Humboldt gets RBC

Congrats to the City of Humboldt, and the Broncos.

An email from Tom McEvay...

When I first heard the news of the decision from Andy and Tom I was just as disappointed as all of you.

After some reflection, I know it will only motivate the committee members further, and they will be back at it again, only more determined. Thanks everyone for their efforts in making this bid!

Hammer

For Immediate Release …. I will have more information after a longer discussion with Hockey Canada next week but for now I can release that Humbolt Saskatchewan won the bid to host the 2012 RBC Cup. 

Dean  McIntosh of Hockey Canada called me today right after the decision was made at the Hockey Canada AGM and informed me that Humbolt was the winning bid.  Dean was very clear that our bid from the Alberni Valley was a superb bid and it made the decision very difficult.  He agreed that we did everything we could and we did not lose but rather Humbolt won.  He has offered to debrief with us next week and I have assured him that we would welcome that opportunity. 

On behalf of our committee I want to congratulate Humbolt on their selection to host the 2012 RBC Cup. We also congratulate the bid groups from Kingston Ontario and Ft. McMurray Alberta who joined us in the final four.

I want to thank all of our hard working Bid Committee for their tremendous efforts in assembling what I feel was the best bid we could possibly have made. We didn't leave anything on the table and gave it our best shot.  

We extend our appreciation to the City of Port Alberni, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs organization, the BC Hockey League and to Hockey BC who supported our bid throughout the process. A big thanks to the many people, organizations and businesses who wrote letters or supported for our bid in so many ways. I look forward to further discussion with Hockey Canada.  It was a pleasure working with our committee on our bid and I am very proud of what we accomplished. We will now regroup and determine if we are ready to bid on future RBC Cups  or other Hockey Canada events. 

Sincerely, Tom McEvay - Chair2012 RBC Alberni Bid Committe
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Port Boat House this morning, Stanley Cup Finals open tonight.

Good Saturday!


FINALLY we will have some hockey tonight as the Stanley Cup Finals open up in the Windy City.That is still some time away though as the game isn't until 5pm......if you are looking for something to do today, why not come visit THE PEAK, live on location at Port Boat House! We'll be here just until 1pm as the folks at Port Boat House have their huge ONE DAY ONLY SALE.

Boats and motors and accessories are seriously priced to move T O D A Y. They also have brought in reps from Scotty and Lowrance for all your Downrigger and Fish Finding and Depth Finding needs.

If you can't make it down here, check out their brand new website at www.portboathouse.com or phone them at 250-724-5754. Tell them "Hammer sent ya"

So who's going to win the Stanley Cup? Man, that is a tough one. '61 for the Hawks. '75 for the Flyers. I'm just happy that it is two cities that care about the game and their teams.


I like both teams and think that they have what it takes to win it all. I actually picked the Flyers to win the cup before the season even started. Of course the Hawks were the second seed while the Flyers were the seventh, but that means nothing now.


I predict Chris Pronger eliminates, or at the very least severely diminishes, Dustin Byfuglien's impact. And from the games that I have seen, he has been the biggest reason the Hawks have made it to this point. So having said that, I call the Flyers in 6 games.


That's all for now, come on down to Port Boat House!


Hammer

RBC Cup decision coming, Bulldogs Hockey School, GOLF GOLF GOLF.

The Hockey Canada AGM goes this weekend, and it's expected that an announcement will be forthcoming sometime tomorrow or Sunday regarding who gets the 2012 RBC Cup. Is it Fort MacMurray, Alberta, Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Kingston, Ontario, or Port Alberni, BC?

All great hockey communities for sure.....may the best bid win. I have seen the Alberni Valley bid package, and to say it was impressive and professionally put together would be a gross understatement.


The thought that we could be 1 or 2 days away from one of the biggest news items in this cities history, and then 2 years of excitement building up to the event is....well.....EXCITING!

The Okanagan Hockey School Hockey Camp, presented by the Alberni Valley Bulldogs - goes August 16th to 20th at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.

For more information call the Bulldogs Office or visit them at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.

Here's an idea on the daily schedule:


August 16 - 20, 2010

ALBERNI VALLEY MULTIPLEX



Port Alberni, BC
Cost: $250.00 (+GST)
(includes jersey)


Boys and Girls, age 7 - 14 years
Deadline for Registration: August 3, 2010




• On ice sessions will include instruction on power
skating, individual puck skills, passing and
shooting fundamentals as well as controlled
tactical scrimmages.



• Participants will be responsible for bringing
snacks and lunch with them. Supervision will be
provided by our hockey school staff.


• Each group limited to 25 skaters


DAY SCHEDULE
OILERS (ages 7 to 9)
8:00 - 9:15 am Ice
9:45 - 10:00 am Snack (Bulldogs Dressing Room)
10:15 - 11:15 am Team Building
11:15 - 11:45 am Lunch
12:30 - 1:45 pm Ice


MAPLE LEAFS (ages 10 & 11)
9:30 - 10:45 am Ice
11:15 - 11:30 am Snack (Bulldogs Dressing Room)
11:45 - 12:45 pm Team Building
12:45 - 1:15 pm Lunch
2:00 - 3:15 pm Ice


CANUCKS (ages 12 to 14)
11:00 - 12:15 pm Ice
12:45 - 1:00pm Snack (Bulldogs Dressing Room)
1:15 - 2:15pm Team Building
2:15 - 2:45pm Lunch
3:30 - 4:45pm Ice

A great time was had by all at the Alberni Golf Club's Men's Night last night. My dad is in town visiting from Manitoba so I had to get him out there to take part in what is always a fun, fun, fun night.


The only bad part of the night was all the Blackhawk stuff EVERYWHERE.

Spraypaint on the course. Pictures all over the clubhouse. Pretty funny stuff, as Head Pro Bruce MacDonald is a die hard Hawks fan and he is letting everyone know it. Hey, they haven't been this far since '92 and they haven't won it all since '61 so we should just let him have his fun!

 Nice spelling! haha

At the end of it all, Crazy Cal took home a "Closest to the Pin" prize of a gift certificate from Double R Meats. Perfect, as we were planning on Steaks on the deck tonight!


Cal's shot took the prize away from Nolan Graham.....but Nolan wasn't too upset as he had 2 other KP's anyway. Good shootin' Coach. Or old Coach I guess. It was nice to see Nolan, and nice to get out and hit a couple holes with him. 

Huge thanks to Bruce for hosting us, to our teammates Trent and John. 



One last thing on the Golf front, if you can handle it!

Don't forget that the Rotary Club's 100,000 Hole-in-One Challenge is going on as we speak, with qualifying today and tomorrow from 11am to 7pm. The 5 closest shots to the hole from both days join the top 5 from yesterday and Wednesday in the shoot-off on Sunday afternoon.

Cal has been hitting the ball pretty well, as he put one to within a foot on Wednesday to qualify for Sunday's Final at 1pm. The tough thing is that he and mom are flying out of Comox at 11am on Sunday. Whoops. They are trying to change their flight. Hey, it's worth it for that one magic shot to win $100,000!

Of course the Rotary Club does many great things for the community, so try to support them through this if you can!

Hammer

Lindores to Smokies

This press release came down from the Bulldogs this evening.



PRESS RELEASE
May 26, 2010



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE




The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announce that 91 F Robert Lindores has been traded to the Trail Smoke Eaters to complete the futures portion of the November 30 2009 transaction that brought 89 F Tye Lewis to Alberni.




"It is always difficult to move players off your roster and even more so in this case because Robert is great kid and a local player. Our organization wishes Robert all the best in the future, and thank him for all of his contributions to our organization over the past three seasons," states GM/Head Coach Paul Esdale.




For more information please contact GM/Head Coach Paul Esdale at 250.723.4412.





All the best in Trail "Lindy", I know he will do well and that they will like him in Trail as he's a hard working kid.




I know people have asked on the blog before if Robert was traded or not. I too had heard the same rumours for some time, but as I didn't have a release, and in respect to him and his family - I didn't want to speculate.




As was mentioned by Andy Oakes at the Graham/Esdale Press Conference, there are certain rules that the team has to abide by when it comes to announcements like this.




Hammer




Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Congrats to Doug Krantz, big win for Wheaties, big one tonight in Montreal

Huge congrats go out to former Bulldog (2002-2003,2003-2004) Doug Krantz, and the rest of his Cincinnati Cyclones teammates on becoming the ECHL Champions as they captured the Kelly Cup last night in front of an ECHL Kelly Cup Playoff Record of over 13,000 plus fans on home ice


And this is kinda incredible. If I'm not mistaken, Hans Benson was a one-time Port Alberni Junior B. Bandit.
He also played on the Cyclones. Small world, eh?

Quite the game yesterday at the Memorial Cup in Brandon as the host Wheat Kings picked a good time to pick up their first win over the Calgary Hitmen in a long time as they advanced to the Championship game Sunday where they will meet the defending champion Windsor Spitfires.


I'm a Manitoba boy, so, GO WHEATIES!


I turned the game on right near the end of the second period and it was perfect timing as I saw the Wheaties tie it up in front of an insane crowd of over 5,000 people jammed into the Keystone Centre. I know, I know it has some corporate name now, but it will always be the Keystone to me!


Check out the highlights here


You may never hear 5,000 LOUDER people. Love the horn.

And speaking of LOUD, how nuts will it be tonight in the loudest sports venue on the planet (I'm not 100% sure that's accurate, but it's a pretty safe bet) as the Habs host the Flyers in Game 4 of the NHL's Eastern Conference Final?

As much as I love the hockey this time of year, I love the atmosphere and passion that the hockey brings out just as much!

Exhibit A - Highlights from Game 3. The roar and the pop of the crowd is amazing.


Hammer

Rogic to RPI

While I'm sorry to hear you are going Johnny, just like the rest of the Bulldog fanbase, I am proud of your accomplishments and I thank your for your efforts.



Few players (if any) in the Bulldog Uniform over the years had the incredible breakneck speed that you possess. It was an absolute thrill to watch you in full flight.



Combine that great speed with a rock solid work ethic, and your got yourself an NCAA player.



Congrats to Johnny, congrats to the Bulldogs Coaching Staff, Education Staff, and Ownership.



Its tough to see Johnny go, but remember - this is what its all about folks!







Rogic Commits to RPI
PRESS RELEASE
May 21, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are excited to announce that forward
Johnny Rogic has committed to attend RPI in the fall of 2010.



The 6'0", 185 lb forward had a breakout season
for the Bulldogs during the 2009 – 2010 season.
Rogic scored 18 times in the regular season, and
followed that up with 6 goals in 13 games during the playoffs.



"Johnny is a committed person off the ice and on the ice. He had an
excellent season and really proved to be an important ingredient in our
recipe for success last year." GM/Head Coach Esdale notes. "He is
very deserving of this opportunity and I know that he will continue to
build off his success's that he had last season." adds Esdale



The entire Bulldogs organization wishes Johnny all the best as he moves on to NCAA Div I hockey, and thank him for his dedication to the program over the past two years.




For more information please contact GM/Head Coach Paul Esdale at 250.723.4412.







Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Habs look to bounce back, Duncan Keith story, Williams Lake - same old story.

Sorry I haven't posted lately. Just not a lot of news coming down the pipe, and too many other things to keep me entertained.

What a big game tonight.....Or is it? One would think that if the Habs hope to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, that they HAVE to win tonight so they don't fall down 3 games to 0.

BUT, lets not forget they were down 3-1 in round 1, and 3-1 in round 2, and they came back to win the series. Yes, I understand 3-0 and 3-1 are a little different.

Should be a fun one to watch tonight, and I'm sure the Bell Centre will be the loudest building in the world tonight.

If you are looking for a nice read, head over to the Puck Daddy Blog to check out a feature they have on Duncan Keith, titled "From BCHL to Olympic Champion: the rise of Dunan Keith"

I was saddened to hear that the Williams Lake Timberwolves will be suspended for next season. Tough luck for the fans there in Williams Lake, and for their nearest rivals in Prince George and Quesnel.

Being here on the Island, it sure was nice to head up North and get three games done in three days in a nice tidy little trip. Here's hoping they can get things figured out.

Here is the official release from the BCHL website....


That's it for now, Go Habs!


Hammer

Jess Moser moves on, Flyers @ Bruins in Game 7....

The Bulldogs are losing a good one, and a very important part of the organization, as Jess Moser is going back to school to pursue nursing....I always think of this picture when I think of Jess. Always working while the rest of the guys relaxing. The trainers job is a tough one, and Jess did it very well. She will be sorely missed, and she leaves big shoes to fill....even with her tiny feet, haha!

Good luck Jess, I will miss you around the rink and on the road!

Bulldogs Athletic Therapist going Back to School






Jessie Moser leaving Alberni Valley Bulldogs to pursue Nursing degree



PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2010




The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announced today that Athletic Therapist Jessie Moser is leaving the organization to pursue a degree in Nursing at the University of British Columbia.








“She put in long hours in a thankless job but we truly appreciate everything she did for the team,” said Paul Esdale, Head Coach and General Manager of the Bulldogs. “I’m excited for her to go back to school and pursue this dream of hers.”




Jessie Moser worked as an Athletic Therapist for the Bulldogs organization for three seasons.



“I loved being in Alberni,” said Moser. “I was immediately accepted in to the community by being a part of the Bulldogs organization. The team’s been on a roller coaster since I started so it was great to see them have such a successful season. I hope they can continue that success next year.“




With two more years of University, Moser will become a full Registered Nurse. “I knew I didn’t want to be an Athletic Therapist forever, but I’m glad I tried it out for a while. The long hours didn’t leave much free time for myself. As a nurse I’ll be able to do my job and have a life at the same time, which I’m really looking forward to.”




For additional information:
Paul Esdale
General Manager and Head Coach
Alberni Valley Bulldogs




Should be quite the contest in Boston as the Bruins host the Flyers in Game 7 for the right to go on to face the Habs in the Eastern Conference Final. How can you predict the outcome of this see-saw series? The Bruins go up 3-0 after winning the first three games. The Flyers win the next three to knot it all up. If the Flyers complete the comeback, they will be just the third in NHL history to dig out of a 3-0 hole. And the first since the 1975 Islanders.


That's it for now have a great day!

Habs move on, sweet Wheat Kings jerseys, Relay for Life Fundraiser...Alberni Golf Club Update...Rotary Hole in One Contest...

Just plain WOW. Who would have thought it? ME, of course. Besides that, I'm not sure who! I picked the Habs in 6 this round. So what, I was off by a round. I don't think anyone gave the Habs more than 1 game in this series. Or the last one either. Goaltending. Incredible fan support. Players with heart and experience. It's something to watch isn't it?

GO HABS GO.

The Brandon Wheat Kings will be wearing these sweet commemorative jerseys in the Memorial Cup (they are the host team) which opens tomorrow.

Don Cherry and Ron McLean showed them off last night on Coaches Corner. The jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Dominion Command Poppy Trust Fund, which supports veterans and their families.

For more information, visit this website:  http://mastercardmemorialcup.com/news.php?id=1475&y=2010

Here's the Alberni Golf Club Men's Club Update, thanks to Gerry.....

Lyman Jardin, who joined the Men’s Club for the first time this year was the low gross winner on Sunday shooting 76, taking home 3 balls. Second low gross was Preban Rasmussen coming in with 77 winning 2 balls. On the net side of the ball sweep, Jacques Giovetti carded 66 to win 3 balls. Chris Colclough Shot 69 to win 2 balls, and Steven Forrest took home 1 ball with his net 70.


$23 went into the pocket of James Haggard after he won the Charity closest to the pin on # 2, other closest to the pin winners were, Al Wright on # 4, Chris Colclough on # 13, Bob Matlock on # 17 and for his second shot on # 11 it was Jim Lawler.


Gentlemen, this Sunday is the AV. News/Alberni, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, two man best ball. The format is 2 man teams with the best net and best gross counting on each hole. The shotgun is set to go off at 8 AM. Please try to be  there no later than 7:45. Register with your partner in the Pro Shop or as a single and Bruce will find someone that doesn’t mind being you partner. You can also sign up by phoning, 250-723-5422.


Something to keep in mind ladies and gentlemen. The Rotary Club ’s 2^nd annual hole-in-one competition. Qualifying rounds to be held May 26,27,28 and 29 at the Alberni Golf Club. Qualifying will take place on the driving range from 11AM until 7PM each day with the final being held on Sunday May 30th. To Qualify all you do is hit balls to a designated hole on the driving range and the 5 closest to the pin each day, 20 in all, will be eligible to shoot for big prizes on the final day. You can purchase golf balls from the attendant on the driving range for $1 per ball or 12 balls for $10.There will be qualifying prizes awarded each day. On the final day all 20 contestants go to one of the par 3’s on the golf course and are entitled to hit 3 balls at the hole, Men from 160 yards and Ladies from 140 yards . If you get a hole-in-one on the first ball you win $100,000 If you sink your 2^nd ball on the first shot you win a brand new car or truck and if you get it in on the third ball you win a $10,000 dream vacation. Golfers of all levels are invited to come out and try your luck, challenge your friends make this a fun filled event with the possibility of cashing in big time. All funds raised will go to the Rotary’s Scholarship Fund. Once again thanks go out to our many sponsors, for their generous contributions this season.

Got this via email from Richelle.....

Hello again

I am just emailing to let you know about a fundraiser our relay team is doing.  We are having a hotdog sale at Safeway on Saturday May 15 and Friday May 21st 11am-4pm. Pop and a hotdog for $2, and will also have luminaries for sale for $5.  Our relay team is "Family pride for big G"  Thank you.  Richelle McKenzie and Team.



Hammer

Nucks done, Habs vs. Pens in Game 7

Well that's it for the Canucks....Ouch. When you lose 5-1, no one remembers you dominated the first period and should've been up 5-1 after 20 minutes. Shoulda Woulda Coulda, that's the way it goes.

The Canucks were all over the Hawks, they just couldn't bury a chance. Then the Hawks finally get one (after Luongo makes several big saves to keep it scoreless) and they get rattled and go down 2-0.

The 3-0 shorthanded goal? You need a save. You need a save on the 5th one too. The fourth one, you need some defence as Kane is too wide open. Of course the defence was banged up though.

A tough loss, and another "wait til next year" for the Canucks and their fans. My house was a pretty down place last night that's for sure.

Now it's all on Les Habs, as they try to become the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993, when Montreal of course won it.

Go Habs Go!

For all the boaters.....

Got this sent to me via email.

We are blessed to have some amazing lakes surrounding us. Take care of yourselves! And don't get fined!


Hammer




Hi Evan,

Hope you had a great weekend! Just wanted to fill you in on some important news that The Peak listeners may be interested in.

As boaters across BC prepare to start their boating season, law enforcement officers across the country prepare to hand out hefty fines of no less than $250 to an estimated 6 million boaters in Canada who still don't have their Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC). 

After a 10 year federal law phase in period, the deadline for all Canadian recreational boat operators to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card arrived last fall. This boating season marks the first year where ALL boaters in the country, regardless of age, need an Operator Card, commonly referred to as a boating license, or they risk expensive fines if caught without it. This news is something that all boating enthusiasts, whether you're a driver or a passenger, should be aware of before the start of this year's boating season. 

One of the easiest places to get a PCOC is online at www.BoaterExam.com. 

An expert and www.BoaterExam.com spokesperson available for interviews is Robert Dupel. Robert is a retired police officer with 34 years of experience and a marine officer and master diver for 15 years and also chaired the National Capital Joint Police Patrols unit. He was also the head of Formula 1 boating rescue team and is the author of many safe boating manuals in Canada. He is also the founder of Forensic and Nautical Consultants of Canada - so basically he is the expert of all experts when it comes to boating and water safety.

Please let me know if you would be interested in having Robert on via a phoner to speak about the importance of having a Pleasure Craft Operators Card. The timeliness of having Robert on-air to speak about the PCOC is perfect for this upcoming boating season and also for North American Safe Boating Week launching on May 22.  On top of that, Robert has a wealth of knowledge about boating and is fantastic on-air.

Thanks so much for your consideration. Attached is a release with more information.

Regards, Melissa

Habs force Game 7, Canucks try to do same, Cormier charged...

Without a doubt, the best atmosphere in hockey. Maybe even in sports. Period. The Bell Centre is a special place. Maybe if you threw 21,000 plus in GM Place it would be the same...

Game 7 should be a beauty. What a goal this one was. Good old Bob Cole. He's lost a bit of his game, but if it's not Jim Hughson calling a game I'm watching, I want it to be BOB!

It's a second straight MUST WIN for the Canucks tonight as they host the Hawks, trailing the series 3 games to 2.

The Canucks website has your pregame needs covered here

If you can't get to a TV, no problem, get it on THE PEAK with our pregame show on the air at 6:00 and all the play-by-play starting just after 6:30.



Patrice Cormier, Canada's Captain at the World Juniors this past Christmas in Saskatoon, has been charged by the RCMP after this hit in the QMJHL shortly after the World Juniors...



Your thoughts?


Hammer

Vipers thump Kings, Nucks stay alive....thanks to the Alberni Athletic Association

 

(image: hockeycanada.ca)

Congrats to the Vernon Vipers for becoming the first ever back-to-back RBC Cup Champions as they smoked the Dauphin Kings 8-1. 

Big saves at big times by Graeme Gordon, combined with what seemed like immediate goals by the Vipers to follow them up, were the big difference in the game.

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from some of the things I witnessed in Dauphin during my MJHL broadcasting days. I certainly felt bad for the players on the Kings as it's no fun to get stomped down at home like that, better yet in the biggest game of your lives on National TV. For the rest of Dauphin, I don't feel so bad!

What a win last night by the Canucks as they found a way to get it done to stay alive with a  4-1 win in Chicago.

Poor Sammy Salo. At last report, everything is still "there and intact" which is nice to hear. You certainly don't wish that on your worst of enemies. At least I never would... if you do, you are a bad bad bad human!!

Game 6 goes tomorrow night at the Garage.


Huge thanks to the Alberni Athletic Association for asking me to MC their sold-right-out "Sportsman's Dinner" Friday night at the Mulitplex to raise money for the new Athletic Hall.

Below are a few pictures I snapped from the BlackBerry during the event. You will see Bob Cole holding a paddle. The significance of it? It's signed by Jim Hughson, John McKeachie, and former NHL'er Gary Roberts. McKeach of course was one of the guest speakers Friday night. The paddle is pretty neat as it's signed by the guys after a day on Sproat Lake back in '85. Neat stuff!

Hammer

Vipers try for RBC Cup repeat on TSN 2, Canucks try to stay alive...

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there! You deserve wayyyyyy more than one day to be thanked for all that you did for us!

It's the final game of the CJHL season today as the defending RBC Cup Champion Vernon Vipers look to become the first ever team to repeat as RBC Cup Champions when they face the host Dauphin Kings.

Someone said on the BCHL Message Board that the Dauphin Kings are trying to become the first team since the 2000 Fort McMurray Oil Barons to win the championship through the front door.

Incorrect.

I had a press box seat as the Halifax Oland Exports won the 2002 RBC as the hosts - and they went through the front door winning the Maritime Junior Hockey League and the Eastern version of the Fred Page Cup to qualify. I had a press box seat as I was the play-by-play voice of the team the Exports beat, the OCN Blizzard, 3-1 with an empty netter in the dying moments. I still to this day feel the pain of that game. So close, yet so far.

Best of luck to the Vipers. Do the BCHL proud and show again that the BCHL is the best Junior A league in Canada

So far 2 posts in the first five minutes for the Vipes.....Good start.

It's win or go home for the Canucks tonight, as they face the Hawks in Chitown at 5:00pm. Here's some pregame scene setters from the Canucks website


If you can't get to a TV, no problem you can get it on 93.3 The Peak FM or our website www.933thepeak.com 


It seems that every single Canuck fan I have run into has already given up the fight, thinking the Canucks are d-o-n-e DONE. Come on people, it takes FOUR to win a series. Bulldog fans especially should know that after they saw a 3-1 series lead end in a 4-3 series loss. AND it's not like we didn't just see the Montreal Canadiens come back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Capitals in round 1.


Granted, I didn't watch Game 4 on Friday night as I was Mc'ing the Sportsman's Dinner so maybe if I had seen the horrors first hand I would be throwing in the towel too. It just takes a win tonight to make things start to get interesting again. Hopefully Luongo plays more like himself, as opposed to Dan Cloutier.


That's it for today! Go Vipers Go Nucks, THANKS MOM!

Hammer

Vipers off to RBC Cup Final, look for first ever RBC Repeat..

BCHL's Vernon Vipers to face off for
2010 RBC Cup title Sunday on TSN



BURNABY, BC -- May 8, 2010 -- The British Columbia Hockey League's Vernon Vipers will play for the
franchise's second consecutive National Junior A Championship title — and sixth overall — on Sunday
after defeating the Brockville Braves by a 2-0 score in the first of two RBC Cup semi-finals match-ups
on Saturday at Credit Union Place in Dauphin, MB.



The Vipers will face either the Dauphin Kings or La Ronge Ice Wolves in the Championship Game, which
will be broadcast live on TSN at 12:00 PM Pacific.




The Kings and Ice Wolves will meet for the second
spot in Sunday's final later tonight.
Twin brothers Connor and Kellen Jones were the heroes for Vernon on Saturday, as Connor broke a
scoreless third period deadlock before Kellen added the insurance marker minutes later. It was the first
game at the event for Connor, who had missed his team's four round-robin games due to injury. In net,
Graeme Gordon picked up his third victory and first shutout of the tournament, stopping 20 shots.



The Vipers had finished second in the round-robin portion of the tournament at 3-1, having won three
straight following a 6-5 overtime loss to the host Kings in their opener last Saturday. Victories over the
La Ronge Ice Wolves (4-2), Oakville Blades (5-3) and Brockville Braves (4-2) followed.




Vernon will now look to become the first team to capture back-to-back RBC Cup titles since the
tournament was first contested in 1996. The Vipers are the last team to have won consecutive National
Junior A Championships after hoisting the Centennial Cup in 1990 and 1991.



The Vipers earned their
berth in the RBC Cup after winning the BCHL's Fred Page Cup over the Powell River Kings and the Doyle
Cup (B.C.-Alberta Championship) in seven games over the Spruce Grove Saints.
***




Go Vipes Go!



Hammer





Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Sold Right Out...

It comes as no surprise that the Alberni Athletic Associations Sportsman's Dinner is SOLD RIGHT OUT.



Port Alberni does it like they usually do....a full community effort.



What a great town!



Hammer



Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Alberni Athetic Association Sportsman's Dinner

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Paul Esdale Interview Audio

From the 93.3 The Peak FM Morning Show today, here's the audio from my interview with Paul Esdale. Click the below link to download it. All audio courtesy and copyright 93.3 The Peak FM and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.


PAUL ESDALE INTERVIEW


Alberniportal.ca has more on the story - CLICK THIS LINK

Press Conference Audio, Paul Esdale on THE PEAK tomorrow morning

Click the below link to download a FULL COPY of today's announcement, with comments from Bulldogs President and Governor Andy Oakes, outgoing Coach Nolan Graham, and new Head Coach and GM Paul Esdale.

Also included, is the formal question and answer session.

Click HERE FOR THE DOWNLOAD LINK.

Be patient, as it's a huge file.

New Bulldogs Head Coach and GM Paul Esdale will be my guest on my morning show tomorrow, just after 8:10am.

If you aren't in 93.3 The Peak FM listening range, get it all on our website at www.933thepeak.com


Hammer

Bulldogs Official Release...

Alberni Valley Bulldogs make coaching change


Paul Esdale named new General Manager and Head Coach



The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announced today that Nolan Graham is leaving the
organization to pursue a coaching opportunity at the NCAA level, and named Paul Esdale
as the team's new General Manager and Head Coach.




"We'd like to thank Nolan for all of the efforts he put into the Bulldogs organization this
year," said Andy Oakes, President & Governor of the Bulldogs.


"He turned the team
around in a substantial manner and in a very quick period of time. We appreciate
everything he's done and wish him well in his future endeavor of coaching at the NCAA
level."


"The past 14 months in Alberni has been phenomenal." said Graham, who joined the
Bulldogs in March 2009. "The pride and passion that runs throughout the community is
very special and it was unbelievable to be a part of that. I feel very blessed to have had
the opportunity to have begun my coaching career in Alberni."




Paul Esdale, who joined the Bulldogs as Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager
in September, has been named the Bulldogs new Head Coach and General Manager.



"This is a great opportunity for me," said Esdale. "I'm truly grateful for the recognition
from ownership and I look forward to continuing the momentum we created last
season."



Graham and Esdale coached the Bulldogs throughout the team's successful 2009-2010
season. They were the BCHL regular season's Coastal Conference Champions for the
first time in franchise history, and set a franchise record for regular season wins with 45
of 60 regular season games.
"When we found out Nolan's time with the Bulldogs was coming to an end, we
conducted a full search for a new head coach," said Oakes. "Paul was the leading
candidate coming out of that process. We really feel that Paul's education, playing

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Bulldogs Announce Nolan Graham stepping down, Name Paul Esdale as new Head Coach and GM

A standing room only crowd (just like the games at the end of the season, awesome) was on hand today at the Multiplex for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Major Announcement as they revealed that Nolan Graham is stepping down as Head Coach and GM of the organization.




Nolan thanked the organization and fans for the great opportunity they gave him, and for their role in furthering his career.




Best of luck to Nolan. You won't find a better guy, and a more passionate and hard working Coach.




At the same time the Bulldogs announced that they will be promoting from within, as they named Paul Esdale as their new Head Coach and GM effective immediately.




Huge congrats to Paul....what a crazy year, as he made a huge life changing decision when he and his new wife raced to Port Alberni last fall to be Nolan's Assistant Coach and GM after the sudden departure of Bryan Vines. Less than a year later, he is now the Head Coach and GM.




I couldn't be happier for Paul personally. From a hockey standpoint, I absolutely love this move. Paul was obviously a huge part of everything in what was the most successful season in franchise history. What better way to keep it going by trying to maintain some familiarity behind the bench? Great call, in my humble opinion.




More later, including audio from the press conference.



Bulldogs President Andy Oakes also stated that the team is currently searching for an Assistant Coach and Assistant GM to compliment Paul's Coaching Staff.




Hammer




Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

"Major Announcement" today

We are just hours away from the "major announcement" that the Bulldogs announced on Tuesday they will be making today at the Multiplex.

If you can't make it to the Multiplex (the media, fans, corporate sponsors and season ticket holders are all invited for the 12:30 Press Conference) fear not, I'll have everything covered for you here on the blog, so be sure to check back.


Hammer

Bulldogs making "Major Announcement" tomorrow, Canucks and Hawks Game 3 tonight.

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs will be making a major announcement tomorrow...here's the details....


The Alberni Valley Bulldogs will make a major announcement on Thursday, May 6th at 12:30pm at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.

All media, fans, season seat holders and corporate sponsors are invited to attend.

What:   Special announcement / press conference
Who:  Alberni Valley Bulldogs staff and ownership
When:  Thursday, May 6, 2010, 12:30pm
Where:  Mezzanine, Alberni Valley Multiplex - 3737 Roger St.


For additional information:
Steve Taylor
Director, Website & Media Services
Okanagan Hockey Academy
Mobile: 250-809-9715stevetaylor@hockeyschools.com


Now the "Million Dollar Question" - what specifically will this announcement be? The rumourmill is turning big time on this one with fans guessing and suggesting that it's going to be about a coaching change, player transactions, even an announcement that the RBC Cup is coming to Port Alberni. 

I have some ideas what this is all about, but I'll keep them to myself until we find out officially tomorrow just after 12:30. For those that can't make it I'll do my best to get some audio of the proceedings up here on the blog. 

A HUGE Game 3 tonight for the Nucks and Hawks with the series tied at 1-1. Get it all on 93.3 The Peak with the pregame show kicking off at 6:00 and the puck dropping shortly after 6:30. 


That's it for now. 




Hammer


 

Nucks vs. Hawks Game 2 tonight, Gold in the Net Golf a blast!

It's Game 2 tonight of the Canucks and Blackhawks series, after the Canucks took Game 1 convincingly by a  5-1 score on Saturday night in Chicago.

Get it all on 93.3 The Peak FM tonight with the pregame show at 5:30 followed by the puck drop and play-by-play at 6:00pm. Don't forget you can also listen online at www.933thepeak.com

It was a great time at the 5th Annual Gold in the Net Golf Tournament Saturday at the Morning Star Golf Course as folks from all over came together to raise money for the Aaron C Cornwell Memorial Scholarship Fund.

To date, Gold in the Net has given away up to $25,000.00 in scholarship money. After the great turn out on Saturday - upwards of 130 people, they will have more funds to put into the coffers.



Thanks to Perry and Debbie Elderbroom, the Cornwell Family, and everyone at Morning Star for putting on a great tournament.

HUGE THANKS go out to my teammates Frank Slubowski, Mike Slubowski, and their friend Carl. We didn't win, but we had a bunch of fun. We had to have won "most balls lost" for the tourny but I'm not sure if that was an award. HA!

P.S. I only lost one ball. I think our team total was about 128.

My only feat of the day was winning the long drive.

 I was hoping to win this - one of the best prizes in the Silent Auction - but I was out bid!

Hopefully we will see you there next year! Visit www.goldinthenet.com for more details and to get ahold of them if you want to play in the event next year!


 Hammer