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The Current State Of Officiating

I have read a lot of talk on the inter webs this year from fans the league about poor officiating. Many point out unfair or just flat out stupid penalties being called. I’m not sure if I’m inclined to support that statement entirely..

I do think officiating has slipped in recent seasons. My argument has been more the fact that games are not allowed to flow as they should at times. Every game before a face off, players are kicked out for arbitrary infraction reasons, sometimes two or three guys are thrown out in a row.

troy

DROP THE FREAKIN’ PUCK ALREADY !

I have heard the hockey media say things like ‘Well referees have a way of evening things out..’ I do not like these statements at all. It’s something soccer commentators talk about. Being someone who has watched soccer my whole life, I know how flat out appalling refereeing can be. My hope is that it will never slip to that degree . These guys aren’t machines, mistakes will be made. Apart from a few big games such as Dallas’s Brett Hull 1999 goal, (which was more because of a poor rule than poor officiating), the NHL still fairs as being some of the best in sports. In my opinion anyway.

One can also argue that views on officiating are often where your allegiances lie. Which I can honestly say is true. I mean if referees call an awful penalty on the Penguins for example are Philidelphia fans really going to care? Then again Flyers/Pens games are like a bar brawl down in southwest Philly. So what do you expect?!

I sense myself starting to ramble here so I’m going to cut this short.

In closing, if people have issues with officiating. Easy solution. Bring this man back.

bill

Nuff Said.

WInnipeg Jets’ Tobias Enstrom Attacked And Robbed

It was supposed to a nice summer and offseason for Tobias Enstrom in his hometown of Ornskjoldsvik, Sweden. Last night however, somebody had other plans.

According to Reuters, Enstrom was taking out money from an ATM machine when he was assaulted and left laying on the ground. Enstrom needed medical attention and Swedish police were quick to apprehend 3 suspects.

Enstrom will return to Winnipeg next season to play for the Jets.

Coach’s Corner Saturday: Don Cherry And The Russians

Here’s the first installment of our look back at vintage and not so vintage Don Cherry and Coach’s Corner rants.

This one is a beaut. This took place at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey in Vancouver. Grapes flips his lid over the Russians in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to the point where he say they suck. Also points out the Federov is a diver and harps on the other European teams.

And calls Mike Liut a siev. He goes berserk, it’s amazing.

50 Years Of Kitchener Rangers Hockey

Last season marked number 50 for the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers. Over these 50 years, the team has seen over 140 players graduate to the National Hockey League. Current players such as Mike Richards and Gabriel Landeskog and hall of famers Paul Coffey, and Larry Robinson prove that Kitchener is a breeding ground for talent.

The Rangers started off in Guelph when a businessman by the name of Eugene George was instructed by the New York Rangers about a possible move to the Kitchener where junior hockey was flourishing. In 1963, the Kitchener Rangers were founded and started playing out of the Kitchener Auditorium.

In 1981, the Rangers were coached by Cornwall’s own (yay for hometowns!) Orval Tessier and led by familiar names such as Brian Bellows and Al MacInnis. Proving to be the start of a strong team, they played their way to the Memorial Cup finals, losing to the Cornwall Royals who were repeat champions.

The next season the Rangers once again fought their way to the Memorial Cup finals and faced the Sherbrooke Castors. With a Brian Bellows hat trick, the Rangers captured their first Memorial Cups

Although the 1990’s turned out to be rebuilding years, the Kitchener Rangers returned to glory in the 2002-2003 season. Finishing first overall in the OHL, the team featured Mike Richards, David Clarkson and Derek Roy. In the Memorial Cup final, a hard fought battle was played out against the Hull Olympiques finishing with a 6-3 victory. The Kitchener Rangers were Memorial Cup champs yet again.

Junior hockey is still alive, well and thriving in Kitchener. The Rangers are always a playoff contender and will continue to be in the future. With currents stars like Ryan Murphy, Radek Faksa, and Max Iafrate, there’s no doubt in my mind Kitchener will return to the Memorial Cup podium. Hey, third time’s a charm.

EA Sports Announce Martin Brodeur As New Cover Man For NHL14

It was down to two. EASports had narrowed it’s candidates to two goaltenders, Martin Brodeur and Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky. The fans had their say and Brodeur came out on top.

NHL14 is slated to come out this September for the Xbox360 and PS3 consoles.

Here’s the fancy schmancy video cover reveal:

Finnish Team Jokerit Helsinki To Leave SM-Liga And Join KHL

In what seems as a shocking move, Finnish based team Jokerit Helsinki has announced it will leave the very respectable SM-Liga (Finnish Elite League) for the KHL starting in the 2014-2015 season. Jokerit is one of the more established teams in SM-Liga with quite the following. This proves the KHL is adding one more step to become an international competitor to the National Hockey League.

The KHL is currently comprised of 29 teams based out of 8 countries. Jokerit Helsinki will become the ninth representing Finland. Croatia is slated to enter the league this coming season.

All 29 teams are spread out throughout Euro-asia with the far east being newly HC Admiral Vladivostok which plays on the east coast of Russia across from Japan. Spearheaded by Alexander Mogilny, Vladivostok is hoping to turn itself into a contender within it’s first year and play for the Gagarin Cup.

Jokerit has had several stars breakout over the years including Esa Tikkanen, Teemu Selanne, Ville Laino, Erik Karlsson and currently Valtteri Filppula’s older brother Ilari and Jarkko Ruutu. It will be interesting to see how this team of Finnish faithful will adapt to the Russian style and league.

A Tribute To Jay Onrait And Dan O’Toole

2 of Canada’s most beloved sports anchors have left our home and native land for greener pastures down south. It was nothing short of a tradition or ritual to wake up every morning and turn on Sportscentre with Jay and Dan to start your day. We are jealous that the Americans now get to bask in all of their hilarious glory but, they’ll be back. We know it. Let’s tap into some of the emotions that made us ride every morning.

We danced……

We got angry….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzthAsLXDDY

We grew old….

We had a dart….

And most importantly, we Bobrovsky’d.

And for that Jay Onrait and Old Man Toolsie…..WE SALUTE YOU.

SOCHI 2014: Russian Federation

Time to check out the host nation in our look at the Sochi 2014 Olympic games.

Starting in goaltending, you’d think they’d have a lot to pick from but in reality they don’t. Their best shot is 2013 Vezina Trophy Sergei Bobrovsky (friend of the show….). An incredible young goaltender that still makes me question why the hell the Flyers got rid of him. Speaking of the Flyers, Bobrovsky’s teammate and probably backup is non other then his starting goaltender in Philadephia, Ilya Bryzgalov. Rounding out the goaltenders is Semyon Varlamov. Which isn’t too shabby. And gives me an excuse to use this:

Kovalchuk. Ovechkin. Malkin. Doesn’t that sound like a sweet first line to you? It’s music to my ears for me. Datsyuk. Tarasenko. Yakupov. Sweet jesus, a fire powered second line too?! Anisimov. Radulov. Semin. HOLY DEPTH CITY. I’m not even gonna write any more about them.

Defence defence defence! And they slightly have none of it. Markov, who did absolutely nothing in Montreal last year is in the ranks along with Montreal teammate Emelin, Kulikov, and everyone’s favourite ex-Sen donkey Sergei Gonchar. Oh boy, split the D boys, it’s your only chance.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Leafs/Kings 1993 Conference Finals

We left off last Friday with Doug Gilmour’s double overtime goal against the St. Louis Blues. The Leafs took the series and headed to the conference finals against Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings.

Belive it or not, this was the first conference final to not have either Calgary or Edmonton shine in it since 1982. Both teams were at an all time high, especially the Leafs. This was the first team that had gelled together for a Stanley Cup run in a long time. (Think 1967 long).

With the Kings down 4-1, Game 1 started off the controversy and rivalry when Marty McSorley decided to just flatten Dougie Gilmour on open ice with 2 minutes to go in the 3rd period. Wendel Clark, never one to shy down from anything, decided to take matters into his own hands. And this one is a beauty of a fight.

Coach Pat Burns was furious and was adament that Los Angeles coach Barry Melrose ordered McSorley to take out the Leafs star player. But the controversy was just getting started.

Fast forward to game 6 where the Leafs were ahead 3 games to 2 and one win away from the Stanley Cup finals. Playing on home ice, the Leafs were pumped, angry and just raring to go. Not to mention the fans. The game went back and forth similar to a few games Chicago and Boston played in the finals this year. With the score knotted at 4 a piece, the Leafs and Kings head to overtime.

Maybe you’ve heard of this guy Wayne Gretzky. The league’s star (and for intents and purposes could be down right dirty) player, decided to give ol’ Dougie a little stick tap to the face which resulted in cutting Gilmour’s chin. Right in front of the official. Perfect. 5 minute major right?

WRONG.

BECAUSE Gretzky was the league’s star player and ultimate money making machine, he could do no harm. Gilmour was left bloody and Gretzky was left unpenalized. Ok, no worries. The Leafs still got this.

Wrong again. Peter Zezel takes a stupid penalty and you know who decides to show up and play….

It was all over but the crying folks. The Kings went on to win the whole series. The Gilmour incident remains on the most controversial plays in NHL history.