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) As I write this, the Checkers have accumulated the most points in the AHL with 19. Things are looking good but there are a lot of good teams in the league this year. Except for Peoria. Hey oh!
2) I’ve been watching Zach Boychuk play for three seasons and I can’t remember if he’s ever played better than right now. I can say the same thing for Riley Nash. He was a threat all weekend against Peoria and worked really well with Boychuk.
3) My former broadcast partner Chris Terry has a six game point streak (6g, 2a). I’d like to take some of the credit but he started the streak before his stint as a color commentator.
4) I met the parents of several players over the past week. It always strikes me at how dedicated they are to their kid’s hockey career. Every parent is so gracious and nice that it’s no wonder why their sons are polite, respectful and totally professional. Oh dear, my sarcasm meter just melted.
5) San Antonio goalie Dov Grumet-Morris has outplayed super-prospect Jacob Markstrom this season. His GAA (1.19) and SV% (.961) are second-best in the league. Some are calling Grumet-Morris the next Tim Thomas. We should see him this weekend on Friday or Sunday.
6) This weekend, I was talking to a scout I’ve known for years and he said one guy he thinks will be an NHL player is Rasmus Rissanen. He thinks Rissanen is starting to really find his game.
7) It was a scary moment when Bobby Sanguinetti was hit by Cody Beach on Thursday night. In three seasons of WHL hockey, Beach had 622 PIMs and I believe was suspended several times last year. There was no doubt in my mind he was trying to hurt Sanguinetti and the league did the right thing by suspending him for two games. When Bobby left the game only to return a few minutes later, we were convinced that a doctor accidently let Bobby out of his sights and he just wandered back onto the ice. Turns out, he’s just a tough kid from New Jersey.
8) Former Charlotte Checkers d-man Ethan Graham got to practice with the Red Wings Alumni this week at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It probably wasn’t as incredibly awesome as I imagine.
9) Broken hearts abound at the announcement that Checkers employee Lindsay Fender was recently engaged. Congrats to Fender and sorry to those guys who thought they still had a chance.
10) Canes head coach Kirk Muller told me that he’s only met Don Cherry three times in his life. That means for every meeting, he’s received five million mentions on Coach’s Corner.
11) I interviewed both Ron Francis and Kirk Muller on Friday morning. The interviews will be aired during our Nov. 24 television game.
12) The Canes made the decision to send Victor Rask back to the WHL this week. I was surprised, but in Calgary he will get more ice time and will play a much more critical role with the team. He is only 19 years old and has only played one year of junior hockey. He is one of the best prospects the Canes have and after watching him play pro hockey for a month, I am sure they are very excited about the future.
