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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 CompetitionAlso 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
Brett Harder meeting the fansThe 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 markWell, 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.
I am a Neepawa fan and can tell you that I really enjoy your broadcasts. Very professional. Did you play? You seem to have a player's insight.
ReplyDeletethanks a lot "neepawa fan". I did play but not near the Junior A level. I focused more on other sports (fastball). I still enjoy playing hockey and I do the best I can and letting the listens know what is going on. Keep listening.
ReplyDeleteThoughts on Stuff? Nothing has changed.
ReplyDeleteExciting game on Sunday? If a person only watched 1-game all year, I could see how they could see this as a fun game. A good paced game at best.
Apparently + / - still do not matter and thank goodness that the trade deadline is over. Now maybe the coaching staff can focus on the players they have compared to the continued search for Jesus Christ on skates.
There is really no delicate way to say it.
After attending the last 4 home games #17 is the most under productive player on the rink as it relates to +/-. Based on the amount of time he spends on the ice he should have 2x the points he has this year. Despite his 2nd place stat rating on the stats sheet, his +/- has to be the worst on the team.
The "News" portion of the web-site praises the results of Lazorko, however what it fails to mention was that He had a 4-point game on Sunday which allowed him to at least post an “even” status (-5 & +5) for the weekend series. Sadly this has been the case all year, however no one within the Flyers organization must track this, or they simply ignore it.
Last of all, #17 does not have the skill set to be an effective Center folks. At a minimum he does not understand the defensive side of the puck or his role in the defensive zone when his team does not have the puck.
It is not that Lazorko does not have some valuable skills, but he is not that answer to the success of this team. Put him on the wall as a Wing. At least put him in a lesser critical defensive posture for the betterment of the team. If he is really that good, he should be able to keep up like everyone else as far as stats go.
Wilgosh, Ronsberg, Hector & Fast have managed to keep pace on the stat sheet and without argument have a better +/-, not to mention they play 1/3 less than lazorko on a regular basis. Wilgosh's +/- suffers by default of the fact that he usually ends up on a line with Lazorko.
In fact, one could argue that Peters, Kliever and Ahvenniemi have kept pace with Lazorko and they are on the point.
The trade deadline results I believe were favorable, however not great.
Soderlund - Nice size, he is an asset on the defensive side of the puck in the D-zone. Hands of stone and shoots like a lumberjack, such that his offensive skills are suspect. He really needs to move the puck quicker and without question lacks the skill to be on Power Play.
Fast - is a crafty player. He would serve himself well to shoot a bit more and not always have to be in a perfect situation to put a shot on net.
Ahvenniemi – A really nice player. Nice hands, quick feet, good vision. Not a great shot, however he has a quick release so he is not getting many shots blocked.
Line combinations not in any specific order. Simply play the first 3 equally and the last one as a working line.
Lazorko Hector Wells
Wilgosh Ronsberg Leblond
Collins Fast Neduzak
Osiowy Genyk Harder
Somthing to think about.
Loyal Flyers Fan
I agree with the above post. We were told during the Sept/Oct skid not to worry,things will change. Several months later and a few games away from the playoffs, it is the same team - with the same trouble - and the same results as it was in the fall. Selkirk's "top line" accounted for 10 points in the first period - I think the point is that Selkirk has a top line - a consistent top line that the Flyers are lacking. Each game is a different line up with no chemistry or consistency. At this point in the season the line juggling should be over with.
ReplyDeleteI do not know what your were told, or by who so I cannot comment on that.
ReplyDeleteI beleve we could have two top lines, however if I had to settle for just one:
Wing - Wilgosh - Nice skater w/ very good speed, good hands, very good shot, willing to move the puck - however shoulb be more physical.
Center - Ronsberg - Great skater - solid on his skates, very physical (this player and Peters tend to win the most physical player award game after game), very good hands, great shot and for sure the hardest shot on the team, good vision and the adjustment Ronsberg needs to make is to carry the puck a bit more as he tends to move the puck to quick sometimes.
Wing - Lazarko - Solid skater w/ quick feet, has valuable experiance, crafty, can be a sound play maker when he moves the puck quicker, would need to be more physical.
If memory serves, one of the best lines this team has had all year was early on when Peters Ronsberg and Lazaro were on a line together. Fun to watch and did damage to the other teams at the same time. To my original point. Put Lazorko on the Wall.
Otherwise, Wilgosh, Ronsberg and
Hechtor - Fast skater, moves the puck willing to be physical, good play maker and pretty good vision.
Loyal Flyers Fan
I think personally Genyk, Ronsberg and Leblond would be a very good line. They are all willing to use there size and quickness. Genyk, being one of the fastest and hardest hitting forwards in the league would do damage with a centerman like Ronsberg.
ReplyDeleteThis season has been a roller-coaster for the fans, the players and the coaches. However based on the vantage point of the coaches, they have to take a level of responsibility for the results.
ReplyDeleteFrom fun exciting wins with what appear to be connecting line combinations to games that have been difficult to watch, with what appear to be predicable to fail line combinations.
We just do not see it as a common practice to split line combinations up that are having success.
In the interest of testing the satistical approach of the "Loyal Flyer Fan" we set up a test for family.
Here is the test. Prior to looking at the player stats portion of the Flyer web-page guess which player has the highest # of Power Play Goals (PPG = 7)? Highest # of Power Play Assists(PPA = 9)? And hightest # of Power Play points combined (PPG + PPA = 16)?
You want to know who? One hint, he is a rookie! Go look for yourself. We were shocked. Not because this player does not have the ability and not because he does not have the skill. Quite to the contrary. He has both and then some. He is one of our favorite players to watch as a family. We found it interesting, because the team rarely uses him on power play. The question is WHY NOT?
Interesting point of view Loyal Flyer Fan, looks like you are closer to the mark then most would believe to be the case. You certainly have us looking at things differently now.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Local Flyer Family
Good test or quiz. I figured it out. I was surprised too. Like you though. The rookie is certainly capable or this and more. In going through the stats, I found that someone else had 1 more assist, however Ronsberg did total up more PP points that anyone else on the team.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, why is he not the first one out of the players box for power play? The Flyers just do not use Ronsberg eoungh. He has been under played all year long. Or at least at the games I have attended. Which ties into one of the earlier comments. If Ronsberg played as much as Lazorko he would be leading in every statistical category without question.
From what I have seen, he is the best centerman the Flyers have especially when it comes to playing both sides of the puck.
Someone is asleep over there.
Rumor mill has it that the Ronsberg kid has more d-1 schools looking at him than the rest of the flyer team altogether.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Winkler is a pit stop for him. Just the same, in the interest of winning you would think that they would want to utilize his talent while he is here.
Interesting season to say the least.
Looks like many agree that Ronsberg is one of the top players that should be more in the mix of things and be in play on more of a regular basis. I can not comment on the number of D1 colleges that are interested in him, however it does not surprise me to hear it. I know the Pats wanted him real bad this year.
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh at the last "news" or write up about the Selkirk game. Wilgosh, Lazorko and Wells being reunited?
First off, Wilgosh and Lazorko have played all but about 12 games without each other this whole year. Again, in referrencing my initial post, this is why Wilgosh suffers in the +/- area. Because of his association with Lazorko. Wells on the other hand is now back on the line. If there is any line that should be on track it should be these 3-players.
And not even so much because it is a good line. Simply because they have played together so much this season and have an understanding of each others habits (both good and bad - in most programs known as chemistry).
The odds are simply with them at this point. If you put a monkey in front of a type writer for as much time as these 3-players have played together, the monkey would have already typed out a small book.
Can anyone name two players that have spent more time playing with the same line mates then Wilgosh and Lazorko? And for sure there are not 3-players on the team that have played together as much as Wilgosh, Lazoroko and Wells.
And to now point out they are leading the way. Wow! You do not need to be a Prophet to identify this.
On the other hand, for the rest of the team it is just like the first week of the season. You just never have a clue who you will be skating with. Guessing your line-mates name must be the new recipe for creating chemistry amongst line-mates.
To complete my initial comment within this posting string as it was related to line combinations (it is sad that I would have to say this or point this out) The line combinations would need to STAY TOGETHER for more than 1-game.
The identified line combinations should have been together since December-2009. Looks like we are only about 2-1/2 to 3 months behind. And this was supposed to be our year? Ooops.
Good quiz and good find Flyer Family. Another point that validates my perspective on things
Loyal Flyers Fan
It's always easy to coach from the couch or in this case from the stands. Everyone has an expert opinion on what should be done with the Flyers. Well here's what I think. Put all the players in a room and let them decide who should play with whom. They probably have a better idea who would fit better together as a line then the coaches would. I believe this would lead to a more relaxed and cohesive team without the coach interfering and changing things up every other shift just because he has the power to do what he wants. A more relaxed and cohesive team without coach interference would lead to a better performance on the ice. There, wasn't that easy.
ReplyDeleteYour point is very well taken. However, a fact is a fact and a statistical fact is a still a fact no matter where you sit or stand. Furthermore, opinions do not come into play when you are dealing with statistical facts.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time your approach to a solution (that will just never happen) has merit. I personally agree with you, I like it and I have said it before.
You'll never see a player choose a line-mate based on the occupation, education or the type of car of the line-mates father.
The players know the difference. They know who is selfish or who is willing to sacrifice for each other and the team. They see through fact and fiction. It is tough to keep secretes from the guys that are not only in the front row, they are the front row.
Loyal Flyers Fan
Nothing new again.
ReplyDeleteA few more facts (even though it looks like a replay of games from the past).
Lazorko -2 in regulation
Continues to get a regular shift plus additional ice.
Lazorko-1 in overtime.
Lazorko -3 for the game (with only 4 goals against).
I do not care where you are coaching from. The couch, the stands or the bench. This is nothing more than basic math.
One question - Why was Lazorko on the ice during overtime?
Loyal Flyers Fan
What an interesting post this has been. Thanks Matt! We are all entitled to our opinions and reading others makes us think (some of us anyways).
ReplyDeleteI consider myself a "Loyal" Winkler Flyer Fan. I am there to support my TEAM through the good times and bad (which all TEAMS have) and that is where the "Loyal" comes in.
I wish putting together a successful hockey TEAM was as easy as some people make it out to be. If that was the case, we would have 11 successful TEAMS to watch in this league which would make for exciting hockey all the time! So if anyone has the formula for it, or thinks they do, please state your name and offer to coach....do us all a favor!
Let's compare a hockey TEAM to a car engine. If everything is working right and running smoothly, we will be happy with that car. What happens though if just one thing isn't working right? Hhmmm? The engine parts and the key to start the car are the players, the drivers and mechanics of that car are the coaches and the support staff and, lets say, the drivers of all the other cars are the fans. We should all have one goal...to make that car run as smoothly as we can and make sure it is being looked after. (that's if we all care).
I, as a fan, would like to see:
Players......each one of you take responsibility, you are the key to being successful...work WITH your coaches and EACH OTHER and remember to be a TEAM!!! If you have issues, work at fixing them! Whether on the bench, on the ice, in the dressing room, at the movie, in the stands...you all have a job to do and a role to play. Work hard and play with heart ALL THE TIME! If you don't work together, chances are you won't be successful!
Coaches...watch and listen to your players! Use your skills, training, education and experiences to help encourage these young men to play like they can...and like we know they can! Communication is essential. You also have a job to do and role to play.
Fans....show appreciation and support...be ENCOURAGING and remember...we're on the outside looking in. Criticizing, advising and knowing all the answers is always easiest from the stands! Putting together a successful TEAM is complicated. After all, we are all human and have emotions/opinions (which is definitely evident by all the people who put comments on here). I wish skill and +/- was all we had to worry about! i.e. Player "A" might not agree playing with player "B" is a good idea even if the coaches and fans think it is...WHAT NOW??? or...23 players want to play every minute of every game...WHO DOESN'T GET TO PLAY??? or...Player "A", who happens to be a favorite player and having alot of success on the ice, has a bad attitude in the dressing room and is bringing 1/2 the other players down...WHAT DO YOU DO????
Easy answers???....I'm sure some of you think so.
I, as a fan would like to say,
"Let the players...play, the coaches....coach, and the fans....do our job and support! We win as a TEAM and we lose as a TEAM!!!
Remember, this is just my opinion.
Good Luck the rest of the way Flyers! Have some fun, work hard....we know you can do it! I'll be there cheering you on!
"THE" Loyal Winkler Flyer Fan
P.S. Thank a Referee today!
Great points and very good analogy.
ReplyDeleteIf a car has all sorts of different problems, the "Other Cars" (Fans) on the road tend to evaluate the Car (Team).
If the Car (Team) has the same problem over and over, the "Other Cars" (Fans) tend to evaluate the Driver and the Mechanics.
When the Drivers and Mechanics (in your words) expect a 1-Piston within the engine to run faster and do more than it is capable of and by default under-utilize the remaining pistons, problems are going to develop.
Bringing in new pistons, mounting new tires or giving the Car a new paint job is not the answer.
Good luck Flyers! We hope to see All of the pistons (not Steinbach) firing as a one unit.
"Original" Loyal (Devoted) Flyers Fan