Prairie Winter

The common theme in Saskatoon and Regina today. Digging out after a prairie snow storm. I am always amazed by the media who go on and on about this winter storm like it is something unusual. This is the Prairies. This is Saskatchewan. We do get winter snow flurries, blizzards and the like.

Thought for the Day

The people who complain about the high cost of administration in charitable organizations are the same people who demand a tax receipt for their donation.Dig deep. Give something to the Haiti relief effort today. Using cell phones and giving only ten dollars the American Red Cross raised 10 million dollars in only 72 hours.
People are using their mobile phones to donate to a number of different organizations that are helping out in Haiti. As a result, millions of dollars have been raised using mobile donations alone. Donations are typically of $5 or $10. You send a text message to the appropriate phone number and your donation is automatically recorded. The amount that you donate shows up on your mobile phone bill at the end of the month.
The Canadian Red Cross has received $22.2 million from individuals for Haiti relief efforts since the 7.0 earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, ...

World Juniors - Great but Disappointing Finish

Our media center with the Swiss play by play man in the forefront. I worked one game with him.


The referees warming up prior to a game.



Team USA warming up prior to the Gold medal game


Again the people of Saskatchewan and in particular Saskatoon showed the world that we know how to host a major sporting event. Although the hockey Gods (Hockey Canada) say the event will never return to a non NHL city thats something that they may want to rethink.
What did Saskatoon accomplish? Well start with the third largest attendance in the history of the event? Add to that near capacity crowds that player after player related how much fun it was to play in front of hockey knowledgeable crowds. Add to that first class treatment of players, dignataries, and add to that record setting 50/50 draws with the winner of the pot in the final game taking home almost 150,000 dollars. Close to a million in 50/50 earnings will find its way into minor hockey programs because of the generosity of Saskatchewan fans. And then finally add to that almost 1500 volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the Junior championships a success.
It's disappointing that Canada could not pull out the championship but in my role as a media host, I had the opportunity on more than once to mingle with the American gold medal winning team and what a class act they were. Going into this tournament it was generally thought that Russia, Sweden, the USA and Canada were the best hopes to win. Russia bowed out early when they were upset 3 - 2 by the Swiss. The Swiss then had their bubble burst in the bronze medal game when Sweden literally coasted to an 11 - 4 win. I was assisting with the TSN broadcast for that one and Miller and McQuire did their best to make a boring game sound exciting.
Then the gold medal game. Unfortunately for Canada their suspect goaltending went south during the game and the USA ended the gold medal streak at five. Disappointing but how can you knock the Canadian effort and any true sports fan would agree that beyond a shadow of a doubt Team USA were deserving winners of the Gold medal.
I enjoyed my volunteer work with the media. It brought back many memories of the years I spent doing hockey play by play. It was a great life and many times, mostly on days the end in y, I found myself wishing that I had stayed in the broadcasting game. However such was not the case and I must say it was fun to be involved with the world juniors this year. This was actually the second world juniors I have had the pleasure to watch. In 1991 Tim and I watched here in Saskatoon as Canada defeated the Soviet Union 3 - 2 in overtime to win the gold medal. Great memories from that one and now new memories to add from the 2010's

Another Christmas Passes By

Christmas and New Year are over and now life begins to return to normal. Jennifer left for home in Ottawa yesterday. Once again there were flight problems. I wonder if these airlines ever think about the stress they cause when they cancel and delay flights. Jenn was to fly out at 11:40am. As is my habit, I checked the internet flight status to find her flight was delayed to 5:40pm. That would have put her into Toronto at midnight. She would have had to get a hotel and fly to Ottawa sunday morning. However I was able to get her the last seat on a flight to Calgary and then direct to Ottawa getting her home by 6pm yesterday. So it worked out but not without stress.
Mom's flight to Kelowna apparently was delayed as well leaving her a long wait in Caglary airport. Two different airlines. Same problem. Not much you can do about it.
I get real busy today and for the next three days with the world junior hockey championship. Today I am working the semi final game between Canada and Switzerland.
Switzerland pulled the shocker of the tournament yesterday with a 3 - 2 overtime win over Russia. Canada should win today but you just never know. The Swiss have a couple of really good players and an excellent goaltender. They like to slow down the pace and there is usually an above average amount of icing the puck in their games which slows down the pace.
Then Monday I am working two games and Tuesday I am working the bronze medal game and hope to get home to watch the gold on TV. Everybody tells me I should stay to watch the gold but I like watching it at home. The crowds are unbelievable. It is wall to wall people. You almost have to take out a second mortgage for a meal or even a drink so as great as the tournament is, and Saskatoon has done it well, I like to watch it all from my own soft comfortable recliner.