You all say that Sunderman has shown very little. He needs a long stick to score or do anything from where he sits. He travelled many miles from home to be a leader and lots of icetime{as promised , when scouted}.Now what ? Here he sits on the pine. He could be doing this at home but being a TEAM Guy will not complain but hang in there waiting his turn.He has been in Saginaw for 8 games and has seen the ice for three???????Interesting development??????Being his final year he would love to be playing.

I can't speak for all, but I've never said he's shown little. Heck, I'm still waiting to see him play a little bit!! I think I saw him play for a couple of minutes in 1 game. Personally I'm a little mad about that. We go out of our way to get him, but why if he isn't gonna play? I'm thinking a lot of it might have to do with the coaching change. I think Rosie got him just so we had another fighter to control opposing teams. I think Mantha might have other thoughts as to how he wants the game played though. I do wish he would be given a chance to prove himself though in front of the fans. When he has played it was mostly on the road. Kind of a bummer for those who really want to see how the WHOLE team plays. The same thing with Pfligler though. He has only played a handful of games, most of which were away. I know he's the back-up, but how about starting him every once in a while so he doesn't end up rusty? Maybe put him in goal if Brown has gotten a little shook up out there. From what I have heard from the play by play on Pfligler, he sounds to be a very good goalie. What's everyone elses take on this? Remember, this is only MY opinion...this is not law so I expect NO personal attacks here. Maybe just a different point of view.

I agree , if these young men are not given a chance to strut their stuff then what's the point. The coaching change has had a great impact. They have now won one game. If things don't work let's change them up and try some new combinations . Maybe some different lines??????Some different bodies out there?

I thought he would have played on Sunday and was quite surprised when he did not dress. I would think he would play this weekend against Kitchener and perhaps Oshawa. He is just going to have to continue to work hard and be patient. What else can you do. I think the Saginaw fans would love to see him play.

I sure hope that the promises aren't broken. I know there are many differant situations that can and do arise. I have seen Sunderman play in all three games and I would like to see him play in a lot more. He defintely seems to be a team player and certainly has an overwhelming presence when he's out on the ice. The games he has played, there weren't many cheap shots on our players. In the Windsor game he made some nice passes setting up a couple nice plays.

Listen, no one likes to be sitting out. But let's not talk about "broken promises". None of these guys get GUARANTEED anything, and if so, then they're either misinterpreting, or it would be happening on a lot of other teams.

I played a year of college sports. It was incredibly difficult and taxing mentally and physically, and had I not been playing that sport 5-6 days a week from the time I was 12, I wouldn't have had a prayer to be one of the last guys kept on the team. As it was, I lost a lot more than I won in that year of college, and decided I was totally burnt out on the game at 19. And I didn't have even a remote chance to make a living at it beyond teaching lessons, and that wasn't going to fulfill me creatively. I can't imagine what these guys go through in terms of burnout, wear and tear on mind and body, and overall fatigue....BUT....

I don't feel an ounce of "pity" for Sunderman. If he works hard in practice, he'll get his chance to play. It's his last year of junior hockey, and probably knows deep in his heart that he'd best have something else to fall back on. Doesn't sound like he had too many other options to play hockey this year, and he obviously cleared waivers from the WHL to come here. I've said before that Marc-Andre Rizk isn't an OHL-calibre player. Sitting for three weeks, mostly as a healthy scratch should denote that. Was he PROMISED a spot on this team? Was he PROMISED he'd never be waived or traded? Was he PROMISED a certain amount of ice time?

If Pfligler starts to badly outplay Brown (that's not likely to happen), is Pfligler the #1 goalie? Quite possibly. Was BROWN promised to keep the #1 goalie spot? In sickness and in health? Til death do us part?

Come on, these kids know the rules coming in. If they don't - they're partly to blame, along with the parents and the agents if they find themselves misled. These guys do something we'd all look up back on and wish we had the talent, the work ethic, and the wherewithal to do -- and it comes with a heavy price. So forgive me if I don't buy the legitimacy of the first post up top here.

Papista and Mantha have a responsibility to ice the best team possible. The twelve forwards they played Saturday night given them the best chance to win hockey games right now. Pretty simple. Hopefully Sunderman keeps working hard and will get his chance. Injuries/suspensions/fatigue will get him his chance to play.

i agree bill, if hes that unhappy, or if he fells that hes been lied to why doesnt he take it up with coaches or better yet earn it during practice. if he asked to be waived im sure they would do it, and maybe he could get picked up in qmjhl and continue to play competive hockey. I think in his short time here he may have already played more games then MA Rizk, and i dont hear Marc complaining, and i know i havent seen Marcs mother on here acting like Mrs. Lindros did when her son got drafted by the nords.

although i have never meet him im sure hes a good kid. So im not going to hold the above post against him, because i havent heard him crying about it. its probably a good thing he isnt going to be a great pro hockey player because you would probably screw up any kind of contract negotiation he would be having if you kept crying to the public and not to the people who make the decisions.

another thing ive been reading on here how badly we need scoring, but yet theres people posting that they want to play a guy who probably wont do much offensively, what do you guys want fights or goals? and i know someone will say both, will we dont have both and right know i think we need more goals.

wow strong words about Sunderman. Myself I think just concern from far away for a young athlete not playing? These young men are following their dreams and need to play to improve. Just my opinion of course.But I'm sure they all feel the same when sitting.

From what I can tell this is a great kid who is a total team player. He has not been complaining but understandably is frusterated with the situation. He has come a long way to try to help the Spirit and enjoy one last season of junior hockey. While he may not have been PROMISED there were indeed assurances made to him that he would not be in the situation that he is. As for having the players in the line up that can score goals, first of all I don't think Sunderman would be taking Platt or Suggs place in the line up and he will more than likely give the goal scorers some more space to roam. He adds a totally new demension to the team as when he has played nobody has taken liberties with our players. Also players that can drop the gloves but it is not really a big part of their game don't have to think about that aspect as much. And really let's be honest one win in the last 12(? I think) why not give him and MA a shot they have been total team players and have earned another kick at the can or if anyone disagrees with that that could probably name a player or two who have earned the right to ride the pine for a game or two, therefore allowing Sunderman and/or Rizk to play.