I think if you met Tyler Alos just walking down the street, and didn't know he was a Seattle Thunderbird, I think you'd like him. He's a pretty humble guy, even self- deprecating at times. More importantly I think he's a team-first, not a me-first, kind of guy and that makes it easy to root for him.
So his struggle to score a goal, any goal, the first half of the season was frustrating...for him, for the fans, heck probably even for the Zamboni driver. You really want a guy like that to succeed.
I don't think anyone picked Game #28 or December 10th in the office pool as the first time he'd score but now that the task is out of the way, let's hope he relaxes a bit and more goals start coming his way. Nice that it came on a night when he also contributed with a big assist and the T-birds won the game.
The team certainly doesn't want to make a habit of losing a 3-goal third period lead and having to win in a shootout, but when you're riding a three game losing streak you don't care how you win, just as long as you win.
It was a night of firsts for the T-birds. Conner Honey earned his first WHL point and Like Alos, Colin Jacobs scored his first goal as well. CoJac sure doesn't look like the time off for surgery and rehab affected his game. He looks to be in mid-season form.
Don't blame Calvin Pickard for the three goals the Royals scored on that 3-minute power play. Those were some well placed shots through screens. Once again Picks was fabulous in goal and made some huge saves once momentum had swung in Victoria's favor.
You may not have been happy that the Royals were awarded that 3-minute power play (I thought the Walker penalty deserved more than two minutes. I don't believe the hit was with malice but its the kind of play the league and hockey are trying to eliminate) but if the T-birds are better than 1-for-9 on their own power play chances, then it's all a moot point. Even knowing the results of that three minute advantage in which the Royals scored thrice, I'm not going to criticize Justin Hickman for sticking up for his teammate, and the team's leading scorer, Burke Gallimore.
Back to Connor Honey for a moment. Two games is a small sample size (I don't think he's had a chance to practice with the team yet, basically off the plane and into the lineup) but I like his physical, attacking style. I think its only a matter of time before he pots his first WHL goal.
Connor has a twin brother Curtis, who is a goalie (he's on the protected list of another WHL team so unless there is a trade we won't have Honey, Honey playing for the 'Birds). Connor says they are not identical twins, so if they were side-by-side you'd be able to tell them apart.
When Honey was playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL earlier this season he billeted with a local Green Bay family that had season tickets to the Packers. So, while he was there he got to go to a few NFL games at Lambeau Field. There are a lot of envious Packer fans as those tickets are hard to come by.
I doubt he mistook the Packers for his hometown Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL but they do sport the same green and yellow color scheme.
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