Here's your chance to find out all the scoop from RiverBlades captain Eric Long.Your questions will be answered here! Click here to ask Eric! Then check back here for your answers!

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR

ASK ERIC 2/27/03
Question: My family and I have become huge hockey fans this year, and we have the Riverblades to thank for all of that. So I'd like to say thanks to all of you. Specifically, thanks to you, Jason and Rocky for telling my 2 year old you eat and enjoy broccoli. I have gotten the hang of most rules, but still have a couple of questions. Against Mississippi a few weeks back, it seemed like they just grabbed a hold of you guys and held on to you the entire game. I thought that was against the rules, and thought I had seen it called in the past. What is story on holding? Secondly, we all know what the red light behind the goal is for, what is the purpose of the green light? Thanks for your time. (Brad)

Answer: Broccoli should be an important part of every hockey fan's diet! Now as for your question, holding is absolutely against the rules, but it is a discretionary call with the ref, and is usually only called in the most extreme and blatant situations. What you observed, was what is typically called "holding up" which basically means to slow your opponent down, obstruct his positioning, and giving your players time to make plays. There is a fine line between holding, which is a penalty, and holding up, and it is up the ref.

As for your second question, the green light behind the goal is is hooked up to the official time clock, and when the green light goes on, time has expired--so even if the red light goes on (goal), if the green light is on, it won't count, time is up. (Green light answer courtesy of Goaltender Scott Fankhouser)

Question: Hi Eric! It's been thrilling watching the team this season! Just curious, in shootouts like last night, how do you guys determine who will shoot & in what order? Keep up the good work! (Tracy)

Answer: Thanks for the compliment Tracy! It has been thrilling to be part of such a great season, so far. In shootouts, Coach determines who will shoot and in what order.

ASK ERIC 2/22/03
Question: 1. What does a team have to do to make the playoffs? 2. Why dont the teams shake hands after a game? (Darrell Bickel)

Answer: 1. The top five teams in each division make the playoffs. The fourth place team plays the fifth place team in a one game playoff. The winner goes on to play the one seed and the second place team plays the third place team with the winner advancing.

2. Teams shake hands at the end of a playoff series. I am not sure why it isn't done after every game?

ASK ERIC 2/21/03
Question: First, congratulation on last night's win in Baton Rouge. I would like to better understand the circumstances surrounding fighting on the ice. To me, the fighting seems staged almost WWF-like. Does the front office encourage fighting to up attendance or is our announcer at Alltel not up to the minute on why one player begrudges another? Is fighting born of grudges? Or do the players fight because of the way they're being 'played' or 'handled' in that evening's game? (Kristy)

Answer: If fights were staged I would be in more of them!! There are certain players who are responsible for doing the majority of the fighting, but that doesn't mean it is in anyway like the WWF.

The front office has nothing to do with the fighting that goes on. Fighting is part of hockey. They happen for different reasons. If a player like myself gets in a fight it is usually out of anger or harrassment. If Mark Scott gets in a fight, it is a time in the game when we need a little lift or momentum or he is sticking up for one of his teammates. Fighting can be used to intimidate other teams or send a message that if you slash this guy then you are going to have to answer to someone.

ASK ERIC 2/19/03
Question: I was just wondering what Buddy Smith's real name was. What is Buddy short for? Thanks (Abby)

Answer: Buddy's legal name is: Buddy Ryan Smith.

Question: Eric, First I have to say, "Thank you so much for telling my 2 yr old to eat broccoli." She will at least let it stay on her plate. Hopefully, she will eat it soon. Tell Jason and Ernie (if you see him) that I really appreciate it. Ok my question....How long does it take to get used to playing with a new player? How about a different goalie? Do you notice fans during the game (hitting the glass, yelling, etc.) or do you block it out and concentrate only on the game? Thanks!!! (Lisa)

Answer: It depends on which players you are playing with. Some players have a better "feeling" for the game and can adapt to situations faster than others. In these situations there is little to no adjustment that needs to be made. As far as a goalie goes, there is definitely a difference in the way a team plays. Teams usually play with more confidence when the goalie is playing well and the players will play looser and try more things if they feel that the goalie is there to bail them out if need be.

As for the fans, you really only notice if it is a small or large crowd. You don't hear any one person yelling or banging. The large crowds do play a factor in the energy level of the game. Unfortunately, this past Saturday's game was the exception since there was a large crowd and we didn't play well in front of them.

ASK ERIC 2/16/03
Question: Hey there Eric! My family is one of the Riverblades biggest fans. We were just wondering how long Jason Saal will be out? Also, we heard that Ernie got called up again, how long might he be gone? We have a great team this year and really would like to see us go all the way!!! It just seems that we have a lot of our players gone or hurt. Just wanted some insight from your point of view! Ya'll are the best hang in there and remember we are behind you ALL THE WAY!! Love you guys! (The Giffords)

Answer: I am not sure when Jason will be able to play? Scott Fankhouser was aquired over the weekend to help with the goaltending.

Ernie was called up on Friday and played this weekend and did great!! With call ups it is hard to tell when and if he will be sent back? He is doing well so it is going to make it hard for Worcester to part with him, but if guys from St. Louis are sent to Worcester it becomes a numbers game and Ernie could be the odd man out. In sum, I really can't answer either of your questions with certainty, but it will all work itself out soon!

ASK ERIC 2/9/03
Question: Big Ern told me that he has signed an AHL contract, when will he be leaving and how will the team replace him?? (Jenny)

Answer: Big Ern signed a tryout agreement which is good for a maximum of 25 games but can be terminated at any time by the AHL club . In his case his contract with Worcester was terminated when he was sent back to Arkansas. These types of contracts are used to bring in players for short term use. The two main reasons to sign a player to this type of contract is to fill a short term need because of injury or to give a player a look to see if he has the potential to play at that level. In Ernie's case it was a little of both! This is the same type of contract that Jason Bermingham and I signed at the end of last season when we were called up to the AHL.

Unfortunately, Ernie got injured before he could get into a game. He is now under contract with Arkansas and this gives him the option to sign with any AHL club that would be interested in him.
To answer your question, there are no immediate plans for him to leave so there is no plan to replace him! But, like all the other young prospects on our team, the move to the next level is only a phone call away!

ASK ERIC 2/7/03
Question: There is a situation with a team in the ACHL where the coach has been suspended for throwing coins on the ice during the game. He then calls the ref's attention to it, blames it on the fans and gets a stoppage in play to stop momentum or give players a rest. Some are intimating that this happens a lot and in most of the leagues. Have you ever seen this done? (Gina)

Answer: I have seen this done! It is rare, but it does happen. This tactic isn't used as much anymore. Now the coach will call the referee over to "talk" or the goalie will fix a pad, or the coach will send six players on the ice and wait for the ref to make him take one off. These are all common stalling techniques used by coaches!

ASK ERIC 2/6/03
Question: Eric, this is the guy that was running the bowling alley a couple weeks ago when you and some of the guys came bowling. I would first like to thank you for just being extremely nice while you were there. It says something for you guys by how you all act out in the public. My question regards the +/- numbers. I saw on the ECHL page the performer of the month was figured by the +/- numbers, how is that figured and what exactly does it mean. (Michael)

Answer: First, thanks for the kind words! We had a great time bowling and hope to get out there again soon!! We will give you a heads up so you can show us a thing or two on the lanes!

To answer your question....The players on the ice receive a plus when we score a goal and receive a minus when they are scored against. Plus-minus counts in every situation except when a goal is scored on a power play. Shorthanded, empty net, delayed-penalty and pulled-goalie goals all contribute to a player's plus-minus. Sometimes, the stat is considered unfair. If you jump onto the ice surface for a line change and are well away from the play when a goal is scored, it still counts against you. Also, top defensemen generally play against the other team's most skilled forwards, which could deflate their figures. But for the most part, the stat is considered a fair judge of a player's ability to play a balanced two-way game.

ASK ERIC 2/3/03
Question: What do you think about the ECHL and WCHL joining for next year? Also what do you the of Ernie getting to move up to the AHL? Best of luck to the 'Blades!! (Ian)

Answer: I think it will be good for the league. The WCHL will likely be changing their vet rules, salary cap, etc. to conform to the way the ECHL is doing things now, and there will be a Western Division consisting of those WCHL teams, that will play each other the majority of the time. So overall, it will make the league as a whole, larger, more competitive, and exciting for the fans to see the occasional game against a Western team.

As for Ernie's callup to the AHL, it is a well-deserved reward for Ernie. It is unfortunate that he got hurt, but hopefully he will get the call again sometime this season.

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR