A few things before this weekend officially draws to a close:
Canadian Tennis is on the Rise
Canada beat Ukraine 3-2 this weekend to qualify for World Group II play in 2014. Number 93-ranked Eugenie Bouchard and #125 Sharon Fichman both beat #71 Lesia Tsurenko for two of Canada’s wins, but #90 Ellna Svitolina was perfect for the weekend, earning both of Ukraine’s points. Canada won the deciding doubles match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, to record the win. Bouchard, of course, made headlines last year when she won the junior women’s singles title at Wimbledon. Canada will compete with Sweden, Japan, Serbia, Argentina, France, Poland and the loser of Australia and Switzerland in the 2014 World Group II; four of those teams will play for the right to enter the top World Group in 2015. It’s a fabulous result for the Canadian women, and comes on the heels of the men’s team advancing to the Davis Cup final four with consecutive wins in Vancouver against Italy and Spain. (The Fed Cup structure is complicated to explain, but relatively easy on the eyes. Check out this link if you’d like more enlightenment in this area.)
More, including BCHL and AHL hockey, and MLS soccer, after the break.
Congrats to the Surrey Eagles:
The Fred Page Cup was decided in double overtime of Game Six, as the Surrey Eagles beat the Penticton Vees 3-2 to take the 2013 BCHL title. Goaltender Michael Santaguida played out of his mind all series, as the Penticton VEES threw more rubber at him than a Planned Parenthood volunteer in Fort Lauderdale during spring break. (Yes, that was a long way to go for a metaphor. Live with it.) They move on to play at the Western Canada Cup tournament in Nanaimo starting April 27. Way to go, boys!
The Heat Wrap Up 2012-13
The Abbotsford Heat closed out a disappointing season with two road losses at the hands of the Oklahoma City Barons. Despite winning a franchise-record 23 times on home ice, the Heat had troubles scoring all year long, most noticeably on the road. Early on, it didn’t hurt them much, as Danny Taylor and Barry Brust were both spectacular in net to start the season. Between NHL call-ups (or lack thereof, in the case of Brust), a few injuries and, at times, a lack of emotion on the Heat bench, they just weren’t able to sustain the form that had them near the top of the AHL standings as late as Christmas. Quite a few players are unrestricted free agents — Brust, leading scorer Krys Kolanos and top point-getter Ben Walter are all UFAs now that the Heat’s schedule is done — and even more will probably get long looks with the parent club. Sven Baertschi and Mark Cundari are unlikely to get AHL action next year, unless Jay Feaster makes some massive moves over the summer.
Whitecaps on the Slide
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have now gone five games without a win, and sit in seventh place in the MLS Western Conference. Much is being made of the team’s inability to score — the Caps are generating some wonderful turns of possession, and brilliant chances in close, but it’s that final push past the six-yard box that has proven difficult. Ageing keeper Joe Cannon has played well, but overall team defense has shown lapses that translate into goals against. (Pro tip: inability to score + inability to keep the other team from scoring = a bad thing.) Coach Martin Rennie is now starting to hear some flak for his moves on the pitch, for example sitting speedy offensive threats Darren Mattocks and Gershon Koffie instead of fielding them in the starting 11 against FC Dallas.
