I can just hear it now… former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Mora and his post-game rant as the regular season was winding down… “Playoffs?  Don’t talk about playoffs.  Playoffs?  You kiddin’ me?  Playoffs?  I just hope we can win a game.”

Down because the Chops haven’t won in a while?  Tired of shootouts and overtimes? About ready to break out those golf clubs?  Well, in the famous words of the former mediocre football coach from my alma mater Indiana University and current ESPN analyst, Lee Corso… “not so fast my friend!”  You heard it here first, I still believe the Iowa Chops will make the playoffs!  Not convinced?  Have your doubts?  Already jumping off the ship in February? Good, because I am going to give 10 reasons to believe that this magical first season of Iowa Chops Hockey will continue after April 11th.

Reason #1:  Karma
Confucius say… “Good things happen to good people.”… or something like that.  Anyway, with two of the bigger nights at home coming up with Pink in the Rink Night on February 27th and Mercy ‘Go Red’ Night on February 28th, I say someone is going to smile upon the Chops because they are smiling upon others.  These two nights are bigger than the game itself.  With all the goodwill, generosity and recognition being spread around next weekend, you have to believe that good karma will rub off on the Chops.  The reasons and people behind the two games make you realize that winning or losing a hockey game is almost trivial compared to some of the challenges faced by those we are recognizing next weekend and the struggles they have gone through on a personal level.  This weekend is about people more than anything else; those who have been personally affected by the worthwhile causes that surround this weekend’s pair of games.

Reason #2:  It’s still February!
Last time I checked there are still 22 games and seven weeks of hockey remaining to be played.  That leaves a lot of time for plenty of things to happen.  Yes, the Chops need to win more games than they lose during that time frame, but the lakes are still frozen over.  There is plenty of winter remaining.  You jump off the ship now, you may just hit the ice.  Remember after the first 8 weeks of the season through October and November the Chops spent some time in 1st place, so we know it can be done.

Reason #3: The “Losing Streak”
I heard a coach say once… “Every team goes through a big losing streak.  The teams that end up winning just make sure it only happens once.”  Ok so here it is… the big losing streak.  Good news #1: It hasn’t been all losses.  The Chops HAVE taken points during the streak.  Good news #2: Once it ends, that is it!  No more losing streaks!  It is all winning from here on out.  (Crosses fingers).

Reason #4:  The NHL trade deadline
You probably don’t know this, but… the NHL trade deadline day (March 4th) is actually an unofficial holiday in Canada.  True story.  Anyway, there are websites and TV programs completely devoted to the NHL trade deadline, when GM’s across the league wheel and deal their players in order to solidify their roster for a Stanley Cup run.  What fans often miss is the fine print.  The “players to be named later” or “prospects” or “conditional and future draft picks.”  All of those phrases in quotes above directly affect teams like the Iowa Chops.  So depending on what the Anaheim Ducks decide to do on March 4th, the make-up of all the teams in the AHL usually change.  So, 1st place Milwaukee’s prospects could be on the move and then BAM!… a different team is born.  The bottom line is: you just never know...

Reason #5: The shootout (or lack thereof)
Now, you are really going to think I have flipped my lid right?  After all, the Chops are 0 for 8 in shootouts this year and remain the only team in the AHL without a shootout win.  So why all the optimism you ask?  Bottom line… the Chops are due.  Plus, the last time I checked there are no shootouts in the playoffs.  Overtimes in the playoffs are a war and a test of attrition, and the Chops are built for such a thing.  No fan-friendly shootouts in April and May folks… just an all-out war and I will put my money on Iowa.

Reason #6: Chemistry
This will be hard for people to understand because it is tough to witness, but the team chemistry in the lockerroom is good.  The guys have a good time at the rink.  They enjoy being around one another.  They enjoy being hockey players.  They laugh, they kid, they play jokes, they talk about life, they hang out together, and most importantly they enjoy what they do.  Let’s face it… the only thing better than being a hockey broadcaster for me, would be a hockey player.  Since I can’t do it anymore, I revel in the fact that these guys get to do what they love (play hockey) every single day of the week, and get paid for it.  The perfect example is Logan Stephenson.  This is a guy who went to war against a lot of our players in juniors and in pro.  Heck, he even fought Francis Wathier back in October in San Antonio.  Then… POOF!  He gets traded, is assigned to the Chops and becomes teammates with former combatants.  Now, he fits in, the guys like him, and he would go to war and stick up for anyone on the roster.  That is what makes chemistry.

Reason #7: Road Warriors
Quick, tell me how many regulation losses the Iowa Chops have on the road this season?  13, 14, 17?  Try nine.  The league average is 13 and there is only one team in the entire AHL with fewer regulation losses on the road than Iowa (Manitoba with seven).  So what is the big deal?  The big deal is any team that wins in the playoffs has to win on the road.

Reason #8:  Games in Hand and “Four Point Games”
The Iowa Chops play 15 games in the span of 27 days in the month of March.  This is the point in time when the Chops will make up their games that they have ‘in hand’ against teams like Chicago, Houston and Rockford, who have all played more games than the Chops.  Also, anytime that the Chops play teams above them in the standings and win those games, it is literally like taking four points.  Let me explain… Let’s say the Chops defeat Chicago in regulation.  The Chops get two points, the Wolves get none.  However, in a sense with the victory, the Chops have now eliminated one more game in which their opponent could have taken two points, while the Chops gained two points.  Mathematically, it becomes a +2/-2 scenario, which equals four.

Reason #9:  The Wild Card West
Good news Chops fans… Eight teams in the West Division is a good thing.  Hear me out… I know all the other divisions have seven teams, but because the West division has eight teams, they have the chance to get five teams in the playoffs, not just four.  Here is how it works.  If the 5th place team in the West has a better record than the 4th place team in the North at the end of the regular season, the 5th place team in the West makes the playoffs!  Currently, 5th place is occupied by… you guessed it… the Iowa Chops.  4th place in the North is occupied by the Toronto Marlies (Boo!).  So keep an eye on the Marlies, because any slip up the rest of the way could mean the playoffs for five teams from the West division.

Reason #10: Faith
Sometimes when all else fails, you just have to have a little faith.  Faith in the fact that this group of players and coaches will band together and succeed with what they have in front of them.  It’s not about what players you don’t have in your line-up, or the calls that didn’t go your way, or the tough schedule, or lack of experiences, or bad bounces… It’s all about what’s inside and the will of 20+ players banding together as brothers for the final few weeks of the season deciding collectively that they are going to get the job done, despite the trials and tribulations.  We as fans, employees and followers of the game have to rely and have faith that perfect mesh and cohesiveness will come together at the right time and this will be a team of destiny.  And, until that final game is over, the final horn sounds, and someone else is standing atop the podium… I will believe because I have faith in this team!  I hope you will join me…