Lets play: "Cheating / Not Cheating"

So I suppose it should surprise no one that the sanctions are still a hot story, and will be throughout the season, which comes to an end with the conclusion of the Memorial Cup.

Clearly there are things that are legal, and things that are not - and the 'Hawks should have known that.  Lets look at a few of them:

Armani Suits: Legal

When the Vancouver Giants won the 2006 WHL Championship, owner Ron Toigo bought the whole team suits:

For the Memorial Cup, the owner of the Vancouver Giants outfitted all of his players in lavish, tailored suits. Apparently, they are not Armani suits, but something just as dapper.

'Pretty expensive,' says Vancouver's Jason Reese, who adds that he has nothing similar in his closet back home in Gresham.

Owner Ron Toigo has spoiled his players in many ways, but the Giants have rewarded him with an outstanding team that will take the ice in the Memorial Cup at Moncton, New Brunswick.

Side note:  that Reese always did a number on the 'Hawks when he was with the Ams.  Of course, everyone had their way with the 'Hawks then, but those days are long gone (thankfully).

Plane tickets for families:  Illegal

I don't really have a link for this, so you know - use your imagination. Look up the Seth Swenson story perhaps?

Just know that Armani suits are not an incentive to sign, but plane tickets for your folks are.

iPads: Legal

Lets look again at our shining example of the level playing field again, Ron Toigo.  For Christmas 2011 he bought the Vancouver Giants all iPads. 

In lieu of all the ruckus about the Winterhawks and their penalties for player benefit violations (PBVs), stories are coming out about what other teams might do for players, including one of about buying I-Pads as Christmas gifts.

Vancouver Giants owner Ron Toigo admits that his club did exactly that a year ago. He said one of the corporate sponsors approached the club, offering up a deal for buying in bulk. He said that the Giants reported the purchase to the league and the league subsequently came up with a dollar limit on gifts. Toigo would only say that it’s a “couple hundred dollars.”

He says multiple clubs did the same thing, although he wouldn’t name the other teams.

iPhone:  Illegal

This is in reference for paying the team Captain's cell phone bill for the last 3 seasons.  I know as much about the details as you do, but I get the impression that they didn't even buy them phones - just pay the bill for phones they were using anyway. 

I've seen the point made that the team Captain is essentially an extension of the coaching staff, and is therefore a de facto team employee.  The coach needs access to his captain.

Again, iPads for Christmas given to the whole team are not a recruiting tool.  iPhones for the team captain - that's a violation.

When Brett Ponich signed in Portland, under Rich Kromm, I'm sure that he's thinking about that cell phone perk.  When he's slogging through an 11 win, (-38) season, he's just holding on for that hook up.  Going out on the PK with dudes like Ty Ariss, Lucas Alexiuk, and Lee Morrow as D partners - he's just looking at the light at the end of the tunnel - "Can you hear me now?"

Same with William Wrenn - dude was working with a full ride scholarship to Denver University, and that's a pretty good value in exchange for playing hockey.  When he left mid-season, with 2.5 years of school left, to join the 'Hawks, I'm sure that phone benefit was front and center.  Then in October:  JACKPOT!  He scored the "C" - and his cell phone billing worries were over.

When Troy Rutowski came to town, also under Coach Kromm - visions of cell phones had to be the driving factor of leaving Edmonton as an undrafted 16, to come to a 'Hawks team coming off of an 11 win season.  To have the vision to know that Mike Johnston would be hired, and in his 5th WHL season he'd earn the "C" - that's pretty good foresight.  Seems like a lot of work just to avoid paying the phone bill, but some dudes are cheap bastards like that.

I have no idea what make or model of phones these guys were using, but I like the iPad / iPhone comparison.  Go big or go home, I guess.

Its also worth mentioning that Toigo was one of the dudes yapping the hardest about how the 'Hawks need to be punished.  Makes sense.

Dwight Jaynes  had a recent piece looking at some of this stuff.

• The Winterhawks have said from the start they were not aware of specific regulations against flying players' parents into Portland to watch their kids play. I believe them when they say that because as near as I've been able to determine, it's common practice in junior hockey. One NHL scout told me last week he'd been asking major-junior team operators all over Canada whether they pay for parents to fly in and watch their boys play. He said, "EVERY SINGLE ONE of them told me they commonly did it. It's something all teams have done." 

• Be that as it may, if there is a rule against it, the Winterhawks broke it. So I asked Robison for something I'd requested by voice mail with the league office previously -- a simple copy of the regulation. If there's a rule, show us the rule and just like that, there's no question here of culpability. But Robison refused to provide that. Why?

There's more to what he wrote - give it a read.

Edmonton V Portland: Game 6

scoresheet

photo essay

real time fan discussion

united001

Now for the longest 20 min. in our season.

Dylan Bumbarger, community blogger

in our season in our lives

united001

Well said!

VetHockey99

To this point...

 Paul Buker on MJ:

“You know what makes this special?’’ he said. “You watch guys like (Troy) Rutkowski and (Tyler) Wotherspoon raise the trophy up. They were 15 or 16 years old when you first met them. And now you see them finishing their careers like this. You see Rutkowski, playing at home (he’s from Edmonton), raising that trophy. You see Ty Rattie get three goals. … I mean, what a story. It was just a phenomenal run.’’

Johnston said he had supreme confidence in the Hawks’ ability to overcome all obstacles this season, whether it was the WHL sanctions, or Michael St. Croix’s overtime goal that forced a Game 6.

“It’s one thing when you’re worried about a team because you don’t think they have what it takes to win, maybe you don’t have the personnel, or the character. But our team, through the course of the season, they proved time and time again, if it’s a big game, they will rise up.’’

"Crash" Cameron

“We had that 1-0 lead right off the hop and there was lots of energy in the building, lots of energy in our game, then to give up a couple of goals on the power play, it just deflates you,” said head coach Derek Laxdal. “It basically took us out of the game and fuelled their energy.

“We left it on the ice,” said Lazar. “We battled hard and Portland is heck of a team. Good luck to them.”

Terry Jones

  They trudged down the hall to the dressing room after shaking hands with the Portland Winterhawks, heads down and tears in the eyes of most of the guys.

On Mother’s Day a year earlier, the Edmonton Oil Kings carried the Ed Chynoweth Cup on the same ice against the same team.

On this day, after another exceptional season, the Oil Kings didn’t look like they deserved to be on the same ice as they lost a third straight series game at home, this one by the embarrassing score of 5-1.

 Chris O'Leary

 After Ty Rattie’s hat trick led the way to a 5-1 win, after Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison handed Rattie the Ed Chynoweth Cup, and after all of the Portland Winterhawks took turns hoisting the trophy with their censor-riffic cheers echoing through an emptying Rexall Place, the torch was officially passed.

The Winterhawks wrapped up the WHL final in six games over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday. They gathered at centre ice, piled over top of one another on the Oil Kings’ logo and posed for a team photo, physically pushing the past aside and assuming their spot as kings of the league.

Tribune:

Rattie's three goals gave him a WHL-playoff record 50 for his career, and the first two turned the course of Game 6 in the first period.

"My dad told me before the game that big-time players step up in big-time games," said Rattie, a St. Louis Blues prospect from Airdrie, Alberta.

Rattie was named MVP, which goes to the outstanding player in all four rounds of the WHL playoffs.

"This feeling isn't going to go away for a long time," Rattie said. "We knew we had the team to be here. We just had to finish the job."

 This game was much like the rest of the series, in that the Oil Kings couldn't score unless the 'Hawks made drastic mistakes, and the 'Hawks 2nd line was key. That snipe by Bjorkstand was amazing: the release on that shot was so good the cameraman lost the puck.  LB got some of it, but not enough of it.

If that goal cancels the Pouliot own-goal, then all that is left is the Rattie hat trick.  Dude ended up with 50 career playoff goals, which is amazing.  Comparing eras, where there were literally twice the scoring as there is now, and we just witnessed a guy put up an all-time number.  His 1st playoff goal was that Game 7 OT winner in Spokane, the last 3 were tonight.  Three game winners in this series.  We just witnessed a truly special junior career - with one tournament yet to be played.

Such a special season.  The main factors in my mind are obviously the sanctions, particularly the loss of Mike Johnston.  At that point, you've taken a team that was 20-4 and made them the underdogs.  They have their backs up against the wall - its "us against the world" - no better motivator than that.

The NHL lockout had a heavy affect on this team.  Its all 'what if' - but I believe that all three overagers: Carruth, Rutowski, and Peters make AHL teams in a normal year.  The fact that we entered these playoffs with all 3 of them signed to pro deals backs this up.  You NEVER have 3 signed overagers in major junior - your 20's are generally guys who haven't singed pro deals, and are trying to decide between going to school or trying to catch on in the minors. 

This team had a Captain, a record setting goalie, and a guy who took virtually every defensive zone faceoff for the last 2 months fall into our laps, rather than playing in the AHL.  There is huge value there.

For me, one of the biggest things about winning the WHL may be that the Winterhawks are not the Buffalo Bills - who lost 4 straight Superbowls, being the butt of choking jokes forever. 

Next game, in Saskatoon, against Halifax.  1st on the list - stopping this dude:

Edmonton V Portland: Game 5

scoresheet

video highlights

Oil Kings post game thoughts (video)

photo essay

post-game fan discussion

united001

I left this game when Edmonton took the lead. Hawks tied, but that did not matter at all. Hawks lose in front of this crowd, really?????... I'm severely disappointed and speechless. I better not say anything more at this point other than whatever, whatever. Good luck in Edmonton, the team may have just handed Edmonton the title.

Paul Buker's piece

 Carruth was also outstanding, except for the one play.

“It was a great playoff hockey game,’’ said Green, flanked by a somber-looking Leipsic and Seth Jones. Jones said the loss “stung’’ but the Hawks have bounced back from tough defeats all season. Sunday is a chance to do it again as Portland seeks its first WHL title since 1998.

Portland has two more chances to end the series and punch its ticket to the Memorial Cup.

Kerry Eggers

 It ended with the Rose Garden's sellout throng sitting in stunned silence, Michael St. Croix's goal in sudden-death overtime preventing what would have been a celebration for the ages.

Moments later, Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison was busy texting on his cell phone outside the Harry Glickman Media Room.

I looked over his shoulder and I'm pretty sure he was communicating this to his cronies:

"Whew. That was close. Almost had to take to the ice to present the championship trophy. Live for another day."

Derek Van Diest

Wruck, who played like it was his last junior game, had the Oil Kings best chance in the frame, unable to lift a shot over Carruth from in tight.

“Being a 20 year old in this league, it could have very well been my last game tonight,” said Wruck. “But we live to fight another day and that’s how we have to play as a team. We have a lot of guys on this team that are going to leave the team this year, so we’re playing our last couple of games we want to make them good ones.”

Terry Jones

Fifty years after the first Memorial Cup championship, this was supposed to be the next one. But that dream looked like it died only 15 seconds into Game 5 at the Rose Garden Friday night when the Portland Winterhawks scored on the first shot on goal after the Oil Kings had lost the previous three games in a series where the first goal was everything.

But after the most exciting 59:45 of regulation play of this playoff season to follow, the Oil Kings had taken the game to overtime, where they’d failed to win any of their three games requiring extended play.

 There are some continuing trends in this series.  From where I sit, the way the Oil Kings are scoring isn't sustainable, as I touched on previously.  That first goal was a total fluke, as the OK's can't expect Petan to kick pucks past Carruth in Game 6.

Of course, there's the 2nd Edmonton goal.  The way Carruth plays has a risk / reward factor.  This is a goalie who after Game 5 is sitting on  1.66 GAA / .936% - which is stellar.   He's got 5 shutouts this playoff run - the all time WHL record is 6.  Sure, he's got help - but he SHOULD have help - that's how you win games.

There's a phrase in hockey, usually reserved for guys who play "on the line" physically, and can go over: 

"I'd rather try and tame a tiger than paint stripes on a kitty cat"

Carruth is his own guy - dude is a character for sure.  In a game of villains & heroes, like hockey is, he often plays both roles simultaneously.

Guy Charron knows more about hockey than you & I do.  Drinnan reported his feelings during the Kamloops series:

  Charron admitted that Carruth’s value to the Winterhawks comes from more than just stopping pucks.

“Carruth is becoming too effective for them,” Charron explained. “Part of the game plan is to make their defencemen work, and forecheck and finish our checks. But our dump-ins are always handled by Carruth and he has that ability to handle the puck and use his body as a screen. We really can't forecheck aggressively against that.”

Kamloops forward Brendan Ranford lit up the Kelowna Rockets for nine points in a four-game second-round sweep, but has yet to get even a point against Portland. He credits Carruth for at least some of that lack of success. 

“Mac's been playing really well,” Ranford said. “He's battling hard. We have gotten our chances, and I feel he's been a little bit lucky. He's made some saves that not too many goalies can make. He's working hard and playing well and we have to get to him and get in the crease to score tough goals.” 

“Whatever we're doing now isn't working in our favour,” Charron added, “and we have to make some changes and get some confidence. Our frustration is coming from not scoring.”

Lets look back to the Kerry Eggers piece about Game 5

 "We like Mac playing the puck," Green told the media. "He has been pretty good with that philosophy of leading the play in situations. There, he probably should have gone off the wall with it."

Later, Green told me, "We're not going to tell Mac not to play pucks. He's good at it. He's a big part of our breakouts. That one we'd like back, but I would never tell him not to play the puck."

But with so much on the line? In a 1-1 game in the third period with the WHL title at stake, shouldn't Carruth have played it more conservatively?

"You know what? Our team is not a team that plays conservatively," Green said. "I don't want Mac thinking about it. He has to go on his gut feeling on plays like that. If that's what he felt like, I'd have him do it again."

 From that same piece:

 Carruth, a four-year veteran who turned 21 in March, often strays from the net to direct the puck to a teammate. But if he had that one to do over again?

"I'd have made the same effing play," said Carruth, although he didn't say effing. "I'd have probably gone somewhere else with it, though. I'd have put it somewhere else."

"We're still up 3-2," Carruth told me, his teeth clenched a bit. "It's not the end of the world. Our backs aren't up against the wall. We're good."

Of course, that Carruth gaffe only hurts you if you don't score more than 1 goal - and they got picked up with that Leipsic goal.  I said before the series that the 2nd line will win it for the 'Hawks, and the above picture showing De Leo oh-so-close to doing just that.  His line has been excellent all playoffs, and just couldn't get on the board, despite a good night for all 3 of them.

You could get frustrated with a powerplay that's only connected twice all series, except that they only had 2 attempts last night.  Then again, Edmonton had ZERO powerplays in Game 5, and are 0-fer in the series.

Also related to secondary scoring, its too bad that the 'Hawks wasted a goal from Joey Baker.  I mused on twitter that they probably have won every game he's ever scored in, and was hoping to continue that trend.

Here's what the Baker goal looked like from where I sit.

2013 Bantam Draft

The 2013 WHL Bantam draft was just completed.  The best place for coverage would be Alan Caldwell's blog Small Thoughts at Large (I linked to the 6th round, since that's where the 'Hawks started picking).

Paul Buker was there, capturing the spirit of the thing.

The Hawks were forbidden from participating in the draft's first five rounds, part of their penalties administered by the WHL in November for player-benefit violations. Portland also loses first-round Bantam Draft picks next year and in 2015, and 2016, and 2017.

The team's first pick came in the sixth round, 121^st overall, when the Hawks took defenseman Carter Czaikowski from the Calgary Flames Bantam AAA team, where he led his team's defensemen with 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 32 games.

 

It was 19 years ago when I fell in love with the game, in my basement in small town Nebraska.  The 1994 Rangers-Devils series sold me on hockey - that Game 7 was special.  My first playoff run as a fan featured "The Guarantee" - of course I was hooked.

I listen to a podcast every weekday about the NHL - Marek v Wyshynski.  The hosts are a guy from Toronto & a guy from New Jersey.  Its been interesting to see the difference with the Ontario native gradually teaching the 'Merican where these kids come from. 

Like the vast majority of American NHL fans, Wysh had no idea how the system works - we think these guys parachute in on their 21st birthdays or whatever and go into the minor league system, which we understand from baseball.  I've been there as well.

As dedicated fans of Major Junior, we understand the pipeline to the NHL, and we also pick up on how NCAA hockey works, even if it is only related to the competition for players at this level.  However, most of us are similarly oblivious to where we get OUR guys from. 

In the 'Dub, teams draft kids completing their 14 year old season.  These guys will be eligible for training camp the following season, and up to 10 games in the regular season (you can ask the league for more games for them, if you are injured and whatnot).  They are not eligible for regular duty until their 16 year.  Fans don't have this quite figured out, at least not Facebook commenters after EVERY 'Hawks game this year with quips like "they better win this year, 'cause those draft picks are gonna kill 'em next season".  Those folks must think you are stocking a top line with 15 year olds, which ain't how it works.

When being kicked out of the first 5 rounds of this draft could hurt would be 4 & 5 seasons from now, as that's when this class will be in their 18 & 19 years, which is when they are counted on to contribute.  The 2017 1st rounder (the last one forfeited) would be in his 19 year in 2021, I think.  There's a delay to the pain with this.

When I touched on this last, we looked at where the current 'Hawks were picked - some high, some late, some not drafted at all.  I'm optimistic that the 'Hawks will continue to find good kids that slipped through the cracks, or American kids who had perceived NCAA leanings, and bring in some quality players.

To touch on Dylan's point:  I get the impression the only people who follow midget hockey are Major Junior / NCAA scouts & the kids parents who are playing at that level.  Perhaps I'm mistaken, but it looks like that to me.  The CHL is the first "world stage" - I think.

My feelings on this years bantam draft are simple.  First, this was the first time that the Vancouver Giants picked 1st overall since they took Gilbert Brule - and he turned out pretty good.  Not so much as an NHL player, but as a guy who picked up Bono hitchhiking one day.

Lastly, the pick of the Bellows kid - his dad went 2nd overall, and won the 1993 Stanley Cup. Of course, Brian Bellows had his detractors, and some felt during his first trip to the Stanley Cup Final he lacked toughness.....(NOT SAFE FOR WORK)

Kamloops V Portland: Game 5 / series recap

 

  

  

  

 

 

 scoresheet

video highlights

handshake photos

game photos from the O

post-game fan discussion:

united001

I really like that the Hawks had their bus packed and ready to go. No cockiness, they respected the competition, made no assumptions, just put on their work boots and kicked ass and got to unload the bus for a well earned trip back to billets (after a bit of a partying I suspect)

 Winterhawks put away Kamloops.....

Rattie is the No. 2 playoff goal-scorer in WHL history, so he’s seen those lights go on lots of times in the post-season. Still, he said, that goal was special. “That would be top goal of my career, with the crowd being so loud and how close a game it was. It was awesome to score. … an exciting game to play.’’

Rattie reflected on a major-junior career filled with playoff highlights. “Unbelievable,’’ he said. “I’ve been so lucky to be here for four deep playoff runs, three WHL Finals. Now the last thing to do is win this next series and go on to the Memorial Cup.’’

 Guy Charron quotes:

They have so much firepower and transition, and they were very committed to playing two-way hockey and made it very difficult for us. So, they deserve their wins. 

It wasn't easy for (our top guys). Whoever played against them are great players. It made it tough to produce, we didn't have much room. Let's give credit to their defensive corps, their top four is as good as anybody I've ever seen in this league and all four might play in the NHL.

Drinnan's piece:

 And so ends a Kamloops season that included a lot of highlights, from an early-season franchise-record 14-game winning streak to the No. 1 position in the CHL’s weekly rankings, from a second-round sweep of the arch-rival Kelowna Rockets to an appearance in the Western Conference final for the first time since 1999.

“There’s a lot of good memories this season,” Charron said. “To start off with 14 wins in a row was a unique situation.

“I think this group of players has accomplished something tremendous in terms of consistency and winning over 40 games. Credit has to be given to these guys.

 Things got a little rough late:
 

Hard to tell what happened there, I didn't get a good angle - neither did the camera guy.  I will say I love what DeLeo did there - not generally that kind of guy, but he more than held his own.

How 'bout that Joel Edmundson?  Got kicked out of this game (twice) in that scrum,  took the penalty that set up the first 'Hawks goal, and went -1 on the night (-2 for the series overall, with their Game 3 win being the only plus night at +2).  He is a signed 2nd round NHL pick (STL).  Kamloops brought him in at deadline time, giving up a ton for him: 

The Blazers acquired St. Louis Blues second-rounder Joel Edmundson and a fifth-round bantam pick in 2015 from the Moose Jaw Warriors for 18-year-old blueliner Tyler Bell, 2012 first-round bantam pick Jayden Halbgewachs, and a first-round pick in 2015.

 I suppose the Blazers felt that they needed to go for it this year, after last playoffs winning their first series in a long, long time - including a run of 19 straight losses.  These playoffs featured their first home OT goal since Jarome Iginla had one in 1996.  Still, seems like a huge gamble to load up this year - when by trade deadline it was apparent what kind of year the 'Hawks were having.

When Rattie stole a puck for that shorthanded breakaway in Game 5, it immediately brought me back to the Tri-City series in last years WCF - when Shinnimin got loose for a breakaway - but Carruth beat him.  In both plays, our guys came out on top, and won the series.

Stay tuned for more from this page during the week - and I'll see you on Friday:

Kamloops V Portland - games 1 & 2

The layoff between series left room for lots of preview pieces, but this one from Drinnan is the must read out of the bunch:

"It all has served to turn the Winterhawks into the most despised - nay, most hated - organization in the history of the WHL, which has been around since the summer of 1966. Who's No. 2? No one. The Winterhawks are the only entrant. They rule. They own the category. Back in the day, the Flin Flon Bombers and the big, bad New Westminster Bruins were feared for what they might do to you on the ice. But the organizations weren't hated.

The Winterhawks are. Period."

**** Game 1 ****

Scoresheet

video highlights

photo essay

fans postgame discussion 

united001:

In my opinion Bozon hurt his team by playing. I'll wager he begged Charon to play, totally ineffective. Smith was no better. They were better off without both vs. Kelowna, but what are you gonna do vs. a team that has you outnumbered.

Paul Buker / Scott Sepich piece

Maybe it was Carruth, a notorious trash talker, who got into the Blazers’ heads.

“They kind of left me alone there in the first, and I kind of brought it on myself in the second and third,’’ he said of the back-and-forth. “It’s something I’ll probably need to work on in Game 2. Keep my mouth shut and my stick down.’’

Carruth said Kessy – who amazingly has been suspended seven times in his career – nailed him a good one. “He elbowed me, stuck me in the head, whatever. It’s what they’re going to try and do all series,’’ said Carruth. “It’s just going to be the way it is.’’

Dylan Bumbarger, one of the best Winterhawks bloggers, had some thoughts:

But in the last five minutes, as the Blazers became less focused on winning and more focused on "sending a message", the Winterhawks took some ill-advised retaliations. Adam De Champlain took a really dumb obvious trip at the Kamloops blue line and then added a rough that originally was going to put Portland shorthanded four minutes, which would have given the Blazers a chance to get back in the game, before Tyler Hansen took a dumb retaliation of his own and cancelled two minutes of it.

 From another Dylan post:

Not remarked on in the scoring: The monster game Seth Jones had. I thought he was Portland's best player after Carruth. Nobody got by him.

So, a good performance, with a slight worry about the impact of the end of the game.

  **** Game 2 ****

Scoresheet

video highlights

photo essay

post-game fan discussion:

Dylan Bumbarger, community blogger

question: is Portland playing at a higher level than they did on their double-digit winning streaks? I think they might be.

 Paul Buker / Scott Sepich piece:

Kamloops’ worst nightmare is unfolding in the Western Conference finals. The question is, can the Blazers do anything to stop it?

 Dylan's next day thoughts:

Following yesterday's events you'd have no idea which organization was out of favor with the league. Yes, I'm as shocked as anyone else.

Finally, the most obvious part, and the most satisfying: the Winterhawks didn't overreact. They learned from Friday, and did just enough to defend themselves, let the Blazers hang themselves with officials, and used the power plays to help gain momentum. That the league essentially backed them up helped--you see teams including the Winterhawks all the time taking matters into their own hands when they don't feel justice is being served--but kudos to the group for staying focused.

Part two:

The Winterhawks were almost perfect in their own zone the whole game. Seth Jones had one mixup/bad pass that led to a Kamloops partial breakaway, the only real blemish.

I'd have still given him the number one star. If his draft stock even needed to rise, it did this weekend, he even gained some points in the "physical" and "standing up for teammates" categories.

  Next day Buker / Sepich piece full of great quotes:

Charron is waiting for Kamloops’ skilled forwards to show up. The likes of Colin Smith and Tim Bozon, Brendan Ranford and JC Lipon.  

“With all the experience I've had in hockey, when you look at the success of teams you have to look at your best players,’’ Charron told the Oregonian’s Scott Sepich after Saturday’s game. “Their best players are on the scoresheet every night. For us, our big guns haven't showed up on the scoresheet yet and it's going to be difficult until they get going.’’

Mac Carruth is killing it:

 Is there a hotter goaltender in hockey than Portland's Mac Carruth, the Chicago Blackhawks' draft pick?

Find me somebody - at any level - who has had a more sizzling month of April.

Samantha Meese made some observations:

 Better late than never: The Blazers start a three-ring circus late in Game 1, Joe Mahon returns to the lineup in Game 2. Coincidence? I think not. But no fireworks of the fighting kind were needed until late in the third period of Game 2, when Joe finally took care of business with JC Lipon to the delight of a packed house.

throw another draft pick on the fire

The events of the weekend's games have been covered pretty well, so I'm going a different direction.

I've been pushing this idea for a while now, but we are in the midst of something truly special right now.  Its in our best interest as fans to take all of this in, as a wave like the 'Hawks are riding doesn't come around very often.  Every game we are seeing records set - franchise playoff shutouts, all time WHL games played, the all time playoff goals number is in jeopardy, etc etc etc. 

Around town, at work, or whatever - more and more folks notice my 'Hawks gear (and playoff beard) and ask me "how are they doing?  We're thinking about getting to a game..." - and I always tell them that there's plenty of room on the bandwagon, but they better do it quick.  The next home game could very well be Game 1 of the final.  This train is rollin' along with a head of steam.

I've been backing the 'Hawks since the tail end of the 2005 season, and I've never seen the Glass Palace rocking like it was on Saturday night.  I was still on the concourse at the start of player intros and it sounded like they were scoring goals already.  The folks by me were all sorts of rowdy, which made for a pretty fun atmosphere - one guy was hellbent on getting a "KESSY SUCKS" chant going, with mixed results.

I missed the goddamned Boychuk jersey from the 2011 final by 3 tickets in the raffle.  I was joking about how it had to be in good shape, being how he missed time in that series.

Cherish this run - who knows when (if) we will see something like this again.  Spokane was a good team, with a nice season, and their best couldn't touch the 'Hawks best.  Blew 'em right out of the water.  This series is still young, but its shaping up much the same:  if the 'Hawks play their game, up to their potential, then the Blazers don't stand a chance.  No one does.

Open letter to Quentin Shore

Dear Quentin,

Like many Portland Winterhawks fans, my ears perked up when rumors came out this winter that you were thinking about joining the team.  Dean Millard, of The Pipeline Show stated that "that takes stones" - and he's right.

Hockey is like the rest of life, in which its best to keep your options open.  Coming into this year, I'm sure the DU option looked really good, with all the family ties to the school, as well as Pioneer hockey being a successful program, with its most recent championships in 2004 & 2005.  Guys like Matt Carle & Paul Stastny were on that team, demonstrating that you can achieve your NHL dreams via this route.

For most players in your position, coach George Gwozdecky & his successful track record would be a great selling point.  Playing with your brother Nick probably sounded pretty good as well.  I wonder if next season will feel different, with Gwozdecky fired and Nick Shore going pro.

I'm sure one of the potential draws to Portland was to play with Seth Jones, and he very well may be headed your way next year anyway.

Conventional wisdom shows that the advantages of major junior are more games (a pro-style schedule) as well as a NHL style playoff format.  If we look as your friend Seth Jones, for example, he played more regular season games this year than in the two years in the USNDP combined.  Throw in the WJC & two Top Prospect Games, he's got sigifinantly more ice time than he would have at UND.  Then there's the playoffs.

William Wrenn once faced the same decision you have.  He appears to have struggled for DU, before signing with Portland.  Wrenn went on to play more WHL playoff games than NCAA regular season games.  Of course, he had the luxury of knowing that an NHL team was invested in him, but one has to think that playoff experience really furthered his development - taking a team to a game 7 in the league final while wearing the "C" - and his pro career seems to be on track in year one.

If you decide to come over to the dark side, and sign with Portland, it would be a significant career risk.  Even for a forward of your caliber, who would be top 6 on almost any NCAA / CHL team, ice time will be tough to earn.   The 'Hawks are bringing back 5 of their top 6 forwards next season.  There should be plenty of NHL scouts following the team, with guys like Keegan Iverson, Dominic Turgeon in their draft years, and Paul Bittner being drafted the year after.  However, that further illustrates the competition for ice time.  Players like yourself are often motivated by the chance to shine on a team that looks to remain a contender, even after being favored to do serious damage in the playoffs for the 3rd straight year.

That NCAA education will no doubt prove valuable later in life, and I wouldn't walk away from it without a lot of consideration. There are many players who capitalize on the WHL scholarship program if pro hockey isn't in the cards - so leaving Denver isn't necessarily the end of hockey paying for school.  You can play CIS hockey while going to school in Canada, and sometimes guys get noticed by NHL teams that way.

My advice to you is to reach out to as many players as you can who have had to make this choice, especially Seth Jones & William Wrenn, as they are familiar with both sides of the coin.  If you make it up here to Portland, let me know - I'd love to show you around town.

Sincerely,
Chad Balcom
chad.balcom@gmail.com

Paul Bittner

I've been thinking about a Paul Bittner post lately.  So was Paul Buker, apparently.

There's some great stuff in there about Bittner's background.  Good quotes from his family, and stories of his hometown.

Jon Bittner describes Crookston as a town of about 8,000 "five or six hours'' from Minneapolis-St. Paul, 140 miles south of Winnipeg, and 22 miles east of Grand Forks, North Dakota. He said the polka music did get the boys in trouble once at school. "One of our teachers gave us a call,'' he said, and told us, 'could you tell the boys to stop singing some of the songs they're singing? They're not appropriate.' " "There is no Beer in Heaven'' not appropriate for grade school? Who knew?

… life at Sunset High? “No one really treats me special,’’ he said. “I kind of just keep my head down, do my schoolwork, get out of there and go to the rink.’’ … he laughs, noting, “I guess there’s a rumor going around that I make a million dollars a year.’’

Well, there goes another 5 first rounders - and we hear a $200,000 number floating around sometimes...

While I like the direction Buker went, I think he missed a few things.  There's more to the controversy in MN with the kids defecting to the WHL:  Chris Peters has a great post about this issue.

The StarTrib also detailed the somewhat recent resignation of Jon Bittner from an executive board position with the coaches association last spring after his son, Paul, signed with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.

“I still take pride in community-based programs,” Jon Bittner said to David LaVaque of the StarTrib. “The only problem is I had one of those kids who wanted to play in the WHL.”

 As I mentioned earlier, I think the biggest part of the Bittner story is the success he's had when given the opportunity to get 1st line minutes with 1st line players.  In a 4 game span, he scored  2 goals & an assist  against Tri-City,  followed it up with a goal on New Years Eve,  had another 3 point night against Everett - capping off this stretch with the GWG against Prince George.  Game winning goals in 4 straight games, from the youngest player in the WHL.  I think that's a big story.  The last 2 games of the regular season saw #5 on the top line - and Paul potted goals in both of them.

Perhaps we should look at the video:

12/29/2012

12/31/2012

1/5/2013

1/8/2013

There was a really good Hockey Talk interview with Bittner from the 11/19/12 show -

 Bittner was also featured on the 3/25/13 edition - which was during the Everett series:

 (on a side note, that show is so much better with a hockey guy doing the interviews, but I suppose we are fortunate to have it in the first place.  should be interesting to see what next season brings).

The Winterhawks are bringing back 5 of their top 6 forwards next year, with Ty Rattie moving up to the AHL (or the Blues).  Seems like #5 fit in pretty well on the Petan / Leipsic line before - you'd think they will have a chance to shine.  Should be fun.

 

you better put two guys on #5 when he's out there

Spokane V Portland: Games 3 & 4 + series summary

Game 3:

Highlights here

Scoresheet

Game 3 fan discussion

Paul Buker piece

Spokesman-Review story

Photos

****  Game 4 ****

Highlights

Scoresheet

Real time fan discussion

Paul Buker writeup

Spokesman-Review post-mortem

Photo essay

 It seems to me that we are witnessing some pretty special times here.  Mac Carruth is now the all time WHL playoff wins leader - passing Stanley Cup Champion Cam Ward 2 games ago.  There's potentially 10 wins that can be tacked onto that record.  Most records are broken by the smallest of increments - time will tell where this one ends up.

The last 4 of those wins included a total of 3 goals.  That's probably something we won't see again - holding a team to 3 goals in a playoff series.  I think Todd said on post-game that the previous record was 8 or 9 goals against for a series - 3 goals is just nuts.  Most fans would tell you that Carruth struggled in game 1 of the series - and still put up insane numbers.

Ty Rattie sits 6 goals away from the all-time WHL playoff goals record.  When you start throwing around numbers like that, you have to look at the history of this league.  Ray Ferraro played for the Winter Hawks: winning the 1983 Memorial Cup (wearing Cooperalls). Ferraro was only good enough for the 3rd line here in Portland, putting up 90 points in 50 games.  After being shipped off to Brandon, he got loose for 108 goals the next year.  Point is, when you look at all time goal scoring numbers - dudes used to put up a lot of goals.  Rattie is a special kid, on a special run.

As far as this series, I think its pretty simple.  Spokane was a good team this year: 44-26 is a really nice record.  Don Nachbaur always has his guys playing sound defense & a team game where the sum of the parts is better than the individuals.  Nachbaur is a tough dude. That being said, when the 'Hawks are playing the way they want to play, there's not a whole hell of a lot that the other team can do about it.

Spokane V Portland: game 2

my Rose Garden seats are better than yours

show me a good player and I'll show you a supportive Mom

my seats in the Glass Palace aren't as good

post-game discussion

Paul Buker story

photo essay

Spokesman-Review story

Scoresheet

Video highlights

You don't have to be hockey guys to do a decent interview - Ron Callan should be taking notes.

Coach Green postgame

Mac Carruth postgame

Seth Jones postgame


What do you say about a 3-0 game?  The Chiefs put a lot of shots on, many of them of good quality.  There were several posts / crossbars both ways, but the 'Hawks found a way to finish - and the Chiefs didn't.

I felt that the 'Hawks played well physically - Iverson played on the edge, without going over.  Peters threw his body around, as well as de Champlain.  Carruth did a nice job of establishing his crease, and he probably got away with that one in the 1st, catching Playfair up high with his paddle.

Todd made the point in postgame that these two games were vastly different, and the 'Hawks can play whatever style you wish.  I think they are correct.

The Chiefs have held the 'Hawks to 2-for-12 on the powerplay so far, after going 79.4% on the PK during the season.  They've improved to 85.3% in the playoffs.  As has been the case, the PP looks different than the numbers reflect.  Its a good powerplay.

Its going to be interesting to see what happens in Spokane - you figure the goal is to split, which would put the 'Hawks up 3-1 - which is pretty good.