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A Christmas/Memorial Cup Wish

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 09:51:00 AM.

Despite a 12-20-2-0 record heading into the Christmas break, my wish is that the Blades' organization...specifically the Brodsky family ownership and General Manager/Head Coach Lorne Molleken don't throw in the towel on the idea of hosting the 2010 Memorial Cup because of the disappointing 2007-2008 log to date!

When it comes right down to it, the biggest thing that drives a Memorial Cup host...as far as the Canadian Hockey League is concerned...is $$$!!! The 2010 Memorial Cup will almost certainly be hosted by an Eastern Conference team as the last two WHL hosts have come from the West (Kelowna in 2004 and Vancouver last year). That means it's the East's turn. If the CHL wants to make money, then you go to the biggest centres with the biggest seating capacity rinks. That would be Calgary and Edmonton...but neither of those places can guarantee their buildings in late May because of Stanley Cup playoffs for either or both of the Flames and Oilers. Sure, you can say that likelihood is a longshot...but people said the same thing about the Flames in 2004 and the Oilers in 2006. You never know, thus the Hitmen and Oil Kings can't make that guarantee. So, where is the next biggest city with the next biggest building in the WHL's Eastern Conference? Yes, that's right...here in Saskatoon. Sure, Brandon and Medicine Hat and Red Deer sell out more often and have had more success in the past few seasons...but Credit Union Centre would make more money than any of those three places!

What about a competitive team, you might ask...don't you have to be a top-flite squad now in order to think about hosting a Memorial Cup in two years?

Not necessarily...a lot can happen to the make-up of a team's roster in two seasons!

       Let's take a look at the Blades' current roster and look ahead to who is eligible to be on the team in 2009-2010...

20s - Braden Holtby, Garrett Zemlak, Sam Klassen, Derek Hulak, Colton Gillies, Walker Wintoneak, Ryan Funk, Jordan Braid, Kirk Belyk
19s - Teigan Zahn, Jyri Niemi, Kevin Philp, Gaelan Patterson, Travis Toomey
18s - Stefan Elliott, Curtis Hamilton, Mitch Berg

       Of those possible 20s, only three of them could stay. To get Gillies back for a 20-year-old season would be a dream. Heck, he might not be back next season as a 19-year-old as the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him in the 1st round of this past June's NHL entry draft, have a penchant for bringing up top picks to the NHL before their junior eligibility is done (Nick Schultz, Brent Burns, Pierre-Marc Bouchard...James Sheppard this season...come springing to mind!). Now, let's add in some other prospects (and these are just some that I know of off the top of my head)...

20s - Holtby, Zemlak, S. Klassen, Hulak, Gillies, Wintoneak, Funk, Braid, Belyk
19s - Zahn, Niemi, Philp, Patterson, Toomey, Brendan Wall, Cody Wutzke
18s - Elliott, Hamilton, Berg, Woody Klassen, Adam Morrison, Matthew Krahn, Darian Dziurzynski
17s - Charles Inglis, Josh Nicholls, Jamie Crooks
16s - to be drafted in May

       For 2009-2010, the Blades are solid in goal, especially if Holtby comes back. On defence, Elliott, Niemi, Zahn and Sam Klassen is a solid top four...for the rest of this season, next and in 2009-10. Up front...the question remains, who will score the goals? But, that's why I say a lot can happen in two years. There's three trade deadlines to go through before the 2010 Memorial Cup Tournament. I have confidence that Lorne Molleken, who has never been afraid to pull the trigger on a trade, will do the right things to insure this franchise is ready for that event...as well as be competitive for the rest of this campaign and next season as well!

That's why, I'm hoping that Saskatoon and the Blades will be the 2010 Memorial Cup hosts!!

Merry Christmas one and all.

10 Comment(s) | Leave a Comment

Comments

(no subject)
from steve on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 08:18:49 PM
My line combo's for the mem cup year. It wont be acurate by the time comes but why not put it in just for fun Hulak Patterson Hamilton Euro Toomey Dzurzynski Crook Inglis Nichols Wutzkee rookie rookie Niemi S.Klassen Elliott Zahn Berg W.Klassen Holtby Krahn It's quit obvios too me that all we need is some depth on foward for that season and we could be sitting pretty. The other thing is if you have good mobile d-men like we will it makes the so so fowards that much better.

(no subject)

from steve on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 08:18:49 PM

My line combo's for the mem cup year. It wont be acurate by the time comes but why not put it in just for fun

Hulak Patterson Hamilton
Euro Toomey Dzurzynski
Crook Inglis Nichols
Wutzkee rookie rookie

Niemi S.Klassen
Elliott Zahn
Berg W.Klassen

Holtby
Krahn

It's quit obvios too me that all we need is some depth on foward for that season and we could be sitting pretty. The other thing is if you have good mobile d-men like we will it makes the so so fowards that much better.

Different already
from Pepper Carrot on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 08:49:21 PM
Lankow would be a possible 20 and add Gallimore to that 18 list too. Hopefully we draft ST Crioux who will IMO become a scorer very similair to that of Zach Boychuck,

WHERE IS LES
from SEASON TICKET HOLDER on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 07:50:40 PM
Les ,you must of realized that there is no point to this blog,and no point in defending once again a terrible team.It been said that we are rebuilding again,I hope we can rebuild better then the last 14 years.Maybe its time for the Brodzky family to move on to something else too, becuase this road never seems to ends ,and there doesn't look like thing are going to change,but i quess the sun shines on a dogs butt some times. thanks and i'm starting to look for my paper bag that i wore when we won 7 games.

WHERE IS LES

from SEASON TICKET HOLDER on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 07:50:40 PM

Les ,you must of realized that there is no point to this blog,and no point in defending once again a terrible team.It been said that we are rebuilding again,I hope we can rebuild better then the last 14 years.Maybe its time for the Brodzky family to move on to something else too, becuase this road never seems to ends ,and there doesn't look like thing are going to change,but i quess the sun shines on a dogs butt some times. thanks and i'm starting to look for my paper bag that i wore when we won 7 games.

Some responses...
from Les on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 10:34:02 AM
First, Pepper Carrot...St. Croix is the real deal according to scouts from all teams. He's the son of former N-H-L goaltender Rick St. Croix (played for a few teams back in the 80s) and if Mike is anything like his Dad, then he'll be a pistol of a kid to go along with a great player. In order to get him, though, if you go by the standings now, the Blades will need Prince George to win the lottery and get first pick ahead of Portland...unless St. Croix balks at going there. There are a lot of very good, top-end players available in this year's Bantam Draft so I'm sure the Blades will get two very good players in the top four, five or six picks! Second, Steve...while it's fun to look ahead, trying to come up with line combinations and defence pairings is a little over-the-top. I know you wrote this before the McCrae trade, but Hamilton-Toomey-Langkow looks like a great line for that season. And, I'm not sure the top two defence pairings need to be changed from what they are now...S. Klassen-Elliott, Zahn-Niemi. Those are the top four "D" men now...Funk and Flatters are 5th and 6th, or vice-versa. Also, don't be so certain that Matthew Krahn will be Holtby's back-up...if Braden comes back for that season! Despite the fact the B-C Triple-A Midget League web site stats don't give proper goaltending numbers, Adam Morrison is having a big season there...including a 40+ save shutout in front of Blades' scouts not long ago. Morrison and Krahn will have a dandy battle for a job when the time comes! Thirdly, for Season Ticket Holder...I have a sneaky suspicion you are the same person who phones "Boots and Salutes" and boots the Blades regularly. If that's the case, then you are not a Season Ticket Holder, but someone who begs and borrows free tickets from all over the place to get in...then moan and bitch and complain about the team to anyone who will listen!! I'm still curious as to why the owners need to move on...did the Medicine Hat owners sell when they missed the playoffs six straight seasons? Did Russ Parker sell the Pats when they went south for a few seasons after hosting the Memorial Cup in 2001? And, even if you aren't the person I think you are, you may very well have bought the clap-trap he spouts on a regular basis. He thinks the Brodskys are making lots of money and are content with mediocrity. That's a pile of poop!! First, it takes almost 4,000 fans per home game on average for the Blades to break even on operations in a season. They have bettered that over the last three-and-a-half seasons with Lorne Molleken at the helm...but spent most of the previous nine campaigns wallowing with an average attendance well below 4,000. Only the Blades' share of expansion fees has allowed the Brodskys to see small profits on a few individual seasons in that time. Otherwise, they've had to shell out to keep major junior hockey going in Saskatoon. Would you, Season Ticket Holder, or Mr. Know-It-All with free tickets at the rink who calls "Boots and Salutes" be prepared to take losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars?! Sure, they ultimately have to make the decision on who runs the hockey operation...but the WHL and major junior hockey isn't the NHL. You can't fire G-M's and scouts every year or two when you have a bad season! Ask any G-M in the Dub how long he needs to get a proper cycle of good players running through the team so as to be a championship competitor and he'll tell you seven years! That's "7" years...the time that Brent McEwen was given before Lorne Molleken, the time Donn Clark was given in P-A. If you have a bad Bantam draft where not many of your players make the grade in the Dub (bad scouting ultimately falls in the lap of the G-M!), then you are likely to have three bad seasons coming up once those players were due to play in their 17, 18 and 19-year-old campaigns (unless you can make some shrewd trades to make up for it.) Back-to-back bad draft years means seven years of tough luck in the standings (like I said, look at Medicine Hat between 1998 and 2004!) The Blades have had bad draft years thrown in over the last 14, no doubt. And, Daryl Lubienecki and Brent McEwen paid the price for that. McEwen did leave Lorne Molleken with two decent seasons worth of talent (Barnes, Setoguchi, Rabbit) that Molleken added on to in an attempt to win the WHL title. They won 37 and 41 games in back-to-back seasons, only to be knocked out early in the playoffs. Sure, that's disappointing...but look at this season. There is going to be four teams beaten out in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs who will win at least 30 games, if not 35, and will the fans there be as upset as they seem to be here? No. Sure, the Blades haven't gone deep in the playoffs since 1994...that eats at the Brodsky family and Lorne Molleken like you wouldn't believe. If you really are a Season Ticket Holder, have you spoken to Jack Brodsky in the stands at a home game? He makes himself quite available to talk to fans and makes a point of doing so! He goes on road trips, he sees what's going on and the family doesn't back off on their budget for providing their players with comfortable accomodations and meals on the road, outstanding billets and schooling that allows the young men to succeed in case they don't at hockey. Plus, the organization won a SABEX award a couple of seasons back for their community work and involvement. I know that I would be hard-pressed to match that commitment if I happened to have the $$$ to own this team...and, based on your whining and complaining and that of Mr. Know-It-All, I doubt you'd be able to do the same. If you think you can, get your 5 million dollars together and offer to buy the team from the Brodskys. I still don't think they'd sell because their commitment is to one day finish the work of their late father Nate...and bring a championship to Saskatoon with the Blades. Go ahead and shake your head at me...but the ownership is committed, so is Lorne Molleken. After making trades two seasons ago to try and win...and it didn't happen...leaving the cupboard somewhat bare, it was time to start over again. Missing the playoffs last year was predictable, this year is disappointing and next season might be better and it might not be. I'm not going to make rash predictions right now, based on the talents of a number of young players that aren't here yet and trying to extrapolate how good some of the young guys that return will do next season! But, I'm fairly confident that this post that you chose to be negative about will be closer to the way I see it than you do. If it doesn't, in two seasons you can gloat and I will bow in your direction. Until then, keep going to games and watch the development of this young team. Entertainment isn't always spelled W-I-N!

Some responses...

from Les on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 10:34:02 AM

First, Pepper Carrot...St. Croix is the real deal according to scouts from all teams. He's the son of former N-H-L goaltender Rick St. Croix (played for a few teams back in the 80s) and if Mike is anything like his Dad, then he'll be a pistol of a kid to go along with a great player. In order to get him, though, if you go by the standings now, the Blades will need Prince George to win the lottery and get first pick ahead of Portland...unless St. Croix balks at going there. There are a lot of very good, top-end players available in this year's Bantam Draft so I'm sure the Blades will get two very good players in the top four, five or six picks!
Second, Steve...while it's fun to look ahead, trying to come up with line combinations and defence pairings is a little over-the-top. I know you wrote this before the McCrae trade, but Hamilton-Toomey-Langkow looks like a great line for that season. And, I'm not sure the top two defence pairings need to be changed from what they are now...S. Klassen-Elliott, Zahn-Niemi. Those are the top four "D" men now...Funk and Flatters are 5th and 6th, or vice-versa. Also, don't be so certain that Matthew Krahn will be Holtby's back-up...if Braden comes back for that season! Despite the fact the B-C Triple-A Midget League web site stats don't give proper goaltending numbers, Adam Morrison is having a big season there...including a 40+ save shutout in front of Blades' scouts not long ago. Morrison and Krahn will have a dandy battle for a job when the time comes!
Thirdly, for Season Ticket Holder...I have a sneaky suspicion you are the same person who phones "Boots and Salutes" and boots the Blades regularly. If that's the case, then you are not a Season Ticket Holder, but someone who begs and borrows free tickets from all over the place to get in...then moan and bitch and complain about the team to anyone who will listen!! I'm still curious as to why the owners need to move on...did the Medicine Hat owners sell when they missed the playoffs six straight seasons? Did Russ Parker sell the Pats when they went south for a few seasons after hosting the Memorial Cup in 2001? And, even if you aren't the person I think you are, you may very well have bought the clap-trap he spouts on a regular basis. He thinks the Brodskys are making lots of money and are content with mediocrity. That's a pile of poop!! First, it takes almost 4,000 fans per home game on average for the Blades to break even on operations in a season. They have bettered that over the last three-and-a-half seasons with Lorne Molleken at the helm...but spent most of the previous nine campaigns wallowing with an average attendance well below 4,000. Only the Blades' share of expansion fees has allowed the Brodskys to see small profits on a few individual seasons in that time. Otherwise, they've had to shell out to keep major junior hockey going in Saskatoon. Would you, Season Ticket Holder, or Mr. Know-It-All with free tickets at the rink who calls "Boots and Salutes" be prepared to take losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars?! Sure, they ultimately have to make the decision on who runs the hockey operation...but the WHL and major junior hockey isn't the NHL. You can't fire G-M's and scouts every year or two when you have a bad season! Ask any G-M in the Dub how long he needs to get a proper cycle of good players running through the team so as to be a championship competitor and he'll tell you seven years! That's "7" years...the time that Brent McEwen was given before Lorne Molleken, the time Donn Clark was given in P-A. If you have a bad Bantam draft where not many of your players make the grade in the Dub (bad scouting ultimately falls in the lap of the G-M!), then you are likely to have three bad seasons coming up once those players were due to play in their 17, 18 and 19-year-old campaigns (unless you can make some shrewd trades to make up for it.) Back-to-back bad draft years means seven years of tough luck in the standings (like I said, look at Medicine Hat between 1998 and 2004!) The Blades have had bad draft years thrown in over the last 14, no doubt. And, Daryl Lubienecki and Brent McEwen paid the price for that. McEwen did leave Lorne Molleken with two decent seasons worth of talent (Barnes, Setoguchi, Rabbit) that Molleken added on to in an attempt to win the WHL title. They won 37 and 41 games in back-to-back seasons, only to be knocked out early in the playoffs. Sure, that's disappointing...but look at this season. There is going to be four teams beaten out in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs who will win at least 30 games, if not 35, and will the fans there be as upset as they seem to be here? No. Sure, the Blades haven't gone deep in the playoffs since 1994...that eats at the Brodsky family and Lorne Molleken like you wouldn't believe. If you really are a Season Ticket Holder, have you spoken to Jack Brodsky in the stands at a home game? He makes himself quite available to talk to fans and makes a point of doing so! He goes on road trips, he sees what's going on and the family doesn't back off on their budget for providing their players with comfortable accomodations and meals on the road, outstanding billets and schooling that allows the young men to succeed in case they don't at hockey. Plus, the organization won a SABEX award a couple of seasons back for their community work and involvement. I know that I would be hard-pressed to match that commitment if I happened to have the $$$ to own this team...and, based on your whining and complaining and that of Mr. Know-It-All, I doubt you'd be able to do the same. If you think you can, get your 5 million dollars together and offer to buy the team from the Brodskys. I still don't think they'd sell because their commitment is to one day finish the work of their late father Nate...and bring a championship to Saskatoon with the Blades. Go ahead and shake your head at me...but the ownership is committed, so is Lorne Molleken. After making trades two seasons ago to try and win...and it didn't happen...leaving the cupboard somewhat bare, it was time to start over again. Missing the playoffs last year was predictable, this year is disappointing and next season might be better and it might not be. I'm not going to make rash predictions right now, based on the talents of a number of young players that aren't here yet and trying to extrapolate how good some of the young guys that return will do next season! But, I'm fairly confident that this post that you chose to be negative about will be closer to the way I see it than you do. If it doesn't, in two seasons you can gloat and I will bow in your direction. Until then, keep going to games and watch the development of this young team. Entertainment isn't always spelled W-I-N!

Regarding Les`s coments to "Season Tticket Holder"
from Part time fan. on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 03:11:10 PM
First of all , I know the season ticket holder you are talking about and it makes me sick to here the things you are calling him! He is a season ticket holder and sits in the end of the ice where Mister Brodsky sits. This guy has more Blades jerseys than the team itself and is always looking for more!! He`s taken more crap from all of us at work here for a lot of years and I don`t blame him for being a little mad. Don`t you think it`s better to have somebody thats passionate about his team , than just give up and stop going to games. Do you buy season tickets every year just to here people make fun of the team you love? I doubt it! The blades Org. has done a great job of chasing away fans ,I guess now that has become your job too.

Regarding Les`s coments to "Season Tticket Holder"

from Part time fan. on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 03:11:10 PM

First of all , I know the season ticket holder you are talking about and it makes me sick to here the things you are calling him!
He is a season ticket holder and sits in the end of the ice where Mister Brodsky sits.
This guy has more Blades jerseys than the team itself and is always looking for more!!
He`s taken more crap from all of us at work here for a lot of years and I don`t blame him for being a little mad.
Don`t you think it`s better to have somebody thats passionate about his team , than just give up and stop going to games.
Do you buy season tickets every year just to here people make fun of the team you love? I doubt it!

The blades Org. has done a great job of chasing away fans ,I guess now that has become your job too.

Hi Part Time Fan...
from Les on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 04:27:57 PM
In no way am I trying to chase anyone away. For Season Ticket Holder to suggest that the Bridsky family should sell the Blades because of lack of performance is laughable...for the reasons I stated in the post. This isn't the NHL, it's the WHL...a cyclical business when it comes to talent and the Blades are in the midst of a down cycle. The intent is to inform Season Ticket Holder of the facts surrounding the situation so that his general statement can be amended and/or, especially if he sits nearby Mr. Brodsky, to go talk to him and voice his concern and displeasure. Jack is, if anything, a kind and courteous man who will engage anyone in a sensible discussion regarding the hockey team. I'll apologize if I come across hardhly, but I find many fans get upset about the bottom line only and fail to see that things have been done to change things and create a championship team. Only one per season gets to claim that. And, while the Blades never have, so have several others. Where I agree with the dissatisfaction is with the lack of a deep playoff run for a long time. And, so are the owners disappointed about it. They haven't laced their bank books with the fans' hard-earned cash!

Hi Part Time Fan...

from Les on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 04:27:57 PM

In no way am I trying to chase anyone away. For Season Ticket Holder to suggest that the Bridsky family should sell the Blades because of lack of performance is laughable...for the reasons I stated in the post. This isn't the NHL, it's the WHL...a cyclical business when it comes to talent and the Blades are in the midst of a down cycle. The intent is to inform Season Ticket Holder of the facts surrounding the situation so that his general statement can be amended and/or, especially if he sits nearby Mr. Brodsky, to go talk to him and voice his concern and displeasure. Jack is, if anything, a kind and courteous man who will engage anyone in a sensible discussion regarding the hockey team. I'll apologize if I come across hardhly, but I find many fans get upset about the bottom line only and fail to see that things have been done to change things and create a championship team. Only one per season gets to claim that. And, while the Blades never have, so have several others. Where I agree with the dissatisfaction is with the lack of a deep playoff run for a long time. And, so are the owners disappointed about it. They haven't laced their bank books with the fans' hard-earned cash!

RE: Season Ticket Holder
from Wheat King Fan on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 01:16:27 PM
I am writing this comment to the attention of Les and " Season Ticket Holder. I am originally from Brandon, Manitoba and have always been a true Wheat King fan. I have however lived in Saskatoon for 20 years and attend Blades games from time to time. When I was younger i was at most of them. It was younger that i started to develop a liking to the Baldes organization. I would go and cheer for the likes of " Christie, Kocur, Kaminsky, Twist, Chase ...ect.... It wasn't long after those players left, that I started to see a trend !!!! Going back 14 years now I have never witnessed a quality Hockey team that we so support. I can honestly say that i feel sorry for " Season Tiicket Holder " What a waste of money he has spent over the years on nothing less then Sub Par Hockey. He would be better off to spend his money on watching the Huskies or the Adult safe League at the Jemini. I am very surprised Les that you being a sports writer have any king of respect for this Franchise. I know hockey, and I know that Saskatoon has 250,000 thousnad people living here, and we get on the average of 4,000 fans !!!!! What seems to be the problem ? Yes every team has rebuilding years, i guess it's been 14 for the Blades. I look around the league and see these teams Like Brandon, Calgary, Medicine Hat , they as well have to rebuild but every year with the excpetion of 1 or 2 have quality exciting teams to watch. I try my hardest every year to be more of a Local supporter, but with this garbage that is put on the ice EVERY YEAR .......it is very hard. ANd if the owners are so dissapointed about not having soem sort of a team , then WHY DON"T THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!!! and don't you dare say to me that they are trying .......Any moron who knows nothing about hockey ...not mentioning any names should know that when things are going south you make changes....maybe start with some decent scouts, and a GM who cares what the Saskatoon people are spending they're hard earned money on. You call him " a know it all " well from the looks of things he knows a heck of allot more then you do. Stop sticking up for something that is completely lost. This Franchise is in the toilet and getting worse every year. And i'm not just talking about the 7 win season 4 years ago. I feel sorry for the young kids who have to come here to play ...look into the stands and say great , at least Crazy Gary is here !!! Rebuilding takes 1-2 years in the WHL .......I guess i will wait another 14 before i spend another nickel on this team.... OH ..........and "season ticket holder " ...sell your Blades Jerseys on Ebay, and maybe you can make a tenth of your money back. Qaulity ...Les....we as fans can care less about the blades suppers, hotels, and school programs....Hockey Players care about playing the game with dignity and respect....both are unatainable in Saskatoon. And Thank you ' Part time fan " for sticking up in this matter as well. Maybe someday if there are enough of us who actually care ....Brodsky will wake up and do something......I can only hope for your sake . Until then I will continue to cheer for the Wheat Kings who always have a quality product on the ice EVERY YEAR !!!! even in rebuliding years.

RE: Season Ticket Holder

from Wheat King Fan on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 01:16:27 PM

I am writing this comment to the attention of Les and " Season Ticket Holder. I am originally from Brandon, Manitoba and have always been a true Wheat King fan. I have however lived in Saskatoon for 20 years and attend Blades games from time to time. When I was younger i was at most of them. It was younger that i started to develop a liking to the Baldes organization. I would go and cheer for the likes of " Christie, Kocur, Kaminsky, Twist, Chase ...ect....
It wasn't long after those players left, that I started to see a trend !!!! Going back 14 years now I have never witnessed a quality Hockey team that we so support. I can honestly say that i feel sorry for " Season Tiicket Holder " What a waste of money he has spent over the years on nothing less then Sub Par Hockey. He would be better off to spend his money on watching the Huskies or the Adult safe League at the Jemini. I am very surprised Les that you being a sports writer have any king of respect for this Franchise. I know hockey, and I know that Saskatoon has 250,000 thousnad people living here, and we get on the average of 4,000 fans !!!!! What seems to be the problem ?
Yes every team has rebuilding years, i guess it's been 14 for the Blades. I look around the league and see these teams Like Brandon, Calgary, Medicine Hat , they as well have to rebuild but every year with the excpetion of 1 or 2 have quality exciting teams to watch. I try my hardest every year to be more of a Local supporter, but with this garbage that is put on the ice EVERY YEAR .......it is very hard. ANd if the owners are so dissapointed about not having soem sort of a team , then WHY DON"T THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!!! and don't you dare say to me that they are trying .......Any moron who knows nothing about hockey ...not mentioning any names should know that when things are going south you make changes....maybe start with some decent scouts, and a GM who cares what the Saskatoon people are spending they're hard earned money on.
You call him " a know it all " well from the looks of things he knows a heck of allot more then you do. Stop sticking up for something that is completely lost. This Franchise is in the toilet and getting worse every year. And i'm not just talking about the 7 win season 4 years ago. I feel sorry for the young kids who have to come here to play ...look into the stands and say great , at least Crazy Gary is here !!!
Rebuilding takes 1-2 years in the WHL .......I guess i will wait another 14 before i spend another nickel on this team....
OH ..........and "season ticket holder " ...sell your Blades Jerseys on Ebay, and maybe you can make a tenth of your money back.
Qaulity ...Les....we as fans can care less about the blades suppers, hotels, and school programs....Hockey Players care about playing the game with dignity and respect....both are unatainable in Saskatoon.

And Thank you ' Part time fan " for sticking up in this matter as well. Maybe someday if there are enough of us who actually care ....Brodsky will wake up and do something......I can only hope for your sake . Until then I will continue to cheer for the Wheat Kings who always have a quality product on the ice EVERY YEAR !!!! even in rebuliding years.

(no subject)
from jb on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 07:25:21 PM
Les, you seem to be getting pretty carried away with yourself making unfounded comments when replying to "Season Ticket Holder". The response to his comments show a complete lack of professionalism and an obvious complete lack of controlling your emotions. Since you have started this blog I am left with the impression that you always think that your thoughts on hockey and the Blades are the only ones that count. I find you make ridiculous statements standing behind Molleken and the Brodskys no matter how poor their records have been. I am sure their are many fans out there that are far more knowledgeable about hockey than you are. The whole idea of the blog is to get feedback from the fans on the state of the Blades, both positive and negative. It is obvious from your one sided approach that you consider a fan not in agreement with your views to be a "moron". Very unprofessional Les. If you can't stand the heat you should firstly, cancel this blog and secondly,look for a different job. Personally I am tired of listening to you and your "I know it all approach". Your demeaning comments to fans/season ticket holders over this season (come or don't come, who cares)are disgusting and show complete disregard for the fans point of view or knowledge of the game. And yes Les I do believe you speak for the Brodskys.By the way I am a season ticket holder for many years.

(no subject)

from jb on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 07:25:21 PM

Les, you seem to be getting pretty carried away with yourself making unfounded comments when replying to "Season Ticket Holder". The response to his comments show a complete lack of professionalism and an obvious complete lack of controlling your emotions. Since you have started this blog I am left with the impression that you always think that your thoughts on hockey and the Blades are the only ones that count. I find you make ridiculous statements standing behind Molleken and the Brodskys no matter how poor their records have been. I am sure their are many fans out there that are far more knowledgeable about hockey than you are. The whole idea of the blog is to get feedback from the fans on the state of the Blades, both positive and negative. It is obvious from your one sided approach that you consider a fan not in agreement with your views to be a "moron". Very unprofessional Les. If you can't stand the heat you should firstly, cancel this blog and secondly,look for a different job. Personally I am tired of listening to you and your "I know it all approach". Your demeaning comments to fans/season ticket holders over this season (come or don't come, who cares)are disgusting and show complete disregard for the fans point of view or knowledge of the game. And yes Les I do believe you speak for the Brodskys.By the way I am a season ticket holder for many years.

Wheat King Fan's Comments
from Quiet Observer on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 08:46:35 PM
I agree with Wheat King Fan. There is something wrong here. I also feel sorry for the players. Dignity and respect is how they want to play the game and it is also how they should be treated. We do have good players here, they need to be developed and their strengths need to be recognized and built on. Why does this not happen?

(no subject)
from RJW on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 11:54:04 PM
Thank you JB for your very astute obervations. I would also add that I have found some of Les's comments on this blog to be demeaning to the players. I find this highly objectionable. I am also concerned that these same comments are based in part on opinions of the coach/management.

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