in the crease - Auckland Ice Hockey Association

IN THE CREASE
THE OFFICAL NEWSLETTER OF THE AIHA
ISSUE 4, August 2008
The record continues! Welcome all players, parents, officials, coaches, managers, spectators
and fans to the fourth AIHA newsletter for 2008.
Editor’s Message
It’s the business time of the ice hockey calendar, teams are fighting for playoff positions in
all leagues, the National Champs in Christchurch are approaching and the NZIHL final is set
for Christchurch (again) on the 30th August.
In this edition of “In the Crease” we announce all the rep teams that will be representing
Auckland in the upcoming Nationals Champs. Also included in the following pages are details of the next school holiday coaching programme, a NZIHL player profile as well as a
brief look at the Major Junior leagues in Canada, the main breeding ground for the NHL.
Don’t forget to keep checking back to www.aiha.org.nz for all the latest news, results, stats
and schedules. Details of both Junior and Senior prize-giving plus the AGM should be out in
the next few months as well.
Over this last year the AIHA has worked very hard to create attractive benefits for potential
sponsors of the AIHA and NZIHL. We now have a package that can offer sponsors the
brand awareness that they require in return for sponsorship. These benefits include, website
sponsorship, newsletter sponsorship, rink signage, tickets to and big screen advertising at
NZIHL games. We even had the NZIHL on TV this season and will be looking to continue
this next year.
If you might be interested in sponsoring the AIHA or know anyone that would be interested,
feel free to flick me an email on [email protected].
The next and last issue for the season of this newsletter will be out in October, once again if
anyone would like anything added, let me know, I’d be more than happy to add it to the
newsletter.
Marty
www.rageproshop.co.nz
Inside this issue:
The Strive for Five
2
Holiday Coaching Clinic
4
Admirals and Swarm: Season in Review
5
Eastern - From the Locker Room
6
Overtime: The CHL (Major Juniors)
7
www.aiha.org.nz
Page 2
ISSUE 4, AUGUST 2008
The Strive for Five!
The AIHA Rep teams will be looking for GOLD in all 5 grades at this year’s
National Championships held in Christchurch, beginning on the 14th August.
Each grade consists of teams from all three regions (Auckland, Canterbury
and Southern) and will play each other twice.
14th August - 17th August, will see the Peewees, Midgets and Juniors compete.
22nd August - 24th August, sees the Woman and Senior Non Check compete.
Good Luck to all the teams competing and everyone involved!!
2008 Peewee Rep Team
2008 Midget Rep Team
Firth Bidois
Goalie
Shaun Harrison
Wing
Oliver Hay
Wing
George Scott
Wing
Joshua Jansson
Wing
Callom Jansson
Wing - Reserve
Kyle Jonsson
Wing
Libby-Jean Hay
Defence
Sam Killip
Defence
Csaba K-Magos
Goal
Robin Vortonov
Wing
Jack Elliot
Wing
Bailey Sauerbier
Defence
James Currid
Centre
William Idoine
Defence
Harry Leishman
Wing - Reserve
Richard Dawson
Defence
Patrick Forde
Defence
Tiger Nie
Defence
Jin Du
Defence
Keegan Maisey (A)
Centre
Thomas Clow
Wing
Reuben Sandoy (A)
Defence
Mitchell Dawson (C)
Defence
Joshua Whitston-Lee
Wing
Jesse Moss-Young (A) Centre
Thomas Heather
Wing
Fraser Ellis
Wing
Frazer Ellis (C)
Centre
Evan Terlesk
Defence
Grace Harrison
Goalie
Hamish Gouldstone
Goal
Logan Fraser
Centre
Dylan Dickson (A)
Centre
Ryan Currid
Defence
Keegan Harnett
Wing
Head Coach
Phil Lyle
Assistant Coach
Karl Peni
Manager
Tony Jansson
Head Coach: C Kersco-Magos
Assistant Coach: W Simpson
Co-manager: T Ellis
Co-manager: F Maisey (Mrs)
www.t-blade.co.nz
Never sharpen your
skates again… ever
Mobile 021 20 80 459
Test it for free
IN THE CREASE
Page 3
2008 Junior Rep Team
2008 Women’s Rep Team
Andre Dowman
Goalie
Michael Hopkinson
Goalie
Morgan Pugh
Defense
Michael Attwell
Forward
Franz Vogel
Defense
Glenn Terlesk
Defense
Dylan Dixon
Forward
Andrew Gouldstone
Forward
Jeremy Chai
Forward
Sam Moses
Forward
Jordan Challis
Forward
Blake Jackson
Defense
Dion Guest
Forward
Sam Boniface
Forward
Todd Elder
Defense
Richard Idoine
Defense
Remy Sandoy
Forward
Guy Pulman
Forward
Waide da Encarnacao
Forward
Laurianne English
Defence
Libby-Jean Hay
Defence
Samantha Thomas
Defence
Teena Oliver-Halford
Defence
Christine Thomas
Defence
Beverley Chamberlain Forward
Head Coach
George Pilgrim
Assistant Coach
Andy Kaisser
Manager
Alan Dowman
Casey Redman
Forward
Celia Offwood
Forward
Jessie Ellis
Forward
Kelly Biffin
Forward
Magda Ford
Forward
Nicole Ferrier
Forward
Caitlin McIlhagga
Forward
Susan McMillan
Forward
Sarah Wilcox
Forward
Tabitha Crump
Goalie
Firth Bidois
Goalie
Head Coach:
C Kersco-Magos
Manager:
S Henry
2008 Senior Non Check Rep Team
Frank Sandberg
Defence
Alan Peddie
Foward
Rowan Turkington
Defence
Andrew Peddie
Foward
Steven Green
Defence
Richard Freeth (A)
Foward
Shawn Henry
Goalie
Greg Dorey (A)
Foward
John Graeme
Goalie
Rob Altobelli
Foward
Damien Partridge
Goalie (reserve)
Daniel Jordan
Foward
Mike Healy
Foward
Head Coach:
Brent Parker
Matt Harper
Foward
Manager:
Yvonne Hanham
Fergus Francis
Foward
Mike Ting
Forward (reserve)
Sam Kay
Forward (reserve)
Wade Mcmillan
Defence
Steve Donovan
Defence
Wayne Clapp (C)
Defence
www.quoss.co.nz
Page 4
ISSUE 4, AUGUST 2008
September/October Holiday Programme
Avondale
1st week of the school holidays
29 Sep – 3 Oct
Botany
2nd week of the holidays
6 – 10 October
Improve your skating, puck handling, shooting, game play and fitness significantly in just one
week. Coaches Csaba and Jimmy will give personal attention to your needs.
Daily Program
7.45 – 8.45am
On Ice Practice
8.45 – 9.15am
Change & break
9.15 – 10.00am
Classroom Session
10.00 – 11.00am
Off Ice & ball handling Practice
11.00 – 11.15am
Break
11.15am – 12.15pm
Shooting Practice
12.15 – 2.15pm
Skating technique at Public Session
2.15pm
End
Options:
Full 5 day program
$150
Day Rate 7.45am – 2.15pm
$35
1 hour On Ice Practice only
$15
No food or drinks supplied so bring your own.
Class numbers are limited so reserve your place today by contacting;
Csaba Kersco-Magos
[email protected]
021 398 197
09 817 4432
Auckland Ice Hockey in the Media
Did you know that Auckland and New Zealand Ice Hockey has been all over the media lately?
Article on the front page of www.IIHF.com on the state of New Zealand.
“Across the Pond” Article on Jordan Challis on www.NHL.com.
Jeff Bonazzo was interviewed by Brendan Telfer on Radiosport.
Andy Hay was interviewed live on Sports Café.
The Botany Swarm v Dunedin Thunder game was aired on Triangle TV in Auckland & Wellington and nationwide on Stratos.
IN THE CREASE
Page 5
Admirals and Swarm : Season In Review
2008 West Auckland Admirals Regular Season Results
21-Jun
Botany Swarm 5 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 5
22-Jun
Botany Swarm 5 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 1
28-Jun
West Auckland Admirals 3 Vs. Botany Swarm 5
29-Jun
West Auckland Admirals 0 Vs. Botany Swarm 6
4-Jul
Southern Stampede 3 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 3
5-Jul
Southern Stampede 3 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 4
12-Jul
West Auckland Admirals 7 Vs. Canterbury Red Devils 11
13-Jul
West Auckland Admirals 2 Vs. Canterbury Red Devils 7
19-Jul
Botany Swarm 7 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 4
20-Jul
Botany Swarm 9 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 1
2-Aug
West Auckland Admirals 11 Vs. Dunedin Thunder 2
3-Aug
West Auckland Admirals 7 Vs. Dunedin Thunder 1
NZIHL Final Standings
W PTS
2008 Botany Swarm Regular Season Results
Red Devils
9 32
Swarm
8 31
Stampede
5 18
21-Jun
Botany Swarm 5 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 5
Admirals
3 15
22-Jun
Botany Swarm 5 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 1
Thunder
1
28-Jun
West Auckland Admirals 3 Vs. Botany Swarm 5
29-Jun
West Auckland Admirals 0 Vs. Botany Swarm 6
5-Jul
Canterbury Red Devils 4 Vs. Botany Swarm 4
6-Jul
Canterbury Red Devils 4 Vs. Botany Swarm 4
12-Jul
Dunedin Thunder 5 Vs. Botany Swarm 7
13-Jul
Dunedin Thunder 0 Vs. Botany Swarm 3
19-Jul
Botany Swarm 7 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 4
20-Jul
Botany Swarm 9 Vs. West Auckland Admirals 1
9-Aug
Botany Swarm 6 Vs.
10-Aug
Botany Swarm 4 Vs.
Southern Stampede 1
Southern Stampede 7
4
IN THE CREASE
Page 6
From the Locker Room: Player Profile
Name: Zak Nothling
Position: Goalie
Glove: Left
Nicknames: None I can think of
Hobbies: Gym, Hockey, all forms of sport
NZIHL Team: Botany Swarm
Favourite Mighty Ducks movie? The 1st Mighty Ducks
movie, as it was my first exposure to ice hockey.
Favourite ice hockey moments? The whole of the 2008 U20 World Champs in Serbia. We were undefeated and beat Australia for the 1st time in New Zealand hockey history. We then went on to win against
Serbia (tournament favourites) to take the Gold Medal.
How long have you been playing Ice Hockey for? I played my first season in 2000,so I am in my 8th
year now.
What got you into Ice Hockey? I started as a inline hockey player for the U10 Mt Wellington Panthers,
after a few years of inline I had made a few friends who also played ice hockey, so decided to give it a go.
I played one season of both sports, but I enjoyed ice hockey so much more I decided to focus on just the
one sport.
Why did you decide to become a goalie? I kind of just fell into the position, at the end of training before
my 1st ever game of inline hockey our coach asked who wanted to play goalie for Saturdays game. A few
of us put our hands up and she picked me. We played our 1st game and won so I stuck with the position.
What would you say to a young kid thinking about becoming a goalie? Go for it! It’s a great position
as you get to see the game from a position that no one else on the team does. You have the ability to control the out come of any game, every time you step on to the ice you get a chance to be the hero.
Favourite overseas player(s)? Dominic Hasek, for his unique and unappreciable style.
Favourite overseas team(s)? The Soviet National Team because of their domination of international
games for so many years.
What was it like playing for the Ice Blacks for the first time this year? It was a great experience to
finally be part of the team. Not just playing in the World Champs, but the whole build up to it, the training
camps, travelling with the team and all that goes with it. The best part was achieving a goal that I set
when I first started playing.
Tips for young goalies wanting to play for the Ice Blacks? Set yourself your goal and put the work in,
on and off the ice. Never give up until you get there. But remember hockey is a game and supposed to be
fun.
Where is the best place that Ice Hockey as taken you? Hockey has taken me to so many places in the
world it is hard to say, but Vienna in Austria would have to be near the top.
Who is the worst roommate on the road you've had? To be honest I have never had a bad room mate,
so you will have to ask my room mates what I’m like!
Who has the hardest shot in the NZIHL? That would be between two players and I’m glad I don’t have
to play against them, Charlie Huber & Josh Hay.
The Swarm are once again around the top of the table this year, what makes you so successful?
I think the Swarm’s success comes from our team unity on and off the ice. We are all really good friends
and we all have our place on the team. Every one contributes and has a job to do and it shows on the ice.
Also as I said earlier hockey is a game and it is meant to be played for fun and that’s what we all try to do.
IN THE CREASE
ISSUE 4, AUGUST 2008
Page 7
Overtime: Canadian
Hockey League (The
Major Juniors)
Official website: www.chl.ca
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the governing body for Major Junior Hockey
(formerly known as Tier One Junior A) in Canada. The CHL currently oversees the
Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec
Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). All three leagues have teams in both Canada and the United
States. Each league plays individual regular season schedules, and playoffs. The annual CHL championship is determined by the Memorial Cup tournament held in May.
More than half the players in the National Hockey League for the 2005-06 NHL season had played in
the CHL. The CHL is generally considered the world's top professional development junior hockey
league. It is a key supplier of new players and officials for the many North American professional
hockey leagues, such as the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, ECHL, International
Hockey League and the North Eastern Hockey League. Many CHL players also opt for Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
The CHL schedule culminates in the Memorial Cup tournament, which sees each of the three league
champions, as well as a host team, play a round-robin tournament to determine a national champion.
The CHL also hosts the CHL Top Prospects Game, for the top draft eligible players in the league, as
well as the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, a six-game all-star exhibition series against a team of Russian juniors.
Each year, every team in the CHL has the option to chose up to 2 players from outside North America
to add to its roster. Picks are chosen in reverse order of the team's standings in the CHL. The Import
Draft is seen as a way to raise the level of competition in the CHL, as well as to broaden its fan base
while retaining high North American content.
Official website: http://lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (due to its cumbersome name, the
league is often referred to as "The Q") is the smallest of the three Canadian junior
leagues in numbers of teams. Its teams are based in the Canadian provinces of
Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and
Labrador and the American state of Maine. The President's Cup is the championship trophy of the league. The QMJHL has traditionally adopted a rapid and offensive style of hockey. "The Q" is known for producing more high-quality offensive players and goalies
than defencemen. Former QMJHL players hold many of the Canadian Hockey League's career and
single season offensive records.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was founded in 1969, through the merger of best teams from
the existing Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League, declaring themselves a "major junior" league. Of the original eleven QMJHL teams, eight came from the
QJHL, two from the MMJHL, and the Cornwall Royals, from Cornwall, Ontario, near the Quebec border, who transferred from in the Central Junior A Hockey League. The Rosemont Nationals and Laval
Saints transferred from the MMJHL. The eight teams from the QJHL were the Drummondville Rangers,
Quebec Remparts, Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Shawinigan Bruins, Sherbrooke Castors, Sorel Éperviers,
Trois-Rivières Ducs and the Verdun Maple Leafs.
Most of the teams were within a few hours' drive of Montreal. From the first season in 1969-70, only
Shawinigan remains in the same city with an uninterrupted history, although the team's name has
changed to the Cataractes.
In 1972 the QMJHL had been in operation for three years, and wanted a team in the province's largest
city. It threatened a lawsuit to force the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association
into the Quebec-based league. Over the summer of 1972, the OHA granted the Junior Habs a "oneyear suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the
QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process.
8
ISSUE 4,Page
AUGUST
2008
Page 8
IN THE CREASE
The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise for the 1973-74 season in Kingston, Ontario, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians.
Starting in 1994, the QMJHL began to expand further east, outside of Quebec. The "Q" filled the void
in Atlantic Canada after the exodus of American Hockey League franchises, when the AHL had a
strong presence in the 1980s and 1990s; all of the Eastern Division cities save for Acadie-Bathurst
and Lewiston are former homes of AHL franchises. Teams in Atlantic Canada and Maine comprise the
entire Eastern Division of the QMJHL.
The 2007–08 QMJHL season is the 39th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey
League. The eighteen teams played 70 games each. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies finished first overall in the regular season winning their first Jean Rougeau Trophy. They would go on to win 12 straight
playoff games, before losing in 5 games in the finals to the Gatineau Olympiques, who would capture
their seventh President's Cup, and third in the last 6 years.
Official website: www.ontariohockeyleague.com
In 1980, the Ontario Hockey League was born with the renaming of
the "Ontario Major Junior Hockey League." Previously the OMJHL
officially separated from the Ontario Hockey Association in 1974.
There are currently 20 teams in the OHL; 17 are based in Ontario, 2 teams in Michigan and 1 team in
Pennsylvania. The league is often referred to as the "O".
Junior age ice hockey in Ontario began in 1896, organized by the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).
Since then it has undergone four major eras of distinction in levels of junior hockey. In 1933, the junior
division was divided into two levels, junior A and junior B. In 1972 the upper level was divided into two
more levels, Tier I and Tier II. In 1974 the "Major Junior A Tier I" portion of the OHA separated from
the OHA and became the 'Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.' (OMJHL) In the 1980, the OMJHL
became the "Ontario Hockey League."
In 1980, the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League sought to gain further independence and more control over its financial policies and gate receipts. The OMJHL separated itself from the Ontario Hockey
Association, becoming the Ontario Hockey League.
An agreement was struck between the two sides where the OHL would pay the OHA $30,000 annually
in affiliation fees and the right to compete for the Memorial Cup, and the OHL teams would have complete control over finances and ticket sales. The OHA would continue to operate hockey from Junior A
Tier II, and below.
In the 1980s, the league added the Guelph Platers and Belleville Bulls, and welcomed the Cornwall
Royals from the QMJHL. North Bay took in the second version of the Niagara Falls Flyers. The former
Fincups franchise was recycled through Brantford as the Brantford Alexanders and back to Hamilton,
and by the end of the decade it was in Niagara Falls. The end of the decade saw the end of another
storied team, the Toronto Marlboros, as they relocated to become the Hamilton Dukes. It also saw the
end of the Kingston Canadians name as they were renamed the Raiders, and renamed again to the
Frontenacs the following year.
The 1990s saw the league expand into the USA. The first franchise the expansion Detroit Compuware
Ambassadors (later the Detroit Junior Red Wings, Detroit Whalers and Plymouth Whalers) and secondly the Erie Otters, who relocated from Niagara Falls. The Otters could trace their heritage back to
the Hamilton Tiger Cubs of 1953. Newmarket also briefly had the Royals before moving on to become
the Sarnia Sting. The Dukes became the Guelph Storm; filling the void left when the Platers relocated
to Owen Sound. Barrie rejoined the league in 1995 with the Colts and the Toronto St. Michael's Majors
also rejoined the league in 1997 after a 34-year absence. The league continued to expand with two
new teams in 1998; Don Cherry's Mississauga IceDogs and the Brampton Battalion. In 2000 The
Owen Sound Platers were renamed to the Attack after being bought by local interests. In 2002, the
Centennials moved to Saginaw, Michigan to become the Saginaw Spirit.
The 2007–08 OHL season is the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68
games each during the schedule. The OHL championship series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup was
won by the Kitchener Rangers, who finished first overall and then went on to defeat the Belleville Bulls
4-3 in Championship finals series. The Kitchener Rangers had already been chosen before the start of
the season to host the 2008 Memorial Cup.
ISSUE 4, AUGUST 2008
Page 9
Official website: www.whl.ca
The Western Hockey League was founded in 1966 as the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, and then Western Canada Hockey League. In 1978, it became known as the Western Hockey League. The league is often referred to as
the "dub", for the first syllable of "W".
For the 2007–08 season, the WHL is comprised of 22 teams divided into two conferences. The WHL
welcomed the city of Edmonton back into the fold, as the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings revived a
historical team name in the Alberta capital.
The WHL has member teams across four Canadian provinces, and two American states. The Eastern
Conference comprises teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and eastern British Columbia.
The Western Conference is made up of teams based in British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon.
The last 15 years in the WHL have been marked by a period of expansion and the return of the league
to Western Canada's major cities. The Kamloops Blazers became the WHL's second dynasty in the
early 1990s when they won both the WHL Championship and Memorial Cup three times in four years
between 1992 and 1995. The Kelowna Rockets have become the third dynasty, winning two WHL titles in 2003 and 2005, and winning the Memorial Cup as host city in 2004.
In 1995, the Calgary Hitmen were born when a group of investors, including Bret "the Hitman" Hart,
from whom the team got its name, were granted an expansion franchise. Despite early fears that the
WHL could not succeed in an NHL city, the Hitmen have been a major success, averaging as many as
10,000 fans per game in 2004–05. The Hitmen were followed one year later by the Edmonton Ice, who
failed after only two seasons because of conflicts with the Edmonton Oilers. The team would become
the Kootenay Ice, who have become a major success in Cranbrook, British Columbia despite being
one of the smallest markets in the league. In the new millennium, the league has given birth to four
new expansion teams—the Vancouver Giants in 2001, the Everett Silvertips in 2003, the Chilliwack
Bruins in 2005, and the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2007, as the Oilers have taken an interest in cultivating
a junior team in the Alberta capital.
The WHL is stereotypically known for producing large, hard-hitting defencemen and gritty power forwards, although recently a high percentage of quality goaltenders have come out of the Dub as well,
as evidenced by the fact that the last five winners of the CHL Goaltender of the Year award have
come from the WHL.
The 2007–08 WHL season is the 42nd season for the Western Hockey League. Teams played 72
games in the season. The Spokane Chiefs won the Ed Chynoweth Cup, defeating the Lethbridge Hurricanes in four games.
The 2008 Memorial Cup was played in May 2008 in Kitchener at the Memorial Auditorium. Kitchener
defeated competing bids from Oshawa, Saginaw, London, Sarnia and Kingston to host the Memorial
Cup, with the official announcement being made on May 10, 2007. The tournament was competed
between the WHL champion Spokane Chiefs, the QMJHL champion Gatineau Olympiques, the Kitchener Rangers as host of the tournament and OHL champions, and the OHL representative Belleville
Bulls, who earned their place by reaching the OHL finals against Kitchener. The Memorial Cup tournament is a four team tournament with a round-robin format.
The 2008 tournament began with a round-robin game between Gatineau and Kitchener and ended
with the Spokane Chiefs defeating the Kitchener Rangers 4–1 in the championship game to win the
Memorial Cup. As Spokane Chiefs captain Chris Bruton was about to hand the trophy to Trevor Glass,
the cup detached from the base and fell to the ice. However, this was only a replica trophy as the original Memorial Cup resides at the Hockey Hall of Fame.