Evaluation Camp Intra-Squad Game

Team Green defeated Team Black 4-1 in Tuesday night's WJAC Challenge Evaluation Camp Intra-Squad game.

Here's a brief goal scoring summary:

First Period

GREEN: Josh Schappert, Selkirk (Jaden Schwartz, Notre Dame - Craig Simchuk, Wpg Saints)

Second Period

BLACK: Jordan Davis, Ft. William (Rylan Schwartz, Notre Dame - Aaron Decorby, Melville)

Third Period

GREEN: Clark Byczynski, Yorkton (John Esposito, Notre Dame - Colin Phaneuf, Wpg South)

GREEN: Zeanan Buternowski, OCN (Unassisted)

GREEN: Cole Wilson, Flin Flon (EN)

Goalies

GREEN: Chris Ward, Swan Valley 0 GA
GREEN: Andrew Bodnarchuk, Humboldt 1 GA

BLACK: Drew Strandberg, Thunder Bay 1 GA
BLACK: A.J. Whiffen, Weyburn 2 GA

Shootout

Just for fun, each team got 10 shooters in a shootout, with each goalie facing 5 shots.

TEAM BLACK
Rylan Schwartz, NDH: Stopped
Jordan Davis, FTW: Stopped
Adam Stoykewich, WPG South: Stopped
Mitch Cain, Fort Frances: Stopped
Tim Hayduk, Wpg Saints: Stopped

Green Goalie: Bodnarchuk: 5/5

Torey Stott, Yorkton: Stopped
Mitchell Stretch, ND: Stopped
Colan Jackson, Selkirk: Stopped
Aaron Decorby, MVL: SCORED
Ryan Duhaime, Wayway: Stopped

Green Goalie: Ward: 4/5

TEAM GREEN
Zeanan Buternowski, OCN: SCORED
Spencer Braaten, Humboldt: Stopped
Colin Phaneuf, Wpg South: Stopped
Chad Filteau, Estevan: Stopped
Michael McDonald, FTW: Stopped

Black Goalie: A.J. Whiffen 4/5

Cole Wilson, Flin Flon: Stopped
Carson Dubchak, Fort Frances: Stopped
Jaden Schwartz, NDH: SCORED
Tommy Brown, Melfort: Stopped
Scott MacAualy, Wpg Saints: SCORED

Black Goalie: Strandberg 3/5

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Observations

Notre Dame should be proud. The Schwartz brothers, Esposito and Stretch all have legit shots at cracking the roster. Schappert from Selkirk really stood out for me as well. On the backend, I liked Flin Flon's Michael Young and Weyburn's Rhys Thomas a lot. It was one of the best hockey games I've seen in person. This wasn't an "All-Star type" game. These guys are fighting for jobs. There was no stupid stuff, and the pace was unbelieveable, back and forth, outstanding goaltending by all four guys. Call me biased for doing games for Swan Valley, but I'd pick Chris Ward as the top goalie in that game. You could tell he was in the zone, very focused and wants to be on Team Canada West. Other local guys, Clark Byczynski had a goal for Team Green, and also crunched Estevan's Brody Haygarth into the boards on a nice one-on-one hit. Unfortunately Haygarth suffered what's believed to be a broken arm. Not good for Bruins' fans, he's a dandy to watch, even last year as a 17-year-old. Fellow Terrier Torey Stott was solid at both ends of the rink. Melville's Aaron Decorby picked up an assist and a shootout goal. He had his own cheering section of Mils players and trust me, they loved it when he potted that one on the deke, and proceeded to run his face into the crossbar and knock the net off, but it counted. Wayway's Ryan Duhaime had a feisty game, definitely one of the hardest working guys out there.

Idiot me planned on talking to Decorby, Byczynski and Ward after. I went to Team Black's room to get Decorby, reached into my bag... my mic was in there, but the recorder was not. I know it's still plugged into my computer at work. That's why I'm typing so much, don't have players' comments to make up the space.

Anyway, that's all for today!