PLAYOFF TIME IS HERE

Here we go folks!!! The Playoffs are finally here and I, for one, am very excited. By now you all know that this is the fourth meeting in the last four seasons between these clubs in the first round of the Addison Division playoffs. The past three seasons the Flyers have played game one in Selkirk and the last two years they have won game one.

That will have to happen again. The success of this particular Flyers team has rested on a few key areas all season long. Work harder then the guys in the other sweaters and have a good start. 99 times out of a 100 if the Flyers out work, out hit, and out play their opponents they will win. You have to go no further then the stats.

For example, if the Flyers score first they have a record of 20-8-6. If they are still leading after the first period they are 18-7-4-1. If they still have the lead after two periods they are almost unbeatable with a 22-2-5 record. They are also 22-6-2 when they have more shots. Those stats prove that when the Flyers are playing their game and come out of the gate on the right foot they give themselves a very good chance of winning.

However, the stats are equally as obvious when they don’t play well. When the other team scores first the record is 9-17-2. When they trail after the first it’s 3-16-2. And the real shocker is that they have won only one game ALL SEASON when trailing after the second period……only one third period comeback all year long!!!

Now the positive to all of these numbers is that the Steelers are almost in the exact same boat. To a certain extent they have been just as up and down as the Flyers have been this year. That is why it is so hard to give an educated assessment as to who should win this series. You can go through the numbers all you want and cross reference all the data and in the end it doesn’t mean squat.

The playoffs traditionally are a crap chute. The better team doesn’t always win. Sometimes things happen or players do things that they aren’t supposed to. There is always that one player who has not really done a whole lot during the season that comes out of nowhere and plays a huge role in a teams success.

But these few things I think will decide this series. Flyers goalie Peter Alexander and Selkirk goalie Joey Rewucki were the runner ups to OCN’s David Aime for the MJHL goalie of the year award so you know the goaltending in this series will be strong. The top end players are essentially even with a slight edge going to the Steelers maybe (they do have the leagues MVP in Taylor Dickin afterall).

But the two areas where I think the Flyers have the edge is defense and depth. The Steelers do have five players in the top 20 in league scoring while the Flyers have none. But after those five players there is a steady drop off. The Flyers have been able to spread the wealth a little this season and are able to get points from all four lines at times. The top one or two lines are always the guys that the other teams will key on, and if the secondary guys or third or fourth liners can chip in that will provide a huge advantage.

The Flyers D has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride this season but I feel they are playing some of their best hockey recently. They are at their best when they aren’t trying too hard. Take care of you own job. Make it simple and don’t screw up.

Its anyone’s guess what will happen in this series but I am sure of one thing…it will be a lot of fun. The rivalry of facing each other four years in a row, the Flyers dominance in the season series, and a wide range of other things have made this match-up an exciting and emotional battle all season long.

I can’t wait for the playoffs to finally begin cause it gives everyone a chance to forget about the regular season, get a fresh start, and maybe show everyone that this team is for real.

I will bet you a million bucks that if the Flyers are able to make a real run here in the postseason nobody will remember how the regular season went. I encourage you to come out and support your team. Cheer loud and be supportive. Lets all be on the same team through the good and bad and lets have a heck of a time in the process. I love playoff hockey so lets go!!!!!!!!

P.S. There is a complete Winkler vs. Selkirk Series preview on http://www.winklerflyers.com/. You may have also noticed that the pictures on this post are a mix of new and old. I was trying to bring you back down memory lane of these two bitter rivals. Enjoy.

MEET THE CAPTAINS - JORDAN PETERS

There is only one week until the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs begin and the Flyers, who still have a couple of games left in the regular season already know they will be playing the Selkirk Steelers in the first round for the fourth straight year. I will be doing a playoff preview next week so check back for that.

This week will be the fourth and final installment of the Meet The Captains series. Throughout the season you have gotten to know Captain Troy Kliever, assistant captains Cam Stevens, and Shael Hechter a little bit more then you did and now you will get to know Jordan Peters.

Over his three seasons in Winkler, Peters has proven to be one of the most versatile players in the league. He came into the league as an 18 year old defenseman before being moved up to forward after the Christmas break his first season. He excelled as a right winger and was the Flyers leading scorer in the playoffs that year when the Orange and Black lost out in the Addison Division final.

He then recorded 41 goals and 33 assists last season in his first full campaign as a forward. This season he started up front again, and was then moved back to defense when the Flyers blueline was struggling with injuries and proved to be a force back there again. With his third and final season drawing to a close, Peters has shown that he can be a physical player, a leader, and help out offensively as well as he has recorded nearly 150 points in three years.

Jordan Shea Peters was born in Winnipeg on August 10th, 1989. He grew up in Gnadenthal (about 10 minutes south of Winkler) with his dad Ray, his mom Corinne, his older brother Paul, and younger sister Shanley.

If you look up Farm Boy in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Jordan. He spent a lot of time during his younger years “helping” his dad on the farm (aka driving around on the 4-wheeler) and spent a lot of time at his grandparents house which is just two houses down from his. Jordan loves the lifestyle that the country brings.

Jordan says his dad would probably be his hockey inspiration as he taught him how to skate in the village when he was really young. He and his brother Paul, insisted on playing minor hockey and Jordan (and Paul too) has been playing ever since.

Jordan went on to play for the GVC Zodiacs high school hockey team and was a member of the team that won the AAAA Provincials in 2005/2006.

When Jordan’s junior hockey career comes to a close at the end of this season he plans on attending Bible School somewhere oversees and then come back to be involved with agriculture in some fashion.

Peters says the keys to success are to train hard, don’t lose sight of who you are as a person, and don’t tick off the wrong people (haha).

A few things that you may not know about Jordan is that he was born with deformed feet and ankles. His feet were turned inwards and up against his legs. He has also been skydiving and says it was the most terrifying and awesome thing ever.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know the captains better this season and don’t forget to check back next week for my playoffs preview as the Flyers get set to play the Selkirk Steelers in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight season. I am pumped about playoff hockey and I hope you are too.

PLAYOFF TIME IS ALMOST HERE

Hello again fans. I am glad that many of you have found this blog to be a great way to provide some constructive discussion and share your thoughts on the team. When I decided to do “Behind the Mic” at the beginning of this season I wanted to provide an inside look at the team and also provide the fans with a chance to voice their opinions as well. The passion for the team really comes across and for that I thank you. Even though we don’t always agree. And that is ok.

The team has been on a bit of a roller coaster in recent weeks. During the good games we can definitely see that the skill and systems are there, but being able to do that on a consistent basis has been the struggle. A lot of times at this time of year things tend to be that way. These players have been away from home since the last week of August, the season has been long, the pressure is mounting, and every thing is magnified come playoff time.

It is almost a forgone conclusion that the Orange and Black will, once again, finish in 3rd place in the Addison Division. They are currently six points behind the 2nd place Selkirk Steelers and six points ahead of the 4th place Winnipeg South Blues.

The Flyers will most likely stay in third unless they get red hot here at the end of the season or on the other side of the coin go right down hill.

The Steelers have three games in hand on Winkler and the Blues have one. The Flyers need five points in their last four games to secure at least third sport, however the Blues would need to run the table in their last five games in order for that number to come into play.

If Winkler wins each of their last four games the would finish with 70 points, Selkirk currently has 67 and needs only four points in their remaining seven games to clinch at least 2nd place. The Steelers are also six points behind the division leading Winnipeg Saints so we may just be in for a Winkler/Selkirk semi-final series for the fourth year in a row….that would be a lot of fun to watch.

There has been a lot of pressure on this team this season. They were pegged by many as the class of the Addison Division before one game was even played. However, injuries, inconsistent play, bad luck, and a big combination of other things have prevented that from becoming a reality.

In my humble, “from the sidelines” opinion they need to just start having a little fun while at the same time taking in seriously. And that my friends is always easier to do when you are winning.

A lot of the comments in recent posts have focused on staying positive and being their to cheer on the team in good times and bad. I honestly believe, IF, they can get things going here at the end of the season that we will be in for an exciting ride the rest of the way. I really hope I’m right and if the entire team pulls together, and we as fans of the Flyers are pulling with them then the possibilities are endless. So come out and cheer your boys on as they put and end to the 2009/2010 season these next four games.

Just for your viewing pleasure I have found some funny and thought provoking hockey quotes from some people who know more about the game and have played the game a heck of a lot more then we all have so check it out..

Conn Smythe
Maple Leafs coach
"If you can't beat `em in the alley, you can't beat `em on the ice."

Jacques Plante
"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you?"

Brett Hull
"I'm not dumb enough to be a goalie."

Harry Neale (Former Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach)
"I know my players don't like my practices, but that's okay because I don't like their games.""Last season we couldn't win at home and we were losing on the road. My failure was that I couldn't think of any place else to play."

Gil Perreault
"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck."

Wayne Gretzky
"You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take."

Harry Sinden
"The only way you can check Gretzky is to hit him when he is standing still singing the national anthem."

Mark Messier
"Biologically, I'm 10. Chronologically, I'm 33.In hockey years, I'm 66."

Pat Foley
Blackhawks broadcaster
"If you've only got one day to live, come see the Toronto Maple Leafs. It'll seem like forever."

THOUGHTS ABOUT STUFF

Hello once again. This post will be more about pictures and less about words. My next post later in the week will be about the final few games of the season and where the Flyers have the ability to finish in terms of the standings but I have to do some mathematical calculations so I will save that for next time.

Eric Braun and Myself

(the best radio team in the biz..at least we think so)

Many of us got to see the MJHL All-Star game last weekend in Winkler. It was a pretty entertaining game. My favorite part about All-Star weekends in general is usually the Skills Competition. The games are decent, but if you are the type of person who enjoys a good old hockey game in its truest form then All-Star games are not for you….I would be in that category.

Jordan Peters - Puck Handling at the Skills Competition

Also this past Sunday the Flyers held their annual Skate with the Flyers event. This is always a great way for the fans to get to know the players on a more personal level. For the mast majority of people, they will probably never really get a chance to talk to the players or get to see them any closer then the front row of the stands. I really enjoy this event even though I get to see them on a daily basis, it gives my kids a chance to get to see the players that they have learned to love. My 4.5 year old daughter is a big fan of Nick Lazorko and my 2.5 year old son really likes Jordan Peters. We haven’t come up with the strength yet to tell them that they both won’t be playing here next season cause that will be a very sad day in the Friesen house.

This is my son Jackson with his hero. Unfortunately it's not me!

And my daughter Hannah with Nick. She smiled for a LONG time after taking this picture!

Nick Lazorko signing some skates

I am looking forward to the rest of the season. I think the Flyers game against the Winnipeg Saints of Friday was a huge wake up call for the team. That was probably one of the worst games I have seen in a very long time. If you heard to broadcast on CKMW you would have heard Flyers assistant captain Shael Hechter on the post game show. Usually we are joined by Head Coach Mark Thiessen. However, in that instance it was Hechter that volunteered to do the show because it was the players that had to give some answers and give reasons for that loss and not the coach (in my opinion). He did a very good job and it was nice to hear some accountability when things like that happen.

Brett Harder meeting the fans

The game that we saw on Sunday was a complete opposite of Friday. It was probably the most exciting and entertaining game of the year. The first period alone was the best I’ve seen. It was also the first game that I can remember this season that the complete compliment of players (minus Matt Loopkey) was on the ice at the same time. If they can play like that and stay healthy, I think a long play off run should surely be in the cards.
Mac Williams making his mark

Well, we only have one more month to go before the playoffs and here’s hopin’ that things can stay on the right track just as they did on Sunday.