Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Sportsline

The program was fairly smooth sailing last night.

Max Fawcett from the Chetwynd Echo joined me on the program last night and we chatted a little bit about local hockey from this past weekend. We also had a chance to talk about Sean Avery and the "sloppy seconds" comment. I think someone will take a chance on him but it just might not be this year. Send him over to Russia to re-assess life. Look at Ray Emery. He is doing good things overseas and it appears and though he will be back in the NHL in the next year or two. The Dallas Stars are expected to decide his future with the club on Wednesday.

The Jr Canucks' Colter McLean joined me at 6:15pm and we chatted for a bit. Later on in the hour we talked to Canucks' president Neil Shuman regarding "Teddy Bear Toss night" at the Memorial on Saturday night. I'll post more on that in the coming days.

Near the top of the hour we were joined by head coach Duncan Redfearn followed by 55 CHET TV's Jacob Zeher and Peace FM midday host Jay talking UFC at 7:05pm. Then at 7:40pm I had a chat with the voice of the Whitecourt Wolverines Dave Dawson from xm105 and we wrapped it up with a little round table discussion that took us to 8:00pm.

All in all it was a pretty good show as we continue to take some big strides forward.

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Internet is still a bit wonky here at Peace FM headquarters but at least I'm able to get on and post this morning. I'll work on the weekly power rankings sometime today as well as my wish list. Look for those posts sometime in the coming days.

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If you missed the full 11 minute interview with Dave Dawson from xm105 you can hear it re-played on Saturday night. I'll play the interview during the intermission of our Jr Canuck broadcast.

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It's a "miss morning" today and I don't feel much like blogging. Once the show's done I'd like to head home to sleep all afternoon.

I'll believe that when it happens.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Blogger Update

Time to check in after a day of no blogging. Internet has been down both at Peace FM headquarters and at home the last couple of days.

WTH!?!?

We're up and blogging now and hopefully won't run into anymore issues.

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I'm listening to "Leafs Lunch" at the moment on am640 in Toronto. The Leafs are going through a tough stretch here and they are talking about how they are getting away from the strong forecheck that made them so successful early in the season. They are not getting the pucks to the net like they were early on.

I mention this because it seems very similar to the Jr Canucks.

The Canucks had gotten away from the hard work that had made them successful early in the season. They found that gear once again at about the 8 minute mark of the first period Friday night. After going down 2-0 to the Sexsmith Vipers, Colter McLean turned things around and the home side dominated the final 50+ minutes en route to a 7-2 victory.

Are the Canucks truly out of this funk? We'll find out on Saturday night.

The Fort St John Huskies will visit the Canucks on Saturday. It will be teddy bear toss night at the Memorial and I understand there will be a chance to win a turkey as well. I'll post more on that later this week when I find out the info.

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Sportsline is on the air tonight for the second ever show. I'm still working on lining up some guests but you can be sure to listen in for Canuck talk tonight. We're on the air from 6:05pm PST - 8:00pm PST

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I did a little more Christmas shopping over the weekend and I'm almost finished too. I took a few more snapshots for my wish list and will do some photo blogging later today. Hopefully. No guarantees. I'll be busy working on Sportsline today.

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I called a pair of novice hockey games on Sunday. It was the Chetwynd ConocoPhillips novice tournament this weekend and I was there for day 2. Chetwynd ended up in the championship game against Grande Prairie but it was the road team winning 6-3 and taking the tournament.

I'll also post some photos from the game as well at some point.

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I've got my opinion on the latest Sean Avery incident but I'll save it for Sportsline tonight. Also, we'll talk Canucks and the NWJHL. Should be good. We'll also open up the phone lines and take your calls.

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Check ya later,

dd

Friday, December 5, 2008

Canucks 7 Vipers 2

DAWSON CREEK -- The Dawson Creek Jr Canucks snapped their four game losing streak in a big way Friday night by beating the Sexsmith Vipers 7-2.

The Canucks got a pair of goals from both Colter McLean and Jason Higson. Also chipping in with goals was Charles Radke, Ryan Walker and Lorne Weaver.

This was a huge win for the Canucks who, at one time in the hockey game, trailed 2-0 before scoring 7 unanswered goals.

Next up for the Canucks is the Fort St John Huskies on Saturday December 13th at the Memorial.

Canucks vs Vipers Tonight!

Game time tonight is 8:00pm PST at the Memorial Arena. I'll be on the air at 7:45pm PST with the DGS Astro Paving pre-game show.

It should be a great game. Sexsmith has been playing great and the Canucks' really took some good strides in the right direction last night in the overtime loss to Grande Prairie. Dawson Creek will have to find another gear tonight if they want to knock off the hungry Vipers.

Not much of a preview today as most of the day was spent either struggling with the computer or downtown Dawson Creek. I struggled to update Peace FM news and sports today but got it figured out before 1 o'clock. Then I spent the afternoon downtown doing a little Christmas shopping. Guess what? Hardly got anything done. Isn't that the case though? You spend all day doing some shopping but hardly find what you were looking for. Tomorrow's another day.

I did get an opportunity to snap a few more photos for my wish list and I'll post those in the coming days.

It's off to the rink for me. See you at the game!

dd

Wheelers 5 Canucks 4 OT

GRANDE PRAIRIE AB -- The Dawson Creek Jr Canucks were on the road in Grande Prairie and on Thursday night overtime was needed.

It was the fourth meeting between the two clubs and the Cancuks got on the board early. At the 1:00 mark of the opening period Tyson Keen sent a snap shot on goal from the blue line. The Canucks' Lucas McKenzie got a stick on it to deflect it past goaltender Kris Dika and into the back of the net.

Cody Garnett was back between the pipes for the Canucks after missing six games with an injury and the Wheelers got to him in the second. Michael Podruzney put a Jeff McVey pass behind Garnett to tie the game at 1 just under four minutes into the period. And just 1:31 later Grande Prairie had their first lead of the game. Another one-timer from the home squad beat Garnett and the score was 2-1.

Before the period was out, Dawson Creek had tied the hockey game. On the power play, defenceman Trevor Dahlen let the shot go and the rebound came right to the waiting stick of Ryan Walker who buried the puck past Dika.

The visitors regaind the lead in the third. Carl Dahlen finished off a great second effort play scoring on his own rebound while driving to the net and it was 3-2 for the Canucks. The lead lasted until the 14:07 mark of the third. With the Wheelers on the power play Nick Fitzpatrick jammed a rebound into the Canuck goal and that set the stage for overtime.

Dawson Creek had the first opportunity but on the transition the Wheelers took advantage. McVey won the race to a loose puck in the Canucks' zone and found Cory Litman in front who put a move on Garnett and slid the game winning goal into the back of the net just 39 seconds into the extra frame.

Special teams weren't as big of a factor as in games prior. The Canucks went 1 for 6 on the power play while the Wheelers were 1 for 7.

Brass Scissors three stars: 1) Jeff McVey 2) Lucas McKenzie 3) Gerritt Lacey

The loss is the fourth straight for the Canucks but head coach Duncan Redfearn feels that there were positives shown on Thursday.

"We saw a lot of good things that we haven't been doing in the last couple of weeks tonight. To take positives out of the game, our defensive zone (play and) goals against was the lowest it's been in the last three games so we're happy with that. It's a step in the right direction. We took a point out of the game tonight. Of course you'd like to take the other point in an overtime win or a shoot out but it's a step in the right direction and we'll build off the positive things tonight and look forward to tomorrow night."

The Canucks (11-6-2) will return home to face the Sexsmith Vipers (3-13-0) at the Memorial arena. Peace FM will be on the air with all the action starting with the pre-game show at 7:45pm PST and the play-by-play at 8:00pm PST.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

NWJHL Power Rankings

1. Whitecourt Wolverines (15-2-0) (LW: 1)
2. Fort St John Huskies (13-6-1) (LW: 2)
3. Peace River Navigators (12-6-1) (LW: 3)
4. Grande Prairie Wheelers (8-7-2) (LW: 4)
5. Sexsmith Vipers (3-13-0) (LW: 6)
6. Dawson Creek Canucks (11-6-1) (LW: 5)
7. Beaverlodge Blades (6-10-2) (LW: 7)
8. Slave Lake Wolves (5-15-1) (LW: 8)

-Compiled from members of the NWJHL media-

Just a few observations:

  • Sexsmith has been in every game they have played and are one of the hottest teams in the league and playing well. Should be a great game with the Canucks on Friday.
  • PR vs FSJ Friday night should be a great game. PR would be #2 if it were not for the loss to Beaverlodge.
  • There has been some talk lately about the ranking of Sexsmith. How can a team with 3 wins be ranked in 5th? This isn't the league standings and they are one of the hottest teams at the moment and deserve there spot. A bad week and they will fall fast though.
  • I had one question submitted to me. "Would the real Slave Lake please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?"

Have a great weekend watching the NWJHL.

Milestone Reached!

The blog has just reached 2,500 views! Thanks for reading.

dd

Thursday blogging

I took yesterday off from blogging so let's take this time to catch up.

This past Saturday I headed for Dawson Creek early to do a little Christmas shopping and it is already getting crazy. I like shopping around Christmas time. Everything is decorated, people are in good moods, and I like Christmas music too. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't quite December yet and the stores were already packed. I love it!

When you are out Christmas shopping to you always see the gifts that you want for yourself? It happened to me. So I decided to snap some photo's for my wish list this year.

Sports books are a GREAT gift idea for any sports lover in the family. I see a couple Habs books that my dad might like.



"Sports Night." I have never been able to find this DVD set anywhere. Wal-Mart... snap it up quick!

A couple great options. "24 Redemption" was fantastic. Sidney Crosby's flick looks great as well.

I'll do a little more photo blogging this next couple of days from Dawson Creek as I do some more Christmas shopping. I'll talk a little more about great sport books and dvd's that you could get that special someone on your list. I'm working my way through Martin Brodeur's book. I got it as a gift last Christmas and haven't gotten much read. For some reason it's just hard to find the time but this weekend I am going to sit down and get some serious time in and get a good chunk of it read. So far it's a great read.

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Team Canada announced the roster that will be participating in the selection camp ahead of this years World Jr Hockey Championship. PG Cougars Dana Tyrell will attend camp. Tyrell leads the Cougars with 18 goals and 17 assists in 27 games.

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I don't know what to make of Sean Avery's latest antics. "Sloppy seconds?" By the sounds of things, he has played his last game for the Dallas Stars. James Duthie has a pretty good suggestion on his blog over at www.tsn.ca. He, and some of Avery's teammates suggest that he should be sent down and since Dallas doesn't have an AHL affiliate, they suggest sending Sean overseas. We'll definitely bring this up on Sportsline on Monday and give you a chance to voice your opinion.

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Who will be between the pipes tonight when the Canucks visit Grande Prairie? I'm hearing that Cody Garnett was hoping to return tonight or possibly tomorrow but I can't see it. If he's ready to go and the injury won't bother him then by all means let him play. I imagine it will be Tyson York in goal and that is fine with me.

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I've gotten feedback from the NWJHL media and your power rankings are coming later on today. I'll also try to put together a game preview for tonight's contest between the Canucks and Wheelers.

Have a great day!

dd

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sportsline A Huge Success!

Sportsline hit the airwaves for the inaugural show last night and for the most part it was smooth sailing.

Max Fawcett sat in for the first 15 minutes and chatted about some local sports. Canucks' coach Duncan Redfearn was live via telephone at 6:15pm followed by local MLA Blair Lekstrom at 6:30pm. Jacob Zehr from 55 CHET TV and Peace FM midday host Jay were on at 7:05pm to chat UFC and then we wrapped up the two hour show with a little round table talk before 8pm.

All-in-all I think it was a success. What did you think? Feel free to post your thoughts on Sportsline in the comments section at the bottom of the post.

I can't wait to get some momentum with the show and we can start taking some calls and getting your comments on the air.

Thanks for listening!

dd

Monday, December 1, 2008

Photo Blogging // Sportsline tonight!

A very quiet an empty Memorial just an couple hours prior to the Canucks/Vipers.

A Quick shot of the Christmas tree at the Memorial Arena taken from my phone prior to the Canucks/Vipers.

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Sportsline kicks off tonight on Peace FM. Listen live at 94.5/104.1 or http://www.peacefm.ca/. Max Fawcett will join me for the first half hour to chat local sports before he has to take off for the lighting tonight in Chetwynd. Jay from Peace FM midday's an 55 CHET TV producer Jacob Zeher will be on at 7:05pm to chat UFC. We'll also open the phone lines and give you a chance to voice your opinions and ask questions.
We'll spend a real good portion of the show talking Jr Canucks and the first half of the season.
Update**
I've just confirmed that Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom will join us tonight at 6:30pm. We'll chat about the Olympic touch running through Chetwynd and Dawson Creek.
Also confirmed last minute that head coach of the Dawson Creek Jr Canucks will join me live at 6:15pm to chat about the first half of the NWJHL season.
Enjoy the show!
dd