Mike Card will likely play the rest of the season with the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League.
Card was sent down by the Buffalo Sabres American Hockey League affiliate March 30th.
Card finds himself playing alongside former Western Hockey Leaguer's like Dan Baum (PG), Dustin Johner, (Seattle), Adam Taylor (Kootenay) and Jarett Lukin (Kamloops).
Card began the season with the Sabres A.H.L farm team before playing 4 games with the big team earlier this season.
From the NHL to the East Coast League - talk about highs and lows in Cards first year of pro hockey!
Remember Paul Albers?
The former Vancouver Giants d-man has been named to the all-rookie team in the East Coast Hockey League this season.
Albers of the Texas Wildcatters has 42 points in 67 games this season, and made an appearance at the E.C.H.L All-star game.
Albers has already signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild.
The Melville, Saskatchewan resident had 62 points in 71 games from the Giants blueline last season, helping Vancouver to their first Western Hockey League title.
Albers led all defenseman in scoring in the W.H.L last season.
Speaking of the Minnesota Wild, they've called up former Tri City American d-man Shawn Belle from Houston of the American Hockey League.
Chuck Kobasew's season may be over.
The former Rocket remains hampered by post-concussion-syndrome and remains out of the Boston Bruins lineup.
Kobasew has missed the last 5 games with the Bruins, and isn't expected to return anytime soon. The good news for Kobasew, is the Bruins won't make the playoffs so he has the entire off season to heal.
Pro hockey is never easy.
Just ask former Rockets d-man Clayton Barthel.
Barthel has been a scratch for the Phoenix Roadrunners the last three games.
Barthel signed a deal with the East Coast Hockey League team after the Rockets season was over, and played in two games March 24th and 28th before sitting on the sidelines.
Western Hockey League playoffs - round two begin this weekend, and after being correct on all but one series in round one (I went with my heart on the Broncos upsetting Regina), I feel even more confident in round two.
Here are my predictions as we are now down to 8 teams fighting for the league title.
Everett vs. Prince George:
The Cougars are coming off what many people predicted would be a first round series win over Kamloops.
But they disposed of the Blazers so quickly, they will have had 9 days to rest before game one against the Tips.
It's too long!!
A road team need to make an impression early in a series, and game one is usually the one to steal.
But having that much time off may heal bumps and a bruises, but the Cougars are going to be as rusty as a nail sitting out in the rain for game one.
Everett is just too strong, and will make the Cougars pay by taking advantage of a suspect defense.
I am hoping the Cougars give them a series, but I say Tips in 5 games.
Vancouver vs. Seattle
Sorry Derek Yeomans, your junior career comes to an end here.
The Giants sleepwalked through the opening round series with Chilliwack, but will take this T-Bird team seriously after knocking off a pretty good team in Tri City in round one.
The Giants will look to nullify T-Bird heart and soul man Aaron Gagnon, and have the depth to do it.
The only way Seattle has a chance to win this series is if:
A)Yeomans stands on his head
B) The Giants play with no emotion infront of small crowds at the Key Arena.
My second point holds more weight then you may think.
Teams that come into Seattle have a hard time getting up emotionally for games when 3 thousand odd fans are in the stands.
The T-Birds did earn 5 out of possible 6 points against the Giants at the 'Key' this season which is huge.
Don Hay will have to crack the whip to keep his team focused, but in the end the Giants prevail in 6 games.
Don't get me wrong though, this will be the best series of the two out West.
In the East it's:
Medicine Hat vs. Regina:
Pats fans, I hope you enjoyed your win over Swift Current, because your goose is going to be cooked in this series.
To much Medicine Hat will be what the announcers in Regina will have to say.
The Tigers won all four games against the Pats this season (4-0) and outscored them 17-4.
The Pats will again need great goaltending to even make this series interesting.
G.M Brent Parker can holler and scream all he wants, but it won't matter.
The Tigers have just to much talent.
I have the Tigers advancing in 5 games.
Calgary vs. Brandon:
I like this series, and frankly am at odds on who to pick.
My gutt say Calgary, but only by a slim margin.
I don't get to watch these two teams that closely over the course of the season, but feel the Hitmen have a little more skill than the mighty Wheat Kings.
This one goes 7, with the Hitmen advancing.
Parting shots:
I appreciate all the visits the other day from the fans down in Everett.
I love your building, and your souvenir shop at the arena is out of this world.
If you've never been to a game in Everett, check out the inventory they have in there.
It is everything Silvertips, from mugs to hats, to t-shirts to key chains.
Do they have Everett Silvertips toilet paper?
That store had it all man, and was I ever impressed when I visited last year.
Don't tell the Rockets, but I bought a Tips t-shirt for my nephew - 10 bucks !!!!
Kelowna resident Clayton Bauer had a great year with the Kootenay Ice, and may have resurrected his career. Picking up 52 points in 68 games this season was down right impressive, yet he fell apart in the playoffs with just one point (a goal) in 7 games.
Good to see a big crowd of over 45 hundred in Cranbrook for game 7 Wednesday night.
I guess Wednesday night bowling was cancelled, and the citizens of Cranny had nothing else to do but to head to the rink?
Shaw cable has decided to broadcast all of the games involving the Giants-T-Birds series.
Like that's a shock?
Shaw can get all hot and bothered over the Giants in this series, and T-Bird fans won't even care.
While Giants fans watch the series at home, T-Bird fans won't receive the same luxury because the series isn't picked up by a cable provider there.
It's obvious why Shaw picked up this series - distance.
Prince George vs. Everett and Calgary vs. Brandon would have been a nightmare.
Regina vs. Medicine Hat wasn't even considered.
While they aren't that far geographically, the viewership will be far less than what they will get out of the city of Vancouver alone.
Shaw has to now cross their fingers hoping the Canucks playoffs don't conflict.
They should be relatively ok for the first three games as the Stanley Cup playoffs don't begin until April 11th, which is game 4 of the Giants-T-Birds series.
2 comments:
Hi Steve. First of all thanks for the kind words and the visit to this site.
Just excuse the grammatical errors I make.
Let me say talking about the game on the radio is easier than writing about it.
I feel for you this season as a Hawks fan.
If you still are one, you should be commended.
It's easy to jump on board when things are going great, but when the team is taking it's lumps and you are still there, I tip my hat to you.
Good to here you can see the games down there in Portland.
Can you cheer for the T-Birds??
That wouldn't be right would it??
I would like to get your take on what you see from the Hawks next season.
From what I've heard, it doesn't look good?
Your take on the team would be interesting.
Steve some good thoughts there. I will be totally honest with you when I spoke to two WHL coaches (I will leave them nameless) who's teams played the Hawks late in the year and both said the young players on the Hawks are not as good as the young players on the Rockets. Outside of Sceviour, these two coaches would agree with you, that next season will be another looooong one if some changes are not made to improve the on ice product.
Your distaste for Everett is almost league wide. They won't win many popularity contests, and frankly I don't think they care.
Post a Comment