Chris VandeVelde and Jeff Petry Update by Dean Millard

Dean Millard was right about the Jeff Petry signing and I'm sure he's right about Chris VandeVelde going to Springfield. Dean Millard is very knowledgeable about College hockey and it's players.  Here is what Millard had to say about VandeVelde, Jeff Petry and the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club.

Is VandeVelde Off to Springfield?
Posted by Dean Millard

The upsets continue at the NCAA hockey tournament as UND fell to Yale 3-2. Meanwhile, RIT continues it's improbable run with a 6-2 pasting of Northeastern to earn a spot in the final four. Miami will meet Michigan tomorrow after both teams avoided upsets, while Boston College did the same.

The Fighting Sioux loss means that Chris VandeVelde's college career has come to and end, and should be on his way to Springfield to play out the string with the Falcons.

Meanwhile according to the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson, Jeff Petry isn't eligible to play in the NHL this season because his NHL contract doesn't start until next year.

The Oilers also signed a couple of college players this week, inking Matt Becca from Clarkson and Eddie Del Grosso out of Omaha Nebraska.

Original Article Here

It appears that the Springfield Falcons are going to have a full team now to finish off the season. Stay tuned for more details.

-Smokin' Ray-

Jordan Eberle's Streak Ends With A 2-1 Springfield Loss - A Game Recap

FALCONS FALL TO PIRATES 2-1 IN PORTLAND

March 27, 2010 - The Springfield Falcons lost to the Portland Pirates 2-1 on Saturday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. Maine concluding a six-game road trip with a record of 2-1-2-1 as they head home to host the Albany River Rats on Sunday afternoon starting at 3 pm. Geoff Paukovich scored Springfield's lone goal, while goaltender Bryan Pitton stopped 22 of 24 shots on goal.

LIVE BOX SCORE

After 40-plus minutes of scoreless hockey, the Falcons took a lead at 10:03 of the third period when Paukovich scored his fifth goal of the year assisted by Slava Trukhno and Jason Pitton.

Portland rallied at 13:57 of the final frame when Travis Turnbull tied the score at 1-1. The Pirates took their first lead of the night at 18:33 of the third period when Nathan Gerbe scored on the power play to give Portland a come-from-behind win.

Midway through the first period, the Falcons ended up on a five-minute power play when Portland's Cody McCormick took a baseball-style swing at Colin McDonald's legs and was whistled for a major slashing penalty and a game misconduct. McDonald did finish the game, but clearly was in some pain after the incident.

FALCONS LINEUP

Chris Minard - Chad Wiseman - Jordan Eberle
Charles Linglet - Rob Hisey - Colton Fretter
Liam Reddox - Ryan O'Marra - Colin McDonald
Slava Trukhno - Geoff Paukovich - Jason Pitton

Chris Armstrong - Jeff Petry
Eddie Del Gresso - Jake Taylor
J.F. David - Johan Motin

Bryan Pitton
J.P. Levasseur

FALCONS SCRATCHES - Jordan Bendfeld, Bryan Lerg, Matt Beca, Ryan MacMurchy, Alex Plante, Kip Brennan, Matt Nickerson, Tony DeHart

Written by the Springfield Falcons

*Reprinted with permission by the Springfield Falcons AHL Hockey Club. The Springfield Falcons are a proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL)*

Stockton Thunder Sign Mucha To Tryout Deal

Goaltender Mucha Signs Tryout Deal

03/27/2010 10:52 AM - Mucha is WHL all-time leader in saves, Aaron Sorochan recalled to Springfield

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STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, has agreed to amateur tryout contract (ATO) terms with goaltender Kurtis Mucha (MOO-kah), Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today.

Mucha, 20, is expected to be in uniform for the Thunder tonight, who host the Las Vegas Wranglers beginning at 7:30 p.m. (StocktonThudner.com/B2 Networks) at Stockton Arena.

"Kurtis comes as a highly recommended prospect from various contacts in the National Hockey League," said Thomas. "His size is a commodity that isn't frequently found in an available goaltender at this level and we're excited about the opportunity to evaluate another goaltender from a recruiting standpoint. His addition helps our depth down the stretch."

The 6-foot-2, 184-pound goaltender competed in NHL training camp with Edmonton and recently completed a respectable six-year junior career (2004-10) with the Portland Winter Hawks and Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, leaving the amateur ranks as the WHL's all-time leader in saves (6,998) and the Canadian Hockey League's all-time goaltending leader in games (245) and minutes (13,708).

Through his junior career, Mucha enjoyed nine shutouts and was 76-135-19 with a 3.66 goals-against-average and .892 save percentage. He split this season between Portland and Kamloops, posting a 23-17-4 record, two shutouts and a .900 save percentage in 48 games.

Mucha made his pro debut last season in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads, suiting up on an amateur tryout contract on April 3 and made 25 saves against the Phoenix RoadRunners.

Mucha's ATO agreement is on a five-game tryout basis with Stockton.

Additionally, the Thunder announced goaltender Aaron Sorochan has been recalled to Springfield and subsequently released.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ .

Written by the Stockton Thunder

*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission from Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey Club, ECHL. The Stockton Thunder are a proud 'AA' affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and Springfield Falcons (AHL) *

Secret NHL Players Poll Taken

ESPN the Magazine, which recently conducted an anonymous poll of 50 NHLers have brought us some interesting information.

Here are the highlights;

The 50 players thought that Edmonton was the 4th worst franchise at a 12% vote. Phoenix was voted the worst.

Detroit Red Wings were voted the best NHL franchise.

Roberto Luongo was voted the most overrated player in the NHL.

Alex Ovechkin was voted the best player in the NHL.

Derek Boogaard was voted the toughest guy in the league.

32% of the votes went to the Black Hawks when asked who would win the cup this year.

The Smartest NHL Coach was Mike Babcock with 22% votes.


Last coach they would want to play for in the NHL was John Tortorella.
 
40% of players would like to see a relocated team go to Canada.
 
Pittsburgh has the worst visitors dressing room while the Wild have the best room.
 
52% of the players thought that the NHL would benefit the most from more TV coverage.
 
Former Oiler Chris Pronger was voted the NHL's dirtiest player. No surprise there.
 
The Flyers have the meanest fans and the Canucks have the best fans. What, no Oilers on the list?
 
Do you guys agree with these choices?
 
-Smokin' Ray-

The Stockton Thunder Wins Against Vegas - A Game Recap

GAME RECAP: Stockton 3 - Las Vegas 2 (SO)

03/26/2010 10:54 PM -
THUNDER SHOOTS DOWN LAS VEGAS
Perugini's 19 saves guides Thunder to critical 3-2 SO win vs. Las Vegas
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FINAL STATS: BOX SCORE
VIDEO: Highlights and postgame locker room reaction
AUDIO: Game highlights

STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 19 saves, including all three in a shootout, to help guide the Stockton Thunder (31-26-9, 71 points) to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pacific Division rival Las Vegas Wranglers, before 5,717 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

Andrew Perugini, perfect in the shootout, claimed his 21st win of the year.

(photo by George Steckler)

The Thunder, who claimed their first shootout win since Mar. 1, 2009 (snapping seven straight shootout losses), reduced its magic number to five to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth after Alaska defeated Ontario, 2-1 earlier in the evening.

James Bates and Igor Gongalsky scored for the Thunder while Oren Eizenman put the game away with a shootout winner in the fourth round, firing a snap shot past Jimmy Spratt to the stick side.

In a game that marked the first time both teams were meeting in Stockton since last year's second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs (Game 4), Bates gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead just 4:15 into the game when he scored his 26th goal of the season of the rush, beating Spratt with a snap shot from the right circle.

A meticulous puck possession game yielded only four shots on goal to Las Vegas and Stockton also killed off 40 seconds of a 5-on-3 penalty kill.

Gongalsky's 14th goal of the season elevated the Thunder lead to 2-0 with 4:55 left in the second period, sneaking a wrist shot through Spratt's five-hole from between the circles.

Las Vegas crawled back to within a goal just 21 seconds later, when Greg Collins' sharp-angled pass at the left wing caromed off traffic and into the back of the net.

After the Wranglers endured several penalties to begin the third period, including an altercation between Chris Frank and Ryan Constant, Chris Neiszner capitalized on the reciprocated momentum with his 14th goal of the year to tie the score at 2-2 with 6:25 left in regulation after he fired a wrist shot from the right circle.

After a scoreless overtime, ex-Wrangler Kelly Czuy scored in the second round and newcomer Matt Marquardt followed with a snap shot from between the circles in the third round, giving Stockton a 2-0 shootout lead after two rounds.

Perugini denied Alex Bourret's wrist shot in the third round to set the stage for Eizenman's game winner, firing his forehand bid after swooping in from the right wing.

Spratt took the shootout loss in a 34 save effort.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Brett Hemingway (healthy), Mark Pavli (injured reserve), Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Justin DaCosta (healthy), Riley Emmerson (injured reserve) and Craig Valette (injured reserve) ... Stockton outshot Las Vegas, 37-21 and owned a 7-1 edge early in the game ... the Thunder improved its home record to 16-10-7 ... Bates' goal marked the ninth time in the last 10 home games that Stockton scored the game's first goal.

The Thunder continues the seven-game homestand with its next game tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Las Vegas Wranglers at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online exclusively at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ , courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

THREE STARS:
1. STK - 35 Andrew Perugini
2. STK - 28 James Bates
3. LV - 22 Chris Neiszner

Written By The Stockton Thunder

*Reprinted with permission from Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey Club, ECHL. The Stockton Thunder are a proud 'AA' affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and Springfield Falcons (AHL) *