The part where you ranted against a Hitmen player without a negative word about your own guy, until you grudgingly accepted that your player was no better only after someone else called you on it?
The part where you ranted against a Hitmen player without a negative word about your own guy, until you grudgingly accepted that your player was no better only after someone else called you on it?
Except what Mahacek did wasn't nearly as bad since the other guy actually was willing to go so there really isn't any reason to comment on him.
Are we now supposed to talk about every fight between two willing participants?
The reason I singled out Roach was because he went after a guy who didn't want to fight and kept going when the opponent tried to fall to the ice to stop it.
Howse 2 goals tonight vs Giants. 11,000 in the crowd tonight as it was "Milan Lucic Night" Him and a bunch of Bruins teammates were at the game...awesome game with ####ty goaltending. 6-4 final Bruins, Howse left wide open on the first and he got the empty netter which rolled in from an impossibly angle. Howse with 46 goals thus far.
Yup. Everyone expected a rebuilding year, but some of the vets have battled injuries, and others just failed to step up this year. End result is a long, frustrating season.
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Yup. Everyone expected a rebuilding year, but some of the vets have battled injuries, and others just failed to step up this year. End result is a long, frustrating season.
Thanks for the quick recap. I just checked the standings recently and was wondering what the eff happened. I know it was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year but last in the Conference by a mile must have had some bad luck along the way. How was Jimmy Bubnick play this year? He had a solid mem cup last year and thoughts were he could carry into this year...guess not.
I heard. The ownership group has mentioned they've been getting offers for some time, did they not?
There is also talk that the WHL isn't high on the idea unless a second team can be placed on the island. Though I can't see how the ferry ride would be any worse than the bus from Regina to Brandon, Tri-Cities to portland or anywhere to Prince George.
Just to piss Burke off, I hope that Winnipeg gets its NHL team back and the AHL takes the Victoria market before the WHL can.
Resolute the biggest issue with the Island is the lack of a second suitable venue (the Frank Crane in Nanaimo isn't up to WHL standards). Robison's on record as saying Victoria's the top candidate for a new team, but by new he means relocated. The ferry ride is 90 mins from Tsawwassen, for a team like Vancouver I can't imagine it'd be much different (time-wise) than making a trip to Kelowna or Kamloops, just a bit more out of the way.
I, for one, hope Chilliwack stays in the league. I always enjoyed going out there when I lived in the Lower Mainland.
So would I. I'd rather Victoria moved up to the AHL to serve as a pair with Abbotsford.
Anyway, former Hurricane and Thunderbird Mitch Fadden decided to go and completely eff up his career. He was already on IR with a blood clot issue, then he went and got busted for drunk and dangerous driving in the middle of the afternoon in Salmon Arm.
According to a buddy of mine in Tampa, the Lightning have placed him on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
And as the season comes to an end, the Medicine Hat Tigers absolutely embarrass themselves with their antics at the end of the game. Here's hoping they get swept in the first round.
On the one hand, I was glad the Hitmen showed the greater class and didn't respond to the cheap shots, but on the other, I kinda wish someone would have run Dubyk right through the glass.
This thread hasn't been nearly as fun as last year. Too bad.
I didn't make it out to Brandon for any games after Christmas and my schedule didn't jive with any of their Alberta roadtrips, so my following of the Wheat Kings was limited to daily scoreboard watching on WHL.ca this year.
Here's a quick WKs update for anyone interested though...
-They've been great since the Schenn trade. 18-11 (18-7 not including the four game losing streak that occurred right after). Including 3-2 in games vs Saskatoon which I have a hard time understanding given how good the Blades have been since the trade.
-Mark Stone was in beast mode from start to finish, finished 3rd in league scoring. Not too sure where his tremendous production suddenly came from but the guy finds a way onto the score sheet every game it seems. At 6'3, 200 pounds he's looking like a steal for the Senators in the 6th round.
-Not including Glennie in the Schenn deal looked bad at the time but has turned out to be a great (non) move by McCrimmon. He's been 10x better, the second half of the season after an awful start.
-F Matt Mackay has been phenomenal since being picked up from Vancouver, 52 points in 31 games. Everyone thought it was a nothing move at the time but he's been tremendous for Brandon.
-The young D was expected to experience serious growing pains this year and they were not good before Christmas. Things have changed quickly though, Ryan Pulock has stepped into the top pairing as a '94 and been awesome. 8 goals and 42 points in 63 games, he's going to be a good one for years to come. Roy/Fransoo/Hunter are other '93/'94 D-men playing big minutes and getting the job done. The back end should be tremendous for the next few years which is weird to say given Brandon's history of run and gun hockey.
-Boes/Liston are both extremely young and their stats show it. Neither have been very good but Boes seems to have jumped ahead of Liston for the time being despite all the hype coming into this season about Liston. They've split the load for the most part and Brandon will need them to make timely saves or they are staring a quick playoff exit in the face.
Regardless of how they do in the playoffs, it has been a really promising year in Brandon. Almost everyone who has stepped in to fill a role has met or exceeded expectations. If the goalies work themselves out with more experience and the plethora of good young D continue to improve, Brandon could be back battling at the top in no time.
Looks like the Hitmen should get the 1st overall WHLpick this year? They should also get a 6th overall Euro pick? That should really help them next year and for a few years to come.
so which players look like the "next great one" coming into the WHL next year? Any links to the top draft eligible Bantam players?
WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS FIRST TEAM
Goaltender -James Reid (Calgary), Spokane Chiefs
Defenceman -Tyson Barrie (Victoria), Kelowna Rockets
Defenceman -Jared Cowen (Allan), Spokane Chiefs
Forward -Brendan Gallagher (Delta, B.C.), Vancouver Giants
Forward -Tyler Johnson (Spokane), Spokane Chiefs
Forward -Ryan Johansen (Port Moody, B.C.), Portland Winterhawks SECOND TEAM
Goaltender -Calvin Pickard (Winnipeg), Seattle Thunderbirds
Defenceman -Brenden Kichton (Spruce Grove, Alta.), Spokane Chiefs
Defenceman -Ryan Murray (White City), Everett Silvertips
Forward -Brendan Shinnimin (Winnipeg), Tri-City Americans
Forward -Brendan Ranford (Edmonton), Kamloops Blazers Forward -Ryan Howse (Prince George), Chilliwack Bruins
Ryan Pulock with 4 points tonight in game one, 2+2. Huge win for Brandon, if they can continue to use their speed, they could easily pull off the upset.
