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After a couple of long days in Kindersley and the Battlefords, its back to Casa de Blair and I couldn't have been happier to have walked in the door at 1245 and get back into the comforts of my own bed! Of course, I would like to know what happened to our front door seeing the handle was gone only to be replaced by some thread, but I guess I'll wait for Mrs. Scruffy to get home tonite before finding out the answer to that. I somehow don't think she would have been pleased with me waking her up to find out the answer at 1 AM.

I haven't been to Kindersley in many, many years. I was really impressed with the place and the people. It was just over a year ago that the community was rocked when they lost their old arena in a fire. The old arena was destroyed and the West Central Events Centre suffered some heavy damage causing it to be shut down. I don't have to tell you what losing a rink in small-town Saskatchewan or the prairies can mean to a community. The rink is the life-blood of that town in the winter. Its a meeting place. Its a place where people head. It threw the town for a loop as it had to scramble and scramble big-time. The WCEC was playing host to the provincial womens curling championship when the fire hit, but everyone found a way to pull through. You mention what happened and eyes roll, but you also find out this town is strong and the people (who are great) rebounded in great fashion. It would be a storybook ending if Rockie Zinger was to guide his team to a Credit Union Cup title. The Klippers have a good team and they have a chance, but there's a lot of work to go. I get the feeling though that I may be back there for a couple of playoff games before the year is out.
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One of the blogs on my blog list is that of Brad McNeil in Weyburn. He talks about a variety of things and being a Weyburnite (Weyburner) he talks about the Wings and the SJHL. He has some comments in his latest blog posting that I wholeheartedly agree with. In fact, he has crystallized my thoughts. From Brad's blog....

Kudos to the SJHL and Access Communcations for partnering up this season to do the SJHL games of the week, including the Thursday night live games. No other junior A league in Canada gets this kind of coverage. Let's hope this commitment extends and expands in the coming years.

* Mike Stackhouse and Jay Boyd do a great job bringing the broadcast to our homes. Man does hearing Jay Boyd ever bring back childhood memories of him and Bob Maloney on CKOS TV out of Yorkton. Many a days I heard these guys back in the days of living in a rural area with two television channels. I still don't know how I survived with no TSN lol.

* Dan O'Connor is a great broadcast talent in the SJHL. The man really knows the league and if anyone deserves a jump up the ranks it is Dan.

(Back to Mitch)--Selfishly, I hope Dan stays in the Battlefords until I move on from my current post because guys like Dan and Craig Stein in Yorkton are great resources I know I can depend on. All of the play-by-play guys in this league are good guys from what I can see and I haven't had any problems with them or the writers from the towns, but Dan and Craig seem to have their pulse on this league. Guys like Brendan Ullrich in Kindersley and Gino DePaoli in Melfort are just getting started, but soon they will be up there with Dan and Craig. No Darryl Skender, I didn't forget about you and you are right up there with the rest of the guys. Same with Rob Hart in Flin Flon, Daniel Fink in La Ronge and Blaine Weyland in Estevan. As for Mike Stackhouse, I've said it on this blog before, I said it to him again last nite and I will say it now. He's another guy that as far as I'm concerned can stick around for as long as I'm involved with the SJHL. He is irreplacable in my mind doing what he does for Access and the league.
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While at the Innovation Credit Union in the Battlefords yesterday, I saw they have a coin counting machine in the bank. I have never seen coin counting machines in banks before. Are there ones available in Regina? If so, where? I have a Super Big Gulp cup overflowing in change. It might be time to empty said cup instead of starting on another one.
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I have XM satellite radio so I don't get this program, but Hockey Night in Canada radio is simly must-listen to radio if you are an NHL fan. Jeff Marek does a tremendous job on the show. Why is it I get a lot of Sirius programming and XM has play by play of NHL games, but I can't get this show. If I have to pay a couple of extra bucks for it, just show me where to sign up.
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I have been told "The Fighter" is basically like "The Wrestler". Is that an accurate description of the movie.
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Katy Perry is coming to Regina. Has Katy Perry become one of those acts where you say you should go even if you're not really a fan just because she is one of the top acts today and you can say you were there?
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If Katy Perry can come to Regina, why can't Deborah (I still call her Debbie) Gibson come to Casino Regina? I loved Debbie in the 80's and as I have indicated and shown before (and again), she is still looking fine!!!



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Its sad to think that it took an injury to Sidney Crosby for the head-shots debate and the concussion issue to get turned up. Its a never-ending debate, but the NHL needs to do something about head shots. If there's such a penalty for an incidental high stick, can one not be called for an incidental head-shot. The game is too fast sometimes for a defenceman to not make contact with a head from a forward who leans in or a forward who is a few inches smaller. With the speed of the game, I think you will always find a head shot and sadly that's a reality. Its getting rid of the blatant head shots and the checks from behind. Speaking of which, the Curtis Glencross hit Wednesday night against Minnesota is something I haven't seen, but I have been told its amazing that another Brad Hornung situation didn't happen. Speaking of Brad, this was a tweet he had on that incident.

I respect Curtis Glencross as an honest player, but that's the kind of hit that can seriously injure someone.

When someone like Brad says that, you pay attention! Sadly, he knows!
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Eric Lindros has come out and said the players of today don't have the respect for one another that players used to have. Is that true? Did guys in the original six have respect for their opponents? Some say yes, others say no. I'm on Eric's side in this one.
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Word around the campfire is that linebacker Rey Williams will return to the CFL as a member of the Edmonton Eskimos. With Eric in Edmonton, should this really surprise anyone? I am also hearing that Mo Lloyd is making it no secret that he wants to return to Riderville. If this is true, where do you put him. The guy in the middle is fine right now as far as I'm concerned. If for some reason, Sean Lucas doesn't return (he is a free agent), you could put him on the outside I guess. Did Mo play outside when he was here the first time?
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Rod Pedersen is blogging that the Steelers and Andy Fantuz have come to terms on a contract and it will be announced after the Pittsburgh season is done. How do ya feel about that? Good for Andy if its true. Somewhere Murray McCormick does a "happy dance".
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The battle between TSN and Sportsnet is heating up and I'm thinking this could get ugly in some places. The big winner will be the Canadian sports fan when all is said and done though. TSN has been a giant in the industry for a long time, but Sportsnet wants to be a heavyweight too. Here's some free advice for TSN....beam in some more shows off of ESPN. Baseball 2Night would be a start. Throw it on TSN2.
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There's talk that TSN may branch off into sports radio. As someone who listens to a lot of ESPN and Fox Sports Radio, it would be a welcome change when the on-air guys are talking basketball because no one here gives a rats you know what. Some hockey talk will be great (see item on Hockey Night in Canada radio)
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From -48 windchill one morning to -9 without a windchill in less than 24 hours. ??????? I'm not complaining though and I'm guessing you aren't either.
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Time to catch up on some sleep and decide if I want to make myself some lunch or go to the Press Box for the Friday buffet. Both are tempting, but the fact I haven't had any meal at home since Tuesday at lunch may make my decision easier----especially if I have to go out and get groceries.
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Have a good one!!


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