Author Archives: Cassie Jagpal

Lights out for the Abbotsford Canucks at a shot for the Calder Cup

Posted on by
Reply

The Abbotsford Canucks played hard against the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday night but lost 3-2. This was their second loss to their second playoff game, which means they are out in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

The Abbotsford Canucks have had a tough year, navigating their way through COVID-19, which made it’s way to many of their players through this season. However, the fight the Abbotsford Canucks put up and the resilience demonstrated, including eight wins in a row late in the regular season- unfortunately wasn’t enough to win against the Condors (9-2-2) on home ice this season.

The Abbotsford Canucks lost in game 1 in overtime after giving up the goal that tied the game. In game 2 the Canucks tightened their defence and took the lead, just for the Condors to score a couple late goals in the second and third period. Sheldon Dries scored Abbotsford’s first goal during a power play in the first period. Former Canuck Adam Cracknell, scored for the Condors in the second period and Brad Malone scored early in the third period. Canuck Sheldon Rempal tied the game with seven minutes left in third. Cooper Marody ended the Canucks playoff hopes with two minutes left in the third period.

Canucks goaltender, Spencer Martin stopped 30 of 33 shots, following his 45-save effort in Game 1.

Abbotsford’s head coach, Trent Cull decided to go with the same lineup in Game 2, as in Game 1, which meant another night in the ‘press box’ for skilled prospect Danila Klimovich. Klimovich, 19, was picked in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and he is one of the younger players in the league. Canucks GM Ryan Johnson said, “For a kid that young to get his first kick at the can in the American League, the cultural change … there’s a lot of growth there,”

Podkolzin made a difference in both Game 1 and 2 for the Abbotsford Canucks. Podkolzin scored the Canucks goal in game 1 and in game 2 he was just as dangerous, assisting Rempal in his tying goal in the third period.

The Abbotsford Canucks played hard but unfortunately the curtains are closed for a chance at the Calder Cup this season.

 

Recap of the BC Lions draft day

Posted on by
Reply

The 2022 draft is a big step toward ‘normalcy’ for the CFL, after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the game of football in Canada these past two years. Challenges may come up from the lost year of football. Some players in this years rookie class will have to compete with players that were chosen last year but went back to finish their senior year of college football. This means there will be much more competition during training camps this year.

The BC Lions 9 picks in this years draft- Round one to nine:

 

Defensive lineman, Nathan Cherry, 6’3 and 245 pounds, with 37.5 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and ten sacks. Cherry earned U Sports First-Team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star honours in 2021.

 

The BC Lions need help along their offensive line, that’s why their pick of 6’6 and 304 pound blocker, offensive lineman, Noah Zerr, who was a U Sports first-team All Canadian left tackle in 2021 was a good pick.

 

Defensive end, Josh Archibald who was named McGill’s most improved player, recording 37 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, should be beneficial to the Lions and offer a lot of potential as a rookie.

 

Linebacker, Ryder Varga registered 92 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five knockdowns, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He is going back to school this season so the Lions won’t see him until the 2023 season, however a solid pick for the Lions.

 

Defensive back, Adrian Greene recording 37 collective tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery in 20 overall appearances. Nice pick for the Lions as Greene has a high ceiling.

 

Defensive end, Riley Pickett was named MVP this past season, recording two sacks against the University de Montreal Carabins. Pickett is BC’s third selection from the University of Saskatchewan.

 

Defensive end, Frednick Eveillard, 6’3 and 223 pounds, was a receiver in his 2021 season racking up 6.5 total tackles, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble in only six games.

 

Receiver, John Metchie was a second-round selection of the Houston Texans in the NFL draft, which means there is a good chance he will not be playing with the Lions in the CFL. He put up 2,085 yards and 14 touchdowns his last two seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Often, the best players available in the CFL draft are under contract with an NFL team. That’s why the CFL holds their draft after the NFL draft, even with the CFL starting their season earlier — it authorizes CFL teams to account for the players that are under contract in the NFL.

 

Defensive lineman, Adam Wallace registered 8.5 tackles overall, 2.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks.

 

 

 

What will JT Miller’s future in Vancouver look like?

Posted on by
Reply

There has been a lot of talk about trading JT Miller, because of what the Vancouver Canucks could get in return. They could get a prospect, a young player and a RHD, but Miller is their best player. JT Miller finished this season with 99 points (32-67) in 80 games. Miller contributed to 40.2% of the Canucks goals this year; which speaks to his importance to the team.

JT Miller has expressed his desire to stay in Vancouver saying “My best friends are here, my teammates are here. We want to win here, and I want to win here.”

Trading JT Miller would mean not only Vancouver losing their best player but their most consistent forward as well. The big dilemma is whether or not the players that the Canucks could get in return for Miller will be able to produce. The worst possible outcome is having Miller finish the final year of his contract with the Canucks and watching him walk, while receiving nothing in return at the end of the season.

The Canucks don’t have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to their cap, which could make it difficult to keep Miller. Trading him could be beneficial because it would allow Vancouver to have more cap space but it would be clear that the franchise isn’t going to be competitive for the next couple of years.

Regardless of what the Vancouver Canucks receive for Miller, it is likely that the value that he has brought to the team will not be matched. Miller is a great asset to the team and if the Canucks weren’t in the position they’re in, discussing a JT Miller trade wouldn’t even be an option. Former Canucks player, Kevin Bieksa thinks it’s a good idea to keep Miller saying “These guys don’t grow on trees.”

The Canucks management could really go either way. It’s a matter of what will be better for the Vancouver Canucks in the long run.

 

The Vancouver Whitecaps need their fans to cheer them on

Posted on by
Reply

The Vancouver Whitecaps are in the MLS basement, again. Their game against Austin was supposed to be a good starting point to get them ready and excited. Unfortunately, they lost that excitement now that they are (1-6-1) and eight points behind Real Salt Lake (4-2-2).

The Whitecaps are wanting to take advantage of their home games, but they are really hearing the silence as fans have become apathetic towards the team. The Whitecaps ticket base which was in the top five in 2016, has now dropped down to 16th in the MLS this year. 2000 fewer than the last pre-COVID-19 season.

Head coach, Vanni Sartini has been shaking things up in training and has put everything on the table. Sartini said it would be “insanity” to do the same things and expect different outcomes. He and the players are hoping to see a change and see some wins.

President and CEO Alex Schuster says “I would say within this and the next two seasons, we would like to have silverware in our hands.” It’s possible but it’s not likely. Granted, the Whitecaps haven’t had the best luck due to injuries to key players, red cards, and an unfavourable schedule against some of the leagues best teams. However, the offensive output, bad defence and the tedious possession doesn’t help.

Sartini has decided that the Whitecaps need to re-evaluate everything and get out of their comfort zone. He wants to change everything in the sense of strategies and quality. He said, “We’re not to make a revolution, because we don’t have time for a revolution. But to make some adjustments that make us always feel secure, and maybe again in the future to become again the relentless, aggressive team that we were before.”

The next four games for the Vancouver Whitecaps will be at B.C. Place. They hope to bounce back. Sartini’s message to the fans, “Last year we bounced back also because of the help of the fans and we’ll need the help of the fans this year.”

Optimism For The Vancouver Canucks 2022-2023 Season

Posted on by
Reply

Since Bruce Boudreau took over for Travis Green, the Vancouver Canucks went 32-15-10. That record would put them on pace for a 106 point season. That would be more than enough to get them into the playoffs. 

The Vancouver Canucks had a poor start to their 2021-2022 season. During the season a COVID-19 outbreak led to 22 players and four staff members testing positive. Which led to nine games being postponed and they were 4-10-1 in their final 15.

Under Travis Green, the players lost their confidence. Green wanted to play it safe, believing the Canucks didn’t have the  skills at the time to play up-tempo. Green’s strategies were no longer working and Vancouver needed a new voice. For the final 13 games Green had coached, the Canucks were 3-9-1.

Bruce took a different approach as the head coach for the Vancouver Canucks. When he took over he said he wasn’t going to base the players skill set off of the 15 games they played under Green. Bruce wanted to get the best out of all his players and really utilize their skills.

Bruce had many new ideas and ways in which the Canucks can improve as a team. Thankfully, that’s what the team really needed. The team loves playing under Bruce and they appreciate the new culture and mindset he brings behind the bench.

This season also helped Boudreau prove to himself that he can still coach in this league. He can still handle the stress of the job and he still has the desire to do the job. In the end, Boudreau helped Vancouver and we helped him. Bruce said this summer, the team will come back and expect to win.

 

 The Vancouver Canucks didn’t make it to the playoffs this season, but under Bruce Boudreau they played a good season regardless. Optimism has returned in Vancouver for next season.