Post Game: Salmon Kings 6, Grizzlies 5 (SO)

Grizzlies lose, but not as bad.

So the effort Colley wanted to see in this game was definitely taking shape. There was more push from the boys to keep up with the game, and we saw more of the Crowder magic with Tim's goal to tie things 2-2 at the end of the 1st. Even better, it was amazing to see Utah battle back from a 2 goal 3rd period deficit to send things past regulation. It's hard to recall when we last saw this kind of play from the Grizzlies, and we plan on holding them to more of it.

Welcome once again to Meyers and Grantham who both picked up points in their second game in Utah colors.

And special teams - ah, how we've hated you over this last stretch. We're glad to see the Grizzlies getting both their power play and their penalty kill back on track. The boys slaughtered a 4 minute shorthanded situation during the last few minutes of regulation and the beginning of overtime. Just amazing. And on the power play, Utah capitalized 3 of their 5 opportunities on the man advantage. Such an improvement from what we've grown accustomed to cursing under our breath. Keep it up, boys.

Glad to see Deeth once again making the stars of the game list - we're sure he is too.

The boys are back next weekend.

Stars of the Game -

1. VIC - C. Painchaud
2. VIC - R. Dingle
3. UTA - K. Deeth

Links -
post game || Grizzlies Fight Back To End Streak: Collect Shootout Point In Victoria
gamesheet || Utah at Victoria - 2/26/11
highlights || Game Highlights 2/26/11 at Victoria
interview || Marcus Carroll 2/26/11 intermission

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Victoria Salmon Kings

The Grizzlies make their way up to Canada this weekend to take on the Salmon Kings. They haven't been to Canada yet this season, so let's hope everyone's passport is in order. They have faced Victoria 3 times this season at the Maverik Center - 2 wins and a loss.

Utah may have lost their last 4 games, but Victoria isn't taking them lightly by any means.
"There's no secret to what Utah does -they are aggressive on the forecheck and the hardest-working team in the conference," said Victoria head coach Mark Morrison. "They simply outwork other teams. [Utah head coach] Kevin Colley demands they work hard and they respond. We are going to have to match that." Sounds like the book is out on the Grizzlies. Fortunately for them, there are no answers in the back for hard work. When they outwork their opponents, they win games.

The Salmon Kings may have lost their last two games, but they've won 7 of their last 10. The Grizzlies have only won 4 of their last 10, so it seems Victoria has been in a better groove as of late. (Groovier? Whatever.) Utah had been getting great help from their goaltenders, but with JP Lamoureux still in Abbotsford and Andrew Engelage getting a tryout with Toronto, they've been a little shorthanded at that position. This week, however, they gave goalie Kyle Moir a tryout with the team. Moir spent the last 4 seasons at Lakehead University. We're not really great at reading stats, but we did notice he had a few penalty minutes. Kind of intriguing. As is his hair in his draft picture from Nashville.

Random Goaltending Trivia: On a shot from 60 feet away the goaltender will have less than half a second to react.

Also joining the team this weekend will be 2 players sent down from Abbotsford - defenseman Josh Meyers and forward Ryley Grantham. Meyers actually played in Utah at the beginning of last season, and has been in Abbotsford since. Grantham has been with the Heat since the beginning of his pro career. We'll be interested to see how these guys fit in.

With the 4 losses last week and wins by other teams, the Grizzlies slid to 2nd in the Mountain Division and 4th in the Western Conference. They did, however, move up in the penalty minutes race. They now lead the league with 1247. Not really something you want to be #1 at, especially if it's costing you on the scoreboard. Undisciplined play, as well-intentioned as it may be, can put you at a disadvantage on the ice. Even though Utah has 10 shorthanded goals this season, the only time that makes up for it is if your penalty kill is 100%. Utah's is 83.4%. Here's a hint, guys - we want to beat them, not beat them up. Of course, if they could do both at the same time, we wouldn't complain.

Two games this weekend in lovely Victoria, BC, 8:05 pm puck drop. After that, a 6 game home stand. Time to get your heads on straight and go to work, boys. Take back the neighborhood.

Kinasewich signed to P.T.O. with Bulldogs, Sixsmith gets Bridgeport P.T.O.

Kinasewich was signed to a Professional Tryout (P.T.O.) contract with Hamilton today. This means he will be available to play tonight against - get this - the Abbotsford Heat. How's that for irony?

Also, James Sixsmith was signed to a P.T.O. with Bridgeport today. Bridgeport doesn't have anything up on that yet, but when they do, we'll get it posted.

We've yet to see Meyers added to the Abbotsford line-up (eTA: Meyers added to Abbotsford), so we don't know if he will be playing tonight. But it sounds like Riley Armstrong (a personal fave of ours) is off of IR and should be seeing some ice time.

Abbotsford Heat: Game Night - Heat host the Bulldogs

In other Grizzlies related news, former Grizzlies' defenseman Andrew MacDonald was recalled to the Islanders from Bridgeport. The Islanders have been looking good lately, so this is a nice chance for Andrew (we hope).

Go Grizzlies!

Utah Grizzlies News: Kinasewich to Hamilton, Meyers to Abbotsford, Sixsmith to Bridgeport

Looks like the call-ups are starting. It's a bittersweet moment for fans. On one hand, we'd love to see the boys stay and play here. But on the other, it's obvious they've worked hard to deserve the chance to move up, and we're happy to see that as well.

Kinasewich goes to Hamilton, Meyers is recalled to Abbotsford, and Sixsmith goes to Bridgeport.

It's no surprise, really. Kinasewich and Sixsmith both rate in the top 10 scorers of the ECHL. Meyers was with Abbotsford to begin with.

You can read the full news details on Kinasewich and Sixsmith at the Utah Grizzlies site. We didn't see anything on Meyers recall as of yet, but we're sure they'll have it up soon.

Colley hasn't been rotating many of the boys out of the nightly line up, so we might be in for some new faces - or some familiar ones. We didn't see any additions to the Utah Grizzlies on the ECHL.com transaction list as of yet, but we'll keep looking.

Good luck to the boys!

We want to say we hope to see you soon, but . . .

How about we hope to see you in the AHL news, instead?

Go Grizzlies!

Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors Post Game: 10-30-09

Last night brought another road win for the Utah Grizzlies in their first game of the season against the Bakersfield Condors. Kinasewich, Sixsmith, and Nikiforov all had multiple point games. The Grizzlies defense came out strong only allowing Bakersfield one power play goal during a 5-on-3 penalty kill. Four of the boys had a multi-point night. And Kinasewich became king of the mountain in top scorers of the ECHL.

We tried to think of a way to make this better. We couldn't.


However, we truly believe that some of the success was due to the hideous jerseys the Condors had to wear.


And as usual, the official post game is up at the Utah Grizzlies' site, the gamesheet at ECHL.com, and ours is below.



FIRST PERIOD

Both teams started out the 1st a little slower than expected.


Clarke goes to the box for holding at about 2 minutes in.
Killed.


Parker is awesome.
We're just sayin'.


At about the halfway mark they both start to warm up.


Bakersfield gets the first goal. 1-0.


1:27 later, Kinaswich answers to tie it 1-1.
His 8th goal of the season. But who's counting?


Okay, we are.


Points to the D-men Meyers and Bartley for the assists.


About a minute later, Vlady trips some Condor and goes to the box.


30 seconds into the PK, May takes the puck down the ice and draws a penalty.
Some Condor goes to the box to even things out.


Grizzlies get a 30 second power play after Vlady's released.
They can't capitalize.


But shortly after, Sixsmith knocks one in with the help of Clarke.
Nice. 2-1.


End of the 1st, Vlady takes another tour for tripping.
The boys are going to start the 2nd shorthanded.
Crap.


End of first. 2-1, Grizzlies.



First Intermission: Haggin went one-on-one with Parker Van Buskirk. That kid is funny. Don't believe us? Check it out at the Grizzlies' podcast center.



SECOND PERIOD


Grizzlies come out in the 2nd looking to kill Vlady's penalty.


May does it again.

Taking the puck down the ice, he draws a penalty just :33 in.
Vlady, May's got your back, man.


Grizzlies get a shortened power play opportunity, but can't capitalize.


Then Kotsy goes to the box.
Killed.


Teams are still taking their time warming up.
But then the 2nd starts to play out like the 1st.


Condors get a goal and tie it up. 2-2.
Boo.


Just over a minute later, Vlady gets one in. 3-2.
Points to Sixsmith and Meyers on the assists.


Late in the 2nd, Kinasewich gets another one. 4-2.
The Grizzlies are basically doubling every goal the Condors score.
Awesome.
May and Vlady get the points on this one.


End of second. 4-2, Grizzlies.



Second Intermission: We were watching on the B2, so we got to see the Condors' tribute to the King of Pop. Some little kid in a Superman costume did the splits. It was awesome. You can watch the tribute on the Condors' site. It's about :50 into the highlights.



THIRD PERIOD


Grizzlies start out slow again, but warm up a lot faster.
Condors come out and pick up some penalties.


Grizzlies are able to capitalize on one of those.
Caria knocks one home early in the 3rd.
5-2.
Snatch with the assist on that lovely power play goal by Matt.


Then some Bakersfield punk pushes Kotsy into the Grizzlies bench and starts pounding on his head from behind.
What the hell, dude?
Refs call an interference penalty.


Grizzlies can't capitalize.


Then Kotsy picks up a penalty of his own for tripping.


Kinasewich joins him in the box a minute later.
Boys can't kill the 5-on-3.


Bakersfield scores.
5-3.


The rest of the 3rd was kind of standard:
The boys were on their game.
Kinasewich got another penalty, which was killed.


Sixsmith gets an empty netter to secure the win.
Bravo.


Game.
6-3, Grizzlies.



Stars of the Game:
1. Kinasewich
2. Who cares - some Bakersfield dude.
3. Vlady



NOTES


You can see all of the Bakersfield highlights on their website at the Condors TV link. They don't really show any of the Grizzlies goals, but the announcers yelling Michael Jackson lyrics after the goals are pretty funny.


Kinasewich ended the night as the #1 star of the game and the top scorer in the ECHL. See him on the top of the list below?



Of course you can't. Well, not in small form anyway. So here we go.



Awesome.
Especially since we got to quote The Sphinx.

Go Grizzlies!

*eTA: Apparently, this didn't show up as posted initially. Sorry for the delay!

Watt, Meyers join Grizzlies from Abbotsford

While the official announcement for the ECHL isn't out yet, we found the "leaked" news of AHL Abbotsford Heat reassignments to the ECHL that was hinted at on the Grizzlies site this morning:

"Goaltender David Shantz has been assigned to the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL, while forward JD Watt and defender Josh Meyers have been assigned to the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL." [Abbotsford Heat]

You can read the full article here.

We were kind of slow on this one. Even Wikipedia's article for J.D. Watt has been updated . . . wow. Talk about a speedy delivery.

And it looks like the Grizzlies roster was updated to include the two new guys:

J.D. Watt

Josh Meyers (no stats or pic yet for the ECHL, but you can find earlier stats @ NHL.com.)

However, the reassigned Abbotsford goalie goes to Victoria, which is a bit unfortunate as we recently lost ours to the European leagues. You can read about this in today's training camp update on the Grizzlies site.

Also, there's a decent write up on the preseason game in the Cache Valley Daily. Sounds like the boys are going to do a Meet & Greet after the game at Firehouse Pizzeria in Logan.

That's all we've got for now. Preseason game in just 2 days . . .

Go Grizzlies!

eTA @ 3:32 pm: We could have sworn this was not on the Grizzlies site an hour ago when we posted, but it looks like the Grizzlies picked up another defenseman:

"In addition, the team has also signed defenseman Brett Motherwell, who spent training camp with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves." [UtahGrizzlies.com]

You can read the full official announcement at UtahGrizzlies.com. And his stats at the ECHL site are linked below:

Brett Motherwell

Man! What a mugshot! Sorry, Brett, but that's probably gonna get photoshopped later. :D

Also, we figured we'd include the address for Firehouse Pizzeria in Logan:

Firehouse Pizzeria
880 S Main St
Logan, UT 84321-5986
(435) 787-4222
http://www.firehousepizzeria.com/

pictures from ECHL.com