For your viewing pleasure...

I'm quite tired, but I wanted to put something fresh up here for the kids to watch. Instead of getting my own material I thought I'd steal someone else's. Here's a video that made me giggle. It's completely overdone, way too Senators focused, and there's at least one spelling mistake (an unforgivable error), but screw it. It's catchy.



Thanks to jayanderin1 for posting it. Hey man, I think we'd get along.

Just pretend he hit an empty jersey, and everything will be ok.

Just so you know, we don't hate Mats Sundin at all. We're pretty big fans actually. He is a very classy guy who never complained about the constant in-and-out of old, used-to-be-pretty-good players as his supporting cast. He just quietly went about racking up season after season of solid points and all star appearances, until he finally gave up and respectfully let the leafs go screw themselves. Here is a little video I find funny, because it makes the Toronto Maple leafs look bad. I dunno, maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but I let out a giggle after I saw the whole thing.

World Junior Championship Preview

It is already the end of October, and one of the most exciting events in hockey is right around the corner. In less than 2 months, the IIHF World Junior (Under 20) Hockey Tournament will take place in the nation's capital, and team Canada will try for its record tying 5th straight gold medal, a record which Canada holds in their 1993-1997 run.

The annual tournament displays the world's best talent and has a history of being a "coming-out party" for many of the NHL stars of the future. Among those stars that have competed in this tournament since 1993 are Peter Forsberg, Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Marian Hossa, Henrik Lundqvist, Marc-Andre Fleury, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Carey Price, and Sid the Kid Crosby (Just to name a few).

In order for Canada to continue its domination at the world stage, a team of elite Canadian players is needed. In the last 16 tournaments, Canada has registered 9 gold medals, 4 silver, and 2 bronze. With the next 4 tournaments on North American soil (Ottawa 09, Regina/Saskatoon 2010, Buffalo 2011, Calgary/Edmonton 2012), Canada has an excellent opportunity to bring a total of 8 consecutive gold medals in front of Canadian fans.

Among these elite young players, you will probably see the following players sporting the red and white this year:

1. JOHN TAVARES - C OSHAWA GENERALS

Probably the safest bet to make the team this year, John Tavares is the most anticipated draft pick of 2009, definitely a lock for the #1 or #2 overall pick.

2. JORDAN EBERLE - C REGINA PATS

Our hometown hero is a 2008 first round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, and was sent back to his junior team of Regina after training camp for his development as a player. Expect Eberle to be one of the top 2 line forwards for the Canadian team this year.

3. COLTON TEUBERT - D REGINA PATS

A fellow teammate of Eberle, Tuebert is a big, powerful defenseman who is also a 2008 first round pick, chosen by the Los Angeles Kings. Teubert will be one of the key faces of team Canada's blue line this year.

If there is one thing that is not a lock, is the job for not only the backup goaltender, but also the starting goaltender. Last year, there were two clear choices for a number one goaltender in Jonathan Bernier, and the eventual top goaltender of the tournament, Steve Mason. This year, expect any of these top keepers from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL

Dustin Tokarski, Chet Pickard (WHL)

Jason Guy, Andrew Engelage (OHL)

Nicola Riopel (QMJHL)

The reason why I only have one goaltender listed for the QMJHL is because we are unlikely to see a goaltender from this league in the top 2 positions. If I had to pick a lock for one of these positions....

CHET PICKARD - Tri-City Americans

As our interview with former teammate Tanner Gillies suggests, Pickard has spent a great deal of time learning everything he could from one of the NHL's elite young keepers, Carey Price, when he played for the Americans. This young keeper may be the top goaltender in the CHL at the moment, and the Nashville Predators see this talent, having drafted him 18th overall in 2008.

And our "perhaps biased" pick for Pickard's backup, or maybe potentially the starter, is......

Saskatchewan's own...

DUSTIN TOKARSKI - Spokane Chiefs

This product of Watson, Saskatchewan is the biggest underdog in the league, at the same time as being one of the elite goaltenders in the league. It is amazing how much this promising young star has flown under the radar, considering his resume. He has won a Canadian Midget National Championship with the Prince Albert Mintos, and led the Spokane Chiefs to a Memorial Cup last season, winning the tournament MVP award in the process, and yet the Tampa Bay Lighthing were able to draft Tokarski in a "steal" pick in the 5th round.

We at the PrairiePuck would love to see a Pickard/Tokarski tandem as the goaltender core for this years Canadian Junior team.

On that note, we're out.

Until next time,

PP

Luke Schenn Update

We hate the leafs, but by golly do we love Luke Schenn. I've been reading some Maple leafs fan blogs (these fans DO exist, I can't believe it either), and there's been some nice things said about the Saskatoon, SK product. Namely:

"Finally, let me write about LUKE SCHENN, or THE BEAR as I like to refer to him as. People want to believe that he is only a cub, the fact remains, this guy is no where near his potential, that said, at his worst he is an effective, strong, punishing defender who will stand up for his teammates, its scary to think about what he will become, what is scarier is that we may see it as early as this season." -leafer80

"LUKE SCHENN = Delicious + Talented. Yes i have the hots for Luke Schenn." -alyssaa16
**It should be noted that after reading this article, I realized this girl is really not smart in any other way then her taste in young Saskatchewan talent. Sorry babe.**

This post comes fresh after I read the news that Ron "PutinColdCujotoEnsureaLoss" Wilson made an announcement that Luke Schenn will not be rejoining his alma mater Kelowna Rockets. Instead, he will be manning the blue line for the blue shirts for a long time (if leaf fans have their way) or until someone swoops in and makes him very, very happy by picking him up (hello my beloved Red Wings?). I know that is not going to happen, but I'll keep the dream anyway.

Keep up the good work Luke Schenn. We're rootin' for ya.

WEEK#2 REVIEW

With 2 weeks gone in the NHL season, let's take a look at the Thumbs Up and Down thus far:

THUMBS UP - FABIAN BRUNNSTROM - Dallas Stars

We said it in our season preview close to a month ago. This kid is the real deal. In Brunnstrom's first NHL game on October 15, the 23 year old rookie sensation scored not one goal, not two goals, but completed a hat trick to help the Stars prevail 6-4 over Nashville. With 6 games under his belt to date, Brunnstrom has 4 goals and 1 assist for 5 points, making his presence known for Rookie of the year, as opposed to Steven Stamkos of the Lightning who has yet to record a point in 6 outings.

THUMBS DOWN - RON WILSON - Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Clearly Coach Wilson is not trying to win any popularity contests in Toronto, and I don't blame him with the goonies that he has to work with, but when your team fights back from a 2-0 deficit against the Anaheim ducks to send the game into a shootout, why on earth would a coach remove Vesa Toskala, who at that point had played the entire game, for veteran Oldballs Curtis Joseph who had been on the bench freezing his ass off for the last 2 and a half hours? Wilson claims, "I had nothing to lose", but didn't he have "the game" to lose? Wilson's bright idea to shake things up backfired, and Toronto lost in the shootout. Now's not the time to be creative Ron. Get yo god damn head on straight.


THUMBS UP - THOMAS VANEK - Buffalo Sabres

One of the most exciting players in the game, this Austrian sensation has been a breath of fresh air for coach Lindy Ruff, and he is earning every bit of that huge contract he signed last Summer. Maybe being an Oilers fan, I wish the Sabres hadn't matched the massive offer from Edmonton, but Vanek fits well in Buffalo too I suppose. In his 4th year in the league, this young star has made a name for himself in Buffalo, leading the league in goals with 8 and tied for 2nd in points with 11, in only 7 games. He is currently on pace for 93 goals and 35 assists for this season. I know it may be ridiculous to suggest that he could put up Gretzky numbers for goals, but if Vanek can manage to notch half of this pace, which he his fully capable of doing, Vanek could very well flirt with a 100 point season, and launch the Sabres back on top in the Northeast division.

THUMBS UP - Hockey Canada

We could praise Hockey Canada for many things, but a few things need to be addressed and Bob Nicholson needs a pat on the back for a job well done. First and foremost, the appointment of Yzerman as Executive director of the 2010 Canadian Olympic team was the right choice. If they would have appointed Gretzky again, we would have been furious. Don't get me wrong, Gretzky is the man, but just because you are a one of a kind player, does not mean that your talents always transfer to coaching or building a team. in 2006's disappointing effort in Turin, Italy, Canada was a team of all-stars, and not necessarily a team. We were outplayed by an underdog Swiss team, and we didn't come to win. With Yzerman, we all hope that the lesson was learned, and with help from directors Kevin Lowe and Ken Holland, who are among the best Canadian GMs in the league, I have faith in the direction this team is going.

Another thumbs up is due for Hockey Canada, who have brought the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships back to the prairie provinces in the next few years. In 2010, the cities of Regina and Saskatoon have been granted the hosting privelages for this prestigious tournament, and Edmonton/Calgary will host in 2012. Along with this tournament being hosted by Ottawa this year, Canada has a special opportunity to continue its Gold Medal streak to 5 straight titles on home turf this year, and continue the tradition at home in 2 out of the following 3 years.



Well that's all for now from the PrairiePuck. Enjoy Saturday with all 30 teams in action.



THE PRAIRIEPUCK

2nd Team in Toronto??

This past week has sparked informal discussions about a possible NHL expansion franchise in T.O., and a few words come to mind...."interesting", "intriguing", or my favorite, "retarded".

With the hatred of the Maple Leafs being a big part of our material here at the PrairiePuck, does the league really want another team to laugh at?? Let's review:

1. The Leafs are currently on pace for approximately a 14-27-41 record

2. The Leafs are a hotbed for incredibly mediocre players. Who are their stars? Jason Blake and Nik Antropov?

3. The Leafs have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. (Speaking of which, "Happy 42nd birthday of being fucking terrible Toronto")




---I could really go on, but why??

Despite being a team that a toddler ministick team could beat, the Leafs do have incredibly loyal fans and they will sell out damn near every night, even if they are watching a House League quality hockey game. So does the league really think that fans will support another group of goons? I hate Toronto, but how wierd would it be to see a team from Toronto that doesn't wear blue?

The bottom line, Toronto doesn't deserve another franchise, no matter if Toronto is a good market for it. A more probable scenario would be a weak franchise like Nashville moving up to Kitchener/Waterloo or Hamilton, owned by Blackberry big shot Jim Balsillie. What are they going to be,

The Toronto JR. Maple Leafs?

The Kitchener-Waterloo Blackberries?

We at the Prairiepuck would rather see:

-a franchise in Las Vegas,
-5 more teams in California,
-the purple blur over the puck on Fox hockey broadcasts to make a comeback
- Pierre Maguire of TSN to ironically be beaten to death by a "Monster"

than another team to come out of T.O. If the league can make any of these happen as an alternative, we will be most pleased.

Sincerely,

The PrairiePuck

Saskatchewfocus: Brendan Morrow

My crystal ball is shining, about to reveal news from the future. Listen closely...

On March 8th, 2009 @ 5:42pm CT, you will be watching the Dallas Stars play against the Montreal Canadiens. TSN will be broadcasting the game, and during a whistle break they will cut to a segment of Mic'd Up:

Brendan Morrow hits Alex Tanguay into the Canadiens bench and smiles a big Saskatchewan smile at Montreal coach Guy Carbenneau.

Carbenneau (in thicker-than-reality French Canadian accent): eh you 'dere, dat was unneccessary! Play wid some class sir!

Morrow: I had sex with your daughter last night, and I'm going to have sex with her again tonight.

(both laugh)

Carbenneau: ahh, you got me 'dere boy. See you at Thanksgiving.

Morrow: Bye Dad

(both salute, and Morrow proceeds to score seven goals, win two fights, and speak fluently and charismatically afterwards about how Sean Avery's arrival in Dallas, and maturity to cut back his antics and buy into the system have helped the organization a great deal.)

Cut back to present.

Brendan Morrow was born in Carlyle, Saskatchewan on January 16th, 1979. He domintated the SAHA when he played for the Estevan Bruins, scoring 117 goals in 60 games. He was picked up by the Portland Winter Hawks for four seasons, before he was drafted 25th overall by the Dallas Stars.

Brendan Morrow has had solid success in the NHL so far in his career. At the conclusion of the '08/'09 season he had amassed 374 points and 894 penalty minutes in 573 games, with a career plus/minus of +115.

The Moosomin, SK born Dave Tippet (who my dad played hockey with in Prince Albert, just so you know), gave the captaincy to a reluctant Brendan Morrow prior to the beginning of the '07/'08 season. Brendan said he would only accept as long as he had the blessing of longtime Dallas Stars leader Mike Modano. Once the good grace was given, Morrow took the captaincy and began leading. He had an excellent year, accepted the responsibility and the duties that come with the captaincy, and basically became a damn great guy. He's one of the players to watch this year, and we at The Prairie Puck have had our eyes on him for a while. We couldn't be more excited for Brendan Morrow.

If you're looking for a hero, where better to turn than to a strapping young man from Carlyle Saskatchewan who hooked up with his old linemate's daughter (Morrow and Carbenneau were linemates when Dallas won the Stanley Cup in '99), became captain of a solid NHL franchise, and looks good while he does it. We'd love to have a beer with you someday Mr. Morrow, captain, sir.

Tragedies happen, and sometimes it effects the world of hockey.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24494629-5013449,00.html

Alexei Andreyevich Cherepanov was born on January 15th, 1989 in Baraul, RSFSR, SU.

Cherepanov showed an enormous amount of promise as a young hockey star in Russia (actually, he showed more promise than I had realized. These stats are really amazing). He earned the sweet-ass nickname Siberian Express after posting more rookie-season-points than some decently high profile NHLers. Know anyone by the names of Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, and Malkin? Google that shit. He set these records at the rype old age of 17. He also broke one Pavel Bure's goal scoring record. These numbers make it seem like he may have done okay in the NHL.

He wasn't drafted until the NY Rangers took him 17th overall, after being ranked as the top European, expected to go in the top five of the '07 draft. It is assumed that he fell so far because there was no transfer agreement in place between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Cherepanov holds some other goal scoring records in Russia as well, and was continuing his career in the Kontinental Hockey League when on October 13th, 2008, he collapsed after finishing a shift with linemate Jaromir Jagr. They were talking on the bench, when Alexei suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to hospital, but it was too late.

It is always a tragedy to lose a young life, and this promising superstar is no different. The Rangers gave a fitting moment of silence in his memory. May Alexei Andreyevich Cherepanov, the Siberian Express, rest in peace.

WHAT'S HAPPENING SO FAR???

With the season well under way, we should take a look at how the teams are looking, and who are the favorites from the get-go. Let's take a look at who gets the thumbs up and who gets the thumbs down after the 1st week of play:


THUMBS UP - THE NEW YORK RANGERS

You read it here first: the Rangers mean business this year, and have stormed out of the gate with a 5-0-0 record thus far. Mind you, 2 of those games were against a young Tampa Bay team that is still searching for its identity, but beating divison rivals the Flyers and Devils and the young-gun Blackhawks were excellent efforts by the Blueshirts. If the season were to end today, the Rangers and the Sharks would be the favorites to play for the Cup, and oddly enough, they are my picks to play in that series. It will be a long season though, so let's see what happens.

THUMBS DOWN - THE CALGARY FLAMES

As it pains me to see the Flames struggling, and probably brings a big smile to Benji's face, I guess I have to remind myself that the season is young. A goal differential of 4 GF : 11 GA in only 2 games is something to be worried about though, as Kiprusoff is supposed to be among the elite keepers in the league, and on paper, the Flames have one of the best defenses in the league. Mike Camalerri seems to be fitting in, but Iggy has to step it up if the Flames plan to contend in the Northwest this season.

THUMBS UP - THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS

I don't see the Canucks making playoffs this year, but an impressive opening two games against the Flames, including a 6-0 opening night stomping show that the team that averaged less than 3 goals a game last year is doing quite well.

THUMBS WAAAAY DOWN - THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Even though the Leafs impressed everybody with an opening night win over the defending champion Red Wings, I am unconvinced. The worst team in hockey showed their true colours against the rival Canadiens, losing 6-1 without a prayer. The home opener was no better either, as in "regular Leafs' fashion", blew a 3-0 lead with a bonehead major boarding penalty from Ryan Hollweg agains the St. Louis Blues, only to lose in a shootout. The Leafs are now 1-1-1, but coach Ron Wilson is already showing his frustration, and Leafs fans will be trying to sell their season tickets by December. Say hello to the Chicago Cubs of hockey. (But in this case, nobody expects the Leafs to win)

THUMBS UP - TEAMS BUILDING AROUND YOUNG-GUNS

Here at the Prairiepuck, we support the NHL's youth movement, and are impressed at how these young kids are storming the league. We also are very impressed with the support that these organizations are putting behind their young players by signing them to long term contracts, and committing to them in the long haul by bestowing the captaincy in young hands. The teams with the brightest futures in the league, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers all have captains under the age of 23: Sid the kid at 21, Mike Richards at 23, and Jonathan Toews at 20.

THUMBS UP- THE MONTREAL CANADIENS

Kudos to the Habs for starting off their centennial year in style, with a shootout loss to Buffalo, a 6-1 stomping of the Leafs, and a 5-3 victory over Philly. A special Kudos goes to the Canadiens offense, particularly their powerplay on Saturday night, notching 3 goals, with Alex Tanguay finding a spark on his new team with 1 goal and 3 assists. I have to give props to the keepers as well, as Carey Price has made save after save, tallying two of the best highlight-reel saves this season, and we're only 3 games in. Not only Price, but Halak managed a solid game Saturday night against the Leafs, and I would like to see Halak suit up for up to 30 games this season.

THUMBS UP - THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS

I know you may be thinking that I already gave the Canucks a thumbs up, but they deserve an extra 2 thumbs up not only for their 6-0 performance on opening night agains the Flames, but for the special ceremony heald before the game. Missing the playoffs last year, the Canucks were unable to hold a traditional ceremony/moment of silence for their departed teammate, and they did a great job on opening night, and paid tribute to a great young player in a classy fashion. The hockey community hates to see when tragedies like these occur, and it's definitely a great thing the Canucks organization did to celebrate Bourdon's life.

On that note, check out our next post: A special piece on Alexei Cherepenov



Cheers,


THE PRAIRIEPUCK

CANADIAN TEAMS---THE EAST

Once again, we have a season preview for you featuring the 3 squads from Eastern Canada: The Ottawa Senators, the Montréal Canadiens, and it kills me, but the Toronto Maple Leafs.


Beginning in the nation's capital...



OTTAWA SENATORS (7th in the East last season)

Coach: Craig Hartsburg
Captain: Daniel Alfredsson
Assistants: Dany Heatley, Chris Phillips

-Once the elite team in the East for a significant stretch, the Ottawa Senators have the potential to be great, but as last season proved, they are their own worst enemy. After an impressive run to the cup final two seasons ago only to lose to the Anaheim Ducks, the Senators started last season with an amazing 15-0 record. Once their "star" goaltender Ray Emery returned from injury, the fact that Martin Gerber was keeping his own caused a goaltender controversy in Ottawa, plummeting themselves to nearly missing the playoffs all together. If you ask me, the only controversy in net was that they were extremely unfair to Emery, snowballing the situation to where Emery took out his frustration in an unacceptable fashion. Emery is the freakin man, and Martin Gerber is one of the weakest goaltenders in the league. But enough about last year.... The Senators are off to a good start, with a 1-0-1 record after the opening weekend in Sweden against the Pens, and aside from losing star defensemen Wade Redden and Andrej Meszaros in the off season, Jason Smith fit in well, and we all saw some good things from new Senator Alex Auld in between the pipes. Ottawa also has a rookie coach in Craig Hartsburg, but if his coaching style on the world stage in his 2 gold medals with the Canadian Juniors are any indication, they'll be ok. Overall, the Senators are looking ahead to the playoffs, but they are up against tough competition in Montréal, NYR, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and perhaps wildcards Buffalo and Washington. Wait...doesn't that put them in 9th????


LES CANADIENS DE MONTREAL (1st in the East last Season)

Coach: Guy Carbonneau
Captain: Saku Koivu
Assistants: Chris Higgins, Alex Kovalev

-I honestly don't know what to say about the Habs this year. An incredible season last year, finishing atop the East was cut short by a tough Philadelphia team, so this year with aquisitions like Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang, and the big bad Georges Laraque, is anything short of a Stanley Cup a disappointment? To say that the Habs have unbelievable pressure on them is an understatement, as the team is entering its Centennial year. Perhaps it would be a story-book ending for the Habs to hoist the Cup in June, so the added pressure could make it much more difficult. "Pressure" is also a word thrown around when we consider the Habs' starting goaltender, sophomore sensation Carey Price. In a move by Bob Gainey that stunned the league at the trade deadline, in which he made Price the starter after Huet was traded, many thought that Price would be the next Roy or Dryden and carry the team to a Cup victory in his rookie season. With a solid young backup in Jaroslav Halak, the Canadiens have no problems in net. Come to think of it, they have no problems on defense, no problems on offense, and an excellent coaching staff in the Carbonneau/Muller tandem. Overall, out of the 6 Canadian teams, the Habs are best contructed for a cup win. Predictions? I would have to say a Conference final loss to one of these 3 Atlantic division teams: The Penguins, the Flyers, or the Rangers.


TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (The worst damn team in sports)

Coach: RON WILSON
Captain: WHO CARES
Assistants: WHO CARES

-Good lord. That's all that I can say. Kudos to GM Cliff Fletcher for doing some much needed housecleaning this past Summer, as he followed up on what I said back in early August and shipped off Bryan McCabe to what appears to be the Maple Leafs farm team, the Florida Panthers. Maybe a reason why the Leafs are so bad is because they keep doing business with teams like the Panthers....no? I can only imagine players that are lounging in the heat of Florida in the Summer when they get the phonecall that they have been traded. Here's how the conversation may go:

Agent: Hey Mike (Van Ryn), I've got some good news
Van Ryn: Oh hello agent, that is awesome...what you got?
Agent: I know you like the weather down there, but I made a deal to get you
traded from that god awful team
Van Ryn: Super duper...where am I headed?
Agent: You're going back to Ontario, closer to your hometown of London!
Van Ryn: Get the hell outta here, I'm going to be an Ottawa Senator? That's
awesome!
Agent: Ahhh yeeeahhh the thing about that is.....you'll be playing with the Maple
Leafs
CONVERSATION OVER AFTER MIKE VAN RYN GIVES HIMSELF A CONCUSSION FROM BANGING HIS HEAD SEVERAL TIMES ON THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY OF HIS FLORIDA HOME

But I digress...Let's recap on the Leafs chances this year. Who do the Leafs have for a top-6 forward crew? Well there's Nik Antropov, Jason Blake, Niklas Hagman, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan, Alex Steen, and Dominic Moore, who all combined for 235 points last year. (Just a side note...Ottawa's top 6 forwards tallied just shy of 400 points). My predictions for this year?
1. Luke Schenn (An awesome SK product) will lose his mind
2. Ron Wilson will turn to the bottle
3. Group councelling sessions for troubled Leafs Fans will be the
new thing to do in Toronto on a Friday night
4. The worst teams in the AHL, CHL, and the ECHL will all have
better records than the Leafs.

It's tough to be tough unless you're the toughest

Contrary to popular belief, I have never been punched full on in the face. I have run my mouth and got popped in the chin during a senior hockey game, but that's nothing compared to what I imagine a full-fledged fist to the face would feel like. Derek Boogaard, on the other hand, knows exactly what it feels like... I think. I've always wondered if guys who get punched as much as him somehow don't feel it the way he does. I'm sure if he was from Alberta, Manitoba, or France, he would not be the same 6 foot, 7 inch, 270 pound tower of angry that strikes fear in the very soul of every enforcer in the NHL.

Derek Boogaard was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and currently plays with the Minnesota Wild as the "I'm going to mess up your entire universe" player.

When it comes to our Saskatchewan heroes, we at The Prairie Puck care about the finer things. The finer things are those bits and pieces of information that single Saskatchewanianites out from the rest of the league. I know, the awesomeness of Saskatchewan singles them out already, but here's something a little bit extra:

Bit of information #1: Boogeyman misses victim and annhialates the glass.
Watch This!!

This video speaks for itself. That's a lot of power going through that shit.

Bit of information #2: He and his brother run a summer fighting camp in Regina, SK.
This has obviously sparked some controversy, and I'm not going to get into that here. I will say, however, that anyone who thinks a fighting camp is controversial must be a tea-drinking-outdoor-badminton-playing-piece-of-old-rotten-sour-cream-pie. That's all I'm going to say. The Boogaards maintain that the camp shows kids how to fight so they won't get hurt when they fight.

Bit of information #3: He beats the life out of people on a regular basis, most notably a fight with Todd Fedoruk during which Derek cleaned Fedoruk's clock, and ended his career. Note that our man doesn't want to fight, but the unfortunate Duck can't take no for an answer.
Watch This!!

Bit of information #4: He's an incredible actor, cut from the mold of a Brad Pitt or a Paulie Shore.

Watch This!!

And lastly, here's a little highlight reel for you. Derek Boogaard is obviously from Saskatchewan.
Watch This!!


So there you go, a few videos and some information to tell you about another of our Saskatchewan Heroes. Thanks for reading, and tell your friends. Hey. If you wrote something sweet we'd tell our friends. Do us a solid.

SEASON PREVIEW: Your Canadian clubs

Hello again everyone, and welcome back to our previews of the upcoming NHL season, with fantasy pick advice, players to watch, a hartwarming special interest piece about Florida Panthers tough guy Wade Belak, and now, your season preview for our 5 Canadian hockey teams. (I know there is 6, but Toronto is YOUR hockey team, not ours). Starting from the West.....

VANCOUVER CANUCKS (11th in the West last season)

Coach: ALAIN VIGNEAULT

Captain: ROBERTO LUONGO

Assistants: RYAN KESLER, MATTIAS OHLUND, WILLIE MITCHELL

The Canucks are a wildcard this year. With a 2 year, $20 million contract pending for Mats Sundin, this team COULD be much better than it is now, but we'll have to wait and see. Notable Canucks that left the team in the offseason were forwards Brendan Morrison who now plays with Annaheim, and former captain Markus Naslund, who has already played extremely well with the Rangers. New aquisitions include Steve Bernier and Pavol Demitra to compliment the scoring touch of Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Aside from having one of the best goaltenders in the game, who is now the team captain, a 6-0-1 record in the preseason does not mean much. Don't hold your breath for the Canucks to make the playoffs this year.

CALGARY FLAMES (7th in the West last season)

Coach: MIKE KEENAN

Captain: JAROME IGINLA

Assistants: ROBYN REGEHR, DION PHANEUF

Initial reports are that among Tampa Bay and Chicago, Calgary is one of the top teams this year that have improved their team in the offseason. If there's one thing for sure, the Flames did some housecleaning. Parting ways with a disappointing effort from forward Alex Tanguay and "liability" defenseman Rhett Warrener, who was recently put on waivers, the Flames made room to pick up the scoring (and speed) talent of Los Angeles star Mike Camalerri, the tough (but effective) Todd Bertuzzi, and Tampa Bay tough guy Andre Roy. The Flames are much tougher, and along with a solid Top 6 forward crew of Iginla, Camalerri, Conroy, Langkow, Bertuzzi, and Lombardi, they also have one of the most solid defensive cores in the league, lead by Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr, with Adrian Aucoin, Jim Vandermeer, and Saskatoon-native Cory Sarich to round out the squad. Let's not forget about Kiprusoff between the pipes, either. The Flames will have an excellent shot at the Division lead this year.

EDMONTON OILERS (9th in the West last season)

Coach: CRAIG McTAVISH

Captain: ETHAN MOREAU

Assistants: STEVE STAIOS, SHAWN HORCOFF

One of the most exciting teams to watch down the stretch last season, the Oilers have a shot to restore the identity of the Edmonton franchise, and reclaim Edmonton as "The City of Champions". Maybe a Cup-contender is a stretch, but Edmonton has my vote for the most promising young lineup in the league. Last year, Edmonton knew how to win in clutch games, having an impressive record in shoot-outs, and did so with an incredible young lineup. With star players like Shawn Horcoff, Sheldon Souray, and captain Ethan Moreau sidelined for the season, young guns Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, and Robert Nilsson elevated their rookie seasons, playing like veterans. Roster moves that included the departures of Melville SK, product Jarret Stoll and Raffi Torres, and the aquisitions of forward Erik Cole, defenseman Lubomir Viznovsky, and Brock SK, tough guy Steve MacIntyre were the right moves for this squad. Providing the Oilers remain healthy, they will be a force in the Northwest division. The prospects are so deep on this team, that along with Sophomore sensations Gagner, Cogliano, and Nilsson, keep an eye out for rookie goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers to step in for the "seasoned" Dwayne Roloson very soon, and rookie Rob Schremp, who will be on of the most exciting and dynamic players in the game in the next few years. For a visual, Watch This!!

Sask Player Spotlight - TANNER GILLIES

To get to know a bit more about the hockey talent that comes out of Saskatchewan, we had an opportunity to chat with former WHL forward Tanner Gillies, from Moose Jaw, SK about his experience playing in the Dub. I know he may be a Leafs' fan, but try not to hate him for it.





PrairiePuck: "Alright first question: Who are you and what team(s) did you play your junior
hockey with?"

Tanner: "I am Tanner Gillies, 6'3, 210 lbs (when I played), Drafted by the Moose
Jaw Warriors 40th overall in 2002 entry draft. I was traded to the Red
Deer Rebels and played in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons, and was
then traded to the Tri-City Americans where I played the 2006-2007
season."

PrairiePuck: "That's quite the resumé. In all of your hockey career, who was the best coach
you've ever had?"

Tanner: "Well I liked both Brent Sutter and Don Nachbaur for different reasons. I
probably responded better to Don because although he was intense, he
wasn't as instense as Brent. I learned a lot from Brent, but I would say Don
if I had to choose."

PrairiePuck: "As an avid Maple Leafs fan (I assume you still are), what do the Leafs have a
better chance at this year, A) Playoffs
B) Drafting John Tavares 1st Overall?"

Tanner: "Hahaha. I know it's an exhibition game, but right now they are getting
stroked by the Blues 5-1, so I think they are going to do neither. They will
try to make the playoffs, but end up right in the middle of playoffs and
John Tavares."

PrairiePuck: "Nobody said you were a realist, Tanner."

Tanner: "Hahaha"

PrairiePuck: "You've had the pleasure of playing on the same teams as NHL stars such as Dion
Phaneuf and Carey Price. How does it feel seeing old teammates doing so well on
the big stage?"

Tanner: "It's awesome to see them doing well. Every time I check game summaries
on the net, they are the first people I check for. I love to see Price do well,
probably because I got to know him better. It's cool to see them on TV and
you know you've played with them"

PrairiePuck:
"Something to tell the kids I'm sure. This next one is a two part question. You had the pleasure of playing in Tri-City with one of Regina's own Boogaard boys, Aaron.
A)--Is his moustache for real?
B)--How long before he makes a splash with Pittsburgh? "

Tanner: "Hahahaha. The stache is 100% for real. He is the guy I have probably
kept in touch with most, going drinking with him and hang out together
while he is in Regina during the off season. I'm plannin on going to
Pittsburgh to stay with him for a week to hang out with Sidney Crosby and
Evgeni Malkin. So I'm thinking he will get called up for a few games this
year and I'm hoping he will stick there within the next 3 years. He told me
he got in a bunch of tilts at Camp and did really well in those and all of the
scouts said they were very impressed with him. So it depends on how
Godard does or how long he's there."

PrairiePuck:
"I'm sure with the loss of Georges Laraque, they'll need someone like Aaron to take care of Sid the Kid. Between Aaron and big brother Derek, who wins in a fight? "

Tanner: "Well Derek has the height and weight advantage, but I know Aaron also
has lots of experience and I know he has tons of heart. So I don't know how
many fights Aaron would win against Derek, but there is no way he would
ever back down if challenged."

PrairiePuck: "Well put. Let's end off with a little word association."

Tanner: "Haha ok."

PrairiePuck: "Your first WHL goal:"

Tanner: "Haha it was late February 2005 in Vancouver. The game was on Sportsnet
so I got my first goal on National TV haha. But it was way too late in the
season for my liking."

PrairiePuck: "Your first WHL fight:"

Tanner: "Not sure of the date, but it was against Matt Kassian, who was voted the
toughest guy in the West for 2 years when he was in the WHL. He's now the
Minnesota farm team tough guy."

PrairiePuck: "Win or Loss?"

Tanner: "Haha I may have got my gloves off early and got him with a few, but then
seatbelted when I realized who I grabbed."

PrairiePuck: "Hahaha fair enough." Brent Sutter: "

Tanner: "Perfectionist...or intense"

PrairiePuck: "The Kipling Royals"

Tanner: "Oh man...entertaining...for an 11 year old"

PrairiePuck: "To say the least....How about playing hockey in a state not known for hockey?"

Tanner: "Interesting. They don't know much about the rules, but cheer just as hard
if not harder than Canadian fans."

PrairiePuck: "Wow, I wouldn't have guessed."

Tanner: "It's crazy. In Everett's first year as a team, the fans didn't know anything.
They would go absolutely nuts if they iced the puck or if the other team
went offside. They just cheer about everything."

PrairiePuck: "Hahaha...sounds about right....Ok a few more here. Chet Pickard: "

Tanner: "Work horse. When I was there, he didn't get in the lineup a lot, but
worked hard in practice and in the weightroom, taking as much advice in
as he could from Carey to get better."

PrairiePuck: "How long before he dons a Predators uniform?"

Tanner: "That's tough for me to say. When I was there, he wasn't in much and I
never got to see him play at all last year, but judging by his record, he will
be in a Preds uni, but not quite sure when. He might have to put some time
in the AHL."

PrairiePuck: "Fair enough. Stanley Cup Champs in 2009? (And don't say the Leafs)"

Tanner: "Hahaha. The Pens. They are a year older, lost Hossa, but I still think they
will make some noise."

PrairiePuck: "I agree. Their entire division will be tough though."

Tanner: "Exactly"

PrairiePuck: "One final question. Your WHL experience in one word:"

Tanner: "Memorable. Wouldn't change a thing, except not making the NHL and
all."

PrairiePuck: "That's 12 words, but thanks anyways."





T-O-P