A Weekly Look at the 2018-19 Sudbury Miners: Volume 7

A Weekly Look at the 2018-19 Sudbury Miners:  Volume 7

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

Miners Weekly Record: 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 OT loss.

Miners League Standing:  13 wins, 11 losses, 3 OT Loss = 29 points total.  Currently sit in 7th place in the Canosa Conference, 13th overall in the CCHL.

Miners Special Teams:  Power Play – 25.5% (10th); Penalty Kill – 77.2% (13th)

Miners Scoring Leader:  Center Vincent Trocheck (9G – 27A = 36pts; 13th Overall in the CCHL)

            The Sudbury Miners are quickly realizing that any chance of making the playoffs will be a fight.  With a busy schedule last week versus four division opponents, the Miners needed good result in order to try and make some headway in their quest for a playoff spot in the Canosa Conference.  But much like the Miners season so far, consistency has been a problem, and as a result, the Miners were unable to gain any ground and still remain two points back of Long Island for 6th place and the final playoff spot.

The Miners started the week positive with two big wins over Fonthill and Victoria, and having them temporarily in the final playoff position.  A home-and-home series versus Reykjavik, who before their two games with the Miners, was sitting in the bottom three of the CCHL standings.  It seemed like a perfect recipe for the Miners to take one, or perhaps both games and open up a small cushion on that final playoff spot.  But, it was not to be.  The Miners dropped both contests to the Puffin, and in turn, dropped to 7th in the Canosa Conference and out of a playoff position.

“It was a positive start to the week with our two wins over Fonthill and Victoria”, stated Miners defenceman Josh Morrissey.  “We were confident going into the weekend games versus the Puffin.  We did not take them lightly, but to lose both games was tough.  We need to recognize these opportunites that present themselves and capitalize” said Morrissey.  "If not, we will find ourselves back on the golf course in the spring, and I hate golf".

MINERS PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK:  Brandon Montour

            Montour is seen as a slick, offensively talented blueliner that can push the pace.  He is high risk, high reward puck mover and can rush it or pass it out.  He has soft hands and a powerful shot from the point.  His skating is one of his best assets, as he is an agile skater and is skilled at making plays while in motion.  He has great edge work and a smooth ability to transition from forward to reverse.  Montour also shows poise and composure under pressure which is not common in a player this new to the league.  He is still making gains still as a defender, as he is learning to developing better structure and body angling.  He doesn’t initiate physicality consistently and relies mostly on skilled stickwork and positioning.  He will be a fixture on the Miners powerplay for years to come.

MINERS PROSPECT NEED TO KNOW:  Troy Terry

            Known for his shootout heroics on the World Junior stage, Troy Terry’s ridiculously quick hands and creativity with the puck on his stick has translated well in other facets of his game. The former NCAA champion with Denver uses his phenomenal puck-handling to get past defenders and his patient, but lethal shooting ability to snipe pucks past fooled goaltenders.  His positioning is solid, and his two-way game has been steadily improving over time.  All he needs to do is get stronger and grow into his 6-1” frame, but it appears that the Miners have found themselves a steal of a late-round forward.  Expected CCHL arrival:  2019-20.