Random thoughts.....

You might have noticed that the blogroll has been a little light lately. With no local hockey lately my time and interests have been directed elsewhere. For those who know me know that I'm a bit of political junkie, which probably means that I surf just as much BC (and to a lesser extent, national and international but none of them are as much fun as the left coast) politics as I do hockey. Which as you have probably realized can make for some pretty fun conversations. (Like, don't you just wish you can drop the mitts with your local politician, go to the box for five and then carry on?)

The posts will likely be few and far between over the next two months as my industry (forestry - other job) tries to rebuild itself in the wake the economic meltdown but I'll try to comment on a few things.

The Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins will be named head coach of the 2010 World Junior Team this week...

Anyways, here's a few thoughts on the musings of things gone by in the hockey world over the last few weeks. I'll keep the politics to myself, unless I get bored.

I'm not much of horse guy other than when U.S. networks cut hockey coverage mid-OT to show it but last weekend's win by Canadian long-shot Mine that Bird mined some serious cash for one local who hit the trifecta at the St. Eugene Casino on a $6 bet that turned into a $20,000 windfall. I just don't have that kind of luck...

Speaking on betting, I wonder what the Vegas over/under was on Luongo letting seven get by him in the Blackhawks clincher last night. If the Hawks, Penguins, Bruins and Caps' success shows anything it's rebuilding from scratch through the draft will get you the success you desire. Time for the Canucks to cast off Sundin, Ohlund and yes, even Luongo and start from scratch. Building around the Sedins along with a guy like Cory Schneider and Cody Hodgson among the draft picks they'd acquired from the process is the way to go.



Former Ice head scout and assistant manager Roy Stasiuk was let go this week as the Lethbridge Hurricanes GM, a post he'd held for the last four seasons. I don't profess to know the in's and out's of the relationship Stasiuk had with the Canes now former head coach Micheal Dyck, whose contract wasn't renewed just a week prior to Stasiuk being let go, but needless to say the incidents between the two were Internet sensations as far as the WHL rumour board goes. There's some good coverage here and page 15 here with the latter having former captain Ben Wright comment openly on the situation and Rich Sutter expressing a refreshingly open opinion on the subject. I say refreshingly because even though no one wants these things to happen to WHL clubs or people that you might know but at least when it does happen, people involved express their true feelings on the situation rather than just glazing it over for the sake of 'circling the wagons' and protecting the best interests of the team, if not their integrity. My dealings with 'Rodeo' were always positive and he always had a lot time for hockey talk. Too bad things didn't work out for him....

Okay, okay, I went 12-3 in the WHL Playoff prediction pool and perhaps the Hitmen weren't as good as first thought as I was sure that they'd take the Rockets but somehow the Calgary blueline, that I thought was deeper than the Rockets, didn't perform up to par. And Guggenberger was better than Martin...

A quick swing to politics of the municipal kind, the Prince George City Council has turned down an application for Cougar fans, or any fans that attend events at the CN Centre for that matter, to be able to drink their beer in the stands. Now we know why the stands look so empty during Cougar highlites.....

Victoria just finished hosting the RBC Cup - Junior A's version of the Memorial Cup -in which the BCHL's Vernon Vipers defeated the SJHL's Humboldt Broncos in the final but internet whispers are now wondering how long until that the city applies/looks into an AHL team to relocate to the BC capital. Following the heals of Abbotsford's successful landing of the Calgary Flames AHL franchise for next season, if they're successful how long until other NHL franchises look into the likes of Victoria and/or other Western North American markets? The Victoria Grizzlies are owned by former WHL'er Len Barrie - his kid Tyson just scored the WHL championship winner in OT against Calgary Saturday and should be a 1st round NHL Draft pick next month - and as part owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning the elder Barrie could easily have the pull to relocate a team their next season if the Abbotsford franchise is successful. I give it two years and you'll see two, maybe three AHL teams head West, firmly encroaching on what used to be exclusive WHL territory...

Basillie? Gagliardi? Who win the Hamilton sweepstakes? When was the last time sweepstakes and Hamilton were used in the same sentence?...

The NHL isn't exactly immune from the economic meltdown and billionaires wanting to own an NHL franchise aren't exactly a dime a dozen. So tell me why again Gary Bettman can't get by his own ego and let the Blackberry Billionaire buy into the NHL? Can you say expansion fee? Thought so...

Nuff for now... Onto the polls....