What do the NFL’s Detroit Lions, the NBA's LA Clippers and the WHL’s Prince George Cougars have in common? They all belong to the loveable “losers club”.

 

Every now and then, these cellar dwellers have a productive season, but for the most part, in the long term, they are not much more than whipping boys that other teams (players) look forward to facing in order to pad their stats.

Several Cougar fans, most of which I don't know on a first name basis, have approached me, before and after the latest Cougars coaching change, and simply shrug their shoulders and say “here we go again, what can anybody do”?

 

Most fans insist they have been in a dilemma for years, facing internal struggles as to whether to support (buying a ticket) this Major Junior franchise in PG. They want to attend games because they appreciate the WHL, and really want to be in attendance for the players. However, on the other hand, they don't want to shell out hard earned dollars because that gives a false message to owner Rick Brodsky, and his family run business that mediocrity, at best, is acceptable.

 

There is an old adage that states “Perception is Reality”. Most local hockey fans believe that Brodsky and GM Dallas Thompson are in over their heads when it comes to running a successful team at this level. However, this discernment is certainly not shared by Brodsky and Thompson, who obviously believe they are competent in their roles although the franchise continues to compile losing seasons.

 

Was the coaching of the likeable Drew Schoneck the problem with the Cougars? I doubt it! Who really knows? Two years ago when he was hired, I certainly didn't hear any complaints when he guided a group, led by Devin Setoguchi and many other older players, to the Western Conference Final. It's interesting that in the last two seasons, (including this one) with very few high end skilled players on this team, coaching suddenly became an issue.

 

Thompson objected (loudly), after the disastrous 1-8 road trip, when it was suggested to him that Schoneck was in a lame duck situation because he was in the last year of his contract. As we know, that was reality and today he is, rightfully or wrongfully, the scapegoat.

 

The Cougars have been outscored 31-11 during their latest five game losing streak. With a record of
10-18-0-1, (4 wins in the last 22 games) and crowds dwindling to record lows, barely above 2,000 something had to done. Yet, Thompson insists the dismissal wasn't just about the victories and the defeats. “Certainly there's been a few issues off the ice, not curfew or anything like that, but maybe us not giving it our all in team workouts and some of our community involvement and that kind of comes from the Head Coach”, stated Thompson. I wonder if this was issue when the team started the season 6-1?

 

Obviously, Sunday was the last straw as Saskatoon skated circles around the Cougars, just like Regina did the night before, and Kelowna the weekend before that.

Schoneck, a longtime personal friend of Thompson, and his replacement Wade Klippenstein, another likeable guy who has obviously been placed on a short leash, knew one day he would be fired because this is reality in a cruel hockey business, especially in places like Prince George.

 

Thompson believes he has assembled a talented group of players. He sees things differently than me and most of the paying public. He believes that leadership and focus are parts of the problem that needed to be addressed. “When you don't put in the 10 minutes at the gym and you go into Kamloops and they score 4 goals in 7 minutes and they (Saskatoon) score 5 goals in 7 minutes last (Sunday) night, thats a focus issue and that needs to come down from the top and I think that is where we are lacking” said Thompson.

Dallas uses words like “Focus”, “Lacking” and “from the Top”. He may be bang on. However, I don’t believe that these expressions should necessarily be directed at the coach.