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Okay, I'll Post Again...

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 02:24:00 PM.

       Yeah, it's been over a month since I posted on here...once again, life takes over and this became a low priority for me. Until this week, the Blades' schedule was busy. Eight games in the past two weeks and 14 games since the Christmas break made for a lot of travel and book-keeping to maintain. Add in a new shift to get used to with the Saskatoon Media Group and tending to some health issues with my wife that needing tending to, well I apologize for not having posted here in a while. I appreciate those of you who have e-mailed or stopped me at the rink or on the street wondering when I'll post again. For those who wish I'd stay away...well it's time to start pounding on the drum of facts to support a premise...be they mine or ones that I've heard from the inside!

       I start with Jyri Niemi...a couple of days ago I suggested on the radio that the Finnish defenceman would raise his stock, and Central Scouting Bureau ranking, once a lot of people got a chance to see him. By winning "The Hardest Shot" competition at last night's Skills Competition prior to the Top Prospect's Game in Edmonton, Niemi has definately opened some eyes with his 97 M.P.H. blast. Injuries have hurt him this season...even missing the last two Blades' games last weekend because of a groin pull...as many NHL scouts have not seen him. Both Friday in Brandon and Saturday at C.U.C, I had scouts I know shake their heads at their bad luck at missing seeing Niemi in action...again! Mark my words, he will be ranked higher than 29th amongst North American skaters before the NHL entry draft in June in Ottawa. His 9 goals and 19 points have come in just 29 games. Not that this is a good thing by any stretch, but Niemi would likely be Saskatoon's leading scorer if not for the injury setbacks! And, a polite dig at "Edmonton Journal" hockey writer and columnist Jim Matheson. This Hockey Hall-of-Famer didn't do enough research on Niemi when it comes to his games played and power play goal totals with the Blades this season when he said his 97 M.P.H. shot and nine goals should earn him a regular spot on the Saskatoon power play. Jim, Niemi has been on the first unit all season long...when healthy to suit up!!

       Next up is the departure of Justin McCrae. If musical accompaniement were required in all facets of life, the day-to-day world of junior hockey would be serenaded by an endless loop of Don Henley's "End of the Innocence". Young men play hockey, from the time they first lace up their skates, through Bantam and do so with very little cares or distractions. The game is fun. If a young guy happens to show a bundle of talent, he gets fast-tracked into possibly becoming a pro...maybe even playing in the NHL. At junior, there's a good chance you move away from home, go to school in that new city with strange new teammates and/or classmates and play games in larger arenas with thousands of people paying good money to watch you in action. They aren't only family and friends...and they aren't always friendly, even when they're suppossed to be cheering for you. The business of hockey comes into play and a young player becomes a commodity or an asset...that can be traded or released and picked up by another team almost at will! It isn't easy. Justin McCrae had been a Saskatoon Blade since 2003 when he was drafted in the 1st round, 14th overall, in the Bantam draft. That was until January 7th when he was traded to Spokane for Chris Langkow, Burke Gallimore and a conditional draft pick in 2009. That's business...but the reality of seeing a teary-eyed 19-year-old come into Credit Union Centre the next morning for, likely, the last time was heart-wrenching. "Juice", as he was known to his teammates, had come to say good bye...and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. My interview with him was as difficult a one as I've ever had to do...tougher to do at the junior level than the NHL level (and I've done both) because it was the first time being traded for Justin. It may not be the last, but the first time is both an eye-opener and one that shakes a young man to the core. As Don Henley would sing, "This is the End of the Innocence."

       So, Justin McCrae gets traded...but it's a good deal for the Blades from what I can see. Chris Langkow, first cousin to the Flames' Daymond...also a former Tri-City American...brings an infectious work ethic to the team. He also brings a drive, determination and heart that is a great example of what G.M. and head coach Lorne Molleken said was missing with this team for much of the season. He goes without fear to the net and into the corners and along the boards...all over the ice! He only has one goal and two assists in eight games...comparable to what most everyone on the Blades has had happen to them this season in terms of bad luck and bad breaks around the opposition net...but at least you see where good things should happen so long as he continues to play that way! His arrival, and being teamed up on a line with Travis Toomey and Curtis Hamilton, has brought out the best in those two rookies since his arrival. Toomey has scored more goals in the last eight games than he did in the previous 40 and looks dangerous and effective every time on the ice as well as becoming a demon in the face-off circle. Hamilton's name has become a regular fixture on the scoresheet with points in five of the last six games...showing that he has the game he had as a Bantam and Midget-aged player and the potential to bring a scoring touch to the Blades. And, how about Burke Gallimore. He played in Edmonton without telling a soul on the team, not Lorne Molleken, not Dave Struch, not the training staff, that he had a sprained ankle until after the game against the Oil Kings. And, he was one of the best players on the team that night! Something to look forward to, especially when he plays a couple of games with the big club later on this season at Credit Union Centre!

       Also, I'm happy to see that Colton Gillies was not traded. While many fans clamoured for his departure instead of, or in addition to, Justin McCrae, I think keeping Gillies and naming him captain was the right decision. Having seen all eight games and been around the team closer than anyone else outside the organization, I see the spirit of the group actually buoyed by Gillies having the "C" and bringing his upbeat, positive and outgoing attitude to bear on the group. He is a leader that people think of when it comes to captain and I think he'll rate closely to Warren Peters and Brad Cole as the best Blades' captains I've seen in my time once his tenure in Saskatoon with the Blades is done.

       By the way, while the Blades haven't had a lot of success in my time calling their games here in Saskatoon, I can't help but enjoy the notoriety being gained by a couple of their recent alumni whom I got to know fairly well. How about Ryan Keller excelling in Finland and scoring the winning goal for Canada at the Spengler Cup? And, what about Mike Green with the Washington Capitals...14 goals and 30 points in 48 games...tied for 4th in team scoring...is pretty fair stuff! Add in, good for Colton Gillies...that gold medal looks good, proudly dangling from his neck. Plus, they're good guys...and that's as big a part of playing hockey and growing up, isn't it?!

        If ever there was an arguement in favour of the shootout to decide hockey games, it was last Wednesday night's 2-1, 13-round shootout, victory for the Blades over the reigning Memorial Cup champion Vancouver Giants. Those hockey purists who believe the shootout to be a circus or downright sacriligious need to get off their self-righteous, cast-in-stone, my way or the highway beliefs and consider a few things...one, before the shootout, hockey was the only major team sport that permitted ties. Fans want winners and losers, not two teams being happy with a result! Two, to the arguement that the shootout ends a team game with an individual contest, well if that game was allowed to continue at four-on-four, it might not have been decided for another couple of days (okay another hour or so!!). Three, as for dropping the number of skaters on the ice to three-on-three after five minutes, my fear is that coaches would find a way to defence it, rather than go for it...and games would continue on forever!

       The Blades should've beaten Moose Jaw last Tuesday night, if they could've just scored a couple of goals. You may want to stop me as I say this, because you've heard it so many times during this disappointing season...but the Blades deserved something from that game. They received a very good effort from everyone, got first-rate goaltending from Braden Holtby and made very few mistakes. But, one of those errors found the back of their net while they just couldn't find a way to flick the switch on the red light behind Joey Perricone. I wish I had a loonie for every time I've said something similar to that this season...I would be fairly rich!

       Up north in P.A., when the Raiders fired G-M Donn Clark last week, I found it difficult to be critical of the man who was the former coach of the Blades when he took the blame himself. When he honestly says the Raiders weren't ready for rule changes that opened the game up...putting the responsibility for that on himself. I haven't always seen eye-to-eye with Donn Clark on some things, but I've always appreciated his honesty and candor and I wish him well in whatever lies ahead for him in the future!

       That's enough for today...maybe more tomorrow!

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