WJC updates: Etem apologizes to Buffalo, Kassian faces suspension

We focus mainly on the NHL here at PHT (hence Pro Hockey Talk), but there are a lot of potential professional hockey players appearing in the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships, so let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories.

(Note: The United States-Slovakia game is taking place on the U.S. version of NHL Network right now, by the way.)

• While the Canadian team clobbered the Czech Republic by a score of 7-2 today, one member of that team won’t be celebrating. Buffalo Sabres prospect Zack Kassian nailed Petr Senkerik while the Czech forward had his head down, forcing him to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Kassian received a penalty for a hit to the head and should be suspended for one game, pending a possible appeal. (Source: WGR 550.)

• Team USA player and Anaheim Ducks prospect Emerson Etem wasn’t shy about his thoughts regarding the WJC host city Buffalo yesterday, calling it a “ghost town” and saying it makes Medicine Hat look like “paradise.” We tried to note that Etem is a young man and thus might be prone to foolish decision making via Twitter, so it’s not surprising that he decided to try to make amends today.

To his credit, Etem’s self-defense is semi-plausible. The young forward explained that he was talking more about Buffalo in the context of its current weather conditions keeping people from going out, rather than a uniform slam on Buffalo itself. Here’s how he tried to backpedal, via John Vogl of the Buffalo News.

“I think it’s a great host city, and I’m definitely happy to be here,” Etem said after the morning skate. “I think it was interpreted in many different ways. My point to get across was not to put down a great host city like this. I know a lot of people put in time and effort to make this thing possible. For me, it’s the middle of winter. People aren’t out. It’s really cold outside. Like I said, the point for me was not to put down Buffalo.

“It’s a poorly written Tweet by me. I meant bad conditions. I came from Medicine Hat, from a Midwestern city, it was warm out, then I come here and not a lot of people are out, like I said. It’s expected. It’s the middle of winter. I was here three, four years ago. I won a national championship here, and that was in springtime. That was an energetic city. I know what it’s like to be here when everyone is out and about. That was the point.

“It’s a great, historic town for sports, and I realize that. Like I said, it’s a poorly written Tweet by me, and I’m sorry for the confusion. I just kind of want to move on.”