Showing posts with label fans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fans. Show all posts

Thursday, December 20, 2012

WJHC Team Canada Preview, Habs' Fan Speaks Out, More...

Good Morning HabsAddicts!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Sure, the holidays are upon us, but more importantly, the World Junior Hockey Championships are around the corner. This tournament, which emerged from relative obscurity in the late 70's and early 80's, has become a holiday tradition in households across Canada.

This year's edition of Team Canada, which kicks off tournament preparation this morning at 9:30 A.M., is loaded with talent. The NHL Lockout has afforded Team Canada the likes of Oilers' budding superstar Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Bruins' prospects defenseman Dougie Hamilton and goaltender Malcolm Subban.

While this team doesn't have nearly as much talent as its lockout predecessor in 2005, it still has the necessary talent to make another for gold. Habs' fans will be watching this tournament with great interest, as Canadiens' prospect Charles Hudon is among the 23 man Team Canada roster. They'll also be keeping a close eye on Team USA, and Habs' first round pick in 2012, Alex Galchenyuk, who, going into the tournament, has been tearing up the Ontario Hockey League.

Here is the full Team Canada roster:

Forwards: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mark Scheifele, Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Strome, Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, Charles Hudon, Boone Jenner, Anthony Camara, Phillip Danault, J.C. Lipon, Brett Ritchie, Ty Rattie

Defence: Morgan Rielly, Dougie Hamilton, Griffin Reinhart, Xavier Ouellet, Scott Harrington, Ryan Murphy, Tyler Wotherspoon

Goaltenders: Malcolm Subban, Jordan Binnington, Jake Paterson

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

Patrick Scebba, Habs' fan extraordinary, lashes out about how the NHL lockout, the third in his young lifetime, has affected him.

- It seems NHL players aren't only locked out on this side of the Atlantic, as reported by Hockey Badasses.

- Finally, Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times explains how the Lightning are starting to lose some season ticket holders.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Owners & Players To Meet Tuesday, Winterhawks Wings Clipped, More...

Good Morning HabsAddicts!!!

It took the whole weekend, but the NHLPA decided to take Gary Bettman up on his offer to get the owners and players to meet without Bettman or Donald Fehr present.

Helene Elliott of the L.A. Times examines who might be involved in the meeting from the owners' side, and why removing the "egos" from the equation may just allow for some real progress.

Can a resolution really be found without the main players in the negotiations? We won't know for sure until late Tuesday, but the fact that Jeremy Jacobs, the owner of the Boston Bruins, will be involved isn't exactly filling my heart with that much confidence.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- Elliotte Friedman of CBC Sports looks at how the Portland Winterhawks were given severe sanctions for alleged illegal payment violations. Was that the truth, or was it because of shear jealousy from other WHL owners?

- The Calgary Herald's Amanda Stephenson examines the gauntlet of emotions NHL fans have had to deal with during the lockout.

- While most NHL players have contemplated going to play in Europe, Scott Burnside of ESPN.com looks at how Ryane Clowe of the San Jose Sharks has used his free time to give back at the grass roots level.

(Cartoon: Mike Spicer)