Pats roll the dice at import draft

Hmm, the write-up on this kid reminds me of the guy who recommended him - former Pats forward Karel Mosovsky.

PATS SELECT TOMAS HRICINA 27th OVERALL

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats have made their 1st round draft pick in the 2008 CHL Import Draft, selecting left winger Tomas Hricina with the 27th overall selection.

Tomas Hricina (6’2”, 198lbs), a native of Slovakia, spent this past season with the Kosice Jr team. In 57 games Hricina collected 28 goals and 22 assists for 50 points and also had 62 penalty minutes.

"Hricina was one of the Slovaks best players at the recent World Under-18 Championship in Kazan, Russia. He enjoyed a fine regular season leading his Kosice Jr. Team in goals with 28 goals in just 57 games. Good Size player with a nice touch around the net. Has long legs, but his strides are short and intensive. Has long reach-he is a strong penalty killer. His slapshot is very hard and accurate. Logged a lot of ice time. Reliable in the d-zone. – Reported by the ISS.

SportZone lineup for June 25

Here's the lineup for this week's show, airing Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7:

SportZone Guests for June 23/08
Community Co-Host: Carlo Palazzo

1. A former Regina Pats star looks back at his first year as a full-time NHL goaltender. Guest: Josh Harding (Minnesota Wild goalie).

2. The University of Regina men’s hockey team has landed a half-dozen recruits this off-season, and is running a unique summer fundraiser. Guest: Blaine Sautner (Head Coach).

3. A profile of the Queen City Striders long distance running club. Guests: Steve Gersten (Head Coach) & Kendra Schaaf (Distance runner).

4. The Touch Regina Youth (TRY) football league gears up for the 2008 season. Guest: Mark Budinski (League Commissioner).

5. The Saskatchewan Cycling Association is running a couple of cross-province bicycle tours this summer. Guest: Don Wilson (Organizing Committee Chair).

6. A review of the 2007/08 season in Regina high school athletics. Guest: Greg Johnson (RHSAA Commissioner).

7. A preview of the annual Canada Day Regatta hosted by the Wascana Racing Canoe Club. Guests: Stephanie Robertson (Head Coach) & Tiera McLeod (Paddler).

SportZone lineup for June 18

Here's the lineup for this week's show, airing tonight at 6 p.m. and tomorrow at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7:

SportZone Guests for June 18/08

Community Co-Host: Brandon Brooks

1. A post-mortem on the 2008 season for the Prairie Fire rugby team. Guest: Jered Kirkland (Captain).

2. An update on the Regina Red Sox baseball club. Guests: Cory Hall & Eric McKinney (Players).

3. The Miller Marauders capture the city high school girls (large schools) softball championship. Guests: Tara Fischer (Head Coach), Alicia Eger & Erika Baron (Players).

4. A Regina native signs his first pro hockey contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Guest: Garret Klotz (Flyers prospect).

5. A preview of the 2008 Regina Minor Football season. Guest: Kelly Hamilton (RMF President).

Monday musings

Scattered thoughts on a scatter-brained Monday:

• Rider fans are hoping local product Neal Hughes earns the back-up tailback spot. Based on his performance in the first exhibition game, it's an idea that is not without some merit.
• The University of Regina Rams hope to have tailback Stu Foord carrying the ball this year, but he may be playing himself onto the Riders roster.
• Will Curtis Hunt join his Team Canada buddy Craig Hartsburg with the Ottawa Senators? Don't bet against it.
• If that happens, who do the Pats select as their new head coach? I would suggest Terry Perkins (Hunt's assistant) deserves some consideration.
• Jacob's baseball season could be over by next weekend. Wow, that didn't take long!
• 13 more sleeps until the munchkin and I jet off to Ontario. Can't wait!
• Dear Toronto Blue Jays - please quit sucking by the time we arrive at the Rogers Centre on July 8. Thanks for that.
• My tennis racquet is starting to acquire dust. Are we done with the rain for a few days?
• Hands up everyone who hasn't heard the rumour that Gold's Gym will be moving into the space currently occupied by the Regina Court and Fitness Club. Say it ain't so, Carmelo!
• Cadillac CTS. Someday you will be mine. Oh yes, you will be mine!

Riders roll past Lions

Some thoughts on last night's 33-13 exhibition victory over the B.C. Lions:

• Quinton Griffin was outperformed by Neal Hughes. And Stu Foord. Who would have thought?
• Anton McKenzie and Renauld Williams can definitely play linebacker.
• John Chick has a motor that just doesn't stop.
• Nobody really stepped up at the other defensive end spot.
• Darian Durant outplayed Steven Jyles in the competition for number two quarterback.
• Jyles, to his credit, came back strong after serving up a couple of ill-advised interceptions.
  
• Marcus Crandell looked sharp on short and medium range routes. Not so much on the long ball.
• Adarius Bowman - he'll only be here a year, probably. But what a year it could be!
• Denatay Heard had a great night on the corner with two picks.
  
• No burgers at the concession stands on the east side, along with other food-related foul-ups. Not impressive!
• What's with the old dude in the east side parking lot who takes up two spots every game? A little trouble keeping it between the lines, gramps?
• I liked the half-time flag-raising ceremony. Two thumbs down for the Lions, who came out of their locker room before the event was done. Classy.
  

Friday thoughts

Here's what is keeping the synapses firing on yet another rainy Friday:

• Is tonight's exhibition game between the Riders and B.C. Lions a sellout?
• I've heard four home games are already - or virtually - sold out. Do you think this province was ready for a winning team?
• How loud will the ovation be when Teale Orban takes the field for the Riders in the 4th quarter?
• Is there a young man who deserves it more?
• I suspect I'll be watching some Little League baseball on Father's Day. Seems kind of appropriate, I suppose.
• Why can't the owners of the Pats and the folks at the Regina Exhibition Association get along? Will they ever?
• It would be a nice Father's Day treat to watch the Celtics finish off the Lakers in the NBA final.
• Did the Celtics' Paul Pierce really call the post-game interviewer "Babe" last night? That's............not entirely appropriate.
• Anyone getting tired of the navel-gazing by Moose Jaw city council? Build the damn rink, or say goodbye already!
• How much more of a star would Alexander Ovechkin be if he played in a major hockey market like..........for instance..........Toronto? A guy can dream, can't he?

Pats ink new lease deal with Ipsco Place

I have to admit, the following news release - issued by the Pats this afternoon - doesn't exactly inspire a tonne of confidence. Or am I being overly skeptical?


Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats Hockey Club has signed a three (3) year lease which was presented by the Regina Exhibition Association. This now enables the WHL Club to continue having the use of the Brandt Centre.

The Hockey Club has been requesting that IPSCO Place provide them with a five to ten year lease, to no avail. The two parties have been in negotiations since mid- March.

Pats President, Russ Parker, said “Our Organization is not pleased with the overall lease; however, we intend to do our utmost to be successful under the terms of this document. Furthermore, under one of the terms of the lease, we are prohibited from discussing any further aspects of this document.”

The signed lease now allows the hockey team to provide available dates to the Western Hockey League Office, in order for them to proceed with Monday’s scheduling meetings in Calgary.

SportZone lineup for June 11

Here's the lineup for this week's show, which airs tonight at 6 p.m. and tomorrow at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7:

SportZone Guests for June 10/08
Community Co-Host: Alynn Brischuk

1. A preview of the 2008 Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame induction weekend. Guest: Sheila Kelly (SSHFM Executive Director) & Ed Bankowski (2008 inductee – Regina Rams).

2. A preview of the regular season finale for the Prairie Fire rugby squad. Guest: Fausto Rodriguez (Player).

3. The Usher Unicorns capture the city high school girls (small schools) softball championship. Guests: Sara Stochmal & Ashley Senft (Players).

4. A Reginan is elected to the board of Basketball Canada. Guest: Joe Ralko (Basketball Saskatchewan President).

5. A preview of the 2008 SaskCentral Queen City Marathon. Guest: Doug Russell (Race Director). (www.runqcm.com)

Monday musings

Time to squeeze out the contents of a rain-soaked brain:

• It's hard to say who is looking forward to Jacob's first Toronto Blue Jays game more; Jacob or his grandfather.
• Hopefully young Jacob's little league game isn't rained out tonight.
• North Regina Little League wouldn't be foolish enough to schedule a makeup game for the same night as a Rider home game, would they?
• Ironman - cool flick!
• Hairspray - wasn't bad either.
• A polish citizen scores two goals to lead Germany to a 2-0 victory over Poland at Euro 2008. Is that the definition of irony?
• Rafael Nadal. Best clay court tennis player ever?
• I hope the Boston Celtics sweep the L.A. Lakers, and Kobe cries like the little bee-otch he is.
• Does anyone know what Jack FM's format is this week? Pretty sure rock stations don't play Frankie Goes to Hollywood!
• Ever notice how lousy ratings and constant format flips never get blamed on inept management?
  
• We're off to Ontario in 20 days. Can't wait!

Friday thoughts

Here's what's keeping the brain functioning this morning:

• I enjoy the coverage from Rider camp, but I honestly can't bring myself to invest the time needed to check it out for myself. Alert me when they cut some players, and the first-teamers get the majority of the reps.
• Rain all weekend? Perfect. Apparently Jacob and I are destined to not play tennis together this summer. Or practice baseball/football.
• Speaking of football, the folks at RMF are still threatening to make me a head coach this year. Hopefully an experienced coach will step forward in Uplands. Think of the children!
• Is the Stanley Cup final over? How did the Leafs do?
• Ah, so yesterday's story about the HNIC theme was just a bit of contract negotiating through the media? Well, hopefully the public outcry got the point across. That music is a piece of Canadiana, plain and simple.
• Krava Maga - it hurts so good!
• If you're thinking about renting Meet the Spartans this weekend, save a few bucks and give yourself a concussion or lobotomy. Same effect.
• Red Sox bench boss Guido Aspeitia could become my favourite Regina sports figure. Dude knows how to play to his audience, that's for sure. He hasn't lived here a month, and he rattled off the names of all of Regina's "high profile" sports teams on this week's SportZone show. Impressive!
• Last year at this time, Rider fans were outraged that GM Eric Tillman would let Nate Davis, Andrew Greene, Jackie Mitchell and Davin Bush (among others) get away. Today, the playing days of all four of those gentlemen appear to be over.

HNIC theme silenced

The CBC, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to stop using the iconic Hockey Night in Canada theme song. Read about it here. While I'm the first to acknowledge things usually need shaking up after 40 years, this seems to be just another example of change for change's sake. Rarely has a television theme song so clearly identified a television program, especially anything produced in Canada. Hell, how many other Canadian television themes are used as cell phone ring tones by thousands of people? Once again, the CBC has its finger firmly on the pulse of Canadian sports fans - not!

SportZone lineup for June 4

Here's the lineup for the "big show", airing tonight at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7:

SportZone Guests for June 4/08
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. A review of the opening weekend of the season for the Regina Red Sox baseball club. Guests: George “Guido” Aspeitia (Head Coach) & Clayton Dill (Player).

2. There will no repeat national championship for the Prairie Fire rugby squad this year. Guest: Caine Elisara (Player/Coach).

3. A preview of the 2008 Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame induction weekend. Guest: Nancy Kerr (2008 inductees).

4. A profile of the Regina Rowing Club. Guests: Rasna Madhur (Learn to Row Coordinator) & Garett Mathiason (Novice Men’s Coach).

5. A preview of the 2008 Regina AAA Super Series minor hockey tournament. Guests: Corey Morrison (Tournament Director), Curtis Meger & Kye Steinke (Players).

6. A preview of the 2008 Regina Hoop Factory basketball camp. Guest: Joel Hunter (Camp Director).

Monday musings

Finally, a few free moments to compose my thoughts:

• Football Saskatchewan put on a pretty good Level 1 technical clinic in Saskatoon on the weekend. I like that town, although not enough to live there again.
• Who knew the Detroit Red Wings would dispose of the Pittsburgh Penguins so quickly?
• T.J. Stancil - what happened?
• Other than that, no huge surprises in the early going at Rider training camp.
• Starting a new job and going to a job interview on the same day. Never a dull moment around here!
• I drove past that big accident near Lumsden Saturday afternoon. I felt just awful for the injured people, until I heard they were driving a stolen car. Thankfully they didn't hurt anyone else.
• Jacob's ball team went 1-2 in their tournament this weekend. Back at it tonight!