Scout
01-15-2007, 06:12 PM
Monday, January 15, 2007
Future Is Now . . . Eakin to Make Broncos Debut
Just got word from the coaching staff that 2006 first round bantam pick Cody Eakin will put on the Broncos jersey for the first time in the regular season tomorrow night.
The banged up Broncos have recalled a trio of players to help out the cause. Eakin is a highly touted 15 year old who is ripping up "AAA" midget in Winnipeg.
Over the weekend a pair of 16 year-olds Kris Foucalt and Mike Brown made their Broncos' debut. They both played well especially Brown who impressed me on the Saddledome ice. In talking with the scouting staff, Brown has progressed by leaps and bounds this past year and his upside might be unlimited.
Eakin, Broncos debut, that right there could be worth the price of a ticket.
Broncos and T-Birds, face-off at 7:30pm. Our pre-game show is set for 7pm. For those that missed Sunday's almost miraculous comeback over Calgary the pre-game show will have a recap from some of the key players and coaches. Included in the recap will what Dean Chynoweth called "pigeon power" . . . more on that tomorrow, it's worth checking out.
See you tomorrow,
Jon
posted by Jon Keen at 5:28 PM | 1 comments
Calgary Sun Story - Broncos/Hitmen
This is from Scott Fisher, sportswriter from the Calgary Sun.
He covered another angle in which we chatted about briefly in the broadcast. Here it is.
By SCOTT FISHER, CALGARY SUN
The last time Travis Yonkman started a game at the Saddledome, he left with a broken collarbone.
Last night, he broke the Calgary Hitmen's hearts.
Yonkman made 48 saves, many of the acrobatic variety, to backstop the visiting Swift Current Broncos to a 3-2 overtime victory.
"Before the game, we were joking around about me playing the puck," said Yonkman, who suffered the injury after he made a pass and was run over by former Calgary ruffian Darryl Moscaluk.
"I said I wouldn't tonight."
He didn't have time. The 18-year-old 'tender was too busy diving all over the crease to stymie the Hitmen time and time again.
Calgary, which dropped its fourth straight, led 2-0 with under four minutes to play on goals by Ryan White and Keegan Dansereau.
But Brady Leavold potted a powerplay marker with 3:26 left and, with Yonkman on the bench, Geordie Wudrick tied it up with 22.5 ticks on the clock.
Leavold won it 1:26 into sudden death and Yonkman left the building in a totally different state of mind than he did Oct. 23, 2005.
"I was in a lot of pain on the ice and after I went to the dressing room," he recalled.
"I sat upright in my seat for six hours on the way home, rocking back and forth. It'll be a lot better bus ride tonight."
The loss for the Hitmen was costly as they gave away a crucial point they could have desperately used in the tight Central Division.
Calgary (24-17-1-3) remains in fourth spot, just three points ahead of the surging Lethbridge Hurricanes. White, who is two points off the league scoring lead, said his club needs to find a killer instinct before it's too late.
"That guy played well," White said of Yonkman. "But we've got to bear down.
"We had 50 shots. We can't just be scoring two goals. We had to bury these guys when we had the chance in the second period.
"Lethbridge is creeping up on us and if we don't turn it around, it's going to be a short season."
Calgary starter Martin Jones, who was just minutes away from picking up his first WHL shutout, made 18 stops as his record fell to 5-3-0.
The Hitmen enjoyed a large territorial advantage in the scoreless opening period, outshooting the visitors 17-5. Yonkman made a brilliant stop with a second to play, sprawling to rob Derek LeBlanc on a rebound attempt from the side of the net.
Calgary came up empty on a flurry of chances before White finally golfed a rebound over the goal-line near the midway mark of the second period on the club's 30th shot on net. White's 21st of the season ended a scoreless drought of 97:37 on home ice for the Hitmen.
posted by Jon Keen at 2:43 PM | 0 comments
What Just Happened!?
I woke up this morning thinking to myself "was last night a dream or did that really happen?" Insane. Luke Hunter was up in the booth with me and couldn't believe it either. Sure I've seen comebacks before, but not under these circumstances and with the game being played the way it was. I pretty much giggled through the entire post-game show as I thought back to the overtime winning goal ending. As the Broncos piled onto the ice to celebrate with their goalie Yonkman and Leavold who scored the OT winner I felt like yelling "quick boys, hurry off the ice before they decide to take the win away!"
In case you missed it the Hitmen were all over the Broncos from puck drop. A tired and beat-up Broncos team did their best but it wasn't near far the level of play it had to be in order to compete.
After three or four highlight reel saves from Yonkman in the first period, the Broncos and the Hitmen were still scoreless. Off to the 2nd where the Yonkman show continued until midway through when Ryan White finally scored on a third opportunity after a botched 2-on-1. Yonks again did all he could but the Hitmen pressure was too much. 1-0 Calgary after two periods.
With no Myles Rumsey, Dale Wiese, Kyle Bortis, Matt Tassone, and Ryan Molle who left the game early with injury, you knew the Broncos wouldn't have much left for the third period.
The Hitmen's top rated powerplay made in 2-0 four minutes into the third period. Another sensational save sequence led to a Keegan Dansereau goal.
After that goal, the Broncos sagged even further and the Hitmen on-slaught was on. Yonks was called on again to make an unbelievable save off Brodie Dupont as he reached across the crease to deny the Hitmen's power-forward. I thought to myself, wow, if we get outta here down 4 or 5 nothing that would be an accomplishment.
After five straight Hitmen powerplays the Broncos were then awarded a late PP with five minutes to go. I said on the broadcast if the Broncos want to get back in this game this might be the chance they've been waiting for.
Then the strangest thing. A pigeon started flying around the Saddledome around the rafters, down to the score-clock and around the upper sections. The fans totally lost focus of the game and maybe so did the Hitmen, I know I did. The fans were making all sorts of noise and in talking to the Broncos coaching staff after the game, they had no idea what was going on, no clue. Sure they heard the crowd but they didn't see the bird, they had a powerplay to run.
Midway through the man advantage a Paul Postma point-shot rebounded to Brady Leavold who snapped it home to give the Broncos some life as they broke up the shut-out bid of Martin Jones in the Hitmen goal with 3:26 to play. Calgary was po'ed to say the least. They had let a team back into a game that they have dominated from the opening face-off.
The Hitmen stepped up their pressure and for the next two minutes the Broncos had trouble getting the puck out of their zone. The first chance the Broncos had to get the puck near center was with 1:10 left in the game. Travis Yonkman sprinted to the bench for the extra attacker. The Broncos battled hard to keep the puck in and control it inside the Hitmen zone. After an initial chance in front, Geordie Wudrick fired home the tying goal with 22 seconds left! Pandemonium on the ice and in the broadcast booth. All the while this lone pigeon continued to circle the stands.
Before the game I said to Geordie "hey, giving me something to cheer about Wuddy." He didn't let me down.
It was off to overtime and the Broncos were now destined to win this game. The first chance they had inside Calgary territory, Levi Nelson fought hard in the Calgary corner to get a puck to Brady Leavold who then jammed it home on the side of the goal . . . game over! Leavold from Nelson with a special assist from the lucky pigeon who seemed to hover over the celebrating Broncos in the Hitmen corner. It was a shocking ending. Just ask the 9,000+ who took in the game.
After the game I was loading my gear under the bus when Geordie came up and replied, "how was that for something to cheer about Keener?"
What an ending, what a game. I'm going down to pick up a Calgary Sun newspaper to get their take. It will be great to get it from a Calgary perspective.
Three stars announced in the building:
3. Ryan White - scored the lone Hitmen goal
2. Travis Yonkman - according to the homer shot clock, 49 saves. His best game ever as a Bronco
1. Brady Leavold - 2 goals and one assist in his first game back since the break. Great effort.
It'll be tough to top that but the Broncos will try again tomorrow night when they host Seattle . . . the Thunderbirds. Speaking of birds, is their any chance we can get ours from the 'Dome? Sorry Charlie Horse but you have company.
Still shocked,
Jon
Future Is Now . . . Eakin to Make Broncos Debut
Just got word from the coaching staff that 2006 first round bantam pick Cody Eakin will put on the Broncos jersey for the first time in the regular season tomorrow night.
The banged up Broncos have recalled a trio of players to help out the cause. Eakin is a highly touted 15 year old who is ripping up "AAA" midget in Winnipeg.
Over the weekend a pair of 16 year-olds Kris Foucalt and Mike Brown made their Broncos' debut. They both played well especially Brown who impressed me on the Saddledome ice. In talking with the scouting staff, Brown has progressed by leaps and bounds this past year and his upside might be unlimited.
Eakin, Broncos debut, that right there could be worth the price of a ticket.
Broncos and T-Birds, face-off at 7:30pm. Our pre-game show is set for 7pm. For those that missed Sunday's almost miraculous comeback over Calgary the pre-game show will have a recap from some of the key players and coaches. Included in the recap will what Dean Chynoweth called "pigeon power" . . . more on that tomorrow, it's worth checking out.
See you tomorrow,
Jon
posted by Jon Keen at 5:28 PM | 1 comments
Calgary Sun Story - Broncos/Hitmen
This is from Scott Fisher, sportswriter from the Calgary Sun.
He covered another angle in which we chatted about briefly in the broadcast. Here it is.
By SCOTT FISHER, CALGARY SUN
The last time Travis Yonkman started a game at the Saddledome, he left with a broken collarbone.
Last night, he broke the Calgary Hitmen's hearts.
Yonkman made 48 saves, many of the acrobatic variety, to backstop the visiting Swift Current Broncos to a 3-2 overtime victory.
"Before the game, we were joking around about me playing the puck," said Yonkman, who suffered the injury after he made a pass and was run over by former Calgary ruffian Darryl Moscaluk.
"I said I wouldn't tonight."
He didn't have time. The 18-year-old 'tender was too busy diving all over the crease to stymie the Hitmen time and time again.
Calgary, which dropped its fourth straight, led 2-0 with under four minutes to play on goals by Ryan White and Keegan Dansereau.
But Brady Leavold potted a powerplay marker with 3:26 left and, with Yonkman on the bench, Geordie Wudrick tied it up with 22.5 ticks on the clock.
Leavold won it 1:26 into sudden death and Yonkman left the building in a totally different state of mind than he did Oct. 23, 2005.
"I was in a lot of pain on the ice and after I went to the dressing room," he recalled.
"I sat upright in my seat for six hours on the way home, rocking back and forth. It'll be a lot better bus ride tonight."
The loss for the Hitmen was costly as they gave away a crucial point they could have desperately used in the tight Central Division.
Calgary (24-17-1-3) remains in fourth spot, just three points ahead of the surging Lethbridge Hurricanes. White, who is two points off the league scoring lead, said his club needs to find a killer instinct before it's too late.
"That guy played well," White said of Yonkman. "But we've got to bear down.
"We had 50 shots. We can't just be scoring two goals. We had to bury these guys when we had the chance in the second period.
"Lethbridge is creeping up on us and if we don't turn it around, it's going to be a short season."
Calgary starter Martin Jones, who was just minutes away from picking up his first WHL shutout, made 18 stops as his record fell to 5-3-0.
The Hitmen enjoyed a large territorial advantage in the scoreless opening period, outshooting the visitors 17-5. Yonkman made a brilliant stop with a second to play, sprawling to rob Derek LeBlanc on a rebound attempt from the side of the net.
Calgary came up empty on a flurry of chances before White finally golfed a rebound over the goal-line near the midway mark of the second period on the club's 30th shot on net. White's 21st of the season ended a scoreless drought of 97:37 on home ice for the Hitmen.
posted by Jon Keen at 2:43 PM | 0 comments
What Just Happened!?
I woke up this morning thinking to myself "was last night a dream or did that really happen?" Insane. Luke Hunter was up in the booth with me and couldn't believe it either. Sure I've seen comebacks before, but not under these circumstances and with the game being played the way it was. I pretty much giggled through the entire post-game show as I thought back to the overtime winning goal ending. As the Broncos piled onto the ice to celebrate with their goalie Yonkman and Leavold who scored the OT winner I felt like yelling "quick boys, hurry off the ice before they decide to take the win away!"
In case you missed it the Hitmen were all over the Broncos from puck drop. A tired and beat-up Broncos team did their best but it wasn't near far the level of play it had to be in order to compete.
After three or four highlight reel saves from Yonkman in the first period, the Broncos and the Hitmen were still scoreless. Off to the 2nd where the Yonkman show continued until midway through when Ryan White finally scored on a third opportunity after a botched 2-on-1. Yonks again did all he could but the Hitmen pressure was too much. 1-0 Calgary after two periods.
With no Myles Rumsey, Dale Wiese, Kyle Bortis, Matt Tassone, and Ryan Molle who left the game early with injury, you knew the Broncos wouldn't have much left for the third period.
The Hitmen's top rated powerplay made in 2-0 four minutes into the third period. Another sensational save sequence led to a Keegan Dansereau goal.
After that goal, the Broncos sagged even further and the Hitmen on-slaught was on. Yonks was called on again to make an unbelievable save off Brodie Dupont as he reached across the crease to deny the Hitmen's power-forward. I thought to myself, wow, if we get outta here down 4 or 5 nothing that would be an accomplishment.
After five straight Hitmen powerplays the Broncos were then awarded a late PP with five minutes to go. I said on the broadcast if the Broncos want to get back in this game this might be the chance they've been waiting for.
Then the strangest thing. A pigeon started flying around the Saddledome around the rafters, down to the score-clock and around the upper sections. The fans totally lost focus of the game and maybe so did the Hitmen, I know I did. The fans were making all sorts of noise and in talking to the Broncos coaching staff after the game, they had no idea what was going on, no clue. Sure they heard the crowd but they didn't see the bird, they had a powerplay to run.
Midway through the man advantage a Paul Postma point-shot rebounded to Brady Leavold who snapped it home to give the Broncos some life as they broke up the shut-out bid of Martin Jones in the Hitmen goal with 3:26 to play. Calgary was po'ed to say the least. They had let a team back into a game that they have dominated from the opening face-off.
The Hitmen stepped up their pressure and for the next two minutes the Broncos had trouble getting the puck out of their zone. The first chance the Broncos had to get the puck near center was with 1:10 left in the game. Travis Yonkman sprinted to the bench for the extra attacker. The Broncos battled hard to keep the puck in and control it inside the Hitmen zone. After an initial chance in front, Geordie Wudrick fired home the tying goal with 22 seconds left! Pandemonium on the ice and in the broadcast booth. All the while this lone pigeon continued to circle the stands.
Before the game I said to Geordie "hey, giving me something to cheer about Wuddy." He didn't let me down.
It was off to overtime and the Broncos were now destined to win this game. The first chance they had inside Calgary territory, Levi Nelson fought hard in the Calgary corner to get a puck to Brady Leavold who then jammed it home on the side of the goal . . . game over! Leavold from Nelson with a special assist from the lucky pigeon who seemed to hover over the celebrating Broncos in the Hitmen corner. It was a shocking ending. Just ask the 9,000+ who took in the game.
After the game I was loading my gear under the bus when Geordie came up and replied, "how was that for something to cheer about Keener?"
What an ending, what a game. I'm going down to pick up a Calgary Sun newspaper to get their take. It will be great to get it from a Calgary perspective.
Three stars announced in the building:
3. Ryan White - scored the lone Hitmen goal
2. Travis Yonkman - according to the homer shot clock, 49 saves. His best game ever as a Bronco
1. Brady Leavold - 2 goals and one assist in his first game back since the break. Great effort.
It'll be tough to top that but the Broncos will try again tomorrow night when they host Seattle . . . the Thunderbirds. Speaking of birds, is their any chance we can get ours from the 'Dome? Sorry Charlie Horse but you have company.
Still shocked,
Jon