[News] With the 104th overall pick, the Flames select LW John Gaudreau

[Coach]

It's for sure a puck.

"Do you always carry a puck around?"

"Yeah.."

[polak]

I think it's a little home for Johnny.

... Like a polly pocket.

[Komskies]

Don't you mean Mighty Max?

Spoiler!

[H2SO4(aq)]

I bet you half the team chews. Bouma and Johnny probably got their tins in their back pockets.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by bax

Lol are you really concerned about kids finding an image of Monny on the Internet with a tin completely sealed in his pocket? The average adult wouldn't notice that on a glance. And even if a kid did, I doubt they would even know what it is.

More concerned about it getting our that he uses it at all. It goes: Image seen (already happened); people say "that's snus" (already happened); people spread word (you think that doesn't happen?); kids say "if Monnie (and Buff and others) do it it must be OK, and cool too".

Mike Gordichuk isn’t shocked. The head coach and GM of the MMJHL’s Transcona Railer Express has coached at all levels of hockey for 25 years and counting. Just last month he watched two 14-year-olds walk into a hockey arena with a chew in their mouths.


"I know kids doing it as early as the age of 13 or 14. I've seen it. It's like smoking... It's becoming a bit of an epidemic," says Mike Gordichuk, MMJHL's Transcona Railer Express head coach and GM.

"I know kids doing it as early as the age of 13 or 14 doing it," Gordichuk said. "I’ve seen it. It’s like smoking. A lot of parents don’t think their kids smoke but they’ve been doing it for five years. Just because you’re not seeing it doesn’t mean they’re not doing it, right?

"It’s becoming a bit of an epidemic," he added. "It was around back then (10-20 years ago), but I don’t remember seeing it like I see it now. And it was the older groups: 16, 17, 18 years old. Now you’re seeing it in the younger age groups.

"There’s that disbelief of younger kids that if you’re not smoking it’s not as bad for you. Some kids actually believe it’s a performance enhancer when actually it’s an inhibitor. It’s counteractive."

Gordichuk doesn’t allow smokeless tobacco in his dressing room. But like most coaches, he has no control over its use outside of the arena.
"I know they could do it before or after but I just didn’t want it in the room. I find it disgusting. And I cannot fathom why anybody would want to chew that stuff. It’s a shame when these kids are hooked on it."
And like several minor and junior hockey executives interviewed, Gordichuk cites the wide-spread use of smokeless tobacco by NHL players as a contributing factor.

"When they see an NHL player do it and it’s accepted by the NHL, they’re going to do it. If you could clean it up at the NHL level it would filter down," he said. "There’s such a high respect from these kids, that’s what they’re aspiring to be, and they see guys like (Winnipeg Jets defenceman) Dustin Byfuglien do it, to them that’s OK."

Commissioner Davis concurred, also citing Byfuglien — who in the past has done TV interviews with a wad of chew in his mouth — and the likes of Detroit Red Wings’ Todd Bertuzzi and Washington Capitals’ superstar Alex Ovechkin.

"That just pisses me off, and I don’t mind saying it," Davis fumed. "It’s the height of arrogance to go out publicly in the role of a professional hockey player who like it or not is looked upon as a role model. They make darn sure to get the right hat on, or the right shirt on, with the right logo for their sponsor. So why can’t they just take that crap out of their mouth? I don’t get that. It drives me nuts."

[Buff]

Recently I had some ice breakers in my pocket and somebody asked me if I chewed.



I said yes. Probably not good on the teeth but I just like to crunch the mints in my mouth.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

WHY WON'T ANYONE THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!?!?!?!

Seriously though, it's very tiring the amount of over sensitivity/protection that get's highlighted on any discussion forum these days. We're heading towards a society where you can't post anything without someone taking offense. Sad days are ahead if things keep trending in this direction..

Whats next? Lets take offense to the fact all NHLers have smoking hot wives. It paints a bad picture for our youth and we don't want them to be womanizers.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Buff

Recently I had some ice breakers in my pocket and somebody asked me if I chewed.



I said yes. Probably not good on the teeth but I just like to crunch the mints in my mouth.

I'm actually willing to bet this is what was in Monahans pocket. Last year at the Stampede this Ice Breakers brand was handing out free mints everywhere you went. Maybe they should be square containers so kids don't mistake them for snu, therefore giving them a craving for chew.

[Benched]

"snugate"

It must be summer that we're even discussing this....

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

WHY WON'T ANYONE THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!?!?!?!

Seriously though, it's very tiring the amount of over sensitivity/protection that get's highlighted on any discussion forum these days. We're heading towards a society where you can't post anything without someone taking offense. Sad days are ahead if things keep trending in this direction..

Whats next? Lets take offense to the fact all NHLers have smoking hot wives. It paints a bad picture for our youth and we don't want them to be womanizers.

People don't have a problem with them chewing. They have a problem with it being done during scheduled interviews. Like he says, you grab your sponsors hat and team t-shirt or whatever. Spit out your chew too.

As for the wives comment, if Toews did a post-game interview from his stall with 5 women under each arm, you may have a point. Not sure how having one smoking hot wife promotes womanizing.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by MattyC

People don't have a problem with them chewing. They have a problem with it being done during scheduled interviews. Like he says, you grab your sponsors hat and team t-shirt or whatever. Spit out your chew too.

As for the wives comment, if Toews did a post-game interview from his stall with 5 women under each arm, you may have a point. Not sure how having one smoking hot wife promotes womanizing.

I'd like it if they didn't, especially in public. It's not good for them, and not a good example. And, yes, I think of the children. I'm neither a prude nor a PC guy, but players do have to realize they are role models. It's easy to dismiss the concerns of those minor league coaches but I don't.

I actually doubt if Monnie chews, though. Nowhere at Cowboys to spit. And I've never heard of him doing it. I'd have expected maybe Russell, if anyone. The puck or mint ideas are pretty valid IMO.

Smoking hot wives probably decrease womanizing.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by MattyC

People don't have a problem with them chewing. They have a problem with it being done during scheduled interviews. Like he says, you grab your sponsors hat and team t-shirt or whatever. Spit out your chew too.

As for the wives comment, if Toews did a post-game interview from his stall with 5 women under each arm, you may have a point. Not sure how having one smoking hot wife promotes womanizing.

I hardly see it as an issue if a small list of NHLers have done it once in an interview (I've been watching hockey for 12 years and have yet to see an NHLer with chew). You can also see Hudler chugging a beer, singing intoxicated at a cup winning parade in Detroit. Look at the damn MLB if you have a problem with it. They are on chew throughout the game and I haven't heard a peep over it.

Plenty of NHLers are from small towns where chew is the norm. They didn't start because they saw Alex Ovechkin chew in an interview, they started because everyone and their uncle is doing it.

[GioforPM]

This same discussion happened with Vanek:

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dail...-gwynn-mlb-nhl

[RM14]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'd like it if they didn't, especially in public. It's not good for them, and not a good example. And, yes, I think of the children. I'm neither a prude nor a PC guy, but players do have to realize they are role models. It's easy to dismiss the concerns of those minor league coaches but I don't.

I actually doubt if Monnie chews, though. Nowhere at Cowboys to spit. And I've never heard of him doing it. I'd have expected maybe Russell, if anyone. The puck or mint ideas are pretty valid IMO.

Smoking hot wives probably decrease womanizing.

The whole thing is concrete booze puddles, a little spit doesn't hurt. There's a lot more nasty things going on than chewing at cowboys. You may have received are ceratin viral text this morning of some cowboys tent magic happening.

[heep223]

The issue of chewing is wayyyyyyy overblown and yes I read the article. You could make similar arguments for alcohol or junk food which is just as bad if not worse....OMG I saw an NHLer eating a bag of chips, think of the children!!

Tons and tons of NHLers and pro baseball players chew, most of the them keep it on the down low. Who cares. Teenagers make their own decisions with tobacco just like everything else. They're exposed to all this stuff all the time and far worse, if there's an issue anywhere blame parenting.

[Benched]

more sort of on track...

glad Johnny came back and enjoyed the Stampede with his teammates. Good for him to enjoy the city, hang out, and have some fun.

These intangibles are sometimes the reason(s) that players want to stay with the same club.

[Coach]

I remember a kid at development camp last year that somehow landed a signed Gaudreau puck in a draw. He didn't know who he was and neither did his dad. They were looking for him on the ice and I overheard them talking so I interjected:

Me: "See that tiny guy over in the corner? That's him"

Dad: "Wow he's tiny."

Me: "You should hang onto that puck, kid."

Not 10 seconds later Johnny flies down on a 2-on-1 and rips a shot short-side top shelf, and the whole crowd ooooos. I just looked at the kid and gave him a wink. I like to think that kid is Gaudreau's biggest fan now.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Benched

more sort of on track...

glad Johnny came back and enjoyed the Stampede with his teammates. Good for him to enjoy the city, hang out, and have some fun.

These intangibles are sometimes the reason(s) that players want to stay with the same club.

I'm assuming he stayed with Monahan and Bouma (in the cubbyhole).

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

The issue of chewing is wayyyyyyy overblown and yes I read the article. You could make similar arguments for alcohol or junk food which is just as bad if not worse....OMG I saw an NHLer eating a bag of chips, think of the children!!

Tons and tons of NHLers and pro baseball players chew, most of the them keep it on the down low. Who cares. Teenagers make their own decisions with tobacco just like everything else. They're exposed to all this stuff all the time and far worse, if there's an issue anywhere blame parenting.

I admit I had no idea it was even an issue for anyone until I read that article and others like it after this came up today. It never occurred to me, probably because it's such a gross habit.

[Traditional_Ale]

I bet Brian Burke is their dealer.