Scout
09-01-2007, 12:10 PM
with Gregg Drinnan
Friday notes . . .
Some people, make that a lot of people, do wonderful things and don’t get a whole lot of credit for it, especially in a society that is enamoured with the lives of Britney, LiLo and Paris et al. But how about some props for Brent Parker, the general manager of the Regina Pats? Walter Strueby, the father of part-time assistant coach Todd Strueby of the Pats, passed away on Thursday afternoon. Todd’s son, Matt, who is working to crack the Pats’ roster, is in Edmonton with his teammates at the Oil Kings’ preseason tournament. The decision, to go or not to go, was left up to Matt, with Parker telling the family that Matt had the full support of the organization and that whatever he decided was fine. Later, after learning that Matt would go to Edmonton with his teammates, Parker told the Struebys that he would fly Matt home on Sunday so that he would be there in time for his grandfather’s funeral. . . . As someone who spent a few seasons around Parker and the Pats, I can tell you this isn’t the first time he has done something like this. When he does, he doesn’t seek publicity and word oftentimes doesn’t get out. This time it did. And it’s nice to be able to show a different side of Parker, who is perhaps better known for his intensity.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Prince Albert 3 at Moose Jaw 2 -- The Raiders improved to 2-0 with their second victory over the Warriors in three nights. Cole Penner, Justin Palazzo and Bryce Lamb scored for the winners, with Quinton Howden, the first overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft, and Keith Voytechek replying for Moose Jaw. P.A. goaltender Steve Sanford made 21 saves. Sanford, 17, from Calgary, is one of two goaltenders on the roster, the other being sophomore David Aime.
Everett Tournament
Seattle 5, Chilliwack 4 -- Finnish G Riku Helenius’s WHL debut was terrific as he started for the Thunderbirds and stoned the Bruins with 11 first-period saves and stopped 17 of 18 before leaving at 10:15 of the second period. Prab Rai, Andre Herman and Sterling Bear scored Seattle goals in a span of 2:54 late in the first period. The Bruins tied things in the second on goals from Oscar Moller, Mike Proudley and Ryan Howse, and took the lead early in the third on another Moller goal. Charles Wells tied it for Seattle at 12:21 of the third period and Brendan Silvester won it about a minute later. In the Chilliwack net, Lucas Gore replaced Mark Friesen, who had stopped five of eights shots, in the second period, while Calvin Picard took over from Helenius, a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2006 NHL draft. Chilliwack outshot Seattle 31-18. Seattle was 2-for-6 on the power play; Chilliwack was 1-for-8.
Spokane 5, Portland 2 -- The Chiefs outshot the Winter Hawks 20-7 in the first period and got off to a 4-0 lead. Cody Esposito, Chris Bruton, Dustin Donaghy and Brett Bartman had the early goals, with Pat Kozyra adding an empty-netter late in the third. Veteran Colton Sceviour and Bradley Ross, a first-rounder from the 2007 bantam draft, scored for Portland. Darcy Kuemper, 17, a third-round 2005 draft pick, stopped 18 shots in the Chiefs’ net. Keith Hamilton, 15, started for Portland and stopped 13 of 17 shots in a period. Jordan White, 19, was 14-for-14 in the second, and Mark Guggenberger, 18, was 8-for-8 in the third. Spokane was 0-for-3 with the man advantage; Portland was 0-for-2.
Vancouver 3, Everett 1 -- Chris Cloud, acquired over the offseason from the Saskatoon Blades, had two goals for the Giants, with the other coming from Mitch Czibere. Jeff Regier counted for the Silvertips. Kraymer Barnstable stopped 16 in Vancouver’s goal. At the other end, 15-year-old Kent Simpson turned turned aside 16 of 19 shots and 20-year-old David Reekie came on to stop 18. Each team was 1-for-10 on the PP.
Simpson, Everett’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, signed a WHL contract earlier Friday. He was taken 22nd overall. Simpson, from Edmonton, has had a strong camp, stopping 37 of 39 shots in scrimmages. . . . The Silvertips also signed F Markus McCrea, a sixth-round pick this year, and F Tyler Parker, 15, who wasn’t drafted but had a good camp. . . .
On the subject of signings, C Riley Holzapfel has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Atlanta Thrashers, who took him with the 43rd pick of the 2006 NHL draft. Holzapfel, from Regina, led the Moose Jaw Warriors in scoring last season, which must have been worth bragging rights somewhere in his hometown. He had 82 points, including 39 goals, and finished eighth in the WHL scoring race. Unless he cracks the Thrashers’ roster, Holzapfel, 19, will be back with the Warriors for a fourth season. . . .
Sophomore D Mitch Versteeg, who turns 19 on Nov. 3, showed up for the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ camp with a broken wrist. He was injured while running during his offseason training program. . . .
Friday notes . . .
Some people, make that a lot of people, do wonderful things and don’t get a whole lot of credit for it, especially in a society that is enamoured with the lives of Britney, LiLo and Paris et al. But how about some props for Brent Parker, the general manager of the Regina Pats? Walter Strueby, the father of part-time assistant coach Todd Strueby of the Pats, passed away on Thursday afternoon. Todd’s son, Matt, who is working to crack the Pats’ roster, is in Edmonton with his teammates at the Oil Kings’ preseason tournament. The decision, to go or not to go, was left up to Matt, with Parker telling the family that Matt had the full support of the organization and that whatever he decided was fine. Later, after learning that Matt would go to Edmonton with his teammates, Parker told the Struebys that he would fly Matt home on Sunday so that he would be there in time for his grandfather’s funeral. . . . As someone who spent a few seasons around Parker and the Pats, I can tell you this isn’t the first time he has done something like this. When he does, he doesn’t seek publicity and word oftentimes doesn’t get out. This time it did. And it’s nice to be able to show a different side of Parker, who is perhaps better known for his intensity.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Prince Albert 3 at Moose Jaw 2 -- The Raiders improved to 2-0 with their second victory over the Warriors in three nights. Cole Penner, Justin Palazzo and Bryce Lamb scored for the winners, with Quinton Howden, the first overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft, and Keith Voytechek replying for Moose Jaw. P.A. goaltender Steve Sanford made 21 saves. Sanford, 17, from Calgary, is one of two goaltenders on the roster, the other being sophomore David Aime.
Everett Tournament
Seattle 5, Chilliwack 4 -- Finnish G Riku Helenius’s WHL debut was terrific as he started for the Thunderbirds and stoned the Bruins with 11 first-period saves and stopped 17 of 18 before leaving at 10:15 of the second period. Prab Rai, Andre Herman and Sterling Bear scored Seattle goals in a span of 2:54 late in the first period. The Bruins tied things in the second on goals from Oscar Moller, Mike Proudley and Ryan Howse, and took the lead early in the third on another Moller goal. Charles Wells tied it for Seattle at 12:21 of the third period and Brendan Silvester won it about a minute later. In the Chilliwack net, Lucas Gore replaced Mark Friesen, who had stopped five of eights shots, in the second period, while Calvin Picard took over from Helenius, a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2006 NHL draft. Chilliwack outshot Seattle 31-18. Seattle was 2-for-6 on the power play; Chilliwack was 1-for-8.
Spokane 5, Portland 2 -- The Chiefs outshot the Winter Hawks 20-7 in the first period and got off to a 4-0 lead. Cody Esposito, Chris Bruton, Dustin Donaghy and Brett Bartman had the early goals, with Pat Kozyra adding an empty-netter late in the third. Veteran Colton Sceviour and Bradley Ross, a first-rounder from the 2007 bantam draft, scored for Portland. Darcy Kuemper, 17, a third-round 2005 draft pick, stopped 18 shots in the Chiefs’ net. Keith Hamilton, 15, started for Portland and stopped 13 of 17 shots in a period. Jordan White, 19, was 14-for-14 in the second, and Mark Guggenberger, 18, was 8-for-8 in the third. Spokane was 0-for-3 with the man advantage; Portland was 0-for-2.
Vancouver 3, Everett 1 -- Chris Cloud, acquired over the offseason from the Saskatoon Blades, had two goals for the Giants, with the other coming from Mitch Czibere. Jeff Regier counted for the Silvertips. Kraymer Barnstable stopped 16 in Vancouver’s goal. At the other end, 15-year-old Kent Simpson turned turned aside 16 of 19 shots and 20-year-old David Reekie came on to stop 18. Each team was 1-for-10 on the PP.
Simpson, Everett’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, signed a WHL contract earlier Friday. He was taken 22nd overall. Simpson, from Edmonton, has had a strong camp, stopping 37 of 39 shots in scrimmages. . . . The Silvertips also signed F Markus McCrea, a sixth-round pick this year, and F Tyler Parker, 15, who wasn’t drafted but had a good camp. . . .
On the subject of signings, C Riley Holzapfel has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Atlanta Thrashers, who took him with the 43rd pick of the 2006 NHL draft. Holzapfel, from Regina, led the Moose Jaw Warriors in scoring last season, which must have been worth bragging rights somewhere in his hometown. He had 82 points, including 39 goals, and finished eighth in the WHL scoring race. Unless he cracks the Thrashers’ roster, Holzapfel, 19, will be back with the Warriors for a fourth season. . . .
Sophomore D Mitch Versteeg, who turns 19 on Nov. 3, showed up for the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ camp with a broken wrist. He was injured while running during his offseason training program. . . .