If you're an NHL fan, chances are you will be checking out whatever sources you can to see what happened on NHL trade deadline day. What teams will be movers, what teams will be sellers and what name players will be going elsewhere. Some don't think it will be a dramatic day because of the economic situation but I think some big name players will be on the move tomorrow.
I think Chris Pronger will be leaving Anaheim for either Boston or believe it or not Toronto. (You know Brian Burke would love to have someone like Pronger anchoring his blueline for the next few years as he starts rebuild). The Ducks acquistion of Ryan Whitney last week basically insured Pronger's move in my mind.
Jay Bouwmeester may move out of Florida and he could be headed to Edmonton but only if the Oilers give up Erik Cole and maybe Robbie Schremp or another prospect. (Note to Oilers GM Steve Tambellini---do not trade Jordan Eberle under any circumstances)This deal could also go down if the Oilers can sign the free agent at the end of the season to a new contract. Having Jay Bo in Edmonton silks would make this blogger very happy.
Speaking of Erik Cole, if he doesn't go to Florida, he will be sent somewhere. Could he go to Pittsburgh for Jordan Staal, could he be off to Ottawa in a package that includes Jason Spezza.
Former Oiler Ryan Smyth appears to be on the trade block in Colorado. I heard someone say the Flames are interested. Seeing Smyth wearing the flaming "C" would be nauseating!
The Leafs will likely get rid of Nik Antropov because like Bouwmeester he is a free agent at the end of the season and Toronto would like to get something for him. Could he end up in Pittsburgh?? How about Washington? Could Detroit or San Jose be interested in Antropov??Tomas Kaberle could and likely will also be on the move. I have heard of many teams interested in his services.
Phoenix is almost certain to trade Olli Jokinen and former Pat Derek Morris and if we are at the trade deadline, St. Louis will trade Keith Tkachuk again won't they?? Is there any team out there willing to take on Scott Gomez's contract? It should be a very interesting day tomorrow. Whatever does happen, one can expect many players will be packing their bags. Let the dealing begin!!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
And The Winner Is.....
(Hey whos that guy on the left hand side of the pic snapping a picture)
Stampeders coach John Hufnagel has been named the CFL coach of the year. He took 39 of 47 votes to win the honor over Als coach Marc Trestman(8 votes) and the Riders Ken Miller(2 votes). Here's a video of Hufnagel getting his team ready before taking to the field against the Alouettes on Grey Cup Sunday....
http://www.cfl.ca/media/videoCFL/id/6021
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Elsewhere, so much for Josh Harding becoming the starting goalie for the Minnesota Wild after the trade deadline. Perhaps the Wild should think about dealing the former Regina Pat after Nicklas Backstrom signed a 4 year contract extension that will pay him 24 million. It was widely thought the Wild would trade Backstrom before the trade deadline.
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He's baaaaaaa-aaack!! Sean Avery has been claimed on waivers as expected by the New York Rangers. Its expected the NHL's superpest will be wearing Ranger blue again very soon. I'm guessing Marty Brodeur is sending a congratulatory text as I write.
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Former Rider Jason Armstead has some legal problems. The current Bomber was arrested this past weekend on charges of domestic violence and failure to yield to the blue lights of police officers in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Officers tell a newspaper in Biloxi, Mississippi that the 29-year old Armstead was in a car chasing his ex-girlfriend's vehicle when he allegedly pulled a gun and waved it at her in an effort to get her to pull over her car.
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If you play the Super 7 lottery, you don't have much time left to do so. The 15 year lottery will come to an end this September. A new game will take its place but we won't get details of that game until Super 7 is over.
Who Is The COTY
We find out over three months after the Stampeders hoisted the Grey Cup just who the 2009 coach of the year is in the CFL today. I don’t know why the CFL does this now and not on awards night during Grey Cup week and with all the focus being on the NHL trade deadline, this award won’t get much ink but that’s just me talking. The finalists are John Hufnagel, Marc Trestman and Ken Miller. I have said it before and I will say it again. When you look at everything Miller did with the 2008 Riders considering the lineup or lack of one that he had to field most weeks because of injury and to get this team to a 2nd place finish in the West is one that should not be ignored. His team didn’t get to the Grey Cup but that doesn’t matter. The job Kenny did in year 1 –a year where no one thought the Riders could even come close to repeating in 2007 because guys like Kerry Joseph, Fred Perry and Reggie Hunt were gone was absolutely remarkable. He should win and he has my vote. Sadly though, one would have to expect the honour to go to Hufnagel.
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Matt Hasselbeck has a receiver to throw to. My Seahawks have gone out and signed free agent receiver T-J Houshmandzadeh(I won’t be getting that name on the back of my Seattle jersey). The man whose name has been immortalized in the NFL.com fantasy football ad leaves the Bengals and the shadow of Ocho Cinco to come to the Pacific Northwest where he can hopefully help get Seattle back into the upper echelon. No question Seattle was lacking when it came to pass-catchers and he will help immensely. At least he should.
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Don Cherry’s quotes on Alex Ovechkin Saturday night has them talking in the U-S. ESPN’s Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption both brought the matter up with Chicago newspaper columnist Jay Mariotti saying Cherry is a guy known for his outlandish suit jackets and he is the one criticizing Alex the Gr8 for his outlandish behaviour. Can’t argue with Jay on that one. By the way, I love “Around the Horn” almost as much as I love “PTI”. Maybe TSN should turn “The Reporters” into an “Around the Horn” type show. Imagine it now, Vanstone, the Globe’s Matt Sekeres, Steve Simmons of Sun Media and maybe the voice of the Eskimos Bryan Hall yapping on the big topics of the day. Get Jay Onrait to host it. That would be outstanding TV. Instead we get Motorweek or something else. I love TSN but some of their programs do make me shake my head.
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I love this story from CNN’s Peter King. He describes how the New York Jets signed free agent linebacker Bart Scott.
Free agency began Friday morning, a second after midnight, and Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, told him he might be getting a call or two in the wee hours of the morning. At 12:15, at the same time he heard his dogs barking wildly outside his Owings Mills, Md., home, Scott's cell phone rang. "Man, come get these damn dogs!'' Jets secondary coach Dennis Thurman said into the phone.
Thurman was outside in the driveway with two other unannounced visitors -- Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Scott knew them from their days on the Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff, and he absolutely could not believe they were sitting in his driveway, about to get attacked by his security dogs if they ventured out of the car. After Scott secured the dogs ("I'm just glad Mater and McQueen didn't take a bite out of those guys,'' Scott said Sunday night. "I'd have had to spend a chunk of my signing bonus for stitches.'') Ryan walked into the house, looked at Scott and said: "We want you. We're here for you. We're not leaving without you.'' There was a plane coming at 8 in the morning to take Scott to the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J., and Ryan told him he had to be on it.
"Talk about taking it back old-school!'' Scott said. "I was getting recruited! They were recruiting me big-time! Can you see the precedent they're setting? Remember Jerry McGuire? You're going to have players asking their coaches now, 'Why don't we have that kind of relationship?'
Great story!!
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I wonder if the Nashville Predators have seen a rash of young men going to their games lately. I would think there would be some in Music City USA heading to the rink after seeing this ad….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBB7Bd-w3NM
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!
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Matt Hasselbeck has a receiver to throw to. My Seahawks have gone out and signed free agent receiver T-J Houshmandzadeh(I won’t be getting that name on the back of my Seattle jersey). The man whose name has been immortalized in the NFL.com fantasy football ad leaves the Bengals and the shadow of Ocho Cinco to come to the Pacific Northwest where he can hopefully help get Seattle back into the upper echelon. No question Seattle was lacking when it came to pass-catchers and he will help immensely. At least he should.
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Don Cherry’s quotes on Alex Ovechkin Saturday night has them talking in the U-S. ESPN’s Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption both brought the matter up with Chicago newspaper columnist Jay Mariotti saying Cherry is a guy known for his outlandish suit jackets and he is the one criticizing Alex the Gr8 for his outlandish behaviour. Can’t argue with Jay on that one. By the way, I love “Around the Horn” almost as much as I love “PTI”. Maybe TSN should turn “The Reporters” into an “Around the Horn” type show. Imagine it now, Vanstone, the Globe’s Matt Sekeres, Steve Simmons of Sun Media and maybe the voice of the Eskimos Bryan Hall yapping on the big topics of the day. Get Jay Onrait to host it. That would be outstanding TV. Instead we get Motorweek or something else. I love TSN but some of their programs do make me shake my head.
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I love this story from CNN’s Peter King. He describes how the New York Jets signed free agent linebacker Bart Scott.
Free agency began Friday morning, a second after midnight, and Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, told him he might be getting a call or two in the wee hours of the morning. At 12:15, at the same time he heard his dogs barking wildly outside his Owings Mills, Md., home, Scott's cell phone rang. "Man, come get these damn dogs!'' Jets secondary coach Dennis Thurman said into the phone.
Thurman was outside in the driveway with two other unannounced visitors -- Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Scott knew them from their days on the Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff, and he absolutely could not believe they were sitting in his driveway, about to get attacked by his security dogs if they ventured out of the car. After Scott secured the dogs ("I'm just glad Mater and McQueen didn't take a bite out of those guys,'' Scott said Sunday night. "I'd have had to spend a chunk of my signing bonus for stitches.'') Ryan walked into the house, looked at Scott and said: "We want you. We're here for you. We're not leaving without you.'' There was a plane coming at 8 in the morning to take Scott to the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J., and Ryan told him he had to be on it.
"Talk about taking it back old-school!'' Scott said. "I was getting recruited! They were recruiting me big-time! Can you see the precedent they're setting? Remember Jerry McGuire? You're going to have players asking their coaches now, 'Why don't we have that kind of relationship?'
Great story!!
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I wonder if the Nashville Predators have seen a rash of young men going to their games lately. I would think there would be some in Music City USA heading to the rink after seeing this ad….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBB7Bd-w3NM
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!
Monday, March 2, 2009
This And That
--So let me get this straight, Human Growth Hormone is something that many pro sports don't want their athletes taking and I'm guessing that goes right down to the grassroots level of many sports yet I can turn to the back page of today's Leader-Post and see a full page ad promoting HGH and an order form to buy it. Something isn't right here!!
--Am I the only one that thinks former Argos linebacker Mike Fletcher would be a good addition in Riderville.
--Is Saskatoon Blades goalie Braden Holtby the WHL MVP this season. Where would the Blades be without Holtby this year??
--A 2 hour "24" tonight. YESSSS!!!!!!
--How can you not be a fan of Vic Rauter, Linda Moore and Ray Turnbull. They are simply outstanding in bringing curling into the living rooms of Canadians from coast-to-coast. Their passion for the game is infectious.
--I would applaud those in the CFL if they eliminated the single point. It simply isn't needed and I don't care what proponents of "the rouge" say, you shouldn't be rewarded for failure.
--A poll asking for the best in the WHL's Eastern Conference has Regina Pats fans ranked as 3rd. Are you kidding me?? If sitting on your hands and not making any noise unless asked to is seen as envious. If you ask me, Pats fans should be embarassed. They could take a lesson from their counterparts in Moose Jaw when it comes to supporting a junior hockey team. Speaking of Pats fans, my good friend Rod Pedersen is outraged over "fans" booing Colten Teubert during the CKRM post game show last night. I wholeheartedly agree with RP's thoughts on the matter. Still with Rod, I do disagree with his statement that he endorses bringing Casey Printers to Riderville. NO, NO and let me repeat NO!!!
--New York Mets 3rd baseman Fernando Tatis missed a spring training game this week with what the team said was a "sore left palm". Uhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I don't think I want to know do I.
--I hope there's a great crowd for the CIS Womens Basketball Championship in Regina this weekend. I know Reginans will make the CKHS the place to be this weekend and prove once again that people do care about their sports in this city despite what some ---about 2 1/2 hours north on Highway 11--might try to tell me. By the way, GO COUGARS!!!
--Why does something tell me Chris Pronger could be wearing a Maple Leafs uniform by the end of the week.
--Have you cast your vote for Humboldt as the Kraft Hockeyville winner for 2009 yet. Personally, I would take Wilcox ahead of Humboldt (nothing personal to the fine folks of Humboldt) but when I think hockey in rural Saskatchewan, I think of Notre Dame and Wilcox. That being said, I hope everyone reading this will vote for Humboldt. I have!
--Am I the only one that thinks former Argos linebacker Mike Fletcher would be a good addition in Riderville.
--Is Saskatoon Blades goalie Braden Holtby the WHL MVP this season. Where would the Blades be without Holtby this year??
--A 2 hour "24" tonight. YESSSS!!!!!!
--How can you not be a fan of Vic Rauter, Linda Moore and Ray Turnbull. They are simply outstanding in bringing curling into the living rooms of Canadians from coast-to-coast. Their passion for the game is infectious.
--I would applaud those in the CFL if they eliminated the single point. It simply isn't needed and I don't care what proponents of "the rouge" say, you shouldn't be rewarded for failure.
--A poll asking for the best in the WHL's Eastern Conference has Regina Pats fans ranked as 3rd. Are you kidding me?? If sitting on your hands and not making any noise unless asked to is seen as envious. If you ask me, Pats fans should be embarassed. They could take a lesson from their counterparts in Moose Jaw when it comes to supporting a junior hockey team. Speaking of Pats fans, my good friend Rod Pedersen is outraged over "fans" booing Colten Teubert during the CKRM post game show last night. I wholeheartedly agree with RP's thoughts on the matter. Still with Rod, I do disagree with his statement that he endorses bringing Casey Printers to Riderville. NO, NO and let me repeat NO!!!
--New York Mets 3rd baseman Fernando Tatis missed a spring training game this week with what the team said was a "sore left palm". Uhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I don't think I want to know do I.
--I hope there's a great crowd for the CIS Womens Basketball Championship in Regina this weekend. I know Reginans will make the CKHS the place to be this weekend and prove once again that people do care about their sports in this city despite what some ---about 2 1/2 hours north on Highway 11--might try to tell me. By the way, GO COUGARS!!!
--Why does something tell me Chris Pronger could be wearing a Maple Leafs uniform by the end of the week.
--Have you cast your vote for Humboldt as the Kraft Hockeyville winner for 2009 yet. Personally, I would take Wilcox ahead of Humboldt (nothing personal to the fine folks of Humboldt) but when I think hockey in rural Saskatchewan, I think of Notre Dame and Wilcox. That being said, I hope everyone reading this will vote for Humboldt. I have!
Uttering The "F" Word
Those at last night’s Pats game had to be uttering the F word at the end of the night. I know I was up in the press box after doing the Access broadcast with Kelly Remple. That “F” word being frustrated. The final score read 4-1 for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and I believe now that is the end for the Pats playoff chances but it was a night where I truly believe Regina deserved a better fate. For the most part I thought Regina outplayed their opponents on this night but Lethbridge capitalized on their opportunities. Give Lethbridge credit for one thing though and that is they just blocked shot after shot after shot when Regina took it to them in the 3rd period. That is what championship calibre teams have to do to win and its something I don’t think the Pats to a man are willing to do on a nightly basis. Kelly and I had a great interview with Dale Derkatch before the game and he is just as frustrated as anyone else if not moreso. He talked a lot about character in that interview and that perhaps his team is lacking in that area when it comes to on-ice character. I don’t know what the future holds for Derkatch and I’m sure many in the Regina hockey community will press for GM Brent Parker to make a change but I hope that doesn’t happen. I think Dale has learned a lot from this season and he will be a better coach for it. Dale also told Kelly and I that the WHL is a league for 19 and 20 year olds which I don’t disagree with and the Pats will have many of those next year. I don’t like the fact this team has underachieved this year and many players can take the blame for that but I do believe with the likes of Eberle, Teubert, Delahey, Weal, Ketlo and others that this team will compete for an Eastern Division title. Add the names Myles Bell to that list too. I and many others had our first chance at seeing the 15 year old who was Regina’s 1st pick in the 2009 bantam draft play and I was impressed with what I saw. He will be a gooder!!!
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She’s still the champ. Jennifer Jones wins her 3rd Scotties in 5 years and she took the exact same route to winning in Victoria that she took in Regina last year. The Winnipeg rink got into the playoffs on the final draw of the round-robin and then mowed through the playoff field beating PEI, Saskatchewan, Quebec and finally BC in the final by a score of 8-5. This year’s Worlds will go in Korea. Of course the 2010 World Womens Curling Championship will be in Saskatchewan when the best rinks converge on Swift Current. The TSN gang gets a week to rest up before getting at it again as the Brier starts in Calgary Saturday afternoon.
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CFL fans have spoken. The commissioner wanted input from you on rule changes and he has some. What now??? Here's a story from the Toronto Star....
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/595024
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Did you know that the team with the most points in the 2nd half of the NHL season has been the New Jersey Devils….and they did it for the most part without Marty Brodeur. Brodeur has now played three games since returning from elbow surgery and he has two shutouts in those games. Brodeur recording career shutout number 100 in a 3-0 win over the Flyers. He’s now within three shutouts of Terry Sawchuks record and he is within four W’s of tying Patrick Roy for all-time winningest goalie. Who’s kidding who folks, Brodeur may be the best netminder of all time when all is said and done.
In Calgary, the Lightning and Flames hooked up in a shootout with Tampa winning 8-6. The big news coming out of the game was Jarome Iginla had 5 points including his 400th career goal and his 831st career point making him the all-time Flames leader in that category. Many believe Iggy is the greatest player to ever wear the Flaming “C’”. Sorry, I will give that edge to the one and only Theoren Fleury. Take nothing away from Iginla but he just doesn’t match up to Theo as far as I’m concerned.
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Don Cherry and Alex Ovechkin are now sniping at one another. Grapes was critical of Ovechkin by backing Sidney Crosbys comments of last week. Cherry doesn’t like the way Ovechkin celebrates goals and compared his antics to those of soccer players. When asked for his comments after a win over Florida, Ovechkin laughed off Cherry’s statements saying Don is a funny old guy who likes old-fashioned hockey. As for what I think, I think Ovechkin is the face of the NHL right now and his antics are something the league should run with. A Capitals appearance in the Stanley Cup final would be great for NBC and the game in the U-S. His behaviour on the ice is infectious. It may not catch on to the Americans because he is a Russian but then again it just might.
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NFL news. Jay Cutler isn’t happy over reports the Denver Broncos are looking to trade him. The quarterback isn’t too enamoured with new coach Josh McDaniels after word that there was talk about sending Cutler to Tampa Bay in a three way trade that would have seen Matt Cassel go from New England to Denver. There was a lot of excitement in Denver about Cutler –especially when he made his debut(which was a loss to the mighty Seahawks on a Sunday night in Denver in which I was in attendance and watched Josh Brown kick a 53 yard field goal at the final gun for the win to make my 40th birthday a complete success)—but some believe his play has leveled off. In a town where you are now measured by the success of John Elway that is bad news. Methinks Cutler gets traded either before or during the NFL draft. Who’s kidding who, he should go play baseball in Toronto right now because he is a “Blue Jay”. OK on that note, lets end this for now. Later!!
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She’s still the champ. Jennifer Jones wins her 3rd Scotties in 5 years and she took the exact same route to winning in Victoria that she took in Regina last year. The Winnipeg rink got into the playoffs on the final draw of the round-robin and then mowed through the playoff field beating PEI, Saskatchewan, Quebec and finally BC in the final by a score of 8-5. This year’s Worlds will go in Korea. Of course the 2010 World Womens Curling Championship will be in Saskatchewan when the best rinks converge on Swift Current. The TSN gang gets a week to rest up before getting at it again as the Brier starts in Calgary Saturday afternoon.
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CFL fans have spoken. The commissioner wanted input from you on rule changes and he has some. What now??? Here's a story from the Toronto Star....
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/595024
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Did you know that the team with the most points in the 2nd half of the NHL season has been the New Jersey Devils….and they did it for the most part without Marty Brodeur. Brodeur has now played three games since returning from elbow surgery and he has two shutouts in those games. Brodeur recording career shutout number 100 in a 3-0 win over the Flyers. He’s now within three shutouts of Terry Sawchuks record and he is within four W’s of tying Patrick Roy for all-time winningest goalie. Who’s kidding who folks, Brodeur may be the best netminder of all time when all is said and done.
In Calgary, the Lightning and Flames hooked up in a shootout with Tampa winning 8-6. The big news coming out of the game was Jarome Iginla had 5 points including his 400th career goal and his 831st career point making him the all-time Flames leader in that category. Many believe Iggy is the greatest player to ever wear the Flaming “C’”. Sorry, I will give that edge to the one and only Theoren Fleury. Take nothing away from Iginla but he just doesn’t match up to Theo as far as I’m concerned.
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Don Cherry and Alex Ovechkin are now sniping at one another. Grapes was critical of Ovechkin by backing Sidney Crosbys comments of last week. Cherry doesn’t like the way Ovechkin celebrates goals and compared his antics to those of soccer players. When asked for his comments after a win over Florida, Ovechkin laughed off Cherry’s statements saying Don is a funny old guy who likes old-fashioned hockey. As for what I think, I think Ovechkin is the face of the NHL right now and his antics are something the league should run with. A Capitals appearance in the Stanley Cup final would be great for NBC and the game in the U-S. His behaviour on the ice is infectious. It may not catch on to the Americans because he is a Russian but then again it just might.
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NFL news. Jay Cutler isn’t happy over reports the Denver Broncos are looking to trade him. The quarterback isn’t too enamoured with new coach Josh McDaniels after word that there was talk about sending Cutler to Tampa Bay in a three way trade that would have seen Matt Cassel go from New England to Denver. There was a lot of excitement in Denver about Cutler –especially when he made his debut(which was a loss to the mighty Seahawks on a Sunday night in Denver in which I was in attendance and watched Josh Brown kick a 53 yard field goal at the final gun for the win to make my 40th birthday a complete success)—but some believe his play has leveled off. In a town where you are now measured by the success of John Elway that is bad news. Methinks Cutler gets traded either before or during the NFL draft. Who’s kidding who, he should go play baseball in Toronto right now because he is a “Blue Jay”. OK on that note, lets end this for now. Later!!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Training Camp Starts When????
Its one of those boring, boring Sundays when there is nothing and I mean nothing on TV sportswise to captivate my attention. The NBA isn't getting it done and either is college basketball(although that will change once March Madness hits)BAH to the finals of the World Match Play championship, NASCAR will put me to sleep and there's no Sunday matinee NHL action to take in. (I don't have the Centre Ice package)I even think I saw some bowling on. The curling final isn't until tonight and when its on, I will be doing the Pats-Hurricanes game on Access 7. It only re-affirms my love for football. Is it really still four months away???? Time can't move fast enough and a lot of you know exactly what I mean.
Hammering On Mallett
The Scotties final will go tonight in Victoria with Marla Mallett and her Vancouver rink taking on the defending champ Jennifer Jones. The Winnipeg rink advancing to the final for a 2nd straight year by first beating Stefanie Lawton and her Saskatchewan rink in the 3 vs 4 game and then beating Quebec’s Marie France-Larouche in the semi-final. A curling blog known as “The Curling News” has an article on Mallett—and an unfavourable one at that from a Calgary curler named Margo Weber. Read on!
It’s probably no surprise to Marla Mallett that her team from BC has made the 1-2 playoff game at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. But I bet it’s a surprise to everyone else.In a field that included Team Canada’s Jennifer Jones, Saskatoon’s Stephanie Lawton and Calgary’s Cheryl Bernard, the play of Team BC has been no less than remarkable.So can BC hold up their first place status and win one of two chances to make the final? This team made the 1-2 game by virtue of their eighth win on Wednesday night, however has subsequently lost their last two round robin games. If they can’t get things back on track, it’s going to be a long summer of what-ifs for Mallett and her squad from the Vancouver Curling Club.Mallett has certainly not let the extra pressure of being the home team diminish their chances. They don’t even seem to care what the crowd thinks.They chose not to participate in the Ford Hot Shots at the beginning of the week because they feared it would be a distraction from the real goal – winning the Scotties.Mallett also plays a less-than-crowd-pleasing style of game that is unbelievably boring and pretty lame for the fans. So they are less concerned about the event sponsors and the crowd, and more concerned with their own play. Fair enough.But Mallett herself got distracted enough in last night’s round robin game against Team Canada that she actually stopped herself in the hack, got up and refocused. Apparently bothered by some opposition team movement at the other end of the sheet, she was later shown jawing to Cathy Overton-Clapham about holding still.Was Cathy O doing the hokey pokey? How could someone of this curling calibre be so easily distracted over something so minute?For those that watched the TSN telecast, you heard Linda Moore comment how Mallett had to refocus quite a few times in the BC provincials due to minor distractions. Shouldn't something as trivial as a little movement in the background not bother her at this point?Yeesh, this is the home team, and the crowd is cheering “British Columbia” every five seconds. Yet she feels the need to talk to Cathy O about her movements. Weird.Okay, so let’s pretend BC does win tonight – or in the semi – and then faces one of three really good teams in the final. And let’s pretend she even wins that and goes on to represent Canada at the Worlds in Korea. How will she fare?As a fan of Canadian curling, my support will certainly be behind her in hopes that she captures the world title. But I would be a little nervous about their chances.First, this is a very defensive team, and the Victoria ice seems to lend to this style of play. But the ice in Korea is sure to be completely different than ice at home – isn’t it? – and the question is: would they be able to adjust?Second, if Mallett is easily distracted by other teams, the World Championship will not be the place for her. International teams are very different from Canadian teams. If you want to see a bunch of ladies jumping up and down, and high fiving just for making a hit and roll – watch a few games at the Worlds.I’m going to have to throw my hopes behind a team that isn’t afraid to mix it up. Best of luck to Team BC in their quest, but I want a Canadian gold in Korea, and I’m going to have to cheer for someone else. How about someone like Quebec’s Marie-France Larouche who puts the broom on the edge of the eight foot, goes down to the other end of the sheet and draws to the can without blinking an eye. Typical Mallett strategy would be to scan the house for any cross-house double so that she doesn’t have to draw.Or how about Saskatchewan, which has the major distraction of an illness in the family of the skip and third, yet has still rallied to a third-place round robin finish despite losing their first three games?Or Team Canada, an absolute powerhouse in women’s curling which has the major distraction of being Team Canada? Even when these girls are struggling they just plain refuse to roll over and die themselves, as we saw in last year’s STOH and just a few minutes ago, in the 2009 tiebreaker against poor PEI.There are so many great teams in the Scotties this year that I just don’t have it in me this time to cheer for the home province. Sorry, BC.
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There are a lot of people out there that seemingly don’t like Jones even though I found her to be very co-operative and very friendly at last years event in Regina. That being said, I did hear stories about her being very “diva”-like but not to the level of Kelley Law. I don’t agree with Mallett not competing in the Hot Shots and I do agree with Webers comments on the confrontation with Cathy Overton-Clapham. It would seem that whoever wins tonight will have an unpopular faction amongst some. BTW I’m rooting for Jennifer. Speaking of the Hotshots, have you tried it, you can by going to https://hotshots.curling.ca/
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The Cougar ladies basketball team failed in its attempt to win the Canada West title. They were beaten 68-57 by Simon Fraser Saturday night. SFU and the U of R may have another chance to tango next weekend at the CIS Nationals which are happening in Regina.
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A chance to see Regina’s Josh Harding guard the goal last night as the Minnesota Wild played the Oilers in the back half of the HNIC doubleheader. I’m hoping to see a lot more of Josh in the days and years to come as the Wild goalie. His time is now and with rumours of number one goalie Nick Backstrom perhaps being dealt at the trade deadline the Wild may be ready to turn the reins over to Josh. In my years of watching the Pats, he is the best goalie I have ever seen wearing a Pats uni and yes that includes the days of Eddie Staniowski. By the way, I am hearing Backstrom could be a Washington Capital by this time next week. If that happens, Washington gets stronger in goal and they will then have two players on their team named Nicklas Backstrom.
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I didnt watch the first half of the HNIC doubleheader because it was the Leafs-Senators. While channel surfing, the movie "Weekend at Bernies" was just starting. It may be one of the cheeziest movies ever made but it truly is one of my favourites. I can't stop laughing at that show especially the scene where Bernie goes overboard on the boat and keeps hitting the buoys. Classic!!!!
It’s probably no surprise to Marla Mallett that her team from BC has made the 1-2 playoff game at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. But I bet it’s a surprise to everyone else.In a field that included Team Canada’s Jennifer Jones, Saskatoon’s Stephanie Lawton and Calgary’s Cheryl Bernard, the play of Team BC has been no less than remarkable.So can BC hold up their first place status and win one of two chances to make the final? This team made the 1-2 game by virtue of their eighth win on Wednesday night, however has subsequently lost their last two round robin games. If they can’t get things back on track, it’s going to be a long summer of what-ifs for Mallett and her squad from the Vancouver Curling Club.Mallett has certainly not let the extra pressure of being the home team diminish their chances. They don’t even seem to care what the crowd thinks.They chose not to participate in the Ford Hot Shots at the beginning of the week because they feared it would be a distraction from the real goal – winning the Scotties.Mallett also plays a less-than-crowd-pleasing style of game that is unbelievably boring and pretty lame for the fans. So they are less concerned about the event sponsors and the crowd, and more concerned with their own play. Fair enough.But Mallett herself got distracted enough in last night’s round robin game against Team Canada that she actually stopped herself in the hack, got up and refocused. Apparently bothered by some opposition team movement at the other end of the sheet, she was later shown jawing to Cathy Overton-Clapham about holding still.Was Cathy O doing the hokey pokey? How could someone of this curling calibre be so easily distracted over something so minute?For those that watched the TSN telecast, you heard Linda Moore comment how Mallett had to refocus quite a few times in the BC provincials due to minor distractions. Shouldn't something as trivial as a little movement in the background not bother her at this point?Yeesh, this is the home team, and the crowd is cheering “British Columbia” every five seconds. Yet she feels the need to talk to Cathy O about her movements. Weird.Okay, so let’s pretend BC does win tonight – or in the semi – and then faces one of three really good teams in the final. And let’s pretend she even wins that and goes on to represent Canada at the Worlds in Korea. How will she fare?As a fan of Canadian curling, my support will certainly be behind her in hopes that she captures the world title. But I would be a little nervous about their chances.First, this is a very defensive team, and the Victoria ice seems to lend to this style of play. But the ice in Korea is sure to be completely different than ice at home – isn’t it? – and the question is: would they be able to adjust?Second, if Mallett is easily distracted by other teams, the World Championship will not be the place for her. International teams are very different from Canadian teams. If you want to see a bunch of ladies jumping up and down, and high fiving just for making a hit and roll – watch a few games at the Worlds.I’m going to have to throw my hopes behind a team that isn’t afraid to mix it up. Best of luck to Team BC in their quest, but I want a Canadian gold in Korea, and I’m going to have to cheer for someone else. How about someone like Quebec’s Marie-France Larouche who puts the broom on the edge of the eight foot, goes down to the other end of the sheet and draws to the can without blinking an eye. Typical Mallett strategy would be to scan the house for any cross-house double so that she doesn’t have to draw.Or how about Saskatchewan, which has the major distraction of an illness in the family of the skip and third, yet has still rallied to a third-place round robin finish despite losing their first three games?Or Team Canada, an absolute powerhouse in women’s curling which has the major distraction of being Team Canada? Even when these girls are struggling they just plain refuse to roll over and die themselves, as we saw in last year’s STOH and just a few minutes ago, in the 2009 tiebreaker against poor PEI.There are so many great teams in the Scotties this year that I just don’t have it in me this time to cheer for the home province. Sorry, BC.
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There are a lot of people out there that seemingly don’t like Jones even though I found her to be very co-operative and very friendly at last years event in Regina. That being said, I did hear stories about her being very “diva”-like but not to the level of Kelley Law. I don’t agree with Mallett not competing in the Hot Shots and I do agree with Webers comments on the confrontation with Cathy Overton-Clapham. It would seem that whoever wins tonight will have an unpopular faction amongst some. BTW I’m rooting for Jennifer. Speaking of the Hotshots, have you tried it, you can by going to https://hotshots.curling.ca/
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The Cougar ladies basketball team failed in its attempt to win the Canada West title. They were beaten 68-57 by Simon Fraser Saturday night. SFU and the U of R may have another chance to tango next weekend at the CIS Nationals which are happening in Regina.
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A chance to see Regina’s Josh Harding guard the goal last night as the Minnesota Wild played the Oilers in the back half of the HNIC doubleheader. I’m hoping to see a lot more of Josh in the days and years to come as the Wild goalie. His time is now and with rumours of number one goalie Nick Backstrom perhaps being dealt at the trade deadline the Wild may be ready to turn the reins over to Josh. In my years of watching the Pats, he is the best goalie I have ever seen wearing a Pats uni and yes that includes the days of Eddie Staniowski. By the way, I am hearing Backstrom could be a Washington Capital by this time next week. If that happens, Washington gets stronger in goal and they will then have two players on their team named Nicklas Backstrom.
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I didnt watch the first half of the HNIC doubleheader because it was the Leafs-Senators. While channel surfing, the movie "Weekend at Bernies" was just starting. It may be one of the cheeziest movies ever made but it truly is one of my favourites. I can't stop laughing at that show especially the scene where Bernie goes overboard on the boat and keeps hitting the buoys. Classic!!!!
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