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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

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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.

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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.