This past season’s 2008 and 2010 teams were like B teams! The luster of the Esmark is gone.
But I think you can say that for every “AAA” team except for PPE. It’s all watered down now with so many “AAA” teams in WPA. Everyone can be AAA!
Imo - bad penalty for Cooley to take. It wasn’t offsetting wouldn’t have been the right call. Cooley was frustrated, he was getting beat around in the corners easy, most of the game.
Cooley has great speed, talent - there were others kids his same age in that game (even on his team) that looked better.
Yeah, not trying to trash him. He’s an amazing player and has earned all his success so far and I wish him nothing but success. There just seemed to be a trend in his chippy play all season. I don’t know him or his style but it doesn’t seem to fit him. Maybe it’s pressure, or someone told him he needs to be tougher. He is still a kid and they do dumb stuff when frustrated. He’ll figure it out.
I actually think it's quite the opposite. He's done a great job and that shouldn't go unnoticed. But people always feel the need to justify poor decisions of the local player. He messed up and should be held accountable just like any other player from any other city.
The argument of he's only 18-19 shouldn't even be a factor. He's well beyond the level of needing to know the situation and to be able to control himself.
Should've been offsetting penalties. That was a ridiculous call, especially in that situation. Inexcusable by the refs, especially when the refs contradicted each other. Just brutal. Either let them play in that situation or call offsetting minors.
Things have changed. Since the black team have been scaled back there isn't potential influx of kids at the 15O level like there was a few years ago. Also, since the new regime took over a few years ago there just aren't as many local kids on the Midget teams.