Back on the Prowl

For the first time in over two years, Tiger Woods is back in the winner's circle.

        It took 749 days, 107 weeks and 26 tournaments. He was the punch line of almost every joke and some considered him more of a cheetah than a tiger. He went through a major swing change and a pricey divorce and some thought the former world number one would never win again. Tiger Woods has always been one to prove his nay-sayers wrong and he certainly did that Sunday afternoon when he drained a birdie putt on the final hole to win the 2011 Chevron World Challenge.

        Tiger Woods has certainly been through a lot over the last 24 months. He went from a man who seemed destined to rewrite golf history to someone who looked lost and unfocused. Woods went through a major swing change, battled several lower body injuries and lost the respect of most, but he never gave up. During this time, his ‘go-to’ line to the media was that his game was a ‘process’ and it’s going to take time to get back to superstardom. Along with his play in Australia, where he finished T3 at the Australian Masters and clinched the President’s Cup for the US, Woods has definitely taken massive steps in the right direction.

        Some have argued that this victory doesn't mean anything because the Chevron World Challenge was only an 18 man field and wasn't a sanctioned PGA Tour event. Sure, Tiger only had to beat 17 other golfers, but they were some of the top players in the world. With this victory, he also earned over $1 million and jumped 31 spots in the world rankings (from 52 to 21). Even though the win doesn't count as an official victory on the PGA Tour, Woods proved to the world that he can still win. His performance confirmed that he can still make the crucial putts down the stretch and hit the important shots when they really matter. Plus, it was great to see Tiger pull off one of his vintage fist pumps, something that will definitely be imitated on golf courses around the world (at least where it's warm) in the upcoming weeks.

        Woods' victory will only bode well for golf in the upcoming season. TV ratings were down this year and a big reason for that could be pointed at the demise of Tiger. Now that he finally ended his 749 day winless drought, I'm guessing TV ratings will shoot through the roof in 2012. Many people want the former world number 1 back at the top of his game, whether it's the fans or the players. In fact, several top-notch professionals tweeted after the victory that they're looking forward to competing with Woods again next year.

        Tiger is not only a golfer, but a world-renowned public icon too. When he is in the field, an entirely new demographic tune in to the broadcast. After Woods sealed the deal on Sunday, I found it fascinating to see the Facebook status of several people that couldn't tell you who is currently the best player in the world, but were so excited to see Tiger back to his winning ways. The better Tiger performs, the greater the television audience will be on a weekly basis.

        Over the past two years, we’ve seen flashes of Tiger brilliance that had defined him for years. What had been missing was that supreme confidence to finish it off and win another tournament. Many pondered if he still had the ability to win and his performance at the Chevron World Challenge proved he still can. Woods said after the victory that he was nervous, but felt comfortable throughout his final round. If he can get himself into contention more often next year, 2012 could be a banner year for Tiger Woods.

Tangled in the Twine

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson has been brutally inconsistent so far this season

           When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Jonas Gustavsson in 2009, he was regarded as one of the best goaltenders not playing in the NHL. The Monster was supposed to bring Toronto back to the playoffs for the first time since the lockout, but clearly that hasn't happened yet. During his last few outings, there have been flashes of brilliance, but also some signs that he shouldn't be earning an NHL paycheck.

            Gustavsson relies on a very methodical style of goaltending and there isn't a lot of movement in the crease. When he challenges a shooter, he doesn't glide outside his crease like Martin Brodeur. Instead, he pivots using the inside edges of his skates. The Monster is a prototypical student of Francois Allaire, who happens to be Toronto's goalie coach. Allaire has turned average 'tenders’ into Stanley Cup champions by teaching them to block the puck (in fact, if it wasn't for Allaire, J.S. Giguere wouldn't have a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup ring on his resume). Part of Allaire's niche is that all of his goalies appear to be under control at all times. All of his students make saves look boring because they're in the right position at all times and the shooter doesn't have anything to shoot at. For Gustavsson, it's a different story. It seems like his weight is too far forward, causing him to be unbalanced in the crease, which makes it a lot harder to perform routine saves.

            While it's definitely okay to study the technical aspect of the netminding position, it's nearly impossible to be successful only blocking the puck. Time and time again early in this NHL season, Gustavsson has been far too technical and it has made him look rather foolish. Case in point, last night against the Senators, he allowed a routine wrist shot from the point to beat him to the glove side. Instead of moving his glove hand a few inches, he tried to slide into the shot and stop it with his chest. Clearly, Gustavsson was trying to make a save in a fashion more difficult than it needed to be.   

            I know I'm not an NHL goalie coach, but I was taught the position by a man who has been regarded as one of the best goalie coaches in the Ontario Hockey League for years. Piero Greco, who now instructs the Kitchener Rangers goaltenders, taught not only the technical aspects of the game, but how to actually react to incoming pucks too. One of the key fundamentals that 'Grecs’ taught was glove position. He always harped that the glove had to be in front of the goalie's body, so much so that the goalie should be able to see their glove out of the corner of their eye. This way, the netminder can watch the puck fall into their glove.

            If all of this specific goaltending talk is confusing you, let's 'dummy it down'. When my Dad taught me to catch a baseball, he told me to watch the ball into my glove. Whenever I wouldn't watch it, I'd usually drop the ball. Moving back to hockey, the same thing applies. If a goaltender doesn't watch the puck, it's very hard to stop it. On this particular play, watch Gustavsson's eyes, they are looking directly forward, not at the puck. He's essentially acting like a soccer goalie, as he's guessing where the puck is going.

            Jonas Gustavsson has to branch out his goaltending style. He should take a page out of other netminder's style guides and add them to his arsenal. Ben Scrivens is third on the Leafs depth chart and had an excellent training camp. If Gustavsson continues to give up untimely goals, he may soon be permanently riding the buses in the AHL.

Reason for Hope in the Mile High City?

Matt Duchene looks to lead the Colorado Avalanche back to the playoffs for the second time in three years.

     
        The NHL season is almost two weeks old and there have already been a lot of surprises and disappointments. One of the biggest surprises of this young campaign has been the Colorado Avalanche. The third youngest team in the league has stormed out of the gate, with four wins in five games and has dominated their opponents. Has Colorado reached the pinnacle of their success already or are they going to keep playing well? All signs are pointing towards the latter.

        Just two seasons ago, the Avalanche were a very young team that didn't have many expectations. They had drafted two players that ended up making their opening night roster (Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly) and had signed goalie Craig Anderson from the Florida Panthers. As the story would go, the Avs battled their way to an unexpected playoff birth. Last year, Colorado didn't get the same type of goaltending from Anderson and the team was a disappointment. This year, Colorado seems poised to make another playoff push.

        Colorado boasts possibly the top group of young centres in the NHL. Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny centre the top two lines and both players are lethal with the puck. Duchene had a 12 point increase last season and it wouldn't be unreasonable to think he can do it again. Ryan O'Reilly and Jay McClement are the checking line centres and both know their role. O'Reilly has the potential to score a lot of points in the NHL. Even though he has only scored 26 points in his only two NHL campaigns, the Clinton, Ontario native was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection and was a prolific scorer for the Erie Otters. I had the privilege of playing with Ryan in Erie and his hands are absolutely scary in practice. He was always the first player on the ice and the last one off of it. As Erie coach Robbie Ftorek said, “He's captain material.”

        Last season, Colorado made an unexpected blockbuster trade, sending up-and-comers Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to St. Louis for Jay McClement and Erik Johnson. Johnson was the No.1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and is an excellent puck-moving defenseman. The 21 year old has four points in five games and partners up with former Sarnia Sting captain Ryan Wilson to form a dangerous duo on the powerplay. The rest of Colorado's D-core is formed by Kyle Quincey, Jan Hejda, Ryan O'Byrne and Shane O'Brien. Four of Colorado's six defensemen are at least 6'3 and 230 pounds. They'll have no problem intimidating opponents.

        During the 2010-11 campaign, the Avalanche allowed 3.5 goals per game, which was the worst in the NHL. GM Greg Sherman revamped the squad's goaltending by acquiring Semyon Varlamov and J.S Giguere. The Capitals grew tired of the Russian puckstopper's injury woes, but Varlamov still posted a 2.23 GAA and a .924 save percentage last season. He's very fundamentally sound and has an underrated glove hand. To back him up, Sherman brought in Toronto Maple Leafs cast-off J.S Giguere. Although the Montreal native struggled during his tenure in Toronto, he still has a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup ring on his resume, something that not many goaltenders can say themselves. Both of the netminders have a .938 save percentage so far this year.

        To date, the Boston Bruins seem to be experiencing an early season Stanley Cup hangover, the Winnipeg Jets are having trouble keeping pucks out of their net and the Toronto Maple Leafs have already etched their names on the Stanley Cup. Colorado has gotten off to a very fine start and with their young core and new acquisitions excelling, it's seemingly realistic that this team will be playing hockey in late April.

York Lions vs UofT Varsity Blues

To view the broadcast, click the following link. Enjoy!

http://ssncanada.ca/game/3147/

The $11 Million Shot

Bill Haas hit an incredible wedge shot from the water en route to winning both the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup. Was Haas' shot the best of all time?

       Whether you're a weekend hacker or a seasoned professional, everyone faces some sort of pressure on the golf course. What Bill Haas accomplished Sunday afternoon under the spotlight and with over $11 million on the line was unbelievable. With his ball barely in a greenside lake, Haas had to get up and down to keep his hopes alive to win the both the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup. NBC commentator Johnny Miller said that if Haas hit the shot to within 15 feet he'd be happy. Instead, Haas nipped his shot perfectly, as it splashed onto the green and spun to within two feet of the hole. Sure if Haas tried the same shot 100 times again, he might not be able to do it again (and he'd eventually probably turn into this year's Aquaman.) Here are some other shots that defied the odds.

Phil Mickelson, 2010 Masters

       Standing in the pine needles on the 13^th hole in the final round of the 2010 Masters, Phil Mickelson had a two shot lead. He's always been known as a risk taker and this shot was no different. He had over 200 yards to the par 5 green that had trouble both short and long. Instead of chipping out like that average human being, Mickelson took the gambled and pulled off a thrilling shot. The shot led to his third green jacket.

Tiger Woods, 2005 Masters

       The 2005 edition of the Masters was a two-horse race between Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco. The wiley veteran was battling with Woods throughout the final two days of the tournament. It looked like DiMarco had an opening on the 16^th hole, until Tiger remarkably chipped in from an impossible spot. Not only was it a great ad for Nike, but the shot was Tiger's defining moment in his fourth Masters win.

Tom Watson, 1982 US Open

       Tom Watson had always made it very clear that the US Open was the tournament he wanted to win the most. Standing on the 17^th tee, Watson was tied with Jack Nicklaus. His two-iron sailed into the gunky rough. He knew it'd be a tough shot and his longtime caddy Bruce Edwards told him to 'get it close.' Watson looked at him and smirked, responding with, 'get it close, hell I'm going to hole it.' He made no mistake, jarring the chip which led to his victory at the 1982 US Open.

Jonathan Byrd, 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open

       Every golfer, no matter how skilled always dreams of making the 15 foot birdie putt to win a tournament. Maybe some would rather the chance to lag one close and tap in for the victory. But getting a hole-in-one to win a professional golf tournament? I'm sure Jonathan Byrd never thought he could do that. In the fourth hole of a playoff and the sunlight quickly setting, Byrd thought he'd end the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open in walkoff fashion.

       Although all of those shots were incredible, Haas' nifty wedge shot was that much better. With so much at stake, this has to be one of the best shots of all time. There aren't many scenarios in sports where there's a $9.876 million difference between first and second. Bill Haas' reputation has now completely changed to the golf world. For his first few years on the tour, the 29 year old was in his father's shadow. He'll now be known as the champion of the 2011 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.

Optimism in LeafLand?

James Reimer will have to be brilliant if the Maple Leafs want to make the playoffs this season.

      
          With training camp recently opening, it's that time of year again for hockey optimists. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who are arguably the most highly scrutinized team in the NHL, made several off-season tweaks to their roster and are poised for another playoff push. But the burning question for all Leaf fans is if their beloved squad can climb over the hump and make the post-season for the first time since 2004.

          During the last two seasons, Toronto's offensive output has steadily increased. They ranked 25th in goal-scoring in 2009-10 and finished 21st last season. The Leafs had four players with 20 or more goals in 2010-11, which was the first time they've achieved that feat since 2008-09. A lot of discussion last year surrounded the play of winger Phil Kessel. Ron Wilson couldn't pair him with a talented centre to feed him the puck. GM Brian Burke obviously wanted to fix the issue over the off-season and he did so by signing Tim Connolly as a free agent. The Syracuse, New York native is a shifty centre and has nifty hands. However, throughout his career, Connolly's biggest fault has been his durability. During the post-lockout era, he has never played 82 games and has nursed about every injury imaginable. He'll be counted on as Toronto's number one centre this season, but only scoring 42 points in 65 games last season don't seem like top line numbers to me.


        The Maple Leafs were 25th in goals against last year. They acquired Cody Franson and John-Michael Liles over the off-season to help out the back end. Liles will provide leadership for some of the younger players and he should improve the powerplay. However, he's had a rating of minus 30 during the last three seasons, which just isn't good enough. With Franson, the Buds have a hulking blueliner that should patrol the backend for years to come. Whether the Salmon Arm, BC native will be able to handle the Toronto media spotlight, that is the question.

        For any hockey team to be successful, no matter what the level, the goaltender has to be one of the best players. During the first half of last season, Jonas Gustavsson and J.S Giguere just weren't cutting it for Toronto. But on January 1, 2011, the Leafs netminding changed in a big way. Some unknown prospect named James Reimer started and stopped 32 shots to lead the Leafs to a 5-1 over the Senators. That fine play continued throughout the entire second half, as he finished with a 20-11-5 record, with a 2.60 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Standing at 6'2, Reimer combines both size and an efficient technical game that always keeps shooters guessing. If the Leafs have any chance to make the post-season, James Reimer has to be the team's MVP.

        That brings us back to the 'P' word. Can the Leafs make the playoffs? Toronto finished in 10th spot last season, eight points behind the eighth seeded New York Rangers. If the Buds make the playoffs, they'll obviously have to oust one of the teams that made the promised land last season. Can Toronto finish ahead of Carolina, with their dynamic forward duo of Eric Staal and Justin Beiber (I mean Jeff Skinner)? Will the Leafs have a chance to be better than Brad Richards, Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers? How about the Buffalo Sabres, who revamped their entire squad and now have the highest payroll in the NHL? Can Toronto edge their Original Six rival Montreal Canadiens, with Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges both back healthy to start the season? It appears that Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are post-season locks. So will the Leafs make the post-season for the first time since 2004?

In one word, no.

It’s Not All About Stevie

Adam Scott and new caddy Stevie Williams celebrated their first victory together this weekend at Firestone. Maybe Williams should have kept his mouth shut after the round.

     

     The WGC series of tournaments on the PGA Tour are always some of the most exciting of the season. They involve only the top players of the world, so thrilling finishes are ordinary.

     Heading into the tournament, all of the discussion was about Tiger Woods’ much-anticipated return to golf. Not only had he missed three months with injuries to his left knee and alchilles, but it was going to be his first tournament without long-time caddy Stevie Williams on the bag, after he recently let him go.

     After Tiger showed some signs of rust on the putting green, the attention shifted to Adam Scott. Not only was the Aussie playing good golf, his partnership with Stevie Williams on his bag had just become official. The new duo dominated the tournament, as Scott won by four shots.

     This all seemed to be a feel-good story until Stevie Williams opened his mouth after the round. Instead of saying the usual wishy-washy clichés about how his partner won the tournament, he decided to make the victory all about him. He stated that this victory was the “best of his life.”

     I don’t understand how Stevie could say this. He caddied for arguably the best golfer of all-time for 12 years and there were so many moments that will be forever etched in history. How about Tiger winning the 2000 US Open by 15 shots? When Woods won the 2006 Open Championship and then collapsed into Stevie’s arms in emotion after the death of his father? Or when Tiger won the 2008 US Open on essentially one leg? Were those moments not good enough Stevie?

     I understand that Williams is frustrated by the way Tiger treated him recently, but let’s face it, if it weren’t for Tiger Woods, nobody would have a clue who Stevie Williams was.

     Looking at it from Scott’s point of view, he has to be disappointed. The 31 year old has had an outstanding year so far and just changed to a long putter. Although he may look funny on the putting surface, he sure is rolling the ball beautifully. This week at the PGA Championship, instead of answering questions about his recent success, he’ll have to face the music about his caddy's remarks. Who knows how that will affect Adam Scott’s mindset this week.

    For Stevie Williams to come out in the arrogant way that he did was incredibly selfish. He made the week all about him. He’s not the one hitting the shots and making the putts. All he does is give yardages and carry Adam Scott’s bag.

     Stevie, stick to your job.

A Wonderful Weekend of Golf

Darren Clarke shocked the golfing world by winning The Open Championship at Royal St. Georges by 3 shots.

The 140^th running of the Open Championship was nothing short of thrilling. We saw just a little bit of everything. 20-year-old Tom Lewis shot the lowest round by an amateur in Open Championship history (65) in round one. We saw possibly the greatest pre-round stretching routine ever seen by the public eye and a remarkable front-nine Sunday charge by Phil Mickelson. But none of those compare to the stellar play of Darren Clarke all week.

Heading into the week, all of the buzz was about a young Northern Irishman who was going to continue exploding up the world rankings. Instead, a wily veteran stole the show.

Darren Clarke was nothing short of spectacular all week. He hit a low, penetrating tee ball all week and was able to bump and run his way below the gale force winds. We haven’t seen Clarke on the world stage in quite some time. 11 years ago he went head-to-head with Tiger Woods (does he still play golf?) to win the WGC Match Play Championship. But 5 years ago, his world was turned upside down. His wife Heather battled hard, but lost her 2 year bout with cancer at the tender age of 39.

Clarke was left heartbroken and empty. His golf career lived on, but he was nowhere near the world stage. The 42 year old is now engaged to another woman. Ironically he met her through a blind date set up by fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell.

Staying on the topic of Ireland, they may be the new capital of the golf world. There have been three major champions from the area in the past year (McDowell at the 2010 US Open and Rory McIlroy four weeks ago also at the US Open). Before this domination commenced, the last golfer from Northern Ireland to win a major was Fred Daly at the 1947 Open Championship. Safe to say, there will be a pint (or 12) happily consumed tonight.

What makes this win so special is how Clarke is perceived amongst his peers. McIlroy, McDowell, Ian Poulter and even Tiger Woods (again, does he still play golf?) tweeted about Clarke’s performance. Before Darren was announced as the Champion Golfer of the year, several players went out of their way to congratulate him. Curtis Strange said it best, “He’s just a ‘man’s man’; he smokes, he has the odd (x3) pint, he drives fast cars. How can’t you root for a guy like him?”

Now, the play at Royal St. Georges wasn’t the only exciting golf going on this weekend.

Bryan Black and Robert Tonelli came from behind in shocking fashion to win the Men's Invitational at Bayview Golf and Country Club.

At my home course, Bayview Golf and Country Club, the Men’s Invitational concluded on Saturday. It’s an annual 3-day event, with teams of two partnering up in a net best ball format.

51 teams started the event with high hopes, but at the end, the team of Russell Godwin and Stuart Tidd seemed destined for victory. They had a two shot lead with two holes to go. That’s just when things started to get interesting.

Bryan “Blackie” Black was playing some of the best golf of his career. Before he stepped onto the par three 17^th tee, he still had hope.

“There was a voice in my head saying I can do this. I can go 2,3"

And he had the chance to do that. After a birdie on 17, Blackie had a putt on 18 to send the tournament to a playoff. Using his trustworthy long-putter, Blackie calmly dropped a slippery downhill curler on the 18^th. A little dance ensued.

The two teams battled through two playoff holes. But standing again on the 18^th, things didn’t seem so bright for Blackie and partner Robert Tonelli. Blackie pulled his drive into the gunk on the left. The rest of the players were safe and in the fairway. After Tonelli put his third shot onto the green, he had to sink a par putt, or else opponent Stuart Tidd could two putt for victory.

For those who don’t know the 18^th green at Bayview, it has more dips and curves than streets in Ireland. If a putt rolls too aggressively, it could easy dwindle off the green. Tonelli was first to putt, and drained it right in the heart. Tidd could make his putt for the win, two putt for the tie and a three putt would result in a loss. Tidd got a little too aggressive and eventually three-putted, giving Bryan Black and Robert Tonelli a victory at the Men’s Invitational.

I’ve had the pleasure of playing with Blackie on Sunday mornings and we’ve been quite successful as partners. Recently, I shot my career low -3 under 33 on the back nine while playing with him, resulting in a big pay day for the two of us.

As Blackie himself would say, “I’ve got two words for that…Wow.”

A True Role Model

Any player who has ever been traded or has requested a trade should try to model themselves after Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay

           We all love following professional sports. Players become our role models and fans try to emulate everything about their favourite athletes. As great as this is, time after time, professionals take advantage of their rights.

            Trades and free agency will always be apart of sports. Players seem to forget that their current team signed them to a multi-million dollar contract and invested much more into them. I understand that athletes want to play for a certain team, but the way they come about doing this has at times been disrespectful.

            Think back to The Decision. For those of you that didn’t watch this absolutely preposterous segment last summer, Lebron James decided that he wanted to broadcast his decision on where he was going to sign all over the world.  Instead of just signing with the club when the date came, he showed the world that his ego is stupidly big. On a side, he also took his talents towards another playoff failure.

            There’ve been so many other scenarios in regards to players leaving their teams on terrible terms. However, one situation that is the complete opposite and is relevant to this time is Roy Halladay.

            The Blue Jays showed a lot of class when they decided they were going to trade Roy Halladay. Toronto wanted to give ‘Doc’ an opportunity to win after giving the club 11 years of quality service. They traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the powerhouses of the National League on December 15, 2009. Instead of bad-mouthing Toronto, Halladay and his wife Brandy purchased an ad in a Toronto newspaper and thanked the fans for their support. Just recently Halladay made his official return to Toronto. He received a standing ovation from fans when he first walked onto the pitcher’s mound. I was in attendance at the game and it was simply incredible to hear this cheer.

            Professional athletes will always have the right to request a trade to a different team, but to Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Dany Heatley, Eric Lindros, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens: leave your respective city with class. All of these athletes can learn so much from Roy Halladay. As my former hockey coach and dear friend Louie used to say, "Don't only win with class, but lose with class too."

Stanley Cup Finals Recap

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

After a long NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins are the final two teams that have a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup.

            It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. We’re just about in June, school’s coming to a close, the weather’s starting to finally improve and the Stanley Cup Finals are here. Vancouver and Boston have taken two very unique approaches to get to the Finals. The Canucks nearly blew a 3-0 series lead, but hung on to edge Chicago in 7 and easily dismantled Nashville and San Jose in 6 and 5 games respectively. Boston’s had a bit of a tougher climb. The Bruins battled through the Habs in 7, took full advantage of the Flyers goaltending soap opera in 4 straight and barely snuck by the Lightning in a thrilling 7 game series. So far my predictions are 3-3, so the Finals will decide my fate as well.

Vancouver (1) vs Boston (3)

Season Series: 1-0 Bruins

            This is Vancouver’s first appearance in the Finals since 1994. However, this time around the Canucks are the favourites. They’ve proven that they’ve been the best team all season and this is their final test.  During Vancouver’s past two series, one player has been the go-to hero. Against Nashville, Ryan Kesler notched 11 points in 6 games, while Henrik Sedin tallied 12 points in the Canucks 5 game trouncing over the Sharks. If Vancouver wants to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, both of these players will have to come up big.

            If you thought the Canucks already had a lot of depth, think again. In what seems to be a minor medical miracle, Manny Malhotra appears to be ready to rejoin the lineup for Game 1. He has missed all of the playoffs with an eye injury, which some originally thought could permanently damage his vision. The Mississauga, Ontario native brings more depth to the Canucks lineup and is an excellent penalty killer.

            The Bruins are back in the Finals for the first time since 1990. They’re also on a championship-less streak of their own, as their last Stanley Cup victory was back in 1972 when Bobby Orr scored his famous goal flying through the air. Ironically, the last time these teams lost in the Stanley Cup Finals, Mark Messier was the opposing captain lifting the Stanley Cup over his head at the end of the series. The Bruins are another team that has a lot of depth. Boston's forwards not only have skill, but they have the will too. All of their defensemen know their roles and play them well. However, Vancouver’s core of agile forwards may be too much for the Bruins to handle.

Tending the Twine

            I think this series is going to be won in net. There’s a huge difference between these two teams. For Boston to win the Stanley Cup, Tim Thomas will have to steal some games and be their best player. He’s had a remarkable playoff run so far, but on several occasions he’s allowed a weak goal at the wrong time.

            The Canucks are a different story. Roberto Luongo has been solid throughout much of the playoffs and after round one, he hasn’t individually lost a game for the Canucks. What I mean by this is that his performance hasn’t been the reason Vancouver’s lost a game. That’s all he has to do moving forward this series. Plus, he’s got the unlimited potential to put his team on his back and steal a few games of his own (case in point, making 54 saves in the Canucks clinching victory over San Jose).

            Montreal hosted the 1976 Olympics and the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup the next year. Calgary hosted the 1988 Olympics and won the Stanley Cup in 1989. Of course, Vancouver hosted last year’s Winter Olympics in what was one of the most exciting two weeks in Canadian history. Will the Canucks follow the trend set by the Canadiens and Flames? I think so.

Final Prediction: Canucks in 6

Player Profile: Matt Stinson

Homegrown talent Matt Stinson has climbed all the way up the soccer ranks to the professional level. He doesn't want to stop there.

           Right from birth, a child’s personality begins to form and strong characteristics prevail. From the day he was born on September 9, 1992, Matt Stinson was both competitive and determined. He wanted to be the best at everything, whether it was playing tag at recess or being the first student to finish a math test. It was also clear from a young age that Matt displayed a lot of raw athletic talent. One day when Matt was about six years old, he was playing at a friend’s house, whose father happened to be his older brother Jeff’s soccer coach. 
 
            “My brother’s soccer coach Arthur Avanesi saw me kick a ball in his backyard when I was hanging out with his son Alex. After he saw me kick the ball he decided to start a team around me! He told me I would become a soccer player!” 

            A future superstar had been born. 

            Stinson has always been one of the most competitive people I have ever met. That competitiveness translated into rapid success on the soccer pitch. He joined the Clarkson Comets Soccer Club and played there for several years. But Matt’s athletic ability wasn’t just limited to soccer. He played hockey at a competitive level as well. He was a member of a very skillful squad for many years and I had the pleasure of being his teammate. 

            After winning the Eastern City GTHL AA Championships with the Hillcrest Summits in 2005, Stinson played one final year of hockey. Coincident with hockey, his soccer skills really started to excel. Both sports demanded a lot of time and energy. Matt had to make a tough decision, because he really believed that he wanted to excel at one sport and be the very best he could be. In the end, it was a difficult choice, but one that he wouldn’t later regret. 

            “Choosing soccer over hockey was tough, but I knew I had more of a future in soccer. I felt I was a more natural soccer player, but in hockey I was playing on pure athleticism. I’ve never looked back on my decision, it’s been a fun ride.” 

            Matt continued to play very well on the soccer field as he graduated from Grade 8 at Willowdale Middle School. The local high school in his district was Northview Heights Secondary School. Fortuitously, the school had a special athletic program known as APGA (Academic Program for Gifted Athletes). This program provides academic support throughout high school for elite level athletes to accommodate their need for training and excellence in their sport of choice. Matt and his mother Sylvia knew this program was perfect for him. Matt and I were classmates and often studied for tests together. When not training at our respective sports, we hung out a lot. 

            Just before entering grade 10, Stinson signed to play with the Toronto FC Academy Club. This enabled him to practice with the club and train like a pro at the tender age of 16. Even with his extremely busy soccer workout schedule, he performed admirably in the classroom. He was an honour roll student for two full years while taking business and science courses. 

            “APGA was great. The support from all of the teachers and all of my classmates was awesome. It really made high school enjoyable for me.” 

            As a result of his soccer achievements, Matt was named team captain of the U18 Academy squad. It was at this point that he first legitimately thought that he could make it as a professional. 

            “When the TFC took interest in me in the Academy I gained a lot of confidence. I was always pretty sure that I would get a scholarship but didn’t know about going pro.” 

            Another important decision that he faced was selecting which post secondary school he would attend. Many schools had actively recruited him to join their squad and he visited several campuses. His final choice was an extremely tough one, but he elected to attend Winthrop University, one of the newest schools in South Carolina. 

            After only one season at Winthrop, he was forced to make another life changing decision. He was very successful throughout his school’s season, as he was named team MVP and earned an All-Big South Conference Second Team honour. At just 18 years old, teams at the professional level were courting his services. He was faced with a huge dilemma. Should he stay in school, or start pursuing his professional aspirations right away? 

            “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to be a professional soccer player. Sure I’m young, but might as well start now. This chance isn’t going to come everyday. You can only live life once.” 

            At this point, it was early February 2011. I hadn’t spoken to Matt in a while, as I knew he was very busy. I remember one day I was in the car with my family and the radio was on. It was 680 News’ Sports Report. I was kind of zoning out and not really listening to the update. The anchor provided hockey highlights and then moved on to other sports. “In soccer news, the Toronto FC edged the Red Star Belgrade 1-0 in preseason action in Antayla, Turkey. Matt Stinson had the lone marker.” I shook my head in amazement and wondered whether I’d actually heard the report correctly. Immediately I sent Matt a text message and learned of his recent soccer successes. 

            “Trying to go pro man. Close to a full time spot on the TFC. Will keep you posted,” he later texted me. 

            A few days later, the story broke that Stinson had signed a deal with the Toronto FC professional squad. I remember his Facebook page absolutely exploded with many congratulatory messages from friends and family. At this time, Matt was in Guatemala trying to help Canada qualify for the U20 World Cup. Unfortunately, the team lost in the semi-finals, but that meant Matt was coming home. 

            After getting in touch with Matt several times, I attended a Toronto FC game. He wasn’t dressed, but it was a great experience at BMO Field. After the game, some fans were huddled outside the stadium anxiously awaiting a Matt Stinson autograph. When I saw this, I was thinking, “Wow, my boy’s made it!” Although Matt has advanced through the ranks at an extraordinary pace, he doesn’t want to stop here. 

            “It’s always been a dream of mine to play soccer in Europe. That’s the home of soccer. All of the guys known in soccer- the David Beckhams, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo- all started their careers overseas. They’re now some of the most popular people in the world.” 

            While this may seem like a bit of a stretch, Matt has no shortage of confidence and belief in himself. 

            “I’ve always been a hard worker. I’ve made it this far. I think that if I keep up my attitude and my work ethic, as well as get some luck, maybe I’ll get a chance to play in the English Premier League.” 

            The way Matt Stinson has progressed, Canada could boast homegrown talent on the world soccer stage, which is something that currently doesn’t exist. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that kids around the world will look up to him as a soccer idol in the very near future.

No Need for Afternoon Games

Gary Bettman has done many things to help the National Hockey League. However, his choice to implement afternoon games in the playoffs is a big mistake.

         

        Did anyone realize that there were two NHL games this weekend? For those of you that didn’t know about this, I don’t blame you. Tampa Bay came back in thrilling fashion, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to take the game 4-3 over Boston. Vancouver could only muster 13 shots on net, but four of them snuck through Antii Niemi. The result was a 4-2 Canucks win. They’re now one victory away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994. But most people didn’t even know that games were going on. Why? Both contests were played in the afternoon.

            I really don’t understand why the NHL schedules games to be played in the afternoon. Commissioner Gary Bettman claims that he’s trying to reach out to American fans. In certain parts of the States, plain and simple, people just don’t watch hockey. Ponder this. If you’re in Florida on a Saturday afternoon, are you going to sit inside and watch a hockey game, or be outside enjoying a beautiful day on the golf course? I think that’s an easy answer.

            It’s also Victoria Day weekend here in Canada. Lots of people are at their cottages and finally enjoying some good weather. Instead of sitting inside and watching hockey, they’re using the time to get their boats out, sit on the dock, work on their tans and enjoy a noon cocktail (hey it’s 5:00 somewhere, right?). If the games were scheduled at night, these cottagers could spend all day outside, then have a nice meal and spend the night watching these exciting playoff games.

            Fans are also used to watching different sports during the afternoons. There were so many sporting events going on, from David Toms winning at the Colonial to Jose Bautista clubbing another two homers just to name a few.

            Both games that were played this weekend were thrilling. It’s just too bad that not many people could tune in. Hockey is a game that’s meant to be played at night. Figure it out Gary Bettman and schedule games when they normally would be. It’s only going to increase the viewers that watch the games and create more popularity about the sport.

Third Round NHL Playoff Predictions

Rookie coach Guy Boucher has led the Tampa Bay Lightning into their first Eastern Conference Finals since they won the Stanley Cup in 2004.

           

          With the first two rounds in the books, we’re exactly halfway through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Since the first round was so close, I was expecting an even tighter second round. For half of the series, I was dead wrong. Boston and Tampa Bay both made quick work of their opponents. The Lightning’s victory was a huge shock, but the 1-3-1 neutral zone trap implemented by coach Guy Boucher simply wore down the Capitals forwards.  Philadelphia couldn’t decide who they wanted in net as Boston trumped them in four straight.  Vancouver survived the Nashville Carrie Underwood’s in six, and San Jose avoided the epic collapse, sneaking by Detroit in seven. My predictions were a respectable 2-2 in round two, so I hope to give better advice this time around.

Eastern Conference Finals

Boston (3) vs Tampa Bay (5)

Season Series: 3-1 Boston

            Heading into these playoffs, many predicted the Bruins to be in this spot. Tampa Bay, not so much. This team is led by 38 year old rookie coach Guy Boucher, whose stern approach has resulted in a very disciplined Lightning squad. Tampa Bay’s unsung heroes have been their go-to guys thus far, with unexpected scoring from Sean Bergenheim, Dominic Moore, Steve Downie and Teddy Purcell. Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St.Louis have also had strong post seasons. Dwayne Roloson has been an absolute monster in net, battling through traffic to make some incredible saves. I’m sure most 41 year old men wished they could bend their bodies the way he can. If you looked up the term ‘battle’ in the dictionary, Roloson’s face would show up.

Tampa Bay’s X Factor: Steven Stamkos

The Lightning have made it through two rounds without much production from the 21 year old. Stamkos has only 6 points through 11 games. If Tampa Bay wants to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2004, he must be their best player.

            The Bruins are a team with a lot of depth scoring. Brad Marchand, Nathan Horton and David Krecji are all averaging about a point a game. But on the offensive side of things, Patrice Bergeron has led the way with 12 points. Unfortunately for Boston, he suffered a mild concussion and is out for at least game 1. Rookie Tyler Seguin will make his playoff debut, replacing him in the lineup. Tim Thomas has been Boston’s MVP all season and the playoffs have been no different.  Thus far, he has sported a 2.03 goals against average and a .937 save percentage during the post season. Zdeno Chara bolsters the Bruins blueline. He seems to have toned down his play since the Max Pacioretty incident, but he still is an incredibly dangerous player on the ice. If the chemistry can improve between Chara and Tomas Kaberle on Boston’s powerplay, they’ll be dangerous.

Boston’s X Factor: Milan Lucic

Lucic has the skill and tenacity to take over a game and a series by himself. He hasn’t needed to do that through two rounds, but against the Lightning, he’ll have to bring his A game if the Bruins want to play for the Stanley Cup.

Final Prediction: Lightning in 7

Western Conference Finals

Vancouver (1) vs San Jose (2)

Season Series: 3-0-1 Canucks

            The President Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks didn’t have as hard of a time eliminating the Nashville Predators than they did against the Chicago Blackhawks. However, Ryan Kesler was an integral reason why the Canucks beat Nashville in six games. The Michigan native put his team on his back with 11 points in the second round. He’s the team’s MVP thus far and they’ll need him to continue dominating the action. The Sedin twins combined for only seven points during the second round, but the stat that’s more worrisome is that together they had a -10 rating. Not only do they have return to regular season form in the offensive zone, they must do the same in the defensive zone. Also, the Canucks’ depth scoring has to improve. Players like Mason Raymond, Alex Burrows and Mikael Samuelsson have to step up their game for the Canucks to move on.

Vancouver’s X Factor: Roberto Luongo

The Sharks play a very ‘in your face’ style of hockey, so they’re going to have plenty of chances on Luongo. Vancouver’s only going as far as their netminder takes them. I really believe that he’s going to have to steal at least one game if the Canucks want to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994.

            San Jose is going as far as their powerplay takes them. In each of their victories against Detroit, they scored a goal on the man advantage. Coincidentally, in all of their losses, they failed to score on the powerplay. Guys like Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture will have to continue their strong offensive play. In their game 7 win over the Red Wings, Joe Thornton looked like a man on a mission. The Sharks will need that kind of effort from ‘Jumbo Joe’ if they want to succeed against the Canucks. Antti Niemi overcame his first round struggles by shutting the door in round two. The Vantaa, Finland native had a 2.36 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in the seven game victory over the Red Wings. He still has never lost a playoff series in his career. The Sharks were swept in last year’s Western Conference Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. They’re definitely looking for a better result this time around.

San Jose’s X Factor: Patrick Marleau

Marleau was basically useless for the first six games and two periods of the Sharks’ series against the Red Wings and that nearly cost them their season. He led the squad with 73 points during the regular season, but has faltered with just six points thus far during in the post season. If San Jose wants to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, Patrick Marleau will have to improve his play.

Final Prediction: Vancouver in 7

Player Profile Teaser: Matt Stinson

Matt Stinson has worked his way up the ranks to become one of Canada's top soccer prospects

      

       When looking towards the future of Canadian soccer, many don't think of it in a positive way. One of the best young Canadian prospects is Toronto native and personal friend Matt Stinson. He has been through a lot throughout his entire sporting career. He's had to make some very important decisions, which included his choice to quit competitive hockey and focus on soccer full time.

       Stinson has always been one of the most competitive people I have ever met. That competitiveness translated into rapid success on the playing field. After starring for the Clarkson Comets Soccer Club, he moved on to the Toronto FC Academy squad at the tender age of 16. He really began to get comfortable at that level, and eventually became the team captain.

     Throughout his three years with the TFC Academy, he attended Northview Heights Secondary School in the Academic Program for Gifted Athletes. Even with his extremely busy soccer workout plan, he performed marvelously in the class room. He was an honour roll student for two full years while taking business and science courses.

         Another important decision that he had to make was the university he was going to attend. Many schools had recruited him to join their squad and he visited several campuses. His final choice was an extremely tough one, but he elected to attend Winthrop University, one of the newest schools in South Carolina.

       After only half a season at Winthrop, he was faced with another life changing decision. He was very successful during those games, as he was named team MVP and earned a nAll-Big South Conference Second Team honour. At this point, teams at the professional level were courting his services. Will Stinson stay in school, or start pursuing his professional dreams at the young age of 18? Find out in the full version of this story, which will be released in a few weeks.

Second Round NHL Playoff Predictions

Roberto Luongo is one of the goalie's on the hot seat heading into the second round of the NHL Playoffs

           The first round of the NHL Playoffs were probably the most exciting set of games in recent memory. Four of the eight series went to game 7 and there were overtime games for nine consecutive nights. I’ve never seen so much hype for the Blackhawks and Canucks seventh and deciding game, and they definitely didn’t leave anyone disappointed. That series had about as much drama as Jersey Shore and there definitely was a situation when Cory Schneider was given the start in game 6 in favour of Roberto Luongo. With one game of the first round already in the books, I’m a little behind, but the following are my predictions for the second round.

Vancouver (1) vs Nashville (5)

Season Series: Tied 2-2

            The Canucks are coming off an emotional victory against the Chicago Blackhawks and I think they’re going to roll through this series. Vancouver has a lot more depth on both forward and defense. All of the games will be tight-checking games and the Predators’ strong defensive tandem of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber will do their best to wear down the Canucks forwards. (On a side, Weber probably has the best playoff beard in recent memory, but he started growing it in February). The only way Nashville has a chance this series is if goaltender Pekka Rinne stands on his head. He had a .930 save percentage during the regular season and is a Vezina Trophy finalist.

Final Prediction: Vancouver in 5.

San Jose (2) vs Detroit (3)

Season Series: 3-1 San Jose

            The Red Wings steamrolled right through the Phoenix (potentially Winnipeg) Coyotes in four straight games all without top winger Henrik Zetterberg. Their game on Friday will be their first in ten games, so they’re definitely well rested. This could potentially mean the return of Zetterberg. The Red Wings have a lot of depth, including ageless wonder Nicklas Lidstrom, who has nominated for the Norris Trophy for the 10^th time in 12 seasons. Dany Heatley had one of his worst statistical campaigns with only 26 goals. The trio of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Heatley will be integral to the Sharks success. However, I think Detroit’s depth will prevail in this series.

Final Prediction: Detroit in 7.

Washington (1) vs Tampa Bay (5)

Season Series: 4-2 Washington

            This is a classic Southeast Division match up between two teams that save their best for each other. Tampa Bay beat a depleted Penguins team in 7 games in round one, but they’ll need better play from their superstars if they want to compete with Washington’s forwards. Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos combined for a single tally in the opening round. That won’t be good enough this time around. The Capitals seem like one of the most complete teams remaining. They’re led by Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin, who combined for 29 points in 6 games in their series win against the Rangers. In both of Washington’s losses to Tampa Bay this season, they were shut out by Dwayne Roloson. ‘Rollie the Goalie’ will need to continue his remarkable play if the Lightning want a chance to win this series.

Final Prediction: Washington in 6.

Philadelphia (2) vs Boston (3)

Season Series: 3-1 Boston

            These are two teams with such a rich history full of bad blood. We saw last year that anything can happen between these two squads. For those that don’t remember, the Flyers became the first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals last year against the Bruins. I wouldn’t be surprised if something similar happens in this series. Both teams were worn down in the opening round, but they both have a lot of depth. The Bruins went 0-16 on the powerplay against Montreal in the first round. The broad street bullies will take undisciplined penalties, and Boston will need to capitalize on their chances. Their prized acquisition this season was Tomas Kaberle, but he has done absolutely nothing to help their man advantage. If the Bruins want to win this series, they’ll need their powerplay to be much better. The Flyers have a goaltending dilemma. Surprise…Surprise… we’ve never seen that from Philadelphia! They used three goalies to eliminate Buffalo in round one, and they’ll need more consistent netminding to knock out Boston. Brian Boucher won all of the Flyers’ games, but he’s been a very streaky goalie. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sergei Bobrovsky makes an appearance at some point in this series.

Final Prediction: Boston in 7.

Report on Concussions

The video is only supposed to be 2 minutes, it is just repeated 5 times (not sure why). Enjoy!

The Future Looks Bright in Leafland

The emergence of James Reimer should leave Maple Leafs fans excited for the future

             The Toronto Maple Leafs have staged yet another one of their late season surges, where they’ve won a number of pressure-packed, must win games. It seems like this sort of thing happens every year. During past seasons, the common line out of Leaf fans was, “it’s our time next year.” They are one of two teams who haven’t made the playoffs since the lockout (Florida is the other team), so fans are definitely growing tired of not being able to see their beloved team playing post season hockey. I believe that this drought will end next year, only if certain things fall into place.

            They say defense wins championships. Brian Burke has built his squad around a strong defensive core. Heading into this past season, Dion Phaneuf and Tomas Kaberle were the pillars of the backend. When Kaberle departed before the trade deadline, Phaneuf, Schenn and young-gun Keith Aulie really stepped up in his absence. These three blueliners will be integral to Toronto’s success moving forward. (On a side note, looking back, it’s hard to believe that Calgary gave away both Aulie and Phaneuf to the Leafs for Matt Stajan, Ian White, Jamal Mayers and Niklas Hagman). Keith Aulie is kind of like a ‘poor man’s’ Chris Pronger in the sense that they’re basically the same size (around 6’5), and know how to play their position well. However, Aulie definitely isn’t as dirty as Pronger, but he certainly knows how to drop the gloves when called upon.

            For the first time since 2002-2003, the Maple Leafs have two players with at least 30 goals (Mikhail Grabovski just misses the cut with 29 tallies). For Toronto to have any chance next season, they need their big 4 (Phil Kessel, Clarke MacArthur, Nikolai Kulemin and Grabovski) to excel. In addition, a full season in blue and white for both Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul will only help Toronto positively.

            For any team to have success in any level of hockey, the goaltender has to be at the top of his game. Throughout the first half of the season, JS Giguere and Jonas Gustavsson weren’t cutting it. Enter James Reimer (Optimus Reime, Reime Minister, Busta Reime) or any of his latest and greatest nicknames. The 23 year old Winnipeg native has a 20-8-5 record with a 2.51 goals against average and a .923 save percentage so far this season. He’s given the Leafs a legitimate chance to win on a nightly basis. The big test for Reimer (I actually heard someone call him ‘God’ this morning on the radio…a tad farfetched, I’d say) will be the off season. One of two things could happen. He could easily work very hard and come back in September looking like the Terminator, or he could spend the summer slacking off, hanging out poolside with an adult beverage constantly at his grasp. Judging by his humble personality, I would expect Reimer to continue to excel next season. With Francois Allaire as the Leafs goalie coach, Reimer’s technical skills will only improve.

            This may be the first blog on this site that is positive towards the Maple Leafs. I firmly believe that this late season hot streak is legitimate. If Toronto shows a similar level of play next season, they will finally end their post-lockout playoff drought.