An Imperfect Game

An Imperfect Game.

That pretty much describes baseball.

Incredibly fast plays are made and judged by the human eye. Obviously mistakes are made occasionally and baseball even tries market that as part of the human element, and a throwback to the nostalgic days of the game’s glory days. But when an obvious play is missed, should the Major League Baseball intervene and overturn the decision?

My answer is no.

Last night (June 2, 2010), as happens ever so often, we were witness to one of the sport’s little hiccups: a blown call that happened at the most inopportune time.

Armando Galarraga achieved baseball history; pitching the major’s first ever 28 out perfect game. Galarraga was robbed of the traditional 27 out perfect game by a blatant missed call from first base umpire Jim Joyce on what would have been the final play of the game. After inducing a ground ball to second from the 27th Cleveland batter of the game, it appeared the perfect game was merely academic. That was until Joyce declared the runner safe despite Galarraga and the ball clearly reaching the base first.

The video evidence is pretty clear, and with such clear evidence we should not deny this tremendous young athlete such an extraordinary* accomplishment, right? Wrong.

The fact that this play occurred on the potential final out of a game is the only reason that people are honestly considering it. That and the fact that it involves a potentially historic event, but not the actual result of the game. Could MLB seriously consider reversing a play that would not only effect that particular play, but all those that followed? If a player was called out when he was clearly safe, ending an inning early in the game, could the play be reverse with out replaying the game from that point. You cannot assume that the game would unfold in the same manner.

It is unfortunate for sure, but doing so opens the door to any number of events that could be disputed via video review. I am all for Major League Baseball instituting a comprehensive policy regarding the usage of video review, but not in reaction to an isolated event.

Without the necessary policy in place to determine what can be reviewed and subsequently overturned, MLB should swallow this mistake. In the meantime, I will my part to remember Armando Galarraga for the greatest perfect game that never was.

As I wrote this Bud Selig decided to agree with me and not overturn the decision. I assume my consulting fee is in the mail.

*3 other perfect games in the last10 months notwithstanding.

Joel MacDougall lives in Halifax and writes about all sports local and abroad. Follow Joel on twitter @jmdougall.

Heading back to Philly; Don't Count out the Broad Street Bullies.

Chris Pronger has been a physical force for the Flyers.

When the Flyers squeezed into the playoffs just one month ago, they hoped but far from expected to be playing in the Stanley Cup finals.

On Thursday the two teams head back to Philadelphia, where the Flyers find themselves in a two game hole against a high-flying Chicago Blackhawks team. After a goal bonanza in game one, the two teams settled down and put together a defensive battle in game two that saw the Blackhawks take a 2-1 win.

The Blackhawks have won seven straight games on the road and will look to sweep for consecutive rounds when they arrive in Philadelphia.

Here are some thoughts after the first two games:

•The Philadelphia Flyers couldn’t be luckier in the long-term; they have a number of solid goaltending options with Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher currently battling it out for the starter’s job in the next game. After another strong display by Leighton, I would tip him to start Game 3.
•Daniel Carcillo got back to his antagonizing ways in Game 2 (So much so that my friend watching with me commented: I didn’t realise Avery played for the Flyers…) and look for more of the same going forward; he was able to get under the skin of Ben Eager and could be effective in knocking the young, inexperienced Chicago players off their game.
•Chris Pronger is a animal beast monster. Looking at footage from the first two games, he has manhandled Byfuglien and that’s shown up on the score board as the influential winger has 1 points so far this series and has a -2 +/- so far this series.
•I don’t think that Jeff Carter has fully recovered from the injury that almost knocked him out of the Olympics and his choice to go to Vancouver may cost his team. He has been a shadow of his normal crafty self and has only 4 goals and 2 assists, with a -2 +/- this post season.
•To be a champion you need to win when you don’t play well and that is exactly what Chicago did in game 1. They didn’t play solid defensively but still managed to out-gun the Flyers and that’s a scary thought.
•Another BIG THUMBS UP to Chris Pronger for doing whatever he can to get an edge in the psychological warfare of the playoffs. In a move that would make Jeremy Roenick proud, after both games he picked up the game puck before any Blackhawk could get near it. Now I realise you purists out there think this is a jerk move, but it’s a great way to get under the skin of a young Blackhawk team that will surely look to get back at him and might even take a penalty or two. So good on you Pronger, keep doing what you do!

Finally: Don’t count out the Broad Street Bullies.

Remember when these same Flyers had been written off after going down three games to none against the Bruins in the first round?

How about when all the pundits were saying there was ‘no chance’ those Flyers could compete with the great Halak and the blocked shot champs in Montreal?

This Philadelphia Flyers team has aged a number of seasons in this playoff stretch and they’ve already had to battle for their lives a number of times. I wouldn’t count them out just yet and look for some rough, wild and hard-hitting Flyer’s hockey in game four back at the Wachovia center.

Sticking by my prediction: Flyers winning in seven.

–

Henry Whitfield is an avid sports fan who covers everything and anything in the sports world, while focusing on hockey and football. Follow him on twitter @HenryWhitfield.

Stanley Cup Finals Analysis

Haligonia Sports contributor Henry Whitfield predicts the Flyers will defeat Chicago in 7 Games.

It’s wild to think that just a few weeks ago the season was winding down. The Toronto Maple Leafs were already golfing, Ottawa Senator and Montreal Canadiens fans thought they had a shot at going all the way and the Philadelphia Flyers squeaked into the playoffs by a nose.

Flash forward in true "Lost" fashion and we now sit with a matchup of what a month ago would have been called a ‘David verse Goliath” battle.

Goliath being the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks who were looking for a solid goaltending all season and have finally found it in young Antti Niemi and the resurgent Broad Street Bullies who have huffed and puffed to get their way to the finals.

In a new twist, here are my 5 keys to the series and then you will find my prediction for this series:

•Goaltending Matchup – Big GIGANTIC surprise Finish flash Antti Niemi goes head to head with even bigger surprise Canadian Michael Lieghton. Niemi sits with a 921 save %, while Lieghton holds a sterling 948. The Canuck also takes the GAA category with a 1.45 versus the Fins 2.33. Throw in the factor that the Philadelphia had three shutouts in the last round and were able to beat the shotblocking kings at their own game last round, I will throw advantage to the Flyers.

•Bridesmaid syndrome - Always the bridesmaid and never the bride? Marian Hossa has been on the losing end of a Stanley Cup series for the last two years seasons and it may just be time for that to change. He has averaged just under 18-minutes of ice time a game but after three rounds has just 2 goals. Two goals?! With 51 shots taken he now holds a 3.9% shooting average. He is also second on the Blackhawks in Penalty minutes with 21 already, and he has shown a lack of composure that is out of character. Another disappointing performance from him in the playoffs will to finish with Hossa wondering the eternal question: Who’s can I jump to next.

•The Buff Factor – Raise your hand if you’re sick of hearing about Dustin Byfuglien. Perfect. Well, get ready to stop seeing his name on the score sheet. The truck of a man has been busy sitting in front of nets all playoffs; getting up close and personal with both Roberto Luongo and Evgeni Nabokov, easily getting the better of both. However, the Flyershave one asset that will help even the battle: Chris Pronger. The defensive talisman of the bullies will be tasked with clearing out the garbage in front of Leighton and make no mistake, he will manhandle the Big

Buff

The Old workhorse – Chris Pronger is getting old and entering the twilight of his career. He has been to the finals of the Stanley Cup three times in recent years and there will only be a few more opportunities for him to win the Holy Grail of hockey. The 35-year-old, 6’6″, 220 pound Canadian defencemen has his eyes set on another ring, so look for him to play like a man possessed and be a key factor in this series.

•Home Ice Advantage - In a series that many think will go seven games, the issue of home ice advantage can be key to lifting the cup. The Flyers have scored 28 goals at home, with just 14 against. On the other hand they scored 26 on the road and allowed 22 against. The Blackhawks 21 at home and allowed 23 against, while scoring a big 32 on the road and allowed just 17 against. What does this mean? Maybe nothing, maybe everything. But if you’re looking at home-ice advantage, the Blackhawks have been outscored at home in these playoffs there and maybe it’s the edge the Flyers need?
So with all that out-of-the-way, it comes down to this: My prediction is…

The Philadelphia Flyers will stun the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games.


Henry Whitfield lives in Halifax and is an avid sports fan who covers everything and anything in the sports world, while focusing on hockey and football. Follow him on twitter @HenryWhitfield.

Big American Market vs. Big American Market = Success for NHL

by Joel Mac Dougall

While I’m sure Gary Bettman had considered either restructuring the playoff format or moving Washington the Western Conference to try and get a Crosby v. Ovechkin Stanley Cup Final, he should be quite satisfied with what he has ended up with.

With the Chicago Blackhawks facing the Philadelphia Flyers in the final, the NHL gets the 3rd and 4th largest television markets pitted against one another. Both cities have passionate fan bases that will certainly be ramped up for the action. But Cup Fever could spread across the U.S. as both cities can draw on historical allegiances as long time members of the NHL fraternity.

It also doesn’t hurt that some of the best playoff hockey in years in being watched by our good friends to the south in record numbers.

[NBC] playoff coverage of the first three rounds drew an average overnight rating of 1.5 for the nine playoff games the network televised. This was up 14% from last year’s eight games, which averaged a 1.3.

I don’t know what all the numbers mean, but I am sure you can get a better education from Puck the Media. More people in Chicago watched the Hawks eliminate the Sharks in the afternoon, than the series finale of LOST and The Apprentice during prime time. All I know is, what they’re saying sounds like money in the bank for the NHL. Especially considering that ESPN has been kicking the tires about getting back into the hockey racket.

The NHL has long tried to sell its wares to U.S. audiences with marquee names with high skill level. The hype machine has been going full bore since both Crosby and Ovechkin entered the league. Beyond those two however, little has been done in promoting other high level talents by the local market in which they played. Finally U.S. hockey fans will get a better chance to see some of the most exciting young players in the league, they may have been introduced to during the Olympics.

Having the rejuvenated Chicago Blackhawks franchise led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane facing off against the Mike Richards and Jeff Carter led Flyers will just continue the stream of quality hockey.

Names may get people interested, but if you really want them to keep watching, you have to give them a quality product. Both teams feature high-end talent that can dazzle, but aren’t afraid to play the physical brand of hockey needed for a long playoff run. While the Wings and Pens gave us great drama the last couple of years, this series could surpass that by the intensity and excitement in each game. At least, that what I hope for.

Is it Saturday yet?

Joel MacDougall lives in Halifax and writes about all sports, both local and abroad. His website can be found at http://route19.wordpress.com/

NHL Playoffs Round 3 Roundup

The Future is now for the young and talented Blackhawks.

by Henry Whitfield

As a die-hard Toronto Maple Leaf fan (havent made the playoffs in 5 seasons), and season ticket holder for the Halifax Mooseheads (last in the QMJHL for the past two seasons), I am used to disappointments.

The third round of the playoffs took that to a whole new level.

I chose to jump on the bandwagons of both the Montreal Canadiens and the San Jose Sharks only to be rewarded with two lopsided series – going in favour of the other team.

The West – San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (2)

The San Jose Sharks got swept in convincing fashion by the Chicago Blackhawks, a demise I predicted last round here against the Detroit Redwings, but obviously the hockey Gods just wanted to torture me some more. They never really competed and I’d be surprised if Evgeni Nabakov ever plays another game for the Sharks. The question remains if the Sharks will gut their top line and trade the ‘big name players’ who are constant no-shows in the playoffs.

My Pick: San Jose in 7

Actual Result: Chicago in 4

The East – Philadelphia Flyers (7) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)

The Cinderella story had to end sometime; too bad it shattered after I picked the Canadiens to win this series.

Jaroslav Halak had been the goaltending standout in the 2010 playoffs until Michael Leighton swiftly stole that title with three shutouts against the Canadiens. While he put up a brick wall on the backend, his scorers went to work booking a place in the Stanley Cup finals for a team that didn’t make the playoffs until the last day of the regular season.

I genuinely felt bad for the Habs as they looked physically exhausted out there against the Flyers, who threw their body around and made their presence felt. After beating two of the best teams in the league, Washington and Pittsburgh, it didn’t seem that the Canadiens had any gas left in the tank and they were never really in this series.

My Pick: Montreal In 6

Actual Result: Philadelphia in 5

MVP Of The Round – Michael Leighton stole this and ran away with it. He posted three shutouts against the Habs, and has quickly shown that the Flyers backup goalie can get it done. We’ll wait and see if he can get it done against the high-powered Chicago offence, but for now I’ll let him enjoy his MVP performance.

The No Show – I was going to say the Habs entire roster, but they won a game, so clearly for the second time this series it is a tie between Marleau, Thorton and Heatley. Where were you guys? Pavelski didn’t pick up the slack and the Sharks got swept. I feel a change is coming in San Jose and a real shake up needs to happen.

Most Goals – Even though his team is out, Michael Cammalleri still leads with 13 goals, that are four better than the next best total.

Most Assists – Jonathan Toews continued his offensive success this post season and leads with 19 assists in these playoffs.

Most Points – Jonathan Toews also leads the overall points with 26 points, which is five better than Flyers Captain Mike Richards who sits at 21 points.

Henry Whitfield lives in Halifax and is an avid sports fan who covers everything and anything in the sports world, while focusing on hockey and football. Follow him on twitter @HenryWhitfield.

What To Yell to a Marathoner and Other Random Thoughts from the Blue Nose

This past sunday I participated in the Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax. It was a lot of fun and the race seems to be getting better each year.

Below are some random thoughts and observations from my experience on Sunday.

1)You should never yell "You're Almost there" to a marathoner who is only a few kilometers or less away from the finish line. This seems like an encouraging thing to say, but at this stage of the race each step for the runner is sheer agony. The finish line is all the runner can think about and telling him he's almost there fills his head with false hope that his anguish may soon be over.

2)Yelling "Looking strong" is the best thing to say to a runner. For some reason this encouraging statement always gives me a boost, especially when I know I look anything but strong.

3)People in Dartmouth are really nice. Not that the Halifax supporters weren't great, but the folks on the other side of the harbour were special and so genuine.

4)Shubie Park is beautiful. Perhaps the highlight of the marathon is the 20 minute stretch through Shubie.

5)Never underestimate the adrenaline rush of race day.

6)Hard working course marshals are a god send. You would think that pointing and yelling "this way" would not be a big deal, but the marshals who take it seriously and try to do a good job are highly appreciated by marathoners. When I'm on mile 22 and I'm starting to have visions and feel like I'm going to fall down at any moment, I need that coarse marshall yelling at the top of their lungs and pointing dramatically. The guy leaning on a post and pointing with his finger...not as helpful.

7)Blasting "I'm in Miami Bitch" on a speaker the size of Theodore Tugboat at the entrance to Point Pleasant may not be the best thing. I could literally feel the sound push me back as I ran past the dj booth from a local radio station. Good intentions, but may need to be fine tuned.

8)"Give' er Hill" at about mile 24 in Dartmouth is a cruel, cruel joke. One of the friendly folks from Dartmouth yelled, " What did you think of the hill " after I made it to the top. I still have no idea what I said but I doubt it was coherent. He laughed regardless.

9)It's not shameful to take walk breaks on the back half. This was a strict no no for me but I finally broke down and walked a few times during the last five miles. I felt much better about it when I noticed the people running in front of me weren't getting any further away.

10)Running without headphones is the only way to do a marathon. I know every runner has their own philosophy but I just think by listening to loud music the entire way you're really missing out. All the shouts of encouragement, clapping, and the sound of runners coming up behind you, is what makes the event so special. Plus you shut yourself off from conversation with other runners. If you're going to be running for 4 hours you may as well talk to people to pass the time.

11)Always latch on to an older marathoner who knows what their doing. One of the most difficult things when running a marathon is pacing yourself. I always try to find a runner who I can tell has ran a lot of marathons and has a good pace. Then I stick to them like glue for as long as possible. If they want to keep to themselves, I'll stay 15 feet behind. More often than not they're up for exchanging war stories of past marathons and will give you a lot of great secrets.

This year I met up with a 51 year old man named Wendall from Chilliwack, B.C. Wendall had qualified for the Boston Marathon a month earlier in Vancouver. Not only was his pace perfect for running beside but the conversation was outstanding. Wendall pulled away on me around mile 16 and finished with a time of 3:47. Looking strong Wendall!

12)I do not like running in heat. Give me that cold and wet weather of previous Blue Nose Marathons anyday.

13)Breaking up the start times was a brilliant idea. It makes sense for all competitors. 10K speedsters don't have to worry about slow but steady marathoners, and 1/2 marathoners are able to finish their races without so much human traffic like there has been in previous years. A great idea that shows the Blue nose committee is very committed to making the event better every year.

14)How great was the kids run on saturday. I went out to cheer on my friend's son and it was a lot of fun. It helped that the weather was fantastic.

15)Thanks to SMU Director of Athletics, Steve Sarty, for giving haligonia.ca a plug as I ran by his family. Go Huskies!

Finally, there wasn't a lack of water stations....but about 15 more would be perfect.

Bill McLean lives in Halifax and has been running for several years. Listen to Bill McLean Sports Show every tuesday at 10:30 am on ckdu.ca or 88.1 FM. Email bill@haligonia.ca.

Where's the Love for Sid the Kid?

Haligonia Sports contributor Henry Whitfield comes to the defence of Sidney Crosby.

Another Bandwagon, CROSBY BASHING?

With the Stanley Cup in full swing and the playoffs down to just four remaining teams, it would make sense that even with his team out of the playoffs that the “Lets Bash Crosby” bandwagon would still be in full effect.

Heck, let’s ignore the fact that the Blackhawks have a two game lead over the number one team in the league, or that the Habs just came back in a huge way against the Flyers with a 5-1 win tonight.

Instead, let’s do what hockey fans do best and bash on a young talent who has done nothing but give his heart and soul to the NHL, Canada and hockey fans across North America.

The kid is just 23 years old and this is what his resume looks like:

•Silver World Junior Medal (2004)•Gold World Junior Medal (2005)
•Art Ross Trophy (2007)
•Hart Memorial Trophy (2007)
•Lester B. Pearson Award (2007)
•Stanley Cup Finals (2008/2009)
•Stanley Cup Ring (2009)
•Olympic Gold Medal (2010)
•Rocket Richard Trophy (2010)
I won’t get into the countless records he’s also broken, but in his first five years in the NHL he has played 371 games, scored 183 goals, made 323 assists and in total has 506 points.

But somehow fans still find the need to bash on the Canadian Hero who won helped make the dream possible in Vancouver and win the country Olympic Gold.

When groups like the IIHF come out and bash Sidney Crosby for not going to their World Championship, it’s clearly not about the hockey. The IIHF World Championship has only ever drawn North American attention when it is hosted in North America, without big names coming to play when it is held overseas they lose out. I can only assume this is the reason for their recent media temper tantrum.

As sports fans we need to understand that athletes are human and they need time to recover, relax and refocus. In the last 12 months he has won the Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold and the Rocket Richard trophy, not to mention six rounds in the NHL playoffs (losing just one matchup).

Sid will win Canada plenty more Gold at the international stage and hopefully add to his already overfull trophy case, so give the kid a break and let him enjoy summer off.

While you’re at it, how about we focus on hockey that’s being played and enjoy a playoffs that has been full of excitement, upsets and big games.

**Editors Note: The IIHF has since come out and apologize for including Sidney Crosby in their press release bashing players for not coming to the IIHF championship.

–

Henry Whitfield is an avid sports fan who covers everything and anything in the sports world, while focusing on hockey and football. Follow him on twitter @HenryWhitfield.

Bluenose Here I Come!

The BlueNose Marathon Runs Sunday at 9:00

Article by Joel MacDougall

Prior to last week, it had been a long time since I had seriously run.

My father is an avid runner and I remember doing the kids’ “Fun Run” at some of the local circuit races he attended and even doing a 10k with him for charity.

As I got a bit older, I tried out for the track team, more for the day off of school than anything else. The “goal” of running was not always apparent to me, aside from getting from one place to another.

I have typically preferred to get my physical activity through competitive team sport like hockey, basketball, volleyball, softball, etc., etc.

Recently I began running again and it felt so good that I have registered to do the 5 km run during the Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon this weekend.Often one to make a claim that I will do something and then not follow through, I figured signing up for an actual race, would be the push I needed to get myself going.

I have noticed improvements in my own ability after only a couple of times out. The first run I took, I was happy to complete it in a relatively decent time, but I would have been satisfied with any time really. My next outing was a bit of a disappointment compared to the first. I had not properly stretched following the first run, and I was quite stiff for the next few days, and that led to a slower time. Lesson learned though. My most recent outing came after several attempt to get out were thwarted by various distractions, but my body felt good, and I felt I could have pushed myself a bit harder.

I am starting small with the 5k, but I hope to get up to a 10k in the near future and then start trying to improve my times. Since I have put in only minimal training so far, completion is my only goal for Sunday. Okay that’s not entirely true; I’d like to crack the 30 minute mark, but my point is that I won’t be disappointed if it takes me longer.

I still like to participate in competitive sports, I have found that taking 30 minutes to an hour on my own for a run offers the flexibility to go when I want or can. It has also provided me an opportunity to step away from stresses of work and day-to-day tasks and focus solely one putting one foot in front of the other.

One final note about my run on Sunday is that I am accepting donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in Canada and the more we do to understand them the fewer friends and family we will have to lose. Please visit my page on the Scotiabank Charity Challenge to show your support.

I’ll let you know how I did or you can follow @JMDougall on Twitter to get immediate results.

Joel MacDougall lives in Halifax and writes about all sports, both local and abroad. His website can be found at http://route19.wordpress.com/.

Dalhousie Women Add Eight Recruits

(Photo Credit: Nick Pearce)

--By Dylan Matthias

The Dalhousie Tigers women's soccer team will be a bit deeper come September. Head coach Jack Hutchison has added eight new players.

Headlining the list is versatile defender Andie Vanderlaan and attacking wingers Bianca Jakisa and Sheena Cayer.

Hutchison has also added defensive midfielders Stacey DeLuca, Madie Greig, and Sam Claude. Daphne Wallace, a striker, and central midfield player Kayla Merriman round out the group.

"They're not being thrown into the fire," says Hutchison. "The recruits coming in this year will really have the benefit of not being pressured into major minutes."
They do give the Tigers a bit more versatility. Hutchison describes Cayer, of Missasauga, Ontario, as an attacking specialist. Her presence will allow strikers Kate MacDonald and Katie Richard more space.

"If we score 30 goals, it's not going to be three players scoring ten goals each, I think you're going to see six people scoring five goals. You can stop one, maybe two people on our team, but there's two or three others who are more than willing to put the ball in the back of the net."

Players like Cayer and Janiska are likely a year or so away, but will give the Tigers diversity for now.

"What we've looked for in our recruiting are people who have the ability to play with the ball at their feet--people who can knock the ball around.

The group lacks any transfer players, although the Tigers do have four capable fifth year players already in their system.

"What's promising from a coaching perspective is that we have the nucleus of the team back next year, plus we feel, with the people coming in, the standard is higher than it has been in the past. Everybody will have to work harder to keep the position they had and the time on the field they had. It should force everybody to be better."

Hutchison says he's recruiting for 2011, when the Tigers will be without MacDonald, Richard, and Jeanette Huck.

"We're recruiting this year for next year.... The recruits can come in with a much more relaxed adjustment and initiation into the AUS."

Hutchison says that strategy avoids panic recruitment. They have time to scout and properly develop players.

Greig is coming off knee surgery she underwent last December. Hutchison says she should be ready, although some players can take up to two years to fully recover from a knee injury.

Dylan Matthias is the incoming sports editor at the Dalhousie Gazette. He runs Dal Soccer Live on the side to provide more in-depth coverage of AUS and ACAA soccer. He has been a Toronto FC fan since Danny Dichio scored the team's first ever goal. It showed him the magic of soccer.

Cam Russell....Seriously?

This week the Halifax Mooseheads announced they had re-signed GM and Coach Cam Russell to a contract extension, keeping the former NHL player around until the end of next season and although this isn’t a big surprise, it will be upsetting to Moosehead fans in the manner it was announced.

Apparently Cam was re-signed last month but the team chose not to announce it, similar to the resigning of Marcel Patenaude in the 2007/2008 season, where they announced him signing a new contact a mere eight months later.

It’s obvious that Bobby Smith and the management team decided to hold off on the press release due to disgruntled fans who are upset with the job that Cam has been doing behind the bench.

I’ll fully disclose that I’m a full-fledged, card-carrying “Cam Russell Must Go” fan club member, albeit as a GM he has been doing an okay job, as a coach he has failed to make an impact on the team and get positive results.

Here are his fantastic stats for the last four seasons as a Coach:

2006/07 – 32-31-3-4 (71pts, 14th)
2007/08 – 42-23-0-5 (89pts, 4th)
2008/09 – 19-41-3-5 (46pts, LAST)
2009/10 – 13-48-3-4 (33pts, LAST)


This gives him a total of 106-143-9-18 for a shiny winning percentage of just .384% and yet ownership is more than happy to keep him behind the bench.

Last season the Mooseheads went up and down, and then down some more. Able to pull off some surprise wins over the top teams, but failed to show up in must win games against fellow cellar dwellers.

With the junior draft fast approaching and the Moose sitting with the overall 2nd pick and six others in the top 35, Cam is under the microscope to put together a team that can compete for the Memorial Cup in the next two years.

For now I will put away the “Will trade Cam for Bag of Pucks” sign, and wait and see how next season pans out.

After two seasons in last place, Cam will need to pick it up or the fans will finally give up on him and chase him out-of-town.

Henry Whitfield is an avid sports fan who covers everything and anything in the sports world, while focusing on hockey and football. Follow him on twitter