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Sharks rookie tourney
report
Part 1 of 3
9/16/04 - By GJ Berg
GJ Berg reports from
Anaheim, California, site of this year's (2nd Annual) rookie tournament between
the Sharks, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes. This
is the first of a three part report...
Even though it's not "really"
training camp, it's still great fun just to be here. I missed one thing as I
wasn't "looking": Jeff Freisen (and John LeClair and a couple of other players)
were on the adjacent ice sheet working out before the early game started.
The Disney Ice building is a "M" shaped building with two rinks under
the (rounded) arches (think Quonset hut). The one in use for the Rookie Tourney
is a normal NHL sized rink, the other is Olympic-sized. The lowest seats about
10-12 feet up off the ice, so there's a good view, except where there are
stairs down to the ice level.
The last row seemed to be reserved for
media and scouts. The PA system seemed to be cranked to max and was very
distorted at times, and sometimes overwhelmed by the music. The rink is located
about 5 miles from the Pond, less than a mile from the Matterhorn.
Had
some nice conversations with Shark fans, and others, including a couple that
sat behind me during the Sharks/Coyotes scrimmage from Phoenix, original Shark
STH folks (currently STH of both teams). This latter couple tells me that the
Coyoties will be hosting the Rookie Tourney next season -- at the main rink,
not at a practice facility.
I talked with a number of the Sharks
coaches, brass and scouts, and even had a chance to thank Dean Lombardi for his
past contributions to the Sharks.
Day 1
First game of
the tourney, at the "early hour" of 4pm was the Coyotes vs. the Sharks. Perhaps
200 folks in attendance (including all the media/scouts).
Although
Lukas Kaspar took warm up, he did not skate in the game. I had a chance to chat
with him during the 2nd intermission (as many of the players sat in the stands
who weren't skating) - a very personable young man; looks like he'll be a good
addition for Ottawa 67s in the upcoming season.
Other Shark scratches included Glenn Olson, and Scott
Ford. All three goalies played: Ehelechner in the first, Greiss in the 2nd,
Churchill in the third. In both games, this and the 7pm Kings-Ducks, for the
most part it was a process of the group of individuals coming together as a
team. Early in the games would often be a matter of shooting the puck to empty
ice, both cross ice (especially noticeable near the opposition's crease) and
back toward the point (and no one home).
Starters: Ehelechner (33),
Andress (67), Dobben (66), Gorges (40), Gill (49), Joseph (47).
First
goal: Sharks - Tim Conboy (50) at 10:55 from Shields (65) and Bernier (46).
Tremblay (56) showed a few times during the game why he got 315 PIM In
the Q last year: Fight and minor during the first (and a couple more penalties
during the course of game).
End of first 1-0 Sharks. 8 SOG for Sharks;
5 for 'Yotes
Second period; Greiss in goal
Armstrong (58) from
Andress (67) at 13:45
Armstrong (58) from Hisey (59) and Conboy (50) at
19:34
End of second 3-0 Sharks. 17 SOG for Sharks; 6 for Yotes.
Third period; Churchill in goal
Coyotes scored at 1:12 (I think
the first SOG against Churchill)
Sharks pushed the score further.
Shields (65) from Hennessy (61) and Conboy (50) at 3:25
End of
regulation: 4-1 Sharks. 13 SOG for Sharks (total 38); 6 for Coyotes (total 17)
Random thoughts...
Shane Joseph has some wheels -- he can
really cover some ice.
Shields looked good.
Like Greiss.
(Ehelechner, too,)
Chruchill - after that early surprise, was quite
good.
Gill - nice. Won some face offs.
Bernier showed some of
that "power forward"-ness he's supposed to have.
Gorges was in the
background (as a defender), but seemed to work well.
Hennessy got into
his action as well.
Check back tomorrow: Day 2
Report
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