First off, as folks get back to work today after the long weekend, it looks like the Canucks have dropped prices on some lower-bowl seats in an effort to get more bodies into the building on a regular basis at Rogers Arena next season:
It's a good plan. Not only does the team miss out on ancillary revenue from food, beverages and merchandise when seats go empty, those empty seats also don't cheer or chant or get in on the action. The closer the team can get to filling the lower bowl, the better the atmosphere will be in Rogers Arena—especially if those tickets come at a reasonable-enough price point that they're within reach of "real fans."
Brock Boeser Scores Hat Trick at U.S. Summer Camp
Now, on to the news from yesterday's summer camps. New Canucks draft pick Brock Boeser showed off the shot that Jim Benning raved about when he scored three goals in Team White's 10-4 win over the Swedes on Monday in Lake Placid.
Check it out:
Boeser's first goal comes at the 4:49 mark of the video—a slick one-timer on the power play from the left faceoff dot that's highly reminiscent of Steven Stamkos or Alex Ovechkin.
The second one comes at 7:09—another one-timer, this one from farther out.
Boeser's hat trick goal comes at 12:14—with less than a minute to go in the game, Boeser drives down Main Street and converts a close-in pass on a quick transition play by Team USA.
Here's how ESPN analyst Corey Pronman assesses Boeser's game:
Brock Boeser-VAN hasn't been too visible, but his shot is probably the best here. Has put away a few chances from a distance.
The U.S. coaching staff cut their roster from 39 to 32 players on Tuesday, and Boeser's sticking around after yesterday's performance. They'll eventually need to get down to 23 for the World Junior tournament in Helsinki.
It tends to be an uphill battle for 18-year-olds to make World Junior squads, but so far Boeser seems to be making the most of his opportunity.
Coach Ron Wilson will have his entire roster to pick from when he puts together his lineups for Team USA's three remaining games, starting Wednesday against Finland. Boeser's next challenge will be to try to make as much of an impression as possible now that the competition is stiffening in the back half of camp.
Jared McCann Leaves Game After Huge Hit at Team Canada Summer Camp
All my glee about watching live hockey with Gord Miller calling the play on TSN last night was dampened when Canucks prospect Jared McCann was flattened on a big open-ice hit by Russian defenseman Nikita Zhuldikov early in the second period of Monday's 4-1 win for Team Canada.
Video of the hit is embedded in this story:
Watch huge hit knock Canucks prospect Jared McCann out of World Junior showcase game http://t.co/F07E3oRlZb
McCann didn't return to the game after the hit. You never know what'll happen with symptoms from hits to the head, but at this point, it sounds like he could return to the ice this week.
Lowry says McCann is "fine", will be re-evaluated Tuesday before further Team Canada comment. https://t.co/vzNRdGx07i
Team Canada is back in action today, with Jake Virtanen on the ice as part of the second Canadian group, facing the Czech Republic. It's an earlier start today—the game goes at 4:30 p.m. PT, once again televised on TSN.
With the evenings now cooling off, darkness falling by 9:00 and hockey on the tube, last night felt to me like the new season is just around the corner.
We've had a long wait. It won't be much longer now!