Enough of this "occupy" crap!!

I agree 100% with this gal!

Hockey season begins!!

Well i guess i'm going to try this again. Blogging that is!

I've been crazy busy, with work, kids, life, work, kids, ahh, err, ......... well you know how it goes.

Hopefully i can blog a couple times a week, discussing the slide of our beloved Riders and a new hockey season which is upon us.

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Ok, first things first! The Riders are 4-9 and are going no where fast. They mathematically can still make the playoffs, but it's highly unlikely. They have to run the table and hope Edmonton only wins 2 of their 5 remaining games. It can happen, but after our last two games, we'd be lucky to win another game this year.

It doesn't matter how it all plays out because it is very evident that we lack the talent right now to continue to have the success that we've had for the last 4 years. Again, we will head into the off season trying to figure out our coaching situation and Rider Nation will be watching what Jim Hopson has in store for this franchise.

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A new NHL season will begin in a few days and i'm excited to see the Maple Leafs and their revamped roster. Obviously i'm a delusional Leaf fan but i really believe, if Reimer is for real, that they will make the playoffs. If Reimer doesn't play as well as he did last year, than they don't have a hope as it begins and ends with goaltending.

Brian Burke has added a couple pieces that have improved this team (Franson, Lombardi and Connolly) but i still think they lack a true number one centre, like a Crosby, Getzlaf or Staal.

That's all for now.

Later!

Lots of stuff........

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me as i started a new job, which has made for some long days, and then played in a rec hockey tourny this weekend at the new Co-Operators Centre. We finished on top at 3-0-0 and had a great time. Molson's should be thanking us for our business as well. We also had our Balgonie Bison Awards Night and Cabaret last night so i'm a little gased right now.

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As i mentioned above, i had a chance to play at the new Co-Operators which will be home to the U. of R. Cougars hockey teams. The men have been busy recruiting new players and having a new state of the art facility certainly helps. They have already officially announced the signing of Matt Strueby for next season and i'm hearing that another former Pat, Brett Lefler, has committed as well. Also, the Cougars just recently signed former Bonnyville Pontiac, Lucas Isley, for the upcoming year. Isley was briefly with Western Michigan University as well.

I am also hearing that the Cougars are working hard to get former MJ Warrior, Jason Bast, secured for the next season.

Hopefully the Cougars can get a fresh start in their new home!

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Have you been able to see the ESPN Films program that shows regularly on TSN? It has been great with different accounts of players or incidents in the sporting world. I have just recently seen one show on Reggie Miller & Spike Lee from back in the 90's when the Knicks and Pacers met in the playoffs year after year. Great show!

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So the Riders start training camp in less than a month now and they have just added two pieces for the future.

The CFL Canadian Draft was today and the Riders traded up to take LB Shomari Williams from Queens University, first overall. The Riders will also use, the 6'2" 236 lb, Williams at DE.

Then with the 8th overall pick, the Riders selected hometown boy Jordan Sisco of the U. of R. Rams to add to their already deep canadian receiver group. It makes you wonder if someone will be shown the door. Clermont??? Or possibly a trade of promising young, but injury prone, receiver David McKoy. Wait and see!

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Well, i'm in last place of the playoff pool i'm in but i have they most players left so it's still promising. I need Chicago and Detroit to make it to the Western Conference Final and Pittsburgh and Boston to meet in the East. Ideally, i would walk away with it if Boston and Chicago meet in the Stanley Cup final.

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So did you hear the latest on Tiger Woods? I guess one of his neighbours has accused Tiger of sleeping with his 19 year old daughter, making it an unofficial list of 121 women, that he has allegedly had "mis-steps" with. Jeepers creepers!

Later

Retro pic..........

I found this beauty a Mom and Dad's place this past week. It's from one of the fan days about 25 years ago. I'm pretty sure it's Laurie Skolrood. Deadly!

2028 NHL Draft!

The early favorite for first overall pick of the 2028 NHL Draft is Hudson Thomas Pollock. The newest member of the Bonnyville Pontiacs was born this morning at 0724 to his parents, Ryan and Amy Pollock!

From all accounts, everyone is healthy and happy! Congrats to you both. Hope to see you soon!

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As we enter the last day of the NHL regular season, there are still playoff implications on the line.

The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers have a one game showdown for a playoff spot. Winner is in, loser is golfing!

Alex Ovechkin is three points behind Henrik Sedin for the points lead, and the Art Ross trophy, with one game left. I wouldn't count out the Russian just yet.

Also, Ovechkin and Tampa's Steven Stamkos are tied with 50 goals each and Sidney Crosby sits one back, for the goal scoring race and the Maurice Richard trophy. All three are in action on the final day.

Last night, Matt Cooke bit off more than he could chew as he challenged Atlanta rookie, Evander Kane, to a fight. One punch and Cooke was out-cold on the ice with team doctors at his side. I can't really say i felt bad for him after some of the crap he has pulled in his career. Karma, if you will?

The Washington Capitals are the first non-original six team to gain 120 points in a season. That sure is a feat considering the Philly teams of the 70's, the Islanders dynasty and the Oilers' of the 80's couldn't do it.

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The final round of the Masters is today and i'll be pulling for 50 year old Fred Couples. He sits in 5th place, five back of the leader Lee Westwood. Phil Mickelson sits one stroke back while Tiger Woods is lurking, four shots behind. Should make for some good tv!

Later

Blowing away!!!!!!!

I am sick of the wind already. It took out the power last night for a few hours and now it has made us change plans for my Dad's 60th birthday celebration tonight. Obviously it is to windy to have a bbq so it will be all indoors. Oh well, we can celebrate the old boy's big day with a few pops in Mom and Dad's house.

It looked like it would be a double celebration as i received a phone call from my brother, Ryan, late last night as his wife, Amy, was going into labour. It turned out to be a false alarm, although the little one is expected to arrive any day now. Ryan and Amy live up in Bonnyville, AB.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will close out their season tonight knowing they will finish last in the Eastern Conference and miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Hopefully Brian Burke has some more tricks up his sleeve to get this team on track, in the years to come.

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Quick question........Who is the leading scorer on the Phoenix Coyotes?...............If you said Wojtek Wolski, then you would be right and i'm not afraid to say, i wouldn't have guessed that. Haha!

Also, did you know that Lee Stempniak leads the Coyotes with 27 goals? Both Wolski and Stempniak were acquired at the trade deadline. Good on GM Don Maloney for getting this team turned around.

Phoenix has also hit the 50 win plateau for the first time in franchise history.

Later

Team Paco........

This is the family after Jackson's year end Novice tournament last weekend.