Once again, thanks for bearing with me through my unusual schedule this week.
The good news is that today, it generated some original Canucks content.
I spoke directly with Dan Hamhuis, who wore the "C" today for Team Canada's 10-1 win over Austria while Sidney Crosby sat out to rest. "It’s an honour for sure," said Hamhuis. "I’ve got some big shoes to fill for sure for Sid."
Click here for my game story for the Canadian Press, which also sets up Canada's quarterfinal matchup with Belarus on Thursday.
This is where things get interesting. Canada hasn't had a perfect preliminary round since 2008 and has been eliminated at the quarterfinal stage for the last five straight years.
Team Canada finished the preliminary round this time around with 49 goals in seven games—averaging seven goals a game and hitting double figures twice.
Here's a bonus quote from Hamhuis that didn't make the game story, talking about the secret of Canada's success and the plan going forward.
One of the things that we've had that has made our team successful is everybody buying in, and buying into their roles.
I think when guys come over here, they play different roles—probably more minutes on their club teams back home. To be put in a checking role, or not on the power play, or playing less minutes—that's hard but I think guys on our team have done a really good job of that.
It's good for our scorers to be feeling the puck and going to the net but defence is our number one focus, especially when you get down to the medal round. It's going to be essential and our offense will come from that.
Hamhuis is the veteran with the most World Championship experience on this year's roster. He has now played 46 games, not counting the Olympics, over six World Championships, which moves him to fourth all-time—and counting—behind Ryan Smyth (60), Dany Heatley (52) and Shane Doan (48).
Hamhuis was a mainstay of Canada's successful teams from 2006 to 2009. He picked up a gold medal in 2007 and two silvers in 2008 and 2009 while he was a member of the Nashville Predators. He also played on the fifth-place squad in 2014.
The other matchup here in Prague on Thursday will feature the second-place Russians from Group B coming in to face the host Czechs, who finished third in Group A.
Ostrava will host the other two quarterfinal games: Top seed Team USA vs. Switzerland and Sweden vs. Finland.
The tournament has been a blast so far. The weather has been great and the city feels like it's as hockey-mad as I am. There was no shortage of rowdy fans outside the O2 Arena when I arrived an hour before today's noon start for the Canada/Austria rout.
With some work to do, I watched tonight's Czech/Swiss game from my hotel room, which is just a couple of blocks away from the arena. The sound of the outdoor pregame party set the mood for me, but I knew this is a real hockey town when the streets grew silent a few minutes before puck drop. It sounded like virtually every man, woman and child was either at the arena or inside watching the game.
The Czech Sports TV channel in my room is providing nonstop coverage. Not quite five channels like back home, but we're getting a condensed version of the Finland/Russia game from Ostrava now that the home team's match is complete.
Goaltending Prospect Thatcher Demko has Hip Surgery
Back on North American soil, here's the other Canuck news that broke today:
This should not come as a surprise. When Demko was drafted last summer, Jason Botchford reported that this was the plan all along, and is part of the reason why a goalie with as much promise as Demko fell into the second round.
Click here for a refresher.
The procedures for goalies are becoming comparable to Tommy John surgeries for pitchers.
Not only are they increasingly common, they are relatively easy and safe. Goalies are recovering more quickly every year, and some are adamant they have gained both flexibility and strength in the hips after full recovery.
It’s a point Eddie Lack kept making when he showed up at training camp in the fall, fully recovered from his own hip surgery.
According to Botchford, other goalies who have undergone the procedure include Jonas Hiller and 2015 World Junior star Eric Comrie.
It sounds like Demko should be ready to go when fall rolls around.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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