Deep Dive #2: The Career of Roderic Banes
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Benpachi
SHL GM SHL GM
While I covered a lot of this ground in my retirement media post for dear old Roddy, I think there is still some yet to say about Roderic Banes. This is relevant, as he was both my first player and, canonically, the father of my second, current player. The family legend lives on. I believe that Roddy B had an interesting, perhaps not unique, career path. He broke into the league as a Left Winger, ended up playing quite a bit of time on the Right side, and then halfway through his career swapped to become a Defender. This necessitates looking at his career in two parts: Season 59 (J entry draft) to Season 67 (last season as a forward), and Seasons 68 - 73 and retirement.
Firstly, some noteworthy accomplishments from his Junior years. He finished 4 seasons with the Carolina Kraken, ending with 51G and 94A for 145 points in 264 games. While not eye-popping by any stretch, 43 of those 51 goals came at even strength, speaking to his ability to generate offence at Five on Five. Secondly, he finished his time in Juniors with 358 Shots Blocked, or 1.36 blocked shots per game. Already, you can see the foreshadowing for his career. His years as a Forward with the Montreal Patriotes would earn Roddy a spot in the Hall of Pretty Good. From Seasons 63 to 67, Roddy would amass 106G and 190A for 196pts in 330 Games Played. Accomplishing that while on a slow, uphill climb of a building Montreal team was, in view of the writer, no mean feat. Roddy will hold some franchise records for a while, and will be remembered for his contributions to the early success of the team, but on a league-wide view, his time as a forward was fairly mediocre. From Season 68 to his final retirement at the end of Season 73, Roddy B would patrol the blueline. In 396 games as a Defender, he would post 70G and 194A for 264pts, actually managed to score at a higher ppg pace. In his years as a Defender he would block 798 shots (you're welcome, Brick) and was a consistent defensive presence. He, like several other Montreal players, would have a career high during the historic 50-win season in S71, with 57 points (16G, 41A - career high as defender), and follow it up with 53 points (8G, 45A) the following year. Finishing his career with just over 16,000 minutes played, Roddy definitely earned his retirement. A combined +67 throughout his career, a stat depressed badly by the early seasons with Montreal where the team was BADLY outscored (they finished his Rookie season in the SHL with a -158 Goal Differential which, in a 66 game season, is pretty dreadful). Looking back on his career, he hit some not-insiginifcant milestones. 726 Games Played. Over 500 Career Points. Over 60 Powerplay Goals, and to put a nice bow on things, a grand total of 69 Playoff Games. Though never able to help elevate a strong Montreal team beyond the second round, Roddy will stand the test of time as a guy that helped his team win games. At the end of the day, that's what counts, I guess? Vote Roddy for the Simulation Hockey Hall of 'Hey I Remember That Guy!'
chetib
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