G Ridler

[#1 Guard Fan]

I see Ridler has not been able to hold his own at the next level. I am sure a 2-8 record is not what he was thinking when he hung out the Fayetteville Fireantz. I am kinda glad to see him having his hands full. Just something about a guy who walks out on his team on GAME day that makes me not like them.

[Guardfan3]

I have to disagree with you GF. Last year, Rids was let go just before the playoffs, in favor of a goalie wth "playoff experience." Then Coach sat Chad in favor of that same goalie, for the one game playoff. We lost. Chad had been the #1 goalie all year, and he deserved to play, and we had the best 1-2 tandem in the league with Rids backing him up. I think that Ridler's decision to leave was not only the chance to play at a higher level, but also a preemptive strike in order to not be insulted like last year.

I had more of a problem with what Chad did last summer, signing with us and then leaving, than I did with Rid's decision. Chad made public statements about wanting to play here for another year, and then he jumped when the chance presented itself. Glen never made any promises to this town or the fans here. I think if Derek took Chad back this year the way he did, then given the opportunity next year, he should also give Glen another chance--provided Derek is still the coach of course. I really don't think Derek is the type to hold a grudge if a player has a chance to play higher. I know I would welcome Glen back here in a heartbeat.

[#1 Guard Fan]

Ok do your homework. Ridler was deported last year due to a work VISA. He was not cut. We had to pick up the other goalie to replace him when that happened. I never said I agreed with what Chad did either

[Guardfan3]

Ok do your homework. Ridler was deported last year due to a work VISA. He was not cut. We had to pick up the other goalie to replace him when that happened. I never said I agreed with what Chad did either
I know about the VISA situation. That had been resolved prior to his termination.

[Friendlyref]

# 1 Guard Fan:

I found your post on Glen interesting. Having coached Glen in Lansing in the now defunct IIHL I can tell you Glen is plenty talented enough to play at that level. Have you bothered to look at Roanoke's record, or how many players they have gone through this season. They might be one of 5 worst teams in UHL history. They have a winning percentage of .270 and are only playing 12-14 skaters on a nightly basis When you are playing minor pro hockey you sometimes have only 1 chance to get to the next level. If you don't take it you might never see it again. I didn't. IN 3 seasons in minor pro Glen has experienced more crap and BS then most 10 year guys see in a career. Also, this crap about walking out on your team, If he plays that night and pulls a groin then what happens. I bet you Roanoke would have been calling someone else. At the AA level the player has to look out for himself becaue I guarantee you the teams don't. Glen found that out 1st hand in Lansing when he and the rest of the players and coaches didn't get paid, and last season when he got dumped right before the playoffs. Players are expendable pieces of meat. Glen will be tending net in the UHL or CHL next season if he wants too. Not the SPHL. Simple fact is for the what 5th season in a row. Fayetteville failed to advance past the 1st round. That isn't Glen's fault it is the organizations. Be happy for Glen that he has advanced to a higher level. By the way, that makes the FireAntz look good. In closing before you go cracking a player before bettering himself, or enjoy watching the player struggle because he plays on a horses--t team. Have some knowledge of how the system works. There is no loyalty in sports no more. The teams look at it as strictly business and the players are forced to do the same.

[BCRantzilla]

If I ever ran an A-Puck team in the SPHL or a comperable league, I would love to have Glen in there as my starter. He's a solid vet with good credentials. As for what has happened to him in the U, it is part of the game for minor leaguers really. Even the Manitoba Moose have had their share of late cuts, have sold off players right before the playoffs for a buck and had players opt out of contracts late in the year to jump to another league. (Europe in particular.) I don't take it personally if a player forsees his role being cut soon and wants to play somewhere else.

The business of minor league hockey has never been pretty, (you think what's happened to Riddler is bad, check out the comers and goers in the LNAH as even the good teams seem to have a revolving door.) Hense my not being willing to bash Glen for leaving a team to go somewhere else. The better players get to play in the meaningful games and the rest sit or get cut outright. I'm not saying it's right, just that it is a reality every professional hockey player understands.

[#1 Guard Fan]

Looks and sounds like the Fans are the only who who really gets the bone in the end. I didn't really wish bad on Glenn just crappy how he did the whole deal

[jcrchatrbx]

l love Glen Ridler! l was upset when he was gone from the Fireantz. l have this to say about Ridler. Give him a team not straddled with injuries and he will play his heart out. The Fireantz had a good thing when they had Ridler and Collins. But Booth started playing Collins more.lf l was Ridler l would have left also. Chad Collins did a great job but he came in when everyone was healthy or almost healthy. l have now followed Ridler to the Vipers. l would love to meet Ridler. THey would have made it further had Booth not pulled Collins out that one game.

[GUMPER29]

I see Ridler has not been able to hold his own at the next level. I am sure a 2-8 record is not what he was thinking when he hung out the Fayetteville Fireantz. I am kinda glad to see him having his hands full. Just something about a guy who walks out on his team on GAME day that makes me not like them.
It upsets me greatly when people take shots at players when they really have no idea what went on in situations like this. Ridler did not just up and walk out on his team on GAME DAY. He spoke with coach Booth 4 days before leaving and agonized over the weekend as to what he should do. He enjoyed playing with all the players on the Antz and loved playing in Fayetteville as he says they have the greatest fans. Before making the final decision he spoke with his team mates and they all said they understood and that he would be crazy not to go. The coach is the only one that tried to talk him out of going. To help out the team, Ridler actually took a huge chance by practicing with the Antz the day he went to Roanoke, guess what happened if he got injured.

[GUMPER29]

Here are some of examples as to how Ridler "could not hold his own" and "had his hands full".

...Goaltender Glenn Ridler set a league season high when he made 57 saves in Saturday's 7-5 loss to Danbury.
Roanoke goalie Glenn Ridler saved 21 of 22 shots after coming on for Kelly Shields, who allowed five goals to a visiting squad that came in with a league-low 2.52 goals-per-game average.With 11:35 left in the second period, Roanoke coach Daniel Berthiaume replaced Shields with Ridler, who settled in nicely after an early trial by fire -- a two-on-none rush by the Otters that pushed their margin to 6-3 with 3:08 left.
Vipers' goalie gets no support in loss
Glenn Ridler makes 34 saves, but Roanoke Valley is shut out for the fifth time this season.
By Jim Reedy
381-1673
Moving one merciful step closer to the end of a frustrating season, the Roanoke Valley Vipers were shut out for the fifth time, wasting 34 saves by goalie Glenn Ridler in a 2-0 loss to the Missouri River Otters.
Missouri left the Roanoke Civic Center victorious for the second straight night, dealing the Vipers their fourth consecutive loss and 14th in 16 games.
Ridler, a 23-year-old Ontario native, stopped Missouri's first 17 shots -- many of them in fine fashion -- before center Lars Pettersen scored unassisted at 7:34 of the second period.
Roanoke (17-50-6) scrapped in vain for the equalizer before the Otters (24-43-6) scored an empty-net goal in the final seconds.


One by one they skated over, offering fist pumps, back slaps, even hugs. There was no win to toast on Wednesday night, but the Roanoke Valley Vipers wanted their goaltender to know they'd seen his efforts, and they were impressed.

Glenn Ridler dove, swiped, reached, slapped and kicked all evening, but the barrage eventually overwhelmed him. Five of Richmond's 46 shots found their way past him, and the visitors rallied for a 5-3 victory in front of 735 at the Roanoke Civic Center.

"Awesome game for him," Vipers forward Simon Rizk said of Ridler. "I'm proud of him."


"You don't want people to move up or make the playoffs at your expense," said Ridler, 24, who joined the team in early March. "We're not just going to give teams two points every time they come into our building."


Ridler, who was a wall in the entire second period, also felt the momentum shift then.

"I made a mental mistake and I played a puck in the corner when I should have froze it and gave my guys a breather," Ridler said. "I thought we had enough time to clear the zone, and it just kind of backfired on us."

But Ridler, who is listed at 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, drew praise from the opposition for his quick reflexes and has clearly earned the respect of his teammates in his short time with the club.

"I think I've proved to myself I can play here," he said. "This is my first shot playing in the United Hockey League, and it just gives me confidence ... that maybe I'll get some calls in the offseason and will be able to play at this level again."