Here is what we know about the Ghostriders, and it’s not much as you will understand by the end of this column.
The Riders say they have signed a few players and traded twenty year old goaltender Justin Faiella to Castlegar for a PDF and future player rights. Code for money and maybe another player later on... or some more money. They have potentially too many 20’s so had to give up a guy who can play.
They also signed two AAA midgets from... where else, Calgary. Forward Seamus Keith and defensemen Aaron Hladiuk. Guys who played AAA midget can almost always compete in this league and lots of them turn into elite KIJHL players. So those signings could be pretty good for the team and the fans.
They also signed Brody Bauder from Ft Saskatchewan who is now 18. They tried to sneak him past the three horsemen of the apocalypse Hockey Canada, BC Hockey and Hockey Alberta last September but got caught. Albertan’s have to be 18 to play in BC, unless they have a family member living in BC. GM’s beat this rule all the time... but sometimes they don’t.
The import rule for out of Province players went away a few years ago and now a Canadian is a Canadian... someday this 18 year old discriminatory rule will go too.
The Riders also “committed” to Derek Unterberger, Andrew Bonham, Eric Backhouse and Brennen Wingenbach, he played with the Fernie Academy last season.
Both Kyle Ford and Sawan Gill have signed with the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the Jr A SJHL. I hope they make the team. No word on Niki Sombrowski yet but he was a BCHL Salmon Arm AP last season.
To all new players, no matter what anyone tells you, you are not owned by any team, coach or GM unless you actually sign a player card, also they can’t trade you unless you sign. Until you sign a card you are free to go anywhere you want
In other news KIJHL players will have little GS stickers on their helmets this season in honour of 47year old Grant Sheridan. Grant was the General Manager and owner of the Kelowna Chiefs, somehow he tragically contacted bacterial meningitis during the playoffs last season and passed away on July 28th. RIP Mr Sheridan, you brought several elite players into the league.
And finally, and not a moment too soon.
The KIJHL and the Ghostriders let it be known they don’t want writers like me or anyone else writing about them. They only want cheerleaders who wave the pom pom’s.
So with that in mind the KIJHL sent out a note to all the teams warning them not to tell a popular Twitter account @kijhls better known as the KIJHL Sniper anything about their respective teams. In other words don’t you dare use any free advertising unless it’s KIJHL approved, you can only talk to your local media, commissioner Larry Martel or their new communications guy Emanual Sequeira .
The KIJHL is still taking applications for a new Commissioner, my god if you are interested in this job please apply and help the KIJHL recover from the continual bullet holes they keep putting into their own feet. CLICK HERE FOR THE AD
Well.....good for the Riders and their recent moves and acquisitions. Good luck to those young players pursuing Jr A and Western league dreams. As far as the other BS with regard to the media.....complete and total garbage. The only way any organization can be held accountable is to make sure they are monitored by the media. Sometimes the moves and decisions you make as a governing body are going to be criticized. In most cases some are going to see the value and others are not so it will always be a coin toss depending on who sees the benefit. Take your diapers off, quit being babies and realize that you aren't there to be loved. You are there to make decisions for the league. Some will work out well, some will not. Tweak the ideas and move on. It doesn't matter what the media says or thinks because in the end you are the decision makers. Hiding behind rules that say nobody is allowed to see, hear or report negatively about your choices is chicken shit. Resign now, you are not cut out for the job.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shawn
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