Sunday, April 15, 2007

Martz Trying To Even It Up

In The ECHL:

Nathan Martz opened up the scoring tonight, hoping to lead the Stockton Thunder to a series deadlock with the Idaho Steelheads. Unfortunately the game sits with the Thunder down 2-1 at the halfway point. If Stockton is going to make a run to get out of this best of seven series, they are trailing 2-1 in the series, the time is now. Nathan has a goal and an assist now in these playoffs.
*Stockton and Bakersfield have both their games tonight 3-2.*

Tyler Scott picked up his third playoff point tonight, all assists, with the game tied at one. He and Kevin Truelson will be doing their all to help the Bakersfield Condors even up the series with the Fresno Falcons as they too are down in the series 2-1. As a note, both Tyler and Kevin are playing 'D', which is a change from Tyler's days as in the Blue and White, and Kevin has added an assist in these playoffs.

Brian Yandle and Justin Aikins just closed out their season with the Phoenix Roadrunners, losing to the potent Las Vegas Wranglers. Both closed the series with just one assist, Yandle a +2 and Aikins a -4.

Shawn Vinz and the Charlotte Checkers return to action Tuesday night and must win to keep their season alive. Vinz has two playoff assists in this his first professional stint and scored in his pro-debut, in his first shift, during the regular season.

Josh Ciocco and Sean Collins' Wheeling Nailers did not make the playoffs. Sean finished of his year with 76 points, 27 goals and 49 assists - exactly the same as last year but in 5 less games in just 57 outings. He also saw 7 games in the AHL split between two clubs that saw him net 3 assists. Ciocco recorded an assist through his first four professional games with the Nailers.

In the AHL:

Stafford adds an assist tonight with Worcester defeating Lowell and he finishing the season with 11 goals and 30 assists for 41 points in 77 games - tied for 8th in scoring among defensemen. Prudden was out tonight - I'm without details as to the reason. He finishes the season with a career best 9 goals and 22 assists in just 56 games as well as being a +16 - a fantastic season by any account unless you are Darren Haydar!

Jason Krog and, speaking of, Darren Haydar, were held pointless tonight as Omaha sealed up the division title tonight from their Chicago Wolves (Interestingly enough the Omaha Lancers, Will O'Neill's USHL team, were just kept from their league title by the powerful Waterloo Blackhawks who include Blake Kessel and Matt DiGirolamo among their ranks - the Lancers did win their division). Krog finishes the regular season with 80 points, 26 goals and 54 assists in 44 games! If it was anyone's idea to reunite Darren and Jason they should certainly be respected for recalling UNH's incredible 98-99 season - may they avoid the heartache. Darren throttled the league's goaltenders for an astounding 122 points this season - the most in this 'new era' of hockey. His totals include 41 goals (tied for third - one more and he would have tied for second behind his teammate Brett Sterling) and 81 assists - a number that hasn't been exceeded since NHL standout Jason Spezza (85a) in the 04/05 season and before that you have to go all the way back to the 92/93 season and Tim Taylor (81a). No one has amassed over 120 points in the AHL since Brad Smyth set 125 points in the 1995/96 season - Jason Spezza did manage 117 in the 04/05 campaign. Awesome!

Jacob Micflikier, Brett Hemingway and Chris Murray all made their AHL debut after ending their college careers. Micflikier finished with 3 goals and an assist in 9 outings with the Springfield Falcons and made quite an impression. Brett Hemingway scored his lone professional goal in just his second game (his total to date) with the Albany River Rats. Chris Murray did not register a point in his professional debut and only professional game to date with the Peoria Rivermen.

Eric Boguniecki returned to dominance in his time spent in the AHL for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers finishing with 22 goals, 32 assists for 54 points in 48 games before getting injured . Also playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Trevor Smith has begun his professional career with a goal and two assists in 8 games after bringing his college career to a premature end.

Which brings us to our last AHL update in the form of Daniel Winnik in his first full year of professional hockey, playing 66 games and scoring 9 goals and 12 assists totaling his jersey number equivalent, playing for the San Antonio Rampage.

Phew! I think that's everybody! I wish I could cover the European Leagues and everyone playing across the pond but I'm just one person and this post has taken a fantastic amount of time!

Anyhow, it's all playoffs from here hockey fans! Stay tuned!

Go 'Cats!

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