Foligno leaves marks as Canada falls

Marcus Foligno did not score but continued to be a major physical force as Canada lost in a shootout to Sweden, 6-5. Team Canada closes the preliminary round with a 3-1 record, and will now have to play a quarterfinal game on Sunday to keep their medal hopes alive.

Foligno, who has two goals, an assist, and a +1 rating in four tourney games, made his presence known early and often as Team Canada skated to a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period.

The hard-hitting checker helped create the first Canadian goal by crashing the crease, allowing Sean Couturier's centering pass deflect off the defender he dragged in.



On his next shift, Foligno would make his presence felt on the forecheck with a hard hit behind the Swedish net.





Later in the period, Foligno again dropped the hammer by delivering what just may be the most solid body check of the tournament thus far.




The teams would trade goals over the next two periods to finish regulation tied 5-5. Sweden kept the pressure on in the overtime before winning the shootout battle with goals on their first three tries.

Foligno looks comfortable playing his blue collar game on HSBC Arena ice. With Zack Kassian returning to the Canadian lineup for Sunday's quarterfinal, look for Canada to return with a chip on their shoulder regardless of opponent.

Boychuk to serve two-game suspension

Portland Winterhawks forward Riley Boychuk has been suspended two games by the WHL as supplemental discipline for actions in the final five minutes of Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Tri-City.

After teammate Ty Rattie was dropped by an elbow, an unruly Boychuk fired a punch as players paired off to earn the supplemental punishment. The 6'5 Boychuk was assessed a roughing double minor on the play. The suspension will keep him out of action until January 9th.

12/30 Recap: Gauthier-Leduc ends year well; Eno injured

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored a goal and two assists Thursday to spark Rimouski to a 4-3 overtime win over Montreal. The 6'2 defenseman closed the 2010 calendar with six points over a current three-game streak to up his season line to 6-19-25. The Oceanic (20-18-2) will take the weekend off before returning to host Quebec on Tuesday.

Matt MacKenzie (+1) notched an assist as Calgary bested Brandon, 5-2. After netting just three points in his first 13 games, the 6'2 co-captain has connected for 16 in his last 22. The Hitmen (11-24-2), who with the win snapped a three-game losing streak, will start the year on a seven-game road-trip.

Corey Fienhage finished -1 as Kamloops got smoked by Kelowna, 7-1. Shane McColgan ('11) had two goals and an assist to pace the Rockets.

In the OHL, Gregg Sutch did not factor into the scoring as Mississauga lost to Guelph, 5-2. The defeat was just the fifth in regulation for the league-leading Majors.

In NCAA play, Connor Knapp had a night he'd like to forget, stopping just seven of 11 shots as Miami lost to St. Cloud, 4-3 in the championship game of the Florida College Classic. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Knapp, over which he stopped 62 of 65 shots.

Brad Eidsness did not play as North Dakota posted a 5-0 shutout of Duluth at the US Hockey Hall of Fame game.

On Wednesday, Nick Eno made 22 saves as Bowling Green lost to Princeton, 4-2. As the second goal was scored, a Princeton defender collided with Eno, forcing him to leave the game with a head/neck injury. His status for next weekend's set with Ferris State is unclear as of now.

12/29 Recap: Foligno marks as Nats roll; McNabb streak hits nine

Marcus Foligno scored a goal and an assist Wednesday as Team Canada executed a 10-1 blowout of Norway at the World Junior Championship. The big wing earned his points as part of Canada's six-goal first period while manning a line with Louis Leblanc (MTL) and Sean Couturier ('11). Canada was short on bodies, missing suspended Sabres prospect Zack Kassian, as well as the injured Jaden Schwartz, Cody Eakin, and Calvin de Haan. Next up for Foligno and the Kassian-less Canadians will be Team Sweden on Friday.

Brayden McNabb earned an assist to extend his point streak to nine games as Kootenay gave up a third-period lead in a 3-2 loss to Medicine Hat. The power play helper arrived with just :02 remaining in the second period, giving the Ice captain an even 30 points through 26 games and 5+8 over his current streak. The Ice (24-11-1-2) host Swift Current on Friday.

Elsewhere, Kevin Sundher was stifled with a season-low -4 rating as Chilliwack was shut out by Prince George, 5-0. After an 18-point November (11 GP, 6+12), the 6'0 center has two goals and seven assists in eleven December games. The Bruins (17-15-2-1) will close the year by hosting Moose Jaw on Friday.

Mark Pysyk finished +1 as Edmonton edged Lethbridge in overtime, 5-4. Pysyk has now gone 15 straight games with an "even" or "plus" rating. The surging Oil Kings (18-16-0-2), who have won two straight games and are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten, will face Brandon on Friday.

Riley Boychuk (-1) did not score but earned a roughing double-minor as Portland suffered a 5-1 loss at Tri-City. A Memorial Cup favorite missing their top two forwards (Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johnasen are at the World Junior Championship), the Winterhawks (25-11-0-3) have lost three straight games and six of their last ten. They will look to end the year on a good note Friday versus Seattle.

In the OHL, Steven Shipley (-1) did not factor into the scoring as Niagara lost to Oshawa, 4-2. Heading into the final game of 2010, Shipley has 10 goals and 17 assists. At the same point last season in Owen Sound, the 6'3 forward had 12 goals and 26 assists. The loss snaps a four game win streak for the Dogs (21-9-2-2), who will next host Bellevile on Friday.

At the Florida College Classic, Connor Knapp served as backup in #6 Miami's 4-1 win over #9 Maine. Knapp is expected to take the crease when the RedHawks face St. Cloud State for the tourney title on Thursday.

Drew MacKenzie (+3, 5 SOG) scored a third period goal as Vermont rolled over the U.S National University Team, 7-1. The University team is comprised of club players that will skate at the World University Games in Turkey.

In a QMJHL note, Val-d'Or forward Cedrick Henley missed his 22nd game while recovering from wrist surgery as the Foreurs lost to Rouyn-Noranda, 5-4. The 6'4 project has been out of action since October 23rd. No official word on his progress, but his return should be considered imminent until heard otherwise as the surgery generally requires a six-to-eight week recovery.

Kassian out 'til medal round

The IIHF has suspended Team Canada forward Zack Kassian one additional game for his match penalty assessed in Tuesday's 7-2 clobbering of the Czech Republic. With the infraction earning an automatic one-game penalty, the supplemental discipline extends Kassian's absence through the rest of the preliminary round. Along the way, the 6'3 bruising scorer will miss Canada's games against Norway (Wednesday) and Sweden (Friday).

As previously mentioned, IIHF rules do not forgive high hits, especially those from the blindside. Debate continues over where the primary contact was made, but regardless the ruling implies that there was a hit to the head and neck area.

There's a new poll to the right that that I'd like folks to vote on. It's pretty simple.

If there is anyone who has mixed emotions about 2010 ending, it's Zack Kassian. It's hard to enjoy a Memorial Cup win, your first NHL contract, and Team Canada achievement amidst a 20-game OHL suspension, an assault arrest, and poor World Junior pub. Either way, I know a gaggle of Sabres fans ready for him to don a blue and gold sweater.

12/28 Recap: Fienhage gets first; McNabb approaches mark

Corey Fienhage scored his first WHL goal Tuesday and added a pair of assists as Kamloops downed Vancouver, 6-1. The athletic defenseman scored the Blazers final goal of the game when he shot in from the right point and completed a three-way passing play with a sharp wrister. Fienhage looked strong on the puck with well-rested legs from the Christmas break en route to his first multi-point game since April of 2008 when he was with the USHL's Indiana Ice..

Elsewhere, Brayden McNabb scored a pair of goals as Kootenay doubled Medicine Hat, 6-3. McNabb's empty-netter, his seventh goal of the season and 133rd career point, puts him just two points shy of the all-time franchise lead for a defenseman. He is currently tied for seventh in WHL scoring for defensemen with 29 points.

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored a goal and an assist as Rimouski lost in overtime to Gatineau, 6-5. The 6'2 defender scored his fifth of the year, and first in 12 games, a little over three minutes into the first period. At the opposite end, JGL was on the ice for the game-tying goal with less than five minutes to play in regulation.

Matt MacKenzie (-1) contributed five shots on goal as Calgary got throttled by Moose Jaw, 6-1. The game at the Saddledome drew a crowd of 9,273. The USA-Slovakia World Junior Championship game at HSBC Arena filled 12,750 seats.

Kevin Sundher was +1 as Chilliwack downed Prince George, 3-0. The budding center is now a cumulative +7 on the season, good for tops among all Chilliwack skaters.

Riley Boychuk was -3 as Portland lost to Tri-City, 5-1. The big forward skated on a line with newly acquired Craig Cunningham, who was playing his first game as a Winterhawk after arriving from Vancouver earlier in the day.

On Monday, Mark Pysyk assisted on the game winning goal as Edmonton edged Lethbridge, 3-2. The helper was Pysyk's 15th point of the season (1+14).

Fienhage was +1 was Kamloops defeated Vancouver, 4-1.

In the QMJHL, Gauthier-Leduc was even as Rimouski shot past Drummondville, 3-2.

Kassian again finds turmoil, ejected in CAN/CZE tilt

I'll post more on this as we go, but here's a reel of the Zack Kassian hit on Petr Senkerik that earned a five minute match penalty and game misconduct in the 2nd period of Tuesday's Canada-Czech Republic prelim game. Senkerik was taken off on a stretcher, and the reactions since have varied between "clean" and "dirty". By virtue of the match penalty, Kassian will be forced to sit out Canada's game with Norway on Tuesday.

And once again the 6'3 bullish forward finds himself in a media firestorm just eleven months removed from a vicious headshot on Barrie Colt Matt Kennedy. Kassian served a 20-game suspension for that neutral zone pop, but this hit featured a toned-down aggressor.

Elbow in, didn't leave his feet...The IIHF is not very forgiving. Is this worthy of getting tossed to you?




Angle #2:





The second angle look worse. How late is late?

Kassian was looking like one of Canada's better players in the game until this happened. I pondered whether he would keep himself in check in an emotionally charged environment, but frankly while I hope Senkerik is OK, I think Kassian is innocent of ill intent.

Of course the IIHF may disagree, as their rules prohibit contact to the head and neck areas. If Kassian's shoulder touches Senkerik's chin as suggested by many, he could remain suspended past the Norway game.

We'll see how this plays out.

Foligno opens door, Kassian helps shut it as Canada debuts with win

Marcus Foligno scored his team's first goal and Zack Kassina later added an assist as Canada opened the 2011 World Junior Championship with a 6-3 win over Russia.

Foligno and Kassian were the starting wings for Canada, with Kings prospect Brayden Schenn between them. The pair later moved to spend all but two even strength shifts with Columbus prospect Ryan Johansen the rest of the way. Both received quality power play time in the win with Kassian positioned in front of the net on the #1 unit and Foligno setting screens on the second line.

Skating on that #2 PP unit late in the first period, Foligno drifted off the boards to the front of the net and buried a rebound to tie the game 1-1.

Here is the goal and interview that followed at the first intermission.



With Canada jumping to a 3-2 lead late int he second, Kassian was whistled for slashing and watched from the box as Russia struck back to tied the game.





Kassian and Foligno each made a mark in the third period. First Kassian, who earlier was a presence in front of the net on what proved to be the game winning goal, helped give Canada the 5-3 lead when he took executed a a deft saucer pass to Brayden Schenn in front of the Russian net.




With Canada gaining late momentum, Foligno yardsaled a Russian player with a hard hit on the forecheck.



Big win for Canada and nice first game for the Sabres properties....

Kassian, Foligno ready to go with future expectations

Sabres fans are licking their chops at the prospects of watching Team Canada's Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno skate on HSBC Arena ice over the next twelve days as the IIHF conducts the 2011 World Junior Championship. After all, the object of their NHL rooting interest has a 6.5% of making the playoffs so it makes sense to look for future hope.

And just like that, more Sabres fans care about what I do. I'm getting more emails and texts about Kassian. Co-workers are asking questions about the two playing on the same line. My Blackberry and mouth need a massage.

To summarize the conversations, we've all witnessed how playing in the World Junior Championship elevates a player's game to more dominating level. What a player immediately does with the experience, at least with the Sabres anyways, goes a long way in projecting their effectiveness as a professional.

Last season, Luke Adam scored 25 goals and 27 assists in 32 QMJHL games (1.63 ppg) before playing for Team Canada. The big forward returned to pot 24 goals in his final 24 games with Cape Breton, and carried that pace into 2010-11 with an AHL Rookie of the Month honor in his first as a pro.

Prior to skating alongside Tyler Myers at the 2009 tourney, Tyler Ennis averaged 1.16 points-per-game (31GP 15-21-36) with Medicine Hat (WHL) before ripping off 28 goals and 21 assists in his final 30 games (1.63 PPG) to cap his second consecutive 85-point season. Ennis went on the impress the following year, earning AHL Rookie of the Year and a firm spot on the big club.

Do I even need to mention Myers? He didn't become the Calder winning monster that he is until after the 2009 tournament.

So what does this all mean for Kassian and Foligno? Given the make-up of the two players, it's fair to expect the spike to continue.

Kassian has himself been a monster this season in Windsor with 15-33-48 in just 25 games. It's going to be hard for him to maintain his 1.92 ppg pace, but if he can keep it steady with 1.75 over the final 30 games, he'll be the first Sabres prospect to hit the 100-point mark since London's Dylan Hunter did it in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Combine the Ennis and Adam trend with how physically dominant he is against 17-18-19's, and it seems that Kassian hits the target barring injury or suspension, and could blow past it if he gets traded to a top contender.

As far as Foligno is concerned, it's all gravy from here. The 6'3 leader has already posted a career-high in goals with 15 in his first 28 games, and is likely to use the experience to prove that he can beat the D on the forecheck and a cause trouble in front of the opposing net. Foligno works hard, and any exposure to faster, stronger players makes him work harder. Hard work equals production, so I'm setting the final 2010-11 target at 33 goals and 75 points for a weak Sudbury squad.

Every theory has an anomaly, so it's worth mentioning how Clarke MacArthur earned his 2005 World Junior look by amassing 14-27-41 in 30 games with Medicine Hat, but failed to vault his offense upon return with a still-respectable 33 points in his final 28 games. What's funny is that MacArthur's 'starting' trend has continued in the NHL, with nearly half of his 53 career goals coming in October and November...

If we've learned anything, it's that making Team Canada is great but what you do after matters most.

And one last thing - exhibition action saw Kassian and Foligno skate on a line with 2011 draft stud Sean Couturier. With the Sabres sinking and Derek Roy out for the balance of the year, Sabres fans may want to keep an eye on the prize. A prime-time offensive talent, Couturier is currently numero uno on my draft board.

The fun beings with Canada-Russia today (Sunday). Enjoy the games. GO USA!

Pre-tourney cruise continues for Sabres duo

With the World Junior Championship looming, let's cruise through some of the press hits on Sabres prospects Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno. The towering 2009 picks, who each have a goal through two exhibition contests, are currently skating together Canada's top line centered by talented 2011 draft stud Sean Couturier of the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs.

The Canadian Press reports on Foligno's recent upswing and the opportunity to win gold in Buffalo.

Foligno understands some time developing in the American Hockey League is likely in his future, as is plenty of more work in the weight room. The strength of NHLers really made an impression on him during camp with the Sabres.

"In the OHL you go into a corner, take the body on a guy, to protect the puck you stick out your butt and they can't reach around you," said Foligno. "When you get into the NHL, I kind of took it for granted, I went into a corner with a smaller defenceman and he pushed me around and took the puck out, so I was like, 'OK, I've got to take another view of how I'm going to control the puck and get stronger.'"

The one thing for certain with Foligno is that his effort won't be questioned.

Earlier in the week, NHL Network caught up with Foligno after Canada's exhibition win over Switzerland. He briefly describes his role as a physical forechecker.



In an TSN interview, Foligno addresses Canada's two-way depth and goal scoring ability.

With Foligno getting some well-earned media attention, Zack Kassian is also seeing his name featured in a positive light after a trying 2009-10. A recent Calgary Herald piece details the "controlled aggression" he has used to make him one of the more dangerous scorers in junior hockey.

Kassian was one of the best players on the ice during Canada's pre-tournament exhibition game against Sweden on Tuesday night.

He used his size, strength and deceptive speed to charge the net early in the second period, drawing a holding penalty on the play to give Canada a two-man advantage.

He scored moments later.

"I think he's learned to be the prototypical 'pro' winger," said Hockey Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast.

"He's got soft hands, he can score. He goes to the net, he can fight and he's got all the ingredients that every NHL team is looking for in a winger."

Another good Kassian quote was served by the Windsor Star's Jim Parker on the topic of playing for the enemy in front of Sabres fans.

"Buffalo fans can watch me play and get a feel for how I play," said Kassian, who isn't sure if his physical style will make him a villain. "I don't know. I'll let them decide. There's a lot of big guys here that are physical."

Kassian feels the Canadians will gel as a team and be ready for the task of repaying the Americans for their win on Canadian soil a year ago.

"I think there's solid chemistry," Kassian said. "It's a great task for Canada. You're in the U.S. and they'll be ramped up."

So Sabres fans - what are you expecting?

Will Kassian's disciplined ways continue in an emotionally charged environment?

Can Foligno's grit lead to a big goal for Canada?

Who wins the tournament?

Enjoy the games...