Logan Proulx to Edmonton and Hit Feedback

Click here to have a look at Edmonton's roster just to confirm the story. Looks like they need to check their spelling though... (like I should talk about spelling)

This isn't exactly how the season was meant to go for Trail native, Logan Proulx. The speedy youngster impressed many at the Edmonton Oil Kings training camp. So much so that they wanted him to stay in the WHL for his 16 year old season. However, Proulx decided he wanted to stay home another year. He knew that the WHL was his goal; but he told me at the time that this was an opportunity to be with friends and family, play high level hockey with the Smoke Eaters, and maybe bulk up a little. As a Smoke Eater broadcaster I was secretly hoping that a year with the club would maybe change Logan's mind and keep the offensively gifted player in the BCHL for his junior career.

An unfortunate incident in exhibition play derailed the BCHL season for Logan before it even started. His ankle injury kept him out of action out of the gate, but he was expected back a couple of months into the year. But that injury just wouldn't heal properly. Week after week we all hoped for Logan's sake that progress would come. At times we were left to wonder if he would ever get to suit up this year. Yet despite all the set backs and I imagine all the frustration, Logan was at every Trail game he could make. I'm not sure if he missed a home game the entire year. He even made as many road trips as he could, crutches and all. Proulx never gave up on the idea that he would be a member of the team. He even did a bang up job as a guest on my show and sometimes colour commentator during the games.

As the December 1rst card deadline came and went, the Smokies had no choice but to take Proulx off their carded list. The cards ended up being absolutely necessary with the departures of Westover, Paulsen and Levarsky, as well as the injury to Brodie. There was always a hope that he'd get healthy in time to get carded before the trade deadline, but it just didn't happen. Despite that, he still came to every game and involved himself like he would be a part of the team.

Fortunately things seem to have improved a lot lately for Proulx. He's out of his cast and skating again. With luck he'll be in shape to play in a couple of weeks. The only disappointing thing about the very good news is that it won't be as a Trail Smoke Eater. There are no cards left in Trail. The Beaver Valley Nitehawks had their 16 year old spots filled. There was no where for Proulx to permanently play. The option I had heard discussed was that he would suit up for a Midget team and AP for both the Nitehawks and Smokies. That meant he could play 5 regular season games for Trail up until the point that his Midget team was done for the season. He could also play unlimited playoffs games. It would mean a lot of bouncing around from team to team.

I have only talked to Proulx briefly, but I imagine that wasn't an ideal scenario for him. Instead he talked to the Oil Kings and they offered him a chance to come and play out the rest of the year on their club. Can you imagine the kind of impression Proulx made on Edmonton for them to give him a spot on the club in February of a year in which he hasn't played a single regular season game? He must have been turning some heads back at camp. That really says a lot about the respect the Oil Kings have for Logan's talents. Congratulations to Proulx and his family as Logan takes the next step of his hockey career. He's certainly making Trail proud.

It's too bad it won't be as a Smoke Eater, but in my opinion he was definitely a part of this team this year. And just as they always say, once you're a Smoke Eater, you're a Smoke Eater for life. Hopefully we'll at least get to see him on television a few times!

THE CROWELL HIT

Lots of reaction to the Crowell elbow on Ryan Hill this weekend. My post was copied to the BCHL message board, and a bunch of back and fourth ensued between Trail and Vernon fans. In my opinion, this kind of thing is beyond a simple rivalry. I certainly don't think it's in the hands of the Vernon Vipers organization themselves. I think this is the action of a single player and he is responsible. Its not about Trail vs. Vernon or whose side you're on. It's funny I get called a homer not two weeks after multiple posters here claimed I was quite the opposite. But this is instead about a dangerous hit that could put the hockey career of a young man at risk.

There's no question some Smoke Eaters have done some dirty things at times this year. Every single team is responsible for a questionable hit, stick, punch, whatever at some point in the season. No one should be saying one team is ready for prison and the other a group of saints.

The point is that every single year we're learning more and more about the dangers of concussions. They have ended the careers of countless athletes, and changed far more lives permanently. I have a very good friend who missed an entire year of school because of a concussion. Knowing him as well as I do, I knew he wasn't quite the same guy for more than a year. It took him a long time to really be himself again and to operate at the capacity he was used to. Even today he can't do all the things he used to be able to do. He can never play soccer again, he can't play any contact sports, he can't drink... and that's just one man's story. The careers of the Lindros brothers should be example enough for the dangers of concussions in hockey. The league has to do everything they can to prevent these types of hits and these types of injuries. This is not only about hockey, it's about quality of life.

It's up to the BCHL to take a strong stand. Not because I want them to punish the Vipers or to personally hurt Crowell. I hope Vernon has a great season and Crowell's career reaches new heights in years to come. This is about making a statement. These kinds of hits can not be tolerated. It's unacceptable and dangerous when we're dealing with pro athletes who get paid and have insurance. It should be much more unacceptable when we're dealing with unpaid young men whose hockey value is tied to their future.

Lets protect that future.