So my son was out walking his dog early Monday morning in the wake of that epic storm when he came upon a scene that was peak Canadian: A couple of young guys who apparently did not possess snow shovels were digging out their car — with hockey sticks.
Let this be a warning to those who threaten to make us the 51st state and crash our economy — but take great offence when we boo their anthem: Beware dudes who shovel snow with hockey sticks.
As of this writing, Team Canada was in Boston, preparing to take on Finland in a game that may decide whether they advance to a second, fateful meeting with the U.S. in the 4 Nations tournament. Things have not gone well for Team Canada and the most top-heavy management group in the history of the game. (At last count, Canada had 17 general managers including Kyle Dubas, who is still under the illusion that he is running a Fantasy Hockey team.)
So far, Canada has a narrow overtime win over Sweden and a painful loss to the bull-boy U.S. in a game that began with three fights started by the thick-skulled Tkachuk brothers and J.T. Miller.
Now Matthew Tkachuk was once alternate captain for the Calgary Flames, while Miller filled the same role for the Vancouver Canucks. Brady Tkachuk is the current captain of the Senators, a team that (although he appears not to have noticed) plays its hockey in our nation’s capital.
Despite their collective time in Canada, Miller and the Tkachuks apparently wouldn’t know a BeaverTail from a doner kebab. When you play hockey in a country for large piles of money, when you live a privileged existence and bask in the adulation of the fans, maybe you could trouble yourself to learn a bit about that country, its independent culture and its pride.
Lesson one, boys, since you clearly don’t get it: We’re not going to be anyone’s 51st state.
Where’s Logan? Jordan Binnington was awful on the first U.S. goal Saturday night, the one that took away all the momentum Canada had after Connor McDavid’s spectacular effort opened the scoring. Binnington was also less than spectacular on the second U.S. goal.
What was Binnington doing on the roster and why was he starting for Canada? Don’t we have a Martin Brodeur or a Patrick Roy waiting in the wings?
Well, he’s not Brodeur or Roy — but Canada could have had Washington’s Logan Thompson. Thompson, however, never got the call and Peter DeBoer and Bruce Cassidy have some explaining to do.
Since well before this 4 Nations tournament, it was clear that Canada faced a formidable obstacle in Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck, the American goalie, is a big part of the reason the Winnipeg Jets are leading the NHL at the break with 81 points. He has a 2.06 goals-against and a .925 save percentage. His opponent Saturday night was Binnington, who has a 2.89 save percentage, a .897 goals against and a losing record.
Yet Binnington is starting for Canada instead of Thompson, who has a 2.23 goals-against and a .921 save percentage. His 24-2-5 record is a big part of the reason the Washington Capitals are second overall in the standings with 80 points.
Reports say Thompson is not here because DeBoer and Cassidy had unspecified issues with the young man dating back to his time with the Vegas Knights. So Team Canada’s brain trust somehow has a problem with Logan Thompson — but not with the toxic Binnington, the Sean Avery of goalies?
And since when do assistant coaches have the power to decide who makes the roster? A conference room full of GMs wasn’t enough to make to make roster decisions so they’re turning it over to the assistant coaches?
If you’re going to have a tournament featuring the best players in the world, go with your best. That most definitely includes Logan Thompson and probably Mark Scheifele as well.
You hope Team Canada learns that lesson before the 2026 Olympics. And let it be known that a cast of thousands is perhaps not the way to manage a hockey team. There’s an old saying, boys. It begins like this: “Too many cooks…”
Another Victoire: While you’re worried about the Habs hitting a wall or a shaky Team Canada, the Montreal Victoire just keep on rolling.
The Victoire won their sixth straight game Saturday, 6-2 over the New York Sirens behind two goals from Lina Ljungblom and one from captain Marie-Philip Poulin. After 15 games, they lead the league with 34 points — eight points up on the second-place Toronto Sceptres and the Minnesota Frost, with three games in hand on both.
Heroes: Connor McDavid, Patrik Laine, Lina Ljungblom, Abby Boreen, Mariah Keopple, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Logan Thompson, William Dandjinou, Mac McClung, Jamal Murray &&&& last but not least, Mario Lemieux.
Zeros: Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, J.T. Miller, Jack Eichel, Peter DeBoer, Bruce Cassidy, Jordan Binnington, Don Sweeney, Kyle Dubas, Wayne Gretzky, Patrick Dumont, Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Bud Selig Jr., Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& last but not least, Jeffrey Loria.
Now and forever.