Trentonian Game Story; Thoughts On Yesterday’s Game

First off, here’s a link to my gamer in the Trentonian.  Yes, there really was a Mercer County police officer who was sent down to stay inbetween the locker rooms in case things really got out of hand.

Things certainly got out of hand early in the game.  Elmira was running around for the first 25 minutes or so of the game, and seemed to be deliberately trying to hurt a few Trenton Devils players out there. 

Elmira is good enough to where they don’t have to play like that, but that’s the style their head coach wants them to play.  Steve Martinson reminds me of Wolf Stansson in the second Mighty Ducks movie, whereas Rick Kowalsky is more like Gordon Bombay, complete with the hair to match.

Wolf Stansson: Gunnar, you lost it for me.

Gunnar Stahl: You lost it for yourself.

You root for guys like Gordon Bombay.  You do not root for guys like Wolf Stansson.

Just don’t try the “Flying V,” Rick.

Thing is, the Jackals absolutely controlled the play for the first five minutes or so.  They’re a pretty skilled team when they’re not running around, and should have been able to beat the T-Devils at least once over this three game series.

Overlooked with all the penalty minutes being racked up was the performance of Gerald Coleman, who was tested quite a bit and was outstanding.  That might be the best I’ve seen him in terms of quickness with his lateral movement, and he looked pretty sharp overall outside of that first goal.

After the game, the music in the room was absolutely cranking.  Perhaps loud enough to where they were hoping the Jackals might hear the sounds of a three-game sweep.  On my way back from the T-Devils locker room and my trip past the police officer, it was a bit of a surreal scene to see Chaz Johnson addressing a group of youth hockey players just outside of Elmira’s room. 

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Sunday Night Extras

Videos:

Myles Stoesz vs. Chaz Johnson

Myles Stoesz vs. Brett Gallant

Chaz Johnson at the end of the first

Photos:

Brett Wilson

Tony Zancanaro

Audio:

Justin Coutu (1:18)

Rick Kowalsky (4:26)

Myles Stoesz (1:08)

I’ll have some post-game thoughts and a link to the Trentonian game story coming up later…

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Sunday Stuff

Doing the game story for the Trentonian again today, so any updates will be posted after the game.  Hope everyone enjoyed the coverage yesterday both on here and in the paper.  I do appreciate the comments on here.

If you listened to Rick Kowalsky’s audio last night, you know that Gerald Coleman will be between the pipes tonight.  I’d be very surprised if Chris Holt either played three games in a row or played after stopping only 14 of 19 shots last night, so I’m looking for Michael Teslak in goal for Elmira tonight.

Haven’t heard anything about other changes, so be sure to listen to Dan D’Uva’s radio broadcast for all the information on the game today.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Extras From Game 9

Trentonian Game Story: Click here to read

Video: 

Myles Stoesz vs. Brett Gallant

Audio:

Myles Stoesz

Rick Kowalsky

Photos:

Justin Coutu

Chris Holt

Chris Murray

Kory Nagy

Myles Stoesz

Michael Teslak

Teslak

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Looking at Game 9

– What is about these two teams that always leads to good, competitive games?  That was another one of those games that had a little bit of everything.  Thought Trenton came out pretty flat in the first period, but really stepped up the pressure in the second period.

– Will there ever be a game in this league where you walk away talking about how good the officiating was?  My goodness, that was an interesting crew.  Seemed they called everything sometimes, and looked the other way on other stuff.

– Dave Caruso made one spectacular save in the second period, but wasn’t outstanding tonight.  But still, he got the win.  Was pretty disappointed with how Chris Holt played, I was expecting much more out of him.

– John Wessbecker was actually pretty solid, I thought.  Thought his positioning was pretty good tonight.

– I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I will take Chaz Johnson on my team any time.  Yes, the theatrics are a bit much sometimes, but he really is a talented player.  It’s a shame that some of his antics seem to overshadow his skills.  Thought he was Elmira’s best player tonight.  If you listen to Myles Stoesz’s audio — when I post it a bit later — you’ll see that he hoped he could play like Johnson one day, and respects him for the way he plays.

– Nice to see Jeff Prough get back in the goal column.  If he can really get in a groove like he was last year, there’s no telling what kind of numbers he can put up.

– My vote for the three stars was what ended up being selected.  The theme for my story in the Trentonian was Myles Stoesz’s “Gordie Howe Hat Trick,” so I thought he deserved getting the first star selection based on how much he contributed.

– Stay tuned for photos, videos, audio and so on.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Trentonian Weekend; Last Night’s Recap

First off…any T-Devils fans live in Hunterdon County? If so, drop me a line. Doing a story for the magazine that is inserted monthly into my newspaper and could use your help.

I’ll be doing the game stories for the Trentonian this weekend — Rob Chakler is on vacation — so I won’t be adding anything to the blog until after the game like the last time this happened.

I will say that Trenton is without the services of their captain, Trevor Kell.  Kell has been called up to Lowell and will hopefully get an opportunity to stick up there this time.  Jeremy Akeson is eligible to come off of the 3-Day IR today,  but I have not heard if that will be happening.

Until then, here’s the recap of last night’s game in Elmira:

(PR) Elmira, NY, November 6, 2009 – A back and forth contest in Elmira was decided in overtime Friday night in front of a record crowd at First Arena, as Jeff Prough scored the game winner, with an assist from Tim Kunes, to give the Devils a 4-3 victory and hand the Jackals their first loss of the season. Elmira’s seven game win streak to open the season was shirt-circuited in the process, protecting the league record of eight consecutive established by the Trenton Titans.

The Devils win is their third of the season and third against division foes. Their only East Division loss was suffered at the hands of Elmira last Saturday in a 4-1 Jackals victory. In that contest the rivalry borne in last year’s first round playoff series was on display, as four game misconducts were assessed and a one game suspension was issued to Elmira’s Chaz Johnson. The hot tempers carried into Friday’s game, even with Johnson sidelined, as 22 penalties were called, including one major scuffle.

The Devils opened the scoring less than a minute into the second period when Jeff Prough flipped a high arcing pass to Brett Wilson in-stride who blasted one from high in the slot. Gord Burnett registered a second assist on the goal making his first appearance of the season.

The Jackals took the lead late in the period with a goal from Maxime Gratchev and a power play goal from Keegan Dansereau. Penalties against Prough and Dave Leaderer led to a five-on-three advantage for Elmira, and the first unsuccessful penalty kill for the Devils since October 28. Trenton had killed off 20 consecutive power plays when Keegan netted his first score of the year.

Unlike last weekend’s game when the Devils couldn’t overcome two second period goals from Elmira, the rematch featured an offensive surge in the third, starting with Trevor Kell’s team-leading, third goal of the year a minute into the period. With the Devils shorthanded, a two-on-one breakaway with Andy Thomas and Kory Nagy put the puck on netminder Chris Holt, but the rebound lay in front, allowing the trailing Kell to streak in and tie the game at 2-2. Seven minutes later, Mike Harder fed Scott Bartlett in front for the go-ahead goal, Bartlett’s second tally of the season.

Elmira retied the game 12 minutes into the third, with Olivier Proulx sneaking a pass from the trapezoid to Chanse Fitzpatrick 10 feet from the post who fired it past Gerald Coleman. The Devils had three power play chances after the game was tied, but the man-up offense continued to struggle, even on a five-on-three that lasted into the extra period. Despite the power play struggles, the Devils generated the even-strength goal in overtime as Tim Kunes skated the puck behind the Jackals goal and found Prough in front for the game winning score.

Gerald Coleman made 24 saves for the Devils , earning his second win of the season.

The Devils and Jackals both head to the Garden State following Friday night’s game. The two squads square off in Trenton on Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday afternoon at 4, to finish out the home-and-home four game series. Join Dan D’Uva for all the play-by-play at TrentonDevils.com, courtesy B2 Networks.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

T-Devils Activate Three, Place Two On IR

Without the ECHL transactions report, I just might not have anything to write about inbetween game days.

Trenton made five moves today, activating three players from the IR and placing two on it.

Defensemen Chris Murray, Gord Burnett and John Wessbecker were all activated off of the IR, while forward Jeremy Akeson and defenseman Justin Pender were placed on it. Akeson was placed on the 3-Day IR, while Pender was placed on the 7-Day IR.

Murray has yet to play a game this season, signed after splitting last year between the Hartford Wolfpack and Charlotte.

Burnett has also not suited up for a game this year, but he did play in nine contests for the T-Devils last year, racking up 50 penalty minutes without posting a goal or an assist.

Wessbecker, who made a miraculous recovery from the cramp he got in his wrist from signing his contract that forced him to the IR, is looking to make his pro debut after a four year collegiate career at UMass-Amherst.

Akeson is in his second season with the Trenton Devils, and has scored two goals and added one assist in his first seven games with the club this year.  Last year, he tallied 18 goals and 24 assists during his first professional season.

Pender, in his first full professional season after a two-game stint with Lowell last year, has posted a goal and an assist in his first seven games with the Devils this year. 

Meanwhile, Johnstown has claimed forward Moises Gutierrez off of waivers from Alaska, making room for him by releasing Tyler Hirsch. Elmira has received goalie Michael Teslak back from Adirondack, only to place him on the bereavement list. And Reading has lost goalie Kevin Regan to Providence and received goalie Andrew Engelage from the Toronto Marlies.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Chaz-tised

(PR) Elmira’s Johnson Suspended One Game, Fined

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced that Elmira forward Chaz Johnson has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount as a result of his actions in ECHL Game #64 against Trenton on Oct. 31.

Johnson was assessed minor penalties for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct and a Game Misconduct – Abuse of Officials at 11:15 of the second period.

He is suspended and fined under Rule 29 – Supplemental Discipline.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, player fines collected by the ECHL are given to the PHPA for its ECHL Player’s Hardship Fund.

Johnson will miss Elmira’s game against Trenton (Nov. 6).

So, This Happened Saturday…

(PR) Elmira, NY – The Devils surrendered two even strength goals to the Jackals in the second period and could not find the firepower to battle back in a 4-1 loss in Elmira’s First Arena.

Riding the momentum of Friday’s win over Johnstown, and points in each of the last three games, the Devils sought to score their first road goal of the season and break the six game winning streak of the conference leading Jackals. They did avoid their second road shutout in as many games, thanks to Justin Pender’s outside shot in the later stages of the third period, however, it was too little and too late to slow the strongest club in the East Division.

The Devils again struggled on the power play, squandering nine extra-man chances, even allowing a short handed goal in the third period to Justin Donati. Though the Jackals also were held scoreless on the power play, they did score two even strength goals in the second period.

After a scoreless first period in which the Devils were outshot 11 to 4, the Jackals crashed the net early in the second and Justin Donati netted his fourth goal of the season just 48 second into the period, with brother Justin and Chanse Fitzpatrick assisting. Elmira took a 2-0 lead about four minutes later when Fitzpatrick, who would be named the game’s first star, scored his first of two on the night, on a rush with Travis Gawryletz and Tyler Donati. The Devils have now allowed 15 goals in second periods out of 24 total goals-against.

The game devolved in the second when 13 infractions were assessed at the 11:15 mark of the period. An altercation between the Devils’ Myles Stoesz and the Jackals’ Olivier Proulx escalated into a fight between Stoesz and Chaz Johnson, plus another battle between Dan Eves of the Devils and Brett Gallant of the Jackals. Stoesz, Johnson, Eves and Gallant each were issued game misconduct penalties. The sum of the penalties led to a two minute power play for Elmira.

Scoring did not continue until the third period when Justin Donati scored the shorthanded goal with an assist from Mat Robinson on a two-on-one breakaway at 6:12. Pender notched his unassisted goal at 13:56 and Fitzpatrcik tallied his second of the game at 15:11, his seventh goal of the year, to complete the 4-1 Elmira victory.

Lost in the outcome was a strong performance from goalie Dave Caruso who made more spectacular saves than his counterpart Chris Holt. Caruso again showed off his reflexes and his great right pad shifting across the crease to quell numerous chances for Elmira. Holt also managed to stifle the Devils and their 26 shots, becoming more and more impressive later in the game, frequently managing to stop the puck despite Devils jamming up the crease. Despite losing the shutout, Holt got his fourth win of the season and was named the game’s second star.

The Devils again visit the Elmira Jackals next Friday, November 6 at 7:35. Join Dan D’Uva for all the play-by-play at TrentonDevils.com, courtesy B2 Networks.

Game 6: Trentonian Game Story

Here’s the link to my game story in today’s Trentonian.  The entered/entering faux pas in the fourth paragraph is my fault, the “Lowell T-Devils” thing was an editing snafu and not any wishful thinking/foreshadowing on my part.

If you thought it was good, send them an e-mail and let them you know you liked it.  Might help me get some extra work. 

And if you thought it sucked, tell them that too.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com