Hartley Miller's Slap Shots, Friday March 21st, 2008

By Hartley Miller

    In 2007 the Prince George Cougars were battling in the western conference final, and the Prince George Spruce Kings had everyone on the edge of their seats as they qualified for the Gold Medal Game at the prestigious Royal Bank Cup. What a difference a year makes!

The calendar may indicate that today is Good Friday but it certainly wasn’t a “good” or memorable season for either of the local junior hockey teams.

The Cougars not only missed the playoffs, they weren’t even in a race. The Cats season ended in mid March, about six weeks earlier than last year. The Spruce Kings finished their season 2 ½ weeks ago, two months prior to their last game in 2007.

So, with no significant hockey “fix” left, (other than the Cariboo Cougars) the spotlight has turned to the Vancouver Canucks and the NHL. However, there is no guarantee the Canucks will make the playoffs.

Yes, PG hockey fans have become accustomed to a long off season. With the exception of last year, this futility has become the norm for PG teams in the WHL and BCHL.

Speaking of futility…It’s hard to say who was more inept this season, the Cougars or the Spruce Kings but one thing is for sure, neither can be proud of their performance.

Since the trade deadline, the Cougars tried to hide behind the youngest team in the league label. Youth is all this franchise can promote, considering a pathetic 20th place showing (out of 22 teams). It’s not just the Cougars record that was awful, but the fact they were soundly beaten by four or more goals
on 17 occasions. Although 3300 fans attended the Cougars final home game, a 1-0 loss to Kamloops,  the dwindling crowds (average of 2,844, down 124 from last season) have been well documented.

Meanwhile, the Spruce Kings certainly are in no position to criticize their cross town rivals. If anybody understands a lack of progress it’s the Kings. The Spruce Kings tanked their final regular season game in Quesnel (a 7-0 loss to the lowly Millionaires) to finish 6th in their conference and 13th in a 16-team league. Perhaps, they thought a defeat to the Millionaires would increase their chances in the playoffs, especially since the opposition was Salmon Arm, and not Vernon.

Yes, another Spruce Kings move that backfired. In fact, the Kings blew a 6-1 lead in game four to the Silverbacks, and lost 7-6 in overtime which ended the series 3-1.  I was one of the paltry 875 that attended this season ending playoff game and 17 days later I still can’t believe what I witnessed.

I’m not sure which is worse, not making the playoffs or grabbing the last playoff spot, followed by a quick exit having blown a 5-goal lead midway in your final game.

Both junior hockey teams, particularly management, need to look in the mirror.  Like any business, it’s those who win that reap the rewards, and bear the responsibility, when the product is poor. The few loyal fans for each team are running out of patience.

The Spruce Kings are now offering (for a limited time) a 99 dollar season ticket. This is a great idea, and terrific promotion, but unless the organization improves the team, the good majority of fans won’t even pay 99 cents.

From the quote rack:

“The Dodgers are still selling their right field pavilion all-the-junk-food-you-can-eat tickets for $35.00 advance, $40.00 the day of the game, the same cost as last year. So at least there is one place in Los Angeles the price of gas isn’t skyrocketing.”  Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

“Hank Steinbrenner says that the Yankees have the ’Eye of the Tiger’. Better that than the ’Eye of the Needle’.”Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

“The NHL is interested in holding an outdoor game at Yankee Stadium. It will be the last game played there which will make it the House that Ruth Built and Bettman brought down.”Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

“The Atlanta Falcons cut QB Joey Harrington last week and re-signed him this week. What happened? Did he get better?”Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel 

“Toyota’s Kyle Busch won the Kobalt Tools 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway; Busch won $175,575 so, after paying for 500 miles of gas at 180 mph, Busch owes them $725.”Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg 

And in case you missed it:

“Buster Martin is training to run in the upcoming London Marathon, which would make the 101-year-old the world’s oldest competitive athlete. That honour currently belongs to a 98-year-old -- Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios.”Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post 

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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