Morning Flurries: Makar, Timmins take home gold

Nothing like seeing two defensive prospects take home gold medals at the World Juniors, right?

Conor Timmins and Cale Makar both managed to earn spots on the blue line for Team Canada at this year’s top junior tournament, skating out in hopes of bringing gold back after a two-year absence from the top of the podium.

While Makar arguably could have used more ice time, both prospects managed to show the world that the Avalanche have the makings of some excellent blue line progress in the coming seasons - something that fans have been sorely begging for for a few years now.

A look at how the pair fared ahead of the gold medal game, which saw them both reign victorious by the end of Friday night. [Mile High Hockey]

Speaking of the World Juniors - what’s your take on players using their phones right after the game? Out-of-touch millennials, or just a group of kids excited to get in touch with their families and friends after celebrating on the ice?

In some sad news, a former NCAA champion with the Denver Pioneers has passed.

Jim Wiste went on to play pro for a bit after taking home a championship with the Pioneers in 1968, but his legacy was best left as the owner and popular face behind the Campus Lounge, a hot spot to hang for DU hockey fans for years. [The Denver Post]

In some not-so-sad news, though, here’s your feel-good story of the week:

Patrick Roy’s daughter found out her water broke this past Saturday, while she was at home in Milwaukee and her boyfriend, Admirals skater Pierre-Cedric Labrie, was on the road in Grand Rapids for a game.

Desperate to find a way to make it home in time for the birth of his son, Labrie begged around his team for an idea to get home faster than the flight the following morning would be able to get him there.

Enter Grand Rapids Griffins backup, Tom McCollum.

McCollum offered his truck to Labrie to make the four-hour drive back home, getting his rival back in time to witness his son’s birth and asking nothing but a full tank of gas in return. [Yahoo Sports]

Finally, for our American fans, here are a few highlights from the bronze-medal game for Team USA on Friday. [Habs Eye On The Prize]