Canada 16, Latvia 0
Published December 26, 2009 @ 18:46 in Hockey Canada

Watching this afternoon's 16-0 Team Canada victory over Latvia, I had a déjà vu moment. At about this time last year, I sat down and watched Canada defeat Kazakhstan 15-0. In my recap of the game, I wrote "there's no glory in crushing a lesser-light".

I'm going to copy and paste that same sentiment here. This was our first meeting against Latvia and the result was never in doubt. It was men playing against boys as we dominated every aspect of the game, making for a pretty darn boring game.

Gabriel Bourque tied a team record with three goals and four assists. The game also tied the long-standing mark for biggest winning margin ever at the worlds for Canada, and set a new one for largest shutout victory, eclipsing that 15-0 defeat of Kazakhstan in last year's championships.

I understand goal differential in the preliminary round can be a key tie-breaker, so Canada can't let up when up 8-0 in the second period, but this doesn't seem right to me. It doesn't seem Canadian. It doesn't seem fair to Latvia.

Tauta cries miljons asaras.

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Team Canada 2010 Roster for World Junior Hockey Championship
Published December 16, 2009 @ 11:22 in Hockey Canada

I love the world junior hockey championship. This year, it's in Regina, and it all gets underway December 26.

We've won five in a row, and we're still hungry for more.

I'll be focusing on a certain forward named Nazem Kadri. Here's the 22-man roster.

Player	Age	Ht.	Wt.	2009-10 team
GOALTENDERS
Jake Allen	19	6'1	180	Montreal (QMJHL)
Martin Jones	19	6'4	193	Calgary (WHL)
DEFENCE
Jared Cowan	18	6'5	220	Spokane (WHL)
Calvin de Haan	18	6'0	184	Oshawa (OHL)
Ryan Ellis*	18	5'9	176	Windsor (OHL)
Travis Hamonic	19	6'0	202	Moose Jaw (WHL)
Alex Pietrangelo*	19	6'2	204	Niagara (OHL)
Marco Scandella	19	6'3	217	Val d'Or (QMJHL)
Colten Teubert*	19	6'3	189	Regina (WHL)
FORWARDS
Luke Adam	19	6'1	210	Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Gabriel Bourque	19	5'9	186	Baie Comeau (QMJHL)
Jordan Caron	19	6'2	206	Rimouski (QMJHL)
Patrice Cormier*	19	6'1	201	Rimouski (QMJHL)
Stefan Della Rovere*	19	5'11	200	Barrie (OHL)
Jordan Eberle*	19	5'10	181	Regina (WHL)
Taylor Hall	18	6'1	185	Windsor (OHL)
Adam Henrique	19	6'0	196	Windsor (OHL)
Nazem Kadri	19	6'0	177	London (OHL)
Brandon Kozoun	19	5'7	156	Calgary (WHL)
Brandon McMillan	19	5'11	190	Kelowna (WHL)
Greg Nemisz	19	6'4	200	Windsor (OHL)
Brayden Schenn	18	6'0	192	Brandon (WHL)

*denotes returning player

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Henderson Made a Wild Stab For It and Fell
Published September 28, 2009 @ 17:34 in Hockey Canada

37 years ago today, on September 28, 1972, "The Goal" was scored. There was only 34 seconds left in the eighth and final game of the Summit Series, and only a win would allow Canada to lay claim to victory in the series against the USSR. 32 years ago today, Paul Henderson scored for Canada.

Here's what Foster Hewitt said as it happened.

Cournoyer has it on that wing. Here's a shot - Henderson made a wild stab for it and fell. Here's another shot! Right in front - THEY SCORE!!! Henderson has scored for Canada!

     Foster Hewitt

Here's what Gord Downie said in "Fireworks".

If there's a goal that everyone remembers it was back in ol' 72. We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger, and all I remember was sitting beside you.

     Gord Downie

Excuse the quality of this video, but it's surprisingly hard to find "The Goal" on YouTube.

37 years ago today...

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It is Over! Paul Romanuk's Most Memorable Call
Published August 25, 2009 @ 13:47 in Hockey Canada, Links to External Web Sites

I remember Paul Romanuk calling international hockey games in the 90s and his signature call "It.. is Over!" I've used that call several times in the past year alone, but I'm a sucker for memorable sports calls.

Paul Romanuk is also a regular reader of this blog. I received a nice note from him and I promised to plug his blog. He's living in England now but he keeps tabs on the homeland by reading the sludge posted here.

Go to http://www.paulromanuk.com/ and click "blog" at the top. I'd link straight to the blog, but Paul thinks it's 1997 and is using frames.

Here is where I'd insert the audio or video of Paul Romanuk declaring "It is Over!" but he doesn't have it and I can't find it anywhere on line. If you've got it, and I'm looking at you Down Goes Brown, hook me up and I'll share it.

As for this entry, it is over!

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The Day Martin Gerber Broke My Heart
Published March 4, 2009 @ 14:27 in Hockey Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs

In a baffling move, Brian Burke picked up Martin Gerber earlier today. I'll never forget the name Martin Gerber. On February 18, 2006, he sent me to Swiss Chalet.

I don't know what to say...

In 1924, we beat the Swiss 33-0 in the Olympics. This, my friends, is a long way from 1924. Today, we hit a hot goaltender Martin Gerber who stood on his head and made 49 saves on 49 shots from Team Canada. What should have been a fairly easy win became a most difficult game to watch as our guys failed to deliver and one of our former guys, Paul DiPietro, potted two for the wrong team. As tough as this was to digest, we can all breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn't an elimination game. We've had our taste of defeat, let's hope we heed this dire warning and take out our frustrations on Finland tomorrow afternoon.

Where did I go in disgust after watching our boys get humiliated by the Swiss? Swiss Chalet, naturally. The only way to eliminate a bad Swiss taste in your mouth is to supplant it with a good one.

Martin F**king Gerber.

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Canada 5, Sweden 1
Published January 6, 2009 @ 09:03 in Hockey Canada

Canada has its fifth World Junior Championship gold medal in a row. I love this tournament and have watched faithfully for as long as I can remember, but I don't recall a tournament as exciting as this one.

First there was that New Year's game against the USA. Down by three goals early, we stormed all the way back.

Then, there was that unbelievable semi-final game against Russia. With a mere 5.4 seconds on the clock, we were down by a goal. Somehow, against all odds, we came back and won in a shootout.

Can-a-da! Can-a-da! Can-a-da! Can-a-da! Can-a-da!

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Canada 6, Russia 5
Published January 3, 2009 @ 22:23 in Hockey Canada

I had given up. There simply wasn't enough time on the clock for us to come back. The Russians had us, we were playing Slovakia for bronze. And then, with 5.4 seconds left in the third period, Jordan Eberle scored.

That scream you heard when Eberle scored was me. It was awesome, but overtime awaited us. We had our chances, but this semi-final would be determined by a shootout.

Awesome goals by Eberle and John Tavares sealed the deal and we'll be playing for our fifth gold medal in a row Monday night. First the New Year's game against the USA and then this. My poor heart can't take much more.

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Double Booked
Published January 3, 2009 @ 15:07 in Hockey Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs

I can't wait for tonight's semi-final in the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Canada takes on Russia and you know it's gonna be good. The puck drops shortly after 7:30.

Speaking of Ottawa, the Senators are in town to take on the Leafs. Normally, that would have my full attention on a Saturday night. That game starts shortly after 7:00.

I'm double booked and without PiP. Canada vs. Russia takes precedent, without a doubt, and during intermissions and commercial breaks I'll check in on my Leafers.

There, I've got it all worked out.

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Canada 7, United States 4
Published January 1, 2009 @ 09:34 in Hockey Canada

Down 3-0 early, things were looking grim. Then, John Tavares took over, scoring two goals in a span of 48 seconds to bring us back. Heck, even his third goal of the net, an empty netter, was something special. He picked up the puck at the U.S. blue-line, held off a defender with his left arm, and carried the puck to the crease to score a one-handed goal and ice the win.

Canada now plays the winner of Friday's quarter-final between Russia and the Czech Republic in the semis. If you saw this one, you witnessed one hell of an exciting game. This is why I love the junior tourney.

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Bestest Game Evah!
Published December 31, 2008 @ 21:08 in Hockey Canada

We're only through two periods and I'm already exhausted.

Tonight's Canada-USA hockey game has included a furious comeback by the good guys, amazing saves, tremendous action and glimpses of greatness from The Next One.

This is gonna be one helluva finish...

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