Turris to Ottawa, Rundblad+2nd to Phoenix

                                                                   Crying solves nothing... Unless your Kyle Turris   

It's official. Phoenix has traded Kyle Turris to Ottawa. After holding out on the Coyotes, missing training camp and generally forcing his way out of the desert Phoenix had to move him. I think this is Bryan Murrays way of getting over the Heatley trade. His hand was forced in that deal and maybe he has recognized opportunity where others once saw it when Heatley wanted out.


Turris can be a solid player. The potential is certainly there but he has yet to show it. 46 points in a 137 games makes me question this deal. The cap hit is a no brainer but the kid wants to call the shots and it's that lack of respect for the game that makes him a poor addition. Show us what you can do now. I wouldn't be surprised to hear he isn't happy again at some point in the future.

Note: Filatov is KHL bound so Ottawa fans hope of Turris/Filatov line is gone for this season atleast.

Rundblad is projected as a top four defender. A solid prospect who can challenge for a spot on the blue line in Phoenix. His game lacks the defensive style of Phoenix but under Dave Tippett he will learn to tighten his game up and while his offensive skills will begin to shine once he becomes a more complete player.

He has great potential and straight up I think this deal could have happened so I believe based on how the Coyotes use the pick it is a win for Phoenix although both teams have gotten something out of this. Ottawa gets secondary scoring while Phoenix gets a solid prospect and a second round pick.

                                           

I'm now the game writer for the Akwesasne Warriors!

It's a really cool development but starting last night I am now writing the game summarys for the league website. It's a great opportunity and one I didn't see coming. I'm very happy to be doing it and it's a great step for me and the fact I started this blog made it happen. To anyone who reads the site so far I thank you for the views and the support. Now how do I get some of you to comment...

Warriors defeat Privateers 7-6

                    @

Period one

The game started with a fast pace as both teams were trading chances early.  Nicolas Corbeil opens the scoring  at 17:04 assists by (Martin Beaulne /Ahmed Mahfouz)

Privateers goes on the power play a couple minutes later and Pierre Dagenais pulls a couple defenders onto him and connects on a stretch pass to Martin Beaulne for a short handed goal at with 14:41 on the clock. 

On the next play another Akwesasne penalty makes it a 5 on 3. Akwesasne kills the first penalty but is less fortunate on the ensuing play as Brad Smulders sets up Justin Levac to pull within one with 13:12 left in the first period.

Play is back and forth speed and finesse is the name of the game so far as with teams looking to score in bunches here. Play is in the Akwesasne zone and both teams battling for the puck when Smulders wins a battle gets the puck to Mike Richard who dishes to Chad Bazin to even the score with 3:04 left.  A turnover at center ice leads to a one on one as Paul Kelly brings it point blank but is stopped by David Plouffe on a great read by the netminder. The teams go into the first intermission tied with two a piece.

Period two

Akwesasne is on the attack to start the second.  A couple chances with pucks gliding through the crease but nobody gets a stick on it. Pelkey to the box for hooking off of a faceoff as 1000 Islands goes on their third power play.  A gratuitous bounce from a point shot deflects in front of the net nearly leading to a tap in. A rebound and another scramble in front of Plouffe, The puck stops in the blue paint and  gets cleared from the crease right on the tape of the Privateers, Plouffe sees it and reacts well as Akwesasne kills off the penalty.

Play back is back and forth for a couple minutes before Tyler Fernandez beats Plouffe over the shoulder, Assists to Jeff Winchester and Mike Richard. On the next play an Akwesasne player is ridden into the goalie and there is a hook  on the play to Matt Kinnunen. A lengthy discussion as Privateers suggest the play should have been blown dead on contact.  Akwesasne quickly takes advantage on the power play as Pierre Dagenais scores on a hard slap shot assists to Sylvain Deschatelets  and Dan Tessier. It’s now tied at three a piece.

One on one and Privateers get a shot on Plouffe who loses sight of the rebound but covers it as a scrum begins in front of the net.  Justin Levac snipes one top shelf while being ridden to the outside by Raby who finishes his check before Levac has time to celebrate his goal. 4-3 Privateers.  Martin Beaulne gets tangled with goaltender Matt Anthony and there’s a penalty on the play.  Another call and Corbeil goes to the box. Power play goal Winchester with a blast from the point tipped in front by Adam McAllister as Privateers go ahead by two.

2^nd Intermission:  A lady whose name was drawn for the Shoot to Win contest puts the puck into the small puck sized hole and has won a Ford F-150 as the first of five shooters for the contest!

Third Period

Warriors come out for the second period with a jump in their step and are pressing the action trying to get bank in it. Akwesasne goal with 16:30 left in the third. Tight play in front of the net as Addison Pelkey taps it in from Patrick Deraspe  and Carter Trevisani to pull within one of the Privateers 5-4. Less than a minute later two chances going back the other way as the Privateers seem to be getting their feet and they capitalize on the second chance as Justin Levac bangs the puck in from Tyler Fernandez and Jeff Winchester.

Another penalty for Nicolas Corbeil and it’s a power play for the Privateers.  Akwesasne nearly nets another short handed goal as Martin Beaulne fails to wrap in in on a wide open cage as goaltender Matt Anthony misplayed the puck behind the net. Privateers were back checking most of the power play which led to more shots for Akwesasne .

Akwesasne goal scored by Pierre Dagenais who just got a great shot off and Anthony didn’t have time to react to it, 6-5 Privateers with 10:00 minutes left in the period. Privateers struggling to get it out of their own end leads to a tripping call on Matt Kinunnen. Akwesasne continues the pressure and a beautiful cross ice feed for Sylvain Deschatelets from Dan Tessier and it is a new game on the power play goal 6-6.

Privateers starting to pressure with some nice passing in the offensive zone they get Plouffe out of position but Trevisani dives in front of the net in support and Privateers fire wide of the net on what could have been the go ahead goal.

Warriors with the go ahead goal scored by Carter Trevisani assisted by Nicolas Corbeil. A point shot that trickled through five hole on Anthony. 7-6 Warriors.

Time is running down Matt Anthony to the bench for the extra attacker but the Akwesasne Warriors get the win 7-6 is your final in what was a great back and forth game. The pace of the game was high and it goes to show you how well matched and close this rivalry is.

Three Stars of the game

Martin Beaulne AKW 3^rd

Justin Levac 1000 Isl 2^nd

Pierre Dagenais AKW 1^st

Game summary by Joseph Francis

Akwesasne Warriors host 1000 Island Privateers 7:30 pm @ Massena Arena

                                                        Two heavyweights square off


I will be at this game. A full review will be available tomorrow.

For now I look at the rivalry. Two teams who dislike one another. Both loaded with talent. They met in the semi finals in last seasons playoffs with Akwesasne moving on to win the championship. Both teams have only gotten better since. It's been a back and forth struggle with these two evenly matched teams with the last game going into an 11 round shootout which former Montreal Canadien Pierre Dagenais ended on a high note for the Warriors as they won it 5-4.

Even the fans have had a heated rivalry as the hour and a half drive has led to shouting matches and a general dislike for one another. The Warriors bring a fan bus to Alexandria Bay(Home of the Privateers) which is always a wild experience. The Privateers have a handful of fans who make the drive to Akwesasne as well.  The atmosphere always seems like it could boil over the fun and friendly stage of a normal hockey game into a full on brawl so it's quite the experience for die hard hockey fans who love the feeling of being a part of the game, the team and with the size of it... the league.

Players to watch

Pierre Dagenais

The always dangerous former Montreal Canadien has 28 goals 20 assists in 17 games for Akwesasne and netted the game winning shootout goal last time these teams met.

Adam McAllister

21 points in 18 games. He had two goals and one assist in the last game against Akwesasne this kid just seems to have the Warriors number and it will be interesting to see if there is an answer for him tonight.

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Leafs vs Sabres @ 7:30pm (ET)

                                                              Miller is the Sabres.

Buffalo (15-12-3) vs Toronto (16-11-3)
It's a rivalry Leaf fans love until they realise Buffalo isn't playing their back up tonight . Ryan Miller is a thorn in the side of so many franchise he sports the number of teams on his jersey. He brings a battle level which allows him to make third and fourth saves on chances where other goalies are beaten on the initial rebound. All the cash Buffalo has thrown out to Leino to Ehrhoff to Regehr all goes out the window if Miller is off his game but that doesn't happen often enough.


The problem for Miller is at the moment while those players thrive off of his abilities, Miller is without the key support he is used to going into this game and the team is riding a two game losing streak(Rangers and Senators). Lindy Ruff has to make do with what he has and going against an inconsistent team like Toronto he might have enough tricks up his sleeve to get it done as he has in the past.

For Toronto the key is special teams. Toronto is 29th on the PK but fifth on the PP! While the functional PP certainly has helped the team to it's 16-11-3 record as a Leaf fan you have to wonder where the team would be if the PK was on par or atleast in the top ten. Toronto is going to take off if they get special teams figured out sooner rather than later but history teaches us it's not likely so hang in there Leafs Nation.

James Reimer looked good against Carolina but then again who doesn't? He is 1-3 since returning from his head/neck injury which seen him miss 18 games. I'm not completely sold on the kid yet. He had a nice start to the season but we didn't get a big enough sample. Does he return to form or is the rust to much to shake off? He certainly has the defense to get the job done but the penalty kill is no ones friend in Toronto right now.


Projection: Miller keeps Sabres in the game but a fairly healthy Toronto squad proves to be too much against the reeling Sabres. Toronto wins 4-2

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Maiden Voyage

Bringing the hammer down on the new blog... Actually that's a Sabre player Luke, not my blog...

I am a sports nut. I much like yourself, Wake up in the morning and check the news. Check results. I look at the schedule to see which games deserve a look. I plan outings to sports events. I check my mobile constantly. For this I feel I have found my passion. The one thing I never grow tired of. HOCKEY!


Starting today I plan to review analyze and dissect the world of hockey. Starting out it's just me. So I will try to cover as many stories as I can with what I've got.

About me.
I'm a Toronto Maple Leafs fan who can name nearly every roster in the league off the top of my head so while I may show bias when talking about the Leafs I will cover other teams as fairly as I can with the odd heated review and opinions.

What you will read about here.
NHL
I will try to cover all teams in some capacity with in depth review on the team I know and love most.

FHL
I am going to cover the local team The Akwesasne Warriors of the Federal Hockey League. It's a league in it's second season trying to find it's way in less dominant hockey markets.

The league consists of The Akwesasne Warriors(Defending champs from the inaugural season) The 1000 Island Privateers(Playing out of Alexandria Bay NY) The Brooklyn Aviators (Brooklyn, NY) The New Jersey Outlaws (Wayne, NJ) The Danville Dashers (Danville Illilnois) The Danbury Whalers(Danbury, Conneticut) and The Cape Cod Bluefins(Barnstable, Massachusetts)

My hope is to drum up local interest in teams. I attend every Warrior game and some 1000 Islands matchups.

Please comment and let me know what you would like to see. I would be happy to analyze.