Smoke Eaters Add Three KIJHL D

The Trail Smoke Eaters received verbal commitments from three young defencemen at their spring camp over the weekend. They were all top point getters in the KIJHL last year. With the possible returns of Cam Brodie, Jimmy Geerin, Braden Kinnebrew, Ryan Hill and Patrick Raley these moves could bring us close to rounding out how the main core of the Trail blue line will look this season.

Ingram talked to me about the additions on Mountain FM's Overtime today. I'll be airing interviews with the new Smokies on Wednesday night.

• Ingram on recruits part 1
• Ingram on recruits part 2

The first addition is probably no big secret to anyone who followed the team last year. 1991 born Trail native Steven Koshey played 5 games with the Smokies last year as an AP player. He went pointless with two penalty minutes, but I thought he fit in very well. He didn't seem to have a huge problem making an adjustment to the quicker, more physical game. Koshey played confidently and made the smart, simple plays. He didn't really get a chance to show his offensive creativity at the BCHL level, but more will be expected of him in that regard now that he's a full time Smoke Eater.

Koshey was a huge part of the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the KIJHL last year. He had 10 goals, 30 points and 25 penalty minutes in the regular season. Koshey manned their power play as the Nitehawks won two playoff series against the very tough Castlegar Rebels and Nelson Leafs. The 5'8, 175lbs defenceman is property of Medicine Hat in the WHL, but says he hasn't decided if he wants to pursue that direction in the future. At the very least he'll be an important player for the Smokies next season.

Trail also added import puck moving defenceman and the second leading scorer on D in the KIJHL, Skyler Smutek. The 6'0, 170lbs 1990 born Washington native brings a lot of enthusiasm to the team. I think he might have been the best "first time" interview I've ever done. He seems to have a terrific attitude and is very much looking forward to coming to a city where hockey is the top sports priority. Skyler tells me he's been on skates since he was a toddler and used to walk around the house with duck tape on the blades. Sounds like a hockey player. He put up 11 goals (7 on the power play), 36 points and had 140 penalty minutes. Ingram says that while Smutek is still filling out, he plays a gritty game and can get physical. Smutek was also able to put up that many points on a Spokane team that was last in the Neil Murdoch Conference in goal scoring.

Ingram says he initially saw Smutek play in a game where he was scouting a different player, but instantly became interested in what the young defenceman could bring to the table. He should definitely compete for some power play time on this year's squad. Their man advantage needs to be better. The more I hear about this young man the better I feel about his prospects with the team.

Oh, and apparently he's into amateur video. Maybe we'll get him to help Daryl out in the video booth next year. Produce a few features for the intermissions!

Finally, they also added the KIJHL's fourth leading point getter from the back end, physical defenceman Jayson Reardon. He's listed at 6'1, 195lbs but we're looking at a guy who will be north of 200 at camp. Reardon scored 17 goals, 34 points and 156 penalty minutes in his first year with the expansion Chase Chiefs. Reardon's 10 power play goals make him another solid option for igniting the man advantage.

Ingram says he will add a physical element that they were missing when Cam Brodie got hurt last season. Reardon fought during the spring camp. He got cut and had a chipped tooth, but he was back out on the ice competing within minutes. The 1990 born Lumby, BC native sounds like an excellent prospect for a full time roster spot next year.

The transition from the KIJHL to the BCHL is no minor leap, but it's intriguing to take a look back at the top scorers from the blue line in that league.

1. Cody Lockwood (Kamloops) 9, 38, 47 (1987)
2. Skyle Smutek (Spokane) 11, 25, 36 (1990)
3. Torin Brusven (Nelson) 9, 27, 36 (1988)
4. Jayson Reardon (Chase) 17, 17, 34 (1990)
5. Cody Rose (Castlegar) 13, 17, 30 (1988)
6. Steven Koshey (Beaver Valley) 10, 20, 30 (1991)

Three of the top six scoring defencemen in the KIJHL are now Smoke Eaters. The other three are two 1988s and a 1987. That means Trail picked up all the top high scoring rookies. Hopefully that means good things for the transition game and the power play.

We'll have the new Smokies on Overtime tomorrow and I'll post the interviews later. I'll let you know whenever I hear any new information.

NOTES

...The Smokies have named a new captain. Who is it? I'll let you know later this week on Overtime.

...Former Smokies D Kevin Koopman had surgery for a hernia recently. He could have had the surgery as far bac as December but delayed it so he could finish the season. Koopman played through the pain and did his best to help Trail get to the playoffs and make an impact. Good luck to that class act at Brown. Senators (his draft team) could use some of that this year too, Kevin!

...Penticton taking on Camrose in the Doyle Cup. A couple of old Vees taking on their former team. Camrose is a powerhouse with a great coach. So is Penticton. I wish I could be there to watch it. Ryan, Penticton's play by play broadcaster is a lucky man. Enjoy!

...A young man named Dustin made a very positive post on his experience at the Smoke Eaters camp over on the BCHL message board. That place can be a gong show sometimes, but it was a real positive post from a young player who seems to have a great attitude.

...Dave Nonis fired? Globe hockey writer and blogger James Mirtle and I talked about it on Overtime. He really didn't like the job Nonis had done with the Canucks and saw little hope of a turn around. I tend to think they should have been a playoff team, but his unwillingness to address their need for more scoring was his undoing. How could anyone who watch the playoffs last year not realize that a goal scorer or two could've put that team over the top? Instead now they have even more holes at forward than they ever did. Good luck Canuck fans, the Stanley Cup drought is getting longer!

Ingram on Smoke Eaters Camp

First of all I want to congratulate the Penticton Valley First Vees on winning the Fred Page Cup. I'm not sure there was a more talented team in the league this year and they certainly proved it with their BCHL Championship win. It was also another great season for the Nanaimo Clippers. The defending champs were swept in the finals, but getting back to the championship series again is a worth accomplishment in itself. Must have been strange for Dan Marshall to call a Penticton victory in his first season with the Clippers after many great years with the Vees. Maybe Dan was the curse, eh ;) Actually it amazes me listening to the quality of the other broadcasters in this league including both Dan and Ryan Pinder who did the finals. It's a lot to live up.

Not much chance to talk Smoke Eaters hockey lately. I miss it. Even miss the bus rides... well a little. This weekend they're holding a spring camp in Princeton and boy there's a lot of guys to take a look at. There will be 95 skaters and 15 goaltenders last I heard. The scouting and coaching staff have done a great job running around the province, country and continent to track down possible Smoke Eaters. Ingram tells me he's been busier since the season was over. There's no "off season" for managers in the BCHL.

Here's my interview with Coach Ingram that we aired yesterday on Mountain FM's Overtime. Remember we're still on weeknights from 6pm to Midnight even though the season is over. Lots of sports to talk about!

• INGRAM ON CAMP PART 1
• INGRAM ON CAMP PART 2
• INGRAM ON CAMP PART 3
• INGRAM ON CAMP PART 4

Remember you can also support the Smokies by attending events like AM Ford Fight Night on April 19th and Bullarama. They're also great events. I'm lucky enough to be doing the ring announcing at Fight Night which should be a blast. 15 fights of non stop action!

Hope to see you there.

Playoff Predictions

Long time no blog! I've got a few tidbits of Smokies related information to pass on very shortly. Maybe even tonight. The spring camp is coming up in Princeton this weekend with over 90 skaters and 15 goalies. Should be great.

For now I'm just posting some NHL playoff predictions so you can make fun of me when I'm wrong.

Oh, and I think I'm going to predict Pencticton over Nanaimo for the Fred Page Cup. I just have a hunch!

I wrote these down yesterday and since action is underway I better get on it now!

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Detroit over (8) Nashville in 5 games

I don't see this one being particularly tough for the Red Wings. You never know what could happen, but they should feast on Nashville's goaltending. The one thing to watch for is a great PK from the Preds and possible injuries biting the Wings.

(2) San Jose over (7) Calgary in 5 games

I don't buy into the Flames at all. They were healthy all year and got no traction on three teams (Colorado, Edmonton and Vancouver) that were decimated by injury. The Sharks should own them. Calgary's only edges are physical and leadership. Not enough.

(6) Colorado over (3) Minnesota in 6 games

Who do you want to go to the playoff dance with... Forsberg, Sakic, Smyth and Foote or Gaborik, Rolston, Bouchard and Demintra? Colorado knows how to win the Wild don't. That's not to say it guarantees anything but with the teams as close as they are it sure makes a different. Colorado with a healthy Sakic, Forsberg and Foote all year wins the division easily. Wild will put up a fight but that's it.

(4) Anaheim over (5) Dalls in 7 games

I can't predict a short series with the record Dallas has against Anaheim this season. However, the Ducks defence is MILES ahead of Dallas'. It's not even fair. With Zubov out there's no way the Stars can match up on the blue line. Better scoring depth probably but not by enough.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Montreal over (8) Boston in 4 games

Habs owned the Bruins all year. Boston may get a fluke game but it won't be competitive.

(7) Ottawa over (2) Pittsburgh in 7 games

Nobody thinks it'll happen, but the Senators still have all the talent they had last year they just need to get their heads straight. I think the playoffs are a whole different animal and that may motivate this team. If not you have to shake things up drastically in the off season.

(3) Washington over (6) Philadelphia in 6 games

Hottest team down the stretch against a team that faltered. The Flyers forwards are too inconsistent and soft. Their defence is too big and slow. Their goaltending is average. Just not enough there. Capitals are confident, hungry and they have the best player in the game this year.

(4) New Jersey over (5) New York Rangers in 7 games

Toughest series to call in the NHL by far. Rangers have the forward depth, Devils have the better defence. To me it comes down to experience in goal. They're both great but Brodeur knows how to do it.

So there you have it.

Based on that I'd go in the second round Colorado over Detroit, San Jose over Anaheim (great series), Ottawa over Montreal, New Jersey over Washington.

In the third round San Jose over Colorado and New Jersey over Ottawa.

Leaving us with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks playing in the lowest scoring series of the century for the Stanley Cup. To me the Devils and Rangers are really the only teams who can play the kind of style you'd need to to challenge the western teams for the cup. That being said I'm giving the mug to the Sharks this year. That's a dangerous choice because they are often playoff failures. I think things are really clicking for those guys now, and their younger players have very valuable playoff experience under their belt. Campbell helps the transition game and Nabakov is more confident than ever because he was finally given the ball all season. What's your call?

Herold to Merritt

This photo by Randy Emery shows Dylan Herold celebrating what will end up being his final goal as a Smoke Eater.

Today we've discovered the future considerations in the deal for Kevin Koopman are the rights to forward Dylan Herold. Trail picked up Koopman from Merritt in what amounted to an emergency trade deadline deal after Cam Brodie got hurt and Paul Levarsky took off to Slovakia. We knew that a deal for a player like Koopman was going to cost the Smokies something of value. You don't get something for nothing. Unfortunately Koopman and the Smokies didn't go on an extended playoff run, but I think it'd be fair to say that without him or someone similar it would have been a lot tougher to stay ahead of Prince George and Quesnel in that race to the final playoff spot. Koopman came in here and played on the top pairing with Scott Warner. He plays a different game than Brodie, but he filled those minutes effectively and played a very significant role in the big turn around for Trail in the last month.

However, it's still difficult to lose a guy like Herold in what is a pretty typical "rental player" situation. He's well loved in the dressing room and a guy who can play any role for a hockey team. It sucks to see him go, but it's also a great opportunity for him. The operation in Merritt has certainly helped earn several big name players great scholarship opportunities. Herold will take his size and skill into a smaller rink with a veteran coach. Perhaps the new scenery will help him blossom into the kind of offensive player we all believe he can be in this league.

There were high expectations for Herold this year. He started on the right note with a goal in the first game of the season, but didn't score again until the last game. I think the early injury set him back significantly. When you're just getting into gear at the start of the season a leg injury forces you to basically start all over again. I'm not sure he was necessarily at full physical condition when he came back, but it certainly took him a bit to find his game again. While he never really found the scoring touch of last season, he did keep playing a very good two way game. There are some players in this league who are almost useless to you if they aren't scoring. Herold is a guy who makes important contributions even if they're not goals and assists. He told me that when he couldn't find that scoring touch again, he just made sure he was doing the little things that could help his team as much as possible.

Dylan has a great attitude and is going to be a great member of the Merritt organization. I know he'll be missed in this dressing room.

He told me yesterday that one of his biggest disappointments in leaving Trail is that he had such great billets here. Doesn't that tell you all you need to know about how important those families are to a hockey team's success? The Smoke Eaters have a group of fantastic families who make it really easy for the guys to settle in. They are in my opinion a great recruiting tool. I only ever hear good things from the players about the "unreal" billets they have in this area.

Herold's loss opens up another spot for a new forward. Right now we're looking at a list of possible returning guys that only includes Corcoran, Bulach, Mailey, Ourosov, Davis and Martin. That's room for at least six new starters and a couple of more guys. Lots of opportunity for new recruits and guys who will be taking part in the evaluation camp next month in Princeton. Lots of room for local guys like those Beaver Valley Nitehawk players who are doing so well in the KIJHL playoff so far. Lots of room for Jim Ingram to put his fingerprints on this roster.

On D the returning group right now could be Brodie, Geerin, Kinnebrew, Raley and Hill. In goal the only possible returning player is Barclay.

That means out of eleven possible returning players, four of them are guys Ingram brought into the fold. There will only be five guys left from Tim Kehler's time in Trail. This will absolutely be Jim Ingram's team next year. We'll get a better idea of what kind of players he wants to bring into Trail and how good of a talent evaluator he is.

Lets see what he can do.

Good luck, Dylan!

(Dylan Herold scored 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in two seasons with the Smoke Eaters)

That's All Folks

(Photo by Randy Emery)

The season is over for the Trail Smoke Eaters. Things kind of went out with a whimper in game 3 after all the fireworks of game 2. Vernon wrapped things up with a fairly dominating 5-0 victory. Trail was in it for the first period, but the Vipers came away with the only marker. In the second period Trail's only goal was called back due to a correct offside call and the Smokies lost Captain Kevin Limbert to a game misconduct on a hit from behind against Kellen Jones. That pretty much sucked all the remaining wind out of a battered Trail team.

Those last two games don't tell the story of how close the two teams were this year. In the regular season 5 of 6 games were decided by a single goal. Three of those games in overtime. Game 1 was an absolute thriller that Trail almost won. However, the Smokies just didn't have the manpower to respond to the emotional and physical toll of game 2. The loss of Stefan Decosse and suspension of Kevin Koopman, added to the loss of Ryan Bulach and Cam Brodie, it was just too big a hill for the boys to climb. They sure worked their butts off in the last month of the season. They came together as a hockey club. However, they were down key guys from a team that had trouble scoring goals at 100%. Against a nearly 100% Vipers club that was a tall task.

Those are a lot of excuses for me to be giving them, but they're also the facts. This team dealt with more adversity this year than some teams do in two or three seasons. That adversity builds character, and boy these guys have that in spades. They came together as a team as they went through that awful January. They grew, matured and turned into a true team. I have met a lot of people in hockey, but I haven't met many guys with more character than I did on this Smoke Eaters team from the president, the executive, the coaches, the staff, the fans on down. It's been an honour to work with everyone on this team this year. If character, class and integrity determined who won hockey games these guys would be champs for sure.

However, goal scoring wins hockey games... and this team just didn't have enough. They had guys who would do everything at both ends of the ice. But they didn't have enough guys who could snipe a key goal at a key time. I know from talking to the staff that goal scoring and some size up front are going to be their priorities in the off season. That aside, Coach Ingram told me character is very important to him. He loves the character guys he had here this year, and while obviously they want a better team next year, he wants any player that wears the Orange and Black to be a guy that will cherish the honour instead of someone who sees it as just a stop on the road to somewhere else.

There are seven guys at least on this team who cherished that honour and won't be back. Kevin Limbert, Casey Shade, Stefan Decosse, August Aiken, Scott Warner, Kevin Koopman and Grant Rollheiser are all either too old to come back or heading off to scholarships next season. I got a chance to get to know every one of those guys at some level and I wish them nothing but the best in the future. I bet Limbert and Koopman will have some nice battles when Yale takes on Brown next season. Rollheiser is going to win that starting job at Boston. Warner will proudly serve his country on the blue line at Westpoint. Shade, Aiken and Decosse are going to represent anywhere they go with absolute pride and respect. I'll miss watching them all play.

Thanks to all those associated with the team for making this an absolute joy and pleasure for me this year. Whether it's the parents I talked to online and at games, the fans who called our show or chatted with me at the rink, the executive and volunteers who work countless hours for no pay to make this team work, the coaches who always have time for the annoying radio announcer or the players who always treated me with respect... except that on time Limbert stole my food at Rave's!

Hockey is a sport known for the class and respect of its players. It may be more violent than any other sport in North America, but the guys respect the chance they have to play this great game at a level most of us only wish we got to play. This year's Smokies didn't do what they wanted to do on the ice, but they can hold their heads high. They're all quality people who will go on to do good things in life one way or another.

And for those who move on after this season, that banner in the dressing room tells the story.

You're a Smoke Eater for life.

NOTES

...What a game tonight in Prince George. Salmon Arm was down 6-1 midway through the second period to the point where the announcers were suggesting it was time to get those buses ready for a trip to game 5. Not so fast! The Silverbacks answered back to make it 6-4 after two periods. Gillis was pulled after the 6th goal, but Coach Ferster put him back into the game to start the third period in what I think was a great move to show your goaltender you have faith in him. He did the job and the 'Backs came back to win 7-6 in overtime. A heart breaker for the Spruce Kings and a massive, massive lift for Salmon Arm's momentum. If you don't get some momentum from a win like that you're made of stone.

...Powell River surprised me by knocking off Surrey. I thought for sure that tough Eagles team was built for playoff success. Tartaglione looked like a game stealing goaltender too. The Kings must have just stepped their game up. Now they're going to take that underdog mentality into Nanaimo. Clippers better take them seriously.

...Burnaby and Victoria go back to Burnaby for Game 5. You would have to think that gives the Express the advantage as Victoria couldn't take advantage of their chance to win the series at home.

...Vernon will now play Penticton while Westside takes on Salmon Arm. Those four teams have clearly been the class of the Interior talent wise this year so it's not really any surprise. That being said, watch out for the other four teams next season. They may not be rich, big market squads. However, they are all developing strong talent from within their organization. Those top four will have to fight hard to hold on to those spots next year. I have to say I expect Penticton to walk away with the BCHL title this year, but these teams all have a lot of talent. Should be fun to watch.

...Beaver Valley and Nelson are putting on a hell of a show in the KIJHL Neil Murdoch West Division finals. Nelson won tonight in overtime to make the series 2-1 for the Nitehawks. The road team has won every game so far. BV has been to overtime in 4 of their 6 playoff games. That shows you just how tight things are between Nelson, Beaver Valley and the now eliminated Castlegar Rebels. Any Trail fans looking for a hockey fix would do well to take in Game 4 at the Beaver Valley Arena in Fruitvale tomorrow night.

...So who do you guys think did the best job for us on colour this year? We had the BCHL encyclopedia Randy Emery, the lively Scottie McKinnon and a talented selection of Smokies players. I wish I could have someone up with me every game (I mean lets be honest don't you all get sick of my voice after a while?) and those guys sure made the job easier when they were with me.

...This was my first season as a full time broadcaster for one particular team. If any of you listeners have any thoughts on what you liked and didn't like about how we covered the Smoke Eaters feel free to send me an e-mail at shawnsamsmullin@hotmail.com or mullin@mountainfm.net. We do these broadcasts for the fans and so any feedback will be taken seriously. Don't forget that while the season may be over our coverage of the Smoke Eaters off season continues on Mountain FM. We have sports updates in our news casts from 6am to 6pm daily. From 6pm to Midnight I'll still be hosting our sports/rock radio show "Overtime" and we'll be taking a look back on the season with the Smoke Eaters. We're also going to break the news on any new recruits. If you ever have any thoughts on the team or any other sports feel free to call in at 1-877-560-1010. If you disagree with me... even better!

Suspensions

Not as bad as expected. The ruling from the league is that the Corcoran/Crowell and Kinnebrew/Bigos fights were more "wrestling matches" than fights. As a result all four of those players will be allowed to play tonight.

However, Kevin Koopman and Braden Pimm each received two games for being involved in the second fight after the whistle. I am a bit confused about all of this because I could've sworn that it was originally Mailey and Crowell who were set to go toe to toe before the pairings changed. If Palazzo came in on Mailey after the start, isn't he kind of late to the dance? Especially considering he then threw about 20 punches on a guy 8 inches shorter than him.

Barry Zanier received a three game suspension for his gross misconduct during the game, but both head coaches will be on the bench tonight.

The league also reviewed the Chris Crowell hit that likely ended Stefan Decosse's season and ruled that there was nothing there to suspend him for. I still haven't seen a replay. I've heard conflicting sides. Some say it was from behind, some say it was boarding, some say it was a good clean hockey play. It's not for me to decide. I will say that Crowell has hurt two guys on this team is a relatively short span. It's good to play with an edge, but how about some respect for the other guys on the ice?

So Trail loses one of their top offensive players in Decosse to injury and one of their top D to suspension. Vernon loses a third liner. Tough trade off for the Smokies.

They'll be running with 10 forwards and 5 back on D. It's a shorthanded group with nothing to lose. A lot of guys fighting for their junior careers. People may be ready to write these boys off, but back someone up against a wall and see what happens.

They may come out swinging.

Game time is 7:30, lets get as many people into that great old rink as we can.

Game 2 Notes (Brawls and Refs)

Click here for an audio summary of Game 1

Click here for an audio summary of Game 2

Before I get into my notes on the 7-2 Vernon win in Game 2, I want to comment on Stefan Decosse. He is easily one of the nicest and funniest guys I've met in hockey. A total class act who deserved more than he got this year. Three times this regular season he was forced to the sideline with a serious injury. On Saturday night it happened for a fourth time. His junior hockey career may be over. When this guy is at his best he's easily a point per game player at this level. He made the rare transition from Junior B to Junior A hockey as a 19 year old and became an impact player almost immediately. When you look at Trail's record this year and wonder why it isn't quite as good as you thought it might be, injuries to Stefan Decosse are a big reason for that.

If the Trail Smoke Eaters didn't have enough motivation to win Monday night's Game 3 (and they do), they could also do it for guys like Decosse who I'm sure desperately want to chance to get out there on the ice again. Win that game, win this series, and he might just have a chance to play again. This game is for all those veteran players who don't want their careers to be over. For Shade, Limbert, Aiken, Koopman, Warner, Rollheiser and Decosse. Those who won't be back when that final buzzer goes on the 2007-2008 season. A Smokies win on Monday night gives them another chance to play hockey in the best Junior A league in the world. A Smokies win on Monday gives them another chance to fight, scratch and claw for playoff glory.

I hope they all get it. This is a damn classy group of young men who I've been proud to cover this year. I hope they get another reason to celebrate together.

GAME 2 NOTES

...Decosse got a penalty before the puck drop for not getting off the ice in time at the end of warm up. Referee Chris Hartley was a big part of this game from the drop of the puck. Not saying he was the deciding factor, but he was sure more visible than you want any ref to be. I like a ref to be as invisible and irrelevant as possible. I hadn't seen this rule called all year, and from conflicting reports I heard that he was either very close to off or right at the bench when the buzzer went off. To call that kind of penalty at the start of a playoff game seems absurd. However, this is more of a rules issue to me. I can understand wanting to stay on schedule, but if you're going to have a penalty for this warm up thing it should be a misconduct and not an actual shorthanded situation.

...Vernon got up 3-0 in the first 5 minutes by taking advantage of two early power plays and one defensive break down at even strength. From what I could see Rollheiser really didn't have a chance on any of the goals. The Vipers puck control on the PP seems to be tiring the Trail PKers as they don't seem to steal the puck and ice it much, and as a result they can't change their guys as much as they usually would. I thought the call on Limbert (listed as roughing on the box score I had) was a pretty soft one given the situation.

...August Aiken's goal was one of the prettiest I've seen all year long. Just a gorgeous play. Shade started it with a strong read in the defensive zone. He moved the puck to Herold who gained the line and made an alert drop pass to Aiken. Then Shade and Herold did what Coach Ingram has been talking about all season long... go to the net. They went and created some havoc in front of Gore while Aiken danced in with three great moves to his back hand. Gore was completely fooled and sprawled on the ice before Aiken just tucked the puck in for this second in two games. Great play.

...Trail had all the momentum in the second half of the first period. They threw it all away in the first minute of the second. The Bischop/Jones line didn't give up the puck for the full 60 seconds before making it 4-1 on a rebound. Those guys got way too much room to pick up rebounds. That was one of the biggest flaws in the Trail play in game 2. It seemed like the Vipers were picking up all the rebounds and keeping the play alive over and over again.

...Decosse made a nice move to the net and threw a puck in there that bounced off feet and gave Mailey a shot at a goal. It may be his last ever BCHL play. After sending the puck to the front of the goal Decosse was drilled into the boards by Chris Crowell. I had my eye on the front of the net and as a result didn't see the hit itself. I was told by Patrick Haas (play by play for Salmon Arm) that he looked at the video replay and the hit was clean. Everyone else in the press box agreed with that call, but they're all Vipers people so we both have our biases right? I have no reason not to believe Patrick's call on that, but I didn't see the hit well. Regardless it looks like the impact into the boards (could have maybe been called boarding?) will take Decosse out for a while again. I won't say what I do know about the injury because it's playoff time, but I'm concerned that this will end up being the last time I get to see him play at this level.

...Paul Mailey may only be 5'8 but he doesn't care and he still challged Crowell right after the hit. That's the kind of attitude this whole team has these days. Stand up for each other regardless of the size of the guys. Corcoran stepped in and fought Crowell instead while Palazzo decided he should go with Mailey. Explain that one to me. 6'4 Palazzo going with 5'8 Mailey? The linesmen were busy breaking up every other fight while they let that one go on for far too long. Palazzo's reach advantage was absurd. There was nothing Mailey could do while he gamely kept fighting and fighting while being hit with right after right to the head. Kinnebrew went with Bigos while Koopman fought Pimm. Corcoran, Koopman, Kinnnebrew, Crowell, Bigos and Pimm were all ejected for getting in the second, third and fourth fights after the whistle. The refs judged that Mailey and Palazzo were in the first fight. I'd suggest it was Crowell and Mailey who dropped their gloves first if that matters... they just didn't end up actually going. That could apparently mean automatic suspensions for all the guys who were kicked out (we saw something similar with Steve Ourosov earlier this year which was surprisingly enough the other time Paul Mailey was in a fight) and suspensions for Coach Ingram and Coach Ferner. In the midst of all this Barry Zanier was also kicked out of the game and given a gross misconduct. That could mean three games for him.

...The league has shown recently that those automatic suspensions are not necessarily set in stone (Rob Short's was recently overturned after league review) so I guess anything is possible. However, suspensions are far more problematic for Trail than Vernon. The Vipers had a few healthy scratches who could step in. Trail does not. With the likely loss of Decosse, the injuries to Bulach and Brodie, and possible suspensions for Corcoran, Kinnebrew and Koopman... we're talking about a roster of 9 forwards and 4 D. That would make surviving possible elimination much tougher. I think the kind of injury trouble Trail has faced should cause some in the league to review their card system. Should there not be some sort of emergency injury rules similar to those in the NHL? If an NHL team is so devastated by injury they can call up guys from Major Junior who can't usually be called up. They can also call up AHL players after their maximum transfers if they have an emergency injury situation. What such system exists in the BCHL? Out of cards, too many injuries and APs occupied? Out of luck. I really feel there should be more flexibility in the card system. Look what happened with a guy like Levarsky just up and leaving for Slovakia and he costs Trail a roster spot. Something to chew on.

...Patrick Martin hit Kellen Jones from behind and got himself 2 and a game for it. On the way back to the dressing room the refs skated him right by Zurevinski. He must have said something to Martin as the two exchanged words and shoves at centre ice. There's no way they should have been allowed to get that close. Poor control by the officials in that case. After both players were sent to the locker room benches cleared into the hall way. Something apparently happened back there, but I was told on the bus afterwords that there was absolutely no physical contact between the two teams or any of their players in the halls. That's important as during the game rumours were going around that Martin and Zurevinski had been in a shoving match back there, but again I'm told that never happened. In the middle of this mess Jimmy Geerin apparently told referee Hartly that he'd lost control of the game. That was enough for him to get a game misconduct, despite the fact that Trail was all ready down to 4 D. Stuff like that seems to indicate to me that Jimmy was right.

...Final score ended up being 7-2. After the initial fight halfway through the game I don't think you can analyze the game from a hockey stand point the rest of the way. The key to the actual game portion of the action was Trail's PK failing against the Vipers early and Trail having a major let down a minute into the second. If Bischop doesn't score there the Smokies had momentum and could have gotten back into the game. They were put into a hole by the early penalty calls (both of which I feel are questionable at this time of the year), but that happens sometimes. Refs are going to make mistakes on penalty calls and you can't let your opponent's go 2 for 2 on their PP in the first period.

...The Smokies may have been content to let the Vipers have the perimeter in game 1, but they also gave them all the rebounds and way too much room on the PP in game 2. Bad referee or not, they have to do a better job on special teams to make a come back in this series. They may have to do that with a very short bench on Monday night. Nothing great ever got done without adversity. The Smokies have had enough of that for five seasons, but none of that matters once the puck drops Monday night. Win and you play, lose and you go home. Hope we get a big crowd out for that one.

OFFICIALS

I don't like to comment on officials. I think they're generally underpaid and under appreciated. These guys have a thankless job and they don't get much for doing it. That being said an official must behave maturely and professionally. They are older and have much less invested in games than the players. You are going to get yelled at and sworn at. Turn the other cheek and don't let your emotions get the better of you. If you as an official think you're the show or let your ego and emotions get involved in your decision making, than you don't belong on that ice. There are things I heard about the game on Saturday night that make me question some of those things in this case. I used to umpire baseball as a 13 year old boy with 40 year old parents yelling at me, trying to intimidate me, and using the kind of language you can't ever imagine an adult using with a child. I prided myself in never letting it get to me and in never responding to their outbursts emotionally. Players do it, coaches do it, but referees aren't trying to win anything... there's no excuse for losing your cool. When you do you lose the respect of those players and coaches you have to control. When you lose their respect you are in for a very long and embarrassing night. Embarrassing for you, the league and all of junior hockey.

See you all at Cominco Arena on Monday night. Seriously, tell your friends and family to come out... we need a big crowd for an emotional lift. This one is going to be a battle.