NCAA BASKETBALL — If this weekend is any indication of what’s to come in March, we might as well throw out our brackets now. Syracuse, ranked number one in the country, entered the game 20-0 on the season, but left South Bend with their first loss after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-8) defeated the Orangemen 67-58, backed by strong three-point shooting. Florida State is finding success against teams from North Carolina, as they capped off another upset weekend by taking down fourth-ranked Duke exactly one week after defeating North Carolina. Unranked Tennessee forced the defending champion UCONN Huskies into some tough shots and prevailed 60-57. Finally, in likely the best game of the weekend, two top-five teams squared off, with fifth-ranked Missouri thwarting third ranked Baylor’s late comeback to prevail by a point. Yup, March should be fun. 

FOOTBALL — The NFL playoffs continue to roll on, with this weekend featuring both conference championship games. In the AFC, the top-seeded New England Patriots faced their playoff foil, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens embarrassed the Patriots in New England during 2010 NFL playoffs, and a hot topic during the week was the Pats’ chance to get revenge. New England, led by their suspect defense, held the Ravens on their final comeback drive, capped off by a terrible miss by Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff. The result earned Pats quarterback Tom Brady his 16th playoff victory, tying him with Joe Montana for the most playoff victories by a quarterback. Brady and the Patriots advance to play the New York Giants. Sound familiar? The two met in 2008, when the Giants pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Superbowl history, ruining the Patriots’ perfect regular season record. New York heads to the big game on the foot of their kicker, Lawrence Tynes, who also kicked the game-winning field goal to send the Giants to the Superbowl in 2007. Tynes should give Cundiff some pointers in the off-season. 

TENNIS — Week One of the Australian Open is in the books and the quarterfinals are set. On the men’s side, only seeded players made the top eight. The biggest surprise so far has to be Lleyton Hewitt’s resurgence. Entering the tournament ranked 181st following an injury-marred 2011, home crowd favourite Hewitt beat Andy Roddick and Canadian Milos Raonic on his way to a fourth round loss to Novak Djokovic. The women’s tournament has been more exciting in terms of upsets. Early losses for Francesca Sciavone and Vera Zvonareva were surprising, but nothing as shocking as Aussie Sam Stosur being upset in the first round to 59th ranked Sorana Cirstea. The women’s side also showcased the best match of the week as Kim Clijsters staved off four match points to beat Li Na.

NCAA FOOTBALL — Legendary coach Joe Paterno passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 85 after a battle with lung cancer. Paterno was relieved of his duties last November amid the Penn State child sex scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky. JoePa built the Penn State program to become one of the premier college football schools in America, leading them to two national championships. He is the winningest head coach in NCAA football history and coached more than 250 players who went on to play in the NFL. To some, JoePa’s reputation became tarnished with the news of the child sex scandal, despite massive student support back in State College. However, the news of his death has led both fans and the media to reevaluate how much he meant to Penn State and the college football world. For many, there is no doubt he will be remembered for his positive legacy, which outweighs the scandal that inundated the final days of his life. 

On Jan. 12, 2012, Mike Cammalleri was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Calgary Flames for Rene Bourque. I am a die-hard Habs fan, but how are you supposed to react when your favourite player is traded? I have followed Cammalleri endlessly. Some would call me obsessed: I have his jersey, game-worn skates, know his mother’s name, and have even used his name for numerous Internet passwords (better change those now).  As you can imagine, I was shocked and angry when I found out the news that he was traded. I felt as if Canadiens General Manager Pierre Gauthier had personally wronged me. After signing him just a couple of years ago, the Canadiens have advertised endlessly with Cammalleri, working hard to build his image in order to win fans over. One day he was the face of the franchise, and the next, he gets pulled off the ice mid-game and told that he’s heading to Calgary.

I have always held to the notion that no one is untouchable, especially if the price is right. However, having analysed this trade from every possible angle, I do not understand why the deal was made. A lot of attention has been focused on the comments he made about the team, saying they “play like losers,” which some credit as the reason he was traded. After the comments were released, the Montreal media erupted into a hailstorm, claiming Cammalleri didn’t want to be in Montreal and was a cancer in the dressing room. This seems unfair. He was likely expressing the fact that the team wasn’t displaying the confidence they needed to win games, which certainly isn’t far from the truth considering their record this season. Cammalleri also made many pro-Canadiens comments, going on record stating that “… I really enjoy what it means to play for the Montreal Canadiens, always have.” This quote was rarely published in the media, and received nowhere near the same press that his first one did. Reporters undoubtedly focused on what they believed would make a better story. I hope these comments had no effect on Gauthier’s decision to trade Cammalleri. A competent General Manager should not fall into the media trap, especially in this hockey-crazed city.  

Media fiasco aside, I tried to examine whether the trade made sense in hockey terms. Gauthier said the trade had nothing to do with Cammalleri’s comments but instead claimed that the Canadiens were looking to add size to their lineup to help them push for a playoff spot. Well Gauthier, trying to add size to your roster is a horrible reason to make a blockbuster trade. Why does a hockey team specifically need size? To score goals? In his past three seasons, Cammalleri has scored more goals per game and notched more points per game than Bourque. While neither player is having huge success this year, of the two, Cammalleri has six more points. It can be argued that a change of scenery could be good for both players, but Cammalleri’s playoff success makes it clear that the Canadiens lost in this trade by a landslide. Cammalleri had 10 points in seven playoff games last season and 19 in 19 games the year before, including a league-leading 13 goals. The Canadiens, whenever they succeed in squeezing into the playoffs, have been a big threat to any team and Cammalleri was always a major reason for that. It can also be argued that size can be advantageous in the defensive zone. If so, then it can be expected for Bourque to have a stronger plus/minus rating than Cammalleri. While none of the two can boast particularly great numbers, Cammalleri has held the stats advantage over Bourque in each of the past two seasons in this category. 

As a Cammalleri and Habs fan, I am frustrated and sad to see him go. Hopefully Bourque will prove to be the consistent scoring threat and physical asset Pierre Gauthier believes he is. If not, then the Habs just made a huge mistake. 

– Adam Taras

Duncan Hood / McGill Tribune

Fans at McConnell Arena were treated to an unfortunate hiccup this past Sunday as the McGill women’s hockey team lost for the first time in RSEQ conference play since Oct. 29. The Carleton Ravens looked both physically and mentally sharper throughout the course of the game, culminating in their upset 4-3 shootout win over the Martlets. 

McGill entered the game seemingly unprepared, as two minutes in, Ravens defenceman Erin Beaver opened the scoring. Third-year Martlet forward Kim Ton-That answered back just three minutes later, halting Carelton’s quick momentum. McGill struggled to move the puck and establish the pace of the game, a rarity for a team which prides itself on its chemistry and fast-paced tempo. Leading scorer Claudia Bergeron tallied another for the Ravens in the middle of the period and Carleton exited the period with a 2-1 lead despite being outshot 11-5. 

Head Coach Peter Smith was evidently upset with his team’s performance, citing a lack of preparedness from his girls. “I thought we came out flat. I didn’t think we were ready to play the game … I am not 100 per cent sure why, but we just weren’t there today and we couldn’t recover from a flat start,” Smith said. 

The second period was similar for McGill despite some decent scoring chances. Ravens goaltender Tamber Tisdale was strong all afternoon, making key saves to stymie the Martlet offence. However, McGill evened the score when fourth-year defenceman Stacie Tardif pinched in from the point and received a pass from Melodie Daoust before burying it past Tisdale with just 15 seconds left in the frame to notch her first of two goals of the afternoon.  

Smith praised the play of Tardif and other sophomore defenceman Gillian Ferrari, who was noticeably strong on the back end, clearing the way for goaltender Charline Labonte throughout most of the game. “I thought Stacie [Tardif] played well. It was nice to see her get a few today. And I thought Gillian Ferrari was really sharp and strong on the back end. She made up for some of our defensive collapses,” Smith explained. 

McGill looked more aggressive when the third period opened, and Tardif scored her second of the night off of a hard slapshot from the point eight minutes in. The lead was short-lived as Carelton captain Sarah Seiler snapped a shot past Labonte on the powerplay. The Martlets, specifically led by leading scorer Ann-Sophie Bettez, pressed to take the lead, but Tisdale robbed her on a number of occasions, forcing the game into overtime.

The extra frame solved little, and after Bettez saved the Martlets from a quick exit from the shootout, Carleton’s Sydnie MacDonald ended the game with a swift deke past the sprawling Labonte. 

The victory marks the Ravens’ first-ever win in 65 meetings with McGill, dating back to 1999. After the game, the Ravens scrambled to Tisdale to give her the praise she deserved after stopping 36 of 39 shots. 

What went wrong was the question on everyone’s mind after the game since, McGill had beaten Carleton twice already this season by a total margin of 7-1. Smith didn’t believe that the Ravens came into the game with any new adjustments. “Nothing new. They always play us hard, forecheck us hard. I just didn’t think we moved the puck the way we’re capable of moving it. When we did have opportunities, their goalie made some good saves.”

While this game was inconsistent with any past trends, it is only a small speedbump in what has been another dominating season for the Martlets. With the loss, they move to 12-2-0 on the season, and end their nine-game winning streak. They look to erase this losing effort from their minds on Jan. 27 against Ottawa for the beginning of a mini three-game road trip. They meet Carleton again on Jan. 28. 

Anna Katycheva / McGill Tribune

Winners of nine straight Winter Carnival games, the McGill Redmen hockey team managed to extend that impressive streak last Friday night as the boys came through with a spirited 1-0 shootout win over the Carleton Ravens in front of their raucous McGill fans. 

Hubert Morin put on a goalie clinic as he turned away all 32 shots he faced and denied three more Ravens in the shoot out. Carleton’s Matthew Dopud was just as stellar, with a 25-save shutout performance and some help from the crossbar on more than one occasion. 

Head Coach Kelly Nobes certainly liked what saw in his team: “We’re pleased with the effort tonight. I thought we played a solid 60 minutes. We got a good team effort from all four lines and six defencemen. Certainly Hubert Morin played a good game, as did their guy, but we won in the end. They’re a very good team and they pushed us right till the end. I’m pleased with the result.”

McGill rolled out the power play unit just three minutes into the first but failed to convert on the man advantage. The puck cycling was especially weak as Carleton did a good job of intercepting the puck and clearing their zone. 

The tempo picked up midway through the first when Jean-Francois Boisvert hammered Linden Bahm into the Ravens’ bench.  The hit seemed to spark both benches as play became more physical on both sides for the remainder of the period.  

Patrick Belzile showed good hustle and defensive reliability in the second with a good backcheck to break up Carleton’s attack and keep the game tied at zero. The Ravens’ best scoring chance came early in the period when their captain Brandon Maclean sprung for a breakaway. Morin stood tall in his crease and stoned the forward, firing up much of the crowd even more. 

Near the end of the period a scrum ignited after the whistle along the boards as tensions peaked. Carl Taylor and Redmen’s Nicolas Biniek were both issued matching minors and play continued 5-on-5, with McGill showing good puck movement before the sound of the buzzer.  

The animosity carried over from the end of the second with some good, hard hits early in the third. Francis Verreault-Paul seemed to have drawn first blood with his shot that appeared to have snuck just under the crossbar, but the referees were quick to signal no goal. Hungry for his first tally, Verreault kept buzzing after the call and crashed into Dopud, causing him to lose his mask in the process. Dopud returned the favor with some firm love taps, but the referees put an end to their scuffle with a trip to the sin bin for Verreault on the account of goalie interference and a roughing penalty against Dopud. 

Maclean had another glorious opportunity to pull his team ahead with what seemed like a wide open net but his shot was blocked up front. Overtime settled nothing and the crowd got their money’s worth with an extra frame in the shootout. McGill’s Picard managed to solve Dopud with a quick wrister that beat him low glove-side for the only goal in the game. 

Nobes was quick to give his approval regarding the rowdy crowd. “Yeah that was outstanding! Certainly for the guys and the students that were here we really appreciate having such a great lively crowd. Let’s hope we get some of them back again for another game.”

The Redmen’s next home game is on Jan. 27 against Ottawa. 

This season, HBO decided to spoil hockey fans once again by filming 24/7, a four-part series documenting the New York Rangers’ and Philadelphia Flyers’ ever enticing Road to the Winter Classic. Hockey die-hards were given the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the NHL world, whether it be in the team’s locker rooms or in the very homes of the NHL players for 24 hours, seven days a week. It was obvious that last year’s series featuring the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins delivered above and beyond the expectations of hockey fanatics, leaving viewers of the documentary begging for more. And just as last season’s series had its highlights and unforgettable moments, this season had its equal share. And yes, f-bombs were dropped as casually as ever.

One of the great aspects of 24/7 is how it showcases the otherwise unrevealed personalities of NHL players. This year’s unofficial star was Philadelphia net minder Ilya Bryzgalov who stole the spotlight within the first 10 minutes of the show. In the first episode, the goaltender’s attempt at a philosophical commentary on our universe, matched with his strong Russian accent, quickly proved that he would be a “humangous big” hit all series long. The goalie continued to entertain viewers with talks of Siberian Huskies and Chinese law regarding endangered tiger hunting. 

Unfortunately, Bryzgalov’s struggles in late December landed him a spot on the bench for the Winter Classic, thereby exposing a darker side of the Russian net minder. Ultimately, the documentation of Bryzgalov’s misfortunes and dramatic shift in emotion portrayed a universal theme for NHL players: in an 82-game season, every player has their share of ups and downs.

This year’s 24/7 also gave hockey enthusiasts a close-up of one the NHL’s most talented emerging stars, Claude Giroux. It’s clear that Giroux, nicknamed “G” by his teammates, is a dynamic player with loads of raw talent. However, as can only be exposed through HBO’s microphones, he’s equally talented in his ability to “chirp” at opposing players in an attempt to throw them off their game. Giroux’s battle with a concussion in the early episodes also provided insight on a hot button issue in the NHL. The star forward was subjected to various tests and treatments to ensure his physical well-being while his team eagerly awaited his return. On his first game back, Giroux recorded four points, solidifying his superstar status.

On the flipside, it’s safe to say that all 24/7 fans were extremely eager to see what antics Rangers’ head coach John Tortorella had to offer, and after the first episode it was obvious that fans would not be disappointed. Tortorella threw profanities around and gave intense speeches both between periods and on the bench all series long. However, it was his unknown compassionate side of Tortorella that stole the spotlight, uncovered in the story of Liam Traynor, a young Rangers fan suffering from cerebral palsy. The two met at a Garden of Dreams charity event and have shared a strong bond ever since. They contact each other frequently and share  support for one another.  Liam explains in 24/7 that “it really means the world to [him]” that Tortorella has his back. It’s exceedingly clear that HBO did a wonderful job showcasing Tortorella’s impact on and off the ice. His passion and dedication to the game is clearly enormous and he has certainly gained respect from true hockey fans.

Once again, HBO has taken 24/7 viewers beyond the surface of the hockey world, and it’s difficult to ask anything more from them. Although this year’s edition of 24/7 was somewhat reminiscent of the previous installment, the cast of players and coaches provided their own quirks and charms, ensuring that the series stayed fresh and filled with entertaining moments. Ultimately, it’s the teams’ distinctiveness that allows for each edition of the documentary to provide further insight into the dynamics of the NHL. With the next 24/7 just a year away, someone’s got to get ready to step up and fill Bryzgalov’s skates.

Images from

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With the hockey season well under way, fantasy team managers are all looking for those hidden gems that will provide the extra punch they need for the upcoming fantasy playoffs. In this first installment of From Fantasy to Reality, I will identify an undervalued player from each position who is both putting up great numbers and has an ownership percentage of less than 50 per cent in Yahoo! Leagues. To evaluate players, I will be using the standard points categories, which are goals, assists, penalty minutes, plus/minus, powerplay points and shots on goal for skaters, and wins, save percentage, goals against average, and shutouts.

GOALTENDER

Jean-Sebastien Giguere, COL. 21GP, 12-6-1, .925 S%, 2.06 GAA, 1 SO, 37 per cent ownership

Choosing a backup goaltender in a deep league that won’t destroy your weekly stats can be an extremely difficult task. Luckily, “Giggy” is there to save the day. Starting nearly half of Colorado’s games, Giguere has been the rock in nets that the Avs have needed when their starter, Varlamov, is struggling. His stats also speak for themselves: 12 wins to go along with a superb .925 save percentage and a ridiculous 2.06 goals against average.

LEFT WING

Nick Foligno,  OTT. 50GP, 12G, 18A, plus 1, 69 PIM, 1PPP, 81 SOG, 16 per cent ownership

The Senators have been on a tear since December, and Foligno has been one of the many players on the team to see his statline profit from the recent surge in the standings. He has notched eight points in his last 10 games, going plus three in the process, and has slowly seen his ice time increase. Though his 30 points are nothing to scoff at, his real value is his 69 penalty minutes. Very rarely can a fantasy manager gloat that his enforcers also profit his other stat categories, and in a deep fantasy league, Foligno is a must-have asset.

RIGHT WING

Blake Wheeler, WPG. 46GP, 9G, 24A, plus 7, 26 PIM, 5 PPP, 98 SOG. 33 per cent ownership

When Atlanta acquired Wheeler in a four-player trade, they saw the potential to be a first-liner in the hulking prospect. Fast-forward one year, and the 25-year-old leads his team in points as he fills the top right wing spot seamlessly for Winnipeg. Victim of his team’s slow start, Wheeler now has 13 points in his last 13 games and leads his team with a plus 7 goal differential. He may not score tremendously on the powerplay, but his 26 minutes in the sin bin and 98 shots on goal will benefit his owners enormously.

CENTER

Ryan O’Reilly, COL. 49 GP, 13G, 22A, minus 3, 10 PIM, 12 PPP, 101 SOG. 30 per cent ownership

Despite being Colorado’s leading scorer, O’Reilly continues to be snubbed by fantasy players. His 13 goals and 22 assists may not rank him in the top 50 scorers in the league, but he is a consistent player who’s replacing Matt Duchene while he’s on injured reserve. His 12 powerplay points and 101 shots on goal are excellent additions to any owner looking bolster his stat line, and widely compensate for his minus 3 rating.

DEFENCEMAN

Nick Leddy, CHI. 49GP, 2G, 22A, minus 5, 10 PIM, 7 PPP, 51 SOG, 24 per cent ownership

Leddy’s stat line may not come off as mind-blowing at first glance, despite having a very respectable 24 points in 49 games. Yet his recent play obliges me to add him to this list: four assists, plus four and six shots on goal in five games. Playing on the second defensive pairing of a seemingly invincible Blackhawks team, I can only imagine that Leddy’s numbers are going to continue improving as the season progresses.