View From The Ice
by Brett Holmes
March 11 1997
Our winless streak of five games came to an end last Saturday against Hughenden/Hardisty, after defeating them in Provost by a score of 12-5.
It was pretty close throughout the game, and Provost hadn't scored a goal the whole first period but Hughenden/Hardisty managed just one to take the lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first period.
Just one minute into the second frame McMann scored his first of six goals. We're glad he's back to normal.
Just seconds later Hughenden/Hardisty scored to regain the lead.
But Ganser showed his strength to get the puck past the opposing goalie with 15 minutes to play in the second.
But again Hughenden/Hardisty took the lead to make it 3-2.
They then scored again with six minutes remaining in the period.
Provost came back minutes later when Holmes took the pass from Stempfle at the top of the circle, and shot it in off the post for his 50th of the season.
And Stempfle, on the same shift, scored his 40th from the nice effort from Klein to get the puck out to Stempfle who was at the side of the net.
It was all tied up at four but Provost had time for one more goal before the period ended. It was McMann this time, scoring his second of the game. He's got to be up there in the sixty or seventy goal range by now.
Now it was 5-4 for Provost after a burst of late goals in the second period.
And the momentum was still with us. McMann completed the hat trick just four minutes into the last period, and that turned out to be the game winning goal. Assists on that goal coming from Ganser and Buck (who subbed in for missing players).
Adams scored the insurance goal just minutes after McMann's to make the score 7-5 for the time being.
McMann and Klein were the last scorers for Provost as they combined for five goals in the last ten minutes of the game.
Hughenden/Hardisty did get just one more with a few minutes remaining, but the final score was 12-5 for Provost.
Big game coming from McMann, who had half of Provost's goals.
Stempfle had a goal and five assists for six points.
Buck and Specht (two who we had picked up for missing players had a few points as well.
Pointmen Adams and Landmark each had three points.
Provost scoring:
First Period- No scoring.
Second Period- McMann (Ganser, Adams); Ganser (Landmark, Rehman); Holmes (Stempfle); Stempfle (Klein, Landmark); McMann (Adams, Buck).
Third Period- McMann (Ganser, Buck); Adams (Stempfle, Holmes); McMann (Buck, Specht); Klein (Landmark, Stempfle); McMann (Stempfle); Klein (Stempfle, Rehman); McMann (Specht, Adams).
Our following game was again played in Provost against Irma.
Things weren't looking so bad in the first period when Brent Rohs (subbing for missing players as well as Buck and Specht) scored Provost's first goal eight minutes into play in the first period.
Buck then scored our second goal minutes later to give Provost the 2-0 lead.
Neither team scored in the remaining half of the first. But in the second Irma turned the pace up a notch, scoring two goals in the first five minutes to tie the game up.
They then took the lead with nine minutes left to play in the second period.
But, minutes after that McMann scored his seventh in two games to tie things up at three. From there on Irma did the only scoring.
In the third, Irma scored three goals. But we still had the chances, we just couldn't put it away.
We ended up with more shots (32-28), but they had more goals. And most of them coming on breakaways.
Final score was 6-3 for Irma.
Provost scoring:
First Period- Rohs (unassisted); Buck (McMann, Rohs).
Second Period- McMann (Holmes, Buck).
Third Period- No scoring.
The team appreciated those who played for us over the weekend.
Upcoming games will be at our own tournament this Friday and Saturday, and then we will be going to EatoniSask. for a one day tournament.
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
Dear Mr. Editor
Edgerton/Chauvin, Alta.
Dear Editor:
In regards to View From The Ice, we will call this the other half of the game. It should be noted that the ref in the second game was out of Wainwright, for the simple reason of trying keep Provost players, coaches and parents happy. Not a home town ref like is used in Provost. The Edgerton-Chauvin PeeWees feel they decide the outcome of their own games, depending on how good or bad they played that game.
The second game in this series was played in Edgerton under the refereeing of a ref from Wainwright, who had not seen either team before this game. So he had nothing to gain or lose by the games outcome. The two linesmen were local men, both carded refs. Note the ref can blow down any play that a linesman might miss.
Item No. OneÑThe supposedly clear two line pass he said happened, was the most close to perfect pass up the middle you would ever witness. We could understand where some people not familiar with the playing rules would think it was a two line pass (it's where your feet are when receiving a pass, not your stick that determines a two line pass or not). The players' skates were on side when the pass hit his stick.
Item No. TwoÑThe man who was in the crowd hoping for Provost should have said, "Well five minutes left, close game, I hope Provost doesn't take stupid penalties like last game and blow it." But you know what happened next, two Provost players ran and hit an Edgerton player after the whistle. They both did it so they both go. The Edgerton player kissed the ice, no penalty for that! Well not in the C.A.H.A. rule book, but there is in Provost PeeWees book. Not long after this another Provost player received a roughing penalty for taking three swings at and hitting an Edgerton player in the head (rule no. 59B). The Edgerton player backed away, no penalty for that. A short while later another Provost player hit an Edgerton player in the helmet with his stick (rule no. 62A). The Edgerton player went to his bench, no penalty against that. The Provost player who received the high stick infraction then proceeded to educate the penalty box and time keepers in a few choice words of the English language loud enough for most to hear. The game has now just ended and a Provost defenseman goes after an Edgerton player, trying to fist him in the head, but a linesman grabs him before anything develops. A Provost coach is then mad over a linesman doing his job. We guess he was supposed to let him get a fighting penalty so he would be suspended.
Item No. ThreeÑA few things missed in the earlier report of this game. In the first period an Edgerton player was hit and hurt. As he limped off of the ice, some Provost fans were heard cheering. (We at Edgerton/Chauvin don't like to see anyone hurt). Provost fans whining at Edgerton fans about the refereeing (be a better role model for your kids).
Item No. FourÑThe Edgerton/Chauvin PeeWees would like to thank the Provost PeeWees for dumping garbage all over the dressing room and hallway after the game and plugging the shower with trash and left it running so the dressing room was flooded. Those games against you show what truly good sportsman you, your coaches and fans are. We don't phone up before games demanding certain refs or we will bring our own or not come. We don't cry about refs in the local paper when we lose. We practice and fix our mistakes and come back to win the next time as you know.
To the statement from a Provost fan, "If they want it that bad they can have it." Yes, they want it that bad and they took it, through hard work, good team discipline and good sportsmanship.
View from the
Other Side
Edgerton/Chauvin
PeeWees
Chris Prokopetz,
Douglas Scott, Shaun Powell, Josh Waddell, Wyatt Bishop, Cody Leskow, Aric Pare, Mark Wilkinson, Leo Pare, Aaron Gramlich, Dustin Waddell, & Kyle McBride
(Since the nature of this letter was directed at last week's column, the author of it replies):
OK guys, let's look at a few of your statements:
1. In regard to the home town ref who lives north of town: that particular referee is in high demand because of his talents. He has been refereeing Junior A hockey as well this season and in fact in the last zone play our team hosted a strong Forestburg/Daysland team. After we were beaten and the game over, the visiting coach, Fred Weinkauf made a special effort to congratulate the Provost referee for a well-officiated zone game. That's just one example of the calibre of refereeing Provost supplies.
2. Your interpretation of a two line pass is of course correct. I am familiar with the rules of the game since I took the time to attend a refereeing clinic this season and passed the test. Did all those who signed your letter explaining the rule to me and others take any refereeing course?
I have not changed my mind about that particular play just because your letter describes a rule.
3. You go into detail about other instances in the game where there were infractions, and there is no end to that, but here's one that you conveniently forget: Kevin Ganser was kneed in plain view at centre ice by one of your players so severely in the early stage of the game that the game was virtually over for him right then. He attempted to play again later but before the third period was wearing his street clothes. That of course hurt our limited team's roster. Was there a penalty called? Nope.
4. I am still of the opinion that Edgerton deserved more than zero penalties in the last period while Provost managed to have penalties rain upon themÑincluding the incident in question when two Provost players went off near the end of the game at the same time. It should be noted that there was very little cheering from inside the Edgerton arena waiting room where many fans from both sides had been enjoying a good game. Mainly there was stunned silence when that play was called.
5. As for the penalty box and time keepers it is the practice of the Provost PeeWees adult volunteers not to engage in verbal arguments with visiting playersÑthis is a disservice to the player as it only distracts him from the game. Most don't know what the "choice words of the English language" were, because despite what you claim most could not hear what was being said, and what was being said back to the penalized player(s) by those adults.
6. You say that a linesman "grabs" a Provost player when the game ended as it appeared an altercation could have developed. In fact the linesman actually shoved the player, and did not simply grab himÑand that's what would raise the temper of most any coach. He could have separated the two players by skating between them. No adult, official or notÑshould be shoving players on the ice, during or after a game.
7. Your other comment where some Provost fans were heard cheering when an Edgerton player limped off the ice: yes, they wereÑand so were fans and players from both sides; they were cheering that he was not seriously hurtÑcheering that is very common and a sign of respect for an opposing player and team. We have seen this sportsmanship at many arenas during the winter. And in any event myself or my team-mates have no control what fans wish to say at any time at any place. Your statement that your team doesn't like to see anyone hurt should not even need mentioning Ñor was it stated to imply that you all seriously believe that fans from Provost enjoy seeing other people injured?
If you want to get into the issue of sportsmanship I can tell you from first hand experience, as I was on the ice when an Edgerton-Chauvin player was hurt: I went first into the boards at high speed (with the other player coming in behind me) and at the last moment to avoid what might have been a hit, I turned away but lost my balance. Down to my knees I went and the other player tripped over top of me and unfortunately crashed into the boards in pain. Get this: as the boy was being attended to I was told out on the ice by one of your players that I had better watch it (as if I intended to somehow hurt the player). Was that a sportsmanlike remark to me when I already felt bad there had been an injury?
You also put into question the sportsmanship of our coaches. I have not raised the issue of coaching and their sportsmanship on any team. In case you missed it, you should be aware that one of our coaches was named Coach of the Year at last year's Minor Hockey annual wind-up. We're proud of our entire management, who by the way lined up with others to shake hands after the game.
8. Your statement that the Provost team members dumped garbage "all over the dressing room and hallway" leaves a misleading conclusion. One of the Provost parents, Brian Stempfle followed the boys to the dressing room after the game and he and one of the coaches found some garbage in the hallway and on the dressing room floor after a garbage can had been knocked over. The men requested the mess be cleaned up, and there was no arguing about cleaning it up. Mr. Stempfle states he saw no water on the dressing room floor but in the shower room there of course easily could have been. The trash including hockey tape was cleaned up by the Provost team before they left. After we cleaned up Mr. Stempfle and another parent, Rick Landmark picked up any debris that we had missed. "Everything was cleaned up. There was nothing left on the floor" adds Mr. Stempfle. Did each of you who signed the letter go inspect our room after we left it?
9. One of your final remarks suggested Provost asked for certain refs: we did not and we never suggested that we would not come. Our coach made an enquiry about who might ref. Nothing wrong with that.
Fans should be aware that the previous time we visited Edgerton/Chauvin, the referee supplied was one who has one boy that plays on that particular team. In view of that, it's a reasonable request. Check your first paragraph over again where you state: "Not a home town ref like is used in Provost." By contrast, the man wearing the red arm band when you visited our arena had no relatives out on the ice or on the bench.
Fans were not "whining" about the refereeing. Many were out and out complaining (an expression of "pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment"). One of our coaches informed the league governor following that game in question. Provost has so far not taken the issue farther.
The two teams are very evenly matched and when Edgerton/Chauvin won a close game a couple of days earlier with late goals, none of the Provost fans complained and in fact were pleased with the fast action of hockey when the boys were allowed to display their talent unimpeded.
-- #18 Brett Holmes.
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