Michigan Hockey November 14, 2011

mihockeynow.com

V.22 : I.8 | November 14, 2011

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MICHIGAN NOVEMBER 14, 2011 VOLUME 22: ISSUE 8 6 THE LOCKER ROOM Let’s have some fun

8 SLIDESHOW Hockey happenings from across the Mitten

10 SPEAKING OF HOCKEY What’s the best hockey gift you ever received?

12 GET BETTER The ins and outs of skate sharpening

14 YOU SHOULD KNOW Michigan State’s Jake Chelios

18 TOURNAMENT CALENDAR The latest tournament listings

22 HOMETOWN HERO Sibling Wolverines: Matt and Shawn Hunwick

34 PLYMOUTH WHALERS Beau Schmitz: “Country boy” and Captain

36 SAGINAW SPIRIT

28

Brandon Saad returns to the OHL with a bang

Holiday gift guide

Find the perfect present for the player, parent, coach or hockey fan in your life with our comprehensive gift list

24 Youth Hockey A roundup of youth hockey happenings from metro Detroit to Marquette

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Michigan Hockey

38

Griffins

Joey MacDonald has worked himself into a “win-win” position between the pipes for the Grand Rapids Griffins

40

Red Wings insider

The Wings’ early-season slump has left many scratching their heads for answers

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

42 THE LAST LINE Is Igor Larionov the best to wear the winged-wheel?

LOOK FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE

NOVEMBER 28, 2011

To advertise in Michigan Hockey please contact Lucia Zuzga at (248) 479-1134 or lucia@mihockeynow.com or Michael Caples at (248) 479-1136 or mcaples@mihockeynow.com

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

FROM THE EDITOR MICHIGAN HOCKEY EDITOR Michael Caples

mcaples@mihockeynow.com

ADVERTISING Lucia Zuzga

lucia@mihockeynow.com

DESIGN John Kalmar

jkalmar@mihockeynow.com

MICHIGAN HOCKEY STAFF Brian Kalisher bkalisher@mihockeynow.com

DISTRIBUTION Lucia Zuzga ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Amy Jones DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & PROGRAMMING Darren Eliot

EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob DeSpirt, Christine Knight, Derek Blair, James Jenkins, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda Holland, Lisa Zarzycki, Mark Vansaw, Nyron Fauconier, Randy Paquette, Rob Mattina, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening telephone numbers.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 483352829.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. ©2011

by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

@michaelcaples

BY MICHAEL CAPLES As we put the finishing touches on the sixth issue of Michigan Hockey with me as editor, I can’t help but keep thinking about the lessons youth hockey taught me while growing up in metro Detroit.

Initially, I thought that it was because I have been in the process of acclimating myself to today’s youth hockey scene — not much different from when I was playing, if you don’t mind me saying. But I have come to realize that it’s more about how those experiences prepared me for the position I am in today.

No, I’m not talking about the basic fundamentals of the game or how I can get to about 20 rinks in the area with my eyes closed. I’m talking about the traits, mindsets and skills I developed from the various coaches, parents and teammates I was lucky enough to interact with during my youth hockey career.

I could go through and list all the different skills I acquired during that time, but you’ve heard them all before.

Dedication, determination, perseverance — all things I hope I’m following through on each and every day. But the real experience I keep thinking about is the feeling of a

team, and the rewards that come when you sacrifice your own accolades for the good of the team.

I have been fortunate enough to land a job with people who care about the same things I do. We work as a team, in the pursuit of the same goal, and we all succeed. It’s a feeling that takes me back to championship games, 6 a.m. practices, and those times where you knew the coach was yelling at you because he knew you could do better, not that he just liked to yell.

It’s a great feeling, knowing you’re part of a team. Our hope is that kids get to experience it through the game of hockey, because the best sport in the world is a tremendous teacher for people just like you and me. If you’re a player, cherish the experiences. If you’re a parent, make sure you and your child cherish it. If you’re a coach, cherish the fact that you can help kids, and forget about the W’s and L’s.

There’s nothing better than spending your life with the game you love, after all.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY 23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829 (248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601 EMAIL: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com WEBSITE: mihockeynow.com

MICHIGAN HOCKEY’S MONTHLY CONTEST VISIT MIHOCKEYNOW.COM/MICHIGANHOCKEYS-MONTHLY-CONTEST/ AND ENTER FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN AN 18X24 INCH PERSONALIZED DIGITAL ART RENDERING OF YOU, THE HOCKEY PLAYER.

Photos at left: (from L to R): Honeybaked ’98s (Keith Day), Joey MacDonald (Courtesy Grand Rapids Griffins) and Brad Stuart (Dave Reginek/ Detroit Red Wings).

Cover: Michael Caples/Michigan Hockey.

Cover reprints available email: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

Michigan Hockey

5

THE LOCKER ROOM

THE

LOCKERROOM THE SCORESHEET

ON THE FLY

Q:

What’s your favorite building to watch a hockey game in?

A: Joe Louis Arena

Winner, winner, chicken dinner: Congratulations to the Jackson Generals, winners of our skate-lace bracelet contest sponsored by Hockey Players Union. (Photo submitted by Erika Swegles Daman)

47% %

Yost Ice Arena

28%

Munn Ice Arena

17%

Local rink/other

8%

TWO FOR TWEETING

TALES FROM THE RINK GONGSHOW CONTEST

College C llll hockey h k will illl be il b getting tti some greatt exposure this season thanks to some larger venues.

Last issue we announced the second-place story from our Gongshow “Tales from the Rink” contest. This time around, we’ll share the third-place story submitted by Brett Hawes: “The head coach and I were waiting for a game to start (squirt age). One of the kids came up to us and said he thought he had some tape inside his skate. The coach took off his skate thinking there was a small wadded up ball of tape in there. He pulled out a partial roll and almost fell over laughing. We still have a chuckle over that. Also during the same season, one of the parents put their kids skates on the wrong feet and he played the whole game that way. I’m pretty sure he couldn’t tell the difference. Good memories!”

Twitter superstar and NHL forward Paul Bissonnette has made “Movember” a family affair.

We’ve hear all “Occupy Wallstreet,” butt now “O “Occupy Ovi”?

W ’ h ll about b t “O O W ll t t ” b O O i What’s next, “Occupy Babcock’s Hair”?

(John Kalmar/Michigan Hockey)

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Michigan Hockey

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

SLIDESHOW

MICHIGAN HOCKEY IN PICTURES: AROUND THE MITTEN 1

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4 1. I wouldn’t argue with this ref: At least if you don’t want to get eaten alive by a zombie, or monster or whatever kind of creature he is! In reality, that “thing” is Cal McGowan, the assistant manager at Suburban Ice Farmington Hills, who was in the festive Halloween spirit and donned this creepy costume the entire day and while refereeing an adult league game.

2, 3, 4. Making the rounds: Michigan Hockey loaded up the bags and hit the road during the last weekend in October. On Thursday, it was off to Ann Arbor (4) for the Wolverines’ win over the Ferris State Bulldogs. Then it was back to Detroit (3) on Friday to see the Wings continue to stumble, losing to the Sharks. Saturday meant another cross-Mitten trip, this time to East Lansing (2) where the Spartans prevailed over Robert Morris.

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5. That helmet is clean, I promise: Well, as clean as a hockey helmet can be.

Michigan Hockey spent Saturday evening passing out candy at Compuware Arena as part of the Plymouth Whalers’ Trick-or-Treat Night.

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Michigan Hockey

6. Boo!: If you weren’t frightened by the first photo of Cal McGowan, maybe this close-up will give you goose bumps.

(Michael Caples, Brian Kalisher/Michigan Hockey)

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

Contact Lucia @ 248-479-1134 if you would like to sponsor this unique program

SPEAKING OF HOCKEY

Speaking of Hockey What is the best hockey gift you ever received?

“Wayne Gretzky street hockey shoes in 1992 or 1993. Pretty awesome” — Rob Dew

Visit our Facebook page to see more answers, facebook.com/mihockeynow

“Signed picture of Mr. Hockey about 8 years ago ... pretty cool — Mom gives the best gifts” — Ryan Mulcrone

“Probably the best hockey key gift ever was my m first ever hockey stick and first net. Probably 3 or 4 getting a stick with a green plastic blade and a on mesh. Couldn’t tell you all the street net with neon use i got out of those things. The rest is history from there ...”

— David Telega ega

“I got tickets from my aunt for my uncle and I to go see a Caps game to see a former NMU player play. Mike Santorelli has been playing for the Florida Panthers and was playing my favorite team, the Capitals. Tickets were in the lower bowl and Santorelli ended up scoring two goals I believe.”

— Steve Miller “Greetings from Nashville — getting a ticket to The Big Chill at The Big House game and one of the throwback jerseys was AWESOME!” — Dennis Pepperack

fasinfrankvintage.com (Wayne Gretzky street hockey shoes), Detroit Red Wings (Gordie Howe), teamskyline.com (Street hockey stick)

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Michigan Hockey

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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UNDERSTANDING SKATE SHARPENING The following is an excerpt from an article written by Jim Johnson for flexxCOACH.com

Contours/radius of the blade: This is the curve of the blade and it determines how much of the blade makes contact with the ice. More blade on the ice creates less maneuverability for quick turns; however players can generate more speed while having more blade on the ice.

Apex: The Apex is the center of the contour of the blade and if it is too far forward or too far back it will also affect the balance of the skater.

CORRECT

Hollow/Radius of the hollow: This is the groove between the blades edges. This concave track has two outside edges and the space between the edges is called the hollow. A properly sharpened skate has two equal and even edges. The depth of the hollow will determine the amount of bite the blade will have with the contact of the ice (deep hollow 3/8, 1/2, 5/8; flat hollow 3/4, 7/8, 1 inch).

Levelness: Both edges should line up perfectly even or square so that the player can have equally sharp edges with a flat hollow (most common error).

INCORRECT s

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Skate blade

Two even or square edges

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Michigan Hockey

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

FUTURE PRO GOAL

DYING IN THE PIE

BY JEREMY KALIENICKI, FUTURE PRO USA DIRECTOR I have moaned about the stunning overuse and misuse of this position. It is called “post leg up,” “VH” or any number of derivatives. Every single night on the NHL highlights I see examples of routine low-percentage chances turn into goals off the initial shot or off of the resultant rebound caused by the lack of square-ness here.

In today’s game there are too many goalie coaches teaching something because it may be trendy but they lack the fundamental understanding of when and how it should be deployed, or more importantly — when it shouldn’t be used.

Goalies today have fallen in love with the back-door save at the expense of front-door coverage. They will plead their case saying things like, “If I don’t do this I will never get to the back door receiver.”

Hogwash.

We need to trust our defense a little more and we need to stop “dying in the pie.”

Basically, “dying in the pie” refers to the pie shaped area poor-angle shots come from — the area from the face of dot down to the goal line. It is this exact type of situation where bad goals are going in at all levels of hockey every night.

These shots should be approached with front-door cov-

Staying upright: Front-door coverage should be the main focus for every goalie. Be sure to stay squared up instead of using the “post leg up” technique to avoid getting beat back-door. (Tom Turrill/Michigan Hockey)

erage as your primary objective. That means square up to the shooter and respect the shot 100 percent. If he does try a back-door pass you should, of course, get there if possible. For every one beautiful highlight backdoor save I seem to see five horse-(blank) goals through or under the goalie on poor angle shots.

Please reserve the use of the “post leg up” in only one condition: If you can touch the attacker with your stick, otherwise square up and stay on both your edges.

Anytime you see a goalie use this position where the shooter has this separation they are making a distinct error in application, likely the result of poor coaching.

GOALIE SCHOOL

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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Michigan Hockey

13

YOU SHOULD KNOW

you should know FAVORITE SPORTING EVENT: College hockey games FAVORITE BREAKFAST FOOD: Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich FIRST CONCERT: Metallica MUST-SEE TV: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Super speed FAVORITE MOVIE: MacGruber IF YOU WERE GIVEN $1 MILLION DOLLARS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT: Invest it in Apple stock PRE GAME ROUTINE: Have a couple cups of Gatorade and tape my stick WHAT IS YOUR NICKNAME: Jelly FAVORITE MEAL: Thanksgiving dinner WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE: Aprilia Scooter WHAT ONE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT: My alarm clock

jake chelios His father may be one of the best defensemen to ever play in the NHL, but Jake Chelios is building his own reputation in CCHA rinks. The sophomore from Bloomfield Hills is a versatile player for new coach Tom Anastos — Chelios has the ability to play both defense and forward. Chelios had 14 points as a freshman last season, and there is no reason to doubt that he will continue to improve during his time in East Lansing.

Photo courtesy MSU Athletic Communications, Michigan Hockey archives (Big Chill), Deep Ghosh (Metallica), Antonello Musina (Turkey), Alan Cleaver (Alarm clock)

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Michigan Hockey

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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MICHIGAN NOVEMBER 2011 Great Lakes Tournaments Series Holland, MI November 18-20 Mite AA, Pee Wee B, Midget Major and High School Varsity Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com West Shore Community Ice Arena Tournament Scottville, MI November 18-20, 2011 Squirt B 231-843-9712 westshoreice.com Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Traverse City, MI November 18-20, 2011 Bantam House 231-649-1226 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association Big Rapids, MI November 18-20, 2011 Squirt B 231-591-2881 bigrapidshockey.org or ferris.edu/icearena Black Friday Bantam AAA Tournament Kalamazoo, MI November 25, 2011 Bantam Majors & Minors 269-345-1125 Email: jweber@ wingsstadium.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Brighton/Novi, MI November 25-27, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series Kalamazoo, MI November 25-27, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Girls Motown Cup Tournament Series Brighton/Novi, MI

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Michigan Hockey

November 25-27, 2011 8U-19U House, B, A, AA 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Great Lakes Tournament Series: Great Lakes Thanksgiving Classic Holland, MI November 25-27 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com 14th annual Gravy Cup Tournament Bay City, MI November 25-27, 2011 Mite – Midget B/BB, JV Prep 989-671-1000 x105 baycounty-mi.gov/civicarena Thanksgiving Shootout Muskegon, MI November 25-27, 2011 Squirt – Bantam A & AA 231-747-7266 goldcoasttournaments.com DECEMBER 2011 Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI December 2-4, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Girls Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI December 2-4, 2011 8U-19U House, B, A, AA 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI December 2-4, 2011 Squirt B, Squirt A and Bantam B Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com West Shore Community Ice Arena Tournament Scottville, MI December 2-4, 2011 Pee Wee B 231-843-9712 westshoreice.com

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR POWERED BY MARRIOTT

Get Into the Cold Tournament Mt. Pleasant, MI December 2-4, 2011 Pee Wee House B 989-772-9623 Email: info@mpicearena.org Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Traverse City, MI December 2-4, 2011 Pee Wee House 231-649-1226 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association Big Rapids, MI December 2-4, 2011 Bantam B 231-591-2881 bigrapidshockey.org or ferris.edu/icearena Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI December 9-12 Mite B, Midget B, Midget Minor and High School JV Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Get Into the Cold Tournament Mt. Pleasant, MI December 9-11, 2011 Bantam House B 989-772-9623 Email: info@mpicearena.org Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association Big Rapids, MI December 9-11, 2011 Pee Wee B 231-591-2881 bigrapidshockey.org or ferris.edu/icearena JANUARY 2012 Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI January 6-8, 2012 Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree, Pee Wee B and Bantam B Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Traverse City, MI January 6-8, 2012 Squirt House

231-649-1226 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI January 13-15, 2012 Mite B, Squirt B and Midget B Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com 7th annual January Freeze Tournament Bay City, MI January 13-15, 2012 Mite – Midget B/BB, JV Prep 989-671-1000 x105 baycounty-mi.gov/civicarena Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association Big Rapids, MI January 13-15, 2012 Mite ADM – Studio Rink 231-591-2881 bigrapidshockey.org or ferris. edu/icearena Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI January 13-16, 2012 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Girls Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI January 13-16, 2012 8U-19U House, B, A, AA 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series Kalamazoo, MI January 13-16, 2012 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Midwest JV-Prep Hockey Showcase Dearborn, MI January 13-16, 2012 High School – JV/Prep 216-325-0567 or 216-970-5523 Email: tony@itshockeytime.com itshockeytime.com

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Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI January 20-22, MI Squirt AA, Pee Wee B and Bantam AA Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com House “B” Winter Classic Muskegon, MI January 20-22, 2012 House - Mite - Midget 231-747-7266 goldcoasttournaments.com Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Traverse City, MI January 20-22, 2012 Girls U16 Rec 231-649-1226 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association Big Rapids, MI January 20-22, 2012 JV/Midget A 231-591-2881 bigrapidshockey.org or ferris. edu/icearena Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI January 27-29 Squirt B, Pee Wee AA and Bantam B Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Get Into the Cold Tournament Mt. Pleasant, MI January 27-29, 2012 Midget House B 989-772-9623 Email: info@mpicearena.org Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Traverse City, MI January 27-29, 2012 JV & Midget A 231-649-1226 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Lake Fenton Winter Classic (Pure Pond Hockey) Fenton, MI January 27-29, 2012 18+ 810-620-PUCK (7825) Email: sean@ lakefentonwinterclassic.com

lakefentonwinterclassic.com 2012 Michigan Senior Olympics Hockey Tournament January 28 – February 1, 2012 Rochester, MI Seniors 800-400-8161 Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association Big Rapids, MI January 28-29, 2012 Mini-Mite & IP ADM 231-591-2881 bigrapidshockey.org or ferris. edu/icearena West Shore Community Ice Arena Tournament Scottville, MI January 27-29, 2012 Bantam B 231-843-9712 westshoreice.com Out-of-State Tournaments NOVEMBER 2011 All American Girl’s & Women’s Tournament Blaine, MN November 17-20, 2011 A&B U10-U14/ Women’s A,B,C MN/USA Hockey sanctioned Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n’ Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH November 25-27, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series Pittsburgh, PA November 25-27, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Girls Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series Pittsburgh, PA November 25-27, 2011 8U-19U House, B, A, AA 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Canlan Classic Tournaments New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic November 25-27, 2011

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

Vineland, NJ Youth Boys 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com ccthockey.ca Canlan Classic Tournaments Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Classic November 25-27, 2011 Fort Wayne, IN Youth Boys 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com ccthockey.ca Canlan Classic Tournaments FJP - Thanksgiving Classic November 25-27, 2011 Florida Youth Boys 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com ccthockey.ca Chicago Cup Tournament Series: Chicago Thanksgiving Classic Chicago, IL November 25-27 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Classic Pittsburgh, PA November 25-27 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Empire State Tournament Series: Rochester Thanksgiving Classic Rochester, NY November 25-27 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Congressional Cup Tournament Series: Congressional Thanksgiving Classic Washington, DC November 25-27 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

Carolina Cup Tournament Series: Charlotte Thanksgiving Classic Charlotte, NC November 25-27 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Mite Cross-Ice Jamboree Contact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040 myhockeytournaments.com Niagara Falls Festival of Lights Niagara Falls, NY November 25-27, 2011 Mites, Squirts, Peewees, Bantams and Midgets, A, B, AE, & AA Divisions available in most tournaments. niagaratournaments.com 716-791-4068 or 716-405-7154 Gcarella17@roadrunner.com DECEMBER 2011 Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n’ Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH December 2-4, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series Pittsburgh, PA December 2-4, 2011 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Girls Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series Pittsburgh, PA December 2-4, 2011 8U-19U House, B, A, AA 216-325-0567 itshockeytime.com Canlan Classic Tournaments FJP - Sunshine Showdown December 2-4, 2011 Coral Springs, Florida Youth Boys 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com ccthockey.ca Gene Harrington Invitational Niagara Falls, NY December 2-4, 2011 Contact: Bob Harrington 781710-6560 Email: bh@nahockey.com nahockey.com American Cup Lake Placid, NY December 8-11, 2011 Atom, Peewee, Bantam AA, A, B, Select - Minor/Major/ Mixed divisions Canadian Hockey Enterprises

1-800-461-2161 chehockey.com American Cup Lake Placid, NY December 15-18, 2011 Midget AA, A, B, - Minor/Major/Mixed divisions Canadian Hockey Enterprises 1-800-461-2161 chehockey.com American Cup Girls Tournament Lake Placid, NY December 15-18, 2011 Peewee, Bantam,Midget AA, A, B Canadian Hockey Enterprises 1-800-461-2161 chehockey.com

FEBRUARY 2012 “Escape the Blues” A and AA Pre-Playoff Tournament Chesswood Arenas.

Toronto, Ontario Feb.3-5th, 2012 Minor Pee Wee to Minor Midget age divisions, 3 game minimum – 5 game maximum Contact: Rick Heinz 905-854-3435 or email: rick.heinz@gmail.com torontocityblues.com

2012 SCHEDULE North American Holiday Hockey Adult & Youth 1-800-322-NAHH nahhtours.com Email: NAHHTOURS@ aol.com Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas Ice Center March 21 – 26, 2012 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Saveology.com Iceplex (Panthers’ Practice Facility) March 28 – April 2, 2012 Montreal, Quebec Complexe Sportif Bell (Canadiens’ Practice Facility) April 13 – 15, 2012 Toronto, Ontario Canlan Ice Sports April 20 – 22, 2012 Hartford, Connecticut International Skating Center of Connecticut April 27 – 29, 2012 Atlantic City, New Jersey Flyers’ Skate Zone (Flyers’ Facility) May 4 – 6, 2012

WE’LL HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR GOAL. ESPECIALLY IF IT’S SCORING ONE. Open up your team’s travel options when you stay at any of the 15 southeast Michigan Marriott® hotels.

Our unique blend of service and amenities is designed to support you while you support the team.

To reserve your room, call 1-800-MARRIOTT or visit Marriott.com.

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center 400 Renaissance Drive Detroit, MI 48243 313-568-8000 detroitmarriott.com

Courtyard Detroit Dearborn 5200 Mercury Drive Dearborn, MI 48126 313-271-1400 dearborncourtyard.com

Courtyard Detroit Southfield 27027 Northwestern Highway Southfield, MI 48033 248-358-1222 southfieldcourtyard.com

Detroit Marriott Troy 200 W Big Beaver Road Troy, MI 48084 248-680-9797 troymarriott.com

Courtyard Detroit Downtown 333 East Jefferson Ave Detroit, MI 48226 313-222-7700 detroitdowntowncourtyard.com

Courtyard Detroit Troy 1525 East Maple Road Troy, MI 48083 248-528-2800 detroittroycourtyard.com

The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel 20301 Oakwood Blvd Dearborn, MI 48124 313-271-2700 dearborninnmarriott.com

Courtyard Detroit Farmington Hills 31525 West 12 Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-553-0000 marriott.com/dtwfm

Residence Inn Detroit Warren 30120 Civic Center Blvd Warren, MI 48093 586-558-8050 residenceinnwarren.com

Courtyard Detroit Airport Romulus 30653 Flynn Drive Romulus, MI 48174 734-721-3200 detroitairportcourtyard.com

Courtyard Detroit Livonia 17200 N Laurel Park Drive Livonia, MI 48152 734-462-2000 livoniacourtyard.com

SpringHill Suites Detroit Southfield 28555 Northwestern Highway Southfield, MI 48034 248-352-6100 marriott.com/dtwsd

Courtyard Detroit Auburn Hills 1296 Opdyke Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326 248-373-4100 auburnhillscourtyard.com

Courtyard Detroit Novi 42700 West 11 Mile Road Novi, MI 48375 248-380-1234 novicourtyard.com

TownePlace Suites Detroit Sterling Heights 14800 Lakeside Circle Sterling Heights, MI 48313 marriott.com/dtwtu

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To register visit www.houghtonlakechamber.net or contact the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce, 1625 W. Houghton Lake Drive, Houghton Lake, MI 48629 Phone: (989)366-5644.

Email at hlcc@houghtonlakechamber.org

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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HOMETOWN HERO

NHL TOTALS (AS OF NOV. 7)

215 13 42 55 92 GAMES

GOALS

ASSISTS

POINTS

PIM

U-M TOTALS (2003-07)

163 24 73 97 256 GAMES

GOALS

ASSISTS

POINTS

PIM

MATT &

HU CCHA, Michigan Hockey archives

U-M TOTALS (2007-NOV. 7, 2011)

55 .927 2.02 GAMES

SV%

36

12

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GAA

5

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YOUTH HOCKEY

Honeybaked ’98s welcome the Red Army The 1998 Red Army team from Russia arrived in Michigan a week before competing in the Bauer Invitational tournament in Chicago Nov. 4-6. Here they had a slate of games that included a tilt with the Honeybaked ’98s on Saturday, Oct. 29.

The game was fast-paced from the outset and the boys on both sides never slowed down, despite playing full 20-minute stop time periods. Honeybaked scored first, but Red Army pulled ahead 2-1 before Honeybaked tied the game, setting up overtime. Skating 4-on-4 in the extra session, Honeybaked won in fitting fashion as second-generation Russians combined on the winner. Nik Pastujov fed Igor Larionov perfectly and Larionov did the rest with a deft deke and a backhand to the top corner.

The game was as good as it gets at this level: Well played, hotly contested, yet with respect and sportsmanship exhibited throughout. The Honeybaked families billeted the Russian boys overnight, so the experience was social and cultural, rounding out the game competition. In a touching display after the game, the young Rus-

Giving back: The ’98 Wolves collected 229 items for the Mt. Clemens Hockey Association’s First annual Opening Day Food Drive.

(Courtesy Mt. Clemens Hockey Association)

sian netminder approached Igor Larionov Sr. in the rink lobby and presented him with a replica No. 8 Red Army jersey. Larionov played eight years for Red Army and it is the only jersey from his illustrious career that he doesn’t have.

In total, it was the best that youth hockey has to offer.

Note: The following article is a reader submission from a parent, coach, or player.

If you would like your team featured on our website, please email Michael Caples at mcaples@mihockeynow.com

Mt. Clemens teams raise over 1,750 items in food drive

International friendly: The Honeybaked ’98s prevailed 3-2 over the ’98 Red Army team. (Courtesy Keith Day)

The Mt. Clemens Hockey Association’s First annual Opening Day Food Drive, benefiting Gleaners Food Bank, was an overwhelming success! We collected over 1750 food items to help feed Macomb county families in need!

This was a great opportunity to teach our players how easy it is to make a positive difference in someone’s life.

To make the event a little more interesting for our players, we held a contest to see which team could bring in the most donations.

• • • • •

Winners of our contest were: ’98 Wolves — 229 items collected ’99 Woves — 228 items collected Mite Canadiens — 128 items collected Mite Polar Bears — 115 items collected PeeWee Wild — 115 items collected

Note: The following article is a reader submission from a parent, coach, or player.

If you would like your team featured on our website, please email Michael Caples at mcaples@mihockeynow.com

Fore more information visit

MLK Cheap Skate House B Tournament JANUARY 13-15, 2012 4 Game Guarantee All Levels $400 $400 Per Team

wingsstadium.com To register contact Jeff Weber • 269.345.1125 jweber@wingsstadium.com All teams must book hotel rooms through Lena Austin • 269.492.6917 laustin@ghgkz.com

12 Minute Periods MAHA Sanction 120173 WEST

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Marquette Old-Timers Tournament Report The 3rd annual Marquette Old-timers Tournament, held in Marquette’s Lakeview Arena (home of the Marquette Electricians Midget AAA Hockey team and Marquette Junior Hockey) and the Berry Event Center (home of the Northern Michigan Wildcats) from Sept. 15-19 is becoming the kick-off event for hockey in the Upper Peninsula, and is really becoming a great event. It is always a rush to get the ice in at the Lakeview arena before the beginning of the tournament and this year was not different, with the ice being put in just two days before the tourney started. The Berry Event Center was added this year as the tournament continues to grow.

This year the Women’s Division and the 18-and-over Novice Division were added and it is now at six divisions (Women’s, 18+ Novice, 21+ Open, 30-40, 40-50, 50+), 40 teams, over 600 participants from all over the US and Canada. The Women’s Division — new this year — featured many current and former college players. The 21-and-over Open Division had many players who have played professionally in Europe, the AHL and the NHL. Needless to say, that division was very competitive.

Lady luck: The Northern Lites — a local female team made up of players of all ages — defeated the Northern Michigan University team 3-1 to take home the firstever Women’s Division championship. This victory will go a long way toward promoting women’s hockey in the Marquette area. (Courtesy Marquette Old-timers Tournament)

Note: The following article is a reader submission from a parent, coach, or player. If you would like your team featured on our website, please email Michael Caples at mcaples@mihockeynow.com

Snowcats claw their way to tourney win

On the road: The Novi Snowcats defeated the Butler Valley Dawgs 4-2 to capture the Hockey Time Productions tournament in Pittsburgh. (Novi Snowcats)

The Novi Snowcats hit the road for an early season tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa. “We didn’t know what to expect when we found out we were matched up against three travel teams from the home state,” said head coach John Henehan. “The idea was to get the new players familiar with each other and a chance for the players and families to form an early bond for the season.

Give credit to It’s Hockey Time for knowing which teams to put in the A bracket and which to put in the A/B division,” he continued. “It turned out to be all of that and more!”

To read the story in its entirety, please visit tinyurl.com/mihockeynow-snowcats

16U Icebreakers win ‘Ignite the Ice’ in Cleveland The U16 Michigan Icebreakers won the Girl’s U16 Tier 2 Ignite the Ice Tournament in Cleveland Ohio on Sept. 25. The Icebreakers went undefeated in pool play, outscoring the opposition 28 to 4.

Netminder Hannah Fremd and the team defense was spectacular, limiting the opposition to a goal per game. The offense was lead by a strong showing from Leah Elkins, Emilee Fremd and Allison Lowe.

The Icebreakers faced a tough Buffalo Stars team in the championship game. An empty-net goal with less than a minute left in the game sealed the victory for the Icebreakers.

The Icebreakers skate out of Suburban Ice Arena in Farmington Hills.

Dominating performance: The Icebreakers outscored their opponents 28 to 4. (Courtesy U16 Icebreakers)

Note: The following article is a reader submission from a parent, coach, or player. If you would like your team

featured on our website, please email Michael Caples at mcaples@mihockeynow.com

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

Michigan Hockey

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Michigan Hockey

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Sweet Stick So that you’re not running around as often to get your kid’s skates sharpened half an hour before the game, buy him or her a Sweet Stick, and make sure they throw it in their bag. That way, in a pinch, you can get some of your edge back, and wait for a more convenient time to get them properly sharpened.

Warrior Dynasty stick Make sure your favorite player has the best hardware available next time he or she winds up in the slot. The Dynasty is constructed specifically for which way you shoot, which means a quicker load and a quicker release.

Gongshow apparel Designed by fellow hockey players, Gongshow captures what it means to be a hockey player, and puts it on clothing. Help your favorite player show off that he plays the best sport there is.

Reebok Zig Tech shoes Let your kids show off their team pride while they work to become better players. Reebok’s Zig Tech shoes help them train to get better, and you can get them with NHL team logos and colors. What kid wouldn’t want that?

Bauer Supreme TotalOne gloves Look, even kids know how to lay down the lumber. Make sure those hands are protected properly, so the player can focus on setting up a teammate, or scoring a big goal.

FOR

Players

Reebok 11K helmet As more and more research comes out about concussions, protecting your player should be of the utmost priority. Get him a bucket that’s going to perform better than a bucket.

Hockey Fights Cancer Women’s Track Jacket

HockeyTUL Let’s face it, if there’s something wrong with a player’s equipment, eventually it’s going to be the parent’s responsibility.

So get them something they can have with them to make the job easier and less stressful. The HockeyTUL covers a wide, wide variety of problems you can come across before a big game.

Help your mom or wife look good while she’s at the rink this season, and help in the fight against breast cancer at the same time.

Skwoosh Stadium Gel Seat The freezing cold bleachers shouldn’t hurt your bottom any longer. Ask for a seat cushion this holiday season, so you can worry about your favorite player a little more comfortably.

Baby Skates For all the new hockey parents out there that are eagerly awaiting the first time their son or daughter steps on the ice, get ready with Baby Skates.

Specially-designed skates in sizes 2-8, Baby Skates can be custom engraved on the blade, so that the special keepsake of one’s first skates becomes even more unique. Plus, you get free shipping if you mentioned Michigan Hockey when you’re ordering.

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Michigan Hockey

HolidayG MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

Tickets You could never, ever go wrong with getting somebody tickets for their favorite hockey team.

FOR

Fans Tech cases That brand-new iPhone a loved one got recently still needs a case. Get one with their favorite team’s colors on it.

Henrik Zetterberg Fathead Why buy a poster when you can get a Fathead? It makes you feel like you’re on the ice with your favorite player — like Henrik Zetterberg. Or Pavel Datsyuk. Or Nick Lidstrom.

Or whoever else you would like to decorate your room with.

Hockey Sled Get something for your favorite coach that can help his players train the right way. The Hockey Sled helps players work on their stride, and a better stride means a happier coach.

FOR

Parents

Warrior warm-up jacket Help Mr. or Mrs. Coach stay comfortable on the ice for this year and seasons to come.

FOR

Coaches

Hockey Dad by Bob McKenzie What hockey parent wouldn’t be interested to read about how a top hockey journalist and commentator perceives youth hockey today?

Puck Keeper bag

Game-used Puck Edge Cuff links Help your favorite hockey dad take a part of his favorite sport with him to a big meeting, interview or just another day at the office.

Everybody needs a little more hockey in their life.

iftGuide November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

Coach-Mate There’s always going to be those practices where a coach’s players are having trouble following what he’s saying for certain drills.

Help him or her by getting them a Coach-Mate hockey rink whiteboard, so they can diagram plays and better explain to players where they want them on the ice.

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

Get your favorite coach something that will help his or her players work on their passing while cleaning up at the same time. With the Puck Keeper bag, players can shoot pucks right into the bag, which improves clean-up time and might make it more entertaining at the same time.

Michigan Hockey

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Nov. 1st – Dec. 17th Tuesday: 10:30 – 11:20am Saturday: 10:00 – 11:20am Make up class and Open Skate offered during Holiday break

CLASSES

Snowplow Sam 1, 2, 3 %DVLF ‡ $GXOW Hockey Skills

23996 Freeway Park Drive Farmington Hills

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52999 Dequindre Rd. Rochester MI 48307

www.onyxicearena.com Check out all the fun programs at the ONYX!

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$7 Admission $3 to rent skates

open skate on Nov 25th (DJ, Disco lights,ect‌)

FUNDAMENTAL HOCKEY Still taking Registrations

Mighty Mite (ages 3-6) Wed or Sat Mini Mite (ages 6-8) Wed and Sat Squirt/Peewee (ages 9-12) Tues and Sun

Free Clinic Nov 4th and Dec 9th

Phone: 248.601.6699 November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

NAHL boasts several “Players to Watch”

BY MATT MACKINDER

T

he National Hockey League feels potential future stars of the league are playing this year in the North American Hockey League.

Eleven league players, including two in-state skaters, were recognized on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s “Players to Watch” list for 2012 draft-eligibles released on Oct. 21.

Players from the NAHL on the list include Michigan Warriors defenseman Derek O’Flynn, Traverse City forward Kyle Schempp, Wichita Falls forwards Dennis Kravchenko and Adam Wilcox, Corpus Christi defenseman Christopher Taff and goaltender Anthony Stolarz, Dawson Creek defenseman Luke Ripley, Aberdeen forward Cory Ward, Coulee Region forward Jakob Batcha, Alexandria goaltender Jameson Shortreed and Alaska defenseman Chris Buchanan.

“When I first heard that I was on the list, I was very excited and it was a good feeling knowing that I’m getting some recognition from the NHL for all my the hard work I have put in so far,” Schempp said. “For the next set of rankings, I would love to improve but most importantly, just keep playing consistently and working hard because if I know if I do that, I will able to be successful and I will reach my goals.”

For Kravchenko, a California native and University of Vermont recruit, he was a bit humbled by seeing his name on the list.

“It was kind of a shock, but at the same time, a lot of people told me that I would be (recognized),” Kravchenko said. “My goal has always been to be in the NHL, so all I can do is work as hard as I can and be the best that I can.”

O’Flynn learned of his name on the watch list from what he originally thought was an unreliable source.

“My initial feeling when I found out I was on the list was disbelief,” O’Flynn said. “A teammate told me while we were packing the bus for Kalamazoo and I didn’t believe him. I called my dad to make sure my teammate wasn’t just messing with me and sure enough, he wasn’t. At that point, I was very happy and proud of myself.”

Central Scouting will release its midseason rankings in January, followed by its final rankings in April.

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be the 50th edition of the event and will be held on June 22-23, 2012 at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

CURTALE STANDS ALONE Texas Tornado head coach Tony Curtale became the winningest coach in U.S. junior hockey history on Oct. 27 as the Tornado topped New Mexico, 4-0, for Curtale’s 530th regular season win, topping the former record of 529 held

NAHL.COM 32

Michigan Hockey

Highly touted: Clockwise from top, Traverse City forward Kyle Schempp, Michigan Warrior defenseman Derek O’Flynn and Wichita Falls forward Dennis Kravchenko are among the list of top tier NAHL players to be named to the NHL Center Scouting Bureau’s “Players to Watch” list for draft-eligible skaters.

(John Elftmann/NAHL)

by longtime USHL coach Mike Hastings.

“I think this record is more a reflection of the players that I have had a chance to coach,” Curtale said. “There have been some really good ones. You remember those who make it to the NHL and the NCAA, but you also remember the ones that go onto become doctors, Wall Street bankers, or the guy who moved on to help run the family business after they were done playing hockey. It makes it all worthwhile for me when I hear about how well they are doing and how their time in junior hockey helped mold them into who they are today and that I had a little something to do with that.”

ONWARD AND UPWARD Recent NCAA D-I commitments from the NAHL — Coulee Region captain Eric Drapluk has committed to Lake Superior State, Traverse City defenseman Chris Leibinger will play at Michigan Tech, Wenatchee forward Kyle Vogel picked Army, Topeka defenseman Chris Bond committed to Connecticut and New Mexico forward Adam Chapie chose Massachusetts-Lowell.

THE LATEST HEADLINES, CONTACT INFO, FULL SCHDULE & MORE

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

NAHL ANNOUNCES TOP OCTOBER PERFORMERS The NAHL league office announced their top player and goaltender for the month of October. Kalamazoo K-Wings forward Robbie Payne was named the “Combat Hockey Player of the Month,” while Wenatchee Wild Robbie Payne goaltender Greg Lewis was named “Brian’s Custom Sports Goaltender of the Month” Payne, a Gaylord, Mich. native, led the NAHL with 19 points in ten games, including ten goals. In the process, the 18-year-old helped the K-Wings win eight of their ten Greg Lewis games in the first month of the season.

Lewis, a Mars, Penn. native, had a 2-1-1 record in October. What stood out the most, however, was the fact that those two wins came as shutouts. The 20-year-old netminder only allowed four goals in the entire month.

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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PLYMOUTH WHALERS

The “country boy” Captain

BY MATT MACKINDER

W

hether he’s on the ice playing in the Ontario Hockey League or hunting in the woods, Beau Schmitz has his eyes on the prize.

An avid outdoorsman, the Plymouth Whalers’ captain and Howell native can often be found away from Compuware Arena in a deer blind waiting for an eight-point buck to come strolling by or on a small boat hoping to reel in dinner.

“I get out as much as I can,” said the 20-year-old Schmitz. “My billets understand and my family’s property is only about 40 minutes from my billet house. Being outdoors takes me away from hockey and sometimes, that’s what I need.”

While most kids his age are into video games or other technology involving the use of thumbs, Schmitz is the exception. In fact, he’s taken several of his Plymouth teammates out for a trek in the woods over the years.

“It’s funny because they just kind of stand there with their mouths open while I gut a deer,” laughed Schmitz.

“They just can’t believe what I’m doing. Even at the rink, I get ribbed pretty badly. I’m that guy showing up to practice in camo. It’s just who I am.”

Schmitz said one similarity between the outdoors and hockey is the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment each gives him.

“Getting a buck to me is just as good as winning a championship,” he said. “Most people don’t understand when I say that, but it’s true. I shot a buck recently and my family came and celebrated and it was a pretty big event.”

Hunting has been in Schmitz’s blood literally since birth.

When his father was younger, he trespassed onto neighboring land to hunt and those neighbors wound up being his future in-laws. Even when Schmitz’s mother was pregnant more than 20 years ago, she was out hunting and experiencing the outdoors.

“It’s a funny story, but that’s how I was named,” said

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Michigan Hockey

Schmitz. “My mom was a bow hunter and it just kind of made sense, I guess, to name me Beau. It’s a pretty cool story, I think.”

The epitome of what the term “country boy” means, Schmitz grew up on his grandfather’s farm and from a young age, was outside from dawn until dusk taking care of the cattle and other farming duties. To be able to handle such chores on a daily basis is something Schmitz feels molded him into who he is today.

“Looking back, it’s obvious to me that all that hard work created a work ethic that is paying off in hockey,” Schmitz explained. “It was easier to find time to do both (be outside and play hockey) when I was a kid, but now, it’s a little bit more challenging. We sometimes have a day off during the week and if we do, I’m up a tree or on the lake. Even after practice, I’m off to the woods until it gets dark. Hockey is like a business at this level and sometimes, you just need a break and need to get away.”

On the ice, the Whalers have had a streaky roller coaster start to the season. As the one who wears the ‘C,’ Schmitz takes ownership of the team and is the one looked to for leadership.

“I’ve been here four years and whenever we hit a rough patch, we always come out of it,” said Schmitz. “The coaches see what’s happening and make whatever adjustments they need to make. (Plymouth coach) Mike (Vellucci) finds a way to bring the team together year after year. We have some new faces and once everyone gets comfortable with their role on this team and sticks to it, we’ll be fine. It’s nothing to worry about.

“As captain, I just go out and lead by example. I’ve learned that if the guys see me doing something in practice or in a game, they’ll take note and figure that if I’m doing it, then they should be, too. Being captain is a big responsibility, but I think I’m doing a good job.”

Looking ahead short-term, the Whalers have a busy

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

A real outdoorsman: In addition to serving as captain for the Whalers, Beau Schmitz also prides himself on his hunting and fishing abilities, which are evident by the buck he recently shot (inset). (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

schedule that Schmitz said “doesn’t get any easier as the weeks go by.”

“I’ve learned that not only do you have to have the physical side down to play in the OHL, but you need to be mentally ready day-in and day-out,” Schmitz said. “The pace of the game starts in practice and we have to carry that over to the games. If we do that on a consistent basis, we should be fine and should be a team to beat.”

And if he finds time to get out before the end of deer season, that’s just the icing on the cake, or rather, the gravy on the meat.

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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SAGINAW SPIRIT

Saad defies NHL hangover myth

BY CARL CHIMENTI

B

randon Saad has defied the dreaded NHL hangover, a period of re-adjustment that a lot of Major Junior A players go through after returning from an extended NHL camp.

The Gibsonia, Penn. native was drafted this past June, in the second round (43rd overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks. After attending their rookie camp, Saad was invited to their main camp where he played well enough to make the team.

He appeared in the Blackhawks first two games, a homeand-home series against the Dallas Stars, and was the only player selected in the second round to suit up for an NHL game this season. Saad skated on the top two lines with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane, and held his own.

Since returning, Saad has been on a tear, scoring at a two-point per game clip with nine goals and 18 points in nine games. He scored a team record-tying four goals against the Brampton Battalion in just his third game back and completed his first week with an incredible six goals and four assists, which helped the Spirit break out of an early-season funk with three straight wins.

For his effort, both the OHL and the CHL named him player of the week for Oct. 17-23.

“I just tried to bring back what I learned in Chicago to Saginaw and so far it’s worked out well,” said the 6-foot-2, 211-pound left winger. “Of course coming back and being able to play with talented line mates like Vincent Trocheck and Garret Ross has also been very helpful in the early success that I have had.”

Saad has obviously been very happy with the way things went in the Windy City.

“I went there with the intension of working hard and showcasing my talent and I came back with an NHL contract,” Saad said. “I got a chance to play in a couple of regular season games and I received about an average of thirteen minutes, in ice time, per game.”

The experience that Saad received during his stint with the Blackhawks not only sharpened his skills, but also showed him what it takes to become a pro hockey player, both on and off the ice.

“It was great because you see the guys and the dedication they have to the game,” said Saad, who is beginning his second season with the Spirit. “All the guys were really nice and helpful. They all work extremely hard at getting better every day.”

In 2007-08, Saad scored 43 goals and 51 assists in 76 games for the Pittsburgh Hornets Midget team. Saginaw drafted Saad in the first round (10th overall), of the 2008 OHL Priority Draft, but he opted to join the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, with the intention of keeping his college hockey eligibility intact. He put up solid numbers, scoring 29 goals and 47 points in his only season in the North American Hockey League.

He followed that up with a strong season in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the U.S. National Team Development Pro-

36

Michigan Hockey

Hot hand: Brandon Saad used his opportunity at the Chicago Blackhawks’ rookie and training camps to earn a spot on the team’s opening-day roster. After two games with the big boys, Saad returned to the Spirit where he has posted gaudy numbers: Nine goals and 18 points in nine games. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

gram, scoring another 29 goals and 49 points.

The Spirit never lost faith that Saad would join the team, and through some hard work from head scout and assistant general manager Jim Paliafito, Saad arrived for the 2010-11 season.

Once again, he adjusted to a new league and potted 27 goals and 28 assists in 59 regular season games and added three goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games.

“Brandon is a terrific all-round hockey player and brings a lot to the table,” said Todd Watson, Spirit general man-

“

It was great because you see the guys and the dedication they have to the game ... All the guys were really nice and helpful. They all work extremely hard at getting better every day.

”

ager and head coach. “He can play in all situations. He has good hands, can score and he brings a physical element to his game as well.”

Saad was selected to play for Team Orr in the 2011 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects game.

Injuries slowed him down in the second half of last season, but Saad says that he is fine now.

“I am all healed up,” Saad said. “I am looking forward to this season and along with the rest of the team we are ready to start playing like we did last year.”

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

MacDonald in “win-win” situation

BY KYLE KUJAWA

W

hen it comes to franchise records, longevity, professionalism and loyalty on the Grand Rapids Griffins, Joey MacDonald stands alone.

With 924 games of NHL experience on the roster, there is certainly no shortage of role models for the young players on the Griffins. Though he doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey, there’s no doubt that a large part of the team’s leadership group is none other than the man between the pipes.

MacDonald first suited up for the Griffins in 2002-03, helping the Griffins to the best record in the Western Conference and combining with Marc Lamothe to win the AHL’s Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for outstanding team goaltending. He worked his way up the Detroit Red Wings depth chart, spending the next three seasons with the Griffins before the 2006-07 season saw him become the Red Wings’ third goaltender.

Overdue for an NHL chance, he was claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins on Feb. 24, 2007. After seven games in Boston, a year as the starting goaltender for the NY Islanders and a brief stint in Toronto, with time in the AHL in between, MacDonald rejoined the Detroit organization for the 2010-11 season.

“I’m kind of biased,” said MacDonald. “I went to a couple other teams, but this is where my heart never really left.”

Detroit signed MacDonald as an unrestricted free agent on July 6, 2010. After 20 games in Grand Rapids and 15 with Detroit last season, he found himself with an easy decision to re-sign with the organization this summer.

“It was pretty simple,” explained MacDonald. “This is where I want to be. This is where I’ve spent seven years. I love it (in Detroit), and Grand Rapids is just an absolutely great place to live. It’s a win-win for me.“ MacDonald was set to be a key component in the Griffins

Seasoned Griffin: Joey MacDonald, now in his seventh season with the team, brings NHL experience and veteran leadership to a young Griffins’ squad.

(Photo courtesy Grand Rapids Griffins)

lineup last season, but injuries saw him assigned to and recalled from Grand Rapids a total of 10 times on the season.

While MacDonald’s ultimate goal is to be in the NHL, he would have preferred fewer trips across I-96.

“I was going up and down like a yo-yo,” he said. “It’s tough to get in a rhythm when you’re not playing as much.

It’s almost like you’re playing for two teams. You’re playing for [Detroit], then you’re coming back down.”

MacDonald was far from a fill-in during his time with the Red Wings last season. His 2.58 goals against average and .917 save percentage was the best on the team, and he recorded a shutout on Mar. 17 as part of a shutout streak of 110:47. The Pictou, Nova Scotia native explained that having the right attitude is key to succeeding in that kind of situation.

“Being a backup in the NHL is tough,” said MacDonald.

“You have to be loose. I see a lot of guys that are always uptight and, if they get thrown in, they get nervous.

This season, with the exception of joining Detroit as a backup for one game when his former teammate Jimmy Howard was celebrating the birth of his first child, MacDon-

ald is happy to be getting the chance to play more often and stay in Grand Rapids.

“The season’s going pretty well so far,” MacDonald said.

“I was a little disappointed in training camp when I went down with my knee acting up. I didn’t get a whole lot of exhibition games in, so when I got sent down here I was thrown right into it. But I think everything’s rolling along here pretty well.”

MacDonald is off to a strong start with the Griffins, ranking among AHL goaltending leaders with five wins (T-2nd), two shutouts (1st), 226 saves (3rd), a 2.09 goals-against average (6th) and a .934 save percentage (4th). He’s also set several franchise records, besting Howard’s games played (186), minutes (10659:17) and saves (4,489) records while becoming the first Griffins goaltender to win 100 games, doing so in a 3-0 shutout of Hamilton on Oct. 18.

He’s been pleased with how the team is improving throughout the early stretch of the schedule.

“We’re building on it,” he said. “The first couple games we had a good game, bad game, good game. I think in the last two or three, our consistency has been growing. Guys who played junior or college are getting used to playing three or four times per week.”

MacDonald has also shown this season that, no matter what jersey he’s wearing, he’ll stand up for his teammates.

After a scrum broke out on the side of the Griffins net in the Oct. 28 contest against Abbotsford, he found himself going toe-to-toe with Heat goaltender Leland Irving. It was the Griffins’ second goalie fight since at least the start of the 2000-01 season; the other occurring on April 9, 2006 between Jimmy Howard and Rochester’s Michael Leighton.

“It was just one of those strange things, you don’t see too many goalie fights,” said MacDonald. “I give the kid credit for skating all the way down. He was sticking up for his teammates, and that’s what he has to do.

“The fans like that stuff, and they loved it that night.”

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Michigan Hockey

39

JUNIORS PREVIEW RED WINGS INSIDER

Slumping Mule: Johan Franzen registered zero points and only seven shots in six contests before netting a goal and three assists in the Wings’ Nov. 5 win over Anaheim. (Dave Reginek/Detroit Red Wings)

What’s up with the Wings?

BY DAVE WADDELL

T

he trouble with the Detroit Red Wings during their recent six-game losing streak starts at the top.

Quite simply, their best players have been their worst players.

Henrik Zetterberg was a miserable minus-nine in the six losses. Former Selke Trophy winner Pavel Datsyuk has been minus-six, Niklas Kronwall was minus-seven, Johan Franzen and Dan Cleary minus-five and even Nick Lidstrom was minusfour, as was Brad Stuart.

“It can’t really get much worse than this right now,” said Kronwall before the Wings staunched the bleeding with a 5-0 win over Anaheim Nov. 5. “There’s only one way to go from here.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been through something like this. This is where the character of a team really shows, how you get out of this.

“We’re not going to skill our way out of this. We have to grind down, bear down, do a way better job staying harder on the puck, all over the ice.”

It’s prompted more meetings around Joe Louis Arena than has been seen in a long time.

Coaches met individually with players. Wings GM Ken Holland had discussions with team leaders and informed

“

them the solutions are held within the dressing room, not in him making a trade. Lidstrom then addressed the club.

It seems somebody was listening.

In finally breaking out of their slump by scoring nearly as many goals in one game as they had in the previous six, the Wings got contributions from their big guns. Lidstrom had two tallies and three points, Franzen a goal and three points, while Kronwall and Zetterberg also scored.

However, one game is hardly an antidote for the ills that have being plaguing the Wings. It’s a merely a step back towards being the team that won its first five games.

While plus-minus stats don’t always give the full picture of what is happening on the ice, many of these same players are also barely registering in a number of categories during the streak.

Zetterberg had a goal, an assist and 23 shots during Detroit’s current losing streak. Datsyuk took 27 shots and got four assists for his trouble.

Lidstrom, who admittedly has played pretty well and his plus-three evening versus Anaheim got him back in positive numbers, is an offensive dynamo in comparison to the rest of his teammates with a goal and three assists from his 20 shots.

More troubling for the Wings had been the complete disappearance of Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler.

We’re not going to We’r skill our way out of this. We have to grind down, bear down, do a way better job staying harder on the puck, alll over the ice.

40

Michigan Hockey

”

MIHOCKEYNOW.COM

Franzen had no points and only seven shots, none in the previous two games, in six contests. Filppula had no points and nine shots while Hudler had zero points, one shot and is minus-three in five games.

Cleary had a single goal and 14 shots while Todd Bertuzzi had one assist, nine shots and was minus-three.

“Guys are trying.” Lidstrom said. “You can’t say that guys aren’t trying.

“Guys are trying and when pucks aren’t going your way sometimes you use the cliché, ‘you’re squeezing your stick.’

But you have to continue to shoot the puck by getting chances.”

It’s as if the Wings keep telling themselves enough times they’re good and they’re working hard it will be so. Cleary looked stunned when asked if he was satisfied with the Wings’ work ethic so far.

It’s a question he’s likely never heard since donning the winged wheel.

“The one thing you can control is your work ethic,” Cleary said. “Keep working hard is the only way you can get through these situations.

“I’ve never had to question this team’s work ethic. I don’t see that as a problem.”

In truth, they haven’t been generally overwhelmed during the streak. What seemed lacking was a passion.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk have always typified the Wings that way, but they simply had not been winning the battles as frequently this season.

The foot soldiers also aren’t getting engaged much physically either. Only Justin Abdelkader, Jonathan Ericsson, Stuart, Eaves and Drew Miller are averaging two or more hits per game.

“Desperation is measured in results at the end,” Wings’ coach Mike Babcock said. “That’s the bottom line.

“I don’t think you can go through any of these games and say we’re getting outplayed. But we’re not winning.”

The Wings players had reached a point where they now confess they don’t know what the reasons are for a team starting the season 5-0 and then seeing the bottom fall out.

They only know the team that was, is no more right now.

Instead, they’ve resorted to selling the hope they can find that team again.

“We lost that one game, 7-1 to Washington, and we were still in the game until that bust in the second period,” said Zetterberg.

“We were playing well up until then. I think we had one bad game, in Columbus.

“Then after that we were thinking too much. It’s amazing that we were 5-0 and feeling pretty good about ourselves, and doing good things. … It’s a different team.”

However, Zetterberg and Babcock are sure of one thing.

The time has come to stop looking to line shuffling and someone else for solutions.

“We got to let them play, too,” Babcock said. “It’s not about who you play with.

“The whole key in these situations is taking responsibility yourself. It’s not about anyone else, do your little part and we’ll be good together.”

The Wings were very good for one night, looking like the contender many believe they can still be. The question is who will they be from game to game?

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

THE LAST LINE

L

ast issue we debated who was the greatest Red Wing of all-time. Fan response was tremendous, as you voted Steve Yzerman as being worthy of that description. But as USA Today’s Kevin Allen and our very own editor Mike Caples eloquently stated, Gordie Howe and Nick Lidstrom are greats in their own right. The fact that three generational icons represent Red Wings’ hockey so convincingly speaks to the long-standing tradition of our Original Six franchise.

Of course, omissions occur in any such short-list debate, with worthy candidates left out of the conversation. The list of former Red Wings in the Hall of Fame numbers over forty alone and swells to over sixty legendary names when including pioneers from the Detroit Cougars and Falcons beginnings. Granted, no one called us out with a “what about Ebbie Goodfellow” challenge, but the process got me thinking about the greats of Red Wings’ lore and their roles in defining the identity of the organization. All of which brought me to Igor Larionov, a 2008 Hall of Fame inductee.

Now, Larionov’s hockey odyssey brought him to Detroit at the beginning of the 1995-96 season, fully 14 seasons after he began playing professionally in what was then the Soviet Union. He fought against that system as a young player, while centering one of the most famous and prolific lines in hockey history, the KLM line of Larionov, Sergei Makarov and Vladimir Krutov. His legacy in his home country was one of prodigious passing and point production and constant battling with Coach Viktor Tikhonov and the Soviet system of player treatment; most notably the practice of keeping the team sequestered away from family at the Red Army training facility/barracks.

Larionov, along with teammate and future Russian Five member here in Detroit, Slava Fetisov, paved the way for the “legal” or “negotiated” exodus of players from Russia.

Their rights were sold to the teams that held their NHL rights as a way of funding a failing Sports Bureau in the USSR. The view back home was that these players were past their prime, so let’s get something for the dissenters.

In the case of Fetisov and Larionov, the Soviet Federation underestimated the drive of these men. It wasn’t instant success for either player once in North America, but it all came together here in Detroit.

In Larionov’s case, he played three seasons in Vancouver for the Canucks, left for a season in Switzerland, came back to the NHL with the San Jose Sharks for two seasons — and was part of the stunning seven-game upset of the Red Wings in 1994 — before the Sharks traded Larionov to the Red Wings four games into the 1995-96 season. Personally, at the age of 35, it was Larionov’s best season statistically with 21 goals, 50 assists in the 69 games he played for the Red Wings that year. The bigger development was the impact he had on young forwards Sergei Fedorov and Slava Kozlov. Along with defensemen Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov, they became know as the Russian Five, playing as a complete unit and instilling a puck-possession game that is still the foundation for Red Wings’ hockey today.

Larionov was part of the 1997, 1998 and 2002 Stanley Cup winning teams, scoring the dramatic triple OT gamewinning goal in Game 3 of that 2002 Final. It was a memo-

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Michigan Hockey

LARIONOV LEAVES HIS LEGACY IN RED WINGS’ LORE

BY DARREN ELIOT

@Darren_Eliot

Making his case: In addition to winning three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings, Igor Larionov is one of only four players to capture gold medals in the Olympics, Canada/World Cup, World Championships and World Junior Championships.

(Michigan Hockey Archives)

rable moment at age 41, yet just one of so many winning moments Larionov was a part of. Along with the three Cups in Detroit, Larionov also won gold medals in the Olympics, Canada/World Cup, World Championships and World Junior Championships. He and Fetisov, Joe Sakic and Scott Niedermayer are the only players ever to sport such a resume of winning.

Our boys skate together on the Honeybaked ’98 team and as we idled away some time on pick-up duty after practice one evening we were talking — what else — hockey. He told me the best hockey he was ever a part of was the 1987 Canada Cup when his Soviet side lost a three-

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game series to Canada 2-1, with all three games ending 6-5 and two decided in OT — one in double OT. Ironic in that with all that winning, the best hockey was in a situation Larionov didn’t prevail. More than anything, it underscores how incredible that ’87 series was.

So, one debate leads to another and while his playing days here might not make him the greatest Red Wing of all-time, I’ll present that Igor Larionov’s career in total is the most incredible of any player who ever donned a winged-wheel jersey.

I look forward to hearing your perspective at MiHockeyNow.com.

November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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DAYS

Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25

TM

CLASS DESCRIPTION

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Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25

SUBURBAN ICE - FARMINGTON HILLS: 23996 FREEWAY PARK DR., FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 9-10:20AM 10:30AM - 12PM 12 - 1:30PM

12 - 1:30PM 1:30 - 3PM

Ages 6-8 Ages 9-10

Mite Power Skating Squirt Power Skating

3 - 4:30PM

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10:30AM-12PM

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TIME

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Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25

SUBURBAN ICE - MACOMB: 54755 BROUGHTON ROAD, MACOMB, MI

DEC. 22-23

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9:30 - 11:00 am 11:00 am - 12:30 pm 12:30 - 2:00 pm 11:00 am - 12:30 pm 12:30 - 2:00 pm 2:00 - 3:30 pm

DEC. 21-23

Shoot to Score Quick & Fast Goalie Crease Coverage Outside Edges Stickhandling & Puck Control Goalie Use of Tools

11AM-12PM

Ages 6 & Under

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12 - 1:30PM 1:30 - 3PM

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JOHN LINDELL ICE ARENA - ROYAL OAK: 1403 LEXINGTON RD., ROYAL OAK, MI

DAYS

Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Wednesday, November 23 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25 Friday, November 25

DEC. 22-23

CLASS DESCRIPTION

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ONYX - ROCHESTER ICE ARENA: 52999 DEQUINDRE, ROCHESTER, MI

DEC. 29-30

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S C I N I L C Y A D I L HO DEC. 29-30 DEC. 27-28 DEC. 21-23

Stickhandling & Puck Control (Ages 5-8) Outside Edges (Ages 6-14) Stickhandling & Puck Control (Ages 9-14) Backward Power Skating (Ages 9-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 5-8) Quick & Fast (Ages 6-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 9-14) Defense Camp (Ages 9-14)

DEC. 27-28

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11AM - 12:30PM

Ages 6-8

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12:30 - 2PM

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November 14, 2011 V.22 : I.8

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