, Nov. 20, 2009 (Resource News International) -- The following is a quick look at
some of the sports headlines across Canada.
STAMPEDERS CONFIDENT HEADING TO REGINA
REGINA - The Calgary Stampeders are a confident bunch
heading into the CFL's West Division final against the
Saskatchewan Roughriders.
After losing the final game of the regular season 30-14 to
Saskatchewan in Regina on Nov. 7, Calgary rebounded the
following weekend at home to defeat the Edmonton Eskimos 24-21
in the conference semifinal.
Now, the Stamps have confidence that they can make a
return trip to Mosaic Stadium on Sunday and come away with a
victory.
"All I know is that we're 1-0 in the post-season and
they're 0-0," said Stampeders linebacker Tim Johnson, while
downplaying the fact that the Stamps went 0-2-1 against the
Riders in the regular season. "Nothing matters what happened
prior to now. Ask Hamilton."
Johnson was referring to the fact that the Tiger-Cats
finished second in the East before losing at home 34-27 in
overtime to the BC Lions, who advanced to play in the East
final on Sunday against the Montreal Alouettes.
In his first season with the Stamps, Johnson is confident
that Calgary's defence can go into enemy territory and get the
job done.
"We know who we're playing, we've got a good grasp on what
they're trying to do and furthermore we know what we want to
do," said Johnson, noting that the Stamps would like nothing
more than to start the game with a big defensive stand against
Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant and his offensive unit.
"Heck yeah, that would be a great start to the game. To
get a two-and-out early, it would just set the tone."
Defensive back Dwight Anderson echoed Johnson's assessment
that the Stamps will have to ramp up their intensity level to
thwart Saskatchewan's offensive attack.
"You've got to come out and set the tone right now,"
Anderson said. "You don't want to be sitting back, sitting
back and letting Durant get into a rhythm. We want to keep
them off balance. They execute their assignments soundly, so
if we don't come out and do the same thing, we're going to get
abused."
While Johnson will play a big role in stopping Wes Cates,
Chris Szarka and the Saskatchewan running game, Anderson and
fellow cornerback Brandon Browner will have their hands full
with the likes of receivers Andy Fantuz, Rob Bagg, Chris
Getzlaf and Jason Clermont.
Calgary defensive backs coach Corey Chamblin has
confidence in the abilities of Anderson and Browner to make
big plays. Both Anderson and Browner were named to the West
Division all-star team, while Browner also earned accolades as
a CFL all-star.
Browner said the entire Calgary defence will have to be
wary of Durant's ability to scramble and turn what looks like
a broken play into a first down.
As the West Division nominee for most outstanding player
in the CFL, Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds
appreciates the job Calgary's defence does to continually get
the ball back in his hands.
"This week, I think they're really going to have a
breakout game because they have all the tools," said Reynolds,
who was also named as a CFL all-star on Wednesday. "If the
defence is getting at the opposing offence, that's like the
greatest thing. Aside from being an offensive player, I'm a
football fan and it's definitely great to see guys get
pressure on the quarterback and guys getting interceptions.
"When you get those types of things, those definitely
change the game. I'm just looking forward to them doing that."
(Canadian Press)
SPORT SEEING UPSWING, SKATE CANADA BOSS SAYS
TORONTO - Skate Canada CEO William Thompson believes that
figure skating is heading into another golden age.
Thompson said yesterday that the sport is again on the
upswing partly because it's an Olympic year, with the Games
being held in Canada, as well as the fact that Canada has a
strong national team, led by men's singles star Patrick Chan
of Toronto. He also believes that skating fans are beginning
to finally look past the dark days of the 2002 Salt Lake City
Olympic Games judging scandal.
Given that, Skate Canada and CBC officials are expecting
big numbers from this week's HomeSense Skate Canada
International competition in Kitchener, Ont., which begins
tomorrow.
"We're doing a pretty good job in figure skating
revitalizing the sport," Thompson said yesterday. "There's a
lot more coverage, a lot more interest in the athletes, a lot
more media, better TV numbers. The slowest thing coming back
is the crowds into the rink."
Skating has drawn big TV numbers for years, on Canadian
and American television in particular, but the sport suffered
following the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic judging scandal,
when a French judge, Marie-Reine Le Gougne, admitted that she
was pressured to give the Russian pairs team, Yelena
Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, better marks than the
Canadian team of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, despite the
fact that the latter's long program appeared superior. The
controversy resulted in both teams receiving golds and led to
the overhaul of the scoring system. But the damage had been
done and the sport has been forced to reconnect with its fan
base in subsequent seasons.
"I think the new scoring system has dramatically improved
the situation," said Thompson. "We're still a subjective sport
to some extent -- the unique aspect of our sport is that it
blends artistry and athleticism. But unlike the old days,
where there were dynasties, and you could predict who would
win, the athletes move around now (after var ious programs).
"I think the fans now see that it works and they see that
it's fair," Thompson said.
Three-time world champion Elvis Stojko suggested earlier
this year that the sport, and men's skating in particular, had
lost its way because the discipline was becoming too feminine,
with not enough emphasis on jumps. At the 2009 worlds, neither
the gold medallist, Evan Lysacek of the US, nor silver
medallist Patrick Chan of Canada attempted a quad. Both,
however, are expected to attempt quads at the 2010 Vancouver
Olympics. That competition will also feature the return of
defending Olympic champion Evegni Plushenko, so there is a
major buzz building on the men's side.
The numbers from earlier Grand Prix events this year have
been rock solid for the CBC. The pairs free skate competition
last weekend at Skate America drew 399,000 viewers.
With Chan, women's singles skater Joannie Rochette and the
ice dance team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir -- all of whom
won medals for Canada at the 2009 world championships --
entered in Skate Canada, the CBC expects even larger numbers
from this weekend's competition, the final Grand Prix stop.
But Thompson credits the athletes, more than anything
else, with the renewed enthusiasm around Canadian figure
skating.(Sun Media)
THURSDAY'S NHL GAME WRAP-UP
Carolina 6, Toronto 5 (SO)
Raleigh, NC - Erik Cole scored with 2.9 seconds left in
regulation, and Tuomo Ruutu tallied in the shootout and added
a career-high four assists, as the Carolina Hurricanes came
back from a three-goal deficit to shock the Toronto Maple
Leafs, 6-5, at RBC Center.
Tim Gleason tallied twice for his first-career multi-goal
game for Carolina, which has won two of its last three after
dropping the previous 14 contests. Matt Cullen registered a
goal and an assist, while Stephane Yelle lit the lamp for his
first goal in his last 31 games. Manny Legace allowed five
goals on 32 shots. (Sports Network)
Ottawa 6, Pittsburgh 2
Ottawa, ON - Chris Phillips scored a pair of third-period
goals and Pascal Leclaire made 25 saves, as Ottawa blasted
Pittsburgh, 6-2, at Scotiabank (NYSE:BNS) Place.
Chris Kelly had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who
won back-to-back games for the first time since downing Tampa
Bay and Montreal on October 15 and 17, respectively.
Matt Carkner's goal late in the first period started a
string of six straight scores for the hosts with Milan
Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo also finding the back of the
net. (Sports Network)
Chicago 7, Calgary 1
Calgary, AB - Kris Versteeg scored two goals, and the
Chicago Blackhawks scored six unanswered goals -- five in the
second period -- to start their annual circus road trip with a
dominant 7-1 win over the Calgary Flames.
The Blackhawks, who will be on the road for the next six
games as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey take over the
United Center, made the Pengrowth Saddledome look like a
circus. Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, and Andrew
Ladd, Troy Brouwer, Dustin Byfuglien and Ben Eager each scored
in the resounding victory. (Sports Network)
Boston 4, Atlanta 3 (SO)
Atlanta, GA - Patrice Bergeron got the lone goal of the
shootout, and Tuukka Rask produced a solid effort with 32
saves, as Boston got by a hot Atlanta Thrashers club, 4-3, at
Philips Arena.
Michael Ryder scored twice in regulation for the Bruins,
who snapped a three- game losing streak. Marco Sturm also
scored, and Dennis Wideman notched two assists.
Maxim Afinogenov tied the game with 41.4 seconds left in
regulation and added an assist, while Ilya Kovalchuk had a
goal and two assists for Atlanta, which saw its four-game win
streak broken. (Sports Network)
Nashville 3, New Jersey 2 (SO)
Nashville, TN - Martin Erat scored the deciding goal in
the shootout as Nashville won its fourth straight contest with
a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils at the Sommet Center.
Jason Arnott scored twice in regulation and Mike
Santorelli tallied in the shootout for the Predators, who won
for the eighth time in 10 contests. Pekka Rinne stopped 26
shots in the win.
Zach Parise had both regulation goals for the Devils, who
have lost two in a row after winning eight straight. Martin
Brodeur also saved 26 of 28 shots for New Jersey. (Sports
Network)
St. Louis 3, Phoenix 2 (OT)
St. Louis, MO - Erik Johnson scored the game-winning goal
only 17 seconds into overtime on a spectacular end-to-end rush
as the St. Louis Blues earned a 3-2 win over the Phoenix
Coyotes at Scottrade Center.
The big defenseman gathered the puck deep in the Blues
end, worked his way up ice, then cut into the middle slot
before firing a wrist shot past a surprised Ilya Bryzgalov for
the game winner. (Sports Network)
Columbus 4, Dallas 1
Dallas, TX - Kristian Huselius scored twice and added an
assist, and Steve Mason returned to form with a solid 25-save
effort, as Columbus took a 4-1 decision from Dallas at
American Airlines Center.
Raffi Torres and Rick Nash also lit the lamp for the Blue
Jackets, who won their third straight and fifth in their last
six games. The visitors activated Torres from injured reserve
prior to the game, but it was Mason's return that was the most
encouraging. (Sports Network)
Anaheim 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
Anaheim, CA - Scott Niedermayer rifled a shot into the top
right corner of the net 52 seconds into overtime, and the
Anaheim Ducks responded after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat the
Lightning, 4-3, at Honda Center.
Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf each had a goal and two
assists for the Ducks, who have won four of five at home.
Corey Perry had two assists to extend the NHL's longest active
points streak to 13, and Bobby Ryan also added a goal in the
win. (Sports Network)
NHL STANDINGS
Eastern Conference
Atlantic W L OTL Pts GF GA Home Away
New Jersey 14 5 1 29 55 43 5-4-0 9-1-1
Pittsburgh 14 8 0 28 68 64 7-4-0 7-4-0
Philadelphia 12 5 1 25 65 45 8-3-1 4-2-0
NY Rangers 11 9 1 23 63 58 6-4-0 5-5-1
NY Islanders 8 6 7 23 60 64 5-2-2 3-4-5
Northeast W L OTL Pts GF GA Home Away
Buffalo 12 5 1 25 50 43 7-3-1 5-2-0
Ottawa 10 6 3 23 57 56 7-3-3 3-3-0
Boston 9 8 4 22 51 55 6-5-2 3-3-2
Montreal 10 11 0 20 52 61 6-5-0 4-6-0
Toronto 3 11 6 12 52 77 1-6-2 2-5-4
Southeast W L OTL Pts GF GA Home Away
Washington 13 4 4 30 79 64 7-1-3 6-3-1
Tampa Bay 8 4 7 23 51 57 5-0-4 3-4-3
Atlanta 10 6 2 22 66 54 4-4-1 6-2-1
Florida 8 9 2 18 55 65 3-5-1 5-4-1
Carolina 4 12 5 13 50 80 4-5-2 0-7-3
Western Conference
Central W L OTL Pts GF GA Home Away
Chicago 13 5 2 28 64 47 10-2-1 3-3-1
Columbus 12 6 2 26 62 68 6-2-2 6-4-0
Detroit 10 6 3 23 63 57 7-2-1 3-4-2
Nashville 11 8 1 23 46 53 6-3-0 5-5-1
St. Louis 7 8 4 18 44 49 4-7-1 3-1-3
Northwest W L OTL Pts GF GA Home Away
Colorado 13 6 3 29 67 62 6-2-0 7-4-3
Calgary 12 6 2 26 62 57 6-5-0 6-1-2
Vancouver 11 10 0 22 62 57 7-2-0 4-8-0
Edmonton 9 10 3 21 66 70 7-3-1 2-7-2
Minnesota 7 12 2 16 51 66 5-3-0 2-9-2
Pacific W L OTL Pts GF GA Home Away
San Jose 14 5 4 32 76 57 6-0-2 8-5-2
Los Angeles 13 8 2 28 71 70 5-3-1 8-5-1
Phoenix 12 9 1 25 56 54 6-5-0 6-4-1
Dallas 9 6 6 24 63 62 3-3-3 6-3-3
Anaheim 7 10 3 17 58 70 5-6-0 2-4-3
NHL Standings are as of early November 20, 2009
