Quick Strikes for Thursday, March 5

From yesterday, Allokago wrote about Vladdy Namestnikov being an emergency call-up from the Syracuse Crunch. She also addressed how his absence is going to affect the Crunch. And, yes, that matters to many people. [Raw Charge]
The World Cup of Hockey is a go for 2016! And ESPN and its affiliate stations get to broadcast it here in the US! Can we please have Bill Clement and Gary Thorne call at least some of the games? Pretty please? #nostalgia [ESPN]
A big discussion among college sports fans is whether student athletes ought to be paid. Well, in Canada, junior players aren’t even considered student athletes, and they’re still getting the shaft. College scholarships seem to be conditional things for the CHL, despite players fulfilling the requirements to get them. [TSN]
David Clarkson is out with a torn oblique muscle for likely the rest of the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Which he could’ve done with the Toronto Maple Leafs, if he hadn’t been traded. Although now, at least, he can recuperate without the Toronto media commentary. [Columbus Dispatch]
Speaking of injuries, former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brett Connolly breaks his finger during practice before his first game with the Boston Bruins. Poor guy. If you remember, Eric Brewer broke his foot not long after he was traded from the Bolts to the Anaheim Ducks. Have we been wrong all along? Is general manager Steve Yzerman really a Sith Lord? [NESN]
If you missed the Toronto Maples Leafs at the Florida Panthers game Tuesday night, oh boy, was it a doozy! Injured goalies. Injured goalies everywhere. [Sunrise Sun Sentinel]
And then there was more hockey craziness in Sunrise. Officially, both Florida Panthers goalies are out, so they’ve brought up both of their goalies from the AHL affiliate in San Antonio, Texas. If you have experience with ice hockey goaltending and you live in San Antonio – or know someone who does – then you might want to consider contacting the Rampage. [Litter Box Cats]
US women’s hockey player, forward Hilary Knight, joins the Always #LikeAGirl campaign to promote equality in sports. She’s been pretty busy, as she was not only helping out promoting hockey Anaheim earlier this NHL season, but she’s also playing for the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). [Puck Daddy]

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