An appalling story out of Montreal today....apparently somebody broke into Pat Burns' widow's car following his funeral yesterday, and stole quite a bit of stuff, from signed NHL team jerseys right down to a suitcase of his clothes.
Not just that it was Burns, it's the principle; who steals from the dead - on the day of the funeral even?
Wouldn't bother me one bit if, after the cops catch this guy, if he tripped and fell down the stairs at the police station. Three or four flights of them perhaps. You know how dangerous those stairs can be....
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
WJC eligibles in the NHL
Another comment on the World Juniors, while we're on the subject here....there are 17 players who are eligible to play in this tournament who are currently playing in the NHL or AHL and have not (to date anyway) been released by their NHL club to play in the tournament. They are:
Canada (8):
F Kyle Clifford (Los Angeles)
F Matt Duchene (Colorado)
F Taylor Hall (Edmonton)
F Evander Kane (Atlanta)
F Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado)
F Brayden Schenn (Los Angeles)
F Tyler Seguin (Boston)
F Jeff Skinner (Carolina)
Russia (1):
F Alexander Burmistrov (Atlanta)
Sweden (4):
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Phoenix - AHL)
F Jacob Josefson (New Jersey)
G Robin Lehner (Ottawa - AHL)
F Magnus Paajarvi (Edmonton)
USA (4):
D Cam Fowler (Anaheim)
D Nick Leddy (Chicago - AHL)
F Jeremy Morin (Chicago - AHL)
F Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim - AHL)
17 players....that's just short of one full WJC roster's worth of the world's best U-20 players who will not (or possibly not) be in this year's tournament. How much better would the tournament be with these 17 players in it? I mean, Canada could fill almost three forward lines with guys who are currently in the NHL. And USA's best defenceman won't be there either since he's in the NHL.
In the case of the five guys who are currently in the AHL, I can see no reason why their NHL clubs wouldn't release them for the three weeks to play in this tournament. I've not seen a lot of AHL hockey but the calibre of play at the World Juniors (in the big games anyway) has got to be better than some sleepy midseason AHL games.
Canada (8):
F Kyle Clifford (Los Angeles)
F Matt Duchene (Colorado)
F Taylor Hall (Edmonton)
F Evander Kane (Atlanta)
F Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado)
F Brayden Schenn (Los Angeles)
F Tyler Seguin (Boston)
F Jeff Skinner (Carolina)
Russia (1):
F Alexander Burmistrov (Atlanta)
Sweden (4):
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Phoenix - AHL)
F Jacob Josefson (New Jersey)
G Robin Lehner (Ottawa - AHL)
F Magnus Paajarvi (Edmonton)
USA (4):
D Cam Fowler (Anaheim)
D Nick Leddy (Chicago - AHL)
F Jeremy Morin (Chicago - AHL)
F Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim - AHL)
17 players....that's just short of one full WJC roster's worth of the world's best U-20 players who will not (or possibly not) be in this year's tournament. How much better would the tournament be with these 17 players in it? I mean, Canada could fill almost three forward lines with guys who are currently in the NHL. And USA's best defenceman won't be there either since he's in the NHL.
In the case of the five guys who are currently in the AHL, I can see no reason why their NHL clubs wouldn't release them for the three weeks to play in this tournament. I've not seen a lot of AHL hockey but the calibre of play at the World Juniors (in the big games anyway) has got to be better than some sleepy midseason AHL games.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Canadian World Junior camp named
Hockey Canada named the players invited to try out for the Canadian World Junior team today.
Excellent showing by the WHL this year - there are WHLers amongst the total players invited - 11 of 23 forwards, 5 of 12 defencemen, and 1 of 4 goaltenders. There is certain to be a strong WHL flavor on the final roster, with 17 of 39 total invitees from the WHL.
Complete roster at the link above. WHLers invited are:
G Calvin Pickard (Seattle)
D Tyson Barrie (Kelowna)
D Jared Cowen (Spokane)
D Brayden McNabb (Kootenay)
D Ryan Murray (Everett)
D Mark Pysyk (Edmonton)
F Carter Ashton (Regina)
F Brett Connolly (Prince George)
F Cody Eakin (Swift Current)
F Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver)
F Curtis Hamilton (Saskatoon)
F Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw)
F Ryan Howse (Chilliwack)
F Ryan Johansen (Portland)
F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer)
F Brad Ross (Portland)
F Linden Vey (Medicine Hat)
Also, D Dylan Olsen is a Medicine Hat list player who is playing NCAA, while forward Jaden Schwartz is a Tri-Cities list player who is also playing NCAA.
Only three 17 year old players were invited to what is usually an 18/19 year olds tournament - Ryan Murray and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the WHL were two of those three 17 year olds. They might be in tough to make the team since Canada has taken very few 16 & 17 year olds over the years, but you never know.
Brayden Schenn of the Wheat Kings was not named to the camp as he has not been released to the tournament by the Los Angeles Kings. If the Kings do decide to release him before camp starts, you can be sure he'll be added to the roster. Of all the eligible players who are currently in the NHL, you'd have to think that Schenn is the most likely to be released to play for Canada, since L.A. doesn't seem to have much use for him in the NHL right now.
Excellent showing by the WHL this year - there are WHLers amongst the total players invited - 11 of 23 forwards, 5 of 12 defencemen, and 1 of 4 goaltenders. There is certain to be a strong WHL flavor on the final roster, with 17 of 39 total invitees from the WHL.
Complete roster at the link above. WHLers invited are:
G Calvin Pickard (Seattle)
D Tyson Barrie (Kelowna)
D Jared Cowen (Spokane)
D Brayden McNabb (Kootenay)
D Ryan Murray (Everett)
D Mark Pysyk (Edmonton)
F Carter Ashton (Regina)
F Brett Connolly (Prince George)
F Cody Eakin (Swift Current)
F Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver)
F Curtis Hamilton (Saskatoon)
F Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw)
F Ryan Howse (Chilliwack)
F Ryan Johansen (Portland)
F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer)
F Brad Ross (Portland)
F Linden Vey (Medicine Hat)
Also, D Dylan Olsen is a Medicine Hat list player who is playing NCAA, while forward Jaden Schwartz is a Tri-Cities list player who is also playing NCAA.
Only three 17 year old players were invited to what is usually an 18/19 year olds tournament - Ryan Murray and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the WHL were two of those three 17 year olds. They might be in tough to make the team since Canada has taken very few 16 & 17 year olds over the years, but you never know.
Brayden Schenn of the Wheat Kings was not named to the camp as he has not been released to the tournament by the Los Angeles Kings. If the Kings do decide to release him before camp starts, you can be sure he'll be added to the roster. Of all the eligible players who are currently in the NHL, you'd have to think that Schenn is the most likely to be released to play for Canada, since L.A. doesn't seem to have much use for him in the NHL right now.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Three WHLers to Swiss WJC team
The preliminary rosters for World Junior team camps are starting to come out these days. Latest to announce their roster is the Swiss team, and they have a good WHL flavour, with three WHLers amongst the 28 players named to the camp.
The players are forwards Nino Niederreiter and Sven Bartschi, both of Portland, and defenceman Dave Sutter of the Thunderbirds.
Six players will need to be cut from the 28 player list but you'd have to think Niederreiter and Bartschi are locks to make the team, and Sutter should have a decent chance at the Swiss team as well.
Canada will announce their camp roster tomorrow.
The players are forwards Nino Niederreiter and Sven Bartschi, both of Portland, and defenceman Dave Sutter of the Thunderbirds.
Six players will need to be cut from the 28 player list but you'd have to think Niederreiter and Bartschi are locks to make the team, and Sutter should have a decent chance at the Swiss team as well.
Canada will announce their camp roster tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Notes
Tri-City will add another overager to its roster tonight, as veteran forward Neal Prokop makes his return from a badly broken leg he suffered back in March.
Prokop gives the Americans four overagers (the current three are forward Kruise Reddick and defencemen Tyler Schmidt and Zak Stebner), and they now have two weeks to make a decision on which three to keep and move out the fourth guy. Portland is the only team in the league with room to add an overager, but there are probably other teams who would consider any of those four guys above to be an upgrade over somebody currently on their roster....
And another overage note, Vancouver acquired forward Brendan Rowinski from Moose Jaw two weeks ago but he has still not played a game for the Giants because the Giants doctors have not cleared him to return from his knee injury. Just one catch there - Rowinski played two games for Moose Jaw before the trade. So, it would appear that Moose Jaw's doctors felt his knee was ready to play, but Vancouver's see things differently. Funny how opinion on medical issues can vary from doctor to doctor, isn't it.
One last thing, I was unaware it had been quite so long, but news reports from the Calgary/Edmonton game last night say that the Hitmen's win was their 16th consecutive win over the Oil Kings, a streak that includes a 4 game playoff sweep in 2009. Edmonton has not beaten the Hitmen since September 20, 2008. Are there any other teams out there that have similar (and active) consecutive-wins streaks against one opponent?
(And Edmonton plays Calgary again tonight at home, so they can end the streak with a win...or Calgary will push it to 17 with a win)
Prokop gives the Americans four overagers (the current three are forward Kruise Reddick and defencemen Tyler Schmidt and Zak Stebner), and they now have two weeks to make a decision on which three to keep and move out the fourth guy. Portland is the only team in the league with room to add an overager, but there are probably other teams who would consider any of those four guys above to be an upgrade over somebody currently on their roster....
And another overage note, Vancouver acquired forward Brendan Rowinski from Moose Jaw two weeks ago but he has still not played a game for the Giants because the Giants doctors have not cleared him to return from his knee injury. Just one catch there - Rowinski played two games for Moose Jaw before the trade. So, it would appear that Moose Jaw's doctors felt his knee was ready to play, but Vancouver's see things differently. Funny how opinion on medical issues can vary from doctor to doctor, isn't it.
One last thing, I was unaware it had been quite so long, but news reports from the Calgary/Edmonton game last night say that the Hitmen's win was their 16th consecutive win over the Oil Kings, a streak that includes a 4 game playoff sweep in 2009. Edmonton has not beaten the Hitmen since September 20, 2008. Are there any other teams out there that have similar (and active) consecutive-wins streaks against one opponent?
(And Edmonton plays Calgary again tonight at home, so they can end the streak with a win...or Calgary will push it to 17 with a win)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday night
Interesting tidbit I just read - the Hitmen and Wheat Kings play tonight in Brandon in their first meeting since Brandon beat Calgary in the Memorial Cup semi-final back in May. But of the 38 players who played in that game, only 15 will play tonight - 7 for Calgary and 8 for Brandon. That's some significant turnover these two teams have had....
The game is on Shaw and if the Hitmen lose, it will be their 13th consecutive loss, which will set a new franchise record. The 1995-96 expansion edition of the team lost 12 in a row twice that year.
The game is on Shaw and if the Hitmen lose, it will be their 13th consecutive loss, which will set a new franchise record. The 1995-96 expansion edition of the team lost 12 in a row twice that year.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Rockets/Raiders deal
Trade to report this morning, Kelowna has dealt 18 year old defenceman Antoine Corbin to the Prince Albert Raiders for a 2012 3rd round bantam pick.
Corbin was kind of the odd man out in Kelowna, having been passed on the depth chart there by other players. The move should give him a chance to play some more minutes than he has been thus far.
Corbin was kind of the odd man out in Kelowna, having been passed on the depth chart there by other players. The move should give him a chance to play some more minutes than he has been thus far.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Pacific roster
British Columbia and Alberta named their 11 players each that make up Team Pacific for the World U-17s today. Unlike the Team Western roster, Pacific has only 2 players out of 22 who are not in the WHL this year. The roster, with WHL affiliation where needed:
Goaltenders:
Devon Fordyce - UFA Bisons (AMHL) - property of Prince George Cougars
Mackenzie Skapski - Ridge Meadows Flames (PIJHL) - property of Kootenay Ice
Defencemen:
Matt Dumba - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Lucas Grayson - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Keaton Lubin - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Morgan Reilly - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Griffin Reinhart - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Joshua Smith - Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Nicholas Walters - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Forwards:
Matt Bellerive - Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Levi Bews - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Troy Bourke - Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Chase Clayton - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Shane Danyluk - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Jari Erricson - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Justin Hickman - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Steven Hodges - Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
Brandon Magee - Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
Ryan Olsen - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Hunter Shinkaruk - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Robert Trzonkowski - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Mike Winther - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Goaltenders:
Devon Fordyce - UFA Bisons (AMHL) - property of Prince George Cougars
Mackenzie Skapski - Ridge Meadows Flames (PIJHL) - property of Kootenay Ice
Defencemen:
Matt Dumba - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Lucas Grayson - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Keaton Lubin - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Morgan Reilly - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Griffin Reinhart - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Joshua Smith - Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Nicholas Walters - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Forwards:
Matt Bellerive - Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Levi Bews - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Troy Bourke - Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Chase Clayton - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Shane Danyluk - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Jari Erricson - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Justin Hickman - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Steven Hodges - Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
Brandon Magee - Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
Ryan Olsen - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Hunter Shinkaruk - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Robert Trzonkowski - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Mike Winther - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
So combining Western and Pacific together, the number of 16 year olds each WHL team will be missing for that week after Christmas:
Calgary: 3
Brandon: 2 (plus 2 other non-roster prospects)
Everett: 2 (plus 1 other non-roster prospect)
Prince George: 2 (plus 1 other non-roster prospect)
Saskatoon: 2 (plus 1 other non-roster prospect)
Chilliwack: 2
Kamloops: 2
Kelowna: 2
Moose Jaw: 2
Portland: 2
Prince Albert: 2
Red Deer: 2
Regina: 1 (plus 1 other non-roster prospect)
Swift Current: 1 (plus 1 other non-roster prospect)
Tri-City: 1 (plus 1 other non-roster prospect)
Edmonton: 1
Medicine Hat: 1
Seattle: 1
Spokane: 1
Vancouver: 1
Kootenay: 0 (2 other non-roster prospects though)
Lethbridge: 0 (1 other non-roster prospect though)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Hitmen/Warriors big deal
After 12 straight losses in Calgary, you knew something had to change, and tonight it did. The Hitmen and Warriors have swung a five-player deal, with the Hitmen sending forwards Cody Beach and Mackenzie Royer to the Warriors for forwards Nathan MacMaster and Danny Gayle, and goaltender Brandon Glover.
All five players involved in the deal are 1992's, or 18 year olds.
With the deal, the Hitmen now have three goaltenders, so something is probably going to happen in the next few days involving either Michael Snider or Juraj Holly. Neither one has been particularly impressive this year so it's hard to say who is more likely to stay. Snider can come back next year as an overager so maybe they keep him for that reason, but on the other hand Holly is hard to move in the league due to his import status so maybe they keep him because of that. We'll see.
All five players involved in the deal are 1992's, or 18 year olds.
With the deal, the Hitmen now have three goaltenders, so something is probably going to happen in the next few days involving either Michael Snider or Juraj Holly. Neither one has been particularly impressive this year so it's hard to say who is more likely to stay. Snider can come back next year as an overager so maybe they keep him for that reason, but on the other hand Holly is hard to move in the league due to his import status so maybe they keep him because of that. We'll see.
Tuesday stuff
Bunch of notes this morning....
First, Red Deer and Regina swung a trade yesterday, the Pats sending 18 year old goalie Dawson Guhle to the Rebels for 18 year old forward Lane Scheidl. The move cleared up the Pats' three-goalie logjam and created one in Red Deer, which the Rebels promptly resolved by assigning 16 year old backup Bolton Pouliot back to AAA midget in Calgary.
If nothing else, it's a move by the Rebels that shows their intention of competing for a title this season. Now they have an older backup with 30+ games experience, in the event that starter Darcy Kuemper goes down.
With Regina resolving their situation, only one team in the league still has three goaltenders on the roster now, and that is Swift Current.
Still with Red Deer and Swift Current goaltenders, - or former Rebels and Broncos goaltenders anyway - the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic recently added overage goalie Morgan Clark to their roster. Clark played four years in the WHL for Red Deer, Swift Current, and Prince George before becoming a victim of the overage numbers in Prince George last month. With the addition of Clark, the QMJHL now has three former WHL goalies playing as overagers there - Jacob DeSerres and Andrew Hayes being the other two. The QMJHL is also using three former OHL goalies as well....but some people used to think the QMJHL was a goalie factory and anglophone kids were inferior at that position....look who's taking the jobs of those "superior" QMJHL goalies these days.
The WHL has ruled on that hit by Vancouver's Wes Vannieuwenheuizen last week (see below). The verdict is a 7 game suspension, which seems a little light to me. I would have liked to see a few more games, maybe an even 10, but we'll live with 7.
One thing is for sure though, the league cannot ever go back to 2 or 3 game suspensions for serious hits from behind again....those days have to be long gone. There is still a lack of respect being shown to opponents by some players in the league (and in all leagues, to be fair) and I think at this point, only tougher discipline is going to make some players realize that there are certain points in a game where you don't need to make a hit - or can ease up on a hit - on a vulnerable opponent. "Finishing your check" be damned, if the guy is in a bad position then you don't hit him if you can help it. Next time it might be you in that bad position.
Lastly, the Saskatchewan and Manitoba hockey associations yesterday named their 11 players each who will make up "Team Western" for the annual World U-17 Hockey Challenge which starts December 29 in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.
Here's the roster, with WHL affiliation for the players not in the WHL right now:
Goaltenders:
Andy Desautels - Regina Pat Canadians (SMAAAHL) - property of Everett Silvertips
Chris Driedger - Tri City Americans (WHL)
Defencemen:
Brady Gaudet - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Reid Gow - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Justin Hamonic - Winnipeg Wild (MMHL) - property of Tri-City Americans
Landon Peel - Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) - property of Regina Pats
Derrick Pouliot - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Ryan Pulock - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Damon Severson - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Forwards:
Daniel Asham - Winnipeg Wild (MMHL) - property of Brandon Wheat Kings
Bryaden Cuthbert - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Brendan Harms - Portage Terriers (MJHL) - property of Brandon Wheat Kings
Colton Heffley - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Shea Howorko - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Jared Iron - Beardy’s Blackhawks (SMAAAHL) - property of Kootenay Ice
Brendan Leipsic - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Logan McVeigh - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Sutton Olson - Southwest Cougars (MMHL) - property of Swift Current Broncos
Tyrel Seaman - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Chandler Stephanson - Regina Pats (WHL)
Brett Stovin - Interlake Lightning (MMHL) - property of Saskatoon Blades
Jaimen Yakubowski - Beardy’s Blackhawks (SMAAAHL) - property of Lethbridge Hurricanes
First, Red Deer and Regina swung a trade yesterday, the Pats sending 18 year old goalie Dawson Guhle to the Rebels for 18 year old forward Lane Scheidl. The move cleared up the Pats' three-goalie logjam and created one in Red Deer, which the Rebels promptly resolved by assigning 16 year old backup Bolton Pouliot back to AAA midget in Calgary.
If nothing else, it's a move by the Rebels that shows their intention of competing for a title this season. Now they have an older backup with 30+ games experience, in the event that starter Darcy Kuemper goes down.
With Regina resolving their situation, only one team in the league still has three goaltenders on the roster now, and that is Swift Current.
Still with Red Deer and Swift Current goaltenders, - or former Rebels and Broncos goaltenders anyway - the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic recently added overage goalie Morgan Clark to their roster. Clark played four years in the WHL for Red Deer, Swift Current, and Prince George before becoming a victim of the overage numbers in Prince George last month. With the addition of Clark, the QMJHL now has three former WHL goalies playing as overagers there - Jacob DeSerres and Andrew Hayes being the other two. The QMJHL is also using three former OHL goalies as well....but some people used to think the QMJHL was a goalie factory and anglophone kids were inferior at that position....look who's taking the jobs of those "superior" QMJHL goalies these days.
The WHL has ruled on that hit by Vancouver's Wes Vannieuwenheuizen last week (see below). The verdict is a 7 game suspension, which seems a little light to me. I would have liked to see a few more games, maybe an even 10, but we'll live with 7.
One thing is for sure though, the league cannot ever go back to 2 or 3 game suspensions for serious hits from behind again....those days have to be long gone. There is still a lack of respect being shown to opponents by some players in the league (and in all leagues, to be fair) and I think at this point, only tougher discipline is going to make some players realize that there are certain points in a game where you don't need to make a hit - or can ease up on a hit - on a vulnerable opponent. "Finishing your check" be damned, if the guy is in a bad position then you don't hit him if you can help it. Next time it might be you in that bad position.
Lastly, the Saskatchewan and Manitoba hockey associations yesterday named their 11 players each who will make up "Team Western" for the annual World U-17 Hockey Challenge which starts December 29 in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.
Here's the roster, with WHL affiliation for the players not in the WHL right now:
Goaltenders:
Andy Desautels - Regina Pat Canadians (SMAAAHL) - property of Everett Silvertips
Chris Driedger - Tri City Americans (WHL)
Defencemen:
Brady Gaudet - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Reid Gow - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Justin Hamonic - Winnipeg Wild (MMHL) - property of Tri-City Americans
Landon Peel - Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) - property of Regina Pats
Derrick Pouliot - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Ryan Pulock - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Damon Severson - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Forwards:
Daniel Asham - Winnipeg Wild (MMHL) - property of Brandon Wheat Kings
Bryaden Cuthbert - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Brendan Harms - Portage Terriers (MJHL) - property of Brandon Wheat Kings
Colton Heffley - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Shea Howorko - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Jared Iron - Beardy’s Blackhawks (SMAAAHL) - property of Kootenay Ice
Brendan Leipsic - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Logan McVeigh - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Sutton Olson - Southwest Cougars (MMHL) - property of Swift Current Broncos
Tyrel Seaman - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Chandler Stephanson - Regina Pats (WHL)
Brett Stovin - Interlake Lightning (MMHL) - property of Saskatoon Blades
Jaimen Yakubowski - Beardy’s Blackhawks (SMAAAHL) - property of Lethbridge Hurricanes
British Columbia and Alberta, who combine to form Team Pacific for the tournament, should announce their rosters any day now.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Another big suspension coming up?
No sooner does Tri-City's Brendan Shinnimin return from his 12 game suspension this weekend, than the league may have another double-digit suspension on its hands.
Watch this video of a hit by Vancouver's Wes Vannieuwenhuizen on Chilliwack's Robin Soudek last night. You can't really see what happens until about the 1:40 mark of the video, but that is a brutal, vicious hit from behind by Vannieuwenhuizen. I don't see how the league can give Shinnimin 12 games for his hit on Josh Nicholls (entirely deserved, IMO) and not give Vannieuwenhuizen something similar for this hit.
Soudek is extremely fortunate he suffered "only" a concussion on the play, since it could have been far worse when you look at how he hit the boards and how hard.
When are players going to learn to have more respect for their opponents on the ice?
Watch this video of a hit by Vancouver's Wes Vannieuwenhuizen on Chilliwack's Robin Soudek last night. You can't really see what happens until about the 1:40 mark of the video, but that is a brutal, vicious hit from behind by Vannieuwenhuizen. I don't see how the league can give Shinnimin 12 games for his hit on Josh Nicholls (entirely deserved, IMO) and not give Vannieuwenhuizen something similar for this hit.
Soudek is extremely fortunate he suffered "only" a concussion on the play, since it could have been far worse when you look at how he hit the boards and how hard.
When are players going to learn to have more respect for their opponents on the ice?
Reminder tonight
Just a reminder that tonight's game between Portland and Saskatoon is on Shaw in Canada...if you don't have other plans, are able to watch this game and don't, you might as well turn in your WHL fan card right now.
What more could you possibly want out of a game?
- Portland is #1 overall in the league and the hottest team in the league, riding a 10-0 streak into the game.
- Saskatoon is #3 overall in the league, only 1 point behind Kootenay. So there's a better-than-usual chance that this game could be a preview of the 2010-11 WHL Finals.
- Saskatoon is going to wear what might be the dumbest looking uniforms the WHL has seen since Cooperalls went extinct.
- Shannon Tweed is going to perform the ceremonial faceoff. Lock up your sons.
- Tweed's husband Gene Simmons will be in attendance. Lock up your daughters.
- depending on who you talk to, Simmons may or may not do something really stupid between periods. If he goes through with it, maybe Shaw will skip the talking heads between periods and show it...
What more could you possibly want out of a game?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
And another deal
Looks like Moose Jaw didn't need any more time to make their overage decision after all - they dealt forward Brendan Rowinski to Vancouver this afternoon for a 2012 3rd round pick and a 2013 6th round pick.
The Giants now have four overagers, since they already have McNaught, Cunningham, and MacKay, so there must be another move afoot here....probably not until McNaught is off the injured list though.
The Giants now have four overagers, since they already have McNaught, Cunningham, and MacKay, so there must be another move afoot here....probably not until McNaught is off the injured list though.
Warriors-Blades deal
Trade this afternoon, Moose Jaw has sent 18 year old defenceman Connor Cox to the Blades for a 2011 2nd round bantam pick.
A trade that makes sense for both teams, I think....Moose Jaw is making way for wunderkid Morgan Rielly to get even more playing time, and they get a valuable high pick back in return that they can use as bait if they decide to load up come January. Saskatoon gets a 2-year veteran defenceman to add to a defence group that has only two players with more than 1 year of experience.
Moose Jaw still needs to move an overager in the next 8 days as well, so another deal coming there soon.
A trade that makes sense for both teams, I think....Moose Jaw is making way for wunderkid Morgan Rielly to get even more playing time, and they get a valuable high pick back in return that they can use as bait if they decide to load up come January. Saskatoon gets a 2-year veteran defenceman to add to a defence group that has only two players with more than 1 year of experience.
Moose Jaw still needs to move an overager in the next 8 days as well, so another deal coming there soon.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
NHL All-Star changes
I was reading the sports news tonight when this NHL story caught my eye.
Basically, it sounds like the NHL is about to change the format of their All-Star game, with the changes to be in effect for this season already. Fans will vote on six starters like always, but NHL brass will pick the other 36 players. From those 42 players, two captains will be chosen, and those captains will proceed to pick their teams from the player pool, one at a time.
Of course, this scenario is completely familiar to anyone who ever played on a frozen pond - or even a sandlot ball diamond, soccer field, or playground half-court - anywhere in the world. Two captains - the two best players, biggest players, whatever - pick teams and you play. Which is what makes this idea kinda cool, when you think about it. We've all been there, and probably at some point, most of us have been picked first....and we've also been somebody's tag-along kid brother, getting picked last. I can't wait to watch these NHLers staring at the ground and shuffling their feet as it gets down to the last few players up for grabs.
Boy, am I dating myself by referencing this.....but who will be the NHL's "Albert"?
Basically, it sounds like the NHL is about to change the format of their All-Star game, with the changes to be in effect for this season already. Fans will vote on six starters like always, but NHL brass will pick the other 36 players. From those 42 players, two captains will be chosen, and those captains will proceed to pick their teams from the player pool, one at a time.
Of course, this scenario is completely familiar to anyone who ever played on a frozen pond - or even a sandlot ball diamond, soccer field, or playground half-court - anywhere in the world. Two captains - the two best players, biggest players, whatever - pick teams and you play. Which is what makes this idea kinda cool, when you think about it. We've all been there, and probably at some point, most of us have been picked first....and we've also been somebody's tag-along kid brother, getting picked last. I can't wait to watch these NHLers staring at the ground and shuffling their feet as it gets down to the last few players up for grabs.
Boy, am I dating myself by referencing this.....but who will be the NHL's "Albert"?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday notes
Couple notes this morning....
First, Moose Jaw got overage forward Brendan Rowinski back from the injury list on the weekend, which means the Warriors now have four overage players on their roster - goaltender Thomas Heemskerk and forwards Rowinski, Dylan Hood, and Spencer Edwards. If I am not mistaken, the rules give the Warriors two weeks to make a decision on which three to keep. So, By November 20th they must either trade or release one of those four. Heemskerk is the #1 goalie there and his backup - Brandon Stone - has 90 minutes of career WHL experience so it seems very unlikely that Heemskerk is going anywhere. The three forwards, it's probably a toss-up....Edwards is the team captain which you would think might protect him a bit, but I guess anything can happen.
The other note, I got an email from a reader about the Hitmen's poor start to the season. After being 4-4 after 8 games, the Hitmen have now lost 9 in a row and are dead-last in the league at 4-13 - a .235 pace. Anyway, I was asked whether I thought they would still make the playoffs; I know I never made any predictions here on the blog but back in training camp I figured the Hitmen would be in 7th-8th-9th by season's end. In other words, scrapping for one of the last playoff spots.
Well, it's now November and regardless of what I might have thought before, it is looking very bad for the team with the WHL's longest streak of consecutive years in the playoffs (the last time the Hitmen missed the postseason was 1996-97). Last season you needed 78 points to make the playoffs in the Eastern conference. If we assume that number is true again this year, then the Hitmen need 70 points in their last 55 games to get into the playoffs. That requires them to play .636 hockey from now through the end of the season in order to make the playoffs. You don't have to be an expert on anything to realize the extreme improbability of a team that is .235 after 17 games - and at their best point were only .500 this season - suddenly playing .636 for 55 games.
As the saying goes, you can't win the title at the start of the season - but you can sure lose it.
I don't think anyone else in the league is in the same boat as Calgary quite yet - nobody else is more than 4 points out of a playoff spot in their conference at the moment anyway.
First, Moose Jaw got overage forward Brendan Rowinski back from the injury list on the weekend, which means the Warriors now have four overage players on their roster - goaltender Thomas Heemskerk and forwards Rowinski, Dylan Hood, and Spencer Edwards. If I am not mistaken, the rules give the Warriors two weeks to make a decision on which three to keep. So, By November 20th they must either trade or release one of those four. Heemskerk is the #1 goalie there and his backup - Brandon Stone - has 90 minutes of career WHL experience so it seems very unlikely that Heemskerk is going anywhere. The three forwards, it's probably a toss-up....Edwards is the team captain which you would think might protect him a bit, but I guess anything can happen.
The other note, I got an email from a reader about the Hitmen's poor start to the season. After being 4-4 after 8 games, the Hitmen have now lost 9 in a row and are dead-last in the league at 4-13 - a .235 pace. Anyway, I was asked whether I thought they would still make the playoffs; I know I never made any predictions here on the blog but back in training camp I figured the Hitmen would be in 7th-8th-9th by season's end. In other words, scrapping for one of the last playoff spots.
Well, it's now November and regardless of what I might have thought before, it is looking very bad for the team with the WHL's longest streak of consecutive years in the playoffs (the last time the Hitmen missed the postseason was 1996-97). Last season you needed 78 points to make the playoffs in the Eastern conference. If we assume that number is true again this year, then the Hitmen need 70 points in their last 55 games to get into the playoffs. That requires them to play .636 hockey from now through the end of the season in order to make the playoffs. You don't have to be an expert on anything to realize the extreme improbability of a team that is .235 after 17 games - and at their best point were only .500 this season - suddenly playing .636 for 55 games.
As the saying goes, you can't win the title at the start of the season - but you can sure lose it.
I don't think anyone else in the league is in the same boat as Calgary quite yet - nobody else is more than 4 points out of a playoff spot in their conference at the moment anyway.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The report of my death was an exaggeration
I am back....apologies for going so long between posts but I've been extremely busy in my "real" life the last few weeks and haven't had much free time to do this. I can't promise that I'm going to be updating every day from here on but the frequency should probably be a lot closer to what it used to be.
Just one note for today - I see Edmonton and Kamloops swapped goalies yesterday, the Oil Kings getting 19 year old Jon Groenheyde and the Blazers getting 18 year old Cam Lanigan. The deal means that Kamloops is now using two veteran goalies who were not on the team at the start of training camp.
Which makes me think - is there any team in the league whose goaltending has been more unsettled in recent years than Kamloops? It seems (to me anyway) that ever since Devan Dubnyk left for the pros, that the Blazers have had a steady stream of goalies running through their dressing room in the search for that night-in, night-out starter that every team covets. Every team has some periods of uncertainty at the position but it just seems to me like Kamloops' has gone on for quite a few years now.
That being said though, I like this trade for the Blazers. Having seen Lanigan a bit over the last couple years, I think he's a very promising goalie and I'm not sure why Edmonton gave up on him. Yeah, he was struggling this year....but he did play very well last year and even got himself an NHL camp invite from it. For giving up on that potential, the Oil Kings get Groenheyde, who at 19 and after 2-plus years in the WHL, still hasn't proven that he is more than a backup calibre goaltender. He has good nights and bad nights and has just been consistently inconsistent so far in his career. Edmonton already had that in Lanigan, only Lanigan is younger and theoretically has more upside, more room to improve. So I don't get this trade from Edmonton's POV.
Just one note for today - I see Edmonton and Kamloops swapped goalies yesterday, the Oil Kings getting 19 year old Jon Groenheyde and the Blazers getting 18 year old Cam Lanigan. The deal means that Kamloops is now using two veteran goalies who were not on the team at the start of training camp.
Which makes me think - is there any team in the league whose goaltending has been more unsettled in recent years than Kamloops? It seems (to me anyway) that ever since Devan Dubnyk left for the pros, that the Blazers have had a steady stream of goalies running through their dressing room in the search for that night-in, night-out starter that every team covets. Every team has some periods of uncertainty at the position but it just seems to me like Kamloops' has gone on for quite a few years now.
That being said though, I like this trade for the Blazers. Having seen Lanigan a bit over the last couple years, I think he's a very promising goalie and I'm not sure why Edmonton gave up on him. Yeah, he was struggling this year....but he did play very well last year and even got himself an NHL camp invite from it. For giving up on that potential, the Oil Kings get Groenheyde, who at 19 and after 2-plus years in the WHL, still hasn't proven that he is more than a backup calibre goaltender. He has good nights and bad nights and has just been consistently inconsistent so far in his career. Edmonton already had that in Lanigan, only Lanigan is younger and theoretically has more upside, more room to improve. So I don't get this trade from Edmonton's POV.
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