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Post by colddog on Feb 16, 2011 17:41:59 GMT -5
My Prediction is this years winner will come from the Pacific region. Whether its FSJ defending their title or Bentley coming back to win 2 in the last 3 yrs, or maybe even a surprise from either Ft Sask, Sylvan or Prince George. I think these teams will prove to be the real battle to hoisting the AC this year. Thoughts?
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Post by Doug Mathieson on Feb 16, 2011 20:36:11 GMT -5
Two Pacific teams in the final last year so that would make them the favourite till someone beats them. What about Penticton or Prince George in your list of Pacific team, perhaps they will be a first year surprise?
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Post by wade on Feb 16, 2011 22:23:55 GMT -5
It will be 'surprising' if Penticton shows up in FSJ to play in the Savage Cup. Let alone if they wound up winning the AC this year....THAT.... would be cataclysmic. That said...were only just starting playoffs here in Alberta. Still a long road to go.
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Post by Doug Mathieson on Feb 16, 2011 22:54:58 GMT -5
Penticton has confirmed that they are playing exhibition game in Kenora on Mar 5 and 6th If they can make it to Kenora surely they will show up in Fort St John
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Post by gustifus33 on Feb 17, 2011 18:02:28 GMT -5
It will be 'surprising' if Penticton shows up in FSJ to play in the Savage Cup. Let alone if they wound up winning the AC this year....THAT.... would be cataclysmic. That said...were only just starting playoffs here in Alberta. Still a long road to go. Wade, what makes you think the Penticton won't show up? Why would it be cataclysmic (great word by the way).. Penticton lost to PG pretty badly but with less than half their roster in their first two games and PG spit with FSJ in FSJ, so PG is apparently a pretty good team. I think for BC it could be any of the 3 teams that emerge. Perhaps a BC team making to the AC is a stretch but far from cataclysmic (great word though).
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Post by wade on Feb 17, 2011 22:46:45 GMT -5
When I see a team, like Penticton for instance, with barely a mitten full of games scheduled all winter long and they are still unable to get a full roster for most of those games....I become skeptical about how these teams are being operated.
The Vees are going to Kenora for an exhibition set. Thats good. I wonder who is footing the bill? The HOST team I am guessing.
Have the SR Vee's played a home date this season? If they have...nobody knew about it.
Thats why it would be cataclysmic if they won the AC this year. The trophy would go to a city that didn't even know they had a SR team in the first place!
I just hope its all moot and FSJ comes out of BC. I hate those thirsty bastards from the Peace Country...but...I gotta give the devil his due....they've got excellent support from their community and everyone up there knows who the Flyers are and what SR AAA hockey is all about.
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Post by colddog on Feb 20, 2011 21:10:06 GMT -5
Thunder Bay won it in 05/06 with only playing 9 games all year. For Senior teams just starting it is hard to come up with all the $ponsorship needed to get teams to travel up for games. It takes a few years, FSJ,Bentley have been around for years and have a bank account. Gotta start somewhere. I'm glad to see the Vees and the Mohawks throwing their names in the ring......hopefully Powell River, Whitehorse, Dawson Creek & maybe another team in the okanagan or the Kootenays can come around and we can have a legitimate AAA force in BC. Penticton signed Stephen Peat who most the Bentley boys should remember & I hear PG has Ronald Petrovicky & Turner Stevenson confirmed for next season. Should only get better from hear on out in the BC AAA scene.
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Post by wade on Feb 20, 2011 22:32:43 GMT -5
Peatie is a tough player who can make things interesting anytime he's on the ice. Signing exciting players doesnt do a damn thing for anyone unless you play some games with these players in the line-up. T Bay had a terrific team in 2005. They took everyone by surprise when they showed up with a bunch of players who were part of a UHL franchise in T-Bay until the folded the summer prior to the Bombers Allan Cup win. Nobody knew how good they were....because they never played any games. It was sneaky. It was exciting and it was nice to see Horse Lake lose. However...it didnt do much to promote the Allan Cup. The HL Thunder still did more for that 2005 tournament than all the other participants put together. I despised them...but...I dont deny the powerful pulling power they brought to the turnstiles. We need packed rinks, rivalries, media coverage and we need to motivate teams to get their shit together and play more games each season.
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Post by colddog on Feb 21, 2011 14:15:32 GMT -5
That is very easy to say living in Red deer, AAA games aren't 1 1/2 down the road in BC, nothing we can do about that. I hear PG is trying to get into the Central Interior AA Hockey league and pull out of the Play-offs similar to what FSJ does in the NPHL. Those games even though they are AA will help them get to the next level & compete with the Flyers. Penticton has shown interest in playing in the Okanagan College league next season to I hear? Either way from what it sounds like neither of these teams are a shot in the pan team, they look to be around for the forseable future........way & see I guess. I don't think Dispising a team that had more funds than your team did is the right way to go, all they did was out bid you guys. Simple as that. Ask Terry Ryan, he was on his way their the next season for a little more Ga$ money.
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Post by wade on Feb 21, 2011 14:30:38 GMT -5
I despised HL for the disrespectful and dangerous stuff some of their players did. That was the issue I had with them and it had a lot to do with why they wound up losing the Allan Cup in 2005. Ive talked about it many times in the past and its a long time ago now, so, I don't think its worth anyone's time to re-discuss it now. Not sure why you still think its such a big deal, but, to each their own. Each year we hear big talk about what BC AAA teams have planned for their future's...and each following year....most of these ambitions are Zamboni'ed away. So....I will curb my enthusiasm for the time being.
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Post by colddog on Feb 25, 2011 13:11:51 GMT -5
Pretty sure they held true last year when they dummied your beloved Generals. Wasn't enough beer in BC to drown those sorrows but the Flyers thank you for trying, hahaha. Is B. Smith making as much or more than VanImpe made last year? How mush is it gonna take to get Rudkowsky to join the MIGHTY Gens again this go around so you guys can throw your season starters under the bus without a blink off an eye? I know alot more than you think their Wade, but you keep slandering every other team in the country for exactly what the Gens have been doing for years. They have a good program don't get me wrong but lets not pretend they do it by the book, c'mon. You're not kidding anybody!
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Post by proview on Feb 25, 2011 21:13:02 GMT -5
I will give Wade his credit he will argue till the end of time for his team , and good for him . Just wish he would quite knocking every team that might challenge his beloved Gens . It was Stoney , then Powell then Horselake then FSJ And now Sylvan lake and next year it will be horselake again . Wade always preches for more teams , but when they get close he opens up on all of them . Trouble with senior hockey is not the bottom teams its the top ones that do what ever to win ,which includes his Gens. No different . Senior hockey is in trouble
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Post by wade on Feb 26, 2011 22:59:09 GMT -5
Poorview: I can try to pretend I am interested in hearing your explanation on how the top teams are to blame for the 'troubles' in senior hockey?
Hell...I let you start simple by explaining your own method of differentiating between 'top and 'bottom' teams. Whats your formula?! (Haha!)
I look at the teams making the final 4 of the past 4 AC's and see a select group of teams doing a terrific job of putting together excellent hockey.
I've also seen a few teams unable to qualify for the tournament despite having a roster which could have been competitive in the tournament.
Sure there are some weak links...but...I defy you to show me where I ever said we need 'more teams' at this level.
I have said we need certain teams to play more games. I have said we need to look at whether or not the tournament is truly the best way to contest the cup. I have said there are occasionally weak teams getting into the tournament because of short-sighted governing and I have taken issue with some recruitment tactics which some teams have used.
I have never said...'... we need more teams...'
I can see how someone such as yourself might assume 'the more the merrier' but your someone who prefers quantity to quality., I suppose. Thats kewl. To each their own.
I know BC has talked about trying to build a AAA league. Its too bad FSJ relies so much on Dawson Creek. If the Flyers can ever wean themselves off their affiliate teat they could maybe support DC going AAA? That would be good.
For the time being...like I said before....I just think BC needs to place some better leadership to head up SR Hockey out there so it isn't so disorganized and political.
colddog... you can go ahead and start taking notes on the last paragraph plus...
I get why you take shots at how the Gens' have made decisions on their goaltending in the past. To be honest...we've got a contingent of our own fans who feel similar to you and I make no excuses beyond this simple fact: The team has used the rules afforded to them while trying to give themselves the best chance possible.
It worked in 2009. In 2008, it didn't. As for last year...they used the goalies from their 25 man roster. They didn't even have a 3rd goalie in town. Same goes for 2004. 2007 Galenza played most of the games as an affiliate that year. I believe it was Steven Wagner who got the short end of the stiick in his only season with us. What can I say? Wags was out of shape and underwhelming.
But...yes...there have been 2 years where Galenza sat out some of the big games while a pick-up drawed in.
I guess if Galenza was all that broken up about it....he wouldn't be back again and again. Scotty is a team player. Like I said before...a lot of folks around Army Camp believe he could have done the job Rod Branch couldn't do in 2008.
Personally...Im not a big fan of the rule itself...but I also believe that because its there...our team had damn well best take advantadge whenver possible.
Rudy hasn't been as impressive this season. Im not sure he would be the first call for whichever team wins Alberta. He's worthy of consideration, that much I will say for sure.
There it is. There it goes. Easy money.
-The Don Cherry of Senior Hockey-
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Post by wade on Mar 1, 2011 23:12:47 GMT -5
Any-hoo....
As for AC contenders....Don't count out LBK.
They had a terrible season in the CHL, however, the Kings' are affiliated with an amazing 'AA' line-up in Rosetown SK. If LBK can make it work with these 'AP's...they will could qualify and even contend in Kenora.
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Post by captain on Mar 2, 2011 4:28:31 GMT -5
Kewl, Wade now u are endorsing LBK cause they have a good affiliate and your last post you are dissing FSJ because they rely on there aff. and should wean themselves, Talking a bit out of both sides of your mouth, ? or maybe just alittle worried about your army ? Cheers
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