hockey123
02-18-2010, 08:52 AM
IceDogs in enviable position
Posted By BERNIE PUCHALSKI
There was the suggestion in a few quarters earlier this season -- OK, it was mostly me suggesting it -- that the Niagara IceDogs should tank at the end of the Ontario Hockey League season to ensure the highest pick possible in the draft.
But thanks to the despicable play of teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference, Niagara is now in a position to draft in the top five yet still make the playoffs.
The IceDogs have gone a solid 5-3-0-2 in their past 10 games to make up an incredible eight points in the standings on both Oshawa and Sudbury. Both those teams have staggered to 2-8 records in the past 10 games with Oshawa now on an eight-game losing streak and Sudbury on a five-game skid.
Niagara, Sudbury and Oshawa are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference with 47 points, a points total which would put them nine points out of the Western Conference playoffs, albeit with two games in hand.
Sarnia has likely wrapped up first place in the draft sweepstakes with a measly 34 points, with Belleville holding onto second spot with a pathetic 39 points. Sudbury, Oshawa and Niagara are tied in the quest to get the third overall pick.
Assuming the best-case scenario for Niagara and they finish seventh in the Eastern Conference, they will receive the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft, along with the eighth overall pick they received as compensation for not signing 2009 first-rounder Lucas Lessio. Those two top picks are among the five picks IceDogs GM Dave Brown has available to him among the first 60 choices in the draft. Admittedly, Niagara must make the right choices to make the draft pay off, but it's likely Niagara will draft several key cogs in 2010.
These players will add to a young Niagara team that will very likely have the experience of one and possibly two playoff rounds under its belt this spring.
How have I gone from Mr. Tank It to Mr. Optimism in such a sport span? It's simple. Goalie Mark Visentin gives Niagara a chance to win every game and no team works harder than the IceDogs.
But that's not the only reason for hope.
I don't like Niagara's chances if they finish eighth and have to play star-studded Barrie in the first round, but if the IceDogs place seventh and Ottawa remains in second, that series is up for grabs. Niagara knocked off the 67's in the playoffs last season and are 2-0-1 against them this season.
And if Niagara can continue its late-season charge and somehow pass Peterborough for sixth spot, it will set up an equally interesting battle against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. Niagara is an impressive 4-2 against Mississauga this season.
Niagara's playoff quest continues Thursday with a home date against the Brampton Battalion.
ICEDOGS THIS WEEK
BRAMPTON THURSDAY
Brampton Battalion:Come into town riding a three-game winning streak and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 21-23-7-5 record, including 5-3-1-1 in last 10 games. Road record is 11-12-2-3.
Local content:Niagara Falls native Matt McLeod.
Leading scorers:Sean Jones 29-13-42; Sam Carrick 15-19-34; Phil Lane 18-12-30.
Top goalie Patrick Killeen 19-20-6-5, 2.52 goals-against average, .911 save percentage.
NHL draft picks Matt Clark, second round, 37th overall by Anaheim in 2009; C Cody Hodgson, first round, 10th overall by Vancouver in 2008; G Killeen, sixth round, 180th overall by Pittsburgh in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:C Carrick, 87th-ranked skater; RW Lane, 125th ranked skater.
Previous meetings:Beat Niagara 6-3 Oct. 8 and 4-3 in a shootout Oct. 9, and lost 5-4 in overtime Oct. 25.
Top IceDogs vs. Brampton:Andrew Agozzino and Freddie Hamilton 3-2-5; Alex Friesen 2-3-5.
Top Battalion vs. Niagara:Carrick 4-0-4; Ken Peroff and Scott Tanski 0-4-4
AT SUDBURY FRIDAY
Sudbury Wolves:Wolves are on five-game losing skid and are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 21-30-2-3 record, including 2-8 record in last 10 games. Home record is 12-13-1-2.
Local content:Niagara Falls native Jake Cardwell; former Niagara IceDog G Andrew Loverock and former St.
Catharines minor midget Falcon Greg Jambrosich.
Leading scorers:Eric O'Dell 28-32-60; John McFarland 17-27-44; Jared Staal 9-33-42; John Kurtz 29-12-41.
Top goalie:Loverock, 10-12-1-2, .904 save percentage; 3.60 goals-against average.
NHL draft picks:C O'Dell, second round, 39th overall by Anaheim in 2008 draft; RW Staal, second round, 49th overall by Phoenix in 2008; D Daniel Maggio, sixth round, 170th overall by New York Rangers in 2009; LW Marcus Foligno, fourth round, 104th overall by Buffalo in 2009; LW Matias Sointu, seventh round, 182nd overall by Tampa in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:McFarland, 10th-ranked skater.
Previous meetings:Lost 7-3 to Niagara Oct. 17, defeated Niagara 5-4 Oct. 30, beat Niagara 3-1 Dec. 17 and lost 5-2 to Niagara Jan. 2.
Top IceDogs vs. Wolves:Andrew Shaw 3-3-6; Freddie Hamilton 3-2-5; Matt Petgrave and Alex Friesen 1-4-5.
Top Wolves vs. Niagara:McFarland and Staal 1-3-4. Kurtz and O'Dell 3-0-3.
AT SAULT STE. MARIE SATURDAY
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds:Team has lost two straight and sits fifth in the Western Conference 29-23-1-4 record, including 6-3-0-1 in last 10 games. Home record is 15-10-0-2.
Local content:St. Catharines native Jordan Nolan.
Leading scorers:Jacob Muzzin 12-46-58; Brent Thompson 33-23-56; Vern Cooper 24-31-55.
Top goalie:Robin Lehner, 20-10-0-3, 2.81 goals against average; .917 save percentage.
NHL draft picks Muzzin, fifth round, 141st overall by Pittsburgh in 2007; C Nolan, seventh round, 186th by Los Angeles in 2009; G Lehner, second round, 46th overall by Ottawa in 2009.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings Brandon Archibald, 57th-ranked skater; D Brock Beukeboom, 63rd-ranked skater; Bryce O'Hagan, 30th-ranked goalie.
Previous meeting:Lost 4-3 to Niagara Oct. 22.
Top IceDogs vs. Sault Ste. Marie:Alex Friesen 2-0-2; Andrew Agozzino and Andrew Fritsch 1-0-1.
Top Greyhounds vs. Niagara:Beukeboom 0-2-2; Jake Carrick and Daniel Catenacci 1-0-1.
PRO DOGS
Following are the stats of former Niagara IceDogs who have moved on to the pro ranks. Skaters' stats are listed in order of games played, goals, assists, total points and penalty minutes. Goalies' stats are listed in order of record, goals against average and save percentage.
AHLLuca Caputi, Wilkes-Barre/
Scranton Penguins: 48-19-21-40-49.
Matt Corrente, Lowell Devils: 25-3-12-15-55.
Michael Swift, Lowell Devils: 52-12-18-30-46.
Stefan Legein, Adirondack Phantoms: 45-19-4-23-28.
Drew Schiestel, Portland Pirates: 33-1-7-8-8.
Scott Fletcher, Providence Bruins: 11-0-0-0-27.
ECHLJeremy Smith, Cincinnati
Cyclones: 17-10-1, 2.58, .902.IHL
Sebastian Dahm, Bloomington Prairie Thunder: 4-5-1, 3.98, .881.
Posted By BERNIE PUCHALSKI
There was the suggestion in a few quarters earlier this season -- OK, it was mostly me suggesting it -- that the Niagara IceDogs should tank at the end of the Ontario Hockey League season to ensure the highest pick possible in the draft.
But thanks to the despicable play of teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference, Niagara is now in a position to draft in the top five yet still make the playoffs.
The IceDogs have gone a solid 5-3-0-2 in their past 10 games to make up an incredible eight points in the standings on both Oshawa and Sudbury. Both those teams have staggered to 2-8 records in the past 10 games with Oshawa now on an eight-game losing streak and Sudbury on a five-game skid.
Niagara, Sudbury and Oshawa are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference with 47 points, a points total which would put them nine points out of the Western Conference playoffs, albeit with two games in hand.
Sarnia has likely wrapped up first place in the draft sweepstakes with a measly 34 points, with Belleville holding onto second spot with a pathetic 39 points. Sudbury, Oshawa and Niagara are tied in the quest to get the third overall pick.
Assuming the best-case scenario for Niagara and they finish seventh in the Eastern Conference, they will receive the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft, along with the eighth overall pick they received as compensation for not signing 2009 first-rounder Lucas Lessio. Those two top picks are among the five picks IceDogs GM Dave Brown has available to him among the first 60 choices in the draft. Admittedly, Niagara must make the right choices to make the draft pay off, but it's likely Niagara will draft several key cogs in 2010.
These players will add to a young Niagara team that will very likely have the experience of one and possibly two playoff rounds under its belt this spring.
How have I gone from Mr. Tank It to Mr. Optimism in such a sport span? It's simple. Goalie Mark Visentin gives Niagara a chance to win every game and no team works harder than the IceDogs.
But that's not the only reason for hope.
I don't like Niagara's chances if they finish eighth and have to play star-studded Barrie in the first round, but if the IceDogs place seventh and Ottawa remains in second, that series is up for grabs. Niagara knocked off the 67's in the playoffs last season and are 2-0-1 against them this season.
And if Niagara can continue its late-season charge and somehow pass Peterborough for sixth spot, it will set up an equally interesting battle against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. Niagara is an impressive 4-2 against Mississauga this season.
Niagara's playoff quest continues Thursday with a home date against the Brampton Battalion.
ICEDOGS THIS WEEK
BRAMPTON THURSDAY
Brampton Battalion:Come into town riding a three-game winning streak and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 21-23-7-5 record, including 5-3-1-1 in last 10 games. Road record is 11-12-2-3.
Local content:Niagara Falls native Matt McLeod.
Leading scorers:Sean Jones 29-13-42; Sam Carrick 15-19-34; Phil Lane 18-12-30.
Top goalie Patrick Killeen 19-20-6-5, 2.52 goals-against average, .911 save percentage.
NHL draft picks Matt Clark, second round, 37th overall by Anaheim in 2009; C Cody Hodgson, first round, 10th overall by Vancouver in 2008; G Killeen, sixth round, 180th overall by Pittsburgh in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:C Carrick, 87th-ranked skater; RW Lane, 125th ranked skater.
Previous meetings:Beat Niagara 6-3 Oct. 8 and 4-3 in a shootout Oct. 9, and lost 5-4 in overtime Oct. 25.
Top IceDogs vs. Brampton:Andrew Agozzino and Freddie Hamilton 3-2-5; Alex Friesen 2-3-5.
Top Battalion vs. Niagara:Carrick 4-0-4; Ken Peroff and Scott Tanski 0-4-4
AT SUDBURY FRIDAY
Sudbury Wolves:Wolves are on five-game losing skid and are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 21-30-2-3 record, including 2-8 record in last 10 games. Home record is 12-13-1-2.
Local content:Niagara Falls native Jake Cardwell; former Niagara IceDog G Andrew Loverock and former St.
Catharines minor midget Falcon Greg Jambrosich.
Leading scorers:Eric O'Dell 28-32-60; John McFarland 17-27-44; Jared Staal 9-33-42; John Kurtz 29-12-41.
Top goalie:Loverock, 10-12-1-2, .904 save percentage; 3.60 goals-against average.
NHL draft picks:C O'Dell, second round, 39th overall by Anaheim in 2008 draft; RW Staal, second round, 49th overall by Phoenix in 2008; D Daniel Maggio, sixth round, 170th overall by New York Rangers in 2009; LW Marcus Foligno, fourth round, 104th overall by Buffalo in 2009; LW Matias Sointu, seventh round, 182nd overall by Tampa in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:McFarland, 10th-ranked skater.
Previous meetings:Lost 7-3 to Niagara Oct. 17, defeated Niagara 5-4 Oct. 30, beat Niagara 3-1 Dec. 17 and lost 5-2 to Niagara Jan. 2.
Top IceDogs vs. Wolves:Andrew Shaw 3-3-6; Freddie Hamilton 3-2-5; Matt Petgrave and Alex Friesen 1-4-5.
Top Wolves vs. Niagara:McFarland and Staal 1-3-4. Kurtz and O'Dell 3-0-3.
AT SAULT STE. MARIE SATURDAY
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds:Team has lost two straight and sits fifth in the Western Conference 29-23-1-4 record, including 6-3-0-1 in last 10 games. Home record is 15-10-0-2.
Local content:St. Catharines native Jordan Nolan.
Leading scorers:Jacob Muzzin 12-46-58; Brent Thompson 33-23-56; Vern Cooper 24-31-55.
Top goalie:Robin Lehner, 20-10-0-3, 2.81 goals against average; .917 save percentage.
NHL draft picks Muzzin, fifth round, 141st overall by Pittsburgh in 2007; C Nolan, seventh round, 186th by Los Angeles in 2009; G Lehner, second round, 46th overall by Ottawa in 2009.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings Brandon Archibald, 57th-ranked skater; D Brock Beukeboom, 63rd-ranked skater; Bryce O'Hagan, 30th-ranked goalie.
Previous meeting:Lost 4-3 to Niagara Oct. 22.
Top IceDogs vs. Sault Ste. Marie:Alex Friesen 2-0-2; Andrew Agozzino and Andrew Fritsch 1-0-1.
Top Greyhounds vs. Niagara:Beukeboom 0-2-2; Jake Carrick and Daniel Catenacci 1-0-1.
PRO DOGS
Following are the stats of former Niagara IceDogs who have moved on to the pro ranks. Skaters' stats are listed in order of games played, goals, assists, total points and penalty minutes. Goalies' stats are listed in order of record, goals against average and save percentage.
AHLLuca Caputi, Wilkes-Barre/
Scranton Penguins: 48-19-21-40-49.
Matt Corrente, Lowell Devils: 25-3-12-15-55.
Michael Swift, Lowell Devils: 52-12-18-30-46.
Stefan Legein, Adirondack Phantoms: 45-19-4-23-28.
Drew Schiestel, Portland Pirates: 33-1-7-8-8.
Scott Fletcher, Providence Bruins: 11-0-0-0-27.
ECHLJeremy Smith, Cincinnati
Cyclones: 17-10-1, 2.58, .902.IHL
Sebastian Dahm, Bloomington Prairie Thunder: 4-5-1, 3.98, .881.