Chatterbox January 6, 2016

Chatterbox, Vol. 105

There are times when I’m left debating whether or not excuses are really worth pasting over a game’s performance. Last night was a game where I watched, watched, and watched as the Milwaukee Admirals looked gassed and debated if fatigue finally caught the better of them. The Admirals lost 4-0 to the Lake Erie Monsters. It was the Admirals seventh game in eleven days. They had a rest day on Monday for some much needed R&R but it didn’t seem to manifest the energy needed to mount any kind of Admirals hockey I’ve become used to seeing this season. They were exhausted. They were lethargic. They were sluggish. And they were beaten. It’s not so much of an excuse as it is a fact.

I fall back to two things with last night’s game. One, was all that you just read up there. Two, for a 4-0 shutout loss I never once felt as if Lake Erie was dominant or overwhelming the Admirals. They were winning puck battles and getting a fair bit of attacking zone time, true, but they didn’t generate a heck of a lot with that.

If the Admirals who played last night faced the Grand Rapids Griffins when they were on that fifteen-game winning streak I wouldn’t have been all that surprised by an 8-0 scoreline. The Admirals were in Mortal Kombat “Finish Him” stance from the opening puck drop and the Monsters sluggishly earned three of their four goals. The best hockey played all last night came when the Monsters were cycling and attacking relentlessly before Dillon Heatherington‘s long range snap shot from the center point beat Juuse Saros bardown. Away from that? Funky bounces. Slow moving board battles. Passes from both teams not connecting. Rough stuff with the Monsters finding answers just enough times to put the Admirals to sleep.

So, there was nothing really good you could say about last night’s game from an Admirals perspective. It’s the type of game that you do video research on and hammer out some mistakes and preventative measures going forward or you could honestly just write the whole game off and focus on playing in Grand Rapids on Friday. I’d take the second option. I also believe what the Admirals plan for the week ahead is a smart one. After last night’s game they are doing a quick team practice today, taking tomorrow off, and then traveling to Grand Rapids.

What’s still actually a big silver lining to all of this is that through the Admirals frantic recent schedule… through the wild roster moves and injuries that have taken place… the Admirals after last night’s loss remain in first place of both the Central Division and Western Conference standings. I’m not saying that makes it alright for the Admirals to every now and then throw out a stinker of a game but it’s eye opening to me that this depleted team is still achieved this many points to sit through a wave like last night’s game and come away from it still pretty clean.

What should excite everyone is when a Cody Bass gets healthy… when a Trevor Murphy, Victor Bartley, or a Taylor Aronson gets healthy… when a Vladislav Kamenev returns after having just finished up a great series of performances at the 2016 IIHF World Juniors. Those are some solid players that are out right now and, despite that, things have been holding very strong. If games like last night piled up with great frequency through all these injuries I’d be repeating much of what was said last season. But it isn’t happening. With how the rest of this month sets up the Admirals will be playing seven games from their next twenty-five days. That sounds much better than the run they were just on playing seven-games from eleven days. There will be more time to recover energy. Time to let bodies that are beaten up right now but fighting through the pain to still get out and play to heal up. And let this team focus itself ahead of the playoff push that’s ahead of them.

After the game I spoke with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason to talk about the game as well as if he saw what happened with Kamenev during the gold medal game at World Juniors. I then spoke with Frédérick Gaudreau and Joe Pendenza. Here is what they had to say following last night’s game.

Comments on the comments? Do you think the best remedy for the Admirals to avoid another game like last night is time off to recharge the batteries or were there serious flaws in the last few games that need adjusting?

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Game Recaps January 5, 2016January 5, 2016

Lifeless; Admirals Shutout 4-0

The Milwaukee Admirals lost 4-0 against the Lake Erie Monsters Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

This was the Admirals seventh game played in its last eleven days. It was also the Monsters fourth game of a ten game road trip. Both looked sluggish. Both played sloppy. But it was the Admirals that never looked to have any life left in this system. They were accumulated only nineteen shots on goal and Brad Thiessen, a PTO signing for the Monsters from the Admirals ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones, stopped them all.

After a slow lifeless start to this game the Monsters scored the opening goal from a shorthanded tally midway through the send period. A puck was rimming up and out towards the right wind wall on the Admirals power-play when it hit a seam and kicked out into the faceoff circle. Max Reinhart and Michael Chaput were racing for the same spot and Chaput won the race, chipped a puck past Reinhart, and was off on an odd-man break the other way. Conor Allen split Chaput and Manny Malhotra. The saucer pass wing to wing was delivered to perfection and Malhotra beat Juuse Saros glove side to record his first goal of the season.

The Monsters added to their lead later in the second period from a net-front battle. Michael Paliotta was swooping down the left wing when he hit a snap pass to the opposite wing back post to Kerby Rychel that was put on net, deflected off the leg of Garrett Noonan defending out in front, and popped into the net past Saros by the man that initiated the entire play – Paliotta. The goal was his sixth scored this season.

In the third period, after a lengthy shift in attack, the Monsters tagged the Admirals for another goal. The cycle play kept rolling and, for a moment, had Saros scrambling out to make a stop and get back in position. Once he was stationed back in place Dillon Heatherington threw a snapshot from the center point that elevated crossbar and down for his second goal of the season.

For desperation sake, the Admirals went empty net and extra attacker with 3:30 remaining in regulation while trailing by three-goals. This went as you might have expected given how the game went: poor. Chaput, who had assisted on all three previous goals, scored into the empty net for his seventh goal of the season.

The result for Saros in net is only the fourth loss from eighteen games played this season. He stopped nineteen of the Monsters twenty-three of shots on goal tonight. I’d go as far to say he was the most active Admirals player on the ice tonight.

Ramblings: Prior to tonight’s game the Nashville Predators signed Milwaukee Admirals forward Frédérick Gaudreau to a two-year entry level contract. Vladislav Kamenev and his Russian team were defeated 4-3 in overtime by the host country Finland in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships gold medal game. Kamenev scored the game’s opening goal from a power-play and was given a game misconduct with two minutes remaining in regulation for unsportsmanlike conduct. Tonight’s line combinations for the Admirals were: Fiala-Sissons-Gaudreau, Åberg-Reinhart-Payerl, White-Girard-Görtz, Devane-Pendenza-Larraza, Noonan-Oligny, Allen-Alm, Diaby-Näkyvä. Tonight’s scratches were: Cody Bass (upper-body), Vinny Saponari (healthy), Taylor Aronson (lower-body), Victor Bartley (undisclosed), and Trevor Murphy (upper-body).

What can you even say after a game like this? What is wrong and can you simply say this team is tired?

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Feature, News January 5, 2016

Juuse Saros First Nashville Predators Mask

I always love the aesthetic side of sports. Here in the sport of hockey you get something unique: goaltending masks. It’s great seeing either the goaltender’s personality or simply an artist’s creativity come out on to the ice with the mask. David Gunnarsson of DaveART happens to be one of the absolute best in the business at putting both of those on the ice.

Gunnarsson has done the work of so many goaltenders within the organization that, rather than rattle off all the names again, I encourage you to view his Flickr portfolio or give him a follow on Instagram. He’s a brilliant artist and I’ve really enjoyed all of his work for goaltenders we’ve had here in Milwaukee. That includes the man pictured up top, Juuse Saros, who just had a brand new bucket made – and it is the first design with the Nashville Predators specifically in mind.

Description from David Gunnarsson:

Juuse Saros knew what he wanted on his new Predator mask. The Finnish lion mascot Finkey as a goalie in great action. He breaks out from the mask made of ice, ready for adventures, and save pucks. This is a mask which breath Predators and Finland and Saros to 100%. I just love to create these storyteller designs and build them in the details, create chapter after chapter and tell the goalies story.

I loved when Magnus Hellberg used Pelle as the motif on all of his masks. I will love it if Saros uses Finkey for all of his future masks.

What do you think of Juuse Saros’ first Nashville Predators mask? If you were to have a goaltending mask what sort of motif would you feature on your mask to say something about you or where you live?

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Feature, News January 5, 2016

Kaptain Kamenev vs. the World

(Photo Credit: Andre Ringuette // HHOF-IIHF Images)

The 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships came to an end today with a thrilling gold medal game between Russia and the host country Finland. The game was looking certain to end in regulation but Russia scored with six-seconds remaining to force overtime. Finland would score the game-winner 1:33 into the overtime period to take home the gold with a 4-3 win.

Throughout this entire tournament I have been keeping a close eye on one player and one player only, Vladislav Kamenev. The second round selection of the Nashville Predators in the 2014 NHL Draft, taken forty-second overall, has been enjoying his first professional playing season in North America at the AHL level here with the Milwaukee Admirals and was named team captain of Russia for this tournament. It was the second time in his career that he participated at the World Juniors and, as it turned out, the second time that he came back from the tournament with the silver medal.

When I watched Kamenev play game-by-game I was so impressed by seeing the exact same player that I was seeing here in Milwaukee. His faceoff skill was outstanding. He was defensively very strong. He took part on both ends of special teams for Russia. And displayed a quality eye for goal scoring or teeing up teammates. He ended the tournament with 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) in a total of seven-games played.

His highlight moment came during Russia’s quarter-final game against Denmark. This was setting up to be one of the bigger upsets in World Juniors’ history. Denmark was up 3-2 and Russia went empty net to bring the extra attacker on. With forty-four seconds remaining Kamenev scored the game-tying goal to force overtime. And five-minutes into the overtime period Kamenev buried the game-winner to send Russia into the semi-finals with a 4-3 win over Denmark.

What becomes so sad about Kamenev’s time in the 2016 World Juniors is how it ended, literally. After being able to thwart Team USA in the semi-finals the Russians squared off against the host country Finland in the goal medal game. Kamenev scored a howitzer of a one-timed slap shot on the power-play to put Russia out in front 1-0 in the first period. From there, Finland was all-over Russia and poured on pressure upon pressure with the Finns looking certain to crack Russia’s defense. It wasn’t a matter of it it only felt like a matter of when. The game was tied 2-2 until a power-play goal from Mikko Rantanen with 2:09 remaining in regulation appeared to give Finland a certain win. That’s when things went ugly.

After the power-play goal for Finland was scored to give them a 3-2 lead with 2:09 remaining in the game it was apparent that Kamenev was very unhappy with the referees in regards to something. Was it the amount of power-plays going the way to Finland? Was it something that occurred to him that wasn’t called as he was penalty killing? We might not know unless someone speaks out about it but whatever was said between Kamenev and the officials led to him being slapped with a misconduct penalty. Enraged by getting a misconduct, Kamenev skated over to the penalty box and broke his stick at the door in disgust. As he entered the box he was attempting to throw what was left of his stick at the ground. When he was winding up to spike it a penalty box judge was stepping up from behind him and Kamenev’s stick smacked his clipboard out of his hands. It looked bad. It was bad. But the real damage was already done the moment Kamenev shattered his stick at the penalty box door. His misconduct penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct was accompanied by a game misconduct and he was ejected from the game.

Russia actually managed to equalize with Finland after all of this took place with a goal coming six-seconds before the final horn sounded. Overtime was forced and Finland would secure the gold medal through a warp-around game-winning goal scored by Kasperi Kapanen. All the while, Kamenev watched from down in the Russian team tunnel as his country lost out in the finals of the World Junior Championship for a second consecutive year.

I feel like this becomes a very high profile version of what I saw out of Kevin Fiala back in mid-November. What was said on the ice? Who knows. What was there for all to see? A lot. What’s important to remember here, even more so than with what happened to Fiala, is you have a 19-year old in a highly emotionally charged competitive atmosphere letting his temper get the better of him. With Fiala flipping off the Lake Erie Monsters bench? It was a small scale audience in comparison to the grand stage that is a gold medal game in a competition as hotly contested as the World Juniors. In a brief moment of his existence the Kamenev that everyone knows ceased to exist, the world around Kamenev ceased to exist, and it was a teenage kid and his anger unloading in front of a world wide television audience.

The act in and of itself isn’t the thing that worries me for Kamenev. Similar to the Fiala situation I fully understand the psychology of what’s going on. It’s youthful stupidity and emotions overcoming the surrounding environment. I get it. Still, it doesn’t change what actually happened and accountability must be had. Fiala paid for his actions with a two-game suspension by the AHL. Kamenev paid for his actions by getting ejected from the biggest game of his career to this point and leaving the ice as a disgraced team captain with his team losing on a grand stage. That’s quite a crushing punishment to hand over the head of someone. Not to mention, he leaves from that situation to Milwaukee where that image and moment stays in his head with few people that can properly communicate with him as a way to talk him through or over what happened.

Where Kamenev has been at his most comfortable in North America I have to believe is right on the ice with a pair of skates on. The sooner he gets back to Milwaukee and gets involved in a game again is when his mental healing process can officially begin. More games under his belt. The further he can separate himself from his actions that got him ejected from the biggest game of his career. His Russian team made him captain. That’s no simple pat on the back. That’s a distinction that is earned through character. When Kamenev returns to the Admirals I believe his character will be put under the microscope and he will show signs that more than just his game is impressive.

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News January 5, 2016

Nashville Sign Frédérick Gaudreau to NHL Contract

One of this season’s truly great stories just got even better. The Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed Frédérick Gaudreau to a two-year entry level contract.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (January 5, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has signed forward Frederick Gaudreau to a two-year entry-level contract.

Gaudreau, 22 (5/1/93), leads Nashville’s primary developmental affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, in points (9g-15a-24pts) and assists, helping the club to the top of the Central Division and Western Conference. The 6-0, 192-pound native of Bromont, Que., is also tied for sixth in AHL power-play goals (6) and 10th in power-play assists (9). The 2015-16 campaign is Gaudreau’s first full season at the AHL level after splitting 2014-15 between the Admirals and the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones.

Undrafted, Gaudreau entered the Predators organization after a three-season career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League which saw him amass 134 points (50g-84a) in 195 games with Shawinigan and Drummundville, winning the 2012 Memorial Cup with the Cataractes and earning the 2014 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the QMJHL’s most sportsmanlike player with the Voltigeurs.

Gaudreau was an undrafted free agent signing by the Milwaukee Admirals in the summer of 2014. He split some time between the AHL and ECHL last season to earn another AHL contract this past summer but it is his 2015-16 season that has helped him to officially landed pen to paper on his first ever NHL contract.

This season Gaudreau has produced a team leading 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 34 games for the Admirals. He has already surpassed last season’s overall total of 18 points (9 goals, 9 assist) from 57 games between the AHL and ECHL. Much of his production this season came with Colton Sissons move up to the Nashville Predators and Gaudreau forcing himself into the captain’s roles. His success speaks for itself. And his success clearly caught the attention of the Nashville brass.

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Scouting January 5, 2016

Monsters: Scouting the Enemy

If you haven’t taken a look at the AHL’s Conference standings lately you might have raised an eyebrow when coming across the Milwaukee Admirals name sitting on top of the Western Conference. That isn’t some botched numerology, either. That’s how it is. The Admirals, for all the injuries and roster turn-over, haven’t just grabbed the Central Division’s top spot but moved out in front of the entire Western Conference.

The Ontario Reign’s hot start and limited schedule made them and their points percentage something of a stalwart concrete item that seemed to not be changing anytime soon. They won the Calder Cup last season whilst titled the Manchester Monarchs before packing up and setting out Californee way. That success carried over into their new home and they have been leading the Western Conference for what feels like the majority, if not all, of this season.

As so happens, the Reign’s hot run has been cooling off in their last few weeks of hockey. In the Reign’s last seven games they’ve only managed to pick up 5 points out of a possible 14 points available to them while the Admirals have taken 13 points from a possible 16 points from that same span (dated, 12/19/15). The Reign have lost their last three-games straight. The Admirals keep finding ways to make it work. Despite losing their last game in Rockford the Admirals were still able to fetch a point out of a contest they probably had no right to do so. That results in padding the points percentage. It also results in the IceHogs win not exactly having the gravity it should have for how strong of a game they played. I believe the old Admirals term to use here is pesky – because it really has been like that lately.

~Monsters or Paper Tigers?~

The Lake Erie Monsters enter tonight’s game with a record of 17-12-2-2 (38 points). Their 0.576 points percentage has them sitting in fifth place of the Central Division and seventh in the Western Conference standings.

If the IceHogs were a team backed into a corner needing to play desperate and earn a result these Monsters should pose a similar threat. They have gone 3-6-1-0 in their last ten games and have lost three-straight games in regulation including a 3-1 loss in Milwaukee on Saturday.

In the Monsters last three games they’ve been outscored 11-5 despite outshooting their opponents 96-81. Their power-play has gone 14.3% (2/14) and penalty kill 76.5% (13/17). Bizarrely, in each individual game there has been a standout performer on offense when it comes to generating shots on goal… but there is a catch…they lead the team in shots but also ended the game without a goal: 12/31/15 @ Toronto, Kerby Rychel (team best 4 shots on goal – no goals, no assists)… 1/2/16 @ Milwaukee, T.J. Tynan (game high 6 shots on goal – no goals, 1 assist)… 1/3/16 @ Chicago, Oliver Bjorkstrand (game high 8 shots on goal – no goals, no assists).

~Tendy Problems~

I feel the biggest storyline heading into tonight’s game comes at the goaltending position for Lake Erie because, well, look who they have: Brad Thiessen and Mark Owuya. That’s not necessarily a knock against those two individuals ability. Those are just two goaltenders that weren’t on the Monsters roster at all until December.

Both names were PTO signings that needed to be brought on-board due to the injuries up top for the Monsters NHL affiliate the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovski has a groin injury and is out until later this month. Curtis McElhinney is out indefinitely due to an ankle injury. This meant both goaltenders for the Monsters, Anton Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo, were brought up. Thiessen was added as a PTO signing for the Monsters a little past a week into December, released back to the Admirals ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones, recorded an 18-save shutout in a 4-0 win for the Cyclones over the Toledo Walleye, and then brought back into the fold this past weekend with Owuya’s PTO signing following shortly after him.

If that read hectic just imagine how the Monsters feel. The good news for them is that Thiessen is a polished professional. He has 203 games of AHL experience including 41 games of Calder Cup Playoffs experience. He has played 2 games for the Monsters this season and both occasions came as relief appearances of Forsberg in net. Thiessen has stopped 17/20 shots on goal for a 0.850 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average in 69:14 of ice time. I have to believe he’s the man getting the start tonight having been part of the Monsters setup longer than Owuya.

Expectations for tonight’s game? How do the Milwaukee Admirals bounce back from last game when they were really outworked for the majority of the contest?

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News January 4, 2016

Max Görtz Named AHL Rookie of the Month

The AHL’s monthly awards for December have been announced this afternoon and the Milwaukee Admirals have a representative. Max Görtz has been named the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for his efforts last month.

Press Release via AHL:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Providence Bruins right wing Seth Griffith, Milwaukee Admirals right wing Max Gortz and Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau have been selected as the league’s award winners for December.

Griffith, the CCM/AHL Player of the Month, tallied six goals and 11 assists for a league-high 17 points in 11 games for Providence during the month, chipping in on more than half of the Bruins’ 32 goals with him in the lineup.

Griffith opened December by scoring the game-winning goal in the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime victory vs. Portland on Dec. 4. He then recorded four points, including his first two-goal performance of the season, in a 6-1 win over Springfield on Dec. 6. Griffith assisted on the winning goal in Providence’s 3-1 win over Hartford on Dec. 11, and notched three assists to help the Bruins past Bridgeport, 3-2 in overtime, on Dec. 18. Griffith registered a goal and two assists in a 4-3 loss at Bridgeport on Dec. 27, and then was recalled by Boston and made his season debut with the parent Bruins on Dec. 29, picking up an assist vs. Ottawa.

Griffith, who turns 23 today, is tied for sixth in the AHL in scoring with 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games for Providence this season. A fifth-round draft choice by Boston in 2012, the Wallaceburg, Ont., native has totaled 42 goals and 69 assists for 111 points in 133 AHL games over his three professional seasons, along with six goals and five assists in 32 NHL contests with Boston.

In recognition of his achievement, Griffith will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bruins home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Month

Gortz, the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month, tallied five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 13 games for Milwaukee during the month.

Gortz entered December without a point in his last four games, but broke through with a goal vs. Manitoba on Dec. 1. He later had a six-game scoring streak from Dec. 18-29, highlighted by three separate three-point games. Gortz scored twice and added an assist in a 7-5 win over Manitoba on Dec. 19, and then on consecutive nights he scored the game-winning goal and picked up two assists each in victories over Chicago on Dec. 28 and Grand Rapids on Dec. 29.

In his first season of play in North America, Gortz has recorded nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 31 games for Milwaukee, good for second on the team in scoring. Gortz is tied for the AHL lead among rookies with six power-play goals, and owns a share of the overall league lead with four game-winning tallies. A 22-year-old native of Hoor, Sweden, Gortz was a sixth-round selection by Nashville in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

In recognition of his achievement, Gortz will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Admirals home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Rookie of the Month

Coreau, the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month, made 11 starts in December and went 9-2-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage during a historic month for the Griffins.

Coreau began the month with a 31-save effort vs. Chicago on Dec. 4, backstopping the Griffins to a 3-1 victory. He made 23 stops vs. Milwaukee on Dec. 9, and turned aside 38 of 39 shots at Rockford on Dec. 12, his fourth consecutive game allowing one goal or fewer. After making 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime win at Iowa on Dec. 13, Coreau matched a career high with 47 stops in a 3-2 victory at Lake Erie on Dec. 16. Coreau made 26 saves at Lake Erie on Dec. 26 for his 11th consecutive winning decision – and the Griffins’ 15th win in a row – then bounced back from a pair of road losses by registering a 23-save shutout of Milwaukee on Dec. 31.

In his third professional season, Coreau is 15-4-1 in 21 appearances for Grand Rapids in 2015-16, ranking sixth in the AHL with a 2.11 goals-against average and third with a .932 save percentage. Coreau is also one off the league lead in wins and ranks fourth in shots faced (643) and saves (599). A 24-year-old native of Perth, Ont., Coreau originally signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in April 2013 after a three-year collegiate career at Northern Michigan University.

In recognition of his achievement, Coreau will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Griffins home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Goaltender of the Month

Görtz had a slow start to his 2015-16 season which was compounded by two situations when he showed up late to team practices. He was sent to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) very briefly before making his return to the Admirals. December looks to have been his true coming out party. With Viktor Arvidsson‘s recall to the Nashville Predators it has been Görtz who has stepped up offensively. In his last 15 games played the Swede has scored 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists).

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Feature January 4, 2016January 4, 2016

Fifteen with Colton Sissons

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a proper Admirals Roundtable feature story. The reason being that I wanted to find a way to incorporate as many players as I can rather than selecting a few and telling their story as I have in the past. Part of why I love covering the Milwaukee Admirals, and hockey for that matter, is that all the players in the locker room are quality people with great stories worth sharing. Which brings me to this new feature for Admirals Roundtable.

What I’ll be doing in the 2016 side of the calendar is talking to each member of the Admirals that I possibly can get to and ask them a series of fifteen questions. Those questions might change up here and there but I think you’ll find for as simple as the questions are they provide fun answers and stories.

My first selection to test run this feature story series was none other than Admirals team captain Colton Sissons. I told him that he was going to be my guinea pig for Fifteen because, well, who better to start with than the captain? Let’s all get to know Colt the Bolt a little better, shall we?

~Fifteen~

Admirals Roundtable: What were your inspirations to play hockey?

Colton Sissons: My inspirations to play hockey. I mean, hockey was the first sport I ever really knew. And I had a passion for it since I started when I was a young kid. So, chasing the NHL dream was my inspiration as a kid.

AR: When did you realize that you were going to be playing hockey for a career?

Sissons: Probably when I was maybe sixteen or seventeen when I started getting looked at in the NHL scouting stuff. Heading into the draft I knew it was for real.

AR: Who was the first famous player that you got to meet?

Sissons: It was probably one of the Canucks when I was growing up. I think I remember Trevor Linden coming out to one of our practices in Vancouver one time.

AR: What’s your greatest hockey moment to this point?

Sissons: Probably my first NHL game in Winnipeg. That was almost too much – because I can hardly even remember it now – but it was the pinnacle for sure.

AR: What was the most memorable goal that you’ve scored?

Sissons: Probably my first NHL goal two-years ago against the Sabres. That was pretty cool. (AR: That was a pretty crazy goal celebration too. It was a frenzy.) Yeah, Rich Clune and I behind the net. I’ll remember that one for sure.

AR: What is the strangest game that you’ve played in?

Sissons: I mean, our 10:30AM game in Iowa was pretty wild for me. That was interesting. That’s probably the craziest– [interrupts self] Actually, even when I just got called up recently when we beat the Jets 7-0 I had never seen ten guys in a penalty box at once. So, that might be the craziest experience I’ve had. (AR: That was the most surreal game I think I remember watching from Nashville’s perspective.) Yeah, for sure. So, we’ll go with that one.

AR: What’s your most embarrassing hockey memory?

Sissons: I have a go-to answer to this. I’ve been asked this in the past a few times. I think it was one of the first times I was skating. My mom was dressing me that day, which was the problem, and I ended up going out on the ice and my pants fell down to my ankles – my hockey pants. I think I took a spill after that. (AR: How old were you when that happened?) Oh, I was probably six or seven.

AR: What’s your most painful hockey moment? And I look at you and you still have your Harry Potter scar going on there from a high stick. Was there anything worse than that?

Sissons: Yeah, probably when I broke my collarbone. That one hurt pretty bad a few years ago in junior hockey.

AR:What is your favorite hockey uniform?

Sissons: Got to go with the new Admirals. The new Admirals jersey. (AR: Really?) Well, my favorite one growing up was probably the Canadiens. Growing up I always loved their jerseys but I love our’s a lot right now. I think they’re pretty cool.

AR: Who is the funniest player that you’ve encountered?

Sissons: My ol’ coach Scott Ford, err, my old captain, new coach. Scott Ford is pretty funny. I’d put him in the conversation for sure.

AR: What’s your favorite aspect of Milwaukee?

Sissons: Probably all the restaurants. I have a few favorite spots to eat around town and I’m a big fan. I like what Milwaukee has to offer. I’m always eating so..

AR: Which brings up a perfect question. What’s your favorite food?

Sissons: I got to go with steak. Steak and po’taters. (AR: How do you take it?) Medium Rare. Always. (AR: I think I’m the only one who has everything Well Done.) Really? Oh, no no no. You can’t do that.

AR: What’s your favorite non-hockey hobby?

Sissons: In the off-season I like golf. Love golfing. So, that’s a big hobby of mine.

AR: What’s your favorite non-hockey memory?

Sissons: Ooh. That’s pretty broad. I got some great memories. [long pause] That’s a tough question, man. (AR: That’s why they pay me the big bucks!) It’s pretty recent. I’ll go with something pretty recent. Last All-Star break, last year, I went home and surprised my family. Had a family dinner for somebody’s birthday. So I thought that was pretty cool.

AR: What do you see yourself doing after hockey?

Sissons: Golfing. [laughing] (AR: Pro Golf?) No. (AR: Going up against Spieth?) No, recreational.

Thanks to Colton Sissons for testing out this feature with me. I now throw a question out to you: who would you like to hear from next on Fifteen?

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Game Recaps January 3, 2016January 3, 2016

Not This Time; Admirals Lose 3-2 in OT

The Milwaukee Admirals lost 3-2 in overtime on the road against the Rockford IceHogs Sunday evening at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

This was the eighth meeting of the season between the Admirals and IceHogs and it would be the fourth time that overtime was required. For the first time this season it was the IceHogs winning not only in overtime against the Admirals but on home ice against the Admirals.

In the first period it actually felt like the third period the Admirals survived trickled into this evening’s first period. It took until 9:57 of the first period until Zac Larraza registered the Admirals first shot on goal. The game was all Rockford out the gate and that pressure would turn into a goal.

As Ville Pokka wound up for a shot from the left point both Vinny Hinostroza and Garret Ross were stationed in front of Marek Mazanec. The shot glanced off the stick of Hinostroza and trickled past the left pad of Mazanec and across for his fourth goal of the season.

Against the run of wave upon wave of attack by the IceHogs the first penalties of the game opened ice up for the Admirals to equalize in the first period. Kevin Fiala was called for crosschecking and Ryan Hartman was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which put the game at four-on-four. Adam Payerl was able to generate an offensive zone turnover and whirled off a shot that beat Michael Leighton to score his sixth goal of the season. The first period ended with the IceHogs up 16-11 in shots on goal but with a 1-1 scoreline.

The second period was nearly identical in the sense that the IceHogs were rolling, picked up a goal, and then made a mistake that cost them their lead once more.

After a tripping call against Fiala the IceHogs scored from the power-play off of another net-front deflection. Pokka was once again the trigger man for the IceHogs with the initial shot. This time he was stationed out on the right wing circle when the ripped a wrister that deflected off of Pierre-Cédric Labrie and through Mazanec. The goal for Labrie was his eighth of the season.

The Admirals were put right back into the thick of the game after a poor sequence by Nolan Valleau allowed Matt White to get a step on him and then slashed the Admirals forward on a breakaway to force the officials to call for a penalty shot. White skated in centrally, faked a snap shot, and threw a low wrister just above the left pad of Leighton to score his fourth goal since joining the Admirals on PTO basis from the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL).

For the fourth time in eight games between these two teams this season overtime was required. In the overtime period IceHogs defenseman Pokka created a turnover from the Admirals attacking blueline and was off to the races on a breakaway. His initial shot rang iron and left Mazanec down and out. Following up for the rebound was Labrie who threw a forehand shot into the wide open net to win it in overtime through his second goal of the game and ninth of the season. Pokka recorded a primary assist on all three IceHogs goals.

Tip of the cap to Mazanec in net. He takes the tough luck loss tonight but he was incredible between the pipes for the Admirals. He stopped 35/38 shots on goal and is a massive reason as to why the Admirals at the very least can say they took a point from this contest. In a season built around points percentage thanks to the Californian based teams of the Pacific Division – that point earned still holds big value.

Ramblings: There were no roster moves made within the Nashville Predators organization overnight. As such, the exact same line combinations and scratches were implemented today for the Milwaukee Admirals. Lines: Fiala-Sissons-Gaudreau, Åberg-Reinhart-Payerl, White-Girard-Görtz, Devane-Pendenza-Larraza, Noonan-Oligny, Allen-Alm, Diaby-Näkyvä, Scratches: Cody Bass (upper-body), Vinny Saponari (healthy), Taylor Aronson (lower-body), Victor Bartley (undisclosed), and Trevor Murphy (upper-body). After the game, Milwaukee Admirals assistant coach Stan Drulia informed play-by-play announcer Aaron Sims that the Admirals players will be taking tomorrow off to rest up ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Lake Erie Monsters.

Thoughts on tonight’s game? What was wrong with the Milwaukee Admirals tonight? Did the overly defensive approach from last night’s finish trickle into tonight or is this team just tired right now?

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Scouting January 3, 2016

IceHogs: Scouting the Enemy

This is Kevin Fiala. Kevin Fiala is good at shootouts. (Photo Credit: Rockford IceHogs // Flickr)

“Oh dear, it’s those dastardly Rockford IceHogs again. And they’re looking to spoil all the Milwaukee Admirals fun from last night. What ever shall we do?”

Fret ye not, fictitious Admirals fan that I just made up using a quote without an author attached. The Admirals and IceHogs are about to meet for the eighth time this season and it is the Admirals leading the season series with a record of 5-2-0-0 to this point.

Of note, three of the seven games played in this season series has gone past regulation and two of those three overtime games have required a shootout. The Admirals have come out on top in all of those circumstances including an overtime and shootout win on the road in Rockford.

Perhaps another note worth mentioning, considering this game is in Rockford, is that the Admirals have won all three games played in Rockford so far this season. For the IceHogs this game might be less to do with beating the Admirals to close the gap in the Central Division standings and more to do with just showing that the IceHogs can win on home ice against the Admirals. It’s an important game for them in both respects. With so few games left in the season series, five including today’s contest, the IceHogs are slowly putting themselves in a place where they will be needed outside help to slow the Admirals down should they let this head-to-head go bust. I’m expecting a playoff level intensity level from the IceHogs. The Admirals, coming off of a stressful third period survival style win last night, need to match that intensity and be smart with their details.

~Short & Sweet~

The IceHogs will be entering this game with a record of 19-9-2-3 (43 points) which sees them in second place of the Central Division. They trail the Admirals for the divisional lead by 0.039 percentage points.

In the last ten games the IceHogs have gone a very average 4-4-1-1 and are coming off of a 2-0 shutout loss on the road last night to the Chicago Wolves. Jordan Binnington stopped all 28 shots the IceHogs labeled at him and the IceHogs power-play went 0/5 on the night.

~Oh, Him. Great.~

Ryan Hartman served and completed his three-game suspension for his illegal check to the head of Trevor Murphy when these two teams last locked horns. I’m going out on a limb and saying that unlike last night’s Kevin Fiala versus Lake Erie Monsters scenario has a little more bad blood because someone impacted is still injured. The Admirals haven’t really shown a bad side about them in regards to proactively targeting individuals in-game. Perhaps the real thing to watch out for will be Hartman playing up the role he is known for and continuing his hard hitting in your face brand of hockey. Combine that with his history and that might let things boil over a touch.

~Leading The Oinking Oink Way~

The IceHogs currently have two players tied for the team lead in scoring, Jeremy Morin and Jake Dowell. Morin has scored 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists) in 28 games. Dowell has scored 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 31 games.

Trailing those two, and actually leading the IceHogs in the goal scoring department is Mr. Hartman himself with 18 points (10 goals, 8 assists) in 28 games this season.

In net, the go-to choice is Michael Leighton for the IceHogs. He is fifth in the AHL for minutes played (1320:41) and has won 15 games from 23 appearances. Amusingly enough, it feels as if the preferred started for the IceHogs against the Admirals is his battery-mate Mark Visentin who has started four out of the seven games played in the match-up this season.

~Maz-tronomically Good~

While Juuse Saros was brilliant last night it should be Marek Mazanec getting the start later this afternoon. He has been unbelievable against the IceHogs this season: six starts, five wins, stopping 184/196 for a 0.939 save percentage and a 1.96 goals against average. That’s unreal when you remember the Admirals dropped a stinker on Mazanec’s doorstep which saw him concede 5 goals in a game. He’s been that good around that lone defeat to the IceHogs this season.

Expectations for this evening’s game? For how last night’s game ended with a rocky third period and how this one sets up with an IceHogs team looking to right some wrongs, are you concerned?

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