Lockout got you down? Do what I do. Watch the Sabres as they play in Europe.
It will be a veritable clash of Sabres swashbucklers when The Graz 99ers play host to the Klangenfurt Redcoats on Friday night.
Thomas Vanek vs. Tyler Myers.
Vanek’s not buying into all the hype like I am.
"I think that this fight is not a big deal."
Vanek has been white hot in his return to his hometown. At this pace, his rearly white whites and smiling face will be on Austria's national currency before too long.
Vanek is to Austria what Dominik Hasek is to the Czech Republic. He's royalty. His super stardom transcends his super-sick hockey skill set. He's more than that.
Where Vanek goes, the fans and paparazzi follow.
Recently, Vanek was asked to sign in the "Golden Book" of the city of Graz. A tremendous honor and a time honored tradition. Vanek showed his appreciation by presenting Graz Mayor, Siegfried Nagl, with a #20 Graz 99ers sweater. Vanek's parents, Jarmilla and Zdenek, watched proudly as their NHL All Star son signed in the book. “It’s a great honor how my hometown welcomed me back”, Vanek humbly said afterwards.
Speaking of Vanek's father, The Austrian sledgehockey team is coached by coach Mr. Vanek. Thomas attended a team practice last weekend at the rink in Pachern/Graz for the Division B World Championships in Novi Sad (November 10-18).
On the ice, Graz continues to struggle, while Vanek keeps stacking up his own points. In nine games for the Graz 99ers, Vanek has scored 3 goals and added 8 assists. He’s -3. The 99ers are 2-7 with Vanek in the lineup. One man does not a team make in the EBEL. The problem with Graz is simple: Vanek can’t score every goal in every game. He needs help. Graz isn’t getting consistent secondary and tertiary scoring right now.
So far in 5 games for KAC, Tyler Myers has himself a goal and an assist. Myers scored his first goal in KAC gear in Monday night’s win over Dornbirn. Fellow NHL import, Sam Gagner, also lit the lamp on Monday night. Gagner has 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games played.
99ers forward Bobby Wren handicaps the Vanek-v-Myers fight in this manner:
"Against the KAC, it’s always hard to play, they are a very good team with a lot speed. Still, we would like to finally take two points, so that we do not slip in the standings. "
The 99ers are winless in their last three games, including two OT losses.
KAC presently sit in fourth place in the division with 21 points, while sixth place Graz have 18 points.
Should one a good one! Expect a full bunker in Graz!
Huge buzz out of Quebec City right now. Finally, Mikhail Grigorenko's name is not on the tips of everyone's tongues.
Here's the latest:
A Red hot rumour that Patrick Roy is about to trade Russian rifle, Nikita Kucherov.
Roy told Le Journal De Quebec that he's not trading Kucherov or Sorensen. For now, he';; ride the wave of the status quo. For how long> Only Patrick Roy knows.
"The decision is not made yet and it would be pointless to rush a decision in this matter. I had a plan in mind when I went to bed last night and I woke up to another, "said Patrick Roy, who always seems to be wildly fun guessing game to media representatives.
Roy is not in a hurry to trade one of his tree European imports. Roy has been in contact with his great friend Claude Lemieux, who represents Sorensen, who was injured in practice on Wednesday.
He hasn't spoken with Grigorenko's agent Jay Grossman.
As long as the NHL lockout rages on, Grigo will stay locked in the middle of the Remparts top line. Kurt Etchegary, #2 Quebec pivot, underwent hip surgery on Wednesday. Etchegary will not be returning to the Remparts lineup until late January.
Grigo is the one constant. With Etchegary in the M*A*S*H unit, Roy needs a reliable centre who can lead his team. On Sunday, with Grigo in the press box and Etchegary out of the lineup, Roy opted to play wingers Logan Shaw and Adam Erne at the pivot. The result was a huge disappointment as the Remparts generated only a few scoring chances and were lucky to eek out a 2-1 win over Gatineau.
Kucherov and Sorensen are the wild cards.
In Wednesday's practice, Sorensen took a clapper off his left foot.
Sorensen left the arena on crutches and then headed straight to an x-ray session.
No fractures of Sorensen, just a pain and swelling.
Roy's not tipping his hand as to whether or not Sorensen will make the trip to Bathurst for Friday night's game.
"I have not yet made a decision for Friday's game (at Bathurst). It will take. Sometimes things happen like that ... ".
Grigo and Kucherov will play. Sorensen? Good luck with that.
Join the Discussion:
»