Why Is Darnell Nurse Still In the OHL?

Courtsey: Erie Times News

Darnell Nurse is a strong prospect for the Edmonton Oilers and currently plays defense in the OHL for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. I recently had an opportunity to take in a critical playoff game between them and the Erie Otters. If you talked to some experts and scouts, they'd probably tell you that Nurse had a few years to develop into the kind of player that they need. I've even heard a few hockey podcasts that suggest the Oilers should've called up Nurse for critical NHL experience and help them on the blueline. But the Greyhounds have also got the #1 offense in the league and I can understand if he either chose not to get called up to the majors or felt that he had a chance to do something special with his junior team. But it wasn't until a little bid later that I got clear evidence of just why Darnell Nurse isn't in the NHL.

While he was a dominant player out on the ice and a very vocal leader, Darnell Nurse seemed to have control of his emotions. His team was ahead early in the 3rd period with a 4-3 lead. Things had become really temperamental and many players were taking big hits. One Otters player had taken matters into his own hands and found an opportunity to submarine a Soo player in such a unique (and probably embarrassing) way that the Greyhounds teammate had been flipped into the air and rolled onto the ice a-la a pro wrestling maneuver "the back body drop".

It came upon team captain Darnell Nurse to render his own brand of justice. While the Otters player had been warned by the officials and other Soo teammates, Nurse bolted from his blueliner position and cross-checked the unsuspecting Otter player. It was clearly done in clear view of the referees. Nurse was then given a 2 minute penalty to which the Otters capitalized making the score 4-4. It was a huge momentum shift in the game. The Otters had found a surge goal-scoring run and even found a 5-4 lead.

Now, I had been sitting right behind the Soo bench. It had become apparent that Nurse had made a critical error and gave game four to the Otters. They could have had the series tied up to take game 5 back in Ontario, but instead the Otters were given the eventual 3-1 series lead. There was one more choice moment in time where Nurse wasn't as effective as he should have been. During a TV timeout, Nurse had chosen that moment to rally his fellow players. I watched his face yell and tried to read his lips. He threw out a few expletives. However, I doubted that his teammates even heard him. He was barely audible and no one on the bench even looked in his direction during that tirade. I couldn't tell you exactly what was said, but even if the players could hear him over the noisy EIA, they chose not to pay attention.

The Otters YouTube channel had captured all of the highlights if you'd like to watch them.
Now, I am not sure if this game could be keyed in to have exposed a character flaw or a moment. Nurse could have used more discretion on his part, but I would only wonder if things like this would eventually lead to criticisms of him not being mature enough for the NHL level.

What do you think? Will Nurse be an impact player for the Oilers in the future?

McDavid Throws Out First Pitch at SeaWolves Game

Courtesy: Erie Otters Twitter

I am very glad that the Erie SeaWolves and Erie Otters are finally finding a way to cross promote themselves in the city when they are virtually neighbors. It's on the eve of the time when Erie will no longer have Connor McDavid, the presumed number one overall selection in this upcoming NHL draft. He'll be NHL ready and leave the Otters in a good place. I've seen and read about how he's given the Erie fans and community something to talk about and give them national attention. He's raised attendance while they're on their way through the OHL playoffs. It's only nice of him to build up the community once again by throwing out the Erie SeaWolves first pitch.

Seen here with the new owner of the SeaWolves, he's certainly willing to give his time during a playoff run to give a boost. I, for one, hope that he never forgets the community who gave him a home and several great years of hockey experience before making the jump to the pros.

Thank you, Connor for your contribution to Erie sports history and best of luck to you for the remainder of the OHL season.

[Via: Erie-Times News and TSN.ca]

Save Our Otters with Hashtag #YouOtterStayHere

First, I would like to thank all of the Erie Community and bloggers who have already taken up the struggle to maintain the Otters team. I've told my audience a number of times just how much the city of Erie has been my home away from home. But now, as a hockey fan, I am to hold back the tide along with the thousands of Erie and junior hockey fans. I am keeping a close eye on the Otters situation and have seen them during their peak at their OHL Cup run of '02, to their lows of seasons with many losses, to the memories of the Pucks on Presque Isle event, to the current run with a great group of superstar development.

It would make the most sense of the Erie Community to come together and support this effort because they had just re-built up the Tullio Arena and found a great local sponsor in the Erie Insurance Company. Without the Otters as a lease tenant, the building will be risking financial troubles to pay back all of the renovation costs. True, the EIA does have the BayHawks and Explosion to fall back on, but the Otters are the more historic franchise and more likely has the main lease status.

The Erie Otters have also been a very cooperative part of the Erie SeaWolves. As I was an eye witness to the next-to-last season game they were in attendance at Jerry Uht Park. Since the first couple of NHL stars that the Erie Otters have developed, it's proof that the community should support a franchise that has paid off with those same players playing at the next professional level. What future players will see their number in the rafters or between the luxury boxes at EIA. Boyes, Rupp, Colaiacovo, to Brown, McKegg, et al to the sure #1 overall pick McDavid, we are all seeing the fruits of the Erie community.

What is frustrating enough is that the underlining situation can be pulled out from under the Erie community like a tablecloth at a dinner table. The ongoing legal battles with the current ownership has put the team in a delicate position. Lets all hope that Mr. Sherry Bassin can do the right thing and find other alternative owners that can keep the team in Erie who are also willing to pay a little more than top price. I'd step in, but I'd have to win the lottery first.

But the effort to get out the word is not without it's deepest challenges. Erie is a economically depressed region with the infrastructure going crumbling and unused. The stores that I used to go to with my family are no longer there, the dive bars I visited when my fellow college students up there aren't around, the beaches of Lake Erie have struggled as far as tourist attractions go.

If you are reading this.. then take up our struggle. There is plenty more hockey to be played. You can keep track of the team's progress at their rally Facebook page as well as using the twitter hashtag #YouOtterStayHere.

Otters Emergency Goalie Credited with Heroics

Photo: St. Catherines Standard

With the season already being washed away, the young OHL Erie Otters players now look for a sign of better times ahead. Connor Crisp is a young player in that system that many hockey fans who don't follow the OHL or Erie Otters have never heard of - until yesterday. On Sunday March 4, the young developing OHL player had to make an emergency appearance in goal.

"Well, I'm a road hockey goalie, ball hockey goalie, but that's the first time I've put on goalie equipment and played on ice since I was five years old," Crisp told the Canadian Press.

Injuries to both regular goalies Ramis Sadikov and Devin Williams had left the team in a bind to replace both of them. It was as if the young Connor Crisp drew the short straw and donned the pads as they visited the Gatorade Garden City Complex. Sadikov was pulled after the first 2 minutes of the game to injury.

"My feet are still cramped, I can hardly walk right now," Crisp said in a Canadian Press article. "Rammer's skates were three times too small and not wide enough, that's probably why I couldn't skate."

But when the Niagra Ice Dogs salivated at the chance to pad their stats, it still didn't overtake the Crisp goaltending story. Crisp was awarded the 1st star of the game despite being shelled for 13 goals in the loss.

The 13 goals against set a franchise record.

Even though the Otters did their best in the first period earning themselves a 3-2 lead against the division leading Ice Dogs, the Otters hopes were buried in the second and third periods.

Perhaps it can't get any lower for the Erie franchise.

[Via: Erie Times-News @ GoErie.com]

St. Michael's Holiday 2011

It's the one very special spiritual day of the year when I take some personal time to reflect and honor the moniker that has been passed down from my forefathers. So, every year on this COHF blog, I dedicate a little something special to highlight a couple of developmental organizations. I hope these young players represent the kind of sportsmanship and class that the team name invokes.

First up is the Catholic Liberal Arts university near Burlington, Vermont named Saint Michael's College. It's got a Men's and Women's hockey team currently situated in the Northeast-10 Conference. You can follow them on their athletic dept. twitter and the athletic dept. facebook page.

The Men's Purple Knight's team finished last season with an overall record of 11-15-1 and showing some signs of improvement.The real notable part of last season was their efforts to "Think Pink" for cancer awareness last February 4th. In a double header event, the mens and womens teams played host at the Cairns Arena while fans were encourage to attend the "pink zone". But looking ahead to this season, they are also hosting a Holiday Classic event during the last days in December. Even though the program struggles, they did post a great 5-0 record in conference match-ups.

The womens team finished a little low as well at 6-19-2, but still managed to put together an impressive season that showed more victories than the one before that. Some of the stand-out headlines from last season has then-junior forward Madelena Santore score a hat trick in the last game of the season. Congratulations to her. They also will host a Holiday Classic tournament the last few days of 2011.

The next team that is kept in mind today is the OHL's Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. Formerly of the St. Michael's College in Toronto. They are a major junior level team owned by Eugene Melnyk and play in the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

They are coming off a successful Memorial Cup host year having hosted and participated in the yearly tournament. They came up short, losing to the Q's St. John's SeaDogs in the final game, but the experience of the event earned them national recognition. Many of the team's players are back and

The St. Michael's Majors also got to wear a new classic styled jersey uniform at the Memorial Cup last season. Fans of the team are sure to track them down to pay big bucks for the game used ones. But for the 2011-12 season, they've designed a new sweater for the third jersey. I like them both, but it's obvious which pro team they want to look exactly like.

They also to honor a few more legendary players by retiring numbers of Dick Duff (12), Ted Lindsay (5), and Red Kelly (3) at the Memorial Cup Weekend back in May of 2011. I'm hoping that since there have been a number of legendary players to come out of the school, they will hang a few more alums in the Hershey Centre rafters.

The Majors will be facing their OHL rival IceDogs on Sept. 29th in the Jack Gatecliff Arena.

Windsor Spitfires Win Back-to-Back Memorial Cup Championships

Taylor Hall - Windsor

Once again, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) are this year's Memorial Cup championship. It served as a real eye-opener for those who expect Taylor Hall as a major prospect as well as the #1 overall pick in this upcoming June Entry Draft.

Windsor blew out the host city Brandon, Manitoba's Wheat Kings 9-3 on the first meeting and 9-1 on the second meeting to add their team name again on the Cup trophy. They also had to take on Calgary Hitmen of the WHL and the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.

This Memorial Cup tournament is going to be the closest thing that North Americans will have to witnessing a true Champions league in hockey. Though I do like the idea of having a host city rotation, it would be fair to have a forth junior team be invited to challenge for the Memorial Cup. Granted it's a trophy awarded to one of the three major junior teams that make up the CHL, but what about the USHL that could possibly compete on the same level? Instead of the host city's team getting an automatic berth, why not have a 4th team to even things out.

I am not as familiar with the Windsor Spitfire organization as I should be. I don't know if they are ready to regain the Memorial Cup trophy yet again if Taylor Hall signs a pro conract. Is there more tallent on that roster than I might know about? Leave a comment or two on the sections provided.

[Via: Memorial Cup Official Site]

Tullio Arena Fire

I was just up there 10 days ago, but I was passed this note along by one of my readers that says that the home of my beloved Erie Otters was victimized by a serious fire yesterday morning. This is another Pennsylvania hockey rink this month to be victimized by a tragedy. Perhaps my "suicide pact theory" is still looking viable.

Investigators say the fire damaged part of the arena's lobby, including a kiosk where programs are sold.

Officials say water flooded much of the arena's second floor but a glass case containing team memorabilia did not appear damaged.

Considering that the Arena is currently undergoing plans for a renovation project this summer, I would suggest that making it non-flammable a top priority.

According to the AP article, the scheduled game against the Owen Sound Attack is still going to happen.

[Via: Pittsburgh Post Gazette]

Otters Player Suspended for Violent Hit

It is easy to make a villain of the penalized player when he or she is not wearing the jersey of your choice. Biased bloggers rant and rave at anyone else who doesn't see things the way they do. Bloggers even mock and ridicule those who would try to make excuses.

The COHF blog has now found itself in a precarious rare position to have to report of a junior player who's misfortune of involvement has designated him the poster boy for all of the pacifists and anti-hitting hockey fans. Mike Liambas, the Erie Otters heavy hitter, has been suspended for the remainder of the OHL season for the violent hit he delivered to Ben Fanelli.

Just as the resulting injuries are in dispute, the punishment for Liambas is also being question by both the fans of the Otters and by supporters of Fanelli. Would the Otters fans be as indignant if it were to happen to one of their players?

[Via: The Hockey News]

St. Mike's Day of 2009

Each year when this date rolls around, I try to spend a little time blogging about two certain schools with not only important hockey programs, but bearing the special name in dedication to my patron saint.

The St. Michael's Majors of the OHL have already begun their 2009-10 season. Their last victory was on the 26th against Sarnia 9-2. St. Mike's is looking to build this season on the successful season they had last year taking the OHL quarterfinals before losing in the semis. I was able to see these players in Erie last season and I strongly encourage other fans to take in a game this year. But if you can't make it, check out the official merchandise page.

St. Michael's College in Vermont is another school where both men and women pursue both academic and athletic success. Earlier this month, the Purple Knights Men's Ice hockey team announced that one of their alumni had just signed a professional player contract in the SPHL. I am glad that they are able to develop players that reach beyond the Division II level. The men's team is looking once again to equal their last efforts of back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference Tournament titles.

The Women's Ice hockey team succeeds in building great students with the academic credentials to lead others to do the same. Recently, one of their assistant coaches moved on to RPI and are now looking for an assistant coach for this upcoming season. Do you know anybody that could join them?

Sir Tavares of London, Ontario

If Oshawa of the OHL wasn't going to recover their season, then they could just as well lose without one of the most recent Junior hockey prospects.

Acquired from Oshawa in a trade Thursday, the former Generals captain scored twice and added an assist to lead the Knights in a 7-3 victory over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.

On a team that has a tradition of producing hockey stars, the London Knights of the OHL will enjoy the ride to a possible championship as well as a possible Memorial Cup. They last won the memorial Cup in the 04-05 season. They also have produced Pat Kane and Rick Nash for the NHL. (Yea, but they also produced Billy Tibbets)

As far as Tavares goes, it gives more fans a chance to get to know Tavares without him getting buried. He is likely to go in the top 3 in the draft, with a big thank you to the recent World Junior Championship. So, we know Tavares has the kind of skills to rise to the top of the stats charts. Will London's new player end his career by going deep into the CHL/OHL post-season? It's likely Tavares will be making headlines this spring.

[Via: CBC.ca]

OHL Otters Alumni Needs Your Help!

I just got word from my connections that a former OHL player needs your help!

Jason Baird, an OHL Erie Otters alumni, is in an Akron, OH burn unit after suffering from a fire resulting in 65% of his body burned. The Erie Otters have now planned to host a benefit to help him this August 19 at 7pm. Other Otter players are planning a meet and greet with fans welcome to attend. All proceeds go to Jason Baird Benefit fund. $10 for adults.

Jason spent the last season with the CHL's Youngstown Steelhounds scoring 13 goals and 23 assists. But his career in the OHL saw him score 87 goals and 131 assists for the Erie Otters from 1997-2001. Caringbridge website has a blog and a guest book to update on Jason's condition. If you are a fan of the OHL or CHL, then seriously consider donating to the cause.

[Via: Erie Otters Website]

Ftorek is the Difference Maker in Erie

Here I am once again doing some business in Erie, PA and I got the chance to take in another OHL game featuring the Erie Otters and Petersborough Petes. The Otters are struggling as of late, but they hired a real quality coach in Robbie Ftorek recently and I think that things are starting to turn around for them.

Erie was not the same team that I saw last time I was here. They brought to their game a new physicality and a passing presence. Surely, the new coaching regime got the kids back to basics and trained them hard. They had beaten a strong Niagra Ice Dogs team yesterday and each player earned a little confidence in their skills. Ftorek brings with him a mountain of coaching experience at the major and minor levels and 334 games as a player in the NHL. This leaves former coach Peter Sidorkiewicz to concentrate on developing the goaltenders.

It wasn't "JJ" in the net, but Justin Garay who stood tall and kept the Otters in it until is goalie counterpart Jason Missiaen fell on his backside at the faceoff circle. Nick Palmieri (pictured) jumped on the opportunity to score one of his 2 goals this night. Otters Luke Gazdic would get the other one to give the Otters a 3-1 victory.

The 3rd leg of this weekend's games ends this Sunday in Guelph.

It may be too late to salvage any post-season hopes, but at least the struggling OHL Otters can build on the hopes that Ftorek can lead them to an OHL Championship and produce NHL talent as the Brad Boyes #16 hangs above the ECC/Tullio Arena walls.

[Via: Erie Otters Official Page]

Player to Watch: Jaroslav Janus

As I report almost-live from Erie, PA, I find that I must put on my "talent scout" hat and call attention to a junior hockey player who I am impressed with.

Jaroslav Janus, "J.J." (6'0" 185lbs.), is the 2nd overall pick in the recent OHL priority draft. He is learning the North American style of hockey since coming over from Presov, Slovakia. Unfortunately, due to the league rules, I was unable to procure any current photos or video to share.

JJ is an excitable goalie who can skate well and play the puck around the net. He is tough in the crease when opposing players crowd him. He has a good instinct to make leg pad saves wile sliding. JJ has the poise to keep the game within reach despite a soft defensive help.

His vision still needs improvements as he has problems with long range shots. He also has a slow reaction time. The game I saw, he showed himself slow to pick himself up off the ice for rebounds.

You can check out his European career statistics at the Erie Otters team site.

[Via: Erie Otters Home Site]

St. Mike's Moves to Mississauga

As I am on record, I dislike it when teams move around and jerk around the heartstrings of fans whose attention they were supposedly working so hard for in the first place.

So, I emailed the connections in the OHL and confirmed to me that the rumors I had been reading about a shuffle of teams. Sadly, those rumors were true as I got a reply that two of the three favorite OHL teams were bound for new homes. The Ice Dogs (originially founded by Don Cherry) were in a tight spot fighting against the fanbase of nearby St. Michael's Majors of Toronto. So, upon being sold, the Ice Dogs were going to find a new home in Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario to become the Niagra IceDogs. And that would leave the Hershey Center open for the taking.

Then the Mayflower trucks careen up to the 1,600 seat St. Michael's College School Arena. When Eugene Melnyk's attempts to purchase the Maple Leaf Gardens sale fell through, the 100+ year old historic franchise found a home in Mississauga's Hershey Center. At least now, the newly crowned Mississauga St. Michael's Majors can have a better arena to play in.

I hate the fact that Melnyk ripped the Majors from the school that it was so closely aligned. I guess the money that he can put into the program will help develop more top NHL talent like the rival IceDogs have done. I took a look at the new websites of both teams, and it looks like they are looking forward to new chapters in their franchise histories.

I hate the new IceDogs logo. The uniforms they used this past season were so cool, I scoured eBay and other internet sites looking to get one. Now that they are a little out of date, maybe they will go on sale. The same goes for the former Toronto St. Mikes.

You Otter Be There, Too!

I am on the road tonight in Erie, PA to report on the OHL and the Erie Otters (along with the Erie SeaWolves events) as they take on the Saginaw Spirit. I couldn't find any of the Spirit Squad within city limits, but I also couldn't find a chance to take a few snapshots of the game because of league rules forbidding taking photos. My view of the game was great as there is usually no bad seat in the house at Tullio Arena where the announced attendance was 3,900 (which I suspect was rounded off).

The Otters have been struggling around as a young team settling towards the bottom of the Ontario Hockey League. With all of their prior stars in the NHL by graduating junior hockey, it seems that the fans will have to be patient while the team reloads with talent. The Spirit, and all their cowbell ringing fans, was going to have a good view of an execution via the scoreboard.

The action was fast paced as the Otters matched speed and strength against the powerhouse Saginaw Spirit. But with cross-ice passes that were missed, icing calls, and stupid penalties, the Otters were in good shape by the end of the first period to only be down 2-0.

Anthony Peluso gave the Erie hockey fans in the building something positive to cheer about as he challenged and over matched one Spirit player. He dropped the gloves and held his opponent with his long reach waiting for the opportunity to strike. Furiously, the Spirit player swung his arms only to reach nothing. Peluso slammed him once with a roundhouse, waited, and then pummeled the guy again. On the third punch, Peluso knocked out the Spirit player and then skated away with tough-guy bravado to take his seat where he would be spending the next 5 minutes.

The Otters goalie, Kevin Beech, was strong in flashes, but a series of fluky goals served as the downfall of the game. One goal went over his shoulder while another was missed due to players screening his vision. To Beech's credit, he had gotten no defensive help as an additional goal was poked at repeatedly till it got behind him to put the Otters in a serious situation down 3-1 by the waining moments of the second period.

I kept seeing the number 22 around the arena on many of the jerseys, but the 22 belonged to a player who Erie could have used. Ryan O'Merra, once an Erie Otter, was now making a return to Tullio Arena wearing the patriotic red, white, and blue of the Saginaw Spirit. Once the Erie hockey fans cheered and supported him, but this day he was jeered and booed by the Otters faithful in the arena. O'Merra softly scooped in the puck to a goalie-less net in the final minute to the game rubbing in a futile Otter effort.

Despite the result of the game, it was an exciting game to watch and I finally got the opportunity to browse through the Erie Otters merchandising table. After giving it much thought while being served by a charmingly attractive young lady and a very helpful young man, I was able to make another addition to my hockey collection by purchasing a Otters third sweater (despite my personal disinterest in "old school" drawstring style) and a Otters collectors puck.

Erie Otters Concern Over Injury Bug

While I am in Erie, PA this week, I guess I should report on the local team here - the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. The team is in Jamestown, NY playing through the fall training camp and waiting for the season to begin on Sept. 2nd.

The players names Ryan O'Merra and Anthony Peluso might not be that recognizable to hockey fans just yet, but these two are highly ranked prospects within the major junior CHL system. But a collective gasp could be heard in the community when the news was released to the Erie Times-News that both O'Merra and Peluso are injured.

Ryan O'Marra, the club's top returning scorer and captain, suffered a fairly significant fracture of the fibula in his left leg two weeks ago. Anthony Peluso, the club's first-round pick in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in his left knee in May. Both were non-contact injuries that occurred while running on grass fields.

O'Marra is a prospect of the NY Islanders system and preliminary assessments say that he will be able to attend the Isles training camp in the middle of September. Peluso is looking at rehabbing in Arizona in October for a month long stay that according to the Times-News report will be paid for by his family.

[Via: Erie Times-News Email Subscription Required]

Ontario Hockey League Outlook

I guess with the NHL in full swing, a lot of the hockey writers, press, and fans seem to be ignoring the other hockey leagues. The AHL and CHL both reportedly experienced a minor growth of attention when the NHL shut down. So, in an effort to enforce my stand as a blog celebrating a vast interest in all things hockey and not just NHL, here's some thoughts on the Ontario Hockey League. My favorite teams, St. Mikes, Erie, and Mississauga, once enjoyed being on top are now settling towards the bottom of the league record-wise. I'm not going to capsule all the teams in the OHL, but here's a glance at my favorite teams. Feel free to offer your take on the OHL or other teams in the league on my comments section.

Erie is celebrating their 10 year anniversary from 1996 and are sporting a really awesome alternate jersey (which is currently #1 on my team jersey wish list). They stand in last place in the Midwest division after 47 games earning only 37 points. But their rough position doesn't quite count them out just yet. They are only 2 points out of the last qualifying position for the OHL playoffs.

St. Mikes may not be at the basement of their Central division, but they too aren't playing up to their potential given the past history of success. They've got 51 points after 47 games which is still well behind a strong Barrie Colts team. They also have yet to find an answer for London who dominated all last year.

I'm probably the only American who knows how to spell "Mississauga" correctly, and this community really loves their IceDogs. Owned by Oilers defenceman Chris Pronger, the IceDogs sit at the bottom of the Central division after 46 games and have traded players with Owen Sound and several others over the past couple of months. The one bright spot is the players who are being awarded player of the month and all star honors.

All three teams look to rebuild after losing a lot of players to the NHL draft. It will be interesting to see what the OHL will shape out to be this year. Will the London Knights again represent the OHL in the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup Tournament?

Former Erie Stars Scoring for World Juniors

Keeping up to date in the Hockey world, the World Junior Championships have been going on and according to the Erie Otters website, some former and current Otter Alumns have been doing great thus far. Carlo Colaiacovo helped out this native Canada shut out the powerhouse Czech Republic team today. In other news, former Erie player Michal Kokavec scored two goals to help Slovakia win against a imerging Belarus national team on Friday December 27th.They exploded with 11 goals! Way to go Slovakia! The U.S. team is 1-1 so far and is lead by many players from the NCAA level.

As of tonight, the standings look like this:

Group A:

Russia, 2-0; 4 pts.
Slovakia, 1-1; 2 pts.
Switzerland, 1-1; 2 pts.
United States, 1-1; 2 pts.
Belarus, 0-2; 0 pts.

Group B:

Canada, 2-0; 4 pts.
Finland, 2-0; 4 pts.
Czech Republic, 0-1; 0 pts.
Sweden, 0-2; 0 pts.
Germany, 0-2; 0 pts.

Erie Raises OHL Championship Banner @ Tullio Arena

In an effort to diversify my reporting on things other than NHL and Pittsburgh Hockey, the Erie Otters have made the front pages on faceoff.com.

Last year, I watched a game between the Kitchner Rangers at the Erie Otters. Saturday night, those same two teams opened up the Ontario Hockey League schedule. Erie raised their 2001-02 OHL championship banner in front of a sold out 5,280 Tullio Arena crowd. Alas, Erie wasn't able to pull off the win. Those Rangers from Kitchner, Canada won the game 8-4.