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Thursday, April 4, 2013 Trail Times
Sports NHL trades
J. L. Crowe Soccer
Blues stack defence for playoffs THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Blues upgraded their defence for the playoff push, adding Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold. “It’s two guys that any team around the league would be looking for,” Fruitvale native Barret Jackman said Wednesday. “You look around our dressing room and we have every piece we need.” Except maybe a goalie to step up in place of Jaroslav Halak, who is out indefinitely with a groin injury. Brian Elliott, half of the NHL’s stingiest tandem last season, has been a disappointment this season. He will play Thursday night at Chicago with no guarantees past that. “We’re on a one-game basis,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “So, we’ll see how he plays Thursday and then we’ll evaluate Friday.” The Blues were tied for eighth with Nashville and just a point ahead of Edmonton and Columbus. It’s been tough slogging for a franchise that put up 109 points last year and was the No. 2 seed in the West, but hasn’t been able to dupli-
cate a mix of shutdown goaltending. “Last year, everything went right, every goal was scored at an important time,” Hitchcock said. “We lived on the fine line, and the right way. “We’ve played really well the last three weeks, maybe not being rewarded like some other teams.” Leopold made his debut Monday after coming in a weekend deal with Buffalo and Bouwmeester could be in the lineup at Chicago if he clears visa issues. They jump ahead of Kris Russell and Ian Cole with a third defenceman, Wade Redden, traded to Boston for a conditional seventhround draft pick. The 29-year-old Bouwmeester is under contract next year at $6.6 million and has played in 621 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the NHL, while playing in 750 games total without a playoff appearance. “He can really play against top players and he eats up a lot of minutes,” Hitchcock said. “We’re trying to build a team that’s going to win long-term and he’s a good fit for us.”
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J. L. Crowe senior girls soccer player Maddie Van Horn carries the ball through a group of defenders at practice on Tuesday. The Hawks kick off its season this week with a tournament in Osoyoos today and Friday. The team is in a rebuilding stage but should still be competitive in the West Kootenay zone, AA high-school senior girls circuit this season.
Luongo simmering after deadline passes THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER - The NHL trade deadline passed with Roberto Luongo still in Vancouver, and the Canucks goaltender gave a refreshingly blunt answer for a possible reason why. “My contract sucks,” Luongo said with uncommon candour at a post-deadline news conference Wednesday. “It’s a big factor in trading me and why I’m probably still here. I’d scrap it if I could right now.” Luongo, who has 10 years remaining on a 12-year contract worth US$64 million, asked for a trade in the off-season after being supplanted by Cory Schneider as the No. 1 netminder in Vancouver. Despite being the subject of months of trade rumours, Luongo will remain with the Canucks for the rest of the season, serving as Schneider’s backup. Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis spoke with five teams in the past six months, but no deal could be made. “I do feel obligated to trade Roberto and get him into position where he’s happy and competing the way he likes to and the level he’s accustomed to,” Gills said. “The needs of our team also play a role in this. Trying to balance them is a difficult thing.” Gillis said getting the right compensation in return has been the biggest stumbling block in dealing the 34-year-old netminder. He also said that there have been deals on the table that Luongo turned down, since he has a no-movement clause in his contract. As for Luongo’s comments about his contract, Gillis is chalking that up to an emotional response. “At the time (Luongo’s contract) was done, it was very favourable for this organization and
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very favourable for Roberto,” Gillis said. “The top teams in the league that were competing for Stanley Cups did contracts like this for franchise players. “These days are very emotional for everybody. When you have a day like this where your whole life can be turned upside down and then you speak to (the media) right after, there’s a chance for things to be said that in the clear light of day might not be reflective of how he really feels.” While Luongo didn’t get the trade he was looking for, he is relieved the speculation is over. “It’s nice to get past this point,” Luongo said. “I’ve been pretty calm about the situation until yesterday, late evening, for some reason I started getting weird feelings in my stomach. I was getting nervous. It was the first time I’ve had that type of feeling in my gut.” As far as the Canucks are concerned, having two No. 1-calibre goalies isn’t a bad thing.
Event showcases community FROM PAGE 11 The event will bring at least a couple hundred visitors to town, which is sure to benefit local business, especially the hotels and restaurants. “Like any big events, it’s a chance to showcase our community,” Stocks said. “For our hockey fans will have a chance to see the best Junior B teams in BC on the ice … It’s really a great thing all around.” This year’s Cyclone Taylor Cup will be hosted by the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in Comox, from Apr. 11 to 14.
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