Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Wednesday's Worldly Wrap-up
Can you skate forwards five feet without falling down? If so, please apply to the ARMENIAN National Hockey Team...they could use your mad skillsz, d00d!
As my pal Joeri from Eurohockey.net pointed out to me, the Armenian national team lost 2 recent games by some awfully sad scores: 33-1 to South Africa...and then an 'improved' 23-1 loss to Ireland.
Poor Armenian goaltender Armen Lalayan was in net for all 23 Goals Against. I don't think the puck bunnies will be chasing after him tonight.
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The World Championships of Hockey are slowly creeping upon an apathetic North American and enthusiastic European audience.
1. Mats Sundin has decreed that he will not grace Team Sweden with his regal presence at the tournament. Given that he hasn't played any pro hockey this year, it's probably a wise decision.
2. Glen Hanlon the current coach of the wretched Washington Capitals, has beennamed head coach of Team Belarus. I know Canadian coaches have coached non-Canadian teams in the past (especially Dave King), but the thought of Hanlon screaming at a bunch of guys who don't know a whole lot of English is somewhat amusing. Hanlon doesn't strike me as the type who really knows European hockey, so I don't expect this experiment to work too well.
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International Scouting Services (ISS) has released their Top 10 Draft rankings for March. They also have some good capsule notes on some other prospects, as well.
(Yes, we writers and agencies keep going as if there will be a draft)
But...Gilbert Brule #4 behind Benoit Pouliot? *Golbez shakes head*
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CZECHIA:
Litvinov 3 - Zlin 1 (Series tied 2-2)
If Zlin ends up losing this series, just blame me, OK? As soon as I jumped onto their bandwagon, they start having troubles...but give credit for Litvinov. These guys aren't your mother's 8th place team.
Vitkovice 3 - Sparta 2 (Vitkovice leads series 3-1)
Vaclav Varada was the MAN tonight as he potted a goal an assist for the very surprising Ostravan team, while Pavel Kubina went +2 with an assist. Better call Ripley, because I can't believe this is happening!
Jan Hlavac had one of Sparta's 2 goals, while Martin Havlat was, ONCE AGAIN, held pointless and finished -1.
SLOVAKIA:
Liptovsky Mikulas 4 - Zvolen 1 (Zvolen leads series 3-1)
Liptovsky Mikulas finally took advantage of the fact that the NHL collective of Orszagh-Handzus-Zednik has been asleep offensively in this series. Handzus did assist on the only Zvolen goal, while the other 2 didn't put up a point.
To their credit, the 3 combined for 17 shots on goal! LM Goalie Martin Falter obviously took his 'Sudes' tonight.
Slovan Bratislava 4 - Poprad 2 (Slovan leads series 3-1)
Rip Van Satan finally woke up from his 53-year sleep and netted a pair of goals for evil $lovan, putting them one game away from the expected series victory.
As my pal Joeri from Eurohockey.net pointed out to me, the Armenian national team lost 2 recent games by some awfully sad scores: 33-1 to South Africa...and then an 'improved' 23-1 loss to Ireland.
Poor Armenian goaltender Armen Lalayan was in net for all 23 Goals Against. I don't think the puck bunnies will be chasing after him tonight.
---
The World Championships of Hockey are slowly creeping upon an apathetic North American and enthusiastic European audience.
1. Mats Sundin has decreed that he will not grace Team Sweden with his regal presence at the tournament. Given that he hasn't played any pro hockey this year, it's probably a wise decision.
2. Glen Hanlon the current coach of the wretched Washington Capitals, has beennamed head coach of Team Belarus. I know Canadian coaches have coached non-Canadian teams in the past (especially Dave King), but the thought of Hanlon screaming at a bunch of guys who don't know a whole lot of English is somewhat amusing. Hanlon doesn't strike me as the type who really knows European hockey, so I don't expect this experiment to work too well.
---
International Scouting Services (ISS) has released their Top 10 Draft rankings for March. They also have some good capsule notes on some other prospects, as well.
(Yes, we writers and agencies keep going as if there will be a draft)
But...Gilbert Brule #4 behind Benoit Pouliot? *Golbez shakes head*
---
Extraleague Playoff Update
CZECHIA:
Litvinov 3 - Zlin 1 (Series tied 2-2)
If Zlin ends up losing this series, just blame me, OK? As soon as I jumped onto their bandwagon, they start having troubles...but give credit for Litvinov. These guys aren't your mother's 8th place team.
Vitkovice 3 - Sparta 2 (Vitkovice leads series 3-1)
Vaclav Varada was the MAN tonight as he potted a goal an assist for the very surprising Ostravan team, while Pavel Kubina went +2 with an assist. Better call Ripley, because I can't believe this is happening!
Jan Hlavac had one of Sparta's 2 goals, while Martin Havlat was, ONCE AGAIN, held pointless and finished -1.
SLOVAKIA:
Liptovsky Mikulas 4 - Zvolen 1 (Zvolen leads series 3-1)
Liptovsky Mikulas finally took advantage of the fact that the NHL collective of Orszagh-Handzus-Zednik has been asleep offensively in this series. Handzus did assist on the only Zvolen goal, while the other 2 didn't put up a point.
To their credit, the 3 combined for 17 shots on goal! LM Goalie Martin Falter obviously took his 'Sudes' tonight.
Slovan Bratislava 4 - Poprad 2 (Slovan leads series 3-1)
Rip Van Satan finally woke up from his 53-year sleep and netted a pair of goals for evil $lovan, putting them one game away from the expected series victory.
