THE RIG 28 week ending January 15th
Flames Honour Jokinen for Playing 1,000 Games
Al Charest/QMI Agency
Sergeev’s Silver (Larionov)
Artem Sergeev was honoured by the Foreurs prior to a game against the Quebec Remparts after returning from the World Juniors in Alberta.
Jan 9
JOG line still hot
John Down
Calgary Herald
The line of Iginla, Olli Jokinen and Curtis Glencross remains red-hot for the Flames.
Glencross scored his club-leading 17th goal and added an assist Saturday to boost his recent take to 14 points (nine goals) in the last 15 games. Iginla, with that 500th goal, now has nine goals among 21 points in the last 19 games, while Jokinen, with an assist, can point to 19 points (12 assists) in the last 19 games.
Top prospect Yakupov won’t require surgery (Larionov)
Mike G. Morreale
NHL.com
Nail Yakupov, considered by many to the be the top player available in the 2012 NHL Draft, will not require surgery after suffering a knee injury playing for the Russian National Junior Team in the gold-medal game of the 2012 World Junior Championship last week.
Yakupov underwent an MRI on Sunday to determine the extent of his injury. According to Mark Glavin, assistant general manager of the Sarnia Sting, surgery is not required.
“The MRI indicated no significant damage,” Glavin told NHL.com via email. “He will continue therapy both with Dr. John Vargo here in Sarnia and at the Fowler Clinic in London. His return is expected in three-to-four weeks.”
Yakupov, who won a silver medal for Russia at the WJC after producing 9 assists and a plus-4 rating in seven games, has 21 goals and 53 points in 26 games this season for the Sting of the Ontario Hockey League. His teammate in Sarnia, fellow Russian Alex Galchenyuk, is out for the season after undergoing ACL surgery. Galchenyuk is also considered to be a high first-round draft pick in June.
Yakupov is currently in his second OHL season. In 2010-11, the 5-foot-10 1/2, 189-pound right wing broke Steven Stamkos’ Sarnia records for a first-year player with 49 goals and 101 points.
Jan 10
Trio Grande! Flames have a top line
Randy Sportak
QMI Agency
Despite all the lack of success over the past few seasons when Iginla and Jokinen have been together, he decided to give it another shot.
The reasoning was to try kicking Iginla’s game into motion, alongside Jokinen and Glencross, who have been a strong duo since midway through last season.
The results have been what the Flames needed.
Over the past 22 games, Iginla has collected 10 goals and 23 points, while Jokinen has totalled seven goals and 20 points and Glencross has netted 10 goals and 17 points.
Could it be Iginla and Jokinen have finally become the combination the club expected when that big trade-deadline swap was made in the 2008-09 NHL season?
“I play different hockey than I played before — more selfless,” Jokinen said. “I have really good chemistry with Glennie — we’ve played over a year on the same line. With Iggy, he fits in.
“I don’t think this was the plan going into the season — that me, Glennie and Iggy would be a line — but it’s been good.”
Jokinen figures the fact he and his linemates have committed better defence is the difference.
“If you want to be a high-scoring line in this league, you’ve got to be a really good defensive line. The less time you spend in your end, the better chances you’ll have offensively,” Jokinen said. “I think Iggy’s changed his game, too. If you see the way he backchecks now — the little things — he plays a really good team game and has been effective.”
Varone with 5 goals, 11 points in last 10 games
Roy: Goalie of the Week, Again
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced in conjunction with the ECHL that goaltender Olivier Roy has been named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Jan. 2-8.
Roy, 20, earns his second award of the season and also received the weekly honor on Nov. 22. He was 2-0-0 with a shutout, a goals against average of 0.96 and a save percentage of .970 in two victories at Pacific Division rival Bakersfield last week.
Roy turned aside all 29 shots he faced in a 1-0 win at Bakersfield on Friday, tying the Thunder single-season record with his third shutout of the season. He followed up with a 35 save performance in regulation and overtime, and a 4-for-4 effort in the shootout, in a 3-2 win against the Condors on?Saturday.
Roy Reacts to Award
Greyhounds Pick Up Some Wolves
Gerry Liscumb Jr
local2 sault ste. marie
Soo Greyhounds GM Kyle Dubas announced a deal on Tuesday morning involving three players and pair of picks with the Sudbury Wolves.
In the deal the Hounds acquire 17-year old defenseman CODY MINTZ, 18-year old forward GREG JAMBROSICH and Sudbury’s 4th Round pick in 2014 in exchange for MICHAEL KANTOR and a conditional 15th Round pick in 2013.
…
“In the trade we got younger and added two players that we believe will be solid performers for our club now and moving forward.”
MINTZ, who was originally selected in the 4th Round of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection and has played in 26 games this year for Sudbury. The Bowmanville, ON product stands 5’9” while weighing 174 lbs.
One year ago Cody lead all 16 year old defensemen in scoring at the Ontario Jr. A level playing for the Cobourg Cougars. In 40 games he had 8 goals 19 assists (27 points) and 47 PIM’s.
“Cody is in his first full OHL season. He plays the game very hard and has great competitiveness. He adds to our compliment of young defenceman and we look forward to seeing Cody in a Soo Greyhounds uniform.”
Meanwhile JAMBROSICH is in his 3rd season in the OHL. The Stoney Creek, ON product has 2 goals and 5 assists in 33 games played this year. A former 6th Round pick of the Wolves, Jambrosich stands 6’1” while weighing 182 lbs.
“Greg plays the game with very good speed and adds depth at centre for us. Greg had 10 goals as a 17 year old in Sudbury and we see him as a solid penalty killer for our team. He will bring energy to our forward group.”
Jan 11
Tyler Seguin Shows Incredible Finishing Touch to Give Bruins Late Lead
NESN.com
Jokinen with two assists in Flames win
Injured Galchenyuk still considered top talent (Larionov)
Mike G. Morreale
NHL.com
Just because Sarnia Sting center Alexander Galchenyuk doesn’t have a number beside his name on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for North American skaters, it doesn’t mean he won’t be a top-five selection at the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh on June 22.
Galchenyuk had season-ending surgery Oct. 27 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and hasn’t played a single minute all season in the Ontario Hockey League. He suffered the injury in a preseason game against the Windsor Spitfires on Sept. 16.
“I’m just trying to support our guys from the sidelines, although I can’t describe how hard it is to watch,” Galchenyuk wrote in a recent blog for NHL.com. “I would much rather be out there with them, but at least I get to spend more time at the rink now. I guess sometimes life throws out these challenges for you and you start appreciating things a lot more after you don’t have them for a while. Right now I’m making the most of my situation and I’m hungrier than ever to get back out on the ice. I know that when I do go back that I will appreciate my time on the ice and being with my teammates even more.”
Playing alongside Nail Yakupov in Sarnia last season, Galchenyuk had 31 goals and 83 points in 68 games. It was enough to make believers out of any scout who had the opportunity to watch him.
“One element for Galchenyuk is the fact he played last year, and going into this season he was already recognized as one of the top prospects,” Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr, told NHL.com. “I think most of the teams are pretty comfortable in knowing the type of player they’ll be getting. Obviously you’d like to see him play during his draft year, but the scouts and general managers are going to be more concerned with how the surgery went, what type of surgery it was and how the recovery process is going along.”
There’s little doubt Galchenyuk will be in high demand at the NHL Scouting Combine in May.
Ouellet with 6 goals, 6 assists in last 6 games
Iafrate, Kontos ranked in Top 100 on CSS mid-term North American list
Windsor’s Devlin ranked on CSS mid-term North American list
Jan 12
Seguin named to All-Star Team
Douglas Flynn
NESN.com
Seguin makes his first All-Star appearance after participating last year as one of the rookie selections. He leads Boston with 17-21-38 totals and is a plus-33 in 38 games.
Russia’s Nail Yakupov named No. 1 prospect in midseason 2012 NHL draft rankings
Postmedia News
Heading the North American top 10 are a pair of Russian forwards who play in the Canadian Hockey League. Nail Yakupov of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting is rated to go first in the draft, while Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Quebec Remparts sits second.
Yakupov is currently on the shelf with a knee injury suffered at the world junior tournament — he’ll be on the sidelines for another month.
“He’s a dynamic player who plays with offensive energy . . . he wants the puck and he loves to score,” NHL director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. “But what he’s learning now is how to play the game without the puck; he’s not an individual player and he has a pretty good sense of responsibility.”
After earning the CHL rookie of the year award in 2010-11, Yakupov has collected 21 goals and 53 points in 26 games for the Sting this year.
Gomez is Back
MacDermid to finish season with Attack
Jason Pirie
yourgbsports.com
The Owen Sound Greys have released defenceman Kurtis MacDermid to the Owen Sound Attack, enabling him to join the Ontario Hockey League club on a full-time basis.
A Sauble Beach, Ont. native, MacDermid, 17, had collected nine points (three goals, six assists) and 80 penalty minutes in 20 games as co-captain of the Greys this season.
The 6-3, 186-pound rearguard was originally drafted by the Attack in the seventh-round (139th overall) of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. He has two assists and seven penalty minutes in nine games with the Attack this season.
“It was our goal at the beginning of the season to assist with his development and we are excited to see him earn a full-time opportunity with the Attack,” said Greys assistant GM Steve McIver. “We would like to thank Kurtis for his leadership and commitment to our organization over the past two seasons and wish him the best of luck and continued success.”
Greyhounds newcomers ready to go
Peter Ruicci
The Sault Star
When he donned the Soo Greyhounds red and white jersey Wednesday, in order to have his official team picture taken, Greg Jambrosich saw it as an omen of sorts.
The 18-year-old native of Stoney Creek, Ont., one of two players who joined the Hounds in a Tuesday trade with the Sudbury Wolves, had worn those colours previously.
During his days in minor hockey, the St. Catharines Falcons also wore red and white.
“That brought back good memories,” said Jambrosich, part of a deal that sent veteran Hounds winger Michael Kantor to the Wolves.
Jambrosich, a centre, 17-year-old defenceman Cody Mintz and a fourth-round draft choice in 2014 were acquired for the 19-year-old Kantor and a conditional 15th-round selection in 2013.
The deal was completed just prior to Tuesday’s 12 noon Ontario Hockey League trade deadline.
“It was a little bit of a surprise,” Jambrosich said of the transaction. “They (the Wolves) didn’t call me until 12:05 to tell me I’d been traded. When the deadline passed, I thought I’d be staying.”
Instead, Jambrosich joins a Greyhounds team that was looking to add more youth to a lineup heavy with veterans.
“I’m excited. The Wolves and the Hounds both told me this would be a great opportunity for me,” said Jambrosich, a third-year player taken by the Wolves in the sixth round of the 2009 OHL draft.
After scoring 10 goals and assisting on seven others during the 2010-2011 campaign, Jambrosich, known as an excellent skater, had managed just two goals and five assists in 33 games this season.
Part of the problem, said the six-foot-one, 182-pounder, is he hasn’t been shooting enough.
And while confidence in his ability to contribute some goals has never been a problem, Jambrosich, who’s been known more as a defensive specialist, believes he’ll be even more confident playing for the Greyhounds.
“The coach (Mike Stapleton) and GM (Kyle Dubas) have told me they have plans for me and that’s boosted my confidence,” he said. “I’d like to show more offensively. Penalty-killing is a big part of my game and I hope to give the team more depth at centre.”
Galchenyuk hits major milestone in recovery
Alex Galchenyuk
NHL.com
Hey everybody. Hope all of you had a good time over the holidays.
I have some exciting news this month — I went out on the ice! It was Dec. 19th, and it only was for about 10 minutes, but it still felt great. It made me feel like I am getting closer and closer to recovery.
The second time was Dec. 31, and of course the second time around I felt more comfortable on the ice. I was still taking it very easy, but I went out there and took a few good shots. I guess all my upper-body workouts are paying off. So that was a very exciting way for me to start the New Year.
Therapy in London is going well. I can do mostly everything now, and we decided to reduce it to two times a week. I’m visiting Dr. Vargo’s office daily for additional physiotherapy and massages. I’ve started swimming and I’m doing squats and lunges. My legs are getting bigger and stronger and I still focus on my upper body and core, too. Also, daily cardio is in my routine now, so I can get in shape faster. If in the beginning it was mostly therapy and a little workout, now I’ve started working out almost at full strength. My doctor says that hopefully closer to the end of this month I will officially be allowed to skate. I’m pretty pumped about that.
Christmas and New Year’s was fun with my family, but I didn’t really take any time off during the holidays this year. I don’t want to lose any time. Our family also celebrated Russian Christmas which is Jan. 6-7.
I watched most of the World Junior Championship. It was a very intense competition and a lot of exciting games. Although I enjoyed watching, I admit I wasn’t that crazy over it because it’s hard to just watch and not be able to participate. I’m very happy for my buddies from Team Russia, “Jambo” (Nail Yakupov) and “Dino” (Artem Sergeev) for winning the silver medal. Also for Filip Forsberg and Sebastian Collberg from Team Sweden. I had a chance to play with both of them on one line when we played for Europe Selects and both are great players. I’m especially happy for Ludvig Rensfeldt, my teammate from Sarnia, for winning the gold. It was a great level of hockey.
Jan 13
Cammalleri bubbling with excitement
Eric Francis
Calgary Sun
CALGARY – It wasn’t all that long ago that the Calgary Flames were faced with having to decide whether to keep Mike Cammalleri or Olli Jokinen.
Now, they have both.
Question is, who gets to wear the No. 13 Jokinen grabbed upon his own shocking return?
“I’ve got to talk to him (Friday),” laughed Cammalleri, his voice bubbling with excitement from the Boston hotel where he was cabbed to after being pulled from last night’s Habs game and told he’d been traded.
“I don’t know if he’ll give me 13. He’s playing great hockey. I’ve really never worn anything else. Man, I’m not worried about it. I’m just so excited … I can’t wait to get there.”
The numbers game is also what prompted a move as the Canadiens cleared cap space by moving Cammalleri’s US$6-million hit for the next two years for Rene Bourque ($3.33 million for four more years) as part of the shocking swap that also included non-NHL players and picks.
Jay Feaster’s announcement was played lived on the Jumbotron during the first intermission, prompting a loud cheer from fans who adored the pint-sized sniper when he was here in 2008-09.
Both clubs move players in need of a change of scenery and a key part of the deal is the fact Cammalleri never hid the fact he never wanted to leave here in the first place.
“I would have loved to stay if it had worked out that way,” said Cammalleri, whose 39-goal season in Calgary priced him out of a team that already had cap issues.
“The writing was on the wall in terms of having to move. It was a decision they made at the time. It was amicable. We kept in touch. Darryl said what he had with cap room but said that was all he could do. There wasn’t even much of a discussion.”
There’s been plenty of talk since as the chatty Cammalleri has endless connections with many current Flames.
“I spend summers with (Mark) Giordano, (Tom) Kostopoulos and I have been friends for 10 years, (Brendan) Morrison and I got to alumni weekend in Michigan, Jarome (Iginla) and I keep in touch all the time, (Jay) Bouwmeester and I roomed together at the world juniors,” rambled the media darling.
“Getting traded is always weird because there’s emotions involved. When I found out I was traded, they didn’t tell me where, but I was really excited to find out it was Calgary. I have such fond memories of my time there.”
Cammalleri will have little time to adjust before being thrown into Flames’ fire
Darren Haynes
The Canadian Press
“I had such a great experience here my last time here. There’s so many familiar people for me in this locker-room,” he said. “I know where the team stands right now. It’s an exciting thing to be a part of to be three points out of a playoff spot right here and coming in for a big push here on this end of the season. It’s exciting for me, so it means a lot to be back.
“I would have liked to stay the first time around. The experience was great and I thought we had a pretty good team at the time. It was exciting then too.”
Cammalleri will be looked upon to inject some scoring into an offince that ranks in the bottom third in the league.
“One of the main reasons I was brought here is to produce offensively,” he said. “That’s something I’ll look to provide for sure.
“I would imagine I’ll be pretty excited. It’ll be fun for me to get out there. I’ll probably go out there really anxious and excited and be exhausted after 10 seconds and make it a quick short one.”
Cammalleri’s presence will give the Flames an emotional boost against the Kings, and it comes after they got some good news Thursday with the return of steady defenceman Mark Giordano, who had missed 21 games with a hamstring injury.
“I know Cammy personally. I played with him before and know him from back home. The guy works exceptionally hard off ice and on ice and we all know what kind of damage he can do around the net with the puck,” Giordano said. “Any time you see guys like that who take a lot of pride in off-ice stuff and commitment in the gym and carry it over onto the ice.
“Cammy, he’s a very confident player and that rubs off on guys.”
Cammalleri will be wearing jersey No. 93, a departure from his No. 13, currently worn by Jokinen. With Jokinen wearing No. 21, the two were teammates for the latter part of the 2009 season after Jokinen was acquired in a trade with Phoenix.
“I didn’t have a lot of options. There’s a lot of numbers taken,” said the native of Richmond Hill, Ont. “Pretty simply put, I thought of Dougie Gilmour. He played here. I know he was wearing No. 39. I grew up in Toronto as a kid watching him play for the Leafs with 93. That was one of the kind of five numbers that was sent in a text message to me with kind of some options. I said sure.”
All-Star nod a sign of Tyler Seguin’s improvement
Lenny Neslin
Boston Globe
Before the Bruins edged the Canadiens at TD Garden last night, Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin joined Tim Thomas and the Bruins coaching staff as selections for the All-Star Game at the end of the month.
Chara and coach Claude Julien were happy with Seguin’s improvement and selection.
“It’s an honor for him and anybody who is selected,” Chara said. “There’s a lot of top players from different teams in the league all get together and hopefully he’ll learn from them and carry it with him. He’s come a long way from last year.”
Seguin already has nearly doubled last season’s point output in about half the games, as he had 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) last year while this season he has 38 points (17, 21). Seguin, 19, participated in the skills contest last year but did not make the team.
“It’s a great experience for him,” Julien said. “Last year was even more so because he wasn’t in the lineup every night. This year he goes back again with a bit more confidence because he’s accomplishing more.”
Game Day: David Savard
Leivo still clicking with linemates
Ben Leeson
The Sudbury Star
There was nary a beaker or a test tube to be found.
But there was no shortage of chemistry at Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday, when Josh Leivo reunited with Michael Sgarbossa and Andrey Kuchin on the Sudbury Wolves’ top line.
The trio, which had run rampant in last year’s playoffs, combined for nine points — a goal and two assists each — in a 7-2 win over the Windsor Spitfires.
It was Leivo’s second night on the big line, after the rightwinger spent much of the first half of the season skating alongside captain Michael MacDonald and Kristoff Kontos. But after Kontos was traded to the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors last week, newcomer Derek Schoenmakers took the second-line spot and Leivo was reunited with Sgarbossa and Kuchin.
“To be honest, I didn’t know if it was still there, after the first game against London, because we had some big chances and we couldn’t bury it,” said Leivo, an 18year-old native of Innisfil, Ont. “But against Windsor, we showed what we could do and we were able to provide some offence for the team.”
Leivo’s goal Sunday was his sixth in six games, giving the second-year OHLer career highs of 17 goals and 17 assists in 35 starts.
Last year, he scored 13 goals and assisted on 17 others in 64 games, helping convince the Toronto Maple Leafs to make him their third-round selection, 86th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
“Josh Leivo always seems to have one, two or three qualities chances every night,” Wolves head coach Trent Cull said. “And with Derek coming in, we toyed with the lineup a bit. That’s not to say that Brody Silk wasn’t doing a good job with Kuch and Sgarby. He was doing a great job. But with Derek coming in, we thought we’d try something different and put Josh back with those guys. And it worked out pretty well against Windsor.
“Josh definitely has the skill to match those guys. But, of course, we always want to make sure the work is still there, because when Josh is working, he’s pretty effective.”
Agozzino scores team leading 22nd goal
Jan 14
GTHL Top Prospect Ho-Sang Still Turning Heads
jrhockeyrecruit.com
Allstate All-Canadians — The Experience from NHLPA on Vimeo.
It’s no secret that Thornhill, Ontario’s Josh Ho-Sang plans to play in the OHL next season and he will undoubtably be drafted in the first round of the OHL Entry Draft.
He was one of the strongest personality (check out his goal at the 7:23 mark above) in the short film produced by the NHLPA this past summer for the Allstate All-Canadians Camp in Toronto, a mentoring event that included forty-two 15-year-old hockey players from across the country.
Ho-Sang is now one of the most sought after young hockey players in the country. While he’s currently playing for the Marlies in the GTHL, some OHL scouts claim he should have been granted exceptional player status and suited up to play as a 15-year-old in the OHL. Aside from 15-year-old Aaron Ekblad, the 6’3 200 lbs. defenceman who joined the OHL earlier this season, the last player to be granted exceptional player status was John Tavares in 2005. That is, exceptional player status isn’t handed out very often by the 7 member panel of Hockey Canada.
This week, Ho-Sang took a break from his regular play with the Marlies and joined Wendel Clark’s team in the Scotiabank Top-Prospects (click for photos). The game was broadcast on Rogers TV and will air again on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 8:00 pm.
Kudos for Oilers Gagner
Derek Van Diest
Edmonton Oilers
EDMONTON – Sam Gagner was the only member of the Edmonton Oilers to put up a fight Friday night and he had the wounds to prove it.
Unfortunately for the Oilers forward, the beating he took from Anaheim Ducks defenceman Francois Beauchemin did little to inspire his team in a lackluster 5-0 loss.
Gagner challenged Beauchemin to a fight after he had taken a run at Oilers winger Taylor Hall in the second period.
“It happens a lot with Hallsy, guys take some liberties,” said Gagner. “It was just kind of a situation where I was there and I hit him. There was nothing going on in the play and I felt like the opportunity was there. But he throws lefts and it’s not something I was aware of, yet I don’t think that would have made me change what I did.”
Gagner paid a price in the fight, although it appeared Beauchemin let up after landing a number of lefts to his opponent’s face, opening up a small cut on the bridge of his nose.
“I’m not really a guy who studies fights or anything,” Gagner said. “I don’t know which way guys throw or how tough they are. That’s just way it goes sometimes, but I’m no worse for wear, so it’s no big deal.”
To his credit, Gagner hung in with Beauchemin, who is as tough as they come, and did not go down.
Apparently, the Ducks six-foot, 207-pound blue-liner, knowing it was a mismatch, gave the Oilers centre a chance to opt out of the confrontation prior to the fight, which was declined.
“That just shows the character that he has,” said Oilers winger Ryan Jones. “If somebody is going to take a run at Hallsy, that’s big on Gags for stepping up and throwing some punches.”
Gomez speak to media after practice
Andreoff Scores OT Winner for Oshawa
Goodrow scores third period tying goal
D’Agostini stops 27 shots in win
Clendening goal sparks BU Rally
Jambrosich, Mintz post points in first game as Greyhounds
Nazarian gets two assists in win
Jan 15