Inland Waterways » that Charlie Conway

Weve had a couple days to sit back and reflect on Toronto FCs first setback of the early season. Neither the performance, nor the scoreline flatters in the 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake Saturday. It was always going to be a difficult match against MLS Cup runners-up and a team with minimal roster change year over year. Certain flaws were exposed and much work remains for a team in transition. On the surface, a 3-0 loss to the casual fan or someone who didnt see Saturdays match may suggest, ‘same old TFC. Thats hardly the case. TFC has experienced its fair share of lopsided results in recent years with the vast majority reflective of a lack of quality and the gulf in talent that existed between competitors. Saturdays loss was more about Real Salt Lake taking advantage of TFC mistakes than any lopsided pedigree between rosters. Team cohesion and familiarity also skewed in favour of the home side. And even while on the back-foot for most of their visit to Rio Tinto, Toronto remained dangerous to the end and is certainly no longer a team you can take a lead against and rest on your laurels. Theres no reason to lose excitement about what this team can be based upon this one performance alone. However, lessons were learned and improvement is required. Here are five thoughts on Toronto FCs loss at Real Salt Lake. 1. Jermain Problem Striker Jermain Defoe left the match in the 62nd minute and headed straight to the locker room, clutching his hamstring. Gulp. Head Coach Ryan Nelsen commented post-match, “He was feeling the hamstring before the game and it tightened up.” Defoe had a ‘slight hamstring issue at Tottenham before joining Toronto FC. The severity of Defoes most recent potential setback has not been revealed. Regardless of the severity, Toronto FC must proceed with caution. Hamstrings are tricky and, if not dealt with appropriately, can linger and lead to extended spells on the sidelines. The extensive travel and varying playing surfaces across Major League Soccer put exceptional wear and tear on the body. Durability is key for Defoe and it will take time to adjust to the conditions of North American football. The team needs a healthy Defoe to be considered among MLS elite. The pre-season injury loss of Bright Dike complicates matters more, leaving TFC all-too thin up front. So the inclination will be to play Defoe as soon as hes deemed relatively fit. Theres no need to play hero and play through the injury. The season is a marathon. The long view must be the priority with TFCs prized possession. 2. Difficult Night for Doneil Centre back Doneil Henry was among TFCs top players in the first two games. The 20-year old has all the qualities to be a top defender in MLS, but Saturday was tough for him and his partner in the middle of the back four, Steven Caldwell. Henry was the culprit for the penalty leading to RSLs opening goal. A harmless, lazy ball was played to the feet of RSL striker Alvaro Saborio at the top corner of the 18; an innocent one-vs-one situation with the attackers back to goal. Instead of taking a step back and focusing on position, Henry came through the back of the player with his arms wrapped around Saborio trying to get to the ball. The striker went to the ground, making for an easy point to the penalty spot for match official Baldomero Toledo. It was an unnecessary, sloppy challenge from Henry, showing shades of last season when he had the unbecoming habit of diving in and/or over-committing to challenges at inopportune times in vulnerable areas. The time, place and execution of this challenge gone wrong was all amiss. Theres much to like about Henrys commitment, aggressiveness and enthusiasm, but he has to pick his spots. Henry has the athleticism to cover a lot of ground, meaning he can afford to take an extra step back and gain superior position while still being aggressive in challenges. Superior defensive positioning and proper decision-making will come with further maturity, experience and direction. Henry will be just fine and a key cog in this Toronto FC team. Mistakes like this are part of the process a young player goes through. 3. Flaws in Defensive Execution High pressure can be a teams best and worst enemy. Nelsens team has shown the desire and commitment to put all kinds of pressure on the ball, all over the field. Its often a high risk, high reward proposition, but can leave a team vulnerable if a solid defensive shape doesnt hold true. Toronto FC lost its defensive balance against a crafty Real Salt Lake midfield diamond that regularly found space between TFCs centre midfield duo and the backline. Javier Morales at the top of the diamond found freedom in the gaps, leaving Torontos defenders not knowing whether to step forward and commit or fall back to cover. Nelsens 4-4-2 isnt to blame for the breakdown, though - the problem was in execution. If Toronto FC is going to continue to put constant high pressure on the ball, the centre backs need to keep the formation compact to condense the space and provide more support to the centre midfielders. When Michael Bradley commits to the pressure on the ball, the space behind needs to be limited. Of concern for Nelsen, as he tries to get his team working in unison, is a speed deficiency at certain defensive positions. If the defenders arent confident they can make up ground, leaving space in behind, the tactical formation will fall apart. The hope is superior execution of high pressure defensive play will come in time, as this new-look roster grows accustomed to tendencies and the strengths and weaknesses of their new teammates. 4. Jackson Leaves a Hole It came as somewhat of a surprise that Mark Bloom, starting right back in Torontos first two wins, moved forward to play outside right midfield with Jackson suspended. Bradley Orr slotted in at right back, which seems to be the longer term plan once the Englishman finds full fitness. Bloom did a nice job as an outside defender to start the season, but an outside midfielder, he is not. It speaks to the lack of depth at the position that Nelsen chose to deputize Bloom at it. Right midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran made his MLS debut as a 59th-minute substitute. Whether hes suited for this league and can be effective is still to be determined, but based upon TFCs lack of options, hell get every look possible. TFC cannot afford to continually have a fullback playing a forward position. It wasnt as if Nakajima-Farrans introduction that led to Toronto FC having success down the flanks. It was more the fullbacks pushing forward than influence from the outside of the midfield. Regardless, proper role definition leads to a level of comfort and greater fluidity. The team will have to find more depth at the wing positions or consistent build up will be sacrificed. 5. Keep the Ball! To nobodys surprise, Real Salt Lake dominated in possession, managing 63 per cent of the ball in the contest. This marks the third straight week TFC have been short in possession. TFC may never be a dominant ball possession team, able to boss the proceedings, but they have to be much better. Poor field conditions and inconsistent surfaces, combined with unfamiliarity with new teammates are certainly excuses, but its too many long balls out of the back and not enough service to the feet of the strikers that are ultimately responsible. Defoe, Gilberto and Dwayne De Rosario are forward players who demand the ball at their feet. Having the trio chase down searching balls, while regularly competing in aerial battles, is a waste and hardly how to get the most out of the talent. It starts at the back, but the build through the midfield has a ways to go. This is a work in progress. Keeping the ball and playing along the ground with quality is paramount in the growth of the team. Toronto FC is next in action on Saturday when it the visits the Columbus Crew. You can catch all of the action live on TSN 1050 at 4pm et. Authentic Theoren Fleury Jersey . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St. Adidas Calgary Flames Jerseys . The New York State Supreme Court only partially dismissed the lawsuit, meaning the case could be headed for trial. The tour announced a year ago that Singh would be suspended for saying in a Sports Illustrated story that he took deer antler spray, which was believed to contain the banned substance IGF-1. http://www.cheapnhlflamesjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-noah-hanifin-jersey . Webb birdied the 18th hole to take the outright lead, then watched as Choi, who shot a course-record 62 on Saturday to take a share of the third-round lead, pushed a 10-foot putt wide of the hole at 18 to miss the chance for a playoff. Authentic Mike Vernon Jersey . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs. Authentic Mikael Backlund Jersey . Modin, 36, tallied seven goals and three assists in 36 games with the Thrashers this season. The Sundsvall, Sweden, native has posted 232 goals and 230 assists in 894 career NHL games with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Columbus, Los Angeles and Atlanta and has appeared in 57 post-season contests, helping the Lightning capture the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship.On December 20, 2000 in a game at Madison Square Garden, Tyson Nash of the visiting St. Louis Blues made reference to Theo Fleurys recent return from the NHL imposed substance abuse program that deeply hurt Fleury. Following a very powerful apology, Tyson Nash, to this day claims the event was life altering and career changing for him to recognize that no matter how badly he wanted to win certain things and comments were completely "off-sides"! Tyson Nash credits me as the referee in that game for "playing Dad" in providing him with an epiphany moment.)Back to the Hawks-Mighty Ducks game. After issuing a non-negotiable warning to both the Hawks player and his Coach I would have quick-triggered a penalty for interference immediately following the opening puck drop (Rule 56--Interference; rule 76.6--violations--In the conduct of any face-off at any of the nine (9) face-off spots on the playing surface, no player facing-off shall make any physical contact with this opponents body by means of his own body or by his stick except in the course of playing the puck after the face-off has been completed. For violation of this rule, the Referee may, at his discretion impose a minor penalty or penalties on the player(s) whose action(s) caused the physical contact.)Following the celebration of the Hawks goal a minor penalty for roughing would be warranted and assessed to Hawks player for striking the Mighty Ducks player in the head and knocking off his helmet. (Rule 51--roughing is the punching motion with the hand or fist, with or without the glove on the hand, normally directed at the head or face of an opponent.)In their final game of the regular season, the Ducks find themselves two points out of a playoff spot. Knowing a tie would end their season, the coach Bombay pulls the goaltender to add an extra attacker. After the Ducks win the face-off Fulton Reed turns the puck over, he chases down the man and hits him to take the puck and score the game winning goal. Kerry, do you view Fultons hit on the back-check as a hit from behind? Had the penalty been called the Ducks likely would not have another chance to score and therefore would have fallen short of the playoffs.Fulton Reed executed what is typically deemed to be a "legal open-ice push" with his glove even though the shove occurred from behind. A play of this nature generally occurs in cycle battles down low and the shove executed by the player on the chase is allowed so long as the puck carrier isnt launched into the boards or goal frame. What makes Fulton Reeds push on this play more difficult for a referee to allow is the fact that the shove results in a takedown and change of possession during the course of a breakaway. The ref would be hard-pressed however to come up with an appropriate foul terminology on this play since it doesnt fall under the specific language contained in the rules for a hit from behind, cross-check, trip, hook, slash, high-stick or even roughing which is defined as "punching motion". It is simply put, a "push"! If a push/shove with a glove from behind is deemed to be legal in the corner of the ice it should be consistently applied in this area of the open ice as well. Besides, what referee would ever want to deny Coach Bombay and the Mighty Ducks a shot at the playoffs in this made for Hollywood play! Do you believe the player who hit Adam Banks from behind on a breakaway should have been ejected from the game? A two-minute crosschecking minor was assessed on the play. We want to know is, can a referee call a minor penalty if a goal is scored on the play?When Adam Banks was struck from behind by McGill, while on a breakaway and thrown violently into the goal post thereby sustaining an apparent serious injury, the referee erred in assessing a minor penalty for cross-checking. Aside from the fact that the Mighty Ducks goal scored on the play would have negated the assessment of a minor penalty, the very best judgment would be for the referee to impose a major penalty and game misconduct to McGill for either a check from behind (rule 43) or for cross-checking (rule 59).Rule 43 — checking from behind — a check from behind is a check delivered on a player who is not aware of the impending hit, therefore unable to protect or defend himself, and contact is made on the back part of the body. A player who cross-checks, pushes or charges from behind an opponent who is unable to defend himself, shall be assessed a major penalty. This penalty applies anywhere on the playing surface. A game misconduct penalty must be assessed anytime a major is applied for checking from behind.Rule 59 — Cross-checking — the action of using the shaft of the stick between the two hands to forcefully check an opponent. A minor or major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who "cross-checks" an opponent. When a major penalty is assessed for cross-checking, an automatic game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the offending player. Aside from the force and location of the blow (on the back of Banks), the referee must also consider if Banks was aware of the impending hit and if he had the ability to defend himself. It is reasonable to expect that Adam Banks was incapable of either one of these conditions. While judging the illegal act on its merit the referee cant help but factor in the resulting injury. In the final assessment McGill delivered an aggressive cross-check directly from behind that caused Banks to crash into the goal post and sustain an injury. Cmon Ref would impose a 5 minute major and game misconduct to McGill for cross-checking. The goal scored by Adam Banks would obviously stand and the Hawks would have to place a player in the penalty box to serve McGills major penalty prior to its expiration (rule 20.3). No relief would be entitled the Hawks regardless how many goals the Mighty Ducks might score during the major penalty.As the Ducks debut the Flying V for the first time, the team breaks formation prior to the blue line, do you believe this play offside as the wingers enter the zone? Two players may have crossed before the puck.Upon further review the Mighty Ducks remained onside as the puck was advanced to Jessie Hall at the front of the Flying-V just prior to crossing their attacking blue line. The Flying-V moved up ice as Harry Hall of the Mighty Ducks carried the puck from a protected, safe and legal position at the back of the V. Just prior to gaining their attacking blue line, the puck was passed through the legs and onto the stick of the lead Duck in the V; #9 Jessie Hall.After gaining possession of the puck, Jessie Hall advanced the puck across the leading edge of the blue line with his stick and then pulled up to protect the puck from defenders and to allow his wingers to attack the net. Once the puck crosses the leading edge of the blue line all attacking players are eligible to enter the zone and deemed to be on-side. It is also important to note that an attacking players skates and not that of his stick are the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side as per rule 83. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line prior to the puck crossing that same leading edge. Jessie Hall got the puck across the leading edge of the attacking blue line and his teammates then entered the zone legally on-side.Further to this rule a player actually controlling the puck, who crosses the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered off-side. If the attacking player is deemed to have "possession and control" of the puck he can actually skate backwards across the blue line with the puck on his stick. (In this situation the players skates are allowed to cross the leading edge of the blue line prior to the puck!)After Charlie Conway draws a penalty shot at the end of the regulation, the ref tells coach Bombay that "any player on the ice" can take the shot. Is that correct rule?Our Hollywood scrript writer once again erred in the application of the rules when the referee informed Coach Bombay that any player on the ice was allowed to take the penalty shot after Charlie Conway was fouled from behind on a breakaway and denied a reasonable scoring opportunity.ddddddddddddRule 24.3 states that in cases where a penalty shot has been awarded to a player specifically fouled, that player shall be designated by the Referee to take the penalty shot. Charlie Conway was the player fouled and as such should have been identified by the referee as the player eligible to take the penalty shot. The caveat to this portion of the rule is if by reason of injury, the player designated by the referee to take the penalty shot is unable to do so within a reasonable time, the shot may be taken by a player selected by the Captain of the non-offending team from the players on the ice when the foul was committed. In all other cases where a penalty shot has been awarded, the penalty shot shall be taken by a player selected by the Captain of the non-offending team from players on the ice at the time when the foul was committed. At Joe Louis Arena on February 11, 1982 in a game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Red Wings a perfect storm developed on the ice where I was called upon to impose all of the above conditions in two penalty shots I assessed against Detroit in the final period. The following is an excerpt from my book, The Final Call, as to what took place that eventful evening in the Motor City. The Red Wings were leading 4-2 midway through the third period when Detroit defenceman Jim Schoenfeld grabbed the puck with his hand in the goal crease during a scramble around the net. I immediately blew my whistle and assessed a penalty shot to Vancouver. The shot could be taken by any Canuck player who had been on the ice at the time of the infraction. Coach Harry Neale selected Thomas Gradin, and he buried it against Detroit goalie Gilles Gilbert.The score was now 4-3 Detroit and with just over a minute to play, as Neale gave the signal to his goalie, Richard Brodeur, to come to the bench for an extra attacker in an effort to tie it up. With the Canucks net empty, Detroit turned the puck over and Stan Smyl picked up the loose puck at the Vancouver blue line and raced in the other direction on a breakaway. Detroit defenceman Reed Larson chased Smyl down from behind. Just as Smyl was about to let a shot go from 15 feet out to the left of Gilbert, Larson took a two-handed swing and chopped the Stanley Steamer down, causing the Canuck forward to slide into the goalpost and injure his leg. With just 30 seconds left in the game and Red Wings up by one goal, I blew my whistle and pointed to center ice to signal another penalty shot for the Canucks.Vancouver trainer Larry Ashley had to come out and assist Stan Smyl off the ice. The injury he had sustained on the play meant he wouldnt be able to take the shot. Once again, Harry Neale had to select one of the players who had been on the ice at the time of the infraction. Czech star Ivan Hlinka was his choice. Neale told me later that his instructions to Hlinka were very clear; "If you dont score on this penalty shot, just keep skating right out the end of the rink, all the way back to Czechoslovachia!" Needless to say Ivan Hlinka scored the tying goal with 30 seconds remaining. The moment I signaled the goal, beer cups (many of them still full) and everything else that wasnt nailed down in the arena rained down in my direction. Had I been the referee in the Mighty Ducks championship game I would have informed Coach Bombay that Charlie Conway was the player designated to take the penalty shot. That of course would only be if Conway had not been chopped down and injured on the play; which might have prevented him from taking the shot. Should that be the case, Coach Bombay could choose any other player who had been on the ice at the time of the infraction? Hopefully Bombays instructions to that player would not be as direct and harsh as Harry Neales were to Ivan Hlinka! Finally, in your experience working in the NHL and other leagues, would you say tying a goaltender to the net typically frowned upon? As a parent and grandparent I would convene a "special meeting" with the coach if I saw one of my own kids tied to a goal frame and used for target practice! After all, in these modern times even children exercise their legal rights from time to time. This type of coaching technique could quickly escalate into a lawsuit; especially in the United States.The truth of the matter is this scene in Mighty Ducks wasnt just the creative imagination of some Hollywood script writer. There is precedent on the books of goalkeepers being tied to the crossbar in practice by HHOF legend Eddie Shore as coach and owner of the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. Shore was known for his highly skilled but exceptionally tough play as a defenceman for the Boston Bruins from 1926-40 and won the Hart Trophy as the NHLs MVP four times. The first NHL All-Star game benefit game, played at Maple Leaf Gardens February 14, 1934 raised $20,909.40 for Toronto Maple Leaf player Ace Bailey and his family. Bailey almost died from a skull fracture following a hit from behind by Eddie Shore in a game on December 13, 1933. Following his retirement as a player Shore became perhaps even more legendary as a coach and owner of his AHL franchise in Springfield, Massachusetts.When Shores goalkeepers would not buy into the "standup" style that the coach/team owner insisted upon, a rope was tied around their neck and attached to the cross-bar in practice to keep them on their feet! He forced his defencemen to enroll in dance lessons to develop their foot movement and spoke with the players wives about abstaining from relations with their husbands the night before a game. Eddie Shore was also known as an extremely cheap owner. He often forced players that were out of the lineup to perform maintenance tasks in the arena, clean the ice surface or work menial jobs during games. When I began my officiating career in 1973 as a contracted referee with the NHL I was assigned to work games in the AHL as well as the other minor professional leagues. While Eddie Shore still owned the Springfield Indians, his son Teddy ran the day to day operations of the hockey club. Teddy was a chip off the old block; a very hands on guy. Ted ran around the arena during games doing whatever he could to keep staffing and overhead costs to a bare minimum.One game I worked in Springfield there were no beverages placed in the officials room. I bumped into Teddy as I came off the ice at the end of the first period and informed him that we didnt have any water, soda or ice in our room. Shore Jr. was extremely apologetic and said, "Kerry Ill get you and the linesmen something to drink right away." Teddy Shore hurried off and returned a few minutes later with three cups of ice and ONE can of Coke! It would have been too expensive for the owner of the Springfield Indians to provide the referee and linesmen with a drink each. (from Wikepedia) It is of little wonder to me that during the 1967 season, the entire Indians team refused to play after Shore suspended three players without pay, including future NHL star Bill White, for what he said was "indifferent play." When the team asked for an explanation, Shore suspended the two players who spoke for the team, one of whom was Brian Kilrea. Alan Eagleson, then a little-known lawyer and sometime politician, was brought in to negotiate with Shore on the players behalf. The battle escalated for months, ending with Shore giving up day-to-day operations of the club; the genesis of the National Hockey League Players Association stems from that incident. Shore continued to be owner until he sold the team in 1976.Even though Coach Bombay taught Goldberg to face his fear of being hit with the puck by tying the young goalie to the posts as the Mighty Ducks blasted away was just Eddie Shore—old school inappropriate. Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '