Monday, January 31, 2011

Monday morning water cooler

Good morning and welcome to the final day of January. How was the first month of 2011 for you? The the month started off great ringing in the new year and here's hoping that it ends well today.

The weekend was fantastic and this should be a pretty fast paced week with tons going on so let's get to this morning's column.

-----

The Huskie men's hockey team may be the best team in Canada West.

With the Alberta Golden Bears having a so-so start to 2011 there were questions going around that maybe they weren't the top dogs in the CWUAA. Some were saying that the title of best in the west belonged to either Calgary or Saskatchewan. Last week you could have said that Calgary had the inside track after their sweep of Alberta but I don't think too many people are humming that tune this morning.

The Huskies dominated the scoreboard at Rutherford this weekend beating the Dinos 6-3 on Friday night at 3-0 on Saturday to move into a tie for second place and just two points back of the Bears.

A couple of notes for the Huskies:

- five on five they were dominate and didn't allow a single goal against. All three Calgary goals came on the power play while the Huskies added a pair of shorthanded goals on Friday night.

- Huskies goaltender Ryan Holfeld posted his first CW shutout on Saturday night and in 5 games has a 4-1 record with a 1.59 GAA and a sparkling .944 sv %.

- Kyle Bortis was held of the score sheet Saturday night bringing his league leading 6 game point streak to a halt. Bortis put up 13 points (9g 4a) during the streak and now is averaging a point a game on the season.

-----

The Huskies are tied with the Manitoba Bisons for second place in Canada West. The Bisons picked up just 2 points against the Regina Cougars and failed to take advantage of the opportunity to pull even with Alberta.

Calgary is now just two points up on both Lethbridge and UBC for the fourth and final playoff spot after the Pronghorns swept the UBC Thunderbirds.

-----

The defenses were hung out to dry on Sunday in both the NHL All-Star game and the Pro Bowl.

Team Lidstrom and Team Stall put on an offensive show scoring 21 goals between them in a 11-10 win for team Lidstrom while over in Hawaii MVP DeAngelo Hall and the NFC earned a 55-41 win over the AFC.

Patrick Sharp was named NHL All-Star MVP.

-----

Here's some old school fun Global's Kevin Jesus pointed out to us on Twitter:

@GlobalJesus: Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Apparently Facebook.... and joining her? OREGON TRAIL!!!!

-----

My Tennessee Titans have decided to say goodbye to longtime coach Jeff Fisher. The Titans and Fisher decided to go their separate ways this past week and it has me starting to think of possible replacements. I'm a Jon Gruden fan and I'm not sure what his contract status is but I'd support him in Tennessee.

The Titans have also said that they plan to trade QB Vince Young. They'll have a small window once a new CBA is signed to trade him before a big bonus kicks in. I like Young and part of me still hopes he's in Tennessee next year but I can't see it.

-----

Speaking of the NFL, who do you like in the Super Bowl this Sunday? I like what the Packers have done with their opportunity but my money is on the Steelers.

-----

In a CBC-NHLPA poll of 318 players, Ron Wilson was the overwhelming choice a coach you would least like to play for. To be fair, not many people liked playing for Scotty Bowman but look at what he accomplished.

-----

Here's a question from sports humor columnist Cam Hutchinson:

If forced, which one would you give up: 1 smartphone; 2 family; 3 laptop; 4 television; 5 vehicle?

It makes you think. A person could likely go without TV because you can get everything on the computer now anyway. If you give up the laptop can you still have an i pad?

-----















Here's a shot of the TSN crew doing a little tail-gating before the NHL All-Star game in North Carolina.

The shot was posted by Ryan Rishaug (pictured from L to R with Brent Wallace and Darren Dreger).

The best part about social media like Twitter is getting to see TV personalities when the camera isn't rolling.



-----

Fans trying to watch the NHL All-Star game took to social media sites and message boards when the game was delayed due to an extra end in curling.

CBC missed the player introductions as well as the anthems while it stayed for the finish of the curling game.

This brings up a couple interesting observations and thoughts that I have on the subject:

- First, there is apparently going to be a bidding war happening in the near future for NHL rights in Canada including Hockey Night in Canada and I can't imagine that the NHL is too impressed with the CBC missing the beginning of the All-Star game.

- Secondly, I do understand what the CBC was doing. Would they cut away from the finish to an overtime game between, lets say, Calgary and Edmonton for other programming?

-----

Do you think Phil Mickelson is a good guy? I did but apparently his peers on the PGA tour call him FIGJAM... F--- I'm Good Just Ask Me.

-----

More Cam Hutchinson via Twitter:

Parking for the Super Bowl will cost up to $900 ... how can Jerry Jones charge that and keep a straight face?

the dirtiest things we touch in a day: 1. desk; 2. kitchen sponge; 3. cell phone; 4. makeup; 5. handbag ... 6. lady gaga ...

-----

Congrats to Amber Holland and her rink for winning the Saskatchewan Scotties yesterday in Outlook. Holland becomes the first team from SK to win back to back provincial titles since Sherry Anderson in '94-'95.

-----

That's all for this morning. Have a great week!

dd

No comments: