Well, the NLL is into it's fifth week and the defending champion Buffalo Bandits are a perfect 5-0 after defeating the Edmonton Rush 13-8 last night at Rexall Place. After dominating two of their first three games, they are looking good to repeat as champions this year. Mark Steenhuis is having a career year offensively while Chris White and the rest of the defence is shutting down opponents offense allowing more than ten goals only once so far this season.
Of course, a lot of credit goes to the goaltending duo of Ken Montour and Mike Thompson. Between the two they have earned the defensive player of the week award for the past three weeks: two for Montour while Thompson won it last week. Montour will be in the hunt for the award again this week with some stellar saves amongst the 55 shots he faced last night. He ended the game with 47 saves and his third win of the season.
Calgary (4-0) is the only other undefeated team left this year and are also looking quite impressive. If both these teams continue to play well there could be a repeat of the 2004 Champions Cup final. Calgary won that game at home 14-11 for their only Champions Cup. There is still lots of season left so get out and enjoy the action.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Odds & Ends
- Led by the tournament MVP, John Tavares, Team Canada claimed their fifth straight title at the 2009 IIHF World U20 Hockey Championship. One week ago today, Canada dominated Sweden in the gold medal game in Ottawa, ON winning 5-1 in front of 20,000 plus at ScotiaBank Place. Canada goes for an unprecedented sixth straight title in the co-host cities of Regina and Saskatoon. For ticket or other information about next years tournament click here.
- Canada's under 22 women's hockey team won silver at the 2009 MLP Nations Cup in what was only their second loss in the tournament since it's inception back in 2003. The Canadian team didn't surrender a goal in the tournament until late in the second period of the final game. Canada opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Finland before beating Russia 11-0 in the other round robin game and Germany 3-0 in the semi-final.
- Canada's under 18 women's hockey team also brought Canada a silver medal in their championship tournament. After scores of 16-1 against Switzerland, 6-0 against Finland and 13-0 against the Czech Republic, Canada beat Sweden 6-1 in the semis before losing 3-2 to Team USA in the gold medal game.
- The NLL season has begun and so far the defending champion Buffalo Bandits are looking good to repeat. They dominated the Philadelphia Wings in their season and home opener January 3 and found a way to beat a much improved Toronto Rock team on Saturday (Buffalo had not beat Toronto since January 2006 and hold a losing record all-time against Toronto).
- For this NLL season, all games are being broadcast live online free of charge. Just log on to www.nll.com and click the watch live link. It is nothing like experiencing the game live but it is great for those who cannot make it to the arena...or for those on the opposite coast. I hope this experiment works because I really enjoyed watching Colin Doyle and the San Jose Stealth take on the Calgary Roughnecks Friday night.
- Canada's under 22 women's hockey team won silver at the 2009 MLP Nations Cup in what was only their second loss in the tournament since it's inception back in 2003. The Canadian team didn't surrender a goal in the tournament until late in the second period of the final game. Canada opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Finland before beating Russia 11-0 in the other round robin game and Germany 3-0 in the semi-final.
- Canada's under 18 women's hockey team also brought Canada a silver medal in their championship tournament. After scores of 16-1 against Switzerland, 6-0 against Finland and 13-0 against the Czech Republic, Canada beat Sweden 6-1 in the semis before losing 3-2 to Team USA in the gold medal game.
- The NLL season has begun and so far the defending champion Buffalo Bandits are looking good to repeat. They dominated the Philadelphia Wings in their season and home opener January 3 and found a way to beat a much improved Toronto Rock team on Saturday (Buffalo had not beat Toronto since January 2006 and hold a losing record all-time against Toronto).
- For this NLL season, all games are being broadcast live online free of charge. Just log on to www.nll.com and click the watch live link. It is nothing like experiencing the game live but it is great for those who cannot make it to the arena...or for those on the opposite coast. I hope this experiment works because I really enjoyed watching Colin Doyle and the San Jose Stealth take on the Calgary Roughnecks Friday night.
Monday, January 5, 2009
USA Spoils Canadian Sweep at U17
After losing a tight game 6-5 to Team Pacific in overtime Saturday night, Team USA regrouped for Sunday afternoon and went on to defeat Team West 4-2 to claim the Bronze medal in the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, BC. Jacob Fallon scored a hat trick to lead the USA to their first ever bronze medal in this tournament.
Team USA jumped out to an early lead when Fallon scored the first of his three goals before the five minute mark. Fallon scored again in the last five minutes of the first to give Team USA a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Team USA's lead was doubled in the second period on goals by Stuart Higgins and Fallon. The third period started well for Team West as they broke the shutout just over a minute into to the period on Quinton Howden's (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL) first goal. Just over two and a half minutes later Howden connected for his second goal of the game and it looked like the Canadian side was on their way to a comeback. Will Yanakeff had other thoughts and shut the door in net for the USA to give them the 4-2 win and prevent a medal sweep by Canada.
Team Ontario hosted Team Pacific in the gold medal game Sunday night. During the preliminary round Team Ontario defeated Team Pacific 6-3 for a perfect round robin record. The loss to Ontario was the lone loss for Team Pacific in preliminary round play.
Penalties prevented either team from building much momentum in the first period but Team Ontario was able to open the scoring in the last minute of the period on a goal by Tyler Seguin from the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. Jeff Skinner from the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) increased Team Ontario's lead on his goal early in the second period on a wrap around that fooled everyone. The tempo picked up some after the second Ontario goal and both teams had their chances. With under a minute remaining in the second period and after some great saves by the Ontario keeper, JP Anderson (Mississauga Majors, OHL), Team Pacific gets their first goal of the game from Justin Feser of the Tri City Americans (WHL).
John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves, OHL) scored to open up the third period and restore the two goal lead for Team Ontario. After over sixteen minutes of uptempo, high intensity hockey, Team Ontario's Steve Shipley (Owen Sound Attack, OHL) pretty well put the game away with a partial breakaway goal to increase the lead to 4-1. John McFarland scored his second goal of the game on a late power play to give Team Ontario the 5-1 win and their second consecutive championship win.
Next year's tournament will be played in Timmins, Ontario where the host team will look for the three-peat.
Team USA jumped out to an early lead when Fallon scored the first of his three goals before the five minute mark. Fallon scored again in the last five minutes of the first to give Team USA a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Team USA's lead was doubled in the second period on goals by Stuart Higgins and Fallon. The third period started well for Team West as they broke the shutout just over a minute into to the period on Quinton Howden's (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL) first goal. Just over two and a half minutes later Howden connected for his second goal of the game and it looked like the Canadian side was on their way to a comeback. Will Yanakeff had other thoughts and shut the door in net for the USA to give them the 4-2 win and prevent a medal sweep by Canada.
Team Ontario hosted Team Pacific in the gold medal game Sunday night. During the preliminary round Team Ontario defeated Team Pacific 6-3 for a perfect round robin record. The loss to Ontario was the lone loss for Team Pacific in preliminary round play.
Penalties prevented either team from building much momentum in the first period but Team Ontario was able to open the scoring in the last minute of the period on a goal by Tyler Seguin from the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. Jeff Skinner from the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) increased Team Ontario's lead on his goal early in the second period on a wrap around that fooled everyone. The tempo picked up some after the second Ontario goal and both teams had their chances. With under a minute remaining in the second period and after some great saves by the Ontario keeper, JP Anderson (Mississauga Majors, OHL), Team Pacific gets their first goal of the game from Justin Feser of the Tri City Americans (WHL).
John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves, OHL) scored to open up the third period and restore the two goal lead for Team Ontario. After over sixteen minutes of uptempo, high intensity hockey, Team Ontario's Steve Shipley (Owen Sound Attack, OHL) pretty well put the game away with a partial breakaway goal to increase the lead to 4-1. John McFarland scored his second goal of the game on a late power play to give Team Ontario the 5-1 win and their second consecutive championship win.
Next year's tournament will be played in Timmins, Ontario where the host team will look for the three-peat.
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