Trade Deadline approaching - If there is a bright side to the ICE losing Mike Comrie it is the fact the he was a overage player. The vacated twenty-yr-old spot presents an unusual opportunity for the ICE as it augments their position at the bargaining table when it comes to the trade deadline on January 15th. Most clubs of the WHL, having already filled their quota of three overage players don’t usually have the luxury of filling a twenty-yr-old spot. Unless of course they want to part with one, which they seldom do. Some names being bandied about throughout the league as possible trade candidates; defense-man Christian Chartier, an overager with the Prince George Cougars – Center Blake Evans of the Tri-City Americans, also an overage player – Defense-man Nick Schultz age 19, of the Prince Albert Raiders – Center Nathan Barrett, 19, of the Lethbridge Hurricanes – Forward Martin Erat, 20, and D-man Garnett Exelby, 19 of the Saskatoon Blades and even Pavel Brendl’s name of the Hitmen has been included in the rumor mill. Truth be told, this season’s trade deadline madness that usually accompany’s the weeks leading up to the deadline will in all likelihood be rather quiet compared to the rumored deals that are talked about. Having one look at the standings tells a lot. In the West almost every team has a shot at either finishing first or missing the playoffs entirely. With only fourteen points separating first from worst, a slump or two in the coming weeks could mean disaster for a number of teams. In the East the point-spread is more but the story is much of the same. The only guarantee about the trade talk is what the Regina Pats plan to do to bolster their roster for their Memorial Cup berth. It’s a seller’s market this year. With all clubs’ still thinking playoff’s thanks to that wonderful factor of parity among the WHL’s member clubs, any desperate buyers could be in for a flaying as the lower echelon club’s seemingly hold all the cards. Wading into the marker for established players could prove costly for clubs down the road.
Captaincy on hold - with the departure of Mike Comrie, replacing the captaincy on the Kootenay squad isn’t high on the agenda at this particular time. With the possibility of Steve McCarthy returning after the World Junior’s, the ‘C’ would be his as the Trail native was the captain when he went down to injury last season. That being said, there is no shortage of leadership candidates on the ICE who could fill the bill. Dean Arsene, senior member of the ICE with the longest tenure is an obvious candidate. Bret DeCecco was a leader with his previous club, the Seattle Thunderbirds. Also due strong consideration is Jason Jaffray, who leads purely by example on the ice. Jaffray, who by Saturday’s example of a sure leg injury that everyone in the building thought would put Jaffray down for the count, only to have him back on the ICE less than ten minutes later and is seemingly impervious to pain, would have to be considered a candidate just on his play alone. If there was ever a more complete player in junior, I don’t think I’ve seen him….. One of the best rivalries in the league face-off this weekend as the Calgary Hitmen are in town to face the ICE. 7PM at the Plex.
