Game Day Edition: It's Playoff Time

~
This morning Guy and I recapped every CHL and NCAA playoff game, went in depth with 3 different CHL series and a bracket of the NCAA tournament and discussed concussions and why one NHL rookie has the most impressive stats in the Calder trophy race. Click here to go inside the world of prospects hockey.

Wall To Wall World Junior Month Begins

~
Tuesday night we kicked off our extensive World Junior Hockey Championship, a day before December starts. Starting Tuesday and running right through and after one of the best tournament's in the world we'll get you primed and ready for the event taking place in Buffalo starting on Boxing Day. From players to coaches to analysts, you won't find a better source for information. Time to dive in...

Schwartz To Join TPS

<>
This Tuesday we'll continue our look at the 2010 NHL entry draft and welcome Tri City Storm forward Jaden Schwartz to the program. The 17 year old is leading the USHL in scoring with 70 points in 45 games, after a 76 point season in 46 games with Notre Dame of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League last year. ISS had him ranked 26th on their January list, while Central Scouting put him 41st among North Americans on their mid term list.

Schwartz's rights in the WHL are held by the Tri City Americans, but he's committed to Colorado College next season where his brother Rylan is a freshman this year.

The show airs from 7-9 PM MST and you can find out more and listen online at www.thepipelineshow.com.

A Tiger To A Cougar?

Goaltender Hudson Stremmel who was supposed to be a Colorado College Tiger this season, has left the team. Stremmel has only played an exhibition game for the NCAA school this year in what was supposed to be his freshman year, as the Tigers have mostly gone with fellow freshman tender Joe Howe.

Stremmel played for the Chicago Steel of the USHL last year, suiting up in 35 games, winning 18 of them with a 3.18 goals against average and an .895 save percentage.

Stremel's WHL rights are owned by the Prince George Cougars, and I'm thinking he didn't leave school without a place to play. I also think the Cougars could use some better goaltending right now, so it looks like a perfect match.

Moore From the Pipeline - Part 3

~
The Pipeline Show is excited to bring you a series of guest player blogs by some of the top players eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. For a complete recap of the blogs so far, click on '2009 Guest Blogs' under 'Labels' down the right-hand side of your screen. To date we have heard from John Moore, defenceman with the Chicago Steel in the USHL, and Ethan Werek of the Kingston Frontenacs. We have a few other players lined up who have yet to contribute.

Here now is the latest entry from defenceman John Moore

Golden Bears Invade Colorado

The defending CIS champion Alberta Golden Bears take their show on the road this weekend for a trio of contests with top NCAA schools and as always, they're doing it in enemy territory.

It all gets going tonight as the Golden Bears square off against the Denver Pioneers. The 3-games in 3-days schedule certainly doesn't favor Alberta and their opponents are no pushovers either.

The Pioneers have been a highly respectable program for decades and have produced a plethora of NHL talent including soon to be Hall of Fame inductee Glen Anderson. Paul Stastny and Matt Carle are two recent stars who began to shine as Pioneers.

Current standouts in Denver include Rhett Rakhshani (NYI), Tyler Ruegsegger (TOR) and Joe Colborne (BOS) seen on the left.

Sunday night's game has them taking on Air Force, which can't really be described as a NCAA power but they aren't to be underestimated either. Players don't normally go on to fame and fortune from this program because, well because they obviously have an inclination to join the U.S. Air Force.

Eric Ehn (pictured) was the biggest name in the program in recent years but the Hobey Baker finalist has moved on. The Falcons do still have last year's leading scorers though in Brent Olson, Jeff Hajner and Greg Flynn. Their best player actually might be in net where Andrew Volkening was often a standout last year including a fantastic overtime game against highly ranked Miami (of Ohio) in the opening round of the NCAA National tournament.

Monday night the Golden Bears will face what might be the stiffest test, at least according to the recently released NCAA poll. The Colorado College Tigers are the 5th ranked program in the NCAA just edging the Pionners to 6th.

Like Air Force, it could be argued that the top Tiger is between the posts in goaltender Richard Bachman (DAL). Not to be confused with Stephen King's writing alter-ego, Bachman (pictured) was striking fear into the opposition (ZING!) all during his freshman year and now as a sophomore might be the top goalie in the NCAA. Chad Rau (TOR) leads the attack but Billy Sweatt (CHI) will be one to watch for as well.

As for Alberta, they might not be household names for a lot of fans but they have some players who can definitely be considered late bloomers with pro potential. Netminder Aaron Sorochan is now in his 4th year with the Bears and has two National Titles under his belt. Ben Kilgour is the senior player on the squad and after a terrific WHL career with the Tri-City Americans, he'll have pro options in 2009-10.

Ian MacDonald, Jason Fransoo, Jesse Gimblett, Eric Hunter (CHI & NYR)... these are all players worth keeping tabs on because their careers won't end when their CIS eligibility expires.

My personal prediction for the Bears this weekend: 1-1-1 with a win against Air Force, a tie either tonight in Denver or on Monday against Colorado College.