Five-minute recap of Friday…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Sounds like I missed a good one, huh? Figures.
Able to talk to head coach Doug Sauter on the phone and discuss the 5-4 overtime loss to Mississippi. Talk about Eric Przepiorka’s debut in a minute, some housekeeping duties.
- Defenseman Tyler Harder injured his back in the second period. He’s day-to-day.
- Centerman Brian Passmore missed the game with a left knee injury. He’s, yep, day-to-day.
- Forward Ted Vandermeer returned after missing the last four games and scored a goal. Sauter said Vandermeer is still not 100 percent by any means.
- Goaltender Andy Franck will get the start on his bobblehead night against Rocky Mountain.
- Mississippi’s Jeff Nelson suffered a concussion and had to be helped off the ice.
Some game observations
- Guess the second period was about as wild a 20 minutes the team has seen this season. Blazers were down 4-1 but scored three goals to tie it up. And according to pointstreak, three goals in 1:25. A short-hander, a power-play and an even-strength goal all late in the second.
- Oklahoma City had to kill off a five-minute boarding major in the third on Josh Patterson and did so. Noticed Patterson picked up his second game-misconduct in three games.
- Blazers normally outshoot opponents but this was as close as can be with both goaltenders saving 33 shots and Mississippi having one more attempt.
- Without being there, can’t comment on Justin Sawyer getting a kneeing minor in overtime to set up the game-winner from Matt Summers.
- Sauter said Przepiorka played well in his debut. He had an assist and had a third assist (if that was given) on Jeff MacDermid’s goal. He took Passmore’s spot for this night.
- Oklahoma City is starting to get that balance. Chad Hinz has scored a goal in each of the last two games. D.J. Jelitto has had at least one point in the last six games. And says a lot about Ted Vandermeer to be able to come back and notch a goal as well.
- Blazers ended up gaining a point tonight as Colorado woke from its slumber to defeat Bossier-Shreveport.
- The current standings have Mississippi in first (75 pts), Bossier (70) and Oklahoma City (69). Saturday’s tilts are Bossier at Texas, Mississippi hosting Colorado and of course, Rocky Mountain comes into Oklahoma City. Mississippi trails Colorado by four points for the top spot.
I throw it out to the readers. Your thoughts on Friday are more than welcome. Be back late Saturday again after I get home from HS wrestling.
Sawyer video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, we’re through session one here at State Fair Arena for the state high school wrestling championships. Everything is running on schedule as of now, which is great.
Like I said, Bob Hersom will be your eyes and ears next couple of nights. But I did get the OK to travel to Tulsa the next two Tuesdays and make my first trips to the BOK Center.
In the meantime, if you haven’t checked it out on the NewsOK Blazers page, here is the postgame interview with Justin Sawyer following the 3-2 shootout win Wednesday vs. Bossier-Shreveport.
The Mudbugs host Colorado tonight.
Przepiorka debuts Friday…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(there is the newest Blazer, Eric Przepiorka, in his Swedish team uniform from earlier this season. Photo by Gunnel Persson)
Forward Eric Przepiorka is going to make his Oklahoma City Blazers debut this weekend, but I won’t get to see it (more on that later).
Przepiorka shouldn’t feel too out of place as he’s been teammates with D.J. Jelitto in the past in the ECHL and was roommates with Andy Franck last year in Youngstown.
Franck said he didn’t really see it coming, but the two exchanged text messages last week about the possibility. He, as well as the rest of the team, might have a little more pep in their step this weekend. First Josh Patterson coming back and now this.
Asked Doug Sauter after last night’s game what Przepiorka will add:
“A point a game,” he said, with a smile. It’s almost like Oklahoma City has pulled a fast one on the rest of the league to get such an impact player at this time.
Right now, all the majority of the guys know is Przepiorka (really not that hard to spell in all honesty) is a scorer, a sniper.
Sauter said he has an all-around game and will be on the PPs and the PKs. I’m extremely interested to see how he does what he does. He’s only 5-9 and 180 pounds, but he’s produced wherever he’s gone.
He led his Swedish team, the Olofstroms Steelers, with 30 goals, 28 assists and 58 points. The goal tally was good for second in the league.
At Youngstown, he was a beast as well with 25-42-67. Ironically enough, he’s the third American on the team, and he’s already been teammates with the other two Americans.
But talk about being thrown into the fire with weekend dates vs. Mississippi and Rocky Mountain. It’ll be interesting to see if the RiverKings decide to maybe rough him up a little and try to get in his head.
Rocky Mountain activated Aaron Davis (who I’ve felt was the spark in their turnaround), so it might be a genuine 4 vs. 5 playoff preview Saturday. Of course, the Blazers are still fighting for the second or third spot, trailing Bossier-Shreveport by two points and Mississippi by five.
Other thoughts
- Sauter said the team must keep its focus. Blazers PK saved the day in the third with that 5-on-3 late in the game. Oklahoma City had four guys in the box at that point. Did say he likes the physicality the team is showing the last couple of weeks. Good strong, aggressive hockey. Always tough to find the right balance between physical and dirty/stupid penalties.
- Gave the team the day off to rest up and get mentally prepared for Mississippi. Brian Passmore injured his left knee, status uncertain.
- Doug Groenestege will get the start. He’s now 18-5-3.
- Sure you know, but in case you don’t, Blazers clinched a berth last night. Even in defeat, they would have as Rocky Mountain put it on Rapid City.
- It’s fun as a writer when the big games live up to the hype. Both of the SO wins against Bossier-Shreveport have been two of my favorite games of the season. I love a good game, love a good story and love when both happen on the same night.
- Tried to do video of the shootout but did not turn out that well. However, the video with Justin Sawyer should be up shortly.
- Bob Hersom will be covering the team for the better part of the next two weeks. This weekend I’ll be at HS wrestling at State Fair Arena and next weekend I will be at state basketball. Can’t be at two places at once, and it’s tough when you cover both beats. I have arranged with Sauter for nightly calls as well.
Blazers vs. Bossier-Shreveport – Game Blog
11:40 – Blazers 3, Bossier-Shreveport 2, final. Bill Vandermeer, Chad Hinz and Simon Lambert each find the net as the Blazers win what is easily one of the two to three best games I’ve seen this season. Hinz is your game-winner.
Forward Eric Przepiorka will join the team Friday night, Sauter said. Much more on Przepiorka in Friday’s paper. The team is taking Thursday off to rest some wounds (Brian Passmore dinged up his left knee pretty good). I’ll be back tomorrow with postgame video from Justin Sawyer as well as more thoughts from Sauter after the shootout victory.
9:50 – To a shootout we go.
9:46 – And the Blazers are going to get a PP with 2:28 left because of Simon Lambert being held.
9:40 – With 6 seconds left, still 2-2. Oklahoma City PK up to challenge as Bossier never had a real shot. To overtime we go.
9:36 – And now Jelitto is in the box. Bossier will have a 5-on-3 for 59 seconds.
9:31 – We’ve got a brouhaha going on. Bossier net dislodged and Gomez and Brian Passmore for Oklahoma City mixed it up with Bossier. Gomez and Passmore are both getting 2:00 for roughing. And as I was typing, Justin Sawyer has just picked up an additional penalty. Oklahoma City has three men in the box while Bossier has two. With 4:41 left, might be the difference.
9:29 – 5:40 left. Couple of solid efforts by Murfitt and still tied 2-2. The Blazers definitely feel like Bauman should not have been assessed the penalty.
There have been a couple of times where after something like this, Oklahoma City has lost its cool. It’ll be interesting to see how they react as we resume the action.
9:25 – Chance coming up for Bossier-Shreveport as Blazers defenseman Stacey Bauman is being charged with a boarding penalty. And before I got to finish it, Dale Lupul has netted a PP goal to tie it up with 6:47 left.
9:21 – 9:59 left and still 2-1. Groenestege and Horrell have made some nice saves in the last couple of minutes.
9:10 – 32 shots = no goals. 4 shots in six minutes = 2 goals. And maybe two of the prettiest goals of the season. The rookie line struck first with Simon Lambert setting up Jason Murfitt in the first three minutes.
On a breakaway, D.J. Jelitto set up Bill Vandermeer to give Oklahoma City its current 2-1 lead. There is still 13:26 left in the third.
8:40 – Not as many opportunities for either team and it’s still 1-0 Bossier-Shreveport as we head into the third period. Jason Murfitt had a nice SH chance to open the period and Bill Vandermeer had a nice opportunity that went wide.
The physicality was brought down a notch, and it seemed the aggression wasn’t there either from both teams. Oklahoma City had another 11 shots but most came in the second half of the period.
Maybe the true sign that Robin Gomez is back as he got into a scuffle with Brett Angel.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see if Oklahoma City tries to get Chad Hinz in for some of the crucial draws in the third. Hinz is 11-2 so far tonight.
Just gonna throw it out there and say this is the most important period of the season. At this point, can’t get down more than 5-7 points to both Bossier and Mississippi.
In other action, it’s Wichita up 3-2 on Tulsa and Rocky Mountain up 3-1 after the first vs. Rapid City.
7:46 – Spirited contest and a script Blazers fans have seen before. Oklahoma City puts up 21 shots but no goals. Bossier-Shreveport puts up 11 and holds a 1-0 lead.
Bossier-Shreveport had a 5-on-3 and eventually scored with the 5-on-4 advantage on a goal by Kevin Cooper. The Blazers had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:14 but could not find the net.
Chad Hinz had a real nice chance but seemed, from this vantage point, to hit it directly to Horrell. Horrell also made a beauty of a save against Bill Vandermeer.
Also a little physical with Josh Patterson, who hasn’t been afraid to mix it up. The ice didn’t appear to give anybody a problem in that first period.
When the second period begins, Bossier will still have 1:00 left on a PP. Oklahoma City had four straight PP opportunities but couldn’t do anything with ‘em.
D.J. Jelitto played a very aggressive first period and had four shots so if I was a betting man, I might say Jelitto might find the net.
Tulsa and Wichita are tied 1-1 through the first. Other action worth keeping an eye on is Rocky Mountain and Rapid City. The Blazers can clinch a spot even with a loss if Rapid City loses (if my math is correct).
6:28 – Bossier-Shreveport has jumped the gun and is already skating. Goaltender Jon Horrell will be between the pipes. Mudbugs got out there almost two minutes before. And now here comes Doug Groenestege and the Blazers, donning the black jerseys tonight.
6:10 – No signs of Eric Przepiorka, sorry to disappoint some conspiracy theorists out there. Regardless, tonight already has enough intrigue.
Mississippi is starting to put its stamp in the division, winning an emphatic 6-4 decision at Odessa last night. With Tulsa winning in OT, Colorado’s lead is just four points.
The ice might be an issue worth looking at. The lines were painted wrong initially and a patch job had to be done not at the last minute but pretty close to it.
Gearing up for HUGE week…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Interesting sight at practice as I was pulling into the Blazers Ice Centre. In the back of the parking lot, there was the Bossier-Shreveport team bus. The Mudbugs watched the Blazers practice and then practiced at the BIC after Oklahoma City.
Doug Groenestege will get the start for the Blazers vs. Bossier. Ted Vandermeer skated today for the first time but will not play Wednesday. Oklahoma City will be a man short.
Everyone is a little fired up for this one. Head coach Doug Sauter said there is a lot of respect on both sides.
Will be interesting to see if Bossier G Ken Carroll is ready to go. Jon Horrell has played well since Carroll has been out the last two weeks.
A lot of speculation on who the Blazers will pick up to replace Reagan Leslie. Leslie, by the way, has elected to return home. He has some offers but will go back to Canada.
According to eurohockey.net’s transfer page, it is a done deal that forward Eric Przepiorka is the newest member of the Blazers.
Przepiorka (another “Prz” last name) played in Youngstown last season and has been in Sweden this season. In 27 games, he has 23 goals and 19 assists.
Sauter said this is not 100 percent confirmed. Everything will be finalized one way or another Thursday.
His Swedish club plays Wednesday, and depending on what happens there, that’s when we’ll know more.
***
Before Wednesday’s game, representatives from Feed the Children will be accepting donations and items to help the Lone Grove community, which was hit hard by a tornado and storms two weeks ago. Anyone donating items will earn a $4 off coupon for the game.
Fans are asked to bring items such as ready to eat food, paper towels, toilet paper, baby wipes and any kind of bottled drinks.
The reps will be waiting outside the Ford Center. Nine people died and many either lost their homes or had severe damage in the area, so every little bit helps.
Leslie waived…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Blazers waive Leslie
Defenseman Reagan Leslie was waived by the Oklahoma City Blazers, said head coach Doug Sauter on Monday.
Leslie, 5-7 and 180 pounds, scored two goals and seven assists in 30 games with Oklahoma City and alternated between defenseman, his primary position, and forward when the Blazers were going through injuries.
“Reagan met with coach (Chris) Dashney and myself after the game Sunday (a loss at Texas),” said Sauter. “He was disappointed in his performance and felt that he would like a chance to pursue other opportunities if they are available and were right for him.”
Sauter said the team has not signed an immediate replacement but that negotiations are on-going to bring another player in.
The Blazers play three home games this week, starting Wednesday vs. Bossier-Shreveport and need two points to clinch a playoff berth.
***
That’s the third Monday in a row where something has happened to make me post more than once.
Leslie played hard but was in a real tough spot. When you’re of that size, you need something to stand out (speed, goal-scoring ability, etc).
Leslie didn’t have that and sometimes, size does matter. His playing time has been diminishing is something I (as well as Jim Byers among others) have noticed.
Don’t like to kick a man when he’s down, but Leslie had a -12 rating. Every other player is either at 0 (Chad Hinz and Robin Gomez) or in the plus column. D.J. Jelitto is leading the team at +13.
The Blazers organization wish Leslie luck but now need to find another body. Spoke with Sauter about it briefly 15 minutes ago. Wouldn’t budge much except to say there have been a couple of guys they’ve talked to.
Ideally, would like to have it done by the end of this week. Will have much more on this and other goodies Tuesday after practice.
CHL Power Poll for 2-23
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There is less than a month remaining in the season. Oklahoma City is taking the day off and will return Tuesday for a light practice.
Didn’t sound like there were any additional bumps and bruises from the Texas game, so the biggest question mark will be Ted Vandermeer’s knee.
Though the weekend wasn’t the best Blazers fans were hoping for (1-2-0), it’s still a long ways away from last year’s club.
And now, on with the show…
Power Poll
1. Mississippi (1) (34-14-3): Took care of business with two easy wins vs. Wichita. Bobby Chaumont scored two goals in his first game back from the IR. Interesting 10 days coming up as the RiverKings are going to face four of the top six (Odessa, Oklahoma City, Colorado and Bossier-Shreveport).
2. Texas (2) (35-12-5): Texas holds a five-point lead over Odessa for the top spot in the Southern Conference. G David Cacciola shut me up good with his outing Sunday against the Blazers. Have won 13 straight at home. Showdown at Bossier-Shrevport on Saturday.
3. Bossier-Shreveport (4) (33-14-3): Went on the road and took two from Arizona and did it probably without playing their best. Good teams find a way. G Jon Horrell has won three straight decisions. Come to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
4. Colorado (3) (37-12-2): Still have four guys with more than 60 points. Still have one of the best in G Andrew Penner. Still have the top spot in the Northern Conference. But they’ve lost six of their last nine and their lead over Mississippi is down to five heading into a five-game road trip.
5. Blazers (4) (30-15-6): Disappointing week for Oklahoma City. Slow starts are really hurting the team right now. Blazers have been outscored 12-5 in the first period in February. Three home games give ‘em chance to bounce back and climb up the standings.
6. Odessa (6) (32-14-6): Do they have a late run in them to try to take over Texas? The two teams have been in some memorable affairs this season but not good to follow a SO win vs. Brahmas with home loss vs. New Mexico.
7. Laredo (7) (29-18-4): Another week where there is not much movement in the bottom spots. No team is falling off the radar while no team is daring to threaten the top six. Take the Bucks, for example. Can’t split with Amarillo and expect to make any waves.
8. Rio Grande Valley (8) (26-21-4): Without getting to know too much about RGV most of the season, I am a huge fan of its style of play. I’m all about that speed and finesse game. Think about it. I’m just a little dude, not about to mix it up. RGV has showdown at Laredo on Friday.
9. Rocky Mountain (9) (27-22-4): Had they swept Colorado, would have moved up a notch. Do Rage get comfortable and just decide ‘hey, we’re No. 5′ and prepare for playoffs? Could make a statement of some sort with a road win at Blazers on Saturday.
10. Corpus Christi (10) (22-26-4): Followed up a big win vs. Oklahoma City with a loss to New Mexico. D’oh. CC and Zona have played the same amount of games and CC is up by one point for that fifth spot in the Southern Conference. They play for the final time Friday night at CC.
Best of the rest: 11. Arizona; 12. New Mexico; 13. Rapid City; 14. Wichita; 15. Tulsa; 16. Amarillo.
Update later with GOW and POW. Not forecasting any Blazers in the running for this week. Jason Deitsch of Texas is your POW and Kyle McNulty of New Mexico is your GOW.
***
Also, hope you got a chance to read what Cam Doull had to say. Very honest and straight forward response to things. But here are some additional nuggets.
- Said if maybe he was younger, he would have stuck it out a little longer. But as a 26-year-old rookie, if you’re not setting the world on fire, it’s time to rethink things.
- Said he’s looking to working with oil fields in some capacity, hopefully. That is still down the road, but that is what he is aiming for.
- Said there was no ill will toward the players and staff of the Blazers. “I just wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I still played hard and gave my full effort for every game, but the passion was gone.” (Because he played hard, think people thought there might be more to this story than what was originally reported.)
- Said right now, he has taken a break from hockey. He’s been approached about a comeback elswhere, said it’s not in the cards for him.
Doull scored nine goals and 10 assists and a solid +9 rating with the Blazers in 35 games this season.
Blazers vs. Texas – Sorta Game Blog
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
6:30 – Yep, 5-3 was the final. Like I said six hours ago, look for a “what a difference a year makes” story on Doug Sauter and the team. Also have a note on Cam Doull, who I was able to get in touch with this weekend.
Monday will be the Power Poll as well as some leftover Doull goodies.
Hey, if anyone was on the Heartland Flyer, would love some thoughts on how you guys felt about it. For those that don’t know, there was a bus trip that took Blazers fans to the Texas game today.
5:50 – Looks like it’s going to be Texas 5, Blazers 3, final. Texas was able to get 3 PP goals and one SH goal. Still 1:50 left.
4:58 – It’s a shootout in Texas. And a chippy one at that. The teams combined for five goals in the period and Texas leads 4-3 heading into the third.
With the game tied 2-2, penalties bit Oklahoma City bad. Texas’ Jason Deitsch scored back-to-back 5-on-3 goals, and it appeared the Blazers might be content with just coming back home.
But after killing off a Texas PP, Oklahoma City got one of its own and capitalized with a Stacey Bauman goal.
Bauman, Gomez and Tyler Harder, not three names you would expect to be the goal-scorers.
Cacciola has been magnificent (showing what little I know), stopping a couple of breakaways and keeping Texas up as Blazers have 34 shots through the first two periods.
Josh Patterson and Texas’ Nathan Saunders received game-misconducts late in the period after Jason Deitsch (I think) and Simon Lambert got into a scuffle.
Will the play let up in the third or will the teams continue to get feisty with each other?
4:05 – Robin Gomez scores late in the period to tie it at 1-1 heading into the second. It’s funny because though the Blazers outshot Texas 18-9, it sounds like G Andy Franck was the first period hero.
Texas excels at the SH goals and Jordan Cameron added to that mark. The first half of the period sounded like Oklahoma City trying to get its head in the game, but the Blazers woke up and played strong in the final 10 minutes.
3:20 – Oklahoma City getting a break as Texas G David Cacciola is getting the start. But as I was typing, Texas has scored a short-handed goal on a 2-on-1 break.
12:40 – Hey, able to talk with head coach Doug Sauter today. Actually woke him up, oops. Understandable with the long trips Oklahoma City has been making.
Ted Vandermeer will not play today and G Andy Franck will get the start at Texas here in a couple hours.
Sauter said Franck was the difference maker in Saturday’s 3-2 win.
Also said that was the most physical the Blazers have played this month.
Some of the guys are a little nicked up at this point and playing a third game in as many days won’t help the cause. Josh Patterson is having a little issue with his right knee, but he will play today. Jason Murfitt played well Saturday, Sauter said, and he’ll be ready to go while Tyler Fleck took a shot on the foot last night but no issues there.
Look for a “what a difference a year makes” story about Sauter and the Blazers. Already surpassing last year’s win total and can clinch a playoff berth today.
Also, spoke with Cam Doull this weekend, so you’ll get to hear his side of what has happened and where he is currently at in his life. I’ll also post more with Doull in Monday’s Power Poll blog.
Texas is coming off a 4-3 SO loss at Odessa last night. And as I’ve said before, though the Brahmas are one of the best teams in the league, the Blazers have really matched up well and had some of their finer moments vs. Texas this season.
Back later when the game gets going.
Blazers vs. RGV – Sorta Game Blog
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
10:15 – Blazers 3, RGV 2, final. Oklahoma City keeps pace with Bossier-Shreveport and Mississippi.
10:09 – D.J. Jelitto scores from Chad Hinz with 2:01 left and gives Oklahoma City a 3-2 lead. The pressure and aggression has paid off…so far.
10:04 – Bill Vandermeer takes a shot to his arm, runs off the ice. No worries, it just stings a little. Comes back on and ties the game late in the third (4:38 left).
Good news for the Blazers as Josh Patterson has been taking shifts in the third and seems to be OK.
And a big save by Franck as I was typing this has kept the game tied.
9:21 – Oklahoma City had 11 minor penalties in the second period and trails 2-1 at the end of the second.
The worse news is it appears Josh Patterson might have dinged up his knee again. It happened late in the period, so no idea how severe it might be. If he’s not playing in the third, well, we’ll know.
Jason Murfitt is playing. He’s arguably the go-to guy for face-offs, but he can’t do much more than that.
The Blazers only had three shots on goal in the period. If it wasn’t for the Blazers’ outstanding PK unit (RGV is 0-10 on the PP), this could be ugly.
Seems like a lot of griping went to ref J.P. Sylvain. Without seeing the game, don’t know exactly what happened.
When it rains, it pours for Blazers’ fans. Mississippi is comfortably ahead of Wichita 5-3 late in the third while Bossier-Shreveport has run off three in a row to take a 3-1 lead at Zona in latter stages of the second period.
9:02 – Tempers are flaring tonight, but it’s not helping the Blazers as Rio Grande Valley has just scored to take a 2-1 lead with about 11 minutes left in the second.
Puck went off Justin Sawyer’s stick and RGV took full advantage.
8:42 – And now for the second period. Jeff MacDermid scores from Brian Passmore in the first 12 seconds of the second and we’re tied 1-1.
8:35 – After a long but productive day full of stories, blogs and videos at state swimming, I’m back and got Jim Byers dialed up. For those following on pointstreak, there is still 1:08 left. A glass panel was shattered with that much time left, so the referee ruled the intermission now.
It’s fixed, and we’re just minutes away from the end of the first and then will switch sides and begin the second.
Oklahoma City put some early pressure on RGV G Christian Boucher, but it’s the Bees with the early 1-0 lead. G Andy Franck is between the pipes for the Blazers and sounds like he had a solid period (even stopping a 2-on-0 break) before allowing a late goal.
Tyler Fleck sounds like he’s all over the ice tonight and Ted Vandermeer is missing his third game in a row for the Blazers.
Mississippi is up 4-1 on Wichita in the second while Bossier-Shreveport (who beat Zona last night) is trailing 1-0 to the ‘Dogs late in the first.
Blazers vs. Corpus Christi – Sorta Game Blog
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
9:45 – Arizona’s third period against Bossier-Shreveport will either ease some of the pain or just infuriate some fans even more.
Mississippi already had the W in the bag while the Bugs are tied with Zona 3-3 heading into the third. The RKings are now five points (69-64) up on Oklahoma City.
Interesting hearing associate coach Chris Dashney on the postgame interview saying he basically messed up with a bad line change on the CC’s PP. A bad turnover and that’s all it takes.
Oklahoma City heads to Rio Grande Valley tomorrow night. Action starts at 7:35, and it’ll be the same way for me tomorrow. Hopefully swimming runs “swimmingly,” and I’ll be back in time. The 11 a.m. start for swimming really helped matters today and hope it’s the same way Saturday.
9:22 – CC 2, Blazers 1, final. Jelitto’s penalty basically eliminated any chance for a last-minute comeback.
9:17 – Still 2-1, final two minutes. 1:51 to be exact. And now the Blazers have committed a high-sticking penalty.
9:13 – CC’s John Adams has scored on a PP with around five minutes to go. From Byers’ call, it was a wide open attempt.
9:02 – Jelitto scored in the first minute to tie it up and now the Blazers are on a PP midway through the third.
8:40 – Tebbs isn’t letting anything through. Oklahoma City had 12 shots in the second period while CC had one, yep, one shot. But through 40 minutes, it’s still 1-0 CC.
One of the best chances came late but D.J. Jelitto missed the net. Biggest reason CC is winning besides Tebbs: discipline.
Sometimes it’s simplifying things, but CC only has two penalties. And when you don’t dig yourself a hole, sometimes, you don’t need to dig out of anything.
A very smooth period in terms of limited interruptions. Jason Murfitt is listed as playing, but he hasn’t played yet.
After the second, it’s Mississippi 5-2 over Wichita and Bossier-Shreveport is up 3-2 after one at Arizona.
7:40 – Swimming didn’t take as long as I thought it would (at least today). While Oklahoma City trails Corpus Christi 1-0 after the first, don’t hit the panic button.
You had to figure the Ice Rays would come out inspired under new coach Brent Hughes. Jim Byers even said the team practiced Wednesday in San Antonio when there was no ice at CC.
CC was able to get a goal from Adam Powell, negating what would have been an Oklahoma City penalty.
CC’s Kris Tebbs sounds like he made two gem saves on Bill Vandermeer and Simon Lambert.
Oklahoma City still outshot CC. Doug Groenestege made six saves while Ted Vandermeer is missing the game with a knee injury. Thought he might be able to go but guess not.
Mississippi scored three goals in the first 3+ minutes and leads Wichita 4-1 after the first. The RiverKings were named No. 1 by the CHL coaches, two days after yours truly bestowed the honor on them first.
Mississippi also activated Bobby Chaumont today. This team is bordering on scary right now, esp. after having Tyler Sims re-assigned from Norfolk in the AHL. Kevin Beech might need a break, and this won’t hurt them at all.
