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The 2018 World Junior Championship may be the only chance fans have of watching quality international men’s hockey this year.
Luckily for Avalanche fans, they’ll get to see at least two prospects skating out at the tournament, both under the Canadian flag.
It was announced on Friday morning that both Cale Makar (UMass-Amherst) and Conor Timmins (Soo Greyhounds) were among those that made the final cut at Team Canada’s camp ahead of the tournament. [Mile High Hockey]
It was a promising sign for the team, which quickly blossomed into excellent news later that afternoon when it was confirmed that both had made the final roster. Fans will get to see them skate out in an attempt to restore Team Canada to its 2015 glory, after getting defeated in the gold-medal game last year by Team USA. [MHH]
In more fun news: if each Avs player was a Star Wars character, this is who they’d be. [MHH]
Up north, American-born Brock Boeser just sent some heads rolling:
Brock Boeser chose chilli cheese fries over poutine because he's never had poutine and this is a tragedy. #Canucks
— Baby, it's colder Lindside. (@LindsideOut) December 16, 2017
Meanwhile, the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning just got some bad news, as forward Ryan Callahan is now out indefinitely with an injury. [Raw Charge]
Is this exciting? Of course it’s exciting!
Guess what’s coming December 23rd!!! Woman’s Hockey Appreciation Night!! Hope to see you all there!! #USAHockey #ArizonaCoyotes @ArizonaCoyotes pic.twitter.com/vaQxWWeMY1
— Lyndsey Fry Hockey (@FryHockey) December 13, 2017
Speaking of women’s hockey, the Minnesota Wild saw former Golden Gophers legend Krissy Wendell skate at practice with them on Friday in honor of the Minnesota Wild Girl’s Hockey Weekend. [The Athletic]
Finally, some drama in Ottawa:
The Ottawa Senators are about to play in an incredible outdoor game, but their owner, Eugene Melnyk, decided that the eve of the game was the time to bring up a potential relocation threat.
Melnyk, a former pharmaceutical mogul who purchased the Senators in 2003, complained that fans weren’t buying tickets during the team’s last deep playoff run and hinted that he’d move the team elsewhere to turn a profit if he needed to. He doesn’t plan to sell the team, he says, but doesn’t want to stay where he is ‘underwriting’ a franchise - fair enough, but odd to say while throwing a fanbase under the bus. [Globe and Mail]