Interview with Bruins 2008 1st round pick Joe Colborne
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 8, 2010 3:50 PM EST
in Stanley Cup of Chowder Exclusives
5 comments
(Photo Credit: Andre Ringuette / Getty Images)
The Boston Bruins' first round pick in 2008, Joe Colborne is in his sophomore season at the University of Denver. The 6'5", 210lb forward ranks third in both goals (12) and points (28) for the #2 ranked Denver Pioneers. The 20 year-old Calgary, Alberta native has added about 20 pounds of muscle since being drafted 16th overall by the Bruins in the summer of '08, has worked hard to improve his overall game, and is a key contributor to one of the best teams in college hockey. I recently had the opportunity to ask Joe a few questions about his progress and life at the University of Denver.
How would you describe your game? Some have compared your style of play to Joe Thornton. Do think that is a fair comparison?
I certainly look up to guys like Joe Thornton, Vinny Lecavalier and Ryan Getzlaf and try to emulate parts of their games, but I don't think I deserve to be compared to any of them yet.
What aspect of your game do you think you need to improve to make the jump to the NHL?
Just about everything. I am continually working on all aspects of my game including my strength, speed and quickness, my shot, stickhandling and physical play.
What went into your decision to play college hockey instead of going the major junior route?
Personally, the college route made more sense because I needed to get stronger and bigger in order to make the jump to professional hockey. Playing in fewer games has allowed me to workout more regularly and has helped me achieve some of the goals that I have set out for myself.
Some have described you as a "pass first" playmaker. You currently rank third on your team in both shots and goals. Have you made a conscious effort to look for your shot more this season?
I feel comfortable as both a shooter and passer, and although I may be a "pass first" player, I feel much more confident in my shot this year thanks to more strength, and I have been shooting more regularly this year.
You participated in the Bruins Development Camp this past summer. What was that experience like? What did you take away from that experience?
Camp this past summer was a great learning experience. I feel like I came away from the camp a better player from the ice times and workouts, as well as attaining a much higher level of confidence and comfort from getting to know the people within the Bruins organization.
Have you had much interaction with any of the Bruins' current players? What have they told about what it is like playing for the Bruins?
I got to spend some time with Blake Wheeler during the Development Camp two summers ago. Last summer I also got the chance to work out with a number of the Bruins players that had stayed in Boston. It was a great experience for me to see the hard work and professionalism they bring to the rink every day.
Has Peter Chiarelli or anyone in the Bruins organization expressed to you their expectations for you and how they think you will fit into the organization's plans for the future?
I believe that the Bruins drafted me to be a top forward in the organization and I understand the expectations of being in that type of role.
Have you had a chance to see much of Boston? What are your impressions of the city and Bruins fans?
I have been to Boston a number of times and love the city. There is a ton of history and so many things to do. One of my favorite aspects of the city is how passionate the fans are for their sports.
Denver is currently ranked #2 in the nation. Is there a buzz around campus about this team?
We have a very good team this year and there has been a high level of media attention surrounding our team. It has been very exciting and I look forward to a strong finish.
Some critics say that players wearing cages in college hockey has led to a sense of invincibility and reckless play. Do you think college hockey should switch to half-shields?
I used a half-shield in Juniors and am a definite fan of them. In college I have come to realize that while cages may protect some facial injuries, they can also cause other injuries stemming from players grabbing onto the cage and twisting. I strongly support changing to half shields.
The WCHA covers a wide geographic area. What is the trip to Alaska-Anchorage like?
In a word - cold. But it was not as different as you would expect. When our team was in Anchorage, we were completely focused on winning the two games, so we did not stray far from the hotel or rink.
Trying to balance playing Division 1 college hockey with your school work and college life must be difficult. What is a typical day like for you?
On Monday and Wednesdays, we workout at 7 am. Classes then begin at 8 am and usually you have about 4 hours of class in a day. Practice begins about 3:30 and goes until 5:30.
(Photo Credit: Clarkson & Associates/NCAA Photos)
Thanks to Joe Colborne for taking the time answer my questions. I also need to thank Jason Plank from Fear The Fin and Erich Bacher, Director of Media Relations for the University of Denver's Athletic Department for their roles in making this interview happen.
5 comments | 0 recs |
Bruins snap 10-game losing streak, shutout Habs 3-0
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 8, 2010 1:01 AM EST
in Game Recaps
2 comments
The Bruins avoided their longest losing streak since the 1924-'25 season and snapped a 10-game skid as Tuukka Rask (36 saves) and the B's shutout the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 at the Bell Centre on Sunday afternoon. Marco Sturm led the way offensively for the Bruins with 2 goals, while Adam McQuaid recorded his first NHL goal and Patrice Bergeron chipped in with 2 assists.
Adam McQuaid's first NHL goal staked the Bruins to a 1-0 lead with 2:28 remaining in the first period. Marc Savard set up behind the net and fed a pass out to McQuaid at the point. McQuaid took a slap shot in the direction of the net, which deflected in off the stick of Ryan White in front of Jaroslav Halak's net.
The Bruins added a second goal before the end of the first period with under 4 second left on the clock on a goal from Marco Sturm, finishing off a play that he started. Marco Sturm gained possession of the puck behind the net and send a diagonal pass to Zdeno Chara at the left point. Chara ripped a shot and Sturm pounced on the rebound for his team-leading 17th goal of the season.
Marco Sturm added another insurance goal midway through the third period when his shot from the slot deflected off Josh Georges and past Jaroslav Halak.
Notes:
- Blake Wheeler recorded his first NHL fighting major...if you want to call it that. I give him props for fighting his own battle and throwing off his visored helmet before the bout, though.
- The Bruins did not record a shot on goal in the second period until 15:37 of the period when Steve Begin registered a shot. The Bruins were outshot 15-3 in the second period.
- Adam McQuaid admitted during an interview with NESN's Naoko Funayama that his shot was intended to be a slap pass for a tip-in. The Bruins could use a little puck luck this days.
- Andrew Ference returned to the lineup today after being out with a groin injury.
- David Krejci left the game with an undisclosed injury in the first period. Fluto Shinzawa is reporting that he appeared to be favoring his right leg and is considered questionable for Tuesday's game against Buffalo.
- It looks like most of the players will get the day off tomorrow with only a limited number of players expected to be on the ice in Buffalo.
- The shutout was Rask's 4th of his career and 3rd of the season.
- The Bruins scored 3 or more goals for the first time in 9 games.
2 comments | 0 recs |
Public Skate: Bruins @ Montreal Canadiens
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 7, 2010 2:30 PM EST
in Public Skate (open threads)
57 comments
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
3:00
NESN
98.5 FM "The Sports Hub"
SB Nation's Habs Blog: Habs Eyes on The Prize
Watch the game and discuss it with other B's fans. Remember to always skate in a counter-clockwise direction and no rough-housing. Have at it, Chowdah Heads, Puckheads, and Hockey Krishnas!
57 comments | 0 recs |
Boychuk out until after Olympics with fractured orbital bone
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 7, 2010 2:28 PM EST
1 comment
Defenseman Johnny Boychuk will be out until after the Olympic break with a fractured orbital bone. Boychuk was struck in the face by a shot from Mikael Samuelsson during the first period of the Bruins' 3-2 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The injury will not require surgery as it is a non-displaced fracture, but will put the blueliner on the shelf for 7-10 days according to John Bishop of BostonBruins.com. I would guess that Boychuk will probably be wearing a visor or some sort of face protection for a while after he returns to the lineup.
While the injury looked pretty gruesome, Boychuk has to feel fortunate that things didn't turn out worse.
"Our doctors were talking about a quarter of an inch the other way would have made it much, much worse. With that shot, you've got to consider yourself lucky."
- Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien
1 comment | 0 recs |
Bruins take their futility north of the border
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 7, 2010 12:26 PM EST
in Game Previews
1 comment
The team that has been heading south is heading north to take on the Montreal Canadiens. When the Bruins take the ice at the Bell Centre against the Habs at 3:00, they will try to snap a 10-game losing streak and avoid tying the longest losing streak in franchise history that dates back to the 1924-'25 season. Despite a growing list of injuries that are mounting for the Canadiens, Montreal is riding a 3-game win streak and coming off a 5-3 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
Know Your Enemy
Montreal Canadiens (28-25-6)
Head Coach: Jacques Martin
SB Nation's Canadiens Blog: Habs Eyes on The Prize
Leading Goal Scorer:
Leading Healthy Goal Scorer:
Goaltending:
Injury Report
Boston: Andrew Ference (probable; groin), Johnny Boychuk (out; head), Mark Stuart (out; finger)
Montreal: Sergei Kostitsyn (questionable; ankle), Benoit Pouliot (doubtful; undisclosed injury), Paul Mara (out; upper body), Marc-Andre Bergeron (out; undisclosed), Mike Cammalleri (out; knee), Oliver Fortier (out; shoulder), Andrei Kostitsyn (out; knee)
Notes:
- Claude Julien indicated that there was a good possibility that Andrew Ference could return to the lineup today after missing time with a groin injury. The defenseman skated during the pregame skate before yesterday's game, but was scratched from the lineup.
- The Habs recently called up 3 players from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.
- In typical Habs fan fashion, Robert from Habs Eyes on The Prize is talking about the past.
- Your useless stat of the day: Bruins are 11-4-2 on Sunday Bowl Sunday (H/T to NESN's Naoko Funayama for that one)
- The Bruins are 0-1-2 vs. Montreal this year.
- There was no morning skate today, so we will not know about lines or starting goalies until game time. I would guess that they would go with Tim Thomas today since they played yesterday and Rask has had the last two starts. I would kind of like to see Julien stick with Rask, though. He has played well the last two games and I would like to see how he responds to playing on back-to-back days with the atmosphere in Montreal.
- The game starts at 3:00 with the Public Skate (open thread) starting right here at 2:30.
Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Habs Fan YouTube Video
That was shot after the #1 seed Montreal Canadiens beat the #8 seed Boston Bruins in 2008...Act like you have been there before.
1 comment | 0 recs |
Bruins blow 2-goal lead; drop 10th straight
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 6, 2010 4:48 PM EST
in Game Recaps
7 comments
Get a 2 goal lead early, out-shoot your opponent by a large margin, blow the lead, go to the shootout, lose, rinse, and repeat.
It was that same old story for the Bruins today as they lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden to extend their losing streak to 10 games.
Tanner Glass was sent off for cross-checking 38 seconds into the game to give the Bruins an early power play opportunity. The B's were able to move the puck well on the man-advantage and it paid off with a goal from Zdeno Chara 1:56 into the game. Marc Savard sent a pass down low to Marco Strum on the goal line on the right wing, before threading a pass to Chara who was driving to the net on the off-wing. The goal was Chara's 5th of the season.
The Bruins made it 2-0 with another power play goal at 14:20 of the first period. Rumored trade-bait Michael Ryder stationed himself in front of the Vancouver goal and re-directed Marc Savard's shot from the high slot past Roberto Luongo for his 13th goal of the season.
Mason Raymond got the Canucks on the board with 11:10 left in the second period after Milan Lucic tried to bail the defensemen out after a miscue and he lost an edge while throwing a hit in the corner, allowing Raymond a free path to the front of the net.
Pavol Demitra tied it up for the Canucks with 4:42 left in regulation on a broken play. Milan Lucic couldn't control a bouncing puck in his skates after Tanner Glass' stick broke on a shot attempt. Glass regained possession of the puck and fired a shot from the slot that was tipped in by Pavol Demitra.
Shootout
Boston's 1st Shooter: Wheeler tried to tuck the puck past Luongo, but it was stopped with the left pad.
Vancouver's 1st Shooter: Pavol Demitra's backhander beats Tuukka Rask. 1-0 Canucks
Boston's 2nd Shooter: David Krejci's attempt was stopped by Luongo (He tapped the rebound in, but rebounds don't count)
Vancouver's 2nd Shooter: Kyle Wellwood rang one off the post after Rask got a piece of it.
Boston's 3rd Shooter: Bergeron tried a hard cut-back move, but Luongo pokes the puck away. Canucks Win
Notes:
- Johnny Boychuk left the game in the first period after being struck in the head with a puck. He skated off the ice with the help of the training staff and was transported to an area hospital. There is no word on his condition at this time. He will not be making the trip with the team to Montreal.
- Shawn Thornton lives by "the code". Thornton had Darcy Hordichuk in a very vulnerable position during their first period fight and Thornton literally held him up and waited for the linesman to step in.
- Roberto Luongo made 41 saves and played a great game, but I think everyone is tired of hearing that the Bruins "ran into a hot goaltender". The Bruins need to stop making excuses and find a way to put the puck in the net or find someone that can.
- Tuukka Rask (29 saves) deserved a better result today. He made some big saves to preserve the lead, but a couple of defensive miscues cost them the win.
- The Bruins outshot the Canucks 7-1 in overtime.
- Michael Ryder looked like he was motivated by the recent rumors that the Bruins are looking to move him at the deadline. Ryder had a goal and 7 shots on net and seemed to be all over the ice.
- If you get rid of the charity points, the Bruins are a 23-33 hockey team.
- There were four interference minors called today. The officiating crew must have brought this point up in their pre-game meeting.
- This team is like the kid that peaked in high school. Only for them high school was the Winter Classic.
- It has been awhile since the Canucks paid a visit to Boston and a lot has happen since then.
- The Bruins will be back at it tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 when they travel to Montreal.
7 comments | 0 recs |
Public Skate: Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 6, 2010 12:30 PM EST
in Public Skate (open threads)
90 comments
TD Garden
Boston, MA
1:00
NESN
98.5 FM The Sports Hub
SB Nation's Canucks Blog: Nucks Misconduct
Watch the game and discuss it with other B's fans. Remember to always skate in a counter-clockwise direction and no rough-housing. Have at it, Chowdah Heads, Puckheads, and Hockey Krishnas!
90 comments | 0 recs |
Hapless Bruins host Homeless Canucks
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 6, 2010 10:09 AM EST
in Game Previews
9 comments
It will be the hapless vs. the homeless this afternoon at TD Garden as the Bruins, who have lost 9 consecutive games (0-6-3) will host the Vancouver Canucks, who find themselves on a 14-game road trip as the city of Vancouver prepares for the Olympics. The Canucks enter this afternoon's game on a two-game skid after losses to Montreal and Ottawa, but are 7-3-0 over their last 10 games.
Know Your Enemy
Vancouver Canucks (34-20-2)
Head Coach: Alain Vigneault
SB Nation's Canucks Blog: Nucks Misconduct
Leading Scorers:
Goaltending:
Injury Report
Notes:
- The Canucks 14-game game road trip will set an NHL record for most consecutive road games.
- There is no morning skate today.
- Former Bruins bench boss Rick Bowness is an assistant coach for the Canucks.
- Vancouver has the 5th best power play in the NHL (21.9%)
- The Canucks are have not played in Boston since December 21, 2006.
- The Bruins have been held to 2 goals or less in 9 of their last 10 games.
- B's will wear their Winter Classic uniforms today.
- The puck drops at 1:00. Public Skate open thread starts at 12:30.
Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Canucks Fan YouTube Video
"How did you think of such a crazy, original idea?"
"Oh, we are unoriginal tools and we stole the idea from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
9 comments | 0 recs |
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