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While the 2011-12 WHL season is now over for the Saskatoon Blades, one player still has more games to play.
A day after the Blades were swept in the Eastern Conference quarter-final by the Medicine Hat Tigers, captain Duncan Siemens learned he will be called up Sunday to the Colorado Avalanche's AHL affiliate - the Lake Erie Monsters.
The Avalanche confirmed the news in an email.
"It'll keep me on my skates for a little bit longer and I'll get to go up and experience another level of play," he said. "It'll be a huge learning curve."
Siemens was drafted 11th overall by Colorado in the 2011 NHL draft and signed an entry-level contract last July.
He had a solid training camp with the Avalanche and was named the third star in his final pre-season game - a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 23 - before returning to the Blades.
He was then named the Blades' captain after playing in his first game of the season. He admits he has more room to grow as a leader.
"I had my times being a young guy, still learning a lot," said Siemens. "I still learned a lot and still have a lot to learn in that aspect."
Siemens played in all 72 games in 2010-11, recording five goals and 43 points with 121 penalty minutes and a plus-40 rating.
Those numbers dropped to 57 games played this season - he sat out 13 games with a concussion - netting six goals and 28 points with 91 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating.
While the 18-year-old did play a shutdown role against the opposition's top line on a nightly basis, he knows there are other parts of his game he can improve.
"Personally, I think I'm going to work everything - my overall game," said Siemens. "Puck skills are something that I really need to work on. That'll be a major focus over the summer and refining everything else as well."
The Monsters are currently right in the thick of a playoff race. With seven games remaining, Lake Erie sits in 10th place in the Western Conference but is only one point out.
"Obviously at the next level it's even harder than at this level to win," said Siemens. "I think that I can go in there and learn a lot and try to bring something back. I'm going to try and be a sponge and absorb as much as I can."
Added Blades head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken: "Any time these young guys get an opportunity to get that pro experience it's a positive experience for them. It gives them a bit of a measuring stick."
Blades winger Josh Nicholls could also be playing some professional hockey games in the near future.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2010 seventh-round draft pick hasn't signed an NHL contract, but said his agent, Gerry Johansson, has been talking with the team and is hopeful they can reach an agreement soon.
But if he doesn't, or if he's returned to the Blades as an overage player next season, Nicholls said he's comfortable with either scenario.
"It's a win-win for me," he said. "One way you're playing pro hockey and the other you're playing for a Memorial Cup. I'm going to be happy with whatever happens."
The 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup will be played in Saskatoon next season and the Blades, as hosts, receive an automatic berth.
The Blades' other drafted players, Darren Dietz (Montreal) and Matej Stransky (Dallas), have yet to sign an NHL deal.
-- by Daniel Nugent-Bowman for The Star Phoenix --
Eurolanche.com, Worldwide, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
01/04/2012 - 09:00
Duncan Siemens to play in AHL
While the 2011-12 WHL season is now over for the Saskatoon Blades, one player still has more games to play.A day after the Blades were swept in the Eastern Conference quarter-final by the Medicine Hat Tigers, captain Duncan Siemens learned he will be called up Sunday to the Colorado Avalanche's AHL affiliate - the Lake Erie Monsters.
The Avalanche confirmed the news in an email.
"It'll keep me on my skates for a little bit longer and I'll get to go up and experience another level of play," he said. "It'll be a huge learning curve."
Siemens was drafted 11th overall by Colorado in the 2011 NHL draft and signed an entry-level contract last July.
He had a solid training camp with the Avalanche and was named the third star in his final pre-season game - a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 23 - before returning to the Blades.
He was then named the Blades' captain after playing in his first game of the season. He admits he has more room to grow as a leader.
"I had my times being a young guy, still learning a lot," said Siemens. "I still learned a lot and still have a lot to learn in that aspect."
Siemens played in all 72 games in 2010-11, recording five goals and 43 points with 121 penalty minutes and a plus-40 rating.
Those numbers dropped to 57 games played this season - he sat out 13 games with a concussion - netting six goals and 28 points with 91 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating.
While the 18-year-old did play a shutdown role against the opposition's top line on a nightly basis, he knows there are other parts of his game he can improve.
"Personally, I think I'm going to work everything - my overall game," said Siemens. "Puck skills are something that I really need to work on. That'll be a major focus over the summer and refining everything else as well."
The Monsters are currently right in the thick of a playoff race. With seven games remaining, Lake Erie sits in 10th place in the Western Conference but is only one point out.
"Obviously at the next level it's even harder than at this level to win," said Siemens. "I think that I can go in there and learn a lot and try to bring something back. I'm going to try and be a sponge and absorb as much as I can."
Added Blades head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken: "Any time these young guys get an opportunity to get that pro experience it's a positive experience for them. It gives them a bit of a measuring stick."
Blades winger Josh Nicholls could also be playing some professional hockey games in the near future.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2010 seventh-round draft pick hasn't signed an NHL contract, but said his agent, Gerry Johansson, has been talking with the team and is hopeful they can reach an agreement soon.
But if he doesn't, or if he's returned to the Blades as an overage player next season, Nicholls said he's comfortable with either scenario.
"It's a win-win for me," he said. "One way you're playing pro hockey and the other you're playing for a Memorial Cup. I'm going to be happy with whatever happens."
The 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup will be played in Saskatoon next season and the Blades, as hosts, receive an automatic berth.
The Blades' other drafted players, Darren Dietz (Montreal) and Matej Stransky (Dallas), have yet to sign an NHL deal.
-- by Daniel Nugent-Bowman for The Star Phoenix --
Eurolanche.com, Worldwide, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
01/04/2012 - 09:00
