[Tiger Fan]

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5
The World Cup of Hockey quarterfinals are all set after the European Group finished it's schedule. The Czech's doubled Sweden 4-2 while Germany upset Finland 5-3 in the final round robin game. Despite the win Germany still finishes fourth in the group while Sweden and Finland tie for second, a point back of the Czechs.

The quarterfinal matchups are as follows

Czech Republic vs Germany
Sweden vs Finland
Slovakia vs Russia
United States vs Canada


Meanwhile in Guelph I invite one more free agent to camp. Shane Baxter is a 17 year old right winger with good wheels. He may just have the talent to make the team.

I also give my scouts their first assignments. The two best at recognizing current ability in players are both assigned to scout our league, the OHL. I assign the others to start looking at young prospects for next year's OHL draft.


In NHL news both Montreal and Toronto have made offers to free agent winger Ziggy Palffy. Palffy is presently playing for his native Slovakia in the World Cup and has a goal and 2 assists in 3 games. Injuries limited him to 35 games with the LA Kings last season.


MONDAY SEPTEMBER 6
Following the morning scrimmage I make my first cut. Goaltender Dave Woods, who had a 6.00 gaa and a save percentage of .875 was returned to the Niagara Falls Canucks of the Golden Horseshoe Junior B loop. The 16 year old clearly is not ready for this level of play.

Cutting him gets me down to 4 goalies which is a little easier to manage.

In World Cup quarterfinal action Pavel Kubina scored twice as the Czech's blanked Germany 4-0. Tomorrow night Sweden-Finland and Russia-Slovakia games will be contested with the USA-Canada quarterfinal set for Wednesday.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7 am

In NHL news Paul Kariya signed a 3 year deal with the Ottawa Senators. Meanwhile Eric Lindros is rumoured to be close to landing in San Jose with the Sharks.

Closer to home the London Knights may lose defenseman Bryan Rodney. The 20 year old signed a deal with the Buffalo Sabres and may end up in Rochester this season. Meanwhile we lost 3 players to NHL camps, at least for the time being. Ryan Pottruff was a 7th round pick of Carolina in June and will attend the Hurricanes camp. Goalie Danny Taylor also went in the 7th round to the Los Angeles Kings while Ryan Callahan was a 4th round selection of the Rangers. I expect all 3 to be returned to us in the next couple of weeks as none are ready for NHL duty.