Monday's musings . . .

If you are a WHL fan, you will be aware that the Tri-City Herald published the results of its 20th annual Best of the West on Sunday.
What you may not be aware of is that Don Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, is livid.
And you know what? He should be.
The subject of Hay’s ire is the fact that Vancouver G Tyson Sexsmith was voted the Western Conference’s most over-rated player.
(Voting for this survey is done by players, management people and broacasters involved with the 10 teams in the Western Conference. According to the Herald, “33 ballots were returned, 11 fewer than last season.” Participants were asked not to vote for anyone in their own organizations. Each ballot asked respondents to rank the top four in each category, with points given on a 4-3-2-1 system. Players are ranked by percentage of points received.)
Sexsmith (43.8 per cent) was named the most over-rated player, ahead of Everett Silvertips G Leland Irving (35.4), Seattle Thunderbirds C Jim O’Brien (32.1), Kelowna Rockets D Tyson Myers (20.2), Tri-City Americans C Jason Reese (17.8) and Chilliwack Bruins LW Mark Santorelli (16.5).
All of which proves only that the time has come for the Herald to retire this category.
How anyone can make the claim that Sexsmith is over-rated is beyond the grasp of Hay’s ability to reason. And I am inclined to agree.
All Sexsmith did last season is take over the starting role with the Giants and backstop them to the Memorial Cup. Last season, as a 17-year-old, he went 31-12-2-6 with a 1.79 GAA and a .915 save percentage in the regular season, then went 14.7, 1.79, .914 in the playoffs. And then he went and won a Memorial Cup ring.
He accomplished all of this last season knowing that all the Doubting Thomases were saying the Giants were going to have to trade for a goaltender. A lot of people, myself included, were of the opinion that Sexsmith wouldn’t be able to carry the load after G Dustin Slade, 20, quit on the Giants, meaning GM Scott Bonner was going to have to trade for a veteran stopper. Sexsmith could have collapsed like a cheap suitcase on a wet Vancouver street. Instead, he stood tall, quieted the skeptics, and slid a ring onto his finger.
This season, Sexsmith is 36-10-2-5, 1.98, .908.
Under-rated a year ago? Without a doubt.
Over-rated now? Not a chance.
--------
You could also make a case that C Oscar Moller of the Chilliwack Bruins isn’t the player most valuable to his team. He won the category with 56 per cent of the points, but he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up as his Bruins struggle to stay ahead of the Kamloops Blazers in the race to stay out of eighth place in the conference.
Of course, voting took place in mid-January, before Moller’s stick had turned colder than a witch’s heart.
Tri-City LW Colton Yellow Horn finished third in the voting. He leads the WHL with 45 goals. His Americans have made a rather impressive charge to the top of the overall standings. Either he or Tri-City G Chet Pickard should have won this category. Pickard didn’t finish in the top six.
————————
It hard to argue with other categories, although there definitely is food for thought in some of them:
Best 16-year-old: D Tyson Barrie, Kelowna.
Best goaltender: Pickard.
Most valuable to team: Moller.
Toughest player: D Benn Olson, Seattle.
Best skater: D Thomas Hickey, Seattle.
Most accurate shot: Yellow Horn.
Top faceoff man: C Mario Bliznak, Vancouver.
Hardest shot: RW Dan Gendur, Everett.
Top referee: Andy Thiessen.
Best fans: Everett.
Top coach: Don Nachbaur, Tri-City.
Top executive: Scott Bonner, Vancouver.
Best stay-at-home defenceman: Luke Schenn, Kelowna.
Best overage player: Yellow Horn.
Top rookie: LW Jamie Benn, Kelowna.
Most irritating player: RW Garet Hunt, Vancouver.
Top defensive forward: Bliznak.
Most under-rated player: C Colin Long, Kelowna.
Most improved player: Long.
Best pro prospect: Moller.
————————
MONDAY MUSINGS: The Red Deer Rebels, having been doubled 8-4 by the visiting Kootenay Ice on Saturday, practised twice on Sunday and once on Monday. “Just a few reminders,” head coach Brian Sutter told the Red Deer Advocate. . . . Red Deer D Cullen Morin took more than 30 stitches in his chest after a goal-post collision; he also took a stick to the sternum. D Mike Scarborough (shoulder) also is questionable. The Rebels may add D Alex Petrovic, the 33rd pick in the 2007 bantam draft, now that his midget AAA team, the Edmonton Maple Leafs, has had its season come to an end. He played three games with the Rebels earlier in the season. . . . The status of the Brandon Wheat Kings’ three 20-year-olds is still up in the air. D Daryl Boyle (shoulder), C Tyler Dittmer (broken finger) and D Theran Yeo (ankle) likely will be sidelined when the team opens a six-game homestand Wednesday against the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . .
————————
MONDAY IN THE WHL:
In Portland, the Prince George Cougars skated to a 4-1 victory over the Winter Hawks in an afternoon game played on the Presidents’ Day holiday. . . . The Cougars (17-49-1-3) have won two in a row, both on the road. . . . The Winter Hawks (9-50-1-1) have lost 16 in a row and dressed just 14 skates because of injuries. . . . Prince George G Real Cyr stopped 40 shots. . . . Prince George F Parker Stanfield scored, giving him five goals over his last five games. He has 11 goals this season. . . . Prince George captain Greg Gardner got his 20th goal of the season.