USA 5 Canada 4 OT

Team USA beat Team Canada 5-4 in overtime Saturday to set up a Sunday Bronze Medal game between Canada and Russia and a Gold Medal Game between the USA and Sweden.

Brett Ritchie would start things off for Canada at the 4:37 mark on the powerplay when he tipped in a Ryan Murphy shot from the point. Alan Quine would draw the other assist. J T Miller would tie it at one with his fourth after he blocked a shot just inside his own zone and sped up the ice and beat Malcolm Subban five hole.

The teams would head to the locker room tied at one. The Canadians had the shot advantage, 12-4 as well as 3 powerplays while the US had none.

It took 16:10 into the second to see that periods only goal when Reid Boucher scored his seventh to give the Americans a 2-1 lead. The Americans came out strong in the second outshooting Canada 21-13. The US also had 4 powerplays including a two man advantage for 1:35 but could not convert.

Zach Larazza would score his first at 6:43 of the third, a short handed goal to put the US up 3-1. Travis Boyd would draw the assist. Then, just 33 seconds later, Boucher would notch his second of the game from Miller to put the US up 4-1. It was another short handed goal and on the same penalty.

Canada would make an attempt at a comeback. Ritchie would score his second of the game at 9:15 on the powerplay from Quine and Nick Cousins. At 18:25, and with Subban on the bench for an extra attacker, Murphy would score his third from Murray on the powerplay.  Murray would then assist on Mark Scheifele's 6th goal with just 51 seconds remaining to even the score up at 4.

The US would outshoot Canada 14 - 12 in the period.

Overtime would last just 4:22 when Tyler Biggs scored his second to send the US to the Gold Medal game and a chance to win their third straight tournament.

The US also improved to 7-2 all-time vs Canada in this event.

Good Luck to the Americans in the Gold Medal game !!

Germany Gives Canada A Scare

It took a third period comeback for the Canadians to be host Germany and advance to a semi final showdown against the Americans on Saturday.

Malcolm Subban got the start for Canada and stopped 18 of 31 shots while Marvin Cupper kept Germany in it with 43 saves.

Ryan Murray scored his first of the tournament just 1:15 into the game on the powerplay to put Canada up 1-0. Mark McNeill drew the lone assists, his 6th so far.

Germany would tie the game with a powerplay goal of their own at 6:57 when Leonhard Pfoderl notched his second of the tournament from Max Meirandres. Tobias Reider would score his third to put the Germans up 2-1 at 12:52. Pfoderl would assist on the goal and send the Germans to the locker room with the lead.

Canada outshot Germany 11-9 in the period. Canada was 1-1 on the powerplay while Germany was 1/3.

Canada had a slight territorial advantage in the second, outshooting Germany 19-14, but both goaltenders would be at their best. A late goal by Brett Ritchie with just 11 seconds remaining would tie the score at 2 before the teams headed off the ice. Murray would assists on Ritchie's first of the tournament.

Germany would get that goal back early in the third. Alexander Ackermann would score his second at 1:57 of the period to give Germany its second lead of the game with the lone assist going to Sabastian Uvira. That lead would hod up until 10:47 when Morgan Rielly notched his second from Slater Koekkoek and McNiell on the powerplay.

Yet another powerplay goal by the Canadians would put Canada up at 15:18 of the period. Nick Cousins scored his fourth of the tournement from Rielly. Canada's powerplay was efficient on the day going 3/5 while Germany finished 1/6 with the man advantage.

In the other quarter final, Russia beat Finland 5-2 to advance to a semi final match up against the Group B leading Swedes. Russia/Sweden is scheduled for 8:30 am EDT on Saturday while Canada/USA is scheduled for 12:30 pm EDT Saturday (TSN/RDS).

Sweden Haults Canada 4-2 In Final Preliminary Game

Sweden rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to come back and beat Canada 4-2 in the final game of the preliminary round of the Under 18 Championships in Germany. Both teams finished with a 3-1-0 record but Sweden takes top spot in Group B by virtue of their +12 goal differential compared to Canada's +9.

Nick Cousins opened the scoring for Canada with an unassisted goal at 12:59 of the first period when he scored his third of the tournament to put Canada up 1-0. That would be the only scoring of the period. Malcolm Subban would make 9 saves for Canada in the period while Swedish netminder Nicklas Lundstrom stopped 5 of 6. Both teams were o for 2 on the powerplay.

There would be no scoring in the second period. Sweden came on stronger in the period but Subban was able to keep them at bay making 13 saves. Lundstrom was equal to the task making 10 for Sweden. Both teams were once again 0 for 2 on the powerplay.

Early in the third, at 1:47 Ryan Murphy put Canada up 2-0 with an unassisted marker. It was Murphy's third of the tournament. It took just 17 seconds for Sweden to get that back as Oscar Klefbom set up Linus Froberg to cut the lead in half. At 14:14 Sweden would pull even when Gustav Bjorklund scored from Filip Forsberg.

It took just another 38 seconds after Sweden tied it to take the lead when Klefbom scored a goal of his own unassisted to put Sweden up to stay. They would add an empty net goal to close out the scoring.

By finishing atop the Group B standings Sweden earned a bye into the semi finals while Canada will be forced to play a quarter final match on Thursday versus host Germany. The game will be televised on TSN and RDS in Canada.

Canada 5 Finland 4

Canada improved to 2-0 in Group B at the IIHF World Under 18 tournament in Germany today with a 5-4 victory over Finland who dropped to 1-1. Malcolm Subban made 34 saves for Canada while Samu Perhonen made 30 for Finland.

Eric Locke score the only goal of the first period on the powerplay with the assist going to Ryan Murphy. Finland would out shoot Canada 9-8 in the period while going 0/1 on the powerplay. Canada was 1/1.

In the second period, Joel Armia tied the game at 1-1 when he scored on the powerplay at 3:24. Miro Aaltonen and Toni Kallela would assist. Armia and Kallela would then team up to set up Olli Maata at 11:56 to put Finland up 2-1. Murphy would tie it with an assist by Colin Smith at 17:46 to close out the second period. Finland would outshoot Canada again, this time 16:11. Both teams went 0/3 on the powerplay.

Armia would score an unassisted powerplay goal just 1:06 into the third period to make it 3-2. Canada would respond by scoring twice in 40 seconds to take the lead.

Mark Scheifele scored from Cody Ceci at the 10:05 mark. That was immediately followed up by a Nick Cousins goal with the assist going to Ryan Murray. Colin Smith would get an unassisted marker at 14:44 to put Canada up 5-3. Maata would score with 1:55 remaining to make it close. Armia and Markus Granlund would get the assists.

Canada will face Norway on Monday at 1:30 EDT followed by the preliminary finale Tuesday vs Sweden which will be televised on TSN.

14 OHL Players Named To Team Canada

There were 14 OHL players named to Team Canada for the Ivan Hlink Under 18 world championships in Germany set to go from April 14-24.

Here are your OHL players named to the 22 man squad

Goaltenders:
Andrew D’Agostini, Peterborough Petes
Malcolm Subban, Belleville Bulls

Defencemen:
Cody Ceci, Ottawa 67’s
Scott Harrington, London Knights
Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough Petes
Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers

Forwards:
Austen Brassard, Belleville Bulls
Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Nick Cousins, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Seth Griffith, London Knights
Eric Locke, Barrie Colts
Alan Quine, Peterborough Petes
Brett Ritchie, Sarnia Sting
Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts

All but Cody Ceci, Slater Koekoek and Eric Locke, and goaltender Malcolm Subban are draft eligible in 2011.

The OHL season Begins Thursday

With the OHL season beginning Thursday, here's a look back at the pre-season and some of the performances.

Seth Griffith - London Knights. A year ago, I was telling anyone who would listen, that Griffith was under the radar and was going to turn heads this season. He tore it up for the Jr. B St. Mary’s Lincolns before being called up to the Knights with 15 games remaining last season. This preseason, the offence centered around Griffith on a Knights team struggling to find offence. He recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 preseason games and I believe he can improve on that with the return of Jared Knight. It just solidifies him as my pick for top sleeper.

Alex Khokhlachev - Windsor Spitfires. What was considered to be a dogfight between Khokhlachev and Vladislav Namestnikov as the top Russian turned out to be the exact opposite. While Namestnikov struggled to find his game in London, Khokhlachev lit up the OHL with 4 goals and 9 assists in 6 games. He certainly found his game in North America and you have to imagine if guys like Ryan Ellis and Cam Fowler return to junior, it can only help him.

Nick Cousins - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The super fast goal scorer showed why he shouldn’t be playing in the shadows of Daniel Catenacci. He showed off his speed and why he’s been a goal scorer  everywhere he’s played netting 5 goals in 7 games. He showed he has the potential and capability of out producing Catenacci for the Soo this season.

Josh Malecki - Windsor Spitfires. Invited to camp on a tryout, and only just signed by the Spits just yesterday, Malecki showed he can compete and actually play well. He started in 4 games for the Spits with a 3-0-1 record, 2.98 GAA and .903 SV%. He obviously won’t get much playing time in Windsor with the “next great netminder” Jack Campbell in Windsor. GM Warren Rychel said that he will be splitting time between Windsor and Detroit Compuware.

Ryan Strome - Niagara Ice Dogs. Strome had a very good preseason for a youthful Ice Dogs team, recording 3 goals and 6 points in 6 games. He skating ability, speed, and offensive touch were evident along with his ability to play the defensive game. He didn’t add enough bulk in the off-season and will have to work on that, but there is no doubting all his other assets.

Alex Basso - Belleville Bulls. Often compared to P. K. Subban, Basso will be counted on to provide offence from the defence along with fellow defenseman  Steven Strong. And he did just that. In six games he scored twice and added 7 assists while quarterbacking the powerplay. Strong himself contributed 2 goals and 5 assists. Both will be integral parts of a Bull’s resurgence, and with last years rookie of the year Matt Puempel potting goals for the Bulls, especially on the powerplay, it will only help Basso’s stock increase for the 2011 draft.

Alex Aleardi - Belleville Bulls. We have to give Aleardi a mention here since he led all OHL’ers in goals in the preseason with 8 in 6 games. But 5 of them came in an outstanding performance against Oshawa where he scored all 5 of his teams goals in a 5-4 win. The small but gifted forward could be looking at an 80 point season with the Bulls.

There are just to many outstanding performances to mention them all. But what this pre-season tells us is that it will be a strong and competetive OHL season and the OHL will once again lead the way in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Will the pre-season surprises keep it up over the course of the season? Will those that dissappointed find their game and step up when it counts? Only time will tell.  So head out to an OHL arena and support these future stars and enjoy a good hockey game. You won't be dissappointed.

Some of the lessor knowns Part V

Nick Malysa - Plymouth Whalers
6' 0 193 lbs

A big rugged stay at home defenseman who has shown at times he can provide some offence.


He is an excellent skater who positions himself well defensively and has good speed which enables him to close the gap s quickly.

I was told that he produced offensively prior to joining the Whalers, so I am wondering if they are holding him back.

With his skating, passing and puck moving ability, I question why he gets no power play time.

In 42 games he registered 3 assists and was a plus 2 with 40 PIM.

Anthony Camara - Saginaw Spirit
6'0 179 lbs

Drafted 14th overall, Camara is as tough as they come. In 65 games he registered 6 goals and 6 assists with 96 PIM.


He only knows one way to get from point A to point B and that’s straight through and let nothing stand in your way.

He’s not the strongest of skaters or the fastest and will need to work on that. He has the ability to finish when driving to the net. He put up 31 goals and 25 assists for the Mississauga Senators last year along with 94 penalty minutes.

He is a fun player to watch and will only get meaner once he fills out his frame.

Alex Lepkowski - Saginaw Spirit
6'3" 216 lbs

Big and strong are an understatement when describing Lepkowski. On almost any given night, he’s the hardest worker on the ice for both teams. He plays the same way if they are losing 9-1 or winning 2-1.


He pays attention to what coaches are telling him on the bench, always seeming eager to learn. He has some good puck skills and is a decent skater for his size. He seems content to play a defensive game, but has shown flashes of being able to carry the puck and makes good passes.

Last season in high school he scored 6 goals and added 20 assists in 40 games.

The 66th overall pick registered 1 assist and 39 PIM in 53 games for the Spirit.

Brandon Francisco - Sarnia Sting
5' 10" - 155 lbs

A bit of a surprise Francisco lasted until the 3rd round of the draft, he has excellent speed and is a flawless skater. He has a huge offensive upside. Last season for the York Simcoe Express he put up 107 points in only 72 games.


For the Sting this past season, he played in 62 games registering 12 goals and 20 assists while being asked to play all 3 forward positions.

Not afraid to take a hit to make a play, he plays much bigger than his 5’10”. The only part of his game that he needs to work on is his defence.

Nick Cousins - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
5'9" - 155 lbs

Cousins is small but plays with a tremendous amount of grit. He’s another player with speed and an enormous amount of offensive potential. In 67 games for the Greyhounds he scored 11 goals and added 21 assists. He’s another prospect out of Quinte where he amassed an amazing 72 goals and 67 assists in 71 games in AAA.


He will need some time to grow. But he plays with a passion for the game that is unmatched. If he adds some size, he has the potential to be an amazing player.