Here and there and what is fair
I seem to have stirred the masses via my “New junior league in the works” column of a couple of days ago.
However, since there are some who have chosen to read between the lines or attribute words to me that I did not write, let me clarify a few things.
Nowhere did I say that the proposed International Jr. Hockey League is a given.
In fact, my lede sentence from the column in question reads: There could be a new junior hockey league in operation for the 2014-2015 season.
Note the use of the word “could.”
I also made it clear that if the proposed IJHL was to become a part of the Amateur Athletic Union, it would need approval of the AAU.
The fact is, those teams from Ontario, Canada who would like to be a part of an AAU-sanctioned league will be making a formal application.
Did I write that the AAU has or will approve such a proposal? No I didn’t.
Did I write that the proposed IJHL will definitely come into play in 2014-2015? No I didn’t.
I said “could.”
Ergo, may I suggest that those who do not know the meaning of words such as “could” and “proposed” to please refer to a dictionary and look up their meaning.
NET JETS
Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League have proven to be a top producer of goaltenders who move on to higher levels.
Jets goaltending alumni includes current Ontario Hockey League puckstoppers Alex Nedeljkovic of the Plymouth Whalers and Devin Williams of the Erie Otters.
Another former Jets goalie who has moved up is Dillon Kelley of the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League.
As well, current Jets goalies Trevor Kalinowski and Kam Limburg both made brief appearances in the NAHL this season.
The Jets move more than just goalies, however.
Two of the more-famous Jets alumni made it to the National Hockey League within the last year.
They are Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and defenceman Steve Oleksy, who has played parts of the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons with the Washington Capitals.
BIG GAME
It looms as their biggest game of the NAHL season to date.
In a three-way race for the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the North Division of the NAHL, Soo Eagles will play host to the Janesville Jets this Friday night at 7:30 at Pullar Stadium.
The Eagles are tied with Springfield Jr. Blues for fourth in the North, just two points up on Janesville.
But the kicker is that Janesville has three games in hand and Springfield has one game in hand on the Soo.
As the Eagles will be out to snap a five-game losing streak this Friday, Janesville is 4-1-1 in its last six outings.
It can be stated that in a league as balanced as the NAHL and in a division as tight as the North, all games are big ones.
As far as the Eagles go, the upcoming showdown with Janesville is a big, big one.
Go Eagles Go! Let’s pack the Pullar on Friday nite! We need BIG games from Scotty Cuthreel, Mike Sabbatini, Chris Bindulis, Ryan Urso, etc. and we need the BIG saves from Nate Klebe!
GO EAGLES GO!!!!!