PR - Saints

lol, actually the all-star game is always about so-called "flash in the
pans" - and usually people get pissed off when some old fart or so-called
'superstar' gets selected over someone who deserved it. Lacroix without a
doubt should of been on the West's team:
Player GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH Shots
Sh%
*M.LACROIX(Blk) 36 21 30 51 20 107 4 1 90 23.3
J.ROENICK(Blk) 38 12 32 44 7 28 5 0 77 15.6

and albeit, you may have a point about a rookie not deserving to be on the
team - which is BS - if you consider the NHL or the TFHL's entire history.
And even if you had any justification for not picking Lacroix because he was
a rookie - there is no excuse for not selecting Roenick who is a long time
veteran and having the season of his career.

The only reason these two players weren't on the roster was because they
were wearing Blackhawk jerseys instead of Flames jerseys this season.

Needless to say, for a short competition that is suppose to showcase the top
players of the TFHL18 Season, its not all that important - however, next
year we'll have a ballot system similar to the season awards voting.

Good luck for the season all!
Geoffrey
Saints

PR - Flames

The GM of the Blackhawks, has always been known as a whiner but his previous comments truly solidfy the rumors. The all-star break is a chance to showcase the BEST talent in the league. GM, Patrick Amantea and coach of the wstern team believes he did a fair job picking the team. Many of the guys were top among their respective teams. All the players were also previous star players in the league. They were NOT rookie, flash in the pan players that have only played 30ish games for their whole TFHL career. To put these baby players before star players who have been in the league and paid their dues is the true outrage. If flash in the pan players were what the all-star break was all about, than the team's makeup would be switching every 20 or so games due to cold and hot streaks.

As for Michalek making the team, he was the final pick and as the top team in the West, those are some priveldges that goes with the honor. At the end of the day, the West won the first game and the talent is being showcased.

PR - Blackhawks

The Blackhawks and many fans throughout the league are outraged at the
exclusion of the leagues current top two scorers on the Western Conference
All Star team.

Rookie phenom Maxime Lacroix and free agent standout Jeremy Roenick, who
currently sit first and second in the overall point standings for the
league, were not included in the final roster for the west. Lacroix is
currently still ripping up the league and posting an exceptional 1.41 pts
per game.

Blackhawks head coach Denis Savard still seemed shocked while attending the
All-Star break festivities. "Its amazing how these two guys are not there.
This is suppossed to be a showcase of the leagues top current talent. It
just floors me that they were overlooked. I think its pretty comical that
the GM of the team decided to pick 3 guys from his regular squad including
Milan Michalek who has posted a mediocre 23 pts in 33 games."

Blackhawks forward Lacroix was taking the situation in stride. "I guess I
still have alot to prove." He later joked "Maybe I need 100 points in 36
games to make it. There's always next year I guess."

On the positive side of things, the Western conference all-stars won the
first game of the series with the help of the lone second period goal by
Blackhawks sniper Colby Armstrong.

The so-called all-star fiasco has many fans around the league calling to
bring back the voting system. In our democratic society why isn't a vote
taking place to have the players that should be there representing their
teams and conferences?

PR - Spirit

Guelph Spirit a Mystery of the East

The Guelph Spirit wrapped up the first half of their season in a rare way - by winning back to back games. "This season has really been a mystery," stated GM Warren Goodlet. "On paper, we look great, but we just haven't had the wins."

The GM may have a point. The Spirit currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one point out of the final playoffspot, currently occupied by the Pontiacs. (This writer would like to point out that, after years of griping, the East is stronger than the West right now - the Spirit would be in a playoff position if they were a Western Conference team.) While not out of the running by a long shot, the stats would seem to indicate that the Spirit should be much higher.

In looking at the important team stats, the Spirit rank:

9th in powerplay (14.5%)

13th in penalty kill (86.2%)

11th in GF/G (3.26)

10th in GA/G (3.13)

14th in SF/G (26.6)

4th in SA/G (25.5)

Now, other than shots against, none of these are incredible numbers. But they don't look like the stats of team that is worse than at least 16 other teams in the league. The only statistical black spot on the Spirit is PIM/game, where they currently sit at 7th highest, at 21.4 PIM/game. However, as the GM is quick to point out, "A lot of those come from fighting majors that don't put us short-handed. I've lost track of the number of times we've had to defend ourselves, but we don't seem to take a lot of minor penalties."

So what is it that plagues the Spirit? What can be done to turn them around? Will Goodlet pull of a major deal to shake up the team?

"I'll be frank. I like our team. I wouldn't turn down a good deal, particularly if it would translate a couple of our solid role players up front into one more bona fida scorer, but overall I'm pleased with the team's makeup. I think we need two things: 1) some more time - we made several big changes this year, bringing in two new goalies (Tommy Salo and Marty Turco), Boyd (Gordon) and Aaron (Rome). I think as they learn the system, they'll continue to improve. 2) We need our players healthy. So far this year, there's been an unprecedented amount of injuries to the club: Steen, Vanek, Gordon and Salo have all missed time."

"But more damaging has been the blows to the defensive corps: Miko Kaltva, Dion Phaneuf, Aaron Rome, Nathan Guenin and Nolan Yonkman have all missed time with injuries. That's five of our seven guys who have been out. It's tough on the players who are still in there, because they've been forced back into action a little sooner than we'd like, and it's tough on our goalies, who have to get used to new defensive pairings on a regular basis. Hopefully the second half will leave us a lot healthier."

The Spirit may also have something else going for them. Following a series of disappointing games, the Spirit mixed up their lines, promoting youngster Alex Steen to the top line. He has responded in an incredible way, with a four goal performance, including the game-winning overtime marker in a 6-5 win over the Misconduct, and then a hat-trick (plus an assist) the following night in a 6-3 win over the Saints. If the Spirit have truly found their #1 center, the team could put together quite a run in the 2nd half.

"We're not out of this by a long-shot," states Goodlet. "Plus, our farm team is tearing up the league - heck, I'm even leading the farm league in scoring myself! Look out for us in the second half."