Well the World Juniors have come to a close so the players from the WHL who were part of Team USA and Team Canada as well as the Ryan Huska, head coach of Kelowna will be returning to their teams. I am sure if any of the players were asked they would admit they did not achieve the results they wanted. The predicted Gold Medal game was actually played for bronze and Canada met a big Russian bear in the final.
Now that the Juniors are done thoughts in the WHL will be on the trade deadline and one of the biggest carrots at the end of the stick is tournament MVP Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings. He has barely been with the Wheaties all season with the selection camp, this tournament and the game of chess the Los Angeles Kings played with him and his pro status to start the season. Regardless this tournament has raised his value to head coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon for a trade to a degree that can not be explained. Whether McCrimmon decides to pull the trigger is another matter all together he may decide to stay the course like Brent Parker did last year with Jordan Eberle. If Brandon who is having what could be called a hangover season after hosting the Memorial Cup decides to make this move Schenn will gather them quite a few current and future assets. The tandem of Scott Glennie and Brayden Schenn has been a memorable one for the past few seasons so Kelly may stay the course and hope they turn it around.
One thing that I think was missing from the World Junior commentary was the fact that Brayden Schenn, Carter Ashton and Jared Cowen were all teammates before with the Saskatoon Contacts. In fact the Hockey News predicted that five players from the team that year would end up being first round draft picks in the NHL. As I can not recall those other two players, I believe one was Jimmy Bubnick with the Calgary Hitmen but can not say with accuracy. Regardless the Hockey News is hitting .600 with the players they profiled so many years ago. This also points to the quality program that the Contacts have in place and at last look they are in third place in the Saskatchewan Midget Triple A Hockey League and are only 3 points out of first. This makes you wonder if the Contacts would have received a special thank you from Hockey Canada if Canada’s results would have been different.
THE KAMLOOPS INCIDENT
Not to be lost in the World Junior hoopla is the fact this stand by the Kamloops Blazers is still continuing. Some of the developments yesterday include Shane Doan appearing on the Fan 590 in Toronto as part of Greg Brady’s show as well as the Editor of the Kamloops Daily News Mel Rothenburger to discuss this matter. Greg also hosted Shane Doan on Hockey Central prior to Mel’s appearance and both clips are provided… Shane Doan is considered one of the nice guys in Canadian Hockey like Jarome Iginla but after hearing the clip it sounds like he was drinking the Kool-Aid… Most of his claims are not based in fact and might lead to some asking what kind of information he, Iginla, Sydor and Recchi are being given?
Shane Doan (Editted to get to the subject, courtesy Fan 590) (it takes awhile to load)
Mel Rothensburger (Editted to get to the subject, courtesy Fan 590) (it takes awhile to load)
As well rival publisher Kamloops This Week Editor Christopher Foulds has posted his thoughts on the Kamloops Situation you can see them here.
In terms of good journalistic practices Kamloops has made a local story into a regional one and now a national/international story as even Chris Botta from New York is following this…
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