Hartley Miller`s Slap-Shots January 19th Edition

Friday, January 19, 2007 03:45 AM

There is nothing wrong in admitting to a mistake. Yes, wise guy, this includes me because I have made my share over the years. Sometimes it takes courage to admit a decision was not the wisest one.

In hockey, some decisions are magnified. For example, when the Prince George Cougars acquired goalie Scott Bowles (again) it was quite clear that the Cats, in particular, GM Dallas Thompson, made a bad decision to release him in the first place. As you may recall, Bowles was the odd 20 year-old released when the team was forced to keep three. The thinking at that time (which was questioned here and elsewhere) was the Cougars were better off to keep three overage forwards because Jordan White was ready to back-up Real Cyr. As it turned out, White wasn’t the answer. However, White is still in Prince George, but with the Spruce Kings, and Bowles has returned from Ontario ready to compete with his good friend Cyr for the starting job, just like last season.

So, Thompson has, in part, turned a negative situation to a positive one. Nevertheless, he should be concerned that Bowles was a bust in the OHL compiling a 2-8 record, 4.38 goals against average and .862 save percentage (Owen Sound and Windsor). However, some players play better in certain situations and cities as evidenced by Bowles’ strong play in Prince George last year. The Cats are counting on his ability to play at this level again.

While the Cougars upgraded in goal I was a bit surprised they did not make a single trade at the deadline. At the start of the WHL season, Prince George set its sights high, but mediocrity has set in for another Cougar team. It would have made more sense if the Cougars were sellers and started building for the future. Then again, this would be an admission that the injury prone Devin Setoguchi trade for two first round picks earlier this season was a mistake. Considering the sensitivity of the situation, Thompson was prepared to admit to one mistake, but obviously not to another. We all know what (usually) happens to high ranking hockey officials who acknowledge that they have made more bad moves than shrewd ones.

On another hand, the Spruce Kings felt the pressure at the Jan 10th deadline to upgrade in their Royal Bank Cup season. Besides adding White in goal, the Spruce Kings acquired snipers Tyler Helfrich (Ft McMurray), Jason Yuel (Winnipeg) and Alain Joanette (Bancroft, Ontario). All three were leading scorers on their former team and are averaging more than a point per game this season. The Newcomers did well in their first weekend (a combined 9 points) with the team with 3 wins in 3 days. The four transactions cost the Kings 20-year-old defenceman Bobby Hineman, and future considerations (believed to be cash and possible other paybacks).

Based on what we know of these deals, it’s hard to criticize the moves. Picking up three proven scorers will certainly aid the offence, while losing Hineman will hurt the blueline. However, White (2 wins in 2 games for his new team) should provide a solid compliment to Joe Rodwell in goal.

Yes, the Spruce Kings are better, but I still don’t think the question marks will disappear. We will get the answers in the spring and at that time the real report cards will be handed out.

From the quote rack:

"Skeptics wonder if he’ll be able to hold on to her for long." Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo dating country music star and former "American Idol" Carrie Underwood.

"The NFL fined Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens $35,000 after he admitted spitting on Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall. That’s one more way in which Owens leads the league in drops." Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post

"New York Giants Eli Manning tried giving the finger too, but it was intercepted." NBC’s Jay Leno, on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick giving the finger to fans following a loss to New Orleans which resulted in a $10 thousand fine.

"No way the Bears QB has been sacked that much." Elliott Harris of the Chicago Sun-Times, after Boomer Esiason of CBS called Rex Grossman "the Paris Hilton of NFL quarterbacks".

"If Adam Vinitieri is ’money’, does that make Mike Vanderjagt an ’IOU’?Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

"Those who witnessed the kiss say they haven’t seen people chant ’U-S-A’ like that since the 1980 Olympics." NBC’S Conan O’Brien, on Miss USA and Miss Teen USA locking lips (while in a tipsy state) in a bar.

"This may serve as evidence that Phil Mickelson was wrong when he said Tiger was playing with inferior equipment." Randy Hill of foxsports.com, on Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin, expecting their first child.

And in case you missed it:

Tiki Barber, who announced his retirement at the end of the season, has been the leading rusher on
the New York Giants in each of the team’s last 81 games, including the playoff loss to the Philadelphia
Eagles.