Team Canada Advances To Final

While Canada's popular U-20 Jr. Team takes on Slovakia in a meaningless game tommorow of which the goal is to avoid injuries, Canada's Spengler Cup team takes on Davos for the gold medal (Rogers Sportsnet, 11am MT, tape delayed).

While it isn't at the level of the NHL, and the reffing is often sub par (even for Euro refs), and the tournament is set up so Davos will win, you have to give it to the Team Canada guys that go over and play for the country every year. This year Hockey Canada put together about a star studded roster as is possible at this tournamet, including former Jr. Gold winners Justin Pogge (who has played quite well so far) and his backup Devan Dubnyk, Danny Syvret; fomer top prospects Krys Kolanos and Brandon Reid, and has hired Pat Quinn on to coach.

If you watched the game today you know that this group plays with as much passion and pride as any other group wearing the Maple Leaf, but often without the same level of support as other Canadian national teams. The games get just as heated as well - in the middle of the second period today Justin Pogge felt a Berlin Polar Bears player was taking too many liberties in his crease, so Pogge went off on him. An all out melee ensued after, something you don't see too often in European hockey.

Something I just found out today, veteran game caller Paul Romanuk (who I always enjoy) has a bit of a blog going about his experiences over in Switzerland during the tournament.

Good luck in the final boys, lets send Del Corto a message he can't refute!