Boyes suits up for AHL All Star Classic; Leafs now unbeaten in four
The St. John’s Maple Leafs continued their mild roll
as they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the
Lowell Lock Monsters 4-2 January 31st.
The rally was even more impressive after Lowell got
nineteen shots in a row after the Leafs shot their
first eight.
The Leafs got the game winning goal from Brad Leeb
with 1:10 left in the third period. Josh Holden,
Nathan Perrott and an empty netter by Doug Doull were
the other Leaf markers. Nick Tselios and Mike
Zigomanis tallied for the Lock Monsters. Mikael
Tellqvist made 32 saves for the Leafs to earn another
notch in the win column. Brad Boyes also added an
assist to push his point streak to five games. Boyes
was also named as the St. John’s Maple Leafs All-Star
Representative Friday night, replacing Alexei
Ponikarovsky who had to sit due to a wrist injury.
Boyes told Hockey’s Future “It’s a real honour to be
selected (as an All-Star).” Boyes has 17 goals and 22
assists for 39 points in 52 games with the Blue and
White. Boyes had planned to spend the weekend with his
girlfriend in Ontario, but with class, the Leafs’
Glenn Stanford arranged for Boyes girlfriend to travel
to Portland to be with Brad for the occasion. The AHL
All Star Classic will be shown on Rogers Sportsnet in
Canada. Game time is 8:30 pm Newfoundland time.
However, the talk at Mile One Stadium on this night
wasn’t the play on the ice but the goings on off of
it. Local Lock Monster Harold Druken, who was probably
the main reason for the sellout Friday night of 6,247,
did not play, much to the disappointment of local
fans. The official reasoning was because Druken was
suffering a bad shoulder, however, unofficial accounts
said the forward had been suspended for missing
practice after he had been seen having “a George Street
night.” However, Tom Rowe, assistant coach of the Lock
Monsters, told local media that Druken had a shoulder
problem and had missed practice. Druken had planned to
stay in St. John’s during the AHL All star Break.
The Leafs next opponent will be Albany at home on
February 7th and 8th, and then the Saint John Flames
on the 11th and 12th.
Leafs game report:
Leafs goals:
Josh Holden’s 15th from Anders Eriksson at 2:24 of the second.
Nathan Perrott’s 4th from Eriksson and Doug Doull at 6:54 of the second.
Brad Leeb’s 24th from Josh Holden and Brad Boyes at 18:50 of the third.
Doug Doull’s 9th of the season (an empty netter) at 19:36 of the third.
Lowell goals: Nikos Tselios, Mike Zigomanis.
LEAFS NOTES
With Jamie Hodson heading to Sweden to take part in
the Sweden Games, it looks like Sebastien Centomo will
be back in St. John’s to back up Mikael Tellqvist.
Contrary to what I had thought in an earlier report,
it looks like Centomo will not be the next Mike Minard
and is still regarded as a highly touted prospective
goalie. Let’s hope the time back in St. John’s will
help the young goaltender gain back some of the
confidence he may have lost. However, with the Leafs
playing better and back in the running for the Calder
Cup Playoffs, one has to wonder if Centomo will see
any game action during his recall. Mikael Tellqvist is
very set at #1 in the Leafs nets and it will be
interesting to see if the coaching staff will give
Centomo a chance to make a contribution.
Canadian supergroup Blue Rodeo played at Mile One
Stadium over the past weekend and singer Jim Cuddy
showed his colours… of the Blue and White that is.
Cuddy came out for the encore wearing a St. John’s
Maple Leafs home jersey, saying it would be a “good
luck charm” for the team. Hopefully for the Leafs, the
players won’t be singing “Already Gone” in the
dressing room with “Rose Coloured Glasses” as they
“Try” for a playoff berth. Sorry folks, couldn’t
resist. “Bad Timing”, that’s all.
Congratulations to former Leafs coach Marc Crawford,
brother of current coach Lou, for getting to coach the
Western Conference All Stars at the NHL All Star Game
in Florida. The accolades are well deserved as the
Canucks are flying right now in the NHL.
Local magazine The Downhomer, a magazine aimed at
ex-patriate Newfoundlanders, featured an interview
with Leafs coach Lou Crawford. One tidbit that was
quite humourous was Coach Crawford’s love of tools.
Meanwhile, Leafs Mascot Buddy “Duh” Puffin was
featured in The Telegram’s 20 questions segment on
Sunday. Some revelations: Buddy’s favorite movies are
classics The Birds and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and his favorite players are Wendel Clark, Darryl
Sittler and former Leaf Nathan Dempsey.
