Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Bencurik Leaves Lincoln; USHL vs QMJHL News

Lincoln Stars assistant coach, Ryan Bencurik, has left the team to pursue other opportunities. Head coach Jimmy McGroarty said the search for a new assistant will begin immediately. It's never good when you have to replace a coach the caliber of Steve Johnson, but to lose a good assistant as well is just tough.

Update: Lincoln Journal Star has an article on Bencurik's resignation.

“I just felt like I needed to make a change and wasn’t making what I wanted to, so I’ll try something different,” Bencurik said in a phone interview late Tuesday.

“Resigning had been on my mind for a while, and Jimmy and I weren’t clicking like we both probably hoped we would, so I decided it was best if I just step aside,” Bencurik said.

Indiana and Omaha had a practice game today, with Omaha winning 5-2.

Rookies dominated the goal scoring for the Lancers; Dallas Stars pick Nico Sacchetti scored two goals while Matt White & Chris Connolly scored a goal apiece along with Lancer vet Matt Thurber.

Lancer goaltenders Drew Palmisano and Shane Madolora split time in net and each gave up one goal.

Indiana's site gives us an update on the plans for both teams on their way to Quebec.

Indy plays the Omaha Lancers this afternoon in a scrimmage game from the Herbert H. Carnegie Centennial Centre in Toronto, Ontario which was ironically the same rink that Ice CEO/GM Paul Skjodt and Head Coach Charlie Skjodt played their first year of junior hockey back in the mid-70’s.

After today’s contest, the Ice will visit the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto and have dinner tonight at Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant, before departing for Montreal late this evening. Wednesday includes a visit to the historic Montreal Forum and some sightseeing before the team heads to northern Quebec to participate in the CCM Junior Classic.
Sounds like a great experience for everyone involved.


Go USHL!



Real quick, Josh Langfeld (Lincoln) has signed with the Nashville Predators.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any word on who scored for the Ice?

Anonymous said...

It was a scrimmage, open the door go out
If anyone reads anything from the game was it was pond hockey with the ice getting lot of calls that were marginal.Scrambly play from both sides with little or no flow through the neutral zone.
Games should be better as the teams play more games.

Anonymous said...

If you were their, can you answer Anon 4:45's question? Who scored for Indy?

Anonymous said...

Who was in net for Indy?? That gave up 5 goals?! Wow! I thought their Goalie was an NHL draft pick?! Also, congrats to Connolly...another great player taken from the NAHL!

Anonymous said...

I love the assumption that, if you have a good goaltender you'll never give up more than a goal or two.

Gosh, if that were true, Hasek would have many Stanley Cup rings.... but how he could beat Patrick Roy would be interesting. Both are great goaltenders...

Next time you wonder how 5 goals can be scored ask yourself this: Where was the team defense?

It takes more than just poor goaltending to give up 4+ goals.

Anonymous said...

And maybe the goalie is just not that good.

North Iowa- NAHL

15.72 gaa

.722 sav

Great stats!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....why did the Great One draft him?? And then why was he the first goalie taken in the USHL draft?

Was he in Indy's net or not???

Anonymous said...

This series could be quick work for the Q. Q teams have been already playing for close to a month and the USHL teams are still having scrimmages?

Anonymous said...

WOW...I think the USHL TEAMS will be over their heads in these games....let's see how good they really are!!!

Anonymous said...

The teams in the Q will have a few games under thier belt while the USHL teams will have had a scrimmage.
It will be interesting but I for one won't judge the league on 1 or 2 games.I'm sure the CHL guys on this board will take the outcome as the be all and end all.
Just a note on the PRO note for the CHL players.They are paid, they do get signing bonuses and they have performance clauses to up their pay.

Anonymous said...

keep in mind that indy's #1 didn't get much playing time in net.

darling saw very little action, i'm guessing they want him for the full 60 in both Q games

Anonymous said...

oh and ice goals scored by brent gwidt and jake skjodt

Anonymous said...

this blog kicks a$$

Anonymous said...

* the CHL posters will only refer to this tournament as the be all and end all if they win.

Anonymous said...

scott darling (the indy goalie) only played the 1st and 3rd he gave up 2 goals and had a very good game.

Anonymous said...

i notice whoever put up the north iowa stats forgot to mention that he only played 15 minutes in the NA last season then went to the EJHL thats why his stats look like that

Anonymous said...

i heard darling stood on his head...

Anonymous said...

the word out on darling is that he had a ruff time when he was growing he is 6"6 but he came into his own at the begining of last season. he cant be that bad if he is going to Maine and is an NHL draft pick