It's a question we ask ourselves a lot. What's it mean to be Canadian? (eh?)
Ask most people from outside the Great White North and they'd probably tell you Canada's a polite country. An accepting nation, diverse and unique in its heritage. As Jon Stewart once noted, we may be the only country that gained our independence by essentially asking nicely. Others'd crack a joke about flannel wearing hosers chugging a cold one. Not that they're far off...
Cross this vast land and you'll find unique cultures and landscapes, endless as the highways seem. Each province and territory their own story, their own way of doing things. But the common thread, the theme that unites us all is: the game.
Lets face it: hockey's just that most places, a game. Something to pass the time. But here, its much, much more. It's embedded in the fabric of the land, in the dreams of every kid who ever picked up a hockey stick. It's a point of pride and togetherness. It unites us, creates lifelong friendships and memories, brings us joy and sorrow with every shot, every missed opportunity and every game winning goal. Like no other characteristic, the passion and love of the game resonates from coast to coast to coast.
Whether its a lake, river, outdoor rink or, sneaking on to the Rideau Canal late at night, every sheet of ice is more than just a reminder of the harsh climate, its an opportunity. A chance to for the game to take hold and breath new life into the depths of winter. Each time it unfolds anew, the ebb and flow gracefully choreographed, the chill but a distant memory. Speed, grace and strength melding into the finest test of athletics there is to offer.
There is no other sport, no other subject that so seemingly unites out nation. Whenever our best are matched up against the rest the world has to offer there is an expectation, a demand that we succeed. It's our game. Our gift to the world. Our athletes know what it means to the people cheering them on at home, in bars and basements across the country. From the kid who wants nothing more than to be just like his idle, an old timer remembering the glory days, or the new immigrant who wants to embrace their new land. This is what we're made of. That will and determination.
The selfless nature of our superstars from Howe to Richard, Orr to Gretzky, Lemieux to Yzerman, Crosby and McDavid. This is what we aspire to. Hockey not only epitomises what we see in thees athletes, but what we see in ourselves as a nation. Tough, unassuming, yet willing to stand up for each other and what we believe. To sacrifice and focus for the greater goal. It's the best of us brought out for all to see. Hockey Day in Canada comes once a year but truly it's never far from our minds. It's our game, our day. Celebrate it always.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Friday, February 10, 2017
Falling Stars
Things are always bigger in Texas. Including disappointment. The Dallas Stars were the top team in the Western Conference during the regular season last year and now find themselves falling out of the playoff picture, three games under five hundred and eight points out of the last Wild Card spot, (currently held by another slow starting team in LA.)
The scapegoats have generally been (and not unfairly) their mediocre goaltending tandem of Keri Lehtonen (or let-it-in) and Anti (no matter) Niemi. The team ranks near the bottom of the NHL in many goaltending categories (GAA, Save %) and are in desperate need of an occasional save. But, like shots from a Texas mickey, there's plenty of blame to go around.
This once high powered, gun slinging offence only ranks 13th in the league in goals scored and a measly 20th of the power play. One would assume all that fire power with the like of Seguin, Benn, Spezza, Sharp, Klingberg, Odyua, etc. could must a better push but so far it's been all quiet on the western front. In fact the strongest part of their game, their Lone Star as it were (sue me) is their twitter account, or in arena scoreboard. Both among the leagues best. Re: funniest.
They haven't got contributions they'd expected from other guys they need to step up like Cody Eakin, Jiri Hudler or big free agent signing Dan Hamhuis. The breakout season John Klingberg had last year seems but a distant memory as his struggles on the blue line have coincided with the departure of veteran partner Alex Goligoski. And while the goaltending stinks like a dead horse, the penalty kill hasn't helped mush either ranking 29th, 2nd to last in the league.
They've had some injuries this season to the like of Ales Hemsky, Eakin and Seguin to start the year, but on the whole this generally isn't what's held them back. And with Patrick Sharp set to be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end, big d may sand for deadline. GM Jim Nill will have a lot of decisions to make and patching up his porous back end should be paramount among them, Either Niemi or Lehtonon will be no easy task to move, they each carry a fairly significant cap hit, though when you wish upon a star...
The scapegoats have generally been (and not unfairly) their mediocre goaltending tandem of Keri Lehtonen (or let-it-in) and Anti (no matter) Niemi. The team ranks near the bottom of the NHL in many goaltending categories (GAA, Save %) and are in desperate need of an occasional save. But, like shots from a Texas mickey, there's plenty of blame to go around.
This once high powered, gun slinging offence only ranks 13th in the league in goals scored and a measly 20th of the power play. One would assume all that fire power with the like of Seguin, Benn, Spezza, Sharp, Klingberg, Odyua, etc. could must a better push but so far it's been all quiet on the western front. In fact the strongest part of their game, their Lone Star as it were (sue me) is their twitter account, or in arena scoreboard. Both among the leagues best. Re: funniest.
They haven't got contributions they'd expected from other guys they need to step up like Cody Eakin, Jiri Hudler or big free agent signing Dan Hamhuis. The breakout season John Klingberg had last year seems but a distant memory as his struggles on the blue line have coincided with the departure of veteran partner Alex Goligoski. And while the goaltending stinks like a dead horse, the penalty kill hasn't helped mush either ranking 29th, 2nd to last in the league.
They've had some injuries this season to the like of Ales Hemsky, Eakin and Seguin to start the year, but on the whole this generally isn't what's held them back. And with Patrick Sharp set to be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end, big d may sand for deadline. GM Jim Nill will have a lot of decisions to make and patching up his porous back end should be paramount among them, Either Niemi or Lehtonon will be no easy task to move, they each carry a fairly significant cap hit, though when you wish upon a star...
Saturday, December 10, 2016
What About Bob...
2007 seems a lifetime ago...The Ottawa Senators have been in rebuild mode the past few seasons and one of the pieces acquired in the summer of 2013 to help set the franchise moving in the right direction was Bobby Ryan. A big, powerful winger with goal scoring ability. However, from the get go, and through no fault of his own, he had a monumental task in the capital.
The Curious Case of Bobby Ryan thus begun and he was immediately tagged with the thankless task of replacing legendary captain Daniel Alfredsson. Timing is everything...The trade seemed like a knee jerk reaction to Alfredsson spurning the only NHL franchise he'd ever known and signing with the Detroit Red Wings in an effort to ride off into the sunset a Cup champion (How often does that ever really work out?) but the fact is Ottawa had long coveted Ryan and his numbers and potential were huge reasons why. Seemed a no brainer really. A young guy theoretically coming into his prime with goal scoring ability was something the Sens desperately needed. And while comparing the two isn't fair, this is a hockey market that demands results and he was expected to shoulder this load. Sentiment didn't improve when Ryan battled injury his fist season here playing in only 70 games as the Sens missed the playoffs.
Ryan had tallied four straight thirty plus goal seasons in Anaheim: 2008-09 to 2011-12. He's yet to have one with the Sens. And while it's not as though he's be awful in red, he hasn't take the step forward they needed him to. In fact some would say he's regressed. His number are respectable, earning an all star nod in 2015, but they're a far cry from what you'd expect of someone with his $7+ million dollar a year pricetag. He's battled several injuries and to his credit played though them but his lack of consistency has been a talking point across Sens country.
Kyle Turris was banged up much of last season with a sprained ankle and Clarke MacArthur missed basically all of it with a concussion and it reflected in the teams play across the board. Lines were shuffled, a number of guys were put in positions they hadn't been before and Ryan was stuck trying to find his way along with many others. It was a down year for the organization and his numbers reflected that. Turris, when healthy is a solid player and has shown this season in particular how valuable he is, looking like the number three over all pick he was, but, with all due respect, he's not Ryan Getzlaf. Bobby Ryan put up most of his stellar numbers riding shot gun with the Ducks dynamic duo of Getzlaf and Corey Perry who have each done just about everything you can when it comes to winning at this and any other level you can think of (mini-sticks included). Ryan seemed to have chemistry with Turris and MacArthur when the line was together and healthy his first few years in Ottawa so perhaps with MacArthur set to return from injury in the near future, they can recapture that if and when they're reunited. However, the Sens now have a lot more depth up front. With the emergence of young players like Ryan Dzingle, Mark Stone, Curtis Lazar, the acquisition of Derek Brassard in the off season and leading goal scorer Mike Hoffman being signed to a new contract the top six is filling up fast. The Sens are a, lets call them cap conscious, organization and carrying that hefty contract with minimal results isn't going to sit well with owner Eugene Melnyk.
Others have thrown their two sense in as well including professional grump Brian Burke who suggested that intensity was an issue in leaving Ryan off the 2014 US Olympic roster. (How'd that work out by the way?) At the time it seemed liked he was slighted but with his struggles of late, this type of questioning only lends further fuel to the fire.
The Sens have him under contract until the 2021-22 season and with a cap hit of $7.25 million through the remainder of it it's not a contract that would be easily moved off the books. And that's not to say the Sens ought to be desperate to shop him either. He seems like a decent guy who's well liked by his teammates. Perhaps fans just have to accept this is who he is. A decent player who will put up decent numbers. He certainly wouldn't be the first guy to get overpaid coming out of Anaheim (ie: Matt Beleskey) but what irks fans is the sens that there's more there. Potential, the ultimate double edged sword. The answer likely has to come from Ryan himself or in coach Guy Boucher getting him going in the right direction. And he'd better do so quickly. Ryan has battled a hand injury this season and has played on 22 games thus far but only has 8 point to show for it. (Even the much maligned Dion Phaneuf has 10) That's not a pace the Sens or he can afford to have continue. The fact that the team is off to a stellar start and playing much better in their own end of the ice has overshadowed a lot of his struggles and no doubt getting healthy is the first step, as like many goal scorers Ryan has proven himself to be streaky and when he gets hot can go on a tear but this has be far to uncommon since his acquisition. With winter now settled in up north, let's hope it's not a case of Groundhog Day all over again...
The Curious Case of Bobby Ryan thus begun and he was immediately tagged with the thankless task of replacing legendary captain Daniel Alfredsson. Timing is everything...The trade seemed like a knee jerk reaction to Alfredsson spurning the only NHL franchise he'd ever known and signing with the Detroit Red Wings in an effort to ride off into the sunset a Cup champion (How often does that ever really work out?) but the fact is Ottawa had long coveted Ryan and his numbers and potential were huge reasons why. Seemed a no brainer really. A young guy theoretically coming into his prime with goal scoring ability was something the Sens desperately needed. And while comparing the two isn't fair, this is a hockey market that demands results and he was expected to shoulder this load. Sentiment didn't improve when Ryan battled injury his fist season here playing in only 70 games as the Sens missed the playoffs.
Ryan had tallied four straight thirty plus goal seasons in Anaheim: 2008-09 to 2011-12. He's yet to have one with the Sens. And while it's not as though he's be awful in red, he hasn't take the step forward they needed him to. In fact some would say he's regressed. His number are respectable, earning an all star nod in 2015, but they're a far cry from what you'd expect of someone with his $7+ million dollar a year pricetag. He's battled several injuries and to his credit played though them but his lack of consistency has been a talking point across Sens country.
Kyle Turris was banged up much of last season with a sprained ankle and Clarke MacArthur missed basically all of it with a concussion and it reflected in the teams play across the board. Lines were shuffled, a number of guys were put in positions they hadn't been before and Ryan was stuck trying to find his way along with many others. It was a down year for the organization and his numbers reflected that. Turris, when healthy is a solid player and has shown this season in particular how valuable he is, looking like the number three over all pick he was, but, with all due respect, he's not Ryan Getzlaf. Bobby Ryan put up most of his stellar numbers riding shot gun with the Ducks dynamic duo of Getzlaf and Corey Perry who have each done just about everything you can when it comes to winning at this and any other level you can think of (mini-sticks included). Ryan seemed to have chemistry with Turris and MacArthur when the line was together and healthy his first few years in Ottawa so perhaps with MacArthur set to return from injury in the near future, they can recapture that if and when they're reunited. However, the Sens now have a lot more depth up front. With the emergence of young players like Ryan Dzingle, Mark Stone, Curtis Lazar, the acquisition of Derek Brassard in the off season and leading goal scorer Mike Hoffman being signed to a new contract the top six is filling up fast. The Sens are a, lets call them cap conscious, organization and carrying that hefty contract with minimal results isn't going to sit well with owner Eugene Melnyk.
Others have thrown their two sense in as well including professional grump Brian Burke who suggested that intensity was an issue in leaving Ryan off the 2014 US Olympic roster. (How'd that work out by the way?) At the time it seemed liked he was slighted but with his struggles of late, this type of questioning only lends further fuel to the fire.
The Sens have him under contract until the 2021-22 season and with a cap hit of $7.25 million through the remainder of it it's not a contract that would be easily moved off the books. And that's not to say the Sens ought to be desperate to shop him either. He seems like a decent guy who's well liked by his teammates. Perhaps fans just have to accept this is who he is. A decent player who will put up decent numbers. He certainly wouldn't be the first guy to get overpaid coming out of Anaheim (ie: Matt Beleskey) but what irks fans is the sens that there's more there. Potential, the ultimate double edged sword. The answer likely has to come from Ryan himself or in coach Guy Boucher getting him going in the right direction. And he'd better do so quickly. Ryan has battled a hand injury this season and has played on 22 games thus far but only has 8 point to show for it. (Even the much maligned Dion Phaneuf has 10) That's not a pace the Sens or he can afford to have continue. The fact that the team is off to a stellar start and playing much better in their own end of the ice has overshadowed a lot of his struggles and no doubt getting healthy is the first step, as like many goal scorers Ryan has proven himself to be streaky and when he gets hot can go on a tear but this has be far to uncommon since his acquisition. With winter now settled in up north, let's hope it's not a case of Groundhog Day all over again...
Monday, December 5, 2016
Eastern Front: Shifting Balance of Power in NHL
The NHL season's now past the quarter pole, so we can actually put some credibility into all these power rankings as we've, theoretically, seen enough out of teams to at least half a half assed (which describes some of these rankings quite aptly) idea as to who's a contender and who may soon be looking for employment elsewhere.
For the last decade or so the West has been the dominant conference with Chicago and Los Angeles taking home five Stanley Cups between them, along with Anaheim and Detroit (pre-realignment). While Chicago and to a seemingly lesser extend LA remain contenders it's because they've adapted. The more physical brand of hockey played in the conference was said to translate better to the tighter checking, more rugged style of play employed in the post season and well, it did. These teams seemed to over match their Eastern rivals and since this is the NHL and not a MENSA meeting everyone else started to follow suit. However, like all trends this one seems to have run it course.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hoisted Lord Stanley's mug last year and did so employing tremendous speed, skill, solid goaltending and tight checking. This isn't to say they weren't capable of being physical, but they over matched their opponents with quick puck movement and pursuit.
The Power Rankings top 10 this season are predominantly comprised of Eastern teams, Montreal, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Washington, Ottawa, Tampa (Pre-Stamkos injury) among them. Theses teams are similar in that they've all gotten solid, or at least above average goaltending and employ a lot of pace in their game. Ironically Washington is the largest team in the league but employ a ton of high end skill in their vaunted attack. Even the teams that find themselves at the top in the West (Edmonton, Chicago, St. Louis) are teams that move the puck well and play with pace. The defending conference champs in San Jose are a great mix of skill and size exemplified by their star defenceman Brent Burns and 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton. The game has gotten younger and faster and if you can't keep up, you'd better invest in a lot of red light bulbs.
Shows like Hockey Central at Noon and others have discussed why this pattern has developed and what lead to it. Is it just a shift in balance of power that occurs every so often? Perhaps, but as mentioned its a copycat league and teams like Anaheim loaded up on big bodies to try and compete with rival LA and win the war of attrition that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the West won numerous cups in this fashion, the league was becoming faster and many didn't adjust accordingly. Smaller or more gifted players with finesses and speed are finding their place and those who have tailored their roster to this new breed have found success. That's not to say everyone will be playing like Team North America at the World Cup. They don't possess the overall speed and skill throughout their line ups, and there's a little thing called the salary cap to boot. Physically over matching your opponent is still vital, but its hard to hit what you can't catch. There's more of a premium placed on speed in today's game and the eastern teams seem to have found a better mix of size, speed and skill to this point. Of course, for the time being, this is just a trend...
For the last decade or so the West has been the dominant conference with Chicago and Los Angeles taking home five Stanley Cups between them, along with Anaheim and Detroit (pre-realignment). While Chicago and to a seemingly lesser extend LA remain contenders it's because they've adapted. The more physical brand of hockey played in the conference was said to translate better to the tighter checking, more rugged style of play employed in the post season and well, it did. These teams seemed to over match their Eastern rivals and since this is the NHL and not a MENSA meeting everyone else started to follow suit. However, like all trends this one seems to have run it course.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hoisted Lord Stanley's mug last year and did so employing tremendous speed, skill, solid goaltending and tight checking. This isn't to say they weren't capable of being physical, but they over matched their opponents with quick puck movement and pursuit.
The Power Rankings top 10 this season are predominantly comprised of Eastern teams, Montreal, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Washington, Ottawa, Tampa (Pre-Stamkos injury) among them. Theses teams are similar in that they've all gotten solid, or at least above average goaltending and employ a lot of pace in their game. Ironically Washington is the largest team in the league but employ a ton of high end skill in their vaunted attack. Even the teams that find themselves at the top in the West (Edmonton, Chicago, St. Louis) are teams that move the puck well and play with pace. The defending conference champs in San Jose are a great mix of skill and size exemplified by their star defenceman Brent Burns and 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton. The game has gotten younger and faster and if you can't keep up, you'd better invest in a lot of red light bulbs.
Shows like Hockey Central at Noon and others have discussed why this pattern has developed and what lead to it. Is it just a shift in balance of power that occurs every so often? Perhaps, but as mentioned its a copycat league and teams like Anaheim loaded up on big bodies to try and compete with rival LA and win the war of attrition that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the West won numerous cups in this fashion, the league was becoming faster and many didn't adjust accordingly. Smaller or more gifted players with finesses and speed are finding their place and those who have tailored their roster to this new breed have found success. That's not to say everyone will be playing like Team North America at the World Cup. They don't possess the overall speed and skill throughout their line ups, and there's a little thing called the salary cap to boot. Physically over matching your opponent is still vital, but its hard to hit what you can't catch. There's more of a premium placed on speed in today's game and the eastern teams seem to have found a better mix of size, speed and skill to this point. Of course, for the time being, this is just a trend...
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Sens of Trouble
The Sens are off to a solid start this NHL campaign, and while they're struggling to score goals they've played much better in their own end of late and have gotten exceptional goaltending, under exceptional circumstances, from Craig Anderson and newly acquired Mike Condon. Their 10-7-3 record has them competing for a playoff spot and it's not unreasonable to think they could make it. So why does no one seem to care?
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
Sens of Trouble
The Sens are off to a solid start this NHL campaign, and while they're struggling to score goals they've played much better in their own end of late and have gotten exceptional goaltending, under exceptional circumstances, from Craig Anderson and newly acquired Mike Condon. Their 10-7-3 record has them competing for a playoff spot and it's not unreasonable to think they could make it. So why does no one seem to care?
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Seeing Stars
The NHL released it's All Star presser for the 2017 All Star Game hosted this year by the LA Kings. The game promises the same exciting 3 on 3 tournament format as last year which, personally speaking, was a hell of a lot more entertaining than games past. The captains of the four teams, one from each division, will again be selected by fans, but the league added a slight wrinkle to who exactly can fill this role.
It's not the John Scott rule, but, well, it's the John Scott rule. As you'll recall last year career long enforcer John Scott was voted captain of the Pacific Division squad. He lead his team to victory, was named MVP and I'm sure somewhere Disney is working on the script (if not I'm available). It was a great story and I gained a ton of respect for John Scott, the way he handled himself and how the guys rallied around him. But lets be honest, it could have backfired in a big way. Truth be told it started as a joke, a fan movement to get the guy who was likely least deserving of such a nod into the game, and actually seemed sort of funny, in a frat bro sorta way. This idea gained momentum and low and behold Scott found himself voted into the game. And the league was pissed. Lets not kid ourselves, they wanted no part of this debacle and felt it was making a mockery of a game which had become in need of a boost anyway. The subsequent fall out form his trade to the Habs and demotion to the AHL seemed to seal his fate. Fans railed against this and eventually the right thing was done, he was given his shot and was a class act the whole time in the face of what could have been a PR nightmare. It was a no win situation really, until the puck was dropped and the league came up smelling like roses. The game was great and Scott asserted himself very well in leading his team to victory. This is all well and good but really, isn't what the game is all about.
Sure there's something to be said for letting a guy like Scott who would otherwise never have a chance play in this game. I was happy for him and his family, who will have this memory forever. It was touching and reminded us that sport can transcend everyday life and bring out the best in us. But the only reason it worked so well is because of the kind of guy John Scott is. An intelligent (he's an engineer) guy who understood what was going on and rolled with it. I'm not sure that would have been the case in most instances. And that's what worried the NHL. That some guy who had no business being there would look exactly like that and embarrass the league. Many argue that the game is a boring, pointless exercise anyway that many big name stars skip just to get the much needed rest, but for many it still matters.
The fact is the nature of the All Star game is being argued over by mostly, adults, when the reality of it is the people most interested in it are kids. Young fans who sit in novice or pewee dressing rooms arguing about who the best player in the league is or who'd make the strongest line combination in an All Star match up. Kids who idolize these guys, emulate their heroes and want to see top end skill face off against one another in a dynamic setting. The 3 on 3 format revitalized a game in desperate need of a boost and was as exciting as any I can remember. It showcased the skill and speed of the game and made it entertaining in ways it wasn't because the nature of it is inherently more competitive. Kids and for that matter the rest of us have no desire to see fourth line grinders out there when the true stars of the game are available. That's not to say these guys aren't an important, integral part of the league, and any championship team, but the All Star game is meant to exhibit the highest level of skill. A showcase for the elite who deserve to shine. That's the reality and while the NHL is filled with great stories and greater guys, the All Star game should be viewed as something special and an honour that you earn. There's enough participation ribbons being passed around these days, lets let the guys who deserve to have their greatness praised get the opportunity to show us why.
It's not the John Scott rule, but, well, it's the John Scott rule. As you'll recall last year career long enforcer John Scott was voted captain of the Pacific Division squad. He lead his team to victory, was named MVP and I'm sure somewhere Disney is working on the script (if not I'm available). It was a great story and I gained a ton of respect for John Scott, the way he handled himself and how the guys rallied around him. But lets be honest, it could have backfired in a big way. Truth be told it started as a joke, a fan movement to get the guy who was likely least deserving of such a nod into the game, and actually seemed sort of funny, in a frat bro sorta way. This idea gained momentum and low and behold Scott found himself voted into the game. And the league was pissed. Lets not kid ourselves, they wanted no part of this debacle and felt it was making a mockery of a game which had become in need of a boost anyway. The subsequent fall out form his trade to the Habs and demotion to the AHL seemed to seal his fate. Fans railed against this and eventually the right thing was done, he was given his shot and was a class act the whole time in the face of what could have been a PR nightmare. It was a no win situation really, until the puck was dropped and the league came up smelling like roses. The game was great and Scott asserted himself very well in leading his team to victory. This is all well and good but really, isn't what the game is all about.
Sure there's something to be said for letting a guy like Scott who would otherwise never have a chance play in this game. I was happy for him and his family, who will have this memory forever. It was touching and reminded us that sport can transcend everyday life and bring out the best in us. But the only reason it worked so well is because of the kind of guy John Scott is. An intelligent (he's an engineer) guy who understood what was going on and rolled with it. I'm not sure that would have been the case in most instances. And that's what worried the NHL. That some guy who had no business being there would look exactly like that and embarrass the league. Many argue that the game is a boring, pointless exercise anyway that many big name stars skip just to get the much needed rest, but for many it still matters.
The fact is the nature of the All Star game is being argued over by mostly, adults, when the reality of it is the people most interested in it are kids. Young fans who sit in novice or pewee dressing rooms arguing about who the best player in the league is or who'd make the strongest line combination in an All Star match up. Kids who idolize these guys, emulate their heroes and want to see top end skill face off against one another in a dynamic setting. The 3 on 3 format revitalized a game in desperate need of a boost and was as exciting as any I can remember. It showcased the skill and speed of the game and made it entertaining in ways it wasn't because the nature of it is inherently more competitive. Kids and for that matter the rest of us have no desire to see fourth line grinders out there when the true stars of the game are available. That's not to say these guys aren't an important, integral part of the league, and any championship team, but the All Star game is meant to exhibit the highest level of skill. A showcase for the elite who deserve to shine. That's the reality and while the NHL is filled with great stories and greater guys, the All Star game should be viewed as something special and an honour that you earn. There's enough participation ribbons being passed around these days, lets let the guys who deserve to have their greatness praised get the opportunity to show us why.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)