What's In A Name? The Real Smokin' Ray?

I'm sure some of you have noticed that my friends that know me outside of the Oilogosphere, call me Brent once in a while. Well that's my real name. Brent Huska.

WHAT?!?

When I started up the blog, I needed a name to use - using a real name never occurred to me for some reason- so I went with Smokin' Ray Burnt. I've been known as SRB for quite some time, long before blogging about the Edmonton Oilers.

I am a musician in my spare time and if you know the blues genre, everybody has a cool name. So I chose Smokin' Ray Burnt.

Here's how I came up with it.

Ever since I was a little gaffer I've been called Burnt by my immediate family. Brent... Burnt... I guess you can see the connection. So in reality, I didn't make Burnt up. It was given to me whether I liked it or not.

While I was in my 20's, I wore 77 for a slo-pitch team and Derek, one of my buddies from back home, started calling me Ray Burnt in reference to Ray Bourque. Not sure why, - remember this was a ball team and not a hockey team -but he did. The Ray Burnt part stuck with me after that season and beyond.

Shortly after I was called RB by Derek, I started to record some of my blues music and I was going to post it on various music sites to get my music out to the masses. Like I said above, every blues guy has a cool name and I needed to come up with something catchy. BB King isn't BB King. BB stands for Blues Boy King. That's catchy. I needed that too. I smoke, so naturally I came up with the name Smokin' Ray Burnt.

Long story short, I put out some music and the name stuck, and to be honest, I really like the name. It has staying power and people seem to remember it.

Shortly after all the music stuff happened, I started posting on the Oilers message boards and at OilersNation.com and I stayed with the Smokin' Ray name. It became my posting handle. Everybody has one.

Once I decided to go ahead and create OilersJambalaya.com, I also decided to continue to use the SRB name. I was hoping some people would recognize the name from those sites and it would draw readers to this site. I wasn't trying to hide anything, I just took a name and I ran with it. For the most part it's worked.

There is some people who have known my name for a long time like David Staples, Scott from OilFieldHockey.com and Eric Rodgers as examples. It's funny, cause even they know my real name, and they still call me Ray.

I figured at some point a fake name would get me into trouble. Like the time David invited me to a game and I had to go to the Edmonton Journal office to get my tickets. I walked up to the security office and asked them if they had any ticket pick ups for Brent Huska. Nope. Oh... I mean Smokin' Ray Burnt. He just snickered and shook his head and passed me the tickets. I'm so glad I didn't have to prove ID. Haha!

So now I'm at a crossroad. Look around the Oilogosphere and you will see that there is a small handful of people that don't use pen names and I'm thinking that maybe I should too. It's not like I'm ever going to get accredited, but if I ever did, I sure as hell couldn't use SRB.

Plus, I have nothing to hide. I write from my heart and I'm just your everyday normal guy who's slightly obsessed with the Oilers. It doesn't matter what name I use, I'll still mouth off my opinions.

MY QUESTION TO YOU: What should I do?

Should I continue on as Smokin' Ray Burnt like you know me now?

Or go by the name I was born with, Brent Huska?

Or Does it even matter at all?

Voice your opinion. Vote in the poll above or comment below. Or just tell me to shut up.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY BURNT OR BRENT HUSKA???-

"TWIN TOWERS" of Slovakia

The moment you hear 'Twin Towers', it brings to mind the great towers of New York City. They were considered to be great buildings, incredibly strong towers that could withstand almost anything. That was a day of horror for most of us, but mostly for the family and friends who lost loved ones. In no way do I mean to make light of what happened that day when the towers came down, but since that time, a lot of things have changed. Anyone building towers today, does so with security at mind. The requirements are extraordinary and it's no small task to perform laying out the foundation.

Today, while Edmonton still sits in limbo, while decisions are trying to be made with a new arena district (which by the way, will stimulate towers to be built up and around the arena) I am referring today to TWIN TOWERS as in 'players'. Yes! As in Marincin and Gernat. Both of these boys are no stranger to 'the air up there'.

Martin Marincin 

6'4 187 lbs (19 yrs old)

7 Games 0 Goals 5 assists = 5 Points / +2

Martin Gernat

6'5 191 lbs (18 yrs old)

9 Games 5 Goals 8 assists = 13 Points / +5

There is some discrepancy in the height and weight between the Oilers website and the respective WHL teams sites. The WHL stats support what was written from the Oilers 2011 Development camp numbers, so I have gone with the numbers posted on the WHL sites.

Last season, Marincin really had a coming out party upon arriving in Prince George to play for the cougars hockey team. His stats were looking good (point a game basically) and continued til around the 2/3rd mark of the year. At that point, his point production slowed down and well as his body it seemed. No one can really say with certainty what it was but Marincin appeared to have had hit a wall in development. At least in physical ability. After being drafted in 2011 Gernat (former teammate and good friend) also was now among the Oilers organization. The two together came to development camp in June 2011 to work hard, impress and learn the North American game.

Coming out of the Rookie Camp this September 2011, both players have impressed the management and coaches, but it is still believed there is more development needed. Marincin was sent back to the Prince George Cougars as a 2nd year player in the CHL and Gernat was assigned to his new club, the Edmonton Oil Kings. Difference between the two is very little, but there are some differences. Currently Gernat is tearing up the WHL and sitting first in points among defenceman and first among rookies. While Marincin is thought to be more of an offensive defenceman then Gernat, I tend to see it the other way around. 14 months separates the two in age but other then that, there are not many things different.

Gernat has started well, just as Marincin started last year well. Gernat is tall and around the same weight as Marincin was entering the WHL. Both are fairly quick skaters and very agile at their height, both like to handle the puck on their sticks and both can tend to be caught out of position occasionally trying to go for the puck, rather then sometimes taking the man.

 I had a chance to meet their billet. (he is from Slovakia himself originally and has even helped Hemsky when he came over years ago) He went on to say that both were coached by Marincin's father in Slovakia and have been good friends growing up. (explains how close they were at development camp). However he said they both wanted to come over early in their hockey career to gain greater knowledge of the positionally and systems play that is only found in North America. Skating, stick work, those things are taught to all in Slovakia, but systems and positionally play are vastly different in Canada and the U.S.

Coming back to my nickname of the 'TWIN TOWERS' for them...to build large towers, you need a strong foundation. In the past, teams in the NHL , including our Edmonton Oilers have rushed the foundation building process of our defenceman. Is it possible, we just need to be a little more patient with these two big boys? Maybe, all we need to do is let our skills and development coaches do their job and in a few year's we could potentially have 2 if not at least 1, good defenceman sitting in our ranks. I truly do see nothing but good things from these TWIN TOWERS in the near future, I only hope we as a fanbase can be patient in seeing that come to fruition.

NOTE: It has been mentioned that it seems Marincin did not come back this year much bigger then he left at the end of last season. This in all likelihood will need to be a area to work on before next years training camp. I also believe the reason we have not seen the high point production out of Marincin in the WHL out of the gate, is due to the work he is doing on his systems and positional play. Sometimes to make a point production play, means you have to be out of position and that could end up in your own net.(It appears Marincin is one of the higher rated plus/minus players on the team currently) Hopefully Gernat, pays close attention to the path the development coaches have him on and works on the systems and positional play this year as well. While his offence has been great, he will need to shore things up a little more on his own back end. Guess time will only tell if Gernat ends up like Marincin where it appears after a good chunk of time, his body just wears down on him with all the travel and games played. One thing that has been mentioned between Gernat and Marincin, is Gernat appears to be a little more filled out in how he looks and carries his big body on the ice. Marincin last year appeared sometimes more gangly like, when transitioning with the puck.

One thing to be certain, with these two boys manning the Oil blueline in the future, looks are definitely looking up. "Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, I present to you...The Mighty Marincin and the Great Gernat!"

For continued information on Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

Taylor Chorney Has Been Claimed!

In what I'll call a stunning move, the St. Louis Blues have claimed Oilers defenceman Taylor Chorney off of waivers. Sounds like he's going to get a good shot with the Blues. Good for him, bad for the OKC Barons. They were expecting him to help the team out.

Good luck Taylor!

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Stockton Thunder Regular Season Begins Friday

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two time recipient of the ECHL “Award of Excellence,” is scheduled to host “Opening Night” at Stockton Arena this Friday at 7:30 p.m. which serves as the launching of the 2011-12 ECHL season against the Colorado Eagles.

More than just a game to start the new season, it will be a historic night in the ECHL. The Thunder will welcome the Eagles, who will play their inaugural game after spending the previous eight seasons in the Central Hockey League.

A perfect complement to the refrigerator, filing cabinet or desk, the first 2,000 fans (ages 18 and over) in attendance at Stockton Arena will receive a collectible Thunder magnetic schedule.

The Thunder will also add a new feature to the fans’ game night experience. A new goal horn at Stockton Arena has been installed and will be unveiled when the Thunder scores its first goal of the game.

The horn, supplied to the team upon its ECHL membership move from Atlantic City to Stockton in 2005, was formerly used by the Boardwalk Bullies at historic Boardwalk Hall. The horn will sound with each Thunder goal and at the end of the game for each victory.

One lucky young fan will also be announced as the grand prize winner of the Thunder’s “Coach For A Day” sweepstakes, presenting the winner with a hands-on experience to lead the Thunder through game day at Stockton Arena on Oct. 29 against the Idaho Steelheads at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for “Opening Night” begin at just $7 and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Stockton Arena Ticket Office. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more by calling the Thunder at (209) 373-1500.

The Thunder are freezing most Season Ticket prices for the 2011-12 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting http://www.stocktonthunder.com/. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more.

-WRITTEN BY THE STOCKTON THUNDER-

*This article was reposted at OilersJambalaya.com with the permission from the Stockton Thunder hockey club.*

Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Mikhail Grigorenko"

Today we examine the #2 ranked player from REVS 2012 Prospects List . Each player is unique in their own right and full of talent. The ranking does not reflect a mock draft of who a team may actually pick but rather who I would place as the best player available in that spot.










2.Mikhail Grigorenko

Pos: C

HT:6'2
WT:191 lbs
Born: Khabarovsk, Russia


Season     Team                      Lge        GP   G   A   Pts   +/-
2010-11   CSKA                     MHL      43    17   18   35   2

2011-12

Québec, Remparts

QMJHL 11

9

9

18

2

Article by Alessandro Seren Rosso on Jan 24, 2010:
He is arguably the best 1994 born player in Russia. He plays with the 1993 national team and has played in this summer's Ivan Hlinka Tournament, playing against 1992 born players. In the latest World Under-17 Hockey Challenge he scored six goals and ten points in six games, and Team Russia finished the tournament at the fourth place.

When asked what he thought about changing position? Grigorenko replied "No. I like playing on the center. You are always in the middle of the game. You have to work on both attack and defense. And I love that." In regards to being asked if he had a hockey dream, Grigorenko said "Sure I have. I would really like to be called to the Russian national team. And win the Olympics and the World Championships." Don't you dream about the NHL? Grigorenko only said "I haven't really thought about the NHL yet. My main thought for now is to get into a MHL team and then to the KHL. I'm thinking about this only."

Mikhail played for Russia at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 4 goals and adding 6 assists for 10 points in the 6 games he played. He also played for Russia at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 4 goals and adding 14 assists for 18 points
in 7 games capturing the bronze medal.

Grigorenko was chosen 8th overall in the 1st round of the 2011 KHL Draft and also was chosen in the first round, 2nd overall, of the 2011 CHL Import Draft.. Grigorenko last year at this time was rumored to be coming to play for the Quebec Remparts for the 2011-12 season. He was listed on their website so it looked good. Reading reports from interviews he did ,it was looking like the NHL was as close to his heart as Radulov. In the end, he choose the CHL. Wise choice, now let's see where this season leads. In order to be drafted 2nd overall he will need to show NHL teams his heart and desire is to play in the NHL, not Russia.

Grigorenko seems to have made a very wise decision in coming to the CHL. It will do nothing more then cement him into the top 5, most likely selected in the 2012 NHL Draft. His big presence is a must for a team smaller down the middle. Not sure how strong he is in the faceoff circle, but a danger on the ice all the time. Poised and patient is his game.

Could you imagine a nice big Centreman on our second line who can play like this big boy? Not sure that would happen but it is possible he could drop a couple spots from where I have him ranked.

'Dreaming'
-----Hall/Nugent-Hopkins/Eberle
-----Paarjarvi/Grigorenko/Hemsky
-----Smyth/Lander/Hartikanen
-----Eager/Belanger/Jones

ok, I know, some of you will eat this idea alive! Anyway, was a nice thought for a moment. And yes, I know ,I have Omark, Horcoff and Gagner missing (it's called a trade for defenceman)

For continued information on Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev