What Do I Think of The Sports So Far?

                So what do I think of the sports recently? Well let's start with Hockey, the NHL. Most of us here at CBOTW are happy that Boston is out and especially Chris who hates Boston Bruins. He likes the city but he hates the hockey and basketball teams as he is not an avid fan since he was in Boston Summer of 2019. He is not a Boston fan whatsoever minus Red Sox is the only team he doesn't dislike which is kind of odd as their competition to our Blue Jays up here in Toronto, Canada which we will get to on today's blog post. 4 teams I like are Islanders, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Vancouver since we're Canadian group and we tend to route for most of the Canadian teams minus Montreal as we're not Canadians fans at this time. We're hoping for Islanders to be in the next round as it is tied up at this point. Same with Vancouver. I guess Chris and I are sort fo on the same route for routing the same way but instead of Dallas I'm routing for Colorado and Philadelphia. The ones I mentioned above was Chris's picks so there is one series in difference  

 

                 Now onto Basketball we're clearly routing for Raptors to bounce on back and take this series against the Celtics and they won what I heard last night and we're excited!  Again obvious we're cheering Raptors cause 1 we're Canadian, 2 Chris does not like the Celtics. They look tough to beat though!  If the Raptors make it to the finals again, they will not be facing a different team since the team Golden State are not a very good team this year so it will be someone different. That is only if they make it but have to remain positive they bounce back on this series. Now finally Baseball Blue Jays are very surprising, they had a rocky start to their season but really done extremely well. They have been winning a lot more and winning 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 games in the series and really showing they wanna win. I know they split the games against Miami but that's OK they have been winning a ton so either way we should remain happy. There is my post and I will be speaking to you guys again tomorrow with another post.

Arianna, CBOTW Community Manager

My Thoughts On The General's Training Camp?

            As you all know this week I was at where the Oshawa Generals play and have been there twice out of the 3 days watching their camps. My one concern was the defense men size as a team shouldn't have smaller D and D short for Defence. Anyways. It was an excited sessions with 6 - 4 Team Lindros, then 6 - 5 Team Lindros. I obviously skipped the Wednesday as I had other plans already made so yesterday I went to the single last scrimmage and that was another wild scoring. Unfortunate goaltender injury but he was able to get up and he was pulled from the scrimmage. I definitely know Hughes will be on that list as he played with them last year and definitely think he could even be the # 1 starter as he performed very well. Now back up goalie is a tough pick. The other goalie which I cannot pronounce his name or spill it but I definitely think he could be picked and moving forward  if the GM and coach overlook him getting hurt, it could be a possibility. SBrocca could be a possibility and I was just on their website and I saw he is listed under the roster so sounds like he's moved on but yet they still got Keyser and Ceci listed which they are no longer in the league and/or moved on to the NHL. I think they definitely need to update their website with the roster as we haven't picked our full team for the 2019 - 2020 and they more then likely have started cutting players. According to a friend of mine they will be cutting half of the 52 players that was at the training camp which is crazy but hope to see some players I had in my mind.


                Now Harrison I liked and Pitt were on my list and Pitt was actually signed on OHL Players Standard Agreement which I am not too sure what that means but I'm not sure if they are on the team for 2019 - 2020 but I guess we will definitely find out and if I hear anything else. Also McSorely which my dad and I think he's the son of Marty a former NHL player but I have tried to look it up and nothing came up so I do not know. Like I said Goaltending will not be easy pick and honestly I was not sure to who to pick as majority of the goalies did well and performed well. In the end of the week I think it was a crazy week with the scoring and a lot of talent and it will be indeed a tough decision for the General Manager to make a decision to who to cut and who to take to the next round of cuts so it will definitely will not be an easy choice as there is so much talent this year. Just hope they got some good size defencemen on the list but I think it will be an interesting year for the Gens and I am excited to be going to games as I am now booked for several games, opening night, December 13th, January 25th and one in March with both Eric and I's dad so it will be exciting to be going to several games and hopefully even playoffs game but I do not want to get that far as of it as the season hasn't started yet.




Chris

My Thoughts About The Maple Leafs Changes

             All these changes had to happen, especially if Babcock wants to stay on as coach and he will be here to stay. Don't get me wrong he's a great coach and one of the best in the league and we wouldn't have gone this far without him! We have progressed well over the last couple of years with 2 playoff appearances. Mind you we have not gone far in the playoffs but just wait till the upcoming season. I think and got a great feeling we will have one hell of a team this year. Now I know Gardiner is gone as he became a restricted Free agent and we are still waiting to sign Marner which is still pending. Now back up goalie is the only concern I have really. We have Hutchinson and he could be our next back up goalie but we will have to say. Now we have invited Micheal Neuvirth who is a former Generals goaltender and he was one heck of a goalie when he played for the Gens. Yes Gens are my local Ontario Hockey League team. Anyways I know he has had his struggles in the goal but never know, he could perform well and could be our #2 man between the pipes but if not Hutchinson, could get the nod for the position and hes done fine when he was called up last season. Majority of these players, Kerfoot, etc I do not know much about but I will have to learn about them. Don't get me wrong, it is exciting to see new faces and see the direction the management and I feel very upbeat with the changes. One last thing we need to do is get our backup goalie and we should be good and ready to go. Yes I admit getting rid of Mcelhinney but I see why as they want to get a young team and build it from there. 


              One way or another, if Neuvirth isn't signed which my dad is not very upbeat because of his past seasons not doing well, however we are giving him a chance and that is what matters. We invited him to the training camp and he could be training hard for the upcoming training and could surprise us. You never really know what he will bring to the table honestly. Either way I am excited for this season and I honestly am over this baseball season as the Jays have not been doing that great, I mean yes they win here and there but I think at this point I am ready for hockey season and ready to see how the Maple Leafs do this season with all the new players they have acquired on the off season. It will be an interesting year and I will be watching all 82 games plus playoff games too but we need to focus on the season first before playoffs as I seem to have jumped too far ahead of myself and I need to just worry about the season first. I am most looking forward to the Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens aka the Toilet Seats as I give em the nickname. Especially as my friend, he's a Habs fan and I am a Leaf, there is a ton of comments between us which is hilarious hear us bicker at each other over our teams.




Chris

What Do I Think About The Leafs So Far?

                There are a few points I would like to make on today's blog post and most of em are positive but a few things are on my mind and I will definitely will be covering that in today's blog post. Yes, I am happy they can win games and their offense is really strong. I am however still concerned about the defence side of things but I have to trust the management and the coach Mike Babcock in what they are doing. That one big win against the Oilers and the Sabres was great. The one thing that did bother me was letting in 6 goals and losing the game against Calgary. Don't get me wrong depending how far the Leafs go, if they lose, I will be cheering em on in the West to win the Cup as it is indeed time for a Canadian team to win the Stanley cup! 


                 Leafs should have a closer game especially when it comes to team at their caliber (around the same rank they are at such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) Honestly I am not sure if they are ready to win a cup, however yes we have a great team and we have to take baby steps to the top and give em some time, they will be at the top and I know eventually they will have a definite winning team. I have to also remember that they are learning as we have had a bunch of new players and they have to get use to each other and learn to work together. They are becoming a team to beat and you gotta be patient, they cannot win everything and yes Islanders played very well that night but tonight will be a test for sure! What do I mean? Well obviously they are playing in Calgary while in their 3 game road trip out west against Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton. Yes I hope the Leafs win tonight or have a very close game tonight. Just hope they play Freddy Anderson tonight as he probably will be the one to play tonight as Calgary will be a tough game but I know they have the skills do fine as long as the defence helps out the goalie.






Chris

2018 NHL Playoffs Thoughts For The Past Week!

              So I made the discussion on social media and you guys want me to talk briefly about things going in the NHL. I will try to not ramble on and on with paragraphs but tons to talk about in the NHL Round 1.


              First of all The Toronto Maple Leafs, honestly, I thought they would of done better then this. They had the upper hand during the regular season and beat Boston a lot more then they have been, being blown out 7 - 3 the last game in Game 2.  I will talk more about it on Saturday when I do another sports related blog post.  Tampa Bay I am not surprised with them winning as they are the top team in the East at the end of the 2017 - 2018 Season. Minnesota with their crazy score Sunday night puts them 1 game from tying the series at 2 and they sure a wild card team on my list as I know they can win if they put their minds to it. I was expecting Winnipeg to have more of a lead then this but you never know what happens in the playoffs. Sometimes the odd ball team can surprise you in the playoffs!  


                Now Nashville, Las Vegas I am not surprised they are winning their games, Nashville 2 - 0 lead over the Avalanche, Las Vegas 3 - 0 over the Kings which will be over tonight if they win the next game tonight. As for the Leafs they need to start winning games if they want to stay in the playoffs, I do not expect them to go past Tampa Bay Lighting, that will be a challenge and a half to win but they have been close to winning against Tampa Bay, but my thought is they aren't ready to start winning the Stanley Cup.  Sharks are 2 - 0 lead over the Quackers (Ducks), the game I think will be over by 4 games as they keep on winning, they will win 4 games to 0. Like I said above, Minnesota could surprise the heck out of all of us and start winning. Same goes with the Flyers who have won a game against the Penguins (Sorry Jeff Lieberman)  but anything is possible but I do see the front runners in the series going on, Las Vegas, Tampa, Boston (that is if Toronto don't START winning!), Sharks. But anything is possible and I can see a possible upset but I will leave it to you to guess which team it is! 



Chris

Prospect's Grill @ Tribute Community Center REVIEW

              Yesterday, I got to go to an Ontario Hockey League game for those who don't know, I live in a city which has one and I will not reveal the city as I do not want to end up doxed but I got to also go out for dinner with my friends before the hockey game happened and I will not talk about the game in this blog, nor ever talk about the game from last night as I am embarrassed and plus I wanted to go at it with a fan. 


               Anyways,  I went for dinner before the game, like I said and I ordered a Beef Hamburger, I could of gotten Chicken Burger if I wished but I rather have gotten my normal beef burger. It had lettuce, onions and pickles on it, along with the condiments mustard and ketchup. The burger was so juicy, the bun was so fresh and it fell apart which means it was a fresh bun. The cook on the burger was perfect not burnt, just as I like it Medium rare. I know I sound like Gordon Ramsey don't I? ha-ha! Now lets move on to the next part, the french fries and trust me they had enough of them but I managed to eat everything on my plate last night. The fries were cooked nicely, they actually had the skin on them, which is what I love is the skin action on the fries, now I don't mind it without the skin but I will eat them with the skin on, it seals in the flavor of the fry. Now add it with ketchup or vinegar and it is awesome! Price wise, it is very reasonable prices, especially if you ordered what I did I paid about $18.60 for my meal which is reasonable. Also I got free refills on my cold beverages too which I took advantage and I got a re-fill on my drink. 


              Trust me I was full by the end of the dinner and felt very satisfying to have a full stomach but I really enjoyed eating at the Prospects Grill and I will rate it 5 out of 5 stars and in the end I would go back to the Prospects Grill for another meal and never know I may try something else different and see how it tastes, but all I know they will see me again in the near future, next time I'm at a Gens game with my friends or with my family members, I'll be back for sure!


Chris