Sandman

With the CHL seemingly on the verge of major realignment, I asked a few reporters to give their proposals. So far, I’ve gotten responses from Brad Fuqua of the Prescott Daily Courier and Todd Mavreles, the former Bees beat reporter and current Vipers guy for us, The Monitor.

Here’s Brad’s realignment:

NORTHERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

Colorado

Rapid City

Rocky Mountain

Wichita

Northeast Division

Mississippi

Oklahoma City

Tulsa

Youngstown

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division

Amarillo

Arizona

New Mexico

Odessa

Southeast Division

Bossier-Shreveport

Laredo

Rio Grande Valley

Texas

Based on the assumption that Austin and Corpus Christi do not put teams on the ice next season and with the addition of Rapid City, the Central Hockey League should have 16 teams – a perfect split for the two-conference, four-division configuration. To come up with divisional alignments, I simply studied the location of the franchises expected to play.

The Northwest again includes the two teams out of Colorado along with Wichita and adds nearby Rapid City. The Northeast includes the easternmost teams – Youngstown and Mississppi and then adds Oklahoma City and Tulsa, a pair of teams from the eastern region of the Sooner state.

The Southwest would remain exactly the same with Amarillo, Arizona, New Mexico and Odessa. And the Southeast would feature the two remaining teams in southern Texas – Laredo and Rio Grande Valley – and group them with nearby Texas and Bossier-Shreveport.

Once again, thanks to Brad.

- I’ll just save you the trouble of reading mine, because it’s exactly the same as Brad’s. If this is the way the CHL will look next season, Paul Fixter is going to have to recruit as well as John Calipari or Bob Huggins to keep the Bees competitive. Geography dictates that three of the four conference finalists play in the Southeast next season, assuming this doesn’t come to pass. Even then, the CHL would need one five-team division, and it could be the Southeast.

- Here’s Todd’s take, which is a bit more dramatic:

Northern Conference

Northwest Division

Rocky Mountain

Colorado

New Mexico

Arizona

Northeast Division

Youngstown

Mississippi

Bossier-Shreveport

Rapid City

Southern Conference

Southwest Division

Oklahoma City

Tulsa

Wichita

Odessa

Southeast Division

Rio Grande Valley

Laredo

Texas

Amarillo

- You Know Who has updates a plenty on the Corpus situation.

For the third time, Adam Dunivan of the Loveland (Co.) Reporter-Herald has submitted to a grueling Q&A. Enjoy.

1. How much will the Eagles miss the suspended Greg Pankewicz for the first two games?

Well, I think that question was answered in Game 7 of the last series, which the Eagles had the season on the line and won without him. At least this time, the worst that could happen is they go down 2-0 and have to win four of five. But yes, Panks’ absence on the road will be a huge void in the lineup. The lines were pretty steady up until his (and Jay Birnie’s) suspension, and I don’t know if Fraser Filipic can produce back-to-back-TO-BACK two-assist nights. He’s trying to make up for his mistake by being the vocal leader during practice, and I think he’s doing all he can to keep involved until he can get back in a game.

2. What is your opinion of his suspension?

Wayne Bonney was showing the Eagles PR staff the stills of the action when I walked in to the press box before Game 7. There is one shot where Pankewicz has his skate parallel to the ice as he’s rolling over when the linesman was standing over him, and his foot is clearly moving toward him. With no clear video of the entire action, it’s no wonder it took seven hours to make a decision. Obviously, it wasn’t deliberate. Is it valid for the league to believe that, in the heat of the moment, one of its linesman was essentially threatened with abuse? Sure, it was. I think the suspension was fair.

3. Would the Eagles have preferred to play Arizona or Laredo? And which would have been a better matchup for the defending champs?

I think they would have liked to see Laredo again. They feel they have the Bucks in their hip pocket, so to speak. But, they’ve seen Arizona eight times this year, and have beat them the last four. That includes a pair of games at Tim’s Toyota Center way back in February. They are comfortable playing an offense-minded team, because they believe they have just as much firepower through three lines.

4. Why will the Eagles win the series?

The Eagles have a better defense to go along with how Sebastien Laplante has stuck it out for the entire playoffs. Laplante has proven to be a level-headed individual, and his instincts seem to be pretty good, too. The Eagles also have a captain-like player on every line, not to mention Brad Williamson back on D. Essentially they have a proven leader out there on the ice at all times. There’s a lot of experience there, and from what I’ve seen in the playoffs, tons of desire.

5. Why won’t the Eagles win the series?

If they continue to take ridiculous amounts of unwarranted penalties, they’re going to be handing the trophy to the ‘Dogs. Forget the fact Arizona’s PP hit at just 10 percent against Laredo; The Eagles need to play more disciplined than they did against both Youngstown and Texas. That might be easier to do when you’re playing a team that just isn’t as physical as those other two squads.

6. What’s your prediction for the series?

I’m going to stick with what I gave for Greg Rajan’s blog and take the Eagles in six games. I think the Eagles can get one of the first two, and there’s no way they get blasted at home. For the first time, Colorado hoists a Cup in front of opposing fans. That’s just my humble opinion.

-Thanks again to Adam for playing along. My take on the series is coming later today.

We’re one day away from the 2008 Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals between the Arizona Sundogs and Colorado Eagles. And, as we’ve been doing during the playoffs, here’s another Reporter Q&A.

Thanks again to Sundogs beat writer Brad Fuqua of the Prescott (Ariz.) Daily Courier for playing along.

1. How the heck did Marco Pietroniro get the Sundogs to recover from that Game 6 spanking in time to win Game 7?

I’m sure Pietroniro had a hand in the team playing better but I think it just came down to the players responding with their backs to the wall. Veterans like Dan Laperriere and Chris Bartolone and the younger team leaders like Alex Leavitt and Cory Urquhart seem to take control of the room when the need arises. When the team struggled for a stretch from January into February, players-only meetings were not uncommon. Certainly, the coach’s style and objectives are a factor but a lot of the guys on the team seem to need that extra push from their colleagues to get the job done.

2. What does the Finals berth mean to this franchise?

Naturally, it’s a great thing for the organization to reach the finals in just its second year. But you know, I don’t think anyone is really surprised. This is a confident group of coaches and players who have experienced great success in their own careers. From the first training camp preceding the inaugural season, I’m sure someone muttered the words, “President’s Cup” during interviews. If not for injuries and other unfortunate circumstances, the Sundogs might’ve been in the running last year. So, making the finals means a lot but the true goal will not be reached unless they win the cup.

3. So, who’s the No. 1 goalie? Both Marco Emond and Robert McVicar have pretty good arguments.

True, they both have good arguments. I think Pietroniro really likes his options in net. On the one hand, he’s got Emond who won a championship ring last season with the Eagles and knows his former teammates of two years very well. On the other hand, he’s got McVicar, a goalie that has won 13 of his last 14 decisions (dating back to the regular season). Since Pietroniro went with McVicar in net for Game 7 of the Laredo series, I guess I’d give him the slight edge for No. 1 goalie.

4. Why will the Sundogs win this series?

The Sundogs will win this series by taking the first two at home and then stealing one during the three-game set in Colorado. Arizona’s offense was by far the best in the league this season and with the addition of Tyler Redenbach, that’s too much firepower for any defense to completely contain. The Sundogs struggled on the power play against the Bucks but they had good numbers this season against the Eagles. That could be the whole series right there – the team that converts on the man-advantage will win.

5. Why will the Sundogs lose this series?

Arizona could struggle if its younger lineup cannot perform under pressure. Colorado has the advantage when it comes to experience and playing together. Something like 15 players returned from last year’s championship team and that will play a role. The biggest factor could come down to goalie Sebastien Laplante. He has three shutouts in the playoffs and unless the Sundogs can figure him out, it could be a short series in favor of the Eagles.

6. What’s your prediction for this series?

I’m going with the Sundogs in seven games. I believe this is a team of destiny. First, New Mexico sees its top player, Konrad Reeder, get suspended from Game 6. I don’t know if his presence would’ve changed the outcome but Reeder always plays well against Arizona and his absence was a key. Then against Laredo, the Sundogs find a way to pick themselves up off the ice after losing Game 6 by seven goals. Nobody outside Prescott Valley gave them a chance. But somehow they responded to beat the four-time Southern Conference champions in front of their own stunned fans. Colorado and Laredo both won championships in their second seasons in the CHL. I think it’s Arizona’s turn to pull off the same feat.

- Once again, thanks to Brad for playing along. I’m expecting one more Q&A before tomorrow night.

- The CHL announced the on-ice officiating crew for the Finals. Let me be the first to say that Mark Lemelin better let them play.

- You Know Who has an update on the state of the Corpus Christi Rayz. In my opinion, when it comes to situations like these, no news is bad news.

I had a conversation with someone I trust about this, and this person doesn’t think the Rayz are coming back. He pointed to this news as proof (scroll down to the fourth entry), saying that when teams start dumping front office people, it’s a bad sign.

Hope he’s wrong.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This Q&A was conducted before the Colorado Eagles took a 1-0 lead over Texas in the Northern Conference finals.

Here’s my latest Q&A with my main man Adam Dunivan of the Loveland (Co.) Reporter-Herald.

1. How did the Eagles react to Texas sweeping Bossier-Shreveport?

I think the Eagles as a team are glad to be playing Texas, and not just because of the home ice. The Brahmas aren’t as stingy on defense, and the Eagles love to play the open-ice game even if it means getting burned every once in a while. There’s no doubt Colorado didn’t want to play a team that was going to drag down the tempo.

2. Were you surprised at how easily the Eagles dispatched Youngstown?

Personally, I was very surprised. The Eagles that played the first round of the playoffs were not the Eagles that I saw over the course of the second half of the regular season. The puck movement was amazing, stick on stick, and they weren’t trying to be too fancy. There were some ill-advised penalties taken — and that’s not going to change — but the Eagles played their smartest hockey of the season overall. Oh, and they had Sebastien Laplante.

3. Just what is it about this team that allows it to turn it up a notch during the playoffs?

Well, since I’ve not seen the team prior to this season, this one’s hard to answer. But I suppose experience tells the story. Colorado has 17 players on the roster with professional playoff game experience, and most of those guys have played under Chris Stewart’s systems for a couple years. Oh, and they have Sebastien Laplante.

4. Why will the the Eagles beat Texas?

I’ve heard more than once from different players just how much they are feeding off Laplante’s play in goal. There is an added element of being able to take more risks when you have confidence in your netminder, and as long as they have that chemistry I don’t see any reason the Brahmas have a chance.

5. Why won’t the Eagles beat Texas?

Texas has played with its back against the wall before this season and has met that with success. If the Brahmas can pick up their intensity, which was obviously lacking in Game 1, they will provide a stiff physical opponent that can get some pucks in the net. I know Dan Wildfong will write it off as just an excuse, but not playing a rival-type team after playing Bossier-Shreveport might have drained some of the energy. I don’t anticipate on that lasting very long.

6. You predicted that Bossier-Shreveport would beat the Eagles in the conference finals. (I did too.) Now that Bossier is done for the year, what is your new prediction for the Northern Conference finals?

I have to reverse my pick and take the Eagles based on what I’ve seen in the six playoff games, and I’ll take them in six. Texas wins Games 3 and 5, while Colorado wins Game 4 in overtime and finishes things off with a win in front of the home crowd in Game 6.

- Thanks to Adam, who seems to like Sebastien Laplante.

Once again, thanks to Greg Rajan of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times (otherwise known as You Know Who) for playing along. Since the Corpus Christi Rayz are at the same point of the season as the Bees, I asked You Know Who about the playoffs as a whole, not just about one team. Enjoy…

(My Q&A with Brad Fuqua of the Prescott (Az.) Daily Courier is available here.)

1. Was Texas beating Bossier-Shreveport really that much of a surprise?

I think it was a surprise given how Shreveport seemed to dominate the regular season with that 24-game unbeaten streak at one point. Plus, all the talk out of there all season was how this Mudbugs team was going to be different come playoffs and they pretty much laid an egg like in past years. That said, regular-season records can be thrown out the window come playoffs because playing a team once every couple weeks hardly compares to a seven-game series over two weeks when weaknesses can be found and matchups exploited.

2. Were there any other surprises in the conference semifinals?

I was surprised Laredo swept Odessa in such a resounding manner. I figured home ice would net the Jackalopes at least one win. And I thought Youngstown would extend Colorado into a longer series than five games based on their series at the end of the regular season. But since I was seemingly the only media type on the Eagles’ bandwagon from the start, maybe that Colorado-Youngstown series wasn’t a surprise.

3: Why can Texas or Arizona save us from another Laredo-Colorado final?

Texas could do it because of David Cacciola. He stonewalled Colorado in the 2006 North finals when he was in Shreveport, albeit that was a better, deeper team than this Texas outfit. Arizona could do it if they could get their defensive play to match their offense. That’s a big if, though.

4. Why can’t Texas or Arizona save us from another Laredo-Colorado final?

I don’t think Texas has the depth to beat Colorado in a seven-game series. Beating Shreveport is one thing and Dan Wildfong and some of those ex-Mudbugs had a lot of insight into the opponent. The Eagles are a different breed of cat. Arizona just doesn’t have the defense or goaltending to hang with Laredo. If you give up 4.5 goals a game against New Mexico, that doesn’t bode well against the kind of firepower Laredo can put out there. Plus, the Bucks’ defense is so good that I don’t think the Sundogs will be potting six to eight goals a night.

5. Just how bad would it be for the league to have another Laredo-Colorado final? Or, is it a good thing?

I don’t think it’s a good thing for any league when the same three teams have been in the finals for five straight years. Even in baseball, where the Yankees spend a gazillion dollars on payroll, they haven’t won the World Series since 2000 and haven’t been in one since 2003. And in the NHL, nobody’s repeated since Detroit in 1997-98 or been in the finals for consecutive years since New Jersey in 2000-01. I really think with the way the CHL has gone in recent years, a lot of fans tune out come finals time because they know they’re getting the same old, same old with Laredo and Colorado (or Shreveport).

6. Who wins each conference final, and why?

Laredo wins the South because they have better defense and more reliable goaltending than Arizona. I expect the Bucks to take that series in five games. They’ve never really been challenged in the South finals but once (Amarillo in 2004) in the past four years. I don’t expect that to change. In the North, I’ll go with Colorado in five. Home-ice advantage is huge for the Eagles in that series and I think they’ll roll after taking the first two on their ice.

- Thanks again to Greg. I’m expecting at least one more Q&A by the end of the weekend.

Many thanks to Brad Fuqua of the Prescott (Az.) Daily Courier for playing along. Here’s the first of two Q&As today. Enjoy.

1. Just how much did the New Mexico series take out of the Sundogs?

It was definitely a draining series with the ongoing rivalry between  the two franchises. The Scorpions are one of the hardest-working teams around and if Konrad Reeder would’ve been available for Game 6, the series just might’ve gone the full seven games. Arizona got a couple days off after the series before resuming practice on Thursday and Friday. The break is good especially with the flu bug going around. Laredo had an even longer layoff but that doesn’t necessarily play in the Bucks’ favor.

2. What did we learn about the Sundogs that we didn’t know before the playoffs?

This is difficult to answer because Arizona pretty much followed the same formula that we saw during the regular season. The Sundogs were still No. 1 on the power play and kept up a torrid pace on the offensive, seemingly scoring goals at will when the need presented itself. If I had to identify one area, I would say better defense. David Schlemko re-joined the team from the AHL, college newcomer Kyle Hood has been a positive impact and veterans Dan Laperriere and Chris Bartolone are chomping at the bit to get the Cup.

3. Does this team play enough defense to stop the Bucks?

This carries over to the previous question but I believe Arizona can rise to the occasion. The Sundogs score so many goals at times that I think the defense loses focus. When pushed to perform, Arizona has the talent to get the job done. Obviously, players like Jeff Bes, Adam Rivet and Chris Stanley will provide a stiff test. The Sundogs have a tendency to give up goals within minutes or even seconds after scoring themselves. They will need to clamp down after scoring and keep the Bucks from taking advantage in transition.

4. Why will the Sundogs win this series?

Too much offense. Arizona has so many weapons that it must cause sleepless nights for opposing coaches. And with the prospect of Tyler Redenbach rejoining the lineup, it’s going to become even more lethal. Cory Urquhart has scored a goal in 16 straight games. Alex Leavitt was the point-scoring champion. In the playoffs, this pair has 31 combined points. Others like Mark Kolanos, Karl Sellan, Tyler Liebel, Mike Rymsha and Jason Visser are all capable. Arizona will do what it takes defensively, dazzle with its talented offensive lineup and issue the death blow on the power play.

5. Why won’t the Sundogs win this series?

If Laredo is to knock out Arizona, the Bucks will obviously need to continue their great start to the postseason. The Bucks appeared to struggle a bit down the stretch run, including a lack of points from Bes. The No. 1 thing that Laredo must do to beat Arizona is stay out of the penalty box to keep the Sundogs off the power play. But even then, the Bucks must play the full 60 minutes and not let down their guard, otherwise, the Arizona offense will strike. If the Sundogs are unable to put up power play numbers, have trouble with Laredo’s capable defense and commit stupid penalties, the season could be over.

6. What is your prediction?

After covering the Sundogs since day one, I can honestly say that I’ve never seen the team play this well. The roster seems to have the perfect mix of veteran influence and talented youngsters to carry this club to the promised land. Laredo took three of four from Arizona during the regular season (twice on shootouts) but the Sundogs have a much different roster. I’ll take the Sundogs in six games.

-Thanks again to Brad, although I disagree with his pick. I’m taking Laredo in six.

Stay tuned, because another Q&A is coming.

Adam Dunivan of the Loveland Reporter-Herald has graciously responded to my questions about the Colorado Eagles. The Eagles lead Youngstown 2-0 in a Northern Conference semi. Thanks again to Adam.

Q: How did the Eagles almost allow the Rage to sneak back into the playoffs?

I think they played with complacency and thought everything would just work out for them. They had faith in the Rage choking away, and there was a lack of tenaciousness at the end of their games in Youngstown as a result. You have to give credit to Y-town too, because it was fighting for its own playoff life but also fighting to make a statement against two of the best teams in the league ending the season.

Q: Should that finish worry Eagles fans? (Or encourage Eagles haters?)

The way the Eagles finished on the road for the season is what should worry them. They finished with eight less wins on the road than in any of their prior seasons, and that is saying a lot. I certainly can’t answer as to why they’ve not had that success away from home this year, but only having home ice for one series does not bode well.

Q: What is Chris Stewart’s biggest worry about his team?

In terms of talent, Stewart has no worries. He built the team himself, and obviously has confidence in his own decisions. For Stewart, it’s all about effort and making the right decisions with personnel. He blames himself a lot when things go wrong. He didn’t bring any amateurs, nor an emergency goaltender, because he feels he has the right mix.

Q: Why will the Eagles win the Cup?

They have a good mix of guys who have played the past three years with this team and know what Stewart expects this time of year. At the same time, the team has a few players who are extremely eager to get farther than they ever have before.

Q: Why won’t the Eagles win the Cup?

I’ve said this time and time again, they’ve not shown any consistency in the time that I’ve covered them. They give up too many leads and have not come back when they have been down often enough. Of course, they did that in Game 1, so to say they can’t rally is not true.

Q: What is your prediction for the Eagles?

I’m going to say they win the first round, but lose to Bossier-Shreveport in the conference finals in six games. The goaltending display in that series should be pretty phenomenal, though.

Thanks to Adam for playing along.

Roy Lang of the Shreveport Times has already responded to my questions about the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Here’s the first Reporter Q&A:

Q: What makes the Mudbugs such a great defensive team?

Certainly this has been a yearly debate. Is it the goaltending? Is it a solid, yet underappreciated D-corps? This season it has been a combination of both.

Netminder John DeCaro has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. Obviously, the records speak for themselves. He’s incredibly smooth and unflappable. The only thing keeping him from a higher level is the lack of a contract with an NHL team. There is just no room in the AHL for non-contract goaltenders.

Ken Carroll had one of the best seasons in his storied career. Only a couple late losses left him without record numbers, too.

The blue liners have been terrific this season. Jason Basile, Quade Lightbody, Dale Lupul and Ryan Fairbarn — you don’t hear a lot about them, but that’s generally because they don’t turn the puck over and quietly go about their business.

Q: How are the Mudbugs dealing with the pressure of being both the top seed, and a team with a history of underachievement in the playoffs?

The good news: Most of the current Mudbugs were not affiliated with a lot of the postseason disappointment. Scott Muscutt has taken a different approach this season. Gone is the grinder line that’s symbolized the Mudbugs in recent campaigns. Muscutt now has three scoring lines — evident by the massive amount of 20-goal scorers this season.

Q: What is Scott Muscutt’s biggest worry about his team?

The Mudbugs really didn’t have anything to play for over the final month of the season. Will the rest he gave many of the top players indeed be the correct move or will the layoffs leave the Bugs out-of-sync in the dangerous early rounds?

Q: Why will the Mudbugs win the Cup?

Defense and discipline. The Mudbugs set a boatload of all-time CHL records this season for a reason: They take care of their own end unlike any other team in the league. The addition of a third scoring line takes the pressure off the top guns in the postseason.

John DeCaro — The Mudbugs have the best goaltender in the league. In hockey, that can single-handedly win you a Cup.

Q: Why won’t the Mudbugs win the Cup?

The Texas Brahmas. The biggest obstacle for the Mudbugs lies in the first round. Texas played the Mudbugs better than any other team in the CHL. I’m not saying the Brahmas are the second-best team in the league, they just play Bossier-Shreveport the best.

If the Mudbugs get past Texas, it will be a catapult to a title. The other playoff teams don’t match up as well as the Brahmas do.

Of course injuries to goaltenders could be a wild-card here.

Q: What is your prediction for the Mudbugs?

The postseason disappointment over the past 7 years dies with the Mudbugs raising their first Central Hockey League President’s Cup.

 Thanks again to Roy Lang for his cooperation.