TIM WHARNSBY
Globe and Mail Update
December 8, 2008 at 1:08 PM EST
TORONTO — Jaime Sifers, the young defenceman who will make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, has been in a reflective mood over the past 24 hours.
Being on the verge of realizing a life-long dream, the University of Vermont product has been on the phone or exchanging texts with friends, family members, former teammates and coaches, almost retracing the skating strides he has made on his journey from Stratford, Conn. to pro hockey's brightest lights.
“I've been spending a lot of time talking with a lot of people,” said Sifers, whose Leafs play the New York Islanders at Air Canada Centre. “I've been flooded with phone calls and I've spent a lot of time on the phone with friends and coaches and a whole lot of family just soaking in the moment.”
One e-mail that particularly struck a chord with Sifers was a message from his long-time agent Justin Duberman.
“He must have written it at three in the morning,” the 25-year-old defenceman said. “I've known Justin for 10 years now. We have a strong relationship with each other and I trust him with my life.
“The message was that no matter what happens to not forget about how hard I have worked to achieve this goal. It was such a far-fetched dream a long time ago and look what has happened now.”
Leafs coach Ron Wilson said that Sifers received the nod because of his strong play with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and also because the Leafs feared losing veteran minor-leaguer Staffan Kronwall on recallable waivers.
Sifers has been reminded by his new teammates to keep his game simple, something that Wilson doesn't believe will be a problem because “Jaime doesn't play a complicated game.”
The Leafs hope to shake off a three-game losing streak against a team that has its own struggles. The Islanders arrive in town having dropped four of their past five games. They sit in 13th spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference, two points behind the Leafs.
Both the Islanders and Leafs.
Toronto will be without rookie defenceman Luke Schenn (leg) and forward Niklas Hagman (concussion). Jeremy Williams has been summoned from the Marlies to replace Hagman, who is expected to miss only one after he was knocked woozy in the Leafs 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals last Saturday.
Summary:
Jaime Sifers plays for the Toronto Marley (farm team) and has been asked to play for the Toronto Maple leafs (NHL). This Jaime's life long dream. His teamates told him to play it simple, and not to get to complicated. He has been asked to play because of one of the good veteran players might be leaving the team. He hopes to end a three game lossing streak.
Questions
1. Will he stay on the team if the veteran does not leave?
2. Will he help the Leafs end there three game lossing streak?
3. Do you think Jaime will be the next superstar?
Relation to First Nation.
This is related to the First Nation people, beccause they were the ones who invented hockey.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Rocky Current Events by Brandon
With the National Lacrosse League season fast approaching, the Toronto Rock is not lacking in confidence.
The Rock won five championships in seven years from 1999-2005, but has struggled since, coming off the two worst seasons in franchise history.
At 7-9, the team missed the playoffs for the first time in 2008 and that spurred an eventful off-season that saw a roster overhaul and the retirement of Jim Veltman, the club's captain since its 1998 inception as the Ontario Raiders. Veltman has moved to the bench as an assistant to head coach Glenn Clark, while veteran Chris Driscoll takes over as captain.
The Rock appears capable of making a big move in the standings this season with the quality additions of Luke Wiles, Stephen Hoar, Jason Crosbie and former 44-goal scorer Craig Conn, and the return of veteran goaltender Bob Watson, the NLL goalie of the year in 2008. The team also will get a full season out of Lewis Ratcliff, who scored 13 goals and 28 points in just five games last year.
So confident is Rock president Brad Watters that the team will be "a force in the East," that he has made some season ticket holders an intriguing offer: Buy season tickets in the blue section and if the club misses the playoffs, the team will pay for the same seats in 2010.
"We've rebuilt and we're now ready to go," Watters said at practice in Scarborough yesterday. "A lot of fans have come to me saying: 'You're not as good as you used to be.' Now we are."
Clark, a member of all the Rock's championship teams, agrees.
"We were up for so long ... that's sports," he said. "You get to the top of the mountain, you stay there for a bit, and at some point you have to climb back up and we think we've done that."
Director of lacrosse operations Mike Kloepfer said the Rock desperately needed to improve its offence and he believes it has done so.
In Ratcliff and Conn, the team possesses two of only a handful of players in the league that have scored in the mid-40's in the past. Wiles and Crosbie also are capable offensively and Hoar is a transition threat and an elite face-off man who will get the Rock the ball more often.
"We've brought in character guys," Kloepfer said. "We've just gotten better everywhere, and hopefully, that will help fill the void left by Jim."
For his part, Veltman is enjoying his new role and doesn't appear to be in any rush to make a comeback.
"I don't miss training camp," he said with a laugh.
Assistant captain Blaine Manning said he will be one of many players attempting to fill the void left by Veltman.
"It's tough to replace Jimmy," he said. "The East is always very tough, but with the guys we've added, I don't see why we can't compete for a championship this year."
The season begins Jan. 3 against the New York Titans.
Summary: I think that Toronto Rock has had 5 good seasns and deserved all of them. Toronto is a great team and will still be one.
Questions:
1.Who is your favourite player on Toronto Rock?
2.Do you think that Toronto Rock deserved to wwin each of their seasons?
3.Do you want to play for the Toronto Rock?
The Rock won five championships in seven years from 1999-2005, but has struggled since, coming off the two worst seasons in franchise history.
At 7-9, the team missed the playoffs for the first time in 2008 and that spurred an eventful off-season that saw a roster overhaul and the retirement of Jim Veltman, the club's captain since its 1998 inception as the Ontario Raiders. Veltman has moved to the bench as an assistant to head coach Glenn Clark, while veteran Chris Driscoll takes over as captain.
The Rock appears capable of making a big move in the standings this season with the quality additions of Luke Wiles, Stephen Hoar, Jason Crosbie and former 44-goal scorer Craig Conn, and the return of veteran goaltender Bob Watson, the NLL goalie of the year in 2008. The team also will get a full season out of Lewis Ratcliff, who scored 13 goals and 28 points in just five games last year.
So confident is Rock president Brad Watters that the team will be "a force in the East," that he has made some season ticket holders an intriguing offer: Buy season tickets in the blue section and if the club misses the playoffs, the team will pay for the same seats in 2010.
"We've rebuilt and we're now ready to go," Watters said at practice in Scarborough yesterday. "A lot of fans have come to me saying: 'You're not as good as you used to be.' Now we are."
Clark, a member of all the Rock's championship teams, agrees.
"We were up for so long ... that's sports," he said. "You get to the top of the mountain, you stay there for a bit, and at some point you have to climb back up and we think we've done that."
Director of lacrosse operations Mike Kloepfer said the Rock desperately needed to improve its offence and he believes it has done so.
In Ratcliff and Conn, the team possesses two of only a handful of players in the league that have scored in the mid-40's in the past. Wiles and Crosbie also are capable offensively and Hoar is a transition threat and an elite face-off man who will get the Rock the ball more often.
"We've brought in character guys," Kloepfer said. "We've just gotten better everywhere, and hopefully, that will help fill the void left by Jim."
For his part, Veltman is enjoying his new role and doesn't appear to be in any rush to make a comeback.
"I don't miss training camp," he said with a laugh.
Assistant captain Blaine Manning said he will be one of many players attempting to fill the void left by Veltman.
"It's tough to replace Jimmy," he said. "The East is always very tough, but with the guys we've added, I don't see why we can't compete for a championship this year."
The season begins Jan. 3 against the New York Titans.
Summary: I think that Toronto Rock has had 5 good seasns and deserved all of them. Toronto is a great team and will still be one.
Questions:
1.Who is your favourite player on Toronto Rock?
2.Do you think that Toronto Rock deserved to wwin each of their seasons?
3.Do you want to play for the Toronto Rock?
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