Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12. (tomorrow!)

Rangers & Royals open the Cactus League on Feb. 21 in Surprise, Arizona.

Maple Loafs, Flames, Blackhawks, Jets, and Les Habitants will have to “wait til next year”.

(p.s., the only thing I know about Elkhorn is that I've stopped overnight there at the Man-ee-toe-bah Visitor Centre - I hope their rink barn is in good shape, not like Fleming, Saskabush just up the road.) 

I'm having a wee bit of trouble adjusting to the Canucks being a decent team.... got used to just bypassing their TV game listings.   One thing I did note was how slight [aka skrawny] Elias Pettersson appears on TV.... and how he gets "bounced around."     [P.S. I wonder what the Canucks might pull out of the hat to counter that??   ]  Hockeydb.com says 6'2"/176 lbs. but I think the 176 must have been after he'd spent the day [or two] at an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

Edit: I haven't been in the Elkhorn arena, so I consulted the all-knowing Google.... pics make it look pretty typical [i.e. metal I-beam framework, etc.].  The NCHL plays most of their game on weekends; 8 or 8:30 start times are commonplace.  I'm hoping that maybe they'll have more afternoon games in the playoffs.... better driving conditions for us old dudes that have to be in bed by 11:00.

Michael Ferland is injured - he was the Canucks’ policeman. A skilled, tough player (a Burkie favourite from his Calgary days), he unfortunately has a concussion history.

Heck, I can probably kill 4 birds with one stone without even trying too hard....name dropping, being "off topic," posting posts without a broad appeal, and promoting music.  We've gone to this festival the last couple of years, and expect/hope to add to the tally this summer.... 'way better bang for my buck than Blueberry in Stoney Plain... and hint, hint... there's room for a banjo player*! 

I didn't do any sophisticated sleuthing, but the buzz on the street [I didn't keep track of which one, but I think there are only 3] is that this is MF's stomping ground, although hockeydb.com says Swan River.  His family has a ranch just beyond the outskirts, and relatives of his are performers and movers-and-shakers in the local music "scene."  As for name dropping... I was farting around with my banjo in the [free] trailer parking area and who stops by for some idle chit-chat but the answer to the hockey trivia question: "Who was Clarke's and Leach's line mate with the FF Bombers?"

* = that means you, Chuck, not me!!

I knew you were outstanding in your field, Owen.

Must’ve been Russel’s own Reichmuth...

Meanwhile, we're stuck here in a hockey backwater, as far as the Kingston OHL team goes. Kingston is last in its division and second-last overall, playing in an arena we paid $50m for and loses money.

Or maybe we could talk about theft - about how Ilya Kovalchuk was a "steal" for the Habs. Best move Bergevin ever made, which means it was probably unintentional.

I thought DT was referring to delirium tremens. Right, Chuck?

Close Chuck, but no see-gar .... maybe a soggy stub.    Read all about him here: https://www.thereminder.ca/arts-culture/ron-burwash-a-man-of-music-hockey-and-m%C3%A9tis-culture-1.23129059   It turns out that we know/knew several of the same people from around San Clara and Boggy Creek, and when the high schools reorganized into "divisions"  I was in the same class in Roblin as couple of his [very attractive] cousins, and he knows my relatives in FF.    Alas, our discussions re. playing music were rather limited.... and I don't have to tell you which of us was the weak link!!

P.S.  I thought MD was referring to Mr. Dress-up.  Right Paul?  

No fair,,, I was looking for a left winger - that list has Burwash looking like a has-been bench warmer/stick boy. ;-)
I didn’t know there were any Spanish place names in Mannee-toe-bah...San Clara,,?
FF...? Hmmm, sounds ,,,,well, u know

quote:

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Originally posted by Owen

P.S.  I thought MD was referring to Mr. Dress-up.  Right Paul?  

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More like "Mr. Dress Weird".

Nah... this is Mr. Dress Weird:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj1GKO-0z3A 

...and If it's not weird, at least it's funny [geez, it sounds like I might have seen a few Red Greens.... "if the women don't find...etc."

Edit: Chuck, the RC church in San Clara is the Ste. Claire parish.    Don't know any of the ins-and-outs, which was there first, etc.

Hey, some cheap good-looking property up there. Even got rhubarb and raspberry bushes,, & lotsa space fer an outdoor rink. https://roblinrealtytravel.ca/property/midsize-acreage-san-clara/
Looks as if they liked the Spanish-sounding name back then,,,,wonder how the French connection folks took to that decision...

Looks like the Anglos didn't want a French name?

St. Clare was the parish of the first school I taught at. A few different spellings of the name. It's on St. Clair Avenue in T.O. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Clair_Avenue

When I was busking in the TO subways I went to the St. Clair West station twice. Damn high school kids would drop pennies on me from the landing up above. I avoided that spot after that. Name-dropping time : (and a hockey tie-in) while busking I saw and sometimes chatted with Eddie Shack, John Turner, Mel (Bad Boy) Lastman, former mayor David Crombie, Dave Broadstreet, Bob Cole, Don Francks, Liona Boyd’s Dad.

Well Duh!  Looks like the Anglos didn't want a French name? j/k.

I had looked at recipes for Shakshuka before I saw that egg commercial. 

We tried it with canned tomatoes & fresh peppers. I used hot Italian sausage, nutmeg & cinnamon.  

Poach them eggs down in there. serve on potatoes or rice or as is.

i

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

When I was busking in the TO subways I went to the St. Clair West station twice. Damn high school kids would drop pennies on me from the landing up above. I avoided that spot after that. Name-dropping time : (and a hockey tie-in) while busking I saw and sometimes chatted with Eddie Shack, John Turner, Mel (Bad Boy) Lastman, former mayor David Crombie, Dave Broadstreet, Bob Cole, Don Francks, Liona Boyd’s Dad.

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Well, Chuck, as long as we're name dropping, I met a few of those: John T. at my graduation, Mel "Function" when I was giving blood, and Crombie on the Trillium side-wheeler on a harbour event. The teacher in the class next to mine was Dave Keon's sister Pat; the second last time I met him was at her retirement. He was with Dick Duff. The last time was at her funeral.

I met Murray McLauchlan in the Mariposa Folk Festival office. The office manager, Tannis, said, "Murray Mc\Lauchlan's coming over. Watch what you say!" We said hi. And I had dinner (fried chicken) with John Prine back at the hotel, Mariposa '72. And I carried Elizabeth Cotten's guitar - a high point.

I would have loved to have met Dave Broadfoot. Outside the Kingston Whig Standard building is the "Dave Broadfoot Memorial Parking Lot", dedicated in 1999, long before his passing.

quote:

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Originally posted by bubbalouie

Well Duh!  Looks like the Anglos didn't want a French name? j/k.

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I grew up in Montreal when the English were the power elite and the Quebecois were the working stiffs. It was okay to name a new hotel after the Queen, but, until the Quiet Revolution, not much with a French name. The Anglos didn't go east on Ste-Catherine past Morgan's department store. And sales clerks always served you in English - and they were mostly French. Times have changed.

Oops, that’s Broadfoot , not Broadstreet. I saw him come my way walking up the corridor,, I started smiling & and chuckling,, he caught my look and grinned. When he came up to where I was I said,”You make me laugh.” He poked me on the chest and said, “You’re a funny guy!” and continued walking.
I was in Montreal a few years ago, went in to a Zellers ,didn’t know they were just closing. One of the gals said something about “fermez” ,,I said “Closed?” She laughed and said “Oui,, we’re closed.” Another time I had to pick up in Victoriaville (remember those hockey sticks?). All I knew was “camion” meaning truck, and “port neuf” for door nine. The shipping clerk knew “hi” and “bye”.

Well, it could have been David Bradstreet. https://www.davidbradstreet.com/listen

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

When I was busking in the TO subways I went to the St. Clair West station twice. Damn high school kids would drop pennies on me from the landing up above. I avoided that spot after that. Name-dropping time : (and a hockey tie-in) while busking I saw and sometimes chatted with Eddie Shack, John Turner, Mel (Bad Boy) Lastman, former mayor David Crombie, Dave Broadstreet, Bob Cole, Don Francks, Liona Boyd’s Dad.

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My favourite Bob Cole play-by-play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_8Pf2c7cxM, and his last game to call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRW1ILjlglM

That was a great series,,,I’d forgotten how many ex-Oilers Wayne had “gotten” onto the Kings’ roster : McSorley, Coffey, Huddy, Kurri. Cole was always at his best when at the Forum. Most Maritimers were long-time Canadiens fans.

I was impressed by his enthusiasm in that last game, especially when calling Ryan Poehling's third goal - and that being the last game he called.

A lot of Maritimers are Beantown fans, too.

“And THAT .....is all she wrote.”

.... "she," but not "he"... i don't keep tab on such things, but my impression is that Canadiens or Maple Laffs would be the top choices for [Cdn.] maritime hockey fans.  But for beesboll it's more likely to be Yankees or Red Rox [but that might be pre-Jays thinking].    Of course... my usual disclaimer:  What do I know?

Edit: Paul, did Poehling blow his wad in that game, or does he just need more time to develop... a-la Wickenheiser?    I get the impression that the Habs are sometimes reluctant to trade for fear that it might come back to bite them.    Of course, that could be giving Bergevin more credit than he's earned, so far.

Methinks a lot of what happens in building a winning team is luck,,,yeah, you need good scouts, good managers, etc.,, but how many good prospects turn out duds, and how many 5 th rounders become great. i e, Vinny Damphouse ,,they said couldn’t skate,,,Luc Robitaille,,,couldn’t skate,,, Johnny Bower,,in the minors for 15 years,,, etc. often it’s a crap shoot.