Island Junior Hockey League

IJHL Weekly Report - Nov. 8th

Red Wings Liking New Home

Crapaud – It’s only five games into the 2005/06 season, but the South Shore Canadian Tire Red Wings of the Source for Sports Island Junior Hockey League seem to like their new home. 

The Red Wings, who moved  to Crapaud from Summerside in the off-season, have reeled off 4 straight victories after an opening night loss to the defending champion Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers.

South Shore boasts the league’s #1 offense, averaging 4.6 goals a game in early season action.  Led by 2004/05 IJHL rookie of the year Ian Postma (3 goals and six assists), veteran Jeremy Sobey (3-4) and captain Chris Ellis (4 goals in five games), the Red Wings have as many weapons as any team in the IJHL.

While scoring goals has never been a problem, the difference this season is the team’s  defensive performance, which has improved from worst (5.88 goals against per game) last season to first (2.80 gaa) in the early going this year.  Part of that improvement can be attributed to the outstanding play of goalkeepers Alex Robertson and Jordan Duffy and a big and mobile defense.

Last week the Wings posted a pair of impressive victories, beating Sherwood 4-2 Saturday night at home before trouncing the Kings County Boathaulers 9-2 Sunday in Souris.  The third period proved decisive in both contests, as the Red Wings erupted for three third period markers in the game against the Falcons before erupting for six unanswered goals in the final stanza against Kings County.

The only thing the Red Wings are lacking is fan support, averaging just over 100 fans a game at the South Shore Actiplex.  But GM Scott Grady and Coaches Hal Schurman and Stacy Silliker are confident that central and western Queens County fans will respond if the team remains competitive.  A 3-0 record on home ice so far might be just what the team needs to create a little buzz around the South Shore area.

This Week

Only four games on a light IJHL schedule this week, starting with a match-up of two teams desperate for a win when the Boathaulers travel to the Cody Banks Arena on Wednesday for a 8:00pm match up with the  Falcons. The Falcons have lost two of three after starting the season with three wins in four games and will be looking to get back on track and claim sole possession of first place with a win over Kings County. 

The Boathaulers, meanwhile, will be trying to forget about Sunday’s 9-2 home ice humiliation at the hands of the South Shore Red Wings and bounce back with a strong effort against Sherwood.

The Red Wings will be looking to extend their four-game winning streak when they travel to Pownal on Thursday to meet the Metro Builders.  Game Time at the Pownal Sports Centre is 8:15pm.  The Red Wings beat the Builders 5-3 in week one in the teams’ only meeting this season.  The game also features a match-up of two of the league’s top offensive stars as Ian Postma of the Red Wings will try to outshine Jason Doyle of Pownal.

On the weekend the Red Wings play host to Kings County on Saturday (8:30pm, South Shore Actiplex in Crapaud) and the defending champion Vipers travel to Souris to play the Kings County Boathaulers on Sunday (7:00pm, Eastern Kings Sportsplex).

Player of the Week

The Sherwood Hockey IJHL Player of the week is centre Ian Postma of the South Shore Canadian Tire Red Wings. 

In two games Postma scored three times and added two assists to lead the Wings to a pair of victories.  Postma scored twice in South Shore’s 4-2 win over Sherwood on Saturday and followed that up with a three-point effort (1 goal, 2assists) in the Red Wings 9-2 victory over Kings County on Sunday.

Postma leads the Red Wings with three goals and six assists in five games to sit tied for 4th in league scoring, 4 points back of leader Colin MacBeath of the Sherwood Flacons.

Also nominated for the award were MacBeath of the Falcons (3 goals, 4assists) and Robbie Doiron of the Falcons (3 goals in two games, including two game winners).

IJHL Weekly Report

Competitive Balance Reigns in IJHL

Sherwood - Fans of the Source for Sports Island Junior Hockey League could be in for one of the most competitive and balanced seasons ever, if week two action in the five-team circuit is any indication.

Four of the five teams posted single wins during week two, with only the defending champion and pre-season favourite Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers unable to crack the victory column.

The week started on a dramatic note with the last place Pownal Metro Builders upsetting the previously unbeaten Sherwood A&S Scrap Metal Falcons 6-4 at the Cody Banks Arena.  Jason Doyle had a natural hat trick in the first period to pace the Builders attack.  Dylan MacDonald also had a pair for Pownal, while Jeff Thompson contributed three assists.

The Falcons bounced back on Saturday night, beating the arch-rival Vipers for the second consecutive time this season, with a 4-3 win at the Community Gardens.  Sherwood scored a pair of unanswered goals in the third period to erase a 3-2 deficit, capped by Rodney Currie's game winner at 10:33 of the final stanza.  Falcon's goalie David Burke made 40 saves to raise his record to 3-0 on the season.

Perhaps the league's hottest team, the South Shore Canadian Tire Red Wings, made it two in a row with a 4-3 win over Mike's Kings County Boathaulers on Saturday at the South Shore Actiplex.  Captain Chris Ellis had two goals and an assist for South Shore, while 2004/05 IJHL rookie of the year, Ian Postma, had three assists.

The 4th and final game of the week saw the Boathaulers bounce back with a 6-3 win over Pownal on Sunday in Souris.  Graham Chisholm had a big night for the winners, contributing a pair of goals and two helpers, while Adam Hergert made 41 stops to pick up his second victory of the young season. Jason Doyle had a goal and an assist for the Builders.

Thursday's game between South Shore and Pownal was postponed because of scheduling conflicts.  A make-up date will be announced later.

This Week

Five games on the league schedule this week including a couple of opportunities for revenge for visiting clubs. 

On Wednesday, the defending champion Kensington Vipers will be looking for a little retribution for their only two losses of the season when they travel to Sherwood for an 8:00pm tussle with the first-place Falcons at Cody Banks Arena.  The Falcons themselves will be looking for a little pay back on Thursday when they cross the Hillsborough bridge for an 8:15 meeting with the Pownal Metro Builders.  The Builders handed Sherwood their only loss of the season last Wednesday and the Falcons will be looking to even the score.

Weekend action includes Pownal at Kensington (7:30pm, Community Gardens) and Sherwood at South Shore (8:30, South Shore Actiplex) on Saturday and South Shore at Kings County (7:00pm, Eastern Kings Sportsplex) on Sunday.

Player of the Week

The Sherwood Hockey/Source for Sports Island Junior Hockey Player of the Week for the period ending October 30th is Jason Doyle of the Pownal Metro Builders. 

The explosive centre had four goals and added an assist in two games last week. Doyle opened the week with a natural hat trick in a 6-4 win over Sherwood on Wednesday and followed that up with another goal and an assist in a 6-3 loss to Kings County on Sunday night in Souris.

Doyle leads the league in scoring with six goals and four assists in four games.

Also nominated for the award were Graham Chisholm of the Kings County Boathaulers, Rodney Currie of the Sherwood Falcons, Chris Ellis of the South Shore Red Wings and Robbie Doiron of the Kensington Vipers.

IJHL Weekly Report

Falcons Off to Fast Start in IJHL Play

Sherwood - The Sherwood A&S Scrap Metal Falcons are looking like the team to beat as the Source for Sports Island Junior Hockey League wrapped up it's first full week of action for the 2005/06 season.

The Falcons, who lost a heartbreaking seven game league championship series to the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers last spring, sent the rest of the league a message last week by beating both of the teams expected to challenge for top spot in the five team circuit.

Wednesday night at the Cody Banks Arena, the Falcons (2-0-0) avenged their finals loss to the Vipers by beating the defending champs 5-2.  Brad Dunn and Colin Younker both had a pair of goals for the winners, while David Burke, a member of the Summerside Western Capitals last season made 29 saves to pick up the victory.

Then on Sunday nightin Souris, the Falcons got another strong effort in goal from Burke (30 saves) and a pair of third period goals from Chris Gallant in a 5-2 win over Mike's Kings County Boathaulers.  Kyle Chaisson scored both goals for Kings County (1-2-0).

The Vipers (2-1-0) rebounded from their mid-week loss to the Falcons by making it two in a row on home ice on Saturday with a 5-3 win over the Boathaulers.  Thomas Waugh scored twice and added an assist to pace the Kensington attack. The Boathaulers had spoiled the home opener of the Pownal Metro Builders (0-2-0) on Thursday, scoring three times in the last six minutes for a 7-5 win.  Steffan Cudmore and Steven Jennings scored twice for Kings County, while Jason Doyle, the Builders leading scorer in 2004/05, opened the season with a goal and four assists.

The final game of the week saw the South Shore Red Wings (1-1-0) win their first game at the Actiplex, as a three goal outburst in the second period gave them a 5-3 win over the visiting Builders.  Rookie Adam Constable scored twice and added an assist for the Wings, while Jeremy Sobey (1-2) and Tyler Matthews (0-3) also had three point nights.

This Week
Five More games on the schedule this week featuring an early season battle for first place when the Falcons travel to the Community Gardens in Kensington for a 7:30pm match-up with the Vipers. Other games on the schedule include Pownal at Sherwood, 8pm tonight, Cody Banks Arena; Sherwood at Pownal, 8:15, Pownal Sports Centre on Thursday; Kings County at South Shore, Saturday at 8:30pm, South Shore Actiplex; and Pownal at Kings County, Sunday at 7:00pm, Eastern Kings Sportsplex.

Player of the Week
The Sherwood/Source for Sports Island Junior Hockey Player of the Week is goaltender David Burke of the Sherwood A&S Scrap Metal Falcons.  Burke was 2-0 in two appearances, posting a 2.00 goals against average and a .937 save percentage to lead the Falcons to a pair of victories over their cheif IJHL rivals.