WelcomeTeamSchedulePromotions
Sierra Providence Events Center 2008
Roadrunners 2008

Just Chirp'n 16


Just Chirp’n #16 (2009-2010)
Dec. 16, 2009
by Michael Hissam

It’s the game of the season, folks.  And, it’s not even playoff time.  It features an unusual two 25-minute periods format.  But as with every regular season tilt, two points are on the line.

When the Midwest Division first-place El Paso Rhinos collide with the Western Division first-place Fresno Monsters on Friday, it will be all eyes on the ice with two-high scoring, yet highly-defensive teams.

If the matchup by itself doesn’t spark enough adrenalin for players and fans, a reprise of Paul Newman’s Coach Reggie Dunlap (Slapshot) quote says it all in one word, “Scouts?” 

More than 30 collegiate scouts will be in Las Vegas for the annual Western States Hockey League Showcase event this weekend.  Planning for all the action on the ice with this marquee game, the scouts better have extra pencils and notepads.  They know El Paso has 209 goals for and 54 against, with Fresno at 175 and 56 respectively.  They’ve been watching the games over the internet feeds.  Many of them are head coaches or assistants at all collegiate levels.  They know what they are looking for.

Yet, there’s always the possibility of a “break-out” weekend for some skater to get the notice he has been seeking.

“We’re staying with our game plan,” said Rhino Coach Cory Herman.  “It’s still two points.  We’ll play them – four games in three days – as regular games.  We’ll put our best on ice.”

Playing in Las Vegas by no means equals weekend vacation for the Rhinos.  With two games on tap for Friday – morning and late afternoon – one can place a safe Vegas wager that about 20 skaters will be resting in between the contests.  “To us, going to Las Vegas will be like going to San Antonio or Tulsa,” Herman said.  Later contests match the Rhinos with Idaho, San Diego and old league playoff finals enemigo Phoenix.

Any glitz will have to be on the ice.  Two periods with an extra five minutes a period means change.  “Those longer periods are different, a big difference.”  Another difference is the lack of knowledge of the Western Division opposition.  “We’re somewhat blind against them.  We’ve not seen them in person.  It does make it kind of fun – but we’ve got to figure out what they are doing. 

Final Rhino practices will see more emphasis on the special teams.  “We’ve had good practices so far.  Each player needs to out work his guy every shift,” Herman noted.

Andrew Duff gets the call in goal for El Paso in Friday’s game against Fresno.

Monster’s bench boss Eric Ballard said it might take the first period to figure out the El Paso team and game plan.  “We know there is a good veteran group from El Paso.  Cory has been doing a fabulous job with the team.”

Ballard pointed out his team is based on solid goaltending.  “We rotate three starting goalies.  Each could start in any team in the league.  We are fortunate to have guys with a 91 plus save percentage, as well as goals against averages ranging from 1.3 to 1.94.  We just got to be defensive and keep the pucks out of the back of the net.”

Fresno goalies include Peter Megariotis, Matt Anderson and Brent Hollerud, the latter sporting the 1.3 goals-against average.  Up front, Ballard has been known to put his three top scorers Thomas Freeman (56 points), Ryan Parkhouse (52) and Rob Kolander (42) on the same line.  Kolander recently took junior- hockey player of the week and month honors.

The Monsters should be pretty much at full strength despite “some bangs and bruises.”

[email protected]


Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

June 2020
May 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
June 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007