Wednesday 18 September 2013

Canes Announce New Captains

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have named their Captains for the 2013-2014 WHL season.

Overage forward Josh Derko is the 23rd Captain in Hurricanes history. Jaimen Yakubowski, Brady Ramsay, and Ryan Pilon are the team's three Assistant Captains.

Derko is entering his first full season with the Hurricanes after being acquired from Swift Current last season. Yakubowski and Ramsay were among the Canes top scoring forwards last season and Ryan Pilon, at just 16 years of age was second in rookie scoring last season for Lethbridge with 28 points and will be a huge piece of the Hurricanes defensive corps this year.

The media spoke with both Derko and Head Coach Drake Berehowsky Wednesday at the announcement at the ENMAX Centre.


20 comments:

  1. I must say this pick is shocking. Shocking because it is a disrespect to players like Russ and Sam who exhibit all of the on ice and off ice qualities. Hard work, leadership and respect. No discredit whatsoever to Derko but he has not been here long and simply hasn't paid the dues like Russ or Sam. Russ is your longest serving Hurricane (or close to), your last year's top scorer, and certainly one of the hardest working players game in and game out who is never afraid to get into the corners and play in the hard spots for the benefit of the team. This is all in addition to his leadership, great vision and dedication to the game. I see this as a total slap in the face to him and wonder how the coaches, and maybe more so the GM, see this as a way to reward such a dedicated and fearless player. As a fan, I am extremely disappointed in the organization for such a blatant lack of recognition and disrespect to Russ.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shocking?!

    Russ is one of my fav players to watch BUT he takes way too many undisciplined penalties and still chooses to mouth off officials way too much... not what a captain exhibits.

    Just because his last name is "Maxwell" and he is a local kid doesnt entitle him the chance to wear a letter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous says: "this pick is shocking"

    Yes, of course it is. But Josh is extremely fit. That's all that matters with this new bunch. Watch to see if this fitness mania results in complete physical breakdowns within the skill core of the club. In fairness to the likes of Russ and Sam, if they are not valued here (and that appears obvious) they should be traded. Surely they could be used to obtain some more extremely fit players, maybe even some who have more than 3 games of WHL experience.

    Ragging the Puck

    ReplyDelete
  4. First, to Canes fan. I don't think any of my reasons for choosing Russ, or Sam for that matter, had anything to do with the name "Maxwell". That statement is unjustified. You say he's one of your favorite players to watch and this is likely because he never backs down. He is always giving it his all and also has a tremendous amount of skill and vision. The penalty issue is warranted. He needs to work on that but at least he cares enough to compete with the utmost tenacity. The last captain sure didnt and look where that got us.

    With respect to "Ragging the Puck" I have never read such a nonsensical post in my life. Is fitness your big thing? Are you saying Sam and Russ aren't "fit". Trade them for players who have more than 3 games of WHL experience? I just don't understand that. Trading them? Stupid. Giving them respect for the hundreds of games they have both played with the highest level of determination and desire? The right thing to do. I realize not everyone can get a letter but Derko has played 22 games for the Hurricanes and "fitness" shouldn't qualify him over Russ or Sam. Pilot is going to be a great player but he should not be ahead of Russ or Sam. Congrats to Yak and Rammer. Well deserved.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous says: "Russ...takes too many undisciplined penalties"

    So penalty taking is the way we choose captains? The last two years Maxwell did take a lot of penalties. 157 minutes worth in fact. That's shocking. But wait a minute what about the new leadership core. Derko had 219 minutes, Ramsay had 220 and Yakabowski took 228. Each of these played fewer games than Russ. There could be good reasons for not naming Russ as captain or perhaps even for stripping him of the A he has worn for the past couple of years, but the penalty argument is pretty weak. And Sam only had 92 minutes. He should be the team captain by your standard not Derko. Which would be fine by me. I guess we are in agreement.

    Ragging the Puck

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous says "Just because his last name is "Maxwell" and he is a local kid doesn't entitle him the chance to wear a letter."

    I think the argument was made that Russ was a leader on and off the ice. Nothing was said about his name or local origins as being good reasons to name him to the leadership core. So why did you bring it up? Your comment is mean spirited and unfair. It would seem that you have something against the kid "just because his last name is "Maxwell"". Shame on you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous says "With respect to "Ragging the Puck" I have never read such a nonsensical post in my life"

    Do you have any appreciation for the term "sarcasm"? I agree with everything you have written. You have misunderstood my post completely. I should have put a /sarc tag on it I guess. My bad.

    Ragging the Puck

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice debate. I think people put way too much stock into captains. As a fan I could care less as long as any player picked doesn’t disrespect the team or the city they play in (including visitor’s rinks). Russ and Sam will shine, log the most minutes, play in all situations and be one of the top point getters by the end of the season. Winning and making the playoffs is a bigger concern for me.
    Long Run

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just a note to all posters. Please use a name of some sort. I'd like to get away from all anonymous posts. It's much easier for people to respond to you and address your comments if you have an alias or use a name to identify yourself. Thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Arguing over who should wear the letters ends up being a clash of opinions. But whether it is the four chosen players or 2 or 3 others it comes down to the coaches' choice. Drake Berehowsky said when he was introduced as the new head coach, that all the players will have to earn spots on the team, that no player regardless of what he has done or not done in the past, gets a free pass. By that statement, I would gather that also applied to the letters being passed out. Hence the choices he made(in consultation with Lukowich/Craig)led to the lettered players we now have. I would hardly doubt that Brad Robson told the coaches who to letter.
    Russ, Sam and even Adam Henry were likely all considered. But it comes down to their idea of who they want for their kind of leadership.

    Dump N' Chase

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember hearing that comment from Drake about everyone having to earn their spots. And it is sort of a known cliche in all sports. And yet, especially in considering leadership, it makes no sense. How can you sensibly throw out 2 or 3 years of experience, and base your whole assessment on a week of training camp and 3 exhibition games? That's just nuts. On that basis Pilon and Boes shouldn't even be on the team. They haven't shown anything yet. But they are properly on the team because of what they have demonstrated previously. That alone puts the lie to the cliche.

      The coach said that he chose Derko because he believed he was the guy he wanted to spread his message. Fair enough. Is it a slap in the face to the veteran Hurricane players to be captained by a journeyman tough guy who is just very lucky (based on past performance) to get a playing spot anywhere as an overage player and has only played 22 games with the team? Sure. But that veteran group didn't get the job done last year or the year before and so maybe the coach felt they needed the slap. Presumably Derko was not around long enough last year to be blamed for failure. Although he was there for the worst part of it.

      Hopefully Derko will play on a line with Russ and Sam, create some space for them, and they will all prosper like never before.

      Ragging the Puck

      Delete
  11. Ragging the Puck, you bring up an interesting question, one that all of us could have fun trying to figure out the line combinations. So here is one that might work. But I am basing it on what I saw in training camp. Ok someone will say they were playing for the most part against 15-16-17 yr olds. But one line on the dark blue team of Blomquist, Watson and Olynek looked to have instant chemistry. I would have said Duke, Phelps and Ramsay but of course Phelps is not here. One thing is apparent, regardless of the line combinations there will be speed on the lines. How about Derko, Duke and McKechnie.......Derko will have Duke's back.

    Have fun with it!

    Dump'n Chase

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sorry, guys, ask any of the media who watch this team as they hang out and socialize in the concourse and around the dressing room and they'll tell you, Derko's charismatic and the other guys follow his lead. During fitness testing, he was grouped with the other veterans and he was in charge. Pilon has a similar effect, just a guy that naturally brings people along in his wake. It could be that while Russ is a great kid, he's not a leader in that way. Russ is a funny, welcoming kid but he's not an assertive, get-in-your-face type. Who would you dump off as a lettered player anyway? Derko's the captain. After watching these kids through camp and preseason, that's the choice I'd have made, too. Alternate Pilon is untouchable, he's a Brent Seabrook. So you'd punt Ramsay for Maxwell? That's a point I could see arguing. So, please argue away (but keep it civil)....
    Dylan Purcell
    Lethbridge Herald

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your take on this. When I read it and then I listened to the round table discussion I was reminded that these reporters are unable to be candid about anything current coaching staff and management do. If they were they would lose access. They become apologists and cheerleaders for the team. The Debbie Wasserman-Shultz equivalents almost of the US Democrats, well maybe Chris Matthews is a better example. Listen to the round table and finally you may hear some of the problems with the team from last year because they can breath a careful word of criticism for what Rich Preston did (or didn't do). They still have to be careful because Robson was around last year. Where were those honest and candid insights last year? Not reported that's for sure. And so now Drake will do no wrong and Brad Robson will be brilliant (running a club with a bunch of amazing 5 and 6 round draft choices - no discussion of WHY there are no elite players on the team). Anyway don't expect anything but the party line from these reporters. If they want to be in the dressing room they have to sugar coat everything. And they do. Of course the players are in much the same position. If it every came out that they had criticized the coach their careers would be over. So there were just rumors last year that the power play and kill were never practiced or taught, for example. And the rumors were true but they were never verified by these reporters while Preston was around. Couldn't be. And anything happening with the current club will and is being covered up and sugar coated too by the media and the players. So yeah, Derko is a brilliant choice. Has to be.

      Ragging the Puck

      Delete
  13. Good banter here.

    Ragging the Puck my apologies. I do see the sarcasm now but sometimes in text or blog the effect is more difficult to detect. You make a great point on the PIMs and the whole clean slate thing as well. Starting 'fresh' just cannot happen in all contexts.

    Dylan can make the argument but while charisma is a great quality it just doesn't overwhelm Russ' longstanding contributions made to this team. He has been once of the repeated bright spots for a serious struggling franchise with his tenacity, hard work, scoring success (despite NO systems and NO powerplay!) and commitment to this club which is so much more of a factor than charisma, fitness and 22 games. You may see Derko as charismatic in the media and on the concourse (and PS Russ is ultra charismatic just like his brother was) but I do know the players trust and respect Russ and wanted him to be rewarded with the earned recognition.

    While it has been said the letters don't mean anything this simply isn't the case or they wouldn't exist. I'm excited for the changes. I think the new coaches can really make an impact here. Just unimpressed the organization would start out this way by simply not appreciating those who have actually made games worth attending for the last number of seasons.

    Signed, NEARLY OLDTIMER

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fan of Dylan and Pat20 September 2013 at 01:14

    Good post Dylan. Many fans are obsessing over this silly debate. I think once the puck drops, the players could care less who has a C or A on their chest. They all have (and will exhibit) some form of leadership qualities, Russ and Sam included. They actually all have a letter on their chest (an H) and will give everything they have, including standing up for teammates when needed.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Not often that I agree with Dylan but this is one of the times. I do not think that Maxwell deserves a letter. He is not a leader

    An Observer

    ReplyDelete
  16. I got a better idea. Let’s have all rip the organization (including media) to pieces, focus only on the negatives and see if we can get less support and ticket sales. Then we can see this team succeed or not in another City. Pilon and Duke not elite? Guess invites to try out and represent Canada must not mean anything. Sure others have been invited to mentorship camps but again must not mean anything other than a bunch of hacks on this roster.
    Long Run

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dylan Purcell being accused of "sugar coating"? Now there is a good laugh. Knowing Dylan as I do and having read his columns, talked to him face-to-face on many occasions, he is the last guy to "sugar coat" anything.

    Last year is done. It is history and why be asking the media to tear apart the new regime before even the first puck has dropped on the regular season, is so typical of the negativity in this city.

    Maxwell not getting a letter? Maxwell should have a letter! This could be debated forever. Russell will prove his leadership on the ice by not taking so many thoughtless penalties and not whining to the refs at every call, something he did way too much of last year. Mind you he learned the whining to the refs, directly from his coaches.

    In my opinion, giving Pilon a letter is a no-brainer! As Dylan pointed out, he has all the resemblance of being another Brent Seabrook who was given a letter at a very young age. Why? The management and coaching staff both recognized the skill and leadership capabilities in Brent very early into his WHL career. The same can be said about Ryan.

    This coaching staff is very well aware of the need to win this season and win on a consistent basis. We as fans need to support this team, a team built with speed, tenacity and talent and who will give 100% each and every night.

    Dump'n Chase

    ReplyDelete
  18. Why does amount of games played within an organization matter? A leader is a leader ... and you can tell Derko is a leader. He paid his dues in the league and get this he wore an "A" in Swift. He also had an "A" on his jersey pretty quick once he came to Lethbridge.
    I didn't see anyone complain when Kyle Bailey had an "A" on his jersey after playing a handful of games after arriving from Portland. Or Jeff May, or Chris Phillips, or Kris Hogg or ... I could keep going. Same goes in the NHL.
    I think the Hurricanes have made great choices with the captains. Easy solution for the players not getting a letter ... go out and prove that the wrong choices were made ... it's that simple

    CanesFan17

    ReplyDelete