SportZone lineup for November 26

Here's the lineup for this week's show, including an on-air appearance by one of our youngest guests/panellists yet. The show airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7.

SportZone Guests for Nov 26/08
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (Event profile) A preview of the 2008/09 Regina senior boy’s high school basketball season, and the 2008 Balfour Classic tournament. Guest: Glen Fekula (Head Coach, Balfour Redmen), Ryan Tulloch & Tanner Forrester (Players).

2. (Event profile) A preview of the 2008 world junior racquetball championships. Guests: Christine Richardson (Competitor) & Ross Richardson (Coach).

3. (Regina Sport Spotlight) A Regina swimmer is named the 2008 Special Olympics Canada Male Athlete of the Year. Guests: Michael Qing (Swimmer) & Pete Wilkins (Coach).

4. (Fitness/Lifestyle segment) A profile of the Regina Ski Club. Guests: Greg Brewser & Isabel Azzopardi (RSC Executive).

5. (Youth perspective segment) A general sports discussion with a nine year old fledgling athlete/broadcaster. Guest: Jake Paczko (Sports enthusiast).

Monday musings

A busy start to a short work week:

• The Calgary Stampeders were the class of the CFL this year, and reinforced that fact by shutting down Montreal in the 2nd half of the Grey Cup game.
• What will Anthony Calvillo's legacy be, given that he has lost five times in the CFL championship game, while only winning once?
• I suppose Henry Burris is capable of winning when it counts.
• A fun thought to ponder - If Roy Shivers hadn't chased Hank out of town, would the Riders have won their second straight Grey Cup this year?
• I'm loving my home theatre set up. Thanks again to Joe and the gang at Radio Centre!
  
• A Paczko family tradition - putting up the Christmas tree while watching the Grey Cup. Do I know how to party, or what?
  
• Memo to Hockey Regina (tier) coaches: Please don't use your team as a vehicle to further your own kid's "career". It makes you look like an ass.
  
• No such issues to report from the rec divisions, at least not yet.
• The Regina Pats annual Agribition road trip is off to a less than stellar start. Latest in a series.
  
• Ever notice how often the announcers on CJME say "Uhhhhhhh"? Wow. That's some serious ad-libbing talent over there!
• And yet, I keep listening.
  

Pats beef up on blueline

Those fans who wanted the Pats to add some veteran toughness on defense will probably like this development:

Pats add a 20 year-old

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats have filled their vacant 20 year-old roster spot today by picking up Scott Gabriel off waivers from the Portland Winter Hawks. The 6’5” defenceman had one assist and 21 minutes in penalties in eight games, and was an assistant captain, before he was put on the waiver wire by Portland. Last season, he played in 60 games with a goal, 5 assists and 244 minutes in penalties.

SportZone lineup for November 19

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

SportZone Guests for Nov 19/08
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (Fitness/Lifestyle segment) A profile of the Regina YMCA. Guest: Patrick Ash (Downtown Centre Manager).

2. (Athlete/team profile) A profile of the Regina Pat Canadians midget AAA hockey team. Guest: Norm Johnston (Head Coach).

3. (Event profile) An update on the 2008/09 Prairie Junior Hockey League season, via a profile of the Pilot Butte Storm, the defending league champs. Guests: Chris Lewgood & Karl McNish (Coaches).

4. (Regina Sport Spotlight) The Leboldus Golden Suns celebrate a provincial 4A football championship Guests: Adam Ralko & Brett Wirachowsky (Players).

5. (U of R segment) A post mortem on the University of Regina Rams’ 2008 season. Guest: Teale Orban (Rams Quarterback).

SportZone Trivia: When did the Leboldus Golden Suns capture their last provincial high school football championship prior to this year? Email your answers and contact info to: sportzone@accesscomm.ca!

Monday musings

Here's what's filling the cranial cavity today:

• I'm thinking of getting winter tires for my SUV. Any recommendations? Any sweet deals to be had?
• Plus 7 tomorrow? Believe it when I feel it.
• I caught the UFC battle between Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar Saturday night. Lesnar is a freak of nature. And of course I mean that in a good way.
  
• If you're wondering how the upheaval at Access Communications will affect SportZone - so am I!
• Jacob's hockey team might be in for a very long year. They've only managed to score five goals in four games (all losses, of course).
  
• Is it too early to start planning for the 2009 RMF season?
• Speaking of football - I think I may be a Montreal Alouettes fan this Sunday.
• It's not that I hate the Calgary Stampeders, I just. . . dislike them strongly.
• I'm still not convinced the Tennessee Titans are the real deal. C'mon, Kerry Collins? Seriously?
• Laval has a 4-0 record in the Vanier Cup. My Western Mustangs will bring the Quebecois back down to earth this weekend.
• 11 days until AC/DC in Vancouver.
  

Trivia question

Silly me, I forgot to post this week's SportZone trivia question:

In which year did the U of R women's basketball team capture their only national championship?

Email your answer, and contact info, to: sportzone@accesscomm.ca. First correct answer earns you the moniker of smartest viewer of the week!

Friday thoughts

Draining the brain on a snowy Friday:

• Snow beats the heck out of freezing rain.
  
• I expect Calgary and Montreal to win their respective CFL division finals this weekend.
• A Grey Cup featuring Henry Burris vs Anthony Calvillo could be a heck of an airshow!
• I didn't even know there were oblique muscles on our backs! Someone I found a way to strain mine.
• It'll be interesting to see what the Regina Pats learned from that one-sided loss to Calgary this week.
• The play of Jordan Weal and Matt Strueby has to rank as the best surprise of the WHL season so far for Pats fans. Or is that two surprises?
• Do you think the global economic downturn will nix any hope of Regina getting a new football stadium? Sure hope not. Mosaic Stadium really is a dump.
• My hair stylist tried to convince me to go with a bit of a faux hawk this time around. That was a short-lived discussion.
• Interesting times over at Access Communications. Very interesting indeed.
  

SportZone lineup for November 12

SportZone Guests for Nov 12/08
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (U of R segment) A profile of the University of Regina women’s basketball team. Guest: Dave Taylor (Head Coach).

2. (Event segment) A preview of the Bob Adams Foundation annual awards dinner. Guests: Ken Adams (Event Chair) & Janine Polischuk (Guest speaker).

3. (Regina Sport Spotlight) The Leboldus Golden Suns celebrate a high school boys’ 3A soccer championship Guests: Alex Woshik & Taylor Haid (Players).

4. (Fitness/Lifestyle segment) A profile of Puckmasters, a unique hockey training facility in Regina. Guest: Trevor Lakness (General Manager).

5. (Athlete/team profile) A profile of the Regina Rebels midget AAA female hockey team. Guests: Doug Folk (Head Coach) & Patricia McGauley (Player).

Riders to send Bishop packing

Well, this didn't take long! The Michael Bishop experiment is officially over in Riderville.

Okay Rider fans, what was your second wish?

Pats clear logjam in goal

Prokop a Pat, Bosch a Warrior

Regina, Saskatchewan - The best rivalry in hockey just got a little more interesting today. The Regina Pats have resolved their goaltending situation by dealing 18 year-old goaltender Jeff Bosch to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for 18 year-old centre Neal Prokop.

Prokop, a native of Winnipeg, was the Warriors first pick in the 2005 WHL Bantam draft (5th overall), and was at Columbus Blue Jackets training camp this past summer as a free agent. He is in his third full season in the WHL and is coming off a 2007-08 season where he posted a career best 13 goals.

"This has been a long difficult process that has gone on much longer than I could have imagined. All three of the kids have handled this in a very mature and professional manner and I thank them all very much for that", Pats General Manager Brent Parker explains. "Jeff is a tremendous young man and a talented goaltender and we wish him all the best, having said that we believe that we have received fair value in return. Neal is player that we coveted during his bantam draft year when he was taken 5th overall and we think his skill and vision will be a perfect fit for our style of play."

Neal Prokop will make his Regina Pats debut on Wednesday night at 7pm, as the top team in the Central Division, the Calgary Hitmen pay a visit to the 'Dome to meet the East Division's top team in the Pats.

Monday musings

• Can we now say the Michael Bishop experiment is finally over?
• The Riders were thoroughly manhandled on Saturday, but were also largely the architects of their own undoing.
• People calling for the heads of Ken Miller and/or Eric Tillman are stupid. There really is no way of sugar-coating that one.
• With an above average quarterback and a legitimate outside threat (sorry Adarius Bowman, it's not you), the Riders would be travelling to Calgary this week for the west final.
• Players who may have played their last game in Rider green: Michael Bishop, Darian Durant, Chris Szarka, Matt Dominguez, D.J. Flick, Scott Gordon.
• Positions requiring an upgrade in the offseason: quarterback, short-side receiver, defensive (boundary) end, defensive tackle and safety.
• Less than seven months to training camp!
• My mood brightened considerably upon returning home from Mosaic Stadium in time to watch the Leafs throttle the godless Habs.
  
• Hey, how about those Regina Pats?
• The Pats have moved into first place in the WHL's east division, and are playing up-tempo, exciting hockey. I'm looking forward to Friday night's game against Seattle.
• What sucks worse than getting up at 5 am to take your son to hockey, only to find out his team's goalie didn't show up for the game? Answer: not much!

Friday thoughts

Idle thoughts on a busy Friday:

• Oh my is Mosaic Stadium going to be loud tomorrow. At least it should be!
• If Michael Bishop repeats his playoff performance from last year, the Riders will be in for a very long afternoon.
• If Bishop plays like he did in the 2nd half of the regular season finale, it'll be the B.C. Lions having a long afternoon.
• Key players for the Riders: John Chick and Wes Cates.
• Young Jacob has a hockey game at 7 am on Sunday. Beautiful.
• The atom Cougars had a grand total of one (1!) representative at last night's RMF end-of-season shin-dig. Love that team spirit.
• The pie at the 4 Season's was excellent last night. Bring on the cheese!
  
• Pats vs Medicine Hat tonight. It'll be interesting to see how Derkatch's crew responds to a 4-1 home ice loss to Everett on Wednesday.
• What's with my Sirius radio cutting out every time I drive under a bridge? I thought satellite radio was better than that. Or is that just XM?
• Channel 103 on Sirius is some damn funny stuff.
• How am I surviving without listening to Regina radio? Just fine, thanks!
  

SportZone lineup for November 5

Here's the lineup of guests for this week's show, featuring a glitzy new set, and airing Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7:

SportZone Guests for Nov 5/08
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (Athlete/team profile) A profile of the Regina Capitals junior B hockey club. Guests: Rob Dowie (Head Coach) & Tom Skelton (Goalie).

2. (Event segment) A preview of the 2008/09 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season. Guest: Laury Ryan (SJHL President).

3. (Regina Sport Spotlight) The Campbell Tartans celebrate a high school girls’ 3A soccer championship. Guests: Nikita Senko & Meagan Cormier (Players).

4. (U of R segment) A profile of the University of Regina women’s hockey team. Guests: Kelsey Graham & Gina Campbell (Players).

5. (Fitness/Lifestyle segment) A Regina company is offering bicycle tours through France next fall. Guest: Gerry Harris (Ghar Cycle Tours).

SportZone trivia: Who holds the career points scored (133) record for the University of Regina women's hockey team? Email your answers to: sportzone@accesscomm.ca. First correct response wins the much-coveted title of SportZone's smartest viewer for the week!

Crappy Tire strikes again!

Well, one thing you can say for Canadian Tire - at least their service is consistent. Consistently awful!

Today's misadventure started at the north Regina store, where I was in search of a transformer/controller for my Noma Moonrays outdoor lights. You know, the little black pagoda lights people place along walkways, paths, etc.

Well, the good folks at the north store didn't have any in stock. But a very helpful (must be a new employee) young man looked on his computer and found out that the south Regina store had four in stock.

To the south store I went, almost breathless with anticipation. I marched straight to customer service, and presented them with the product number. Sure enough, their computer also indicated they had four in stock.

Here's where it gets fun. Nobody on their top-notch staff could figure out where to find them! I had already looked in the minuscule section devoted to outdoor lighting, so I knew it wasn't there. After several minutes of searching, the store staff collectively shrugged their shoulders in the legendary Crappy Tire "oh well, what can you do?" style and said "Sorry, we don't know where they are".

And thus, the legacy of Crappy Tire continues...