The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame has announced the ten (10) inductees who will become the newest members to be enshrined as part of the Class of 2012. The inductees, including six in the athlete category, three in the category of builder and one in the team category will be officially inducted at the 46th Annual Induction Ceremony to be held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Saturday, June 16, 2012.
The 2012 inductees are:
IN THE ATHLETE CATEGORY:
Darcey Busse (Outlook - deceased) - Volleyball
Orland Kurtenbach (Surrey, BC) - Hockey
Michael Mintenko (Colorado Springs, CO) - Aquatics
Vanessa Monar Enweani (Saskatoon) - Athletics
Fiona Smith-Bell (Stonewall, MB) - Hockey
Donna Veale (Saskatoon) - Softball
IN THE BUILDER CATEGORY:
Don Clark (Regina) - Wrestling
Karin Lofstrom (Ottawa) - Multi Sport
Judy Peddle (Saskatoon) - Athletics
IN THE TEAM CATEGORY:
2007 Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Team – Grey Cup Champions
“2012 is an exciting year for the Saskatchewan Sport Hall of Fame,” said Linda Burnham, Co-Chair of the Induction Weekend. “We have a strong slate of new inductees who have achieved success and recognition in their chosen sports as either athletes or builders. We are pleased to honour them at our Induction ceremony and their accomplishments of excellence will be displayed at the Hall to ensure their place in Saskatchewan's sport history."
Minot State University baseball added three student-athletes to its 2012 recruiting class as Tyler Richter, Paul Vogelsang and Erik Phillips all signed Institutional Letters of Intent to attend MSU starting in the fall.
Richter, a 6-foot, 180-pound pitcher/third baseman from Bismarck, N.D., has been a multiple-sport standout for Bismarck High School. Richter earned All-State, All-WDA and All-WDA Tournament Team in baseball in 2011. He was also a member of the Demons basketball team.
“Tyler is a really good athlete and a great student,” said MSU head coach Brock Weppler. “He has a great build and is a big kid who we think will be a two-way player for us. We think he will have a good chance to help us out on the mound right away, but it's tough to say. We like the way he handles the bat.
“He comes from a quality system and we hope to be able to get some of the best players from Bismarck. Tyler is a good step for us in that city.”
Vogelsang is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound catcher from Regina, Sask., who helped Team Saskatchewan to a Silver Medal at the Canada Cup of Baseball. He batted .356 for his Midget AAA Club team, helping the Mets to a Canada Midget AAA Baseball championship in 2011.
“You always need quality catchers and Paul is excellent defensively,” Weppler said. “He has been coached by some very good coaches on through the ranks and really knows how to receive, block and has a good arm. We like his bat speed and he has a good idea at the plate. We will do some refining, but he will be a good addition to our team.”
Phillips a 6-foot-2, 195 pound right-handed pitcher, comes to Minot from Victoria, British Columbia, playing in the same system as current MSU standouts Connor Moughtin (So., C) and Mike Turcotte (Jr., OF). He was named Lambrick Park Secondary's team MVP in both baseball and basketball.
“We know he comes from a good system because of Moughtin and Turcotte,” said Weppler. “He will throw some innings for us right away and add some depth in our staff. We hope to have a good mix of high school guys and junior college kids so we can have some more options out of the pen and starting.”
The Beavers signed one player during the early signing period and will look to bring 10-15 total players for the 2012 class.
As you know, the NHL fined Nashville defenceman Shea Weber 2500 dollars last week after he grabbed the head of Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg and slammed it into the plexiglass. It looked like Shawn Michaels officially ending his tag-team known as "The Rockers" by slamming Marty Jannetty's head through a window. The fine as you know was debated greatly with many wondering why the NHL even bothered.
That fine looks even more comedic now after hearing that the league has fined Ottawa's Zenon Konopka 2500 dollars for verbally abusing a member of the New York Rangers as he was doing a TV interview with NBC. This means that verbally abusing a player while doing a TV interview costs the same amount of money as slamming someone's head into the plexiglass.
I just don't understand what is going through the mind of Brendan Shanahan and others when it comes to discipline anymore. If I don't, what is going through the players minds.
Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League, and SHAW Communications announced today that the entire 2012 Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship series between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Moose Jaw Warriors will be televised LIVE on SHAW and SHAW Direct ‘Channel 299’ throughout Western Canada.
During the Conference Championship series the WHL on SHAW will feature the play-by-play of Dan Russell, analysis from Bill Wilms as well as Peter Loubardias serving as rink-side host and analyst. SHAW’s WHL Central and host Andy Neal will continue to provide exclusive features, news and highlights from around the WHL, including the Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Championship series.
The following is the schedule for the Edmonton Oil Kings – Moose Jaw Warriors best-of-seven Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series:
Edmonton Oil Kings vs Moose Jaw Warriors
All Games LIVE on SHAW
#1 - Moose Jaw @ Edmonton; Friday, April 20 (7:00pm)
#2 - Moose Jaw @ Edmonton; Sunday, April 22 (5:00pm)
#3 - Edmonton @ Moose Jaw; Tuesday, April 24 (7:00pm)
#4 - Edmonton @ Moose Jaw; Wednesday, April 25 (7:00pm)
#5 - Moose Jaw @ Edmonton; Friday, April 27 (7:00pm)**
#6 - Edmonton @ Moose Jaw; Sunday, April 29 (6:00pm)**
#7 - Moose Jaw @ Edmonton; Tuesday, May 1 (7:00pm)**
** - if necessary
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are pleased to announce that import receiver Terrence Edwards (6-1, 179, DOB: April 20, 1979 in Tennille, Georgia) has signed a contract extension with the team. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Terrence has been one of our most consistent receivers since he came to Winnipeg and has great leadership qualities and work ethic that is looked up to by the rest of his teammates,” said Vice-President and General Manager, Joe Mack. “He will continue to be a key component of our offence and we look forward to having him continue to mentor our young group of receivers.”
Edwards, who turns 33 on Friday, led the Blue Bombers in receiving last season with 66 receptions for 1,124 yards and eight touchdowns. Since signing with Winnipeg in 2007, Edwards has recorded four 1,000 yard seasons and currently sits in sixth place on the Blue Bombers’ all-time receiving yardage list with 5,602 yards. His 41 receiving touchdowns also ranks him in seventh place on team’s all-time list.
“As a team, we came so close to achieving our goal last season of bringing the Grey Cup home to the great fans in Winnipeg and I’m looking forward to coming back to pick up where we left off,” said Edwards. “I’m very grateful to this organization and am proud to be a member of the Blue Bombers.”
The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is bringing us tremendous hockey. It has been fast-paced, it has been two teams full of intensity and passion battling hard in each and every shift and we have seen some great games.Its like the Flames and Oilers in the 80's which was hockey the way it should be played. However, in a weekend where we were treated to hockey at its best, we were also treated to hockey at its worst. The debate on what happened this weekend---especially in Philadelphia--will dominate the headlines over the next couple of days.
Before I weigh into everything, I have to first admit I was wrong. I said last week that Henrik Zetterberg made the mistake of not lying on the ice after being slammed head first into the glass by Shea Weber in Game 1 of the Nashville-Detroit series thus resulting in Weber getting a fine and a weak one at that. I was wrong because that incident has precipitated everything that you see happening. If Brendan Shanahan had acted properly and given the Predators captain a healthy suspension, the crap you are seeing would not be going on. He didn't, thus the players have determined that everyone is free game and its showing.
Shanny had a chance to make a statement when he gave three games to Ranger Carl Hagelin for his elbow to the mush of Daniel Alfredsson, but he then turned around and gave a meagre one game suspension to Matt Carkner for his assault on Brian Boyle. I don't understand, you don't understand. the teams don't understand and the players don't understand. What constitutes what? Does anyone know anymore?
Colin Campbell sent a message last year when he sent Aaron Rome home for the season after his late hit on Nathan Horton. Shanahan could have continued on, but he didn't. If Carkner is getting just one game, what is Arron Asham getting for his crosscheck on Brayden Schenn? Why isn't Brent Burns being suspended for throwing a Duncan Keith like elbow at a St. Louis player in Game 2? Why isn't T-J Galiardi getting a hearing for his elbow to the head of Andy McDonald? It really makes me wonder if Shanahan is using this tool when it comes to issuing discipline if issuing it at all.
There were great arguments made all over the place this weekend. One was out of all the fights that we saw no one got hurt, but people were getting hurt because of the elbows and shoulders being thrown. Why is that? Its simple. Like I have been saying for years, the equipment these guys use need to be reduced. We need to go back to the days of old when it comes to the elbow and shoulder pads these guys are wearing. They are not Iron Man, they are human beings and the equipment they are using is dangerous. However, the NHL doesn't care. Gary Bettman just wants fans in the seats cheering and cheering is what happens when a big hit or a big fight occurs. They can tell you they want the head shot eliminated, but they don't. The players can tell you they don't want head shots, but the players don't care because they don't have respect for one another anymore.
Who knows what will happen tomorrow or later in the playoffs, but at some time Shanahan needs to say enough is enough and make someone pay the price otherwise the Rangers statement of being "thoroughly perplexed" will be echoed by many.
From that, lets get to the act that is Sidney Crosby. I'm starting to think Mike Milbury and Don Cherry were right when talking about him. What Crosby was on Sunday was a punk---a spoiled punk who wasn't getting his way. His stunt with the glove of Jakub Voracek was highly immature and something that wasn't called for. I remember Alex Rodriguez getting roasted over the coals after he made a Blue Jays 3rd baseman let a pop-up fall to the ground when he yelled "mine". That was the same type of immature act that Crosby performed yesterday. The man who then says the cheap stuff needs to be taken out of the game is right in the middle of scrums, yapping at players, fighting with players and being a pain in the ass. Cherry said Crosby needs to act more like Steve Stamkos and just score goals while staying away from that other stuff. He's right! Sid lost a lot of respect in the eyes of many yesterday. Some even going as far as saying that if he suffers another head shot and loses his career because of it that he is deserving of it because of his antics. That is going a little too far, but anything he gets right now is deserved because of his play.
Other weekend thoughts.....
--Why doesn't NBC show the US national anthems before games, but CBC does. I find that to be odd.
--Karen Newman (Detroit) and Wayne Messmer (Chicago) sing the anthem the way it should be sung. They get out there, they do their thing and they get off. Some have told me that Lauren Hart has to be included in that category. She does, but she teams up with the legendary Kate Smith on the scoreboard so I can't count her. Hart does a wonderful job too. I don't know who did the anthems in Los Angeles last night, but both get a thumbs up for an entirely different reason.
--Is there any doubt that I will watch the NBC telecast of the NHL when Mike Emrick is calling the game. The only way I'm not is if Chris Cuthbert is doing the game on TSN. Those that read this blog know what I think of Cuthbert.
--Speaking of Emrick, he had the line of the weekend. When signing off from Philly, Emrick said "So the Flyers have beaten the Penguins to take a 3-0 lead in the series, for my colour man Pierre McGuire and the man who does PA for the Flyers who spoke more than I did today, I'm Mike Emrick. Classic!
--Karma is a bitch isn't it. The US womens team at the World Championship took great delight in pounding Canada to open up the Worlds. Great delight indeed. How satisfying was it to see Canada come back and win the gold medal with an overtime win over that same US team. How does that feel ladies? Next time, shut up and play the game!
--The favourites to get into the Cup final were Pittsburgh and Vancouver. Both may not win a playoff game this year. Who saw that coming?
--With Marc Andre Fleury playing the way he is, one has to think Carey Price has the lock right now on being the starting goalie at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Yes, I realize that's a long ways away, but right now who would you have in there? Like I said at the World Juniors, Canada needs to start developing goalies the way we develop forwards and defencemen. If we don't, its going to bite us again like it did at the WJ's.
--Its interesting to see that on Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball that the amount of black players in the majors is just over eight percent. Compare that to 1975 when over 27 percent of major leaguers were black. Foreign-born players are now making up 28 percent of major league rosters. Is that to say baseball is dying amongst the afro-American population in the U-S. Its no secret that more and more are taking up football and basketball and soccer because of the publicity and appeal that those sports have while baseball seems to be drying up. Former Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stewart says its a problem and it is. Baseball is not an expensive sport to play so American kids of all colours should be playing the game.
--I love Brett Lawrie and the game he plays, but trying to steal home Saturday with the bases loaded and Jose Bautista at the plate was just stupid.
--I thought maybe the Jays had fixed their bullpen problems in the off-season. Early on, the answer is no.
--Who in their right mind thought it would be a good idea to have a TV commercial featuring Charles Barkley in a black dress. That's downright disturbing. Then again. its nothing to what the sight will likely be at the Victoria Club when the wannabe cowboy Rex Roberts is forced to wear a dress in public when he gets beat by Robbie Gamble this Friday night when High Impact Wrestling returns. Rex can just bring a couple of numbers from his closet I'm guessing.
---Why does anyone want to watch the boredom that is the NBA when the Stanley Cup playoffs are on?
--Driving in east end Regina on a Saturday afternoon is definitely challenging. The things some people do when behind the wheel in and around Superstore, London Drugs, Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart is astounding. I'm guessing it is that way in north, south and northwest Regina too.
--If you had to have one of them, would you take Brad Marchand or Alex Burrows. I would take Marchand in a heartbeat.
--The Mike Richards-Jeff Carter story would make for a great subplot if the Kings and Flyers were to make it to the finals.
--I don't think my pick of Detroit beating the Rangers in the final will hold up past Round 1.
--How many more days until Rider training camp starts?
--Who are the Seahawks going to take with their first pick in the draft? Mock drafts have them taking several different players.
--Congrats to Graham DeLaet for pocketing a cheque for just over 16 and a half thousand dollars at the RBC Heritage Classic. He needs more cheques and bigger ones. Does he have a Saskatchewan sponsor and if not, why?
--Congrats to the Humboldt Broncos for winning the SJHL championship. Dean Brockman is a class act and its nice to see his team go into the Royal Bank Cup on a high. Hey, the Broncos might be the last Saskatchewan team in the RBC for a while, so I hope he can take the Broncos all the way to the title.
--Did Dwight McMillan really give SJ President Bill Chow the one fingered salute during the trophy ceremony Friday night? I know the Wings were mad over what was a controversial suspension to the league's top player and yes, it was a stupid call in this bloggers opinion but c'mon Dwight, if that's true you are better than that. He's old school though and so is Ron Rumball so you gotta love it and chuckle away. Besides, Humboldt was the better team and I don't think Weyburn would have won Game 6 and 7 back in Humboldt. They might have, but I think in the end the right team did win the final and the right player was named the finals MVP--that being Weyburn goalie Mitch Kilgore.
--The Boston Pizza ad with Terry Peters is an epic fail. Love BP and love their wings, but this just in--boneless wings are the same as all meat wings. You're not the first!
--Lets end this blog posting with a little Swedish Chef to start the week----why not!
--Back to the vodka and dipping the cheetos in mayonnaise now. Have a good Monday.
