The Corner Brook Royals
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
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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.
Wings Lose Game 3
By · CommentsThe Detroit Red Wings lose game 3 of the 2009 Stanley Cup final 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With the loss, the Wings still lead the series 2-1, bringing Newfoundlander Daniel Cleary closer to his second cup. Will the Stanley Cup make its second trip to Newfoundland? That’s yet to be seen. Hopefully, the Wings will resume their winning ways and Daniel Cleary will be another game closer to his second cup.