Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots September 21st Edition

By Hartley Miller

  Another junior hockey season has started, and although nothing is a certainty, it’s safe to assume that the long banner drought in Prince George will continue.

Last season, in their Royal Bank Cup year, the Spruce Kings put all their “eggs in one basket”. Although the Kings reached the RBC final, this move, may have backfired.  Specifically, the Spruce Kings gambled, at the expense of a mediocre regular season, a poor BCHL playoff performance, and more importantly, a bleak outlook for this season. So much for the theory that hosting the National tournament would help kick start a fragile franchise.

The Spruce Kings did not win any of their first four games this season, but it’s too early to push the proverbial “panic button”; however, their progress will depend on how the rookies respond to the old school coaching of Ed Dempsey.

In the Interior Division, six teams will make the playoffs with Prince George likely on the bubble. Look for the Kings to spin this in a positive manner citing old clichés like, “we are building for the future with an enthusiastic good crop of young players that are learning and getting better.”  Yes, we have heard this before. Let's be honest, this will be a “write off” season for the Spruce Kings. Wake me up next year.

Similarly, the Cougars will begin their WHL season at home this weekend against Spokane. Last season, the Cats, with several older high scoring forwards, also believed that 06/07 was going to be “the year”. They were half right as an underachieving sloppy regular season was followed by a nice unexpected ride in the playoffs, which was halted by the Vancouver Giants, in the Western Final.

This leads us to the present, and future. The Cougars have more newcomers than returning players, and don't have a pure goal scorer. "We're definitely going to be a different look team up front. We feel we have quality goaltending and we feel our defense is very capable", said Drew Schoneck, who was promoted from Associate to Head Coach.

"It's tough to pin down some guys that will score goals. My school of thought here is we don't have the bona fide 50-goal scorer, but if we can have 10 or 11 guys in the 10 to 20 goal range that's just as good." Yes, the “spin” at its finest.  Schoneck will be assisted by Wade Klippenstein (a role reversal from their days in Prince Albert).

The Cats will rely on Real Cyr, and hopefully, his ability to imitate Roberto Luongo, winning the 2-1 games, even though his team is outplayed. Barring injury he may play in 55 of the 72 games. "I certainly see him in that range and maybe even more", said Schoneck.

The WHL playoff format has changed, which means that instead of 4 of 5 teams qualifying from the BC Division, it will be the top 8 out of 10 in the Western Conference.

The Cougars may struggle just to get in. "Where I see us fitting is right in the middle of the pack”, stated Schoneck.  “The Kamloops Blazers, with a lot of returning guys, should be very strong. Vancouver will be okay. I don't think they will be as strong as last year. Seattle has a very good group coming back. Everett and Spokane have the potential to be very good.  In the same group as us you've got the Kelowna Rockets, Chilliwack Bruins, Tri-City Americans, and the Portland Winterhawks. So there will be a few teams fighting for the last couple of playoff spots."

Sometimes, a dreary look on paper, in the fall can turn into a pleasant surprise, in the spring. However, even diehard Cougars and Spruce Kings fans realize it's going to take a minor miracle for either team to legitimately contend at crunch time.

From the quote rack:

“However, it's believed Bonds might be featured on the cover of a new cereal: Cheaties."  Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, after a Wheaties spokesperson announced the company has no plans to put home run king Barry Bonds on the cover of its cereal boxes.

“Rumor---the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas has booked The Dancing Itos for this weekend." Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 “Still can’t get over Denver Broncos’ running back Travis Henry. Reportedly he fathered nine children by nine mothers. If he were in the NBA, he’d nearly have a double double.”  Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel

“Russia is having a baby crisis and is paying couples to stay at home to get pregnant. If that doesn’t work officials hope to have Travis Henry come in and do a seminar. Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

 “His Excellency hopes this condition can be remedied by faith, prayer and expanding the rosters of NBA Europe.” Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California, after the Pope suggested Europeans should have more kids.

“Hard to believe but the bowling shirt recently turned 86. Prior to this, people in Cleveland had nothing to wear to weddings."  NBC's Jay Leno

And in case you missed it:

Workers at Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles) are protesting low wages by going on a hunger strike. According to a person on the clean up crew: "We are tired of working for peanuts." 

And how was your week?

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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