Canada took the Russians out behind the proverbial woodshed in game 3 this morning in Omsk, Russia, with a 6-2 win. The game was not as lopsided as the score would indicate (from what little I saw anyway) but there is little positive that the Russians can take away from a four goal loss. Kyle Turris, Zach Boychuk, Colton Gillies, Claude Giroux, Stefan Legein, and Sam Gagner scored for Canada. Leland Irving got the win in net. Canada now leads the series 3-0 and with the way things are going, the almost-unthinkable-before-the-series-began notion of sweeping all 8 games is suddenly seeming like a distinct possibility. Without the home fans to play for, how will the Russian players get motivated for the upcoming games in Canada? I'm thinking they won't.
What was already a rather uninteresting event just got more uninteresting with this news. Russian star Alexei Cherepanov is out of the series with a concussion suffered in game two when he was hit high by Brandon Sutter of Canada. Cherepanov had just slew-footed Sutter a few seconds earlier and Sutter went looking for him, paying the Russian back with a leaping hit that earned Sutter two minutes in the box. (For a video look at the slew-foot and the hit, here it is on YouTube). But more than the blow to Cherepanov's head, it's a bigger blow to the Russian chances in this series. This is their best player we're talking about here, and while he hasn't done much in the first two games, they are still worse off without him. Methinks the Russian goal for this series should shift - if it hasn't already - from winning the series to just avoiding being embarrassed. They'll need to win a couple of the remaining games to salvage any respect from this tournament.
Some general WHL news now....
Keeping with the Russian theme, the CHL announced the sites for this year's Canada/Russia challenge games in November. The games are in Chicoutimi, Gatineau, Kitchener, Sudbury, Medicine Hat, and Kootenay. Personally, I'm sick of this crappy series already. I'm sick of meaningless Canada-Russia games too; this isn't the Cold War anymore and we don't get emotional about beating Commie ass like we used to. Based on the pathetic rosters the Russians have sent to this thing from the beginning, it's obvious how much they care. They are 3-21 all-time in that tournament and two of those wins were in shootouts over QMJHL teams. They have one freakin' actual regulation win in 24 tries. Against the WHL, they're 0-8 and have been outscored 47-11. Stick a fork in this thing and go back to league all-star games instead. At least those were more competitive and non-Canadian players got to play in them too.
Next up, the league has adopted some new rule changes for this coming season. Changes #1 (home team chooses whether to shoot first or second in the shootout), #2 (elimination of Gross Misconduct rule), and #5 (faceoffs now occur at nearest faceoff dot only, regardless of where the puck went out of play) are rather minor/insignificant. #3 (players fouled on a clear breakaway in the neutral zone get penalty shots now) is a common sense change. But the two we're most likely to notice are #'s 4 and 6. Players can now be given a major penalty for an act of interference which results in an injury. This is in keeping with the league's crackdown on obstruction; how many times have you seen a player run a "pick" on an opponent who doesn't see it coming? Picks and the like are interference and now you can get a major if you hurt the guy in the process. And lastly, #6 looks like the league will no longer measure stick curvature. Goalies everywhere are shuddering right now at the thought of every sniper in the league sporting a big banana curve this year and not being able to do anything about it.
More exhibition action today, with three games in the Everett tournament plus a Warrior-Raider rematch in the Jaw:
Spokane vs. Portland (Everett tournament)
Vancouver vs. Everett (Everett tournament)
Chilliwack vs. Seattle (Everett tournament)
Prince Albert @ Moose Jaw
Everett, Portland, and Kamloops signed a bunch of prospects to education agreements yesterday. The Blazers also cleared up part of their overage situation by releasing Brady Mason. I expected the Portland papers to have at least a little blurb about the Hawks signing, seeing as how it's a local product and all. I mean, how many Portland minor hockey products have played in the WHL? You probably don't need to take off your socks to do the count. But, nothing in the papers there as far as I can see.
Amidst the rumours that new Hitmen forward T.J. Galiardi might have his eye on playing pro this year, we have these quotes from him in today's Calgary Herald which sure sound like he's going to play for the Hitmen. More quotes saying much the same things.
Article on the progress of Brandon's training camp. Rookie camp has wrapped up there and main camp gets started now.
The Tyrell boys are trying to make it a brother act this year in Prince George.
Saskatoon has a couple big rookies trying to make the team up front. A 6'7" forward? Can he skate?
Rockets goalie Kris Westblom is recovered from his knee injury and ready to make the most of his overage season.
Rebels #1 bantam pick Connor Redmond is loving life in the WHL. Sounds like Brian Sutter is loving him too. Too bad he can't play 'til next year.
Regina import prospect Marco Insam talks about playing hockey in Italy.
Lethbridge Hurricanes camp is underway.
A look at how the roster battles are shaping up in Everett.
Moose Jaw sniper Riley Holzapfel has signed a contract with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers.
And lastly, I've fixed the Seattle defence in the camp rosters below. I guess the rumour that they acquired the entire Saskatoon defence turned out to be false. Also added a roster for Lethbridge.
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