QuickHit (still don’t have internet at home…)

It’s a unique problem that faces the Yotes next season, where do you put all the talent?

When you’ve got the Hobey Baker Winner, a kid that comes into the AHL cup run and nets a hat trick, the 3rd pick overall in 2006, waiting in the wings for 2008-2009 what do you do?

Do we run basically the same team that barely missed the post season last year with a few additions? (adding only Turris and 1 other lucky forward *Lisin* and a new player in that 6th defensive spot?) leaving you with:

Bryz/Telly

Jovo/Z, Dmo/Bally, Boynk/new guy*Ahnelov* (Yandle up and down for coffee breaks)

Doan/Mueller/Turris Hanzal/Vrbata/Winnik Carcillo/Kapi/Lisin Rhino/Weller/TQ

Which stocks San Antonio to the gills with great new talent in:(Kolarick/Porter/Wheeler/Ross/MacLean) who have the entire season to learn the system and gell outside of the harsh spotlight.

OR

Is there another spot coming available with Vrbie still so uncertain? Leaving you with basically the same lineup after replacing Vrbata w/ MacLean. I really love the idea of bringing the Porter/Kolarick tandem up together (increase their comfort zones/chances for success and possibly grooming a Datsyuk/Zetterberg-like duo).

Enough with the new kids on the block already… get TQ and Kapanen under lock and key. Where the hell is Carcillo’s extention? With Wheeler ditchin us for (freedom of choice or a less talented roster… maybe one he can actually crack in 08-09) or whatever you want to believe, maybe now GMDM can concentrate on a few less fronts and take care of our RFAs before some bone head decides that Carci would look good in some other team’s colors.

We have a LOT of current players still dangling about out there. But I remember last season with invitees and temporary veteran looksees… GMDM is a cagey bastage, we may be seeing a bit more of that strategy as he tweaks the possible options for the roster.

More report cards coming soon… hopefully I will be really, really busy this weekend (with my new interenet, catching up)

June 5, 2008, 1:25 pm    |   Tags: 2008season, affiliates, aquisitions07, misc    |      No Comments »

Even in a non-playoff post season time sure flies by when you’re having fun. The Patio 6 Posse and Locker Room Crew has been making sure that boredom can’t rear its ugly head.

The first annual off season event took place on Saturday. The Coyotes Fan’s Wave Pool Execursion was a total hoot. A bunch of us trundled over to the Kiwanis Wave Pool in Tempe for the day. What a unique and fun place. Who woulda thunk it? The indoor wave pool is huge, easily accomodating a couple hundred intrepid tubers.

We basically yakked and people watched for awhile and then hit the waves in various garishly colored tubes. Sometimes floating, more often, our comeptitive juices caused crazy bumper tube madness all around the pool. Lots of fun dumping your friends into the water and being dumped or towed around at speed thru the waves.

Afterwards we weary and waterlogged crazies held a BBQ and had much Yotes discussion as well as much hockey talk in general. It was supposed to just be a few hours but lasted from 1pm to 10pm due to the fact that the pool was fun, the food was good and the company was fantastic.

Arizona Sundogs!

Took the President’s Cup in a sweep of Colorado’s Eagles. In only their 2nd year the Dogs ran away with all the marbles. Rob McVicar refused to be solved. The guy had a fantastic postseason run. Rob stopped 41 of 44 shots to bring home the Cup. He also earned the MVP of the playoffs!

The whole team produced and played their hearts out for each other. Urquart, Leavitt, Redenbach, Kolanos and Laperriere again stood out as leaders and outstanding difference makers for the Dogs.

Congratulations on the first of many Championships!

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=698

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May 12, 2008, 7:33 am    |   Tags: AZsundogs, affiliates, misc, offseason08, sharks, stars, sundogs, world cup 08    |      No Comments »

AZ SUNDOGS!

Rockin Prescott Valley and apparently Colorado too. The last Coyotes affiliate standing, has gained a 2 - 0 series lead over the Colorado Eagles. The Dogs got up a 3 - 0 lead in the first period and chased poor Sebastian Laplante outta his net. Bryan Bridges didn’t fare too much better in relief. Rymsha, Liebel and Redenbach made hay in the first period,Kalanos and Leavitt finished off the hapless Eagles with their tallies. Only Erik Adams was able to get past the once again stellar Rob McVicar. (5 - 1 Sundogs)

If you can’t make it out to the game (they are having a viewing party at the arena) or watch on TV, try the chl feed at centralhockeyleague.com, there is a chl network option tab under the fanzone, follow the instructions… its free… and legal.

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=695

World Cup -

Quebec City Quebec Canada

The dynamic duo of Hanzal and Vrbata strike again for the CZE nationals. Vrbata got another 2 goals as the Czechs stomped Italy 7 - 2. Big Marty Hanzal got another assist as the CZE team keeps rolling forward. They will play the winner of the Sweden Switzerland game next.

http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/czechs-outskill-italy.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=ade7ed6f74

The Canadian’s barely survived a late comeback from Team USA. After bein up 3 - 0 the Canadians got a little loose and the American’s jumped on everything they could. Unfortunately Heatly would snag the GWG. (5 -4 CAN) Bally and Mules have not gotten anything on the board yet, neither has our captain (Shane can actually take a break from carrying this team on his back with so many good players onboard this year).

http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/heatley-to-the-rescue.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=ae3388c0c4

Teams Russia and Sweden just got a little tougher to play as well. Henrick Lunqvist and Evgeny Nabakov just reported in to the tourney. Thats a lot of stopping power for 2 teams who are already at the top of their heaps.

~Pics from HHOF-IIHF site.~

May 7, 2008, 8:02 am    |   Tags: affiliates, misc, sundogs, world cup 08    |      1 Comment »

World Cup -

Jovo and Doaner are playin for Canada, neither scored in their first game but CAN whupped SLO in the first game on their home ise. (5 -1 CAN)

Hanzal and Vrbata jumped all over the Danes in their first round. Apparently the Coyotes lil sniper found more ammo. A beauty of a between-the-legs pass from Hanzal put Vbrat back on track. (5 -2 CZE)

USA today is a tough team on more than just paper. Sportin their 1960 retro sweaters and kickin keisters all over poor Latvia. (4 - 0 USA) With Pat Kane, Peter Mueller, Keith Ballard and Dustin Brown on the roster, look out for these boys to rock the tourney with many surprises.

The Mighty Finn and the Swedish Wolf also made their national teams and play later today. elly and his Swedes take on France while Kapanen and his crazy Finns take on Germany (GER was tough last year and surprised the Cezchs but the Finns added the firepower that they were missing last season with Teemu Selanne).

EDIT:****Telly and the Swedes corked Belarus (6 - 5 SWE) and Kapi and his Finns walloped Germany (5 - 1 FIN)

http://www.iihf.com/

AZ Sundogs!

Are rockin more than just Prescott Valley. Behind Cory Urquhart’s hattie the Dogs jumped out to the early 1 - 0 series lead. McVicar stopped 24 of 28 and Laperriere, Rymsha and Leavitt all put points up to lock the game down.

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=693

SA Rampage -

Just couldn’t find their game after forcing a 7th on the Toronto Marlies. All the games in the series were pretty tight. Each team had one blow out game but mostly squeekers… Marlies aqueeked last. The Rampage bow out in the first round but take plenty of good things to think about with them into their off season as well as some serious firepower for next year. (The Yotes were busy signing all kinds of talent during these first weeks of the offseason… lots of new faces and skills for next year as well as some much needed pride and experience from making the playoffs).

http://sarampage.com/news/rampagenews/index.html?article_id=190

Coyotes Locker Room -

The crew will be meeting up at the Kiawanis Wave Park next weekend (Sat May 10th) come on over and hang out (Its about $11 for the pool and we are plannin to BBQ … like a tailgate w/ out the Yote game LOL) Everyone is welcome to join in and hang out… lots of Yotes discussion/speculation will be afoot.

May 3, 2008, 11:06 am    |   Tags: SARampage, affiliates, misc, offseason08, sundogs, world cup 08    |      No Comments »

It is simply amazing. Both the Arizona Sundogs AND the San Antonio Rampage are cookin on all cylinders. Both have done well in the postseasn.

The Dogs are vying for the President’s Cup in the finals! After gettin the stuffing whomped out of them in game 6 (2 - 9) the pups came back for a 6 - 1 decisive win to advance. SWEET! All of the games up until the 6th were close. Both teams showed moxie and heart, battling each other to a standstill. Game 6 was the turning point at which the young Sundogs hitched up their socks after the embarrassment and blasted the Laredo Bucks with everything they had in game 7. This team has gumption to spare.

Led in points by Alex Leavitt and Cory Urquhart (both with 22 point) this young team has all the makings of a winner. We don’t get much news on the Sundogs but after this season’s performance maybe that will change. Hopefully edgy goalie Robert Mcvicar can keep up his winning ways and the boys can snag a nice piece of hardware to present to the loyal faithful out in Prescott Valley.

GO SUNDOGS!

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/

San Antonio Rampage is making some noise of it’s own down in the heart of Texas and around the AHL.

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April 28, 2008, 7:47 am    |   Tags: SARampage, affiliates, misc, postseason    |      No Comments »