Brendan Lemieux skates in front of Jon Gillies – Photo by Jack Lima
PENTICTON, B.C., CANADA – Hockey was back on the ice for the Young Stars Classic, on it’s sixth year here in Penticton. Prospects from the Canucks, Flames, Jets and Oilers are here for training and a scrimmage. The Jets and Flames started the Classic off with an exciting match.
The Jets’ Jansen Harkins scored the lone goal for Winnipeg in this game, while the Flames’ goals came off the sticks of Matthew Phillips, Andrew Mangiapane, Ryan Lomberg and Austin Carroll.
During the first period, 18 yo Matthew Tkachuk, collided with Brendan Lemieux, then a short melee began between the two, ending with Lemieux laying face-down on the ice and Tkachuk pressing him into the ice on top of him. Tkachuk was given a four minute penalty for the transaction.
Matthew Tkachuk cross checks Brendan Lemieux – Photo by Jack Lima
It was a little interesting, when you look at these two player’s history, as both of their fathers were NHL players, Keith Tkachuk and Claude Lemieux, and were involved in a few skirmishes of their own.
The only goal of the first came during a four-on-four following two separate penalty calls against both teams, Jets Jansen Harkins scored a rebound goal stick-side against Jon Gillies. This was Gillies first time in the net for a game since his injury last season.
“It was a good shot but I definitely should’ve had it,” Gillies said. “I was off my angle and I looked up right as he was looking up and I was like, ‘I’m screwed.’ He shot it right away and put it right where he wanted it. I wanted to have that one back for our team, but they had my back and really took it to them after that.”
Jets Brandon Denham and Flames Oliver Kylington follow the puck around the net. – Photo by Jack Lima
Just 33 seconds into the second period, Matthew Phillips slipped a rebound puck under the glove hand of Jamie Phillips in the net for the Jets.
About midway through the period, the Jets replaced Phillips with Mikhail Berdin in the net. Phillips had 21 of 22 saves for the 30 minutes in the net. Gillies remained for the whole 60 minutes.
Mangiapane scored a great shot from the slot with 1:16 remaining in the second.
Lomberg’s goal came with 18:48 remaining and Austin Carroll capped the scoring with his tip in from a slap shot fired from Keegan Kanzig that rebounded from in front of the net with 7:48 remaining.
Tempers flare near the end of the game – Photo by Jack Lima
Lomberg said, “To be honest I don’t remember much of (the goal). I know there was a shot from the point and there was a nice tip. I turned around and had good body position on the D and turned around, whacked at it and the next thing I knew it was in.”
The final excitement of the game, with just over 5 minutes remaining, a whistle to stop play, initiated fighting by all the skaters on the ice, from both teams, as the goaltenders watched on. In the end, Lomberg, Carroll, Tkachuk, Kenney Morrison and Kanzig were all handed 10 minute misconducts. Lemieux, Logan Stanley and Nelson Nogier were also sent off the ice with a 10 minute penalties as well. Axel Blomqvist served a 2 minute penalty, as Calgary was given a power play when the game resumed.
Dennis Kravchenko skates in on a break-away, Jets Goalie Mikhail Berdin in the net – Photo by Jack Lima
There were 80 penalty minutes handed by the end of the game, not exactly what one would expect from a scrimmage level game, but fun for the 2700 plus fans in attendance.
The Flames face the Oilers on Saturday night.
Be sure to check out the Best Shots of the Game series day-by-day during the Classic by PHNs Photographer Jack Lima.
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