Brazeau\’s Blog

IRISH 5, IROQUOIS 1

Re-match of 2006 Canadian Cup final where Irish were victorious, 6-2 … Two teams also faced each other during the round robin this year, with the Iroquois winning 3-1 … Iroquois goaltender Dallas Anderson looked cool, calm and collected, making several key saves during a flurry of shots early in the first period … Irish forward Justin Olden, the 2009 MVP, opened the scoring with a deceiving shot near the half boards with just over three minutes left in the period … Less than 10 seconds later, Justin’s brother Jesse Olden caught the Iroquois off guard and snuck in for a breakaway goal, putting his team up 2-0 … Iroquois scored a quick one in the second to claw back into it … Iroquois forward Dean Hill had a couple of good chances to tie it up but couldn’t get it past the Irish goaltender … Just over 10 seconds in the third, Irish reclaimed their two-goal buffer … With 7:11 left in the period, Jamie Minchella extended the Irish lead to 4-1 … Iroquois had a five-on-three powerplay but couldn’t capitalize … With less than a minute left in the game, Iroquois pulled their goalie but it wasn’t enough; Jesse Olden added an empty net goal with less than 30 seconds left to seal it.

ITALIAN 5, SERBIAN 4

The buzz around the arena was the Italians’ early 4-0 lead in the first until the Serbians chopped away at the deficit, scoring two goals including one with four seconds left in the period … Two more Serbian goals in the second period and they were all the talk, with the game all tied up at four a piece … Andrew Dias scored the game winner for the Italians with 3:40 left in the second … The Serbian White Eagles pulled their goalie late in the third but couldn’t manage to set up another tying goal and complete the upset. 

MACEDONIAN 5, HELLENIC 3

One of the most anticipated games in recent history and featured one of the largest crowds I’ve seen at a tournament game, including the finals … Hellenic scored quick in the first but it was all Macedonian for the rest of the period … The third Macedonian goal was actually the result of the Hellenic team trying to block the point shot but a bad bounce led to the puck falling back into the net … With the score 4-1 at the end of the second, the Hellenic fought back with two goals early in the third to pull within one … The Macedonian defence stepped up to prevent any quality shots and any chances of Hellenic tying it up … With a minute to go, the Hellenic team pulled their goalie but chippy play may have cost the team any chance to tie it up … The Macedonians added an empty netter with 3.1 seconds left.  

ISRAELI 6, POLISH 1

Re-match of 2008 Canadian Cup final, where Israeli came out on top in a close match, 4-3 … Two years later, Israelis looking to bounce back from missing the playoffs in 2009 … This year, Polish team was re-building and wasn’t gelling as well as they had in previous years … Israeli team pulled ahead and led 4-0 after two periods of play … The third period saw more of the same as the Israelis added another pair of goals, although the Polish managed to snap the shutout with a goal of their own … For the first time since 2006, the Polish Hussars did not make it to the final. 

Irish 6, Macedonian 4

In a rematch from last year’s quarter-finals, both teams looked like they could easily walk away with the win. Both teams played hard, intimidating styles with plenty of forechecking and several players ended up with broken sticks.  The game was tied 4-4 until the Irish capitalized on the powerplay to go ahead, 5-4. The Macedonians pulled their goalie in the final minutes but the Irish held on and added an emptynetter for the win.

Italian 7, Serbian 2

With disappointing playoff exits in the past, the Italian Gladiators were determined to make sure 2009 wouldn’t see the same results.  Although they were the sixth seed, the Gladiators took control of the game in their matchup against the surging Serbian White Eagles. The Italian team relied on their playmaking skills, setting up three-on-two opportunities and attacking quickly while the Serbian team was changing their lines. They pelted shots on net constantly, resulting in three goals in the first period alone and adding another trio in the second.

Polish 5, Iroquois 3

The Polish Hussars ended the first period with a 2-0 lead and entered the third up 3-1 but little did they know what would happen in the third. The Silverhawks weren’t out of it and midway through the final frame, they pulled within one and with only a few minutes remaining, the team tied it up at three goals apiece. Then, with both teams sporting a man in the box, Polish rookie Mark Vida put in the game-winning goal with just under two minutes left. Winger Robert Martynowski, who scored both Polish goals in the first period, added the decisive emptynetter, picking up a hat trick as his team celebrated their win.

Hellenic 3, Nubian 2

It certainly was a close game, with the Nubian team scoring two quick goals in the first period before the Hellenic squad replied with a pair of their own to finish the second period. The Hellenic scored the game-winner in the third and the Nubians pushed hard with the extra attacker in the final minute but couldn’t tie it up. With the win, the Hellenic Lightning will now face the Irish Shamrocks in the semi-finals while the Italian Gladiators will faceoff against the Polish Hussars in the other matchup.

Nubian 4, Japanese 0

Now here was a goaltending duel. Nubian goalie Eric Murphy had returned to fine form but Japanese goalie Anthony Marshall was also at the top of his game. Both teams employed a quick, lightning-fast offence and both netminders faced a flurry of shots and were tested early. Not surprisingly, it was scoreless after the first period but from there, the Nubians found a way to solve Marshall. Unfortunately, the Japanese team couldn’t do the same to Murphy, who posted the shutout.

Irish 5, Serbian 3

The game was still young when the Irish scored the opening marker. In the past, this would’ve been the first of many, many goals for the team but the Serbian squad has vastly improved and refused to give up. Only mere minutes later, the Serbians had tied up, 1-1. Irish forward Justin Olden ringed one off the post but a minute later on the powerplay, Olden put the one past Serbian goaltender Dan Giffan. Giffan kept his team in it, making several Dominik Hasek-like sprawling saves. The Serbians came right back and tied it up again, 2-2, with just under four minutes left in the first. But the Irish quickly reclaimed the lead seconds later with a goal by Jamie Minchella. Kyle Ventura added a short-handed goal with 1:42 left as the Irish finished the first period ahead 4-2. The Irish held onto their two-goal lead for most of the second until the Serbians pulled within one with 3:43 remaining. However, the Irish restored the two-goal lead just over a minute later. In the final minutes of the third, the Irish had two men in the box and the Serbians pulled their goalie for a six-on-three but they just couldn’t mount the offensive comeback. However, it proved to be the only loss the team would face as they finished third in the standings.

Ukrainian 7, Estonian 2

After a disappointing loss to the Portuguese Sea Wolves, the Ukrainian Kozaks came out flying in their game against the Estonians. The team scored within the opening minute of the first period and held onto a 3-1 lead by the end of the frame. Early into the second, Jason Kotack restored the team’s three-goal lead with a wrist shot from just inside the blueline. Estonian forward Adam Migur dazzled with the puck, scoring both of his team’s goals and almost had the hat trick but Ukrainian goalie David Dorosh laid flat on the ice and prevented Migur from adding another.

Irish 2, Nubian 0

The score doesn’t tell the whole story as it could have easily been a 3-1 win for the Nubian team. Three times, the Nubian squad appeared to have scored a goal only for the referees to waive it off. The game was constantly moving from end to end and a three-on-two break led to Shamrocks’ J.R. Holmes scoring midway through the second period. Justin Olden added the other into an empty net with four seconds remaining in the game.

Macedonian 3, Serbian 3

It was an emotional start to the 2009 games with a tribute to Peter Zezel. Peter’s family was on the ice as they dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff. The Serbian team is playing in Peter’s memory this year and are looking to win it all. The game was one of the closest I’ve ever seen as the Serbian squad has improved leaps and bounds over the years. A costly hooking penalty led to the Macedonians scoring the opening goal with just over four minutes left in the first period. Serbian player Dominik Crnogorac tied it up with 4:44 left in the second on the powerplay. Just over two minutes later, the Serbian team went ahead, 2-1, with a goal from Sasha Cucuz but with 23 seconds remaining in the period and on the powerplay, the Macedonians tied it up, 2-2. The third period kept the back-and-forth pace and with four minutes left in the game, the Macedonians went ahead, 3-2. But the Serbians weren’t finished and pulled their goalie in the final minutes and tied it up with 31 seconds left.

Israeli 8, Nubian 0

It wasn’t the start to the tournament the Nubian team wanted. On the other hand, it was exactly the kind of the start the defending champions were looking for. Both teams play a similar style of high-flying offence and in this game, it paid off for the Israelis. Bryan Weinberg had a hat trick in the game, including a short-handed marker in the second period. Johnny Reeves picked up the shutout as the Nubian team struggled to mount any offensive threat. The Israeli team kept the pressure on even late in the third period.

Polish 5, Macedonian 4

When Polish forward Joshua Douglas scored with 58 seconds left in the second period, it looked like the Polish squad had the game all locked up. Leading 5-1, the team’s top line of Stefan Kostuch, Paul Gorz and Robert Martynowski hadn’t missed a beat, contributing three of the team’s goals. Early in the third, Martynowski stood on the doorstep of the crease and just missed putting in what might have been the goal that would deflate the Macedonians but instead, they came flying right back and scored themselves, pulling within three. Three minutes later, the team added another with a redirected shot. The Macedonians closed the gap once again and were one goal away from tying it but the Polish team held on for a breath-taking 5-4 win.

The games are finally here! I’ll be reporting at the championships and providing my thoughts right here.

Congratulations to the Israeli Stars of David, the Finnish Sisu and the Irish Raiders, your 2008 Canadian Multicultural Hockey champions!  The Israeli team knocked off two previous Canadian Cup winners to claim the trophy, defeating the Irish Shamrocks in the semi-finals, 8-4, and winning a close, clean game over the Polish Hussars in the final, 4-3. Israeli captain Stacey Britstone was named the MVP of the tournament. The Finnish Sisu were unable to beat the Croatian Knights in the preliminary round but they got the win when it mattered in the Heritage Division final, winning 5-3, to capture their first Heritage Bowl title. In the Women’s Division, a new champion was crowned as the Irish Raiders defeated the European Sirens, 8-3. It was the second time the Sirens finished with the silver medal. 

Hasn’t the last four days gone by way too fast? Today not only sees the semi-finals for the Premier Division but also the final for the Heritage Division and the final for the Women’s Division. Then at 7 pm, the main event: the Premier Division final.  

• Polish Hussars vs. Nubian Kings (1 pm, Chesswood Arena Pad #1). Last year’s finale is this year’s semi-final matchup. Both teams look even better than they did last year and either team could take this one and win it all. The Nubian team is solid from offence to defence but the Polish squad have one of the best offensive lines with Robert Martynowski, Paul Gorz and Stefan Kostuch. The trio combined for nine goals and 13 assists in the preliminary round and five goals and four assists in yesterday’s 7-3 win over the Japanese Arashi. It is probably the most anticipated game of the tournament and is too close to predict a winner. 
• Israeli Stars of David vs. Irish Shamrocks (1:15 pm, Chesswood Arena Pad #2). As two-time winners of the Canadian Cup, the Irish Shamrocks are looking for a return to the final after being eliminated in the semi-finals last year. Meanwhile, the Israeli team has already made 2008 their best season ever and look to further their success. 
• Heritage Division final: Finnish Sisu vs. Croatian Knights (3pm, Chesswood Arena Pad #1). The Croatian Knights squeezed into the final with a 6-5 OT win over the South Asian Vipers and the Finnish Sisu made it to the Heritage Bowl game with a 3-2 win over the defending champions, the Russian Kremlins. The edge in this one might go to the Knights, who defeated the Sisu, 4-1, in the final preliminary game but the Sisu looked stronger in the semi-finals. 
• Women’s Division final: European Sirens vs. Irish Raiders (5 pm, Chesswood Arena Pad #1). With the Ojibwe team not competing in the tournament, there will be a new champion in the Women’s Division this year. The Sirens have success on their side but the Irish Raiders will be looking to make sure the Shamrocks are not the only Irish team capable of winning the big one. 

Tonight is the quarter-finals of the 2008 Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championships. There will be a lot of tough matchups and here are my predictions for the games. 

•  Japanese Arashi vs. Polish Hussars: The Polish team look stronger than they did last season when they won the championship. They should be able to win this one but Japanese goaltender Anthony Marshall isn’t going to make it easy for them. 
• Hellenic Lightning vs. Nubian Kings: Either team could take this one but the edge goes to the Nubian Kings. They can capitalize on the power play and with Eric Murphy in net, they should come out on top. Hellenic Lightning forward Sam Katsuras, the 2005 Tournament MVP, has been playing just as well as he did in the inaurgural championship, with four goals and four assists in four games, and could be a difference-maker in this matchup. 
• Irish Shamrocks vs. Macedonian Lions: The Macedonian team will come out strong but I think the Irish will ultimately win the game. If Irish goaltender Tim Knight remains solid between the pipes, the Macedonian team will have a hard time putting the puck past him. 
• Italian Gladiators vs. Israeli Stars of David: The Italian team has always been heavy favourites to win it all and they probably could go all the way but I like the chances of the Israeli team pulling off the upset. It certainly would be interesting, wouldn’t it?

Highlights from Sunday nights’ games. 

•  Japanese Arashi 4, Chinese Ice Dragons 1. A very fast game mostly controlled in the neutral zone, it certainly looked like it could be anyone’s game with the exception being the Japanese team’s ability to capitalize on the Chinese team’s mistakes and pick up a few more goals. It was actually only 2-1 until the final few minutes when the Japanese team potted two quick goals.
• Polish Hussars 3, Hellenic Lightning 2. Featuring two tournament favourites, this game could have been won by the Hellenic team if they were more displined in the final few minutes. A true nervous, heart-beating game, Polish goaltender William Maier stood on his head to prevent a tie from happening. 
• Irish Shamrocks 6, Iroquois Silverhawks 3. A rematch of the 2006 tournament final, the Irish team was heading into this game with a 1-0-1 record in the tournament and needed the win. 
• Israeli Stars of David 4, Scottish Marauders 1. A memorable game for the Israeli team as they qualified for the playoffs. 
• Korean Tigers 1, Maltese Falcons 0. The Maltese team needed the win in order to qualify for the playoffs but the Tigers proved to be the spoilers with the win. Many fingernails were bitten by fans as they watched this close game!

Day one of the 2008 Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championships saw some pretty interesting games. Here are some of the highlights:  

• Irish Shamrocks 8, Scottish Marauders 2. It might be hard to believe but the Scottish were actually leading this one 2-0 before the Irish took control of the game. Goaltender Tim Knight shut the door for the Irish towards the end, proving once again that he’s one of the best netminders in the league. 
• Israeli Stars of David 5, Iroquois Silverhawks 4. The Isareli team were good last year but they have really taken it up a notch in 2008. Michael Henrich (a former 1st round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL) has been the team’s star player and could be a potential tournament MVP candidate. The game started out back-and-forth until it looked like the Israeli team had the lead firmly in their hands. The Silverhawks battled back to tie it but the Stars of David reclaimed the lead once more for the win.  
• Italian Gladiators 5, Serbian White Eagles 4. The Serbian team held a 4-1 lead until the Italian team finally got their act together and scored four straight goals. Israeli Stars of David 3, Irish Shamrocks 3 A surprise to some as the Irish Shamrocks have been one of the most dominant teams in the league’s history, with only one loss. This game proved how good the Stars of David actually are and now look to contend in the playoffs.  
• Polish Hussars 7, Kashubian Griffins 1. This game was all about redemption as the Hussars had travelled up to the Madawaska Valley in February and lost to the Griffins. The 2007 Canadian Cup winners are also out to defend their title and the Hussars made sure they meant business in this game. 
• Nubian Kings 3, Japanese Arashi 0. Last year, the Kings surprised everyone. This year, now heavy favourites to be in the final again, the Kings look even better, especially goaltender Eric Murphy, who recorded his second shutout of the day. He’s right up there with the Tim Knight (Irish Shamrocks) and William Maier (Polish Hussars) as the best goalies in the tournament.