herc fan !!!!!!/sting fan 33 (Login pecarules) Registered Members
good change
April 11 2008, 12:37 PM
i am happy 2 see a name change in Trenton i think its going to be a good start 2 a new season and also helps us forget the very disappointing season and also get the air base involved is a great idea i think it will bring good 2 the new team hope 2 see a few new faces on the team aswell i think alot of people would like 2 see that. But 1 question i have and maybe a few others would be where was our so called mayor williams was. would have been nice to see him at the renaming of the community hockey team i think it just goes 2 show where are hockey team stands in our community.I can also see our team moving to the base an saying buy 2 the community garden the home of the (Trenton Sting) anyway i think it is good for them and i cant wait 2 see them out on the ice. as for me i will come back and do my duties as a fan and be there every game and help out in anyway i can.
If the "Hercs" think changing their name is going to get them all this military attendance then they are dreaming.
Moving to the base would be a huge mistake for them. If something happens and the arena is needed for a tactical reason or for some military function, the "hercs" would be out on their butt..
I do not have a problem with them naming the team after something military but hercs? very few people outside of Trenton know what a herc is. The obvious name would have been the flyers, after the RCAF Flyers. that would have tied in the military, and the hockey history here in Trenton.
This sounds like a panic move to try to get all these military people to come to the games. Wooing the military to come to watch Junior A games has been tried before and has failed, what makes people think it will be any different?
But a winning team on the ice and everyone will come, including the military...
...."very few people outside Trenton know what Herc's are"????
Are you kidding me?? Just because we don't reside in Trenton, near an air base, does not make the rest of us idiots. Besides that......the logo should let people that don't know, figure it out pretty fast. Personally I love the new name and logo. Just my 2 cents worth!
I wonder how many times our friend Mr. Meeks from the Trentonian voted on this poll, I would bet several times ... He was not at the press conference because I hear he was not invited. Can't blame anyone on that call after his clear lack of support of the team last year (and yes this is coming from a local resident). People need to see the logo and know the message behind the new name to be able to vote fairly. From what I see on the hockey forum the numbers of positives on the new name clearly outnumber the negatives ...
This type of logo i've seen on the wall of a military hanger, to promote military spree-da-core ( sorry spelling). I bet that there are many military hockey teams that used the CC130 Hercules logo as part of their hard working UNIT identification. IN MY OPINION, Being in the military, flying on the CC130 aircraft, playing and having won Regional and National military Hockey championships, this type of affiliation can have a two fold out come: A)YES, this may fix your team financial problems by trying to affiliate with the military crowd instead of the community at whole (the Trenton Sting/QW Pack were a Community Identification on it's own for those who lived in the region both civilian and military) and B) If any future administrative/public mis-fortunes that MAY be out team control, could some how reflect on the military with the team trying to represent the military's affiliation.
Bottom Line: If you want to try to identify with MILITARY HERITAGE, then don't bump your head on that big Famous Military Flying Demonstration Team GOLDEN HAWKS aircraft on your way out of the ARENA.
AGAIN THIS IS MY OPINION and opinion's are like *******'s, everybody has one!!
Volunteer 2007 (Login Volunteer2007) Registered Members
Herc Fan/Sting Fan 33
April 12 2008, 4:49 PM
Hey there,
"...as for me i will come back and do my duties as a fan and be there every game and help out in anyway i can."
First off thanks for the positive comments! We can't wait for the new season t start with fans like you.
Also if you want to volunteer send an email to info@hercshockey.ca and we will let you know what is happening!
Personally, I think the new name is average at best and the logo looks like a high school kid designed it but that's neither here nor there.
All I care about is winning and I only attended two games last season (prior to the off ice issues happening) and after seeing the less than impressive hockey, I decided to stay away and save my money because I knew the team would finish out of the playoffs. I just couldn't stand to watch a team I supported for years being run into the ground. It became quite obvious that the new ownership may have underestimated what it takes to run a competitive Junior A franchise. It's a learning process I suppose when you're new to the game in that capacity.
I also can't justify paying the increased price of admission to watch the most uninspired hockey I've seen in years. I'll be the first to admit that the Trenton Sting hadn't iced a competitive team since 2003 but it was still better to watch than the Pack debacle.
I don't blame the kids playing. They certainly seemed to be trying (most of them) but they didn't have the skills or perhaps the proper coaching. They did their best but sadly it wasn't enough to keep me coming back.
No, I don't give a damn about any new team name or logo. All this former fan cares about is wins and until this team goes out and ices a stronger more competitive squad, I'll continue to stay away. Sure taking Trenton out of the team name last season didn't help matters but one thing Trenton residents know (and Trenton owners would have known) the community supports a winner. Always have, always will.
You are correct Knuckles in saying this community only supports a winning team. It is called a band wagon town, like many others. If you are complaining about the extra 25 cents, give me a break. Over the past 13 months a Tim Horton's coffee has went up 21 cents. Do you continue to purchase? That is just an excuse.
As for you comments on the player's performance on the ice and comparing them to the previous seasons of the Sting. The Sting should have never made the playoff's in their final season. You know that as well as I do. They still would haven even with Bancroft being out as well as Oswego and the number of teams getting into the playoff's was changed like last season. As well, the shoot out was added this year taking away any points for a tie.
The Sting finished the year with 40 points and just 17 wins, the pack finished with 36 and only 17 wins. Pretty damn close if you ask me. Did the Sting try to trade and pick up help along the way? Not that I recall, did the Pack, yes. They made a few trades got rid of some problem players as well.
I am not saying mistakes don't happen. Hell maybe the new owners didn't realize a whole 100% how much it really cost. But maybe they were approached about buying the team, even so if somebody hadn't. How long would that team have been alive? Would Trenton even have a JR "A" team to watch on a friday night.
You say you do not like the new name or logo, but what about the charity work the team is doing this year? What are your comments on that?
........All this former fan cares about is wins and until this team goes out and ices a stronger more competitive squad, I'll continue to stay away.....
You know Knuckles you are a joke!!! You make no sense... You want a better team but you won't pay to see a game to help raise the money it takes to buy players!!! You are a former fan ... so why don't you stay that way ... there are others who certainly WILL continue to support this team. The kids need fans in the stands cheering them on to give them the confidence to win. As for the logo ... I am sorry that you think so little of the Military symbol and the C130 or the concept behind it.
Well said Sequoia99. You to Cash8132!
As a fan of the Bancroft Hawks, I know a little about what ownership can do to a team. At least the Hercs owners are making an effort to make what they feel, as I do, is an improvement.
As for the new logo and name - great choice. Makes a lot of sense to use 'Trenton' in the name too. Over all, a good job.
I know that wexdog and thanks for pointing it out. I was just saying that it happened more that were just ties with each getting a point. In the shootout, one team gets the extra point. That point could and does make or break you getting into the playoff's. In a tie, you both get one point. That is it. no other chances at the extra point.
Well, apparently I'm only entitled to my opinion provided it isn't negative or in any way upsetting to the Pack/Hercs supporters or obviously those who are very close to the team. I respect your involvement in the team and commend you for your efforts. I'm also guessing you don't have to pay to get in to the games so why should the cost of admission bother you. By the way, I don't drink coffee so I don't care how much Tim Horton's raises their prices.
But that's OK...if the team does magically turn around in the next 5 seasons, I can easily stay away and continue to save my money since you don't want me there anyway. What do I care? The Belleville Bulls are 15 minutes down the road. It may cost a bit more to watch the games but I know I'm at least going to see some skilled and inspired hockey. So if I really need to watch some live hockey, I'll just go there...or Wellington for that matter. Ten years of attending almost every home game for the Sting was money well. I didn't mind saving some cash for a change this past season...especially when the decision to stay away was so easy.
By the way Stinger, I don't think I was comparing the Pack team to the last Sting team but I'll re-read my post just to be sure. I'm not sure what that argument is all about. But I will agree that final Sting team was not impressive in the least. I do know for a fact that they did try to make deals prior to the playoffs and according to one former staff member, the deals were done but the players had the final say and if they don't want to go, you can't force them. By the way, making trades just for the sake of looking like you're trying to improve things isn't the same as acquiring quality players who can make a difference.
As far as their charity work...kudos to them for that. The old management was also generous and involved in the community but in the end, most people aren't going to go watch a game because they're helping the community. Some might...but I go to watch hockey to be entertained and hopefully to see the local team win. In my case, I definitely wasn't entertained and they looked really bad losing.
Finally, the team complains about low attendance but according to the league attendance figures (I can't vouch for their accuracy) the Pack were fifth in total attendance out of 35 teams with 8,805 for the regular season. I'd say that's pretty good considering all the off ice issues they had to deal with. How do the other teams survive? I'm guessing they have owners with deep pockets who can make up the difference. Perhaps the Pack owners should have thought about that ahead of time. Oh and in the Sting's final season they drew 9,504 fans so that's only a difference of 699 fans. Not a big difference is it.
Hey there Sequoia. A friend told me about your comments, otherwise I would have been unaware. But I'd like to know where you heard I wasn't invited to the Trenton Hercs' press conference last Thursday?
In fact, Lianne Durant, the Hercs' public relations person, sent me an invitation, but since Thursdays are a production day at the paper, and I am the managing editor, I was needed at the paper and instead sent my two other staff members to the press conference.
As for my so-called lack of support for the team, how do you figure? The Pack received weekly coverage which always included a story and photos. In fact, The Trentonian is the ONLY Quinte area publication that covers Trenton's Jr. A franchise on a weekly basis. There is no such thing as bad publicity. And as far as I can tell, when the Pack played well, I wrote they played well, and when they stunk, I wrote they stunk. It doesn't get any fairer than that.
And since when is it the job of a newspaper to be a team's cheerleader?
Just like every other Trenton team before I'm quite willing to promote any function or fundraising effort they want to run, but I'm not a mind reader and can only do so if the information is provided to me. If the team chooses not to send me anything that's their fault, not mine.
Look, Sting management wouldn't have pissed on me if I was on fire, but I didn't lose any sleep over it. We didn't agree on a lot of things, big deal.
This past season, Pack coach Jason Supryka was quite amicable with me, and was always willing to give me a quote. Unfortunately, with my other duties, and a lack of staff, I could't always give the team the attention it deserved, but did my best with what we had to work with.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I just wish you'd get your facts straight before you start casting stones.
And by the way, I didn't cast a single vote. But I do agree Hercs is far better than Pack.
Tim I heard that you were asked to leave and not cover the Sting by two different people on two different occasions. I assume that is why Mike Fraser began to cover but maybe I am wrong. However, I have been able to chat with you as well and you showed some anger for the previous teams in Trenton.
It is true you gotta play good to get good reviews it doesn't take a brain to figure that out. But you on the other hand don't always see it that way.
as for being short staffed at the paper, then hire some more help. I have emailed you with critism and you emailed me back with a comment, "your a jerk." That is not a reply I expect from a guy that claims he is always fair.
luvthehercs (Login luvthesting) Registered Members
trentonian
April 15 2008, 8:19 AM
just let me say i have lived my whole life 51 years in trenton
I remeber when Tim meeks covered the sting and at the midpoint of the season did a two to four page review of the team, coach and each player
I did not always agree with him but there was something in almost every edition of the trentonian on the team during the season
most editions last year had something on the team when they were playing
so to say they do not support the team is not accurate
remember the paper went from 3 days a week to 2 days a week, would this be because too many people in trenton were buying it ?
Spend your money were you want but in five years when the team and paper are in the same position as the trenton radio station then everyone will be happy.
I will return in the fall but will not hang around if the lack of effort is still there.
Stinger, heresay is just that, unsubstantiated rumour. I mean really isn't that 95% of this forum. As for my six-year hiatus from covering the Sting, that was my choice. I was asked by my publisher who I wanted to cover and I chose the Dukes and we hired Miker Fraser as a part-time freelancer to cover the Sting. The relationship had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer fun and it was counter-productive because there was zero co-operation from management. They hated me for calling it as I see it, and I didn't trust them because of the himmin and haain in their measured responses, when there was any.
I'll give you an example. During the 1995/96 season, Sting sophomore centre Corey Ignas left the team for about six weeks in early November (may have been late October). I was told by Jon Gibbons that his grandfather had passed away and he was needed at home. So, naturally to explain the departure of such a valuable player (arguably the best two-way centre the Sting ever had) I wrote what I was told. A couple of weeks later I'm watching a game in Kingston and this older gentleman taps me on the shoulder and asks, 'do I look dead to you?' Corey's grandfather proceeded to explain that Corey's father's new home had been broken into and since his shift had changed at work and he had a 12-year old daughter at home, Corey was needed to look after things at home. It was a personal situation so I left it at that.
I maybe over the top sometimes (it's good for effect, and sells newspapers), but I'm not unreasonable. In fact, over the years I have been privy to a lot of information that never saw the light of day. Off the record is off the record. At the same time if it's significant enough, there's nothing wrong with looking for the information elsewhere.
I think much of the problem I had with team management was the fact I had access to so much inside information when they liked the cloak of secrecy approach.
I chose to cover the Dukes because since 1988 when I first started driving to Wellington for Jr. C games, I have always greeted with smiles and handshakes and have been treated with respect. I receive that respect despite the fact my articles haven't always sunshine and roses. They get it, Sting management never did.
As for hiring more staff, you obviously don't work for a corporation. I don't own the paper, I just work there. And things got worse when Mike Fraser left the area for a new job and they didn't replace him. That leaves me with covering everything along with being the managing editor and head dishwasher, etc. There are only so many hours in a day, that's why I require co-operation from teams. If they want to put butts in the seats they have to make an effort by tearing off the cloak of secrecy and providing some information.
As for my jerk comment, I don't even recall your email, but it must have been snarky, because I'll discuss anything with anyone. But if the conversation starts with insults based on misinformation I don't have the time for it.
As for being a Dukes fan. I'm a fan and student of the game, period. I've watched 400 games a year for 25 years, everything from tyke to the NHL, it doesn't matter, I love it. Hockey is life, give me a call sometime and we'll talk about it.
