It is simply amazing. Both the Arizona Sundogs AND the San Antonio Rampage are cookin on all cylinders. Both have done well in the postseasn.

The Dogs are vying for the President’s Cup in the finals! After gettin the stuffing whomped out of them in game 6 (2 - 9) the pups came back for a 6 - 1 decisive win to advance. SWEET! All of the games up until the 6th were close. Both teams showed moxie and heart, battling each other to a standstill. Game 6 was the turning point at which the young Sundogs hitched up their socks after the embarrassment and blasted the Laredo Bucks with everything they had in game 7. This team has gumption to spare.

Led in points by Alex Leavitt and Cory Urquhart (both with 22 point) this young team has all the makings of a winner. We don’t get much news on the Sundogs but after this season’s performance maybe that will change. Hopefully edgy goalie Robert Mcvicar can keep up his winning ways and the boys can snag a nice piece of hardware to present to the loyal faithful out in Prescott Valley.

GO SUNDOGS!

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/

San Antonio Rampage is making some noise of it’s own down in the heart of Texas and around the AHL.

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So many things happening, so little time to write about them… sighhh.

Okay let us just bounce randomly through some of the ’stuff’.

World Cup -

Z, Vrbie and Hanzal will be playing for the Czechs. Kapi for the Finns. Looks like Telly has accepted the net job for Sweden. Bally and Mules will be donning the red,white and blue for the US and Jovo and Doan for Canada (KT will also be at the Canadian’s camp, no word on if he actually makes the squad yet). Speaking of Captain Clutch…

Captain Coyote -

Shane Doan. All around good guy and a leader where ever he goes, has been chosen … again to play for Canada in the World Cup (no surprise there eh?) Our intrepid Captain helped helm the last Canadian team to an undefeated gold medal so why wouldn’t they want him back.

Shane has been busy garnering other accolades from the hockey world, he’s also a finalist for the Masterson trophy. (The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and is given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.) I don’t have to tell you folks about the qualities that make Shane such a good candidate for this award, we see it everyday. Interesting enough, the other candidates include Chris Chelios and JR.

Chellie I can understand, the guy personifies perseverance (hell, he’s 46 and has 1,616 games under his belt!) in a sport that counts hits as a stat, the body takes a LOT of wear and tear and to still be playing (and playing well) at 46 is a testimony to Chelios’ drive, determination and dedication.

JR on the other hand… well, you all know I have no love for the man. Irritating, arrogant and all around pain in my nether regions (tell us how you really feel Onyx). Yeah he was on the edge of extintion (by his own hand… or would that be his mouth?) and yeah he is doin well with SJ. But he’s fighting a battle that he brought on himself. Some of his past comments and actions do NOT display much less exemplify what the Masterson trophy is all about.

Doan: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=358894&page=NewsPage&service=page

JR: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=359186&page=NewsPage&service=page

Chellie: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=359682&page=NewsPage&service=page

Rampage Ruminations -

The boys are barely holding their own. They are 2 - 3 in their series against the Toronto Marlies. They’ve got more firepower than ever before but seem to have a wee bit of a consistency issue.

Game 1 was a squeaker as the Marlies edged our boys out 4 -3. In game 2, our Rampage got the franchise’s first ever playoff win with a 6 - 3 decisive victory, mainly powered by the duo of Porter and Kolarick. Game 3, Phoenix’s very own David Spina led the way in a 3 -2 victory to put the Rampage ahead in the series. The Marlies refused to die graciously and fought back in game 4 with a reversal and held onto a 3-2 win to tie up the series. Game 5 seemed to be a first goalie to blink loses kinda game. The Marlies scuttled away with a 2 -1 win.

Tordjy and Monty have been sharing the net. Neither one has stepped up and ”owned’ the series yet. Both are playing well though.

So our boys return to Toronto (its win or die time) to try to force a game seven in this series.

Game recaps and some nice video - http://sarampage.com/news/team/index.html?datearchive=2008-04-1

 Go Rampage!

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Rampage edged by Marlies in the first game of their playoffs. 4 - 3 Marlies.

Montoya in net for this first run. The Marlie’s Newberry and Mitchell got the first two goals but Arizona’s very own David Spina grabbed a PP goal to keep the Rampage close.

Matt Murley got a shortie to tie it all up but Marlie center Foster took advantage of Keith Yandle’s broken stick to make it 3 - 2.

It became a seesaw as Brendan Bell (former Marlie) tied it up again in the middle moments of the third period. 3 - 3 until the last 6 minutes and the Marlie’s Jriry Tlusty took advantage of a miscue behind Monty’s net to get the game winner. 4 - 3 Marlies final.

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What a motley crew or would that be moxie crew? Joined late by new boys Ross, Porter, Kolarick as well as gaining Montoya in net and Yandle and Lisin back in the fold, the playoff run for the Rampage should be exciting and fun.

Having the Hobey Baker award winning Porter and his dynamic sidekick Kolarick on the squad certainly boosts the Rampage’s offensive ability and with the confidence that Lisin has gained in his NHL stint certainly bodes well for the team to climb the playoff ranks.

Not a bad roster at all. If Monty and Tordjy can hold the net with any kind of authority I really like the boys chances.

Catch some games if you can. Get a sneak peak at the talent that will vying for the few spots on the main team in September. Rookie camp is in June and the main camp starts September 19th.

COYOTES SIGN CHAD KOLARIK TO ENTRY LEVEL CONTRACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sunday, April 13, 2008

GLENDALE, ARIZONA — Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Chad Kolarik to an entry level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Kolarik, 22, recently completed his senior season at the University of Michigan where he helped lead the Wolverines to their 23^rd Frozen Four appearance in school history. Kolarik finished the season ranked 2^nd on the team in scoring with 30-26-56. He also ranked 3^rd in the nation in points and 4^th in goals.

A native of Abington , Pennsylvania , Kolarik was named to the 2008 Central Collegiate Hockey League (CCHL) First Team and was a RBK West Second Team All-American.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Kolarik appeared in 163 career games for Michigan , collecting 78-96-174 and 131 penalty minutes (PIM).

Kolarik was selected by the Coyotes in the seventh round (199^th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.

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Let me start this one out by saying thank you.

Thank you to the team for working so hard night after night, game after game and event after event. For giving us perhaps the most exciting season in nearly 6 years. Familiar faces and new ones all giving their all, leaving their hearts on the ice in every situation. Can’t ask for more than their best and damn if these boys didn’t give it to us.

Thank you 2007 Coyotes.

To the organization for listening to us fans and providing us with forthright information like the intriguing chalk talk sessions. Kudos to you guys for giving us not only a great and exciting on-ice product (thanx Wayne, GMDM and staff) but for all the little improvements throughout the arena like the sound system and out of town scores and the TVs on the concourse, the unprecendented access of the Rosen radio shows and the coll CoyotesTV. And the events!Oh man! so many sweet events to help keep us in the game when the boys were playing away and during the off season to help us get pumped up for the ride.And of course to our most accommodating Doug Moss, who never failed to answer an email or phone call that we sent in abundance!

To the marketing team who actually won awards for Pierre and made us all laugh and appreciate our ads again (the road rage billboard and the Donor ‘Checking’ commercial were awesome as well as the golf pro sponsorship as primo examples of thinking outside the box).

To the reps (especially Bryan T and Ashley) for always making sure that my guests were taken care of and that I never had any issues or questions unresolved. To the best usher in Jobbing.com arena, DAVID! To Phil and Rita at the STH gate (always a smile and a hug and a fantastic welcome).

To Howler who is THE BEST MASCOT ever! What a treat to watch and interact with. To the Booster club and all its members for the stellar support of the Yoties charities and fun social events as well. Big shout out to Jim Gintonio! He made major strides in getting us coverage of our beloved Dawgs and gave us news and fresh eyes without the usual negativity and scorn of the former AZCentral beat writers.

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Well we had them almost to the chopping block to end the season on a high note but we sorta let our foot off their necks and they got away. The Ducks win in shootout 3 - 2 final. But man what a game by Turris and Carcillo! The two young guns put on a serious show.

DC and his new cohorts in offense KT and Mules, lit the Ducks up for first blood and then DC combined w/ Vrbie and DMo for another tally in the third period. Mostly it was the Yotes all the way but we got a lil happy feet and let them back in the game midway through the third when Kunitz and Ryan exploded within 2 minutes of each other.

Poor DMo scored just seconds off the buzzer going off, it didn’t count! So we ended up goin all the way to a shootout. Which was good and bad. There was nothing on the line so giving up the 2 goal lead (and the shutout bid) didn’t hurt so much and the opportunity to see the ‘other’ Kid in the shootout was priceless.

Bryz! had already handled way more Duck shots than he’s used to us allowing (40 sogs before the SO) and he wasnt as patient as he probably should been allowing both Kunitz and Selanne to score. Mules shot wide and we needed to score to stay in it. No pressure right? *cue choirs of Hosannas* Kyle Turris in his first NHL shoot out…can anyone say pressure?

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Got to the Job early last night, (didn’t want to miss anything ya know). Got hugs from Rita and a golden ticket. Hunted down Phil who was out playing supervisor and got more hugs and slightly teary good byes said.

Hung out on the patio with the usual suspects ( hi Don, Sue, Linda, Scott, Spencer, Bea and Sandy). Got up to date on solid source rumors (if Mats Sundin ends up a Yote, you heard it here first) and possible rumors (if Jonas Ahnelov signs you also heard that here first lol). TQ, Teal and I had our usual sign making event with DTG’s girls and all the rest of the Locker Room gang trickled onto the patio, including the crazy Marine in his red/white wig, go SinBin!

Scratched tickets…… me and Teal both had a winner! She got prize #001 and I got prize #003. Went down to the prize redemption table and Teal received a sweet, Gretzky, McFarlane figurine signed by Todd himself. I won the shirt off Hanzal’s back! WOW!

The way it works for those who are curious is… walk thru gate receive scratcher ticket, scratch said ticket to reveal prize. Go to table, redeem prize. Its all a random crapshoot as to what prize if any, that you will win.

Some tickets said ‘you have won prize number xxx. You take the ticket down to the table and they hand you the coinciding prize (in my case, an envelope that I thought was just an autographed pic) open it, et voila! A piece of paper saying I won the shirt off Hanzal’s back. Then the disclaimers and stuff and when to meet to go get it. Tres kewl! Over to section 105 at the 10 minute mark of the third period, for screaming jumbo tron pics then down to basement for ice entry to the red carpet and the rest you saw.

The wheel of fortune people’s ticket was different , it said ‘you have won a wheel of fortune prize, show up at section 104 with xxx minutes left in the xxx period’. You show up, make chit chat with Woody and spin the wheel (which I would guess is preset to the prize # that you won… in order not have people winning the same prize over and over ) Those were some nice prizes on that wheel. One of the guys from HFboards brought his cousin (who was visiting from France) she won the big screen TV and they had a hell of a time trying to get that sucker packaged up for the return flight which was the next morning!

Because the guys were leaving to go to Dallas, the presentations were kind of rushed all night, even the awards ceremonies at the beginning. Because of time constraints the boys wore the jerseys in warm ups, signed them… went off at game end, slipped them back on and then came and gave them to us and ran for the showers and off to the airport. But it was still cool as hell, even rushed.

I was in between the Weller and Jones winners (who were pulled from the line to go get their jersey from Wellie and Jonesy atthe players benches, because they were scratched) which left the Carcillo jersey winner on my right. That lil old man was a hoot. He just got his regular Carci jersey signed on Tues at the season ticket holder event… his wife will be rockin that one… now that he has the ‘real’ deal. His lil hat had everyone’s signatures on it too. What a sweetie. So was the lil one next to me… was almost hoppin out of her skin waitin for Z to come over.

Unfortunately the KT winner was an ID10T not even a true fan. But his date was and he said he was givin the jersey to her… I betcha we see that puppy on ebay next week now that he knows how much its worth.

Being down on the ice is awesome. Looking up at all those seats and imagining how it must feel to play with it full was mind boggling. Even better was looking up in the stands and actually being able to recognize all my friends (Amber/Mom and Kate and Hubby down in 106 and the gang in 113, Teal, TQ, HatTrick/Mrs. HT, DTG, Tracey, Odie/Mrs. O and both Cindys) and yes I could really tell it was all of you guys! So the next time someone yells at Yentle or Jovo, remember they can really see you and hear you! LOL

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There has been a lil more talk about the Blake Wheeler situation.

(hey Goon, thanks for stopping by and thanx for the link)

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2008/04/04/20080404yotenbonlineonly0404.html

I don’t think its as simple as Wheels not wanting to come to Phoenix. The kid was still in high school when drafted, he is a prelockout draftee so he has lots more to consider.

If he returns to school he will be the captain of the squad and have his degree at the end as well as another full year to equalize his age and the chance of success.

If he goes pro with the Yotes he will seriously be fighting a whooole bunch of talent for a spot on a team that doesn’t have a whole lot more room for more rookies (ratio of rookies to vets has to be maintained for success). He is also most likely lookin at offers from DMGM of the new rookie max plus bonuses which is not as much as he could get elsewhere.

If he goes pro and doesn’t sign with the Yotes some other team would likely pick him up and since he would be UFA (prelockout rules/CBA) he could command more $$$ from another team. I don’t think he is limited to going back into the draft pool.

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Well the Stars came out to the Job and handed us our hats on fan appreciation night.

Look for the fan appreciation stuff in the next couple of posts… Your Onyx won a prezzie from the night and it was a doozy - hint:  jersey size 58

Last home game of the season turned into a bit of a bummer for us with the loss (4 - 2 final) but DC gave us more than a little bit to cheer about with a dual bout and KT lifted us by showing us what all the hype is truly about.

Let me say that Kyle Turris is going to be amazing. In his first NHL game the kid showed a lot of poise and certainly has the talent (even in this early peek) to make the most of top line minutes. No he didn’t score but it was certainly not through lack of effort (5sogs, one of which Holmqvist was lucky to get a shoulder on) he also got his first penalty minutes w/ a stinky puck-over-glass delay of game ( a favorite penalty of our boys). He also played 19:28 minutes and didn’t look out of place during any of them. I wouldn’t worry too much about his weight and strength anymore… you can’t hit what you can’t catch and KT slipped a couple of dead on hits with ease, the kid keeps his head up and isn’t afraid to take on if he has to. Nice start to what promises to be a very sweet future in the NHL.

TGO please don’t put Kapi on the PK w/ TQ again …it was brutal. We were’nt physical enough with only 15 hits total. This Stars team has to be hit often and hard to get them off their game and tonight we looked a bit soft… right up until DC took Barch to the ice in a very Weller-esque fashion. It wasn’t much of a fight, more like the proverbial 2 hits (DC hit Barch, Barch hit the ice) a simply amazing smack down and great payback for last year when Barch wouldn’t quit after DC hurt his hand during one of their bouts. The team appreciated Carci’s efforts mightily.

Then that psycho Ott decided to start some static.

DC may not have won that bout decisively but he more than held his own against the larger, crazier Ott. The team got a hell of a lift, the crowd became that 6th man and we mounted a comeback from a 3 - 0 rout.

Enver Lisin again showed the skill that will probably having him make the squad next season ( takes talent and balls to pull up, then fire the puck right thru their defender and beat a goalie like that). The kid has quick hands and wheels to spare and is rapidly proving me wrong about needing 1 more year in SA (his defensive skills and willingness to battle in the corners is making me a believer).

Our most versatile blueliner (hey he plays goalie, D and wing most nights) Bally potted a shortie for us. (it was so sweet to be on the other end of a short handed goal for once). 3 - 2 for a little while but we just couldn’t make that tying goal go in. Dallas got the insurance goal on the empty net with 30 seconds left as Jovo flubs the last pass to Donor right in front of freakin Modo.

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