QC -- IceHogs rivalry not dead yet; Flames may move Knights

The hockey rivalry between the Quad Cities and Rockford may not be done after all. Media outlets in the Quad Cities and in Omaha, Nebraska are saying that the Calgary Flames have scouted the Mark of the Quad Cities and intend to move the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights to the Mark, probably by the 2007-8 season.

The Omaha World-Herald reported this morning it had obtained a memo from Calgary President Ken King outlining the reasons the Knights would be moving from Omaha. The Calgary Flames own a majority interest in the Knights. The memo said the Knights had operating losses of $4 million over two years, season ticket renewals were disappointing, lagging attendance and the inability of the Omaha market to sustain three hockey teams.

Omaha is also home to the junior level Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Division 1 NCAA team.

Separately, the Quad City Times reported Darryl Sutter, the general manager of the Flames, was spotted by reporters at a downtown Moline hotel. Two sources close to the Omaha Knights organization told the QCTimes.com that the Knights would not return to the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

The Knights are also owned by a local benevolent group, the Knights of Ak-sar-Ben, which would have its interest bought out. The Omaha World-Herald indicated the Knights would displace the Quad City Mallards, which have played at the Mark since 1995. However, the QCTimes piece indicated talks are underway with the Mallards management.

The Mallards management had examined moving to the American Hockey League last season. However, the team felt the financial requirements of moving leagues, such as upgrading the Mark to increase the size of the rink, would make the move prohibitive. In addition, the Mallards had applied for membership in the ECHL. However, that application was rejected as the closest rival to the Mallards was the Dayton Bombers, about an eight hour bus trip away.

The Peoria Rivermen had moved to the AHL from the ECHL two seasons ago. The move would leave the United Hockey League with just eight teams, several of which are considered financially unstable. Earlier in the season Richard Brosal, the UHL Commissioner, had indicated he was leaving at the end of the season. The only remaining UHL franchises in Illinois are the Chicago Hounds and the Bloomington Prairie Thunder. Both teams are expansion teams, and just ended their first season.

If the Knights move to the Quad Cities, Illinois would have four American Hockey League teams. Teams would play in Des Moines, Peoria, Rockford, Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids and Moline. Just a little further east is the new Cleveland team and two established teams in Ontario and four teams in New York State.

Among states with AHL teams, Illinois and New York lead with four each. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania each have three teams. There are two teams each in Texas, Ontario and Connecticut. An additional Canadian team is located in Winnipeg.

Exciting loss closes regular season for Wolves

In the American Hockey League, the regular season ended Sunday. Two races were decided on Sunday involving three teams within a short driving distance of Chicago. The Chicago Wolves and the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights fought a fairly even game until penalties with less than four minutes remaining gave Chicago its best shot at evening the score.

Chicago needed a regulation win in the game to take the division crown from Omaha and was, at that point, behind by one goal. Pulling the goalie, Chicago put a 5-3 power play on the ice at 17.07 but failed to stop an Omaha empty net goal that iced the game and the season for the Knights at 19.09.

It was an outstanding effort by Michael Garnett, who took the loss. He stopped 29 pucks among an onslaught of Omaha. Warren Peters of Omaha and Cory Larose of Chicago both scored two goals in the game. Game winner Curtis McElhinney stopped 24 shots in a determined Chicago effort.

The Knights face the Iowa Stars in the first post season divisional semi-finals. Here are the results from this season in that contest:

2006-10-27 Omaha @ 2 Iowa 1 Final
2006-12-26 Omaha @ 2 Iowa 5 Final
2006-12-31 Omaha @ 5 Iowa 1 Final
2007-02-16 Omaha @ 2 Iowa 1 Final OT
2007-03-30 Omaha @ 3 Iowa 1 Final
2007-04-03 Omaha @ 2 Iowa 1 Final
2006-10-26 Iowa @ 3 Omaha 4 Final
2006-11-04 Iowa @ 3 Omaha 0 Final
2006-12-16 Iowa @ 1 Omaha 3 Final
2006-12-29 Iowa @ 3 Omaha 1 Final
2007-01-19 Iowa @ 1 Omaha 3 Final
2007-03-07 Iowa @ 3 Omaha 0 Final

Chicago will face the Milwaukee Admirals in their first post season divisional finals. The Wolves have been on the receiving end of the Admirals all season, with wins at the Bradley Center for the Chicagoans in the last two weeks.

Since joining the AHL, the Wolves and the Admirals have only met one time in post-season play. That was in 2004 and the Admirals defeated the Wolves in six games, the Rochester Americans in five and when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lost in four games, that gave the Admirals their first banner in more than a decade and the Calder Cup.

The Admirals and the Wolves have met two other times in post season play in the International Hockey League, with the Wolves topping the Admirals in 1998 and again in 2001.

Milwaukee has qualified for the playoffs every year since 2003. The Houston Aeros sent them home in 2003 after three games. The Admirals had beaten the Rochester Americans in three that year to get to the conference finals. In 2005 it was the team formerly known as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, now the Portland Pirates, who sent them home in four games. Last year they made the Calder Cup finals, finally losing the series to the Champion Hershey Bears at the Bradley Center in six. Along the way, Milwaukee bested the Iowa Stars in seven, the Aeros in 4, and the Griffins in four.

Chicago qualified for post-season play every season of its eleven year history, except last. The Wolves won the Calder Cup in 2002 with wins over the Mighty Ducks in three, the Grand Rapids Griffins in five, the Syracuse Crunch in seven, the Houston Aeros in five to win the cup at home against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in five games.

The Wolves were eliminated from the 2003 cup race with wins against the Griffins in four and a loss to the Hershey Bears in five. The 2004 race saw the Wolves defeat the Griffins in four before losing to the Admirals. In 2005 the Wolves made it to the finals of the cup race, with series wins over the Aeros in five, the Ducks in five, the Manitoba Moose in four, before being swept by the Philadelphia Phantoms in four.

Milwaukee’s Sheldon Brookbank was awarded the Eddie Shore award for defense this season. While Pekka Rinne was ranked sixth among league goalies. The Milwaukee penalty kill is ranked third in the league at 86.1 percent. Rich Peverly is the ninth ranked player for short handed goals, with four and is the 18th ranked player for goals with 30 in the regular season.

Darren Haydar of the Wolves received the league’s Les Cunningham award for Most Valuable Player Award and the John B Sollenberger Trophy for leading scorer in the league. His +/- rating of +24 ranked him eighth among players in defense. Rookie Brett Sterling received the Willie Marshall award as the leader in goal production and the Dudley Red Garrett Award for Rookie of the Year. Defenseman Brian Sipotz tops all league defensemen with a +/- rating of +34 and was recognized by the club for outstanding public service. Derek MacKenzie, who is currently playing with the Atlanta Thrashers, tops all league players with five short handed goals. Brad Schell was named ECHL MVP and to the league's All-Star first team. He scored 110 points this season, including 85 assists which places him fourth in the league among all-time assists.

The Wolves power play is third ranked in the league at 20.4 percent.

Brookbank, Sterling and Haydar were all named to the AHL’s first team All-Stars. Chicago’s Nathan Oystrick was named to the second team All-Stars.

The contest between a high-powered offense and a high powered defense has been in Milwaukee’s favor this season. Results from the Atlanta Thrashers/ New York Rangers series and the Nashville Predators/ San Jose Sharks series will effect the AHL races if Atlanta and Nashville are terminated before either the Wolves or the Admirals. Here are the results for the season:

2006-10-13 Chicago @ 7 Milwaukee 5 Final
2006-12-26 Chicago @ 5 Milwaukee 4 Final OT
2007-01-06 Chicago @ 2 Milwaukee 4 Final
2007-04-06 Chicago @ 5 Milwaukee 4 Final
2007-04-13 Chicago @ 4 Milwaukee 3 Final SO
2006-10-14 Milwaukee @ 5 Chicago 1 Final
2006-12-16 Milwaukee @ 3 Chicago 2 Final SO
2007-03-10 Milwaukee @ 6 Chicago 4 Final
2007-03-17 Milwaukee @ 5 Chicago 4 Final
2007-03-30 Milwaukee @ 5 Chicago 1 Final

Also decided on Sunday was the last open berth in the playoffs. Peoria needed a win and for Grand Rapids to lose to take the fourth berth in the North Division. Grand Rapids got thumped by Toronto 5-1 in their final road game. However the Admirals shut the Rivermen down 4-0 in the final game of the regular season in Milwaukee. The Griffins go on to face the Manitoba Moose in the first round of the North Division playoffs.

Here are the results of the season for that series:

2006-11-07 Grand Rapids @ 1 Manitoba 2 Final
2006-11-08 Grand Rapids @ 1 Manitoba 2 Final
2007-03-23 Grand Rapids @ 2 Manitoba 3 Final SO
2007-03-24 Grand Rapids @ 3 Manitoba 4 Final SO
2006-11-03 Manitoba @ 0 Grand Rapids 4 Final
2006-11-04 Manitoba @ 4 Grand Rapids 5 Final SO
2007-03-16 Manitoba @ 3 Grand Rapids 2 Final SO
2007-03-17 Manitoba @ 3 Grand Rapids 2 Final

Big Win; Wolves 5, Omaha 4

A big win by the Chicago Wolves as they enter the final month of the regular season, 5-4 overtime over the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights last night in Omaha.

Chicago took advantage of the few power play opportunities presented in the game, taking two of five man advantages to the net. However Omaha came from behind in the third frame to light the lamp three times to just one Chicago answer, to tie the game. Then it was Nathan Oystrick, just 17 seconds into overtime who put the game away once and for all for the Wolves.

Dustin Boyd put the Knights on the board halfway into the first period when he received a pass from Brad Ference for a backhand shot past Michael Garnett. In the second period the Knights got into penalty problems leading Brett Sterling to feed pucks to Darren Haydar for two power play goals, one at 3.24 into the period and the second less than a minute later.

A series of fight penalties were assessed at 6.31 into the period as Andre Deveaux and Kevin Doell mixed it up with Bradon Prust and David Van der Gulik. Van der Gulik and Deveaux received a 10 minute misconduct as well as Doell, Prust and Van der Gulik receiving five minute fighting penalties and minor penalties for the brawl. A bench penalty was served by Knight Justin Taylor. The remainder of the period passed quietly with the Wolves up 2-1. Then, with less than a minute in the period, Sterling forced a turnover in the Knights defensive zone. He passed to Jason Krog, who returned the puck to Sterling for his third point of the night, allowing the period to expire Wolves 3-1.

In the third frame, Omaha scored at 43 seconds on a goal by Cam Cunning. Jordan Lavallee replied for the Wolves off of a wrap around rebound making it 4-2 Wolves. Then Omaha scored two additional goals, the first by Kris Chucko and the second by Carsen Germyn at 14.52, tying the game 4-4.

In the overtime period, Oystrick picked a pass from Darren Haydar, putting the puck on Knights goalie Curtis McElhinney’s glove, but it tipped off and in for the win.

Garnett received the win with 24 saves, McElhinney the loss with 39 saves. The win puts the Wolves four points ahead of the Knights, with the Knights having three games in hand. There are just 12 games left in the regular season for the Wolves, 15 for the Knights.

The Wolves face the Milwaukee Admirals at the Allstate Arena this evening.

In the UHL, the Rockford IceHogs lost Friday night to the Kalamazoo K-Wings 4-2, while the first place Fort Wayne Komets defeated the Port Huron Flags 5-2, putting the Komets two points ahead of the IceHogs in the standings. The IceHogs face the Komets tonight in Fort Wayne.

Second Place Chicago Wolves

The Chicago Wolves are in second place in the Western Division. It seems like it was an inevitability given the three games the Wolves dropped last weekend, two games to the second place Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.

It is bad mojo for the Wolves to play at home this year. They have only won 11 of their 27 games played at home, taking points in four other games. The coaches don’t know what to do about it, there have even been suggestions the team stay in hotel rooms during home stretches, to work the bad mojo out.

There are 13 more games to go at home and just six on the road, till the end of the season. No one is talking about the Wolves not making the playoffs, with 77 points they are almost a lock for the post-season right now.

Tonight the Wolves play the Hamilton Bulldogs. (Good seats are still available) A third-place team in the North Division and a possible post-season opponent in the third round. That’ll be a tough game. The Bulldogs won their previous visit to Chicago this season. The Wolves won two overtime games played in Hamilton. So, in other words, the Bulldogs have won a point in every contest they’ve played against the Wolves this season.

Tomorrow San Antonio plays the Wolves. I doubted the Gretzky magic extended to the Rampage last year and earlier this year I expressed the view that Pat Conacher is not up to the task of minor league management. The facts are that the Rampage have dropped six games to the Wolves, one in overtime, with only one win to their credit, this season.

The Rampage have traditionally made their golf reservations at this point in the season, and I don’t see a reason for that to change. They are the doormat of the Western Division… Well, not so fast. The Wolves underestimated SAR the last time they played them, on February 23. And, take a look at the standings and you'll see that SAR has not only climbed out of the basement with the other cellar dwellers like the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators, but are above the Houston Aeros in the standings. That hasn't happened in years.

The fact is that over the last ten games, the SAR have the same win/lose record as the Wolves, granted the Wolves lost two games after regulation. Add considering the bad mojo that is happening to the Wolves at the Allstate Arena and Chicago could easily drop that game.

Wear your away sweaters fellas and book a hotel room 'cause there isn't an easy win left in the West Division any more

Wolves drop 3. Time to panic

When is it time to panic? The momentum of the season shifted this weekend from the Chicago Wolves to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights with the Knights walking out of the Allstate Arena with two regulations wins against the Wolves and now are just three points back with three games in hand.

When is it time to panic? The Wolves didn’t look like the same team that has torn through the American Hockey League throughout most of the first part of the season. Let’s describe this as the second slump of the year. At three games it isn’t something that is as extensive as the slump that started in December, marked by the injury of Boris Valabik and the call-ups of Darren Haydar and Derek MacKenzie to the Atlanta Thrashers.

But it is a slump. And, like the previous slump, the warning signs were in Gwinnett and Atlanta Georgia. The Thrashers, who are still expected to enter their first post season in franchise history, are 2-6-2 in their last ten. Tampa Bay has roared into first place and the Carolina Hurricanes are right behind the Thrashers.

In Gwinnett, the Gladiators had stood atop their ECHL division for much of the season. Anchored by a strong scoring trio and a hot power play, they looked set to repeat their quest for the Kelly Cup. Admittedly, several of the best blue liners have been up and down to Chicago in the last weeks, including Jonathan Awe and Brian Lee. Also, center Brad Schell has been seeing time in Chicago. The Gladiators, who have a duel relationship, have also shipped Scott Mifsud to the Worcester Sharks.

Together Schell, Mifsud and the rookie Colton Fretter have dominated the top of the ECHL scorers stats this season at number one, two and eight, currently. The power play is still tops in the ECHL at a scorching 25.6 percent.

The Wolves slump started Friday night in San Antonio. Facing the San Antonio Rampage, a team like the Wolves expected a win. They were surprised when the Rampage took them 4-2. The Wolves put 30 shots on Rampage goalie David LeNeveu for only two goals. Fred Brathwaite, who has looked sharp throughout the last month, seemed to collapse under the weight of just 18 San Antonio shots on goal in the first two period, giving up four goals.

Someplace during the month long road trip called the Livestock Show, San Antonio found heart and discovered hockey. They are currently 5-5 in the last ten games and have moved out of the basement of the Western Division for the first time in years, pulling ahead of the Houston Aeros.

Blizzard conditions, a divisional rival and 14,113 in attendance. Saturday was a good night for the Wolves to shake off the Friday night Texas loss. Omaha, however, had different ideas. This was a classic contest, a showdown before the big showdown of the post-season. And Omaha, which was bested by the Wolves 4-1 so far this season, wanted to show the Wolves they could beat them in the Western Division playoffs.

The scoreboard said the Wolves had only five shots on goal in the first frame of Saturday’s game. I counted shots that, for example MacKenzie made in a short handed effort, that were never counted by the goal judge. Nevertheless, Curtis McElhinney made an outstanding effort for the Knights, stopping all the 29 shots on goal for a shut-out. Michael Garnett, on the other end of the ice, also had one of his best nights in goal of the season, but allowed a goal in, enough for the Knights to win.

Move forward to Sunday afternoon, another wet snowy day in Rosemont. The series this weekend was hard fought, and in the first seconds of play the gloves drop between Nathan Oystrick and Knight Brett Palin. But the Knights had none of the Wolves intimidation. Brandon Prust and Carsen Germyn both connected on Brathwaite, Germyn’s goal coming with just 12 seconds remaining in the period.

















Jared Ross replied for Chicago in the second frame, but then Dustin Boyd uncorked the first of two goals of the night to win the contest. A final goal by Darren Haydar, late in the third frame seemed an empty threat as many in the crowd left.

So, when is it time to panic? This would seem to be as good a time as any. The Wolves need to end the slump with the next game, against a likely post-season opponent, the Hamilton Bulldogs. They enter March with a series of must win games against divisional opponents and conference opponents they will meet again in post-season.

They must win. Getting into the playoffs during a slump invites an early end to their season.

Wolves shutout Omaha 5-0. Solidify lead

The Chicago Wolves defeated the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 5-0. The shutout could be the most important victory for the Wolves this month as Omaha was just two points behind the Wolves in the standings. A loss would have tied the teams and moved the momentum decisively into Omaha’s favor.

The shutout, in Omaha, featured goals by Darren Haydar, two goals by Brett Sterling and two goals by Jordan LaVallee. Sterling scored his second goal on the power play, LaVallee scored his first on the power play.

The first period was marked by a bruising fight between Wolves defenseman Guillaume Desbiens and Knights Brandon Pruist. Fourteen additional minutes of penalties interrupted the first frame as the Wolves traded knocks with the Knights. Nathan Oystrick and Derek Couture were given double minors during the period for roughing. The Wolves had three incomplete power play opportunities in the period and Haydar’s goal.

Leading 1-0, the Wolves received two penalties early in the second period. After Omaha was unable to capitalize on their opportunities, Sterling scored, putting the Wolves up 2-0. The Knights took two minor penalties to close the second half of the period, stopping the Wolves from taking further advantage of the situation. Only six Knights shots on goal were recorded in the second frame, versus nine for the Wolves.

Entering the final frame up 2-0, the Wolves received two additional minor penalties in the first half of the third period, but held Omaha off. In the final ten minutes, the Wolves scored three times. The first power play goal by Sterling was due to a 5 on 3 power play. The second power play, just 32 seconds later was also on the same power play. The final goal occurred in the final minute of the game.

Fred Brathwaite stopped 24 shots on goal for the win for his first shutout of the season. Curtis McElhinney stopped 29 shots on goal for the loss. The win snapped a red-hot Omaha team, on a seven game winning streak. The Wolves have improved their power play to 21.2 percent, the third best in the American Hockey League. Their penalty killing is ranked 16th at 81.8 percent. Sterling continues to lead the league among all rookies in scoring, while Haydar leads the league in points. Cory Larose is now climbing the list of league skaters at number eleven. With his victory, Brathwaite is ranked 16th in the league among goalies.

The Wolves are tied for third place in the league with 63 points. They lead the Western Division and are tied for first in the North Conference. Omaha is four points behind the Wolves at 59 points, followed by Milwaukee at 52 points, Iowa at 51 points and Peoria at 49 points.

SLAM. Wolves end Omaha streak

The Chicago Wolves are on a roll, they defeated the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, away, in a 3-1 dustup in Omaha. The Knights had entered the game on top of the league, with an eight game win streak. Forwards Darren Haydar and Jason Krog continued their streak of points, now at eleven games this season, while goalie Michael Garnett continued his win streak, making 29 saves.

It is a huge victory for the Wolves, who continue to dominate on the road. The Wolves do not seem to be winning through great defense, indeed, their penalty kill is ranked 12th in the league, at 85.5 percent, and the team is giving up an average of three goals a game. And Michael Garnett, who has stood in for the injured Fred Brathwaite, has turned away a lot of shots, but is still not considered one of the top twenty goalies in the league.

Instead, the credit should go to the other end of the ice where a line of veterans, including Krog, Haydar, Derek MacKenzie and Steve Martins are regularly lighting lamps. Two solid lines, perhaps a third line developing— if the Wolves put together three lines they are going to be very dangerous in the Western Division.

But the weakness is now and has always been defense. Looking over the victory over the Knights, the Wolves took 28 minutes of penalties, much of it by blue liners who either were undisciplined or lacked the ability to cover their assignment. The Wolves enter their twelfth game leading the league in penalty minutes.

The road trip continues tomorrow night with a visit to the Peoria Rivermen. The Rivermen lost their opener against the Wolves. They are 5-4-0-1 so far this year.

Scouting the Omaha Knights

The Chicago Wolves defeated the Houston Aeros Wednesday night 4-2 in Houston, continuing their undefeated status on the road. The game marks the Wolves fifth on road win this season. In addition, Wolves Darren Haydar and Jason Krog have points in every game played by the Wolves this season and top the AHL in scorers with seventeen points each. Both notched assists in the Houston game.

Michael Garnett made 21 saves in the game. Fred Brathwaite has been seen with a cast on and is not expected to play to night when the team takes on the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Rockford Ice Hogs goalie Frederick Cloutier was released as the ECHL affiliated Gwinnett Gladiators sent the Wolves David Caruso. Cloutier was the first United Hockey League player to be sent up to the AHL.

The Omaha game could mark the first road loss for the Wolves. Omaha is hot, having won seven games in a row, only losing the first game of the season in overtime. The Knights, an affiliate of the Calgary Flames, have returned to the ice with essentially the same crew as last season. A new addition is Dustin Boyd. The rookie is lighting with 13 points this season. Goalies Brent Krahn and Curtis McElhinney are splitting goal duties and each is looking good, with a solid defense in front.

Two other games to look at this weekend, one is happening in Chicago at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The Chicago Hounds of the UHL take to the ice for the first time on Friday night against the Flint Generals.

The other game, the one I would travel to see this weekend, the Manitoba Moose versus the Grand Rapids Griffins in Van Andel Arena of Grand Rapids. The last time these two teams met was in the Northern Division Playoffs of last season. In the final game, the Moose started backup goalie Bryan Helmer after a groin injury to Wade Flaherty. At the end of the second period Helmer missed a save, leaving the score 4-1. The Moose were only able to put one shot on goal in the final period, but allowed four unanswered goals, losing the game 5-4. It was the biggest meltdown of the previous season and a real heart breaker for Moose fans.