Saturday, November 30, 2013

#1 OC HOCKEY CLUB RUMBLES TO A WIN AT SILVER STICK REGIONAL

By Lee Samuels

Vegashockey.net

Las Vegas – Does ultra-skilled AA Orange County Hockey Club 18u club ever lose?

Here at the Silver Stick Regional, the OC team spread its offense, fired whip-like passes across ice, launched shots from a variety of distances and skated to a 7-1 win over AA Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 18u to finish a perfect 3-0-0 in opening round play. OC will now report to the Final 4 and take on Channel Island Riptide 18u, a team they have never lost to, later today on the super-chilled north rink inside the Las Vegas Ice Center.

Las Vegas had its moments in this early-morning matchup – Tyler Anderson scored on a nice backhand, Steven Hoernicke just missed scoring several times, Eric Williams veered high speed into attack areas, Mitchell Province got locked into some interesting ultra-heated battles, defenseman Will Albert played his best game of the season.

But OC got off to an awesome start, getting more shots 21-9 in the first period enroute to a 3-0 lead.

Las Vegas switched on its physical game in the second period which reduce OC to 9 shots and the two teams were practically even in the third period.

OC is #1 here, but back home has to deal with teams like the Anaheim Jr Ducks and Golden State Eagles. In CAHA, the OC team is in third place. Overall, according to the folks at MyHockey.com, OC skated into this tournament with a season record of 14-6-2.

From the Blue Line –  On Sunday 11 am, Las Vegas will take on the Orange County Hockey Club #2 in a consolation game at the Ice Center.

ORANGE COUNTY HOCKEY CLUB…..3…..2…..2=7

LAS VEGAS JR WRANGLERS…………..0……0….1=1

Las Vegas scoring – Tyler Anderson

Las Vegas goalie – TJ Yocum

Shots on Goal

1st period – OC 21-9

2nd period – OC 9-8

3rd period – 5-5

Total – OC 35-22

Las Vegas 3-Stars

#1 – Tyler Anderson

#2 – Eric Williams

#3 – Will Albert

Saturday, November 30, 2013

TJ Yocum and Chase Smith have each worked hard in the net for the AA Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 18u at the Silver Stick Regional this weekend over at the Las Vegas Ice Center.

This morning, the Anthony Greener-coached Jr Wranglers take on a hard-skating, awesome Orange County Hockey Club 18u who beat them 8-0 earlier this year and is 2-0-0 this weekend. Las Vegas is a much better team now, however, than the one which played OC in September. This Las Vegas team looks like it’s about explode in goal scoring.

Faceoff this morning is 9:45 am and Vegashockey.net will be covering live.

At the rinkboards yesterday was Las Vegas defenseman Erik Fischer. He’s been out of the game for over a season and is now working at a restaurant inside of the Cosmolitan Hotel Casino here on the casino strip.

“I’m in the real world now – working every day,” he said. “I miss hockey, yes.”

Erik, a very hard skater who also worked on the point during power plays, played for the Eddie Samuels-coached AA Las Vegas Ice Cats 16u, then with the Rob Pallin-coached AA Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 16u and last played in junior hockey for the WSHL Ogden Mustangs.

“The different between midget hockey and junior hockey is huge. In juniors, you are playing for coaches who have to win the games and you are playing before large crowds instead of parents in small arenas. The intensity is there and the hitting is at a higher level,” Erik said.

Hitting is what Jason Zucker, who likes to prowl around enemy nets, was facing when he skated last night with the NHL Minnesota Wild against the Colorado Avalanche. Pushing, shoving after the whistle went on all game long by the Av’s when Zucker got tight in the attack areas.

Cory Ward of Las Vegas has been scoring big goals practically every game for Bemidji State. He has 9 goals, which gives him 18 goals total in his first two seasons of NCAA hockey.

Gage Quinney of Las Vegas and the WHL Prince Albert Raiders were down 5-0 at the 7:00 minute mark of the second period when the Raiders — on the road — rallied to beat the Regina Pats 7-6 in OT last night. Gage was a big part of the comeback, scoring his 3rd goal of the season.

The WHL Prince George Cougars are reporting that Zack Pochiro of Las Vegas is out with a concussion. He has 10 goals this season.

We dare anyone to order and drink all of a ‘large’ coffee at the Ice Center. It’s mountain-sized, far larger than the venti we usually get at Starbucks. Good stuff.

Saturday, November 29, 2013

Boise – In a stunner, Bryce Reddick scored late in the third period and then the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers scored 4 times in a shootout to win a huge road game 4-3 over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,950 at the Century Link Arena.  Reddick scored his first goal of the season at the 16:11 mark of the third period to tie the game 3-3.  In the OT/Shootout, Adam Hughesman, Chris Francis, Matt Tassone and Jeff May each scored to win the game. Reddick was selected the #3 Star of the Game.

Also on Friday night

//With his team down 3-0, Cory Ward scored his 9th goal of the season for Bemidji State which then rallied to tie Miami 4-4 before 3,335 at the Sanford Arena in Bemidj, Minnesota.

//Gage Quinney’s 3rd goal of the season helped the WHL Prince Albert Raiders win a 7-6 road game in OT over the Regina Pats before 3,864 at the Brandt Center.

Friday, November 29, 2013

RIGHT DOWN TO THE FINAL PRECIOUS SECONDS

By Lee Samuels

Vegashockey.net

Las Vegas – It all came down to the final precious seconds. Las Vegas was working on a 6 on 4, the clock was ticking down, fans from both teams were pressing their faces against cold rink glass on the Las Vegas Ice Center’s south rink.

But somehow, someway the gold-shirt AA Channel Island Riptide 18u skaters held off the Las Vegas sharpshooters and won 4-3 here at the Silver Stick Regional. It was the first win here for the Riptide. It was the second heart-wrenching one-goal loss here for Las Vegas.

Las Vegas got off to a quick start when Hayden Breceda, from the right point, took a snap shot and the puck took a high-rising flight hard into the top right shelf area of the net.  Breceda scored with 9:51 left in the first period. Las Vegas led, 1-0.

Las Vegas had more shots 13-12 in the first period, then the Riptide’s top skaters began winning hard-fought puck battles, took off on fast attack runs towards Wranglers goalie Chase Smith. The Riptide had more shots 23-8 in the second period and scored four times.

This was after Mitchell Province had scored on a neat backhand to tie the game 2-2.

The Riptide took a 4-2 lead going into the third period.

The game got dicey when Eric Williams of Las Vegas drove towards the slot area and unloaded to blue-streak a puck into the upper right corner.

That made it 4-3 Riptide early in the third period.

That was as close as Las Vegas got, however. The game took a turn and had a physicality about it, with hard checks in the final period.

The loss eliminated Las Vegas from participating in the Final 4 of this tournament. However, the Jr Wranglers next get a crack at the team all have been buzzing about here – the unbeaten Orange County Hockey Club #1 18u team at the Ice Center on Saturday morning.

Channel Island Riptide……0…..4…..0=4

Las Vegas Jr Wranglers…..1…..1…..1=3

Las Vegas scoring, in order – Hayden Breceda, Mitchell Province, Eric Williams

Las Vegas goalie – Chase Smith (41 saves)

Shots on Goal

First Period – Las Vegas 13-12

Second Period – Riptide 23-8

Third Period – Riptide 9-7

Total – Riptide 45-27

Las Vegas Stars of the Game

#1 Eric Williams

#2 Mitchell Province

#3 Brandon Williams

Friday, November 29, 2013

“Looking for more energy – move our skates better,” says coach Anthony Greener whose AA Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 18u need a big win today in the Silver Stick Regional at the Las Vegas Ice Center on Flamingo Ave.

Las Vegas lost to Cal Wave 3-2 last night.  Today, they play Channel Island Riptide which lost its first game 3-0 this morning.  Las Vegas vs the Riptide is at 3 pm.

There are three opening-round games in this tournament, then the field of teams will be reduced to a Final 4.  Las Vegas will need to go 2-1-0 or maybe 1-1-1 might be enough to advance.

The hot team here is an awesome one – Orange County Hockey Club #1 18u.

“We watched them play last night,” Greener said. “If we play as a team (vs OC on Saturday) it’s going to be a good game, if not, a rough game. We shall see.”

+++

The holiday season is here full blast. Radio station 106.5 fm is playing Christmas music 24 hours a day here in town.

Las Vegas Silver Stick Scoreboard

Las Vegas Ice Center

Sunday, December 1, 2013

AA 18U

GOLD MEDAL GAME

Channel Island Riptide vs Golden State Eagles – 1:45 pm

Consolation Games

Alaska All-Stars vs Arizona Hockey Union – 8:15 am

Cal Wave vs Utah Golden Eagles – 9:15 am

Phoenix Firebirds vs Valencia Flyers – 10 am

Las Vegas Jr Wranglers vs Orange County Hockey Club #2 – 11 am

Saturday, November 30, 2013

AA 18U

FINAL FOUR

Channel Island Riptide 3, Orange County Hockey Club 2

Golden State Eagles 5, Sherwood Park Oilers 2

Earlier Today….

Arizona Hockey Union 4, Cal Wave 2

Channel Island Riptide 5, Alaska All Stars 2

Valencia Flyers 5, Sherwood Park Oilers 5 – tie

Orange County Hockey Club 7, Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 1

Golden State Eagles 10, Utah Golden Eagles 3

AA 16U

Sunday, December 1, 2013

GOLD MEDAL GAME

DALLAS PENGUINS VS PORTLAND JR HAWKS – 11:45 AM

Saturday, November 30, 2013

FINAL FOUR

Dallas Penguins 6, Valencia Flyers 2

Portland Jr Hawks 3, Utah Golden Eagles 1

Consolation Game

Atlanta Phoenix 6, Orange County Hockey Club 2

Friday, November 29, 2013

AA 18U

Golden State Eagles 3, Channel Island Riptide 0

Orange County Hockey Club #1 5, Phoenix Firebirds 0

Sherwood Park Oilers 4, Cal Wave 1

Channel Island Riptide 4, Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 3

Utah Golden Eagles 6, Orange County Hockey Club #2 2

Golden State Eagles 8, Arizona Hockey Union 1

Alaska All-Stars 3, Valencia Flyers 2

AA 16U

Dallas Penguins 12, Atlanta Phoenix 1

Portland Jr Hawks 10, Orange County Hockey Club 1

Valencia Flyers 6, Utah Golden Eagles 2

Utah Golden Eagles 7, Orange County Hockey Club 2

Portland Jr Hawks 3, Dallas Penguins 2

Valencia Flyers 4, Atlanta Phoenix 3

Thursday, November 28, 2013

AA 18U

Valencia Flyers 4, Arizona Hockey Union 1

Orange County Hockey Club #1 6, Utah Golden Eagles 2

Cal Wave 3, Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 2

Phoenix Firebirds 2, Alaska All-Stars 1

Sherwood Park Oilers 8, Orange County Hockey Club #2 2

AA 16U

Dallas Penguins 9, Valencia Flyers 4

Atlanta Phoenix 4, Orange County Hockey Club 2

Utah Golden Eagles 4, Portland Jr Hawks 3

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Silver Stick Regional

Las Vegas Ice Center

AA 18U

FINAL

CAL WAVE 3

LAS VEGAS JR WRANGLERS 2

Las Vegas scoring – Eric Williams 2 goals, Logan Whiteley 1

Assists – Tyler Anderson 2, Eric Williams 2

Las Vegas goalie – TJ Yocum

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Jason Zucker of Las Vegas was “pulled off” of the Iowa Wild’s team bus going from Chicago to Des Moines last night and was told to return to the NHL Minnesota Wild.  Zucker was only away for one game. The Wild has been hit with some key injuries and Wild beat writer Michael Russo of the StarTribune wrote “…Zucker should be staying for awhile.”

Thursday, November 28, 2013

By Lee Samuels

Vegashockey.net

Las Vegas – After a holiday meal today, the skaters from the AA Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 18u will head across town and skate in their biggest tournament of the season.

The Wranglers will open against AA Cal Wave tonight, then will take Channel Islands Riptide and a strong, powerful Orange County #1 team at the Las Vegas Ice Center on Flamingo Ave.

On Thanksgiving Eve, the Wranglers played in a scrimmage game against the AA Alaska All-Stars 18u at the SoBe Ice Arena to wire in their game and lock in line combinations for the tournament.

“That was some Alaska team – a real good one,” said Las Vegas coach Anthony Greener. The two teams tied in regulation, then Alaska won in a shootout.

Greener is hoping to gather some team points early in this tournament before the team takes on OC1 on Saturday.

The lines tonight will remain about the same as in recent games, looking like this:

Mitchell Provence (8 goals this season), Logan Whiteley (8), Chris Wojtowitz (2)

Steven Hoernicke (13), Tyler Anderson (2), Brandon Ladd (1)

Justin Battaglia (4), Kyro Kraemer (2), Kentrell Harper

Defense

Ian Davis, Brandon Williams

Will Albert, Brady Toy

Goalies

Chase Smith, TJ Yocum

SILVER STICK REGIONAL

AA 18U

LAS VEGAS ICE CENTER

AA LAS VEGAS JR WRANGLERS

Thursday – vs Cal Wave, 6:15 pm

Friday – vs Channel Island Riptide, 3 pm

Saturday – vs Orange County #1, 9:45 am

Wednesday, November 25, 2013

Chicago – Jason Zucker, reassigned by the NHL Minnesota Wild after a morning skate in St. Paul, Minnesota, reported to the AHL Iowa Wild on Thanksgiving Eve and scored two goals – his 5th and 6th – in a 3-1 road win over the Chicago Wolves before 4,526 at the All-Star Arena. Jason got to the game 90 minutes before the opening faceoff.