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How is Hodgson coming along?

  

Garth McLennan

sports editor

 

ince the end of the Vancouver
Canucks’ preseason, little has been
heard about Vancouver’s top prospect
Cody Hodgson, who, after suffering through
nerve problems in his back was unable
to make any sort of substantial impact in
training camp and was returned to his major
junior team in the OHL, the Brampton
Battalion.

Unfortunately, it appears that
Hodgson’s injury woes have persisted, as
the 19 year old, who was Vancouver’s first
round selection (tenth overall) back at the
2008 NHL entry draft, has yet to play a
game for Brampton this year. However, that
hasn’t stopped Hockey Canada from naming
Hodgson to their selection camp roster for
the 2010 World Junior Championships in
Saskatchewan. It’s a move that has raised
some eyebrows. While there’s no guarantee
that Hodgson will make the squad or even
be fit to play by the time the tournament
roles around in late December, it could be
difficult to justify Hodgson having a place
on the roster when he has yet to play a
regular season game this year.

That being said, this could be the
perfect opportunity for Hodgson, assuming
he’s able to compete by then of course. As
every Canucks fan is sure to remember,
Hodgson’s stock rose dramatically within
not just the organization but across the
hockey world last year when he lined
up with John Tavares, was named to the
tournament all-star team, led the WJC’s in

Nie oe

20

 

 

scoring and was a key part of Canada’s gold
medal-winning effort. Those right there are
some pretty noteworthy qualifications for
this year’s team, even if has yet to play this
season.

Plus, the World Juniors weren’t
the only place Hodgson made a case as
Vancouver's next cornerstone last year. He
was also named the MVP for all of major
junior and was the OHL all-star game MVP,
so it is easy to see why Hockey Canada was
eager to at least have him as a possibility for
the World Juniors.

Plain and simple, Cody Hodgson
should be playing in the NHL with the
Canucks right now. It’s safe to say that if
his back hasn’t posed so many problems
and hindered his performance to such a
degree, there would even be the thought of
him suiting up for Canada in December.

So for Hockey Canada to have a player of
that calibre available to them, even in these
circumstances, is rare and something that
they shouldn’t pass on, even if it does take a
spot from someone who’s been toiling away
for the entire season.

As for Hodgson himself, there are
positives and negatives to be considered
from him jumping right into a pressure-
packed situation without even getting his
feet wet. For starters, no one should be
surprised if he’s rusty, but he’s ripped it
up the World Juniors in the past and it has
long been considered one of the best times
and places to evaluate a young player’s
development. If Hodgson is able to play, he
should. It’d be the best thing for Hockey
Canada, for the Vancouver Canucks, and for
Cody Hodgson.

 

7

 

Douglas coaching job open

Royals sack women’s soccer coach Randy Taylor

By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor

ollowing a disappointing season

that saw them accumulate just four

wins, the Douglas College Royals
are currently seeking to replace the head
coach for their women’s soccer team,
Randy Taylor.

Whoever is hired to take the
helm of the team will have some
considerable work in front of them.

This past season the Royals failed to
qualify for Provincials, despite it being
held in their own backyard, and finished
tied for last in their five-team division
with the University of Northern B.C.
Timberwolves.

While it was a tough season for
everyone involved, the Royals’ record
should be taken with a grain of salt.
After all, this was a rebuilding year for
the squad, and their poor finish in the
standings can largely be attributed to the
fact that they were a very young team
with 10 first-year players this season
and few veterans. There were just four
third years and only a single fourth year.
So that should all be taken into account
before writing the program off next

season.

One of the few bright lights for
the team this year was goalkeeper Aja
Aguirre, who was named the BCCAA

 

female soccer athlete of the week for
October 5, and contributed a strong
season in net. She was among the league
leaders in both shutouts and goals against
average.

The women’s Royals will need to
improve their goal scoring totals this year
as well. In 12 league games this season
they scored just nine goals over the
course of the campaign while allowing
18. That was the fourth worst goals for
goals allowed differential in BCCAA
women’s soccer (although, to be fair,
it was miles better than the expansion
Quest University Kermodes, who scored
a league low eight goals while giving
up 26. It showed in the standings. Quest
recorded zero wins in the second pool).

According to a press release from
Douglas’ director of athletics and
campus life, the Royals are seeking
someone with a “strong ability to build
an atmosphere of open communication
and positive leadership in a highly
organized, elite soccer program...(with
a) proven knowledge and understanding
of coaching elite female athletes at the
post secondary level.”

Whoever is successful with the job
application will replace the outgoing
head coach Randy Taylor on a part-time,

contract basis.