Hartley Miller's Slap Shots June 19th, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009 03:45 AM
Fans of the Vancouver Canucks, Prince George Cougars and PG Spruce Kings take note- things may not be as “bad” as they appear.
With the hockey season finally done (yes summer officially starts on Sunday) I started thinking about championship teams. It’s not a secret in the sports world that every organization strives for the ultimate and coveted trophy, with some groups trying harder than others.
Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup, Kelowna the WHL Ed Chynoweth Cup, and Vernon the BCHL Fred Page Cup. It occurred to me these are teams/organizations that have won before; and it was time to reflect on past champions and their accomplishments in order to see if the same franchises that win repeated championships do so at the expense of the also-rans.
So, here’s the outline. I have analyzed the three aforementioned leagues and counted the championships since the Canucks, PG Cougars and Spruce Kings entered their respective leagues. What happened prior to that is irrelevant because these teams weren’t around to compete.
Let’s begin with the Canucks. They started in the NHL in 1970/71. Since that season the Stanley Cup has been awarded 38 times. Here’s the breakdown of champions. Montreal 8, Edmonton 5, Detroit and NY Islanders 4, Pittsburgh and New Jersey 3, Colorado and Philadelphia 2, and Boston, Calgary, NY Rangers, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Anaheim 1 each. That’s 15 different winners (8 of them multi). There are 30 teams in the league, so half are like the Canucks at 0.
How about the Cougars? They have been in PG since the 94/95 season. Here’s the list of 15 champions in that time frame: Kelowna 3, Medicine Hat and Kootenay 2 and Vancouver, Spokane, Red Deer, Calgary, Portland, Lethbridge, Brandon and Kamloops 1. (Note: Not counted are Vancouver in 06/07 and Kelowna in 03/04 when they won the Memorial Cup on home ice, but lost in the WHL playoffs). That’s 11 different winners (including 3 multi). There are 22 teams in the league, so half are similar to the Cougars at 0.
Finally, the Spruce Kings! They were accepted into the BCHL in 1996/97. Here are the 13 playoff winners in that span: Vernon and South Surrey/Surrey 3, Nanaimo and Chilliwack 2, and Penticton, Burnaby and Victoria 1. That’s 7 different winners (4 of them multi). There are 17 teams in the league including the Williams Lake Timberwolves who enter play this fall, so slightly more than half of the total teams are like the Spruce Kings at 0 championships. I realize over the course of many years some franchises have come and gone and others have been transferred, but for the sake of this comparison these numbers are close enough.
So, what's my point? The Canucks, the Cougars and the Spruce Kings, since joining their current leagues are arguably just as unsuccessful as half of their league counterparts. During this time, the Cougars and the Spruce Kings don’t even have a banner of any kind or even reached the league final, where as the Canucks have twice been to the big dance, but let’s not get too picky here.
I don’t know if these results are going to make fans feel any better, however, the positive slant on this issue (I’m really stretching as far as I can) is that if misery loves company these three teams have plenty of others to share in it.
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There has to be one guy with mixed feelings, and perhaps, self doubts, about the Penguins Stanley Cup victory. No, I’m not speaking about Marian Hossa. His name is Michel Therrien, a man quickly faded to a distant memory. Therrien coached the Penguins last year to within two wins of the Cup and then was fired February 15th, 2009 with the team in 10th place and five points out of a playoff spot. Presto! Little known Dan Bylsma is promoted from the team’s AHL farm club, and like magic Pittsburgh goes all the way. I’m sure Therrien would tell you he is pleased for the players, but that’s got to hurt the EGO.
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Jim Hughson did his usual thorough job for the CBC as play-by-play announcer throughout the playoffs, but I have to admit, I missed Bob Cole in the final series. Sometimes the older we get, change is more difficult to accept. However, with the new NHL, the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song, the new shoot outs, and the new voice of the final, the new era has definitely been ushered in.
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A big salute to all Dads! Sunday is Father's Day which brings me to one of my all time favorite words of wisdom from Charles Wadsworth: “By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.”
From the quote rack:
Mike Tyson just got married for the third time. It was a small wedding; the preacher, Tyson, his bride, and her four bodyguards. Comedy writer Neil Berliner
Scientists say that the most massive black hole in the galaxy weighs three times more than they originally thought. My question is how were they able to weigh the entire Clippers organization?
More than 90 politicians, executives and leaders gathered on Monday in Detroit for the National Business Summit. While in Detroit, they will meet losers and ne’er-do-wells. In others words, the Detroit Lions will be there.Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
Thomas Beatie the pregnant man is giving birth to a second baby and while talking to reporters gave a shout out to Manny Ramirez and told him to keep trying.Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
The city of Los Angeles had to go out and raise $900,000 for a Lakers' championship victory parade. Well, between the Raptors, Leafs and Blue Jays, at least there's one expense the city of Toronto won't need to figure into their budget.
David Letterman has apologized for the "bad joke" he made about Sarah Palin's daughter. Wonder how long it will take John McCain to apologize for his bad joke he made in putting Governor Palin a potential heartbeat away from the presidency?
The University of Alabama must forfeit 21 football wins after an investigation revealed players were obtaining free textbooks to give or sell to other students. What was the investigators’ first clue? That the football players were getting textbooks.
Brett Favre has admitted he has talked to the Minnesota Vikings about the possibility of playing again. This was almost as shocking as reading that Adam Lambert is gay.Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
Rumors have it that Bill Belichick is going to marry long-time companion Linda Holliday. He's already ordered a tuxedo with a hood on it.
In the light of a report that says he tested positive in 2003, Sammy Sosa will be in a new race with Mark McGwire---which of them will be the first to 25% in Hall of Fame voting?
Red Wings players were upset that Sidney Crosby didn't shake hands after Game Seven---Sidney was reportedly busy unlacing his LeBron James signature skates.
Vandalism broke out in Los Angeles in the wake of the Laker championship--followed shortly by an apology from Jessica Alba. Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
And in case you missed it:
That moves him into a tie with Mrs. Kobe for the team lead.
Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, on LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson winning his 10th NBA ring.
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.
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Posted by: Winstons on June 19 2009 5:37 AM