Archive for WCSHL
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.
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!
Ray Dalton Says Bye-Bye to Wings
Posted by: | CommentsDeer Lake will be short Ray Dalton in the upcoming WCSHL season. Dalton is sticking closer to home to help with his new born baby.
The Deer Lake Red Wings loss is a gain for Southern Shore, as Dalton will lace them up there this season. If things work out as both teams want it, Dalton may once again skate in the west again, but this time when battling for the Herder.
This is shaping up to be one strange season in Newfoundland Senior Hockey.
West Coast Senior Hockey League 2009 Edition
Posted by: | CommentsThe West Coast Senior Hockey League’s 2009 Edition is starting to slowly unfold. With major signings by the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts and players rumoured to be moving around in the West Coast Senior Hockey League, there is definitely a shake-up about to occur.
As the season draws close, fans are anxiously awaiting to see what their teams will look like.
Will the Deer Lake Red Wings be contenders this year with their talented line-up featuring Druken, Langdon and Robinson? Will the Royals even be able to compete after their disasterous year? Will the Clarenville Caribous repeat as Herder Champs? What about Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts – will their signings improve their offense?
Newfoundland Hockey Talk’s predictions based on early rumours and signings:
- Deer Lake Red Wings
- Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts
- Clarenville Caribous
- Corner Brook Royals
Wings experience and heart will lead them to another first place in the league. The Cataracts were only 5 points behind the Caribous last year and with their off-season signings, they will be a very close second behind the Wings. The Caribous will be contenders but will not be able to compete with the depth of either the Wings or Cataracts this year. Their strong goaltending will not be enough this season to leap over the Wings experience of the new look Cataracts. The Royals – well, what can one say about this organization? Their lack of coaching, management and player talent on defense will keep this team in the basement.
Cee Bees and Blades Want into WCSHL
Posted by: | CommentsWell, it looks like the WCSHL may be about to receive two additional teams as Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador has been asked for a ruling as to whether these teams will be allowed to play in the Western league.
There’s no secret that the players in the West are compensated for their play, some of them quite lucratively. Now the players in the AESHL want in on the action and want to come to the west, not only for the money but because the west is the league where all the action is.
Teams from the west have constantly gone looking for high calibre players, offering them positions on their rosters, paid for their travel, compensated them for their time and up untiil now, many of the eastern players stayed in the AESHL. Things are changing and this change can probably be attributed to the success of the Clarenville Caribous in the WCSHL. In fact, it is the Caribous entry into the west league that has probably made it possible for other teams to make the leap.
If the Cee Bees and Blades come into the Western league, it allows for two divisions, one that would probably include the Caribous, Cee Bees and Blades. The other would include the Cataracts, Wings and Royals. The bulk of the games would be played in your own division with some limted East vs West games througout the season. It also allows for the league to address what many fans seen as an injustice from last season’s Herder Championship where all the games were played in Mile One.
Newfoundland Hockey Talk has learned that should the Cee Bees and Blades come into the WCSHL, it will probably mean that the Herder Championship will be the league championship, with Corner Brook’s Pepsi Centre the west coast location for games and the Mile One Stadium the east coast location for the games. Playoffs would see an east and west championship, with the winners of each division playing for the Herder.
Sounds reasonable.
However, there appears to be some fight left in the AESHL executive. This league isn’t going away just yet and they are lobbying HNL to block the move of the Blades and the Cee Bees.
Interesting times are about to happen in provincial senior hockey.
West Coast Senior Hockey League Under Investigation
Posted by: | CommentsSources have revealed that the four teams in the West Coast Senior Hockey League have been the subject of an investigation being conducted by Revenue Canada. There is also some talks that Service Canada is waiting for the Revenue Canada investigation to conclude before moving in to check on the money paid to players through the hockey season. From what is being indicated, the Service Canada investigation will focus on the players and the Revenue Canada investigation will focus on the organizations.
Each of the four teams have been contacted and asked to open their books, revealing the nature of their operations with respect to revenue, players’ salaries and team operations. According to one email received by Newfoundland Hockey Talk
The Corner Brook Royals, Deer Lake Red Wings, Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts and the Clarenville Caribous are the subject of a Revenue Canada investigation. Teams will be given an opportunity to reveal the nature of their operations, including revenue received, players salaries and expenses related to their operations. Teams will be assessed individually with respect to compliance to Revenue Canada guidelines and regulations.
It’s not clear if this is an attempt to collect any back taxes or just to ensure compliance with the guidelines and regulations. Fromthe several emails received to Newfoundland Hockey Talk, one indicated that this investigation would not result in any penalties being assessed on the teams, and it was simply a “warning” to ensure that they were following the proper guidelines. Yet another email indicated that this was a “serious” investigation and will result in major penalties to the organizations in question.
Sources have also revealed that the Clarenville Caribous are the first team to be investigated and that this investigation is currently underway.
What is not known by those that have emailed Newfoundland Hockey Talk is what this will mean to the operation of the league and the teams. However, there are those that are speculating that this could have a major impact on at least two of the organizations and that the other two organizations have positioned themselves to deal with the possibility of such an investigation - ensuring that all Revenue Canada guidelines and regulations had been followed, taxes paid where appropriate, revenues all declared and players informed of the rules required for reporting income.
What has prompted this investigation? There are some that Newfoundland Hockey Talk have contacted that speculate that the West Coast Senior Hockey League has long been in the sights of Revenue Canada and that a recent Telegram article by Robin Short, he indicates that he was in contact with several organizations and the Clarenville Caribous have confirmed that they have been contacted by the feds.
This story is definitely something that Newfoundland Hockey Talk will be following in the days / weeks / months to come as the 2009-10 WCSHL season approaches. You can also bet that there are many players who are wondering what this will mean to them – especially if they were collecting employment insurance while getting “paid” to play hockey.
Corner Brook Designated West Coast Hockey Location for Herder Memorial Games
Posted by: | CommentsNewfoundland Hockey Talk has been hearing that fans have spoken and apparently several teams and the President of the West Coast Senior Hockey League have listened. In the upcoming annual general meeting for the league, a motion will be tabled to designate Corner Brook and the Pepsi Centre as the official location for all Herder Memorial Championship games for the West Coast league.
How will this sit with the current reigning Herder Memorial Champs, the Clarenville Caribous? Well, one can only guess that this will cause a major ripple through that organization and throughout the league if this rumour proves to be true. However, it is the Caribous decision to play their Herder games at Mile One in St. John’s that has led to the controversy and backlash that is occurring right now.
One hockey fan has written Newfoundland Hockey Talk and stated:
I’ve been watching Herder Games for the last 25 years. This year I never got to see one game. It’s a west coast league and if they (the teams) can’t accept that, they should go elsewhere to play. It’s ridiculous that the league has allowed this to occur. I won’t support them next year if it continues.
Will Corner Brook and the Pepsi Centre be designated as the West Coast location for the Herder Memorial Games? Newfoundland Hockey Talk thinks that this will be a battle that will not be settled just yet. The Clarenville Caribous will be dead-set against moving the Herder games to Corner Brook. The Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts will probably be against this move. The Deer Lake Red Wings and the Corner Brook Royals will probably be supportive. Any vote on the issue is likely to be a tie.
That leaves Gary Gale, President of the West Coast Senior Hockey League to cast the deciding vote. Given the pressure that has been levied in his direction by the fans and the criticism in the media, and his past desire to avoid making the “tough” decision, who knows what he will do. Newfoundland Hockey Talk is also hearing that Deer Lake and Corner Brook are going to push the issue. These teams want the games on the West Coast.
It will be a showdown and look at this changing the landscape of the league for sometime to come.