fyi, Al-Qa'bong, there are some Winnipeg NHL fans that became Oiler fans once the Jets left town. I knew a few ... they felt a duty to support ANOTHER Canadian-based team, hated Bettman, etc, and I'm a little curious how they are feeling now.
hmm. I think a call might be in order.
DONE.
fyi, Al-Qa'bong, there are some Winnipeg NHL fans that became Oiler fans once the Jets left town
I suppose that's possible, but my attitude is more like that of the fans in Death by Popcorn (see the link I added a few posts ago), who hated the Oilers and Gretzky (and especially Glenn Anderson - I didn't like him when the Leafs signed him in '93, even though I still liked Tim Watters, who played in LA that year), with a Biblical passion.
a propos of nothing, during a rec touranment in St. Lazare in the mid-80s, one of our guys (who may have been a little tipsy, I don't know, it was a rec tournament after all) would go out onto the ice ahead of the rest of the team, saying "Ladies and gentlemen, The Winnipeg Jets!"
Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams is close to striking a deal to bring an American Hockey League team to St. John's.
"This opportunity was too good to let go," said Williams Wednesday evening.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/06/01/nl-...
"I think he's a snake," Newton said. "The booing at the speech he gave (in Winnipeg Tuesday) is an indication of our feelings towards him in Winnipeg. I remember going to Jets games when I was little. There's some bitter feelings there even though I was very young."
Newton made an informal offer Friday that she'd happily give free haircuts to any of Winnipeg's new NHL players, as well as offering discounts to season ticket holders.
That courtesy will not extend to the commissioner.
"Gary Bettman isn't welcome in my salon. If he came in I'd tell him to get out," Newton said.
The "Jets" sold their 13, 000 season tickets in 17 minutes today.
The formal announcement that an AHL team will be playing in St. John's this fall started Friday with an informal ball hockey game at the centre that will host the new team.
Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, one of the driving forces behind efforts to bring professional hockey back to the city, was joined by Craig Heisinger, the director of hockey operations and assistant general manager of Winnipeg's new NHL franchise.
"We got it. We got the AHL back...I couldn't be happier," said Williams Friday morning.
Williams will operate the as-yet unnamed team, which will be owned - at least for now - by True North, which is moving the Atlanta Thrashers to its home city of Winnipeg.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/06/10/nl-...
Since I have little interest in sports now, other than watching my kid hot dogging in his 3-on-3 hockey league and preparing myself to agonise over the Riders for another season, let's go back to the NHL for half a mo'.
I didn't point out that the Bruins, with their 16 out of 21 players, were more representative of Canada than those whiny prima donnas with the cool whale on their sweaters, but I thought they were the kind of team that ought to appeal to Canadians' tastes.
Here's another guy who thinks so:
Just look at the road Boston took to the Cup, too, a bumpy, backwoods trail as Canadian as maple syrup and the beaver.Four overtime periods in Round 1. Three Game 7s. Trailing Montreal two games to none. Losing the first two to Vancouver. These guys come back like the loonie.
Meanwhile the Canucks seemed so busy admiring their regular-season and early playoff handiwork they nearly choked away a 3-0 series lead against Chicago, Round 1.
Having learned nothing, they roared into the Final, eked out the first two games and got all full of themselves again.
So un-Canadian.
“They’re so cocky,” the Nova Scotia rat said. “They thought they were just going to roll over us. We went out there, we kept our mouth shut and we won.”
Canada's team really did win Cup
That last quote reminds me of something a Red Army soldier said in The World at War (7:17 of the fourth clip) about the Germans after the battle of Stalingrad: "Germans are funny fellows; coming to conquer Stalingrad in shiny leather boots. They thought it would be a joyride."
The Canucks were a lot of things, perhaps too small, perhaps too injured. But I don't know why they are any more prima donna's than any of the teams that they played. But I guess if you look at things with tinted glasses you see a tinted version.
Canada's team really did win Cup
But, as you mentioned in the latest SCS thread, professional sports really don't work that way.
Except for Luongo. I guess he is a bit of a prima donna.
Canada's team really did win Cup
But, as you mentioned in the latest SCS thread, professional sports really don't work that way.
What's your point?
NHL hockey is not simply a game, it is representative of obedience to consumerism and is part of the state's attempt to forge a false identity -- despite vast differences and inequalities across race, class, and gender, through the spectacle of sport.
Professional sport is a lot less than and a lot more than "representing" a city or country.
Canada's team really did win CupBut, as you mentioned in the latest SCS thread, professional sports really don't work that way.
What's your point?
The point is, professional sports teams don't represent the various countries from which the teams' members come. They represent the cities in which they are based.
ETA: Edited for grammar...
The point is, professional sports teams don't represent the various countries from which the teams' members come. They represent the cities in which they are based.
No foolin'? Of course no team is really "Canada's team," but lots of fans like to claim their team represents Canada. Then again, saying that the Tampa Bay Lightning represent anything about Florida or the Nashville team represents Tennessee is rather misleading.
No foolin'? Of course no team is really "Canada's team," but lots of fans like to claim their team represents Canada. Then again, saying that the Tampa Bay Lightning represent anything about Florida or the Nashville team represents Tennessee is rather misleading.
So, what was your point when you said "Canada's team really did win Cup"?
It's like saying, "America's team really did win the World Series in 1992" -- not the Toronto Blue Jays -- because all of the players but about five were Americans (none of whom were Canadians).
So, what was your point when you said "Canada's team really did win Cup"?
I didn't write that, it was the title of the article I linked to. Whatever the case, narrow definitions are not always useful. It's obvious that the term "Canada's team" was used figuratively there.
The NHL board of governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers, paving the way for the club to move to Winnipeg for next season.
True North Sports and Entertainment bought the team last month and announced it was bringing the Thrashers to Winnipeg, which lost the Jets to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season. Tuesday's vote by the board was the final hurdle in the process to relocate the team.
The votes on the sale and the relocation were unanimous among the league's owners.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/06/21/sp-winnipeg-sale-approved.html#ixzz1Q0PfNsi4
Brian Burke (via some sportswiter) on the new Winnipeg franchise:
But it seems the Drive to 13,000 season tickets that impressed so many around the league — and resulted in NHL governors rubber-stamping Winnipeg’s purchase and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers, Tuesday — hasn’t stopped Burke from wondering about the long-term health of the league’s new kid on the block.
“It’s not a slam dunk. Everyone in Winnipeg has to support this team,” he said. “The fact they sold out the building in two minutes or 10 minutes, whatever it was — they could have sold the building out three times. But that’s the first five years. That’s the easy part, that’s the low-hanging fruit.
"Low-hanging fruit?" "Slam dunk?"
Yu'd think the least he could do is use a metaphor from hockey, such as "It's not an empty net" or "It's not a breakaway."
Brayden Schenn just got traded from L.A. to Philly for Mike Richards.
Toronto-Philly games will have some added interest when Luke and Brayden meet.
That's the kind of player LA needed. They look like a very very good team if they can avoid injuries to their core.
You have to admire Philly though, they're deep enough they'll probably pull this off.
The Saint John Sea Dogs may be down some players as five of their own have been drafted to the NHL, and another four are among the prospects.
Jonathan Huberdeau was called third during the first round of the NHL entry draft.
...Saint John defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was picked by the Montreal Canadiens
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/06/25/nb-seadogs-...
Shrewd move by San Jose. They trade soft Canadian floater for faster European clutch playoffer performer. Minny doesn't look any better this year but they might be moving away from playing such a boring style of hockey.
Toronto's blueline is looking pretty tight, too bad the Eastern conference looks like it's going to be a lot more competitive next year.
The Leafs will be better, but that's not enough. Someone above them has to get worse. And not only that, but the late season charge by the Devils means that they are back, and the Leafs will be in tough for 7th and 8th.
A lot of sports writers and pundits think the Leafs did well on the weekend, but looking over the player stats, I don't see it as that striking. Incremental change for the better, yes. But not worth talking about much. Hope I'm wrong.
Yeah, I think New Jersey will be back to form although coaching seemed to be the difference last year there and that's going to change again. Buffalo, New York and Florida(although they could use a goalie)all look better on paper. It's hard to see who Toronto is going to pass, I'd probably bet against Toronto making the playoffs but their blueline does look very deep now which could be a difference maker if Reimer plays well. I really liked what I saw of Franson last year. A big upgrade on Ledba. Reimer's the key, if he plays well again then Toronto could be the wild card in the conference.
Reimer's been a 920 save percentage goalie, for the most part, everywhere he's played. That's pretty solid, and I think it shows a kind of consistency that will allow players to take a few risks.
Maybe the biggest change will be the assistant coaches. If they could get anything like a better than league average power play and penalty kill, that alone would make the difference between making the playoffs and not.
Seems to me the Habs and Sabers kind of stood pat with thier teams. The Rangers added Richards.
I just don't see the numbers that support Connolly as a "fist line center" but everyone in hockey says he is, so maybe he is, and that's a better aquisition than I think it is. And, I figured Lucic wasn't that big a deal, either, what with the big injury he had and so far I'm wrong about him. Again, Lombardi seems to be a huge risk-- if I'm wrong about that, then things might be okay.
They signed Clark MacArthur a few hours ago.
Too bad, I was kinda hoping the Canucks were going to offer sheet him, he would have been a nice fit on Kesler's wing. I think the Leafs picked up Lombardi's contract just to get Franson and they knew they'd have extra cap space after they lost the Richards sweepstakes. If he gets healthy that'd be a bonus but the fact Nashville basically gave Franson away makes me think that taking Lombardi's contract was the price. Connolly isn't a first line center but he was the closest thing available. I don't think Burke had a lot of options.
Buffalo definitely got better. The Erhoff and Leino contracts will probably hurt them down the road but they're both very useful players. The fact they also picked up Regehr suggests they realize that Erhoff is not a #1 defenseman and needs to be hidden defensively but very helpful at generating offense from the backend and great on the powerplay. The Sedins went from 80 point to 100 point players when they picked up Erhoff, a lot of Canucks fans are anxious about where those points are going to come from now. With Buffalo's young core and Miller in goal, they'll be competing at the top of the conference.
Oh, deffinately the pick up of Lombardi's contract was a salary dump by Nashville, and part of the price for Franson. Apparently, Nashville didn't insure Lombardi's contract against injury, so they are picking up the entire tab for a player not playing. Lombardi has been rehabilitating himself well. In years past, he'd probably have been playing again not long after the injury last October. So, by taking a year out it increases his chances to return in pre-injury form. I remember years ago everyone wrote of John Mclean after he broke his leg, and he came back after more than a year off not just to play, but to pick right up where he left off.
It can happen, and if it does for Lombardi, then the Leafs got a real steal this summer in the Predators deal. Heck, dumping Lebda for nothing is a step up according to many Leaf fans.
But still, when you think of it, even if the Leafs fire on all cylinders all season, making the playoffs depends on at least one, likely two other teams seriously under achieving.
Oh, and Carolina is trying to tweak it's line up with Leaf castoffs, so I guess that's one team we don't have to worry too much about.
Winnipeg Jets Logo and militarism
It is no secret that the new Jets logo was co-developed, or at least endorsed by the Department of National Defense, in an effort to support the military.Advertising agencies often use imagery, brands or logos to get products or ideas into the homes of millions of Canadians, with the hope that their product will be known and accepted as a common household item.
Perhaps, as Mangan's sport and cultural conditioning theory would suggest, the CF-18's placement and association with the cardinal north in the logo is meant to normalize the government's current military endeavors in Canada's North among Canadian households, staking claim to northern sovereignty and building public support.
Or perhaps it is to garner public support for the government's recent multi-billion dollar investment in fighter jet upgrades, which is facing cost-overruns and criticism today.
Time to start a boycott of the Winnipeg Jets. Maybe they can relocate to Quebec City.
It's certainly a long way from the "Winnipeg Voyageurs" - which would have honoured Winnipeg's and Manitoba's Francophone history - or a public contest.
After all, the public is subsidizing this private business isn't it? Didn't the various levels of government arrange to have the MTS Centre built at public expense and included the sweetener that, while the old Winnipeg Arena staff was unionized, the new building came with a shiny, new "union free" status?
In Winnipeg for a funding announcement Tuesday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay shared his approval of the new Jets logo."I personally love it," said MacKay who couldn't resist adding that the aircraft depicted bore more than a passing resemblance to the new F-35s the government has in its sights.
I think it will alienate some potential fans because of its militarism but apart from being ugly it looks like a big target-not exactly the best thing to be wearing while you're skating around on the ice. A lot of the mockups online have been way better, you'd think a small market team would have put a little more effort into their marketing.
Sean Avery of the New York Rangers was arrested early Friday morning after an incident at his home in Los Angeles, the website TMZ.com is reporting.
According to the report, police were responding to a noise complaint at Avery's Hollywood Hills address when the player shoved an officer and slammed the door on the police.
Avery reportedly co-operated after the initial brushoff and was subsequently booked for battery on a peace officer. He was released roughly seven hours later after posting $20,000 US bail.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/08/05/sp-avery-report.html#ixzz1UB0c6Yc0
Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien has been found dead in his Alberta home.
The Jets confirmed the 27-year-old forward's death in a statement Monday night.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm Rick's passing," the statement read.
"As many people are aware, he had strong ties to True North Sports & Entertainment, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, the former Manitoba Moose Hockey Club and the Vancouver Canucks. We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the Rypien family as well as Rick's friends."
The RCMP in Crowsnest Pass, Alta., said they received a call at 12:30 p.m. MT concerning a "sudden and non-suspicious" death.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/08/15/sp-rypien.html#ixzz1VCBRnH00
A Habs fan, a Sens fan, and a Leafs fan are climbing a mountain and arguing about who loves their team the most. The Sens fan insists that he is the most loyal and yells "this is for Ottawa" and jumps off the mountain. Not to be outdone, the Habs fan next professes his love for his team and yells "this is for Montreal" and pushes the Leafs fan off the mountain.
Don't forget us Canuck fans. We are back at the camp faking an injury.
Ha...sorry Pogo. But at least I passed on the opportunity to take a jibe at the riots...
In other news, a sad summer for the NHL got sadder:
Former Leafs enforcer Wade Belak found dead in Toronto hotel
The hockey world was reeling Wednesday after popular former Maple Leaf enforcer Wade Belak was found dead in a Toronto hotel room.
His body was discovered at the tony 1 King West hotel and condo building. Police have not released the cause of his death.
Belak is the third NHL tough guy to die since May. Winnipeg forward Rick Rypien, who suffered from depression, was found dead earlier this month. In May, New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard’s death was ruled an accidental overdose of an alcohol and oxycodone mixture.
So, can we start talking openly now about the dangers of the tough guy culture hockey has cultivated?
This summer is providing much food for thought for the abolition of fighting in hockey.
I'd like to see one more hockey fight and then no more. I'd like to see Ron McLean follow up one of his ugly grimaces by pulling Don Cherry's pimp jacket over his swelled head and then administering a richly deserved thumping ... after which they could both be fired from HNIC and replaced by some genuine sports journalists. hell yea.
