We know what we read from Pointstreak etc. but could you give this 'Closet Blade fan' a bit of an insight into what we should be looking for in the Kingston Voyageurs lineup, thanks Ron
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O.K..so I'll go first, based on a half a dozen playoff games this season that I have seen involving the Blades of Oakville...
..they play a solid system, most apparent in game seven of the series againstt the Dukes.
..their blueliners, while not as a group offensively gifted, can all make the quick first pass out of their zone to get things rolling.
..they, with a couple of notable exceptions (Chris Muise and Lindsay Sparks being the most obvious) are physically big but do not play an overly physical game. Having said that there are no goons and they usually do not take silly retaliatory penalties. Sean Teakle is small in stature also, the only other player under six feet, but he plays bigger. However he does not get a lot of ice time.
..Matt Hache is a big target and will be a major factor..he doesn't bounce around a lot but he's nine times out of ten in the right position. If Hache cannot play the full series Adrian Volpe is a reliable back-up. He played solidly against the Raiders and in a couple of games against the Dukes.
..they can hurt you with scoring from unexpected sources (Kyle Badham has two game-winners from his four goals) and ten players have scored game winning markers.
..the speedy forwards of the Raiders and the Dukes were unable on a regular basis to exploit the Blades huge defenders (Hunt and Birch especially).
..there is no 'seventh man' in Oakville..the arena lacks character and has a few seats at ice level( an interrupted single row) and five or six elevated rows in front of the restaurant. The fan base is small and not very vociferous.
..with the balance they have it's hard for the opposition to key on certain players but Jeremy Welsh and Lindsay Sparks usually gets things going when they are on the ice though both have a tendency to hold on to the puck a shade too long.
..much has been written about Ryan Murphy but he can be a game breaker and he likes to get the opposition, players and fans alike, riled up.
..Luke Moodie was the leading scorer in the regular season but a nasty injury in game two against the Raiders from which he has only just returned seemed to reduce his effectiveness. I expect he will play a major role against Kingston.
Getting Tyler Leimbrock and Chris Muise from the Capitals gave the Blades their balance up front. Both were leaders for the Capitals. Leimbrock likes to use the body, Muise is slippery and has the 'smarts'.
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Oh I hear some jealousy here. Don't worry maybe one year you can be here to with Hamilton. Not only once but this is 2nd time in 2 years YES hear that. 4 times in 6 years WE ARE THE CHAMPS. Did you hear that...
GO BLADES GO!!!!!!!!!!!
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I just watched the Kingston/Huntsville series. Kingston is a very fast hockey team, good passing wide open type of hockey. Goaltending is just better than average. Most of Huntsvilles scoring came from outside. What I disliked about the team is their soccer mentality. They constantly dive trying to draw penalties. If you skate by and tap them on the ass they'll flop around the ice and hold thier heads. Must be a good acting school in Kingston because they fooled the refs many times.
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