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http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32770
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32770
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32770

My first reaction: you're a real superstar, Bellows!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNA0_n32Hc

Same thoughts! Seriously, WHAT is wrong with Bellows?!?

PS, greatest youtube vid ever!

Sats81 wrote:Same thoughts! Seriously, WHAT is wrong with Bellows?!?

PS, greatest youtube vid ever!

That video sure answers the above question about Bellows. LOL!!

Seriously though, I thought it was a pretty interesting reaction by Bellows. Everyone else seems to be more than praiseworthy of what Giles has done and is able to recognize the pressure that goes along with it (i.e.: Pauly & Smith).

Almost seemed like Giles was the first person ever to not put Bellows in every single role imaginable, & dad wasn't a fan of it. Which is interesting, because the kid got lots of PP time, and Edina isn't exactly the team that will just roll with two lines. His ice time had to rank up there with everyone else's, minus perhaps Malmquist with his PK time.

Doc Holliday wrote:Seriously though, I thought it was a pretty interesting reaction by Bellows. Everyone else seems to be more than praiseworthy of what Giles has done and is able to recognize the pressure that goes along with it (i.e.: Pauly & Smith).

Almost seemed like Giles was the first person ever to not put Bellows in every single role imaginable, & dad wasn't a fan of it. Which is interesting, because the kid got lots of PP time, and Edina isn't exactly the team that will just roll with two lines. His ice time had to rank up there with everyone else's, minus perhaps Malmquist with his PK time.

I agree with this. Just seems like Bellows is a pissed off, crazy ex player who needs to try and impose his will in every situation. Instead of saying "ill just leave it at that" or implying that Giles has been successful solely because of his feeder program in Edina, why not just say something like: "Curt has done well there, happy for him, we felt best place for my son to continue his development as a hockey player and to take his game to the next level was in Sioux Falls and not HS hockey"

Doc Holliday wrote:Seriously though, I thought it was a pretty interesting reaction by Bellows. Everyone else seems to be more than praiseworthy of what Giles has done and is able to recognize the pressure that goes along with it (i.e.: Pauly & Smith).

Almost seemed like Giles was the first person ever to not put Bellows in every single role imaginable, & dad wasn't a fan of it. Which is interesting, because the kid got lots of PP time, and Edina isn't exactly the team that will just roll with two lines. His ice time had to rank up there with everyone else's, minus perhaps Malmquist with his PK time.

I think having his son moved off the Malmquist line to third line mid season last year didn't sit well with dad. By the way, Edina didn't lose another game the rest of the year after this "demotion".
Also this is the same dad who had an epic temper tantrum at Braemar when junior didn't make the Squirt A team as a first year Squirt.
Probably will be complaining about the USHL any minute now.

Doc Holliday wrote:Seriously though, I thought it was a pretty interesting reaction by Bellows. Everyone else seems to be more than praiseworthy of what Giles has done and is able to recognize the pressure that goes along with it (i.e.: Pauly & Smith).

Almost seemed like Giles was the first person ever to not put Bellows in every single role imaginable, & dad wasn't a fan of it. Which is interesting, because the kid got lots of PP time, and Edina isn't exactly the team that will just roll with two lines. His ice time had to rank up there with everyone else's, minus perhaps Malmquist with his PK time.

I dont think it was really about that. Maybe it was for Brian, but obviously it was Kieffer's final decision to leave and he is happy about it.
What I know about Kieffer is that he is a pretty soft spoken and humble individual. If I were to guess the issue was probably Curt's intense coaching style not blending well with Keiffer's personality. A style like Curt's does not work with everyone and I think it might have become too much.
I also think some of the Edina player's might have been a factor in why he left.
I could totally be off on this but this is just my thoughts on the Bellows situation.

As for the story and Giles, I loved reading it and looking through some of those quotes from past players. I have always been a fan of Curt and the way he teachs the kids.

Green4 - you've really always been a fan of curt? Come on.

Green - You are correct. At no point would I ever throw the kid under the bus, especially when he's never said anything.

I guess I was referring to the dad more so. It just really seemed interesting; instantly discrediting whatever success Giles has had as simply due to the numbers and that if you have 12 teams at the Squirt level, of course you're going to have a good HS team. Also, it seems there would be a better way to talk about the decision to go to the USHL other than "let me say this, he's happy in Sioux Falls." Just kind of gives off a different impression.

I guess it shouldn't be terribly surprising; I was surprised to hear some things about dad not exactly a fan of Giles, and that was back in 2012, two years before his son ever played for him.

EDIT: Sats beat me to the way Bellows said it.

One reaction I had to this article.....

A little inappropriate timing for Hub to be doing so much cheerleading so close to the playoffs and Mr Hockey date.

Would have been better/more neutral if published last fall.

Tigers33 wrote:Green4 - you've really always been a fan of curt? Come on.

I'm not a fan of Bellows nor do I dislike him, or Dad, but I highly doubt either one of them regret the moves they've made...

http://www.sfstampede.com/news_article/ ... _id=627591

fastncrash wrote:

Tigers33 wrote:Green4 - you've really always been a fan of curt? Come on.

I'm not a fan of Bellows nor do I dislike him, or Dad, but I highly doubt either one of them regret the moves they've made...

http://www.sfstampede.com/news_article/ ... _id=627591

Kids a hell of a player, NO ONE is denying that. Just think its unnecessary for Brian to imply that Giles has had success because of the high volume youth program and to take a shot at him for no reason really.

This is the same Dad that played "kick the can" after squirt tryouts when he did not get his way. I am sure the team is much happier having the family removed. What a classless quote by Dad. Fully agree with Stats on how you could have responded, or better yet, not respond. Giles is a tough coach, but very very fair and a great role model for these young men!

Here is a thought - You do not even have to open your mouth and give them anything to write about.... but they can't help it, even when their kid is removed they still have to get their name out there. Good luck to the BU coaches with this group..............if I don't get my way, I will just take my toy out of the sandbox, I mean rink.

It has always been a slow moving train wreck with this Dad and this clan.

WarmUpTheBus wrote:Almost seemed like Giles was the first person ever to not put Bellows in every single role imaginable, & dad wasn't a fan of it. Which is interesting, because the kid got lots of PP time, and Edina isn't exactly the team that will just roll with two lines. His ice time had to rank up there with everyone else's, minus perhaps Malmquist with his PK time.
I think having his son moved off the Malmquist line to third line mid season last year didn't sit well with dad. By the way, Edina didn't lose another game the rest of the year after this "demotion".
Also this is the same dad who had an epic temper tantrum at Braemar when junior didn't make the Squirt A team as a first year Squirt.
Probably will be complaining about the USHL any minute now.

Don't forget about the two week excursion to Shattuck. Obviously, they weren't going to put up with his meddling there either. Bellows has some kind of ax to grind with Giles. Word is, he waited until the day before tryouts to tell him his decision to leave for Sioux Falls. Unlike Green4, I'm no fan of Giles, but it is his team and he doesn't need any advice from the superstar with regard to running it. That said, Bellows comment about the feeder program is spot on - with that depth of ability, it would be difficult not to succeed.

This is the same Dad that played "kick the can" after squirt tryouts when he did not get his way. I am sure the team is much happier having the family removed. What a classless quote by Dad. Fully agree with Stats on how you could have responded, or better yet, not respond. Giles is a tough coach, but very very fair and a great role model for these young men!

Here is a thought - You do not even have to open your mouth and give them anything to write about.... but they can't help it, even when their kid is removed they still have to get their name out there. Good luck to the BU coaches with this group..............if I don't get my way, I will just take my toy out of the sandbox, I mean rink.

It has always been a slow moving train wreck with this Dad and this clan.

The rumor on the streets is that Bellows always had one foot out the door since Squirts, leaving for SSM and coming back to EHS for Varsity. Good or bad: Bellow's philosophy on High School Hockey for his son is to get the most opportunity, whatever the cost. There is no loyalty, and thats not a bad or good thing. Its just how some parents roll.

Another note Re: Giles. He is there for the kids and the youth hockey. He's all in good or bad. You cant pay me enough to make me say or believe its easy to navigate around people pissed because Kid Richy with his millionaire parents is playing JV instead of Varsity. He does what's best for the team. He absolutely hates fanfare. I remember years back when they had the Edina invitational they darkened braemar and had music etc.. Giles put the end to that. He also reportedly denies the Hornets play in outdoor games and other hoopla. He keeps his head down on being the HC.

It's worth remembering that Giles and Bellows were teammates for a while in the 80s. Who knows how far back any bad blood there might go. Bellows certainly comes across as one of those hockey people who, whether they are right or not, do not know when to shut up. I credit Giles for staying above the fray. He's consistent in that, both in his handling of upset parents and the pressure from the likes of Pauly who want him to be a more vocal advocate of the HS model.

Of course, that is easier to do when he can replace one departed superstar with another one in training from the youth system and still feel pretty confident in the end result. Still, Giles does have very obvious strengths that not all coaches have, such as his ability to run a very tight ship and learn from past mistakes. I can certainly see how he's not for everyone, but it's also not hard to see how he thrives in the high school ranks. It was interesting to read about how his father's death may have influenced him, and how he stays at the HS level despite getting other offers. Good stuff from LaVaque.

Wait till tomorrow for the uproar when the Hub puts out its article on Eigs and LN!

Karl hints at the interesting part here, if you're old enough to remember the North Stars days: after being portrayed as the epitome of character and leadership in his junior days, Bellows was interim captain of the North Stars at age 19 . . . and proceeded in the coming years to earn a reputation, deserved or not, for being a self-centered jerk (I've never met Bellows and he may be either pure evil or a saint on this earth for all I know, but that reputation does exist). Who knows where the truth lies, but I'm willing to bet there are a lot of layers to this.

And no matter what the actual story is, Bellows's comments make his 16-year-old kid part of the story. If dad takes the high road everybody moves on; now, the kid's depicted as having problems with his high school coach, who many others have plenty of good things to say about. Obviously it's a pretty minor thing, and I rather doubt it will have any effect on Kieffer's future, but if you were the kid would you want your dad creating extra headaches for you like this?

Bellows was fun to watch as a North Star, but when he came into the rink it was "Don't you know who I am"....

Sats81 wrote:Wait till tomorrow for the uproar when the Hub puts out its article on Eigs and LN!

I'm guessing you might have a couple quotes in that one!

[/quote]

That said, Bellows comment about the feeder program is spot on - with that depth of ability, it would be difficult not to succeed.[/quote]

Obviously it is not just about the size of the program. If it was then Giles would not have struggled in the early 2000's and Wayzata would have a state championship by now.
Tron mentioned this also, but I think Giles has done a great job working with the youth and being an important part of their development. In my eyes it is not a coincidence that Edina started going to state again once those kids that were mites and squirts in 1999 and 2000 became Varsity players.

Tigers33 wrote:Green4 - you've really always been a fan of curt? Come on.

If you recall or have seen me mention before, I am fairly young. I was too young to really grasp the history and expectations that came with coaching the Hornets when Giles struggled. The first year I can really remember watching was 06-07, which was a solid team. I have never really seen the Hornets struggle so it is hard from my point of view to not like him in that sense.
From a player's view, he always treated me well, he knew my name from going to his clinics/scrimmages as a squirt and then he still knew my name when I came up to high school even though I stopped going to his clinics as a Peewee and Bantam. I think if people ever met him and talked with him, they would have a hard time disliking him. Besides Brian Bellows

green4 wrote:Giles has done a great job working with the youth and being an important part of their development. In my eyes it is not a coincidence that Edina started going to state again once those kids that were mites and squirts in 1999 and 2000 became Varsity players.

I'm curious as to why this viewpoint has any traction. Giles really has nothing to do with the youth program that I can see. He might come and watch a Bantam AA game once in a while, and he holds a summer clinic, but other than that he has little to no involvement in the youth program. His assistant also coaches on the Bantam AA staff and coached B1 for a number of years. Maybe that's the only connection they need, but Giles is a recluse.

Zamman wrote:Bellows was fun to watch as a North Star, but when he came into the rink it was "Don't you know who I am"....

You should try playing pick-up with him, or against him some time.