Weekend home sweep puts Rovers one win from Finals

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

A pair of home ice wins over the weekend have put the Baffin Island Rovers one win away from the King’s Cup Final. A 4-2 win on Saturday night coupled with a 2-1 victory last night have given the Rovers a 3-1 series lead headed back to Saskatoon, but still with much work to do.

In Game 3 the Rovers jumped out to a quick lead six minutes into the game as Antti Laaksonen scored his third goal of the playoffs to stake the Rovers to a 1-0 first intermission lead. Gary Roberts’s opening-minute goal in the second period seemed destined to hold up through two periods, but in the final minute of the frame Saskatoon’s quick-strike offense popped two goals in 25 seconds as Steve Sullivan and then Mike Sillinger pulled the Funboys into a tie in the blink of an eye. But the win was secured midway through the third when Glen Murray converted Olli Jokinen’s centering feed to put the Rovers up 3-2. Pavol Demitra iced the game with a late power-play marker, making the final 4-2. Martin Gerber’s first game of the series was a success, stopping 27 of 29 shots for the win, with Dwayne Roloson allowing 4 goals on 20 shots to take the loss. “Apart from the final minute of the second, we played a great game”, Stringer said. “But that just goes to show that you can play 59 minutes and still lose. The Funboys are too dangerous to let up, even for a second”.

Last night the Rovers battled not only the Funboys but the referees. The Funboys enjoyed eight power-play opportunities, including three in OT, to the Rovers one PP, but went 0-8 in dropping a 2-1 2-OT decision. Bret Hedican opened the scoring for the Funboys in the first period, but Keith Carney equalized four minutes into the second period. Regulation time elapsed with the teams knotted at 30 shots and 1 goal apiece. The Rovers killed off three power-plays in the first OT, including a very questionable unsportsman-like call on goalie Martin Gerber who complained to the ref after getting being blatantly run by Funboys forward Peter Schaefer. But the Rovers killed them all and in the second OT Gerber got his revenge by making a forward pass to defenseman Eric Brewer, who caught the Funboys on a bad line change and broke in to end the game on a quick wrister to the blocker side. “It was the long change being in the second OT and their D couldn’t get back into the play in time”, Brewer said. “Marty recognized it and got the puck ahead quickly. I was just able to beat the dmen to the net and made a good shot”.

“These were two good wins for us”, Stringer said after game 4. “We faced some adversity in both games and came out on top. Now we’re in position to accomplish our goal, but everyone in this room knows that the fourth game will be the hardest to win. The Funboys were the #1 team in the league for a reason, and they can rattle off three straight wins in a heartbeat. We’ve really got to buckle down now if we expect to advance”.

Kris Draper, who took the pre-game skate but couldn’t go in game 4, has been cleared by the medical staff to travel to Saskatoon and play in game 5. “We’ve been lacking in the faceoff circle with him out, that’s for sure”, Stringer said of his centre’s absence. “We hope he’ll give us a boost there tomorrow night”.

Rovers reamed in game 2, head home

Saskatoon, SK (CP)

Playing like a team that had already accomplished their goal of gaining a split on the road, the Rovers were spanked by the Funboys 5-0 in game 2 last night.  Without Kris Draper, the Rovers were dominated in the faceoff circle (35-22) and allowed two power-play goals on eight Funboy power-plays.  Chris Mason was under seige with the Funboys outshooting Baffin 37-21 and playing the majority of the game in the Rover offensive zone.  Pavel Datsyuk scored twice, while Mike York, Scott Niedermayer, and Bill Guerin as Saskatoon evened the series heading to Iqaluit.  “They played well and frankly we didn’t… and that’s a formula for a beating”, Stringer said quite candidly.  “We have to be better at home”.

The Rovers, already without Kris Draper, lost a second forward in Nathan Horton.  Horton, who left clutching his left shoulder, is not expected to return this series and is doubtful to return this playoff year even if the Rovers were to advance.  “Horton didn’t look good when he left.. he’ll be re-evaluated, but we’re not hopeful”.

Mason stars again, wins Game 1

Saskatoon, SK (CP)

Reprising his role from the previous round, Chris Mason stole the show opening a series on the road. The Rovers netminder turned aside 31 of 32 shots in a 2-1 victory, drawing first blood in the Howe Conference final. Gary Roberts continued his stellar play from the opening rounds, breaking the ice just four minutes into the game after converting a cross-ice feed from Danny Markov. The first period ended with Saskatoon outshooting the Rovers 8-4 but trailing 1-0.

Yanic Perreault tied the game six minutes into the second period as Saskatoon stepped up the pressure. They carried the play in the second until late in the period when Pavol Demitra took a Joe Thornton pass and beat Dwayne Roloson on a clean breakaway. The period ended 2-1 Rovers despite trailing 22-14 in shots. The Funboys did not relent in the third but Mason stood tall making another 10 saves, including a game-saver with 30 seconds left off of Bill Guerin at the side of the net. “Chris was the difference tonight”, Stringer said of his goaltender. “We expect both Chris and Marty to be this good every night because they expect it of themselves, and they rarely disappoint. But this is just one game, now we’ve got to come out even harder tomorrow night to try and get home up two games. Now’s not the time to say ‘we have one, that’s enough’”.

Forward Kris Draper left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury and did not return. The medical staff expect Draper to miss at least the next game in Saskatoon and have sent him home with the hope that he can play again when the series moves to Iqaluit. Nathan Horton will replace Draper on the third line but Draper’s presence will be missed most while killing penalties, where the Rovers will have to re-work both PK units during his absence.

Rovers rollercoaster ends on top, off to Saskatoon

Yellowknife, NWT (CP)

The rollercoaster ride that was the second round of the RHL16 playoffs has ended, and it has ended on a high for the Baffin Island Rovers. After building a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 series lead against the Yellowknife Dangerous Penetrators, the Pens came back with three straight wins of their own, forcing a deciding game 7 in Yellowknife. Faced with a hostile road crowd and the prospect of bowing out of the playoffs in such an embarrassing fashion, the Rovers showed up in force last night. Alexander Frolov and Kim Johnsson scored in the first period and Pavol Demitra potted a pair in the second to pace the Rovers to a convincing 5-1 win and 4-3 series victory. Gary Roberts led the scoring with three assists while Karel Rachunek and Joe Thornton exchanged meaningless goals in the third period as the Rovers realized they had narrowly escaped with their playoff hopes still intact. “This was a gutcheck, no question”, Stringer said of the road triumph. “We had our chances in this series, but we let them slip. Fortunately we had one last chance and we made the most of it. We can’t be so cavalier against the Funboys”.

And indeed the conference final will give the Rovers no time to ease in as the team had to fly out of Yellowknife directly to Saskatoon for tonight’s opener. The team has not yet declared their starter for the game, either game 7 winner Martin Gerber or the winner of games 1, 2, and 3, Chris Mason. The Rovers won the season series against the Funboys, going 3-1-2 in 6 contests. However the Funboys only win came in their final meeting during the last week of the regular season, and ultimately that win was the difference in them, and not the Rovers, claiming the Queen’s Bowl and #1 overall seed. “We were the top two teams all year in the conference, so I guess it’s only right that we meet in the conference finals”, Stringer conceeded of his opponent. “Martin has had those boys going all year, and they’re deserving of the top seed and role as favourite. We’re going to have our hands full, and the pundits are probably right in picking them. We’ll have to earn anything we can get”.

Mason, Rovers steal game 1

Yellowknife, NWT (CP)

In the war for Northern supremacy, Chris Mason had the loudest say in the outcome of the opening battle. Mason stopped 34 of 35 shots as the Dangerous Penetrators outshot, outpossessed, outhit, outbattled, and outfaceoffed (RR recognizes that most of the previous are not actual English words and does apologize to those offended), but came up on the short end of a 5-1 outcome. Kris Draper struck for his first goal of the playoffs early in the first; a goal that stood up through 20 minutes. Second period power-play markers by defenseman Eric Brewer and Danny Markov were followed by Draper’s second goal to give Baffin a 4-0 lead through two periods. Gary Roberts scored his team leading fifth goal five minutes into the third to increase the lead to 5-0. Joe Sakic got one back for the Penetrators a few minutes later, but it was a case of far too little, far too late. “You won’t get that kind of result every night”, Stringer said of the outcome. “They played a whale of a game but Mase just had the answer. He was lights out… no doubt about it”.

With a split already guaranteed, the Rovers will be looking for a two-game edge tonight. Mason will start his third straight game after his stellar effort in game 1, but look for the Penetrators to be even more focussed on burying their chances, of which they had many in the opening contest.

Rovers roar back, take game 5 and series

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

After surrendering a two goal lead in the third period, the Rovers resolved not to let the game and series slip away.  Gary Roberts squared the affair with 43 seconds remaining in regulation and then set up the OT winner by Kim Johnsson as the Rovers eliminated the Eagles with a 4-3 victory and a 4-1 series triumph.

Joe Thornton opened the scoring in the first period with his fourth goal of the series, converting a nifty saucer pass from Pavol Demitra to make it 1-0.  The Rovers outshot the Eagles 12-8 in the frame.  The second period saw even more Rovers pressure as Patrice Bergeron made it 2-0 after intercepting an attempted outlet pass and snapped a shot past Jose Theodore.  Through two periods the Rovers were up two goals and 30-19 in shots and were looking good.

But in the third, the Eagles stormed back.  Mike Comrie struck for two goals at the 6 and 16 minute mark to tie the game, and minute later Ric Jackman scored the go-ahead goal which could have stood as Baffin’s first blown-third period lead all season.  But a Mark Bell slash in the final two minutes gave the Rovers a late power-play and Gary Roberts equalized with a laser beam over Theodore’s glove.  Then in the opening minute of overtime, Roberts and Bergeron set up Kim Johnsson’s blast from the top of the right circle to send the Rovers to the second round.  The Rovers outshot the Eagles 45-34 overall in the game, with Chris Mason getting his first start and win of the playoffs, stopping 31 of 34 shots.  “Hats off to the Eagles, they played a hell of a series”, Stringer said after the win.  “Coach Bourdeau had his boys ready and they came at us hard in the third.  They never gave up… this was a much tighter series than 4-1 would indicate”.

The Rovers now have a few days off and turn their attention to the television to watch the conclusion of the Funboys – Stingers series.  Should the favoured Funboys close it out, the Rovers would hit the road to Yellowknife to take on the Penetrators.  But if the upstart Stingers should pull the upset, the Rovers would host Lethbridge.  “Neither team will be an easy opponent”, Stringer said diplomatically of the next round.  “We’ll have to be ready for both teams”.

Both defenseman Keith Carney and forward Nathan Horton missed their third game on Sunday evening, but both will be ready to go for the second round matchup.

Rovers Roll, Take Game 1

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

The Rovers rode a three goal first period, including a goal on the opening shot of the game, to a 5-1 win on Tuesday night, taking a 1-0 lead in their Howe Conference quarter-final matchup against the Edmonton Eagles. On the game’s opening shift, Kim Johnsson took a drop pass from Olli Jokinen just inside the blueline and rifled a vicious one-timer through the screen of Eagles defenseman Chris Chelios and under the blocker of netminder Jose Theodore to take a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds in. Exactly four minutes later, Alexander Frolov was sprung on a breakaway by a Kris Draper pass, who had intercepted an Edmonton cross-ice pass while back-checking to break up a three-on-two Eagles odd-man rush, and converted with a nifty backhand deke of Theodore, making the score 2-0. Ten minutes after that Cory Stillman beat Theodore from the left faceoff dot on a quick snapper to the top shelf glove side, converting another Jokinen pass which gave him two assists in the period. The first period ended with the Eagles outshooting the Rovers 11-8, but trailing 3-0.

The second period saw the Eagles try to climb back into the game by turning up the physical play. Mark Bell engaged Joe Thornton early in the period and big Joe did not shy away, with both serving roughing minors. Later Nick Boynton challenged a willing Danny Markov to a scrap and they fought to a draw. The Rovers withstood the challenge and maintained their three goal lead, despite being outshot again 8-6, and now 19-14 through two periods.

With time quickly becoming an enemy in the third, Mike Cammalleri gave the Eagles the spark they were desperately seeking. He stole the puck from Markov in his own defensive zone and streaked in alone on Rovers netminder Martin Gerber, beating him low glove side with a lightning-quick wrist shot. Now down 3-1, the Eagles felt back in the game. From that point though, Baffin stiffened, pumping more shots at Theodore than in the previous 40 minutes. Gerber withstood another six shots from that point, while the Rovers poured 14 onto Theodore, resulting in two late goals from Thornton and Gary Roberts, who ended the scoring with a power-play marker in the final minute. The Rovers ended the game outshooting the Eagles 15-10 in the final stanza, and equaling their 29 shot output for the game. Gerber’s 28 save effort was enough for the victory, in a game that was closer than the final score indicated. “This was no cupcake game for us”, Stringer said of the Eagles’ resolve. “They got down early, but they never gave up. When they got that goal in the third, they got some jump. Fortunately Marty [Gerber] was up to the task. We played a 60 minute hockey game and I’m proud of the effort. That’s the game I want us to bring every single night of the playoffs”.

Game 2 goes Wednesday evening at the Igloo, where Gerber is expected to get his second consecutive start in goal and the Rovers will look to increase their series lead to 2-0.

RHL16 Playoffs begin on Eagles’ wings

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

After losing out in the race for the Queen’s Bowl, the Rovers enter the RHL16 playoffs as the #3 seed in the Howe Conference.  As such, their first-round opponent is already decided; the Edmonton Eagles will open their playoffs in Iqaluit after the preliminary round is concluded.   The Eagles were in contention for the Calder division title until late in the season, and played some of their strongest hockey down the stretch.  “They will be a very tough matchup for us”, Stringer said of the drawing.  “Theodore has played well, and they’ve got a number of dangerous forwards.  This will be a close series”.

During the season series, the Rovers won both games, though neither was a blow-out.  The Rovers shut out the Eagles 2-0 in Edmonton with Martin Gerber stealing the win with his 41 save shutout, and also won 5-2 on home ice on the backs of three-point games from Joe Thornton and Gary Roberts.  But results like that can be thrown out when the post-season puck is dropped.  “We’ll have to fight for everything we can get against them, they’re a great team”, captain Olli Jokinen said after a light practice Monday morning.  “We’ve got to be ready to match their energy because we know they’ll come ready to go”.

Martin Gerber has been announced as the game 1 starter.   The 33 game winner earned the playoff opener, and his shutout performance against the Eagles only cemented his claim.  However, expect to see both goalies through the playoffs was the message from the coaching staff.  “We were successful this season platooning our goalies, so we expect to continue that in the playoffs… we’re not going to mess with a winning formula.  Both guys will play, so they both have to stay sharp every day”.

Rovers award-winners announced

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

On the final day of the regular season, the Rovers handed out their season awards on Wednesday night.  And the winners are…

Player of the Year – Glen Murray

With the record-setting defensive year by the Rovers, it was thought that Martin Gerber would get the nod here.  However it was Glen Murray who carried the mail all season for the club and was by far their most consistent skater.   In addition to leading the team in scoring, he was also either first or second in plus-minus, power-play goals, hits, and corner battle pct.

Mr. Rover – Olli Jokinen

Team captain Olli Jokinen gets the nod as “Mr. Rover” among his teammates for RHL16.  Taking time on all three of the top lines, Jokinen played with whoever was necessary and excelled throughout.  He tallied 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 66 games and posted a team-leading +26 rating, but more importantly scored a number of key goals (5 GWG led the team) and was a catalyst all season.

Forward of the Year – Glen Murray

Finished in the top 15 in league scoring with 27 goals, 38 assists for 65 points.  Led all forwards in ice-time, playing 22.7 mins/g.

Defenseman of the Year – Kim Johnsson

Kim Johnsson wins the award for the third time in his four years with the Rovers.  He led all Rovers in ice-time with 26.8 mins/g and led blueliners in scoring, posting 12 goals and 31 assists for 43 points, and in passing with an 83.0 passing pct.

Goaltender of the Year – Martin Gerber

In Marty Gerber’s second season with the club, he led the entire league in goals against average with a 1.68 mark and he tied the franchise record with 33 wins.  He was also second in the league in sv pct with a 93.12% save rate; the only other goalie to top 93% beside league-leader Miikka Kiprusoff.  Gerber’s work contributed to the Rovers setting a franchise record, yielding only 119 goals for the season.

Newcomer of the Year – Keith Carney

Acquired in the pre-season in the Chris Pronger trade, Keith Carney provided the steady defense that was expected of him.  He played in all 66 games, contributing 12 points and posting a +14 rating.  Coming into a close-knit group with few new faces, Carney blended in well and was a positive force all season.

Young Player of the Year – Chris Mason

The other half of the Rovers goaltending tandem, second-year keeper Chris Mason played in 26 games posting a G.A.A. of 2.00 and a svpct of 92.51.  His 10-7-5 W-L-OTL record was indicative of the fact that he often drew the best opponents on the schedule, playing in many of the games against the Funboys, Sockeyes, Reapers, and Mounties.

Rovers prepare for end-of-season awards

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

With the regular season now complete, the Rovers can look forward to a first-round bye in the playoffs. To begin the time off, the team will take an evening to look back at the season that was and hand out their end-of-season awards on Thursday evening. The winners for the Rovers’ first five seasons are listed below.

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Player of the Year

RHL15 – Kim Johnsson
RHL14 – Pavol Demitra
RHL13 – Glen Murray
RHL12 – Pavol Demitra
RHL11 – David Legwand

Mr. Rover

RHL15 – Kris Draper
RHL14 – Olli Jokinen
RHL13 – Mike Knuble
RHL12 – Daymond Langkow
RHL11 – Ron Tugnutt

Forward of the Year

RHL15 – Glen Murray
RHL14 – Pavol Demitra
RHL13 – Glen Murray
RHL12 – Pavol Demitra
RHL11 – German Titov

Defenseman of the Year

RHL15 – Kim Johnsson
RHL14 – Rob Blake
RHL13 – Kim Johnsson
RHL12 – Sean Hill
RHL11 – Hans Johnsson

Goaltender of the Year

RHL15 – Martin Gerber
RHL14 – Roman Cechmanek
RHL13 – Roman Cechmanek
RHL12 – Ed Belfour
RHL11 – Ron Tugnutt

Newcomer of the Year

RHL15 – Chris Pronger
RHL14 – Eric Daze
RHL13 – Kim Johnsson
RHL12 – Pavol Demitra
RHL11 – Ron Tugnutt

Young player of the Year

RHL15 – Nathan Horton
RHL14 – (not awarded)
RHL13 – Alexander Frolov
RHL12 – Robyn Regehr
RHL11 – David Legwand