Home sweet song...?

Need a midweek laugh?
I give you Coming Home (The Brayden Schenn Remix). Wired 93.6 a local Saskatoon radio station put this together in honor of Schenn being traded back to his hometown.

A bit delayed, just like the Russian's flight home.

Sorry for the delay everyone, winter break has been filled with travel and now it's already over as I'm heading back to school already! I hope you all had a fantastic holidays.

January 5th was the final day of the 2011 edition of the World Juniors and man was the conclusion ever a dandy.

In shocking fashion(understatement of the year so far?), Canada blew a 3-0 lead going into the third to lose the gold medal 5-3 to Russia. It's the second time in two years that Canada has reached the gold medal game only to lose. Last year on John Carlson's overtime goal and this year by giving up five goals in the third period. Two years and two heartbreaking results though the second time the Canadians had the gold in their grasp only to let it slip away.

It has become an expectation for the Canadians to not only be in the gold medal game but to win the gold medal. The feeling is the Canadians own the gold medal until you rip it from their hands. And in the past two years that has happened. Even as a USA fan, I'm shocked at the result of the gold medal game this year. This only adds to the intrigue of next years tournament.

On a brighter note, Brayden Schenn tied the Canadian record for most points in the tournament and was named MVP, and played through a hurt (separated) shoulder sustained in the semi-finals (source). LA Kings fan must be excited about that. Now the waiting game starts in the WHL to see whether or not the Wheat Kings trade him or hold on to him.

Even better though for hockey fans is the fact that Canada's silver and USA's bronze puts them back in the same pool next year at the 2010 World Juniors which is being held in Edmonton and Calgary. What this means is that the USA-Canada game on New Years Eve which has become somewhat of a big event. To me the tournament felt weird without it this year. Being in the same pool also means that a rematch of the 2010 gold medal game could happen. The American-Canadian rivalry always seems to add another page to the book each year regardless of when they meet. All signs point to another fantastic tournament next year, just as it is every year.

I am one of those people who loves World Juniors and will choose to watch World Junior games over NHL games. I guess you could say I have the level of enthusiasm of a Canadian, just for the American team. To me USA hockey beats out the Blackhawks and that is saying a lot. I think the games are that fantastic, plus the tournament is once a year. If you haven't watched you should start next year. The tournament is filled with top NHL prospects, who you may not get to normally see, and great games.

Unlike Canada the USA ended World Juniors on a high note by making history. The USA bounced back from their crushing 4-1 loss at the hands of Canada in the semi-final to win the bronze medal with a 4-2 win over Sweden.

While this may seem like a disappointment to many to fall from the gold medal game to the bronze, the positives for USA Hockey are plentiful. Also it was the first time ever that the USA has won a medal on home ice. The first time that USA had earned a medal in back to back tournaments, the bronze medal effort was their fifth try. These accomplishment only further highlight the improvements in the USA Hockey program.

The USA won their first ever World Juniors gold in 2004 & repeated that feat in 2010 while the Canadians won the five gold medals in between. Since then USA Hockey has made great strides seen beyond the Olympic and World Junior level. At the U-17 level in the past five times the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, the USA has medalled every single time winning gold in 2010 and silver this year.  At the World U-18 Championships, the USA has medalled in every tournament since 2002 winning gold five times, back to back twice in 2005 & 2006 and again in 2009 & 2010. In addition at the Ivan Hlinka tournament (U-18s) the USA earned silver in 2010 after not medalling since 2006.

Of course the silver earning efforts of the Olympic team and last year's gold medal win of the World Juniors were the most publicized accomplishments which are not to be overlooked in their impact.

The bottom line is that despite not playing for the medal they wanted the USA finally earning a medal in back to back tournaments is another great step for USA hockey. The USA didn't even get eligible returner defensemen Cam Fowler (Ducks) since he's doing so well in the NHL. It's not a hope to make it to the medal rounds or the gold medal game, it's an expectation.

USA Hockey is only improving with the success of the National Team Development Program and developing elite hockey players. You can already see it in the number of USA born players being drafted & making an impact. It's truly exciting to think about the progress that USA Hockey is making and the NHL stars coming out of the program.

So if you happen to see some love for some USA Hockey players on this blog, don't be surprised. Donning the red, white and blue trump NHL ties any day, in my eyes.

Said hey, what's going on?

So there's a Blackhawks game tonight, the infamous Paul BizNasty & the Coyotes are in town. The Coyotes currently sit at 14th in the Western Conference while the Blackhawks sit in 6th. (Does that surprise anyone else..?)
However the Blackhawks have played 17 games which is at least 2 more games than any other NHL team.

According to multiple sources on Twitter, Seabrook and Keith are going to be split up (but we'll see how long that lasts..) and Patrick Kane will be trying out the left wing on a line with Kopecky and Hossa.
I'm not really digging any of these changes since Seabrook and Keith playing with anyone but each other seems odd to me and to a lesser extent Kane and Toews.
I was a big fan of the Stalberg-Toews-Kane line but we all know as much as lines are juggled pregame, it can happens as much in game.

Really, I don't want to think about the game much until it happens. Personally I just want to see a full 60 minute effort.


I've been feeling like I've been neglecting talking about my junior hockey loves but I guess that's what happens when the team in town goes on their Eastern Conference road trip and I haven't gone to a live hockey game in 3 weeks. (Yes, I'm in SEVERE hockey withdrawal)

The Silvertips are currently on a 3 game losing streak and just 2-6-0-2 in their last 10 games. The two most recent losses both have been shutouts at the hands of Vancouver and Red Deer, where former Tip & Blackhawks Byron Froese was traded in exchange for Landon Ferraro.
They're currently below .500 with a 6-7-1-3 sitting in the basement of the U.S. Division.

The Chiefs though after their 6 game eastern road trip in which they went 3-2-1-0 have gotten their record back to .500 and are in 4th place in the U.S. Division just above the Tips.
The Chiefs have a 2 game home stand this weekend taking on the Edmonton Oil Kings and their hated rival Tri-City Americans. (a game at which I'll be at!)

While both teams are struggling, one team that is far away the best in the U.S. Division and in my mind the WHL, the Portland Winterhawks are on a 9 game win streak as they travel through the Eastern Division. The Winterhawks boast a 15-2-0-1 record through 18 games played.
They are just behind the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (who have an identical record) of the OHL for the top spot in the CHL rankings.
An already stellar lineup filled with NHL prospects was also recently boosted by the Islanders return of Nino Niederreiter, they're loaded.

Just going to come out and say it now. The Portland Winterhawks are my pick for Memorial Cup champions and at very least WHL champions.

We'll be seeing you again soon?: Based on comments by the LA Kings head coach Terry Murray, Brayden Schenn could be reunited with Scott Glennie and the Wheat Kings soon. (source)
My Schenn, Wheaties shirsey might be a lot more relevant..

Hogs Wild!: The Rockford IceHogs had quite the game last night beating the Peoria Rivermen 4-1 in a game that had 8 fights and 4 ejections.
Kyle Beach had a goal, 2 assists & 2 fights to easily round out a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
Jeremy Morin had a goal but was kicked out from the game after his fight at the end of the 1st period.
Nick Leddy, Shawn Lalonde(2), Igor Makarov and Brandon Pirri all had assists.
Ben Smith had a goal of his own, as did Ryan Potulny who also had 2 assists.

I wouldn't mind watching one of those games with the way the big club has been doing..


And that was your whirlwind tour of all my hockey interests.
Here's to a better Blackhawks game tonight than we've recently seen!