PIHA predictions

[SpiderRat]

So, any predictions on the PIHA final? Just curious also on how the Snipers are. I hear they're a very talented team. I was hoping to read something on the PIHA website, but.....

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Roger my prediction is that it will be a long series and could very well go the distance. Who I expect to win I can't really say because I did not see the Snipers at all this season. It should be a very good series.....Good luck to both teams this weekend.

[James Lambert]

It's difficult to predict anything, because the Snipers playing in Colorado aren't going to be the same team that played the whole season.

As you probably know, there's a scheduling conflict between the World Games and the PIHA finals, and Greg Thompson and Tommy Bruce will not be playing for the Snipers. They'll be playing for Team USA.

It's hard to believe this conflict couldn't have been avoided. Instead, what's been avoided is a solution. Everyone buried their heads in the sand until it was too late.

PIHA screwed up royally.

[Dave Garland]

I agree with everything just said by James.

We will not have Thompson or Bruce for the finals which is a travesty.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Yet coming out on a message board and blasting the league is not a solution either. These dates for these finals were set last year in July! Don't we win games as a team and lose games as a team. We all go into playoff games missing key players it happens in all sports. The rest of the guys should step up and pick up the slack. Just my two cents!

[ifyouonlyknew]

you dont think if the thunder was playing in the finals that something would be done to have cj and yingling available to play? im not positive but i would think that world games has also been scheduled for a while. with the amount of players and the high talent playing in this league this should have been avoided. it is not right to bash the league on the message boards but it also isnt right for the snipers to have play all season with probably their two best players and two of the better players in the counrty and not have them for the finals. something should have been done about this way before this situation becuase it really does not make the league look good.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Why was it only brought up now and not at the divisional meetings in July or even at the divisional schedule meetings. The owners of the teams should have been looking into these things and said something then. Changes could have been made way back.....Waiting til now shows complete lack of paying attention to a schedule and just an excuse to complain. When I went to the scheduling meeting I was prepared and knew the dates I was going to be missing key players and I did not schedule games on those dates. Somebody from the Gateway division should have said something. For the director of the Gateway division to come on a public message board and say that it is tragedy should have done his homework and looked into the schedule back in October when the dates were set.

Jeff Haze
Owner Feasterville Fury

[Dave Garland]

I wouldn't comment on what you don't know about.

1. It was discussed multiple times to try to change it. The lack of effort was not in those who wanted it changed but rather those who had to put in effort to change it.

2. We knew the situation would arise with numerous teams making the finals:
-If Thunder made it: CJ and Brian
-If the Whalers made it: JP Beilsten
-If Pitt made it: Brett Leggat (Canada)
-If Snipers made it: Thompson and Bruce

3. This was not 'league bashing' by any means but instead stated that it is a 'travesty' (not "tragedy") meaning the best players in the league should be showcased in the finals. Although it is great from a PR standpoint to say that "we have players that play on Team USA", it is more important to have those guys actually playing in the finals.

4. Don't think we didn't "pay attention to the schedule." These issues were brought up in Colorado during the All Star game among others.

5. Saying "dates were set" is a joke. Numerous things have changed this year (not blaming PIHA more the circumstances) including the location of the finals, etc. Set dates can be moved.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Your explanation makes sense now Dave! Just the way your one line statement came across to me was that you felt like the league was trying to put the screws to you! Sorry for jumping on it that way.

Also in regards to date changes yes they do happen but why did the issue have to go public 48 hours before the finals.

[Dave Garland]

No prob Jeff! (PS the finals are NEXT weekend)

[growl89]

I am going to have to take the Rats on this one if they have a full team... missing greg and tommy will hurt the snipers a lot... they still have very talented players on that team, but missing 2 of the best players in the country never helps your chances... And, from playing against them 4 times this season, the Rats are a good time, i think they outshot us everytime we played them... i'm going to say Rats in 6 if they have a full team out there...

[RichardGraham]

Hi Jeff,

I'm not sure I agree that such posts harm the league. Scheduling conflicts have been a problem in this sport for a long time, and I think it's important that these issues be aired publically, or they'll never be solved. Inline hockey is a small niche sport and is deeply harmed when organizations ostensibly hoping to grow the sport can't work out things like scheduling issues.

I don't think hiding the issue or not talking about it at a certain time is the solution.

I'm not putting blame on anyone in this situation -- I just know that it has happened many times in the past, and it's something that needs to be resolved.

Good luck to all the PIHA playoff teams from Inline Hockey Central, as well as everyone participating in the world championships.

[kicksave60]

I agree, this place is made for discussion and debate. hence the word "forum"

[SpiderRat]

What I don't get is, is that the finals are in one week, and there is absolutly nothing posted on the PIHA website. This is the finals. Six months worth of games and PIHA forgets to advertize the finals???

As far as Bruce and Thompson not making it, I personally think it stinks. The nah sayers will forever be able to say, "what would have happened if they were there". Not saying we are going to win, but if say our two best players, Jeff Goulet and Rodney Millette couldn't make it, well we would be in serious trouble. I'm sure we as a team would have had no problem with a date change, just to make sure both teams had their full rosters. For last years MLRH U.S. title, we went back and forth on the phone with the representative from the North Carolina team picking dates that would suit both teams rosters. And it worked. Just my two cents.

[Gladiators6]

What I don't get is, is that the finals are in one week, and there is absolutly nothing posted on the PIHA website. This is the finals. Six months worth of games and PIHA forgets to advertize the finals???

That's what I've been wondering for the past few weeks......the PIHA Championships are the next big thing (and the last big thing) of the season, and there is nothing on the site except the bracket in which you have to get to thru a small link on the right.

I know the league has to be busy with organizing everything and such, but how long does it take to put something up???

Imagine if NHL.com didn't have anything about the Stanley Cup Palyoffs on it......