Should an NHL team keep an 18-year-old “blue chip” prospect for an entire season, or return him to Major Junior? This has been a contentious issue that is annually debated in a wide spectrum of hockey circles.

 

To date, Toronto’s highly touted prospect, Luke Schenn, certainly hasn’t looked out of place, on the Maple Leafs blue-line. Is this enough reason to keep him in Toronto? The Leafs’ organization will make this decision after the 18-year-old, six-foot two inch, 216-pound Saskatoon native has played nine games (Oct 28th is the 9th game and the following night is the 10th).  

 

In my opinion, Toronto needs to look at the “big picture” and return Schenn back to the Kelowna Rockets. It appears that the Leafs will be going through a long season (i.e. 6-1 home loss to Montreal) so there is no need to rush Schenn’s development. As well, Toronto should avoid putting Schenn through many frustrating nights, and an almost certain losing atmosphere.

 

Although the Rockets are not the WHL’s top club, they certainly are an elite team as evidenced in last Saturday’s 8-1 thumping of the Prince George Cougars. Schenn, Toronto’s first round (fifth overall) pick in last June’s entry draft, undoubtedly has a bright future (even though he is in the Leafs organization). By returning to Kelowna, he will lead, play more minutes, win more, earn more individual awards, and gain valuable experience as a member of Canada’s World Junior Team.

 

If Schenn, who signed a three-year entry level deal with the Leafs on Oct 7, was leaving an NHL team where he was surrounded by all-stars like Nicklas Lidstrom and returning to a lousy junior team then perhaps it is logical for him to be groomed with the parent club. However, considering Toronto’s circumstances, the Leafs will be in a better future position if they let him play one more year with his peers.

 

Schenn may dominate in Kelowna, which will create pleasant memories; a favorable alternative this season to playing in the hockey meca known as Toronto.

 

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The Prince George Cougars still have six games remaining on their marathon nine game road trip. Unquestionably, the team created a buzz by accumulating a 6-1 record and winning its first five home games. However, there are signs that the Cats don’t want to compete in each game when playing on the road. Winning is not the issue here, it is about competition, and not throwing in the towel.

In the Cougars four road losses this season, the team has been outscored 26-7 and outshot by more than a 2-to-1 margin, 156-71. In each of those defeats (7-3 to Vancouver, 4-1 to Kamloops, 8-1 to Kelowna and 7-2 to Calgary), starting goalie Kevin Armstrong was pulled in favor of the now departed Ian Curtis or newcomer Joe Caligiuri. This wasn’t a total reflection of Armstrong’s performance (with the games quickly out of hand); rather an opportunity to give the back-up playing time. As a matter of fact, in the Cougars overtime road victory at Chilliwack, Armstrong was the first star as PG was outshot 41-31.

I watched the Cougars five home games and was impressed with the Cats improvement; especially team speed, hustle, determination, eagerness and willingness to block shots. However, that same passion has been lacking away from CN Centre. Until the Cougars make an adjustment in this area, they will be characterized as another “run of the mill” team which is satisfied with a playoff spot where 80 per cent of the Conference teams qualify.

 

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Wins and losses are very closely monitored statistics for the PG Cougars. More importantly, however, depending on your point of view, are the home attendance figures; they are not flattering. The only two (paid attendance) crowds, above 3,000 were opening night, Sept 19th (3324) against Seattle and Oct 4th (3750) vs Chilliwack; it should be noted that 1,000 tickets were given away by the Citizen. The lowest total was on Oct 8^th (2524) against Prince Albert which was a surprise considering the Cats were 4-0 on home ice and 5-1 overall at the time. Other numbers include: 2,665 Oct 3rd vs Chilliwack and 2917 vs Seattle Sept 20th. This is an average of 3036 (and without the free tickets, just 2836). In addition, Cougar season ticket sales have reached new lows. By all accounts, it appears the recovery goes hand-in-hand with our economy, a very slow process.

 

“Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand and may miss 4 weeks of action. When his girlfriend Jessica Simpson heard the news, she said, “Miss four weeks of action? Big deal! All he does is lay there and make me do all the work anyway!”Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

“Jessica Simpson breathed a sigh of relief--at least it wasn't Tony Romo's wedding ring finger.”Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

“Chad Ocho Cinco reportedly kissed Bengal Coach Marvin Lewis on the sidelines. So, now is he going to change his name to Louis Lipps?”Bill Littlejohn

“In an MMA bout on CBS, Seth Petruzelli TKO'd Kimbo Slice in just 14 seconds. It's believed to be the fastest collapse on prime-time television since the Couric-Palin interview.” Vancouver comic Torben Rolfsen (www.theprovince.com/liveat5)

 

“Sarah Palin dropped the puck at the Philadelphia Flyers home opener last week. Not to be outdone, this week her running mate John McCain will drop the puck at a shuffleboard tournament.” Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

“John McCain has vowed if elected to cut capital gains taxes. Of course, given the way the market is going, most Americans won’t have any capital gains taxes.” Janice Hough

 

“John McCain has been endorsed for President by two members of the Cleveland Browns. He was previously also endorsed by Red Grange and Y.A. Tittle.” Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

 

“The University of Wisconsin marching band has been disbanded amid reports of sexual misconduct and hazing incidents. School officials said there had been too much sax and violence.” Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader Post