The above are two pictures of the Co-Operators Centre. The multi-rink facility will get its first serious usage over the next week as the Esso Cup national womens midget hockey championships are held at the venue---and what a venue it is. I had my first walk-through last night and I was impressed. Bravo, thumbs up and whatever other kudos can be given to those at Evraz for getting such a top-notch building. Yes, it even has a Tim Hortons on site! I'm guessing many of you hockey parents would want to know that.
The Esso Cup does begin this weekend--Sunday in fact. The host Regina Rebels and five other teams from across the country including the Notre Dame Hounds are out to capture the trophy which is just in its second year of existence. That should tell you alone how much womens hockey is growing in this country. I'll be doing some media relations work and some play by play for the Hockey Canada group that I worked for at the World Juniors. I should also tell you Access 7 is going to have coverage from the event every day as they will do every game the host team is involved in. The WOLF's Michael Ball and Julie Folk will have the call. You gotta tip your hat to Access. They are really doing a good job of covering the local sports over the past few months with the WHL playoffs, the SJHL final, this, the WCP Cup of Soccer....etc. etc.
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Speaking of which, that soccer tournament was on full swing last night when I was over checking out the Co-Operators Centre as it is being held right next door. Great crowds are showing up for the game. Whoever thought this idea up should be commended because it really brings everyone together. I guess that is what the world's game is supposed to do, but in Regina?
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I'm glad there were no major fires in Regina last night. Had there been though, there would have been many to fight it. Upon my arrival at Evraz last nite, all I could see was fire truck after fire truck along with many in their best firemen duds. What was going on? A banquet of some kind obviously, but jeez, guys like me and those going into the soccer game were a little under-dressed for the occasion.
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Hockey fans have nothing to complain about when it comes to the first two nights of the Stanley Cup playoffs. OK, there is one thing and that is the fact we haven't seen Chicago-Nashville yet. Other than that, seven one goal hockey games with one of those seven going to overtime. Montreal upsets Washington....Buffalo beats Boston by what I think will be a familiar 2-1 score and the Canucks battle to beat the Kings in OT. Have the Hab fans started planning a parade route yet? They will if they go up 2-zip. More of them will start coming out of the woodwork too. Player of the night honor goes to Jaroslav Spacek. The Habs defenceman was on the ice when Ovie was on the ice and he held him to no shots. That's no easy task. I don't care if Ovie is hurt, as has been suggested. When you hold Alex the GR8 to no shots on goal, you've done something.
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Interesting read in the LP this morning as Greg Harder talks about the Pats and the involvement or possible involvement of former Warrior GM Chad Lang. It sounds to me after reading the article that Brent Parker might just step away from the front line of battle and hand some duties off to Lang. One can't deny what Lang did during his time in Moose Jaw.
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Is it just me or do you hear the stories about Ben Roethlisberger, and you know this guy is getting away with sexual assault. Roethlisberger is a two time Super Bowl winning quarterback and he has the potential to maybe win a couple of more on those Pittsburgh teams. Instead of being considered as one of the top in the game though, he is going to be remembered for his stupid off-field incidents. He needs to get some people around him that can watch every move he makes. It might already be too late.
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Is it just me or is the guy that does the national anthem at the Canucks game just a little creepy! Seriously! I would not want to meet that guy under the stands at GM Place. Oh yeah, one other thing. SING THE WHOLE SONG!
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Speaking of creepy, faithful blog reader Mongo sent me a youtube video of former Jays play by play guy Fergie Olver yesterday. Remember him...."HOW BOUT THOSE BLUE JAYS". Yeah. that's the guy. Anyhoo, do you remember that he used to do some kind of kids game show called "Just Like Mom". If you want the word creepy redefined, Youtube Fergie Olver or Just Like Mom, you'll see what I mean.
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Have a good Friday!
7 comments:
The Canucks' guy looks like every other male opera singer - for better or worse.
And I kinda like the "handing it off to the fans" effect. Too bad it would never fly here.
Chad Lang would be better than Brent. I'm guessing Brent will still wield too much power than an established guy like what a Habscheid might have done. Its a start!
Paul Lorieau(Edmonton) handed the anthem to the fans and the Vancouver guy stole it the next year. Do something original! That last little yelp he does makes me think he has just done something nasty on himself......if you know what I mean.
Ryan
Nice looking rink. However, I can't help but notice there is no scoreboard at center ice. What does EP have against center ice scoreboards?!
Mitch:
The Smoking Gun has all the details of the Roethlisberger case. Guy's a good quarterback and an even better douchebag. Pittsburgh got rid of Holmes, they should consider Big Ben as well.
Shawn B
Ryan, Vancouver was doing that in the 2004 cup playoffs. Paul Lorieau stole it. But Oiler fans can keep thinking Paul's an original.
Mitch,
What did Lang do? Took a over a contender of a team fired a great coach in young and then was fired because everyone and their dog saw through him at the fact he was a glorified marketing guy.
Why, why can't the Parkers hire a proven hockey person like other big market clubs? Why did Habscheid, Yawney, Preston, Hartsburg, Clark and many others slide through here? Answer, because Parker has too much pride to admit he is not a hockey person and continually brings in yes men rather proven winners. Lang is not the answer, he may be a great hockey business person but a terrible hockey ops person, otherwise he would have been hired last season with all the vacancies....we all know Yes Man Hunt is working out real well a second time, lets bring in "Red" and see what he and Hunt can orchestrate...gonna be another long long year in Patsland!
Alfie
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