It’s Another Top 10 Tuesday With Some Interesting Thoughts From the WHL Commish

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10 – The Lethbridge Hurricanes had to appear before Lethbridge City Council last night to address the community owned franchise’s performance on and perhaps more importantly off the ice. The team is being sued by a former Assistant Coach and has hit rock bottom with a number of their players asking for trades out of the South Western Alberta city this winter. With the lawsuit that has been filed as well as growing animosity in the city the once proud franchise is fighting a bit up hill battle.

9 – WHL Comissioner Ron Robison was in attendance at the meeting and answered a number of concerns from council one being the perceived disadvantages faced by small market teams. The Commish responded with, “no team has an economic advantage over another. The difference is in management.” I know of at least one team that would disagree.

8 – More from Mr. Robison and on the topic of the Portland Winterhawks who have gone from worst on the ice and a grave financial situation off of it, to a perennial contender and leader off of the ice, “Arguably (Portland is) a model franchise within out league.”  The arguably point would I’m guessing stem from the harshest league penalties for inappropriate player compensation that were handed out last season.

7 – More WHL news and here in Saskatoon the Blades continue their search for a General Manager and Head Coach. While many names are bouncing around the Bridge City the one thing that is for sure is that the search will intensify after this week’s Bantam Draft.

6 – Also on the agenda at the league meetings is the sales of the Regina Pats and Prince George Cougars. On the sale of the Pats I will be saddened to see Brent Parker leave. I have nothing but respect for the man who was more than fair with me with his time and comments. He is a very passionate man which can rub come the wrong way but in my experiences it will be different not to see him around a rink.

5 – More TSN and I could feel the TSN exectuives squirming when the Telus Cup Final went into Triple Overtime on Sunday. However, bug cudos for the network staying with the game. It would have been very easy and perhaps logical to switch to the NHL play-off game that was scheduled that night. However, go back to what got Dave Hodge fired from Hockey Night in Canada and his disgust from the network cutting away from a game in progress. Big props to TSN for staying with the Mintos.

4 – In that vein congratulations to the Mintos on the hard-fought victory and to Daktoa Boutin on netting the game winner in the 7th period.

3 – More hockey and how about Bruce Boudreau giving credit where it is due. After his Anaheim Ducks staged a late comeback by pulling his goaltender well prior to the norm he saluted Colorado’s Patrick Roy for starting the trend. To be honest it is hard to dispute the logic behind the move but you have to hand it to Roy for having the courage to do it.

2 – Back in the Bridge City congratulations to the Dakota Dunes Golf Links for landing a title sponsor from SIGA to ensure that their stop on the Canadian PGA tour will continue for another three years. If you haven’t been to the event it is a must for even the average golf enthusiast.

1 – Lastly, it will be great to be back on the grid iron. The Saskatoon Hilltops and University of Saskatchewan Huskies will hold their spring camps this weekend. Good luck to all of those battling for spots this weekend.

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