nivek_wahs
05-08-2007, 09:09 AM
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=bfb23687-1971-4974-a70e-2f752eeeb7fc
Banged-up blueliner keeps stiff upper lip
Festerling took eight stitches to close gash in mouth
Ian Walker, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Vancouver Giants captain Brett Festerling cringed when he saw the media horde waiting for him before Monday's practice at the team's Ladner training facility.
Just not as much as when he blocked a shot with his face in the second period of Game 2 of the Western Hockey League championship in Medicine Hat on Saturday. Festerling's upper lip looked like a Botox nightmare as he spoke to reporters on Monday, before tonight's Game 3 at the Pacific Coliseum.
"Pretty, real pretty," said the 20-year-old Quesnel native. "They'll love it back home."
The Giants defenceman needed eight stitches in total -- six outside and two inside his mouth --to close the gash. Festerling dropped like a rock and was prone on the ice for a number of seconds after getting hit, but the referees failed to blow the play dead. When it was clear the play would continue with or without him, the good ol' Canadian kid picked himself up and only headed to the bench once the puck cleared the Vancouver zone.
TIGER ON TOP: Tigers netminder Matt Keetley was named the WHL's player of the week on Monday. The 20-year-old native of Medicine Hat stopped 59 of 62 shots he faced for a 1.51 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage through the opening two games of the league championship series.
Keetley was the Calgary Flames' fifth round pick (158th overall) at the 2005 NHL draft.
JUGGLING IN JAMES: Giants head coach Don Hay said he may change his lineup for tonight's Game 3 at the Pacific Coliseum. Hay said he wants to try and get rookie centre James Wright into the mix.
"Use his speed at home," said Hay.
Wright, 17, has one goal and two points in nine playoff games this season. Wright was very effective in Vancouver's series clinching Game 5 victory over the Prince George Cougars, but found himself on the outside looking in once the WHL final got underway.
As for the Tigers, defenceman Trevor Glass is expected back in the lineup for tonight, according to the Medicine Hat News.
Glass was forced to miss Game 2 with an undisclosed ailment.
QUOTABLE: "We respect each other, but we care more about our teams than each other."
-- Hay on his relationship with Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins.
iwalker@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007
Banged-up blueliner keeps stiff upper lip
Festerling took eight stitches to close gash in mouth
Ian Walker, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Vancouver Giants captain Brett Festerling cringed when he saw the media horde waiting for him before Monday's practice at the team's Ladner training facility.
Just not as much as when he blocked a shot with his face in the second period of Game 2 of the Western Hockey League championship in Medicine Hat on Saturday. Festerling's upper lip looked like a Botox nightmare as he spoke to reporters on Monday, before tonight's Game 3 at the Pacific Coliseum.
"Pretty, real pretty," said the 20-year-old Quesnel native. "They'll love it back home."
The Giants defenceman needed eight stitches in total -- six outside and two inside his mouth --to close the gash. Festerling dropped like a rock and was prone on the ice for a number of seconds after getting hit, but the referees failed to blow the play dead. When it was clear the play would continue with or without him, the good ol' Canadian kid picked himself up and only headed to the bench once the puck cleared the Vancouver zone.
TIGER ON TOP: Tigers netminder Matt Keetley was named the WHL's player of the week on Monday. The 20-year-old native of Medicine Hat stopped 59 of 62 shots he faced for a 1.51 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage through the opening two games of the league championship series.
Keetley was the Calgary Flames' fifth round pick (158th overall) at the 2005 NHL draft.
JUGGLING IN JAMES: Giants head coach Don Hay said he may change his lineup for tonight's Game 3 at the Pacific Coliseum. Hay said he wants to try and get rookie centre James Wright into the mix.
"Use his speed at home," said Hay.
Wright, 17, has one goal and two points in nine playoff games this season. Wright was very effective in Vancouver's series clinching Game 5 victory over the Prince George Cougars, but found himself on the outside looking in once the WHL final got underway.
As for the Tigers, defenceman Trevor Glass is expected back in the lineup for tonight, according to the Medicine Hat News.
Glass was forced to miss Game 2 with an undisclosed ailment.
QUOTABLE: "We respect each other, but we care more about our teams than each other."
-- Hay on his relationship with Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins.
iwalker@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007