Eric Belanger Hates Winnipeg
While talk of possibly moving the Phoenix Coyotes to Winnipeg is getting most hockey fans excited, especially those in Winnipeg, Coyotes forward Eric Belanger is among the minority that are not thrilled with the idea.
While this is just the latest turn in the ongoing saga surrounding his team, Belanger isn't about to ignore the issue and hope it blows over.
He knows that the Coyotes' days in the dessert are likely numbered, but Belanger, who rarely minces words, doesn't see Winnipeg as a dream destination.
“The guys have been talking about it a bit more every day, and the one sure thing is that we want to play in Phoenix and not in Winnipeg,” said Belanger. “Personally, and I won't name any names, but I've chatted with guys that have played (in Winnipeg) and don't want to go back. There are reasons why hockey wasn't working in Winnipeg at the end, I don't see how that would have changed.”
Belanger, who has also played for the Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals says he has nothing against the Winnipeg hockey fans that are desperate to see a team back in their city.
“There are good fans there, but Winnipeg is still Winnipeg,” Belanger said. “In January and February, I doubt that my family would follow me out there for a holiday.”
Belanger added that while the preference of he and his teammates is to stay in Arizona, Quebec would be the front-runner over Winnipeg if they had to choose.
“It's different in Quebec,” Belanger said. “They are the same fans, but the economy seems to really be rolling along. The guys that I talk to loved playing in Quebec. You can't go to practice in shorts and t-shirts like I did this morning, but Quebec is attractive. At least there are things to do there!”
Added Belanger: “In the mind of the players, it's Quebec before Winnipeg, for sure.”
SMALL CROWDS
While he wants to see the Coyotes stay in Phoenix, Belanger doesn't hide the fact that the empty stands at the arena bother players.
“We can't blame our fans,” Belanger said. “It's been two years that they have been wondering if the club would be moving, and they will come back when it is settled.
“When these markets are having trouble, it's less money in our pockets. But do we want to go to Winnipeg for an extra 1 or 2%? I'm not so sure.”
Because what Eric Belanger says matters right? lol. I find it funny, its like he's crying for attention with all those quotes.
“The fans have been talking about it a bit more every day, and the one sure thing is that we want NHL players and not Eric Belanger,” said a loyal Jets fan. “Personally, and I won't name any names, but I've chatted with fans of teams that have had him (Belanger) and don't want him back. There are reasons why Belanger wasn't working out for any team he ever played for, I don't see how that would have changed.”
Belanger's actually a great depth player and team guy, but I can understand Jets fans being upset lol. To be fair, their city sucks balls.
Guess he's not the only one
GLENDALE, ARIZ. - Winnipeg isn't even back in the NHL, yet, but it already has a potential free agent problem.
Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, a soon-to-be free agent who was probably the team's most valuable player the last two seasons, says he'd rather go back to Russia than play in Winnipeg.
"You don't want to go to Winnipeg, right?" Bryzgalov said after the Coyotes lost to Detroit, Wednesday night. "Not many people live there, not many Russian people there. Plus it's cold. There's no excitement except the hockey. No park, no entertaining for the families, for the kids. It's going to be tough life for your family."
The 30-year-old Russian's knowledge of Winnipeg comes from a visit or two when he was with Cincinnati in the AHL.
"I've been there for just once, maybe twice, when I play in minors. It was really cold," Bryzgalov said. "I used the tunnels between the buildings to get to the arena. Because it was minus 40-something. Real cold."
And if he's going to put up with that, he'd rather be back home.
So if the Coyotes move to Winnipeg, Bryzgalov says chances are he wouldn't listen to a contract offer from the new owners.
"Probably not. I better go to somewhere in Russia, KHL, to be honest. Because KHL is Russian people, it's family, friends. Even as a cold place, I can speak to people in Russian language."
A six-year NHL vet who began his career in Anaheim, Bryzgalov has been the backbone of a blue-collar Coyotes team that made the playoffs each of the last two seasons.
He was a second-team NHL all-star a year ago, when he posted a 42-20-6 record and 2.29 goals against average.
This season he was 36-20-10, with a 2.48 GAA.
Coyotes captain Shane Doan Wednesday called him the league's most valuable player.
But Bryzgalov had a terrible first-round playoff series against the Red Wings, allowing 17 goals in the four-game sweep, including Wednesday's winner, a softie from the corner by Detroit's Danny Cleary that broke a 3-3 tie late in the third period.
"Goalies have it two ways: to be a hero, to be a goat," Bryzgalov said. "I'm a goat."
He was also in a difficult situation this season, unable to negotiate a new contract because the Coyotes didn't have a real owner.
"I didn't care about the contract the whole year long," he said. "I not even put it in my mind. I can find a job. It's tough to live with unknown situation. But nothing can do.
"I hope team's going to stay. It's such a nice area, and such nice place to play hockey."
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/04/21/bryzgalov-russian-to-judgment-about-...
suggestion to Bryz: Go back home then.
suggestion to Bryz: Go back home then.
Why are you suggesting something that he said himself he would do?
Honestly, watching Jets fans get all uppity about this is pretty lulz.
Bryzgalov doesn't want to go to Winnipeg because, wait for it....there are no parks.
That's pretty much a gamebreaker. Totally understandable.