Well, I have not blogged in almost a week. I apologize for any inconveniences that my readers may have suffered as a result, and I will attempt to become more regular with my postings in the future.
All right, back to my normal voice...It's been quite a week of sports action...what with the Canadian Paralympic sledge hockey team playing in Vancouver, the London Knights starting their first-round series vs the Guelph Storm, and the Raptors appearing to finally straighten out their problems. I'll start with the Knights...they are now 2-0 in their series after winning 4-3 in OT in Game 1 at the John Labatt Centre, and winning Game 2 in Guelph by a score of 4-3 in a wild, rough-and-tumble, back and forth slugfest. In Game 2, there were numerous penalties and there were even fighting majors and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties handed out. The Knights goals were scored by: Jared Knight, Nazem Kadri, Daniel Erlich, and Tyler Brown. That was just game 2; in game 1, the Knights defeated the Storm on a classic OT winner courtesy of Nazem Kadri, who scored with approximately 4 minutes to go. This was possible in part because Guelph had to overcome a 2-man disadvantage which had started just before the end of regulation; the penalties were of the hooking and delay-of-game variety which were committed during the final minute of the 3rd period. This of course, eventually lead to Kadri's heroic winner of a goal for the Knights. For more on the games, read the recaps:
Game 1
Game 2
The Knights now have to play Guelph in Game 3 of the series tomorrow (Tuesday) In London, Ontario; Canada at the John Labatt Centre (known better to locals as "the JLC"). Start time for the game is at 7 PM. You can catch the game on the radio (AM 1290 CJBK) or online at the London Knights website (Just look for the "schedule" link on the main menu, just above that is a link entitled "listen live"; click that and you will be taken to a page with an icon stating "Listen Live London Knights" complete with the team logo and colours. Just above that is black text stating "Click on the button to launch the player." When the Knights are playing, just utilize those options and you are ready to cheer the team on.) So that's all for the Knights.
I'll touch on the Paralympic sledge hockey team next. On Friday, the men played against Norway and defeated them 6-0 in a fairly solid and easy affair (from an offensive standpoint, although it is not easy for the goaltender to do his job, as sledge hockey participants are strapped to a seat and they need to use their waist muscles to steer themselves around the ice). Not only that, but the players are given two sticks (one is shaped more like a regular hockey stick but is more suited to each person, and the other is to help them steer their seat around the ice. When you factor in the bumping and grinding that the players experience with each other and the physicality that goes along with hockey in general...it can become difficult to move ANYWHERE, let alone make goalie stops. This is all required as participants usually cannot make use of their legs due to the physical disabilities that they will have to deal with. Needless to say, it was quite interesting watching these athletes play and succeed at their game. I also viewed the skiing with great interest as well, as many of the participants had at least one leg that was amputated and had a prosthetic one as a replacement, some had no legs at all, and some skiiers (for a different event) were BLIND! It's amazing when you think about all of this. Canada overall, finished 3rd in total medal standings with 26 total medals and 14 gold medals (most golds overall). It was truly a proud moment for myself and for all of the people involved with the Paralympic Games.
One more thing needs to be said before I close the book on the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games, and that is this: Canada didn't get gold in sledge hockey as many people thought they would; the team didn't even play in the gold medal game. The team was defeated by Norway 2-1 in the bronze medal game on a controversial penalty shot that tied the game late in the 3rd period for Canada before Norway iced in with 3.6 seconds left. Still, I believe these men should be proud of themselves for trying their best despite their struggles in both sport and in life. The Paralympic athletes deserve more funding and also high honours for attempting to break the social barriers that still exist for disabled people everywhere. Here's hoping that things will change in the future. Now, let's finish up with the Raptors...
The team won a dramatic come-from-behind win on St. Patrick's Day at the Air Canada Centre (or "The ACC") in Toronto vs the Atlanta Hawks, were destroyed mercilessly by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday in Toronto (or "T.O.") and won a fairly easy game in New Jersey vs the Nets. For more, see the recaps:
Vs Hawks
Vs Thunder
Vs Nets
So that about wraps it up. The Raps are 34-34 (.500) and still hold on to 8th place in the Eastern Conference. They play tongiht in Minneapolis vs the Timberwolves at 8 PM on the TSN2 channel. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Take care of each other!
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