Islander News Articles 12/7

Newsday: Greg Logan has the recap of the Islanders 5-1 loss to Atlanta, head coach Scott Gordon credited the effort and pointed to the disparity in chances his team had along with how few sustained chances the Thrashers got. Andy Sutton talked about the penalties and said the team has to stick to the system while goaltender Joey MacDonald talked about how he has to play better and felt he let the club down while Mr Logan brought up the issue of fatigue.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If MacDonald says he is fatigued that is one thing but I cannot put any of those goals on him or any kind of wear given where they were scored. If Scott Gordon wants to say his team put in the effort where were the quality chances for all the disparity in play/shots against? Hedberg needed one very good save on Jackman to show for his nights work and another on Sillinger in the first, that was about it.

Edit-Add in Comeau's two early chances. Someone have another I would like to know?

Daily News: Peter Botte's game article (no quotes this hour) but some on last years youth movement with Gordon vs Nolan.

NY Post: Dan Martin's article was on a club looking for positives about losing to a club 5-1 with the worst record in the Eastern Conference with Scott Gordon, Andy Sutton, Joey MacDonald & Blake Comeau.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mike Knobler recaps the Thrashers win and has blog coverage.

Star Phoenix: Cory Wolfe & Kevin Mitchell has Mr Wolfe traveling with the Saskatoon Blades through B.C. who sat down with defenseman Jyri Niemi who talked about being named to team Finland for the WJC & Christmas traditions back home.

AHL.com: Recaps Bridgeport's 6-3 loss at Harbor Yard to Norfolk on Saturday.

Scoring
1. NOR Potulny, (3) (Bochenski, Konopka), 3:31 (PP)
1. NOR Kearns, (5) (Mihalik, Heward), 7:47
1. NOR Kearns, (6) (Simek, Ward), 16:54
2. BRI Smith, (10) (MacDonald, McLean), 0:23 (PP)
2. NOR Bochenski, (10) (Konopka, Potulny), 10:37 (PP)
2. NOR Bochenski, (11) (Potulny, Konopka), 11:43 (PP)
3. NOR Segal, (9) (Ward), 9:00 (SH)
3. BRI Smith, (11) (Walter, Iggulden), 13:06 (PP)
3. BRI Iggulden, (14) (Smith, McLean), 17:51 (PP)

Jeff Tambellini had eight shots and was a minus one.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had head coach Jack Capuano and Mike Iggulden on the Sound Tigers loss with the head coach not happy with losing the physical game or having the legs under them in this one.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Bridgeport will see a lot of Norfolk in the next few weeks. Jack Capuano seemed to have no problem going to Utah for toughness.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has Jeff Tambellini's comments who talked about having to create time and space to get his chances when he returns to New York after his conditioning assignment along with a preview of Sunday's game in Lowell here.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog includes Bridgeport goaltender Nate Lawson getting injured on a hit from a Norfolk Admiral (Jason Ward) and not returning after he relieved Peter Mannino who allowed all six Norfolk goals on thirty three shots.

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot: Covers the Admirals.

Atlanta 5, New York 1

Sports Network: Recaps the Islanders 5-1 loss on Saturday to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Up there with Buffalo for the worst effort of the season despite the final score, kind of team play where a gm/coach has to wonder if it's time for a trade after the game in Washington because despite the shot disparity and the Islanders in Atlanta's end of the ice they did not generate nearly enough quality chances.

No excuses at all for this and the Islanders got exactly what they deserved.

Atlanta was horrible in this game for sixty minutes.

Takes talent to come out and generate that little in quality chances against another club waiting to lose that gave up an early goal (had only fourteen shots and led
5-1) that kept giving the Islanders powerplays who generated virtually nothing with them.

Sooner or later Atlanta was going to get some chances, they got a bounce on Boulton's goal off Witt but it never should have come to that. Sillinger did not have Little.

Another game where the Islanders could not put two passes together in the offensive zone or sustain any kind of forecheck after the opening two minutes where Weight's
low-percentage pass made it to Streit before Guerin took a return for a shot that went through Hedberg.

Scott Gordon looked like a man who found some of Ted Nolan's old powerplay notes to live and die by.

Powerplay time he put on Hilbert, Park out for close to two minutes each in the first two periods knowing their career offensive numbers do not lie.

Islanders died, this is where the game was lost because they needed a shooter.

Expecting skill goals from them is not going to happen, a bounce off someone for a rediretion goal sure (Meyer) but this is not how you score big goals with any kind of consistency.

Career records do not lie, same for Jackman, Thompson.

Put Bergenheim (who at even strength better get his act together with the offensive zone penalties because it looks lazy and immature) on the powerplay for a whopping twenty seven seconds through two periods?

Get Blake Comeau who was easily the best Islander forward (two excellent early chances, pass to Sillinger for good chance, big second period hit and setup) twelve seconds?

Skill players make skill plays. Forwards who do not have hands will most likely not score which is where Jackman comes in who was one of the few other forwards working but we know will not finish on a regular basis at this level.

Not much else on offense except Comeau finding Streit in the third for a post before hitting one of his own.

Sutton was a horror show, his second period turnover for Kovalchuk's goal, the third period penalty with Park's stick.

Pock another minus three and some running around.

MacDonald should have sued for non-support, major league chop when he came out late in the game.

Good thing Atlanta is a terrible third period team so the Islanders could barely test Hedberg.

This loss was that bad, so were the Thrashers.

Will be interesting to see how Scott Gordon reacts live. sorry Hockey Night New York so no dice, time for more 1994 infomercials from Msg.

Atlanta at New York 7pm Msg+

Comeau recalled, Tambellini on conditioning assignment.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler's Thrasher update from Friday will tell you about a team that has blown several third period leads that would be in a playoff spot if not for the late game collapses.

No, he was not writing about the Islanders, who apparently share something in common with one of the clubs behind them in the standings.

Of course Atlanta was one club that rallied to beat the Islanders.

They come to New York five games under after a 5-1 loss to Ottawa on a five game losing streak after a recent five game winning streak. They did lose 5-4 against Montreal (fourth goal after an empty net score by Canadians) so this team can put up some goals between Little, Kozlov and with Kovalchuk they have one of the most dynamic players in the NHL despite head coach John Anderson being the latest to try and change his game somewhat.

If Atlanta on a five game losing streak with one game in seven days does not come in and play as desperate as a club can be for December they need some changes.

Ondrej Pavelec has started two of the last three in goal who defeated the Islanders in one of his early starts after being called up.

Injuries
C Steve Rucchin Concussion Doubtful
G Kari Lehtonen Back IR
D Mathieu Schneider Upper body Questionable
D Zach Bogosian Leg IR

From the Islanders side they need to be just as desperate because three games under in this league means you are going nowhere but to the lottery. Without Okposo, Nielsen, with Sillinger-Thompson someone is going to have to step up here (don't count on pp goals from Park-Hilbert) but more importantly this club has to start playing some defense regardless of whether it's Pock in or Martinek because MacDonald is not getting a chance and giving them outstanding goaltending.

This is one of those games Scott Gordon should have his club ready to get after the Thrashers from the opening drop of the puck after what we saw in Washington. I have read alot about the Islanders weathering other clubs storms this seasons to start games. It's time the Islanders come out and get right after Atlanta.

Last time on home ice for a while, they need two points here and something to build on.

If they can't it's time to callup some speed and skill from Bridgeport.

Updated:
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports in his blog Blake Comeau has been recalled to the Islanders while Jeff Tambellini agreed to accept a conditioning assignment.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Waste of time for Tambellini, nothing left for him to prove in the AHL regardless of how many goals he scores, we saw this a year ago when he went down and dominated, he was recalled and it amounted to nothing. He either figures it out here and the Islanders give him that time or it's time to find another organization for him.

Apparently Blake Comeau can play Scott Gordon's system in Bridgeport, now we see if he can win over the coach who sent him down or is this all tied in with Tambellini because both play left wing.

At the very least I get Comeau in a third jersey for the header, about a year to the day he was recalled last time after Chris Simon's suspension.

Updated 4pm:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mr Knobler reports Johan Hedberg gets the start in goal for Atlanta. No one returning who was on Thrashers injury report.

Scott Rechler's recent comments on LightHouse

A lot of folks have been waiting for Charles Wang to say something about the Lighthouse or Newsday called for him to comment, we have read a lot from Gary Bettman and now have Kate Murray's recent interview.

What a lot of folks (myself included) tend to forget is without Rexcorp and Mr Wang's business partner Scott Rechler there is no Lighthouse Project.

Mr Rechler had a lot to say about the economy on Long Island this week and wrote a full article in Newsday where he does mention the two billion dollar Lighthouse project and made his case why this is the right time to invest money here in a project like this.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not an Islander-Nassau Coliseum-Lighthouse centric article but he does make a lot of very good points on the economy.

Forgetting the Islanders for a moment where does Nassau County/Town of Hempstead have anyone willing to finance this kind of project in a recession where it will create jobs and revenue to say nothing about saving Nassau from spending hundreds of millions to keep the Nassau Coliseum a viable alternative to operate?

Smg is not going to pay to renovate Nassau County's building, Charles Wang owns the hockey team, not Nassau Coliseum as generous (sarcasm) as it is for Kate Murray to allow him to renovate it as a stand alone project now while reportedly offering nothing to make that economically feasible for anyone.

Another little reality check here is Rexcorp and the Marriott Hotel will still be there with Mr Rechler & Mr Wang owning the hotel here if this project is turned down. I would not expect either to give approval to another developer or project on their doorstep.

Islander News Articles 12/6

Newsday: Greg Logan has Kyle Okposo about on his wrist injury which is now in a cast and will keep him out an additional four-six weeks and what it means not to be playing. Head coach Scott Gordon comments about what this does to a club trying to work in it's young players as he spoke about Okposo's & Nielsen's absence to his lineup.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mike Knobler reports in the Thrashers blog they have been in New York since the Ottawa game on Wednesday. Atlanta's first stretch without back to back game since Nov. 23 and 24, and another three day break after the Islander game.

Ilya Kovalchuk played a season-high 25:25 at Ottawa, half with Chris Thorburn and Marty Reasoner. Former Islander Mathieu Schneider (shoulder) has not rejoined the team but according to the writer there was a possibility he’d be back for Saturday’s game. Word as of Wednesday night on Kari Lehtonen (back) and Zach Bogosian (leg) was good.

AHL.com: Recaps Bridgeport's 6-5 shootout win in Binghampton Friday night.

Scoring
1. BRI Smith, (9) (Kohn, Iggulden), 4:17
1. BRI Joensuu, (9) (Comeau, Walter), 9:35
1. BNG Regin, (3) , 10:49
1. BNG Regin, (4) (Hamel, Kudelka), 13:02 (PP)
1. BRI Iggulden, (13) (McLean, Callahan), 14:47
2. BRI Walter, (5) , 6:37
2. BNG Petruic, (1) (Zubov, Bois), 14:50
3. BRI Joensuu, (10) (Comeau), 10:28
3. BNG Fata, (2) (Smith, Hennessy), 15:46
3. BNG Shannon, (6) (Zubov, Kudelka), 19:34 (PP)

Nate Lawson had forty six saves on fifty one shots.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recapped Bridgeport's 6-5 shootout win in Binghampton with comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Blake Comeau and Jesse Joensuu who had two goals including the shootout winner.

SoundTigers twice surrendered two goal leads.

Ct Post : Mr Fornabaio has a brief preview of Saturday's home game and a postgame blog with more from Comeau and a lot of items here.

From the pregame Fritz played, Jeremy Colliton was out with a sore knee among the injured/scratches.

Press & Sun-Bulletin: Has Michael Sharp's game coverage.

Quick Hits

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islander Insider had a lot of the same about Jeff Tambellini from Mr Botta the other day which included some repeats from head coach Scott Gordon.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The value here came from Caps coach Bruce Boudreau on his own player in Tomas Fleischmann who needed two years and finally got it at the NHL level. Tambellini got a two year contract from the club at a lower rate and is not surrounded by players with speed and skill who will get him open space. If Okposo, Bergenheim and others create chances he should be leading the pack at his age but he's not.

Having written that Islanders need to stick with the plan and if he finishes with a zero, so be it.

Twenty games is not enough, a full season may not be enough.

He has been doing some good things away from the puck, he gets that one goal or that one big game it can change quickly, he has speed and offensive skills lacking in this organization.

This is the price a team pays to develop youth, if you are going to bench him or send him down (if he clears waivers) might as well simply move him now or stick with the plan.

I vote to stick with the plan, something from that April stakeholder meeting has to run according to plan.

Aside from that the only reading about the Islanders at the White House I want to see is when they return with the Stanley Cup.
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It's kind of fascinating reading the Newsday staff put a big beating on the Islanders through the summer with the shock jock crew in Mr Rieber-Baumbach calling them a laughingstock at every opportunity " and will do so until they prove otherwise " but the Knicks (last playoff 2002?) again are a circus for countless reasons (failure to buyout Marbury/trades/poor record) and we do not see the same media treatment and worse from the same Newsday staff that has been on a marketing campaign for Jebron James?

Also interesting watching the Dolan controlled Newspaper now run down Marbury in print as often as possible. Two sides in this mess which includes management. Is it that tough to write a check and buy him out if Cablevision has all the revenue Forbes loves to estimate it has?

It cannot be the front-loaded contracts for Drury and Gomez which Newsday did not write about when comparing Islanders offer to Rangers two summers ago putting the garden in such a bind?

Funny all we read is the Knicks have a lot of injuries to defend the club's poor record while the Islanders led the NHL in man-games lost last season and it was never mentioned which again is a big theme to this season.

Former Islander beatwriter Alan Hahn for his part has been giving Marbury the
Yashin-treatment during his final season on the beat.
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Is there anyone Mark Herrmann has not driven away yet who may want to attend an Islander game?

He sure got quiet when they won five of six except for him to tell us Josh Bailey is not a franchise talent and they traded Bertuzzi who was drafted lower.

Interesting Rick DiPietro had a lot more to say to the Post than Newsday about his injury to date.
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* I think Larry Brooks is due to unload on the Islanders, the Devils are playing too well for any more gloom and doom unless his target is Bettman.
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* Along those lines former Ranger beatwriter Arthur Staple is all over Gary Bettman and talking a return to team Cablevision for Sean Avery who got a suspension greater today than the one that landed Frans Nielsen out of the lineup for about three months.

Put me in Bettman's corner for a suspension based on lack of common sense by Avery, sometimes rules do have to be written based on personal conduct and like the NFL-NBA
the NHL needs to have a similar policy.

For Mr Staple to include Mike Milbury here is a poor example because his past conduct was always hockey/penalty/contract negotiation related which we saw in the 2002 playoffs and never again in his Islanders tenure.

Mr Staple even was critical of Stars owner Tom Hicks which was more about a writer who discussed A-Rod's big contract when he played in Texas.

Any coincidence here Mr Bettman and the Dolans have legal issues and one of his newspaper writers are critical of the commissioner and the owner who signed his former player? I think not.

Can you imagine the NHL media outcry if an inexperienced former player turned general manager actually signed Avery to this deal and disrupted his team?

Oops, happened.
Guess co-gm Brett Hull can get away with it better than Garth Snow, at least in Newsday.
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* Going to get interesting to see how much Islander coverage is effected by Newsday layoffs here which will include the sports department according to media writer
Neil Best here.

I venture to guess Cablevision owned teams will not see a drop in coverage or someone is paying with their job for Marbury's eventual negotiated buyout.

Poll Update/NYI Fan Central Notables

This weeks Poll had produced a big surprise with a few days left with the poll:

Most Impressive Prospect/Young Player Game by Game: Islanders
Jeff Tambellini 3 (4%)
Frans Nielsen 16 (24%)
Sean Bergenheim 3 (4%)
Kyle Okposo 1 (1%)
Josh Bailey 10 (15%)
Bruno Gervais 0 (0%)
Chris Campoli 0 (0%)
Nate Thompson 2 (3%)
Jeremy Colliton 30 (46%)

I would not have selected Colliton but if a big Bridgeport vote came in or a lot of folks see a player drafted in 2003 as the most impressive it's all good from here.

I selected Bergenheim because he seems to have the best impact most nights.

At first I had planned to separate the Islanders from the Sound Tigers and do two polls but it would take up too much space, Colliton was here a week ago so he was included.
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I did change the picture logo for the Islanders website on the sidebar, not my website so if they release something with the current slogan I feel obligated to display their website as they do. Earlier I had nothing so I used an old version.
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I hope folks have been checking out prospects blog which the Islanders website has done an excellent job with the weekly updates that I have been adding to the page.

I feel few if any Islander sites/blogs have that many links to reference information about a particular prospect.
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I will strictly be using the NHL/AP/CP/Ticker/Sports Network and Newspaper coverage for pre-post game coverage as opposed to the Islander website and have been doing this for quite a while for those who have paid attention. Aside from Islander website prospect updates the quality at the website aside from excellent ITV pre-post game interviews (usually posted on sidebar) has been lacking far too often with too many ticket ads which is understandable but takes away from the hockey content.

We still have feeders/live page view for anyone who wishes to read Islander website content.

Seems the work that was put into updates in camp tailed off badly since the club returned to New York.

The quality is better for our purposes here to look in the out of town papers to see how an opposing club is playing/who is injured going into a game to set up a preview for the readers.
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What's ahead will be more of the same with the WJC getting daily space here. When the tournament ends it will be transferred to the prospects blog and given it's own space like the draft, prospect camp.

Finally it's been a while but I would like to thank everyone for the incredible support this blog has received since it began back in July of 2007 and for all the great e-mails.

Okposo four-six weeks, more changes

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog & Mr Botta in Point Blank here report Kyle Okposo will now miss four-six weeks (starting today) with what is being described as a sprained wrist.

Mr Botta asked head coach Scott Gordon about this and if a younger forward will be recalled?

Nate Thompson also returned to practice with Mitch Fritz returned to Bridgeport.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm of the school that you need a balance of prospects and veterans.

If a Bill Guerin or Doug Weight are injured you need a veteran to replace him, if a Tambellini, Okposo, Nielsen are hurt you need a prospect to keep the balance correct.

I do not see a youth movement when Bailey-Tambellini-Bergenheim with Thompson a fringe prospect to be kind is the mix. When a game is on the line and it's Park-Hilbert on the ice at a time you need a goal, do not count on them finishing.

Not much more I can write about Okposo that I did not write the other day about the clubs injuries? How does a team give a few days prognosis then he is out four-six weeks with a setback?

Too many players are getting re-injured, some without even playing in games. Is Thompson ready to stay healthy or just return long enough to get hurt again?

Islander News Articles 12/5

Newsday: Greg Logan has the game recap which includes head coach Scott Gordon who was critical of his teams lack of skating, goaltender Joey MacDonald and Mark Streit also discussed the loss.

There will be a Friday Islander Insider from the paper.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Seems the days of the Newsday live blog has tailed off a lot. Mr Logan has his pregame blog but as usual Mr Zipay is live blogging with several daily updates while our beatwriter only did this in preseason.

Never going to be enough for me until the Islanders outblog the other Newsday team who should not be receiving any coverage until the city papers even up all coverage.

NYI Point Blank: Mr Botta had a game recap that became more like a twenty five game report on the club but did include a lot of sidebars on the loss.

Danvers Herald: Joe McConnell has a feature on Islanders prospect Brian Day who plays for Colgate.

Washington Post & Washington Times: Has the Post-game coverage of Islanders-Washington. Mr Masaick's post-game notes in his blog here simply great reading even after a tough loss.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Highly recommend the outstanding work of Tarik-El Bashir & Corey Masisak in their respective papers.

DC Examiner: Brian McNally also has Washington coverage on Thursday's game.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is on the Sound Tigers recent five hundred record (five games) as head coach Jack Capuano cites the turnovers that have not been worse lately but do catch up to a club in a creative puck-moving system while defenseman Joe Callahan feels it's fixable.

Mr Fornabaio also reports forward Jesse Joensuu, out two games with an undisclosed upper-body injury, practiced Thursday at the Arena at Harbor Yard, the head coach hoped he would be available to return in this three game in three day stretch along with Friday game preview here.

Friday-at Binghampton
Saturday-vs Norfolk
Sunday-at Lowell 4pm

Jyri Niemi Named to Team Finland

WHL.com: Reports Islander defenseman Jyri Niemi has been named to Team Finland for the WJC.

Saskatoon Blades.com: Confirms Niemi selection with profile.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Still working on the complete team Finland roster, will add full roster to WJC section on Friday.

Washington 5, New York 2

Associated Press: Recaps the Islanders 5-2 loss in Washington.

New York came out and for most of two periods were frankly terrible with their skating, passing and decision-making, without MacDonald the game is likely out of reach early and he had some help from the post.

Officials were terrible for both sides on this one, the player tried to grab Fritz stick on his early penalty who barely touched him.

Unacceptable for a team to have four days off between games and look this rusty again as they did in Newark. They played a team coming off a loss with a lot of injuries and what happened for most of two periods was more about the Islanders not skating than anything the Caps were doing aside from Ovechkin goal/shot.

Ovechkin looked off-sides on the shift the he scored and he pulled up like he expected a whistle.

On an early second period powerplay the Islanders were doing a lot of chasing in the Caps end before Weight was caught. Kozlov was having one of his A games where he was very visible and even with the injuries Washington can skate.

Some rare good early individual play like Hilbert skating to draw a powerplay and Streit's shot with a good screen by Bailey-Hunter for the 1-2 goal and one early shift from Bergenheim, but he looked slow in this game to start and did not take a good penalty in the Caps end.

Jackman for Ovechkin is a heck of a tradeoff for any amount of time, he sure seemed to ding him with that hit and he was banged up going into the game.

Islanders seem to finally get in this game with the four on three against and blocked some shots. Toward the end of the second, they got a powerplay and were wearing down the Cap defenders but every time it came time to shoot, Hilbert, Park, Weight from long-range or poor angles.

Good pressure but no shooter aside from Streit.

Never knew a dump in off an officials skate does not count if it's a goal, first time I have seen that. Fair to say Andy Sutton out of the box making a play to set up a goal may be almost as rare (I almost expected another call against him) but he found Hunter and someway/somehow Islanders had a 2-2 game and a powerplay to start the third.

Islanders got some powerplays in the third (one/eight on the game) but everywhere you looked it seemed Park, Hilbert and a lot of players who's career scoring records do not lie. Bailey had an early chance.

Finally a big bounce off the end boards, Brashear sticks his leg out on Weight, no stick for MacDonald 3-2.

Islanders played like a team with the 3-2 lead and could generate nothing, keystone cops on the 4-2 goal.

Open net 5-2.

Out skated for two plus periods they got exactly what they deserved out of this one which was another regulation loss they cannot afford with a fat forty seven shots allowed against a team with more injuries than the Islanders.

Martinek was badly missed here.

Rust cannot be an excuse, it goes on the coaching along with the players.

Is it necessary to have Comeau, Colliton, Smith or anyone in Bridgeport not here for so Fritz can sit on the bench? Not putting the loss on one player but they needed a skater for this game.

New York at Washington 7pm Msg+2

I decided to go with the good news to start this preview, welcome back Mike Sillinger.

Washington just lost their first game of the season on home ice to Florida with a lot of injuries in a game described as one they did not put in a lot of effort.

Bad news is even with these injuries this is a very good team. Former Islander Viktor Kozlov scored his fourth goal in the loss to Florida in what should be the only former Islander dressing.

Washington Post: Tarik El-Bashir has the Caps injury list includes seven players out or questionable including the players on long-term injured reserve.

* Sergei Fedorov, has missed 12 of the past 13 games with a sprained ankle but after but left practice early casting doubt on his status according to the writer.

* Mike Green (bruised shoulder) didn't practice but said he is aiming to return Saturday in Toronto.

* Alexander Semin (upper torso strain) also did not practice after suffering a setback Tuesday while shooting. He has missed nine games.

* Tom Poti (groin muscle pull) did not practice for a sixth consecutive day.

* John Erskine (mild concussion) also did not practice one day after skating with the team.

* Alex Ovechkin was given the day off to recover from an undisclosed nagging injury. Head coach Bruce Boudreau said there's a 99 percent chance he'll suit against the Islanders.

Brent Johnson is expected to start in goal.

From the Islanders side it's not looking very promising for Martinek out two-four weeks & Kyle Okposo confirmed out with the recalls of Fritz, Jackman and Pock apparently coming back despite clearing waivers.

All I do know is given the conference standings Islanders have to come out of this with two points against a very skilled club that can score but should give up some chances on defense with a beatable goaltender.

A team two games under five hundred cannot play win one, lose one hockey or at best they will be in a mix of five teams for one or two playoff spots before long.

Playoffs in this league mean about ninety five points which is twelve games over five hundred (low end) with a lot of ot losses, Islanders have very few ot losses.

The over/under for how many times Howie Rose mentions the boards/glass at whatever the building is called this year (Cap Centre downtown) starts at five.

Islanders have no time for rust, excuses about time off or anything. They need some goals and a sixty minute effort or it's not going to happen for them. Last time this team had days off the came out and were outplayed and it had little to do with the bus ride to Newark or Kevin Weekes.

Welcome Home Jiggs

Toronto Star: Dale Anne Freed had a quick word from Jiggs McDonald as he arrived home safely on Wednesday night.

Grab a shower, probably a burger," topped the list of things to do for semi-retired NHL announcer Ken "Jiggs" McDonald as he arrived at Pearson airport last night from Thailand.

"It's great to be home," said the semi-retired NHL sportscaster who lives in Orillia, tears welling in his eyes.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
He is not the only one.

Welcome Home Jiggs !!!!!!!!!!

Islander News Articles 12/4

Newsday: Greg Logan's article is on what seems the latest injury to Radek Martinek with head coach Scott Gordon's comments on a possible replacement (Thomas Pock) while Brendan Witt talks about the clubs inability to stay healthy on the backline and getting caught pinching in the offensive end.

Mr Logan also tells us the Islanders supposed achilles heel (offense) is at 20th in the NHL in goals per game while the defense is at 27th in goals against and 25th in shots against which the coach explains as spending too much time in their own end of the ice when they are not playing well.

Mike Sillinger will play against Washington.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Glad Mr Logan/anyone finally pointed out this team is scoring a lot more than expected given the changes it made last summer. A ten spot improvement with all the injuries and the prospects not exactly scoring much says a lot about the success some are having.

This is also with a team that has hit the four goal plus mark in regulation rarely so far. (Three times w/empty net goals?) The magic number for this group seems to be three as opposed to that two or less fourteen games in a row we were seeing a year ago at this time.

On the other end the team defense is giving up more goals and shots but the six defenders on the ice individually have played solid hockey most of the time.

MacDonald's stats do not reflect how well he has played as it did not for DiPietro in the second half of last season during the six game winning streak and beyond.

I'm not sure Brendan Witt is best suited to this system but he has not played it very long either.

Pioneer Press: John Shipley has former Islander Marc-Andre Bergeron's comments he did not have a good year with the Islanders because of the situation combined with not playing on a good team as the first place Wild defenders talked about their powerplay.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Bergeron can say what he likes about the Islanders but he came here with a reputation of being a poor defender. In Anaheim he did not see a lot of playing time.

AHL.com: Reports the Hartford Wolfpack rallied down 2-0 to defeat the Sound Tigers in overtime at Harbor Yard on Wednesday 4-3.

Peter Mannino allowed four goals on thirty two shots.

1. BRI Smith, (8) (McLean, Lee), 18:55
2. BRI Hillen, (3) (McLean, Iggulden), 4:21 (PP)
2. HFD Anisimov, (8) (Ouellette, Rissmiller), 9:52 (PP)
2. BRI Iggulden, (12) (Hillen), 12:22
2. HFD Dupont, (4) (Sanguinetti, Moore), 12:50 (PP)
3. HFD Parenteau, (11) (Sanguinetti, Potter), 15:35
OT. HFD Sauer, (2) (Fahey), 2:06
***********************************************************
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had the game recap of Bridgeport's loss with comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Kurtis McLean on the momentum shift with Bridgeport up 3-1 and goaltender Peter Mannino.

Hartford Courant covers the Wolfpack here.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had a pre-post game blog on the loss.

Kessel, Hamonic, Spurgeon Selected for WJC

Usa Hockey: Released it's roster for the 2009 WJC in Ottawa which included Islander prospect on defense, Blake Kessel (Univ. of New Hampshire/Hockey East)among the twenty two players selected.

Team Canada announced it's December camp roster here which includes Islander prospects Travis Hamonic (Moose Jaw WHL) and Jared Spurgeon (Spokane WHL) among a much larger group where not everyone will qualify for the final roster.

Josh Bailey was not on this list, the camp will run from December 11th-15h at the SBP Arena in Ottawa, ON and the Robert-Guertin Arena in Gatineau, QC here with three games scheduled here.

What's the Story with the Islander Injuries?

I'm not one to blog on injuries of players or who is doing or not doing the correct thing, I have no idea and could not even speculate besides writing where the articles say someone went for surgery and what the reported time frame is if a team elects to tell the media.

Only thing I do know is I have seen too many players get re-injured while others seem to come back too soon given the amount of time they were supposed to miss.

When I see Tim Jackman sent down and recalled within a day, it begs the question what is going on here?

Miroslav Satan last year played the second half with an injury that supposedly was to keep him on the sidelines eight weeks but was allowed to keep playing? Guerin, Comrie, DiPietro and Witt all reportedly played hurt which is not uncommon, most players are banged up at the end of an NHL season.

Did the team doctors tell Mike Comrie six-eight months and then clear him to participate in camp or did he simply decide he was good enough to play and convinced the doctors to clear him?

Now we read Martinek and Thompson who just returned from injuries are day to day again after recently returning. (which could be something else)

Toronto Sun: Had a few words recently from Freddy Meyer on the two renowned doctors who did both his hernia surgeries.

Rick DiPietro now says he has to convince the doctors his latest knee injury (which does not seem to be related to what was done in the summer) he is a hundred percent.

I also wonder how many more knee injuries Brendan Witt can take and if what happened earlier is related to what happened last season?

Even though Josh Bailey returned why did he get hurt a second time?

Last year this team came down with the flu in January and it was a big reason they dropped seven straight, I know this runs through a lot of NHL teams during the season with all the travel. Bergenheim according to the telecast last week said he has been sick for a while and missed some games but was still sick?

We now find out if Mike Sillinger can play at a high level with an injury where he says he is healthy as he can be given what has happened.

Not a cry to get rid of doctors or change anything but just a few questions.

Updated:
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reported Martinek took a hit to the shoulder from Andy Sutton and is off to the doctor with what the writer described as his arm hanging. The other injuries are updated with no comment on who would replace Martinek beyond speculation on Pock who is still here and Gervais still apparently sidelined.

Islanders badly need Martinek against Ovechkin.

Peter Laviolette Fired by Carolina Hurricanes

Tsn.ca: Has reported the Carolina Hurricanes have fired head coach Peter Laviolette and replaced him with his predecessor in former Canes coach Paul Maurice.

The Hurricanes website is showing the press conference live with general manager Jim Rutherford and new coach Paul Maurice for those interested which began at 11:30am EST here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Given the recent article from the paper in Carolina that said he was almost fired and back to the summer when management waited a long time to make an announcement he was returning this seemed a matter of when, not if.

Sing no sad songs for Peter Laviolette, he won a Stanley Cup and proved he is a top flight NHL coach and will be hired by another club. Mike Milbury saw something in him long ago and his judgement was correct about his ability to coach.

Twist here is Paul Maurice is taking the job of the man who replaced him.

Desert News: Dan Rasmussen had an excellent feature article on Utah Grizzlies head coach Kevin Colley who talked about his career, how his life has changed with his injury and what he had to go through to recover from what happened.

He also had a lot of praise for the Islanders-Sound Tigers as he talked about someday making back to the NHL as a head coach.

AM New York: Lisa Freedman has a feature about the Islanders organist since 1979 in Paul Cartier.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Cartier has always done an amazing job for the Islanders, you can tell the difference when he is not at the organ, good stuff at how he got the job and how things work behind the scenes for those interested in doing this.

Updated 5pm:
NY Times: Jeff Z. Klein had an interview with former Islander Bryan Berard who is playing in Russia this season.

Islander News Articles 12/3

Orillia Packet: Sara Ross reports Ken (Jiggs) and Marilyn McDonald will be flying out of Hong Kong on Wednesday at 4:20 p.m. (HKT) with the Air Canada flight due to arrive in Toronto on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. (EST). The McDonalds are expected to be in Orillia several hours after landing.
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Newsday: Marcus Henry had more from Rick DiPietro on what he is doing to get ready as he praised Joey MacDonald and his teammates while head coach Scott Gordon talked about his franchise goaltender.

FightingSioux.com: Jayson Hajdu, UND Athletic Media Relations had a few blurbs about Islander prospect Jason Gregoire and David Toews.

AP: Reports former Islander Raffi Torres is once again on the NHL injured list with the Blue Jackets.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Between Tim Connolly, Raffi Torres and Taylor Pyatt seems the Islanders top picks from that era have this ability not to be very durable or productive.

1999 Draft Class: Four First Rd Picks:
Tim Connolly, Taylor Pyatt, Branislav Mezei, Kristian Kudroc, Mattias Weinhandl, Brian Collins, Juraj Kolnik, Johan Halvardsson, Justin Mapletoft, Adam Johnson, Bjorn Melin, Radek Martinek, Brett Henning, Tyler Scott.

Sometimes going all youth fails too.

Los Angeles Times: Chris Foster reports Sean Avery has been suspended pending a hearing by the league with Dallas owner Tom Hicks saying he would have suspended him for inappropriate conduct.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Where are all the media people who unloaded on Garth Snow for being a terrible choice as gm to criticize Brett Hull who gave him all the money? I guess all the cablevision employees who got a kick out of his act last year no longer find it funny.

Nothing like a change of uniform to change a viewpoint.

Bridgeport plays at home again to the Wolfpack Wednesday at 7pm.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio previews tonight's game and the Sound Tigers four games in five day stretch with comments from head coach Jack Capuano as the injuries are updated for Bridgeport.

Islander Notables

Los Angeles Times: Helene Elliott who has had a few blog updates on Jiggs McDonald going back to Saturday has the following from his daughter this afternoon:

Jiggs McDonald saga near a happy ending
12:15 PM, December 2, 2008

Jiggs McDonald, the Hall of Fame hockey broadcaster who was stuck in Thailand at the end of a vacation trip when political protesters closed the country's airports, is on his way home.

McDonald's daughter, Susan DeSimone, said in an e-mail that her father and her mother, Marilyn, made it out of Thailand and on to Hong Kong. They're scheduled to fly from there to Toronto on Wednesday.

McDonald, 70, was the original voice of the expansion Kings and later called games for the Atlanta Flames, New York Islanders and Florida Panthers.

DeSimone, who lives in Minnesota, thanked the many well-wishers who contacted her after hearing of the adventure that unexpectedly added a week to her parents' trip.

"I just wanted to say -– again -– a huge thank you for all that you have done to draw attention to and cover this story," she said in an e-mail sent to several reporters. "Particularly to those of you who helped us put all of this in motion last Friday -– I’m sure you’ll hear some personal thank you’s from Jiggs when he gets back."
*****************************************************
Newsday: Marcus Henry has comments from Islander goaltender Rick DiPietro.

The writer reported on Monday DiPietro skated the last two days and said he felt good and is looking forward to getting back but has to prove to team doctors that he is a hundred percent.

There is no timetable for a return.

CBC.ca: Cassie Campbell reports the Canadian Junior team will be announced on Wednesday and not expected to include Josh Bailey even if he is named to the squad tomorrow.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Given general manager Garth Snow's recent comments Bailey will not be participating in the WJC for Canada but he should be selected for the squad regardless.

Hockey Returns: Islanders Demote/Recall Jackman

With Jiggs McDonald, his wife out of Thailand and a change of government apparently ending the protesting at the airports allowing everyone to travel safely again we will return to a hockey format immediately.

My thanks to everyone for the kind e-mails of support for Mr McDonald and his family, for me it was the right thing to do with the blog until this was settled.

My special thanks to Kevin Allen for passing the news to the hockey media.

It will still be a story here at NYI Fan Central until he arrives home in Canada but we will go back immediately to a hockey centric format.

On that end something caught my attention today.
**********************************************************
Ct Post : Michael Fornabaio reported in his blog Tim Jackman and Mitch Fritz were both recalled to the Islanders on Tuesday. Thomas Pock who cleared waivers on Monday is also still with the Islanders.

On Monday Mike Sillinger was officially recalled from Bridgeport, Jeremy Colliton was sent down with Jackman.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Reading between the lines seems something is up or someone got hurt. You send down two and recall three that's one too many by my math.

In effect they sent Jackman up and down in less than twenty four hours, this is not the end of last season where they are scrambling for bodies to put out a lineup and Bridgeport has a game on Wednesday.

Unless someone else got hurt in practice combined with Kyle Okposo not ready to return they have too many bodies even if Pock cleared waivers and can be assigned to Bridgeport.

If Okposo is ready to play they have two extra forwards and Bruno Gervais out of the mix with Jeff Tambellini stuck on zero goals and his father the Oilers general manager.

The numbers suggest something has to happen and I did notice the Edmonton professional media sources report here that the Oilers are poised to complete a significant trade and/or fire coach Craig MacTavish, likely this week.

We all know the Islanders historically do a lot of trades with the Oilers.

Robert Nilsson is out with an injury but Rob Schremp was recalled today
here for anyone trying to get a read on the Oilers.

Aside from that nothing major but congratulations to Joey MacDonald for being named NHL third star of the month. Islanders really overworked him and he did a fantastic
job regardless. Danis has to be given a few starts as things move forward now that he got some work.

Could be something or nothing but somewhat unusual on the surface unless a player is getting a seat in the stands or someone else got hurt. Tambellini played well Saturday from what I observed.

Updated:
NYI Point Blank: Mr Botta reported from practice Martinek, Okposo, Thompson not skating or somewhat banged up.
****************************************************
A few other updates:
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had a Monday feature on defenseman Dustin Kohn.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also had the Sound Tigers weekly which at the time included Thomas Pock clearing waivers, Jackman-Colliton assigned to Bridgeport, Sillinger recalled and a Q A with Sean Bentivoglio among several items and upcoming games.

Espn: Scott Burnside in an article on NHL general managers and where they came from (specifically new Leaf gm Brian Burke) credited Garth Snow for getting the Islanders in one playoff and having them in contention this year to date despite his unusual ascent to the general managers job.

Tsn.ca/NHL.com: Reports Islanders goaltender Joey MacDonald was named third start of the month by the league. MacDonald posted an 8-5-1 record with a 2.64 GAA and .916 save percentage. He led all goaltenders in games (14) minutes (842) and shots faced (439), and shared the lead in victories.

Bad News is the Sports Business Journal reports the Islanders ranked in the bottom five of the Turnkey Team Brand Index only ahead of the Knicks, Nets and Indiana Pacers here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
When I looked at this a year ago Islanders were among the top in terms of head coaches which helped improve their rating in this survey.
******************************************************************
In terms of the blog a new poll was released and the blog header tweaked to put all the players in the third jerseys as we hope Blake Comeau receives a recall but put him in the more traditional look. Brendan Witt takes a break with Mark Streit now in the picture.

DiPietro and Martinek are in their 2006 retro jersey's for now for those looking close.

Jiggs McDonald Has Left Thailand

Barrie Examiner: Reports Jiggs McDonald and his wife have left Thailand with comments from his daughter.

Stranded Orillia couple coming home
Caught in the middle of unrest in Thailand

After being stranded in Bangkok for six days, Ken (Jiggs) and Marilyn McDonald are on their way home, to Orillia.

The Canadian Embassy located a plane leaving U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, approximately 140 kilo-metres southeast of Bangkok, for Hong Kong, said the McDonalds' daughter, Susan DeSimone. The couple boarded the airplane for Hong Kong yesterday evening.

"I am very relieved," DeSimone said. "My worst-case scenario is things would flare up and they would be stuck, that they wouldn't be able to even get out of their hotel safely. For me, it was important they got out of Thailand before that happened."

A group of 78 tourists traveling with Expo Cruises and Tours were offered 68 seats on the Thai Airways plane for more than $630 a ticket. The McDonalds were among 37 Canadian citizens who accepted the offer.

DeSimone said she believes others are still hoping the Canadian government or tour company will step in with a "no cost solution." The group left Bangkok by bus yesterday evening headed for U-Tapao, where they were to take a flight to Hong Kong, then Toronto.

"I hope this is just the beginning," DeSimone said. "All anyone has been hoping for all along is that Canada would help to organize some effort, to give them an option to get out of there. I don't know if they have other flights lined up, or if they are making similar options for others."

This group of Canadians is among thousands of tourists grounded in Thailand after a throng of yellowshirted antigovernment protesters took the airport by storm, shutting down all flights last Tuesday.
***************************************************
Orillia Today.com: Mike Dodd had another article in the McDonald's home town paper.
***************************************************
CityNews.ca: Reported in a release about Jiggs McDonald A court ruling agreed that electoral fraud put the current prime minister in power. Somchai Wongsawat stepped down after the Constitutional Court in Bangkok dissolved Thailand's top three ruling parties.

The People's Alliance for Democracy blocked both an international and a domestic airport in Bangkok as part of this political protest but that will end with the first flights leaving for Rome and Sydney on December 5.

Toronto Star: Reported two Canadians lost their lives and four other tourists were injured when a van transporting people to the airport crashed as they made the 900 kilometre drive from Bangkok to the southern resort town of Phuket because they could not fly out of Bangkok's besieged Suvarnabhumi airport.

Telephone Interview with Jiggs McDonald/Latest

CTV.ca: Apparently had Jiggs McDonald on a Canadian television show earlier today via telephone before an announcement on plans for these folks to leave the country.

CTV.ca: Also has an article Monday night EST with the latest but a lot of repeat quotes from the earlier article.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Hopefully the next few hours brings us news we are all hoping for that Mr McDonald, his wife and folks with him have departed Thailand, can land in Hong Kong and make travel plans from there to fly directly home.

Minister Cannon's Statement on the Situation in Thailand

News.gc.ca: Has the following release on the situation in Thailand.

Minister Cannon's Statement on the Situation in Thailand
December 1, 2008

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today released the following statement on the situation in Thailand:

“I would like to take this opportunity to update Canadians on the situation in Thailand, and to assure them that the Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians stranded in Bangkok.

“As you well know, travellers are unable to leave Bangkok by air because protestors have occupied the Suvarnabhumi and Don Meuang airports. The Embassy of Canada in Bangkok continues to monitor the political situation closely. Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of the affected Canadians.

“The international airports in other parts of Thailand (Phuket and Chiang Mai) remain open and are accessible via bus and train from Bangkok. A number of airlines have scheduled additional flights, and some Canadian travellers have already departed the country on commercial flights via both of these airports. We continue to advise Canadians to contact their airline, tour group or travel agent to make alternate arrangements to leave Thailand.

“It is unclear at this time when normal flight operations will resume. Because the situation is extremely disruptive to travellers, our Embassy continues to work around the clock to help those Canadians stranded in Bangkok.

“We are looking at all options, including the possibility of securing chartered flights to help Canadians get from Thailand to Hong Kong.

“I have also taken steps to arrange for Canadian passengers to be able to change their tickets and fly back from Hong Kong to Canada. I spoke to the President of Air Canada to get his support to help consular staff assist the travel of these Canadians.

“A number of airlines were able to retrieve 88 planes that were stranded at the Suvarnabhumi airport at the time of the closure. These planes will provide additional capacity at other Thai airports.

“I have also called Canada’s Ambassador to Thailand to speak with him this afternoon about the situation. Our Embassy in Thailand has been in contact with Canadians in Bangkok, including the 200 people who are registered with various tour groups. It has been facilitating any immediate requirements, including exploring all options to get Canadians back to Canada.

“Our best estimate is that upwards of 1,000 Canadians have been affected by the shutdown of the airports.

“Canada continues to urge all sides to remain committed to nonviolence. We encourage the parties involved to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation that respects democratic principles.

“Canada appreciates the assistance provided by Thai authorities to stranded Canadians. We ask that they continue in their efforts to facilitate the departure of Canadians wishing to leave Thailand.”

For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
www.international.gc.ca/index.aspx

Great News: Jiggs/Canadians Leaving Tomorrow

Toronto Star: Reports the Canadian Embassy has made arrangements for Jiggs McDonald, his wife and the Canadian tourist to leave the Country tomorrow.

Canadians stranded in Thailand to fly home tomorrow

Dec 01, 2008 02:26 PM

Dozens of Canadians stranded in Thailand by throngs of unruly protesters are expected to leave the country tomorrow in a deal worked out by the Canadian Embassy.

John (Jiggs) McDonald of Orillia, Ont., told The Canadian Press today the embassy in Bangkok made an offer of help to a group of 78 stranded Canadians.

McDonald is a legendary NHL announcer, who called games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames.

A group of 37, including McDonald and his wife Marilyn, accepted the offer.

He said they expect to be leaving their Bangkok hotel tomorrow morning local time to head to U-Tapao naval base for a Thai Airways flight to Hong Kong.

The tickets are being made available at the expense of the travellers themselves.

The tour group was originally scheduled to return to Toronto on an Air Canada flight from Hong Kong last week, but the main airports were shut down by anti-government protesters.
*****************************************************
FAN590: Has an audio interview with Jiggs McDonald in Bangkok from Saturday.
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CTV.ca: Has more on the announcement with the earlier update including Mr McDonald's comments.

It should be noted there is a -twelve hour time difference between New York and Bangkok, Thailand.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This will be the story here until Jiggs McDonald, his wife and the Canadian Tourist have left the county and arrive home safe. Fantastic news something has been arranged.
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Updated 4pm:
Globe & Mail Timothy Avery had the following article at 4pm EST.

Canadians stranded by Thai unrest to receive flight out
The Canadian Press

December 1, 2008 at 3:46 PM EST

Toronto — One week after they were stranded in Thailand by throngs of unruly protesters, dozens of Canadian tourists were finally preparing to depart Tuesday as part of a deal worked out with embassy officials.

The embassy in Bangkok is helping to extract members of a stranded tour group, some of whom have run out of medication and travel insurance, former broadcaster John (Jiggs) McDonald said Monday in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Of the 78 remaining members of the group, 37 — including Mr. McDonald and his wife Marilyn — have accepted the offer to fly out from a nearby naval base aboard a commercial airliner, at their own expense.

The Canadian tourists are generally in good spirits and in good health, but some have run out of medication they can't get in Bangkok, while others have travel insurance that's no longer valid, he added.

“We have at least three individuals in our group who were not able to secure medications that they needed,” said McDonald, a former NHL announcer and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“We still have several whose insurance companies have not gone about renewing or extending the courtesy of extending their travel insurance though this ordeal.”

Mr. McDonald, who has been expressing growing frustration with the lack of a concerted federal government effort to get the stranded Canadians home, said that same frustration is what prompted embassy officials to take action.

“The embassy people listened to our pleas and in fact became agitated, as did some of our members, with the response they were getting,” he said.

“I don't think [Ottawa] saw the seriousness of the situation, and may not see the seriousness now.”

The tour group was originally scheduled to return to Toronto on a flight from Hong Kong last week, but Bangkok's main airports were shut down by a surging protest movement demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Since the protesters seized the airport last Tuesday, all commercial flights have been suspended in and out of Bangkok. The protests, which come at the height of the tourist season, also halted vital postal air services and the arrival of everything from specialized medicines to raw fish for Bangkok's Japanese restaurants.

In an interview from her home in Minneapolis, McDonald's daughter, Susan DeSimone, said those flown out by the embassy will be able to rebook their original tickets for a new departure date once they arrive in Hong Kong.

“They may be able to depart immediately, or they may have to wait a day or two in Hong Kong, which would be at their own expense,” she said.

The tour group originally had 82 Canadian citizens, but four of the tour members separated from the group either Sunday or Monday and made separate arrangements to get home, Ms. DeSimone said.

Mr. McDonald said the Canadians were never in any immediate danger from the violence that has erupted periodically during the unrest, but have been growing fearful of the possibility the situation could quickly escalate.

“It hasn't occurred near us, but there was always that threat,” he said. “We felt, from time to time, that if it were to escalate that this is where it would come and that's why we were asking to get us out of the country.”

He said federal officials in Ottawa seemed to think the group should treat the crisis as an opportunity to extend their vacation.

“They're of the opinion that it's a great place to live and be, that we were on an extended vacation here in a very wonderful part of the world.”

Mr. McDonald said he was unable to explain why nearly half the group chose not to take advantage of the embassy's offer.

“I'm surprised that not everybody jumped on it.”
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Updated:
An email from Susan DeSimone with news of return --

On Monday evening in Thailand, the Canadian Embassy made an offer of help to a group of 78 Canadian citizens stranded in Bangkok. They expect to be leaving their hotel Tuesday morning, 12/2 (the evening of 12/1 for us) to head to U-Tapao naval base for a Thai Airways flight to Hong Kong.