Tag Archives: quickies

Articles, Hockey, Soccer

Quickies: Dousing the Heat, and Red Bull gives Kristjan wings

Dousing the Heat
The 2013-14 Abbotsford Heat will have a new look at both ends of the ice, as their number one goaltender and top scorer have both signed with Swedish Elite League teams this week. Danny Taylor, he of the 2.05 goals against average and the 18-10-2 record — keep in mind those numbers were earned with a team that failed to make the playoffs — has now inked a two-year deal with Färjestad BK.

Goaltender Danny Taylor is one of two Abbotsford Heat players to sign with Swedish Elite League teams this week. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Goaltender Danny Taylor is one of two Abbotsford Heat players to sign with Swedish Elite League teams this week. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

“It’s twice as much money as I’ve ever made in a hockey season,” Taylor told the Abbotsford News, adding that stability was important in his decision. “I’ve had three or four seasons where I’m waiting around (for a contract) and it’s August, and I’m pulling my nails out of my fingers wondering where I’m going to go.” Including his two-game stint with the Calgary Flames in 2013, the 27-year-old Taylor has played for a dozen pro teams since his junior career ended in 2005.

Also leaving on a jet plane is the Heat’s all-time leading scorer, 29-year-old centre Ben Walter — he signed with Örebro Hockey for the upcoming season.

More after the break.

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Articles, Hockey

Quickies: Heavyweights En Masse, Team Can’tada & the 40-Year-Old Version

Heavyweights En Masse

The Boston Bruins are unnaturally big, led by Charzilla himself on defense. Photo ripped unceremoniously from nhl.com
The Boston Bruins are unnaturally big, led by Charzilla himself on defense. Photo ripped unceremoniously from nhl.com
The last four Stanley Cup champs are still alive in the second round. If they all move on to the final four, we hockey fans are in for a treat — all of them are heavyweights looking to regain the belt. The LA Kings (2012) & Boston Bruins (2011) are both bruisingly big, grinding forces that aim to win low-scoring games by punishing opposing blueliners and squeezing the creativity out of opposition forwards. The Chicago Blackhawks (2010) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2009) are both deep and skilled, and have scoring threats up and down their lineups. We at Pucked in the Head are cheering for the latter pair to be the last two teams standing, but frankly any matchup from these four teams will make for a damned entertaining final.

More after the break.

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Sunday Quickies

A few things before this weekend officially draws to a close:

Canadian Tennis is on the Rise

Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard helped earn a berth in the Federation Cup World Group II for 2014. Photo borrowed unceremoniously from the CBC.
Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard helped earn a berth in the Federation Cup World Group II for 2014. Photo borrowed unceremoniously from the CBC.

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.

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