http://www.tigershockey.com/article/tigers-release-defenceman-alex-theriau
Medicine Hat -- The Medicine Hat Tigers announced today the team has released 20-year-old defenceman Alex Theriau.
Theriau had been activated from the Injured Reserve on Monday. With the move, the Tigers are now in compliance with the Western Hockey League maximum of three 20-year-old players on the roster, with Elgin Pearce, Derek Ryckman and Cam Lanigan remaining.
Lanigan was acquired from the Portland Winterhawks on October 17th in exchange for a 7th round pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, giving the Tigers four overagers. Since he joined the club, the Tigers have posted a 6-2-0-0 record, with Lanigan going 5-2-0-0 alongside a goals against average of 2.36 and a .933 save percentage. Lanigan was also named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for September/October.
“We are pleased with the effort and performance of our team over the last eight games,” stated General Manager and Head Coach Shaun Clouston.
“This is a decision to maintain the current active roster.”
Theriau, a native of Duncan, B.C. played in 85 regular season games with the Tigers, totalling 4 goals, 22 assists for 26 points to go along with 69 penalty minutes over that time.
“We would like to thank Alex for his time and contributions to the Tigers,” concluded Clouston.
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Not sure what to say. I am a little shocked by this.
I think Theriau is too good of a player to not be playing in this league. If another whl team were to pick him up they would virtually get a #1 line pairing defenseman for free. Possible 2nd line pairing on a deep team.
63 comments:
Kinda figured this would happen, they possibly offered him out to see if he would draw back at least some interest from other WHL teams or a draft pick in trade compesation, but with his injury history no one including the Tigers were likely to take the risk on the uncertainty of his status.
I'd expect the Ice too pick him up and give him a shot given their current need for a 20 with Czerwonka no longer on the team.
It was the right move
Tough but had to be done. I am sure no one was willing to give anything up for him as most teams have all the 20 year old they need. And why would the ice when they know he will be released and they can grab him for free.
Tiger turf, did you not feel that Theriau lacked the physicality that Ryckman brings to the team? He was a decent dman but Ryckman seems more effective. I do hope he lands somewhere, probably Kooteney.
Reading the article in the paper this morning it sound like he's a litle bitter about his release and I can't say as I blame him. Injury plagued year last season that he played through and after having surgery and gone through re-hab he's released without playing a game. I think both he and Ryckman have their strong points, Derek more physical and a little more willing to drop the mitts when he has to and Theriau a better puck handler.Was probably a coin flip between the two but in the end the team decided to keep the guy that's been playing. Really can't say they made a right or wrong decision.
I haven't read the paper yet, but I would understand if Theriau was pissed off. If I were him I'd be extremely pissed.
I don't want to take anything away from Ryckman because he has been a great addition but it is in my opinion that Theriau is the better player.
I would have thought they would have more loyalty to Alex considering what he has been through. If they weren't going to keep him they maybe should have given him a heads up before this.
They weren't loyal to Kessy or Dieno or Cameron etc so would you expect anything different? To rehab that long and get treated this way is embarrassing and bush league. I guess he misses out on that generous 50 dollar gift cert to the pro shop at Christmas now? :)
So you would rather keep a guy that may or may not be healthy down the stretch over a guy that stands up for his team mates and is very sound defensively and he is always healthy..........wow
Calling into a question a team's loyalty seems a bit silly here. The real issue is Cam Lanigan. Had they not picked him up then Theriau, Ryckman and Pearce would be the 20's.
They get Lanigan, go on a bit of a tear and the team wisely decides not to alter the chemistry.
Tigers have plenty of d-men capable of putting up points (not Alex's strength anyway) so if you can improve your toughness and keep the positive vibe in the dressing room, it makes a rather easy decision to part with Theriau.
And given his injury history, who knows how long he would have held up etc. It's a business...guys get cut, you pick the ones you think will help you win. End of story.
FYI, Lanigan (20yr old)would not be here if Langhamer would have showed up to play. Clouston really screwed up a good thing. He is now trying to stop the bleeding then picked the scab by cutting Theriau. Theriau belongs in whl as does everyone else that committed to tigers and got cut. It sure appears to me that things were much better when Brad ran the show. A nhl draft pick/tigers euro pick sure gets special treatment and ripple effect has implication on Theriau. And he is a dud and Clouston still keeps him as a backup. Not dumping on GM here , just poiting out the obvious to me.
If it aint broke , don't fix it!
Looks like Langhamer dud has caused another tiger move. Because we had to get a goalie(20) Theriau gets bumped. So far my count is 3 guys cut for a backup euro. Then what are we doing for a goalie next year. Pretty expensive euro pick IMO. And tigers had to get him goalie equipment, not sure what euro education costs, but probably much more than a local guy. $$$$$
Just to refresh your memory anon 2:07, Brad was the gm when the euro draft took place and not Clouston.
Inside Scoop: This is the article which was run yesterday in the local newspaper. It was an interview between Alex Theriau and Sean Rooney of the Medicine Hat News ,"Overager released
SEAN ROONEY
srooney@medicinehatnews.com
The business of hockey can get ugly at times, and on Tuesday Alex Theriau got caught in the crossfire.
The 20-year-old defenceman who played through excruciating pain last year was released by the Medicine Hat Tigers, less than a week after he was cleared to play after off-season hip surgery.
“Injuries are challenging, and he’s done a great job working hard to get himself back in shape,” said Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston. “The decision was to remain with the status quo.”
Medicine Hat had to make a move one way or another because it had four 20-year-olds on the roster: Theriau, WHL goaltender of the month Cam Lanigan, top-line centre Elgin Pearce and 6-foot-4 blueliner Derek Ryckman. Canadian Hockey League teams can only carry three on their active roster after mid-October, and the Tigers had a week after Theriau’s return to decide who to keep.
Theriau is the only one of those four who played with the team last year, picked up in a deadline day deal in 2011 from Everett. The 6-foot-1 Duncan, B.C. native had four goals, 22 assists and a plus-30 rating in 85 regular season games in the orange and black.
He wasn’t happy with how he was released.
“I had no chance to prove myself,” he said via cellphone Tuesday night. “I had figured I’d earned the respect of the coaching staff, to at least be given an opportunity. To at least get in for a game.”
He wasn’t, in large part because of how well the newcomers have fared. Lanigan was brought in from Portland and has a sparkling 1.96 goals against average and league-best .939 save percentage. Pearce has six goals and 12 assists in 16 games since being traded from Kootenay. Ryckman has three assists, a plus-7 rating and 36 penalty minutes and came via an off-season acquisition from Tri-City.
“The decision wasn’t really down to one person versus another person,” said Clouston. “It was a situation where we can continue with the roster that we’ve had for the last eight games that’s really rounded a corner and worked hard together and persevered and come out the other side, or we could make a change to that roster.
“It’s been a big turnaround and to me it’s a vote of confidence for the guys that are in the dressing room to remain status quo.”
That was small consolation to Theriau, drafted by the Dallas Stars 109th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He felt he’d earned his stripes by toughing out the injury through last year’s playoff run, and felt a bit blindsided by Tuesday’s move.
“I thought I’d be the guy to stay for sure,” he said. “I was excited to get back in the lineup and just to be given a shot to prove that I deserved to stay.”
Instead he’s driving back home to play junior A with the Cowichan Capitals, where his dad is a scout and where he’s skated in the off-season the past couple years. He says his hip feels “strong, completely ready to play.”
He noted his first playoff run with the team, when Medicine Hat got to the conference finals before being swept by Kootenay, was his career highlight with the squad.
Clouston noted both Edmonton and Kootenay both have spots for an overager, but he opted to not try and make a trade since the Tigers had no bargaining power due to being over the limit.
“We felt it was the best thing to do, give him an opportunity to pursue whatever comes up,” said Clouston.
Is this really how we want to treat these players who we are trusted in , to take care of these kids while they travel away from their homes. To pursue their life long goals?
Anon 929
So you're saying theriau didn't stand up for his team mates? Give your head a shake. You could have 4 guys go down with concussions in a week. Or playoff situation we had with lots of injuries. I didn't realize you had a crystal ball and could predict who was "always healthy". Wow is right.
If he's so sound why isn't he playing pro somewhere? Amusing. Brad treated players with more fairness and respect is the point people are making. Clouston has no clue for the future it would appear. He's created some bigger problems down the line to bandaid things now. Without etem and bunz last year it would have been ugly. A good coach knows how to get the best from everyone. Not screw quality players / kids over. I can't see him lasting in both roles long.
Thanks for posting article. Kinda puts all this in perspective from the players point of view. Sure makes Tigers mgmt look like they are exploiting young people for their personal gain. What protection do these boys have? Appears WHL/CHL should be held accountable as well as tigers GM. Returning from injury is covered in human rights, which are violated here. Is there no dignity withTigers or sports? Who is looking out for the BOYS? Note , they sign contract under duress. HR opinion .
I would hazard that the coaches and GM would be in the best position to determine which player would be of most value to the club. As fans we all have our opinions but we're not in the dressing room seeing who responds well to what and who gets along.
Theriau is a decent defenceman but not a lock by any stretch as a 20-year old. Maybe he doesn't have the best attitude or maybe the other 20's have bonded better with their teammates than he ever did.
Tough to say, but I think the Tigers made the right call. Ryckman doesn't get scored on much and adds significant toughness - something these same fans lamenting the loss of Theriau have ragged on the Tigers not having enough of for the last 10 years.
I am not sure why we needed to feel much for Theriau. All the guys know this is a busniess and the next level is even more cut throat. Clouston had to stick with a team who was playing well. Apparently the vibe is the dressing room is awesome. Why wreck that? We do not see a lot of what goes on, so don't be so quick to judge. As for Langhammer, it is always a risk getting a Euro, it was a good move that did not pan out how they hoped. It was not purely Clouston. The team of scouts would have agreed, and given that he was drafted around the same spot as Bunz, it was a good risk. You don't win all the rolls of the dice.
Scouts are all the same. Check the stats. If you ran a business and were wrong or made mistakes half the time or more on your decisions, you would be bankrupt. Check for yourself. See how many current players in the whl were never drafted or have been acquired through non draft means. Ultimately though these scouts will always look through rose coloured glasses at their draft picks to protect their ego. The drafted kids always get more rope to screw up. It's just the way the game is. Kind of pathetic really. There is no loyaly except to cover their own behinds. Isn't clouston on his 4th marriage or something? How loyal do you think he is haha. Theriau got shafted for sure. Not the first kid and not the last. Try pulling this stuff in a real job? One wonders how it continues to go on this way. Parents keep buying the crap they're being sold. The kids take huge risks and potential lifelong health issues for what? 80 bucks every cpl weeks and no protection or security for what theriau just dealt with? Hard to blame him for being bitter!
how does Theriau stand up for team mates honestly? we are talking he drops his gloves and goes after a guy (like Ryckman did when Cox got elbowed) he got in 3 fights last year (all the fights he had as a Tiger) every single one of them was off the draw and he lost every single one of them (none were even close) and whats fair to Ryckman losing a spot because the guy played here before? thats insane, Clouston/Brad knew this team was getting older and need to get rid of some of the older non producing players (Dieno and Hurley) so he could play players like Labelle/Penner/Stanford/Butcher it was a smart move for the future and cutting Theriau was a very intelligent GM move especially since he could get hurt again
I think it was easy to see cutting Theriau was the wrong decision.
Last night Ryckman turned the puck over twice and failed back to back chances trying to get the puck out of the zone in the first 8 minutes of lasts nights game.
Also which warrior was the one who blew past Ryckman for the tieing goal at 2-2?
The majority of his outlet passes are up the boards low percentage plays.
The fact Theriau was not picked up by another team speaks volumes. No one wants him. It is a business first. The Tiger excutives had to make the best team they could and that was minus theriau. Poor form for him to whine. I know Clouston, he is a straight guy, Theriau would have been told the team has to move along and his position is at risk. Also, bull that he did not get a chance to "prove" himself. He was at practices and probably did not look as good. Also, we have seen him all last year. He is a risk being post injury. The right decision was made. Theriau should have been a man and went out with class not whining.
All teams cut players so don't paint the Tigers as a mean team for doing so. It is part of the business and happens every year onEVERY TEAM.
His stats were not very convincing to keep him. If he was such a good player another team would have grabbed him. Things have a way of settling where they should and he should probably be 1st line Ina lower league. His play was never inspiring.
boo boo businiess is worse every game..
I can see why tigerturf thinks theriau is better.
Ryckman is a bit slow and needs to improve his first pass out of the zone. He didn't have a good game tonight.
Good teams puts people in seats. Crappy teams keep fans at home. They picked the team with the best shot of doing well and filling seats.
Sorry guys and girls no recaps this weekend I am out of town.
Someone just commented about me censoring posts....
I'm not going to let personal stuff regarding the coaches life on here.
Their have also been 5-6 comments that have been bashing clouston/tigers for his decision to release Theriau that I have had to delete because they have gone a little too far.
This game tonight proves why the Tigers aren't playoff material they got completely hammered all night, every shift. Thats a team the Tigers should try to be moving forward with the program the only players who showed up were Langian (D did not help him) Doty/Ryckman (only players who went after Stahl after those hits, after Doty talked to him he didn't hit anybody as well) and Labelle was on fire tonight......Hunter was completely frustrated all night and there is a player on this team that everybody on this form including my self wanted gone, Staples played better than him and he cant watch a man in front of the net not to mention for a "power play specialist" he cost us valuable seconds on a pp because of his puck control in his own zone......bottom line he needs to go, he is responsible for 2 goals tonight because of his defensive play and if we want to actually have a shot at making the playoffs he cant be wearing a tigers uniform
Hunter had 2 points. Man, you standars are high. I wish my bad night included 2 points!!! What game were you watching??
Bashing the same guy over and over again after a loss is getting old. There were mistakes by a number of different players last night that lead to goals against and that's why it's a team game, win and lose as a group. Fact is the Tigers don't match up well against teams that are very physical against them like Victoria was last night because of the size of our forward group. Saskatoon played the same way the first time we played them and it was the same result.
I think your wrong Anon 1:31, I think many people on this forum would rather see the gutless and clueless anonymous posts from posters like yourself who only complain after loses to be gone. When in your opinion only Lanigan, Ryckman, Doty and Labelle showed up it just goes to prove that you don't know much about hockey.
It was an off night but they battled back to within one goal a few times so they never quit. Our defence struggled but Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Kamloops, Lethbridge all lost as well. Does that mean they will never compete because they lost one game? We were 7-1 going into last night's game and we are a rebuilding team. For the most part we are doing great but there will always be nights when nothing goes right. I'm hoping some of the posts on here are by people that are younger than 14 and that would explain some of the logic!
Boys !! He played hurt the entire year! His character showed last year. He didn't fold the tent !! That in itself shows class.
-10 from a vet terrible No guts no glory!
ah Stan i ask you when a player runs two 16 year olds and the only player who does something is Ryckman (yaps at him something along the lines if you keep taking runs you deal with me) and Doty did the same thing at the end of the whistle then the guy they talk to doesn't take any more runs they did their role, now Ryckman has more of a bigger role but that is one of his roles, he was also the only physical dman (saw a bit from everyone) on a consistent basis, Labelle is used in a energy role and he was hitting everybody left and right and doing his part. How can you honestly blae Lanigan for that game 3 goals were a side to side pass followed by a one timer, extrememly difficult to stop doesnt help that the Dmen (frequently mentioned on this form) wasnt covering his man and was just standing in front of the crease with their dman in the slot being covered by Bredo, he should of seen that and moved over to take away the one timer but he makes this mistake on a regular basis. Hunters one assist was because of a rebound to Pierce he didnt do anything to set it up now add in his goal was also a beautiful setup by Pierce other than those two plays he was rubbed out of the game. But i mean Stan with your thinking ability that has been shown on this form I think you should watch some more tapes
Proving again the clueless part Anon (by the way still no name anon, shows you have no confidence in what your saying). Read again, I didn't say Ryckman, Doty or Labelle played poor or blame Lanigan for any goals as I wouldn't stoop to your level...obviously you don't get it. Personally I like the way guys like Leier, Labelle and Lewington play and the effort they give, but at least I can understand systems and positional responsibilities, its ok if you don't get it but then just don't criticize something you don't understand.
The only reason the Tigers have an impressive record is because Langian has bailed them out in almost every case
The Team is driven to suceed.Keep giving credit to everyone on the team.
Can you believe just how much a kid can get burried by one team and move on and just emerge as the real player that they have always been on the new team? Thanks Kootenay!
i have noticed that anony has a good grasp of the game when the tigers lose, it is always the same guy on the ice that loses the game according to you, if you are not man enough to leave your name please don't comment this is a team game and we can all go through the game and pick out mistakes by everyone, william t
I sit in section 16 come find me if you want to debate
Yes I agree The Kootenay Ice should be ashamed of how they treated him. Looks like a good deal for The Tigers@
Inside Scoop: Theriau has just been picked up by the Regina Pats.
Glad to hear Theriau found a team but I wonder if its permanent.
Overage defenceman Colton Jobke suffered a cut hand and is out indefinitly.
Regina. really? Well at least our guys know what side of the ice to carry the puck up! I am not a Theriau fan. I wish the kid luck there and hope he finds a fresh start but way always disappointed that he would not drop the gloves or stand up for his team mates!
I can not see where Theriau was picked up? The Regina site is not saying anything.
Blown hip and you wanted him fighting? He fought through injury the whole year with a well documented injury. Get a life!
I can't find any public info anywhere either.
Inside scoop has nailed a couple trades right on the money as well as brought to our attention that theriau was released before it was made public.
Not the teams problem of his bad hip. If he cant play properly, get the hip fixed, simple
Why was Valk not an invite to the Subway Series.... Its more than a popularity contest CHL/WHL.....
Both Dallas and the Tigers pushed him to delay surgery until the off-season.
There were years other then last that Theriau did not show much in the way of standing up for his teammates. Just prefer Ryckman, that is all. Wish Theriau all the best as I said.
But when it comes down to it, I am a Tiger fan and want to see the best team they can put out there. I think that is with Ryckman. Whether the Tigers/Dallas told Theriau to keep playing or not does not play into it too much. I just want to see the best player play, and we will! I love that Ryckman stands up for him teammates and finishes his checks!
Inside Scoop : Check Twitter.
Inside Scoop: Regina Pats have an article posted on their site about acquiring Theriau.
Just looking at Regina Pats schedule. Seems Theriau will get lots of games to get back in the groove, before Christmas.
He will be great with the younger kids. I also know he worked with Doty alot to help his game. Theriau gave him some confidence to not only fight but to play a bigger role with the Tigers. Suggested to Doty to bring a big hit or two early in a game , to set the tone. I know they got along very well, while Theriau was here.
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