Archive for December, 2009
Newfoundland Hockey Takes Christmas Break
Posted by: | CommentsNewfoundland Hockey is for the most part on a Christmas break. This has left many Newfoundland Hockey fans here on the forum struggling for some entertainment and hoping that Santa was good to the various teams throughout the island.
The news coming from the various hockey organizations in and around Newfoundland is sparse. There’s not a whole lot happening as most people spend time with friends and family throughout this holiday season.
For those Newfoundland Hockey fans around there’s the World Juniors with an up and coming Newfoundland star in the mix. That is always exciting cheering for a local during such a high profile event.
Give it time fans, Newfoundland Hockey will soon resume.
Have a safe and happy holiday season and a very Happy New Year from everyone here at Newfoundland Hockey Talk.
The Corner Brook Royals
Posted by: | CommentsThe Corner Brook Royals are now under “new” management, a move that has many fans shaking their heads and asking why? The trouble with the Corner Brook Royals have been around for a few years and the changes that the organization has made doesn’t go far enough to address what has to be done to right this sinking ship.
The Corner Brook Royals have a long history of success in hockey. The people who ran the organization had a passion for hockey and wanted to win at all costs. This doesn’t seem to be the case these last few years.
The downfall of the Corner Brook Royals started when Ed Kearsey, one of the best hockey minds on the West Coast stopped coaching the team. There has been many people who speculated as to why Kearsey and the Royals parted ways – some say there were troubles in the dressing room with “star” players and others say it had to do with management direction.
What has the Royals accomplished since Kearsey left? Not a great deal. They’ve been pretty much bottom dwellers in the four team league we have all grown to love (and sometimes hate).
People also thought that the departure of Dick Cashin from the team would make things easier and now they could get on with “winning” and playing hockey. Dick was one of the many reasons the Royals were successful. Regardless of what you may think of this individual, he had the heart, passion and nose for hockey. He could sniff out a great player and his knowledge of the game brought many fans hours of entertainment.
Let’s fast forward to now. What do we have? A team that is now backed by “new” management and many are questioning if this is the right move. Sure, the Corner Brook Royals need a shake-up, but they also need a leader on and off the ice.
It’s the opinion of Newfoundland Hockey Talk that these changes will do nothing to improve the Royals chances of succeeding. They looked brilliant in the first few weeks of the season but now they look like a team that lacks the heart and soul to do anything.
The players deserve better! The fans deserve better! The Corner Brook Royals deserve better!
Last Series Before Christmas
Posted by: | CommentsThe West Coast Senior Hockey League is heading into its last series before Christmas. One has to sit back and take stock as to what has transpired thus far in the league.
With the Cataracts sitting at the top of the standings, one must say they are impressed with their performance and how management stuck to its guns, building this team to what it is.
The Caribous are showing that they are still playing hard and still have their winning ways. It will be interesting to see what happens down the stretch.
In the basement we have the Deer Lake Red Wings and Corner Brook Royals. These two teams still battle one another hard each series and still show signs of greatness every now and then. However, one can’t help but notice that the curtain is probably falling on the Deer Lake Red Wings as they struggle to stay competitive. They are not the team of the last few years.
The Royals are still in a rebuilding phase and they have potential to do great if they start playing more cohesively as they were at the beginning of the season. Santa may be asked to bring a new goaltender and a new defenseman to help the Royals in the new year.
Everyone knows the real season in the WCSHL starts in January. It will be interesting to see what 2010 brings for this colorful league.