Trade time Shake out

Yesterday the WHL went screaming through the trade deadline with some amazing bargaining chips laid on the table.  Some of the Chip were surprising, One chip being a player who is currently playing in the NHL, but if he gets sent back Tri-City can add Brett Connolly to the roster.  Second being, Cam Reid getting only a 8th round draft pick for a trade to Portland.  Third, being Marcel Noebels leaving Seattle to add another scoring component for division rivals down I-5, the Portland Winterhawks.

The total sum of transactions for the US div is below.

Trade Time, Who will move?

Photo Courtesy foodcourtlunch.com

The trade deadline for the WHL is fast approaching and some of the unstoppable teams will be assailed to pick apart their top lines so that the teams with fewer W's can thrive for the second half.   Bargaining Chips for this round of trade talks will undoubtedly be a higher draft ranking to pick up some of the lower league's finest.

The Team I think that has the most to offer and the highest gamble is Spokane.  The Chiefs sitting in the middle of the fight for a playoff spot, they will have to maneuver around the other GM's with utmost grace to bring home another franchise man.  Everett Silvertips task for finding second half talent will should focus less on individuals more on whole roster mentality.  The boys in the north of the US division   should worry less about acquisitions more on identity.

As for the answer to the title, nobody knows, but the second half of the US division is going to force some serious change for the teams with 3,4, and 5 in front of their names on the rankings score sheets.

Son Of a Goal

Courtesy WHL.ca

The stats would suggest that Calvin Pickard is an average goalie, but if you have seen him play, you know, that he is a goal tender destined to follow his brother to the NHL.

Night in and Night out Calvin faces more than 30 shots per game.  He has shown his face in 32 games, and taken 1163 shots so far.  Now lets compare, Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers has played 35 games and faced 37 fewer shots, or Luke Seimens of the Moose Jaw Warriors who has played 32 games and faced 280 fewer shots.  Tyler and Lukes' stats are a close sampling of the level of play Calvin has been tasked to face when he steps out on the ice.  What dose this suggest?  Defense

Seattles Defense is iffy at best, the boys rarely go down to defend a shot for their goalie.  T-birds D-men's sticks are always in both hands while behind the blue line, nor are using they busy stick technique to defend their zone, nor to do they dig in while occupying the natural zone.  The D-men are willing to place the W on Calvin's Shoulders who routinely takes home one of the 3 stars of the game.

The Defensive end must increase their intensity to seek the puck.   They are the first string net minders, and winning those one-one battles are what keeps the puck out of the blue ice.  

USA out of International Hockey?

Photo Care of Hockeysence.ca 

Well Well Well,  On December 30th United States National Hockey team failed to qualify for a medal round in the International Ice Hockey Fedreation U20 Tournee with a loss to the Czech Republic. It was a sad day south of the boarder.  Hopes were high on Charlie Coyle and Brandon Saad offensive talent but the abysmally overextended goal tending by Jack Campbell lead to the 2 big losses.  The Silver lining is the Canadian Hockey League's BMO rankings.
I would speculate that the WWE would like to sign some contracts with a few London Knights players after the December 26th brawlers bash, which lead the Knights loss and poor showing. The Spectacle should lead to a demotion in BMO rankings enough to put an American Team on top of the CHL's top spot.

The Kennewick Washington based Tri City Americans brought home a New Years Eve game Victory over the Spokane Chiefs and a big W column tally vs the Kelowna Rockets on the 29th.  Which should be enough to propel the Americans to the Top of the BMO and put the target on their backs for the top cup contention for either the Ed Chenoweth cup and the Memorial Cup.

Are the Americans Out of International Hockey? NO the USA is just aided by a bunch of Northern boys trying their best. Good on ya Ams!

Update: 1/05/12 As previously stated, The Bank Of Montreals Canadian Hockey Leagues Rankings came out yesterday and Americans are  on top.

Rank	Team (Record)	Last Week	# of Weeks
1	Tri-City Americans (29-7-0-0)	2	12
2	London Knights (27-8-0-1)	1	14
3	Quebec Remparts (28-7-2-2)	3	12
4	Plymouth Whalers (25-9-2-1)	6	8
5	Saint John Sea Dogs (29-12-0-2)	4	15
6	Shawinigan Cataractes (26-10-2-2)	5	13
7	Edmonton Oil Kings (25-10-1-3)	8	3
8	Kitchener Rangers (25-10-1-0)	9	4
9	Kamloops Blazers (26-10-1-2)	7	6
10	Moose Jaw Warriors (24-10-4-1)	10	2
	Honourable Mention:
	Brampton Battalion (22-10-1-4)	-	0
	Halifax Mooseheads (24-11-1-3)	-	1
	Portland Winterhawks (25-11-2-1)	-	2