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 Geplaatst: 20-03-2020 09:16:31 Onderwerp: CALGARY -- One of the most recognizable faces on the Canadi |
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| CALGARY -- One of the most recognizable faces on the Canadian womens hockey team will not play in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Dennis Smith . Defenceman Tessa Bonhomme was among three players released from the team Tuesday morning along with defenceman Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man., and Winnipeg forward Jenelle Kohanchuk. Bonhomme was a veteran of the womens team that won Olympic gold in 2010 in Vancouver. "I dont think it matters who you are, youre always surprised when a cut is made," Bonhomme said. "Ive never counted my chickens before they were hatched and I always knew I would have to earn my spot no matter what. "At the beginning of the year, I felt great, like I was playing the way I should and then I kind of ran into a little bit of health issues and didnt really bounce back the way I wanted to." Head coach Dan Church reduced his roster to 24 players as Canada prepares for the chance to defend gold in February. One more defencemen and two more forwards will be released before the 21-player Olympic roster is announced in late December. Bonhomme raised her profile and that of womens hockey with appearances on "Wipeout Canada" and CBCs "Battle of the Blades" post-2010. Bonhomme has also done television work for Leafs TV in Toronto. The 28-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., represented Canada in four world championships in addition to the Olympics. She won three gold and two silver in those tournaments. "I tried this afternoon to try to sit down and realize what Id worked so hard for the past three years isnt going to happen," Bonhomme said. "Im OK with that. Im an adult and this is what I signed up for, an opportunity to try out. "Im thankful Dan and Hockey Canada gave me the opportunity to come out here and try and prove what I got. Unfortunately it wasnt enough." Bonhomme, Lacquette and Kohanchuk had just played in the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., where Canada beat Finland 6-3 in Saturdays final. Kohanchuk scored twice in the championship game. "We didnt foresee they were going to be able to move themselves up enough to overtake who was ahead of them on the depth chart at this point," Church said. "It didnt matter how many weeks were still (to go), we didnt see that happening based on the body of work to date." Lacquette, 21, and Kohanchuk, 23, were rookies on the national team. Between them, theyve played 15 international games since the 27 players arrived in Calgary in August. Bonhomme appeared in her 100th international game during the Four Nations. Offensively skilled and quick on her skates, Bonhomme has 10 goals and 41 assists for Canada, but didnt have any points in Lake Placid. She sat out some games this fall because of a crushed nerve she suffered in an Oct. 1 game, as well as a bout of shingles. "Those are by no means excuses," Bonhomme said. "I would never rely on one of those for the reason I was playing bad. Maybe I just didnt perform up to the standard or up to par that they wanted and they decided to release me at the first chance they got. "Ive trusted the coaching staff from the get-go and I trust that they made the right decision. I have no doubt in my mind this team will be successful." Bonhomme was one of 13 veterans from 2010 invited to try out for the Olympic team again, but she was beaten out of her job by younger defenders. Lauriane Rougeau, Laura Fortino, Courtney Birchard and Tara Watchorn are newcomers to Canadas blue-line since 2010. Jocelyne Larocque, who was released from the 2010 team, and 2010 vets Catherine Ward and Meaghan Mikkelson are the experienced defencemen remaining. "In looking at the number of defencemen we have, it comes down to a numbers game and who is ahead of whom at this point in the season," Church said. "We have a lot of talented young players playing really well right now. "At this point, we have seven defencemen here who have been a little bit more consistent in their level of competition and thats why theyre still here." The Canadian women often say the Olympic Games is their Stanley Cup. That makes it difficult to tell them they wont be going, said Church. "While its a real tough day for coaches, its the toughest day for players," Church said. "They were all emotional in their own way, but they all handled it very dignified. It was a tough day all around. "Tessa was a true professional. She just thanked us and that was pretty much it." Bonhomme intends to return to Toronto, re-join the Toronto Furies of the Canadian Womens Hockey League and pursue a masters degree in speech pathology. She was the first female hockey player on "Battle of the Blades" which pairs hockey players with figure skaters. Bonhomme and David Pelletier were crowned the winners. "Maybe Ill go online and check out some new reality TV shows," Bonhomme said. "Theres got to be a few shows I can apply for and hopefully get on." Meghan Agosta-Marciano, Rebecca Johnston, Jennifer Wakefield, Gillian Apps, Caroline Ouellette, Melanie Daoust, Jayna Hefford, Bailey Bram, Brianne Jenner, Haley Irwin, Hayley Wickenheiser, Natalie Spooner, Vicki Bendus and Marie-Philip Poulin are the remaining forwards after the release of Kohanchuk. "Jenelle had played very well from the start of the season until now. We just didnt see that she was going to be able to move up enough to make our final roster," Church said. "Shes a hard-working player and a real good person, so it was hard to let her go, just as it was the other two players. "Brigette is a talented defender and I think theres potential for her down the road if she matures and becomes a more well-rounded athlete." Shannon Szabados, Charline Labonte and Genevieve Lacasse will be Canadas goaltenders in Sochi. Church informed Bonhomme, Kohanchuk and Lacquette of his decision prior to the teams departure for Grande Prairie, Alta., on Tuesday. The Canadian women resume their schedule of games against Alberta Midget Hockey League teams there Wednesday. Canada has played 27 games against mens teams in the AMHL and international womens teams since the players centralized in Calgary in August. Canada and the U.S. women will meet again Dec. 12 in Calgary, followed by their exhibition games in Grand Forks, N.D., on Dec. 20, St. Paul, Minn., on Dec. 28 and Toronto on Dec. 30. Bruce Gregory .C. -- Cam Newton wasnt flawless on Sunday. Oscar McBride . His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/chris-peace-jersey-for-sale/ . With one penalty, Fourcade finished in 24 minutes, 58.2 seconds, just nine-tenths of a second ahead of Timofey Lapshin, who shot clean in the cold.If strength at the goaltending position is one of the cornerstones of a successful NHL franchise, Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin finds himself in a great place heading into the 2014-15 season. When starting goaltender Carey Price was injured during last seasons playoffs, it was rookie Dustin Tokarski who took over between the pipes, instead of season-long backup Peter Budaj. Heading into the new campaign with three NHL caliber goaltenders, Bergevin is prepared to let his backup situation play itself out. "Peter Budaj is a proven backup goalie in the NHL and a good one," Bergevin told TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "Dustin Tokarski came in the playoffs last year, the sixth game against the Rangers and was extremely good, but again youre going against a guy with the experience and is a really good backup goalie. So thats why you have training camp and well see what happens. We have depth in that position now." So much depth in fact that since either would have to clear waivers to be sent down to the minors, dealing one of them or even beginning the year with both backups on the roster are both in the realm of possibility. "If we feel one guy is really ahead of the other guy, we will make a decision. Maybe a trade might be a possibility, but at the end of the day, also starting with three goalies might be a possibility. I leave it open, but again, Im looking forward to seeing how it plays out during training camp." As for the starter, Bergevin says Price is ready to retake his place between the pipes for the Canadiens. "Hes 100 per cent. Hes ready to go. I mean from Day 1 in camp, hell be ready to go." Another thing youll see Day 1 in camp, after spending the first two years of his NHL career at left wing, the Canadiens are planning to try Alex Galchenyuk at a different forward position. "We will start him in training camp at centre. We want to see where hes at. We know sometimes its harder for a young player to player centre in the NHL, especially down low. But with two years under his belt, we want to evaluate where hes at in the centre position and then well make a decision." That wont be the teams only new look when they open camp; two of the teams long-time key players in Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges have moved on to the Buffalo Sabres. While acknowledging their contributions, Bergevin feels there is more than enough leadership and experience in the players that remain with the squad. "Internally, we felt that it was time for a change as far as lleadership was concerned. Rip King. We felt that our young kids were coming along. Gio was a great leader on this team, did a lot for our hockey team, but obviously theres some hard decisions that at times need to be made and that was one of them, along with Josh Gorges. We feel with the young defenceman coming through the system, they are ready to take the next step. So you have to move forward and sometimes these decisions are not popular, but we feel theyre the best for our hockey club moving forward." With team captain Gionta out of the picture, the Canadiens have decided to go with four alternate captains instead of naming one player as a direct replacement. "Those decisions sometimes are not popular. To me, I dont look at it as not having a captain, but as four guys that can do the job. I dont think you need to have the C to be a leader." "I think our young guys are ready to take that challenge to take the leadership role more." One of those four men that will wear an A, defenceman P.K. Subban, was signed to a lucrative eight-year, $72 million contract in the offseason. Bergevin is not worried about how his superstar will handle the added spotlight. "I think P.K. welcomes the pressure. I think hes changed a lot and matured a lot since Ive been here. Giving him the A, to me, was an honour and well see where he takes it. Time will tell, but we feel P.K. is ready to take the next step." On the subject of his teams next step, Bergevin is not going to accelerate anything, instead the Canadiens general manager is sticking to his plan of building a long-term winner. "We have to draft players and develop them the right way and we brought people into our organization to help that process. Again, you cant speed the process, you got to help these kids and thats the best way for me to build a team thats going to be good enough, not for just one year or two years, but a long period of time." As for this season in particular, the plan is to once again find a place in the post-season tournament. "Our first step is to make the playoffs. Its a tough league; there are a lot of hockey teams that dont make the playoffs that are still good hockey teams. Were back at the bottom of the hill with all the teams that might have, in my opinion, gotten better this year in our conference. Washingtons better, Tampas better, Toronto will be better, a lot of teams will be better and will be a battle." The Canadiens open the season against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on October 8. ' ' ' |
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