Post Game: Aces 6, Grizzlies 0

No eff-ing comment.

Post Game: Aces 4, Grizzlies 1

Grizzlies lose, but don't get shut out.

The boys 1st period looked much better than what we saw from them last night. Utah seemed to keep up with the Aces on the Olympic-sized ice and push the advantages they had. Also, the Grizzlies were playing a lot better in front of their own net during the initial 20, which allowed them to end the period with a 1 goal lead. However, Alaska rallied quick in the 2nd to add 3 goals in 4 minutes.

We have to give some coaching propers to Colley who utilized his 30 second time out to calm the boys down and stop the bleeding. Utah played better after this point, but weren't able to come back. The game seemed more psychological tonight than yesterday, as we saw some genuine effort before the crash and burn. Tough luck, boys.

Even when the Grizzlies were getting chances, they weren't getting past Alaska's goalie Coleman. We really can't say much more about that - the guy is on his game.

Let's go for Sunday, boys.

Stars of the Game -

1. AK - W. Goldie
2. AK - A. Dzielski
3. UTA - R. Grantham

Links -
post game || Alaska Rallies By Utah
gamesheet || Utah at Alaska - 3/26/11
highlights || Game Highlights 3/26/11 vs Alaska
interview || 3/26/11 intermission

Post Game: Aces 4, Grizzlies 0

Grizzlies get shut out.

A great game by the Aces. We were hoping Utah would try to make it tough for Alaska, but they didn't really bother to show up. The Grizzlies did go into this one shorthanded with McIlveen, May, and Kilburg out of the line up; however, they still had Ferguson, Carpentier, and Carroll (to name a few) who we expected to produce.

We tried to watch for the new defensemen, but they were mostly nondescript. We're wondering if they're still getting used to the Utah system.

Sorteberg seemed to stand out on defense; we were amazed he ended the game with a -2. Parnham was great on the back end as well, making some decent blocks, and Guthrie had several runs at the net which were noteworthy. Otherwise, the team looked lackadaisical.

For the most part, the Grizzlies stayed out of the box, but the few penalties they had hurt them. Two back to back penalties in the 1st allowed Alaska to grab the lead, and a double minor late in the 3rd put Utah shorthanded for the remainder of the game, guarenteeing the Aces the shutout. while we can't really bitch about the amount of shorthanded situations, the penalties the boys took were not necessary or smart. Disappointed.

We need to give some major love to Tyler Sims, who did a great job finishing up the game and allowed only one goal on the 15 shots he saw from Alaska. Some of those saves were spectacular, as the Grizzlies play in front of the net became increasingly sloppy in the final 20. Nicely done.

Do better tonight, Utah. We don't even care if you win - just play.

Links -

post game || Grizzlies Fall In Alaska
gamesheet || Utah at Alaska - 3/25/11

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

The Grizzlies are on the road for a 3 game series in Alaska this weekend which could see the Aces clinch the Western Conference title. As of right now, there are a lot of things that have to take place for that to happen, but let's put it this way - the more they win, the sooner it happens. With them being 8 points ahead of the closest contender (Bakersfield), it's basically inevitable, but we're a little bit bitter about it. We think that should have been the Grizzlies' spot, so we're all for the clinch being delayed as long as possible. Of course, if the Grizzlies had been a little more bitter in the first place, maybe it WOULD have been their spot...

Moving on. Put simply, Alaska is a good team. They have won 9 of their last 10 games, and Utah has only beat them once this season. They are 30-6-1 when scoring first, and Ace Wes Goldie is on an impressive 12 game point streak right now. The Grizzlies, on the other hand have not been as impressive lately, winning only 4 of their last 10 and leading the league in penalty minutes. However, we know that Utah is also a good team when they get to their game and don't get distracted. Is it a tall order to get points out of Alaska this weekend? Yes. But it's not impossible.

As Adrian Denny points out in his game day blog, this could end up being a great goaltending battle. Andrew Engelage and Gerald Coleman have eerily similar statistics this season, right down to them both being 6'5". Coleman has more wins, but he's played 8 more games in the ECHL this season than Engelage has. Engelage has a slightly better save percentage. Coleman has a slightly lower goals against average. With so many things being close to equal, we think this will come down to who has a harder-working team playing in front of them. And maybe who is luckier. It never hurts.

When it comes right down to it, the Grizzlies just need the points more than the Aces do. We'd really like to see them come out and play like they want those points. They had a good start on Wednesday, even though they didn't come out on top in the shootout. They still gained a point, and they're currently at the 2nd spot in the division. That's definitely a spot they want to keep, as the higher up they are, the better chance they get home ice in the playoffs. They only have 6 regular season games left, so they need to make them count.

Final road trip of the season. 3 game weekend. 6 points available for the taking. Let's do it.

Post Game: Alaska 5, Grizzlies 2

So, this wasn't the big comeback game we'd hoped for against the Aces.

In fact, we didn't get to see it. The weather was against us, the B2 was against us, and we figured it was all just as well. Though we were sad to miss Parnham's goal, which apparently earned him 3rd star of the game.

Looks like former Grizzlies Tyler Ruegsegger had himself a game: 3 points (1g, 2a) in a first star of the game performance. Nicely done.

Check out the links for more on the game, cause this is it from us.

Get it figured out by the weekend, Utah.

Stars of the Game -

1. AK - T. Ruegsegger
2. AK - K. Falite
3. UTA - B. Parnham

Links -
post game || Alaska Takes Utah 5-2
gamesheet || Alaska at Utah - 2/16/11
interview || Riley Emmerson 2/16/11 intermission

Post Game: Aces 4, Grizzlies 3

Grizzlies lose.

Utah had all the luck on their side in this one. They got all the bounces, all the openings, and they still couldn't get the job done. The Grizzlies 1st period was pretty clean, considering the 1-0 Alaska scoreboard. The 2nd was riddled with penalties that slowed down the boys, even though Utah managed to tie things up.

We have to give major propers to Alaska for their grit. After the Grizzlies scored their 3rd goal to take the lead, the Aces put the pressure on, never stopping until Wes Goldie (or as we like to refer to him the-worst-trade-Victoria-ever-made) snapped away from the Utah defensemen and popped in two to bring the game home.

Once again, Brock played the wildcard. Two goals were scored during his penalty: a shorty for Utah, then a power play goal for Vegas. Then the kid picks up Utah's 3rd goal. Seriously - he's the Charlie Kelly of the team. Ye-haw!

But overall Colley wasn't too happy: "These guys are getting paid, they had a good break. We gave them the days off to rest the bones and some guys didn't sacrifice a drop of sweat tonight."



Ouch.

Stars of the Game -

1. AK - W. Goldie
2. AK - B. Miller
3. UTA - S. Ferguson

Links -
post game || Alaska Prevails 4-3 In Utah
gamesheet || Alaska at Utah - 2/15/11
highlights || Game Highlights 2/15/11 vs Alaska
photos || 2/15/11 - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces
interview || Kevin Colley 2/15/11 post game
interview || Marcus Carroll 2/15/11 intermission

Game Day - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

It's been a while since the Aces have been in town. In fact, the last time they were here was in November, when they handed the Grizzlies a pair of losses (one in overtime). Of course, you may remember that back in November every team that came to the Maverik Center was kind of giving Utah a wedgie. It wasn't pretty. Now, however, the Grizzlies have figured out how to play on their home ice, and we'd like to see them use this opportunity to get a few points up on Las Vegas.

Alaska is coming off of a challenging weekend against Stockton. They won two out of the three games, but one was an overtime win, and they were eventually unable to overtake the Thunder in the standings. The Aces are currently 3rd in the Mountain Division, 2 points behind Idaho, and 5 behind Utah. Utah is at the top of the Mountain Division, but still only #2 in the Western Conference. Hence the sign. However, the Grizzlies could be in the lead by the weekend if they can get 3 out of 4 points in the series with Alaska. 4 would be better.

The Grizzlies have been getting back to the game we know and love lately. They've won 6 of their last 10 games, and we're looking for them to start a new streak. They've been on and off with the wins, not stacking more than two together since the beginning of January. They got one in Vegas last week, so with the 4 home games coming up, we don't think 5 in a row is too much to ask. We're not demanding or anything.

One way the Grizzlies can do that is by making sure they have the lead going into the 3rd period. Here's another one of those weird stats someone thought of keeping once - the Grizzlies are 20-0-1 when leading at the end of the 2nd. What that actually tells us in non-statistical terms is that Utah is good at holding a lead and closing out games. That is a very good skill to have, and probably has contributed quite a bit to them hovering around the top of the conference for most of the season. Too many teams are tricked into thinking they have a "safe" lead. The Grizzlies know there's no such thing. They're probably not safe in Colley's locker room until they win. We know how he is about losing.


Also coming up this weekend - along with the Grizzlies' rise to the top of the Western Conference - is Hockey Weekend Across America. The three special event days are Wear Your Jersey Day on Friday the 18th, Bring a Friend to the Rink Day on Saturday the 19th, and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day on Sunday the 20th. There are also 4 locations in Utah where you can participate in a Try Hockey For Free Clinic on Saturday the 19th. And of course, what better way to celebrate hockey than to support your local team? If you've ever needed an excuse to bring someone to a Grizzlies game, this is it.

4 home games in 5 days. 8 points on the line. 1st place in the west within reach. It all starts tonight at 7:05 pm.

4 for 4 = 4th (and a few other thoughts)

We're officially impressed. The Grizzlies came out of their 4 game California road trip with 4 wins, which gives them 25 points in the standings. They're now at the top of the Western Conference, and 4th in the entire ECHL. The last of those wins included the first professional hat trick for Brett Parnham. We're thankful he's back and healthy. Even Coach Colley was impressed. "It wasn't an easy road trip with all the travel and tough teams, and I'm really proud of the guys to go 4-0," he said. We're also thankful the team is back in town this week - games Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (More on the trip from the Grizzlies website here.)

Alaska's Wes Goldie scored his 300th ECHL goal on Friday. Remember all those years he played for Victoria? We're kind of wondering how smart it was of them to let him go. Before last weekend (when the Grizzlies took over the top spot - woooo!) the Aces were at the top of the division, while the Salmon Kings have been mucking around at the bottom. The fish are still at the bottom after three losses last weekend to Idaho. Their attendance records are steadily dropping as well. Victoria's home opener drew a crowd of 4,455, while their last three games had showings of 3,302 (11/24), 2,969 (11/26) and 3,732 (11/27). Maybe the fans are as frustrated as former Grizzly and new captain Peter Vandermeer was in what turned out to be a 3 game sweep in Las Vegas not too long ago. Did the Salmon Kings give up more than they bargained for in Wes Goldie?


You can hang with the Grizzlies when they return home on Tuesday night at the EGate Apartments across from the Maverik Center at 5:30 pm. (Anyone else think they were named that when it was still the E Center?) And don't forget Grizzlies Live on the other side of the Maverik Center at 7:00 pm at Ruby Tuesday. If you can't be there, you can listen on KFAN 1230 AM. See the Grizzlies website for more information.

Post Game: Aces 5, Grizzlies 0

Grizzlies lose.

There's really not much to say about this one. Utah looked pretty good in the 1st, then rapidly deteriorated in the 2nd. The boys came out with a slightly better 3rd, but it just wasn't enough.

The fans expressed their dismay by throwing their bears for the Teddy Bear Toss on the ice after the Ace's 5th goal. Ouch.

Wanted to give a shout out to Brett Parnham for his first game off of the IR since the last time the boys were at home. Parnham played some good shifts and made some great hits on Alaska. And also, we'd be remiss if we didn't post the one highlight of the game - the Marcus Carroll fight. Our favorite part is the dap he gets from Wilson as he leaves the ice. Nicely done.



Game Photos -


Links -
post game || Alaska Breaks First Place Tie With Win
gamesheet || Alaska at Utah - 11/20/10
photos || 11/20/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

Post Game: Aces 5, Grizzlies 4 (OT)

Grizzlies lose in OT, pick up a point.

Unfortunately, we called this one. Sitting in 121 with the 3rd goal just under the Grizzlies belts and half the game left to play, I leaned over to fellow blogger Joni and muttered, "These boys have a tendency to lose their lead. 4-4 going into overtime."

It is a little disheartening to watch a 3-0 lead go down the drain. We've seen it happen before, where the other team takes advantage of simple mistakes that Utah makes. One of Alaska's goals formulated on a 3-on-1, where defense was just not in position. It happens. Sometimes the Grizzlies get lucky when they take an on-ice breather. But when the opposing team pushes the advantage, it makes Utah's miscalculation that much more apparent. Assistant Coach Leigh Mendleson articulated on this in his post game, stating "We haven't learned our lesson yet. We haven't learned that once you get a lead going you don't sit back, you don't play the scoreboard, you don't feel good about things. You put your work boots on a little tighter and you finish the game."

But now for the good. The Crowder boys lit things up again, with 3 points (1g, 2a) for Tim and 2 for Paul (2a). Kevin Deeth, playing with the Crowder line, also lit up the scoreboard with 2 points (1g, 1a) of his own.

We also wanted to shine on Jason Fredricks. We'd actually been commenting on Fredricks' defense throughout the night. He was always where the puck was and from that was able to generate his first goal of the season with the Crowder line. Nicely done. Andrew Engelage made some amazing saves through the night, stopping 32 of 37. After all of his hard work, it was difficult to see the game go on such an easy goal, which we're sure he'd love to have back. And Riley Emmerson picked up his first point of the season with an assist and added another fight to his resume. Overall, it was an entertaining game for the 7,887 fans in attendance.

Rematch tonight at the Maverik Center @ 7:00pm.

Stars of the Game -

1. AK - B. Miller
2. UTA - T. Crowder
3. AK - K. Falite

Game Photos -



Links -
post game || 7,887 See Alaska Take Overtime Contest In Utah
gamesheet || Alaska at Utah - 11/19/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/19/10 vs Alaska
photos || 11/19/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces
interview || Leigh Mendleson 11/19/10 post game
interview || Kevin Deeth 11/19/10 interview

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

After nearly a month on the road, the journeyman Grizzlies are finally back at the Maverik Center this weekend. It's about time too. We've been watching the results of their play as the away team for what seems like an entire season already without being able to see them in person. With Friday being $5 ticket night (with a Maverik receipt) we're hoping there's a full house to welcome them back. Maybe with some good posters or something. (That's a hint.)

There have only been two games at the Maverik Center so far this season - a 5-0 loss that we're still scratching our heads about, and a 6-4 win, both against Bakersfield - so we're not really sure how the Grizzlies play at home yet. With the team finally settling in for... um... a weekend? Well, we hope they can begin to send a message that their home ice is a tough place for other teams to play, but realistically, they don't have a good stretch of home games until December. So we're putting that on our Christmas list.

Dear Santa,

We have been very, very good this year. Mostly. For Christmas, we would really like a bunch of home wins for the Grizzlies. And a Cocoa Latte machine.

Hugs and kisses to Mrs. Claus and all the reindeer.< Sincerely,
Utah Grizz Blog

The Grizzlies bring back with them the Alaska Aces, who are literally right on their doorstep in the standings. With 15 points to the Grizzlies' 16, we're guessing Alaska is going to show up ready for a scrap. Maybe literally. The Aces opened their season playing the Grizzlies in Alaska. That resulted in one win (in OT) and one loss. They've won six of their last ten games, but have lost their last three to Ontario. We'd like to see them continue their losing ways when they come to the Maverik Center this weekend. We're okay with being poor hosts.

With Brad Snetsinger being the ECHL player of the week, and the return of JP Lamoureux in net the Grizzlies should be locked and fully loaded for the weekend. Although Hugo Carpentier has been recalled to Abbotsford, the Grizzlies hope to see Simon Ferguson on home ice for the first time since acquiring him last season. We missed out on the Riley Armstrong experiment due to him going off to play in Europe. (Thanks to James in the 226 for the heads up on that one.) We're hoping maybe he'll come back someday, but that's just how we are. We're still going to follow him on twitter. (Anyone know if Mark Pavli is on twitter?)

In addition to $5 night on Friday, Saturday is the Bear Toss event, where fans are invited to bring a stuffed bear (or any other stuffed animal, really) to throw on the ice after the Grizzlies score their first goal. The team will take all the toys to kids at the Primary Children's Medical Center on their Christmas visit. And as we pointed out earlier, when else are you going to get to throw something on the ice? Without getting kicked out of the game, that is. It's a great cause - bring a bear on Saturday.

Puck drops at 7:05 pm Friday and Saturday. It's a Grizzlies weekend. Finally!

And we would like our keeper back thank you very much!

Yesterday Colley announced that we got our goal keeper J.P. Lamoureux back from the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat, which is good news for our games this weekend. J.P. is one of our newest players yet seems to be fitting in great and is an awesome asset to the team. He has the drive and the skill to help take us a long way this season.

We have games coming up this weekend against the Alaska Aces. I think we proved to them on the road that we have what it takes to become a fighting power in the ECHL. We won our last game with a 3-2 over time win - it was a nail biter! The Grizzlies are currently ranked number one in the Western Division and Alaska is ranked number two. Our team has been doing so well, to mess it up this weekend would cost us the number one seat. And seeing as many of us Grizzly fans aren't okay with the Aces having the number one seat, the boys need to come out on top this weekend.

Just a note Brad Snetsinger is ranked number 11 in scoring stats for the ECHL!

In other ECHL news, Peter Vandermeer, who played for the Grizzlies last year but is currently with the Victoria Salmon Kings, had an interesting game against Las Vegas. Peter got multiple penalties in this game including smacking Mosienko below the belt. Vandermeer continued to try and beat him up after the officials had already pulled them apart. He was called for spearing among other things during the game so he spent a lot of time in the penalty box.

Don't forget out two home games this week on the 19th and 20th against the Aces! Friday the 19th is maverick day so bring your receipt from maverick and get a ticket for 5$!

Go grizzlies!

Peace :)
GrizzGirl

3 of 4, and Other News

The Grizzlies had a great opening weekend, getting 3 out of 4 points in Alaska Friday and Saturday. Go Grizzlies!

Be sure to tune in to 1230 AM tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7:00 for the first edition of Grizzlies Live. Fans are being encouraged to attend and participate, so if you can, head on out to the Ramada at the airport. They will be giving away prizes... and appetizers. You won't hear us complaining about free food.

ECHL.com has a brief spotlight on Coach Kevin Colley.

Don't forget to cast your vote for the ECHL All-Decade Team.

GrizzBlog welcomes two new bloggers this season. Hello Collette and Stephanie!

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

It's finally opening night!

The Grizzlies are opening the 2010-2011 season this weekend on the road in Alaska against the Aces. We're pretty excited, and not just because we've been deprived of Grizzlies hockey for so long. We think this team has a lot of potential for an exciting season. They're also taller than last season's team. We don't know if that's relevant or not.

Anyway, after a couple of weeks of training camp they're ready to go, and even if they're not, it's too late now. We looked up last year's stats against Alaska, and it looks like they won 6 out of 8 games against the Grizzlies, so the Grizz have something to prove. Either that, or the Grizzlies won 6 of 8, but there's no guide on how to read the chart. We're pretty sure it was the former. We do remember a gigantic brawl against the Aces last season so we know it wasn't pretty.

The Aces have consistently been a tough team for the Grizzlies to play against, so this should be a good test. They are coming back, however, with former Alaska goaltender J. P. Lamoureux, who took the Aces all the way to game 7 in the Kelly Cup Finals in '08-'09. Our guess is he'd like to get back there. A guy with his experience could be a great asset for the Grizzlies.

Here's a fun fact - the Grizzlies will be icing two pairs of brothers (a pair of pairs?) this season. Ed and Brad Snetsinger have joined the team, along with Paul Crowder, brother of returning forward Tim Crowder. Timmy and Paulie are expected to start on a line together. We wonder how that worked out in the back yard back in the day. Guess we'll find out.

The Grizzlies have updated their website with some videos from training camp, interviews, and this great fact sheet about tonight's opener. If you haven't seen it already, we recommend checking it out. Both games this weekend (Friday and Saturday) can be heard on 1230 am with the pre-game show starting at 8:45 pm. Puck drops at 9:15 pm.

It's about time.

Post Game: Aces 3, Grizzlies 2

In his post game commentary, Adrian Denny refered to this game as "the James Sixsmith Show." We couldn't agree more.

The Aces scored 0:11 into the 1st to take the lead, which they held until James Sixsmith tied things up at 18:37 to end the period 1-1. Utah was able to hold Alaska off until 13:28 of the 2nd, when the Aces found the back of the net and regained their lead. However, during an Alaska power play, Sixsmith rushed the Aces' net and picked up a short-handed goal to tie the game once again. Less than a minute later, Alaska scored 5-on-5 to end the 2nd period 3-2.

The 3rd period remained scoreless as Utah attempted to tie the game and force things past regulation. While the Grizzlies tallied 12 SOG to Alaska's 10, Utah wasn't able to light the lamp in the final frame and the game ended in the Aces' favor, 3-2.

From the official post game:

The Alaska Aces defeated the Utah Grizzlies (26-25-2-5) 3-2 in regulation Thursday night at the Sullivan Arena.

Utah never led in the game after falling behind just 11 seconds into the first period on the first of two Brock McBride goals in the game. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies drop tough one in Alaska
highlights || Game Highlights 3/4/10 at Alaska
gamesheet || Utah at Alaska 3/4/10
interview || Tim Crowder 3/4/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

AK B. McBride (7), 0:11 1st period (Marsh); Aces 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA J. Sixsmith (17), 18:37 1st period (Kinasewich, Wilson); Aces 1, Grizzlies 1
AK B. McBride (8), 13:28 2nd period (Blackwater, Peluso); Aces 2, Grizzlies 1
UTA J. Sixsmith (18), 18:34 2nd period; Aces 2, Grizzlies 2
AK N. Mazzolini (22), 19:29 2nd period (Boguniecki, Blackwater); Aces 3, Grizzlies 2


What Worked Well: Staying out of the box
Utah only allowed 3 shorthanded situations during this contest. However, 2 of the 3 still occured in the 3rd period. Whatevs. That's still reduced by 50% from the previous night's 3rd period penalties, so we say good job.

What Could Have Been Better: Clearing the puck
All three of the Alaska goals resulted from the Grizzlies having issues with clearing the puck. Between misdirected passes and the inability to pressure the Aces for the puck, Utah was just not on their game when it came to getting the puck out of their own end.

Who Made the Difference: James Sixsmith
James Sixsmith was responsible for both Utah goals, one of which was an unassisted shorty. Need we say more? Not only was Sixer on fire this game, but he WAS the game. Nicely done, James.


Stars of the Game:

1. AK - B. McBride
2. UTA - J. Sixsmith
3. AK - S. Reid


Additional Notes:

> James Sixsmith scored both Utah goals to extend his winning streak to 11 games.
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped 33 of 36 shots in the loss.

Post Game: Aces 5, Grizzlies 2

Utah started out strong, but a momentum change at the end of the 1st had the Grizzlies struggling to catch up with Alaska in the final 40 minutes.

The Grizzlies picked up the first 2 goals of the contest in the initial frame. Unfortunately, that would be the last time Utah lit the lamp. Alaska grabbed a goal with just over a minute left to play in the 1st, ending the period 2-1 in the Grizzlies favor. In the 2nd, the Aces tacked on 3 unanswered goals to grab the momentum and take the lead, 4-2. Mitch O'Keefe replaced Beau Erickson in net after Alaska's 4th goal and stopped all 20 shots he saw.

Utah battled back in the 3rd, but spent a good portion of the period in the penalty box and was unable to push themselves out of the 2 goal deficit. The Aces ended the night with an empty netter, 5-2.

From the official post game:

Utah led 11-3 on the shot board before Alaska scored their first goal of the night with 1:17 left in the first period and took the momentum from there, scoring four consecutive goals in a 15:31 span to take a 4-2 lead. Alaska added a late empty-netter with 1:13 left to go to finish the contest. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Early Lead Disappears in Alaska
highlights || Game Highlights 3/3/10 at Alaska
gamesheet || Utah at Alaska 3/3/10
interview || Peter Aston 3/3/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

UTA A. Perry (22), 1st period (Kinasewich, Sixsmith); Grizzlies 1, Aces 0
UTA T. Romano (9), 1st period (Clarke); Grizzlies 2, Aces 0
AK S. Burt (10), 18:43 1st period (May, Kotsopoulos); Grizzlies 2, Aces 1
AK D. May (1), 5:57 2nd period (Ryznar, Tuzzolino); Grizzlies 2, Aces 2
AK N. Mazzolini (20), 9:05 2nd period (Marsh, Blackwater); Grizzlies 2, Aces 3
AK E. Boguniecki (16), 14:14 2nd period (Mazzolini, Crum); Grizzlies 2, Aces 4
AK N. Mazzolini (21), EN 18:47 3rd period (Boguniecki, Blackwater); Grizzlies 2, Aces 5


What Worked Well: Going to the net
Both Utah goals came from pushing the puck right up to the net, and it seemed like the whole team was on the same page with this tactic. We saw a lot of defense-led rushes, and nobody was afraid to zip right up to the crease. We like that.

What Could Have Been Better: Staying out of the box
4 of Utah's 5 shorthanded situations were in the 3rd period. And while we didn't feel like the game was called very consistantly (seems everyone got away with a lot more in the first 2 periods of play - at least, it did to us), the back to back penatlies in the final frame really hurt the Grizzlies in their effort to make a comeback.

Who Made the Difference: Matt Clarke
While we can't underestimate the presence of Sixsmith on the ice, Matt Clarke continually pushed the puck toward the net, led several rushes, and worked well both offensively and defensively. Simply put, Clarke was on top of his game tonight and aided the team on the offense, which was needed, as well as kept up his end on defense. He also picked up an assist (or two) and the third star honor. A great game for Clarke.


Stars of the Game:

1. AK - D. May
2. AK - N. Mazzolini
3. UTA - M. Clarke


Additional Notes:

> James Sixsmith tallied an assist in the contest to drive his winning streak into the double digits - 10 games.
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped all 20 shots he saw in the losing effort.

Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces 1/9/10

Grizzlies win.

It looks like the boys traded their 3rd period in for their 1st this game. While the Grizzlies started out shaky, they came back strong in the last 40 minutes with 5 unanswered goals to grab the win. Four Grizzlies ended the night with multiple points: n00b Asselin picks up two goals and the first star of the game, Vlady and Crowder tally a goal and an assist each, and Kinasewich picks up two assists.

We wish we had video of the ref denying the whining of Alaska. It seems to us that if they can't get calls or pull stuff without getting called, they can't play a game. Which is kind of sad (and probably a litte pathetic) for their supporters, but really funny for us!

And as always here are some links to the official post game and the ECHL gamesheet. Our post game is below.

FIRST PERIOD

Utah gets lucky when Alaska misses an open net as O'Keefe comes out of the crease to play the puck. Alaska starst applying the pressure early, and the Grizzlies have problems controling the puck. Friesen gets worked behind the net and draws a hooking penalty on Alaska. Kotsy makes it a 5-on-3 when he goes to the Alaska box for roughing. But the boys spend too much time setting it up and only tally one SOG during the entire power play opportunity. Grizzlies have another power play chance later in the 1st. Just :11 in, Hugo gets called for hooking and negates the power play. Alaska scores on the 4 on 4.

End of first. 1-0, Aces.


SECOND PERIOD

The Grizzlies come out playing aggressively; passes are connecting, they keep control of the puck. Friesen takes a shot through traffic, and Crowder is at the net to deflect it in to tie things up, 1-1. Parnham picks up the second assist on the goal. Alaska almost scores, but it is called off by the ref when he loses site of the puck - nice break for Utah. Carpentier puts the Grizzlies in the lead with a wrap-around goal from behind the net. Kinasewich and Vlady get the assists. The refs call it good, but Alaska disagrees. This is the turning point of the game. Alaska's Martin follows the ref around whining like a desperate jr. high girl who just got dumped; ref tells him to STFU or GTFO, and when Martin doesn't shut up, he goes to the box for Unsportsmanlike conduct. Grizzlies score on the power play when Asselin pokes it in off a centering pass from Crowder behind the net, 3-1. May gets the second assist. 3 minutes later, Asselin tallies his second of the night from a Kinasewich centering pass. It's a little sloppy, but we'll take it with joy!

End of second. 4-1, Grizzlies.

THIRD PERIOD

Ah, the dreaded 3rd. How we hate you. The Grizzlies are looking to defend their lead, and with awesome defense and amazing O'Keefe work, it looks like they're going to get the job done. Vlady sweetens the score by walking in on the Alaska goalie and burying it. After the Vlady goal, Alaska fans start to leave. Utah finishes the game with 5 unanswered goals. O'Keefe makes some beautiful glove saves and the defense stays on their game for the win.

Game.
5-1, Grizzlies.


Stars of the Game
1. Patrick Asselin
2. Mitch O'Keefe
3. Tim Crowder


To continuing the wins . . .

Go Grizzlies!

Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces Post Game 1/8/10

Grizzlies lose.
Same score, different day.

Utah had a lot more fight this game than we've seen through this entire slump. Maybe the end is in sight? We went to Legends to watch the game this time, which we're recommending. If you've ever thought about joining them there, do it. It's a good sized room and everyone gets into the game, so you're not going to be the only psycho yelling at the TV.

This was a better loss to watch than the past few, to be honest. The Grizzlies fought for it in the 3rd, there was a bench brawl at the end of the 2nd, we saw two excellent Kinasewich goals, a May goal, and a stellar 1st period. N00b Asselin joined the team for this game due to the injuries from Wednesday and picked up an assist on the opening May goal.

Since we went to Legends to watch the game, we're going to be a little lax on the recap. We blame beer. For something more comprehensive, read the official post game and the gamesheet at the Utah Grizzlies site and ECHL.com, respectively.


FIRST PERIOD

The 1st period was all Utah. Tom May opened up the scoring 3:20 in. Parnham picks up a point on that and Asselin gets his first point in a Grizzlies jersey on the assist. Kinasewich scores the next two goals for the Grizzlies, his 23rd and 24th of the season. Vlady and Gannon get the assists for the first, and Hugo and Clarke pick them up for the second. Kotsy and some other Ace start it with Hugo. They all get penalties.

End of first. 3-0, Grizzlies.


SECOND PERIOD

Alaska scores two power play goals. Grizzlies are starting to look more and more shaky out there. Then at the end of the period Kotsy slashes goalie Erickson. Really, Kotsy? What would your mother say? BENCH BRAWL! We gotta say this was pretty awesome, especially watching it at Legends. Because everyone was yelling at the screen, not just us, and that made us feel right at home. After the dust (or should we say snow) cleared, 6 game misconducts were handed out: 3 Aces, and 3 Grizzlies, Galbraith, Hand, and Romano. We're not even going to touch the rest of the list of penalties. Just read the gamesheet.

End of second. 3-2, Grizzlies.


THIRD PERIOD

The dreaded final 20 minutes. If you're a Grizzlies fan, you've come to hate this final period. Tonight wasn't much different; the Aces' knew which buttons to push with that end of 2nd brawl. The boys came out with a lot more fight and puck control than they have in a long time, but it wasn't enough. Unfortunate. Aces complete their tally of 5 unanswered goals during this period.

Game.
5-3, Aces.


Ryan Kinasewich is 3rd star of the game.


One more chance to get it right (during this trip).

Go Grizzlies!

Weekend Preview 1/8/10 - Utah vs. Alaska

After suffering a loss at the hands of the Aces on Wednesday, the Grizzlies finish up their series this weekend with games on Friday and Saturday. We're going to chalk Wednesday's loss up to the fact that it's hard to figure out what time it really is in Alaska this time of year, due to it being dark all the time, and also that everyone travels by dog sled. Hopefully, however, the Grizzlies will adjust and make the most of these next two games.

The Grizzlies have lost eight of their last ten games, so they really need a win this weekend. Two would be even better. We haven't been able to figure out what's going on with the team. They seem lackluster at times, and even when they manage to put together a good period or two, they fizzle out in the third. Maybe they're "soff".

New guy Patrick Asselin will join the team tonight, making his debut in a Grizzlies uniform. He was in Salt Lake and expecting to wait until the team gets to Idaho to play, but with injuries to Nikiforov and Hunter, the team shipped him up to Alaska next day air. We bet that was expensive. Adrian Denny has some good information on Asselin in his game day blog post here.

In other news, the Grizzlies' Head Athletic Trainer Mike Plandowski was named to the ECHL All-Star training staff for the National Conference. Does anyone know if he gets a jersey? Because we think his name would look way cool on one. Congratulations, Mike!

Anyway, if you're looking for a place to hang out and watch the game tonight, we're offering up our mom's basement. Just kidding, and if Mom's reading this, sorry for causing a stroke. But really, you can go to Legends Pub and Grill for the Official Watch Party and find other Grizz fans to commiserate... er... enjoy the game with. Or you can catch it on the radio or B2TV networks online. And, of course, you can always listen to our buddy Adrian Denny on 1230 am. Puck drops at 9:15 pm here in Utah - it's a late one.

Go Grizzlies!

Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces Post Game 1/6/10

The Grizzlies have somehow incurred the wrath of the hockey gods.

Well, maybe not, but we have no other explanation for the Grizzlies' 3rd periods as of late. Minus that last 20 minutes and the casualties (Hunter and Vlady), Utah played a good game. Multi-point nights for Kinasewich, Crowder, and May, some beautiful glove saves by O'Keefe, and a couple of decent fights from RJ. Not bad. And it turns out, Kotsy is one tough cookie to play against. But we kind of already knew that . . .

It was nice to see Hunter in a Grizzlies uniform again - for the 18 minutes he was on the ice, anyway. We'd forgotten how well Dylan and Snatch worked together: like a well-oiled machine, baby. We expected there to be at least a game's worth of adjustment time, but they were skating circles as soon as the puck hit the ice.

And as usual, the Utah Grizzlies site has the official post game and audio highlights, ECHL.com has the gamesheet, and our post game is below.


FIRST PERIOD

Apparently the 1st period started out with a fight, but we missed it because the B2 was being a pain. No luck finding highlights, either. We tuned in just in time to see Kotsy take out Beljo with a huge hit. Beljo bounced back ready to go, but the refs broke it up after a short shoving match. Boo. Utah is having no problem controlling the puck, and most of the 1st is spent in Alaska's end. At 18 minutes in, Hunter gets a breakaway, but is taken out by Alaska and slides/crashes into the boards. No call. Snatch kept the play alive, shooting it toward the net where Maxwell knocked it in to put the Grizzlies on the board. A very pretty goal. But Hunter is out for the rest of the game.

End of first. 1-0, Grizzlies.


SECOND PERIOD

This period was littered with more bodies than a Tarantino film. 4 minutes in, Vlady is smacked in the face with a stick and goes down. Casualty #2 for the Grizzlies. Blood on the ice; Vlady's a tough kid, though. Alaska gets a double minor for high-sticking, but the Grizzlies do nothing with their 4 minutes. (No, we're not kidding.) During the power play, Alaska's Burt blocks a puck and is injured in the process. RJ goes for fight #2 of the night. Galbraith is checked head first into the boards by a former teammate, and O'Keefe gets mowed down in the net during that same run. Somewhere in there, Alaska ties it up. But Utah responds with 1.3 seconds left in the period to regain the lead. Crowder's second goal of the season and points to May and Snatch for the assists. Nice.

End of second. 2-1, Grizzlies.


THIRD PERIOD

Utah flounders on the ice. Alaska scores 4 goals. Carpentier tallies with :11 left in the 3rd, but the Grizzlies run out of time.

Game.
5-3, Aces.


Kinasewich was the 2nd Star of the Game.


Luck, Grizzlies!