Checkers broadcaster Jason Shaya checks in each week with his 10 Thoughts - a series of observations about the team and the hockey world in general.
1) No one wanted to play the season opener more than Zac Dalpe but a spell of food poisoning forced him to miss game one. Details from his ordeal read like a scene from the movie
Saw. Dalpe lost so much weight on Saturday he could’ve walked through a harp. But, the good Paris, Ontario, boy was more than ready for the following night in Austin.
2) Justin Peters may have played his best game ever for Charlotte on Saturday. He was calm, displayed excellent rebound control and made the big saves look easy. Only a fluke bounce off a Checkers defenseman cost him a shutout.
3) Speaking of goaltenders, Dan Ellis explained to me that the goalie that leaves the morning skate first is usually the guy who gets the start for that night’s game. Mystery solved. Can’t wait to learn more this season.
4) Head coach Jeff Daniels said defenseman Justin Faulk is playing at another level out there. He’s right. But, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Bobby Sanguinetti was very impressive and has improved upon his last season as the Checkers' MVP.
5) A nine round shootout loss is hard enough to stomach but giving up a two-goal lead in the third period makes it worse. The team was outplayed most of the night by Texas. The Houston game was a good first step but the team didn’t fully use that momentum the following night.
6) Great number of fans listening and watching the games this past weekend. Sirius XM chose the Checkers broadcast against Texas for Sunday night’s NHL Channel.
7) My thoughts will be posted each week during the season… until I’m banned from the gocheckers.com website. Last season was touch and go.
8) Justin Soryal has been frisked at so many airports that TSA agents call him by his nickname.
9) Going into Houston on Saturday, all the talk was about how Mikael Granlund was going to score seven million goals… I love when hype meets reality because reality never loses.
10) Since I haven’t had a chance on “10 Thoughts” to mention the (soon to be over) lockout, I’ll do that now. First, I think it’s important to understand NHL owners, almost exclusively, lose money operating their teams each year but continue to do so for the love of the game. If I asked 30 owners to throw away, for example, $15 million dollars of their own money but doing so would guarantee them a Stanley Cup; I’d have 30 people racing to do exactly that. For the owners, it’s not about making money, it’s about losing less. And more than that, it’s about winning. The only people who go into the NHL and then leave millionaires are the players…and good for them. They deserve what they earn. Nevertheless, the owners must protect themselves by constraining their biggest expenditure which are player salaries.
11) Also, I believe that any player currently under contract shouldn’t have to take less than they signed for using an off-the-top salary rollback. The owners shouldn’t attempt to alter what’s mutually agreed upon with a player. Good for the Players Association for making this a steadfast position.
12) Finally, the NHL is in this quagmire because the systemic flaws of the previous CBA. The financial health of a 30 team league is the primary importance to everyone involved in the game. A 50/50 split of Hockey Related Revenue will solve this and it’s a matter of time before they come to an agreement. We all need the NHL and the PA functioning in a mutually beneficially environment. A true partnership, defined by a 50/50 split in hockey revenues is the framework for a long-term and healthier league. The NHL will be back to work soon enough and we can put this all behind us.
13) There are three games in three nights in two cities this weekend. People love our mobile app. Go to
gocheckers.com/schedule/broadcast/ to download the TuneIn radio app for your fancy cellular telephones.
14) Go Tigers!
