No Holland for the tots either. Word is his Lear Jet lands today to in Helena, much to the rejoicing of his green brigade. Chimmy was chased from the pipes after the 3 quickies and I'm sure he saw more rubber last night than a French whore on Friday. The Hot Totties don't give up a lot of shots so the 48 launched at them must have made the milkshake curdle at Boeing.

Game 2 tonight back in Helena. All signs lead to a packed house. Of course not the 2700 reported out of Missoula in their only playoff game this year. How a place that has 1500 seat could have 1200 standing is a feat of modern science. Mr. Guinness should be contacted.

It looked like it might have been another rout as Helena outshot Seattle 26-2 in the first and it was legit. Despite that it was 1-1.

A really chippy game tonight as both squads upped the playoff intensity. Chimenti (sp) was good tonight for Seattle. Reminiscent of Larson for Yellowstone.

I still wish the league would do a cross-over playoff system so that the two best teams could go to Nationals. Yellowstone is (IMHO) better than Seattle, and would represent NORPAC better. Any thoughts out there?

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I would be for a 1 vs. 8 playdown. In theory, the top 2 teams should emerge. Sure the cost is there but you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want to give the best teams a chance then a 1-8 format seems like the answer.

There is something to be said for an East/West final. Teams play in their division all year and their win/loss records are reflective of that play. Therefore, seeding might be skewed. Could you imagine Helena's or Yellowstone's record if they had Tri, Rogue, River and Puget on a regular rotation. Put either team in a division with those teams and they don't lose a game. Better yet, throw Butte in there and they are at least .500.

Yes, I'll admit that the play in the West is not where it should be. If Seattle had more than just Eugene to battle, they may have given Helena more of a series. Until teams like Puget, Rogue, River step it up, this division will be behind the AW division.

Coaching also has a lot to do with it. Murphy and Sponholtz have proven they have it. Fault in River can coach, he just can recruit. Miller can recruit but can't coach. Olsen can scream and yell but nothing else.

Look at the coaches in the East. Cunningham-Jr. A coach for years, Stone-former pro, Hogan-college coach, Stewart-D1 player and good young hockey guy. Hass never had this pedigree and had a job so he was shown the door in Billings.

It is almost like there is two different leagues in one. Imagine a super league with Seattle, Eugene, Helena, Yellowstone, Missoula and either Billings or Bozeman. Every game would be huge. It would never happen but it would be cool.

Well, another season in the Pac is at an end and it had some great things and some things that shooter needs to mention ...

1. Despite my alliegence to another team, the Helena Bighorns are the class of Norpac and have been since they joined. The blasting horns are hard to take and your announcer is annoying but I guess when you are on top, you can do what you want. I do like the $1 beer for each PP goal. When I knew Seattle was out of it, I was actually hoping for a PPG so I could drink cheap. I didn't quite understand why Josh Reis was on the bench when he was on Seattle's bench a few weeks ago. If someone knows, chime in. Nonetheless, good group, good team and classy owners. The have set the bar in this league.

2. Seattle once again proved their dominance in the West and came up short to the 'Horns. Murph needs to grab a few out of town guys for team depth. They just bought a new bus so it looks like they are making an effort to raise the bar in Tots town. Having a full time Asst. for Murph would be good. Take note of the game day presentation in Helena. Sure, we can pack 'em in like other Barns in the East but maybe with some effort, we could put a few hundred in the seats.

3. Eugene is again proof that recruiting gets you through the regular season and lack of quality coaching gets you a early tee time in the playoffs. Well run team off the ice. Good game day. Their problem has always been with the guy blowing the whistle. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this as I lament in you playoff blunders year after year.

4. Ft. VanYellowStone has shown that with a decent coach, questionable recruiting tactics and and creative financing you can be competitive. Like Fresno, it can't give you titles. How hard would you play if the guy next to you was scholarshipped and you weren't. They seem to have stolen Missoula's playbook and that may keep them down. Discipline cost them.

5. Missoula proved that money can't buy everything. Pizza Joe is revived and now runs Missoula. When people don't like you, they just don't help you. Good hire in Stewart. He seems to have got things in order there. No DUIs, no criminal charges, no more court cases. Him and Baxter might be enough to keep them around the top. But when turmoil arose in the front office, the Mauler$ lost 7 straight. Golden Rule is needed for them to succeed. Their owner was a big team distraction when he decided to join the fray on the chatties to defend his hypocrasy. When you building only holds 1600-1700 seats, it is tough for us minions to swallow an announced crowd of 2700+. There is embellishing and then there is flat out lying. I have been hard on these guys all year but it really has been deserved. Hopefully there are enough books in your store that teach things like class, honesty and good will towards your fellow man. If you preach the path, then walk the path. Before you retort, remember this, I like off-roading. A decent team on the ice was ruined with the circus off ice.

6. River proved they can't rest on their glory years and expect to win. Plus a move out of the sandbox is needed. That place will have a chalk outline on the ice before long. Cut back on the Crown Royal and Prime Rib and dump the thousands saved on recruiting.

7. In Bozeman, having the Commish as your owner didn't equate to a championship. Helena hushed the critics of this theory this year. Perhaps T. Schultz should put the pipe down and rethink that one. Leave the predictions to Swami and make sure to ask your customers if they want fries with their happy meal when you show up for work tomorrow. With a couple years as the head dude in Bozo, I think it is a do or die year for El Stone. I think they likely just had a down year. They actually had a good team. They acted with true class and did the tough thing by suspending several key players for the season for their off ice descrepencies. I make joke around on this site but I truly respect how you handled that one. Kharma is on your side.

8. Billings had some tough times recently. Like most teams in this situation, they are making changes (read this Puget). New uniforms might help. The 1987 Washington Capitals look is out.

9. Speaking of Puget, change is needed. Watching a lunatic with little knowledge of the game scream aimlessly at kids is too much to watch. When I cringe in the stands at this, how do you think the home crowd feels? If erratic screaming was a quality of coaching then guys like Olson and MSNBC's Jim Cramer would be in the running for the Jack Adams trophy every year.

10. Rogue has to give Chelios a year to sort out what he has. New ownership was needed. It would be unfair to call this one without giving him time.

11. Butte. New coach, new mgmt., new name? Whatever. 7 years and no playoffs. Mr. Klein, treat it like a cavity...extract the rotten parts and fill it in with Gold. Until the people in youth hockey give these guys a break, they are doomed to fail. GQ needs to accept that he knows zero about hockey and leave it to the guys who do. You had your chance with Gibbs and you won 5 games all year. Blow it up and start over.

I would be for a 1 vs. 8 playdown. In theory, the top 2 teams should emerge. Sure the cost is there but you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want to give the best teams a chance then a 1-8 format seems like the answer.

There is something to be said for an East/West final. Teams play in their division all year and their win/loss records are reflective of that play. Therefore, seeding might be skewed. Could you imagine Helena's or Yellowstone's record if they had Tri, Rogue, River and Puget on a regular rotation. Put either team in a division with those teams and they don't lose a game. Better yet, throw Butte in there and they are at least .500.

Yes, I'll admit that the play in the West is not where it should be. If Seattle had more than just Eugene to battle, they may have given Helena more of a series. Until teams like Puget, Rogue, River step it up, this division will be behind the AW division.

Coaching also has a lot to do with it. Murphy and Sponholtz have proven they have it. Fault in River can coach, he just can recruit. Miller can recruit but can't coach. Olsen can scream and yell but nothing else.

Look at the coaches in the East. Cunningham-Jr. A coach for years, Stone-former pro, Hogan-college coach, Stewart-D1 player and good young hockey guy. Hass never had this pedigree and had a job so he was shown the door in Billings.

It is almost like there is two different leagues in one. Imagine a super league with Seattle, Eugene, Helena, Yellowstone, Missoula and either Billings or Bozeman. Every game would be huge. It would never happen but it would be cool.

Well, another season in the Pac is at an end and it had some great things and some things that shooter needs to mention ...

1. Despite my alliegence to another team, the Helena Bighorns are the class of Norpac and have been since they joined. The blasting horns are hard to take and your announcer is annoying but I guess when you are on top, you can do what you want. I do like the $1 beer for each PP goal. When I knew Seattle was out of it, I was actually hoping for a PPG so I could drink cheap. I didn't quite understand why Josh Reis was on the bench when he was on Seattle's bench a few weeks ago. If someone knows, chime in. Nonetheless, good group, good team and classy owners. The have set the bar in this league.

2. Seattle once again proved their dominance in the West and came up short to the 'Horns. Murph needs to grab a few out of town guys for team depth. They just bought a new bus so it looks like they are making an effort to raise the bar in Tots town. Having a full time Asst. for Murph would be good. Take note of the game day presentation in Helena. Sure, we can pack 'em in like other Barns in the East but maybe with some effort, we could put a few hundred in the seats.

3. Eugene is again proof that recruiting gets you through the regular season and lack of quality coaching gets you a early tee time in the playoffs. Well run team off the ice. Good game day. Their problem has always been with the guy blowing the whistle. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this as I lament in you playoff blunders year after year.

4. Ft. VanYellowStone has shown that with a decent coach, questionable recruiting tactics and and creative financing you can be competitive. Like Fresno, it can't give you titles. How hard would you play if the guy next to you was scholarshipped and you weren't. They seem to have stolen Missoula's playbook and that may keep them down. Discipline cost them.

5. Missoula proved that money can't buy everything. Pizza Joe is revived and now runs Missoula. When people don't like you, they just don't help you. Good hire in Stewart. He seems to have got things in order there. No DUIs, no criminal charges, no more court cases. Him and Baxter might be enough to keep them around the top. But when turmoil arose in the front office, the Mauler$ lost 7 straight. Golden Rule is needed for them to succeed. Their owner was a big team distraction when he decided to join the fray on the chatties to defend his hypocrasy. When you building only holds 1600-1700 seats, it is tough for us minions to swallow an announced crowd of 2700+. There is embellishing and then there is flat out lying. I have been hard on these guys all year but it really has been deserved. Hopefully there are enough books in your store that teach things like class, honesty and good will towards your fellow man. If you preach the path, then walk the path. Before you retort, remember this, I like off-roading. A decent team on the ice was ruined with the circus off ice.

6. River proved they can't rest on their glory years and expect to win. Plus a move out of the sandbox is needed. That place will have a chalk outline on the ice before long. Cut back on the Crown Royal and Prime Rib and dump the thousands saved on recruiting.

7. In Bozeman, having the Commish as your owner didn't equate to a championship. Helena hushed the critics of this theory this year. Perhaps T. Schultz should put the pipe down and rethink that one. Leave the predictions to Swami and make sure to ask your customers if they want fries with their happy meal when you show up for work tomorrow. With a couple years as the head dude in Bozo, I think it is a do or die year for El Stone. I think they likely just had a down year. They actually had a good team. They acted with true class and did the tough thing by suspending several key players for the season for their off ice descrepencies. I make joke around on this site but I truly respect how you handled that one. Kharma is on your side.

8. Billings had some tough times recently. Like most teams in this situation, they are making changes (read this Puget). New uniforms might help. The 1987 Washington Capitals look is out.

9. Speaking of Puget, change is needed. Watching a lunatic with little knowledge of the game scream aimlessly at kids is too much to watch. When I cringe in the stands at this, how do you think the home crowd feels? If erratic screaming was a quality of coaching then guys like Olson and MSNBC's Jim Cramer would be in the running for the Jack Adams trophy every year.

10. Rogue has to give Chelios a year to sort out what he has. New ownership was needed. It would be unfair to call this one without giving him time.

11. Butte. New coach, new mgmt., new name? Whatever. 7 years and no playoffs. Mr. Klein, treat it like a cavity...extract the rotten parts and fill it in with Gold. Until the people in youth hockey give these guys a break, they are doomed to fail. GQ needs to accept that he knows zero about hockey and leave it to the guys who do. You had your chance with Gibbs and you won 5 games all year. Blow it up and start over.

Last night was a great night for Helena Bighorn fans as the 'Horns played a solid 3 game set and the sweep was truly deserved. Seattle played hard at times but just couldn't match the speed of the Bighorns. Seattle has some fine players but they play with so little regard for discipline that it cost them more times than not. I read about the whining from their group saying they are picked on by the refs but I have now seen it for 3 straight years. That team plays chippy, classless hockey. I like big hits and a tussle or two, but spearing and flipping off the crowd is just plain stupid. Helena fans are respectful for the most part and enjoy a good game and a good effort. The Yellowstone series was one for the ages and the Helena fans cheered with much appreciation for Cody when they exited the ice. It was a testament to a great, hard fought series.

Seattle's coach called a time out with around 6:00 minutes to go and I'm sure he told his boys to knock of the cheap stuff as they did for the rest of the game. The Seattle team played hard and, at times, were up to the task. Helena was just too much for them. I also commend the Seattle fans. They cheered loudly for their team and aside from a few idiots, were good people. They acted with class unlike the crew from last year and a year ago who acted like the play on the ice. This year's addition was truly a good group.

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No Crossy, they are not the same goon squad that ravenged the nattys 2 years ago. They, like most teams, can play chippy at times. They are nowhere near the team of 2 years ago. #21 is a donkey but that about it.

So your little angels can sleep well tonight. It is all just a big fairy tale and a worked up story. Just don't run it up or, like most teams, it can get ugly.

The Minny teams have always been far more chippy than PAC squad anyway.

quote:

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Originally posted by Shooter16:
Crossy, I actually thought you had the insight to see the last post was written from what looks to be a former player. Unless he is using bad grammer, spelling and sentence structure to fool us.

No Crossy, they are not the same goon squad that ravenged the nattys 2 years ago. They, like most teams, can play chippy at times. They are nowhere near the team of 2 years ago. #21 is a donkey but that about it.

So your little angels can sleep well tonight. It is all just a big fairy tale and a worked up story. Just don't run it up or, like most teams, it can get ugly.

The Minny teams have always been far more chippy than PAC squad anyway.

Thanks for again jumping on the NPHL site to bash away again. It's been awhile. For what it's worth I have seen some of your beloved CSHL teams this year. Your lower end teams are far worse than those of your sister league out west. So St. Louis has another good team again. So what. Imagine if another city that size with little competition had a team. Yes, I have heard many a story about players who were pushed into that program instead of jumping to the NAHL. I have heard of the nightmare pressure that is placed on them to stay there. So bash away crossy. Don't think we don't know about your little secrets, either.

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Well shooter, I was going by the Pointstreak stats from their last game in Helena. It didn't look good to me. The previous post didn't look like it was going to be any different than the embarrassment two years ago. Glad to see your confident it won't be.

As far as St. Louis goes, you have some interesting opinions there. If you did a little research you would see that St. Louis has moved more players on to higher levels of hockey than most. In fact, only the Eastern Tier III A teams can come close. Year in and year out they are one of the youngest teams around, and year in and year out they move more players on. They are a model of what Junior Hockey should be about, development and promotion. I hope your knowledge of Seattle is better than St. Louis because you couldn't be ****her from the truth about your ridiculous opinions of St. Louis. Look at their alumni list, 3 NHLers, twenty something D-1 players, AHL players, D-III players. You might be a bit more convincing if you had just a slight clue.

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You cannot help yourself Crossy. You try so hard to comment on other leagues rooms and you always come of looking like a bitter guy who can dish it out but can't take it.

I may be acerbic in my comments but I don't represent anything but an opinion. Further, I restrict my bafoonery to the site where I am a member. You roam in and out of other leagues sites and offer little information to them, taking wild shots at everyone. Guys like you can't help yourself. You have convinced yourself that your opinion is far superior to all else.

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It's about winning, Maxie, that's what gets you respect. None of the teams we send have gotten "the respect we deserve" at Nationals. I hope this year will be different.

So, I can't see how changing the playoff format is going to change that.

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I hear what you’re saying.

Now, hear what I am saying;
NORPAC is sending, what they regard as, “the best two teams in the league’. You have made the comments... “And no, Seattle is not the second best in NORPAC” and “Seattle would be a good best of three for the fourth seed” and “gong show” and so on.

I don’t think you respect the league. so, how can you expect others to do so? Furthermore, what kind of confidence are you instilling with those kind of inflammatory statements. Is your point to defeat the Totems before they even get to Natties? I hope not!

Go Horns, Go Totes, that’s my mantra!
I think this is a more respectful viewpoint, don’t you?

As Ice says - Go Horns - Go Totes!

Still - I would like to see the format changed so that the best two teams go to nattys - without speculating as to whether they are the best two.

Maybe next year?

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They also went 4-0 vs. the CSHL, WSHL and MJHL over the last two years.

Despite this, donkeys like crossy give NORPAC zero respect.

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I figured you had a hidden agenda and your latest post proves it.

Respect? Right!

BTW, yes I can quote, and here’s another one for ya, “ a closed mouth gathers no feet”.

Yours truly,

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You can call me a tool, question my length of tenure with the league, and anything else you might want to sling. I don’t care. I consider the source and let it roll off. The truth is, you don’t have a clue who I am, or what I do, or don’t know.

I would like to clarify, I did not “ask” if you respect the league, as you stated. I said that I did not “think” you respected the league. That is my opinion. Learn the difference! I said I respected your right to an opinion, I would ask that you respect mine, as well. Don’t ask for “any thoughts out there” and then sling mud because you can’t take a dissenting opinion.

I am proud of the Horns and the Totems. They earned the right to represent NORPAC at the Nationals. We are the adults here. I’ll choose to act like one. Care to join me?

Apology? Where do you get that? If you are under that misimpression, then I do apologize for misleading you.

Sorry!

Go Horns - Go Totems!

Best regards,

Did I just miss it, or what?!?!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Shooter16:
I love getting under your skin Crossy. All it takes is a swipe at your beloved team in St. Louis to do it. Noone has disputed the amount of players that have moved past the Blues program. You missed the point. Despite their track record, I cannot find a single person who has a nice thing to say about that program. Strike that, a couple of former players have said a few nice things. But the majority of former players, parents of players, and league members have not had a whole lot of good to say. Unlike your asseretion that one game full of penalties will lead to a gong show at nattys with a whole new team of players is....well...completely devoid of rational thinking.

You cannot help yourself Crossy. You try so hard to comment on other leagues rooms and you always come of looking like a bitter guy who can dish it out but can't take it.

I may be acerbic in my comments but I don't represent anything but an opinion. Further, I restrict my bafoonery to the site where I am a member. You roam in and out of other leagues sites and offer little information to them, taking wild shots at everyone. Guys like you can't help yourself. You have convinced yourself that your opinion is far superior to all else.

It bothers me to have to write this. But, like the dog who strays from his own yard to crap on someone else's, a rolled up newspaper across the snout may be what you need.

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Jack went out of his way to offer his condolences when my son broke his hand in his last year and offered any references he could give saying he was always willing to "Help a young man of such high character move into the college ranks".

My son was blown away with that comment from a great and highly respected coach, and did play 2 years past juniors...taking time off for family issues.

I understand Jack's stepping down which is a huge blow to junior hockey in general and St Louis and the CSHL in particular.