DENVER -- Josh Kroenke will now be keeping just as close a watch on power plays as power forwards.
[b]Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys[/b]
.
Already in charge of the Denver Nuggets, Kroenke was announced Friday as
the new president of the Colorado Avalanche. He will take over for
Pierre Lacroix, whos stepping down after 18 seasons and two Stanley Cup
titles. Lacroix will stay with the team as an adviser.
Former team captain Joe Sakic also received a promotion as the Avs
overhauled their front office. Hes now the executive vice-president of
hockey operations and will have a big say on just about everything,
including the next coach after Joe Sacco was fired last month.
Greg Sherman will remain the teams general manager as the Avalanche try
to get back on track after finishing last in the Western Conference and
missing the playoffs for a third straight season.
"I like challenges. Ive never been one to back down from a challenge in
my entire life," Kroenke said. "I dont sleep a lot, because Im
constantly thinking about teams. Im always paying attention and
watching. Im looking forward to taking these things to new heights."
By many, Kroenke is viewed as primarily a basketball guy, especially
since he played at Missouri. The Nuggets won a franchise-record 57 games
this season before bowing out to the Golden State Warriors in the first
round of the playoffs.
In the meantime, the Avalanche languished in Kroenkes three seasons as
the teams governor.
Hes constantly heard the criticism that neglect is the reason for the
Avalanches recent slide. He just shakes his head.
"I dont like losing. Im a very competitive person," said Kroenke, whose
father, Stan, owns the Nuggets, Avalanche, St. Louis Rams and a majority
of the English football club Arsenal. "The hard part about team
building is staying patient. If we can continue to add and draft well,
we will be in a good position in a few years."
If Sakic didnt believe that, he wouldnt have signed on. Kroenke had to
sell Sakic on taking a larger role with the team after spending the last
two seasons serving as the teams executive adviser/alternate governor,
with somewhat undefined responsibilities.
"Were not that far away," Sakic insisted. "But we still have to add
pieces for sure."
Priority No. 1 is finding a coach. Sakic said he wants a leader with a
nurturing nature. After all, the Avs have a young nucleus in place with
Matt Duchene, Ryan OReilly and captain Gabriel Landeskog all under 23.
"We need that winning attitude down in the dressing room," Sakic said.
Over his career with the organization, Lacroix supervised the relocation
of the team from Quebec to Denver and was the architect behind the
championship teams in 1996 and 2001. He assembled a talent-rich lineup
led by Sakic that captured nine straight division titles a decade ago.
Lately, Colorado has fallen on some lean seasons.
"There are cycles to every team," Kroenke said. "There are teams playing
very well in the playoffs right now that were not in a position far off
from where we are several years ago."
By promoting Sakic, the Avs are borrowing a page from the Denver
Broncos, who brought in Hall of Famer John Elway to take over as
executive vice-president and help revive the team. Elway has flourished
in his front office role, just like he once did on the field.
Its a model that Kroenke has carefully monitored.
"Having somebody that has the experience both as a player and as an
executive, such as John or Joe, is very valuable to an organization,"
Kroenke said. "John has only proved that the last few years with the
Broncos."
Sakic was the face of the franchise since the day the team arrived in
the Mile High City before the 1995-96 season. He wore the captains "C"
for 17 seasons and guided the Avalanche to championship titles in 1996
and 2001. He also won league MVP honours in 2001 and was a 13-time
All-Star.
For all of that, the team retired No. 19 in his honour and a
commemorative banner hangs from the Pepsi Center rafters.
"Theres pressure coming with this title," Sakic said. "Im ready for it."
Things got so bad for the Avalanche toward the end of this season that
veteran goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere questioned the teams heart,
enraged that some of the players were more concerned with post-season
vacation plans in Las Vegas than their play on the ice. That ignited
them, too, as the Avs went 3-2-2 down the stretch against teams that had
already clinched or were looking to sew up playoff berths.
Soon after the season, Sacco was fired and Lacroixs son, Eric, left his
position of vice-president of hockey relations.
Colorado owns the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, with defenceman
Seth Jones largely considered the top prospect. Jones was drawn to the
game in part because of Sakics influence when Jones father, Popeye, once
suited up for the Nuggets.
"(Popeye) was a little upset his son wanted to play hockey and didnt
want to play basketball," Sakic said, smiling. "I think it paid off."
Asked if hockey will now be on the same footing as hoops given his new
role, Kroenke said: "Were committed to all of our teams equally.
"Assuming the presidency title of the Avalanche answers that question
very clearly," he continued. "As far as any kind of perceptions out
there -- Greg and Joe can both tell you behind the scenes how passionate
I am, how much sleep I lose."
Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri can vouch for that as well. Ujiri,
who was named the NBAs executive of the year on Thursday, frequently
receives texts from Kroenke at all hours of the night.
"Hes an absolute gem," said Ujiri, who showed up at the news conference
to support Kroenke. "You can see what hes done with the Nuggets and I
bet you its going to be the same way for the Avalanche."
[b]Calgary Flames Shirts[/b] . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St.
[b]Calgary Flames Store[/b]
.C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no
interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions
in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM
Wally Buono last week.
[b]https://www.cheapflames.com/[/b]
.
Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning
streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Long before they developed two of the
better players in America, Iowas Peter Jok and Northern Iowas Jeremy
Morgan were friends and rivals on the states summer hoops circuit.Jok
and Morgan will meet again Saturday in Des Moines.Jok, the nations
leading scorer among Power Five programs at 23.8 points per game, will
lead the Hawkeyes (5-5) against Morgans Panthers (5-4) in the annual
doubleheader featuring Iowas four Division I programs. The other game
pits Iowa State (6-3) against Drake (1-8).The opener features long-time
friends in Jok and Morgan (18.1 points per game), who likely wouldve
played together in Iowa City if coach Fran McCaffery had a scholarship
left for Morgan.Jeremy has always been a terrific player. I saw him as a
young kid. I really wanted to have him badly, McCaffery said. But we
felt like Pete was the best fit at that time. If we had two or three
scholarships he would have been offered without hesitation.McCaffery
went with Jok over Morgan because he needed a shooter and he certainly
got one. Jok has already scored at least 30 points three times this
season and is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.Morgan took longer
to develop, but hes turned into one of the nations top overall players
as a senior. Morgan is also averaging 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3
steals and nearly 2 blocks per game -- and he scored 38 points in the
second half of last weeks win over North Dakota.I knew that he would
come out and be a great leader, which hes been, Jok said of Morgan. I
keep a watch out for them every time they play because theyve got a lot
of Iowa guys over there.But Jok and Morgan wont be the only guys suiting
up for the final time for an event once known as the Big Four Classic.
Here are some of the other story lines to follow:STRUGGLING CYCLONESIowa
State tumbled out of the Top 25 for the first time in three years on
Monday after droppinng three of its last four.
[b]Cheap Flames Jerseys[/b].
Thats bad news for the Bulldogs, who will be playing for just the
second time after coach Ray Giacolettis abrupt resignation . The
Cyclones have improved defensively, but their high-powered offense has
struggled of late. Expect them to take their frustrations out on Drake,
which hung with Iowa in this event a year ago.YOUNG HAWKSIowas next
three top scorers after Jok are freshmen, whove made McCafferys
rebuilding efforts seem ahead of schedule. Perhaps the most promising
newcomer is Dubuque (Iowa) Wahlert product Cordell Pemsl, who has
averaged 17 points a game since entering the starting lineup. Pemsl has
even evoked comparisons to former Iowa State star Georges Niang because
of his unique ability to score inside.PANTHER POWERMorgan, like Jok, is
scoring at a career-high clip partly because his team needs him to. The
Panthers dont have a ton of established players, but redshirt freshman
Spencer Haldeman and junior Klint Carlson have begun to emerge are key
pieces and forward Bennett Koch is shooting 61 percent from the
field.DRAKE TAKEThe Bulldogs havent beaten a Division I opponent yet, so
its tough to find much positive about the Bulldogs. But junior guard
Reed Timmer is a keeper, averaging 15.7 points a game, and junior
college transfer T.J. Thomas has strengthened Drakes frontcourt. The
Bulldogs also nearly beat DePaul and Fresno State before Giacoletti
walked away.NOT SO NEUTRALThe doubleheader was conceived in part because
Iowa and Iowa State were tired of their annual home-and-home
arrangements with Northern Iowa. Still, the Panthers beat Iowa in 2014
and Iowa State last year in Des Moines. UNI also pushed the Cyclones to
overtime in 2013.---More college basketball at
www.collegebasketball.ap.org
'
'
'
