Monday musings

Wow, where did that weekend go? Here's what is floating around in the upstairs cupboard today:

• I survived the three hour Krav Maga level 1 test on Saturday. For a fat guy, that's a major accomplishment!
• I chugged some pedialyte (seriously) and a protein shake afterwards, and felt just fine the next day. Go figure.
• Hockey just ended, and tonight it's baseball evaluations for the J-man. It never ends.
• The preceding comment should not be confused for a complaint.
• I think I may be a Michigan State fan for the NCAA Final Four. Which of course is the kiss of death for the Spartans.
• Milk is an excellent movie, but I admit I was creeped out watching Sean Penn and James Franco lock lips.
• Has there ever been less optimism surrounding an upcoming Toronto Blue Jays season?
• The Jays, the Raptors, the Leafs, the Argos. These are not good times for Toronto sports fans.
• Any sympathy in the preceding observation was purely unintentional.
• The new Facebook layout blows.
• The new Gold's Gym (south) opened on the weekend. I'll reserve judgement until it's actually finished.

Friday thoughts

Another collection of random thoughts and . . . stuff:

• Is this the weekend winter finally leaves southern Saskatchewan? I sure hope so!
• I sure hope the folks in Manitoba don't get hit with the level of flooding that's predicted. That's some scary stuff.
  
• Time to check out the new Gold's Gym location today. I hope the "Melrose Place" crowd hasn't taken over yet.
• Seriously, if you were that big a deal - why would you be in Regina? I'm just saying.
• I see the London Knights are poised to knock off Erie in the first round of the OHL playoffs. That series has been a wild one, apparently.
• Out here, Swift Current and Saskatoon are locked in first-round battles of their own.
• I suspect I'll be walking funny on Sunday, assuming I survive my Krav Maga test on Saturday afternoon.
  
• We knew Steve Mason was going to be a good goalie, but ten shutouts in his rookie season? Wow.
• They might as well start engraving Mason's name on the Calder trophy, if they haven't already.
• So who will win the Hart Trophy? Ovechkin? That'd be my pick, I suppose.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs discard two of their top six forwards at the trading deadline, and turn into one of the NHL's hottest teams. WTF?
• Premiering this weekend on CBC television: The Tommy (Job) Hunter show!
  
• What? Too soon?
  

A decade later...

If you pop by here on a semi-regular basis, you've no doubt read about my son Jacob/Jake. It was exactly ten years ago today (5:31 p.m. to be precise) that my little man arrived on the scene. And it's been a complete thrill ride ever since!

Happy Birthday Jacob! I hope the next ten years are as much fun as the first ten! (And yes, I realize the next ten will include his teenage years)

SportZone lineup for March 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. Thanks again to Mitch Blair (somebody hire this guy!) for subbing in on the co-hosting duties.

SportZone Guests for Mar 25/09
Community Co-Host: Mitchell Blair

1. (Event profile) An update on preparations for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships in Regina. Guest: Alan Ford (Organizing Committee).

2. (Amateur Sport Spotlight) A Regina team captures the provincial mixed curling championship. Guest: Jason Ackerman (Skip).

3. (Sport/Leisure segment) Regina’s newest health club opens its doors this week. Guest: Kelly Jawhari (Gold’s Gym Regina South Manager).

4. (U of R segment) A post mortem on the 2008/09 season for the University of Regina men’s hockey team. Guest: Blaine Sautner (Head Coach).

5. (U of R segment) A post mortem on the 2008/09 season for the University of Regina track and field team. Guests: Carla Nicholls (Head Coach), Janine Polischuk & Jeremy Eckert (Athletes).

SportZone trivia: Name the two members of the Regina Pats who played for Canada in the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships. Send your answer, with your contact information, to sportzone@accesscomm.ca.

Monday musings

Here's what passes for intelligent thought today:

• This weather officially sucks ass.
• Seriously, it's the end of friggin' March. Enough with the ice, snow and ridiculous winds.
• What has Cory Clouston done to get the Ottawa Senators playing so well?
• If the Leafs could play Montreal and Pittsburgh every week, they'd be in first place!
• Damn shame about the Habs. Yep, damn shame.
• I finished my shopping for the Jakester's birthday over the weekend. Hopefully the lad will be suitably impressed.
• I'm definitely going to need the services of a general contractor/handyman this spring. Referrals are welcome.
• I take the Krav Maga level one test in five days. Pray for me.
• I have to say, the service at Montana's last night was awful. Brutal. Not impressive.
• I need to start paying more attention to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. I caught bits and pieces over the weekend, and was quite entertained.
• Congrats to the Campbell Tartans and Winston Knoll Wolverines, the provincial 5A boys and girls high school basketball champs.
• The new Gold's Gym (formerly Regina Court and Fitness Club) opens in south Regina this week. Finally!

Friday thoughts

An assortment of thoughts and opinions as we head into the first spring-like weekend of the year around here:

• Young Jacob's hockey season came to an inglorious end last night. The 2008/09 atom Sharks were not to be confused with a good team.
• Meantime, the coaching staff for the 2009 RMF atom Cougars is falling into place. I'm really tempted to declare the team a "Lurch-free" zone. Can you blame me?
• With the end of the hockey season comes the first completely kid-free weekend in months. I'm not exactly thrilled about that.
• I'm stuck for one last birthday gift for the J-man, who turns 10 next week. Ideas?
• It's been a decade since my boy arrived on the scene. Wow.
• The Krav Maga level 1 test is next weekend, and I'm nowhere near ready. This could get ugly.
• Speaking of ugly . . . nah, too easy.
• I'm getting the feeling the Regina Pats will stick with the status quo next season. Hilarity to ensue.
• Is Brendan Taman really the general-manager-in-waiting of the Roughriders? Oh dear.
• I also get the uneasy feeling Casey Printers will be taking snaps for the Riders by Labour Day. Double oh dear.
• I'm not sure how I feel about Mats Sundin playing for the hottest team in the NHL. I guess he deserves it for carrying the Leafs for so many years.
• I guess I need to pick a playoff team. Representatives of the Canucks and Flames should feel free to shower me with expensive gifts in an attempt to buy my affection. The Habs shouldn't bother.
• Why is J.P. Riccardi still the general manager of the Blue Jays?
• How can we convince the folks at West Side Pizza to resume delivering their cheesy delicacies to south Regina? Best pizza in town, folks.

Pats shut out in all-star voting

The WHL announced the Eastern Conference all-star teams (first and second) today, and no members of the Regina Pats made the grade. The list of all-stars is below.

Regina's Jordan Weal is up against Prince George's Brett Connolly for the WHL rookie-of-the-year. Weal was the only Pat to be nominated for an individual award.

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Braden Holtby (Marshall, SK), Saskatoon Blades *
Defenceman – Paul Postma (Red Deer, AB), Calgary Hitmen *
Defenceman – Keith Aulie (Rouleau, SK), Brandon Wheat Kings
Forward – Brett Sonne (Maple Ridge, BC), Calgary Hitmen *
Forward – Brandon Kozun (Calgary, AB), Calgary Hitmen
Forward – Tyler Ennis (Edmonton, AB), Medicine Hat Tigers

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Martin Jones (North Vancouver, BC), Calgary Hitmen
Defenceman – Michael Stone (Winnipeg, MB), Calgary Hitmen
Defenceman – John Negrin (West Vancouver, BC), Swift Current Broncos
Forward – Joel Broda (Prince Albert, SK), Calgary Hitmen
Forward – Justin Bernhardt (Yorkton, SK), Prince Albert Raiders
Forward – Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon, SK), Brandon Wheat Kings

* indicates unanimous selection

SportZone lineup for March 18

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

SportZone Guests for Mar 18/09
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (Local Sport Spotlight) A Regina athlete captures a silver medal at the national junior figure skating championships, and a preview of the annual Skate Regina ice show. Guests: Garrett Gosselin (Figure skater) & Leslie Gosselin (Skate Regina).

2. (U of R segment) A preview of the annual University of Regina athletics fundraising dinner. Guest: Barry Clarke (Event Chair).

3. (Minor sport profile) It’s time to get those registrations in for the 2009 Regina Minor Football season! Guest: Kelly Hamilton (RMF President).

4. (Event profile) A preview of the Battle of the Prairies V boxing event coming up in Regina. Guests: Frank Fiacco (Lonsdale Boxing Club President) & Spencer Deschene (Boxer).

5. (Team profile) A post mortem on the 2008/09 season for the Regina Rebels female midget AAA hockey club. Guests: Doug Folk (Head Coach) & Brittany MacDougall (Player).

6. (U of R segment) A post mortem on the 2008/09 season for the University of Regina men’s basketball team. Guest: James Hillis (Head Coach).

SportZone trivia: Which former Saskatchewan Roughrider was the head coach of the RMF city champion atom Canadians in 2008? Email your answers, and your contact info, to sportzone@accesscomm.ca.

Monday musings

I've got to free up some head space for an expected influx of new ideas and concepts:

• I don't see the point in wasting a lot of time analyzing what went so very, very wrong with the Regina Pats this season.
• From this vantage point, it looks as though the leaders didn't. Lead, that is.
• The Pats need to do a much better job at the import draft. Cerveny and Hrcina weren't exactly impact players this season.
• Mind you, at least they came to Regina (see: Kopitar, Hanzal, et al).
• If I had a vote, I'd be inclined to cast it for Garrett Mitchell as the next captain of the Pats. Yes, even if Eberle, Teubert and Leffler come back next season.
• As much as I enjoy watching young Jacob play, a 7:15 a.m. playoff game on a Sunday is cruel and unusual punishment.
• Somewhere, Tim Hubic is smiling at the train wreck that the board of Hockey Regina has become.
• Online registration for Regina Minor Football was supposed to start yesterday. Still waiting.
• The lead item on a local radio sportscast this morning dealt with the head coach of the OHL's Ottawa 67's having coached his final regular season game. Not his final game, just his final regular season game.
• Meantime, the Pats' season concluded on the weekend, with no mention in the same sportscast. Curious, that.
• And for those following the saga, the J-man isn't moving anywhere!

SportZone lineup for March 11

Here's this week's lineup of guests. As always, the show airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7.

SportZone Guests for Mar 11/09
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews


1. (U of R segment) A post-mortem on the 2008/09 season, and CIS championship tournament, for the University of Regina women’s basketball team. Guest: Dave Taylor (Head Coach).

2. (Sport/Leisure segment) A profile of the Celis Taekwon-Do Academy. Guest: Washington Celis (Chief Instructor).

3. (High School segment) A profile of the Miller Marauders high school wrestling team. Guests: Mark Fitzpatrick (Head Coach), Ricky Kirton & Adrianna Morrison (Wrestlers).

4. (Event profile) A preview of the 2009 Saskatchewan harness racing season, and an update on the race track being built just west of Regina. Guest: Glenn LeDrew (President, Saskatchewan Standardbred Horsemen's Association).

SportZone trivia: Who was named the MVP of the just-completed CIS women's basketball championships? Send your answer, and your contact information, to sportzone@accesscomm.ca.

Monday musings

Let's start the week off with a clean cranial slate:

• What a shock that this winter from hell would want to hang around a little longer, huh?
• Seriously, it's March. Enough with the -40 windchills!
• A heartbreaking 68-62 loss for the U of R in last night's CIS women's basketball final. Give Dave Taylor's crew credit though, they battled right until the very end.
• The Cougars were in the lead until SFU went on a 15-2 run, starting late in the 3rd quarter. That was just too big a hole to dig out of.
• The Regina Pats won two out of three on the weekend, including a 7-2 pasting of the Moose Jaw Warriors last night.
• However, the Pats still trail Edmonton by five points for the final playoff spot in the east, with only three games remaining.
• The atom Sharks have won four of their last six games. Peaking for the playoffs, maybe?
• Jacob Paczko turned in another solid performance on the blue line in yesterday's 2-1 win over the Kings.
• I recommend the chicken burgers at the rink in Pense. Tasty!
• My boy turns 10 in 17 days. I had no idea a decade could fly by that fast!
• Actually, the 90's flew by pretty quickly too, but for entirely different reasons!

Friday thoughts

Just a collection of thoughts. Some more lucid than others.

• Here's hoping the U of R women' s basketball team captures its second national championship at home this weekend. Good luck to Dave Taylor's crew!
• I wonder how many fans the Pats will draw for tonight's home date with Medicine Hat? Last Sunday's game against Lethbridge looked like Come Dressed as an Empty Seat night at the Brandt Centre.
• Even if they don't make the playoffs, the Pats need to get a couple wins under their belts. Anything to lift the dark cloud that's settled over the team.
• The Jesse Dudas experiment would lead me to hope the Pats are done trying to rehabilitate other team's head cases.
• Boy, the Toronto Maple Leafs sure made a big splash at the NHL's trade deadline, huh?
• Actually, they got rid of the two players they said they were going to deal. They just didn't receive much in return. Nor free up any cap space for next year.
• Are the Calgary Flames now Canada's best hope for a Stanley Cup? Probably, but in the Western Conference all roads still lead through Detroit and/or San Jose.
• Young Jacob's hockey (regular) season wraps up this weekend. I'm doubting the Sharks' playoff run will be a long one.
• I can't help thinking that this is the calm before the storm. A very big storm.
• If so, fine.
• I'm thinking a grilled cheese sandwich from the Novia Cafe might be just what the doctor ordered today.

SportZone lineup for March 4

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

SportZone Guests for Mar 4/09
Community Co-Host: Corey Matthews

1. (Minor sport spotlight) A profile of the Regina Volleyball Club. Guests: Mike Boyd (RVC President) & Michelle Pugsley (Libero).

2. (U of R segment) A post-mortem on the 2008/09 season for the University of Regina women’s hockey team. Guest: Sarah Howald (Head Coach).

3. (High School segment) A profile of the Sheldon-Williams Spartans senior girl’s basketball team. Guests: Rayna Belyk & Desiree Ates (Players)

4. (U of R segment) A post-mortem on the 2008/09 season for the University of Regina women’s volleyball team. Guests: Beth Clark & Kelly Cowan (Team captains).

5. (Event profile) Registration is underway for the 2009 Baseball Regina season. Can summer be far behind? Guest: Jean MacDonald (VP, Baseball Regina).

SportZone trivia: Who led the University of Regina women's hockey team in scoring in the 2008/09 season? Email your answer, and your contact information, to sportzone@accesscomm.ca.

Monday musings

Fresh off a refreshing weekend spent with young Jacob:

• The Regina Pats aren't going to make the WHL playoffs.
• I would be delighted to be proven wrong on the above prediction.
• I honestly don't know how a promising season went so horribly wrong for the Pats.
• I'm a little concerned about the number of people around town who say Eric Tillman's days as general manager of the Roughriders are over, even if he is vindicated in court.
• I'm quite willing to let the legal case play out before passing judgement on ET's continued employment with the team.
• You really shouldn't mess with the relationship between a boy and his dad. I'm just saying.
• Planning has already started for the 2009 RMF Cougars. Can a winning season be far behind?
• If I can successfully negotiate a prominent addition to the coaching staff, I would say so. Stay tuned!
• 8 days until the NHL trade deadline. Let the housecleaning begin in Leaf-land!
• No, I'm not advocating the same thing for the Regina Pats. Not yet.
• The Paczko boys made an impressive team in NHL '09 this weekend. As with everything else they collaborate on.
• I was very sad to hear of the tragic death last week of my high school classmate Mark Alessio. R.I.P. big guy. Here's hoping the people responsible are brought to justice soon.