Monday, December 29, 2014

Weekly Award Winners for week ending December 28 2014



Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of December

Week ending December 28

Johnny Gaudreau -- Calgary Flames
Colin Wilson  -- Nashville Predators
Sam Gagner  -- Arizona Coyotes

Three stars item for December 29, 2014 from NHL.com

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Tournament Time: Spengler Cup 2014

The European Holiday Tournament is on once again, as Davos, Switzerland hosts the annual gathering of European professional Club Teams taking on Team Canada.

Hockey Canada announced the listings of those Canadians who currently fill out the European Club rosters, along with a few imports for the cause to carry the Canadian Flag at the 88th edition of the Spengler Cup.

Like the World Juniors, the Spengler is a short sprint to the finish line, a few games leading up to the Championship, where a loss or two could mean the end of the chance to hoist the trophy and grab the holiday bragging rights.

Taking part in this years journey include the host squad HC Davos, from the KHL teams representing Medvescak Zagreb, HC Salavat Yulaev UFA, Jokerit Helsinki, Geneve-Servette HC and Team Canada.

The full schedule can be found below as each day's events prepare for puck drop.

The Spengler Cup Home Page can be found here.

TSN's Broadcast Schedule for Spengler 2014 can be found here.

Summaries and items of interest to follow through the tournament are available below:

Wednesday, December 31
Championship Game
HC Salavat Yulaev UFA 0 vs Geneve-Servette 3

Geneve-Servette win Spengler Cup

Tuesday, December 30
Semi-Finals

Geneve-Servette 6 vs Team Canada 5
HC Davos 3 vs HC Salavat Yulaev UFA 4


Monday, December 29
Quarterfinals

Team Canada 5 vs Helinski Jokerit 3 
HC Salavat Yulaev UFA 3 vs Medvescak Zagreb  0

Sunday, December 28

Geneve-Servette 3 vs Helsinki Jokerit 1
HC Davos 1 vs Medvescak Zagreb 0 

Saturday, December 27

Helsinki Jokerit 3 vs HC Salavat Yulaev UFA 4
Medvescak Zagreb 1 vs Team Canada 3

Friday, December 26

Geneve-Servette HC 3 vs  HC Salavat Yulaev UFA 2
HC Davos 2 vs Team Canada 1



Tournament Notes can be found below:

December 27-- Canada earns first win at Spengler Cup, 3-1 over Medvescak Zagreb
December 27-- Canada beats Medvescak Zagreb for first Spengler Cup win
December 26-- Canada falls to Host HC Davos to open Spengler Cup
December 25-- Steve Tambellini's Spengler Cup story spans generations
December 23-- Guy Boucher ready for the challenge of the Spengler Cup
December 23-- Guy Boucher anxious to accept challenge of coaching in Spengler Cup

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Tournament Time: The World Junior Championships 2014-15



Our Archive Page of events for the 2014-15 World Junior Championships from Toronto and Montreal.  The highly anticipated tournament of future NHL and World stars that keeps Canadians fixed on their television sets through the holiday season.

The year, Team Canada looks to claim its first World Junior title since 2009, with home crowds in the two largest markets in the nation ready to lend their voice should the strains of O Canada begin to sound.

Below, find the day to day schedules and scoring summaries, as well as items of interest from daily events on the ice. 

We will update our features through the tournament to reflect the most recent action and the day ahead.

The majority of our links will focus on Team Canada and the USA squad at this years tournament, though items of interest from the other teams will also find their way into our review as the tournament moves towards the Gold Medal Game.

Some of the key websites for this years tournament can be found below:


World Junior Tournament Schedule and Results page

Monday, January 5
Gold/Silver Medal Game

Canada vs Russia  8 PM ET/5 PM PT TSN

Bronze Medal Game

Sweden vs Slovakia 4 PM ET/1 PM TSN

Sunday, January 4

Semi Finals

Canada 5 vs Slovakia 1 
Russia 4 vs Sweden 1

Saturday, January 3

Relegation Round

Germany 2 vs Switzerland 5
Germany relegated to Division 1, Belarus to move up for Helsinki  2016

Friday, January 2 

Quarterfinals

USA 2 vs Russia 3
Sweden 6 vs Finland 3
Czech Republic 0 vs Slovakia 3
Canada 8 vs Denmark 0

Relegation Round

Switzerland 5 vs Germany 2


Wednesday, December 31

Switzerland 1 vs Sweden 5 
Canada 5 vs USA 3
Russia 1 vs Czech Republic 4
Germany 0 vs Finland 2 

Tuesday, December 30

Slovakia 5 vs Germany 2 
Switzerland 3 vs Denmark 4 Shoot Out

Monday, December 29

Czech Republic 4 vs Denmark 3 (OT) 
USA 3 vs Slovakia 0
Sweden 3 vs Russia 2
Finland 1 vs Canada 4 

Sunday, December 28

USA 6 vs Germany 0 
Switzerland 0 vs Russia 7 

Saturday, December 27


Friday, December 26

USA 2 vs Finland 1 (Shoot Out)

Tournament News Notes 

Canada

January 5-- Canadians try to stay calm as tilt with Russia at world juniors nears
January 5-- Tickets for Canada Russia World Juniors hockey final can be had, for a steep price
January 5-  Canada ready for Russia in world junior final
January 5-- Connor McDavid rises to occasion at world juniors
January 5-- Russia, Canada brings back haunting memories
January 5-- Zach Fucale to start in net for Canada in world junior gold medal game versus Russia
January 5-- Papa Petan's hat toss is a highlight of world junior tournament
January 5-- World Junior Final: Four Things to Know
January 5-- Canada sticks with Zach Fucale for World Juniors 2015 Gold medal game against Russia
January 5-- IIHF President says 'open questions' remain before return of World Cup of Hockey in 2016
January 4-- Team Canada vs Russia for junior gold simply perfect
January 4-- Canada pounds Slovakia, meets Russia Monday night
January 4-- Petan, McDavid spark Team Canada past Slovakia
January 4-- Canada wins to set up match-up with confident Russians in gold-medal game
January 4-- Canada's Nic Petan scores hat trick in win over Slovakia at World Juniors 2015
January 4-- Hockey Canada set high ticket process that led to empty seats at world juniors
January 3-- Canada forward Robby Fabbri's world junior is over
January 3-- The Barn to hockey stardom: Cujo's role bringing up Connor McDavid
January 3-- Canadian Juniors doing their best to perfect "tic-tac-tao"
January 3-- Canada expects different Slovakian team in semi-final than one they beat 8-0 ...
January 2-- Canada Trounces Denmark to set up Semi Final Date with Slovakia
January 2-- Easy to Forget that World Junior Tournament is played by kids
January 2-- Conor McDavid leads Canada in romp over Denmark at world juniors en route to semifinals
January 1-- Max Domi 'ready to go for the real thing' in medal round after igniting Team Canada in Montreal 
January 1-- Canada's roadmap for world juniors 2015 is unfolding perfectly
January 1-- This isn't last year's Canadian world junior team
January 1-- Domi back on dad's old Leafs stomping ground
January 1-- More than McDavid: Team Canada's true strength in its depth
January 1-- Zach Fucale will start for Canada on Friday
January 1-- Canada's Fucale, Comrie ultimate team players
January 1-- Canada wary of 'underdog' Danes at World Juniors
January 1-- Canada's world junior 2015 roadmap is unfolding perfectly
December 31-- Eric Comrie happy with play, would love to start in medal round
December 31-- Canada puts on dazzling display of hockey to beat bitter rivals from the United States at world juniors 2015
December 30-- Nurse to be in Eichel's face when U. S. meets Canada
December 30-- Finnish coach fuming at Team Canada's Groulx
December 30-- Let's not forget about Hanifan, Crouse and Matthews
December 30-- U. S. names Thatcher Demko starter for border war
December 30-- Americans aware McDavid isn't Canada's only threat
December 30-- Canada trying to downplay hype surrounding matchup against U. S. at world juniors
December 30-- Canada's Eric Comrie to start in goal against U. S. at world juniors
December 30-- Max Domi impressing his teammates and country at world junior championship
December 30-- Domi line sparks Canada past Finland at work juniors
December 29-- Canada lookin' sharp after victory over Finland
December 29-- Canada easily passes test against Finland at world juniors thanks in part to stellar play from Max Domi
December 29-- Canada will face first test against a Finland team in need of a win
December 27-- Canada's games full of empty seats at Montreal's Bell Centre among surprises at championship
December 27-- Connor McDavid hasn't score yet, but Team Canada isn't worried

USA


Sweden

Finland

Russia


Czech Republic



Slovakia



Germany




Switzerland




Denmark


Preview Notes


Monday, December 22, 2014

Weekly Award Winners for week ending December 21 2014



Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of December

Week ending December 21

Anze Kopitar -- Los Angeles Kings
Jakub Voracek  -- Philadelphia Flyers
Marc Andre Fleury  -- Pittsburgh Penguins

Three stars item for December 22, 2014 from NHL.com

Monday, December 15, 2014

Weekly Award Winners, week ending December 14, 2014



Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of December

Week ending December 14

Tyler Ennis -- Buffalo Sabres
Ryan Suter  -- Minnesota Wild
Henrik Lundqvist  -- New York Rangers

Three stars item for December 15, 2014 from NHL.com

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Weekly Award Winners for week ending December 7 2014



Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of November

Week ending December 7

Pavel Datsyuk -- Detroit Red Wings
Sergei Bobrovsky -- Columbus Blue Jackets
Aaron Ekblad  -- Florida Panthers

Three stars item for December 8, from NHL.com

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Mon capitane, bon voyage...


Yvan Cournyer one of the long time leaders in his own right of Les Canadiens, provided the perfect salute to the most treasured of all Habs, bidding farewell to Jean Béliveau, his captain, Quebec's captain.  A man widely respected across the nation as a man of class, a trait that few can live up to as did the long time icon of hockey in Montreal.

Wednesday, Quebec and Canada said farewell to Mr. Béliveau who passed away one week ago, his health had been failing in recent months, so perhaps announcement of his passing was not an unexpected development, though it was truly an unwanted news bulletin on a Tuesday evening.

With word of his passing, many turned to the remarkable Elise, Mr. Béliveau's partner in life, who has been the rock of which her immediate family and the extended hockey family have taken their cue from over the last seven days.

The funeral at Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral was befitting that of a Prime Minister or Cardinal, the impressive church filled with the famous and not so famous, more still gathered outside in one of those legendary Montreal blizzards, all paying their final salute to the Captain, who defined the sport in the sixties and represented the Canadiens for many years beyond his retirement.

When one reviews Wednesday's final act of mourning, we agree with Ken Dryden in his thoughts that  his funeral service, wasn't so much a farewell, as it was a thank you to the long time hockey icon.

A day that provided a fitting closure to the reminiscing and remembrances of greatness, for a man who had an impact far beyond the ice of the Forum or the other rinks of the NHL.

Tuesday, his team, celebrated a life lived with an emotional pre game ceremony, the kind of event that few professional sports franchises could ever hope to pull off with just the right touch.

Only perhaps the New York Yankess understand the moment, the resonance of such events beyond the sport, as well as Les Canadiens, an organization that truly understood the importance of their longtime leader as a larger than life symbol for Quebec, Canada and hockey.

The Tuesday night salute, followed the days of mourning at the Bell Centre as long lines of Quebecois and no doubt a number from beyond the province, passed by the casket, offering their own short prayer or tribute to their Captain,

Again, it was the remarkable Madam Béliveau that set the tone of the remembrances, both through those endless lines of fans that came to the Bell Centre in tribute and again at the special ceremony as she and her family took their familiar seats at the Bell Centre, Jean Beliveau's seat marked by the iconic number 4 sweater draped in silent tribute.

Through this last week there have been many remembrances of his skill at Canada's winter game, as well as his larger than life presence in the lives that he touched both with the Canadiens and beyond the game itself.

It's hard to pick one or two over the other, all have offered us glimpses of a player that truly fits the title of Legend, Jean Béliveau was a man who resonated beyond the game of hockey, exuding class, grace, skill and a word used often this week that indeed defined him, elegance.

The emotional nature of these last few days, have provided a fine tribute and made for a collective salute to his life and times, a life that was celebrated on Wednesday.

Dec 10 -- Simple elegant funeral is a perfect farewell to Jean Béliveau 
Dec 10 -- Fans, friends and family celebrate hockey star Jean Béliveau
Dec 10-- Thousands bid Habs legend a Final Farewell
Dec 10-- Canadiens, fans celebrate the life of Jean Béliveau at Bell Centre
Dec 10-- Jean Béliveau: Man for all seasons 
Dec 10-- Jean Béliveau's funeral features touching farewells
Dec 10-- Not Goodbye, but thank you
Dec 10-- The great Jean Béliveau remembered by former Montreal Canadiens teammates during emotional funeral
Dec 10-- Jean Béliveau remembered as a "great man" at funeral in Montreal

Dec 9 -- The Jean Béliveau-Elise Couture love story
Dec 9-- Jean Béliveau's widow moved to tears in pre-game tribute to Canadiens legend
Dec 9-- Canadiens turn Jean Béliveau's seat into a shrine, as it should stay

Dec 8-- Jean Béliveau an icon to many, a mensch to all
Dec 7-- Thousands pay emotional last respects to Jean Béliveau

Dec 5-- "We lost a father," Guy Lapointe says of former Canadiens teammate Jean Béliveau

Dec 3-- Béliveau was "the most universally respected hockey player and man"
Dec 3-- Dick Irvin picks Jean Béliveau as greatest Canadiens player
Dec 3-- Jean Béliveau, NHL Legend, remembered as true gentleman
Dec 2-- Jean Béliveau, beloved Canadiens hockey legend, dead at 83

And there have been some impressive video tributes in celebration of a legend.

Leading the parade of visuals, this amazing tribute from Tim Thompson best known for the classic Hockey Night in Canada montages.

Some of our other favourites from a week of remembrances can be found below.



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Senators shift direction removing head coach Paul MacLean and turning things over to assistant Dave Cameron

Those that were running through the lists of those that could soon be looking for work, probably hadn't circled the Ottawa Senators on their toto sheet, while the Sens had struggled in recent weeks, the idea that the coach who won the Jack Adams trophy less than two years ago, would be in danger of short term unemployment, most likely wasn't being considered.

So, developments out of Ottawa on Monday certainly caught the NHL world by surprise, as GM Bryan Murray called a press conference to announce the departure of MacLean and the promotion of assistant coach Dave Cameron to the top job.

Something had gone wrong in the nation's capital, the Senators always it seems are on the cusp of something special, only to have it all trail off, the 2014-15 season giving some early signs that those familiar traits were ready to arrive again.

Still, one wonders at what point a team might decide that the immediate fix of a coaching change may not solve the deeper issues. The malaise that seemed to grip the Senators highlighted that they had stopped listening to their coach, yet accountability for that lack of response it would seem won't be demanded just yet.

Dave Cameron takes over the under performing squad, Bryan Murray perhaps believing that a coach who has spent his time with young players in the minor leagues will have greater empathy with the players, coaxing a more successful effort night in and night out.

Some might say that they saw this day coming a few years back, when the then assistant coach, someone highly prized by owner Eugene Melnyk first arrived behind the Senators bench.

That perhaps may not be a fair observation, Cameron has built a record of his own through the years, considered a teacher, his lesson plan will be on that is closely watched through the rest of this season. Yet it will be the tag that follows Cameron through the short term, the subject we imagine of many a phone call late into the night to the Ottawa phone in shows.

On the ice, recurring issues and patterns will need to be addressed, internal issues in the dressing room may also require an exile or two before the Senators can turn a corner that seems further down the ice today than it did a few weeks ago.

Paul MacLean will coach again, most are in agreement with that, good coaches rarely are out of work for long.  And no doubt, other coaches on thin ice in other markets may soon start hearing rumbles that Maclean may be heading their town's way.

For Ottawa, the problem for the Senators of late is that they are quickly becoming a bit of a coaching graveyard, with a list of former coaches that were put in place behind the bench of a team many consider an up and coming force and yet none could take them very far into spring time hockey.

Up and coming has now morphed into rebuilding, player decisions and a team atmosphere that pears to have provided for a shorter timeline between the two than fans in Ottawa probably had expected.

That's not all related to coaching issues, that's a little higher up the corporate ladder, particularly in Ottawa, where a fairly high profile owner will now be in the spotlight.

Accountability for the situation in Ottawa should probably be shared from the dressing room to the owner's box, there's more than enough need to take some responsibility for everyone.

Paul MacLean leaves with no regrets
Paul MacLean’s dismissal was a matter of liveability
Senators fire head coach Paul MacLean; Ave Cameron takes over
Former Sens Coach knows he needed to win games
MacLean showcases solid humour in farewell presser
From saviour to scapegoat
Coaching change can spark team
'Old Paul' never came back
Onus now on Senators to prove MacLean was the problem
Sens GM says MacLean lost the room, 'didn't believe in the group' anymore
The coach conundrum: Murray can't find one in his own image
In unforgiving NHL, MacLean goes from coach of the year to canned in a year
Senators players ready to turn the page on a system that wasn't working

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

NHL Stars of the Month November



Heading into the main stretch of the NHL season, the NHL made note of those who excelled in the last thirty days and named their three Stars of the Month for November.


Calgary Flame's Mark Giordano
The First Star of the month for November

First Star

Mark Giordano -- Calgary Flames

Second Star

Vladimir Tarasenko -- St. Louis Blues

Third Star

Pekka Rinne -- Nashville Predators

Rookie of the Month November 2014



The NHL named their Rookie of the Month for November, as the second Rookie of the Month award for 2014 hit the right chords for Music City.


Filip Forsberg -- Nashville Predators

With fifteen points in thirteen games and +9 rating, November was a very productive month for Nashville's Filip Forsberg, and while the competition was tough, in the end the Predator's centre provided enough for the selection committee to name him Rookie of the month for November.

The review of Forsberg's month can be found here.

Our Archive of the Monthly and weekly awards winners can be found here.

Monday, December 01, 2014

Weekly Award Winners for week ending November 30 2014



Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of November

Week ending November 30

Jaroslav Halak -- New York Islanders
Ryan Callahan -- Tampa Bay Lightning
Karri Rammo  -- Calgary Flames

Three stars item for November 30, from NHL.com

Headlines of December 2014

Our Archive for the month of December

December 31-- Canada puts on dazzling display of hockey to beat bitter rivals from United States...
December 30-- Canadiens extend win streak to four after shootout win over Florida Panthers
December 29-- Brodeur blanks Avs for 125th career shutout
December 28-- Ducks come back to edge Canucks 2-1 in overtime
December 27-- Detroit Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist scores highlight-reel goal in Overtime to beat Ottawa Senators
December 26-- New Jersey Devils fire head coach Peter DeBoer with team in danger of missing playoffs again
December 25-- Fucale gets the nod when Canada opens World Junior Championship against Slovakia
December 24-- P. K. Subban stuns kids in disguise as security guard, wins Christmas (video)
December 23-- Edmonton Oilers still can't solve Western Conference as Arizona Coyotes hand them eighth straight loss
December 22-- Canadian players in the KHL seeing paycheques cut after Russian rubble collapse
December 21-- Blackhawks assistant equipment manager dies Sunday Morning
December 20-- Canucks' Hansen OK after collapsing on bench
December 19-- Canada drops pre-tournament game to Russia
December 18-- Slumping Kings rally for win over Blues in high-scoring game
December 17-- Three Pittsburgh Penguins being tested for mumps as Sidney Crosby returns to the ice
December 16-- Will plummeting Russian rubble kill the KHL?
December 15-- MacTavish temporarily takes over as Oilers Head Coach after firing Eakins
December 14-- Penguins' Crosby diagnosed with mumps
December 13-- Maple Leafs make it back-to-back wins over Wings
December 12-- Crosby to miss 2 games as precautionary measure
December 11-- Mike Babcock calls extension reports "fantasy world'
December 10-- Simple, elegant funeral is a perfect farewell to Jean Beliveau
December 9-- Jean Beliveau's widow moved to tears in pre-game tribute to Canadiens Legend
December 8-- Senators fire head coach Paul MacLean; Dave Cameron takes over
December 7-- Zibanedjad's four points power Senators from behind and past Canucks in overtime
December 6-- Brodeur back stops Blues to win
December 5-- Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish is "pissed off" at team's struggles
December 4-- Alfredsson proves you can go home again
December 3-- Jean Beliveau was a special man on and off the ice
December 2-- Jean Beliveau passes away at the age of 83
December 1-- World Junior Championship becoming a "big money" event