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May17/2000

Re: The Memorial Cup.

 "...actually, I rifled an email off to David Branch just questioning whether he had input into the decisions made about how the Memorial Cup was going to be run and officiated. I thought it was a joke. It definitely looked to me
like there were two different sets of rules. And I'm defending the OHL as much as I am the WHL, because the Barrie Colts got it as bad as the Kootenay Ice in calls. It didn't seem fair. Of course the players are going to get
frustrated when they don't know what they can and can't do--no different than a pitcher if he doesn't know where the strike zone is. I don't know who gives the directive, but David Branch is the man in charge, and if he couldn't see it, than he needs to find a brick wall, and get the testosterone following there..."
I tell ya, David Branch waffled on the Kugel incident last year. He suspended Keefe, the Captain of the Barrie Colts for the entire playoffs for a sloughfoot. He's sort of been having a running feud with the Barrie organization all year. And rightfully so, that Barrie's deserved some of the heat that they've taken. But David Branch seems to have been on a one man mission to make it as tough as possible for Barrie to get to the M-Cup. Then when they make it, he fines the team money for not honoring the opening ceremonies, and shaking his hand. I don't think that was a slap by the Barrie Colts at the Halifax tournament committee at all. I think it was a shot at David Branch, and them feeling that he wasn't justified in how he was treating and reacting to the incidents that they were involved in...If the Colts felt it was justified that they weren't being treated fairly by David Branch, why shake his hand? I
think that's showing integrity. You don't want to be perceived as a hypocrite. If you're feeling persecuted by the man, I think that's fine. And if David Branch takes it as a personal affront, that the team captain won't shake his hand, then I'm not sure he's the right man for the job. And since he's the commissioner of the OHL and oversees the CHL, maybe it's time for him to take one position that he can concentrate on and do a good job, rather than do a mediocre job with two.

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May17/2000

Re: The Kootenay Ice winning the WHL Championship.

 "...But hats off to Mike Babcock. A team that everyone underestimated all year, and went from the basement last year, right down to the sixth game in the WHL final. I think that says a lot about Babcock and the heart of his
players, who I thought were undersized, and maybe not as talented as some other hockey clubs, but they sure had the work ethic...

Re:  Looking ahead and forward to the Kamloops Blazers training camp.

"...Yeah, it could be a pretty tough camp. The Blazers have a kid who'll be 19 next year in Jason Platt, who played for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL.  But from what I saw on the USHL site, he's accepted an offer to go to
Providence College, so whether he'll show up or not, I don't know. But he's a big feisty kid. And this Steven Spencer kid--6'3", 205/210, some are saying a little heavier--supposed to be a tough kid. Took on just about everybody in the Manitoba Junior League I believe it was, and did really well in the fighting department. He could be coming to camp to butt heads with a few other guys. You never know, maybe Brandon Minnibarriet will be back. A guy like Curtis Tidball, who tore up the Midget league in Saskatchewan this year--looks like that's going to be his game. Chad Schockenmaier is going to have to step up and play a more physical, dominating role this year...So yeah, I'm looking for it to be a lot feistier camp. And if Jason Bone comes back, that could make it pretty interesting. It could be just about as exciting as most league games..."
 

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May1/2000

Re:  The Kootenay Ice finishing off the Calgary Hitmen in five games.

"...Damn, I missed it by one game. I called the Ice in six. I've had a few arguments regarding where I thought they were from last year. I think with Rich, Krestanovich, and Dodginghorse out of the line-up...I think that was a
pretty big hit for the Hitmen. I'm not so sure their replacements were the calibre of players that they needed to win. From what I'm hearing, Peat was a non-factor in the series, and I thought he would have contributed more, been more beligerent, but he just didn't get the icetime. I definitely think Dodginghorse, who Calgary didn't replace, and was very good at taking the other team's best players off their game, was sorely missed. I just don't think they were a "team" as much as the Kootenay Ice. Individually, they probably had far more talent, but I think the best "team" won, not the best group of individuals..."

Re: The Cougars blowing leads as they bow out to the Chiefs.

"...The Cougars just couldn't hold on, which really surprised me. I thought once they got up, they'd be able to physically dominate a team like the Chiefs with the small forwards. But it sounds like the speed of the Chiefs was
maybe just too much for the Cougars...They're playing that Clash song for Eddie Dempsey, "Should He Stay or Should He Go?". I'm not so sure he'll fulfill the last year of his contract...In Kamloops, he did a pretty good job of getting a lot out of some undermanned hockey clubs, but I think the way he treated his players seemed to be a bit of an issue--and definitely the way he handled the media as well. And apparantly, it was happening in Prince George..."

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April 25/2000

Re:  the Basebrawl between the Tigers and Whitesox.

"......ya know, people talk about violence in hockey. In this game, the pitcher comes out and actually tried to kick the guy, and they're wearing baseball spikes! And I'll bet you they'll have 20 brawls or more in baseball this year. Baseball continues to do this stuff, and why--because a guy throws a high hard inside pitch? I have a problem that they clear the benches for that, yet in game a game where you're playing in an enclosed arena, and guys are banging and crashing, and using a stick, guys drop the gloves and want to fight once in a while, and people have a problem with that? Gimme a break! And then in baseball, these guys sit out because they've got a blister on their finger or their toe. Ahh, makes me sick..."

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April 13/2000

Re: The Prince George/Seattle match-up.

"....oh I think that'll be a real slobberknocker. I think you're going to see the guns-a-blazin' in that series from the drop of the puck until the final whistle. These two teams just don't like each other. They had a real war last year in the playoffs. I look for this to be just a real hammer and tong series. This could be the epitome of 'take no prisoners'. I think Spokane's probably sittin' there rubbin' their hands together...I'll go out on a limb here and go with Seattle in five. I think Prince George has a better mobile defense, but it's not that big. And if Seattle can come in with the same motivation and desire to crash and bang, they might be able to wear that defense down. And if Fomitchev can be told he's actually still playing the Blazers again, and play big like he does against Kamloops, I think that Seattle can win it. Prince George has to win the first two, in my opinion, to win the series. If Dempsey does what he apparantly did in the first series against Kelowna, he's going to find his top players are tired in a hurry. He apparantly was just rolling two lines. And if he does that against Seattle, I think Seattle can roll three at you, and maybe even throw a fourth together. And by the end of the fifth game, Seattle may just have Prince George a little tired to be able to pull it out..."

Re: Jason Bone winning "Unsung Hero" at the Blazers' Year End Awards.

"...it was one of the biggest cheers of the night, and really, it would have been a travesty of justice if Jason hadn't have got that. As I've said all year, here's a kid who came into a very tough situation--definitely not a heavyweight by size, but you can't question that guy's heart. He never turned down a fight all year. I think the players appreciated that, and I sure hope the fans around Kamloops did, because that kid came to play every night, and he really deserved that award...

FM Grunt's notation:

"I talked to Jason Bone after the awards ceremony, and he was also pretty pleased he finished up in the number three spot in the Fighting Major's West Division rankings. He knows it will be tough to crack the Blazers' line-up as a 20 year old next year, but he says he's going to spend the summer working out, and maybe taking some boxing lessons. Motioning like Domi across his waist he laughingly commented "I want the belt." I made the mistake of calling him 'Boner'. He cocked his left fist and said, "Don't call me that." I won't...ever again.

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April 4/2000

Re: Kris Mallette of the Moosejaw warriors ending his junior career by nearly ending his life.

"....It makes a guy wonder, if Kris Mallette's playing with a full pull or not. The guy had 30 seconds left in his WHL career as a 20 year old, and he took the time to oblige Stephen Peat, and he did a good job of smashing his forehead into Peat's fists. Give the guy credit. I always questioned Kris Mallette's tenacity, and real willingness to go with the heavyweights, but here he's got half a minute left in his junior career, doesn't have to fight Peat, and decides to go out for the final shift, says "How do you do?," and though he basically ate knuckles for dinner, he showed up. So kudos to Kris Mallette. What a job!

Re: The WHL alumni now playing for Louisville of the AHL.

".....apparantly they're called the Louisville Gorillas in the Mist. I hear the coach has shares in a banana ranch down there in South America somewhere. His line up has former Medicine Hat Tiger, Brent Thompson, Joey Tetarenko, Rocky "I want the belt" Thompson, Brad "bitter" Ference, and now Eric Godard has just joined them from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. And in Godard's first game, he drops the gloves with former Kelowna Rocket and Regina Pat, Todd Fedoruk, and is making a name for himself right away. So that pretty much puts an end to thinking that Godard may be back for his overage year. But can you imagine coaching that team? He's probably got a few leashes on the bench with that group."

Re: Joe Canale, coach of Sherbrooke of the QMJHL taking a few swings at the fans and Rouyn-Noranda executives with a stick.

".....apparantly Canale got busted for mescaline trafficking earlier in his life, and by the look of that scene in Quebec, it looks like he might have had some stashed away, and was using it again. As a coach you have to show a little more discipline than that. You're a leader of your hockey club. It's definitely another black eye for Canale and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League."

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March 29/2000

Re: The Kamloops Blazers putting out Bone, Munro, and Gionet in the final 15 seconds of the final game of the regular season vs Prince George, likely in anticipation of a line brawl.

"...Kamloops has obviously decided to go with a different style or method of hockey this year, so it was nice to see in the 72nd game of the year, that they finally decided to send a message to another team; "We're going to stand up and be counted." Not that this has had anything to do with the players, and I'm not saying they haven't all year. But
for whatever reason, the coach or whatever has decided not to make this statement, but he did last night, by putting out some guys who you don't normally see out in the last minute of a game. And it was nice to see the guys stand up for themselves..."

Re: Shon Jones-Parry getting his lunch fed to him by Jason Bone.

"...I don't really respect him for hurting Jason Bone's left hand. Ya know I really hate it when a guy's got a hard head like that. But I think over last year, he's playing a smarter game, and if he takes a penalty this year, at least he's taking somebody with him, instead of giving up all those powerplays. And although I hate him on the Cougars,
I sure wouldn't mind a guy like that on my team at all..."

Re: Prince George/Kelowna Rockets playoff match up.

"...if Kelowna wins a game, I think they've really accomplished something. From a toughness stand point, I think Prince George is just fine. In playoff hockey, you just can't afford to have Mitch Fritz out there being silly. The helmet incident that happened in the last game will probably have Mitch revved up, and Habschied is going to have to be smart about when to use him..."

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Re: The illusive Stephen Peat March 22, 2000

 "...There were a lot of rumors flyin' around last year that his attitude was a bit of a problem. Around the rink a couple of Red Deer scouts and other scouts say he's a great kid! But ya' know, you get him on the ice and in the
dressing room, maybe it changes a little bit. I've talked to him once, and found him to be a pretty nice guy, pretty well spoken and respectful. But on the ice, pushin' referees? The good heavyweights of the past have been guys
who can kind of keep it together, and not get frustrated. I don't sense with Stephen Peat that he has it in himself to put the team above how he's feeling. And I think that could end up costing Calgary, because he's either been hurt, or suspended. It seems like he's got a pretty short fuse, and not very good control over it..."

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Re: The Prince George Cougars and the west playoff picture, following an 8-6 loss to the Blazers, Tuesday, March 7, 2000.

"....going by their record, and not having seen the Cougars for a while, I was thinking they were a shoe-in to probably catch Spokane and pass them. But even if they do, this division is open for any of the six playoff teams to win it. Kelowna's starting to roll again, and ya know that joke they've got about the Rockets why they can't have a
website-because they can't put three "w's" together. I guess we're going to have to throw that one out the window. Any team that gets hot going into the playoffs could be trouble. I don't think Spokane or Prince George or whoever faces Kelowna in the first round is going to look forward to it, if the Rockets go in winning a bunch of games in a row. I just don't see a real favorite."
 

Re: Marty McSorley formally being charged with assault with a weapon.

".when, instead of blaming and passing the buck, is Marty just going to come out and say 'I had a brain cramp, I messed up, I'm willing to take the consequences', and carry on? Even with the disciplinary hearing with the league, he never showed up. Now with the criminal charges, he's trying to justify what he did. In this case, I don't believe the NHL needs to be helped along by the Vancouver City Police. But Marty's complaining that his reputation's been tarnished. Of course it's been tarnished. He's the one who did it! He said he didn't want to hurt Brashear. He wanted to fight him. And 'Our bench was challenged'. Marty McSorley is making excuses for hacking Brashear in the face. And last year, anyone who watched Vancouver and San Jose games, saw Brashear beat him like a red-headed step-child every time they fought. And I didn't see McSorley slash him in the face last year. Quite frankly, Brashear would just drop the gloves, beat another tattoo on his forehead and try to stay away from the guy. I just don't buy that he was embarrassed after the fight. I mean, he embarrasses himself, by going after Brashear
all the time, and getting his lunch fed to him at the end of Brashear's fists. There comes a time, when you walk away from the game, because his skill level isn't that high anymore, and he definitely isn't beating people up the way he used to. I would just like to see him accept responsibility for what he's done, and carry on. But I definitely don't
agree with this going to court."
 
 

Re: the Bourque deal

".the one name that jumped out at me going to Boston is this Martin Grenier-had 497 minutes last year, 6'5", 230lbs, and apparantly is the undisputed heavyweight champ in the 'Q', and probably the 'O'. And I'm hoping his team, the Quebec Remparts make it to the Memorial Cup, along with Peat and the Calgary Hitmen. And we'll see what these two undisputed heavyweights can do."

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 (February 29th, 2000)

Re: the lack of fighting majors during February, 2000, and the somewhat surprising fight results which are making the ranking process somewhat challenging.

"....David Boychuk sure doesn't crank it up in Kamloops. He and Bone have yet to go. But then I hear Boychuk did pretty well, if not, came out with the victory against K.C. Timmons down in Tri-Cities.It seems like everybody's taking their turns. Mallette was having a great month, and then Robin Gomez, who lost, in my opinion, twice to Bone in Kamloops...once for sure, tuned up Mallette, who had moved way up in the East ranking. I think Godard will probably be moving back into number one in the Central. Peat is back, but it's pretty tough when he's basically missed the entire month to leave him at number one. Yeah, guys are taking turns beating each other up. And Jason Bone is having just a huge month...two fights with Fritz last night (February 27), and another attempted scrap with Nolan Yonkman when he went a little bonkers, after that cheap shot on Schockenmaier. So I can see Jason Bone moving up as high as number five in the West..."

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Re: the Donald Brashear/Marty McSorley incident, Monday, February 21st, 2000.

"....That is the worst piece of gratuitous violence I've ever witnessed, as a player and as a fan.  I can honestly say, I've never seen anything worse.  At that point when McSorley did what he did, he was brandishing a weapon, and intended to injure Donald Brashear.  You don't want to assassinate somebody's character, but Marty McSorley went a long way in doing that on his own.  That's sick and sad, and you know the game is trying to draw fans and I think that's definitely not the way to do it...

This is worse than Claude Lemieux running Chris Draper's face into the boards.  There's people who say he didn't mean to do the damage that he did.  It's open for debate, where you can take one side or the other of the argument with the Lemieux/ Draper incident.  How can you here?  There's no way you can justify Marty McSorley's actions.

This is worse than Bobby Clarke intentionally breaking Valeri Kharlemhov's ankle.  I mean, it's no fun having a broken ankle, but when you go to the head, that's just a totally different scenario.  A hockey stick wielded in the hands of a 240 lb. man, basically looked like Paul Bunyon.

He should get at least a half-year suspension, if not more.  And I would like to see Marty McSorley step to the plate and realize his career is basically over now anyway....make his apologies and his peace with Brashear and walk away from the game..."

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Re: Toronto coach/GM Pat Quinn questioning the beefing up by the Philadelphia Flyers in picking up Keith Primeau and Gino Odjick.

"...Yeah he's whining, saying "I thought that wasn't how hockey was going." He did the same thing in Vancouver. They make a Stanley Cup run, and the next year he unloads all his size because he figures, or at least the innuendo from the NHL, was that they were going to go to a faster game with less clutching and grabbing. I wish Pat Quinn would quit his whining and get with the program. He and the Ottawa Senators are the only two teams that decided they were going to play this way, and where did either of those two teams go in the playoffs? Nowhere. You
have to have size and you have to be physical for the playoff grind. Instead Quinn's whispering in Domi's ear that he can be a fifty goal scorer."

Re: Pavel Brendl's hit from behind on Spokane's Kyle Rossiter.

"Chickenbleep! That's the only thing I can say about that. What a gutless guy. It looked like he was choked because he missed an empty net, so he runs Rossiter head first into the boards. That was just a garbage play. There's no place for that in hockey. Here's a guy who thinks nobody should be able to hit him or lay a stick on him--misses an empty net and he damn near ruins a guy's career. I hope he never plays a game in the show. I know I've been an anti-Brendl guy for a long time, and that only put another nail in his coffin as far as I'm concerned.
Can you imagine Kyle Rossiter gettin a chance to line him up in the NHL? I wouldn't want to be Pavel Brendl. I'm not hoping somebody runs him from behind, but I hope that prima donna gets a shoulder in the chest, and leaves him gasping for air after a crap play like that."

Re: Mitch Fritz being named toughest player in the Best of the West (division) poll.

"I think that's a real insult to guys like K.C. Timmons, who can play the game, and David Kaczowka who can play the game, and even a guy like Jason Bone who can play a little. Mitch is probably the most one-dimensional tough guy in the league. I think if you left it at "biggest, toughest"-maybe that's okay, but "player"?

Re: The editor of the Hockey News, Steve Dryden, arguing that Paul Henderson should not be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

..."first of all I'd like the fans who believe Paul Henderson should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, as I do, to go to  www.phenderson.com  and vote for Paul. I don't know what this Steve Dryden guy is. Has he ever played the game? He says, "You don't make it into the Hall with one good game in your life." Well, Henderson scored three game winners in the series, as it's arguably one of the most memorable series in the world. Not just in Canada for hockey. Tretiak is in the Hall of Fame, and that's the guy Henderson scored the winning goal on. He's got better
numbers than 45 current Hall of Famers. I really question this Steve Dryden guy, as being the editor of the Hockey News, and some of the more outrageous stuff he comes out with. And the attitude he has when he comes out with it."
And then we'll go with Ken Dryden and his arrogant attitude on the issue. He says "I don't think a mediocre career should get you in the hall". The problem I have with Ken Dryden is, he quits pro hockey in the prime of his career, and uses his fame to open doors for him in law school and his law practice. What did Ken Dryden give to the game? As far as I see, Ken Dryden took from the game. Quite frankly, a cut out piece of plywood could've played goal for the Habs and won the Stanley Cup with the teams he played on."

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Re: The American's Ryley Layden jumping the Blazers' Jared Aulin Friday, February 11/2000....

"...Rumour has it, it was some sort of retribution for something Aulin had done last week in Tri-Cities. Apparently something related to a slash Aulin had laid on a member of the Ams. I think Jared has shown he's not afraid to stick up for himself, but it's well known around the league that skill guys will sometimes get the stick in your face, and
hack the ankles. You can't have your skill guys droppin' the gloves all the time, and if that's how they're going to create room, so be it. I think if the Ams' argument is that Aulin needs to do that when a tough guy is on the ice, I think that's a pretty lame argument. In the NHL, do they expect Mike Modano to go out and hack Sandy McCarthy to even up the score? No, and it's not going to happen in the dub either. I think you have to lose more respect for a guy like Ryley Layden who blatantly back jumped Aulin. Yeah, apparently there's some background to it, but I thought it was a pretty lame way to go about it..."

Re: Pavel Brendl's performance in a Calgary loss vs the Kamloops Blazers, Saturday February 12th, 2000 in Kamloops....

"...oh yeah, Pavel. I guess I know him about as well as his defensemen. I think he got back into his own zone three times, and once was because he caught a rut, fell, and slid over the blue line. The guy's pathetic. You know, last year I tried not to disparage his character, not really knowing him very well, but I've just never been a big fan of his playing style. After a year and a half of seeing this guy, you have to wonder where his heart is. Calgary's tried to send him a message, sittin' him out, and telling him he needs to learn to play some defense. (Coach) Clarkie in Calgary there must be feeling like the message fell on deaf ears, because Brendl was invisible. One scout said, 'Boy, Brendl's skating has sure improved'. I said, 'It's really hard to tell, because he's usually got a one zone start on the closest defender.' And it's also hard to gauge his development, because in a game where there's lots
of crashing and banging, he seems to disappear. He was absolutely terrible, and you'd never know he was an early first round draft pick from last year, the way he played in Kamloops anyway..."

Re: Blazer coach Dean Evason's war of words, saying the Blazers would remember who Kelowna's best players are, following the 300 minute, three-plus hour marathon....

"...I think Dean was probably a little upset after that game, because that's sort of in contrast to his comments after the Tri-Cities game, when Layden went after Aulin, and Evason said, he didn't think that kind of thing happened in the WHL anymore..."

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"...The NHLPA wants the instigator rule gone because they want the players to start policing the game again. It's become pretty clear that the leagues and the referees have talked the talk, but haven't walked the walk as far as cleaning up the game. It's time for the heavyweights to start taking care of business. The referee has the discretion to throw a two minute roughing minor in there--in essence being just as effective as the instigator rule. And if the NHLPA gets their way, I'm sure the CHL will likely follow...If we're back to the 1970's, I'm hoping that will happen. You didn't see guys getting run from behind and getting hurt. And those guys weren't wearing brain buckets back then. I'm sure Kerry Fraser doesn't want to see all the fighting that went on, because he might have to break up a fight and get that hair messed up..."

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"I believe when other teams come knockin' regarding trades, I have to think Aaron's name comes up all the time. Ya know, he had a couple goes with Eagles (Cougars), and fought a pretty tough 16-year-old in McLachlan out of Seattle. I tell ya, I don't know what they're putting in his water, but they better keep it in there. This kid is going to be something tough come 18 and 19.  He's dropping the gloves and leading the team in penalty minutes, and playing a real aggressive, tough game.  And he seems to be taking the leadership role in that department by the horns, and joining Jason Bone, and saying 'Hey buddy, I'm going to help you out a little bit here'.  Aaron's really improved his game, and is an effective defenseman...Betts and Bouck kissed the glass a few times, and though Aaron Gionet is no Robyn Regehr, he's starting to put out some body checks that are very reminiscent of.  The improvement with Aaron is just coming in leaps and bounds now at 17, and he really looks like he's going to be a player in the future..."

"...never mind riding the pine, Pavel sat in the pressbox, didn't even get in the game. And I think they're trying to send a message to him.  But I kind of wonder if it's a little late, when people were trying to let the Hitmen know last year that this guy needed to find his own end of the rink. I guess the defensemen finally wanted to get introduced to
Pavel. And (coach) Clark is asking him to find his own end of the ice.  I believe they got him a map, and should only be a matter of time before he finds it...He can put the puck in the net but when you get to that next level, you have to bring a lot more than that to the rink.  I don't think that lazy cavalier attitude is going to work in the show. I think
New York tried to send a message by sending him back.  And obviously that message didn't get through, so now Clark's trying to.  I hope he gets it because he's an unbelievable talent, and only makes you a better player to play in your own end as well..."

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"...How can you enjoy an hour and ten minute first period.  That's just a joke. I think that's an indictment on (referee) Kelly Sutherland.  That guy could play handball against a curb, and maybe that might be a better career, 'cause he's sure a terrible referee...Ya know, he is a short guy and what's that called, a short man's syndrome or something?  That game tape should be sent to the league to review his call of the game.  If he had started giving 5 and 10 for the first fights, and 10 minutes for guys that were even standing there yappin', it would've sent a message.  But he tried to be cute, and it blew up in his face...It was terrible for anybody to watch, and I wouldn't be surprised if (Blazer GM) Mike Moore, went to 'spend some money' last night..."

"Don Hay and Ed Dempsey have shown this kind of hockey works against Kamloops, and if I was coaching against Kamloops, that's exactly how I'd play.  It's ugly hockey, but it's the two points in the standings that you're playing for...Teams have it figured out. Kamloops has a ton of skill, but lack the toughness, and you can't blame teams for doing it.   However, I question Marc Habschied.  He had all the guns last year and never played that kind of hockey.  He could've run Kelowna out of that first round series and opted not to.  He could've played Calgary a lot
tougher but opted not to.  Yet he comes in this year, and puts on the--I wouldn't even call it a 'goon show'--I thought it was pathetic, chicken-bleep hockey, and I guess he wears it well..."

I think when you look at the Rocket's common denominator, the only thing that's changed since last Saturday's lacklustre performance, is Bruce Harrison.  I wouldn't be surprised his mother hates him this morning.  How could anyone like him after how he played?  He was so obnoxious--got under everybody's skin.  I mean, I love Bruce Harrison, I just hate the game he played last night because he was in the wrong uniform.  But if he's playing for the home team, I'd make the guy mayor of the city..."
 

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 "...I'm surely not advocating stick-swinging and running guys from behind, but a good ol' tilt is good for the blood, and quite frankly, for those who say they don't like it, when was the last time the building emptied when two guys decided to go at 'er?...I don't know if these people noticed, but they had a lot of opportunity to watch Kurt Browning and Elvis Stojko this weekend. There was an awful lot of figure skating, if that's what they care to watch...Which brings us to the Kootenay Ice loading up. Sounds like Jeremy Yablonski is back, and he's a big, tough kid. And they already have 5 other fairly tough guys. Here's a team that's been playing well, but I got a feeling they've got a different game plan, than what they started the year with. I think they're definitely going to play it tough, and they want to be able to stand up to teams like Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, and probably try to run Calgary fairly hard. With Peat being in Calgary, he's only one guy, and with the likes of Belak, Chubb, Bublitz, Walker, Lassu and Yablonski, they can more than keep Peat busy, and put some extra attention on some of the other skill guys in Calgary..."

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"...Eric Godard probably won both fights last year, or at worst came out with draws, and he split two fights with Peat over the last week. This Godard kid is plenty tough and give Peat all he can handle and more. I guess Godard was leakin a little Heinz there, but he stood in there. We're still going to keep Godard in the number one spot because, he earned it before Peat got there, and I still don't think Peat's shown enough to take it. Until one of these guys can start beating the other guy all the time, I don't think those two rankings will change..."

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"...I watched as little as possible, but one of my little roughing minors likes that Euro hockey, so we had it on. I hear all the wining and complaining by Canadians again. We win it five years in a row. We're never really getting smoked in any of these games. All these people are saying that Canada just doesn't have it anymore. Well, I just don't buy
it. The defense wasn't a strong point for Canada this year, and that's where they need to shore it up. The Czechs and Russians were playing some pretty solid "D"...Someone suggested, if you want to know what's wrong with Canadian hockey, that you look no further than the Kamloops Blazers, their fans and the Fighting Major, saying that something's wrong if we're looking for another Rob Skrlac rather than another Jared Aulin. It's just ludicrous for someone to be slagging Kamloops fans for wanting to see some toughness. Kamloops fans are pretty knowledgeable people, and over the years they've seen that the skill guys have been protected by some heavyweights. And this team toughness stuff is a bunch of malarkey. Team toughness showed in Kelowna just what's wrong with it. And I'm not slamming the players, because they've got to play with the talent that they have. It's not the players, but when Mitch Fritz went on the rampage there, the entire team was consumed with retribution on Mitch Fritz--swung the game--Kamloops loses. I think that, in itself, spoke volumes for the need for this kind of person...If you don't believe it, you haven't played or watched enough hockey."

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"...you know, the doffing of the elbow pads, after he's been separated from a 16 year old kid in Chad Schockenmaier, it really made the impression of Mitch Fritz something even more special. I swear to God this guy's got an IQ between a corpse and a frozen puck. I mean, what an idiot. Sure Schockenmaier's yappy, but if he's not going to go with you, you don't chase him down and put on a show. It doesn't make you look tough. Skrlac was no better hockey player, but you didn't see him chasing 16 year olds. I thought Fritz really made himself look bush, and
I know numerous scouts were kinda feelin the same way about the kid..."

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"...here's a guy (Godard), who to this point has a couple dozen or so fighting majors--fights everybody and anybody, has multiple fights in a game. He has to be the toughest guy in the league, pound for pound. He more than often wins. Apparantly this is like the third fight with Peat that Godard's won. So, I had pretty much given it to Peat this year to be the heavyweight champ, but I think Godard's gotta get the edge 'til Peat can knock him off..."

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Excerpt taken from the Fighting Major Radio Show, Thursday, December 16, 1999

"...Kaczowka and Bone were throwin' huge haymakers. I mean, there was a pretty good air conditioning system working there for about 40 seconds. Not one big bomb landed. I think Kaczowka might have got a couple of love taps to the back of Bone's head. But it was definitely entertaining because there definitely some punches with some intent..."
"...One of the Detroit scouts noticed Anton Borodkin was trying to roast Beckett on the fire there. Looked like he was trying to shish-ka-bob him...I said, "Ya gotta love that guys skill". The fella says "Ya, it
didn't take him but two shifts to have half of Detroit Red Wings' camp mad at the guy." He agreed Borodkin's got that Pavel Bure flying-elbow-to-Churla's-head-thing right down pat. He's good with the
stick. If he quits hockey, Borodkin could be the first surgeon to use his stick instead of a scalpel to take vital organs out..."

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 Excerpt taken from the Fighting Major Radio Show Friday, December 17, 1999.

"...One thing I noticed with the Thunderbirds is (Blazer's)Panov had a breakaway in the first period, and Beckett still hadn't caught him in the third. That alone, says something about the T-Bird defense. Man, they're just not very quick...The Blatney deal--ya know, they give up Blatney for Fomitchev. I think with either Blatney back on the club, and you ride Vicars in net, they're better offensively--a couple of really strong units up front. And if you're going to deal Blatney, you go for a Borscheim or Tetrault--a physical, but decent hockey player. I question the trade. You gotta get more for Blatney than Fomitchev. I think that one's going to come back to bite them...Ya hate to  speculate, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nachbaur is looking for employment by Christmas...Bret DeCecco is probably my favorite player in the league, and I could've cried last night. The guy just had no drive, no desire, ya know the scrums he skated away from. Ordinarily he's scrappy, in your face, plays hard and tough and physical, and he was just nowhere last night. Saprykin looks like he's skatin' up at Lac Du Bois playin' pond hockey. The guy just doesn't have it. I don't know where he lost it, but better send out an S.O.S. for his luggage 'cause maybe that's where it is...I don't know if the players have quit, but there's a confusion over what role each guy has on the team.."

Excerpt taken from the Fighting Major Radio Show, Monday,  December 13, 1999, following the Americans/Blazers' game which started with a Hay/Dupont scrap 6 seconds in.

"...It was Hay, just after the puck dropped, got the gloves up in Dupont's face, and you don't have to ask Micki twice--that little Irish guy there. And he just started chuckin' 'em with Hayzer. I have to give Hay credit. He landed three pretty hard shots, but Micki had that left going...Hay was overmatched, and as the game wore on, he looked overmatched in the skill department too...This Hay over Dupont selection for the World Juniors seems to be a bit of a payback for Mr. Hay being involved at one time..."

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Excerpt taken from the Fighting Major Radio Show, Thursday, December 9, 1999:

"...(Hurricane) Derek Parker went for the cross check on Med. Hat's Brad Voth.  Only problem was Voth was sittin' on the bench.  So That sort of tells you about this kid.  Some people say he's a wing nut and a waste of a jersey, but I like his "get up and go".  He's gonna get smarter or he's gonna get killed!  The kid's obviously a team player, because apparentley the reason he went after Voth was for an incident between Voth and one of the other Lethbridge skill guys--uh, if Lethbridge has skill guys.  It speaks volumes about this 16 year old's character...I hope that he learns, because I think this kid could be a really tough hombre, and a guy not many players wanna scrap come later in his career.  But you do have to stay in more games.  If you're sittin' on the bench, and not getting a lot of shifts, you're still a little more  effective and can still intimidate, but if you're sittin' in the stands, it doesn't intimidate anybody...."

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Excerpt from Fighting Major Radio Show, Monday, December 6, 1999, the day after witnessing MacIntyre and Fritz, and just hours before the "Peat to Calgary" deal came down.

 "...MacIntyre and Fritz looked like two English bulldogs. Just throwin' the jams, and the jowls and slobber just flyin'. The Kelowna fans saw more bombs in this one, than Saddam Hussein during Desert Storm. My blood pressure's risin' here. I might have to go see the doctor. The Fighting Major definitely got his need for pugilistic talents fulfilled in Kelowna. This was one of the best fights I've seen in ages...I think the score was four or five to one. I'm not really sure, nor do I care..."
"Yeah, Peat's likely going to Calgary. I'm just hoping he doesn't get dealt before Kamloops plays Tri-Cities. I wanna see the kid play, and maybe Bone will have a go with him. But the Calgary Hitmen would like to see Peat in their uniform to look after guys like Brendl and Moran. And that seems to make a lot of sense, considering that you've got Bryan Maxwell, who's known to have his team play a rather fiesty brand of hockey. There's a lot of toughness in the Central, and Calgary's going to need to respond to that toughness, and Stephen Peat would be the
perfect answer. Though many guys are not going to challenge Stephen Peat, he definitely keeps the heat off your skill guys. 'Cause if other teams do run your skill guys, they know who's going to be ringing their bell. Not too many guys want to go with Peat, and I don't blame 'em..."

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 1. Get rid of the instigator rule!

 2. Make the visor optional for players.

 3. Tell the linesman to "Let the players go".

 4. Get rid of the most sportsmanlike player award and add leading PIM award instead.

 5. Give an extra major to any player who "turtles". (Sure would make life tough on Shon Jones-Parry).

 6. Eliminate the misconduct for improper tie downs.

 7. Make it mandatory for all goalies to get involved in line brawls.

 8. Get rid of these stupid obstruction penalties. They're redundant! Interference is interference, no matter how you slice it!

 9. Suspend the Kamloops Blazers from play until they can get some toughness.

 10. Change overtime. Let each team's heavyweights duke it out for the extra point.

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