Absurd Goalie Monday: Fred Brathwaite

While this goalie is a fresh retiree, he does have quite a resume to show. From winning a Memorial Cup to scoring a goal in the IHL, to being in a hip-hop video, this week's AGM savvy nature has made him a great personality in the game and has moved him along to a life in hockey by coaching and technology, as well. This week, the profile of Fred Brathwaite.

Brathwaite's start was in Junior "A" in the 1988-89 season with the Smiths Falls Bears, where he would play in 38 games and have a record of 16-18-1, while in the 1989-90 season-- Brathwaite played in Junior "B" for the Orilla Terriers for 15 games before getting a call-up.

The call-up for Brathwaite was to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, where he would finish that campaign with a 11-2-1 record in 20 games, then went 4-2 in 10 playoff games, as the Generals won the OHL title. In the Memorial Cup that year, Brathwaite played one game (a win) en route to the Generals winning the Memorial Cup. In the 1990-91 season, Brathwaite appeared in 39 games for Oshawa and compile a 25-6-3 record, then post a 9-2 record in 13 playoff games. The 1991-92 season put Brathwaite in Oshawa again, but only for 24 games (12-7-2), then he was dealt to the London Knights where he would go 15-6-2 in 23 games, then 5-5 in the playoffs. Brathwaite was on the move once again before the 1992-93 season, where he would play for the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, putting up a 23-10-4 record in 37 games while going 9-6 in the playoffs.

Going undrafted, Brathwaite was signed by the Edmonton Oilers before the 1993-94 season, where he would go 3-10-3 in 19 appearances, while being sent down to the AHL's Cape Breton Oilers for two games going 1-1-0. The lockout shortened 1994-95 season had Brathwaite in Edmonton the entire season, posting a 2-5-1 record in 14 games. Brathwaite struggled with Edmonton in the 1995-96 season, going 0-2-0 in seven games before having a stint in the AHL with Cape Breton, where he would have a 12-16-0 record in his 31 games there.

With no NHL contract, Brathwaite signed with the IHL's Manitoba Moose for the 1996-97 season, where he would put up a 22-22-5 record in 58 games, but he would record a goal in November of 1996. Returning to Manitoba in the 1997-98 season, Brathwaite had a 23-18-4 record in 51 games, then went 0-1 in two playoff games.

Brathwaite moved onto the Canadian National Team at the beginning of the 1998-99 season, playing 24 exhibitions and going 6-8-3 in those games before he would get a solid break.

In January of 1999, Brathwaite was signed by the Calgary Flames and would play 28 games the rest of that season, posting an 11-9-7 record along the way. The 1999-2000 season allowed Brathwaite to get starting goalie time, playing in 61 games and finishing with a 25-25-7 record for the Flames, as well as going to the AHL for two games (both wins) with the Saint John Flames; in addition to that-- Brathwaite played a game in the World Championships for Canada, a loss. In the 2000-01 season, Brathwaite played in 49 games for Calgary and went 15-17-10, while on the Canadian team in the World Championship-- Brathwaite played in four games with a 3-1-0 record.

During the summer of 2001, Brathwaite along with Daniel Tkaczuk, Sergei Varlamov, and a pick went to the St. Louis Blues for Roman Turek and a draft pick. With the Blues in the 2001-02 season, Brathwaite was a back-up to Brent Johnson and would play in 25 games and finishing with a 9-11-4 record and playing in six seconds of a playoff game. In the 2002-03 season, Brathwaite was a part of a seven goalie system in St. Louis-- playing in 30 games and finished with a 12-9-4 record.

Brathwaite signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 2003-04 season and would go to 4-11-1 in 21 games, while playing in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch for three games and finishing with a 0-2-1 record.

Brathwaite went overseas for the 2004-05 season to play with Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Super League, playing for two years there in 66 games with 14 shutouts in that time. Brathwaite came back to North America for the 2006-07 season, signing with the Atlanta Thrashers, but being assigned to the AHL's Chicago Wolves, playing in 40 games with a 22-13-5 record to show. In the 2007-08 season with the Wolves, Brathwaite only appeared in 13 games (10-2-0) before leaving the team and going back over to Russia to play with Avangard Omsk for 18 games to end out the season.

Staying in Europe, but moving to Germany, Brathwaite started out with Adler Mannheim in the 2008-09 season, playing in 49 contests and posting a 27-22-0 with six shutouts, then 5-4 in the playoffs, a performance good enough for Brathwaite to get the German League MVP. During the 2009-10 season, Brathwaite put up a 21-25-0 record for Mannheim in 47 games, then 0-2 in the playoffs; while in the 2010-11 season, Brathwaite went 25-24-0 for a 49 game season, then 3-3 in the playoffs.

Brathwaite attempted to get another NHL role, but has been unable to find a spot-- settling for an assistant goalie coach for Adler Mannheim. As well, Brathwaite is the Public Relations director for a new stadium smartphone app called SweetSeat, where fans can order food, drink, or merchandise from their seat and have it delivered to them.

With brief promises, the cards seemed to be stacked against Brathwaite-- being shuffled around a logjam of goalies from organization to organization. While he did start out to be a solid prospect, it never turned out-- but he chalked up many miles to keep his dream alive and well, regardless of cost.

BE DIALIN' Don West, Young Man, BE DIALIN'!!

Forget Bob Hartley going to Montreal, what I'm about to present to you could be one of the bigger front office moves made, but won't be given that much publicity because it's a small market and a lower lever team-- but boy howdy-- what a move.

Rumor has it (from wrestling dirt-sheets) that the Wenatchee Wild of the NAHL, a Tier II Junior A league in the USA Hockey Program is about to announce former Shop-At-Home sports card guru and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling announcer Don West as their next General Manager. It adds to the lexicon of wrestling and hockey being intertwined.

For those who don't know Don West, here's some video action of what he has brought to many a TV screen late at night.

You cannot deny the energy and selling power West will bring to the table. It will draw a lot of attention to the team and maybe generate a few more ticket sales to people who remember him from his baseball card selling days or wrestling announcer days.

But, the question must be asked: What does Don West know about hockey and about management??

The answer right now-- not much about either.

West is a Purdue University graduate in broadcasting, then went on to be the pitchman at Shop-At-Home, hosting his own sports talk show in the Nashville area in 2001, then onto TNA wrestling as the color commentator. Aside from that, West has really nothing in way of management skills or hockey background when it comes to it all.

Of course, the dirt sheets could be COMPLETELY wrong in the reason why Don West is leaving, because it's so very random; but if this does come to fruition-- I know I'll pay more attention to the NAHL and Wenatchee Wild.

Yet, is that the only reason the Wild are doing this or thinking of doing this-- the publicity?? Because if so, it's quite the short-sighted idea and could be the start of the death kneel for the team in itself to hire a guy with no experience for such a position. Sure, it's not like he's going into the NHL and trying to run stuff, but the fact he really has no known hockey background or upper management background, it could make his team a sitting duck unless they surround him with a lot of knowledgeable people or he knows more than he lets on....it just seems like a crazy gimmick to attract attention-- which it has.

It may not be the best business move on the surface, but from a publicity stand-point, GENIUS.

And if, in fact, West does trade ten mixed boxes of wax packs for a top player; then he's craftier than we gave him credit for.

The Perks of Playing Host

Last night, the Shawinigan Cataractes won the Memorial Cup on home ice, defeating the London Knights in overtime. It was the second straight season the QMHL has won the Memorial Cup and the ninth time the host team has won the Memorial Cup. In the 1982-83, the Canadian Hockey League said they would expand to a four-team tournament, including the three league champions and a host team. Now, the caveat in the early years is that the teams had to make it far enough to qualify to play in their own barn.

Only once since 1983 did only three teams play and that was in 1987 when the OHL decided to hold a "Super Series" between Oshawa and North Bay. Oshawa won the series, as well as beating North Bay in the OHL Finals, thus making only three teams for the Memorial Cup.

While some people believe hosting the Memorial Cup gives that team an unfair advantage or is a silly objective; the number really don't support that theory in the long run. Here's some fun facts before my take.

Number of Memorial Cup Tournaments with Host Teams: 29
Number of Host Teams to Win Memorial Cup: 9
Number of Host Teams to Win Memorial Cup, but not their League: 6
Number of Host Teams to Win Their League: 7
Number of Host Teams Who Didn't Participate: 3 (1988 Chicoutimi Sagueneens [DNQ]; 1990 Hamilton Dukes [Disbanded mid-season]; 1991 Beauport Harfangs [DNQ])

So, when you look at it, 31% of the team who host the event, which isn't horrible, but it's not like the trend is a big deal or something to be considered silly. A more surprising stat could be the teams who hosted that didn't win their league-- because what has happened at some times in the past is that when a team get selected to host, a lot of NHL teams would talk to the Major Junior teams that their prospects belong to and ask for them to be traded to the host team because they would be with a competitive team and be seen in meaningful games. It would also help the team in gaining attendance if premier prospects are on the roster.

Though the idea of having a host team is a little bit interesting, especially when you see that Shawinigan, who was the second seed in the QMJHL, didn't make it past the second-round of the playoffs. Even though they did play exhibitions against some decent talent during their break, the fact they had more of a rest than other teams could have played to an advantage. They may not have been as good as the other teams, but rested legs would play crucial to a tournament like this.

Even so, the host team is a valuable status symbol for teams. With the big business that Major Junior hockey has become across North America, to get the event would be big for the local economy and national exposure of the city. If a "small" town gets the event, it's a huge boom and get the fans into the whole event, if they wouldn't be already. It centralizes the game and has the focus in one place rather than having it going back and forth between cities. However, it's just a thing that could work for Major Junior hockey and not professional leagues.

Teamless in Seattle

While the buzz about yesterday's announcement of the new arena being build in Seattle and how it could be a new relocation destination for struggling NHL teams, the fact remains that this deal may not fully go as planned for more the Pacific Northwestern faithful. There's still some red tape and issues that need to be cleared up in order to make this into a reality situation-- but it's hope for a city that didn't have much of a chance with an old arena.

First, the positives-- it's a solid market with an already ingrained rival with the Vancouver Canucks up the road. That would help both sides go back and forth and should people in Vancouver not be able to get tickets to see some teams they might want to see-- they can just shoot down to Seattle to check them out. It's something that will create jobs for the Seattle area and bring another spectacle to the Seattle area when it comes to new stadiums-- SafeCo Field and CenturyLink Field being relatively new stadiums as well.

Yet, there's still some concern when it comes to the funding, as Seattle residences are still paying for the KingDome, which has been long imploded, but still needed to be paid for. The City owns the KeyArena, which will be an issue because they wouldn't want to lose money on that if they decide to build the new arena. Not only that, but it seems that in order for the arena to start being build, the new relocated team has to be owned by someone and already moved into the KeyArena to play for a year or two because ground will be broken on the new arena. That in itself could scare away potential relocating teams, as the KeyArena is 50 years old this year and only gets some renovations here and there-- as you can bet nothing big will happen to the KeyArena for a team only staying there for the short term. For hockey alone, the building only holds 11,000-- 9,000 of them are unobstructed.

Another issue would be the 30-year bond-lease that the teams would have to sign onto, which is what got the Coyotes into their mess and may create another mess if the team doesn't get the attendance they thought they would from the on-set of this project.

That said, when you look at what the Phoenix Coyotes have been averaging-- 11,655-- and the league being frustrated with not having an owner still; they may put up with the low attendance for a season just to get them off their hands and have that debacle over with. Depending on how fast the crews can build an arena-- it'll be a short-term deal in the old barn before the new arena is set-up.

Not only that-- what will it do to effect the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. While the team plays in Kent, Washington-- 30 minutes away from Seattle's downtown, it could take away from the team's attendance, which was just over 4,000 last season for the year in their 6,500-seat facility in the ShoWare Center. While Junior Hockey has a presence there, will the area be enough to hold two prominent franchises or could it be a death-blow for the junior hockey team in Seattle?? Time will tell, but you have to wonder what's going on with the Thunderbirds owners at this point with this news.

While the $500-millon dollar arena project hasn't give much details, the investment group who is making this deal and their lead man in this, Washington native Chris Hansen (not that one), are keen to have a new arena. That said-- Hansen is a guy who grew up with the NBA's Supersonics and you can imagine that getting basketball back will be his top option. Many hockey fans may get excited about it, but if it's not the right terms for the team or the city-- it won't happen. While hockey has a rich heritage in Seattle-- including the first US team to win the Stanley Cup-- basketball will always be the full winter sport people will remember most about.

Positivity is that there's enough people in the PacNorthwest to garner the attention and grab a pretty critical market for the NHL, one that would be a little bit more attractive than the Quebec City option, which is another city without a new arena. Whatever the outcome, the fact that there could be another option, one that the NHL would probably LOVE to have over Quebec City and Kansas City--is always good for the league and struggling owners who may want to unload their team.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Bruce Gamble

This week, the profile of a man who lived a great hockey career, but had it unceremoniously ended due to health issues and then had his own mortality shorted from the same condition. It's A sad tale, but more a reflection on the life that he did lead on the rink. This week, the profile of Bruce Gamble.

Gamble's assent to the pros started with the Thunder Bay Junior League, which was a Junior A league. Gamble played with the Port Arthur Bruins in the 1952-53 season playing in 11 games with a 7.40 GAA. His role would expand in the 1953-54 season with the Bruins, going 20-15-1 in 36 games. While he didn't play in the 1954-55 season, Gamble returned to the TBJHL, but with the Port Arthur North Stars in 1955-56 playing in 31 games and compiling a 19-10-2 record, then going 8-1 in the playoffs to help capture the TBJHL title. Gamble and the North Stars would go 7-6 in 13 Memorial Cup playdown game, losing to the Regina Pats in the Abbott Cup Finals.

Gamble would move onto the Ontario Hockey Association's Guelph Biltmores for the 1956-57 season, playing 40 games with six shutouts, then getting them to the Memorial Cup playdown, though only going 1-4. Gamble returned to Guelph for the start of the 1957-58 season, going 13-32-5 in 50 games, but he would be loaned out to the Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens, where he would go 10-3 in the Memorial Cup playdown, helping the Canadiens to win the Richardson Memorial Trophy for the Eastern Canadian Championship; then the Memorial Cup.

Gamble would end the 1957-58 season with the Providence Reds of the AHL winning the only game he played in.

The 1958-59 season, Gamble would move out West to play for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, going 29-26-10 with seven shutouts; helping him win the WHL Rookie of the Year award. However, Gamble would go 2-3 in five playoff games for the Canucks. Gamble was promoted to the NHL with the New York Rangers that season for two games, losing both.

The Boston Bruins claimed Gamble in the 1959 Intra-League Draft and sent him to the Providence Reds of the AHL for the 1959-60 season, which had Gamble go 37-32-2 in 71 games, but then going 1-4 in the playoffs. Gamble would play in Providence for 19 games in the the 1960-61 season with a 6-13-0 record, but was still promoted to the Boston Bruins, going 12-33-7 in 52 games. The Bruins loaned out Gamble at the start of the 1961-62 season to the Portland Buckaroos of the WHL, where he would bounce back with a 28-11-2 record in 41 games. When being recalled by the Bruins, he went 6-18-4 in 28 games with the Bruins.

Gamble moved onto the Kingston Frontenacs of the Eastern Professional League in the 1962-63 season, going 39-18-11 in the 68 games he played in. The 1963-64 season had Gamble moved to the Springfield Indians by a trade of the NHL-AHL sort from the Bruins and he went 5-12-3 in the 21 games he played in. The 1964-65 season had Gamble get suspended by the Indians for refusing to report to the team, which lasted the entire season.

Springfield traded Gamble to the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 1965-66 season, where he would play 10 games in that season, going 5-2-3 in that time. However, he spent most of the season with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Professional League, recording a 21-24-9 record in 54 games. Gamble would do the split again in the 1966-67 season, going 5-10-4 in 23 games with the Leafs, 2-4-1 in only seven games with Tulsa, then made a stop with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, going 2-3 in five games there.

With the expansion era, the 1967-68 season allowed Gamble to stay in Toronto for the season, playing in 41 games and finishing with a 19-13-3 record backing up Johnny Bower. The 1968-69 season had Gamble in the starting role over Bower, playing in 61 games that season with a 28-20-11 record to show, then a 0-2 record in the playoffs. Gamble had a bit of a downslide in the 1969-70 season with the Leafs, finishing his 52 game season with a 19-24-9 record with five shutouts. The slide continued in the 1970-71 season with Jacques Plante coming onto the scene in Toronto, Gamble only went 6-14-1 in 23 games before he went on his way out.

The Leafs would trade Gamble to the Philadelphia Flyers for Bernie Parent. The end of that season with the Flyers, Gamble went 3-6-2 in 11 games. The 1971-72 season was a short-one for Gamble-- going only 7-8-2 in 24 games before his season immediately shut-down.

On February 8th, 1972-- Gamble was in net for the Flyers against the Vancouver Canucks in a 3-1 win. After the game and after reaching Oakland with the team, Gamble complained of chest pains and was sent to an Oakland hospital. It was found out that Gamble had suffered a heart attack during the Vancouver game and with this heart attack, it ended his career abruptly.

Ten years later, after a practice with the "old-timer" team, the Niagara Falls Flames, Gamble had chest pains again and passed away in a Niagara Falls hospital at age 44.

There seemed to be a roller coaster of events during his career, but Gamble kept plugging away and probably could have done much more if not for his health. He persevered and knew where he wanted to be and would accept nothing less. He did what he loved and gave his all to the game.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Dave Parro

There's time where being in the minors is a bad thing and something you wish could come back from. Yet, for this week's AGM, being in the minors allowed him to find a place where he would call home after his playing career, as well as help out the locals in the process. This week, we look at the career of Dave Parro.

Parro started his career back in the 1973-74 season, where he would play the first of two seasons with the Saskatchewan Junior League's Saskatoon Olympics. After 64 games with the Olympics; Parro moved onto the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Canada Junior League, starting with one win in his only appearances in the 1974-75 campaign. For the 1975-76 season, Parro played 36 games behind Randy Ireland, going 28-6-2 in those games, then going 1-3-1 in nine playoff games, as the Blades would lose in the final. Parro took over the starting role in the 1976-77 season for the Blades, going 28-26-12 in 69 games, then 2-4 in six playoff games. Parro was named to the WCJHL Second Team All-Star squad.

Parro did get the eye of both the NHL and WHA, as he was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the NHL Draft, then being picked by the Houston Aeros in the 10th round of the WHA Draft.

However, Parro decided to go to the AHL, playing for the Rochester Americans in the 1977-78 season, where he would get in 46 contests and go 25-16-3 in those games, then 2-1 in three playoff matches. The 1978-79 season had Parro in Rochester for part of the year, but only for 36 games with a 12-15-5 record. Parro also spent seven games with the IHL's Grand Rapids Owls that season.

The Summer of 1979 was interesting for Parro, as he was selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the Expansion Draft with the WHA teams coming into the fold. However, he was only a Nordique for two days, as they traded him to the Washington Capitals for Nelson Burton.

Parro would play for the Hershey Bears in the 1979-80 season, going 20-30-3 in his 54 games, but then going 5-3 in eight playoff appearances, helping the Bears win the Calder Cup. Parro would start out the 1980-81 season, playing in 14 games (7-6-1) before getting a call-up to Washington and playing in 18 games with the Capitals (4-7-2). The 1981-82 season would be a sticking point for Parro, as he got a majority of games in the Capitals net, although going 16-26-7 in his 52 games that year. Parro would only appear in six games for the Caps in the 1982-83 season (1-3-1) before being demoted to Hershey again, with a 21-20-4 record in 47 games, then 1-3 in four playoff games; while also getting AHL Second Team All-Star honors. The 1983-84 season had Parro play 42 games with the Bears, finishing 12-21-5, while appearing in relief in one game for the Caps.

Without a NHL deal, Parro moved to the IHL, signing with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles for the 1984-85 season, but only playing in 28 games with an 11-14-3 record to show. The 1985-86 season had Parro going to the Flint Spirits first, going 10-34-0 in 46 games, before moving onto the Fort Wayne Komets for five games and a 1-3-1 record to show. The 1986-87 season was the last one for Parro in the IHL and in hockey (for playing) as he would go 16-14-0 in 32 games with the Indianapolis Checkers.

While Parro's hung up the pads for a professional career, that almost changed. Parro lives in Hershey, Pennsylvania and was called upon by the Bears to be an emergency back-up in 1997 for Marc Denis. He didn't play, but he said it was a close call.

Parro still lives in Hershey, helping with the Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic League for high schools, coaching first with Lower Dauphin High School, then now with Hershey High School. As well, Parro is active with the Bears, Capitals, and even Flyers alumni, serving as president for the Bears alumni.

While he didn't have the most lengthy career, Parro did leave his mark-- especially at the community level. He may not be remembered by many for his playing days, the indelible mark he left on the Hershey area will live onward for years to come.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Chris Worthy

In honor of that Royal Wedding across the pond in jolly ol' England, we profile our second British-born goalie, but did have quite the career that Byron Dafoe had. It's another story of a player who had an amazing career in the junior ranks, but due to a bad team in front of him and deep competition, never reached those heights in the pros as he did in juniors. This week, the profile of Chris Worthy.

While he was born in Bristol, England-- Worthy and his family moved to Canada at a young age. Worthy would learn the game and start playing with the Flin Flon Bombers of Saskatchewan Junior League, starting first by playing 53 games in the 1965-66 season. The Bombers and Worthy would move onto the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the 1966-67 season, where Worthy would put up an astonishing 40-4-0 record in 44 games, then going 8-6 in 14 playoff games, helping to win the Turnbull Cup Championship.. The Bombers would go to the Memorial Cup representing Manitoba, but would lose in seven games to the host Port Arthur Marrs. Worthy would also get Top Goaltender honors in the MJHL and First-Team All-Star honors that season. Staying with the Bombers in 1967-68, but going to the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League; Worthy continued to play amazing, going 47-8-5 in 60 games with the Bombers, as well as going 8-6 again in the playoffs.

Worthy's rights were first taken by the Detroit Red Wings, but those would be traded in May of 1968, where he, Gary Jarrett, Doug Roberts, and Howie Young were traded to the Oakland Seals for Bob Baun and Ron Harris. Worthy's pro career started with the Seal in the 1968-69 season, but would be the third goalie, getting only 14 games in with a 4-6-3 record in those games. The 1969-70 season would be a nice travel experience for Worthy, as he would only play one game in Oakland (a loss), three games with the Providence Reds of the AHL, but would spend most of the season with the Seattle Totems of the Western League with a 14-14-3 record in 31 games. As the Oakland Seals became the California Golden Seals, Worthy would be with them for the 1970-71 season, but with the work horse Gary Smith in net, Worthy only got 11 games in-- mostly in relief, as he finished the year with a 1-3-1 record.

The 1971-72 season had Worthy relegated to the Kansas City Blues of the Central League, playing in 19 games, but with a 3-10-5 record to show for it. Worthy was picked up by the Denver Spurs of the Western League in the 1972 Reserve Draft, where he would get more games in, playing 37 and compiling a 12-14-7 record.

Worthy was also selected by the Dayton Aeros of the WHA in their 1972 Draft, but would never play for them as he was picked by the Alberta Oilers in the professional players Draft in 1973. Worthy showed up to the Oilers for the 1973-74 season, playing behind Jack Norris and going 11-12-1 in his 29 appearances. It was another 29 appearances for Worthy in Alberta, this time with an 11-13-3 record in the 1974-75 season, while the 1975-76 season had Worthy in only 24 games with a 5-14-0 record to show; which would be his last season playing.

Post-playing career, Worthy attended the University of Alberta and Seattle University where he would be give a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and would become a very successful Chartered Accountant. As well, he became Chief Financial Officer for the fourth-biggest construction company in the US before starting a private investment company. He helped many get their businesses off the ground and made sure to lead people in the right direction.

Sadly, Worthy contracted pancreatic cancer and passed in 2007 at only 57. He's survived by his wife of 41 years and two sons.

While he started off his career with a powerhouse of a junior team, that came at a price when he got chosen by a team who didn't have much of anything, which stymied his performance in the big leagues and made him bounce around. Yet-- he stuck with it for as long as he could, then used his smarts to his post-playing career and made quite the name for himself before his untimely passing.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Warren Skorodenski

This week, we'll take a look at a guy who was at the Heritage Classic, but not used. In fact, it seems that for most of his career, his mask would get the most attention in the career rather than what he did while he was playing. And while he had a few moments in the sun, his skull mask shall forever live on. This week, the profile of Warren Skorodenski.

Skorodenski started off playing in Midget AAA with the West Kildonan North Stars in Manitoba before moving to the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Wranglers. In his first season with the Wranglers in 1977-78, Skorodenski played the bulk of games, but only had a dismal 8-22-10 record out of his 52 appearances. Things got drastically better in the 1978-79 season, with Skorodenksi playing in 66 games compiling a 26-31-5 record, then going 7-8 in the playoffs; losing in the division finals. After that season, Skorodenski was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks, but remained in Calgary for the 1979-80 season, where he would put up his best numbers, going 39-23-2 in 66 games, but a 3-4 playoff mark would have him bow out in the first round.

The 1980-81 season would see Skorodenski take the pro route, playing with the Flint Generals of the IHL for 41 games (sadly, no record available), while getting two games up with the AHL's New Brunswick Hawks, going 0-1-0. Skorodenski would stay in New Brunswick for the 1981-82 season, seeing 28 games, finishing with a 16-8-4 record, while going 0-2 in the playoffs. Along with Dan Janeyck; they won the AHL's Hap Holmes Award for fewest goals against. He also got a call-up to the Blackhawks for one game, which was a loss. The 1982-83 season would see him split between the AHL's Springfield Indians for 13 games (3-6-0), as well as being sent down for the bulk of the season to the Central League's Birmingham South Stars, where he would go 11-11-1 in 25 games, while going 0-4 in five playoff appearances. The 1983-84 season was a dicey one, as Skorodenski started out with the Sherbrooke Jets for 19 games (5-10-2), but an incident on November 20th of 1983 would see Skorodenski get suspended by the AHL for 20 games, as he assaulted referee Dave Lynch. When he return, Skorodenski would play 14 games with the Indians, going 3-11-0, then 0-2 in two playoff appearances.

Skorodenski played hard enough in training camp to win a spot on the Blackhawks main roster for the 1984-85 season, backing up Murray Bannerman. Skorodenski would going 11-9-3 in 27 games, with a solid .903 save percentage; highest in the league. Skorodenski played one game with the Blackhawks in the 1985-86 season, a loss, but a logjam in net relegated him to the AHL with the Nova Scotia Oilers, playing 32 games and having a 11-14-2 record to show. The majority of the 1986-87 season had Skorodenski back in Nova Scotia, appearing in another 32 contest with a 10-15-0 record, while receiving a call-up from the Blackhawks for three games, going 1-0-1. Skorodenski also saw time in the IHL with the Saginaw Generals, going 4-1-0 in six games; but then going 3-2 in six playoff contests.

The Edmonton Oilers liked what they saw in Skorodenski when he was in their minor league system, that they signed him before the 1987-88 campaign. Granted, he spent the majority of the time with Nova Scotia, playing 46 games with 25-15-5 record; Edmonton called him up for three games-- but all came in relief and wouldn't allow him a record. Skorodenski had one more kick in the Oilers' organization in the 1988-89 season, but it would be with the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL, where he would go 11-13-1 before leaving the team.

Skorodenski finished out the 1988-89 campaign with the Canadian National Team, seeing 22 games of action and finishing with a 8-9-1 record. Skorodenski would stay with the National Team for the 1989-90 season, going 18-17-0 in 41 appearances traveling around the globe. One last gasp in the 1990-91 season had Skorodenski play only two games-- both wins-- for the National Team before he would hang-up the pads for good.

Sadly, I was unable to catch up with Skorodenski at the alumni game to see what he is up to, as he seems to have fallen off the map in the hockey world. While he did have a sweet mask, he could have been a lot more. He had flashes of brilliance, but at the same time-- never seemed to get the attention he needed to work on those flashes.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Jean-Claude Bergeron

There are few times were one of the AGMs hits their stride after their junior career....but here we are. This week, the AGM in question really got noticed for his days in the minors while playing later in his career than his junior and early years in minor league hockey. This week, the career of Jean-Claude Bergeron.

Bergeron first came busting on the scene in the QMJHL with the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 1985-86 season as a back-up, going 13-16-1 in 33 games. The 1986-87 season saw Bergeron start off with Shawinigan for 11 games with a 5-4-1 record before he was dealt to the very defensively inept Verdun Jr. Canadiens, where he would take over the starting role. He would play 41 games with Verdun with an 11-28-1 record to end out the year. Back in Verdun for the 1987-88 season, where it wouldn't get much better with a 13-31-3 record in 49 games, giving up 265 goals behind that horrific defense. Yet, even with those numbers, the Montreal Canadiens would pick up Bergeron in the 5th round of the 1988 Draft. The worse of the Verdun years would be in the 1988-89 season, as Bergeron would play 44 games and record an abysmal 8-34-1 record.

There would be a reprive with Bergeron during that '88-'89 season, as he would move to the AHL's Sherbrooke Canadiens for five games and put up a 4-1-0 record. In his first pro season of 1989-90, Bergeron would see plenty of ice time; playing in 40 games while compiling a record of 21-8-7, while going 6-2 in nine playoff games. Bergeron would be named to the AHL's First All-Star Team and share the Hap Holmes Trophy with tandem partner Andre Racicot for least goals-against, in addition to his Baz Bastien Trophy win for Outstanding Goaltender of the year.

Bergeron would start out the 1990-91 season with the Montreal Canadiens on their French Tour, going 1-0-0 in two games, then would spend 18 games with Montreal, splitting between the beginning and ending of the season, going 7-6-2. During the middle of the year, he would head to Fredericton; the new home of the Habs AHL affiliate, playing 18 games with a 12-6-0 record, then going 5-5 in 10 playoff games. In 1991-92, Bergeron would start out with Fredericton and would play 18 games, but his 5-7-1 record would get him sent to the IHL's Peoria Rivermen, where he would play 27 games, finishing with a 14-9-3 record, while going 3-3 in six playoff games.

During the summer of 1992, Bergeron would be traded by Montreal to the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning for Frederic Chabot. That 1992-93 season would see play third string behind former AGMs Pat Jablonski and Wendell Young; but he would get 21 games in with a 8-10-1 record. With another goaltending acquisition, Bergeron would play most of the 1993-94 season with the IHL's Atlanta Knights, playing in 48 games with a stellar 27-11-3 record, then going 1-1 in two playoff games, as he would be a part of the Turner Cup champion team. Bergeron would share the James Norris Trophy with Mike Greenlay for fewest goals-against during the year. Bergeron would get three games of call-up in the '93-'94 season, going 1-1-1.

The 1994-95 season had Bergeron start off in Atlanta while the NHL lockout was going on, playing in six games with a 3-3-0 record. As the lockout ended, Bergeron was called-up to the Tampa Bay Lightning to get in 17 games of action during the shorten season with a 3-9-1 record. Bergeron would start off in Tampa in the 1995-96 season, but would only spend 12 games (2-6-2) before being sent down to Atlanta. With Atlanta, Bergeron would get in 25 games, but not fare as well as he did years prior, going 9-10-3.

Bergeron would sign with the Los Angeles Kings for the 1996-97, but would be sent to the IHL's Phoenix Roadrunners for the bulk of the season. With the Roadrunners, Bergeron would see 42 games in net, ending the year with an 11-19-2 record. Bergeron would see one game with the Kings, losing said game.

Bergeron would take a year off before resurfacing in the Quebec Semi-Pro League, playing for the Joliette Blizzard in the 1998-99 season, going 12-1-1 in 15 games, then going 9-2 in 11 playoff games, helping the Blizzard capture the QSPHL crown. Bergeron would return for 13 more games in the 1999-2000 season, going 8-5-0 before hanging up the pads for good.

Bergeron took his time and tenure in the NHL to the next level, becoming the Hockey Business Unit Director for Reebok Hockey; where he oversees the CCM line of goaltending equipment.

He has his championships and did have to deal with some not-so-great teams in front of him, but he seemed to keep coming back for more, regardless of the punishment he took. Even after taking a year off, he was able to come back and be successful, albeit in the semi-pro league. While he continues to deal with the pads....he's in a little bit safer confines and not facing as many shots as he did in his playing days.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Steve Passmore

As we get more and more hard-up for AGMs, this one kind of jumped out because of the fact it's the second occurrence were a goalie had a mystery illness that turned out to be some kind of poisoning. Kind of an odd happenstance, but just made me wonder if it was the same person or not-- it wasn't. In any case, this AGM went from outhouse to penthouse to midhouse through his career. This week, Steve Passmore gets the AGM treatment.

Passmore's career got off to a bit of a slow start, as he played in Midget AAA with the West Island Deltas for the 1988-89 and 1989-90 season, getting two call-ups to the Tri-City Americans in both seasons totaling five games and an 0-1-0 record.

Passmore would get a better chance to display himself when he was traded to the Victoria Cougars for the 1990-91 season. However, the team in front of him was a dismal one, as he would play 35 games, but compile a 3-25-1 record. The next season, Passmore would be the starter, but the result was still horrid. In 71 games, Passmore would finish with a 15-50-5 record, not seeing time in only one game that season. That season didn't seem to deter the Quebec Nordiques, who drafted him in the 9th Round of the 1992 Draft.

Passmore would be back in net for the 1992-93 season for Victoria, at least for 43 games (14-24-2), before he was dealt to the Kamloops Blazers for the last 25 games of the season (19-6-0), then going 4-2 in seven playoff games. The momentum for Passmore in Kamloops would continue, though he would play behind Rod Branch in the 1993-94 season, he would get in 36 games with a 22-9-2 record. Passmore had the hot hand heading into the playoffs, and would go 11-7 in the playoffs to help the Blazers win the WHL title, as well as the Playoff MVP award. The Blazers would go into the Memorial Cup, where Passmore would play all four games, winning them all and hoisting the Memorial Cup for the Blazers, on a team that had the likes of Jarome Iginla, Darcy Tucker, Brad Lukowich, and Hnat Domenichelli.

During that season, however, Passmore had been traded from Quebec to the Edmonton Oilers. Passmore would start his pro career with the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL in the 1994-95 season, going 8-13-3 in his 25 games in his first pro-season. The next season, however, would see Passmore only play two games, going 1-0-0, but it was for a good reason.

During training, Passmore was dealing with severe muscle cramping and was forced to sit out. Not knowing what it was, he was tested and it was found that he had heavy metal poisoning. According to reports, there were unhealthy levels of copper, arsenic, magnesium, and antimony in his system that threatened his career. Luckily, a cure was found and he was able to continue playing.

The Oilers relocated their AHL team to Hamilton and renamed them the Bulldogs, but Passmore was still there for the 1996-97 season. Passmore would play 27 games with a 12-12-3 record and would get the call in the playoffs, going 12-10, where the Bulldogs would lose to the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup finals. Passmore would also see time with the Raleigh Ice Caps of the ECHL for two games with a 1-1-0 record. The 1997-98 season saw Passmore start off with the IHL's San Antonio Dragons for 14 games, with a 3-8-2 record; before he was called up to Hamilton. With the Bulldogs, Passmore would put up a 11-10-6 record in 27 games. He would also get the call again in the playoffs, this time having a 0-2 record in three playoff games. The 1998-99 season saw Passmore back in Hamilton, where he would play in 54 games with a 24-21-7 record and he would finally get his call-up to Edmonton towards the end of the season, playing in six games, sporting a 1-4-1 record. Passmore would return to Edmonton for the playoffs, playing in 11 games with a 5-6 record.

Passmore would sign with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 1999-2000 season, where he would back-up Jocelyn Thibault. He would get in 24 games with a 7-12-3 record in Chicago, while playing in two games for the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the IHL going 1-0-1 in conditioning stints.

For the 2000-01 season, Passmore would be moved to the Los Angeles Kings for a draft pick. Passmore would be bounced around the minor leagues, playing in the IHL with the Chicago Wolves for six games (2-2-2), then to the AHL for the Lowell Lock Monsters for six games (2-4-0), then to the Kings for 14 games (3-8-1).

Yet, Passmore would go back to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline, playing in six games at the end of the 2000-01 season, going 0-4-1. Passmore would remain in Chicago for the 2001-02 season, again playing behind Thibault and getting in 24 games with an 8-5-4 record and an 0-2 playoff record in three games. Passmore would also be sent to the AHL with the Norfolk Admirals for two games, both wins. The 2002-03 season had Passmore start with the Blackhawks, but spend time in Norfolk during the middle of the season. Passmore would play 14 games in Norfolk (4-7-2) and 11 in Chicago (2-5-2). It would be another year back-and-forth in the 2003-04 season, as Passmore would spend 15 games in Norfolk (3-10-2) and only nine in Chicago (2-6-0), but would have his season cut short with a hip injury late in the year.

With no NHL in 2004-05, Passmore would go overseas and play for Alder Mannheim in Germany, playing in 21 games with a 2.59 GAA. The Phoenix Coyotes would sign Passmore for the 2005-06 season, but would play in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage, going 4-6-0 in 11 games before leaving the team and heading to Finland to play for Jokerit Helsinki, where he would win five in his 15 games played. Passmore would stay over in Europe for the 2006-07 season, playing in Austria for Graz EC for 25 games, then moving to Italy to play for Milan for eight games before finally hanging up the pads.

After his playing career, Passmore went back to Kamloops to become the goaltending coach for the Blazers, but has since been relieved of his duties.

For a guy who went from a craptastic team in junior to a Memorial Cup champion, to blood disease that threatened his career to a solid job in the minors, coupled with a so-so NHL career, you can't say Passmore's career in retrospect lacked roller-coaster moments. In fact, he also has a few fights to his resume against Steve Shields, Garth Snow, and Dan Cloutier, so that's something, too. Those fights and the blood disorder shows the kind of fight that Passmore had in him when all is said and done.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Peter Sidorkiewicz

We'll kick off the new year with a tongue-twister of a last name in order to get this out of the way and get a clear head after the kick off to 2011. This goalie was well known for being the first goalie for the Ottawa Senators, which could be the last time they had a solid goalie. In any case, this week, the profile of Peter Sidorkiewicz.

Born in Dabrowa Bialostocka, Poland; Peter's family moved to Oshawa, Ontario when he was at a young age. Sidorkiewicz actually started playing goalie by happenstance as no one wanted to play goalie on his club team, so he volunteered. Sidorkiwicz would get into the Oshawa minor hockey system, playing junior B with the Oshawa Legionnaires in the 1980-81 season playing 22 games before getting called up to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, playing seven games that season and going 3-3-0 and 2-2 in five playoff games. Seeing him as an investment, Sidorkiewicz was picked in the 5th Round of the 1981 Entry Draft.

For the 1981-82 season, Sidorkiewicz would split time in Oshawa with Chris Smith and Shawn MacKenzie. Sidorkiewicz would play 29 games that season, going 14-11-1 with two shutouts. In 1982-83, it was a banner season for Sidorkiewicz, as he would be the starter; playing in 60 regular season games with a 36-20-3 record and capturing the Dave Pinkney Trophy for best GAA in the league. The playoffs is where Sidorkiewicz shined, as he went 15-1 in 17 playoff games, leading the Generals to the J. Ross Robertson Trophy for OHL Champion and headed to the Memorial Cup. Sidorkiewicz went 3-2 in the Memorial Cup, losing in the final game to the Portland Winter Hawks, who was the first American team to win the Memorial Cup. Despite that, Sidorkiewicz was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team. The 1983-84 season wasn't as good for Sidorkiewicz, as he would play 52 games with a 28-21-1 record, while going 3-4 in seven playoff games.

The 1984-85 season had Sidorkiewicz turn professional, heading to the IHL and the Fort Wayne Komets, where he would play for 10 games with a record of 4-4-2. After that, he would get the call to the minor league affiliate of the Washington Capitals, the Binghamton Whalers, whom the Caps split with the Hartford Whalers. Sidorkiewicz would play 45 games in Binghamton with a 31-9-5 record for the season, then going 4-4 in eight playoff games.

Midway through the 1984-85 season, the Whalers liked what they saw in Sidorkiewicz that they traded for him and Dean Evason for David Jensen. Sidorkiewicz would stay in Binghamton for the 1985-86 season, where he would play 49 games, but had a letdown from the prior season, going 21-22-3 with a short playoffs of only four games with a 1-3 record. There was a bounce-back year for Sidorkiewicz in 1986-87, appearing in 57 games with a 23-16-0 record, then going 6-7 in 13 playoff games that post-season. For the 1987-88 season, Sidorkiewicz felt a bit of pressure to succeed, but had a so-so 19-17-3 record in 42 games. Yet, he was able to get a call-up to Hartford for a game, a loss.

After a stellar camp, Sidorkiewicz was able to make the cut for Hartford and would split plenty of time with Mike Liut in the 1988-89 season, ending up with a 22-18-4 record on the season in 44 appearances. Canada would pick Sidorkiewicz for the World Championship, but saw only a fill-in role for 25 minutes, as well as being named to the All-Rookie Team. With him playing so well, Sidorkiewicz allowed the Whalers to look to the future in the 1989-90 season, which saw Sidorkiewicz split time before Liut was traded to Washington and had Sidorkiewicz take over the reigns. That season, Sidorkiewicz would go 19-19-7 in 46 appearances, then 3-4 in the playoffs. The 1990-91 season had the new era of Sidorkiewicz as the starter of the Whalers, which saw him play in 52 games and put up a 21-22-7 record, then playing six playoff games with a 2-4 finishing spot. Sidorkiewicz had a shaky 1991-92 season, seeing former AGM Kay Whitmore taking more of his ice time, as well as being hampered with an ankle injury late in the season, which made the Whalers trade for another AGM; Frank Pietrangelo. Sidorkiewicz had his spot usurped, only playing in 35 contests and finishing with a 9-19-6 record. With expansion happening, Sidorkiewicz was left unprotected for the 1992 Expansion Draft.

Sidorkiewicz was the first player chosen in the Expansion Draft and became the first member of the Ottawa Senators. As with any expansion team, they would have issues-- the Senators more than usual in the 1992-93 season, which Sidorkiewicz felt mightily. While he was able to get the first win for the Senators, Sidorkiewicz would go winless in 17 games after that first win. At the end of the year, Sidorkiewicz would go 8-46-3 in that season. The one bright spot of the year was when Sidorkiewicz played in the All-Star Game as the only representative for the Senators and picked up the win in net.

That next summer, Sidorkiewicz was traded to the New Jersey Devils for another AGM, Craig Billington and Troy Mallette, plus a fourth round pick. The 1993-94 season, Sidorkiewicz would bounce around between the IHL's Komets for 11 games (6-3-0), the AHL's Albany River Rats for 15 games (6-7-2), then getting three games with New Jersey (0-3-0, all in relief). The 1994-95 season had Sidorkiewicz play in Fort Wayne, but behind many goalies-- which saw him play only 16 games, with him sporting a 8-6-1 record when all was said and done and a 1-2 record in the playoffs. Sidorkiewicz would be back in the AHL for the 1995-96 season with the River Rats, backing up Mike Dunham and getting in 32 appearances; though with some success with a 19-7-5 to get back on track. That showed when he was able to take the starter's spot in the 1996-97 season, which saw him play 62 games, finishing with a 31-23-6 record, then a 7-8 playoff record in 16 games. The 1997-98 season was the last kick at the can for Sidorkiewicz, as he would play for Albany yet again, going 21-15-5 in 43 games; while getting a call-up to New Jersey to play in one game, a no-decision.

After that season, Sidorkiewicz would retire from hockey. He held the all-time wins record in the AHL at 171 wins, but has been broken many times over. Sidorkiewicz has moved into coaching, being a coach to the OHL's Erie Otters for the past 12 seasons, including a season and a half behind the bench from 2006 to 2008. In 2002, Sidorkiewicz was named to the Binghamton, New York Hockey Hall of Fame.

For a goalie who was once called "Peter Alphabet" by an announcer, he didn't do too shabby for a career in the minors and in juniors, despite getting into goaltending on a whim because no one else wanted to play in net. He made a decent NHL career in some of the less than ideal situations-- especially in Ottawa. Take that one expansion year out of the mix and who knows if he could have bounced back from a rough end of his Hartford era.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Troy Gamble

The whole point of this project is to take into account the entire career of a goalie who was in the spotlight for 15 minutes and is often remembered at the most random times. This week's inductee does hit that mark, but like the others-- marred by injuries and happenstance, which halted his career going forward. This week, we look at the guy who almost overtook the Canucks' cage in the early 90s, which could have changed their history....or not. This week, we look at Troy Gamble.

Gamble's plight started out with the Hobberma Hawks of the AJHL Junior A level, where he would go 6-19-1. While it wasn't the best record to sport, he turned his fortune around the next season (1984-85) with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, where he would play 37 games and have a stellar 27-6-2 record, while going 1-1 in two playoff games. That season afforded Gamble Eastern First Team All-Star and Goaltender of the Year honors after the season. It allowed Gamble to be drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1985 Draft in the second round. The 1985-86 season saw another solid season for Gamble with the Tigers, going 28-11-0 in 45 games, with a 5-4 playoff record in 11 games in the post season.

The 1986-87 season had Gamble start off with the Tigers, going 7-3-0 in 11 games, before he would get a call-up for his first game in the NHL with the Canucks in late November, losing 5-2. The Tigers then traded Gamble to the Spokane Chiefs in December, where he would play 38 games and put a 17-17-1 record together before getting swept in five games in the semi-finals to the Portland Winterhawks. The 1987-88 season saw Gamble back in Spokane and he compiled another solid year with a 36-26-1 record in 67 games, but going 7-8 in 15 playoffs games; losing in the Division Finals. Yet, it was a good enough year for Gamble to take home another Goaltender of the Year and West First Team All-Star awards for the season.

Gamble would move onto the pro-ranks in the 1988-89 season, playing with the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL for 42 games, with a solid 23-9-0 record, while getting a five game call-up with the Vancouver Canucks, going 2-3-0 in this stint. Gamble would get the Admirals to the playoffs, going 5-5 in 11 games of the post-season. It was back in Milwaukee for the 1989-90 season for Gamble, as he would play 56 games for the Admirals with a 22-21-4 record, then going 2-2 in five playoff games.

The 1990-91 season brought about an interesting situation for Gamble, who was in the running for the starting job for the Canucks, as incumbent starter, Kirk McLean, seemed to be having issues with consistency. Gamble got more games in than McLean that season, going 16-16-6 in 47 games, while going 1-3 in four playoff games. The 1991-92 season should have been a breakout season for Gamble, however-- he was to deal with concussion problems throughout the season-- only playing 19 games with Vancouver with a 4-9-3 record. Gamble would also play with the Milwaukee Admirals for nine games with a 2-4-2 record.

Gamble would split the 1992-93 season between the AHL's Hamilton Canucks and IHL's Cincinnati Cyclones. With Hamilton for 14 games, Gamble went 1-10-2, while in 33 games with Cincinnati, Gamble had an 11-18-2 record.

The 1993-94 season started the IHL years for Gamble, playing that first season with the Kalamazoo Wings; going 25-13-5 in 48 games, then going 0-1 in two post-season games. In 1994-95 season, Gamble would move south to Houston to play for the Aeros for 43 games that season; compiling an 18-17-5 record and going 1-3 in four playoff games. Gamble would stay in Houston for the 1995-96 season, but to less than desirable results-- playing 52 games with a 16-25-5 record. Gamble would retire after that season.

Gamble stayed in the Houston area, becoming color commentator for the Aeros for a few seasons after his retirement, but faded off into obscurity. Though, his name did come up recently-- however through the tragedy of his son being killed in Afghanistan.

If not for concussion issues, who knows what could have happened with Gamble's career with the Canucks. That said, he didn't seem to be the same after the concussions, as his records would show-- even though you cannot determine if that's from the concussions or if it's due to the teams around him. Yet, after an impressive junior career and promising NHL stint, you would have hoped that if not for the injuries-- he could have done something while up in the Canucks system, which could have changed everything about Kirk McLean that the Canucks fans come to know. But, no need to live in hypothetical, because we didn't have to deal with it one way or another.

Friday Five: Reviews, Returns, and Removed

This blog really is turning into a Monday-Tuesday-Friday blog. If I wasn't so lazy or wanting to do something different, I could actually have some staying power. Anyway-- time for the Friday Five, so enjoy the end of the week stuff.

1. The Caps/Pens 24/7 thing premiere with rave reviews from the viewing public. How much staying power does this have for the future??

I've always said that there needs to be some kind of reality show for the NHL because it would be something that could be great. The NFL has NFL Films and have guys always mic'd up, the MLB has had some stuff in the past-- this could be the thing that makes the NHL realize this is a good idea and this could market the league better than anything else.

Plus, it tells the tale of how it is in the Show, which is something that many people may never get close to experience and really get inside the player's lives. Of course, hockey players are the most accessible athletes out there-- but this just extent of that.

2. Dion Phaneuf made his awaited return to Calgary to mixed reviews. Should he (or any player) get heckled for a decision they may have not had a hand in??

There were a lot of Flames fans who had given up on Phaneuf well before he got traded, so if they're bitter-- they have a right to boo. Plus, it depends on what story you believe when the fallout happens after the trade. If you believe it was for the good of a team, then you won't feel so bad; but if you believe he was a mess in the locker room and caused havoc and feel slighted-- boo away.

I don't think that it's particularly right to boo someone unless they ask publicly to be traded for one reason or another-- that's when all fans have a right to be bitter about it because that player is basically saying that your favorite team stinks.

3. There was something on Twitter about Steve Mason being the most frequently pulled goalie since the start of the 2009-10 season. After his rookie campaign was fantastic, the ultimate question is....whahappen??

Mason fell into JonnyP's "Hedberg Effect" method, where a goalie comes out of nowhere to be good, only because shooters haven't seen him and couldn't solved him quick enough. Now, guys know his weakness and he's getting beaten like the Gimp. Mason is still young though and could get some adjustments made in order to get back into form physically. The mental issue could be the thing that could be the hardest for Mason to overcome.

4. The Southeast Division could be one with the sparsest of attendances for most of the teams, but three of them have playoffs spots and Carolina is in the 9th spot. Could this be the time that the Southeast gets its due??

It seems that the Southeast always has these glimmers of hope when it comes to teams being in the playoff and shaking the moniker of being the weakest division in the NHL, but this could be yet another mirage. The Caps seemed like a sure thing, but their seven-game losing streak has halted the runaway season; the Thrashers a great young team, but will they be able to keep the pace they've set?? Tampa Bay will get better with Vincent Lecavalier in the line-up.....if their goaltending holds up and Carolina could be the most bi-polar team out there, so who knows.

That said, I don't know if this moniker will be shaken this year, but it seems to be on the horizon. The talent is too good on these teams to keep them down....if they can stay together for the long haul.

5. There were 23,096 stuffed animals thrown to the ice at the Calgary Hitmen game on Sunday. Is there any better promotion in juniors/minors than the teddy bear toss??

The TBT is a staple for many teams-- Calgary included-- and most people only go to the TBT game to witness and to contribute. I've been to a couple of Calgary's TBTs and it's a sight to see. Just going from the puck in net and just bears all over the place. It's like a toy store exploded--
very awesome to see. If you have the chance, I highly suggest you take in a TBT game. Best part, it won't cost you an arm and a leg like an NHL may cost.

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That's it-- another week in the books. Any suggestion for topics, I'd greatly welcome them-- Scotty.Wazz@Gmail.com is the place to send them and odds are; if you submit something; it'll be put on here.

Make It Nine Outdoor Games

In what could be the biggest gimmick to not die since the Brooklyn Brawler....there's yet ANOTHER outdoor game going on. The Connecticut Whale (nee Hartford Wolf Pack) announced that they would be holding an outdoor game against the Providence Bruins as part as Whalers Hockey Fest 2011 on February 19th.

So, let's see what kind of count we have for outdoor games this year:

AJHL: November 26th, 2010: Drayton Valley Thunder at Fort McMurray Oil Barons
NCAA: December 4th, 2010: Concordia University at Adrian College Bulldogs
NCAA: December 11th, 2010: Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Wolverines
NHL: January 1st, 2011: Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins
WHL: January 15th, 2011: Kootenay Ice at Spokane Chiefs
Finnish Elite: February 5th, 2011: Jokerit at HIFK
AHL: February 19th, 2011: Providence Bruins at Connecticut Whale
NHL: February 20th, 2011: Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames
WHL: February 21st, 2011: Regina Pats at Calgary Hitmen

So, how Henry Winkler isn't going to every game to jump over the rinks-- because this idea has truly jumped the shark because it's a nice little cash grab. You know it's out of hand when the Central League and Southern Professional League get into the mix below the Mason-Dixon Line. Plus, you can bet there's going to be a Russian game, as they have done it in the past-- so it's getting to the breaking point. Sad, because it could have been something special-- now it's oversaturated.

Hitmen Hit With Junior Hockey Reality

This past May, the Calgary Hitmen were on top of the WHL, winning the Chynoweth Cup for league champions and on their way to the Memorial Cup. Right now, they sit in last place in all of the WHL with a 4-11-0 record. They are on the verge of not making the playoffs for the first time in the 13 years. And GM Kelly Kisio is irate.

Thus is the life of Junior Hockey, where the turnaround and the roster shuffling is almost as bad as constant free agency. The Hitmen felt it hard with the loss of goaltender Martin Jones and scorers Brandon Kozun, Ian Schultz, and Joel Broda to the professional ranks, as well as Zak Stebner to a trade earlier in the year; but they have had big losses before and been able to transition easily, but this year seems to be the breaking point for them. While it could be the early season woes, it may take some drastic moves. If the Hitmen don't make the playoffs, they'd be the first WHL team who was the previous year champion to not make the playoffs the next season (so long as the WHL website and Wikipedia hasn't swayed me wrong).

To put it in perspective, Jones won the WHL Goalie of the Year, Top Goalie in the Memorial Cup, WHL Playoff MVP, and was on the Canadian World Junior team-- how do you think a team would play without someone like that?? Kozun and Broda combined for 71 goals in 65 games last season and Kozun added 71 assists, as well. Schultz was a heart and soul guy with 150 PIMs along with 24 goals in 70 games. Plus, their defense is depleted with Giffen Nyren, Tyler Shattock, and Stebner all off the team for one reason or another (trade or pros). That drastic of a turnover is something that may not be seen again...or could be, depends on the team.

This shows how rough and how loyal junior fans have to be in terms of dealing with all of these turnarounds and the uncertainty of a dynasty kind of ordeal. Plus, it also goes to show how hard it is to manage one of these teams-- dealing with getting a solid roster year-in and year-out, plus making the moves to deal with import players (only two per roster) and dealing with overage players who haven't caught on with the pros (only three 20-year-olds to each roster). It's a taunting task to get everyone a taste of some playing time so they're not left in the lurch a few years down the road.

Sure, the option of trading away prospects to an awful team for their star player could work-- but there's going to come a time where that'll bite you in the ass because there's going to come a time where the prospects wash up. With a team doing well, they won't have priority in the bantam drafts, thus won't have the talent others get to replenish their system.

Like I said before, the Hitmen have been able to bounce back with the losses of many big players, but that's because they were able to get ice time to the younger guys and get a lot of their role players-- doesn't seem to be the case this season for one reason or another. Luckily, the season is still young, there's moves to be made, and there's a chance that other teams can lose some players to injury-- but as it looks right now, the Hitmen are about to make history for all the wrong reasons.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Wendell Young

Last week, I mentioned THN's 100 greatest players by position and they do make a valid case, but when it comes to decorated in all of hockey, this week's AGM could be in the running. As it stands, he's the only goalie in hockey history to win the Memorial Cup in Major Juniors, Calder Cup in the AHL, Turner Cup in the IHL, and the Stanley Cup. While he might not be memorable to some, the accolades speak for themselves. This week, we look at Wendell Young.

Young's career started in Junior "A" with the Cole Harbour Colts, where the young netminder played in 25 games sporting a 3.90 GAA. When old enough, Young transitioned to the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, where we played well behind a good enough team to be the starter at 17 in the 1980-81, getting 42 games in with a 19-15-0 record, but would truly shine in the playoffs. Young and the Rangers would roll through the OHL playoffs, as Young would go 9-1 in 14 games; leading the Rangers to the Robertson Cup and then into the Memorial Cup. In the Mem Cup, Kitchener would fall in the final to the Cornwall Royals. Because of his play, Young got drafted in the 1981 Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. With plenty of confidence, Young returned to the Rangers, getting more time in net, playing 60 games with a record of 38-17-2; setting up more domination in the playoffs with the Rangers, as Young had a 12-1 record in 15 games; setting up back-to-back Robertson Cup crowns. The Memorial Cup was a different story this time, as the Rangers beat the Sherbrooke Castors to take home the 1982 Memorial Cup.

That Memorial Cup team for the Rangers had a great roster in front of Young, including Scott Stevens, Mike Eagles, and Brian Bellows, all (sans Eagles) went to win Stanley Cups.

The 1982-83 season would see Young stick in Kitchener and dominate in the regular season once again with a 41-19-0 record in 61 games, but the Rangers would be knocked out in the second round of the playoffs, thwarting the dynasty the Rangers had.

Young would be going pro for the 1983-84 season and would get his travel money worth for that first year pro. Young would split the season between three teams in three leagues-- first with the Fredericton Express in the AHL (7-3-0 in 11 games), the Milwaukee Admirals in the IHL (4-1-1 in six games), and the bulk of it in the Central League with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles (11-6-0 in 20 games, 0-2 in four playoff games). It would settle for Young in the 1984-85 season, where he would stay with Fredericton for the season, playing behind Clint Malarchuk. Because of that, he would only get into 22 games, going 7-11-3 for the season.

Starting in the 1985-86 season, Young would be splitting between Fredericton and Vancouver, starting with Fredericton, playing 24 games going 12-8-4 before getting the call-up to Vancouver to back-up Richard Brodeur. While with Vancouver, Young would get 22 games with a 4-9-3 and getting in one game of playoff action, a losing effort. For the 1986-87 season, Young would continue his cross-country venture from Fredericton to Vancouver (almost a 3,600 mile trek, mind you), though he would spend the bulk of his time in Fredericton, playing 30 games with a 11-16-0 record, spending only eight games in Vancouver with a 1-6-1 record.

In the summer of 1987, Young would get traded from Vancouver to Philadelphia for a third round pick in the 1988 draft. While Young would get a call-up to Philadelphia for six games (3-2-0), Young would continue to ply his craft in the AHL with the Hershey Bears for the 1987-88 season, where he would have a career year. Young would play 51 games, going 33-15-1 for the regular season, but in the playoffs-- Young and the Bears would go a perfect 12-0 in route to the Calder Cup championship; beating Young's old team in Fredericton in the Finals. Young would be the 1988 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy winner for Playoff MVP, Baz Bastien Memorial Award for top goaltender, as well as first team all-star.

With his stock high, Young was traded from the Flyers to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the September of 1988 with a 7th Round choice for a 3rd round choice in the 1990 Draft. With the Penguins, Young would be the starter to begin with, but an ankle injury derailed his starting role. Despite a stop in Muskegon of the IHL (1-0-1 in two games), Young would play 22 games in Pittsburgh, going 12-9-0 for the year. For the 1989-90 season, Young would get a chance at the starter's gig again, playing in 43 games with a record of 16-20-3. However, for the 1990-91 season, Young would lose his gig to Tom Barrasso, so he would only 18 games of play in. Part of that was also coupled with a shoulder injury, but Young would go 4-6-2 in those 18 games. Though he didn't play in the playoff; Young would be along for the ride to be a member of the 1991 Penguins' Stanley Cup championship team. The 1991-92 season would see Young riding shotgun again to Barrasso, again with 18 games of play in, which also coupled with a fractured right hand late in the season. Young would go 7-6-0 in the regular season and be a part of the Stanley Cup championship team again.

Despite those things, Young was left unprotected in the 1992 Expansion Draft and holds the title of being the first ever member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. From Cup champs to a new team would be a change for Young and it showed. Young played only 31 games for the Bolts in the 1992-93 season, bothered by shoulder injuries in the process, and would go 7-19-2. Young would also play for the IHL's Atlanta Knights going 3-0-0 in his three starts. It was not a kind 1993-94 season for Young, as a shoulder injury in training camp sidelined him for 53 games. When he got healthy, Young would go 2-0-0 in his two games with Atlanta, but would play only nine games with Tampa going 2-3-1.

Before the lockout, the Bolts loaned out Young to the Chicago Wolves of the IHL for the 1994-95 season. Young would play 37 games for the Wolves that season and have a 14-11-7 record. However, the Bolts would trade Young back to the Penguins for future considerations. Young would play 10 games back with the Penguins, going 3-6-0 in what would be his last NHL action.

In the summer of 1995, Young would sign with the Wolves for some IHL action and the start of a solid relationship between the two. Young would take the starting role for the 1995-96 season, playing 61 games with a 30-20-6 record, but when the playoffs came around, Young would only go 4-5 for the Wolves. Though his games would cut down in the 1996-97 season, Young would still play well, going 25-21-4 in 53 games, but would have the Wolves bow out early again as Young would go 1-3 in four playoff games. It was different for the 1997-98 season, as Young would go 31-14-3 in 51 games, but he would finally break through the playoff slump with a 5-3 and helping to win Turner Cup with the Wolves, thus adding to his mantle. For the 1998-99 season, Young would have to share the net with former AGMs Pat Jablonski and Glenn Healy coming through, which would see him get in 35 games and a 20-10-4 record. Despite a championship, the Wolves would bow out early with Young going 4-3. Young had a bounceback year for the 1999-2000 season, getting more time in net with 48 games and sporting a 32-12-4 record and would help the Wolves in the playoffs with a 5-3 record, aiding in another Turner Cup championship for the Wolves. In what would be his last season, Young would only play 35 games in the 2000-01 season and have a 17-16-3 record, but only 2-4 record in the playoffs, were the Wolves would lose to the Orlando Solar Bears in the Turner Cup Finals.

Young would hang up the pads after the Finals, with quite the resume to follow him into his next ventures. He still leads the Wolves franchise all-time in games played (322), wins (169), saves (8,467), minutes (17,912) and shutouts (16). Young's #1 is the first ever number retired in Chicago Wolves history.

After retirement, Young would be the goalie coach for the Calgary Flames from 2001 until 2003. Young would return to the Wolves in 2004 as an assistant coach and assistant GM, until recently were he took over the role of GM for the Wolves. Young was behind the bench for the Wolves 2008 Calder Cup championship, adding to his accolades. Young also runs a goaltending school in suburban Chicago.

Though he did get his Stanley Cup titles as a back-up, Young did the rest of the work on his own for his other titles and stayed in there long enough to have the chance to get these kind of accolades. Proof that hard work and dedication can pay off if you're patient enough.

Should They Stay or Should They Go??

While it's not time to panic about the season just yet, it is time to panic when it comes to what to do with some of the junior-eligible players. You see, the rule is that the junior eligible players can play up to ten games in the NHL without their contract going into effect. However, if they do play that 11th game, they will have their entry-level contract "activated," while after 40 games, the player will have one-season under their belt and be closer to UFA status down the road.

This isn't so much a question about Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, both whom are pretty much guaranteed to stay up with their NHL club, it's more a question on whether guys like Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks and Nino Niederreiter of the New York Islanders will stay up with the club after that 11-game mark is achieved.

For a case like Niederreiter, I think it's a case of him being kept up because he does have the ability to stay with the club, he has the skill-set to stick in the NHL, plus-- injuries to many forwards on the team is something that helped rush his arrival in the NHL. While the Islanders seem to have the worst luck this year, you have to see the long-term goal of it all. If you keep a kid like that up for the entire year, can he contribute for the whole season or is the fact he's healthy and can play very well going to shade the fact he's still 18-years-old and may need time to season?? The Islanders are a wild-card team, so you never know what's going to happen over there.

When you talk about guys like Skinner and Fowler, it's definitely a different scenario. Reports on Skinner are that unless something goes horribly wrong, Skinner will stay in Carolina for the entire season.

With Fowler, he has been playing big minutes on a very thin Anaheim defense. If they continue to look as bad as they have been, do you want to keep a kid up on the roster, getting burned out on a team when he could be playing in juniors and keep getting better. Fowler is a case where the AHL age restriction is something that is idiocy for NHL teams. Fowler is too good, so to speak, to play in the OHL and it could be a hinderance than a help; but the NHL game could burn him out in his first season if the team around him continues to be craptastic and if he carries too much weigh on his shoulders in his rookie season. If he could get to the AHL, he may not get as burnt out on the workload, learn the system of the team more, and not be a big fish in a small pond. In the end, I think the Ducks will keep him around, but it may not be the ideal situation to be in.

This could be a class of junior players who could have a great output when the end happens. While you have the top two, the deeper picks could be the ones making the most noise and being closely looked at more than what Hall and Seguin are doing. The only way they should stick with the main club is when the development of the players is good enough and they're able to fit into the team dynamic without changing their style of game. If they can't do that now-- they shouldn't be up in the NHL and develop more elsewhere.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Zac Bierk

While some of these AGMs are known for having one good year or being a notable back-up or even being the first for something, this week's AGMs is known for being a part of a famous family. Granted, his brother is the most notable of the family-- his does have some very interesting linage. Of course, that didn't translate too well on the ice, but still-- this week, we profile Zac Bierk.

To get it out of the way, Bierk's family is led by his late father David Bierk who was an accomplish painter in North America, while four of his brothers went on to become artist, his sister becoming an actress, and his other brother becoming Sebastian Bach, former lead singer of the band Skid Row. Thus, to say Bierk went off the beaten path is an understatement.

Bierk's career started off with his hometown junior team, the Peterborough Petes in the OHL for the 1993-94 season. While he would only get nine games in as a back-up to Chad Lang, he got his first taste of what it'll be like on a big stage, but went 0-4-2 in those games. Bierk would see more time behind Lang in the 1994-95 season, with 35 appearances and a 12-15-5 record; including getting the bulk of the time in the playoffs, going 2-3 in six games. With Bierk's performance, he would be selected in the 9th Round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1995 Draft. That would boost Bierk's confidence, as he would get the starting role in the 1995-96 season, which would lead to great things in his 58 games, finishing with a 31-16-6 record. Bierk also let the Petes to the OHL Championship, going 14-7 in his 22 games played. As the Petes would go to the Memorial Cup, they would get to the final, but lost to Granby of the QMJHL. In the 1996-97 season, it would be hard to top for Bierk, but he did his best; going 28-16-0 in 49 games, but went 6-5 in the playoffs, losing in the second round. Bierk would win the OHL Goaltender of the Year, Leo Lalonde Trophy for best overager, and first team OHL all-star.

With the success he had the previous year, Bierk would hope to parlay that to the pros in the 1997-98 season, heading to the Adirondack Red Wings for 12 games in the beginning of the season, going 1-6-1 before getting recalled by the Lightning in January of 1998 and would see 13 games, mostly as a replacement, going 1-4-1 for the year on the dismal Bolts team. The 1998-99 season would see Bierk in the IHL with the Cleveland Lumberjacks for the majority of the season, backing up Derek Wilkinson. Bierk would play in 27 games and come away with a 11-12-4 record, though he had a .914 save percentage for his troubles. Bierk would be recalled by Tampa and see one game of action, taking the loss. The 1999-2000 season would be up and down season for Bierk, as he would split time in both Tampa and in the IHL with the Detroit Vipers. While in Detroit, Bierk would play 15 games with a 4-8-2 record, while he would fare better in Tampa, going 4-4-1 in his 12 games there.

Though he did shoe promise, the Lightning left Bierk unprotected in the Expansion Draft and he would be picked up by the Minnesota Wild. However, Bierk would only see on game in Minnesota (a loss) and would spend the majority of the 2000-01 season with the Lumberjacks again. He would get a bulk of the games, playing 48 games and winding up with a 24-18-5 record, leading the Lumberjacks to the playoffs, but he would go 0-3 in the playoffs.

Bierk would be a free agent and get signed by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2001 off-season. It would back to the drawing board, as Bierk would wind up in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx, getting only 30 games in due to hip surgery. Yet, in those 30 games, Bierk would go 16-9-3 and get a call-up the AHL's Springfield Falcons for a game, a loss. Bierk would bounce back and forth, racking up miles between Phoenix and Springfield (Mass.) for the 2002-03 season. While in Springfield, Bierk would go 6-4-1 in 13 games there, then going to Phoenix and compiling a 4-9-1 record in 16 games-- though the one tie is one for the books.

It was Bierk's second game with the Coyotes as he went up against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 8th, 2003. At the other end, Michael Leighton, who was in his rookie season. Both goalies played amazingly and the game would end in the 0-0 tie. It was the first time in NHL history that two goalies would record their first shutouts in the same game. Just another little AGM fun fact.

Bierk would be hampered with more hip issues, being sidelined for 50 games in the 2003-04 season due to a strained hip flexor. That would only allow him to play two games in Springfield (0-1-1) and four games in Phoenix (0-1-2) before he would hang up the pads at only at age 28.

The last known whereabouts for Bierk was the Team Shutout Goalie School in Brampton, Ontario, where he was coaching the students there.

If nothing else, Bierk took the road less traveled by the rest of his family members and did very well heading into the professional ranks. Then, he kind of got stuck with some not-so-good teams and then hampered with injuries, thus making him retire before the age of 30. Though, if nothing else, he can get into his brother's shows whenever he wants to-- so that's something.

What's in a Nameplate??

As many of you who have followed this blog know, I'm kind of a fan of the aesthetics of a hockey team. It's part of why I started the Hockey Team Identity Project with The Girl. Now, you all know about my gripes about front numbers, templated design, and unnecessary piping on the new Reebok Edge systems, as I have voiced my displeasure on The Show and here. However, there's something new that's popping up that's starting to become my top annoyance, and it's really showing through in the new Canadian Hockey League third jerseys coming out.

Mismatched nameplates.

Now, this first came out with the Philadelphia Flyers presenting their third jerseys, which was a homage to their old jerseys in the 1960's and 70's, but they added the touch that wasn't there. Putting a white nameplate with black lettering on the orange jersey. For their Winter Classic jerseys, they put a black nameplate with white lettering on their white jerseys; which has now become their new jersey designs starting this season. While it's something that may not be too bad, considering it hadn't happened in a long while....or ever in the NHL (lack of fact checking makes me say that), it seems that it's gone above and beyond overkill now in the CHL.

The CHL instituted third jersey for this year and so far, there's far too many teams using this new gimmick. The Kootenay Ice (pictured above) is one of the first, while the Kingston Frontnacs and Mississauga St. Michael's Majors have also instituted the contrasting nameplates. All the while the front numbers make an appearance with the Kamloops Blazers' third jerseys; but some teams like the Kelowna Rockets and Tri-City Americans have some kind of sanity when it comes with their new third jerseys.

But with the nameplates, I don't get the whole ordeal. To be honest, I don't think there were many teams who used it when they first instituted the rule of having names on the back of jerseys. It's almost like the ties on the collar, it creates a retro kind of feel, without actually having to deal with the heritage of a team. There's times where it's a neat idea and some times gives the look a very unique feel, but to do it in an overkill way kills any kind of uniqueness that a team could have by doing it.

Maybe, just maybe-- this will be the last of the craze, but at the same time-- I'm sure this could be the beginning of a trend that will rank up there with bad ideas. I understand that people do like the retro feel of some jerseys; but in the end-- to put unnecessary retro themes on teams that aren't really that retro (Kootenay was founded in 1996 when they were in Edmonton). It's to the point where you should almost have an unwritten rule of jerseys and how the make-up of one could be-- like if you've only been around for a decade, make something to not stray too much from the current identity; while a team that's been around for 25 seasons can actually make some retro designs for the years they've attributed into the league...or something.

In any case, I'll be hating this just like all the other stuff the Reebok Edge has given us.