Batchewana v. Kalkaska
The Michigan-based Kalkaska Rhinos, an independent junior hockey team that is coached by Krzysztof Oliwa, who won a Stanley Cup in 2000 as a fearsome left winger with the New Jersey Devils, will play their first-ever home games this weekend.
The Rhinos will play host to the unbeaten Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Kaliseum Recreational Complex in Kalkaska.
The Oliwa-coached Rhinos have played seven games thus far this 2014-2015 season against teams from the CIHL and the Midwest Jr. Hockey League and have a respectable record of 3-4. The Rhinos have two wins against the Detroit Fighting Irish of the MWJHL and another over the Sudbury Royals of the CIHL.
Batchewana has a regular-season record of 5-0 in the eight-team CIHL.
As the 41-year old Oliwa is a retired National Hockey League veteran of 442 career games, Batchewana head coach Denny Lambert is no stranger to “The Show” either.
The 44-year old Lambert played in 504 NHL games and like Oliwa, was a rugged, high-energy left winger.
The Road Warriors from the UP are planning on being at the Kaliseum. It’s just a short trip up from Big Rapids. And with no evening game on the schedule for the Soo High Fall Team, what’s better than a little extra hockey action?
I was wondering if anyone knows if box scores for CIHL games are available anywhere. While the league website lists the scores, there doesn’t seem to be any other information on the games.
I went when Kalkaska came to Espanola, good game, just a bit last minute so a thin crowd… 3-1 Rivermen but the Rhinos pushed hard till the end…