Riders win-isn't smart enough-finger-petition-code for real no xmas dumb warmups

Ghostrider Notebook

The Ghostriders only played one game last weekend and it was in Castlegar against the Rebels and they got a 4-0 win.

Nikolas Sombrowski (PP), Keelan Saworski (1G 1A) and Owen Titus with two power play goals a minute apart in the third period scored the goals in Castlegar. Titus’ goals effectively ended the Rebels night and he was named the player of the game. More on that in a minute.

The Riders also outshot the Rebels 33-19, killed 8 penalties and were 3-7 on the power play. 

After the weekend Fernie had scored 5 PPG in 20 chances  25% and have allowed 3 in 30 chances, they kill at 90%, one of the better kill %'s  in the league... * Take the numbers with a grain of salt, there are lots of partial PP where the other team takes a penalty while on the power play etc and the esports game sheet program isn’t smart  enough to figure out the exact minutes of PP and PK time... that would be a much better indicator .

Coach Jeff Wagner signed goaltender Riley Fonger and D-man Josh Dalquist last week, both were Calgary Flame AAA Midget players last season... a nice coup by the  young GM... you can be sure they were well courted.

The aforementioned  Fonger (2000) got the start in Castlegar and he didn’t disappoint, he stopped a couple of breakaways and a penalty shot on the way to earning a shutout in his first KIJHL game, but wasn’t named the player of the game, that should have been an easy pick, it’s hard to get a shutout... they kinda gave Fonger  the finger.

D-man Greg Susinski leads the team in scoring with 7 points followed by Jordan Kromm with 6. Both players had 2 assists in Castlegar.  Kromm has sure taken a step this year and looks at home on the point on the PP 2.  

Eric Welford is out with an injury after he was hit in the head by the Rebels Brandon Costa who got a 5 minute major and the accompanying two game suspension. Shaun Pierce was also injured in Castlegar by a high hit, but it was not called, both players are out for this weekend's games.  A cage can’t stop that stuff and the team still loses 2-D. 

A player in the VIJHL has started a petition to get rid of cages, it’s here.  But I don’t think BC Hockey cares what you or anyone else thinks about it and they are probably going to leave it up to the refs to amp up the calls.

Well actually they are actively looking at calling more roughing and misconduct PIM.

Here is what Laurent Martel (that’s code for KI President Larry Martel) had to say about the start of the PIM season.

There has been a small change in the type of hockey we're  seeing this year since going to full face protection. Here it is after 3 weekends, last year Check from Behind 5 minor 2 majors, this year 7 minors, last year Fighting 40 majors , this year 6 majors, last year Head Contact 21 minors 1 major, this year 23 minors 4 majors. KIJHL referees will be calling more misconducts and roughing after the whistle.

KIJHL suspension list

Kamloops writer Marty Hastings says Storm GM Barry Dewar will have a video conference appeal with BC Hockey over his 1 year suspension for tampering. It’s rampant in hockey but hard to prove...but when they can prove it look out.

Dylan Defosse’s 2 game suspension will be over on Saturday in time for the Golden game.

I think Wylie Henderson is doing a pretty good job of calling the games on the radio.

 Friday's Game 

 Thankfully the not always fan friendly KIJHL has reinstated a partial crossover schedule for the players and fans and that means that we get to see teams from the Doug Birks Division this season. So after two years we are a league again ! And on Friday the 100 Mile House Wranglers are in town.  

The Wranglers have a couple of faces longtime Rider fans will recognize. Playing defence is twenty year old Kyle Haugo, Kyle played 4 years in Fernie but didn’t finish the season last year because of a broken elbow and was released so the Riders could get another player card. 

 The Wrangler ’s Head Coach is Dale Hladun. Dale was Coach here during the 2013/14 season when Haugo was just 15 and skating at the Rider main... he was too young other wise I think Haldun would have signed him then. Hladun and his Wranglers won everything in 2016.

Saturday’s Game

The Golden Rockets are here Saturday. The Rockets have a 4-2 record this year and already have more wins than they did last season (3) . They could be for real...  last weekend the Rockets defeated Columbia Valley. The Rockies should have been motivated, they were  cruising along at 4-0 on the road and were playing in front of 450 fans in their home opener but lost 3-2.  Golden actually even edged the Rockies 33-31 in shots as well... will there be a battle for the final playoff spot this season... there hasn’t been for a few years and as a Christmas present you pretty much knew you were in.

The Rockets new Head Coach and GM is Jeremy Blumes he replaces Jason Stephens.

I don’t know if this guy is right or wrong, but I always believed that just skating and taking shots was the perfect warmup.

The Full article is here
How dumb are hockey warmup habits? I paraphrase the words of a world-class track coach: If my athletes would come out for a meet in early spring when the temperature was as cold as a hockey arena, and fake a warmup, stretching much of the time while sitting on a patch of ice, then, go back to the locker room and sit motionless for 20 minutes, come out to the track and stand for the national anthem, then immediately jump up to the starting blocks and sprint full speed – well, I should be fired.

“But,” he continued, “that’s what hockey players do.”