2011 WJHC - Reality hits

Team USA's Justin Faulk - Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Now that the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships are fully underway with teams playing at least two games in group play, the reality of what this competition is truly about is evident - the future of NHL hockey looks bright. Even during a tournament year that has not been touted as 'star-studded', the performances put forward by the current rosters of players is exceptional. What is also apparent, as it is each year, is the disparity that still exists between the 'haves' and have nots' in IIHF U-20 competition.

Slow beginnings lead to accelerated pace and intensity

Both the 2010 defending champion Team USA and silver medalist Team Canada began the tournament with hard-grinding wins against Finland (3-2) and Russia (6-3) respectively while bronze medalist Team Sweden jumped right out of the gate with a dominating 7-1 win over Norway. However, Team USA punished Team Slovakia with a 6-1 drubbing on the ice and on the scoreboard. Team Canada matched that performance with a similarly-played physical performance against Team Czech Republic with a solid 7-2 win. On the other side, Team Sweden played Team Russia to a conservative, but physical 2-0 win to keep pace in the win column.

Hit parade is showcased

For WJHC veteran fans and followers, it comes as no surprise that perennial medalists Team Canada and Team Sweden are playing well while Team USA and Team Finland are matching their performances. The placement of these teams at opposite ends of the brackets in group play will bode well for an exciting medal round of play. What has become evident over the past few days is that the intensity level of play has increased and resulted in the true colors emerging from each participating nations' players; along with some cuts, blood and bruises. Many teams are playing with modified lineups as a result of injuries and suspensions to players for imparting hard impacts on their opponents - most notably Team Canada's Zack Kassian and Team Slovakia's Martin Marincin.

 
Borderline hits

Aside from the debates that have ensued regarding Kassian's hit on Petr Senkerik (Czech Republic) and whether it was clean or not, to Marancin's take-out of Jason Zucker (Team USA) from behind, the IIHF has been steadfast in maintaining a record of assessing heavy penalties on the ice and subsequent suspensions. As the medal round approaches, all coaching staffs will need to balance how their players' intensity levels stay in line following their quest to win the gold medal while ensuring that they all make it in one piece.

"Enough already"

Aside from the action on the ice, the other big news comes from fans and players' apparent dislike of the host city, Buffalo, NY. For whatever reason, much has been said about this to the point that the IIHF's Director of Communications, Szymon Szemberg, let it be known on the IIHF blog on Thursday: "Enough already". A great read for everyone involved: fans, players, coaches, administrators, and the media.

Big props to Buffalo on its presence as a true hockey city as per Szymon.


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2011 WJHC - The puck has dropped

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Play is underway at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo, NY as the opening game of the tournament saw Nino Niederreiter led Switzerland to a 4-3 win over Team Germany. Team Canada battled Team Russia to a 6-3 win while Team Sweden handily took care of Team Norway 7-1.

Team USA took on a pesky Team Finland and finished with a 3-2 win in its first game in defending its title on Sunday.

Team USA 3,Team Finland 2

Game Notes: Team USA vs. Team Finland

2011 WJHC - Team USA and Team Canada face off on opposite ends of bracket


Carolina Hurricanes fans - one-stop watching

Carolina Hurricanes fans got a special opportunity to watch all of their team's prospects during the USA/Finland match-up. All four players - Brian Dumoulin (USA), Justin Faulk (USA), Rasmus Rissanen (Finland), Tommi Kivisto (Finland) - are defensemen and provide a look at the future of the the Hurricanes blue line corps. As the Carolina offensive corps has grown in depth, so too will the defensive roster. The WJHC provide the opportunity for these players to compete in a high-profile tournament while trying to win a gold medal for their country and gaining valuable experience to further their development.

2011 WJHC: Carolina Hurricanes prospects battle in Team USA win over Finland

Quality of play

Play so far has not disappointed as games have been fast, hard hitting, and providing fans more than enough excitement to cheer for. As the tournament progresses each team's goaltenders will become the focal of each game as they will make the difference in their respective teams' success. Soft goals will end a team's chances of getting to the medal round very quickly.

NHL prospect watch at the WJHC

Anaheim: 

Sami Vatanen - D, Finland
Igor Bobkov - G, Russia
Kyle Palmieri - F, USA
Emerson Etem - F, USA

Atlanta:

Fredrik Petersson-Wentzel - G, Sweden
Carl Klingberg - F, Sweden

Boston:

NA

Buffalo:

Zack Kassian - F, Canada
Marcus Foligno - F, Canada

Calgary:

Joni Ortio - G, Finland
Tim Erixon - D, Sweden
John Ramage - D, USA

Carolina:

Tommi Kivisto - D, Finland
Rasmus Rissanen - D, Finland
Brian Dumoulin - D, USA
Justin Faulk - D, USA

Chicago:

Dylan Olsen - D, Canada
Mirko Hofflin - F, Germany
Nick Leddy - D, USA
Jeremy Morin - F, USA

Colorado:

Tyson Barrie - D, Canada
Sami Aittokallio - G, Finland

Columbus:

Ryan Johansen - F, Canada
Petr Straka - F, Czech Rep.

Dallas:

John Klingberg - D, Sweden
Jack Campbell - G, USA

Detroit:

Andrej Nestrasil - F, Czech Rep.
Teemu Pulkinnen - F, Finland
Calle Jarnkrok - F, Sweden
Mitch Callahan - F, USA

Edmonton:

Olivier Roy - G, Canada
Curtis Hamilton - F, Canada
Toni Rajala - F, Finland
Martin Marincin - D, Slovakia
Anton Lander - F, Sweden

Florida:

Erik Gudbranson - D, Canada
Quinton Howden - F, Canada
Joonas Donskoi - F, Finland
Nick Bjugstad - F, USA

Los Angeles:

Brayden Schenn - F, Canada
Maxim Kitsyn - F, Russia
Derek Forbort - D, USA

Minnesota:

Erik Haula - F, Finland
Johan Larsson - F, Sweden
Jason Zucker - F, USA

Montreal:

Louis Leblanc - F, Canada
Joonas Nattinen - F, Finland

Nashville:

Ryan Ellis - D, Canada
Patrick Cehlin - F, Sweden

New Jersey:

Jon Merrill - D, USA

NY Islanders:

Calvin de Haan - D, Canada
Casey Cizikas - F, Canada
Nino Niederreiter - F, Switzerland
Brock Nelson - F, USA

NY Rangers:

Roman Horak - F, Czech Rep.
Jasper Fasth - F, Sweden
Ryan Bourque - F, USA
Chris Kreider - F, USA

Ottawa:

Jared Cowen - D, Canada
Robin Lehner - G, Sweden

Philadelphia:

NA

Phoenix:

Mark Visentin - G, Canada
Oscar Lindberg - F, Sweden
Chris Brown - F, USA

Pittsburgh:

Simon Despres - D, Canada
Tom Kuhnhackel - F, Germany

San Jose:

Konrad Abeltshauser - D, Germany
Charlie Coyle - F, USA

St.Louis:

Jaden Schwartz - F, Canada
Vladimir Tarasenko - F, Russia
Sebastian Wannstrom - F, Sweden

Tampa Bay:

Carter Ashton - F, Canada
Brett Connolly - F, Canada
Adam Janosik - D, Slovakia
Richard Panik - F, Slovakia

Toronto:

Sondre Olden - F, Norway
Jerry D'Amigo - F, USA

Vancouver:

NA

Washington:

Cody Eakin - F, Canada
Philipp Grabauer - G, Germany
Dmitri Orlov - D, Russia
Yevgeni Kuznetsov - F, Russia
Patrick Wey - D, USA
 

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2011 WJHC - Watching the stars of the future

The Christmas holiday season not only provides college football fans the opportunity to watch college football bowl games with future NFL stars playing, but hockey fans are treated to great hockey and to bear witness to future National Hockey League stars in action while competing for their countries. Team USA enters this year's World Junior Hockey Championships (WJHC) tournament as defending champions and tournament hosts as the competition takes place in Buffalo, NY. NHL draft-eligible prospects and draftees travel from around the world, representing the top 10 countries in the U-20 division of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), to play for the coveted gold medal.

WJHC is a hidden gem to watch

Just as many will either watch or DVR their favorite teams' NCAA college football bowl games to watch, many sports fans also have the opportunity to watch the future of the NHL taking to the ice at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships (WJHC). Team USA is defending the gold medal that it earned by beating the previous and consecutive five-time champion Team Canada in last year's overtime thriller in Saskatoon, SK. While Team Canada should never be counted out to play for the gold medal, one must also consider the Swedes, Russians and Fins to contend seriously for a medal each year at this tournament.

With so much on the line for the players and coaches, it is understandable how overwhelming it can be for fans to keep track of so many high profile players competing against one another at the same time and all in one location. Most NHL teams' faithful only begin to recognize these young stars when they are drafted and/or 'make it', but similar to college football, it is great to look back and remember when you first watched them play at this elite level of competition. This is an event not to be missed by veteran or new hockey fans alike.

Where to watch

The NHL Network provides the best programming for the WJHC in the United States and also relies on the great coverage that TSN provides in carrying coverage in Canada while also providing a feed for countries around the world. If you are in the area, catching the games live at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY or Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, NY, will provide a live game experience and excitement unmatched in viewing junior-level hockey players as they prepare to make the jump to the NHL. Otherwise, if you don't have time to watch it live or on television, follow reports here online and/or through these trusted outlets for the best coverage of the tournament.

Watch pre-tournament play online via TSN.ca

NHL Network television schedule

Watch USA Hockey's online coverage at FastHockey.com

Up next: Team previews (coming Dec. 25) - Merry Christmas

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2011 WJHC schedule

Video: Team USA prepares for World Juniors

Follow the Raleigh Sports Examiner's coverage of the WJHC

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NHL All-Star Weekend in Raleigh - taking it all in

As it is only over a month away from the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend that will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina,  Former NHLer Brendan Shanahan and current NHL Vice President of Hockey and Business Operations, has taken a great approach to putting together a fun event: ask others for their thoughts and try it out. With the biggest change introduced to this year's event being the selection of each team by two selected captains, Shanahan has taken in all thoughts from those participating in the event.

"We're going to have 42 All-Stars who are selected for the game and what we're going to do is reach out to them and they're going to select two captains," Shanahan said. "And on the Friday night before the game at 8 o'clock, we're going to have a live draft on Versus where those two captains will be sitting in a room with the other players in front of them. They're going to flip a coin (to see who drafts first). They'll be flanked by two (alternate) captains up on stage with them, so those six guys will have 36 players out in the audience to draft from."

It seems that 'Shanny's' approach and infusion of new ideas will make for an exciting set of events in Raleigh in late January. We can't wait to all be a part of it.

Note to Shanny

Here's a suggestion for a slightly more exciting team selection process:

Instead of sitting in a room, imagine the selected team captains standing at the center ice circle at the RBC Center with fans in attendance, and with a spotlight on all the 42 selected players' sticks, labeled with their names, piled up and ready to be selected 'shinny style'. Shanny is standing with the captains and flips the coin to determine who picks first. Winner throws the first stick towards his end, then the other does the same. The process continues until both teams are fully selected.

Music blaring, lights go on and practice takes place in front of a packed house at both ends. Game on. What a great Friday night event.

Just imagine it for a second.

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More details: NHL Wide Open
Carolina Hurricanes: All-Star Fan Fair
Carolina Hurricanes: All-Star 5 K Run
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Let the Raleigh Sports Examiner be your guide to 2011 NHL All-Star Week in Raleigh:
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Email with your questions today for personalized advice on where to stay, eat, and have a great time in Raleigh
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NHL All-Star Weekend in Raleigh - update to be announced Wednesday

Updated news and information regarding the City of Raleigh, North Carolina and activities related to NHL All-Star Weekend will be announced at the Winterfest Outdoor Rink located in City Plaza on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday.

According to a local news report, the mayor and local leaders working with the NHL will announce a number of activities that will be taking place from Jan. 27 -30 for all hockey fans in North Carolina including a "wide-open" event that will take place during the weekend. Raleigh is known for its Raleigh Wide Open events programming that usually includes a number of local and nationally-known high profile events, activities and performers that entertain the local community.

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Hockey Night in Canada and the United States

Any true hockey fan knows that the gold standard of NHL hockey broadcasts is Hockey Night in Canada.

A great Canadian franchise to be admired by all fans

Having grown up watching this show every Saturday night and now having the opportunity to watch and listen to the best analysis and insight in the game from Raleigh brings great joy to me every weekend. What better source exists for Canadian expats and hockey fans in the US and around the world to get their fill of Coach's Corner with Ron MacLean and Don Cherry or the HotStove with Mike Milbury, Pierre Lebrun, and the selected third media personality willing to sustain the intensity of each segment's discussion. The internet has provided the platform for this great Canadian franchise to be shared by everyone, and with much more content and perspectives on the game than was ever possible years ago.

HNIC will be coming to Raleigh

With the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend and Game coming to Raleigh, North Carolina from January 27-30, HNIC will be there along with all major sports networks and this should excite local hockey fans. When else will the royalty of NHL hockey broadcasting be in the City of Oaks? Only if and when the Hurricanes return to the Stanley Cup Finals, particularly when facing a Canadian team.

If you haven't had the chance to watch what HNIC has to offer, tune in now and get to know what to expect to see and hear when they are in town.

Watch Hockey Night in Canada in the US

Television:  Saturdays - NHL Network

Online: - Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) - Hockey Night in Canada

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Raleigh Sports Examiner's Column on Examiner.com
 
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Thanksgiving sports talk: Giving thanks for having so many choices

As the the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, it must be recognized that there is reason to appreciate how many choices we have to make. How many friends and family can we visit and reunite with at one time? How many shopping deals can be found on Black Friday? How many different sporting events take place during this special weekend of the year? When you really think about it, quite a few.

This then begs the question, how do you decide what to pay attention to? Here are a few methods to help you decide:

It's still football season - start watching basketball now

If  you are an NC State Wolfpack football fan, a bowl-eligible team at 8-3 overall will play for a spot in the ACC Championship game. The Wolfpack takes on the Maryland Terps in College Park, Maryland on Saturday. Follow the action on ESPN 2 or online on GameTracker (cbssports.com).

If you are a UNC (6-5) or Duke (3-8) football fan, Saturday's kick-off takes place at 3:30 pm in Wallace Wade Stadium, and watching this game will be a great pre-cursor for the basketball season. Tickets are still available online. If you don't want to weather this one in the cooler Carolina weather, catch it online on GameTracker (cbssports.com).

It's basketball season - start watching hockey too

The long and short of it so far in the Triangle is this:

The #1 Duke Blue Devils are 5-0 and recently beat Kansas State 82-68, captured the O'Reilly Auto Part CBE Classic, and coach Mike Krzyzewski earned his 800th career win. The Blue Devils beat Marquette 82-77 in the semi-final game before beating the Wildcats.

The #25 UNC Tar Heels (3-2) lost two straight road games to Minnesota (72-67) and Vanderbilt (72-65) in San Juan, Puerto Rico last weekend before coming home to beat UNC Asheville 80-69 on Tuesday. Next games for the Tar Heels are the College of Charleston (Sunday) and Illinois (Tuesday).

The unranked NC State Wolfpack (4-1) experienced some defensive lapses with its recent 82-67 loss to the #20 Georgetown Hoyas in the Charleston Classic, the first ranked opponent the team has faced season. The loss comes on the heels of two previous wins against East Carolina (85-65) and George Mason (78-65). Bright spots to watch each game are Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown. Watch them when you can.

Even if you are too excited about basketball season starting the Carolina Hurricanes have some good things going on. Have a look.

It's hockey season - don't forget about football and basketball season


The host of the 2011 NHL All-Star game, the Carolina Hurricanes, have made personnel moves recently to spark the team's performance after finishing 9-9-2 during the first quarter of the NHL season. It is still too soon to determine the effect of these changes in the locker room, but the theme for the entire season will be: how do you strengthen the defense while not spending any money?

A few exceptional young offensive prospects are developing in Charlotte providing for some great trade-bait to be offered later in the season. Some great deals may be made by mid-season. Wishful thinking? Maybe. However, like the old economy worked: if you don't want to spend money for something you want, you trade for it. If you are really curious about what/who I am talking about, email me.

The 'Canes are in Boston leading the Bruins 2-0 after two periods. Hopefully they hang on for the win (there's the reference to 'defense wins games'), and head to Washington for a rematch with the Capitals on Sunday. Ovechkin and his boys are 2-0 over the Hurricanes so far this season in Raleigh. Hopefully Staal, Skinner, and Ward will return the favor in the nation's capital.  

Stay tuned.

(Updated: The Hurricanes beat the Bruins 3-0 - great win as the defense held on to give Ward his first shutout of the season)

Hockey time in Raleigh - All-Star Game watch begins now

The NHL season is finally underway.

With college football entering the latter part of the season and college basketball getting underway, it will be a busy winter sports season coming up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tobacco Road is college basketball territory, but heading into January, NHL hockey will be vying for attention from this hotbed of sports fans who are as diverse as they come. Many transplants in the area are warming to what the Carolina Hurricanes are about, even if hockey is not 'their' sport.

Winning the Stanley Cup in 2006 definitely helped solidify the Caniac corps and added a few more while helping the organization to realize how loyal Raleigh sports fans are. The game experience at the RBC Center rivals any in the National Hockey League as the arena, its amenities and how the Hurricanes present the NHL game experience to its fans is one that can be truly be appreciated by old and new fans alike. With the team's AHL affiliate, formerly the Albany River Rats, moving to Charlotte and becoming the upgraded version of the former ECHL Charlotte Checkers, hockey fans in North Carolina now get even more access to high quality pro hockey to follow.

This season one will be a particularly special one as the Carolina Hurricanes are hosting the NHL All-Star game on January 30, 2011. For hockey fans in Raleigh, and there are many here, this will be a great time to see the royalty of hockey come to town. Downtown Raleigh will host All-Star Week activities building up to the game which will take place at the RBC Center, home of the Canes.

For those who have never been to the area, the Triangle area (Raleigh/Durham) comprising 8 counties has a population of approximately 1.7 million people, but does not seem that big or crowded at all in relative terms to other small metropolitan areas. Those who come to town will find lots of activity and good food, and not feel crowded at all. On top of that, be ready to do what most in the NHL may not be used to doing before a hockey game - tailgating. With so few tickets available, if any at all, the common hockey fan who is not a season-ticket holder or does not know the right people, it will be just as good to sit in the parking lot and watch the game on someone's big screen while imbibing on cold libations and pork sandwiches.

Get ready - hockey time in Raleigh is coming!!

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Let the Raleigh Sports Examiner be your guide to 2011 NHL All-Star Week in Raleigh:

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From kick-offs to face-offs - keeping track of it all

The month of September has flown by and has caught up with everyone who follows sport in some way. With so much going on in college football (NCAA investigations, suspensions, games, upsets) that includes the successes (NC State Wolfpack are 4-0) and the challenges (NCAA investigations at the University of North Carolina, University of Georgie, University of Tennessee, etc.) that many programs are facing, it is hard to keep track of it all.

Here is the latest:

Kick-offs

• 2010 ACC Football: NC State's Wilson and Irving named Players of the Week 
  
• Triangle Sports Roundup: Pack's Irving receives honor, former Blue Devil wins
  
•  NC State Wolfpack earns #23 ranking with 45-28 win over Georgia Tech

NCAA Violation 2010 - ongoing series by the Raleigh Sports Examiner 

• NCAA Violation 2010: UNC players Burney and Williams suspended by the NCAA

As the weather changes from the Summer season to the Fall season, it is now preseason time for NHL hockey, regular season time for college football, and postseason time for Major League Baseball, to name a few. However, do not overlook the fact that the NBA is going to start its preseason very soon with training camps underway and for golf fans, the Ryder Cup is upon us. Sports stats and news junkies must be jumping for joy.

How does one keep track of it all?

Get a Twitter account and follow your favorite sources of information: Online media sources allow up-to-date news get to media and sport professionals as well as to fans who are hungry for the latest news. What is news now, is old in a matter of seconds, minutes and hours - thank you Twitter. However, when it is time to push it out, the latest news can be sent out in a matter of seconds, minutes, and hours - thank you Twitter.

Follow: The Raleigh Sports Examiner on Twitter: pksport

Find and save the Facebook Fan page(s) of your sport information source(s): The power of Facebook networking (i.e. sharing) and spreading the word to your friends and colleagues is 'viral' as they say. Pass on a good thing and even point out a bad thing.

Save: The Facebook Page for the Raleigh Sports Examiner: Raleigh Sports Examiner

With so many outlets to choose and receive information from, personalizing your sources helps you to keep track of what you want to find and when you want to get it.

Now that you have read where it to find it, here are some of the latest tidbits for those who love sports with sticks (i.e. NHL hockey and Pro golf) that the Raleigh Sports Examiner has put together. It has been a busy month indeed. Stay connected as best you can because more will come.

Face-offs

• Carolina Hurricanes 2010-2011 season preview

Tee-offs  

• 2010 Ryder Cup: Captains' picks are the most exciting

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• Raleigh Sports Examiner staying active and healthy - Livestrong.com

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Alabama Crimson Tide and Tuscaloosa travel up Tobacco Road

With the NC State Wolfpack extending its early-season record to 3-0 with a hard-working win for Pack Nation at Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday over the the Cincinnati Bearcats, 30-19, the latest local big news surrounds the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide making a visit to Durham, North Carolina on Saturday. The Duke Blue Devils and their coach Dave Cutcliffe, an Alabama grad, host the Crimson Tide at Wallace Wade Stadium. Of note, Wallace Wade brought three national championships to Tuscaloosa, Alabama when he coached the Tide from 1923-1930.

All in all, Saturday's game is Duke's home game, but it will feel like you are in Tuscaloosa. There is a specific parking lot set aside for traveling Alabama fans to park their RV's in (with detailed rules) and many purchased Duke football season-ticket packages in order to ensure to get tickets for the game. Thus, Alabama fans are providing a great economic impact on the local economy. After Saturday's game, it will be interesting to see how much the remaining Duke home football tickets that were purchased will go for on Ebay or Craigslist. They may even give them away while they are in the stands - you never know.

In anticipation of a large crowd and more income-generation potential, the Duke athletic department installed additional seating in its end zone area below the scoreboard to support a bigger crowd. Not a bad idea when you consider local fans who didn't buy season tickets (because Alabama fans did) were still able to buy tickets to watch Alabama play Duke. When checking the Duke web site earlier this week, these end zone tickets were available for $75 apiece - the highest-priced ticket for any game being played in the Triangle this season. It will be surprising if these tickets do not all sell out.

After all, when do you get the chance to travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama by driving to Durham, North Carolina.

View: The last time Duke and Alabama played (duke.com)

Terry Fox has touched North Carolina

Knowing that you can become a part of something that is new and introducing others to it, is gratifying. In helping to operate the first Terry Fox Run held in North Carolina on Sunday, I was afforded the opportunity to be a part of something special. Oftentimes, opportunity can be sought and created, but it can also 'just happen'. Meeting fellow Canadian Sean Mitton, president and owner of the Canadian Expat Network, afforded me an opportunity to help be a part of introducing Terry Fox's legacy to North Carolina.

Do many people in North Carolina know who Terry Fox is? For the most part, only if they are Canadian. However, once the Terry Fox story is told and/or shown via You Tube, everyone 'gets it'. That in itself is gratifying, and now people in Raleigh have experienced what the Terry Fox Run is about.

As the morning fog cleared after some rain showers the night before, the sun was warm and tempered with a comfortably cool breeze that was present as Sean and I, and a few NC State students helped to prepare the registration area, refreshment area, and the 5K course around the NC State Centennial Campus. We expected a modest-size crowd for this first-time event in Raleigh. We ended up with an energetic group of Canadian expats and local students and runners who soaked up the energy present on a beautiful day in honor of a great Canadian.

The experience was enhanced with the presence of Terry's sister Judith Fox-Alder, International Director for the Terry Fox Foundation, who was there to support the event. Receiving her appreciation for putting such an event on was fulfilling to everyone involved particularly with it coming up to the 30th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope that Terry started. It turned out to be a great day for such an event.

On September 12, 2010, Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope reached Raleigh, North Carolina.

Terry Fox legacy extends into North Carolina

The first-ever Terry Fox Run will take place in North Carolina on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at NC State University's Centennial Campus. It will be the first time that I will be directly involved in helping to operate such an event and one that has a personal significance to me. Growing up in Canada, I was only ten years old when Terry Fox, a Canadian amputee runner who lost his leg to cancer began the 'Marathon of Hope' in 1980.

Terry vowed to raise awareness and funds for cancer research by running across Canada twenty-six miles at a time - a marathon a day. He inspired so many Canadians back then every day as news of his run and his appearance in towns and cities brought increasing interest and support. Terry ran 143 consecutive days and was two-thirds of the way across the country until it was discovered that cancer had spread to his lungs, cutting his 'Marathon of Hope' short. He was honored with the Order of Canada, the highest distinction of honor that a Canadian citizen is awarded with. His run and his life ended too soon, but his legacy endures and enters its 30th year.

The Terry Fox Run not only takes place in towns and cities across Canada every year, but they are now organized internationally in over 35 countries. It is an honor that Judith Fox-Alder, Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation, is in Raleigh to kick-off this event locally. Terry's legacy was honored last night after the Durham Bulls International League playoff game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) in Durham, NC. It was a great sight seeing Terry Fox running on the video screen on the 'Blue Monster' wall preceding a great fireworks display. It truly shows that support for such a great legacy can be shared and supported in many different places.

To learn more about Terry Fox, go to: www.terryfox.org

View Terry's story by ESPN (2008) 

Terry Fox is also the subject of an updated and upcoming ESPN 30 for 30 feature directed and produced by NBA star Steve Nash - Into the Wind.

Honoring courage and meeting great people

It is not everyday that you get the opportunity to meet people who make a difference and allow you to become energized about what they do, but about what you can do as well. I had the great honor of reaching down into my Canadian roots and meeting such individuals recently. In working with the Canadian Expat Network (a great site for Canadian news and content outside of Canada) and president Sean Mitton, the first-ever Terry Fox Run will be held in North Carolina on Sunday, September 12 at NC State University's Centennial Campus. It is an honor to be able to have a part in operating this first-time event, but the most gratifying part of it all has been in getting to meet some great people involved with it.

Judith Fox-Alder, Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation, is in Raleigh to help kick-off the Terry Fox Run in Raleigh. Through the hard work and efforts of Sean, Judith's trip to the area has allowed me to get the opportunity to meet a person who is working hard to carry on the legacy of a great Canadian and her brother, Terry Fox. In meeting Judi and watching how she maintains the ability to champion her brother's cause and managing the emotional impact of doing so every day, I witness the persona of someone who can truly take things in stride in managing a multi-million dollar foundation, and a busy family life.

In addition to meeting Judi, I also had the opportunity to meet Mark Demontis, a legally blind hockey player and founder of Courage Canada, an organization devoted to creating programs to teach visually-impaired individuals the skills of hockey. Mark has put together a truly great cause and program to maintain his love of hockey and share it with others who may not get the opportunity to do so. Mark will also be at the Terry Fox Run on Sunday as he is a strong supporter of the event and cause, as many are.

We'll all be there on Sunday, September 12, 2010 for the first-ever Terry Fox Run in Raleigh, NC on the NC State University Centennial Campus. Registration begins at 8 am and the non-competitive run/walk begins at 9 am.

College athletics administrators trying to beat everyone to the punch

Should it be surprising that there are so many issues surrounding college athletics programs today?

This is not a new problem, and it is one that is easier to get information about instantly and constantly than in the past. That is why you will see many more press conferences and interviews being held by athletics administrators around the country to break the news themselves.Silence in these situations is not advisable. University of North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour did just that on Wednesday. He beat everyone to punch and stated that "we will have some violations."

NCAA Violation 2010: What an NCAA violation looks like

Local blogs can stop hypothesizing if UNC will be cited for NCAA rules infractions. Baddour has stated that they will. Part of the fire has been doused, but there is still much more to fan the fire with. Some questions that many will be asking and have been talking about already:

• How bad will the violations and potential sanctions be?
• Will Butch Davis be fired?
• Will Dick Baddour retire?
• Will Chancellor Thorp step down?

The University of North Carolina athletics department is undergoing an NCAA investigation and a public-relations nightmare that it never would have expected considering its history as a successful academic and athletic institution. However, with the current situation that exists, has success at UNC come at the expense of a problem that existed previously and now it has finally been revealed? How far will the 'UNC family' allow its name to be disgraced? Many high-level administrators, board members, and political figures are now weighing in on the matter, so it is a serious matter.

High-level Division I athletics programs are comprised of many 'moving parts' and involve many individuals working hard to achieve success, but at what price? The problems being encountered at the University of North Carolina are not the first, will not be the last for any institution to endure, and begs the question, is this what happens everywhere else? Probably, but you can never be fully sure until the facts come out.

At least one thing is sure about the operation of collegiate athletics programs in an academic environment today, you learn something new everyday whether you like it or not.

Fall Sports season is underway

For the first time in what seems like forever, the temperature in the Raleigh-area dipped to below 60 degrees at night - what a relief. With as hot and humid as the summer has been, not having a much cooler temperature to deal with for the early part of September would have made me think that the Summer Sports season is still here.

College football kicks off

However, with the college football season kicking off this weekend, coupled with a low overnight temperature, it is now officially Fall Sports season. The NC State Wolfpack, Duke Blue Devils, and UNC Tar Heels all played their season-openers on Saturday. The Pack and Blue Devils won, but the Tar Heels didn't. However, in playing with 12 starters out of their line-up, the Heels almost pulled it off. With the  NCAA investigation going on in Chapel Hill, winning a few football games will be paramount to keeping spirits up for UNC fans this Fall.

Sat. Sept. 4 - results

NC State 41, Western Carolina, 7
Duke 41, Elon 24
LSU 30, UNC 24

Pros and Joes on the links

PGA Tour players are not the only ones who have something to contend for during this Fall season with the current race for the Fed Ex Cup play-offs taking place this weekend at the Deutsche Bank Classic at TPC Boston. Many local amateur golfers are preparing for their own club championships that will take place in the next month or so. Yours truly is going to take the plunge in joining the field at his local club with the goal of just making the top 10 in just under a month. Why write about it if you don't do it?  Future posts will highlight the intense workouts and range work that is involved in preparing for such a rigorous challenge.

PKSport on Livestrong.com

The Raleigh Sports Examiner moonlights to help sport and fitness enthusiasts improve their health and provides tips on how to stay active, motivated, and productive in their physical activity pursuits.

Sport and Fitness Tip of the Day:

Driver Loft and High Handicap

NCAA Violation 2010: Riddle for the day

When someone commits an infraction, it is up to someone else to investigate if the infraction occurred and then decide what the corresponding punishment for that infraction should be. How do you allow someone to investigate themselves to determine if an infraction occurred, and if it did, how do they punish themselves?

If this is confusing, then welcome to the new part of the NCAA investigation that is taking place at the University of North Carolina.

Read the all installments of NCAA Violation 2010 written to date:

Part 4A - NCAA Violation 2010: Report of academic infractions at UNC may add to current NCAA investigation
Part 3B - NCAA Violation 2010: No conflict of interest at UNC
Part 3A - NCAA Violation 2010: Rumors and talk of investigation conflict of interest at UNC
Part 2 - NCAA Violation 2010: NC Secretary of State to investigate sports agents conduct
Part 1 - NCAA Violation 2010: Investigations extend into North Carolina

It's been a long, hot summer

The summer in North Carolina has been the hottest on record and the heat and humidity continues as the upcoming Fall sports season approaches.

So much has happened since the last post here which presented wishful thinking that former Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette and goaltender Michael Leighton and the Philadelphia Flyers would win Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and force a Game 7 finale. Chicago's Patrick Kane doused that flame of thought as his low shot slid under Leighton's pad and ended the Black Hawks' 49-year Stanley Cup drought. Congratulations to the Hawks.

Since that time, here is what the Raleigh Sports Examiner has covered:

• Great World Cup events and games that featured a first-ever World Cup title for Spain in addition to other firsts for teams such as Greece, who not only scored their first-ever goals in World Cup competition, but also captured their first win as well. Team USA could not make it into the quarter-finals, but still provided an exciting come-from-behind effort against Slovenia in Group play and an energizing 1-0 win over Algeria to qualify for the knockout round.

• Impressive professional golf championship tournaments ended with first-time winners as Graeme McDowell won his first major, the U.S. Open Championship and Louis Oosthuizen captured his first as well, the Open Championship at St. Andrew's. America's golfing sweetheart, Paula Creamer, the Pink Panther, earned her first major championship while playing with a painful, rehabilitating thumb injury. Great character was shown by all three players in each of their major championship performances.

• Locally, the golf scene has been great for local golf alumni as Carl Pettersson (NC State) won the RBC Canadian Open Championship and joined former Pack teammate Tim Clark who captured his first PGA Tour win at the Players Championship in May. Pettersson and Clark joined Wake Forest alum Bill Haas who captured the Bob Hope Classic title back in January.

• In college sports, the Raleigh Sports examiner began an on-going series that will continue throughout the 2010-2011 season looking into the current and recent past of NCAA investigations and impacts they are having, and have had on college athletics programs throughout the country. The series is intended to educate readers about the NCAA, its athletes and administrators, and how college sports fans and media influence the operation and administration of college athletics in the United States.

• The first three segments in the series highlight the UNC Tar Heels football program which is undergoing an NCAA investigation that has made the beginning of the upcoming season a challenging one for administrators, coaches, and players to deal with in Chapel Hill. 

• Part I - NCAA Violation 2010: Investigations extend into North Carolina

• Part II - NCAA Violation 2010: NC Secretary of State to investigate sports agents conduct

• Part III - NCAA Violation 2010: Rumors and talk of investigation conflict of interest at UNC 

• Part III Follow-up - NCAA Violation 2010: No conflict of interest at UNC

As we head into the Fall season, follow the Raleigh Sports Examiner as the college football season is ready to kick of in the next few weeks as NC State, UNC, and Duke have all had their Meet the Team events. The Carolina Hurricanes have hit the ice "unofficially" and are preparing for training camp to begin in addition to activating plans for hosting the 2011NHL All-Star Game in January. More exciting sports stories to come.

What has been a hot summer will continue into a 'hot' year of sports in the Raleigh-area.

Enjoy it.

Is Lord Stanley's Cup ready to be sipped from?

The Philadelphia Flyers have their work cut out for them if they want to have any chance to drink from Lord Stanley's coveted silver chalice any time soon. Trailing the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final series, the Flyers need to improve upon their inconsistent performance in their recent 7-4 loss on Sunday. Giving up seven goals in a Stanley Cup Final series game is not exactly playing to the level of a champion.

Are they capable of pulling it off? Absolutely. However, coach Peter Laviolette must convince goaltender Michael Leighton to relax and make the first save and then emphasize to his defense to help out their goaltender in cleaning up rebounds and to push the puck forward. Though they trailed 5-2 at one point in Game 5, the Flyers still managed to score a few more to make it interesting. They possess the ability to score, but not if they are on defense all night.

Look for the Flyers to win Game 6 and extend this series to a seventh and deciding game to be played in Chicago. Hockey fans will be in for a treat and will watch the Stanley Cup awarded to the last team standing in this epic battle of young superstars and role players. At the end of it all, the NHL and its players will have made a tremendous mark on the sporting landscape with such a dramatic and exciting finish to the season that will have fans coming back for more.

We are truly watching good old time hockey in the new era.