Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Idaho Steelheads

If you were here last season, you'll remember the Steelheads were the team that caused us to go home and eat cupcakes after the playoffs. Those were some good cupcakes. We're over that now though, and even though this is a pre-season game, we're glad to see the Grizzlies get back at it against an opponent other than themselves.

We know the team isn't finalized yet, and we could still see plenty of change, but these pre-season games are all about getting the guys working together and figuring out who has the ever-popular "chemistry" on the ice. With new guys trickling in every day, these games can be pretty important.

The five players Abbotsford has assigned so far (see here and here) have made it to Utah and should at least be around for the weekend games. No word yet as to who will be in the lineup, but considering ECHL.com lists only 20 players on the current Grizzlies roster, we guess there won't be many guys riding the pine. Two thumbs up for that. We're hoping they can get a team together early and stick with it through most of the season.

We are hoping to make it to the game in Logan to check out the team and see what's what. They're not selling tickets to the one in Idaho, so we guess crashing would be the method of operation for that one. We don't know how well that would work though, so we're not going to try it. That's a long drive just to get tossed out by old guys in Event Staff shirts.

Regular season starts next week.

Pre-season: Game 1

When we rolled out of bed late this morning, we were hoping it had just been a strange dream. You know, like the one where you start out soaring through the clouds but end up being devoured by a rabid pterodactyl? Yet while Jurassic terror may be safely averted, the ending of last night's game was more than just a caffine hangover.

Fortunately, the stats of the game are up at ECHL.com because we were too excited for the preseason and forgot to take notes. But nonetheless, here's our recap:

FIRST PERIOD:

Grizzlies came out looking sharp and ready to rumble. As they took the ice, the rink seemed to shrink just by the mere charisma of their presence. Then we realized, the rink was actually quite a bit smaller than at the E Center. HA! Whoops on us . . .

Puck drops, and guy behind us (didn't catch his name) exclaims, "Wow! This is a lot faster than college hockey . . . I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep up . . ." Inwardly, we smirk. Welcome to Grizzlies Hockey, bro.

Sellars, unassisted, gets us the first goal of the game during a power play.

First period was mostly fast skating with a mix of hooking penalties thrown in. Joni's tick slowly starts to develop again under her left eye as some magnificent saves are made by Van Buskirk.


End of first: 1-0, Grizzlies.


SECOND PERIOD:


Colley takes the ice (well, not really . . .)

Second period was dominated by roughing penalties, and both teams capitalized on this. First goal of the second was a PP goal by Guthrie, assisted by May. Our new additions are definitely off to a good start. 2-0

Idaho answers with their own goal on a power play. 2-1.

Grizzlies start to look tired and begin to miscalculate their passes. However, a goal late in the 2nd by Thauwald seems to rejuvinate the momentum. Assisted by Dale. We missed how this went in, just saw it bouncing out the opposite side of the net. Awesome.


End of second: 3-1, Grizzlies.


THIRD PERIOD:

Grizzlies take the ice:

Start of the 3rd, we're looking tired but confident. We have the lead. Now, we just need to defend it, right?

The third period was pretty sloppy. We were tired. We missed a lot of passes. Then Pavli kicked some butt and got 5 for fighting.

Here's Pavli still smack-talking as he gets his injury treated. Pavli, you own this rink, man.

Idaho puts away 3 goals.
Wait . . . what??


The guys lean over the boards watching the play:

Utah gets a power play late in the third and tries to capitalize. Grizzlies call a time out. Below is our favorite picture we got of the game:

Whatever play was discussed, it turns into everyone hacking away at the goal as the clock runs out (which is a fine strategy by us). Kinasewich pops off a few decent shots in the last few seconds but just couldn't send it home.

Game.
4-3, Steelheads.

FINAL NOTES:

It seems like we're repeating the same patterns as last year: strong in the first and flailing in the third. The opposition just needs to pace themselves and wait until we look tired before they attack. Granted, this IS the preseason - we may not be playing as hard as we could. However, our stamina issues still seem to be dragging down the team. And passing? We still don't know where to begin with that. Hopefully, we'll see some improvement in the upcoming weeks as the real season starts.

There were a few changes in numbers for this preseason game. Don't know if that's going to remain for the rest of the season. We kind of like Vladi in 71 rather than 27.

Grizzlies did a meet and greet after the game at Firehouse Pizzeria. Unfortunately, we weren't able to hang around. And our camera died. For those who did go, please feel free to comment and fill us in on what we missed!

And finally, a few additional pictures of the game below.

May twirls his stick while waiting for the face off:

Colley on the bench:

And another face off at center ice:

If we can edit our Pavli fight video to a better quality, then we may put that up later. However, as it currently stands, it's a bit too shaky and grainy to post.

If you have pics and want us to post them, send them to us at grizzblog@gmail.com!

Game 2 of the preseason tonight . . .

Go Grizzlies!

P.S. - Thanks to Steph for her mad editing skillz. ;)