Ultimate Hockey Warrior

Kyle Turris has left the University of Wisconsin after just one year of playing in the NCAA.  Kyle Turris signed a pro entry-level contract with the Phoenix Coyotes and will join the team for the final 3 games of the season.

The 6′1″ native of New Westminster, B.C. put up 35 points in 36 games for the Badgers this season as a freshman.  The Badgers defeated the University of Denver in the 1st game of the NCAA tournament, but lost to North Dakota in overtime.

Kyle Turris was drafted 3rd overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in last year’s draft, and will surely be leaving behind a disappointed group of Wisconsin players.  The Coyotes were able to sign Turris to a contract though and will get to see the youngster play in the last 3 games of this year and Turris will definitely have a shot at the roster next year.

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Todd Bertuzzi is the ultimate scumbag. I respect Bertuzzi less than I respect any other player in NHL or in all of professional sports for that matter. Todd Bertuzzi is suing his former coach, current King’s head coach Marc Crawford for his alleged role in the Steve Moore attack. Steve Moore is suing Todd Bertuzzi for $38 million for his vicious punch to the back of the head and driving his face into the ice fracturing 3 of his vertebrae and ending Steve Moore’s career.

Bertuzzi wants his former coach, Crawford to be on the hook for some of the $38 million should Bertuzzi lose the lawsuit. Bertuzzi claims that Crawford said this before the Bertuzzi hit, “to make (Moore) ‘pay the price’ ” for a hit he delivered on the Canucks’s captain Markus Naslund a couple of weeks earlier. Marc Crawford claims that he actually yelled for Bertuzzi to get off the ice just before the sucker punch was delivered.

Todd Bertuzzi is an absolute piece of garbage and is a coward for blaming other people in one of the most infamous sport’s moments of all time. Regardless of what Crawford said, Bertuzzi is a grown man and knew what he was doing was wrong and could hurt Steve Moore. While Bertuzzi may not have intended to hurt Moore as badly as he did, the intent was there as Bertuzzi blindsided Moore with a sucker punch and drove his head face first into the ice.

Bertuzzi still has not taken complete responsibility for his actions, and I can personally say that I hope he loses this case and has to deal with the monetary loss on his own. Bertuzzi nearly killed a man, and all he can do his blame other people. It was his own fault, and no one made him take a cheap shot at Steve Moore. In this case, I feel that Bertuzzi should have received a permanent ban from the NHL. Not only did he tarnish his own image, but he hurt the image of the NHL and hockey everywhere with that cheapshot.

Now Todd Bertuzzi has resumed his hockey career, playing with the Anaheim Ducks, with the chance of winning the Stanley Cup for the 1st time in his career. Steve Moore is sitting at home with a ruined career and a lifelong injury. Bertuzzi’s actions deserved to be punished in a court of law, and if the law prevails, Bertuzzi will be paying a hefty lawsuit to the man that he maimed on the ice.

I have attached the video courtesy of You Tube of Todd Bertuzzi attacking Steve Moore:

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The Maple Leafs will get Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov back from injury tonight when they face the Boston Bruins for the final game in a home and home series.  The game has serious implications for Sundin and the Leafs tonight, because if the Maple Leafs lose, they will be eliminated from the playoffs.

Sundin has missed the last 5 games due to a groin injury, and will return for one final stand with the Boston Bruins, who are currently clinging to the last playoff position in the Eastern Conference.   The Leafs currently trail the Boston Bruins by 6 points with games remaining on the season.  The Leafs did beat the Bruins in the 1st game of the home and home series, but if they can’t complete the sweep their season will be over.  The Leafs have given a nice effort towards the end of the season, but the problem is that if they don’t make the playoffs (and they won’t) then they will have taken themselves out of good drafting position for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  The game is at 7pm eastern.

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Patrick Roy and his son Jonathan Roy were both suspended by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for their roles in a line brawl against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.  Patrick Roy directed his son, Jonathan Roy to go fight the Chicoutimi goaltender Bobby Nadeau.  Nadeau didn’t fight back against Roy and took a pretty good beating.  As Jonathan Roy was skating away he flipped off the crowd.  Then he got into another fight with a Defenseman on the Sagueneens.  Patrick Roy is the coach of the Quebec Remparts and his son Jonathan Roy is the goaltender for the Remparts.  Click the link to watch the video of Patrick Roy sending his son Jonathan Roy to fight the Chicoutimi goaltender.

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Jonathan Roy is the son of Hall of Famer Patrick Roy. He is the goalie for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL and he got into a great fight with Bobby Nadeau. Jonathan Roy was ejected with the game and received a 5 minute fighting major, Nadeau received no penalty for the beating he took. Watch the video of Jonathan Roy’s fight:

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Sidney Crosby will miss the Penguins game tonight against the New York Islanders because of his ankle that still hasn’t fully healed.  Crosby’s ankle is feeling a lot better said the superstar, but Crosby says he isn’t in good enough shape to return right now.  Crosby had this to say:

”It’s felt the best it has in months right now, and that’s a good sign.”

Crosby is in no rush to come back to the Pens since they are playing so well and have locked up a playoff spot.  There is no need to risk re-injuring his ankle during the playoffs, so Crosby taking his time to get his ankle healthy and himself rested and in shape is the best decision Crosby could make.

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I was chosen as one of the 64 finalists to compete in HockeyBuzz (Eklund) Next Great Hockey Blogger.  You can find the contest rules and contestants on HockeyBuzz.com.  I will be competing against Andrew Taylor in the SouthWest Bracket at some point next week.  I am not 100% sure what day i will be competing, but I would love your support when the Next Great Hockey Blogger contest begins.

Stay tuned to Ultimate Hockey Warrior for updates on the Next Great Hockey Blogger and other Hockey News by signing up for email delivery of new posts or bookmark my hockey blog. 

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Updated:  Read 1st Round NHL Playoff Predictions on my Latest Playoff Post 

The NHL 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs are rapidly approaching with less than 10 games remaining for every hockey team in the NHL. The 2008 NHL Playoffs are very tight this year in the Western Conference with 13 of the 15 teams fighting for a playoff spot in 2008. The only two Western Conference teams to have been eliminated are the LA Kings and the St. Louis Blues. Here is a 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Preview for the 13 teams fighting to make the hockey playoffs in 2008:

NHL 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview Western Conference

1. Detroit Red Wings - The Detroit Red Wings have been the most consistent team in the NHL for the 2007-2008 season. The Detroit Red Wings have locked a 2008 NHL Playoff spot and have clinched a Central Division championship. The Red Wings are the only Central team currently in the NHL playoffs.

2. San Jose Sharks - The San Jose Sharks have been on fire since trading for defenceman Brian Campbell. The Sharks head into the NHL 2008 playoffs going 11-0-1 since the trade deadline. The Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL and they have a complete package that looks to go deep into the playoffs this year.

3. Minnesota Wild - The Wild currently hold a slim lead in the Northwest Division only a couple of points ahead of the Canucks, Flames and Avs. The Wild will likely make the NHL 2008 Playoffs this year, but their depth could be a serious issue.

4. Anaheim Ducks - The Anaheim Ducks are many people’s favorite heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year. The Ducks are stacked from top to bottom and know how to win in pressure situations. Look for the Ducks to be a team that goes far this year in the playoffs.

5. Dallas Stars - The Dallas Stars have been one of the hottest teams since the All Star Break. They improved their offense by acquiring Brad Richards and they have Zubov and Niskanen returning from injuries to anchor their defense. They Stars could go deep into the playoffs this year.

6. Vancouver Canucks - The Canucks are led by 3 players in general. The Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo. The three of them give the Canucks a chance to win each game. The Canucks probably won’t go far in the playoffs.

7. Calgary Flames - The Flames biggest strength is goaltending and defense. The Flames have trouble scoring though, relying too much on Jarome Iginla. The Flames won’t make it far in the playoffs unless Kiprusoff stands on his head.

8. Colorado Avalanche - The Avalanche have been fighting injuries all year long to their star players. If the Avs can stay healthy they may surprise some teams come playoff time. With Sakic, Hejduk, Smyth, Stastny and Forsberg, the Avs have some potent scorers with good playoff experience.

9. Nashville Predators - The Predators are falling off at the wrong time as we approach the playoffs. The Predators are not playing their best hockey and sitting on the outside looking in. Even if the Pred make the playoffs, I don’t think they will make it far.

10. Edmonton Oilers - The Oilers are sitting just outside of the 2008 NHL Playoffs and realistically the Oilers are a year away from being a strong NHL team. They are young and lack experience and cohesion. One more year will make the Oilers a stronger team.
11. Phoenix Coyotes - The Coyotes are the surprise team in the NHL this season. The Coyotes are young, but very well coached by Wayne Gretzky and are getting stronger game by game. The Coyotes are also a year away from being a dangerous playoff team.

12. Chicago Blackhawks - The Chicago Blackhawks are much like the Oilers and Coyotes. They are young and are a year away from being a very good team. Young forwards, Kane and Toews will be great next year, as well as their young defense corps who will make the Blackhawks a playoff contender for years to come if they can keep their core together.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets - The Blue Jackets have had a disapointing season and wil lprobably miss the playoffs this year. Even if they were to make it they would not go deep into the playoffs.

Tomorrow I will release the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview for the Eastern Conference.

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