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Happy New Year folks. So as some of you may have heard I had the opportunity to check out the World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon over the Christmas break. I got a behind the scenes look while working as an assistant camera operator thanks to a certain inside connection (my brother in law). I was going to talk about that and show you some pictures and video but I think I will wait until next week because I think there is a more pressing issue to talk about.Those of you who came to the New Years Eve game against Steinbach will have noticed no Caleb Suderman on the Flyers blue line. Caleb is one of the most talented defenseman that I have ever seen. He can be chalked up as one of the best offensive d-men in the league and also one of the top defensive d-men, and to be in both categories is a very difficult task. He gets prime minutes, powerplay, penalty kill, 5 on 5, he’s an assistant captain, a leader on the team, a Winkler kid playing on his home town team, he’s close to family and friends, good access to scouts, and it is for all of those reasons and more that it boggles my mind that a guy who has just a few months left in his junior career would ask to be traded….anywhere!
I don’t know if it’s just me or what but the idea of leaving your team and sitting at home waiting for a trade is something that is a huge problem with junior hockey today and something that I just don’t understand. The exact reasons as to how and why he came to this decision I don’t know exactly, I would have to just piece certain facts together and guess…so I won’t. I will leave it up to him to answer that question if he wants to.
When talking with some of the players yesterday about this situation they seem to not fully understand it. Why would a person who is a leader on their team, an assistant captain, a person who should be there for the team in good and bad, decide that he doesn’t want to be on the team anymore. It seems that one of their leaders has turned his back to them.
This decision leaves everyone in a situation that they don’t want to be in. The Flyers now have to trade a local player that in a perfect world they would NEVER trade but now have no choice. They have to replace one of the top players in the league (which is dang hard to do). It never looks good when any team trades away a player that is from that community but let me assure you that this is not a choice that the Flyers made. It is a choice that Caleb Suderman made.
I just hope for his sake that he is sure that he is making the right decision. I just hope that he gets what he is looking for with this decision. It’s just weird that being a Flyer for the past two and a half seasons it is only now…with 3-4 months left in his junior hockey career that he can’t take it anymore.
Anyway, on a positive note forward Matt Loopkey (above and below) will be re-joining the team this weekend and that is great news. Loopkey is one of those bring your lunch pail and hard hat and get to work kind of players. He amassed 31 points in 45 games played as a rookie last season with the Flyers. He will be a welcome addition to the Flyers line-up. He was playing lacrosse in Kentucky this season on a scholarship and is very excited to be back with the Flyers organization..jpg)
So now the work of getting the roster set before the January 10th trading deadline gets a little harder as they now have to find a all-star caliber defenseman, and those as we all know don’t grow on trees.
Remember that this is my opinion and I would love to hear yours so please comment…
It is obvious if Caleb is leaving it is for a very good reasons. Caleb is a strong leader with character, but with disturbing treatment of player he could not handle it anymore. It's time for some changes in leadership of the organization. Sorry to see him go but I can understand why he ask to be traded. I think more my be following his example. Time for some big changes in Flyer land.
ReplyDeleteAgree with the previous comment completely and would also like to add that you can't believe everything you're going to hear about this in the next while either. It will obviously be made out to sound like Suderman is the bad guy here. I won't believe anything unless it's out of his mouth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with other two comments in the part of community sticking together for a player and character guy who made a very hard decision, he could have stuck it out 3-4 more months, and put up with the garbage, but why, why not be a man of integrity, as he is, want a little more out of his potential when its not here being offered, and rather stiffled. Don't pass judgement when you don't know they whys and the unaddressed issues in this situation among other players as well, who could stand up and leave just like Caleb is...and so far aren't. Men of character and standards make a strong team, not men who don't know how to strive for excellence and don't treat ALL players with same respect. If anything now, fans, and reporters should be having Caleb's back in this, guys like him don't come twice in a Junior lifetime. Wake up people, wake up fans, wake up coaches and see the prize & pride that you are losing and why not fight to keep him here with making the changes everyone wants & its been this way long enough and only he has taken the stand to make. Good on 'ya #20, super proud of you! And greatly missed when & if you go.
ReplyDeleteMatt, 'a fallen leader'? a fallen organization more so, but Caleb Suderman is not fallen, he is standing taller than ever. AND he has NOT turned his back on his team either...don't make assumptions without knowing your facts and information, there is waaaaaay more going on here than you could write about and people need to know about except those that want to make positive change. Cheering our guys on, our local guys, for some reason comes hard for some people, wow, open your eyes and ears if you really care about whats going on, fans and shareholders, don't you care what is happening with YOUR team?
ReplyDeleteStrong leader with character???? What planet are you from? Caleb's true character showed when he QUIT on his teammates and the club. Kid (along with his dad) thought he knew more than everyone else, coaches included. Well Caleb, you can take your toys and go play in a different sandbox. You are not welcome here anymore.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of hypocrits!!! You are all making these statements that are trying to justify the fact that Caleb took a stand and was a man of integrity?? Hello people...he quit! He asked for a trade which is quitting the team in my books. If you say there is stuff out there which justifies his actions, well then put up or shut up. If he was a true leader and was "standing taller than ever" he would be leading this team by his actions, NOT turning his back on them. Maybe you people should ask his teammates what they think of him. I have also heard many things and how Caleb has been given everything he ever needed on this team. Shame on Caleb...you were never a leader. Just a player who chose to be a cancer and not a cure.
ReplyDeleteApparently that commenter lives with Caleb and his dad? Obviously knows what they talk about and what's going on? Wait.. no.. because then they'd know that their comment was very childish and inaccurate, because they definitely didn't hear that from them.
ReplyDeleteObviously the team doesn't want to let a player like Suderman go, so I wouldn't believe too much of what I hear from the rumour mill over there at the rink. Maybe they feel like he quit, but they definitely played their part in that.
Yes, he asked for a trade, players do that all the time.
The team should be happy, they love to trade away local players.
ReplyDeleteI think it is time to take a deep breath and think about this. The Winkler Flyes organization historically has always benefited from local players playing here (Steve Harder, Ed Penner, Randy Klassen, Herc. Derksen, Jamie Penner, Chris Thomas, Jason Klassen, the Froese brothers, Marlin Froese, Jordan Peters to name a few impact Winkler players). Over the years, some local players have asked to be traded or been traded (Sawatzky, Brett Suderman, Janzen). This is life in junior hockey. Other teams also trade players that come from their community for one reason or another (Wilgosh to Winkler from Selkirk, Speiss' rights out of Neepawa to OCN - where he never went, slobodian (sp?) from Dauphin to OCN as examples). I don't think for a New York minute that anyone associated with the Winkler Flyers or fans of the Winkler Flyers want Caleb Suderman playing anywhere else but in Winkler. I imagine we all agree there. I know that in the last few years the Flyers have made strides to bring local players back to Winkler (Whitehead, Fehr, Caleb Suderman, Carey Dyck). Some of you are alluding to "stuff". I know some of that is in relation to Caleb's dad not being on the board anymore. Is that enough reason to ask to play elsewhere? Is it becasue his cousin was asked to play with the Twisters and preferred a trade rather than that? I doubt it; that would be a bit silly. Was it ice time? Of course not. I hope the powers that be can get this thing fixed and decide to put the bs behind them and get on with the task at hand...winning the division!
ReplyDeleteMan of integrity - I don't know if we want to go there. Integrity is lost when mutual trust breaks down...like board members talking out of school in the lobby...or players sharing stuff with others outside the room...so is there room to improve here from different spots; I suspect so.
Quit - since no on really knows what is going on it sure looks like he quit; and I imagine his teammates are feeling like he quit on them. This will be tough in the long run if it is not fixed because these friendships from junior hockey stay with players all their lives; why throw that in the crapper? Fix it - it is not too late to make ammends.
I imagine Matt Friesen has some inside scoop on this whole thing as he travels with the team etc.
Why would the team be happy with trading away a local like Suderman? And which other locals have they traded away? If you are referring to cousin Bret, I understand he requested a trade as well. Caleb was a very talented hockey player when he decided to be that although that did not happen every night. I think the team will still be very good and possibly better off once the trade deadline moves are made. Unfortunately, local players, politics, expectations and parents are never a good mix. History has proved that time and time again and this is just another example of that. Too often people forget that this is just a game. Cheer and support those that play the game, coach the team and run the organization. If we don't do that, pretty soon there will be no Flyers and that would be a very sad day with very long winters.
ReplyDeletePenalty Box Volunteer has some very good points. Someone needs to find out what's going on. Other players have become frustrated and asked for trades. When that happens the team usually works to find out what is wrong and then tries to fix it. I expect that when both groups start talking they will find that fixing these problems is a lot easier and much cheaper than trying to find another number one d-man. I can't imagine that Caleb truly wants to finish his Junior career in another town.
ReplyDeletePlease don't believe anything that you hear from the Flyers organization. Many if not all the players that asked for trades did not want to leave the team. These are young men being manipulated by adults. Why not call the Coach, GM, President or Vice President directly?
ReplyDeleteThey have said they would welcome questions and input. Maybe they will tell you the truth. By the way Janzen never asked for a trade he asked to be the starter.
I know that during the tryouts this past summer that Caleb made little effort and didn't seem need to as he knew he had a spot. Winkler wants a championship, but expecting to do the same things over and over and expect different results is foolish. I can speak from experience that at least Ernie Sutherland is a man of his word and treated my son fairly when he became a victim of the import rule. If the locals are just wanting a place for the hometown boys to play then quit whining. Caleb is, in my opinion, a quitter. Good luck to the remaining players, it will soon be evident that he wasn't the godsend some think.
ReplyDeleteWhat could need to be fixed, icetime...lots, leadership role....he had, power play time....he had, good team mates.....he had, his dad on the board.....no and not a good idea when he went on, family on the team.....no but thats life the rest of team are not whinning because their cousin isn't with them, looks like he had it made, good luck Caleb you will need it as no team needs a cancer and a quitter.
ReplyDeleteIt is really too bad that the Winkler team, coaching staff and organization are being raked over the coals on this one. From experience with the Winkler team I would like to say that our son has been treated very well, he has had a great place to call home, a great place to play hockey and work out and also has had the opportunity to have any concerns heard by the coaching staff. Sometimes when you have concerns there has to be comprimises, this is a Junior Hockey Club and also a business, they do what they need to be a winning club not always pleasing everyone. The Winkler Flyers has been and will continue to be a great place to play Junior Hockey!!
ReplyDeleteJr.hockey players tire of being lied to,treated with disrespect by managment.If a Jr. hockey coach or gm is talking,he's lying.Its that simple.The average fan has NO idea the crap these kids have to take from the coaches and gm's.ALL the power is with the club,and they never let the player forget it.
ReplyDeleteWinkler Flyer's are a MESS.Have been all year.Im sure they will continue to be.This is probably why Mr.Suderman has decided to move on.Good Luck Caleb.
A GM? A coach? hmm Parent.....nope...someone to fill the bench. yep
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to know what we are dealing with here. Got juniors making life decisions and we are beating them up? what fools are we. if anyone is smart enough to move away from a bad leader (the coaching staff) then more power to him. I can't say it clear enough. The coaches need to GO.
Mark Thiessen
Ernie Sutherland
Bob Agnew
David Goerz
Any of these guys want to weigh in on this? Speak up.
Each of you
Tell us what you are doing to fix the problem or please do us all a favour, and step out.
"if you are NOT a part of the solution, You ARE a part of the problem"
Nice post Garry.
ReplyDeleteThe problem as I see it here is that one player and family believe themselves to be the ones in charge. That is not how it works in hockey. Don't see any other players asking for trades and I watched a pretty spirited effort last night from the team minus three top defencemen. I agree with your last statement but you forgot to insert the names. Caleb has chosen to not be part of the solution and is now the problem, along with those that are advising him.
sorry it's not Garry
ReplyDeleteJust a fan with little knowledge about the political working of the organization. I am not seeing the winning spirit, the charisma that is in a team that has unity with each other. usually in a sport when the team does not make it to the top something changes and we have not seen a change at the top ( leadership ) we have seen players come and go. So I would say, this is time that we see some change ( for change sake ) from the coaching staff.
Kinda like when there is a fight in hockey the 2 players that are full of adrenalin have to sit off for 5 min but that intensity transfers to the rest of the team and usually there is a shift in the momentum.
i truly believe that if there was a change in management that we would see a different team on the ice. As a fan I could care less what happens behind closed doors but make a change in the people so we, as fans can see a change on the ice.
Players ask for trades all the time, and no its not cause they all think they are in charge of their teams, look at it this way if everyday you hated going to work but you didnt hate your job you just hated the atmosphere you were working in, and you knew that if you got transfered somewhere else where the people really wanted and valued your service that you would start to enjoy it again, can u honestly say you would just stick it out. seems pretty simple to me, the guy got tired of all the behind the secens garbage that goes on with this team and just wants a change of scenery and a chance to play the game and enjoy it. Having played with Caleb i know that this is a guy and a family that has gone above and beyond for this organization, and this is what he gets from them and the fans, pretty sad.
ReplyDeleteWhy are all you people defending Caleb? I respect his decision to ask for a trade but the fact is that by doing so he quit on this team, his teammates, our fans and volunteers.
ReplyDelete"If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck....IT'S A DUCK!"
Good luck Caleb where ever you go. It was fun watching you play. Just a game folks, just a game.
Suderman, no Suderman - personell change or no personell change... Everyone is always willing to complain or find fault when a team is struggling or not winning.
ReplyDeleteThe remaining team is full of nice players, and frankly the Flyers have a sound coaching staff.
For this current team to win, there only needs to be one adjustment.
Put the players on the ice MORE that have the best + and - ratings.
There are players that are on the ice way too much that have a - rating. It does not matter how many points a player has posted. What mattters is, have these players posted more points then they have allowed? This is basic math, not science.
Does anyone actually track + / - for the Flyers, or is this statistical fact ignored?
Any winning organization (Juniors - the NHL)will share that the use of the + / - is all but a religion to determine line up's and playing time.
Successful coaches will openly admitt that often, one needs to move out of the way and allow the facts to determine the future when it comes to succeeding.
Good luck to Caleb,the Flyers and the Coaching staff.
Loyal Flyer Fan
I agree with the its a duck writter u people should support calebs descion in what he did it was his choice to choose what he did and even if it dosen't please everyone no ones has heard his side of hte story everyone is just makeing assumptions without hearing claeb's side of the story he did what he did for a reason.
ReplyDeleteI know one thing no matter which team he is playingon i will still cheer him on because he si not only a GREAT hockey player but a very GOOD person
LETS HEAR IT FOR CALEB YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Duck writer here. I think a few of you misunderstood what I was saying. I believe Caleb has a right to quit/ask for a trade. He is an adult and that's the way this world works. That being said, I still say he quit on this team and everyone associated with it. No I don't like it and it disgusts me with all the cheering for Caleb like he is the new Martin Luther King of the Flyers.
ReplyDeleteOkay so can we hear Caleb's side of the story and the reasons????
ReplyDeleteRight now it appears he quit on the flyers.
Now that Caleb is gone to Neepawa, we will probably never hear his end of story. But, hopefully he does well there. The rumour I heard was that he did not like the coach and the way players were treated. Knowing Mark that is hard to believe. Well, Caleb will now get to experience junior hockey life under the master of mind games, Mr. Perrier. I imagine Caleb will soon find out that the grass is not greener on the other side. Anyways, best of luck Caleb, see you back in a week with the Natives.
ReplyDeleteIts only a game
I would like all these posters give their names instead of all being anonymous, then we would have some real mudslinging once we got to the game.
ReplyDeleteI think "wow" sums up this forum thus far. We're talking about a decision a YOUNG man made about HIS future, about HIS life, and how he felt about HIS situation. So far you people have tossed around terms like "fallen leader", "quitter", and even "cancer" when describing this 20 year old young man, and frankly its disgustings. For those of you who used those terms well, I think an early post sums up my thoughts "...you can take your toys and go play in a different sandbox. You are not welcome here anymore" A bunch of Childern arguing and criticizing, all based on hearsay.. Grow up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the "wow" comment. You all sit there and criticize Caleb under the label of "Anonymous." Well, I for one am proud of Caleb for stading up for what he believes in. Integreity, yes. Fallen leader, no.
ReplyDeleteCaleb has intgreity?? Let me just hit the nail on the head here. If Calebs Mom was still in charge of billeting, Dad was still on the board and cousin was still on the team and was made Captain like he in his mind felt he should be, would Caleb still be on the team? Without a doubt YES. He would have just contiuned to be a solid player and help this team out. But take all those away and all of a sudden he wants out is not integeity at all. Has this kid ever stood on his own two feet? He said his reason was hes had enough of the coaching staff who have treated him like gold. Caleb is a great guy from a good family and im not knocking him as a person, but in thw world of hockey he is a quitter and his stock as player has dropped. When coaches talk about him and find out he quit because he didnt like the coaches who treated him so well personally, do you think they will say "boy this kid as integrity" or "I dont need someone who is always questioning my decisions." I get your his friend and are sticking up for him, but he made a mistake. Maybe not one thats gunna decide his overall outcome on life, but one that will play a negative roll in his hockey future
ReplyDeleteFirst, Let me state that I'm not trying to start an argument, i'm just tired of assumptions.
ReplyDeleteHit the nail on the head? I'm sorry, but re-stating all the hearsay, doesn't make it any less hearsay. You claim "wihtout a doubt YES" that he'd still be on the team, more assumptions. And although I am his friend, you can ask anybody who knows Caleb and probably wont find one person who will say he isn't a Character guy, infact he wore an 'A' on his jersey for a reason, even the coaching staff felt he had Character. So instead of coaches saying "I dont need someone who is always questioning my decisions" maybe they're likely to wonder: If a Character guy, like Caleb, made a point of asking to be traded from his hometown team with 3 months left in the season, then maybe, just maybe there is something wrong with the organization. (As several people above have stated.) I'm not making the claim that there is, because just like you, I have NO idea and wont bother making assumptions.
Anybody besides me surprised he made the all star team? He spent the first half injured then brought about turmoil, got what HE wanted and was traded and above all hasn't done much this season and he is an all-star? I can't imagine anybody is doing this kid any favors by continually kissing his you know what and feeling sorry for poor Caleb.
ReplyDeleteWaaa, Waaa. If you dont know the whole story why even bother stating partial truths or rumours? Im sure both sides are at fault to some extent. It sucks to lose a highly skilled player like Caleb but Come ON!! Wait till the whole story comes out, if it ever does. Otherwise, you too are just as foolish to assume. And I have the balls to put my name on this and every post.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the people defending Caleb all talk about his decisions, his life, etc etc.
ReplyDeleteThere is an old saying that there is no "I" in TEAM. That's the biggest problem with this whole situation. I for one don't believe for a second he made this choice on his own. Unfortunately, those that advise him believe it was all about Caleb and not the team. The Sudermans will find out soon enough that no one player especially at the junior level is above the team and the organization. There is nothing wrong the organization and they are proving how strong they actually are by putting the team first and not a single player. Go flyers