McNabb ends junior career; Sutch hurt as Majors move on

Brayden McNabb's excellent junior career came to end Friday as the Kootenay ICE lost the Memorial Cup semifinal to Mississauga, 3-1.

As is often the case, the patrolling McNabb (-1) had his physical efforts highlighted by a solid open-ice pop, this time on Jordan Mayer in the second period.



He also showed discipline in the later stages, clearly peeling off an opportunity to label a guy knowing that he couldn't risk being penalized. Offensively he was somewhat limited in the contest despite the ICE's seven power play opportunities.

The 6'4 defender finishes the extended 82-game year (including the Memorial Cup) with a line of 24-78-102. It's expected that he'll play in the AHL next season, as his size and offensive skills are good to go but his feet look like they'll need a little grooming before fully developing into a top-four blueliner.

Mississauga forward Gregg Sutch left midway through the first period and did not return after laying a hit on the ICE's Jagger Dirk.



After the game, Majors coach Dave Cameron said he suffered a shoulder injury and is currently a longshot for Sunday's title tilt versus the Saint John Sea Dogs. (EDIT: it appears that Sutch actually broke his wrist on the play).

If Sutch is somehow able to play, it will mark the third straight year a Sabres prospect gets to play in the Memorial Cup Championship game. Kelowna's Tyler Myers was unable to capture the title in 2009, while Zack Kassian hoisted the Cup after Windsor's dominating run a year ago.

McNabb plays big as ICE advance

Brayden McNabb (+2) notched an assist Thursday as Kootenay came back from a two-goal deficit to eliminate Owen Sound from the Memorial Cup with a 7-3 victory. The 6'4 defenseman, who had a pair of helpers in the ICE's 5-4 OT win over Saint John on Tuesday, now has three points in three tournament games.

The game got off to an undesirable start for the ICE as the Attack came out buzzing to catch some early momentum. McNabb made a nice stick play in the slot right before getting spun around as Cameron Brace scored the game's first goal at 7:12 of the first period.



Trailing 2-0 in the early second period, McNabb got beat down the ice for a near goal against. After the ensuing whistle, his stick snapped as his neutral zone pass turned over for another rush into the ICE zone.



Kootenay would get it together as the period wore on though. Erik Benoit and Joe Antilla tied the game with goals just 13-seconds apart before McNabb, using his power play quarterbacking skills, got some space to open a lane for Matt Fraser to skate in and give the ICE a 3-2 lead.



Kootenay would maintain control in the third period. After being on the ice for a power play goal that gave the ICE a 4-2 lead, McNabb made two excellent defensive plays, one in his own end and a second in the neutral zone, to create a sequence of pressure that eventually lead to a big blast by Cody Eakin.



McNabb of course drew the ire of Attack fans for being suspended just one game after his elbow to the head of Joey Hishon earlier in the tournament. With the hit proving to be the end of Hishon's OHL career, critics didn't see it fair that McNabb was able to play in the game. Adding insult to the Attack's injury was the absence of star forward Garrett Wilson, who was lost to a concussion suffered in Wednesday's loss to Mississauga.

The elimination win advances Kootenay to Friday's Memorial Cup semifinal against Gregg Sutch and the Majors.

Foligno signs deal

The Buffalo Sabres announced Wednesday that Marcus Foligno (2009, 4th round) has agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract. With his junior career done, the banger is set to begin his professional journey next season in the AHL.

“Marcus is a proven leader and someone that we believe will fit in very well within our organization,” said Regier. “As Buffalo fans will remember from his play in the World Juniors, Marcus is a great mix of size and skill.”

A native of Buffalo, NY, Foligno (6’3”, 222 lbs., 8/10/1991, shoots left) played four seasons of junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and was the team’s captain in 2010-11. Despite playing in just 47 games this season, Foligno posted career highs in goals (23), assists (36) and points (59), and was named to the OHL’s Second All-Star Team at left wing. Foligno’s 92 PIMs led all Wolves forwards, and he contributed 11 power play goals. In the OHL’s annual coaches poll, Foligno was selected as the Eastern Conference’s Best Body Checker, and finished third in voting for Hardest Shot.

Foligno also won a silver medal with Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, picking up four points (2+2) in Canada’s seven games.

The son of former Sabre Mike Foligno, Marcus scored 139 points (54+85) and collected 382 PIMs in 245 career games with Sudbury.

5/22 Recap: Sutch limited yet effective as hosts win

Gregg Sutch executed smartly in a limited fourth line role Sunday, skating without a point but keeping the puck deep as Mississauga evened their Memorial Cup record with a 2-1 win over Kootenay.

Sutch's unit, who didn't get any time in the middle period due to heavy special teams play, brought pressure over two hard shifts in the game's first five minutes with the 6'2 grinder helping set a tone with a board rattling finish to end his second run. The Sutch/Jamie Wise wing pairing later completed two strong shifts in the top half of the third period with the game tied 1-1. Sutch showed good defensive tactics in the ninth minute with a 40-second block that saw him come back deep, protect the crease in a net block posture, then win a one-on-one battle in the corner and calmly play the puck to himself off the boards to advance it out of the zone.

Cody Eakin (WAS) opened the scoring for Kootenay at 7:55 of the first period before Maxim Kitsyn (LAK) evened it up in a goal-mouth scrum nearly a minute-and-a-half later. The two-clubs would claw at each other and trade a few power plays for the next thirty minutes before Rob Flick (CHI) notched the game-winner at 11:55 of the third. Mississauga (1-1) now waits for Wednesday's OHL final rematch with champion Owen Sound.

Kootenay (0-2) played the tight checking affair without their physical, point-producing captain Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for the game after his major/misconduct in Saturday's loss to Owen Sound. The 6'4 defender will return to action Tuesday when the ICE complete the round robin versus Saint John.

Sutch enjoying every minute

Mississauga forward Gregg Sutch is a pretty likeable guy. I remember John Vogl of the Buffalo News giving similar praise after he interviewed the 2010 draft pick last summer during the Sabres Development Camp. The easy-going grinder, who has been battling for fourth line duty on the talented Majors roster since January, recently took a moment to speak about the experience of playing on Canada's greatest junior stage.



YorkRegion.com recently penned a Memorial Cup piece that referred to Sutch's tough stint as a member of the Majors. While the gritty winger has struggled to maintain a regular spot in the lineup, he knows what his role is when tapped on the shoulder.

In 53 regular season games, Sutch recorded eight goals and 20 assists for the Majors. Acquired last season from the Sarnia Sting to add grit, he has been inserted into the Majors’ lineup nine times during a four-series playoff run, including two games in the OHL final against the Attack.

Trouble is, at least from the perspective of the Newmarket resident, the Majors have enjoyed a relatively clean bill of health throughout the playoffs and tampering with a winning formula is a procedural no-no. Under those circumstances, someone has to be a healthy scratch.

“It’s a really challenging and trying experience,” said Sutch, 19, following practice Tuesday. “You obviously hope to be in the lineup. Not contributing is tough.”

Not lost on the Buffalo Sabres’ fifth round pick in the 2010 draft is the magnitude of the Memorial Cup.

“I’m obviously honoured to be in this position because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “Whether you play or not, it doesn’t come around very often.”

“If I get back into the lineup I’ll try to add a physical presence and bring a bit of sandpaper.”

Sutch and Majors will take on the Brayden McNabb-less Kootenay ICE Sunday at 7:00pm EST. Early reports are suggesting that Sutch will watch from the press box, but we'll know more closer to puck drop.

McNabb's elbow earns a one game sit

The CHL has announced that Kootenay defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended one game for his elbow to the head of Owen Sound forward Joey Hishon in the Attack's 5-0 win over the ICE on Saturday. Per the CHL, McNabb's elbow on Hishon "was a reckless action by the player but not a deliberate attempt to injure.” The recently-inked rearguard, who is the first player suspended at the Memorial Cup since 1999, will sit out the ICE's Sunday contest against host club Mississauga.

So yes, this 2009 draft class is shaping up to be quite the 1-2-3 "punch". We're all aware of Zack Kassian's brushes with the OHL and IIHF (and heck Windsor PD) bylaws and Marcus Foligno's desire to drill guys into the third row, but let's not forget McNabb's rugged tone as well. If you recall, the 6'4 bruiser was assessed a one-game sitdown for ramming a Saskatoon forward heavily into the boards from behind while trailing late in the game. Sound familiar?

McNabb is not a dirty player, but he does bring his passion near the edge. It's what makes him a tough SOB to play against and what his teammates (and especially goaltenders) appreciate most. I think McNabb's actions on Saturday were clearly the result of frustration. He wasn't having his best game and you could see him upset after being in the mix on the third goal against. Shortly after, he delivered the elbow that everyone is talking about today...

We'll keep an eye out the rest of the way. McNabb's actions may hurt his team in the short term but are sure to have a more positive impact on the Sabres future toughness.

5/21 Recap: McNabb ejected as ICE drop opener

Brayden McNabb earned a late ejection for a vicious elbow Saturday as Kootenay opened the 2011 Memorial Cup with a 5-0 shutout loss to Owen Sound. McNabb, who used his long stick and physical frame throughout, showed that 'the simpler the better' is the way to play his game. He did a good job stepping into guys and using the boards to safety, and showed good hustle on an early power play (below), but there were other moments when McNabb tried to leg the puck only to succumb to the forecheck and keep the play in his end. Also of note was a miss against the speed of Cameron Brace (clip #2) that nearly resulted in an Owen Sound tally.





After a rough third period that saw him take a hooking penalty and then get beat for a goal as his up-ice pass was turned over, the 6'4 McNabb took some frustration out with 5:35 to play by landing a huge open ice elbow to the head of star forward Joey Hishon.



McNabb received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the blow, and could face additional discipline from the CHL if the headshot is deemed suspension worthy. Stay tuned as the ruling will come quick in the year-end tournament.

On Friday, Gregg Sutch executed his grinding role in spot duty as Mississauga opened the tournament with a 4-3 loss to QMJHL champion Saint John. The Majors and ICE will play game #3 of the tournament's round robin on Sunday. With Sutch regularly shuffled in and out of the lineup and McNabb possibly facing a suspension, Sabres reporters looking for a spring beat could be SOL come puck drop.

McNabb joins the fold

As expected, the Buffalo Sabres have announced the signing of 2009 draft pick Brayden McNabb to a three-year entry-level contract.

From the Sabres website:

“Brayden is a big kid with great offensive abilities, and he’s continued to improve every year in Kootenay,” said Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier. “His outstanding performance in the WHL Playoffs was just another positive sign in his development, and we are thrilled to now have him under contract for the next three years.”

McNabb (6’5”, 216 lbs., 1/21/1991, shoots left) just finished his fourth full season with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League, and is headed to the Memorial Cup Championship that begins this weekend in Mississauga. McNabb’s 27 points led all Canadian Hockey League defenseman in the postseason, and his 24 assists were more than any other CHL defenseman’s total points.

A native of Davidson, Saskatchewan, McNabb was tied for second overall in WHL Playoff scoring, and had a 12-game point streak from April 3-May 10 where he scored 21 points (2+19). He also posted a league-best plus-23 rating in the Ice’s 19 playoff games.

The 20-year-old McNabb improved his regular season point total for the third year in a row, finishing second among WHL blueliners with 72 points (21+51) in 59 games. In four full seasons with Kootenay from 2007-11, McNabb had 176 points (50+126) in 258 games, along with 419 PIMs.

Sorry for posting in this late, but I was away in Florida and only able to broadcast messages via twitter...

5/13 Recap: McNabb's ICE take WHL title, deal next?

Brayden McNabb notched a pair of assists Friday including the primary on the game winning goal as Kootenay won the Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 4-1 win over Portland. The ICE, who earned their third WHL Championship in franchise history, will savor the flavor of victory before joining the Owen Sound Attack and host Mississauga Majors at the 2011 Memorial Cup. The QMJHL Final between Saint John and Gatineau is still being played with the Sea Dogs holding a 3-2 edge.

Moments after his nice slap pass wasn't converted, McNabb's patient power play quarterbacking found Matt Fraser in front of the Winterhawks net for the game winner at 19:16 of the 2nd period. The 6'4 defenseman would later assist on an empty-netter to finish the playoffs with a line of 3-24-27 (t2nd overall in WHL) and a +23 rating (1st). He had more assists than any other CHL defensemen had points in the postseason.

Portland's Riley Boychuk skated -1 while earnng a slashing/roughing double minor after he got his stick tangled between a Kootenay forward's legs on his way to a line change. The edgy 6'5 forward finishes his playoff year with four goals, 12 points and 50 PIM in 21 games.

With the Memorial Cup tournament set to being May 20th, McNabb may still make news before the puck drops. Back in 2009, the Sabres signed Tyler Myers to an entry-level the day after Kelowna's WHL Championship win. Keep an eye in the coming days as it's reasonable to suggest the Sabres use the short window prior to the tourney to get a deal done with Myers' former Athol Murray College of Notre Dame teammate.

5/11 Recap: McNabb stops at dozen as ICE inch towards title

Brayden McNabb saw his 12-game point streak come to an end Wednesday as Kootenay needed overtime to get past Portland, 5-4. The victory gives the ICE a commanding 3-1 lead in the WHL Championship series. McNabb (-1, 8 PIM) amassed 21 points over the dozen game run, collecting multiple points in seven of the contests (all victories).

Riley Boychuk picked up an assist to give him points in two straight games. With McNabb in the penalty box to start the second period, the 6’5 Boychuk found Ryan Johansen with a back door pass just as the ICE captain was skating back into play. Boychuk has four goals and eight assists in the playoffs heading into Portland's first elimination game of the year on Friday.

In Tuesday’s game three, McNabb and Boychuk each posted assists as Kootenay took a two-games-to-one lead with a 3-2 OT win. Much like McNabb on Tuesday, Boychuk was just stepping out of the box as the ICE rushed down the ice to open the game’s scoring.