First Home Win of Season

(AP) Denver, Colorado

The Spurs have finally won their first home game of the CCHL '08-'09 season. While the Spurs are the defending champs as Commish Corfield has so graciously pointed out, they haven't been able to win in front of the home town folks until now. Day 32, over a month into the season, the Spurs defeated the visiting Linz Blackwings 5-0. Brodeur had a fairly easy time of it with having to face and stop 15 shots during the contest. The Spurs launched 40 at Blackwings' netminder Leclaire with 5 lighting the lamp. Amazingly, the Spurs managed this performance without number 1 center Vinny Lecavalier who is sidelined with a strange malady.
It appears the defending champs are snake bit this season. They have a 9-8 record, 18 points, and are in 3rd place in the USA Western Division behind Portland and the division leading Beverly Hills Lawmasters.
After Marty Brodeur's shutout of the Blackwings, he has a record of 6-7-0 in 13gp with a 2.69gaa and .910 SvPct. The shutout has gone a long ways to bring Brodeur's goals against and save percentage numbers into an acceptable range. Acceptable for him, that is.
Time will tell if this shutout can propel the Spurs to better performances here on out.

Spurs trade for Sykora

(AP) Denver, CO

Yesterday the Spurs completed a deal with the Springfield Homers that put winger Petr Sykora in a Spurs uni. Going to the Homers was blueliner Ossi Vaananen and Denver's 2nd round entry draft pick. While Sykora brings with him a hefty salary of $5 mil for this season and next season, he's looked at as an upgrade over Svatos on the 2nd line RW and 2nd power play unit. Whether he stays there will depend upon his performance. He also offers some flexibility in that he can play on the left side also if needed. Vaananen is currently on the inactive CCHL list but returns for another stint next season for the last year of his contract at $800k+ per season. With this move, right winger Mark Parrish is officially on the trading block. While he's a UFA he could help some team in the CCHL this season. All that's expected in return is a 5th round draft pick.

Spurs tied for 1st in the West

(AP) Denver, Colorado

After 4 games the Spurs find themselves tied for 1st in the USA Western Division with the Beverly Hills Lawmasters. Both teams currently sport 3-1 records for 6 points.
The Spurs had the CCHL Cup Champion banner raising ceremonies prior to the home opener. I guess the ceremony was too emotional for the Spurs players because they lost the home opener to the Lawmasters 3-1. The good news is that the Spurs have won all three of their road games to date in posting the current 3-1 record. If not for the home opener loss to the lawmen, they Spurs would be a prefect 4-0.
It appears the dismal preseason was a result of taking the preseason a bit too lightly in light of the start of the Spurs season.
Marty Brodeur is back to his old self in posting a 3-1 record in 4 games with a 2.48 gaa and .918 SvPct. Marty suffered a slightly pulled groin in the last game, a 4-3 win vs. the Ronin at Paul's Place in Victoria. Valiquette was pressed into service for the 3rd period and stopped 13 of 14 sog in preserving the win for Marty.
Keith Tkachuk currently leads the Spurs in scoring with 7 points (2g 5a). A pleasant surprise to date has been youngster Cody McCormick who has 1 goal in 2 games played, a game winner, and sports a +2 in 18 minutes of ice time. Looks like Mr. McCormick has earned himself a few more starts at the 4th line right wing position. The loser in this deal right now is Mark Parrish, who was a primary cog in the march to the Cup last season.
Dasher Notes
On another note, Congrats to owner, GM and Coach Derek Chaiken of the Lawmasters for his recent success in passing the California Bar!
The puck away endorsement by Marty Brodeur has been shelved for the time being as it was roundly frowned upon by the CCHL league officials.
Can't take a joke

Preseason Woes

(AP) Denver, CO

So far this preseason the Spurs are not playing like the 2008 defending Cup Champions. Actually more like a basement dweller. It appears the Spurs have partied a bit too hearty over the summer and have a ways to go to get in game shape.
After 4 preseason games the Spurs are a woeful 1-3, having lost to Havana 5-2 on home ice, then losing 3-2 at Thunder Bay, winning at Niagara Falls 3-2 with Steve Valiquette in net and losing the 4th game of preseason at the Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs to the visiting Karlstad Killers 5-1. Pitiful performances for a CCHL Cup winning club.
As if the losses weren't bad enough, what's even more of a concern is the mysterious woeful play of Marty Brodeur between the pipes who was instrumental in the Spurs winning the Cup a scant 6 months ago.
In the three games he started he is 0-3 with a 4.04 gaa and .859 SvPct. Certainly not Martin Brodeur numbers. More like Hardy 'the Swedish Sieve' Aastrom of Colorado Rockies and Don Cherry lore.
Add to that the scoring average of 2 goals per game for a team that led the league in goals scored per game last season and there's a lot to be concerned about. Granted, the defense is not exactly the same as last year with some player changes at forward positions also, but the core of the club is still intact.
Dasher Notes
It could be that not retaining Captain Joe and his $10M contract was a big mistake. Right now it certainly appears that he WAS the heart and soul of this club. There's little management can do at this point player-wise. Hopefully the coaching staff and players can turn it around come the start of the regular season. In the meantime Marty is in the process of placing a person to person call to Dany Sabourin. Marty said, "Hey I need all the help I can get. SHHHHH...mums the word. Bill Corfield and Paul Canosa don't need to know a thing. My family needs the paycheck and I can't afford a suspension. Hey, you don't really think I've been putting up those eerily similar numbers the past few season without a little help do you? Come on!"
This just in: The Spurs have also lost the 5th and final game of preseason with Marty between the pipes, 4-2 at Victoria. One was an empty netter. The puck away didn't arrive in time for the game. An overnight FedEx shipment is being expedited.

Preseason News

(AP) Denver, Colorado, USA

The CCHL 2008 Champs participated in the annual waiver draft recently.

To fill out the roster the Spurs selected role players Craig MacDonald, Cody McCormick and Cody McLeod. MacDonald is a center, McCormick is a right wing with McLeod completing the MAC ATTACK on left wing.
With the expected injuries the Spurs are expected to sustain due to the hearty partying with the CCHL Cup, as it made it's way around the Spurs' organization, coupled with the lack of training over the summer, they are expected to eventually fill some vital rolls on the club this coming season. Possibly beyond.

At press time the current starting lineup shakes out to be:
1st Line Lecavalier Tkachuk Hossa Liles McCabe
2nd Line Stastny Smyth Svatos Sauer Finger
3rd Line Peca Guite Laperriere Malik Staios
4th Line Hlinka Lucic, Parrish
Goal Brodeur, Valiquette

Whether those lines get shuffled or guys on the bench inserted, will depend upon performance and the aforementioned injuries.

The club is excited to see what rookie portsider Milan Lucic can bring to the table along with Czech import Jaroslav Hlinka. Backup netminder Steve Valiquette was picked up in the free agent draft earlier this year.
Lucic is known for his gritty style of play with Hlinka being more of a playmaker. Valiquette shoould be more than adequate backing up Marty Brodeur.

Dasher Notes:
During the offseason GM & Coach Richard 'Dick' Poelker was elected to the CCHL Hall of Fame!!!
In accepting the award Mr. Poelker said, "I am humbled and honored in accepting this award. I will forever cherish this and the CCHL Cup. This award is for the entire Denver Spurs' organization. From management, to the players to the concession vendors in the Coliseum. Well done Denver Spurs' organization. It's all due to the support of the greatest fans in the CCHL."

UFA Laperriere re-signed

(AP) Denver, CO, USA

Today the defending CCHL Champion Denver Spurs re-signed checking forward Ian Laperriere to a 3 year contract worth $3.3M usd.
At the news conference GM Poelker said, "We are happy to bring Lappy back as he was an integral part of our club last year in winning the CCHL Cup. Ian, I and the entire management team of the Spurs congratulate you and are extremely pleased we were able to offer you a contract that brought you back to the Spurs. We hated to release you to free agency but you were a true professional in understanding the business side of our great sport. We've decided to sew the 'C' on your sweater! Thanks for re-signing and welcome back Captain Laperriere!"
Ian exclaimed, "Wow! Thanks so much! Captain! Iam honored. I will do my best to fill Joe's shoes, but it will be tough. I hope to finish my career with the Spurs and will do my best to represent our club in a professional manner on and off the ice."
As far as this writer is concerned, that won't be a problem, as Ian has been known for his charity work throughout the Rocky Mountain Region in the short time he's been here. As far as on the ice, he always goes above and beyond and also stands up for his 'mates. Everyone around the CCHL knows that Ian doesn't back down from anyone.
Sports journalist Terry Frei of the Rocky Mountain News asked,
"So, I take it that this means you won't be offering Captain Joe Sakic a contract that would bring him back for his final year or two? How can you do that?!?! He's the heart and soul of this club! You had him signed for another year and dumped his contract. You've talked about player loyalty in the past. Where's management's?!?!"
To this GM Poelker replied, "Now Terry, calm down. We've had this discussion before. What are you trying to stir up? We met at length with Joe and being the professional he is, he fully understood why we released him and his $10 million usd contract. We certainly know Joe was a great leader for us and primary to winning the Cup this past May. However, Joe understands the financial landscape being what it is and that when the league offered every club the opportunity to cut one contract this off season, that we simply had to cut his for the future financial health of the organization. We understand that Joe has received a top UFA offer from the Hamilton Predators. We wish him well and can tell the Preds they'll be getting one of the classiest players in the CCHL. But hey, everyone knows that about Joe....eh! We do hope that when the time comes that Joe will enter the CCHL Hall of Fame as a Spur. But that, of course, is entirely up to him."
Dasher Notes
The Spurs had made offers to 7 other unrestricted free agents but it appears at press time that those 7 will be signing elsewhere for much higher contracts than what management was willing to offer.
With the release of Joe Sakic, it's obvious that youngster Paul Stastny will be given the job of pivoting the 2nd line. His linemates project to be Ryan Smyth & Marek Svatos at this time. It is hoped that Svatos will adequately replace the departed Teemu Selanne (ufa). The 1st line of Lecavalier-Tkachuk-Hossa is back intact for the upcoming season while the 3rd line shakes out to be Peca-Guite-Laperriere at this time.
The defense corps looks like Liles, McCabe, Finger, Staios, Malik and Sauer. Bergeron, Paetsch & Skrastins will most likely play secondary roles. Between the goal posts will be all world netminder Martin Brodeur who was re-signed to a hefty $5mil+ per year contract for the league minimum raise. Management couldn't pass up that deal. But you never know what may happen between now and the drop of the puck on opening day!

SPURS WIN CCHL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

-Denver Coliseum- Denver, CO

The Spurs won the coveted CCHL Cup tonight at the Coliseum in Denver! They took Game 6 by a score of 7-4 in winning the Championship Finals in 6 games over the Wisborg Donuts. It was a hard fought series for both clubs with injuries, unfortunately, playing a factor. Donuts' starting netminder Mason went down early in the 1st with a recurrence of the injury he sustained earlier in the playoffs. Of course, Ryan Smyth whacking away at a loose puck just might have had something to do with it....eh. In the game Marian Hossa, Keith Tkachuk and Mark Parrish all scored 2 goals for the Spurs with Smyth chipping in with one. The final series was offensive with the Spurs scoring 28 goals in the 6 games and the Donuts 22. Awarding the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the Playoffs) is going to be tough as several players are worthy. In the Playoffs, Hossa (15g-19a-34pts) led the Spurs in scoring, with Keith Tkachuk (16g-17a-33pts), Joe Sakic (8g-25s-33pts), Teemu Selanne (11g-20a-31pts) and Vinny Lecavalier (8g-22a-30pts) close behind. Ryan Smyth finished the playoffs with 15g-9a-24pts along with 4 game winners.
So, all are certainly worthy of consideration. Being the modest guys they are, they will all say it was a team effort. Of course, this is so true as it always is when any team wins a championship. Not to be overlooked is the defense corps led by Bryan McCabe (4g-10a-14pts +12) while averaging 27 minutes per game, John-Michael Liles (2g-13a-15pts +13), Marc-Andre Bergeron (4g-13a-17pts +14) and Steve Staios (2g-7a-9pts +15).
Netminder Marty Brodeur played in 22 of the 23 playoff games posting a 3.23 gaa, .909 SvPct with a 15-6 won-loss record.
Dasher Notes
You can be sure the CCHL Cup celebration will be going on for days in Denver. The Mile High City has never seen the type of celebrating these Spurs fans have begun. It's a sight to see! The fans are certainly a mile high in their happiness in the Mile High City! Congrats to the Wisborg Donuts on a great series and season! Congrats to all the CCHL clubs on a fine season and thanks to Bill Corfield, Paul Canosa, Dave Kehler, Jason Mote, Johan Kallum and Johan Eriksson for all they do in bringing us the CCHL each season. Of course, especially Bill & Paul!