Friday fodder...

Some Friday morning fodder for you to ponder. Forward Kris Foucault, he of the four goals for the Hitmen in the playoffs and holding the hot hand for the nation's number one ranked team playing alongside Brett Sonne and Kyle Bortis, was sent home in September, cut from the Kootenay Ice after playing in a fourth-line role last season. Dealt at the deadline to the Hitmen for forward Ryan Fox, is Foucault one that got away? Or the benefactor of two pretty good linemates? Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun has a great story here. Feel free to discuss...
UPDATE - Thanks to a reader - Dave in Medicine Hat who found this little tidbit to further the debate on Foucault. If he gets drafted in a seven-round draft you could officially rank him right up there with Kyle Wanvig as one who got away. In Wanvig's case in 2000, he wanted out and it wasn't necessarily a case that he wasn't good enough to play. Funny thing is that I talked to two scouts about the cousins - Ty Stephens, 19, and Foucault - and both said that if either had a shot it would be Stephens. Now Foucault and the 2009 NHL Draft are being mentioned in the same sentence. The debate continues...

On another note here's some video of Marian Gaborik hitting Markus Naslund as he stretches for a pass in the Rangers 2-1 win over Minnesota the other night. That hit looks a lot like another familiar hit. Something to chew on...

Some alumni stuff including the CIS Men's University Hockey championships at Fort Williams Gardens in Thunder Bay. Alberta - with Ice alumni Dale Mahovsky and Derek Price - are the West representative after defeating the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in two straight games. Lakehead (hosts) list Devin Welsh on their roster... Husky forward and former Ice captain Steve Da Silva becomes the first player to be named both rookie of the year and MVP.

Lastly LW Kevin King was named Kootenay's playoff MVP this morning, scoring two goals and adding an assist in four games.