Making the Cut, Episode 3: Checks, Injuries and Attitudes

This week on Making the Cut, we'll be meeting the remaining 34 players who will be coached by Mike Keenan. Mike tells us that he's "heard so many stories of the dream already." And, after a brief recap of last week, we start out with a lovely 5:30 am wake-up call. I am so jealous! Ha, yeah, I don't think so. The sun isn't even up yet but it's wakey-wakey-shakey-shakey for our boys. It's time for a run!

This morning's run will be a timed four-kilometer run through the mountains. They are at 5300 feet above sea level and the boys may find the altitude change extremely difficult. They will be running in a giant loop that winds up and down and basically, all around. They should finish in under 20 minutes. Part way through, we see them struggling and one player says into the camera, "Hi Mom! This is awful!" By the end, they are all thoroughly exhausted and look like they're about ready to collapse. Bill McTeer (one of the pros) says, "See you at the rink in a few hours." There's no rest here boys!

At 9 am, Team Keenan sees the rink for the first time. They will also be split into two teams but instead of blue and white, these guys will be Team Gold and Team Grey.

Heading up Team Grey are: #61 Mark Wires, #62 Shawn Mamane, #63 Alexandre Dandenault, #64 Preston Mizzi, #65 George Zajankala, #66 Craig Nightingale, #67 Francois Fortier and #68 Blane Pohl.

On defense for Team Grey are: #21 Adam Campbell, #22 James Demone, #23 Francis Nault, #24 Dominic Periard, #25 Giovanni Flamminio, #26 Riley Moher and in goal are #33 Jonathan Pelletier and #35 Anthony Marshall.

Zajankala tells us that the excitement is picking up now. We see a few of the boys being measured and we have some big boys, I tell you. One measures in at 6'6". That's one hell of a big hockey player. On the other end of the spectrum, we see one young hopeful that is measured at 5'10 ½". To which he responds, "Hey, three-quarters!"

We see the line-up for Team Gold now. The offensive line will consist of: #51 Jeremy Cheyne, #52 Matt Hubbauer, #53 PC Drouin, #54 Lou Dickenson, #55 D'Arcy McConvey, #56 Richard Gagne, #57 Kristjan Jefkins, #58 Eric Sonnenberg and #59 Ryan Power.

The defensive line for Team Gold will hold: #14 Wilder Weir (I love his name!), #15 Jason Goulet, #16 Jordan Little, #17 Steven Lecuyer, #18 Drew Kivell, #19 Scott Hotham, and in goal #31 Scott Della Vedova and #32 Trevor Cunning.

Power, #59, tells us he'll be 26 years old in two weeks and feels like his age may be catching up with him in terms of making it to the NHL. Don't tell that to MacGillvary or Harkins there Power. Those boys are both over 30. Cheyne, #51, is enjoying checking out the competition.

It's just about time for Team Gold to hit the ice for practice and Mike Pelino tells them it'll be a "quick skate to get used to the equipment... 35 minutes." They do a few drills and they look pretty good. They pass well. Jefkins, #57, is proving himself to be quite the yappy little guy. He makes a lot of noise and comments on (and off) the ice.

Profile: Kristjan Jefkins. Jefkins is a 23-year-old left-winger from South Surrey, BC. He tells us that he plays "tough hockey." Whichever team he plays for, he's going to give it everything he's got. He'll do whatever it takes, "take one for the team." He knows he has an attitude and is quite vocal on the ice. We see him swearing and getting into shouting and shoving matches with other players. Look for this one to be a little scrapper.

As we see Team Grey getting suited up for their practice, Alexandre Dandenault, #63, jokes about things being spoken in both French and English. He says, "Maintenant, en Francais." Everyone laughs. E.J. McGuire comes in to go over the drills they'll be practicing today. He wants them to "keep skating until it's second nature in (their) minds." There are lots of drills here and they look pretty good.

Profile: Shawn Mamane. Shawn is a 26-year-old right-winger who was signed at 20 to the St. Louis Blues but was then sent to the Washington Capital's farm team. He says that as a kid he was always "dreaming and sleeping hockey." It was the only thing he wanted to do. He chose to move home when he found out that his mother was diagnosed with cancer. He left the game because he found that he couldn't concentrate on it any longer. His mother's subsequent battle and recovery has made him mentally tougher and now he's back for a second shot. His trainer says that Mamane is one of the mentally toughest players he's ever worked with. Mamane says, "I want to prove once and for all that I have the talent to play at the NHL level."

It's Day 2 now and time for the first game between Team Gold and Team Grey. Cunning, #32, and the goaltender for Team Gold, tells us about the routines he has before his games. He eats the same food each time, he has his alone time and there is no talking in the dressing room.