Spinal Cord Injuries in Canadian Amateur Hockey: A Study With NHL Implications?
by Doogie2K on Mar 17, 2010 8:31 AM PDT
10 comments
Every so often, my education crosses over neatly with current events. Like when we talked about the Wingate test during training camp, or when we talked about knee injuries the same week Mike Cammalleri fell awkwardly and ripped up his knee. With a pair of questionable hits into the boards coming in the last two weeks and getting everyone talking (when they're not railing against Matt Cooke), it just so happens that for my sport injury class, I'm reading a paper on the incidence of spinal cord injuries in Canadian amateur hockey. After finishing the paper, I felt it would be worth taking a quick look at some of the findings, and conclude by questioning just why some in the media and on the Internet continue not only to defend certain types of cheap shot, but indeed even glorify them.
Note: If you have access to PubMed or another, similar article indexing service (check with your University librarian), you can download and read the paper yourself. The citation:
Tator CH, Provvidenza C, and Cassidy JD. Spinal injuries in Canadian ice hockey: an update to 2005. Clin. J. Sport Med., 19(6): 451-456. PM: 19898071
10 comments | 2 recs
Edmonton - Minnesota post-game: The song that never ends
by Bruce McCurdy on Mar 16, 2010 11:15 PM PDT
in Game Reports
4 comments
- This is the song that never ends,
- It just goes on and on, my friends.
- Some people started singing without knowing what it was,
- And they'll keep singing it forever just because
- This is the song that never ends,
- It just goes on and on, my friends.
- Some people started singing without knowing what it was,
- And they'll keep singing it forever just because
- This is the song that never ends ...
Boy, nothing like another game at the Xcel Energy Centre to inject some spark into a sorry season. Energy Sink is more like it.
Fresh off of losses to worst-in-the-East Toronto and second-worst-in-the-West Columbus, the Oilers had little chance tonight when facing a real NHL team. Not that Minnesota Wild are any flaming hell, ranked 10th in the West and 8 points out of a playoff berth entering tonight's game. But on their ice, they are much, much, much better than the Edmonton Oilers, and have a 13-game home winning streak over the Oil to prove it. From an Oiler perspective, 0-11-2; 16 GF, 47 GA. Any questions?
The last time the Oil escaped St. Paul with 2 points was in 2007 January, when Derek Boogaard ran over Ales Hemsky 20 feet from the puck, concussing the Oilers' star and putting him on the shelf for 10 games. But the Oil scored the winner on the subsequent (two-minute) powerplay and emerged with a 2-1 victory. A painful win, but a win nonetheless. Since then, nothing but pain.
The stats say the Oilers outshot the Wild 36-28 tonight. That doesn't speak to the quality of those shots. According to Dennis King, who tracks scoring chances over at MC79hockey, the Wild outchanced the Oilers 25-15, including 22-9 at even strength. In other words, the vast majority of Minny's shots were excellent scoring opportunities, while the Oil's shots tended to come from the fringes.
The Oilers veterans didn't fare well by this metric, with the trio of Moreau-Horcoff-Pisani generating just a single scoring chance while being on for 6-8 against. It wasn't like they were lined up in a particularly unfavourable match-up; Quinn seemed to be rolling the lines for the most part. Moreau for example played between 2.3 and 4.9 minutes against all 12 Wild forwards. He and his mates were sheltered in terms of zone start - 12 offensive zone faceoffs vs. just 5 in the D-zone - but they still got worked.
Jeff Deslauriers had another tough night, allowing 4 goals on those 28 shots. This was a tough road trip for the young Oiler goalies, who over 4 games turned 13 goals of support into just a single standings point. I wouldn't conclude that tonight's game was decided between the pipes, but it certainly wasn't stolen there either. The Oilers lost this one on merit at all positions.
Not much else to say. This game is better off forgotten as soon as possible. Except ... is it over yet, Lamb Chop?
4 comments | 0 recs |
Oilers v. Wild - 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
by Scott Reynolds on Mar 16, 2010 2:59 PM PDT
in Game-Day Threads
81 comments
I appeal to you, my fellow Oilogospherians, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - whose name is spoken with ferocity game in and game out around the league - to support one another, being perfectly united in your tolerance for differences. I have been informed that there have been some recent quarrels among you. What I mean is that I hear that some are saying, "Those who hope for wins are fools!" and yet others say, "Those who hope for losses are traitors!" and still others cry out, "Those who go to the games facilitate this garbage!" and finally, "Those who've given up are band-wagon jumpers! What are we, fans of the Canucks!?"
And so it is that everyone is in the right and everyone in the wrong. For isn't it true that God has given us the precious gift of the first overall pick? Yet it is also true that God meant for us to cheer his one true chosen team to victory. And of course it's true that while we cannot tolerate the thieves on top of this once-great team that we need to show God that we are faithful, no matter the circumstances. So let us remember that we are still one body sent to hope in God's chosen team, not for their intellect or power but by the faith that rises out of the grace of God. So let us support one another in these difficult times and help one another to find God's grace in what suits him best so that we can return united with a common purpose when autumn returns.
Edmonton Oilers (21-41-7) @ Minnesota Wild (33-29-6)
XCel Energy Center, 6:00 P.M. MDT
Television: Sportsnet West
More analysis after the jump...
81 comments | 0 recs |
Anton Lander Interviews With The Copper & Blue
by Derek Zona on Mar 16, 2010 9:30 AM PDT
in Prospects
8 comments
Anton Lander seems to suffer from some kind of disorder that forces him to be huge in big games. He's had a tough time after the World Junior Championships but scores big goals in the last two games of regular season. I've followed him for many years now and have seen this time after time, both with the junior national team and in Timra. It's no coincidence that Lander scored the game-winning goal in this game, that's for sure!When we played 4 on 5 late in the game with the one goal lead we got a 50/50 chance to get a 2 on 2 break for a shorthanded goal but the 18 year old who newly-scored the goal of his life was cool enough to go and get a line change that helped us live through that crucial short-handed situation and win the game.
--Jimmy Hamrin, Timra Blogger.
As Ben would say, on a scale from one to ten Eberles, Anton Lander is a perfect ten. Lander's late season heroics dragged Timrå into the Swedish Elite League playoffs and his third period in the final game against Lulea will be the stuff of legend for years to come. On the back of Timrå's huge win and dramatic qualification for the playoffs, Anton was gracious enough to agree (in English) to an interview with a guy that asked for the interview using Google translate. To eliminate any language barrier and to bring a level of personality to an interview that a cell phone conversation cannot provide, our good friend Jimmy Hamrin, the intrepid Swedish blogger that follows Timrå, rain or shine, agreed to meet with Anton in Timrå to conduct the interview for The Copper & Blue. I cannot thank Jimmy enough for translating my questions into Swedish and translating Anton's answers back into English - C&B is forever indebted to Jimmy for his work. After the jump is our conversation, through Jimmy, with Anton Lander.
8 comments | 0 recs |
Edmonton - Columbus Post-Game: Losing to Losers is What We Do
by Benjamin Massey on Mar 15, 2010 8:40 PM PDT
in Game Reports
12 comments
Worryingly, the Oilers are getting awfully good at being awfully bad.
As a two-goal loss to a fellow cellar-dweller goes, that was almost - dare I say - painless. We got in, we got beat, we got out. Very efficient. That was losing for champions. That was the sort of loss a team contending for the Reverse Stanley Cup gets. There was no real drama for those sixty minutes. We allowed an early goal, put up a fight, got into a fight, but lost in good order. Even allowed an empty-net goal on an asinine early own-zone goaltender pull. A few members of the Mediocre Brigade acquitted themselves admirably, but the team itself was impotent.
May I be cynical? I may? Thank you. It seems to me that this team has the Fall for Hall down. Sit the Complainer Captain Ethan Moreau and start getting results? Sit the heart of the team Fernando Pisani instead! Play Jeff Deslauriers against Toronto, a team motivated to get results against the superior goaltender. Play Devan Dubnyk against Columbus, a team that may be diving for five as hard as us and that might need a little help slamming pucks in. A bunch of illogical line combinations, few of which were any good, with only the weird unit of Sam Gagner, Marc Pouliot, and Whatever Other Loser They Happen to Be With Right Now showing some improbable and unexpected chemistry.
Did we chuck Aaron Johnson and Chris Minard on the power play? You bet we did. Taylor Chorney on the penalty kill? Sure did. We pulled out all the stops and got the loss.
Say what you will about Pat Quinn, but the man coached the Canucks and the Maple Leafs. If he can do nothing else, he can tank.
12 comments | 0 recs |
Oilers v. Blue Jackets - Psalm 118:26-29
by Scott Reynolds on Mar 15, 2010 3:02 PM PDT
in Game-Day Threads
97 comments
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of Yahweh,
and that one will be honoured in Yahweh's house next season.
Yahweh is our God
and his light will shine upon us in June.
Grown men will watch and cheer
the arrival of Yahweh's chosen one.
You are our God and we will give you thanks for your mercy!
You are our God and we will exalt you for giving us hope!
Yes, we will give thanks to Yahweh for he is good
and his favour - even in his punishments - will have no end!
Edmonton Oilers (21-40-7) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (27-31-11)
Nationwide Arena, 5:00 P.M. MDT
Television: Sportsnet West
More analysis after the jump...
97 comments | 0 recs |
Columbus Blue Jackets, What Might Have Been In Oklahoma City
by Derek Zona on Mar 15, 2010 12:01 PM PDT
in Opinion
8 comments
In my interview with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, he said something that's stuck with me:
C&B: With all of the work that you did in bringing basketball to Oklahoma City, including bringing the New Orleans team in to play during Katrina and the aftermath and bringing a franchise to the city permanently, can we assume that this was one of your initiatives as well?
Mayor Cornett: Well, in a sense. I want Oklahoma City to have the best brand of hockey that it can support. I feel like we're a really good hockey market, we've supported hockey in the past and I think our market has matured to the point where we deserve and can support a higher level of play. We almost got an NHL franchise in 1998. We came right on the edge of getting one, but I think Columbus got the franchise. We were in the final running for it but didn't get it. I think that was reflective of the growing market and the fact that we've supported hockey.
What would the the NHL look like today if Oklahoma City would have been awarded the expansion franchise rather than Columbus?
8 comments | 0 recs |
Oilers Scoring Chances - Another Copper & Blue Trivia Contest
by Derek Zona on Mar 15, 2010 10:00 AM PDT
in Miscellaneous
5 comments
We're back for another giveaway. This one requires little to no effort on your part, so like Steve Tambellini, you guys should be really good at this contest. If we have more than one correct answer, we will determine the winner by highest Fan Corsi. Actually, we'll draw names from a hat.
5 comments | 0 recs |
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