1984/85 SKATER & GOALIE OF THE WEEK #9

Stan_SmylRick_WamsleyRick_MiddletonRichard_Sevigny

CLARENCE SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Smyl, Stan AND 3 4 3 7 4 2 13 31%
                   
CLARENCE GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Wamsley, Rick PIT 2 2 1 60 .968
                   
WALES SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Middleton, Rick NCD 3 5 3 8 2 1 12 42%
                   
WALES GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Sevigny, Richard HYA 2 2 1.82 30 .938

CapJack Rangers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Rangers host new division rival Kamsack for 1 and Andes (love their mints) for another.
GAME #1:

KAMSACK CYCLONES

VS.

CAPJACK RANGERS

Kamsack has been hot lately and climbing in the Patrick – also seeking to hold off Charlotte as they both chase a surprising CapJack team (surprising to me for sure!).

Rangers take to the offensive (since their defense is questionable) – although goon, I mean thug, whoops again with the terms, our enforcer Torrie Robertson is taking the week off as we hope to diminish the opponent’s PP opportunities. Rangers fire 26 shots on Peeters in the 1st two periods and Kromm (1st period) and Haworth (2nd period) both find the back of the net – and at just about the same time in each period (16:13 and 16:19) – oddity!

In the 3rd period, a goal by Pettersson just before the midpoint seems to have salted the game away with the 3-0 lead. But then the winds start to swirl in the Garden and the Cyclones storm back. 1st, Stastny scored a minute after the Pettersson goal to cut it to 3-1. Minute and a half to go and Peeters exits the game and Kamsack brings on the offense. Neely with a scoring chance but Trottier blocks it. Again he gets a chance, shoots, and Resch denies him. A minute to go and again Neely off a deflection of a Gartner wrist shot is stopped by Resch but Gartner gets it again and he shoots again and again Resch stops it! This time the Rangers clear it and Kromm gets it at the point – oh man, Reinhart drills him, and here comes Neely on a 2-on-1 break. He stops, slides it to Reinhart back to Neely – slap-shot – Resch stick saves it AGAIN. Gartner gets it, he winds up, fires, and GAZINGA – it beats Resch and it’s 3-2 CapJack with 43 seconds left. The Rangers regroup with a timeout.
Cyclones continue the quest to score, Peeters, stays on the bench, and Trottier wins the faceoff at center ice. He gains control feeds Crowder who has a clear lane to the EN, and fires GOAL! 4-2 Rangers 3 seconds after Kamsack got within 1. Still the Cyclones press – again Trottier wins the faceoff but Gartner hits him, and the Cyclones gain control. After a Malone shot is blocked, Gartner gains the puck and his slapper is stopped by Resch, Courtnall gives it a wail – stopped, then Neely scarfs it up, the wraparound – the GOAL and it’s 4-3 Rangers as Kamsack again pulls to within 1. But there are only 8 ticks left on the clock and Resch breathes easy when they expire! The Rangers hang on for a 4-3 win in what seemed like a game fully in control.

STARS
1. CAP – Haworth 1 goal, 1 assist
2. KAM – Neely 1 goal 1 assist
3. CAP – Pettersson 1 goal
Peters makes 31 saves while Resch makes 29 – 11 of them in the 3rd period and seemingly most of them in the final 3 minutes.

GAME #2:

ANDES MOUNTAINEERS VS.

CAPJACK RANGERS

A mild game until it started then there were some penalties. Haworth gets the 1st penalty for interference 2 minutes into the game Trottier comes through for the Rangers with a SH goal. Then, former Ranger Dan Daoust goes off for hooking and Crowder scores a PP goal just before the 6-minute mark! Then we get 4 regular strength goals to close out the 1st with Smyl and Sykes scoring for Andes and Haworth getting 2 for CapJack. The goals alternated but when the Zamboni appeared for the 1st intermission, it was 4-2 Rangers.

2nd-period scoring didn’t occur for a while but finally occurred when Crowder was whistled for roughing. (And just after that penalty Gilmour (Andes) and Donnelly (CAP) engage in a fight and leave. While on the PP Naslund scores for the Mountaineers and it’s a 1-goal game at 4-3. But with just under 3, Crowder scores his 2nd of the game to get the Rangers back up by 2 (5-3) before Zamboni again returns to clean the ice.

Midway into the 3rd Smyl scores for Andes and it’s 5-4 and that 1 goal game returns. And the Mountaineers find themselves still in that predicament as we get into the final 2 minutes and they follow the pattern from the previous game and pull Jensen (who came in in the 1st after Millen gave up the quick 4 goals) – so we have 6 attackers trying to get one or two past Weeks. But with 34 seconds left, Crowder gets it, to Trottier who passes it to Green who fires one into the EN for his 1st of the year. 6-4 Rangers. Andes doesn’t back down and they come back harder and harder finally with 11 seconds left Naslund beats Weeks to get it back to within 1 at 6-5 CapJack. Tick, tick, tick, 11 of them for the fans to endure, but McNab helps by kicking the puck free over to Arniel who clears the zone and fires on the EN and scores! 7-5 CapJack with 7 seconds left and that’s a wrap! Another last-minute thriller!

STARS
1. CAP – Crowder 2 goals, 2 assists
2. AND – Smyl 2 goals, 1 assist
3. CAP – Haworth 2 goals

Park ends up with 3 assists for Andes

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Two crazy finishes with 3 EN goals this week, the Rangers win both games!
Chicago Underground
WEEKLY PREVIEW: One home game during the short week at the Capone Center. The Underground then heads out on the road for two.
GAME #1 – VISITING TEAM: Hyannisport Presidents
GAME #1: HYANNISPORT PRESIDENTS VS. CHICAGO UNDERGROUND Chicago doubles up the Presidents with a very well-played game with 6 different goal scorers for Underground. Bossy wasn’t even one of them.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Hyannisport 3

Labatts 3-Star Selection:
Star 1: CHI – Peter Stastny 1G, 3Pts
Star 2: CHI – Paul Baxter 1G, 2Pts
Star 3: CHI – Raymond Bourque 1G

Game Winner: – Raymond Bourque

Notables:
HYA – Nome
CHI – None

WEEKLY SUMMARY: The Underground grabs 2 Points at home & can only hope to get lucky on the road. Pelle Lindbergh celebrates with some Hot-Hot Women & Cold-Cold Beer!
Mackinac Island Moose
WEEKLY PREVIEW: First an in-state rival, the Michigan Stags in a battle of the Antlers. Then the Presidents come to town.
GAME #1: 

MICHIGAN STAGS VS. 

MACKINAC ISLAND MOOSE

A very even 1st period with 2 penalties each, 10-9 SOG comparison, and it’s just one little opening for MacLean to get the only goal of the period. 1-0 Moose.

Action really cranks up in the 2nd. DeBlois bumps the lead to 2 just before halftime. Ogrondnik cut the lead to 1 on a PP goal just after halftime. The Moose get goals 128 seconds apart from Propp and Kurri, and it’s now 4-1 Moose. Gardner with a goal just before intermission cuts the lead to 2 and gives the Stags some hope.

3rd period sees only 13 SOG total from both teams. Stags with just one PP opportunity which does not pay off. The Moose get one more goal from Frycer to cap off the scoring, and we finish 5-2 Moose.

Star 1 – MacLean 1G 2pts
Star 2 – Kurri 1G 2pts
Star 3 – Frycer 1G

GAME #2: 

HYANNISPORT PRESIDENTS 

VS. 

MACKINAC ISLAND MOOSE

The first period starts with a small fight between Bullard and Marois. With the open ice, Kurri gets open and scores to make it 1-0. @ more small fights and a Moose Minor creates a 4 on 3 for the Presidents, but the Moose kill it. No more scoring and the period ends 1-0 Moose.

An early goal in the 2nd period, just one minute in, from Maruk. The Moose dominate the rest of the period with a 13-6 SOG advantage, but no more scores, and it’s 2-0 at the break.

Hyannisport cranks it up in the 3rd and keeps the puck in their offensive zone much more. A double minor on Maruk for slashing opens the door wide, but the Moose grit it out for the 4 minutes and hold their lead. Presidents finally get a goal on a rebound shot by Laughlin, and it’s 2-1 with 7 minutes to go. A pulled goalie allows Hyannisport to get a number of shots in the last 2 minutes, but the Moose throw all they have at the puck and keep the 1 goal lead to the final horn.

2-1 Moose.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Moose with a great defensive homestand, allowing only 3 goals in 2 games, and getting 4 points.
Saint Clair Shores Saints
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Saints take on their division foes this week in St. Clair Shores.
GAME #1: 

MACKINAC ISLAND MOOSE

VS.

SAINT CLAIR SHORES SAINTS

Great game. The Moose scored 3 goals in the first – power play, short-handed and even. Kurri scores his 30th.

In the 2nd, the Saints dominate play and scored 3 to tie it.

No goals in the 3rd.

We go to OT, and the Moose score with 39 seconds to go. Brian Propp scores his 17th and the Moose win.

Mackinac Island 4 SCS 3 (OT)

1-Kurri
2-Quinn
3-Seiling

GAME #2:

OHIO LEGENDS VS.

SAINT CLAIR SHORES SAINTS

5 goals are scored in the 1st period. The Saints score 3 of them and the Legends get 2. HOFers Yzerman and Francis each score their 5th goal. In the 3rd, both teams exchange goals. Stevens scores his 12th to seal the game, then Gustaffson scores an empty netter.

SCS 6 Ohio 3

1-Stevens
2-Gustafsson
3-Macoun

GAME #3: MICHIGAN STAGS VS. SAINT CLAIR SHORES SAINTS Explosive first period as the Saints score 4 and the Stags score 2. Tocchet scores an empty net goal for the Saints to lock up the win.

SCS 6 Michigan 4

1-Craven
2-Ogrodnick
3-Turgeon

WEEKLY SUMMARY: SCS takes 4 of 6 points from their rivals.
New Castle Ducks
WEEKLY PREVIEW: A big week for the Ducks as they have three division games at home
GAME #1: 

DALLAS DRAKES

VS.

NEW CASTLE DUCKS

The Ducks come in with a 1-1 record this season against their long-time rivals. FINAL SCORE: NCD 5 DAL 5
Ducks gain a tie on Mark Johnson’s goal with 42 seconds remaining. NCD led 4-3 after 2 but Dallas comeback on goals by Lineseman (13) and Mullen (17) to make it 5-4 before the Duck’s last-minute goal earned them the tie.THREE STARS:
1- NCD Doug Smith 2G 1 A
2- DAL Ken Linseman 2G
3- NCD Mark Johnson 1G 1 A
GAME #2:

 HYANNISPORT PRESIDENTS

VS.

NEW CASTLE DUCKS

The expansion Presidents have played the Ducks tough this season, winning 2 of 3 coming into the game. NCD has the worst offense in the league. The only team worse is HYA. So wouldn’t you know it the teams combine for THIRTEEN GOALS! Final Score: HYA 7 NCD 6
Mike Bullard scored a hat trick, with all three goals coming in the third period. Two of his goals came in the last 3:12 to win this one for the Presidents. Bullard’s second of the period tied it at 6-6 and the third, coming with THREE SECONDS left in regulation, gave the Presidents the win just as OT seemed a certainty. The game was tied 4-4 after two. In the third, Terry Ruskowski put NCD up 5-4 before Bullard tied it (for the first time). Morris Lukowich then made it 6-5 Ducks with 9:23 left, setting the stage for Bullard’s heroics.THREE STARS:
1- HYA Bullard 3G 1 A HAT TRICK
2- HYA- Phil Housley 2G 1 A
3- NCD – Rick Middleton 2G 1 AJohn Tonelli had 3 assists for HYA, assisting on each of Bullard’s goals. Mark Johnson had 3 assists for NCD and also won 16 (of 30) faceoffs.
Greg Stefan started in net for HYA but after giving up 4 goals on 13 shots in the first period, Richard Sevigny replaced him and played well stopping 20 of 22 shots over the final two-plus periods
GAME #3: 

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND

VS.

NEW CASTLE DUCKS

For the second game in a row, the Ducks and John Vanbiesbrouck give up a late goal and lose the game. This time it was Pierre Mondou scoring with 13 seconds to go to tie the game at 7-7! Peter Stastny scored at 3:34 of OT to make the final CHI 8 NCD 7. The two teams are now 1-1-1 on the season.
A wild and crazy game that was 3-3 after two. The third period was even crazier as the Underground took a 4-3 lead followed by the Ducks scoring scored FOUR unanswered goals to take a 7-4 lead with 10:02 remaining. Then Gainey and Savard scored before Mondou’s game-tying goal at 19:47!
The Ducks scored THREE Power Play goals and TWO shorthanded goals (Middleton and Ruskowski).THREE STATS:
1- NCD Mark Johnson 3G HAT TRICK – all three coming in the third period
2- CHI Pierre Mondou 2G 2 A 4 PTS
3- NCD Rick Middleton 2G 2 A 4 PTSPelle Lindbergh started in goal for CHI but was pulled after Johnson’s third goal made it 7-4 midway through the third. Bob Froese replaced him but was later injured with Lindbergh returning to the net to get the victory.
WEEKLY SUMMARY: A rough week for the Ducks as they lose two heartbreakers at home and get a tie in the other. Chicago and Hyannisport are now poised to overtake the Ducks in the standings and in the playoff race.
Texas Brahmas
WEEKLY PREVIEW: One game at the Cow Patty this week as Charlestown comes to town. The Chiefs are currently sitting in 1st place in the Smythe and pulling away, this is an early season must-win game for Texas
GAME #1: 

CHARLESTOWN CHIEFS

VS.

TEXAS

BRAHMAS

Things start off fast as Pavelich gets Texas on the board at 3:46, quickly followed by a Lemieux goal at 4:55 for a 1-1 tie. It remains that way until the 19:33 mark when Tucker gets the go-ahead goal for Texas and a 2-1 lead after 1. Another 2 goals are scored early in the 2nd, however, these are both by the same team and player. Tremblay goes back-to-back for the Chiefs at 1:26 and 2:17 of the period for a 3-2 CHA lead. Tucker nets his second and Andreychuk his 1st as Texas comes back and gets the lead, 4-3, heading into the 3rd. A PP goal by Krushelnyski brings the Chiefs even, but Andreychuk gets his 2nd, and once again Texas is up by 1. It remains that way until CHA pulls the goalie and Tremblay completes the hat trick at 18:54 and we are headed to OT. Several scoring chances in OT, but it remains even until the 4:38 mark when Nilsson nets the game-winner for Texas.

3 Stars

1. Tremblay (CHA) – 3G, 1A
2. Tucker (TEX) – 2G, 1A
3. Andreychuk (TEX) – 2G

WEEKLY SUMMARY: A much-needed and hard-fought win. CHA still has a big lead in the division, but this certainly helps with playoff positioning.
Portland Sasquatch
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Charlestown and Pittsburgh visit Portland
GAME #1: CHARLESTOWN CHIEFS

VS.

PORTLAND SASQUATCH

Portland gets a 1st-period goal from Gagne (10) and 3rd-period goals from Wells (2) and Foligno (12) and Lemelin gets the shutout with 29 saves as Portland wins 3-0
GAME #2:

PITTSBURGH SPIRIT

VS.

PORTLAND SASQUATCH

Goulet (21) scores with 9:47 left int he game to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 win
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Portland splits their 2 games at home
Charlotte Dynamo
WEEKLY PREVIEW: All the Charlotte Dynamo wants for Christmas is a winning streak and just a little more consistency. It entered the week with a win of 13-13-2 and can’t seem to escape the “win one lose one” pattern that has typified its season. Charlotte hosted two games this week against two teams with winning records in Kamsack and Smythe-leading Charlestown. Both those teams would be in the playoffs if the season were to end today, so the task will again be challenging.
GAME #1:

KAMSACK CYCLONES

VS.

CHARLOTTE DYNAMO

The game film immediately brought a smile to this writer’s face as the first lines narrated how Dale Hawerchuk and Gilbert Perreault were taking the opening faceoff – does it get any better?

That two esteemed Hall-of-Famers would be taking the opening draw belied the offensive output of this game, which was sparse: Andy Moog for Charlotte and Pete Peeters, in the nets for Kamsack, were shutting out their respective opponents until very late in the first period, when Charlotte’s Curt Fraser scored a power-play goal with 2:05 left in the period, following a slashing penalty by Cyclones defenseman Colin Campbell. Then just about one minute later, with 51 seconds left in the first, the Dynamo struck again on a Glenn Anderson even-strength goal assisted by Dale Hawerchuk and Lee Fogolin.

For nearly the remainder of the game following that brief spurt of Charlotte’s offense, neither team could find a goal: Kamsack doubled Charlotte’s shot output 38-19 but Moog, in perhaps his best performance of the season, stopped every one of them. Hawerchuk padded his stats with an empty net goal with 46 seconds left and Charlotte prevailed 3-0.

Three stars: all Charlotte
Star 1: Moog 38 saves
Star 2: Hawerchuk 1 G, 3 Pts
Star 3: Anderson 1 G, 2 Pts

Notable: neither team was very prolific on the power play, Kamsack was 0 for 5 while Charlotte was one for five, capitalizing on Fraser’s goal which proved to be the game-winner.

GAME #2: 

CHARLESTOWN CHIEFS

VS.

CHARLOTTE DYNAMO

Moog was also in nets with the Dynamo hosting the Chiefs but the results couldn’t have been more disparate. In this one, the Dynamo held the lead early 2-1 but then Charlestown second-line left winger Mike Krushelynski emerged as the star of this game, with a pair of unanswered goals, one with 4:38 left in the first period to tie things at 2-2, followed by a power play goal 3:12 into the second to put the Chiefs ahead 3-2.

The floodgates continued to open for Charlestown with two more goals in about a spin of three minutes, a shorty from Kevin Lowe unassisted followed by Warren Young’s even-strength goal 6:28 into the second that put the Chiefs ahead 5-2 and effectively ended Moog’s night (he was immediately lifted for Warren Skorodenski, who allowed two more goals against 15 saves.

The Dynamo, trailing 6-2 after yet another second-period goal from Charlestown’s Bernie Nichols later in the period, attempted to rally: two goals from Fraser closed the gap by early in the third period to 6-4. But then Krushelnyski notched the hat trick with a goal seven minutes into the final period that put the Chiefs ahead 7-4.

Anderson responded with two unanswered third-period goals, the latter at 18:32 of the period, to give Charlotte some life. In the final moments, Charlotte valiantly attempted to come all the way back to tie with the empty net, but Mario Tremblay blocked a key shot for the Chiefs and then Brian Hayward came up with two huge saves and that was all she wrote as Charleston prevailed over its hosts, 7-6.

Three stars:
1. CHA Krushelnyski the hat trick, 4 Pts
2. CHA Young 2 G
3. CHD Anderson 2 G

Notable: Al MacInnis with three assists for Charlestown in the victory.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: It is a tale of two Moogs as the Dynamo, behind the Charlotte no. 1 goalie, shut out Kamsack but get overrun by the Chiefs as Moog heads for the showers early. It is another split at home and adds up to a .500 overall record (or worse with an away game yet to be reported). So the Dynamo management does not get the Christmas gift of a winning streak it wanted, but maybe a Buffalo Sabres vintage goat-head jersey will be under the tree in a couple of weeks as consolation – now that would be sweet!
Pittsburgh Spirit
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Two home games
GAME #1:

CAPJACK RANGERS

VS.

PITTSBURGH SPIRIT

Divisional rivalry… Basement dwellers Pittsburgh stomp on division-leading Capjack, 5-2.
GAME #2:

CHARLOTTE DYNAMO

VS.

PITTSBURGH SPIRIT

2nd place Charlot squeezes out a 1 goal win against the Spirit… 5-4
WEEKLY SUMMARY: A better showing this week, but still way below expectations.
Ohio Legends
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Ohio Legends welcome Michigan and Texas to town. Ohio doesn’t look the part of a contender or pretender. Maybe this week the true colors will come out…
GAME #1: MICHIGAN STAGS VS. OHIO LEGENDS MICHIGAN 5, OHIO 5

Tim Kerr’s second goal of the night at 18:39 of the third period knotted the game at 5-5 apiece. The Legends were able to score three third-period goals to slip the tongue to their sister. Tony Tanti also had two goals for Ohio.

Michigan got two goals from Sylvan Turgeon and had a three-point night from Ron Duguay (1-2-3). Grant Fuhr kicked out 31 shots to earn the tie.

GAME #2: TEXAS BRAHMAS VS. OHIO LEGENDS TEXAS 4, OHIO 4

In an eerily similar game, Tim Kerr scored with 41 seconds left to cap a furious three-goal third period for Ohio to secure the 4-4 tie. The Legends peppered the Brahmas goal with 40 shots (to 20) and Murray Bannerman was up to the task for Texas, stopping 36 shots.

Lindy Ruff scored twice from the fourth line for Texas.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Ohio ends the week 0-0-2 and doesn’t answer any questions other than those surrounding third-period scoring…