The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Both Kindersley and Weyburn controlled their respective conference finals pretty much from game one on. Kindersley enters the series relatively healthy. Justin Wilchynski has made it into just three playoff games to date and his status for the final is questionable. The same holds true for key defenseman Josh Pokol, who has missed the last eight games. Other than that, everyone else that is considered a regular should be ready to go for game one. The only regular not likely to play early in the series for Weyburn is all-star defenseman Greg Park (broken cheekbone). With Park out, Chase Schafer has assumed a regular role on the blueline and 20 year-old forward Jarod Eagles has been a regular for the last four games. Peter MacDougall and Jerid Corbett also seem to be rotating in and out of the lineup. If Eagles sits, look for Steve Pearce to get another chance. Forward Jereme Tendler is also playing with a cast on a broken wrist suffered in round one. See 'Goaltending' P.# Con't from P.# In goal, Kindersley's Nathan Deobald will be motivated to knock off the team that traded him away in the offseason. Meanwhile, Cale Jordison has quietly gone about his business in the playoffs and leads the SJHL with a 1.88-GAA. Deobald has also been spectacular posting an even 2.00-GAA. Because of Tendler's injury, Frankie Dicks has assumed the spot alongside Shayne Emmons and Clayton Bastura on Weyburn's top line. Tendler did see some spot duty with Bastura and Emmons late in the Yorkton series. The most dangerous trio for the Red Wings in the last round was Rick Wood-Ryan Grona-Jordan Stevenson. For Kindersley, Troy Schwab scored five goals in the six games against Humboldt. No other player had more than two. The Klippers will ask for more production out of forwards Casey Lee (0-goals in 9-games), Eric Schwabe (4-points in 10-games), and Jade Boklaschuk (4-points in 10-games). Rolling four lines, the Wings lack a player of Schwab or Curtis Bazylinski's stature. Kindersley's power play (11-for-83) is ranked sixth of the eight playoff teams at 13.3%. Weyburn's penalty kill is fifth (10-goals against while 63-shorthanded situations) at 84.1%. The Klipper penalty kill is first (7-goals against while 46-times shorthanded) although all seven goals allowed came in the Humboldt series. The Red Wing power play is third (7-for-46) at 15.2%. Give size and speed advantages to Kindersley. Give sound defensive play and the ability to play mistake free hockey to Weyburn. It'll be a good series. It might come down to Deobald vs. Jordison.2/4/04
