Cats' Birch on Amerks' 2-14 record: Don't blame this guy

Panthers director of player personnel Jack Birch has stated that Rochester's troubles stem from the players, not their first-year coach, Benoit Groulx (above). Of course, the died-in-the-wool "injury" story inevitably rears its' well-worn head (which proves the Panthers have completely acclimated the Americans into their "system"). From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:

"At the same time, injuries to the core of veteran forwards (Janis Sprutks, Karl Stewart and Stefan Meyer) have had a considerable impact. 'I think that has an impact on a young team,' Birch said. 'This record is not a reflection of this coaching staff, that’s for sure,' Birch said."

This should play well up there, with the Cats taking the role of The New Guy, in a town that's had possession of a hockey club for the better part of 53 years.

Meet Your Amerks

The Rochester Americans - AHL affiliate of the Panthers - open their season this evening as well. Get to know new coach Benoit Groulx, and get familiar with this year's Americans...some of whom we'll be seeing in a very short time.

It's so much easier to get into the Amerks, now that Florida is the sole provider of talent (Buffalo had the controlling interest for the better part of 30 seasons before this summer). Learn their names...they're working to get here.

DeBoer Anxious, Groulx Excited, MacLean Still Doesn't Own the Lightning

"No, this hat ain't for falling expectations..."

New Cat coach Peter DeBoer is ready to get to work, as profiled by an AP story in The Sporting News (and I'd swear I read most of it days ago in one of the Big 3 locals):

"He's also in a city (Miami) where he's already looking forward to wearing shorts to the practice rink in January."

Miami again. Hey...fantastic idea for a new poll! I'm on it. Finally on P-Deb (do I supremely suck or what?), he's been contrasted with Washington first-year phenom Bruce Boudreau in many circles. I'm trying to work up a crafty Slap Shot 2 reference but find I'm creatively bankrupt at the moment.








Hockey Canada gives it's blessing to coach Benoit Groulx and his ascension to Rochester, according to the Ottawa Sun:

"We have a lot of depth in the coaching ranks. I understand his desire to get to the next level. That's the way Hockey Canada should be."

Nice, thoughtful explanation. Kinda flies in the face of their naming this guy as Groulx's replacement, however.

"Not so fast with that sweater, Dougie!"

Former Panthers coach (the last one of the morning, I assure you) Doug MacLean is gonna gab season-long on HockeyCentral, a show on Sportsnet. For our many puckhead friends in Phoenix, Sportsnet is a sports-related cable television channel in Canada that headlines with hockey. Read that last part again. It's the anti-ESPN.

Anyway, MacLean will be doing opinion and commentary. That's better than team ownership, right?

As if on Cue...

...all three local newsies had Panther-related stories or blog updates within the last day, prompted primarily by the hiring of Benoit Groulx as head coach of the AHL Americans.

Let's pretend a wintry mix of snow and freezing temperatures are bombarding our lawns and whisking us away to a happier time of year for all of us as we take in the latest from the Big Three.








At the Miami Herald, George Richard's On Frozen Pond talks of the Groulx hiring, profiles which current, previous, (and one soon-to-be-former?) Cats have made their way back to South Florida in preparation for the upcoming season. Also, a most insightful argument why Richard Zednik should not be a Panther come October. And I kinda agree with GR: it's all for the good of the team.







The Palm Beach Post features Brian Biggane's Inside the Panthers, covering a bit more of what's become Groulx-mania. The concensus around the web is that JM the GM got himself one heck of a good bench boss.






And the Sun-Sentinel's Steve Gorten delves into - you guessed it - that new guy in Rochester, along with a standard-issue JM transaction denial.




From the blogosphere, Scotty Hockey gives his preseason take on the Cats. Just another non-biased, insightful, and informed Rangah fan showing love and respect for the Southeast. Give it a whirl, it's worth a chuckle. Anyone care to debate his reasoning?

Report: JM Finds a Bench Boss for Amerks

According to the Ottawa Sun, the next head coach of the Amerks will be: Benoit Groulx. No, I hadn't heardd of him previously; I wasn't an overly enthusiastic supporter of the Gatineau Olympiques, either.

Never having seen him, I have to believe the caption for this photo, though while in French, stated it is, indeed, Coach Groulx.

He appears to have a pretty solid record of success. I think it has a lot to do with that awesome "x" in his name...that indicates superior hockey breeding.

Look forward to learning more...and seeing the hiring announced officially if it is indeed the real deal.