The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
This week the panel talks Bombers, NHL hockey and provides a few parting jabs at baseball. Of the returning Flin Flon Bombers, will will be the biggest improvement over last season? Brent Lethbridge If the Bombers hope to compete at the top level of the league this year, the entire team will have to improve. Confidence is one of the single largest contributors to a winning team. I believe the Bombers' improvement will start with confidence as a team and early success in the season only builds more confidence. Leaders will emerge as the team comes together. If I have to name names, I think (Mackenzie) Groenwegen has the potential to really contribute both on the score sheet and in the physical department, but he has to go to the net on a consistent basis. I feel that (David) Holinaty will be huge on defence and in the top five in scoring on the team as well as an all-star. He has all the tools and his sidekick, Myles Masse, won't be far behind. But I look for a 60-minute effort out of every individual on the ice and if the whole team improves, only a slacker will stick out. Tanner Brough Of all the Bombers returning this season, I think Travis Crickard will be the biggest improvement. As a backup last season, fans never really got to see much of Crickard. With (Calvin) Bartel expected to be the other goalie in maroon and white this season, I would bet Crickard will be relied upon heavily if Bartel struggles early in the season. Travis has a year of SJHL experience and should be able to handle the pressure if needed. Jason Mandes I only saw the Maroon/White Game on Sunday, but I was impressed with Myles Masse. He seemed stronger in the corners and more willing to mix it up. I think a combination of physical play and the ability to contribute on the power play will make Masse the Bombers' most improved player this season. What surprises await us this NHL season? Brent Lethbridge Edmonton does not make the playoffs, to nobody's surprise. They have not made the moves necessary to replace Chris Pronger, so keep your expectations pretty low on that one. The Penguins will be one of the most entertaining teams in the league and will make the playoffs and will go to the second round based on simply scoring more goals than their opposition on any given night. Toronto will be out of it by December and they will trade Sundin before the deadline. I predict he will go to the Flames and help them to the final four. And Buffalo will make the final four again cause they've got the recipe for success; they just may be a finalist this year. Speed, finesse tenacity, goal tending and a quick and mobile defence is what wins hockey games in the new NHL, no surprise there. I just hope John Ferguson, Jr. reads this. Tanner Brough There are gonna be a few surprises this season in the NHL. I think this could be the probably be the case every season for a while. A lot of teams are only giving one-year contracts, besides the big name guys, so a lot of players will be playing for contracts a lot more often than the past 15 years. Columbus and Anaheim stick out in the west as teams on the rise. The Ducks looked amazing in the playoffs before running in to the "Cinderella" Oilers. Columbus has a lot of young talent Ð Nash, Leclaire, Klesla, Brule, and Zherdev, if he signs a contract. They added Modin, who won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning, Fedorov, who won a few Cups with the Wings, and Adam Foote, probably one of the most hard-nosed D-men in the league, will add a lot of leadership to this group of young guns. The Rangers are a team that surprised everyone last year. They added two Cup champs in Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward. Brendan Shanahan scored 40 goals last year for the Wings and will suit up on Broadway this winter. Look for these guys to be near the top of the standings all year long. Jason Mandes I don't think Alex Tanguay is much of a surprise, but I'm sure he'll have an outstanding season with the Flames. I still can't believe Colorado traded him for Jordan Leopold. I'm thinking powerplay time with Jarome Iginla should boost his numbers from last season. I don't know why I'm pumping up Calgary since they burned my playoff pool last season. And now here's your chance to rant on a topic of your choosing. What will it be, gentlemen? Brent Lethbridge I would like to rant on a bit about the Blue Jays. Just what is the problem? The manager wants to beat up his players all the time. The pitchers think six earned runs and inning is no reason to get pulled and yet they are one of the best-hitting teams in MLB and their pitching staff is the envy of most others, lead by former and future Cy Young winner Doc Halliday. The problem is the Maple Leafs, who call Toronto home as well. It's based on the physics called osmosis. The Leafs are so bad it's not confined to just themselves, but they effect the Raptors and Blue Jays, too. In fact any professional sports team in Toronto has to carry this curse; they just suck. It's all John Ferguson, Jr's fault. He's gotta go now. And that's the way I see it. Tanner Brough I hate the Yankees. They have to be the cheesiest team in all of sports. I'm sick of seeing the Yankees do what they want, pay what they want, and basically win when they want. I can't stand to watch baseball all summer long and see the Yankees struggling a little, just to send out a few blank cheques to any team that has someone doing well. They picked up Bobby Abreu this year, a great ball player, but the Yankees had a injury to another great ball player in Gary Sheffield. So instead of grooming a young prospect in right field, they spend more money. The Red Sox have been spending for a while now, too. It's just too bad that the American League East Division is always gonna come down to which owner has the biggest bank account.
