Last night at the Edmonton Coliseum the Canadian Junior Team had
a surprisingly difficult time beating a collection of Alberta Collegiate
All Stars.  After having won 6-0 Friday against the Canada West Stars the
ACAC was like moving down to Division II opposition from Division I (to
borrow US terms.)
        Coach Hay again had Jr. goaltenders backstopping for the ACAC,
this time Cloutier and Fichaud, who had played for the Juniors on
Friday.  Storr and Thibault split the goaltending for the Juniors.
        During warmups the size differential between the ACAC and Canada
was obvious.  Team Canada, outside of the goaltenders, dressed only two
players under 6', Darcy Tucker and Marty Murray, who wore the captain "C".
        Perhaps thinking of a #1 scoring line Hay started Alexandre
Daigle and Brett Lindros on the same line with with Jeff Frisen.  The
collegians started out hustling and earned the first scoring chance which
was saved by Thibault.
        Jason Botterill put Canada on the board at  2:49 on a shot from
the circle after a good offensive flurry and a shot on goal by Eric Daze,
who played well but was not the star of the game as he was on Friday.
Assist on the goal to Shean Donovan.
        Canada made it 2-0 at 4:12 when Jeff Friesen fliped the puck past
Fichaud with a nifty finesse move.  It made Fichaud look silly, but came
after a good shift by the starting line.  At 9:03 ACAC's Jason Knox of
Mount Royal College took a penalty for hooking and it certainly looked
like the rout was underway.  Although the penalty was killed off the
Botterill and Daigle lines looked good moving the puck around.  It was
hard to tell when the penalty ended because Canada looked like they were
on the power play until 14:05 when Minsad Mujcin of the ACAC and
Concordia College was sent off for holding.  He took this penalty
probably out of frustration after having just missed a rare scoring
chance for the ACAC.  Botterill got off two quality shots, among others
for team Canada during this power play.
        At 16:14 against the run of play Mujcin broke the ice for the
ACAC by scoring just after having left the penalty box on a rush.
Assists to Stacey Rayan and Jason Sorochan (not to be confused with Lee
Sorochan who plays for Team Canada.)  The Juniors responded with an
immediate rush to the net with several point blank shots stopped by Fichaud.
        At 18:30 Chris Lenz of Red Deer College stole the puck for the
Collegians and got a good shot at Thibault.  Just before the period ended
Darcy Tucker behind the net fed Daigle in the the slot with a wonderful
pass forcing Fichaud to make a good save.
        Shots in first period Canada 23  ACAC 7 (not a misprint)
 
        The ACAC did not get their first shot in the second period until
four minutes in, then Daze was given a thundering check into the boards.
Fichaud throughout his stint showed a good glove hand having to make many
quick saves.
        Lee Sorochan of the Juniors was sent off at 7:06 for hooking Lenz
who had one good shot already and was hooked going for his own rebound.
The collegians looked good on the power play getting a couple of chances
including one shot fumbled by Thibault but cleared by the defence.
Thibault then stopped a breakaway just as the goalie switch time came at
the middle of the period.
        Canada's Ed Javanovski took a roughing penalty away from the play
at 10:58 which I did not see.  This error was compounded by Jamie Rivers
who gave the Collegians a two man advantage with a cross checking penalty
at 11:44.  Coach Hay, like Friday, sent forwards Daigle and Friesen out
to kill it.
        This time, however, Travis Stephenson of Mount Royal College shot a
bouncer from the blue line which Jason Lowe tipped in past Jamie Storr at
12:14 to tie the game at 2.  The other assist went to Chris Lafreniere.
The teamwork displayed here may be attributable to all three playing for
Mount Royal.
        I have not described most of the Team Canada action in this
period.  They had many 2 on 1 rushes and offensive threats, but they were
not in synch or finishing off plays.  In the latter part of the period
Hay started mixing up the lines which he had not done on Friday.  The
defensive pairings seemed almost random.  He clearly was not happy with
the defensive play out there, and the intensity was less.  I think the
Juniors, like me, felt this game would be a cakewalk.  Once the score was
tied the crowd got more into the game and began to root for the underdog
collegians who were hustling and clearly excited to be there.
        However, just after hitting the post Darcy Tucker put his rebound
past Dan Cloutier at 18:14.  Assists to Daze and Rivers.  As the period
ended Cloutier had to make a good poke check to save a 3 on 1 rush.
Although the shots on goal for the second period favoured the Collegians
17-11 most of the collegians shots came at the dangerous points described
above or were from far out.  Clearly their coaching staff had instructed
them between periods to shoot at every opportunity.
 
        Three minutes into the third period the collegians missed a
golden opportunity to tie the game again on a 2 on 1.  The rebound shot
missed the net.  Christian Laflamme of the Juniors was shaken up on this
play and did not return.
        Canada finally scored again at 9:56 when Marty Murray tipped in a
Jamie Rivers shot to give the Juniors a 4-2 lead.  Just after the score
Cloutier looked shaky on a shot from just inside the blue line by Ed
Javanovski.
        The Juniors, perhaps reflecting thier lack of intensity in this
game, took a penalty on a change for too many men on the ice at 11:49.
Jamie Barnes took advantage for the ACAC scoring from just above the
circle at 12:42.  Assists to Terry Oliver and Stacey Rayan.  At this
point the crowd is really responding to the effort put in by the
collegians who, by thier play, clearly feel they can at least pull out a tie.
        After another nice rush by the ACAC, however, Jeff O'Neill skated
right around a defenceman with a brilliant move and put the puck past
Cloutier.  Assist to Tucker.  At 16:30 Lindros was checked in mid ice and
shaken up. He skated right off during play.  Attentive readers will note
that I have not mentioned Lindros much here.  He was not a factor and the
Edmonton Journal was speculating this morning whether he will be cut from
the team when the final roster is announced today.  The feeling is that
he or Botterill will be cut (according to the Journal.)  At 18:00
Cloutier misplayed a shot bobbling it and was lucky the ACAC did not put
in the rebound.
        At 19:19 Darcy Tucker closed out the scoring with assists to
Rivers and Friesen.  It was a good goal but based on what I've seen I
think Cloutier has played himself out of a position.  Making the last
goalie cut will be a tough call.
        Reflecting the general lack of discipline for Team Canada tonight
Jason Botterill took a slashing penalty at 19:56.
        Shots in third: Canada 11 ACAC 7
 
        The final score of 6-3 makes the game seem less competitive than
it was.  Clearly Team Canada had the overwhelming talent advantage but a
combination of poor finishing and not being mentally there all the time
combined to give the ACAC stars a thrill at feeling they belonged on the
same ice with their more prestigious oppostion.
        Someone off list asked me how I felt Team Canada will do in the
tournament.  Not having seen the other teams it is difficult to say, but
at the least they had better not expect to sleepwalk through games the
way they did tonight or they will be in trouble.
 
Arthur Berman   [log in to unmask]
THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER!!!
GO BU!!!!