Team Red Takes Second Intrasquad Scrimmage At Flames' Camp

Published on September 12, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Calgary, AB - Andrei Taratukhin, Richie Regehr, Aki Seitsonen, John Armstrong and Dustin Boyd each scored once to lead Team Red to a 5-1 win over Team Black at a rookie intrasquad game at the Pengrowth Saddledome Monday.

The win gives Team Red bragging rights for the season as they won both intra-squad games after claiming a 4-2 win Sunday.

The first half of the 50-minute game didn't produce any goals as both teams played strong defensively.

Goalies Brent Krahn (Black), who played for the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights last season, and Leland Irving (Red), the Flames top draft pick in 2006, didn't face many shots in the first half of the game -- about 10 each. Of the pair, Irving likely faced the more quality chances but he did a nice job of covering and preventing rebounds.

"The second half picked up," said head coach Jim Playfair of the game. "They are finding their way. They have gone through a fair bit the last few days. For what they have gone through, I think they are doing fairly well."

The starting goalies were replaced in the second half by Matt Keetley, a junior product playing in Medicine Hat and Kevin Lalande, another junior playing in Belleville in the OHL. Both were drafted in 2005 by the Flames.

Lalande was beat for all five goals against Team Black. Richie Regehr, the younger brother of Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr, opened the scoring with a one-timer from the face-off circle. Taratukhin, the 23-year-old Russian who is at his first NHL training camp, then slid in a rebound, collecting his second goal in as many games.

Armstrong put in a wrap around while Seitsonen ripped a shot from the slot before Boyd completed the scoring after intecepting a clearing attempt along the boards.

Taratukhin showed he can dangle, play both ends of the ice and that he is not afriad to muck it up in trhe corners and will be an interesting player to watch at main camp.

Playfair said it is unfair to evaluate Taratukhin at this junture because he has just arrived from Russia, leaving his wife and twins at home, and is experiencing a whole new culture and a whole new brand of hockey.

But Taratukhin is making every effort to learn English, to understand the fiteness side of playing in North America and to become a better hockey player, said Playfair.

"He has done everything he has been told to get better as a hockey player," said Playfair.

Others who stood out during the game were forward Eric Nystrom -- he buzzed around the ice but couldn't capitalize on his chances and another first round draft pick, Kris Chucko, who helped set up Team Black's only goal of the game, a rebound tucked past Keetley by Justin Taylor who scored 16 goals for the Knights last season.

The intra-squad game was the second and final game for the rookies who will return to practices and off-ice training for the rest of the week. A number of the rookies will also be invited to attend the main Flames camp, which opens Friday, to get a feel for playing with NHL veterans.

"It's important for our players to go through this camp and know there is another step," said Playfair. "It's important for a lot of our players to be around our main camp. It's a step-by-step process."

ICING: Defenseman Adam Pardy took a skate in the head in the first period of the intra-squad game and left the ice for treatment but did return...F Cam Cunning did not play in the game because of a groin injury.

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American Hockey League Stories from September 12, 2006


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