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LAST UPDATE-Final Scrimmage Results, Cut List, Blum Interview, and Quotes |
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The following players will report back to their junior or European teams after today: Patric Hornqvist, Jeremy Smith, Jonathon Blum, Robert Dietrich, Teemu Laakso, Mark Santorelli, Viktor Sjodin, and Nick Spaling.
Also, it has been released that the taxpayer will not be asked to buy Pred tickets. Go to this link to get the story: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/SPORTS02/70919030/1002/SPORTS
Great post by my good buddy Paul McCann this morning. I strongly suggest reading it if you haven't already.
Today's scrimmage was a spirited affair by all accounts. Lots of hitting early in the game and even more towards the end. There were 3 goaltenders who were rotated in and out. Mason started for the White team, then went to the Blue team, then sat on the bench. Rinne started for the Blue team, then went to the bench, and finished with the White team. Ellis sat out the first part of the scrimmage, then went in net for the White team, and ended with the Blue team.
The Blue team came away with a 3 to 2 victory. The teams were mixed up from previous scrimmages. The goal scorers are as follows:
Nick Spaling (Blue Team) received a great pass from Maki in front and scored on Ellis.
Shea Weber and Andreas Thuresson got into it a bit when Thuresson was jamming at Mason to score. Once Andreas finally skated away a bit Shea Web gave him a slash that he was penalized for. Mason stopped Thuresson's powerplay/penalty shot try.
J.P. Dumont (Blue Team) scored after Dan Ellis had a gaffe in net. He came way out of goal and misplayed the puck which ended up on Dumont's stick before entering the then empty net.
Radek Bonk scored in a scrum in front of Ellis to give the White team its' first goal.
Martin Erat (White Team) scored on Pekka Rinne. The problem was that Rinne was on the White team at the time, thus scoring on his own goaltender.
The White team did score the last goal of the scrimmage. Jordin Tootoo was given credit on that one.
So that was how it came to be a 3-2 Blue team win. The scrimmage lasted 45 minutes.
I got a chance to sit down with Jonathon Blum today before he headed back to his Vancouver Giants. I'll just transcribe the interview instead of pulling quotes out of it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks again Jonathon for your time and cooperation.
BF: What were your expectations going into camp this year?
Jonathon Blum: Well I just wanted to soak everything in. I knew I wasn't going to make the team, so I just wanted to get the experience and exposure of playing with some of the top guys in the NHL, and I think I did that. The speed, skill, and the way everyone plays is totally different from Junior hockey. You have to go in there and adapt really quick to hang in there.
BF: What players have influenced you within this training camp?
Blum: I went to dinner with Weber. Cody Franson and guys like that I've been hanging out with, some of the older guys. You can really learn alot from them and you have to watch what they do. It's good to have guys like that to talk to and ask questions about the system and stuff like that.
BF: What players were role models to you as you were growing up?
Blum: I liked Chris Chelios and Rob Blake growing up.
BF: How would you describe yourself as a hockey player?
Blum: I would say I'm a smart puck-moving defenseman with some offensive abilities. I'm pretty good on the powerplay and I've got good hockey sense.
BF: How would you describe yourself as a person off the ice?
Blum: I'm a good mature person. I'm a pretty low key and quiet guy.
BF: What activities do you enjoy the most outside of hockey?
Blum: Growing up I used to go to the beach alot and surf. I haven't really been doing that lately. I like to go bowling and golf. All sorts of stuff like that.
BF: What do you think are your greatest strengths as a player?
Blum: I would say my hockey sense. I read the ice very well and I can make plays under pressure.
BF: What do you feel like you need to improve upon?
Blum: Obviously need to get alot stronger and more explosive. I'm only about 170 so I'd like to be 20 or 20 plus pounds heavier.
BF: How much pressure do you feel being a 1st round pick?
Blum: Not so much this year. I knew I was going to go back to juniors cause their (the Predators) pretty deep on defense right now. Maybe next year or the year after is when I'll feel the pressure to make the team and proving why I was a 1st round pick.
BF: Talk about your experience this past season winning the Memorial Cup with the Giants.
Blum: It was probably one of the greatest experiences I'll ever go through. Winning on home ice in front of 17,000 people was an amazing feeling and you'll never forget it. It was something that you know you had to go through the whole year and it was tough. Everyone was doubting the team but we came through.
BF: Do you feel like it is an easier transition to go from California , which is not considered a strong hockey market, to Nashville which kind of has that same image as opposed to going to a Canadian team for instance?
Blum: Yeah definitely. There is alot more media up in Canada and it's Canada's game up there. It's nice to come to a city more laid back like Nashville. The guys, if they go out to the mall or something and they won't hassled or be bugged by people. I was fortunate enough to come to a team like Nashville.
I hope to catch up with Jonathon in about a month and see how his season is going. Hopefully all will be as interested as I am.
Here are some quotes from today:
"I think anytime you get to play in front of your hometown fans and give them something to cheer about it's always nice. We're looking forward to playing at home. We had a good game in Columbus so hopefully we can bring some of the energy back home." - Darcy Hordichuk
"I feel really good. I'm going to play the 1st half tomorrow night. I feel good right now so I'm just looking forward to starting the actual real games." - Chris Mason
"I love playing in that arena so I'm just really looking forward to playing in the Sommet Center." - Chris Mason
I hope to see all of Pred Nation out there tomorrow night for the preseason home opener. I'm pretty excited to see the team compete against a team other than ourselves. The bonus is it is against my hometown team the Atlanta Thrashers. Barry Trotz said today to expect around 10 to 12 veterans in the lineup tomorrow night, including Chris Mason starting in net. He thinks that a half and half mix of young players and veteran players will be what we see for the next 3 days. After Saturday's tilt the team will likely cut a few more players.
See you tomorrow night Pred fans!
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