2012-13 WHL Season Thread (Hitmen, Rebels, Canes, Tigers, et al) - Page 13 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Red John · 03-23-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty81

Y'know, with their number 1 goalie and Gogolev gone.

Who is this No. 1 goalie you speak of? Polivka played.

Speaking of which, Cole Cheveldave made a couple unreal saves at the end last night - watch highlights if you can.

Agreed on Sissons, Kelowna should still get by Seattle without him but could be in tough after that. They just didn't have that wolf pack mentality last night.

Matty81 · 03-23-2013, 02:03 PM

Oh weird, read in a few articles that Polivka had been out since early March and was going to miss the first one to two weeks of the playoffs, must have come back last night. I know Stahl is trying to get back in too right now but there's no way he's going to be 100% if he does.

Ya Kelowna doesn't have the skill to win unless they are rolling 4 lines and playing like there's no tomorrow. They're so young at least they have next year with most of the group. I'm going to head down tonight since the Flames draft position watch is on hiatus until Sunday. Even if Kamloops thrashes them, I'd still like to see them make the second round for atmosphere and to build up the interior rivalry a little.

Ezio · 03-23-2013, 04:41 PM

Great openings by the Hitmen, hope they can continue winning. I wish this team got more interest in the city. None of my buddies are up to go to the game with me, it's Flames or bust. This team deserves more attention.

Flickered Flame · 03-23-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezio

Great openings by the Hitmen, hope they can continue winning. I wish this team got more interest in the city. None of my buddies are up to go to the game with me, it's Flames or bust. This team deserves more attention.

Give it another round or 2, and possibly sooner if the Flames do a major sell in the next 10 days or so.

GrrlGoalie33 · 03-25-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezio

Great openings by the Hitmen, hope they can continue winning. I wish this team got more interest in the city. None of my buddies are up to go to the game with me, it's Flames or bust. This team deserves more attention.

They are by far more exciting to watch. On a personal note, I'm glad the games aren't busier...shorter concession lineups, and a quicker exit from the dome!

Puppet Guy · 03-25-2013, 01:42 PM

^ given the choice, I'd take season tickets to the Hitmen over the Flames any day.

moon · 03-25-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

^ given the choice, I'd take season tickets to the Hitmen over the Flames any day.

That might be the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day but to each their own I guess.

Cheerio · 03-25-2013, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

That might be the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day but to each their own I guess.

Maybe if you take into account price but for the same price that is just ridiculous.

GrrlGoalie33 · 03-25-2013, 02:23 PM

There is something very exciting and rewarding about being a Jr hockey fan. Given the choice, I'm not sure if I would take Flames tickets over Hitmen tickets.

Watching a guy like Cody Sylvester grow and develop over the past 4 years (I've only had tickets for 4 years) has been something truly great, and I can't recall ever feeling like I would miss a player on the Flames roster the way I will when the next guy to wear #16 isn't Sylvester.

You also don't get to see that same kind of amazing player development in the NHL as you do in the WHL.

These are kids playing for a contract with an NHL team. Whether it's Victor Rask who will be playing in Charlotte next year in the Hurricanes organization who was drafted by the 'Canes, or it's Alex Roach who impressed the Kings scouting staff so much they offered him an ELC without being drafted. 3 years ago I was terrified when Roach is on the ice, these days, he is fun to watch.

Watching WHL hockey is just fun. When was the last time most of you could say that about watching a Flames game?

Puppet Guy · 03-25-2013, 02:36 PM

I like the energy level of major-junior better. I've been to too many Flames games where they just go through the motions and I've left the 'Dome embarrassed to have paid to see it. I don't remember the last major-junior game I saw where that happened. And it always seems that there's more people interested in the game at a Hitmen game instead of entertaining clients or getting falling-down drunk.

moon · 03-25-2013, 02:49 PM

I have has multiple years of WHL season tickets and its nice but pales in comparison to the Flames, in my view. I see them as completely different entertainment options since the WHL can't compare.

But my team doesn't have an NHL level salary so perhaps watching professional Hirmen play is better.

Red John · 03-25-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

I have has multiple years of WHL season tickets and its nice but pales in comparison to the Flames, in my view. I see them as completely different entertainment options since the WHL can't compare.

But my team doesn't have an NHL level salary so perhaps watching professional Hirmen play is better.

Your team also has the worst GM/coach in the WHL.

While it's true that some teams will always have an advantage in terms of skirting the rules and using money/perks to attract the top talent (Portland, Vancouver, Calgary, Dumpsville, Kelowna) don't blame Lethbridge's woes on lack of money.

Rich Preston has a horrible eye on talent and his teams use the same tired old tactics even when they don't work. Had the "privilege" of seeing them play in Kelowna a few weeks back and my goodness that's a bad, bad team. Zero talent.

Jay Merkley for Josh Derko? Goodness gracious.

moon · 03-25-2013, 09:01 PM

Lethbridges woes are definitely on the horrible board and GM.

Preston has been god awful since coming here and it made zero sense to hire him in the first place.

Matty81 · 03-25-2013, 09:45 PM

I think Kelowna is going out in round 1. I saw them this past weekend and they looked like a completely different team. The game was probably one of the worst hockey games I've seen at any level, Seattle is awful and Kelowna was worse - I don't think I saw either team make more than 2 passes consecutively.

After the first period, shots were 3-3! And a couple were basically dump ins. By the end of the game I think the shots were like 17-18 or something. After seeing the team dominate at home this year consistently I can't believe how bad they were.

Losing Sissons sucks but this was beyond... just really tough to explain how a team could look so different from one week to the next.

Red John · 03-25-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think Kelowna is going out in round 1. I saw them this past weekend and they looked like a completely different team. The game was probably one of the worst hockey games I've seen at any level, Seattle is awful and Kelowna was worse - I don't think I saw either team make more than 2 passes consecutively.

After the first period, shots were 3-3! And a couple were basically dump ins. By the end of the game I think the shots were like 17-18 or something. After seeing the team dominate at home this year consistently I can't believe how bad they were.

Losing Sissons sucks but this was beyond... just really tough to explain how a team could look so different from one week to the next.

They were out-coached. Seattle was basically clogging up the neutral zone and getting in shooting and passing lanes. Even in the 3rd period of the 2nd game, instead of adjusting the Rockets were still trying to throw the puck cross-ice on breakouts - there was zero adjustment and it was painful to watch.

Willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, despite being so bad they were a shot away from winning both games and Seattle has pretty much no talent up front and very little (Theodore aside) anywhere else.

They get some practices in before tomorrows game now and if Huska really is coach of the year material he'll need to earn it now. If the team comes out trying to play their same regular-season game tomorrow then yes they'll be done quickly.

But if they regroup and adjust they should be able to come back and win 4 of 5. Seattle just isn't a very good team.

Matty81 · 03-25-2013, 10:28 PM

Yes I can see what you're saying about being outcoached John and agree that their breakout was stifled completely.

I also felt like the were just missing guys on wide open passes too though and even when they had room on the powerplay they just didn't move the puck well. Hopefully they aren't done but geez they basically need the sweep in Seattle to stay alive now.

Freeway · 03-25-2013, 11:21 PM

Hitmen LOSE tonight in OT, Game 5 is now necessary and will go Thursday night at the 'Dome.

Flickered Flame · 03-26-2013, 12:03 PM

Preston has been fired today.

Buff · 03-26-2013, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

Lethbridges woes are definitely on the horrible board and GM.

Preston has been god awful since coming here and it made zero sense to hire him in the first place.

You will be pleased to know that Rich Preston was fired today. Brad Robson is replacing him as GM. I haven't seen any news on the coaching situation.

moon · 03-26-2013, 01:43 PM

Good to see Preston gone.

Not sure Robsin is the answer since he seems to have a hand in a lot if the crap on this roster but it can't be any worse than Preston was.

Interesting to see what they do about coaching with little to no money and not a really desirable situation.