Scrimmage game #3 has just wrapped up and saw The Stones, featuring Kirkland, Gilliland, and Cohn, grind past Canada-2 by a score of 25-23.  The young Canadian team made a few mistakes, which the Americans were able to capitalize on.  Again, our coaches used all of the players, giving the freshest ones lots of court time.  The Canadian team featured the following players:

0.5 - Martin Mainguy (Quebec City, QC)
0.5 - Daniel Paradis (Quebec City, QC)
1.5 - Patrice Simard (Quebec City, QC)
2.0 - Allan Chartrand (Edmonton, AB)
2.5 - Say Luangkhamdeng (Surrey, BC)
3.0 - Fabien Lavoie (Quebec City, QC)
3.0 - Ian Chan (Richmond, BC)
3.0 - Mike Whitehead (London, ON)

Both American teams feature a baker's dozen of players, or lucky-13 if you're not in to old-fashioned expressions.  Did I mention that I'm getting old?

The other Canadian team, which I'm calling Canada-1 has the rest of the players on it, although the nickels are playing on both teams.  It consists of:

0.5 - Martin Mainguy (Quebec City, QC)
0.5 - Daniel Paradis (Quebec City, QC)
1.0 - Mike Bacon (Saskatoon, SK)
2.0 - David Willsie (London, ON)
2.0 - Allan Semeniuk (Saskatoon, ON)
2.0 - Sue McRae (London, ON)
2.0 - Trevor Robinson (Winnipeg, MB)
3.0 - Steven Dunn (Halifax, NS)
3.5 - Garett Hickling (Kelowna, BC)

Each of the scrimmage games to date have been close, and with the top two programs in the world going at it, games will never be easy.  The fact that both countries are keeping it tight shows progress on both sides of the world's longest unprotected border.  Kudos to the athletes and coaches!

I've heard that the US will be making some difficult decisions later today on who makes it to the top-16 in their program.  Some players will be easy to decide upon, either making the team with ease or by being easy cuts.  However, those final few to make it to their team or their depth players from #13-#16, will have to show it all today, or perhaps tomorrow in case the US selection committee still needs to see them one final time.  It's not an easy job for either side of the picture.