Making the Cut.

[Bravehearter]

Wow, I was worried if they were even going to start this show. I know that a lot, A LOT of good hockey players didnt know about this, so if they do it for a second season, you will see a lot of guys.

Here is the premise. Canada is a hockey country, tons of people play it TONS. I live in a city of 125k we have 17 ice rinks here in town. I kid you not. Full facilities with stadium seating etc. We also have in the winter over 30 outdoor rinks around town. (They Convert Baseball diamonds and Tennis courts to rinks in the winter) Everyone plays. Basically there are tons of great players who may have played hockey since they were 6, in high end leauges, but as soon as your 17ish most guys stop, because thats when the city run leauges stop at usually. And you are usually to young for the mens leauges. (Just pick up hockey that guys run them selves) So all these great players go un noticed.

Bell and CBC got together and hired top scouts, Mike Keenan who has won stanley cups and is one of the best GMs and Coaches in the business, Scotty Bowman, who is in the hockey hall of fame! Probably the best coach of all time! and many other guys just went for weeks scouting out these guys, and got like the top 64 in Canada.

These 64 guys are eventually going to be cut down to one guy per Canadian team, and he will go to the team and be invited to training camp, and a shot at making the roster, if not the farm team.

The teams involved are are: Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks.

I think there are going to be a ton of surprises, and I wouldnt be surprised if some guy walks in and ends up scoring like 15 goals in a season or something. Hell im surprised they havent done anything like this before! Its amazing!

Anyone else going to watch this with me?

[NightHawk]

i'm gonna be watching that too man, that looks awesome. granted, it's basicly a reality show on ice...but who cares man, it's hockey! :biggrin:

[Bravehearter]

Sure its a reality show, but with sports I guess its different. I mean sports have always been a reality show. This is giving someone a shot to play at something we watch anyways.

[NightHawk]

well, i think it's still essentially the same. like really, isn't this like the same idea as american idol except with hockey instead of singing? well, i guess they've got scotty bowman coaching the players to be better, so it does have it's differences i guess.

[Bravehearter]

Naw, at this point in their lifes and careers, nothing scotty bowman can say over a few weeks is going to do anything earth shattering, guarenteed he is just there as an observer, he is one of those guys who can look at a player and see what he can do, even if that player doesnt know it.

[NightHawk]

well, i dunno...if i got tips from wayne gretzky, i'm sure i'd at least be a lot more inspired, if nothing else.

...as long as scotty doesn't take on a "simon" role. :roll:

[Bravehearter]

Haha Scotty Bowman is a gentleman. Real Class act. He may seem like an ass on the ice, but its just to get a rise out of his players. Hes one of the greatest coaches in all of sport. Amazing. All those glory days with the Habs and like 4 cups with Detroit.

[kuju]

that sounds like a good show... though I won't watch it. But it's different from other reality shows in that it actually depends on TALENT. real talent, not shake-your-booty talent.

[Sweet-ish]

Yeah, I think I'll check out a few episodes of this, if just for the fact this'll be about the only type of hockey I--and many others--will see on television until Sportsnet's AHL schedule gets underway...and I know for some the AHL isn't their cup of tea. It is for me, since the Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks affiliate) play in it, and my city's opening a new arena...but I digress.

The "Making The Cut" format would certainly be different, since the guys were judged on their skills (skating, stickhandling, agility, etc.), and they didn't have anyone phoning in to choose the most popular or the hottest-looking (instead of the most talented) players...mostly because this was all done months ago at various locations...my hometown of Winnipeg being one of them (at the Highlander Sports Centre, where I've played midnight hockey for fun with a bunch of guys on several occasions, and hopefully will again once I find the time...and maybe get in a bit better shape :P).

I'm not worried what Scotty Bowman might have done to the guys. Mike Keenan, on the other hand...:badgrin:

[Bravehearter]

Well the first episode is over, and im throughly impressed. Was hard seeing some of those guys who got turned down. Like that 40 yr old dad? Wow, great shape he was in.

We'll see how it goes. I think there is going to be a lot of guys here who are going to do really well. I bet a lot of these guys get sent to AHL teams and such as well even if they dont make the top 6. Ill keep watching.

[kuju]

is this canadian? or do they have canadians on it?

[Bravehearter]

Its all Canadian.

Its ran by the NHL, Bell and CBC.

They have players from every province from cities all across canada. There are black players, inuit players, and a few women came close. (That 23 year old goalie that worked on the boat with her dad, she was QUICK, same with that other girl who came in with her brother.)

Look for at least the girl who was a forward to end up on the Canadian womans team I bet.

They mentioned a few people driving up from Ohio for it, but I dont think any Americans made it through.

[Sweet-ish]

Here's the official website for the series:

http://www.makingthecut.ca/

And here's the 68 players that were left after the initial skills test, and the 3-on-3's:

http://www.makingthecut.ca/en/roster/index.asp

Interesting note: One of the players that made the group of 68 has actually played in the NHL. They actually did a small profile on him during the show, but just in case you missed it, here he is:

http://www.makingthecut.ca/en/roster/roster_31.asp

And here's his career statistics, including his 28 NHL games:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=2153

[Bravehearter]

Yep, but since he wasnt drafted he is still able to do it, its really sad how he left because of his son being sick, I think thats great for him. I hope he gets back in Calgary. He looked like a big fit guy, and I think being there before is definatly going to help him during training.

I loved how he was yelling at that other guy haha.