The Pride Of Krasnoyarsk

Besides being Siberia's third largest city (behind Novosibirsk and Omsk, of course), Krasnoyarsk happens to be Alex Semin's hometown, and a city that couldn't be more proud of its native son's recent IIHF Championship win.

Krasnoyarsk Mayor (Petr Pimashkov) and Krasnoyarsk Krai Governor (Alexander Khloponin) honored Semin at a State Awards ceremony earlier today, presenting the Caps/Team Russia winger with "a golden map of the Krasnoyarsk Territory decorated with diamonds," and "a golden coat of arms" (which presumably looks like this), among other gifts.

The only catch? Apparently Semin had to wear one of the Governor's suits to the ceremony:

We kid - Congrats, Alex.

Click here for more pics (including one of Sasha boozin') and quotes from the ceremony, and here for a totally random pic of him that I stumbled upon recently.

Gold

Photo: Pavel Lysenkov

Band Of Hockey Brothers?

If you've got a few minutes, check out Jonathon Jackson's recounting of the life and times of Pat McReavy (picture). McReavy played just 55 NHL games (and 104 for the Hershey Bears) back in the late 1930s/early 1940s and had his name misspelled on the Stanley Cup, but that's hardly the most interesting thing about his hockey career.

Here's how Jackson's piece opens:

The storm clouds on the horizon were metaphorical, but the young man from Owen Sound could sense them as he played hockey on the outdoor rinks of Europe.

Until the day he died Pat McReavy remembered the fear he felt touring the continent in the late winter and early spring of 1938.

I think someone needs to pitch this story to Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, pronto.

On To The Finals For Russia

Alex Semin celebrates Sergei Fedorov's game-winning goal,
on which both he and Alex Ovechkin assisted.

Caps Winning, Scoring In Bushels At Worlds

Today's quarterfinal action at the Worlds was fast and furious, and for the Caps contingent, quite fruitful. Highlights from the four games include:

* Sami Lepisto scored the overtime game-winning goal to bounce the Americans from the tourney.

* Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Sergei Fedorov each scored in Russia's 6-0 route of Switzerland.

* Nicklas Backstrom had a helper in Sweden's win over the Czech Republic.

* Mike Green had a pair of assists in Canada's romp over Norway.

The Caps now have five of the tournament's top 25 scorers (PDF), and with Russia/Finland and Sweden/Canada set for the semis, all six of the Caps named above are still flying high.

That's Using Your Head, Sami!

And that's using your predictable title, JP!

Anyway, head over to FanHouse to read about (and click the embedded link to see) Canada's Shane Doan play one off one defenseman's stick, off Sami Lepisto's head, off the crossbar... nothing but net. Oy.

Capital Connection Leads Russia To Victory

Alexander Semin tied the game at one, Sergei Fedorov tied it at two and Alex Ovechkin won the game with six ticks left in the third period.

Sounds like a pretty sweet Caps game... or a huge win for Russia in Group E play at the World Championships.

Thanks to Kyle for passing along the following clip of AO's game-winner, and be sure to check out the still that follows - three Caps are in the picture, but the third ain't Fedorov.

Varlamov's Worlds Over Before They Began

As Tarik told you a couple of days ago, Simeon Varlamov has been ruled out of the World Championships with a small tear in an ankle ligament. In case you didn't believe him, here's a picture of Varlamov on crutches before he headed back to Russia (thanks to SovSport's Dmitry Chesnokov for passing along Pavel Lysenkov's photo), and be sure to check back later for a couple more Russian hockey goodies:

Photo by Pavel Lysenkov

Green Scores A Beauty In Canadian Romp

By request, here's a link to TSN.ca's highlight package from today's Canada/Latvia "game"; Mike Green's gorgeous goal (shades of Colorado back in '06) leads things off.

Said Green of his highlight-reel tally, ''I just had to skate by that last guy and had a bit of a half-breakaway."

Green, about 208 feet from where he deposited his goal.
Update: Green's goal is the second in the package below.

The Eagle And The Chicken

I'll leave it up to you to decide which is the more intimidating bird (hint: not the chicken), but Cristobal Huet will be wearing both at the World Championships. Unfortunately for Huet, he's also be playing behind this group of clowns, a D-corps that allowed 48 shots against (four got by Cristo) in their loss... to Switzerland.

Noted Huet, "This was probably the toughest game for me all season. I haven’t faced that many shots all year."

And it won't get any easier, either - next up for Les Bleus, Nicklas Backstrom and Sweden.

Where Have You Gone, Tommy Salo?

Unfortunately for Glen Hanlon and Belarus, Mikael Tellqvist is no Tommy Salo.

Tellqvist didn't waste any saves today in Sweden's 6-5 win over Belarus (Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and a helper and led all Swedish forwards in ice time), and by virtue of the near-upset, provided sports shows and blogs the opportunity to show, yet again, one of the great moments in Olympic hockey history:

Italy Goes To Hell

Gunther Hell, that is. He was Italy's #2 netminder tonight and was forced into action after starter Thomas Tragust got lit up by Alex Semin and the Russians to the tune of six goals in two periods.

On the night, the "Capital Connection" line of Semin, Sergei Fedorov (wearing #29 for a reason that I still haven't heard) and Alex Ovechkin combined for three goals, two assists and a plus-nine rating in Russia's 7-1 romp, with Semin leading the way with 2-1-4 of those totals.

UPDATE: Apparently the last time Fedorov played for Russia (CCCP back then) at the Worlds in 1990 he wore #29. So there you go (thanks, Dmitry).

There's Been A Jakub Klepis Sighting

There he is, second from the right, standing next to some curly redhead. Not surprisingly, Klepis was scoreless in the Czech Republic's 5-2 win (though he did lead the team in shots on goal with six). The redhead had an assist and was plus-3.

Mon Dieu!

The Caps may not have the best group of blueliners in the world, but check out the smiley group of guys Cristobal Huet will be playing behind at the World Championships (don't they teach 'em the Mike Green scowl in France?):


I'm so getting a Simon Lacroix jersey... once he does.

Backstrom To Play At Worlds, Nylander Iffy

I hadn't seen it elsewhere, but buried in this article is news that "super rookie" Nicklas Backstrom will play for Sweden at the World Championship in Halifax and Quebec City which begin early next month, and that teammate Michael Nylander may join him. FYI.

IIHF Worlds Widget - Style And Substance

Check out this widget from WashingtonCaps.com that will automatically update with all the latest from Vogs and the OFB boys' trip to Russia for the World Championships:



I'll bump this post to keep it on the front page throughout the tourney, and if you're a blogger go ahead and grab the widget for yourself - it couldn't be easier.

Originally posted 5/4/07 at 8:48 p.m. and subsequently bumped up.

Setting The Record Straight

The Vancouver Province decried "Ovechkin Suspended for Headhunting." The Winnipeg Sun header was "Ovechkin Gets One Game For High Hit." The Barrie Examiner's title read "Ovechkin Gets 1-Game Suspension."

Not only were the three headlines discussing the same incident, they were all titling the same exact AP article. Interesting how in an NHL city, AO's labelled a headhunter, while in a small town, he's just a guy who got a one-game suspension.

As for the hit that led to the suspension, here it is:



Now, I've been accused of being an Ovechkin apologist before, but this hit certainly didn't look dirty to me. The Swiss Miss had the puck, had his head down, and AO, standing flat-footed caught him with his shoulder, not an elbow. Two minutes for roughing? Perhaps. Two and ten? It is international hockey, so if those are the rules, those are the rules. But a suspension? Get real - last I checked, hockey was a contact sport.

Regardless, Ovechkin is starting to gain a reputation as a questionable hitter, and undeservedly so. In two NHL seasons, Ovechkin has been credited with 356 hits and exactly one major penalty for a bad hit. I haven't done the research, but I'm willing to wager there aren't too many other forwards with that many hits and that good a "clean hit" ratio.

But when newspaper editors (who no doubt never even saw the hit) in NHL cities are calling him a headhunter, it's certainly not a good thing, and, unfortunately, it's something with which he's going to have to deal going forward.

U.S., Russia Cruise At Worlds

In Day One action over in Moscow Russia pounded Denmark, 9-1 (Alex Ovechkin, with a goal and an assist, was named the Player of the Game) and the U.S. beat up on Austria, 6-2 (Team USA Captain Chris Clark had a goal, Brian Pothier an assist). Elsewhere, the Czech Republic crushed Belarus, 8-2 (Jiri Novotny was held off the score sheet for the Czechs) and Finland shutout the Ukraine, 5-0.

Read much more on the tourney over at Mike Vogel's blog throughout the fortnight.

Meanwhile, In Moscow...

How badass is this guy?

H/t to Russian for the link