Hartley Miller's Slap Shots June 3rd, 2005

Friday, June 03, 2005 05:00 AM

--When Mike Wall of the Everett Silvertips was called up by the Kelowna Rockets as an emergency back up goalie for the Memorial Cup, you could hear the rumblings that another ex-PG Cougar was shining elsewhere. There seems to be an impression that former Cougars excel as soon as they leave the friends and family run operation inside the CN Centre. But is it true? That's up for debate, and to help make up your mind, let's look at some of the facts. Based on the W-H-L 2004-05 regular season stats, here's an unofficial list of 16 Ex-Cougars in other uniforms after the January trade deadline.

   Goaltenders:
Mike Wall of Everett (24-22-8 record, 1.92 Goals Against Average, .931 save percentage & 10 shutouts)
Justin Pogge of Calgary (24-21-5 record. 2.5 GAA, .907 save percentage & 6 shutouts)

   Defense:
Steven Later of Brandon (63 points, 220 penalty minutes in 70 games)
James Cherewyk of Kootenay (27 pts, 89 pim in 68 games)
Gary Gladue of Spokane (29 pts, 36 pim in 72 games)
Dan Ehrman of Moose Jaw (23 pts, 74 pim in 67 games)
Dylan Yeo of Calgary (9 pts, 97 pim in 62 games)
Ryan Blatchford of Everett (14 pts,. 61 pim in 72 games)
Tyrell Moulton of Kamloops (11 pts, 124 pim in 61 games)
Adam Lukacovic of Prince Albert (9 pts, 44 pim in 48 games)

     Forwards:
Jonathan Filewich of Lethbridge (80 points, 26 penalty minutes in 68 games)
Tyler Redenbach of Lethbridge (63 pts, 63 pim in 65 games)
Josh Aspenlind of Swift Current (30 pts, 160 pim in 67 games)
Tyrel Lucas of Calgary (34 pts, 49 pim in 66 games)
Rick Kozak of Prince Albert (27 pts, 185 pim in 51 games)
Danny Lapointe of Spokane (24 pts, 90 pim in 63 games)

--Keep in mind the stats (courtesy of the W-H-L website) tell part of the story. I guess the next question would be, did another club have a better crop of their former-players with another league team? I'm not sure, but it would be nice to see a list that tops this one.

--Kirk Reynolds should be picking up his Dumb Dora award any day now. Reynolds was the San Francisco 49ers public relations director, who, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, put together a 15 minute video that was meant to prepare the 49ers players for dealing with the media.

That video contained racial jokes, soft-porn and topless women. It was shown to players during training camp last year where it was part of a diversity workshop.

The film shows Reynolds sitting in San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's office, impersonating the mayor there and in other city scenes.

And what does Reynolds have to say for his actions? "The ideas of the tape are appropriate for the locker-room - though some of the subjects were inappropriate for the values of this organization, and mine, frankly."

Oh really ! What a winner this guy is ! I'm surprised he didn't have Paris Hilton as his co-star. This is just another example of how the once well respected 49ers franchise (that went 2-14 last season) has gone into the toilet.

That flushing you hear is Reynolds departure from the team, but the smell continues to linger.

--Ouch ! The Correlieu junior boys rugby team lost its three games at the zone championship at P-G-S-S by a combined score of 197-0 as they were beaten 82-0 by P-G-S-S, 59-0 by Columneetza and 56-0 by Williams Lake.
Yes, I know what you're thinking. The PG Mixed 6 and 4 ball league (which has had a 71-5 score this year)will be out recruiting some of the players from the Correlieu team.

--Former Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali may or may not be the greatest, but he certainly was never shy to speak his mind. Perhaps the most amusing Ali story comes from his book The Soul of the Butterfly, where he recalls an incident on an airplane;

The flight attendant told him to fasten his seatbelt. Ali responded by saying Superman don't need a seatbelt.
The attendant had the last word telling the champ: “Superman don't need no plane either”.

And, how is your week ?

--Hartley Miller is the sports director for the top two rated radio stations in Prince George
and can be heard weekdays at 7:25am, 8:25am, 11:55am and 4:40pm on 94X and at 7:05am, 7:35am, 8:05am, 12:05pm and 5:05pm on the Wolf@97FM.

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Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 05:00 AM in Sports by Hartley Miller

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Comments

Posted by: Foul Tip on June 3 2005 9:09 AM

Hartley, I thoroughly enjoy your column and your less-than-subtle digs. Keep it up. And good luck to Kirk Reynolds trying to find another PR job.
I did want to add one more thing on the PG Mixed 6 and 4 slo-pitch league. The 71-5 score just confirms my belief that mixed slo-pitch's time has come and gone and should be abolished.
Honestly, how much fun can this sport be for the women? Guy outfielders routinely play a deep infield spot and when a woman hits a nice rope over the infield, there's the guy waiting to make an easy catch. From my experiences in the sport, women catchers are there only to catch the arched pitches. Guys routinely run to the catcher's position to make the catch on a play at the plate. Why? Why can't the woman catch it? Until women play shortstop and centrefield on a regular basis in mixed ball, how and why should this game take itself so seriously? I say abolish the mixed game and stick with men's and women's leagues.

Posted by: Marketing Man on June 3 2005 2:13 PM

I have to respond to foul tips comment about the women in slow pitch. The problem with some of the leagues is the various skill levels of different teams and players. Teams are usually made up of friends who want to socialize together and play together. Not everyone is going to be a superstar but alot of girls dont mind just being involved, learning and getting better. I dont know what women you watch playing the game but I have seen some that could give alot of guys a good run at a position. COncerning the big blow out game the other week, I heard that the team that was beat is new and not very good...and that the other team was doing everything the could to make it more even...batting left handed...swinging at anything....that sort of thing. I do agree that it should never of got that far out of hand and there should be a run rule of some sort. As for abolishing the mixed leagues...please..never going to happen. It is a social game and it will remain mixed. If a woman or a man isnt having fun, they wont play and a team wont be around long. The game is about socializing and having fun. Some teams may take it to seriously, and everyone likes to win, but you are never going to have a "perfect mix".

Posted by: Foul Tip on June 3 2005 5:17 PM

Marketing man, that's exactly what I'm talking about, people taking a game that is supposed to be recreational quite serious. That's why men feel they have to run and cover for a woman because they think the woman won't be able to catch a hard throw and, horrors, it could cost a game. I agree, I have seen some great women players but never at shortstop or centrefield, the two most important defensive positions, unless a guy didn't show up. I have also seen women pitchers get SPALDING tattooed to their arms and legs because they couldn't get out of the way of a shot up the middle by a guy hitter. Tell me this, marketing man, if mixed slo-pitch is so recreational, why do players wear batting gloves? Nobody, in a recreational slo-pitch league, should wear batting gloves. You want a good grip on the bat, rub dirt. And please, the ball isn't thrown hard enough to vibrate the bat in the hands. I stand by original comment. I have no problems with men and women playing slo-pitch recreationally or, in some cases, quite seriously. Just not together. It's time for the game to be euthanized.

Posted by: PG77 on June 5 2005 9:13 AM

Hartley,
I too really enjoy your column.
I would also like to add one comment regarding the Mixed 6 and 4 Slo Pitch League. I don't think it really matters whether it is a mixed league or mens and womens. Whether your sport is ice hockey, soccer, ball hockey, or men's slow pitch some teams are "stacked". These "stacked" teams continue to recruit "ringers" thus creating a situation where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Ritz Bakery ball hockey teams went undefeated and continually won league championships based on this philosophy, just ask Hartley. The Senior Men's lacrosse league seem to have it all together as they draft up and coming young players with the goal to create a balanced and competitive league. Maybe league organizers in these other sports can learn a lesson from Senior Men's Lacrosse?

Posted by: Marketing Man on June 6 2005 12:36 PM

re: foul tips comments.

First of all. The league that had the blow out. Is a competitive league, more so than recreational. That team was told before they joined. I agree that there are large ranges of talent. Women should be well aware of what they are getting into when playing in this league or any with men. One of the problems lies in equipment, but it is certainly not batting gloves. Give me a break...rubbing dirt on your hands is old school garbage for grip. The bats that are being used today are a huge problem. Tri wall shells and composite construction make the ball come off way to fast. A big problem is with a team that would let a woman or man for that matter, pitch that doesnt understand the game. When you toss a pitch in you need ARC, and should step back once you have released the ball. Any flat pitch is more likely going to be hit flat and right back at the pitcher. I know a woman who had her face smashed by a comebacker and it isnt pretty. I have known plenty of guys that have been hit as well. If you pitch you should understand the game. In more competitive leagues, skilled players know where their hit is going....it is the big ego trippers that just swing as hard as they can and dont have a clue or care where the hit goes, that make it so dangerous. There are always going to be problems with leagues that have stacked teams, I just dont think that women and men playing together is the problem....awareness and understanding the game you are playing is the big factor.