Alumni in the Pros - May 2009

Sasha Pokulok's been activated again and is playing for South Carolina in the ECHL playoffs. It'll be interesting to see what the Caps do w/ him in the offseason; he's a restricted free agent.... I'm not sure if they'd tender the standard current+10% offer; the driving factor is not so much the money, but the depth they've got at D both at the NHL-level and at Hershey, and they're also up against the 50 contract limit. It's sounding like John Carlson has jumped ahead of Sasha on the Caps depth chart now also. If Sasha's going to make it, he's got to play well in Hershey all next season.

Shawn Thornton is a late scratch, and Bitz will be in the line up against the Canes tonight.

Well the good news was that Bitz played well enough to be promoted to the 3rd line for the final period, the bad news for Bruins fans was that Wheeler and the rest of the line up played like , so much so that Bitz needed to be promoted to shake things up.

Bitz back in the lineup for game 5, replacing Blake Wheeler. Wheeler is an unhealthy, healthy scratch I believe. He did take a shot off his foot in game 3, but has played so poorly that I don't think it was a tough decision to give Bitz the nod.

Bitz just had a great defensive shift with 2 blocked shots.

He's had a great game so far. He has put some life into Ryder and Krejci (who are buzzing around Carolina's zone tonight), and is doing all the dirty work necessary to get them open and put a body in front of Ward. Now Carolina has another line to defend besides the Savard-Kessel-Lucic line.

Also heard a Cornell mention during the game.

He did have a solid game and got more ice time in the third period (or at least got mentioned more).

Bitz is expected to play again tonight, on the second line.

And on what I count as his second shift, guess who parks in front of Cam Ward to screen him on Montador's goal. Bitz

Some first period comments from the Bruins thread on HFBoards:

"Wow, Bitz has been awesome in this one so far. He deserves a goal."

"I really hope Wheeler is watching Bitz closely and taking notes on how to use his size to his advantage."

"anyone else glad when Bitz is out there? smart player, and will win many more battles than he loses- what a good player to have on this team."

Pierre McGuire, who is doing color commentary for TSN tonight, just gushed about Byron Bitz.

And Bitz draws a penalty in the final minute of the second with more great work along the boards.

No doubt about it -- he's playing amazingly. So far (at the 2nd intermission) he looks like he deserves a star.

ftyuv
No doubt about it -- he's playing amazingly. So far (at the 2nd intermission) he looks like he deserves a star.

He's been great the last two games on that line. He's doing all the dirty work necessary to get Ryder and Krejci open.

Bitz' TOI keeps going up. Ironic that despite doing "thankless work," he's getting a lot of love on the broadcast.

Boston.com gives Bitz the stick salute of the game: [www.boston.com]

Claude Julien has announced that the Bruins will have the same line up for game 7. Heckuva a job by Bitz to earn his way into the line up this late in the season.

Given what Bitz brings to the game in terms of emotion and grit, Julien would have to be a fool not to keep him in. The guy fit back in the lineup as if he'd never been out at all.

Bitz scores. Bruins lead 1-0, 7:42 into first period.

BITZ!

1-1 after one

No more Ivy Leaguers in the playoffs.

Sad news bears.

Craig Adams of the Penguins went to Harvard.

Also, the Hurricanes are owned by Peter Karmanos, father of Adams's college teammate. That organization has Harvard Men (asst. GM Jason Karmanos & color commentator Tripp Tracy).

Bitz was just great. Congrats to him for his first playoff goal.

In other news, I hate Colin Campbell with a passion.

cbuckser
Craig Adams of the Penguins went to Harvard.

Also, the Hurricanes are owned by Peter Karmanos, father of Adams's college teammate. That organization has Harvard Men (asst. GM Jason Karmanos & color commentator Tripp Tracy).

Man... you always wonder where a sieve like that ends up.

Mostly due to the Karmanoses: Go Pens. Eliminate the Suckicanes.

(And go 'Hawks!)

cbuckser
Craig Adams of the Penguins went to Harvard.

Also, the Hurricanes are owned by Peter Karmanos, father of Adams's college teammate. That organization has Harvard Men (asst. GM Jason Karmanos & color commentator Tripp Tracy).

Hahvahd Sucks!! And I hate the Whor-i-canes, Carpetbaggers and Karmanos.

I really hope there isn't another Detroit v. Whor-i-cane (I think thanks are due to RichH for this term of hatred) finals; those are two shades of red I really do not like.

I am now in a land without Versus, so I haven't seen much hockey in the last 10 days. I should be in a hockey viewing area for the finals.

Sorry, to all you 'Canes haters. I'm rooting for Carolina in the east. I can't stand Sidney the Whiner.

Although at this point I really want to see Chicago win it all.

All my horses are out of the race (Vancouver, Washington, and Boston for Bitz), so I don't really care anymore. I guess I'm rooting for Detroit because they weren't responsible for eliminating those teams this year.

Scersk '97

cbuckser
Craig Adams of the Penguins went to Harvard.

Also, the Hurricanes are owned by Peter Karmanos, father of Adams's college teammate. That organization has Harvard Men (asst. GM Jason Karmanos & color commentator Tripp Tracy).

Man... you always wonder where a sieve like that ends up.

Mostly due to the Karmanoses: Go Pens. Eliminate the Suckicanes.

(And go 'Hawks!)

Indeed. It would please me greatly (and draw me in to the Finals like no other in the last 5 years) if the Finals were to be Hawks-Pens. That very matchup was the first Stanley Cup series I ever tuned in live for. And that was pulling in whatever scratchy AM broadcast I could using my sad boombox in my room. Since, you know...there were no national TV broadcasts in the US back then.

Oh, and of course, it was also the matchup in this very important touchstone in pop-culture. Unfortunately, "Ice to meet you" was not a quote in that film.

Go 'Hawks!!

It would have been nice to have Bitz go on.

Go Black Hawks. May the Portland Rosbeuds of yesteryear win the Cup.

RichH
Indeed. It would please me greatly (and draw me in to the Finals like no other in the last 5 years) if the Finals were to be Hawks-Pens. That very matchup was the first Stanley Cup series I ever tuned in live for. And that was pulling in whatever scratchy AM broadcast I could using my sad boombox in my room. Since, you know...there were no national TV broadcasts in the US back then.

Oh, and of course, it was also the matchup in this very important touchstone in pop-culture. Unfortunately, "Ice to meet you" was not a quote in that film.

Go 'Hawks!!

Sudden Death is definitely one of the two or three best hockey movies starring JCVD.

Edit: Or, if you prefer, one of the two or three best action movies starring Luc Robitaille.

RichH
It would please me greatly (and draw me in to the Finals like no other in the last 5 years) if the Finals were to be Hawks-Pens. That very matchup was the first Stanley Cup series I ever tuned in live for.

This makes me feel really old. since I went to game 4 of that series with my kids and that was beaucoup years after my first interest in hockey.

jkahn

RichH
It would please me greatly (and draw me in to the Finals like no other in the last 5 years) if the Finals were to be Hawks-Pens. That very matchup was the first Stanley Cup series I ever tuned in live for.

This makes me feel really old. since I went to game 4 of that series with my kids and that was beaucoup years after my first interest in hockey.

You should feel really old. YOU ARE! Me on the other hand

May 20 - Boston Herald

[www.bostonherald.com]

I found this the other day:

[www.boston.com]

Look on page 2 for the writeup on Bitz.

Killer
I found this the other day:

[www.boston.com]

Look on page 2 for the writeup on Bitz.

...which we hope potential recruits don't read, because it details how the Bruins staff wanted Bitz deprogrammed after Cornell.

Lauren '06

Killer
I found this the other day:

[www.boston.com]

Look on page 2 for the writeup on Bitz.

...which we hope potential recruits don't read, because it details how the Bruins staff wanted Bitz deprogrammed after Cornell.

FYP.

No sense in having two places to look.

Lauren '06

Killer
I found this the other day:

[www.boston.com]

Look on page 2 for the writeup on Bitz.

...which we hope potential recruits don't read, because it details how the Bruins staff wanted Bitz deprogrammed after Cornell.

I think it might be easier for a coaching staff to have to teach a guy to be more aggressive in the offensive zone, than to have to teach an ~ 22 year old about defense.

I think deprogrammed is too harsh a word. We play a different style than they wanted in Boston. So they had to teach him how to play that style. They didn't have to teach him how not to play defense.

From what I remember of Bitz it couldn't have required too much encouraging to get him to hit and work the corners.

ugarte
From what I remember of Bitz it couldn't have required too much encouraging to get him to hit and work the corners.

That is the part of that article that I find hilarious. His minor league coach says that the reason he is in the NHL is that he goes against the boards and comes out with the puck. Sure sounds like he is using his Cornell training to his advantage to me.

Yeah. The game he learned/played in college looks pretty applicable to the big show. Seems to me the "reprogramming" bit is just casual badmouthing of the college game.

Jeff Hopkins '82
I think deprogrammed is too harsh a word. We play a different style than they wanted in Boston. So they had to teach him how to play that style. They didn't have to teach him how not to play defense.

It is a little interesting that what made the Bruins great when they were playing their best game was defensive responsibilty (by all 5 skaters), a strong dump, chase and cycle game, and out working the other team in the physical department.

Sound familiar to anyone else?

oceanst41

Jeff Hopkins '82
I think deprogrammed is too harsh a word. We play a different style than they wanted in Boston. So they had to teach him how to play that style. They didn't have to teach him how not to play defense.

It is a little interesting that what made the Bruins great when they were playing their best game was defensive responsibilty (by all 5 skaters), a strong dump, chase and cycle game, and out working the other team in the physical department.

Sound familiar to anyone else?

The cynic might respond that that style of play was only good enough to win one round out of four in the playoffs. Sound familiar?

KeithK

oceanst41

Jeff Hopkins '82
I think deprogrammed is too harsh a word. We play a different style than they wanted in Boston. So they had to teach him how to play that style. They didn't have to teach him how not to play defense.

It is a little interesting that what made the Bruins great when they were playing their best game was defensive responsibilty (by all 5 skaters), a strong dump, chase and cycle game, and out working the other team in the physical department.

Sound familiar to anyone else?

The cynic might respond that that style of play was only good enough to win one round out of four in the playoffs. Sound familiar?

I was hoping to ignore that part.

ftyuv
No more Ivy Leaguers in the playoffs.

Sad news bears.

Apparently, this was wrong.

[www.ivyleaguesports.com]

And yes. It was *that* school.