Canucks start building for training camp, call up 5 from Chicago
Patrick Johnston
January 06 2013 02:27PM
Jordan Schroeder's time is now (Photo: Patrick Johnston)
The youth movement is on its way. The Canucks have recalled Andrew Ebbett, Zack Kassian, Jordan Schroeder and Chris Tanev with immediate effect; Kevin Connauton will also be recalled, after this afternoon's matchup with the also-suddenly-depleted Oklahoma City Barons.
It's the beginning of what will be an abbreviated training camp, which is expected to begin midweek - varying reports point to Wednesday or Thursday - in preparation for the season to open on January 17th or thereabouts.
The news was first reported on Twitter by the Chicago Tribune's Paul La Tour:
Alexandre Grenier returns to North America
Patrick Johnston
January 06 2013 01:38PM
Alex Grenier stay in Austria was short and sweet; not unlike Salzburg's team sponsor.
The energy drink seems to have run out. Alexandre Grenier's sojourn in Austria lasted half a season, as, surprisingly, the young forward's contract was terminated by mutual consent last month.
As first reported in North America by The Canuck Way and earlier in the Austrian media, Grenier will soon make his North American pro debut. Although he's currently listed on the Wolves' roster, him making a further move to Kalamazoo seems possible.
The bitter pill of NHL fandom
Patrick Johnston
December 28 2012 04:54PM
(Photo: Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)
Here we are, angry again. We just want hockey back. We don’t want to hear any more about revenue splits, or term lengths, or bargaining rights, or…
The list goes on, right?
The media lights up at the slighest hint of an agreement; some of us get wound up by the news, whether or not we believe something might actually happen. It's absurd. In a cycle that began in September and has been repeated again and again, he are back to 'again.' For more than a month, so close have things been that everyone expresses disbelief that we are still where we are. No hockey. No apparent application of logic. No hope.
And yet, here we are, still talking about it. We clearly care. We care because, even as we have found other things to do with our time, we miss the emotion. There’s a connection to hockey that comes from our earliest days. We may lament that it’s one of the few examples of a unique Canadian culture, but there’s no denying that. We care because it’s not just in our blood, we care because it’s something we all know and share.
A second win in a row, two goals for Archibald, Wolves overwhelm Bulldogs.
Patrick Johnston
December 14 2012 02:47PM
After two goals and a fight against Hamilton, did Darren Archibald go get himself a beer?
(Photo: Chris Jerina/AHL in Photos)
In a middling season, are the Chicago Wolves' fortunes about to swing back up? The Canucks' minor leaguers opened the year with four straight wins, but until last night's win over Hamilton, they hadn't won two successive games since that ferocious opening.
Powered by two well-taken goals by Darren Archibald - plus a fight from the big winger - the Wolves controlled the game nearly to the end. A pair of late goals from the Bulldogs made it close on the scoreboard (4-3), but it was an impressive performance by a Wolves squad that hasn't had many impressive performances this year.
More on Darren Archibald after the jump. (Oh, and yes, on the rest of the team, too.)
Alex Mallet gets demoted
Patrick Johnston
December 04 2012 11:59AM
Alex Mallet needs to get back to driving to the net in Kalamazoo. (Photo: Chris Jerina/AHL in Photos)
Alex Mallet is off to Kalamazoo. The young Quebecer, a quintessential 'off-the-board' draft pick, was always going to be a project. Between the Wolves' lockout-bloated squad and the rawness of his skills, Mallet has struggled to get icetime and what little he's had, he's done little to stand out in a crowd.
But it's not like he's the first to have struggled to step up after gaining attention as a late-bloomer; Darren Archibald found the same challenges in his first professional season, just last year.
