Kyle Greentree to the show, 2 home games to go.

Ah, the Victoria Salsa. What a name. Always nice to see a player that you used to watch at this level get a call to the SHOW. Kyle Greentree got that today from the Flyers. Watching Kyle my first season in the league in 03-04, what stood out immediately was his ability to shoot the puck. He had everything in his shot that a true sniper needs- velocity, release, accuracy. Not too many of his 62 goals that 03-04 season were garbage goals, I can tell you that much! Congrats to Kyle. Further proof on a topic that I've mentioned several times on here- you never know who you are watching out there when it comes to the BCHL. I still remember some of the good ole' fashion haters posting on the message board that Greentree wouldn't even make it in COLLEGE, better yet all the way to the show.

I hope for Kyle to succeed and I hope the great fans in Philly get to see some of what BCHL fans saw over Kyle's career here.


My thanks to Dan "the stats man" Tisserand for sending me this story, courtesy the Times Colonist Newspaper in Victoria.

Flyers give Victoria product the call
Kyle Greentree makes NHL debut tonight

Cleve Dheensaw, Times ColonistPublished: Tuesday, February 12, 2008

The scouts liked six-foot-three Kyle Greentree's size but deemed his foot speed too slow. They forgot, however, to gauge the Victoria hockey product's heart and tenacity.
Greentree, overlooked by the major-junior WHL and undrafted by the NHL, will make his big-league debut for the Philadelphia Flyers tonight on Long Island against the Islanders.
What do scouts know?

"I took a longer route but it's nice to finally be here," Greentree said by phone in Long Island.
"It's exciting. It's something new. I have to play hard to stay up here and show the Flyers that I belong. But I'm also having fun with it. It's been a tough road but I worked hard to get here."
The leading goal scorer in Victoria Salsa/Grizzlies franchise history -- the lanky sniper had 62 goals and 115 points in his final B.C. Hockey League season with the Salsa in 2003-04 -- Greentree's retired Salsa number is hanging from the rafters of Bear Mountain Arena.
The Claremont Secondary grad had only fair scoring numbers in university hockey but the Flyers saw something in him. He left the University of Alaska-Fairbanks last spring with one season remaining in his NCAA eligibility. The Victoria Minor Hockey Association product seems made for the professional game and has 16 goals and 37 points in 48 games this season as a rookie pro with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL. That has led tonight to the realization of a hard-won dream.

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The Variety Coin Drive is kickin' butt thanks to community support and the support of the Bulldogs having them set up at their games. Angel and Fred and JellyBean (Angel's service Dog) have been at the last couple of home games, and as always, Port Alberni finds a way to keep giving. The computer raffle of a machine donated by Safe and Sound Media brought in approximately $500.00.

Here's a nice little update on the Coin Drive and a thanks to the Bulldogs from Angel's Journal

The Alberni Valley Coin Drive count is somewhere around $11,500 or higher even. Once we have a new official total we will post it here. Each day this total continues to grow. This is the week that the schools and long term care homes will wrap up their coin drives and bring their change in to be counted as part of the Port Alberni total. And we will continue to empty the coin boxes that are placed in businesses around town.

Thank you to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs office staff, volunteers, players and owners. You are all awesome!!! You have given us so much support in our fundraising for Variety as well as for my Service Dog Jelly Bean. You all rock!!! Yesterday one of the Bulldogs staff gave me an autographed mini hockey stick because I was feeling pretty sad and tired. That sure cheered me up. I spotted Adam Hout's autograph quickly. I watched the end of the game and waved my stick proudly for everyone to see. I even pretended to be playing along with the team. I haven't watched a hockey game for a while because I've been busy working at the Variety Coin Drops that the Bulldogs have been hosting. So it was great to see the final minutes of the game, and to see my favorite team win!

Typical Port Alberni, blowing away the goal for Fundraising this year and STILL pouring it on. Just some PROOF for anyone that doubts what this city is all about. Fantastic. To read Angel's Journal or to get any further information visit her website BY CLICKING HERE

And one more fantastic update on Variety today, from Lyle Pitts via my email this morning:

GOOD MORNIN HAMMER/ SMASHOMETER.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SCAVENGER HUNT HELD SUNDAY AT THE ARLINGTON HOTEL FOR VARIETY AND THE MONEY RAISED.

# OF TEAMS.....13

# OF PLAYERS/PARTICIPANTS.....68

AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED FOR THE KIDS OF VARIETY.....$ 8523.15

HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL TO BE A PART OF IT.................. PRICELESS !

THANKS AGAIN ALBERNI VALLEY!!!!!!!!!!!
THE ORGANIZERS OF THE ANNUAL VARIETY SCAVENGER HUNT

It's TYPICAL but what does it mean when it still just blows your mind how people keep giving like this? WOW what a good feelin' day today!

Cheers, and thanks for reading!
Hammer