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Farm Team Player
Join Date: Nov 2007
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QC Flames at San Antonio Rampage: Sunday, Nov. 9th - Post Game Thread
Hello Flames fans;
I was in San Antonio over the weekend, and had the opportunity to go to the QC Flames game against the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday (I did not get to both games, just the Sunday). I figured I would take the opportunity to write some notes on the game, as I am sure many are curious about the insight to some of the players down there.
Please keep in mind, I am not a professional journalist, or a professional scout. Just a Flames fan, who has played for 30 years. So, this is mostly my observations, and perhaps a scout or GM would tell me I am out to lunch. Anyways, here goes.
Final Score:
QC Flames 4 San Antonio Rampage 2
Three Stars (as announced):
1 - Kyle Greentree
2 - Jamie Jundmark
3 - Matt Keefe (Rampage)
Basic game story:
This game was not as close as the score would indicate. The Flames pretty much carried the play, and controlled the game, outshooting the Rampage 30-19 (Rampage only had 4 shots in the 1st). It strikes me though that there is not alot of finish on the team. They should have been able to put them away, but they couldn't. In the end, a bit of a fluky goal, and then a gift from the referees kept the game close.
QC Flames Lines:
Chucko/Greentree/Lundmark
Vander Gulik/Cracknell/Ryder
Germyn/Peters/Sutter
Armstrong/Vandermeer/Cunning
Defence Pairings:
Erickson/Palin
Cole/Pelech
Spang/Wilson
Goalie:
Leland Irving
Scoring:
QC 1 - K. Greentree (3) (J. Lundmark, C. Germyn) 15:00 1st PP
(this was just a beautiful pass by Lundmark to send Greentree free)
QC 2 - B. Palin (2) (K. Greentree, J. Lundmark) 18:00 1st
(puck battle won in the corner by Lundmark, passes to Greentree behind the net, and out to Palin on the point for a one timer)
QC 3 - K. Greentree (4) (K. Chucko, J. Lundmark) 11:37 2nd PP
(great control on the power play, good passing results in Greentree being wide open on the side of the net for the easy goal)
SA 1 - C. Kolarik (2) (D. Reese, M. Beaudoin) 3:14 3rd
(same old story, if you cant get the puck out, it eventually ends up in the net. The Flames could just not clear the puck, and a shot from the point ends up in the net. It was a wierd bounce, not sure if it was deflected, or bounced or what, but Irving had little chance).
SA 2 - A. Keefe (1) (B. MacLean, S. Goertzen) 11:54 3rd
(3rd assist should go to the refs. San Antonio player goes into the crease, and hits Irving, then basically stays there, holding him against the post, so that he could not move laterally across the crease to get to the shot that would have otherwise been an easy save)
QC 4 - K. Greentree (5) (J. Lundmark, K. Chucko) 19:36 4th EN
(again, an awesome pass from Lundmark gives Greentree the easy breakaway empty net goal).
My observations on a few of the players:
Jamie Lundmark - easily the best player on the ice. If he was passing to NHL caliber shooters, he would have had 6 or 7 assists. Like I said earlier, there just does not seem to be alot of finish on this team. He controlled the puck well, and was just making beautiful passes all game. I believe he is a step above all the players on the ice. Just a shame he seems to be a tweener. Would think he should be the injury call up.
Greentree and Chucko both had decent games. Greentree got the 1st star, but, really he got it thanks to Lundmark. He did have a decent game. the three of them really played well together. But, I do not see much special in Chucko that will see him in the NHL anytime soon.
Ryder/Vander Gulik/Cracknell - I was really looking forward to see this line play, specifically to see Ryder play. But, this line was invisible, other then Cracknell laying out an occassional big hit. They just could not get anything going at all. Hardly ever noticed them.
Cunning/Armstrong/Vandermeer - I really do not have alot to say about this line, except, they are the line that was on the ice for the 1st goal against. They just could not get the puck out, bad clearing, bad breakout, and it eventually ended up in the net.
Germyn/Sutter/Peters - were the energy line. did not get alot of scoring chances, but were all over the Rampage. Big hits, good control for the most part. never made any mistakes, just kept control.
Defence:
Spang - Most of the game, whenever I saw a dman make a great defensive play, or a good pinch to keep the puck live in the offensive zone, I would look to see who it was, and more often then not it was Spang. I was prepared to write a glowing report about him, but, then he had one of the worst defensive zone turnovers I have seen in a LONG time... it was brutal. Basically he came from behind the net, carried out front of the net, and as soon as he realized it was a bad move, he tried to flip it to his defensive partner, but instead put it right on the Rampage players stick. Irving kept the puck out of the net though.
Eriksson - His NHL days are over. Nothing special, and just seemed to have troubles getting the puck out of his zone. In fact, he and Palin were the ones on the ice for the first goal. And, I have not seen any video of it, but, I have a funny feeling he was out of position on the goal, and it went off him. it hit something, and I think it was him.
Cole/Pelech/Wilson - all were solid. No mistakes, not alot of offensive contribution. I never noticed them, but, in this case, I actually think that is good.
Irving - He got his first professional victory, and I think actually deserved a shutout. He was not tested alot, but, the ones he was tested on, he was solid. One in particular where the puck was passed across the net to a wide open shooter on the far post, he dove head first across the net, and made the save.
The whole game, I saw three serious lapses on the defense, and he made two brilliant saves on 2 of them, and the other was the goal. But, he played well positionally, never gave up rebounds, and was all around solid.
I do not think there are alot of players down there that are NHL ready. Lundmark may be worth a look, but, he has had his chance, and we all know he is a tweener. Other then him, there are players who could be 4th line NHLers, but, I do not see alot more then that right now. I think we will see Greentree in a Flames jersey, the others, I really need to see more improvement. For defensively responsible, energy players on the 4th line, Germyn, Peters or Sutter could fill those roles this year possibly if injuries required it...
On Defence, Pelech I do not think is ready, but, he will be good one day. Hopefully soon. I also think that one day Wilson will be a Calgary Flame, and I do think we will like him...
For goalies, I think I like the future with Keetley and Irving.
I think thats all for now. let me know if you have any other questions. hope this gave some insight!
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