Saskatchewan Roughrider Chairman of the Board Roger Brandvold announced today the contract extension of President/CEO Jim Hopson. The new three-year extension will see Hopson continue in his role with the organization into 2014.
“In 2004 the Management Committee made a number of very important Strategic Decisions such as moving to a Corporate Structure with a Board of Directors, Share Ownership and a Full-Time CEO – Jim Hopson,” stated Brandvold. “Those decisions including the hiring of Hopson certainly changed the landscape of the Riders, today we are facing much difference challenges/successes than we did in 2004, and we all look forward to Jim being in a leadership position over the next three years.”
Hopson came on board in 2005 as the Roughriders’ first Chief Executive Officer and over the past six years, fans have seen many changes on and off the field. The changes and a focus on excellence in all areas of the operation have seen the Riders reach the Grey Cup three times in the last four years, culminating in the team claiming the 2007 Grey Cup championship. A new level of expectations has been set and Hopson is focused on building long term stability with championship level football and strong business acumen.
"This is a wonderful vote of confidence and support from the board," Hopson said. "I have always said that this is the greatest job in the country and I plan to continue to give my absolute best to the Roughriders. I'm deeply committed to advancing this organization even further."
Off the field, the Riders are continuing to excel as a business as the team continues to attain record profits. Over the past few years, the organization has won Paragon Awards for both marketing and community involvement. These have all been steps in achieving the level of excellence Hopson desires for the organization.
Hopson’s role with the Roughriders includes overseeing all of the operations of the football club, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to that role. Prior to re-joining the Roughriders Hopson spent 30 years as a teacher, principal and Director of Education/CEO in Saskatchewan
BLOGGER NOTE: This is an outstanding move for the Riders. Anyone who knows me knows that I give complete credit to Jim for turning this team around and making it one of the elite.
BLOGGER NOTE 2: Just getting mobile after returning to Regina from La Ronge for Game 7 of the SJHL final, a recap of that, NHL playoff pix and how the Devils got screwed by the NHL later today. I will also be on the Sportscage with Rod this afternoon.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Reviving Stadium Talk
Regina mayor Pat Fiacco isn't giving up on a new multi-purpose facility for the city. It appears as if Fiacco is going to Plan B. Take a read.
Monday, April 11, 2011
An Enjoyable Final Comes To An End
Game 7 of a championship final. A one game winner take all showdown for all the marbles. No more wiggle room. Every play --whether it be good or bad--is magnified.
One of the best seven game series I have ever seen will come to an end this evening in La Ronge when the Ice Wolves and Yorkton Terriers meet one last time to see who is the SJHL champion.
This series has had it all---dramatic overtime goals, great goaltending, hard hitting, fast skating, teams coming back from deficits to win. the home team winning, the visiting team winning. It has had everything you would want in a championship series and then some.
If you have been watching the Credit Union Cup on Access 7, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, you have missed six pretty good hockey games ---the last four which have ended 4-3 and two of those have gone into overtime.
I'm anticipating a great one tonight and I'm anticipating that we could see another overtime. Its been that type of series.
I'll make the seven hour trek to the Mel Hegland Arena to handle both SJHL duties and Access duties as we end what I dare say is one of the best if not the best SJHL championship that has been played in a long, long time.
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Who's the number one pick in NHL playoff drafts?
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Will the Oilers win the draft lottery again? If so, is it Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog or Adam Larsson----I would take the latter, but I'm not Steve Tambellini and I don't play him on TV either.
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The snow has actually melted in my backyard! I can see grass----its brown, but its grass!
------
Many wrestlers have done their thing even though their body has told them to stop. Adam Copeland--aka Edge--will listen to his body. In a stunning and somewhat raw admission on RAW Monday night, the Canadian said he is retiring due to the fact he is losing the feeling in his arms. I know Copeland was a big fan of the Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith. Dynamite now lives in a wheelchair because he couldn't stop performing and Smith's inability to stop performing even though his back was in bad shape resulted in him going down a path that so many others have with death following. I don't think this is an act, I think Edge is now a piece of WWE history. He was one of the best I've seen over my many years of watching.
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I wonder if Rory McIlroy has Tiger Woods 12 for his gaming console of choice and if so, did he play the back 9 at Augusta just for kicks.
------
I think I've put on more km's this week than I have the last two years and I have many more to put on today. If you're watching Game 7 on Access 7, I'll see ya tonight.
One of the best seven game series I have ever seen will come to an end this evening in La Ronge when the Ice Wolves and Yorkton Terriers meet one last time to see who is the SJHL champion.
This series has had it all---dramatic overtime goals, great goaltending, hard hitting, fast skating, teams coming back from deficits to win. the home team winning, the visiting team winning. It has had everything you would want in a championship series and then some.
If you have been watching the Credit Union Cup on Access 7, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, you have missed six pretty good hockey games ---the last four which have ended 4-3 and two of those have gone into overtime.
I'm anticipating a great one tonight and I'm anticipating that we could see another overtime. Its been that type of series.
I'll make the seven hour trek to the Mel Hegland Arena to handle both SJHL duties and Access duties as we end what I dare say is one of the best if not the best SJHL championship that has been played in a long, long time.
-------
Who's the number one pick in NHL playoff drafts?
------
Will the Oilers win the draft lottery again? If so, is it Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog or Adam Larsson----I would take the latter, but I'm not Steve Tambellini and I don't play him on TV either.
------
The snow has actually melted in my backyard! I can see grass----its brown, but its grass!
------
Many wrestlers have done their thing even though their body has told them to stop. Adam Copeland--aka Edge--will listen to his body. In a stunning and somewhat raw admission on RAW Monday night, the Canadian said he is retiring due to the fact he is losing the feeling in his arms. I know Copeland was a big fan of the Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith. Dynamite now lives in a wheelchair because he couldn't stop performing and Smith's inability to stop performing even though his back was in bad shape resulted in him going down a path that so many others have with death following. I don't think this is an act, I think Edge is now a piece of WWE history. He was one of the best I've seen over my many years of watching.
------
I wonder if Rory McIlroy has Tiger Woods 12 for his gaming console of choice and if so, did he play the back 9 at Augusta just for kicks.
------
I think I've put on more km's this week than I have the last two years and I have many more to put on today. If you're watching Game 7 on Access 7, I'll see ya tonight.
The Vote Is In
TSN has done their NHL season in review and after all was counted, the decision for the goal of the year is this one.
I can't really argue!
I can't really argue!
Canadians Love Their Curling
A record number of viewers tuned in to see Jeff Stoughton lead Team Canada to a hard-fought 6-5 victory over Scotland to win the gold medal at the 2011 FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP yesterday. Overnight data from BBM Canada confirms TSN recorded an average audience of 1.38 million viewers, making it the most-watched World Curling Championship ever on Canadian television.
Audiences for the Gold Medal game peaked at over 2 million viewers during the final end.
Overall, the 2011 FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP attracted an average audience of 643,000 viewers over more than 40 hours of coverage on TSN.
TSN’s long-standing partnership with the Canadian Curling Association dates back to the network’s inception in 1984.
Back To La Ronge
Those that went to the games in Yorkton were treated to three of the best hockey games I have seen this winter with Game 6 going down as another classic confrontation.
It looked like the hometown Terriers were dead as they trailed it 3-1 with 10 minutes to go, but we all should have known better. After all, La Ronge came back to win Game 5 after being down 3-1 and the last three games had ended 4-3 so why should this one be any different.
In the end, Craig Eisenhut put one past Adam Bartko giving the Terriers a 4-3 win over the Ice Wolves. It means another lonnnnnnnnnng trip to La Ronge for Game 7. I wouldn't miss it, and I hope you don't either if in Saskatchewan as the game will be live on Access 7.
I can't say just how entertaining this series has been. Its had it all. It has been compelling theatre and there is one more act to play. As many have said before, this is reality TV at its best.
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Rory McIlroy---BOOM!!!! You had to feel for that kid as he blew up real good on the back nine. Where exactly did he hit that shot on 10. The pressure of the moment was obviously too much for the kid. What also was evident from the final round of the Masters is that Tiger no longer has the power he once had. With the 4th round going the way it did for Tiger, one would think other competitors would wilt up and dry away as they had in the past---not now. McIlroy might have, but several others didn't as they challenged Tiger who received an afternoon of verbal fellatio from Jim Nantz and the rest of the CBS talking heads and they won that challenge.
Had anyone heard of Charl Schwartzel before this weekend? How about before yesterday? How about before 3 o'clock yesterday.
Speaking of reality TV being sports, you couldn't beat the drama of the final 18 at Augusta on Sunday. It was spell-binding.
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Congrats to Jeff Stoughton for winning the Worlds and congrats to event chair Derek Boe and the many minions that helped him as the Ford World Mens Curling Championship was a huge success capped off by a Canadian win. Derek and company have once again proven Regina is more than capable of hosting a major curling event when called upon. I'm guessing there weren't many complaints/
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Congrats to the Vancouver Canucks---they get Chicago for a 3rd straight year. Now that Chicago is in, I would have a hard time betting against them. Can they beat Vancouver again? It wouldn't surprise me.
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Kootenay has a 2-0 lead on Saskatoon after winning both games in the Bridge City. Is that a collective gulp I hear from ToonTown.
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Will the Raptors ever be competitive?
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Will TSN Radio be available on XM?
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With about 50 weeks to go until Cena vs Rock at Wrestlemania 28, will the hype start tonight? This act is going to get stale in a big hurry unless Vince has something good up his sleeve.
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When people see you lying down, with your eyes closed they still ask:- "Are you sleeping?" Answer them by saying "No! I’m training to die"
Saturday, April 9, 2011
SJ Final Continues To Be A Battle
In all honesty, I thought the Yorkton Terriers should have won Game 5 of the SJHL Credit Union Cup final in La Ronge Friday night. The Terriers had a 3-1 lead and seemed to be the better hockey team. However, the Terriers learned what my father told me years ago----you can't win the game in the penalty box.
La Ronge scored all of their goals on the power play as they came back to beat Yorkton 4-3 meaning they can win it all Sunday night in Yorkton. Will they? I wouldn't be surprised. Will we go back to La Ronge on Tuesday for a Game 7. I wouldn't be surprised.
-----
Its been a long time since I walked into Casa de Blair at 445 AM, but that's what I did and yes, I may have declared myself to be certifiably insane after my day yesterday. I left Regina for La Ronge just after 1130. I had an overnite bag with me only to be told by driver and league president Laury Ryan that I wouldn't need it because we were coming back after the game. ?????? We had more company on the trip once we got to Saskatoon allowing Laury to catch some much-needed shut eye meaning I went to La Ronge and back for a hockey game. I'm guessing not many have done that. I don't think we will be repeating that scenario should the series go 7. Lets just say an afternoon nap will be had at some point during the Masters----albeit it will be a quick nap.
----
Golf fans will be clamoured around the TV today as Tiger Woods is in the hunt at Augusta. It should be an interesting round at the Masters today. Like him or not, you will check out what he is up to and where he is.
-----
If you're a golf fan, you have to watch the ESPN films documentary on Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters 25 years ago. Is there anything ESPN films does that isn't fantastic. What a riveting hour of television.
----
I heard Pat Simmons speaking on "The Sportscage" the other day about Saskatchewan's curling drought on the mens side and how we need a team to stick together for a few years so they can be good and be able to perhaps compete on the national stage when the time comes. Pat obviously doesn't believe in being a part of that theory as he has become Kevin Koe's new 3rd. Does this mean Saskatchewan pins its hopes on Steve Laycock now or is it someone else. I'm thinking there have to be a few in the curling community who aren't happy with this move.
------
What else is there to say about Manny Ramirez? I don't think anyone should be surprised that his baseball career comes to an end because of drugs. If Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds aren't getting into the Hall of Fame, either will Manny. He will just dry up and blow away like so many other sluggers in the past.
-----
Denny's is offering a "Maple Bacon Sundae" right now. Yes, you can get an ice cream sundae topped with bacon. Why? I asked the woman if she has actually made any of these. Her response "I've made four or five and no one has been able to finish it". I can't imagine what the reason for that might be. Bacon and ice cream------thanks, but no thanks!!!
-----
Medicine Hat beat Red Deer 9-1 in Red Deer? What the h-e- double hockeysticks?
----
Husband to wife: "Why are you watching cooking show? When you cant cook." She replies, "Well, you watch porn." Bah -buh BOWWWW!!!
----
La Ronge scored all of their goals on the power play as they came back to beat Yorkton 4-3 meaning they can win it all Sunday night in Yorkton. Will they? I wouldn't be surprised. Will we go back to La Ronge on Tuesday for a Game 7. I wouldn't be surprised.
-----
Its been a long time since I walked into Casa de Blair at 445 AM, but that's what I did and yes, I may have declared myself to be certifiably insane after my day yesterday. I left Regina for La Ronge just after 1130. I had an overnite bag with me only to be told by driver and league president Laury Ryan that I wouldn't need it because we were coming back after the game. ?????? We had more company on the trip once we got to Saskatoon allowing Laury to catch some much-needed shut eye meaning I went to La Ronge and back for a hockey game. I'm guessing not many have done that. I don't think we will be repeating that scenario should the series go 7. Lets just say an afternoon nap will be had at some point during the Masters----albeit it will be a quick nap.
----
Golf fans will be clamoured around the TV today as Tiger Woods is in the hunt at Augusta. It should be an interesting round at the Masters today. Like him or not, you will check out what he is up to and where he is.
-----
If you're a golf fan, you have to watch the ESPN films documentary on Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters 25 years ago. Is there anything ESPN films does that isn't fantastic. What a riveting hour of television.
----
I heard Pat Simmons speaking on "The Sportscage" the other day about Saskatchewan's curling drought on the mens side and how we need a team to stick together for a few years so they can be good and be able to perhaps compete on the national stage when the time comes. Pat obviously doesn't believe in being a part of that theory as he has become Kevin Koe's new 3rd. Does this mean Saskatchewan pins its hopes on Steve Laycock now or is it someone else. I'm thinking there have to be a few in the curling community who aren't happy with this move.
------
What else is there to say about Manny Ramirez? I don't think anyone should be surprised that his baseball career comes to an end because of drugs. If Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds aren't getting into the Hall of Fame, either will Manny. He will just dry up and blow away like so many other sluggers in the past.
-----
Denny's is offering a "Maple Bacon Sundae" right now. Yes, you can get an ice cream sundae topped with bacon. Why? I asked the woman if she has actually made any of these. Her response "I've made four or five and no one has been able to finish it". I can't imagine what the reason for that might be. Bacon and ice cream------thanks, but no thanks!!!
-----
Medicine Hat beat Red Deer 9-1 in Red Deer? What the h-e- double hockeysticks?
----
Husband to wife: "Why are you watching cooking show? When you cant cook." She replies, "Well, you watch porn." Bah -buh BOWWWW!!!
----
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