Hot Off The Press...

[Deleted]

FLAMES: HOT OFF THE PRESS!
...Moncton's all new weekly blog detailing all things Golden Flames!

Big news as GM Owen Durkin, a self professed lightning rod for controversy, has drawn both the ire and praise of his contemporaries for his brazen maneuvers leading up to the draft...

Full report to follow.

For all with a burning passion for all things Golden Flames, keep it locked on Hot Off The Press!

[Deleted]

Hot Off The Press...


...From worst to first (overall) and all points between.

When the league decided to award Moncton with a late first round pick, club management was thrilled. While a thirty-pick won't likely produce a game breaker, Golden Flames GM Owen Durkin acknowledged the league's gesture with gratitude:
" After the unfortunate disruption caused by the former Thunder Bay manager, we weren't sure what to expect in terms of how the picks would be re assigned", Durkin said, continuing:

"Certainly any time you find yourself on the receiving end of a chance to add something
Significant to your stable, you accept with gratitude, but we also had designs on making a bigger impact on Draft Day".

That impact came well in advance. Durkin tells the story:
"We saw our current crop of youth as very skilled, with a ton of upside, but still a ways off from making an impact...we felt we owed it to our corporate partners, season ticket holders and faithful fans to give them reason to get excited about the 2014 season, as well as the future".

"It wasn't easy to part with the assets we worked hard to compile last year, but we feel we went from good to potentially great within fourty eight hours of some pretty intense negotiating".

Suddenly armed with three first round picks, Moncton is poised to make some noise next week at the draft.

"As our recent trade partner in Detroit recently said, we either come hard in Moncton, or we don't come at all, and we really put the hammer down in order to come away with what we believe will be a milestone draft day for Moncton...we are also thrilled to announce that Zybnek Michalek will be a Golden Flame probably until his retirement".

Moncton's ability to defend certainly came under fire last season, as the core appeared more focused on playing a primarily puck moving game, as opposed to a more defensively responsible and at times, physical approach. A restricted free agent, Michalek is all about defensive responsibility and leadership, but retaining him won't come cheap:

"He's a long term investment, with immediate dividends... And he's not going anywhere", claims Durkin, adding: " We fully intend to match any and all offers, and we'll lock him in for the maximum allowable contract length". "Michalek will be a Golden Flame when we start training camp; I promise you".

Clearly, the Flames' management has big plans for Michalek:

..."He'll take on a leadership role and he'll be a hell of a mentor for our young d-men...we have transitioned from a shoot from the hip, run and gun defefensive core to a tighter, less forgiving, more defensively aware group; something we needed to do to address our unflattering goals-against...the current FHL game is based more on overall balance between offensive firepower up front and the shutdown game, primarily from your defenders, and we have responded in kind...again, we are definitely thrilled to have been able to reach a mutually favourable deal with Detroit".

But, it didn't all start with the Michalek move...

"We teased our fans by making a pretty brazen move for the first overall pick, and it didn't come cheap...Alex in Edmonton and I went back and forth until we were both satisfied that we could live with the return we each received...Alex is a smart hockey man, and a good trade partner who knows what he wants...it was a pleasure to deal with him, and we are sure we will do business again".

While fans were divided about the acquisition of what was assumed to be a forthcoming announcement declaring budding superstar Nathan MacKinnon a Flame in exchange for the quality pieces the team had amassed over the course of last season, Moncton brass was apparently nowhere near being finished...

" We were more than prepared to pick first, and use the balance of our picks and cap space to flesh out our lineup for the coming year", said Durkin, continuing: "that said, we anticipated the flood of offers we received, which ranged from what I call preliminary passing interest and tire kicking to serious bidding, which ultimately led to full-on, hard-core negotiating...what we ended up with was a few solid offers...and our process then consisted of a series of questions for each one - 'are we content to sit at the table on draft day with what we would end up with'? 'would we need to make further moves to justify the expense and maximize the return'? Ultimately, we found ourselves positioned to add what looks to be a future franchise piece at third overall, and a potential eighteen minute a night piece right out of the box". " We also have a third first rounder at thirty, which will no doubt be a significant future piece for us, in a year or two". "That, plus the addition of a proven shutdown back ender in Michalek, will make us far more competitive than we were with what we had prior to these changes".

While fans must say goodbye to the likes of Zibanejad, Oleksiak, Forsberg, Percy, Schultz and Hishon, the addition of Michalek, along with whomever the Golden Flames select next Monday night, will no doubt mean a completely new look in Moncton, with what should prove to be favourable results sooner than later.

[Deleted]

Hot Off The Press!
Pre-draft bonus

Let's take a look at the Flames and their current structure, in light of needs versus available assets and opportunity...pull up a chair if you will...

First off, the Flames have been going about their business all wrong. That's not opinion; it is historical fact.
The Former FHL now GHL is played in a way that was diametrically opposed to how Owen Durkin structured the team three seasons ago.
He promised a more punishing group, and as a result, he, and his club, were the on the receiving end of said punishment.

You see, the GHL game isn't about the ability to bash and bruise your opponents' top guns. It isn't about possessing the ability to slow them down or inflict damage.it's about puck possession.

Durkin sees pro hockey success as something that is determined by winning a war of attrition. The brash Canadian of Gaelic descent bears a tattoo on his forearm declaring as much, in the tongue of his forefathers which reads :

"Last man standing".

The last man standing in GHL hockey is the one who can play a possession game, and generate scoring chances, which generally equates to a shots and ultimately, special teams advantage as more physical teams statistically are wont to take the majority of penalties.

Special teams could very well be the hill teams die on in the GHL...

Your offense must possess the puck more than your opponent. Teams content to receive the game and retaliate don't win in this league. You need to generate more scoring chances from your top nine, as opposed to the archaic top six bottom six model. Your D needs to block shots, clear the crease, take away lanes and pass the puck up through neutral ice. That's the formula, not manhandling the opposition.

"We've always embraced a more of an old school game where toughness was as important as offense. To our minds, if you can be pushed off the puck, you can be beaten...The game has changed...and, we are changing with it, out of necessity". "While grit is a factor, the way the game is being called and the way it is now being played, your focus in terms of your forward group needs to be based on possession, not intimidation".

A D core consisting of fleet footed puck-luggers who aren't necessarily defense-oriented doesn't work. You need people to plug up lanes and eliminate your opponents' opportunity to hit the net. The Jake Gardiners, Mike Greens, and Morgan Riellys of the league will always play a role, but without a number of responsible, physical gap-minded crease clearers who may not put up points, you can't win in the GHL.

Now that we have an understanding of the mechanics of the game, as GM Durkin finally appears to have, let's break down what is most likely to be the teams' draft day targets...

At third overall, there are a number of tantalizing options. In no particular order, we have Hertl, Trouba, and Barkov. Seth Jones is another strong possibility.
While his 2014 numbers may not top anyone's list, his upside is definitely near the top.

Losing Zibanejad leaves an immediately obvious hole in the top six, and the draft could be the most cost effective way to address that need. Hertl is perhaps the most game ready to step in, but Barkov may ultimately have the biggest long term impact.

If the Flames elect to draft a defender and Trouba is on the board, it wouldn't shock anyone to hear his name called at third. That said, the hard commitment made publicly to make Michalek that shutdown piece might make Trouba redundant as a Flame, and with the team's lack of shots last year, a top offensive weapon definitely makes sense.

With the nine pick, Durkin has, once again, some tantalizing options...

As mentioned, lack of offense has been a sore spot, and with a relatively solid D group led by Michalek, Durkin could elect to draft another high end forward, who may be just a cut under superstar status, perhaps a Sean Monahan or a Nichuskin or even Kucherov, all capable contributors who might make RFA Dustin Penner redundant.

If Moncton goes this route, they could use their cap to pick up a second UFA defender like a Murray or Oduya to man the top pairing and keep the wolves at bay.

At thirty, Moncton can select a future utility piece or a depth forward. A solid four or five defender for the coming years is also an option. They'll also need to replenish the cupboards In terms of goaltending, sooner or later. Perhaps if Subban is still in the bleachers, he will be slipping on one of those sexy new Moncton jerseys.

With a solid if not spectacular goalie tandem of Miller and Hutton, and a more responsible top D pairing, scoring might prove difficult for the opposition, and with a top six featuring any combination of Doan, Barkov, Hertl, Monahan, Kuznetsov, Kucherov or Nichushkin, we may be looking at the most balanced, GHL-ready group Moncton has ever assembled.

It could go either way, including some last minute on the fly, on the floor pick swapping, depending on what happens with picks one and two. Moncton could add a pair of forwards, or even a pair of defenders, and use it's 33 million in cap to fill in the holes once the opening draft day dust settles.

Either way, Durkin has some work ahead of him if he wants to climb out of the cellar this year, and with a better grasp on what it takes to compete in this league, expect his club to begin taking on a new identity. While they'll never be soft, the man with the Gaelic tattoo has finally realized that last man standing must take on a new meaning...

[Deleted]

Hot Off The Press!

Post Draft Analysis

With the third overall pick, Moncton selected 6'2" Jacob Trouba, a hard hitting, two way defender with franchise potential right out out of the box.
Trouba plays a heady, nose to the grindstone game and his compete level is second only to his composure on the ice.
A born leader, the third overall pick is already drawing comparisons to former greats like Chris Pronger, who married a menacing physical game with elite offensive skill from the blue line.

"Frankly, we thought he'd go before we had the chance to pick him, but during the combine and interview process, we decided that if he was on the board at three, he was coming with us".

While Moncton features some glaring holes in the top six, GM Durkin and his penchant for punishing players prevailed.

"He hits like a truck, but there's so much more to this young man's game...his positioning, how he dictates the tempo when he's out there, his ability to angle a guy off and take away a high percentage shot opportunity...people adjust to him when he's on the ice, and if they aren't aware of where he is out there, he makes them pay".

Trouba seemed genuinely pleased to be going to a club where he'll get the chance to play right away:
"There are some skilled guys in Moncton on the blue line , but there's a chance for me to make a mark as well, and I'm looking forward to camp, and the chance to get started".

No doubt, Trouba will jump into the top four right away, and possibly even the top pairing, according to coach RJ Huntley:
" I've seen him a bunch of times and he's already pretty polished in all areas of his game...he's got the size and the demeanour to be an impact player right away...it's going to be about finding his timing against grown men, and how quick he can adapt to the speed of the GHL game".

Moncton elected to trade the ninth overall pick at the eleventh hour, to Colorado, in exchange for established offensive star James Neal. Durkin explains:

"We call this a no brainier...Neal is a shooter, but he can dish with the best. He's a pretty big body, and he's got attitude when he plays...he's also on a very good contract for the next five years...our decision was about the player, what he brings in terms of offense and experience, as well as the economics involved"."he just fit the bill on too many levels to let slide".

For those not sure how paying a star winger five million - plus per year versus paying a prospect on an ELC makes for sound economics, Durkin breaks it down:

"We landed one of the league's premiere wingers for excellent value, while shedding salary pre-signing season, by sending Scott Gomez, whom we had notified through his agent that he'd be left off the roster this year, back to Colorado...that frees up cap space to use either at the onset of silly season - also known as free agency - or down the road when some of our trading partners are looking for some cap flex".

Durkin continues:

"Under the current system, the ability to negotiate deals which we believe to be in the best interest of our franchise, is, as you know, subject to a form of capital called franchise points, a fee paid to the league for the right to make a trade, which can be paid by either party...while we may be short on FP, we have a ton of cap space, and that is an asset which we intend to leverage at every opportunity. We will spend to the limit on talent we believe brings us closer to the goal, providing our trade partners pay the freight in FP, or at least the lions' share of it...and that isn't exploitive in any way...there are and will always be teams with cap issues that will happily burn up a bit of FP for some wiggle room to chase a player they want, and if a smart deal comes their way, they'll do the needful".

Moncton also landed a gifted young forward with top Six potential in Markus Granlund, a player Durkin didn't expect to be available with the final pick in the first round:

"There were teams who obviously drafted by positional need as opposed to the 'best player available' model... That's the only explanation I have for Granlund being there at thirty...he's a serious talent with the ability to probably jump in and play right away." "He'll get that chance in Moncton".

That's great news for a team that recently leveraged a significant portion of its youth in order to reposition itself at the draft, which concluded in round three for Moncton with the selection of Goalie prospect Eric Comrie.

"The theme this year was quality, not quantity, and we are heading home with some special names on our books that weren't there a week ago - Michalek, Neal, Trouba, Granlund - these four will be in the Flames lineup in the Fall...those are the kinds of moves we had hoped to make, and we aren't done yet...let's see who comes calling over the next couple weeks when teams find themselves with more FP than cap space...if there's a deal to be made that makes sense, we will be listening."

In other Flames news, the organization has added analytics expert and former minor league affiliate coach James Skelhorn to the Moncton fold. The announcement signals the start of a new era in Flames hockey which embraces trends toward processing information in a far more methodical and systematic way.

"James understands the finer points of analytics better than anyone in this organization, and with his appointment as executive senior consultant, we intend to benefit from his vast knowledge about the emerging art of analyzing data in pro sports", said Flames GM Owen Durkin.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Flames front office in the capacity of senior consultant, and I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity of applying a little of what I have learned over the years to the improvement of this organization."

When asked about how analytics can help move the needle on the Flames' success, Skelhorn replied:

"While there is a ton of chatter out there about this stuff, what it comes down to is knowing how to identify sequences and trends, and knowing what those sequences actually represent... I hear a lot of flawed conclusions being drawn by some people in the media sector especially, who really don't have a thorough enough understanding of how to process this information...sometimes, the conclusion the data suggests is clearly not altogether correct...and that can be the result of a number of factors ranging from the quality of the data, to who collects it, as well as the particular type of information used to draw a specific conclusion...this isn't exact science; it's still In It's formative stages, but it can be useful, when combined with actual observation from a discerning eye". " that being said, Staring at a spreadsheet is never going to be a substitute for actual experience around the game".

When pressed about what areas of the Flames' style of play are most in need of tweaking, Skelhorn was careful not to step on anyone's toes:

"Hey, listen, I am not a GHL coach, and I have tremendous respect for R.J. (Huntley, Flames head coach)". " I'm here to be a sounding board, and to help interpret information...how the coaching staff implements any of that information is their decision entirely...that being said, I think we can begin with the premise that we have been on the receiving end far more than we care to be, and that's down to lack of possession...instead of looking to punish the opposition for playing with the puck, we need to make them start receiving the play... If we can start from there, I think some of what I can contribute will be useful...again, I'm just here to be a sounding board for the guys behind the bench; I'm not here to convert the masses or grow a certain trend...my one goal is to help this group understand new ways of bringing about success on the ice."


"We need to do a better job of understanding how the game is evolving, both on the ice and in how we analyze what we observe", added Durkin, "from possession metrics to shot quality analysis to the amount of energy spent in each zone, we have to be open to new ways of understanding what and who our players are up against...information isn't power, contrary to the old adage...effective analysis and implementation of that information is however, potentially very powerful".

[Owen-Moncton]

Hot Off The Press!


The Moncton Golden Flames, under the care of Matt Taylor, made great strides toward respectability last year. With the return of GM Owen Durkin to the GHL, the goal will be to build on that success.
"Pending league approval, the Flames will introduce Ryan Getzlaf as its top-line centre", said Durkin. "We thank interim GM Matt Taylor for his excellent work, and astute handling of our organization". "Our house and our books are in order, and we feel with Getzlaf on board, we have a solid core group who are ready to do damage now". "That said, Moncton won't be the trading turnstile it once was...we feel we have have the tools to win as a group, and we intend to keep this group intact".

Asked about recent chatter that winger Mike Hoffman was in play, Durkin replied: "We gauged interest prior to concluding that given the state of our organization, we are poised to win now, so trading away a scoring weapon like Hoff would be counter-intuitive to our goals". "We have a really skilled veteran group as well as a number of talented young guys who will benefit from role-modelling those veterans...it's a pretty great situation to return to, and we'd be doing Matt (Taylor) a disservice by tearing it down".
Was a rebuild ever discussed? "We made overtures towards a few clubs to try and gain some perspective in that area...ultimately, we concluded that we are in deep enough here to burn the boats and press the issue of a playoff run...our fans deserve that much". "We are looking forward to the season ahead, and the group we have, along with Getzy, is the group we will be dressing come Fall".

[Phil-Cornwall]

'Poised to win now'

and the big one....'Not trading assets'

This is def a NEW Moncton!

[Owen-Moncton]

Cue the Trader Durkin remarks...
Apparently, Moncton GM Owen Durkin doesn't mind those. Not when the results of said trades yield elite goaltending like Henrik Lundqvist and a top-end defender like Ryan McDonagh. A speedy veteran second pairing defender who can block shots, break up rushes and throw his share of hits never hurts either.

"This is about asset management", says Durkin. "Pending league approval, Moncton will upgrade its goaltending position while adding a defender who is every bit Trouba's equal...we had several excellent offers come in over the last 12 hours and we feel this deal makes us even more competitive...the message we are sending is that Moncton is all-in, and coming hard for a conference final this year".

The Flames will also recapture a little cap space, to the tune of about 2.5 million. And, for a team so close to the cap ceiling, that's sort of huge going forward, even if that money isn't spent this season.

"We had a chance to add picks and prospects and to make some lateral moves that would have kept us both cap-compliant and competitive,  but this offer just made more sense for us...clearly, it's tough to move away from a talent like Trouba, but the goal here isn't to win a trade; it is to build a winner, and I think we just got closer to that goal".

...pending league approval, that is.

[Owen-Moncton]

Flames Look Ready to Roll...

While Moncton was altogether absent from the draft and the restricted free agency period, GM Owen Durkin has been working the phones in an attempt to engineer a lineup that can build off of last year's steps toward success.

"...We paid a pretty hefty price in terms of assets in order to acquire the pieces we have", said Durkin. "That said, when I look at our current roster and the layers of depth we have, I think we have a shot at making some noise this season".

While there are some old faces like Dimitry Kulikov, Justin Abdelkader and James Neal, Flames fans are in for a thrill with the recent additions of elite talents like Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan McDonagh. Journeymen such as Matt Hunwick, David Schlemko and Jimmy Howard augment the group, adding layers of stability, and if we know anything about the GHL, it is that a full eighty-two game season is a war of attrition, and it takes a deep squad to be able to go the distance.
"... Just getting to the playoffs is a test of will as much as it is a matter of good fortune, and it takes a special group to go the distance", said Durkin. "I'm liking our chances more and more, each time I go down the list...and we are very pleased to be able to add Brad Richards' name to that list". Richards was acquired over the weekend in exchange for the rights of defender Eric Gelinas, who was not expected to make the Flames' team out of camp.
the Flames' depth at centre looks a whole lot more impressive than it once did: Getzlaf, Holland, Richards, O'Reilly. That's a pretty respectable group, and when you consider the additions of Tomas Fleischmann and Leo Komarov as alternate face-off men, you have to concur that this is a group built to go the distance.
Will there be further changes?
"We like where we are at the moment", claims Durkin. "We'll see what's there in free agency, and if there's something that makes sense, we'll take a shot at it, but I am thinking that for the most part, this is the group we are going into camp with".

[Owen-Moncton]

Never a Dull Moment in Moncton...

Breaking Trade News:
Veteran winger and pending UFA Justin Abdelkader has been dealt to New York in exchange for a 2nd round pick in the 2017 draft.

"We want to thank 'Kader for his years of service; he's been an excellent presence on the ice and in the community, and we wish him well in the Big Apple".

Moments after the trade was faxed to GHL H.Q., Flames Gm Owen Durkin finalized a second accord with the Detroit Mustangs, acquiring feisty winger Cal Clutterbuck.

"Cal is all kinds of miserable to play against...our fans despised him...they're gonna love him now".
revered and feared for his take-no-prisoners approach, Clutterbuck is no one-trick-pony, either.
"He forechecks like a freight train and his advanced stats reveal an extremely favourable shot percentage; something he'll have ample opportunity to leverage here in Moncton".

Between  the likes of Radko Gudas, Leo Komarov, Martin Frk and now Clutterbuck, the Flames look like a pretty gritty team to line up against.
"We've got some snarl, and some bite, no question; but these guys are legitimate GHL players who can do other kinds of damage as well...we are going to be a handful to line up against".

Was the move for Clutterbuck critical?
"We had seventy-five percent of our roster headed toward unrestricted free agency next season, and in a hard-cap league like ours - something we support a hundred percent -you need to think about right now and down the road...having a hard-hitting veteran like Cal who can shoot it a ton locked up for another year beyond next season takes the heat off without creating a void in our lineup, and we also recaptured close to a million dollars, giving us some flexibility as well".

"Finally, we'd like to thank Scotty in New York and Johnny in Detroit for negotiating honourably and with transparency...we took a little time to get our ducks in a row, and both of our trade partners were patient and professional during the entire process".

[Owen-Moncton]

Where There's Smoke...

We all know the conclusion to the above tag-line, but is it always the case? Perhaps not.

GHL insiders have been probing around Moncton in hot pursuit of rumours that a couple key players were potentially on the move. Flames GM Owen Durkin extinguished those in short order this morning:

"There is always chatter; that's just the nature of the business, but more often than not, it doesn't end up culminating in a deal". "We aren't interested in moving guys in or out for the sport of it...if we see something that meets our long and short term agenda, we'll always pursue it, but we have a certain framework that we are abiding by in the interest of sustainability as a brand, and we aren't going to over-extend ourselves".

There had been some pretty big names being bandied about over the last week; players which could have surely brought the club closer to the goal of contending, but apparently, the asking price was more than the Flames were prepared to shell out.

" We could have added some extra star-power, but those opportunities came with certain risks that might have handcuffed us financially at year's end, and it's my job to try to mitigate those risks, and ultimately, there was nothing there that anyone could agree on, so we stay where we are, and that's fine, because we are pretty comfortable with the group we are looking at as we head into camp".

Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make, it seems...

[Owen-Moncton]

*****Breaking News*****

Defensemen Dimitry Kulikov has been dealt to Hartford, along with goalie prospect Scott Wedgwood in exchange for Jared Spurgeon and prospect Justin Auger. Moncton also sends a fourth and a fifth round pick to Hartford in the deal, which GM Owen Durkin calls "a great day for Flames fans".

"It's always tough to part with a talent like Kuley; no question, especially given the favourable contract he's on, but this is a special season for Moncton, in that we believe we can turn the corner here and make a real case for playoff contention...we view this acquisition as an important step forward in the pursuit of that goal".

Spurgeon often called "mighty mouse", among other terms of endearment, plays a robust two-way game that belies his stature.

"He's so positionally strong and aware out there that you can't beat him, and his shot blocking is elite as well", opines Flames coach R.J. Huntley.

Spurgeon expressed gratitude for his time in Hartford, but he's excited for the chance to play top minutes in Moncton:

"The Mariners are a classy organization and the fans are first-rate, and I appreciate the support they've shown me, but I am equally thrilled to be getting on a plane to Moncton and joining their group in camp; they've got some serious talent there as well, and I can't wait to get started".

Surgeon will be the presumed top pairing partner to newly acquired Ryan McDonagh, who was all smiles at the news:

"He's a heck of a hockey player; great skater, smart, and always on the right side of the puck...I think he's a great fit, and I love the commitment that management has shown to getting guys that help our group press the issue of a playoff spot".

It's been quite an off-season for the GHL and Moncton in particular. With the season about to get underway, optimism has hit a feverish pitch in Moncton.

"Our fans have been phenomenal and we can promise them that they're gonna love what they see this season on the ice".

[Owen-Moncton]

Moncton Wins Season Opener


Moncton kicked off the 2016-17 campign at home versus the Bears of Boston, edging out their Eastern opponent in a close battle by a score of 2-1.

Newly acquired Henrik Lundqvist was spectacular in his Flames debut, stopping 29 of 30 shots. He was perfect at even strength, surrendering the lone tally to Bears power forward Blake Wheeler during a Boston powerplay.

Predictably, Leo Komarov and his newly-acquired partner in crime Cal Clutterbuck made it a rough ride for the Bears’ second line, delivering four hits a piece to the delight of a raucous Moncton home crowd.

Boston winger Darren Helm led the visitors with seven shots on the night, yet failed to light the lamp, thanks to a combination of stellar netminding and some fearless shot-blocking by third liner Alex Burrows who dogged the Bears speedster all night.

“Yup, it’s a good start”, said Coach R.J. Huntley, continuing: “Hank was Hank, and that always means you’ve got a fighting chance at winning, and we got contributions from throughout our lineup …we didnt win big, but we played the right way and we won, and that’s what matters”.

GM Owen Durkin was visibly pleased: “Solid game… we matched them in shots which means we possessed the puck enough to get the job done…we foresee a goodly amount of one-goal games in our future and with any luck, we’ll be coming out with the W more often than not”.

The Flames  head in to Republican territory to square off with the rifle-toting Aces of Adirondack on the 15th.

[Owen-Moncton]

New Flames Jerseys a Hot Commodity

Moncton unveiled its new uniforms recently, which feature an updated logo and colour scheme. In keeping with the existing red white and yellow theme, the new duds are trimmed out in black with a crest which is somewhat reminiscent of a firefighter's badge.

"Admittedly, nobody from our organization has ever entered a burning building.. some of us have discharged firearms however...not sure what any of that suggests about the measurement of anyone's genitalia or their political leanings (chuckles), but we like the look, and sales have been brisk", said GM Owen Durkin with a smirk after practice today.

The remarks are in obvious response to recent comments made by Adirondack GM Joe Pizzo regarding the current political process the United States are embroiled in.

"While what's happening in the political arena is very serious, I'm just having' a little fun here...Joe's a guy we all respect...I mean, they won the cup last year, from what I hear".

[Phil-Cornwall]

Very cool (or hot) !

Please get a non pixelated version for a cleaner look. Looks like an old Atari pong game that Glenn used to play in the 70's

[Owen-Moncton]

These were done on a brand new MacBook Pro with retina display, saved at a resolution of 300 DPI. Not sure what the issue might be...