Here are the results from the MLS Expansion Priority Draft (in order of selection) between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers FC earlier today.
SuperDraft – Vancouver 1st overall, Portland 2nd overall
Expansion Draft – Portland 1st pick, Vancouver 2nd pick
Allocation Ranking – Vancouver occupy 1st spot, Portland occupy 2nd spot
Designated Player Ranking – Portland occupy 1st spot, Vancouver occupy 2nd spot
USSF D-2 Priority Ranking – Vancouver occupy 1st spot, Portland occupy 2nd spot
Discovery Ranking – Portland occupy 17th spot, Vancouver occupy 18th spot
Waiver/Re-entry Ranking – Vancouver occupy 17th spot, Portland occupy 18th spot
Lottery Ranking – Portland occupy 17th spot, Vancouver occupy 18th spot
After doing a great deal of research on each of these mechanisms in recent weeks, I think the Whitecaps should be very pleased with how the draft transpired today. There’s no doubt that the SuperDraft is the most valuable mechanism here, but I truly think that the Allocation ranking has more value than the Expansion Draft and similarly, I see the USSF D-2 priority as much more viable option than the DP priority. Check out my fourth and final feature on these mechanisms (with links to the previous ones), for more information on how these things work.
Melissa Tancredi is listed as "questionable" for Thursday's semifinal (Photo courtesy of Bob Frid, whitecapsfc.com)
Coming off her best performance of the season in last week’s Western Conference Final against Pali Blues, Whitecaps goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain will not be in the lineup when the ‘Caps battle Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in Thursday’s W-League semifinal. Where will she be? In Bescot, Walsall, England with the English women’s national team, as they host Turkey in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Chamberlain will join the Whitecaps in California on Friday, so she will be available for Saturday’s championship final if the team advances.
Striker Jodi-Ann Robinson, who was just named to the W-League All Western Conference team for the second consecutive year, will not be with the team either, due to “university commitments.” Team MVP, W-League All Western Conference team honouree, and league MVP candidate Melissa Tancredi is also listed as questionable for Thursday’s semifinal, due to family commitments in Southern Ontario. Neither player would be available for Saturday’s championship match.
Meanwhile, midfielder Monica Lam-Feist is listed as day-to-day and could suit up for the ‘Caps in Cali, while renowned Canadian international Kara Lang is “unlikely” to dress, according to Whitecaps head coach Hubert Busby Jr.
Finally, midfielder Sophie Schmidt will be arriving in Santa Clarita, California at 5 p.m. on Thursday for an 8 p.m. kick-off, so it will be interesting to see how Busby Jr. utilizes the W-League Western Conference all-star.
If the Whitecaps can somehow pull out a W on Thursday, they fully deserve to be W-League champions because these are all impact players we’re talking about. I guess it’s time for the young guns to shine.
As I reported in April, the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team is set to announce that Brampton Battalion assistant captain Brad Albert has committed to join the team this season. I’ve also learned that Halifax Mooseheads forward Linden Bahm will follow suit. Both players call Ottawa home, so joining the Ravens will be a homecoming of sorts for Albert and Bahm.
This comes after the team’s recent announcement of commitments from Red Deer Rebels winger Jordie Deagle, former Ottawa 67′s forward Stephen Blunden, and Rimouski Oceanic goaltender Matthew Dopud. Earlier this year, two Oshawa Generals in Jeff Hayes and Tyler Taylor also committed to join the club.
Clearly, the Ravens are stocking up to make a big run this year.
I recently exchanged a few emails with Adam Polasek, Vancouver’s fifth-round selection (145th overall) at last week’s NHL Entry Draft. Here are a couple quotes from the young Czech defenceman, along with some information I’ve gathered.
Polasek was watching the draft on the Internet, when his agent called from LA to congratulate him: “I was glad I am drafted. It was an unbelievable feeling and joy,” he said.
Dave Gagner called Polasek to inform him about next week’s prospects development camp in Vancouver, and I believe he will be attending.
Polasek interviewed with several NHL teams, and spoke to one of Vancouver’s scouts after a game this season. He says he was “very excited” after the interview.
After playing for Vitkovice in the Czech U20 league, and excelling at the U-18 World Championships, Polsaek moved to the QMJHL last season: “Leaving the Czech junior league was very important for me and my hockey life . [If I had stayed in the Czech Republic], the greatest hockey league I would not have made for the next season. The best solution for me was the CHL and I’m very satisfied.”
Last season, Polasek received a call from the Czech Hockey Federation, who informed him that he could play in the World Junior Championships only if he left PEI of the QMJHL and returned to his home country: “I don’t know why but I need the approval of my Czech team to play in the World Junior Championships. My team told me if I wanted to go I must sign a contract with them. It was a hard decision for me. The U20 World Junior Hockey Championships are a great experience and a big tournament, but my dream is higher and with Vancouver I’m closer.”
Polasek believes he has what it takes to make the team again next year, but says if the situation remains the same, he’ll skip the tournament again.
Polasek is currently 6’3″ and 206 pounds.
Photo courtesy of Canucks.com.
For those of you who haven’t had a chance to read my article on Canucks defenceman Chris Tanev, you can check it out on Canucks.com. Here are a few more quotes about Tanev I gathered while conducting interviews with the young defenceman and Canucks director of player development Dave Gagner.
“Then we started watching him. He still has the same head for the game, still very involved both offensively and defensively. He plays the full game but now he’s got a bigger package.” – Dave Gagner
“Well, he plays. He’s very sound defensively. He was always a smaller defenceman so he had to learn positioning properly. He always knows how to stay in line with his opponent to the net and he uses his stick very well. And offensively, he joins the rush quickly. He wants to be involved in the rush. He played a lot of inline hockey growing up and in a 4 on 4 game, everybody’s offence and everybody’s defence so I think his hockey sense really developed in that environment. He’s like Christian Ehrhoff in terms of style. I’m not saying he’s Christian Ehrhoff yet but you know what I mean, in terms of style.” – Dave Gagner on Tanev’s style of play.
“That’s totally open right now, to be honest. He’s a little older than some of our other guys in the prospects pool so he’s going to have a really good summer of getting stronger. We’ll see what happens. It’s kind of an open door for him right now. He’s got to just basically make sure that he’s really prepared.” – Dave Gagner on where Tanev might fit in next year and beyond.
“I think it did a little bit because I’ve known him for a while and it’s always nice to have someone on your side who is willing to do a little extra to help you.” – Chris Tanev on how his relationship with Gagner played into his decision to choose Vancouver.
“I’m definitely a puck-moving defenceman. I’m not that physical. I’d love to be as good as Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s like my idol. As far as defencemen go, he’s just the smartest player on the ice. I just think he’s the best player on the ice all the time.” – Chris Tanev on his playing style.
“It definitely helped positionally because I was always the smallest kid so if you’re not in good position, you get taken advantage of. And it also helped with motivation. I just wanted to try prove to everyone who said I couldn’t play that they were wrong.” – Chris Tanev on his size (or lack thereof) at a young age.
“It definitely helped my game a lot. I’d recommend it to a lot of younger kids. It definitely helped develop my skills a lot. It helps you with poise and control with the puck. It’s more of a control game, not just throw it away. So it definitely helped. 100 %.” – Chris Tanev on playing inline hockey growing up.
Also, co-director of sports information at RIT Joe Venniro informed me that Tanev went stretches of 16 and 12 straight games without being on the ice for even strength goals against this season.
