t'Official CHL thread

[puckhead]

gets going this week.


here's a look at attendance boost from the last lockout.
The effect of the NHL lockout on CHL attendance in NHL cities | Buzzing The Net - Yahoo! Sports Canada

 

[dash]

Hitmen on paper looks to have a pretty good team this year, so that should boost attendance (although as the article states, they have developed their own following in the city).

 

[puckhead]

I'm not really sure to expect from the Giants this year.
after fizzling out of the playoffs, they didn't really make any earth shattering moves over the summer (Ronning Jr in the mix).
Hopefully they get Gallagher back from the Habs, though I don't think that the habs have dispersed their players given the provincial labour action.

sucked ass in the preseason, with only 1 win in 6 (1-3-1-1).
never count out Don Hay, but I don't see them running away with anything.
giving the captaincy to a guy with 3 goals and 300 PIMs in Jr is a kind of indication of what kind of team it could be.

 

[dash]

I didn't make it to a Victoria Royals game last year, but I plan to do so this season (gotta support the local junior team on the island).

 

[juliansteed]

gets going this week.


here's a look at attendance boost from the last lockout.
The effect of the NHL lockout on CHL attendance in NHL cities | Buzzing The Net - Yahoo! Sports Canada

Last NHL lockout just happened to occur during year 2 of a 2 year gap between the AHL and QMJHL here in Saint John, so yeah that really sucked!

Hard to say how a lockout will impact attendance here. We've had a pretty stacked team for 3 years in a row and a lot of elite players. This year will be year 1 of a rebuild and the only elite player left is Huberdeau. He'll likely be gone as soon as the lockout ends so for now he can help sell a few tickets.

That being said, season tickets are about on par with last season. But the die-hards are the die-hards and will be there no matter what. A lot of us are actually looking forward to a change of pace and the rebuild process (winning 90% of the games in a blowout is fun but looses it's charm after a while). The walk-up attendance probably would have taken a dip this year but with the lockout will probably offset that to some extent.

 

[juliansteed]

The Halifax Mooseheads look like they will be the team to beat in the Q this year. Nathan McKinnon will get a lot of attention this year but they have a couple other potential 2013 1st rounders in Jonathan Drouin and goalie Zack Fucale.

Unfortunately the Moncton Wildcats could be a contender too. After trading away Brandom Gormley to the eventual Memorial Cup winners they got something like 6 or 7 assets in return, some at the time of the trade and some after the season ended. They also had the #1 pick in the CHL import drafted and selected Ivan Barbashev who shouldbe able to make an immediate impact at 17.

Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts are always in the mix and will be lead again this year by 2012 Sabres 1str rounder Mikhail Grigorenko. They have some other decent players as well and the speculation is that they are the team that will most likely get Huberdeau in a trade if the lockout is still in effect after the World Juniors.

 

[dash]

The Halifax Mooseheads look like they will be the team to beat in the Q this year. Nathan McKinnon will get a lot of attention this year but they have a couple other potential 2013 1st rounders in Jonathan Drouin and goalie Zack Fucale.

Unfortunately the Moncton Wildcats could be a contender too. After trading away Brandom Gormley to the eventual Memorial Cup winners they got something like 6 or 7 assets in return, some at the time of the trade and some after the season ended. They also had the #1 pick in the CHL import drafted and selected Ivan Barbashev who shouldbe able to make an immediate impact at 17.

Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts are always in the mix and will be lead again this year by 2012 Sabres 1str rounder Mikhail Grigorenko. They have some other decent players as well and the speculation is that they are the team that will most likely get Huberdeau in a trade if the lockout is still in effect after the World Juniors.

I really don't like the coach or that team...

 

[juliansteed]

I really don't like the coach or that team...

You're not alone. It's always fun when they come to town though. No other coach gets shown on the big screen as often as him and it always draws lots of boos. From what I can tell, he gets that same treatment in every arena he visits in the Q.

 

[dash]

As for the Tigers, they will hopefully be in the mix (although they will certainly miss Emerson Etem and his 60 goals from last season). Hunter Shinkaruk will be counted on to lead the way offensively. On a side note, I wish they would start construction on a new arena which is badly needed.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Has Niagara traded Ryan Strome yet?

I expect Portland to kick ass in the Dub. They get Rattie back & Seth Jones is the best addition made by any team in the CHL.

 

[puckhead]

Giants cutting prices to get things kicked off properly
(bonus Pat Quinn sighting)
Vancouver Giants cut prices on upper-bowl seats for early games, ?want people to rediscover? what team is all about (with video)

 

[Destroydacre]

Has Niagara traded Ryan Strome yet?

I expect Portland to kick ass in the Dub. They get Rattie back & Seth Jones is the best addition made by any team in the CHL.

I don't. I think Portland is gonna slide back to the pack this year actually. They lost a ton last season. Bartschi, Ross, Gabriel, Noebels, Morrow and Wrenn just to name a few. Their defense is young and their goaltending is awful. Both swiss cheese Carruth and Cam Lanigan suck. There's talk that Carruth could be sent to the AHL this season and Lanigan probably won't make the team. If that happens, Portland's net will be manned by rookies. Either way their goaltending is a huge concern and Portland won't be able to just outscore teams like they have the past couple seasons. For the first time in 6 seasons there isn't gonna be a super dominant team in the US division. IMO Kamloops will be the team to beat in the Western Conference this year. Damn near took out Portland last year losing 2-0 in game 7 after trailing 3-0 in the series and their team is largely intact. With Saskatoon hosting the Memorial Cup look for them to stock up with trades as well.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

purrrdy!

 

[dash]

I'm not crazy about the shoulder patches (although the Alberta and Canadian flags don't look great on the Flames uniforms either), but I agree, that's a nice jersey.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I'm not crazy about the shoulder patches (although the Alberta and Canadian flags don't look great on the Flames uniforms either), but I agree, that's a nice jersey.

true ... they kinda clash

 

[puckhead]

preview of the WHL: WHL Network

 

[dash]

Holy pronunciation, Batman...

Led by newly-appointed captain Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, the Giants see five rearguards return from last season. Vannieuwenhuizen is a tough customer, an intimidating presence on the blue line, and has strong leadership skills

 

[puckhead]

he's fun to watch

they do use all of the real estate though.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Holy pronunciation, Batman...

Led by newly-appointed captain Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, the Giants see five rearguards return from last season. Vannieuwenhuizen is a tough customer, an intimidating presence on the blue line, and has strong leadership skills

I hope he plays for the Penguins or Leafs one day so their announcers can attempt to pronounce his name every minute for 3 periods 82 plus games per year.

 

[Vadered]

I hope he plays for the Penguins or Leafs one day so their announcers can attempt to pronounce his name every minute for 3 periods 82 plus games per year.

I hope he plays for Dallas and gets traded to the Flyers so we can correct them when it turns out his name is actually Wes Vannnieuwennhuizennnnn.