It's Monday. Yay?
"Goaltender is a normal job. Sure. How would you like it if at your job, every time you made the slightest mistake a little red light went on over your head and 18,000 people stood up and screamed at you?" - Jaques Plante, goalie
It's amazing to me how quickly people can jump off the bandwagon. Guess that's why they're called bandwagoners. A week ago everybody was like "OMG DREW OWSLEY IS THE BEST GOALIE EVARRR!!!1" Now every loss is his fault. What bullshit. The AMS have been outplayed and out-lucked by a great team. I don't care if it's Drew or Alex, when the team in front of you is not competing at the same level as the opposition, allowing breakaways, not clearing pucks out, there isn't going to be success. Am I saying the goalies don't have some responsibility for the losses? No. The team does, and they are part of the team. I think Drew got rattled or had nerves and just didn't have the confidence we've seen and Hitmen capitalized (and capitalized and capitalized and capitalized) on that. I understand the frustration on the part of the fans, cuz I'm a frustrated fan as well. But to point the finger at Drew alone is ridiculous.
God I have to stop reading the message board. It makes me want to punch babies. /rant
Alex played well, to be sure. And Hiller has a tough choice to make, start Owsley and hope he'll be back to form in front of the home crowd? Or go with Alex who has been good in relief? Either way (should I toss in an "irregardless"?), the entire team needs to step it up a notch or 20. They need to play a level of hockey they've never played before. And that's a big demand, but if they want to win, that's what needs to happen. And I truly believe they are capable of doing so. I believe.
No love for the organization from former American Joel Broda:
"Probably the best thing ever for me was for Bob Tory to trade me," said Broda, a 6-foot, 200-pound center. "I got to go to a team where I got a really good opportunity to grow as a player and in a program that allowed me to score goals.""Things were really starting to come along when I got traded," Broda said. "It's great because it is a really good hockey community. It's good to see the team have success and I'm happy for the organization to be doing well. But I'm on the other side now. With all due respect, I want to win, but I'm happy they've done well." (Tri-City Herald)
Broda, you got sent to Moose Jaw, and they did terrible. So really, the best thing for you was when Moose Jaw traded you.
"We usually start quick and score the first goal, but obviously that hasn't been the case here," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "A bit of a breakdown, a key goal by them on a turnover, but up until then I thought we were playing pretty well. We haven't played that badly. We just have to generate more, get a little more puck luck, get some good bounces and we can turn this around." (Calgary Herald)
For sister, the Calgary Herald has a bit on the bus rides in the WHL:
There’s a pecking order for seating. And unlike airlines, with business class, the most coveted are found at the back. Based on seniority. No choice of chicken or steak, though.
“I’ve been here for four years and worked my way back,’’ says Stone. “I’ve got three seats to myself now. Man, is it . . . nice. When I was 16, we’d have to double up every so often depending on how many guys we had on. Then, at 17 I moved back to a seat in front of the TV. That was sweet. Last year, made it three-quarters of the way to the back.“This year, I graduated to ALL the way back.’’ (Calgary Herald)
5 comments:
At this point, I'm looking at Hiller to try and get these boys ready for tomorrow and Wednesday. I don't believe he's ever been here before (correct me if I'm wrong) so I'm sure it's stressful but when I see the frustration on his face and no life in his voice it worries me, the coach needs to help them out and get them motivated. I believe they can do it but like you said, they need to play better than they ever have before.
PS- my word verification is "coogr" lol ;)
Lollerskating about the "coogr" word verification!! Predator!
And yep, Sister, I LOVE the bus story -- thanks for letting me know it exists!
But you gotta stop with the message boards. Who cares what those idiots think about anything?
I have to say that I have a thing for goaltenders; they have my utmost respect because they're the ones who are on the ice 60 minutes a night. All the other players are on-and-off-again all night long, but the goalie stands there and protects the crease. He's the last line of defense against the other team. But that last line of defense is only as good as the team in front of him.
Unfortunately, haven't seen these guys play; I just listen to the games. That's what I get for getting attached to teams from the other side of the country. However, it sounds like the boys need to step it up, like you said, about 20 notches. These are the playoffs. You need to pull out all the stops. You can't "save it for later" - there might not be a "later" to save it for.
As an aside, the "irregardless" made me LOL. English major humor.
Anyway, I still believe in Owsley and the boys. As much as I love Alex (and I really, really love Alex), Owsley's the starting goaltender for a reason. Hiller knows what's up. He'll get them there, or at least close enough that they'll know what to do next season. Remember the Pens? Lost in six, came back the next year and won in seven? Sometimes, you just need the experience and to taste defeat so that you work that much harder for the win next time around. Because there will definitely be a next time for these guys.
Oh, my. I didn't mean to write this much... =] Go Ams!
@Mikaela--best word verification EVAR.
@normalooking--I only look there to see WTF people are talking about. And to feel better about my life.
@MDO--well said. And yes, next year is looking really good as a lot of the guys are 17, 18, like Macek, Messier, Feser. Hell, Shinny will be 19 so they have a lot to build off of this season.
and the "irregardless" is something I'm sure you've heard color commentator Grant Linnen say during home games. facedesk.
Broda sounds like a spoiled brat. Not saying he is one, just saying he sounds like one.
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