Former Referee Tim Peel, new hockey insider?

This just came in. Former referee Tim Peel tweeted this. True? Could be. Guess we will find out shortly. 

Crazy times to be an Oilers fan this year. 

One thing this Oilers team doesn’t have

Accountably. 

I’ve been waiting for someone on this hockey club to stand up and be accountable this year. Nobody has. Not one. 

Character drives a team. The great leaders like Messier didn’t put up with nonsense. If he was terrible, he owned it. He wasn’t afraid to step up to a microphone and admit when he could be better. He was also never afraid to let the boys have it if they weren’t pulling their weight. I know players like McDavid, well this isn’t their strong suit. But right now, it would be a good time to have him or Draisaitl or Nurse or whomever, step up, own what’s going on and rectify some of the damage that’s been done. 

Coach Tippett came out and said that goalie Mikko Koskinen wasn’t very good last game. Let’s be honest, he was horrible. Justified words from the coach? Yes, it was. However, Koskinen had his own reply. 

”It’s not nice being thrown under the bus. I have to be better but at the same time we scored 7 goals in my last 6 losses. I can’t score goals.” 

Shots fired. 

While I’ll agree with Koskinen on his observation, he should have just owned his own failures. That’s more respectable than saying what he said. 

As of right now the leaders on the current Oilers are McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse, Nugent-Hopkins and Keith. Tippett has said Keith finds himself more comfortable on the team and in recent weeks he’s become more of a leader in the dressing room and on the bench. Awesome. However, public accountability goes a long way to ease the pain the Oilers fans are currently feeling. Would we feel better if McDavid said, “I haven’t been playing to the level I know I can play. I know I can be better. I know as the captain it’s my job to help carry this team to get out of this slump. I called a players only meeting and we are going to sort this out.” At least if this was said, we would all be a little less pissed off right now. 

Speaking of players only meetings. It’s about time one is called. I figured when they went on the first skid that one would have been called then. But alas, there wasn’t that we know of. 

So what now? 

Smith is back and will start tonight vs the Leafs. McDavid, Ryan and Barrie are out and have been placed in Covid protocol. Nugent-Hopkins is still out as well. 

Tonight will be a tough game, and even more so without these 4 guys. 

🔁 #Oilers roster moves 🔁

🔸McDavid, Ryan & Barrie have been placed in COVID protocol

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 5, 2022

What possibly caused the WJHC to be cancelled? I would hate to be these people

The power of social media is crazy. Soon after the IIHF cancelled the World Junior Hockey Championship, reports started to surface about why this could be happening. 

The Covid cases didn’t come from Edmonton. They came from Red Deer at the Cambridge hotel where the affected teams were staying. 

Major fail for the hotel and the IIHF if this actually happened. From how most understood it, the teams were supposed to be in a contained bubble. Apparently this didn’t happen. 

More to come on this story I’m sure. 

The World Juniors Cancelled?

Confirmed the remainder of the #WJC will be cancelled. Disappointing for all those involved who did everything possible to play the games. Feel for players, coaches, managers, trainers, families and all the behind the scenes people who make it happen. Was fun doing PBP.

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) December 29, 2021

News is starting to filter out that the possibility of the World Junior Championships will be cancelled. It’s a shame, I know. 

The Americans already had to forfeit their game vs Switzerland and now today, Czechia became the second team to forfeit vs Finland. 

The IIHF is going to meet later today to discuss the options for the remainder of the tournament.

I'm hearing IIHF tournament directorate is expected to meet today to discuss the future of this World Juniors. I believe cancellation of the remainder of the tournament is on the table, but nothing decided yet.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2021

 

They have already mandated that the on ice officials will have to wear a mask for the games. How does blowing a whistle work with a mask on? Won’t there be a delay from the time they pull it down to blow the whistle and then doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the mask? How can they skate as quick as they do with a hindrance like a mask covering their mouths and breathing in already harmful carbon dioxide? Seems a bit ludicrous to me. 

On the flip side of things, Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett discussed how he wasn’t sick or had any symptoms while being placed in the NHL Covid protocol. He also said he spoke to all the players that were affected, and none of them were sick either. So the question is, what exactly are we doing? Why are the players being sent to protocol if they are asymptomatic? Is the same happening with the World Junior teams? 

If Quebec is now allowing Doctors and Nurses to continue working while testing positive for Covid, why are we shutting down when everything appears to be fine? Doesn’t make sense, does it? Not at all. 

So with all this, we all hope the tournament isn’t cancelled as the Canadian team has had some great stories so far. 

Owen Power is going to be a future star in the NHL. He’s already a stud. Connor Bedard had a 4 point game as a 16 year old and we haven’t seen that since some kid wore 99 and broke records like crazy in the NHL. If this tournament does indeed continue, there will be more great stories that still need to be written. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from Oilers Jambalaya! 

Wishing nothing but the best for you and your family this holiday season. 

GOILERS!