Mudbugs Hockey Blog

I have been wondering for quite sometime now why the Mudbugs are not, or not doing enough to get the word out to the area fans that there will be a season of bone crushing, body slamming brand of Mudbugs hockey coming soon to an arena near them.

Who are them i speak of? I speak of the many sports fans young and old who need something to knock them either over the fence or off it to our side. What has been done over the summer? Nothing!! Why there are not players and groups in the malls handing out flyers pictures tickets anything to generate interest?

I remember when i was a young lad many moons ago. I saw a NHL Buffalo Sabres player sitting behind a table in the mall signing anything he could and talking to kids like myself. Why my eyes opened so wide I was sure they fell out with excitement. To see a young boy or girl just gleam with excitement just from seeing a sports figure from a local team their Daddy had taken them to see is priceless.

And isn’t that what it’s all about? from the time I started trying to standup more than fall on my butt learning how to skate I dreamt of any opportunity to meet a sports hockey figures from any level, because to the little boy or girl, a hockey player is a hockey player when you get the chance to shake their hand and try your best to even speak, let alone what to say! Is something I can attest to they will never forget.

In a confused fast paced world where people are jumping bandwagons almost daily, Hockey to me has been that one constant that has always been there through some tough times going on 37yrs of my life. Introducing the passion and the love of the sport to kids of all ages. For them to take in the atmosphere breathing in the emotion of the entire spectacle of the event, one cannot help but get caught up in all that is hockey and all that is Mudbugs Hockey.

Maybe they will find their own constant to grab onto and never let go. We all need something in our lives to be consistent. The love for the game of hockey can give you that and once your infected, there is no cure because you will never need one anyways.

Let us all pitch in to bring the passion to a new fan this year. I want to find that kid just like me when I was 10yrs. old give he or she a chance to capture their own dream and enjoy the ride as well. Hockey can teach us alot more things than just shooting and scoring.

I am not sure, nor will i most likely ever truly find out why or who is to blame for the ridiculous idea not to allow fans to witness the Mudbugs and Jackalopes preseason game on the 12th of next month.

We have always been taught where there is a will there is a way. Well who has the will to find the way? I don’t care who, just changed it. Not for me, not for all the other every game fans. But for the new fans! They young kids will be looking for their own constant.

Welcome back Forbes Macpherson, hope the time did your body and passion alot to bring out the best you can be with the ability to get the job done.

Well how about the coincidence of trading D Craig Minard, who i thought had a fine season last year for Brian Sutherland. Having already signed Brian’s twin brother Robbie and then factor in that Forbie is a first cousin of the pair, one might see that that as just coincidence, but see it as planned.

© 2006 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article

The signing of Chris Brassard is huge if taken into account all the players that won’t be returning. Brass has always shown he has the ability to put the puck in the net, and the ability to do so with authority. He struggled last season finding his scoring touch last season, but came on strong the second half of the season to finish with 17G 43A.

Yes it was his lowest goal output in 3 seasons as a Mudbug, But we all know Chris has the talent and the toughness to be a solid power forward for the Mudbugs. He has proven to be a terrific asset to this team and will continue to do so.

Defensemen Ryan Fairbarn for those that may not remember last season was a Fort Worth Brahmas teammate of Defensemen Konrad Brand who the Mudbugs signed about a month or so ago.

Fairbarn has good size at 6’2″ 205lb’s, he played 22 games for the Brahmas last season and 32 for the Wichita Thunder. He was also on that Thunder team that sent all us Mudbug fans home with broken hearts after Scott Allison scored the overtime winner in the 7th game of the 2005 playoff’s.

From what I can remember of him is that he is not flashy, most nights you wont even notice he’s on the ice, which can on one hand mean he is playing a solid game and has not made any mistakes to draw attention to himself, but on the other hand he could be just floating around unemotional trying to just blend in.

Now if you hadn’t noticed I overstated the latter part of that statement so I could make this one. As much as criticize decisions made by Coach Scott Muscutt, I don’t believe for one moment that Ryan Fairbarn would been brought here to play under the Muscutt regime if he was a floater not looking to make a difference.

Ryan’s best days as a pro are just ahead off him as part of the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs. I look forward to watching him play.

As for Chris Gustavson he played 65 games in the ECHL splitting time between the Greenville Grrrowl where he had 11 points in 40 games and the Agusta Lynx where he finished with just 3 points in 25 games played back in 2002-2003. Then spent the next 3 seasons playing over in Europe. Which brings me to my next point.

Being on the smallish side for a defensmen at 5’10 185lb doesn’t bother me too much. What I have to wonder is he has been playing 3 seasons in a league and a style of play that rarely body checks. So can he handle the punishment of North American CHL hockey?

The Signing of Robbie Sutherland will be an interesting one to keep track of. He is tough kid and a spirited leader. He plays the bigger than he is, which is something all players of his size must learn to do. With his 5’9 170lb frame it will become a necessity in this league.

The last but not least player to speak of is Milan Vodrazka. Here is a kid that rode the pine most of last season, always the one sent to serve the bench minor penalties.

Struggling to learn the English language, as well as a brand new style of play had to be tough. But “Vodka” never gave up and never complained. Or maybe he did and no one understood, Do the famous words “put me in coach” seem fitting here to you too? LOL

When Milan did get his chances to play he always made the most of it as best he could. It was always the effort that caught my eye. I look forward to enjoying a lot more Vodka on ice this season.

The season draws closer just 41 days until the Mudbugs open the season in OK City and 47days and counting until we make the happy trek to the CenturyTel Center on the 26th of October.

© 2006 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article