Winter Thoughts

So tonight was the first W-hawk home game of the season. I love watching their games, but this year will be a little different. For one thing, no more "mcCloud".
A few years ago, there was an episode of Mystery Science Theatre 2000 (3000?) where every time this one guy would come on screen, the robots and whichever lamebrain was the human of the moment would say in unison "McCloud". And I thought it was funny. Well, for the last couple years, the Winterhawks had Cody MacLeod, #8, a very hard hitting, scrapping, high scoring forward. He was a lot of fun to watch. Every time he delivered a monster check (which was often), got in a fight (see above), or just generally went ape-smurf on someone, we would say, occasionally in unison, "McCloud".
He was my favorite player by far. Well, his eligibility expired, and so he is not there this year. So I need to pick a new fave to watch on the ice. And there are some nice options.
Brandon Dubinsky is always fun to watch. He he is slick with the stick it is amazing. And he has excellent awareness. He makes passes many players don't even conceive of. However, I think he is in his last year...as are Brian Woolger and Kyle Bailey. And MacClaren.
So Hansen, #17, seems like one of the front-runners, along with #25, Collins. He has my number from when I actually played sports and he has my first name. He delivered a couple of nice shots to people, and he plays a very intelligent game. He seems to always be in the right position to stop a rush, deflect the puck to the corner, and all the little things good defensemen do.
I am likeing one of the rule changes. Eliminating the 2 line pass really smooths out the game. That was way overdue in coming. But limiting the goalie from moving the puck except in the tiny box behind the goal....I think that will prove a mistake. It lessens some of the strategy and really minimizes the advantage to teams who have goalies who can actually skate a little.
Kelowna came out firing, scoring just a couple minutes in. The Winterhawks responded with a power play goal to tie, then gave it right back a couple minutes later. Butler seemed like he was seeing the puck okay, just relaxing too slowly. Another power play goal tied it, then in the second period the Hawks scored 3 times. The 3rd period was a lot of grinding. Kelowna finally scored a 3rd goal with about 5 minutes left, but Butler was really sharp after the first period, turning away 42 of the 45 shots he faced, including one awesom sequence that saw him sprawling, making kick saves, somehow getting his glove up after the last second...good times.