Making the Cut, Episode 11: Keep Your Head Up!

First up, a recap: Last week, the first game of the final three-game series was played. "The Hit" was delivered when #24 Periard caught #59 Power with his head down. Four more players were cut from the Elite Squad (#4 Couch, #55 McConvey, #46 Dubois and #9 Boucher, but Black Aces #20 Mole and #18 Kivell were promoted. You can read about it here.

Tonight, game two. Will anyone be promoted back to the Elite Squad? Are they ever going to make some serious strides toward reducing the number of white helmets to six? Who is going to be cut? Read on to find out!

The show opens for real on Day 11. Naturally, there is a lot of discussion about "The Hit." It was a clean hit, and that's just a part of the game. Several of the French players are joking about it, and #24 Periard says, "It's too bad it had to be him. It could have been someone else!" Umm, OK.

We're back in the War Room as the coaches further discuss the game. Coach Birch is looking for suggestions as to who should be promoted. #28 Tessier is named, but the others don't think he's of final-six quality. Well, there's certainly no use promoting somebody at this late date, only to cut him a day or two later. Defenceman #10 Woods is mentioned next, and he is similarly received. Then #24 Periard's name comes up. Besides the hit, he has also played quite well recently.

And as Day 12 begins, coach Birch talks with #59 Power about the hit, and Power is aware it's his own fault. But he's not moving very well, and it's only likely to get worse. Power is told he was doing well, and he might have had a legitimate chance at one of the coveted six spots. However, more scouts are arriving daily and he's not on the ice, and that has to be a difficult thought to take to bed each night. And in an aside, coach Birch confirms that the door has closed for Power. As he's injured, they won't formally demote him yet, but he's eliminated from further consideration. Too bad.

Whoops, a "viewer advisory warning" just popped up on screen, for language. I wonder what the f#*% that's about?

Well, back to hockey. We're in the pre-game dressing room, and #24 Periard is the one who gets promoted. All the others applaud. He tells us he didn't really expect to make it back, but he's been working hard.

Next up is a nice piece where the players get to have a monitored phone call home. It might not have the impact of the calls on Survivor since they've only been away eleven days, but it's fair to say that everyone feels much better after talking to family members.

Finally, play starts in this second of three games. It is noted that more scouts have arrived. Six NHL teams are now represented, as well as ECHL and CHL outfits. This is the time to play well, for even if you don't win this series, there may well be offers of jobs in Pro Hockey for several of these players.

Play is aggressive right off the start, and several comments are bleeped. Well, if all the cussing is bleeped out, why did we need the warning? I'm not sure if my moral fiber can handle all these annoying high-pitched tones though, why didn't we get an advisory about them? I find THEM offensive!

#24 Periard twice throws elbows at #50 Kahler and Kahler comments, "He gets a white helmet and he thinks he's God." Now, you had to know that if, indeed, God does wear a helmet… it's white.

Just before the period ends, there's a goal. With #22 Delome off for yet another infraction against #50 Kahler, Kahler scores on the power play for Team Blue.

Team Gold is taking way to many penalties, yet less than a minute into the second period, #34 Grobety is sent off. #10 Woods almost scores a shorthanded goal on a nice set of moves, but #20 Mole bars the door. Mole hasn't been busy at all, but he was up to this task. And instead, #28 Tessier (a Black Ace) pops in a rebound to make it 2-0 for Team Blue.

Team Gold is not in this game. In a lame attempt to fire his team up, #14 Weir picks a fight with #5 Robert. Considering all the crap that I've seen in the series, the preceding play was inconsequential and there was no other reason to start this fight. So Weir gets the sweater of Robert pulled up and lands a few good shots. Robert can hardly even get his gloves off. It's over in about four seconds, no major damage inflicted.

So, they toss Weir out of the game. He's already a Black Ace and has little to lose. I say he should be excused from further game activity. In the dressing room, he's reveling in the glory of his victorious battle, and joining his is non-playing #57 Jefkins. Remember him? If he's your fan club, you are nobody.

Weir claims he was crosschecked - he wasn't. And furthermore, Robert stays in the game. Can you tell I'm not so impressed with Weir? The coaches are indifferent. Let's get back to hockey.

Team Blue scores again. This time it's #41 Strom who scores, on a pass from #28 Tessier. Note, they're both Black Aces. Then #54 Dickenson outworks his opposition and scores another. It's 4-0 for Team Blue. This is turning into a rout! Could it be that Weir fought for naught? As the second period ends, the coaches are scrambling for coffee.

Early in the third period, #54 Dickenson scores again. 5-0. The only matter still to be resolved is if the shutout will remain intact, and it looks like Team Gold is getting too frustrated to play decent hockey.

And that's how it ends, 5-0 for Team Blue.

Post-game, five players are put "on the bubble." If you are on the bubble, you are not demoted but you must meet with management the next morning to learn your fate. The players are: #31 Della Vedova (a goalie), #40 Lemire, #34 Grobety and #53 Drouin from Team Gold, and #16 Little from Team Blue.

The coaches gather in the War Room late on day 12 to discuss the game. The coaches are asked to name whom they think was the best player today. #11 Brown is mentioned, and several agree. For the goalies, #1 Martin gets top vote. #31 Della Vedova looked good earlier in camp, but is now showing some weaknesses.

The men on the bubble are discussed next. #4 Grobety is not physical enough and #40 Lemire is competitive but just too small. No one speaks up for #53 Drouin. #16 Little is called tentative, though he was one of the better players yesterday.

The next morning, the prospects on the bubble meet with head coach Mike Keenan. The table at center ice has five of those ominous black helmets sitting in a row. I don't see how anyone cut now has even the remotest chance of making it back.

And all except #16 Little are cut. Essentially, no additional reasons are given so I'll skip the usual summary. Four more black helmets are claimed, and Little is pleasantly surprised that the fifth one isn't his. There are still 19 Elite players left, plus two more injured. A handful of Black Aces still hold faint, fading hopes.

Next week: It's the last day of camp, no reason to hold back. They play the third and deciding game between the two teams. And more cuts. If the rumour of twelve white hats in the last episode is true, that means nine cuts!

And it looks as though I'll be staying with this series until its conclusion.

In The Mail: If you have any comments on this series - or my attempts to recap it - drop me a note at the eAddress below!

Brian is an unemployed/retired programmer from Toronto. He can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com.

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