Archive for WCSHL
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.
Darren Colbourne – Time to Hang ‘Em Up
Posted by: | Comments
With the senior hockey players hanging up their skates for a summer of fun and relaxation, it’s now time for the management and volunteers behind the teams to decide what happens next year. There’s no doubts that every team will be making changes, some minor, some major. Those decisions are going to be harder for the Corner Brook Royals, especially after their disappointing season in 2008-09.
What about Darren Colbourne? Will he be back?
Darren Colbourne of the Corner Brook Royals in the 2008-09 season was not the Darren Colbourne of old. He looked disheartened, he looked beaten at times, he looked as if he was going through the motions and didn’t want to be on the ice. SOme may argue that this assessment is not correct. Heck, Darren may state differently himself. However, from the stands, there was a definite impression that Colbourne was there in body only.
The Corner Brook ROyals even used Darren in a defensive role this past season, leaving many fans and armchair coaches scratching the heads wondering what was going on. Colbourne, one of the biggest offensive threats in the league, standing on the blueline as a defenseman? Give me a break.
Having the utmost respect for Darren Colbourne and what he has contributed to hockey through the years, Newfoundland Hockey Talk must honestly tell Darren to hang up his skates and sit on the sidelines if this is the role that the Royals are going to use him in. It is time to retire and move on to life after hockey. Better yet, step up as a part of the ownership / management of the Royals, become their coach and get some young blood into the lineup. Rebuild the team like it needs to be rebuilt.
Darren has so much to offer Newfoundland hockey, and having him relegated to the role he’s been given on the Royals is a travesty. He deserves better.
Did Druken Live up to Expectations?
Posted by: | CommentsWith the acquisition of Harold Druken, the Deer Lake Red Wings and their fans were excited. Touted as one of the high calibre players available on the island, having Druken sign with the Wings was a major announcement. However, did he live up to expectations?
There are many fans throughout the West Coast Senior Hockey League that think that Druken did not play up to the calibre as what was expected. Granted, he had just come from an extended absense from the game and was playing with a new squad. However, was the signing of Druken all hype?
Looking at the stats Druken managed 44 points, with 16 goals and 28 assists, putting him 5th in scoring, well behind the Red Wings Mark Robinson who had a career season with 65 points. Could Druken’s presence aided Robinson win the scoring title by 10 points? It probably had some impact but Robinson played as if he had a mission this season and was by far, the best player in the West Coast Senior Hockey League.
Druken is a fine player. His skill is obvious when you watch him on the ice, but there was something missing from his game. It was in the opinion of Newfoundland Hockey Talk, a combination of rust and being unfamiliar with the team he was playing on. He looked at times a little out of place but did adjust as the season progressed.
Harold Druken if back with the Red Wings next seasn will defintely be a force to be reckoned with in the WCSHL.
Inter-League Games on the Agenda
Posted by: | CommentsNewfoundland Hockey Talk has learned that inter-league games between the AESHL and the WCSHL are on the agenda for the upcoming meetings at both leagues. While talked about many times in the past and actually asked for by the fans on many occassions on the Newfoundland Hockey Talk Discussion Forum, these never materialize.
Is this another rumour or is this topic finally going to receive serious recognition.
Maybe not everyone can recall, there was an attempt to bridge the action a few years back with a WCSHL All-Star / Skills Competition. It never really produced the fan support or garnered much player support. However, inter-league play could be a different story.
Both fans and players alike get an opportunity to see what the other league has to offer prior to the Herder Memorial Championship.
Let’s hope that is “agenda item” is a reality.
Terry Ryan Returning to the Corner Brook Royals
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After a dismal season, the Corner Brook Royals may have a ray of sunshine destined to return to the lineup in the upcoming West Coast Senior Hockey League in the 2009/2010 season. Terry Ryan is rumoured to have given the Corner Brook Royals his commitment to play next season if he plays in the WCSHL at all.
As one of the most consistent and positive players on the Corner Brook Royals, Ryan has continually put a positive spin on the pathetic season the Corner Brook Royals just finished. However, if rumour are true, Ryan wants to be a part of the rebuilding and wants to have his leadership influence the direction of the young talent being scouted by the Royals Management.
Newfoundland Hockey Talk does however, question the reliability of this rumour. Sources have indicated that Ryan was upset with the Corner Brook Royals’ performance in the just finished West Coast Senior Hockey League season. While on the ice and before media people, Ryan has been a consummate professional, always appearing positive. However, behind the scenes has many insiders telling different stories.
If Terry Ryan does return he will return with a mission and something to prove. The Corner Brook Royals could use his scoring punch and leadership in what will definitely be a rebuilding year.
Caribous Gone From WCSHL?
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The Telegram has run a column by Robin Short indicating that the Clarenville Caribous may be gone from the West Coast Senior Hockey League because of their decision to play their Herder Memorial games at the Mile One Stadium.
In the column, Short indicates that the people who run the WCSHL are not happy with Clarenville. He goes on to indicate that the three other teams in the league are not totally torn up about Caribous being in the league because of the travel costs associated with driving to Clarenville.
The article quotes league president Gary Gale as saying “As a president, I’ve had to deal with typical things that come up … controversies and the like. But the biggest thing I’ve had to deal with lately was why didn’t the west coast get any Herder games. And that was coming from fans and sponsors and the volunteers who are involved with hockey around here. And there’s a case to be made (for the complainants), to be quite honest. It is a west coast team. If you want to play in our league, you should play your Herder games here.”
The Caribous have not issued a formal response to this but on the Newfoundland Hockey Talk Discussion forum, Todd Brett, a member of the Clarenville Caribous executive who goes by the name “Caribous insider” has stated:
Its just Robin Short stirring the pot. If you want more info then ask Robin to quote the comments hes got from the teams. Ask him whos hes been talking too from the Cats, Wings and Royals and what exactly they had to say. You notice hes hasn’t given any direct comments from anyone who has said they want the Caribous out!! The whole thing is a joke! Not gona happen!
Now you have your offical response from the Caribous.
While the other teams have not commented officially on these recent developments, there is no denying that fans and sponsors are expressing their concerns. Would the league actually stoop to kicking the Caribous out of the league?
It is quite possible, but given that the state of teams such as the Corner Brook Royals, ejecting the Bous may result in a total collapse of the league.
Watch for this story to develop more as the West Coast Senior Hockey League’s annual general meeting comes about. Newfoundland Hockey Talk is guessing that there will be changes brought in to the league’s by-laws that will require West Coast teams to play their games at the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook.