WELCOME TO THE 2004 ARCHIVE
The Edmonton Miners are proud members
of the Rocky
Mountain Lacrosse League!
MINERS TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL DINNER
The Edmonton Miners wish to announce their AGM and annual
Awards Dinner. The AGM is to be held at 3 PM and the Awards
Dinner will begin at 6 PM on January 9th at the Bonnie Doon
Community Hall located at 9240-93 St. We invite all of you
who are interested in attending both or either of these events
to contact us through via email. Tickets for the dinner are
$15.
We are extending a special invitation to all Edmonton Miner
Alumni to attend our Dinner. We would like to see all of you
there. Tickets for you are reduced to $10. We wish to celebrate
our history and accomplishments as well as pay tribute to two
former members who passed away this year, Tom McCaskill and
Matt Dickerson.
We look forward to seeing all of you. You can contact us at
ajomha@planet.eon.net.
AJ Jomha
EDMONTON MINERS ANNOUNCE THEIR PRESEASON CONDITIONING PROGRAM
It is time to get going!
The Edmonton Miners are once again holding their preseason-conditioning
program, which was very successful last year. The camp will
be held every Monday beginning January 10, 2005 and goes from
8:30 pm to 11:00 pm for 10 consecutive weeks. The program is
open to all players who are midget age and over. The purpose
of the program is to develop core body strength and basic stick
skills and to have a bit of fun.
We will have our conditioning coach, Jay Dalcourt who will
lead the first hour. The next hour will be concentrating on
basic stick skills, which will be run by the Miner’s
coaching staff. The cost of the program is $70.
The camp is held at the Kinsmen Field House. We are expecting
many participants and there are a limited number of spots so
you should register early.
To register your confirmation, send
an email to ajomha@planet.eon.net.
AJ Jomha
AUGUST 10, 2004 MINERS ATTEMPT TO SWEEP RAIDERS
Unlike last year when the Edmonton Miners traveled to Calgary to continue their
play off series against the Raiders there were no plans being made to travel
home after game four. The Miners had their rooms booked for the full weekend.
Still after game three there was the opportunity to take the night to celebrate
a sweep in the series if they could finish off a determined Raider crew.
The game was played on Saturday evening in front of 250 fans at Max Bell
Arena.
This game started like all the others with Jon Marrese in net for the Miners
and Rick Kerr for the Raiders and both teams trying early to establish their
games but clearly both teams had become accustomed with each others style and
there was little new in each strategy. So for the first 6 minutes both teams
were left trying to expose the others weaknesses. That did not happen until
Drew Howell broke in and found the net past Kerr at 16:38. That would be the
only goal for just over 15 minutes of play until Jeff Lapp fired one past Marrese
to tie the game. The Miners regained the lead when Mark Malako made a break
into the middle and took the pass from Kyle Weiher and quick sticked it to
make it 2-1. Lapp then finished a strong period with his second to tie the
game going into the second period. The referees Ron Getz and Greg Hart let
a lot go this period.
The second period was a lot different then the first. The referees seem to
have had enough and the Raiders were caught time and time again and paid the
price. The Miners capitalized on five power plays this period. The first came
at 15:45 when Shaun Wilhelm took the pass from Weiher and beat Kerr. Two minutes
later Weiher got one of his own. Drew Howell then got his second with an outside
shot to make it 5-2. At 4:22 Dalen Crouse got the Miner's 6th goal. That was
the end of the night for Kerr and he was replaced by Billy Mooney. Finally
the Miners got an even strength goal when Greg Whitenect came from his own
end to get his second goal. His first was called back in the first period for
being in the crease. D Howell then got a short handed goal when he beat the
two defenders and went in on Kerr to make it 8-2 after two.
Many may have thought that this game was over but apparently no one in the
Raider's dressing room did. Even when the Miners got another early goal the
Raiders did not give up. After Howell's fourth goal at 18:43 Rob Dyer took
the face off and beat Marrese to make it 9-3. 2 and half minutes later Derek
Tom got another one and then right off the face off Keegan Davidson made the
score 9-5. The Miners started to feel the heat and called a time out. That
seemed to stop the bleeding and get the Miners back on track when Tony Reid
got his first of the play offs, however the Raiders kept coming with Nathan
Russell's goal and then Davidson's second goal. By now the Miners were worried.
Then the Raiders took a penalty at 6:49 which the Miners took advantage when
the Dalen Crouse took an outside shot to the top corner to make the lead seem
safe but again the Raiders responded. Cam Foss took a gift from Marresse who
handed him the ball which he deposited into the net. 15 seconds later Davidson
got his third to make the score 11-9. By this time the game was tight and it
seemed each time the Raiders touched the ball a goal resulted. However that
would be the last time the Raiders would get a good chance and the Miners tried
to keep the ball in their hands to run out the clock. Final score 11-9.
Through out the series the Calgary Raiders tried to intimidate the Miners
but it did not work. The Miners were disciplined and it worked for them as
they received a number of power play opportunities. which they made good on.
All of the games were close and this series which will make both teams better
in the future. Jon Maresse had a great series in the Miners net. He continuously
came up big when needed. The Miners scoring was spread through the team and
Kris Harzell lead the way with 16 points (4,12). His play in the defensive
end was outstanding stripping the Raiders players regularly and moving the
ball up the floor. Although Drew Howell was sick for the final game he had
his best game of the series with four goals and 15 points in the play offs
(7,8). Also playing well was Jamie Shewchuk with 13 points (2,11). For the
Raiders Nick Johnson, 11 points (6,5), played very well in every game and had
some very nice shots from the outside. Also playing well was Keegan Davidson
with 10 points (4,6). Finally one must note that the Miner's defense was very
good all series long especially the man short.
The Edmonton Miners now get ready to for their trip to the Minto Cup where
they will face the Burnaby Lakers, Victoria Shamrocks and either the Whitby
Warriors or the Six Nations Arrows. They leave on the 24th and will attempt
to set up games with other teams that are going or hope to be going to their
national championships.
AUGUST 10, 2004 MINERS TRAVEL TO CALGARY TO CONTINUE BEST OF SEVEN
SERIES
The Calgary Raiders needed a win to make this a better series. With the Miners
up 2-0 it would be tough to lose another one and then win four straight. The
game was played at Max Bell Arena in front of 250 fans.
The first period started just the way the Raiders wanted. With the Miners
still feeling the effects of a long bus ride the home team jumped on them early.
Nathan Russell took advantage of the Alex Engle penalty with a quick stick.
A minute later Nick Johnson fired a nice outside shot to the top corner to
extend the lead to two goals. The Raiders had the momentum and Johnson made
good again this time on a fast break to give the Raiders a commanding 3 goal
lead. For the first time in the series the Miners were on the wrong side of
the scoreboard but they did not lose their composure. Half way through the
period the Raiders got into penalty trouble. Johnson was sent off for holding
and then Justin Der took a double minor. It cost them when Kyle Weiher finished
a nice passing play. Towards the end of the period another penalty gave the
Miners another power play. Kris Hartzell's howitzer from the top made the score
3-2 Raiders after one.
A minute into the second period Ryan Davis took off from his own end and received
a pass from K Hartzell for a break away converting on it and tying the game.
For the next 8 eight minutes neither team was able to penetrate the others
defense and solid goal tending of Marresse and Rick Kerr. Der finally solved
the problem with a fast break goal and the Raiders regained the lead 4-3. That
did not last long. A minute later Neil Tichkowski took advantage of a disorganized
defense which left him alone and he fired the shot top shelf to tie the score.
Another Raider penalty cost them again this time with a goal by Jamie Shewchuk.
All three goal happening in a span of two minutes. Both teams settled down
again until Tichkowski scored to give the Miners the lead going into the third.
6-4.
The third period proved to be one of the most exciting of the series. Both
teams played tough defense and the goalies were solid. Calgary had a few fast
break opportunities however Marrese answered the bell each time. With time
running out the Raiders were getting desperate. Finally at 6:50 Der got inside
and fired it passed the Miners goalie to make it a one goal game. There was
a lot of tension in the air and fans were on the edge of their seats. With
just over two minutes left the Raider's Neil Gundry was called for high sticking
allowing the Miners to control the ball. On the power play Drew Howell got
inside and threw one far side of Kerr to relieve the pressure and pretty much
rap up the game. In desperation the Raiders tried to call Marresse on his stick
however it proved to be legal giving the Miners a chance to run out the clock.
This game was probably the best of the series thus far with a little bit of
every thing. Although the Raiders did not take as many penalties after the
play they were still undisciplined in their checking allowing the Miners to
set up the power play a number of times which in the end was the difference
in the game. In the fight department there was one battle between Engle and
Derek Tom and it was a clear victory for Tom. Once Tom got Engle's sweater
over his head it was over.
Goals
Miners 2 4 1 = 7
Raiders 3 0 2 = 5
Shots
Miners 12 19 12 = 43
Raiders 13 13 10 = 36
Loose Balls
Miners 8 9 6 = 23
Raiders 5 11 8 = 24
Face offs
Miners 4 1 1 = 6
Raiders 1 4 3 = 8
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