RoyalCitySlicker
Registered User
- Sep 6, 2013
- 2,123
- 848
Torgo, if games this year vs Guelph have been more spirited affairs, then I haven't noticed it enough for it to matter. And now since the Smith deal, his friendly interaction with his ex teammates has been a bit of a distraction to me. But I suppose it's tough to fault Smith seeing as how it's pretty much family for him over on the other side.
I'm not a fan of the bland, colourless type of hockey that comes from playing what should amount to a short and rivalryless (is that a word? Lol) series. But on the positive side, perhaps this is the best matchup. Maybe less hate and intensity equals less chance for injury and suspension.
In my opinion though, intense rivalry or hum drum uneventful series, it should be short and hopefully our guys get through it unscathed.
I just took a few minutes to go back over our season series versus Guelph. A pretty tame eight games if you ask me. The teams averaged 18 pims per game total.
Over the course of the entire eight games there was one fight (McHugh / Schnurr) and that was in the blowout game where the Rangers put up a 10 spot.
In a different game there was one double minor for spearing assessed to Cam Hillis and there was the phantom checking to the head call against Yantsis in another game. Neither of those calls resulted in any kind of push back or escalation - at least nothing that made it to the game sheet.
There was a grand total of four roughing penalties total between the two teams over the course of the eight games. Only one time did two guys go off for coincidental roughing minors. Certainly not what you'd expect from a couple teams that don't like each other.
There will be more of a rivalry / sideshow created between the referees and Ryan Merkley's whining and complaining all night.
I can't wait for the second round.
Geez, you must be a riot at parties lol.
Having just played each other twice, having a history of animosity (albeit from a few years ago), and having a couple of loose cannons on either side should make for a pretty good series, IMO. Playing eachother what will amount to 6-9 times over about 2 1/2 weeks should spark some bad blood, even in this vanilla league.
Plus, the fact that it's easy for fans to travel - especially Rangers fans - should up the emotional investment for fans at the arena as well.
I think Guelph drew the right opponent.....of the teams they could have played, I think they might be able to hang with the Rangers. Who knows though...I think it's going to be a fun ending (or maybe not?!?!) to an otherwise pretty disheartening and disappointing season.
Hoping for an exciting and long series, unless the Storm wins in 4 of course.