Midseason Awards, Part I: The Hart and The Vezina
Jonathan Willis
January 17 2012 10:11AM
As the NHL moves past the midway mark of the season, it’s time to look back at which players deserve hardware, based on their performance over the first half. To answer that question, we polled writers from across the Nation Network, talking to writers at every site.
This morning, we unveil the first of our midseason awards: our picks for the winners of the Hart and Vezina Trophies.
Does the Momentum Boost From Fighting Help Teams Win Games?
Jonathan Willis
January 11 2012 02:40AM
It’s a scene anyone who watches NHL hockey has seen: two players squaring off, dropping the gloves, and going at it. One player might dominate the other, the two players might draw more or less even, but after the fight the teams will generally get back to playing 5-on-5 hockey (barring an instigator penalty to one player.)
Usually, one team will come out playing better after the fight. And usually, the commentator that evening will make a point of mentioning that Player X’s big fight win and/or willingness to go toe-to-toe with a beast like Player Y has given his team momentum.
Is there any truth to that story?
Weak Goaltending and the World Juniors Go Hand-in-Hand
Jonathan Willis
December 20 2011 02:38PM
The last several years have seen strong Canadian entries at the World Juniors. When it comes to the talent of their forwards and defensemen, Team Canada has access to riches unparalleled in any other country in the world.
The situation is a little different in net, where the uncertain tandem of Mark Visentin and Scott Wedgewood will backstop this year’s team.
The Problem With Mike Milbury
Jonathan Willis
December 16 2011 02:49PM
Today, CBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury was charged with assault in relation to an incident that occurred with an opposing player as he helped coach his son’s pee wee hockey team.
How serious the incident was is not entirely clear; but from the reports today it sounds like it’s fairly unexceptional hockey parent behaviour. That may change depending on what exactly Milbury said – the reports also indicate he was charged with uttering threats, after all – but everyone who has spent any amount of time around the game has seen, heard or at the very least read about the line-crossing actions of hyper-competitive hockey moms and dads.
The actions alone weren’t the reason the internet quickly filled with Mike Milbury jokes this morning.
Canadian World Junior Team To Make Final Cuts Tomorrow
Jonathan Willis
December 13 2011 09:01PM
The World Junior Championships are less than two weeks away, and Team Canada is poised to make their final cuts tomorrow morning. It won’t be an easy decision, as the team boasts incredible depth at almost every position.
