Alberta Golden Bears 2019-20

I enjoyed both years in Edmonton. They did a good job hosting. Would like to see them host again.

Regarding other schools hosting: Expense of doing so, uncertainty of having the host team after one game, sponsorship..

The two OUA sponsored events (Kitchener and T-Bay) were disasters in terms of fan support, especially Kitchener. Lethbridge falls into that category a bit as well.

It's just not a matter of "if you built it, they will come". As Bob and others know from being there...

 

Think about the Nationals without UNB and Alberta. Pretty competitive, huh? There's your problem. Bob's love and gloating about how great Alberta is, is exactly why this product fails in fan appeal on a national level. So good for Alberta (and UNB) for creating programs that are so strong for so many years (Bob, please insert stats here about how great Alberta has been and for how long - especially in close games or losses when AB outshoots their opponent - those ones really make me appreciate how good Alberta is), but you do see the impact of this on broader fan appeal, right?

 

I don't agree. I believe that nationally recognized programs are essential to the event. Casual observers want to see Carleton in basketball, Laval in football, and Alberta and UNB in hockey. If somebody beats them, they suddenly have credibility.

 

Fair point. But the cost is fan apathy. And that's what we have today. Let's acknowledge that competitiveness in USports men's hockey is broken and has been for years. Even this board...who posts? You can't have it both ways. Sure, schools that are successful in recruiting top tier talent year after year deserve to win...good for them and I think that should be recognized. By that rationale, Alberta or UNB should win the Nationals every year. Is that what people want? (aside from UNB or AB fans). Someone upsets? Sure, everyone loves that (except those who support the team that is upset). But consider the big picture. UNB and Alberta are competing for the title year after year, yet every year we hear moaning on this board about how weak the OUA is or how poor they perform, or how Calgary or SFX are better than the finalist from the OUA. Your can't have it both ways. What's the solution to make USports men's hockey more competitive?. If you don't have one, let's just accept that UNB or AB will win every year unless there is an upset. Then fans can moan about the reasons why for 2 montths.

 

1) It's Alberta and UNB that are not competitive with USports Hockey. The rest of the teams are quite competitive, including the OUA. St FX beat Queens 5-3. Saskatchewan and York went to 2OT. Those are competitive games. What's NOT competitive is Alberta going 20-0-1 versus CanadaWest once they got healthy.

2) The OUA needs to allow more money to its athletes.

3) The OUA needs to amend its playoff format to help the higher-ranked teams. They need to do what CanadaWest does, with the higher-ranked team getting all three games. Right now, the higher-ranked OUA team has to travel for one road game. UQTR to Laurentian is 11 hours ... all that extra travel adds up when they get to the UCup.

4) USports Hockey is a fringe sport. Always has been, always will be. The best-attended USports game this year was 3800 to watch RMC-Queens. Having UNB & Alberta perennially win is neither helping nor hurting. What's more important is to get the games in front of people who care about the teams.

5) USports should stop trying to become the NCAA.

 

There is fan apathy at CIS level nation wide. UNB hockey has done a phenomenal job of marketing itself with its VReds Prospects programs, school programs and other initiatives. It is the biggest game in town there is no competition. Noteworthy though is that the fan base is largely seniors, adults and young children. It is hard to get students arses in seats even when there is no cost. Whereas in NCAA student support and alumni support drive attendance in prominent sports. UNB recognizes this and markets in the schools and communities. Unless schools and CIS find a way to magically make students attend games, they need to seek to the community at large to develop a fan base. Ain’t gonna happen in the big markets though.

 

Whatever happened to D Ty Stanton? I thought he was joining Alberta? Did he have to sit out a year or is he not with them anymore?

 

Tyler Soy (7'th rounder ANA) was limited to 9 games this year.
Had some impressive stats, including 36 and 46 goal seasons in the Dub.
Played in U17 and U18 World Championships.
If he is healthy this year, the Bears may have their replacement for Luke Phip right there? Not sure if he has lost more than a year of USports eligibility from playing pro?

 

Alberta has seen Luke Philp sign with Calgary (NHL), Jason Fram sign with Kunlin Red Star (KHL), and two players: Grame Craig (Manitoba) and #1 netminder Zack Sawchenko (San Jose) sign AHL deals; all four had eligibiity left.
The Bears also lost Riley Kieser and Stephan Legault to grdaution; both were significant contributors to the Bears 2017-18 National Championship.
These are top calibre USports Players.
So GM Stan Marple and Head Coach Ian Herbers have a massive amount of work to do.
Tyler Soy's wrist injury that kepy him out of the Tournament in Lethbridge was significant; especially when Philp left the U Cup Final game. Those are two difference makers at the U Sports left.
Soy will be in his second year of eligibility next season, and will be a top six player along with former 100+ point man with Medicine Hat, Chad Butcher, who red-shirted last year.
Ty Stanton was slated to join the Bears last fall but had injury issues..
Bears by my count need at least three or four forwards, at least two defence and one really good goalie.
We will see how Marple and Herbers do!

 

Brandon MaGee signs with Kunlan (KHL). I thought that he was Alberta's best player in the CIS gold medal game, against UNB.

 

does anyone know why the oilers don't play the golden bears any more

 

My understanding is that Daryl Katz has a conflict with the University of Alberta (the organization, not the hockey team).

 

Huh wonder what his problem is

 

Alberta hammers Manitoba 6-1 in an Non-Conference Pre-Season Game.
Bears are now 3-0 Overall.
Golden Bears put up over 50 SOG.
Freshman Nolan Volcan scored twice, with Cole Sanford, Trevor Cox, Lucas Nickles and Ben Carroll adding singles.
I watched the Bears beat UBC 3-2 in OT a week ago at Clare Drake Arena.
Alberta sat several veterans in that opening game.
Former NHL'er Sven Butchenshon has the T-Birds playing a much more disciplined games than years ago.
Golden Bears smoked UBC 6-2 Saturday night in St. Albert.

Once the Bears get former WHL 100-point Chad Butcher eligible, he played at the start of the season last year in the 'Coast, Ian Herbers might have a pretty good team to work with

Alberta plays another pre-season game Saturday in Saskatoon.

 

When is Butler eligible?

 

Chad Butcher is eligible on October 28th. The 365 day rule going back to his last game in the ECHL last season.

He played in just three games last season, a 3 game series, for the Allen Americans versus Rapid City Rush (Oct. 26/27/28).

 

I just read that Griffin Outhouse has signed an AHL deal.

 

He and Bison grad Byron Spriggs are trying out for the Manitoba Moose.

 

Alberta splits on NCAA tour, 8-2 Overall, 2-0 Canada West

For the second time in two seasons the Golden Bears beat NCAA power UMD Bulldogs, who are the 2-time defending NCAA Champions.
Alberta, ranked #1 in U-Sports opened their weekend with an impressive 5-3 victory over the Bulldogs, who are ranked #1 by USCHO to start the season right in Duluth on Saturday night, outshooting Scott Sandelin's powerhouse program in the process.
Lucas Nickles, a 4th liner; who may not play come crunch time for the Golden Bears in March, paced the attack with 1-3-4.
The Bears also beat UMD, 4-3 in Duluth in the fall of 2017; when both programs would go on to win their respective National Championships in the Spring of 2018.
The victory over UMD was the good news story on the weekend for Alberta...who were thoroughly outplayed in a 4-2 loss to #6 ranked St. Cloud squad on Sunday.
Ian Herbers elected to sit four regulars, and started back-up Matt Berlin; who was supposed to be the team's #3 goalie but was moved up the depth chart after the Winnipeg Jets convinced Griffen Outhouse to take a bargain basement AHL-ECHL deal.
Golden Bears were 2nd best much of the night, spent way too much in the penalty box, as the Huskies scored 4 PPG, and outshot Alberta 40-19.
I have been on these trips in the past when the officials in NCAA venues give the home team multiple 5v3 looks, but by all reports...St. Cloud earned their PP's.
Bears return to action hosting longtime Canada West rival Saskatchewan at Clare Drake Arena...

 

Golden Bears Sweep Huskies, Improve to 10-2

Alberta's longtime rival Saskatchewan travelled to Edmonton for a pair of games, and it didn't go well for the 'Dawgs.
Bears skated past them 5-1 on Friday night and then got a break in OT on a Trevor Cox OT winner to post a 3-2 win.
Golden Bears remain unbeaten in Conference play 4-0-0.
Dave Adolph's team continued to struggle to score against the Golden Bears; they were shutout the final 2 games of the Conference Final last March and were beaten 3-0 in the USports SemiFinal.
Watched both webcasts while I was on a road trip,
Alberta dominated in stretches, Saskatchewan battled hard on Saturday but are off to an uncharacteristic 0-3-1 start.
Four other things:
I assume Bears GM Stan Marple is keeping an eye on Griffen Outhouse who committed to Alberta, but signed a low-end Minor Pro Contract with Winnipeg after a strong Jet's Rookie Camp performance. Outhouse has played just 1 game for Evansville in the ECHL.
Appears as thought 5th year forward Jayden Hart, who once scored 4 goals in 10 AHL games, has elected to shut it down. He had been dealing with "core" issues the last couple of seasons.
In the last week of October Chad Butcher will become eligible for the Golden Bears after playing a season and a bit in Minor Pro. He was stellar in Oilers' Rookie Camps in the past. A former 100+ point scorer in the WHL, Butcher a quick right shot center WILL be a first-liner in USports.
End of last season Luke Philp signed an NHL deal with Calgary.
Luke's brother Noah Philp, who is a freshman, is a 6'3" right shot center who has 15 points in 12 games and already has some NHL teams monitoring his progress under Ian Herbers tutelege

 

Golden Bears lose 7-3 to Mount Royal, on home ice. Is Mount Royal that good??

 

They’re certainly off to a good start, but Alberta has owned them in recent years.

 

It's early in the season, but Calgary and MR look stronger and the USask looks weaker.

 

Would like to see MRU make it to the Nationals. It has been a while since we've had a new team make an appearance.

 

After losing 7-3 at home to Mount Royal a week ago Frdiay...the Golden Bears have won three straight to improve to 13-3 overall and 7-1 in Conference play.

Golden Bears netminder Brendan Burke got pulled after giving up 3 in the first of the 7-3 loss, as Bert Gillings team know for playing with strong structure were full marks for their victory.

Here are some additional notes on the 7 Goals Against Alberta gave up courtesy of longtime Cananda West Statistician Steve Knowles:

Last time Alberta allowed 7 goals in a home game: December 31, 1998: 7-2 loss vs Dalhousie (non-conference game)

Last time Alberta allowed 7 goals in a Canada West Hockey home game: February 21, 1998: 7-6 OT loss vs Saskatchewan (Canada West Hockey game)

Last time Alberta allowed 7-or-more goals in a game: January 14, 2011: 9-8 OT win at Lethbridge (Canada West Hockey game)




Alberta subsequently shutout Mount Royal 3-0 in Calgary and swept an injury depleted Lethbridge 9-1 and 2-1 as the Golden Bears outshot the 'Horns by a combined 125-40 in the 2 games.

The injury bug has the bit the Bears skill players.
Cole Sanford has been limited to just 3 games this season, and Trevor Cox suffered a high ankle sprain in Lethbridge on Friday night.

The Golden Bears will get Chad Butcher in the lineup when Alberta returns from a bye week in two weeks with a home-and-home with Calgary.