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The Weekly Backcheck - 04/07/11

Written by Will Martinez. Posted in Blogs - The Rumble

Let's Start With Habs Stuff...

• My personal vote would've gone to Hal Gill (or trainer Graham Rynbend in a perfect world) but I have no problem with Roman Hamrlik winning the Jacques Beauchamp award for the team's "unsung hero". Regardless of whether he makes $5.5 million, Hamrlik is an overlooked member of the team when you take into consideration the steadying influence he's had on a patch-work blue line this year. He's been asked to play far more minutes than he should and more often than not, he's handled the work load quite well. There are too many crazy contracts in the NHL to use salary as a gauge for a player's value to his team.

• Tuesday night's game against Chicago was as much like a playoff game as anything this season and about as exciting as a 2-1 game could get. The playoff feel wasn't lost among the players as the key guys from last year's run showed up big. The Scott Gomez-Brian Gionta-Mathieu Darche line had another solid game, P.K. Subban and Hal Gill played very well and Michael Cammalleri showed signs of his old self earning several scoring chances. Obviously, the most reminiscing aspect of the game from last spring was the miraculous goaltending as Carey Price was phenomenal. There are certainly reasons for optimism once the playoffs start April 13th.

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Ringside 10 Weigh In Results

Written by Gary "Rumble" Whittaker. Posted in Blogs - The Rumble

The weigh-in results for Ringside 10, which took place at La Cage aux Sports at the Centre Bell today at 1pm. The results are courtesy of Sebastien Chenier from TOP MMA NEWS who was in attendance. With 2 titles on the line, all 4 fighters involved made weight, meaning that there will be 2 five round matches tomorrow night.

Patrick Cote (184.4) vs. Kalib Starnes (185.6)

Seth Baczynski (169.8) vs. Alex Garcia (169.8)
*** for Interim Ringside Welterweight Title

Michel Gagnon (144.8) vs. Rejean Groulx (144.2)
*** for Ringside Featherweight Title

Martin Désilets (204.2) vs. Roger Hollett (204.6)
Mike Ricci (156.6)* vs. Jesse Ronson (155.4)
Derek Gauthier (155.8) vs. Iraj Hadin (156)
Keven Morin (155.8) vs Guillaume Lamarche (155)
Valerie Letourneau (134.4) vs. Julie Malenfant (135.2)
Robert Masson (232) vs. Lenard Terrance (280.2)**

* Loses 20% of his purse

**No maximum weight limit for Heavyweight in Quebec.

Source: TOP MMA NEWS

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Canadiens-Senators: Filip Kuba Scores Overtime Winner to Down Habs

Written by Kamal Panesar. Posted in Blogs - The Rumble


The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators faced off last night in a match whose outcome would not significantly affect the standings.

With the Senators already eliminated from playoff contention and the Habs clinching their post-season spot on Tuesday, there wasn't a huge motivation for either team to win.

In addition, the Sens had a bevy of players called up from Binghamton, their AHL affiliate, meaning their skill level left much to be desired.

As such, you would think it would be an easy victory for Montreal. However they fell into the trap of playing down to their opponent's skill level.

The result was, well, a mostly lame match. Not a lot happening either way, not a lot of great scoring chances and little to cheer about for either fan base.
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MMA Live 1: MacDonald, Barone, Opponents Set

Written by Gary "Rumble" Whittaker. Posted in Blogs - The Rumble

Ottawa sports fans, have no fear! Despite the early demise of your Ottawa Senators, 2 local athletes are ready to step up and represent the city and its fans at the first of MMA Live's 3 scheduled events, which will take place on May 19th at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. We have learned that teammates Cory MacDonald and Anna "Smiles Barone have both signed multi-fight deals with the promotion, an agreement that has already paid huge dividends both fighters. The Jones Entertainment Group (JEG) which is presenting MMA Live, is really looking to make a statement with their inaugural event, signing high caliber fighters to compete, as well as new UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones to be in attendance.

Cory MacDonald was once regarded among Canada's best prospects, which had the unfortunate result of making it difficult for promotions to get quality opponents who would be willing to fight him. JEG was more than up to the task in accommodating the highly skilled native of Ontario who has not lost since July, 2007 against Jonathan "Road Warrior" Goulet, a span of almost 4 years and including 7 straight victories. Marcus "Maximus" Aurelio (20-9-0) will face the 12-2-0 Canadian who trains out of Kingston, Ontario and the world renown TriStar gym. Aurelio is a 5 time UFC veteran who has fought such notables as Shinya Aoki, Evan Dunham, Hermes Franca, Tyson Griffin, Clay Guida, Takanori Gomi, and Rich Clementi. According to MacDonald's camp, "MMA Live is committed to bring in high level UFC veterans to finally give Cory the platform he needs to showcase that he’s one of Canada’s top welterweights". A win over the likes of Aurelio will give MacDonald some much deserved recognition on the international stage.

For her part, Anna "Smiles" Barone (1-2-0) has been re-tooling, and re-focusing with a new team of coaches, a new training camp, and now a new promotion. She will need all of it as she takes on 2 time Strikeforce Challenger series fighter Julia "The Jewel" Budd (1-1). Both fighters are coming off losses and will be hungry for a victory. Barone has been spending her time training both out of Ottawa, as well as Tristar gym, and has never been one to shy away from a challenge. In fact, she relishes being the underdog, a trait that could have been developed from having 5 older brothers. A win not only evens her record at 2, but combined with her attitude of taking on all-comers, it opens the door to amazing possibilities for future opponents.

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Canadiens Game Day: Alex Auld Gets the Call for Habs Against Sens

Written by Kamal Panesar. Posted in Blogs - The Rumble


The Montreal Canadiens, fresh off clinching their four straight playoff appearance, embark on their penultimate game of the season tonight in Ottawa against the Senators.

This will be the sixth and final game of the season between the two teams, in which the Sens have not fared very well. Montreal has won four of the five matches so far and outscored the Sens 11-2 in their last two wins.

The Habs have only been playing .500 hockey over their last ten games, however, and will be trying on entering the playoffs on a roll.

For the Sens, their season ends once the regular season is over. However these are still professional athletes and, as such, will be playing for pride more than anything else.
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Canadiens-Blackhawks: P.K. Subban's OT Winner Puts Habs in the Playoffs

Written by Kamal Panesar. Posted in Blogs - The Rumble


After a few nervous moments for Habs fans in recent weeks, the Montreal Canadiens were finally able to clinch a playoff spot last night.

With only three games remaining prior to yesterday's tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks, Habs-nation was cautiously optimistic about the Canadiens chances. However Montreal fans had bad memories of last year when they qualified in the final game of the season, by losing in overtime to the Leafs.

With games Thursday against the Sens and Saturday against the Leafs, the hope was that they could get in done before the weekend.
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@vivianmtl LOL! I am totally on your side! I got into a heated debate earlier over the While Men Watch ladies...1 of which will be on 2moro

by thefranchiseca

@vivianmtl lol! don't let certain bloggers c u write that...because apparently women who love sports don't-shouldnt talk that way ;)

by thefranchiseca