Today is the Winter Solstice, and last night was a long, bad night for Leafs teams.

Admirals spoil Solar Bears return home | Pro Hockey News
It must have felt like forever when the Orlando Solar Bears returned to the friendly confines of the Amway Center Wednesday night after a ten game, three week road trip.

Keefe confirms that Andrew Nielsen was a last-minute scratch due to injury and Travis Dermott is injured and not on the road trip at all.  I think you should look for Martin Marincin to be sent down after the Leafs game on the 23rd to give the Marlies an extra body.

Toronto Maple Leafs outgunned by Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 - Pension Plan Puppets
Despite a hot night for the Bozak line, the Leafs fall in Ohio.

He’s been dealing with an injury and hasn’t played this year. Tough way for this former Leafs player to end it.

AHL Notebook: Five players helping their NHL hopes
There are no predictable timelines for player development in the American Hockey League, and there are many different roads to an NHL job.Age, depth charts experience, organizational needs, and size are among the many factors that can accelerate or slow down a player as he attempts to stick on an NHL roster. Sometimes those players were notable selections at the NHL Draft. Other players go undrafted and have to take a longer path.

For European NHL players, getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage - The Washington Post
In most states, an international license is no longer valid after a year after entering the U.S.

Vegas? VEGAS! | By David Perron
“Vegas?” I wrote.

“Vegas!!!” He replied.

Vegas.

Canada beat up on the Czechs in a tuneup game last night

Canada juniors bury Czechs in 9-0 avalanche in exhibition | CBC Sports
Carter Hart had a 23-save shutout in Canada's 9-0 rout of the Czech Republic on Wednesday night in a tune-up game ahead of the world junior hockey championship.

I could hear the Czech sobbing from my house. So, fine, Canada is good but Go Sweden Go.

From The Branches