Tradition

I am so ready to turn the page past 2011.  If you know me, you know I had a pretty bad year.  I am grateful that I have the wherewithall to know that I am also very blessed.  Was it a shitty year?  Yes, but it could have been worse.  I still have a job, I have a home, and I have a strong family and amazing friends.  Without those things, especially the friends and family, I don't know if I would have made it through the past 12 months relatively unscathed.

There will be no new big resolutions from me, I made mine while cruising around Glacier Bay National Park in June and have stuck to it.  To be a better person, that's my resolution.  I've worked to be healthier, taking up running and I've dropped 2 pant sizes.  I've worked to be a happier person, realizing that my happiness is primarily in my own hands.  I resolved to travel more, and while that hasn't happened yet, I have made a big effort to earn extra money for it to happen eventually.  Another resolution (trying to get to a point here) was to make sure this blog didn't become a job.  I wanted to keep it a hobby, I've known too many hockey bloggers--great and wonderful writers--who have stopped writing because it became a job, something they HAD to do, not something they WANTED to do anymore.  So I'm writing when I want to.  Yes, readership has dropped some, but I'm ok with that because I'm writing what and when I want to--for me.  

To those of you who have stuck around, thank you.  No really, I am truly grateful, because I really do enjoy doing this, and I love that people hang around.

Ok, sappiness over.  IT'S GAME DAY.  The annual NYE game against Spokane.  I've got hockey tummy already.  There's nothing on the Herald's sports site yet so I'll make up some quotes.

"It's going to be a good game, it's always intense against Spokane."  said captain Mason Wilgosh.  "There will be a lot of energy in the building which is great, we always feed off the crowd."

Coach Jim Hiller is staying focused on the game plan. "Shutting the Chiefs down early is obviously a priority," says Hiller.  "We need to get on the board early, get the lively crowd into it."

Jordan Messier remembers last year's game, "We're hoping for no more gaping holes in the ice, that was pretty miserable.  I'm also not going to get in any fights tonight, gotta protect my noggin."

"I know, I'm a damn sexy defenceman" said Derek Ryckman.  "Just another day."  

I love making up quotes.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve.  Remember to not drink and drive, AAA has free "tipsy towing" even if you aren't a AAA member, take advantage of it (call 1-800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP), tell the operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," and the truck will come to collect you and your vehicle.  The offer is good to both AAA members and non-members. The service offers a free, one-way tow up to 10 miles for the driver and additional passengers if there is space in the tow truck..

Remember to tell those around you that you love them, and not just the drunken "I love you man" stuff, really mean it.  May you and yours have a very wonderful 2012, because if nothing else, it looks like our hockey team is going to start off the year on the right note--1st place overall hell yeah!!

Now I'm off to get my two-sizes-smaller-but-still-fat ass on the treadmill!  Yay resolutions!!

"Scrambly"

I love vacation, I love sleeping in.  But you don't care, moving on.

"It's the first game back and everyone was kind of scrambly," said Shinnimin, who also had an assist for a four-point night. "We got better as the game went along. Every game we have played them they have give us a tough game. Without the short-handed goals, it could have been a different game. Those took the wind out of their sails." (Herald)

"Scrambly"--I wonder if that is an allowable word in Words With Friends (I'm addicted, if you want to play search for "imeanwegotguys")?

It was a kick-ass game. Silly me for being worried about some rust after the days off. There was no rust, none at all. Obviously the big story of the night was the work of Shinnimin, and it should be. He was simply out-freaking-standing. Possibly as important as Shinny's work was the game of Ty Rimmer. I'll bet there's several Rockets who had nightmares of Rimmer's saves last night.

If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you know how I feel about Rocket's P-B-P guy Regan Bartel. However, he did have some great things to say about the Ams (to which I will, of course, add my 2 cents):

The Tri City Americans have the three best overage forwards in the Western Hockey League. Want proof? Examine Thursday night's 5-1 win over the visiting Kelowna Rockets. Twenty year-old Brendan Shinnimin scored three times and added an assist as the Americans won for the 9th straight time on home ice. Two of Shinnimin's three goals came on shorthanded breakaways to break open a 1-1 game. Both goals were set up by fellow overager Mason Wilgosh. While not his productive self, 20 year-old leading scorer Adam Hughesman chipped in with an assist as the Americans earned their 28th win of the season.

See that Buzzing the Net?  THREE BEST OVERAGE FORWARDS IN THE WHL.

When you are a good team, like the Americans are, you capitalize on every mistake the opposition makes and you make your opponent earn everything they get. For starters, for Shinnimin to score twice, once by shooting the puck and the other by deking goaltender Adam Brown, is awfully impressive. A lesser player would have certainly been shut down by one of those attempts on a quality goaltender like Brown. Much like Patrick Holland's first period goal and Brian William's power play marker in the third period, both odd man rushes resulted in the puck being deposited in the back of the net. The elite teams do that. They close on ever opportunity they get. The Americans finish in spectacular fashion.

Watch out WHL, Patrick Holland is getting hotter, I hope the recent scoring trend continues.

He picked on a European player to register his first career WHL scrap, but 15 year-old rookie Ryan Donaldson took off his cage late in the third period for a tussle with Malte Stromwell. I think I even saw Americans head coach Jim Hiller chuckle after the fight was through.

Oh my God.  I wanted to cover my eyes.  I wanted to stare.  I could do neither as I had to try to get good pictures of it (get much photos).  But Malte held his own and didn't do too bad, got in a couple swings.  But yeah, all the laughs afterwards were pretty entertaining too.  In between yelling "NOOOOO" while the fight was happening, I was also yelling "NOT THE FACE" because that little Swedish face is just too adorable.

You have to love Bob Tory. The Americans GM greeted me as I was exiting the broadcast booth following the game. Small gesture I suppose, but how can you not cheer for a guy who has again put another tremendous team on the ice? I told him flat out that he needs to acquire another key piece to make his team even better. Not like he needs my advice, but a team like his only comes around once in a blue moon, so when you have a chance to win, and win big, trading an asset for short term gain in my opinion is the logical move. You don't see Tory making too many ill advised moves when acquiring players, so my belief is he will make a trade only if he thinks it is appropriate.

No, Bartel, he doesn't need your advice.  Several of us were talking during the game about this team and the upcoming trade deadline.  If you really look at it, there isn't really a glaring need.  I'm not sure what "key piece" Bartool thinks they need.  Scoring is going great, the defense is spectacular, and there is a very solid goaltending tandem.  For the first time that I can remember, there doesn't seem to be an obvious move to be made.  Heck, there doesn't seem to be a not-so-obvious move to be made.  But, as Bartel knows too, you never know with Bob what he's got up his sleeve.  That's why he's the GM and I'm not.

If I have noticed one thing about the Americans organization, despite all of their successes, it has been their humble approach. I don't perceive Jim Hiller as being cocky or arrogant and clearly Bob Tory is as approachable as they come. From Media Relations guru Dan Mulhausen to radio voice Craig West, the Americans organization carry themselves in such a way that others should emulate. They win, but they don't carry that 'we are better than you' persona with them. And if they do, maybe they just hide it better than another team that isn't afraid to hide their confident swagger.

This is truth from top to bottom.  At one time or another I've had dealings with everyone in the front office it seems and they are nothing but helpful and kind.  I've worked with Dan Mulhausen for pictures and arranging interviews, he's top-notch.  Craig West has forgotten more sports information than any of us will ever learn and has always been helpful with stats and data and any other things I've wanted to know.  And I can't say enough about Bob.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's no dummy, he knows this blog is free advertising for his team.  To that end he has been more than helpful in answering questions I have, providing information when I need it, to make sure that I'm not publishing garbage about his boys.  He is protective of those guys, as he should be, and it's only prudent of him to make sure some rogue blogger isn't starting rumors and nonsense.   It really is a top-notch organization and it's nice when an outsider (Bartel in this case) recognizes it as well.
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Holly was (still is?) the WHL Player of the Week from the week before break and he is one of the players featured on the WHL Radio Show this week, you can listen to it here (show #14), his bit is towards the end.

It's finally game day!!

Turns out blog posts don't write themselves.  Christmas break for the boys is over so it's mostly over for me, back at it.  Perhaps the Herald is still on vacation?  Or that Pomeroy story is a REALLY big deal.

The boys are back on the ice tonight against the Kelowna Rockets who already have a post-break game under their belt.  Mind you they lost that game (against the Chiefs), but it will have gotten their legs back.  I hope the Ams have had some good solid practices so they aren't too rusty.  This isn't good:

Looks like Connor will be out for awhile which sucks.  A lot.  Friend of the blog, Aeris, who goes to practices every so often reports that Malte (at least yesterday) was playing in Connor's spot on the line with Hughey and Shinny.  That's hot. 

Speaking of friends of the blog, I got an email the other day pointing out this article on Buzzing the Net.  In it:

Most believe the likes of the Portland Winterhawks, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Moose Jaw Warriors have much greater odds than the Medicine Hat Tigers for representing the Dub at the Memorial Cup. However, with the Tigers having arguably the strongest one-two scoring punch in the league (Etem and Hunter Shinkaruk), not to mention one of the top goaltenders in Tyler Bunz, one can't rule them out as a realistic contender.  (BTN)

"Most believe"??  Who are these "most" that you speak of??  Portland fans?  People like the stellar folks at Buzzing the Net who only (apparently) look at the number of drafted players a team has?  The rest of the "most" of us pay attention to other things--like wins.

• Tri-City Americans Games played: 34  Record: 27-7 Win %: .794 1st place in the entire league.
• Portland Winterhawks Games played:  36  Record: 22-11-2-1 Win %: .653 tied for 6th in the league.

Now look, obviously as a fan of a team in the US Division I hate other US Division teams.  But what I hate more is Buzzing the Net's obliviousness.  I'm not trying to take anything away from Portland, they are indeed a good team, no question.  Maybe Friesen's "most believe" comment is referring to pre-season predictions when of course the Americans were written off.  Go ahead, write them off, they'll just keep winning, and will do so with only two NHL drafted players.  In the the meantime, I'll keep calling out Buzzing the Net on their shit.

Eric Comrie and Team Canada got the win against Sweden last night in the preliminary game in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.  The tournament officially begins tonight.

Reminder:  trade deadline is January 10.

Hope we have a good crowd in the building tonight to make some noise for the boys!

Mid-Season Report Card

Looks like Annie's getting ready to post her grades soon so I figured I'd get going too.  Besides, I'm just killing time until Santa--the real one, not Schultzie Claus--to show up. 

Eric Comrie:  B

Perhaps my expectations were too high, I mean he is supposed to be the next goalie messiah.  But at the same time, he's 16.  Comrie is a behbeh.  He didn't have the best start, probably nerves and adjusting to the WHL, but is starting to come around and put together some solid performances.  I'm certainly not as nervous when I hear he's the starter, though he's still letting in some stinkers now and then.  I'm glad he got any kinks worked out early so that the rest of the season will be smooth for he and Rimmer to divide the duties.  I think Eric still has some learning to do, obviously, but he's going to be very very good and he's on the right track.

Riley Guenther:  C

It happens every year, I struggle with what grade to give guys who haven't played a lot.  So for Riley I went with a "C", which is average.  He has only played in 10 games, has one assist.  I do like his size, he is big and built like a Mack Truck.  But not doughy or pudgy, seems just totally ripped.  Or maybe that's just what image I have in my dirty little mind.  He has a lot of potential, I haven't seen any huge glaring mistakes from him, just inexperience.  The defensive depth of the Americans is a nice problem to have, especially for some like me who were worried before the season what the D corps would look like.

Sam Grist:  A

Sam is playing so well, so smart.  Last season it was a lot of silly penalties, but also some penalties where he just wasn't in control of his size.  A guy that big has got to watch his elbows and whatnot.  So far this season he has racked up some PIMs, 61 of them, but keep in mind that includes several fighting major and at least one ridiculous 10-minute misconduct in that game against Seattle before the Christmas break.  Long story short, he's playing smarter.  It also amazes me night in and night out how a guy that big skates so well, but he does.  Additionally, Sam plays well enough for himself and to pick up any necessary slack from his rookie D partner, Plutnar.

Drydn Dow:  A++++++++++

Srsly.  I always always always knew he was a good defenseman.  Always.  No, he's not the biggest D-man on the ice, but he makes up for it with skill, speed, and vision.  He plays smart and he plays well.  Last season he got to some as forward and didn't disappoint which I think gave him confidence going into this season.  That also gave the coaches a chance to see how versatile he can be.  He and Derek Ryckman have logged a crapload of minutes and have been absolutely brilliant, they are able to compliment each other so well on the ice.

Derek Ryckman: A+
Speaking of Ryckman, he's been outstanding.  As mentioned, he and Dow compliment each other and have been a stellar D pairing.  It took a couple of games after being traded from Lethbridge to get his bearings and to really click.  I won't lie, I was nervous those first couple games, afraid he'd be a bust.  But lo and behold, I was quite happily mistaken.  He skates well and isn't afraid to get his mitts dirty.  Ryckman has contributed offensively with a goal and 4 assists and is sitting at a lovely +12.

Justin Hamonic:  C
Same as Guenther, a "C" for average.  Justin has played a few more games than Riley--13--and has done well.  Nothing outstanding, nothing terrible.  He has great size and decent speed.  I think he has a lot of potential as well, but like Guenther will have to bide his time and be a good teammate while waiting his turn.  Again, the defensive depth is a good problem to have.  Since I'm a natural worrier, I do worry that Guenther's and Hamonic's development may be delayed with all the sitting in the stands, but I'm sure they'll be fine.  They are playing some and practicing daily with one hell of a WHL team.  How did this grade report mention Guenther so much?  Sorry Justin, you're doing well babydoll.

Michal Plutnar:  C+/B-

A bit above average.  Michal has obviously had to adjust to the North American game and the pace of the WHL.  But if you stop and remember he's only 17, he's doing pretty darn well.  I think being paired with Sam has helped him because both are pretty much stay-at-home kind of players, which is fine.  He's a rookie so there's often rookie mistakes, but overall he's playing well.  If he continues in his development, he'll be in good shape.  He skates well but could definitely use some cheeseburgers.  Lots of them.

Lucas Nickles:  C

Gotta go with another "average".  The WHL stats page says he's been in 19 games, but it's not like he's played a ton of minutes in those 19.  Nickles has played enough that I can't give him an incomplete.  Actually, except for what seems to be a mandatory penalty every first shift he takes, he's played decent.  He's a big enough kid and skates well, I think he's got a ton of potential.  I thought he had a lot of potential when he got called up for a couple of games last season.  I would love to see him get more playing time, I've said it once and I'll say it again, I'd love to have four GOOD lines to be able to roll out come playoff time.  Giving these 4th line guys like Nickles only a shift or 3 per game isn't preparing them for when they may be needed further down the road.  I realize Hughey-Shinny, Feser-Holland are the go-to guys, but if their legs can rest an extra shift or two come springtime, they could be more effective.  Just my opinion.

Zachary Yuen:  A

I guess I've been so dazzled by Dow and Ryckman that I have overlooked Yuen.  Then again, I kind of know I can because he's that good.  I know he's on the back end, getting work done.  He's solid, reliable, and very talented.  He's so damn smart with the puck and can skate so fluidly.  It's just expected that he'll be outstanding.  So it's not that I've overlooked him, it's that I haven't had to spend a lot of time observing him because I know what I'm getting from him, night in and night out.  His work on the power play is brilliant and the pairing with Topping has worked out well for both of them.  Oh, and he leads the team on +/- with a +23 right now.  That's damn sexy.

Tyson Dallman:  C

See everything I wrote for Nickles.  Dolly's listed as playing 16 games, but again, not a ton of ice time in those 16.  He's another one I'd like to see get more ice time to be prepared for ploffs.  I wasn't kidding, just read what I said about Nickles and apply it to Dallman.

Malte Stromwall:  B

Oh Malte, you and your adorable little button nose.  I think it's been a tough adjustment for him coming from Sweden where he was a super-sniper scoring machine (or something close to it).  In North America, it's a grittier game, gotta do work son.  And he does.  Unlike some Don Cherry stereotyped Euro, Malte is willing to get in the corners and fight for the puck.  He's been frustrated by his lack of scoring, but his all-around game has improved.  Oh and he's only 17.  Personally I love watching him play.  You can just tell he's some tiger that is about to be unleashed.  Ok, maybe not quite like that, but he's super talented.  He's got a passion for the game and pushes himself hard to do well.

Adam Hughesman: A

Obviously.  Twenty-three goals, 36 assists.  He and Shinnimin have the best chemistry in the league (at least I think so) and just keep rolling on.  At times it amazes me how he has so many points because it seems like he's never moving his feet.  Maybe it's relative since he's on the ice with Shinny who skates speedy circles around everyone.  I also know Adam IS moving his feet because his skating is better than it has been.  No more cement skates.  But still, seems like he's just standing at the blue line waiting to cherry pick all the time.  Oh well, he's not, he's scoring mad goals and that's damn sexy.

Mason Wilgosh:  A

Mason is captain for a reason.  Probably for many reasons, actually.  But most of all for his spectacular work ethic.  He's skating shifts, he's killing penalties, he's doing gritty work in the corners, he's covering the back end if need be.  Talk about a utilitarian type of player.  He leads by example and I'm not sure anyone else kills penalties quite like him.  Ok, maybe Feser on that too, but still.  A total defenseive forward type player.  He's not the biggest guy and he's not going to make a ton of flashy plays, but he gets it done.

Jordan Messier:  B-

Oh Big Mess.  He missed the first couple games with concussion or upper-body injury or whatever the hell it was and it then took him awhile to get his timing right.  He's trying to be a tough guy with a bunch of fights under his belt, but it's not exactly what I'd like to see his role being.  Is he ever going to be a super-sniper goal scorer like I'd always hoped?  It's not looking like it, and that's ok.  There's a need for a guy to do work along the boards and create havoc for the opposition.  I wish he wouldn't fight.  I worry about his noggin and his history of concussions.  He skates ok, though he often appears sort of clumsy and awkward.  He's always just missing the pass or the net or whatever, always so close, but not quite there.  I adore the kid, I mean seriously, he's got more personality in his pinky than I'll ever have, but unfortunately that doesn't translate into a superb hockey star. 

Lukas Walter:  

He's a nice young man, I sat with him at the Booster Club dinner.  Beyond that, we all know how I feel and it's Christmas Eve and I'm going to stick with the old adage that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Marcus Messier:  B+

Now Li'l Mess, that's another story (from his big bro).  He's been outstanding.  He doesn't get a shitload of ice time, but he makes it count when he does.  He is fast and skilled.  He's not afraid to get in the corners and fight for the puck.  Tenacious is a good word to describe his play.  Marcus is at that age/point where he's going to sit out a few games to make room for guys like Dallman and Nickles, but he's also missed a few with injury and a short suspension.  But he's been consistent and has really progressed well.

Justin Feser:  A

Offense.  Defense.  Penalty kill.  Power play.  Face-offs.  Blocking shots.  Reliable, consistent, utilitarian.  I could go on and on, but you get the point.  He's really good--at everything.  Hell, he could probably play goalie if need be.  I certainly wouldn't put it past him.  Justin has quietly amassed 17 goals, same as Shinny.  He's got a stellar work ethic and logs a crapload of minutes.

Brendan Shinnimin:  A

Shinny started out slow, well, slow for Shinny.  The goals weren't coming and you could tell he was frustrated.  He is a fiercely competitive kid and very passionate about the game.  Anyone who has watched him play the last couple years knew the goals would come, and sure enough, they have.  He and Hughey have got into quite the rhythm and are steamrolling right to the net.  If there was skills competition still (I need to seriously start campaigning for that to happen) he'd easily win fastest skater, hands down.  He skates circles around the competition--literally, I've seen him do it.  If he can't go around, he'll go right through.  Shinny still gets worked over by bigger guys night after night, but he sticks with it and doesn't let it wear him down.  He'll be damned if anyone is going to get in his way, that's for sure.

Mitch Topping:  A

I don't recall what price Bob paid to get Mitch, but it was worth it.  Totally worth it.  He and Yuen compliment each other and have been awesome.  Mitch is a great skater and both he and Yuen are not the stay-at-home types and can (and will) join the rush and bust the net if they see the opening.  Mitch doesn't get as much power play time as his D partner since coach tends to go with 4 forwards and 1 D, but I'm not worried.  He's only 18 so we'll get to watch his awesome play--and sexy face-- for a couple more seasons, which is exciting.

Brian Williams:  A

WOWZA.  I mean, this kid.  For real.  B-Dubs is really good.  He may say it was a tough transition to the WHL, but I bet no one but him noticed.  He played well from the start.  He is a really fast and fluid skater and he's even been given responsibility on the power play.   Brian isn't the biggest guy at all, and often gets pushed off the puck, but theoretically with age he'll bulk up and that will happen less.  The kid is only 16 for God's sake.  I am really really really excited to watch him develop over the next couple of seasons, it's going to be fun.

Connor Rankin:  A

Oh, and this kid.  Rankin certainly has not suffered any kind of sophomore slump.  And boy is he fun to watch.  Personally, I'm not sure he's the best (as in biggest) guy to park in front of the goalie when Shinny and Hughey are in scoring mode, Neal Prokop was great at that.  Connor is a bit small for that role, but he does it anyways, taking all the abuse that comes with being in that spot.  He does well on the Shinny-Hughey line, but it'd be hard not to, really.  

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It's now Christmas, I'll finish the last 3 I didn't get to before church service last night.  Oh, and Annie's grades are up.

Ty Rimmer:  A

Naturally I was distraught at the loss of Drew Owsley to Prince George so I wanted nothing to do with Rimmer.  I wanted nothing to do with an unproven backup goalie.  While I still miss Drew terribly, Rimmer has taken the bull by the horns and proven that yep, he's a damn good goalie.  He leads the league in save percent at .929 which is as sexy as his face.  He's done well in the mentoring role for Comrie and has been a great teammate as he and the youngster split games.

Nate MacMaster:  A

Nate has my early vote for Unsung Hero.  He's very utilitarian.  He can take face-offs, he can kill penalties, he scores some goals here and there, and will drop the gloves if necessary.  MixMaster isn't the super flashy goal-scoring type, he's a lunch-pail kind of player and those are vital.  He sat several games with injury but has bounced back quite well.

Patrick Holland:  A

When I think of all-around complete player, I think of Holland.  He quietly goes about getting the job done--and does it well.  He's a fantastic skater and has tremendous vision.  The work he does with Feser is remarkable, just a pleasure to watch.  Calgary Flames aren't going to be very disappointed in Holly I don't think.  Annie says he has a slow start, and I guess if you're expecting him to score a ton of goals then sure.  But in my opinion, and it is just mine, really complete all-around players don't necessarily score a lot, but they do all the little things besides just scoring.  And that's Patrick.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love him to get a shitload of goals, but I'm just so impressed with his overall game and talent, I live with not a gazillion goals from him.  

Merry Christmas errbuddy!!

Holly POW

I'm with the fam for the holidays which means little to slow internet, which is fine since the boys are on vacation too so not a whole lot going on.

Patrick Holland, however, was named the WHL Player of the Week, which is hawt.

The Western Hockey League announced today that Tri-City Americans forward Patrick Holland is the WHL Player of the Week. Holland collected six points, scoring three goals and three assists to go with a +4 rating, in two games over the past week helping the Americans to a 2-0-0-0 record.

The Americans head into the WHL holiday break winning eight straight games and sit atop the WHL U.S. Division, Western Conference and entire League with 27-7-0-0 record for 54 points.On final weekend of WHL play before the league takes a break in the schedule for the holidays, the Tri-City Americans and Seattle Thunderbirds squared-off in a home-and-home series. On Friday, Holland scored one goal, added two assists in the Americans 5-1 home win over the T-birds. The next night at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Holland scored a pair of goals, one assist in the Ams’ 5-3 victory over the Thunderbirds.

Holland ranks 17th among WHL scorers with 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) in 34 games played. A 19-year-old from Lethbridge, Alberta, he is in his third full season with Tri-Cities and was selected in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL draft by the Calgary Flames.

He is the second Tri-City player this season to win the weekly award. Adam Hughesman took the honor for his play in the season's opening week. (Herald)

Game Day @ Seattle

"We had some players who didn't have the game we'd like to see," Seattle coach Steve Konowalchuk said. "Our discipline caught up to us. They have a good power play and penalties killed us."

"Our PK has been pretty good for awhile, even without Zach (Yuen) and (Mitch) Topping," said Hiller, whose team killed off six Seattle power plays. "Credit to the guys on that four-man, we had to run some guys pretty hard."  (Herald)

Your discipline caught up to you, Seattle?  More like lack of discipline.  What a crazy game, very very chippy.  Seattle came out of the gate nasty (and the awesome Pat Smith and Co. did nothing to get things in order) and I predicted (as many did, I'm sure) that things would get out of hand.  (I'm going to keep putting things in parenthesis).

Awhile back I wrote this regarding my thoughts on the role of the enforcer in hockey.  I received an email that was in clear disagreement with things I had said.  I didn't reply to the email, not because I'm a dick, but because clearly we were not going to agree and there was no need to engage in a debate where neither side is going to budge.

The email stated--and I'm paraphrasing since I deleted it--that opposing teams would be hesitant to participate in chippy behavior if there was an enforcer in the lineup, using the example of the Swift Current guy that went after little B-Dubs.  The email author asked me if I thought the SC guy would have honed in on Williams if Walter had been in the lineup that night. 

Who knows what one player would have done if another player had been in the lineup, who  really knows?  Not me.  But I do know that Seattle sure didn't give a shit who was in the Americans lineup last night.  And the Americans enforcer, while he did get more ice time because of the score, and yay for that, did not take Seattle to task for their nasty play.  Instead, there were fights by Dallman, Big Mess, and BRIAN FREAKING WILLIAMS.  So clearly, Seattle was going to go after Williams--or any other Ams player--no matter who was in the lineup.

Maybe it's petty to take up another blog post with this, but hey, it's my blog.  My point here is that it confirms what I was saying originally, that the role of the enforcer is not really as necessary as it once was.  

And what happened last night?  Oh yeah, the Ams beat the T-Birds with speed and skill.  They took advantage of a team making poor life choices and capitalized on them.  They kept pucks away from Comrie with a depleted defensive corps.  I mean seriously, Derek Ryckman was on the ice the whole damn game it seemed like.  I am more and more impressed with him every game.  Plus he's hot.  RAWRR

I don't talk about it much, or enough, because it's common knowledge, but the Shinniman-Hughesman show is worth the price of admission.  Remember how bad the power play was at the start of the season?  Now it's rolling right along at 23% (7th in the league, 2nd in the division).  The penalty kill is the league leading 84%.  Sexytime stats right there.  Shinny had a slow start but everyone knew he'd get into the groove and would be unstoppable.  Such fierce determination.  Hughey has stepped into a tie with Dylan Stanley in 7th place in team all-time goals scored.  And we're only halfway through the season, J/S.

The same two teams are back at it tonight, one last game before the boys go home for the holidays.  They can't be thinking ahead to home cooking and presents, they got work to do tonight, and it's pretty clear that Seattle is going to make them work for it.  Hopefully it's a less chippy game tonight, though it would make liveblogging it more interesting.    Come on in, bring the funny.

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Game Day vs Seattle

Oh hey, look at that, it's game day!

The boys had a busy week of practice, it's not quite time for vacation yet.  Also this week there was the Booster Club Christmas party, which was a lot of fun, I hear Santa kicked ass.  Although, who has ever heard of kids NOT sitting on Santa's lap??  Santa's a professional, it's not like there would be any grab-ass going on.

Also this week the boys made their annual holiday calls to season ticket holders to thank them for their support.  Oddly enough, my call came from Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes, even though "Tri-City Americans" came up on the caller ID.  If Tim Gleason had been smart, he would have had Drayson Bowman call me.

Speaking of Drayson Bowman, the kid had two goals last night against the Canucks.  He's getting a load of playing time with Jeff Skinner out.  Kudos to new coach Kirk Muller for seeing the kid has potential but shouldn't be rotting away on the 4th line.  Hopefully it's enough to keep him in the NHL for awhile, not that I want Skinner out that long.  Here's Mr. Sexytime getting robbed of the hat trick by a sweet glove save by Cory Schneider (via Reuters images):

Bowman said in the post-game interview, and I'm paraphrasing here, he got to play the type of game he's used to playing in his career, where he's counted on for big minutes and big plays.

Ok, back to the Americans.

"These games are huge," Wilgosh said. "It's tough to play these games when you are going home in a few days, but these are points we need. You can't lose them because you lose focus."

A couple of wins by the Americans this weekend would give them their best mark in franchise history at the holiday break. Tri-City was 26-9-0-0 (52 points) in 2009-10.

"It's great going into the break in first place," said goalie Ty Rimmer, who played for Brandon and Prince George last season. "We still have two games this weekend, and Seattle plays us tough. We are looking forward to the test."  (Herald)

Gotta stay focused not only to get through the weekend games to vacation, but also can't rest on their laurels knowing their in 2nd in the CHL BMO Top Ten Rankings.  That's pretty hawt.

Shutout

Midway through the 3rd period, RL turned to me and said "my three stars are Ryckman, Rankin, and Rimmer."  I agreed.  Rankin got robbed, not that the three stars are a HUGE deal, but still.  Not only did he have 2 goals but did you see him laying down blocking shots like a boss?  It was awesome.  I mean, for real.

It was yet another great game for Derek Ryckman.  With Yuen and Topping both out, he and Drydn logged a crapload of minutes and were outstanding.  Justin Feser filled on D also, did great.  He really is capable of filling in anywhere, what a great asset.

A shutout for Rimmer, he played very well.  Portland was missing some of their key guys, but the Ams still kept Gabriel and Bartschi off the scoreboard, which is impressive.

"It was a complete game for us," Rimmer said. "Guys were sacrificing their bodies, and I was able to get my toe and glove on a couple in the third and get the win."

"(Portland) is a very dangerous offensive team," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team ran its win streak to six games. "Our goaltending has to be good against them. Ty was good. In the third period, in particular, he was outstanding."  (Herald)

Game Day @ Everett

Thursday was my birthday but the MLM is partying it up tonight, don't worry we'll be (drunkenly) liveblogging the game.  It will certainly make a game against Everett more interesting.

"We have earned that with good play," Hiller said his team's record. "You have a target on your back every time you play. We just don't want to play well; we want to play well and win. There is still a lot of work to do. It's a matter of being focused.

"We've had a lot of close games and we've fallen behind and had to come back, but we have the confidence to be able to come back."

Tri-City will play without defenseman Mitch Topping, who suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday against Victoria and missed Wednesday's game. Jordan Messier also missed Wednesday's game, but will be in the lineup tonight.  (Herald)

I hope Coach's mention of having to come from behind isn't a bad omen for tonight.  So bring the booze, bring the funny, bring the rules to the Craig West Drinking Game, and join in the party.

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Slow News Day

I admit I'm wrong from time to time.  But holy crap, Buzzing the Net, get your shit together.

Winnipeg Jets pick Zachary Yuen scored for Tri-City in his first game back from a minor injury. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

If you click on the Victoria Times Colonist link and read the article, it says nothing about Yuen and an injury, so this egregious error is solely on the shoulders of Buzzing the Net.  Granted, it's not like it was super common knowledge that Zachary's grandmother passed away, but they should not be assuming it was an injury.  That is just irresponsible reporting.  Unless they're counting grieving as an injury, which if you've ever lost a loved one, it sometimes does feel like an injury.

An Americans fan at the game last night said (Tweeted) that it was Malte's best game ever, that he should have been given a star.  That makes me happy, I lurve my little Swedish meatball!

Game Day @ Victoria...again

Game two of back-to-back games with the Royals.  Victoria will be without Robin Soudek.

Robin Soudek Victoria Tbd under supplemental discipline versus Tri-Cities on December 6 (WHL)

I don't know what he did, but he was a bad boy apparently.

Word is Comrie gets the start tonight, not surprised by that at all.

"Mike and Paul needed someone to shoot on, so, me being the youngest, I was forced into it," the backup Tri-City Americans netminder says with a laugh, referring to his half-brothers, who both played in the National Hockey League.

"When we drafted him, we weren't sure he would be coming because there were strong NCAA ties with his brothers," says Americans' general manager Bob Tory, who selected Eric 13th overall in the WHL bantam draft in 2010.

"So not only could I talk about development for young goaltenders, but I could show I had done it before, which was important to both Eric and Bill - to see it wasn't just a case of coming in and not playing," says Tory, who is pleased with Eric's start.

"He has the potential of being a very, very good goaltender and he's shown that this year."  (Victoria Times Colonist)

Of course, Victoria-native Sam Grist is happy to be back on the island.

Another impactful player on the Americans’ defence is Victoria-raised Sam Grist, the Peninsula minor hockey product and Parkland High grad who began his junior career in the BCHL with the hometown Grizzlies. His is a story of perseverance after being overlooked in the WHL bantam draft. But the late bloomer has grown from six-feet into a pounding six-foot-four frame and provides an ample presence on the Americans blue-line.

“Sam was not a big star in minor hockey but he’s taken it to another level with his steady progression,” said Hiller.

“Maybe there is something about Tri-City and Island defencemen like Sam and Clayton Stoner [the latter from Port Hardy and in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild]. Sam plays an important role for us.”

You just know Grist had these Victoria dates circled when the season began.

“For me to come back home and play is a really cool experience,” he said.  “I haven’t played in my hometown since my 16-year-old season when I was the youngest player on the Grizzlies.”  (VTC)

There will be liveblog tonight, this one I might be late to as well, but should be around at some point.

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Game Day @ Victoria

The Americans are in Victoria, home of Sam Grist.  In other news:

The Tri-City Americans, in conjunction with NewSport Media, announced today that they have launched an official mobile application for iPhone and Android devices. The free mobile app is available by searching “Tri-City Americans” in either the Android Marketplace or iTunes.

The Americans’ mobile app is a one-stop shop for Americans information on the go. The app feature set includes:
- Real-time news RSS feed
- Live scoring and data direct from the league database
- WHL standings and statistics
- Game schedule with detailed game summaries
- Archived roster and scoring data for the past 16 seasons
- Tie-ins to both the Americans’ official pages on Facebook and Twitter
- Listen to all radio broadcasts via UStream app

“With a fanbase that grows and stretches beyond our local market every day, we are launching Americans Mobile to enhance our fans’ ability to connect with their favorite team anytime and anyplace,” explained Dan Mulhausen, Tri-City Americans’ Director of Marketing, Media/Community Relations and Game Operations. “With the connections we’ve built with fans through social media channels like Americans Facebook and Americans Twitter, Americans Mobile is a natural next step as we continue to service the needs of our fans.”

Americans Mobile was developed by sports team app developer, NewSport Media. To download Americans Mobile, visit each respective device marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How much does this app cost?
A. Nothing! The app is absolutely free.

Q. How do I get the app?
A. For the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad version visit iTunes
For the Android version visit Android Market Place

Q. For Apple devices, how do I download the app from iTunes?
A. Open the App Store on your device, search for "Tri-City Americans ", click the Americans logo, click the "FREE" button, and enter your iTunes account password.

Q. For Android devices, how do I download the app from the Android Market?
A. Open the Android Market on your device, search for "Tri-City Americans", click the Americans logo, click the "Install" button, and click "Ok" on any further prompts.

Q. For Apple devices, which versions of iOS are compatible?
A. iOS 4.0 or later is required.

Q. For Android devices, which versions of Android are compatible?
A. Android 1.5 and up is required.

Q. Which Apple devices are compatible with the app?
A. iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPad Wifi, iPad Wifi 3G.

Q. Which Android devices are compatible with the app?
A. Any Android phone running Android 1.5 or greater is compatible.

So there you go, all you lucky ducks with smart phones.  I still have a rotary dial phone.  I'll bet some of you kids out there don't even know what a rotary dial phone is.  Or what a party line is and how you had to pick up the receiver to make sure the neighbors weren't on the line.  Good times.

There's a liveblog tonight, I may be a few minutes late so don't panic.  

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Boogaard part 3

I was openly crying as I read this.  It is so tragic.

Boogaard had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as C.T.E., a close relative of Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head. It can be diagnosed only posthumously, but scientists say it shows itself in symptoms like memory loss, impulsiveness, mood swings, even addiction.

More than 20 dead former N.F.L. players and many boxers have had C.T.E. diagnosed. It generally hollowed out the final years of their lives into something unrecognizable to loved ones.

And now, the fourth hockey player, of four examined, was found to have had it, too.

But this was different. The others were not in their 20s, not in the prime of their careers.

The scientists on the far end of the conference call told the Boogaard family that they were shocked to see so much damage in someone so young. It appeared to be spreading through his brain. Had Derek Boogaard lived, they said, his condition likely would have worsened into middle-age dementia.
[...]
From the outside, everything seemed normal. It was not.

“His demeanor, his personality, it just left him,” John Scott, a Wild teammate, said. “He didn’t have a personality anymore. He just was kind of — a blank face.”

Boogaard fell asleep while playing cards on the team plane, a teammate said. He passed out in corners of the team’s dressing room. He was uncharacteristically late for meetings and workouts. Wild trainers and doctors warned Boogaard’s teammates not to give him their prescription pills.

[...]

The group may now have its most sobering case: a young, high-profile athlete, dead in midcareer, with a surprisingly advanced degree of brain damage.

“To see this amount? That’s a ‘wow’ moment,” McKee said as she pointed to magnified images of Boogaard’s brain tissue. “This is all going bad.”

The degenerative disease was more advanced in Boogaard than it was in Bob Probert, a dominant enforcer of his generation, who played 16 N.H.L. seasons, struggled with alcohol and drug addictions and died of heart failure at age 45 in 2010.

[...]

The N.H.L. is not convinced that there is a link between hockey and C.T.E.

[...]

Chris Nowinski, a former Harvard football player and professional wrestler who is another co-director of the Boston University center, is the one who usually makes the initial call to a grieving family to request the brain. He does not want to put an end to hockey. He wants leagues to take every possible precaution to ensure that athletes are both better protected and better informed.

In October, Nowinski attended a Bruins game in Boston. There was a fight, and he watched quietly as thousands of people stood and cheered while the players fought.

“They are trading money for brain cells,” he said.

The third part of the Boogaard story, read the rest--bring tissue--right here.

Brian Williams interview

Remember last season when I couldn't get over how incredible rookie Connor Rankin was playing night in and night out?  Jump ahead to this season and the same can be said about Brian Williams.  He's quick and tenacious.  Sure, he's got some learning to do, and he could use some bulking up, but overall he's been quite impressive.  Obviously the coaching staff feels the same as Brian has been given a ton of ice time and has even been on the power play.  I got the chance to chat with him a little bit, it's been almost 2 weeks ago now, I have not had one spare second to transcribe the interview until now.

Dave Schultz: What have been the biggest adjustments you've had to make coming into the WHL?

Brian Williams: Definitely the speed and the size for sure. Everything else took some getting used to but those were definitely the two things that I really had to improve my game to get to their level.

DS: And you've had a lot of time on the power play, is that where you've had to make the most adjustments?

BW: Yeah for sure, cuz I haven't had to think this much on the power play, it's just skate it, stick handle and shoot. Now there's more thought behind it, that's another adjustment I've made too.

DS: What were some goals you set for coming into this season, personal and teamwise?

BW: Personal, just be more assertive with the puck, get to the net. And as a team, just to win. More specific try to get along.

DS: I interviewed Brendan Shinnimin yesterday (told you this interview was a while ago) so I've gone from twenty-year-old to 16. How have the veterans on the team provided leadership for you and helped you make that transition?

BW: They've taken us in with open arms for sure, better than I thought they would. It helped a lot, it really has. A confidence booster for sure.

DS: What do you do to mentally prepare yourself for games?

BW: Nothing really rigorous, I just listen to music, just relax, just kinda sit there

DS: Any specific tune that gets you ready to play?

BW: Not really, just put in on shuffle

DS: There ya go. How have you improved as player from a year ago, that sort of goes along with the first question?

BW: Oh gosh, that could be a long list. First thing that comes to my head is just how quick I've gotten with the puck, the thought process behind everything. I used to have 2 seconds with the puck, now I've got a split second with the puck. It's that much of a difference.

DS: That is really interesting (that sounds fake, but I found it fascinating). If you could improve any one area of your game right now, what would that be?

BW: Oh gosh, that could be another long list. Just getting bigger, in general. I'm still tiny.

DS: Do you pattern your play after any particular NHL player?

BW: Nope. I don't really watch that much hockey, really. Most of my hockey is when I'm focused and at the rink. When I'm away from the rink, it's more relaxed.

DS: Do you play NHL12?

BW: Nope, we have the game, I've played it once.

DS: What's the best part about being a member of a team?

BW: Just being with a good group of guys. There's just one guy that can ruin it, that makes it worse, but we don't have that one guy. Everyone just gets along so well. It's great to come to the rink with that. There's no one guy that ruins the fun. I love coming to the rink knowing it's just a good group of guys.

DS: That's really great to hear. So what then has been your favorite off-ice team building activity?

BW: Definitely the paintballing.

DS: Who has influenced you the most in your hockey career?

BW: Gosh. Definitely my parents. They always told me to keep pushing no matter how much adversity I face. Even coming here, being by myself, they tell me to keep pushing, keep pushing. Things will get better.

DS: Who is the biggest prankster on the team?

BW: Oh gosh, we have a few. Because they're so good at keeping it a secret, I can't put my finger on anyone. I really couldn't tell you.

DS: What are your favorite and least favorite arenas to play at so far?

BW: Favorite's here. Another favorite, I really liked Medicine Hat. That was a fun place to play in, it's just so loud. Least favorite? Spokane. For sure. We never win there, we have a hard time winning there, and it's just a tough crowd too.

DS: Yes, they are. If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead who would it be and why?

BW: No one off the top of my head really

DS: Best advice you ever got and from whom?

BW: Oh gosh. I don't know. Just...it'd just be something stupid like 'try your best' or something. There's nothing that comes to mind.

DS: What hobbies or activities do you have away from the rink?

BW: XBox. I love to play XBox. Just hang out with friends, go to the movies or whatever.

DS: What song are you embarrassed to have on your ipod?

BW: Mariah Carey. I forget--I just know it's Mariah Carey and I love it.

DS: What actor would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

BW: Oh gosh. I don't know. I don't know who could really play me.

DS: Ok last one, waffles or pancakes?

BW: Pancakes. I love pancakes. With syrup and butter, just plain.

DS: Awesome, thanks for taking the time to talk with me, best of luck this season!

Second part of Boogaard piece in the NYT

In his first regular-season fight, on Oct. 16, 2005, against Anaheim, he pounded Kip Brennan before dropping him with a big right hand. Boogaard won again, then again. With each fallen opponent, the rookie’s popularity grew.

Such adoration is not unusual. The enforcer, sometimes mocked as a goon or euphemized as a tough guy, may be hockey’s favorite archetype. Enforcers are seen as working-class superheroes — understated types with an alter ego willing to do the sport’s most dangerous work to protect others. And they are underdogs, men who otherwise might have no business in the game.

[...]

In the fall of 2009, a doctor asked Boogaard to name every word he could think of that began with the letter R. He could not come up with any.

Last winter, a friend said, a neurologist asked Boogaard to estimate how many times his mind went dark and he needed a moment to regain his bearings after being hit on the head, probable signs of a concussion. Four? Five? Boogaard laughed. Try hundreds, he said.

Any boy’s dream of the N.H.L. intersects with the reality of skill, usually in the teens. For a few, fading hope depends on a willingness and ability to give and absorb beatings.

“If you’re playing pond hockey, 6 or 7 years old, and somebody said, ‘Hey Brantt, the only way you’re going to make it to the N.H.L. is fighting your way there,’ you think I would have done it?” the former N.H.L. enforcer Brantt Myhres said. “No way. I would have done something else.”

Read the rest here.

Da Bears

Jordan Messier is a big kid at heart, so it was fitting Saturday night that he brought down a rain of 2,537 stuffed animals that will be putting smiles on the faces of children in the Mid-Columbia this holiday season.

Messier's goal, combined with Adam Hughesman's game-winner in the shootout, helped the Tri-City Americans rally for a 4-3 victory over the Everett Silvertips before a generous crowd of 5,284 at Toyota Center.

"That's awesome," Messier said of the number of toys donated. "It goes to a good cause, and when you can do this with your name beside it, it's a special feeling." 

The Americans have 10 wins and one tie in the last 11 years of the Teddy Bear Toss. Everett has been on the losing end of this game three times (2003, 2005 and 2011).

With the win, the Americans (21-7-0-0, 42 points) remained atop the Western Conference, one point ahead of Kamloops.

"We didn't start well, but I thought we played well for 55 minutes," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team has won six in a row on home ice. "We persevered. It would have been easy to get on the wrong side of this."  (Herald)

That pretty much sums it up.  A couple things I'll add:

• Sixteen-year-old goalie is sixteen, still has some learning to do.  But Comrie was absolutely fantastic in the shoot out, it was great to see.
• It's glaringly obvious the hole that missing Yuen leaves.
• First goal as an American for Derek Ryckman.  Quite the sick celly as well.  He has been working his ass off so it was great to see his excitement.
• Only one little shift (did I miss a second?) for Dallman and Nickles.  I know the Ams were playing from behind the whole game, but these kids deserve a chance, which would also allow big guns to rest a bit.
• Awesome to see the truckloads of toys that rained down.
• After last month's moustaches, it took a minute to recognize some of the boys out there with their clean-shaved baby faces.

----------

The New York Times is running a 3-part series on the life and career of Derek Boogaard.  Today is the first part, looking at his early life and his WHL days.  It is such an exquisitely written piece, you have got to read it.

The Western Hockey League has 22 teams flung across western Canada and the northwestern United States. The players, ages 16 to 20, have their expenses paid, receive a small stipend for spending money and can earn scholarships to Canadian colleges. 

Most harbor hopes of playing professionally. On a typical roster of two dozen, a few will advance to the National Hockey League. And in today’s N.H.L., about one of every five players once played in the Western Hockey League. 

It is one of the three top junior leagues in Canada, the others based in Ontario and Quebec. In many regards, the W.H.L. is the toughest. Not only are franchises stretched 1,500 miles apart in some instances, making travel part of the teenage tribulation, but they also have produced some of hockey’s most notorious enforcers — from Tony Twist and Stu Grimson to Colton Orr and Steve MacIntyre. Veteran executives recall games where the only way to stop the brawls was to shut off the arena lights. 

The teams are not affiliated with N.H.L. teams, so player development is less a goal than profit. Fighting, an accepted and popular part of the game, is seen as a way to attract fans. 

Efforts to ban fighting in the N.H.L. have long been stymied, in part by the popularity and tradition of it in the junior and minor leagues. Web sites are devoted to the spectacle, often providing blow-by-blow descriptions, declaring winners and ranking the teenage fighters. 

Boogaard stepped into this culture when he was 16. The unwritten rules were well established.

Both players must agree to the challenge. Gloves are off. Until a few years ago, helmets were removed as both a sign of toughness and consideration to the unprotected knuckles of the combatants. When the leagues made helmet removal illegal, players learned to delicately remove each other’s helmets before the fight began — a concoction of courtesy and showmanship. Players knowingly drifted to the center of the rink. Some, like professional wrestlers, paused to pose or fix their hair.  (NYT--it's a long read, but worth it)

Teddy Bear Toss night

I'm not going to try to type through my tears after seeing that.  Thoughts and prayers with the Yuen family.

Remember to bring your stuffed animals to toss on the ice when the Ams score tonight.

suspension (updated)

12/01/11 Lukas Walter Tri-City TBD for one man fight at Kelowna on November 30

Six games for one man fight at Kelowna on November 30

•The player entered the ice on a line change but instead of joining the play, he skated directly across the ice to an opponent and initiated a one man fight.

•The opponent was not injured on the play.(WHL)

Game Day @ Seattle

I'm exhausted and have very little to talk about.  So for your entertainment:

Also:

In other awesomeness, the Plymouth Whalers are have put together this jolly Christmas card. I'm not sure who they're going to send them to, but it's hilariously awesome. The Movember 'staches makes it especially greasy, especially combined with the insane Christmas sweaters.

Don't forget tomorrow at the Toyota Center is the annual Teddy Bear Toss game so get your stuffed animals ready, it's always a good time.  Meanwhile, I need to find someone with a suite seat they'll let me use to snap pics of the tossing, hit me up if you can help out :)

As for tonight, I'm just hoping for a better effort (and end result) than the last game against Seattle.  Join what will probably be a drunken liveblog--and remember the 7:35 gametime.  Although I'm so tired, I may have one gin & tonic and pass out.  Awesome.

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WTF?

So that sucked.  I sure had hoped the boys would carry the momentum over from the weekend, pack it on the bus with them, and get a road win in Kelowna.  Alas, it was not the case.  The Rockets came out on fire and never let up.  From the sounds of it, the Ogopogologos dominated play from the very start.  The Ams didn't help themselves by taking so many penalties, very un-Americans-like.

And let's talk about one penalty in particular.  *Warning, rant ahead*  Who the hell gets in a one-man fight?  Lukas Walter put his team at a disadvantage for 5 minutes for fighting with NO ONE.  I've kept it off this blog for long enough because I don't want to be a total dick*, but in my opinion, and it's only one fan's opinion, there is not a whole lot of value to Walter.

Now I know that I personally don't hold the value of fighting as high as I do puck handling or scoring, but I also know there's a place in hockey for fighting.  I don't mind a good tilt every now and then.  But I'm of the school of thought that the enforcer role is on it's way out.  If there's going to be an enforcer on my team, I also want them to have some hockey skill.  Hell, some skating skill would be nice too.  Even Aaron Boogaard could skate--and skate well.

Look at the skill and talent and speed on this team.  It's phenomenal.  Bob Tory has done a remarkable job of building a quick team that has some grit and some finesse.  Even our big guys like Jordan and Sam skate pretty well (ok, Big Mess is a little clumsy sometimes).  To me, and again it's just me, if this team wants to go deep into playoffs, their best chance is through skill and speed.  There is rarely--very very rarely--a fight in playoffs, too much is on the line.  So to me it would make more sense to get guys like Dallman or Nickles some 4th line time now throughout the season so they have some ability and confidence to be able to play some big minutes in the playoffs.  If there is talent and depth clear through to the 4th line, that would give the 1st and 2nd lines a chance to rest their legs a bit longer between shifts and stay fresher.  If you've got a guy who only plays two shifts a game, that's putting a greater burden on your top guys.

To play my own devil's advocate, I will say that if there is going to be fighting, Walter is the guy to do it.  I'd rather see him in the box** than Big Mess or Sam Grist or whoever.  That way it's less of a loss to the team while the penalty is served.  But that argument alone is does not outweigh the rest in my mind.

Now, before you fire off angry, hate-filled comments at me, remember everyone sees the game differently, everyone values different aspects of the game.  And as I always say when I post something potentially "controversial", I believe in Bob Tory.  There's a reason he's a GM and I'm not.  I also believe in Jim Hiller.  Additionally, I have no doubt that Lukas Walter is a great kid, they all are, so it's unlikely he'd be any different.  This isn't a personal attack on him, though it comes across that way since that's the role he's in.  Ok, the part where I'm pissed off about the one-man fight is a personal attack because that was just stupid.  But still.

Here's to hoping for a better outing against Calvin Pickard and the Seattle Thunderbirds tomorrow night.  And here's to hoping I finally get the interview with Brian Williams from last week transcribed and posted.  Stupid real job, stupid real second job--interfering with my hockey writing.

*I'm sure many of you think I'm a total dick anyways, and that's ok, sometimes I am.

**UNLESS IT'S FOR A FIGHT AGAINST NO ONE.