NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac is back inside from laying out in the Victoria sunshine. Teachers and their summers off. He weighs in on the Canucks prospect Nicklas Jensen discussing the possibility of foregoing his last year of major junior eligibility with the Oshawa Generals in order to play a season in the Swedish Elite League should he not make the Canucks roster for the 2012/13 season.
Dave B. Profiles one of the Northwests own, Defenseman Karl Alzner of the Washington Capitals. Dave tells us how Karl Alzener hails from Burnaby BC, and how he made his way up the ranks of the CHL into the NHL, collecting a captaincy for Team Canada at the World Juniors along the way and how he started his Junior career for the Calgary Hitman.
Dave B. does another Northwest Athlete profile on one of the most prolific NHL’ers to ever come from these parts, Paul Kariya. Kariya played the majority of his career with the Anaheim Ducks where he once held all the franchise points records, but his career was cut short due to numerous injuries, namely concussions.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges tells us the 2012 NHL trade deadline day was slow to start and then a blockbuster deal that was easily the biggest of the day and sparked reaction not seen in a very long time in Vancouver happened. And Canucks nation was mad at Mike Gillis. If Zack Kassian becomes more Todd Bertuzzi than Taylor Pyatt this deal could be a whole lot easier to swallow.
NWSB insider Dave B brings us another profile featuring an athlete from the Northwest. Colten Teubert started his career with the Regina Pats of the WHL before helping lift Team Canada to Gold and Silver performances in the under-18 Championships. He was eventually chosen by the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL Draft, but was sent to the minors before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers.
Matt Larkin goes inside current NHL hockey player and Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber. His career started right here in the Northwest in Sicamous British Columbia. Weber was standout for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and at the 2005 World Juniors he and Dion Phaneuf helped Canada win its first gold medal in eight years.
Matt Larkin goes inside current NHL hockey player and Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn. His career started right here in the Northwest in Victoria British Columbia. Jamie Benn seems poised to become yet another NHL star to arise from British Columbia!
Vancouver relax! Gillis may have hit a true home run
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac was ready to jump off the ledge today when he first heard the Zack Kassian for Cody Hodgson trade details. Then after researching the deal a little more he realized Kassian fills a need that no other player at any level of the organization can fill. He is going to be raw granted, but he can go to the net, finish off the rush, and when needed exact retribution on opponents.