February 27, 2010
Zahn Raubenheimer was presented the Ernie Love Trophy as the 2009-2010 League Scoring Champion prior to Friday night’s playoff game in Grande Prairie. Left to right: Mark Ung (Game Sponsor), Craig Cripps (AJHL President), Zahn Raubenheimer, Ray Mildenberger (Storm Governor) and Darrell Radbourne (Storm Vice-Chair).
Zahn Raubenheimer and Bryce Williamson of the St. Albert Steel are the co-recipients of the Ernie Love Trophy with 107 points, an average of 1.8 points per game.
Zahn Raubenheimer (Smoky Lake, AB) scored 47 goals and 60 assists, including 14 powerplay goals and 7 game winning goals. Raubenheimer recorded three hat tricks and 31 multi-point games in the 2009-2010 regular season. He has set a new franchise record for Most Points in a Single Season, surpassing the record of 104 set by Dustin Sather in 2006-2007. Sather also captured the Ernie Love Trophy in 2006-2007. Raubenheimer has tied the franchise record for Most Goals in a Single Season with 47 (Ryan Carter 1997-1998).
Zahn Raubenheimer was a unanimous selection to the 2010 North Division AJHL All-Star Team. In his second consecutive AJHL All-Star Game, he tallied two points in a 14-9 victory over the 2010 South Division All-Stars. Zahn received the Player of the Game Award 11 times in the regular season. Raubenheimer received the honour of Source for Sports AJHL Player of the Week twice (November 2009 and January 2010).
Raubenheimer is in his fifth and final AJHL season with the Storm, during which time he has amassed 241 points in 251 regular season games. He is committed to the University of Nebraska for the 2010-2011 season.
February 26, 2010
AJHL President Craig T. Cripps (left) presented the 2009-2010 Most Valuable Player
Award to Cody Kunyk of the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Thursday night prior
to the opening playoff game between the Crusaders and Bonnyville Pontiacs.
Kunyk (Sherwood Park, AB) led the Crusaders in regular season scoring with
87 points and completes the season 5th overall in the AJHL Scoring Race.
Kunyk scored a league leading 5 shorthanded goals. Kunyk recorded three or
more points in 14 games during the 2009-2010 season and was selected as the
Player of the Game nine times. Cody Kunyk also received the honour of
Source for Sports AJHL Player of the Week twice (September 2009 and November
2009).
Cody Kunyk was a member of Team Canada West at the 2009 World Junior A
Challenge (WJAC) in November. Kunyk and Team Canada West captured the
silver medal and Kunyk was named to the 2009 WJAC Tournament All-Star Team.
Kunyk was a unanimous selection to the 2010 North Division AJHL All-Star
Team in January 2010.
Kunyk has recorded 169 points in his three year career with the Crusaders
and is committed to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for the 2010-2011
season.
Kunyk becomes just the third player in franchise history to receive the
League MVP Award, most recently awarded to Crusader Mike Palichuk in 1989.
Coaching Staffs Appointed for 2010 World Junior A Challenge
February 26th, 2010 - The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) in partnership with Hockey Canada announced today the Coaching Staffs for Team Canada East and Team Canada West at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge.
Larry Wintoneak (Kindersley Klippers, SJHL) will return as Head Coach of Team Canada West after serving as an Assistant Coach in 2009. The assistant coaches for the West squad include Jomar Cruz (OCN Blizzard, MJHL), Andrew Milne (Canmore Eagles, AJHL) and Kevin Hasselberg (Olds Grizzlies, AJHL).
Jomar Cruz held the position of Video Coach at the 2009 World Junior A Challenge. Andrew Milne and Kevin Hasselberg were both members of the Coaching Staff for Team Pacific at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Rylan Ferster of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) was recently selected as Team West General Manager. Rylan Ferster represented Team Canada West as an Assistant Coach in 2008 and Head Coach in 2009. Former General Manager Leonard Strandberg has been appointed as Head Scout.
Head Coach Todd Gill of the Brockville Braves (CJHL) will lead Team East alongside General Manager Troy Ryan (Halifax Lions, MJAHL). Gill returns for his second season as Head Coach while Troy Ryan has served as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada East since the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in 2006.
For a third consecutive year, Patrice Bosch (Inouk de Granby, LHJAAAQ) has been selected as Assistant Coach. Curtis Hodgins (Bowmanville Eagles, CCHL) will also join Team East as an Assistant Coach.
The Head Coaches of Team Canada East and West are both relying on experience to better their respective teams at the 2010 tournament. “Last year I enjoyed the experience and learned a lot, but did not achieve the goal we set out for our team,” said Head Coach Todd Gill. “The experience I earned through competing at such a high level of international competition, and the knowledge I gained of the selection process and team building was invaluable.”
“This is a great opportunity to enhance my coaching career and to represent my country. I look forward to having a second shot,” stated Gill.
“It was a tremendous opportunity to be involved in the World Junior A Challenge and work with Hockey Canada last year,” said Head Coach Larry Wintoneak. “Experience is everything and it will benefit me as a Head Coach and our entire staff in the preparation for this year’s tournament. The expectation to win remains the same.”
“It’s all about privilege and responsibility,” said Wintoneak. “It is a great privilege to be involved, and with that you have a responsibility to your country as a Coach and a player.”
The international tournament will feature the best 19 and under Junior A aged players from six competing countries. The World Junior A Challenge tournament will be held in November 2010, the respective dates and location will be announced shortly.
Created to showcase the talent in Canada’s 11 Junior A leagues, the World Junior A Challenge debuted in 2006. Canada West has appeared in all four gold medal games, winning twice, while Canada East is a two-time silver medallist.
For more information on the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wjac or www.cjhlhockey.com.
February 25, 2010
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — In the gold medal game on Thursday, the Canadian and American women’s hockey teams finally found worthy opponents: each other. But in the end, one woman made the biggest difference.
Canada’s coach, Melody Davidson (Calgary Canucks, AJHL), had to choose between the young phenom Shannon Szabados and the veteran Olympian Kim St. Pierre as the starting goalie. She went with youth, and it turned out she made the right choice.
AJHL Alumnus Shannon Szabados was brilliant, stopping all 28 American shots and enabling Marie-Philip Poulin’s two first-period goals to stand up and make Canada the Olympic champion.
The 2-0 victory gave Canada its third straight Olympic gold medal. It also came after two consecutive losses to the Americans in major tournament finals, at the world championships in 2008 and 2009.
“At this level you see how deep the goaltending talent is,” United States defender Kerry Weiland said. “You get a hot goaltender and it’s hard to put it away.”
Canada and the United States are so experienced and so skilled that they are, in the words of Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, on a “different planet” compared with other women’s teams.
Both teams cruised through their preliminary games, racking up shutouts and double-digit victories. The teams’ shooters got plenty of practice, but the goalies sometimes stood around for minutes on end, waiting for someone just to fire a puck at them. Even Sweden, which stunned the United States with a semi-final upset at the 2006 Turin Games, did not put up much of a fight here, losing by 9-1 in the semi-finals to the Americans.
But the final was a display of top-notch women’s hockey, played before a loud sell out crowd at Canada Hockey Place that included Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The American goalie, Jessie Vetter, contributed some fine play of her own, denying Cherie Piper as she cut across the slot in the second period and stopping Haley Irwin on a third-period breakaway. She kept the United States in the game, finishing with 26 saves.
But the Americans had trouble generating an attack against the Canadian checking. Bigger and stronger, the Canadian women kept riding them off the puck, and when they did get through, Szabados was there, time and again.
She did a split while stopping a shot by Monique Lamoureux with a glove save. Later she gloved a shot with Jenny Potter standing right in front, pushing back when Potter fell on top of her. Twice in the third period she denied Lamoureux again, once with a glove save and again by closing her pads on a sharp deflection from 4 feet away.
Poulin gave Canada a 1-0 lead at 13 minutes 55 seconds of the opening period when she one-timed a pass from Jennifer Botterill over Vetter’s glove.
A few minutes later, the teams were playing four skaters a side when the puck came loose off a draw to the left of Vetter, and Poulin was there again. Her quick wrist shot made the score 2-0 at 16:50.
The Americans failed to take advantage of two two-player advantages, one in the first, the other in the second. In the third, they began pressing and pinching but still failed to generate much of an attack and kept getting caught with only one defender back. They were not able to pull Vetter with enough time to make any difference.
“We kept shooting the puck to the glove side,” the American defender Angela Ruggiero said. “We should have thrown it low and hoped for rebounds.”
Fighting back tears, she added: “What hurts the most is how close this team is. It’s such a unique team to play on. I felt that this was our year. We had such equal heart, passion and love of the game. We never lost that — we just couldn’t put the puck in the net.”
During the medal ceremony, players from Finland, which won the bronze with a 3-2 overtime victory over Sweden earlier Thursday, smiled and blew kisses as they accepted their medals.
The Americans fought back tears as they received their silver medals. The predominantly Canadian crowd joined the American fans in chanting “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” and the players waved back warmly at the salute.
The Canadian players beamed happily as they got their gold medals. Poulin, whose goals provided the margin of victory, winked at the camera. “O Canada” was played as the flags were raised. The Canadian women linked arms and sang along. To their right, the Americans also linked arms, in a show of respect.
“This rivalry will never end,” Szabados said. “It will just keep going on and on.”
VANHEREWEGHE EXTENDS COMMITMENT TO COACH
Okotoks, Alberta, February 25, 2010. The Okotoks Oilers are pleased to announce that GM/Coach Garry VanHereweghe has agreed to a two-year contract extension to remain in his present capacity as the Oilers GM/Coach through the 2011-12 season.
Garry, returned to the Oilers in early October taking over as GM/Coach with the team 10 games into the regular season. He subsequently guided the team from a record of 3 wins, 7 losses, and last place in the South Division, to complete the season with 38 wins, 18 losses, 1 tie, and 3 overtime losses and 1st place in the South Division.
Okotoks Oilers President Wayne Lauinger stated, “The Oilers organization is very pleased and proud of Garry’s work with the team this season, and now with the contract extension in place we move forward with continuity. We look to the future with enthusiasm knowing our program will continue to grow, and develop players for the next level in the mould of education and hockey excellence.”
For further information please contact the undersigned at 403-969-5209.
Wayne Lauinger
President
Okotoks Oilers Hockey Club
The Camrose Kodiaks’ fund-raising effort for Haiti at their February 19 game was a huge success. Over 3,000 fans at the game helped the team raise between $100,000 for charity.
In the words of our President Barry Fossen “ I am speechless, WOW , thank you to everyone who came out and supported this event that the players wanted to do. We had corporate businesses who came aboard when they heard what we were doing and it just got bigger and bigger. Thank you, thank you , thank you!”
Saints’ Rolheiser Commits to York University
The Spruce Grove Saints are pleased to announce that Travis Rolheiser has committed to attend York University to play for the Lions, beginning next season. The York University Lions play in the Ontario University division of the CIS, the governing body for all Canadian Intercollegiate Sports.
Rolheiser, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, was recently named Top Goaltender in the AJHL on the heels of a recording breaking regular season. Rolheiser set new marks in both save percentage (0.934%) and Goals Against Average (1.58). Rolheiser also shared the Top Team Goaltenders Award with Vince Marozzi, as the duo combined to lead the Saints to a 52-4-1-3 regular season mark. The 20-year old has spent the past two seasons with the Saints, compiling a record of 53 Wins, 6 losses, and 6 ties to go along with 10 shutouts.
“Travis has been a constant competitor for us throughout the past two seasons. He has provided our team with tremendous leadership that has become a significant part of the fabric of our team. Travis will be an excellent addition to the Lions’ lineup this fall,” stated Saints’ GM/Head Coach Steve Hamilton, “I am confident that Travis will have a significant impact on the Lions’ hockey program in the seasons ahead.”
The Spruce Grove Saints would like to congratulate Travis and his family on this tremendous opportunity to continue his career at the Canadian University level. The Saints look forward to Travis’ continued contributions to our organization throughout this season.
For more information, please contact the Saints’ office at (780)960-8326.
February 24, 2010
FAIRBANKS, AK – For the first time in school history, three Alaska Nanooks men’s hockey players have simultaneously earned Central Collegiate Hockey Association player of the week honors. Senior Dion Knelsen (Three Hills, AB) is the Offensive Player of the Week, sophomore Scott Greenham (Addison, ON) is the Reebok Goalie of the Week and freshman Andy Taranto (Woodridge, IL) is the CCM Rookie of the Week for the week of February 22.
The trio played a big hand in helping the then-ranked No. 20 Nanooks to a series sweep of the Lake Superior State Lakers last weekend at the Carlson Center. Alaska blanked LSSU 4-0 on Friday and then sealed the deal with a 5-1 triumph on Saturday.
The back-to-back victories were the first for the Blue and Gold in a weekend series since the opening weekend of CCHA play, when they swept Ferris State at home 3-1 and 3-2 (OT) on Oct. 30-31. It also helped them climb three spots to No. 17 in this week’s USCHO.com/CBS Online Poll and to No. 11 in the unofficial Men’s Division I PairWise Rankings.
Knelsen had a goal, four assists and a plus three rating on the weekend, with all four assists coming in Friday night’s win. He was the game’s second star on Friday and now has 16-16-32 through 32 games this year as well as 42-67-109 through 141 career games. He is second on the team in scoring, seventh in the CCHA for points, tied for third in CCHA goals.
It is the first time this season an Alaska forward garnered Offensive Player of the Week and the first since he won the award on Oct. 13, 2008.
Greenham made 74 saves on 75 Laker shots faced, for 0.50 goals-against average and .987 save percentage in the series. Friday he turned aside 32 shots en route to his third shutout of the season and fifth of his career and then followed with a 42-save performance on Saturday that won him the game’s first start honors for the second consecutive night.
The award is his fourth this season, the most by any other CCHA goalie, and the fifth of his career. He was named the CCHA Goaltender of the week as a freshman on Oct. 20, 2008.
Taranto also had a five-point weekend after notching a pair of helpers each night and a goal on Saturday. His lone goal was a short-hander, the Nanooks first of the season, which helped him earn the game’s second star Saturday night. He leads the team in scoring with 13-21-34 through 28 games: good for first among CCHA rookies, second in CCHA points, (tied for) third in CCHA assists, third among NCAA Division I rookie points and fourth in NCAA rookie points per game (1.06).
It marks Taranto’s second such award and Alaska’s third by a rookie this season. Taranto was previously the CCM Rookie of the Week on Nov. 30, one week after his classmate Nik Yaremchuk (St. Albert, AB) took home the award on Nov. 23.
The No. 17 Nanooks closeout their regular-season schedule this weekend with a home-and-home series against their arch-rivals the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves for the 17th Annual Alaska Airline’s Governor’s Cup series. The series is tied 8-8 and the Nanooks are looking to snap the Seawolves four-year streak by capturing their first Governor’s Cup since 2005.
The teams meet at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage Friday night at 7:07 p.m. and the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Both games are being tape delayed each night in Fairbanks on KFXF Fox 7, and can be heard live on KSUA 91.5 FM.
February 23, 2010
Okotoks, Alberta, February 23, 2010. The Okotoks Oilers Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club, announce that they will be playing an exhibition game vs. the Calgary Police Service, gold medalists at the 2009 World Police and Firefighter Games. The game will be held at the Okotoks Centennial Arena on Thursday, March 4 at 7pm. The Oilers have also teamed up with the Foothills Country Hospice for this event, and will be donating all profits to the Hospice Society.
After starting out the season in last place in the South Division, the Okotoks Oilers fought their way up the standings to secure their first ever South Division Title last Thursday in Canmore with a win over the Eagles. With the regular season commencing on Sunday. The Oilers now have a 2 week break in their schedule, as they await their opponent in the second round. This game will not only give the Oilers a chance to face some competition before the playoffs, but it will also give them the opportunity to give back to the community, which has been extremely supportive this season.
“With the economy being as it was in September, combined with our record in the first month, it was hard to believe there were fans in the seats and sponsors calling every week, but there were”, explains Marketing Manager Dallas Hand. “Everybody was a believer in this team, from the coaching staff, all the way to the volunteers. Our success would not have been possible without the support of our fans, sponsors, and volunteers, and this is an excellent opportunity for us to give back to them.”
The Oilers will also be accepting donations at the game for the hospice, who rely on community support for 85% of their $650,000 operating fund. The Foothills Country Hospice serves over 90,000 rural Albertan’s in the Foothills as well as the citizens of Calgary.
Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Brad Eidsness – So., G, North Dakota
For his outstanding efforts in backstopping the University of North Dakota to a sweep of nationally-ranked Minnesota Duluth last weekend, goaltender Brad Eidsness is the Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Feb. 23.
A 6-0, 175-pound sophomore from Chestermere, Alberta and a draftee of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, Eidsness was named the No. 2 star in both games while stopping 53 of 56 shots on goal (.946 saves percentage) and yielding just two even-strength goals.
In last Friday’s (Feb. 19) 5-2 North Dakota win, Eidsness made 33 saves, his highest home output of the season, and blanked the visiting Bulldogs on all seven of their power-play chances.
He then added another 22 saves on Saturday (Feb. 20) night in a 5-1 Sioux victory. In the series, he posted four shutout periods and held UMD to just one power-play goal in 11 opportunities.
Eidsness has moved into second place in the WCHA goaltending race (10th nationally) with a 2.22 goals-against average. Over his last three games Eidsness is 3-0-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average and a .951 saves percentage.
