For the first time in franchise history, the Edmonton Rush are in championship game. Tonight in New York state, the Rush take on the Rochester Knighthawks for the 2012 Champion’s Cup (Shaw HD, 5:30pm).
Now I’m not a huge supporter of a team with a losing record in the regular season making the playoffs, as the Rush were 6-10 and in fourth place in the Western Division, but you have to give the team credit for getting hot at just the right time.
Ryan Murphy (Wikimedia Commons)
The Canadian National Junior team will be keeping an eye on the health of two key players with the World Junior Hockey Championships set to start in Edmonton and Calgary six weeks from now.
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau of the Saint John Sea Dogs is currently out of their lineup with a broken foot, while defenceman Ryan Murphy is currently out with a concussion.
Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers suffered a concussion on November 4 after being hit from behind by Tom Kuhnacki of the Niagara Ice Dogs. Kuhnacki was later given an amazing 20 game suspension for the incident by the Ontario Hockey League.
Huberdeau, who was drafted third overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, has 28 points in 13 games for the Sea Dogs this season. Last year, Huberdeau helped the Sea Dogs win the Memorial Cup in Mississauga, Ontario, and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Murphy, meanwhile, has been constantly praised by Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada, is considered one of hockey’s top defensive prospects. In the 2011 National Hockey League Draft, he was drafted 12th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes.
For the first time in history a team based in Atlantic Canada has won the Memorial Cup.
Sunday night the St. John Sea Dogs defeated the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 3-1 in Mississauga’s backyard.
The 2011 Memorial Cup would be a completely different story for Calgary-raised Jacob DeSerres. Last year, DeSerres gave up nine goals in the Memorial Cup final with the Brandon Wheat Kings while playing the Windsor Spitfires. This year, he would only give up one in the championship final.
A draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, DeSerres made 34 saves in the Championship final.
Alex Tagliani (Wikimedia Commons)
The greatest auto race of the year takes place Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis.
It is the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. (The race was not held for two years during World War One and for four years during World War Two). In 1911, Ray Harroun of the United States was the first winner. Over that time, drivers from ten separate nations have won the coveted race including Canada’s own Jacques Villeneuve in 1995.
Well in 2011, Montreal’s Alex Tagliani has a great chance in joining Villeneuve in making Canadian history. He will be on the pole representing Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ontario, an IndyCar rookie will start 13th, and Paul Tracy of West Hill, Ontario will start 24th.
There are also four women in the race. Joining American Danica Patrick, are Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro, Brazil’s Ana Beatriz, and Great Britain’s Pippa Mann.
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