In a previous life I coached kids hockey with some buddies in Detroit. None of us had kids on the team, rather we thought it was a good way to give back to the community, work with some kids and have a good time. We did it for three or four years working our way up the travel program in Michigan. By the end of our run, we were coaching at a fairly senior level. I stopped coaching for a couple of reasons. First, I moved, first back to Toronto and then shortly thereafter to Miami for law school. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, I realized at the ripe old age of 25 that I was way too competitive.

When my son asked me to coach his soccer team some 10 years later I reluctantly gave in, again for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I didn’t know the first thing about soccer (how much trouble could I get in?), secondly, I was bored out of my mind whenever we went to the field for his games, thirdly, I hoped I had mellowed a little bit and could use this as a test for hockey should he ever ask me to coach his hockey team and finally and more importantly, for the simple reason that he asked.

So, this past spring when we signed up for the 2009-2010 hockey season when he asked me to coach him, I agreed. This time for 2 reasons. One, cause I learned in soccer that indeed I had mellowed and yes, more importantly, because he asked. To date I have had a complete blast. I am not the head coach so I have been fortunate enough to only play a small role as one of two assistant coaches. The coaches and parents on our team are extremely lucky. There isn’t a bad kid or parent amongst us. There isn’t a parent or kid in the group that doesn’t have their head in the right place. Everyone is there 100% for their kids to have fun. We all want our kids to learn the importance of team sports, and want our kids to have fun. i have yet to see with this group any thoughts, notions or ideas of grandeur. It’s a relief to say the least.

Tonight, I was reminded however, of the evils that lurke in arenas teaching our kids. I saw first hand the reason why we have problems in hockey here in Canada. I saw a coach with such an ego that he has lost all grip on reality. It was the prototypical case of what we as hockey parents should avoid like the plague, the worst part is the person exhibiting these behaviors has no clue what exactly he is.

Here is what happened. My team, a group of 7 and 8 year old house league boys had a practice scheduled at a local arena for 6:10pm. Our head coach wasn’t going to attend. So myself and the other assistant coach showed up to run the practice. We got to the rink early and immediately found there was a problem. We found a scheduling problem existed on the specific rink we had been told was reserved for us. Another team from our league was also there getting ready to practice. Now, in the grand scheme of things, this type of “conflict” isn’t a big deal right? I mean, keeping in mind the purpose of the exercise, the focus on the kids, how hard could it be to resolve the issue? I mean, even the 7 year old boys could suggest a proposed solution- split the ice.

So when the other assistant coach and I approached the coach from the other team, one would think that given reasonable minds a resolution could be achieved quickly. Instead, this coach, decided in less than 3 seconds, that his team was more important than ours, and that there was NO WAY his team wasn’t going to practice as scheduled. He looked at us and said, without batting an eye, oh no, my team is practicing, we have a playoff game tomorrow. He turned away, walked in to his locker room and slammed the door.

He did this in front of his players, his players parents, our players and our players parents. I mean isn’t this the guy you want to leave your kids with to teach life lessons? This guy had his priorities completely out of whack. Trying to talk to him was like trying to reason with a baby. It didn’t matter that we tried to tell him that he wasn’t in the wrong. It didn’t matter that we suggested that our association double booked the ice. The coach on multiple occasions actually wanted to fight over the ice! Can you imagine that this guy is allowed 10 seconds with the youth of today? In less than 30 seconds he decided that we were wrong and that his team was more important than his.

Finally, he asked us, what exactly we would suggest as a compromise. When we suggested something novel I guess, i mean a really innovative idea called SHARING the ice; splitting it in half, his response was, “that’s really tough to do”! Have you ever heard anything more inane? Unless his kids are lining up for the provincial championship that will decide their entire fate, no 1 practice can be that important to a group of under 10 year olds! I mean who was this guy at the rink for, his kids or his own ego? If this is as freaked as he gets about something so stupid as this, how does he react on the bench when a kid, i don’t know, scores on his own net (you know kids sometimes do that)?

Thankfully, the parents on his team, who were watching this all unfold, were able to speak some sense into this guy. The damage, was already done. While someone was talking to him on his team, we told our kids to go home. It wasn’t really worth it. After about five minutes, we were waiting to make sure that no more of parents showed up, he approached and said that we could share his ice. This was after he showed us his blackberry with the email confirming his ice time. We tried to explain to him that we never questioned whether or not he was told he had the ice. We told him that weren’t made about the mix up. Shit, as they say, happens. We were mad that a fellow coach would act as immaturely has he had. The message appeared to be lost on him. it wasn’t until 5-10 minutes passed and some more folks from his team talked to him that he tried to apologize to us. The damage was, already done.

This is where the problems in hockey start. Within each organization is a person like this. It’s not that they don’t have the right credentials. They aren’t bad people per se. They just don’t see the big picture. They don’t understand that there lessons are being monitored by the kids they are coaching. Their words and actions have huge impacts on the kids. It really isn’t only about winning. Teaching kids how to win and how to lose is equally important.

Proof? I have tried to tell my kids that falling in sports isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When they first learned to skate or ski, I told them that when they fell it meant that they did so because they were trying really hard. In fact, not falling could at times be a sign that they weren’t trying hard enough. I have told my son that practice in hockey for him is more important than the games themselves. It is in these practices where he learns the most. Our coaching group talked up this practice as being important because it was on the eve of our last regular season game. So, as my son and I walked out of the arena, my son looked and me and said, “if we lose tomorrow dad, will it be because we didn’t practice tonight?” Our kids listen, they hear everything we say, even in jest or in passing. The next time you hear the question, whats wrong with hockey in this country, take a look inside the locker room of your nearest arena. I suggest that inside you will find someone coaching a team like I did tonight. That my friend is the problem, that is the evil face of youth hockey. That is where this lack of respect starts. If it is happening at this age, can you imagine how much worse it is as the kids get older?

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

There is always the debate when a goalie gets hammered when he is leaving the net, is he fair game, or does he live by different rules than all the other players.
Canadiens goalie Carey Price left the net to play the puck Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. No different than any other night, except for one thing. Cam Janssen of the Blues ran into Price, causing everyone in the hockey world to lose their minds.
Price then proceeded to try and fight Janssen, but a Habs defenceman wisely jumped in and saved the Price from damaging some of his most valued assets…his hands.
The fans love the goalie fights, but there are people who don’t like watching them, they are called management.
For a player who wears larger equipment than the rest of the players do, they’re given special treatment. Why?
The value to their teams? If they are such a large asset, management should tell the goalie, play the puck in and around the net, don’t venture too far out for one simple reason, what happened to Price on Wednesday.
After I watched the hit, I thought Price dropped his shoulder trying to hit Janssen back. If Price had gotten a hold of Janssen and dropped him, he would’ve been standing over top of him, admireing his work, like Manny Ramirez admires a moon shot.
If goalies want to play in the same area, make them play by the same rules.
Place the same interference rules on the goalies that the players have to comply with. Touch the puck, there is a risk you will get hit. After you release the puck, you can’t be hit like everyone else.
Goalies run interference all the time in games, especially in and around the net. They get away with murder with some of the stuff they pull in front of the net, a la Martin Brodeur on Sean Avery when everyone went crazy that Avery was blocking his view with his stick.
I don’t condone hitting goalies, because they face shots all night long. There are certain rules inside the crease with respect to players, so when the goalie leaves the safety of his crease, he should be governed by the rules that are in place for the players.
He wants to skate with the boys, you play by their rules.

28 games in, 11 and 17. 11 games from the top, yet only 1 game out of a playoff spot. 9 games from the bottom. 4 and 6 in their last 10. Losers of their past 2. The one thing that we have learned from our ice friends is that teams with new components can take a while to mesh. Michael Grange in the Globe and mail has a good article looking at the Toronto Raptors and the tipping point they are quickly approaching. Grange points out that, “Through 28 games the Raptors have been blown out nine times already. Their average margin of defeat is 16 points. ”

This, as it sits today isn’t a good basketball team. I who know nothing about basketball now that. Grange goes on to talk about the difficult schedule the Raptors have faced and the necessity to give them time to prove themselves- coach included.

Here’s the question I have Raptors fans. They have changed the coach, they have changed most of the parts. The result appears to be the same. Am I wrong? Does Bryan Colangelo get another shot at another coach? Does he get another shot at changing the deck chairs? The guy totally rebuilt the team this past offseason, to the delight of most who cover and root for the team. What are the 2 constants in this every changing franchise? Colangelo and Bosch. Really, what else am I missing? BC said that the best way to keep Bosh was to build a winner around him. So much for that plan, at least so far right? What’s the next option? Should Triano go? Those who cover the team have been very very polite. Those who go to the games have been very very loyal.

So, the season isn’t over yet. There is time to salvage things. What should BC do? What can be done? What does a fan think?

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Grange is here

Welcome back Viktor Stalberg. Get out the UVM cowbells, dust off the Charley Catamount mascot costume and get ready to root for Viktor as he re-dons the Blue and White. For those UVM fans out there like me, or those who like little TSM who root for Viktor simply because it shuts their father up here is what Viktor has been up to since he left town, I am mean moved further downtown:

19 games 8 goals 13 assists 21 points 18 PIM

Not too bad in the AHL. Let’s see how that translates to the big leagues.

Here’s hoping that Viktor continues to progress and that he is able to perform at the same levels he has in the past.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Now you see that wasn’t so hard was it. All it took to get this team rolling, just a little bit was the proverbial write off by Damien Cox. Since Damien Cox wrote the this team is really bad and that’s good because at least there is no hiding it anymore, the Buds have played respectable hockey. Now, Jolly Jonas mentioned the “P” word on the radio tonight and well that’s just plain silly. Let’s see this team play 500 the rest of the way and well, that would be one hell of an improvement from the start of the season.

We can’t get ahead of ourselves a small string of games with W’s or hard efforts is meaningless in the grand scheme of things if they are sustained and carried on long term. It would have been so much easier if Cox predicted horrible things for this team right from the get go no? I have to believe his playoff prediction jinxed the team don’t you?

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

So like their hockey brothers, the Toronto Raptors are in a tailspin. The Raps have lost their last 5 in a row, including an absolute spanking in Atlanta last night. So, 20 games in, roughly one quarter of the way, players are pointing fingers at their coach. So Raptors Fans, should the Raps dismiss Jay Triano?

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Going out West has never been easy for the Toronto Raptors. Playing back-to-back makes it even tougher. The Raptors started off strong last night against the Nuggets, but in the end Denver was too strong beating Toronto 130-112. There was absolutely no defence in this game. At half time the teams were tied 64-64 and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony had already scored over 20 points. Anthony ended with 32. Rookie DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with a career high 17 points and Chris Bosh picked up his seventh straight double-double. Hedo Turkoglu didn’t dress for this one as he’s dealing with a sore hip. Toronto is back at it again tonight and this time their opponents are the Utah Jazz (4-6). Utah hasn’t been all that spectacular this season, but they have beaten Toronto eight straight times. Guard Deron Williams should be back in the line up. So far this season Williams has averaged 20.8 points and 9.9 assists per game. He missed the last couple of games to be with his family while his daughter went through medical tests. A W tonight for the Raps would mean an end to a two-game slide, but more importantly erasing a losing streak against the Jazz that dates back to 2004.

Forge the whole “proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence” thing….Is it possible that our GM may suffer from a case of being to proud, stubborn and pigheaded?

Case #1:

“We shut down Vesa last year so he could get the medical attention he needed and come back fresh,” Burke said. “Obviously, things didn’t go like that. We know Vesa has not been great. But we also believe he is capable of being better. ”

Really? What is this belief in him being “capable” based upon? Is it possible that the adding of a new goalie guru who is of the belief that he can fix everything has led Burke to think that Toskala is “capable”? Would it mean that the guru isn’t a guru if Toskala remains a bust? I mean if Toskala is no better this year than he was last, why did get this goalie guru? We certainly could see certain people asking the question right? Will Burke be proud to admit it’s time to cut bait in net????

Case #2:

“We know Komisarek and Beauchemin aren’t playing up to expectations,” Burke said. “But does anyone really think it’s going to stay that way? We don’t. In fact, if July 1 came all over again, we’d do the exact same things.”

Hate to play devils advocate BUT- what if it only improves marginally? What if neither guy achieves up to expectations?? Then what??? I know, I know, I know, it’s only 7 games – but hey there isn’t anything else going on is there???!! I also know that Burke has provided the answer he has to- BUT- the he would do it all over again the same way does have to raise some eyebrows doesn’t it? Does this suggest a GM who is simply to stubborn to admit he made a mistake????? The good GM is the one who realizes he has made a mistake and moves on.

Case #3:

“Well, if I had known we’d be 0-6, I still would have done that trade,”

That one maybe the one that hurts the most. Again, we know what he has to say. The question is, is Burke too pigheaded to see the follies of his ways? If this move was a mistake (and I am not suggesting it was) can he admit it and undo it at all to the benefit of the team? Kessel hasn’t even played a game yet. The problem isn’t this years first round pick. I mean, Kessel for a first would be a fair deal. Kessel for a lottery pick may even be fair. The problem is next years first too. What if we are a non playoff team next year? What if we are a lottery team next year? Hello big problem. The question is the bravado. Is it a show, or is it genuine? Is he saying that which we know he has to or does he believe it too a fault??

By the way, is it me or is the pressure on Mr. Kessel going to be totally off the chart for him both to come back AND once he does come back???

As I said, I’m just asking questions on a night when I haven’t had Maple Leafs hockey to watch in what feels like eons.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

quotes from here and here

7 games does not a season make. 7 games may not even be enough for a trend. So Leaf fans, when does it? I mean at what point to your start to worry, or dare I say panic? Clearly the guru’s have told us now is not the right time, so when is the right time?

It seems to me that this week off should be exactly what the doctor ordered. A week of good hard practices where all the things the coaching staff need to work on can be addressed.

If the Leafs don’t show up in their first game back, then I think it’s time to be concerned. If they don’t have the jump, the fight in their game and just plainly get smoked then it would certainly seem to suggest that there is something amiss here with the Leafs.

That is not to suggest that win is a must in the next game. What is necessary is effort from the Leafs. Effort that hasn’t been there in the last several games. Effort that means an attempt to be first to the puck, to win the battles and compete. If that isn’t the case in the next couple of games then I think it is time to be very worried. If those things aren’t present then the coaching staff simply can’t reach this group.

Thoughts?

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Go Jonas Gustavsson is hurt. Joey McDonald is up and well, Vesa Toskala is The Man again… at least for now. I heard, I believe it was Mike Brophy, say today that he thinks the Maple Leafs fans actually are hoping that Toskala fails. If my ears didn’t deceive me that had to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Why would we want Toskala to fail? Right now, Toskala is the best we got. Gustavsson has never played at this level before. At least with Vesa we have a portion of his career where he played as an NHL starting goalie. Hell, if he played half as well last year as he did the year before the Maple Leafs may have made the playoffs last year. So while I think many of us are intrigued by what Jonas may be able to do, I think we are going to need him to stand on his head if we are going to be anywhere near a playoff team. The only way I see that changing is if either McDonald is the next coming of Johnny Bower or if Brian Burke pulls the rabbit out of the hat. The facts remain, Toskala is going to make 4m this year. This is the last year in his deal. So if Brian Burke can deal Toskala right now, save the 4m and have a competent goalie in McDonald or someone else…then why not try to get something for Toskala… The question is what if anything Burke could get for Toskala? I mean does it matter what Ferguson gave up for him????? Should what we are willing to take back be affected by what 2 GM’s ago paid for him??? I think not. As others have said, Burke didn’t bring McDonald in to play in the minors. He is here to spell Jonas.

It will be interesting to see how Toskala plays against the high flying Penguins on Saturday night. It is not totally incomprehensible that the Leafs could lose both of their next games. I am glad I am going to be away in the event that happens. 0-4 and 1 (which may as well be 0-5) could be enough to really set panic in. I will be in New York on Monday, curious to see where and how the Leafs do there.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia