Building Great Talent

With the emerging trends in the NHL of teams keeping and developing their good, young talent on a regular basis, Hockey Canada is beginning to find itself in a quandary, albeit a very good one. The World Junior Championships are a hallmark event for the Canadian hockey body in which they have seen unparalleled success from the rest of the world. A lot of this has to do with the excellent development programs in the Canadian Hockey League, but this is leading NHL teams to keep their high draft picks on their rosters in order to develop that talent at a faster rate. Because of this, the Canadian World Junior team sees its roster missing a lot of its top-tier talent every Christmas.

While this may sound like a complaint, it's not. It's great to see players such as Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, and Jeff Skinner suiting up for Canada, but the NHL is a business and the teams need to continue to develop their talent if they wish to remain competitive. While sending young players to the World Junior Championships would be a nice luxury for some teams, reality sometimes limits what teams can do.

The luxury that Hockey Canada has in this country is that Canada is deep in hockey talent thanks to a phenomenal major junior system and a passion for the game. Canada will have some solid returning players to man their blueline as Ryan Ellis, Calvin de Haan, and Jared Cowen will return for Canada. Up front, there is only one returnees, but there is some significant talent, and Team Canada's strength will be depth.

The return of Brayden Schenn to the Brandon Wheat Kings yesterday opens all sorts of doors for Hockey Canada. Schenn had spent considerable time with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the AHL's Manchester Monarchs before being returned to the Wheat Kings before his 10-game option ran out. This, of course, gives Team Canada a big boost as Schenn will be the lone returnee, but the Los Angeles Kings feel this is the best way for Schenn to develop as they have the talent to compete without keeping Schenn in their lineup.

"My candid opinion would be sure, that would be a great thing to be able to go play for Canada in the world juniors like that," Kings' GM Terry Murray told the Times. "It’s great competition and valuable experience."

Add in other notable draft picks such as Erik Gudbranson (Florida), Ryan Johansen (Columbus), Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay), and Zack Kassian (Buffalo, 2009) shows that Canada will have some solid talent assembled in Buffalo. For Kassian, it's a chance to show the team that drafted him that he's ready to make the jump from Windsor in the OHL to the bright lights of the NHL. So while the blue-chip names like Hall, Seguin, and Skinner remain with their NHL clubs, Team Canada still has themselves a very competitive roster.

Canada's major test will most likely come from the Americans once again. Team USA had nine players returning from their gold medal team one year ago for their evaluation camp, including goaltender Jack Campbell, defensemen Cam Fowler and John Ramage, and forwards Ryan Bourque, Jerry D'Amigo, Chris Kreider, Jeremy Morin, Kyle Palmieri and Jason Zucker. Fowler, though, appears to be staying with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, but the other eight men have every opportunity to make the team and defend their gold medal.

It's a credit to the NCAA and the USHL for helping to develop young men in America into solid hockey players in the same way that the CHL does in Canada. These two developmental leagues are putting America on the map as a World Junior Championship power when they weren't even considered an also-ran as recently as a decade ago. Because of their work, there are a lot of excellent American-born players in the NHL, and that trend should continue with the work these two leagues are doing.

It should be an interesting camp in Toronto, Ontario for the Canadians as they prepare for the 2011 World Junior Championships. While the star power may not be there, Canada has a number of top-tier players who should provide a lot of exciting moments during the holiday season!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

Before Legein, There Was Oreskovich

I'm sure we all remember the outrage that some people had over Stefan Legein's decision to quit hockey all of sudden in August 2008. It shocked Blue Jacket fans, and the story was broken by my good friend and colleague Bethany at the time. But before Stefan Legein shocked the new NHL world and the word had spread like wildfire on the Internet, there were others before him who simply walked away from the game at a time that seemed almost too good to be true. One such man will wear the antlers for a portion of the year this season as Victor Oreskovich will start the season with the AHL's Manitoba Moose. And yes, Oreskovich quit hockey shortly after starting his professional career with the Colorado Avalanche with little to no fanfare of his decision.

Oreskovich was a solid player with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers. He had put up decent numbers with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers in 2003-04 before jumping to the NCAA's Notre Dame Fighting Irish to continue both his education and his hockey career. However, after nine games in 2005-06 with the Fighting Irish, Oreskovich jumped to Kitchener where he could kickstart his career after wallowing at Notre Dame.

He had been noticed, though, by one NHL team. The Colorado Avalanche liked the work he did with the Green Bay Gamblers, and they selected him in the second-round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft at 55th overall. There was hope that the 6'3" winger would develop into a scoring, speedy forward who could boast some size along the boards. The plan got derailed, though, when the Avalanche assigned Oreskovich to the AHL. Oreskovich, however, was finished.

“At the time, I was a little burned out from hockey,” Oreskovich admitted to Jim Bender of The Winnipeg Sun. “I didn’t plan to come back to the game, but I took a step away and it made me realize how much I missed it... I finished all my schooling and it made me realize the importance of hockey in my life.”

Oreskovich had quit the game he grew up playing in the midst of his young career. He went back to South Bend, Indiana to finish his Finance degree at Notre Dame University, turning his back on the game he loved to play. He worked in a mall while working his way through his degree, but began to feel that itch to play again.

Knowing he needed a break, Oreskovich called his former Kitchener Rangers coach Peter DeBoer in 2009. DeBoer, who had been hired to coach the Florida Panthers, went to Randy Sexson to see if his former player could get a shot on a tryout with the Panthers. DeBoer liked what he saw, but assigned the former OHL Ranger to the AHL's Rochester Americans for a little more seasoning. He had, after all, been out of the game for two years.

Oreskovich took the opportunity his former coach had given him and ran with it. He played 34 games with Rochester before being called up to help the Panthers. And he never saw Rochester again last season. Oreskovich spent 50 games with the Panthers, scoring two goals and adding four assists - nothing to be overly optimistic about, but quite an achievement for a man who one year earlier was sitting in a university classroom.

After being traded to the Vancouver Canucks this season, Oreskovich knew that his shot at making the NHL club was long. The Canucks boast talent on all four lines, and head coach Alain Vigneault decided to send Oreskovich to the Moose where he can play with energy and chip in a few goals along the way.

"It was surprising but, at the same time, I was pretty excited," he said of the trade to Vancouver. "Florida’s a good organization and they were great to me, but I think Vancouver is a special spot and Manitoba is one of the best AHL franchises out there. When it happened, I was thrilled, I really was."

Honestly, I'm thrilled to have Victor Oreskovich playing for the Moose this season. The Moose have had some very skilled wingers before in Jason Jaffray, Lee Goren, and Alexandre Burrows, but Oreskovich brings both size and skill to the table. The Moose need a big-bodied winger who can cut to the net hard, and it looks like Oreskovich might be that player.

“He’s had a good camp,” head coach Claude Noel said. “I like the way he works and let’s see how he does here. My understanding is he’s an energy guy who has the size. I watched him in Vancouver and I liked him a lot. He was strong on the puck, reliable defensively, played with some energy, played with some physicality so, is that what we’re going to see?”

I hope so. If Oreskovich can play with the up-tempo, never-say-die attitude he brings to life, he'll be a fan favorite in Manitoba.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

The "City Beautiful"

I spent a night in the city of Des Moines, Iowa and I have to say that I feel this city deserves the bright lights of hockey more than it has received in the past. The AHL has tried a few different faces here while the CHL and USHL have both stopped by for a taste of the Iowa capital. There has been one team that has been a consistent performer on the ice, though, and that is the team that will occupy most of this article. Granted, this team has also spent the most time in Des Moines, but we'll look at a few teams that have barnstormed their way through the most populous city in Iowa as well.

In 1969-70, the Minnesota North Stars shifted their CHL franchise from Memphis, Tennessee to Waterloo, Iowa, establishing the Iowa Stars. This is the first edition of the Iowa Stars, and, while not in Des Moines, needs to be touched upon from a historic standpoint.

The Stars only played one season in the CHL, but they were fairly successful. They posted a record of 35-26-11, making the playoffs in their first season in Iowa. They boasted future NHL greats in Rick Dudley and Marshall Johnston, and were led in scoring by Mike Chernoff and Bill Orban, both of whom scored 75 points in 1969-70. A young John Muckler was the GM of the Iowa Stars, and Parker MacDonald coached the squad.

The Adams Cup Playoffs were two rounds, and the Stars squared off with the Tulsa Oilers in the first round. Iowa jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but Tulsa battled back in Game Five to cut the deficit. However, Game Six saw goaltender Fern Rivard stand out as he led the Stars to a 4-0 win, helping the team earn the victory in six games.

The Adams Cup Final had the Stars against the Omaha Knights, but the series was far from similar to the previous one. Omaha and Iowa split the first two games, and then it was all Omaha for the next three games. After all was said and done, the Omaha Knights had downed the Iowa Stars in five games.

While it seemed the franchise had fared pretty well in its first season, the news behind the scenes wasn't as pretty. The North Stars decided that hockey in Iowa wasn't as profitable as they thought it would be, and uprooted the franchise from Waterloo to Cleveland, Ohio.

According to this website, the North Stars had every intention of making hockey work in Iowa if it was profitable. "Speaking for the North Stars," Muckler stated, "it was our feeling and good intention that this thing should become a success and obviously it never did.

"I would have to agree that a 30 percent increase in business next year, as suggested, would be possible, but it would still leave $130,000 cushion for us to make up. At Cleveland we will have none of this."

With that, the CHL days in Iowa would come to a screeching halt. However, hockey would return years later to the Iowa capital. With the return of hockey came an established commitment to winning.

In 1979, the US Olympic team, coached by the legendary Herb Brooks, visited Des Moines to play the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition game. After the game, concerned citizens and parents of hockey players asked Brooks how to keep the youth hockey program intact after it was announced that the Metro Ice Sports Arena may be sold. Brooks' advice was simple: get a permanent hockey tenant for the building.

In 1981, that tenant was found as the Des Moines Buccaneers took to the ice in their first season in the USHL, the Junior-A system in the United States. They finished in second-place in their inaugural season, and this would prove to be a harbinger of the Bucs' future success. However, it would take them a decade of building before they would bring home victory to Des Moines.

In 1991-92, the Buccaneers saw dramatic improvement as they finished the season with a 35-11-2-0 record. Jamie Adams led the team in scoring with 92 points, and head coach Bob Ferguson had his team ready for the postseason. They rolled through the playoffs, winning the Clark Cup as champions of the USHL, and then captured the Gold Cup as the top Junior-A squad in the United States! Des Moines saw its first two championships in the same season!

In 1993-94, the Buccaneers won the Anderson Cup for being the top regular-season team in the USHL at 36-12-0, but they fell short in the playoffs. The USHL Triple Crown still eluded the team, but they had captured all three championship statuses within three seasons under Bob Ferguson.

In 1994-95, the Buccaneers put it all together. They went an incredible 38-5-5 in the regualr season to capture the Anderson Cup as the top USHL team. After steamrolling the USHL in the regular season, they continued their dominance in the USHL Playoffs by winning their second Clark Cup in team history. The Buccaneers took their dominance into the National Championship and won their second Gold Cup, capturing the team's first Triple Crown in history! Brad Frattaroli led the team in scoring with 72 points, and was one of six Buccanneers to record more than 60 points. Balanced scoring and solid goaltending resulted in major success for the team!

The Buccaneers have also captured the National Championships in 1997-98 and 2005-06, making them a four-time US Junior-A Champions, but their staying power is what has made them a part of Des Moines. They consistently produce high quality players, including 2009 Dallas Stars' draft pick forward Alex Chiasson, Florida Panthers' goaltender Scott Clemmensen, Carolina Hurricanes' forward Erik Cole, New York Islanders' forward Kyle Okposo, and St. Louis Blues' forward Peter Sejna.

In 2005, Howard Baldwin and Bob Schlegel took the dormant Louisville Panthers franchise, and relocated it to Des Moines, Iowa. The new team signed an affiliation agreement with the Dallas Stars, and the Iowa Stars were born in the look of their NHL affiliate.

In the 2005-06 season, the Stars posted a 41-31-0-8 record under Dave Allison, leaving them fourth-place in the seven-team AHL West Division. They did qualify for the playoffs in their first season, though. Toby Petersen led the team in scoring with 73 points, while Loui Eriksson showed his NHL mettle by leading the team with 31 goals.

In the opening round of the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, the Stars met the Milwaukee Admirals who had finished fourth overall in the AHL that season. Milwaukee and Iowa split the first two games before Milwaukee won Games Three and Four in Iowa. With their backs against the wall, the Stars went to work. They won Game Five by a 5-1 score, and went into Game Six in Milwuakee and won Game Six by a 4-2 score. However, the bottom would fall out in Game Seven as the Admirals downed the Stars by a 4-1 score to close out the series. The Stars showed that they could run with the top teams in the AHL by scaring the Admirals, and they took that determination into the following season.

The Stars looked to improve their standing in 2006-07, but found themselves in the same spot as the previous season as they finished in fourth-place in the AHL West Division. Dave Allison led the team to a 42-34-3-1 record, and Junior Lessard led the team in scoring with a mere 52 points. However, eight players scored 30 or more points that season, and the Stars idea of defensive hockey would help them in the playoffs.

The Stars opened the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs against the West-leading Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. The two teams split the opening games, but Iowa took a stranglehold on the series after winning the first two games in Des Moines. Omaha won Game Five by a 3-2 score in overtime in Omaha, but Iowa closed out the series in Game Six with a 5-2 score to give the Stars their first AHL Playoff series victory.

The Stars moved on to play the Chicago Wolves in the second round. The Wolves wasted no time in establishing their dominance, winning the three of the first four games of the series by a combined score of 23-8. Iowa's 5-4 victory in Game Two made up for half of their offence. The Stars fired back in Game Five with a 5-1 victory, but the Wolves closed out the series in Game Six with their own 5-1 victory. Again, hope was high for the Stars after closing out the season with some excitement.

The 2007-08 season was not the culmination of two seasons worth of building excitement. The Stars finished eighth in ultra-competitve AHL West Division, missing the playoffs for the first time in their existance. Dave Allison led the team to a 35-37-5-3, and Marty Sertich led the team in scoring with just 52 points. Tobias Stephan had a solid season statistically, but the team's defence-first philosophy couldn't score enough to put them on right side of the scoreboard most nights.

In February 2008, with the Iowa Stars looking like they would miss the playoffs, the Dallas Stars announced that they would be starting their own AHL franchise based in Cedar Park, Texas at the start of the 2009-10 season. Because of this, the Stars pulled their affiliation from the Iowa franchise. However, the Anaheim Ducks were in need of an AHL affiliate, and they signed an agreement with the Iowa franchise for the 2008-09 season.

With the change in the affiliation, the Iowa Stars reinvented themselves as the Iowa Chops, a desperate attempt to "illustrates Iowa’s agricultural heritage" as per Kirby Schlegel, CEO of Schlegel Sports, who owned the franchise. Look, I still can't believe they named the franchise as "Chops", but there is a history in Iowa of that term. Let's take a look at the Chops' legacy.

Gord Dineen was hired to coach the Chops in the 2008-09 season, and he led them to seventh-place finish in the AHL West Division with a 33-33-0-14 record, finishing just ahead of the San Antonio Rampage. TJ Trevelyan led the team in scoring with just 47 points. They missed the playoffs, and really were looking forward to the 2009-10 season.

However, hard times fell on the franchise. In May 2009, the Ducks abruptly ended the affiliation agreement after the Chops failed to make contractual payments as part of their agreement. Following that, the Chops franchise was involuntarily suspended by the AHL's Board of Governors after it was discovered that the club "had used the franchise as collateral to obtain a loan in March, 2008, from a North Carolina branch of Wachovia Bank", according to the Des Moines Register newspaper. Those funds, $1.99 million, had been used to cover operating costs, something that the AHL strictly forbids. As a result, AHL CEO David Andrews suspended the franchise for the 2009-10 season for violating the league's constitution. As such, AHL hockey would come to an immediate end in the Iowa capital, and the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers would remain as the only hockey franchise in Des Moines.

So there is some hockey history from Iowa. Lots to digest, but there has been some very good NHL talent that has passed through the state of Iowa and, specifically, Des Moines. I have a few days left on my whirlwind tour of the US Midwest, so check back in when possible for more info!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

What's Wahpeton?

I arrived this evening on my first day of travels to Houston, Texas in the North Dakota town of Wahpeton. Wahpeton exists about 40 miles south of Fargo, North Dakota, and has a fairly impressive zoo for being a smaller city. While Wahpeton doesn't have an NHL team or any sort of minor-pro team, there is a pretty cool hockey story in the bustling town.

The BW Blades - standing for Breckenridge/Wahpeton - are a youth hockey program designed for kids aged four through high school. Breckenridge, Minnesota and Wahpeton, North Dakota are sister cities across the state lines. Together, the two cities share a great little hockey program that helps kids get into the game from their population of 13,000.

While there have yet to be any NHL stars developed from the Breckenridge-Wahpeton area, the fact that they have a solid little program started at the Ella Stern & Harry Stern Arena is encouraging. Some of the greatest players in Canada came from the smallest towns on the prairies, and there's a good chance that Breckenridge-Wahpeton could produce a star one day through the BW Blades.

The Blades high school team had one standout player last season. Adam Wiertzema led the team in goals, assists, and points. While the BW Blades team recorded a 4-15-1 record, it was clear that most of the offence ran through Wiertzema. His 18 goals accounted for 35% of all the goals scored by the Blades last season! The senior player will certainly be missed after having graduated in 2010, but he did make the tryout roster for the USHL's Fargo Force! It appears that he didn't make it past the summer tryout, however.

Junior Ethan Miksche will be the man between the pipes this season, and his 2-4-0 record last year was the better of the two goalies that Breckenridge-Wahpeton employed. However, his 7.16 GAA and .819 save percentage will have to be much better to compete with the larger schools from Grand Forks and Fargo. While the BW Blades have produced at least one capable scoring threat, it appears they need some work developing some first-rate goalies.

There's some news from Wahpeton, North Dakota tonight. Tomorrow, I'll be in Kansas City, and we'll take a look at some "kaycee" hockey news!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

Quiet Draft Day

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft went tonight in Los Angeles, California. It's the first time the NHL has had a draft hosted in the state of California, and the fans in the City of Angels seemed enthusiastic when it came to supporting the NHL. Commissioner Gary Bettman didn't get the rain of boos that he normally hears in the northern cities, at least not in the length of time that he normally hears them anyway. The city of Edmonton, Alberta was abuzz with anticipation as the Oilers held the first overall pick for the first time in their franchise history. And in the crowd, thirty young men sat waiting for their names to be called to claim the title of "first-round draft pick".

Let's run through the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. I'll include my comments below about the first round, as well as a recap of the few trades that actually did happen this evening. Here are the first thirty men who will hopefully suit up in an NHL uniform one day:

1. Edmonton Oilers - Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires (OHL).
2. Boston Bruins via Toronto - Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers (OHL).
3. Florida Panthers - Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL).
4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Ryan Johansen, Portland Winterhawks (WHL).
5. New York Islanders - Nino Niederreiter, Portland Winterhawks (WHL).
6. Tampa Bay Lightning - Brett Connolly, Prince George Cougars (WHL).
7. Carolina Hurricanes - Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
8. Atlanta Thrashers - Alexander Burmistrov, Barrie Colts (OHL).
9. Minnesota Wild - Mikael Granlund, HIFK (Finland's SM-liiga).
10. New York Rangers - Dylan McIlrath , Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL).
11. Dallas Stars - Jack Campbell, USA U-18 (USHL).
12. Anaheim Ducks - Cam Fowler, Windsor Spitfires (OHL).
13. Phoenix Coyotes - Brandon Gormley, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL).
14. St. Louis Blues - Jaden Schwartz, Tri-City Americans (WHL).
15. Los Angeles Kings - Derek Forbort, USA U-18 (USHL).
16. St. Louis Blues - Vladimir Tarasenko, HC Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL).
17. Colorado Avalanche - Joey Hishon, Owen Sound Attack (OHL).
18. Nashville Predators - Austin Watson, Peterborough Petes (OHL).
19. Florida Panthers - Nick Bjugstad, Blaine High School (Minn).
20. Pittsburgh Penguins - Beau Bennett, Penticton Vees (BCHL).
21. Detroit Red Wings - Riley Sheahan, University of Notre Dame (NCAA).
22. Montreal Canadiens - Jarred Tinordi, USA U-18 (USHL).
23. Buffalo Sabres - Mark Pysyk, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL).
24. Chicago Blackhawks - Kevin Hayes, Nobles High School (Mass).
25. Florida Panthers - Quinton Howden, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL).
26. Washington Capitals - Evgeny Kuznetsov, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL).
27. Phoenix Coyotes - Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs (OHL).
28. San Jose Sharks - Charlie Coyle, South Shore Kings (EJHL).
29. Anaheim Ducks - Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL).
30. New York Islanders - Brock Nelson, Warroad High School (Minn).

I'll admit that I found a few things surprising in this draft class.

First, only one NCAA player was taken in the first round. The Detroit Red Wings went collegiate in selecting Riley Sheahan, and I was surprised that more NCAA players weren't called in the opening round. The NCAA has been producing some excellent players in recent years, and it seems odd that there weren't more players selected from that pool of talent.

Second, I was surprised - no, make that shocked - that the Islanders used the fifth overall pick to select Swiss-born right winger Nino Niederreiter. I get that the Islanders may have been targeting Niederreiter, but why didn't they offer up the pick in a trade to move down a couple of spots? I'm quite certain that Niederreiter would have been there at the eighth or ninth pick.

Third, Cam Fowler drops to the Anaheim Ducks at pick #12, and suddenly the Ducks have a budding young offensive star on their blueline to replace the retired Scott Niedermayer. Not only are they able to select the best offensive defenceman this draft has to offer, but they don't have trade to move up to get him. Why the New York Rangers didn't scoop up Fowler at tenth spot is something that Glen Sather may only be able to answer.

Fourth, the Atlanta Thrashers get Alexander Burmistrov with pick #8, and they may have themselves a new, dynamic scorer much like they had before Ilya Kovalchuk opted to leave. Burmistrov, unlike some of his Russian counterparts, has stated time and time again that he has no interest in playing in the KHL any time soon, and that should be phenomenal news to GM Rick Dudley's ears. I really like this pick, and I think Atlanta may have selected one of top-three players in this year's draft.

Fifth, Minnesota and Washington continued to build with international stars that are close to home. Minnesota went back to Finland to draft Mikael Granlund, while the Capitals continued their Russian roster building with their selection of Evgeny Kuznetsov. Both of these players appear to be highly skilled, and the other countrymen on the two teams' rosters should make these two youngsters a little more comfortable at their respective training camps.

Sixth, Pittsburgh selected Beau Bennett with pick #20, and Bennett became the highest player chosen from the state of California. What is more impressive is that ten Americans were selected in the first round of the draft, including goaltender Jack Campbell who was the highest American-born player selected at pick #11 by Dallas. It just goes to show that the American development system is growing stronger and stronger each year. Take note, Canadian teams.

The one trade that happened that actually involved current NHL players saw the Western Conference welcome back a tenacious defenceman. The Vancouver Canucks sent Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner, and the 25th overall pick to the Florida Panthers for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. Ballard provides the Canucks with a good puck-moving defenceman who doesn't shy away from the physical side of the game - something they sorely needed against the Blackhawks in last season's playoffs. For as much as they were given opportunities, both Bernier and Grabner appeared to be spare parts for the Canucks, but they will be given bigger opportunities in Florida.

The Penguins decided to relieve Philadelphia of their Dan Hamhuis problem by trading for his rights. Reportedly, Hamhuis has no interest in signing with the Flyers and was prepared to test the free agency market. However, with Pittsburgh and Sergei Gonchar seemingly at odds in their contract negotiations, Hamhuis may get some decent coin to play in Pittsburgh in place of Gonchar.

Hamhuis is reportedly looking for $4 million per season for four seasons, according to his agent Wade Arnott. The Penguins have approximately $11 million in cap space, and still need to sign a few players from last season. Dan Hamhuis, Bill Guerin, Mark Eaton, Alexei Ponikarovsky, and Jordan Leopold should attempt to be signed, especially if Sergei Gonchar doesn't return. And I would rank them in that order of importance in terms of their signings. Otherwise, Ben Lovejoy may have a roster spot next season by default. Lovejoy is no slouch, but the Penguins could upgrade to have Lovejoy as the seventh man.

All in all, it was a rather uneventful draft outside of the Taylor-vs-Tyler debate. As seen above, Taylor Hall went first overall, Dallas took the first goaltender and American in Jack Campbell, and we're on to Round Two of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft tomorrow.

Let's just see if tomorrow remains quiet as well.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

You're Wearing That? - 2010 Edition

I figured it was time to post one of these articles since I have a pile of random jersey pictures that need to get out there. We've seen a pile of good, not-so-good, and downright insane jersey choices by hockey teams over the past couple of years, and this trend doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. From the NHL to USHL, there are jerseys that are seemingly inexplicable. However, occasionally there are some that you can really appreciate for their nuances and details. It is with this in mind that HBIC brings you the first You're Wearing That? article of 2010.

We'll start with the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Tomorrow evening, the Moose will be wearing their 2010 version of their military-themed jerseys. The front of the jersey has the Canadian Military Services logo on it in silver as a tribute to the three branches of the Canadian military. The brown on the sleeve stripes and hem stripe has been replaced with silver. The back of the jersey has the standard military-esque font for the name and numbers, but there is an additional logo just underneath the numbers. That logo is the 100th Anniversary logo for the Canadian Navy and Marines. 2010 is the 100th year since their formation, and the Moose will be helping that group of brave men and women celebrate the Navy's 100th anniversary. The yellow ribbon on the hem is there to signify the hope of the safe return of all the Canadian troops serving abroad which, to me, is a very classy move. All in all, I like these jerseys, and it's always a classy move to honour the bravest men and women on the planet!

The AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins held a contest where fans were encouraged to design a jersey that the team would wear later in the season. Chad Oesch's jersey design made its appearance on January 31, and it looks pretty darn good! I like the traditional look of the jersey a lot, and it's clean and simple. The other jersey that Grand Rapids has been wearing this season are their Detroit Red Wings-themed alternates. The logo on the chest is entirely Griffins, but the red-and-white of the jersey is all Detroit. Two great jerseys by the Griffins!

The AHL's Chicago Wolves brought out a special jersey on January 9 and 17 to honour some of the bravest men and women in the Chicago area. Pictured here is Chris Chelios wearing the jersey honouring the Illinois police and fire departments. Proceeds from the auction benefited Wolves Charities as well as police- and firefighting-related charities including the 100 Club of Cook County, Illinois Fire Safety Alliance's Camp I Am Me, and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. The sleeve patches were in the shape of police and fire badges on each shoulder. Again, I am a fan of these, especially since a pile of money went to good charities with the sale of these uniforms.

One of the cooler things that the Chicago Wolves did this year is publish all of the promotional jerseys they have ever worn since joining the AHL. It would be amazing if more teams did this, but let's take a quick peek at these jerseys. The first image has three jerseys: 1998's Tie Dye, 1999's Throwback, and 2000's Futuristic jerseys. The second image has three more: 2001's Holiday, 2002's Patriotic, and 2003's College-inspired jerseys. Image three has four jerseys: 2004's Ten-Year Anniversary, 2005's Armed Forces, 2006's Mardi Gras, and 2007's Racing Night jerseys. The fourth image has the last three promotional jerseys: 2008's Patriotic, 2009's Winter Camo, and 2010's Police and Fire Departments jerseys. Again, most of these are pretty decent. The worst of the bunch? The Anniversary jersey again. I cannot fathom why teams insist on putting their birthdays on their jerseys as logos.

The AHL's Albany River Rats donned jerseys for a good cause on February 7 when they dressed up like Ronald McDonald for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region. I'd be all over Albany if they dressed like this normally, but the jerseys were auctioned off after the game to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, so that's a good thing. To give you an idea, the Rats raised $23,000 last year, so it appears this jersey auction thing is working out very well for both parties.

The AHL's Milwaukee Admirals were one of a few teams to honour the 1960 USA men's hockey team for their gold medal in Squaw Valley by donning a similar uniform. February 10 saw the Admirals come out with "ADS" across their chest in place of "USA". I don't mind this form of honouring another team. The jerseys still look good.

February 6 saw the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins put on the camouflage as they honoured the American military. Again, I fully support hockey teams honouring the men and women of the Armed Forces as they are the bravest men and women on the planet. This form of thanking them for their commitment is, to me, an excellent way to show that hockey cares and is thinking about the troops.

It was posted over on Uni Watch Blog a while back, but it needs to be posted here. I absolutely love this 1948 NHL All-Star sweater. I've always been big on sleeve stripes, and this sweater makes them look gorgeous. There was some discussion on the colour of the jersey, but I assure you that it looks like this. Yes, the body is red. And it's a stunningly great sweater!

The NHL's San Jose Sharks got in on the charity jersey events by practicing in these holiday-themed practice jerseys before putting them up for auction. I like these themed practice jerseys because it actually makes the practice jerseys unique in terms of their look. And that's good for an auction and any charities that benefit from those auctions!

The NHL's Phoenix Coyotes are also doing the themed practice jersey. The Coyotes will don their St. Patrick's Day-themed jerseys in the days leading up to the Irish event, and I really like these jerseys for all the fun they portray. They have a cool font on the back with the golden number inside the leprechaun's hat, and all the jerseys are green. All proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit Coyotes Charities, "which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout Arizona communities by supporting non-profit organizations that promote healthcare, education, cultural arts and sports-related programs for children". Well done, Phoenix on a great themed jersey!

The NCAA's Wisconsin Badgers sported some decent alternate jerseys this season. While I'm not a fan of the monochrome look, the red doesn't appear to be too off-putting. I do like the logo with the Badger on it, though. That's cool, and it really gives Wisconsin an identity. Overall, not too bad at all.

The NCAA's two Boston teams battled it out on Fenway ice this year after the Winter Classic had taken place, but I need to point out a few things on each team's uniform for this game. Boston College came out with a gorgeous-looking jersey that had all the makings of a throwback. I really like the little ball diamond image just below the Reebok symbol on the back. Boston University went with their red uniforms, but put the Boston Red Sox logo on the white portion of their sleeves. It's these little nuances that make these jerseys special, and I'm really impressed with both institutions in their honouring Fenway Park and the Red Sox. Honestly, this game was a thing of beauty, and the two teams certainly did their part with their gorgeous choices in the uniform department.

The NCAA's University of Miami-Ohio did a throwback jersey this season, and I cannot say enough good things about this look. I love the stripes. I love the radially-arched "Miami" across the chest. I love the colours. This jersey might be my pick as "best in show" on this list today.

Miami-Ohio also showed some real love for one of their own after Brendan Burke was killed in an auto accident. Brendan, son of Brian Burke, had recently informed his family and friends, including the Miami-Ohio hockey team, that he was gay. Again, the courage that Brendan showed, and Miami-Ohio didn't shun him, showing how tight that family is. However, when Brendan was killed, it was announced that the team would wear a memorial patch for Brendan for the rest of the season. You can see that patch in this picture. Despite how happy the team looks in that picture, Brendan will never be forgotten.

Ohio State honoured the men and women of the military during one of their NCAA games this season. Again, a classy move, and the jerseys are always a nice touch. Well done, Ohio State!

If the next jersey seems similar to one we've already seen, it seemed that way to me as well. Apparently Penn State's throwback is remarkably similar to that of Miami-Ohio. Now, obviously the colours are different, but the design is entirely the same. While it's entirely possible that both teams wore the same style of jersey in the past, I'm sure they were not identical. Were they?

The ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers are on the ice as I write this in this jersey to honour the Girl Scouts of America. I'm serious. The Wranglers have a pretty well-known history of having outrageous promotional jerseys, so I can honestly say that this one is quite tame compared to others. Boy scouts have been honoured in the past by some teams, so it's nice to see the girls get a little recognition. I'm just not sure if I like that look, though.

The ECHL's Bakersfield Condors broke out the candy hearts and red and pink colours for their 2010 Valentine's Day jersey. The words on the candy hearts actually said familiar hockey phrases like "Go To The Net" and "He Shoots He Scores". Perhaps the funniest part are the checkboxes for "single" and "taken". At least Bakersfield knows how to have fun with these jerseys. I'll give this one a thumbs-up due to the great work they did and the fun they had with the jersey. Well done, Condors!

We have a couple of entries by the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads. First, the Steelheads wore some pretty nice throwback jerseys earlier this year. The jerseys were then auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Good jersey, good cause, good results! The second jersey was from the Steelheads' recent "Future Stars" game. In this game, the entire team wore Dallas Stars jerseys. Idaho is the ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, so this is a pretty cool marketing tool for the Steelheads. They auctioned these jerseys off as well with proceeds benefiting the St. Luke's-Elks Children's Rehab Centre in Boise. My only issue is that Dallas has terrible jerseys, so the Steelheads didn't do themselves any favours in the fashion department. However, charities benefit, so I'm all about these promotions!

We saw a team honour Team USA earlier, so now we'll see one honour Team Canada. The ECHL's Victoria Salmon Kings broke out the red jerseys with the maple leaf behind their logo to honour Team Canada. Honestly, I found this jersey to be a little underwhelming in terms of its Canadianness. Personally, I would leave these if I was offered to take it or leave it.

The USHL's Cedar Rapids Roughriders will take to the ice on Saturday night in uniforms that honour former baseball legend Lou Gehrig. Now you might be asking why a hockey team would be wearing a baseball-themed jersey, but there's a very good reason. The Roughriders are holding ALS Awareness Night. ALS, standing for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The Roughriders will auction off the jerseys after the game with proceeds benefiting ALS research. So while the Yankee pinstripes are a nice touch, I'm happy to see these jerseys being used to help a worthwhile charity. Great job, Cedar Rapids!

The WHL's Calgary Hitmen went with a Christmas theme on their jerseys before the holiday season. Players skated in the game, and helped collect teddy bears for children during the Teddy Bear toss. Again, a great bit of charitable work by the Hitmen, and I don't mind those jerseys at all.

The NHL's Calgary Flames do have a jersey that I absolutely hate. Paul Brandt is the anthem singer in Calgary, and they give him a jersey to wear. Now, I'm not sure who did the customization on his jersey, but his musical note "number" is absolutely embarrassing. I love the throwback jersey, but I can't get over how poorly cut that musical note is. Simply brutal!

I leave you with that final image of a poorly designed musical note in your head. As more teams roll out jerseys for promotions and one-time wears, I'll try to get you a good look at how they looked. For the most part, though, it seems that this batch were pretty good. And that's a good sign for hockey!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

Lots Of Chatter

There have been a number of stories that have been reported today from the various leagues across North America. Some deal with future events, some deal with relocation of teams to new cities and new leagues, and some are just cool stories. There was a suspension and a trade today, so we need to cover the business side of the game as well. With all the stuff that's been going on, let's get cracking on a busy day in the hockey world. I'll try to elaborate as much as possible on each story.

• Kari Lehtonen is now part of the Dallas Stars. Lehtonen lost his status as the top goaltender in Atlanta with the emergence of Ondrej Pavelec. Combine that with inconsistent play and a penchant for injuries, and the Thrashers gave up on him. Coming back to Atlanta from the Stars will be highly-touted defensive prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round pick. Not a bad deal for the Thrashers, but you have to wonder what may happen with Marty Turco and his UFA status approaching.
• Goaltender Ray Emery's hip may need surgery to correct his woes, and this has the Flyers worried with only Michael Leighton to man to the crease. With Turco's status in the air at this point, the talks may heat up between Dallas and Philly for the goaltender.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins have expressed interest in hosting the 2010-11 NHL All-Star Game in the brand-new Consol Energy Center slated to open next season. They have also expressed interest in hosting the NCAA's Frozen Four tournament with Robert Morris University. This would an excellent opportunity for the NHL and the NCAA to get into a market that will be buzzing due to the hockey activity.
• Team Canada breathed a huge sigh of relief today when it was announced that centerman Ryan Getzlaf's sprained ankle showed no significant ligament or muscle damage. There was talk of Getzlaf possibly missing the Winter Olympics with his injury, but it appears that he will be ready to go by the time the men's hockey tournament begins. Honestly, I'd take Getzlaf over Jeff Carter or Vincent Lecavalier at this point in the season any day of the week.
• The NHL will expand its kickoff weekend in Europe for the 2010-11 season by sending six teams to three European cities. The Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes will square off in the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic in what appears to be the best matchup. The San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets will tangle in the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. And in what seems like a poor choice of teams right now, the Carolina Hurricanes will meet the Minnesota Wild in the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland. The 'Canes and Wild will play October 7 and 8; the Jackets and Sharks will play on October 8 and 9; the Bruins and 'Yotes will play on October 9 and 10.
• The AHL's Albany River Rats appear to be on the move. According to reports, a press conference scheduled tomorrow will announce that the River Rats are moving closer to their NHL affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes, by moving into Charlotte, North Carolina. There's also word that the team will change their name from "River Rats" to "Checkers". There's no word on any other franchises moving into Albany at this time, but it seems that anything can happen in the AHL.
• Speaking of which, the Edmonton Oilers announced today that they are resurrecting their AHL franchise. The Edmonton Road Runners, who have been suspended for a couple of years now, will move to Oklahoma City for the 2010-11 season. Indications are that the management team of the former Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL will be brought onboard, and that the franchise will hold a "name the team" contest before the start of the next season. Edmonton's agreement with the Springfield Falcons will end as a result of this decision.
• Anaheim now sits as the only NHL franchise without an affiliate for the 2010-11 season in the AHL. Springfield could be a destination for this one season, but the Ducks already walked away from the Portland Pirates due to the immense distance between the teams. I think Springfield will be temporary, but only the Ducks know what they will do for the upcoming season.
  
• Down Goes Brown, an incredibly funny and smart blog, turns two years-old. Get over there and wish Sean some good wishes. And read his stuff. You won't be disappointed.
• Great story from the hockey world as Wendel Clark lends his name in helping the Chase McEachern Hockey for Heart Tournament in Alliston, Ontario. Chase was an 11 year-old boy who was diagnosed with an atrial flutter which caused him to be monitored whenever he played sports. He started a campaign to raise funds for schools and public places to purchase AEDs, or automated external defibrillators. Unfortunately, Chase lost his battle after collapsing in gym class. Anyone who raises $10,000 gets to participate in the game against the pros headlined by Clark in one of 14 Ontario communities! If you'd like to donate to an excellent cause, please head over to the Hockey For Heart website and give what you can. Your dollars will be a life-saver. Literally.
• Today's a big day in hockey history as well. Back in 1966, the NHL decided to double the size of the NHL by admitting six new expansion teams in their own division. The newly-formed West Division contained the California Seals, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues. The main motivation was money as the NHL looked to gain bigger television contracts like the NFL and MLB, but another factor that was growing behind the scenes was the rising of a rival hockey league. Of course, this expansion led to the NHL becoming the dominant hockey league on the planet, so this date in history is quite important.
• In a rather unfortunate story, the IHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks, the league's top team thus far this season, has announced that they will cease operations at the end of this season, ending a 50-year run of professional hockey in Muskegon. The Lumberjacks average only 2835 fans - good for third in overall attendance - but nowhere near the IHL's leader in the Fort Wayne Komets who average 8080 people per game.
• But with every dark cloud comes a silver lining. Indianapolis businessman Josh Mervis has announced that he will bring a USHL team to Muskegon for the 2010-11 season. The USHL features players ranging from 16-20 years of age. The new USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks was a franchise owned by the Mervises that was dormant for the last four years after closing its doors in Rochester, Minnesota. With Dubuque, Iowa joining the USHL next season as well, the USHL will feature 16 teams.
• Lastly, there's a new button on the right. I've decided that I need to keep up with the rest of the hockey world, and I've joined the Twitter revolution. This does not mean that I will "tweet" with reckless abandon, however. I simply post information that I find funny or relevant or both. If you want to get onboard with HBIC's Twitter movement, click the button on the right.

That's all for tonight, kids. I have a pile of work to do still, so I'm out. Drop me an email, "tweet" me, or leave a comment. I'll answer them all if possible!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

Battlelines Are Drawn

There's only one game remaining for several teams at the 2010 World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and that means that we're about to see some hardware handed out. Canada defeated Switzerland earlier today by a 6-1 score, giving Canada one of the two spots in the gold medal game. Tonight, the Americans eliminated the Swedes by defeating them in the semi-final by a 5-2 score, and that gives us an all-North American final. The bronze medal game will see Sweden battle Switzerland. And just for kicks, both Austria and Latvia cannot catch either the Czech Republic or Slovakia, so they will be relegated for next year's tournament.

Canada looked much better in the third period tonight after head coach Willie Desjardins blasted the leadership group for their undisciplined play. Canada responded with three workman-like goals on their way to the 6-1 win. It is this kind of quiet efficiency and teamwork that will help Canada in the gold medal game on Tuesday night. A sixth gold medal is not out of the question whatsoever.

However, the upstart Americans have everything to play for.

The 2011 World Junior Championship will be held in Buffalo, New York, and this gives Hockey USA a glorious opportunity to build some momentum for the upcoming tournament. Even if the Americans come out on the wrong side of the score, they can use the result as fodder for next year.

They will play the "underdog" role as well as anyone. It's no secret that Canada is favoured to win the tournament on home soil after having won the last five World Junior Championships. The Americans were said to be young and inexperienced, but this is a team that has bonded extremely well. They proved that in the New Year's Eve game against Canada when the heavily-favoured Canadians needed a shootout to down the Americans.

Full credit has to be given to USA head coach Dean Blais and his staff for preparing this young squad for the challenges they faced. Blais has had a pile of success at the NCAA level, giving him the opportunity to become an associate coach with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. He decided to take the General Manager and Head Coach position with the USHL's Fargo Force in 2007, allowing him to see some of the best young players that the country offered. Clearly, Mr. Blais is the right man for the job when you consider his resumé and this year's results.

It should be a great game on Tuesday between these two North American rivals. I'm already looking forward to it.

As for the relegation, Austria and Latvia will be replaced by Germany and Denmark in Buffalo next year. Germany went undefeated in the Division 1A Under-20 Championships while Denmark's only blemish came at the hands of the Germans.

While things may change between now and next year's tournament, Germany's Tobias Rieder might be the player to watch coming out of Germany. The 16 year-old from EV Landshut scored four goals and added two assists in five games, recorded a +7, and scored a game-winner in the Division 1A tournament. He might be a player to keep an eye on at next year's tournament for the Germans due to his age and draft eligibility.

The schedule for the remaining games at the 2010 World Junior Championship is as follows:

• 5th-place game @ 9PM EST on Monday - Russia vs. Finland.
  
• Bronze-medal game @ 4PM EST on Tuesday - Sweden vs. Switzerland.
• Gold-medal game @ 8PM EST on Tuesday - Canada vs. USA.

I'll be tuning in on Tuesday night. And I'll even go on record as saying that this game is one that shouldn't be missed. Canada's playing for an unprecedented sixth-straight gold medal while the Americans want to defend a gold medal on their soil next year. It should be a beauty!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More

Another Christmas Tradition

I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas Day, and that all of your Christmas wishes have or are coming true. People always say that it's a magical time of year, and I have to agree. There is no season like the holiday season as everyone around the world, regardless of their beliefs, looks to celebrate. Traditional practices such as family feasts, the exchanging of gifts, and inviting loved ones to a family gathering are all seen during this season. I'll just point out that the feast at my locale was delicious, and certainly deserving of a culinary award. Gifts were exchanged, so everything about the holiday season has gone to plan. And now, we prepare for another popular tradition in Canada: the World Junior Championships.

There are a couple of teams that probably will be overwhelmed when they step on the ice against the top-six teams. There are a couple of darkhorses that, if given the opportunity, can pull off an upset and possibly find themselves in a medal game. There are also the tournament favorites who will most likely find themselves battling with each other for tournament supremacy.

Today, HBIC will take a look at the teams in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships, and rank them in inverse order as to their final standing.

AUSTRIA: The Austrians will be hard-pressed to avoid relegation this year as they come in with only one player who has played in North America. Defenseman Stefan Ulmer will be representing his country after suiting up for the WHL's Spokane Chiefs this season. The majority of the team comes from European leagues, so Austrian players will simply be getting their names out there for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Like Michael Grabner, this tournament could help them out in achieving a bigger dream.

LATVIA: The Latvians always come in as an upset choice as they seem to have just enough moxie to steal a game from one of the unassuming favorites. After shocking both Germany and Kazakhstan in last year's relegation round, the Latvians look to build on their success this year. The majority of their team comes from the junior Dinamo Riga team. Dinamo Riga is the only KHL team in the Eastern European country, but having this junior squad has allowed the team to build continuity. Roberts Bukarts, who is suiting up for the senior Riga team this season, should be a player to watch as he seems to have a nose for the net. In a pre-tournament game against Russia, Bukarts scored twice in a 3-2 Latvia victory. While there are players who are currently playing in North America, none are playing in an upper-tier junior program.

SLOVAKIA: As much as I like this team, I feel that the Slovaks may play well below their potential again this year. It's not to say that they don't have the talent; rather, they never seem to reach their full potential. They'll be missing goalie Jaroslav Janus, so their best junior player isn't on this team. Tomas Tatar of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins should be their offensive catalyst as he's looked good for the Red Wings' minor-league affiliate. Richard Panek of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, Adam Janosik of the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques, Andrej Kudrna of the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, and Marek Viedensky of the WHL's Prince George Cougars are all North American-trained, and should provide some scoring. The majority of this team, however, comes from HK Orange 20, a junior team based in Puchov, Slovakia that plays in the Slovak Extraliga. This is essentially the national training team for players aged 20 and under in Slovakia, and was formed after 2007 when the Slovaks finished dead last at the WJC tournament. We'll see if they can improve on my prediction this season, but they may find the competition slightly better than the Slovak Extraliga.

SWITZERLAND: The Swiss have an interesting team this year, but they always seem to run into problems scoring against the upper-tier teams. They have talent from top leagues - Luca Sbisa of the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes, Alain Berger of the OHL's Oshawa Generals, Lukas Stoop of HC Davos, and Tim Weber of Modo. They normally get solid goaltending, although there are no clear-cut top goalies this season. Again, secondary scoring and defensive zone coverage will determine how far this team goes. Make no mistake, though, in that Switzerland could challenge for a medal if they get hot.

CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czechs performed admirably against Canada in their pre-tournament game, but the defensive shell that the Czechs are forced to employ may only carry them so far. Injuries to their best players will limit this team's success if they aren't near perfect every night. The Czechs have a number of excellent players out of Canada's junior system, including Tomas Vincour of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, but there simply is the lack of a star to carry the offensive load. Jaroslav Hafenrichter, who plays for HC Slavia Praha, is injured and will miss the tournament after he put up 62 points in 44 games for the Czech Extraliga team last season. The team already is missing his scoring.

FINLAND: It's always tough to have Finland finishing out of the medals, but they may not have the firepower that is needed to make a serious run in this year's WJC. They do have solid scoring from the likes of Jyri Niemi of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, but, like other Finnish teams, this is a group of players who will simply attempt to wear other teams out with gritty, physical play. Defensively, they play a hitting game in their own zone, and finish all checks in the offensive zone. The lack of scoring will hurt the Finns in games against teams like Sweden, USA, Russia, and Canada, so they must do all the little things right to outwork their opponents if they hope to capture a medal in this tournament.

USA: The USA is one team that legitimately could turn this entire tournament upside down. What they lack in experience they could make up for in effort and energy. John Carlson of the OHL's London Knights and Cam Fowler of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires should lead the offensive attack from the blue line, and both play extremely responsibly in their own zone. Up front, Jordan Schroeder from the NCAA's University of Minnesota, Danny Kristo of the USHL's Omaha Lancers, and Jeremy Morin of the OHL's Kitchener Rangers should be prominent in the USA's scoring stats. Mike Lee will tend to the nets, but he hasn't been a standout for St. Cloud State in the NCAA at this point. If he suddenly gets hot, however, the Americans could be looking at one of the top-two medals.

SWEDEN: The Swedes, like Canada, seem to suffer from having their best players in the NHL. Victor Hedman is leading the Tanpa Bay Lightning and Erik Karlsson is sticking with the Ottawa Senators, so the torch will have to be passed to others. Jakob Markstrom is good enough to be the best goaltender in the tournament, and should provide quality backstopping to get Sweden a medal. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson should be a force in this tournament as the speedster from last year is rounding into his bigger frame. Marcus Johansson, Andre Petersson, and Mattias Tedenby should provide lots of goals for the Tre Kronor. Defensively, this team would be scary if Hedman and Karlsson were in Saskatchewan, but, as it stands, David Rundblad and Tim Erixon will lead the way. Sweden plays hard, but they may get bullied by some of the more physical teams. This may be a concern during the playoff round.

RUSSIA: Despite the lack of NHL draft picks on this team, you can't be fooled by the Russian talent. If it weren't for the lack of a transfer agreement, the majority of the Russian squad would heading for NHL rinks near you in the immediate future. Nikita Filatov of the Columbus Blue Jackets/CSKA Moscow teams should be near the top of the scoring lead. He has immense talent and will look like a man amongst boys in the majority of games. Alexander Tarasov and Kirill Petrov should be decent players in this tournament as well, but because the majority of players are playing in Russia, scouting is tough. The Russians are missing two top players - Dmitri Kulikov is staying with the Florida Panthers, and Kirill Kabanov is out with a wrist injury. Despite these absences, the Russians have a deep team that should challenge for one of the top medal colours.

CANADA: Now, some may call this homer-ism in terms of me awarding Canada the gold medal before the tournament. I'll tell you right now that this is not the case. Canada is deep, solid, and well-coached. Jake Allen appears to be everything that Canadians have come to expect from their goaltenders - reliable, consistent, and athletic.

On the blue line, the Canadians may have the best collection of defensemen in the tournament with Alex Pietrangelo, Ryan Ellis, and Colten Teubert all returning from last year's gold medal-wining group.

Up front, Canada has grit, size, skill, and speed. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Brayden Schenn, and Brandon McMillan have shown incredible skill and speed in the pre-tournament games, while Nazem Kadri, Luke Adam, Jordan Caron, and Patrice Cormier have taken the body at every opportunity.

The one place that Canada may run into problems is in their physical play, though. Cormier has spent considerable lengths of time in the penalty box, and good teams like the Russians and Americans will hurt the Canadians on the powerplay. Discipline will need to be preached at all times with this Canadian sqaud, but they have looked solid. Canada will also have to match their opponents' tenacity when it comes to playing against Canada. The Czechs threw checks with reckless abandon, and it seemed to rattle the cages of the Canadians just a little.

Overall, this looks to be an exciting tournament as the Canadian prairies welcomes the world. It all gets started tomorrow, and Canada squares off against Latvia at 3:30 EST in a game that might get out-of-hand if the Canadians are firing on all cylinders. The entire tournament schedule is here, and I encourage you to try and catch as many games as possible. Tomorrow, HBIC will announce the WJC Contest, so head back here tomorrow to get the details!

Until then, keep your sticks on the ice!

Read More