Author Archive
Tax Man Taketh?
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s not even the start of the 2010-11 WCSHL season and already there are many rumours about what’s going to happen in the upcoming hockey season.
The most major news/rumours are centred around the recent and ongoing audits being conducted by Revenue Canada. There are major implications for players and organizations this upcoming season which may lead to players seeking ice time elsewhere other than the WCSHL.
Newfoundland Hockey Talk has to wonder if the tax man is going to take some of the key players from the league this year. There’s definitely something happening behind the scenes.
Caribous Hunting for New Head Coach
Posted by: | CommentsJust a mere few weeks after the Newfoundland and Labrador big game licenses are issued, the Clarenville Caribous find themselves hunting, but this time it’s for a new head coach.
As previously stated here on Newfoundland Hockey Talk about Coach Pearcey leaving the Caribous organization, I guess the many Caribous fans, executive members and supporters who have denied these persistent rumours are now silenced. In a devastating blow to the Caribous organization, both Coach Pearcey and leading scorer Andrew Pearcey announced they are headed to Mount Pearl for the upcoming hockey season, leaving the team that has brought them back-to-back Herder Memorial Trophies.
Sources have indicated that differences arising after the Allan Cup in the spring. Coach Pearcey and star goalie Jason Churchill had words during the tournament, words that have contributed to this split. Differences in the dressing room between players have apparently also added to the rift that sees star player Andrew Pearcey leaving to follow his father to the AESHL.
Who will the Caribous appoint as their new head coach? Time will tell.
Bobby Orr and the Chevy Safe and Fun Hockey Festival
Posted by: | CommentsHockey legend Bobby Orr will be visiting Corner Brook, NL teaming up with Chevrolet to host the Chevy Safe and Fun Hockey Festival from August 27 – 28, 2010.
The festivals are conducted for players 5-8 years of age and consist of on ice instruction, off ice sessions, team buildings activities and parent seminars. Each participant will receive a jersey, autograph items and the opportunity to hang out with Chevrolet Hockey Ambassador Bobby Orr!
You have a chance to win a spot as a participant in this Festival. All you need to do is complete the on-line form at www.chevrolethockey.ca to enter the contest. There are sixty (60) spots available to be won. Entry deadline is July 23, 2010.
Newfoundland Hockey Talk’s Role in Newfoundland Hockey
Posted by: | CommentsNewfoundland Hockey Talk has become the largest online discussion forum for Newfoundland and Labrador hockey. It’s a site built on rumors, speculation and stories that are spun by fans, hockey enthusiasts and so-called insiders. It’s become the focal point for senior hockey fans across this great province and there’s no more passionate fans than those of the West Coast Senior Hockey League.
There’s no denying that many of the things that take place here on Newfoundland Hockey Talk can be dismissed. There are no standards that this site has to live up to, it’s not a newspaper, it’s not held to the same journalistic integrity as established media sites.
Still many people choose to criticize the site, the stories that members publish, the rumors they talk about and the tales that are spread.
Players deny that they are members of Newfoundland Hockey Talk. Coaches deny that they read things being published by fans. Executive members deny paying any heed to the rumors. Referees have been instructed to not post on the site.
Yet at the end of the day, Newfoundland Hockey Talk is the site for hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Insiders” publish tidbits of accurate information about what’s happening with teams. Team meetings are called to discuss rumors and plan strategy in how to deal with rumors.
Talk to the owners of Newfoundland Hockey Talk and they will tell you this site is a thorn in their sides at times. They have had to give members cooling down periods, resorting to banning members as a last resort and at times visit lawyers to deal with threats of being sued.
With millions of pages views each month, Newfoundland Hockey Talk is a force to be dealt with in Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey.
Regardless of countless attempts to discredit the site, to criticize its operation or to “call out” the most visible operator of the site – the site continues to grow in popularity.
Nothing upsets the teams involved in the West Coast Senior Hockey League more than when rumors of backroom happenings, disputes, gossip, rumors and the like hits the pages of Newfoundland Hockey Talk.
Why? It is very simple. No one likes their dirty laundry aired in public.
Whether it is the Allen Cup incident with the Clarenville Caribous, the Royals perennial poor performance, the Wings disappointing run in 2010 or the Cataracts player woes a few years back – the teams in the West Coast Senior Hockey League find themselves unable to control what is being said about their organizations, players, coaches and executives and this upsets them.
People send emails, cell phone video, copies of emails, private messages and all kinds of information to the owners of Newfoundland Hockey Talk just to prove they have the inside scoop about what’s going on with the teams. Whether it be a stick swinging incident in the Caribous/Royals brawl, slashes by fan favorite (and most hated) Deer Lake’s Darren Langdon or goalies tearing a strip off their coach because he got pulled from a game, things get sent to Newfoundland Hockey Talk.
Fans, players, coaches and executive members are quick to come to the defense of their teams when the supposed “rumors” hit the pages of Newfoundland Hockey Talk. It spills into the discussion board and you end up with executive members berating kids in private messages, the Newfoundland Hockey Talk site being called a “joke” and its owners continually trashed with colorful profanities.
All teams and hockey organizations, not just those of the West Coast Senior Hockey League have to realize that Newfoundland Hockey Talk should be embraced. It is a mechanism to reach all their fans with minimal effort. It is a site that can be used to build relationships with fans, to discuss rumors, to make official announcements and to deal with the unflattering issues head-on.
The next time that you as a fan, player, coach or executive member think that it is acceptable to tear a strip of someone in private, call someone a joke, idiot and emphasize those points with profanities, remember it’s not Newfoundland Hockey Talk developing a bad reputation, its you and your organization and the team that you represent that pays the price.
Don`t be one of the select few that ends up being banned, remain respectful and professional. Hockey as whole in Newfoundland will benefit.
Montreal Canadiens Win Against Washington Capitals
Posted by: | CommentsThe Montreal Canadiens have done the improbable. In defeating the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens not only advanced to round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they have become the first team to come back from a 3-1 defecit against the President Cup winners and steal a victory.
Game 7 of the series saw Montreal jump out to a 1-0 lead after the first period. The Habs played with heart in the second period, silencing the Capitals big line and then in the third period, the Canadiens took a 2-0 lead late into the 3rd period.
The Washington Capitals scored with a little over 2 minutes remaining to pull within a goal and with a late powerplay with only 1:44 left, Washington was unable to score.
The Canadiens move on to face the Penguins in round 2.
Another Season Over for Newfoundland Hockey
Posted by: | CommentsAnother Newfoundland hockey season is over and our many great local players have hung up their skates for the season.
One can’t forget some of the great highs and lows that this sport has brought the fans such as the Clarenville Caribous winning the provincial title – the Herder Memorial Trophy and the Juan Strickland saga.
This isn’t the end of hockey though with the NHL playoffs in full swing.
Stay tuned, there are more great things left to come here on Newfoundland Hockey Talk as well.
Clarenville Caribous Win 2009-2010 Herder
Posted by: | CommentsThe Clarenville Caribous have repeated as the Herder Memorial Champions for 2009-2010.
In a series that saw some great hockey, the Caribous managed to defeat the Conception Bay Cee Bees in the series 4-1 enroute to their second Herder championship.
Congratulations to the Clarenville Caribous.
Fundraiser Auction for Tommy
Posted by: | CommentsOne of Newfoundland Hockey Talk’s (Newfoundland’s largest hockey discussion forum) members has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Tommy Buffett known on Newfoundland Hockey Talk as “Tommy” is definitely one of the most colourful members there. He has become a diehard Deer Lake Red Wings fan and has grown to be loved (and in some cases hated) on the discussion forum. He‘s one of the most colourful West Coast Senior Hockey League fans that frequent the forum.
Tommy often takes knocks for things he says on the forum. However much of what occurs on the forum is not the real Tommy, a man who organized the Mark Baldwin Memorial Hockey Tournament held each year in Cox’s Cove and gives back to the community every chance he can. His wife Natasha does the same, volunteering throughout the year for 4-H and other organizations throughout the community.
After hearing Tommy had once again been diagnosed with cancer, it was time for Newfoundland Hockey Talk to step up and do something to help cover the costs associated with travel and help ease the financial burden of this family. Newfoundland Hockey Talk wanted to do a fundraiser.
With the help of several other forum members, the teams in the West Coast Senior Hockey League were approached and each gave autographed jerseys with the exception of the Deer Lake Red Wings. However, Darren Langdon of the Deer Lake Red Wings did something more. He took his game warn jersey from his 2005 Herder Memorial Championship and gave it for this fundraiser.
The owner of Newfoundland Hockey Talk dug into his collection of sports memorabilia and offered up some of autographed hockey cards and baseball cards. Others have started stepping up and offering other sports memorabilia to contribute.
The fundraiser auction is ongoing through the WCSHL finals and the Herder Memorial championship.
For more details on the auctions please vist the Newfoundland Hockey Talk Discussion Forum’s WCSHL section by following this link – http://www.nlhockeytalk.ca/hockey/viewforum.php?f=9.
Caribous and Cats Split
Posted by: | CommentsThe opening of the WCSHL final series has seen the Caribous and the Cats split the first two games. With the Cats dominating the first game, winning a score of 5-1, the Caribous found itself in a position to drop 2 games at home after the Cats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in game 2 of the series.
However, the defending champs and defending Herder Memorial Champs battled back to win the game 3-2 to even the series.
Games 3 and 4 take place this coming weekend at the Grand Falls-Windsor arena.
WCSHL Final Set
Posted by: | CommentsThe 2009-2010 WCSHL final has been set as both the Grand Falls Windsor Cataracts and Clarenville Caribous advance, sweeping their opponents in 4 straight games in the opening round of the playoffs.
The final is shaping up to be a battle of 2 fast skating and talented teams that were seperated by mere points after battling for first place in the regular season.
Stay tuned for some great hockey on the road to the Herder Memorial Championship.