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[hockeygod]

Vokoun's agent upset with Hunter

John ShannonSportsnet.ca, February 23, 2012

As if the Washington Capitals didn't have enough problems.

Now, the agent of starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun isn't happy with Capitals head coach Dale Hunter.

Following the team's disappointing 5-2 loss in Ottawa Wednesday, Hunter singled out the poor performance of Vokoun as the key reason for the team's recent skid.

"They jumped on us, (Tomas) would like a few of them back," Hunter told the local media after Vokoun allowed four goals on his first 11 shots.. "He wasn't as sharp as he should have been, and it's in the back of our net. We need some big stops early, that's part of the game.

"Tonight we played a good, solid road game and we lose," Hunter said. "Goaltending is a big part of the game and we need good goaltending."

In response, Vokoun's agent Allan Walsh released the following statement:

"I'm not going to comment directly on what someone may have said after a game. I will point out though that hockey's great coaches throughout history never resorted to publicly singling out a particular player, blaming him for a loss. Where I come from, you win as a team and lose as a team. The oldest, most tired excuse in the book is to blame the goalie."

Vokoun was signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in the summer to help stabilize Washington's goalie situation.

It was a relationship that didn't start well in October after the veteran goaltender brought his whole family up from Florida to watch him start opening night, only to be told the day of the game by then coach Bruce Boudreau that he wouldn't be starting.

This is nothing new for Walsh. He has come to the defence of his clients in the past, such as Minnesota Wild winger Pierre Marc Bouchard, and Columbus Blue Jackets centre Derek Brassard.

The Capitals currently sit 10th place in the Eastern Conference and are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.

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Hmmmm… and minor hockey coaches thought dealing with parents was hard… CHL and NCAA and NHL coaches have to deal with 'surrogate parents'!

As my grandpa used to say, "Nothin' goes right when your underwear is too tight". Losing amplifies problems; winning smoothes things over…

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."