I made the trip to the Valley this afternoon to check out the Stampeders' Intra-Squad game. It's always neat walking into a rink in sandals at the beginning of camp. The game was actually fairly well attended as Kyle Severson scored the shootout winner, leading Team Black over Team Yellow 7-6 (SO). I will say this. I was excited about the 08-09 Stampeder team before Stephan Vigier committed to the USHL... and I'm STILL excited about the 08-09 Stampeders' team. A few reasons why:
- Chris Reimer- has tonnes of confidence and even more speed than last year. He'll be a beauty this year.
- Chris Ward- allowed 3 goals in half a game's work, but looked SOLID making the saves that he made.
- Myles Stevens- centred Reimer and Craig Cornelson and looks like he'll be a threat for top scorer as advertised.
- Kyle Severson- dropped a couple pounds, but will still be one of the top power forwards in the MJHL, showing hands you wouldn't expect on a big winger.
- Darcy Riddell- my pick to wear the "C". But I have no say in the matter. He worked as hard as he did in last playoffs in this afternoon's game.
- ENTIRE Blueline- Even if Paul Bonar cracks the WHL's Warriors... the Stamps return Ethan Gardner, Cody Straker, Justin Giesbrecht, and Nick Martin. And I was VERY impressed with Saltcoats native and former Yorkton Harvest Dylan Trowell. He's a mountain of an 18-year-old and looked great today.
- Shane Callahan- Showed some speed down the right wing and fired a slapper inside the right post. The 20-year-old from Illinois could be a nice surprise at centre in Vigier's absence.
- I can't list everyone, but I thought guys like Jared Whincup and Tory Miller looked much-improved... and it'll be a dog fight between local product Josh Hohn, former Moose Jaw "AAA" Warrior Dustin Lehne and Watrous native Evan Reiffersheid for the backup position. None of them gave much up to the others.
That Reimer/Stevens/Cornelson line was easily the best line on either team this afternoon, with Reimer arguably the most dangerous. He scored 2 first period goals, and the line combined for 5 points, all coming on Team Yellow's first 2 goals. The 3rd period had some fisticuffs. 3 to be exact, and one in overtime. Cramer Coulthart vs Rylee Orr, Myles Stevens vs Riel Clinton, Darnell Ferland vs Brendan Mitchell, and Ryan Witherspoon vs Nick Martin.
Here's a game summary:
1st Period
Black- Justin Giesbrecht (Darcy Riddell, Ryan Witherspoon)
Yellow- Chris Reimer (Cody Straker, Craig Cornelson)
Yellow- Chris Reimer 2 (Myles Stevens, Craig Cornelson)
Black- Jamie Fotheringham (Justin Giesbrecht, Riel Clinton)
Shots: Black- 11 Yellow- 14
2nd Period
Black- Cramer Coulthart (Lucas Zuefle, Dylan Trowell)
Yellow- Cody Straker (Brendan Mitchell)
Black- Trent Rumpel (UA)
Black- Shane Callahan (Ethan Gardner)
Shots: Black- 17/28 Yellow- 13/27
3rd Period
Yellow- Dalane Lamb (Brad Argue)
Yellow- Jared Whincup (UA)
Black- Nathan Micheals (Darcy Riddell, Ethan Gardner)
Trent Rumpel had a penalty shot with 7.6 seconds left to win it for Team Black, but he was stopped by Josh Hohn.
Shots: Black- 12/40 Yellow- 10/37
Overtime
No scoring.
Shots: Black- 2/42 Yellow- 3/40
Shootout
Kyle Severson scored in the first shot of the 5-man shootout. Josh Hohn stopped Team Black's final four shooters, Shane Callahan, Brad McDonald, Darcy Riddell, Trent Rumpel. Dustin Lehne stopped all five shooters he faced... Simon Le Bleu, Chris Reimer, Kelly Gray, Jared Whincup, Cody Straker. Final score: Black 7 Yellow 6 (SO).
Goalies
Team Black
Chris Ward 14/17 (.824)...3GA
Dustin Lehne 20/23 (.870)...3GA... 5/5 in SO
Team Yellow
Evan Reiffershied 16/19 (.842)...3GA
Josh Hohn 20/23 (.870)...3GA... 4/5 in SO
Post Game Comments
Severson on his shootout winner: "Actually it was a move from J.B. (Vallieres) last year, our #1 goalie from last year, he told me when you're coming in that fast the goalie can't read you when you're standing still so I just went with it and was successful."
Riddell when asked about the possibility of being a hometown captain: "If it comes I'm ready to step up to the challenge, but if it doesn't, doesn't matter to me, I'll just keep playing hard and working my tail off."
Reimer on linemates Stevens and Cornelson: "Yeah they're pretty fun to play with, we just seemed to mesh really well, just knowing where each other were out there, it worked pretty good."
Comments from Coach Guy Vestby to come later Monday.
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Also Sunday, the Canora Supers won the South East Senior Baseball League title for the second time in team history and first since 1999 when they beat the Yorkton Jr Cardinals 13-4 in the fifth and deciding game of the Championship.
And, at the Western Canadian Baseball Championships in Yorkton...
GOLD- Saskatoon Stallions
SILVER- Elmwood Giants (Winnipeg)
BRONZE- Regina Athletics
4th- St. Albert Tigers
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