they sit him becuase Sunderman takes up a spot and is to be the tough guy but for the last 2 games webber has been fighting and Sunderman has been???
I think it's time to sit out Sunderman for a couple of games to give these young guys some good ice time before the playoffs start.Becuase we all know once playoffs start Sunderman will not be needed on the ice.
Let the young players play.
the have to give the others guys some time to play as well. Spurgeon was sitting to give Bodie some ice time, it has nothing to do with Sunderman. Weber may have fought the last two games but has not won either one.
My opinion is to sit Bodie, he does not skate very well, is not tough and doesn't try to play tough, I'm not even sure if the guy hits anyone. They should have sent him and Deschamps back to Junior A to give them both some needed ice time to improve for next year.
A team should be playing their Veteran guys, these guys are mostly only sixteen, they have atleast 3 years to play.
They are playing there Vet's every game.
If you don't give the young guy's ice time now next season will only be harder on them.
Guy's like Comeau,Card,Webber,Jacobsen,Spurgeon all need ice time now to get the experience.
The young guy's on this team are playing really good for being there first season in the WHL.
sure Webber got into two fights and may have lost them both but at least he will fight,Look at Sunderman every fight he got into he wrestled the guy to the ground,He got into a good fight against the Giants,but most of the time he doesn't even wanna fight,and we know he can not do too much more.Everytime the puck hits his stick it goes over the blade and the other team gets it.
Sunderman is taking up a spot for the younger guy's who will be here next season cause Sunderman will not be back on this team as a overager that is for sure!
I'm not sure if I'm the only one who has noticed that Sunderman has actually started to play some decent hockey. He's no Schultz but I can see that he is learning. He may actually become a decent player not a great player but definately not a liability. If he can be less one dimensional and be more than just a fighter than I see him being someone that other teams may be able to use.I don't see him here next year but I do see him being traded to another team , We may not get much in return but weirder things have happened.Lets give the guy credit where credit is due. I think he will turn out to be a n average player with a role to play.IE.getting to the net and blocking the front,immovable object. You never know. I hope he does what I have said and becomes viable because he is a really good young fellow.nm
START PLAYING HOCKEY NOW HE ONLY HAS 1 SEASON LEFT AFTER THIS SEASON AND ANY TIME THAT WILL WANT HIM WILL ONLY WANT HIM TO FIGHT.
SUNDERMAN SHOULD OF TRIED PLAYING HARDER AT THE BEGINING OF THE SEASON AND SHOULD OF WENT TO POWER TRAINING CAMP DURING THE OFF SEASON.
HE DID GET SOME ICE TIME LAST NIGHT BUT AFTER PG SCORED THERE FIRST GOAL AND SUNDERMAN WAS ON THE ICE I DIDN'T SEE HIM OUT THERE AFTER THAT AND IF HE WAS IT MUST OF BEEN FOR A SHORT TIME.I DO GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR BEING SO PATIENT ON THE BENCH WAITING TO GET SOME ICE TIME,IT DOES TAKE A TOLL ON A PLAYERE JUST STANDING THERE WATCHING.BUT FOR SUNDERMAN HE SHOULD DO SOME MAJOR TRAINING IN THE OFF SEASON.IT WILL ONLY DO HIM GOOD.
AS FOR THE ROCKETS THEY ARE PLAYING GREAT HOCKEY AND HOPE IT KEEPS GOING.
I don't know what game you were at because sunderman played a regular shift all night. He has become a lot better player over the last few games. I'm quite sure he will be in this league somewhere next year.I wish him nothing but good luck in the future.nm
He in fact did not get a regular shift last night.
His play was limited to about 3 shifts in the first, and only a handful more in the second.
Granted, he did take a regular shift in the third.
Yes, he has been working his ass off in practice, but he still looks quite lumbering, but improving...
Honestly, at where his skill levels are presently, I can't see a team taking him as a 20 year old. Personally, I hope the kid makes it because in this league as a overager.... time will tell.....
The only guys not getting any ice time is Deschamps
and Bodie really. The other guys have all ready played 30+ games, that is not enough????? Sunderman has only played 36 not more than the younger guys.
As I said before they still have 2 - 3 years to play in the "W"
games and Palin played only 36 and they are both playing very well now. The young guys are getting way better coaching in Kelowna than they would get in junior A level. Sunderman is there for insurance and Weber sure he has fought twice in the last 3 games but he 17 yrs old and can't fight with the big boys. Shea will be a tough guy in this league as a 18 yr old and very tough as a 19yr old.
WEBBER WAS NOT BROUGHT TO THIS TEAM TO FIGHT AND WILL NOT BE THE FIGHTER FOR THIS CLUB.HE WILL BECOME A VERY STRONG D-MAN OVER THE NEXT 2 OR 3 SEASON'S.
SUNDERMAN JOB IS TO FIGHT AND HE HAS NOT BEEN DOING HIS JOB AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE IT SEEMS HE DOESN'T WANNA FIGHT WHEN HE SHOULD.
HE IS TAKING UP A SPOT AND I THINK IT SHOULD GO TO SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP THE TEAM MORE.STOP SITTING OUT THE YOUNG PLAYERS AND GIVE THEM ICE TIME.YOU CAN'T EXCEPT JACOBSEN OR SPURGEON TO GET BETTER BY ONLY LETTING THEM PLAY 1 GAME OUT OF 3 WHILE SUNDERMAN STANDS IN THE BENCH AREA WATCHING THE GAME.
REMEMBER THE YEAR WE WON 1ST PLACE IN THE B.C.DIVISION WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A TOUGH GUY THAT YEAR.
SURE WE LOST TO SEATTLE THAT YEAR IN THE FIRST ROUND AND VERY YEAR BEFORE THAT WE LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND.
WE HAD TOUGHNESS THAT YEAR IT JUST WASN'T IN FIGHTING TYPE OF TOUGHNESS.WE HAVE TOUGHNESS THIS YEAR AND OUR DEFENCE ARE PLAYING GREAT THIS YEAR.I AM ALSO SAYING IN THE PLAYOFFS NO ONE REALLY PLAYS THERE FIGHTER GUY BECAUSE OF PENALTYS.DID SUNDERMAN PLAY LAST YEAR PLAYOFFS?(I CAN NOT REMEMBER IF HE DID OR NOT).
WE HAVE ALOT OF TOUGHNESS THIS YEAR WITHOUT SUNDERMAN ON THE ICE.(CUTHBERT,WEBBER,PALIN,MOSIENKO WILL NOT BACK DOWN AND HE'S A STRONG GUY FOR HIS SIZE,AAND OUR YOUNG CORE OF PLAYERS WILL NOT BACK DOWN EITHER,ALSO FERGUSON WILL FIGHT IF HE HAS TO IF HE IS ANYTHING LIKE HIS BIG BROTHER).
I JUST DON'T THINK WE NEED SUNDERMAN ON THE ICE EVERYNIGHT?(THAT IS MY THOUGHT ON IT)
tells me alot of your knowledge. mosienko tough???? what are we smokin. sure he dosent back down but cmon. palin - tough?? sure he is, has he ever won a fight?? cuthbert - no question there. most certainly the toughest rocket! i think this who rocket toughness thing isnt being read by all in the same way!!
MOSIEENKO IS A TOUGH PLAYER IN THE CORNERS(I AM RIGHT ON THAT),HE WILL FIGHT IF HE HAS TO AND DON'T COUNT OUT THE LITTLE GUY FOR FIGHTING CAUSE OF HIS SIZE.
CUTHBERT IS THE TOUGHEST ROCKET OUT THERE AND I BELEAVE HE HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST FOR OVER 3 SEASONS.
REMEMBER TOUGHNESS JUST DOESN'T MEAN A GOOD FIGHTER IT ALSO MEANS STRONG PLAYER ie HITTING, FIGHTEN FOR PUCK IN CORNERS AND A FIST TO HEAD FIGHT.THERE ARE ALOT OF ROCKET PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM THAT WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM ANYONE EVEN LOOK AT WEBBER IN VANCOUVER TOOK ON THE 20 YEAR OLD TOUGH GUY FOR THAT TEAM HE DID NOT BACK DOWN DID HE (NO) HE DID NOT.I HAVE SEEN SUNDERMAN BACK DOWN FROM FIGHTS ALL SEASON LONG AT SKYREACH PLACE THIS SEASON.BUT LAST SEASON HE DID HIS JOB REALLY GOOD AND AS FOR THIS SEASON WELL THAT'S UP TOO YOU CAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT AND SO DO I.
pete44 you're right he didn't back down from any fights or
January 19 2003, 7:40 PM
didn't realize that you are the Hockey God of know it all on the Rockets.
You must have the inside scoop on everything.
I will know better next time to watch Sunderman on the Ice and make notes on everything he does just like you do right.
I am sorry for even bringing it up.Because if l knew that it broughtered you that much l would not of done it.Again l am sorry.
Signed not a hockey god know it all like Pete44.
Pete44 you talk to Duncan Keith/never heard of him.who does he play for?
January 20 2003, 9:28 AM
Gee wish l have heard of him.Does he play for the Rockets AAA league team?Give me a break you#%^&*$%^&@#*&$%^***&.It's easy too say you talked to him.But to prove it is something else.
I talk to the players alot also.I stand buy the gate to the dressingrooms just like you do and l say hi and they say hi back is that what you mean buy you talked to Duncan Keith?Like l said before you are the Hockey God!!!!!give this a rest and talk to you after the road trip cause l will be on the road covering the story for the paper.
atually i talked to all three penticton boys last night at the jr a game here in penticton. and to answer your question, i dont sit and wait for the rockets to come out and say hi. i thought that was for groupies!! take a look at glens post. now we are talking about someone who knows the game of hockey!!
read and learn!!
R.M.B., why not shut it down before you end up looking like a total........
January 20 2003, 11:20 AM
fool. In my two years of watching Stephen Sunderman (in Spokane, in Kootenay, in Kamloops, in Kelowna, in Prince George, in Vancouver) I have never seen him pull the chute or not go when the opportunity presented itself. The guy has a ton of jam, defends his teammates and plays his ROLE perfectly. Probably takes the fewest stupid penalties of any tough guy in the league which is a bonus.
As for taking up a roster spot. Do you think in all your infinite wisdom that Habby wants Cuthbert, Weber, Paddock, McLeod, Gelech and others fighting all the time. No, he wants them to play the in your face, aggressive style that has made the Rockets a succesful hockey team. If the sh** hits the fan, Stephen is in the line up to take care of it. Win or lose, the guy is welcomed by his teammates because he creates room for them. Of course Spurgeon, Comeau and other rookies want ice time, but they will get played in games where Habby believes they can get quality minutes in a role that will help them learn and gain experience while in a postition to be successful rather than have their head handed to them on a platter.
As for Mosienko. Go find a wall, preferably one made of brick, take twenty paces back and run as fast as you can toward it, launching yourself head first into it from about five feet out. He is not a fighter, shouldn't be fighting and shouldn't even be in a conversation about fighting or whether Sunderman should or should not be in the line up. Apples and oranges.
As for Pete44, he DOES have an inside track on this topic and most other topics related to the Rockets. More than you and many others on this board I would imagine. Does that make him right on all things Rockets? No, however I'm willing to bet he has a much better feel for what is and isn't going on than you do.
Stephen Sunderman brings more to the Rockets than you know. Firstly, he allows the rookies to learn in situations that are positive and allow them the chance to test the waters (i.e. fighting, agitating) without the fear of getting their stick shoved somewhere unpleasant. Secondly, Steven allows guys like Weber, Comeau, Spurgeon, Card and Jacobson to learn their roles by detering other teams from taking liberties with them when they do play. Thirdly, Stephen allows guys like Cuthbert, Weber, Gellech, McLeod, Keith, Slovak, Gorges, Card, Lindlof and Mosienko to do what they do best, which is produce offensively and help create scoring chances, check the other teams top players without the need for them to have to fight and spend time in the penalty box where they are a lot less helpful.
Stephen plays the toughest role in hockey on a very good team and his contribitions should not be lost on Kelowna fans. While he may not be the best skater, the best stickhandler or have the best shot, he certainly adds more to the Rockets right now on most nights than the guys you are so worried about getting developed. Kelowna's rookies for the most part have all recieved more ice time than rookies on almost every other team in the league and are being brought along very well. Relax, enjoy the Rockets great team and cheer them on to a possible Championship this year and next, quite possibly into the future as well, but quit spewing garbage about a guy who does as he is asked without complaint or being disruptive on a winning team. This says much about Stephen and his character.
By the way, when Ferguson starts running around like a maniac and being the great sh** disturber that he is, ask him if he likes having Stephen around?
Yes glen you made some good points there.
I do have a inside track also on the team but for the most part it's mainly after the game.they do have a great team this year.But l am comparing Sunderman this season to also last season.And l found him more effective last season then now.
It seems sence he hurt his hand earlier in the season he has attemted to not fight as much as he would normally do.
when his hand wass sore he came back to play while having that injury(I beleave it was a finger)but he did back away from tough areas when the pay stops and teams get toghter to talk about what just happened.
Yes he is started to take a another page into this hockey season by getting to the net and chasing after guys in corners,I do give him Credit for that.It's just as a 19 year old we expect more out of him then just fighten,If he intends to take the next step he should get as much of it now then try to later cause it will be even harder for him to try to get drafted.
He is a great guy off the ice,always ready to sign autographs for kids.Yes every team seems to need that tough guy but that tough guy now days needs to be more then the tough guy he has to be able to do alot more on ice plays then just fight.I hope the best for him this season and next season where ever he maybe.
Just people get use to a guy like him playing like he did last year and it seemed to have made a step back,just hope he makes those 2 steps forward soon.
He has been staying on the ice longer during practice and warm ups at the rink,l give him big credit for that.
As for pete44 he just makes himself like he
s the GM of the Team.
Just say no to drugs, learn hibonics or something cause you butcher the language.
January 20 2003, 1:44 PM
And most of all, just back away from the computer, very slowly, then turn and run real fast so no one has to get hurt. I swear your keyboard is going to blow up after typing that.
Sunderman is not fighting as much this year is that the Rockets are doing better and winning more games, so why should Sunderman go out there and fight when they are leading 3-0 etc.. I would think that Habby has told him not to start anything when they are ahead.
Just look what happened after the Weber fight on Saturday, it seemed to give the Cougars a bit of a boost.
I'm glad that there are others out there who see what I see when I see Stephen Sunderman play. I for one think that he is the smartest tough guy in the league. Never takes stupid penalties.doesn't fight just for the sake of fighting.Provides lots of space for the right players. I really like the way that he quietly goes about his business. I'm sure his teammates respect him for the role he plays. What more could you want in a tough role player. OH thats right he could be a psycho like say a derek parker but I don't think he would last long on the ROCKETS IF THATS HOW HE PLAYED. MY OPINION nm.
He has the toughest roll on the team,and gets the least ice time on the team.But goes out there to do his job when Marc Habscheid gives him the go to tap on the back.Give him respect for being there when they need him.
Sunderman and good player/l guess l missed that game
January 20 2003, 8:30 PM
You say all these great things about Sunderman,but when you take to people at the games they all say he hasn't been all that affective this time.
I have been readying your posts along with this rmb dude and l have too say that the games that l have seen the Big 23 has not done all that great.Hockey is not this guy's game but hopefullyfor him a team picks him up for next season that way he will get 3 years of school for his time here in the whl league.
Lots of posts are not on your side about how good #23 is but on how not good he's been.Sorry to say l am not on your side on this matter.Yes l know that l will get a post on me for not siding on your side but that's the good thing about this site that l can say my opinion and if you don't like it l really don't have to read it.Sorry to say it but too bad.
hate to tell this to you but l am not rmb l use to go by the name of ktown. l have not used this site for a long time cause of the talk that goes on it and the post from people who have a opinion about players that at all agree with so they start calling names and start talking cheep.sorry bill that you didn't get me name right try again next time.
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