beermoney
Aug 26 2010, 06:05 AM
| QUOTE |
“We can’t dwell on what’s done,” Christie said. “We have to move forward here. It’s about putting a team together that’s going to compete and play hard-nosed hockey. It’s a no-excuse year.”
That final sentence might be music to Thunder fans’ ears. Bloomington has not made the playoffs or had a winning season in any of its first four seasons — two under coach Derek Booth and two under Skalde.
With Booras, Snowden and Craig Macdonald returning, Booras said that’s a solid starting point in putting together a competitive roster despite the late date.
“It could be a lot worse,” Booras said. “He’s not that far behind. I know he’ll put together a good product. He’s going to expect a lot out of (Snowden), Macdonald and myself and we’re ready to get that going.” |
pwrply2
Aug 26 2010, 06:20 AM
I like his theory allready. No excuse year, Christie is the kind of coach Bloomington has needed from the get go...
Bucky B
Aug 26 2010, 06:46 AM
yeah he is saying the right things, but Skalde was good at that too. Let's see some action, get some good players in here, and solid net minder. Lets win some games.
Welcome to Bloomington Christie, you are definitly have the best resume of any PT coach before you, but like the article said; honeymoon is over, start getting this team rolling.
pwrply2
Aug 26 2010, 08:49 AM
The good thing about Christie is the fact he will say them, then expect his players to go out and play. If he is the same as when he was in Peoria he won't use bus trips as excuses for losing, or back to back nights for losing. He expects the guys to play, and work hard to get the job done. I think he will get this ship sailing right and do good things for the organization.
ThunderFan24
Aug 26 2010, 09:53 AM
Hopefully by next week we will start seeing some signings. I think he needs to start will a goalie and a couple of real good defenseman and build from there. Snowden, Booras and MacDonald are going to put some points up, you just need some secondary scoring. Defense has always been are biggest weakness.
Bucky B
Aug 26 2010, 10:04 AM
| QUOTE |
| BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Bloomington PrairieThunder made a splash on Wednesday afternoon when they announced that Jason Christie has been named the team’s third Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations. Christie fills the vacancy created by Jerrod Skalde, who resigned the position on August 9th, and will lead the franchise into its fifth anniversary season at the US Cellular Coliseum. |
jtheteacher
Aug 26 2010, 10:08 AM
Since the PT hired a former Rivermen, does that mean the Pantagraph will start printing some news about the Rivermen too?
I just don't understand why there is no coverage of the rivermen in B-N. There regularly are stories about the BLUES and the HAWKS.....what about the RIVS?
Bucky B
Aug 26 2010, 10:46 AM
It's hard enough for them to stay on top of the PT. and I didn't see any extra Riv's coverage when Booth was coach.
kyle1512
Aug 26 2010, 01:16 PM
| QUOTE (jtheteacher @ Aug 26 2010, 10:08 AM) |
Since the PT hired a former Rivermen, does that mean the Pantagraph will start printing some news about the Rivermen too?
I just don't understand why there is no coverage of the rivermen in B-N. There regularly are stories about the BLUES and the HAWKS.....what about the RIVS? |
The Pantagraph doesn't cover the Rivermen and the PJStar doesn't cover the PT. They have teams to cover. The Pantagraph isn't covering the Blues and Blackhawks, they are printing AP stories.
As for Dave Eminian and the PJStar, Dave reported that Anthony Peluso was assigned to Bloomington and then reported that he was being sent to Alaska, never told what he did with the PT. Not that he did anything worth reporting. Eminian never mentioned anything about Sebastian Dahm being in Bloomington, but he may have known that Dahm had no future with the Rivermen. The bottom line is, Peoria and Bloomington are competing for the same fan base. More like competing for the fans South of Peoria and North of Bloomington.
The ECHL Rivermen fans will show up to Bloomington and want to see Christie as head coach, but if the talent level and experience isn't what they want they won't come back. I have talked to the ECHL Rivermen fans that want the ECHL in Bloomington. They have watched the CHL on satellite and didn't like it. They have watched IHL lite games and didn't like it.
beancounter
Aug 27 2010, 10:49 AM
I will take the new coach at his word and expect that he does not allow excuse making on htis team. Bit I also remember Skalde saying much the same thing when he was hired 2 years ago, and then saw him using road trips and wednesday night games as excuses to quit in the ice.
I think players will keep a close eye on him early on and see of he means it or not.
One good thing for Christie, coming in here after 2 years of Booth losing, 2 years of Skalde losing and that train wreck ending of last year, it won't be real hard for Christie to look like an improvement.
All that will require is putting together a team that plays hard.