I am not going to lie, after a less than stellar effort for the United States at back to back World Junior Championships and a round three of last spring’s WHL playoffs, one was starting to think that Medicine Hat Tigers star Emerson Etem might not be at his best when it matters most.
TPG shows draft’s defensive dominance
Should I have been surprised? Probably not. Was I? Yes. The 2012 CHL/NHL Top Prospects game showed the hockey world last night as to why the focal point of this year’s draft class is defensemen.
Loubardias: World Junior magic
Despite some lopsided scores, Thursday, December 29th at the World Junior Championship wont go down for me as a night of blowouts.
Loubardias: Wedgewood fueling net gains
Mark Visentin was solid in Canada’s opening game win over Finland, more than good enough to get the nod for Wednesday’s collision with the Czech Republic.
Loubardias: Depth in Canada’s favour
The number one asset for the Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Tournament is expected to be its depth.
Loubardias: Praise for Pearson
Let me start by saying two things. In nearly 30 years in the media and hockey business, one of the things I dreaded the most was covering the final cutdown at the National Junior Camp.
Loubardias: 2012 might be Murray’s only shot
The 2010 World Under 18 Hockey Championship won’t go down in Canadian history as a smashing success story. A matter of fact it was less than memorable for many, a seventh place finish in Minsk Belarus.
Loubardias: Gallagher locked in for Canada
The competition for jobs on Canada’s entry for the World Junior Championship is as good as I can remember, which means there are not a lot of locks for the 2012 edition of Team Canada. Following the first night, Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants can book his room in both Edmonton and Calgary.
Loubardias: Canada’s camp battles
Moments after Hockey Canada had released it’s roster for the upcoming National Junior Team’s final selection camp, the texts starting coming to my phone regarding who was not invited.
Loubardias: Stone ready for big stage
There are some scenes you never forget. One for me was following game five of the WHL’s Eastern Conference Final between the Calgary Hitmen and the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Loubardias: Super Series has Juniors implications
One of my favourite things to do – period, end of story – is think about who is going to represent Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championship, slated to begin Boxing Day in Edmonton and Calgary.
Nugent-Hopkins ready for primetime
One of the most popular questions I was asked during the course of the summer was will Ryan Nugent-Hopkins make the Edmonton Oilers or will he return to the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL.