The morning after

If you were awake an hour and a half or so ago (I was not), you might have received the email from Booster Club Prez Michelle McGuire stating that the bus was in fact going to Toyota Center so if you wanted to greet the boys you could.  So I'm sure with the late notice, there weren't (aren't?) many people there :( 

That doesn't change the fact that so many of us are so goddamn proud of these boys and what they've accomplished this season.  So very proud.

Is it heartbreaking that they didn't win the championship?  Sure.  But don't hang your heads boys, you had an amazing season.  Best season in franchise history.

To Johnny Lazo, Brett Plouffe, and Captain Jarrett Toll--thank you for your years as an American.  It's been an honor to watch you play and grow.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," said first-year Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "There's everything to be proud of. We talked at the beginning of the season of trying to take this (team) from good to great. In the end we didn't reach our ultimate goal, but you have say that's a great hockey team and they had a great season. Any time you can say that about a team, you have to feel pretty proud."

For team captain Jarrett Toll, it's not quite the way he wanted to end his five-year career in Tri-City.

"It's frustrating because we are such a better team that what we showed in the series," Toll said. "We were nervous the first two games. We didn't have the experience they did. Hopefully the guys coming back next year can take that with them. They capitalized on every mistake we made. The scores didn't represent the series at all.

"We were picked to not be very good this year and we were the best team in franchise history," Toll continued. "We have to focus on that and look at the positives right now. It's two more banners, it's not all bad."  (Tri-City Herald)

The only bit worth reading from the Calgary Herald:

“They’re young guys,’’ reminded Hiller. 

“We always have to remember they’re teenagers with emotions that are pumpin’. It’s an honour to be in the room with guys like that. As much as it hurts to lose. ‘Cause people care. It’s a special time and that’s why a lot of us are involved in this game, because we get to be around people who really lay it on the line.

“We played a very, very good hockey team in the finals. Fifteen thousand people in a tough building and I thought we pushed stride for stride. That says a lot about the players. You talk about them being young, it’s only going to make them stronger.’’  (Calgary Herald)

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Give me a couple days to get through the mourning, then the plan is to write up my season re-caps for each player.  Also stay tuned over the summer as any AMS news unfolds.  In addition, I'll be teaming up with the boy for a little project we have in mind.