How About A Goalie Goal...???

((HT: TSN BarDown))

For this, which is always cool, we go to the Quebec Major Junior League

Cape Breton (which is responsible for the video) Screaming Eagles goalie Francois Brassard pulled this off against Quebec


According to the QMJHL, Brassard becomes only the fourth goaltender in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history to score, behind Antoine Lafleur (P.E.I., 2005), Maxim Gougeon (Rimouski, 2008) and Peter Delmas (Lewiston, 2008).

Salud...

Quebecor Buys Remparts: Is This The First Step...???

((HT: Montreal Gazette))

The HQ believes it is, yes...

For a reported $20-25 million pricetag, Quebecor Media has picked up the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts franchise and will move them into their soon-to-be-constructed Quebecor Arena in September 2015.

This should be the first step in proving, once and for all, that the city is ready for multiple franchises on multiple levels in an integrated fashion not seen yet (top to bottom) in a franchise farm system.

"The Remparts organization has passion, hard work and success in its DNA. We are honoured to become its owners, and we want to continue this ‘sacred’ tradition by keeping the Remparts at the same level of excellence while providing the best possible experience for Quebec City hockey fans,” said Québecor president and CEO Pierre Dion.

The Remparts have been busy in the past week doing things like this against Sherbrooke
((HT: HockeyFightsPlus))


They're currently third in the East Division- four points out of first behind Rimouski and Baie-Comeau.

“I am very happy to see that the Remparts will have the chance to inaugurate the new arena next season and continue the Vieille Capitale’s great junior hockey tradition,” said Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau.

OHL Suspends Two For 15 Games Over Tinder Rant

((HT: The Score))

Let's work backwards...

From the Ontario Hockey League offices this afternoon:

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Greg Betzold of the Peterborough Petes and Jake Marchment of the Belleville Bulls have each been suspended for 15 games. These suspensions follow recent social networking activity that has come to the League’s attention. This most inappropriate and concerning activity contravenes the League’s social networking policy and a number of other policies including Respect in Sport (Harassment and Abuse) and diversity.

The OHL takes issues related to respect, diversity and harassment very seriously. The social networking conduct displayed by these players goes against what the League stands for and serves to highlight a sense of entitlement that we, as a League, have worked hard to try to eliminate. We believe these suspensions, going forward, will reinforce to our players that all activity, be it in person, on the ice or online, must be in keeping with our policies. These events further illustrate that the League and our teams must continually work with our players to ensure they understand and appreciate our social networking policy. The League will also look to our current programs, outlined in our Players First Guide, to see where improvements may be made in terms of communications and respect for others.

Jake Marchment and Greg Betzold were wanting to have relations with women and were not being very kind in their words on Tinder- using the c-word in discussing perspective exploits and choosing their dates.

Both teams claim that they are taking care of the situation internally- which really didn't go over well with the league.

Thus, the suspension...

Here's Petes GM Mike Oke discussing their actions and not the league's...
((HT: CHEX-TV Peterborough, Ontario))


Lesson for young athletes... and, all of us, really...

Anything you print can be reproduced...

Have A Purpose: The Ian Jenkins Story

((HT: Sportsnet))

Ian Jenkins was set to be a junior hockey player in the Ontario Hockey League in 2011, but an accident cut his life horribly short.

What has happened since reminds is all about the impacts we can make while we are alive if we look at how others handle tougher situations than we can possibly fathom.

Here's the story from Milan, Michigan...
The Big E Foundation information can be found here...

Whoa! OHL Hockey Player Checked Through Glass

((ht: ca.sports.yahoo.com))

Yikes! This looked really scary though it appears nobody was seriously hurt.

Check out what happened during an Ontario Hockey League (Juniors) game between the Niagara Ice Dogs and the Ottawa 67's Friday night.

Ottawa's Travis Barron was skating down the side of the rink pursued by Mitchell Fitzmorris of the Ice Dogs. Barron makes a pass up the ice as Fitzmorris goes in for the check.

The two collide on a clean check, and Barron goes flying into the glass. And the glass breaks.

Immediately.

Barron was helped off, but returned later in the game, won by the 67's 4-3.

Here's your video from Some Hockey Videos:

OHL Starts Mental Health Program For 2014 Season

((HT: Global Toronto))

After the suicide of junior league hockey player Terry Trafford last season, the Ontario Hockey League decided in the off-season to pair with the Canadian Mental Health Association have paired to start a program where teams get a mental health coach for counseling, training on recognizing signs of suicide and depression and appointing so-called “mental health champions” to talk to the public about what the OHL is doing.

As part of the #TalkToday effort, OHL Commissioner David Branch said: “We view the importance of this subject matter, given the terrible tragedy that we all faced, that we had to maybe step up our efforts in this area and provide a more focused area of support. No question, the tragedy of Terry’s death only served to say we must move forward and provide greater support in educating our players and everyone else involved about the signs of suicide and how we can help make a difference.”

Here's Leslie Roberts with Trafford's dad talking about the initiative


According to numbers released by the CMHA, suicide is the second-leading cause of death in young Canadians behind accidents and is responsible for a quarter of deaths among 18-to-24-year-olds nationwide. 3.2 million teenagers from the ages of 12 to 19 are at risk of developing depression.

The HQ hopes this helps...

Is This Even A Legal Shootout Goal...???

((HT: Hockey Vines))

No matter how awesome looking it is...

Andreas Athanasiou, who currently plays for the Barrie Colts in the OHL, did this...


But since the puck left the ice surface, does this sickness count...???

Just asking...

Terry Trafford Autopsy Results Released (UPDATED)

((HT: WNEM-TV))

And it appears to be self-inflicted asphyxiation...

The Saginaw Spirit winger was found in a Wal-mart parking lot in an SUV a week after being reported missing by his club...

Trafford had been suspended for disciplinary reasons that were reportedly partying too much on a road trip. The fourth-year player on the Spirit roster had only suspended by the team and not released, but Trafford apparently told his girlfriend that he wanted to end it all in a communication with her before he went missing...

Here's the latest from Saginaw...
WNEM TV 5

The Spirit postponed their mid-week game in the Ontario Hockey League so the team and its players could mourn Trafford's death...

FRIDAY UPDATE: Trafford will have a Tuesday funeral in his home town of Toronto with visitation Sunday and Monday. Spirit team president Craig Goslin says the team will visit Sunday.

The Ontario Hockey League team says its home game with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds that was postponed from Wednesday because of Trafford’s death will take place Monday, ending its regular season.

Saginaw visits SSM on Friday and hosts the London Knights Saturday.

DEVELOPING: Terry Trafford Found Dead

((HT: Sportsnet))

Saginaw, Michigan police found the body of junior hockey player Terry Trafford in an SUV in a Wal-Mart parking lot early Tuesday afternoon. He had been missing since last Monday after being suspended from the Saginaw Spirit for a violation of team rules.

Jessica Shepherd of the Saginaw News caught up with a woman who claimed she dated Trafford since 2010- when they were in high school together in town:

Trafford's girlfriend, Skye Cieszlak, said Trafford sent her a message stating "his life was over and that he didn't want to do it anymore" on Sunday, March 2. Cieszlak said Trafford was "devastated" after the Spirit sent him home because of rule violations.

She told WNEM-TV that Trafford was devastated that "the team didn't want him back." She also said that Trafford was sent home from a road trip for partying too much...

The Spirit released a statement on their own:

Our deepest condolences are with Terry’s family and his friends both in Ontario and Michigan. Terry played on our team and was a member of the Spirit family for the last four years and he will be missed.

We have reached out to Terry’s parents and will look to provide them with support over the coming days. In addition, we met with team players and staff this evening, along with our Team Chaplain.

On behalf of the Spirit we would like to thank the police who were looking for Terry, the media for providing updates and all who provided information. The coming days will be difficult and we will endeavor to keep the community and media apprised of arrangements and other details.

Here's the story before Trafford was found
((HT: WNEM-TV))
WNEM TV 5

Terry Trafford Missing From Saginaw Spirit

((HT: Sportsnet))

Saginaw Spirit player Terry Trafford was suspended from the team for disciplinary reasons, but has been missing since Monday.

A missing persons report has been filed with Saginaw police. Team President and managing partner Craig Goslin said the entire organization is very concerned for the young man is hoping he is found safe soon.

Trafford is in his fourth year with the team and his output has improved each year.
In 54 games this season, he has 32 points (8G, 24A)

Sportsnet caught up with Trafford's parents...

USA-Russia WJC Quarters Ends In Monkey Gestures

((HT: TSN/IIHF))

Just when you thought the youth of the world were getting along in the sports world, and the idea that detente was a surviving model of diplomacy forgot to tell the Russian squad at the end of the World Juniors quarterfinal today in Sweden.

Here's the highlights from beginning to end, and the last minute or so are the cute gestures...


To recap, Team USA's Matt Grzelcyk blew a tire and it led to the open-net goal by Russia's Pavel Buchnevich.
Buchnevich decided to rub the USA's nose in it and Blackhawks draftee Ryan Hartman popped him...

Which was nice- although a just-as-violatory move in The Code as the Russian celebration...

And what was the whole "fire hose" move, anyway...???

We know... the HQ just wanted to know if you were paying attention...

15 Goals In One Game... For One Team...

((HT: Some Hockey Videos/QMJHL))

15 goals on one side is one thing, but giving up 15 is something entirely different...

The Halifax Mooseheads scored 15 against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last night...

Here's all 15...


The breakdown...

The teams were tied at four after the first period, but Halifax scored five goals in the second and six more in the third.

Andrew Ryan, Nikolaj Ehlers and Brent Andrews had two goals and three assists each.
Danny Moynihan and Jonathan Drouin also scored twice.
Brendan Duke, Jesse Lussier, Darcy Ashley, Matt Murphy and Austyn Hardie also had a goal on the score sheet.

And all their mothers are pleased with the outcome...

16 Year-Old Junior Hockey Prospect Dies On Ice

((HT: Sportsnet))

Sadly, the community of Bathurst, New Brunswick has been the place for too much tragedy over the last few years.

Another event, this time during the Acadie-Bathurst Titan training camp, has shaken the small community and the junior hockey world.

16-year-old Jordan Boyd collapsed during a skating drill. A physical therapist provided CPR after Boyd fell on the ice, lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

Results from an autopsy are expected later this week.

Shawn McKenzie was in Bathurst to see how the franchise and the town are feeling at present...
Dan Arsenault of the Chronicle Herald newspaper caught up with those who knew Boyd: Bill Short of the Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Program was on the ice last week with Boyd and other young players preparing for junior camps. “He never worked so hard in his life as he did this summer,” Short said, adding that Jordan told him he was very excited to be heading to a QMJHL camp. “We talked last Tuesday night about it, quite a bit. He couldn’t wait to get there because it was the most prepared he’s ever been.”

OSG High: Disgusting Junior Hockey Display Leads Parents To Go Public

((HT: Prep Rally/Rohrbach))

Nick Major is a 16-year-old hockey player who was playing on the winning side of a 7-2 game five months ago. On a transitional break, Major snowed the goalie at the close of the play when the goalie made a save.

One of Major's opponents decided to cave his face in after the whistle as Major did not fight back. But he was given a two-game suspension for fighting and his opponent got four games...

Nick Major's parents are wondering where the justice system is in all of this since no criminal charges have been filed.

Here's Peter Mansbridge...
The HQ always wanted to say that...
((HT: CBC News))
The HQ is aware that hockey has its own set of rules and guidelines on the ice- they call it "the code." But the code doesn't quite answer for a snowing- except for the usual amount of pushing and shoving after the whistle.

What happened here is out of control and out of line.

The HQ can't blame Nick Major's parents for wanting out of the sport if the lines of the code are being blurred- even by police and authority figures...

Two Full Teams Fight On Ice In Juniors (UPDATED With Suspensions)

((HT: Sportsnet))

The HQ is not above putting a good brawl on the page, but a good brawl involving two full squads...???

You betcha...especially one that starts as the game ends...

We go to Quebec Major Juniors, or the QMJHL, where two of the coolest nicknames went at it in game 4 of a seven-game semifinals series that is now tied at two games apiece after the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-3...

See...? Told you the nicknames were cool...

Anyway... even the back-up goalies got into it...and the call is in French...
((HT: HockeyVideoHD))


The littering is immense...

Game 5 is Friday night in Baie-Comeau- for those of you who want to try and see Round 2...

PM UPDATE: According to the Canadian Press, the QMJHL suspended 12 players, fined one, banned both coaches for two games and fined the two teams C$5,000 each.

Blainville-Boisbriand will be without five players- Ryan Tesink was suspended two games. Aaron Hoyles, Yassin Cisse and goalies Etienne Marcoux and Guillaume Decelles each got one game.

Baie-Comeau's Bokondji Imama was suspended two games. Jeremie Gregoire, Gabriel Verpaelst, Jon Banville, Alexandre Ranger and goalies Philippe Cadorette and Francis Desrosiers each got one game.

Blainville-Boisbriand forward Cedric Paquette, who looked like he started the brawl when he taunted the visitors, was fined $1,000 for "inappropriate behaviour."

Armada coach Jean-Francois Houle and Baie-Comeau's Eric Veilleux were each suspended two games.

The teams will have to use third-string goalies in Game 5.
Whaddya wanna bet that the "over" will be the play here...???

Graham James Sentence Increased To 5 Years

One of the creepiest stories in hockey got a little more justice added to it today in Winnipeg...

Notorious junior hockey coach Graham James, convicted of sexual abuse against minors whom he coached- including Theoren Fleury- had his sentence increased from two years to five.

The full Court of Appeals decision can be read hyah, thanks to the Winnipeg Free Press...

The original sentence was widely argued as being too light as James admitted last year that he molested two players between 1983 and 1994. James won't be eligible for parole until this fall.

James attorneys, in their argument to the Court of Appeals, maintained that James was a "changed man" and didn't deserve an uncharacteristic increase in his sentence.

Fleury, in an interview with Charles Adler, said it was a great day for all survivors. That interview can be heard hyah...

Fleury also thinks that James is less than changed citing his fleeing the country of Canada for Mexico- where CBC's Bob McKeown found him...

OSG High: Idiot Hockey Dad May Get Punished After All...

((HT: Winnipeg Sun, youtube/atacandman))

First thing the HQ will do is give you a little backgrounder...
Just watch what happened Monday night in a rink near Winnipeg...


The Sun is now reporting that Jason Boyd, the booming voice in the arena of 15-year-olds, has been banned and may face further action...

“My son was hit and was laying on the ice, not moving, and the rink became deathly quiet,” said Chuck Kitson. “And out of that quiet came a big booming voice, yelling at the referee that my son is a midget.”

Boyd has told anyone who has gotten in touch with him that the comment was made in the “heat of the moment” and that he regretted what he did. Kitson went on to tell the Sun that Boyd kept going after the video above was shot- including a moment when his son had his arm broken on a play later in the game.

There's talk of having all parents in the organization taking an online course about sportsmanship, but there's no way of policing it...

And the HQ also thinks this won't be the last time that something like this happens when parents continue to live through their kids since something went wrong in their own adolescent lives that prevented a future...

Blech...