Joyce article on Shattuck-St. Mary's

For those interested in the NHL entry draft, this article in ESPN the Magazine is a must-read. Gare Joyce, who wrote Future Greats and Heartbreaks, describes the hockey factory that is Shattuck-St. Mary's, a private high school in Minnesota.

The school has a slew of regional and national titles, for both its men's and its women's teams. But neither the banners in the new rink nor the list of NHL players who went there does justice to the special qualities of SSM. They only partly explain why Wayne Gretzky sent his son here, why Mario Lemieux probably will too. "A little like a cult," is how J.P. Parise, the NHL journeyman and father of Zach (and the hockey program), explains it.

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Custance on HFRadio

I found out about this HFRadio interview with AJC beat writer Craig Custance the way most people will, off a link. No one ever tells me anything. Isn't that the way most organizations work though?

It's funny that we're hearing from Craig via Canada, where our Hockey's Future podcast guy is located, but that's the way this crazy new world works I guess. Dustin, the other voice you hear, is originally from Lethbridge, Alberta, home of one Spencer Machacek. Naturally he works him into the conversation.

Craig sounds a little less relaxed than normal, but it's an interesting quick (under 10-minute) listen. It is, as you'd expect, mostly about rookies, prospects and the draft.

Rookie review finished

As mentioned a few days ago, the Thrashers had eight rookies who played a total of 210 games this year. That's plenty to write about, as I found out when I put this together. It felt like going into the way-back machine at times -- training camp sure seems like a lifetime ago now. But the rookies were one of the few positives of a rough, rough season.

Next up will be writing the CHL season review. Paul Postma's WHL Calgary Hitmen were knocked out tonight by the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He was the last Thrashers prospect standing in the CHL. Postma outscored teammate Karl Alzner in the playoffs, just as he did during the regular season. He's one to keep an eye on in the future.

The Gladiators were knocked out at South Carolina tonight as well, so they are done. Maybe Jeff Pyle will have the winning lottery ticket though. If so, I suspect we wouldn't hear from him again. The seasons of the prospects with the Gladiators will be reviewed together with those in Chicago. The Wolves are even up in their first-round series with Milwaukee, with three games left, two of them at home.

Gladiators force deciding game

The Gladiators evened their second-round series with the South Carolina Stingrays, forcing a deciding Game 5 on Wednesday night. Here's the game, told via pictures of the bench.

Matt Anderson gets his game face on.

Mount Rushmore of Busniuk, Dickenson, Brandt and Turple.

Defenseman Scott Marchesi scored his first professional goal.

Brad Schell has a decent playoff beard going.

Schell smiles at Desbiens after Desbiens' goal. You can always see the affection they have for each other.

Here they are together on the bench.

Jeff Pyle yells to rally the troops. "We got that third one and I just told the boys, 'you've got to send a message in this third that they're coming through us every time,'" Pyle said afterward.

Here he gives a stern look.


The most poignant moment of the night happened after it was all over. I gathered my things and exited via a door by the loading docks. The Stingrays were getting on their bus, and the Gladiators were getting ready to do so too. They will follow the Stingrays back to Charleston through the night where the season is on the line tomorrow -- one game do or die.

A shadowy figure said hey. It was Jeff Pyle, already changed for the trip. He was walking determinedly to his vehicle. I asked why he had parked over here instead of around the corner at his spot close to the door.

"Lost my spot," he said. "I get antsy in my office so I go run to the store sometimes or go buy a lottery ticket."

"You feelin' lucky?" I asked.

"Yeah I am."

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Myles Stoesz and his undefeated shoes

Coming into tonight's game, the Gwinnett Gladiators had their backs against the wall, down 2-0 in the five-game second round against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Gladiators won the game. I thought they won because they worked hard and got good goaltending. But I was wrong -- it was because Myles Stoesz broke out his lucky shoes. His white snakeskin loafers.


Stoesz modeled the shoes in the weight/storage room of the Gladiators locker room, prompting cat-calls by teammates riding bikes nearby. He said he subscribes to the "look good, feel good, play good" theory of hockey, but since he's currently a scratch, in this case he said it was the "look good, feel good, watch the game good and hope the team does well" theory. The shoes are undefeated, and he only breaks them out for big games.

He also owns a black pair that he got about year ago, but this pair was given to him in December by his girlfriend, who works at Aldo and got them on discount. It may be before Memorial Day, but undefeated shoes of any color are always in style.

Painchaud sent home

Since a lot of people are looking for this information, here's the obligatory post on Chad Painchaud. On 4/20 he was released by the Gwinnett Gladiators, which removes him from the roster without returning him to Chicago.

Gladiators coach Jeff Pyle on the transaction: "I'm gonna put it to you as simple as I can -- we had a difference of philosophies, we had a meeting, and we thought the best thing was he go home and prepare for next year. That's as politically correct as I can tell you right now. Bottom line -- I coach the way I coach and I'm not changing for anybody."

I asked if he would take the player back next year if it came to it, and he said "I don't think we'll ever have to cross that bridge."

If I know Jeff, and in this particular area I think I do, you won't ever see Painchaud playing for the Gladiators again. A few years ago Pyle and Adam Smyth were on the outs, and Smyth was assigned to the UHL the next year. The two players and their situations are different, but the outcomes would likely be similar.

Painchaud has one year remaining on his entry-level deal with the Thrashers.

For more insight, I would also point back to a post made in early March when Painchaud was assigned to the Gladiators:

Pyle said he thought it was the first time he had seen Painchaud play two games back to back of good hockey. The two met when Painchaud got here, and Pyle told him basically "this is it, me or you," meaning your way or my way. Painchaud chose to work hard.

For me, this whole story goes back to his junior days. I interviewed his coach, Shawn Camp, of Sarnia in early 2006. He said that Painchaud was finally figuring out what it would take to become a pro -- but he didn't look very convincing saying it even then.
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Prospect superlatives

I thought it would be fun to do some superlatives at the end of the season, like they do in high school yearbooks. I'll stick to the pro guys, since I know them better. Here are my picks. If you have another pick, go ahead and put it in the comments.

Most likely to succeed - Bryan Little

Most talkative - Brett Sterling. Sterling has something to say on every topic. He could go into sales, no problem.

Teacher’s pet - Jordan LaVallee.

Best smile -- Not sure, but it's not Myles Stoesz. Be careful not to poke your eye out there man.


Class clown – Chad Painchaud was named as a joker by Boris Valabik. A few years ago this would have gone to Lane Manson. But there aren't a lot of big jokers coming up the ranks right now.

Friendliest -- Grant Lewis, Joey Crabb, Myles Stoesz

Shyest: Chad Painchaud, Tomas Pospisil

Most likely to become famous outside of hockey -- Guillaume Desbiens

Cutest couple – Sterling and Crabb. I wish I had a photo of these BFFs together, but alas I do not. Edit: Here's the best I can find.



Best dressed – Karl Alzner would tell you it's Angelo Esposito. I'd give a nod to Ondrej Pavelec here as well. I've seen him in Calvin Klein, a simple but refined designer. Desbiens doesn't do badly either.

Worst dressed – None are poorly dressed, but I did see Toby Enstrom wearing Crocs and Lavallee wearing a suit out of season once.
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