Been busy so no time for a game preview. The big news today is of course that David Arduin has been traded to Westside for Chris Santiago and futures. I think the trade was reported on the BCHL website in record time. Within minutes the players were on new rosters online and the trade was posted in transactions. From my understanding this just happened at around 1pm this afternoon and it was up there almost instantly.
I'll have more on the Arduin trade either later tonight or tomorrow. Needless to say it's a huge shake up and it'll be hard not to miss a guy like that. We'll see how the boys respond!
Saturday, December 1rst, 2007: Merritt (7-18-0-5) at Trail (14-13-0-2)
(Click here for the box score)
Cents are coming off a 3-1 win against Trail last night. Smokies outshot them 44-29 but Merrit did what they had to do to win. Smokies are a man short today with Arduin gone and Santiago couldn't make it in time for the game. He apparently really tried but couldn't get here.
I'm doing the man in the stands for Mountain FM today. Any fans who ever want a gift certificate all you have to do is talk to me over the air for a few seconds. It's easy as pie!
LIVE GAME UPDATES
...Paul Barclay getting the start today and Merritt gets on the board first and early. Ruud has been a Smokie killer in the games the two teams have played and he scored 32 seconds in from Zalba who was terrific yesterday as well. Smokies rebounded later in the period. Ourosov made a really nice move in front to tie the game. Later Ryan Hill picked a good time to pinch, made a nice move and threw the puck in from for Ryan Bulach who made no mistake. Bulach is going to be relied upon even more now that Arduin is gone. I think he's capable of taking some of those minutes. Shots 12-11 Trail.
...Second period was another good one for the Smoke Eaters. Corcoran scored short handed on a rebound from Shade's shot. That's always a big lift for the team. Those are two vets who will have to pick up some of Arduin's scoring as well. Merritt cuts the lead to 1 on a really nice rush by Halliday. He sort of strong armed Westover to keep a hold of the puck and put it top corner. August Aiken scored a ridiculous goal to give Trail a 4-2 lead. Just terrific moves. Does he now have the most pure skill on this team? 16-11 shots for Merritt but Barclay had a really strong period.
...Yikes. Third period is not going Trail's way. They've got to do a better job with leads as this third period was similar to the ones in Merritt a few weeks ago. Cents score three goals and take a 5-4 lead. Gehon, Ruud and Koopman get the goals. Gehon with points on all three of them. Some trouble clearing the zone on each goal and it looks like on the last one Barclay was completely screened. Smokies (as they often do) answered right back. Mailey scored his first of the year and it was a huge goal. One thing about Trail is they don't let a little adversity get them down. If they do blow a lead, they often fight back to tie the game and sometimes get he win. 2 minutes left now and chances for both sides. Could see overtime. Great determined rush by Limbert with a minute to play draws a late penalty. He just put his head down and wasn't going to be stopped forcing the Cents to go to the box. Koopman gets the holding call. We're going to OT. Power play will carry over and be a 4 on 3 for 1:17. Shots 9-9 and 36-32 for Merritt tonight. Trail unfortunately lets Merritt at least get one point out of a game where they were up 4-2, but showed good determination in tying the game back up and we'll see what happens now.
...Overtime solves nothing. Each team had their chances, but Mainprize and Barclay shut the door. Smokies hit the post in the final minute of 3 on 3. Smokies outshot Merritt 9-4 in the OT for a total of 41-40 Trail. How rare is it for a team to put up 85 shots in two games and only get a tie out of it? Keep doing that and you'll win more often than not. They'll walk away from this back to back home series against Merritt with only 1 out of 4 points. The recent home stand is now over and Trail goes 2-3-1 in 6 games. If I had told you that they'd only win 2 of 6 games I bet you'd never have guessed the wins would be against Salmon Arm and Penticton. This Interior Conference is just getting more and more competitive right now.
Merritt isn't playing like a last place team anymore. They've added talent and they're going to start challenging for a better spot in the standings. It's up to teams like Trail to prove that they deserve to be in the playoffs over the next couple of months.
FINAL SCORE: Trail 5 Merritt 5
Showing posts with label Game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Game. Show all posts
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Game 29: Merritt at Trail
It's been suggested to me that a blog might be a better place to post my game thoughts and updates about the Smoke Eaters than on the BCHL message board. Lets give it a go. I know Hammer in Alberni has a successful BCHL blog so I'm just following in his footsteps. I can't promise the blog will be as good.
Friday, November 30th, 2007: Merritt (6-18-0-5) at Trail (14-12-0-2)
(Click here for the box score)
If you absolutely can't make it to the game, tune into Mountain FM for Overtime live from the game and at Rave's Restaurant for the post-game show. We'll keep you up to date, but if you don't go you're missing out.
The Smoke Eaters are in 5th place in the BCHL Interior Conference while Merritt sits in last. The Cents are 13 points behind Trail in the standings and 10 points out of a playoff spot. However, the Smokies haven't been able to take advantage of games against teams bellow them in the standings. The competition in this conference is such that any team seems to be able to win on any given night. There's enough talent on any team that they'll burn you if given the chance. The Smokies are coming off great wins against Penticton and Salmon Arm, and a tough loss to a shorthanded Westside squad on Tuesday. Trail has to watch for Prince George and Quesnel who are sneaking up behind them for those final playoff spots.
LIVE GAME UPDATES
...big first period from Trail. No goals but 17 shots. Good pressure, Mainprize is playing very well for Merritt.
...2nd period starts with a couple of fights. Brad Davis and Tyler Barr had a good scrap. Davis overshot on a punch and went down, but he kept throwing them from his butt. Really scrappy player who always backs up his gritty play with a fight if need be. Same can be said for Patrick Martin. He took on Brian Kang and I'd give Martin the decision in a close, exciting fight. Smokies aren't the biggest team in the league but they will always stand up for themselves and their teammates.
...Merritt scores first. Typical hockey play in that Herold hit the crossbar for Trail and they immediately get scored on. That's how this game goes sometimes, eh? Brian Kang scores it for Merritt on a well placed backhand.
...Smokies putting lots of pressure on but goaltending has been really strong and the Merritt D are keeping Trail to the outside. They just need one of these pucks to go off a skate or something. It's bouncing everywhere but in. Power play has had their chances but nothing doing so far. Credit to Merritt today so far.
...I spoke too soon! Big slapshot by Westover tipped by David Arduin in front and the game is tied. Had to happen sooner or later. Power play goal for the Smokies. Nice to see Arduin get one, that should open up the flood gates for him I think.
...Rollheiser looked like he made an outstanding save but the puck went in. Goal judge and ref said so and no one complained so I assume it must have gone in. That's gotta hurt. Just tie the game late like that and with 1:19 left Merritt goes ahead.
...I've got to head to Rave's for the post game show. I'll update after with final thoughts on the game.
Merritt adds an empty netter to get the win. Give the Cents credit as they did a good job forcing Trail to the outside on a lot of their chances. Mainprize was great and as noted by a couple of people I talked to, he was especially good at not giving up any rebounds out there. Ran into a hot goalie and that will happen.
I'm glad the team isn't happy about losing, but as the Coach said on the post game show, they can hold their heads up going into tomorrow night's game. The effort was there, the shots were there, and when you play like that generally the results will come.
First to last we're seeing that anyone in the Interior can beat anyone else on any given night. Merritt beat Westside recently too. PG and Quesnel are getting some big wins on teams ahead of them in the standings. Westside beats Penticton and Vernon over Salmon Arm tonight. Thing are getting tighter and this is gonna be a fun race.
Tomorrow's the last home game for two weeks as the boys will be in PG and Quesnel next weekend. Hope there's a good crowd.
FINAL SCORE: Merritt 3 Trail 1
Friday, November 30th, 2007: Merritt (6-18-0-5) at Trail (14-12-0-2)
(Click here for the box score)
If you absolutely can't make it to the game, tune into Mountain FM for Overtime live from the game and at Rave's Restaurant for the post-game show. We'll keep you up to date, but if you don't go you're missing out.
The Smoke Eaters are in 5th place in the BCHL Interior Conference while Merritt sits in last. The Cents are 13 points behind Trail in the standings and 10 points out of a playoff spot. However, the Smokies haven't been able to take advantage of games against teams bellow them in the standings. The competition in this conference is such that any team seems to be able to win on any given night. There's enough talent on any team that they'll burn you if given the chance. The Smokies are coming off great wins against Penticton and Salmon Arm, and a tough loss to a shorthanded Westside squad on Tuesday. Trail has to watch for Prince George and Quesnel who are sneaking up behind them for those final playoff spots.
LIVE GAME UPDATES
...big first period from Trail. No goals but 17 shots. Good pressure, Mainprize is playing very well for Merritt.
...2nd period starts with a couple of fights. Brad Davis and Tyler Barr had a good scrap. Davis overshot on a punch and went down, but he kept throwing them from his butt. Really scrappy player who always backs up his gritty play with a fight if need be. Same can be said for Patrick Martin. He took on Brian Kang and I'd give Martin the decision in a close, exciting fight. Smokies aren't the biggest team in the league but they will always stand up for themselves and their teammates.
...Merritt scores first. Typical hockey play in that Herold hit the crossbar for Trail and they immediately get scored on. That's how this game goes sometimes, eh? Brian Kang scores it for Merritt on a well placed backhand.
...Smokies putting lots of pressure on but goaltending has been really strong and the Merritt D are keeping Trail to the outside. They just need one of these pucks to go off a skate or something. It's bouncing everywhere but in. Power play has had their chances but nothing doing so far. Credit to Merritt today so far.
...I spoke too soon! Big slapshot by Westover tipped by David Arduin in front and the game is tied. Had to happen sooner or later. Power play goal for the Smokies. Nice to see Arduin get one, that should open up the flood gates for him I think.
...Rollheiser looked like he made an outstanding save but the puck went in. Goal judge and ref said so and no one complained so I assume it must have gone in. That's gotta hurt. Just tie the game late like that and with 1:19 left Merritt goes ahead.
...I've got to head to Rave's for the post game show. I'll update after with final thoughts on the game.
Merritt adds an empty netter to get the win. Give the Cents credit as they did a good job forcing Trail to the outside on a lot of their chances. Mainprize was great and as noted by a couple of people I talked to, he was especially good at not giving up any rebounds out there. Ran into a hot goalie and that will happen.
I'm glad the team isn't happy about losing, but as the Coach said on the post game show, they can hold their heads up going into tomorrow night's game. The effort was there, the shots were there, and when you play like that generally the results will come.
First to last we're seeing that anyone in the Interior can beat anyone else on any given night. Merritt beat Westside recently too. PG and Quesnel are getting some big wins on teams ahead of them in the standings. Westside beats Penticton and Vernon over Salmon Arm tonight. Thing are getting tighter and this is gonna be a fun race.
Tomorrow's the last home game for two weeks as the boys will be in PG and Quesnel next weekend. Hope there's a good crowd.
FINAL SCORE: Merritt 3 Trail 1
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