http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/blog.php fantasy hockey, hockey pools, fantasy hockey coach, pool guide, hockey pool, nhl, prospects, hockey en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:24:49 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/blog.php http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?188-Where-my-interest-in-the-AHL-came-from-before-and-during-this-season Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:25:15 GMT *NOTE:* I originally posted this on May 31, 2013 on my own blog called ELECTROSPORTS (http://www.electrosports.wordpress.com) but I wanted to share... NOTE: I originally posted this on May 31, 2013 on my own blog called ELECTROSPORTS but I wanted to share it on here since I don't do much blogging over here anymore. So I hope you all enjoy it.

Original Piece: I wasn’t doing this blog when the NHL was in it’s lockout, but I was writing for another site called Fantasy Hockey Coach and I pretty much covered the NHL and its eventual lockout at that point and not much else, and in all honesty it was because I felt a little restricted from what I could and couldn’t do on there, so obviously I started this up so I am not restricted here. And I don’t say that to bash the owners there because they run a great site and I’d never bad mouth those two guys because they gave me a platform to write on for a period of time when I was just starting out again and getting my feet wet after not having any experience with blogging for a long time. I mean, I spent from July 2012 to January 2013 writing on and off for them, so that’s a good six months of work I gave to them. And I still do a little bit there whenever I can but obviously with this being my current site I am more focused on this than my old blog on there. But if you want to check the site out please do so, it is a great site for fantasy hockey with some great guys on it covering that side of hockey.

But I open with that because during the NHL lock out I found a site that was streaming AHL games during the NHL lockout and I had the time to watch that league and it was a great product during that time frame, it was fast, typically some scoring, typically at least one fight in a regular season game, and hard hitting action. The NHL lock out might have taken the main hockey league I watch away from me, but it forced me to look for alternatives, and this is why I cover the AHL along with the NHL. If not for the NHL lock out, I doubt I would have bothered to cover the AHL playoffs as religiously as I have.

As far as why I am an AHL fan, I think part of it is the fact that I live in the state of Rhode Island, and I live really close to Providence, Rhode Island, so getting to an AHL game is very easy for me. And if I ever vacationed in Massachusetts or Connecticut there are 4 teams within driving distance, two in Mass. (Worcester and Springfield) and 2 teams in Connecticut (Hartford and Bridgeport) so getting to a game is relatively easy here in the Northeast part of the United States. Another appeal to me would have to be that the AHL is headquartered in Springfield, MA. So with so many teams and options available locally, it has made the AHL accessible to me and my family through the years, even living at my old house it wasn’t much of a hike.

So I will close this piece out like this, if you live in a city with an AHL team and want to know if it is worth the money, then let me sum it up like this. The AHL is a much better league than I gave it credit for because the NHL was always a better product and the go-to product since it was easily available on TV on national sports channels and its NHL Center Ice package is priced to compete, so when I had a chance to watch the AHL without looking at the NHL to compare it to, the AHL is doing a lot of things right and that is a big advantage to American hockey fans who want to see great hockey without having to pay NHL ticket prices.

Have you been to an AHL game? Were your experiences as enjoyable as mine? Sound off in the comments section.

Special Offer: To those who may not be too familiar with the American Hockey League and would like to see some action, the AHL is giving fans free access to its Calder Cup Finals. All you need to do is go to www.ahllive.com and click on the Calder Cup package on the bottom of the page and register, and during registration it will ask you for financial information, but at the top there is a promo code area, all you have to do is put in CALDER2013 and click the apply button and you should be able to register without putting in any credit card or debt card information. ]]> Blogger Gesterling http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?188-Where-my-interest-in-the-AHL-came-from-before-and-during-this-season http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?187-2013-Memorial-Cup-Review Mon, 27 May 2013 09:21:46 GMT Attachment 1439 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1439)Attachment 1440...


First of all, congratulations to the Halifax Mooseheads on winning their first Memorial Cup. This marks the third consecutive win for the QMJHL, following Shawinigan last year and Saint John in 2011. Also, congratulations must be given to the Portland Winterhawks on a fantastic season and for making the final game of the 2013 Memorial Cup a memorable one.



This year’s tournament, held in Saskatoon, was memorable for a number of reasons, not least of which was the showdown between pre-tournament consensus number one overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft, Seth Jones of the Winterhawks and the number two and three ranked prospects, Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin of Halifax. This match up did not disappoint in any way with Jones proving that all the hype is warranted, showing off a polished offensive game and big league skating ability. Although he could stand to play a little more physical and tighten up his defensive zone coverage, the fact he is only 18 years old should not be forgotten. There is plenty of time to work on that side of his game.




As for the Halifax wonder twins, it was a tale of two games for Drouin. With only one goal in the first meeting, Drouin must have been feeling the pressure, gripping the stick a little too tight to use the hockey lingo. Evidently he figured out how to deal with the national spotlight as he came back with a five assist performance in the championship game, tying a Memorial Cup record set by Dan Hodgson in 1985. While I personally feel he would benefit from another season in the “Q”, don’t be surprised if he makes it impossible, for whatever team drafts him, to send him back to the Mooseheads for another year of growing and seasoning.

And then there was Nathan MacKinnon. Ranked number two overall for the upcoming NHL draft, this was his chance to put some doubt in the minds of the scouts and most importantly, the decision makers for the Colorado Avalanche. He did just that. And then some. And then some more. Scoring three goals in the first meeting between the teams, he made the broadcasters and the people watching at home who haven’t gotten a chance to watch him play before, take notice. So what does a teenage superstar in the making do for an encore? How about another hat trick, in the championship game, against your friend and arguably biggest rival? Talk about a big game player. MacKinnon racked up 13 points in 4 games, over three points per game. The Avalanche brass does not have an easy decision to make now.

There were a number of other memorable moments from the clash between the top two rated teams in the CHL. Stellar goaltending from both Mac Carruth and Zachary Fucale with both goalies making huge saves at critical times. Standout defensive efforts from both teams led by captains Troy Rutkowski of the Winterhawks and Trey Lewis of the Mooseheads and offense being generated from the blue line by players like Penguins draft pick Derrick Pouliot and Sharks property Konrad Abeltshauser made this one of the most exciting title games in quite some time.



The rest of the tournament was not without players and plays that will live on. From London’s Max Domi’s incredible, between the legs pass to Bo Horvat for a goal to Saskatoon’s Dalton Thrower’s illegal (debateable) check to the head of Taylor Leier, this tournament featured a little bit of everything. Tournament all-stars include Fucale, Pouliot, Abeltshauser, Mackinnon along with Martin Frk of the Mooseheads and Ty Rattie of the Winterhawks. Horvat was named most sportsmanlike while Andrey Makarov of the Blades was named top goalie. MacKinnon was top scorer and MVP of the tournament.

This was a very successful tournament, although the amount of empty seats was a bit alarming, from top to bottom. All accounts say that it was first class all the way, with a bunch of fan interaction activities, former NHLer’s and junior stars on hand, especially Blades alumni, and most importantly, great hockey on the ice.



Finally, let’s keep in mind the main reason for the tournament. The Memorial Cup was dedicated in the honour of all of the men and women of the armed forces who have given their lives fighting for Canada. In hockey we use terms like war and battle. Players are called warriors and they do battle in the trenches. In actuality, they play a sport, the greatest sport in the world, but a sport none the less. Let’s take a minute to remember the people who really fought in the trenches, the real warriors. They would be proud of the way the Mooseheads and Winterhawks played for the trophy dedicated to them.

As always, I welcome your comments and invite you to join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?187-2013-Memorial-Cup-Review http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?185-NHL-Winter-Classic-is-the-NHL-going-to-hurt-it-if-it-expands-to-rapidly Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:21:28 GMT *Note:* I am sorry that it has been about 4 months since I have posted, I have been working on other projects and this took the back burner to those.... Note: I am sorry that it has been about 4 months since I have posted, I have been working on other projects and this took the back burner to those. I will try to post more often on here.

Blog:

There are rumors out there this morning that the NHL is looking into doing 6 outdoor games next season, 2 for the Rangers which would be against the Islanders and Devils in late January, on for the Kings in LA, one in Canada, and one on New Years Day in Detroit, Michigan.

And while most hockey fans love this event, there is such a thing as going too far with pushing a product, for example Apple and its iPhone's annual release or the annual release of video games such as Call of Duty.

So how can the NHL avoid overdoing it? Well for one, instead of pushing it to six, they should experiment with 2 in the US and one in Canada if they want to expand the spectacle. Not push it to six and risk the long term longevity of the event which has been a New Years Day staple since 2008 outside of the disgrace that happened this prior winter. I personally think the NHL should keep it to one event in the United States and one event in Canada that way it still feels special, them trying to over-do it.

One can only hope the NHL wises up and realizes what a gem it has, it has something that even a more popular sport like the NBA doesn't have, so it would be a shame to see it watered down because of over-exposure.
What do you think? Would the NHL be ruining the Winter Classic if they played 6 outdoor games in the 2013-2014 season? ]]> Blogger Gesterling http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?185-NHL-Winter-Classic-is-the-NHL-going-to-hurt-it-if-it-expands-to-rapidly http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?184-Time-to-change-the-Memorial-Cup-format Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:11:41 GMT Attachment 1423 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1423) Is this the time to switch up the Memorial Cup tournament...
Is this the time to switch up the Memorial Cup tournament format? Currently, the winners from each of the three leagues in the CHL (Quebec, Ontario and Western Leagues) all earn the right to play for junior hockey supremacy. The fourth team invited is the host team. This rotates from league to league on a yearly basis. Usually, the host team loads up on talent via trades to ensure themselves a competitive team for the tournament but lately there has been a disturbing trend with this format; the host team doesn’t win their league title. Or even make it that far. Last year, the host Shawinigan Cataractes lost in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs. This year, the host Saskatoon Blades lost in the first round of the WHL playoffs, not only lost, but were swept. This begs the question: why are we allowing an inferior team the chance to play for such a prestigious trophy?


Rotating the host through the three different leagues makes sense, in a fairness sort of way. Is it time to stop “being fair”, and time to start rewarding winning? As the host team this year, the Blades are automatically in which also means that two of the Portland Winterhawks (117 points), Edmonton Oil Kings (108 points) and Kelowna Rockets (108 points) will absolutely not be (of course all three teams could miss out on the league title but that seems unlikely). The Blades had 94 points this season which is a pretty good year, and we all know regular season success does not guarantee playoff wins but an all access pass to the championship tournament because you had the best pitch to the selection committee a year previous seems wrong as well.

One idea is to continue rotating the host through the three leagues but allow the two teams playing in that particular league final to participate for the Memorial Cup. Using last year’s Memorial Cup as an example, the Saint John Seadogs and the Rimouski Oceanic would have represented the QMJHL in the tournament held in Shawinigan. The obvious problem with this scenario is attendance but is it really that big a problem? Maybe in the big markets like Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton but not in the smaller towns that make the CHL what it is. With the eyes of the junior hockey world watching, Baie Comeau would sell out the 2,779 seats in the Centre Henry-Leonard. Likewise in 3,257 seat Yardmen Arena located in Belleville. These smaller venues, smaller towns, can use the revenue and spotlight brought in by the Memorial Cup tournament despite the hometown team possibly not playing in it.

Another idea is to allow the league that wins the Memorial Cup to host the tournament the following year. Since 1983, when the tournament switched to four teams instead of three, the WHL has a dominating lead in Memorial Cup victories with 15, compared to nine for the OHL and six for the QMJHL. However, in the past 10 years, the margin is much closer with the OHL holding four titles with the other two leagues tied with three wins each, making this idea much more intriguing due to the parity. This idea is also based on rewarding teams that win at the expense of “fairness”.


Whatever happens, be it a change to the format or status quo, the Memorial Cup tournament is one of the most exciting times of the hockey year. No matter where it is held coast to coast, big city or small town, get out and support junior hockey.

As always, I welcome your comments and invite you to join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?184-Time-to-change-the-Memorial-Cup-format http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?183-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-Sarnia-Sting Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:13:06 GMT Attachment 1419 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1419) In this edition of Three (Future) Star Selection, we’ll take a...

In this edition of Three (Future) Star Selection, we’ll take a look at the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Sting have taken a long road to get to where they are today. In fact, the franchise didn’t even start out in the OHL but rather was an original franchise of the QMJHL. That version of the team was called the Cornwall Royals and played in the QMJHL from 1969 until 1981 when they changed leagues and started skating in the OHL. They moved to Newmarket for the 1992 season and kept the team name “Royals”. Purchased by the Ciccarelli brothers in 1994 and moved to Sarnia, the Sting currently play out of the 4000+ seat RBC Center.

A virtual lock to make the playoffs every year (15 out of 19), the Sting have yet to find success in those playoffs with their best finish coming in 2007-08, when they made it to the conference semi-finals.

The Sting have had no trouble producing NHL caliber talent having sent 37 players to the big leagues. Among the notable names are Dan Carcillo, NHL hits leader Matt Martin, Calder trophy candidate Alex Galchenyuk, and first overall picks Nail Yakupov and Steven Stamkos.


Third Star: Charles Sarault (20) – Sarnia Sting – Center - @sarault12

Talk about playing your way into a contract. Sarault picked a great time to have a career year, currently leading the OHL in points with 102 and assists with 80. A slick, skilled center, Sarault has a knack for putting the puck on the tape of his line mates sticks in scoring positions. Featuring a deceptive wrist shot, Sarault can find the back of the net as well, illustrated by back to back 20 goal seasons. The Sting captain will be looking to lead his team deep into the playoffs.

Fantasy Future - one out of three stars

Second Star: Reid Boucher (19) – Sarnia Sting – Winger

Goals anyone? Reid Boucher knows how to score goals, lots and lots of goals. Playing on a team who’s history boasts OHL scoring leaders (Aaron Brand 1995-96 and Peter Sarno 1998-99) and a two time Rocket Richard trophy winner (Stamkos 2009-10 and 2011-12), Boucher has outperformed them all when it comes to putting the puck in the net. With 60 goals in 63 games so far this year, the New Jersey Devils draft pick has secured his spot in the Sting record books. Armed with a lightning quick release and deadly accurate shot, Boucher has certainly polished his offensive game this year but that’s not all. While he will never contend for any defensive awards, Boucher has worked hard to change that part of his game, with success. His rating of +14 this year is 33 points higher than it was last year (.-19). Showing the will and determination to make himself a more complete player, Boucher could be exactly what the goal starved Devils need.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38620

Fantasy Future – two out of three stars


First Star: Anthony DeAngelo (17) – Sarnia Sting – Defense - @TonyDee07

A raw talent on the backend, DeAngelo has the tools to go all the way to the NHL. An effortless skater with great offensive instincts, he also doesn’t mind the dirty part of the game, with four fighting majors to his credit. A true diamond in the rough, with the right coaching, DeAngelo can become a game changer for some lucky NHL team. Expect some seasoning in the minors to start his career.

Fantasy Future – one out of three stars

The question that surrounds the Sting is a simple one. When will they find playoff success? The recipe is a simple one, success in hockey starts at the top and trickles down throughout the organization. The Sting have top notch ownership, a general manager and coach who has built a championship team before and top end talent on the ice. Only time will tell if the Sting make a deep run at their first OHL championship but this franchise is due and has the necessary parts. Don’t bet against them.

As always, I invite your comments and opinions and thank you for taking the time to read Three (Future) Star Selection. Join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor


***UPDATE***

Charles Sarault just signed an entry level contract with the Anaheim Ducks ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?183-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-Sarnia-Sting http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?182-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-Portland-Winterhawks Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:18:50 GMT Attachment 1406 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1406)In this edition of Three (Future) Star selection we’ll take a... In this edition of Three (Future) Star selection we’ll take a look at the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks.

In existence since the 1976-1977 season, the Winterhawks have come a long way from humble beginnings, that being a transfer franchise who couldn’t afford new uniforms in their first year. The uniforms they eventually wore were a used set from the Chicago Blackhawks. Early pictures feature the Blackhawks telltale “C” on the shoulders, later to be changed to a “P”.

While the team may have lacked flashy uniforms, their play on the ice certainly didn’t suffer, setting a standard for future Wintehawk teams. In fact, since their inception, the Winterhawks have missed the WHL playoffs only seven times, the first time being the 1987-1988 season. Winners of two Presidents trophies, the Winterhawks have climbed the mountain twice, winning the Memorial Cup in 1982-1983 and again in 1997-1998. Currently ranked as the top team in the CHL, the Winterhawks are poised to take a run at Memorial Cup number three.

And talk about a pipeline to the NHL. No less than 103 Winterhawk alumni have skated in the NHL and they have produced 27 first round picks. Notable names include current NHLer’s Marian Hossa, Brendan Morrow, retried brothers Wayne and Dave Babych, and Hall of Fame members Mark Messier and Cam Neely.

Third Star: Mac Carruth (20) – Portland Winterhawks – Goalie - @maccarruth31
Drafted and signed by the Chicago Blackhawks, if nothing else, at least Carruth will be used to the jersey. The Winterhawks all time leader in wins (115) and shutouts (11), Carruth clearly knows how to stop the puck, using all of his six foot three inch frame to his advantage. Expect some seasoning in the AHL before watching him in the big show.

Fantasy Value- two out of three stars

Second Star: Ty Rattie (20) – Portland Winterhawks – Winger - @TyRattie8
Selected 32nd overall by the St Louis Blues in 2011, Rattie raised his game to another level at this year’s World Junior championships. Since his return from the tournament, Rattie has been on a torrid scoring pace, sitting with 94 points in 54 games. An offensive whiz, the most impressive stat is a whopping plus 52, proving he knows how to play both sides of the puck.

Fantasy Value – three out of three stars

First Star: Seth Jones (18) – Portland Winterhawks – Defenseman - @seth_jones3
The potential first overall pick in this year’s draft, Jones has gotten stronger as the season has gone on. Dangerous in all situations, Jones has just begun to scratch the surface of his talent. Listed at six foot four and 206 pounds, he makes good decisions on offence, has a canon for a shot and great hockey vision. Defensively, while still prone to lapses in zone coverage, Jones covers a lot of ice with his large frame and has a genuine mean streak on the ice. 47 points in 53 games are great numbers for a WHL rookie defenseman.

Fantasy Value – three out of three stars

Led by these three players, this may be the best Winterhawk team ever. However, this lineup is amazing from top to bottom. The Winterhawks boast two goaltenders with at least 20 wins (Carruth and Brendan Burke), a defensive corp. that includes four players with 35 points or more (Tyler Wotherspoon, Troy Rutkowski, Derrick Pouliot and Jones), and a forward group that includes three of the top four scorers in the WHL this season (Brendan Leipsic 110 points, Nicolas Petan 106 points and Rattie 94 points). Again, the most telling stat is plus/minus. The Winterhawks have 6 players in the top 10 and eight in the top 15 in that category with numbers ranging from plus 36 to an amazing plus 64. Look out all other teams in the CHL, the Winterhawks are for real.

As always, I invite your comments and opinions and thank you for taking the time to read Three (Future) Star Selection. Join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?182-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-Portland-Winterhawks http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?181-No-love-for-the-Shootout Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:24:03 GMT Attachment 1396 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1396) Imagine a tie baseball game after 11 innings. Clearly the only...
Imagine a tie baseball game after 11 innings. Clearly the only way to settle this boring affair after investing four hours of your life is a homerun hitting contest.

The Spurs and the Lakers tied at 114 each after overtime. Clear the court, its slam dunk contest time.

Absurd right? Ridiculous. Foolish. No way would it ever happen. Why then, does the NHL insist on ending games with a shootout? Why not mix it up a little and next year we can decide a game with a puck relay or maybe a fastest skater competition? Defensive defensemen and checking forwards need not apply.

People who are fans of the shootout usually point to the fact “no one ever leaves the rink during a shootout”. Well no, no one ever does. They want to see who wins. Those same people also wouldn’t leave if you had a second overtime period, played three on three for example.

The penalty shot is the most exciting play in hockey is another reason usually offered up. No argument here. The difference between a penalty shot and the shootout is becoming more and more evident all the time. Simply put, the players don’t take it seriously. Martin St Louis would never try skating backwards towards the goal on a penalty shot. P.M. Bouchard will not try a spin-o-rama on a penalty shot. A penalty shot counts. A penalty shot is real. You get statistical credit for a penalty shot goal. Bonus dollars are sometimes on the line. The penalty shot is taken seriously.

A shootout goal doesn’t mean anything. Don’t get me wrong, some of the most creative, impressive goals ever scored have been scored during the shootout. It’s a chance to show off your individual skill set. That is, if you are lucky enough to be chosen to participate and that is main reason I hate the shootout.

Hockey is a team game. The shootout removes the team aspect from deciding a game. In a recent game, Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks played 29 minutes and 28 seconds versus the Vancouver Canucks, arguably their biggest rival. Keith’s stat line includes one assist, plus one, three shots, one hit, one block, three takeaways all spread out over 31 shifts. The Stanley Cup winning, Olympic gold medal winning, Norris trophy winning defenseman plays an integral role every night the Blackhawks play. A fun fact about this award winning defenseman: he has never been called on to participate in a shootout. EVER. Keith has never had a chance to influence the Blackhawks chances of winning a regular season game that has gone longer than 65 minutes.

The numbers do not lie. Here are some of the more interesting ones:

47 of 431 players to have attempted a shootout have a 50% or better average. Of those 47, only 18 have attempted three shots or more.

Ilya Kovalchuk, James Neal, Rick Nash, Evgeni Malkin, Anze Kopitar, Claude Giroux, Jordan Eberle, Alexander Ovechkin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Martin St Louis, Marian Gaborik, and Steven Stamkos have all scored on less than 40% of their attempts. No one will ever be able to convince me that this group of players do not have the talent to raise those numbers. If they took it seriously.

The most telling number of all: 0. the number of shootout attempts made by the greatest defenseman and arguably the greatest player of a generation: Nicklas Lidstrom. Let me say that again. Since the 2005-2006 season, the first season to use the shootout, Nicklas Lidstrom attempted no shootouts at all. When you take a superstar talent like this, and plant him on the bench to watch the outcome of a game, it’s time to re-examine whether or not the shootout experiment is working.

Thanks for taking the time to read this shootout rant. I welcome your comments and opinions and invite you to join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor. ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?181-No-love-for-the-Shootout http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?180-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-Quebec-Remparts Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:36:51 GMT Attachment 1391 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1391)In this edition of Three (Future) Star Selection, we’ll look at... In this edition of Three (Future) Star Selection, we’ll look at the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. Known as one of the most popular franchises in the CHL, the Remparts consistently ice a talented team and have produced notable, current NHL players such as current Simon Gagne, Antoine Vermette and Mike Riberio along with Hall of Fame members Michel Goulet and Guy Lafleur. Playing in front of crowds in excess of 11,000 on a regular basis, the Remparts are also a major draw on the road. The fact that they have one of the most recognisable personalities in all of hockey as their coach, Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, doesn’t hurt. The Remparts have climbed the mountain twice in their history, winning the Memorial Cup in 1971 and again in 2006.



Third Star: Logan Shaw (20) - Quebec Remparts – Winger - @loganshaw11

A big, strong winger, Shaw has the major league size and skating ability that teams look for. Drafted by the Panthers 76th overall in 2011, Shaw has future power forward written all over him and will fit in nicely with a young Panthers team. Expect a few years of seasoning in the AHL.

Fantasy Value- one out of three stars


Second Star: Francois Brassard (19) – Quebec Remparts – Goalie - @fbrass31

Selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft by the Ottawa Senators, Brassard is a project but worth the time. Never one to unravel during the game, Brassard relies on his instincts, which are top notch. Facing a tough path to the NHL because the Senators are the deepest team in the NHL at his position, Brassard will hone his skills in the minors which will only benefit him in the long run.

Fantasy Value- one out of three stars


First Star: Adam Erne (17) – Quebec Remparts – Winger - @adamerne73

Ranked as the 15th best overall prospect for the 2013 draft by the ISS, Erne is going to solve some team’s problems for a top six power forward. A straight line player, what Erne lacks in flash, he more than makes up for in effective simplicity. Erne is above average in his skating and shooting, and well above average with his smart, physical play. Averaging more than a point per game in his draft year, he is proving that he can handle the pressure of being mentioned as a potential first round pick.

Fantasy Value- two out of three stars


Led by these three players, along with captain Martin Lefebvre and 2013 draft prospect Anthony Duclair, look for the Remparts to make a deep run in the QMJHL playoffs and challenge for the Presidents Cup.

Next up for Three (Future) Star Selection will be the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. See you next time.

Join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?180-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-Quebec-Remparts http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?179-Early-impressions-from-the-NHL Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:08:59 GMT Greetings from a very cold Rhode Island (12° F, and -11° C for my friends in Canada reading this blog). I wanted to drop in and do a blog about the... Greetings from a very cold Rhode Island (12° F, and -11° C for my friends in Canada reading this blog). I wanted to drop in and do a blog about the early season surprises in both a good and bad way.

First off we should discuss teams that are struggling badly out of the gate. These teams include the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and the most shocking of them all is the New York Rangers (though some might say the Vancouver Canucks are the most shocking, to each his own there).

Let's start with the Flyers, they are struggling badly. Why? Well I think it has a lot to do with the quality of their opponents, consider this, their opponents have been Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and New Jersey. Throw in the injuries and the inconsistent Ilya Brysgalov and you have a heck of a mess. And now with the recent mess with Brayden Schenn getting suspended things are going to be a little tougher when the return to the ice on Thursday in their home opener against the Rangers.

Speaking of the Rangers, they are also in a little trouble going 0-2 in their first two tilts, Saturday at Boston and Sunday in their home opener against the surging Penguins. The Rangers are not getting the goaltending they need from Henrik Lundquist and their offense has only mustered up 4 goals. If Lundquist is going to play like this then the Rangers need their offense to start scoring goals.

The next team to look into is the Calgary Flames, they have started out 0-2 with losses to San Jose and Anaheim on Sunday and Monday. They got thoroughly dominated by the Sharks but they played an close 5-4 game against the Ducks. They have a chance for their first win against the also winless Vancouver Canucks Wednesday night.

That leads me perfectly to the Canucks, they are 0-1-1 this season with losses to Anaheim 7-3, and a shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks seemed sluggish against the Ducks but played well against the Oilers and earned a point. As I stated above their next game is against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday Night.

Now to the Southeast division, both the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals are 0-2 to start the season. Carolina is 0-2 with losses to Florida and Tampa Bay, their next game is a home and home against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile Washington has losses to Tampa Bay and Winnipeg and they play Montreal at home on Thursday night and at New Jersey on Friday. I would write more on these teams but I have not seen much of them in action this season limiting me on what I can write for these teams.

The last of the struggling teams is Detroit. The Red Wings got shellacked 6-0 to open their season against the St. Louis Blues. The Red Wings then followed that with a shootout win over Columbus on Monday before falling to Dallas on Tuesday night 2-1. The Red Wings scare me from how bad they look this season. Certainly it is only three games into the season, but their only win came in a nail biter against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Red Wings have a chance to bounce back in their upcoming games against Minnesota on Friday and Chicago at the United Center on Sunday.

(No disrespect to Columbus, they have had a good start to their season and that is great for the fanbase, but no one expected much from them. However I said to coach Guthe a little while ago that Columbus might benefit from a shortened season. It all depends on how the new pieces fit into the system they run.)

Impressive starts come from San Jose, Chicago, Boston, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, St. Louis and Minnesota; first off let's start in the Northeast Division.

Ottawa has started off 2-0 this season with wins over Winnipeg and Florida outscoring their opponents 8-1 in the process. If you ask me if you score 4 goals per game and allow just 0.50 you will be in good shape. One thing that has impressed me is the play of Craig Anderson who has posted a 0.50 GAA and a .983 Saves% and another player is Kyle Turris who has 3 goals in the Senators first two games. Ottawa has games upcoming against Florida and Tampa Bay on Thursday and Friday before playing another division outside of the Southeast on Sunday when they play Pittsburgh.

Boston has also jumped off to a 2-0 start this year beating the New York Rangers on Saturday 3-1 and winning 2-1 in a shootout on Monday versus Winnipeg. The Bruins have gotten superb goaltending from new starter Tuukka Rask who has posted a 0.96 GAA and a .958 Saves%. The Bruins play the Rangers on Wednesday night and the Islanders on Friday night.

Pittsburgh has impressed with wins over the Flyers and Rangers in back to back days. Neither of those games can or will be considered easy for the Penguins. And they have done it in impressive fashion. Malkin has 4 assists, Neal has 3 goals, and both goalies have 1 win. The Penguins next play on Wednesday against Toronto in their home opener.

The last of the Eastern teams is the somewhat shocking Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning went from playing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011 to a miserable year in 2012. This year they are 2-1-0 with wins over Washington and Carolina, while having a let down on Monday against the Islanders. The key to their success has been Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Cory Conacher all having 5 points each with Vincent Lecavalier adding 4 points and decent goaltending from Garon and Lindback. Tampa next plays Ottawa on Friday.

Now onto the West, we start with Anaheim because they are a surprising 2-0 with wins over Vancouver and Calgary, Saku Koivu and Daniel Winnik each have 5 points which includes 4 goals for Winnik, with Getzlaf and Selenne with 4 points each. Anaheim dominated Vancouver 7-3 in their opener on Saturday as I mentioned and their next game is their home opener against the Canucks, I know Vancouver will want some revenge.

Another Pacific division team doing great is San Jose, they are 2-0 with wins over Calgary on Sunday and Edmonton on Tuesday. In the game on Tuesday they scored 6 first period goals on Dubynk and the Oilers including 3 on the power play, Edmonton's only first period goal was a power play tally. The leading scorers for San Jose are Marleau, Thornton and Couture with 5 points each. The Sharks home opener is Thursday against the Coyotes.

Onto the Central and you have to look at Chicago, they are 3-0-0 to start the season. They have beat LA, Phoenix, and St. Louis as the Blackhawks are rolling. Lead by offensive leaders of Kane and Hossa who have 5 points each. Corey Crawford has been good was well allowing just four goals in two games.

The next team is the St. Louis Blues, they are 2-1-0, with wins over Detroit and Nashville with their only loss as I mentioned above is to Chicago. The success has come from the newcomer Vladimir Tarasenko who has 5 points including 3 goals including a 2 goal game against the Red Wings. Also of note Kevin Shattenkirk has 5 assists. Their next game is at home against Nashville on Thursday.

And lastly of the teams off to a hot start is Minnesota. After spending almost $200M US dollars on Independence Day in the US on Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. Parise is tied for the team lead for points with 4 including 3 assists, the other player with 4 points is Dany Heatley who has 3 goals himself. The offense has been good and the goaltending duo of Josh Harding and Nick Backstrom is doing a lot of good things allowing just 5 goals. Minnesota has games against Detroit and St. Louis on Friday and Sunday respectively.

That is the end of this list. What do you think will happen with the struggling teams? And can hot teams like Tampa and Anaheim keep things up? ]]> Blogger Gesterling http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?179-Early-impressions-from-the-NHL http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?178-Weekend-Wrap-Up-for-January-19th-and-20th Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:09:38 GMT In case you haven't heard the NHL is officially underway with a flurry of meaningful games for the next 14 weeks and 1 day (99 days). Over the weekend a few intriguing match ups took place including the Rangers going to Boston and playing the Bruins, this was after an afternoon tilt between the Penguins and Flyers in Philadelphia on the opening day that ended with a Ducks 7-3 win over Vancouver who is surprisingly 0-2 to start that season.

I took away a lot from the opening weekend but I will give you the most important ones:

• Big teams are off to 0-2 starts including both the Rangers, Canucks (though one was in a shootout), and Flyers.
• Henrik Lundqvist has a Goals Against Average of over 5. Lundqvist is far from the only goalie who has struggled, but he is most notable to this point.
• St Louis made Detroit look real bad, the main concern for me is will they bounce back? They looked horrible in a 6-0 rout on Saturday night against the Blues.
• Speaking of the Blues, they look primed for another good season if the opener is any indication. Vladimir Tarasenko looked amazing in his first game in the NHL. The Blues I feel have a legitimate shot of winning the Central division again.
• Pittsburgh is off to a hot start, winning both of their games against the Flyers on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday. Along with Pittsburgh Chicago is also perfect at 2-0.
• Montreal is 0-1 but the most concerning part for them has to be the absence of PK Subban who is holding out for a new contract. The Canadiens lost to Toronto on Saturday night 2-1.

That is a list of the notable stories from the NHL in my eyes from this past weekend. What was yours? Sound off in the comments. ]]> Blogger Gesterling http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?178-Weekend-Wrap-Up-for-January-19th-and-20th http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?177-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-London-Knights Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:30:14 GMT Attachment 1303 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1303)This week we’ll take a look at the defending OHL champion London... This week we’ll take a look at the defending OHL champion London Knights. Granted a franchise in 1965, the London Nationals changed their name to Knights in 1968. Normally a very successful team (the team has made the OHL playoffs every year since 2000, winning the OHL title last year and the Memorial Cup in 2005 and also had a 24 game winning streak earlier this season) the Knights hold the dubious distinction of having the single worst season in CHL history. In the 1995-96 season, the Knights won a grand total of three (not a typo) games, finishing the season with 60 losses and three ties in 66 games. The Knights have a long list of players that have gone on to become superstars in the NHL including 21 first round selections highlighted by five number one overall selections (Rick Green ’76, Rob Ramage ’79, Rick Nash ’02, Patrick Kane ’07, and John Tavares ’09)



Third star: Scott Harrington (19) - London Knights- Defense

A two time member of Canada’s under 20 junior team, Harrington is a coach’s dream on the ice. Positionally and fundamentally sound, he is the type of defenseman that every team tries to acquire at the trade deadline. Don’t expect lots of goals and assists from the Penguins draft choice, but if your fantasy league counts hits, blocks and plus-minus among its categories, Harrington will have value. Expect a solid NHL career.

Fantasy Value – one out of three stars

Second Star: Seth Griffith (20) - London Knights- Winger

Offensively gifted with the ability to make his line mates better, Griffith currently leads the OHL in scoring with 72 points in 46 games. Drafted by the Bruins in 2012 (fifth round, 131st overall), when Griffith makes the jump to the NHL, look for him to play a role on the teams third line where he can bring some offense to go along with his tenacity and hockey sense.

Fantasy Value- one out of three stars

First Star: Max Domi (17) – London Knights – Center

A skilled pivot with hockey bloodlines, Domi makes an interesting case for the draft in 2013. With 60 points in 43 games, the offensive talent is there. The more telling stat is that he is plus 25, sitting second on the team in that category. The quickest way to impress scouts and your potential future bosses is to play the game at both ends and Domi clearly has this figured out. As far as comparing him to his father, Tie, don’t expect him to earn his way to the NHL the same way his dad did. With just 43 minutes in penalties, the younger Domi has figured out he is more effective on the ice rather than off it.

Fantasy Value – two out of three stars

The London Knights are one of the premier franchises in the CHL. Owned and run by Mark and Dale Hunter, they sit first in the OHL and third in the CHL. Another trip to the memorial cup is well within their reach.

Thanks for taking the time to read Three (Future) Start Selection. Join us next time when we take a look at QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts.

Join me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?177-Three-(Future)-Star-Selection-London-Knights http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?176-Free-Fantasy-Hockey-Pool-Guide Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:08:43 GMT We here at Fantasy Hockey Coach are very excited that the NHL lockout is over, which means fantasy hockey is back. Every year we produce a Hockey... We here at Fantasy Hockey Coach are very excited that the NHL lockout is over, which means fantasy hockey is back. Every year we produce a Hockey Pool Guide that is call the Fantasy Hockey Pool Playbook.

Our site here is a hobby for all of our writers as we all have other jobs and we write for the FHC when we can because we love fantasy hockey and enjoy writing about it.

Due to time constraints we are unable to update the 2012-13 FHC Hockey Pool Playbook and therefore would like to offer it for free along with the updated predicted stats for a 48-game schedule. We realize that most hockey pool drafts are completed but we believe that there is still great info in our pool guide that can help you throughout the upcoming season.

Click here for the 2012-13 FHC Playbook and click here for the Shortened Season Predicted Stats.

For anyone who purchased the 2012-13 FHC Playbook please email us at manager@fantasyhockeycoach.com with a copy of your paypal receipt and you will receive the 2013-14 FHC Playbook for free (August 2013).

If you have any fantasy hockey related questions be sure to get on our messageboards and ask away.

Be sure to check out our 2012 FHC Prospects guide, which can be purchased here.

Good luck this upcoming season.
]]> Aaron Brouwer http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?176-Free-Fantasy-Hockey-Pool-Guide http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?175-2013-Breakout-Candidates Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:06:32 GMT *Forwards* Jordan Staal- Hurricanes- Attachment 1272 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1272)reunited with his brother...
Forwards

Jordan Staal- Hurricanes- reunited with his brother Eric in Carolina, Stall will finally get to play a top six role on a full time basis. You can expect a jump from his career average of .58 points per game to somewhere around .9 points per game. Also, as anyone with a brother or sister will attest to, never discount the power of sibling rivalry.

Kyle Turris- Senators- having been granted a trade from Phoenix, where he clearly wasn't happy, Turris is primed for a big year in the nations capital. At 23, his best years are still ahead of him and playing between Swedish stars Daniel Alfreddsson and Jakob Silfverberg is a great jumpoff point. Look for 30-35 points in this shortened season.

Cody Hodgson- Sabres- full time, number one center duties will automatically increase your numbers. Combine that with new linemates, Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville, and the sky is the limit. Ultra-talented and away from the day to day pressure of a big hockey market like Vancouver, Hodgson will have his best season yet. 35 points is likely.

Defensemen

Justin Schultz- Oilers- his pro stats are amazing already with 48 points in 34 games in the AHL. A slick, skilled rearguard, Schultz has the incredible ability to get his shot through traffic and on the net as evidenced by his 18 goals this season so far. Temper expectations as he adjusts to life in the NHL, but with the talent this Oiler team has assembled, half a point per game isn't out of the question.

Victor Hedman- Lightning- big, strong, smart and talented, Hedman is the total package on defense and eastern conference teams should take note, he's starting to figure out the offensive side of the game. With the offensive clout of Stamkos, Purcell,Lecavalier and St. Louis, Hedman has increased his points per game average every year so expect another jump to around half a point per game.

Goalie

Corey Crawford- Blackhawks- this is the year for Crawford to stake his claim as the number one goalie in Chicago. At 27 years old, Crawford has the maturity and with two full seasons under his belt, the experience, to take that starters job and leave no doubt he's ready to lead the 'Hawks back into contention. A deep playoff run is a must to silence his critics and the short season is the perfect time to do it. ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?175-2013-Breakout-Candidates http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?174-2013-NHL-Draft-Overhyped Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:59:25 GMT For the last few months (and even longer in some cases), so many have been pouring praises on the 2013 NHL Entry Draft class. In summary, the "hype" revolves around the first round's apparent depth of talent at multiple positions and styles as well as some "once-in-a-generation" type of talents. Much of the hockey world is focused on how these young hockey talents have fared thus far following the conclusion of round robin play at the 2013 IIHF under-20 World Junior Tournament.

In any assessment of any newly draft eligible player in the U-20 tournament it is important to remember that most of these players competing are a year or two past this stage in their development. Especially on the top teams most of them have only seldom played together at best, making styles, systems, and chemistry a chore sometimes. Additionally some do not fit the overall their country's playing style, which can be for a variety of factors like the increasingly common journey to the CHL for some European players while others play domestically. Also certain nations have differing amounts of depth on their rosters, which will position some players in roles they are not ready for or unaccustomed to playing.

Given all the factors, here is a look at some possibly demythologizing analysis of these top prospects after the Canadian victory over Russia concluded pool play.

1) Nathan MacKinnon- Canada

MacKinnon hails from the same hometown as Sidney Crosby, which is frequently mentioned along with the fact that even though they train together that they are different types of elite "can't miss" type players. MacKinnon has fabulous skating, which he has demonstrated in the tournament if you look for it carefully. He is explosive with gears few have but MacKinnon also has a smooth elusiveness that makes him an extra special talent with stickhandling skills that can keep up with his blistering speed.

Noted to have more of an edge to his game along with a great knack to accumulate points like he usually does with the QMJHL powerhouse Halifax Mooseheads, MacKinnon is certainly in a very different role with Team Canada. Through the first four games of the tournament, while playing few minutes on Canada's lower lines, MacKinnon has one assist.

Many will unfairly just look at the statistics and compare him to Crosby's quite respectable world junior results from the 2004 and 2005 tournaments. In both trips to the under-20s, Crosby had 14 points in 12 games. The more relevant aspect is not to arbitrarily compare him to Crosby, despite their commonalities but to analyze MacKinnon's play on its own.

His two undisciplined penalties in the round robin finale could have really costed Canada and should at least make some question if his edge could be a liability for awhile when adjusting to NHL play. It is also inadvisable to make too many wider assumptions about MacKinnon's true upside and likelihood to reach it because of the more minor role that he has been playing in for his country. However compared to countryman and Halifax teammate, Jonathan Drouin's four points and plus-five +/- rating, MacKinnon has certainly been less impressive.

2) Seth Jones- USA

Another great story comes with top prospect Seth Jones of the United States. The son of a former-NBA veteran and assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets, Seth Jones has a great package of skills. A defender with good skating and size, Jones has three points during Team USA's first four games. However his three points and plus-three rating are mostly the byproduct of the Americans' two blowouts. Jones had two points in their opener against Germany, which ended in as an 8-0 U.S. win and the other point came in their 9-3 victory over Slovakia.

At times in the tournament Jones has been found frequently trying to do too much, becoming predictable, and generally struggling with the stronger teams in the tournament. Along with Winnipeg Jets 2012 first round selection, Jacob Trouba the majority of the American defense can appropriately be characterized as a group of high flying riverboat gamblers, which alternate between being very effective in both ends or extremely costly.

Some of Jones' issues against Canada and Russia could be characterized as careless. Occasionally the problems for Jones occurred under forechecking pressure, but the more alarming part is that many of them were largely examples of unforced errors where the WHL's Portland Winterhawk regular got carried away trying to do something inadvisable.

There is no doubt that Jones possesses an impressive range and quality of skills that make him an intriguing prospect. However his struggles to preform against the better competition, while having a big role for Team USA has been a bit of a disappointment. At least Jones and his teammates mustered up a dominant performance against the Slovakians to give them more chances to prove themselves in the elimination rounds against stronger opponents.

3) Aleksander Barkov- Finland

Another highly thought of forward, Sasha Barkov has three points for Finland as they head into the relegation round following a comeback that fell short against Sweden on the last day of action in Group A. A Finnish forward of Russian descent, Barkov has tons of raw upside both in hockey skills and from his impressive 6'3'' frame. During the 2012-13 SM-liiga season, the 17-year-old has produced a very solid 28 points in 32 games for Tappara.

In 12 shots on net for Finland, Barkov has come up empty. He has contributed three assists thus far and has competed hard alongside his teammates, who collectively also manage to add a dramatic flair to their games through massive momentum swings. As Finland comes into the relegation round as favorites to crush the lesser competition, Barkov has had a decent showing but should really shine given the added experience during these four games.

4) Valeri Nichushkin- Russia

Before taking an ill-advised and costly major penalty during the game against Canada on New Year's Eve, the top Russian for the 2013 NHL Draft was having a pretty quiet tournament. He had the primary assist on Vladimir Tkachyov's game-winner against the United States in a crucial Group B game.

Similar to MacKinnon, not in talent but in situation on his country's team, Nichushkin has had a slightly more important role for Russia. He is only considered a smaller level scorer for Russia, compared to the likes of top talents like Nail Yakupov, Nikita Kucherov, and Mikhail Grigorenko, but a scoring role nonetheless. However also like MacKinnon he took a bad penalty in their head-to-head matchup but unfortunately in his case, Canada scored twice off of his five minute major infraction.

Long term, Nichushkin is still relatively an uncertain and unknown commodity. He certainly has plenty of talent and upside. However more assurances to relieve doubts about his future intentions, known as the "Russian question" also need to be addressed as well as more analysis off of a larger sample of his on-ice performances.

Next up: Positive WJC performances from 2013 draft eligible prospects ]]> Assistant Coach Guthe http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?174-2013-NHL-Draft-Overhyped http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?173-Team-Canada-2-0 Wed, 26 Dec 2012 03:43:23 GMT Attachment 1268 (http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1268) On the eve of the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship, and...



On the eve of the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship, and with some questions popping up about the Canadian roster, let’s take a look at the player’s team Canada left behind. Let’s start by saying, this is not an indictment on the team hockey Canada chose to send to the World Junior championship this year, rather, it is a statement that many Canadians feel deep down; we could send two teams to any tournament and wind up playing each other in the finals. For a nation who doesn’t consider silver as success, any time Canada selects a best of team, there will be players that you think should have been selected and players you can’t believe made the team. Here’s a look at what could have been.


Goal

Laurent Brossoit- Edmonton
Zachary Fucale- Halifax
Francois Brassard- Quebec


Defense

Matt Dumba- Red Deer
Frank Corrado- Sudbury
Matt Finn- Guelph
Adam Pelech- Erie
Derrick Pouliot- Portland
Ryan Pulock- Brandon
Nikolas Brouillard- Drummondville


Forwards


Mark McNeill- Prince Albert (has been called up to take the spot of the injured Charles Hudon but makes the list as he was not part of the original selection)
Hunter Shinkaruk- Medicine Hat
Michael St. Croix- Edmonton
Brendan Leipsic- Portland
Andreas Athanasiou- Barrie
Seth Griffith- London
Daniel Catenacci- Owen Sound
Tom Wilson- Plymouth
Matt Puempel- Kitchener
Jean-Sebastian Dea- Rouyn-Noranda
Anthony Mantha- Val-d’Or
Francis Beauvillier- Rimouski
Raphael Bussieres- Baie-Comeau

While this roster lacks the big name, star power associated with the “A” teams Canada sends to these tournaments, consider these stats at the time this article was written:
Team Canada goalie wins: 44 Team Canada 2.0 goalie wins: 52
Team Canada defensemen points: 163 Team Canada 2.0 defensemen points: 178
Team Canada forward points: 596 Team Canada 2.0 forward points: 553

As you can see, the teams aren’t that far apart offensively and the goaltending is at least equal or arguably better. Secondary stats such as plus/minus, goals-against-average and save percentage are overwhelmingly on the side of team Canada.

Despite injuries to Hudon and Jonathan Drouin and the three game suspension handed out to Boone Jenner, when the puck drops on December 26 against Germany, no matter what the name on the back of the jersey says, team Canada will be the team to beat.



follow me on Twitter @fiveminutemajor ]]> carrboy19 http://www.fantasyhockeycoach.com/entry.php?173-Team-Canada-2-0