Ovechkin Presented Ross and Richard Trophies

Yesterday in Pittsburgh, Alex Ovechkin was presented with the Art Ross Trophy, for most points, and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, for most goals in the 2007-08 season. Ovechkin scored 112 points and 65 goals during the season. It was reported that he was planning to have the trophies mounted to the front of his Ferrari, just kidding. He will have to make room on his mantle for 2 more trophies later this month as he is expected to win the MVP awards chosen by the hockey writers and by the players association.

Stanley Cup Finals Begin in Detroit

Tonight the Detroit Redwings and Pittsburgh Penguins begin the Stanley Cup Finals. The two teams will strive to etch their names on the most recognized trophy in sports (see former Captain Kirk there). The Wings were the best team in the regular season while the Pens have the best record in the post season. The series has been touted as experience vs. youth, but a look at the two roster shows a bit of each on both. It should be an interesting series, but in the end I think the puck possession style of the Redwings will stifle the Penguins system and the Pens have proven if they are forced off their game they will get frustrated. My pick (for what its worth) is Detroit in 5 games.

Capitals Sign Alzner

Here is the story from NHL.COM:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Karl Alzner to a three-year entry-level contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Alzner was the Capitals’ first-round choice, fifth overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Alzner, who will turn 20 on Sept. 24, recently completed his fourth season with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and was named the WHL Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year in 2007-08. He is a finalist for the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year, which will be announced at the CHL Awards Show Saturday night. The captain of the Hitmen, Alzner recorded 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists), a +26 rating and just 15 penalty minutes in 60 games in the regular season.

A two-time gold medalist at the IIHF World Junior Championship with Canada, Alzner captained the Canadian team in 2007-08 and was named one of the team’s top three players by the coaching staff. Alzner also represented Canada in the 2007 Canada/Russia Super Series and played for the WHL team in the 2006 Canada-Russia Challenge.

Alzner is rated as Washington’s top prospect by The Hockey News and Hockey’s Future. Those publications rank him as the NHL’s No. 9 and No. 12 prospect, respectively.

Alzner will attend Washington’s summer development camp, to be held July 7-12 at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va.

Karl Alzner
Position: Defense
Born: September 24, 1988 (Burnaby, British Columbia)
Height: 6’2” Weight: 209 Shoots: Left
Drafted: Capitals’ first-round choice, fifth overall, in the 2007 Entry Draft
Regular Season Playoffs
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003-04 Richmond PUHL 74 3 15 18 8 - - - - -
2004-05 Calgary WHL 66 0 10 10 19 12 0 3 3 9
2005-06 Calgary WHL 70 4 20 24 28 13 1 3 4 4
2006-07 Calgary WHL 63 8 39 47 32 18 1 12 13 4
Canada WJC 6 0 1 1 2 - - - - -
2007-08 Calgary WHL 60 7 29 36 15 16 2 6 8 4
Canada WJC 7 1 1 2 0 - - - - -

WHL East Second All-Star Team (2007) * WHL East First All-Star Team (2008) * WHL Player of the Year (2008) * WHL Defenseman of the Year (2008)

Capitals at the World Championships

Congratulations to Russia on winning the hockey World Championships. They defeated Canada 5-4 in overtime yesterday. Members of the Capitals taking home the gold medal included Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Sergei Fedorov. Mike Green got a silver with Canada, and Sami Lepisto got a bronze with Finland . Other Caps competing included Tomas Fleischmann with the Czech Republic, Nicklas Backstrom with Sweden and Cristobal Huet with France.

Here is their stats in the tournament:

	Player	Team	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	PIM	+/-	Shots	PPG
	Mike Green	Canada	9	4	8	12	6	+2	35	3
	Tomas Fleischmann	Czech Rep.	7	2	3	5	0	+6	21	0
	Sami Lepisto	Finland	7	1	1	2	10	+2	6	0
	Alex Ovechkin	Russia	9	6	6	12	8	+11	42	2
	Alexander Semin	Russia	9	6	7	13	8	+11	36	1
	Sergei Fedorov	Russia	9	5	7	12	8	+10	20	1
	Nicklas Backstrom	Sweden	9	3	4	7	4	+1	27	0

Player	Team	Games	Win	Loss	Tie	SOG	SVS	SV%	GA	GAA
Cristobal Huet	France	5	2	3	0	169	154	.911	15	3.60

Highlights from the World Championships

Here are some pretty good highlights from the World Championships: