Its the Cow Cow…and Reider!

“Summer for me has been going to the gym every day,” said Cowen, who is being kept off the ice during rookie camp. “There’s been no skating with the boys or doing 3-on-3s or something like that. It’ll be nice to get back out there and have some fun on the ice.”

source/read more.

Every time I see Cow Cow in Senators apparel, I tear up a little. But Jared is with a team he wants to be with. I just have to be happy for him. Come back to Spokane, Cow Cow. We miss you.

Ryan Classic was amazing and sent this to me. It’s out Reider! James Reid at Canucks camp.

Click for gi-hugic version.

We are nearing hockey.

Alright let’s get down to business. Thank you so much to everyone who posted in my absence. Y’all are amazing and I really appreciate you lending your time and creativity. ILY. In the event you ever need vaycay coverage; call me. I owe you. Thanks to the commenters too. No lamps were broken and you left me some booze! It’s going to be a bit of an information overload, so I’m tucking it under a jump.

Hit it.

How have you been, babydoll?

Tokarski, who turns 20 on September 16, had an outstanding season in 2007-08 for Spokane of the Western Hockey League. He went 30-10-3 in the regular season with a 2.05 goals-against average and .922 save percentage then led the Chiefs to the Memorial Cup Championship.

The Saskatchewan native topped it last season, winning 34 games in the regular season with a 1.97 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. He then led Team Canada to the World Junior Championship Gold Medal.

Now, he’s a pro.

“This is the hardest step of them all,” Raeder said. “There are a lot better shooters and more of them. But he’s got the make up for it.”

Raeder likes Tokarski’s instincts for the position and the economy of motion he uses to get the job done.

“He’s got a pro style, where it’s positioning and blocking,” Raeder said. “His demeanor is perfect. He’s going to be fun to work with.”

Both Helenius and Tokarski should get plenty of playing time in Norfolk, which often has one of the toughest travel schedules in AHL.

Read the article here.

I’ve been reading nothing but glowing things about Dustin. Some reports figure he could be the starting goalie for the Norfolk Admirals by Christmas. The fans in Tampa seem to be loving him too;

If there’s one person who’s thoroughly enjoying himself at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Young Guns camp these days it has to be goalie Dustin Tokarski.

Every time I’ve seen him, from the team’s hotel to the rink to a post-scrimmage autograph session, the kid, a 2008 fifth-rounder, has had a milewide grin.

My guess? He’s just soaking up the experience, even if winning MVP honors in Canada’s 2008 WJC gold wasn’t enough, and looking forward to training camp. If it’s anything else, it’s only because he’s a goalie.

From Hound Central.

Two new blogs for you to check out;

• Chairman How’s Glorious Army. Of all the gin joints in all the world, I happened upon this blog which is focused on the AHL. And we love the AHL, right? When our Chiefies graduate they often go on to play in the AHL and we need peeps keeping tabs on our babes. Be sure to read what Magic’s Johnson wrote about rivalries in his league, because really it makes ours look like pillow fights.
• So Google Alerts are truly wonderful. I suggest you set some up. I have some set up for some of the Chiefs. Including former Chief Dustin Tokarski. My heart just broke typing that. The other day my alerts directed me to The Prairie Puck and really, I need to move to Saskatchewan and find me a good ol’ prairie boy. They must just grow wonderful and strapping hockey players there. Between bales of hay or something.  Some of my favorite boys come out of this province; Tokarski, Jared Cowen and Luke Schenn. That’s just a trifecta of awesome right there.

I’m in the process of putting together a survey for a project I am working out. I’d like to take a look at how hockey effects relationships and how relationships effect hockey and all that. I’ll need a slew of people willing to participate. Participants are welcome to remain anonymous. Email me if you’re interested.

The Talent: Jared Cowen

I know I skipped around and only did a few of the top fifteen. But hey, I promise to do better next year. Really all I want to talk about is Jared Cowen. Since he is one of our boys, we love and adore him in all his 6′5″ glory. If you read my ramblings on a semi regular basis, you know that the Cow Cow is a wonderful hulking defenseman born in Allan, Saskatchewan. His defensive partner is the very Spurgalicious, Jared Spurge0n. Jar Jar is just a tiny lil’ defenseman coming in at 5′8″ and about a buck seventy. They are a delightful pairing and they get the job done.

Oh, then Jared Cowen’s had a thing happen with his knee and missing the last crucial half of the Chiefs season. The absence of Cowen in the lineup showed just how integral he was. If you ask me, the Chiefs pretty much unraveled after the Cowen injury. The team got sloppy and a bit lazy and had no real discipline. The Chiefs then faced a bout of even more injuries, suspensions and the entire team getting food poisoning and barfing between periods of play, oh and then trying to capture another Memorial Cup in the playoffs. This is what Jared Cowen looked like, watching this all unfold with his team;

oh god it burns it burns. make it stop.

Heartbreaking. We’d then see him walking around the arena, often talking about how he couldn’t wait to get back to playing. There were doubts on just what this would mean to his potential NHL career. But I’ve been a fierce defender of Cowen, even prior to the injury. I live in a dream world, where Cow Cow goes to my lovely Maple Leafs, and teams up with Luke Schenn and demolishes all opposition. Clearly, it is a dream. And as a Leafs fan, I expect the utter and absolute worst on Friday. Really, the team drafting that high can make no bad choices but…I am just prepared for disappointment. I’d love for Cow to be in the blue and white, but perhaps it’s better if he goes to a different organization. Potentially it could be Phoenix. It’s close-ish. Well, closer than Toronto. Cowen said he would love to go to a Canadian team, but figures that won’t happen. I’ve looked at far too many mock drafts. Drafts with Cowen going to the Colorado  Avalanche, the Phoenix Coyotes, the Dallas Stars, the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I like Cowen because he doesn’t rely on dropping gloves to do his job. He’s just there and boys tend to stay out of his way. He is fiercely protective of goalies. The one time I remember him fighting was because someone decided to take a run on Dustin Tokarski. Oh he can fight if needed, in case you were curious. He knows how, and the mechanics of it. Cowen had a bit of a clunky beginning with the Chiefs and he often made me groan and guffaw. But he really grew into his own and became a solid, go to player on the roster. Because this is junior hockey, he has a band of loyal fans, who want nothing but the best for him while we wait for him to take over the NHL.

Best of luck, Jared.

PS.; I was going to post the first three paragraphs of today’s article in the paper on Cowen but I didn’t want to make your brains bleed because I love you all.

I am Montreal bound tomorrow morning. Any bloggers or other peeps going hit me up on my cell if  you have my number or email me at; wraparoundcurl@gmail.com. Or drop a message on Pension Plan Puppets.

Kisses,

WAC

keeping up with the cow cow

Cowen is halfway through his rehabilitation, so because of his medical condition he did not participate in the annual prospects combine testing that is taking place at a hotel near the Toronto Pearson International Airport this weekend.

“It was frustrating,” said Cowen, who was interviewed by 21 of the 30 teams this week. “All I want to do right now is skate and show them what I can do.”

But the earliest Cowen of Allan, Sask, a village just southeast of Saskatoon, could be cleared for light skating would be in two weeks, when he visits his surgeon for a progress report. Still, even when Cowen attends the Canadian junior summer development camp in Saskatoon in early August, it’s not a certainty that he’ll be back skating in full flight.

Eyebleaf sent me this article. You can read  the rest here. Also, I take it as a sign, a good one, from the Hockey Gods, that went I flipped my Chiefs calendar from May to June, the picture is of Cowen and Tokarski. And there it is; the 26th and the 27th, the NHL Draft. This post had plenty of comma abuse. Don’t care.

more cow cow!

Hey look! It’s another Jared Cowen interview!

Leafs, draft him plz? Kthxbai.

the cow cow speaks.

Here is a radio interview with Jared Cowen (about 2/3 in). It’s also a great junior hockey radio and you should totally add it to your google reader because they get some great guests.

Jared Cow Cow gets his column inches.

BKBlades was a darling and sent me this article about the Jareds. It’s nice to see the boyos get some column inches.

“Most of the people that talk with our organization are saying that the injury certainly won’t help his positioning in the draft, but it’s not going to hurt either,” said Sauter. “I think it’s a can’t-miss for any team that takes him and if someone passes him up, I’d love to know how good the player is that they passed him up for.

“He’s just an excellent young man, a very, very talented hockey player and it’s not very often that you get such a talented hard-working guy who is 6’5 and puts in the work and commitment necessary to become a professional. In my mind the hockey people are pretty smart and they’re going to take him early.”

When asked by the Vancouver Province about Cowen’s stock for the upcoming draft, Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz was far more blunt with his response.

“If people are thinking about that,” Speltz said, “they’ll make a mistake. If he drops, it’s not a reflection on him. It’s a reflection on scouting.”

Other bits I found interesting;

“Jared was playing outstanding hockey for us,” Sauter added. “He was carrying big minutes, especially with guys away at WJC camps and other tournaments. He is for us much like Luke Schenn was for Kelowna last season. A big, strong, physical guy with offensive upside who can skate very well.”

I have totally compared Schenners and Cow Cow before and for the most part people were like “yeah whatever Wrap.” Peeps, sometimes I know things.

“And the exposure to professional scouts doesn’t hurt either, although most NHL teams have completed the majority of their homework prior to the CHL’s championship week. But perhaps surprisingly, Cowen admits he has not spoken with too many NHL teams.

“Honestly, I haven’t spoken with too many at all,” he said. “When we were in Everett, Washington, the Carolina Hurricanes took six of us out to dinner.”

Heyyyyyyyy a guessing game! Which six were taken out to a nice seafood dinner and not called the next day by the Canes? Was it six Chiefs? Were there some Tips present as well? How much food did Cowen eat? Did they bring him an oxen as an appetizer with some warm artichoke dip?

Read the full article here.

Today Cowen was the topic of conversation on Pension Plan Puppets and the upcoming draft. There is apprehension at the idea of taking a gamble on Cow Cow. You know, I’d be willing to wager on Jared. He is a wonderful player and who is just pained because he can’t play right now. He is something of a beast whom I believe has only fought once. He doesn’t need to drop gloves. He is just always on the move and stalks his prey, like every game it’s his shark week. Things that are terrifying; the idea of Cowen returning to the W with a vegeance. He can absolutely demolish other players. Considering this is only his first injury I’d still take a chance on him, Abba style.

drink it up.

I will be hosting the Leafs/Lightning game thread over on Pension Plan Puppets tonight. Swing on by unless you are out drinking green beer.

Chiefs, do your best tonight. I ain’t mad atcha. Here, I hope you are drinking lots of this;

no really this stuff is legit.

Current ISS Rankings;

Name Pos Birth Date S/C Ht. Wt. Team League
1 Tavares, John C 9/20/1990 L 6.00 200 London OHL
2 Hedman, Victor LD 12/18/1990 L 6.06 220 Modo SweE
3 Svensson-Paajarvi, Magnus LW 4/12/1991 L 6.01 200 Timra SweE
4 Duchene, Matt C 1/16/1991 L 5.11 196 Brampton OHL
5 Schenn, Brayden C 8/22/1991 L 6.00 193 Brandon WHL
6 Kane, Evander C 8/2/1991 L 6.01 180 Vancouver WHL
[[7 Cowen, Jared LD 1/25/1991 L 6.04.7 218 Spokane WHL]]
8 Kadri, Nazem C 10/6/1990 L 5.11.5 180 London OHL
9 Kulikov, Dmitri LD 10/29/1990 L 6.00 190 Drummondville QMJHL
10 Josefson, Jacob C 3/2/1991 L 6.00 187 Djurgarden SweE

So what round do you think Cowen is going in? He is a wildcard since he is out injured but he is still very high in the rankings. Who is going to gamble on him or who will take a pass?

levko the lionhearted.

Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW) / International Scouting Services (ISS) 2009 Draft Prospect Performers of the Week presented by the Pipeline Show & Hockey Now ending Sunday, February 15, 2009.

Each week, International Scouting Services (ISS), Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW), Hockey Now, and The Pipeline Show recognize the Top Draft Eligible player from each of the WHL, OHL, QMJHL, & USHL leagues for the upcoming 2009 NHL Entry Draft based on their play over the course of the week. Players are nominated and the selected by graduates of the SMWW Hockey GM & Scouting with each of the winners receiving a gift acknowledging their selection.

WHL – Levko Koper, Spokane Chiefs
Left Wing
Born Oct 5 1990 — Edmonton, ALTA
Height 6.00 — Weight 190 — Shoots L
Levko Koper earns his first nomination as draft performer of the week after registering 2 goals and 8 points in 5 games for Spokane. Koper currently sits second in team scoring with 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points, a career high, in this his third season in the WHL.

via World of Junior Hockey

I tucked a bunch of good stuff after the jump so the front page isn’t clogged up.

getting fries with my shake,

POSTER NIGHTTTTTT. An in depth analysis of the mugshots is on the way. Once the Panel and I thoroughly talk it over. I think we may have decided that Ondrej looked best, but we have to sort it out. We are democratic like that.

Oh a game. I was pretty bored the first 50 ish minutes of the game. The Cougars got on the board fast and it was evident that Kevin Armstrong still had it. The Chiefs were just making it rain with shots and Army was slamming down the pads. Dustin Tokarski seemed to be lacking a bit of his typical the first chunk of the game. He was just off. Maybe it’s because he got his haircut. I dunno. But he pulled it together making some saves that were lovely to the eyes.

Then my phone started going off. BREAKING NEWS  THE PENS FIRE THERIENN. I had people to text and email. And really, it was more productive than napping at the game or filing my nails.

The follow is a text exchange with Kimberlass of Puck Huffers;

kim: thanks ho…I think zombies are attacking my campus

me: zombies? a shotgun is best for zombie scenarios I think.

kim: Yeah. I have a zombie survival poster above my bed and everything. I should be good. I’ve been preparing all my life for this moment

me: Excellent. Good luck and godspeed. Too bad zombies don’t hate fire

kim: something about a seizure in the broken down elevator? wyshynski is saying erroneous things about the pens organization. shame.

The Chiefs decided to kick it Leafer style. Like the Leafs on Valentines day against the Pens, and post FIVE effing goals in the third and pull out a win and chalupas. Drayson Bowman posted two goals; saucy… A tumultuous relationship indeed. That’s like, it’s stressful and harmful to one’s health. Potentially. I ain’t a fucken doctor.

The boyos signed posters after the game. In shorts and jerseys and soccer slides. For some reason that look just makes me giggle. I think they would have looked way more fly in track suits. WHY DOES EVERY OTHER TEAM HAVE FRESH TRACK SUITS? And they also have fanciful buses that are decorated. Whatevs. I am a deeply superficial person.

The dudes were good sports signing a billion posters. Ulmer was going  too fast and messing it all up and a few yelled at him. B turned to me and said “they fight just like girls.” And  Bowman said “you don’t even know the half of it.” So I had to ask “do you guys like fight over flat irons?” I don’t remember his reply. He probably gave me a funny look. Since I ask stupid questions. Also, I told Jared Cowen to stop being injured. I rule at life.

Happy Birthday Ryan Letts. He was the only one wise enough to sign with a fine point sharpie.

More games and all that. Keep winning. Stop being lazy. Help your goalie. Kthxbai.

omg i’m so emo now…

Hey remember how I said I was hearing ugly things about Jared Cowen? Well this is from a Spokane Chiefs press release;

Spokane Chief defenseman Jared Cowen will have reconstructive surgery on his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season. Cowen suffered an MCL sprain and a high grade injury to his ACL after finishing a check in a 6-0 win over the Chilliwack Bruins on Friday, January 30th.

Cowen is expected to have surgery in the next three weeks. Rehab will be up to five months and he will be ready for the 2009-10 season.

The 17-year-old was ranked seventh overall by NHL’s Central Scouting for this summer’s Entry Draft for North American skaters.

Prior to the injury Cowen had never missed a game due to injury having played in 153 of 158 WHL games, including playoffs and Memorial Cup. Cowen missed four games in 2007-08 to play at the 2008 under-17 World Hockey Challenge and one this season while he was away at the Top Prospects game.

The Allan, Saskatchewan native led all WHL rookies last year with a +28 and this year had seven goals, 21 points and a +16 in 48 games.

That shriek you heard in the distance? Yeah that was me. Cow Cow brings such a presence to the team and he is a player you always know when he is on. The Chiefs have been battling long term injuries all season and this is one player I hoped would be healthy. Chiefs, let’s hold it together. Spurgalicious, sorry your babycakes is all hurty.

three the not so hard way.

I don’t like what I am hearing. Ugly, ugly things. I am hearing stuff about Jared Cowen being injured and I am really hoping isn’t true. Cow Cow, you are getting a big batch of cupcakes. The Jareds can’t be torn apart.

Also getting cupcakes? Drayson Bowman for his continuation of putting on The Drayson Bowman Show which goes something like, “sup baby? I am Drayson. Have you met my stick? I love scoring goals with it. Peace bitches.” So he was named Pizza Boy of the Week for the Dub. Bows? I am classic. I like a good pepperoni. Oh and breadsticks are always rad. I am weird, I like them with ranch. Awful I know.

Oh but I can’t leave off a certain netminder;

The WHL has also nominated Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award for the third straight week. Tokarski posted a 3-0-0-0 record with two shut-outs this past week, allowing just one goal on 82 shots for an outstanding 0.330 goals-against average and .988 save percentage.

Ow ow owwwww!

Was it coded in a cave? Oh the flash! My RETINAS ARE FUCKING SCORCHED. Anyways, read about the amazing Dustin Tokarski. He’s almost like Carmen Sandiego. Since he is everywhere. Gumshoes, we gotta find him…I think the trench coach and fedora will give him away.

The drayson bowman show.

Brady Calla/BroD/Brody Jenner. You are now in good graces. I know, it was super important to you. The Panel discussed it. We think you are alright. Even cupcake worthy. You shaved the neckbeard! Extra sprinkles.

Where do I begin with this game. As it was all sorts of delightful. The winning streak continues and Dustin Tokarski notches another shutout further sexifying his stats. Drayson Bowman nets a hat trick. He wanted points. And posted five for the evening. There were second period fighting shenanigans. The Chiefs are all about second period dramatics apparently. This post is short. But will soon perhaps be filled with some pics. Scoring summary style! Chiefs beatdown the bruins 6-0. Chalupas. Oh things at the game I didn’t enjoy; a potentially very injured Jared Cowen and a suspended Levko Koper.

Shenanigans afoot! I am the new Girl Saturday over on Puck the Media. Sweet posting action to follow soon. Maybeeeeee..

jared cow cow!

Wolfe: OK, let’s not beat around the bush, Jared. I have on good authority that you’ve got a soft spot for Destiny’s Child. Do your teammates know that their big, tough defenceman gets his groove on to Bootylicious?

Cowen: (Laughs) First of all, I don’t know who your source is because that’s not even close to the truth.

Wolfe: What if I told you it was one of your very close relatives, like your sister?

Jared Cowen; full of wit and charm, rest of the article here.

Click here for WHL rankings. Now look at number one…

And my post over at Pension Plan Puppets I wrote.