Copied from Giants' website (Kane & Blum ready for WJC)

KANE & BLUM READY FOR WJC

Dave Sheldon - Vancouver Giants
with notes from TSN.ca and USA Hockey





VANCOUVER BC - Final tune-ups are complete for Team Canada and Team USA as they prepare for the World Junior Championships, beginning on Boxing Day in Ottawa, ONT.

Giants forward Evander Kane and TEAM CANADA found themselves fighting the terrible winter weather that has plagued the entire country. Arriving at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, ONT just 30 minutes before game time. Kane has yet to get in a practice with TEAM CANADA and was eased into the lineup as CANADA hammered Slovakia 7-0. Kane did not factor in the scoring but was commended by TSN commentator Pierre MacGuire for his ability to play at both ends of the ice.

Here is the report from tsn.ca:

Canada 7 - Slovakia 0



HODGSON, SPECIAL TEAMS LEAD CANADA TO PRE-COMPETITION ROUT
by Alan Adams

HAMILTON, ON - Canada's National Junior Team is on a roll as it heads to Ottawa for the 2009 World Junior Championship.

Cody Hodgson (Markham, ON/Brampton, OHL) had three assists - giving him nine points in three pre-competition games in helping pace the Canadians to a 7-0 over Slovakia on Tuesday night at Copps Coliseum.

John Tavares (Oakville, ON/Oshawa, OHL) and Zach Boychuk (Airdrie, AB/Lethbridge, WHL) each scored a pair of goals, while Jordan Eberle (Regina, SK/Regina, WHL), Patrice Cormier (Cap-Pelé, NB/Rimouski, QMJHL) and Jamie Benn (Victoria, BC/Kelowna, WHL) also found the scoresheet as Canada struck four times on the power play and once shorthanded in the win.

Chet Pickard (Winnipeg, MB/Tri-City, WHL) went the distance in goal for the 20-save shutout as Canada finished its pre-tournament schedule with an unblemished 3-0 record.

Canada is the four-time defending gold medalist and begins its latest title defence Friday versus the Czech Republic at Ottawa's SBP Arena (7:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m. PST). Canada is looking for its second run of five straight golds, it was world champion every year from 1993 to 1997.

Not surprisingly, it was the power play that gave Canada its opening goal, as Eberle converted the rebound of a Hodgson shot at the 7:30 mark of the opening frame.

Despite outshooting the Slovakians 41-20 overall it was the Europeans who held advantage in shots on goal in the first period, 12-9.

Tavares made it 2-0 on another Canadian power play early in the middle frame and Boychuk pushed the lead to three late in the period, taking a long pass from Alex Pietrangelo (King City, ON/Niagara, OHL) and beating Slovakian netminder Jaroslav Janus, who was under siege in the final 40 minutes, facing 32 shots.

Canada's special teams shone in the final 20 minutes, as Cormier converted shorthanded and Tavares and Boychuk added power play markers.

Tavares' goal was arguably the prettiest of the pre-competition, as the former lacrosse star batted the puck out of mid-air to himself, and then batted it past Janus for a 5-0 lead.

Ryan Ellis (Freelton, ON/Windsor, OHL), PK Subban (Toronto, ON/Belleville, OHL) and Tyler Ennis (Edmonton, AB/Medicine Hat, WHL) all finished with a pair of assists for Canada, who will travel to the nation?s capital Wednesday in preparation for Friday?s tournament opener.



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Captain Jonathon Blum of the Giants and TEAM USA wrapped up their preseason schedule this evening with a 5-1 win over RUSSIA in Kingston, ONT. USA HOCKEY has this report:

U.S. National Junior Team Tops Russia, 5-1, in Final Tune-Up Prior to 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship

December 23, 2008

KINGSTON, Ontario – Aaron Palushaj (Northville, Mich./University of Michigan) scored a natural hat trick to help the United States National Junior Team defeat Russia, 5-1, here tonight in its final tune-up prior to the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Team USA outshot Russia, 40-17, including by a 15-0 margin in the opening period.


Palushaj tallied the only goal of the first stanza at 16:06. He went from backhand to forehand in tight and spun from the goalline to beat Russian goalie Danila Alistratov on the shortside over his blocker. Team USA prevented Russia from registering a shot on goal in the period and held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.


Palushaj scored a power-play goal off a rebound at 4:32 of the middle frame, before scoring off a rush just :13 later to complete the natural hat trick and stake the U.S. to a 3-0 advantage. James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire) scored from just above the goal line at 16:53 to give Team USA a four-goal advantage after 40 minutes.


Russia scored a power-play goal off a deflection at 8:43 of the third to break the shutout. Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./Boston University) fired home a slapshot from the high slot at 17:12 to account for the 5-1 final.


U.S. netminder Thomas McCollum (Sanborn, N.Y.) made 16 saves to earn the victory.

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Team USA will open against GERMANY on December 26, game time on the NHL Network will be at 12:30 PST. Fans of Jon Blum will be able to watch that game live on THE NHL Network

TEAM CANADA will open against TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC on December 26, game time on TSN will be at 4 pm PST. Evander Kane will get his first taste of WJC action in this contest.

Don't forget that Giants forward Brendan Gallagher will also represent Canada this holiday season. Gallagher has been named to Team Pacific in the World U-17 Championships, being held in the Alberni Valley in BC over the Holiday season. You will be able to catch Gallagher in action versus TEAM RUSSIA on Dec 29th on SHAW TV...check your local listings for game times in your area.


Giants players and staffr eturn to the Lower Mainland for a practice on Boxing Day evening, 7pm at the Ladner Leisure Centre. Vancouver begins their second half of the season on December 27th versus the Prince George Cougars.

On behalf of everyone in the Vancouver Giants organization, have a Merry Christmas as well as a safe and happy holiday season.