Coming off a fairly sucessful weekend against the Southern Oregon Spartans, the Missoula Maulers are hoping to go a different route into the playoffs this season. Last years playoffs ened bitterly after just five games against the Idaho junior Steelheads, only one won by Missoula. The Maulers, currently sitting in second place, are hoping to furthur advance in thier second WSHL playoff apearance. If they started today, the Maulers would face off agains the Sparants and Idaho would take on the Whitefish Wolverines, who are 11 points clear of the fourth place Butte Cobras, yet still ahead of the Seattle Totems and Lake Tahoe Blue who hold the bottom places in the division.
That being said this was a huge weekend for the Maulers. Bouncing back from a 5-2 loss on Friday, ending a 10 game win streak, Zootown fought back and Shut out the Spartans on Saturday and defeated them 5-2 on Sunday.
There was a lot of memorable moments for more than a few players as well. One of them was Sam Sevcik. Sam started the weekend out sitting on 26 assists and only 9 goals in 28 games played. After picking up a goal on Friday, Sam shined as a hero on Saturday where he picked up two more goals, but here is the crazy thing, they were 14 seconds apart! Sam was recently moved to the top line between Sawyer Jacobon and Corey Schafer as a replacement for Austin Auzzinarro. Sam adjusted quickly and shot liek a bat out of hell and proved one thing, PLACEMENT MATTERS! Sam grabbed another two goals on Sunday! He now hold 14 goals and picked up another two assists over the weekend.
The crazier thing about the weekend was these werent the only crazy goals scored by one player and Im sure we can all guess who decided to show Sam up, none other than Corey Schafer. Shafer took it upon himself to get his own pair of goals but Schaf's may have been even crazier. Right after the puck drop on Saturdays game, he wasted no time in going to work and scored just 19 seconds into the game- on the first shift- on his 21st birthday. That is Schafer for ya. He also picked up another goal on either side of Sevcik's to help Missoula Shut out the Spartans on Saturday. Happy Birthday "Little Schaf!" We should also give some Credit to Andrei Shebelbain who scored between the two for the extra!
One other huge thing that happend in Zootown this weekend was the return of none other than Paige Maul! Im sure everyone remembers him and his brother Al for more than just the coinsidences of thier awesome last names! Paige got a goal and an assist over the weekend, glad to have him back!
And on a sadder note, as happy as we are for Sevcik, we are sad to announce the release of Austin Auzzinarro. Auzzinarro can do things with his feet that some NHL players cant do. Auzzinarro had 12 goals and 22 assists in his time this season with Missoula and was an Assistant Captain and returner from last year. He is one of those guys who you love to have on your team but hate to play agaisnt, he never really shut his mouth but that was why we loved him! He is now with the Witchata Falls Wildcats of the NAHL, as much as were gonna miss him, thats how this sport is! We love you, Auzzie!
One player that I dont think gets enough credit is Vladislav 'Vlad' Zamzhytski. Zamzhytski is a defenseman from Minsk Belarus. He is no 'Bobby Orr' offensive defeseman or spectacular guard or anything but when he is out there, Holmgren and Parker don't have a thing to worry about. He is just one of those players who is great to have on your roster and a team player who steps up at crunch time.
Speaking of Parker and Holmgren, I have some things to say about them too- holl-eey-sheet. As of today, both the tendies rank in the top ten. Holmgren holds #10 with a save percentage of .917% and Parker is eighth at .922%, pretty impressive. Parker is well known for his vintage CCM goalie pads that brighly clash with the black and white jerseys but hey- if they can stop a puck (and they can). He is strong not only in his gloves but even top shelf and his five hole, its rare you see a goalie in as many strong places as Parker but thats how you make it to the top. Holmgren is more known for his laid back style of play, between whistles, you'll see him leaning on the cross bar, hands on both sides, a player who isn't afraid of a slab of rubber and gets more into the game than a lot of the players.
A few more of my personal favorite players are Edward Pollon and Joey Porco.. Both returners from last season, the '96 and '97 are getting more and more ice time every game- and for a reason. Pollon has recorded 8 goals and 17 assists this season, good for 25 points in 38 games played. Pollon may only stand 5'10 and 170 pounds but he is definetly a dangerous guy on the ice. While he isnt the most physical guy you'll find out there, he can carry a puck. Not to mention he can set up a play like no other. With only 23 penalty minutes, Pollon has two game winning goals so far this season and isnt about ready to let up. He is one of those players who-in the words of Wayne Gretzky- '...Doesn't go where the puck is, but where its going to be'.
Joey Porco is a different story. Porco tends to play like somebody is chasing him with a lit stick of dynomite and he is waiting for the fuze to go off all the time but that is also the great thing about him. One of the reasons I love Porco is that he always has a big smile on his face when he throws a check. You can always tell when a player has a passion for the game and not just a natural born skill and Joey has both. Though he only has one goal and 17 assists this season, the Spokane d-man has more than a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to playing hockey. Porco holds 78 penalty minutes this season and we all know why- he can fight. Every player gets the eventual 'hooking' 'slashing' 'holding' 'boarding' calls every once in a while but Its no accident when it comes to Porco, he doesn't let anyone beat up on his team and he is always the first man to let people know that.
Another player that I don't think gets near enough recognition with the team and that is Matt Chamberlain. Chamberlain has been with the Maulers for four years now, its pretty cool to be able to see him, Schafer and Maul play together again after so many years. Its also kind of surreal to see them playing with Maulers all time leading scorer, Zoo Native, Brett Mathews little brother Wyatt, amazing how fast time flies by. But back to Matt, Some guys play hockey and others are hockey players, and Chamberlain is one of them. Any guy can lace up a pair of skates and throw a puck around but it takes another type to get into the game and Matt does. Matt towers over many of our other players at 6'3 and at 195 pounds, he can really throw himself around. Matt and Pollon currently hold the same stats at 8 goals and 17 assists on the season. Though the two have completely different playing styles. One of the greatest things about Matt is he inst afraid to drop the gloves. He can intimidate people and he uses that power to his full advantage but even better, he is one of the nicest guys you'll talk to off the ice and a great team player. He is always there to pick the team up when they fall down. Every team needs a guy to have their back and that's Matt.
The last player I want to talk about is Captain Sawyer Jacobson. To be totally honest, at the begining of the season I was a little bit angry that Sawyer got the C, as it has always been given vet, and respectively. I was sure that Schafer, Azzinarro or Chamberlain was going to grab it but when I showed up at that first game and saw a stranger with the C, I was pretty upset but it didnt even take me one period to understand why. Sawyer is generously listed at 5'9, 175 pounds, a little guy who can probably outskate Zdeno Chara and has a harder slapshot than Shae Weber. He even shot a puck through the wall during practice, um how!? You can be on the end of your seat, biting your nails as the Maulers are shuffling and scrambling in the defensive zone and before your eyes can even focus, Sawyer is at mid ice and scoring on a break away, that is just Sawyer. He has 56 points in only 40 games played with 27 goals. Not too shabby for a little guy. He always has the biggest smile on his face after the W, missing tooth and all. There are just some guys who are good players and good people and there just isnt much else to say. I always feel honored when I see him wearing our logo.
There are so many more notable players on the roster this season and we will get to them later! Every team has their ups and downs but with these guys, we have yet to see the low and I am so proud to call them my team! Make sure you come down to GIR this weekend and support your Maulers as they play the last regular season series against the Totems! Go Maulers!
That being said this was a huge weekend for the Maulers. Bouncing back from a 5-2 loss on Friday, ending a 10 game win streak, Zootown fought back and Shut out the Spartans on Saturday and defeated them 5-2 on Sunday.
There was a lot of memorable moments for more than a few players as well. One of them was Sam Sevcik. Sam started the weekend out sitting on 26 assists and only 9 goals in 28 games played. After picking up a goal on Friday, Sam shined as a hero on Saturday where he picked up two more goals, but here is the crazy thing, they were 14 seconds apart! Sam was recently moved to the top line between Sawyer Jacobon and Corey Schafer as a replacement for Austin Auzzinarro. Sam adjusted quickly and shot liek a bat out of hell and proved one thing, PLACEMENT MATTERS! Sam grabbed another two goals on Sunday! He now hold 14 goals and picked up another two assists over the weekend.
The crazier thing about the weekend was these werent the only crazy goals scored by one player and Im sure we can all guess who decided to show Sam up, none other than Corey Schafer. Shafer took it upon himself to get his own pair of goals but Schaf's may have been even crazier. Right after the puck drop on Saturdays game, he wasted no time in going to work and scored just 19 seconds into the game- on the first shift- on his 21st birthday. That is Schafer for ya. He also picked up another goal on either side of Sevcik's to help Missoula Shut out the Spartans on Saturday. Happy Birthday "Little Schaf!" We should also give some Credit to Andrei Shebelbain who scored between the two for the extra!
One other huge thing that happend in Zootown this weekend was the return of none other than Paige Maul! Im sure everyone remembers him and his brother Al for more than just the coinsidences of thier awesome last names! Paige got a goal and an assist over the weekend, glad to have him back!
And on a sadder note, as happy as we are for Sevcik, we are sad to announce the release of Austin Auzzinarro. Auzzinarro can do things with his feet that some NHL players cant do. Auzzinarro had 12 goals and 22 assists in his time this season with Missoula and was an Assistant Captain and returner from last year. He is one of those guys who you love to have on your team but hate to play agaisnt, he never really shut his mouth but that was why we loved him! He is now with the Witchata Falls Wildcats of the NAHL, as much as were gonna miss him, thats how this sport is! We love you, Auzzie!
One player that I dont think gets enough credit is Vladislav 'Vlad' Zamzhytski. Zamzhytski is a defenseman from Minsk Belarus. He is no 'Bobby Orr' offensive defeseman or spectacular guard or anything but when he is out there, Holmgren and Parker don't have a thing to worry about. He is just one of those players who is great to have on your roster and a team player who steps up at crunch time.
Speaking of Parker and Holmgren, I have some things to say about them too- holl-eey-sheet. As of today, both the tendies rank in the top ten. Holmgren holds #10 with a save percentage of .917% and Parker is eighth at .922%, pretty impressive. Parker is well known for his vintage CCM goalie pads that brighly clash with the black and white jerseys but hey- if they can stop a puck (and they can). He is strong not only in his gloves but even top shelf and his five hole, its rare you see a goalie in as many strong places as Parker but thats how you make it to the top. Holmgren is more known for his laid back style of play, between whistles, you'll see him leaning on the cross bar, hands on both sides, a player who isn't afraid of a slab of rubber and gets more into the game than a lot of the players.
A few more of my personal favorite players are Edward Pollon and Joey Porco.. Both returners from last season, the '96 and '97 are getting more and more ice time every game- and for a reason. Pollon has recorded 8 goals and 17 assists this season, good for 25 points in 38 games played. Pollon may only stand 5'10 and 170 pounds but he is definetly a dangerous guy on the ice. While he isnt the most physical guy you'll find out there, he can carry a puck. Not to mention he can set up a play like no other. With only 23 penalty minutes, Pollon has two game winning goals so far this season and isnt about ready to let up. He is one of those players who-in the words of Wayne Gretzky- '...Doesn't go where the puck is, but where its going to be'.
Joey Porco is a different story. Porco tends to play like somebody is chasing him with a lit stick of dynomite and he is waiting for the fuze to go off all the time but that is also the great thing about him. One of the reasons I love Porco is that he always has a big smile on his face when he throws a check. You can always tell when a player has a passion for the game and not just a natural born skill and Joey has both. Though he only has one goal and 17 assists this season, the Spokane d-man has more than a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to playing hockey. Porco holds 78 penalty minutes this season and we all know why- he can fight. Every player gets the eventual 'hooking' 'slashing' 'holding' 'boarding' calls every once in a while but Its no accident when it comes to Porco, he doesn't let anyone beat up on his team and he is always the first man to let people know that.
Another player that I don't think gets near enough recognition with the team and that is Matt Chamberlain. Chamberlain has been with the Maulers for four years now, its pretty cool to be able to see him, Schafer and Maul play together again after so many years. Its also kind of surreal to see them playing with Maulers all time leading scorer, Zoo Native, Brett Mathews little brother Wyatt, amazing how fast time flies by. But back to Matt, Some guys play hockey and others are hockey players, and Chamberlain is one of them. Any guy can lace up a pair of skates and throw a puck around but it takes another type to get into the game and Matt does. Matt towers over many of our other players at 6'3 and at 195 pounds, he can really throw himself around. Matt and Pollon currently hold the same stats at 8 goals and 17 assists on the season. Though the two have completely different playing styles. One of the greatest things about Matt is he inst afraid to drop the gloves. He can intimidate people and he uses that power to his full advantage but even better, he is one of the nicest guys you'll talk to off the ice and a great team player. He is always there to pick the team up when they fall down. Every team needs a guy to have their back and that's Matt.
The last player I want to talk about is Captain Sawyer Jacobson. To be totally honest, at the begining of the season I was a little bit angry that Sawyer got the C, as it has always been given vet, and respectively. I was sure that Schafer, Azzinarro or Chamberlain was going to grab it but when I showed up at that first game and saw a stranger with the C, I was pretty upset but it didnt even take me one period to understand why. Sawyer is generously listed at 5'9, 175 pounds, a little guy who can probably outskate Zdeno Chara and has a harder slapshot than Shae Weber. He even shot a puck through the wall during practice, um how!? You can be on the end of your seat, biting your nails as the Maulers are shuffling and scrambling in the defensive zone and before your eyes can even focus, Sawyer is at mid ice and scoring on a break away, that is just Sawyer. He has 56 points in only 40 games played with 27 goals. Not too shabby for a little guy. He always has the biggest smile on his face after the W, missing tooth and all. There are just some guys who are good players and good people and there just isnt much else to say. I always feel honored when I see him wearing our logo.
There are so many more notable players on the roster this season and we will get to them later! Every team has their ups and downs but with these guys, we have yet to see the low and I am so proud to call them my team! Make sure you come down to GIR this weekend and support your Maulers as they play the last regular season series against the Totems! Go Maulers!