WHL 1st round Flops/Chynoweth Inks New Deal

Dean Chynoweth's work isn't done in Swift Current.
As reported on Jon Keen's blog www.jonkeen.blogspot.com ,Chynoweth has been given a three year contract extension to remain as the Broncos coach.
While the deal hasn't been technically signed, the two sides have agreed in principle on the new contract.
Bronco fans were calling for Chynoweth's head over the course of the season yet despite a 6 game opening round playoff series loss to Regina, the nay-sayer's went into hiding.
While I can't speak on Chynoweth's performance behind the bench of the Broncos, I have only heard good things about his involvement in the community.
Instead of hiding from the fans Chynoweth has made several public appearances outside of just hockey events which is crucial in a small market.
To me that shows that Chynoweth is committed to the organization and the community at large, and his time in Swift Current isn't being used as just a quick pit stop to pad his coaching resume. Of course he wants to move on to bigger and better things down the road but his desire to contribute to the on-ice product and the community has not gone unnoticed, at least to this broadcaster who is situated on the other side of the Rockies.

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Being the first overall selection in the WHL bantam pick has it's drawbacks.
It comes with tons of pressure as you are essentially being hailed as the best player in your age group in Western Canada (or the United States), and are expected to be a franchise player down the road.
Yet over the years the first player selected has struggled and hasn't lived up to the high expectations placed upon him.
Look no further than to the 2004 draft where the Prince George Cougars picked Ryan Kerr.
Kerr struggled and eventually was dealt to Lethbridge.
Jonathon Toews was picked 1st overall in 2003 by the Tri Cities but went the NCAA route. He wouldn't have been a bust, but the fact that the Americans failed to sign him to a WHL contract was essentially a wasted pick.
Vancouver didn't miss in 2002 with Gilbert Brule, and Kyle Chipchura was a pretty good selection by the Prince Albert Raiders in 2001.
Big misses over the years include Jarret Smith who was picked by the Cougars with the 1st overall selection in 1994.
Smith scored no more than 20 goals a season for the Cougars before he was dealt to Prince Albert where he had 27 goals in his final season of junior.
Adam Smith was the Tacoma Rockets 1st overall pick in 1991. Smith was a d-man who was a 3rd round pick of the Rangers but had no more than 23 points in one season in his time in Tacoma and Kelowna.
In his last season in K-Town in 1995-96 he had 23 points in 67 games.
Whoever is picked 1st overall on Thursday will face an immense amount of pressure but that player will have likely played pressure packed hockey over the last couple of years leading up to the WHL draft.
The pressure from here on in will only get greater!
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Former Rocket Blake Comeau is getting high praise from the New York Islanders.
This is what Bridgeport coach Jack Capuano had to say about Comeau after his first season of pro hockey.
"Blake is a power forward and a good body checker. He plays a physical style, contributed offensively and did everything we asked of him this season. Blake is a high-character person. He's a great team guy and leader who loves to come to the rink every day. Blake competed hard all the time and was a pleasure to be around. Even while he was injured during the second half of the season, he continued to have a positive influence in the locker room."

Islanders head coach Ted Nolan: "He does all the little things intelligently and has got good composure for a young kid," said Nolan. "Blake has won championships in the past, so he knows what it's like to play on winning teams. He is going to have a great future in this organization, but still has a little growing to do."

At 21 years old, Comeau will report to his third Islanders prospect camp over the summer in hopes of making the Islanders squad following training camp in September.
"Two things he needs to improve upon are continue to move his feet, and get rid of the puck a little quicker," said Capuano. "Blake is working hard to get to the next level."
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I think I've made it clear on this blog that as a kid I listened to the radio more than I watched TV. I was a radio junkie and listened to every local sportscast possible.
I would often listen to Magic 94, which was an FM station in Swift Current who had a sportscaster by the name of Dale Corey.
Corey had a feature that ran in the afternoon called the 'Southwest Sports Beat '. It was designed to update the listener on sports happenings throughout Southwest Saskatchewan.
On one particular afternoon I was listening intently when Corey mispronounced the name of a community called Simmie (sim-ee). Corey pronounced it si-me.
He then paused disgustedly before saying it correctly. But then he went on by saying slowly 'Simmie - Si-me before blurting out F**K!!!'
To my shock the profanity came clearly over the airwaves before the afternoon announcer (Al Stevens) quickly came on the air - stopped the taped segment and attempted to smooth it over like nothing had happened.
It was that one incident that taught me radio broadcaster lesson #65. Do not swear near a microphone.
Even if you are taping something for re-broadcast, it's best to keep your mouth shut rather than have words coming out of your mouth that you'd rather avoid.
In Corey's case he likely thought the taped feature had been erased, only in horror to find out it somehow made it's way onto the airwaves that afternoon.
Dale Corey not only provided me with a chuckle that day, but provided a life lesson on what not to do in front of an open mic.