How the Mavericks came about…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
As we still wait word on the Blazers future (still trying to confirm when I can meet up with Blazers brass), had a chance to catch up with former Blazers CEO Brad Lund about how things are going with his new team, the Mavericks.
He said everything has been going great, and the city’s response has been unbelievable. It’s a fresh start for Lund, who attended his first Kansas City Royals game last night.
As for the team name, here’s how that all came about: He said after narrowing it down to 10, it looked like Bullfrogs was going to come out on top. But after numerous focus groups with both youths and adults, Mavericks kept winning.
Mavericks isn’t that common a team name. Of course, there is the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. But it’s not something you hear every day.
Lund said he will not wear orange in Oklahoma (you put it together), but he’s more than happy to wear orange in Missouri.
And though I tried to pry some info out of him with the Blazers, he doesn’t know anything and is trying to keep his name out of this one. Basically, doesn’t know anything and doesn’t want to know anything.
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It’s judgment time for Blazers enforcer Robin Gomez in his trial. This article says it better than I can, except for the fact the CHL is the Central Hockey League, not the Continental Hockey League.
Here are a couple of statements from Gomez and his testimony:
“That punch that I threw at Mr. Ferraro is part of the game,” said Gomez, 27, during testimony in provincial court. “I throw that type of punch all the time. Not every game but it happens a lot.”
Defense lawyer Jordan Watt – representing Gomez alongwith his father Alexander Watt – asked Gomez if he went onto the ice under his own power to hit Ferraro.
“(Salmon Kings coach) Mark Morrison told me to go out there,” said Gomez. “And (Jordan) Krestanovich too. It wasn’t until a few seconds before Ferraro skated up to me that I made the decision to hit him.”
Gomez should know his future soon as closing arguments will happen later this week and the decision should be reached not that long after.
CHL wheelin’ and dealin’ Pt. V
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Another week, another set of signings. A couple of e-mails from readers already want Clyde and the new Mavericks mascot to get in a fight. Gotta love it.
Nothing official happened with the Blazers this week. That doesn’t mean to stop sending me e-mails as I receive a good chunk on the weekly basis from readers wondering what’s going on.
The worse thing would be when those stop, you know. That would mean the interest is no longer there. Looks like the saga of the lease will take us into July. Have tentatively agreed to meet with Blazers brass next week, just ironing out details.
Anyway, here is the latest round of transactions:
- Amarillo defenseman Neil Smith will be back with the Gorillas. He was leading the team in penalty minutes before having his season cut short because of injury on Valentine’s Day.
- Arizona got into the act this week, re-upping with defenseman Chris Bartolone to be player/assistant coach. Bartolone, 39, is still productive, averaging nearly a point per game in his three seasons with the Sundogs. This is the first Zona signing this offseason.
- Laredo signed rookie defenseman Drew Kivell this week. Kivell was a finalist for a reality TV series on CBC sports “Making the Cut.” He’s 6-2 and 225 pounds (hard hitter) and should be a good addition. Laredo also signed Cody Hamilton, after acquiring him via trade last week with Tulsa.
- The rich get richer in Texas as leading scorer from the 2007-08 season, Anders Strome, is returning to the team for this year. He played in Denmark last season. Like the Brahmas needed the help, right?
- Center Daymen Rycroft is going back to Rio Grande Valley. With Rocky Mountain suspending its operations, things like this should become more common in the upcoming weeks. Rycroft was in RGV from 2004-06. Last year with the Rage, he had 63 points in 51 games.
- And the boys in Tulsa are bringing back a couple of defensemen as the team announced Thursday that R.J. Linder and Matt Smyth will both be back for the Oilers. Each played part of last season with Tulsa and head coach Bruce Ramsay said they are quality people that will add to the team atmosphere.
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And the AHL has been extremely pleased with how ticket sales and everything else went up for the Springfield (Mass.) franchise. The Falcons won’t be going anywhere just yet.
For the full story, go here.
The team was able to up its season ticket holders by 700. Not bad with the way everything else is. That mark is said to have led the AHL in increased ticket sales.
The Mavs are in the CHL…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(Independence has a name and a logo. Wonder how the stallion would fare against Clyde, no?
I like it. I like the color scheme and the logo itself. Going to attempt to catch up with Brad Lund to see how the team is progressing.
As is, here was the official announcement yesterday:
Independence Pro Hockey has a name. At a press conference today at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri the 2009-10 Central Hockey League expansion club announced they will be known as the “Mavericks”. During the same announcement, the team unveiled their logo which features an intense-looking stallion on skates with a hockey stick shadowed by the state of Missouri. The team’s colors will be light blue and orange.
The addition of the team and the introduction of their ownership group was announced on April 16th, 2009. The principal owners and operators of the Mavericks are Matt and Mark Adams and Mike Carper (all from Lubbock, Texas). The team will begin play in October and will call the Independence Events Center home (capacity – 5,800) with the team’s home opener planned for early November.
“It is a great day for the organization and the region to have their name and logo in place,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. “This is one of many historic announcements for the team that will help shape their identity for their inaugural season and future.”
More information about the Mavericks can be found at the team’s website located at www.missourimavericks.com.
Hockey Hall of Fame inductees…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Hockey allows a maximum of four players to make it into the Hall of Fame. Tuesday it announced it would take four and all four made it the first year they were on the ballot.
Names like Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman, Brian Leetch and Luc Robitaille are all pretty familiar. This is a nice, loaded class.
Three of them are pretty distinct, too. Yzerman – Red Wing for life. Leetch – one of the most important New York Rangers ever. Robitaille – he’s an L.A. King, for sure.
But what about Hull? Amazingly, he played on five teams (Calgary, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix). I admit I had to look up the Phoenix one. My fondest memory will be of him scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal with Dallas in Game 6 vs. Buffalo in a three-overtime classic.
This is a stacked class, pretty cool to see.
For much more on the announcement and thoughts from the inductees, here ya go.
Also supposed to hear word from future Hall of Famer Chris Chelios on Wednesday about his future.
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As for the Blazers and their future, nothing is cleared up yet. I’ve been on the horn a lot in the last couple of days trying to decipher what is rumor and what is fact.
We all know there are a ton of rumors out there. Still weeding through it all, hope to have something concrete for ya by the end of the week.
In fact, it is my goal for the week. I’ve worked ahead on some of my other beats because this is all I want to concentrate on for the rest of the week.
I’ll keep ya posted.
CHL wheelin’ and dealin’ Pt. IV
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There aren’t too many transactions to report on this week. We did have two blockbuster team announcements regarding Bossier-Shreveport and Rocky Mountain.
The Mudbugs will be back while the Rage will suspend their operations for this next season and hope to be back for the 2010-11 season.
But there were a couple (and one involving the boys in Tulsa), so let’s get to it:
- The Allen Americans are wasting anytime, announcing their fifth signing with forward Britt Dougherty. Dougherty is yet another connection with associate coach Bill McDonald and the ECHL Dayton Bombers. He’s also played for Corpus Christi and Austin in the CHL.
- Rapid City has a defenseman and a captain in Luke Fritshaw. He played all 64 games last season with five goals and 25 assists. He was the “AC” last season but with last year’s captain, Mark Desantis, retiring to become associate coach, Fritshaw will wear the “C.”
- Left-winger Aaron Lee will be back with Rio Grande Valley. As a rookie, he had 37 points and was durable enough to play all 64 games, including scoring a point in 11 straight games during one stretch.
- Mississippi coach Kevin Kaminski is back at it, signing forward Adam Smyth to another season for the RiverKings. Smyth was third in the league in penalty minutes with 271. He also had 10 goals and nine assists.
- Tulsa hopes to bolster its offense with the addition of forward Rick Kozak via trade. With Laredo last year, Kozak had 44 points in 43 games. He also had 163 penalty minutes and was a +12. Laredo acquired the rights to center Mike Mullen and defenseman Cody Hamilton.
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Gonna take it easy this weekend unless something happens with the New Mexico franchise or things get settled with the Blazers. Back next week.
Rocky Mountain suspends operations…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
A day removed from some happy news for Bossier-Shreveport, get some bad news for the Rocky Mountain organization. Rocky Mountain will suspend its operations for this season and hopes to be back for the following season (2010-11).
Here’s the official release:
Rocky Mountain Suspends Operations for 2009-10 Season
Team Hopes to Return in 2010-11 Season
(Tempe, Arizona) -The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that the Rocky Mountain Rage (Broomfield, Colorado) have requested and been granted approval to suspend operations for the 2009-10 season, effective immediately. Although the team will not participate in the 2009-10 season, the franchise will remain a member in good standing with the hopes of competing in the 2010-11 season.
In a statement from Rage management, several factors were cited for the decision including the transition of BEC management; re-organizing the business operation within the current economic environment; and completing a new ownership agreement and a long-term lease agreement with the BEC. The success of the franchise, like most teams in minor league sports as a whole, is primarily dependent upon three factors: 1) the support of fans, 2) the support of sponsors, and 3) the arena lease agreement. The City of Broomfield has proven the first two, and management will be actively pursuing the third in the coming weeks.
“We feel the Broomfield market is one that has so much potential,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. “We are confident they will return as an active member in the league next year and be better and stronger than ever as a franchise.”
All players currently under contract for next season or whose CHL rights were held by the Rage immediately become free agents.
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Hope all the players and staff are able to land on their feet. So the only team we’re left wondering about now is New Mexico.
Progress made, nothing official for Blazers…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
So many lingering questions regarding the future of CHL teams with the way the economy is. A lot still remain but glad to have one answered. Fantastic news in Bossier-Shreveport with the Mudbugs organization finding a buyer.
Still waiting on the future of the Rocky Mountain and New Mexico franchises. Be following those stories, for sure, but let’s talk a little Blazers.
I’ve had a slew of e-mails from readers (and most of them season ticket holders) wondering the fate of the team.
Some are pointing out the fact that Oklahoma City has not signed anyone yet as a reason for some concern.
At this point, that’s not too big of a deal. Of the 18 teams slated to play in the CHL, only half (9) have signed any players.
While the reasons for teams like Bossier-Shreveport, N.M. and R.M. are obvious, haven’t heard a lick of “team security” issues from places like Tulsa and Colorado and Wichita. Those three also haven’t signed anybody as of this morning. Each team moves at its own speed.
I don’t know if there was an event that triggered the alarm, or if it’s just because it’s now mid-June and nothing has been said from Blazers brass. Either way, the loyalty among Blazer fans is astounding, from someone looking in from the outside.
I received a text this morning from Bob Funk, Jr., stating progress is being made but nothing is official yet.
There hasn’t been any indication from head coach Doug Sauter or any of the front office personnel that things have gotten off track. It might be taking longer than everyone wanted and was hoping for, but I don’t sense panic from the team yet. At least that’s my gut feeling.
As always, if something happens, you’ll be the first to know.
Back tomorrow with another edition of CHL transactions.
Mudbugs to remain in CHL…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It’s a good day to be a Bossier-Shreveport fan and a fan of the CHL. Just released by the CHL in the last hour is a statement saying the Mudbugs have found a new owner.
Here’s the release:
CHL Approves Sale of Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
New Ownership to be Introduced in Near Future
(Tempe, Arizona) -The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that they approved the sale of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs from Hardwater, LLC (primary owner Mr. John Madden) to an unnamed buyer. The official announcement of the new owners of the Mudbugs will be made by the team in the coming days following completion of the pending asset purchase agreement.
The new group will take over the day-to-day operations of the CHL team effective July 1 with current team president and general manager Ray Delia remaining with the club and managing the transition of ownership.
“We are extremely pleased to have the Mudbugs continue in the Central Hockey League for the 2009-10 season and far beyond,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. ”The tradition of hockey in the Shreveport and Bossier City communities is engrained in the lives of the area’s residents and we are certain that tradition will continue. We, along with the entire CHL, would like to thank John Madden for his years of dedication and leadership with the Mudbugs, as well as for his efforts and commitment to the members of the CHL and the Bossier-Shreveport fans.”
Established in 1997, the Mudbugs franchise won three consecutive President’s Cup Championships (1999, 2000 and 2001 in the Western Professional Hockey League) and has won three Governors’ Cup titles (regular season champs: 1999, 2007 and 2008). Last season, the Mudbugs posted a 39-19-6 record.
Madden was also a member of the CHL’s Franchise Advisory Council where he served the league for the last two seasons.
The Mudbugs will be one of the CHL’s participating teams for the 2009-10 season and will be included in the league scheduled expected to be released in July. The entire list of participating teams will be announced in the coming days.
For more information visit www.centralhockeyleague.com.
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I don’t have anything else to add than to say I’m thrilled for the fans, the players, staff and everyone involved with the Mudbugs organization. Never like to see people lose their jobs.
Donovan gets special invite…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Been a while since caught up with what Edmond native Matt Donovan has been doing. Things are still going well for the defenseman.
Donovan is one of 43 players to be invited to tryout for the U.S. National Junior Team (running from Aug. 7-15) that will compete in the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, from Dec. 26, 2009-Jan. 5, 2010, in Saskatoon and Regina, Sask.
The camp will feature practices, three games between the split U.S. squads and four games against Russia.
Donovan is one of seven players invited who played last season in the USHL. He had four points in five playoff games and 19 goals and 32 assists in 57 games for Cedar Rapids.
Donovan was a fourth-round draft pick of the New York Islanders last season.
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Both lead prep writer Ryan Aber and Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry have accepted the Boneman’s challenge to write a little something about Game 7 and the hockey playoffs, in general.
No excuse to have not seen the game by this point as NHL Network basically ran the game in a three-hour cycle all of Saturday into Sunday morning. Now I just have to put it on DVD. Think this game (and series) will stand the test of time as something worth talking about.
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And finally, this bit of a news about one of the Blazers enforcers from last year, Robin Gomez. Hope it can be worked out for all parties involved. Don’t wish injury on anyone and don’t wish anyone’s livelihood to be taken away, either.
Pens take Cup in thrilling Game 7…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(might this be a scene we see a lot in the future as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman presents Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby the Stanley Cup. Photo courtesy of NHL.com)
You strapped in? Because not only did I watch every single second of Game 7 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, I was taking mental notes on what I wanted to talk about.
Paced by two goals by Maxime Talbot and a phenomenal job in net by Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins defeated the Red Wings, 2-1, to win the Stanley Cup on Friday in Detroit. Pittsburgh wins the series, 4-3.
It marks the first time since 1971 that a road team has won Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final, and it’s the first time in any of the four major sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) since 1979 that a Game 7 championship was won by a road team. Edit: Of course that can’t be true since the NFL doesn’t have a road team in the Super nor does it have a best-of-7 fomat. Oops.
It was also the first time a road team had won in the series. Pittsburgh was outscored 11-2 in the previous three games at Joe Louis Arena.
I said earlier today all the Boneman wanted was some drama. A Penguins win was a bonus. We got both tonight.
With 6.5 seconds left, Detroit won the face-off and Brian Rafalski had one shot that was a pad save by Fleury, and Nicklas Lidstrom in the final two seconds tried to lift one by Fleury but was denied. And the celebration was on.
Even before that, the final two minutes were insane. After Jonathan Ericsson scored with just over six minutes left to make 2-1, Nicklas Kromwall nearly tied it up with two minutes left. His shot smacked the cross bar and fluttered away harmlessly.
No shock at all that Evgeni “Geno” Malkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. He ended up with 14 G and 22 A in the postseason.
Fleury ended up with 23 saves while Chris Osgood had 16 for Detroit.
Period-by-period breakdown:
First period
Horrible start by Pittsburgh. A little nervous energy, and Detroit was beating ‘em to the puck constantly.
Fleury was tested early on a great chance by Valtteri Flippula, but the save of the night (well, before the final two) was the one Fleury made on Kirk Maltby.
Right off a draw win for Detroit, Maltby had a golden opportunity at the doorstep that Fleury gloved away.
If that goes in, it’s another game. Deja vu as the same could be said about an Alexander Ovechkin shot in Game 7 between the Pens and the Washington Capitals in the conference semifinals.
There’s Muhammad Ali in the crowd, wearing a Red Wings sweater. Good to see “The Greatest” out-n-about.
Pittsburgh had one power play opportunity and spent almost the entire 2 minutes in the zone but didn’t make anything happen and didn’t have a realistic scoring chance.
However, the Pens started to dictate play late in the period and had the look of a confident team.
Shots through the first: Detroit 6, Pittsburgh 10.
Second period
It didn’t take long as Talbot scored 1:13 into the period. Watching it live, I thought it was an icing call. It was close. Either way, it was a bad turnover by Detroit that led to Talbot beating Osgood, who had no chance.
Thought the game would take a dramatic shift after Pens captain (and face of the NHL) Sidney Crosby was hit hard (and clean) by Johan Franzen with about oh 14 minutes left or so.
Initially, I thought it was his ribs, but replay clearly showed it was a knee problem. Crosby would be taken back to the dressing room and would see one shift in the third period, and that’s it.
But after killing off a penalty, it was Talbot again, scoring on a 2-on-1 opportunity. It wasn’t a soft goal, but I thought Osgood took a bad angle. I was begging for Talbot to pass. Eh, guess he knows more than me (not too hard to do).
The key to the play was the job by Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz of fighting for the puck and getting possession on the other end.
Detroit had a huge surge in the final two minutes, but once again, Fleury manned up and faced the onslaught.
With the 2-0 lead, Pittsburgh was no longer attacking, just hoping to hold on.
Shots in the second: Detroit 11, Pittsburgh 7. Shots through two periods: Detroit 17, Pittsburgh 17.
Third period
The Penguins managed one shot on goal as again it was more about watching the time tick down instead of attacking.
Crosby came back for one draw (which he won), but he couldn’t do anything. Though he pleaded to come in, he was forced to watch the bulk of the last two periods from the bench.
I don’t know about you, but I was just waiting for that Detroit surge. Sure enough, it happened. It made a good game into a great one.
I’m not enough of a hockey historian to accurately place this game where it needs to be. But for excitement and drama, tough to match.
The final six minutes is why hockey is a great sport, and if any new fans were created, you would figure those last six minutes will keep ‘em there.
Shots in the third period: Detroit 7, Pittsburgh 1. Shots in the game: Detroit 24, Pittsburgh 18.
Other thoughts
Detroit nearly lost this game because it wanted it too much. Everybody wanted to do what he could to help the team that it ended up becoming a detriment to the club.
Lidstrom played more than 10 minutes…in the second period. The shifts were too long. And the Red Wings were almost down-and-out before a rally could get started.
Now of course, once that first goal is scored, it was pure adrenaline. But Detroit was extremely gassed for most of this game.
Detroit’s passing wasn’t crisp for most of the game, either. Uncharacteristic turnovers and a litany of offside calls to thwart any chances.
Ironic about Marian Hossa, no? He leaves Pittsburgh this season to go to Detroit because he feels he’ll have a better shot at a championship. Weird how that one worked out.
Crosby becomes the youngest captain (at 21) to hoist the Stanley Cup ever. This night might become historic for the simple reason we might say “that’s when Sid got his first Cup.”
And how about Pens coach Dan Bylsma? A mid-season replacement who always looked so cool, calm and collected throughout the playoffs. His confidence carried over to the team.
Great job by NBC. Mike Emrick is a great voice for hockey and the analysis by Ed Olczyk, Pierre MaGuire, Darren Pang and Mike Milbury was good and informative stuff.
Was texting back-and-forth all night with a couple of my fellow writers, head preps writer Ryan Aber and NBA guru Darnell Mayberry.
Ryan has long been a hockey fan and after a brief absence, said this postseason has brought him back for good. He was pulling hard for the Pens. Or as a big Avalanche and Blackhawks fan, might be easier to say “rooting against Detroit.”
Darnell is a newbie, who texted me right after Fleury’s save of Maltby to say “I think I just became a hockey fan!” He had no rooting interest, definitely want to hear what the Thunder Insider thought of the game.
I’ve asked both of them to write about it, and I’ll post it on the blog early next week as I get on my soapbox again to write about how great the playoffs were and what that will mean to the NHL’s future.
And finally, I should have just trusted my instinct and taped the game. But fear not as I know the NHL Network will show it sometime this weekend. This is going on a DVD pronto, it’s a keeper.
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That’s 1,300 words for ya. More than I anticipated and probably more than what you wanted to read. But a night like this deserves it.
Be back next week with a commentary on the NHL Playoffs (and the NHL’s future) and of course, if anything should happen with the Blazers or breaking news in the CHL, I’ll be around.
