Alberta Golden Bears 2014-15

RED ARMY EAST

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Feb 14, 2010
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Alberta Golden Bears stand to lose 5 players from their 2014 University Cup championship team as they are out of eligibility (5 years).

3 impact players from the backend:
D-Ben Lindemulder 4g 13pts
D- Colin Joe 3G 17pts
D- Ian Barteaux 3g 11pts

2 key forwards:
F- Sean Ringrose 15g 36pts
F-Torrie Dyck 13g 31pts

Interesting to see who will graduate and move on out of the 4th year players.

The Bears carried 24 skaters on their roster and 3 goaltenders in 2013-14.
 

Bearpaw

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Mar 21, 2014
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It will be interesting to see who stays from those in their 4th year. As of today, the only two players who appear to have ATO's are Joe and Barteaux who are off to Bakersfield to have a look with the Condors (as mentioned by Herbers in an interview).

The losses on the backend are huge from the graduating players - especially in terms of skating and puck movement from Joe and Lindemulder. They have four defenseman who played sparingly this year (Barron Smith, Brennan Yadlowski, Jarrett Toll and Joel Ostman) who will be able to step in but play a different game than Joe and Lindemulder. I think Yadlowski will be able to come in and play the same role that Barteaux had with the team and Ostman is a big defenseman from the Swedish Elite League who came late and needs to get some time in on the Drake ice surface to get comfortable. It was interesting that Ostman was dressed for the warm-up prior to the Championship game in Saskatoon. Toll played a few games and is mobile and should be able to compete for one of the defense positions as well. There will be more platooning in this position next year as compared to the stable 6 they have had the past two seasons.

Up front it will be a little more difficult to replace the scoring of Dyck and Ringrose. Rachinski and Nichol basically split the year in the line-up and add grit. Daily was out all season and I do not know what his status will be as he was still on a crutch at the tournament.

Herbers indicated in an interview this week that he has put out feelers across the country and has had some contact with Europe. Alberta has not been too successful going outside the Dub (Cyr, Gimblett and Smith are recent exceptions) but it appears Herbers has a much bigger network than either Thurston or Marples had. And with Marples as a full time GM, that does help. That being said, the team on the ice was a big part due to the class that Marples brought in when he got to the Bears. Last year there were few recruits brought in but the team was full with third and fourth year players. I expect to see a few more first year recruits vie for positions this year.

In another thread, someone asked about Mitch Holmberg - he is a Sherwood Park, Alberta (just outside Edmonton) product and coming to the U of A would be coming home so if he is going the CIS route, it would not surprise me to see him land with the Bears (IMO, he will get a shot at the pros most likely).
 

Bob Stauffer

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A few things for you.
First off not a chance that WHL leading scorer and 60+ goal man Mitch Holmberg ends up in the CIS. Holmberg will get at minimum an AHL 1-way deal and possibly an NHL deal.
After winning their 14th CIS Title the Bears should be able to reload.
At forward they lose their captain Sean Ringrose and Torrie Dyck who came from nowhere and ended up a good fit on one of Alberta's top two lines.
But, Kruise Reddick played as a 4th line C during the U Cup after coming off a foot injury.
Reddick made the All-Tournament team and will easily be a top two-line C next season replacing Ringrose.
There are several top end WHL forwards who are 30-40 goal scorers who could end CIS bound. The Bears will be in the mix for those players.
Also two members of the Edmonton Oil Kings who finished their WHL eligibility last season are an option too.
Dylan Wruck is a play-making winger who was an 80-point guy in Edm. He got injured playing in the ECHL. Has interest from some teams in Europe, but played on a line with Bears freshman TJ Foster for two seasons in the WHL.
Stephane Legault is another possibility. He surprisingly passed on playing as a 20-year old for the Oil Kings, and did not play this past season.
Legault had two excellent play-off runs in Edm and can really skate. Would have been a 25-45-70 guy in the WHL as a top 6 FWD as a 20.
I am hearing he wants to return to the game.
On D Lindenmulder, Barteaux and Craige have graduated. Ostman certainly stands a great chance to be in the Bears top 6. Fully expect the Bears to add 2 WHL grads to the back end.
 

Bearpaw

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Still quiet in Bear land with the announcement of recruits but the news of the week is lead assistant coach Ryan Marsh has left to take over as lead assistant with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He joins Steve Hamilton who just took over as head man. Not a huge surprise as Marsh and Hamilton worked together previously with Spruce Grove Saints and work together at a Hockey Academy in town. Marsh ran the defense and there has been no announcement as to who will take over that role.
 

Rob

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In another thread, someone asked about Mitch Holmberg - he is a Sherwood Park, Alberta (just outside Edmonton) product and coming to the U of A would be coming home so if he is going the CIS route, it would not surprise me to see him land with the Bears (IMO, he will get a shot at the pros most likely).

I see he did sign on with Oklahoma.
 

Bearpaw

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Per Bob Stauffer's report on the recruiting thread, Bears add 3 forwards (Legault, Derko and Keiser) and 2 defenseman (Archer and Topping). The two defenseman will definitely fill two of the three spots vacated by graduation and Legault will fill some of the scoring loss of Dyck and Ringrose (who signed in Austria just recently). Bears continuing to bring in top talent. Will be interesting to see if the two pro prospects that Bob mentions in his comments stick or end up on the Bears roster - will definitely add size to the team.
 

Hollywood3

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May 12, 2007
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Per Bob Stauffer's report on the recruiting thread, Bears add 3 forwards (Legault, Derko and Keiser) and 2 defenseman (Archer and Topping). The two defenseman will definitely fill two of the three spots vacated by graduation and Legault will fill some of the scoring loss of Dyck and Ringrose (who signed in Austria just recently). Bears continuing to bring in top talent. Will be interesting to see if the two pro prospects that Bob mentions in his comments stick or end up on the Bears roster - will definitely add size to the team.
This is a good time for my annual comment: To gauge CIS recruiting you first need to see who actually shows up on campus in September. Lots of eligible returnees leave school (or become a part-time student) even without a pro contract waiting for them. And new recruits don't sign contracts. They could always change their minds.
 

Bob Stauffer

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Alberta Recruits

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Golden Bears Head Coach Ian Herbers was on our show "Oilers Now" today and provided an update on where Alberta was at recruiting-wise.

The 2014 University Cup Champions have added three forwards up front and two defenceman...so far.

After not playing last season as a 20 year-old Stephane Legault has committed to the Bears.
The fleet-footed winger had 22 points in 22 play-off games for the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2013 and was supposed to be one of their 20 year-olds for 2013-14 when he surprisingly quit hockey last fall.
He will compete for a top nine minutes at Alberta.
Because of his skating ability Legault is a player still on NHL radar screens.
Center Riley Kieser who won a Memorial Cup this past season with the Oil Kings will stay in Edmonton as well.
Kieser is hard-nosed shutdown center who was a "glue guy" for Derek Laxdal's team in 2013-14. Kieser will play as a bottom six forward.
Grinding forward Josh Derko who played for Swift Current and Lethbridge in the WHL will also join the Golden Bears forward corps.
Puck-moving defenceman Mitch Topping has also committed to Alberta. With the Ben Lindenmulder, Ian Barteaux, and Colin Joe graduating, Topping is expected to step in and play right away.
As has been previously discussed on this thread Colin Archer will attend U of A Medical School as well.
Alberta recruited Archer in the spring of 2011 but he elected to go to McGill. He then spent the last two seasons playing at Acadia.
Archer was a steady WHL D-Man in Red Deer with limited offensive upside.
Herbers also mentioned two more players have registered for school and will go to Alberta if they don't play pro-Nathan Burns and Dylan Bredo
Burns a 6'2" center from Edmonton who had 77 points in 77 games split between Saskatoon and Swift Current last season. He would be a significant add for Alberta. However he is getting pro interest right now.
Bredo a 6'2" defenceman just wrapped up Edmonton Oilers orientation camp in Jasper. Bredo had 46 points and was +33 last season playing for former Golden Bear Shaun Clouston in Medicine Hat.

Bob Stauffer, Analyst Edmonton Oilers Radio Network.
Alberta SID 2000-2008
Golden Bears PxP 1989-92, 1998-2008
 

Bob Stauffer

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Update-Aug. 12th

Sounds like Dylan Bredo is pretty much committed to playing in the CIS for the Golden Bears instead of taking a shot at minor pro.

So Mitch Topping, Bredo and Colin Archer are new D brought in to replace Ben Lindenmulder, Colin Joe and Ian Barteaux who all graduated.

Topping and Bredo are puck-movers. Archer a solid depth D who will attend Medical School at Alberta.

Alberta will have lots of depth on D.
 

Bearpaw

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Fernando Pisani, ex-Oiler, named as full time assistant replacing Ryan Marsh. Pisani was on the staff last year in a non-bench role.
 

Bearpaw

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Ex-Oiler Sean Brown along with Bears Alum Lee Zalasky named as part-time assistant coaches to round out the staff this year.
 

Bob Stauffer

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Bears Blasted in Home Opener

courtesy Steve Knowles


GOLDEN BEARS OPEN 102ND SEASON WITH 6-0 LOSS TO AUGUSTANA VIKINGS

The University of Alberta Golden Bears opened the 2014-15 season - their 102nd season of intercollegiate hockey - with a 6-0 loss to the visiting University of Alberta-Augstana Vikings at Clare Drake Arena on Thursday, September 4, 2014.

Led by two goals by Konrad Likte and Jeff Lorenz, Augustana held 1-0 and
3-0 leads at the period breaks.
Lorenz led all scorers with a three-point game adding an assist to his two-goals. Former Golden Bear Alex Rodgers scored a shorthanded tally and Devon Hobbs rounded out the scoring with a third period powerplay goal. Boyd Wakelin chipped in with two assists for the Vikings.

The shorthanded goal was sweet revenge for Rodgers, who joins the Vikings after playing two seasons with the Golden Bears in
2010-11 and 2011-12.

It is only the second time in the history of the Alberta - Augustana series that the Vikings have managed to earn the "W"
against the Golden Bears. Augustana's only previous victory over the Golden Bears came on October 14, 1979 in a 2-1 win at Camrose. Alberta is now 25-2-0 (.926) in 27 games versus the Vikings since the series began in 1974-75. Overall against ACAC teams the Golden Bears are 94-17-4 (.834) in 115 games.

The loss marked the first time in seven seasons that the Golden Bears have dropped their season opener. The defending CIS University Cup national champions had not lost a season opener since 2007-08. Alberta is now 62-32-8 (.647) in their 102 season openers since the program first began play in 1908-09 and the Golden Bears are 60-32-5 (.644) in 97 home openers.

Despite outshooting the visiting Vikings 47-17, including 20-5 in the second period, the Golden Bears could not dent the twine behind the Augustana goaltending tandem of Andy Williams and Joel Danyluk. Williams, named the game's first star, received the start in goal for the Vikings and blanked the Golden Bears stopping all 30 shots he faced in the game's first 30:19. Danyluk, who entered the game with Augustana ahead 3-0, made another 17 saves through the final 29:41 minutes of play.

The shutout marked the first time that the Golden Bears had been shutout in a season opener since the 1953-54 season when Alberta was blanked 2-0 by the Edmonton Cloverdales on January 14, 1954.

It was also 55th time that the Golden Bears have been shutout since playing their first game in 1908-09 and it marks only the 27th time they were blanked by an intercollegiate opponent.

Incredibly, it is only the fourth time in Golden Bears history that Alberta has been shutout at home by an intercollegiate opponent, and the first time by a team from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Alberta has been shutout only four times in 1057 home games versus intercollegiate opponents.

The last time Alberta was shutout at Clare Drake Arena was on March 1,
1980 when the Calgary Dinos skated to a
2-0 win over the Golden Bears in Game 2 of the Canada West Hockey Final.

The six goal defeat is also the widest margin of defeat suffered by the Golden Bears since a 7-1 loss at Calgary on October 11, 2008 in Canada West Hockey play and it is the biggest defeat on home ice since the Golden Bears were defeated 6-2 by the New Brunswick Varsity Reds on September 17, 2010 in non-conference play.

BEAR FACTS
Head coach Ian Herbers dressed only seven players who were in the lineup for the Golden Bears 3-1 University Cup championship game victory over Saskatchewan last March. In the lineup versus the Vikings were Luke Siemens (G) and forwards T.J. Foster, Travis Toomey, Brett Ferguson, Kruise Reddick, Jamie Crooks and James Dobrowolski.

Not in the lineup were goaltender Kurtis Mucha, defencemen Thomas Carr, Jesse Craige and Jordan Rowley along with forwards Drew Nichol, Johnny Lazo, Jordan Hickmott and Levko Koper. With the graduation of defencemen Ian Barteaux, Coline Joe and Ben Lindemulder the Golden Bears did not have a single defenceman in the lineup from last season's starting six blueliners.

The September 4th game date marked the earliest home opener in Golden Bears history. The previous earliest start to a season on home ice came on September 6, 2012 when the Golden Bears defeated Augustana 5-1.

It is the third consecutive season that the Golden Bears have played their season opener on September 4th. Alberta opened the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons with games at Augustan on September 4th, winning 6-1 and 5-1, respectively.

UP NEXT
The Golden Bears head to Jasper and Hinton, Alberta this weekend where they will hold practices in Hinton on both Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th. They will be staying in Jasper for the weekend and will be involved in outdoor team buliding activites to go along with the practices in Hinton.

Upon their return from the Canadian Rockies, the Golden Bears will travel to Regina to skate at the University of Regina Cougars Summer Challenge tournament on September 12th to 14th.
Alberta will play UBC (Sept. 12),
the host Regina Cougars (Sept. 13) and Manitoba (Sept. 14).

Alberta's next home game will be on Wednesday, September 17 when they host the Edmonton Oilers Rookies in a
7:00 pm start at Clare Drake Arena. The Golden Bears lead the series against the Oilers Rookies 13-10-0, inclduing last season's 4-3 win.

The Golden Bears will also host the 30th Golden Bears - Brick Invitational on September 19th-20th. Alberta faces-off against Saskatchewan at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 19th and will host the Calgary Dinos on Saturday, September 20th at 6:00 pm.
 

mikeandI

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Jun 30, 2010
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courtesy Steve Knowles


GOLDEN BEARS OPEN 102ND SEASON WITH 6-0 LOSS TO AUGUSTANA VIKINGS

The University of Alberta Golden Bears opened the 2014-15 season - their 102nd season of intercollegiate hockey - with a 6-0 loss to the visiting University of Alberta-Augstana Vikings at Clare Drake Arena on Thursday, September 4, 2014.

Led by two goals by Konrad Likte and Jeff Lorenz, Augustana held 1-0 and
3-0 leads at the period breaks.
Lorenz led all scorers with a three-point game adding an assist to his two-goals. Former Golden Bear Alex Rodgers scored a shorthanded tally and Devon Hobbs rounded out the scoring with a third period powerplay goal. Boyd Wakelin chipped in with two assists for the Vikings.

The shorthanded goal was sweet revenge for Rodgers, who joins the Vikings after playing two seasons with the Golden Bears in
2010-11 and 2011-12.

It is only the second time in the history of the Alberta - Augustana series that the Vikings have managed to earn the "W"
against the Golden Bears. Augustana's only previous victory over the Golden Bears came on October 14, 1979 in a 2-1 win at Camrose. Alberta is now 25-2-0 (.926) in 27 games versus the Vikings since the series began in 1974-75. Overall against ACAC teams the Golden Bears are 94-17-4 (.834) in 115 games.

The loss marked the first time in seven seasons that the Golden Bears have dropped their season opener. The defending CIS University Cup national champions had not lost a season opener since 2007-08. Alberta is now 62-32-8 (.647) in their 102 season openers since the program first began play in 1908-09 and the Golden Bears are 60-32-5 (.644) in 97 home openers.

Despite outshooting the visiting Vikings 47-17, including 20-5 in the second period, the Golden Bears could not dent the twine behind the Augustana goaltending tandem of Andy Williams and Joel Danyluk. Williams, named the game's first star, received the start in goal for the Vikings and blanked the Golden Bears stopping all 30 shots he faced in the game's first 30:19. Danyluk, who entered the game with Augustana ahead 3-0, made another 17 saves through the final 29:41 minutes of play.

The shutout marked the first time that the Golden Bears had been shutout in a season opener since the 1953-54 season when Alberta was blanked 2-0 by the Edmonton Cloverdales on January 14, 1954.

It was also 55th time that the Golden Bears have been shutout since playing their first game in 1908-09 and it marks only the 27th time they were blanked by an intercollegiate opponent.

Incredibly, it is only the fourth time in Golden Bears history that Alberta has been shutout at home by an intercollegiate opponent, and the first time by a team from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Alberta has been shutout only four times in 1057 home games versus intercollegiate opponents.

The last time Alberta was shutout at Clare Drake Arena was on March 1,
1980 when the Calgary Dinos skated to a
2-0 win over the Golden Bears in Game 2 of the Canada West Hockey Final.

The six goal defeat is also the widest margin of defeat suffered by the Golden Bears since a 7-1 loss at Calgary on October 11, 2008 in Canada West Hockey play and it is the biggest defeat on home ice since the Golden Bears were defeated 6-2 by the New Brunswick Varsity Reds on September 17, 2010 in non-conference play.

BEAR FACTS
Head coach Ian Herbers dressed only seven players who were in the lineup for the Golden Bears 3-1 University Cup championship game victory over Saskatchewan last March. In the lineup versus the Vikings were Luke Siemens (G) and forwards T.J. Foster, Travis Toomey, Brett Ferguson, Kruise Reddick, Jamie Crooks and James Dobrowolski.

Not in the lineup were goaltender Kurtis Mucha, defencemen Thomas Carr, Jesse Craige and Jordan Rowley along with forwards Drew Nichol, Johnny Lazo, Jordan Hickmott and Levko Koper. With the graduation of defencemen Ian Barteaux, Coline Joe and Ben Lindemulder the Golden Bears did not have a single defenceman in the lineup from last season's starting six blueliners.

The September 4th game date marked the earliest home opener in Golden Bears history. The previous earliest start to a season on home ice came on September 6, 2012 when the Golden Bears defeated Augustana 5-1.

It is the third consecutive season that the Golden Bears have played their season opener on September 4th. Alberta opened the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons with games at Augustan on September 4th, winning 6-1 and 5-1, respectively.

UP NEXT
The Golden Bears head to Jasper and Hinton, Alberta this weekend where they will hold practices in Hinton on both Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th. They will be staying in Jasper for the weekend and will be involved in outdoor team buliding activites to go along with the practices in Hinton.

Upon their return from the Canadian Rockies, the Golden Bears will travel to Regina to skate at the University of Regina Cougars Summer Challenge tournament on September 12th to 14th.
Alberta will play UBC (Sept. 12),
the host Regina Cougars (Sept. 13) and Manitoba (Sept. 14).

Alberta's next home game will be on Wednesday, September 17 when they host the Edmonton Oilers Rookies in a
7:00 pm start at Clare Drake Arena. The Golden Bears lead the series against the Oilers Rookies 13-10-0, inclduing last season's 4-3 win.

The Golden Bears will also host the 30th Golden Bears - Brick Invitational on September 19th-20th. Alberta faces-off against Saskatchewan at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 19th and will host the Calgary Dinos on Saturday, September 20th at 6:00 pm.
Welcome back Robert!
So what you are saying is they planned to lose and that once they climb some trees and complete some cub scout training, get a couple of badges from scout leaders Herbers and Marple they should be good to go. Whew! Thanks for the update
 
Last edited:

RED ARMY EAST

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Feb 14, 2010
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I see that Rowley is back with the Bears and picked up 2 pts in Friday nights win in Vancouver.
Other than 3 key losses on D ( Lindemulder,Joe,Barteaux), which is a lot, this team is relatively unchanged up front. The offence remains intact, with Ringrose's and Torrie Dyck, being the only key loss up front.
Is Herbers done with recruiting or will they add a body at X-Mas?
 

RED ARMY EAST

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Feb 14, 2010
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Freddy Beach,N.B.Canada
Bears with a soft schedule so far, a split with UBC, sweeping lowly Lethbridge and defeating Regina.
It doesn't get that easy in the AUS! You may play a 7 or 8 place team, but will have a national calibre team the following night to contend with.
 

mikeandI

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Jun 30, 2010
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Bears with a soft schedule so far, a split with UBC, sweeping lowly Lethbridge and defeating Regina.
It doesn't get that easy in the AUS! You may play a 7 or 8 place team, but will have a national calibre team the following night to contend with.
Oh come on RAE
Dalhousie and stu especially suck no matter what the rant father says.....
You show so much disrespect chirping like that
Where is the monitor on that one
The 7th or 8th team will not be competitive in any conference in the CIS
Wake up buddy
 

UNB Bruins Fan

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Mar 11, 2008
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Fredericton, NB
Oh come on RAE
Dalhousie and stu especially suck no matter what the rant father says.....
You show so much disrespect chirping like that
Where is the monitor on that one
The 7th or 8th team will not be competitive in any conference in the CIS
Wake up buddy

You must have missed where STU just went toe to toe with both McGill and UQTR...and the last time I checked those two teams usually dominate their conference.
 

Bearpaw

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Mar 21, 2014
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Bears with another close win last night 3-1 over Saskatchewan. The first period was the best period of hockey that the city of Edmonton has seen this year at any level of hockey.

This edition of the Bears is really quick up front - quicker than last year IMO - and more aggressive on the forecheck. The biggest difference I have seen so far is the penalties. The Bears historically have stayed out of the box but this year lead the conference in penalty minutes.

With the exception of the banner raising game, the games have been relatively close on the scoreboard but not in play. In almost every game, the goalie has been a star in each Bear win. I expect the offense to turn it up as the season wears on as I do not think teams can handle their pressure in all the zones.
 

UNB Bruins Fan

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Mar 11, 2008
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Fredericton, NB
Alberta beat Yale tonight 3-0. Shots 41-21 for the Bears.

Yale won the National Championship in 2013 so that is a pretty impressive showing for Alberta, especially considering the travel.
 

Drummer

Better Red than Dead
Mar 20, 2009
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Freddy Beach, NB
www.vredshockey.com
Alberta beat Yale tonight 3-0. Shots 41-21 for the Bears.

Yale won the National Championship in 2013 so that is a pretty impressive showing for Alberta, especially considering the travel.

I'm not sure it's that impressive - they were only a game over .500 last year.

Dartmouth was 7-13-2 last year, so I would expect another big win for the Bears. The ECAC isn't the hardest conference to play against after the top 3 teams.
 

Bob Stauffer

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Bears Biltz Dartmouth

Alberta sweeps NCAA swing with a convincing 6-1 victory tonight over Dartmouth in New Hampshire.
Alberta outshot the "Big Green" 35-13. Combined with a 3-0 victory over Yale last night in New Haven the Golden Bears outshoot their opponents 76-34 over two games.
We will probably here the excuses coming out of the NCAA about the Bears players being older and the IVY League schools just starting to practice...yadda...yadda...yadda!
Have always said top end CIS programs can easily compete with NCAA teams...and for 15 years the U of A hasn't been able to convince an NCAA team to come to the fertile recruiting grounds of Alberta and play a perennial CIS power at Clare Drake Arena...
Why?
To paraphrase the "Tragically Hip"...wouldn't want to debunk the American Myth.

Cheers.
 

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