The Boys Hit the Bus for Game 3 in Bonnyville

After two physical battles in the Grant Fuhr Arena the Saints head to Bonnyville to try and close out the series in back to back games.  The R. J. Lalonde Arena in Bonnyville will be rocking as Pontiac fans know game three is crucial if the Pontiacs want to gain some momentum in the series.  In the late stages of the regular season the Saints visited the Pontiacs twice both times leaving with two points.  Now that the stakes are higher and playoff life and death is on the line expect the Pontiacs to come out Flying to the cheers of the home town crowd.  The Pontiacs took a defensive approach to the first two games of the series and were to a degree successful.  They held the Saints to only four goals through two games in regulation; a feat that has been difficult for most teams to accomplish.  Much of the credit has to go to Julien Laplante who has been the backbone for the team and the reason the games have been close.  Tyler Henry scored 4 goals and added 2 assists vs. Sherwood Park in the previous series but hasn’t been able to get on the score sheet in round two.  He will have to be more of an impact offensively and connect with his line mates Shawn Bates and Lucas Isley.  Bates has been the offensive threat for the Pontiacs so far but needs some support from his wing men.  Isley has put up some points but has been more noticeable in the scrums and shoving matches after the whistle. Isley will have to focus his energy on scoring rather than mixing it up if the Pontiacs wish to keep pace with Saints scoring.  Mathew Register along with his goaltender Julien Laplante have been the iron men for the Pontiacs.  Register has controlled the puck in his own zone making the initial pass to his forwards despite the Saints relentless fore check.  He also scored a key goal and was the only Pontiac who could bring the puck up the ice effectively.  Kevin Carthy has been a work horse for the Pontiacs and it didn’t start in the post season.  Carthy is most likely one of the most aggravating players to play against in the AJHL because of his work ethic and never quit attitude.  He is loathed by opposition players but loved by his coach because he is a weapon that can be aimed and fired.  The Saints cannot preoccupy themselves with Carthy’s play they have to try and out work him without taking a penalty.

Penalties, they have been a problem for the Saints so far in the series.  They have found themselves down a man 15 times compared to the Pontiacs 10. An uncharacteristic statistic when talking about a team who took some of the fewest penalty minutes throughout the league all season.  Without a doubt discipline will be in the minds of the Saints players as they engage the opposition tonight.  If the Saints can stay even strength the Bonnyville notables will be hard pressed to keep stride with the depth of the Saints line up through sixty minutes.  Discipline, while not letting up on the physical game can be a deadly combination for the Saints on the road.  Due to the slow pace in both games we have not yet seen the potential of the Saints post season ability. The boys will have to put on their boots and hard hats tonight and go to work as game 3 in the series is likely to be an all out battle.

In the previous game Tim Nolte and Shawn Rolling were inserted into the line up while Brett Cameron and Liam Darragh had the night off.  The line of Nolte, Rolling and Keizer combine for a goal however Darragh has played well in Bonnyville so it is a toss-up who will be scratched tonight.  Travis Rolheiser and Vincenzo Marozzi split the first two games and faired considerably well.  Marozzi saw more action in the R.J. Lalonde Arena this season so it won’t be a surprise if he gets the call tonight, but as Head Coach Steve Hamilton said in the past he is extremely confident in both his net minders so tonight’s starter could be decided by a coin flip. (Not literally of course)

By Travis Ziegler

Playoffs!

Finally, playoff action in the Grant Fuhr Arena is back!  After 60 games of regular season play and waiting through a first round bye the Saints take to the ice in search of the Enerflex cup.  The first round of the North Division playoffs dealt second round births to Ft. McMurray, Grande Prairie, and Bonnyville.  The Oil Barons vs. Storm series is one of the most anticipated matchups in the post season due to both teams boasting powerhouse offenses.  The Bonnyville Pontiacs knocked off the Sherwood Park Crusaders three games to zero in their best of five series, the upset made for a second round appearance against the number one ranked Spruce Grove Saints.  The first game between the Saints and Bonnyville goes Saturday night at seven and it is sure to be a doosey. 

After Defeating the Sherwood Park Crusaders in their last game of the regular season the Saints had 12 days before once again doing battle.  Head Coach Steve Hamilton wanted to give his team some time to recuperate before practicing and preparing for their playoff debut.

“I gave the guys three days off immediately after the year which was some time to decompress after the regular season, we came back and when it is all said and done we will have about eight or nine days of practice, at this point with a couple days left the guys are hungry to get started. “

The Bonnyville Pontiacs are the task at hand for the Saints.  These two clubs are more than familiar with each other due to facing off four times in the last three weeks of regular season play. The Pontiacs are going to be further motivated since they were unable to beat the Saints during the season.  Coach Steve Hamilton knows the Pontiacs love to compete and will be throwing everything they’ve got at the Saints in hopes to knock them off.

“They work extremely hard that is the backbone of their team we have to match their work ethic, we have to shut down their key guys, they have some good hockey players, and I know it’s going to be an excellent matchup.  You can throw the regular season out the window when it comes to playoffs it’s a new season for us it’s a new season for them so I think it will be a good battle.”

Some of the key members Hamilton referred to are Shawn Bates, Lucas Isley, and Mathew Register.  Bates and Isley had some injury issues this year but have come back and made their presence known.  Despite missing almost half the games this season; Bates put up a very respectful 40 pts while sitting just above the point per game mark.  Isley kept pace with his teammate but only played just over a third of the season.  He led his team past the Crusaders finishing with a hat trick in the final game.  And of course there is Mathew Register; Register led his team in points as a defenseman with 61.  He was announced the winner of the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy winner which goes to the league’s most outstanding defenseman.  Mathew will be a weapon on the blue line and every Saint player will have to be conscious of his position on the ice.  Although the Pontiacs have some definite threats the Saints don’t intend on any deliberate matchups.

“I don’t see us matching lines head to head we are in a position where we have four lines that can contribute that’s the strength of our team and we need to let our depth work for us.”  We need to be physical, there is no question that it is a pretty key component in the playoffs to be able to wear your opponent down over time, we need to use that to our advantage.”

The Saints have had the ability to ice any combination of players and come out successful. Now that it is playoffs you might think the bench will be shortened or there will be the same group of guys in the stands every night but Hamilton has confidence in all of his players and says they will all see some playoff action.

“We will manage the line up the same way we did all year, we will make decisions based on our play, our needs, injuries, all the factors that contribute, but I don’t anticipate anyone sitting for a substantial stretch of time.  We are well aware injuries happen we have to be prepared for those incidences, they could be out of the line up one night and in the next we have to be ready for that.

Two players that have consistently gone in and out of the line up are Vincenzo Marozzi and Travis Rolheiser.  These two puck stoppers are award winners and stats wise the best two goaltenders in the league.  So Head Coach Steve Hamilton has a tough decision to make when choosing the man for the job, fortunately for Hamilton the decision is pretty safe either way.

“We haven’t made any decisions with in regard to our goaltenders, yet, we just wanted to give it a couple more days, some practice and see where they’re at. Whoever we go with to start it will be a day to day decision for sure.”

The big picture is to get to the National Championship tournament in Dauphin, Manitoba in May but Coach Hamilton is not looking any further than the first game of the second round of playoffs.

“It’s going to be a long road; we need to worry about Bonnyville.  Everyone sets goals at the beginning of the year but we can’t overlook who is in front of us. I’m not concerned with our third round opponent is because we haven’t even played a game in the second round yet. It’s a little bit too far in advance (nationals) considering what needs to be done, the challenge in front of us.”

Coach Steve Hamilton, his staff and players will all be in game mode Saturday night when the Bonnyville Pontiacs come to town.  The two teams have had some epic battles in the regular season so it is exciting to think of what will happen when playoff life or death is on the line.

By Travis Ziegler

Game 60!

Well it is here, the final game of the 2009/2010 season and what a season it was.  The Saints are one win away from tying an AJHL record with 52 wins and can exceed the overall point record of 106 points which they currently are at.  If they are able to shut out the Sherwood Park Crusaders in Sunday’s contest they will achieve the amazing feat of allowing less than 100 goals against in a season.  The current record sits at 110 goals so without a doubt the Saints will shatter the mark previously set by the Fort McMurray Oil Barons ten seasons ago.  Standing in the way of Saints history are the hardworking Sherwood Park Crusaders.  With a win against the Saints and a loss for the Oil Barons on Sunday, the Crusaders can leap frog into 3rd place in the North so you can expect them to pull out all the stops to jump up in the standings. 

Led by leading scorer Cody Kunyk the Crusaders have an offensive arsenal that can rival the top lines in the league.  Chris Kallal, Matt Meropoulis, and Michael Small are all offensive threats that have shown strong chemistry throughout the season.  Cody Kunyk currently sits 5th in league scoring with 87 points and would like to add to his totals before heading to Fairbanks next season.  D’Lane Sather and Josh Lee are solid two way defensemen who can jump into the play and be cornerstones on the powerplay.  The defensive pairing of Captain Trevor Conrad and Bryan Frost can shut down any scoring line in the league and will have to do so against the always powerful Saints.  Former Saint Patrick Terriss has had a solid rookie campaign challenging Matt Esposito for the starting position and has performed admirably posting a 2.52 GAA and a 92.55 SV%.  Both Terriss and Esposito have played big minutes this season so it is a toss-up who will start on Sunday afternoon and the first game of the playoffs.

The Saints would like to finish the regular season with a bang by breaking the records within reach and concluding a 13 game win streak.  The Saints narrowly escaped with two overtime victories earlier in the week to keep the record breaking opportunity alive.  The Saints have one more challenge before claiming the regular season title and solidifying their efforts in the record books.  The Saints know what is on the line and maybe more importantly know what is on the line for the Crusaders.  With two teams entering today’s matchup with something to lose the energy and intensity will be felt throughout the building.  Even though the Saints are extremely close to setting a few records you can bet that it is the farthest thing from Head Coach Steve Hamilton’s mind.  He will expect his boys to view this game as any other and no matter the outcome the playoffs are the main focus.  The Saints always take one game at a time and they must first defeat the Sherwood Park Crusaders.  The teams have matched up well together which has always made for a good game.  The fast tricky forwards of the Cru are effective at gaining the offensive zone and delivering quality shots, while their defence can hold off quality chances from the opposition.  The Cru Defence will have their hands full as the Saints can ice three solid scoring lines and they can be successful in any situation.  The Crusaders have yet to beat the Saints this season but a win in the last game of regular season play would be a fantastic way to enter the playoffs.  As for the Saints if they can pull off a big win today the records will be written and the much anticipated playoffs will begin!

By Travis Ziegler

Pontiacs Charge into Grant Fuhr Arena to try and Derail Rolling Saints.

The sixth and final meeting between the Spruce Grove Saints and the Bonnyville Pontiacs will likely be an entertaining contest.  Last game the two teams battled to a 6-2 final with the points going to the Saints.  The game was a scrappy affair as fights were common place throughout the game.  Shawn Bates and Lucas Isley have been in the line up long enough to be back to game shape and will have to be the lead offensive threats for the Pontiacs.  Marc-Antoine Juneau and Devon Kalinski will have to bring lots of energy to the ice while supporting Bates and Isley with secondary scoring.  As always Mathew Register will be the “go to guy” on the blue line, he will be looking to Alex Grill Donovan for support in front of the net and near the end of the game when Register is expected to play heavy minutes.  Julien Laplante without a doubt will be patrolling the crease; Laplante has played very well against the Saints this season despite not being able to get a win.  The Pontiac forwards are fast and shifty, they work hard and have a strong fore-check that can wreak havoc on opposing defenseman.  The Pontiacs powerplay has struggled immensely this season, with a conversion rate of 15.86% they sit above only the Lloydminster Bobcats and Drayton Valley Thunder.  Their penalty kill hasn’t been much better, at 78.65% the Pontiacs sit 11th in the league.  The Pontiacs will have to be above average in those aspects if they hope to keep pace with the Saint’s PK and PP which are both atop the league. 

The Saints enter Friday’s game coming off a 2-1 overtime win against the Lloydminster Bobcats Wednesday night.  A game that saw the Saints wait until the final minute to score their first goal.  An overtime blast from defenseman Ryan Kerr kept the Saints from suffering their second loss to the Bobcats this year.  The Saint’s will try and make sure their 12 game win streak stays intact by having more of a convincing effort against the Pontiacs.  Vincenzo Marozzi will once again be the man who must thwart the efforts of Bonnyville shooters. Marozzi has had the task of defeating the Pontiacs in the four previous matchups.  This isn’t one of Head Coach Steve Hamilton’s intentional tactics; it is merely coincidence that Marrozi’s turn in the pipes has aligned with the Pontiacs vs. Saints game schedule.  Spruce Grove’s offense has been inconsistent this week, Monday’s game saw the Saints put up 8 goals against Drayton Valley while only generating 2 markers against Lloydminster which included the overtime winner. A player who has been a model of consistency is Jordan Draper. Draper is on a 12 game goal scoring streak and is looking stronger every game.  Matched up with Adam Henderson and the surging David Glen the line has been a force for the Saints since the All-Star game. With the injection of Wes McLeod and Bryce Van Brabant into the line up more shots are likely to be hurled at the net.   Brett Cameron is back from injury which is a significant addition to the offense considering he was a point per game player before having to sit out.  Kodie Curran, Dillon Simpson, Ryan Kerr, and Wes McLeod continue to be dangerous offensive threats from the blue line, while their partners Malcolm Tomlinson, Jesse Slobodian, and Tyler Hart make sure no opposing player gets an easy break.  The Saints have not lost to the Pontiacs this season and don’t intend to do so.  Bonnyville will be geared up for tonight’s game as it is their last of the season before playoffs, they would also really like to frustrate the Saints by handing them a loss since the Saints have done it to them in the five previous times they’ve met.

After tonight’s game the Saints will hit the ice one last time in the 2009/2010 season when they head to Sherwood Park Sunday afternoon to do battle with the Crusaders.

By Travis Ziegler

Bobcats in Town for Mid-Week Show Down

The Saints are coming off of a convincing 8-2 win against the Drayton Valley Thunder, and coincidently the last time they faced off against the Bobcats the result was the same.  With a win tonight at the Grant Fuhr Arena the Saints could reach the 50 win marker, this hasn’t been attained since the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons achieved the mark in the 1999/2000 season.  The Barons set an AJHL record by earning 52 wins in a 62 game schedule. The Saints are within reach of tying the record but must win out their remaining games; first they must focus on the task at hand which is the visiting Lloydminster Bobcats.

The Bobcats have been struggling throughout the season and will enter the playoffs as the 7th seed in the North.  They were able to hand the Saints a 1-0 loss earlier in the season but couldn’t continue the success in future matchups.  Since beating the Saints in late October the Bobcats have lost to the Saints three times, all by at least 4 goals.  The Bobcats will have to build on their win from Monday’s game against Bonnyville and carry the momentum into tonight’s contest.  Garret Sheehan must have a stronger showing than his effort last game against the Saints as he only lasted about half the game before being relieved of his duty.  Brock Maschmeyer will need help on the back end if the Cats hope to hold off the Saints offense.  Kory Chisholm and Chad Hohmann seemed to be the only two players going at 100% last time these two teams met and will need big games from their supporting cast of players.  The defensive zone was integral to the Bobcats downfall last game as they could not find a way to work the puck out of their zone.  The Saints fore check was tenacious as always and was the direct cause of at least three of their goals.  The Bobcats will have to play smart and solid in their own zone and not become flustered when they get out of sync.  If they wish to hand the Saints another loss they must score on quality chances and defend their crease like their lives depended on it. Every player that suits up for the Bobcats will have to be going 110% in order to head home with one more notch in the win column.

The Saints will enter tonight’s contest with a business as usual state of mind.  Coach Steve Hamilton will most likely tell his boys if they put their hard hats on and go to work for sixty minutes they will go home with the win.  The Saints will try to continue their 11 game win streak and gain a step in achieving the AJHL regular season point record.  Bryce Van Brabant and Wes McLeod are good to go after serving one game suspensions on Monday.  Brett Cameron is said to be gracing the ice after a lengthy rest due to injury, a great addition to the already potent offensive line up.  David Glen and Jordan Draper will try to continue the substantial success they have had over the last month.  Glen has exploded with points in every game and Draper has been game star 5 out of the last 6 games.  Josh Keizer will try to duplicate his solid outing on Monday as he left Drayton Valley with 5 points next to his name.  Travis Rolheiser, who was recently nominated for AJHL Goaltender of the Year, will be in the pipes and would like to get his 25th win of the season.  The usual gang of defenders will be patrolling the blue line and blasting pucks from the point.  Kodie Curran had two goals Monday afternoon and will be looking to add to his numbers while continuing to shut down the opposition.  Since the Bobcat’s forwards are smaller than average, big Ryan Kerr and Rory Connop will try to punish anyone who gets near their net.  The Saints should leave Grant Fuhr Arena tonight with their 50th victory of the year but they must stay focused and play the full sixty minutes so nothing is left to chance.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints in Bonnyville

For the second time in less than a week the Saints and Pontiacs will face off for two points.  Last Friday the Saints came away with the win but faced a little more adversity than anticipated.  The Pontiacs were thankful to get two of their top calibre players back in the line up.  The Pontiac’s excitement was evident after the first couple minutes when they hit the ice hard and had the Saints on their heels.  The Pontiacs will most likely come out with the same effort they presented last Friday but will have to generate better scoring chances against the Saint’s goaltender Vincenzo Marozzi as they were unable to beat him on his home ice.  Lucas Isley and Shawn Bates have had a chance to rid the rust from their blades so they will be more of a factor in Tuesday night’s game. Tyler Henry and Devon Kalinski will have to continue to be solid up front, while Matthew register as always will have to be a force on the blue line.  Julien Laplante will try to outmatch his adversary at the other end of the ice; he will have to duplicate last week’s efforts on the powerplay since he allowed no powerplay goals against.

The Saints had some troubles early on last time they visited the R.J. Lalonde arena in Bonnyville.  The Pontiacs outshot the Saints 9-1 in the first seven minutes and 18-8 through one period of play.  Head Coach Steve Hamilton will aim for a more energetic start to tonight’s game, his team has had an opportunity to get some rest after playing four games in five nights last week.  Due to winning all four games last week the Saints have clinched the first round bye in playoffs.  Even though their first round fate has been decided, Coach Steve Hamilton will not take his foot off the gas for the remaining games this season as he will want to keep his team on an even keel into the second round.  There is no pressure on players to try and come back early from injury, and the boys that will be iced in the final games will have an opportunity to rest up before they enter their first game of the 2010 playoffs.  The focus for the Saints team is to continue winning until that 62nd game has concluded, while trying to stay healthy as possible.  If the Saints plan on going to the National Championship they will need every little bit of their depth that has carried them to the winning record they can be proud of today.  

By Travis Ziegler

Saints Host Pontiacs

The Saints play host to the Bonnyville Pontiacs for the second time this season and they will try to duplicate the outcome the last time Bonnyville came to town.  Back on November 28th the two teams battled to a 3-1 final with the Saints enjoying victory.  Less than two weeks ago the Saints were in Bonnyville and escaped with a 3-2 win as well.  The Pontiacs want to get their first win of the season against the Saints but will have to beat a team that has rolling along over the last few weeks.  Coming off a big win Wednesday night against the Lloydminster Bobcats the Saints will want to continue their 6 game win streak Friday night. 

The Saints team play has been remarkable this season.  Hard fore checks, inspired back checks, and unmatched puck support has been essential to the Saints winning record.  They are tenacious every shift no matter the personnel going over the boards.  Coach Steve Hamilton and his staff have the boys working as a unit, and they have all bought in to his philosophies and have been rewarded with a solid winning season.  In tonight’s game the focus continues as the Saints want to stay hot right into playoffs.  David Glen, Jordan Draper, and Bryce Van Brabant have been playing solid hockey since the turn of the decade, each of them having multiple points in Wednesday’s game. The solid D core has been equally impressive only allowing five powerplay goals in the last six games.  The Saints will continue working towards the first round bye; they are closer to clinching with every win. 

The Pontiacs have to come into Grant Fuhr Arena and have the same start they did a couple weeks ago when the Saints visited Bonnyville.  In the first period of their last matchup the Pontiacs outshot the Saints 18-8 and were in control for most of the period.  Their down fall came in the second frame where they were outshot 13-4 and went down 2-1. The Pontiacs have to try and keep up the pace they had in last games first period and continue it throughout the game.  Matthew Register will be the corner stone for the Pontiacs defensive core and the powerplay.  With the absence of Lucas Isley and Shawn Bates, Devin Kalinski and Marc-Antoine Juneau will once again have to step up and handle the offensive load.  Julien Laplante will likely start for the Pontiacs as he had a solid outing in the last matchup, but will try to take home the win this time around. 

Puck drop is 7pm at the Grant Fuhr Arena.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints vs. Bobcats

The first week of April will test the Saint’s conditioning and durability as they will play four games in five nights.  The boys were able to overcome the efforts of the Sherwood Park Crusaders Tuesday night with a 5-3 win and they will be looking to do the same against the Lloydminster Bobcats Wednesday night.  The Bobcats are struggling this season with a record of 16-28-1-6 which puts them 7th in the division and 14th in the league.  The Saints suffered a one nothing loss to the Bobcats back on the 23rd of October but have since played the Bobcats twice and come away with two convincing wins.  The Saints will want to have a good start as the Bobcats are known to play tough in their home rink.  A hardnosed effort will have to be put forth in order to get the road win.  David Glen comes into the game with five goals in the last three games so he will be looking to continue his streak, Jordan Draper is also riding a two game goal streak that he would like to add to.  A strong showing from Kodie Curran will likely carry over from the Sherwood Park game where he was a major factor in the come back and win. Travis Rolheiser is in the pipes; he will try and get his 22nd win of the campaign and hold the minuscule 0.01% lead in goals against average over his partner in crime Vincenzo Marozzi. 

At the other end of the ice Garret Sheehan will likely get the start as he is playing majority of the minutes for the Cats. Lloydminster has had a tough time getting wins this season but would like to get on a roll before the first round of playoffs where they will likely play the Grande Prairie Storm.  Chad Hohmann, Brett Slobodzian, and Brody Foster will have to have big games if Lloyd wants to grab a win from the Saints. Brock Maschmeyer and Jeremie Perron will have to be solid in front of the net and not let the Saints forwards snatch any rebounds on the powerplay. 

The Bobcats will have to play smart defence and stay out of the penalty box if they want to take home some points. The Saints will be going to work tonight expecting nothing less than 2pts. A good hard fought road win will sit well with Coach Steve Hamilton.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints vs. Crusaders Feb.-2-10

The 2010 Scott Safety AJHL All-Star game in Ft. McMurray last weekend ushered in the last month of regular season play.  With about ten games left in the schedule, teams are beginning to gear up for the playoffs.  The Saints will do so by continuing the efforts they have put forth all season, and it will start tonight with the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

The Cru head into tonights contest with a record of 27-15-2-7 good enough for fourth in the North division right behind Ft. McMurray.  The Cru would love to catch the Oil Barons by playoff time but to do so they must start by taking out the league’s first place club.  Crusaders Captain Trevor Conrad will lead his team into battle which will surely be a physical affair. Conrad and fellow veteran blue liners D’Lane Sather and Josh Lee will have the task of shutting down the Saints offense and more specifically their powerplay.  However it won`t be all defence that Crusaders Coach Ross Kenny will be focused on. 2009 World Jr. A Challenge star Cody Kunyk and his line-mate Chris Kallal will be looking to put the puck in the net at every opportunity. They are complimented by the strong all-around play from Matt Meropoulis who has come on very strong since the Christmas break.  Goaltending should not be an issue for the Crusaders as Matt Esposito and Patrick Terriss have proven they are both capable of defeating powerful teams.  All the players mentioned must have their ``A`` games with them as the Saints will be looking to extend their four game win streak. If Sherwood Park can jump out to an early lead and play solid for 60 minutes they should have a good chance at defeating the Spruce Grove Saints. 

The Saints have other ideas, coming off another big win over the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons last Friday, and having strong representation at the All-Star game, the Saints want to continue to take two points from clubs until they wrap up the regular season.  With two games at hand on the Grande Prairie Strom the Saints want to achieve a first round bye as soon as possible so they can turn their focus onto playoff teams for scouting purposes.  Coach Steve Hamilton will not let his team stray from the task at hand as they must retain focus throughout the final ten games and into playoffs.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints in Bonnyville

Tonight at the R. J. Lalonde Arena in Bonnyville the Saints look to get their 41st win of the season at the expense of the Bonnyville Pontiacs.  After a tough 2-1 loss to the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons the Pontiacs rebounded against the struggling Drumheller Dragons with a 4-1 win last Saturday. The Pontiacs sit one game above .500 and would like to add some distance between them and the St. Albert Steel by playoff time.  Lead by stand out defenseman Matthew Register the Pontiacs will try to thwart the potent offense of the Spruce Grove Saints while putting some pucks in the net. The two clubs have seen each other only twice so far this year with both decisions going to the Saints. Including tonight’s contest, the two teams will meet four more times between now and the rapidly approaching end of the season.  The Pontiacs want to earn as many points as possible to stay out of 6th place while the Saints would like to wrap up a first round bye as soon as possible.  The Saints will try and stay healthy through the final stretch as teams will be looking to derail the success of Canada’s first place club.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints Take On MOB

Two back-to-back tough games for the Saints as they take on the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons Saturday night at the Grant Fuhr Arena.  After a big win last night over the Grande Prairie Storm the boys will have to refocus and reenergize for another monumental matchup.  The Oil Barons are on a three game win streak coming into Saturday’s game with wins over Olds, the Calgary Canucks, and the Bonnyville Pontiacs last night.  They will be looking to achieve their first win against the Saints this season as they have had a tough time putting pucks behind Spruce Grove’s net minders.  The powerful Baron offense has only been able to score twice in the previous four matchups compared to the Saints 13 markers.   It will be a special team’s battle as the Saints are first in both penalty killing and power play and the Barons aren’t far behind sitting second in penalty killing and third in power play percentage.  Goaltending will obviously be a major factor as both teams are known for their offensive abilities.  Rotating goaltenders has been Coach Hamilton’s pattern so don’t expect it to stop tonight. Travis Rolheiser will most likely have the start since Marrozi was the man last night.  Rolheiser had a solid game against the Barons in Stony Plain two weeks ago shutting them out.  Kallechy had the job of shutting down the Pontiacs yesterday and was successful however either backstop for the Barons could be given the task tonight.  Grant Fuhr Arena should be hot tonight as this will be a barn burner.  The Saints will want to get a convincing win since they travel up to the Mac in a week’s time.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints vs. Storm “Round 5”

Less than one week since the Saints fell 3-2 to the Grande Prairie Storm, they are back to seek redemption at Grant Fuhr Arena. A slower than expected start to last game saw the Storm control much of the play early on. The Storm potted 3 unanswered regular strength goals against the Saints in the first two periods before the home club almost made a comeback in the third with two goals of their own.  The Saints seemed a step behind last game despite having the night before to rest, contrary to their counterparts who dropped a decision to the St. Albert Steel last Friday night.

It will be important for the Saints to have a strong start against the Storm, they will have to be on the better side of the physical game and be ready to skate.  Their power play which is atop the league at 28.57% must be firing on all cylinders.  The Saints energy lines have to keep momentum on the home side and be smart physically.  Rolheiser started last week’s contest so we are likely to see Vincenzo Marrozi swimming in the blue paint. 

On the other side of the red line, the Storm’s offense will have to be patient, as a high scoring club they are accustomed to scoring goals fast and furious.  The Saints have four lines that can play the shutdown game so converting on scoring chances will be a must as the Saints don’t give them up very often.  The deadly line of Rix, Raubenheimer, and Dunstall will have to be zeroed in as they have combine for only two goals against the Saints in four previous games this season.  The supporting cast has to be on their games as well, players like Dan Correale and Darren Kramer have to continue to be in-your-face and Marcus Watson will have to be as effective as last weekend when he came away with two assists.  Chad Carder will have to be sharp as the Saints will be looking to get more pucks to the net. Carder stopped 28 of 30 shots last game for the win.  If both teams are playing at a high tempo and are focused this should be a classic end to the season series, however if one club takes the night off look for a choppy, slow game with one team in control.

By Travis Ziegler

Saints vs. Storm "Round 4"

By this point in the season these two teams are more than familiar with each other. The three previous meetings saw the Saints overcome their northern opponents with scores of 4-1 twice and a 2-1 win in overtime.  The line of Raubenheimer, Rix, and Dunstall has been unable to employ their scoring touch against the Saints defensive strategy. The three snipers have a combine point total of 230 this season but only combine for one point against the Saints, a Travis Dunstall goal back on October 10th.  If the Saints back end and penalty kill can continue to shut down the best scoring line in the AJHL they should come away with another victory. The Storm’s secondary scoring from Tanner Fritz must be present as he has earned game star for his team in two of the last three games.  Chad Carder will have his work cut out for him as the Saints pummelled him with close to 50 shots last game. Perhaps the most important strategy for the Storm this Saturday is to stay disciplined.  Last meeting tempers started to flare after Storm players paraded to the sin bin, Storm’s Head Coach Mike Vandekamp became furious which seemed to take his team off their game plan long enough to let Spruce Grove take control. Although Spruce only scored one power play goal in the game, Grande Prairie could never get anything going due to penalties.  If the Storm can stay out of the box, and their top line can find a path to the back of the net they will be in good shape to snatch a victory from their North Division rivals.

The Saints have to stick to their game plan that has been almost bulletproof throughout the season. The combination of stellar goaltending, a smart and controlled defensive zone, and a forward line-up that is extremely dangerous on the power play will frustrate and wear down opponents.  The Saints are very good at controlling their emotions when the game gets heated, this is a must when playing teams who are desperate to beat you, and become frustrated throughout the course of the game.  When the puck drops at Grant Fuhr Arena on Saturday expect a fast start that will set the tone for the game. Depending on how the Storm fair Friday night against the St. Albert Steel it may be an indication of their mentality coming into Saturday’s game.  

By Travis Ziegler

The Spruce Grove Saints vs. Camrose Kodiaks

The Saints will head down highway 21 to Camrose to take on the Kodiaks who currently sit 1st in the South division with 61pts.  The Kodiaks have been up and down since the holiday break, beginning with a tie against the Grande Prairie Storm on January second.  The club then went .500 over their next four contests defeating the Drayton Valley Thunder and Brooks Bandits.  They suffered losses to Okotoks and most recently a 4-1 loss to the Olds Grizzlys in the Olds Sports Complex. It is without a doubt they would like to get on a roll by taking out the first place Spruce Grove Saints.  The two teams met in mid October with the decision going to the Saints in a 4-2 victory. 

Kodiak top scorer Brad McConnell along with sniper Erik Slemp have not only been chosen for the AJHL All-Star game but named assistant captain and captain respectively for the South division. These two will have the challenge of trying to solve either Vincenzo Marozzi or Travis Rolheiser, Rolheiser played last Saturday against the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons so expect to see Marozzi between the pipes.  Nolan Kaiser will be the go to guy on the back end with 8 goals and 23 assists to date. Shouldering the load in net will be Kris Moore, Moore has played more minutes than any other of the top 5 goaltenders and will try and back stop his team to their third win in 2010. 

Attaining that win will be quite a challenge as he must shut down the speedy and strong forwards of the Spruce Grove offense.  Josh Lazowski, currently on a seven game point streak and two game goal streak will be a threat from anywhere on the ice. Backing him up will be Nate Fleming, Scott Allen and Adam Henderson all of which are over the 40 point barrier and will be looking to add to their numbers Thursday night. Swarming the blue line will a defensive core that grows stronger as the season rolls along. With the addition of Wes McLeod at the trade deadline the Saints blue line is rich with offensive talent that can be mirrored by stay at home poise. 

The Saints will have the edge in the special teams category as they lead the league with a 28.37% power play and a 94.21% penalty kill.  The Kod’s power play is considerably less effective at 19.2% however their penalty kill is third in the league with 86.03%.  If the Saints can overpower the Camrose penalty kill and put a few past Moore the Kodiaks will be hard pressed to skate with the Saints 5-on-5.  Energy players like Bryce Van Brabant and Liam Darragh will have to lay a pounding on the talented Camrose forwards in order to make them less effective. It should be an exciting matchup between the two division leaders tonight at the EnCana Arena.

By Travis Ziegler