Recruit Update: Final

With two recruits signed for the 08-09 season and five departing Seniors don't be surprised if UAA adds another forward at some point this offseason. UAA has 20 returning skaters next season (8 defensemen, 12 forwards OR 9 defensemen, 11 forwards depending on what you call Jared Tuton). The Seawolves aren't in desperate need to add another forward but could add depth with another. That's all pure speculation on my part.

Tyler Moir's (6'1" 205lbs -- turns 20 on Sept 17th) Drumheller Dragons are in the semi-final round of the AJHL playoffs and will be facing perennial powerhouse Camrose for a birth in the finals. Tyler is currently leading the Dragons in playoff scoring with 3 goals and 7 assists in 8 games which is also good enough for 6th overall on the league leader table. He finished the regular season ranked 4th in points per game at 1.4 with his 75 points (26g-49a) putting him at 8th overall. 13 of his goals came on the power play. His 216 penalty minutes were good enough to tie him for 7th overall in the league.

Curtis Leinweber's (5'8" 169lbs -- turned 20 on Feb. 25th) Okotoks Oilers were just eliminated from the playoffs by the Dragons. In 8 games Curtis posted 1g-2a for his team. During the regular season Curtis' numbers were 22g-38a for 60pts in 61 games. He was 3rd on his team in scoring even though he filled the role of a non-forechecking locked winger in Okotoks neutral zone trap.

Mickey Spencer (6'1" 180lbs -- turns 19 on June 11th) and Gustav Bengtson (5'9" 175 -- turns 19 on Aug 31st) are 2009 recruits. Spencer finished his rookie season with the Cowichan Capitals in the BCHL with 27 goals and 12 assists in 53 games. Cowichan did not qualify for the BCHL playoffs. Bengtson has netted 9 goals and 10 assists over 36 games in his rookie season with the Texas Tornado of the NAHL. The Tornado have clinched a playoff spot however they've done so with the lowest point total of any team that will be participating.

It's time for me to move on to the off-season. I will not be posting again until at least mid-August. I know I said this last year and then posted anyway. Don't expect the same thing this off season unless there is some earth-shattering news, in which case I probably won't be able to resist the urge.

UAA Hockey Fan Blog Awards: 07-08

Rookie of the Year
Kane Lafranchise

The 07-08 Seawolf freshman class hit the ice with some vigor this season. Winston Daychief was named WCHA Rookie of the Week for the third weekend in October. By that time 4 Seawolf freshman had already bagged their first collegiate goal. Craig Parkinson, Tommy Grant, Brad McCabe and Winston all had respectable numbers in their first year. On a team that only managed 81 goals those 4 guys contributed 23. Pretty nice. Parkinson and McCabe both finished the season with 7 each. Overall, I think those are pretty promising numbers but I'm naming Kane the ROY because of his overall solid play in both ends of the ice. Kane's offensive potential became apparent in the 2nd half of the season as he gained confidence and adapted fully to the college game. Kane was the 3rd leading scoring defenseman (but tied for 1st in goals scored) on the team with 3 goals and 5 assists but most of those points came in the 2nd half. I'm big time jazzed about the skills he brings to the blueline. His smooth skating and heads up play impress the hell out of me; And his attention to his defensive responsibilities are second to none.

Most Improved Player
Sean Wiles

There simply was no bigger change in a player from the beginning of the season to the end than what I saw from Sean Wiles. He went from a guy I wasn't initially sure could skate with D1 players to someone that I confused with Paul Crowder. I'm not sure exactly what Sean's offensive potential might be but I can't deny the huge difference in his apparent abilities from early to late. I also believe that Jon Olthuis qualifies for a mention here. I suspect that if you broke his season in two and calculated his save percentage that you'd find a substantial positive difference. I considered Shane Lovdahl here because I really think his skating abilities are undersold by the coaching staff. He also showed some nice flair puck-handling deep in the offensive end. Ken Selby also came to mind simply because when he finally got into the lineup he produced. I sure hope we see more of him next season.

Heart and Soul
Mat Robinson/Kevin Clark

For one reason and one reason only these two guys share my Heart and Soul award this year. Because these guys both seemed to me to "want it" more whenever they were on the ice. Mat layed on many many punishing hits this year. He never hesitated to carry the puck up when necessary and always did so with vigor. I could see from my balcony seat that Kevin wanted to make something happen every shift he took. Whether he was instigating or playmaking he simply gave it his all on every shift. He is perhaps the most talented stick handler on the team and made so many many pretty passes. Let me be clear here though ... just about everyone on the team came to mind when deciding this award. I loved Chris Tarkir's effort all season. I think Jared Tuton did everything the coaching staff asked him to do. He's got to be a coaches dream player eh? I think Luke Beaverson sacrificed his offensive game in order to lead the team and I think he was a great Captain. Merit Waldrop would have been deserving of this award as well. Peter Cartwright was another player that let it all hang out all season and could have garnered this. And of course Blair Tassone shouldn't be left out of consideration. I called him this years Justin Johnson in my Senior Tribute and I'll stand by that. He hit somebody on every shift and brought so much energy. I considered naming the "team" as Heart and Soul winners. But that seemed like a bit of a cop out ... so congrats to Kevin and Mat for being just marginally more intense and standing out in my mind.

Most Valuable Player
Josh Lunden

Josh scored twice as many goals as any other Seawolf. It's always easy to name the leading scorer as an MVP and that's the case with Josh this season. If that was all that he brought to the party it would be enough. But Josh brought more than just goal scoring. His physical game was always evident and he was a leader on the ice. Paul Crowder got consideration here both because he was the 2nd leading scorer but also because I think he was perhaps the smartest penalty killer on the team. I can't say I didn't think of Kevin Clark here as well for the reasons I mentioned above. I'm thrilled that all three of these guys will be in Seawolf sweaters for the next two years. They are leaders as sophomores already so as juniors and seniors we should expect more excellence from them.

Sunday Potpourri: I Am What I Am

How does a losing season really differ from a winning season? As we vicariously live as fans through our favorite team's successes and failures we should each really ask and answer that question. Does our pride in the team we've adopted decrease with a score that isn't in our favor? Are we better people because our team had success? Conversely, are we lesser people because our team didn't succeed? I sure could make a good case that the fans of a team who only taste success intermittently have more character than their opposites.

There is zero risk in sitting around and waiting through half a sports season and then jumping on the bandwagon of a team that looks destined for success. But the risk of ridicule is great to stand up (season after season) and say that you believe your team will do great things before they've done a thing. I'm not one for hiding behind a rock. In the past I've stood up and rationalized why I thought my team would do well before the season. In the future I'll do the same. There is no part of me that you'll ever see indicating that I think my team will be lucky to finish in 8th or 7th or 6th place. I'm a believer. You can call it blind optimism or green and gold colored glasses. I don't really care. To me being a fan means that you don't accept conventional wisdom. Fan is from "fanatic" and the definition of fanatic is:

A person with an extreme or uncritical enthusiasm or zeal.

Thats me baby. I could give a shit what the record book says. Don't come to read here if you expect some faux-journalistic pretense. I won't apologize for loving my team and living up to the definition above. So I say this to those of you who come here to piss on the Seawolves grave; fuck you. And the horse you rode in on. I know I invite such things with my attitude but the truth is you just wish you had someone like me writing about your team. If I come back to do this next year don't expect anything different. I'm going to find ways to bash your team and/or town or region. I'll do so because I fervently believe that my team, town and region are better than yours.

No doubt there are some Seawolf fans don't don't appreciate my style. To them I ask that they consider contributing here. Share your thoughts and perspective. I can do no less than share mine. My genetic history does't include much in terms of traits that would lead me to be compromising. The Scots aren't known for pragmatism. That's an early 20th century American invention. Instead I'm a subscriber of the 18th century Scottish philosopher David Hume who taught us that each or our realities is shaped by our own individual perceptions which in turn were made by our experiences. My experiences tell me that the Seawolves were better than their record. Hume was also a champion of reasoning and I think I've tried to use that methodology in backing up my beliefs whenever possible. In any case, I think you're getting the point. I'm Popeye ...

What is with the idiots in Minnesota? I'm watching the FSN coverage of Mankato/UofM game three and it's between the 1st OT and the 2nd. The FSN people are stupid enough to allow any and all manner of folks to stand behind Doug and the Rug and right now there is this ugly bastard standing back there giving the choke sign and pointing to Woog. WTF is that about? This guy has no idea that he is a complete douchebag. LOL. Normally, you just get all sorts of rubes tugging their ugly M's in some sort of bragging. Could we just go back to that please and remove the grotesquely ugly turd calling his whoring mother on the phone and waving? That guy just shouldn't even be allowed in public (perhaps it is Kurt Davis' dad? ... that is just for you LGM). OMG. I hadn't really cared who'd win this series before now but I think I'm gonna cheer for the Gophs now. I will say that whoever wins will be tough to beat down the line.

UND absolutely escaped against MTU this weekend. I understand the refereeing sucked tremendously. Of course you won't hear Susie fans bitching and moaning about the refereeing since their team gained from it. I swear if I have to read anything else from "The Sikatoka" or Patrick Miller about "clutching and grabbing" and calling the game "like the NHL" that I'll puke. I keep saying that UND isn't that good and I thought MTU would expose that this weekend. I guess they did so to a point. Here's my prediction though ... UND loses it's first game in the NCAA's that isn't against a CHA or AHA team.

DU beat UMD. Sigh. There's another team that is no where near as good as it's record. They won't go anyhere in the NCAA's either. St. Cloud beat an average Wisconsin team in 2 games. They'll likely make some noise at the Final Five and fail to win an NCAA game as usual.

UAA @ CC: Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

The Seawolves final series of the year mirrored their season. Friday night they lost a game where they outplayed to opponent by a score that in no way reflected what happened on the ice. And tonight in a closely played 60 minutes they were every bit a match for the #3 team in the country. But just as happened so many times in 07-08 the Seawolves came up short when they coulda, shoulda or otherwise woulda won. I've said it, the staff has said it, the players have said it and opponents have all said the same things; a bounce here or there, a missed opportunity, an opponent that didn't miss their opportunities. Blah blah blah and on and on. It's a tired refrain but that doesn't make it any less true. It defines the season.

The trend began in the first two conference games of the season. A tie and a loss to Mankato in games that they coulda won. Then a loss and a tie on the road in St. Cloud and one of the games that they woulda won if the referee woulda been someone other than Derek Shepherd. Then after getting a decent split with the Gophers in their barn, the Seawolves play two of their best games of the year and shoulda came away with points against CC at the Sully. It coulda been frustration from the CC series that lead to a 3 point weekend in Duluth. But then DU comes to the Sully and the Seawolves woulda won the first game if Mannino doesn't play what Gwozdecky called his best game of his career. I mean come on ... UAA outshot the Pie-in-ears that night 36-16. Sigh. Then after securing the meaningless Governors Cup from the lackey's up in Squarebanks the team goes to CC and plays it's two worst games of the year; no shoulda's no woulda's, and no coulda's that weekend. Just one team eating another teams lunch. Then 2 games against Wisconsin at the Sully that they sure coulda won before going to UND where they brutally outplayed the Sioux and woulda won if they didn't give up two soft goals. Then the best weekend at home taking 3 points from MTU, but you know what? They coulda and shoulda got 4. No shoulda's or coulda's the next weekend I think. The games against the Mavericks were close enough but they just played better for 120 minutes. Then back home against St. Cloud and two games UAA definitely shoulda won. A freak goal for the opposition that had it not happened UAA woulda won. Then the Seawolves clearly outplay another team outshooting them 31-13 and lose? A definite shoulda. The rest of the games were all coulda's in my mind. If only the Seawolves coulda found the back of the net.

The team was in virtually EVERY game going into the 3rd period this year. Virtually EVERY single one. None of that makes it any easier to swallow I guess.

I'm proud of the way the team played this year; I'm not proud of the results. Sometimes karma isn't with you. I swore at the hockey gods openly and often. Everyone grasps for straws to explain it. What am I supposed to say? Shit ... a few bounces here and there and it could have been a bit different all season long. There are any number of excuses besides the coulda, woulda, shoulda bullshit. The team is young. But honestly it isn't much younger than anyone else in the league. This player or that player was snakebitten. Man ... those were some long lasting snakebites. I can go back and forth with first one excuse and then an equally reasonable point to counter the excuse. It really just comes down to the old "if" equation. "If" my grandma had balls then she wouldn't be my grandma.

There's nothing to do but wait until next year. I'll be back tomorrow with some sort my regular Sunday Potpourri .... I guess. Then during the next week I'll have a final recruit update and then I'll have the UAA Fan Blog Awards. After that I'll have one final entry before retiring for the off-season.