More With Les

Obviously, I don't visit this blog as much as I once did. Occasionally, someone might make mention or retweet something I wrote here four or five years ago. Other than that, it's not a place I often think of coming back to.

I made it a point to return tonight.

If you've ever read something on here or something I've written for the MHL website; if you've ever watched or listened to me on radio, TV or the internet and enjoyed it (or rolled your eyes and flipped to reruns of The Big Bang Theory), there is one person above all others that you should thank (or if you're in the latter category, curse). His name was Les Stoodley. If you're a fan of the QMJHL from a certain time period in the Maritimes, particularly in Moncton, you already know who he is. Les was many things to many people, myself included. How I came to know Les was so purely coincidental it borders on the absurd.

In the fall of 2005, I was a season ticket holder for the Moncton Wildcats. Like many other fans during that time (particularly that season, in which the Wildcats were gearing up to host the 2006 Memorial Cup), I also followed the team on the road somewhat frequently via what was then a free and fairly newfangled webcasting service (this was prior to the team broadcasting its games on radio). I knew who Les was. I enjoyed listening to him, even if I didn't have any real appreciation for the job he was doing. During a home game early in the season I was chatting with a friend of mine and, when the topic of Les and the broadcasts came up, I nonchalantly quipped "I should go on the air with Les and see what people think of my opinion." My friend quickly replied that he knew Les (in fact, he was related to him through marriage) and that if I wanted to look into the idea, he could arrange for us to meet. My immediate thought was to say that I was just being a smart ass (wouldn't be the first or last time...). Before I had a chance to say that, my reply somehow changed to "Yeah sure... make it happen!"

Talk about a twist of fate.

A short time later, Les and I did in fact reach out to one another. He was looking at establishing some sort of "Hot Stove" type intermission show between the first and second periods of Wildcat home games. Les would host the segment while his color commentator, Frank Robidoux, would join the discussion panel that would also include various other personalities. He asked if I wanted to sit in and listen to a segment during the next home game and would I be interested in joining in the following game. I said I would give it a shot. And so it was, on October 19, 2005, a very nervous Will MacLaren made his broadcasting debut during the first intermission of a game between the Wildcats and Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Here was a guy with tons of experience behind the mic; the primary voice of what was one of the very best teams in the CHL that season, a longtime vet with the CBC in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia... and he was interested in giving some random jabroni plucked from the stands - all but a complete stranger - the opportunity to talk about the game! Do you know how many people would be willing to give that a shot? It's a pretty short list.

Nonetheless, I got through the first intermission, was signaled to speak up during the segment by the host (the first and last time that was required), got a couple of points across and was asked by Les on air, at the end of the segment, "And hopefully, Will, we will get to hear from you again next home game?". The answer was yes (what else could I say?). Besides, I didn't pass out or drop an F-bomb... and I was in this deep. More importantly, I enjoyed it and was pretty much hooked on seeing how far this fledgling opportunity could go. Twelve years later, I still don't have an answer to that question.

I think it's safe to say that nobody else but Les Stoodley would have offered up that sort of opportunity. Nor would anyone else have been a better person to help someone break into the broadcasting world. Les was an amazing storyteller. By extension, he was one of the very best conversationalists I've ever encountered in my life. I didn't realize it at the time but in hindsight, I wouldn't have lasted five minutes on the air if I didn't have someone with the capabilities of Les pulling the strings. Whether I needed that softball question to get through a segment or, when I had the chance to eventually do a bit of color work, a kick under the press box table because I was rambling on, he was there to provide whatever was needed. Les made the first few years of my time on the air as easy as the situation could possibly allow. More importantly, he made me want to continue. I didn't fully appreciate that fact until I was working games without him there.

That phase began when I started doing work for Rogers TV in 2008. Hosting, reporting, color, play by play... I was doing a little bit of everything. Early on, I was doing most of it for the first time. It took a long time to reach some sort of comfort zone and there were a few nights where I figured this would be my last game. However, I kept plugging away (Rogers was also short on volunteers and kept calling). Eventually, time with Rogers calling minor and high school hockey became calling MHL games. The MHL games on Rogers turned into a prolonged period as the webcast voice of the Dieppe Commandos (which allowed me to continue working with Les' color guy and my good friend, Frank, as well as another great voice in the hockey world, Mike Sanderson - not to mention my long time broadcast partner Craig Eagles). The Commandos gig (as well as this blog), led directly to the communications job with the MHL. Eventually, I returned to Rogers... this time as a play by play guy, color commentator or host (depending on what was required) for Q games. Occasionally, I found myself at the exact same spot in the Coliseum press box where I had began about a decade earlier. Only this time, I was calling the game. The small sign in front of me in the booth, reading, simply, "Voice of the Wildcats", was put there while Les was still calling the games.

Circle of life, indeed...

Despite not working together after Les' retirement in the spring of 2010, we stayed in more or less constant contact. I'd send him the occasional clip from my Commandos games and he'd give his thoughts on my call. Usually however, we talked about how things were... how we were... how the Wildcats were. At this point in his life, Les had taken sick with cancer and was - sometimes unexpectedly - rather nomadic, moving three times over the next few years before finally settling in Edmundston. Our emails were essentially the old intermission show stripped bare. I still have those emails.

Les also had a way of popping up at the most opportune of times. Two stories to illustrate what I mean:

Back in about 2013 or so, my wife and I were on one of our frequent trips to Boston (I loves me some Fenway). One night, we were walking towards one of our favorite Italian restaurants when, completely out of the blue, I said to my wife "I really should reach out to Les when we get back home." Minutes later, while standing in line to get into the restaurant, my phone goes off... it's an email from Les. He was asking about me, how the Commandos games were going and what about this blog that he heard I was writing? How could he find it and read it? Needless to say, I was surprised. It would turn out to be only my second most surprising "Les moment".

The one that takes the cake took place about two years later. During the second round of the 2015 playoffs, I headed to the Coliseum to take in Game 2 of the series between Moncton and Halifax. I wasn't working this game and only intended on watching from the press box. I got to the box, greeted the friendly Lion's club member that has worked as press box security at the Coliseum for years and stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a voice behind the security guard say "I see they still let anyone up here."

There was Les... sitting on a stool, grinning from ear to ear.

Remember how I said Les had a way with conversation? He also had timing. This was perfect timing. I had just gotten over a very bad cold that made calling the recently completed 2015 MHL Final challenging at best. I was in the midst of what was sometimes a stressful transition in my daytime work life. Most importantly, my father had passed away six days earlier. If ever there was a time that I could've used a evening of unwinding and chat with a guy that could converse like Les, this was the time.

And there he was.

I didn't tell him about work or my dad or the fact that I barely scratched my way through a couple of the most important games in the MHL that season (credit Mike Sanderson with a massive save on that front). I asked how he was (he was in town to see his oncologist), we talked about the days in the booth, how the Wildcats were doing, how the game and series was unfolding and how those two guys on the Mooseheads, Timo Meier and Nicolaj Ehlers, were pretty talented and that they might win the series for Halifax largely by themselves (which very nearly happened). It was a three period long edition of the intermission show. At one point, l'Acadie Nouvelle reporter Stephane Paquette (who was on those intermission shows on an almost nightly basis) turned to us and said "wow, this sounds just like the old days".

I suppose you could say it was Les and I's series finale.

The leukemia never went away and upon returning home from a vacation that October, I received an email from Les' partner, Micheline. The end was near. There were a couple more updates before the final one came two years ago today. Les was gone.

Though sad, at least the suffering was over. The cancer took its toll, even if the victim didn't always let on that it did. The guy had so much to say and so much to give - as a broadcaster, a public speaker, a dedicated spokesperson for Alcoholics Anonymous, helping his fellow people in recovery and an overall outstanding friend and family member to so many - that there just wasn't much of time in Les' world for self pity or negativity.

I sent my condolences, went to the funeral. The Wildcats put together a nice little tribute video. However, the best tribute that I saw came from former Wildcats business manager Bill Schurman. When Les passed, Bill tweeted this out:

RIP Les Stoodley. Great person,friend, broadcaster. We always teased he was a play behind @monctonwildcats @QMJHL Truth is he was way ahead.

Well said, Bill.

And in an outstanding example of irony, if Les was still around, he probably would've kicked me a dozen times under the table for rambling on this much. It is definitely worth the metaphorical bruised shins. And besides, he's the one who put the mic in front of me to begin with.

Thanks, Les.

Off Season, Off Target

This is not here

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

First, there was the one win in the calendar year 2017. Then, the draft lottery that didn't quite go as expected. But still, the Moncton Wildcats had a number of tools in the toolbox with which to continue along on their scorched earth rebuild. Plenty of draft picks, various trades options in conjunction with those picks and, of course, the CHL Euro Draft.

That last one might become a prime example of the old adage, "Let the buyer beware".

Russian forward Alexander Khovanov was selected second overall by the Cats in that draft. Days later, he was appearing at Moncton GM Roger Shannon's V-Reds Hockey Camp donning the Wildcats sweater. All was well... so well, you could almost hear the PR wheels turning from the team offices within the Coliseum.

Except there's a rather large question mark hanging out there regarding the status of the aforementioned Mr. Khovanov. Will he be calling the Coliseum home during that building's historical (and humid) final season as the home of the Cats? Or will he be staying put where he plied his trade last season, over 7000 kilometers away in Kazan, Russia, home of the KHL club Ak Bars Kazan? One thing that is certain, as per Khovanov's Instagram, is that he has signed a three year deal with the KHL team. Conspiracy theories abound. Is Kazan looking for a transfer fee? Is Khovanov looking to go on loan to the CHL? Is the player going for the money... money that's right in his own backyard?

Any way you slice it, this is at best an unwanted distraction for Wildcats hockey ops. At worst it torpedos their attempt at accelerating a massive rebuild. Based on the lack of news coming from the team, one can't help but feel it's more the latter than the former.

Now to be fair, the Wildcats have historically had more success stories than busts when it comes to the Euro Draft. One of their two QMJHL playoff MVP's hailed from overseas (Latvian product Martins Karsums in 2006). Guys like Alexi Tezikov, Marek Hrivik, Ivan Barbashev and Dimitri Jaskin were all impact players during their time in Moncton. Goaltender Roman Will practically clinched a playoff spot for the 2011-12 team all by himself. Several others put in serviceable stints in key supporting roles. By a longshot, it hasn't been all that bad for the Cats.

But as Bony M warned us back in the day... Oh, those Russians!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not going all Don Cherry on all you kids out dere. As well, Roger Shannon has always been accommodating to any crew I've been on during my broadcasting time in Moncton. Assistant GM Ritchie Thebeau is a great guy with a solid background. I'd also like to think no organization at any level in a situation like Moncton's would purposefully take a guy with such a valuable pick on an absolute whim. However, in an off-season where the Wildcats made it a point to stop the practice of swinging for the fences in the QMJHL Draft by taking long shot Americans and trading down and altogether out of any number of prime selection slots, the Cats ended up dipping into the most unpredictable talent pool to try and feed their most immediate need. That need being the most talented, league ready player possible at any position.

Simply put, every time a Russian gets selected to play junior hockey in Canada, there is going to be some rolling of the dice. The Wildcats know this as well as any team in the CHL. There's been flat out no shows (Sergei Konkov), guys who brought more baggage than what was merely in their suitcases when they finally did arrive in North America (Alexi Shotov, who ended up being traded for Cody Doucette who, to his credit, assisted on the goal that sent the Cats to the 2004 Final), players who literally disappeared at the drop of a hat (Tezikov, who worked a loophole in the CHL/NHL agreement to bolt to the AHL midway through the 1998-99 season) and guys who flat out just didn't work out (Vladimir Tkatchev, who would go to Quebec and help eliminate Moncton from the playoff in 2015).

I left Karill Kabanov for last, since he could constitute an entire blog post of his own. Also, Slava Voyonov made the AHL before ever making it to Moncton, which is more of a cautionary tale regarding taking players that are already NHL drafted, though from a moral standpoint, that one probably worked out for the best. Also, Alpines (remember them, Robert?) draft pick Mikael Kazakavich ended up flying to Fredericton airport instead of Moncton when coming over but that's more of a cautionary tale about flying Air Canada.

It's easy in hindsight to say that the Wildcats should've selected someone else last month. However, it's just as easy in foresight to see this selection had more inherent risk attached to it than what it may have seemed. Jersey pic notwithstanding.

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I wonder what other opportunities Danny Flynn will be pursuing now that he's out of the picture in Saint John. For those who may have forgotten, he's pretty decent at that whole general managing thing. Maybe he gets to do that again somewhere. Also, when is the last time all four Memorial Cup coaches are no longer with their respective organizations within two months of the tournament? That might be the new record.

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Sad news in the QMJHL today with the passing of former Quebec Remparts (the old, not as Patrick Roy-ish Remparts) coach and GM Maurice Fillion. Of course, a whole other generation of Q fans and personnel know him as the long time disciplinary prefect of the league. He held the post from 1992-2005, which means for a time in the mid-late 90's, he held a position that was akin to being Jerry Springer without the TV show. For those who may not remember, the Q of 20 years ago was, to put it sort of mildly, a gongshow. Those were the slow nights. The crazier nights were akin to Resevoir Dogs on skates. And Maurice Fillion was the man with the task before him of doling out disciplinary rulings through it all. No wonder they named a trophy after the guy. And in the era when kookiness was at its height, before everyone had email or texting capabilities and submitting tapes meant literally sending a physical VHS cassette to the league office, I can only assume the Q had one hell of a long distance plan and a sweet deal with any number of courier companies. A true legend who as a GM did a job very few could do and in his second incarnation did one hardly anyone would ever want to do, he will be missed. And now, he truly is unavailable for further comment.

Sea of Red

Go Canada Go!

During the first intermission of last night's Canada/Czech Quarterfinal, I listened to the TSN panel theorize as to what went wrong in that first period (incidentally, when's the last time Canada played a truly exciting quarter final game unless it was a very rare situation where they entered the game as the lower seed?). Two things that came up were that the crowd was booing, the other was the crowd itself. Specifically, the crowd that WASN'T watching.

You can draw your own conclusions on the booing. I have no issue with it, personally. Some are of the belief that if you pay that much to watch a game (more on that later), you are entitled to do what you want. I get that, though I've never really applied that theory myself as a spectator. There's also the "they're a bunch of teenagers" school of thought, which I can appreciate as well. Either way, what few fans that were in the stands in Montréal last night booing the team was a non-issue. At worst, it served as an audible kick in the pants. It happens and players of a certain age and beyond know it.

The lack of a crowd might have played a small factor in how the game unfolded early on but I'm not bringing it up here in relation to gameplay good bad or otherwise. I bring it up because this tournament should not be held in that damned rink to begin with. Nor should it be in Toronto. Or Vancouver in 2019. Obviously, these locales are drawing the assignment of host team because of any number of factors related to city size, arena size, potential revenue generated, etc. But is there a lack of perspective behind this rationale?

Personally, I think a lot of people involved with this tournament and others on the outside saw this coming a mile away. A year ago Thursday, the President of the IIHF publicly critiqued the organizing committee regarding high ticket prices. The decision to hold the tournament in the same two (large) venues two out of three years has been debated since it came to be known.

All of this belies a simple truth... Toronto and Montréal are no longer "junior hockey towns". At least not in the sense of what a "junior hockey town" is in this day and age. Yes, the Memorial Cup being held at Maple Leaf Gardens used to be an almost annual rite of passage. So were Maple Leaf Stanley Cup parades, too. And smoking in arenas. And goalies without masks and players without helmets. I just finished reading the book "In the Pressure of the Moment", an outstanding biography of little heralded Montréal Canadians goaltender Gerry McNeil written by McNeil's son David. He mentions how Gerry's senior team would sometimes sell out the Forum. All well and good... but also events that occurred more than sixty years ago. Sixty years ago, you could get into the Forum for an NHL game for about the price of a cup of coffee today. A small coffee.

It's a whole new ballgame now. With the entertainment options available in those areas, changes in lifestyle and inflation when it comes to... well, everything, sustaining a high level of attendance for anything sporting related save the Leafs and Habs is a daunting task. Ask the Toronto St. Mike's Majors. Or the Mississauga Majors. Or the Montréal Rocket. Or the Montréal Junior. Or the Laval Titan. And that's not even close to the full list of relocated/defunct junior teams I could draw from. To expect these two cities - wonderful places that they are - to support this type of tournament two out of three years at the prices being asked was asking too much.

Unfortunately, all signs point to this occurring in Vancouver in two years time. Vancouver... where their latest WHL team, founded in part by a hockey legend and less than a decade removed from a Memorial Cup victory, saw their attendance dwindle to the point where they now literally are making a go of it in the suburbs. And can anyone see ticket prices dropping? Remember... this is Vancouver. Just do a Google search for cost of living in Vancouver. There's not enough time here.

I'm not wishing for the World Juniors to go to Val d'Or or Owen Sound or Prince Albert. Again, perspective. But is it too much to ask for Sherbrooke or London or Regina? Want to try a good junior town in the states? Let's see Portland, Oregon or Everett, Washington put in a bid. Decent sized buildings that have for the most part hosted successful events in the past and should be able to put a fair number of bodies in the rink even for non-Canada (or non-US) games. Not to mention fans that will still pay a premium (just not the "Montréal/Toronto leave your credit cards at the door" premium) to get in the building. Somewhere along the line the bottom line blurred the line between revenue and event experience. And with a tournament that should be a lead pipe cinch to succeed wildly in this country whenever it hosts, something has gone horribly off the rails.

So it's a semi-final date with the Swedes tomorrow night. I'll be watching. Many others in the city where it's being held won't. Personally, if I could watch the game without the Nike ads, it would almost be worth it.

... So as I Was Saying...

Thought I forgot about this place, didn't you? Well, yeah I did. But that's neither here nor there.

It's been over three and a half years since I have written anything here. I had my reasons for moving on. Busier schedule, taking on of new positions within the hockey/broadcasting realm, life in general... it all added up. Some of the things that kept me away are still very much in the forefront, others have become less prevalent. One thing that has been constant has been the number of views on this site. People still read this according to the figures and there have been a few people over the past couple of years who have asked why it no longer gets updated (admittedly, one of those "people" may have been my dog but I digress). Bottom line, I enjoyed it then and I think it's time to get started up once again. I don't know how often I'll be writing but when the mood strikes, I'll throw a few lines in here and see where it leads.

In June, 2016, I moved to Halifax. Home of the Mooseheads, of course. You know how some teams have to basically be held at gunpoint to embark on a rebuilding plan of any sort? The Moose are not like that (anymore). The result is a fun to watch, young team that has had a few long nights (and will have a few more ahead) but can honestly saying they are building towards a greater good. As a neutral observer (unlike some people, I actually took that "no cheering from the press box" thing seriously and still do) just looking for a good game to watch, the Mooseheads, even when they make things hard on themselves (and lately that's been happening a bit more) at least give you a good game most of the time. They will give people an even better game in the years ahead.

Speaking of the Mooseheads, I remember going to games in September and wondering how long it would take Nico Hischier to adapt to the Q. I remember that only vaguely, because now the question has become both "What is he going to do next" and "How long will he be in the Q, anyway?". As of 30 minutes ago, he just about played an instrumental role in taking down Boston University (aka Team USA) and was a frank reminder that, at this level, even when it's a best on best tournament, sometimes it's all about beating one or two guys. I remember the playoff series between the Wildcats and Mooseheads in 2015 (mostly because the one game I covered for it was actually played in Fredericton... how's the new rink coming along Moncton?) and the underlying story being that if the superior (on paper) Wildcats were to advance, they of course had to beat the Moose... but really, they had to stop two guys; Nikolaj Ehlers and Timo Meier. They almost didn't do it. That's what one or two people can do for a team at this level. Sure, a team needs that clichéd "player 1 through player 20 effort" to win in general but make no mistake... sometimes players one and two make a hell of a lot more impact when they're a particularly big fish in a relatively smaller pond. Especially in a short series or tournament. The Mooseheads know this all too well (and are suffering in part because of it as of late). Team Switzerland came within a big Team USA save late from making the semis because of it.

All that being said, this tournament should be a six team event. We all love the Cinderella Danes and the Swiss did give it a good go... but there are still more ugly games than classics during the WJC. Until we can say otherwise, that means there's too many teams. Maybe it's time for Team Europe Jr?

How about that Team Canada? Yeah, the junior kids are great... but I'm talking about the Spengler Cup! Now THAT is an interesting tournament. There truly is nothing like it. From the Valiant Arena to Davos Head Coach Arno Del Curto (who is my vote for Most Interesting Man in the World) to the glory that is Doug Honegger... how can you not love the Spengler? We all know it takes nothing short of moving mountains for Vic Rauter to temporarily step aside from the cutthroat world of curling broadcasting to get on board. That's the power of the Spengler.


Glad we got the annual "Chicago Blackhawks play in an outdoor game" thing out of the way for another year. If you find out this summer that the roof is being removed from the United Center, just try and act surprised.

So the Columbus Blue Jackets are the best team in the NHL... thanks to the third longest winning streak is league history... under the coaching of John Tortorella. Most absurd thing ever written in this blog, right there. And just another chapter for Torts, whose entire coaching career has been built on absurdity.

Finally, if you're looking for a good read, pick up The Battle of Alberta by Mark Spector. Outstanding look at the Oilers/Flames rivalry of the '80's. Between commentary from players, coaches, media members and a rather ummmm.... special exchange between Glenn Anderson and Nick Fotiu, the book will make you look at the rivalry in ways you never would've imagined before.

Ramble On

Happy monthly summertime blog post, everyone! Due to the fact that very little hockey is being played right now (although what is being played is outstanding), I feel very little need to post. That, and it's just a busy time of year for me, particularly with work. But it's a quiet night on the couch... there's a refreshing beverage at arm's length, a dog at my feet and the Red Sox just opened up a 1-0 lead over the Tigers. What better time to go over recent and semi-recent doings than right now? So pull up a chair, as I give my thoughts on...

The Memorial Cup Champion Halifax Mooseheads

Last time I added anything to this blog, the Moose were getting ready to open their tournament against Portland. That night, Halifax came from 3-1 down to defeat the Winterhawks, 7-4. They would defeat the WHL champs one more time. That would've been eight days later in the Memorial Cup final. 

Let's get one thing out of the way right off the top... you always want to see a team that you follow win it all, first and foremost. Therefore, I would be lying if I said I was rooting for the Moose all the way. However, no matter what your thoughts towards Dominique Ducharme's crew were, you would be kidding yourself if you didn't consider them the most worthy club to send out west. There comes a time when you simply have to step back and really consider who the biggest winners are. And these guys were winners in every sense. They knew how to overcome adversity (see Game 4 of the Q finals and the previously mentioned round robin game against Portland), they backed each other up in every way and although they probably could've gone very far on pure skill alone, they seldom forgot to augment that with a solid work ethic and professional attitude. Anyone who follows junior hockey closely realizes this is as much a game of mistakes in that those mistakes come more frequently at this level. The so-called "little things" that the pros do don't usually get done at this level. However, this Mooseheads club was as adept at executing those finer aspects of the game (I'm talking positioning and angling, legally taking the stick out of opponent's hands, knowing when to press and when to back off, etc) as any team I've seen in 18 years of watching junior hockey. They were as close to a professional level team as we may ever see in the Q. 

Congrats to the champs... and Robert Irving, take note of that rebuilding plan. Although you disagreed with the sentiment this past season, patience really is a virtue.

2-0 Sox over Detroit, by the way. If it wasn't for Daniel Nava, Jose Iglesias would have to be the most underrated player on the team by a mile.

The Search for a New Head Coach in Moncton

As has been reported, the hunt for a new coach has resulted in the narrowing down to about 325 candidates. I can appreciate the Wildcats exercising patience on this front (again, I hope they carry this theme with them for the next few seasons), but I hope that even at the end of the search, the candidate that's determined to be the best fit (which is to say, not necessarily the biggest name) is the guy who gets the gig.

I'm not going to say who specifically I would like to see behind the bench as I am not familiar enough with all the candidates... in fact, it's not common knowledge at this point who all the candidates are, anyway. Everything is speculation. I do know this much however... I come from the school of thought that there are coaches with certain types of backgrounds that I think would make a more fitting candidate.

For one, I'm not overly struck on the notion of bringing in any longtime university coaches. Junior hockey is a totally different animal than the university level. Coaching young men in the 16-20 age bracket involves a lot more teaching in addition to implementing of systems. University hockey tends to be more of the latter than the former. This is not to say that a coach from the collegiate ranks would be a poor choice. What it does mean however is that a coach coming from that level may have to do some adjusting to their methodology. And frankly, the team they will be taking over in Moncton next year may have a tough enough time grasping the fundamentals as it is.

I'm also not convinced a veteran of the pro coaching ranks would be ideal. The Cats truly lucked out with the rehiring of Danny Flynn back in 2007. Their previous coach (John Torchetti... who had pro coaching experience) had gone back to the NHL after a one year stint following the departure of the previous Cats bench boss (Ted Nolan... who had pro experience... and left to go back to the NHL). Danny Flynn was a rarity in that he had pro experience... and he wanted to come back home! Unless that's the mentality of a guy like Rick Bowness, for example (assuming he'd even want to interview for the job), I can't see most former pros wanting to do anything but use the position to attempt to go pro again. In the world of hockey - much like any business - the majority of people want to move onward and upward and some point... especially if they have been at a higher level before. There are a lot more Ted Nolans out there than Brian Kilreas. That's not a bad thing. But it's also not an entirely good thing as this Wildcats club starts from scratch all over again.

The prime candidate for my money - if one exists - is a guy like Dominique Ducharme. Previous winning history at a lower level. Looking to advance but not looking at the job as a quick fix before getting a pro opportunity. And someone fresh and new in the ranks of the QMJHL coaching fraternity (i.e. someone eager to make a good first impression). That said - although there's been little mentioned of him among other candidates - a guy like Bruce Richardson intrigues me. 

Richardson had been a scrappy, two way center in the Q with Sherbrooke and Chicoutimi in the late 90's. My most lasting impression of him in junior was probably the time he ran JF Damphousse during a playoff series in 1998 (so yeah... he did what he thought he had to do). After trolling around the minors and the British Hockey League for a number of years, Richardson settled down in Chateauguay, coaching the Quebec Midget AAA Grenadiers and taking them to within a game of the league finals. He has expressed an interest in advancing in his coaching career and if his will to win is anything near the level it was as a player, he - or someone of his ilk - would make a very intriguing candidate.

At any rate, I hope whoever lands here is willing to stick around for a few years. Also, bring patience. Lots of patience. Because you see, the Cats had to get a little creative at...

The QMJHL Entry Draft

So does this mean the team will be obliged to offer a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner before home games? Because I'm pretty sure Valmond Bourque won't like that one. There could be as many as eight US born players in the Wildcats' lineup this coming season as seven of the eight selected by the team have reportedly agreed to report to camp. Plus there's Connor Garland, looking to translate his early success of last season into a super cute sophomore season. 

I understand why they did it. When you're in a rebuild this deep, you use all the tools in the toolbox to get yourself out of the hole as quickly as possible. However, the fact that these kids are so willing to make their way north of the border can't help but make me ask something; are some (or most) of these kids so willing to come here because they aren't being courted by NCAA programs? Because that's kind of a big thing among New England born hockey players. As in, it's almost the only thing. As in, the two biggest American players to wear a Wildcats sweater basically made the move here by reported way of academic ineligibility or a fine combination of that plus insufficient playing time. 

I'm not saying these kids are not talented. In fact, the next face of the Wildcats franchise might very well cross the border sometime during the second week of August (and not just because they're named "Will Smith"). I'm just saying that I'm taking the wait and see approach on this one... and will most definitely be taking an even keener interest in training camp this summer.

Tied at 2 in Detroit... dammit.

The Commandos Keep Climbing

Last season, the Commandos did something they hadn't done since their first season in Dieppe - they finished above .500. Plus, with only two 20 year olds on the squad last year, they are turning over very little of their roster. Oh, and that whole dealing their top player last year for future considerations? The best part of that little exercise for Dieppe is coming to fruition. In exchange for Danny Chiasson, the Summerside Western Capitals (give or take a few drafts picks going each way) have sent to the Commandos former Shawinigan Cataractes defenseman Patrick Volpe, as well as impact overage forwards Colton Parsons and Chris Caissy. 

Now the bad news... Caissy is coming to Greater Moncton... he's just going a little further west than the Arthur J Leblanc Center. The veteran forward will suit up for the Moncton Wildcats next season. The Wildcats have very little in the way of a veteran presence on their projected roster. Nor do they have many resources to acquire one through more conventional methods. Therefore, they have decided to go the highly unorthodox route of "20 year old major junior rookie". Although the management in Dieppe has been very diplomatic when approaching this situation (after all, getting to the next level is the name of the game when it comes to this age group), I don't particularly think the Cats will be at the very top of the Commandos' Christmas Card list this year.

That's not to say there isn't good news. Last year I told anyone who would listen (and I appreciate those five people very much) that this Commandos team was young, but quite exciting to watch. Very much worth the (surprisingly low) price of admission most nights. Well, this team is now more of a seasoned veteran team. And still exciting. And very hungry to get back on the ice. 

The feeling I got following last weekend's MHL draft in New Glasgow was that this franchise can't wait to get back on the ice again. The vibe - not to mention the direction this team is headed in - is extremely positive. And already, some knowledgeable followers of the league are pegging the Commandos as a force to be reckoned with in 2013-14. If I was doing more "advertising" for this team than what may have been acceptable on here last season, it's because they were what I considered to be "surprisingly successful". This year I'll be trying to drum up interest because there should be very few surprises.

3-2 Sox... heading to the bottom of the 8th. And I'm about to get a dose of the entity known as "The Uhehara Experience"

The NHL Finals

Let's end this meandering entry with a comment or two on the NHL finals. Simply put, it's series like this that the NHL needs to keep everyone - diehards as well as casual fans - glued to the action. Obviously, you can't control who will make it to this point in the season. However, this series is giving the world's most powerful hockey force all the advertising and positive PR it could ever hope for. After what took place in the fall and early winter, this series was just what the league - and just what the fans - needed.

Personally, I want the Blackhawks to win. As a follower of the Canadiens, it should be no surprise that the Bruins take second place in this decision for me. However, that has surprisingly little to do with my decision (I actually preferred seeing the B's win in 2011 over a super overhyped Vancouver club). Simply put, in all my years of following the Moncton Wildcats, I cannot think of another player more deserving of this ultimate success than one Corey Crawford.

Simply put, Corey is a nice guy. He's quiet. He's humble. He doesn't go out and steal the show in dramatic fashion. He just goes to work, game in and game out. And he's had to fight very long and very hard to get to the place in the game he's at right now. There are very few players in the history of the Wildcats franchise that would make for a better example of all the qualities you'd hope to see in one of your alumni. 

Two things immediately stand out with me when I think of current Chicago netminder during his time in Moncton. One is not actually my own story and can be found here - a submission by my old friend Les Stoodley (who if you are wondering, is probably the biggest reason why this blog exists... it was Les that rekindled a strong interest in all thing sports journalism related with me. He is sorely missed in these parts). 

The other is from April 26, 2004. That was the night the Wildcats defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 2-1 in Game five of their league semi-final series at Le Colisee de Rimouski. That win vaulted the Cats into the QMJHL finals for the very first time. Afterwards, a group of us waited outside the visiting team's exit at the rink, cheering on any member of the team - on or off ice - that would make an appearance (ironically, one of the bigger cheers that night was in fact reserved for the aforementioned Mr. Stoodley). The exit door was propped open and therefore a clear view of the hallway leading to the tiny visitors dressing room at Le Colisee was offered. Down that hall, several players could be seen celebrating with each other, hanging out with friends and girlfriends, holding excited conversations on cell phones and what not. Essentially, a group of teenage boys celebrating after winning one of the biggest games of their lives.

Then there was Corey Crawford. And while all of that circus was playing out around him, Crawford did one thing no one else could be seen doing. He was quietly hugging his mother in that hallway. On a team that certainly embraced the misfit moniker at times that season, their starting goaltender certainly was an island of calm - particularly in that moment.

For me, as much as he played a crucial role in the history of the Wildcats' organization, as successful as he was here and in the years beyond and as much as he helped bring a winning attitude to a franchise that badly needed it at times, it's the two stories above that come to mind when I think "vintage Corey Crawford". He's just a flat out good guy. And he's worked for it. And if he ends the series in favor of the Blackhawks with a clutch glove save, I wouldn't be disappointed.

Neither will his mom...she knows she'll at least get a hug out of it.

4-3 Tigers final... Jhonny Peralta with a two run walkoff homer. Where's that refreshing beverage?

Running Back To Saskatoon

The trophy that honors our war dead... and forms of payment with ridiculous interest rates!

Oh, the Memorial Cup. Arguably my favorite time of the year as a hockey enthusiast. Which is ironic considering the junior teams I follow has been subjected to two ginormous gut punches at this tournament (for more information on the only two days of my life where the results of a hockey game made me want to be swallowed up by the earth's core or punch a nun respectively, click on the hyperlinked text, please and thank you)

So yeah, some good and not so good times in this tournament. However, on a broader scope, the junior hockey fan in me can't help but be enthralled by the goings on during the last full week of May. Last night's opener - a 3-2 victory by London over the host Saskatoon Blades - seemed to be a microcosm of the Blades season in general. Came out totally flat, rallied to pot the first goal, lose the lead on another wave of less than stellar play before finishing strong - but still coming up short. For a team in which literally noone knew how they would react, the Blades accounted themselves quite well. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough in what could very well have been their most winnable game.

As for tonight, it's Halifax and Portland in the matchup everyone who follows this tournament wants to see oh so badly. Sportsnet will tell you this is a big game because it pits Seth Jones against Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin. I will tell you it's a big game because a) every game at the Memorial Cup is pretty freakin huge and b) both teams in general are outstanding. I will guarantee that if you are watching tonight's game, by night's end you will be raving about the play of more than these three players. For my money, I'm predicting that this game is a final Sunday preview.

Oh, and if you were wondering - and god help you if you were - how I see these four teams finishing, here's the Coles Notes version:

Portland - The team with arguably the most balance at all three positions. The defensive pairing of Jones and Tyler Wotherspoon is probably the best in major junior right now... and Ty Rattie proved during his team's last game - a victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Ed Chynoweth Cup clinching Game 6 - that he's as clutch as any forward in this tournament. The only question is will they do the one thing that raised a couple eyebrows this playoff season - namely, lose a game at an unexpected juncture. That's exactly what happened twice in their first round series with Everett. This isn't exactly the time to lose even one game that could conceivably be within a team's grasp.

Halifax - Super explosive and uber-talented (and they have a German on the roster, so the use of the word "uber" is totally legit), they were the only team in the Q this season that could consistently roll three scoring lines - and roll they did, to the tune of 16-1 en route to the President's Cup. From what I've seen during the OHL finals from London as well as the handful of Blades games I've caught this season, these two teams can't quite transition with the puck or cycle as effectively as the Moose (tonight is actually my first chance to watch the Winterhawks for an entire game this season). Will the thinner-than-Portland (and London) defense be their Achilles heel? For as much press as MacKinnon and Drouin get, if something was to happen to Konrad Abeltshauser on the back end, that could prove to be the most devastating blow of all. As well, will this tournament - the biggest test for the Moose this year by a mile, in my humble estimation - result in their undoing?

Say what you will about the Mooseheads, they get serious points in my book for playing this little nugget of gold over the Metro Center PA after clinching the President's Cup:

London - Got to Saskatoon by coming from 3-1 down against Barrie and winning Game 7 at the last possible second (actually, the last possible tenth of a second). Great balance up front and on the backend. As much as everyone is all about MacKinnon and Drouin and Jones, guys like Max Domi and my personal favorite from the Top Prospects game - Nikita Zadorov - probably get overlooked. Make no mistake; the Knights will make this a very interesting tournament. If it was alot of other years, London may very well have been considered tournament favorites. As it is, they bring a ton of Cup experience to the table... but will the fact that they had the hardest road to Saskatchewan play a factor as the tournament moves along? Plus, everyone's favorite person to injure opponents while they celebrate a goal, Dale Hunter, has juggled his goaltending during the OHL playoffs when the tandem of Jake Patterson and Anthony Stolarz faltered at respective points of the post season. In fact, Patterson got the Game 7 win over Barrie while Stolarz got the nod and the "W" against Saskatoon. Will that little issue rear it's ugly head again this week?

Saskatoon - You know, I appreciate the fact that the economics and general fan appeal of this tournament pretty much demands there be a non-champion team. And yes, more often than not, it's the host team. I get it and accept it. However, this is one of those years (and the second year in a row, actually) where going in, you really have to scratch your head at whether or not it would be better for everyone to find another feasible way to handle the logistics of the Memorial Cup. Saskatoon is talented. It's not like they're a horrible team. They won 44 times during the regular season (by comparison, Barrie came within a game of being out there right now with the same number of regular season victories) and had an outrageous 18 game winning streak in there somewhere. But therein lies the problem; all signs point to the fact that you never know what sort of Blades team will hop over the boards any given night. As a person who followed the team he followed this season, I can totally relate.

Oh, and my predicted order of finish? As shown above. You see what I did there?

I also predict a new anthem singer tomorrow night.

Hey Look, A New Post!

Greetings,

Any number of things that are conductive to me not paying full (and by "full", I mean "any") attention to this blog reared their ugly head over the last few weeks. Not to mention the fact that, simply put, it's a long hockey season even from a local point of view, which by and large is what this little spot on the interwebs devotes most of it's time to. Writing every day or every second day is great during that season and really, it's what makes a blog like this work. However, a rest was in order. After the Jr.A season and (highly frustrating) major junior season came to a close, the opportunity presented itself.

But enough about that... let's talk about crap! Some random thoughts du jour...

The Q finals are in full swing and to the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Halifax Mooseheads are still alive and thriving, holding a 2-0 series lead over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. I was in attendance for that second game, a 4-3 Moose victory - their 13th in a row these playoffs - in which the scoreboard did not reflect the flow of the game. Two goals in the final two minutes by the Drakk - the last with three seconds remaining - made this one look more respectable for the visitors than it actually was.

The Drakkar remind me of how the Wildcats looked in the 2004 Q finals against Gatineau. Les Olympiques that year were clearly more talented and were in all likelihood going to fare better between the two potential Memorial Cup representatives (they lost on finals Sunday that year to host Kelowna). However, the Cats were physically solid that season - which is to say, they could goon it up a tad when the spirit came about them. Guys like Thierry Douville, Nathan Saunders, Luke Pelham, Cody Doucette et al made sure the Cats weren't going to get pushed around by pretty much anyone. They tried to use this to make a statement at times during that finals series. And when they did, it didn't exactly work. Gatineau were masters at sucking the Cats into those "feel good" penalties that coaches detest. As a result, the O's won it all in a quick five games and Moncton would go two more years before nailing down their first President's Cup. It was a valuable experience for those who got another crack at it in 2006, but a tough lesson to learn nonetheless. The Cats lost not only because they faced a better team... they lost because they didn't adjust.

Fast forward to this season. The Drakkar are by far the more physically imposing of the two teams in this series. The problem is - just like that Wildcat team from nine years ago - they are trying to use that to their advantage with disastrous results. The Moose aren't getting intimidated... and they're getting their revenge on the scoreboard. Baie-Comeau spent a good fifty minutes of  Game 2 focusing more on taking the body as opposed to taking the puck and the scoresheet attested to this. If the Drakkar play at home (Games 3 and 4 go down tomorrow and Wednesday) the way they did the last five minutes of Sunday's outing, there will be another game at the Halifax Metro Center this year. If not, the Moose could very well run the table all the way to Saskatoon. Either way, this past weekend just brought the entire QMJHL season two steps closer to the inevitable.


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How 'bout those *insert NHL team currently in the playoffs this year here*?

- First off, there's the Canucks. A team that always manages to be a focal point in the NHL's second season, be it for early exits or quick thinking riot squad workers. Looks like this year will be more a tale of the former than the latter. And with that, allow me to rant...

What the hell do people see in the Vancouver Canucks? I've been watching this team for years. Been perusing their lineups for years. Been reading the predictions for years. And every year, I wonder how they manage to garner the amount of attention for potential playoff success that they do. The core of this team - this team that, sooner or later, never fails to disappoint in the second season - stays pretty well the same from year to year. The tweaking that is done to the lineup is seldom one that makes you stop and think "that's the missing piece". When I think "key acquisition", I think of guys like Ray Bourque in Colorado, Marian Hossa in Chicago, Luc Robitaille and Chris Chelios in Detroit or Dr. Mark Recchi in Boston. Either superstars in the prime of their careers or veteran guys who bring their wealth of experience to the table. When is the last time the Canucks pulled off a coup of this magnitude? The closest thing I can think of would probably be Mats Sundin back in 2008. I think that in itself proves my point quite nicely.

Bottom line, the Canucks do not give consistent enough reason for anyone to peg them as front runners... and yet there they are, year in and year out, high atop many a publication's Cup picks. To me, it reminds me of that whole "San Jose are contenders" fad during the latter half of the last decade. People kept predicting it until they essentially got tired of being wrong. Nowadays, people seem to try and avoid talking about the fact that the Sharks are in the postseason altogether. And it seems to be working quite well for them this year. Just ask Alain Vigneault.

- Speaking strictly of on-ice, non-extra curricular activities, the Isles/Pens series is my pick for most surprisingly entertaining series so far. Even if the series ends in five for Pittsburgh (which there's an outstanding chance it will), it's refreshing to see that the Islanders are not going away. I think this is one of those series where alot of people forgot just how close in many aspects #1 and #8 can be nowadays. Even if the Islanders don't win another game in the series, their young, exciting team have won a great deal of respect for their dressing room and their bat s*** crazy owner.

- Watching the crowd in Toronto the first three games of their series vs the Bruins - in particular during tonight's Game 3 - makes me realize how utterly insane people can be. Is that seriously what nine years out of the playoffs can do to you? Or is this exuberance just compounded to nullify the mere thought of the Blue Jays' existence even further? Tonight's intro on Hockey Night in Canada - both the opening montage and the scene outside Air Canada Center - would've given the below average fan the impression that the Leafs were in the Cup final. What happened there tonight simply would not happen in any circumstance in about 80% of the NHL's other markets. In a way, it was riveting and a truly awesome sight... and if it takes another nine year playoff drought to happen again, I'm prepared to watch the Leafs make that sacrifice.

- Habs/Sens... is anyone talking about this? Nothing big happening here, right?

Look... any Montreal fan who thought that maybe the Senators would go away quietly was grossly misinformed. Because the Senators by all rights should've gone away quietly about 40 times since the start of this season and have not as of yet. And, frankly, I expected the Habs to find some way to beat themselves against this "happy scrappy" Sens squad that escape with wins like it's a friggin episode of MacGuyver instead of a hockey game. What I didn't expect was for the Habs to make it this easy of pickings for Ottawa.

After all that took place last night (incidentally, remember a week or so back when all Habs fans loved Jean-Gabriel Pageau?), the question becomes this: can the Canadiens erase Game 3 out of their heads, minus the parts that they need to stay motivated to tie this series? Can Michel Therrien - who, incidentally, reminded me last night why I didn't like him in Granby, Fredericton or Montreal the first time - rally the troops and even more importantly, sustain any momentum earned in the early stages tomorrow night (and trust me, if the Habs are going to pull out the stops required to tie this series up again, it needs to start right away)? Did Montreal learn their lesson (and not just the lesson about bringing a knife to a gun fight)? All of these are key questions that Bob Cole will vaguely decipher for all of us in under 24 hours.

One last point about last night: what is it about the last couple years in hockey and the term "class"? Is it just me or does that term get tossed around way too much by people these days? I'm with Paul MacLean on this when he basically said "Oh, now such and such is classless now?". I'm not saying players should be out there killing and threatening each other. Nor do I feel people should do anything that makes a mockery of the game. However, the rules of what's "classless" nowadays seems to vary from day to day. To me, the word "class" is becoming nothing more than a trendy buzzword in today's game. It's quickly losing it's true meaning.

Bottom line, this is a very fast, physically demanding game played by incredibly strong people who have to make snap decisions numerous times each night. Sometimes, the wrong decisions are made. Sometimes, a decision is made that is neither wrong or right but at the end of the day still manages to raise the ire of certain individuals (see the MacLean timeout). Just because something happens during a game that some armchair coach doesn't agree with doesn't mean it reflects a lack of class. Sometimes, people just have to take one step back and one deep breath. For the sake of their fellow fan, their own greater good and - most importantly - my twitter feed. Because I'm convinced that if one was to go back in time and pick apart everything that could be potentially viewed as "classless", the game of hockey would've been outlawed sometime around 1894 and the only person playing it today would be Teemu Selanne.


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Finally, congrats on the Summerside Western Capitals and Truro Bearcats on making it to the RBC Cup at Credit Union Place later this month. The Caps made it in automatically as hosts while the Bearcats punched their ticket by combining their perfect round robin record in last week's Fred Page Cup (hosted by the Bearcats) with Summerside's OT win over the CCHL's Cornwall Colts in the tournament semi-finals. Although the tournament final on Sunday was a non-factor in determining who would advance to the nationals, the Caps and Cats didn't let that get in the way of a truly thrilling finish. The Bearcats 3-2 OT victory in double overtime allowed the host team to exact a measure of revenge against a Caps team that beat Truro for the MHL championship a couple weeks earlier.

My advice - bite the bullet on bridge fare and make your way to the ultra-modern new barn in Summerside and take in some of the outstanding hockey that will undoubtedly unfold between May 11-19. You will not be disappointed.