Kings move to Number One in Canada; Weekend Wrap Up

The Powell River Kings have dethroned the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) as the number one ranked team in the CJHL.
full rankings here

This is the first time the Kings have been ranked #1 in the country and the first BCHL team this season. The Kings swept their two game mainland road swing last week, including blanking the Langley Chiefs 4-0 and downing the Surrey Eagles 3-1.

The ranking is a reflection of the dedicated members of the Kings organization who have put countless hours into making this program what it is today. Kent Lewis and his coaching staff have rebuilt a team that only a short time ago was struggling to crack the .500 mark. Now this team is sitting first place in the league and as of today, the country.

Congratulations Powell River, you've earned it.


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Going back to the weekend, the Kings continued to flex their muscle on the road. The two wins bumped their road record to 12-2-3-1. Powell River has the best winning percentage and second most wins on the road.

The Kings didn't do anything fancy in their approach for both games. Kent Lewis wanted an early forecheck and players going hard after pucks. It sounds simple, and it is, but it was mighty affective as well. Powell River used their forecheck and cycle game to get chances early and often in both games.

Weekend Three Stars:

1. Tegan Waugh

The 18 year old second year product has been on a tear since returning from injury. Waugh scored in both games last week and is riding a four game goal scoring streak. Waugh is still technically a rookie in the BCHL, but he sure isn't playing like one. Waugh, along with Brenden Forbes and Carter Shinkaruk have been racking up points in their past handful of games. That line has 17 points in their last 6 games.

2. Brenden Forbes

Forbes could be called the man behind Teagan Waugh's success. The centreman registered two points in two games both in the 4-0 win over Langley. Forbes scored once and assisted on the game winning goal by Chris Williams on Wednesday. His efforts did not go unnoticed either as he was named third star of the game. Although he did not pick up a point on Friday, Forbes was terrific on the draw and was effective in winning puck battles in the opposition's end. Brenden is coming into his own with the Powell River Kings.



3. Jason Yee

You will find Jason at the bottom of the team scoring race but that doesn't matter. The third year King is arguably the best defensive defenseman in the BCHL and that was on full display this past week. Yee was a force in his own end. On Wednesday, Yee and his partner Jon Jutzi held the BCHL's second leading scorer, Matt Ius, without a point or scoring chance. On Friday, for an encore performance, Yee held the top scorer in the league, Bradley McGowan, without a point or a shot. Jason doesn't get noticed on the ice and that's exactly what the coaches want.

GAME LINE UPS



Richard Vanderhoek Brad McGowan Dale Hunt

Tyler Morely Daniel Gentzler Brandon Morely

Colton Mackie Scott Holm Robert Lindores

Cobi Smith-Mass Hayden Trup Michael Stenerson

Steve Koshey Josh Monk

Mitch Jones Beau Orser

Doug Wedel Riley Sweeney

Karel St. Laurent

Andrew Hunt

Scratches: Jeff Vanderlugt, Tim Coish and Zach Hillhouse

Chad Niddery Matt Garbowsky Dan Schuler

Carter Shinkaruk Brenden Forbes Teagan Waugh

Mike Sones Steven Schmidt Klay Kachur

Bond Hawryluk Brendon Hawryluk  Scott Renner

Justin DaSilva Chris Williams

Jon Jutzi Jason Yee

Braden Pears Craig Dalrymple

Mike Garteig

Sean Maguire

Scratches: Andrew Pettitt, Cohen Adair and Justin Bardarson

GAME PREVIEW: KINGS at EAGLES

 

                                                           

BIG STORY: Two streaking teams meet for the third time in South Surrey. The Kings have won five straight including back to back shutouts over Coquitlam and Langley. Surrey has won three straight and four of their past five games. Interestingly, Powell River has yet to beat the Eagles, as they are 0-1-1-0.

TEAM SCOPE:

KINGS-- Powell River is playing some of their best hockey over the past week. The team is coming off a convincing 4-0 blanking of the Langley Chiefs on Wednesday. After a so-so first period the Kings found their legs and controlled the rest of the hockey game. The only negative you can drawn on with this team is their struggles with the man advantage. The Kings own the best record in the BCHL yet have the third worst power-play and second worst on the road. In their last five games, Powell river is two for twenty five with a man up. Kent Lewis told his team this morning that will need to improve significantly in the new year.

EAGLES-- Surrey is coming off an successful interior road trip where they won two out of three and their only loss came in a 2-1 overtime decision to Vernon. The Eagles have collected points in their last five games and are now closing in on the Langley Chiefs. Surrey is only two points back of second with four games in hand on Langley. A major reason for their success has been their ability to score with regularity on the power-play and the production they are getting from their back end.

The Eagles own the BCHL's best power-play which is humming along at just under 29 percent. Surrey is seven for twenty six in their last five games. Richard Vanderhoek leads the attack on the power-play as he leads the team with 12 power-play tallies.

The Eagles defense core has chipped in with 14 points in their last five games. Steve Koshey leads the way with six points, all assists over that span.

WHO'S HOT-- The Kings have a laundry list of players who have found their scoring touch. Matt Garbowsky leads the way with points in eight straight games including a six game scoring streak. Garbowsky has gone 5-1-6 in his last five games. His line mates are red hot as well, as Dan Schuler and Chad Niddery are riding 6 game point streaks respectively. In fact, that line has 17 points in their last five games. Speaking of dynamic trio's, Brenden Forbes, Teagan Waugh and Carter Shinkaruk have teamed up for 14 points in their last five games.

The Eagles are lead by an unlikely pair. Steve Koshey and Dale Hunt have six points in their last five games. Vanderhoek over that span has four goals and five points. Brad McGowan, the team leader in points and goals, has five points in his last five.

STAT PACK: The leagues best power-play in Surrey (28.57) goes head to head with the leagues best penalty-kill in Powell River (92.50). The difference in this game will be which unit comes out on top.

INJURY REPORT: Cohen Adair and Andrew Pettitt remain out for Powell River. Tim Coish is the only Eagle player listed as injured.

PUCK DROP: This is the last road game of 2010 for Powell River. Their final two games before the Christmas break are back at home. So far in 2010 the Kings road record is 24-14-4-4 dating back to last season.

KINGS WIN AGAIN OVER CHIEFS 4-0

Judging by the opening period the score posted above would come as a surprise to some But games aren't decided after twenty minutes and the Kings showed why.

After a scoreless first period which saw chances for either team the Kings scored four consecutive including two in the second for a 4-0 win over Langley. Mike Garteig made 27 saves for his sixth shutout of the season now only one back of tying the single season record.

Chris Williams, Teagan Waugh, Brenden Forbes and Matt Garbowsky scored for the Kings. the trio of Waugh, Shinkaruk and Forbes collected four points and played yet another great game. Shinkaruk has five points in his last six and Waugh now is riding a three game goal scoring streak. Speaking of goals streaks, Garbowsky's 23rd extends his goal scoring streak to six games.

Powell River now has a record of 4-0-1-1 against Langley  and are now 10 points up on the Chiefs for first in the Coastal Conference.

Powell River is in Surrey on Friday.

GAME LINE UPS



Chad Niddery Matt Garbowsky Dan Schuler

Carter Shinkaruk Brenden Forbes Teagan Waugh

Mikes Sones Steven Schmidt Klay Kachur

Bond Hawryluk Brendon Hawryluk Justin Bardarson

Justin DaSilva Chris Williams

Jon Jutzi Jason Yee

Braden Pears Craig Dalrymple

Mike Garteig

Sean Maguire

Scratches: Drew Pettitt Cohen Adair Scott Renner

Brandon Thompson Brad McBride Trevor Gerling

Darnell Dyck Josh Myers Matt Ius

Kit Sitterley Kody Dhaliwal Austin Plevy

Cam Lawson AP  Sebastion Pare AP

Ryan Bakken Kevin Tuohy

Dillon Scholten Trace Strahle

Tyler Miller Tim Daly / Brad Haber

Wyatt Galley

Cole Huggins

Scratches: Mike Tebutt Brandon Scholten Mason Blacklock Josh Hansen

GAME PREVIEW: KINGS at CHIEFS

Powell River Kings vs. Langley Chiefs

24-5-3-2              20-11-1-4

LAST 10: Kings-- 6-1-2-1 Chiefs-- 6-3-1-0

BIG STORY: This is the sixth meeting between the Kings and Chiefs and second in three games. The Kings have won three and tied one since dropping the opener 3-2 in overtime on October 15th. These two teams will meet two more times in the new year, both in Langley.

TEAM SCOPE

KINGS: Powell River recently has flexed their muscle over the Chiefs. The Kings have outscored the Chiefs 17-8 in five games, including holding them to only one goal on three occasions. Also Powell River has not surrendered a power-play goal to Langley, killing all 18 Chief opportunities. The Kings have been successful stooping Langley's explosive offense. The Chiefs have scored a staggering 151 goals which is tops in the BCHL yet only been able to muster eight against the Kings, three of which came in the first encounter.

If it ain't broke don't fix I imagine is the Kings mentality against the Chiefs. That is to keep doing what's made them so successful in the first five match ups.

CHIEFS: Langley has been up and down in recent weeks. The Chiefs are 3-2 in their last five and 2-1 to start the month of December.  They have started strong in the final month of the year, picking up a road win in Alberni Valley on Thursday before downing a hot Clippers team at home on Sunday.  That can help erase an auspicious end to November where they lost two of three and surrender 12 goals in that span. For the Chiefs to be successful against the Kings they will have to find ways to generate offense and early. In the last three defeats to the Kings and four games overall the have given up first period leads to Powell River. Also as mentioned above they will need to find a way to get production from their power-play.

Their success hinges on players like Matt Ius and Josh Myers producing against Powell River, which hasn't been the case so far.

Who's Hot: After a slower then expected start, Langley native, Carter Shinkaruk has four points in his last five games. The 19 year-old has scored once and added three helpers over that span.  Matt Garbowsky has scored in five straight games and has three goals and one assist in his last three games. Chad Niddery broke his 17 game scoring slump on Sunday and has five points in his last three games and is riding a five game assist streak. The third member of that trio, Dan Schuler, has picked up points in five consecutive games...No one is hotter on Langley then Brandon Thompson. The future RIT Tiger is riding a four game assist and six game point streak overall.

Stat Pack: Powell River hasn't lost in regulation on the road since October 23rd in Salmon Arm, that was a 3-2 setback. That's a record of 5-0-2-1. Langley is starting to feel comfortable at home as they do on the road. The Chiefs are 3-1-1 in their last five games at the Events Centre.

Injury Report: Cohen Adair and Andrew Pettitt remain out for the Kings. Mike Tebbutt and Mason Blacklock where no go's on Friday for Langley. It remains to be seen if they are healthy enough to return.

Puck Drop: Pre-game show at 6:45 play-by-play at 7pm on SUN FM.

MID SEASON REPORT CARD



I know I'm four games late on submitting my mid season report card.  So without further adieu, here it is.

RECORD: GP 34 -- 24-5-3-2 53 pts (1st)

09-10: GP 34-- 18-10-1-5 42 pts

Just by looking at this season compared to last season, the Kings have made big improvements. They have recorded six more wins and five less regulation losses, which is a nine point swing since last year. 

One statistic that stands out is that the Kings have decided more games in regulation this season. Last year Powell River went to overtime eight times in their first 34 games. This year the Kings have gone to overtime 6 times, winning just one.  They do have their fair share of struggles in the extra session, however leaving less games to chance is always an improvement in the eyes of coaches.

GRADE: A

• Team owns the league's best record and is ranked second in the country.  Hard to argue against that.

MONTHLY RECORD

SEPTEMBER: 5-3-0-0

09-10: 4-3-0-1

Over the past two seasons the Kings have not come out of the gate running. This season they were one point better than one year ago. A better start is always an improvement, no matter the margin.

OCTOBER: 10-1-1-1

09-10: 8-4-1-1

I believe you can look back at the first month of fall as the turning point in the Kings season thus far. They played one fewer game than last year but collected two more wins and five more points. Collecting 23 of a possible 28 points is quite the month indeed.

NOVEMBER: 7-1-2-1

09-10: 4-3-0-2

This was another month where the Kings showed improvement from the previous year. The team grew out the "dusters" for Movember and it might have helped. The team secured 17 of a possible 22 points and continued to widen the gap at the top of the standings. The only negative could be the late November mainland road swing. The Kings tied Surrey and Langley and beat Coquitlam. The team felt they left some points on the table.

DECEMBER: 2-0-0-0

09-10: 2-0-0-1

Powell River played one less game this season in December to reach the halfway point. It was a good start to the month too as they have picked up wins over Langley and Coquitlam. Hopefully they can continue the momentum into the Christmas break.

CONFERENCE RECORD:

vs. COASTAL CONFERENCE: 16-4-3-2

09-10: 14-6-1-4

Another area where the Kings have shown improvement over last year. They have played the same amount of games against Coastal Conference opponents (25) but have two more wins and four more points. Wins and points are crucial within your own conference when it comes to jockeying for playoff position. The Kings are on pace to secure a first round bye in the playoffs and that could be beneficial for a deep playoff run. Who knows, the five games they had to play against the Captials last spring was maybe five too many?  A well rested and fresh team is key in the post-season.

vs. INTERIOR CONFERENCE: 8-1-0-0

09-10: 4-4-0-1

This could be the best year over year improvement. The Kings can point to their Cariboo road swing as a shining example. Last season Powell River went 1-2-0-1 in the four games (Williams Lake included).  This season Powell River went 3-1-0-0 with the lone loss coming on the final game of the trip, 3-2 in Salmon Arm. That trip also saw Mike Garteig and Sean Maguire collect consecutive shutouts in Prince George and Merritt.

Collecting wins and points versus non conference opponents can make all the difference when the dust settles at the end of the season. You never know if a 5-3 win in Quesnel in mid October will be the difference come playoff seeding.

GRADE: A-

• Improved their record  in every month. However, they also fought with complacency on a couple of occasions.

OFFENSE

GF: 117

09-10: 105

The Kings have seen their goal total go up by 12 from last year. An increase in scoring is always a good sign at this point in the season. Powell River is also getting offensive contributions throughout their line-up. The Kings have 11 players in double digit point totals and six players with 20 or more points. Also, four players have scored 10 or more goals. However, you're left with a sense that there could be more before too long.

The general consensus from the coaches is that some players have had slower than anticipated starts offensivley and they expect them to heat up in the second half of the season.  Add to that, the fact that the Kings have seen numerous players go down with injuries.  If the team can stay healthy and get some more production from some key players, this team could be very dangerous in the second half.

Andrew Pettitt started slower than expected but started to heat up in November, before being saddled with an injury at the end of the month.  At the time of his injury, he had scored 13 goals and was back on pace for a 30 goal season.

Teagan Waugh and Carter Shinkaruk also got off to slower than expected starts.  Teagan was sidelined with an upper body injury and has looked great in his first two games back, scoring a goal in each.  Carter has been given more ice time due to the recent injuries, and he has seized the opportunity collecting 4 points in the last 5 games.

You can look at a handful of cases such as these on the Kings roster this season. It's impressive that they have still put up the offensive numbers they have. It shows how much depth the team has up front.

GRADE: B

• What they have accumulated so far is good, but they rank 5th in the Coastal Conference and 9th in the BCHL with 3.4 goals scored per game.  That needs to go up and the team knows it.  Look for some players to heat up in the second half.

DEFENSE

GA: 60

09-10: 87

Cutting down your goals against by 27 from one season ago is a drastic improvement. The team owns the league's best goals against (60), which is 23 better than second place Vernon. On average, opponents are only averaging 1.80 goals per game.That isn't a common feat in hockey, let alone junior hockey.

Mike Garteig owns the leagues best goals against average, save percentage and has the most shutouts and leads the league in wins (19).  Some might argue that he is blessed with a great defense in front of him which has helped his numbers. Yes the Kings have a great D-core but you still need a goalie between the pipes. I bring up the fact he has now twiced stopped penalty shots in overtime this season. Garteig is one of the best masked men in the league this season and in my mind should have been the starter for Canada West at the recent World Junior A Challenge in Penticton. His protege is no slouch either.

Sean Maguire sits right behind Garteig in goaltender statistics. In seven games Maguire has a 2.09 GAA, a .920 Save Percentage and two shutouts of his own. "Ron's" play in Nanaimo and Alberni two weeks ago was simply stellar as the 17 year-old made some saves that hurt just to look at. His athletic ability is something to behold.

As strong as the defense has been, they have also been a major contributor on the offensive side as well.  Powell River has 78 points from the blue line.  Justin DaSilva leads all defensemen with 28 points (6-22-28) and is followed by Craig Dalrymple's 19 points (8-11). 

Jon Jutzi has made a smooth transition to the BCHL out of Jr B in Ontario.  The lanky smooth skating defenseman has 10 points this season and could have more. Jutzi plays a pro-style game and showed his offensive flare with a nice end to end rush against Alberni  two weeks ago. The Tavistock, ON native weaved his way into the Dogs' zone before capping it off by going bar down shortside for a highlight reel snipe.

The remaining four d-men (Chris Williams, Klay Kachur, Jason Yee and Braden Pears) have put together solid seasons as well. Yee is developing into a prototypical shutdown defenseman who continually plays against the opposition's best forwards. Williams is showing why he might just be one of the best open ice hitters in the league. Don't forget he has an offensive punch as well.  He has scored two goals and they were both spectacular. Kachur has been very valuable as both a defenseman and forward for the hockey club and Pears is developing into a very good puck rushing defenseman.

GRADE: A

• Tough to critique a back end that has been as solid as the these seven have been.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PP: 17.86%

PPG: 30

09-10: 17.39%

PPG: 32

The power-play statistically is slighty better at this point this season compared to last year. However they have scored two less goals and have had their struggles. They started off well, and, for most of the month of September the team had a top three power-play.

Kent Lewis has commented on several occasions that their power-play has tried to be too fancy at times looking for that one extra pass to put the cherry on top, so to speak. In the BCHL, and junior hockey in general, the power-play is a very important factor to a team's success. Right now the Kings are winning games in spite of their man advantage. Just think how scary good this team could be with an improved power-play. To their credit they have shown improvement, especially over the weekend against Langley. If the team can get production out of players not named Matt Garbowsky (7 PPG) look out BCHL.

GRADE: C-

• The team with the best record in the BCHL only has the 13th best power-play.

PENALTY-KILL: 90.20 % (1st)

09-10: 85.88%

The Kings are a much defferent story when they are a man down. The team has the best overall penalty-kill in the BCHL. The Kings are tied for third most short handed goals with six. Garbowsky leads the team in shorties with three.

In fact, Garbowsky and Chad Niddery have been the best forwards for Powell River on the PK. The dynamic duo are very aggresive and continually create chances for themselves. One key for the Kings has been their hard nose fore check while a man down. The team attacks the oppositions breakouts which leads to plenty of turnovers and short handed opportunities.

I can't forget the efforts of others on the penalty kill. Andrew Pettitt has developed himself into one heck of a shot blocking machine and Jon Jutzi and Jason Yee are like pitt bulls in front of their own net. Finally, your goaltender has to be your best penalty-killer and that has been the case with Garteig and Maguire.

GRADE: A+

• If your penalty-kill continually hovers in the 90th percentile,  you're doing something right.  Salmon Arm has the next best PK at 83.7% (That's a big gap)

OVERALL GRADE: A

• A great start to the season but they don't hand out hardware in December. The team needs to improve every day and take time to enjoy the journey that is the BCHL regular season.