pontcanna
01-05-2012, 08:20 PM
No time for nervous players
Mario Annicchiarico
January 5, 2012 6:08 pm
With the trade deadline looming for both the Western Hockey League and B.C. Hockey League, this is no time for a nervous player.
Tuesday marks the finalization of rosters in both junior leagues and rumours continue to run rampant, especially regarding one Kevin Sundher, who is expected to be moved in favour of a prospect and a draft pick.
The Victoria Royals’ leading scorer would make a key addition for a contending WHL team and the asset could help the locals build for the future.
It would be awful to see Sundher – by far the most consistent member of the Royals this season – go. But such is the world of junior hockey where teams load or unload at this most difficult time.
I wrote two days ago that upwards of nine teams were likely in the hunt for Sundher, the Buffalo Sabres’ third-round pick, who just signed a pro contract. Well, it looks like you can scratch Vancouver and Edmonton from that list.
The Oil Kings on Thursday added Henrik Samuelsson (yes, the son of former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson) to their list of impressive players. The American-born forward was playing for Modo in Sweden and is expected to join Edmonton next week.
Vancouver, sources say, will not make a play for Sundher, who hails from Surrey.
What will be interesting is will a WHL club take a chance on Royals’ captain Hayden Rintoul? It’s a tricky situation in that the Victoria captain is a 20-year-old and club’s are said to be looking for over-age forwards as opposed to defencemen. Each team can only carry three over-agers.
“I haven’t even thought about it at all, to be honest with you. I’m just trying to work hard in practice and help this team out,” Rintoul said following Tuesday’s 9-4 loss to Calgary. “Obviously I’d like to be here. I love playing here in Victoria. It’s the best place to play in the Dub (WHL).”
Rintoul, who helped the Kootenay Ice to a WHL championship last year, has nine goals (eight on the power play) and 20 assists in 40 games with the Royals.
There is no doubt he could help a club on special teams, but his 5-on-5 play has been lacking. At -20 this season, he and the entire Royals’ blue line, has struggled.
As for the Victoria Grizzlies, a three-game road trip may help team executive decide on which way to go before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
“I think what you’ll see is teams waiting to see what happens this weekend and then you’ll see more phone calls,” said Grizzlies GM and assistant coach Victor Gervais.
Nervous times, indeed.
Mario Annicchiarico
January 5, 2012 6:08 pm
With the trade deadline looming for both the Western Hockey League and B.C. Hockey League, this is no time for a nervous player.
Tuesday marks the finalization of rosters in both junior leagues and rumours continue to run rampant, especially regarding one Kevin Sundher, who is expected to be moved in favour of a prospect and a draft pick.
The Victoria Royals’ leading scorer would make a key addition for a contending WHL team and the asset could help the locals build for the future.
It would be awful to see Sundher – by far the most consistent member of the Royals this season – go. But such is the world of junior hockey where teams load or unload at this most difficult time.
I wrote two days ago that upwards of nine teams were likely in the hunt for Sundher, the Buffalo Sabres’ third-round pick, who just signed a pro contract. Well, it looks like you can scratch Vancouver and Edmonton from that list.
The Oil Kings on Thursday added Henrik Samuelsson (yes, the son of former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson) to their list of impressive players. The American-born forward was playing for Modo in Sweden and is expected to join Edmonton next week.
Vancouver, sources say, will not make a play for Sundher, who hails from Surrey.
What will be interesting is will a WHL club take a chance on Royals’ captain Hayden Rintoul? It’s a tricky situation in that the Victoria captain is a 20-year-old and club’s are said to be looking for over-age forwards as opposed to defencemen. Each team can only carry three over-agers.
“I haven’t even thought about it at all, to be honest with you. I’m just trying to work hard in practice and help this team out,” Rintoul said following Tuesday’s 9-4 loss to Calgary. “Obviously I’d like to be here. I love playing here in Victoria. It’s the best place to play in the Dub (WHL).”
Rintoul, who helped the Kootenay Ice to a WHL championship last year, has nine goals (eight on the power play) and 20 assists in 40 games with the Royals.
There is no doubt he could help a club on special teams, but his 5-on-5 play has been lacking. At -20 this season, he and the entire Royals’ blue line, has struggled.
As for the Victoria Grizzlies, a three-game road trip may help team executive decide on which way to go before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
“I think what you’ll see is teams waiting to see what happens this weekend and then you’ll see more phone calls,” said Grizzlies GM and assistant coach Victor Gervais.
Nervous times, indeed.