WHL MAG 1

Interview with New GM Aaron Banks

NAME: Aaron Banks
AGE: 38
Lives : Asheville, North Carolina
Favourite NHL Team : Calgary Flames
Favourite Player Historical : Lanny McDonald
Favourite Player Current : Jarome Iginla

Q : How did you become a fan?

A : Moved to Kentucky when I was 14 and got ESPN in my room. They played the
Oilers seemingly every night which meant I got to see many instances of the
Battle of Alberta. Fell in love with the sport and the Flames.

Q : What about the Flames made you like them? Cause most people cheer for the
better teams and the Flames at that point were clear underdogs to the Oilers.

A : Well, I'm a Cubs fan. I tend toward the underdog. But, I particularly
liked the style of play. They felt more like a team vs. a collection of stars.

Q : In Canada we tend to be very protective and narrow when thinking about
hockey, we get bristlely when comments from the media like "if we want
Americans to like hockey we have to remove fighting". I have always wondered
how the average American fan really feels.

A : Just part of the game. In fact, the instigator and third man in rules seem
to have made the violence in the game worse since the stick-work is so
egregious now.

Q : Do you think the game needs to make any changes to draw more American
fans, if so what changes?

A : It has more fans when it was actually on a channel we got here. Getting
back on ESPN would go a long way. Other than that, it mostly needs grassroots
work to give more kids a chance to play. Best way to get life-long fans.

Q : You live in the land of Nascar and Monster Trucks, so I am curious do you
know other hockey fans locally?

A : Not a one. But I don't actually know many folks here. Have only been here
a year. There have been two minor league teams here which drew reasonably well
for low minor US teams.

Q : How did you get involved in the WHL?

A : One of the other owners in my baseball sim dragooned me into it.

Q : The Dynamite are stuggling mighty this year, but you have got some
talented youngsters on your team, how do you see the teams development coming
along.

A : Our forwards are developing nicely. Anderson and Rinne show some promise
in net, although Ward may still be the future there. They key to the growth of
the team will be drafting and developing some blue-liners to work behind the
young forwards, especially given the number of D-men in our top six that are
at or near retirement.

Q : So if you got the first pick overall would you be looking at Viktor Hedman
and passing over John Tavares?

A : That would be a tough call and one I"m not sure I can make at this point.
It would also depend on how badly someone else wants to draft John Tavares.

Q : So with you having what is likely a high first round pick and then a
supplemental first for taking over a new franchise, do you foresee making a
big splash at the draft?

A : If there's any way we can, absolutely. The Dynamite are in desperate need
of a talent infusion. I love drafts, so I'd prefer to handle it that way, but
it's questionable whether one can build solely through the of unproven
players. Some combination of moving draft picks for veterans and draft
acquisitions will be needed.

Q : Anything you want the league to know about you or your team?

A : Be gentle. I'm new to the sim and didn't have an opportunity to play this
great game growing up.

Thank you for your time Aaron and I think that I speak for the whole league
when I say it is nice to have an active gm who cares about his team and is
willing to put in bit of time to make it and the league better.

WEB HOCKEY LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONAL YOUNG GUN REPORT, PART 1

This is the first of my four part series on WHL young guns. Over the four part
series we will examine all 24 clubs young guns. In order to qualify for the
list the player must be considered a rookie by WHL standards so some very
interesting names will appear on each teams list. Each club will have it's top
10 young guns listed and a write up will be included about each club. The
first series I will examine 6 teams (Citadelles, Corinthians, Cougars, Demons,
Hoodrats and Sparrows). The top 10 lists for these 6 clubs were compiled on
rosters as of January 19th 2009.

Halifax Citadelles TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS

Cody Hodgson
Alex Pietrangelo
Colin Wilson
Jordan Eberle
Claude Giroux
Leland Irving
Sergei Kostitsyn
Zach Boychuk
Colten Teubert
Joe Colbourne

The Citadelles have quite possible the very best collection of young guys in
the game today. Loaded up front they could use a little work in goal. Irving
is a very good prospect between the pipes but there is nothing after him. The
Citadelles might argue they have Kari Lehtonen who is extremely young already
playing full time, but the fact is he has injury problems and if they keep up
he won't get any better then he is right now. On defense the pro club is
loaded with young guys. Waiting in the wings are Alex Pietrangelo and Colten
Teubert. Pietrangelo is considered by many to be a future franchise type dman,
while Teubert will one day be a good top 4 shut down type. Up front Hodgson,
Wilson, Eberle, Giroux, Kostitsyn, Boychuk and Colbourne will make any team in
the league jealous. That is an embarrassment of riches. There is a ton of
skill and leadership amongst this group. To add to this the club three first
round picks in the next draft, so the talent will only get better. One day
these guys will raise a cyber cup together. The only problem I have with this
organization is for years they have had one of the better systems, they just
can't seem to put it together. Eventually the perpetual rebuild will have to
end though.

Quebec City Corinthians TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS

Thomas Hickey
David Perron
David Fischer
Chris Kelly
Ryan O'Byrne
David Backes
Christoph Shubert
Josh Gorges
Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman
Patrick Thoresen

For the Corinthians success has been expected. The club has been mostly a
veteran club for as long as I can remember. Management never really makes big
changes this organization is as steady as they come. A little tinker hear and
a little tinker there. They are always near the top. The prospect pool here
isn't very deep. They have some good names at the top but it drops off fairly
quickly. Between the pipes there is nobody, on the pro roster there is Pascal
Leclaire but I'm not sold. Up front David Perron is tops, while he will be a
good scorer one day I don't see him as a elite player down the road. After him
there are a couple older guys in Kelly and Backes neither guy will ever be a
big time player but both can be very useful players. The strength of this
system is on the back end. Hickey and Fischer are going to be good top 4 guys,
they even have the potential to be top pairing types. Behind them O'Byrne,
Schubert and Georges provide the club with some good depth. All three of these
guys will one day play in WHL and provide the club with solid efforts night in
a night out. Draft picks wise the Corinthians still have all 5 of their picks
in the upcoming draft. If I was them I would hold onto them and get some more
high end young talent into this system. However they are a contender and may
move them in hopes of adding another piece for a Cyber Cup run.

Detroit Cougars TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS

Jonathan Toews
Johan Franzen
Mikael Backlund
Peter Mueller
Tobias Enstrom
Alex Edler
Johnny Oduya
Ryan Callahan
Loui Eriksson
Erik Karlsson

In the offseason this organization decided to try and take the next step.
Management decided to try and move some of it's young talent for more
established veterans in an attempt to make a run into the playoffs this year.
Even with the moves this organizations kept intact a fairly strong stable of
young talent. This system overall has older talent it is still pretty strong.
In net there is nothing to talk about and on the pro club they don't really
have a young guy to build around either. Up front Toews is a future star,
Franzen is older but he looks like he'll be a perennial 30 goal scorer.
Backlund has a lot of upside and is surely a favorite of the Swedish ownership
group. Mueller is a guy with all kinds of skill and upside, I'm just not sold
on him ever reaching his potential. He will still end up as a good player int
he league just not the star many predict for him. Callahan and Eriksson are
both going to be useful players up front that bring a little scoring touch. On
the blue line Enstrom is ready for prime time along with Edler. Both of these
guy project as solid top 4 dmen that can carry the puck. Oduya is also ready
for the show he is more of a stay at home type but should get solid minutes in
the near future. Karlsson has a lot of upside and should be brought along
slowly. The club has a 2nd and a couple of 3rd rounders in the upcoming draft
and would be wise to use them on young talent.

New York Demons TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS

Mike Green
Jiri Hudler
Sam Gagner
Luke Schenn
Kris Letang
Alexandre Burrows
Brian Lee
Teddy Purcell
Brandon Sutter
Steve Downie

The Demons have one of the better systems in the league. A solid mix of
players up front and on the back end. They don't have a up and coming goalie
but the organization really believes in Rick DiPietro. On the blue line Mike
Green is the top guy and might be the top young guy league wide at the
position. Luke Schenn is going to be a franchise type shut down dman in the
Adam Foote mold. This kid could play top 4 minutes as early as next season.
Kris Letang has a high upside and likely will be a top 4 guy in the future for
this club. Lee has some talent although I'm personally not a fan he will
probably carve out a nice career when it's all said and done. Up front they
are lead by Jiri Hudler a future top line player. Gagner while he has had his
struggles I really think this guy will be a very good 2nd line player down the
road for the Demons. He has the upside to be as good as Marc Savard. Alex
Burrows is ready now to be a solid 3rd line type guys, good speed and he will
put the odd goal here and there. Purcell, Sutter and Downie are all attractive
pieces to varying degrees but they all have the chance to be very effective
players in the future. The Demons have all of their picks plus an extra 3rd in
the upcoming draft. They should just keep taking the best player available. As
so far it's worked out very well for them.

Harlem Hoodrats TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS

Mark Mitera
Andrew Alberts
Mark Cullen
Martin Lojek
Shay Stephenson
Greg Zanon
Blair Jones
Mike Card
Colin Fraser
Nathan Paetsch

This is an organization that has been left for dead by just about every owner
that they have ever had. The pro club is in shambles the system is even worse.
They don't really have a goalie worth mentioning at all in their organization.
Up front there is nothing. The blue line isn't much better, the only players
worth bringing up are Mark Mitera and Andrew Alberts. Mitera is a stay at home
type of dman and while he is a fairly solid he is by no stretch of the
imagination elite. He will likely have a solid career playing on the clubs top
6 down the road. Alberts is another player who is very similar to Mitera.
Older then Mitera he is ready to step in soon. His upside is a 5th or 6th dman
that will have a decent career. Draft pick wise the Hoodrats have a 2nd and
3rd along with a bunch of later round picks. If I was the management team here
I'd be trying to unload anybody on my pro team that could get picks or
prospects. The pro team isn't going anywhere and if they decide not to stock
up on picks and young spects the future is a black hole.

Chicoutimi Sparrows TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS

Guillaume Latendresse
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Antoine Vermette
Torrey Mitchell
Alex Bourret
Gregory Stewart
Andrew Murray
Tim Brent
Ben Guite
Junior Lessard

In Chicoutimi Michael Hebert is running somewhat of a cult. If your not a
French Canadian you really aren't welcome. The system isn't that good and
unless Hebert changes his ways it's not going to get better. The truth is
there just isn't enough very good French Canadian players anymore for the
Sparrows to build an organization based solely on them. There is no
goaltending to speak of for this organization. On the blue line Marc-Edouard
Vlasic is really the only guy worth bringing up. He has a very bright future
ahead of him on the clubs top 4, however he probably should be playing now. Up
front it's more the same Latendresse and Vermette are the top two guys. Both
should be playing now and after that there isn't anything else in the
pipeline. Vermette at one point looked like he'd be a very useful 2nd line
player but now I have my doubts. Vermette looks more like a 3rd liner who can
provide the occasional goal. Latendresse looks to have the same type of
abilities but I'd put more stock in Guillaume ending up as the better player
down the line. Draft picks they have one first rounder in the upcoming draft.
They need to hold on to it and take the best player available even if he's not
French.

Interview with the Commissioner

Jim Romes Hot Seat

This issue of the hot seat we sit down commissioner of the WHL and owner of
the Sparrows Michael Hebert.

Q: Michael, we are a year or two removed from what many of the veteran GMs
would consider the dark ages of the WHL. While things have improved as far as
participation, do you think that it can get better? If so do you have any
ideas on what to do so that the league will be more interactive?

A: It can always be better. We have new blood in the league and it's time to
get those guys involved. It's actually weird how some of the older guys are
now just cruising along not doing much, and just letting their franchise
evolve by itself. Maybe staying in the league just cause they've been in it
for so long... I dunno. I guess it's different now too cause we (the older
guys) used to be in school and/or at least bachelors and so we had a lot more
free time. Now that our lives have changed it's different. But there's always
a new generation of younger guys that we need to get involved and doing more
to make the league fun and exciting.

It's good to see Al Stricken writing again. I also welcome the initiatives
that guys like Jon, Larry and Tyler have started again; getting some
interviews and articles out.

I know the last year it has been tough maintaining interest with the scarcity
of games and whatnot, but hey we're all lucky the league hasn't folded even
so... But it looks like we're getting into a routine again now so hopefully
things will be more steady and interesting.

Q: Okay commissioner let's be honest nobody really wants to hear from
Stricken. Over the couple of years we have had a lot of new blood enter the
league, what do you think has separated some from being successful like Adam
or others that have not or just sold the franchise?

A: I believe it always comes down to participation. If one tries hard enough
(and knows something about hockey, obviously), in time they will be able to
rebuild and turn things around. You just got to be smart about it, manage your
assets properly and grow them using all the tools that are available (trades,
waivers, free agents, draft picks, etc.)

Q: You mentioned earlier the possibility of the league folding in the past,
what do you mean exactly? How close was this to happening and what are the
reasons behind it? Is this still a very real possibility?

A: It was never that seriously considered, but there are some times when
things are just too busy, or the guys just don't seem to care, that bring up
that little doubt in my mind. Can I imagine a life without the WHL?

Q: Well lets's hoep that you can't picture a life without the WHL. So with
the economy suffering, the league has had problems finding owners and viable
markets for franchises. What steps do you have in place currently to try and
find new owners and markets for the WHL to expand to? There is currently one
vacant franchise which can't be good for the league.

A: I'm not sure why it has become so difficult to find GMs. I mean the
interest in hockey is there. Maybe guys are intimidated by our experienced
group of GMs or something. I'm sure we will have a full league again in no time.

Q: Are there any potential candidates out there willing to throw their money
at the vacant Mississauga Franchise? If not how do you expect to find somebody
given the tough times financially?

A: There hasn't been any interest so far, but I know it'll come. Once the
word gets out there that there is a franchise in the WHL available, I'm sure
someone will jump at the opportunity. It's not every day one gets the chance
to own and manage a professional hockey team in the best league on the planet.

Q: As owner of the Sparrows many feel that you have ruled that club with some
what of an iron fist. Only accepting French Canadian players into the room.
How do you respond to these accusations?

A: Well we do have a high standard for who we will allow to play for our
team, and it's no secret what our preferences are. But there are lots of
exceptions. Last summer we went out and acquired guys like Josef Vasicek and
Martin Straka with the plans that they would be an integral part of making the
team competitive this year. We unfortunately cannot rely 100% on French
Canadian blood. We also have Jaroslav Modry and Andy Sutton who are an
integral part of our defensive corps this year. And recently when Ben Guite
and Gregory Stewart showed marked improvement in the farm there was no
hesitation that they could be brought up and used to help us win some games.
So I'm not sure what accusations are out there, but they are unfounded.

Q: Unfounded accusations? 30 out of 56 players in your organization have some
sort of French Canadian background. That is almost 60% you can't say that it's
completely unfounded. Do you think that maybe for players not coming from that
French background that it's hard to fit in or feel wanted?

A: So what's the accusation... that we prefer French Canadian players? That's
not an accusation, that's a fact. We are trying to ice the most competitive
team we can, using as much players from La Belle Province as we can. We feel
this adds a sense of pride and belonging in our players, that the other teams
don't have. It hasn't translated into a Cyber Cup yet, but one day...

Q: Okay well I'll have to say I think your limiting your teams potential, by
what appears to be sticking with strictly French players. Anyways moving on
what would be your best hockey memory growing up?

A: Playing hockey on the street when I was 9-10 years old. You just have no
worries, nothing else exists... every kid should have the chance to experience
something like that.

Q: Okay Mike it's time for rapid fire. I'll give you a question and you give
me a one word answer. The topic of a PR initiative has been brought up before
and discussed. Many owners don't like the idea and shot it down right away.
Recently out of Las Vegas a reporter brought it up again. Is this something
that will ever happen?

A: Unlikely.

Q: Who do you think will win the cyber cup this year?

A: Dropkicks. hahahahahahahahahahaha. Seriously, the Saints.

Q: Crosby or Ovechkin?

A: Crosby. (Those Russian guys never last. In 10 years, he'll be scoring
15-20 goals, or be retired due to injuries. Sure, Bure and Mogilny in their
prime were awesome, but those guys don't have the longevity.)

Q: Who was the better hockey player you or your brother Marc?

A: Me, faster.

Q: Favorite player of all time?

A: Mats Naslund?

Q: Okay one last question. This one comes from somebody who would like to
remain anonymous. Why do you play kiddie games on the xbox 360 to pad your
gamer score?

A: That sounds like a loser talking...

Thank you Michael for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit down
with me today and answer some questions about the league and your own
franchise. For all the readers out there look forward to the next edition of
the hot seat with myself Jim Rome in the next edition of the magazine. For any
owners that are interested in answering some questions on the league and your
own franchise contact me at icedogs@sympatico.ca or if you have anybody you'r
like to see on the hot seat give me your suggestions and we'll do what we can
to get answers from them.

Power Rankings

1. Dropkicks : After years of underachieving we are all skeptical of the
Dropkicks till we see how they do in the post season. I think this is the year.

2. Dugouts : Has there ever been a team as surprising as the Dugouts? In a
division with the Kicks, Express and Irish they are tied at the top.

3. Corinthians : You want a one word descriptor of the
Corinthians......Consistency.....well that and Old.

4. Bulls : Some uncharacteristic losses to poor teams but they still only have
5 losses. The offensive is still great and young.

5. Saints : Seems like only a matter of a few games before the retooled Saints
capture first in their division. They have excellent personnel and have been
well coached for a few years.

6. IceDogs : They have the fewest losses in the league with 4. They don't have
as dominating lineup as they had last year, but they do have chemistry and
seem to play for each other.

7. Cougars : This is a team that seemed to forever be in the middle of the
pack. But with some keen offseason moves they have put themselves in the top
of the second tier of teams.

8. Voodoo : Start off strong have struggle somewhat in the last week, but they
are the Voodoo and will get themselves on track soon.

9. Fighting Irish : Surprised with all the talk of rebuilding that the Irish
are this high but they have a good goals for to goals against ratio which
differentiate them from similar teams.

10. Demons : Slow start to the season for a team that should have been at the
top of the second tier of teams. The Demons have come on in the last bit and
should soon hold down 3 in their division.

11. Citadelles : Solid team not as effected by the Phaneuf and Boyle trades as
I thought they would be. But that goals for and against is ugly and make their
record look like smoke and mirrors.

12. Timberjacks : This is a team with no GM and it shows, they are better than
this but we won't see how much better until they get some management and some
direction.

13. Sparrows : How this team stays middle of the pack is beyond me, especially
when their gm and owner play kiddie games to boost their gamerscore on xbox live.

14. Cats : Team is trying to rebuild, and has some nice prospects that are a
season away, but inconsistency will be their problem this season. You have to
think that the rebuild will eventually involve Luongo but that hasn't happened
yet.

15. Lunatics : Team I would have expected to be a little higher. We would
expect them to turn the season around and finish in the top 10.

16. Stallions : Here is another surprise team but not in a good way. One of
the two biggest disappointments in the league to this point. This is a
perennial good team, but god they have been hit by injuries like crazy so they
should improve.

17. Hoodrats : These guys are right where i expect them too be. They have a
terrible roster and not much on the farm either so this gm has his work cut
out for him. They have been consistent this year but not in a good way.

18. Express : Any who thought the Express would be in the bottom 3rd of the
league at the start of the season put up your hand.....no one.....me neither.

19. Maniax : Probably the best of the really horrific team. I don't know that
we will see much out of these guys this season but with new management i am
optimistic that they care.

20. Rink Rats : Another surprisingly poor performance. I don't really know
what to say. I wish Tyler had kept his first rounder because it would have
helped a great deal. They have made some modest progress in the last couple games.

21. Dynamite : Terrible team this year but with Phil Kessel, Patrick Berglund
and Mike Del Zotto the future looks good. They know the score when they took
the team over but we should seem some good improvement in this team in the
next season or so.

22. Vipers : Another team without a gm. Previous management didn't have much
luck with these losers, the next gm unfortunately won't either since they have
no first rounder.

23. Orcas : This team should be better much better, i would have thought they
would have seen some massive improvement with the great youngsters they
have......alas it hasn't come to fruition.

24. Meltdown : 1-9 in the last 10 means you deserve this spot but they have
been decently defensively now if they could only score some goals.

Table of Contents:

1. Interview with Aaron Banks of the Dynamite

2. Young Guns Report

3. Interview wit the commish

4. Power Rankings