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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 15, 2011 10:32:52 GMT -6
I figured I would start a thread where I can post Articles on the IceCaps for you guys to get a read on. Nice to see some media thoughts on your prospects.
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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 15, 2011 10:33:59 GMT -6
Published on November 14, 2011
Published on November 14, 2011
Robin Short
Telegram Sports Editor
Mannino Hangs tough in first start since return from Winnipeg , backstops St. John's to a sixth straight win
Two's company and three may be a crowd, but Peter Mannino and Eddie Pasquale are starting to make some elbow room for themselves in the cluttered St. John's IceCaps goal crease.
A day after Pasquale ran his unbeaten streak to six games with an 8-4 St. John's win over the Connecticut Whale, it was Mannino's turn, as the 27-year-old from the Detroit suburbs backstopped the IceCaps to a 4-3 decision Sunday afternoon with a first-star performance.
It was the sixth straight win for the IceCaps, despite losing captain Jason Jaffray - who paced St. John's with three goals Saturday - and defenceman Arturs Kulda to Winnipeg on recall.
St. John's, registering its first two-game sweep on home ice this season, leads the American Hockey League at 11-2-3-0.
The IceCaps trailed 3-1 after the opening 15 minutes Sunday afternoon before 6,287 at Mile One Centre when Mannino, fresh off recall to the Jets, allowed three goals on nine shots.
But the veteran recovered, and was otherwise flawless as the IceCaps tallied three straight goals over the next 45 minutes, including two by Corner Brook's Jason King.
Mannino spent just two weeks in Winnipeg, appearing in a relief effort last Thursday night, a 5-2 Florida Panthers' win over the Jets.
Arriving in St. John's Friday, it was that inactivity which might account for the shaky start Sunday, although the first goal came on the power play, and the third goal was redirected into the St. John's net off Carl Hagelin's face.
"I saw a lot of shots at practice in Winnipeg, but when you get into a game, you realize, 'Oh yeah, there is traffic in this game.' Players screen you.
"The first three goals found a way to get past me, but I stayed positive. Momentum changes in this game. I was able to see the rest of the shots and get a little rhythm, and it went from there."
"I wanted to leave him in to see if could battle his way through it," said IceCaps coach Keith McCambridge, "and he did that. It was a testament to him.
"He got better and better as the game went on."
With St. John's trailing by two goals, Mannino made a breakaway save off Tommy Grant in the first period, and then made the save of the game less than two minutes into the third and the game tied 3-3, foiling Hagelin who was sprung free on a shorthanded breakaway.
That set the stage for rookie Eric O'Dell's winner at 16:59 of the third. Kyle Bushee had the other St. John's goal.
Grant and former St. John's and Toronto Maple Leaf John Mitchell had the other Connecticut goals.
McCambridge wouldn't say if the third goalie in the mix -- David Aebischer - will get some playing time next weekend when the Norfolk Admirals visit Mile One, other than he's, "looking for the goalie who's going to run with it.
"I want to play the best goalie who's going to win us hockey games."
Aebischer, the former Stanley Cup-winner with the Colorado Avalanche, has struggled compared to Mannino and Pasquale, with a 2-3 record, 3.49 goals against average and less-than-sparkling .871 save percentage.
"Everybody would like to have a couple of guys instead of three," said Mannino, who improved to 3-2 with a 2.58 GAA. "But at the end of the day, you have no say. Winnipeg will do what it wants, and we have to respect whatever decision they make."
With the recall of Jaffray and Kulda Sunday, Winnipeg had five players from the St. John's roster, with defencemen Brett Festerling, Paul Postma and Mark Flood also with the big team.
St. John's will get some help up front this week when Kenndal McArdle arrives in town. McArdle has yet to pick up a point in nine games with the Jets.
McCambridge and veteran Garth Murray, who did the spadework on O'Dell's game-winner, spoke of the IceCaps' depth. One indication of that depth lies in the fact St. John's led all AHL teams entering Sunday's game with 58 goals, yet its top scorer, Marco Rosa, was only 38th overall in league scoring.
"When you lose guys on the back end like we have, lose players like Jaffray, all good players who are contributing," said McCambridge, "yet continue without missing a beat, it says a lot about that dressing room ... a lot of character in there.
"We find ways to come back when we're down, we find ways to hold on to wins and get two points out of teams."
Notes
Saturday night's game drew 6,503, the largest crowd ever gathered for a hockey game at Mile One. The attendance included those in suites and party boxes, which were full ... Kyle Bushee and Zach Redmond, who was superb in the two games, scored their first goals as IceCaps over the weekend ... Rearguard Paul Postma has been reassigned to St. John's by the Jets, although it could be a mere paper transaction as he may be back on Winnipeg's roster by the time the IceCaps play again. That's Friday, when they host Norfolk at Mile One ... The Mary Browns hardest working IceCaps for the two weekend games were Redmond and fellow defenceman Travis Ramsey ...
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Post by Guardian on Nov 15, 2011 15:26:24 GMT -6
I figured I would start a thread where I can post Articles on the IceCaps for you guys to get a read on. Nice to see some media thoughts on your prospects. Good idea! |
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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 19, 2011 14:37:41 GMT -6
Nov. 19th.
IceCaps rookie Eric O’Dell back to 100 per cent following surgery
Youth and impatience are often twinned, and in sports, the story of rookies grinding their teeth and holding their tongues while waiting on their opportunity is often told, sometimes even scripted for the movies.
Eric O’Dell had to wait to find a place in the St. John’s IceCaps’ lineup this season. He held his tongue and although we can’t speak with certainty about the teeth-grinding, there’s a good chance his molars and bicuspids are OK. That’s because the forbearance the 21-year-old forward from Ottawa had to display this fall was nothing like that which he had to summon up around this time last year.
Because last November, O’Dell was still in what would be a six-month recovery from surgery to repair a hole in his heart, a hole that had been there since birth, but one that wasn’t discovered until the spring of 2010.
“There are cases where people can go through their whole lives and not even know about it,” said O’Dell. “Other people find out at different ages and I happened to find out last year.”
He had just come off a second straight solid season with Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and his first taste of the pros, a three-game stint with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. But he began getting palpitations in his chest and knew something was wrong.
“They were getting worse and I didn’t know what they were and knowing they were on the left side of my chest, I was nervous,” said O’Dell.
“I got even more nervous after seeing doctors (in Ottawa) because they weren’t exactly sure what it was at first. If it had been something else, there was the chance I might not have been playing hockey again.” It turned out O’Dell had been born with a small hole in his heart. In some cases, the heart will repair the defect. In O’Dell’s, the hole grew large, to a diameter somewhere between that of a nickel and a quarter. It was in the heart’s middle chamber and was affecting the flow of blood from one side of the heart to the other.
But surgeons in Ottawa were able to to a repair by inserting a small piece of mesh through an artery in his leg all the way up to his heart, where it was placed over the hole, the idea being that tissue would grow over the mesh and provide a permanent patch,.
The surgery was so successful that O’Dell was permitted to resume normal activities, including running, almost immediately. However, hockey was out ... for a while. Quite a while.
“I couldn’t get hit, because I was on blood thinners for six months,” said O’Dell.
“But I could notice the difference ... the improvement in my health right away. My breathing was a lot better and my conditioning is better.”
O’Dell, who had twice played in OHL all-star games and was a member of Canada’s gold-medal world under-18 team in 2008, returned to the Sudbury lineup in mid-December of 2010. He scored 20 goals and 44 points 39 games, adding seven goals and 12 points in eight playoff games. In all, he had 100 goals and 107 assists in 198 games during his three-plus years in the OHL.
A second-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2008, O’Dell was dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers a year later for Erik Christiansen.
He’s already been to three NHL training camps — with Anaheim, Atlanta and Winnipeg — but it’s taken him a few weeks to get his foot in the door with the IceCaps. He played just one game with St. John’s in October, but has suited up in five straight contests this month, scoring two goals — both game-winners against the Connecticut Whale — and posting a plus-two rating.
And things can only get better, especially for a young man who has been given the equivalent of a turbo boost.
“They say before my surgery, I was operating at only about 80 per cent,” said O’Dell. “Now, I’m at 100 per cent.
“And I feel even better than that.”
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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 19, 2011 14:39:31 GMT -6
Nov. 19
Admirals sail to victory.
On another night, against another team, the St. John's IceCaps might have come away with a point or two.
But not Friday against the Norfolk Admirals.
The Admirals sailed into Mile One Centre and dominated just about every facet of the game as they downed the IceCaps 6-2, handing American Hockey League-leading St. John's its first loss in seven games
This was a case of the Admirals, with what IceCaps' head coach Keith McCambridge called a "dynamic" offence, being very much on their game, and the home side being well off their’s.
Friday's second period, which saw Norfolk score three unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead, can be described as the IceCaps' worst of the season and was the main contributor to St. John's worst contest of the 17 they've played to date. Then again, at 11-3-3, the Caps haven't had many stinkers with which to compare. What's more, they have an immediate opportunity for redemption as they face the Admirals (10-6-1) in a rematch 7:30 p.m. tonight at Mile One.
For Norfolk, first star Tyler Johnson had two goals and an assist, Trevor Smith scored twice and Carter Ashton had a goal and an assist. Ashton's marker was his 12th of the season, giving him the AHL lead in goal-scoring, at least without knowing the results of Friday's late games
Captain Mike Angelidis had the other goal for the visitors, while Norfolk leading scorer Cory Conacher had three assists, giving him 21 points in 17 games
Paul Postma, in his first game after being returned from the parent Winnipeg Jets, got a first-period power-play goal for St. John's, while Carl Klingberg scored shorthanded early in the third. For Klingberg, who also had an assist, it was his team-leading ninth goal of the season
Notes: Eddie Pasquale, who suffered his first loss in seven decisions this season, faced 31 shots in the St. John's goal, while Jaroslav Janus made 26 saves for Norfolk ...Ashton was the game's second star, while Klingberg was the choice as the third star. The IceCaps' hardest-working player was centre Garth Murray, who fought twice, taking on Angelidis in the game's opening minutes and Admiral defenceman Radko Gudas in the second, after the latter had levelled IceCaps' forward Aaron Gagnon with a clean open-ice hit ... The parent Jets have assigned forward Kenndal McArdle to St. John's ... IceCaps' scratches Friday were forwards Kevin Clark and Jason Gregoire, both nursing injuries, and defenceman Jake Marto ...
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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 21, 2011 10:38:09 GMT -6
Nov. 21
IceCaps answer the call against Admirals
St. John's rebounds from worst loss of the season with win over Norfolk in Saturday night rematch
The St. John's IceCaps worked hard Saturday, but more importantly, they worked a lot smarter than they did the night before, as they defeated the Norfolk Admirals 3-1 in American Hockey League action at Mile One Centre.
The result earned the IceCaps (11-3-3) a split of their two-game series with the Admirals, the farm team of the Tampa Lightning. Norfolk won 6-2 Friday.
Friday's game was roundly described as one of the worst - if not the worst - game played by the IceCaps this season. But it was clear St. John's shortcomings in the front-end contest were magnified by the quality of the opposition.
Despite Norfolk's somewhat above average record (10-7-3), St. John's players and coaches were in pretty much universal agreement that the Admirals was the best team they've faced in the last seven weeks.
"Worcester was a real good team that we've seen, but (Norfolk) was up there, if not a step ahead," said St. John's head coach Keith McCambridge. "They've got speed they've got goaltending, they've got defencemen who can move the puck.
"They're a real dynamic team."
And said St. John's centre Marco Rosa, the Admirals didn't lift their foot off the pedal Saturday, never appeared satisfied with just the points they had earned Friday.
"They were ready for both games the same way," said Rosa. "They didn't let up. We were just that much better than we were (Friday) and we had to be.
"They (the Admirals) aren't just throwing the puck anywhere. They look for teammates. They play smart. That means we had to be smarter, too.
"(Friday), when we got in trouble, we tried to flip the switch and work harder and that seemed to work against us.
"We had energy, but we were too frantic. But in between, we looked at some video and the coach had us prepared. I can't explain everything about our effort (Friday) compared to (Saturday), but I do know we were more focused."
Looking smart and staying focused, in particular, on Saturday was St. John's goaltender Peter Mannino, who made 35 saves in a first-star performance. As well, Mannino had to deal with a lot of traffic in his crease as Admirals buzzed around the net or charged in looking for rebounds.
For the most part, the Caps' keeper was unflappable, even after being bowled over on a couple of occasions. That led to the inevitable scrums between pesky Admirals and objecting IceCaps, but Mannino made it a point to stay clear of the brouhaha.
"I just get the puck and get out of there," the netminder said. "I let the miScheif happen, that's not my time and place. Sometimes it is, but not most of the time. I just like to do my job, I don't want to get put out of position.
"The team feeds off that. It's really important (in) the position of a goaltender to kind of look composed the whole time. I try to do that the best I can. I can't always do it for the longest time, but the more you can, I think the better your team feels."
About the only exception came in the third period with a confrontation between Mannino and Norfolk leading point-getter Cory Conacher, who had collided with the IceCaps' netminder after scoring the Admirals' only goal early in the middle frame. That led to coincidental minors.
"We had had some fun together," said Mannino, smiling, with tongue in cheek. "That's part of the game as well. He's a good player. If I can put him in the (penalty) box for a little bit, that's fine with me."
Riley Holzapfel, Spencer Machacek and Garth Murray scored for St. John's Saturday. Murray's goal, which was the only marker in a third period that saw Norfolk outshoot St. John's 18-4, was his first of the season. But while the veteran centre was pleased to put a mark under the 'G' column, he was more satisfied with the work he and linemates John Albert and Kevin Clark did in shutting down the Norfolk line centred by Trevor Smith.
"I think they have the most even-strength goals in the league, so some might say that makes them the best line in the league and we were matched up against them all night and we came out even," said Murray, who also got the better of Smith in the faceoff circle Saturday. "That's what I'm proud about and I know it's the same for Clarky and Albert, too."
Notes: Forward Kenndal McArdle, assigned to the IceCaps by the parent Winnipeg Jets on Friday, only arrived in St. John's in the wee hours of Saturday morning and has yet to participate in a practice with his new team, but suited up Saturday ... Defenceman Paul Postma, also assigned to St. John's by Winnipeg this week, played both games and played a lot. Postma saw over 30 minutes of ice time Saturday ... Forwards Eric O'Dell and Shayne Wiebe and defenceman Ben Chiarot, all rookies, were scratches for St. John's Saturday, replaced by McArdle, Clark (who didn't play Friday because of an injury) and defenceman Jake Marto. Forward Jason Gregoire is still nursing an injury that has sidelined him for two weeks, and didn't play either game... The IceCaps close a six-game homestand with games against the Toronto Marlies Friday and Saturday ...
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Post by NHLWinnipeg on Nov 21, 2011 12:55:41 GMT -6
when posting articles, pls include links....thx!
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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 23, 2011 13:53:20 GMT -6
IceCaps add another college-trained defenceman to roster St. John's also gets Aliu from ECHL's Eagles The St. John’s IceCaps added to their growing stable of U.S. college-produced defencemen Tuesday with the announcement rearguard Mike Montgomery has been signed to a professional tryout contract by the American League team. The 25-year-old Montgomery, who has appeared in 14 games with the ECHL's Ontario (Calif.) Reign this season, spent the previous four seasons playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. The Lino Lake, Minn., native was the Bulldogs' captain in 2010-11 as the team claimed it's first-ever NCAA championship. Montgomery becomes the sixth defenceman on the IceCaps' roster out of the American college ranks, joining Travis Ramsey (Maine), Zach Redmond (Ferris State), Jason DeSantis (Ohio State), Kyle Bushee (Western Michigan, Cansiius College) and Jake Marto (North Dakota). In all, there are a dozen IceCaps who have played in the NCAA, with forwards Marco Rosa (Merrimack), Shawn Weller (Clarkson), Kevin Clark (Alaska-Anchorage), John Albert (Ohio State) and Jason Gregoire (North Dakota), along with goalie Peter Mannino (Denver), completing the group. Mannino, like Montgomery, is an NCAA men's hockey Frozen Four champion, having backstopped the University of Denver Pioneers to a national title in 2005. In his four seasons with Minnesota-Duluth, the right-handed shooting Montgomery played in 132 games, registering 38 points (four goals, 34assists) and 42 penalty minutes. The six-foot-three, 210-pounder has no points for the Reign, who play out of California's San Bernadino Country, about 60 kilometers east of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, St. John's has also recalled forward Akim Aliu from the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL. The 22 year-old Aliu, who was assigned to the Eagles out of the IceCaps' training camp in early October, has two goals, four assists and 28 points in 10 games for Colorado. Originally a second-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007, Aliu played with three different teams last season, the Chicago Wolves and Peoria Rivermen of the AHL, and Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL. He had nine goals and nine assists, plus 73 PIMs, in 59 AHL games, while registering 20 points (12 goals, eight assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 16 games with the Gladiators. The six-foot-three, 220-pound Aliu was born in Nigeria, but he and his family moved to the Ukraine when he was an infant and then to Canada when he was 12. The AHL-leading IceCaps (12-3-3) finish off a six-game homestand when they host the Toronto Marlies Friday and Saturday at Mile One Centre. www.thetelegram.com/Sports/Hockey/2011-11-23/article-2812489/IceCaps-add-another-collegetrained-defenceman-to-roster/1 |
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Post by Dcmac on Nov 24, 2011 17:15:29 GMT -6
The 22 year-old Aliu, who was assigned to the Eagles out of the IceCaps' training camp in early October, has two goals, four assists and 28 points in 10 games for Colorado Dang!  |
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Post by Guardian on Nov 24, 2011 19:17:05 GMT -6
Has there been much hype for the Marlies return to St. John's on friday?
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Post by TheDeuce on Nov 25, 2011 0:21:03 GMT -6
The 22 year-old Aliu, who was assigned to the Eagles out of the IceCaps' training camp in early October, has two goals, four assists and 28 points in 10 games for Colorado Dang! Two goals, four assists, 28 points. Fancy math there! m. |
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Post by maniaaron on Nov 25, 2011 0:39:07 GMT -6
so 2 plus 2 = 28 ?
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Post by TheDeuce on Nov 25, 2011 1:02:39 GMT -6
Nope. Nor does 2+4=28  m. |
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Post by Caps-Connection on Nov 25, 2011 7:03:14 GMT -6
Has there been much hype for the Marlies return to St. John's on friday? It's been out of this world. Tickets are online going for over double the price. I have personally been hounded by people asking me to sell them my season tickets for one game. However I have no interest to sell. St. John's breaks down as such: 65% Leaf fans 25% Montreal fans 5% Boston fans 4% Detroit fans 1% Calgary fans (Myself) Tonight (friday) and Saturday night vs the Marlies are undoubtably going to be road games for the home team IceCaps. Every 2nd person tonight will be wearing Leaf merchandise. You'd swear you were in Toronto here. They're like rats, they're everywhere in the world and in Colonies. We set the record a few weeks back for most people ever at Mile One for a hockey game with 6500+. It only sits 6247, but with standing room/suits/restaurant/bar. Tonight I'm expecting it to surpass that 6500+ mark tonight. |
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Post by Guardian on Nov 25, 2011 13:48:25 GMT -6
Has there been much hype for the Marlies return to St. John's on friday? It's been out of this world. Tickets are online going for over double the price. I have personally been hounded by people asking me to sell them my season tickets for one game. However I have no interest to sell. St. John's breaks down as such: 65% Leaf fans 25% Montreal fans 5% Boston fans 4% Detroit fans 1% Calgary fans (Myself) Tonight (friday) and Saturday night vs the Marlies are undoubtably going to be road games for the home team IceCaps. Every 2nd person tonight will be wearing Leaf merchandise. You'd swear you were in Toronto here. They're like rats, they're everywhere in the world and in Colonies. We set the record a few weeks back for most people ever at Mile One for a hockey game with 6500+. It only sits 6247, but with standing room/suits/restaurant/bar. Tonight I'm expecting it to surpass that 6500+ mark tonight. Wow! Have fun at the game! |
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