the mad sports man

 Canada started out dominating, scoring first three goals to which Sweden scores one of their own on a 5 minute power play. Canada held Sweden to three shots on that PP. 2nd period was scoreless, while Canada killed off a 5 on 3 disadvantage. Third period Canada added to the lead and won 5-1. Canada finishes 2nd in their group, Sweden 3rd and Czech Republic won the group. Quarterfinals has: Czech Republic vs Switzerland, Finland vs Sweden, United States vs Germany and Canada vs Slovakia. Quarterfinals are on Monday. Happy new year. 

 Yup another blowout. Canada 11 Austria 0.  Connor Bedard with a goal and 5 assists. The goal ties Jordan Eberle for most goals by a Canadian in the world juniors.  They each has 14 goals. Canada plays Sweden on New Year's Eve to finish the round robin. 

 This turned into a rout as Canada blows out Germany 11-2. Connor Bedard tied a  Canadian record for most points in a game with 7 with four others. (Dave Andreychuk and Mike Cammaleri were two I heard). Canada plays Austria tomorrow night. Puck drop at 5:30pm Prince Albert time. 

 Yup. Game finished a few minutes ago. Slovakia beat the United States 6-3. Gotta love these surprises. Even yesterday, Sweden barely beat Germany 1-0.  Which surprise come next?

 Czech goalie Tomas Suchanek set a record for having two assists in yesterday's game vs Austria.  He also has assist from Monday's game vs Canada.  Which means he now has a record for most assists by a goalie with 3. He could add to it.

 It happened. Czech Republic just beat Canada 5-2 to open their tournament. Czechs played real well. Turning point was Canada had a goal called back for offside and off went the Czechs. Also the first time since 1998 that Canada lost the opener (vs Finland). They finished 8th that year (after losing to Kazakhstan). Other games had USA 5 Latvia 2 and Sweden 11 Austria 0. (See previous entry for Switzerland/Finland.). Canada's next game is on Wednesday vs Germany.

 It's opening day and first game had Switzerland surprise Finland 3-2 in overtime. Quite the start. Canada starts vs Czech Republic at 5:30. Let's go. 

 Merry Christmas to all of you.  I hope you had a great day today with your loved ones,  whoever they may be.

 This season had (I'm sure you know) 70 games and 6 teams. Highlights includes: 1. November 26 1961 had Gordie Howe play his 1000th game.  2.  January 17 1962 Glenn Hall plays 500th consecutive game in net.  Bobby Hull 3rd player to reach 50 goals in a season (Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard). March 14 Gordie Howe records 500th goal and Andy Bathgate of New York scores on a penalty shot. New York 3 Detroit 2. February 10, Jacques Plante is first goalie to record 7 30 win seasons. Stan Mikita sets a playoff record, recording 21 points.  Playoffs had: SF; Chicago 4 Montreal 2, Toronto 4 New York 2. Stanley Cup final: Toronto 4 Chicago 2. Toronto wins 10th Stanley Cup and first since 1951.  Soon, the 1962-63 season. 

 At 3:47pm Prince Albert time, winter makes its official "arrival".  It's been here already with the snow and cold. First full day tomorrow has the daylight hours slowly increase. Good. Looking forward to summer. 

 It went through the 90 minutes with the score 2-2. Extra time was needed and both France and Argentina traded goals.  Penalties time. Argentina wins the world cup on penalties 4-2 and has won their 3rd championship. Lionel Messi has his first. Congrats to Argentina. 

 Croatia has third place after beating Morocco 2-1. Best finish for Morocco.  Tomorrow has Argentina vs France for the championship. 

 France has beaten Morocco 2-0 to move on to the final Sunday morning vs Argentina. Morocco will play Croatia for 3rd place on Saturday morning. This will be Morocco best ever result. Either France or Argentina will be winning their 3rd title. France has a chance to be the first repeat champion since Brazil won in 1958 and 1962.  We'll see what shakes down this weekend. 

 Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has scored his 800th goal in Chicago, making him the third player to do so. He's behind Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894). Ovechkin will get past Howe, but when will he get past Gretzky? Stay tuned. 

 Argentina is going to the final after beating Croatia 3-0. They will be facing the France vs Morocco winner. That semi is tomorrow. Croatia will play for 3rd place Saturday, Argentina plays Sunday. 

 France beat England 2-1 and the big one was Morocco beating Portugal 1-0. Morocco is the first African nation to reach the semis. It will be France vs Morocco in one semi on Wednesday and Croatia vs Argentina in the other semi on Tuesday. Who will be in the final? Who will play for 3rd? Stay tuned 

 Yikes. The big one was Croatia beating Brazil in penalties 4-2 (game was tied at one).  The other quarterfinal of the day had Argentina win in penalties 4-3 (Argentina was up two goals before Netherlands tied it). Croatia will play Argentina in one semi final on Tuesday. Tomorrow is the other two quarterfinals games with the winners playing in the other semi final game on Wednesday. 

 Yesterday it was announced the 2024 Brier will be in Regina Saskatchewan from March 1 to 10.  Today: 1. The 2024 Scotties will be in Winsport in Calgary (same place as where the bubble was).  2. Marie Philip Poulin was named the Northern Star award (formerly Lou Marsh) for Canada's top athlete. She is the first female hockey player to win it.  So a good 24 hours. 

 A surprise and a blowout.  Portugal blew our Switzerland 6-1 in which Cristiano Ronaldo did not start. The surprise had Morocco beating Spain and it went to penalties, shich Morocco won 3-0. (game went scoreless). Sooo...Portugal vs Morocco in the quarterfinals on Saturday as well as England vs France. Friday has Netherlands vs Argentina and Croatia vs Brazil. 

 The not so surprising and a penalty kick day. Start with the not so surprising as Brazil 🇧🇷 beat South Korea 🇰🇷4-1 and Croatia 🇭🇷 beat Japan 🇯🇵 in penalty kicks 3-1 after going through the 120 minutes tied at one. Sooooo...... it will be Brazil vs Croatia in the quarterfinals on Friday  along with Netherlands 🇳🇱 vs Argentina 🇦🇷. 

 France 🇫🇷 beat Poland 🇵🇱 3-1 and England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 beat Senegal 🇸🇳 3-0 to move into the quarterfinals. France and England will play each other on the 10th. Stay tuned for more. 

 The Netherlands beat the United States 3-1 and Argentina beat Australia 2-1. The Netherlands will play Argentina on the 9th in yhe quarter finals on the 9th.

 Group G had Brazil 🇧🇷 first, Switzerland 🇨🇭 2nd, Cameroon 🇨🇲 3rd and Serbia 🇷🇸 last. Brazil and Switzerland advance. Brazil and Switzerland had identical records, Brazil takes first on goals differential. Group H had Portugal 🇵🇹 first, South Korea 🇰🇷 2nd, Uruguay 🇺🇾 3rd and Ghana 🇬🇭 last.  Portugal and South Korea advance.  South Korea and Uruguay had identical records,  South Korea advance on goals differential. Brazil faces South Korea on Monday and Portugal faces Switzerland on Tuesday in round of 16.

 Group E had Japan 🇯🇵 first, Spain 🇪🇸 2nd, Germany 🇩🇪 3rd and Costa Rica 🇨🇷 last. Japan and Spain advance. Group F had Morocco 🇲🇦 first, Croatia 🇭🇷 2nd, Belgium 🇧🇪 3rd and Canada 🇨🇦 last. Morocco and Croatia advance. Japan plays Croatia on Monday and Morocco plays Spain on Tuesday,  both in the round of 16.