By Matt Reynolds
At 1 pm today, Hockey Canada announced their 25-man selection roster for this year's World Junior Championships in Malmo, Sweden. Of these 25 hopefuls, 2 forwards and 1 defenceman will be cut from the camp.
The big names headlining the selection camp included Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay's third overall selection at this year's entry draft, 2014 eligible prospects Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart, and 16 year-old phenom Connor McDavid, who is younger than I am and has been dubbed by many as the next Sidney Crosby. Other notable names included Zach Fucale, a goaltender drafted in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens this year, and returning defenceman Griffin Reinhart, who will have to serve a 3-game suspension he received in last year's tournament for a high stick to the face of an American player. The full list can be seen here.
The one burning question on everyone's mind is, "is this team good enough to capture the gold?"
Team Canada goes into every international hockey tournament with the highest of expectations from their fans, but success has been scarce over the past few years. Team Canada has not won a gold medal since 2009, and last year failed to even win a medal at all for the first time in 14 years. Canada's last 5 World Junior tournaments have been as follows: Gold (2009), 2 Silvers (2010, 2011), Bronze (2012) and fourth place (2013). Many thought that last year was the year to win, since Canada had a star-studded roster thanks to the NHL lockout, which included Edmonton Oilers star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but the team disappointed many after dealing with goaltending troubles once again.
This year, only 2 goalies were taken for the selection roster, which is half of what was taken last year. This obviously means there will only be 2 goalies on the team, unlike the previous year, where the team carried 3. Jake Paterson, last year's third-string goalie, returns to the team this year alongside Zachary Fucale. Mathew Dumba is the only player currently playing in the NHL to have been selected for the roster, since no teams other than his Minnesota Wild have yet told Hockey Canada that they will allow them to take one of their players for the World Juniors. This includes Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom many thought would be loaned, since he is not playing every game for the boys in blue this year and is still eligible.
This year's team has a lot to live up to. Canadians across the country are getting restless without a gold medal in 5 years and another failure this year will certainly not help. While there are many notable and even household names on the roster, the rest of the players are not ones that we have heard loads of praise for this year or last. Notable names that were left off the roster include Edmonton defense prospect Darnell Nurse, Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Max Domi (son of Tie) and 2014 draft eligibles such as Michael Dal Colle and Sam Bennett.
Although Canada is never really lacking in offense, the last few years there has been one major problem: goaltending. Last year, coach Steve Spott put his faith in Malcolm Subban, who let us down when it mattered most. We also dealt with the inconsistency of backup Jordan Binnington. This year, many expect Zach Fucale to be named the starter. However, seeing how that has worked in the past few years, I believe Brent Sutter (this year's coach) should play both goalies in the preliminary rounds to really see which is the better choice.
Below are the players I think should make the team and the 3 who should get cut.
Goalies
Zach Fucale
Jake Paterson
Defencemen
Mathew Dumba
Chris Bigras
Griffin Reinhart
Aaron Ekblad
Josh Morrisey
Adam Pelech
Derrick Pouliot
Forwards
Jonathan Drouin
Frédérik Gauthier
Félix Girard
Bo Horvat
Charles Hudon
Scott Laughton
Curtis Lazar
Anthony Mantha
Connor McDavid
Nic Petan
Sam Reinhart
Kerby Rychel
Hunter Shinkaruk
Cuts: Damon Severson (D), Josh Anderson, Taylor Leier (F)
Monday, 2 December 2013
Friday, 18 October 2013
Are the rats really taking over?
Most of you probably remember Brian Burke's infamous rant on how "the rats are taking over the NHL." Most of you probably also scoffed at Burke when he said this, because he was GM of the Leafs at the time and as per NHL fan bylaws, everyone who is not a Leafs fan is required to make fun of everything the Leafs do.
But, over the past few weeks, it seems that Burke's statements from almost 2 years ago are in fact becoming a reality. At the time of the statement, all of the current NHLers who are largely considered "rats" - Patrick Kaleta, Steve Ott, Brad Marchand, Max Lapierre, Matt Cooke (who is now a changed man), Chris Neil, etc. were already in the league, but none of these players, save maybe Marchand and Cooke had reputations for being extremely dirty players. In the past two weeks however, Max Lapierre and Patrick Kaleta have been the subject of discussion in the NHL over two very dangerous hits, one from behind into the boards and one headshot.
Patrick Kaleta, who in the last year or so has built up a reputation as being one of, if not the dirtiest player currently playing in the NHL, received a 10-game suspension for his hit on Jack Johnson which he is currently appealing. Lapierre's hearing took place today and he received a 5-game suspension.
This leads us to the big question- was Brian Burke right? Are the rats really taking over the game? It is something to really think about. The Lapierre and Kaleta incidents should certainly draw lots of attention to this issue that is becoming more and more prominent around the league. The important thing is if NHL teams will choose to acknowledge it.
But, over the past few weeks, it seems that Burke's statements from almost 2 years ago are in fact becoming a reality. At the time of the statement, all of the current NHLers who are largely considered "rats" - Patrick Kaleta, Steve Ott, Brad Marchand, Max Lapierre, Matt Cooke (who is now a changed man), Chris Neil, etc. were already in the league, but none of these players, save maybe Marchand and Cooke had reputations for being extremely dirty players. In the past two weeks however, Max Lapierre and Patrick Kaleta have been the subject of discussion in the NHL over two very dangerous hits, one from behind into the boards and one headshot.
Patrick Kaleta, who in the last year or so has built up a reputation as being one of, if not the dirtiest player currently playing in the NHL, received a 10-game suspension for his hit on Jack Johnson which he is currently appealing. Lapierre's hearing took place today and he received a 5-game suspension.
This leads us to the big question- was Brian Burke right? Are the rats really taking over the game? It is something to really think about. The Lapierre and Kaleta incidents should certainly draw lots of attention to this issue that is becoming more and more prominent around the league. The important thing is if NHL teams will choose to acknowledge it.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Humiliation for Divers
Let's be honest. Diving is a problem that is growing rapidly in the NHL. While it's not at the same level as soccer and basketball, it still exists, and many players will flop to get a call from the ref. It's something that needs to be fixed.
Of course, it's on the refs to be able to identify whether the player took a dive or not, but when the ref calls a player for diving, the call should be known as diving, and none of this "unsportsmanlike conduct" nonsense.
Just imagine, on TV when they show the penalized player and what he got called for if it actually said "diving" instead of "unsportsmanlike." And imagine the PA announcer saying something like "Boston penalty to Brad Marchand, two minutes for diving." It sounds a lot better and a player hearing his name being called for diving in front of 15,000+ people would certainly be embarrassed, especially if he was on the road against a rival team, who would really give it to him.
It won't end diving in hockey forever, but it's a good way to start.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
NHL 14 Demo
The first thing I noticed was the player movement. Even since NHL 12, it has changed a lot. The controls are still the same but it looks and feels a lot different. This isn't a bad thing, it just takes some getting used to. During the quick play game, the first few minutes felt a bit odd. However, after a few minutes on the free skate mode, I had gotten the skating pretty well under control.
The fighting engine, which has been widely publicized by EA, was indeed very fun and a huge improvement from the other games. It took about 5 minutes to get into my first fight, after Brent Seabrook laid a beautiful hit on Brad Marchand, which promted the CPU-controlled Johnny Boychuk to come over and drop the gloves. Instead of the two fighters being transported to an empty rink with literally no players on it except for the two fighters like in the previous games, you get to stay in the game and duke it out. This time you also don't have to fight from the player's point of view, like in the other games, but the camera angle stays relatively the same.
In general, I would say there are some minor improvements that make a big difference in the game. I am definitely getting it, since my copy of NHL 12 is all scratched up and constantly freezes/glitches, so I really need a new game. If you're someone who has N a more recent game that works fine, it's really up to you to decide whether you want it or not. I would highly recommend downloading the demo to get a taste of the gameplay.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Misogyny in the NHL
Amid all of the problems in the NHL (which there are many of), there is one that is very prominent, but many people choose to ignore. Since the NHL is a men's league, the fanbase obviously consists of many men. The problem is, a lot of these men are mostly not the non-douchey type. Unfortunately, although there are many great men out there, misogyny is a huge problem with NHL fans, as well as fans of pretty much any other sport.
Misogyny from NHL fans now occurs practically daily, and it's in things we don't even notice. For example, the use of names such as Cindy Crosby and the Sedin Sisters are two of the most commonly used taunts in the NHL. It is not even just the male fans that use these, but female fans too, who don't seem to think about or care about what they're saying. It is fine to dislike a player (I'm not very fond of a certain rat), but resorting to using these names makes it seem like you really have no other comebacks to the player's skills (which is certainly true for people such as Crosby, the Sedins and Alex Ovechkin, who also endures some pretty bad taunts). Even the players are doing it.
This is obviously a major problem, especially since the league has teamed up with the You Can Play Team to fight homophobia in the league (which hasn't gone over so well). I am 100% behind the league's decision on this, but if we're going to reduce homophobia, misogyny should also be reduced within the league and its fans. This also means that allt-broadcast programs that are meant to be "directed at females" must be eliminated, for example, CBC's "While the Men Watch," which basically implies that every woman who watches hockey is just a puck bunny who doesn't care about the game at all, just the attractive players. While there may be many puck bunnies across the country, that doesn't justify this type of broadcasting, since there are many more true female fans, who should not be treated any differently.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Team Canada's 2014 Olympic Roster
By Matt Reynolds
About a month ago, Team Canada released their preliminary camp roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Out of the 47 players invited, 25 were forwards, 17 were defensemen and 5 were goalies. As always, Canada enters the tournament as favourites, but there are certainly some questions heading into the new season.
1. Who's the starting goalie?
The 5 goalies invited to camp were Corey Crawford (CHI), Roberto Luongo (VAN), Carey Price (MTL), Mike Smith (PHX) and Braden Holtby (WSH). While there are some talented names on that list, there's no denying that Canadian goaltending has significantly declined over the past 10 or so years, back when Marty Brodeur was in his prime. In 2010, Roberto Luongo took over for the struggling Brodeur and helped lead Canada to an unforgettable gold medal win. However, unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, you will have noticed that Luongo experienced a slight fall from grace before being renamed the starter for the Canucks in a shocking Draft Day trade that sent Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils. Luongo still has a lot to prove going into this season, but still had 2 solid starts in this year's playoffs despite the Canucks' dismal effort against the San Jose Sharks.
Then there is the other favourite, Blackhawks starter Corey Crawford, who recently helped lead Chicago to their second Stanley Cup in four seasons. Crawford had his ups and downs, but was overall a solid starter during the playoffs who had some consideration for the Conn Smythe trophy. Patrick Kane, who won the Conn Smythe, even said in a post-game interview that he though Crawford had been snubbed. This marked Crawford's third year as the Blackhawks' starter. He took over for Antti Niemi, who signed with the Sharks shortly after winning the Cup with Chicago in the previous season. Crawford's first 2 years were pretty similar-- a stellar but not standout regular season followed by a somewhat shaky first round elimination. He did not look good against the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2012 playoffs but clearly silenced some critics this year. Going into this season, Corey Crawford would be my favourite as the Team Canada starter in Sochi.
But let's look at the other three- Carey Price, Mike Smith and Braden Holtby. Carey Price had a very forgettable playoffs this year, as the Montreal Canadiens were steamrolled in 5 games by the Ottawa Senators. His regular seasons have been generally good, but he has experienced some struggles in the postseason. Mike Smith and Braden Holtby, however, are 2 goalies that have shone in the playoffs recently, both having formidable runs in 2012. They both had solid seasons in 2013, but Mike Smith's Coyotes failed to make the playoffs while Holtby and the Caps were eliminated in the first round. Braden Holtby's 2013 stats stand out the most, with 23 wins, a 2.58 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Another goalie that was left out of camp that could make the team as the third goaltender is Cam Ward, who was limited to just 17 games this season because of injury. Ward has, however, posted very consistent stats over the past few years. In the end, Holtby would be my pick for the team's third goalie, but watch out for Ward this season.
2. Who's the captain?
When you look at the players invited to camp, 2 people stand out to you as probable captains for the team-- Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. Canada has the benefit of having the two best players in the league right now, who also happen to be 2 of the best captains in the league (despite what you may hear some people say about Crosby). Since it is highly unlikely that Jarome Iginla will make Team Canada this year, expect Crosby and Toews to be the two favourites to don the "C."
However, there is one other player that has a real shot at captaincy. Martin St. Louis, winner of the Art Ross Trophy in 2013 is the unanimous choice to take over as captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning after Vinny Lecavalier was bought out. He is the oldest player at camp at the age of 38. He is a very well-known player who some people have thought would be a much better captain than Vincent Lecavalier. It should come as no surprise if he is given the "C" this season with Tampa Bay, and his leadership skills and veteran presence should merit him at the very least an "A" in Sochi.
3. Who else is on the team?
Entering the 2013-2014 season, there is no doubt that Canada has the best group of forwards in the league. Unfortunately, they can only choose 13 of them to play at Sochi. There are some names who are locks for the team (barring injury), i.e. Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, Tavares and Giroux. Defensemen such as P.K. Subban, Kris Letang and Duncan Keith are also incredibly likely to make the team. The rest, however, will be very difficult to choose, especially depending on how the upcoming season goes. Heading into the season, these would be my lines for Team Canada.
LW-C-RW
St.Louis-Crosby-Stamkos
E. Staal-Toews-Getzlaf
Hall-Tavares-Eberle
Bergeron-Giroux-Neal
Couture
LD-RD
Subban-Keith
Letang-Pietrangelo
Doughty-Weber
Hamhuis
All of this, of course, depends on what happens in this upcoming season, but these are some of the best players in the league and they should be motivated to play their very best if they want to earn a spot with the team. Go Canada Go!
About a month ago, Team Canada released their preliminary camp roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Out of the 47 players invited, 25 were forwards, 17 were defensemen and 5 were goalies. As always, Canada enters the tournament as favourites, but there are certainly some questions heading into the new season.
1. Who's the starting goalie?
The 5 goalies invited to camp were Corey Crawford (CHI), Roberto Luongo (VAN), Carey Price (MTL), Mike Smith (PHX) and Braden Holtby (WSH). While there are some talented names on that list, there's no denying that Canadian goaltending has significantly declined over the past 10 or so years, back when Marty Brodeur was in his prime. In 2010, Roberto Luongo took over for the struggling Brodeur and helped lead Canada to an unforgettable gold medal win. However, unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, you will have noticed that Luongo experienced a slight fall from grace before being renamed the starter for the Canucks in a shocking Draft Day trade that sent Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils. Luongo still has a lot to prove going into this season, but still had 2 solid starts in this year's playoffs despite the Canucks' dismal effort against the San Jose Sharks.
Then there is the other favourite, Blackhawks starter Corey Crawford, who recently helped lead Chicago to their second Stanley Cup in four seasons. Crawford had his ups and downs, but was overall a solid starter during the playoffs who had some consideration for the Conn Smythe trophy. Patrick Kane, who won the Conn Smythe, even said in a post-game interview that he though Crawford had been snubbed. This marked Crawford's third year as the Blackhawks' starter. He took over for Antti Niemi, who signed with the Sharks shortly after winning the Cup with Chicago in the previous season. Crawford's first 2 years were pretty similar-- a stellar but not standout regular season followed by a somewhat shaky first round elimination. He did not look good against the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2012 playoffs but clearly silenced some critics this year. Going into this season, Corey Crawford would be my favourite as the Team Canada starter in Sochi.
But let's look at the other three- Carey Price, Mike Smith and Braden Holtby. Carey Price had a very forgettable playoffs this year, as the Montreal Canadiens were steamrolled in 5 games by the Ottawa Senators. His regular seasons have been generally good, but he has experienced some struggles in the postseason. Mike Smith and Braden Holtby, however, are 2 goalies that have shone in the playoffs recently, both having formidable runs in 2012. They both had solid seasons in 2013, but Mike Smith's Coyotes failed to make the playoffs while Holtby and the Caps were eliminated in the first round. Braden Holtby's 2013 stats stand out the most, with 23 wins, a 2.58 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Another goalie that was left out of camp that could make the team as the third goaltender is Cam Ward, who was limited to just 17 games this season because of injury. Ward has, however, posted very consistent stats over the past few years. In the end, Holtby would be my pick for the team's third goalie, but watch out for Ward this season.
2. Who's the captain?
When you look at the players invited to camp, 2 people stand out to you as probable captains for the team-- Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. Canada has the benefit of having the two best players in the league right now, who also happen to be 2 of the best captains in the league (despite what you may hear some people say about Crosby). Since it is highly unlikely that Jarome Iginla will make Team Canada this year, expect Crosby and Toews to be the two favourites to don the "C."
However, there is one other player that has a real shot at captaincy. Martin St. Louis, winner of the Art Ross Trophy in 2013 is the unanimous choice to take over as captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning after Vinny Lecavalier was bought out. He is the oldest player at camp at the age of 38. He is a very well-known player who some people have thought would be a much better captain than Vincent Lecavalier. It should come as no surprise if he is given the "C" this season with Tampa Bay, and his leadership skills and veteran presence should merit him at the very least an "A" in Sochi.
3. Who else is on the team?
Entering the 2013-2014 season, there is no doubt that Canada has the best group of forwards in the league. Unfortunately, they can only choose 13 of them to play at Sochi. There are some names who are locks for the team (barring injury), i.e. Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, Tavares and Giroux. Defensemen such as P.K. Subban, Kris Letang and Duncan Keith are also incredibly likely to make the team. The rest, however, will be very difficult to choose, especially depending on how the upcoming season goes. Heading into the season, these would be my lines for Team Canada.
LW-C-RW
St.Louis-Crosby-Stamkos
E. Staal-Toews-Getzlaf
Hall-Tavares-Eberle
Bergeron-Giroux-Neal
Couture
LD-RD
Subban-Keith
Letang-Pietrangelo
Doughty-Weber
Hamhuis
All of this, of course, depends on what happens in this upcoming season, but these are some of the best players in the league and they should be motivated to play their very best if they want to earn a spot with the team. Go Canada Go!
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