There is always something “special” about the first game of a season especially if it’s the home opener.
Yes, the points count the same as any other regular season game; yes, it’s not the intensity of a playoff game; and yes; in reality it’s just start of a long grind.
Players, coaches, fans always get excited about opening night. This is the time of the hockey year that all organizations have hope, promise, belief and confidence. How long the feeling continues varies from team to team and city to city.
The expectations for the Prince George Cougars have surged with the EDGEPRO Sports ownership group into its second season.
Last year at this time, the Cougars just wanted to get a playoff spot, their first in four years. They accomplished that before making a quit exit with a four games to one first round loss to the Victoria Royals.
This year a League championship may be far-fetched, but improvement is anticipated.
With a veteran group (18 players with at least one season of WHL experience) optimism is in the air.
A second place finish in the B.C. Division and a 4th placing showing in the Western Conference seems like a reasonable goal. Last season, the Cats were 3rd out of 5 in the Division and 7th out of 10 in the Conference.
The Cougars should be stronger in net. They have ditched the idea of grooming a young goalie, instead going with 19-year-old incumbent Ty Edmonds and 20-year-old Mack Shields who had impressive numbers with the Calgary Hitmen in 2014-15: (2.67 GAA, .900 save percentage in 49 regular season games plus 2.99 GAA and .908 save percentage in 12 playoff games). Coach Mark Holik is not shy in stating “they are 1 and 1A” on the depth chart.
The Cats may not have that one dominant overpowering defenceman but captain Sam Ruopp and 20-year-old Joseph Carvalho have enough experience to lead a progressing group of blue-liners.
Scoring should be an asset with Jansen Harkins, Chase Witala, newcomer Jesse Gabrielle and Brad Morrison to carry a heavy load. Rookies Bartek Bison (from Amsterdam) and Justin Almeida are snipers that should make a strong contribution in their first year.
For the Cougars to make an impact they will need dramatic improvement in their special teams. The Cats power-play was ranked 19th last season and the penalty kill was at the very bottom of the 22 team league.
Last year, the Cougars were rejuvenated on and off the ice. Most importantly there was a positive change in the culture. Fans were appreciative of the strides that were made by all facets of the organization.
This year, it’s about progress and continuing to build the foundation with an uplifting performance.
The results will again be the benchmark for how much advancement the Cougars make in the 2015-16 season.
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It was a win-win Vancouver Canucks training camp at CN Centre. The fans won because they had a chance to see their favorite team up close and were given plenty of opportunities to seek out autographs and photos.
The players won because they had three days of workouts in an electric atmosphere. Captain Henrik Sedin had never been to Prince George before and he was quick to point out that the excitement of a near full building had a very positive effect on the team.
Financially, local minor hockey programs will be the benefactors of the more than $80 thousand that were raised during the three days.
There is no timeline when another Canucks camp will return to the city. Spreading this type of extravaganza around the province has merit.
Prince George should be on the radar for an NHL pre-season game. Normally exhibition contests are Ho-Hum but if one lands in your city for the first time fans could very well respond with euphoria as if the Stanley Cup is on the line.
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Don’t look now Seahawks fans but according to historical data Seattle only has a 12 per cent chance of making the playoffs.
Under the current NFL playoff format dating back to 1990, teams starting 2-0 have made the playoffs 63 % of the time while teams beginning 0-2 only qualify for the post-season 12 % of the time.
Last year the only 0-2 team to qualify was Indy. Nine teams lost their first two games which means on average just one of them should advance to the post-season, but will it be the defending NFC champs?
Seattle should be able to win its next two at home against the 0-2 Chicago Bears Sunday and against the 0-2 Detroit Lions on Monday, October 5th.
Since the Seahawks have dug themselves a hole, it puts added pressure on them winning their home games since they still have 6 road games left that include at Cincinnati, at San Francisco, at Dallas, at Minnesota at Baltimore and at Arizona. There isn’t a soft touch in that bunch.
From the Quote Rack:
Ragnar, the Minnesota Viking mascot dude is holding out for $25,000 per game, up from his current $1,500. The Vikes have told him to take a hike. It serves him right for taking financial advice from Seahawks Kam Chancellor.
One of my favorite Yogi Berra stories is when he was playing in a Pro-Am golf tournament and his pro asked him which way a putt would break. Yogi says to the right, the pro looked at it again and thought maybe it may go left. The guy hit the putt and it broke left and gave Yogi the stare. Yogi just shrugged and replied “That’s cause I’m left handed”.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
An extra point kicked by Midland Lee High School (TX) bounced off of a referee’s head and went through the uprights. We’re still awaiting a tweet about this from Jose Canseco.
The Atlanta Hawks are using Ashley Madison to sell 10-game ticket packets. To receive a discount, fans must show up at Will Call with a marriage license and proof that their companion’s name isn’t on it.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Did you know Grand Slam curling will now be played in nine months of the year? Who do they think they are, the NHL?
The footwear Roger Bannister wore in running the first sub-four-minute-mile fetched $409,344 at auction. After bidding, the auctioneer held up the shoes and said “Soled.”
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Marshawn Lynch filmed an entire Pepsi ad without speaking. Out of habit Roger Goodell fined him.
R.I.P Yogi Berra. Nobody goes to heaven anymore, it’s too crowded.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
And in case you missed it:
Cut it up in six slices. I don’t think I can eat eight.
Yogi Berra when asked if he wanted his pizza cut in six slices or eight.
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller