Brown Bears beat Jr. Blues 2-0; sweep weekend series (9/22)

(**Photo Credits go to Jeff Coons**)

On a night where the Springfield Junior Blues brought a much-improved effort, Gustaf Johansson provided a shutout between the pipes and the Kenai River Brown Bears beat Springfield 2-0 on Saturday night in a North American Hockey League contest to sweep the weekend series inside the Nelson Center.

Springfield, who was beat 5-1 on Friday night in there home opener, stepped up tonight and put on a good show of hockey for the home crowd and first-year head coach Tony Zasowski. While Friday night was a little dissappointing, whatever he said to the team before this game, really proved to be a difference maker in there overall effort.

Johannson, who held Springfield to just one goal on Friday night in the Junior Blues home opener, successfully saved all 52 shot attempts that came his way and helped the Brown Bears earn there second victory of the season in front of 722 fans in Springfield's second home game of the season.

Both teams were scoreless through the first twenty-minutes of the game, but that changed at the nine-minute mark of the second period when the Brown Bears' Lucas Kohls had a sick unassisted-slapshot hit the back of the net on Junior Blues' goalie Ryan Kellenberger. Kellenberger, who made his second start of the season, saved 18-of-20 shots on the night but had his record on the season fall to 0-2-0. In his first start of the season against Wenatchee he allowed six goals on thirty shots in the teams' 6-4 loss.

The Junior Blues were vicious with the scoring chances as they outshot the Brown Bears 52-to-20 on the night, but Johannson was basically a brick wall in between the pipes for the second night in a row.

In a 1-0 contest at the thirteen-minute mark of the third and final period, Chris Nuth found a hole in between the pipes as he was assisted by both Brad LeLievre and Dylan Meier as the goal took the air out of the Springfield crowd.

Unlike Friday night, Springfield had a lot of scoring chances and provided a lot of hope for the future; and even the present. Team captain Mike Fazio had eight shot-attempts on goal; while Brett Skibba had seven shots on Johannson himself.

Neither team scored on the man-advantage tonight as the Junior Blues went 0-for-5 and the Brown Bears went 0-for-3 on powerplay opportunities.

The Junior Blues fell to 1-4-1 (3 points) on the season following this lost, while Kenai River improved there overall record to 2-2-2 (6 points). The Junior Blues will be back inside the Nelson Center next Friday and Saturday night as they host Fairbanks while the Brown Bears will be on the road again against Janesville. Both games next weekend for the Junior Blues will be at 7:05 p.m. once again.

Game 6 Preview: Jr. Blues out for redemption against Brown Bears

Kenai River Brown Bears: (5 Games; 1-2-2, 4 Points) Fourth Place in the West division
Springfield Junior Blues: (5 Games; 1-3-1, 4 Points) Seventh Place in South division

Game 1: Kenai River Brown Bears 5, Springfield Junior Blues 1 (Friday night)
Game 2: Springfield Junior Blues vs. Kenai River Brown Bears (7:05 pm, Nelson Center) Tonight

Friday night didn't go exactly as new head coach Tony Zasowski and his new-look Springfield Junior Blues had planned in there home opener; but as for Saturday night, it's a brand new game; and the team is out hungry and will be looking for some redemption.

Kenai River Brown Bears' goalie Gustaf Johansson was nearly perfect on the night as he completed 34-of-35 saves and helped his squad earn there first win of the season in Springfield's 5-to-1 defeat in front of nearly 700 Springfield fans inside the Nelson Center.

The Junior Blues were outshot in the lost 42-to-35 and got there lone goal in the loss by Cody Dixon at five minutes into the third period. Dixon led the team in shots on goal with five on the night and tallied his point total on the season so far to four. Also, Dixon has scored two goals through the first five games so far; while last season he scored that same amount in forty-nine games.

If Springfield wants to win Saturday and split the weekend series, staying out of the penalty box will have a lot to say about it. The Brown Bears played with at least a one-man advantage for twenty-three minutes as the Jr. Blues committed nine penalties in the defeat. Kenai River scored on two of the power-plays while they went 0-for-5 on the man advantage.

With a team that is as young as the Junior Blues are, the potential is certainly there--and so is the fight and hunger. It will definentely be interesting to see how the team responds after a game that went such as Friday night's game did. First-year goalie Matt Leon didn't bring his A game, but then again, it didn't seem like anybody did for the home team.

The action will begin at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night as the two teams wrap up there weekend series inside the Nelson Center. The Junior Blues will play the Brown Bears tomorrow night before getting the upcoming week to prepare for Fairbanks next weekend back at home. Hope to see everyone there!

Kenai River spoils Jr. Blues home opener with 5-1 win (9/21)

(**Photo Credits go to Jeff Coons**)

On a night that Springfield celebrated the home opener for their Junior Blues, Kenai River spoiled it with a 5-1 victory to earn there first win of the 2012-2013 regular season in a North American Hockey League contest inside the Nelson Center.

The Brown Bears got two points from both Vincent Stefan and Jacob Davidson; a stellar performance from Gustaf Johansson between the pipes, and ruined the first game of the brand new management and head coach Tony Zasowski in front of nearly 700 Springfield fans.

The Brown Bears scored two goals in the first period--including a goal from Dylan Meier with just over three minutes into the contest; followed by a second goal just five minutes later that occured on the power play from Lucas Kohls and Kenai River led Springfield 2-0 after the first twenty minutes.

In the second period, it was a lot of the same thing. Connor Deal, Albin Karlsson and Stefan all scored in the period and after forty-minutes of hockey, the Junior Blues trailed by a score of  5-0; which pretty much put the game completely out of reach with just twenty minutes remaining.

The Junior Blues scored there first and only goal in the third period on a nasty slap shot off the stick of defenseman Cody Dixon. Dixon, who is one of the very few returning players from last seasons squad, scored the goal on an assist from Roy Grandov at 5:01 of the period; which helped salavage a game that wasn't very close from the start--and breaking up a shutout.

First year goalie Matt Leon got the start for Springfield and recieved the loss as he played the entire sixty-minutes. He was successful on 37-of-42 shots from the Brown Bears, who outshot Springfield on the night by a total of 42-to-35. Johansson made 34 saves on 35 shots for Kenai River as he picked up the win--and was phenomenal between the pipes all night.

The game consisted of fourteen total penalties; which nine of them coming from the home team. Springfield went 0-for-5 with the man advantage while Kenai River scored two times on nine chances.

Cody Dixon led the team in shots with five, while both Nate Chasteen and Russell Jordan each had four.

Despite the score being as lopsided as it was tonight, the Junior Blues are a young team that will most certainly be an exciting group to watch as this season continues to progress. Considering we have one of the youngest teams in the entire league; as well as brand new management and a new head coach, time will heal all wounds for this very talented squad.

The Junior Blues fell to 1-3-1 overall on the season with the lost; while the Brown Bears improved there overall record to 1-2-2. The same two teams will be back at it again tomorrow night at the same time (7:05 p.m.) inside the Nelson Center. Make sure to come out and soak in the atompshere as Springfield tries to split the weekend series and get there first home win of the season.

Springfield Junior Blues Home Openers dating back to 2004-2005

With the anticipation continuing to build leading up to tonight's home opener (against Kenai Rivers, 7:05pm) for the longest running franchise in the NAHL (North American Hockey League), the new-look Springfield Junior Blues are looking to improve on there recent struggles and build upon last season's home-opening win.

In the previous eight seasons' for Springfield dating back to the start of the 2004-2005 regular season, the Junior Blues are just 3-5 in there first regular season game at home inside the Nelson Center. Last season though, Chris Sitler led them to a 6-2 win over ex-division foe Coulee Region as he lit the "Nellie" scoring lamp up two times in front of a Springfield crowd of 638.


Here is a quick look at the Junior Blues' last eight home openers inside the Nelson Center for you to look at:

•  2011-2012 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 6, Coulee Region 2 (WIN)----------Total Attendance: 638 Fans
•  2010-2011 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 2, Saint Louis 4 (LOSS)----------Total Attendance: 600 Fans
•  2009-2010 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 9, Janesville 3 (WIN)----------Total Attendance: 837 Fans
•  2008-2009 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 3, Saint Louis 6 (LOSS)----------Total Attendance: 1,138 Fans
•  2007-2008 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 2, Southern Minnesota 5 (LOSS)----------Total Attendance: 992 Fans
•  2006-2007 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 5, Northern Iowa 3 (WIN)----------Total Attendance: 738 Fans
•  2005-2006 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 1, Southern Minnesota 2 (LOSS)----------Total Attendance: 1,967 Fans
•  2004-2005 Home Opener: Springfield Junior Blues 3, Texas 5 (LOSS)----------Total Attendance: 1,081 Fans

As you can see, it seems like the attendance isn't much to what it used to be; but if there is one thing that i'm pretty sure of about this season, it is that the attendance will rapidly grow. With the team having a much more organized front office, and coaches and workers that want to get more fans involved; it should be an exciting season for all fans whether the team is winning or not (although winning does make the 'fun' even more fun).

Also, the team has many more well-known sponsors, added some features to the stadium and fixed up a few things that needed it for the game to feel more professional, and has brought in more items to sell around the stadium. Also, Quaker Stake and Lube will be the business running the concession stands, which should also have a much bigger and better selection of food, snacks, and alcohol beverages for everybody in attendance.

Tonight's game will mark the first of twenty-eight contests inside the Nelson Center and will be having the puck drop at 7:05 p.m. with the doors opening up approximately a half-an-hour to an hour before game time. This season marks the nineteenth in existence for Springfield, which makes them the longest-running franchise in the North American Hockey League. The Junior Blues and Brown Bears will play four games this season against each other; as they will play tonight and tomorrow inside the Nelson Center and then again on January 11th and 12th on the home ice of Kenai River.

Junior Blues' Center; Mike Fazio on Bondsy's Hockey Stool (9/19)

For those of you fellow Springfield Junior Blues fans that weren't aware; or availiable early-morning this past Wednesday, first season Center' Mike Fazio made an appearance on the radio during a segment of "Bondsy's Hockey Stool".

The interview that Fazio took place in was basically just a segment of more along the lines of getting to know him a little bit off of the ice; since everybody that kept up with this seasons' preseason already knew about him on the ice following his two-goal game against the University of Illinois inside the Nelson Center.

 

The Junior Blues (1-2-1) are set to host the Brown Bears from Kenai River (0-2-2) tomorrow night for their first of twenty-eight regular season home games inside the Nelson Center. With all the hard work, money, and time that the people invested into making the Nellie more a professional atomsphere; the anticipiation continues to be building as we are now less than twenty-four hours away from dropping the puck.

 

While new head coach Tony Zaoswki and his 2012-2013 team may be very young and inexperience; they are as talented as any other team; and there potential certainly has no ceiling at all at this very moment. I don't expect a very fast start this season; but after allowing these guys some time to adapt and gain chemistry, I do have some pretty high hopes for the outcome of the entire season.

Just in case you happened to miss it, here is a video of the whole thing:

(Thanks to the work of fellow Jr. Blues employee' Nally)

 

 

Game 5 Preview: Jr. Blues battle Kenai River in Home Opener (9/21)

The new era of hockey in the state capital of Illinois has already begun, but the real party starts on Friday night when the puck drops inside the Nelson Center for the home opener of the Springfield Junior Blues at 7:05 as they will be taking on the Kenai River Brown Bears in a North American Hockey League out-of-division contest.

The Junior Blues come into this home-opener with a bunch of new faces, including a brand new owner and head coach as they got rid of last season's head coach Joe Dibble and the rest of his staff. Taking over on the bench starting this season is Tony Zasowski (head coach) and Mike Janda (assistant coach), and while they may not have much experience of coaching at the NAHL-level, both are proven winners that are looking to build more culture to the presence of this team, as well as try to become the third Junior Blues team ever to hoist the Robertson Cup at the end of the season.

With an expected sell-out crowd inside the new-look Nelson Center on Friday night, the team and the fans will get there first look at North divisions' Brown Bears; as well as there first looks at the newly-cleaned up ice rink that costed the team well over $50,000 to fix and to adjust. The Junior Blues enter the game with an overall record of 1-2-1 (3 points), while Kenai River will begin the night at 0-2-2 (2 points) overall.

Both teams started there seasons' off in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Showcase; and neither fared as well as they had probably anticipated--but now the real games begin and both teams have similar hopes to one another, which is why this weekend's two games could both be some pretty exciting games of old-fashioned throwdown hockey.

Brett Skibba leads the hometown boys' through the first four games so far, as he has tallied a total of five points through scoring three goals and adding two assists. Newcomers James McGing (4 points) and Tom Cooney (3 points) have also looked pretty impressive as the two forwards had combined to total for seven points in the showcase over the last week.

Springfield has scored twelve goals so far, while giving up thirteen. On the other side for the Brown Bears' though, they are scored twelve as well; but have also allowed nineteen total. One of the biggest keys in these two games will most certainly be for goaltending. Matt Leon, who looks to have the edge as Springfield's number one netminder, has a 1-1-1 overall record between the pipes; and in 185 minutes of hockey, has allowed just six goals while saving 89 and having an impressive goals' against average of 1.95 with a save percentage of .937.

As for Kenai River, Sean Healy has gotten three out of the four starts in net; and right now he has a record of 0-2-1 and will be looking for his first win on the young season. In 158 minutes between the pipes, Healy has allowed twelve goals and has a goals' against average of 4.54 and a save percentage of .793.

Special teams may also have a lot to say about the two teams as well. Springfield is ranked fourth in the league on the powerplay at 26.3 percent; while Kenai River is ranked eighteenth on there penalty kill as they stand at 77.3 percent. Switching it up to the other side of the special teams; the Brown Bears' powerplay unit is seventeenth in the league at 13.6 percent; while the penalty kill for the Junior Blues is ranked seventh in the league as they have only been scored upon shorthanded just twelve percent of the time.

Albin Karlsson leads the Brown Bears in points entering the game; as he has scored three goals and dished out one assist. Also up in the stat sheets with four points with Karlsson is Zac Lazzaro, who has scored two goals and dished out two asists as well.

For those fans that paid attention and kept up with this team last season; the whole outlook and most faces have changed. The new motto this season of "The New Blues Standard" fits very well into what coach Zawoski is trying to teach these kids; and even with a unit as young as Springfield is, the talent and the potential is most certainly there to turn a lot of heads from around the hockey world in which is the North American Hockey League. As the ole' expression has always went; "only time will tell", but as for now, get out there and help get the Nelson Center rockin' like it hasn't rocked before!

Writing Internship Interview at 10am tomorrow at Nelson Center

After a few days straight of dedicating my days and nights of being ramped up over the home opener on Friday night, the making of the unofficial blog, and some article' writing, I got a call from the team management and an email from our teams' new head coach; my time and opportunity may be a' calling.

First year head-coach Tony Zasowski has given me an interview for tomorrow (Thursday, 9-19) morning at 10am for a writing internship for this seasons' team at the home of the Junior Blues', the Nelson Center. Words' can't express the excitement that is going through me at the moment; and it just continues to build up more and more.

I am more than truly blessed for just the opportunity at the very least. Considering my career dream is to become a sports writer and/or broadcaster, the fact that I could get this opportunity is huge to me. Before I take in more part of all of this; I just want to give out a few big-time thank you's for giving me the opportunity--one that has been very highly anticipated. So here is a big special thanks to:

1. Tony Zaowski (New Head Coach)
2. Mike Janda (Assistant Coach)
3. Brittany (Jr. Blues Employee) - employee that gave me the phone call
4. Everybody involved in the front office for the team
5. Dan Ferguson and FERZOW LLC.....as well as many more people to come!

Once again, here is a special thanks to every single person that I just mentioned; and to all of the people that I have behind me supporting me and my writing and blogging. I'm blessed for just the opportunity and look forward to doing my best at any and all aspects. Continue your support! Thanks!

Quick recap from Coach Zasowski's (WFMB) Radio Interview (9/19)

Earlier this morning the new head coach of our Springfield Junior Blues had an interview on our local FM radio station, WFMB (104.5), and throughout the entire interview all that I received was very positive feedback and very encouraging words.

Tony Zasowski, who is entering his first season as the man in charge of the NAHL's longest running franchise, really seems to know what he is doing. Although words can certainly come out a lot easier than performance, this season's young squad has a lot of potential. On top of that, the fan experience inside the Nelson Center seems like it may have improved quite a bit as well--which if you are a regular as far as attending the games, it is very exciting news.

The fact that they spent $50,000 in renovation to the rink allows me to really believe that the new guys ahead of management are really interested in getting more people in the stands on the weekends. As it always goes in sports, to get fans in the seats, winning games as well as spending money is always the main ingredients to the recipe. Well, our management certainly achieved one of them ingredients before the team even hit the ice.

Also, another exciting aspect to look forward to is the fact that Quaker Steak and Lube will be in charge of running the concession stands during all home games inside the Nelson Center. All of the regular vending snacks and normal items will be sold, but quite a bit of food and merchandise will be expanding this season, which will most definitely be a new feature that will be better for all fans attending the games.

The team will be playing twenty-eight home games this season, and the traveling for the team will be a lot more this season than it has in a while. The Jr. Blues will be playing three out-of-conference teams', including two from Alaska. They will also be making a trip there in the month of January as apart of a home-and-home series.

Considering the team was four wins away from playing for the Robertson Cup, which was derailed by the ex-division rival Saint Louis Bandits, this season's team is very young as we have one kid who is actually just sixteen years old. Also, the team is fielding four players that are actually still in high school this season, which hasn't been as common--but should certainly be exciting to see how well they can mesh and get chemistry down together. The Bandits are no longer apart of the NAHL and now Springfield is in the North division with seven other teams.

As I haven't had the chance to speak to the new coach yet, hearing the interview this morning was very encouraging, in case you didn't have the chance to hear it. While I have respected most coaches that I have witnessed leading this team, I have a lot of faith in the entire new management as well as coach Zasowski as he has proven he has a way with getting the most out of young guys. Everything leading up to this has been very positive from my ears--and if you have the chance this weekend, get out to the Nelson Center and let's get that place rockin'!

Springfield excited for outlook on new look Jr. Blues

As the days are numbered until the home opener inside the Nelson Center for the Junior Blues on Friday night, the city of Springfield really seems to be excited for the outlook and expectations on the new-look of the local franchise.

As the team was just four wins away from playing for the Robertson Cup last season (swept by St. Louis in the semi's), the team continues to be the longest-running franchise in the North American Hockey League. Although they ended the season better than most expected though, this season they are under new ownership and front office personnel.

The team is now under ownership of Dan Ferguson and FERZOW, LLC--who acquired the Junior Blues last April. The new head coach of the team now is Tony Zasowski. A lot of people, including myself, are excited to see this unit perform under his presence. The motto that Zasowski brings to the family is "The New Standard", which is an encouraging expression that has gotten some attention as of recent.

Last season the Junior Blues started the season off slow as they lost six of their first seven contests. As the season went on though, the unit got better and the team went on the make the playoffs as the third-seed because of losing just seven games in between the entire time of the months of January through March.

After upsetting the second-seeded Janesville Jets in the opening round in all five games, the national running-up Bandits from Saint Louis swept them in four games and ended the Joe Dibble era with a wimper--although it was an exciting season watching the likes of goalie Gabe Antoni and forward Kyle Cook (who both are now playing D1 hockey).

The new head coach brings a lot of winning to the table for our team, as he was coaching both the 16U and 18U San Jose Jr. Sharks--and in the 2010-2011 his 16U team won the North American Prospects Hockey League (PHL) title, and last season his 18U team won the title as well.

Despite him not having any coaching experience at the exact level of the Junior Blues, he still coached in a great learning ground for coaching at this level. This season the expectations are for an exciting, new brand of hockey from this team for the city. Springfield lost a lot of players from last season and are very relatively young--but also extremely talented.

Though a lot of people outside of the capital of Illinois involved in the NAHL don't have that high of expectations for this team this season, we do have one of the most storied franchises in the league as history speaks for itself. The Junior Blues are just one of seven teams to win multiple Robertson Cups'.

I can't speak for everyone, obviously, but speaking for myself and a lot of people that bleed Junior Blues' blue and gold, we are all just excited for hockey back in Springfield. Let's go Blues!

Learning the history of the Springfield Jr. Blues

Do you bleed Junior Blues' blue and gold?! Ask yourself that very question, and if you are indeed one of us that do, then you have come to the right place!

The Junior Blues are a franchise of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) based in the location of Springfield--the state capital of Illinois. The team was founded in the year of 1993 by both Dan O'Laughlin and Al Jennings and first started out as in fact a semi-pro team.

As many organizations like to refer there players, coaches, front office and fans as a family, that is indeed what the Springfield Junior Blues are.

Being as the team is pretty much the only actual team in the city of Springfield, the fan base is pretty large and on every weekend that they are playing here at home, the Nelson Center is always rockin'.

Following the coaching change from last season to this season, new head coach Tony Zasowski, who is also the general manager. Last season the team was led by Joe Dibble--who is now the head coach for division-foe, Janesville.

Despite ending the season the way that they did last season, the Junior Blues' new motto is "The New Standard", which is a good one as long as winning in the works. Just like any city, if the team is winning ball games and is an exciting, well coached unit, the fans will fill the seats.

Although this team hasn't won a championship in recent history, they won back-to-back Robertson Cups' in 1996 and 1997. These guys are a young, gritty group of players that bring excitement to this city every winter. Just like they have done twice in the past, lets just hope more championships are on the way.

The New Standard - Springfield Jr. Blues Blog

Hello, and welcome aboard to an unofficial blog of the North American Hockey Leagues' Springfield Junior Blues! The name and creator of this blog is of course myself, Tyler Cobb. 

As many of you may have known me from last season--as I wrote for the team as well, entering my second season covering the team, it has become such a blast! If you know me personally, then you probably know by now that I do infact eat, breathe, and sleep' sports. I love being involved with sports--as well as being around other die-hards', as well as just soaking in the atomsphere--and it surely doesn't hurt that being a sports writer or broadcaster has been my dream since I was a youngin' back in middle school.

This season though, I am looking to get much more indepth with the team--and building a fan base around my writing, as well as getting as many people as I can to get involved in basically the only sports team around the area of Springfield.

For this blog this season, my plan is to write many inside stories on the team and the players--as well as do some video interviews and stories by working behind the scenes from inside and outside of the Nelson Center. Also, I love to be creative with it, but if you have any article requests or ideas for me, then please feel free to contact me (any way that you see on the left sidebar) and let me hear it. I will always respond and I will do the best that I can to get something done for you at your request.

Also, if you happen to see me and recognize me at the Nelson Center on game night--come by and say hi! I love meeting new people, especially around the game. Also, after a few home games this season, I will be hoping to get a "fan photo" section on the sidebar--and if that happens, I would love to get as many fan photos with as many people as I can! 

Thanks for all of the support from all of the individuals within the Springfield Junior Blues organization, the NAHL, and all of the fans and followers that I happen to have and get. I am more excited than ever and looking forward to this season of Springfield Junior Blues hockey! The new standard!