Coach urges Grizz to step up

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Nov 8, 2006 by Linda Hamilton Deseret Morning News

WEST VALLEY CITY -- With Matt Craig having been called up by the AHL Manitoba Moose, center and assistant captain Brad Herauf has stepped up, said Utah Grizzlies' coach Jason Christie.

Herauf scored six points in last weekend's three games at Idaho against the team that is now leading the ECHL at 7-1, and his four goals in last Saturday's game in Boise set a Grizzlies' franchise record.

The Grizzlies (2-4-0-2 for six points, tied for third in the ECHL West) now have three straight home games, starting tonight at 7 in the E Center, with the defending Kelly Cup-champion Alaska Aces (4- 2-0-0 -- eight points), who swept Utah out of the first round of the playoffs last spring. They stand second in the West after splitting a four-game set with Bakersfield.

With the Grizzlies having some scoring challenges -- only four ECHL teams have scored fewer than their 22 goals in their eight games -- Christie is hoping a few players can learn from Herauf's example.

He is tied for 18th in league scoring with 10 points and fifth in goals with seven, and his four power-play goals tie him for third in the league. He was a runner-up for ECHL player of the week honors.

The reason Herauf is getting points, Christie said, is that he's willing to go stand in front of the goaltender. "He's going to areas. That's why he's scoring. Some guys want to play the perimeter, and they're not getting chances. He's going to the front of the net, and he's making good plays."

The Grizzlies have been in good shape in most of their games but cost themselves lately with "mental breakdowns, just (not) being ready," Christie said. "We've got to bear down on our chances."

Alaska still has former Grizzlies Barrett Heisten, Kimbi Daniels and Peter Metcalf, and they're all among the Aces' top five scorers. Goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu is second in league goals-against average at 1.44. Utah's Rob McVicar is 20th at 2.98.

Christie activated Mikael Zettergren from the injured list and placed Eric Nelson on the three-day IL.

The Grizzlies and Aces also play Friday and Saturday at the E Center.

E-mail: lhamx@desnews.com