Go support your local junior team

Viper in Vancouver · Post by **Viper in Vancouver** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:18 am

I just got back from the Vancouver vs Red Deer game. These games are actually pretty good. There was around 8000 people at the game, which is pretty good. Everything is way cheaper than the NHL, there is way more fighting, and the players work their asses off for only a couple of hundred bucks a month. Screw the NHL, and support the guys who play the game for the right reasons

JD · Post by JD » Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:22 pm

Well, I've been to several Hitmen games this year, and while it might be that the Hitmen squad has a few primma donnas on it, but those guys certainly DO NOT work their asses off. I've seen more effort in pickup shinny.

And the ironic thing is, any profits the Hitmen make go directly to the Calgary Flames.

Maybe I'll go see a Rockets game while I'm in Kelowna this weekend.

Hapday · Post by **Hapday** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:13 pm

JD wrote: And the ironic thing is, any profits the Hitmen make go directly to the Calgary Flames.

Seriously? I thought Brett Hart owned them. He just a 'window dressing' owner?

JD · Post by JD » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:07 pm

When the Hitmen were established, the ownership group consisted of Theoren Fleury, Joe Sakic, the Hitman himself, and probably other less-famous individuals.

They weren't making money, as they were playing some games in the old Corral, and the Stampede Board was asking a lot to have them play in the Saddledome. Can't remember all the details, but they were looking to sell. The Flames saw it as a perfect opportunity for them. And now that they control the Saddledome all by themselves (since 2000, when the Stampede Board relinquished it to them), it creates a chance for them to fill their building 40 more nights a year.

Bret Hart can still be seen at Hitmen games fairly regularly, though he is no longer an owner.

Viper in Vancouver · Post by **Viper in Vancouver** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:00 pm

The Hitmen are ten games above 500, so they must be doing something right. It sucks for them, that they're in a tough division

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 8:51 pm

Too bad us folks in the southwest don't have major junior. Been to about 10 ECHL games this season, its unfortunate that the Long Beach Ice Dogs don't get much in fan support. (1,000 a game if they are lucky, plus for me its almost the same distance driving as it is to Staples Center.)

JD · Post by JD » Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:20 pm

Viper in Vancouver wrote:The Hitmen are ten games above 500, so they must be doing something right. It sucks for them, that they're in a tough division

The Hitmen are extremely talented. At the start of the season, they were ranked top 5 in the country. I haven't had a good look at the standings, but I doubt they're top 5 in the WHL, let alone the country. They've not met expectations.

That said, they're improving, and it's likely the playoffs will bring out a better effort.

I think the biggest problem is that their leader, Ryan Getzlaf, likes to put in half-asses efforts on most nights. The guy is loaded with talent, but doesn't always put his best foot forth. It's rubbing off on guys like Ladd. Doesn't mean they can't be fun to watch at least once a night though.

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 7:42 am

Bwahahaha, Getzlaf is a Sucks prospect, that team has a dismal record of drafting good players. (save for Kariya)