Isles Rookies vs. UofS Huskies 9/15/09

[cohenzee]

Just wanted to post my observations from Tuesdays rookie game in Prince Albert.

Here is the full update from last night's game.

The arena is very small. 2400 is a near sellout for that building. The crowd was into the game all night. I even got booed a couple of times. In a strange twist of fate, I happen to be sitting one row in front of a long time Isles fan from the area. Unfortunately he was rocking a fishstick jersey, but I forgave him.

The game was very physical all night. I would say every player on both teams had at least two hits. In addition, scrums broke out after most whistles.

As reported two fights broke out after the horn. Katic fought Zimmer but just a lot of grabbing and no punches. Haley had a good scrum with Hobbs. Hobbs had the early advantage getting Haley's jersey over his head, but Haley came back strong and got the takedown. I call it a draw.

Goals:
Pd 1:
Tony Romano opened the scoring by finding a loose puck in the crease left of the goalie and jammed it in. The puck was there from a shot by Morency from the right circle. Took a couple of whacks to go in.

Huskies scored next on a 5-on-3 PP due to DiBenedetto taking a bad penalty after Rechlicz's dumb cross-checking major. I missed the actual hit since the shape of the seats made it hard for me to see the opposite near corner where it occurred. Based on the crowd reaction and the sound of the boards, it was probably pretty bad.

Pd 2:
Rookies were aggresive off the opening face off. Marcinko drove to the net and fed a nice pass right to Haskins at the right circle who wristed past the goalie about 30 seconds in for a shorthanded goal.

Huskies scored their only 5-on-5 goal when De Haan coughed up the puck in his own zone at the far side half boards. DaSilva recovered the puk and scored his second on a snipe.

Near the end of the second, while on the PP, Marcinko got the puck back to Klementiev at the point who fired a hard wrister that made it through traffic and went in.

Pd 3:
The Rookies took a two goal lead on a perfectly executed 5-on-3 play. DeHaan on the left point fed Hamonic on the right point who sent it down to DiBenedetto in the far corner who sent a centering feed to Martin who redirected the puck in.

With about 45 seconds remaining on the second penatly, Haskins fed Marcinko with a no look pass from just to the right of the goal. Marcinko wristed it in for the final Rookie tally.

Huskies scored on the PP with about 40 seconds left to kill Poulin's shutout.

Overall observations on the game:

The Rookies clearly came ready to play. In response to IE post above, while the rookies were a little dirty, the Huskie players responded very much in kind. Early in the first a couple of the rookies got interfered with without calls from the refs. I think they felt at that point they had to take matters into their hands. Doesn't excuse some of what went on, but does explain it.

For the first and third periods the Rookies dominated the game in all situations except the 3-on-5 PK (understandable). Regular 4-on-5, Huskies were unable to set up any kind of PP until very late in third. 2nd period with down five players for the first quarter of the period made it harder to play their game. The rookies also dominated the face-off circle winning about 85% of them.

With all the penalties, everyone got an opportunity on both the PP and PK.

The defencemen were very aggressive throughout the game. Leading rushes, making good outlet passes, and shooting often. For a normal pro game they led too many rushes, but against the Huskies they were almost never out of position. The speed of the defense is noticeably better than I have ever seen it. Should bode well going forward as these kids mature. Unfortunately or fortunately there was little to observe about the defense's defensive play since much of the game was spent in the Huskies zone.

The Huskies goaltender made many incredible saves especially in the third keeping the game closer than it should have been. He stopped several breakaway chances and two-on-ones.

The penalty calling was eerily similar to an NHL game. Lax calling early led to a really tight game later on. Martin got called two bogus penalties. After serving Rechlicz's minor/major, Martin came out the box just as a Huskie was going by. They brushed each other and apparently that was enough for a penalty. In the second he and another Huskie got into a shoving match; both got roughs but only Martin got a 10 min misconduct.

Comments on individual players:

Niemi looks much improve over last season. His skating was much better and was good positionally.

Another defensemen that I liked was Klementiev. He seems to have a good deal of potential. A good skater who likes to shoot the puck. His wrist shot looks accurate, and he gets it off quickly.

Katic had a couple of end-to-end rushes that garnered good scoring chances for him in the game.

De Haan had a mixed game. You can see why the Isles wanted him so much, but he still has a lot to learn. Apart from giving up the puck and then watching the DaSilva skate by him for the goal, he made a very dangerous play in the second. He brought the puck out from behind the net right next to the net and did not have complete control of the puck. As it happened, there was a Huskie player right there that almost was able to steal the puck.

The rookies goaltenders did not have to do much work especially Poulin in third as most of the game was spent in the rookies offensive zone. The Huskies got only 4 shots in the third; three of those came on the final PP at the end of the game.

Romano impressed with consistently driving to the net whether he had the puck or not. He was always in position to try and get a rebound opportunity scoring with one early.

Martin was physical all night laying out a couple of Huskie players in the first and couple in the third. He laid out a guy at center ice, then slipped on the ice (which was brutal the entire game). While he down a Huskie tripped over him. He was slow to get up after that. Rechlicz took his minor/major/game misconduct right after which was probably why Martin served it. All told he didn't get much playing time until the third period. One play in the third Martin tried to thred through two defenders coming over the blue line that drew an interference penalty.

Figren also had a good game. In the first skated circles around four Huskie players and fed a perfect pass from behind the net to Klementiev who got a shot off from the point. In the third he let loose with a spin-o-rama that got him past two defenders. Could get the puck in, but it was a nice play.

Morency was clearly the worst of the group. Putting aside his assit on the first goal, Morency was often out of position to make unnecessary checks. He fumbled passes and ruined a couple of good scoring opportunities including a two-on-one with Joensuu and centering pass right in front of the net. He did his job as an agitator including standing up for a teammate that was cross-checked without a call in the third, he just doesn't have the skills to be out there for regular shifts.



All in all, it was a great game and showed how much better the Isles prospect pool is over two seasons ago. While I would say only about half of these kids will play above 100 NHL games most have the chance to see regular shift at some point.

[CIsle]

Good read; thank you very much for the synopsis!

[wildeyes]

Morency is a piece of crap that whole game. HE IS 27 years old and he is trying to fight 19 yr olds during that game. Then in the flames game jumps the board and tries to fight Dion lol ( i guess looking for his 15 mins of fame)

For the huskies they had a young team 75 % of the team where in their first yr of CIS.

The game was not what i figured. I would was thinking a rec type game but it was a dirty physical game.

That Major was sick the huskie player laying on the ice and Rechlicz Cross checks him in the head then drops his gloves skates over the ice looking for a fight. In the CIS there is no fighting you fight you get suspended.

But in all Thanks to the Isles for coming to our province and putting on a great show good luck this yr

[macleod50]

Originally Posted by wildeyes

Morency is a piece of crap that whole game. HE IS 27 years old and he is trying to fight 19 yr olds during that game. Then in the flames game jumps the board and tries to fight Dion lol ( i guess looking for his 15 mins of fame)

For the huskies they had a young team 75 % of the team where in their first yr of CIS.

The game was not what i figured. I would was thinking a rec type game but it was a dirty physical game.

That Major was sick the huskie player laying on the ice and Rechlicz Cross checks him in the head then drops his gloves skates over the ice looking for a fight. In the CIS there is no fighting you fight you get suspended.

But in all Thanks to the Isles for coming to our province and putting on a great show good luck this yr

Yeah, the Huskies were just a bunch of innocent college kids looking to play a good, clean game of puck

[cohenzee]

Originally Posted by wildeyes

Morency is a piece of crap that whole game. HE IS 27 years old and he is trying to fight 19 yr olds during that game. Then in the flames game jumps the board and tries to fight Dion lol ( i guess looking for his 15 mins of fame)

For the huskies they had a young team 75 % of the team where in their first yr of CIS.

The game was not what i figured. I would was thinking a rec type game but it was a dirty physical game.

That Major was sick the huskie player laying on the ice and Rechlicz Cross checks him in the head then drops his gloves skates over the ice looking for a fight. In the CIS there is no fighting you fight you get suspended.

But in all Thanks to the Isles for coming to our province and putting on a great show good luck this yr

I didn't see the Rechlicz hit, but I figured it had to be a bad based on the crowd's reaction. There is never a reason for that type of play. Maybe if the refs had actually called some of those interference and roughing penalties early on, it would not have come to that. Later in the game the Huskies again started playing dirty without calls being made. They were lucky there weren't more fights.

I am sure because they weren't playing a CIS team, there was no threat of suspensions should fight break out. That wouldn't be fair to the CIS guys.

And by the way, most of the players on the rookie team were in the 18-21 age range. In fact only 4 players were over 21, and Morency was the only one over 23. Our guys, by and large, were younger than yours.

The people I met, however, were fantastic. Friendly and talkative. Makes me want to come back for more hockey up there.

[wildeyes]

Yes the people here are hockey crazy and pretty hockey smart. yup the huskies where dirty as well i loved it havent seen a game like that up here for a long time.

Hopefully our former Captain Jeremy Colliton will make the Isle some day

Take care have a safe trip

[IslesFanatic]

Awesome read. Thanks AC. You even got booed, hilarious.

[ps527]

Originally Posted by wildeyes

Hopefully our former Captain Jeremy Colliton will make the Isle some day

The pot sweetener is officially playing in the SEL now, so that is unlikely unfortunately.

[cohenzee]

Originally Posted by wildeyes

Yes the people here are hockey crazy and pretty hockey smart. yup the huskies where dirty as well i loved it havent seen a game like that up here for a long time.

Hopefully our former Captain Jeremy Colliton will make the Isle some day

Take care have a safe trip

Thanks. Hope the Isles go back next year so you another game.

[cohenzee]

Originally Posted by IslesFanatic

Awesome read. Thanks AC. You even got booed, hilarious.

No one has called me AC since 8th grade.


Getting booed rocks