Tag: ECHL

Utah Grizzlies: No Dice

In game two against the Oilers, the Grizzlies lineup saw a minor shuffle, as Teigan Zahn drew into the roster in place of Alex Lepkowski, and Parker Gahagen got the start.

The Oilers got the first chance on net to start the game, but Utah jumped on the puck thereafter, getting a couple of shots, and causing some scuffles in front of the Tulsa net due to their insistence on trying to get second chances.

Both teams showed good speed, and the Grizzlies looked more alert and cohesive than they had the previous night. Especially of note was some nice puck movement from Scheid and the Boucher-Gerard-White line. Shots are 5-4 for Utah with 11:44 to go.

Zahn took an interference penalty at 8:25, and Gahagen made a nice save on an Oilers player who muscled his way past a Utah defender. Utah killed off the penalty fairly comfortably, but Diego Cuglietta took a hooking call at 11:57 to send Utah back to the penalty kill.

In the final five minutes, Tulsa got the best of the zone time, doubling Utah up on shots, but Gahagen was calm under pressure, shutting down the Oilers’ chances.

After 20 the Oilers outshot Utah 16-7, but there was no score.

Utah challenged a little more to start the second than they had at the end of the first, and drew a power play at 4:44. The good news was that by the end of the advantage, they had as many shots in the first seven minutes as they had in the entirety of the first, but the bad news was that they didn’t score.

They picked up momentum, and got some zone time, but took a too-many-men penalty ten minutes into the period. The kill started and ended with Utah in the offensive zone, as the Grizzlies killed it efficiently.

There wasn’t much of note between then and the end of the period, but the Grizzlies did significantly close the shot gap, outshooting Tulsa 12-9 in the period, though the Oilers still held the shot lead 25-19. Over all, the Grizzlies’ second period was superior to their first, but neither team was able to break the deadlock.

The Oilers got a power play 46 seconds in as Gerard tripped up an Oilers player in the offensive zone. Tulsa didn’t score on the advantage, but they did score just seconds after Gerard returned to the ice. Former Grizz J.C. Brassard got the primary assist.

Utah got a power play opportunity of their own, and there was some question of a puck going in with 14:48 to go which resulted in a very lengthy review. After about five minutes it was eventually concluded that there was no goal, and the power play continued.

Miles Gendron and Maxim Golod took matching minors as a crowd gathered at 12:35. Utah continued to close the shot-gap, but were unable to beat Roman Durny. The Grizzlies pulled Gahagen with a minute to go, but when the buzzer sounded, Durny’s shutout remained intact.

Overall, the Grizzlies struggled to hold the offensive zone for any extended period of time, and when they did, despite picking up quite a few shots, missed the net a surprising amount at crucial moments.

No one was particularly bad for the Grizzlies, but no one really looked great either, except Gahagen, who was excellent in net. Matthew Boucher and Charlie Gerard led the team with four shots.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon.

Goals

  • First: None
  • Second: None
  • Third: None
    Gahagen: 31/32

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard

Utah Grizzlies: Ringing In the New

After last night’s smashing success, the line of Joe Wegwerth, Jack Jenkins, and Trey Bradley started the game off for Utah, together with Tanner Jago, Garrett Johnson, and Payton Jones. However, there were some shuffles to the rest of the lineup. Cedric Paré and Jared Pike both were out in exchange for Matt Hoover, while on defense, Miles Gendron sat out for Edwin Hookenson.

It didn’t take the Grizzlies long to get the offense going again, Charlie Gerard striking first just 1:20 into the game from Diego Cuglietta and Pat Cannone.

Utah had a couple of good shifts in the offensive zone towards the end of the period, but it was Rapid City who got on the scoreboard next, tying it up with just under seven to go in the period.

Things started to heat up a couple of minutes later, as Bradley was knocked down by the Rush bench. Wegwerth stepped in originally against Griffin Luce, but Cedric Montminy stepped in, and the two got double minors for roughing. Wegwerth also got an additional ten for continuing the altercation. On the very next shift Brennen Saulnier and Alex Lepkowski also dropped the gloves.

Things continued to be tense between the two teams through the end of the period, which ended 1-1, the Rush outshooting the Grizzlies 7-6.

Utah started the period strong, but Avery Peterson got his second of the game 2:06 into the frame. The two teams traded penalties, but neither team ended with anything to show for it.

However, half-way into the period, no one tied up Christian Horn sufficiently, and he scored the equalizer, just before Wegwerth returned to the ice.

The Grizzlies took a delay of game penalty a couple of minutes later, but they killed it off handily, and the period ended with little of note, save that Wegwerth threw a huge hit on Luce.

Utah had taken the shot lead 17-16 at the end of 40, game still tied 2-2.

Abt took another tripping penalty at 3:23 but Jenkins, who had been flying around all game, streaked up the ice on a two-on-one, delayed, and then sniped it in for his second of the year. Unfortunately though, Rapid City tied it up yet again about 30 seconds later on the tail end of their power play.

The home team drew the next three penalties, including a brief 5-on-3, and Ian Scheid continued his hot streak by blasting one home for the 4-3 goal from Cannone and Wegwerth. Cannone took a tripping penalty with 2:44 to go. The Rush got a point blank chance as their goalie headed to the bench, but Jones calmly snagged it. That was ultimately their best chance of the advantage, and despite the extra man, the Rush weren’t able to tie the game up yet again, giving Utah their second win in as many days.

Scheid (1G, GWG), Jenkins (1G), and Gerard (1G) were named the three stars of the game, while Cannone deserves an honorable mention with two primary assists.

The Jenkins line had another strong night, as did Ian Scheid, but they also got contributions from the other lines, and another good game from their goalie. In addition, this iteration of the Grizzlies have shown, on multiple occasions now, that they are willing and well able to get physical, throw their weight around, and drop the gloves when necessary. Something that we will no doubt see more of on Saturday.

Goals

  • First Period: Gerard (Cannone, Cuglietta)
  • Second Period: Horn (Abt)
  • Third Period: Jenkins (Jago, Jones) (SH), Scheid (Cannone, Wegwerth) (PP)
    Jones: 23/26

Image courtesy of Tim Broussard.

Utah Grizzlies: A Stylish Send-off

After the Grizzlies’ original home opener was pushed back, Utah finally got to skate in front of a small, socially distanced home crowd for the first and last time in 2020. There were several new additions and several subtractions since the two games that started the season.

Brayden Gelsinger, Diego Cuglietta, and Yuri Terao opened the game at forward, together with Alex Lepkowski and Ian Scheid, while Payton Jones made his third start for Utah.

Utah controlled play through most of the first five minutes of the game, but the Rush had evened things up by the five minute mark or so. By and large, the first half of the period was uneventful, though Jones calmly turned aside a shot from Brennan Saulnier one-on-one, and guys like Garrett Johnston and Cedric Paré stood out.

Approaching the ten minute mark, Joe Wegwerth had an outstanding shift, getting a couple of terrific shots before finding the back of the net at 9:25 for his second of the season from Jack Jenkins and Trey Bradley. Unfortunately, the Rush tied it up almost immediately afterwards, as they seem to do quite frequently.

Utah took back the lead with about five to go, however, Jenkins neatly putting the puck into the top right corner of the net on a spectacular backhand pass from Bradley. Christian Horn then proceeded to draw the first penalty of the game with 4:13 to go.

Utah made good at the end of the power play with one second left, Scheid freezing a screened Adam Carlson for his first of the year

Mitch Maxwell and Tyson Empey dropped the gloves at center ice with two minutes to go, both getting in some punches before being sent to the dressing room to cool down.

By the end of the period, in addition to the 3-1 score, Utah had opened a 22-7 shot lead. Entertainingly, Wegwerth (3) and Charlie Gerard (4) led the Grizz in shots, with as many combined shots as the entire Rush team.

The Rush got the first goal of the second period, lifting it over Jones from the blue paint at 3:08, but Wegwerth refused to let the one goal game stand, picking up his second of the game less than a minute later, Jenkins picking up yet another point on the assist.

Jones got to see some more rubber as the period hit the half-way point, shots reaching 27-17 for Utah with about nine to go, and at 11:56. He remained the less busy goalie however, and Scheid got his second of the game at the half-wall, chasing Carlson from the Rush net on the 5-2 goal.

Gerard took a hooking call with just over five to go in the second, but Utah killed it off pretty comfortably.

Rapid City outshot Utah in the second 15-12, as might be expected considering the score, but the Grizzlies continued to hold the lead both in shots and where it mattered most.

Utah controlled the first couple of shifts of the third, and the Grizzlies eventually drew a power play with 17:02 to go. It almost went poorly as the Rush got the puck at the blue line, but Terao hustled back to keep the them from getting to Jones uncontested.

Although they didn’t capitalize on the advantage, Rapid City’s Peter Quennville beat Horn and Jones, making it 5-3 at 5:25. Gelsinger drew a power play a little over a minute later though, but despite Pat Cannone’s best efforts to get Wegwerth the hat trick, the Rush returned to full strength with no change in score. Abt took an interference penalty of his own shortly thereafter, but that too changed nothing.

Terao and Gelsinger led a dazzling rush with about eight to go, showing off their quick feet and quick passing, and Jones continued to hold off Rapid City. Wegwerth continued to get chances to cap off the hat trick, but Tendek stood firm.

The Rush pulled Tendek for the empty net with 2:14, and Diego Cuglietta took a penalty, leading to a six-on-four for two minutes. In the end, it didn’t matter, as Abt sailed the puck into the empty net with 49 seconds to go.

When the buzzer sounded Utah had outshot Rapid City 40-30, and took the 6-3 victory into the new year.

Bradley was spectacular in the first period, as were his other line-mates, Wegwerth and Jenkins. Wegwerth’s two goals (including the game winner), and Jenkins’ one goal and two assists earned them first and third stars respectively, while Scheid’s two goals also saw him named second star of the game. Abt also picked up a goal and an assist.

The Grizzlies have clearly put their off time since December 12th to good use, as they looked far more like a cohesive team with quite a bit of chemistry, and not at all like one that hadn’t played a game in several weeks.

They start off 2021 with a New Years Day game tomorrow, also against the Rush.

Goals

  • First: Wegwerth (Bradley, Jenkins), Jenkins (Bradley, Myllari), Scheid (Cuglietta, Bradley) (PP)
  • Second: Wegwerth (Jenkins, Abt) (GWG), Scheid (Maxwell)
  • Third: Abt (Cannone) (EN, SH)

Jones: 28/31

Image courtesy of Tim Broussard.

Utah Grizzlies: Take Two

In game two of the season and the set in Rapid City, the Grizzlies iced the same crew, though the lines and pairings saw some shuffling. Peyton Jones once again got the start.

The start of the game was more measured than Friday’s match, both teams doing a lot of passing, and neither team holding onto possession more than the other until about the four minute mark. Utah held onto the puck for large parts of a shift, and eventually drew the game’s first power play, but didn’t capitalize.

The Rush struck first following their return to full strength, but Utah didn’t let them rest on their laurels, Brayden Gelsinger scoring his first of the year from Diego Cuglietta and Charlie Gerard.

The ice started to tilt in Utah’s favor heading into the last six minutes of the period, the Grizzlies spending several minutes in the offensive zone. However, with three to go, the Rush pushed back, penning the Grizzlies in their own zone for the last minute. Utah narrowly escaped a goal into a gaping net, but fortunately for them, the Rapid City shooter whiffed on the shot.

At the end of 20, however, shots favored Utah 13-7 with the score tied 1-1. Interestingly, while the Grizzlies put up a decent amount of shots, only Gelsinger had more than one.

Gendron got hit along the boards about three minutes in, and was slow to get up, but he remained on the bench. Utah struggled to get anything going, but both teams found themselves missing passes and scrambling for pucks.

By the ten minute mark, Rapid City had outshot the Grizzlies 6-3 in the period. As the final five minutes of the period approached, Utah got more zone time, overtaking the shot lead 11-9 by the end. It was a very quiet period, and lacked cohesion, neither team possessing the puck for prolonged periods of time.

Matt Abt took a hooking call at 3:16, but just three seconds later off the face-off, Tyler Coulter took an interference call to kill the Rush advantage.

At 8:18 Gelsinger set up a nice pass to Cuglietta, who wired it past David Tendeck for his first goal of the season. Gelsinger’s assist gave him a goal and an assist as well.

Shortly thereafter, with a mess of players in front of the net, Michael McNicholas and a couple of other guys in the slot started celebrating as play got called. The officials reviewed it, and it was, indeed, a good goal, McNicholas getting his first goal of the year from Tanner Jago.

The Rush took a penalty at 16:40, but killed it off and pulled their goalie with 30 seconds to go. Utah held on though, taking the game 3-1, shots 34-22 in their favor.

If last night was the Paré, Gendron, Wegwerth show, tonight definitely belonged to Cuglietta and Gelsinger who both got a goal and an assist, Cuglietta’s holding up for the game winner. Jones got his first pro win, and another standout included Garrett Johnston, who definitely comes as advertised, and was a steady, skilled presence on the blue line. McNicholas and Gerard both led the team with 4 shots, while Gendron, Gelsinger, and Besinger all had three.

While the game wasn’t maybe as exciting as Friday’s from a sheer goals perspective, it was great to see the Grizzlies respond, and to see other players step up and show what they’ve got, especially since this early in the year, most of us still don’t know what to expect from this team.

Utah won’t be in action again until next weekend, when they will welcome the Tulsa Oilers to town.

Goals
First Period: Gelsinger (Cuglietta, Gerard)
Second Period: None
Third Period: Cuglietta (Gelsinger, Lepowski), McNicholas (Jago)

Image courtesy of Tim Broussard.

Utah Grizzlies: Is this thing on?

Greetings friends,

I hope you are all doing as well as can be expected in, and please forgive the groan-worthy cliché, these extraordinary times!

This season is certainly going to be a strange one without many ECHL teams opting out, including the Grizzlies’ best enemies the Idaho Steelheads, and with so many restrictions. The Grizzlies’ Booster Club will be only nominally in action this year as, due to necessary precautions, we will not be able to provide dinner or do Boostie Boxes as normal (though keep an eye out on developments on this front).

As a result of all the weirdness, the club is not currently collecting dues, but we encourage fans to keep an eye out on our various social media platforms, and we’ll post updates as soon as we have worked everything out.

In the meantime, we will be doing our best to work with Coach Branham and the team to bring some extra social media content to you!

I will not be attending games in person, but will still be posting from the Booster Club’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and writing game recaps here.

You are probably already aware, but this season’s games will be streamed via FloHockey, so make sure to get that set up before tomorrow evening!

Enjoy the start of the season, stay safe, and #GoGrizzGo!

Namiko

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard and staff