Media Making Up Nonsense

A media source in Kelowna was speculating yesterday that Jeff Truitt is going to be replaced as Head Coach of the Rockets by Jack McIlhargey.
The former Vancouver Canucks Assistant Coach was canned this summer when Marc Crawford was gassed and then new Head Coach Alain Vigneault decided to get rid of the two assistants Crawford had, which included McIIhargey.
McIIhargey is now a scout with the Canucks, so he still remains in the organization.
But let's set things straight here!
The media source that opened up this can of worms by suggesting Truitt was being canned and is going to be replaced by McIIhargey is a total joke.
Where did that come from?
I know there has been speculation that Truitt would be in trouble if the team didn't make the playoffs, but GM Bruce Hamilton said it many times when asked the question if he'd replace the coach.
The answer was no!
And to say that if Truitt was let go that McIIhargey would be his replacement is totally out of left field.
If we are going to make stupid assumptions on who is going to be the next coach of the Rockets, why don't we throw Howie Meekers name out there.

Oh sure he's retired, he's getting up in years, but 'golly gee' he could make the guys play hard couldn't he?
He lives in Vancouver, so Howie could fly in for all the games.
Absurd right? Of course.
Freedom of speech is a good thing, but when media groups that have no clue on what is happening with the internal workings of an organization, and throw names out there for the sake of stiring the pot, I have just one thing to say.
Stick to news reporting!

I had to laugh at some comments Bruce Hamilton made in a Kelowna Daily Courier article last week about fighting.
N.H.L Commissioner Gary Bettman had just beaten his chest stating that he thinks fighting should remain a part of the game despite an incident that saw Flyers forward Todd Fedoruk get clocked by Rangers enforcer Colton Orr.
The Courier wanting to get a local angle on fighting and spoke to Hamilton, who said he was against it.
What?
Against fighting?
Hamilton built his team on toughness in the 90's when the club relocated from Tacoma to Kelowna to play in the small confines of the Memorial Arena.
Fighting came first - if you won the game at the end of the night - BONUS.
Look at the roster of the Rockets in 1996-97 if you want an example of 'team toughness'.
Scott Parker, Kris Malette, Todd Fedoruk. Ray Schultz and Justin Jack.
Can you imagine seeing all five of those guys out on the ice at the same time? You'd soil your pants if you had to lineup against those five.
If everyone dropped the gloves, I'd make a beeline to the goalie hoping he would be my dance partner.
That team from 1996-97 had 11 players over 200 pounds.
Back then the Rockets didn't win many games, but many fans stayed for the entire game just to see the fights.
Hamilton has assembled a much more skilled team over the years, and the results have shown with championships banners that now hang above the Prospera Place ice.
But I had to chuckle when I read that he was against the hand-to-hand combat, when his team led the charge when it came to fisticuffs in the mid 90's.
I guess the game has changed over the years, so Bruce is allowed to change his mindset on the way the game should be played too.

I can hear it now.
Fire the coach of the Swift Current Broncos if they are eliminated tonight in game five of their playoff series with the Pats.
Granted Dean Chynoweth is 18 and 24 lifetime in the playoffs, so his track record of success won't win him a lot of confidence votes to stick around, but doesn't the problem not fall with the scouting?
Since 1999, the Broncos haven't exactly been world beaters at the bantam draft.
Scott Scherger in 99, Torrie Wheat in 2000, David Schulz in 2001 and Ryan Sawka in 2002 are examples of four consecutive years of less than stellar 1st round picks.
The only saving grace from the 1999 draft was the Broncos picked Jeremy Williams and Ian White as late as they did.
The 2001 draft wasn't a total right off as the Broncos picked Kyle Moir in the 3rd round.
While fans will be calling for Chynoweth's head if the Broncos falter in the playoffs, you have to remember the old saying 'you can't win a battle if you don't have the soldiers', which may describe the predicament Chynoweth is in thanks to continuous miscues at the draft table.
The Broncos have had some success in drafting Paul Postma and Geordie Wudrick with 1st round picks in 2004 and 2005, but those players will be future impact guys.
Bronco fans wanting instant gratification will say those players are projected to be good, but they don't want a winner down the road - they want one now.

This guy doesn't look very happy does he?
Does he look vaguely familiar?
Kinda looks like Kyle Cumiskey doesn't he?
His brother played with the Kelowna Rockets.
Still can't get it?
It's Kyle Cumiskey's brother Clayton who played this season in the BCHL with the Williams Lake Wolverines.
Cumiskey, who just turn 17 10 days ago, is a draft pick of the Swift Current Broncos in the 6th round of the 2005 WHL bantam draft.
Clayton had 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points in 60 games in his rookie season.
Remember he was playing with a pretty bad team in Williams Lake that won just 18 games.
Maybe Clayton will play with the Broncos next season and turn that frown upside down!

Maybe he looks so sad in the picture because someone told Clayton it was ok to wear a back t-short under a white dress shirt?
Remember Clayton never take fashion tips from your brother Kyle, never!