NPHL team loads up with ex-pro, semi-pro players for playoff run

Article content

In their quest for the North Peace Hockey League championship – Alberta’s Manning Comets have brought in some former professional players to their roster. Five of them, to be precise.

Article content

The Manning Comets have barnstormed through the NPHL playoffs this year – stomping out the High Prairie Regals, and Grande Prairie Athletics in four games straight. In the league finals, the team has triumphed over Dawson Creek 8-1 and 3-0 in the first two games.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

Judd Blackwater, Chris Langkow, Brinson Pasichnuk, Colton Yellow Horn, and Ty Stanton all have pro, semi-pro hockey ice time in Canada, US or Europe.

According to Elite Prospects, Pasichnuk has played more regular season games with the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks in 20/21, than the Manning Comets in 25/26.

Judd Blackwater has stints in the ECHL and AHL to 2015, and has played in Europe for the last ten years in Slovakian and Romanian leagues. He joined the Manning Comets this season, and sits in first place in NPHL league playoff points.

Article content

Article content

Chris Langkow has played in the ECHL and AHL starting in 2010 and has played in the Slovakian leagues since 2018 – before joining Manning this season for four regular season games before the playoffs.

Brinson Pasichnuk played four games with the San Jose Sharks in 2020/21 season before moving to the AHL and NCHL and played two regular season games with the Manning Comets this year.

North Peace Hockey League commissioner Michael Mercredi said Wednesday the current league bylaw addresses the matter.

“The league has a bylaw currently outlining players need to play two regular season games with teams.”

Colton Yellow Horn has played with the CHL and ECHL since 08/09, before playing in Europe since 2014. He played three regular season games with Manning and is lighting it up in the playoffs with 15 points in 9 games.

Article content

Ty Stanton is now with Manning for two regular season games. He last played from 2015 to 2018 in the AHL and ECHL.

Another league pundit said the practice is not new, and familiar to teams in the league, and outlines why the NPHL series will be over in four games.

“I understand if you have retired or ex- pro players born in Manning or area on the team, but these two teams (the Manning Comets and Dawson Creek Canucks) have little businesses being on the same ice together. If teams have donators with deep pockets, they can play for players. The going rate last November/December was about $1,500 a game,” they said.

“If you can look at yourself in the mirror and live with yourself doing this; it’s been done before in this league, in other leagues, and will happen again. Sometimes this makes it hard for the team to recruit local players when some are flown in for playoff runs.”

Dawson Creek Canucks team officials outlined Wednesday team members are either residents of the area, or work in the Peace region.

The hockey continues with game three in the North Peace Hockey League finals Thursday in Dawson Creek, B.C. at the local Memorial arena before back to Manning, for game four on Saturday night at the Jack McAvoy Arena.

Article content