Levi Walking Bear
Very Interesting
Thanks, really didn't describe much, don't want to bore anyone since this is not a geology class here.
Don't think Ho-Sang is a bad kid, now let's see if he's good as he says he can be on the ice.
Joshua Ho-Sang, Center/Right-wing, 1st Round
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Thanks, really didn't describe much, don't want to bore anyone since this is not a geology class here.
Don't think Ho-Sang is a bad kid, now let's see if he's good as he says he can be on the ice.
Levi Walking Bear
Very Interesting
So, Ho-Sang does sound a bit like a college freshman who doesn't like the grade on his term paper. I'm sure there are many who know that experience.
If anyone is looking for a fitting metaphor.
InformTheMasses
Registered User
Its a bit more than that. He was basically deemed academically ineligible and barred from campus when his prerequisites were ivy league status.
Him not being invited to this camp was meant to be an insult and a slight to the kid. He has a legit gripe. Everyone would handle it differently, some wouldnt say a word publicly and keep it moving, others would do the josh ho sang, and others would find the address of the decision makers and toilet paper their houses and make crank phone calls to hockey Canada for 718 straight days.
Whatever, who cares, he's upset and he should be (the non invite was intended to upset him). Doesn't make him a bad hockey player, and it doesn't make him a great one.
SI90
Registered User
you speak for hockey canada now? you know firsthand what their intentions were?
if the powers that run hockey canada dont think that joshy boy can crack
the line up, why should they invite him to camp?
it sounds to me like josh is just a little bit to full of himself.
PK Cronin
Bailey Fan Club Prez
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I'm gonna ask for you to go find player with similar stats as Ho Sang who have been snubbed by Canada for as long as he has. Let's see what you come up with.
I thought about it a bit this morning, and I believe this is cultural. Maybe Broadway Jay is right - he should come south. If a top young player was shooting his mouth off a la Ho-Sang in relation to USA Basketball, he'd probably get a call from Coach K or Jim Boeheim. They'd handle the problem, circle the wagons, and coordinate a media strategy as opposed to letting it fester as a personal problem. They'd also do everything they could to improve his game and make him a less selfish player. Veteran players would certainly be employed to help in that capacity.
Hockey Canada just doesn't want to become (culturally) American. That's really what this is about.
Let's not forget Brett Hull, 700+ career goals, but early in his career he had to play for Team USA, despite having dual citizenship. Hull had an ego and was looked at as a rebel as well.
Exactly, he even outscored McDavid on the Toronto midget team, even though he is a year older. But, McDavid is supposed to be the next great one, so that in itself is impressive. Also outscored Sam Bennett.
doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
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The funny thing about Ho-Sang is that his comments look worse in print than they do watching him live. On video, he comes across as just being very honest and speaking what's on his mind/in his heart. He doesn't come across as a jerk at all. To me it's all context, and so far I think I like the kid.
His big problem is that in hockey it's expected to toe the company line and say for public consumption (even if it's not true) what you're expected to say. He's said that he was raised to do exactly the opposite - to speak his mind. Should be interesting. If he can really play and becomes a star level player in the NHL, he could be a mega-star personality. Like, to the point of changing the hockey culture. If he can't play, he'll just be a big flop.
His big problem is that in hockey it's expected to toe the company line and say for public consumption (even if it's not true) what you're expected to say. He's said that he was raised to do exactly the opposite - to speak his mind. Should be interesting. If he can really play and becomes a star level player in the NHL, he could be a mega-star personality. Like, to the point of changing the hockey culture. If he can't play, he'll just be a big flop.
Unlike top prospects we've drafted the last few years, he has something NONE of them had, blazing speed. Tavares is a hockey god, and worked on his strength and his stride to become an above average skater. Niederreiter has never been known as a fast skater, and Strome is more tricky than he is speedy. Fast enough, but not blazing speed like Ho-Sang. I will still say that Ho-Sang isn't the prospect Strome is, just yet, but time will tell. Very excited about his talent, could care less about if his personality bothers people.
I can tell by your larger font and full bold that you feel very strongly about this.
Islanders1932
Registered User
How can you not love this? Ho-Sang doesn't just want to make the team, he wants to be the best. To me he sounds like someone who is going to work his butt off to be the best and I have to say I am very excited for it.
19 Straight
Registered User
I feel badly for the kid and he is clearly being snubbed. The interview didn't bother me. He's only 18, yet he is clearly intelligent. He didn't sound whiny or bitter. From a selfish standpoint, I hope he plays with huge chip on his shoulder to prove his critics wrong.
Exactly, I saw that interview, and you can see the hunger in his eyes to be the best. I don't think he can be better than Tavares, but I sure wouldn't complain if he winds up being better or as good.
Darth Milbury
Registered User
Players with good stats get snubbed from international competitions for lots of reasons, one-dimensional play, attitude issues, replicating skills that are already on the team, etc.
Probably lots of decent reasons to leave a kid with gaudy stats out.
As for the idea that HC management was "trying to insult Ho-Sang" - I'm guessing that Ho-Sang isn't all that important in the scheme of things. He is just another junior player, to be exclude or included depending on teams needs.
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I was also thinking about this the other day. I haven't seen Ho-Sang live, but I believe he already has NHL speed, and the hands to go along with that speed. That's a rare commodity in itself.
I can't confidently say much else about Ho-Sang's game at the moment, but I just have this weird feeling that when/if the kid hits the NHL and gets to play with legitimate NHL top six talent, things are going to click for him.
Oh, it goes a lot deeper than that. Excluding him from the Hlinka tourney last year was a much bigger snub than this year (because of a smaller, less developed talent pool). This is an ongoing feud involving background whisper campaigns. An anchor doesn't say that Ho-Sang has a bad reputation unless she's heard it from people on background.
The only person to throw Ho-Sang a bone after the Canadian media slander campaign was Garth Snow. This is really his way of recognizing that it's more of the same.
Like I've said several times already, I think we might have to temper our excitement stats-wise, several of the top guys that have played with Ho-Sang at Windsor have graduated from junior hockey. May be like when Strome's stats suffered a little after he was drafted, some of his top linemates graduated from junior. IF Ho-Sang scores 85+ points this year, then I'd really be impressed.
i apologize for the bold type, but my eye sight is getting worse and worse every day. and it is doing so at an alarming pace.
and i do find it very annoying when people offer their "opinion" and try to make it sound like "fact". and that is something i will never apologize for.
i couldnt have said it better myself. thank you DM.
in one breath people say "hockey is more than just stats" and in their next breath, they say "look at his stats........"
go figure......
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