Keystone Cops Hockey, Peoria out shoots Wolves 7:6

It was not a good night to be a nettie in Rosemont Wednesday. By the middle of the second period both teams were forced to pull their shell shocked goalies. Peoria's Ben Bishop was exchanged for Marek Schwartz after 29:05 minutes and Chicago's Robert Gherson limped to the box replaced by Dan Turple after 31:04. Now, that has to be an AHL record both teams replacing both goalies within 121 seconds of each other.

There are many fingers possibly being pointed in both locker rooms, at goalies, no question they had bad nights, the first goal Gherson let in, he looked like he had gone out for pizza he was so far out of the crease. The others he lacked defensive cover. The same could be said of Peoria. The refereeing of the game by Shaun Davis (31), was spotty at best, a controversial penalty shot would prove to be the winning goal. In short bad juju just flew all over the arena.

Tomorrow night the Wolves will face the Rockford Icehogs. They will need to shake off the loss and come out breathing fire to do well against their biggest rivals. Somehow I envision captain's practices until the team throws up.

Here are a couple of images of the debacle.

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Sunday Morning, at Tim Hortons...life is good.

It's early on this last day of Thanksgiving weekend and being of the religious persuasion, I rose at the crack of dawn and drove to Tim Horton's for a cup of coffee and a pair of Tim Bits's 20's for the ride home. One for us and one for WK the penalty time keeper for the Wolves. The last time he had a box of Timmies the Wolves won so it has become a bit of a tradition to bring Timmies home when on the road. I tell the earnest young man behind the counter the destination of one of the boxes of Bit's and I don't think he believes me until I empty the box of the Timmies into a zip lock bag for the ride home. Then the moment comes, the XL coffee with cream and 4 Splenda is placed in my hand and it is to the table I go to enjoy what is arguably the finest and freshest cup of coffee in the world, OK, North America.

It has been four days since Kissane and I packed up the van had headed to Rochester to see the family on Wed for a weekend of turkey, family stories and not much hockey. Quite a change for us, although my niece Kristine did tell us about a league goalie she knew from Qswego State who's big mojo was to tape his stick in the nude in the locker room before games-TMI ! I did manage to catch a period of the Amerks-Manchester game on TV Thursday night. For a team that supposedly is in at the bottom they looked pretty good. Friday against Lake Erie they looked even better winning despite Karl Stewart , bless his heart getting a tripping penalty at the wrong time giving Cleveland a two man advantage. Rochester Goalie Chris Beckford -Tsu managed to stand on his head for two minutes and save the day. Something many of us can remember him doing from his time in Peoria.

My cup grows empty and I promised the family I would be back in an hour to have a last meal, pack the van and be on the road early as the weather forecast has bad tidings along the Great Lakes. With luck WK will have his box of Tim Bits at 3:00 at today's game, be nice to him and he just may give you one. Mine will be long gone by noon.

Manchester Moncharchs come to Chicago, King them!

Last night the hockey action in the Allstate Arena turned ugly. The Manchester Monarchs came to town and dominated the Chicago Wolves from the opening puck drop, winning 7:2. Scoring twice on PP and one shortie, it was obvious they had come out to play hard against a team they hoped to see later in the year, possibly the Calder Cup finals. It was not Chicago goalie Dan Turple's night to shine, Coach Don Granato pulled him at 15:04 in the second and put crowd favorite Robert Gherson in place between the pipes. It would not be his karma to escape the Manchester front line as Scott Parce and Marty Murray would drill the final two goals in under his watch.


Manchester's 5th goal was scored by a familiar face from a favorite place, Justin Azevedo. At 5'7" and 183 pounds this W. Lorne Ontario native and Kitchner Ranger (04'-08') strutted his stuff as an Atlanta invitee at the Red Wing Rookie Tournament in Traverse City in 06'. Even as a 17 year old he was aggressive in a face off and in front of the net. It was a pleasure to see him on ice again, all be it in a uniform with a Kings crest on it.


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The boys can shake off the loss with a holiday tomorrow. They board the team buss for Grand Rapids and the Griffs on Friday. No Black Friday shopping for you boys!

Wolves Send Grand Rapids Packing3:6

The Wolves old and dear rivals the Grand Rapids were in town last night for a rare inter divisional game. Once upon a time Grand Rapids and the Wolves were the biggest of rivals. However since the redrawing of divisional lines years ago these two old rivals now see each other twice a year and the old feelings see more like old flames meeting at a bus stop rather than the regular brawls on ice of old. This time as old friends met it was the Wolves who shelled the Griffins goalies out of the net and sent them home packing 6:3. Her are some images of the game:




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More Zebras needed!

Ex- Wolf enforcer Andre Deveaux and current Tronto Marlie has received a 5 game suspension for his actions in a game last weekend against the Manitoba Moose.

As the event has been described Deveaux delivered a resounding but clean hit to Moose Nolan Bamgartner drilling him into the boards in font of the Manitoba bench. What happened next is what the suspension was given for, after the hit Deveaux has been described as "kneeing" Bamgartner as he lay on the ice, knocking his helmet off and kicking him in the face. Although he was able to return to the game Bamgartner suffered cuts to his face. Deveaux was given 2 minutes in the box for a roughing minor by referee Kyle Rehnar. Marlie coach Greg Gilbert wisely decided not to ice his enforcer for the remainder of the game.


Just as concerning as the hit and possible injury to the player involved is the speculation that the light penalty dealt on the ice is due to refree Kyle Rehnar not having a clear view of the incident. Again this brings up the argument for a second referee in the AHL. Until the league ponys up the cost for a second referee just like the big show it will be relegated to a bus league where incidents like this can continue to give the AHL it's often deserved "Slap Shot" reputation. Yes the AHL is the proving ground for coaches, players and refrees. It is past time for the standard of rules enforcement to be the same for the AHL as the NHL. If this truley is a devlopemental league, take devlopement seriously in all fcets of the game including the zebra herd.

Powderhornhockey

Syracuse Crunch downs Wolves 4:2

I admit it when I'm wrong, the Wolves lost to the Crunch last night but, not only were they not spanked they notched two count em' two power play goals. Joe Motzko at 2:01 in the first period and Joey Crabb at 15:45 in the second. Showing the light at the end of the tunnel may not be a train for Chicago. However not to belabor the point both our young goalies need more of a back up, until these guys find their confidence the more experienced defence has to take it up several levels. Last night Robert Gherson looked decidedly lonely in the defensive zone as the water bottle popped and the light went on. He doesn't need his hand held but defence is a three man line.

Penalties last night were lopsided Kerry Fraser's son Ryan (14) was referee, Derek Sylvester and Jeff Walker served as linesmen. Chicago was tagged for 40 min/12 inf and Syracuse 20 min/10 inf. .Game tapes show an excited Chicago Coach Don Granato discussing the penalty to Syracuse center Nikota Filatov at 20:00 for elbowing with Fraser. Obviously something prompted the usually cool Granato to express himself passionately to the officiating staff at 20:00 in the third. It will be interesting to see if there is any footage of what caused the "elbowing" call and the ensuing exchange between coach and on ice officials.

How bad is the Chicago Wolves Power Play? Its so bad....

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The Chicago Wolves Power Play is so bad they almost lost to the Rochester Americans a 2/11 team by going 0/6 on the PP in a SHOOT OUT.

It is time to look at the game plan here, something is very wrong.


The Syracuse Crunch now second the North (10/3) will not be so kind tonight this may be the outcome.




Hello is anyone else out there that has an idea how much the Wolves PP is lacking?