Game Preview: Chiefs vs. Kings




Record: 9-1-0-2 (1st)
Road Record: 7-0-0-1

Last Game: 7-5 win versus Coquitlam

Next Game:  Oct 16th versus Cowichan Valley

The Langley Chiefs find themselves where many have predicted them to be, atop of the Coastal Conference standings. The Chiefs were and still are expected to battle Powell River for first in the coast right until the end of the regular season. They do hold the best winning percentage and road record in the BCHL. They have found their success from a few areas this season. Let's take a look.

Forwards:

As it should be on any good team, the Chiefs are lead upfront by two skilled twenty year-olds. Matt Ius sits first in team scoring and fourth in the BCHL with twenty eight points in twelve games. Ius is having a breakout season after toiling around the league in the previous three. He has also showed he has developed himself into a well rounded player ( 13 goals 15 assists). His line-mate, Josh Myers sits second on the team with twenty-one points. Myers has become a good centering piece for both Ius and Darnell Dyck (6-8-14).

Harvey Smyl has put together a top six that can score. After Ius and Myers, five players have seen their point totals hit double digits. Brian McBride (Air Force 11/12) and Trevor Gerling (Connecticut 11/12)  have given their team a legitimate second line scoring presence. McBride and Gerling sit neck and neck with 16 points respectively. Don't forget their line-mate, Brandon Thompson (RIT 11/12). Thompson has only scored twiced but has become a set up man of sorts playing along with McBride and Gerling. He sits third in team assists with eleven.

Their bottom six features some young talent mixed with a veteran presence. Rookies Mason Blacklock (94), Josn Hansen (92) and Mike Tebbutt (92) bring youthful exuberance and offenseive up-side. Kody Dhaliwal, Stan Smrke, Chris Blessing and Max Fiedler bring some grit and an physical element to compliment their skilled players.

This team can score. No question. They are tied with Surrey (63) for most goals in the BCHL. The question is, can they keep enough pucks out?

Defense:

The one thing I notice when I look at the Langley defense on paper is a lack of depth, literally. This is not a slight to the players they have. However by shear numbers, they are thin. The Chiefs only have 5 players listed as blue liners on their team roster. Rookie Trace Strahle (92) has been taking a regular shift with Tim Daly if you go by the archived games. This group does possive offensive talent, as only Ryan Bakken and James Lively have less then five points on the blue line. However, what draws my attention is the chances their giving to their oppostion.

The Chiefs have surrendered three goals or more in eigh games this season. Furthermore, they have given up thirty or more shots in ten of twelve games. In fact, in nine of those games, the Chiefs have surrendered thirty-five or more shots. Including 56 shots by Alberni earlier this year.

Out of the five starting goaltenders in the Coastal Conference, who's team has a winning record, only Victoria's Matt Ginn has faced more rubber then Wyatt Gallet. That's only by one shot. Galley has faced 355 shots this season and see's on average, 35 shots per game. In contrast, Mike Garteig has faced 152 less shots and only see's 22 shots per game on average.

Goaltending:

As you might as well expect, Wyatt Galley has been busy in the Langley goal. He has played in all but two of his teams games this season. You can make the arguement that his workload is similar to that of Garteig's. However, Garteig hasn't seen the amount of shots as Galley.

He sports a respectable 3.24 GAA that could be argued is affected by the offensive, up tempo game his team playes infront of him. Galley's save percentage reflects the shots he faces, as he hold down .909 average. Galley is counted on, game in and game out, to stand up tall when the opposition counter-attacks.

Record: 8-3-1-0 (2nd)

Home Record: 6-2-0-0

Last Game:  4-1 win versus. Cowichan Valley

Next Game: Oct 16th versus Westside

The Kings are coming off two impressive performances on home ice last week. The Kings thumped Quesnel 7-2 Friday, then followed that with a 4-1 win over Cowichan. The weekend was more business like, as the Kings were expected to take four points. Some might say, a point could be raised, that the lop sided wins can set in complacency ahead of tonight's game. However, when you your playing for first place, and arguably, the toughest opponent yet, complacency is not an issue.

Forwards:

The top six will be buoyed by the return of rookie, Dan Schuler to the line-up. The Rochester Native, was absent last weekend, due to an lingering upper body injury. By all reports, Schuler has made progress in practice and should be fit for tonight's game. Some wonder about his recent slump before he missed last week. Quite a few, including myself were puzzled at his slump, however, we now know the culprit behind that issue. I'll remind you, even with his absence, he still remains fourth in team scoring.

Another good sign is the recent play of Andrew Pettit. The Whitehorse native was terrific on the weekend, registering a hat-trick Friday and four points in the two games. Even if you take the hat-trick away, he is showing signs of getting back on track to last seasons pace. Pettitt seems to be shaking off what ever ailed him in September and early October. 

The two newest faces, the Hawryluk twins have made a good, first impression. How good was their first weekend? They only scored the first two goals for the Kings on Friday, including at that time, the go ahead goal late in the first. Brendan and Bond have look good with Steven Schmidt on a confident fourth line.

Defense:

Just like the forwards, the defense will welcome a familiar face back. Justin DaSilva returns after missing last weekend do to personal reasons. The blue-line did step up in his absence, in particular Jon Jutzi who, returning from injury, scored his first BCHL goal on Friday. The back end has been terrific all season, leading the league in goals against (23) and are one of, if not, the stingiest when it comes to surrendering shots. Mike Gartieg and Sean Maguire, through twelve games, have only had to face on average, 22 shots per game.

Goaltending:

Mike Garteig's hot start is giving him serious consideration for an spot on Team Canada West for the World Junior A Challenge in Penticton. Yes, he wasn't invited for the camp a few weeks back. However his numbers are hard not to put him on the team. Garteig is the early season leader in shutouts, with three, goals against average (1.50) and second in save percentage (.934%).  His numbers aren't obscured by his starts, as he only sits behind Blake Voth, of Vernon for most minutes played. Some argue that it's the defense in front of him, however, a goaltender still has to stop the chances he faces, and he is still doing that. I would say the defense's play goes hand in hand with Garteig's solid 'tending.