Thanks for posting this. It was an interesting read from a Canadian media perspective. However, I'm not sure why they quoted U18 coach Seth Appert so much about the U17 team. It's his first year coaching in the program, so he's never coached a U17 squad.
ALF AmericanLionsFan, I have a Dylan Larkin poster for you from last night's game. If you will pick up the cost of shipping, it's yours. Send me a private message and we can work out the details if you are still interested.
The weekend games between the U18's and Sioux City were entertaining. The NTDP dominated play in both games, but lost on Friday night in a shootout due to poor defensive plays on the first 3 SC goals and a power play goal resulting from a terrible charging call against Farabee late in the 3rd period. Farabee was rightfully pissed, as the SC player clearly ran over his own goaltender, yet Farabee was sent off for charging. After the quick PP goal, Farabee left the box, headed straight to the referee, really let him have it, and then left the ice for the dressing room. We thought he'd been tossed from the game, but Farabee was back on the ice for his next shift with Wahlstrom and Hughes, so I'm not sure what happened.
Saturday's game was a much better outcome, with the NTDP dominating on the scoreboard as well as the play on the ice. DeRidder is clearly a much better goaltender than Mor, which helped, and the defense didn't have as many lapses, either -- just one goal was due to a defensive screw up.
Mattias Samuelsson was missing in action for both games. I'm not sure if he's injured, or if something else is going on.
It was entertaining listening to the Sioux City radio broadcaster for both nights -- we sit right in front of the visiting press box and can always hear the visiting announcers. We wished we were watching the same games as him, as the game he was watching sounded a lot more exciting. Weak wrist shots were excitedly described as great saves from blistering slap shots, and simple passes were amazing plays.
He was quite the homer, too, with him calling for a penalty every time a SC player went to the ice, regardless of the reason. Once, after a SC player tripped over his own feet and the announcer began screaming for a penalty, both myself and the guy who sits next to me turned around at the same time and asked "what game are you watching?".
Normally we never say anything to the visiting broadcasters, so it was very funny that we both had the exact same reaction to that call.
