Rookies Shine In First Intersquad Game of Calgary Flames' Training Camp

September 11, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Calgary, AB - Everyone was out to make an impression, and training camp was the perfect place to do it. Calgary Flames rookies took to the ice Sunday afternoon for their first intra-squad game of the pre-season. Many of the players on the ice will be suiting up for the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights this fall.

In a two-half, 50-minute scrimage, Team Red beat Team Black, 4-2 on Sunday afternoon in Calgary.

"I think they did a really good job," said Flames' coach Jim Playfair. "They got after loose pucks, they fore-checked really hard, they tried to back-check hard, so that's what you're looking for."

Forward Carsen Germyn, the Ak-Sar-ben Knights' leading goal scorer in 2005-06, scored the winning goal for Team Red part way through the second giving them their first lead of the game. Brandon Prust, the Knights' leader in penalty minutes last season, had the assist.

Adam Cracknell, who played six games for the Knights at the end of last season, also scored for Team Red, putting them up 4-2 in the final minutes of play, after a quick wrist shot beat Knights' netminder Curtis McElhinney.

Team Black showed a lot of grit in the first half of the game, ending the first 25 minutes of play with a 2-0 lead.

Forward David Van der Gulik, a potential Ak-Sar-Ben Knight in 2006-07, opened the scoring for Team Black in the early minutes of the game after an assist from 2006 draftee Hugo Carpentier.

"One of the things we've been talking about all week is after the shot is taken, hunt down loose pucks and go to the net with pucks, and he (Van der Gulik) certainly did that and was rewarded for it," said Playfair.

Goaltender Leland Irving, the Flames' first round draft pick in 2006, put on a stellar performance for Team Red in the second stopping everything that came his way.

"The guys were doing a good job clearing the net for me, so I could see everything, so that always helps," said Irving.

Forward Dustin Boyd, another potential Knight for this season, also had a number of nice plays but struggled to put the puck in the net.

Justin Taylor, who had a career-high 35 points for the Knights last season, also scored for Team Black, while Dan Ryder and Andrei Taratukhin posted goals for Team Red.

Rookies are scheduled to play their second intra-squad game Monday at 5:30 p.m. CT.

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will be releasing their training camp schedule later this month. Their second season in the American Hockey League begins on Friday, October 6th when they visit the Peoria Rivermen. The Knights' home opener is on Friday, October 20th when they host the Syracuse Crunch at 7:00 p.m. The first 5,000 fans will receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of Alegent Health.

By Miranda Baker, calgaryflames.com



American Hockey League Stories from September 11, 2006


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