CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

So, who’s this kid – this Mario Bliznak?
I’d seen his name on the yearly prospects lists – since 2005 – but didn’t know anything about him
Bliznak wasn’t sent down to Manitoba last week – with the first batch of demotees – and coach V was giving him lots of ice time.
So, he figures [...]

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by Ron Spence
You remember Matt McCue.
He’s the Duck who demolished both Alexandre Bolduc and Nathan McIver in that September 17, 2009 pre-season game in Anaheim.
McCue, 21, had 15 goals, 63 points and 625 penalty minutes in five-plus seasons in the Western Hockey League.
Now, he’s joining the Moose and will be a teammate of both Bolduc [...]

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by Ron Spence
The 2008-09 campaign was the most successful in Manitoba’s eight year AHL history.
The Moose went 50-23 during the regular season – first place in the AHL – and lost to the Calder Cup champions, the Hershey Bears.
Their roster was a combination of: Canucks and Stars prospects, plus players under contract to the Moose.
This [...]

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by Ron Spence
There have been a few ‘nucks and Moose issues that have concerned me.
First of all, Manitoba’s veteran situation – each AHL team is allowed a maximum of 5 veteran players to play in one game.
A veteran – according to the AHL constitution – is a player who has played 260 games in total in [...]

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by Ron Spence
Mike Gillis had an impressive summer: he signed the Sedins and Roberto; picked up some veterans who have Stanley Cup rings and traded for more defenseman.
I am also impressed with what he’s done for Vancouver’s depth in goal. He let both Curtis Sanford and Jason LaBarbera go. They were replaced by Andrew Raycroft [...]

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by Ron Spence
If you could place Rick Rypien in Mike Funk’s body, you’d have Chris Pronger.
The newest nucks’ prospect has all of the skills:
courtesy of sportsnet.ca
Funk played four seasons with the Portland Winterhawks, and was drafted in the 2nd round – 43rd overall – by the Buffalo Sabres in 2004.
Sabres.com included Funk’s central scouting report [...]

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by Randy Turner
“Guy walks into a hockey rink looking for information on the local team’s centreman.
Word on the street is the kid likes to party. But the coach says the player is flying right. A regular choirboy.
So the guy finds a lady wearing a team jacket. Thinks: Billet. And he’s right.
Turns out, she’s actually the [...]

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by Ron Spence
Matt Pope was a square peg in round holes.
He left the ECHL with 30 goals and 63 points in just 54 games with the Condors. He had set team rookie marks for points and assists and was named to the ECHL All-Rookie and All-Star Teams.
He hadn’t been drafted, and next went to Binghamton [...]

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“Evan Oberg, who closed out his Canadian junior league playing days…by being bestowed with the Top Defenseman Award at the prestigious Royal Bank Cup, has signed a national letter of intent to attend and play hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2007-08.”

That was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s press release published on July [...]

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by Ron Spence
Mike Gillis has been having a good week.
Three of his top prospects have been starring in the American Hockey League. And now he has signed a good player from Russia.
Dave Nonis selected Sergei Shirokov 163rd Overall in the 6th round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The pick came with Roberto Luongo and [...]

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