Making The Cut, Episode 7: Slash and Burn

The show opens with a brief recap of last week’s action. Well, there was no action last week – so most of the recap is really stuff from the week before. What could have prompted the tall foreheads at CBC to do that? If they knew last week was so boring, why did they make us watch it? Aah, at least you guys get to read my recap, which had more entertainment value than the actual episode!

Whatever. I’ll just remind you that as a result of the physical tests, only one more player (overweight #48 Leveiller) was cut.

The show opens for real with a Black Aces practice session. They’re working pretty hard, because they know that at some point, they might get a chance to be promoted back onto the Elite squad. The coaches are watching very intently and agree that one main difference between the two squads is their consistency of performance. The Black Aces just don’t deliver the same quality on a day-to-day basis.

A couple of the injured guys are getting real itchy to get back on the ice. After two days out, #27 Harkins wants to try and play with his bad back. “Hockey players play,” he says. He lies about the shape he’s in, admitting in an aside that his conditioning is “very bad.” Harkins talks a good talk, he’s acting like a 10-year NHL vet. After three days, #50 Kahler wants back in, too. Kahler thinks #18 Kivell gave him a cheap shot and he’s looking for payback. “Something will come back to him, it’s a long camp,” he warns. The next interview is with Kivell, who thinks he has no enemies. Keep your head up, buddy!

The coaches talk next, saying that the players know the difference between clean hits and dirty hits. This is accompanied by footage of several dirty hits from two episodes ago. Elbowing, charging, boarding, cross-checking … it’s all there in all its ugly glory. Well, we’re not seeing that dirty hits are being penalized, so you can only expect things to escalate before they get better. Those who have been the victims know exactly whom they need to settle up with, and … it’s a long camp. There’s plenty of time to get even.

The next day at the rink, #57 Jefkins is missing. Although he’s reported as “sick” for the last couple of days, he’s still expected to report to the training staff at the rink. Team management is mad. It turns out he slept through his alarm, which is not the best thing to happen when your entire future is on the line. He has to be fetched. This kid just doesn’t get it.

Profile: #9 Eric Boucher: This is an odd profile, as there’s little focus on hockey. They tell us that if he doesn’t make it as a player, he’s been studying criminology at the University of Ottawa while playing for the University team. He has a future with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We were previously told that he didn’t really expect to make it onto the show. In the physical tests, he performed at the top. He was moved from defence to the wing earlier in camp, and made the adjustment seamlessly.

The next scene is about some downtime for the players. They went to the beach, played volleyball, swam, tanned, and ate BBQ. Fun, but this isn’t hockey, so let’s move on.

Back at camp, the coaches are reviewing video with the players. Must be old video, as none of it is of the VO2 tests.

Profile: #52 Matt Hubbauer: Matt was a WHL all-star with the Regna Pats, and made it to training camp with the Detroit Red Wings. But his career got derailed. After an injury didn’t seem to heal properly, a CAT-scan showed he had a cancerous growth in his nasal cavity. In a nice touch, the Coaches Corner clip is replayed where Don Cherry wishes him a speedy recovery. He’s fine now, and the experience has provided motivation for him.

OK, back to hockey. Today will be a three-on-three game. The objective here is to expose those who are weak skaters or out of condition – there’s no place to hide. In three-on-three hockey, there are no whistles and no face-offs and play is virtually non-stop.

We learn that after being out for three days with a concussion, #45 MacGillivray has returned from the injured list. Several Black Aces will be used to round out the rosters.

It’s at this time that the head coaches are finding out that #57 Jefkins is M.I.A. To say they are not pleased would be an understatement!

Well, in the game there are tons of goals, so many that they don’t even tell us who scores most of them. At one point, after they get tangled up, #61 Wires take a glove-on poke at #9 Boucher … I guess that wasn’t considered a fight. A little later, Boucher repays Wires by running him into the boards with a strong but legal check. That’s the way it’s supposed to happen.

None of the goalies are stopping much of anything. Finally, #32 Cunning of Team Gold starts to find his game and makes several key saves. When they break for shooting drills, he continues to make the majority of saves, and this impresses the coaches.