Dayton Football: William Will Kickoff Touchdown
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Dayton Football: William Will Kickoff Touchdown
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Dayton Football: William Will Kickoff Touchdown
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Saturday, October 18, 2014
6:30 AM
Unknown
Leader of the pack
BRASOV, Romania – Building from the back is the key as the Transylvanian hosts Corona Brasov lean on the experience of Jaroslav Obsut to lead them through uncharted waters in the Continental Cup.
Neighbourly relations have played an integral part in the rise of Corona Brasov. While their fierce competition against its closest rival HSC Csikszereda has spurred each other on for top spot in Romania, another more amicable next door friendship is set to pay great dividends for the reigning Romanian champions as they are ready to step out on home ice for their inaugural Continental Cup experience.
With a long and distinguished resume at his disposal, Jaroslav Obsut was carefully considering his options during last summer after completing a season with Zvolen in the Slovak Extraliga. After two decades on the road, where he had tried his luck in North America, been a fan-favourite in Sweden's Luleå to playing in the KHL with a memorable Gagarin Cup final with Atlant Mytishi, Obsut was now back in his native Slovakia. Not for long though as a conversation struck up with his next door neighbour in Zvolen soon sent him packing once again.
"Our goalie here in Brasov, Patrik Polc, is my neighbour in Zvolen where I live. We used to talk a lot during the summers, and when he asked me last summer if I would be interested to come and play here, I said we'll see. The following week Brasov's President contacted me saying they were looking for defencemen," said 38-year-old Obsut.
Polc’s arrival coincided with ascent of Corona Brasov, a club which has existed in its current state since 2010 when the city's 2,000-seat ice arena Pationarul Olimpic was inaugurated. Now in his fifth season in Brasov, Polc’s goaltending has been a vital cog in the club's success. Having won their first trophy with the 2012 Romanian Cup, last season saw Brasov come to age as vice-champion in the MOL Liga before ending the season on a high when lifting their inaugural Romanian championship ending HSC Csikszereda's winning streak of seven national championships in dramatic fashion.
The reward for the big investments made by the local municipality in promoting the sport has now started to show tangible results. As the club now aims to defend its national championship while breaking new ground, Obsut will have a big part to play in his new environment shoring up the defence in front of his neighbour in the net.
"What I can say of my experience so far from the team is that there is a good atmosphere here, with a lot of great guys on the team," he said. "The season is long and it has only just started but the MOL Liga from what I see and hear is getting better each year. The differences from other leagues I have played in are small but there are still improvements to be done in aspects of the game such as faster thinking and passing for instance."
While Obsut brings bags of experience shoring up the Brasov defence, plenty more is found with the Brasov coaching staff. Following the departure of Slovak head coach Miroslav Ihnacak after barely a handful of games, Swedish coaching duo Jerry Andersson and Hakan Nygren stepped in. Now coaching in his eighth country, assistant coach Nygren gives a glaring review of his Slovak defensive rock.
"With his resume it is nothing short of fantastic that we have managed to get him to the club," Nygren said about Obsut. "When you have an established import player, he should not only be dominant out on the ice, but also teach and be willing to give input to the younger players. Obsut is a good and solid person with a good attitude so our players should be looking up to him on how he is preparing for the games and acting out on the ice," said Nygren about Obsut, who as recently as 2011/2012 was the captain of KHL team Dynamo Minsk.
"Whether you have a ‘C’ or not on your chest does not matter," said Obsut. "I just try to be the leader on the ice or the dressing room and tell the guys from the experience that I've got. I am getting older now, but I always want to improve, no matter what. Every time I go out on the ice I go out to have fun and to get better."
With four games in seven days behind them, and where five of their ten MOL Liga fixtures so far have gone to overtime, Brasov will be well prepared for what is expected to be three close encounters in the Continental Cup versus KH Sanok of Poland, Hungary's Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak and the champions of Latvia, Prizma Riga as their newly appointed coaching duo is trying to put their mark on the team.
"We have started building from the back," said Nygren. "But if we will progress in this tournament we need to get up to full steam, work hard and play simple when needed. On top of that I expect power play and box play to be playing a deciding factor."
While progress in the Continental Cup is motivation enough for the players of Corona Brasov, Obsut, who just returned to full fitness again after missing out a few games because of a groin injury, reveals he has his own added motivation to clock up more games as he plans to steam ahead for quite some time.
"Actually I was thinking of retiring during the summer, then I counted the league matches I have played and realised that I was up to 870 or something like that. Then I said to myself that if I stay healthy I will set the goal to try and play a thousand games," said Obsut.
The Continental Cup Group C is played in Brasov, Romania, 17-19 October 2014. The participating teams are KH Sanok (POL), Corona Brasov (ROU), Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak (HUN) and Prizma Riga (LAT).
At the same time Group B is played in Bremerhaven, Germany, with the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (GER), the Belfast Giants (GBR), the Tilburg Trappers (NED) and CSKA Sofia (BUL).
HENRIK MANNINEN
6:27 AM
Unknown
As Sean Kelly calmly laced up his daughter Catherine’s skates rink side, the urgency of the 30 minutes that preceded the family’s arrival at Iceland Sports Arena in Mississauga, Ont., had long been forgotten.
Catherine’s house league game that morning had been delayed, so after the Peewee goalie led her team with the Burlington Girls Hockey Club to a 3-2 win, she and her dad would have to hurry to make her 2 p.m. game 40 kilometres away.
“All we did was take off her skates and her pads,” says Sean. “She kept most of her equipment on and I drove like a maniac to get here.”
Ernie Banks may have been talking baseball, but many girls on Saturday were all too happy to play two if it meant being a part of The Long Game.
The rink in Stephenville, N.L., hosted a pancake breakfast before dropping the first puck on an event that would see more than 2,000 players on 98 teams play 49 games across five divisions. Fifteen hours later, the staff turned out the lights in Whitehorse, Yukon, the game having made its way through nine provinces and three territories.
All five games went down to the wire, with White’s 33-25 victory over Red in the Senior division providing the day’s largest margin of victory.
In all, Red earned two wins (22-19 in Bantam and 29-28 in Midget), White scored a pair of victories (35-33 in Atom and 33-25 in Senior) and the Peewee Long Game finished in a 30-30 tie, with Red beating White 6-0 in the final leg in Vernon, B.C., to draw even.
The idea for the event – a highlight of World Girls’ Hockey Weekend in Canada – came from Fran Rider, the president of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) and a member of Hockey Canada’s Female Council.
“We really are one family in the game,” she says. “We say it but how do you really feel it. I was trying to think how we can capture it in a tangible way because it’s sort of intangible: how can we get everybody in this country on one team.”
The players may be divided into Red and White, Rider says, but they all play for Team Canada.
“You don’t look at the other team as opposition but as teammates, too, because collectively we’re doing an activity that’s probably unmatched in any sport.”
Catherine Kelly, a Team White goaltender, was excited to be playing, but cautioned, “I might not be very good because I might be kind of tired.”
The 12-year-old, who’s played goal for four years – “I like it when I save the puck, then everyone’s cheering for me” – was supported at the rink by a handful of aunts and uncles, who were excited not only to watch her play but also to take photos of their niece giving her first hockey interview.
As Catherine got ready, the Atom girls were playing the OWHA’s first game of the day. Geraldine Heaney, a 2002 Olympic gold medallist and one of only three women in the Hockey Hall of Fame, coached her daughter, Shannon, and Team Red.
Heaney has led her daughter’s team for the past four seasons – “She still enjoys me coaching her. We’ll see how long that lasts,” says Heaney, laughing – and was proud to be a part of The Long Game for the second time.
Nobody cares about the score, she says; instead, the players get to help other provinces and skate with girls they otherwise wouldn’t get to play with. “My daughter sees some of the players she plays against during the year and they get to play on the same team. And they’re having a lot of fun, and I think that’s the biggest part.”
Heaney not only had a chance to also take part in the ceremonial puck drop – with fellow Olympic gold medallists Sami Jo Small and Natalie Spooner – but her playing number (91), as well as the one belonging to follower Hall of Famer Angela James (8), was stitched on all the players’ jerseys. By the time many of the players took to the ice, they were sporting autographed jerseys.
To participate in the OWHA portion of the event, players are asked to fill in a survey explaining why they would like to be a part of the day.
The most frequent answer: to meet new friends.
That was certainly true for Atom player Tatum Casson. She didn’t know any of the girls in her dressing room, but that was just fine with someone whose favourite thing about hockey is “being with the team.”
Mom Jill agrees.
“She’s very social, and that part of the game is really important to her and her sister.” Jill’s 11-year-old daughter also played in The Long Game.
With the girls’ games being a couple hours apart, the Cassons made a day of it at the rink, something Jill was glad to do.
“Girls’ hockey has come a long way but it still has a long way to go,” she says. “I’m happy to be a part of this. It makes girls’ hockey more visible.”
And it wasn’t just the players and parents who were proud to be there.
“To wear the (WGHW) patch today, I’m pretty honoured,” says Michel Bodaly, one of the day’s officials. “I called everyone back home and told them.”
The non-stop activity continued into the dinner hour, with the Senior players finishing off the action. The division was added this year to allow more women to join the event.
“The young girls are starting to play now,” says Rider, “but also the adult women who never had a chance to play are playing and balancing careers and families.” Next year may bring even more changes, she says. “We’re just trying to come up with ideas on how we can add more support and strength and really build women’s hockey.”
6:26 AM
Unknown
TORONTO – October 7, 2014 – Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada today launched The First Shift, a new learn-to-play hockey program designed to introduce kids and families to the game in a fun, convenient and practical way. Changing the way hockey is offered, The First Shift will be available in 30 markets across Canada and is part of Bauer Hockey’s global Grow the Game initiative to add one million new families to the game by 2022.
“We’re excited to offer The First Shift because now kids and families have a fun and practical way to try this great game at an affordable price,” said Kevin Davis, president and CEO of Performance Sports Group, the parent company of Bauer Hockey. “I’m excited that parents and kids who have never played the game feel welcomed and have fun at these events. As we look to expand this program even further, we’ll add thousands of new families to the game this season.”
The First Shift is a six-week program for kids ages 6–10 who have never played hockey. The cost is $199, which includes equipment and enrollment. In partnership with Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada, each community program will host a welcome event for families and kids who have enrolled, which is easy to do at www.TheFirstShift.ca. At the welcome event, participants will receive their gear, learn how to put it on and find out more about the program’s on-ice goals.
“Hockey is a great game that not only helps kids be active but it’s also a sport that helps build friendships and skills that will last a lifetime,” said Mark Messier, NHL legend who partnered with BAUER for the Grow the Game program. “At the elite level, hockey is still Canada’s game, but we need to make sure we have an option available for the young boys and girls looking to get on the ice and just have some fun. That’s what The First Shift is all about.”
In partnership with local minor hockey associations, which provide resources and execution support, Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada are changing the way the game is introduced to new families. Current program offerings across Canada will continue to successfully meet the needs of elite and competitive hockey players, while The First Shift will offer entry-level players an easy way to try the game.
“It is so exciting to work with Bauer Hockey to take The First Shift across Canada and introduce the game to even more Canadians,” said Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “Hockey Canada has committed itself to making hockey accessible to as many Canadians as possible, and with the tremendous support of Bauer Hockey, this program is a big step in the right direction. Hockey truly is Canada’s game, and the more Canadians that get an opportunity to lace up their skates, the better.”
Included below are the locations for The First Shift programs across Canada.
EAST CENTRAL WEST
Fredericton, N.B. Brampton, Ont. Calgary, Alta.
Moncton, N.B. Carleton Place, Ont. Edmonton, Alta.
Sussex, N.B. Chatham, Ont. Lethbridge, Alta.
Bridgewater, N.S. London, Ont. Ashcroft, B.C.
Halifax, N.S. Mississauga, Ont. Williams Lake, B.C.
Sydney, N.S. Orleans, Ont. Battleford, Sask.
Charlottetown, P.E.I. Port Perry, Ont. Whitewood, Sask.
Montreal, Que. St. Catherines, Ont.
Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Que. Tavistock, Ont.
St. Laurent, Que. Toronto, Ont.
Families and children looking for more information or who are interested in participating in The First Shift should go to www.TheFirstShift.ca.
About Bauer Hockey
Bauer Hockey is the world’s most recognized designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment. Founded in Kitchener, Ontario, in 1927, Bauer Hockey developed the first skate with a blade attached to a boot, forever changing the game of hockey. Since then, Bauer Hockey has continued to develop the most sought after products in the industry, including the widely successful SUPREME®, VAPOR® and NEXUS® lines of products. Performance Sports Group Ltd., the parent company of Bauer Hockey, is a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange whose affiliates market products under the BAUER, MISSION, MAVERIK, CASCADE, INARIA, COMBAT and EASTON brand names. For more information, visit www.BAUER.com.
About Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 provincial branch associations of over 700,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada, provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast, manages numerous regional, national and international hockey championships and events, and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international hockey competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to “lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences.” For more information, visit www.HockeyCanada.ca.
Media Contacts:
Tory Mazzola
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Performance Sports Group
Phone: 603-430-2311 x 5908
Email: media@bauer.com
6:21 AM
Unknown
"Canada men's national hockey team" redirects here. For the national field hockey team, see Canada men's national field hockey team.
The Canadian National Men's Ice Hockey Team is the ice hockey team representing Canada internationally. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior amateur club teams. Canada's national men's team was founded in 1963 by Father David Bauer as a part of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, playing out of the University of British Columbia.[2] The nickname "Team Canada" was christened for the 1972 Summit Series and has been frequently used to refer to the Canadian national team ever since.
Canada has been one of the leading national ice hockey teams in international play, winners of the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, four of five Canada Cups dating back to 1976, nine Olympic gold medals (the most of any participating hockey nation), including three of the last four; Salt Lake City 2002, Vancouver 2010, and Sochi 2014. They are 24-time IIHF World Champions and winner of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
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