Friday Night Hockey
Don’t get to used to the Vancouver Giants being in last place in the Western Hockey League. General manager Scott Bonner has an abundance of picks in the next two drafts.
The Kamloops Blazers put on a solid performance on Friday Night Hockey after a 3-0 loss to Portland Wednesday.
I was a little disappointed in the crowd at the Interior Savings Centre though. I’d pay just to watch Cole Cheveldave, and the admission wouldn’t necessarily be to watch him make saves.
How in the world did J.C. Lipon get up after the Vannieuwenhuizen, let alone start a fight?
Who knew Blazers head coach Guy Charron once played on a line with Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio?
Should any WHL head coaching jobs become available, look for Blazers associate coach Dave Hunchak to be amongst the top candidates. Everett might be a possibility.
Joel Edmundson is one tough, mean and nasty customer.
Vancouver’s Brett Kulak looks like a guy that’s trying to do too much. He was drafted based on the simplicity of his game.
Giants goalie Peyton Lee struggled on FNH, but the 16-year-old netminder will be better for it, especially if he can maintain his practice habits the same way he did when we saw him Thursday.
Is it possible the Giants are thinking ahead to the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup, and possibly hosting it?
Brendan Leipsic is certifiable, and I mean that in a good way.
Travis Green is an interesting study. He’s seemingly been able to implement some of his own philosophies, while not straying from the strong foundation put in place by Mike Johnston.
Troy Rutkowski, can you say pro defenceman?
The more I watch him play, the more I see Seth Jones going first overall and Nic Petan going in the first round.
And whomever ends up picking third in the draft should be ready to get a player similar to some other recent third overall picks; Alex Galchenuyk (2012), Jonathan Huberdeau (2011), Matt Duchene (2009).
Don’t be surprised if we haven’t heard the last on the Portland Winterhawks situation.
Rumours are heating up in the WHL about a move into Winnipeg. Kootenay, Prince George, Lethbridge and Swift Current have all been mentioned. The last rumoured move had Chilliwack going to Victoria……It’s only a matter of time before Winnipeg has a team.
QMJHL
I thought the Ross Johnston suspension was bang on. While there was an accidental element to the situation, you still have to have some measure of control with your stick, especially the sticks today.
If Johnston were in the OHL, you would not have seen him until next season.
The QMJHL implemented new trade procedures this season, and that was before the Ryan Tesink deal.
Having not yet succumbed to Twitter, I was informed by Greyhounds general manager Kyle Dubas that I had been facing some heat for not putting Nathan MacKinnon on my CHL Top 10 prospects list last week. He is injured right now, so it opened up a spot for another player until MacKinnon returns. I did the same thing with Hunter Shinkaruk earlier in the season.
It’s looking like a Mar. 6 return date at the earliest for MacKinnon.
OHL
The Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds are the team no one wants to play in the first round of the OHL playoffs.
Is Sheldon Keefe really the, “Magic Man,” as he was apparently once dubbed by Bill Montague of the Sault Star.
Canada’s 6-5 overtime loss to Russia in the bronze medal game of the 2013 World Junior Championship shook Hockey Canada to its core, and it continues to have a lasting effect.
Similar to the fate of Vancouver, it’s awfully weird to see the Ottawa 67’s out of the playoffs. It’s been nearly 20 years since that last happened.
The OHL is still deciding on a suspension for Nick Cousins of Sault Ste. Marie. When it is announced you will be able to find it here.
CIS
There will be two new OUA entrants into the University Cup this season. Both Western and McGill were eliminated from their respective conference playoffs, meaning there will be a new champion this year. And we’re glad to announce it will be on Sportsnet.
Stat Trick:
| Who are the most penalized CHL teams? | ||||
| Team | Minors | Majors | PIM/game | |
| Victoria | 404 | 75 | 24.64 | |
| Seattle | 354 | 64 | 22.7 | |
| Calgary | 410 | 72 | 22.42 | |
| Vancouver | 364 | 65 | 21.63 | |
| Lethbridge | 383 | 61 | 21.39 | |
| Gatineau | 416 | 56 | 18.85 | |
| Owen Sound | 402 | 59 | 18.71 | |
Note: The 12 most penalized teams all come from the WHL
Completely Off Topic: Seth MacFarlane has out of this world talent.
Upcoming FNH
Mar. 1 Moncton @ Rimouski
Mar. 8 London @ Sarnia
Mar. 15 TBD
For more on the CHL, be sure to check out the latest from Patrick King, right here.