Wicked Wristers: Thoughts on WJC, NHL, more

The WJC tournament is a huge deal, despite the fact that it receives very little media play and virtually no television coverage in the United States. Often, it is the first chance to see players who will emerge as stars in the NHL in just a few short years. It is also a holiday-season tradition in hockey-mad Canada, serving much the same purpose of sporting diversion that college football bowl games do here in the States.

• Congrats to Team Canada on defending its gold medal with Thursday's convincing 5-0 win against Russia in the gold-medal game. Not too bad for a team many Canadians suggested would not even medal. To listen to the hysteria and teeth gnashing that accompanied the selection of this year's Canadian team, you would have thought the country was sending a bunch of second-rate hacks that would struggle to beat Latvia — never mind earn a medal. Yet, the Canadians ran roughshod over the competition and took home a satisfying, if unexpected, gold medal. Good for those boys.

• Not so good for the Canadian fans that cheered them on, however. The United States was booed mercilessly throughout the tournament. Some will argue that it was because of the cheap hit an American player delivered in the New Year's Eve game against Canada (more on that below), but the animosity started well before that. Perhaps, the Canadian fans did not like the fact like the fact that the Americans were the favorites in the tournament. Who knows? Or perhaps, as some suggest, it is a reflection of Canada's unease with many of America's political decisions and directions. Still, I never thought I would see a Canadian crowd support Team Russia with the zeal displayed during Russia's semifinal match against Team USA. It's still a shock — and, frankly, a disappointment.

• I've received a fair share of e-mail about the hit Team USA's Jack Johnson delivered to Canada's Steve Downie during the New Year's Eve game to end the round-robin portion of the tournament. Some of those e-mails called for Johnson's head, comparing the elbow to the head of Downie to the hit Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi delivered to Colorado's Steve Moore two seasons ago. In no way will I defend Johnson's behavior and I was shocked that the player was not suspended by the IIHF. That said, the hit does not even approach the atrocity that was the Bertuzzi fiasco.

• While Johnson should be embarrassed about his hit, the American team, as a whole, should hang its head about its showing in the tournament. Icing one of the most talented teams in the history of its involvement in this tournament, Team USA did not even medal as the team self-destructed after a preliminary-round tie against unfancied Switzerland. That was followed by losses to Canada (preliminary round), Russia (semifinals) and Finland (bronze-medal). The Americans, despite all their talent and big-named stars, rarely played as a team.

  Now onto other hockey-related matters.

• Think Brent Sutter's stock as a potential replacement for Larry Robinson in New Jersey went up after Sutter led the Canadians to gold at the WJCs for a second-straight year? You bet it did. Team Canada won the title because it played a dogged defensive game that featured the brilliant goaltending of Justin Pogge and some opportune offensive contributions from blue-collar players. Hmmm, sounds just like the blueprint for success that Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello likes to follow. It remains to be seen, however, if Sutter is interested in joining the NHL at this time.

• Speaking of the Devils, the wait for Patrik Elias proved to be worthwhile. The Czech superstar returned Tuesday and set up a pair of goals in a win against Florida and then turned in a four-point performance two night's later in a victory against Montreal. Saturday, it was an assist in the win against Buffalo. That's six points and a plus-5 rating in three games after missing the first 39 while battling the debilitating effects of hepatitis A. Almost immediately upon his return, Elias has given the Devils some much-needed offensive swagger.

• Don't look now, but it appears that David Aebischer is finding his groove for the Colorado Avalanche. Heavily criticized for his up-and-down play this season, Aebischer has won his last three starts, allowing just four goals during that span. Perhaps, he is re-finding the groove that allowed Colorado to win seven straight games that he appeared in during the early part of the season. If so, Colorado could gain some valuable real estate in the race for the playoffs.

• It's getting harder and harder for the dissidents among the NHLPA membership to drum up support for their cause as the good news keeps trickling out of the league offices. The recent announcement that the escrow payments required from the players will be reduced is just another nail in the coffin for those hoping to push newly elected union boss Ted Saskin out of power. The fact the league has announced three-straight months of record breaking attendance also can't help that cause.

• The critics that continue to argue that Joe Thornton isn't a big-time player amaze me. The big center has prospered since his trade from Boston, adapting immediately to the Western Conference and contributing mightily on a nightly basis for the San Jose Sharks. Since joining the Sharks for a Dec. 2 game against Buffalo, Thornton has scored six goals and 20 assists in just 15 games. His 44 assists lead the league and his 59 points are the fourth-highest total in the league. What else must Thornton accomplish to be acknowledged as an elite player?

  Other thoughts

• Two thumbs up to the NFL on FOX producer who decided to introduce a little Fear Factory as the musical soundtrack for the first-quarter highlights of Sunday's game between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. It was the perfect music to put the viewers in the proper frame of mind to watch the trench warfare that followed.

• I recently heard Bella Morte's cover of "The Metro", original done by Berlin on WSOU (New Jersey), one of the premier college radio stations in the country. I must have missed when it that track was released on the "Where Shadows Lie" disc. The cover by the goth/punk/electronica duo is brilliant. More that enough reason to check out more of their work.

• Speaking of covers, there are a few songs out there that I think are ideal to be covered by current musicians. As they come to me, I will share them in this space throughout the year. Feel free to share your ideas, as well. One that I think would be an absolute lock is Glenn Danzig — yes, he is still making music all these years after the breakup of the orginal Misfits — doing something by the Doors. Danzig, to me, has a voice eerily similar to Jim Morrison's. I would suggest "Peace Frog" or "The Wasp (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)," both of which are perfect for Danzig's vocal range and image.

• If you get a chance, pick up a copy of "Unit Pride," a novel about the Korean War by John McAleer and Billy Dickson. It is a raw and gripping account of fighting a war that too many Americans have forgotten about. The story about how the book came to be is almost as interesting as the book itself. A worthwhile read on many levels.

• Freddy Adu made the right decision in spurning his native Ghana for this year's World Cup. Instead, Adu threw his lot in with the United States national team, despite the fact that the 16-year-old is the longest of long shots to make the final roster for this year's squad. In the long-term, it is a better move for Adu, as the United States will continue to become more competitive as he matures. Ghana, on the other hand, could be a one-and-done phenom at the World Cup. Plus, the marketing opportunities are much better playing for the high-profile Americans, and I am sure that entered into the equation.

• I don't know about you, but I just feel dirty watching the details emerge of the courtship between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jets head coach Herm Edwards. Suddenly, loyalty and team-first attitude, cornerstones of Edwards' coaching philosophy, are no longer as important as he seeks out greener pastures. The biggest question, though, is why is Edwards is such a hot commodity that another team would be willing to offer compensation to the Jets to lure him away. He was just 4-12 this year, and injuries can only be blamed for so much. And, Edwards has repeatedly shown that he is not among the elite when it comes to game-day coaching. Watch a tape of the playoff game against the Steelers two years ago if you need more than my word.

  Questions, and/or comments can be sent to Shawn Roarke at foxhockeyguy@gmail.com.