Wait. I thought you seemed familiar from the draft day talk.

You are Jim Hughes - Jack Hughes' dad.
- PT21

No, just a local dad that's had 3 boys come up through the ranks of hockey from mites to college. One of my son's is a 97 birth year like Provorov. He played Tier 1 AAA hockey for many years. Provorov came over from Russia when he was 13 or 14. The head coach for the WBS Knights was a Russian guy that came over that year. He brought Provorov and some other Russian kids with him. One of those was also Denis Smirnov who just finished his final year at Penn State. Their 14 year old Bantam Major team was lights out good and Provorov was their superstar. That team also had a kid they imported from Canada named Daniel Sprong who was drafted first round by Pittsburgh. They won the USA Hockey National Championships that year beating Matthew Tkachuk's St. Louis Jr. Blues in the finals. They also won Silver Sticks International. That year, I think they lost 2 games and tied one out of 80+ games. My son's team played against Provorov for 2 years (14 and 15) before Provorov left to go to play for the Wheat Kings. For those 2 years, he played against him 7 times and I think they beat our otherwise pretty good teams by 50+ to maybe 5 goals combined. I remember the first time I saw Provorov and I knew he was different than everyone else on the ice by a large margin. Thank God the Flyers got him.

BTW, that WBS Knights team was the impetus for USA Hockey to limit teams to the number of foreign kids they can have on one team. I think it's 2 now. WBS had 5 or 6.

Hope this helps.

No, just a local dad that's had 3 boys come up through the ranks of hockey from mites to college. One of my son's is a 97 birth year like Provorov. He played Tier 1 AAA hockey for many years. Provorov came over from Russia when he was 13 or 14. The head coach for the WBS Knights was a Russian guy that came over that year. He brought Provorov and some other Russian kids with him. One of those was also Denis Smirnov who just finished his final year at Penn State. Their 14 year old Bantam Major team was lights out good and Provorov was their superstar. That team also had a kid they imported from Canada named Daniel Sprong who was drafted first round by Pittsburgh. They won the USA Hockey National Championships that year beating Matthew Tkachuk's St. Louis Jr. Blues in the finals. They also won Silver Sticks International. That year, I think they lost 2 games and tied one out of 80+ games. My son's team played against Provorov for 2 years (14 and 15) before Provorov left to go to play for the Wheat Kings. For those 2 years, he played against him 7 times and I think they beat our otherwise pretty good teams by 50+ to maybe 5 goals combined. I remember the first time I saw Provorov and I knew he was different than everyone else on the ice by a large margin. Thank God the Flyers got him.

BTW, that WBS Knights team was the impetus for USA Hockey to limit teams to the number of foreign kids they can have on one team. I think it's 2 now. WBS had 5 or 6.

Hope this helps.
- Letterkenney

Interesting everything.

You said you your son played against Provorov and also that your younger son is following older brother's footsteps. I played a dork in taking that literally, and since the only way to play against Provorov in the near future is the NHL, I chose the only dad's name I knew amongst our Metro opponents.

Hak was not my favorite bench boss. Didn’t hate him. Just thought he was sub average head NHL coach. That is not a bad thing. The guy knows hockey for sure. Way way more then me. Just seemed to lose faith from the team.

Hexy did a lot of good things for the program. Cleaned up the cap situation and stocked the feeder with prospects and picks. Fletcher said that Hextall left him in a good situation. Not sure Hexy could pull the trigger like Fletcher but he did pull it on JVR. Think Fletcher and AV really pulled the team to the next level and in my opinion I don’t think Hexy or Hak would have been able to do that. At least to me Hexy didn’t seem ready to go in yet. Time will tell but I like where the team is headed while I give a lot of props to Fletcher and AV I think Hexy and Hak had some influence (more from Hexy).

Interesting everything.

You said you your son played against Provorov and also that your younger son is following older brother's footsteps. I played a dork in taking that literally, and since the only way to play against Provorov in the near future is the NHL, I chose the only dad's name I knew amongst our Metro opponents.
- PT21

No problem. I've been fortunate to see many phenomenal players in their youth during my travels. I'd have to think about them all to make a list. Been to tournaments almost everywhere from Portland, Maine to Raleigh, NC and west to Chicago and everywhere in between, including some in Toronto area. The Toronto Marlies and Missasauga organizations put out some really good players, too. Some fun times. Met a lot of great people at rinks across this land. Next year is my youngest's last year before college. Going to miss it immensely. Hockey has been a very enriching experience for me and my relationships with my sons.

The concept you are struggling with is called grading on a curve. . I am so sorry you are struggling to understand it.


- PT21

Complete nonsense on your part. Nothing to do with the subject matter.

Since logic and example failed, let me try a metaphor. Consider a river flowing from place A to B, B is downstream in the current. You could float or swim from A to B, but there are nasty fish that bite, so you need a vessel.

There are a hundred makeshift rafts. Any will do. You choose one, and get on it. Sure enough, it supports you, and the river takes you there in its natural course.

Was the raft important? Sure, it took you there. Its not anymore important than any other raft.

Hakstol was one such raft. Vigneault is a boat, with a motor.
- PT21

I'm laughing hysterically. The context of the conversation was not comparing the two coaches. You've got nothing

The most important raft is the one you're on and the one that gets you there. That's logic. LMAO.

Do you have anything to say that actually has to do with hockey and what actually happened? Why are you wasting my time? Better question is why am I wasting my time. I'm blown away by the silliness of what you posted. It's a shame.

No problem. I've been fortunate to see many phenomenal players in their youth during my travels. I'd have to think about them all to make a list. Been to tournaments almost everywhere from Portland, Maine to Raleigh, NC and west to Chicago and everywhere in between, including some in Toronto area. The Toronto Marlies and Missasauga organizations put out some really good players, too. Some fun times. Met a lot of great people at rinks across this land. Next year is my youngest's last year before college. Going to miss it immensely. Hockey has been a very enriching experience for me and my relationships with my sons.
- Letterkenney

You are a fortunate man, and I really hope your son gets to have a great last hockey year bwith you that is uncurtailed by the virus.

I'm laughing hysterically.
- MJL

Don't worry, It is a common behavioral tendency of the lunatic.

The most important raft is the one you're on and the one that gets you there.
- MJL

Thank you for that deep insight, Mr. F. Gump.

Do you have anything to say that actually has to do with hockey and what actually happened?
- MJL

Sure, right at the outset, I talked about a qualitative change In Sanheim's play I have noticed in the second half of this season compared to the last. I can provide other instances, for example, JVR's play since beind demoted to the 4rth line, and Voracek's play after being demoted to the 3rd line.

Your contribution to proving that Hakstol was instrumental consists of two points. He *happened to be the coach*, and he sent Sanheim down.

Both have dubious merit in advancing the argument, but I very strongly doubt that you are capable of seeing that.

You take care, now, buddy. I am moving on from this.

You are a fortunate man, and I really hope your son gets to have a great last hockey year bwith you that is uncurtailed by the virus.
- PT21

Thank you! I am very fortunate to have the family and children that I have. All of them good and decent people not into bullsheet that too many kids are these days. The 2 older ones are professionals and entrepreneurs making their own way in the world quite well. The 2 younger ones (daughter and youngest son) are following in the same path. I have been truly blessed and God willing they'll all grow up to be responsible and good people. Hockey with my boys has been icing on the cake of my life.

BTW... my daughter's boyfriend is a prospect playing in the USHL right now with a commitment to Penn State. Life is good.

Sure, right at the outset, I talked about a qualitative change In Sanheim's play I have noticed in the second half of this season compared to the last. I can provide other instances, for example, JVR's play since beind demoted to the 4rth line, and Voracek's play after being demoted to the 3rd line.


- PT21

None of that has anything to do with Hakstol and how well he did developing young players in his time as the Flyers head coach. How are you not aware of that? LOL

Voracek and JVR are 30 year old players. How do they fit into the context of young player development that took place when Hakstol was the coach?

You missed your raft.

Your contribution to proving that Hakstol was instrumental consists of two points. He *happened to be the coach*, and he sent Sanheim down.

Both have dubious merit in advancing the argument, but I very strongly doubt that you are capable of seeing that.

You take care, now, buddy. I am moving on from this.
- PT21

Lucky for me there is an actual record of what I actually said and your account of it is not relevant or accurate.

You just keep making strawman after strawman. Inventing mythical standards that are impossible to meet, learning curves, rafts on a river and now referencing what happened this season when obviously Hakstol isn't around involving older players.

You should move on because you brought nothing to the table and you're not capable of offering anything to refute my premise. Other than rafts of course.

Thank you! I am very fortunate to have the family and children that I have. All of them good and decent people not into bullsheet that too many kids are these days. The 2 older ones are professionals and entrepreneurs making their own way in the world quite well. The 2 younger ones (daughter and youngest son) are following in the same path. I have been truly blessed and God willing they'll all grow up to be responsible and good people. Hockey with my boys has been icing on the cake of my life.

BTW... my daughter's boyfriend is a prospect playing in the USHL right now with a commitment to Penn State. Life is good.
- Letterkenney

Generally, people who play competitive sports from a young age know early on many hard truths. The merits of discipline, hard work, team spirit, riding adversity, not looking too far ahead... all of it sounds like cliches and obvious but lots of people struggle with this when the time comes. Your kids,in other words, already have a leg up in life. 👍

You remind me a little bit of a poster from Winnipeg 10+ years ago called Butsy.

Generally, people who play competitive sports from a young age know early on many hard truths. The merits of discipline, hard work, team spirit, riding adversity, not looking too far ahead... all of it sounds like cliches and obvious but lots of people struggle with this when the time comes. Your kids,in other words, already have a leg up in life. 👍

You remind me a little bit of a poster from Winnipeg 10+ years ago called Butsy.
- PT21

Agreed on your point that athletes who play at a high level tend to be more mature than their peers. And my kids fit that bill, fortunately. None of them have been good enough to even have a fantasy at playing in the NHL, but in the end, that's only a matter of pure luck when you realize the ladder that must be climbed to get there. It's a combination of God given talent combined with a burning desire to put in the immense amount of work over years and years of playing.

That's just my perspective in coming up through the hockey ranks for 25 years and having an inside understanding of the talent and sacrifice that's required to even have a chance at earning living playing the game, much less being a superstar. The commitment and dedication are life lessons that surpass the playing years and stick with them for life. And those lessons form who they become as adults.

Just my opinion.

You are an utter fool
- KINGKENZO

Yes I guess I am, who warned you about the virus and the impact it will have. You in particular and MJL strongly disagreed saying not more than a minor flu. You both have rocks in your head. Get a grip and realize that your country is in one hell of a mess because of morons like you two. Stop listening to Trump would be my other advice!

Don't worry, It is a common behavioral tendency of the lunatic.



Thank you for that deep insight, Mr. F. Gump.



Sure, right at the outset, I talked about a qualitative change In Sanheim's play I have noticed in the second half of this season compared to the last. I can provide other instances, for example, JVR's play since beind demoted to the 4rth line, and Voracek's play after being demoted to the 3rd line.

Your contribution to proving that Hakstol was instrumental consists of two points. He *happened to be the coach*, and he sent Sanheim down.

Both have dubious merit in advancing the argument, but I very strongly doubt that you are capable of seeing that.

You take care, now, buddy. I am moving on from this.
- PT21

PT21, you do not argue with MJL He is always right, lol I am laughing my guts out at his insanity Honestly he was nothing more that a Hextall/Hakstol puppet. Everything they said he repeated, anything he says is usually incorrect and man does he like to argue., ;lol

Yes I guess I am, who warned you about the virus and the impact it will have. You in particular and MJL strongly disagreed saying not more than a minor flu. You both have rocks in your head. Get a grip and realize that your country is in one hell of a mess because of morons like you two. Stop listening to Trump would be my other advice!
- joegreif17

Congrats, you just proved his point.

I also said the Earth was flat. Did you get my prediction on when the World would end?

Who would've thought that the current mess was caused by MJL and KINGKENZO. There needs to be an investigation.

Yes I guess I am, who warned you about the virus and the impact it will have. You in particular and MJL strongly disagreed saying not more than a minor flu. You both have rocks in your head. Get a grip and realize that your country is in one hell of a mess because of morons like you two. Stop listening to Trump would be my other advice!
- joegreif17

I did? Yet again, you prove your reading comprehension skills put you on the spectrum.