10/4 Recap: Myers steps up, drops gloves

Take a run at a Kelowna Rocket this season, and you just might have to deal with an upset 6'8 defenseman. That's what happened to Lethbridge's Craig Orfino, as the 6'2, 200-pounder was forced to take on Tyler Myers after earning a boarding penalty in the first period of tonight's game. Myers was a unsatisfying -2 in the 7-3 loss, but his being the instigator en route to racking up 17 PIMs on the play is a key developmental nugget in this young season. Sure the Rockets can't afford to lose their best defenseman for half-period clips, but like Drew Schiestel last week in Niagara, jumping to a teammate's aid after a cheap lick does wonders for both the team and the developing prospect. Elsewhere in "the dub", Tyler Ennis (+2) scored his first goal of the season in Medicine Hat's 5-4 OT loss to Prince Albert. The Tigers stormed back with three goals in the third before 16-year old Ryan Harrison ended it for the Raiders. In the QMJHL, center Jean-Simon Allard (+2) had a pair of assists and a game-high five shots on goal in Quebec's 4-2 win over Chicoutimi. For his efforts, the 6'2 pivot was named the game's #2 star. Jacob Lagacé, who was averaging 1.75 points-per-game heading into tonight, had four shots on goal for the Sags in defeat. Also in the Q, Jordon Southorn (2 PIM) cooled off with a -1 in PEI's 7-4 loss to Shawinigan. The 2008 pick was +5 with a goal and three assists in his two previous contests since returning from Buffalo. Paul Byron (-1, 2 PIM) matched Southorn's stat line as Gatineau fell to Rouyn-Noranda, 4-1. Byron continues his goal scoring drought, failing to cash in any of his six Olympiques games this season. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel (-2) picked up an assist as the IceDogs fell to Plymouth in a wild, back-and-forth shootout, 7-6. Tied at four heading into the third, both teams scored a pair of goals in the final twenty minutes to force the extra session. With resources already at max bandwidth on the Dogs blueline, things got a little worse when 19-year old Reggie Traccitto was lost to a leg injury. 2008 sixth-rounder Nick Crawford had 2 PIM as Saginaw also needed a shootout to defeat Sudbury, 3-2. Crawford was initially credited with an assist on the second Spirit goal, but the scoresheet was corrected between the second and third periods. It would have given the 6'1 rearguard points in three straight games. In NCAA action this afternoon, Bowling Green's Nick Eno sat out of the Falcons 5-1 win over Wilfrid Laurier due to a sore ankle. With college exhibition schedules underway, the Sabres will have four prospects wearing a new sweater for the first time on Sunday. Vermont defenseman Drew MacKenzie will dress in their afternoon tilt against McGill. Matt Generous and St. Lawrence will host Guelph, while Brad Eidsness and Corey Fienhage may very well see time when North Dakota skates with Manitoba. These collegiate tune-ups can often be one-sided, but not always. Teams like Ryerson and McGill have historically proved worthy exhibition mates for their east coast opponents. Just last season, New Brunswick defeated a talented New Hampshire club by a 4-3 score.