YouTube Tuesday

There has been no news from the Everblades lately. It would be nice if the off season would hurry up and end. To hold you over until October, enjoy this odd goal.

Friday Links

Here's your late afternoon serving of some piping hot Friday links.

- I was aware they had an ice hockey league in England, I just didn't care. Now that they have one of my favorite players it's time for me (and all of you) to read up. Your Wikipedia hockey page- "Elite Ice Hockey League".

- This is a pretty cool ranking of all the goalies in the AHL. Our affiliates goalies did pretty well, Albany's Justin Peters is 10th, and Rochester's Alexander Salak is 18th. The AHL goalies we've had did not fair as well, Barry Brust is on the list at 61, and Chris Beckford-Tseu is on at 102 (which is not fair considering he's spent most of the year here).

- I'm not into hockey cards at all, but I think the picture of the player on the card should be hockey related. A Tractor? Really?

- I must find $450. I must have this!

- This is a funny list of the top ten best mustaches in hockey history.

- If you haven't heard yet, Brooks Laich is the nicest dude in the whole world.

- I think it's love...

Goodbye Brad Zanon

(I'll post the Friday links later this afternoon. Right now, we mourn the loss of Big Red)

I'm not going to gloat about being right about one of the players I suggested may not return signing with another team. Sadly, I was right about Brad Zanon. He's off to England to play for the Coventry Blaze.

You can check out these stories (here and here). Basically, the coach liked what he saw when Red was playing college, they love his numbers, and he'll have the opportunity to go to college. You have to be proud of the guy choosing to further his education, at some point every hockey player has to retire and find a normal job. I'm a little upset that this team can offer a deal like this and we can't, even though we have a university pretty much across the street!

I'm happy for him, but I'm sad we're losing one of the most dependable defensemen on the roster for the last two seasons. It is also bit sad that the Zanon/Thelen line has been split up.

The only thing I have left to say is this- You have been blessed with the greatness of a Zanon Coventry, you better appreciate it. (You need to come back Metclaf. I'm not putting up with a bunch of rookies and Thelen)

No More Cameron

I'm having some minor Internet issues at the moment (do yourself a favor and don't ever use HughesNet). Until I can get it working, i'm just throwing up this quick post.

The Everblades announced today that Coach Malcom Cameron has resigned. I don't think anyone is really too suprised after how this season has gone. I'm not going to celebrate him not coming back next season, but I am going to admit I'm very relieved. From what I have heard many of the players were not happy with his coaching style. Some even chose to go to other teams, or not even play, because of him. A coach that chases away players makes the organization look bad.

I'm excited that this may mean that players who left just because of him may return. It really would be so great to see Peter Metcalf come back, he was a very dependable player. It would also be nice to maybe see Steve McJannet return. Who am I kidding? It would be the best thing ever if Trouble came back.

I am worried that some guys (Zanon and Nicholson come to mind) would not want to play for another coach. I also worry that a new coach means a new system, and some players won't fit into the new style. We won't really find out what any of this means until next season starts. How much longer until next season?

*** Update! ***

Now i'm seeing rumors floating around on the Internet. One, that Cameron is headed to the AHL, most likely the Houston Aeros. I'm not teribly suprised by that. He had a good relationship with the team when he coached the Wildcatters. The Wild also fired the old coach of the Aeros recently. I would resign from an ECHL position if I had an AHL one lined up too.  The other rumor that seems to be coming from the players is that Ernie Hartlieb has expressed interest in coaching the Everblades. I'm not suprised by  the idea of Ernie as a coach, he's super popular with fans and players alike, and it's obvious he has a great mind for the game. He also has a great relationship with the Blades organization. A transition from player to coach would be easy for him. It may also explain his CallIup to the AHL as well, a kind of last hurrah and parting gift from the teams to a well liked guy.

YouTube Tuesday

There hasn't been any recent Everblades news, and probably won't be for some time. For now, enjoy this freaky goal by Drew Paris (I'm still mad about the Blades bot signing him by the way).