ACAC Men's Hockey Quarter final preview
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Its playoff time in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) men's hockey.
Receiving a bye are the NAIT Ooks and MacEwan University Griffins as they were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the final ACAC regular season standings.
Left to battle it out in the best-of-three quarterfinals are the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder against the SAIT Trojans while the Red Deer College Kings challenge the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings.
Below are thumbnail sketches of the respective quarterfinal matchups which start tonight Friday March 3, 2017.
Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder vs. SAIT Trojans
Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder 8 wins 19 losses 1 overtime loss 82 goals for 118 goals against
Goals Per Game 2.93 Shots Per Game 11.2 Power-play goals 14 Short-handed goals 7
Thunder Young Guns: Ian McLellan 14 goals 13 assist 27 points; Phil Dixon, 10 goals 12 assist 22 points, Rory Davidson, 11 goals 9 assist 20 points
Coach Dan Glegloff: "We have a young team, the majority of the team is first and second-year guys from the goaltender to the top defensemen to the front lines and it bodes well for the future. (Being a young team) brings enthusiasm. Everyone is positive and excited. I don't think they feel the pressure, so it allows them to go out and play their game, work hard and have lots of energy. We are excited to be back in the playoffs.
"It's going to be a tough series as they (SAIT Trojans) are a good team and are in the playoffs every year. They have four good lines and good goaltending."
SAIT Trojans 19 wins 6 losses 3 overtime losses 105 goals for 75 goals against
Goals Per Game 3.75 Shots Per Game 28.8 Power-play goals 29 Short-handed goals 7
Trojans Young Guns: Dean Allison, 14 goals 24 assist 38 points, Pat Martens 15 goals 9 assist 24 points, Joel Hamilton 13 goals 11 assist 24 points,
Coach Dan Olsen: "Our team is a tight knit group that really plays hard for each other. We like to concentrate on playing strong without the puck. Our key players are second-year goalie Bolton Pouliot. When he is prepared, he is the best goalie in the league. He was our best player last year in the playoffs and we expect more this season playoffs. Forward and team Captain Dean Allison is our leader and will do whatever it takes to make his team successful. He was our leading scorer in the regular season, works very hard in all three zones and his attitude is infectious. Defenseman Geoff Crisfields a quiet leader on our team. Very experienced. When he concentrates on playing shut down defence, he is one of the best defencemen in the league. Looking for a solid, sound, defensive effort from Geoff.
Concordia is a tough opponent. They are performing in that underdog role and don't have a lot of pressure. They have very strong goaltending and a consistent defensive effort is always given every game. We are going to have to use our team speed and pressure in all three zones. We will have our work cut out for us and have struggled with (CUCA) in the regular season."
Red Deer College Kings vs. University of Alberta Augustana Vikings
Red Deer College Kings 13 wins 11 losses 3 overtime losses 1 tie 82 goals for 83 goals against
Goals Per Game 2.93 Shots Per Game 26.7 Power-play goals 20 Short-handed goals 3
Kings Young Guns: Tyler Berkholtz 14 goals 9 assist 23 points, Riley Simpson 8 goals 10 assists 18 points,
Coach Trevor Keeper: "We are good and everybody is healthy and we are ready to roll. Prior to our last six games of the regular season we had a team meeting to set a goal and see how many points we could get and we got 11 of 12 points so that was a good motivator.
"They (Vikings) have the high-end scoring whereas we have more of a balanced scoring. We have had some even games with them during the season and we are looking forward to playing them. They have home-ice advantage but for us it is not a disadvantage. It is just part of the process of winning."
University of Alberta Augustana Vikings 18 wins 9 losses 1 overtime loss 100 goals for 70 goals against
Goals Per Game 3.57 Shots Per Game 12.3 Power-play goals 25 Short-handed goals 5
Vikings Young Guns: Jeff Lorenz, 9 goals 15 assist 24 points, Lukas Biensch 7 goals 15 assists 22 points, Patrick Thompson-Gale 10 goals 11 assists 21 points
Coach Blaine Gusdal: "During the season it was very even between us and Red Deer (series ties at 2-2 with Kings holding an 11-10 goal advantage). During the playoffs it's which team will execute and which team will have the good goaltending. It will be the little things. It can be a game of inches and who is prepared and ready to play hard and execute a little better will come out on top.
"Jeff (Lorenz) Jeff has had a solid year for us and he has been consistent since the get go. He was thinking of pursuing professional hockey but he decided to come back for one more year and we are glad he did.
"Pat (Thompson-Gale) is a quiet leader for us and looking back to last season he had more scoring chances but was really snake bit. Know into the second half he has been hot for us and he is a two-way player.
"Curtis Skip will be starting in goal for us but we have played three goalies this year and they have all put up good numbers for us."
According the ACAC website: "The winner of the two quarter-final series will move on to play the #1 and #2 the following weekend, March 10-12, 2017. The lowest ranked team will face off against #1 placed team while the #2 team will play against second lowest ranked, remaining team, in two semi-final best of 3 series. The highest ranked team that lost out in the semi-final series will be named bronze medal winner."