TUESDAY - CUE THE COMEBACK, GRIZZLYS ALUMNI FINDING SUCCESS AND HOCKEY ALBERTA RESULTS

BAD LUCK, BAD BOUNCES & BAD BREAKS

The first three games of the AJHL's Semi-Final Series between the Olds Grizzlys and the Nation's Top Ranked Spruce Grove Saints will look reletively simple on the stats sheets.

Sure, it's easy to take a look at the scoring summary and see what some had already predicted - a Saints team up three games to none, a Saints team that has outscored their opposition 10-3 in those three games and a Saints team that's on the verge of eliminating the Olds Grizzlys in a sweep.

But those who have actually seen those three games will tell you - it's not that simple.

Game 3 is the perfect example.

Game 3 saw several quality scoring chance for the Grizzlys go by the way side thanks to nothing more than bad luck, bad bounces and bad breaks.

It was like something out of a comic book - not only is Spruce Grove a great hockey team but it's as if the Saints may truly be blessed; almost as if they have a Super Power that some how makes them immune the laws of gravity, physics and probability.

A wide open Grizzlys shooting lane would be thwarted by a bizarre block, the deflection of which would somehow always find the stick of Saint in the neutral zone - sending the play the other way.

A rebound, earmarked for a wide open Grizzly with nothing but cage to shoot at - would somehow jump over the stick.

And a dump-in destined for the corner, would see the puck catch an edge or bounce awkwardly of the boards and once again, go right to a Saint.

Now, before any Saints fans start ripping their hair out because they feel I'm not giving a good team it's due.

It's true. I'm not.

Whats that old saying, "You have to be good to be lucky."

Despite the bad bounces and luck for the Olds Grizzlys, you really do have to credit the Saints.

Their so positionally sound in their own end that maybe it's not all that freakish that the puck just seems to find them. They know where to be and when to be there on both sides of the ice and as someone once told me, "Sometimes you have to create your own luck."

Something the Olds Grizzlys will try desperately to do tonight, with the AJHL's season and for some, careers on the line.

GAME 3 SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Spruce Grove Saints at 1:42 - Curt Morrison (unassisted)

PERIOD 2

Spruce Grove Saints at 1:16 - Brett Switzer from Jordan Draper and Joshua Lazowski

Spruce Grove Saints at 5:50 - Nate Fleming (unassisted)

PERIOD 3

Spruce Grove Saints at 1:23 - Jordan Draper from Joshua Lazowski and Brett Switzer

Olds Grizzlys at 5:54 (PP) - Ryan Cornforth from Jordan Kwas and Curtis deBruyn

INTERESTING TO NOTE

CUE THE COMEBACK
Having to face elimination night in and night out while your team tries to cue the comeback is a daunting task. In fact some would say it's an impossible feat, but, it every so often it does happen.

1. In Round 1 of 2005-2006 the Canmore Eagles lost the first two games in a best of five series to the Drumheller Dragons. Facing elimination the Eagles would storm back winning the next three to advance to Round 2.
2. In the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals the Toronto Maple Leafs would over come a 3 game deficit - beating the Detroit Red Wings in 4 straight in win the series and the cup.
   
3. In the 2004 MLB Semi-Finals the Boston Red Sox would also do the impossible. In arguably the fiercest rivalry in sports - the Bo-Sox came back from 3 games down to beat the New York Yankees in four straight, winning the semis and eventually winning the World Series in the next round.
   
4. To me the most impressive comeback came in 1975 when the very young and inexperienced New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 7 of the Quarter Finals after trailing 3 games to none. The most impressive stat, and much like the Olds Grizzlys, is that the Islanders never lead on the scoreboard in any of the first three games, not even for a second. In fact of the 180 minutes (3 games) the Penguins held a lead for 153 minutes and 19 seconds - or about 83% of the time - the remain 17%, the game was tied.

PARTING SHOTS
The Olds Grizzlys will try to cue the comeback tonight from the Olds Sportscomplex. Listen to live coverage of tonight's game on 96.5 CKfm, starting at 7:30.
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GRIZZLYS FINDING SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF THE CAVE

A pair of Olds Grizzlys Alumni were on the SAIT Trojans Men's Hockey Team that captured the 2009 ACAC Championship on Sunday night in Calgary.

Former Grizzlys defenseman Kirk Deeg and forward Kyle Dorowicz were among 13 former AJHLer's on the roster.

The Trojans beat the Mount Royal Cougars 1-0 in game 5 of the best of 5 series.

Meantime another two players who used to throw on the Black and Gold will be in action tonight in the WHL's post-season.

Former Olds Blue-Liner Max Ross and the Lethbridge Hurricanes are up against the Saskatoon Blades in Game 3 of their best of 7 first round tilt.

Ross picked up an assist in Game 2 - helping the Hurricanes to a 5-2 win to tie the series at a game a piece.

While former Grizzly Net-Minder Tyson Sexsmith will most likely get the call between for the Vancouver Giants as they try to extend their series lead to 3 games to none of the Prince George Cougars.

Sexsmith has allowed three goals in 2 games, while the Giants offense has been the difference so far scoring 17 goals so far.


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OLDS WELL REPRESENTED AT PROVINCIALS

Teams from Olds fared well during Week Three of Hockey Alberta's Provincial Action.

The Olds Thunder once again found themselves in the medals - earning a silver at the Female Pee-Wee B Championships in Viking.

The Thunder downed Strathmore 4-3 in the semis before falling 4-1 in the Lloydminster Blazers in the finals.

Olds' Pee-Wee Girls won Gold last year.

Elsewhere the Olds Renegades lost 2-0 to Vauxhall in the Semi Finals at the Midget 'B' Female Championships in Edson.