For your viewing pleasure...

I'm quite tired, but I wanted to put something fresh up here for the kids to watch. Instead of getting my own material I thought I'd steal someone else's. Here's a video that made me giggle. It's completely overdone, way too Senators focused, and there's at least one spelling mistake (an unforgivable error), but screw it. It's catchy.



Thanks to jayanderin1 for posting it. Hey man, I think we'd get along.

Just pretend he hit an empty jersey, and everything will be ok.

Just so you know, we don't hate Mats Sundin at all. We're pretty big fans actually. He is a very classy guy who never complained about the constant in-and-out of old, used-to-be-pretty-good players as his supporting cast. He just quietly went about racking up season after season of solid points and all star appearances, until he finally gave up and respectfully let the leafs go screw themselves. Here is a little video I find funny, because it makes the Toronto Maple leafs look bad. I dunno, maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but I let out a giggle after I saw the whole thing.

World Junior Championship Preview

It is already the end of October, and one of the most exciting events in hockey is right around the corner. In less than 2 months, the IIHF World Junior (Under 20) Hockey Tournament will take place in the nation's capital, and team Canada will try for its record tying 5th straight gold medal, a record which Canada holds in their 1993-1997 run.

The annual tournament displays the world's best talent and has a history of being a "coming-out party" for many of the NHL stars of the future. Among those stars that have competed in this tournament since 1993 are Peter Forsberg, Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Marian Hossa, Henrik Lundqvist, Marc-Andre Fleury, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Carey Price, and Sid the Kid Crosby (Just to name a few).

In order for Canada to continue its domination at the world stage, a team of elite Canadian players is needed. In the last 16 tournaments, Canada has registered 9 gold medals, 4 silver, and 2 bronze. With the next 4 tournaments on North American soil (Ottawa 09, Regina/Saskatoon 2010, Buffalo 2011, Calgary/Edmonton 2012), Canada has an excellent opportunity to bring a total of 8 consecutive gold medals in front of Canadian fans.

Among these elite young players, you will probably see the following players sporting the red and white this year:

1. JOHN TAVARES - C OSHAWA GENERALS

Probably the safest bet to make the team this year, John Tavares is the most anticipated draft pick of 2009, definitely a lock for the #1 or #2 overall pick.

2. JORDAN EBERLE - C REGINA PATS

Our hometown hero is a 2008 first round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, and was sent back to his junior team of Regina after training camp for his development as a player. Expect Eberle to be one of the top 2 line forwards for the Canadian team this year.

3. COLTON TEUBERT - D REGINA PATS

A fellow teammate of Eberle, Tuebert is a big, powerful defenseman who is also a 2008 first round pick, chosen by the Los Angeles Kings. Teubert will be one of the key faces of team Canada's blue line this year.

If there is one thing that is not a lock, is the job for not only the backup goaltender, but also the starting goaltender. Last year, there were two clear choices for a number one goaltender in Jonathan Bernier, and the eventual top goaltender of the tournament, Steve Mason. This year, expect any of these top keepers from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL

Dustin Tokarski, Chet Pickard (WHL)

Jason Guy, Andrew Engelage (OHL)

Nicola Riopel (QMJHL)

The reason why I only have one goaltender listed for the QMJHL is because we are unlikely to see a goaltender from this league in the top 2 positions. If I had to pick a lock for one of these positions....

CHET PICKARD - Tri-City Americans

As our interview with former teammate Tanner Gillies suggests, Pickard has spent a great deal of time learning everything he could from one of the NHL's elite young keepers, Carey Price, when he played for the Americans. This young keeper may be the top goaltender in the CHL at the moment, and the Nashville Predators see this talent, having drafted him 18th overall in 2008.

And our "perhaps biased" pick for Pickard's backup, or maybe potentially the starter, is......

Saskatchewan's own...

DUSTIN TOKARSKI - Spokane Chiefs

This product of Watson, Saskatchewan is the biggest underdog in the league, at the same time as being one of the elite goaltenders in the league. It is amazing how much this promising young star has flown under the radar, considering his resume. He has won a Canadian Midget National Championship with the Prince Albert Mintos, and led the Spokane Chiefs to a Memorial Cup last season, winning the tournament MVP award in the process, and yet the Tampa Bay Lighthing were able to draft Tokarski in a "steal" pick in the 5th round.

We at the PrairiePuck would love to see a Pickard/Tokarski tandem as the goaltender core for this years Canadian Junior team.

On that note, we're out.

Until next time,

PP

Luke Schenn Update

We hate the leafs, but by golly do we love Luke Schenn. I've been reading some Maple leafs fan blogs (these fans DO exist, I can't believe it either), and there's been some nice things said about the Saskatoon, SK product. Namely:

"Finally, let me write about LUKE SCHENN, or THE BEAR as I like to refer to him as. People want to believe that he is only a cub, the fact remains, this guy is no where near his potential, that said, at his worst he is an effective, strong, punishing defender who will stand up for his teammates, its scary to think about what he will become, what is scarier is that we may see it as early as this season." -leafer80

"LUKE SCHENN = Delicious + Talented. Yes i have the hots for Luke Schenn." -alyssaa16
**It should be noted that after reading this article, I realized this girl is really not smart in any other way then her taste in young Saskatchewan talent. Sorry babe.**

This post comes fresh after I read the news that Ron "PutinColdCujotoEnsureaLoss" Wilson made an announcement that Luke Schenn will not be rejoining his alma mater Kelowna Rockets. Instead, he will be manning the blue line for the blue shirts for a long time (if leaf fans have their way) or until someone swoops in and makes him very, very happy by picking him up (hello my beloved Red Wings?). I know that is not going to happen, but I'll keep the dream anyway.

Keep up the good work Luke Schenn. We're rootin' for ya.