nivek_wahs
03-26-2007, 03:27 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=23f215a3-940d-42be-acb1-acd0f94c29ca
Action may have changed the current
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 26, 2007
The Regina Pats' brand of slapstick did not leave the Swift Current Broncos in stitches.
However, the Broncos did enjoy the last laugh -- posting a 4-3 overtime victory at the Brandt Centre on Saturday to even a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal at 1-1.
The night before, select members of the Pats -- most notably Myles Stoesz -- slapped their sticks on the ice to celebrate a 4-0 victory in Game 1.
The Broncos took offence. They also took notes.
"It's really frustrating after a game like that and they're celebrating on the ice,'' Broncos centre Levi Nelson said Saturday night. "It definitely made the guys a little mad. I think we used that and came out here today and showed that we were playing desperate hockey.''
It was a Swift turnaround -- with an element of turnabout, which was certainly fair play in rebuttal to Friday's demonstration. Nelson, for one, banged his stick on the ice shortly after Saturday's final buzzer.
"I think a few guys did,'' Nelson said. "It's being excited and you're still in the moment.
"It's giving back the favour, I guess.''
The Pats were also in the spirit of giving. That was obvious 1:07 into overtime, when goaltender Linden Rowat's clearing attempt hit teammate Nick Ross. The puck bounced to Swift Current's Kyle Bortis, who quickly parked the game-winner behind Rowat. Afterwards, Bortis noted that the stick-slapping provided a measure of inspiration.
"I think everyone who noticed it was using it as their own motivation,'' Bortis said. "It wasn't really a big issue in our dressing room. We don't want to get caught up in distractions like that.''
That said, Friday's stick-slapping did create a needless distraction, considering that the Broncos had every reason to be reeling after being dominated.
"I think it's a little bit of motivation for us,'' Bortis said. "After you win a game, you just take it for what it is and it's over the next day.
"You've just got to keep working hard. It's a long series and every little bit you can take, you've got to use it.''
The Pats have to use Saturday's game as a learning tool after squandering home-ice advantage.
"It's a lesson that we learned,'' Pats centre Kyle Ross said, "and it's an early lesson.''
And a potentially valuable one, providing that the Pats can regain their robust form of Friday. The series moves to Swift Current for games Tuesday and Wednesday. It is imperative that the Pats emerge with at least a split.
"We need to put (Saturday's game) behind us,'' Pats head coach Curtis Hunt said. "It's the memory of the sting that keeps you away from the beehive.''
The Pats repeatedly stung the Broncos on Friday night. After the opener, Swift Current head coach Dean Chynoweth noted that his players were "in awe'' of the Pats, and it showed.
A reprise appeared to be in order when Regina's Troy Ofukany opened Saturday's scoring 6:06 into the first period. That goal proved to be a game-changer, but not in the manner you would expect.
"After we scored first, somewhere it creeps into the back of our minds that it would be easier and we wouldn't have to go through the proper process,'' Hunt said.
"Give (the Broncos) credit. They scratched and clawed and did everything they had to do to win a hockey game.''
As an example, there was Broncos centre Zack Smith, who played the role of shift disturber on Saturday night. He did not encounter any meaningful resistance from the Pats, who were much more assertive the previous evening.
Let's not forget Broncos defenceman Myles Rumsey, who demonstrated why he is the team's captain. On Saturday, he blocked more shots than Bonnie and Clyde. Rumsey has to be the WHL's postseason leader in bruises.
The Pats, for their part, emerged with a bruised ego. That may prove to be beneficial, as long as the Regina players can extract some positives from a rather humbling lesson.
"We talked about being smarter and learning from the mistakes,'' Hunt said. "We're not going home now. It's tied. We need to regroup and we need to get back to winning.''
And to winning with decorum.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
Action may have changed the current
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 26, 2007
The Regina Pats' brand of slapstick did not leave the Swift Current Broncos in stitches.
However, the Broncos did enjoy the last laugh -- posting a 4-3 overtime victory at the Brandt Centre on Saturday to even a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal at 1-1.
The night before, select members of the Pats -- most notably Myles Stoesz -- slapped their sticks on the ice to celebrate a 4-0 victory in Game 1.
The Broncos took offence. They also took notes.
"It's really frustrating after a game like that and they're celebrating on the ice,'' Broncos centre Levi Nelson said Saturday night. "It definitely made the guys a little mad. I think we used that and came out here today and showed that we were playing desperate hockey.''
It was a Swift turnaround -- with an element of turnabout, which was certainly fair play in rebuttal to Friday's demonstration. Nelson, for one, banged his stick on the ice shortly after Saturday's final buzzer.
"I think a few guys did,'' Nelson said. "It's being excited and you're still in the moment.
"It's giving back the favour, I guess.''
The Pats were also in the spirit of giving. That was obvious 1:07 into overtime, when goaltender Linden Rowat's clearing attempt hit teammate Nick Ross. The puck bounced to Swift Current's Kyle Bortis, who quickly parked the game-winner behind Rowat. Afterwards, Bortis noted that the stick-slapping provided a measure of inspiration.
"I think everyone who noticed it was using it as their own motivation,'' Bortis said. "It wasn't really a big issue in our dressing room. We don't want to get caught up in distractions like that.''
That said, Friday's stick-slapping did create a needless distraction, considering that the Broncos had every reason to be reeling after being dominated.
"I think it's a little bit of motivation for us,'' Bortis said. "After you win a game, you just take it for what it is and it's over the next day.
"You've just got to keep working hard. It's a long series and every little bit you can take, you've got to use it.''
The Pats have to use Saturday's game as a learning tool after squandering home-ice advantage.
"It's a lesson that we learned,'' Pats centre Kyle Ross said, "and it's an early lesson.''
And a potentially valuable one, providing that the Pats can regain their robust form of Friday. The series moves to Swift Current for games Tuesday and Wednesday. It is imperative that the Pats emerge with at least a split.
"We need to put (Saturday's game) behind us,'' Pats head coach Curtis Hunt said. "It's the memory of the sting that keeps you away from the beehive.''
The Pats repeatedly stung the Broncos on Friday night. After the opener, Swift Current head coach Dean Chynoweth noted that his players were "in awe'' of the Pats, and it showed.
A reprise appeared to be in order when Regina's Troy Ofukany opened Saturday's scoring 6:06 into the first period. That goal proved to be a game-changer, but not in the manner you would expect.
"After we scored first, somewhere it creeps into the back of our minds that it would be easier and we wouldn't have to go through the proper process,'' Hunt said.
"Give (the Broncos) credit. They scratched and clawed and did everything they had to do to win a hockey game.''
As an example, there was Broncos centre Zack Smith, who played the role of shift disturber on Saturday night. He did not encounter any meaningful resistance from the Pats, who were much more assertive the previous evening.
Let's not forget Broncos defenceman Myles Rumsey, who demonstrated why he is the team's captain. On Saturday, he blocked more shots than Bonnie and Clyde. Rumsey has to be the WHL's postseason leader in bruises.
The Pats, for their part, emerged with a bruised ego. That may prove to be beneficial, as long as the Regina players can extract some positives from a rather humbling lesson.
"We talked about being smarter and learning from the mistakes,'' Hunt said. "We're not going home now. It's tied. We need to regroup and we need to get back to winning.''
And to winning with decorum.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007