New segment! News and notes of the hockey world for the week!
Ahmed Mahfouz has received a well earned call up. Well, I guess some could say well earned. He’s been in the FHL for the past little while now with the Dayton Demonz and happened to go on a tear with 175 points in 75 games. (Remember, I said the FHL.) The CHL’s Brampton Beast picked him up.
Speaking of FHL. The EIHL Coventry Blaze head coach Matt Soderstrom was canned in favour of former Dayton Demonz head coach Marc Lefebvre. The Kanata, Ontario native was Assistant of Hockey Ops with the Sheffield Steelers. Interesting to see if he lasts more then the rest of the season.
The Sheffield Steelers also cleaned house and canned their head coach Doug Christiansen. Replacement is yet to be named.
Dominic Chiasson scored his 300th career LNAH goal last Saturday with the Cornwall River Kings.
There’s talk of enforcer Steve Bosse coming back to the LNAH. Seems like the league is trying to go back to it’s roots. Who knows if that will actually happen though.
Team Canada and Team USA both come away with wins in their first preliminary games at the Sochi Olympics. They face much harder tests coming soon.
The CCHL held a phenomenal turn out for their Do It For Darren day last Saturday in Carleton Place. Every team was in action and it ended with a bang at the Canadian Tire Centre for an AHL game.
New Zealand and Team GB have both selected their national teams for their respective IIHF tournaments coming up. The Australian and New Zealand leagues are almost ready for puck drop.
Jagr and Gretzky shake hands post game. (Photo: Kathy Willens)
It’s Olympic season so I thought I’d take a little trip down memory lane. It’s not such a great memory but one that sticks out of Canada’s hockey history like a sore thumb. The lessons learned at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan were pivotal to the shape of how Team Canada creates and maintains it’s roster in the present time. Sit back and enjoy the tale of Team Canada and Czech Republic’s quest for hockey gold.
The 1998 Canadian Men’s Olympic hockey team came into Nagano looking for a score to settle with the United States. Just two years earlier, the US captured gold at the 1996 World Cup. What both teams didn’t expect though, was neither of them even medaling.
The Canadian team was put together with once again gold in mind. With it being the first time the National Hockey League would take a break from their regular season and allow NHL players to compete, household names such as Patrick Roy, Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, Scott Stevens, and Martin Brodeur complemented the greatest player in the world. That player named Wayne Gretzky.
With a stacked team at hand, Team Canada made its way to the medal round with a perfect 3-0 record. Wins came from the beatings of Belarus, Sweden and the aforementioned Team USA. While coming into the game against Kazakhstan a bit cocky, the hockey gods bestowed its power against the red and white. Proving just anything can happen in Olympic sport, Joe Sakic strained a knee ligament and was out for the rest of the tournament. The not so good turning point for Team Canada.
Hasek and Fleury.
Entering the semifinals against the Czech Republic, Team Canada again once had the advantage. The Czechs iced a team that at the time only had 10 players on its roster playing in the NHL. Things were neck and neck and anxiety was at an all time high as both teams entered the third period with a score knotted at one.
The Canadian team was carefully put together by none other than Mr. Broadstreet Bully, Bobby Clarke. With a little input from head coach Marc Crawford, the Team Canada brass was beaming with pride with their selections. On paper, there was no way anyone could come close. Back home, some of the choices were controversial. Eric Lindros was named captain ahead of the likes of Gretzky, Yzerman and Raymond Borque. Clarke’s pick of Lindros may have been a bit biased as he was General Manager of Lindros’ Flyers at the time. A sleeper pick that had heads shaking was Rob Zamuner. Continue reading “Turning Japanese: Team Canada and the dreaded Nagano shootout”
The Coventry Blaze weekend road trip to Braehead and Sheffield ended in losses with their second and third in 8 eight games. Those losses end up knocking them down a notch in the standings to 8th position. As the sadness continues, fans have taken up arms to decide whose fault this is and why this season has been such a disastrous one.
If there’s one thing we can take out of this season is the Blaze’s ability to adapt to the situation when things take the down slope. I’ve seen teams come out way worse with the injuries and politics that Coventry have endured. That being said, where do you start pointing the finger? Do you point it behind the bench at Matt Soderstorm? Do you point it at the brass? Do you point it at the players themselves? It’s a combination of everything one would think.
However, I might be a little naïve but it’s only one season. The 2012-2013 season might have been under different circumstances but the Blaze did finish a very respectable 4th in the league standings and ended up 3rd in the playoffs. That’s not a shabby finish I’d say. So what if things have taken a bit of a downfall? After this season, there’s nothing to do but regroup, take a look at the good and bad while making the appropriate changes.
Do I think Matty Soderstorm is right for the job behind the bench? Given the hand he’s been dealt, I can’t really make a fair assumption. He’s doing what he can with what he’s got. It’s only his first season as Head Coach. Give him a bit of a break.
While I agree that there’s no reason why a team like the Coventry Blaze should be that far down in the standings in the 8th spot, come next season, they’ll turn it around. You’re not the Edmonton Oilers for crying out loud.
It was a Simpsons themed night at the Civic Complex complete with “D’oh!” and even Homer Simpson himself made an appearance. In case you weren’t up to speed, the Simpsons shtick was due to Laval Braves headman Dannick Lessard calling the Cornwall River Kings a bunch of a “homers” in a recent interview.
Running with it, the fans and even the Kings brass decided to throw it into the much talked about and hyped up re-match between the two teams Saturday night. Two weeks ago, the two teams met for almost 10 fights, an 8-2 Cornwall victory and Lessard himself getting suspended 4 games for trying to start something with Cornwall’s coach.
However, the match failed to deliver to expectations.
Cornwall was terrible in their own end. On powerplays, there was nobody in front of the net more times then I’d like to admit. Loic Lacasse was brilliant as usual as the game probably could’ve ended up in the double digits for Laval. Laval played a speedy, grinding game to come away with their 6-5 victory.
(Photo: Rick Bowen)
It’s the LNAH so people are in the stands for the fights. After a huge fight filled contest in Laval, the fans were expecting something similar. With only 3 fights on the card, and subdued ones to say the least, it wasn’t worthy of an LNAH caliber game. However, that might not have been the River Kings fault as most of the tough guys on Laval didn’t seem like they were ready to drop the gloves.
Some points I’d like to make. Cornwall was down in the score by 3 and the atmosphere was well, not very electric. Captain Steve Simoes must have realized that the momentum needed to change so he took it upon himself to up the ante. After drilling three guys and dropping the mitts with a damn good tangle, the momentum was finally in Cornwall’s favour. 2 or 3 goals (goals were scored but I’m flaky on how many) were scored while Simoes was in the box and it seemed like Cornwall had a life.
Until knucklehead Francis Lessard takes a double minor.
That my friends was Laval’s turning point. Now don’t me wrong, I like Lessard as much as the next person. AS A FIGHTER. Even though he landed on the scoresheet tonight, a 40 second shift of circling around In the offensive end doesn’t sit as great hockey presence but I digress.
On Laval’s side though and after finally getting to see them in person, it boggles my mind how this team is in last place! Does it have something to do with them having half of our roster now? No, I don’t think so. The goaltending of Stephane Cesar was brilliant to say the least and the hockey presence and mind of Maxime Boisclair was just amazing. Boisclair is a smart, smart hockey player. If Cornwall ever has a chance to trade for him, I’d pull the trigger in a second.
(photo: Allison Papineau)
I know this a relatively long post but I had to be critical this time and if you don’t agree with me then so be it. I know it’s hard to gel as a team when you have very little practice time. That being said, the powerplay needs a complete overhaul. In fact, I overheard in the crowd that if Cornwall were to get another powerplay, they should just decline it.
It’s not all doom and gloom. There’s still plenty of hockey left so no need to get on the worry bandwagon right now. Plenty of life to put into this team and keep the Complex rocking. I hope to god that the next home game the same amount of almost 3,000 fans keep coming out. The atmosphere was electric and I’m sure the players love the support.
The Melbourne Mustangs have started their late summer training in time to kick off the 2014 winter campaign in April. (It’s still weird that I’m writing winter and April in the same sentence.) In attendance were team star Patrick O’Kane (no joke), Brendan Oakes, Matt Stringer and Micheal James. Coming off a strong 2013 season, the Mustangs are leaving no stone unturned and they feel they will have what it takes come playoff time.
The Mustangs will open up their season on Sunday, April 13. They’ll have their hands full right off the bat as the reigning Goodall Cup champions, the Sydney Ice Dogs come to The Stable. I’m looking to see if O’Kane will be able to capitalize on his 51 points of last season and move up a notch or two on the leader board. This will be the perfect test for O’Kane and the Mustangs to see where some of the off season moves and training is at.
Pat O’Kane. Photo: onyamagazine.com
To be the best, you got to beat the best.
The Sydney Ice Dogs however will be starting their training tomorrow with team tryouts starting in early March. Sharpshoote Anthony Wilson, who was apart of the Ice Dogs foundation into the AIHL has decided to retire and not return for the 2014 campaign. An integral part of the Ice Dogs line up, he hangs up his skates with two Goodall Cups under his belt and a 14 year career spanning the Ice Dogs, and with Team Australia internationally.
The Australian Ice Hockey League is an exciting brand of hockey that most don’t know or here about. I will be doing updates on the league throughout the season. So after the Stanley Cup is raised, head down under to get your hockey fix.
The Belfast Giants squad headed by Paul Adey has run away with it. His Giants lead league with an impressible 64 points; 19 ahead of the second place tied Sheffield Steelers and Dundee Stars. To say they have it in the bag it pretty much a lock in statement. It’s also safe to say they’ll be the 2013/2014 Erdhardt Conference champions for the second year in a row.
That being said, there’s a ridiculously close fight for second. The Sheffield Steelers and Dundee Stars are tied for 2nd with 45 points. Following them are the Braehead Clan and Nottingham Panthers who are only a couple of points each away. The race to the top in these last few crucial weeks is going to play out for some exciting hockey.
England native, Craig Peacock lead the charge this past Sunday as he rallied for four points in the Giants win over the Sheffield Steelers. A bright hockey star from Peterborough, England, he has a bright future with the Giants or hell, the Elite league in general. A proud moment for a team that’s made half of its roster Canadian players.
Photo: Richard Crothers
Clearly, nobody is going to give the Giants a run for their money this late in the season. For the rest of the league, it’s time to battle down and start playing some offensive hockey. Personally, I see Sheffield taking aim at second and locking it in.
We are getting into the thick of it hockey fans. Now is where it’s going to get interesting.
Belfast are down in Wales tonight taking on the Cardiff Devils before the swing back home on Friday for a two night foray against the Hull Stingrays and Fife Flyers
The league’s leading scorer opened up the length of his domination this weekend after a Blaze dismantling of the Edinburgh Capitals and Nottingham Panthers. Now at 42 goals on the season with four coming this past weekend, brass of the Blaze now have to start looking at their prized possession seriously in order to keep him attached for next season.
The 27 year old American is in his first campaign in the Elite league and is proving to be a force. He spent last year floating around the East Coat and American leagues with the majority suiting up for the Orlando Solar Bears and Houston Aeroes. Of course there’s more of a competition in North America so he only registered 25 points. His Elite league totals now sit at 77.
With everything’s that happened with Coventry so far this season, it would be wise of them to think up a substantial offer to keep Ginand happy. Unless of course there’s family issues, or a desire for him to be back home in North America, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. He has been a godsend for them this season through all the politics and injuries.
He’s not the only Ginand out there with hockey skills. His brother, Phil Ginand, skated a bit in the New York Islanders system with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and spent some time down under with the Perth Thunder in the Austrailian Ice Hockey League.
This weekend the Blaze look to keep the momentum going as they head into Scotland to take on the Purple Army in the Braehead Clan. Saturday’s puck drop is at 7pm local time. The following Sunday they head to Sheffield to take on Jeff Legue and the Steelers.
Last weekend the Cornwall River Kings entered the so called “House of Pain” and came out with an 8-1 thumping of the Lavallyfield Braves. (In case you’re not up to speed, the team originally started in Valleyfield but soon moved to Laval due to financial and municipal reasons.) Now Laval has a storied history in the LNAH with the previous squad in the Chiefs and are trying to live up to the reputation.
The “House of Pain” didn’t seem to work in their favour however as Cornwall’s tough guys tossed the Braves around like there’s no tomorrow. Including Braves team coach Dannick Lessard pulling a John Tortorella and making his way over to the Cornwall bench. All in all the game ended in 204 penalty minutes.
Oh LNAH (or Laval for the most part), stay classy.
Anyway, this Saturday is bringing the two teams back against each other but this time down the 401 down in Cornwall’s barn. With the intensity of a fierce home crowd, I would assume the outcome is going to look a lot like last Friday. Cell Block E will be ringing with pandemonium to get a chance to get their chirps in at Dannick Lessard and the Braves. However, Dannick won’t be behind the bench as a 4 game sentence was handed down from the LNAH for his actions.
No matter, the best team on the ice will prevail and River Kings had made some changes and have proved to icing a more then competitive team. Not everybody will agree with some of the decisions they’ve made but this is hockey and stars/players move on. It’s the nature of the sport. Management has done everything in their power to make this a fan’s team and they haven’t let up.
Photo: Rick Bowen
Loic Lacasse will most likely start and will be a gem in net as usual. Look for the last place Braves to try once again to put on a show and throw the River Kings off their game. Obviously Cornwall is much stronger and won’t let anybody push them around in their house.
Being a resident of North America, I have never had the chance to fully enthrall myself with the hockey of the EIHL. I knew it existed, players from my hometown have excelled there (I.E. Jeff Legue), and it’s one of the better leagues on the planet. Thanks to the power of modern technology, I have been able to catch a few of the Coventry Blaze home games. While most of what I watched is talented and entertaining hockey, a very frightening percentage of it was just god awful.
Now, I might go out on a limb here and say that this season is probably not a usual one for the Blaze. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong but I would like to think the Blaze ice a pretty competitive team. I also like to think a series of unfortunate events have led to their immediate downfall.
A 5 game losing streak at the beginning of the season may have attributed to goaltender Mike Zacharias and his ensuing Twitter scandal. May have been a lot on his mind. That being said, he has seemed to return to form but a lack of strong defence is what is keeping pucks in the net.
This is hockey and unfortunately injuries do happen. Sometimes they happen at the worst possible time as well which seems to be an unadulterated plague to the Blaze. Benn Olson missed 17 games with a broken finger. (Which has since forced him to drop the 2014 campaign). Gerome Giudice missed 8 games from what I can only assume was a concussion. However just when they seemed to be down and out, they emerge with the signing of fan favourites Mike Egener and Shea Guthrie. Finally, a ray of hope seemed to beckon down on the faceoff circle at the SkyDome.
Unfortunately that spot of sunshine didn’t last too long. Guthrie broke his own finger and at the time of writing is still a couple weeks away from return. Kevin Harvey also decided to give his notice and head back to his native Canada. A very untimely decision but sometimes the cards don’t fall the way you want them too. Upon taking all of this information in, you can just imagine the moral of the team and how that would affect statistics. Shockingly, goals for and goals against are neck and neck. On the other hand, it’s no surprise that the Blaze are the most penalized team in the league. Frustration mounts over time.
That being said, from here on in the Coventry Blaze need to start playing defensive hockey. Not that they haven’t been before but it’s time the defence core turned it up a notch and delivered. Yes, there’s a gap to fill with Olson gone but it’s possible with the caliber of defencemen on this team.
I’d like to say that the forwards need to step it up but they have. Ryan Ginand is the leading the league with 71 points. In fact, the Blaze have 3 scorers in the top 15. The only other team that matches that is the league leading Belfast Giants.
There’s plenty of time left to mount somewhat of a comeback and recapture the season. There’s not one person to blame for the plunging in the standings, so don’t even start to point fingers at Matt Soderstrom as he was dealt a lame hand. It’s a combination of things. Thus the Coventry Blaze and the Series of Unfortunate Events will enter a rink near you.
Look, I’m the biggest patriotic Canadian in my neck of the woods but I know reality when I see it. Of course, I will be cheering my heart out for the boys in red and white but I truly don’t think gold is in the cards this time around. Maybe I’m just a realist.
Maybe this article will come and bite me in the ass.
While Team Canada is indeed sending over an impressive and stacked team to the frozen Olympic ice of Sochi, Russia, there are plenty of details that pile up against them in their run to make a repeat at winning gold.
A few solid lines of forwards (we do have the best forwards in the tournament, no doubt) and defense is not enough when it comes to international competition. It may get by in the NHL, but not on the world stage. You need impeccable goaltending. With Team Canada selecting Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, and Mike Smith, I just don’t think that’s enough to hack it.
Sadly, his time is over. 😦 (Photo: sports.msn.ca)
That’s not their fault however. Our goaltending hasn’t been up to snuff in years. When these 3 goalies are hot, they’re insanely hot. The key is to catch them on their good streaks because when they’re bad, they’re downright terrible. Thankfully, Carey Price has been standing on his head for the Canadiens lately so that is something to get excited for.
Another big factor is the size of the ice. Olympic style rinks and European/Russian rinks in general are bigger then the NHL and North American ones. This has proved to be detrimental to Team Canada in numerous international tournaments, not just the Olympics. On top of which, hockey is played in an entirely different way; it’s more about speed and stick handling compared to our well known physical game. Luckily some of our players have had the chance to play in European leagues during the lock out so that might be a bit of an advantage but it won’t be enough.
Lastly, Russia will have the biggest advantage of everyone as they are the home country. Now, I now the Cold War has come and gone, the Summit Series is a twinkle in everyone’s eye but I still wouldn’t put anything past them in terms of sabotage. Hell, it’s 2014, I shouldn’t have to be thinking like this but the reality is I am. With all the media surrounding the Games and with the likes of a few players on the American team telling their families to stay home for fear of violence, it’s just in the back of my mind.
Hopefully everything I’ve written here turns out wrong. Hopefully Team Canada does in fact repeat. Hell, hopefully they’ll medal. The odds are good yet the goods are odd.
Ahmed Mahfouz has received a well earned call up. Well, I guess some could say well earned. He’s been in the FHL for the past little while now with the Dayton Demonz and happened to go on a tear with 175 points in 75 games. (Remember, I said the FHL.) The CHL’s Brampton Beast picked him up.
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