Canadian junior team cuts

[dash]

Several WHLers sent packing, including Flames prospect Ryan Howse of the Chilliwack Bruins and WHL player of the month for November Linden Vey of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Avalanche prospect Hishon among junior team's first cuts

 

[jstewismybastardson]

lots of Dubhl casualties today ... Gallagher got the chop too

 

[dash]

Sometimes I wonder if the team is pretty much selected before camp...Looks to be a strong contingent of players from the QMJHL, that at least should make the politicos happy in Ottawa and Quebec.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Sometimes I wonder if the team is pretty much selected before camp...Looks to be a strong contingent of players from the QMJHL, that at least should make the politicos happy in Ottawa and Quebec.

I was gonna say Ron Robison should be screaming racism or something equally intelligent

there were only 5 invites from the Q which got the separatists riled up ... are all 5 expected to make the team?

/and regarding the team being preselected ... Im on board with that ... if you didnt make a national u17 or u18 team why even bother going to camp

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Cizikas made it through the first round of cuts. I must admit I'm happily surprised. Isn't his head coach in the OHL the head coach of Team Canada though?

 

[Destroydacre]

Sometimes I wonder if the team is pretty much selected before camp...Looks to be a strong contingent of players from the QMJHL, that at least should make the politicos happy in Ottawa and Quebec.

Gotta make sure the Q doesn't get embarrassed by not having a first rounder again this year. I'm sure some spots on the team really are pre-determined though. Take Calvin Pickard for example. Guy's a good goalie, but he's been anointed as the Thunderbird's savior since he was drafted. I would guess a lot of that has to do with the success Chet had. But really he's only 18 and he hasn't done anything. I know it was just one game, but he was far from lights out in the Super Series. I realize he's played on crap T-Birds teams so far in his career, but is he really one of the 4 best in all of Canada? If he wasn't anointed, there's no way he would have been invited. Just my take anyway.

Too bad about Vey Dash. On the bright side, it'll help out the Tigers.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Gotta make sure the Q doesn't get embarrassed by not having a first rounder again this year. I'm sure some spots on the team really are pre-determined though. Take Calvin Pickard for example. Guy's a good goalie, but he's been anointed as the Thunderbird's savior since he was drafted. I would guess a lot of that has to do with the success Chet had. But really he's only 18 and he hasn't done anything. I know it was just one game, but he was far from lights out in the Super Series. I realize he's played on crap T-Birds teams so far in his career, but is he really one of the 4 best in all of Canada? If he wasn't anointed, there's no way he would have been invited. Just my take anyway.

Too bad about Vey Dash. On the bright side, it'll help out the Tigers.

Sean Couturier is a lock to be picked in the top 3 or 4 & he plays for Drummondville. Ryan Ellis & Calvin De Haan are locks for the defense. Other than that I really don't know. Canada would be a lock for the Gold if Hall, Seguin, Skinner & a few others I'm sure I'm forgeting weren't in the NHL.

 

[juliansteed]

Final cuts made this morning. Nugent-Hopkins among them.

Nugent-Hopkins among final cuts for Canada's junior team

 

[jstewismybastardson]

tough for underage guys to make this team when the coaching staff dont want to be the ones who didnt win gold

 

[Destroydacre]

Sean Couturier is a lock to be picked in the top 3 or 4 & he plays for Drummondville. Ryan Ellis & Calvin De Haan are locks for the defense. Other than that I really don't know. Canada would be a lock for the Gold if Hall, Seguin, Skinner & a few others I'm sure I'm forgeting weren't in the NHL.

Oh I know, my comment was made tongue in cheek. I just remember the uproar in Quebec in 07 or 08 whenever it was that the Q has no one taken in the first round.

Pickard ended up getting cut. Looks like my analysis wasn't too far off base after all. You can bet that he'll be invited back next season.


/just curious, how has DeSerres looked with Saint John, Julian?

 

[dash]

They have some big boys on the Canadian team this year, although they may have some difficulty putting the puck in the net (which is why I was a little surprised that Howse was cut, he is a sniper). Defence looks strong, though.

 

[juliansteed]

Oh I know, my comment was made tongue in cheek. I just remember the uproar in Quebec in 07 or 08 whenever it was that the Q has no one taken in the first round.

Pickard ended up getting cut. Looks like my analysis wasn't too far off base after all. You can bet that he'll be invited back next season.


/just curious, how has DeSerres looked with Saint John, Julian?

He's looked pretty good actually. Not spectacular but solid. Hasn't really been tested much and hasn't needed to save any games for us until this past weekend and he did just that. The problem for him is that we have another 19 year old goalie who has exceeded expectations and has looked just as good. The 2 have been rotating all season long, which is fine. BUT now rumour is that 20 year old Yann Sauve could be returning to junior very soon. He was expected to play with the Canucks AHL team this year but was hit by a car in training camp and has missed most of the season. He's been playing in the ECHL for the past month or so, and rumour is there's about a 50% chance he'll be back, which would be great for us but bad for DeSerres. Since you're only allowed 3 20's most figure DeSerres would be the odd man out seeing as how the other goalie has been playing just as well and we could likely get a cheap backup somewhere. Either way it would be bitter-sweet for me because I like DeSerres but at the same time it would be great to get Sauve back.

As for the Q, it has been the weak sister for some years now but looks like things might be starting to rebound. I think 4 players on Team Canada is the most its had in quite some time and it might have been 5 if not for an injury to Brandon Gormley. Couturier shouldn't be the only one to go in the 1st round this year. A handfull of my Sea Dogs have a shot at it too most notably a guy by the name of Jonathan Hubedeau. Expect him to play for Team Canada next year as an 18 year old.

 

[dash]

Canadian roster available here

 

[sTyLnK]

I liked the video on TSN where they knocked on the door of the players who did make it. One guy had his shirt inside out and backwards. Hilarious.

 

[puckhead]

Canadian roster available here

not many returnees and no stars to speak of, but still a pretty strong group.
- 15 first round picks in the bunch
- very big group of d-men: 4 of them over 6'1, 210lb
- 9 WHL players (always a good thing)*




* ideally goalies from QMJHL, defensemen from the WHL, and forwards from OHL.

 

[dash]

* ideally goalies from QMJHL, defensemen from the WHL, and forwards from OHL.

Justin Pogge and Carey Price say hello...Does it make me a bad person if I'm still bitter about the Marc Andre-Fleury own goal?

 

[puckhead]

Justin Pogge and Carey Price say hello...Does it make me a bad person if I'm still bitter about the Marc Andre-Fleury own goal?

not at all. I am too. (And Jack Johnson will always be "that punk-assed bitch")
throughout the history of the tourney though, I still like the Q goalies in general.

 

[dash]

Ryan Ellis named captain of the Canadian team...De Haan, Cowen, and Schenn are alternate captains.

Spitfires D Ellis named captain of Canadian junior team

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I read on Disney last week in the rumors section, I'm not an insider so I didn't read the whole thing that Gudbransen could be on the block. Did the signing bonus thing really tick off Florida so much that they would trade him?