Also - Since I was a bad guy and forgot to do this before - THANKS THANKS THANKS to Clipper fans and Billets Doug and Laura for going the extra mile to bring me a puck back from the World Juniors in Ottawa. I love Clipper fans. Sigh. There, I said it!
It's always enjoyable when I can actually WATCH the game....Maybe a pop with my buddy Al above the net, a cookie from Barb in the press box, on and on. Sadly though, it wasn't much of a game. Too many penalties and moments of a lack of discipline, too many injuries, and just too strong of a club in the Capitals made this one over almost before it began as the Capitals took a 3-0 first period lead and didn't look back. Credit to the Clippers for giving it a valiant effort making it 3-1 and then getting some chances throughout the second and the third to make it a one goal game. They just couldn't get that "next one" though.
I'm happy the series is over in three games. That way, the Caps have a chance to rest up for the Victoria Grizzlies in round two. The last thing I wanted was the series being a war going 5 games. Because whomever came out wouldn't even give the Grizz a fight. Surrey and Langley might be heading to five games. I doubt whoever wins if it goes that far will be able to give Powell River much of a battle. But hey, stranger things have happened.
Clippers play-by-play voice Dan Marshall calls the game from the Costco Executive Suite at the end of the rink at the Frank Crane. A phone line problem didn't allow Dan to call the game from the Press Box, so he had to relocate. Ever the consummate professional, he didn't miss a beat.
A special thanks to the folks from Cable Bay for being so accommodating in allowing Dan to broadcast in their suite, and for allowing me to watch some of the game from up there as well. Thanks a lot guys and gals!
Caps celebrate
Brooms all over the ice.
THE MOST beautiful thing in ALL SPORTS in my humble opinion, the post-series handshake. You hate each other, you try to kill each other, you shake hands and say "well done"
The Coaches - Scott Robinson and Bill Bestwick shake hands.
The Caps thank their fans who made a good amount of noise in the Frank Crane. A ways to go to meet Bulldogs fans on the road in playoffs, but still quite impressive.
One of my all-time favourite moments in Bulldog history - Round 2, 2003-2004. The Bulldogs win game two in Surrey to tie the series at 1-1. One whole half of the rink was filled with Dogs fans. It was incredible.A recap on Alberni Wrestling at the BC Provincials on the weekend...
Here's my favorite picture that was sent with the update...The emotion on Tom and John is something else...
Alberni Wrestlers Excel at BC High School Championships
Wrestlers from Port Alberni competed at the BC Secondary Schools Wrestling Championships at Simon Fraser University over the weekend. Alberni District Secondary School has a long standing tradition of being among the top programs in the province and they once again proved that as the ADSS Boys team finished fourth at this year’s BCs. Burnaby Central took home the blue banner as Boy’s team champions. Tournament favorites Guilford Park of Surrey ended up second and Abby Traditional from Abbotsford narrowly edged ADSS for third. There were over 80 schools represented at this year’s BC’s.
The ADSS boys team was once again led by the gold medal performance of Grade 12 wrestler Michael Cappus. Cappus continued his season long dominance by going undefeated to claim the title at 70 kilograms. In the preliminary rounds of the tournament Cappus managed to win his first three matches without having a point scored on him. In the final Cappus faced a familiar opponent in Michael Crisp of Burnaby Central. One thousand fans crowded the gymnasium at Simon Fraser to watch Cappus win the gold medal. Although he managed to take the match in two straight rounds there were a couple of moments when Cappus’ experience and focus were called upon.
“Michael was losing the first round with less than 10 seconds to go. He knew what he had to do and remained focused. He ended up scoring a two point tilt with 2 seconds left to win the round. That is the kind of thing that champions are made of. Even with that kind of pressure they are able to stay calm and do what needs to be done. It was a great way to cap off his high school career. I am really proud of him,” commented ADSS Head Coach John McDonald.
Having won the Provincial title last year Cappus is now among a very elite group of wrestlers who have claimed multiple titles. Cappus and a number of other Alberni wrestlers will travel to Fredericton at the beginning of April to compete at the Cadet/Juvenile National Championships. He has set a goal of being a medalist there as well.
Not to be out done by her older male counter part, EJ Dunn wrestler Jordie Bodnar was determined to ensure that there would more than one Provincial Champion from Port Alberni. Bodnar went undefeated to claim the title at 40 kilogram girls. She dominated her opponent Justice Janveaux from Phoenix Middle School in the final on Saturday afternoon. “We are very excited to be having Jordie move up to ADSS next year. Already a Provincial Champion in grade eight she will be a great addition to a young up and coming ADSS Girls Team,” said coach McDonald.
ADSS wrestlers Kyle Plaunt and Daley Forbes also made it to the championship finals on Saturday afternoon. Both wrestlers had outstanding tournaments. Plaunt came back from a disappointing grade 11 season to finish strong. Wrestling at 57 kilograms Grade Twelve Kyle Plaunt showed a lot of poise in route to the final. Kyle has been fighting a medical issue all season which has impeded his ability to compete. “Kyle has what doctors believe to be an esophageal ulcer which frequently flairs up during the stress of a match, said coach McDonald, “ despite these frequent interruptions that take a lot out of him, Kyle has been able to maintain his cool and compete at a very high level.” Plaunt demonstrated this in his semi final match when he defeated the number one ranked wrestler. In the final he lost a narrow 1 point decision to the number 2 ranked wrestler Mani Gill of Abbotsford.
The performance of grade 9 wrestler Daley Forbes was another highlight for the ADSS team. After bursting on the scene last year with a 6th place as a grade 8 Forbes has continued to improve and is now part of the elite in BC High School girls wrestling. “Daley has been amazing all season and at the BC’s she stepped it up to another level,” commented McDonald. “ her only loss was in the final against a grade 12 wrestler. We are certain that Daley will win her share of BC titles in the next three years.”
Grade 11 wrestler Cody McEvay also had an outstanding tournament. McEvay has been hampered all season with painful dislocations to both thumbs and has had to be taped up and trained to overcome this handicap. McEvay took the bronze medal at 66 kg by defeating the only wrestler to beat him in the preliminary rounds. “ Cody was master strategist in many of his matches” said McDonald, “he was very smart in how he wrestled and it showed in the results. We will be relying on Cody a lot next year as he emerges as our new leader.”
Teammate and grade 10 wrestler Isaiah Taylor took the bronze at 78 kg. Taylor had a strong tournament and defeated wrestlers who in most cases were a year or two older than him. “Isaiah will be a force in the next two years, “said McDonald, “he has improved so much that if he continues at this pace he will be unstoppable in grades 11 and 12. We expect him to do very well at the Cadet nationals next month in New Brunswick.”
Another cadet aged wrestler who has emerged on the BC scene is grade 10 competitor Austin Evans. Evans had a tremendous BC’s on route to finishing fourth at 54 kg. “Austin surprised a number of people this season but not us, “ observed McDonald, “ we have known for some time that he would start showing the potential we believed was there.” Evans certainly showed guts and determination when he would not quit despite a situation in his last match that resulted in him being choked out.
Grade 11 wrestler Kraig Doskotch continued his streak of placings at the BC’s with a 6th at 51 kg. Doskotch has placed in his last three BC’s. He was hoping for a medal this year but wasn’t able to pull it off on the second day of the BC’s where he lost his final two matches. He is determined that next year in his final year he will finish strong in his grade 12 year.
The major shock of this year’s BC’s for the local program came when returning BC and Canadian champion Savannah Toth lost twice in the preliminary rounds and was knocked out of the competition. “Savannah had an off day and it just came at the wrong time,” said McDonald, “ we have no doubt that she will rebound and it will actually make her a stronger wrestler. Winning all the time is not the best way to improve and sometimes we need to face some adversity. This will be good for her lead up to the Nationals.”
The loss of Toth meant the ADSS girls team didn’t finish in the top 5 as predicted this year. Carson Graham were the girls champions followed by Mouat of Abbotsford. ADSS has all their female wrestlers returning next year and a crop of good ones coming in so McDonald and his coaching staff feel they could contend for the BC Girls title in 2010.
With the BC High School Championships now behind them many of the local wrestlers are done for another season. There are , however, many who will continue training for the National Cadet/Juveniles in Fredricton April 1-5. Club coach James Messenger will be taking up to 8 Alberni wrestlers to this year’s Nationals but it won’t be cheap so the local club will be asking for some community support to help them with the added costs of flights to the other side of the country. There is no doubt that with over 30 years of credibility and another crop of great athletes Alberni Wrestling will get the support they need.
The Canucks host the Minnesota Wild tonight at GM place. YES, you can get it on THE PEAK with the pregame at 6:30 and the play-by-play just after 7pm.
Check out the PREVIEW and GAME NOTES from the Canucks website by clicking the links.
Hammer
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