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Can Donnie Gosse Still Compete?
Posted by: | CommentsSt. John’s native Donnie Gosse has been one of the premier defensive players in Newfoundland senior hockey for the last ten years. He’s shown what it takes to compete at the highest level here in Newfoundland but there’s many fans wondering if Gosse still can compete.
Gosse has crossed into the West Coast Senior Hockey league this season after his previous team – the Southern Shore Breakers – dropped out of the East league. After signing with the Royals, there were many with high expectations that his addition to the red, white and blue would give the Royals and edge on the blue line and perhaps be enough to push the Royals back to the top of their game.
Fans in Corner Brook are familiar with Gosse who quickly garnished the nickname “Turtle” for his on ice antics and antagonistic ways that saw him covering up if the threat of a fight arrived.
However, this is a new league, with new rules and even though Gosse came out of the gate with a bit of rust, he has showed he can still rise to the occasion and compete. He still has the soft hands, great passing skills and can skate with the best of him. He’s both an offensive threat leading the charge and can rush back to cover up defensively.
Critics may think that Gosse is overrated and not worth what the Royals are alleged to be paying this player. However, any coach and the majority of the true hockey fans recognize what an asset he is to any team.
Yetman or Jewer: Who Would be your Number One?
Posted by: | CommentsThe Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts are in a unique situation. With their signing of their new goalie Mark Yetman and the return of last years #1 goalie, Doug Jewer, the Cats have two solid goalies ready to tackle whatever the other teams throw their way.
This was quite evident recently when the Cataracts made the trip down the Trans Canada Highway to Corner Brook and squared off against the Corner Brook Royals in a two game series.
Yetman started the opener and looked stellar, making several amazing saves while facing shot after shot from the Royals. It was evident from the fans the Cats goalie stole the game and was the difference at the end of the day, picking up a “W” with a 5-4 win over the Royals.
In Sunday’s game, Jewer wasn’t going to be outdone by Yetman’s strong performance after returning from having surgery in the off-season.
While he didn’t face as many shots and was not tested as much as Yetman, Jewer came up with a solid 2-0 shutout win.
Some are questioning how the team is going to deal with these two goalies. There are many who feel there is only enough room on the team for one of these players and friction is bound to develop. Some feel the friction is good and these goalies can feed off one another, forcing each to perform at the top of their game when they are called upon to play.
Yet sources have indicated to Newfoundland Hockey Talk that Jewer is not happy with the signing of Yetman and has made it clear to the Cats’ executive he wants the starting position.
The Cataracts have built a solid organization and dealing with issues off the ice is one of their strengths. Newfoundland Hockey Talk is very confident the Cataracts can accommodate both goalies and offer them enough duty to satisfy them especially with the playoffs just around the corner and the Herder Championship clearly in the Cats’ sight this season.
Royals Headed out of Corner Brook?
Posted by: | CommentsThe question on everyone’s mind this morning is simple. Is the Corner Brook Royals leaving the city to play elsewhere? Royals President Ross Coates has indicated fan attendance is not what he wants and has made it clear the hockey fans in Corner Brook has to make a decision about the future of hockey in the city.
In an unprecedented move, both the Corner Brook Royals and the Deer Lake Red Wings put an end to the CFCB radio broadcasts in an attempt to put more bums in the seats at both the Pepsi Centre and the Hodder Memorial Arena. What is even more drastic is the rumour floating around that should the attendance be poor for the Royals latest home games, the team would finish the season at other arenas – namely Stephenville and Gander.
Sources close to Royals President have indicated the Royals will be heading to Stephenville for their series against the Clarenville Caribous the weekend January 15-16.
Fan support has been anything but stellar this season as the Corner Brook Royals rebuild their team. Fans are growing impatient with many of the highly praised talent such as Morgan Warren and Mark Tobin to begin producing and are calling on the team’s executive to either send these players packing or bench them.
Ross Coates understands the frustrations that fans are feeling. In a recent interview on CBC Radio, Coates has indicated he is not pleased with the teams performance.
Newfoundland Hockey Talk has to give credit, Mr. Coates and his organization has provided every opportunity to put a winning team on the ice. They have attracted key players such as Donnie Gosse and the highly touted Mark Tobin, hoping this players could spark the likes of Morgan Warren, Scott Doody and Andrew White into having banner seasons. On paper, the team has a defensive squad second to none. Up front, they have as much fire power as anyone in the league.
Hockey isn’t played on paper. It’s played on the ice. This edition of the Corner Brook Royals has not met expectations of Coates or his executive team. It has also not lived up to the expectations of the fans. Right now, the Corner Brook Royals are sitting in the basement and losing both fan and community support after dropping their latest series at home against the Cataracts and stopping the radio broadcasts.
Sources have indicated “there will be definite lineup changes next weekend” and with the deadline looming for protecting players, it will be interesting to see what the Corner Brook Royals does with some of its underachievers.
One thing is clear. After this weekend with only a little over 1000 fans on Saturday and 500 fans on Sunday, there is no way the Corner Brook Royals can continue to bleed money. It doesn’t make business sense and moving the team to a smaller, more fan friendly venue is definitely an understandable business move.
With Coates and his group working diligently behind the scenes to ice a quality product, to see the lack of fan support is terrible. Corner Brook has a long standing history of supporting winners and being finicky about the events they attend. Is it that hockey has just fallen out of favour with the community or is it something else? Coates and his team deserves credit for trying to keep hockey here in the city. They definitely deserve better support than they are getting and if it takes moving the team to have them survive then that’s what it takes!
Places such as Stephenville, Gander and Port Aux Basques are foaming at the opportunity to have a team and a businessman such as Mr. Coates bring hockey back to those areas.
Are the Royals headed out of Corner Brook? Stay tuned – things are always interesting around the West Coast Senior Hockey League.
For more discussions and insight as to what is going on check out the Newfoundland Hockey Talk Discussion Forum.
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.