years.
“We have lost a great man,” said Linden in a statement released by the Vancouver Canucks today. “It’s a sad day for hockey and for everyone who loves our game. On this difficult day I am thinking about Pat, his family and his friends, and how much he will be missed.”
Linden continued, “I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for Pat. He was a great leader and always a teacher. He taught me how to be a professional on and off the ice. He taught me how to play hockey the right way, how to win, and about the importance of respect and loyalty.”
“Pat’s impact on our city has been immeasurable. He was responsible for bringing hockey to the forefront in Vancouver,” said Linden. “He brought the pride back to the Canucks and today his fingerprints and impact are still felt within this organization.”
Francesco Aquilini, Chairman of Canucks Sports & Entertainment and Governor for the NHL, added “I’ll always remember Pat as a great leader. He built the Canucks teams that I cheered for as a fan and created a new generation of fans in our province. None of us will ever forget the Stanley Cup run in 1994 or how Pat led Canada to our first men’s Olympic hockey gold in 50 years. I feel fortunate to have known Pat and I will miss him.”
A Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Quinn was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2012.
Pat Quinn’s impact on the beautiful game will forever be remembered and treasured, particularly here in Vancouver. He will be greatly missed.
(photo: Purdon Photography, Royals Hockey)
After falling to Elmira 3-2 in a shootout on Friday, the Royals met up with Indy Fuel for the first time in history this season on Saturday and Sunday. Santander Arena was packed Saturday as 6,209 fans filled the arena to support both the Royals and the players of the Army and Navy teams who played before the Royals faced off. Goalie Connor Knapp was back in the net Saturday night after coach Larry Courville decided to try playing Martin Ouellette on Friday’s game against Elmira.
Saturday
1st
The first period saw little to no action. There were no goals and no penalties even though the Royals took the most shots during this period. There was one shot that snuck its way into the net after being shot by Cam Reid, but the refs would rule it no goal due to incidental contact by David Marshall on Indy’s goalie Cody Reichard. After a fairly uneventful period, the Royals returned to the locker room to get fired up.
2nd
The second period saw a lot more action as Indy Fuel racked up a 3-0 lead over the Royals. The first goal came at 8:51 when Kirill Gotovets took a shot from the right circle and the puck flew over Connor Knapp’s shoulder. The second goal for Indy came in the latter half of the second period shortly after a penalty on Ryan Cruthers for slashing and an earlier penalty on Fuel’s Kirill Gotovets received two for slashing. Fuel defenseman Justin Holl scored his first goal as a pro with assists from Robert Czarnik and Mathieu Brisebois. Finally in the took an overwhelming lead against the Royals as Kirill Gotovets once again scored after his penalty expired, and he picked up the puck in the neutral zone at 18:16. The 2nd period ended with Indy Fuel leading 3-0.
3rd
The ending looked grim for the Royals as they entered the 3rd period with a lot of ground to make up, but that didn’t stop the Royals as they later came back with a 4-3 win. Early in the 3rd, Royals defenseman Maxim Lamarche started the Royals comeback by sinking a shot in the back of the net after forward Ryan Cruthers won the face-off and passed it back to him. At 6:21 into the period, Fuel’s forward Garett Bembridge was sent to the box for boarding. This lead to forward Pat Mullane scoring his sixth goal of the season with just one second left in the power play. Down by only one goal, the Royals regained their hopes of winning the game.
(Source: Purdon Photography, Royalshockey.com)
As the second half of the third period began, things started to heat up at Santander Arena. At 9:40 fans saw a gripping fight as 5’11” forward David Marshall brawled with Indy’s 6’6″ forward Garret Klotz. Marshall ended up with a black eye and fifteen stitches above his lip, but his fight fired up the Royals and led them to get two more goals in the last few minutes. Marshall later commented, “It’s a lot easier when you’re getting stitches and you hear that goal horn. I was yelling at my doctor to get my stuff on the dryer because I was ready to go out as soon as he put a couple in me. So, as soon as I heard that fourth goal horn go in and heard the excitement of the guys coming in. It’s a great feeling when you’re lying on that table and the guys are coming in and tapping you. I try to find some way to affect the game every night; it might not be on the scoreboard, but you do what you can.” He also added, “I don’t know if the fiancé is too happy about this with a wedding coming up this summer, but hopefully it will heal.”
At 11:48, Reading got a chance to tie the game after Indy defenseman Anders Franzon was called for delay of game. At the end of the power play, Adam Comrie shot one past Cody Reichard’s stick for his third goal of the season. Fueled by their comeback, the Royals later scored their game winning goal at 17:18 into the period. Mike Marcou took a shot that was refracted by Olivier Labelle. Indy goalie Reichard could not react quickly enough to stop the puck and the Royals skated off with a 4-3 win over Indy Fuel.
Sunday
1st
Sunday the Royals started out energized from their win the previous night. They seemed a bit more lively and aggressive than in previous season games. The Royals took the lead early at about two minutes into the game while Indy forward Robert Czarnik was in the box for hooking. Nineteen seconds into the power play Cam Reid deflected a shot from Adam Hughesman into the net. The Royals second goal came only half a minute after the first. Forward Andrew Johnston snuck one past Fuel goalie Sean Bonar on the Royals second shot of the night. At 3:36 Indy Fuel scored as the fan’s excitement sank. Luckily for the Royals, the ref quickly ruled incidental contact and the goal was revoked. The Royals were able to keep their two goal lead up until they gave Indy Fuel a power play at 13:48. Fuel took advantage of their extra man on the ice as defenseman Justin Holl snuck up on the weak side and tapped the puck in. The period later ended with a 2-1 lead for the Royals.
(Source: Purdon Photography, Royalshockey.com)
2nd
In the second period the Royals slowed down a bit while Fuel tried to pick up their game. Indy outshot Reading 19 to 14 in the second period, but luckily Royals goalie Martin Ouellette was able to block every shot with help from his team. He stated, “Last weekend, I had a couple of good games and I just kept going this weekend. I thought I played pretty well on Friday against Elmira and then again tonight; I felt comfortable with that. I think the guys played great defensively. We shut their offense down for the most part, so today was a great game and a great weekend.” Ouellette would later go on to receive game MVP. Once the Royals realized that Fuel was picking up their game, however, they picked up their game a bit remembering past games where they lost by getting too comfortable with their lead. The Royals were able to shut down Fuel’s offense as the second period went goalless and the score remained at 2-1.
3rd
By the end of the third period, the Indy Fuel would continue their record of having no wins while on the road. This period also went goal-less, but still saw some action. Late in the third there was more aggression from the Fuel as they grew desperate for a goal. In the last minute of the period Indy pulled their goalie. The Royals got a shot on the goal from the other side of the ice, but the puck went wide and the game ended shortly after with a final score of 2-1.
Overall, Coach Larry Courville seems to think that the Royals are playing better, but that there is definitely still room for improvement. He explains, “I think we are getting better. Obviously we got off to a good start here tonight with the first two shots going in. It was nice to get one early in the power play. But from then on in the second period, I thought we were pretty flat. I thought we had a good first half of the second. The second half wasn’t very good at all. And then I thought we managed the puck pretty well in the third period, just making sure pucks come below the goal line. They had really good scoring opportunities I thought, so I’m definitely happy with the weekend as a whole. It’s always nice to try and get 6, but five out of six is a pretty good weekend.”
What’s Next?
The Royals play one of their biggest rivals Elmira on Thanksgiving eve. Elmira is currently ranked third in the Eastern Division while the Royals are ranked 5th. The Royals will also host a post-game chicken wing shoot that night. Then this weekend the Royals will take on the Greenville Road Warriors at home in back to back games. Greenville is currently ranked fourth in the Eastern division, but has played three more games than the Royals who are on their heels and only behind by three points.
With the announcements on Monday, November 24, of the call-ups of David Pastrnak and Jordan Caron coupled with the later announcement that the Boston Bruins had assigned forward Seth Griffith to the Providence Bruins, fans everywhere are wondering if head coach Claude Julien will play the 18-year-old Pastrnak in his first NHL game.
After practice, which saw Brad Marchand on the ice for the complete morning event, Julien was asked right away if he was going to play the first-round NHL Draft pick. And with typical Julien-ness, he said there would be a few game-time decisions including both Pastrnak and Marchand. The only certainty was that Chris Kelly was definitely not playing in the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After Monday’s practice, Pastrnak was asked about how he was feeling and if he thought he was going to play.
“I’m happy I get this opportunity to come [to Boston],” he told the press crowding in around him. “I don’t know if I will play, but to practice with those guys [the Boston Bruins] is great, so I just try to enjoy it.”
When asked about being told he was being called up, it was perhaps the first time that the media has seen the effervescent forward at a loss for words.
“It was surprising. I’ve never had this before…,” he responded. “I don’t know, I can’t describe it.”
David Pastrnak
Of course a call-up does not mean that he will play, but he’s clearly happy to be even given a chance to practice with the team. And if he does play, number 88 will be easy to spot on the ice as his hair flies out from under his helmet and his smile never goes away.
Julien was asked Monday morning what he had heard about Pastrnak’s play in Providence.
“Well he’s improved a lot. Understanding the game, the North American game,” Julien responded. “The way we play here, whether it’s here or Providence, as you know we’re pretty similar.”
Providence Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy has no doubt kept the Boston club informed of Pastrnak’s progress. And he’s seen some good things in the young forward’s play.
“He’s a guy that it’s with the puck where he’s gonna make hay,” he told reporters in Providence after the Providence Bruins beat the Portland Pirates back in October. “He’s still a threat every time he’s on the ice and I think he’s building better habits into his game defensively.”
And improving his defensive play is what he says was the biggest adjustment he had to make since coming to North America.
“[I’ve had] to improve my defensive zone and get [simpler],” he responded when asked about the transition to the North American game. “Sometimes you can’t always make a play, so sometimes just take it easy.”
Whether he plays on Monday against the Penguins or not, he continues to be alert and soak in every experience so he can grow as a hockey player. And the Boston Bruins have to be excited about his attitude in addition to his skill.
(Photo: NHL.com)
The hockey world today learned that longtime coach and Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Pat Quinn passed away on Sunday at Vancouver General Hospital at the age of 71 after a lengthy illness.
Upon hearing, Hockey Hall of Fame Vice-Chairman Jim Gregory made a statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pat Quinn,” Gregory said. “Pat is one of hockey’s most respected individuals whose lifetime involvement as a player, coach and executive has made an indelible mark on the game, and our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and all of Pat’s family and friends.”
The Hamilton, Ontario native began his junior playing career with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs and the Hamilton Kilty B’s of the Ontario Hockey Association. After graduating high school, having been declared ineligible by the NCAA to play for Michigan Tech he joined the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL); the team winning the 1963 Memorial Cup that year.
Turning pro in the 1963-1964 season he began in the minor leagues, playing for the Eastern Hockey League, Central Hockey League and the Western Hockey League, being called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968.
His rookie year with the Leafs, he is probably best remembered for his open-ice bodycheck on Bobby Orr in the 1969 playoffs against the Boston Bruins. As Bobby Orr mentioned in his book, Orr, My Story:
“Anyone who has followed my career will know that on that particular night, Pat Quinn put a pretty good lick on me,” Orr wrote. “Pat was a big boy, probably six feet three and 215 pounds, and he seemed even bigger, because he knew how to throw that weight around.”
As Orr lost consciousness, taking the hit on the chin, and not coming to until later in the hospital, the hit sparked a bench-clearing brawl at the game. And the next morning as Orr was released from the hospital he met someone who offered to “take care of” Quinn for Orr. Orr mentions that it was clear if Orr took the man up on his offer, that something terrible would have happened to Quinn. Of course, hockey players prefer to settle their own disputes out on the ice.
Pat Quinn in 2012 (Photo: Wikimedia.org)
Quinn spent two season with the Maple Leafs and then he was claimed during the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft by the Vancouver Canucks where he played for two years. However, in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft he was once again claimed, this time by the Atlanta Flames (known now as the Calgary Flames) where he served as their captain.
After retiring as a player, Quinn went on to serve as assistant coach or head coach for teams including the Philadelphia Flyers , the AHL Maine Mariners, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Canucks. He eventually concentrated on serving as President and General Manager of the Canucks in the mid 1990s. Internationally, Quinn was head coach for Team Canada in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics; Team Canada for the 2006 Spengler Cup, the junior Team Canada in the 2008 IIHF World U18 Champions and the Canadian under-20 team in the 2009 World Junior Championships. In addition to winning gold medals from the 2002 Olympics, and with his two junior teams in 2008 and 2009, he was also awarded the Jack Adams Award, as coach of the year, in 1980 and 1992.
Current president of the Vancouver Canucks, and a 1988 NHL draft pick (second overall) by Quinn in 1988, Trevor Linden issued the following statement:
“We have lost a great man. It’s a sad day for hockey and for everyone who loves our game. On this difficult day I am thinking about Pat, his family and his friends, and how much he will be missed.
“I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for Pat. He was a great leader and always a teacher. He taught me how to be a professional on and off the ice. He taught me how to play hockey the right way, how to win, and about the importance of respect and loyalty.
“Pat’s impact on our city has been immeasurable. He was responsible for bringing hockey to the forefront in Vancouver. He brought the pride back to the Canucks and today his finger prints and impact are still felt within this organization.”
“This is a tremendous loss for the hockey community,” said Toronto Maple Leafs President, Brendan Shanahan. “Pat will be revered not only for his great accomplishments in sport but also for his courage and strength in face of his illness, and his dedication to family.”
“It is a sad day for our sport. Pat Quinn was an outstanding hockey coach. He had an excellend career as a player, coach, general manager and hockey executive. He was terrific at everything he did, including Chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Philadelphia Flyers Chairman Ed Snider. “He truly knew how to get our players to play hard every night. Through his leadership, motivation and drive, he led one of our most exciting teams—the streak team—during the 1979-80 season, which went 35 straight games without a loss en route to the Stanley Cup Finals.”
“This is truly a sad day for the hockey world. Pat Quinn was one of the most respected people in our business,” said Flyers president Paul Holmgren, who played under Quinn when he coached the Flyers. “A players coach at heart, his innovative systems and love of the game made it a delight for all who had the honor of playing for him and working with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat’s wife Sandra, his daughters Valierie and Callie and the entire Quinn family at this difficult time.”
“Whether he was playing for a team, coaching a team or building one, Pat Quinn was thoughtful, passionate and committed to success. Pat’s contributions to hockey, at every level, reflected the skills he possessed and the great respect with which he treated the sport,” National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement released today. “The National Hockey League, one of the many organizations to benefit from his devoted service, sends heartfelt condolences to Pat’s loved ones and his many friends around the hockey world.”
When death comes to someone who has done so much and been so involved with any one thing, as Quinn was with hockey, it becomes clear that no number of words can completely say what he did and his true impact. And this is so true when it comes to all the many ways that Quinn touched hockey at every level. May he join the hockey gods and continue to make his presence known.
(photo: Crunch Wiki by Letartean)
Yes, we all heard it right. An AHL game featuring the Syracuse Crunch and the Utica Comets played in front of an audience of 30,715 on Saturday night. The game officially set a record for the largest indoor crowd in the United State to be at a professional hockey game.
The night was even better than expected for Syracuse. The Crunch, a proud affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lighting, swept the Comets, an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, aside in an ending score of 2-1 in the Toyota Frozen Dome Classic. Syracuse’s leading goal scorer, Yanni Gourde, managed to score the final goal of the night just 49 seconds into the second period. Even though the Comets fell to the Crunch, the atmosphere of that entire experience could not have been that unpleasant.
The game even managed to overthrow an NHL game from the record books. The last record before Saturday’s game was the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoff game at Tropicana Field between the Lighting and the Philadelphia Flyers. The attendance was at a shocking 28, 138.
They still have a ways to go if they want to beat the ultimate record. Saturday’s game was actually the second biggest crowd overall for an AHL game. In 2012 when the Adirondack Phantoms beat the Hershey Bears 4-3 in Philadelphia, the attendance number was at a whopping 45,653.
Even though this was an American Hockey League game, which might not be a giant deal for some people, this just proves how much hockey really is coming up in the United States. People are appreciating all hockey more and more even if it is not the usual thought of ones like the Blackhawks or Penguins. At this rate, crowds will keep getting bigger, stadiums even louder and all games even better.
(photo: Trevor Will / SF Bay)
After enduring a long road trip and the first game at home that ended in a shootout loss against the Florida Panthers, the San Jose Sharks took to home ice again to face the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday – but with a change. The day before, the Sharks traded defenseman Jason Demers to the Dallas Stars for Brendon Dillon and a third-round pick in the 2016 Entry Draft. Dillon was paired with Brent Burns, and it was evident that the pairing was a healthy one with lots of communication on and off the ice. Dillon spoke of his transition to the Sharks:
“I felt pretty good. The coaches did a great job getting me prepared for the game. Quick turn around. The guys are great in the room. Burnzie is really easy to play with. It was great communicating, talking on the bench every play. It felt pretty good.”
With the first period underway, Antoine Vermette and the Coyotes took advantage of a power play opportunity and scored only six minutes into the game. Six minutes thereafter, the Coyotes scored again, leaving the Sharks two in the hole rather quickly. Antti Niemi only faced 7 shots during the first period and two of them went in. For comparison, the Sharks had 4 more shots than the Yotes but were unable to get past Devan Dubnyk. This trend seems to be plaguing them as of late: lots of shots, but low scoring.
In the second, the Sharks got revenge for the PP goal they let get away in the first. Tommy Wingels netted a short-handed goal from Barclay Goodrow, who recorded his second point, and assist, on the season. The rookie was happy to help. “It’s definitely nice to contribute. To play on short-handed opportunities is nice. Just finding ways to make the team be successful is nice.” Wingels and Goodrow seem to be a good pair too, hustling up and down the ice and grinding it out in the corners. After all that work, Wingels’ one and only shot was successful. Sometimes it just happens that way.
Andrew Desjardins got a chance for the Sharks late in the period, and tied up the game before intermission. It’s good to have that kind of momentum and confidence going into the locker room after the period and into the next 20 minutes… but that momentum was halted in the third. Coyotes Captain Shane Doan wristed one past Niemi only 52 seconds into the third period. However, the Sharks were able to tie things up on a power play almost halfway into the third, a deflection by Joe Pavelski from Burns. That was Pavelski’s 200th NHL career goal, and only the third player in franchise history to score 200 in teal.
The game headed into overtime, and it was the first time this season at SAP Center to not have the dry scrape in between the third and overtime periods.
After about a minute into overtime, the Sharks caught a break and went on a 4-on-3 power play but to no avail. Overall in overtime, the Sharks had 5 total shots, 2 of them on the power play, and all unsuccessful; the Yotes had 6 total shots, also all unsuccessful.
So it happened again: another shootout for two consecutive games at home.
For the Sharks: Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Barclay Goodrow
For the Coyotes: Sam Gagner, Mikkel Boedker, Antoine Vermette.
Vermette was the only successful shooter. Final score, 4-3, and the Sharks, yet again, had bad luck at home in the shootout. These one-goal games are hurting the Sharks, unable to get only one point instead of the valuable two, and could be their demise in the Pacific Division if this trend keeps up.
The vast majority of the hockey season in Ottawa is cold, really, really, really cold. Of course that can be said for many teams throughout the northeast and Canada. This weeks team look of the week encourages dressing warmly, while staying comfortable and fashionable all while showcasing a shoutout to the Ottawa Senators.
Layers are a key to the fashion game, layering up for the outdoor trek to the game is a must, being able to shed some of those layers inside the arena gets points too. We tried to pick a look that would enable that fashion want to be a reality on game night.
Everyone is talking about the camel coat this season and whether you have $500 or $50 to spend on the trend, there are many options popping up for any budget. A camel coat is a closet staple that withstands the test of time. The gold in the Senators emblem resembles the camel shade and it’s a much better option that blinging out in an all gold jacket; you’re heading to a hockey rink, not the set of Kanye’s next video.
Next, we picked a pair of skinny legged jeans, a baggy cream sweater and a faux fur vest. Keeping you warm, without making you feel bulky — often a hard task to accomplish during the hockey season.
Wedge sneakers to withstand the snow, or even a pair of ankle boots would work. We like the wedge, so if your shoes get wet, there’s a solid chance that your feet will stay dry, the wedge heel acts as a buffer. If wedges or heels aren’t your thing, a pair of black Converse style sneakers would make for a cute substitution.
A gold gladiator spear drop necklace, or a gold drop necklace of any kind pulls in the teams colors nicely. Since plaid is one of our favorite things here at The Pink Puck, we chose a simple plaid bag that will fit the basics on game night. A plaid wristlet would be a good alternative also.
Lastly, everyone needs to mix in a piece of team merchandise here and there, what better way to show your Sens support than a beanie that’ll keep you warm and look stylish too.
As always, if the Senators aren’t your team, don’t be afraid to use the outfit as a guideline and draw your own off-ice plan of attack to support whomever you cheer for!
Prev1...198199200...412Next 
Page 199 of 412
