Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
STACKHOUSE SOAPBOX (Yorkton This Week April 20)
The Yorkton Terriers watched their playoff run come to an end in game seven up in La Ronge last Tuesday night as they fell 3-1 to the Ice Wolves. The club looked nervous in the opening two minutes and it cost them as they were down 2-0 before fans were even able to warm the seat. From the rest of the way, Yorkton appeared to be the better club, but couldn’t beat Adam Bartko, who saved his best for last in the La Ronge goal. Injuries to Brent Struble and Kurtis Decker, inevitably, hurt the team; but the Ice Wolves had injuries of their own. So, no excuses. Nevertheless, the Terriers did a number on the Ice Wolves by the looks of things as they were down 2-0 in games to the MJHL’s Portage Terriers after the weekend as the ANAVET Cup series takes place to decide who advances to the RBC Cup in Camrose, Alberta.
The federal election campaign is in full swing and the big question remains whether or not the Conservatives will get the much coveted majority government, or will they form a minority one yet again and have to play ball with the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois. Quebec really is smarter than the rest of the country. They pick one party and that’s where the allegiance lies. If the other nine provinces could pick one of the other three, then we wouldn’t have to do this election dance every two years.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper still says he intends to get rid of a policy that allows political parties to get a subsidy of $2 per vote. He maintains that he’s powerless to fulfill this promise unless he gets a majority. Of course, the government that forms power always has more money than the ones that don’t, so naturally he’s okay with this change. However, it does give me pause when it comes to voting. If more people realized that a national political party gets $2 for your vote, would more folks stay home and not vote at all? Admittedly, I’m not real happy with any of the political parties right now, so why should I contribute to the well-being of such a political party? Wouldn’t be easier to not vote? I don’t usually condone it; but if we all stayed home on this one I think a real loud message would be sent to those we have already elected to be in charge.
If the BQ ran some candidates in French speaking areas of New Brunswick and Ontario, would they steal a couple more seats?
I found myself behind a student driver last week on Broadway Street. While I, patiently, waited for this poor person to do what the instructor was telling her, I couldn’t help but wonder how unsafe our roads would be if we all abided by the law right to the letter as per a driving instructor. Does anyone ever drive that way even the first time he/she gets freedom from a driving instructor? I can remember driving 52 in a 50 and getting supreme heck from the teacher. Please. Can we start living in the real world? And, it’s not the teacher’s fault. They are doing their job.
I wouldn’t mind if the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup, but there is something creepy about Mike Gillis, the team’s General Manager. Gillis employed the super-creepy David Frost as a player birddog. To my knowledge, Gillis has never really commented about Frost, but I would even be comfortable with him simply stating that he liked Frost and had no idea the guy was a weirdo. Sometimes ‘no comment’ speaks loudest. Former NHLPA Director Bob Goodenow should also have to answer on Frost at some point. In fact, Goodenow even allowed his own son to be coached by Frost. Yuck. Without Goodenow and Gillis, Frost never gets certified as a player agent.
Nice person mentions this week to Kevin Shirtliffe, Riley Rice, Jessica Evans, Allison Wilson, and Brenda Niefer.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
VIGNEAULT AND LAVIOLETTE GET DIFFERENT RESULTS
Two questionable goaltending decisions today. The guy that made the wrong choice, ended up winning. The guy that made the right choice lost. You don't often see that.
The Vancouver Canucks didn't win tonight, but I have every reason to believe they will on Tuesday in game seven.
Full marks to Alain Vigneault for getting the right pulse on his roster by inserting Cory Schneider to start in goal tonight. While not all of the goals against in games four and five were Roberto Luongo's fault; the team in front of him had clearly lost its confidence with him between the pipes. While media pundits applauded Vigneault's balls for switching to Schneider, I have to think the decision was pretty easy. Schneider is a good goalie, who figures to be even better in the years to come. And, how can you start a guy who has given up 10 goals in the equivalent of a full game over his last 60 minutes? Don't rule out the players going to Vigneault and requesting Schneider be put in there.
Too bad for Schneider, who pulled a groin or something on the Michael Frolik shorthanded goal. To me, the call for a penalty shot was weak. Definitely should have been a two minute minor. Following the Frolik goal, I caught the Blackhawks for slashing on Henrik Sedin, an elbow to the head of Kevin Bieksa, and too many men on the ice. None went for penalties, yet Vancouver had the penalty shot call against them as well as a very lengthy second period five-on-three. So, they got no favors tonight.
Further, Chicago got two goals on screw ups by a seldom used netminder miscommunicating with his defense as well as another on a penalty shot. To me, the Hawks were not in this game tonight. Unlike the last two, where they just obliterated the Canucks. If we see a similar game on Tuesday as to what we witnessed tonight, Vancouver wins.
And, based on the Schneider injury...Luongo will start.
The other thing Vigneault has to do for game seven is reunite Burrows with the Sedins. It drives me nuts to watch players like the Sedins, the sweethearts on San Jose, David Krejci, and Marian Gaborik just float through the playoffs the way they do. While the confidence of Luongo is a big question mark, the dedication of the Swedes in big games also leaves a lot to be desired.
I think Vancouver's biggest problem is that their key players are not Stanley Cup grit guys. Sedins, Samuelsson, Ehroff, Edler, and Salo are all good players; but they are not playoff type leaders. Meanwhile, Toews, Bolland, Keith, and Seabrook are.
Which brings us to another team that was let down by its head coach today: Philadelphia Flyers. Fortunately, they live to see another day.
The decision by Peter Laviolette to start Michael Leighton smells a bit like coaching ego. At the very least, it's stupidity. You are facing elimination in the NHL playoffs and you turn to a guy that has played one game at the NHL level all season? You also play a guy that gave up the Stanley Cup winning goal from behind the crease line last year? This is also a guy that couldn't keep a job in the NHL until he caught lightning in a bottle for a stretch last season. There was just no justifiable reason to put him in there.
To me, Laviolette bailed on Sergei Bobrovsky way too early. He was good in a 1-0 loss in game one and then was bad in game two, giving up three first period goals. From there, he goes straight to the press box. Wow. Your number one netminder doesn't even get the benefit of a mulligan.
Enter Brian Boucher, who has played exactly like Brian Boucher has played for the last fifteen years or so. He gives up the odd bad goal, but otherwise plays good enough between the pipes that a team like Philly should win most nights. Was he shaky in game five? Yes. But, Boucher is like that. Any coach with a pulse on his team knows Boucher could go right back in for game six without missing a beat. It's like a closer who blows a save. You return with your guy.
Instead, Laviolette has pretty much broadcast to the world that he has no confidence in any of these three. Based on interviews and other comments made over the course of the season, the players like Boucher and want him to do well. He's their choice. And, he should be Laviolette's too. If Philly finds a way to win game seven, then Boucher has to be the guy the rest of the way whether he goes to hell in a hand basket or not.
I wonder if Bobrovsky gets elevated to back-up?
The Vancouver Canucks didn't win tonight, but I have every reason to believe they will on Tuesday in game seven.
Full marks to Alain Vigneault for getting the right pulse on his roster by inserting Cory Schneider to start in goal tonight. While not all of the goals against in games four and five were Roberto Luongo's fault; the team in front of him had clearly lost its confidence with him between the pipes. While media pundits applauded Vigneault's balls for switching to Schneider, I have to think the decision was pretty easy. Schneider is a good goalie, who figures to be even better in the years to come. And, how can you start a guy who has given up 10 goals in the equivalent of a full game over his last 60 minutes? Don't rule out the players going to Vigneault and requesting Schneider be put in there.
Too bad for Schneider, who pulled a groin or something on the Michael Frolik shorthanded goal. To me, the call for a penalty shot was weak. Definitely should have been a two minute minor. Following the Frolik goal, I caught the Blackhawks for slashing on Henrik Sedin, an elbow to the head of Kevin Bieksa, and too many men on the ice. None went for penalties, yet Vancouver had the penalty shot call against them as well as a very lengthy second period five-on-three. So, they got no favors tonight.
Further, Chicago got two goals on screw ups by a seldom used netminder miscommunicating with his defense as well as another on a penalty shot. To me, the Hawks were not in this game tonight. Unlike the last two, where they just obliterated the Canucks. If we see a similar game on Tuesday as to what we witnessed tonight, Vancouver wins.
And, based on the Schneider injury...Luongo will start.
The other thing Vigneault has to do for game seven is reunite Burrows with the Sedins. It drives me nuts to watch players like the Sedins, the sweethearts on San Jose, David Krejci, and Marian Gaborik just float through the playoffs the way they do. While the confidence of Luongo is a big question mark, the dedication of the Swedes in big games also leaves a lot to be desired.
I think Vancouver's biggest problem is that their key players are not Stanley Cup grit guys. Sedins, Samuelsson, Ehroff, Edler, and Salo are all good players; but they are not playoff type leaders. Meanwhile, Toews, Bolland, Keith, and Seabrook are.
Which brings us to another team that was let down by its head coach today: Philadelphia Flyers. Fortunately, they live to see another day.
The decision by Peter Laviolette to start Michael Leighton smells a bit like coaching ego. At the very least, it's stupidity. You are facing elimination in the NHL playoffs and you turn to a guy that has played one game at the NHL level all season? You also play a guy that gave up the Stanley Cup winning goal from behind the crease line last year? This is also a guy that couldn't keep a job in the NHL until he caught lightning in a bottle for a stretch last season. There was just no justifiable reason to put him in there.
To me, Laviolette bailed on Sergei Bobrovsky way too early. He was good in a 1-0 loss in game one and then was bad in game two, giving up three first period goals. From there, he goes straight to the press box. Wow. Your number one netminder doesn't even get the benefit of a mulligan.
Enter Brian Boucher, who has played exactly like Brian Boucher has played for the last fifteen years or so. He gives up the odd bad goal, but otherwise plays good enough between the pipes that a team like Philly should win most nights. Was he shaky in game five? Yes. But, Boucher is like that. Any coach with a pulse on his team knows Boucher could go right back in for game six without missing a beat. It's like a closer who blows a save. You return with your guy.
Instead, Laviolette has pretty much broadcast to the world that he has no confidence in any of these three. Based on interviews and other comments made over the course of the season, the players like Boucher and want him to do well. He's their choice. And, he should be Laviolette's too. If Philly finds a way to win game seven, then Boucher has to be the guy the rest of the way whether he goes to hell in a hand basket or not.
I wonder if Bobrovsky gets elevated to back-up?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
KEEPING UP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
KAREN SOUCHOTTE A HERO
http://www.leaderpost.com/Mother+Wolves+Nolan+Souchotte+saves+woman+baby+from+partially+submerged+vehicle/4637852/story.html
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Souchotte at Boston Pizza in Prince Albert during the Credit Union Cup final. Even after this brief encounter, I can't say I'm surprised to hear such an amazing story.
Little known fact: Nolan Souchotte was just as close to winning the SJHL Playoff MVP Award as was Adam Bartko, Marc-Andre Carre, and Logan Herauf. It just goes to show that people inside hockey still, truly, value things like hard work, face-off wins, and how hard you are to play against.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Souchotte at Boston Pizza in Prince Albert during the Credit Union Cup final. Even after this brief encounter, I can't say I'm surprised to hear such an amazing story.
Little known fact: Nolan Souchotte was just as close to winning the SJHL Playoff MVP Award as was Adam Bartko, Marc-Andre Carre, and Logan Herauf. It just goes to show that people inside hockey still, truly, value things like hard work, face-off wins, and how hard you are to play against.
LEAKE CAN'T SNEAK T-SHIRTS
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/19/following-up-on-the-mike-leake-arrest/
And, I see right away there must be some sort of illness involved. After all, we can't just blame the guy for being an idiot.
And, I see right away there must be some sort of illness involved. After all, we can't just blame the guy for being an idiot.
Monday, April 18, 2011
YOU MAKE THE CALL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=322zqTkL0-c
Steve Downie on Dean McAmmond: 20 game suspension
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZDE9H3_vU
Raffi Torres on Brent Seabrook: 0 game suspension
Downie's hit on Ben Lovejoy tonight is pretty similar to the one on McAmmond. However, I would argue Downie did not hit Lovejoy in the head. Nothing is up on You Tube yet for that hit.
What about the Kunitz elbow to Simon Gagne? Suspendable? You decide.
Steve Downie on Dean McAmmond: 20 game suspension
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZDE9H3_vU
Raffi Torres on Brent Seabrook: 0 game suspension
Downie's hit on Ben Lovejoy tonight is pretty similar to the one on McAmmond. However, I would argue Downie did not hit Lovejoy in the head. Nothing is up on You Tube yet for that hit.
What about the Kunitz elbow to Simon Gagne? Suspendable? You decide.
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