Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots March 13th, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009 03:45 AM
Although the 2008/09 BCHL season cannot be classified as awful, the Prince George Spruce Kings, under the tutelage of 
Head Coach and GM Ed Dempsey, clearly underachieved, again.
Head Coach and GM Ed Dempsey, clearly underachieved, again.The pattern for the Kings has become increasingly clear; earning a lower-seed playoff spot, and making a quick post-season exit.
Meanwhile, the public relations department, led by the team's “king” cheerleader, and occasional ref basher, Ron Gallo, attempts a positive spin, a feat which becomes more difficult since the results are consistently mediocre.
Here's the proof.
2008/09
2008/09
A record of 26-25-3-6 (that's 31 losses and 3 ties in 60 games) earning 5th place in the Interior Conference and a 3 games to 2 first round playoff loss to Penticton
2007/08
A record of 21-29-1-9 settling for 6th place and a 3-1 first round playoff loss to Salmon Arm.
2006/07
A record of 34-19-2-5 taking 5th place and a 4-3 first round playoff loss to Salmon Arm.
2005/06
A record of 21-32-4-3 getting 6th place, and a 4-1 first round playoff loss to Vernon.
Okay, you get the point. The team hasn't won a league playoff series since 04/05, and that year after a 36-18-1-5 regular season they compiled a 5-6 record in the post-season. In 03/04, it was the normal 24-26-3-7, which produced a 6th place finish and a 0-4 playoff mark. These numbers hardly create excitement.
Yes, 06/07 was the season the team loaded up for the Royal Bank Cup run, reaching the national final on home ice; however it was a “host” berth that gave the team a second chance.
This season, the Spruce Kings contained a roster with five all-stars and no less than half-a-dozen players recruited to play at the NCAA Division 1 level. The Spruce Kings were an older, experienced club, but once again, badly underperformed.
I understand the team had to sacrifice in 07/08 after the RBC, but this season the Kings line-up included many veterans, but still achieved the same results. More than half (15 of 26) of the team's regular season victories came against the league’s whipping boys, the Quesnel Millionaires and the Merritt Centennials. The club also went over a month (10 game stretch from Dec 13th to January 16th) without a victory.
The Spruce Kings can take some consolation in the manner in which they battled against the Penticton Vees in the opening round. They trailed 2-0 coming home and the Vees had actually won all eight head to head games this season up to that point. However, PG won its two games at the Coliseum and held a surprising, and brief lead, in the third period of the 5th and deciding game in Penticton, before losing again by a 6-4 score.
By the way, there is no way the BCHL should be scheduling five games in six nights between two teams as far apart in distance as Prince George and Penticton. Somebody has to be re-thinking this concept, if for nothing else than the players sake. Let's all remember the game should be about the
players. I suggest they face off Thursday/Friday in one place, Sunday/Monday in the other and Wednesday back to the team with home ice advantage. Hopefully somebody passes this idea on because under the current set-up it is a farce.
players. I suggest they face off Thursday/Friday in one place, Sunday/Monday in the other and Wednesday back to the team with home ice advantage. Hopefully somebody passes this idea on because under the current set-up it is a farce.
On the other hand, the Spruce Kings were successful off the ice because for a second straight year they sold all of their house lottery tickets, which is their main source of income. But, on the ice, with a talent laced team, Dempsey failed again to tap into the team’s potential. It is obvious two jobs is at least one too many for Mr. Ed. I understand that budget concerns dictates this 2 for 1 position, but maybe this thinking needs to be changed, especially when one considers the lack of playoff revenue the team obtains annually.
Across town, the PG Cougars have also had limited success. One thing is certain, the Spruce Kings or their fans are certainly in no position to criticize what the Cougars have or haven't done. After all, the proof has been in the pudding and this pudding comes with no “sugar coating” at all.
From the quote rack:
Troubled NFLer Adam (Pacman) Jones has accepted a spot on Spike TV's next Pros vs. Joes reality show. With a jailbird like Jones involved, shouldn't it be Pros vs. Cons? Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post
Sarah Blewden may not be allowed to compete for a spot on England's 2016 Olympic boxing team because she has breast implants. According to a story in the Telegraph, international rules bar anybody from boxing with breast implants because of the damage punches could potentially do. Blewden is going to fight the decision banning her new 32c's on behalf of all augmented women and Phil Mickelson.Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix
TSN has traded a second hand conjecture and 2 unsubstantiated rumors to Sportsnet for a wild speculation and an uninformed opinion to be named later.
TSN began the day by showing their expert crew of 4 getting off a Greyhound bus which seemed like overkill until you added in all the baggage they were carrying from past years. Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
JetBlue Airlines is offering $99 Manny fares, to celebrate Manny Ramirez's return to Los Angeles. Presumably, however, there will be a mandatory charge for excess baggage.
In a reality show shocker, Jason aka “the “Bachelor” chose one woman, then a few weeks later said he had changed his mind. John McCain said “You can do that?”
Sports fans are eagerly anticipating the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, aka “March Madness.” This year especially they want to see something go from 64 down to 1 that isn’t part of their 401k.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
The Manager of a prominent New York team says that they will persevere on and survive the injury and absence of Alex Rodriguez. No, it wasn't Yankee Manager Joe Giraldi--it was the Managing Editor of the tabloid New York Daily News.
Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin told a recruit that if he went to South Carolina, he'd end up pumping gas for a living. Wasn't that comment a little self-serving?
A Nebraska man reportedly stuffed his girlfriends' cat into a bong. A South Carolina sheriff has issued arrest warrants for eight other neighborhood cats. Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
The New York Yankees are planning a “Sean Avery Day” at their new stadium. The field will be neat, except it will be sloppy around second.
In Barcelona, police arrested a 66-year-old passenger who arrived by plane in a wheelchair and a leg cast made entirely of cocaine. Oh, so now I get it. That’s why everyone in Hollywood yells, “Break a leg”.Comedy writer Jerry Perishohttp://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
The New York Jets are forcing employees to take off two weeks of unpaid leave. They are free to take off pretty much any time after the playoffs start.
A new DNA test can determine a baby's future athletic ability. I believe it's called the "NBA paternity lawsuit". Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
And in case you missed it:
In his first 50 major-league games, New York Mets outfielder Nick Evans batted .302 in day games and .227 at night. With those kinds of numbers, Evans certainly knew how to “light it up” during the afternoon.
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
The cougars kicked his butt to the curb for the same reason.
I do not see how he got into the spruce kings unless the talent pool available to prince George is that thin. Somebody needs to put him on a bus or plane with a one way ticket and strict orders never to come back.