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

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Idaho Steelheads

The Grizzlies are still in Idaho. Well, all except Tyler Ruegsegger, who got traded to Alaska yesterday. The Grizzlies are getting Maxime Tanguay in return, who is said to be one of the fastest skaters in the league. Like always, we'll miss Tyler, and wish him the best of luck in Alaska. Except when he's playing the Grizzlies.

Back to Idaho - the Grizzlies are stuck there until they play two games this weekend. Once they have accomplished that feat, they will be released into the maze that is downtown Boise where they will try to find their way to the path that will take them home to Utah. If this was a video game, they'd have to win on both Friday and Saturday nights, rescue a puck bunny, kill a vampire potato and build a lego bus before they made it to the maze. Thankfully, this game isn't being played in an alternate reality, because that sounds like about the weirdest video game ever known to man. However, we'd still like to see those two wins.

Utah recently battled their way out of a 4 game losing streak with an intense shootout win on Wednesday. Believe us when we say we were just as excited as anyone to see that win (except maybe Coach Colley). But now we really have to take a look at the standings. The Grizzlies are barely clinging to the conference lead by one point. While they were doing all that losing, Las Vegas was catching up. They are now breathing down Utah's neck, threatening to take over first place, so those 4 points available this weekend are crucial if they want to stay on top. Yes, we realize that it's still a long way to the playoffs, and leading the conference doesn't unlock some secret cheat once you get there that makes you invincible in the post season. But maybe it should. We'll work on that. (We just really like it when our team is in first place.)

We got the feeling after last weekend that the team was feeling somewhat worn out and pitiful, so we're hoping they got out of their funk with the win on Wednesday. We'd like that team back that kicked everyone's trash around the conference in December. Time to start kicking more trash, and Idaho is the perfect place to do it. Bonus points if they can get out of town before the trash gets cleaned up.

Idaho has only won 4 of their last 10 games, but two of those wins came against the Grizzlies. The Steelheads are always a tough team, even when they're not at their best. Utah can't be fragile for these two games. All that mental stuff that goes with a 4 game losing streak has to be out of sight, out of mind. We know one game isn't really a streak, but two is. So is three. That's this week's goal - 3 game winning streak, to be continued next week.

Puck drops at 7:10 tonight - the games can be heard on 1230 KFAN.

Tanguay for Ruegsegger

Tyler Ruegsegger has been traded to Alaska for Maxime Tanguay.

Not much of an opinion on this one even though we liked Tyler. He had a lot of talent, which meshed with the team dynamic the Grizzlies were trying to create. But we always got the sense while watching him play that he needed about another year of development in this league before his talent and consistancy matched up. He seems like he's just on the cusp of breaking out continually, so maybe he can find his legs in Alaska. We wouldn't be surprised to see him start producing like he does here as we've certainly seen glimpses of it through the season -



We can't remember much about Tanguay in the games Utah's played against him, but here's what his stat sheet says: he plays center and has 15 points (4g, 11a) in 27 games. Ruegsegger isn't too far off from that in the numbers department with 14 points (7g, 7a) in 35 games. However, it's Tanguay's second year in the ECHL, having spent last season in Toledo and with 5 games in the AHL. Looks like a decent trade; it just depends on what Colley can do with Tanguay and how quickly Maxime can adapt to the Grizzlies team.

Best of luck to Tyler in Alaska!


Also of note, Jake Gannon was named as an alternate for the All-Star Game, which is coming up this Wednesday. It sounds like we'll be able to watch or listen to the All-Star Game here in Utah, too. Not bad.

Post Game: Steelheads 4, Grizzlies 2

Fail Grizzlies. At least the tickets were free.

Utah did a good job in the 1st, denying Idaho a shot on goal until about 7 minutes into the period. In fact, the Steelheads only managed to get 5 SOG for the first 20; however, if you can score 2 goals in 5 shots, then . . . that's really all you need.

We can't say there's much love lost between us and Idaho, and so far this season they haven't been much of a threat, barely squeaking above .500 at the midway point. But we would be remiss if we didn't mention their goalie, who made 40 saves in the contest, or their penalty kill, which really swung the momentum to the Steelies side. After every killed penalty, Idaho showed more tenacity in play while the Grizzlies began to look more and more timid in the Steelheads' zone as well as their own. Outside of these factors, the Idaho coach applied some slick strategy, using a timeout midway through the 2nd right after Ruegsegger's goal to squash Utah's burgeoning momentum. Hate to say it, but . . . nicely played, Idaho.

On the Grizzlies' side, it was nice to see Tyler picking up a goal and saving Utah from something akin to eminent doom.

We also need to shine on Brock Wilson in this one. Brock had some feisty words and fists for Idaho . . . which was probably more amusing for us than anything, but he definitely earned his title as the wildcard. Yeehaw! Wilson also picked up an assist on the Gauvreau goal.

Stockton Friday and Saturday.

Game Photos -



Stars of the Game -

1. IDH - J. Weslosky
2. IDH - A. Seitsonen
3. UTA - T. Ruegsegger

Links -
post game || Grizzlies Fall 4-2 To Idaho
gamesheet || Idaho at Utah - 1/12/11
highlights || Game Highlights 1/12/11 vs Idaho
photos || 1/12/11 - Utah Grizzlies vs Idaho Steelheads
interview || Hugo Carpentier 1/12/11 intermission

News: Sloooooow Day

In other news, wait there is no other news. Aside from getting a new player, covered yesterday, there really isn't much to talk about. The Grizz will be starting their holiday season public campaign, for lack of a better term. Tonight Brian Kilburg, Matt Sorteberg, Kevin Deeth and Tyler Ruegsegger will be attending a public skate at the South Davis Recreation Center in Bountiful from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Stolen straight from the Grizzlies website, that was! Tomorrow they will visit Primary Children's Medical Center. Hopefully they'll post some fun pictures from that, since I'm guess it's not really a public event. Hospitals usually frown on a lot of strangers looking in on patients.

Here's a question I thought up, due to the recent loss of Jackman to a league in Europe: How does the family of a hockey player feel to pack up and move to a different country for a job? It seems like the league has a lot of potential for player trades or moves to different leagues. Or does the player leave the family "at home" and travel to visit when he can? Just a thought.

Post Game: Grizzlies 3, Bakersfield 2

Three straight wins is pretty damn awesome.

Utah did a great job controlling this game from start to finish. Even though Bakersfield outshot the Grizzlies 42 to 18, the defense stopped a lot of the Condor speed without penalty which lead to fewer genuine scoring chances. And while the Grizzlies captured a win in the Robobank Arena on Wednesday, the boys looked much stronger on the backcheck tonight.

But of course we don't want to undermine the brilliance of JP Lamoureux here, either. JP stopped 40 of 42, where the first goal he allowed was generated from a breakdown in defense giving Condors numbers and speed on the goalie and the second in a 6 on 4 situation. On top of the numbers, Lamoureux again pulled out the stops to save the Grizzlies from their mistakes with some spectacular saves that left us cheering in delight and the Condors scratching their heads.

On the scoring end, we saw a lovely power play goal from Ruegsegger in the 2nd to increase the Grizzlies lead to 3-0. We'd been waiting to see more from this kid, so this makes us quite satisfied. Congrats to Brock and Marcus as well for their goals.

Also wanted to shine on Chris Donovan for his grit. Several times, Donovan controlled the puck and forced Bakersfield to chase him down, allowing for his teammates to complete a line change. At one instance in the 2nd after hitting the ice, Chris regained the puck and kept four Condors busy in the corner for at least 5 seconds. Color us impressed.

Just one more! Grizzlies vs Reign - Sunday, 6pm.

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - J. Lamoureux
2. BAK - V. Trukhno
3. BAK - S. Goulet

Links -

post game || Grizzlies Roll 3-2 In Bakersfield; Win Third-Straight
gamesheet || Utah at Bakersfield - 11/27/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/27/10 at Bakersfield
interview || Jason Fredricks 11/27/10 intermission

Post Game: Grizzlies 4, Steelheads 3 (SO)

We missed the first goal of the game because of traffic school - thanks, City of American Fork. We got home just in time to see the long string of penalties that the Grizzlies committed. Stay out of the damn box, boys (. . . Chad)! Eight short handed situations in this game with two Idaho goals allowed.

But the real game was the 5 minute overtime period with the 4-on-3 penalty kill. Utah controlled the puck for most of the 5 minute stretch picking up 6 SOG, which was just one shot less than their entire 20 minute 3rd period. And even after going shorthanded at the worst possible moment, the boys were able to drive the game to a shootout. Now, this is Grizzlies hockey.

Also, this was definitely a game for firsts. First pro goals for Deeth, Ruegsegger, and Carroll. First time in net this season for Andrew Engelage. First point of the season for Chad Denny. And we'd definitely be remiss in not saying congrats to all! Engelage stopped 41 of 44 in his season debut, and stopped 4 of 4 in the shootout.

Outside of the action on the ice, we really have to give props to this guy:


Everyone watching on the B2 will know exactly what I'm talking about. But for those of you who weren't, just imagine this guy doing a dance somewhere between a booty shake and the Jump on It dance from Fresh Prince to C&C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat" and you'll have a pretty close visual. We salute you, random Idaho fan.

Let's go for Friday!

Stars of the Game -

1. IDH - M. Derlago
2. UTA - K. Deeth
3. IDH - J. Swanson


Links -
post game || Grizzlies Top Idaho 4-3 In Shootout
gamesheet || Utah at Idaho - 10/27/10
highlights || Game Hightlights 10/27/10 at Idaho
interview || Hugo Carpentier 10/27/10 intermission

Game Day: Idaho Steelheads

Ah, the Idaho Steelheads.

After splitting a two game preseason series with the Steelheads, the Grizzlies look to start their 8 game road trip on the right foot. According to Adrian's blog this morning, it may be an uphill battle: "Last year, Utah was outshot 361-252 in 10 games played here and outscored 10-7 in the first period while being outshot 110-68 in the opening frames." On top of these stats, Idaho's goalie Mike Zacharias is tied for fifth in the league with a 2.01 goals-against average, which means Utah will need to look sharp in all areas tonight.

The Grizzlies picked up some new help this week in the form of defenseman Nick Tuzzolini and forwards Kevin Deeth and Tyler Ruegsegger. D-man Tuzzolino is no stranger to Grizzlies fans, having spent 2 seasons in Alaska and should add to the experience of the defensive lines. Deeth adds speed and a strong, accurate shot to the front end, while Ruegsegger brings an ability to take the puck to the net for the goal. This will be much needed with Parnham out on the 21-day IR. We found a nice goal of Ruegsegger's on YouTube and fans should recognize former Grizzly Tom May in the clip as well.



Andrew Engelage will get his first start of the season. Derlago is the man to watch out for, leading the Steelheads with 4 goals.

Game starts tonight at 7:10 pm, and the pregame show at 6:40, on 1230 KFAN-2 or you can watch online at the B2 Network which is probably what we'll be doing . . . after we finish traffic school.

Go Grizzlies!