The St. John’s Maple Leafs, desperate for some Christmas cheer after 15 losses in their last 20 games, got a nice Christmas present from Toronto with the claiming of St. John’s native and former Canuck Harold Druken from the Carolina Hurricanes. Druken was almost immediately sent to the St. John’s Leafs for conditioning. Unfortunately, the fans at home may have to wait a little longer to see him in the Blue and White as his conditioning assignment ends before the Leafs return home to St. John’s after a nine game road trip and the future of the 23 year old is unclear. Druken would have to clear waivers again before he is sent back to St. John’s, and it’s not known if another team may claim him. Most observers however believe the addition of Druken is to benefit the Baby Leafs, not just on the ice but also at the gate, where the teams slump sees a smaller crowd at Mile One than usual these days. The Leafs recent games:
December 12th-Hamilton 3, Leafs 0.
Ty Conklin made 29 saves and the Leafs bad luck streak continued despite a relatively solid effort. The Leafs had quite a few chances to score early as Brad Boyes, looking more like a star every time he sets out on the ice, hit a post and was robbed by a glovehand save by Conklin, Aaron Gavey missed a two on one and Bob Wren, despite a great deke effort failed to get the puck past the netminder. Jani Rita, Tomas Plekanec (with an assist from Bonavista native Michael Ryder) and Fernando Pisani tallied the goals for Hamilton. Brad Leeb sat out the game with a suspension while Chris Chartier (heel), Nathan Barrett(ankle), Robb Pahlahnuk (finger) also were scratched. Josh Holden who did play got served with a game misconduct after the forward got in a fight with Chad Hinz and didn’t have his jersey tied down. The win put Hamilton in first place overall in the AHL. Leafs goalie Mikael Tellqvist made 32 saves in the loss. Three Stars:1) Conklin 2) Tellqvist 3) Michael Ryder
Tuesday December 10th- Hamilton 5, Leafs 4.
This game should have been a win for the Blue and White but the faithful at Mile One were bitten thanks to two late goal bites by those pesky Bulldogs in the final 2:15 of the third as the Leafs fell 5-4. Benoit Gratton’s tally with 36 seconds left on the clock got the victory after the Leafs were up 4-3 with less than three minutes in the third. Leaf goals were by Brad Boyes (a pair), Luca Cereda and a shorthanded tally by Aaron Gavey. Dwayne Hay had a pair of assists for the Leafs along with Alex Ponikarovsky. Fernando Pisani, Jani Rita, Jarret Stoll, and Francois Beauchemin tallied the other Hamilton goals. Mikael Tellqvist played his first game in a while after suffering a neck strain The Leafs sent Jamie Hodson back to Greensboro after the contest, but Hodson will play for Canada at the Spengler Cup tournament. Only 3,889 attended the game, the lowest attendance for a hockey game at Mile One ever. Three Stars: 1) Gratton 2) Boyes, 3) Tony Salmelainen
December 7, 2002 Pirates 7, Leafs 3.
This game, friends, was ugly from the get-go, thanks to some defensive lapses by players that should know better. Anders Eriksson had another turnover for a goal, as it was his third direct turnover in three games that allowed a goal against. Trent Whitfield was Wayne Gretzky on this night with 2 goals and four assists while Andreas Salmonsson had five assists against the Leafs, who should have been buoyed by the late second victory over the Pirates the night before. Alexei Ponikarovsky, Aaron Gavey and a Penalty shot goal by Bob Wren (the first for the Leafs since Brian Wiseman did it in 1999)were the only offence the Leafs could muster against this Pirate ship. Sebastien Centomo made 31 saves and the Pirates tallied five powerplay goals on seven opportunities. That doesn’t do much for the PK stats.
December 6, 2002 Leafs 4, Portland 3 (OT)
The best win of the season? Probably. The weather outside was frightful as 30 cm of snow blanketed the oldest city in North America, but 5,442 Leaf fans felt delightful as Brad Boyes scored with 0.3 seconds left in OT as the Leafs defeated Portland 4-3. The Leafs came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the game and snapped a three game winless streak. Jamie Hodson started the game in goal for the Leafs but was chased after allowing 2 goals on the Pirates first two shots by Matt Pettinger and Trent Whitfield . Former Leaf draft pick Mark Murphy also tallied for Portland before the Leafs comeback ensued. Brad Leeb was the offensive catalyst with a pair of goals and Jay Harrison tallied the other Leafs marker. Leafs captain Craig Mills returned to the lineup in the game after missing 10 games with a broken finger. Sebastien Centomo got the win for the Leafs in goal.
Leafs news:
The Leafs recent World Junior night was a success, but
there was a bit of a booboo. Dwayne Hay, a recent
addition to the Leafs lineup was completely ignored,
even though he did play in the World Juniors for Team
Canada. Leafs who were honored included Brad Boyes,
Brad Leeb, Jay Harrison, and Craig Mills.
Is Druken the answer for the Leafs recent woes? Perhaps, but the answer should be on defence where the Leafs have given up the most goals by any AHL team. Despite that fact, the problem isn’t goaltending, but defensive lapses that have cost too many games.
Former St. John’s Maple Leaf and (former Hab first rounder )forward Terry Ryan, Jr. has retired. The 1st pick by the Habs in 1995, the Mount Pearl, Newfoundland native Ryan never fit in to the Habs and no other team wanted him after his contract dispute with the club alienated him from the Habs brass. He did play in Fredericton, the Leafs, the Utah Grizzlies and a few other minor league teams here there and everywhere. He ended his career with the Cincinnati Cyclones, with dreams of NHL stardom never panning out and the designation by the Montreal Gazette as one of the worst first round picks ever by the organization.
Bravo to former Leaf Nathan Dempsey for a four assist night recently with the Blackhawks. Meanwhile, another former Leaf Mike Eastwood was claimed on waivers by the Hawks from the Blues organization. Ok, the Hawks have former Leafs Dempsey, Shawn Thornton (in Norfolk), Ryan Vandenbusche, and now Mike Eastwood. Former Leafs bench boss Al MacAdam is an assistant coach with the organization. Hmm, is Buddy the Puffin next to be drafted by the Hawks?
