Becanic and Pickard

First off... Calvin Pickard was named to the Team Canada U18 summer team that will join Louis Domingue from Moncton of the QMJHL as the two goaltenders on the team. This is an impressive accomplishment for Pickard and speaks volumes about the advanced skill level of the 17 year old. Pickard joins 6 other WHL players on the team.

Second... As you all know by now the Tbirds announced yesterday that former Silvertips Head Coach John Becanic has been named to the coaching staff.

I think this is an outstanding hire for the Tbirds. I think Becanic got a raw deal last year getting fired as the Coach of the Silvertips. From an outsider point of view, he appeared to do a really good job keeping a team that I thought lacked in talent and experience in the playoffs and in 3rd place in the tough US Division for much of the season.

I've been told that he is a wizard at breaking down game film and has an extremely good mind for special teams. In addition, he has an extremely good track record having been an assistant coach with Everett during their early successful seasons and helped the OHL's Soo Greyhounds to a Memorial Cup title in 1993 as an Assistant Coach. This is a complete and total net positive for the Tbirds.

On the other hand... I would be remiss if I didn't honestly say that I was hoping for a much more "significant" announcement. I think it is a great hire, a real positive for the organization but I would hardly call this a "significant" announcement.

That said... training camp is mere weeks away.