Checkers broadcaster Jason Shaya checks in each week with his 10 Thoughts - a series of observations about the team and the hockey world in general.
1) Don’t confuse effort with results. Charlotte talked about having a better effort on Sunday afternoon despite losing 4-1 to Rockford. The result was the same as the previous three games. It’s just not good enough.
2) I can’t help but thinking if Justin Faulk would’ve kept his mustache, the damage to his face, as a result of a deflected puck, would’ve been lessened.
3) It was nice to hear about the reunion between Scotty Bowman and his former equipment manager,
Steve Latin (the duo won a few cups together in Pittsburgh). Scotty gave him a big hug and apparently it was a heartfelt moment that brought both men close to tears. Best friends forever.
4) Two points separate the second-place team in the West (Charlotte) and the eighth-place team (Lake Erie). I’m aware it’s early in the season, but how many more home games can you drop without falling out of a playoff position? The Checkers play Lake Erie this Thursday and Friday.
5) Carolina Hurricanes and NHL broadcasting legend, Chuck Kaiton, was kind enough to join the television broadcast on Saturday night for a few minutes to share his thoughts on the lockout and how much he loves calling hockey games for a living. He is a great man and it was an absolute honor to have him on the show. If the NHL still isn’t playing by Jan. 6, I have a feeling he will be part of the Checkers broadcast that night in Raleigh.
6) Dan Ellis finally wore his new gear on Sunday. It looked awesome, and he played great as always. All we need to do now is get him to start scoring some goals.
7) We’re also working on getting color commentator and former Portland Pirates goaltender Chris Jablonski to provide commentary from between the benches for the Jan. 6 broadcast. #absolutely.
8) What a fight between Justin Soryal and Brandon Bollig on Sunday afternoon. It was the best fight I’ve seen in quite some time. After they were done throwing lefts and rights for about two minutes, they both gave each other a friendly tap on the head. That is respect. Donald Cherry would be proud.
9) People should notice that captain Brett Sutter is right up there with the team leaders in points. What’s really impressive is that he gets his points at even strength because he doesn’t play on the power play, unlike the four players ahead of him in team scoring.
10) Note to Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ian White: better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
11) An important meeting between owners and players minus Bettman and Fehr today. Maybe this will help since nothing else is working. It will be hard to battle through the miasma of pessimism surrounding negotiations. Perhaps, an unfiltered conversation will move men on both sides towards reconciliation.
12) I saw a video called Gangnam Style because a link on a news site said it was the most-watched Youtube video with almost one billion views. Being uninformed on pop culture phenomena is better than confirming my suspicion that things are as dumb as I believed.
13) In the broadcast booth, we try to be neutral as it regards to the officiating, but it is pretty clear that having two referees is better for the game. This past weekend was a perfect example of how it went from bad to better on Saturday and Sunday.
14) Great to see Marc-Andre Gragnani back from injury. He had an assist in his return on Saturday and looked like he didn’t miss a beat.
15) I wonder if, by the time I write the next Ten Thoughts, if the Checkers will have won in black jerseys or if the NHL Lockout will be over…
