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rednex50 · 01-01-2012, 01:46 PM

With Howse, this is a bit of a pattern (that you actually will like to hear).

As a 15 year old, he came in as an AP for his 5 games (1 goal) and you saw signs of brilliance, but signs of youth, inexperience and being undersized for the WHL.

At 16, (being the 3rd overall pick on a struggling offensive team) he struggled (54 games - 10 goals, 17 points). Hiller had him tolling around as the 3rd and 4th liners to get him to do more defensively as his =/- on a bad team was bad. He was picked up for the Under 17 World Championships and had a good tourney, came back and was a different player. He wasn't timid any longer. He became an aggressive, in your face, player. It clicked. And then Hiller put Howse with Moller and Santorelli alot more and he started to put up a bunch of points and chances.

At 17, he and rookie Sundher where the backbone (61 games - 31 goals, 44 pts). At 18, he was a stand out (72 games - 47 goals, 72 pts). At 19, we knew he would not be coming back as an overager (70 games - 51 goals, 83 pts).

He has been slowed a little due to injuries (mostly his shoulders), but has shown that he is willing to work, adapt and is teachable to not only become a better player, but also a better person.

So, he showed up heavy to Calgary camp (likely a little of that was due to his shoulder injuries from last season's playoffs - but also his living habits). Was sent down the Abby, and Ward took him aside and told him what he needed to do to become a Pro. He listened, he learned, and now he's on a team that icetime has to be earned, and he is beginning to show people in the pro game what we in Chilliwack got to witness for 5 seasons.

His first Pro goal is not that far away. Realistically, he will be in Abby for the remainder of this season. However, knowing Ryan like I do, it wouldn't surprise me to see him in Calgary over the summer, working with the Flames staff on bettering his game and life habits, along side his buddy Horak and BOTH on the Flames Roster next season for beginning of the season. My gut tells me he's going to crack the Flames lineup next season.

This was the struggling to adapt/get up to speed season. As his history has already written, he is going to start kicking the door down in the 2nd half of this season (we have already started to see him find his feet), and next season is when he is going to turn heads.

All I know is...its gonna be one hell of a ride, and everyone who watched him in Chilliwack are rooting him on. After all, no matter how big he gets in pro-hockey, he'll never forget those who rooted, cheered and supported him in his journey. He will be the next Iginla. And what a cool thing it would be for him to get to learn from his hockey hero first hand.

01-01-2012, 01:46 PM	#110
rednex50 Draft Pick Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Chiliwack	With Howse, this is a bit of a pattern (that you actually will like to hear). As a 15 year old, he came in as an AP for his 5 games (1 goal) and you saw signs of brilliance, but signs of youth, inexperience and being undersized for the WHL. At 16, (being the 3rd overall pick on a struggling offensive team) he struggled (54 games - 10 goals, 17 points). Hiller had him tolling around as the 3rd and 4th liners to get him to do more defensively as his =/- on a bad team was bad. He was picked up for the Under 17 World Championships and had a good tourney, came back and was a different player. He wasn't timid any longer. He became an aggressive, in your face, player. It clicked. And then Hiller put Howse with Moller and Santorelli alot more and he started to put up a bunch of points and chances. At 17, he and rookie Sundher where the backbone (61 games - 31 goals, 44 pts). At 18, he was a stand out (72 games - 47 goals, 72 pts). At 19, we knew he would not be coming back as an overager (70 games - 51 goals, 83 pts). He has been slowed a little due to injuries (mostly his shoulders), but has shown that he is willing to work, adapt and is teachable to not only become a better player, but also a better person. So, he showed up heavy to Calgary camp (likely a little of that was due to his shoulder injuries from last season's playoffs - but also his living habits). Was sent down the Abby, and Ward took him aside and told him what he needed to do to become a Pro. He listened, he learned, and now he's on a team that icetime has to be earned, and he is beginning to show people in the pro game what we in Chilliwack got to witness for 5 seasons. His first Pro goal is not that far away. Realistically, he will be in Abby for the remainder of this season. However, knowing Ryan like I do, it wouldn't surprise me to see him in Calgary over the summer, working with the Flames staff on bettering his game and life habits, along side his buddy Horak and BOTH on the Flames Roster next season for beginning of the season. My gut tells me he's going to crack the Flames lineup next season. This was the struggling to adapt/get up to speed season. As his history has already written, he is going to start kicking the door down in the 2nd half of this season (we have already started to see him find his feet), and next season is when he is going to turn heads. All I know is...its gonna be one hell of a ride, and everyone who watched him in Chilliwack are rooting him on. After all, no matter how big he gets in pro-hockey, he'll never forget those who rooted, cheered and supported him in his journey. He will be the next Iginla. And what a cool thing it would be for him to get to learn from his hockey hero first hand.