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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Month: May 2012

2012 Memorial Cup Preview

Posted on by Ben Kerr

With the Memorial Cup set to begin on Friday, we are going to take a one day break from our draft previews and bring you a quick guide to the 2012 tournament.  The Memorial Cup is one of the oldest and most sought after trophies in hockey, and one of the best traditions in Junior hockey.  This year’s tournament is scheduled to start on Friday in Shawinigan, and the final is scheduled for May 27th.  So without further ado, lets take a look at the participants in the 2012 Memorial Cup.

Saint John Sea Dogs
Record: 50-15-0-3, 1st in the QMJHL, Won QMJHL Presidents Cup with a 4-0 sweep of Rimouski Oceanic (16-1 in playoffs).
NHL Prospects: Jonathan Huberdeau (Fla), Charlie Coyle (Min) Nathan Beaulieu (Mtl),  Zack Phillips (Min), Tomas Jurco (Det), Stanislav Galiev (Was), Ryan Tesink (StL), Charles-Olivier Roussel (Nas), Stephen MacAuley (StL), Mathieu Corbeil (CBJ), Danick Gauthier (UDFA – Tampa),

Saint John is back in the Memorial Cup after winning in 2011.  They bring back the vast majority of the core of the team that won last year.  The only key player missing is Simon Despres who graduated to play pro hockey in the AHL/NHL for Wilkes-Barre/Pittsburgh this season.  However the Sea Dogs have also added to their potent lineup, picking up Charlie Coyle in January.  Coyle only led the Sea Dogs in playoff scoring with 15 goals and 34 points in 17 games winning the QMJHL playoff MVP.

Saint John has the highest powered offence in the entire CHL.  They come at teams in waves, and feature 3 lines that would be considered the “1st line” of many CHL clubs.  Their defence led by Beaulieu and Roussel also contribute to this offensive juggernaut.  They’ll be very tough to shut down.  But even if someone can, they will have to contend with scoring against that experienced defence and goalie Mathieu Corbiel who put in an excellent performance in the QMJHL playoffs.

Shawinigan Cataractes
Record: 45-16-3-4, 2nd in QMJHL; 7-4 in playoffs (lost in 2nd round to Chicoutimi in 7 games).  Qualified as Memorial Cup Host.
NHL Prospects: Kirill Kabanov (NYI), Michael Chaput (CBJ), Yannick Veilleux (StL), Michael Bournival (Mtl), Morgan Ellis (Mtl), Dillon Donnelly (Col-Avs), Jonathan Racine (Fla), Brandon Gormley (Phx),
2012 Draft Prospects: Anton Zlobin, Justin Hache

Shawinigan has been off for nearly a month after being upset by the Chicoutimi, Saguenéens in the 2nd round of the QMJHL playoffs.  The playoff results were certainly unexpected and didn’t reflect the great season that the Cataractes had.  Shawinigan is a strong club and should not be underestimated in this tournament.  They have the ability to score goals and a very deep and balanced offence led by Zlobin, Kabanov, Chaput, Veilleux, and Bournival.  However the strength of the team is on defence.  The Cataractes added Brandon Gormley and Morgan Ellis at the QMJHL trade deadline, and really beefed up the squad at the backend.  The fans will sure to be solidly behind the Cataractes, and the team could surprise, as they are capable of beating any of the other teams at the tourney.

London Knights
Record: 49-18-0-1, 1st in OHL; 16-3 in playoffs (Won J. Ross Robertson Cup 4-1 over Niagara)
NHL Prospects: Vladislav Namestnikov (Tampa), Jared Knight (Bos), Greg McKegg (Tor), Jarred Tinordi (Mtl), Scott Harrington (Pit), Austin Watson (Nas),
2012 NHL Draft Prospects: Olli Maatta, Andreas Athanasiou, Seth Griffith, Ryan Rupert, Michael Houser, Chris Tierney
2013 NHL Draft Prospects: Max Domi

2012 wasn’t supposed to be London’s year.  This London team is very young, and most experts had them pegged as a team that was being built to challenge in 2013.  However, led by OHL MVP Michael Houser, the Knights stormed out of the gate and never looked back.  The defence led by Captain Jarred Tinordi, Scott Harrington, and Olli Maatta is extremely stingy, and when they do give up a chance Houser is usually there to make the stop.  The Knights however will be expected to play a strong defensive minded game and rely on their suffocating defence and strong goaltending to lead them to victories.  When needed, The Knights can score goals too.  Once it became obvious that they were a real contender this year, they bolstered the offence by trading for Greg McKegg and Austin Watson.  They added two dynamic scorers to a team that already features Seth Griffith, Jared Knight, Vladislav Namestnikov, Max Domi, and Ryan Rupert, the Knights are not lacking for offence.  The Hunter brothers have the Knights play a tough, disciplined game, and they will be a tough opponent in the tourney.

Edmonton Oil Kings
Record: 50-15-0-7, 1st in WHL; 16-4 playoffs (Won Ed Chynoweth Cup 4-3 over Portland)
NHL Prospects: Michael St. Croix (NYR), Martin Gernat (Edm), Kristians Pelss (Edm), Mark Pysyk (Buf), Keegan Lowe (Car), Laurent Brossoit (Cgy), Travis Ewanyk (Edm),
2012 NHL Draft Prospects: Griffin Reinhart, Henrik Samuelsson, Mitch Moroz, Ashton Sautner, Cody Corbett
2013 NHL Draft Prospects: Curtis Lazar

Like Saint John and London, the Oil Kings finished 1st overall in their league.  However unlike the previous two teams they were not the best team in their league all season long.  However they got incredibly hot in the second half of the season and were clearly the best team in the WHL down the stretch and through the playoffs.  They put together a 22 game winning streak to end the season and start the playoffs (11 season games, 11 playoff games), the longest in the CHL this year, and came close to tying the best ever WHL streak (season and playoffs combined) of 27 set by Grant Fuhr’s Victoria Cougars in 1981, and the WHL playoffs record of 12 set by the 1989 Swift Current Broncos, and later tied by the 2006 Vancouver Giants, and 2009 Calgary Hitmen.  In just their 5th year in the WHL, what they have done this season is quite remarkable, as the Oil Kings had not won a playoff round before this year.  The Oil Kings are built on strong defence, featuring goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who is their team MVP, and might be the best goalie in this tournament.  He’s an early favorite to be the Goalie for Team Canada at the 2013 World Juniors.  They also feature Mark Pysyk and Griffin Reinhart, two outstanding defensive defenceman (both of whom can add offence as well).  Upfront the team is led by St. Croix, Foster, Maxwell, and a young Curtis Lazar, a top 10 canadidate for 2013, and Henrik Samuelsson a first round candidate for 2012. On the back end Gernat is a big weapon who contributes a lot to the Oil Kings offence.  Unfortunately Dylan Wruck was injured in the WHL playoffs and is not expected to be available in the tournament.  The Oil Kings play tough Alberta hockey, and the combination of the team’s skill and grit will make them a challenge for anyone they face.

Prediction

This is always a fun tournament, and one of the most difficult to predict in sports.  You have junior aged players, and they can be unpredictable facing a big time pressure situation.  You also have teams who don’t face each other during the year, and who don’t even face common opponents.  With that said, I’m going to try and predict it anyway.

I predict that the Saint John Sea Dogs will repeat as Memorial Cup Champions defeating the London Knights in the final game.

… and thats the Last Word.

Damien Brunner: This Year's Sought After European Free Agent

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Every year it seems there is an undrafted free agent player from Europe who NHL teams are salivating over in an attempt to sign.  This year is no different.  In fact we’ve already seen one such player signed as Czech Roman Červenka signed with the Calgary Flames.

There are reports out that multiple NHL teams are after Damien Brunner, a 26 year old forward currently playing for the Swiss National team in the IIHF World Championships.  Teams reportedly interested include the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Philadelphia Flyers.  One can assume there are other teams interested who are trying to fly under the radar.

Brunner has been a scoring star for Zug in the Swiss Elite League, which is traditionally a low-scoring league.  In 2010, he scored 58 points in 47 games.  In 2011 he scored 46 points in 40 games.  And this year he did something that no Swiss-born and trained player had done in 30 years – he led the Swiss league in scoring with 60 points in 45 games.

Brunner is considered undersized at 5’11”, 187 lbs (eliteprospects.com) or 5’10” 176 (hockeydb.com), but he certainly has talent.  How that will translate to the NHL is unclear, but when a player like this is available without costing NHL teams prospects, picks, or other trade assets, it certainly draws attention.  Whether he flops like a Fabian Brunnstrom, or earns a regular spot in the NHL like a Raphael Diaz, remains to be seen.

Brunner is said to have very good skating, stickhandling, and an NHL-level shot and release.  In the World Championships he’s shown an ability to create offence against NHL caliber defencemen, and has clearly been Switzerland’s best player.  Despite his size he’s shown an ability to play a gritty game and to get to the front of the net.  From all indications, he is a capable two-way player, which will greatly help him to make the NHL even if he needs some time to find his offence.

You can check out Brunner’s slick-hands and offensive skills in these YouTube compilations that we found.  We thank the users who posted them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdaOemuCXp8

It will be interesting to see if he decides to come to the NHL next season, and with which team he will land.

… and that is the Last Word.

 

The Allure of the NFL Tailgate Party

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

Let’s face it, the NFL is the best run sports league in the world.  Care to argue?  Didn’t think so.  Without addressing all the intricacies of the organization and why it is so lucrative, which, admittedly, I should eventually get around to, I want to focus on what makes gameday so special and unique.

I’ve seen virtually every major sport “live” and on numerous occasions – NFL, CFL, NBA, CBA, NHL, OHL, AHL, NLL, PGA, MLS, CONCACAF, blah, blah, blah.  Still, none of them can match-up to Sunday in the NFL.

As a long-time CFL supporter, football has always been my sport.  I have had season tickets to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for 26 years.  However, I was also a big NFL fan, particularly true of the Buffalo Bills.  I had my first taste of NFL when I was around nine years old.  Rich Stadium (now Ralph Wilson Stadium) was massive.  I recall vividly being in awe of the throngs of people making their way to their seats.

A few years ago, I decided to splurge and add season tickets for the Bills along with a couple of friends of mine (one of whom was our very own Ben Kerr).  I knew tailgating was huge, but I didn’t realize the degree to which its participants had it down to a science or art form.

We would leave from my house at around 7am each Sunday, as I lived only thirty minutes to the Peace Bridge joining Canada to the US.  After chatting it up with the border patrol, we made a b-line to the duty-free to pick up some “drinks” and were promptly on our way to Orchard Park, and 1 Bills Drive.  The traffic around the stadium moved very slowly, obviously.  On our first visit we just picked a random spot, but every game after we tried to park beside the same people, and got to know them quite well.

Our new friends showed us what it was like to really tailgate. They had an old, small school bus they bought for next to nothing. After fixing it up, they painted it blue with a red stripe down its side, and added some big, yellow field goal posts on top.  They definitely looked the part, but what was under the hood?  I remember watching these guys unpack this bus in no time at all – they were the definition of systematic.  When the back doors opened, there was a large screen television.  But when they hooked up their satellite to the roof, we all just looked at each other.   They brought out about half a dozen chairs and a couch, and set up a few foldable tables.  The barbecue was full-sized, as you would expect.  They had large Rubbermaid tubs filled with utensils, plates, condiments, paper towels and anything else one would find in a well-stocked kitchen pantry.  They also built a tent around the back of the bus to shield them from all elements – heat, cold, rain and snow.  And for the game on December 21, which was well below zero, they revealed a commercial sized heater, similar to the ones that were used on the sidelines for the games.

These guys, as well-prepared as they were, are not trailblazers by any stretch.  For some of you diehards who have been to many NFL games you might have had the “Been there, done that” line of thinking while reading my experience.  Tailgating is very much a part of the NFL’s gameday experience.  Most serious tailgaters begin as early as league rules allow them.  In most cases, the tailgate is much longer than the actual game.

So what is it that makes tailgating such an important part of the day?

Simply, it’s the like-mindedness of the participants, and the comradery that comes with being a part of a network of fans.  The many traditions that have become synonymous with tailgating have grown out of this sharing of ideas between friends, each time building on the one before.  Tailgating cuisine has become so popular that it has sparked cooking shows, books, blogs, magazines, newspaper articles, radio shows, podcasts, YouTube videos, and so much more.  Most take much pride in their barbecue, and we all secretly (or overtly) size-up the competition each week.

Consuming alcohol has long been associated with a “proper” tailgate.  While I wouldn’t argue the fact, I don’t think it is a necessity that one becomes intoxicated.  Actually, it kind of ruins the afternoon.  Haven’t we all had “that guy” interrupt our party, so incredibly wasted that he can barely stand, attempting to steal some of whatever we’re cooking with his fingers, only to burn them so badly on our grill that we have to pour our precious cargo just to ease his pain?  Okay, maybe that’s just me.  Consuming alcohol isn’t a bad thing, however, consuming for the purpose of becoming so utterly inebriated thereby ruining my afternoon is not okay.  As a slightly older fan now, I would opt for the “Sampling Beers of the World” route.

I didn’t mean for this to be so long-winded.  Rather, I just wanted to share some of the reasons why I think tailgating has been so successful in 100 words or less…oops!  I think anyone who has been to an NFL game and has enjoyed tailgating at least a few times can attest to how important it is to his or her gameday experience.  Those who haven’t, should, at least once or twice.  If it is your first time, do yourself a favour and chat with a seasoned professional.  Get some advice and plan in advance.  Better yet, find someone who has done a fair bit of tailgating and see if you can join them this season. If you don’t know of anyone, just Google “tailgating” and you will have all you need at your fingertips.

…and that is the last word.

 

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #39: Scott Laughton

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 20th Overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Scott Laughton has made great strides improving his game this year, and this has led to a corresponding rise up the draft boards for the young Centre from the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.  Laughton started the year as a checking line centre for Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Tournament.  Laughton would show the promise of the great offensive improvement that would come this season by scoring the Gold Medal winning goal for the Canadians.  Laughton would return to Oshawa where he would gain the confidence of his coaches and see his ice time rise dramatically as the season progressed.  He would bookend the season by again wearing the Red and White Maple Leaf of Team Canada, and being a key contributor to helping the team to a bronze medal at the 2012 IIHF Under 18 World Championship.

Center
Born May 30 1994 — Oakville, ONT
Height 6.00 — Weight 170 — Shoots Left

2009-10 St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL 2 0 0 0 4 -1
2010-11 Oshawa Generals OHL 63 12 11 23 58 5 10 1 1 2 11
2011-12 Oshawa Generals OHL 64 21 32 53 101 8 6 2 3 5 17

Expectations have been high for Laughton, as he was the 3rd overall pick in the 2012 OHL draft behind only Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gaunce.  However with the 2010-11 Generals featuring tons of offence from players like Christian Thomas, Andre Andreoff, Nicklas Jensen, Boone Jenner,  Alain Berger, and Lucas Lessio, the top 6 in Oshawa was set.  As a result Laughton was used in primarily a shutdown role as a rookie.  It was a role in which he would thrive.

Laughton has developped into an excellent checking centre.  He is willing to do whatever it takes to excel in the role, whether it be blocking shots, intercepting passes, making hits, or being an irritating pest to the opposition’s best players.  He is an extremely hard working player in all three zones, and always willing to battle along the boards or in front of the net.  Laughton has developped top notch faceoff skills and this has made him a key member of the Generals penalty kill.  Laughton shows a ton of will to win, and is willing to do whatever is necessary to make that happen, including being willing to drop the gloves with a bigger opponent when necessary.

Laughton’s offence started slowly again this season, however a change in the lineup that saw him move into the top 6 and centre a line with Thomas and Andreoff really kickstarted his game.  He really started putting up offensive numbers about a third of the way into the season, and never looked back.  Laughton was a key contributor offensively in the Under 18 tournament as well, showing that his offensive success was not just due to his older, more experienced linemates.

Laughton has outstanding hockey sense.  He sees the ice very well and has an uncanny ability to find a free piece of ice and get himself open.  He has a hard and accurate wrist shot and a good release.  As a playmaker, Laughton possesses good vision and passing skills.  He uses his grit and desire to win board battles and to control the puck down low on the cycle game.  The main area that may hold Laughton back from being a top line player at the next level is that he is not a very good stickhandler.  He’s much more of a straight ahead, north/south type player than one who will dangle his way through opposing defences.

Laughton could also stand to improve his skating.  He needs work on his first step, and his acceleration.  He could also use work on his stride and top end speed.  These have all improved this past season however, and we’d currently say they are all average to slightly above.  With continued hard work, it shouldn’t be too big an issue going forward.  Laughton does however possess good balance and agility.  He’s strong on his skates and tough to knock off the puck when he’s working the cycle game.

If Laughton can continue to refine his game, especially offensively, we could see him develop into a player similar to Mike Richards of the Los Angeles Kings.  However, even if he doesn’t reach such a lofty status, Laughton’s work ethic and will to win, shut down defensive skills, gritty game, and leadership ability will help him to contribute in some form as an NHLer down the road.  Laughton is a safe bet, as he’s very likely to make the NHL one day, what needs to be determined is if he can do so in a top 6 role.

… and thats the Last Word.

Trade Ichiro: Why Seattle has to do the Unthinkable

Posted on by Max Warner

If the Seattle Mariners want to contend in the AL West anytime soon, they need to seriously consider trading Ichiro Suzuki.  It may sound absurd, but Seattle needs to get some young talent in exchange for an aging, sharply declining star player before he walks away as a free agent at the end of 2012.  The Mariners also need to move Ichiro before his star loses any more luster than it already has.

The Mariners have been nowhere close to the playoffs since the 2004 season, and only twice in the past eight seasons have the Mariners finished in third place or higher in the AL West Division.  That would not be truly awful, except for the fact that the AL West is a 4 team division.  The Mariners have lost 90 games or more in five of the past eight seasons, and in 2008 they attained the dubious record of being the first team in the history of Major League Baseball to lose 100 games with a $100 million or higher payroll.

Things are not getting any easier for the Mariners.  The Texas Rangers and their star-studded lineup of power bats and power arms continue to dominate the AL West, and the LA Angels added Albert Pujols this past offseason to a club that also boasts one of the league’s best starting rotations.  Oakland is always a bit of a wildcard, however, the A’s are constantly able to field competitive teams on a shoestring budget, and if Oakland ever gets a new stadium and a corresponding increase in revenue, the A’s may finally have the means to be a permanent contender.  The only saving grace for Seattle may be the addition of a weak Houston Astros club to the AL West in 2013 and the prospect of more games against a weak opponent.

All of this brings us back to Ichiro.  His five-year, $90 million contract will expire at the end of this season, although the Mariners have deferred payments owing to Ichiro until approximately 2032.  Ichiro has supplied the Mariners with strong batting averages, speed and excellent defense for most the past 12 seasons, and has unquestionably become the face of the Seattle franchise.  These qualities allowed the Mariners to justify starting Ichiro primarily in right field, a position which most teams reserve for true sluggers.  Ichiro never had the raw power of a big league right fielder, but he was usually able to post good slugging percentages because of his ability to leg out doubles and triples and smack the occasional home run.  At age 38, Ichiro is finally starting to slow down, and his limited power is now almost non-existent.  In 2011, Ichiro finished with fewer than 200 hits for the first time in his Major League career, and he also posted an OPS of just .645.  His 2012 stats are a bit better, thanks to a hot start, but he is only slugging .388 and has stolen just 3 bases.  Ichiro still possesses good speed, but even that is starting to diminish.  Simply put, Ichiro is starting to cost the Mariners runs, and ultimately victories, because he is delivering production that is well below what every good team receives from their right fielders.  Ichiro is occupying a spot that could be held by a young, slugging outfielder who could post the 20-25 home runs and 100 RBI’s that the Mariners so desperately need.

Ichiro’s current level of play would be more tolerable on a team like the Rangers or Yankees, who have enough power bats to complement a slap-hitter like Ichiro.  Unfortunately, Seattle’s 2011 team posted a pathetic 109 home runs and a collective .233 batting average.  Although there are some good prospects in the system, the Mariners posses few true impact hitters at the major league level.  And that is exactly why Seattle needs to trade Ichiro now.  He still has value in the right environment, he still is viewed as a big-name star by many in baseball, and he could surely bring Seattle a nice return in a trade.  The Mariners could also afford to spend his $18 million salary on other areas of the team, including badly needed upgrades at shortstop, center field, and the starting rotation.  The Mariners need to reload and add to their growing collection of young players and prospects, so that they are in a position to contend in a couple of seasons.

Ichiro should be celebrated for the great career he has had in Seattle and the marvelous achievements he has realized in a game dominated by men who are much bigger, stronger and powerful than he is.  He deserves the chance to play for a World Series Championship, and he is not going to realize that chance on the 2012 Seattle Mariners.  Most of all, Seattle needs to show their commitment to building a contender by trading the face of their franchise at a time when his skills and contributions are being exposed by, rather than complementing, the team on which he plays.

 

Serie A: The Last Round

Posted on by Luciano Giuliano

Week 38 is finally here! The day for which all Juventus fans have been waiting – the day the Serie A trophy returns to the home of La Vecchia Signora! Last weekend, the Bianconeri mathematically secured their 28th Scudetto with a 2-0 result over Cagliari as Milan was defeated at by Inter in the derby, 4-2. The Juve faithful celebrated with a large crowd of supporters gathering in the streets of Turin. This week, they will celebrate with the players at the Juventus Stadium.

Juventus welcomes Lombardy side, Atalanta, to town as the Bianconeri aim to secure their second objective this season: assuring the undefeated record stays intact. Although his side has both hands on the Scudetto, head coach Antonio Conte has warned his players not to be complacent seeing that the season is not over and winning the league title means nothing if their efforts end here. Therefore, the ex-Juve captain has securing the Old Lady’s undefeated record and victory in the Coppa Italia final on May 20 against Napoli still on his to do list. No other team has gone unbeaten in the Serie A in 38 rounds. Sadly though, this occasion will mark the end of club hero Alessandro Del Piero’s illustrious Juventus career after spending 19 years with the Old Lady. Atalanta has had a remarkable season considering the club began the year with a 9-point deduction due to players involved in a betting scandal. Head Coach Stefano Colantuono issued a warning to Juventus that “we’re here to play our game”.

AC Milan will take on relegated side Novara at the San Siro. With second place already secured, this game is in reality a scrimmage for the Rossoneri who will aim to end on a high. In addition, this will also be the final game for Rossoneri legends Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Mark Van Bommel, Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluca Zambrotta as the club will be rejuvenating the team for the 2012-2013 season.

The final and third Champions League spot is still up for grabs with 4 teams in battle: Udinese, Lazio, Napoli, and Inter. Udinese currently lead the race with 61 points, followed closely by Lazio with 59, while Napoli and Inter have a slim chance with 58 points. Antonio Di Natale and his men will secure third with a victory and will fight to the very end to accomplish their dream – a feat that seemed unimaginable at the start of the campaign after the sales of Gokhan Inler to Napoli and Alexis Sanchez to Barcelona. However, traveling to Sicily to take on Catania at the Stadio Massimino will be no easy task. The Rossazzurri were in the running for a Europa League spot until last weekend, but the tie in the Sicilian derby against Palermo has ended those hopes.

The game of the day sees the Nerazzurri marching into Rome to take on Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. In order to claim third place, Lazio will need to win this fixture and hope for Udinese to lose. As a result of a poor head-to-head record, Udinese will keep their place in the occasion of a tie on points. Inter seem the most unlikely to qualify for the Champions League at this point seeing that the Nerazzurri need to secure victory and hope for two results to fall in their favour. Earlier in the week, Massimo Moratti assured Andrea Stramazzoni that he will remain on the Inter bench next season. The young tactician has instilled confidence and belief having only lost one game in seven match-ups, most notably a 4-2 result in the derby of Milan.

Walter Mazzarri’s Napoli will welcome Siena to the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. The Azzurri will need a miracle to qualify for the Champions League, but never say never because anything can happen in the Serie A. Edinson Cavani and Co. will berth a spot in Europe’s most prestigious club tourney with a victory over Siena and an Udinese and Lazio defeat in their respective matches. Good luck Napoli!

Other fixtures: Fiorentina v Cagliari; Parma v Bologna; Cesena v Roma; Chievo v Lecce; Genoa v Palermo.

…and that is the last word.

Look For Frank Mir to Rule the Heavyweights

Posted on by Mark Modeski

It’s the fight that was never meant to be – at least not yet. Junior Dos Santos was set to make his first title defence in the heavyweight division over Alistair Overeem in what was positioned to be a striking clinic. Unfortunately, Overeem was caught for having excessive PED levels in his system and banned from the fight. Despite this fight being set-up as a default, the mainstream appeal of this fight is far greater in my opinion than the original match-up.

Junior Dos Santos is without question the most clinical boxer in the heavyweight division, and potentially the UFC. His game plan is a simple one; he comes at you with you with everything he has, whether he’s controlling the centre of the ring or countering at you with vicious upper-cuts and straight jabs. What sets him apart from most is that he maintains a fair amount of control and never lets his emotions best him. Where he falls short is the ground game. While he trains with Minotauro, and many claim he has an outstanding BJJ element to his arsenal, it has yet to be proven (he is still only a brown belt).

Frank Mir has become one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division since his renaissance took place back in 2008 in his first fight with Brock Lesnar. The two-time heavyweight champ used to rely mainly on his jiu-jitsu game to stifle opponents, while striking was just a means to get fighters to the ground.  Rightfully so, by the way, because I need not remind you that Mir has left two opponents with compound fractures from his submissions. More recently, since his first fight with Minotauro, Mir has developed crisp boxing to match his ground game. While not as strong as his jiu-jitsu, he has KO’d/TKO’d the likes Mirko Cro Cop,  Chieck Kongo and Minotauro.

Both fighters have motivation for this fight. Mir wants to prove that he deserves that belt, and is history’s best in the heavyweight division. Dos Santos wants to avenge his trainer. My prediction for this fight goes to Mir. I think he has a better overall tool-kit with which to work. I think he will let Dos Santos dance around him on the feet and finish him off the ground. Mir recently submitted Minotauro, and if he could submit the man who trains Dos Santos with ease, I think he will have less difficulty with the champ. I know “MMA Math” is bogus, but in this case it just makes sense.

… and that is the last word.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #38: Oscar Dansk

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 31st Overall by Columbus Blue Jackets

Sweden has really started to develop a number of quality goaltending prospects in recent years, and Oscar Dansk is hoping to join a group including Jacob Markstrom, Robin Lehner, Jhonas Enroth, and Johan Gustavsson as the next generation of Swedish goaltenders.  Dansk has played for Sweden in winning bronze at the 2011 Ivan Hlink tournament, and silver at the 2012 IIHF Under 18 World Hockey Championships.  Dansk is playing in the Brynas system, currently playing for their junior team in the Swedish J20 league.  Dansk has had exposure to the North American game playing for 3 years in the famous Shattuck St. Mary’s program.  Dansk joins Malcolm Subban, and Andrei Vasilevski as the top 3 goalie prospects in this year’s draft.

Goalie
Born February 28, 1994 — Stockholm Sweden
Height 6.02 — Weight 185 — Shoots L — Catches L

Dansk is a tall athletic goalie.  He plays the traditional butterfly style.  Dansk has good athleticism, and quick reflexes.  He moves well laterally and slides quickly from post to post and is able to make some very nice saves as a result.  He is also extremely strong down low, and covers the bottom of the net effectively.  He is great at stopping the first shot and is rarely beaten on a clean opportunity.  Dansk has an excellent glove hand though he could use some work on his blocker side.  Dansk is a good puckhandler and is always coming out of his net to play the puck.  He may even come out of his net more than many coaches would feel comfortable with.

Dansk shows very good technique in the net.  He goes down in a wide butterfly stance, but it is controlled and there are no gaps.  He has very good size and covers a lot of the net.  He is quick to recover when he does drop down and gets ready for the second shot. His movements in the crease are controlled and smart.  He could use some work on his rebound control, as this will need to be developed with experience.

Dansk’s demeanor in the net is cool and calm.  He recovers quickly from goals against and plays with a quiet confidence.  He can sometimes get flustered by big strong forwards crashing the net, and he’ll have to learn to deal with this to succeed in the NHL.  Adding more muscle onto his big frame will help him to deal with this more effectively.

Dansk has the size and skills necessary to project as a future starting goalie in the NHL, however the team drafting him will need to be patient as it often takes goaltenders time to develop into effective pros.

… and thats the Last Word.

Toronto Blue Jays Bullpen: Broken and Battered

Posted on by Mark Modeski

Coming into this season there were high expectations for the Toronto Blue Jays. Some small moves were made to bolster up an already strong hitting line-up, and with a healthy starting pitching rotation the only piece of the puzzle that was missing was the bullpen. A strong push was made in the off-season to pick-up some solid and proven relievers for the Blue Jays: Sergio Santos, Darren Oliver and Francisco Cordero. These three were meant to be the mentors on the staff to a young core of up-and-comers in the organization.

Unfortunately, the bullpen has been failing the Blue Jays like so many seasons before… and the bleeding doesn’t seem to want to stop. As it stands right now the Blue Jays bullpen is sitting an impressive 4.69 ERA (highest in the majors!) and an opponent’s on-base percentage of .339 (again, one of the worst in the majors).

So, who is to blame? Certainly not Alex Anthopoulos in my opinion; while people may crucify him for the under performing staff (much like Brian Burke), he made all of the right moves with what he had before him. I absolve John Farrell and most of the coaching staff as well; there really is only so much moulding a coach can do with the clay he’s been given.

As much as no one wants to hear it, the blame does fall to the players – both pitching and hitting.

The hitting for Jays has been far more dormant this year than one would expect given the hype around all of the young talent. They have been unable to build the comfortable leads for the pitching staff to work around in most cases. This being said, I would only put about 15% of the blame on the hitters. At the end of the day it is the offences job to build a lead, the size of the lead is less important.

Unfortunately, the bullpen has no one to blame for their woes, but themselves. While all of the pitchers in the bullpen that have made even the most loyal of fans shudder, there real broken wheel in the mix Francisco Cordero. Cordero was given the crucial closer role while Sergio Santos recovers from surgery, and he has blown almost every opportunity he’s been given.

Frasor and Villanueva have been scary to watch. Both pitchers have been struggling to find control; walking more hitters than they’ve been striking out.

Casey Janessen has also been shaky at best. In April, Janssen recorded an ERA of over 10! This said, after that nightmarish April, Janssen has settled into his own – and has been scoreless over last four outings. The hope is that Janssen’s recent performance can act as a beacon and example for the rest of the bullpen.

Hopefully, once Santos returns he will be re-vitalized and the Jays can start to protect the gems that are being pitched by the starting rotation. Maybe if the bats come alive that will help to serve as a relaxation mechanism for the relievers coming into play?

At any rate, the Jays need a fix on this and fast… or the hope of a playoff spot – let alone a .500 season may fade before we know it.

… and that is the last word.