Kelowna Rockets 1 at Calgary Hitmen 2 - February 26, 2012

After a brief stop in Swift Current to get a few hours of sleep, I rejoined Highway 1 to make my way to Calgary, where the WHL's Hitmen were hosting Kelowna in a 4:00 start. The storm had stopped and the drive was clear until I arrived in Calgary, where it was snowing again (below), but that didn't prevent me or 9,500 others from making their way to the Saddledome.

I visited here for that horrible Leafs loss nearly two weeks ago and I won't bother reviewing it. For the WHL, the Press Level is closed off but the rest of the arena is open, and fans are scattered about. Tickets in the lower bowl are $23.75 in the lower bowl and $18.75 for the upper, which actually has better views if you can sit in the first few rows.

There is plenty of parking on the Stampede site for $13, which is very expensive for this level of hockey, considering every other rink I visited has no charge. You might be able to find free parking offsite, but I didn't have time to check around due to the early start. There was no problem getting out as this area is used to heavy crowds for the Stampede.

Food options are the same as for the NHL game, so overall, this can be an expensive event. That doesn't stop Calgarians from enjoying it though, the Hitmen are one of the top teams in junior in attendance, averaging 8,263 last season to top the league.

The Game

The Hitmen entered the game in 5th in the East, just a point behind Kootenay while the Rockets were a solid 6th in the West. They would be the only team from the Western Conference that I would see on this trip, and when I heard they were finishing up a stretch of 3 games in 3 nights, I expected them to be easy fodder for the Hitmen.

Things certainly started that way as Kelowna took a too-many-men penalty early on and Calgary converted when Jimmy Bubnick popped home a rebound on the ensuing power play. The Rockets didn't even get their first shot until the 7:46 mark and looked tired. I was sitting behind the Calgary net for this period (see picture above) and didn't see much action until Brett Bulmer (below, who spent time with the Wild earlier this year) took a pass from Madison Bowey and beat Brandon Glover (great name for a goalie!) to tie the game.

The second period was choppy with a couple of fights and several penalties, including a 5-on-3 for both teams. Calgary scored on theirs, but it was disallowed as Danny Gayle was impeding Kelowna keeper Jordon Cooke (below).

Kelowna again couldn't get a shot on net, this time going over 10 minutes before finally testing Glover (below). Neither team scored in the frame and we went to the third still knotted at 1.

The Rockets found their second wind in the third and took control of the game, outshootingCalgary 8-1 through the early part of the period, but Glover was solid in net. Near the midway mark, Alex Gogolev found Victor Rask (Carolina's 2nd pick in 2011, below) who managed to squeeze a shot under Cooke's arm to give the Hitmen the lead again.

That was all they needed. Kelowna had a couple of chances late but Glover blockered them away to preserve a tough 2-1 win. Kudos to Kelowna for putting up a fight (literally, there were 3 bouts in the game) despite playing their third game in as many nights. A good game to end the Canadian portion of the trip.

Notes

The name Hitmen is derived from founding owner Bret "The Hitman" Hart, although the team has been owned by the Flames since 1997, three years after the franchise was established.

I saw 7 WHL games on this trip and the home team won every one.

Next Up

I'm flying to LA today where I'll spend 3 days checking out a few different games, including the Timberwolves at the Clippers on Tuesday night as well as one or two NCAA baseball games. Check back tomorrow for another update.

Best,

Sean

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Swift Current Broncos 2 at Moose Jaw Warriors 5 - February 25, 2012

The winter storm that had been predicted arrived in Regina just as I left my hotel, but it was mostly just blowing snow and the short drive to Moose Jaw wasn't impacted. After I arrived though, the storm hit with force, so I spent some time at the casino and a bar while waiting for the game to start that evening. The picture below shows the condition of the streets, not a lot of fun for drivers.

Mosaic Place

Opened in August 2011, Mosaic Place is a brand new multi-purpose complex that is the jewel of downtown Moose Jaw. Along with the hockey rink, there is an 8-sheet curling rink and a restaurant known as the Great Western Lounge, which is open during games.

There is little to talk about there, and I mean that in a good way. There is a single seating bowl with 14 or 15 rows per section, and some very nice-looking suites above it. The concourse is quite spacious and you can stand anywhere and watch the game while making your rounds.

Parking is free but limited within the parking lot, however street parking is free when there is an event at Mosaic Place.

There are concession stands at every corner as well as pop and candy machines. I didn't see much of interest though, just your typical WHL fare, with prices a bit more than I would expect.

There were no pennants or banners immediately noticeable; I'm not sure if that is due to the Warriors relatively poor success record or that they haven't moved them from the old rink yet.

The best thing about this place is the acoustics. I enjoy the sounds of hockey: the puck being passed stick to stick, a pad save, the players yelling at each other and this rink allows all of those to be heard more clearly than any other venue. Some may argue the crowd is too quiet, but I think that is a factor of being caught up in the game. Hockey requires concentration to watch properly and these fans follow that maxim closely.

Overall, this is a simple place where hockey rules. I arrived two hours before game time and was happy to find the rink open to the public. I walked in and watched a pick-up game between two teams of guys in their 40s, exploring the venue in the process. It was great fun to be one of few spectators in such a sparkling new arena (a few of the Warriors were watching as well, perhaps seeing their future). If you are every driving through Moose Jaw, check out the WHL schedule and see if the Warriors are in town, you won't regret a visit to Mosaic Place.

The Game

Both teams had played the night before and then traveled to get here and it showed. There was little intensity from either team and plenty of uninterrupted choppy hockey.

Moose Jaw had come off that terrible 8-2 thrashing at the hands of the Regina Pats and things started poorly for them when Richard Nedomlel (below, Detroit's 6th round pick in 2011) scored on a screen shot just 26 seconds in. After that we had seven minutes of continuous play until Swift Current took a penalty.

The Warriors tied things up when Kenton Miller beat Jon Groenheyde high after a give-and-go with Tanner Eberle. It was a great shot and Miller's third goal on the trip after he scored two in Swift Current earlier in the week. He's an undrafted free agent that seems to have a good touch around the net. Curious to see if he'll end up signing somewhere.

The second period saw the Broncos score against the run of play when Taylor Vause took a Moose Jaw giveaway and found Coda Gordon (above) alone in front of the net. Gordon beat Luke Siemens easily and I thought that we might be in for a replay of the previous night's game, where Moose Jaw outplayed their opponent only to lose. The Warriors had other ideas though, and they put the pressure on to score not one but two great goals just 25 seconds apart to take a 3-2 lead into the third.

That seemed to deflate Swift Current, who could only muster 4 shots in the final frame while Moose Jaw added a two more markers, including another by Miller, to complete the win 5-2. The highlights are here. You can see the Warriors' domination in shots below.

Notes

Great fans here, with over 4,000 showing up despite the snow. Of course, for them, this was just a few flurries, not nearly enough to keep them from a hockey game.

The Warriors were sporting their 3rd jersey, a red number with "Warriors" across the front. Good to see different designs when I see the same team more than twice.

Next Up

The storm was still going after the game ended, but the snow wasn't sticking on the highway, so it didn't slow me down that much. Ironically, I drove to Swift Current where I grabbed some shuteye before continuing on my way to Calgary, where I just saw the Hitmen beat the Rockets in the last game on the Canadian portion of the trip (update to follow shortly).

I'm flying to LA tomorrow where I've got two or three events to there before I head back to Japan. As usual, keep checking back for updates.

Best,

Sean

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Moose Jaw Warriors 2 at Regina Pats 8 - February 24, 2012

After a 6-hour drive west along the Trans-Canada Highway, I arrived in Regina to watch the hometown Pats host the Moose Jaw Warriors in WHL action.

Brandt Centre

Located on the western edge of Saskatchewan's capital, the Brandt Centre was opened in 1977 as the Regina Agridome and renamed in 2005 when local agricultural equipment manufacturer Brandt bought the naming rights. It is the main attraction of Evraz Place, a trade show and exhibition space that is used for fairs and rodeos among other events.

There are two main access routes for cars that lead to a large parking lot, which is free and reasonably easy to escape from after the game. There is one main entrance at the east end of the building where the box office is located inside a large lobby. There are two seating levels and tickets are $20 for a seat in either; I found the upper deck to provide somewhat better views. There is one section called the Safeway Funzone which is only $10 with a catch: tickets must be bought at a local Safeway. That's not much use for us roadtrippers.

There is a concourse between the two levels and this can get very crowded during intermissions. Many fans use this concourse as a standing area during the game, but it isn't that useful as you have to stand about a foot back from the top row of seats, so there are areas that are not clearly visible. I also noticed that the number of seats per row is quite long, with some rows containing 24 seats. If you don't like getting up and down all game, avoid the aisle seats here.

There are a number of concession stands but I found the food to be rather expensive for a junior rink, with the chicken strips running $8.50. Poutine was also available at $6.50 but did not look particularly appetizing, so I did not partake. There was one bargain, a 32 oz beer for only $10, that seemed to be the beverage of choice among the men.

The Pats are the oldest junior hockey franchise in the world, having been founded in 1917 and operated continuously since then. They were originally named the Patricias after a granddaughter of Queen Victoria; the name was shorted to Pats in 1923. There are a few pennants here from those days, including one commemorating a 1919 Memorial Cup Finals appearance. That was the year the Stanley Cup wasn't awarded due to an outbreak of influenza. You can also see the 1925 and 1930 championship pennants below.

There are also a few picture banners of old Pats heroes, including Doug Wickenheiser. All of these are located at the back of the rink, surrounding the main scoreboard. Unlike nearly every other arena, there is no scoreboard over center ice here, so if you are sitting in the end zone below, you have to turn around to see replays. There are a few TV monitors but they are too small to be of much use.

Due to the scoreboard and pennants, the upper bowl doesn't go all the way around the rink. If you like to sit up high behind the net, you only have one choice here.

The most surprising feature here is a hot tub that is used as a promotional tool for a local business. Sitting right next to the ice, it was filled with 4 hardy souls in bathing suits, who seemed to spend most of the game there. I can't imagine the condition of their skin after 2 hours in that thing.

Overall, the Brandt Centre is a decent venue for junior hockey with some history and a very good crowd. I like to move around from place to place to take pictures but the place was nearly full and I couldn't find a good seat because they were all taken. It is worth visiting but I'd suggest buying tickets in advance if you are particular about where you sit.

The Game

The Pats were 7th in the East but a fairly solid playoff bet with a 10-point lead on 9th-place Red Deer. The Warriors were 2nd, so there is a chance this would be a playoff preview. For Moose Jaw's sake, I hope it isn't.

After Moose Jaw dominated the first few shifts only to be denied by keeper Matt Hewitt (above), they took their first of many penalties and the Pats converted when Lane Scheidl perfectly deflected a point shot. Despite the early deficit, Moose Jaw continued to dominate and were finally rewarded when Cam Braes scored after the Warriors spent 3 minutes cycling the puck in the Regina zone.

The Pats regained the lead against the run of play when Morgan Klimchuk beat Luke Siemens with a pretty deke on a delayed penalty. The first period ended 2-1 for the home team despite Moose Jaw outplaying the Pats for much of the frame.

In the second, Jordan Weal (above, drafted by L.A. 70th overall in 2010) began to put on a show. First he assisted on a goal by Chandler Stephenson (#22 below) who threw the puck at the net and was fortunate to have Siemens misplay it. Then Weal showed a true goal scorer's touch, finding open space and beating Siemens on the short side. The second stanza ended 4-1, and Siemens was replaced by Spencer Tremblay (below) to start the third.

The goalie change did not work at all though, as Weal assisted on another power play marker that took several minutes to review and then added his second on another fantastic shot. It was his 100th point of the season making him the 4th WHL player to reach that milestone so far.

The rest of the game was pretty much garbage time. Regina added two more with their eighth being yet another goalie error. Below is a shot of Tremblay pulling himself out of the net just hoping that the game would soon be over.

Moose Jaw added a meaningless one when Hewitt misplayed a Kendall McFaull shot with a couple of minutes left, but that's didn't stop him from being awarded the game's 2nd star behind Weal, whose 4 points gave him the first star. Highlights are here.

This was an ugly game from the second period onward, with far too many penalties and scuffling after the whistle. There was one good fight between Cody Beach and Brandon Underwood (above). I've seen a lot of hockey on this trip but few fights, as it is obvious that fisticuffs are on the decline across all levels of hockey. This trend doesn't bother me, but I still enjoy a good scrap once in a while and this was the best one on the journey.

Overall though, there wasn't much to remember here. Neither Warrior keeper played well and the team will look to rebound tomorrow when they host Swift Current (they did, winning that game0. I'll be there too and hope for a better game than this one.

Notes

The scoreboard showed the Canadiens-Capitals game until the players began the warmup. After that though, there was no out of town scoreboard or announcement of the result.

The 50-50 winner was from Moose Jaw, which elicited a few boos, despite the score being 8-1 at that time. Hey, at least Moose Jaw won something!

Next Up

I'm driving a short distance to Moose Jaw tomorrow for a rematch of last weeks Swift Current-Warriors game. There's a winter storm warning in effect for southern Saskatchewan, so that could slow me down considerably, but the two cities are just an hour apart, so I should be able to make it. Check back tomorrow to make sure I did.

Best,

Sean

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Moose Jaw Warriors 4 at Swift Current Broncos 5 (SO) - February 20, 2012

Happy Family Day! Yep, some provinces in Canada have what is known as Family Day (it's Louis Riel day in Manitoba) which meant a Monday afternoon tilt in Swift Current giving us enough time to get to Winnipeg for a game on Tuesday night.

Credit Union iPlex

Located two kilometers south of the TransCanada Highway just off Highway 4, the Credit Union iPlex is an older venue that has recently undergone renovations to make it one of junior hockey's better spots. It was built in 1967 which is when the Broncos began play in the WHL, and new seats were added along with an additional ice rink and a curling rink in 2007.

As is usually the case with junior hockey rinks in the WHL, parking here is free and plentiful. Tickets are $17 and I'd recommend the top rows along the boards as the best option. There is a standing area above the seating bowl on both sides of the rink. The team offers Two Two Twosdays where tickets are only $2 as are burgers and sodas, a great deal if you are fortunate enough to be in town on a Tuesday.

As you enter the barn (an apt name as the roof resembles that of a barn), you will find yourself in the lobby area which is where the main concession stand is located. The usual fare is found here, I tried the chicken strips which were a bargain at $5, coming with five strips, make sure to ask for the sauce though. Many fans spend the game standing in the lobby as you can get great views right at the glass behind one of the goals, as you can see above.

At the other end of the rink are the suites (white boxes below) and behind these is another concession that sells ice cream.

Financial problems forced the club to move to Lethbridge in 1974, where they stayed for 12 years before the town raised enough cash to buy back the team and return them to Swift Current. Behind the suites you can find pictures of each Broncos team from their second coming in 1986.

That year was marked by tragedy when the team bus crashed as it left the town for a road trip, killing four players. There is a memorial banner inside the rink as well as a plaque in the lobby, and the team jersey sports a patch with a four-leaf clover enclosing the four numbers.

Sadly for the town, that was not the only terrible event to befall the Broncos. Graham James, now a convicted sexual predator, was their coach from 1986-94 and was abusing several of his players. The story is very well known in Canada and is a truly disgusting tale that cannot be ignored as James is in those team pictures and a commemorative plaque. There has not been much media coverage south of the border, but this older ESPN article by Gare Joyce covers both subjects in detail and is a good if rather depressing read.

Despite all the tragedy, the team recovered to win the Memorial Cup just two seasons later, before the James mess became public knowledge.

The team warms up to very loud music and then skates out onto the ice through a small inflated log cabin, called "The Stable", which is also the name of the team store. The scoreboard is very small due to the limited space in the roof, and doesn't carry live action or highlights, instead cycling through the same four ads.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching the game here. There are great sightlines and good fans and costs are reasonable. The tragedy is not forgotten and though some say more can be done to remember those 4 who died over 25 years ago, I think the banner and plaque are enough. Rather, I think the team needs to remove the presence of a convicted pedophile from the arena, his name and picture are far too prevalent.

The Game

The Moose Jaw Warriors are the Broncos' nearest rivals, lying just 2 hours east. These two teams have played six times already this season, with the Warriors winning four. Moose Jaw has two first-round picks from the 2010 NHL Draft, with Dylan McIlrath of the Rangers (10th overall, above) and Quinton Howden of the Panthers (25th, below) who are both finishing their junior careers this season. The Warriors are a strong team, lying second in the east while the Broncos were tenth and well out of the playoffs.

McIlrath took an early penalty and Swift Current capitalized when Brad Hoban converted on a give-and-go, beating Warriors' goalie Spencer Tremblay from the slot. Moose Jaw matched that just a minute later when newcomer Cam Braes scored a beauty on a rapid wraparound.

That pattern repeated itself three more times, with the home team scoring only to have the Warriors fight back to tie within a few minutes. Below is Graeme Craig's PP goal that made it 3-2 at the midway point of the second period.

Kenton Miller was the star for the visitors, scoring two and assisting on Howden's game-tying goal in the third. After that, Broncos' keeper Jon Groenheyde made some great saves to preserve the tie, including an unbelievable stop on another wraparound (check around 2:05 in the highlights, which are of very poor quality).

Overtime solved nothing so we went to a shootout. Hoban went first and scored on a backhand deke (below). For once, Moose Jaw had no answer, as Braes, Miller, and Howden all missed and Swift Current took the game.

This was one of the best junior games I've witnessed, with both teams playing hard for the entire game, some great goals, even better saves, and a home team win. I'll be seeing these two teams again in Moose Jaw on Saturday, one day after I see the Warriors in Regina and I can only hope those games are as exciting as this one.

Notes

While I was touring the rink to take some pics, Dumpster, one of the mascots, took my seat and chatted with Sharpy.

Next Up

We are in Winnipeg now, where the Jets take on Philly tonight. Check back for a recap of that one.

Best,

Sean

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Swift Current Broncos 3 at Saskatoon Blades 7 - February 17, 2012

After a beautiful winter's day drive from Edmonton to Saskatoon, Sharpy and I took in a junior hockey game in the evening. I've never felt more Canadian!

Credit Union Centre

The Saskatoon Blades play in one of the largest facilities in all of junior hockey, the Credit Union Centre with a capacity of 15,195, although much of the seating bowl is closed off for these games.

Opened in 1988, the facility was controversial due to its location in an industrial park at the north end of the city, just off highway 16. Access is limited to a few roads that lead to a large parking lot with free entrance; exiting after the game is very simple as well as you can reach the highway in just a couple of minutes.

One of the streets is named Bill Hunter Avenue after the man who tried to bring the NHL to Saskatoon back in the early 1980s. As well, hockey great Gordie Howe grew up here and is honoured with a street name and a statue outside the front entrance.

The venue has hosted two World Junior Hockey Championships, three Briers, and a number of other big sporting events, including some NHL pre-season games.

There are two ticket types: club seats in the upper rows of the lower bowl (note the darker seats above) where you can order food ($24.75); and the rest ($19.75). Be careful sitting low down next to the benches as the players stand up to watch and block your view when the play is in the other end.

The concourse is obviously more spacious than necessary given that the attendance is about a third of capacity. There are a couple of banks of TVs that are tuned to different channels that give you a chance to catch up on other games during the intermissions.There is a trophy case that displays all the Blades' trophies as well as the WHL Eastern Conference trophy, won by Saskatoon last year and hence on display for a few more weeks.

As mentioned, several upper level sections are blocked by curtains and the others have yellow tape to limit access to the upper rows.

Food options are quite limited, with nothing out of the ordinary here. There is a restaurant called the Backstage Lounge which offers burgers, ribs, and chicken strips that might be worth trying. I just had BBQ chicken bun which was acceptable.

There are several retired numbers, including Wendel Clark's #22 and a few championship banners in the rafters.

The scoreboard is four-sided with a video board that plays live action and replays, but doesn't include shots on goal, which are displayed on smaller counters above the lower seating bowl. There are two ribbon boards on either end of the rink as well that displayed upcoming events.

It is hard to believe that this facility is nearly 25 years old as it has been well-maintained and could easily house a pro team, although probably not the NHL. It is really too big for junior hockey and the atmosphere suffers as a result. I think this place would be great when it is full, so you might want to consider the 2013 Memorial Cup to make a visit.

The Game

Saskatoon were fourth in the East and fighting for home advantage in the first round of the playoffs, while Swift Current were 10th and playing out the string. I expected the Blades to have no trouble taming the Broncos, and that is how it turned out.

Saskatoon scored two power play goals in the first, including one by Canadiens' prospect Darren Dietz (above) on a beautiful shot that beat Jon Groenheyde up high.

In the second, Swift Current scored an early power play marker but Saskatoon quickly responded when Brett Stovin banged home a rebound (below).

The same scene repeated itself twice as the Broncos would draw within one only to have the Blades answer within a couple of minutes. After Swift Current made it 3-2, Dietz scored his second, converting a beautiful cross-ice pass from Leafs' prospect Josh Nicholls. Check out all the highlights here.

When the Broncos made it 4-3, Dietz again gave Saskatoon a two-goal cushion, tapping in a rebound for the hat trick. The fans didn't seem to get it as not a single hat was thrown on the ice. So Dietz did what had to be done. Thirty seconds after his 3rd goal, he added a 4th on a 4-on-1 and only then were a couple of chapeaus tossed over the boards.

Lukas Sutter (son of Rich) sizes up Dalton Reum for a hit

The third period was simply window dressing as the Blades added one more against back up goalie Austin Smith to make the final 7-3. The shots totalled 45-43 for Saskatoon, but many of these were of the harmless "throw it at the net" variety.

It's not often that you see a defenseman score 4 goals, and Dietz was obviously the first star. He had scored only 10 goals before this game, so it was definitely an unexpected surprise for him and the Blades. I wonder if we'll see him in Montreal in the next few years.

Notes

The Blades' keeper was Andrei Makarov, who played for Russia in the recent World Junior Championships, saving 57 of 58 shots in that stunning 1-0 OT loss that gave the title to Sweden. That's him below as Swift Current's Ryon Moser looks for the puck.

One interesting promotion is having the game puck delivered to the ref, who has to sign for it. I guess the promotion didn't work that well though, as I didn't notice the delivery company who sponsored it.

Next Up

We're staying in Saskatoon for the day to watch some CIS (that's the NCAA in Canada-speak) basketball as the U of S Huskies host Regina in both women's and men's action. Check back for updates on that.

Best,

Sean

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