Qs PART II: Tavares…Blake…Komisarek…
press coverage…DiBo…prospects…needs
8:30 pm - Continuing with your questions. Let’s make the deadline for your submissions midnight EST tonight. The deadline for my answers will be by the end of the weekend. If I don’t get to yours, I either don’t have an answer, am not in position to provide a good answer, answered it elsewhere, written extensively about the subject on the blog or – my apologies – missed it.
Tony asks whether it’s in the best interest of the Islanders to win every game they can or play lots of kids and finish at the bottom of the league.
A: The answers are not mutually exclusive. Playing kids doesn’t necessarily mean finishing at the bottom. It’s in the best interests of the team for the coaching staff and players to do their best to win every game they can. It’s in the best interests of the team for management to do what’s best for what I’m sure is the franchise’s long-term goal of winning a championship. All that said, I cannot lie: more than anything, this franchise needs a franchise skater.
Dominik asks about Jason Blake and whether Jason knew what he was getting into when he signed up for the hockey hotbed in Toronto.
A: Jason did what most people do: he went to the company that offered him the most money. I will admit that when Jason said at his introductory press conference that it was wonderful to be going to a place where hockey really mattered, I thought “Oh, brother. Here we go.”
Strummer asks if the Islanders are faced with drafting either Tavares or Hedman next June, how much would a new arena and ticket sales have to do with their decision.
A: I would hope it would have nothing to do with it. If my team was faced with a franchise-altering decision like that, I’d stop rooting for them if they based it on anything except who was the best player.
And besides all that, I’m having a hard time understanding the notion that Tavares – now No. 3 on some teams’ lists – is somehow a bigger gate attraction than everyone else. Did I miss some stories lately quoting real NHL scouts comparing him to Crosby or Gretzky? Maybe he goes No. 1. Maybe he turns out to be great. I would just hope the team takes the kid they feel is the better hockey player.
MT asks who rooms together on the road and who has a solo room?
A: Sorry MT, might have been able to answer that better last year. Not with the NYI anymore. Around the NHL, goalies usually have the option of having their own room – especially if the coach has already tabbed them the next night’s starter. Some veterans insist on having their own rooms in contract talks. I know of one player who got away with having his own room for a decade by perpetrating a scam that he was the world’s worst snorer. True story.
mtrico asks if there can be a Point Blank Night in Manhattan.
A: It’s my favorite city, so I’m all for it. You set up the place – need room at the bar for 100, the Islanders game on TV and some free snacks – and we’ll make it happen.
Tony asks if there’s any chance of the Islanders going back to wearing their white jerseys at home game.
A: That was and is a league decision. If we have time, I will ask Gary Bettman about it when – plug alert – he’s on “NY Hockey This Week” with Don La Greca and yours truly on Saturday at 5:30 pm.
Derek wants to know the “issues with Tamby” and whether the Islanders will try to sign LIer Mike Komisarek.
A: I don’t think there are any deep issues with Jeff that the average follower doesn’t know. He’s a good kid with great wheels and hands who hasn’t been able to score yet at this level.
If Komisarek makes it to July 1, 2009 as a UFA, I would think the Islanders would make a big push. But if you follow how Montreal has wisely built its team, I wouldn’t be shocked if they lock up Mike before he gets to free agency. I guarantee one thing: if the Islanders sign him, it will be for so much more money than the fans think he’s worth! That’s unrestricted free agency for you.
Pete D and others asked about the chances of the Islanders acquiring Zach Parise.
A: None. They had their chance. Can’t even imagine an Islanders package that might get a deal like that done.
Paul in Canada asks about the Islanders relationship with the media and whether all the local media are just a bunch of Rangers fans.
A: I should defer to the team to discuss its current relationship with the press, but I can say the relationship is most often not the issue. It’s not like the team is not covered on the road by the Daily News or Post because of a snap in relationship. It’s because those papers believe it’s smart business not to spend the money to cover Islanders road games. Is it because all the sports editors are a bunch of Rangers fans? No. Many of them could not care less about the Rangers, or hockey for that matter.
As for Canada, nationally I always had good working relationships with big hitters like McKenzie, Dreger, Brophy, the Hockey News and HNIC. What I found is that, locally, when teams like the Canucks and Sens are doing well, some of their writers tend to act like they are part of the team and the cheap shots come easy at clubs like the Islanders. Those writers would, as a general rule, be sad fellows with not much going on.
The coincidentally named JB asks if Jason Blake’s 40-goal season with the Islanders was a fluke and if he would still be scoring 30-40 if he was on the Islanders.
A: No and yes (30). Sometimes players (and their agents) should recognize they are where they should be. Unless, that is, they put the cash above all else.
Devon asks if (late-round draft pick) Justin DiBenedetto is as good as his stats say he is.
A: The kid they call DiBo is tearing up the OHL. He is what his stats say he is: a fantastic player this season in the Ontario Hockey League. When the Islanders website has a story quoting chief scout Ryan Jankowski talking about what an incredible NHL talent the over-age OHLer is, then we will know the team plans on signing him. Until then, I don’t even know if that is a lock. I doubt whether we’ll know if the smallish 20-year old forward can make it in the NHL until he gets a long look in an NHL camp.
Timm asks, hypothetically, if the Islanders just make or just miss the playoffs this season, do they have enough young talent in the system that it would be fine if the team comes out of the 2009 draft without a blue-chipper.
A: Strictly in my humble opinion, no way.
Shardz asks what is the team’s biggest need.
A: It’s a tie: one star forward, one star defenseman.
50 Responses to Qs PART II: Tavares…Blake…Komisarek…
press coverage…DiBo…prospects…needs
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kevin says:
hey CB, whats your prediction for the isles record at the end of the year. also, will the isles trade for any young prospects? maybe not direct blue chips but maybe former first rounders that have not had a shot yet. like rob schremp. or maybe a prospect that wants out like the ottawa prospect. the yotes got him for for former sound tiger drew fata.
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matt says:
Wha wha wha what?
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Thanks for getting to my DiBo question, here’s another one.
Pure speculation here: where do you think the Isles would be if they hadn’t traded Luongo and Jokinen, drafted Heatley and Spezza, and kept Laviollette?
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Mike says:
How do LI natives such as Komisarek,Higgens,Scudari & Nystrom slip through the Isles hands? They all played must of there amateur hockey on LI.Is the Isles scouting dept that HORRIBLE that they don’t even know what is going on in there backyard? Not to mention the Parise MESS!
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mike they did not draft them because they couldn’t. the parise mess was a mistake but not as costly as others
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JKP says:
Mike, Komisarek was drafted in 2001, which was the year of the Yashin trade. That trade has been debated to death, but I hope we can agree that had the Isles kept the second pick, I sincerely hope they would’ve let Komisarek “slip through” and taken Spezza second. Nystrom and Chris Higgins (I assume he’s who you mean by “Higgens”) were drafted 10th and 14th the year after, when the Isles picked 22nd because they actually managed to win some games. I suppose they could’ve traded up, but we could always trade up to get a shot at a more highly-touted prospect. Are we going to trade up just because there’s a player from LI available?
Parise, of course, I think everyone agrees was a huge misstep. But that’s not an “Islander connection” issue so much as a bad drafting issue.
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Parise was a mess but not as costly as others? I would say picking Robert Nilsson over someone who is going to be a perennial
allstar and then trading him away for pretty much nothing was a costly mistake!!!!!! -
does any one think a team will choose cowen over hedman. one is an inch bigger than the other and they are both shutdown with an offensive upside
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trading away luongo and bertuzzi and jokinen and chara and possibly spezza. and if we didnt trade luongo we would of gotten gaborik. i think that was more costly then the parise mess
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Andreas the Badger says:
Hey Chris. Got a question for you here. Do the Isles have a big follow around the world? I guess that’s a rhetorical questions 25 years removed from the cups, but just wondered if you could share some insight on that and also how realistic it is to hope for a Isles game in Europe next year.
I’m a Norwegian studying in the States and it seems like everyone I talk to about hockey raises their eyebrow when I introduce myself as an Islander. Also, back home, the Penguins, Rangers, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Flyers and even the Kings have a lot of fans, but say New York Islanders and receive a funny look. It’s kind of unfair, since many of the popular franchises I mentioned have done little more than have a hockey great on their team, when the Isles actually won 4 cups in a row.
Anyway, great blog. I’m among those who reload 10 times a day.
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yeah im one of those that check this site out like 8 times a day. thats what happens when you want to be in the org. when your older
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Luongo and Bertuzzi as well as Chara we drafted. You were referring to drafting problems weren’t you? Sure Spezza we should have drafted in hind sight but Ysahin did not look like a bad option. Luongo has nothing to do with Gaborik don’t really know what you are talking about? Parise was a drafting mess as I’m sure anybody will tell you who watched the day of the draft when the Islanders were blasted for passing over him.
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Luongo Gaborik?
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Pete DeBenedetto says:
Hey, former Hicksville Boy (87) now a Jersey Shore teacher converting 3rd graders into NYIslanders…..
…..Am I missing something here, or is the rest of this conference (like 6 other teams) just 2 points ahead of us in the standings….and we don’t have Witt, Martinek, DiPietro, Silly, Meyer in the line-up. Are we really a ninth-tenth team? Quite frankly, KO, Tamby, Bergie, Baily getting quite the NHL education. I see many positives. You???
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Kyle says:
Two Parter
1. Why did the Isles not sign Mark Parrish back?
2. When are we going to give up on Tambellini
-Love the blog, made it my homepage. Thanks Chris
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Plenty of positives. Nielson , Okposo the last few. Bailey even though its been one game!!! And Quite frankly JMac has been pretty damn good in net.
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Bergenheim has been sick and will be a incredible player. Forgot about him. Plenty of positives. There are some negatives though. Their names are Gervais, Weight, Comrie, it sucks can’t say anything bad about Hilbert kids playing a good game!
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matt, if we kept luango, we would not have drafted DP which means we woould have drafted gaborik. i was talking about wrong moves by milbury and i said that this org. has made worse mistakes then the parise mess. what dont u understand.
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how is weight a negative?? he leads the team in points. Gervais has made mistakes but i think he needs to be in bridge to get more experience after the d comes back. he is on one way but i dont think anyone will claim him ff waivers. comrie is overpaid but he was our top player last year and fit the teams mold. if he was 2 mil less, i would be fine with him. maybe even a mil less. he fights, hits, scores and gets points. he has been playing with an injury so not a lot of problems. when he i s back he wont look so lazy
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That makes sense. I thought you were referring to drafting bcs. that was I thought the conversation. I didn’t know you were speaking of picks made due to subsequent trades. I think we probably would have chose Heatly over Gaborik anyway he was picked higher than Gaborik. But who knows with our GM at the time. Luongo would have of course been the better choice to keep instead of drafting “man of glass” Dipietro which everyone knew at the time except for Milbury. Parise was a bad draft decision which we get to re-live every time we play the devils! Have there been worse maybe, that ones up there the kids tearing it up!
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oo i get it now. misunderstood. milbury said that he would of chosen gabs though. agree wit what u said bout parise.
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Guess I know what I’m listening to in the car before the game tomorrow. Looks like Tuesday’s visit by the Commish worked out well for you. That’s awesome.
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Comrie has always been a perimeter player and was I believe a -29 last year. If you think he is a good player bcs. he led our team with 49 pts. last year there is really nothing I can really say to you. The guy is probably one of the worst passers in the league and is the cause of God knows how many turnovers. Weight better lead the team in points with his ice team. I don’t know if you watched the game yesterday or the one before that but Weight has coughed up the puck and made some of the worst passes I’ve seen in my life. Gervais is awful and is weak on the puck. Never plays the body always plays the puck. The guy wouldn’t be a #6 on another team. Comrie has always looked lazy just ask any senator, oiler, or yotes fan and they will tell you.. It sucks that we are all starved for decent players that we think someone like Comrie is decent. Nobody in Chicago wants the guy.
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Just my opinion! Love the rest of the guys though! LOL!
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Brian from Massapequa says:
CB – Thanks for answering my question about the franchise (DP). What I was really wondering though was whether you believe 4-6 weeks is going to prove to be accurate. I believe the Isles hope that that the 4-6 week estimate is right, I’m just not buying it. I don’t think we will see him until January/February. Your thoughts?
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Chris TMC says:
I have a different kind of a question… and Ive asked it many times before (to Logan, the Maven, Trautwig, etc) and never got an answer. Who is the player on the Islanders who would suit up as goalie in the event of an emergency? And who used to be the one chosen for it before that? Ive been very curious about this for a while.
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You are right I forgot about that Milbury did say he would have chosen Gaborik!!! I would’ve been happy with either of them over Dipietro especially if we had Luongo. I can’t talk about this anymore it hurts too much!
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ik remembering is so painful. also, gervais is the seventh on our team so he would be like 8 on another thats why i think after our defenceman come back that we should waive him and have him nhl ready by going in the ahl to get his sh!t together. also, i like comrie but not as our number one person. and everyone has a bad game. anyone noticing how every sophmore in the nhl (ganger,kane, towes, enstrom, ) are doing terrible
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Everyone has a bad game agreed. Hate being critical on this site bcs. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s aura. Weight is a good team guy from what I see but seems to have lost his form. Gervais couldn’t be a #6 on any team don’t think AHL is going to help him. I know we have injuries but #7, #8 Dmen don’t play 24 minutes a game. The guy is terrible and is overrated on our team by fans and our team website. Don’t care if he does charity events and makes tree houses with kids. Its hysterical how our fan base thinks Gervais is good trade bait bcs. only we think so! I’ll agree to disagree with you on Comrie, I think the guy just glides around and waits for the puck to come to him. He was doing this before he was injured and before he even played with us.
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Swan says:
Hi CB. With about 20% of the season played, what are your updated predictions for division winners and where the Isles and Rangers will finish?
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And Matt, Weight is the best playmaking center the Isles currently have on the team. At this stage in his career, he is a 3rd/4th center on a Cup team, but on the Isles his leadership (and scoring) has been invaluable. If he continues his play, he should definitely be resigned to take Sillinger’s role as the elder statesman. He should certainly be kept over Guerin, who has been uneven at best.
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Hurrapop says:
CB, I’m not sure if its been asked before, or if you know, but does DP have an insurance policy or something with his contract? …I’m just asking
thanks
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michael says:
chris, will there be an oleg kvasha night at the coliseum?
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Michael, yes there will be a Kvasha night. Free shots of vodka for all fans in attendence.
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Swan, best playmaking center on our team, yes. A cup contender I don’t think would give Weight much thought after his Duck’s performance. I’m not in the locker room so I can’t comment on how his leadership is invaluable I only go by on what I hear. He seems like he is a good presence but I’m not going to sit here and say he is doing a great job. I read that him and Guerin want to win now which is great but haven’t seen it in his play. I know it was one game so don’t attack me but honestly bailey’s poise and passing in that one game were better than Weight’s all year. He is the best “playmaking” center on our team as compared to who? Nate Thompson, Richard Park(love the guy but come on not exactly a playmaker), come on! Doesn’t mean you have to say he’s good. Guerin just shoots the puck into the goalies chest. Like the guy, character guy but its about time to hang ‘em up.
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I think when one of either Guerin or Weight goes so does the other.
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Enough on the negative. I actually like Weight I just don’t like when fans say how great some of our guys are when they truly aren’t. Saying he is our best playmaking center is like saying he is the best goldfish in the bowl when he is the only fish. Yeah you are right but, you gotta think about that. Guy eats up too many minutes that should be given to kids such as Nielson, who I think plays a better game , especially lately.
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just because he wouldnt be the number one on a cup contending team doesnt make him not a playmaker
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Strummer's Army says:
Hey, Brian and Michael ya’ll might be onto something there. The free vodka shots might just be what the team needs to sell some more tickets!
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matt you should just let it go. you are continually wrong on most your topics, then you go from saying negative things then tell yourself not to then do it again. whats your angle???
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your all over the place. you are entitled to your opinion just get some facts before you write.
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oh btw, you were way off with the whole give weights ice time to frans neilson because he isn’t getting enough time according to the bottom of your post in 38. in most games, they have had equal or its been a minute more or less for both players. check it out on yahoo nhl islanders. then go to frans nielson and then go to the box scores and check it out
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Matt says:
My opinion Kevin sorry I upset you. I’m not wrong on everything I post either. Sorry you feel that way. I don’t believe Weight is all he is said to be on this site! My angle is an objective one which seems to be a problem here. Giving Weight as well as Guerin as much time on the power play and time on the point is not working. The guy doesn’t belong on the point nor does he deserve the ice time he is getting. Everyone preaches about ice time and deserving it. The guy isn’t a bad utility player, nothing more. Anybody he thinks anything else is delusional. If Tamby was guilty of Weight’s give aways he would be crucified on this site. And since you are getting specific Kevin your comment (39) about me saying he wouldn’y be a #1 on a cup contending team is BS I said he wouldn’t be sought after by a cup contender, I said nothing about #1, #2, or any number for that matter. I also have no idea how I am continually wrong on most of my topics, maybe you can enlighten me Oh Great Kevin of Hockey Knowledge. Why don’t you just let it go? Thanks for telling me I am entitled to my opinion I really do appreciate that but I am really not sure which facts you are referring to?
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What was I wrong about? Comrie being a sub par player? You disagree? Thats fine doesn’t make me wrong. How about cutting back on Weight’s ice time and giving it to Nielson. You say they have about the same on ice time. Wrong, you get your facts straight pal. Weight’s avg. compared to Nielsons is almost 3 mins. more. I don’t hate Weight. Don’t think he deserves the notariaty he recieves here. And now if you think 2-3 minutes a game is not a signifigant difference in ice time for a hockey game I’m going to take it a step further and call you wrong. Maybe you never played, or really don’t know as much as you think you do. Really over this but had to reply when someone as “knowledgeable” as you starts throwing stats around. As far as me being negative then positvie I think that about describes our team, there is plenty to be positive about but also some negativity.
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i said comrie was a sub par player. i am not the all knowing of hockey knowledge.no one is saying weight is the greatest player. who should weights ice time go to? neilson? they have just about the same and if not weight has more because he is playing one of the best. i was talking about being #1 or two playmaking wise. your factsare wrong and maybe you should think before you write which is my point about the icetime. check the ice time again. neilson is a young player and he is getting ore then enough ice time. idk how he is playing better. i think he is playing just fine. pt wise though weight is better. i play on two teams right now and understand ice hockey just fine. just double check what u say
. no one was negative except u then you told us to stop being negative. that was my point about the negative things. as far as the negative part all together, you can be, thats part of being a fan. being able to root and criticize your team but when you do, just have the facts to back it up -
doug weight has 4 giveaways and neilson has 8. i think you were arguing about weight and give aways
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Done discussing this. I was actually referring to myself when I said lets stop with the negativity. I never miss a game and call it as I see it. The last few Weight’s passing has been atrocious the last few games. Yeah I know he’s bagged a few points but his passes have been turned around alot lately, its been noticeable. Although I like Nielson and think the kid has some talent I don’t know how he came into this. I believe Weight should be a 3rd 4th line player on the second pp unit. Just my opinion nothing more. I believe I just gave you some facts backing up what I just said and what I said before I don’t understand
why you missed that. You twisted what I said from my post yesterday into what you wanted it to be. No where did I say Weight would never be a 1st or 2nd liner on a stanley cup team. I said he wouldn’t be sought after by a cup contender due to his play with the Ducks.
Whatever man just let it go if you want some more facts with ice time just go to the team site that will back up my point.
I don’t hate Weight just blowing some steam with his play lately. -
not bad passes. very good. i also dont miss a game. if weight is on the second pp and 3rd and 4th line where is the scoring coming from??? once again i never said weight would be first or 2nd liner on a cup contending team. i was talking about his playmaking abilities. i am not twisting your words around, reread your and my posts and we’ll see if i do it
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matt likes men. rereading old posts. if you are just look how wrong u were
i dont think anyone said he is crosby or gretzky but our biggest flaw is scoring and seeing this guy break the greats record for most goals by a 16 year old in the ohl and is always talked about so he can bring some life to this team. and also,he had a career high in assists and apparently has a stellar shot. not that we have it on d, but this team needs a number one forward. every team has a number one forward. maybe except toronto who lost sundin but antropov has switched gear to beast mode. maybe they’ll take hedman and bet they will get number one next year and get taylor hall. not looking forward to offseason unless komi is there. i think were used to witt’s style of play that sutton is actually copying very nicely and we see that in komi and he is also relatively young so it provides toughness and leadership for years to come. btw CB, you mentioned that witt would be captain if guerin was not here but i remember them saying that hunter was the choice before they got guerin. maybe im wrong but thats what i remember.