Things to be thankful for

On this, the weekend of our Canadian Thanksgiving, as we sit around, enjoying a morning coffee, getting ready to nurse our "walking bird" hangovers tomorrow morning, we here at Canada Twentyten think that we should partake in the age old tradition of saying some things that we're thankful for before we sit down to enjoy our meals tonight...

I'm thankful for superstars playing like superstars...

After a start to the season that didn't really live up to our expectations, the two most promising options for the Olympic team from the Sharks, Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton, have really started to come on strong. The two of them are currently tied for the league lead in points with another dynamic duo in Washington, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. If the two of these guys keep up this pace, it's going to be very hard for Stevie Y and the brass to not put them on a line together in Vancouver in 2010.

I'm thankful for highlight reel goals...

On Thursday night, Jordan Staal scored a beauty goal against the Flyers (video also at the bottom of the post). Matty made a good point last night while we watched the game saying "No one can hold guys off like him and still finish with those hands...". He looked great out there, albeit against the Maple Leafs, who looked terrible. It's easy to forget about Staal out there in Pittsburgh, with Crosby and Malkin getting a ton of the glory, and we've even forgotten about him in our weekly power rankings, but be assured, he won't be overlooked next week.

I'm thankful for being able to say "I was wrong"

It takes a lot for someone to admit they're wrong, and it's no easy task. Though when you write a blog you put yourself out there and are left very open for criticism. Admittedly, it's not something I like to do, but I think I have to come out and say "I was wrong" when it comes to Ryan Smyth. Earlier in the week, I wrote a quick post and mentioned that he had disappeared. Of course, when I looked up the link above to show Thornton and Heatley's stats, I went down the list, and low and behold, at number 10 was Smyth with 7 points thus far on the season. I still don't think he makes this team, but it looks like he's determined to make it a tough decision for the Hockey Canada decision makers.

Most of all, we're thankful for you, the Twentyteners! Without you, this site would be no fun to write... enjoy your meals!

WHAMMO!

Quick Hits

Welcome to the radar: Brent Burns

An interesting twitter post from everyone's favorite SportsCentre anchor, Jay Onrait, I saw this morning on my computer monitor.

"I don’t think there’s five defensemen like him in the league, not even close." Ken Hitchcock on Brent Burns of the Wild.

Not saying I put him on the team, but that's a strong endorsement from one of the coaches of our beloved hockey team in Vancouver.

Luongo struggling

Roberto Luongo allowed 4 goals on 12 shots last night in what became a 5 - 3 for the Canucks at the hands of the mighty Columbus Blue Jackets. This drops Luongo's record to 0 - 3 this year, in 3 games started. His save percentage is .820, with a GAA of 4.55. It may be his defence, it may be the team, but they were nearly perfect in the preseason so I'm having trouble saying there would be THAT much of a fall off.

Hey Bobbo, I know it's early, but you haven't been announced as a member of Team Canada although most figure you to be a lock. You've gotta be the best to be on this team... if we wanted a guy who doesn't win and has a terrible GAA and SV% we could have gone out and easily picked up Chris Osgood (zing!!)

Staal is tough

I have to say I let out a small expletive on Saturday night watching the Bruins - Canes game... not because I had to listen to Matty boast about "his Bruins" incessantly, but because a guy who I figure to be in Vancouver, Eric Staal, took a slapshot to the head during the game.

Thankfully, Staal returned in the 3rd and even notched a goal in a 7-2 loss to the Bruins, all but eliminating Ryan "No one can stand in front of the net like me" Smyth from Twentyten consideration. Also helping to eliminate his chances, his enrollment into the witness protection program... Oh wait, I guess he's in LA, whatever, same difference...

Women are winners

The Canadian Women's hockey team beat the US yesterday, their first win after three consecutive losses to the yanks...

... so yeah... Go Canada!

The forgotten...

Since the start of camp (just yesterday), I've yet to hear the name "Ryan Smyth" whispered even once... whatever happened to "Captain Canada"?

Captain Canada vs. Captain Canada

Dewey, the upstanding young gentleman that he is, notified me today that our readership over the past couple weeks has risin significantly. This can only mean one of two things: either you all put a wealth of stock in our musings...or you all find us amusing. Whichever the case, you, our readership, are now officially named "The twentyteners"...to quote Dewey when I suggested the name, "I like it. It's corny enough it just might work."

Just the same, I couldn't help but wonder about the origins of a certain story I found today on www.ctvolympics.ca, which raised the question over who is best suited to lead the twentyten Canadian team. The title of this story "Captain, My Captain?" (found here) reminded me of one of my own posts from only a few short weeks ago - See Here Well, I guess we know where our new readership is coming from Dewey! Way to go us!

This got me thinking about a couple other "Captains" who have endeared themselves to many of us over the past decade, as they have more than a few times answered the bell for Canada at the World Championships. Of course, I speak of Shane Doan and
Ryan Smyth both aptly identified by many amongst us as Captain Canada.

So I raise the question, who would you take on your team? Both are, excuse the corniness, 'heart and soul' type guys. Gritty leaders who can be counted on to head to the front of the net, dig in the corners, drop the mits and score the big goal. Look at their stats over their careers and you will see that they are almost identical.

More importantly, as we've seen from their previous Olympic and World Championship contributions, they can be counted on to show up for the Maple Leaf when it counts the most. Yes, it's because they play on terrible teams, but just the same we've loved seeing them in the 'red and white'.

As a realist, I am rather confident that there is not room for both these vets on the twentyten team. And to be completely honest, I don't think that either one of them should be on the team at all...not with the likes of Morrow, M. Richards, J. Staal and Lucic - did I mention we love Lucic - (to name a few) as the young guns vying for those checking line roles.

Just the same, I feel it right to give these "not to be overlooked" Captain Canada's their proper due.