Duchene gets two gifts for Christmas

Hockey Hot stove - Stanley Cup, Scotty Morrison and Hodgson

BY Terrance Gavan

   “All I want for Christmas is my two linemates, one to feed and one to skate …

   “Gee if I only  had my two linemates… I could wish you a Merry Christmas.”

    Well Matthew Duchene, Haliburton’s Hurricane, got his wish this Christmas.

   First his Colorado Avs made a trade for Washington’s Tomas Fleischman, and then Milan Hejduk returned from injury.

   Both ended up on a line with Duchene.

   And the Avs, despite a couple of setbacks after a six game unbeaten string, seem to be finding some magic with the MTM connection.

   Duchene scored two goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to Detroit, the current NHL Western League leaders.

   The pair of goals has Duchene leading the Avs in scoring and is keeping the quick-handed center on a torrid point-per-game pace. The Hurricane has 36 points (15 goals and 21 assists) in 36 games. Hejduk has 11 goals and 21 assists and Fleischman has 9 goals and 12 assists. Duchene is also seeing lots of time on the power play.

   The Avs have lost three straight but hope to stop the bleeding tonight (Thursday) versus the Oilers in Edmonton. The Avs play a New Years Eve game against Calgary and then return to the Pepsi Centre for a crucial Northwest Division game against the Sundin travelling road show also known as the Vancouver Canucks.

   Duchene earned Avalanche Play of the Week honors for the third time in four weeks, this time for his overtime heroics against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 17.
   Duchene's overtime winner against Ottawa – garnering a boffo 58 percent -  topped the fan balloting for goal of the week.

   Meanwhile, I sense some Haliburton Highlands input while perusing the NHLs list of All-Star balloting.

   Duchene is a write-in candidate and has 14,492 votes. I have no idea about the rules, but I’m thinking that fans would have to get very busy on the net in order to pump Dutchy’s  numbers to Sidney Crosby, (523,822), Jonathan Toews (308,192), Evgeni Malkin (289,878) or Steven Stamkos (269,917) numbers.

   Maybe next year.

Hodgson timetable still way up in the clouds

   In spite of a facial injury that keeps the high-flying Haliburton cottager grounded, Cody Hodgson is still the top goal getter for the AHLs Manitoba Moose.

   Hodgson has 10 goals and six assists in 24 games this season, and the team is anticipating a return to action without surgery on the orbital bone, but that return to the dance is still being monitored.

   It’s frustrating for Winnipeg fans who have been watching young guns “drop like flies” according to Winnipeg Free Press writer Tim Campbell.

   “Teammates can’t believe their bad luck. Fans will no doubt be feeling shortchanged. The Vancouver Canucks will be more than disappointed about more interruptions to the development of young prospects.

Young Manitoba Moose stars Cody Hodgson and Jordan Schroeder are likely lost to the team for six weeks, give or take.”

   So not an ideal Christmas for young Hodgson. Still anticipating a call-up to the Canucks this year. Maybe the playoffs?

Hot Stove and Stanley Cup here for Winterfest in February

   Hockey Night in Haliburton Star-studded Panel Announced on the Winterfest 2011 senior games website.

   The Winterfest 2011 Games Organizing Committee announces last week that Haliburton Hockey legends will be partaking in an open-panel discussion at the Northern Lights Theatre on Wednesday February 16th, 2011.

   Confirmed hockey legends include Scotty Morrision, Walt McKechnie, Glen Sharpley and many more still to be announced.

   Also present that evening will be the Stanley Cup as well as a “very special guest” who is arguably the face of Canadian hockey.

   I’m guessing Don Cherry, but stay tuned.

   The Gav will sniff it out by next week.