Mudbugs Hockey Blog

Here I sit just like I do every summer in Northern Louisiana’s Mudbug Country roasting in the boiling southern heat wondering ”Has anyone has actually melted right into the pavement?” well ok maybe its not that hot, but you get the idea. If not, stop reading this and go outside, and oh! do come back. Did you come back? well let’s all hope they didn’t melt. Ok I know what your thinking just deal with it and move on Yankee! Oh! boy, what I wouldn’t give for a snowball fight right now. But enough gibberish, I will now return you to our regular Blogger.

Ok! here we go. You want to talk about heat, well this next statement might just boil some collars among my fellow Mudbug fans. The most important reason in my book to win a Championship soon is to be able to say we have won a Championship in the Central Hockey League. The 3 President’s Cups the Mudbugs have won have been when they were a member of the WPHL. Does this mean they don’t count or weigh any less? absolutely not! Point is, If we can win one in the CHL it will be forever married to the three previous Championship that the franchise had won from the past. Until then, I look at it like this, the (Bossier) Shreveport Mudbugs franchise are 3 Time WPHL Champions.  It needs to say that the Mudbugs are 4 time President’s Cup Champions, then the marriage will be complete.

Onto other news: Do we have a General Manager or not? Do we need a General Manager at all? I mean Scott Muscutt tends to run everything anyway, just like he ran the last two GM’s  Jason Rent and Steve Chernowak out of town that supposedly were not good enough to help bring this team and organization to the next level. IF we do hire a new GM, and I’m sure we will, it will be the 3rd in as many seasons.  Talk about instability, Yikes!

What can be done then?: I think the answer is clear on what the team does need, and that is a new face. I feel it is time for the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs to give itself a face-lift. I think its time to move into a different direction in leadership of this team. The face of this team must change.

Hey Joe? where you goin’ with that contract in your hand? I am speaking of Joe Ori who was going to play next season, then reneged and ran to what he felt was richer pastures on the other side of the globe. Too bad I was looking forward to seeing him play again. But, then like or not it was his decision. Its was just way he went about it that got many Mudbugs fans miffed.

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The signing of #41 Brett Smith late Monday afternoon meant only one thing was for sure, the Bugs have their bug back. Though he may be small in stature  at 5-8, 175lbs. he is one of – if not THE biggest bug in the whole Central Hockey League.

He has such a high standard of work ethic along the boards and in front of the net that just flat outworks any opponent he challenges. Sometimes they just flat give up and let him have the puck admitting defeat on their own. Now that’s how you go out and command respect and presence from your opponent. It’s almost like he takes their will away sometimes. I would take 4 or 5 more Smitty’s on the team if possible as would anyone.

But those kind of players that have such huge heart, desire and will to win every minute of every shift are harder to find than one might think. It has to be their makeup as a player, they very rarely ever come to a team and change, it has to be there already. I’m not saying it can never happen, cause never is a bad negative word that can squash any miracle or great story. Hell, I love the diamonds in the ruff!

I can’t begin to add up the countless times I have watched Brett gasping for his last breathe as he literally drags his way towards the bench, It is my opinion that he has got to be the hardest working sports player I have had the privilege and pleasure of watching every time #41 takes to the ice. Thank You Brett you are truly a Bug any way you want to to describe him.

Other Stuff:

I look for more signings coming up like maybe um!! I’ll go out a limb here and say Chris Brassard.

I would kick myself if I didn’t ask this question since I’m here. But what the hell’s been going on with ownership and GM stuff since the Mudbug office dropped the bomb in the fans lap about a what seems like a month ago?  More on that in my next blog.

© 2008 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article

I admit I had been away for a while covering the Sabres draft then, the free agent frenzy that went on yesterday, as well as training new staff members on Sabresinsider, whew!. So as you can see my mind has been elsewhere for a while, but then I finally get a break and come back today of all days to read that Mudbug Nation in a state of turnover.

But then, if it’s going to happen, summer is the best time for it. But still, how much are the latest happenings of Mudbugs ownership, front office changes linked going to effect stability? Stability is something that is important in any organization. It may have all began from the point of replacing former General Manger Jason Rent (now the GM with the Rapid City Rush) with Steve Cherwonak who left to become President of the CHL Champion Arizona Sundogs.

And now we find out today we are going to have to get familiar with or for some possibly re-familiarized with another GM, and dare I mention A new owner or new owners! We can only assume that the trickle down effect from all this change and possible changes to take effect over the next 3 months will be of positive nature.

But of course those things are like NHL draft picks you may never get a clear feeling right away the difference it has made and if it’s the missing link needed to take this team to the next level. We must assume if that’s the case they must be referring to the disappointing playoff exits the last couple of seasons as compared to the regular season accomplishments which includes 2 Governors Cup’s in as many seasons, as well as last seasons record setting season to remember.

When I think of the Mudbugs Management I think of Mr. Madden, from the time this Cowboy grabbed the reigns and took over this team fans have noticed the change. To see him walk around the arena with sporting his Mudbugs jersey and Black cowboy hat while his lovely wife is right at his side, he will always and I mean always stop and take the time to shake your hand, and with his personable persona you are swept away into a feeling as if you have known this kind man all your life. He is the best owner in the league, he is a fine man, father and husband and he is also my friend. Where else can you say that about the owner of a hockey team, but in Mudbugs Country?

I hope with all my heart that Mr. Madden remains the primary owner of our team, but on the other hand I do realize it is also a business, but I can still be selfish can’t I? As I said the votes are in and the clear winner by a landslide is “Mr. Madden” . Now it’s time to watch one my favorite cowboy movies “Tombstone”

© 2008 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article