Three days have passed since the Canada USA game in which the Tkachuk brothers went into full A**hole mode and turned a hockey game into a circus. Matthew was the Ringmaster and little Brother Brady was his Assistant. I am not against fighting in hockey when the intensity and competition of the game warrants this. However, the staged fights have no place in the game. Matthew and Brady planned this along with JT Miller in an attempt to get a one up on Team Canada. The results of the staged fights were pretty even, Miller got speed bagged by Team Canada’s Colton Parayko big time. I call it 1-1-1.
The Bell Centre faithful went crazy, mostly because no one expected it. Surprised the hell out of me. I was expecting a fast hard hitting game. Instead it was centre ice, on a Saturday night not once but twice in one of the great hockey cities. The only thing that was missing was Micheal Buffer introducing the combatants and a ring model. The game itself, once all the shenanigans finished was a great game. It was hard hitting, had incredible pace, game tactics by Coaches were outstanding and really showed the skills of the players. However, considering the speed and skill of the Canada Sweden game this game could have been so much more. The Ringmaster and his Assistant took that away from us. Shame on them.
The question that needs to asked is why did Team USA need to do this? Did they think that they were going to intimidate Canada? Were they pissed off that we booed the American anthem? This may have been a little payback for booing the USA anthem. As patriotic as Americans are they failed to understand is that Canadians were not booing your country, they were booing Donald, who is trying to intimidate our entire country. Sorry boys that is not going to happen. As a reminder, Canadians fought along side of Americans in two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Iran. Not to mention our first responders stepped up when 9-11 happened and the Province Newfoundland fed and housed plane loads of Americans during 9-11 as well.So to say we disrespected you is just not true.
As for the Tkachuk brothers and what they and some media members call ” leadership” , I call bull s**t. What that was them trying to bully an entire team. Leadership is playing the game without fear. It requires intensity, attention to detail, preparation, and energy. That puck drop crap was a circus disguised as leadership.
The Ottawa Senators were fortunate the Brady Tkachuk did not break his hand on Sam Bennett’s helmet. His inability to play the game would have been a big loss for the Senators and their quest for a play off spot.The guy can play, but he still needs to learn how to lead. I am going to give Brady a pass on this one because he was pulled into this by his older Brother who he idolises and follows around. Big Brothers do that to little Brothers on occasion.
The championship game is on Thursday night. Matthew will play, even though he did not play against the Swedes due to injury. My bet is he got hurt in the Hagel bout, and Brady crashed into the goal post against the Swedes and left the game.
Looking back this has a familiar feel to the Team Canada 72 series against the Soviets. Our way of life versus theirs. The Soviets trying to take over our game. That series got a little off the rails as well. It was ironic however that on the Saturday night of the Canada USA game, the 1972 team was honoured that afternoon.
As a refresher for some of you, the 1972 team won the last three games to win the series after being down three games to one. Ironically, Saturday’s score 3-1.
Could history repeat itself? Wouldn’t bet against a Canadian hockey team.
Until next time!
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