Running 2007 NHL regular season thread

I Have looked at the play several times in highlights and on youtube and personally I think it was a good no-call for the suspension. There was nothing malicious about what happened. Both were going full speed for the puck. Foster comes out of Mitchell's peripheral, cuts in front of him as they get close to the boards. yes Mitchell extends his arms, but I think it was more to brace himself, and yes get a piece of Foster as he cut in front. Foster loses his edge. Mitchell didn't drive him into the boards — both again were at full speed as this happened — Foster just goes in at a bad angle, something that couldn't be avoided on his part once he had fallen. It was just a very unfortunate play. I have no real bias towards either player or team. It was just a freak accident, there was no intent. Hell Mitchell apparently even phoned Foster up at the hospital and Foster wished him good luck for the rest of the season — according to I think it was one of the SportsCentre talking heads. I have seen this play happen probably a thousand times. Sometimes it ends up with one player breaking an ankle or leg, other times both players skate away no worse for the wear. And rarely is there even a minor penalty called.

 

I thought it was a push. I don't know if he should've been suspended, but he should have gotten more than just two minutes.

 

From the video I saw, it looked as if Mitchell pushed Foster into the boards at top speed.

 

To me it was borderline. With both going full speed, Mitchell just trying to get a piece of him very well could look like a shove into the boards. He definitely did try to get a piece of him to maybe slow him down or gain position, but I don't think he figured on knocking him down, It was their speed and momentum that took them into the boards as heavily as they went in. Again I don't think there was any malicious intent on Mitchell's behalf. I certainly have seen a lot worse that has gone unpunished.

 

I interrupt this NHL thread to mention that the University of Alberta Golden Bears defeated #1 ranked U of New Brunswick to win the CIS hockey championship. That's Alberta's 13th win. Surpisingly, University of Toronto is in second place with 10 championships.

Congrats to Beef & Flash.

 

OK, James Mirtle's blog has the rankings of all the national hockey teams as World Championship time nears.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/03/guide-to-world-championships.html

Sweden is ranked #1 (Canada's #1 and the US is #7)

Mongolia is ranked last at 46.

Now, this weird: The Mexican National Hockey Team was at the Brampton game tonight (they're ranked 38th)

Now, explain this. They play their tourney in Divsion 2B in Australia starting on March 7. When did Toronto become part of a Mexico/Australia itinerary?

 

Probably pre-tournament training?

 

Yeah, probably playing some Bantam house league teams.

 

Probably. The Australian women's team was up in Sundre (a ranching village north of here) for training recently. I think they played the bantam and midget teams a couple of times.

Go to James' Friday entry and see who is playing for Mexico. Not sure if it's that one, though.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/03/team-mexico-set-for-world-championships.html

 

One thing is certain: a puck will go off his head and into the net.

Oh, and there was one kid who had the Mike Commodore playoff look down pat.

 

If he sang, he would be a virtuoso.

 

Horseshit. No cheering for the Bears here. I bleed royal blue.