2010 was the year of highlights but also the year that offered both New York Ranger and New York Islander fans some real honest hope for the future of both franchises. Oh yes better days are coming maybe not fast enough but they are coming.
From the amazing goal scoring skills of Chris Kreider to the ability to dominate a game of "El Nino" Nino Nieddereiter, 2010 was one giant highlight reel.
Two plays stand out for us from these 2 and why not start your New Year with a look back with first Chris Kreider
Or when "El Nino" shocked the Russians first by tying the game then doing this:
Oh is the future of New York Hockey in great hands. The Ranger/Islander rivalry is going to so much fun to watch. But as much as we love offense, we have reserved our Dylan McIlrath New York Ranger Jersey because of this:
But before we get to 2011 let us finish off 2010:
Chris Kreider (NYR 2010 1st) scored a goal while his buddy Ryan Bourque (NYR 2009 3rd) was named USA "Player of the Game" as Team USA held off a game Nino Niederreiter (NYI 2010 1st)'s Switzerland 2-1. The win gives Team USA a bye right into the semi-finals against the winner of Canada/Switzerland on Monday.
Irony is that Kreider scored his 2nd goal of the World Under-20 on the power play; a power play caused by Niederreiter getting called for crosschecking.
The game of the day was without a doubt was the Sweden/Canada shootout thriller won by Sweden 6-5. Jesper Fasth (NYR 2010 6th) was mostly invisible for the Swedes but Calvin De Haan (NYI 2009 1st) had 2 secondary assists for Canada despite being less than 100%.
Casey Cizikas (NYI 2009 4th) was no better and no worse than the rest of the Canadian team as the Swedes scored against anyone the Canadians put on the ice against them.
Roman Horak (NYR 2009 5th) if it was up to us would be on the next flight back to Chilliwack as the Czech Republic program is a giant mess. That the Czechs could not put up a decent fight against the Russian and were whipped 8-3 says it all.
Speaking of Chilliwack, Dylan McIlrath (NYR 2010 1st) and his Moose Jaw Warriors earned their 3rd straight win defeating the Chilliwack Bruins 4-2. McIlrath was scoreless but the better stat is that the Bruins top scorers of Ryan Howse and Brandon Manning to 1 point between the 2.
On the flip side, David Toews (2008 3rd) and his Brandon Wheat Kings lost their 3rd straight 4-2 to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Toews was scoreless as the Wheat Kings fall closer to the cellar than to a playoff spot.
Matt Donovan (NYI 2008 4th) scored the tying goal at 10:43 of the 3rd period then helped to set up the game winner just 38 seconds later to help 7th ranked Denver to a 5-2 come from behind win over Northern Michigan. Donvan is 6-10-16 on the season.
Aaron Ness (NYI 2008 2nd) had an assist for his 8th point of the season but his Minnesota Golden Gophers lost 3-2 in overtime to 14th ranked Union College in the opener of the Dodge Holiday Classic. Minnesota faces Ferris State on New Years Day in the other half of the Classic.
Danny Hobbs (NYR 2007 7th) scored for UMass/Amherst but the Minutemen still lost to the 15th ranked Wisconsin Badgers 4-2. For Hobbs it was a new career high in goals at 4 for the junior but his Minutemen fell to 3-9-3.
Islander prospect Jason Clark (2010 3rd) was a healthy scratch for Wisconsin again. The Portland Winterhawks hold Clark's rights and one has to wonder if Clark might be thinking about perhaps jumping to the WHL.
In the OHL, Jason Wilson (NYR 2010 5th) was scoreless as his Niagara IceDogs ended 2010 on a winning note defeating the Belleville Bulls 5-1.
Ethan Werek (NYR 2009 2nd) is still out due to a wrist injury as his Kingston Frontenacs dropped their 3rd straight this time 5-3 to the Brampton Battalion. Werek is not expected to play again until sometime next week as he has missed his 6th straight game.
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There are not enough "thank you"s to all of you who support us whether it is by reading, sending us game reports and tips, images and words of encouragement/criticism. Prospect Park is growing thanks to you and we hope 2011 is as good for you as you are making for us.
(Kreider/Dennis Pause)
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