2008-09 Calgary Hitmen/WHL thread

[moon]

Originally Posted by Prototype

Great showing, but where was Burma (that's his name, right?). I saw him on the ice, but he didn't make it on to the scoresheet from what I saw. Physical presence was there, but the scoring touch wasn't.

Do you mean Broda? The new guy the Hitmen got from MJ at the tradeline.

Not sure who Burma is.

[Prototype]

Yes Moon, that's theguy. That's how invisable he was last night. Big kid, but didn't impress me at all.

[Resolute 14]

Broda has been a good addition so far, but really, getting Sonne and Bortis back have been so much more important. Broda knows how to get into open positions though, and when he gets the puck, he knows what to do with it. The thing about the Hitmen is that in the offensive zone, they are relentless. As you say, they find the flaws, then exploit them. Broda, I think, is still playing catchup to that mindset. In Moose Jaw, he was the offence. In Calgary, he's just a part, so he has to learn to fit the role a lot better than he would have with the Warriors.

[FallingMeTook]

Hitmen drop one spot to #2 in the CHL rankings, with Windsor moving up one spot to the top spot. The rest of the rankings remain relatively unchanged, with Tri-Cities sliding out, and Saskatoon sliding in.

[604flames]

for moon:

did you go to the 'Canes/Tigers game last night? if so what's your take on the King/Sceviour/McCue fracas?

[moon]

Originally Posted by 604flames

for moon:

did you go to the 'Canes/Tigers game last night? if so what's your take on the King/Sceviour/McCue fracas?

I was there and it was an awesome game. My views of course will come off a little homerish but I will try to be as objectivea s possible.

There has been a lot of criticism of Beach for his actions to start the whole melee. Personally, while he obviously played it up I really think the whole "showboating" angle was way overblown and if it were say Boychuk who did the same thing it wouldn't have been a big deal, but because it was Beach fans are immediately jumping all over him. Really is slowing down and looking back that big of a jerk move?

I certianly think it wasn't any worse than Ennis throwing his stick at Beach (not the puck but Beach himself).

The pushing after was to be expected but it was McCue who escalated it in my view first taking shots at Beach from behind while Beach was already involved with Isherwood and then grabbing Sceviour and forcing him to fight.

It is one thing to do what McCue did to a guy that took a cheap shot or did something to deserve it, but to not only force the fight but continue to repeatedly throw punches after it was more than clear that Sceviour wanted nothing to do with the fight to a guy that did nothing at all. I want to repeat that NOTHING AT ALL, is absolutely bush league. Especially when you are supposed, again I want to repeat that supposed to, be a tough guy.

McCue then goes looking for another fight and initial reaches for Drew Hoff (all of 170 lbs soaking wet) before King finally has enough and tunes him.

The BS about McCue being tired was just that BS. Scevoiur wasn't fighting him, he did nothing but stand around for 20 seconds on the shift before Beach scored and he clearly saw King coming in to fight him.

Not sure who has seen the video or if it shows enough but King gave it to McCue pretty good. Had some nice clean punches and tossed him into the boards a few times as well. An added bonus to the fight was the dirtbag back-up goalie trying to pry Kings helmet off when the fighters were near the MH bench.

I did want to add some more recognition for the ever classy Ennis for getting into it with the fans after he retrieved the stick he tossed at an opposing player as well. Way to stay classy Tyler.

Isherwood was tougher than nails when going against a guy with a broken nose but pussed out as soon as possible once he was going to have to stand up to someone who could fight.

Coyle too was very tough when going at guys from behind and then got destroyed by Wright, who probably punched him a few extra times than needed but was pretty tame to McCue-Sceviour.

Beach probably should have just scored the goal but his actions don't come close to justifying what Ennis or McCue did. He is a villian in all of this but not nearly to the same level as McCue.

Of course guys shouldn't come off the bench but seeing the 6-on-5 situation with the Tigers taking advantage of the extra players and the crap that McCue just pulled on Scevoiur with the refs doing nothing to stop it was terrible.

I think that King, Orfino definitely have to be suspended but really that McCue is the guy that should be gone for the longest. His type of garbage is the exact type of stuff that needs to be banned. I love fighting as much as anyone but that wasn't fighting, that was being tough and that wasn't sending a message. That was a ######bag who angry because he was terrible (and my god was he awful, no idea what to do in his own zone) and wanted to hurt someone.

One final thought, Zalaski had zero control of that game and if anything made things worse. His calls were beyond terrible and probably added to the frustration/anger that both teams felt. I know that I complain a lot about the reffing in the WHL (because it is often god awful) but Zalazki's performance was one of the worst that I have seen. Why the WHL doesn't have two refs in a division game between two teams with bad blood is beyond me. If Zalaski can't handle the game on his own then the WHL needs either get more refs or have less games. Wright beat the snot out of Coyle in the middle of the ice and received nothing. The Canes were getting a delayed penalty clearly shot the puck out the zone and the play continued.

Sorry if this is so long but it was a pretty crazy event.

The short version for those interested: Beach shouldn't have done what he did but it wasn't that bad, Ennis dirtbag, McCue huge dirtbag, King awesome, McCue @ss kicked!

[604flames]

^^ I saw the video of it, and even though King will certainly be suspended, I don't have as much of a problem with what he did than with McCue pounding on Sceviour (who, as you mentioned, was just standing there). I hear some 'Canes fans try to claim Beach was just trying to kill time which is laughable though.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it when McCue played for the Bruins 'cause he was good for at least 2 penalties/power plays a game when they played the Giants.

Doesn't it just make you look forward to the next time they play though? As much as both teams and those involved will be vilified and punished, it definitely adds some much-needed intensity to a league that seems to be getting softer and softer. I remember games ten years ago when, if one team was trailing by 4 or 5 goals at the end, the last two minutes would take about 45 to play. And NOBODY left early.


EDIT: saw your comment about the refs: agree with you completely. Haven't had a chance to hear what my friend's brother (a WHL linesman, he wasn't there though), has to say about the whole thing..

[Berger]

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=lzss7f_X99g


hmmmm looks kinda familiar......
if beach just skates in and puts the puck in the net without slowing down or looking back none of that would have happened

[moon]

Originally Posted by 604flames

^^ I saw the video of it, and even though King will certainly be suspended, I don't have as much of a problem with what he did than with McCue pounding on Sceviour (who, as you mentioned, was just standing there). I hear some 'Canes fans try to claim Beach was just trying to kill time which is laughable though.

He certainly wasn't trying to kill time and was rubbing it in but I really don't see what is all that wrong with what he did, especially considering the style of game out there. He was under the Tigers skin all game long and took a lot of crap as well. It wasn't as though he was over the top with his antics. I do believe if it were another guy it wouldn't have been as big a deal but because of his reputation fans immediately go on the offensive with him.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it when McCue played for the Bruins 'cause he was good for at least 2 penalties/power plays a game when they played the Giants.

He was crap out there. So lost in his own zone and all he did was hit guys 5 seconds after they passed the puck. He literally looked lost as soon as he finished the check and had nobody left to run. The only negative I see with him being suspended is that he won't be there for other teams to exploit.

Doesn't it just make you look forward to the next time they play though? As much as both teams and those involved will be vilified and punished, it definitely adds some much-needed intensity to a league that seems to be getting softer and softer. I remember games ten years ago when, if one team was trailing by 4 or 5 goals at the end, the last two minutes would take about 45 to play. And NOBODY left early.

Unfortunately I am at Disneyland next game so I can't look to forward to it.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Berger

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=lzss7f_X99g


hmmmm looks kinda familiar......
if beach just skates in and puts the puck in the net without slowing down or looking back none of that would have happened

If the Tigers don't spend all game trying to go after Beach with late hits, crosscheck and punches to the face and slashes this doesn't happen.

If McCue doesn't grab Sceviour and continually cheap shot him it would have been a typical end of the game type scrum.

If Ennis doesn't throw his stick Beach doesn't say something extra to him skating by.

If Isherwood doesn't act like a tough guy and attack the guy with the shield none of this would have happened.

If Isherwood doesn't hit Wright on the way back to the bench the extra stuff wouldn't have happened.

Easy to lay blame on more than just Beach on that play.

[Berger]

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd7xk6JXZt8

heres a video link for all who havent seen it

[Resolute 14]

On the play itself, Beach is clearly the one who caused it all. And the colour man saying that is "garbage, garbage, garbage" needs to pull his head out of his ass - that certainly was not "just" an empty net goal.

But, obviously, things happened before that. Beach pulled a childish move to show up the Tigers for some reason. I can trust that it was a response to a lot of late hits/cheap shots as you say Moon, and in this case, a bunch of kids let their emotions get the better of them.

And now at lest one Hurricane player is going to be suspended ten games for leaving the bench to join a fight. Stiff penalty to pay.

[Fire]

Go Tigers! I like the odd bru ha ha.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by moon

If the Tigers don't spend all game trying to go after Beach with late hits, crosscheck and punches to the face and slashes this doesn't happen.

If McCue doesn't grab Sceviour and continually cheap shot him it would have been a typical end of the game type scrum.

If Ennis doesn't throw his stick Beach doesn't say something extra to him skating by.

If Isherwood doesn't act like a tough guy and attack the guy with the shield none of this would have happened.

If Isherwood doesn't hit Wright on the way back to the bench the extra stuff wouldn't have happened.

Easy to lay blame on more than just Beach on that play.

Dude, its a 60 minute game, a lot of things are going to happen but one play will trigger it and in this case it was Beach's slowing down. Some of the things you're saying here happened after Beach's play, like the McCue/Sceviour scrap.

Seriously does the commentator know any other word besides "garbage"?

Absolute "garbage" by tigers throwing the stick? Ya if the idiot beach hadn't slowed down to show up the Tigers, could've been avoided.

The first mismatch "garbage" fight, after couple of punches the linesman is in there ya ######. Not to mention, Canes player is trying to land some too.

Canes players coming off the bench is not "garbage" but unfortunate. ok homer.

Anyways, both teams should've beat the crap outta each other with multiple suspensions, so Hitmen could get a good laugh.

Go Hitmen.

[Berger]

http://www.whl.ca/Suspensions-s11114

Heres the suspensions as result of the altercations......

Hurricanes:
Dwight King 5 games for leaving the bench
Michael Dyck (coach) 5 games.......... this one kinda baffles me unless he sent King on the ice
Craig Orfino 3 games for leaving the bench

Tigers:
Matt McCue 2 games for taking on the entire hurricanes team

Its too bad King will be out for the Hurricanes vs Hitmen game next friday. It will be the first game between the 2 with the new Hurricanes team since the Beach trade. And without King in the lineup it gives the Hurricanes fans an excuse for the Hitmen handing them their lunch!!!! Still should be a great game though!

[old-fart]

Pretty sure it is an automatic suspension to the coach if one of your players leaves the bench to get into a scrap, much less two of them.

Beech did showboat, Tigers did over react... whole thing was just a powder keg waiting to explode.

Having said that, the only "absolute garbage" was the color guy.

[Resolute 14]

I love the $500 fine to the Hurricanes as a team as well.

Beach's showboating really cost his team.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Dude, its a 60 minute game, a lot of things are going to happen but one play will trigger it and in this case it was Beach's slowing down. Some of the things you're saying here happened after Beach's play, like the McCue/Sceviour scrap.

The point is while Beach tipped off the whole thing he is far from responsible for it getting out of hand as it did.

The McCue/Sceviour incident was what caused King ot come off the bench and escalated the incident further.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Berger

http://www.whl.ca/Suspensions-s11114

Heres the suspensions as result of the altercations......

Hurricanes:
Dwight King 5 games for leaving the bench
Michael Dyck (coach) 5 games.......... this one kinda baffles me unless he sent King on the ice
Craig Orfino 3 games for leaving the bench

Tigers:
Matt McCue 2 games for taking on the entire hurricanes team

Its too bad King will be out for the Hurricanes vs Hitmen game next friday. It will be the first game between the 2 with the new Hurricanes team since the Beach trade. And without King in the lineup it gives the Hurricanes fans an excuse for the Hitmen handing them their lunch!!!! Still should be a great game though!

Why would Hurricanes fans need an excuse about losing to the top team in the conference in a regular season game?

The suspensions look pretty good to me. I would have liked to see McCue get more but I am fine with the 2 games. I will also take a 5 game suspension 10 times out of 10 to see King react that way in that situation. About time he finally showed a little sign of life.

I continue to laugh at the Beach costs the Canes comments or the Beach is a bad teammate comments as well.

He has been great since coming to the Canes and has helped with drawing penalties and scoring a lot more than he has hurt the team. He didn't force King or Orfino to come off the bench. Sure he could end up hurting the team but so far he has been the exact opposite of what the nay-sayers have told Canes fans to expect.

[Resolute 14]

Oh, there is no question that Beach has been great, but his teammates are now eating 13 games in suspensions and $1000 in fines because of his actions that sparked this brawl.