WHL This Week
Published on November 4, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
BEAUCHEMIN IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Rejean Beauchemin knows all about pressure. The 19-year-old Winnipeg, MB native deals with it night in and night out as the main man in net for the Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders.
This year, however, the pressure on Beauchemin weighs just a bit more.
Coming off a 30-win season last year and helping the Raiders to a third-place finish in the Eastern conference, Beauchemin was expected to be the cream of the WHL's crop of goaltenders and help mould the Raiders into a bona fide contender.
Yet, Beauchemin and the Raiders haven't gotten off to the start to the 2004-05 season they had hoped for. With only five wins in the first 18 games of the season, the Raiders find themselves well back of where they wanted to be. Beauchemin admits his game, as well as his team's game, could be better.
"I feel like I'm not making the big saves at the right times...and sometimes it's costing us," said Beauchemin, who was drafted in the sixth round (191st overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2003.
"I think we're not working hard enough as a team. We just expected (success) was just a given. Everyone said at the start of the season that we had a good team, but it doesn't mean anything if you're not working hard to prove it. That's been one of the problems for us."
Aside from the pressure of helping the Raiders get back on track, Beauchemin also has the added challenge of vying for a spot on the national junior team that will compete in the IIHF World Junior championship at the end of December.
Beauchemin's puck-stopping talents and cool demeanor earned him an invite to Hockey Canada's national junior team summer development camp in August in Calgary where he made a solid impression on head coach Brent Sutter and the national team's brass. A veteran of Canada's Gold medal-winning squad at the 2002-03 World Under-18 championships in 2002-03, Beauchemin knows there is no easy route to making the national team.
"I've got to start getting ready for (selection) camp," he said. "I've got to get my game together and, hopefully, make the best of it."
Before potentially heading off to the national junior team selection camp in mid-December, Beauchemin will be under the spotlight as a member of Team WHL for the upcoming CHL Canada/Russia Challenge.
The star-studded team, which will play a two-game series against a Russian select team on December 1st in Red Deer, and the next night in Lethbridge, is mostly made up of WHL players who attended the national team's development camp and is seen as a chance for Canada's national junior team management to evaluate the WHL's world junior hopefuls.
So far, Beauchemin is the only goaltender named to the roster, although, two more netminders, along with several more players, will be named to the team next week. With several goaltenders around the league putting up stellar numbers this season, Beauchemin knows he's in for some stiff competition. Yet, he also realizes it's up to him to show he can be the man for the job.
"There are some great goalies in the league right now," he said. "But, it's useless worrying about what the other guys are doing.
"I try not to (worry), but it's hard not to notice the other guys...it's sort of unavoidable. I just have to worry about what I can do," he added.
Despite the pressures to perform at the club level and national team level, Beauchemin - much like his hockey idol growing up, Steve Yzerman - always manages to keep himself grounded.
"I just want to help the team win," he said, noting he's feeling better about his game lately. "I'll just keep trying to be consistent and do the best I can."
Jesse Watts whl.ca
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WHL KEY PERFORMERS
COLTON YELLOWHORN, Lethbridge Hurricanes - Has tallied a goal and six assists and boasts a plus-two rating in his last two outings. Has been a key contributor in helping the âCanes to a five-game unbeaten streak.
RYAN CYR, Saskatoon Blades - Has two wins in his last two starts â including a shutout versus Kootenay last Friday â and has allowed just two goals on 59 shots in that span.
AARON GAGNON, Seattle Thunderbirds - Has four goals and an assist in last three outings. Scored game-winner versus Spokane last Friday.
KRIS RUSSELL, Medicine Hat Tigers - Has three goals and two assists and a plus-five rating in his last three games. Leads all Tigers' defencemen in scoring and plus-minus.
ROMAN WICK, Red Deer Rebels - Has two goals and an assist and a plus-three rating in his last two games. Currently is riding a six-game point streak.
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THE PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE
They call him Nasty...and for good reason.
To opposing snipers, Medicine Hat Tigers' netminder Kevin Nastiuk has been nothing but downright nasty this season. The 19-year-old Edmonton native has been all but unbeatable in the early going, posting a 11-1 record in 12 starts, and allowing only 10 goals for an incredible 0.83 GAA and a 96.6 save percentage. On top of that, Nastiuk, who was a fourth-round pick (126th overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003, has posted six shutouts already, including three straight donuts earlier this month.
Nastiuk's stellar play has earned him WHL and CHL Player of the Week accolades as well as WHL Player of the Month honors for September/October. His puck-stopping heroics have also helped the Tigers - defending WHL champions - to a 12-1-1 record over the first month of the season, good enough for first overall in the league.
Kevin Nastiuk's Perspective
On the Tigers early dominance...
"We learned a lot from our experience last year. We know what kind of effort it takes to be a great team and we wanted to make sure we were all on the same page from game one."
On living in Medicine Hat...
"It's a great hockey town and I'm really happy to be able to play here. I've got great billets, and the people here are real hockey fans."
On his favorite Edmonton Oiler...
"I always liked Bill Ranford. He always made the big, flashy saves and he won the Stanley Cup. As far as current Oilers go, I like (former Moose Jaw Warrior) Ryan Smyth and (former P.G. Cougar) Eric Brewer."
On the pros and cons of long bus rides...
"It's good to hang out with the other guys...watching movies is alright, even though it's usually the same ones â the Adam Sandler collection. The bad part is the long road trips when you're off and on the bus all the time."
On his best hockey moment...
"Winning the WHL championship was definitely a top experience. When I was a rookie, we didn't have a great team, and seeing how the team has come along and become champions is special."
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COUGARS WELCOME BRAD MAY & FRIENDS
PRINCE GEORGE, BC - The Prince George Cougars are proud to announce that they will be hosting the "Brad May & Friends Hockey Challenge" on December 14th, 2004 @ 7:30pm at the Multiplex.
This charity event, organized by Vancouver Canuck Brad May and business partner Karim Chandani, was developed to ensure that even in the midst of an NHL lockout, the Canuck Place Children's Hospice would not endure any financial hardship.
The "Brad May & Friends Hockey Challenge" will feature NHL players suiting up against one another, with 25% of the proceeds going to benefit the Canuck Place Children's Hospice, 25% to the Prince George Hospice Society, and the remaining 50% to other local charities.
Tickets for the "Brad May & Friends Hockey Challenge" will go on sale exclusively for Cougars Season Ticket Holders November 8-14. From November 15-17, the general public will have an opportunity to purchase 2 pack tickets, which will include a "Brad May & Friends Hockey Challenge" ticket and a Cougars game in January at a reduced price. As of November 18, all remaining single game tickets will be available.
Here is a list of players have confirmed their attendance: Brad May, Matt Cooke, Dan Cloutier, Ryan Smyth, Steve Staios, Brent Sopel, Todd Simpson, Jason Strudwick, and Marty Turco.
The "Brad May & Friends Hockey Challenge" would like to thank the Prince George Cougars, the City of Prince George, Ticket Master, CIBC, the Prince George Citizen, Dairyland, Whitespot, The Province newspaper, PGTV, 99.3 The Drive, 101.3 HITS FM, Westword Printing, and Esso for their support.
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SASKATOON IDOL THERESA SOKYRKA TO SING SATURDAY NIGHT
SASKATOON, SK -- Joining Brent Ashton, being honored this Saturday night, will be Saskatoon Canadian Idol Theresa Sokyrka as she performs the two National Anthems (Canadian & American) and performs during the games 1st period intermission as the Blades host Kevin Constantine and the Everett Silvertips.
Theresa wrote her first musical composition at age four. Fast forward 19 years and Theresa is the winner of the C95 and CTV's "Saskatoon Idol" competition and was a final two for Canadian Idol before bowing out to Kalan Porter for the crown. Theresa began singing in church with the Saskatoon Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Choir. She has experimented in band Phagoo, Jazz band the Jeff Martin Trio and ensembles at Red Deer College. Theresa who plays the violin and guitar, says people would be surprised to find out that she is quite shy when not on stage.
The Saskatoon Blades will also be honoring former Blades great Brent Ashton in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday November 6th, 2004 when the Blue & Gold host the Everett Silvertips. The ceremony will see the #7 of Ashton lifted to the rafters of Credit Union Centre and be officially retired. The jersey retirement will be just the fourth in franchise history, following those of Wendel Clark, Bernie Federko and Brian Skrudland. This historic celebration of one of Saskatoon's finest is proudly sponsored by Shaw TV, CJWW, Hot 93FM, Magic 98.3FM, and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2004
- Bender Suspended - Kamloops Blazers
- Hitmen Present Wendy's Bobblehead and WHL Alumni Night - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL This Week - WHL
- Fehr reaches milestone - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Brandon Wheat Kings game notes - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Winter Hawks Win Fourth Straight Home Game, 4-0 - Portland Winterhawks
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