My NHL Moments

Hockey is a sport that the majority of Canadians have a passion for. Not everyone I'm sure but for most our National Sport is something we all enjoy and to some extent worship. 

All levels of the game are appreciated and celebrated. I liken it to the fervor that surrounds football in the United States or soccer in Europe. Hockey in Canada is a way of life and a source of national pride. And aside from international tournaments where our very best compete, the highest level of competition comes from the National Hockey League.

The NHL provides the best and brightest in the game a place to play and entertain. Certainly the talent level is watered down now that the league has grown from six to 31 teams but each team has its stars and there's nothing like sitting in the crowd to cheer on your favourite team in person.

My favourite team is the Montreal Canadiens. Twenty-four Stanley Cup victories and a perennial playoff participant usually. I've been fortunate to be alive for 10 of those Championship seasons. Sadly, this season they've faltered but don't get me started on that.

I come by my love for the Habs honestly. My father is and always has been a Montreal fan all of his 80 years. We'd sit in front of the TV and listen to Danny Gallivan and Dick Irving Jr on Hockey Night in Canada. Of course for my dad, it started with Foster Hewitt and the Montreal and Toronto rivalries.

My grandfather was an Engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and my father as a young man also found work with CP in the train yard in our hometown. Back then CP ran passenger trains as well and among those passengers were the Montreal Canadiens players who would from time to time stop in Trenton on the way too and from Montreal. For a young man to see these legendary figures was something to behold.

So the Habs have been my team for 50 years and I hear if from my friends who are Toronto Maple Leafs fans quite often. We enjoy some friendly jabs back and forth but despite our loyalties to our respective teams, we all share a common love for the game.

Over the years I've been lucky enough to attend some of these game in person. Ticket prices now are for the most part obscene and attending a game is a rarity. I have however been witness to some wonderful memories at the few games I have enjoyed at the rink.

The best player to ever play the game, in my opinion, is Wayne Gretzky. Number 99 holds all kinds of records and to see him play with Edmonton and Los Angeles on TV was a treat. But there was nothing compared to seeing him play live. I had an opportunity to see Wayne play for L.A. in 1991 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

My ticket stub from the game.

When you see what he did when the camera wasn't on him it was so impressive. The way he could anticipate the play and where he needed to be was one of a kind.

Going to the game I remember thinking to myself, "I'd just like Wayne to score a goal." It was the one and only time I was going to see him play and I just wanted to say I saw him score once. My all-time favourite player was Guy Lafleur and I did have an opportunity to see him play in person at the end of his career but his age was a factor and even though the thrill of seeing him was there, he just wasn't the player he used to be. That wasn't the case for Gretzky on this night. Not only did Wayne score one goal but he added another and two assists on the way to a 5-2 win over the Leafs. Luc Robitaille also had two goals in the game and one assist. I left the rink a very happy 23 year old kid at heart.

My last time in Maple Leaf Gardens was also the last time the Montreal Canadiens played there as well. I had a pair of tickets to see the Leafs host the Habs in the final meeting between these two teams at MLG. Being able to say you were there was pretty cool.

My ticket from the game.

My friend Matt and I were seated at the south end of the rink and before the game even started, the level of excitement was intense. It usually is when these two teams meet but on this night with what it represented it went to a whole new level.

The game itself was entertaining and Montreal would win 2-1 but it was the pre-game festivities that I was most excited about and will never forget. With this rivalry and the history we knew something special was going to happen and we weren't disappointed. Welcomed to the ice for the ceremonial puck drop were two legends, former Maple Leaf Ted "Teeder" Kennedy and former Canadiens player Maurice "Rocket" Richard. I didn't put a stop watch on it but the standing ovation for these two greats had to have lasted at least 10 minutes if not longer. My hands were killing me by the time the applause finally subsided. The love and appreciation shown to these two men I'm sure was something to see on Hockey Night in Canada but to be there in person was exhilarating.

The last of my favourite NHL hockey moments doesn't involve any player. It centers around a man who I've admired, loved and aspired to be like my whole life...my dad.

In the past I had on a couple of occasions to take my dad to see Montreal play but it was always on the road. We saw them play the Lightning in Tampa a couple of times and after this we saw the Leafs and Habs play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Seeing a game with my dad has always been special, even a Junior hockey game.

My dad had never seen Montreal play in Montreal. The Forum would have been fantastic but sadly it was gone and the team was playing in the Bell Centre but I was determined to get him to a game to experience a Habs home game first hand. 

The game was on Valentine's Day in 2012. We took a train to Montreal and got our hotel room for the night.

Dad standing beside the plaque of his favourite player.

It was freezing cold so we couldn't venture out too long but we could see the Bell Centre just a block away so we decided to bundle up and go down in the afternoon to view the monuments and history outside the rink. We then went and enjoyed an early supper before going back to the hotel to get rested and then left for the rink to be there when the doors opened. I must say, we didn't speak a word of French and anyone we talked to were kind enough to switch to English no problem at all both on the street and in the arena.

Seeing dad look out at the ice once we get inside was kind of a cool moment for me. He was finally going to see a Habs home game. It didn't matter if they won or lost, we were just thrilled to experience the atmosphere first hand. And I can tell you, even for a regular season game against Carolina, the crowd and feeling inside that arena was like nothing else. It's true what they say about seeing a game in Montreal. In the end the trip cost me a pretty penny but the memories I have and to experience that with my dad was priceless.

I've included a video below that I shot of my dad walking out and seeing the rink for the first time.

I have been very lucky to witness some very cool NHL moments in person and I'm sure many of you have similar experiences as well. What saddens me is seeing what the prices of tickets are now and knowing that there are a lot of hockey fans who will never get to have similar opportunities simply because they can't afford it or justify spending so much money on tickets to a game. Greed has taken priority today.

Golden Boys Again

Canada - 2014 Olympic Gold Medallists

 I love the Olympic games both Summer and Winter. For two weeks I'm glued to the television watching and cheering our Canadian athletes as they do their best to win a medal and represent the country on the world stage.

The past two weeks with the Winter games in Sochi, Russia were no different. It didn't matter whether it was the traditional events like Speed Skating or newer events like Snowboard Cross, I was hoping for the best for our men and women wearing the Maple Leaf.

But I can't lie, my main focus, was hockey. Like nearly the entire country I was glued to my seat watching both the Ladies team and the Men's team try to repeat as Gold Medal Olympic Champions. And I'm proud to say they were both successful.

The women played probably the most exciting game of the entire Olympics with a thrilling come from behind overtime win against the United States. I admit, I was just about ready to head out the door when the girls began mounting their unbelievable comeback and was glad I stuck around to witness the outcome. I've never been a big fan of women's hockey but even I was moved to tears by what transpired that day.

When it came to the Canadian men, I won't say I had my doubts about their talent but they did appear to be struggling somewhat right up until the semi-final against the U.S. and the Final against Sweden. That quickly changed as the team turned back to back clinics in how to shutdown their opponents. From the unbeatable play of goalie Carey Price to the rest of the roster, to a man they played flawless hockey and proved to the world once again that Canada is Hockey. We lay claim to the game for good reason.

While Norway lives and breathes Cross-Country Skiing and the Netherlands dominates Speed Skating, the rest of the world knows that Canada is a hockey nation. And while we may have moments when we falter because we can't play our best players, when we do dress our top team, we are unbeatable and damn proud of that fact.

Sorry NHL, All Not Forgotten

This shortened NHL season is quickly coming to an end with about 20 games left at this point. The season was shortened some of you may recall due to the lockout and subsequent butting of rich guy heads. On the one side you had the owners who are mega rich and the other side the players who aren't all equally rich but certainly well paid.

Left out in the cold were the fans. People like you and me who shell out our hard earned cash to attend games and buy merchandise of our favourite teams. My team being the Montreal Canadiens of course.

I won't sit here and pretend I'm still all bitter and refuse to watch the games because that just isn't the case and I'm sure for the majority the anger over the lockout has subsided. Sure I've let go of the resentment I had towards these wealthy individuals who made a mockery of the world greatest game. I'm no longer angry at those people. I'm angry at myself for just accepting it and moving on as if nothing happened.

We were denied one of our winter passions for far too long and in the end we the fans got nothing once the game returned. Oh sure, we got to see our boys back on the ice hitting, fighting and scoring but while the owners and players reaped the rewards of an extended summer break and a new deal, the fans saw nothing significant as a gesture to say sorry.

In all honesty, what could they have done? What grand gesture would have smoothed things over with the NHL fan base and appeased the masses enough to forgive and forget? Probably nothing and the NHL knew that. They also knew the fans would come back. Well, they came back in the arenas where they always show up. The non-hockey market teams continue to see more empty seats than filled.

Carey Price & PK Subban celebrate another win.

This fan is glad the NHL is back but I haven't forgotten their selfishness and disrespect for the people whom without their support, these players and some owners wouldn't have their wealth or comfortable living. I still tune in every game to watch my Habs in action and luckily this season so far Montreal is having a good showing sitting in first place in the East Conference. But one thing I haven't done this season is buy tickets to games, subscribe to the Center Ice package or purchase NHL team merchandise like I have in the past. I refuse to spend any of my small income on anything that will directly fund the owners, players or league.

I realize my one small gesture won't make a difference on the bottom line of these greedy owners but if I just continued on as I have in the past, then I'd just be giving them a free pass as if nothing had ever happened and I couldn't live with that. There has to be consequences with someone wrongs you and no matter how small the gesture, it helps me to justify continuing to enjoy the game I've loved my entire life.

Church Of The Habs

Start Of The Third
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

Whenever someone asks me what my religion is, I always answer with, "The Montreal Canadiens."

Of course that isn't completely accurate but the most successful NHL team is like a religion to me and the members of my immediate family. In fact, just recently I had a chance to visit my church (the Bell Centre) and take in a three period sermon on the ice.

As a life long Habs fans, my father and I had never seen the Canadiens play in Montreal. We never had a chance to see a game at the old Forum and until this occasion we'd never been to the new home to the winning-est team in NHL history.

We'd seen the Habs play in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens and the Air Canada Centre and we've even been to some Montreal games in Tampa Bay, the home of the Lightning.

But this was a special treat to finally watch our beloved Canadiens on home ice. It was a quick trip overall as we spent less than 24-hours in La Belle Province arriving by train. It was very cold as well which made walking around and seeing the city very difficult. I guess we'll have to visit again when the weather is nicer.

This trip however was all about seeing the Habs and the Bell Centre. Our hotel was only a block away so we ventured down early in the afternoon and braved the cold long enough to look at all of the plaques, statues, retired numbers and various other Canadiens items outside.

Later in the evening we returned to enjoy the game which was very entertaining even though Montreal lost to Carolina. Just being in the rink with the stands empty prior to the game was a special moment of quiet reflection. But to experience the atmosphere of a sold out Bell Centre with the NHL's most emotional, knowledgeable and boisterous fans was something to see and hear.

Being able to experience this with my dad was something special and even though the whole trip cost a pretty penny it was well worth it and I'd love to go again in the future. Preferably to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Goodbye Jacques

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to wake up this morning and hear that the Montreal Canadiens had fired coach Jacques Martin. As any life long Habs fan will tell you, when the team is struggling, we all take on the roll of the teams General Manager and try to assess what needs to be done to get the team on track and winning once again. It sucks to see anyone lose their job but this one was a long time coming.

After making it to the Conference Final just two seasons ago, the team saw a first round exit in the playoffs last season and so far they're struggling to stay around the .500 mark this year and time is quickly running out to make up ground and secure another playoff spot.

This isn't the Toronto Maple Leafs I'm talking about where missing the playoffs is not only tolerated but in recent history...expected. In Montreal where hockey is a religion for the fans of Le Canadiens, missing the playoffs is not something that they'll stand for and certainly won't put up with quietly.

So to no surprise over recent weeks the call for a change at the Head Coaching position has been gaining strength. Montreal fans are the most knowledgeable in the NHL and when they see something is wrong, odds are good the owners of the team and GM know it as well.

Now I'm not going to sit here and say that Jacques Martin was the only reason for Montreal's lackluster start to the season. His style of coaching and plan of attack was never well received in Montreal even when the team was doing well. The team has always succeeded when they used their superior speed and skill rather than trying to out muscle their opponents. Under Martin as of late, that game style disappeared. Instead of running and gunning they were sitting back and protecting leads. OK, let me rephrase that. They were trying to protect leads but doing a bloody awful job of it.

As I mentioned, Martin was only part of the problem and as witnessed tonight, the other problems were painfully obvious. Horrible decisions while in possession of the puck have been a trademark of the Habs of late. Giveaways in the defensive zone have become common place and those turnovers have more often than not found their way into the back of the net.

The power-play continues to be abysmal although it's hoped that the addition of Tomas Kaberle will help to turn that around and I think it has had an effect already.

The next big move the team needs to make is to fire the current GM Pierre Gauthier who has done very little to improve a deteriorating situation. I honestly think his days are numbered unless he can swing a deal to improve the teams offensive output and poor showing in the standings.

That brings us to what I think is the biggest elephant in the Montreal dressing room. The goal scorers aren't scoring. Where has Michael Cammalleri's pin point accuracy gone? I'm a big fan of Cammy's but this season he's looking more like Scott Gomez than the pint sized powerhouse we've seen in recent years. I'm sure he'd be the first one to admit that. By the way, how is Gomez even a part of this team still? He should have been gone at the end of last season.

As far as I'm concerned, if I was the GM there's only about 10 players or so on the roster that I'd keep and the rest should be trade bait. We have some good promising young talent but aside from Plekanec, Pacioretty, Cole, Subban, Cammalleri, Desharnais, Moen, Weber, Georges, Gil, Kaberle and Price, any of the rest could be shipped elsewhere to bring in some better talent.

I know I'm dreaming but at this point I have to dream because the reality of the situation is tough for this Habs fan deal with. At this point I'm just about ready to see them start Youppi at left wing.

Hockey Traditions Disappearing

There’s something about the new hockey arena’s being built or that have been built in recent years around the NHL that just lack that "special" quality.

Oh sure, they’re big, clean and impressive and will seat a lot more people than the old rinks but they all look the same more or less. There’s nothing that sets them apart or gives them a unique appearance.

I’m not talking about the bricks and mortar so much as I am the atmosphere and even the oddities or history of the old barns.

For the record, I’ve only been in a few different NHL arenas over the years. I’ve been to both Maple Leaf Gardens and Air Canada Centre in Toronto and the Ice Palace in Tampa. I think the last time I was there it had been renamed the St. Petersburg Times Forum.

That’s right…I’m a die-hard life-long Montreal Canadiens fan and I’ve never been to the old Forum or the Bell Centre. It’s not that I wouldn’t like to but getting tickets is damn near impossible. I’d love to get my dad there once to see a game.

I guess what I’m hinting at is when you walk into the new arenas you just don’t feel the history or see anything different. Sure the Stanley Cup banners and retired numbers hang from the rafters to show the history of a franchise but the buildings have lost their charm. It’s kind of like how you’d feel walking into Fenway Park in Boston or Wrigley Field in Chicago. There’s a history there and you can imagine the old players from the past running out on to the field.

The Forum used to have the fence to separate the upper class from the cheap seats. I’m not suggesting that was a good thing but it certainly was different. In Boston the old Gardens used to have views of the ice obstructed by support beams. Not a fun spot to be sitting but still part of the charm. Of course who can forget the “Bunker” in Maple Leaf Gardens where Harold Ballard used to sit with former players? You don’t see that anymore with owners now sitting in luxury boxes high above the ice. Toronto stunk through those Ballard years but the old Gardens had some historic charm. In the photo shown you can see the bunker being taken apart and the stairs that lead up to it.

Even though I wasn’t a fan of the Leafs I can remember my last time going to a game there. It was the final meeting between the Leafs and Montreal before it closed. I got there early and walked the halls looking at the old black and white photos. I stopped and talked to Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada for five minutes. I had interviewed and met Ron on my radio show a few weeks earlier and he made time to chat. Walking out into the seating area and looking up at the old rafters and building you felt the history. Prior to the game Ted "Teeder" Kennedy and Maurice “Rocket” Richard were introduced for the ceremonial face off and the standing ovation lasted for what seemed like 10 to 15 minutes. It was a special moment.

The two places that I know of that have attempted to keep the past alive are Chicago and Philadelphia. In Philly the Flyers during the playoffs will show video of the late Kate Smith singing God Bless America. It isn’t something you can see or feel when you walk into the arena but for those who are old enough to remember Kate when she was alive and hearing her sing, it brings back memories and gives you chills. In Chicago the one thing that made going to the Stadium a treat was hearing the booming organ playing. It was loud and shook the rafters. They didn't move the old organ to the new rink but a new one still helps to keep that original atmosphere and gets the crowd cheering. By the way, the old organ is now in someone's residence in Las Vegas.

I suppose long after I’m gone, the younger generation will probably look at these new arenas with the same sense of history but with the original six team league now a distant memory, the old barns just helped to keep some of the history and charm in the hockey experience.

Harper's A Habs Fan

As most Canadians know, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a big time hockey fan.

OK, any Member of Parliament that isn't should be force to resign as it's mandatory to be a fan of our National Sport to hold office.

Any way, a friend of mine snapped this photo outside of the PM's home at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa last night. It clearly shows Prime Minister Harper and the U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson bringing in the brewskies from the trunk of the limo. They were getting ready to cheer on the Montreal Canadiens as they looked to clinch a playoff spot (which they did) against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nothing more Canadian than watching Hockey Night In Canada on a Saturday night with some cold pops and a good neighbour.

Jim Playfair...Newest Hulkamanic

I don't know if Jim Playfair grew up as a fan of Hulk Hogan and the WWF but he certainly gave that impression on Saturday night.

Playfair, the Coach of the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League lost control when one of his players was kicked out of the game against the Hamilton Bulldogs by Referee Jamie Koharski for charging the opposing team's goaltender.

Playfair was given a 10-minute game misconduct, kicked out of the game and fined an undisclosed amount by the AHL.

Koharski is the son of retired NHL official Don Koharski, who was involved in one of the NHL's most infamous tirades. In 1988, Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld called Koharski a "fat pig" and told him to "have another doughnut."

Have a look at the video evidence below and I think you'll agree that all of the Hulkamanics would be proud of Playfair.

Another Torts Soundbite

Hockey is the greatest game in the world and the fast, hard-hitting action on the ice is always entertaining. But sometimes, every so often, the coaches can provide some off-ice entertainment as well.

There have been plenty of tirades under the bleachers over the years and some are more engaging than others. But it doesn't always have to be yelling and screaming that captivates us. Sometimes it can be a quiet conversation between a coach and a reporter with a bit of a history that can be an embarrassment to the two head-butters and the league, while the fans sit back and take it all in while grinning from ear to ear.

The latest was just the other night when John Tortorella, Head Coach of the New York Rangers, shared his opinion about fighting with reporter Larry Brooks. These two have a bit of history going back to when Torts was coaching Tampa Bay and didn't like a question Brooks asked then. Here's what was caught by the live Hockey Night in Canada Cameras at that time. Be warned...this does contain some foul language.



Flash forward to the other night when the two came together for the first time since Brooks made a tongue in cheek reference to Wade Redden in an earlier newspaper article that Tortorella obviously didn't think was funny.



Tortorella obviously let his emotions and feelings get the best of him and I'm sure would love to take it back but from the fans standpoint, I love to see emotion like this. He's a coach standing up for his players and believing in his hockey club and isn't afraid to show it. Nothing wrong with that in my books.

2010 - Here We Go

The holiday season has officially come to an end and we can now settle into 2010 and the typical winter routines we've grown accustomed to. Unless of course you live in the Southern Hemisphere where the heat of summer is scorching the earth. That's right...I'm thinking of you Tom.

For the rest of us it's time to make the most of the often nasty weather associated with this time of year. I can't complain yet as the winter hasn't been too bad. Sure its been cold but I've only had to use the snow blower once so far. I stress..."so far". Lord knows it won't last.

As far as the holiday season went, it was very laid back. I stuck close to home and was working every day except for a few days off over Christmas. I worked both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day so my celebrating was limited to either being on the job or sleeping.

Of course when time permits, I spend a fair bit of time watching hockey with the annual World Junior Championships taking place and there's always time to support my Habs.

Unfortunately I haven't had much time to devote to my blog. I hate when life gets in the way of having fun. But I will try to add more updates soon. I appreciate those who drop by and keep checking in.

Tomorrow will be a sad day around here as four more Canadian soldiers and a female reporter killed in Afghanistan earlier in the week will be returned to Canada. They'll arrive at the air base here in town around 2pm before traveling along the Highway of Heroes for about 90 minutes to Toronto. I expect large crowds of fellow Canadians to show up along the route despite the cold weather in the forecast to show their respect and to support the families.

I don't normally make any resolutions to start the year because honestly...I never keep them or I just forget about them. One thing I would like to do more of in 2010 is exercise a bit more often. I'm not looking to make huge changes but a bit more activity would be nice to try and shed a few pounds.

And just to prove I really mean it, here's a photo taken of me earlier today doing some push-ups. I believe this photo was taken somewhere around number 93. Honest.



Happy New Year everyone!

Habby 100th Birthday Montreal

I just wanted to take quick moment to wish the Montreal Canadiens a Happy 100th Birthday. Last week the Habs celebrated the only way you’d expect, with a poignant and classy display.

Say what you want about the Canadiens, they are second to none when it comes to pre-game festivities and they pulled out all the stops, and a few old sweaters for this one.

Even though this celebration was special, I still believe when they closed the Forum and had the celebration that night it was their finest moment. Of course it didn’t hurt that Maurice “The Rocket” Richard was still alive and the amazingly long standing ovation he received that night will never be outdone. I never saw Richard play but as a life long Habs supporter, I know the history and know what he meant to the franchise.

I was lucky enough to be in the crowd at Maple Leaf Gardens the final time the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto played in that old hockey shrine. Prior to that game there was another impressive and lengthy standing ovation as The Rocket and Tedder Kennedy were introduced and came out to drop the puck. This was one of the few times when both Habs and Leafs fans stood unified in celebration and I felt privileged to be there. I think Montreal won that night as well.

The Montreal 100th celebration was unique in its own way with about 30 of the club’s greatest names, led by goaltender Patrick Roy, donned their equipment and sweaters (many retired) and took part in a pre-game skate and warm-up. Ken Dryden looked awesome and he even pulled the old mask out of retirement. It was the first time he’d worn goalie equipment since he last played for Montreal in 1979…even if he did have to borrow the pads from Carey Price. Long-time trainer Eddie Palchak was there to dump the pucks on the ice one more time.

Even non-Montreal fans had to feel a bit like kids again watching legends like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Henri Richard, Guy Carboneau, Mats Naslund, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard and the Mahovlich brothers being introduced. It was legend after legend with the biggest living legend Jean Beliveau the last to appear.

That alone would have been amazing but it went beyond that with "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe carrying out Maurice Richard’s #9 sweater, speaking and introducing Beliveau and a taste of Hollywood with Viggo Mortensen introducing Lafleur.

Then you add two more retired numbers as 91-year-old Elmer Lach’s #16 and Emile (Butch) Bouchard’s #3 were raised to the rafters. To cap it all off there’s nothing like a group photo for a keepsake as the legends were joined by the current Canadiens players.

It’s amazing that Montreal has won 24 Stanley Cups and has 54 members in the Hockey Hall of Fame but it was even better to see these legends on the ice one more time. Could you imagine if they were all in their prime still? What a team that would be. It’s as Larry Robinson said, “When you think of Canada, you think of hockey. And when you think of hockey, you think of the Montreal Canadiens.”

No Olympic Fever Yet

With the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver / Whistler B.C. less than 100 days away, I can honestly say, I’m not all that excited yet.

I’ll be honest; I’m not a huge fan of the winter sports. Biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating and curling just don’t get me pumped up. If there’s a Canadian taking part, and there usually is, I’ll probably watch and send supportive vibes their way but that’s about it. About the only winter Olympic sport I have any desire to watch is hockey. I’m sure that probably comes as a shock to no one.

If there’s no hockey to enjoy, I can tolerate speed skating (short distances) and short track speed skating. I’ve been known to enjoy luge and bobsled races as well and ski-jumping is like watching Nascar…you’re always waiting for the next crash.

But hockey is what really gets me excited. Sure it’s our national sport and the majority of Canadians eat, sleep and drink hockey in the winter time but it’s not just the men’s game. I also enjoy watching the women play as well.

The ladies game might not have the hitting that the men’s game has but it’s still an impressive game to watch when the best teams hit the ice. One thing I’ve noticed about the Canadian women’s hockey team the last few times I’ve watched them play is how poorly they pass the puck. I blame that on the coach, who by the way is also a woman. Now there’s no way I can say anything negative without sounding like a male chauvinist pig but I’ve said for the last few years, Team Canada’s women’s hockey team would greatly benefit from having an experienced male coach in charge. There, I’ve said it.

I don’t know how many years Melody Davidson has been coaching the girls but it’s time for Hockey Canada t make a change and bring in a coach with a resume that screams champion. Who would that be? That’s not for me to decide but there are certainly plenty of candidates available. The only thing Davidson has that another coach might not have is “time”. You thought I was going to say “breasts” didn’t you? Shame on you!

To my knowledge she only coaches the women so she can devote all of her time to that endeavour. Another coach might have an obligation to an NHL or a Junior Club which isn’t as convenient for attending other events such as the Four Nations Cup as a tune-up for the Olympics. For this reason alone, I doubt we’ll ever see hockey Canada appoint a proven NHL calibre coach to right the ship which is the National Women’s Hockey Team. I may be wrong but I believe Canada is the only team with a female head coach.

While it’s nice to see the women’s team do well, the real pressure lies on the men’s team. The team has yet to be officially announced but will be filled with Canada’s best NHL players. The selection of this team receives more attention and discussion then any other topic in Canada. Canadians are more passionate about hockey than almost any other topic. Sure there are some who could care less but overall it is something that a lot of Canadians feel strongly about. We take pride in our hockey ability and hate it when another country beats us. It does happen from time to time though.

Quite simply when it comes to the Olympics and hockey…it’s Gold or nothing. Unless we win it all, we have failed and nobody knows that more than the management, staff and players on the team. The pressure to win is unmatched by any other sport in Canada. Ask any of the players on the team and they know what is expected of them. They demand it of themselves as well.

By no means do I mean to diminish the accomplishments of other Canadian athletes. I wish they could all win gold medals and I’ll be rooting them on when they compete. But while they may be skating, skiing or curling for gold, they know that the focus of an entire nation will be fixed squarely on Team Canada and its fight to dominate the hockey world once again.

So I don’t have Olympic fever just yet and if all goes well, once it does kick in, hopefully that will be the only fever I suffer through this winter. Luckily you don’t have to stand in line for an Olympic fever flu shot.

Booth Blasted By Richards

When Florida Panthers left winger David Booth finally regains full use of his brain and looks at the video, I'm sure he'll agree that the hit he suffered at the hands of Mike Richards of the Flyers would have been less severe had he not admired his pass.

Everyone in the NHL and hockey fans all over are talking about two things so far this week...the Maple Leafs first win and the scary hit by Richards on Booth.

The hit was unavoidable, especially in that dangerous part of the ice but had Booth not watched his pass and been watching where he was going, he could have prepared to take the hit from Richards.

Now...some people feel Richards targeted Booth's head with his shoulder and that may be true but Booth at 6'0" was bent over at the time of the hit. Richards is listed as 5'11" for those wondering.

I have watched the hit several times and in my opinion it was a clean and impressive hit with an unfortunate result. Mike Richards is not a dirty hockey player but he does play hard and that's all he did in this instance. I disagree with the announcers in the clip below saying it was a "cheap" and "dirty hit". Nobody likes to see a player injured but it was a clean, legal hit in my mind.

I think it would be nice to see fewer head shots in hockey but in a fast game where things happen very quickly, I don't think they'll ever be completely eradicated from the game. If seeing incidents like this bother you, then perhaps you should stick to watching golf or baseball.

Georges Laraque Offends Feminists

From the "Are you freakin' kidding me file"....

Montreal Canadiens forward Georges Laraque has apologized for appearing in an internet commercial that a women's rights group says sends the wrong message about women.

Before I comment, why not have a look at the one minute advertisement for Octane 7.0.

Now...the only things that upset me about seeing this commercial are as follows:

1. Georges appears to have better puck-handling skills on dry land than he does on the ice during a real NHL hockey game.

2. Laraque didn't drop the gloves and jersey one of his opponents.

3. No rubdowns on the trainers bench following the game.

But seriously, what is the big deal?

Sure the video shows a team of scantily clad young women preparing for and playing some street hockey. Laraque shows up in time with the beverage he's promoting and sets the cans up as goal posts for an impromptu game with the ladies.

I think this just shows how nice Georges really is. How many other NHL players would take time out of their summer to play a road hockey game with some people in the neighbourhood?

A spokeswoman for CLES, an organization that fights sexual exploitation said "The women don't even talk. All they're showing is a certain part of their body. The camera, the eye, is focusing on certain parts of the body." Well duh! What's the camera supposed to focus on...their brains or their feet?

When will these groups realize that sex sells and this is never going away. I'm all for protecting women and keeping them safe but the ladies in this commercial seem pretty happy so they obviously didn't mind.

Good looking, bare-chested men are exploited in commercials all the time, yet I never hear anybody cry foul over those ads. And don't kid yourself...women love those commercials just as much as men love these and other commercials where bikini wearing young hotties are showing off their "assets".

Of course Georges doesn't want to offend anyone so he's apologized for taking part in the ad saying "I'm deeply sorry that I upset people. But everybody that knows me as a person knows the type of person that I am. Everywhere that I've ever played I've supported many charities, and I do every year."

No apology necessary as far as I'm concerned. This is just one group taking something so small that most people would never have even heard about it and using it to further their agenda.

As far as I'm concerned, the only thing wrong with this advertisement is the fact that Laraque is selling an alcoholic beverage which is not allowed according to the NHL guidelines. No, they can't promote it but the league has no problem with players drinking all kinds of beer and champagne live on TV after winning the Stanley Cup.

Lets Drop The Puck Already!

It has returned once again. The National Hockey League is set to start another season long quest to drink from Lord Stanley's Cup.

Thursday the NHL 09-10 season will kick off with four games but only one will really matter in my mind as the Toronto Maple Leafs will host my Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC.

I think Montreal will have a good team this season but not a great one and will struggle to make the playoffs. I'm hoping I'm wrong about that but that's just what my gut tells me.

I also think this could be the year Toronto finds their way back into the post season...as much as it pains me to say that. I feel for the long suffering Toronto fans though. I can't imagine what that feels like.

So I suppose I should make my picks official right now. What teams will make it to the Stanley Cup final this season?

I have to pick Detroit and Boston to meet in the Stanley Cup Final with Detroit winning. It's tough to get to the final three years in a row but I think the Red Wings have what it takes to do it again. Boston was a tough choice for me over Pittsburgh returning but I liked what I saw last season and I think the Bruins will make that next step. Of course the San Jose Sharks blew it in the Playoffs last season and could get there as well. It's really a four team race in my mind but I'll stick with the Wings and Bruins. And as a Habs fan that isn't easy for me to say.

My dark horse pick to win the Cup is Vancouver. I think they have the best chance of any Canadian team to bring the cup north for the first time since Montreal won it last during the 92-93 season.

Now, lets stock the fridge, buy the snacks, iron our hockey sweaters, prepare for Don Cherry's bashing of all things non-Canadian (I love him for that) and re-form our ass print on the chesterfield because it's time to drop the puck.

Still not in the mood yet? Perhaps this will get the adrenaline flowing.

Leaf Fans Annoy Me

I have many friends who are Toronto Maple Leaf hockey fans and despite that, I will still talk to them.

Of course I'm kidding. I don't have a problem with most of them but I find that a lot of them like to talk trash about other teams...especially the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators.

It doesn't surprise me that they dislike those teams since they're in the same division and have big rivalries. What shocks me is how cocky Leaf fans are when you consider how unimpressive their team has been since...well, since before I was born.

In fact, the last time the Leafs won the Stanley Cup was in 1967...one year before I came along. They don't even have colour photos or video of them winning their last cup, that's how long ago it was.

OK, it's too easy to pick on Leaf fans and their teams impressive record of futility. If they keep on the same losing track, they could eventually surpass the 100 year title drought of the Chicago Cubs in baseball.

What annoys me the most are the idiotic Maple Leaf fans who have the audacity to try and make fun of fans of other teams. It's one thing to be a winner and rub it in but how can you possibly make fun of other fans when your team hasn't done anything good in 42 years?

I'd be embarrased to continue supporting a team with owners who have made it quite obvious they'd rather collect the endless supply of money from their dumb fans then make an effort to actually win. Heck...forget winning, how about they just try and get enough good players to make the playoffs once in a while.

Say what you want about Montreal fans but their owners, management and players know that they better produce or they'll feel their wrath. They demand a winning team and they usually get one. Sure they haven't won a cup since 1993 but they usually make the playoffs.

Actually, I have colour photos of the Habs hoisting the cup. How many Leaf fans can say that. I've seen the Habs win nine Stanley Cups and that's not including the one they took home the year I was born.

So my advice to Leaf fans is shut the hell up! Until you actually win something or make the playoffs you have no reason to feel cocky enough to beak off. The good news is the season will be starting soon and after a few games, Leaf fans will once again be able to start talking about next season.

Canadian Olympic Hockey Logo Irritates Me

Why does it seem like everything related to any big event held in Canada has to pander to the First Nations People? Heaven forbid we upset the natives.

Once again we have to make special reference to the native people of Canada in relation to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The first item that really set me off was the design and names of the Olympic Mascots for the games. I wrote my feelings about that in a story called Are Olympic Mascots Canadian?

Now the Canadian Olympic Committee and First Nations people have found an ally in Hockey Canada. Yesterday the newly designed Men's and Women's Hockey and Paralympic Sledge Hockey jersey's were unveiled at a ceremony in Vancouver.

From a distance I think the new hockey jersey's look pretty good and somewhat traditional. I love the red and white, although I could do without the corporate Nike Swoosh logo on the front (I thought there wasn't supposed to be any corporate logos...that's why we had to change the sweaters in the first place).

Overall it is a simple design and people world wide identify Canada with the Maple Leaf.

What I don't like about the design is the artwork within the maple leaf crest. Sure it's creative and from a distance you won't be able to decipher it but even though it's a subtle addition, I think it speaks volumes to how the politically correct individuals running things felt the need to include the native people in the process...again.

In fact, native artist Debra Sparrow designed the art inside the crest. There is a thunderbird and an eagle, two symbols important in First Nation culture included in the design. Sparrow says, "It's designed from history that reflects our First Nations people." That's right...when I think of Canada and our National sport of Hockey, I immediately think of thunderbirds and eagles. I just shake my head in disbelief.

When is "MY Canada" going to be represented. I was born in Canada so doesn't that make me a native Canadian. Why isn't my culture represented? I'm surprised Hockey Canada didn't totally commit to the Native and Aboriginal theme and make the sweaters out of seal skin.

I'm not anti-native but it just seems every time we turn around we're going out of our way to cater to them and having Native art shoved down our throats. Visitors to our Olympic games are going to leave with the impression that we're all Natives and speak nothing but french. Yes, they are a part of our Canadian heritage and history but there's a lot more to Canada than the native people.

Hell, the dinosaurs were here before all of us, so maybe we should include a T-Rex in the Canadian logos and opening ceremonies.

I don't know, perhaps I'm especially bitter because I've had to deal with native protesters first hand in recent years and put up with their blockades and other bullsh&t. Any way, I can hardly wait to see the opening ceremonies. I'm sure I'll be gagging and moaning the whole way through it.

Game Seven Thriller In Motown

It was everything we hoped it would be and it wasn't decided until the clock ticked down to zero in the third period.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won the Stanley Cup...the hardest trophy to win in professional sports.

I'm not a Penguins fan but as a hockey fan I must say this was a good series and a great seventh game. The only thing that would have made it better is if Montreal had won. Oh well...maybe some year in the not too distant future.

Here are the highlights for you to enjoy.

Stanley Cup Final Going Seven

I don't care for the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins don't really excite my athletic supporter but I for one have enjoyed the NHL Stanley Cup Final between these two teams.

Sure I'd rather see my Montreal Canadiens there, and to be honest I don't expect to see them there any time soon, but if my favourite team can't win "The Cup" then all I can hope for is some good, exciting, physical hockey and these two teams have delivered.

So I am actually pumped to see this series go the full seven games. I guess if I have to choose a team to cheer for I'd probably pick the flightless birds since the Wings won last year. Actually, once my Habs were out and I knew Ovechkin wasn't going to win, I stopped cheering for any one particular team.

As I've stated in the past I haven't been impressed by the officiating through these playoffs but I think they've done a better job in the finals.

So make sure your popcorn is popped, put on your loudest Don Cherry jacket, get the beverages on ice and tune your TV to Hockey Night in Canada because Friday night we are in for one heck of a finish.

To help get you in the mood (if you're Canadian that shouldn't take much) here are some highlights from Game Six. Sadly these are the NBC highlights so I apologize in advance for subjecting you to any comments made by the always annoying Pierre McGuire. I can't stand listening to him!

Sean Avery Is Gutless

How many chances do you give to Sean Avery before you finally say enough is enough?

He's a gutless little worm who is an embarrassment to the NHL and and the great game of hockey in general.

Anyone who likes his antics on and off the ice isn't a hockey fan. You're no different than the grey-matter challenged inbreeds who watch Nascar only for the car wrecks.

Time and time again Avery proves just how important he thinks he is while embarrassing his team-mates and alienating himself. He can't have many friends in the NHL.

It has become quite obvious that he couldn't spell sportsmanship let alone understand its meaning.

Many people argue that he is effective in what he does. Sure he pisses guys off but I've been watching the highlights lately and he'll only fight when he's up against a player he thinks he can beat. He runs away like a scared child when someone bigger takes offense to his actions.

When he stood in front of and was facing future Hall of Fame inductee Martin Brodeur waving his stick in the air trying to block his view while his team was on a 5-on-3 power play, he proved how little respect he has for the game and it's traditions.

Then he pushes and shoves Darcy Tucker during the warm-up prior to playing the Maple Leafs last season which nearly leads to a pre-game brawl. Of course he knew his team-mates would be there to bail him out when the rough stuff started.

Next he makes crude comments about Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert and is suspended by the league and ultimately dropped by the Dallas Stars. Did he learn his lesson? Some thought he had but as Don Cherry says, "a leopard never changes his spots".

Now we flash ahead to just the other night as Avery and the New York Rangers were in Boston to play the Bruins. I'm a Montreal fan so of course I hate the Bruins as a team but I can't condone the dummies latest actions during that game. You can view it below.

It's time for teams to stop signing this guy. When he is no longer making money playing the sport he supposedly loves, maybe he'll finally realize how wrong he really was. Until that time, shame on the Rangers and any other team who has him on their roster.