February 27, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
It’s all about the numbers.
So the story was inevitable.
Fans of former franchises of the American Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League in Newmarket might have rolled their eyes this week when a Toronto Star article revealed attendance figures for the Toronto Marlies were not up to the expectations of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
The former St. John’s Maple Leafs-Newmarket Saints-St. Catharines Saints reported an average attendance of 4,467, a figure neither of the former high-profile hockey teams that called Newmarket home would surely have been proud to claim.
The real downside, one suspects, is that those numbers rank the Marlies 18th among 27 AHL teams.
MLSE expectations for average crowds of 6,000 per night seemed ambitious in a one-horse hockey town. Maple Leafs fans are so narrowly focused on their heroes, you know the club’s roster could be filled with a bunch of the most miserable, law-breaking individuals guilty of the most heinous of crimes, but easily to be forgiven on game night.
As we know from experience with the Saints and the Royals in Newmarket, papering the house, or fudging the numbers, is standard practice and designed to fit the current marketing needs.
The Marlies owners — Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment — may only be sniffling now because those numbers actually have been stretched for the sake of appearances.
We suspect this because when the Saints and Royals were both fresh on the local scene and eager to attract a fan base, attendance numbers were inflated to provide a feeling that the rink was the place to be on game nights.
Even from the beginning in the case of the Royals, the OHL claimed it could or would not publish attendance results of individual teams.
That’s a lesson from the Marketing 101 textbook.
In the Marlies' case, it’s reasonable to guess that figure of 4,465 includes plenty of freebies, discounts and no-shows.
When the Maple Leafs started to eye St. John’s as a prospective home, and later the Ciccarelli brothers bought the Royals with the sole intention to move the franchise to Sarnia, the numbers were either presented as brutally accurate — some would argue even deflated — in order to arm ownership with an argument of non-support for the local citizenry.
That’s from the pages of Marketing 102.
Given its track record so far, it is fair to wonder what angle MLSE might be playing. Would it really be a surprise to discover they are setting someone up for a handout?
At any rate, when it comes to attendance figures, it’s always best to be wary — numbers don’t always tell the entire story.
February 18, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
When it comes to possessing integrity and honour, National Hockey League team owners have no reason to be smug.
For they possess little of either quality.
Gasp! An owner of a sports team whose word is not to be trusted? Pssssshaw. Just ask the NHL players association for character references.
Too bad someone didn’t take IIHF president Rene Fasel aside and mention how selfish NHL owners can be, thinking themselves bigger than even the Olympics. Like many of us, poor ol’ Rene must be scratching his head wondering how it is that players have been dropping like flies with various tweaks and twitches as the men’s hockey tournament approaches.
When owners agreed to player participation in the Turin Olympics as part of their most recent collective bargaining agreement, hands up among us who could not see how players might start pulling out due to injuries — nagging, phantom and otherwise — as the Games approached.
Sure enough, some 20 would-be stars are not going to be representing their countries for the tournament that starts this week. Surely, some are injured. A few are nursing minor hurts. And, no doubt, even a few plan to be hurt real soon if they have to play in the Games. Just ask their owners.
One has to know some of these players are not going to be in Turin because they are following orders of the bosses who sign their paychecks to not play. A player must have an allegiance to his regular job, that is true.
But one must agree with Fasel who wonders aloud how the NHL can be so shortsighted as to miss out on what might just be the best marketing tool it ever is handed on a platter by not permitting the best players to promote the sport on the world’s greatest sports stage.
If the owners were at all interested in the long-term future of the sport, many of those players might be in Turin. As it stands, long-term in the eyes of the owners is this season’s playoffs, which start in early April.
In essence, the owners are all for betterment of the sport just so long as it doesn’t affect their day-to-day operations.
Another example of the quality character it requires to be a team owner. Is it any wonder players don’t trust these guys?
Is it any wonder bowling rivals hockey for television audiences in the United States?
February 13, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
What a way to start the Olympics.
The Turin Winter Games men’s hockey tournament is still a few days from the first exchange of angry slapshots, but already Team Canada has experienced an inordinate share of adversity.
Starting with the controversial appointment of Todd Bertuzzi to the roster several weeks ago and lukewarm play of several players, including goalies, a recent spate of injuries, particularly among defencemen, has added to the uncertainty.
If nothing, and, yes, other countries have their share of troubles, too, it is perhaps leveling the playing field but also displaying our tremendous hockey depth.
And now, as if Jose Theodore’s choice of hair care products isn’t enough, Wayne Gretzky finds himself entangled in a gambling web apparently operated by good friend and Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet and involving wife Janet and long-time pal and former agent, Mike Barnett, now a member of the Coyotes front office.
And, on top of it all, last we heard, Team Canada was still trying to figure out how to imbed money into the ice of the hockey rink, evidently this country’s sure-fire, can’t miss guarantee of victory.
All this and there is still one final weekend to get through without injury or incident before the team departs for Italy.
What else could possibly go wrong?
It’s almost as if some other force, say the United States, Russia or Finland, perhaps, is behind all this intrigue. Possibly the Swedes or Czechs. Hmmmm.
Good teams almost always face adversity, to some degree, on their way to championships. Why should this Team Canada be any different?
So far, there has been enough to win at least a couple of gold medals.
Then again, all the tough times and obstacles to be overcome aside, success at the Olympics inevitably comes down to one day, one game.
And likely the friendly bounce of a puck.
February 10, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
It will be interesting to see how Hockey Canada rules this spring on the controversial issue of when to introduce bodychecking in minor hockey.
Clearly it is an emotional issue with folks on both sides putting forth valid arguments as to when bodychecking should be introduced to the minor hockey landscape.
At present, bodychecking is part of the game in the Ontario Hockey Federation starting at the minor atom level, or the age of nine. In other parts of Canada, bodychecking comes into play at the ages of 11 or 13.
Years ago, prior to the introduction of the current OHF three-year pilot project to determine the relationship between bodychecking and injuries, bodychecking was introduced to the game at the peewee levels.
The pilot project is now in its seventh season.
Even before that, though, kids grew up from the very early days of organized minor hockey with bodychecking not even questioned. It was simply accepted as part of the game.
Many parents whose kids lived through that period are sure to recall the early stages of a peewee season as being a version of hockey in which no puck was required as many players exerted their energies chasing opponents around the ice looking for a bodycheck.
Bodychecking can be used as an intimidating force. So can skating fast and shooting a puck at a high velocity.
Advocates argue it is a tool is taught in order to be used by players as a tactic to gain possession of the puck by taking the puck from an opponent. And isn’t the goal of hockey to possess the puck? Hey, the other team can’t score without the puck, right?
They argue, too, that learning this skill at an early age when children are similarly sized will best prepare players for later years when bodychecking is an accepted part of the game.
Opponents suggest minor hockey puts children at risk of injury in a game which is supposed to be safe and fun. They also point out only a small percentage of all children playing hockey will ever need to acquire the skill.
One thing ought to be cleared up once and for all. That is, the perception that the Ontario Hockey Federation is the fall guy in this issue.
The OHF, which governs much of minor hockey in Ontario, is not making the ultimate decision as to if, when and how bodychecking is introduced to the game. It is merely the vessel carrying the results of seven year’s of research to Hockey Canada.
February 09, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Forgive the Aurora Tigers and Newmarket Hurricanes if they should come out of the gates a little less than stoked about the opening round of the Provincial Jr. A Hockey League playoffs.
And while we’re at it, if someone could again jog our memories as to why 32 of 36 teams get to participate in the playoffs, please do.
Qualify might be a word some observers would deem too strong for how the Bancroft Hawks made it to the playoff party, which starts tonight at various outposts.
Ninth in the East Conference with 11 wins and 25 points in 49 games, Bancroft somehow gets to play in the North Conference after winning the annual crawl to the playoffs. Their reward is a date with the Aurora Tigers, winners of a fourth straight regular season division title and presently sharpening their claws for a quick maul.
The best-of-seven series begins with games in Aurora Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2:30 p.m.)
The Hawks were officially granted acceptance as the second wild card to join the North Conference bash because the sector has only seven teams — six qualifiers, plus two wild cards. Despite good standing in the north, the Huntsville Otters officially occupy the No. 7 hole as a wild card and gained a date with the second-place Hurricanes.
The Blues-Hawks non-race for post-season inclusion was particularly turtle-esque.
As of the Dec. 12 league standings, Bramalea and Bancroft were neck-and-neck at 20 points. The Hawks grabbed the upper hand that week and have held firm in the month since, matching the Blues point-for-point in the interim for a 25-23 victory. That total is 51 points behind the Tigers.
The Blues, in fact, had a chance to force a single-game playoff between the teams with a win Tuesday against the Burlington Cougars. Not surprisingly, they lost.
“No matter what, you have to play to your strengths,” said Tigers head coach Jerome Dupont, when asked about preparing for the Hawks. Let’s assume he said it with a straight face.
The Hurricanes, for their opening series, will tackle the Huntsville Otters, a team whose number they held all season with a sweep of the five-game series and 39-12 edge in scoring.
With a dozen wins, the Otters finished merely 36 points in arrears of the Hurricanes. The Otters did, however, accumulate the most penalty minutes league-wide by far this season, so there’s a chance the series will produce fireworks or at least a tutorial in power play activity.
For the Hurricanes, stamina gets a test right off the bat. The club dives right into the playoffs tonight (7:35 p.m.) and again tomorrow at Huntsville after playing their 49th regular season game last night at Couchiching.
Sure, the series start off tied at zero, but don’t expect any upsets.
Leaky’s Fund
Talk about a rousing start.
The Sylvia Claydon Memorial Fund is off and running thanks to a night dedicated to the cause by the Newmarket Hurricanes in their regular season home finale last Thursday night.
In all, the evening in memory of the Newmarket resident and Central York Girls Hockey Association peewee coach, who passed away in December, generated $21,250. Included in that sum were contributions from all Hurricanes income for the night, minus game costs, a $5,000 donation from Mayor Tom Taylor via his golf fund and several income sources including sales of wrist bands and roses, a silent auction and funds raised by a Grade 6 class at Pickering College.
“This was the Newmarket Hurricanes saying we wanted to do something for the community and give the community an opportunity to get involved,” said Hurricanes co-owner Anthony Pietramala.
Nicely done.
Fleeting success
Merely one full season removed from being the first Newmarket Baseball Association team to win the prestigious CNE peewee tournament title in 49 years of trying, the same Newmarket Hawks team is scrambling to find players at the bantam level for the 2006 season.
That’s how quickly things can turn upside down in the world of children’s sports.
The team lost its coach over an internal dispute with the association and then several players departed to try their hand with a variety of alternate and club programs.
Mark Cotgrave is attempting to keep the team alive. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at 905-895-6881.
February 09, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
It is testament to the impact one person’s life can have on others when the hometown junior hockey team dedicates a game night to that individual’s memory.
It certainly is a rare occasion when this happens, unprecedented, in fact, for the Hurricanes in their existence going on two decades. Although it is possible shady memory at this keyboard may prevent recollection of other teams locally doing so over the years.
Such significance is to be recognized this evening when the Newmarket Hurricanes and Seguin Bruins clash at the Ray Twinney Complex in a Provincial Jr. A Hockey League contest.
Aside from putting finishing touches on yet another a second-place finish in the North Conference standings, it would simply be one more night — the final home game for the Hurricanes, in fact — to check off the regular season schedule.
The contest takes on added importance, however, for the recognition it will bring to the Sylvia Claydon Memorial Fund, a foundation set up in memory of the Newmarket resident who died suddenly Dec. 21. She was 44.
Among the beneficiaries of the fund is the Central York Girls Hockey Association, where Ms Claydon served for five seasons as coach and trainer.
Her daughters, Kristin and Kelsey, play in the organization, which figures to be well-represented in the stands this evening by the membership of 640 and their families.
Those who knew Ms Claydon, a coach for the Aurora Panthers peewee A team at the time of her death, value the impact she had on others.
“She was the most positive and influential person I have ever met,” said close friend Kate Lewis, a teammate in a women’s three-on-three hockey league, who initially encountered her as an opponent on the softball field years ago. “There are so many people left behind who are better people as a result of meeting Sylvia Claydon.
“Sylvia touched so many people and always made you feel good. She made you feel important, special. She always had a smile. She always had time for everybody else.”
The league in which Ms Claydon played in Newmarket for 11 seasons is introducing an award for its most influential player, a fitting salute to her character.
‘Leaky’, as she was known to friends making a play on her maiden name, Lycklama, would be smiling knowing the proceeds are going to the girls’ hockey program to assist in helping players experience and expand their roles in the sport. In addition to tickets sales, there will be a silent auction and wrist band sales sporting her catch-phrase, “Life Is Good”.
“Sylvia always wanted to see more girls involved in coaching, refereeing and even to get the opportunity to play hockey, whether they could afford it or not,” said Rick Smith, vice-president of the Panthers, the girls’ rep program. “You can be sure there will be a sea of blue sweaters in our section.”
In addition to a golf tournament in June, National Training Rinks in Newmarket will operate a girls hockey camp in her memory this summer.
Ruling the roost
Something has to give — on both sides, in the event of a tie — when the Aurora Tigers host the Hurricanes tomorrow night on the final weekend of the regular season.
Both teams will be shooting for the final notch on their shooting irons in terms of claiming series wins against all opponents in the North Conference. In the case of each team, series wins over the conference’s other five teams are already assured.
At the moment, the arch-rivals are square at two wins each in the five-game regular season.
Game time at the Aurora Community Centre is 7:30 p.m.
Reaching 30, again
Not to be overlooked is the remarkable achievement of the Hurricanes franchise for reaching 30 wins in a regular season for the eight consecutive season and the 11th time in 12 winters.
Try to name another franchise with such consistency that comes with 14 straight winning seasons.
“We went through a total rebuilding this season,” said head coach Jim Wells, whose team posted an 11-2 run in January, and has posted six straight wins. “Thirty wins was our goal and where we said we wanted to be. We set that target at the start of the season.”
The Tigers, who clinched their fourth consecutive regular season title last weekend by running their win streak to eight games, are playing for pride and preparedness for the playoffs, which they will open Feb. 10 against the highest finisher from among a group of teams including the Bancroft Hawks, Bramalea Blues or Oshawa Legionaires.
“It’s an accomplishment, but nothing to write home about,” said head coach Jerome Dupont of the first-place finish by his team, which reached the league semifinal last spring before falling in seven games to the Georgetown Raiders.
The Hurricanes, who complete the regular season Feb. 8, will open the following night, also at home.
Just Jawin’ ... The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team has lost four straight games and slipped from first to fourth in the NCAA rankings since netminder Brian Elliott suffered an injury during practice two weeks ago. The Newmarket resident is an early Hobey Baker candidate as the top player in U.S. college hockey.
February 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Recent Comments