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Exactly 361 days ago, the stage was set
in an eerily similar way. The Kootenay
ICE had just finished off a four game
sweep of the Red Deer Rebels. The
Swift Current Broncos had just come off
a hard fought, six-game series with the
Prince Albert Raiders. Fast forward
almost a year to the day and you’ll find
that as much as things change, the more
they stay the same.
After subduing the Moose Jaw Warriors
in four straight games, the Kootenay
ICE continue the defense of their WHL
title tonight (Friday) against the Swift
Current Broncos (7pm at the Cranbrook
Rec/Plex). The Broncos, coming off a
hard-fought series win against the
Brandon Wheat Kings four games to
two, are backstopped by former ICE
goaltender B.J. Boxma who was
obtained in a trade by the Broncos on
October 24, 2000.
It is sufficed then to say that the
motivational factors coming into this
Eastern Conference Semifinal series
aren’t exactly lacking for the Swift
Current Broncos. That being said,
Kootenay ICE Head Coach Ryan
McGill says he and his charges aren’t
going to change anything to so far what
has been a blueprint for success in the
2001 WHL Playoffs. “We’re going to
prepare basically the same way we
prepared for Moose Jaw,” offered
McGill. “The biggest keys for us is
making sure that we’re playing our
systems and they’re not going to
change. We don’t feel that just because
we’re playing Swift Current that we
have to totally change the way we
forecheck or totally change a certain
way that we play the power-play.
“We’ Read more»
This is the second in a series of season ending reviews. This review covers Canadiens’ prospects from the CHL whose seasons are now complete. The players include Tyler Hanchuck, Alexander Buturlin, Dusty Jamieson, and Peter Chvojka.
Tyler Hanchuck -D (Drafted-00(3/79))
The Barrie Colts’ Tyler Hanchuck’s third OHL season included 2 new experiences. He experienced his first goal, and his first trade. His goal came during his 136th career game. He also added an assist as Brampton lost to Erie by a score of 6-2. Hanchuck was traded to Barrie on January 10th. The trade included 3 other players and 2 draft picks; Traded to Barrie were goalie David Chant, and center Matt Grenier (along with Hanchuck) in return for goalie Brian Finley, and 2 draft picks.
The 6’3″, 210 lbs. Hanchuck played 63 games. He had 13 points (2-11-13), and was -6 with 126 minutes in penalties. He had one point-scoring streak of 2 games, along with a career-high 3 game point scoring streak between January 27th and January 31st.
Hanchuck remains a defensive defenseman with an imposing physical game. He needs to improve his puck handling, and vision. Better vision will improve his consistency; Specifically when making a first pass coming out of the defensive zone.
Alexander Buturlin -RW (Drafted-99(2/39))
The Sarnia Sting’s Alexander Buturlin began the season quietly, but broke out with 5 points in his 9th game. His was incredibly consistent, going no more than 2 games without a point at any time during the season. He averaged 1.14 PPG, but his g Read more»
IHL NEWS
The Nashville Predators gave their IHL farm club in Milwaukee a helping hand Tuesday by assigning defenceman Pavel Skrbek just in time for the playoffs.
Skrbek has recovered from a mild concussion suffered March 17. The Kladno, Czech Republic, native appeared in 48 games with Milwaukee earlier this season.
Frederic Chabot of the Houston Aeros has been named the IHL’s goalie of the week after going 3-0-0 in three games.
Chabot, 33, is 21-15-4 this season with a 2.69 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He has previously played for Montreal Los Angeles and Philadelphia in the NHL.
Grand Rapids Griffins winger Derek King was named the player of the week after collecting four goals and three assists in four games.
King leads the Griffins in scoring with 74 points (29 goals, 45 assists) and is third in the league. He has previously played in the NHL with the New Islanders, Hartford, Toronto and St. Louis.
Veteran centre Dody Wood of the IHL’s Kansas City Blades, who has been plagued by injuries this season, is contemplating retirement.
Wood played 106 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks from 1992 to 1998.
“If I retired, I’d be happy because I played in the NHL and I’d be happy because I played there,” says the 28-year-old native of Chetwynd, B.C. “There wouldn’t be any regrets.”
IHL RESULTS FROM TUESDAY APRIL 3, 2000
Milwaukee Admirals 3
Detroit Vipers 4
Edo Turglav scored a pair of goals, including the game-win Read more»
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