scamperdog
03-02-2007, 05:30 PM
Clark runs out of patience with Ellerby www.kamloopsnews.ca
by Gregg Drinnan
If the Kamloops Blazers are to end their seven-game losing streak tonight, they will have to do it without defenceman Keaton Ellerby.
A potential early first-round selection in the NHL’s 2007 draft, Ellerby will watch from on high tonight as the Blazers and Calgary Hitmen meet at the Interior Savings Centre.
“I’ve had enough,” said Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, prior to Thursday’s practice in which Ellerby, who is in his third season, did not take part.
“When he wants to come and be part of our group,” Clark added, “we’ll welcome him back with open arms.”
In recent games, Ellerby has been guilty of numerous turnovers and poor decisions that have led to penalties and criticism from the coaching staff. The final straw for Clark came during the third period of Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the visiting Everett Silvertips. Ellerby was penalized for delay of game when he shot the puck from his defensive zone into the crowd. He then compounded matters by talking his way into an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
“Even though we’re down 3-1, we’re still coming,” Clark said. “It’s unfortunate that the puck goes into the stands . . . I don’t think he tried to do it. But then he beaks the referee and takes a minor.
“We told the guys a long time ago, ‘No talking to the referees.’ We don’t need to take those penalties.”
Ellerby has two goals this season, both coming in a 3-2 victory in Calgary on Oct. 13. He has taken 22 penalty minutes over his last four games, this coming after a stretch in which he took 33 minutes over four games.
In a 6-5 overtime loss to visiting Chilliwack a week ago, Ellerby took penalties resulting in four Bruins’ power plays on which they scored twice.
On the season, Ellerby penalties have resulted in 48 opposition power plays, well ahead of fellow defencemen Ryan Bender (36) and Victor Bartley (31).
With the Blazers coming off a 2-8-2 February in which they went from leading the B.C. Division by three points to trailing the Vancouver Giants by eight, Bender said the team simply can’t afford to keep shooting itself in the foot.
“It just seems like one mistake costs us the game,” Bender said. “We’re just kind of struggling all over the ice.”
And that, Bender said, is the opposite of what the Blazers went through prior to February.
“Totally (the opposite),” he said. “Everything from bounces not going our way to penalties not going our way . . . pretty much everything.”
Centre Brock Nixon agreed, but added: “Earlier in the season we earned our bounces. Every break we got, we earned. Right now. we haven’t done enough to earn those breaks.”
Everyone in the dressing room is adamant that this team rode high as one and it hit the skids as one. And they know it will take a team effort to get things turned around.
“We’re all going to have to do it together,” Bender said. “We’re in this together. For us to be successful and get back on track we’re going to need everyone bringing their simple games . . . to try and get us out of this slump.”
Nixon said the players are hopeful that they can build on what was a terrific first period against Everett.
“Anytime you lose seven straight your confidence isn’t going to be quite where it needs to be,” said Nixon, who leads the club with 74 points but is pointless in his last three games. “It’s starting to come along in baby steps. We had a real great start to the game (Wednesday) night. Our physical play was there. It was just a matter of bearing down on those chances we do get.”
At the same time, the Blazers are well aware that they have to keep their chins up.
“We’ve been fairly positive and that’s been important,” Bender said. “We can’t get too down because we’ve got nine games left and we really want to get out of this funk and try to start winning some games and get some confidence going into the playoffs.”
“We want to be playoff-ready and be in playoff mode right now,” Nixon added. “We’re starting to get low on games here. We’ve got to get our game where it needs to be as quick as we can.”
JUST NOTES: C Reid Jorgensen, who had elbow surgery Friday, skated by himself prior to practice yesterday and is on schedule to return March 14 in Seattle against the Thunderbirds. . . . D Mark Schneider (midget AAA Brandon Wheat Kings) and D Joel Woznikoski (BCHL’s Westside Warriors) returned to their teams yesterday. . . . D Kurt Torbohm, the Blazers’ fifth-round pick in the 2005 bantam draft, will join the team for a couple of weekend games. From Chase, Torbohm plays for the Revelstoke Grizzlies, who are embroiled in the KIJHL playoffs.
It will be Ontario and Manitoba meeting for gold at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse today, while Alberta and B.C. play for bronze. Blazers D Jordan Rowley has two goals in four games with Alberta, while G Dalyn Flette put up a shutout in his one start. RW Tyler Shattock has one goal in four games with Team B.C. . . . The Blazers also have three prospects at the Winter Games. LW Shayne Wiebe of Manitoba has four points, including two goals, in four games, while C Paul Van de Velde has four assists in four games. C Jimmy Bubnick of Saskatchewan has five points, three of them goals, in four games.
by Gregg Drinnan
If the Kamloops Blazers are to end their seven-game losing streak tonight, they will have to do it without defenceman Keaton Ellerby.
A potential early first-round selection in the NHL’s 2007 draft, Ellerby will watch from on high tonight as the Blazers and Calgary Hitmen meet at the Interior Savings Centre.
“I’ve had enough,” said Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, prior to Thursday’s practice in which Ellerby, who is in his third season, did not take part.
“When he wants to come and be part of our group,” Clark added, “we’ll welcome him back with open arms.”
In recent games, Ellerby has been guilty of numerous turnovers and poor decisions that have led to penalties and criticism from the coaching staff. The final straw for Clark came during the third period of Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the visiting Everett Silvertips. Ellerby was penalized for delay of game when he shot the puck from his defensive zone into the crowd. He then compounded matters by talking his way into an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
“Even though we’re down 3-1, we’re still coming,” Clark said. “It’s unfortunate that the puck goes into the stands . . . I don’t think he tried to do it. But then he beaks the referee and takes a minor.
“We told the guys a long time ago, ‘No talking to the referees.’ We don’t need to take those penalties.”
Ellerby has two goals this season, both coming in a 3-2 victory in Calgary on Oct. 13. He has taken 22 penalty minutes over his last four games, this coming after a stretch in which he took 33 minutes over four games.
In a 6-5 overtime loss to visiting Chilliwack a week ago, Ellerby took penalties resulting in four Bruins’ power plays on which they scored twice.
On the season, Ellerby penalties have resulted in 48 opposition power plays, well ahead of fellow defencemen Ryan Bender (36) and Victor Bartley (31).
With the Blazers coming off a 2-8-2 February in which they went from leading the B.C. Division by three points to trailing the Vancouver Giants by eight, Bender said the team simply can’t afford to keep shooting itself in the foot.
“It just seems like one mistake costs us the game,” Bender said. “We’re just kind of struggling all over the ice.”
And that, Bender said, is the opposite of what the Blazers went through prior to February.
“Totally (the opposite),” he said. “Everything from bounces not going our way to penalties not going our way . . . pretty much everything.”
Centre Brock Nixon agreed, but added: “Earlier in the season we earned our bounces. Every break we got, we earned. Right now. we haven’t done enough to earn those breaks.”
Everyone in the dressing room is adamant that this team rode high as one and it hit the skids as one. And they know it will take a team effort to get things turned around.
“We’re all going to have to do it together,” Bender said. “We’re in this together. For us to be successful and get back on track we’re going to need everyone bringing their simple games . . . to try and get us out of this slump.”
Nixon said the players are hopeful that they can build on what was a terrific first period against Everett.
“Anytime you lose seven straight your confidence isn’t going to be quite where it needs to be,” said Nixon, who leads the club with 74 points but is pointless in his last three games. “It’s starting to come along in baby steps. We had a real great start to the game (Wednesday) night. Our physical play was there. It was just a matter of bearing down on those chances we do get.”
At the same time, the Blazers are well aware that they have to keep their chins up.
“We’ve been fairly positive and that’s been important,” Bender said. “We can’t get too down because we’ve got nine games left and we really want to get out of this funk and try to start winning some games and get some confidence going into the playoffs.”
“We want to be playoff-ready and be in playoff mode right now,” Nixon added. “We’re starting to get low on games here. We’ve got to get our game where it needs to be as quick as we can.”
JUST NOTES: C Reid Jorgensen, who had elbow surgery Friday, skated by himself prior to practice yesterday and is on schedule to return March 14 in Seattle against the Thunderbirds. . . . D Mark Schneider (midget AAA Brandon Wheat Kings) and D Joel Woznikoski (BCHL’s Westside Warriors) returned to their teams yesterday. . . . D Kurt Torbohm, the Blazers’ fifth-round pick in the 2005 bantam draft, will join the team for a couple of weekend games. From Chase, Torbohm plays for the Revelstoke Grizzlies, who are embroiled in the KIJHL playoffs.
It will be Ontario and Manitoba meeting for gold at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse today, while Alberta and B.C. play for bronze. Blazers D Jordan Rowley has two goals in four games with Alberta, while G Dalyn Flette put up a shutout in his one start. RW Tyler Shattock has one goal in four games with Team B.C. . . . The Blazers also have three prospects at the Winter Games. LW Shayne Wiebe of Manitoba has four points, including two goals, in four games, while C Paul Van de Velde has four assists in four games. C Jimmy Bubnick of Saskatchewan has five points, three of them goals, in four games.