Sports scene feeling more optimistic vibes

Marie-Philip Poulin in action in November of 2018.

Marie-Philip Poulin delivered those tingly feel-good feelings to Canada.

On Tuesday night, Poulin roofed home the overtime winner to the top right corner of the United States goal to power Canada to a 3-2 comeback victory in the gold medal game of the Women’s World Hockey Championship Tournament. The win marked the first time Canada (7-0) won gold at worlds dating back to 2012.

The United States (5-2) had captured the gold medal the last five times worlds were contested.

When worlds were last held in 2019, Canada won a bronze medal.

Worlds weren’t contested in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Poulin has a history of coming through in big moments in Canada. She scored the gold medal game winning goal for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., and the gold medal overtime winning goal for Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

In Tuesday’s gold medal game at worlds, the United States took a 2-0 in the first period with forward Alex Carpenter netting both tallies.

Brooklin Fry and the Prince Albert Northern Bears are going again

Canada tied things up at 2-2 in the second as forwards Brianne Jenner and Jamie Lee Rattray netting singles.

That set the stage for Poulin to net the winner in three-versus-three overtime. Her shot went in and out of the net so fast that her goal had to be confirmed by video review.

Ann-Renee Desbiens made 23 saves to pick up the win in goal for Canada. Nicole Hensley turned away 29 shots taking the setback in goal for the United States.

Tuesday’s clash at the Winsport Arena in Calgary, Alta., was played before a gathering of family members from both teams. The International Ice Hockey Federation had women’s worlds played in a bubble format without fans as part of the event’s protocols to deal with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The move allowed women’s worlds to get completed in 2021.

Actually, it feels like optimism is riding much higher in Canada’s sports scene than it did a year ago at this time. Unlike a year ago at this time, there are vaccines that are available to the public for COVID-19.

Due to the fact those vaccines exist, there is a bigger and realistic believe sports seasons will be played and national championships will be contested.

The Hilltops cherish their time on the field.

A year ago at this time, some in the sports scene tried to sell false hope that everything would be alright, but a back of the mind suspicion always existed that things would fall through.

One person who has noted the increased optimism is Jeff Willoughby, who is the head coach of the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA hockey team. The Bears held a prospects camp and a practice session for returning regulars on Sunday.

Willoughby spoke of the positive vibes to Lucas Punkari of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

“Even going back to last fall, the anticipation level is a lot higher,” said Willoughby to Punkari. “I think there is a little more optimism compared to last season, and it’s nice to be able to think ahead on things as we’re getting closer to normal and hopefully have a full season ahead.”

If you go by Saskatoon Hilltops practice in Saskatoon, the positive vibes are flowing like in pre-pandemic times. The players, coaches and staffers seem to be cherishing the opportunity to be involved in football a little bit more than in the past.

After the 2020 CJFL season was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hilltops have played their first two regular season games in 2021.

The Saskatoon Angels will play at a big tournament this weekend.

They are looking forward to hosting their home opener against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder on Saturday, September 11 at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The contest will be a battle between two teams with 2-0 records.

Excitement is running high at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex as the 2021 Rawlings Grand Slam Softball Championship begins there on Thursday and runs through to Sunday.  That event features nine men’s teams in the under-23 division and 10 teams in the men’s division from across Canada.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic is still going cause bumps and adjustments to the sport scene. With that said, there is a strong believe the games will be able to march on.

On that note, here are a few other observations from the sports scene.

• Morgan Willoughby was named an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA hockey team near the middle of August. She is a former Bears captain and a recent graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey team. Odds are high she will make big waves in the hockey coaching scene.

• 

  Jessica Vance in action for the Huskies on February 15, 2020.

  Jessica Vance’s name can be added to the list of athletes who likely didn’t know they were playing their final game before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. On February 15, 2020, Vance made 28 saves playing goal for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey team as they dropped a 1-0 decision in Game 2 of a Canada West quarter-final series to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at Merlis Belsher Place. The Thunderbirds swept the best-of-three series 2-0. Vance was the Huskies star goalie and was named the MVP of the Canada West Conference for the 2017-18 campaign. She has one season of U Sports eligibility remaining. The 2020-21 U Sports campaign was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vance kept progressing in her school studies and is now attending the University of Toronto to pursue her masters of physical therapy.
• On Tuesday night, Saskatoon Blades general manager Colin Priestner announced on Twitter long time Blades volunteer dressing room attendant Bobby Kirkness had passed away. Kirkness was battling stage 4 liver and pancreatic cancer. The Blades named their training camp tournament trophy after him in “The Kirkness Cup.” Kirkness was a true gem on the WHL circuit, and he will be missed by many.
• Back on August 18, the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets signed centre Cole Sillinger to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Blue Jackets picked Sillinger in the first round and 12 overall in the NHL Entry Draft held this past July via video conference call. If Sillinger doesn’t make the Blue Jackets, he would be returned to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers for his 18-year-old season. Last season, the Tigers loaned Sillinger to the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League. Sillinger had 24 goals, 22 assists and a plus-five rating in the plus-minus department in 31 games in Sioux Falls. He had 22 goals, 31 assists and a plus-19 rating in 48 games with the Tigers in 2019-20. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Sillinger crack the Blue Jackets roster this coming season.
• Yours truly is off to attend a big family wedding, so I am out of here for a short bit. See you all in about seven to 10 days.

 

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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