Instead of wasting a bunch of my time researching, I decided to go straight to the source. So, if you want a real in-depth preview of the Blizzard, read this article: http://www.alexandriablizzard.com/page/show_article/17122/15285
My take on the Blizzard:
After a horrible start last year they went on an incredible run to qualify for the playoffs, then they beat the Express in 5 games in the first round, and ultimately made the trip to St. Louis for the Robertson Cup Championship. The taste of success they had last year, will make them hungry to get another crack at the cup. They return a bunch of veterans from last year, and picked up 3 former Fargo-Moorhead Jets, which on paper, make them the early favorite to win the Central Division.
However, the main story here is not so much who is coming back, but who is not coming back. The Blizzard lost their top 2 scorers from last year in Luke Nesper and Michael Lickteig. Both of those guys were in the top 5 in the entire NAHL in scoring, and obviously the Blizzard will feel that loss. The Blizzard as a team were the 4th highest scoring team in the league, but they also gave up the 4th highest amount of goals against. They lost their two highest scorers, and kept both goalies and half of last year's defensemen. Of all the veteran Blizzard players returning for this year (12??) only 4 finished last season with a positive plus/minus.
Tidbits:
- Ryan Leets their #1 goalie entering this season, finished last year rated the 19th best goalie in the league, just 1 spot better than former Express goalie Scott Pederson.
- Forward Jerry Freismuth is the real deal. He finished last year with 55 points, and was a +32. He is off to a good start this season with 8 points in the Showcase. He should be near the top of the league in scoring, and is a guy the Express will have to keep in check if they hope to compete with the Blizzard.
- The Express will play the Blizzard 9 times during the regular season. 4 games in Alexandria, and 5 games in Owatonna, including the home opener October 3rd. It will be an early opportunity to see how we stack up against them, and maybe send a message that the Express will be a team to be reckoned with this season.
- The Blizzard went 2-1-1 at the Showcase. They beat the Alaska Avalanche and the USNTDP - U18 team, and lost to St Louis and Wichita Falls (in overtime).
- Other Blizzard players to watch: Brandon Bahnemann (former Express player), Joe Knoepke (spent last season in the USHL), and Taylor Vichorek (6'7" and physical).
Check back Friday to see my season-long prediction for the Blizzard.
See you at the rink.
--BK
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6 comments:
Regarding the Alexandria Blizzard, you are right they had a horrible start to last years season and it did impact Ryan Leet's goaltending numbers. But you should know that down the stretch, he was very good. So the ranking as 19th is correct but I'm sure his numbers for the last thirty games or so were very good.
Leets had very good games in the last thirty or so games of the year including playoffs. He did well in the Showcase a week ago. Be careful with the plus minus stats from last year. I think only your top performers as first year kids have significant plus stats eg anything over +10. Many of the returning Alexandria players are better than -10 (Freismuth +32, Bahnemann +7, Clement +4, Swavely +7, McRae -6, Grimstad -7, Nemgar -6, Vichorek -1) Compare that with Express players (McDonald -24, Puente +4, Kruse -12, Baudette -8 and Carson -2)
Just a bit of information on Ryan Leets. In 7 games that he played in February last year he had a save percentage of .868. Not exactly where you want you stats to be. In March he played 8 games with a save percentage of .926. This is more where a goalie would want their stats to be. In the 13 games in play-offs he had a save percentage of .894. With a 3.18 GAA. I have watched Leets in a number of games the past two years and he is a good goalie. He is not usually going to take the game over with highlight reels. I would be much more concerned about keeping the offensive and defense of Alex in check before I worried about an average/good goalie.
Alex will give us trouble again this year.
They are a tough team and well coached.
This weekend I will head to both games against the Outlaws and the Thunder.
I am very exicited to see the Express play these 2 games.
I am not going anywhere. I will stay here and work.
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