Please visit the links and support my friends and supporters!!!

Please visit the links and support my friends and supporters!!!

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Finals FINALLY start + Kinette Fashion Show

photo credit: nhl.com
Yes, the Stanley Cup Final FINALLY begins tonight. I posted that picture for two reasons:
1- To remind anyone who has forgotten already that it is OTTAWA and Anaheim meeting in the final. The Sens haven't played since LAST TUESDAY! 6 days! They will be lucky not to get smoked tonight! I read a report that the Sens were playing inter-squad games, intermissions included, in an effort to keep sharp, and game ready. Good idea.
2- The other reason I chose that picture was to remind everyone (like anyone would've forgotten) what it ALL comes down to. Goaltending goaltending goaltending. As I posted already, Giguere has been to the dance before, Emery hasn't. We'll see if that factors in. 5pm tonight. Should be a good one. Again- Sens in 6.




photo credit: vancouvergiants.com


Congrats to the Vancouver Giants for capturing the Memorial Cup yesterday in Vancouver with a 3-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers. It was a great game, and the better team yesterday won. In this viewers opinion, a couple weak penalties down the stretch. One thing that I haven't heard anyone mention to me or on the BCHL message board has been the play of former Coquitlam Express Milan Lucic, who was named the MVP of the tournament. Lucic suited up in the BCHL for the Express in the 04-05 season, scoring 9 goals and adding 14 points with 100 pims' in 50 games. I sure wish I could've made it over for the game because the atmosphere would've been to be a part of.


The Port Alberni Kinette Club Presents: "A ladies night out, an evening in pink" with all proceeds going towards Breast Cancer. This is a fashion and plant show. Yes, they will also model plants- a unique idea in my opinion. I think if there is ever one of these for the "guys" they should model off some fine beers, meats, and cheeses. Not to say that guys don't have green thumbs too. The fashion show goes Wednesday night at the Kinsmen Community Centre with the doors opening at 6:30 and the show beginning at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at Investors Group on 3rd Ave, or D'Sign Guy on 10th. Fashions will be showcased from Mark's Work Wearhouse and Love Rush. The plants will be from Urban Greenery.

My former Morning Show "partner in crime" and now Peak Afternoon Drive host Jolie McMullan will be the MC for the evening! Should be a good one! Be sure to pick up your tickets ladies and SPREAD THE WORD! Below is a great picture of Jolie and I hosting the Alberni Valley Bulldogs fashion show a couple years back. That was a fun night. Man do we look SHARP!

A final word on the Kinsmen. This is too funny not to share. I had Mitch Gardner on my show a couple of weeks back talking about another Kinsmen initiative- the "Operation Trackshoes" fundraiser. Before we went to air I was telling Mitch that I was surprised to learn at the last Kinsmen dinner I attended that my uncle Jim Watson was a former NATIONAL President of Kinsmen of Canada. I just had no idea! I knew that Jim was deeply involved in Kin and had been for a long time, I just didn't know HOW involved he was. A couple days later I had an email in my inbox from Mitch with the subject line reading "Jim Watson on his ass" I thought....uh oh, this could be good...or bad! Turns out it was really good, as Jim is literally ON HIS ASS. If that's how a National President gets treated I might have to get further involved in Kinsmen. Thanks again for the great picture Mitch. And Uncle Jim, you look SHARP, haha.


That's it today. Quite the posting. Need a nap. My next posting will be all about FLIN FLON, MANITOBA! As I will leave you with some great shots and thoughts about my hometown as I prepare to head back there for a week of holidays to chill and visit family and friends.

Thanks as always for stopping by!

Hammer


Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Where to start? NHL. Memorial Cup. play-by-play guys.

Greetings all. Been a while since my last posting so here goes nothing! Hope you can keep up.

Credit to the Red Wings first off. I didn't pick them in round one. Or two. Or three. They finally ran out of gas and luck against a better team in the Ducks, but they sure didn't roll over and die down 3-0, 3-1, and 4-1 in game 6. After the last couple of playoff disasters for Detroit, this could be a big builder for them. I'm not a Wings fan at all, but it's a good hockey town and I respect some of their players.

I thought it was great and classy that Chelios went and shook hands right off the hop with the Duck's coaching staff. And then seconds later he pulls the chute and doesn't shake with the Ducks? Not classy. I've been there as a player and even as a broadcaster where you don't really "respect" your opponent. Whether it's for dirty play, attempt to injure, comments in the media and comments about family members and the like.....but you still need to respect the handshake- one of the most incredible things of this sport, and of ALL sports. You don't see it any other sport that I can think of. Coupled with the fact that you are usually shaking hands after an entire season of battles, plus 4,5,6, or 7 games of downright WAR in a playoff series.... well that just really shows how important the shake is. It's more important than the GAME, it is about respecting the game. It's more important than any individual. Again, just my 2cents. There are few things as beautiful about this game that you can try to kill the other guy all year and you hate him with all of your hate and then when it's said and done you shake hands like men and say "good game"

Ottawa- Kudos to them. They have conquered their flaws and they have shown that they CAN battle, they can play hard, and that they can win in the playoffs. If they lose the Cup......then they didn't prove anything. Tough deal, but that's how it will shake out in the end, in my opinion. You are a winner or loser. Trivia question- and I don't know the answer and I'm not up for research right now- Who is the last Canadian team to make the Stanley Cup finals without being considered a "Cinderella" story? Certainly wasn't the Oilers. Or the Flames. Or the Canucks or the Habs. So prior to '93 I guess. I guess it would have to be Edmonton in 89-90. Your thoughts?

Coulda-woulda-shoulda. Didn't! If ONLY the Canucks could've had ANY sort of power play against Anaheim. 5 on 3 after 5 on 3 with nothing to show for it. Not even MOMENTUM. I picked the Canucks vs the Sens in the Cup final, at the start of the playoffs. Too bad. Go Sens I guess......Ottawa in 6 is my prediction. Anaheim looks incredibly strong, but I've learned enough lessons this year counting the Sens out. Taking a look at my playoff draft..... hmmmmm 6 Buffalo Sabres. 2 Senators. Oh well, at least I have 6 Ducks.

Anaheim has the big advantage on EXPERIENCE when it comes to the Cup Final. Giguere. Pronger. The Niedermayers. And more. I'm not sure if the Sens have anyone. Gerber doesn't count. The Ducks have the edge in goal- only because Giguere has been there before. Emery hasn't. Should be fun to watch at least!

Watched the all-WHL game at the Memorial Cup last night. Quite the snoozer. Perfectly played game by Medicine Hat. They were the more desperate team, and it showed. I'm still hoping for an all-WHL final, that would be something to watch! Best of 9 anyone?

Play-by-Play guys- I went off on more than one hockey broadcaster in a recent post. I'm not going to get into that again. As big time as they are and as small time as I am we are sill in the same fraternity. I asked in that post if anyone knew anything about Gord Miller doing play-by-play before landing a Network NHL gig. So far no news on that front. However, I did get a nice story sent to me by Dan the Stats man. While I made it clear I'll never be the president of his fan club- At the same time I will say that I respect anyone that has made it to the position he has- besides the play-by-play. It's a dream I share with about 100000 other guys in this country- and he's living it! Here's a link to the Gord Miller story. Thanks again Danno for the story.

GORD MILLER STORY

One further comment- If Gord Miller has ONLY done the NHL on TSN work- Maybe he will grow to become one of the greats of all time. In my personal opinion I just don't think he's there right now. Not every guy that gets an NHL play-by-play gig has play-by-play experience, and some of those guys become greats. Case in point- John Shorthouse- the Voice of the Canucks. I didn't know the story until a couple of years after I came out here, but I learned that he had NO play-by-play experience, but knew the right people and was in the right place at the right time when the great Jim Robson hung up the mic. Look at Shortie now......in my opinion, one of the NHL's best. Again, I wasn't out in BC at the time of the move from Robson to Shorthouse, but I can guarantee you that there was more than a couple guys pretty choked that he got the gig without experience where they had paid their dues and it didn't matter. I speak on behalf of all the guys that have "paid their dues" but still lose out, I guess....

Peter Loubardias....Someone posted a comment in the previous post asking for readers thoughts on him. So here's mine. Great broadcaster. Just not my style. He has a great ability to keep up with the play, and he gets excited and makes the game interesting. He's a HUGE fan of the Junior game too. Although I'm not sure he knows Junior A exists. He has called alot of games. To me, it's nice to see a guy that has paid his dues (he's the former radio voice of the WHL's Regina Pats, to name one team) land a great gig like the one that he has now.

I'm not a personal fan of the "high-voice to the unnatural sounding low-voice" thing he does, and the "goal call" kinda gets to me. Maybe I just haven't heard him enough to get used to it and appreciate him. Maybe he's just not "my style". I don't know. One thing I've learned from broaching the broadcaster topic over the last couple of posts is that everyone has an opinion on the broadcasters. Get two people together, and both can be the most avid hockey fans in a 50 mile radius who watch and listen to more than enough hockey to have a valid opinion. Each fan could be on the total opposite ends of the spectrum on the same broadcasters. One guy loves Cole. One guy hates Cole. One guy loves Miller, one guy hates him. Too each their own is the message! I'm just jealous because they are living my dream, lucky guys!

One final thing- it comes down to who you are accustomed to. For the first two years of living in BC, I fought the urge to throw something at the TV or vomit about 1000 times after hearing Don Taylor do the same thing for the 1000th time.....Now, I think he's great, a beauty, funny, top shelf....Maybe I'm a future president of the Gord Miller fan club?

Wow, that's all I have for now. More to come on the Bulldogs Wine & Cheese night, my upcoming holidays to the great city of FLIN FLON, MANITOBA, and an upcoming fashion show in Port Alberni for a great cause.

Thanks for taking the time to read. As always, feel free to drop me a line HERE

Hammer

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Happy Birthday to me! Royal Bank Cup, WHL final, NHL playoffs.

First off, yes, it was my birthday Monday. The big 27! I'm getting old! No offense to any of you over 27 of course. As my dear grandmother said once upon a time "Age is just a number, how old you are a state of mind" and she was living proof. Thanks for those that sent me birthday greetings, and thanks for whoever posted the nice comment in the previous post I made. Just 27, and over 700 games of play-by-play experience. Nuts eh? It's been a decade for me now in radio, which is even more crazy for me think about. Yup, I started as a 17 year old pup in my hometown, the great Flin Flon, Manitoba. This work has taken me many great and amazing places, and I hope that continues for me in the future.

Royal Bank Cup- well, WOW, what a semi-final between Prince George and Camrose! 5, yes FIVE overtimes were needed to find a winner Saturday night and into Sunday morning. I listened to the final two overtimes on the net, it was just plain nuts. Too bad that PG didn't have much the next day in the final. Remember my last post a week ago how I talked about the RBC being a chance to have memories to last a lifetime? I'm sure that anyone who watched or participated in that game will NEVER forget it. Who could? Congrats to all the teams that competed, and to the Aurora Tigers for winning their second national title in 2 years. Too bad that the 'Cup won't be staying in BC again.

WHL final- Wow, what a game 7 last night in Medicine Hat. I caught the broadcast on SHAW TV, and I was amazed at the action throughout the game, and especially in the third period. The bragging rights were all that was motivating the G-Men and the Tigers, but both teams really did look like they were fighting for their playoff lives. A shame that one team had to lose. I hope they both meet again in the Memorial Cup Final.

NHL playoffs. Well...I'm afraid to start writing about this as I think I may never finish. What a SHAME that TSN has partial broadcast rights of the Western Conference Final. I was choked too see that the series started on TSN, then I was thrilled when I saw game 2 on CBC with Jimmy Hughson. Now, it's back on TSN again. I don't know where to start. Ok- here- Chris Cuthbert. It's an absolute crime that Gord Miller is calling the game over Cuthbert. Miller couldn't even carry Cuthbert's mic. Just my humble opinion. I have NEVER used this blog as a platform to bash a broadcaster before, but I can't hold back. How did this guy even get the NHL on TSN play-by-play job? Because he hosted "That's Hockey"??? What does THAT have to do with play-by-play? I think he's terrible. Beyond terrible. Can't stand him. I can think of 10 FRIENDS in the play-by-play world that I could call up on the phone and chat with right now that could do a better job than Gord Miller. Seriously. Awful, bad, terrible. Sorry Gord, maybe when you have some experience you will be better. I gotta wonder who this guy is in bed with at TSN to have him calling games over CHRIS CUTHBERT. ////// end rant.

Begin rant #2- Pierre McGuire. Where to start? He knows his stuff. That's not up for debate. He used to coach in the show. Now if he could only shut up! All he does is talk. Yell, scream, talk, talk, talk. Just let him do play-by-play already. Ask me who I dislike more out of these two guys and I will never be able to give you an answer. They used to have McGuire between the benches...now he's ON the bench. I hope he says something Pronger doesn't like and he spears him. Put the guy in the booth. Enough of the gimmicks. Even better, put the guy out to pasture! The highlight of the playoffs for me was when he was high-sticked while broadcasting from the penalty box. Great stuff.

I know you aren't used to this venom from me. I apologize. I have been holding it in for about three years now. When I had CBC locked in tonight and I had to turn to TSN it was the final straw!

Random thought- Hunting season should be OPEN on the Ducks public address announcer. I'm surprised he doesn't have a job at TSN by now. I almost want Detroit to win because their PA guy is pure class. Take a listen next game.

Hey, at least Glenn Healey isn't on the actual in-game broadcast. He could very well be the only former goalie-turned broadcaster that I'm not fond of.

Buffalo vs Ottawa- Wow, what has happened to the Sabres? They are soft. They go down easy. They aren't physical. They quit in a hurry. They have no heart, no grit. In short, they are everything the Senators USED to be. I used to think Derek Roy was a Grade A beauty. Now, he's a diver, a whiner, a softie. What happened to him? Just the attitude of the team there?

Anaheim vs Detroit- Well, I didn't pick Detroit in round 1. I didn't pick Detroit in round 2. And I didn't pick them this round. I guess I will never learn. I just didn't believe in their physical capabilities and their willingness to go to battle. Lastly, I didn't believe in Hasek's ability to make it through a series without his groin ending up in row 6. I think Anaheim is more of a PLAYOFF TEAM, and they are deeper, but I think Detroit has showed a "pure skill" advantage. It'll come down to goal tending as it usually does, and this series Hasek has looked much better than Giguere.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by the blog. Just my opinions. Would love to hear yours.

Hammer

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Mick gone in Vernon? Incredible sunset in Alberni, Roberto Luongo facts- a la Chuck Norris.


Just had to take the above picture tonight- right off our deck. What a beauty sunset.

So- Troy Mick is done in Vernon? Apparently so! Credit for the scoop goes to Regan Bartel- play by play voice of the WHL's Kelowna Rockets. No, I didn't talk to Regan personally to get this news.....but I did read it right off of his BLOG, "Regan's Rant"

Here is the jist of Regan's post regarding Troy Mick-

Now it's official.

Troy Mick is leaving junior hockey. Mick resigned today as General Manager of the Vernon Vipers.
Mick says he'll be moving to Puerto Vallarta Mexico in the fall to start a new career in real estate.
Mick's been with the team for 2 years and says he'll continue to be a consultant and advisor.


I had the pleasure of meeting Regan in the press box in Kelowna during the 05-06 Bulldogs season, (or was it 04-05?) when the Bulldogs were on a roadie to the Interior. Jim Hiller's old club Tri City were playing the Rockets on our off night so we got to go to the game. Corey Curtis pulled some strings and got Ace and I up into the booth to take a look around. Ace and I ended up meeting Regan and his colour guy and shooting the stuff for about 15 minutes. Nice guy, great broadcaster. A pretty good blogger too as you will see if you check his site.

Nothing on the BCHL website, the Vernon Vipers website or the Kiss FM website regarding Troy Mick. Maybe Regan got this from the horses mouth....I will see if I can find out.

I discovered Regan's blog through the blog of Swift Current Bronco play-by-play caller Jon Keen. I discovered Jon's blog through the blog of Regina Pat and Saskatchewan Roughrider play-by-play voice Rod Pedersen. Oh what a tangled blog web (no pun intended) we weave. I'm always looking for different opinions and scoops, and it's great to see what other people in my profession are doing. And NO their BLOGS aren't ALL about the WHL. At least not that I have seen....but maybe that's because it's the off season for them like it is for me.

I will leave you with this today, sent to me via email by Nancy D. Nancy, THANKS! I laughed for a good while about these and used them on my show this week. Pretty funny. They would maybe be more appropriate if the Canucks were still playing, or if Luongo didn't let in the goal he did to end the series. However, without Luongo they didn't even make the playoffs, better yet round two, better yet past the first 5 minutes of game 5 against Anaheim. A la the "Chuck Norris" facts you might've seen over the last year- I give you:

TRUE FACTS ABOUT ROBERTO LUONGO

The following are TRUE FACTS about Vancouver Canucks MVP Superstar and
Superhuman goaltender Roberto Luongo you might not have known...
1. Roberto Luongo does not sleep. He waits.
2. Superman owns a pair of Roberto Luongo pajamas.
3. Roberto Luongo isn’t hung like a horse. Horses are hung like Roberto
Luongo.
4. Roberto Luongo has counted to infinity - twice.
5. When Roberto Luongo does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s
pushing the Earth down.
6. Roberto Luongo recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned
beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.
7. Roberto Luongo can build a snowman out of rain.
8. When Roberto Luongo has sex with a man, it is not because he is gay, but
because he has run out of women.
9. Roberto Luongo's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no
one fools Roberto Luongo.
10. Roberto Luongo can speak braille.
11. Roberto Luongo's tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
12. Roberto Luongo can slam revolving doors.
13. Roberto Luongo can delete the Recycling Bin.
14. Roberto Luongo once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The
Islands.
15. Roberto Luongo can kill two stones with one bird.
16. Roberto Luongo is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are
trademarked names for his blocker and lightning quick glovehand.
17. Roberto Luongo is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself
in the back of the head.
18. Roberto Luongo can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.
19. A cobra once bit Roberto Luongo's leg. After five days of excruciating
pain, the cobra died.
20. Roberto Luongo's dog is trained to pick up his own poop because Roberto
Luongo will not take crap from anyone.
21. Roberto Luongo doesn't have hair on his testicles, because hair does not
grow on steel.
22. Roberto Luongo doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the
information he wants.
23. When Roberto Luongo enters a room, he doesn't turn the lights on, he
turns the dark off.
24. Jesus walked on water. Roberto Luongo swam through land.
25. Roberto Luongo once had a heart attack; his heart lost.
26. The only time Roberto Luongo was wrong was when he thought he had made a
mistake.
27. Roberto Luongo uses ribbed condoms inside out, so he gets the pleasure.
28. Roberto Luongo can do a wheelie on a unicycle.
29. Some kids piss their name in the snow. Roberto Luongo can piss his name
into concrete.
30. Giraffes were created when Roberto Luongo uppercutted a horse.
31. Most men are okay with their wives fantasizing about Roberto Luongo
during sex, because they are doing the same thing.
32. The only time a puck get's behind Roberto Luongo is when he eats it
first and craps it out.
33. Roberto Luongo once arm wrestled Superman. The deal was the loser had to
wear their underwear on the outside of their pants.



WOW, TWO posts out of me in one day? What is wrong with me! Too much time on my hands I guess. Bed time now, morning show and a big day tomorrow.

Thanks as always for checking the blog!

Hammer

Spruce Kings off to the weekend....2001+2002 RBC memories

photo: hockeycanada.ca

Congrats to the Prince George Spruce Kings, as the 2007 Royal Bank Cup hosts are off to the weekend semi-finals after defeating the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Champ Selkirk Steelers 2-1 last night to finish the round robin at 2 and 2.

The Royal Bank Cup is an INCREDIBLE time, and looking back I realize how lucky I was to have had the opportunity to attend and broadcast two of them- the 2001 tourney in my hometown of Flin Flon, Manitoba, and then the 2002 RBC in Halifax Nova Scotia.

Both experiences were VERY and I mean VERY different for me. I was a neutral, unbiased play-by-play broadcaster in 2001 in Flin Flon, as the radio station there had sold advertising to broadcast the "West" represenatives games. The radio station had banked/hoped on the OCN Blizzard winning the Manitoba league, and then defeating the Saskatchewan champs, to qualify for the RBC themselves. OR-----if the host Flin Flon Bombers would've kept up their part of the bargain and won the SJHL that year, the Blizzard would've been awarded an automatic berth. The Bombers would lose out in the second round of the playoffs. The Blizzard would indeed win the Manitoba League (for the third year in a row) but they couldn't beat the SJHL Champ Weyburn Red Wings in the "Anavet Cup" to advance to the RBC. I still remember the unbelieveable elation and heartbreak of this one. At home, we were down by a goal with four seconds left in game 6, down in the series 3-2.....And then the game tying goal went in and I don't think I have ever seen or heard a situation as crazy....But the Blizzard would lose in double overtime, and the dream RBC was not to be. You see, Flin Flon and OCN are a little over an hour a part. And they are as bitter as rivals as you will find ANYWHERE in the game. Think Nanaimo vs Port Alberni, Nanaimo vs Cowichan, Salmon Arm vs Vernon....with a BIG twist....the teams don't play in the SAME LEAGUE. Flin Flin is in the SJHL, OCN is in the MJHL, due to the Man/Sask border. Imagine Nanaimo or Port Alberni hosting the Royal Bank Cup, and both teams being in the tournament. Crazy! Back to the point- As I was the play-by-play voice of the Blizzard, it would've been a very different tournament to go there and broadcast "our" games, for our audience. Instead, I went to broadcast games as a neutral party, covering the Weyburn Red Wings, the team we had just battled for for 6 games. It gave me a different appreciation for the opposition and the game, looking at the game evenly from both sides. It was a WICKED RBC and Flin Flon put on quite a show. I think they went through about 4 beer permits....had to keep going back.

Fast forward a year later- The Blizzard won the MJHL again, four times running, (looking at the Championship Ring on my finger right now, yes they considered us PART of the team) and they also finally got over the "Anavet Cup" hump, beating the Saskatchewan champs in 5 games. Off to Halifax for the Royal Bank Cup! It was an incredible experience, the ups, the downs, the ending. Going into their final game of the round robin (like Prince George was in last night) the Blizzard were just 1 and 2, winning their only game in double OT, and losing to the host Halifax team in OT in game one. Throw in a 8-5 spanking at the hands of the BCHL Champion Chilliwack Chiefs heading into our last game of the round robin and then the pressure was really on as it was MUST win to advance to the semis. The situation went from bad to worse when our #1 goalie couldn't go due to injury. Our back-up went in, playing for the first time since the last game of the regular season about two months earlier, and he was LIGHTS OUT as the Blizzard were 5-0 victors to advance to the semi-final play downs. Their opponent? Yup, the vaunted Chilliwack Chiefs.

This very well could be the best game I've ever seen or broadcasted. The stakes obviously were huge....WIN, and you are off to the the National Championship game, live on TSN. Lose...and you are done, finis, caput. The Blizzard came out flying in this one with their number 1 goalie back, dominating early to take a 2-0 lead. Chilliwack then started to dominate and ended up scoring three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead. It probably should've been 4 or 5 to 2 if not for our goaltending. Then, with just seconds remaining in the second period our top scorer from all season finally got on the board in the RBC Tournament, scoring on a breakaway to tie the game 3-3 heading into the third. The third period was incredible -both teams amazingly cautious, yet both teams just WAYYYY to talented offensively to not generate plenty of chances. With under seven minutes to play the Blizzard scored the go ahead goal as a D man pinched in off the line and drove the net to find a loose puck off a pass from the corner off a won battle for posession. Wow, what a time to pinch! That's guts! He sure picked the right time to jump in though. Chilliwack would mount a furious comeback attempt over the dying minutes and right down to the final seconds where Chief superstar Jeff Tambellini had ONE last shot that was turned away as the Blizzard skated off to the RBC final. I can't talk to much about the final game. It still hurts to much. It was almost the OPPOSITE of the elation of the semi-final game. 1-1 heading into the third, the host Halifax team scored the winner with just under 7 minutes left if I remember right. They then scored an empty-netter as the last ditch effort fell short to tie it up.

Halifax was an incredible experience. I still remember the thousands and thousands of faxes that were sent from back home to our hotel in Halifax. I started out as "funny" to the hotel staff there, 70 or 80 faxes that they kept running up to our room so we could put them on the wall outside the dressing room. 200 or 300 faxes later it wasn't so funny for the hotel staff and the team ended up getting a "paper charge" on their bill when we checked out. It was quite the experience as a broadcaster, having the whole of our fanbase, AND all of Northern Manitoba listening to us on three radio stations. There just wasn't any other way to follow the team. Then along comes TSN to televise the final. I was told that they put up a big screen in our home rink and packed the place and put the game on.....10 minutes in people couldn't handle the TSN guys and they put the radio audio on over the TV. Fans didn't seem to care that the TSN feed was 4 seconds behind us. What I would've given to see that place and see the fans reactions listening to us and their team on the other side of the country. I heard incredible stories- strangers hugging, people running and crying in the streets, honking horns, etc. I also still remember broadcasting the postgame show in the pressbox after the semi final victory. Way down in the tunnels below us, we heard this "noise" coming from down below. We actually thought there was a disturbance or something it was so loud. We wondered if the teams got into it going off the ice or if fans of either side had gotten involved with the other team.....We wrapped our post game show up and went downstairs and came out of the tunnel coming from our dressing room. Standing there were all 200 or so fans that had come from home and all over the country to cheer the team on. They were giving an ovation to every individual who came out of the room. The team- the players, coaches, trainer, me and my colour guy, anyone who had anything to do with the team. It was just another incredible experience of the RBC I will never forget. I still remember the Blizzard fans- known for their horns and their noise- buying EVERY SINGLE airhorn in Halifax. Seriously. They bought every single one they could find. They ended up travelling to Dartmouth to buy more for the final game. Now that's support, lol.

I doubt anyone in Prince George is reading this- but if you are- and to anyone else reading this that is a fan of this great game- ENJOY THE RIDE when you are on it, because it doesn't happen all the time. As you can see, the memories last a life time. Here I am 5 and 6 years later writing about it and thinking about it and it feels like yesterday!

I dug this up- I think I have posted it before- the "highlight reel" that was a look back at at the Royal Bank Cup year. It was a year with a little of everything. Sadness at a former player losing his life on Christmas day and the memorial service that follow. The joy of the first ever championship win on HOME ice, the 4th title in a row, the FIRST trip to the RBC, and so on and so forth. I listen to my play-by-play as a relative rookie and say "ouch, was I really that bad?" At least the MEMORIES are good! Click the link to listen below!

RBC MEMORIES

Good luck to all teams at the RBC this weekend. It's not cheesey- this really is "memories of a lifetime" stuff.

Hammer


Monday, May 07, 2007

Something IMPORTANT and RELEVANT being done in the House of Commons...

Compared to the JOKE that is the Shane Doan incident, this IS relevant. HAHA!

Hammer

Save Bigfoot!Canadian MP Mike Lake not only believes in Bigfoot -- he wants the legendary creature protected and put on the endangered species list. Mike wants Bigfoot added to Canada's Species at Risk Act, and he's gotten almost 500 of his constituents in Edmonton, Alberta, to sign a petition presented to the Canadian House of Commons. The petition asks the government "to establish immediate, comprehensive legislation to effect immediate protection of Bigfoot." Bigfoot researcher Todd Standing, who was behind the petition, claims to have proof of the monster's existence and says he fears for its safety. (The Vancouver Province)

Thursday, May 03, 2007

SHANE DOAN!




Wow, how stupid our leaders can be. You have no doubt heard of all of this garbage going on. If not- you MUST visit the "Save Doan" website. If you agree with the stance the website is taking, PLEASE, sign the petition, and PLEASE, email everyone in your contact list the website address.


HUGE PROPS go out to Adam Sobkow of Brandon, Manitoba who has started the website and the petition. I just signed it, and the first signature was Adam's, sometime yesterday. At the time of this posting the support has already grown to over 700 names.




Again, the website and petition can be signed/viewed HERE:




Edit/Update- 10 minutes after I started writing this, the petition has gone from 700 to over 800! Way to go people!


Go Canada!


Hammer

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Prospect Camp a BLAST, GO NUCKS, ROAST THE DUCKS!

Good day to all. Fired up for the Nucks game tonight as it's as close to a must win without actually being one, down 2 games to 1. The Canucks need more traffic in front of Giguere. He has had it much too easy compared to Lunongo. Anyone watching has to agree with this one- Nucks need to be more physical! Roast those Ducks!




Canucks prayer- I've had this emailed to me about 15 times over the last week.


GO CANUCKS GO!


Our Father, who art in GM Place

Hockey be thy name.

Thy will be done, the cup be won

On ice, as well as in the stands.

Give us this day, our hockey sticks,

And forgive us our penalties,

As we forgive those who cross-check against us,

Lead us not into elimination,

But deliver us to victory.

In the name of the fans, Lord Stanley,

In the name of the Canucks, Amen

GO CANUCKS GO!

I had a blast coaching "Team Yellow" at the Bulldogs prospect camp. After getting BLOWN OUT in our first game we came back and had two solid wins to finish the mini-tourny at 2 and 1. So does that give me the coaching title of the weekend? I'm not sure what the other teams finished at. Don't worry, I won't be getting into coaching any time soon as I would be WAY over my head. I will say this though- I can see WHY those that coach love it. I stressed several things to my players- protect our goalies. work hard. be physical. The boys didn't really do ANY of that in game one. Our goalies were abused, we were a little lazy, we didn't hit much, and we didn't seem to care. Games 2 and 3 were a much different story. Right from the very beginning our goalies were bumped, and INSTANTLY my players reacted in turn to let the opposition KNOW that such treatment would not be allowed without response. And it make a big difference. Eddy Dyson and Jeff Carey played fantastic from this point on in net, and played a huge part in winning our two final games. We came together as a team, if that's possible in a span of two days and three games. The emotion came out in the guys and it was gratifying for me to see. It was just prospect camp, but I am very competitive and wanted to win. The players seemed to feed of that.

I was impressed with more than a few players on my team, and those throughout the camp. It's hard to tell what players would be Junior A players, but there was plenty of potential there.

A final thank you goes out to one of my goalies Jeff Carey. I got to work Monday morning to get a message on my voicemail saying "Hammer, I just wanted to call you to thank you for coaching us this weekend. I had a lot of fun, I appreciated you coaching us" Class act from a class kid in my books. Jeffy- if you are reading this- THANKS. It meant alot and I'm glad you had fun. It was funny in the dressing room in intermission in one of the two final games when Jeff said "I've never had a coach who stressed protecting the goalies, and the net so much" I said "I guess it takes a former goalie to know it's importance" Again- I think this was a mini turning point in our weekend. Our players stepped up from the first minute of the second game and sent the message of protecting the net and the goalies, and the goalies stepped up and played AMAZING.

I'll stick to broadcasting. It sure was fun though!

YELLOW FEVER!

Go Nucks, Believe in Blue, EH?

Hammer