Bluenotes 3-23-11: Mother Russia Wants More Tank!
A daily dose of news and views from around St. Louis Blues Nation and the NHL abroad
- – -
Mother Russia Calls for Her TANK
According to reports, via Twitter, out of Russia (from Evgeny Belousov (@AliGoWeed) and RT’d by Alex Seren Rosso (@AlexSerenRosso)), Blues super prospect Vladimir Tarasnko is once again being called on by his homelands national squad. Given that the tweet says the “senior NT (national team)”, one would have to assume this means Tank will be with the big boys at the 2011 IIHF World Championships in Bratislava.
This will be Tarasenko’s third call up to Russia’s national program this season. First was for the Karjala Cup in Finland in late 2010. Second was the captain of the Gold Medal team at the World Junior Championships over the Holidays.
If he can’t make it over to start taking his North American beatings in the AHL while the Peoria Rivermen make their way to and through the playoffs, the World Championships are the next best thing. They also provide a realistic evaluation point for his level of play against NHL level opposition.
Blue Bleeders Aren’t Loyal
Link: Brand KeysLoyality Ranking
So how many of you have see this link and the “study” and “rankings” it lists? I’d imagine most have in some form or fashion.
Let’s just say I’m not impressed with a data when not provided any context or scope. Antipodally we all know this assertion to be false, but empirically speak? Well, we don’t know because the designer won’t tell us.
Would you want to drink something because you were told it was good for you, but not care what was in it? Not me. Then again… some folks drink 5 Hour Energy. Have they ever really said what’s in their drink. I’m not buying either this study or the drink.
More West Regional / Colorado College / Jaden Schwatrz Coverage
Link: BC vs. CC Preview Q&A
The SB Nation blog, BC Interruption, has posted a Q&A with Joe Paisley. A college hockey reporter for the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Tangent: Book mark Joe’s blog, Eye of the Tiger.
Here is what Blues fans need to know:
BCI: What is the strength of this year’s CC team? Who are the players that will cause the most problems for the BC defense on Friday?
JP: The overall team speed is an asset along with depth at forward. All four lines have shown an ability to score in different ways. Freshman Jaden Schwartz is as good as advertised. He has good vision, hands and savvy. He makes the guys around him better, especially the first power-play unit. Other players to look out for is Nick Dineen on face-offs, leading scorer Stephen Schultz and senior wing Tyler Johnson who looks to have healed from an earlier upper-body injury.
Kudos to the Portland Winterhawks
Link: Winterhawks Clinch the WHL U.S. Division title
Blues prospect Defenseman, and Portland Winterhawks captain, Brett Ponich may have been limited to just 45 games, but his team carried on without him.
The Winterhawks open the first round of the WHL playoffs against the Everett Silvertips this weekend.
Brett’s Junior career is now over and will most likely start the 2011-12 season with the Rivermen.
-
As always, you are invited to follow @618_STLBlues and @BlueNoteZone on Twitter and on the BlueNoteZone Facebook Fan Page for in game updates and Blues news.
