Hot Off The Press...

[Owen-Moncton]

Thanks Jonny. Let's get them 'Stangs going bud!

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Flames Backup Goes Two-for-Two

The Moncton Flames appear to have solved their backup goaltender woes...
Across back-to-back home-ice starts, Andrew Hammond earned his club a pair of wins, keeping the Flames firmly in the playoff picture.
"Hammer's workload wasn't particularly heavy tonight", said coach RJ Huntley, continuing: "but, he showed us that he is capable of giving us a chance to win, and that's all you could want or expect from your number-two guy...Hank got himself a bit of an extended break and a chance to rehab a little, and Hammer earned a little extra respect and the confidence of his teammates, and that's a very good thing".

"I was a little shocked to get the back-to-backs, no question, but I'm happy the organization had the faith in me so I wanted to get it done out there...we didn't get the start we wanted and I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be in the first few minutes, but we rallied as a group and got focused and we got it done". Hornets star Henrik Zetterberg broke the seal on the game just fourty-five seconds in, but the Flames got focused and held the visitors to just four shots per period after what was a rocky start, eventually eking out the victory. If not for some sharp netminding by Devan Dubnyk,who made 33 saves on the night, the result could have been a lot worse for Pittsburgh, who have appeared to be playing some fairly respectable hockey in the last month.

The winning goal came at 1:36 of the third when Flames defender, known more for his play without the puck, bagged his second goal of the season, earning first-star honours.
"Any time you can contribute to a win, you're gonna feel pretty good about it, obviously, and as much as it's a personal milestone for me, it's two points for the Flames, and that's what it's all about".

Alexander Burrows also had himself a night with a pair of assists, while Jamie McGinn continued to endear himself to Flames fans with his tenth goal of the year (eighth as a Flame), and an assist, bringing his points total to twelve in just thirteen games since the trade that sent Ryan Getzlaf to Hartford. Between McGinn and Daniel Sedin - the centrepiece of the trade - thy have contributed a total of 25 points in 13 contests. Getzlaf has held up his end of the bargain with his new team, contributing three goals and eight assists, but there is little arguing that the move has benefitted Moncton in a very real way.

"Not gonna discuss another team's player...not taking the bait there", said GM Owen Durkin, when pressed for a comment, adding: "but, what we needed was an increase in offense as well as a means of getting secondary points from deeper down the depth chart, and Daniel and Ginns have certainly measured up and made a hell of an impact...we're beyond happy with both, but Jamie has certainly exceeded what anyone expected...we knew he was capable, but what he's doing from the third line is quite remarkable".

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Flames Take Three of Four

Moncton's recent four-game roadie came to a close with a 2-0 shutout win versus Halifax last night, yielding a total of six of a possible eight points. Surprisingly, Henrik Lundqvist started in all four contests; a very rare and bold strategy, especially for such a significant road trip.

"I left it up to Hank...he was feeling good and he wanted a chance to rebound against Quebec after giving up four in Hartford, so we gave him the net...with a goalie like Hank, you give him a little more rope, unless he's hurt or needs a break and Hammy (Andrew Hammond) gets that; he knows his role... and there's a real good chance Hammy gets a game or two in the next week...we just needed to rely on Hank to bank us some points and get us rolling here, and he needed to come back with a strong one after Hartford".

Posting a sparkling 1.75 GAA across the last four games, 'Hank' is now tied with Tomas Greiss of Quebec in shutouts with eight, while also leading the GHL with a .937 save percentage.

Pivot Peter Holland had himself a week, potting two goals and two assists across four outings, parking him at 38 helpers along with Claude Giroux of the Cleveland Barons, tied for fourth-best in the league. Daniel Sedin mirrored Holland's totals, while Cal Clutterbuck picked up two goals and an assist during the trip. Defender Jared Spurgeon quietly racked up four helpers as well, and is on pace for a career year.

"It's great to be in an environment where you're getting the ice time and game situations where you can have an impact out there, so I'm just really enjoying the run we're having and can't wait for some post season play, hopefully...I think we got a great group and a real tight dressing room, and we can probably make some noise over the next couple months".

Cal Clutterbuck concurs: "Yeah, it's a special group we got here...it's all about hard work, not letting up and having that last-man-standing attitude, and it's been great to be part of something pretty special here". Clutterbuck leads the team in points with 54 (25G/29A) which is an incredible turn of events considering he hasn't cracked 20 points since 2011-12 when he hit 48 in Cornwall.

"...The Flames gave me a chance; they believed in me and when you get that kind of opportunity, you run with it... I'm just glad it worked out, and I'm looking forward to hopefully hoisting some hardware here in Moncton".

The Flames take on the Prince of Wales leading Cleveland Barons at home on Thursday.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Flames Win Four Straight

After going winless in three,Moncton has rebounded with four straight victories, defeating 2015-16 champs the Adirondack Aces twice in back to back outings.
Outscoring the Aces 9-1 across 120 minutes, backup goalie Andrew Hammond earned his second shutout and ninth victory while Henrik Lundqvist improved his save percentage to a league-leading .940.
Winger Cal Clutterbuck is now tied for the team lead in points with Peter Holland at 61, while sitting one goal back of Loui Erickson for the scoring lead, with 30 goals to Eriksson's 31.
In light of the 60-point increase he has realized since last year as a member of the Detroit Mustangs, Clutterbuck is understandably thrilled to be a critical element of the Flame's success this season. While he sits among the top producers on the team, he is also second overall in hits, league-wide, with 231. Clearly, he has made the most of his opportunity to be a difference-maker both with and without the puck.

"Hitting has always been a part of my game, for sure, but I've always believed I had more to offer...you look around the league at guys like Marchand and the like, and you say: 'that's the benchmark; that's the goal right there', and I've been fortunate enough to be put in a position here to contribute with the puck as well as without it, and having great line mates and teammates has helped me develop as a player here."

As the regular season winds down, the buzz in the Maritime province of New Brunswick is hitting fever-pitch. Clutterbuck contends the Flame's dressing room is focused on the task, and filled with equal measures of confidence, team-first attitude and enthusiasm as the GHL heads into the home stretch: "We believe our's is a group that is capable of going head to head with the best teams and players in the league when we stick to our structure, work as a unit out there and take care of the puck instead of chasing the play and operating as individuals...and when we lose possession, we work as a group to try and get it back without giving them too much opportunity"

"Cal's been an absolute machine all year for us", adds coach RJ Huntley. "He works non-stop in-game and in practice and he's proven to be invaluable to our group and a huge part of our success, and it's great for him and us as a team that he's found his touch with the puck, because this is the new face of the grit-guy in this league; you need to be able to do more than just stir the pot; you need to be able to support your linemates and contribute, and when you get a guy who can bring that kind of skill package, you got something special there".

With a very flattering goal differential of +13 over the last four games, Moncton is definitely in the thick of the playoff race, sitting fourth in the Campbell behind Suffolk with 93 points.While it may seem inevitable that Moncton's playoff drought has finally ended, nobody in Moncton is making any predictions or taking their foot off the gas pedal.

The Flames visit Syracuse on Tuesday night, hoping to continue the winning trend en route to clinching a post season berth.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Moncton Clinches Playoff Berth

Fans of Moncton's GHL team are elated with the news that the maritime city will be a hockey hotbed once the playoffs kick off, for the first time in franchise history.

"The city's on fire right now with the news that we've clinched", said GM Owen Durkin. "We are thrilled and also grateful for their (the fans') support throughout the years, and we look forward to a memorable run here as we ramp up for the playoffs".

"Yeah, it's pretty amazing to be part of the excitement here", said Flames goalie Henrik Lundqvist. "We learned to compete as a unit and to win as a group, and we're going to ride this thing as long as we can, and hopefully, hoist some hardware before it's said and done".

Dropping a 5-2 decision on the road last night against the Maroons of Montreal, Moncton will look to get even tonight in their home barn.

"Their bottom six got it done for them...we need to do a better job not just containing their top six, but also respecting their whole roster" said coach RJ Huntley, adding: "We'll look at some tape today and we'll correct some things and we'll come ready".


With four games remaining, Moncton has every opportunity to break the triple-digit points barrier and kick off the playoff push with the kind of momentum they'll need to propel past their first round opponents en route to a conference championship.

"That's the goal, to rep the Campbell in the finals and hopefully, make some history here", shared Cal Clutterbuck, who leads the franchise in points as well as leading the league in hits with 265.

Look for scoring leader Loui Eriksson (37 G) to draw back in tonight, along with bottom six utility forward Tomas Fleischmann as the Flames look to solve Montreal.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Red-Hot Regular Season Concludes

Despite dropping the final two contests of the 2016-17 campaign, the Moncton Flames finish second in the Smythe division and fourth in the Campbell conference with 103 points and a sparkling +64 goal differential. Having led the league almost all season in save percentage, goals-against, and shutouts, goalie Henrik Lundqvist finishes the regular season with a league-best .939 SV %, a GAA of 1.69 (good for 2nd overall) and nine shutouts; a distinction shared with Corey Schneider, Tomas Greiss and Marc-Andre Fleury. Where "Hank" really distinguished himself this season was in wins, with 39; the closest competitor in this category being Greiss of the conference leading Quebecois.

"Personal stats are great, but the one that matters to me is wins...I'd rather be playing in the post season than standing on the fairway thinking about my save percentage, and thanks to the way we have played as a team all year, we're gonna get ready to face Boston next week, and we are excited".

Boston finished the season at third in the division with 98 points and will be a formidable opponent, with plenty of offensive depth, excellent goaltending and solid defense.

"We need to start on time, and play within our structure, and if we do those things, we'll be fine", said coach Huntley post-game. "Where we fall down is when we get away from our system and try to do it on our own...we're a united front and we attack and defend as a unit, and that's how we've been able to win this year; no heroes, no superstars".

In hindsight, Huntley's lineup decisions appear to have left points on the table, but he makes no apologies: "You always want to win, but my job is to manage risk at the same time, so you rotate guys in and out when you already know where you're finishing...that way, everyone is fresh, relatively healthy, and ready to go in the playoffs...truth is, everyone across the league is banged up come April, and if you're not, you aren't competing hard enough"

"The good news is we're starting the post-season with almost no injuries and fresh legs...we'll take a few days to get treatment, clean up some system things and get ourselves ready for Boston", said GM Owen Durkin.

The turnaround from perennial bottom-feeder to legitimate contender has been remarkable, with equal measures of luck, sound strategy and chemistry. How far those elements can carry the Flames into the playoffs will become known soon enough.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Flames VS Bears, Game Three

After conceding game one against first round opponents the Boston Bears, Moncton made a series of it by responding with a 2-1 victory at home, matching Boston in just about every stat category from shots to power play opportunities.

"We are pretty evenly matched, no question", said coach RJ Huntley, adding: "what will drive our success is getting the matchups we need and staying out of the box in order to avoid handing them a special teams advantage...special teams could decide this series".

"It's going to be a war out there", says captain McDonagh. "We're going into their barn and they're gonna be amped up and come ready...we need to start on time and set the pace, take the fans out of the equation with a good start".

Boston has been a good matchup all year and this is what the playoffs are all about", said GM Owen Durkin. "Fans are definitely getting their money's worth in what has been a thrilling series to be part of...we're in enemy territory tonight and we didn't come to lose...this is gonna be a tilt for the ages; you can count on that".

If there is anything Durkin would like to see his Flames do more of it is to establish the physical tone early and push the tempo as much as possible.
"We definitely wanna hit more, and get after them a little harder...RJ (Huntley) made that clear during team meetings and we expect the guys to respond".

With Bears winger James Van Riemsdyk out for the remainder of the series, the odds may favour Moncton, who found themselves deadlocked at 2 and 2 versus the Bears this season, however, nobody wearing red is taking their opponent lightly.

"They're a skilled, deep group who win by committee and can roll four lines, so you can't look past them or take them for granted", said winger Daniel Sedin.

Jamie McGinn will remain on the second line, usurping Loui Eriksson who has been altogether invisible thus far in the series.

Puck drop is at 7 Pm tonight.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Hammond Gets The Nod
After a crushing 8-0 loss, Flames bench boss RJ Huntley conceded that backup goalie Andrew Hammond will start tonight in an effort to even the score at two wins apiece.
Superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist was lit up last Monday in a team-wide dismal effort wherein the power play went 0-for-5 with more than eight minutes with the man advantage.

"At this stage of the series, you either have the pride to compete or you don't...I'm surprised that we had no answer against a team we've matched up well with all season, but we'll come out hard tonight and play like we mean it, you can bet on that".

Asked why he elected to turn to his backup instead of giving the league's top tendy a chance to rebound, Huntley had this to say: "We traded for a good backup for these exact situations...he's capable; he's rested and ready and Hank needs a game to reset, rest and dump the debacle from the other night, and he'll get the chance to redeem himself; whatever happens, this isn't over tonight".

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Scorched Earth in Moncton

After a record-setting 2016-17 season, the Moncton Flames appear to be burning it all to the ground.
Success spread like wildfire last season with the once-anaemic Maritime squad making it known that they meant business before ultimately succumbing to Quebec in the second round of the playoffs. And, it appears that it may be a while before Moncton fans will see post season action again, sadly.

Unlikely hero Cal Clutterbuck - responsible for 34 goals and 36 assists last season - was claimed by Vancouver not 36 hours ago in the expansion draft. Today, Moncton GM Owen Durkin shipped stalwart defenders Jared Spurgeon and Niklas Hjalmarsson to New York for youngster Sami Vatanen, cap dump Mason Raymond and New York's 2018 first round pick.

"Always tough to say goodbye to great people like Niklas and Jared, but they are excited to be continuing their careers with a club that allows them to pick up where they left off last season...New York looks like it's going to be a serious playoff contender in 2017-18 and we wish them both well...we are also extremely excited to welcome Sami on board...he'll be a core piece of the team we engineer from the ground up...he's under contract until 20121 at a very manageable cap hit and we believe his best years are yet to be played".

Regarding future transactions, Durkin and his staff are apparently contemplating a number of offers at present.

"We have a number of active conversations happening, but we are in no rush to deal just for the sake of it...if and when favorable transactions - like the one we formalized today emerge - we will do what is best for the long-term future of the Moncton Flames".

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: McDonagh, Kuhnackl Head to Big Apple


The wheeling and dealing continues as Flames GM Owen Durkin sent Ryan McDonagh and Tom Kuhnackl to New York this evening, in exchange for veteran winger James Neal.

"James is obviously no stranger to Moncton, having played for the Flames in 2014 and 2015...he's a quality, veteran winger who plays a very well-rounded offensive game, and he still skates like a 20-year-old".

With two years left on his current deal, the move buys Moncton a little time to get their house in order. The question is, will Neal finish said contract in Moncton, or will he find himself on the move?

"Anything can happen at this time of year...he's still got plenty of gas in the tank and we are more than happy to have him suit up in Moncton, but if a contender --either now, or at a later date-- makes the right offer, we'll obviously discuss with James and his representation and see where they're at...if there's one thing I've learned, it's to never say never...if I've learned another thing, it's that there is absolutely no barometer or gold standard in terms of a player's trade value...optics mean almost nothing, and it's always down to how well the return serves your team's needs, relative to your immediate goals".

When pressed to elaborate, Durkin shared the following: "Listen, with a player like Jared Spurgeon, for example, you'd want to have him take on a leadership role on a rebuilding team, but under the current UFA rules, it's not feasible, so you look for a contender who can afford to move a good young pice who might not be quite ready, and you hope the move pays off in two years...Ryan McDonagh is a stud. He's paid his dues and he deserves to be in a position to succeed, so if that can't happen within the next year or two, you shake hands and you thank him for his service and you move forward". "We got ourselves a very solid, impactful asset in return for Mac-truck and Tommy, and that's just the business we are in".

Could Durkin's comments be construed as veiled criticism of the league's UFA structure? "The current model is such that while it allows for extensions, it comes at a significant cost, and it doesn't allow for long-term extensions, therefore, it can be reasoned that the focus is on making the UFA pool as deep as possible from year to year...nothing wrong with that, as it allows teams across the league to leverage dollars to remain competitive, and we'll certainly be looking to dive in to the deep end in the coming weeks as well".

Are there any other deals pending, now that Moncton's "Big Four" D core has been dismantled? How about 2016 Vezina winner Henrik Lundqvist

"There could be more activity...talks are continuing with a number of teams on various players, and that's all I'll say for now".

 Fisty McKnuckles, reporting for GHL News

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Moncton Jumps into the Draft; Deals Three Major Assets

The tear-down in Moncton is complete...has to be...I mean, what's left to move? James Neal, one supposes...

Henrik Lundqvist, Andy Greene, and Sami Vatanen have been dealt for Jimmy Howard, Blake Comeau, Dougie Hamilton and the 49th overall pick in the 2017 draft, which was used to select defender Filip Hronek. A 6 foot, 170-pound product of Czechoslovakia, the puck-rushing right-shot defender has drawn favorable comparisons to other fleet-footed back enders like...well,  Sami Vatanen. Boasting terrific lateral agility, a hard, accurate shot and an uncanny ability to identify and exploit holes, the WJC Czech squad captain needs to add man-muscle to survive the rigors of the GHL in years to come, but all signs point to Hronek ultimately emerging as an impact guy with a bright future.

"Filip is the one name all our guys had been tossing around in the war room, and if there was any chance at jumping into the draft in round two, he's the one guy our scouts all had on their list as a guy who could break out...he's a right shot with skill, smarts and plenty of leadership, and we're excited to track his development...we had a bit of a back and forth with Detroit and finally came to terms on a deal we feel helps us down the road".

Dougie Hamilton is an imposing young man at 6'5'', with a solid-yet-developing two-way game and at 24 years of age, he's got nothing but time to become the superstar right shot defender that he's projected to become.

"Dougie's best years are still in the future, no question...it's easy to forget the need for development when we talk about highly-touted kids who go high in the draft, but it's still a process, and we feel he's an investment worth making...he's going to be given every opportunity to be all he can be and we have high hopes for him".

Clearly, the Moncton Flames are not a team with the horses to run with the top teams in the GHL, but that doesn't faze their GM: "If anybody is surprised by any of this, they haven't been paying attention...we made our run, we set some franchise records, and we made some memories...now, we move ahead, and now we're rebooting...that was the plan we started with, and nothing's changed on our end...we're going about our business, acquiring good placeholders, picks and futures that we feel will be part of the blueprint going forward...it's going to be a learning year, and a growing year, but we're starting from a clean slate and that's a great place to start from sometimes, as opposed to stitching it together as you go".

With ample cap space to acquire those aforementioned placeholders, the focus remains on maintaining a competitive atmosphere.

"Losing is a mindset as much as winning is, and if you're competing hard and learning, you're not losing, regardless of whatever is written on the scoresheet, at least at this stage of the game...when you have your roster where you need it to be, that's when the numbers matter...right now, it's about developing, nothing more".

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Flames Trade Sedin for Veteran Center

Veteran forward Patrick Marleau has been acquired by the Moncton Flames in exchange for Swedish winger Daniel Sedin. Sedin will report to the Colorado organization where it is believed he will fill a needed role as a second line winger. The addition of Marleau gives Moncton options in the top six as the speedy veteran can play both wing and center.

Viewed as a placeholder, Marleau brings needed stability up the middle as well as a strong veteran presence which young players can learn from.

"He's as even-keeled as they come", claims coach RJ Huntley. "Doesn't say a lot, but he doesn't have to...he just sort of has that presence that demands respect...the young guys are gonna appreciate what he brings, and he still skates like he's twenty-five, so this isn't one of those respect your elders scenarios; he can give anyone in the league a run for their money in terms of quickness".

While last year was a bit of a down year in terms of overall production, when healthy, the cagey veteran can and will turn heads.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Up From The Ashes

It may be premature to claim the Flames are a team about to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of what has proven to be a full-scale, scorched-earth reboot from the ground up, but there is certainly reason for optimism...

Not much remains of the plucky, veteran-laden 2016-17 Moncton squad that refused to capitulate. Each and every big name piece has essentially left for greener pastures, in exchange for a few assets which GM Owen Durkin and his staff hope will become impact pieces down the road.

"Again, all eyes in Moncton are on the long-term success of the club, and we are leaving no stone unturned and no opportunity un-examined in order to create an environment for talented future Flames to grow as a cohesive, competitive group...we're setting the table here, but the feast if you will, isn't happening any time soon".

In the last few days, Durkin has added three prospects to the Moncton fold which he and his scouting staff held in high regard.

"When these kids were still available, we all unanimously agreed to pursue them, and we are elated to have been successful on all three attempts".

Durkin and co. started by adding talented right-shot defender Filip Hronek whose offensive acumen and heads-up approach to the position make him a serious contender for blue-chip status at some stage. The other two names that Durkin claims "leapt off the page" were Andrew Mangiapane and Mike Amadio.

"Mangy is one of those kids who just has 'hidden gem' written all over him... not a big guy, but fearless, and highly, highly skilled...he cooled off a little last Spring, but there's absolutely no denying his combination of footspeed and ability to process the game quickly -- those factors, along with an insane compete level -- are what separates him".

Mangiapane was a walk-on at the Barrie Colts tryouts and immediately turned heads, earning a spot with the OHL club in 2013-14, going on to put up 51 points (24G 27A) in 68 games. He followed up with consecutive 100+ point seasons, putting on over 40 pounds of muscle in the process. At 185 pounds, he's a sturdy if undersized waterbug in the mould of a Johnny Gaudreau, who thrives in heavy traffic areas.

Durkin had equal praise for two-way centre Mike Amadio, acquired via trade with Montreal Maroons which sent goalie Andrew Hammond a few hours West of the Maritime city.

"Mike Amadio is a coach's dream...he just does everything, and I mean everything well...any time you're acquiring a Stan Butler product, you have reason to believe that he's always gonna be on the right side of the puck and that's what you're getting with Amadio... if I had to make a comparison, I'd say Ryan O'Reilly isn't a bad one...defensively accountable, and skilled with the puck...let's not overlook that 50 goal season in the OHL or the fact he had 41 points in his rookie year as a pro".

Durkin has just over 40 million to play with in order to ice a full roster come October, but a free agency splash isn't necessarily priority.

"We aren't looking for shortcuts here...over-spending on a guy who may not have enough miles left on him by the time we are competitive top-to-bottom doesn't make a ton of sense...we're in the hockey business; we aren't here just to sell hockey jerseys...that said, we're certainly going to look long and hard and attempt to make smart acquisitions".

Fisty McKnuckles, reporting for GHL News

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Flames Active in Free Agency

After an exciting 2016-17 campaign, Moncton Flames fans had every reason to assume that the scorched-earth approach to the future -- as demonstrated by the dismantling of the team that led to the establishment of a number of franchise records -- meant that the days of meaningful hockey were behind them. Not so fast...

Enter future GHL Hall of Famers Patrick Marleau, Jaromir Jagr and "Jumbo" Joe Thornton. Say hello to dynamic defenders Dougie Hamilton, Roman Josi and Karl Alzner; the latter two, like "Jumbo" and "Jags", acquired recently via the draft. Anyone thinking Moncton is going to be a boring place to see a hockey game would be sadly mistaken, it appears and GM Owen Durkin had this to say following Round Five announcements by the league.

"It's been a rewarding, controversial week, no question...some of my contemporaries take issue with our interpretation of league regulations regarding the free agency signing process, and that's fine...if the league moves in a new direction, we'll adapt, but for the time being, we'll continue to follow league guidelines and do what is best for Moncton and our fans, in the same way every team in the league will...that said, we feel we've added a number of important pieces over the last week, that will keep us viable and entertaining while we embark upon the process of building a club that has a propensity for sustainable success in the GHL".

Durkin and his staff are extremely excited about the way their roster is beginning to shape up, with an excellent blend of youth and veteran skill.

"Guys like Jumbo, Patty and Jags still have something in the tank, they can still impact an outcome...then you talk about guys like Alzner; grizzled, experienced, tough to play against...or Josi; a skilled two way d-man whose best hockey is still ahead of him...those are the kind of d-men who generally become cornerstone players, as is Hammer (Dougie Hamilton)". "Overall, we feel real good about our draft choices, including Ricky (Richard Bachman), who comes in challenging for the starter gig in the nets".

Moncton leveraged a generous 36 million in cap space to replenish its roster, while moving away from talented free agents like Leo Komarov who finished second team-wide in hits last year, as well as dynamic winger Mike Hoffman.

"Outstanding people, first-rate competitors, absolutely...they both deserve a shot with a club that is ready to contend right now, for various reasons...we wish them well, and that's all you're getting out of me about another team's players...we're forging ahead, based on that defense-first formula some of you were calling 'The Moncton Elixir', and we like our depth back there which also includes Cody Franson, a big, rangy veteran with a hell of a point shot who gives us some stability while we do what we gotta do".

Some may find Thornton's decision to come to a rebuilding team to be a bit problematic. Jumbo feels otherwise:

"Look, my stock may have fallen off a little after last season, but I'm healthy, focused and ready to go here...I'll let management talk about the particulars of the deal, if you wanna go down that road, and just say that I'm here to prove to my teammates and the league that I'm still a guy you want out there making things happen, and as far as being open to moving on at some point, we'll see how all that shakes out...right now, I'm here to play hockey and I'm here to be a leader and that's what I'm focused on doing".

While some take issue with the concept of signing a free agent to a high-value deal with the express purpose of moving him, Durkin finds the indignation of some rather comical:

"Here's the thing...we had cap to work with...we had holes in our roster...we filled them, using said cap, and if -- not necessarily when -- we decide to parlay any of our more senior acquisitions into futures, it will be because that's what best serves our club...it also benefits the player, who gets a chance to win now with a team further along the developmental cycle than we are...look, I get that some have trouble understanding the concept of development being a cyclical thing, and that's fine...I'm focused on OUR club and nobody else's, and I think maybe they need to do the same...if a high-ticket guy gets traded, we fully expect that we'll be taking on some dead money to make the math work...again, we have that option, and if it improves our hockey club, we'll look at that option".

Moncton needs to sign thirteen more players to have a complete roster, one of those being a goalie. With the top two pairings essentially established, as well as a respectable top-six rounding into form, expect the balance of Moncton's signings to be lower-value and project-type signings.

While they won't be the powerhouse they were at times last season, Moncton will likely ice an entertaining club, and they'll likely sell a few sweaters as fans of the club will witness a number of GHL legends suiting up for the home team.

[Owen-Moncton]

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Slow Start Leaves Locals Rather Vocal

With what has been an abysmal start in Moncton, one has to wonder whether fans of the franchise will tolerate much more before attendance becomes an issue. The home opener on the 14th versus Cincy was a sold out affair despite fans - hundreds sporting new Golden Flames players' jerseys - leaving disappointed. An appearance by the famed Traveling Jagrs made the Jumbotron to the delight of fans, who had little else to cheer about.

"Rough start, no question", said head coach RJ Huntley, whose days as the team's bench boss could become something of an issue if the team fails to be competitive going forward.

"We aren't generating anywhere near enough offense, and that means we're on the wrong side of the puck too often, and for too much of the game...that taxes your goalie and it wears down your D-corps, and you end up taking penalties when you're constantly in your own end".

When asked what the solution is, Huntley shot the offending scribe an incredulous look, his frustration more than obvious: "Look, this stuff is really rudimentary...you learn those things in minor hockey for cripes sakes...you want a solution, here it is: play heavy in their end, battle harder to possess the puck, cycle it and create your own luck...and when it's in your end, fall back, protect the house and support your D with breakout options and fight through checks in the attacking zone so you've got a chance at setting up in the O-zone...we've been working on these things as individuals and as a team our entire careers...you're either committed to doing the things winners do or you're not".

Captain Roman Josi tried to spin the current scenario as an opportunity: "I think this is our chance to decide what our identity as a team is ultimately going to look like...we need to focus on the process and let the results take care of themselves...it's really down to controlling what we can - our work ethic, how we practice, and how we support each other out there, and blocking out the noise".

That 'noise' is starting to sound like a fan groundswell and the refrain is becoming increasingly audible, even though it's early in the season. Moncton has no other pro sports team in the region, so fan attendance may never become an issue, but the locals are notoriously passionate and vocal about their support and criticism of their team.

"Been a fan o' the Flames me whole loyfe", said local business owner Bernie Farnsworth, whose small pub just off the main drag relies on pedestrian traffic; much of it coming from the Firehouse where the Flames home-games are played, to keep the doors open and the lights on. "win or lose, we needs em ta compete, an' make us proud...last season was our best yet, an' me business shorley benefited... I knows it aint gonna be like that this year, but I hopes fer da best, just the same".


"Ya cants jus shows up an' not tries; that ain't the Moncton way", said a female fan wearing a new Josi jersey. "ya needs ta puts yer heart into it...we works hard here fer our pays an' da fans deserves ta see a good effort, if nothin' else".

GM Owen Durkin sense the fan frustration: "Of course, we get it...our fans are dyed-in-the-wool hockey fans, and it's part of our culture here...we can promise there are better days ahead, but we need to ride this period out until we've got the young talent and assets to compete against the rest of the league...it's a process, and we are committed to the ultimate goal of icing a winner that can measure up year in and year out".

Regarding Coach Huntley's future with the organization, Durkin dismissed the notion of replacing his longtime bench boss: "RJ showed us all last year what he can do with the right group...he's a phenomenal teacher and he's precisely the guy you want working with your youth, and the veterans all respect him as well...he's not going anywhere".