Stampeders Sanctioned for Playing With 26 Carded Players

The Swan Valley Stampeders have received a "severe sanction" in the words of MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis for what could be called an illegal roster.

The Stampeders played 10 games between the dates of October 25th to November 13th with 26 carded players which by some could be considered a severe roster violation. MJHL teams can only carry 25 carded players at this point of the season.

The Stampeders went 6-4 during that span beating the OCN Blizzard twice along with the Virden Oil Capitals, Winkler Flyers, Portage Terriers, and the Neepawa Natives.

In some Jr.A leagues that infraction of league rules would result in an automatic loss of points along with possible supplemental sanctions such as a $500 fine.

According to Davis, in the MJHL there is no set punishment for carrying more players than allowed by the league, so in essence the sanction is up to Davis' discretion.

Davis confirmed there would be no loss of points or changes to the standings as a result of the infraction.

Davis said the Stampeders have been sanctioned monetarily along with a sanction affecting their roster abilities for the rest of the season.

An anonymous source says the Stampeders have been fined $1,000 and lost 2 of their 45 player cards for the season (each team can only have 25 players carded at a time until December 1st when the number drops to 23, but can burn through 45 in a season.)

It seems that the Stampeders are lucky they don't play in the "other" leagues that would have taken away points for that infraction as they would move from 30 points on the season to 18.

The OCN Blizzard would have seen their numbers improve to 20-5-1 good for 41 points. The Stamps would then be second last in the Sher-Wood division with a record of 8-14-2 , only four points up on Neepawa who would gain two points.

Other teams that would gain two points are Winkler, Virden and Portage. Putting them at 20, 27, and 23 points on the season respectively.

Davis was willing to answer questions over the phone but did not want to record a statement.

** Note: I did have to readjust some numbers that were typo's. To be clear the Stampeders had 26 carded players, only allowed 25. Clearly this error justifies my crappy radio salary!**

Blizzard Lineup vs Portage

Goalies

McDonald - Starter

Henry - Backup

Defense

Elmes / Dusik

Bruyere / Cochrane

Robak / Kavanaugh

Forwards

Sharp / TJ Constant / Petrino

Cardinal / Valiquette / Gray

Swampy / Bayer / Lathlin

Fontaine / Cameron / MacInnis

Scratches

Wilson Dumais - INJ

Tyler Grove - INJ

Thomas Ward-Cardinal - INJ

Taylor Santorelli - INJ

Brady Constant

Here's a lighthearted pregame interview with Gray.

Gray Pre-Game Portage - Nov 2nd 2012 by Bradley Karp on Mixcloud

Game Preview: Blizzard vs Portage

The Blizzard have handled the defending champs with relative ease this season and can run a perfect 4-0 in their season series versus Portage with a win tonight.

The Blizzard are coming off two loses to the Swan Valley Stampeders by scores of 6-3 each time. Those losses are the first back to back for the Blizzard this season.

Ke-Na-Now Centre in Wabowden

Kajon McKay makes his only trip to the North this season both he and Blizzard forward  Eddie Bayer spent plenty of time there (pic left) as youngsters. The Ke-Na-Now Centre in Wabowden.

McKay is a 20 year old and could be moved by the Terriers this year if they fall out of the race. I think a large number of Blizzard fans hope they can see him playing out of the GLMC later this year.

The Blizzard have dominated the Terriers this year with a pair of blowout wins in Portage and a shootout winner at the MJHL Showcase.

I would expect that Portage doesn't want to get swept, should be another tough test at home tonight. We'll see which Blizzard show up... as DeBray put it the "smart tough or stupid tough".

HOW THEY MATCHUP:

Records:

OCN: 12-5-1 (1st SHWD)

PTG: 7-5-1 (3rd ADDN)

Goals For:

OCN: 60

PTG: 37

Goals Against: 

OCN: 48

PTG: 41

Powerplay:

OCN: 7/10 (10% / 11th)

PTG: 11/58 (18.97% / 7th)

Penalty Kill:

OCN: 91/103 (83.50% / 4th)

PTG: 37/45 (82.22% / 5th)

Tonight's game is not being broadcast. Tomorrow's will be. 

Blizzard 6th in National Rankings

The OCN Blizzard moved up three spots from last week in the national rankings. 

Here is the release from the CJHL:

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting announced today its Weekly Top 20 rankings for the week of October 8th. Last week's rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.

The CJHL Weekly Top 20 as of Monday, October 8th:

1. (1) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. (2) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
3. (4) Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
4. (7) Truro Bearcats (MHL)
5. (8) Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
6. (9) OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
7. (NR) Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
8. (5) Sudbury Nickel Barons (NOJHL)
9. (3) Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
10. (11) Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
11. (10) Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
12. (13) Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)
13. (15) Oakville Blades (OJHL)
14. (NR) St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHL)
15. (6) Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL)
16. (18) Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)
17. (17) Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)
18. (NR) Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
19. (19) Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
20. (NR) Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)

Honourable Mention goes to the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL), Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL), Portage Terriers (MJHL), Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL), Summerside Western Capitals (MHL).

The weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams play, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.

Blizzard 2 Portage 1 in Shootouts - Perfect at Showcase

Another big win. A tough win to leave the showcase with four points.

The Blizzard got into early penalty trouble with Wilson Dumais getting into the box just 11 seconds in. Lyndon Lypinski tipped in a point shot just a few minutes later on the Powerplay to give the Terriers an early 1-0 lead.

Which they would hold onto until Garick Gray tied it up with about 6:30 left in the third period off a grimy goal in front of the net.

The Blizzard had jelly legs and fought the puck throughout most of the first and into the second period. Things turned around and they controlled the play for the entire third period.

OCN had a number of chances to go ahead in the last six and a half minutes, Kirk Chief and Grant Valiquette both missed what were essentially open nets.

Nonetheless OCN would take things into the shootout where Head Coach Jim Mollard decided that OCN would shoot second.

Matt Glowa shot first for Portage but McDonald came up big with a glove save as Glowa went to the backhand.

Wilson Dumais scored low blocker side for OCN.

Zack Waldvogel almost had McDonald beat dragging the puck up to the post but couldn't get it across the line on Portage's second shot.

Thomas Ward-Cardinal scored the shootout winner by putting the puck in the same place that Dumais did.

Here is tonight's scoring summary:

1st Period

PTG 2:19 (PP) - L.Lypinski (4) Assists: Waldvogel, Kuczek

2nd Period

NONE

3rd Period

OCN 13:21 - Gray (2) Assists: Valiquette, Grove

Shots

PTG - 31
OCN - 31

Justin McDonald made 30 saves for his fourth win of the season, keeps his goals against average of 0.97 and improves his save percentage drops two points to 0.975

Pitre Tire 3 Stars:

1. Thomas Ward-Cardinal (GWG)
2. Justin McDonald (30/31 saves, 2/2 in SO)
3. Garick Gray (1G)

Northern Building Supply Hardest Working Player:

Wilson Dumais

The Blizzard are on the way home. A tough test against Dauphin on Tuesday followed by another weekend on the road beginning with Selkirk on Friday, followed by the Blues on Sunday and finally Portage on Sunday.

With the Blues loss to the Natives just as the OCN bus pulled away from the IcePlex OCN has a four point hold on top spot in the league.

Enjoy your thanksgiving weekend, stuff yourselves with turkey and spirits.

-Brad-

Mollard's Thoughs on #9 CJHL Ranking

A real quick interview with OCN Blizzard head coach Jim Mollard on the teams #9 ranking on the CJHL top 20.




The Blizzard practiced today and will do the same tomorrow before hitting the bus on Thursday afternoon for Winnipeg. OCN's first showcase game is on Friday versus Steinbach followed by Saturday versus Portage. Both games will be at the MTS Iceplex and both will be broadcast as well.

* On a side note anywhere a good place to get my skates sharpened in town? I'm pretty picky when it comes to my sharpenings haha.

Blizzard 6 - Portage 1 ... About Last Night

Statement game.

That's what this game was in every sense of the word for the OCN... not so much for the other teams but more for themselves.

After a lackluster effort against the Pistons where Steinbach clogged the middle of the ice very effectively the Blizzard came out strong against the defending champs right off the bat.

Just 45 seconds in Thomas Ward-Cardinal took the puck into the slot on the right hand side and the left handed shooting defensemen went over the glove of a hapless Adam Iwan who received zero support.

From there on it was all Blizzard.

OCN moved the puck very well, kept the majority of the Terriers 28 shots to the outside and allowed only 3-5 quality scoring chances on McDonald who was lights out once again.

Ward-Cardinal would pick up his second goal a little later on in the game while Wilson Dumais score off a rebound on the Powerplay. He picked up his second goal in the second frame as well.

Nathan Bruyere absolutely crushed a pass from TJ Constant on his off wing early in the 2nd.

Brady Constant's first MJHL goal was a beautiful piece of work between both he and Wilson Dumais as the Saskatchewan import gained the zone and slowed up allowing Brady to sneak in behind the defence. Dumais put the puck just a bit a head of Constant but the '94 born winger dove and turned it into a Crosbyesque goal.

Pretty good for his first goal in Jr.A.

The Blizzard controlled the play for the entire game, the PK was perfect once again (5/5) and on one sequence Grove and Gray each had breakaways about 45 seconds apart, unfortunately both were unable to convert.

The PP clicked again for the second time on this road trip as a shot off the side boards from TJ Constant was banged back in by Dumais who was camping out in front.

Before the road trip the Blizzard were trying to be too fancy with the man advantage, which can happen with that many skilled guys playing on the ice together, they seem to have figured out that most PP goals are ugly.

All in all a very successful road swing for OCN, taking 2 of 3 is pretty good on the first real road swing of the year. These points now will give the Blizzard a cushion should they falter later on this season, which is bound to happen at some point.

I think this roadtrip was just what they needed, a tough road win where they gutted it out in overtime on Friday against Winkler. A beat down to bring them  back to reality in Steinbach, and a statement game to reassure themselves and prove to themselves that they are a good hockey club.

Should be an interesting weekend at the showcase as OCN will play Steinbach on Friday and Portage on Saturday.

Here is how last night's scoring broke down.

Period 1

OCN 0:45 - Thomas Ward-Cardinal (3) Assists: Brady Constant & Wilson Dumais
OCN 3:53 PP - Wilson Dumais (2) Assists: TJ Constant & Thomas Ward-Cardinala
OCN 13:29 - Brady Constant (1) Assists: Wilson Dumais

Period 2

OCN 1:18 - Nathan Bruyere (3) Assists: TJ Constant & Thomas Ward-Cardinal
OCN 13:15 - Wilson Dumais (3) Assists: Brady Constant & Tim Kavanaugh
OCN 15:18 - Thomas Ward-Cardinal (3) Assists: Tyler Grove & Josh Elmes

Period 3

PTG 16:03 - Matt Glowa (2) Assists: Kajon McKay & Justin Slobozian

It's a happy bus, I'm sure the coaching staff is looking forward to many more trips like this one.

Hope you all enjoyed the broadcasts.

Big thanks to Zac (sic?) Moore and Roy Personius for joining me in the booth to do colour, always greatly appreciated.

Enjoy your Monday!

-Brad-

Tonight's Lineup vs Portage

Here is tonight's lineup vs the defending and undefeated (3-0) MJHL champions Portage Terriers.

Forwards

15 Dumais / 19 TJ Constant / 12 Brady Constant

16 Grove / 11 Valiquette / 25 Gray

24 Chief / 21 Baptiste / 10 Cardinal

8 Cameron / 9 Lathlin / 27 Gamblin

Defense

7 Bruyere / 17 Cochrane 

4 Elmes / 5 Ward-Cardinal

3 Dusik / 20 Kavanaugh

Goaltenders 

30 McDonald

33 Henry

McDonald gets the start in the rotation of the ever fantastic goaltenders. 

The Terriers are coming off a 4-3 win over the Neepawa Natives on Friday.

Should be a real test tonight, either you go 4-2 or 5-1 after this trip and stay at the top of the league.

Both Dumais and Valiquette are in the lineup and if goaltending continues the way it has been it should be an entertaining game.

Puck drop at 6:30 - pregame at 6:15.