Monday 20 August 2012

Time For Hurricanes Training Camp

The Lethbridge Hurricanes open their 2012 WHL training camp next Tuesday afternoon (August 28) at the ENMAX Centre.

The overwhelming majority of players who were here at the end of last season will be back again this year and the experience last year's rookie received should bode well for them going into this season.

That said, the Canes biggest issues going into this season are in that 18 and 19 year old age group.  Trading Phil Tot to Tri-City opened up another roster spot, but the question is will the hockey management staff be out searching for a player or players to fill that void?  There's no doubt the Hurricanes have several assets in terms of draft picks they can use to send to other teams.  They've done very well stocking what once was a fairly bare cupboard.  With the NHL lockout looming, that may strap some WHL teams when it comes to overage players and pro camps. 

The Hurricanes overage situation is much clearer now with Tyler Kizuik moving onto the player University hockey and Landon Oslanski being picked by Everett.  That leaves Lethbridge with 4 overagers heading into camp.

I had a chance to speak with Hurricanes Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel Brad Robson to talk about some of these issues heading into training camp.

Pat:  Brad, camp starts August 28th so talk about the crop of players we will see this year.  It seems with the trade of Phil Tot, the Hurricanes will head into camp and this new season still a very young, but skilled team.

Robson:  "Yeah, we are going to be a young team, but the 10 or 11 rookies we had last season all have 60 to 70 games under their belts and experience, which I think will help them big time.  Having a very experienced goalie in Ty Rimmer will certainly help us, but losing Adam Henry to an illness does hurt our back end given we kind of slotted him into our top four defence this year.  We have a couple of older defencemen coming into this camp on tryouts so we will see how they do.  We have Pilon, Sayers, and Topping all coming in so they're eager and ready to go this year.  It's going to be a very competitive camp again.  We do know we will not have 10 or 11 rookies this time and I think guys will be fighting for probably only four or five spots within our line-up.  I think it's going to be very exciting for all our players and camp invites. We can finally get back into the ENMAX Centre for camp, which is a great recruiting tool. All our players and staff are very excited about what could happen for us this year."

Pat:  Brad, the 18 and 19 year old age groups with this team are thin and this team has struggled to score goals the last few seasons.  Are you and Rich out looking for any experienced players to fill that void?

Robson:  "Well, our younger players we had last year we expect to move up and play bigger roles within the organization.  I expect Yakabowski to move up, guys like Graham Hood, Craig Leverton, to step up thier games as well.  Michael Sofillas will be coming back to camp and we'll see how he is after missing all last season with concussion problems.  McKechnie, Maxwell, Merkley, and Duke we expect to all move up in our line up.  With that draft pick we got for Tot, we're looking at possibly using that as leverage to go out and obtain an older player after the first few games of the season. but I think of the players that we do have, they're all eager. Axel Blomqvist, Jamal Watson, Tyler Wong, Remi Laurencelle. Kolten Olynek are all coming into camp fighting for spots.  We're only going to have 12 or 13 forwards, 7 maximum 8 defenceman and there's going to be a big battle too for that back-up goalie spot.  Chris Tai, Jonny Hogue, Ferguson, and Tanner Kovacs.  It's going to be a very competitive camp."

Pat:  With NHL lockout looming, do you anticipate this is going to have an impact on the Hurricanes and WHL in general?

Robson:  "Well for a lot of the 20 year old who thought they were going to rookie camps or NHL tournament camps, they won't be allowed to go so there are extra 20 year olds on each team, who last year would've probably gone to camps will be sticking around the CHL.  All those tournaments have been cancelled this year, so each team will have some serious battles and each team in the Western Hockey League will likely have a 4 or 5 player battles for spots, so it's going to be very interesting.  For us, we have four 20 year olds coming to camp, battling for 3 spots."

Thanks,
Pat

23 comments:

  1. Interesting comments...I didnt think Jamal Watson would be categorized as battling for a spot with the rookies and it looks like Robson has conceded that Hood has a forward 20 year old spot....I guess we will see what happens during camp but interesting to see the thoughts of the asst GM. Scott

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  2. Where is balog? The kid we got from the Regina trade a couple of year ago?

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  3. Except for the 19 year old scoring issue which the team needs to fill, having all the rookie 16 and 17 year olds from last year with a season under their belt I think will make a huge positive difference. Having said that the style of the team as you pointed out Pat will be completely different, fast and small, not large and physical up front. It will require a puck possession style not a dump and chase style. Can this coaching group coach that style to me will be the biggest question. My guess on 20's would be to keep Hood up front so along with the new Bloomquist (at 6'5") you have one line with size and try and get a scorer for Buonassissi with some picks thrown in. On the back end Johnston and Bloomquist were probably the two most physical D men in the league last year when both were healthy. They should get a lot of ice. I am pretty optimistic about this years team...the skill is there I hope the coaching is there to match...! TD

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  4. The still need to add a 19 year old or an 18 and a 19. I realize the 16's and 17's from last year have a year of experience under their belt, but I personally think the team needs more leadership upfront....and some more size wouldn't hurt either. Just because Blomqvist is 6' 5" doesn't mean he's a physical player. That remains to be seen.

    I saw some dried leaves on the ground in my yard last night. The first signs of Fall approaching and that means camp is just around the corner! Darren

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  5. I like our group of young guys that we have coming into camp this year. I have heard some questionable things about Buonosissi's character through 2 or 3 of the billet families I am good friends with. I think Hood should be the 20 yr old forward. I also expect big things from jay merkley this year. The biggest question mark is scoring. How are we going to replace the 20 goals Braes scored for us before he got traded and the 30 that Sutter scored for us? Plus the 18 or whatever Tot scored. That's 68 goals right there. And almost 75 with Henry gone. Also was I the only one surprised that there was no coaching change this offseason? Rich needs a good young assistant coach. We miss the playoffs 3 years in a row and have the EXACT same staff. How long is Kabayama and Chisimore leash this year?

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  6. OK I have had enough. We have to speak about the elephant in the room. It has to do with who Matt Kabayama is. Nobody wants to mention it but it is obvious he is not the type of coach we need given his background. We in these parts of southern Alberta do not take to his kind too well. YesI am speaking to the fact that he is a Medicine Hat tiger. How do we expect to win when we have somebody like him behind the bench? I know it is an uncomfortable issue for some to face but I believe he was planted here to sabotage the Hurricanes. Either way what good can come from having a tiger behind the bench? The only things that leave the hat are foul smelling gas and rats.

    Sku

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  7. For the person asking where Balog is, believe he was dropped by the canes from their 50 player protected list and the Calgary Hitmen put him on their list.

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  8. SKU a Tigers conspiracy is just a little far fetched don't you think?? lol. Having said that Kabayama is not a highly regarded coach throughout the league and from talking to past players was not well respected by them for his coaching accumen or for the relationhip he had with players. Don't know about current players thoughts. He is also in charge of billets and I noticed that one week before camp starts the Canes are advertising for billets, so can't manage or coach. Past players liked and respected Preston and Chisamore as coaches. Canes will not make changes. They have not heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results. SMR

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  9. SMR, you beat me to the response. But, Matt Kabayama (former MH Tiger) was planted her to sabotage the Hurricanes? REALLY,REALLY? Who hired him? "Given his background, his kind"? Yikes

    I do have a concern though but it has nothing to do with the fact that MK played for the Tigers, it is the fact that he is a former foward coaching our d-men. In the era of specialize coaching, this role should be changed.

    RJ.

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  10. RJ, he's coached the defence since the day he arrived, even when a defenceman was the head coach. Why does it have to change now?

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  11. I'm going to agree with those that think the Kabiyama conspiracy theory is WAY over the top! Who cares where he played his hockey?!! If I'm not mistaken, he was born and raised in Lethbridge.

    In keeping with the Kabiyama theme however, I DO think there's something to be said for his ability to coach and garner the respect of the players. Especially if what SMR says about his poor management of the billets is true. I have no knowledge of this personally.

    A close friend of mine talked to Kabiyama yesterday about the upcoming season and Matt explained to my friend that the coaches are not expecting miracles from the team this year. In fact, he told my friend that it will be not this year or NEXT year they are expecting big things....but the year AFTER. Let's see, that makes it 2014/15.

    This makes me cringe to hear this. It sounds as if the organization (at least the coaching staff) prescribes to the theory of 1 year of success followed by 4 years of bust. This is not a good theory to prescribe to. In my opinion, a junior hockey team should be competitive EVERY year, not just every 4 or 5 years. When was the last time Kootenay missed the playoffs?? Or Medicine Hat?? Red Deer??

    I hope Kabiyama's conversation with my friend doesn't hold to be true or we're in for some angry shareholders and fans. The team needs to show improvement THIS year and make a concerted run at the playoffs.

    Just my opinions....Darren

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  12. Darren's comments about what was communicated by the asst coach are disturbing if correct. As Darren, said Med Hat, Kootenay, Calgary, Red Deer, Brandon rarely miss more than one year of playoffs so if this organization can't figure it out in 3 years there must be changes and changes now. I don't think any fan expects a Memorial Cup any time soon but they do expect to be in the playoffs and starting this year. There is definitly the skill on the team this year to make the playoffs starting with the number one or two goalie in the league in net. If that coach doesn't think they can make the playoffs then step aside now beacause there are plenty of coaches who wouldnt mind having the talent on the Canes. The AGM is good timing as shareholders need to express their expectations and concerns. SMR

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  13. I agree with Matt that our best year to win the memorial cup is when our 95’s are 19. Just makes sense, our 95, 96 and 97 group are filled with 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks. That’s how you build a contender. This time when we go for it all we will have enough assets to not cripple our team for the next four years after the run. As far as assistance coaches, Chisamore seems to care and I love what he did with Ketlo last season. Not sure about Matt, if he isn’t good enough replace him.

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  14. I hate to have to say this but the Matt Kabayama Med Hat post was a joke. Trying to put a little humour into the blog. Please lighten up folks.

    On a side note I plead with the hurricanes to have plastic rat give away night for the home opener vs Med Hat. Would be hilarious beyond belief.

    Sku

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  15. Balog as well as Bennefield are both on the Hitmens lists,Will be interesting if they play for the Hitmen



    Rich

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  16. @ Anon 8:30.....I'm not interested in a "boom or bust" franchise and I'm certainly not focused on winning a Memorial Cup. If that's your interest, great, but as a shareholder, I'm looking for consistent, competitive play EVERY year beginning with THIS YEAR. If MT's philosophy is to have a good team only every 4 years and his goal is always the Memorial Cup, then I don't want him on my coaching staff. The Memorial Cup is simply icing on a great year. I'm looking for a good, solid, competitive team EVERY year. I could give a rat's patoot about the Memorial Cup. In fact, if I hear that our current Board is thinking of wasting more of their time and my money on another Memorial Cup bid, I'm going to vote for anyone BUT those supporting that idea. That's been tried several times to no avail and I'm tired of wasting money on a fruitless bid.
    Darren

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  17. @Darren – nice to know your thoughts. I to am a shareholder that will stop buying the numerous season tickets I do should the Hurricane organization not try and build teams for memorial cup runs. I am tired of buying seats to a middle of the road team that has no chance of winning it all. I as well don’t want to go for it all and suffer for 4 yrs after and that is why I am so impressed with all the picks and youth we are stockpiling so we don’t have a huge down turn. As for placing a bid for the memorial cup, I say we should give more of an effort and this City should pitch in for the bid. The economic spin off is huge for a city our size and we need to show off how great and hospitable of a City we have. It is about time our team becomes a powerhouse and our City starts to back this team with pride. You stabilize a franchise by winning championship not by being the same old 5th, 6th , 7th place team that gets kicked out of the playoffs in the first round.

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  18. @ Anonymous, Just to clarify, the past 3 seasons, the Hurricanes haven't been a "middle of the road" team. They've been nothing short of a bad team. They have NOT finished 5th, 6th or 7th and eliminated in the 1st round. They haven't made ANY inroads on a playoff position since their Eastern Championship in 2008. If you continue to pursue the Memorial Cup, then you will constantly be rebuilding for that one elusive run. The philosophy needs to be to produce a consistent team EVERY year.

    You stabilize a franchise by going to the Memorial Cup??? What is the premise behind this theory? Stabilization comes from developing players even though we don't get to pick in the top 5 every year. THAT'S where stabilization comes from.

    I heard enough from Ron Robinson last year after awarding the Mem Cup to the team/city with the largest population coupled with the largest seating capacity to know that he isn't about to let a city with an undersized seating capacity to hold such an event. The City of Lethbridge can easily handle the event, but the Enmax was not built (renovated) to hold enough fans to make the WHL money and more importantly, make the Hurricanes hockey club any money. Do you know how much it costs to host the Memorial Cup?? There's a MASSIVE price tag attached to the Cup that the host club MUST pay upfront. Are you aware of that??

    I know from listening to Ron Robinson last year that Lethbridge will NEVER be considered for a Memorial Cup and as I say, if I hear any of the current Board members or Board members who are running this year mention the Memorial Cup, I won't vote for them. It's been a colossal waste of our franchises money and from what I can see from the team's balance sheet, it's a price we can little afford at this point.

    Darren

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  19. I am aware that there is costs associated with hosting, I am not exactly sure of the numbers and if you have them please give me the info. I also would like to know if those costs outnumber the economic spinoffs generated by hosting the cup and the spinoffs years after. I am also aware that Brandon hosted the memorial cup, not exactly sure of their arena/city size but I am pretty sure it is not as large as Edmonton, Calgary or Saskatoon arena/city or perhaps even ours? I was discussed with Roy and how he left us bare for these 3yrs. Pretty sure I have said numerous times that I am NOT wanting to suffer for 4 yrs after a run and do not think Mk or this staff is building this team for a 4yr down turn. This is not the staff that crippled our roster the last three seasons. Not sure how your taking MK’s conversation with your friend but “not expecting miracles” may mean that the coaching staff is not thinking they are going to be a 1st place team? Doesn’t mean that this staff doesn’t want a good, solid, competitive team this yr. or yrs after. Either way I disagree with you, you need to develop players to get to the memorial cup. The memorial cup brings in the half hearted fans that don’t care to watch or spend money on the competitive team that never wins championships. Winning brings in fans, brings in money, brings in players and stabilizes the franchise. Hope I clarified my opinion for you.

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  20. Anon, thanks for clarifying your position.

    I guess my question for you is "when was the last time you saw a team make a run for the Memorial Cup without trading away it's draft picks for 19 year olds??" It happens with every team who think they're going to make that elusive run. Look what Mosse Jaw gave us for Cam Braes. Where did that get them? Not even close to the Memorial Cup.

    I know this is how it would work for the Canes as well. They would trade away draft pics to acquire experience for the Mem Cup run and there goes your stability for the next 2-3 years. There's no other way to make that type of a run. I'm curious to see what Kootenay and Saskatoon look like this year after trading multiple 1st Round picks away for Cody Eakin (Kootenay) and Braden Schenn (Saskatoon) two year ago. I suspect they will be in the basement for a few years, which subscribes to my "boom and bust" theory....which I don't like.

    As for hosting the Mem Cup, I don't have the numbers for hosting in front of me, but will be checking the WHL website (but not expecting much) and asking other's on the Board who might know what the cost to the host city is. I know the cost is hefty.

    My friend's conversation with MK sounded like they are building for one big run in two more years. That mentality scares me. They need to show development THIS year and make the playoffs. This is Preston's team now. 99% of the players on the team are kids he acquired or drafted and he's already 1 year behind his prediction of making the playoffs last year. They need to show improvement over last year and make the playoffs this year.

    Let me throw another thing out there.....if the team goes through another October/November like the one they had last year, changes will come to the coaching staff. This city won't sit through that again. Once was acceptable, twice with the same coaching staff and many of the same players is not.

    Darren

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  21. I believe that we are building a team like Edmonton. They made it to the cup last year without trading away all of their players/picks for 19 yr olds and they will likely make it back this year. We have drafted a total of 13 players in the first three rounds of the last three drafts. We have acquired additional picks for next two drafts and I believe that we are building a contender for multiple years. I do think we will be competitive and make the playoffs this year and I am all for replacing the staff should we have an Oct/Nov like last season. Like I said I believe this City deserves to Host the Memorial Cup and deserves to hang many banners in the rafters. If that isn’t the goal of this franchise I don’t want to support it.

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  22. Darren,....regarding hosting the Memorial Cup. The cost of hosting a Memorial Cup by one of the WHL franchises is becoming almost out of reach for the medium-small market teams. It has become a dash for cash by the League owners. When a WHL team bids to host the Memorial Cup, the rest of the league is looking for a guarentee of so much money coming back their way. To give you a prime example Red Deer's guarentee to host the 2013 Memorial Cup was over one million dollars. (Published fact) and Saskatoon's guarentee was more than double that. So regardless of how much money Saskatoon makes, they will have to pay the WHL their guarentee. Unless the medium-small market teams have ownership that can afford that kind of guarentee, they will never bid for it.
    It would be great to host the Memorial Cup, but not at such an expense. It is better to be the WHL Champions and go to a Memorial Cup.

    Certainly the City of Lethbridge has proven on more than one occassion that it can host a national event. But, a Memorial Cup hosting comes with huge financial obligations.

    RJ

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  23. Thanks RJ. Appreciate the Mem Cup info. I knew the price tag was high and that Saskatoon got the bid based on their high bid. This literally eliminates any mid-sized or smaller franchises. This is exactly what I got from Pat's interview with Ron Robinson last year. He didn't come out and say that specifically, but it isn't hard to read between the lines that the league is looking to make a crap-load of cash from the host city.

    It's not about what we "deserve" Anonymous. It's about the reality of the situation and the situation says that the Canes can bid and bid all they want (and continue to throw money away) and still not get a sniff of the Mem Cup because of the skewed vision of the league President. It's not about what we "deserve".

    Sorry to burst your "supporter" bubble Anonymous, but I'm under the distinct impression Lethbridge will never host a Mem Cup. I'd suggest supporting a Mem Cup WINNER as RJ says and forget about hosting one. I'm all for winning a Mem Cup, but not hosting one.

    In addition to the league's standing on hosting the Mem Cup, their Swift Current, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw can survive in a league where Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton are allowed unlimited team budgets is beyond me.

    The fact that Edmonton didn't trade away any draft picks or players last year is not the norm, but the exception.

    Not trying to rain on your parade Anonymous because I want this franchise to succeed as much as most others, but it's time for this edition of the coaches to put up or get out. I won't dump on them, but in my opinion, the pressure is on this team to show improvement over last year. By not adding any 19 year-olds to the roster (at least to replace Tot's production), that may be a hard thing to do. Darren

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