The GM’s scouting report (Div C) – Week 1

The Pep Talk

 

 

 

In the fourth grade, I was an avid hockey card collector. While I’d collect and trade pretty much any and every hockey card I could get my hands on, there was one set that really caught my eye. That year, upper deck had a batch of cards in their 1998-99 series called GM’s choice. After much confusion and a little bit of paranoia, I finally understood that GM stood for general manager as well as a shortening of my name. The next thought that went through my head was “Wouldn’t it be great if I WAS a GM? G.M. the GM would sound even cooler!”

 

 

 

I never did have a very eventful childhood, but I DID end up becoming a GM (at least in the FPF world.) So, as such, I figured that I’d retire the Fourth-and-Goal article title and start anew, embracing the GM name and attempting to write from the perspective of a journalist AND a GM.

 

 

 

Reviewing the Game Film

 

 

 

Patriotes slay Dragons

 

 

 

After a rough few seasons, it seems like the slump might be over for les Patriotes. While it IS still too early to tell, it seems like a few pickups seemed to be all that les Patriotes needed to have a confidence boost. Passing for 75%, Etienne Chauvin looked like…well Etienne Chauvin from 2010-2011. Having added Vincent Jacques and Christian Tinsley, Patriotes seem to be in a fine position to capture their former form. Consequently, it seems like it’s the same song and dance for the Dragons; great chemistry and promise that’s ruined by early-season injuries. Here’s hoping that they can manage to get back on track.

 

 

 

 

 

Monstars teach etiquette to the Rude

 

 

 

After not having played together for a year, the Monstars showed zero rust as far as chemistry went. Despite a few dropped balls and off plays on offense, the men in purple picked up exactly where they had left off, and especially showed their defensive strength. 6 sacks and multiple punts/turnover on downs was not the welcome back to the quarterback position that Eugene McLaren was looking for. Despite what the score may indicate, this game was close right up until the final minute or so. Safety aside, the Rude Bwoys were really hurt by the fact that they twice allowed the Monstars to convert for two.  

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluating the Competition

 

 

 

At the moment, it’s looking almost as if Division C is separated into two tiers; the teams that are ‘too’ strong and could be a better fit for Division B, and the others. That being said, it’s a fine line between being a strong team that does really well in a division, and being a team that is simply too strong for the division.

 

 

 

I touch upon this briefly in the podcast, but instead of criticizing the teams that ARE too strong for the division, I’m going to instead touch upon the teams that I feel don’t merit the flack they’ve been getting.

 

 

 

One Night Stands – Are they a strong core of players? Yes. But bear in mind, they didn’t even make the playoffs in Division 3 this winter. After having gotten the short end of the stick with Kevin Wyeth unable to play with them anymore due to a rule change, this team had to re-tool.  They had a tough time in Division 3, largely due to consistency issues. Having a sudden lack of quarterback and players who are there one week and gone the next are two incredible obstacles to overcome. Now, with Craig O’Brien at the helm, they’re going to be difficult to beat, yes, but other teams will also stand a fighting chance.

 

 

 

The Incredibles – Having just gone 14-0, it’s easy to wonder why The Incredibles didn’t at least challenge themselves and move up to B. However, there’s a difference between challenging yourselves and putting yourselves behind the 8-ball. With Division A crossover games, and the size and physicality of Division B, it would be a safe bet that the more diminutive Incredibles would have a tough time week in, week out. Also, while this was more a debate for their critics in the preseason, it’s easily quashed when you lose your week 1 game.

 

 

 

The Commission – They’ve added a core of Division B players, but underneath it all, they’re still the same Commission crew. They’re talented, but have an unfortunate habit of falling short in the playoffs due to playing down to their competition. Will this still be the case this year? Time will tell. However, like The Incredibles, it’s hard to say that a team is too strong for a division when they haven’t checked one off in the win column yet.

 

 

 

Random Thoughts for the Week

 

 

 

– Thursday at Brossard, George Latter wore a camera in his hat during the games as a means of educating new referees. Here’s hoping it makes the transition for new referees easier.

 

– I mentioned in the introduction attempting to write from the perspective of a journalist AND a GM. Let’s see how long that lasts.

 

– Simon Dagenais continuously goes under the assumption that if he writes it, it must be true. However, I’d like to point out that he has not beaten me for picks throughout the season, we are actually 1-1.

 

– Apparently these articles are supposed to be more like “blog-type”posts; less lengthy and more frequent. I’ll do my best to have the recap article separate from the preview article.

 

– For all two of you who are at all curious, if you Google image “GM’s choice hockey card” the series I’m talking about is the third result; the white and red with Scott Stevens on it.

 

 

 

 

 

Well, that’s it for me for this week  post. I’ll have the next article up with my predictions for the week soon. If you are so inclined, you can reach me at [email protected] or on twitter @gmkole44.