|  Wys³any: 2019-06-11 04:28:03 Temat postu: But Canada has the depth of talent to remain a winner
VANCOUVER -- Losing some of its top executives leaves Hockey Canada with some big skates to fill. But Canada has the depth of talent to remain a winner on the international stage, says the man who coached the mens team to back-to-back Olympic gold medals. "I am really confident," Detroit Red Wing coach Mike Babcock said Monday. "The group at Hockey Canada have done great things and have lots of different people. "Thats part of it. Different people get opportunities. They grow from it and they move on. A new group will get an opportunity and thats great." Steve Yzerman, Team Canadas executive director at the last two Winter Olympics, has already said he will not lead the team at the 2018 Games at Pyeongchang, South Korea. Bob Nicholson, who spent 16 years as president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, stepped down in May to take a job overseeing business operations for the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL. Under Nicholson, Canadian hockey teams won seven Olympic gold medals. Brad Pascall, Hockey Canadas vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, has joined the NHLs Calgary Flames as an assistant general manager. Yzerman said Nickolson always stressed that Hockey Canadas role was to develop people for the next level. "Not only for players, but also for coaches, for managers, for all people," said Yzerman, the former Detroit star who is now general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "I think Bobs great legacy at Hockey Canada is the structure he set up and the mentality of what we are trying to do in Canada with hockey. Great people will fill those shoes. With Bob Nicholson, those are big skates to fill. But I have no doubt there are tremendous people in this country with a passion and drive. The program will continue to succeed." Babcock and Yzerman were in Vancouver as part of the Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic. A Monday night gala paid tribute to the 2014 Order of Hockey Canada honourees coach Clare Drake, player France St-Louis and Yzerman. Also attending were members of the Olympic champion mens team, the womens team that won gold at the Sochi Olympics in Russia and the team that won the womens under-18 championship in Budapest. Babcock said Canada can be proud of its Olympic success but must continue to work hard if the country hopes to remain on top of the podium in four years. "You take a lot of pride in being the best," he said. "In order to be the best you have to find the best to win. "Were going to have to continue to grow our game over the next four years. If you want to have success at the next Olympics, 2014s effort wont be good enough to win the next one. We have to keep getting better." The NHL hasnt committed to sending its players to the 2018 Games. Among the leagues concerns are a 12-hour difference between Pyeongchang and the Eastern Time Zone, taking a break in the middle of the regular season, and the danger of players being injured. Sidney Crosby, the Canadas captain in Sochi, understands the problems but still thinks the Olympics are worth the effort. "I go back to my two experiences," said Crosby, who scored the Olympic winning goal in overtime in 2010 in Vancouver. "They were pretty good. "To think of all the things that had to happen to make them work, especially in Russia, it would be a similar case, maybe even a little more difficult the next one. Like I said, representing your country and to have those opportunities, I dont think that ever gets old, no matter what the situation. As a player, you want to be part of that." As a possible alternative to the Olympics, the NHL is discussing with the NHL Players Association about holding a World Cup of Hockey tournament in 2016. Yzerman said a World Cup has the potential to gain the same prestige as an Olympics. "It will take some time," he said. "The Olympics have been around for a long time on the world stage. If done right, I can see it being really successful." Babcock said the Olympics "are so special" because they are watched by people who are not even hockey fans. "My mom never watches sports but she watches the Olympics Games," he said. "People who are not interested in sport still follow it. "I think its the greatest opportunity, best-on-best, to celebrate the sport. Its something you want to be part of and you want other people to be part of. Its a thrill of a lifetime." All three people named to the Order of Hockey in Canada were recognized for their contributions to the game. Yzerman played 22 seasons in the NHL and played for Team Canada eight times, including at two Winter Olympics. As a member of Canadas national womens team St-Louis won five world championships and a silver medal at the 1998 Olympics. In 28 seasons as head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears Drake led his teams to six national championships and 17 Canada West titles. Babcock compared Drake to legendary NCAA basketball coach John Wooden. "He is one of the builders of hockey in Canada," said Babcock. "Clare is a gentleman who shared everything he had. He tried to make us all better. "He led the way so guys like myself, who werent NHL players, could one day coach in the NHL." Manny Machado Jersey . 3 seed Phillip Kohlschreiber from Germany. Defending champion Marin Cilic also reached the semifinals -- his fourth in Zagreb -- defeating fellow Croat Ivan Dodig. German qualifier Bjorn Phau beat Dudi Sela of Israel to reach his first semifinals in nearly five years. Tony Gwynn Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.padressale.com/padres-trevor-hoffman-jersey/ . - The Florida Panthers are getting some Army training to finish off their preparations for the season. Dave Winfield Jersey . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener. Ozzie Smith Jersey .During the week, McCoy told reporters he respected Hoyer for his intelligence, athleticism and how he conducts himself on and off the field. This wasnt an act, some attempt at psyching out Hoyer.BOSTON – The scene was eerily familiar. Less than six minutes remained on the clock at TD Garden with the visitors warily protecting a one-goal lead. Exploding from the loud speakers was a rowdy tune from the Dropkick Murphys, the sea of black and yellow in attendance shouting along boisterously in support of the home side. But unlike in that infamous Game 7 collapse last May, the flu-ridden Maple Leafs found a way to hang on and remain on top Tuesday night, scoring a rare 4-3 victory in front of the ravenous hometown fans of their fiercest rival – their first in the regular season since Mar. 2011. "It almost felt like it was the playoffs again and this time we came out on top," said Jake Gardiner, who scored the second of two power-play goals against the Bruins. "Its just too bad it wasnt last year that it happened." "Hopefully it bleeds some of the demons out of us," added Randy Carlyle of the victory, just the third in the past 15 road games for his team. It took every last bit of will to hang on against the best team in the Eastern Conference, a Bruins squad which had won 10 of its previous 11 games at home. Manhandled in the final frame – they were outshot 15-6 – the Leafs required a pair of blocked shots from Tim Gleason to survive the one-goal victory, just the fifth in regulation for the club since the outset of November. "Im probably not going to give you 20 goals," said Gleason with a grin, "so thatll give you an idea of what I can do." One win in January will in no way excuse what took place so painfully for the Leafs in this building last spring, but it should, at the very least, offer a jolt of confidence to a team thats struggled to find its way all year and especially in the past couple of months. "Theyre better efforts, thats for sure," Carlyle said of the past three games, which include the most recent back-to-back wins. "Weve raised our compete level and were going to have to continue to do that to get points. The most frustrating for our hockey club has been that we havent been able to achieve that with any consistency." Back in a playoff position after falling out for the first time all year last week, Toronto knows it can ill afford to rest on the fleeting satisfaction of a needed road win. Asked afterward what he hoped his team would grasp from the victory, Jonathan Bernier responded simply. "Maturity," he said. "Its not easy to come in this building, especially what they went through last year losing in Game 7. It shows a lot of character for that team to come here and win it." Five Points 1. Rare Road Win The road has been a cold and unforgiving place for the Leafs since the opening month of the season. In fact, Tuesday marked the clubs first victory in regulation away from the ACC since Oct. 30, a stretch that includes 12 losses in 15 games. "To be a good team, to be a playoff team, to be a team thats going to challenge, you have to win on the road," said Carlyle afterward. 2. Bozaks Enduring Hot Streak Inked to a five-year deal worth $21 million in the summer, Tyler Bozak continues to thrive through one of the more productive stretches of his NHL career. Bozak scored twice and added an assist against the Bruins, giving him 17 points in the past 14 games and 22 points in 24 games this season. The 27-year-old has nine goals on just 32 shots, scorching with a 28.1 per cent shooting accuracy. "Obviously getting some good bounces," said Bozak, scoring his first of the night on a rebound, the second from a nifty backdoor feed from James van Riemsdyk. "Just found myself going to the right areas at the right time and pucks have been squirting out and Ive been able to get some sticks on them. But also the guys Im playing with have been making great plays to me and been creating space for myself, so I think thats been helping a lot too." His linemates (for the most part Tuesday,) van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel,, have been heating up as well.dddddddddddd With a goal and an assist Tuesday, van Riemsdyk now has three goals and five points in the past three games. Kessel, meanwhile, had three assists in his third consecutive multipoint game. The 26-year-old actually entered the game with six career assists against the Bruins (reg. season), scoring three alone on this night. 3. Flu Bug According to Carlyle, up to eight Leafs have been suffering from the flu over the past three days, including Colton Orr, who was forced to miss Tuesdays game and David Clarkson, who was sick on Monday night and missed the morning skate. "I think Morgan [Rielly] gave the whole team the disease," joked Bozak afterward, "so hes been getting a lot of grief from some of the guys." 4. Strategy Creative efforts were made by the Toronto coaching staff in the playoffs last spring to free Kessel from the potential grips of Zdeno Chara, who had thoroughly dominated the Leafs sniper previously. Such efforts, which found success in the first round of the seven-game series, continued Tuesday night. Kessel was removed from his usual spot alongside Bozak and van Riemsdyk from the games opening faceoff – replaced by Joffrey Lupul – and paired instead with Nazem Kadri and Mason Raymond. He bounced back to his usual line from time to time, but the message was clear. "…if they want to play Chara against Phil, then well put him with Kadri and have another formidable offensive line that we think can provide offence," said Carlyle. With Chara on the bench, Kessel scored an assist on Bozaks eighth of the season and first of the game. 5. Better Opportunity for Holland Upon reassigning Peter Holland to the Marlies last week, Carlyle insisted that employing the 22-year-old on the fourth line was "probably hurting his development curve". "On the way dow,n they just said that they were happy with me, not to read into [the decision] too much, but they just didnt want me playing three or four minutes a night – they wanted me to have some more ice-time," said Holland, recalled by the Leafs Monday after scoring three times in two games with the Marlies. In his first game back with the club, Holland moved up in the lineup, replacing Jay McClement alongside Nik Kulemin and David Clarkson against the Bruins. Carlyle suggested before the game that McClement, who entered the night averaging nearly 17 minutes per game, was being overused. "We think at times were overtaxing Jay McClement," said Carlyle. "Were playing him way too much and the results come back in our penalty-killing and his ability to continue to provide energy. Hes been a real solid player for us, but when we acquired him, we looked at him as being more of a fourth-line player that would step up and be our top penalty killer." Carlyle spoke briefly with Holland at the end of Tuesdays morning skate. His advice? "Just be a little bit more physical, just get inside on guys, just fight for a job," said Holland, who played nearly 11 minutes on Tuesday. Stats-Pack 1-2-0 – Record versus Boston this season. 3-8-4 – Road record since the start of November. 17 – Points for Tyler Bozak in the past 14 games. Bozak has six goals and 11 assists in that span. 1 – Regulation road victories since Oct. 30. 5-5-1 – Record on the first half of back-to-back sets this season. 10:26 – Ice-time for Peter Holland in his return to the Leafs on Tuesday. 1 – Goals for Nazem Kadri in the past 15 games. 3 – Consecutive multipoint games for Phil Kessel, who has seven points in that span. Special Teams Capsule PP: 2-5 Season: 22.4% (5th) PK: 3-3 Season: 77.8% (27th) Quote of the Night "Hopefully it bleeds some of the demons out of us." - Randy Carlyle, on the significance of winning in Boston. Up Next The Leafs host the Sabres Wednesday in the second end of a back-to-back. 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But Canada has the depth of talent to remain a winner
