King Wild lose to Temiscaming in GMHL quarter-finals, Now face Mexican National team in exhibition matchups
By Jon Yaneff

"Hay hockey en Mexico."

In Spanish, this means, "There is hockey in Mexico."

Si (Yes). Ver cierto (It's true).

It is true, and the King Wild will be testing the men's Mexican National hockey team in two exhibition games at Nobleton Arena Saturday at 4 p.m. and Tuesday at Elgin Barrow Arena in Richmond Hill at 8 p.m.

Wild General Manager Naz Marchese said the exhibition games came to fruition because a mentor coach for the Mexican team, Rick Corniccia, asked the Wild and the Richmond Hill Rams of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) if they'd be interested in the competition. These games allow the Mexicans (who are in Canada for a week) to train before the International ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Division II Group B Championships in Newcastle, Australia April 7-13.

There are five other teams competing in the tournament, including Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, China and Spain. The winner of the tournament is promoted to Division I (the top 16 in the world), while the sixth place finisher is relegated to Division III.

Besides the two games against the Wild, Team Mexico's training schedule starts against the Rams Thursday at the Elvis Stojko Arena in Richmond Hill at 5:15 p.m. They then play against a men's league allstar team Friday at the Tom Graham Arena in Richmond Hill at 6 p.m. There is another match-up against the Rams Monday at Elvis Stojko at 5:15 p.m.

"It's unique. I didn't even think Mexico had a team until they told me," explained Marchese. "It'll be very interesting to see how they are."

"I'll have to find some Mexican music to put on the iPod for them," he joked.

"It will be a good end of the season for our guys," said Wild Coach Sheldon Friske. "The Mexican team may surprise us, so you never know. It could be a challenge."

Wild Head Coach Paul Hampton, who was suspended earlier this season, will be back to coach these games.

They had this opportunity after losing their best-of-seven Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) series against the Temiscaming Royals, four games to two.

The series concluded with a 6-2 loss Friday at Le Centre in Temiscaming.

"The score was knotted at two with about 15 minutes remaining before the Royals scored a couple of quick markers and it went downhill from there," Marchese recalled.

Colin Shearing (assisted by Andrew Beattie and David Manning) and Matt Marchese (assisted by Dan Douglas and Jon Adams) were the goal scorers for the Wild.

Douglas (21 points - 10 goals and 11 assists) and Marchese (19 points - eight goals and 11 assists) were the team's leading scorers during their two-playoff rounds against the Douro Dukes and the Royals.

"It was a tough long series and the guys just ran out of gas," said Friske. "We had our chances in the series and didn't capitalize. Hopefully the Royals do well during the rest of their playoff run."

Friske said every team in the GMHL will be rooting for Temiscaming, because the three other teams; The Bradford Rattlers, Elliot Lake Bobcats and Innisfil Lakers are all owned by Bob Russell, who founded the league,

"They have three of the top four teams, but everyone would want to see first-place Bradford lose because they are a few years ahead of the rest of the league with more European players and scouting," he explained.

Goaltender Kyle Parker was reinserted into the Wild line-up after Craig Byford played the previously two games in the series. Parker kept his team in the game during the first two periods, making 39 saves, as the Royals outshot King 45-26.

Parker was relatively solid in the GMHL playoffs going 4-2 with a 2.08 goals against average (GAA) with one shutout.

Perennial starter during the regular season, Byford, struggled at times in the playoffs as his 2-2 mark and 5.00 GAA indicates.

"They showed a lot of class and didn't retaliate when they knew the series was over," said Marchese. "I'm proud of the guys on what they accomplished this season."

The Wild finished the season in eighth place in the GMHL with 20-20-2, but went on a 13-5-1 stretch to end the regular season.

Marchese said as far as player scholarships are concerned it is too early to tell. Dduring the next few weeks scouts will be making their recruiting lists.

Friske added since the majority of the team is young it would be a good idea for them to stick around for another year in juniors to gain experience and condition, before they pursue college hockey avenues.