Page 23

Fan Voice: Daniella West and the Guildford Flames, Guildford Lightning Women’s Team

Daniella West is a passionate fan of Guildford hockey. She supports both the men’s EPIHL team in the Flames and the Lightning, the Guildford women’s team. As the first person to give me a perspective on what women’s hockey is like outside of the Canadian and American national teams, I was eager to listen to what she had to say.

March Hockey: Where are you located and how did you get into hockey?

Daniella West: I am just outside Woking in the United Kingdom. Where I live is just a few minutes drive from my local ice rink. I got into it by games being advertised on my local radio station, 96.4 Eagle Radio.

MH: What makes you a passionate fan of both the Guildford Flames and Guildford Lightning?

DW: I started watching the Flames in 2006 and then I heard about the Lightning about 2 and a half years ago after talking to someone who used to play for them. I support them all the time and like to know how they are doing when playing away from home.

MH: Who’s one player on the Flames to look out for and why?

DW: There’s a lot of good players on the team to choose from but I will go for captain David Longstaff as he is just as good as a non-British trained player. Plus he’s the only player to play for the Great Britain national team over 100 times.

Continue reading “Fan Voice: Daniella West and the Guildford Flames, Guildford Lightning Women’s Team”

Cornwall River Kings new coach, J.F. Labbe resigns

JF Labbe. (Photo credit: Jean Doyon, Sorel Tracy Magazine)

Already dealing with a blockbuster trade that sent one of their fan favourites in Mario Joly to the Valleyfield Braves, the Cornwall River Kings were dealt yet another blow today as it was announced that interim coach Jean Francois Labbe has resigned.

Labbe had signed on after original coach Al Wagar left the team earlier this year. After viewing his coaching abilities last year with Trois Rivieres, Cornwall felt he was the right fit to lead the team. In a phone interview with Jean Doyon of Sorel Tracy Magazine, Labbe made this statement:

“Last week, I received an offer I could not refuse. I am responsible for a Sport-Études du Triolet High School in Sherbrooke. I’ll take care of the Bantam AA team, in addition to courses in hockey concentration. This is a full time job that will allow me to work in my area.”

You can’t really blame the guy for leaving. Yes, he would’ve been an integral help to Cornwall’s second LNAH season but a pay raise and a chance to work close to family is an offer that nobody in their right mind would turn down. This has nothing to do with internal politics.

Labbe has had enough time in the spotlight with a very lengthy goaltending career. After completing his junior years in the QMJHL he went on star in the AHL with the Cornwall Aces, Hartford Wolf Pack and Syracuse Crunch among others. He even had minor stints with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets. With no North American teams calling his name, he headed over to Europe and played in the German Elite League and in Austria. Last season, Labbe started his coaching career in the LNAH with Trois Rivieres.

The hunt is on for the next coach of the Cornwall River King. They better have a few in mind as training camp and exhibition games are slated to get started soon.

Fan Voice: Rudi Harrison and a brief look at the Sheffield Steelers

Drew Fata with Rudi (right) and her sister. (Twitter: @icehockey_gurl)

Rudi Harrison is one of the many young faithful followers of the Sheffield Steelers and she gives me a brief look at why she loves the game of hockey.

March Hockey: Where are you located and how did you get into hockey?

Rudi Harrison: England. I’ve always been a huge fan of hockey but never had the chance to go to a game till 2007 at Sheffield Arena. I fell in love with the sport!MH:What makes you a passionate fan of the Sheffield Steelers?

RH: The strength of the players and the team. They are always positive, and in my eyes one of the best teams in the EIHL.

MH: Who is one player to look for on the team and why?

RH: Drew Fata. Not only is he a good defenseman, he is a great fighter which makes the game a lot tougher!

MH: Do the Steelers do enough to keep fans interacted with the game?

RH: Yes!

MH:: Who is your favourite hockey player of all time?

RH: Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara for sure!

MH: What would be your dream hockey game? Which two teams would
play?

RH: A game between two rivals, so there’d be alot more fights and a lot more shots and goals keeping the fans on the edge of their seats. Probably the Bruins against the Steelers, now that would be an amazing game!

If you’re a passionate hockey fan who would like to feature your team or league, I want to hear from YOU! Find me on twitter @MarchHockey or drop me a line on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/MarchHockey

Cornwall River Kings: Examining the Joly trade

Late last Friday the Cornwall River Kings dealt fan favourite Mario Joly up the road to the new expansion team of the Valleyfield Braves.

Of course, there was immediate backlash and who’s to say is wasn’t warranted. However, when it comes down to reasoning in a trade, you may never find out the real reason. Maybe management decided it was time to move on; maybe it was the player. You can speculate all you want and come up with a million reasons. (Hell, when Rod Brind’Amour was with the Flyers, he was traded to Carolina because Eric Lindros was having an affair with his wife. But I digress.) The fact of the matter is, what’s done is done and it’s time to move forward.

The River Kings are entering their second LNAH season this year. While they bolstered their line up last year to make an impact, things can change in an instant. With a wild and bumpy road that’s been the past few months and as a second year team, its only right to work your way up the league with experience and determination. You’re not going to win the championship overnight. Let me repeat that for certain people.

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP OVERNIGHT. But, what do I know. Anyway.

In return, the River Kings picked up Yvan Busque and Sebatien Payette. Busque was acquired by Valleyfield from St. Georges where he notched 26 points in 28 games. Compare that to Joly’s 16 in 31. (Yes I realize he was injured for the most part too.) Busque has put up solid numbers for his 4 years with St. Georges and a year long stint in Austria.

Payette just finished his junior career in the QMJHL with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He’s a rugged defenseman who picked up 32 points in 54 games. A solid final year.

There’s more to a hockey team then just grit, strength and toughness. Case in point, Mario Joly. Joly was linked to the Coventry Blaze of the EIHL the past two seasons and it wasn’t because of his fists. Most leagues are trying to move away from that aspect. The game just isn’t the same anymore and it’s time people start realizing.

Whether you like it or not Cornwall won that trade. But what do I know right?

Fan Voice: Captain Oshawa and the Oshawa Generals

Captain Oshawa is a die hard Oshawa Generals fan who can be seen through out each and every home game cheering them on. He even has own cape for pete sakes! He’s the superhero the Generals need!

March Hockey: Where are you located and how did you get into hockey?

Captain Oshawa: I was born and raised in Oshawa Ontario and got into hockey from playing road hockey like a lot of Canadian kids.

MH: What makes you a passionate fan of the Oshawa Generals?

CO: Oshawa being my hometown . I have a lot of pride for my Gens with all the great players and the history behind the team.

MH: What is your favourite Generals moment?

CO: My favourite Gens moment is when a Gens player gets drafted to the NHL. It’s bringing them close to their dream.

MH: Who is one player to look out for on the team and why?

CO: I’ve got 2 . Micheal Dal Colle is a very talented special player. Also Bradley LaTour I think will have a great year. He is gritty but will pop in some goals as well.

MH: How do you think the upcoming season will play out for Oshawa?

CO: We are losing a few players but I still know the boys will come out and play hard every night.

MH: Who’s your favourite hockey player of all time and why?

CO: Gretzky. He wasn’t the biggest or fastest, he was just awesome.

MH: Who would play in your dream hockey game? Team wise.

CO: My dream team game would be Oshawa Generals vs Peterborough Petes in the Memorial Cup in Oshawa.

If you’re a passionate fan and want your team of league featured, I want to hear from YOU! Find me on twitter @MarchHockey, or send me a message on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/MarchHockey

Fan Voice: George Royle and the Swindon Wildcats, Dallas Stars

George Royle is a fellow hockey writer and a friend of mine who I met while writing at Blackout Dallas. A die hard hockey fan and native of the United Kingdom, George gives me his look at how he got into the hockey world and a look at the upcoming season for the Swindon Wildcats and the major changes that were made in Texas with the Stars.

March Hockey: Where are you located and how did you get into hockey?

I live in a county called Wiltshire, which is located in the South West of England and about 80 miles West of London. I got into hockey about 13 years ago when my dad took me to watch my local team play live. A short time after, I caught my first NHL game which was aired on television over here, and since then I haven’t looked back. Up to this day, hockey is my favourite sport and I play/watch the game as much as possible.

MH: What makes you a passionate fan of the Swindon Wildcats?

GR: With the Swindon Wildcats being just a 20 minute journey away, they are the closest (semi) professional ice hockey team to me. They play in the EPIHL which is a league I thoroughly enjoy watching. Any team has the capability of beating anyone, which makes the majority of games entertaining and competitive.

I watch all of the regular season home games every campaign as well as catching the odd road game now and again. With all of the games being played at the weekend, my weeks during the winter are spent looking forward to going to watch the Cats play!

MH: Who’s a player on the team that stands out the most in your eyes?

GR: Without a doubt it is the Swedish import, Jonas Hoog! This guy has a lot of talent and should undoubtedly be playing at a lot higher standard, but his loyalty to the Wildcats has been pretty admirable.

Last season he bagged 120 points in just 54 games. Jonas isn’t afraid to pull some tricks out of the bag and he always plays the game with a smile on his face. With his favourable surname, whenever he touches the puck the crowd all cheer an elongated “hoooooooooooooooooog”!! Continue reading “Fan Voice: George Royle and the Swindon Wildcats, Dallas Stars”

Cornwall River Kings trade tough guy Mario Joly to newly formed Valleyfield Braves

While this summer has been relatively quiet on the River Kings front, today was handed a piece of news in the form of a shocker. Tough guy and fan favourite Mario Joly has been traded up highway 401 to the Valleyfield Braves.

Although no official statement has come from the team yet, it was Joly himself who announced his being traded on the Cornwall River Kings facebook fan page.

Joly is no stranger to LNAH rinks having spent the past four years in the league with stops in Saguenay, Windsor, Cornwall and now Valleyfield. Starting his hockey career off with the Hull Olympiques in the QMJHL, hockey has brought Joly all over North America including an amazing 2 year run with the Odessa Jakalopes of the Central Hockey League.

In his one year he spend with the Cornwall River Kings, Joly notched 16 points in 31 games. However, he was more known for his fists as he wracked up 110 penalty minutes. It will be interesting to see who, if anything, Cornwall gets in return.

Just this week the city has agreed to keep the River Kings in Cornwall for another two years. Sharing rink time and space with the Junior A Cornwall Colts, Cornwall hockey fans should be delighted that they have two teams competing for them.

Training camp opens up for the River Kings on September 14th and 15th followed by four exhibition games at the end of September and beginning of October. Hold on to your hats Cornwall, it’s going to be a wild ride!

Sochi 2014: Team Latvia

Another surprise entry into the 2014 Sochi Olympics is Team Latvia who qualified at the beginning of this year.

The majority of the team is made up of players from Dinamo Riga of the KHL. Lone NHLer Arturs Kulda of the Winnipeg Jets could easily make an impact on the blue line with being paired up with Georgijs Pujacs or Kristaps Sotnieks from Riga.

From the forwards perspective, Latvia has sharpshooter Zemgus Girgensons who spent last season in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans. He was drafted 14th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012 and hasn’t looked back at his homeland since.

Jānis Sprukts is another powerful forward who spent some of his junior years with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. He’s also had stints with Rochester Americans, Florida Panthers, Dinamo Riga and is currently playing for CSKA Moscow in the KHL.

Team Latvia is actually head manned by Canadian Ted Nolan for the past two years. Nolan has had a bit of a controversial NHL career but a success coaching one. The Latvians must have seen something in Nolan as he’s been their bench boss since 2011.

Of course we can’t go without mentioning one of my favourite hockey Latvians, Arthurs Irbe. Although he’s retired, I’m sure he will be apart of the Olympic program in some way, shape or form. Goalie coach? We can only hope.

Fan Voice: Trevor Burrell and the Kitchener Rangers

Trevor Burrell is a die hard sports fan who cheers on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays and the University of Michigan when he’s not busy cheering on the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League.

March Hockey: Where are you located and how did you get into hockey?

Trevor Burrell: I live in Waterloo ON. Had a backyard rink when I was 3-4 years old and have played and been a fan ever since.

MH: What makes you a passionate fan of the Kitchener Rangers?

TB: Went to my first Ranger game as a young kid and looked at the players as heroes. Would go with my dad, sister and friend every Friday night, wait for autographs and would play mini sticks between periods in the basement by the old souvenir store. As I got older 13-14 I was on my own to go with friends to games and would rarely miss any home games. I bought my season tickets for the first time in 1996 season and have had them ever since. As my age got older I got a car and have been to almost all of the rinks in the OHL following the team.

MH: What’s your favourite Rangers moment?

TB: Best Ranger moment was being in Quebec City to see the team with the Memorial Cup and the post game celebrations. Continue reading “Fan Voice: Trevor Burrell and the Kitchener Rangers”

25 Years of Owen Sound Attack hockey

This upcoming season marks the 25^th anniversary of the Owen Sound hockey being part of the OHL. Originating in 1989, the Attack play their home games out of J.D. McArthur Arena which is inside the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

The Holdy family owned former OHL team, the Guelph Platers and decided to move them down south to Owen Sound for the 1989-90 season. Owen Sound kept the Platers name up until the year 2000. At that point the Holdy family decided to sell the franchise to any buyer across Ontario. If it wasn’t for a group of local business men, the Owen Sound Platers was nearly the Cornwall Platers out of Cornwall, Ontario. However, as history shows, everyone banded together to keep the Platers in Owen Sound. A name change was held to form the modern sounding Owen Sound Attack. They won their first J. Ross Robinson Cup in 2011 to become Ontario Hockey League champions.

Owen Sound has a few notable NHL alumni that has gone through their ranks. A notable one is Dan Snyder, a former Attack captain who had his number 14 retired by the team after Snyder died from injuries suffered in a car accident in 2003 while he was just beginning his NHL career with the Atlanta Thrashers. In case you’ve lived under a rock for the past little while, current NHLer Dany Heatley was at the wheel.

Other Attack NHL alumni include Sean Avery, Kevin Weekes, Paul Bissonnette, Bobby Ryan and Wayne Simmonds just to name a few. Their current roster include World Junior Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington and former Ottawa 67 Cody Ceci.

Here’s to another 25 years of Owen Sound hockey.