(SB Nation) - Team Canada defenseman Marc Methot has been suspended for one game by the IIHF Disciplinary Panel for his dangerous boarding of Yevgeni Kovyrshin of Belarus on Tuesday. The hit occurred with just seven seconds remaining in regulation of Canada's last preliminary-round game at the World Championship.

Methot violently shoved Kovryshin's head into the boards as several players fought for the puck in the corner of Canada's end of the ice. The incident earned five-minute major plus penalty and an automatic game misconduct. Following video review of what took place and statements from involved parties, Methot will sit out Canada's quarterfinal matchup with Slovakia on Thursday.

Methot will be eligible return for a semifinal should Canada win to advance. As with the NHL, the IIHF has taken a beefed-up stance toward play that could endanger players. Methot played in just 46 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets this past season due to injury struggles.

Over the past few seasons, the Jackets have steadily improved their skill and depth on defense through various means, whether by trade, free agent signing, or the draft. One of the players acquired via the entry draft was Will Weber, who just completed his collegiate career at Miami. He was good enough to do an interview with me, and without further ado, here's the transcript:

MM: Right off the bat, congratulations on completing an excellent career at Miami and signing your first pro contract. What was the highlight of your collegiate career with the Redhawks?

WW: There were a lot of great times during my four years at Miami. We won many games and had some great successes, which really made it fun. Participating in two Frozen Fours, including a national championship game, and winning Miami's first ever CCHA Playoff championship were some of the main highlights.

MM: You were co-captain of the Redhawks this past season, what kind of leader were you for your squad? Rah-rah? Lead by example?

WW: I think my teammates would say that I lead by example. I'm not a guy that's going to give a big speech before a game but if something needs to be said, I have no problem voicing my opinion. I always made an effort to be a leader both on and off the ice.

MM: What was going through your mind before your first professional game with the Falcons, and what were you able to take from your brief experience in Springfield?

WW: Overall, being in Springfield was a great experience. I was really happy that I was able to make it out there for the last two games of the season. I'll admit that I was a little nervous before my first professional game, but once I was able to calm my nerves I felt pretty good and learned a lot in the short time I was there. The guys on the team were great and the coaches helped me feel comfortable in my adjustment. It was an awesome time and it really motivated me even more to work hard and be successful at the pro level.

MM: You've told us before that Bobby Orr is your hockey idol. Is there a player currently in the NHL that you model your game after, or would compare your playing style to?

WW: I believe that I'll be successful at the next level being a defensive minded d-man. I like to play a physical in your face type game. I would compare my mindset to a guy like Chris Pronger because he likes to be tough in his own end, and be a real pain to play against.

MM: What do the Jackets expect from you leading up to training camp in the fall?

WW: They expect me to play how I've played in the past- to be a solid d-man that the other team doesn't want to play against. I know I can be that player and I hope to exceed all expectations going into next year.

MM: What are your plans for the offseason?

WW: I'm really excited about the upcoming months. I'm going back to school the first six weeks of summer to work out with the guys still on the team at Miami, and also take the last few credits required to officially get my degree. After that my plans aren't set in stone, but I hope to spend as much time in Columbus and train with some of the guys that will be there this summer. I think that will give me the best opportunity to be in great shape going into camp.

MM: Give us your pick for Stanley Cup Winner!

WW: It's a tough call. This year's playoffs have been really exciting. There are a few teams that have gotten pretty hot down the stretch but if I were to pick I would go with the Philadelphia Flyers, they are a real solid team. My underdog team would be the LA Kings, especially since they have a former Miami d-man Alex Martinez.

Tom Wilson, Plymouth Whalers
Copyright: CHL Images, used with permission

2011-2012 Regular Season Stats:

2011-2012 Playoff Stats:

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Colton Sissons

Position: Right Wing
Team: Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Age: 18
Date of Birth: November 5th, 1993
Place of Birth: North Vancouver, BC
Ht: 6'1" Wt: 190
Shoots: Right

2011-2012 Regular Season Stats:

2011-2012 WHL Playoff Stats:

Colton Sissons is one of those guys who is listed as a winger, but may be able to transition to the center position given time. He finished the year as Central Scouting's 14th-ranked North American skater. He has shown the ability to score consistently, and has a good frame on which to add size. In addition, his leadership quotient is very high, as he was named Captain of his CHL top prospects game squad. That said, there are certainly some issues with his game, as well. The fact that he was a combined -20 in 62 games through the regular season and playoffs is definitely an eyebrow raiser. He will need to work on his defensive effort, as well as his ability/willingness to get teammates involved, especially if he were to move over to the center position.

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At 9am this morning, Aaron Portzline broke the news that the Blue Jackets would make Todd Richards their newest head coach, taking the "interim" off his title.

I think it's fair to say that the reactions have been decidedly mixed. Some people say that Scott Howson jumped the gun. Others argue it's a case of stability over everything else. I think the truth runs a little bit in between the two.

While Howson got calls from "8-10" coaches, we don't know who contacted him, and if they might have been a better fit. Guys like Paul Maurice and Ted Nolan might very well be interested in getting back into the NHL's coaching ranks, but it's hard to say they'd be a better fit. I have no doubt there are coaches in the AHL, Major Junior, and even the NCAA ranks who saw an opportunity, but after the lack of NHL coaching experience burned them so badly, I doubt the team was going to walk down that road again.

A candidate like Todd McClellan might become available after the Stanley Cup Final ends, but waiting for "Mr. Right" is a dicey proposition - especially when you have a candidate in house who delivered a performance worthy of consideration.

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One of the biggest moves of this off-season may be a move that's not actually being made. After 41 games as the club's interim head coach, The Dispatch's Aaron Portzline is reporting that Todd Richards will have his "interim" tag lifted later today, and that he has signed a two-year contract. He will become the club's sixth "full-time" coach. This is Richards' second NHL head coaching gig, as he coached the Minnesota Wild from 2009-2011.

Richards certainly deserves credit for stabilizing the flaming shipwreck quite a bit after the departure of Scott Arniel after 41 games. Richards also should get some credit for keeping the team pushing through the end of the season, as they won 11 of their final 19 games and dealt some teams a blow in their pushes to the playoffs. As Porty also notes, Richards should get credit for something else, as well:

One of the biggest struggles under Arniel was holding onto leads in the third period, but the Jackets went 14-0 under Richards when they led after 40 minutes.

Richards still has some work to do, as the club's special teams were pretty abysmal, and it's not like an 18-21-2 record over 41 games is setting the world on fire. However, considering the club won just 11 times in their first 41, it was a big step in the right direction.

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2011-2012 Regular Season Stats:

2011-2012 WHL Playoff Stats:

Pouliot, a former first overall pick in the WHL Bantam draft, is an offensive blueliner with the ability to quarterback a powerplay. He's a tad undersized, but his skating and ability to create offensively more than makes up for that. He needs some polishing in the defensive zone, but things like positioning can be improved with coaching.

Just last night, his Portland team was eliminated in the WHL final by the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Winterhawks were a solid group, with a good mix of veteran and young players. Pouliot was a leader on defense, finishing tied on his team in points in the playoffs. In the regular season, Pouliot had six powerplay goals.

He'd be a great addition for any NHL squad looking to add an offensive weapon to their back end. If they are willing to work with him on his play without the puck, he could be a solid NHL defenseman.

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