FRONTS' GM-FOR-LIFE SHOULD BE SACKED OVER TEAM'S ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

Why should it feel any different this time? This is old hat for anyone who's long been loyal to the Kingston Frontenacs: The Oshawa Generals got a third-period goal and a last-minute empty-netter to win 4-2 and wrap up the Eastern Conference quarter-final in five games last night.

No doubt the Limestone City's Light Brigade -- AKA junior hockey's answer to the dysfunctional Bluths from Arrested Development -- gave 'er hell trying to extend their season. Still, the Frontenacs preserved a proud K-Town tradition of making sure its playoff foe gets plenty of time to let bumps and bruises heal before the next round. Considering how the Fronts gave up respective 1-0, 6-2 (!), 2-0 and 1-0 leads in Oshawa's four wins, it's believable that the Generals didn't even incur so much as a mild bunion.

That's pretty much how it's been for Kingston fans no matter who was coaching or playing since GM-for-life Larry Mavety returned 10 years ago, and that's why he should be royally canned. This might be sleep-on-it-first stuff, but one thought can't be perished: This season really blew the doors off on how fubared the Frontenacs are and will continue to be so long as it the hierarchy consists of the 64-year-old Mavety and owner Doug Springer, who keeps him around for only God knows why. (And She is probably shaking Her head).

For the second year in a row, the Fronts were biggest playoff flop in the OHL. The team seldom if ever came close to living up to pre-season notices such as "contenders for league title" and "should finish second in the conference."

That can't be blamed on the coaching. The Fronts also crapped the bed in the '06 playoffs under the well-regarded Jim Hulton, who was fired after a six-game capitulation against the Sudbury Wolves. His successor, Bruce Cassidy, had his defining moment as Kingston's coach during Sunday's epic. Before the overtime, after Oshawa had erased a four-goal Kingston lead, Bobby Hughes quit the team, apparently going into a snit after Cassidy benched him during the third period.

(UPDATE, April 4: Only 10 of 278 respondents to a Whig-Standard poll believe Hughes should have been "welcomed back with open arms." Way to have your finger on the pulse, Larry Mavety. Two hundred and twenty thought he should have "sent packing.")

Think about every aspect of team sports -- respect, wanting to win, playing for your friends, wanting to make the NHL, knowing that the coach's word is God -- that keeps 19-year-olds from having such selfish 19-year-old moments. Not one iota of that was apparently present in the Kingston Frontenacs dressing room. Cassidy has been around for a year and Mavety's been around for a decade, so who's had more time to create a positive atmosphere around the team? Or more to the point, who's accountable for the negativity?

It's hard to believe that Cassidy, who used to coach Jaromir Jagr, would have any reluctance to crack the whip on teenagers. That leaves the obvious conclusion that Mavety and his enabler, Springer, presumably undermined any effort that was made to change the team's losing culture.
Who knows why they would do that, if indeed that's how it went down? Ego, avarice, being comfortable with mediocrity, I could go on. One never claims to know what really goes on within a hockey team, but it seems like Mavety and Springer together are the main reason why the Frontenacs cannot shake their distinctive personality as perennial also-rans.

They thrive miserably while Kingston fans do a slow burn year after goddamn year. It's Springer's show, but if he wants to win some credibility, let alone a championship, he can start by showing Mavety the door.

Bulls 4 67's 2 (Belleville leads 3-1): What was that about the Bulls playing a game as bland as Bellevegas itself? After one period, the game had seen exactly one odd-man rush -- it looked like a bad AHL game in December. When that happens, it means Belleville is probably going to win unless it's playing a team which has a lot more top-end talent than the 67's. The energy line with Bryan Cameron, Tyler Doig and Eric Tangradi killed Ottawa again, producing the game-winner with 3:29 to go. Jamie McGinn scored both goals for the 67's, who might be able to bring this home for Game 6, but not much beyond that.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.