Behind on the IIF World Championship? No Worries, I'll Catch You Up
So what to do great players do when their crappy teams don’t make the playoffs or are eliminated early? They go to the IIHF World Hockey Championships and represent their country. As the Thrashers are firmly entrenched in the culture of SUCK, we usually have several players that go. This season we had 6 players and 1 prospect head over to Bratislava, Slovakia to battle it out for the #1 spot. The preliminary rounds are ending and regulation starts tomorrow (Thursday, May 5)
First up...AMERICA...FUCK YEAH! (Some Team America World Police humor) We get to go first because 1. I'm American and 2. We just killed Osama Bin Laden. It's been a good week for us.
Team USA
The Thrashers have three players representing the red, white and blue.
Blake Wheeler
Tim Stapleton - I'm so excited for Timmy! He didn't have an NHL contract last year, now he's representing his country!
Marc Stuart - Not only is Stuie representing his country, he is the Captain of Team USA! Way to go, Marc!
Team USA is in Group C along with Sweden, Norway, and Austria. In the first preliminary game against Austria, Team USA won 5-1. Wheeler scored 1 goal, Timmy had some good looks at the net registering 4 shots on goal and Stuart got a delay of game penalty. Our next match is against Team Sweden Wednesday (May 4).
The True North strong and free! Team Canada has 2 Thrashers on it:
Evander Kane
and Thrashers captain, Andrew Ladd (someone give Laddy a brush!)
Ladd has played in all 3 games for Team Canada and is a +1. Evander Kane is off to a great start. He has played in all 3 games, is a +3 and has 2 assists. Way to go, Kaner!
Thrashers' net minder Ondrej Pavelec is well on his way to backstopping the Czech Republic team to tournament success. He has played in both games posting a GAA of 1 and a SV% of .956. He has won both games and shut Denmark out 6-0.
Thrashers prospect Arturs Kulda has done Team Latvia no favors so far. In his first game he delivered a brutal hit on Czech player and Islander Dman, Radek Martinek. Martinek suffered a severe concussion and a severe hematoma (bruise to the brain). He is NOT expected to return to the tournament. For his actions, Kulda was suspended for 3 games.
5 comments:
Versus has carried the first 2 USA games, and is scheduled to carry the one today at 2 or 3pm. Saw Canada vs Sweden on Versus late night last night. Appreciate you covering the Worlds. And f*ck yeah, its been a good week for us, LOL.
Hm. Anyone else notice all the USA guys are happy/smiley in their photos, but the euros are poker-faced if not downright surly? Ha ha. Come on guys- say "cheeeeese"!
You are welcome!
Anonymous #2, you are so right! USA = smile pics. Kane looks like he wants to kick your ass. Ladd looks like he's coming off of a bender.
Pavs looks serious and Kulda looks like he wants to destroy someone. Oh wait...HE DID!
I watched the Team Canada game last nite that came on about midnight, when I saw Evander heading out to the ice, and he looked so stern! Later, as he was moving down the bench, he had that "you look like Cooke to me" look on his face. I loved your "someone give ladd a brush" comment, lol. Isn't there a better time to take their pics, like "BEFORE" the game.
You know this household is cheering for Timmy! Stuart is really growing on me, but he looks like Stiffler from the American Pie movies in his headshot.
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