Cheering for Dach to rock ’n’ roll in the NHL

Kirby Dach in action for the Blades last season.

    Kirby Dach is in the NHL and here is hoping he rock ’n’ rolls it in “The Show.”

    The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., product is one of the rare players who has made it to the NHL on a full-time basis at age 18. The skilled centre will turn 19-years-old on Jan. 21 in the new year.

    Last season with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, Dach piled up 25 goals, 48 assists and a plus-15 rating in the plus-minus department in 62 regular season games. He netted five goals and three assists in the Blades 10 post-season games as they advanced to the second round of the WHL playoffs and fell 4-2 in a best-of-seven series to the eventual league champion Prince Albert Raiders.

    At the NHL Entry Draft that was held last June in Vancouver, B.C., Dach, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 197 pounds, was selected in the first round and third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. The national television cameras received a priceless picture of surprise and joy from Dach.

    After that selection, there were questions about whether Dach would return to the Blades for his 18-year-old campaign. In most cases, an 18-year-old can train all they want, but the body physically isn’t capable or is only starting to be capable of holding the strength and power that young athlete wants to build.

Kirby Dach has played 20 regular season games in the NHL this season.

    With that in mind, players that young are usually returned to junior instead of playing against other NHLers, who are built like fast, tank-like machines.

    If you are gifted at playing the sport, you can overcome the physical limitations of strength and power to play in the NHL at a young age.

    Dach is one of the most gifted 18-year-olds you will meet being both a great player on the ice and a super person off the ice. He is one of those that does really well in school too and is really bright.

    During an interview before last season’s playoffs, I asked Dach if he would like to be a hero in Saskatoon forever like Adam Brooks and Sam Steel are in Regina for their post-season exploits with the Pats and Glenn Gawdin and Tyler Steenbergen are in Swift Current for winning a WHL title with the Broncos in 2018.

    You could see the light go on in Dach’s head, and he admitted he wanted that. In total, he spent two full seasons in Saskatoon and part of the 2016-17 campaign with the Blades as an underage player. He was ready to what he had to in order to be part of something special with his team.

Kirby Dach in action for the Blades in February of 2017,

    The Blackhawks likely saw that characteristic too. That was probably another factor that helped Dach make it to the NHL.

    If an NHL team lays out a path for him to make it into the circuit, he is one of the few at age 18 that has the drive and the smarts to make it happen.

    As time has gone on, it is apparent the Blackhawks have had a love in with Dach. The signed him three-year, entry-level contract on July 8.

    He didn’t report to Blades training camp and went straight to Blackhawks training camp activities.

On Sept. 10, Dach was on the receiving end of a dirty hit during a game at a rookie tournament in Traverse City, Michigan, and was placed in concussion protocol.

    Despite that setback, the Blackhawks showed patience in allowing him to heal up and proceeded to give him an opportunity to show he was ready to stay with the NHL club.

    Dach has now played in 20 NHL regular season games with the Blackhawks posting five goals, five assists and a plus-one rating. He had points in five straight games during a stretch from Nov. 10 to 19 where he netted four goals and three assists.

    In Chicago, Dach is playing under a head coach in 34-year-old Jeremy Colliton, who can identify with Dach’s path through the game.

Kirby Dach in action for the Blades in 2017-18.

    Colliton, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 201 pounds, was a star at every level of minor hockey growing up in Blackie, Alta., and became a star in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders from 2001 to 2005. He was a two-time member of Canada’s world junior team and played for the gold medal winning super squad in the 2004-05 campaign that contained Sidney Crosby.

    While Colliton wasn’t a first round draft selection, he was taken in the second round and 58^th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Colliton isn’t that far removed from all those experiences and can easily help Dach navigate all the ups and downs in joining professional hockey.

    Right from the time Dach was drafted, the Blackhawks allowed him to have his foot in the door. Dach saw the opportunity and is seizing it. That is a great thing for him.

    While supporters of the Blades would have loved to have Dach back in Saskatoon, you still have to be happy Dach is getting a real chance to make it in the NHL.

    On any major junior team on any single year in Canada, I estimate about three players on average will get the chance to play one game in the NHL. The NHL is a tough business that tends to give up on and cycle numerous players out of the league or even out of the game quickly.

    Former Blades standout defenceman Darren Dietz played four seasons in the professional ranks in North America from 2013 to 2017 before departing to the Kontinental Hockey League. 

Kirby Dach had 73 points for the Blades last season.

    During the 2015-16 campaign, Dietz played 13 NHL regular season games with the Montreal Canadiens recording one goal, four assists and a minus-one rating.

    He didn’t play himself out of the North American professional ranks but was cycled out of them for teams to focus on the next crop of draft selections and free agent signings.

    As a reminder, Dietz had a strong final campaign with the Blades in 2012-13 posting 24 goals, 34 assists and a plus-nine rating appearing in all of the club’s 72 regular season games.

    At age 26, Dietz is the captain of Barys Nur-Sultan of the KHL.

    Nikita Scherbak skated for the Blades as an import forward for one season in 2013-14 playing sensationally on a club that was at the start of going through a major rebuild after hosting the Memorial Cup the previous season. The Russian product piled up 28 goals, 50 assists and a minus-six rating in 65 regular season games.

    He was selected in the first round and 26^th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. After playing one more season of major junior with the Everett Silvertips, Scherbak played professionally for four seasons in North America starting in 2015-16 to this past season.

Kirby Dach taking advantage of his chance in Chicago.

    Scherbak played 37 regular season games in the NHL over that time with the Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings collecting six goals, two assists and a minus-eight rating. He returned home to play in the KHL this season at age 23 and is with his second club on that circuit in the current campaign.

    Tommy Vannelli, who was an offensive defenceman, was selected in the second round and 47^th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He starred for two seasons in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers from 2013 to 2015 to prepare for a career in the professional ranks.

    Following his time with the Tigers, Vannelli played three seasons in the North American professional ranks from 2015 to 2018 and never once skated in an NHL regular season or post-season game. After the 2017-18 campaign, Vannelli was out of hockey as a player at age 23.

    Emerson Etem joined the Medicine Hat Tigers as the skilled speed demon from Long Beach, Calif., as a 17-year-old in the 2009-10 campaign. 
    He had an amazing three season with the Tigers from 2009 to 2012 piling up 143 goals, 109 assists and a plus-78 rating in 202 regular season games. He was selected in the first round and 29^th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

    Including being a call up for the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch at the end of the 2011-12 campaign, Etem spent time over eight seasons in the North American professional ranks concluding with nine appearances with the AHL’s Ontario Reign last season.

Kirby Dach is one of the few 18-year-olds to play in the NHL.

    Etem skated in 173 regular season games in the NHL with the Ducks, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks recording 22 goals, 24 assists and a minus-seven rating.

    At age 27, Etem is working as a hockey coach in Medicine Hat and plays senior hockey in the White Mud Hockey League, where he has picked up seven goals and seven assists in three regular season games with the Cabri Bulldogs.

    You can go on and on listing players that were cycled out of the NHL quickly or played in the minor professional ranks and never saw the ice for an NHL regular season or post-season game.

    What Dach is doing at age 18 is incredible. Players never know when they will get a real chance to make the NHL.

    Dach is receiving his, and he is making the most of it at age 18. It should make you want to chant, “go Kirby go!”

Rebels’ Focht joins SFMAAAHL’s 100-point club

Lauren Focht in action with the Rebels last season.

    A one-assist game turned into a memorable outing for Regina Rebels captain Lauren Focht.

    On Sunday at the Co-operators Centre in Regina, the 17-year-old forward assisted on her team’s fifth goal scored by linemate Neena Brick in a 6-0 win over the Prince Albert Northern Bears. That assist allowed Focht to become the 21^st player in the history of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey league to score 100-or-more points in their regular season career.

    Starting in her rookie campaign in 2016-17, Focht has appeared in 87 regular season games collecting 57 goals and 43 assists for 100 points. She becomes the fifth member in the history of the Rebels to score 100-or-more points in SFMAAAHL regular season play along with Emma Waldenberger, Kennedy Bobyck, Chelsea Perepeluk and Delaney Frey.

    Waldenberger is the Rebels all-time leading scorer piling up 60 goals and 61 assists for 121 points in 109 regular season games played from 2010 to 2014.

Lauren Focht has 100 points in 87 regular season games.

    Brick scored twice on Sunday for the Rebels, and Focht registered her assist for her 100^th point on Brick’s second tally. Sydney Pedersen, Molly Flynn, Tavia Terry and Shaelyn Myers all had singles for the Rebels.

    Chantel Weller made 14 saves to pick up her third shutout of the season for the Rebels, who lead the SFMAAAHL with an 11-0-1 record.

    Janae Neufeld turned away 27 shots to take the setback in goal for the Bears (7-6).

    The Rebels return to regular season action on Friday, Dec. 20, when they travel to Saskatoon to take on the Stars at 7:30 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.

    The Bears return to regular season play on Saturday, Dec. 14, when they travel to Saskatoon to face the Stars at 2:15 p.m. at Merlis.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Sperling cashes in on big opportunity with Stars

Veteran defender nets winning goal in clash with Rebels

Chace Sperling had the winning goal for the Stars on Saturday.

    Chace Sperling wasn’t going to let a golden opportunity pass her by.

    On Saturday afternoon at Merlis Belsher Place, Sperling’s Saskatoon Stars found themselves in a 2-2 tie early in the third period with the Regina Rebels in a regular season battle between the two top teams in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League.

    The Stars entered the third period holding a 2-1 advantage and were on the power play. Shortly after their power play expired, Rebels 16-year-old forward Tavia Terry scored the equalizer to tie things up at 2-2 just 48 seconds into the third.

    Just 44 seconds after that goal, Sperling came through with the turning point play for her squad.

    With a maze of bodies in front of Rebels netminder Chantel Weller, the puck squirted out to Sperling at the right side boards in the Regina zone. The veteran defender, who turned 17-years-old earlier this month, quickly fired home a shot to put the Stars in front 3-2.

The Stars mob Chace Sperling after she scores in the third period.

    That tally stood up as the winner as the Stars added one more goal in the frame coming on a power play from star winger Anna Leschyshyn to claim a 4-2 victory.    

    Leschyshyn’s insurance goal was her second tally of the contest.

    At game’s end, Sperling was pumped she could help her squad in a big moment.

    “I just shot it because the whole net was open,” said Sperling. “I hoped for the best and hoped it went in, and it did.

    “It was good to get the momentum back and get back into the game and get a lead, so that we weren’t in a slump. We would have lost momentum maybe if we didn’t score right off the hop after they scored. We got like more momentum back, and then we finished them off and won the game.”

Tavia Terry (#12) celebrates scoring for the Rebels.

    The win allowed the Stars to improve their first place record to 21-1. The Rebels saw their four game winning streak come to an end, but they remained second in the SFMAAAHL with a 16-5-2 mark.

    Saskatoon had been off since falling to the Rebels in Regina 3-2 on Jan. 13. Stars head coach Greg Slobodzian said Sperling’s goal was key in allow his club to get back on track.

    “It was huge, because a few girls got frustrated,” said Slobodzian. “We just came off the power play.

    “With us, it is all about momentum. Obviously, we had lost some momentum a little bit. I was trying to pick them up on the bench.

Hanna Bailey had the Rebels first goal on Saturday.

    “All of a sudden, Chace’s head was up, saw the open net and put it in. I didn’t have to do much coaching after that. The girls were just like, “Yeah. We’ve got this.””

    The Stars came out controlling the early momentum of the first period. They broke through on the scoreboard, when Leschyshyn wrapped home her first tally of the contest at the 7:33 mark of the opening frame.

    Saskatoon was holding a 7-3 edge in shots on goal at the time of Leschyshyn’s goal.

    The Rebels pushed back taking over for the rest of the first period. With 83 seconds remaining in the frame and working on a power play, 16-year-old power forward Hanna Bailey took break out pass from defender Larissa Bohlken, drove into the Saskatoon zone, cut to the front of the net and drove home the equalizer to tie things up at 1-1.

    Regina held a 13-8 edge in shots on goal at the end of the first period.

    The Stars regained the lead at the 7:05 mark of the second period.

Anna Leschyshyn (#7) scored twice for the Stars on Saturday.

    Working close in front of the Regina net, Stars star forward Kaitlin Jockims slipped a smart pass to linemate Halle Helperl to the left side of the Rebels goal.

    Helperl tapped the puck into a wide open cage to give the host side a 2-1 advantage.

    That set the stage for the dramatics in the third period.

    Arden Kliewer turned away 24 shots in goal for the Stars. Weller stopped 25 shots in goal for the Rebels.

    Slobodzian was pleased his squad came out with a strong effort after falling to the Rebels back on Jan. 13.

    “It doesn’t matter how much you talk about it you have to lose to appreciate winning,” said Slobodzian. “I really believe that.

The Stars celebrate their victory over the Rebels on Saturday.

    “I didn’t want to be the team that we played against today, because I knew we were going to come out hard and execute the way we wanted to. It just goes to show you how strong that Regina club is. They were in there the whole game.”

    The two clubs go at it again on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place. The Stars will lock up first place in the SFMAAAHL with a win. 
    Slobodzian expects his side to be involved in another intense game.

    “I expect much the same if not more actually,” said Slobodzian. “I know that is a real proud team over there, and they don’t like to lose.

    “When we are playing well, we put up a good fight, and it doesn’t matter who we are playing against. It will be a good battle.”

Wildcats’ Lind hits second on SFMAAAHL’s all-time scoring list

Taylor Lind is the SFMAAAHL’s second all-time top scorer.

    Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats star captain Taylor Lind achieved her biggest personal milestone to date on Saturday.

    Lind scored twice to help her Wildcats down the host Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings 7-2 at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn. With those two tallies, Lind leaped ahead of former Saskatoon Stars captain Mackenna Parker for second on the SFMAAAHL’s all-time career regular season points list.

    In 78 career regular season games, Lind has 85 goals and 74 assists for 159 points.

Parker played in 104 career regular season games for the Stars from 2014 to 2018 piling up 82 goals and 76 assists for 158 points. She currently plays for the Boston University Terriers women’s hockey team in the NCAA ranks.

    Moose Jaw product Olivia Howe is the SFMAAAHL’s all-time leader scorer in career regular season play piling up 107 goals and 100 assists for 207 points appearing in 106 games with the Notre Dame Hounds from 2008 to 2012.

    In Saturday’s game, the Gold Wings took a 2-0 lead in their clash with the Wildcats receiving goals off the sticks of Kira Barham and Payton Mabee.

Taylor Lind scored twice for the Wildcats on Saturday.

    The Wildcats tied things up at 2-2 heading into the first intermission, scored four times in the second period to go ahead 6-2 and cruised to victory from that point. Swift Current has won seven games in a row.

    Defender Tobi Fontaine scored twice for the Wildcats, while Crystal Wale, Ryleigh White and Brooklyn Rublee had singles.

    Amaya Giraudier made 14 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Wildcats (13-9-1). Amara Lewendon turned away 42 shots to take the setback in net for the Gold Wings (1-20-1).

    The two sides go at it again on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.