CFN – Christina “Corky” Julien was back home in Cornwall Ontario before embarking on her first European professional gig playing Soccer in Sweden.

It’s her tune up as she prepares for for the 2012 Olympics in England.  She helped Canada qualify for the Olympics; an achievement unto itself.

The Williamstown native sat down with us for a chat at The Grind in Cornwall Ontario.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky7b05y6o6w

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CFN – Bob Gainey can’t be a happy camper this morning.    The team that he crafted came out of the All Star break with just a glimmer of hope.    Those horns in the background were not the sounds of victory, but of the death of the Habs 2011/12 NHL season.

With two horrible losses out of the gate the team’s Play Off dreams are smashed on the rocks and now the exiting of some veterans will begin.    Hal Gill, gone.  Travis Moen; probably gone.  Andrei Kostitsyn, probably gone too,and maybe, just maybe, Pierre Gauthier will be gone too.

Mr. Gainey?  Only Geoff Molson can answer that question; but today he can’t be terribly happy with his team.   The good news is that there are a bunch of games to let the younguns get some valuable experience.     Louis Leblanc should be getting his chance to learn on the job.

Montreal’s biggest question mark is Carey Price.   Goalies are funny creatures.  Mr. Price’s value is very very high right now.   Media reports are suggesting a long term $7M per year contract.    I think that would be tragic for this team.  Almost as tragic as trading for Scott Gomez who most likely will be given another chance next year to redeem himself.

There’s plenty for Montreal fans to be chewing on.       A big concern for me is finding a way to make Tomas Plekanec happy.   He really needs a line to play on for his own growth and success and he’s really earned it watching the fiasco that this season has been.

Montreal managed to blow a lead against New Jersey and lose 5-3 on only 22 shots by the Devils.    That kind of loss can’t be acceptable in Montreal.

In other NHL scores Sam Gagner had the game of his career notching 8 points and a + 6 on the night as Edmonton stunned Chicago 8-4.

Carolina shut out Boston 3-0; Philly defeated Nashville 4-1; the Jets nipped Tampa 2-1; Minnesota shut out Colorado 1-0; Detroit 4 Vancouver 3 in the shoot out, and San Jose defeated Dallas 5-2.

What do you think Hockey Fans?  Is it full rebuild or tinker time for the Habs?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Christina Julien racks up the air miles!   The area athlete is just back from Vancouver BC where her scoring prowess helped Canada qualify for the Olympics in England this year!

She has just signed a contract to play in Sweden and is off travelling again!

Congrats Corky!  And stay tuned as we hope to interview her shortly!

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CFN – We owe Tea Party Tim Thomas a debt of gratitude.   It’s a slow week in the NHL.  No major news out there as the All Star break approaches.  Nobody really cares about the All Star game so Mr. Thomas deciding to be a totally classless human being is making the news far and wide in sports columns.

 I have a friend that works for the US government and we once chatted how he had been on “Bush Duty”  ie; he was assigned to protect the President of the United States of America; a role that would require him to step in Harms Way if the President attacked.

I asked him how he personally resolved it as he certainly wasn’t a Bush supporter and he said:

It’s the office of the President you Dumb Ass!

Yes, Mr. Thomas is a free man; chiefly because his country has a President and is a Democracy.    Mr. Thomas was not PERSONALLY invited to the White House.

His TEAM of which he’s simply one player as great as he is a goalie was invited to be honoured.     Instead of being a TEAM PLAYER he stole the spotlight from his team mates and made it a platform to espouse his personal political position.

This is wrong on so many levels.   The Bruins, in  the thick of a race to win Lord Stanley’s Cup again so they are trying to not have this impact their team.

What do you think of Mr. Thomas’ play Hockey fans?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – The St. Lawrence College Cornwall Sharks women’s hockey team used an excellent defensive game, near-perfect goaltending and timely scoring to win the Wilfrid Laurier Brantford Invitational Tournament, played Friday, Jan 20.

The Sharks won all four games they played to take home the gold medal. In the final, Julie Curtis scored and Amber Lapierre posted a shutout in goal, as the Sharks beat Humber 1-0.

“We had high expectations for this team, however going into this tournament we were missing three key players because of a scheduling conflict,” said Sharks coach Mike Pettinella.  “We went in there with the idea of playing a very good defensive game.”

“We called up three players and just went with what we had and hoped for the best and the girls really, really responded.”

It’s the first gold medal for the Sharks women’s hockey team this year, after coming home empty handed from a tournament at Humber on Nov. 25, 2011  The Sharks women’s team won two silver medals and a consolation championship from tournaments in the 2010-2011 season.

To get to the final, the Sharks beat Wilfrid Laurier 2-0 in the tournament’s semifinal. The goal scorers were Jenay Morin and Katereena Emmell. Again, Lapierre was perfect in goal.

The Sharks also beat Conestoga 3-1, with two goals scored by Morin and one by Callie McLeod. Their opening game was a 5-0 win over Seneca, with Taylor Johnston scoring twice and McLeod, Curtis and Emily Kinstler scoring once each. Lapierre earned the shutout.

Pettinella  touted the play of Lapierre as she kept the Sharks in all of the games.

It wasn’t an easy tournament to win. The Sharks started the tournament with a different lineup than the usual one and more adjustments had to be made after one player was lost due to injury midway through.

“We went in there with a different state of mind,” Pettinella added. “I think the girls really responded to the change of lineup. We are really looking forward to the next tournaments, playing with a full lineup.”

Pettinella’s co-coach Sean Boulerice was equally impressed with his team.

“The girls did exactly what was asked of them,” he said. “We told them to focus on three things; a good first pass out of our own zone; lots of pucks on the net and keep a man high to avoid an odd-man rush. They played this perfectly.”

“Our bench was depleted so we kept the shifts short and kept rolling six forwards. We did a fantastic job of getting to the puck first and also played a very disciplined brand of hockey.”

Pettinella said the tournament victory was a nice accomplishment, considering the caliber of college  women’s hockey has improved greatly in recent years. Teams across the province have improved and the Sharks have had to keep pace.

“We don’t go to tournaments expecting to win,” Pettinella said. “We go trying to be as prepared as we can be. They really earned everything they got from this tournament. We’re extremely proud of this group.”

Boulerice added, “it was a pleasure coaching these girls and I was thrilled to see them get the results they deserved.”

The Sharks women’s team’s next tournament is Friday, Feb. 10, when they travel to Kitchener to compete in the Conestoga Invitational.

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CFN – Stunning is the only word that comes to mind as Montreal blew a 4-2 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins to lose 5-4 in the shoot out.   Evgeni “Geno” Malkin is thriving with Sidney Crosby on the shelf as he scored the game tying goal and the shoot out winner.

With writers and fans openly writing off the Habs they pulled out to a manly lead with Max Pacioretty an assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick.   Erik Cole notched another goal and Alex Kostitsyn saw what happens when he manages three shots in a game with two points, but this year’s team doesn’t seem to have that killer instinct.

Infighting; bad management; weird mojo of some sort has led to an early golf season.  Daily the miracle needed to turn the tide grows which is sad as I was ready to write about why it’d make good sense for Montreal to grab Alex Hemsky or Derick Brassard.   It may still make good sense as Hemsky’s price will probably never be lower and I have a hunch he might be the winger Tomas Plekanec is looking to make magic with   Brassard may be the big Centre that the team was looking for to take pressure off of Plekanec as well.

But geez these gormless wonders seem to be finding new and more pathetic ways to lose.  Maybe Cammy was right?

With Ottawa looking better and better with a ton of cap space it should be interesting to see what they do to amp it up for the play offs.  Toronto will probably wheeling and dealing as they are in the edge of making the play offs.

New Jersey quietly made a move sending over a 4th and spare parts for a big winger that fits in nicely with their team.  Alexei Ponikarovsky can score and he can hit.  His cap hit this year was $1.5M.   Good move on Uncle Lou!

The thing about selling is yes the Habs can get value for Hal Gill and Travis Moen for example, but then next year who fills their skates? Of course if  Geoff Molson doesn’t fix his house what agents or players will want to play for Montreal?     Back to the dark old days of Reggie Houle where players nobody wanted came to die?   Andreas Dackell anyone?  Joe Juneau?

Sports writing Legend Red Fisher interviewed Serge Savard, one of the team’s best GM’s ever who at 66 just might have an interest although he denies any interest.    Patrick Roy’s name is bandied about with even the sly threat of King Pat jumping to a Quebec City franchise if Montreal doesn’t snatch him up.       While a marketing bonanza could Mr. Roy survive long if the team didn’t win?   Would he be waving a finger in Mr. Molson’s face the way he did Ronald Corey’s at some point?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH2k-GW21co

Over 20 years of bad mostly bad management have put Montreal in a space where there are no players under 60 to bring into the fold the way that people like Joe Nieuwendyk  and Steve Yzerman have.    Actually the NHL is littered with the successful bodies of former Hab coaches including last year’s Stanley Cup contenders both having Hab victims in Claude Julien and Alain Vignault.

No the key to turning this franchise around is ownership realizing what needs to be done and putting the right people in place.  There was hope with Bob Gainey; but then Mr. Gillette got into financial trouble and distracted.

In today’s NHL you need a GM that understands contract cycles and cap management.   You can’t just stack talent like the pre-cap days.   I’m not sure what Mr. Molson and Gainey have against Pierre Macguire, but he’d be a serviceable choice.

For Habs fans they can only dream of the future and hope that Gauthier’s last act as GM is not giving Carey Price a 7 year $7M contract and trading PK Subban for Janne Niinimaa.

What do you think hockey fans? You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Ships passing in the night.  I love that term, and it seems that’s what’s happening in the NHL as the Ottawa Senators, the Comeback Kids (although some of them definitely are not kids ) came back and won the battle of Ontario Tuesday night beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Toronto.

If that’s not smack. If that’s not the mark of a team destined for the Play Offs I don’t know what is?   Newcomer Kyle Turris scored the winner in a gritty match where the home town Leafs out shot the Sens 39-21, but still fell short.    Captain Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza scored the other Sens goals.   In otherwords; the Money Guys in Ottawa came through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fB9ra1ZJIE

There were two fights in the game too.   Zenon Konopka took on Mike Brown and Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf showed some of his frustration taking on Nick Foligno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po5tEtFNR-A

The loss puts more pressure on Brian Burke to pull the trigger on a deal as the Leafs fall a bit further out of the play off picture.

I am so loving these Ottawa Senators this season.   In contrast, former Habs Coach Jacques Martin spoke openly about PK Subban and some of the friction in Hab Land over the Lippy D Man who not only apparently aggravates the opponents, but his own team mates.

What a mess the Habs are in right now as they spiral to the bottom of the bowl waiting for the flush of the 2011/12 NHL season.

In other NHL scores; Jaromir Jagr added 2 assists and played 20 minutes in Philly’s 5-1 romp over Minnesota.   It’s funny that Pierre Gauthier passed on Jagr and Kenopka; both areas that Montreal is sorely lacking in this year; primary scoring and team toughness…

The Penguins needed the shoot out to nip Carolina 2-1; Mr. Nabokov and the Islanders shut out Washington 3-0; Columbus doubled Edmonton 4-2; New Jersey beat the Jets 5-1; the Rangers shut out Nashville 3-0; Tampa Bay beat powerhouse Boston 5-3; Detroit 3-2 over Dallas; LA 3-2 over Vancouver; and Calgary is still winless since the Cammalleri trade losing 2-1 in the shoot out to San Jose.

What do you think Hockey fans?  Are the Sens for real?  Can the Leafs make the play offs?  Will Pierre Gauthier finish the season as GM of the Habs?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Mike Cammalleri had a better first night with Calgary than the Habs did as he notched a goal on 3 shots.   Both teams lost; Calgary 5-1 to LA and Montreal in the shoot out to Ottawa after Tomas Plekanec scored a 3rd period short  handed goal and Max Pacioretty added a second to tie the game and sent it to overtime, and eventually the shoot out where Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson beat Carey Price.

It was an interesting game Montreal out shooting Ottawa 35-25.   Craig Anderson was huge in net for the Sens making some major saves.      The first goal of the game, scored by Montreal was called back which I think partially discombobulated the Habs, but the kept moving.   Scott Gomez returned.   Zero shots, Zero points, over 16 minutes of ice time as he played wing on the Plekanec line.

Alexei Emelin sat out for Chris Campoli.       Folks I think the Habs are pretty much done for this season.  It’s time to trade players who won’t be a part of next year and giving guys like Emelin all the ice time they can get.    Of course the Habs may be showcasing some of the vets they want to move now.

I for one hope they keep Travis Moen.  I just like his game and I have a hunch his salary at this stage should be pretty cap friendly.   Of course a lot of vets may not want to stay or come to Montreal with the drama of this season.  For example do you think Mike Cammalleri’s agent will be recommending many of his clients to Montreal where his guy has lost value and agents only make their livings off of a players maximum value…

The Leafs were humiliated and shut out by the NY Rangers highlighting some of the weaknesses of the team; chiefly in nets unless James Reimer gets his game back.

Former Hab Ryan McDonagh had an assist and was PLUS 3 for the night.   The Rangers took it to Toronto right out of the gate and out shot the Leafs 30-20 giving Martin Biron the shut out.

Pekka Rinne  earned his money as he fended off 36 of 38 shots as Nashville beat the Flyers 4-2; Detroit edged Chicago 3-2; Colorado nipped Dallas 2-1;  New Jersey 2 – Winnipeg 1; same score for San Jose over Columbus; the Islanders doubled Buffalo 4-2;   Cam Ward and 3 Carolina goals led the Hurricanes to a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins; and St. Louis 3-2 over Minnesota in the Shoot Out.

What do you think Hab fans?  Who stays, who goes?   You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Friday the 13th will never be the same for Habs fans!   What the heck is going on in Montreal?  The Habs just traded their biggest star; albeit Mike Cammalleri is having his worst NHL season, but then this team is a mess and guys like Cammy don’t work their best in those scenarios.

Listening to Team 990′s Tony Molinaro this morning and Tony is pointing a finger at Bob Gainey who’s impact from the shadows does seem to be apparent.

The Habs made a mid game trade during last night’s loss to the Bruins.  Not sure if the goal is to run this team into the ground, but this trade is as odd as the Halak trade.

Jaroslav Halak returned to Montreal this week and shut out the Habs.    With Carey Price about to command in excess of $5M per year after this season who would you rather have?  I can tell you who the paid faithful at the Bell Centre would choose.

Mr. Molson, and surprisingly Mr. Gainey, seem to forget what the fan base in Montreal expect and will support.   And that’s championship hockey.  It doesn’t mean that you have to win every year, but you have to play like Champions.    Mike Cammalleri was a free agent that chose Montreal.   For years players did not even consider Montreal unless they had no other options; never mind sign in the prime of the careers as Cammy did.

His voicing publicly his concerns of the organization to me aren’t what Eric Engels suggested; but indicative of what Patrick Roy did to Reggie Houle.   And it was handled in manner just as bush as how they handled Roy.

When you have a talent like the Habs had in Cammy and you want to move it, you shop it.  It’s not hard.   Same as the Halak situation.     Montreal gets Rene Bourque; a good NHL talent who makes half the money as Cammy, but at best is a grittier Michael Ryder – 25 or so goals per year with some grit.

In the play offs; when the money is on the line you need players who make magic happen as Cammy did in the semi finals it was Cammy putting up the points.

Bob Gainey made some questionable moves to bring in Scott Gomez and then signing Brian Gionta.   It’s helped attract talent to Montreal even if the Habs have to overpay a bit.   There was a semblance of structure to the team.

Today, after two years of fractured management we have a head coach gone; an assistant coach sacrificed; an interim coach sacrificed, and now a team losing one of its cornerstone stars.

I have a hunch Calgary is having a great big laugh today.   They picked up a star for a second round draft pick and a higher end Travis Moen with a French name.    Montreal is not going to the play offs and I’m sure there is a line up in the dressing room looking for the exit door.

Not good.   There are going to be some dark days for Habs fans on the horizon.   Thank goodness Ottawa is not that far away as they are playing some great hockey; shutting out Conference leaders, the NY Rangers who feature a talented young defenseman named Ryan McDonagh, a throw in on the Scott Gomez deal….

What do you think Hockey fans?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN- The Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the Call To The Hall for 2012.Nominations for the next set of inductees begin now and run until Friday, March 2nd (submissions after that date will not be considered for 2012).

All types of sports are represented from the more than 300 CSHOF members.

There are also a number of inductees under the builder category.

The Selection Committee requests a list of awards or accomplishments accompanied by media clippings or a scrapbook outlining the person being nominated.

For more information on the induction process and a list of past inductees, visit cornwallsportshalloffame.com.

Inductees will be announced in April.

Once again, the Benson Group is the title sponsor of the induction dinner.

The Benson Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner takes place on Saturday, August 11th, 2012 in the salons of the Civic Complex.

Nominations or further questions about the nomination process for the next class of inductees can be forwarded to the Selection Committee Chairman Thom Racine (thom_racine@hotmail.com ) or Benson CSHOF Dinner Chairman David Murphy (dmurphy10@cogeco.ca).

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