Scout
09-03-2007, 07:58 AM
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, September 01, 2007
When the Saskatoon Blades went to training camp last year, Braden Holtby was a shoo-in to be the starting goaltender.
"We were scrambling for another guy," Blades coach-GM Lorne Molleken said Friday. "We had nobody, so we brought in (Trevor) Peeters. Then we brought in (Blaine) Neufeld. This year, we basically have a choice of four guys."
Adam Morrison, 16, is one of four Blades goalies who will see action in the WHL pre-season
The blue ice at Martensville Arena is crowded with capable netminders. Holtby and Garrett Zemlak, both 18, form the incumbent tandem. They're being pushed by 16-year-olds Adam Morrison and Matthew Krahn. With such depth, the Blades aren't likely to rush their prospects into action. However, Krahn and Morrison have earned extended stays.
"We want to take a look at Krahn and Morrison in exhibition action, so we're going to carry four goaltenders at least through the first week of the exhibition schedule," said Molleken.
The Blades play their first WHL exhibition game Friday in Prince Albert. The Regina Pats visit Credit Union Centre the following night.
Holtby remains the No. 1 guy. After posting a 3.21 goals-against average in 51 games last season, he represented Canada at the under-18 world championship last spring.
The Blades plucked Zemlak from the SJHL's Notre Dame Hounds last November and the Saskatoon native registered a 2.77 average in 20 appearances.
"Both of them are very supportive of each other," said Molleken.
Morrison, a third-round pick in the 2006 bantam draft, is pegged to be the club's goalie of the future. The Blades are also keen on Krahn, whom they listed last year.
"If we're going to keep a 16-year-old goalie, I have to be able to say to myself and justify to the player that he's going to play 20 to 25 games," said Molleken. "We'll see how it goes. We're extremely pleased with the tandem of Holtby and Zemlak and these young guys have really stepped up and played well."
If Morrison and Krahn don't stick, they'll likely play midget AAA; Morrison in Vancouver and Krahn in Winnipeg.
Today is cutdown day at training camp.
Molleken had planned to trim his roster to 26 after today's 10 a.m. scrimmage. However, he said Friday that his short list remains 36 players long.
"We sat there today and shrugged our shoulders. We don't know which way we're going to go."
The Blades have a pack of 17-year-old prospects vying for positions. They include: C Doug McLeod (Thompson, Man.), C Travis Toomey (Leduc, Alta.), RW Mitch Dougall (Moose Jaw), RW Kevin Philp (Victoria), C Jordon Hebert (Ile des Chenes, Man.), D Brendon Wall (Saskatoon) and D Cameron Canart (Elkhorn, Man.)
"All of these 17-year-olds are going to get a chance to make it," said Blades scouting director Doug Molleken.
The Blades are also keen on 18-year-old Trent Rumpel, a rugged winger who played midget AAA in Moose Jaw last season.
The 16-year-old crop includes: Morrison, Krahn, D Mitch Berg (Saskatoon), D Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver), LW Curtis Hamilton (Kelowna) and D Tanner Sohn (Medicine Hat).
Published: Saturday, September 01, 2007
When the Saskatoon Blades went to training camp last year, Braden Holtby was a shoo-in to be the starting goaltender.
"We were scrambling for another guy," Blades coach-GM Lorne Molleken said Friday. "We had nobody, so we brought in (Trevor) Peeters. Then we brought in (Blaine) Neufeld. This year, we basically have a choice of four guys."
Adam Morrison, 16, is one of four Blades goalies who will see action in the WHL pre-season
The blue ice at Martensville Arena is crowded with capable netminders. Holtby and Garrett Zemlak, both 18, form the incumbent tandem. They're being pushed by 16-year-olds Adam Morrison and Matthew Krahn. With such depth, the Blades aren't likely to rush their prospects into action. However, Krahn and Morrison have earned extended stays.
"We want to take a look at Krahn and Morrison in exhibition action, so we're going to carry four goaltenders at least through the first week of the exhibition schedule," said Molleken.
The Blades play their first WHL exhibition game Friday in Prince Albert. The Regina Pats visit Credit Union Centre the following night.
Holtby remains the No. 1 guy. After posting a 3.21 goals-against average in 51 games last season, he represented Canada at the under-18 world championship last spring.
The Blades plucked Zemlak from the SJHL's Notre Dame Hounds last November and the Saskatoon native registered a 2.77 average in 20 appearances.
"Both of them are very supportive of each other," said Molleken.
Morrison, a third-round pick in the 2006 bantam draft, is pegged to be the club's goalie of the future. The Blades are also keen on Krahn, whom they listed last year.
"If we're going to keep a 16-year-old goalie, I have to be able to say to myself and justify to the player that he's going to play 20 to 25 games," said Molleken. "We'll see how it goes. We're extremely pleased with the tandem of Holtby and Zemlak and these young guys have really stepped up and played well."
If Morrison and Krahn don't stick, they'll likely play midget AAA; Morrison in Vancouver and Krahn in Winnipeg.
Today is cutdown day at training camp.
Molleken had planned to trim his roster to 26 after today's 10 a.m. scrimmage. However, he said Friday that his short list remains 36 players long.
"We sat there today and shrugged our shoulders. We don't know which way we're going to go."
The Blades have a pack of 17-year-old prospects vying for positions. They include: C Doug McLeod (Thompson, Man.), C Travis Toomey (Leduc, Alta.), RW Mitch Dougall (Moose Jaw), RW Kevin Philp (Victoria), C Jordon Hebert (Ile des Chenes, Man.), D Brendon Wall (Saskatoon) and D Cameron Canart (Elkhorn, Man.)
"All of these 17-year-olds are going to get a chance to make it," said Blades scouting director Doug Molleken.
The Blades are also keen on 18-year-old Trent Rumpel, a rugged winger who played midget AAA in Moose Jaw last season.
The 16-year-old crop includes: Morrison, Krahn, D Mitch Berg (Saskatoon), D Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver), LW Curtis Hamilton (Kelowna) and D Tanner Sohn (Medicine Hat).