Big (Sports) Day Downtown!
So I was honoured to be chosen to participate in this year’s installment of the Downtown Halifax Busniess Commission’s Big Day Downtown. I had just gotten my blog off the ground last year when they held this promotion, so I wasn’t necessarily ready to take part.
Now one year later, with the new name installed, Highly Touted was ready.
I wanted to follow this years’s theme, which was “Try Something New“, but also keep my day relevant to the nature of the blog, aka sports. I thought long and hard about how I could accomplish that and have some cool experiences along the way.
Sheppard Shipped to Sharks
Nova Scotia’s own James Sheppard will find himself with a new organization when he returns to hockey. Sheppard has not played for the Minnesota Wild since suffering a knee injury in an incident with all-terrain vehicle. A change of scenery may be a blessing for Sheppard who has not lived up to his ninth overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. I believe there may have also been some hard feelings following the accident that led to the current injury.
via The Star Tribune
Sheppard, 24, was suspended all of last season after breaking his left kneecap in an all-terrain vehicle accident. Sheppard, a restricted free agent drafted ninth overall in 2006, had his qualifying offer expire when he didn’t sign a new contract by the July 15 deadline.
However, it’s believed the trade was on hold because just before that Sheppard underwent a second operation on his knee. Sheppard is not expected to be ready in time for training camp.
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Sheppard, who was rushed to the NHL from Cape Breton at age 19, scored 11 goals and 49 points in 224 games for the Wild. Of the seven players taken in 2006 by the Wild, only Cal Clutterbuck and Kyle Medvec are still in the system.
Mooseheads Announce Red and Green Teams
The Halifax Mooseheads announced today the 41 players expected to be at their training camp starting Wednesday, August 17th at Cole Harbour Place. GM Cam Russell also indicated there could be changes to these rosters. The players will participate in on-ice and off-ice training during the morning sessions from 10am to Noon, followed by the annual red and green games each night from August 17th to 19th from 7-9pm.
All fans are welcome to attend the red and green intrasquad games. A donation to Special Olympics Halifax is appreciated at the door.
Below are the rosters, subject to change, of the Red and Green teams.
Mooseheads Invited to 2012 NHL Draft Camp
Martin Frk and Andrew Ryan will get their first taste of what it’s like to be top tier draft prospects next month.
The two will join an impressive list of prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft at the NHL’s Research, Development and Orientation Camp, to be held Aug. 16-17. The camp will give NHL general managers and scouts a initial look at some of the players that might being their farm systems nest year.
Players invited to the camp were selected by NHL Central Scouting based on their early observations on those likely to rank high in their upcoming scouting reports for the next draft.
Dan Byslma, head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Dave Tippett head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, along with NHL Hockey Operations staff will lead the players over the course of two days as they test a number of proposed rules changes, rink markings and strategies.
This once in a lifetime opportunity mean that Frk and Ryan will miss the opening of their Junior team’s training camp. The Mooseheads are scheduled to open their training camp on August 16th.
IT’S OFFICIAL! NATHAN MACKINNON IS A MOOSEHEAD
Halifax Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell officially announced today the acquisition of the rights to Nathan MacKinnon, selected 1st overall in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
In exchange for MacKinnon the Mooseheads traded Carl Gelinas, Francis Turbide and three first round picks (HFX 2012 & 2013; QUE 2013).
“We are extremely pleased to add another talented young player to our team,” stated Russell. “The Mooseheads organization and our fans are excited to welcome Nathan home to Halifax.”
Details of this trade were made public today after approval came from the Commissioner.
“The fact that Nathan MacKinnon will play for a team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League next year is fantastic news for our league,” said QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau. “Due to exceptional circumstances, the League has given the organizations the right to unveil the details of the trade prior to the opening of the trade period on August 1st.”
Highly Touted 