Sept 7: Loads of New Recruits at Bison Intersquad Game
BROWN 3
WHITE 1
The Bisons haven't done this in a while. For me, it was a chance to see the line-up and the renovations underway at the Wayne Fleming Arena. The new balcony is pretty much done. It is still partitioned off and wet paint signs are around.
Here's the line-up synopsis (jersey number indicated and B for Brown and W for White):
Unannounced Recruits
1B Jeremy Link G
6B Dylan Thiessen F
15B Ben Dalke F
5W Liam Schioler D
8W Connor Barley F
13W Nico Labossiere F
19W Nate Halvorsen F
34W Travis Ridgen G
Announced Recruits
5B Matthew Stanley D
18B Brady Goethals F
21W Brian Harris F
23W Tony Apetagon F
27W Brady Pouteau D
30W Riley Lamb G
Announced Recruit/Not Dressed
-- Joshua Tripp
Returnees Dressed
2B Adam Henry D
3B Sean Christensen D
11B Ryan Carlson D
12B Keaton Jameson F
24B Jeremey Leipsic F
35B Tyler Brown G
10W Devon Skoleski F
17W Colton Veloso F
24W Matt LeBlanc F
25W Lukas Skrumeda D
29W Jonah Wasylak F
Comeback
16B Geordie Keane F
Guest Players
20B Zach Franko F
21B Liam Bilton F
4W Bryce Litke D
Announced Departures
4 Kamerin Nault F
8 Liam Bilton F
9 Zach Franko F
28 Byron Spriggs G
35 Brett Stovin F
Announced Graduates
1 Justin Paulic G
12 Nick Zajac F
21 Brett Brooks F
34 Dasan Sydora G
Departed or Not Dressed
5 Brandon Paradoski D
11 Mitchell Dyck D
14 Thomas Freeman F
16 Dawson Martin F
18 Garrett Armour F
23 Mackenzie Dwyer D
24 Thomas Lenchyshyn D
27 Carter Doerksen D
The game was just two periods, and each goaltender got a period. No goals were scored on Jeremy Link, Tyler Brown and Riley Lamb each surrendered one, and Travis Ridgen gave up two.
There was no PA for goals, and a couple were hard for me to tell from the other end of the ice, but I believe that the Brown goals were by Henry, Leipsic, and Christensen while Labossiere scored for the White.
Each side had two goaltenders and four defencemen. The
Brown had 8 forwards, and White had 9.
Here's the background on the EIGHT unannounced recuits who suited up in this one:
Jeremy Link - G – Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
Link is a Winnipeg native coming off four MJHL seasons, split between the Neepawa Natives and Winnipeg Blues. His stats line was excellent last year (26-16-0, 2.48 GAA, .931 S%). He led the league in save percentage.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: ELite Prospects : :
➤ Twitter videos: Jan 15th : Feb 1st : Feb 4th
A picture with stats!
Dylan Thiessen - C/LW – Mercyhurst Lakers (NCAA)
Although transferring from Mercyhurst, Thiessen is another Winnipeg boy. He played four seasons with the Virden Oil Capitals, and had 64 goals, 93 assists for 157 points in 216 games. He only played four games for Mercyhurst last year. Many Bison recruits had better numbers, but Thiessen has drawn a lot of accolades in his own right. He wore the “C” in Virden and last year he had a perfect 4.0 GPA to be AHA Student Athlete-of-the-Year. He only played 5 games but I am sure with that GPA he'll figure out how to get more ice time this year. The linked stories point out things like his coach's favourable views of the team captain, getting a scholarship to the same NCAA school as his sister, and his reflections on the impact of the Humboldt crash.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects : :
➤ MJHL: Manitoba Pork Peak Performer of the Month
➤ Empire Advance: Oil Caps Player Profile: Dylan Thiessen
➤ CBC: Winnipeg hockey siblings score full hockey scholarships to same U.S. university : Manitoba hockey teams coming to terms with deadly Sask. bus crash
➤ All-Academic: Mercyhurst Profile : Former MJHL Players Named to Div I All-Academic Team : Atlantic Hockey
➤ YouTube video: Jan 28, 2016
Ben Dalke - RW – Virden Oil Capitals (MJHL)
After Thiessen left the Oil Capitals, Dalke stepped up to be the team captain. He was tied for 10th in MJHL scoring last year (22-33-55 in 60 games).
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects :
➤ Virden: DALKE LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THE NEXT STEP WITH OIL CAPS
➤ Empire Advance: Dalke starts final season with Oil Caps
➤ Twitter video: Oct 14th, 2018
Liam Schioler - D – Regina Pats (WHL)
Now here's a Bison prototype: Winnipeg boy, 6'3”, 192 lbs., went away to play in the WHL, wore a letter (an “A”), and is coming home. He had committed to Queen's last February but has clearly come to his senses. Apparently, he was going to enrol in commerce. Just so happens that Manitoba's commerce faculty is second to none! Combined with the unexpected return of 5th year Sean Christensen, the Herd now has 7 quality veterans or WHL rookies on the blueline. He won't be expected to generate offence, but should help alleviate last year's havoc in front of the net. Also, the Pats used him up front when the injury bug hit the forward ranks last year.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects
➤ Regina Leader-Post: Pats' Schioler going from Queen City to Queen's University : rp @ Goderich Signal Star
➤ Regina Leader-Post: Pats' Liam Schioler positioned for success
➤ Videos: :
➤ WHL: Pats name Leschyshyn captain, Henry and Schioler to serve as alternates
➤ CKOM: Pats’ Schioler expects a ‘tough’ weekend
➤ Canada.com: Fond farewell for Pats' vets
Connor Barley - LW – Selkirk Steelers (MJHL)
In addition to his career with the Steelers, Barley has had two cups of coffee in the WHL, one with Kootenay and one win Portland. Those didn't pan out so he spent all of last season with Selkirk. He finished 8th in MJHL scoring (31-26-57), and was 10th in 2017-18 with better numbers (35-32-67). He's a St. Andrew's native, so the Steelers were more-or-less his hometown team.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects : :
➤ Cranbrook Townsman: Another day, another WHL debut as Barley joins Ice
➤ WHL: Portland Winter Hawks Profile
➤ MJHL: Selkirk Steelers Profile :
MJHL player of the month last November.
Nico Labossiere - LW – Selkirk & Steinbach (MJHL), St. Vital (MMJHL)
This is a player with a lot of Junior A mileage. He started with Winkler, then went to Selkirk, stopped off with St. Vital (MMJHL), and then finished last year with Steinbach. His rights had been dealt to Waywayseecappo but I guess he chose to play in the MMJHL instead over the pre-Christmas-New Year's period. In any event, he played just 33 games combined. His point totals were not too bad (6-22-28). In 2017-18 he played the full season with Selkirk and in 60 games was 22-42-64, good for 14th in the league. He's a small forward at 5'9”, and the Bisons have a few of those now.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects : :
➤ Steinbach: PISTONS ADD LABOSSIERE, PAISLEY, AND VAUTOUR AT MJHL TRADE DEADLINE
➤ MMJHL: St. Vital Stats
Nate Halvorsen - RW – Selkirk Steelers (MJHL)
We have here a Winnipeg native and graduate of four seasons with the Selkirk Steelers, the last two of which he was better than a point-per-game (25-34-59 in 2017-18 and 34-29-63 in 2018-19). He was 4th in MJHL scoring, behind fellow recruits Josh Tripp, Bradly Goethals, and Tony Apetagon.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects : :
➤ Selkirk: Player Profile
➤ Game On: MJHL Player of the Month Announced
Travis Ridgen - G – VIU Mariners (BCIHL)
Trav4Oilers is an interesting character. He is a Winnipeg native who played Junior B in the KJHL with Lundar and Arborg before heading out to Vancouver Island University last year. He only played one game last year and gave up 8 goals. I suspect he is a name they can call upon in the event of injury to one of the other three goaltenders. He wrote a story about himself in The Hockey News. The link is behind a pay wall. His official resume misses several teams from whom he was cut. So if he's cut by the Bisons, I think he'll take it in stride. Already this year he has a tryout with the Birmingham Bulls of the SPHL. He is a minor celebrity in social media. He was hired by First Row Collectibles to sign autographs at Canadian Wrestling's Elite "Legends of Wrestling & Sports Convention 2". He was involved in a KJHL fight against Peguis, as shown in the picture below!
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects
➤ VIU: Player Profile
➤ MMJHL: 2015-16 Stats
➤ The Hockey News: LAST CUT IS THE DEEPEST: THE JOURNEY OF AN OFT-CUT EMERGENCY BACKUP HOPEFUL
➤ First Row Collectibles: TRAVIS RIDGEN IS MAKING NOISE IN THE HOCKEY WORLD
➤ Washed Up Goalie Blog: Behind the Mask with trav4oilers
➤ Social Media:
https://twitter.com/Trav4oilers
https://www.facebook.com/trav4oilers/
https://www.youtube.com/c.../UCFBWSLarsNTsHe8y5id9hEg
Bryce Litke - D – Watertown Wolves (FHL)
He was a “guest player”, along with alumni Liam Bilton and Zach Franko. He's off to play in the Federal League. He was needed to give each side 4 defencemen. He formerly played for St. Boniface in the MMJHL, and Minnesota in the SIJHL. Last year he played Division 3 in Sweden.
Links:
➤ Career Stats: Elite Prospects
Put it all together and the Bisons have strength and depth on defence and in goal. They lack experience and reliable forwards. They have three 5th years players, no 4th year players, and two 3rd year defencemen. The only veteran forward is Jonah Wasylak. Therefore, the question is whether the team can score enough goals. Returning second year forwards with potential are Veloso, Jameson, Leipsic, and Skoleski. From the MJHL they have the top four scorers, and 7 of the top 14. If enough young forwards can adapt to university hockey, they could be a difficult playoff opponent.
OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS >
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS >
Links:
Schedule/Results:
UBC https://gothunderbirds.ca...chedule.aspx?path=mhockey
UofA https://www.ualberta.ca/a.../teams/hockey-m/game/3359
Twitter:
UBC https://twitter.com/UBCMHKY
Alberta https://twitter.com/GBHKY
This one has to be reported.
CALGARY DINOSAURS 4
RED DEER COLLEGE KINGS 2
Links:
Schedule/Results:
Calgary https://godinos.com/schedule.aspx?path=mhockey
Red Deer https://www.rdcathletics....rts/mice/2019-20/schedule
Twitter:
Calgary https://twitter.com/DinosMHKY
Red Deer https://twitter.com/rdcki...tatus/1170469554163634176
Red Deer Advocate:
Kings humbled in preseason mini-series with U of C Dinos
There was a fair amount of detail in the Red Deer game story. Bedrock outshot Red Deer 50-15! So, the score was a bit deceptive.
UP NEXT
Saskatoon Tournament:
Sep 12 Regina at Saskatchewan
Sep 13 Manitoba v Alberta (3 pm)
Sep 13 Calgary v Regina (7 pm)
Sep 14 Calgary v Manitoba (3 pm)
Sep 14 Alberta at Saskatchewan (7 pm)
Other CW games:
Sep 10 Mount Royal at Calgary
Sep 13 Trinity Western (BCIHL) v UBC
Sep 14 Lethbridge at Red Deer College (ACAC)
Sep 14 Simon Fraser (BCIHL) at UBC
Sep 15 Lethbridge at Red Deer College (ACAC)
AUS games:
Sep 13 Moncton at UPEI
Sep 14 Dalhousie at Saint Mary's
Sep 14 Moncton at St. FX
OUA games:
Sep 10 Quebec All-Stars at Laval (AHL)
Sep 12 Ryerson at Ontario Tech
Sep 13 Guelph at Brock
Sep 13 Laurier at Waterloo
Sep 13 Ottawa at Windsor
Sep 13 Queen's at McGill
Sep 13 York at Toronto
Sep 14 McGill at UQTR
Sep 14 Ontario Tech at Toronto
Sep 14 Ottawa at Windsor
Sep 15 Queen's v RMC (at Ganonoque)
