Note: Don’t forget to tune into the Illegal Curve Hockey Show on TSN Radio 1290 from noon to 3 pm today. Guests: Dennis Beyak live from Ufa, Russia (TSN), James Mirtle (Globe and Mail), Grant Sonier (ESPN, draft expert).
Jets & Affiliate news:
Winnipeg Sun: Jacob Trouba bandwagon growing. The praise of Trouba continues to pour in, especially once fans have had an opportunity to watch him all tournament long. Once he is ready to put on his Jets jersey, he has the potential to be one special player. Update: Jacob Trouba has been named to the WJHC All Star Team, AND has been named the best defenseman in this year’s tournament.
Jets draft pick Jacob Trouba took over the Team USA twitter yesterday morning to answer questions and here is what he had to say when asked about his fellow Jets draft pick Mark Scheifele:
Winnipeg Free Press: Local pros keep busy with IcePlex workouts. Players have to be bored playing with pretty much the same group every day.
Winnipeg Free Press: Ex-Jets anthem singer scoring on the drums. Ironic that she moved to Atlanta.
TSN: Toffoli’s two goals lead Monarchs past IceCaps. Well that wasn’t how the IceCaps wanted to start 2013. While they are just outside the playoff picture this team needs to turn things around asap. Hopefully they can earn a split when the teams resume play tonight in St. John’s.
Reporter Herald: Bulls derail Colorado Eagles for first time. San Fran had been a guaranteed 2 points for Colorado until last night, when they suffered their first loss of the season.
CBA news:
CBC: NHL, NHLPA meet all day separately with mediator. Some say it was a wasted day while others think progress was made. Part of the fun of negotiations.
ESPN: Will shuttle diplomacy get it done? Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun debate whether yesterday’s shuttle diplomacy will be a success or not.
Toronto Star: Players expect Don Fehr home run. Will we see Fehr deliver? Some would argue that he has already ringed quite a bit more than what the owners wanted to give. While others would suggest he has caved to NHL demands. Until NHL hockey resumes with a completed CBA he hasn’t accomplished anything.
National Post: ‘Artificial’ lockout deadlines are doing more harm than good. It has been a difficult time to be an NHL fan and unfortunately it appears another week of these shenanigans will be ongoing until we know one way or another what the end result will be.
CBC: Ted Lindsay disappointed by lockout. Interesting to hear the perspective of one of the founders of the original Players’ Association.
National Post: Lockout talks waylaid by anger, mistrust. The irony is fans won’t buy this feigned outrage at the other side. When they see hockey players arguing over millions of dollars with owners, regardless of entitlement, they find it difficult to empathize.
Toronto Star: It won’t be easy to take pride in being an NHL fan. Even the teams with 100% loyal fan bases, the ones that can easily be taken for granted better see ownership step up whenever this mess ends. All across Canada and the United States, owners and players had best be rolling out the red carpet for the fans.
NHL/Hockey news:
Toronto Star: Subban helps hockey fan score perfect name for son. I guess if biblical names are passé (which sucks for me) then going the non-traditional route works. Of course if had a vote I would have suggested Seven. “It’s a beautiful name for a boy or a girl, especially a girl, or a boy!”
World Juniors:
Gold Medal Game: USA 3 Sweden 1. Note: Jacob Trouba with 1 assist. Named all-star and best defenceman.
Bronze Medal Game: Russia 6 Canada 5 in OT. Note: Mark Scheifele had 1 g and 1 a in the game.
Globe and Mail: Team USA wins gold. Gibson was a beast between the pipes, Trouba was a rock on defence and coach Phil Housley deserves kudos for coaching this team to victory.
Toronto Star: Russia beats Canada for bronze. 4th place is going to cause some hand wringing in this country. As noted above Mark Scheifele finished the game with 1 goal and 1 assist.
Toronto Star: Team Sweden shows some swagger before gold medal game. Being the defending champs should give Sweden a little room for swagger.
Toronto Star: Jordan Binnington to start for Canada in bronze. Good timing to get his first start of the tournament.
Globe and Mail: Swedes refuse to buy into Russian ‘lottery’. Good for the Swedes to be properly prepared for the Russians in a shootout. Every team knows that a shootout is a possibility and you need to prepare accordingly.
