I’m guessing it’s because of the holidays but the NHL’s YouTube video channel didn’t break up last week’s highlights into best saves/goals/hits but there is a video of the best plays of the week.  My favorite is the play where Pavel Datsyuk is stopped by Dan Ellis.  Check out all of last week’s goodies:

Willie O’Ree, was honored yesterday with the Order of Canada, our nation’s highest civilian award.  This is a very prestigious moment for the first black NHL player as the award recognizes lifetimes of achievement and service "in various fields of human endeavor." 

Governor General Michaelle Jean said that, because he acted as a pioneer within hockey combined with his continued efforts to promote the sport to young minorities across North America, he was being honored.

He was drafted by the Boston Bruins and played his first game, against the Montreal Canadiens back in January 1958.

Congratulations, Willie, on a well-deserved award!

image: Newscom

The St. Louis Blues will likely be without left wing, Paul Kariya, for the rest of the season due to hip injuries that will require surgery.  Kariya remained optimistic that the injury would not end his career: ”I’m confident that when it’s taken care of, I’ll get to 100 per cent.”

The 34-year-old player had been out of the lineup since getting injured on November 5, 2008 in a game against the Anaheim Ducks but had been skating with the team until he experienced discomfort during a workout on Friday. 

Kariya is in the second season of a US$18-million, three-year contract.

After just being reactivated for one whole game, New York Islanders goaltender, Rick DiPietro, is on the injured list AGAIN!  I don’t know about you but, if I were Isles management, I would be pretty stressed about having signed this guy for 15 years and have him be on his couch more than on the ice.

What’s wrong now, you ask?  A brand new groin strain.  Seriously?  Okay, so he’s had surgery on his hip in March 2008, on both his right and left knees since June 2008 and now he’s having groin issues.  Of course, he’s had other problems in the past too.  I’m just talking about 2008.  Wow…

Taylor Pyatt has been placed on the injured reserved for an indefinite amount of time after the Vancouver Canucks winger broke his foot during a game against the Edmonton Oilers (Canucks lost) last Friday.  The injury most likely took place after he took a slap shot to the right skate.

Pyatt has four goals and six assists so far this season in 36 games.

A freak eye injury has landed Matt Stajan on the IR list.  The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was hit in the eye with a soccer ball (see?  I knew soccer was more dangerous than hockey!) during a practice on Saturday.  Stajan suffered from blurry vision and it was determined that he suffered a hyphema in his right eye and will have to rest for one to two weeks.  It’s too bad that this happened when it did because Stajan has been on fire lately posting 6 points in his last 4 contests. 

images: TSN

The hockey world was rocked when 19-year-old New York Rangers draft pick, Alexei Cherepanov suddenly died after collapsing during a game in Russia this past October.  Thousands attended his funeral while many people wondered what could have happened to the promising young star.  I first noticed him during the World Junior Championship in January where he helped Russia defeat the Americans (Team Canada ended up winning gold, though) so I was shocked to learn that he had passed away.

I knew there was an investigation going on which revealed that he suffered from myocarditis (not enough blood gets to the heart and, technically, should have meant he couldn’t play hockey) but now it’s been announced that Cherepanov’s blood and urine samples contained performance-enhancing drugs.  Further, tests indicate that the rising star had been doping for months.  I’m surprised and saddened by this new development.

So, the kid had a career-ending heart condition, was taking performance-enhancing drugs and, 12 minutes after he collapsed, doctors finally arrived with a non-functioning defibrillator (battery was drained).  What the heck? 

Prosecutors are accusing the hockey club of negligence and, well, I have to agree.  Something is definitely wrong here…

image: TSN

Have you seen the MasterCard commercial featuring the hockey “pep talk” in the locker room?  It’s hilarious but also so, so true.  Sometimes you can say everything a player needs to hear without ever saying a word…

I’ve been off-duty for the last couple days enjoying the turkey-fest at my home but here’s an update on what’s happened so far in the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.

PRELIMINARIES

December 26

• Latvia 1 – Russia 4 – Ottawa Civic Centre
• Germany 2 – USA 8 – SBP Arena
• Finland 1 – Sweden 3 – Ottawa Civic Centre
• Canada 8 – Czech Republic 1 – SBP Arena

December 27

• Slovakia 7 – Latvia 2 – Ottawa Civic Centre
• Kazakhstan 2 – Germany 9 – SBP Arena

December 28

• Russia 5 – Finland 2 – Ottawa Civic Centre
• Kazakhstan 0 – Canada 15 – SBP Arena
• Sweden 3 – Slovakia 1 – Ottawa Civic Centre
• USA 4 – Czech Republic 3

image: TSN

Just a reminder for everyone – today the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship officially begins.  With the preliminaries behind us, the real action starts today.  The overwhelming favorite for the gold medal is Team Canada.  Since the games are being hosted in Ottawa, Ontario, our nation’s capital, I have to admit it would be pretty amazing to see Team Canada bring home the gold.

For more information about which games are going to be played each day, check out the World Junior Championship game schedule.

image: TSN

The NHL goals of the week kick off with a breakaway goal from center ice when Kyle Turris (Phoenix Coyotes) beats goalie Dan Ellis (Nashville Predators) and end with that crazy goal by Carolina Hurricanes defenceman, Joe Corvo, who gets knocked down only to get up and weave his way all the way to the net where he slips the puck right past Tomas Vokoun (Florida Panthers).

Here are the top 10 saves in the NHL from last week.  My favorites were of Mike Smith (Tampa Bay Lightning) shutting down the Colorado Avalanche, Jaroslav Halak (Montreal Canadiens) denying Scotty Walker (Carolina Avalanche) and Andrew Raycroft (Colorado Avalanche) shocking the heck out of Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings).

Okay, what the heck is up with the top hits from last week?  The first three all involve members of the Calgary Flames (including hard-hitter, Dion Phaneuf) getting flattened!  Then the second to last clip is, again, of Flame getting absolutely smeared near the boards. 

Anyway, here are the hits from last week: