WestLEAFfan
09-19-2007, 07:34 AM
Playoffs the stated goal for Cats (0)
(Sports) Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 21:53 PST
by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
As the Prince George Cougars go from counting the days to ticking off hours until they open the 2007-08 Western Hockey League season, there seems to be little optimism from outsiders that another long playoff experience is in the cards.
Not so fast, say those on the inside.
This is a younger team, everyone agrees, and will need to find new sources of offence. The saving grace is having a top-level goaltender in Real Cyr and a deep, diverse blueline grouping that projects -- subject to potential injuries and pouting -- as one of the best in the league.
What is being forgotten about the task facing the Cougars is the WHL’s new playoff structure. No longer are first-round matchups, or playoff participants, determined by divisional standings, rather a conference setup has been adopted. The B.C. and U.S. divisions are now lumped into one group, the top eight of 10 making the playoffs.
In short, the Cougars have to finish ahead of two teams to make the second season. And with young, rebuilding clubs like Chilliwack, Portland, Tri-City and Kelowna in this conference, the Cats won’t be allowed to be satisfied with stopping play after 72 games.
“I know we’re not going to stand pat, that (general manager Dallas Thompson) is going to do what he can to improve the team,” said Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck, whose team starts the regular season Friday night at home against Spokane, the first of two in two nights.
“But I also know he’s not going to sacrifice the future to do it. We know what we’ve got, we’re going to work with that, and we’re not unlike three or four other teams in our conference that we’re younger this year.”
A poll of B.C.-based WHL writers has the Cougars pegged for the worst record in B.C., and that didn’t surprise Schoneck.
“The writers are looking at what we did last year and what we lost, and seeing that we have a lot of relative unknowns up front,” said the coach.
“I think our goaltending is as good as anyone’s in the league, and our back end can be as good as anyone if they’re playing the way they can. Up front we’re a much different hockey club -- are we a dead-last team in our division? I don’t think so, but that’s what the experts are calling it. It’s up to us to play like a team, stay healthy, and prove that wrong.”
The lay of the land indicates Thompson’s ability to retool will be tested more than ever before. Looking further down the road, the Cougars have to find a replacement for Cyr for next season, and the defence will be paper thin after Kalvin Sagert, Ty Wishart, Jesse Dudas and Patrik Magnusson graduate.
And even with all those spots to fill, the forward corps remains the biggest challenge because training camp did not yield an endless line of offensively-skilled prospects.
“We’re going to see how it plays out here,” said Thompson, who has been an active GM in trade terms since taking over the job in May of 2004 when Daryl Lubiniecki was named director of hockey operations.
“We’re young up front, which we knew we would be, and older and experienced in goal and on defence. We’ll see how things shake out in the conference -- we don’t have to worry about four teams anymore, we have to worry about nine. We’ll look at every angle.
“Our goal is to get into the playoffs, and with all the rookies we have I think it’s important to get them experience in the playoffs. We have leadership from those who went on the run last year.”
Cyr’s workload will be watched closely. It’s not unreasonable to wonder if the 20-year-old will play in 60 or more games this season. Rookie Joel Danyluk is the backup coming out of camp.
“Real’s going to see the lion’s share of games, and the backup, whether that’s Joel or someone else, will have to be ready to play 15 or 20 games,” said Schoneck. “We have to have someone get comfortable for the league for next year.”
The Cougars still have 25 players on the roster, and haven’t made a player move in nine days. Wishart (San Jose) and Dana Tyrell (Tampa Bay) remain away at NHL camps.
(Sports) Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 21:53 PST
by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
As the Prince George Cougars go from counting the days to ticking off hours until they open the 2007-08 Western Hockey League season, there seems to be little optimism from outsiders that another long playoff experience is in the cards.
Not so fast, say those on the inside.
This is a younger team, everyone agrees, and will need to find new sources of offence. The saving grace is having a top-level goaltender in Real Cyr and a deep, diverse blueline grouping that projects -- subject to potential injuries and pouting -- as one of the best in the league.
What is being forgotten about the task facing the Cougars is the WHL’s new playoff structure. No longer are first-round matchups, or playoff participants, determined by divisional standings, rather a conference setup has been adopted. The B.C. and U.S. divisions are now lumped into one group, the top eight of 10 making the playoffs.
In short, the Cougars have to finish ahead of two teams to make the second season. And with young, rebuilding clubs like Chilliwack, Portland, Tri-City and Kelowna in this conference, the Cats won’t be allowed to be satisfied with stopping play after 72 games.
“I know we’re not going to stand pat, that (general manager Dallas Thompson) is going to do what he can to improve the team,” said Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck, whose team starts the regular season Friday night at home against Spokane, the first of two in two nights.
“But I also know he’s not going to sacrifice the future to do it. We know what we’ve got, we’re going to work with that, and we’re not unlike three or four other teams in our conference that we’re younger this year.”
A poll of B.C.-based WHL writers has the Cougars pegged for the worst record in B.C., and that didn’t surprise Schoneck.
“The writers are looking at what we did last year and what we lost, and seeing that we have a lot of relative unknowns up front,” said the coach.
“I think our goaltending is as good as anyone’s in the league, and our back end can be as good as anyone if they’re playing the way they can. Up front we’re a much different hockey club -- are we a dead-last team in our division? I don’t think so, but that’s what the experts are calling it. It’s up to us to play like a team, stay healthy, and prove that wrong.”
The lay of the land indicates Thompson’s ability to retool will be tested more than ever before. Looking further down the road, the Cougars have to find a replacement for Cyr for next season, and the defence will be paper thin after Kalvin Sagert, Ty Wishart, Jesse Dudas and Patrik Magnusson graduate.
And even with all those spots to fill, the forward corps remains the biggest challenge because training camp did not yield an endless line of offensively-skilled prospects.
“We’re going to see how it plays out here,” said Thompson, who has been an active GM in trade terms since taking over the job in May of 2004 when Daryl Lubiniecki was named director of hockey operations.
“We’re young up front, which we knew we would be, and older and experienced in goal and on defence. We’ll see how things shake out in the conference -- we don’t have to worry about four teams anymore, we have to worry about nine. We’ll look at every angle.
“Our goal is to get into the playoffs, and with all the rookies we have I think it’s important to get them experience in the playoffs. We have leadership from those who went on the run last year.”
Cyr’s workload will be watched closely. It’s not unreasonable to wonder if the 20-year-old will play in 60 or more games this season. Rookie Joel Danyluk is the backup coming out of camp.
“Real’s going to see the lion’s share of games, and the backup, whether that’s Joel or someone else, will have to be ready to play 15 or 20 games,” said Schoneck. “We have to have someone get comfortable for the league for next year.”
The Cougars still have 25 players on the roster, and haven’t made a player move in nine days. Wishart (San Jose) and Dana Tyrell (Tampa Bay) remain away at NHL camps.