The Billings Bulls will host the first NorPac Showcase on January 7-9, 2010 in Billings, Montana. The NorPac Showcase will bring all 12 NorPac teams together for a round-robin tournament. There will be 18 games and several games will be "inter-league" games pitting Pacific Division teams against America West Division teams. Billings Bulls owner Doug Strong said, "We want to play these other teams from the other division and see where we match up." Who knows, this may end the argument of which NorPac Division is better - Pacific or America West.In addition to interleague play, the tournament is designed to "showcase" the players to higher level programs. It has been reported by the Billings Gazette that over 20 scouts representing colleges, NAHL and USHL will be there to observe the players and teams. Tentatively, an "all star" game will be played on Jan. 10 that will pit the best of Pacific against the best of the West.
While I'm sure this NorPac showcase will definitely be exciting, I'm not sure that I will attend this showcase since driving to Billings or anywhere in Montana in early January will most likely be "icy-dicey." Pity the poor boys, the CDA bus trip was almost 20 hours from Medford, this trip will be a marathon trip of 30-40 hours by bus.
In other news...
League schedules for the 2009-2010 season are tentatively scheduled to be released sometime in June.
The Tri-City Titans website said that Beau Walker was tendered to the NAHL Alaska Avalanche. And, the Yellowstone Quake's Dajon Mingo was tendered to the NAHL Springfield Blues. I do know that two Wranglers, were invited and will attend an NAHL Wenatchee Wild Tryout in Woodridge, IL. One Wrangler was invited to a USHL Souix City Musketeers tryout (although I heard he chose not to attend because of school & costs). I wish them the best of luck in their upcoming tryouts. Another Wrangler played in a BCHL tryout "all-star" game and was asked to join the organization.
Rumor also has it that a couple of California kids were tendered to the Wranglers. One is reported to be a 6'9" 275 lb. '91 forward from the LA Selects Hockey Club - U18 AAA. I watched this "kid" on YouTube and he is BIG. I saw him at Burnaby Globals and because of his size did turn some heads. I only briefly saw him play and so cannot offer any comment on his value to the Wranglers. If true that he signs with the Wranglers, I wish him the best of luck.
It was reported when the Wranglers played the CDA Lakers at the end of last season that the Lakers were going to go into a "hiatus" for a year or two. Not only was it because of the rink issues (heavy snow collapsing a portion of the CDA rink) but there are some financial issues too. I also heard that the CDA Laker organization was trying to find its identity - is NorPac right for them, or KIJHL, or another league, or were they going to relocate. As a result the current CDA Laker players were "drafted" by other NorPac teams. We'll see if any Lakers want to come to the Rogue Valley. A big "thank you" goes to the good anonymous commenter who filled us in on the draft news.
Finally, I heard by rumor that the Wrangler Open Camp is having a good registration. Over 40 players have registered for the camp. Hopefully the camp will produce a crop of good players that can turn the Wrangler loss record into a bunch of wins.
