CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):
Miners Weekly Record: 2 wins, 1 loss, 0 OT loss.
Miners League Standing: 9 wins, 9 losses, 2 OT Loss = 20 points total. Currently sit in 8th place in the Canosa Conference, 15th overall in the CCHL.
Miners Special Teams: Power Play – 25.0% (8th); Penalty Kill – 79.2% (8th)
Miners Scoring Leader: Center Vincent Trocheck (6G – 19A = 25pts; 20th Overall in the CCHL)
For the Sudbury Miners to remain in the thick of the playoff race in the Canosa Conference, it goes without saying that they need to win those important intra-conference games. After sporting a 2-1-0 record this week including wins over conference rivals Minnesota and Siberia, the Miners have jumped up to 8th spot in the Canosa Conference. They now sit just two points back of Victoria for 6th place and more importantly, the final playoff spot.
“It’s fun actually playing meaningful games in November”, stated Miners winger Sam Reinhart. “Most of the pundits didn’t give us much of a shot going into the season, but we have always had a belief in this room that we could compete for a playoff spot”.
Some of the Miners success this season can be attributed to their much improved Special Teams play. Both the Power Play and Penalty Killing units are currently sitting in the Top 10 of the CCHL, and that trend will need to continue if the Miners have any hope of claiming a playoff spot.
“We made a strong effort to address some system issues with our Special Teams, and so far the results have been positive”, stated Miners Coach Derek Sutton. “We are trying to use players in certain roles that will maximize their contributions and so far, the results have been positive. It is something that we can continue to build on”.
MINERS PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK: Chris Tierney
In his short time in the CCHL, Tierney has developed into a multi-dimensional forward that is reliable in all situations. He is creative with good hockey sense in every zone and his anticipation and adherence to system structure set him apart as a forechecker. While he does battle physically along the boards, he is not a punishing player but is slowly learning how to use his size to his advantage. His skating is one of his best assets, as his first step explosiveness translates into high-end top speed. Along with his playmaking capabilities, his wrist shot has solid velocity and torque and appears to “jump off the blade”. In his short time, he has matured into a steadfast penalty killer and his ceiling is viewed as a depth, but skilled and dangerous pivot.
MINERS PROSPECT NEED TO KNOW: Jared McIssac
McIssac is a fantastic skater who does everything at an above average level. He has already represented Canada at the WU18 tournament twice. It was not too long ago that McIsaac was considered the best offensive defenseman in the QMJHL (even ahead of Noah Dobson) in scouting circles. With Halifax expected to ramp up as they prepare to host this year’s Memorial Cup, expect McIsaac to put up plenty of points and gain even more experience in the spotlight. If his development continues, he has a realistic shot at becoming a future first pairing defender. Expected CCHL arrival: 2021-22.
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