Archive for November, 2009
Cataracts WCSHL Champs?
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s only early in the West Coast Senior Hockey League season, but one can’t help and think that maybe this year, the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts will be the 2009-2009 West Coast Senior Hockey Champs.
This was the team that many fans criticized the last few seasons but the Cats executive held true to their commitment to build a strong team that would become a contender. Fans this year can cheer loudly as this years roster is a dominant force.
However, is the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts great start to the season a real surprise? Here at Newfoundland Hockey Talk, we don’t think so. If you look at this team, it was by far one of the most impressive teams last season given their situation.
Yes, you’ve read that correctly. The Cats were a great team last year.
In 2008-2009, the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts were just 5-points behind the Clarenville Caribous and finished in third in the league. That’s impressive for a team that struggled offensively and lacked a big name player to help this young team in their rebuilding.
The management and executive of the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts knew they were on the right track with this team and this year stepped it up a notch and signed some big names that brought experience and offensive power. It is paying off for them as they are now starting to gel in this young season.
The Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts have one of the most impressive teams on paper and that is starting to translate into performance on the ice.
Yes, the Cataracts appear to be for real and this 2009-2001 West Coast Senior Hockey League may just see new champs at the end of the season.
Caribous Sign Richard Paul
Posted by: | CommentsSome things never surprise people but this is one of the biggest surprises. No one would ever have thought that the Clarenville Caribous would have signed former Corner Brook Royal, Richard Paul.
With all the bad blood that existed between the Caribous and the Royals after several bench clearing brawls, it was evident that the number one player admid all the controversy was RIchard Paul. In fact, he served a six-game suspension for his antics during the playoffs in 2007-2008 playoffs when Paul just lost all his senses and challenged the entire Caribous team to a fight.
Yet, the Clarenville Caribous needed some toughness and after the Corner Brook Royals and Richard Paul parted ways, it was rumoured that the tough guy was shopping himself around to other teams. The Corner Brook Royals didn’t want him back, the Deer Lake Red Wings have tough guys Darren Langdon and Guy Langdon, the Cataracts have Manson but the Bous were a tad bit short in the toughness section. Along comes Richard Paul and voila – he’s now wearing a Clarenville Caribous Jersey.
What will this add to the team?
One can only imagine some of the conversations that have taken place in the dressing room and behind closed doors in this organization. The Clarenville Caribous are in Newfoundland Hockey Talk’s opinion a desparate team looking to protect some of their key players. However, adding a dynamic like Richard Paul may only upset the team more.
The key to this whole move is Randy Pearcey. Can he control Paul? He definitely has to lay down the law to this player and keep him under control otherwise the Caribous are in trouble.
Corner Brook Royals Down Caribous
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s still early in the West Coast Senior League hockey season, but fans of the Corner Brook Royals should be smiling after a weekend of great hockey. The Royals downed the Caribous in a weekend series and also defeated the Deer Lake Red Wings to extend their winning streak to 4 games.
What’s impressive is the play of Morgan Warren, who had a stellar performance throughout the weekend and in one game, scored 6-goals.
Yes, the Corner Brook Royals, a team that many people had counted out this year have started the year off with a bang – a very big bang. Newfoundland Hockey Talk had picked the Royals to finish in the basement of the league once again. However after the play this weekend, it looks like this season is shaping up to be a very interesting one indeed. The Royals have shown they can play and play hard. They are a much improved team and look to have new life in this early season.
Some will argue that the Caribous were short their star goalie – Jason Churchill, but one can’t argue that the Royals did outplay the Caribous. Rumours abound on the Newfoundland Hockey Talk Discussion Forum about Churchill being gone for the year but sources say that this is only rumour. Churchill was called away last minute for work commitments and that he will return next weekend.
With play resuming next weekend, it will be interesting to see how things shake out in this early season.
Week One: Were there Surprises?
Posted by: | CommentsWith week one of the WCSHL in the books, one must look at the games and see if there were any surprises.
Looking at the Cataracts and the Royals, this was a very entertaining series. The Royals looked like a completely different team, finishing their checks, skating and playing a pretty good game defensively. Their loss in the shoot-out was a let down for the fans in attendance, but they should be pleased overall as their team bounced back the next night to take a decisive victory.
The bright spot for the Royals should be young Scott Doody. This guy is going to be the future of the organization!
The Cataracts on the otherhand, they were quite impressive. With their line-up filled with lots of new talent, it was obvious that this team is going to be a major contender this year if the players gel. There was no doubt that this team has improved on paper, and there were obvious flashes of this improvement during their opener against the Royals.
The Deer Lake Red Wings however started the season off on a very bad foot. Sources have told Newfoundland Hockey Talk that the Wings looked old and tired – not the same team that they have seen the last few seasons. With some of the players who have left this year, one must wonder if the Wings still have what it takes to be competitive in the league.
Sure, it’s only one series, and the Wings are famous for bouncing back and showing their true grit that has made them perennial successes in the league, but the fact is, one must wonder if they do have what it takes to compete in this changed league. The younger legs and talent pool on the other teams have improved dramatically and the Wings seem to have not kept pace.
What about the Caribous? They started the season with a bang, with two big wins against the Wings. They started off right where they left off last season, showing why they are the defending league and Herder Memorial champs.
Newfoundland Hockey Talk wasn’t sure if they could continue their winning ways this season but they have come out of the gates firing on all cylinders and look like major contenders once again.
The season is just starting! Stay tuned!