Hi all and welcome to the eight edition of the Penalty Box. Sorry for the
delay but there were some technical problems. Thanks goes out to Brad Schott
for clearing up those technical problems. The season is just heading down
the home stretch and it is gut check time for all of the teams who battling
for the playoff spots.
CONTENTS:
1. Forward of the Week
2. Defenseman of the Week
3. Goalie of the Week
4. Goon of the Week
5. The Playoff Wrap-Up
6. News and Rumours
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1. FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Not much of a surprise as the the top player on the top team is starting
to really get into form and take over the standings. All in all it was an
incredible week for all three stars and there were still others who had a
spectacular week but just missed out.
#1 STAR: Joe Nieuwendyk (Dragons):
7 gls. 12 asts. 19 pts. 9 gms.
#2 STAR: Dimitri Khristich (Terriers):
10 gls. 8 asts. 18 pts. 9 gms.
#3 STAR: Keith Primeau (Freeze):
6 gls. 5 asts. 11 pts. 7 gms.
Here are the updated standings:
Joe Nieuwendyk (Dragons) 9 points $75,000
Mats Sundin (Ice Hawks) 5 points $40,000
Teemu Selanne (Voodoo) 4 points $32,500
John LeClair (Hitmen) 4 points $32,500
Keith Tkachuck (Ice Hawks) 4 points $32,500
Frank Banham (Ice Hawks) 3 points $25,000
Dimitri Khristich (Terriers) 3 points $22,500
Stu Barnes (Terriers) 3 points $22,500
Paul Kariya (Meatheads) 3 points $22,500
Wayne Gretzky (Meatheads) 3 points $22,500
Geoff Courtnall (Force) 2 points $15,000
Eric Lindros (Falcons) 2 points $15,000
Pierre Turgeon (Hitmen) 2 points $15,000
Keith Primeau (Freeze) 1 point $ 7,500
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=
2. DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
This was one of the tougher weeks to pick the Dman winner. There we some
guys who got the points but there were others who got some points and a good
plus/minus as well. With that being said there are two new guys getting
there names in the paper this week.
#1 STAR: Derian Hatcher (Freeze):
2 gls. 4 asts. 6 pts. 7 gms. +7
#2 STAR: Phil Housley (Dragons):
1 gl. 6 asts. 7 pts. 9 gms. +7
#3 STAR: Brian Leetch (G-Busters):
3 gls. 2 asts. 5 pts. 8 gms. +9
Here are the updated standings:
Rob Blake (Meatheads) 6 points $50,000
Robert Svehla (Force) 5 points $40,000
Brian Leetch (G-Busters) 4 points $32,500
Derian Hatcher (Freeze) 3 points $25,000
Derek Morris (Ice Hawks) 3 points $25,000
Al MacInnis (Hitmen) 3 points $25,000
Eric Desjardins (G-Busters) 3 points $25,000
Sylvain Cote (Falcons) 3 points $22,500
Phil Housley (Dragons) 2 points $15,000
Boris Mironov (Terriers) 2 points $15,000
James Patrick (Dragons) 2 points $15,000
Kenny Jonsson (Ice Hawks) 2 points $15,000
Ray Bourque (Hitmen) 2 points $15,000
Marcus Ragnarsson (Ice Hawks) 2 points $15,000
Patrice Brisebois (Voodoo) 1 point $ 7,500
Fredrick Olausson (Ice Barons) 1 point $ 7,500
Niklas Lidstrom (Terriers) 1 point $ 7,500
Jon Klemm (Freeze) 1 point $ 7,500
Scott Niedermayer (Storm Bringers) 1 point $ 7,500
Larry Murphy (Voodoo) 1 point $ 7,500
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=
3. GOALIE OF THE WEEK
Once again there proves to be one dominate goalie in this league and he
has proven four out of the first seven papers and with this week it is five
out of eight. There is also another goalie who is coming into form and
starting show some dominance of his own.
#1 STAR: Dominik Hasek (Dragons):
4-3-1 1.85 GAA .943 Save % 32.7 S/GM 1SO
#2 STAR: Tommy Salo (Freeze):
5-0-2 2.43 GAA .921 Save % 30.6 S/GM
#3 STAR: Patrick Roy (Hitmen):
5-2-0 2.42 GAA .922 Save % 28.7 S/GM
Here are the updated standings:
Dominik Hasek (Dragons) 15 points $122,500
Patrick Roy (Hitmen) 5 points $40,000
Olaf Kolzig (Stormers) 4 points $30,000
Mike Vernon (Force) 3 points $25,000
Steve Shields (Ice Hawks) 3 points $25,000
Craig Billington (Storm Bringers) 3 points $25,000
Byron Dafoe (Voodoo) 3 points $22,500
Tommy Salo (Freeze) 2 points $15,000
Artus Irbe (Ice Barons) 2 points $15,000
Chris Osgood (Crunch) 2 points $15,000
Tom Barrasso (Pylons) 2 points $15,000
Mike Richter (Falcons) 2 points $15,000
Andrei Trefilov (Hacksaws) 1 point $ 7,500
Grant Fuhr (G-Busters) 1 point $ 7,500
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4. GOON OF THE WEEK
After taking a week off and get the gap in the overall standings closed
up, Krzysztof Oliwa came back strong and Paul Laus took the week off. Which
now gives Oliwa a little more comfort in the overall standings.
#1 GOON: Krzysztof Oliwa (Hitmen):
83 PIM's in 8 games 3-1-0
#2 GOON: Ray Schultz (Knights):
65 PIM's in 8 games 1-0-1
#3 GOON: Jason Marshall (Knights):
46 PIM's in 8 games 0-0-2
Here are the updated standings:
Krzysztof Oliwa (Hitmen) 15 points $122,500
Paul Laus (Freeze) 10 points $77,500
Ray Shultz (Knights) 8 points $62,500
Rob Ray (Stormers) 5 points $32,500 *
Tie Domi (Stormers) 3 points $25,000
Bob Probert (Freeze) 3 points $22,500
Jason Marshall (Knights) 2 points $15,000
Matthew Barnaby (Knights) 1 point $ 7,500
Doug Smolek (G-Busters) 1 point $ 7,500
* = 3 points and $25,000 was with the Hitmen
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5. THE PLAYOFF WRAP-UP
THE PLAYOFF WRAP UP... WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT AND WHO COULD BE IN TROUBLE...
============================================================================
==
WLUHL8 STANDINGS
CANADIAN CONFERENCE
TEAM NAME GP W L T Pts GF GA PCT Last 10
TER Kitchener Terriers 65 44 16 5 93 244 158 0.715 7- 3- 0 ***
CRU Quabbin Crunch 64 40 22 2 82 221 177 0.641 5- 4- 1 ***
SLA Cape Breton Slash 63 34 25 4 72 229 204 0.571 4- 5- 1 ***
MEA Missauga Meatheads 65 36 24 5 77 238 201 0.592 6- 3- 1
FAL Melfort Falcons 63 34 23 6 74 220 197 0.587 6- 3- 1
PYL Pinkerton Pylons 64 34 24 6 74 169 154 0.578 5- 4- 1
FOR Hailifax Force 63 28 23 12 68 232 203 0.540 5- 5- 0
HIT Waterloo Hitmen 64 32 27 5 69 200 163 0.539 6- 3- 1
=====================================================================
GOA Hull Goal Busters 64 30 28 6 66 180 175 0.516 7- 2- 1
STB Montreal Storm Brngrs 64 29 28 7 65 206 212 0.508 5- 4- 1
CRI Kitchener Cripplers 64 26 30 8 60 183 181 0.469 4- 4- 2
KNI Quebec Knights 65 17 41 7 41 136 195 0.315 2- 7- 1
HAC Hailifax Hacksaws 64 10 47 7 27 124 233 0.211 1- 9- 0
WHO'S IN:
=========
Well folks, I tell you that the Kitchener Terriers were pretty much in
the playoffs as the puck dropped on Day 1. However, the Terriers have
played a strong game all year and they are definately in the post season.
Joining the Terriers it would be a good guess to say the Pinkerton Pylons,
Quabbin Crunch, Cape Breton Slash and Missisagua Meatheads are also going
to be playing some extra hockey come playoff time.
WHO'S OUT:
==========
Well, it's not to hard to see that this miserable season by the Halifax
Hacksaws means that they will be golfing early. Unfortuneatley, joining
them early will be the Quebec Knights who for the first time have fell
from their perennial awesome play which had made them one of the top teams
the past few seasons. At this time, we would also like to say that it would
be a safe bet that the Kitchener Cripplers won't be doing much after Day
139.
WHO COULD BE IN TROUBLE?
========================
Well, this is the part where it is getting really interesting. Right now we
have 6 teams battling for the last 4 playoff spots. Yes, the last 4 playoff
spots are all up for grabs. The Falcons, Pylons, Force and Hitmen all hold
spots down. The Falcons and Pylons are probably good bets to keep their
spots
as they have played a very consistant game all year long. When we look at
the
last 2 spots, I am sorry to say but it doesn't look good for the Force. As
of
late the Force have been playing some brutal hockey and that has given the
Storm Bringers and the Goal Busters a great shot at getting back into the
playoffs,
a spot where they were sitting for pretty much all the season up to this
point.
However, if we look at the schedule, it seems to be the Hitmen that could be
the team in real trouble. The Hitmen have been the most consitant of the
Goal
Busters, Force and Storm Bringers. The entire season the Hitmen have been
playing
.500 hockey and as of late they have knocked off both Conference leading
teams
and are starting to look good, but with a schedule that sees the Hitmen
playing
the Faloncs twice, The Voodoo and a home and home series against the
Terriers,
the Hitmen could be hitting the links soon.
What about the Goal Busters and Storm Bringers? Well they are sitting on the
outside, looking in and as of late both of them have started to surge
putting up
a number of wins looking to get back into the playoffs. Unfortuneatley for
them,
the teams in front of them too are also winning and that isn't help out
their
efforts at all.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
TEAM NAME GP W L T Pts GF GA PCT Last 10
DRA St. George Dragons 65 46 10 9 101 240 125 0.777 6- 3- 1 ***
VOO Dixie Black Voodoo 64 44 18 2 90 212 152 0.703 6- 4- 0 ***
ICB Birmingham Ice Barons 64 33 24 7 73 172 146 0.570 5- 3- 2 ***
HAW Chicago Ice Hawks 64 40 19 5 85 269 192 0.664 2- 6- 2
FRE Toledo Freeze 64 29 26 9 67 201 212 0.523 7- 0- 3
STO Sioux City Stormers 64 29 28 7 65 188 180 0.508 3- 4- 3
ICE Kansas City ICE 64 24 32 8 56 168 188 0.438 2- 6- 2
SPI Sierra Spiders 63 20 35 8 48 150 208 0.381 5- 5- 0
=====================================================================
MAN Moose Jaw Manglers 64 21 37 6 48 171 238 0.375 3- 6- 1
OUT Chicago Outsiders 64 19 37 8 46 159 205 0.359 5- 4- 1
JUG Syracuse Jugheads 64 19 38 7 45 161 231 0.352 1- 6- 3
ATO Lake Orion Atomics 63 18 41 4 40 124 197 0.317 3- 6- 1
MEL Wisconsin Melted Ice 64 12 44 8 32 153 223 0.250 2- 7- 1
WHO'S IN:
=========
Geesh, I guess it ain't too hard to figure out that the St. George Dragons,
Dixie Blackened Voodo, Chicago Ice Hawks and Birmingham Ice Barons are
all going to be seeing the postseason. They are pretty much the only
teams with a winning percentage above .500 in the American Conference and
so I guess they should be gimme's for the post season and yes, a couple
more victories along the way.
WHO'S OUT:
==========
Well, we all know that the Melted Ice are out and well, for yet another
season, Bill Markut and the boys will be hitting the links again early.
It is also at this time a safe bet to say that the Atomics will also
be golfing early, but there still is an outside chance that they will
make it in.
WHO COULD BE IN TROUBLE?
========================
Hmm, you have a .381 winning percentage and you are in the playoffs?
Man alive there is really something wrong with this picture, but this
is the picture we are looking at when it comes to the final playoff
spots in the American Conference. Right now the Kansas City Ice and the
Sierra Spiders hold down the last two spots in the American Conference,
but a couple loses by them and we could be seeing the expansion Moose
Jaw Manglers, the Chicago Outsiders and the Syracuse Jugheads pass them.
Like we said earlier, the Atomics have an outside chance of making it,
but we don't think they have the depth to do it.
Right now only 3 points separate 8th from 11th so we have ourselves
a real game brewing down in the good old USA. The Ice are starting
to falter and so they could be part of the big mix up soon. Our
guess is that the surging Outsiders and the expansion Manglers
led by center Alexei Yashin will take the final two playoff spots.
The Ice are going down fast and sorry, we can't see them pulling out
of the tail spin. The Spiders are good, but they don't have the fire
power that the Outsiders have and so we give the Outsiders the nod over
them to take the final spots. As for the Jugheads, with a lack of coaching
and a good team that totally underachieved all season long, we can't see
them putting together a winning streak to make it into the playoffs, even
if they do have Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour between the pipes.
===========================================================================
6. NEWS AND RUMOURS
MEATHEADS:
Meatheads have no nominations for the week. The team didn't play good enough
this week, basically barely playing .500 hockey all week. Heinze is starting
to fit in and is getting used to his linemates, likewise, it takes time for
them to get used to him, his style, etc... Oleg Tverdovsky was having a hard
time adjusting until the last few games but he has also found his place on
the team. One of the keys to the team may be Joel Otto. In his first game,
since being sold off by the Slash to the Meatheads, Joel Otto potted a
shorthanded goal against his old team the Slash. Joel had this to say
afterwards, "I can't beleive it, the Slash sold me off, saying I was
expendible! Unbeleiveable, after everything I did for this team they sell me
off to save a bit of cash. I'm just happy that I can be part of the
Meatheads. This is a very talented team and it is great to be part of a team
that is trying to make a run at the cup. As for my first goal this season as
a Meathead, I was flabergasted that Coach Stumpf would put me out there on
penalty killing. I mean, I'm just little joel otto, I'm nothing compared to
Kariya, Roenick, and the great one Wayne
Gretzky. I know the Slash's lines, and strategy since I helped develop them
so it was such a great feeling to score that shorthanded goal against them."
Coach Stumpf was happy to get former Meathead Joel Otto back after he traded
him away a few season ago. "Joel should help our penalty killing, and it
helps having an extra body around for injury relief to.", were the comments
from Coach Stumpf. The Meatheads are playing much much better now, playing
conservatively, saving our bodies for the playoffs, resting the veterns and
getting the young guys some icetime in preparation for the playoffs. Will we
have enough for the super talented Terriers or Icehawks, I don't know, but
we
are hoping to do well the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
VOODOO:
While he hates to admit it, Voodoo GM Hans K. Meyer released a statement
this week echoing the sentiments of Terriers GM Brad Schott. The following
are the excerpts:
"I thought it impossible for a Canadian to realize hockey isn't just all
fisticuffs, but I guess Brad Schott surprised me. As evidenced by his team's
play and even more evidenced by the play of superior American conference
teams the Voodoo and the Dragons, hockey is a finesse sport where speed and
agility will leave brute force freezing its ass on the ice every time. Is
this a challenge? Maybe."
ICE BARONS:
The Ice Barons are quietly having a terrific season. They have already
clinched first place in their division, meaning third seed in the playoffs,
and are confortably 25 points out in front. Brendan Morrison is finally off
the IR (he has been on since Day 89!!). Kevin Hodson has been given a shot
at goal and has played admirably. The IBs are looking forward to the
playoffs.
FREEZE:
The Freeze are currently the hottest team in the league going 7-0-3 over the
last 10 games. The defense has been depleted with the injuries but the
Freeze are overcoming these adversities by turning up the offense as was
exhibited in outshooting their last opponent 71-29! The offense is being led
by Keith Primeau and Brett Hull and the defense has been stabilized by
tough-guy Paul Laus who has been picking his spots as of late and plying
much better defensively. Tommy Salo is at his peak right now as he's been in
the net the entire time during the hot streak going undefeated in his last
10. Coach JJ will probably rest Salo a couple games to get ready for the
playoffs unless Salo feels he can go the rest of the way. The goon tactics
that have scared the league over the past few months have been rested here
as of late as Laus and Proberts;s penalty minutes have declined
substantially. Coach JJ's comments regarding that issue had something to do
with resting the big fella's in order to save their physical play until the
playoffs. With the recent hot streak, Freeze fans have been pointing back to
the year when the Freeze won the WLUHL cup and a lot of similarities have
been made to that year.. Derian Hatcher was re-acquired this year and he has
a ring from that year as well as Bob Probert and Tony Amonte. That's all
from T-Town!
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That's all for this week. The next edition is coming upon us rapidly as is
the end of the season. Until next time.
Jason Kolsrud
ICQ #4680899
http://www.clinton.net/~jkolsrud
jkolsrud@clinton.net
GM Sioux City Stormers WLUHL
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