Team USA Is Gold!

 

Team USA wins the gold at 2013WJC by defeating Team Sweden 3-1! It is the 3rd gold for the United States at the WJC, with the previous victories coming in 2004 & 2010.  It is their second Gold in 4 years, 3rd in the last 10 years.  Head Coach, Phil Housley and his staff, Rocco Grimaldi were dialed in this tournament, as the Americans fought back from a disappointing showing at the WJC last year and came to play against the best in the world.  John Gibson is named tourney MVP and top goalie, while Jacob Trouba earns top defenceman. Canada's RNH is named top forward in the tournament. 
 

 

 

 

I would like to acknowledge and show respect to the other compeditors in the 2013WJC.  Team Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Latvia, Slovakia and Germany


While the hockey world witnessed the United States, Sweden and Russia battle to earn their rankings in a world wide tournament and re-establish the importance of the game and pride a team has in each other, the NHL holds league play hostage from its fans.  Its time for the NHL and NHLPA to come to a new, long lasting CBA and stop being a disgrace to professional sports.

Per Scott Ferrall, " The NHL will never have shortage of great players from around world-it's the SUITS who screw up these teams and the league."

 

Isles Notes:

Per IIHF on Jan. 4th, "Canadian defenceman Griffin Reinhart suspended, will miss bronze game + three more."  Bob McKenzie adds, " For those asking, Griffin Reinhart's 4G suspension is ludicrous. I get Jenner/Lipon/Nichushkin decisions. Gostisbehere/Reinhart, not so much." 

Griffin Reinhart, "Never fun to end like that, but thank you to hockey Canada for the opportunity and most of all thank YOU fans for all the support WJC2013.

Per Eric Hornick, Ville Pokka, Isles 2nd pick in 2012, finished tourney +10 -- led entire tourney--not on ice for opp even strength goal in entire tourney.

Sound Tigers Notes:

1/4

 

BST. vs. SPR

Forwards: Persson-Cizikas-McDonald, Niederreiter-Sundstrom-Ullstrom, DeFazio-Watkins-Riley, Combs-Costello-Backman.

Scratches include 3,4,12,15,17,29,40,44,77.  Dallas Jackson is the last BST scratch. Starters: DeFazio-Watkins-Riley, Donovan-Wishart, Kevin Poulin in net (10-5-2, 2.85 GAA, .915 SV%)

Falcons hang on for a 5-4 win over the Sound Tigers, snapping their four-game winning streak.

 

12/31

 

BST vs. ADK

Forwards: Persson-Cizikas-McDonald, Ullstrom-Sundstrom-Niederreiter, DeFazio-Watkins-Riley, Halmo-Campbell-Backman.

Sound Tigers hit the ice in ADK for warmups. Phantoms wearing some...unique...commemorative tuxedo jerseys. Nilsson vs, Munroe in net.

Dallas Jackson is the final  BST scratch. Starters: DeFazio-Watkins-Riley, McIver-Ness. Nilsson in net (7-7-0, 2.89 GAA, .901 SV%).

Sound Tigers WIN!! Nino, Ullstrom and Landry score in the shootout, Akeson scores for ADK, Poulin makes final stop, BST win SO 3-1, gm 4-3!

12/29

BST vs. Manchester

Forwards - Persson-Cizikas-McDonald, Ullstrom-Sundstrom-Niederreiter, Halmo-Watkins-Backman, DeFazio-Costello-Riley.

Sound Tigers final scratch is Nathan McIver. Starters - Persson-Cizikas-McDonald, Hill-Ness. Nilsson in net.

Player Transaction: The Sound Tigers have signed defenseman Dallas Jackson to a PTO. Likely to play tonight vs. Manchester.

Injury Update: Center Brock Nelson is expected to miss the next 2-3 weeks with a fractured jaw.

AHL suspends Brett Gallant 3 games for leaving bench on a legal line change for purpose of starting an altercation in a game at CTW on 12/27.  Gallant's altercation was w/ CTW Dylan McIlrath who elbowed Marc Cantin in the head on prior play. McIlrath suspended 2 games by AHL.

Sound Tigers WIN! @SBacks16 posts his first professional two-goal game, @zeeker11 & @thelnino25 score, Nilsson makes 31 saves, BST win 4-1!

 

NHL Notes:

Per Nick Kypreos, Believed NHLPA has already received 75% needed votes to file disclaimer to NHL once again. As of now, no internal date has been set.

Per Pierre LeBrun, Another detail emerging: NHL has upped its compliance buyout offer to 2 per team, up from 1 prior to 2013-14 season.  Darren Dreger adds, Buyouts still count against players' share, Players do not like that. Prefer dollars were outside system.

Year 2 salary cap remains huge issue. NHL still wants $60 M. NHLPA willing to do $65 M. League doesn't want cap floor to move up.

Puck Daddy: NHL memo to off-ice officials a harbinger of lockout’s end?

Ken Cambell of THN found an empty hill with no one dead on it. Good read.

 

Per Josh Rimer, "If and when a new CBA is signed, word on the street is the NHL will make Centre Ice free for the season."

 

2013 IIHF IH U20 WC Notes:

Per USA Hockey, "GOLD!!! Team USA captures the gold at 2013WJC downing Sweden 3-1!  USA Hockey 10-0-1 vs Swedes in WJC play since 1998.

Per Erik Hornick, 5 Americans: Mccabe (+9) Biggs (+6), Bardreau/Pietila (+5), Gostisbehere (+4)- were +4 or greater and not on ice for single opponent ES goal.

Per IIHF, The United States will have the chance to claim two gold medals in one day when Team USA faces Canada in less than an hour at the 2013WW18.

Per Bob McKenzie, "Nichuchskin scores GWG in OT. RUS wins bronze. CAN without a medal for first time since 1998."

Jan. 3  Per Bob McKenzie, SWE wins. Collberg scores, Kucherov misses after Wikstrand, Rask, Grigorenko, Yakupov all missed. SWE vs. USA for gold. CAN-RUS for bronze.

 

USA soundly trounces CAN 5-1 in SF victory. USA will play for gold on Sat vs winner of RUS-SWE. CAN will play RUS-SWE loser for bronze.

 

Jan. 2  USA beats CZE 7-0.

 

Team USA beats Slovakia 9-3 to clinch No. 3 seed in Group B. The U.S. begins medal round play on Jan. 2.

Latfia will be replaced by Norway at next years tournament in Sweden.

Per IIHF, Groups 2014WJC in Malmö: Gr A: USA, CAN, CZE, SVK, GER. Gr B: SWE, RUS, SUI, FIN, NOR.

 

 

::: Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. ::