Record: 3-5-1-0 (6th)
Road Record: 1-0-1-0
Last Game: 1-1 vs. Vernon Oct 6th
Next Game: Quesnel @ Surrey Oct 9th
Doug Hedley's crew is lead by a former King in Justin Hogan, who has six points ( 3-3-6) in nine games, Devin Balness ( 3-2-5) and Clayton Chessa (4-0-4). However looking at their top three's numbers, you get the sense scoring haven't come easy to the Money Men this season. In fact, the Mills have scored a league low 16 goals, 8 fewer then Nanaimo. However if you look at the other side of the ledger, this team has only surrendered 28 goals against, 5th best in the BCHL. Hedley's team, much like the Kings, have bought into team defence and it shows. You can point directly to Wednesday's 1-1 tie with the Vipers, in Vernon. A team that knows all too well, the stinginess of the Mills.
This team seems to score by committee and doesn't seem to rely on one particular line game in and game out. If you look at their team scoring, five players are tied with 4 points, with four of the five scoring two goals or less. The Mills look to play a similar brand of hockey to that of the Kings. I expect, by looking at the stats, that this team will roll four lines that they believe can produce offense.
Who's on D:
Skyler Smutek and Sam Higgins are the only two returnees on the blue-line and will be expected to shoulder a considerable load. The Mills suffered key losses from last season, including stalwart Eliot Raibl and his 46 points from one season ago. However, posting a record in post-season wins has helped with recruiting.
The team acquired Stefan Gonzales from the Express in an off-season deal, Gonzales is expected to chew up key minutes and will be a welcome addition for Smutek and Higgins. Quesnel has also brought in Minnesota native, Ryan Crosson, who was a standout at the high school level, and will look to add production from the back-end.
Rounding out the defensive corps, is imports Mike Zgraggen from Lethbridge, Ontario native Anderson White and American David Thompson. It remains to be seen if this core can duplicate last years late season success.
Who's in Goal:
Veteran Kirby Halcrow established himself as one of the premier, big game goaltenders in the BCHL after last season's incredible playoff run. The native of Grand Prairie, is goaltender trapped in a CFL linebackers body, who loves to face a TON of rubber.
Halcrow was peppered by the Vipers on Wednesday, and as if it's becoming routine, stood on his head. Fatigue might become an issue for the Mills 'tender. He has played in every single game, like Mike Garteig, however his workload has been much more intensive through nine games.
Record: 6-3-1-0 (3rd)
Home Record: 4-2-0-0
Last Game: 4-1 win vs. Victoria Oct 3rd
Next Game: Saturday Oct 9th vs. Cowichan Valley
Who's up Front:
The biggest story revolving around the forward core would be the new look line combinations that we saw in Victoria on Saturday. Chadd Nidderry, Matt Garbowsky and Dan Schuler were split up and shuffled through the four lines. Garbowsky centered, Mikes Sones and Carter Shinkaruk, which resulted in two goals, from Shinkaruk and Sones respectively. That line in particular showed a lot of jump and especially speed. Niddery will be with Cohen Adair and Andrew Pettitt on the new look second line. I liked the pieces these three brought on the weekend.
Brendan Forbes and Teagan Waugh will be once again, joined by Scott Renner on a third line that has the makeup to be very affective. The fourth line tonight will be made up of the three newest faces on the Kings. Steven Schmidt will centre the Hawryluk twins.
Bond Brendan
The 19 year-old twins come from the Fernie Ghostridgers of the KIHJL, and are in the line-up this weekend as Affilated Players. Will Verner the head coach of the Ghostriders speaks very highly of the twins and says they will bring size, grit and speed. Furthermore they do have a pension of putting pucks into the back of the net.
Their stats came be found here
Who's on D:
Two come back and one man leaves. That is the story tonight for the Kings D-core. Both Chris Williams and Jon Jutzi come back from injury and will suit up tonight. However, the team will be without the service of Justin DaSilva, as he is back home in Ontario attending to a personal matter.
The six will look like this:
Braden Pears- Craig Dalrymple
Jon Jutzi- Jason Yee
Klay Kacur- Chris Williams.
Who's in Goal:
Mike Garteig will give way to Powell River native, Sean Maguire tonight in goal. This will be Maguire's second career BCHL start. Maguire was relieved in the second period of a 6-5 loss to Surrey last month. I didn't take too much from his first outing, as he was battling nerves and was the victim of defensive misscue's and unlucky bounces.
See you at the rink,
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