Gerlach regains sharpshooting form in Blades OT win

Max Gerlach (#9) is embraced by Chase Wouters (#44).

    Max Gerlach was thankful his hex around the net was a short one.

    After going goalless and pointless over a span of five games, the 20-year-old product of Flower Mound, Texas, returned to his sharpshooting form in the nick of time for the Saskatoon Blades.

    With the Blades training the visiting Red Deer Rebels 2-1 on Friday night at the SaskTel Centre, Gerlach wired home his second goal of the contest with 15.3 seconds to play in the third period to knot the score up at 2-2 and force overtime. 

    In overtime, Gerlach took a feed from linemate Josh Paterson and wired home his hat trick goal to the top left corner of the Rebels net with 76 seconds to play in the extra frame to deliver the Blades to a 3-2 victory in the WHL regular season contest played before 3,239 spectators.

    Looking back at his string of goalless games after Friday’s win, Gerlach recalled a bit of bad luck he had around the net with Paterson on the ice, when the Blades downed the Oil Kings in Edmonton 5-3 on Oct. 3.

Max Gerlach fired home a hat trick for the Blades on Friday night.

    “Things weren’t just going in,” said Gerlach. “I noticed a couple of pucks were flying off my stick and kind of bobbling.

    “Even in Edmonton, I kind of had an empty net and Patty (Josh Paterson) kind of skated in front of me and blocked it. I was dealing with a little bit of adversity, but we were still getting the wins on the road, so it wasn’t too big of a concern.

    “I’m just glad I could help out tonight.”

    Gerlach started the campaign netting four goals and two assists in the Blades first three regular season games. The stretch of going pointless in five games followed.

    Blades head coach Mitch Love noticed that Gerlach started to get a bit over anxious.

Rebels goalie Ethan Anders stops Blades captain Chase Wouters (#44).

    “I know Max (Gerlach) was pressing a little bit in terms of trying to find the back of the net,” said Love, whose Blades won their fourth straight game. “He had an early hot start to his year and then things dried up for him a little bit.

    “Again, guys like him find the back of the net. Hopefully, that is a confidence builder for him.

    “Guys that find the back of the net like him tend to kind of go on bits of streaks. Hopefully, that is something that he continues to do.”

    Returning to action after being off for a stretch of five straight days, the Blades fell behind 1-0 to the Rebels just 51 seconds into the contest when Russian import forward Oleg Zaytsev fired home his fourth of the season.

Captain Reese Johnson breaks down the ice for the Rebels.

    From there, the two squads engaged in a lot of back and forth action up and down the ice for most of the game.

    At the 7:10 mark of the second period, the Blades tied things up at 1-1 working on a five-on-three power play, when Gerlach sniped home his first of the contest.

    The Rebels went back in front 2-1 at the 10:50 mark of the second on a power-play goal from overage right-winger Jeff de Wit. That set the stage for the dramatics inside of the final minute of the third period and overtime.

    The Blades have won all three of their home outings to date, but they’ve needed come-from-behind efforts in their last two contests at the SaskTel Centre including Friday’s clash with the Rebels. Back on Sept. 29, the Blades trailed the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 2-1 heading into the third period before rallying for a 4-3 victory after a tiebreaking shootout.

    Love would prefer to pull out wins without having to pull out any comeback type heroics.

Blades RW Max Gerlach, right, eludes the check of Rebels RW Jeff de Wit.

    “It has been back to back home games here where we’ve been down going into the third period,” said Love. “I’m not sure we want to put ourselves in that position too often.

    “Good hockey teams find ways to win, and we’ve been fortunate the last couple of nights on home ice to do that. We don’t want to get in the habit of that. We’re going to have to definitely tighten up a few things here and find a way to play 60 minutes.”

    Nolan Maier made 23 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Blades, who improved to 7-2. Ethan Anders turned away 34 shots in goal for the Rebels, who saw their record move to 5-2-1.

    Gerlach said the Blades are happy with their record after nine games, but his squad still has a lot of room to improve, which is typical in the early stages of a campaign.

Kirby Dach turns up ice for the Blades.

    “I think the coaching staff is moderately happy with us,” said Gerlach. “I think there are lots of things that we can get better at like our start and just playing a full 60 minutes.

    “You could see when we kind of took care of things late in the second and kind of the third period, we’re a team that definitely had a lot of skill and speed up front. Our backend is great back there too, and we have two great goaltenders. I think if we can piece together 60 minutes every single night we can be one of the top teams in the league this year.”

    The Rebels now travel to Prince Albert to face the Raiders (8-1) at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders, who are rated second in the CHL Top 10 Rankings, travel to Saskatoon on Sunday to face the Blades at 2 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

    That encounter will be the Blades next game, and Love is expecting another big battle in that contest.

The Blades celebrate their overtime victory on Friday night.

    “We will get back in here tomorrow after a good night’s rest and try to correct a few things heading into that game,” said Love. “Again, they (the Raiders) are a very good hockey club that we are going to be battling with all year long for the division.

    “We’re going to have to be at our best on Sunday, and a lot sharper than I thought tonight.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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“Man of Steel” will make admirable Pats captain

Soft-spoken centre leads Regina in Memorial Cup season

Sam Steel was named the Pats captain for the 2017-18 season.

    Sam Steel’s actions always speak louder than his words.

    When you watch the Regina Pats superstar centre on the ice, his special talents for the game of hockey are obvious. If you try to get him to talk about himself during a scrum or an interview session, his modesty is a great as his actions on the ice.

    Steel plays with a great passion on the ice, and he is a great supporter of his teammates. When it comes to talking, Steel is very soft spoken, because that is just who he is.

    His interview skills have improved as his WHL career has gone on, but it is truthful to say most of the other members of the Pats are likely better in the talking department. While Steel is quiet, he exudes a vibe of being a great guy and a very well-mannered person, and that is noticed among media members in Regina and elsewhere on the WHL circuit.

    It is safe to say media members enjoy reporting on Steel’s exploits, and you want to see him succeed. You find a way to work with the fact he is soft-spoken.

    It is almost common to blurt out after a Pats win with both excitement and dread something along the lines, “Sam Steel scored four tonight!”

    The excitement come from seeing a great guy do something special. The dread comes from the fact you are trying your best to phrase questions to encourage him to talk.

Sam Steel controls the puck in the offensive zone.

    You also don’t want to give the impression to Steel that he might be a bad interview subject for fear of hurting his feelings, because he is a nice guy. You realize that is who he is.

    During a press conference in Regina on Wednesday, the Pats named the 19-year-old Steel as captain for the 2017-18 campaign, where the franchise will celebrate its 100^th anniversary and host the 100^th Memorial Cup running from May 18 to 27, 2018. Steel had been an assistant captain the previous two seasons.

    For Steel to succeed as a captain, he just has to be who he is and try not to be someone he is not.

    At times, it seems there is a public perception that the captain of the team has to be the fiery guy that always raises the roof in the dressing room.
    Barret Jackman, who was the Pats captain when the franchise hosted the Memorial Cup in 2001, was the heart on the sleeve fiery guy that could put up points, penalty minutes and was always game to say something in the dressing room. That also isn’t the only way to lead.

    Steel is one of the ultimate examples of the lead-by-example type player. He is the Pats most talented player, and he is the team’s hardest worker. Over three seasons, he has built a reputation of being able to lift the club with an outstanding play at a critical time.

    Just being who he is, Steel inspires others to be better.

    When the Medicine Hat Tigers won the WHL title in 2007 and ultimately lost the Memorial Cup title game to the host Vancouver Giants 3-1, Kris Russell led the Tigers as a lead-by-example captain. He made the game look easy as an offensive defenceman, who was also sound defensively.

Sam Steel looks to set up one of his teammates in the offensive zone.

    As a 19-year-old in the Tigers 2007 WHL championship campaign, Russell piled up 32 goals, 37 assists and was a plus-14 in the plus-minus department in 59 regular season games, and he was named that season’s WHL player of the year, the WHL’s Defenceman of the Year and the CHL’s Defenceman of the Year award winner.
    Russell was never a vocal shouter, but he calmly said things when they needed to be said and talked more one-on-one with teammates. He took a genuine interest in the personal lives of his teammates and was very positive and encouraging with them.

    If the Tigers were running away with a blowout win on the scoreboard, Russell turned away chances to boost his statistics and often told coaches to give more ice time to younger guys, who always seemed to be working hard in practice.

    When younger guys at the WHL level see an older player do these types of things, they become motivated to go to the rink every day, and they try that much harder because someone is investing in them.

    Now that Steel is the captain of the Pats, it would be a safe educated guess to predict his leadership style with the Pats will mirror what Russell did with the Tigers. 

    Last season, Steel was named the WHL’s most valuable player and he led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 50 goals and 81 assists in 66 regular season games. He has been inspiring his teammates with his actions for some time now including last season’s run to the WHL Championship series.

Pats centre Sam Steel circles around the net in the offensive zone.

    Steel will have great help in the leadership department as well. The Pats named 18-year-old centre Jake Leschyshyn, 19-year-old defenceman Josh Mahura and overage centre Matthew Bradley as assistant captains. All three are quality persons.

    Both Steel and Mahura have signed NHL entry-level contracts with the Anaheim Ducks and will be attending Ducks training camp. The fact the Pats named Steel captain and Mahura an assistant captain likely mean both will play in the WHL this season.

    Due to being drafted out of the major junior ranks, Steel, who was a first round selection, and Mahura have to play in the WHL, if they don’t make the NHL club as 19-year-olds. They could still stick in the NHL, but with them being named to the Pats leadership, the odds are way greater they will be playing in the major junior ranks.

    The Pats made a good choice in naming Steel captain. If the past is any indication, he will continue deliver with passion in big moments and continue to speak softly while doing it.

de Wit hat trick powers Pats past Blades

Jeff de Wit in action last season for the Pats.

    Jeff de Wit’s hat trick helped push the Regina Pats past the Saskatoon Blades 5-3 in an exhibition tilt on Thursday night at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

    The 19-year-old centre’s third marker at the 9:37 mark of the third period gave the Pats a 4-2 lead and ultimately held up as the game winner. Rookie 17-year-old Russian import Igor Zamula and 16-year-old centre Tristen Robins potted singles for Regina.

    Overage centre Cameron Hebig, 18-year-old defenceman Jackson Caller and centre Gage Ramsay, who turns 19 in October, replied with singles for the Blades.

    Nolan Maier, who is a 16-year-old from Yorkton, went the distance in goal for Saskatoon making 36 saves.

    Max Paddock, who is a 17-year-old from Brandon, Man., started in goal for the Pats turning away 22-of-23 shots fired his way. Kurtis Chapman, who is a 19-year-old from Airdrie, Alta., entered the contest at the 9:46 mark of the second period and stopped 12-of-14 shots sent in his direction. Paddock is the nephew of Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock.

    Thursday’s game was the first pre-season contest for both the Pats and Blades. The Pats return to action on Saturday, when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Blades will stay in Regina and face the Swift Current Broncos on Friday at 3 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

“Willo” nears 100-point plateau for Huskies

Kaitlin Willoughby, front centre, might celebrate some milestones.

    With university classes set to begin next week, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies hockey teams have started skating at the Rutherford Rink, and women’s team star forward Kaitlin Willoughby begins the campaign nearing a few career milestones.

    The 22-year-old Prince Albert product has piled up 41 goals and 51 assists in 106 regular season games, and her total of 92 points ranks fifth all-time on the Huskies career list one behind the 93 compiled by Julie Paetsch, who played from 2009 to 2012. Besides being on the verge of passing Paetsch, Willoughby is set to become the fourth player in the history of the Huskies women’s team to record 100 career points.

    Cara (Wooster) Muench, who played from 2010-13, sits third on the Huskies all-time career scoring list with 100 points, Danny Stone, who played from 2008 to 2013, is second with 106 points and Breanne George, who played from 2007-12, tops the list with 149 points.

    Willoughby is third on the career goals list with 41 sitting behind Stone’s 57 goals and George’s 86 goals. On the career assists list, Willoughby sits fifth behind Paetsch’s 60, George’s 63, Muench’s 64 and the 66 helpers complied by Julia Flinton, who played from 2011-16.

    The Huskies women’s team opens their regular season on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Rutherford Rink against the University of Regina Cougars. The two squads meet again on Oct. 7 in Regina at 7 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre.

    The Huskies men’s team opens their regular season on Oct. 6 traveling to Regina to face the U of Regina Cougars at 7 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre. The two squads meet again on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Rutherford Rink.

Tuer memorial service set for Tuesday

    The memorial service for long time hockey builder Graham Tuer is set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Queensbury Convention Centre in Regina.

    Tuer died at the age of 87 in a Regina hospital on Aug. 29. He entered hospital after suffering two heart attacks.

    Tuer was born in North Battleford on May 23, 1930 and spent more than 50 years in and around arenas in Western Canada in various roles with various teams, leagues and organizations. He had been with the Pats as a scout and their liaison with Hockey Regina since 2015, and served with the team earlier in his hockey travels.

    Besides the Pats, Tuer had roles in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Kelowna Rockets and NHL Central Scouting. He had a huge positive impact on many people in the sport.

    He will be missed by countless numbers of people, and a lot of fond memories will likely be shared at his memorial service.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

Pats capture WHL regular season title, Blades wonder what might have been

Caleb Fantillo (#39) looks out to the ice after the Blades loss.

    REGINA - The Saskatoon Blades did their best to try and spoil the party for the Regina Pats.

    They stormed out to a 3-1 lead after the first period in a WHL clash on Tuesday night at the Brandt Centre. From there, the Pats staged a classic comeback to skate away with a 5-4 victory and lock up first place overall in the WHL regular season standings for the first time since they last won the Memorial Cup in 1974.

    While the Pats, who improved to 49-12-7-1, celebrated winning the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy to the delight of 4,695 spectators, the Blades were left to ponder how much closer they are getting to the end of their campaign.

    Saskatoon dropped to 27-34-7-2 to fall perilously close to being eliminated from playoff contention.

    Entering the night, the Blades could potentially catch either the Red Deer Rebels or the Calgary Hitmen to move into a playoff spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. The Rebels (29-28-8-4) clinched a playoff berth with an 8-3 romp over the Tigers in Medicine Hat.

The Pats salute their fans after Tuesday’s game.

    The Hitmen (28-31-8-2) led the Blades by three points in the standing for eighth place overall in the Eastern Conference and the conference’s final wildcard berth. Calgary just needs to earn two more points in the standings to clinch the conference’s final playoff berth and can do just that in a road clash against the Rebels in Red Deer on Wednesday. The Rebels sit four points ahead of the Hitmen in the standings.

    “It (the Blades dressing room) is pretty deflated right now,” said Blades overage centre Jesse Shynkaruk. “Not too many words were said after that one especially giving up a two-goal lead.

    “We are not out of it yet technically, but it seems like the odds are pretty well stacked against us. We need pretty much a miracle to get into playoffs. We are not out of yet.

    “We will see what Calgary does and go from there.”

    In the opening 20 minutes, Caleb Fantillo, Dryden Michaud and Josh Paterson all netted singles for the Blades, while Nick Henry replied for the Pats.

Jesse Shynkaruk weaves into the offensive zone for the Blades.

    The tallies from Michaud – the first of his WHL career - and Paterson came 28 seconds apart from each other near the end of the first period and broke a 1-1 tie.

    The Pats regrouped and came at the Blades in waves in the second. Jeff de Wit started the rally for the hosts, and star centre Sam Steel buried his 49^th of the season off a giveaway from Blades import defenceman Libor Hajek to tie things up at 3-3.

    With 1:44 to play in the second, Steel sent a beauty pass to pinching defenceman Josh Mahura on a two-on-one break to put the Pats up 4-3.

    “A team like that, you can’t give them any momentum,” said Shynkaruk. “They ran with it and got a couple of quick ones. We were kind back on our heels, and it kind of went from there.”

    In the third, Pats star offensive defenceman Connor Hobbs blasted home his 29^th of the season from the point while working the power play to extend Regina’s advantage to 5-3 with 4:38 to play.

Blades rookie Dryden Michaud, centre, celebrates his first WHL goal.

    Still, the Blades didn’t go away and had a chance to rally back, when the Pats encountered penalty troubles. Working on a two-man advantage with the goalie pulled, Blades winger Michael Farren converted a passing play from Shynkaruk and Braylon Shmyr to cut Regina’s lead to 5-4 with 1:17 to play.

    Saskatoon continued to work on the power play through to the end of the frame but couldn’t find the equalizer.

    Logan Flodell turned away 30 shots to take the loss in goal for the Blades. Tyler Brown turned away 22 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Pats.
    Regina captain Adam Brooks picked up three assists in the win.

    Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock was pleased to see his club lock up first overall and home ice advantage through the entire WHL playoffs.

    “I think any time that happens everybody is obviously extremely happy,” said Paddock. “You think about it after you achieved it.

Sam Steel netted his 49th goal of the season and two assists for the Pats.

    “There is lots more we obviously want to do. As (assistant coach) Dave (Struch) just said in there, it is really hard thing to be the best team after 72 games.

    “It doesn’t mean a lot. You get some sort of trophy, but it is not what you are ultimately playing for.”

    Paddock of course was hinting at winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions and capturing the Memorial Cup for major junior supremacy.

    Last season with the Rebels, de Wit was part of team that advanced to the WHL’s Eastern Conference championship series and played in the Memorial Cup tournament as the host squad.

    On WHL trade deadline day back on Jan. 10, de Wit was dealt along with Mahura from the Rebels to the Pats to help Regina make a long post-season run, and the gritty forward, who celebrated his 19^th birthday on Tuesday, was happy to help the Pats lock up first overall in the WHL.

Josh Mahura works the point on the power play for the Pats.

    “I knew how deep this team was and the type of skill they had,” said de Wit. “Coming here, I just wanted to contribute and play my best hockey.

    “I’ve done that for the most part, and it is pretty exciting to clinch league.”

    For the Blades, they are forced to mull over three straight losses against two very tough teams. Before falling to the Pats on Tuesday, the Blades dropped both games of a home-and-home series with the Swift Current Broncos, who are 38-21-4-6, this past weekend. Saskatoon played good enough to win one or even all of its last three games.

    “It is frustrating for sure,” said Blades head coach Dean Brockman. “It is disappointing. It is frustrating.

    “You can use a lot of different words to describe it. Really, it is all about lessons. For some of the younger guys that get into this position where you need wins and you need to win games at this time of the year it is a great experience for them.”

Pats captain Adam Brooks works magic in the offensive zone.

    Brockman said the Pats have a team that is at a more advanced stage than his side.

    “They’ve got how many wins for a reason, and they won the league for a reason,” said Brockman. “Certainly, they should have that ability to get to that level.

    “We are close to being out of the playoffs, so I mean certainly it is the tale of two different teams for sure.”

    The Pats return to action Wednesday, when they host the Broncos at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

    The Blades return home to host the Prince Albert Raiders (20-43-5-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

    “Whatever happens, we have to play hard in front of our home fans – give them something to come out to,” said Shynkaruk. “(We need to) finish the season hard.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

Mahura a key pick up for Pats

Josh Mahura was acquired by the Pats via a blockbuster trade.

    When the WHL playoffs roll around, the Regina Pats will likely be thankful they picked up Josh Mahura.

    While there was a flurry of activity leading up to the WHL’s trade deadline that passed on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Saskatchewan time, it is always key when a team can add a standout defenceman, and that includes teams like the Pats, who are rated first in the Canadian Hockey League’s top 10 rankings. Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock had been tinkering with his lineup for a month leading up to the deadline, but the blockbuster deal he made on deadline day will likely be key in solidifying a long playoff run.

    On Tuesday, the Pat acquired Mahura, forward Jeff de Wit and a conditional third round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft from the Red Deer Rebels. Both Mahura and de Wit are 18 years of age.

    The deal was a costly one. In order to get Mahura and de Wit, the Pats sent the Rebels 18-year-old forward Lane Zablocki, 16-year-old defenceman Dawson Barteaux, a first round selection in the 2017 Bantam Draft, a first round pick in either the 2018 or 2019 Bantam Draft, and a conditional third round selection in the 2020 Bantam Draft. The Rebels are looking to reset after hosting the Memorial Cup last May.

    Mahura, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds, was the key pick up. In 39 games with the Rebels, he had nine goals, 24 assists and a minus-one rating in the plus-minus department.

    Last season, the St. Albert, Alta., product turned heads when the post-season rolled around. Mahura’s playoff performance seemed to come out of nowhere in his sophomore 17-year-old campaign. After suffering a serious knee injury, he missed 70 regular season games.

    He put up decent numbers for a 16-year-old rookie in the 2014-15 campaign with two goals and six assists in 51 games, but with having missed a big chunk of time in 2015-16, one couldn’t be sure what type of impact Mahura would have on the Rebels lineup going into the 2016 post-season.

Josh Mahura controls the puck at the point in the 2016 playoffs for the Rebels.

    Mahura ultimately ate up huge minutes on the back end for the Rebels. As Red Deer marched and fell to the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL’s Eastern Conference championship series, Mahura appeared in all of the Rebels 17 playoff games collecting two goals and two assists and minus-two rating in the plus-minus department.

    When the Rebels went to the Memorial Cup as the host team, Mahura logged significant ice time in his club’s four tournament games.

    Rebels head coach, general manager and owner Brent Sutter looked brilliant in the patience he showed waiting for Mahura to return from injury. That move was one of the key factors that helped the Rebels make a conference championship series for the first time in 12 years. Mahura impressed enough to earn an NHL Entry Draft selection in June of 2016 by the Anaheim Ducks, who picked him in the third round and 85^th overall.

    The Pats became familiar with Mahura during the 2016 post-season falling to the Rebels in an exciting and highly competitive second round series that needed a seventh and deciding game. Red Deer prevailed 2-1 in Game 7.

    In Mahura, the Pats are getting that rare offensive defenceman that can still be sound in the defensive zone. Mahura can also spark the Pats quick transition game they like to use when they are not pinning opponents in their own zone.

    Actually, the Pats back end has the potential to be as formidable offensively and defensively as any unit seen over the past two decades in the WHL. Going into their home game Friday against the visiting Tri-City Americans, the Pats, who lead the WHL with a 27-4-6-1 mark, have three defenceman who are averaging at least a point a game.

    Connor Hobbs, the club’s star rearguard who is in his 19-year-old season, has 16 goals, 28 assists and a plus-24 rating in 35 games. Overager Chase Harrison had five goals and 28 assists and a plus-40 rating in 33 games. Russian import Sergey Zborovskiy has six goals, 26 assists and a plus-51 rating in 29 games.

    Mahura will make an already sound Pats blue-line that much better. He is also battle hardened when it comes to the post-season.

    Regina hasn’t made a conference final since 1993, a league final since 1984 and hasn’t won a league title since 1980. With Mahura added to their already talented roster, the Pats have one of their best opportunities ever to break all of those droughts.

Back in the Express with Brockman

Head coach Dean Brockman mans the Blades bench.

    I was back in the pages of the Saskatoon Express this week with a feature on Saskatoon Blades head coach Dean Brockman.

    Brockman is best known for his 17 years in the junior A ranks working for the Humboldt Broncos from 1997 to 2014. He started as an assistant coach and assistant general manager before becoming the head coach and general manager in 2004. During Brockman’s years in Humboldt, the Broncos won the Royal Bank Cup for junior A supremacy in 2003 and 2008.

    The 49-year-old joined the Blades as an assistant coach in 2014, and became the head coach in June of 2016. In his first season guiding the Blades as head coach, Brockman has encountered some big challenges on the injury front, because a number of players have been out for lengthy stretches.

    The story on Brockman can be found right here.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.