I had grand illusions of using this space to let everyone know how busy I am. The truth is, that while I may have had a fairly busy week, the real reason that I am unable to produce a longer post is that my normal blogging time, the quiet of the early morning before the guys I care for have risen for the day, will be used for more important things. Later today, we are doing our annual refresher course for Therapuetic Crisis Intervention. It is required learning, and in the case of emergency at work, is beneficial to keeping myself and the guys safe. I am lucky in that the guys I work with are general calm and jovial characters, and I have little reason to use any of the training. That doesn't mean it's not worth knowing. Having peace of mind is a nice thing for mind, body and soul. I thought I would provide a quick update on the week that was, provided my time doesn't run out.
Last weekend, just over a week ago, I struck a deal with one of my competitors to "chop" our hockey pool. Those of you who are poker players will know the term, but the "chop" is a splitting of the prize money reducing the gap between the finishing positions and reducing the variance involved. We had 10 entrants at $100 each, and then 6 of the guys put in an extra $50 for a winner takes all side pot. Both Cam and I were in the side pot and had run away from the other 8 teams. We had 9 days left in the season, and I had closed the gap from 30 points to 8 points in the 2 weeks preceeding. First place with the side pot included was scheduled to get $1000, and second was set to get $225. I offered to make a deal, and within a couple of days, I recieved a response. $600 for him, $500 for me, and we play it out for the last $125. After doing some quick math, I decided to take the offer. I then proceeded to close the gap to 3 points with a few days left, but never did get any closer. I took second, and the $500. All in all, a good result after getting dead last in the same pool last season. My best picks? They were Patrik Elias late, Jakub Voracek when everyone giggled, and Matt Moulson.
Having locked up a bit of cash in the hockey pool, I decided it was time to get back to the poker tables. I made a few visits to the Treasure Cove this past week, and while mostly uneventful, I came out in the black. 10 days ago, on Friday after work I stopped in to play. I visited with a friend while I waited for a spot to open up. When I got in to play it was a quiet game, but I immeadiately started catching cards. While most of my good luck was being wasted due to a lack of action it was a very encouraging sign to at least be hitting. My luck had been so sour that anything positive was welcomed. As we sleepily played a limp and call type of game, I found a big hand. I played Queens for a raise in early position and got just one caller. I flopped a set, with an ace on the board. I got the call. When a second club turned and I led out again, I was promptly re-raised. I shoved for the rest of my stack (~$250) and managed to win when his A6 of clubs didn't hit. I booked a solid win that night, which had me itching to return. I played a few more times this past week, and while I broke even overall, I felt like I was playing really well. My game gets rusty due to inactivity, but I also don't have a ton of time to play when I am juggling everything that life throws at me. I have a couple more weeks to play, then soccer season starts which will cut into my free time quite significantly.
Speaking of soccer, I went and picked up the gear and schedules for Jasmine's team this past Saturday. The season is set to begin in less than two weeks, and I'm getting excited. I'm coaching with the same partner I had last year, and I really enjoyed hanging out with Steve. We both had the same goal, to help our girls and the rest of the team have a lot of fun. I think we were pretty successful last season, the girls all seemed to enjoy themselves, and we also won almost every game. Most of the wins came due to hard work and effort, as the girls grinded out plenty of close games. As I looked over the new team for this year, aside from Steve's daughter, I recognized only one other name. I'm looking at this as a chance to get to know some different kids and see what I can do to help them along their soccer paths. Enjoy the game, improve your skills while you are at it, and see where it takes us. I'm anticipating the challenge greatly.
I'm still contemplating what I am going to do for summer sports myself. I feel like I should play soccer, despite my annoyance over the escalating fees. I have had a number of recent discussions with people asking me if I am going to play. I bumped into a teammate from 2 years ago at the youth soccer office, and he asked me if I was going to play. I ran into an old Quesnel acquaintance and found myself encouraging him to get back into soccer (he was damn good 20 years ago when we were kids). I got together with my hockey pool buddies, and had a couple of them talking about playing. The recreational league doesn't conflict with Jasmine's soccer so that excuse is out the window. Just do it, right?
The hockey pool buddies only get together for one reason, and it was with that in mind that we met up last night. I had to collect my cash from the regular season pool, then turned around and handed part of the money back over for the playoff pool. Only 8 entries this time, we lost 3 guys and added 1. I didn't prepare properly, and the end result was a team I don't care for. Channeling all the powers of Nostradumbass I've expertly decided that Boston will meet and defeat Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final. This will happen after they beat Pittsburgh and Vancouver respectively in the Conference Finals. With that in mind, I tried to stick to those teams for my players. The problem being that Boston is quite a low scoring team that spreads their offense around. I didn't get my hands on the top Chicago guys, and the Pittsburgh guys went very quickly. This left me with Vancouver and all their talented snipers. Of course, I didn't get them, I got the second line guys. If these boys win, we can all be shocked together. I have Dave Krejci, Marian Hossa, Henrik Sedin, Patrice Bergeron, PK Subban, Tyler Seguin, TJ Oshie, Alex Burrows, Brendan Gallagher, and Jannik Hansen. To make life more interesting, I took a bet that says Vancouver beats San Jose in the first round. Yes, I hate the Canucks. And yes, I will be stuck cheering for them to some extent as I have 3 of their players, and a sizeable bet to see them win in the first round. Go me!
I think it's fair to say that I'm addicted to this exercise thing. I know, I talk endlessly about it, but it's now reached a whole new level. If I have an unproductive day, I feel off. Having a solid cardio or weight lifting session makes me feel better for the rest of the day. It frees my mind, and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I managed to nicely fill my week with exercise, and I am pretty damn proud of myself. I totalled 10 km running, 16 km biking, 9 km walking, 4 sessions with the weights, 2 hours of yard work, 2 trips to the swimming pool and as my Dad pointed out, spent plenty of time chasing a 2 year old. I time my runs, and this week I managed a 5km run in 23:40, my second run in driving rain and gusting wind clocked in at 26:01. I would be more then happy if I could run at that pace over the full 10 km next month when I race, but I am shooting for the more realistic goal of 5 minutes per kilometer. I know there is a different feel on race day, adrenaline, other runners to keep pace with and so on, so I am going to set a realistic goal and look to out pace it. I like they way the training is going so far.
I'm currently in the middle of two books. I usually like to read one at a time, but circumstances led me to having two on the go. I will politely describe my friend as a non-reader, someone who only picks up reading material when he needs to drop the kids off at the pool. When I visited him recently in Quesnel, I was chatting his wife up about reading and the books we have been enjoying. Next thing I knew and my buddy was chiming in with a strong recommendation to read "Crazy Man's Creek" by Jack Boudreau. My friend is an outdoorsman, loving all things that involve getting out in nature. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, tree sapping (is that the right term?), and mining are all interests of his. He told me he likes to read about thing that are "real", not made up stories, and he especially likes to read about the local area. He passed along his copy of the book, and the other day I dove in. It's a fun read, and I can relate to the idea that local stories add some interest as well. Most of the stories centre on the early half of the 20th century and the initial settling of the Prince George area. Thanks Richie for the solid recommendation! I'm also reaching the climax of another book on the Modern Library list, "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. It's really good so far, another work from the Southern gothic genre, with a focus on black struggles against racism and opression. It really focusses on the nature of humanity, and the power of listening to one another. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Last but not least, I found time to enjoy a few movies the past couple of weeks. I got to the theatre 10 days ago with the guys to enjoy "42". I loved it, and I think most everyone will enjoy it. Baseball is the background for a great human rights story. Harrison Ford pulls off an awesome performance as Branch Rickey the man who decided to take it upon himself to break the colour barrier in baseball. If it wasn't for him, Jackie Robinson never would have got his shot. At home, Sheila and I caught "The Adams Family", which neither of us had seen. Meh. Really, it was okay, but the unique concept could have been done better. I got a kick out of seeing Christina Ricci again, as she was and still is one of my favorite actresses. When I saw her in "Casper" as a pimply youth of 12, I fell in love. Later, she cemented my crush with a steamy performance in "Buffalo 66" when I was 15. I was smitten, what can I say? I don't care for her looks much now, but nothing will take away that teenage attraction. I also watched "UHF" starring Weird Al this week. It was odd and quirky as you might expect, but it wasn't bad. It was made 24 years ago and led to Weird Al getting zero other movie roles, so maybe it wasn't well recieved amongst those who matter in the movie industry. All in all, I enjoyed it. I also watched "The Foot Fist Way" starring Danny McBride this week. Made on a whopping $78,000 budget, McBride is the 1st, 2nd and 3rd star. Playing the lovable loser who runs a kung fu training facility, he is convinced that he is a really big deal. No one else thinks so, and hilarity ensues. I already liked McBride from his work in a "Pineapple Express", "Hot Rod", "Tropic Thunder", "Your Highness" and this just makes him even cooler. Definitely, its worth a watch.
I have saved the most important bit for last, as my younger sister is set to celebrate a birthday tomorrow. Erin turns 28 tomorrow, and as the world turns we just can't stop getting older. I remember the days clearly in my mind when I would torment her endlessly. Despite the hell I put her through my sister become an amazingly accomplished woman. She holds a B.A. from McGill, a Masters from U.B.C. and she is currently keeping busy running a Compassion Club with her boyfriend in Montreal. I am very proud of her, and often enjoy bragging about the things she has accomplished. Happy Birthday Erin! I hope you enjoy your day, and find some time to relax and celebrate.
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Monday, 29 April 2013
Monday, 8 April 2013
Monday Morning!
It's a quiet morning at work, as they typically are. Unless there is something pressing, my first hour and a half at work consists of me staying awake, waiting for an appropriate time to get the guys up and out of bed and ready to face the day. I plan to make sausage and eggs this morning and I can already taste the sausages. Despite my feeling pretty shitty this morning, I can't help but smile. I just turned on my favorite album in the world right now, a killer bluegrass group called "The Steeldrivers" and am hard at work tinkering with my 3 fantasy baseball teams. I feel like writing or typing or whatever, and this is the place I choose to do so. Read away if it pleases you.
Yesterday was a blast. I play hockey for fun and most importantly, the exercise. Moving up to the "C" division this year has meant that every time I strap on the pads and play, I get to play hard. No sandbagging it against weak opponents, there aren't any. Even the teams that rarely won played hard and had strong players that you had to work your ass off to contain. We are into the playoffs now, and as it worked out, our 3rd game yesterday was a must win game. To ensure that we made it, we had to rack up as many goals as we could. See, the team we were playing had been beat up badly by the other two teams, and to make it in, we needed to outdo their totals. The game was in the late afternoon, which meant Sheila, Jasmine and Asher were set to come watch. Uncle Ian came over before the game to give Jasmine her Birthday gift, then I rode with him and Larissa to the game. The rink we played at is quite cozy, with the family and friends sitting right behind the players benches. Asher loves this because he can wave and say hi repeatedly throughout the game. We had a great turnout, probably 50 supporters altogther, lots of kids, spouses, buddies, grandparents and we rode that momentum well. Ian and I are back playing together, with Rod joining us on our line. While we aren't flashy, my brother plays a great defensive game, and I feel compelled to keep up with him. We mucked a puck loose in the corner, I shovelled it to Ian who in turn found Rod in front. He scored to open the scoring 1-0, and the floodgates opened. 10-2 was the score and the game was out of reach but that didn't stop Ian. He dove in front of a shot from the other team, the puck bouncing off his shin pads and out of the zone. This ellicited a huge roar from our bench and the crowd. Ian is one of the only guys in rec hockey willing to slide in front of a blistering slapshot, and he gets a lot of love from his teammates for it. After the game ended, we had to wait and see how the other game went before we knew if we were in the next round or not.
A bunch of us gathered for a beer in the parking lot, then came back in the rink to watch the game. If one team won, we were in for sure. If the other team won by a certain number of goals, we would also move on. As we watch and cheer on the one team, he game ends up unfolding the wrong way. The other team wins. Adding to the drama, we are all guessing at what the scores were from the other games, no one can check because as it turns out, cell service is very spotty in the rink, we are on the outskirts of town and the rink is a dead spot. The dressing rooms had service, outside of the rink had service, but no one bothered to go outside and check the website. We just guessed, and then filed out of the rink disappointed. When we got outside and looked, we realized that the score might have been favourable. There was a math equation involving the goals scored for and against and after tinkering around on my phone I was able to tell the remaining couple of guys that yes, we had indeed made it in. This means we get to play at least one more game, likely against the best team in the league Blades of Steel. It's great to play for fun, but its even better when the games mean something. We've beaten these guys before and played them close a few other times. Who knows? Maybe we have enough to get it done.
As hockey season winds down, I am getting excited for what the summer months will bring as far as recreation and fun. I've signed on for my 7th season coaching Jasmine's soccer team. It's hard to believe that she has been playing that long. She celebrated her 10th birthday this past weekend and Friday night we capped the night by playing a game of soccer in the basement. Jasmine played very well with the mini soccer ball, I was showing her how to use to her body to shield the ball and she was catching on. We were tied, one goal needed and the winner was taking down the half eaten easter bunny as a trophy. I had a chance to score and instead of pouting as she is want to do, she violently threw herself into her own net to try to prevent the goal. Unfortunately, Jasmine's back crashed into the heap of Asher's toys that were piled up behind the net and she ended up injured. After comforting her and helping her get an ice pack for her back, I was gushing about how hard she had worked, and what it meant for the season ahead. Jasmine is built for sports. She did quite well with soccer last year despite not always working her hardest. If I can help her realize how good she can be, we might see a really great player develop. I won't overdo it, I will use encouragement and enjoyment as a key, not pushing her to the point that she resents me.
I had a few significant breakthroughs last year with other girls. One of the defenders loved to hear praise and she seemed to get better with every compliment. I continued to pile on the positive reinforcement, and by the end of the season I was convinced she was the best defender in the division. I had been saying it to her for most of the season, and it's funny how a naturally shy girl takes that praise. Before the season started she was completely oblivious to her talents, but when I began to point it out to her, it resulted in her working even harder. I also had a girl on the team last year who worked harder then any other kid in sports that I have witnessed. She had a game where we ended up tying the other team 3-3. We were up against a great team, and most our players were struggling just to touch the ball. This girl was the only one who had could dribble with any confidence. Ultimately, we only had 3 shots on goal all game, and she put all 3 in the back of the net. I still think about the third goal she scored, a lob over the goalies head from near midfield. I lost my mind cheering on the sidelines, it just wasn't something I was expecting to see a 10 year old girl do. It looked like a happy accident it was so good, but she reassured me afterwards it was planned. I really do have a blast helping the kids get better at soccer, and last year was satisfying because I could see how much fun each and every one of the girls was having with it. I'm looking forward to doing it again.
The other thing on my mind is the YMCA Road Race set for Sunday June 2nd. The charge for the race fees has gone through on my credit card, I'm officially registered to run the 10 km distance that day. I guess that means there is no turning back, right? I spent time yesterday researching different types of running shoes. I narrowed my choices down to a handful of different makes and models, keeping it reasonably affordable, and I will likely go pick up a pair tommorow when I have time. I typed "preparing to run 10 km" into my google search bar, and after reading a few different pages I found one that seemed like it would work. I settled on the advanced beginner approach. I know I can run that distance, but I want to properly work my way up to it, so that I can run to achieve a decent time, not just run to say I did it. As it turns out, nearly every program I looked at called for an 8 week build up to race day. I checked the calendar and coincidently, I will be starting the work this week as I am 8 weeks from race day as of yesterday. Preparing properly is serious business. With just two rest days each week, the plan calls for moderate paced run on Tuesday, cross training exercise on Wednesday, a faster but shorter race pace run on Thursday, then a longer run on Saturday. A slower paced recovery style run ends the week on Sunday. I spent time last night on walkjogrun.net last night, a great site that you can use to map out different running routes. It lets you know the distance, elevation changes and whatnot. The plan I chose calls for a variety of different lengths of runs, so I was busy mapping out various routes. My normal run is a 3km route, and when I was feeling ambitious last summer I would do a 4.5 km loop. Neither of those runs are long enough for even the first week of my preparation. I didn't sign up for this because it was going to be a proverbial walk in the park. I'm getting excited about the challenge, and I look forward to bragging incessantly upon completion. Get ready to hear about the race repeatedly over the next few months, :).
I have another busy week planned, and with the added excitement of a couple more hockey games I am really looking forward to it. Lots of running, hockey, weight lifting, fantasy baseballing, swimming, maybe another bowling trip, perhaps a hike with the kids if the weather cooperates should keep us busy as a family. I'm really enjoying my reading as I have plowed through most of "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. If I can stay still long enough, I also want to watch "Django Unchained" with Sheila. I caught it in theatre and was amazed. I absolutely loved it. Christoph Waltz puts on a performance for the ages. I watched the first 20 minutes again last night, and it just has me itching to watch the whole thing again. Maybe tonight?
Until next time, here is to a great day!
Yesterday was a blast. I play hockey for fun and most importantly, the exercise. Moving up to the "C" division this year has meant that every time I strap on the pads and play, I get to play hard. No sandbagging it against weak opponents, there aren't any. Even the teams that rarely won played hard and had strong players that you had to work your ass off to contain. We are into the playoffs now, and as it worked out, our 3rd game yesterday was a must win game. To ensure that we made it, we had to rack up as many goals as we could. See, the team we were playing had been beat up badly by the other two teams, and to make it in, we needed to outdo their totals. The game was in the late afternoon, which meant Sheila, Jasmine and Asher were set to come watch. Uncle Ian came over before the game to give Jasmine her Birthday gift, then I rode with him and Larissa to the game. The rink we played at is quite cozy, with the family and friends sitting right behind the players benches. Asher loves this because he can wave and say hi repeatedly throughout the game. We had a great turnout, probably 50 supporters altogther, lots of kids, spouses, buddies, grandparents and we rode that momentum well. Ian and I are back playing together, with Rod joining us on our line. While we aren't flashy, my brother plays a great defensive game, and I feel compelled to keep up with him. We mucked a puck loose in the corner, I shovelled it to Ian who in turn found Rod in front. He scored to open the scoring 1-0, and the floodgates opened. 10-2 was the score and the game was out of reach but that didn't stop Ian. He dove in front of a shot from the other team, the puck bouncing off his shin pads and out of the zone. This ellicited a huge roar from our bench and the crowd. Ian is one of the only guys in rec hockey willing to slide in front of a blistering slapshot, and he gets a lot of love from his teammates for it. After the game ended, we had to wait and see how the other game went before we knew if we were in the next round or not.
A bunch of us gathered for a beer in the parking lot, then came back in the rink to watch the game. If one team won, we were in for sure. If the other team won by a certain number of goals, we would also move on. As we watch and cheer on the one team, he game ends up unfolding the wrong way. The other team wins. Adding to the drama, we are all guessing at what the scores were from the other games, no one can check because as it turns out, cell service is very spotty in the rink, we are on the outskirts of town and the rink is a dead spot. The dressing rooms had service, outside of the rink had service, but no one bothered to go outside and check the website. We just guessed, and then filed out of the rink disappointed. When we got outside and looked, we realized that the score might have been favourable. There was a math equation involving the goals scored for and against and after tinkering around on my phone I was able to tell the remaining couple of guys that yes, we had indeed made it in. This means we get to play at least one more game, likely against the best team in the league Blades of Steel. It's great to play for fun, but its even better when the games mean something. We've beaten these guys before and played them close a few other times. Who knows? Maybe we have enough to get it done.
As hockey season winds down, I am getting excited for what the summer months will bring as far as recreation and fun. I've signed on for my 7th season coaching Jasmine's soccer team. It's hard to believe that she has been playing that long. She celebrated her 10th birthday this past weekend and Friday night we capped the night by playing a game of soccer in the basement. Jasmine played very well with the mini soccer ball, I was showing her how to use to her body to shield the ball and she was catching on. We were tied, one goal needed and the winner was taking down the half eaten easter bunny as a trophy. I had a chance to score and instead of pouting as she is want to do, she violently threw herself into her own net to try to prevent the goal. Unfortunately, Jasmine's back crashed into the heap of Asher's toys that were piled up behind the net and she ended up injured. After comforting her and helping her get an ice pack for her back, I was gushing about how hard she had worked, and what it meant for the season ahead. Jasmine is built for sports. She did quite well with soccer last year despite not always working her hardest. If I can help her realize how good she can be, we might see a really great player develop. I won't overdo it, I will use encouragement and enjoyment as a key, not pushing her to the point that she resents me.
I had a few significant breakthroughs last year with other girls. One of the defenders loved to hear praise and she seemed to get better with every compliment. I continued to pile on the positive reinforcement, and by the end of the season I was convinced she was the best defender in the division. I had been saying it to her for most of the season, and it's funny how a naturally shy girl takes that praise. Before the season started she was completely oblivious to her talents, but when I began to point it out to her, it resulted in her working even harder. I also had a girl on the team last year who worked harder then any other kid in sports that I have witnessed. She had a game where we ended up tying the other team 3-3. We were up against a great team, and most our players were struggling just to touch the ball. This girl was the only one who had could dribble with any confidence. Ultimately, we only had 3 shots on goal all game, and she put all 3 in the back of the net. I still think about the third goal she scored, a lob over the goalies head from near midfield. I lost my mind cheering on the sidelines, it just wasn't something I was expecting to see a 10 year old girl do. It looked like a happy accident it was so good, but she reassured me afterwards it was planned. I really do have a blast helping the kids get better at soccer, and last year was satisfying because I could see how much fun each and every one of the girls was having with it. I'm looking forward to doing it again.
The other thing on my mind is the YMCA Road Race set for Sunday June 2nd. The charge for the race fees has gone through on my credit card, I'm officially registered to run the 10 km distance that day. I guess that means there is no turning back, right? I spent time yesterday researching different types of running shoes. I narrowed my choices down to a handful of different makes and models, keeping it reasonably affordable, and I will likely go pick up a pair tommorow when I have time. I typed "preparing to run 10 km" into my google search bar, and after reading a few different pages I found one that seemed like it would work. I settled on the advanced beginner approach. I know I can run that distance, but I want to properly work my way up to it, so that I can run to achieve a decent time, not just run to say I did it. As it turns out, nearly every program I looked at called for an 8 week build up to race day. I checked the calendar and coincidently, I will be starting the work this week as I am 8 weeks from race day as of yesterday. Preparing properly is serious business. With just two rest days each week, the plan calls for moderate paced run on Tuesday, cross training exercise on Wednesday, a faster but shorter race pace run on Thursday, then a longer run on Saturday. A slower paced recovery style run ends the week on Sunday. I spent time last night on walkjogrun.net last night, a great site that you can use to map out different running routes. It lets you know the distance, elevation changes and whatnot. The plan I chose calls for a variety of different lengths of runs, so I was busy mapping out various routes. My normal run is a 3km route, and when I was feeling ambitious last summer I would do a 4.5 km loop. Neither of those runs are long enough for even the first week of my preparation. I didn't sign up for this because it was going to be a proverbial walk in the park. I'm getting excited about the challenge, and I look forward to bragging incessantly upon completion. Get ready to hear about the race repeatedly over the next few months, :).
I have another busy week planned, and with the added excitement of a couple more hockey games I am really looking forward to it. Lots of running, hockey, weight lifting, fantasy baseballing, swimming, maybe another bowling trip, perhaps a hike with the kids if the weather cooperates should keep us busy as a family. I'm really enjoying my reading as I have plowed through most of "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. If I can stay still long enough, I also want to watch "Django Unchained" with Sheila. I caught it in theatre and was amazed. I absolutely loved it. Christoph Waltz puts on a performance for the ages. I watched the first 20 minutes again last night, and it just has me itching to watch the whole thing again. Maybe tonight?
Until next time, here is to a great day!
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Snow Melt Soon
It seems that every year at this time my mind starts to wander. Generally, I am more sedentary during the winter months and come the spring time as the snow starts to melt, I begin to have different ideas, nay schemes about what physical activities I am going to take part in. Now, this has been the case for as many years as I can remember. Back when I was a little boy, even though I was deep in the middle of hockey season, had participated in the fall volleyball season, and for a few years in elementary school the post-Christmas basketball season, when the snow started to melt, my anticipation began to build. I have been playing soccer since I was 2 years old in one form or another. Every Februrary I would begin to think about the season, hoping that the snow would melt early and Quesnel might get their season started a week or two ahead of schedule. In recent years, even when I had neglected any physical activity whatsoever in the winter months, and my body and capablities had begun to get away from me, the melting snow still brought thoughts of a renewed vigour for all things active.
Now that I have managed to get myself more active, and my second full season of recreational hockey is coming to a close my mind has been working overtime. I have put considerable time and thought into just how I want to spend my spring and summer months, and what activities I am going to be involved in. All we need now is a little cooperation from mother nature and my schemes can become reality, or at least I can begin procrastinating rather than dreaming. As I type this at 7 am on Sunday March 23, 2013, supposedly the 4th day of Spring according to the calendar the thermometer reads -16C or 3.2F for any American readers out there. If that isn't enough to make your blood boil, obviously that figurative as it can't be literal, we here in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada are still dealing with a thick blanket of at least 4 feet of snow. During the winter months the extent of my outdoor exercise is my dozens of opportunities to shovel the driveway. This a point that my dad and I were lamenting while on our 3rd annual Prosk family skiing trip this past week. Considering we are close to passing the 5 month mark with snow on the ground and I have been a 30 year resident of this region you would think I would have some winter hobbies. I do have hockey, but played indoors in a heated arena, it doesn't depend much on the weather and I don't have the chance to breath fresh outdoor air while playing. Maybe the lack of winter hobbies plays a factor in how silly I can get when spring comes. The idle mind begins to wander, and the last few weeks, wander it has.
While the years pass some things change, but some things also remain the same. Spring still means soccer season to me, and this year I have been anticipating it as I always do. I have already officially signed on to coach for my 6th straight year as Jasmine continues to share my love for the game, and she remains excited about having dear old dad as her coach. I had a great experience last year, Jasmine's team was full of girls who enjoyed playing and working hard. My co-coach and I got along great and have agreed to work together again this year. I'm hoping to have an impact on the girls I coach this year, as I feel that happened last year and it really is the measure of success as a coach. While volunteering to coach may seem like a chore to some, I quite enjoy it most of the time and get very involved. Anticipating my turn as a coach is one thing, but after taking the year off last year, I am most looking forward to playing the game once again. While my schedule doesn't allow me to participate in the competitive "Open Division" as I would like, I was hoping to be able to play in the Monday Night Rec League this year. It's not ideal, but I don't work Monday's and Jasmine's soccer night has moved to Tuesday so I am free to play. I played in this league most recently in 2011. It's pretty disorganized and the level of play isn't much of a challenge. The negatives aside, it will be nice to get out and play. One day my work schedule will change and I will be able to play competitive soccer again. I will need to make sure my body can handle it when that day comes.
Most of the time that I have spent scheming and dreaming about warmer weather has been spent on running. I have been fairly consistent, even in my out of shape years I would be all gung ho about running come the spring time. In I believe 2008 I ran regularly throughout the spring into the summer. In all my gusto I cnvinced myself to sign up for and run the Labour Day Classic that year, the 13 km distance. While my training tapered off, and ultimately I was ill prepared for the race, I made myself go anyway. I was able to complete the run in a respectable time, even beating a handful of other people. Ever since I have planned to race again, but it hasn't happened. This year, while dreaming up my pie in the sky plans I actually went ahead and took steps to bring the plan closer to reality. Nearly every organized race in Prince George takes place Sunday morning. I am scheduled to work every Sunday morning, and throughout the summer months it is nearly impossible to do anything about it. I scoured the schedule and made a few vacation requests. To free up an additional Sunday morning, I asked to switch my shift to the afternoon. As it stands, my ambitious scheming has led me to this schedule that shall prove challenging.
June 2nd YMCA Road Race (5 km, 10 km or 21.1 km race)
June 15th Beat The Bugs (5 km or 10 km trail race)
August 21st Masich Mile (1 mile race)
September 1st Labour Day Classic (5 km, 8.5 mile or 17 mile race)
September 15th Terry Fox Run (5 km race)
I decided to go ahead and list all of the distance options for each race because as of now I really don't know where I will be at physically when these dates arrive. At the Labour Day Classic I will be tackling the 8.5 mile race, so my training will be focused on working my way up to that point. Likely, the first race of the season will be of the 5 km variety. The Masich Mile is much shorter, more of a sprint, and it takes place conveniently on a Wednesday evening. The Terry Fox Run is important to me, and I decided to take the day off this year and actually run it instead of walking like I have in years past. If Asher hasn't outgrown his stroller by then, he will join me for the run. Coincidently, all 4 official races I listed (The Terry Fox Run is informal) also have a kids fun run. Back in 2008, when she was only 5 Jasmine ran the kids race at the Labour Day Classic. She has fond memories of the cookie she got at the end, so I will help her get ready to participate in as many of these races as she wants to. Hopefully training for a few races will get her away from her screens that she was fallen deeply in love with. Not only do I have myself to motivate, but I am taking on this ambitious project as well, wish me luck!
No, my scheming didn't stop at just soccer and running. Ultimate Frisbee looks like a blast, and I did give it a try many years ago. I also played it a zillion years ago in high school p.e. class. It was an awesome workout and the closest I will ever get to playing football. The local league has been going strong for years, and I have decided to give it a shot if my coaching and soccer playing duties will allow. I figure it will give me some variety in my training for the running races as well. It looks to be fairly affordable as well. For the last few years I have thought off and on about trying out some of the Mixed Martial Arts disciplines. While I didn't think I could handle it when I was an out of shape blob, I believe I'm ready to give it a try. While I have looked into it somewhat, I need to be sure that I am ready to make the time and money commitment it will require. It's still a pipedream right now, but one that I am not giving up on. As far as I know the club trains year round, so maybe I can give it a try for a month or two when I am not busy later this summer. You know, after the soccer craziness has died down.
The other summer sport I am greatly anticipating, is basketball. Unfortunately, there isn't an organized league to play in as far as I know, but I quite enjoy just getting out on the school court and shooting hoops. Jasmine keeps getting better, and Sheila also likes to play 21. I grabbed a fancy new ball at the close out sale of Sport Mart and I am looking forward to putting it to use. It's another good way to get some cardio work in that adds variety to the monotony of running.
Anyway, I am going to end my long winded ramble about my summer plans. What summer activities are you looking forward to?
Now that I have managed to get myself more active, and my second full season of recreational hockey is coming to a close my mind has been working overtime. I have put considerable time and thought into just how I want to spend my spring and summer months, and what activities I am going to be involved in. All we need now is a little cooperation from mother nature and my schemes can become reality, or at least I can begin procrastinating rather than dreaming. As I type this at 7 am on Sunday March 23, 2013, supposedly the 4th day of Spring according to the calendar the thermometer reads -16C or 3.2F for any American readers out there. If that isn't enough to make your blood boil, obviously that figurative as it can't be literal, we here in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada are still dealing with a thick blanket of at least 4 feet of snow. During the winter months the extent of my outdoor exercise is my dozens of opportunities to shovel the driveway. This a point that my dad and I were lamenting while on our 3rd annual Prosk family skiing trip this past week. Considering we are close to passing the 5 month mark with snow on the ground and I have been a 30 year resident of this region you would think I would have some winter hobbies. I do have hockey, but played indoors in a heated arena, it doesn't depend much on the weather and I don't have the chance to breath fresh outdoor air while playing. Maybe the lack of winter hobbies plays a factor in how silly I can get when spring comes. The idle mind begins to wander, and the last few weeks, wander it has.
While the years pass some things change, but some things also remain the same. Spring still means soccer season to me, and this year I have been anticipating it as I always do. I have already officially signed on to coach for my 6th straight year as Jasmine continues to share my love for the game, and she remains excited about having dear old dad as her coach. I had a great experience last year, Jasmine's team was full of girls who enjoyed playing and working hard. My co-coach and I got along great and have agreed to work together again this year. I'm hoping to have an impact on the girls I coach this year, as I feel that happened last year and it really is the measure of success as a coach. While volunteering to coach may seem like a chore to some, I quite enjoy it most of the time and get very involved. Anticipating my turn as a coach is one thing, but after taking the year off last year, I am most looking forward to playing the game once again. While my schedule doesn't allow me to participate in the competitive "Open Division" as I would like, I was hoping to be able to play in the Monday Night Rec League this year. It's not ideal, but I don't work Monday's and Jasmine's soccer night has moved to Tuesday so I am free to play. I played in this league most recently in 2011. It's pretty disorganized and the level of play isn't much of a challenge. The negatives aside, it will be nice to get out and play. One day my work schedule will change and I will be able to play competitive soccer again. I will need to make sure my body can handle it when that day comes.
Most of the time that I have spent scheming and dreaming about warmer weather has been spent on running. I have been fairly consistent, even in my out of shape years I would be all gung ho about running come the spring time. In I believe 2008 I ran regularly throughout the spring into the summer. In all my gusto I cnvinced myself to sign up for and run the Labour Day Classic that year, the 13 km distance. While my training tapered off, and ultimately I was ill prepared for the race, I made myself go anyway. I was able to complete the run in a respectable time, even beating a handful of other people. Ever since I have planned to race again, but it hasn't happened. This year, while dreaming up my pie in the sky plans I actually went ahead and took steps to bring the plan closer to reality. Nearly every organized race in Prince George takes place Sunday morning. I am scheduled to work every Sunday morning, and throughout the summer months it is nearly impossible to do anything about it. I scoured the schedule and made a few vacation requests. To free up an additional Sunday morning, I asked to switch my shift to the afternoon. As it stands, my ambitious scheming has led me to this schedule that shall prove challenging.
June 2nd YMCA Road Race (5 km, 10 km or 21.1 km race)
June 15th Beat The Bugs (5 km or 10 km trail race)
August 21st Masich Mile (1 mile race)
September 1st Labour Day Classic (5 km, 8.5 mile or 17 mile race)
September 15th Terry Fox Run (5 km race)
I decided to go ahead and list all of the distance options for each race because as of now I really don't know where I will be at physically when these dates arrive. At the Labour Day Classic I will be tackling the 8.5 mile race, so my training will be focused on working my way up to that point. Likely, the first race of the season will be of the 5 km variety. The Masich Mile is much shorter, more of a sprint, and it takes place conveniently on a Wednesday evening. The Terry Fox Run is important to me, and I decided to take the day off this year and actually run it instead of walking like I have in years past. If Asher hasn't outgrown his stroller by then, he will join me for the run. Coincidently, all 4 official races I listed (The Terry Fox Run is informal) also have a kids fun run. Back in 2008, when she was only 5 Jasmine ran the kids race at the Labour Day Classic. She has fond memories of the cookie she got at the end, so I will help her get ready to participate in as many of these races as she wants to. Hopefully training for a few races will get her away from her screens that she was fallen deeply in love with. Not only do I have myself to motivate, but I am taking on this ambitious project as well, wish me luck!
No, my scheming didn't stop at just soccer and running. Ultimate Frisbee looks like a blast, and I did give it a try many years ago. I also played it a zillion years ago in high school p.e. class. It was an awesome workout and the closest I will ever get to playing football. The local league has been going strong for years, and I have decided to give it a shot if my coaching and soccer playing duties will allow. I figure it will give me some variety in my training for the running races as well. It looks to be fairly affordable as well. For the last few years I have thought off and on about trying out some of the Mixed Martial Arts disciplines. While I didn't think I could handle it when I was an out of shape blob, I believe I'm ready to give it a try. While I have looked into it somewhat, I need to be sure that I am ready to make the time and money commitment it will require. It's still a pipedream right now, but one that I am not giving up on. As far as I know the club trains year round, so maybe I can give it a try for a month or two when I am not busy later this summer. You know, after the soccer craziness has died down.
The other summer sport I am greatly anticipating, is basketball. Unfortunately, there isn't an organized league to play in as far as I know, but I quite enjoy just getting out on the school court and shooting hoops. Jasmine keeps getting better, and Sheila also likes to play 21. I grabbed a fancy new ball at the close out sale of Sport Mart and I am looking forward to putting it to use. It's another good way to get some cardio work in that adds variety to the monotony of running.
Anyway, I am going to end my long winded ramble about my summer plans. What summer activities are you looking forward to?
Monday, 14 January 2013
This is THE Winning Team!
A group of 10 hockey geeks got together and we threw together our teams for what is now the 3rd annual hockey draft. The formats and fees had changed a fair bit from year 1 to year 2, but this year stayed relatively similar to last year. We decided to implement a 2 defensemen rule, so everyone had to pick at least that many. It added a little wrinkle which was nice. A couple of the participants are new, as we lost a couple guys but we gained a few to replace them. My buddy Jason is always in for any kind of sports betting pool, and this year my brother Ian got involved. Everyone ponied up $100 (I got in for half due to my last place finish in 2012), then 6 out of the 10 of us put an extra $50 in a winner take all side pot. I figured this made sense as I had saved the same $50 on the entry fee. I stand to win $1000 if I take first place out of the 10 teams, which is a $700 pay out, plus the $300 that accumulated in the side pot. I managed to get a few players that I really like, a few that I took gambles on (but still like the player), and a few where despite not loving the guy, I had to go with them due to "value". Allow me to run down my team for your amusement.
I got the 10th pick out of 10 teams which meant I also got the 11th pick in the snake format. This led to me waiting 18 picks before having my turn come up again. This is the result.
1st Pick (10th Overall) DANIEL SEDIN Vancouver Canucks (TSN #3 LW)
ESPN: 53 pts
TSN: 47 pts
For anyone that knows me well, my time consumed cheering the Oilers is only rivalled by the amount of time I spend cheering against the Vancouver Canucks. There is no one I love to hate more then the Sedin boys. By the time I was picking at 10 the usual suspects Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Stamkos and Henrik Sedin were all gone and despite my reluctance I could not pass up on Daniel Sedin. He is just too consistent to not take here in this spot as it reduces the stress level a bit. I watch a lot of Canucks hockey, and after a season of cheering for Burrows it will be another season of cheering for points from Vancouver's top line. This pick allowed me to gamble a bit with my next one.
2nd Pick (11th Overall) TYLER SEGUIN Boston Bruins (TSN #2 RW)
ESPN: 39 pts
TSN: 43 pts
I am really excited about this pick. I know a few guys were surprised about how early he went but with my position in the draft order it was either now or never for me in this spot. I knew that he wasn't going to still be there at #30 when I got to pick again, and I have read a number of articles predicting a huge breakout year. He spent the lockout in Switzerland tearing the league apart. He played the Spengler Cup for Canada, contributing to a team that won the tournament handily. His Bruins are an elite team with plenty of talent to surround him with. This pick will likely make or break my result for the season.
3rd Pick (30th Overall) PHIL KESSEL Toronto Maple Leafs (TSN #3 RW)
ESPN: 46 pts
TSN: 42 pts
Ugh. I hate the Leafs just as much as I hate the Canucks, but Kessel is going to score if the Leafs are winning, losing or otherwise. I thought it would be fun to have the top dog off of both of my least favorite teams, especially when Kessel had no business being available at #30.
4th Pick (31st Overall) HENRIK ZETTERBERG Detroit Red Wings (TSN #9 LW)
ESPN: 41 pts
TSN: 40 pts
5th Pick (50th Overall) MATT MOULSON New York Islanders (TSN #16 LW)
ESPN: 37 pts
TSN: 34 pts
6th Pick (51st Overall) JAKUB VORACEK Philadelphia Flyers (TSN #16 RW)
ESPN: 38 pts
TSN: 34 pts
7th Pick (70th Overall) RAY WHITNEY Dallas Stars (TSN #15 LW)
ESPN: 38 pts
TSN: 35 pts
8th Pick (71st Overall) JORDAN STAAL Carolina Hurricanes (TSN #27 C)
ESPN: 41 pts
TSN: 32 pts
9th Pick (90th Overall) TOMAS PLEKANEC Montreal Canadiens (TSN #18 C)
ESPN: 32 pts
TSN: 37 pts
10th Pick (91st Overall) NAIL YAKUPOV Edmonton Oilers (TSN #25 LW)
ESPN: 25 pts
TSN: 31 pts
11th Pick (110th Overall) PATRIK ELIAS New Jersey Devils (TSN #13 LW)
ESPN: 39 pts
TSN: 36 pts
12th Pick (111th Overall) OLLI JOKINEN Winnipeg Jets (TSN #96 Overall/Center)
ESPN: 46 pts
TSN: 30 pts
13th Pick (130th Overall) DUNCAN KEITH Chicago Blackhawks (TSN #152 Overall/Defencemen)
ESPN: 28 pts
TSN: 26 pts
14th Pick (131st Overall) CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF Buffalo Sabres (TSN #173 Overall/Defencemen)
ESPN: 24 pts
TSN: 24 pts
15th Pick (150th Overall) JIRI HUDLER Calgary Flames (TSN #189 Overall/Right Wing)
ESPN: 34 pts
TSN: 23 pts
I got a number of guys who dropped quite a bit due to age and/or guys just not liking the players. I would say that Whitney, Elias, Plekanec and Jokinen fall into this category. My last pick I panicked a bit after David Perron and Derek Stepan went right ahead of my pick, leaving me to take a super longshot on Hudler. If he ends of playing lots of with Iginla I could look like a genius, if not, well I care not to think about that. For fun, let's compare my team to Ian's team. He was picking in the middle with the 5th slot.
I got the 10th pick out of 10 teams which meant I also got the 11th pick in the snake format. This led to me waiting 18 picks before having my turn come up again. This is the result.
1st Pick (10th Overall) DANIEL SEDIN Vancouver Canucks (TSN #3 LW)
ESPN: 53 pts
TSN: 47 pts
For anyone that knows me well, my time consumed cheering the Oilers is only rivalled by the amount of time I spend cheering against the Vancouver Canucks. There is no one I love to hate more then the Sedin boys. By the time I was picking at 10 the usual suspects Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Stamkos and Henrik Sedin were all gone and despite my reluctance I could not pass up on Daniel Sedin. He is just too consistent to not take here in this spot as it reduces the stress level a bit. I watch a lot of Canucks hockey, and after a season of cheering for Burrows it will be another season of cheering for points from Vancouver's top line. This pick allowed me to gamble a bit with my next one.
2nd Pick (11th Overall) TYLER SEGUIN Boston Bruins (TSN #2 RW)
ESPN: 39 pts
TSN: 43 pts
I am really excited about this pick. I know a few guys were surprised about how early he went but with my position in the draft order it was either now or never for me in this spot. I knew that he wasn't going to still be there at #30 when I got to pick again, and I have read a number of articles predicting a huge breakout year. He spent the lockout in Switzerland tearing the league apart. He played the Spengler Cup for Canada, contributing to a team that won the tournament handily. His Bruins are an elite team with plenty of talent to surround him with. This pick will likely make or break my result for the season.
3rd Pick (30th Overall) PHIL KESSEL Toronto Maple Leafs (TSN #3 RW)
ESPN: 46 pts
TSN: 42 pts
Ugh. I hate the Leafs just as much as I hate the Canucks, but Kessel is going to score if the Leafs are winning, losing or otherwise. I thought it would be fun to have the top dog off of both of my least favorite teams, especially when Kessel had no business being available at #30.
4th Pick (31st Overall) HENRIK ZETTERBERG Detroit Red Wings (TSN #9 LW)
ESPN: 41 pts
TSN: 40 pts
5th Pick (50th Overall) MATT MOULSON New York Islanders (TSN #16 LW)
ESPN: 37 pts
TSN: 34 pts
6th Pick (51st Overall) JAKUB VORACEK Philadelphia Flyers (TSN #16 RW)
ESPN: 38 pts
TSN: 34 pts
7th Pick (70th Overall) RAY WHITNEY Dallas Stars (TSN #15 LW)
ESPN: 38 pts
TSN: 35 pts
8th Pick (71st Overall) JORDAN STAAL Carolina Hurricanes (TSN #27 C)
ESPN: 41 pts
TSN: 32 pts
9th Pick (90th Overall) TOMAS PLEKANEC Montreal Canadiens (TSN #18 C)
ESPN: 32 pts
TSN: 37 pts
10th Pick (91st Overall) NAIL YAKUPOV Edmonton Oilers (TSN #25 LW)
ESPN: 25 pts
TSN: 31 pts
11th Pick (110th Overall) PATRIK ELIAS New Jersey Devils (TSN #13 LW)
ESPN: 39 pts
TSN: 36 pts
12th Pick (111th Overall) OLLI JOKINEN Winnipeg Jets (TSN #96 Overall/Center)
ESPN: 46 pts
TSN: 30 pts
13th Pick (130th Overall) DUNCAN KEITH Chicago Blackhawks (TSN #152 Overall/Defencemen)
ESPN: 28 pts
TSN: 26 pts
14th Pick (131st Overall) CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF Buffalo Sabres (TSN #173 Overall/Defencemen)
ESPN: 24 pts
TSN: 24 pts
15th Pick (150th Overall) JIRI HUDLER Calgary Flames (TSN #189 Overall/Right Wing)
ESPN: 34 pts
TSN: 23 pts
I got a number of guys who dropped quite a bit due to age and/or guys just not liking the players. I would say that Whitney, Elias, Plekanec and Jokinen fall into this category. My last pick I panicked a bit after David Perron and Derek Stepan went right ahead of my pick, leaving me to take a super longshot on Hudler. If he ends of playing lots of with Iginla I could look like a genius, if not, well I care not to think about that. For fun, let's compare my team to Ian's team. He was picking in the middle with the 5th slot.
Daniel Sedin/ Steve Stamkos
Tyler Seguin/ Rick Nash
Phil Kessel/ Louie Erikkson
Henrik Zetterberg/ Gabriel Landeskog
Matt Moulson/ David Krejci
Jakub Voracek/ Jeff Skinner
Ray Whitney/ Dustin Byfuglien
Jordan Staal/ Brad Marchand
Tomas Plekanec/ Andrew Ladd
Nail Yakupov/ Tomas Fleischmann
Patrik Elias/ TJ Oshie
Olli Jokinen/ Justin Schultz
Duncan Keith/ Chris Stewart
Christian Ehrhoff/ Tyler Ennis
Jiri Hudler/ Matt Read
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Hockey, hockey, hockey!
I know what you're saying, but Matt, "it never really left!" I, more then most know that. I play beer league hockey once a week, at least when my schedule allows. I have been to a handful of junior hockey games this year, and I follow the Prince George Spruce Kings pretty religiously, keeping track of wins, losses and personal stats of all the players. I spent plenty of time keeping up with the Oilers players and prospects as they plied their trade around the world waiting for Gary and Donald to get together and make the same deal they could have made in the summer. By the way Donald, I think this means you lose. All that aside, let's be honest. When the best players in the world who play in the best league in the world are unable to perform, something is lost. It's back, and the best talent in the world can once again play together in the best league in the world. As if I need any more reason to pay attention, I take part in as many fantasy hockey pools and drafts as I can. This year, the big one is back for it's 3rd edition. 2 years ago I took part and we just circled names on a piece of paper. Last year, we gathered at a friend's house and had a live draft with about 10 guys. I finished in an embarassing distant last place, something I have no desire to repeat. So tonight at 630 I will once again join with a bunch of other dudes and pick this year's version of my team. One nice thing is that being so incompetent last year gives me a 50% discount for this year. Last year's fee was $100 but there has been talk of increasing it to $150. Fine with me, the guy with the discount. All I have to do is actually pick guys who are playing in the NHL, and not the AHL or the Swiss Elite League, or my personal favorite, the guy who watched most of his team's games from the press box last year. This is me officially stating for the record that Linus Omark, Michael Frolik, and Ville Leino will not find a place on my team this year. I'm sure there are a few more that I should avoid from last year, but those are the ones that stick out. Part of the fun of accepting the last place discount is the heckling and ridicule that come with it. I remember laying it on thick last year as Roger accepted his discount (my buddy and I had teamed up to win the pool the year before giving me added ammo) and I am more then ready to absorb similar punishment. As a way of researching, I am going to make some notes in this space below. For the most part I am going to briefly discuss some of my favorite hockey players and why they will be targets for me tonight.
Elite NHLers
JAMIE BENN (Dallas): One of the only solid picks I made last year, I recieved a few weird looks when I reached way down to grab him in the 3rd round last year. I have a soft spot for BCHL grads, and Benn is one of the most talented players to ever come through the Junior A circuit. Dallas added a few more solid forwards in the offseason, so I expect to see another increase in production.
JORDAN EBERLE (Edmonton): For obvious reasons, Eberle is one of my favorite players out there. The Oilers young talent continues to mature, and the super line of Ebs, Hall and RNH will be together again. He is likely to be a first round or early second round pick.
TYLER SEGUIN (Boston): Many are predicting a huge year for this guy who went to Switzerland during the lockout and tore the league to shreds. Surrounded by plently of talent, and possessing plenty himself, Seguin may make a big jump this year.
ERIC STAAL (Carolina): It will be interesting to see what kind of an impact his brother's arrival in Carolina might have. Also, the team added Alex Semin for the year. It's unknown as to who is playing with who as he and Jordan are both centres, but the powerplay should be interesting. I'm looking for a bounce back year from Eric.
BOBBY RYAN (Anaheim): After an off year last year it is really hard to predict what might happen with Ryan this time around. He is still very young, but had a poor year as did a number of his teammates. The possiblity of him being traded has only added to the intrigue surrounding his value.
Sleepers
James Van Riemsdyk (Toronto)
Braydon Schenn (Philadelphia)
Peter Mueller (Florida)
Nick Backstrom (Washington)
Jordan Staal (Carolina)
Mikko Koivu (Minnesota)
Olli Jokinen (Winnipeg)
Jeff Carter (Los Angeles)
Matt Duchene (Colorado)
Matt Moulson ( New York Islanders)
Jarome Iginla (Calgary)
Jiri Hudler (Calgary)
Huge Breakout Potential
Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado)
Cam Atkinson (Columbus)
Jamie McGinn (Colorado)
David Perron (St. Louis)
Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay)
Don't Give Up On Them
Ray Whitney (Dallas)
Jaromir Jagr (Dallas)
Andy MacDonald (St.Louis)
Teemu Selanne (Anaheim)
Milan Hejduk (Colorado)
Patrik Elias (New Jersey)
Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa)
Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay)
Martin Erat (Nashville)
Rookies!
Nail Yakupov (Edmonton)
Vladimir Tarasenko (St.Louis)
Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida)
Damian Brunner (Detroit)
Elite NHLers
JAMIE BENN (Dallas): One of the only solid picks I made last year, I recieved a few weird looks when I reached way down to grab him in the 3rd round last year. I have a soft spot for BCHL grads, and Benn is one of the most talented players to ever come through the Junior A circuit. Dallas added a few more solid forwards in the offseason, so I expect to see another increase in production.
JORDAN EBERLE (Edmonton): For obvious reasons, Eberle is one of my favorite players out there. The Oilers young talent continues to mature, and the super line of Ebs, Hall and RNH will be together again. He is likely to be a first round or early second round pick.
TYLER SEGUIN (Boston): Many are predicting a huge year for this guy who went to Switzerland during the lockout and tore the league to shreds. Surrounded by plently of talent, and possessing plenty himself, Seguin may make a big jump this year.
ERIC STAAL (Carolina): It will be interesting to see what kind of an impact his brother's arrival in Carolina might have. Also, the team added Alex Semin for the year. It's unknown as to who is playing with who as he and Jordan are both centres, but the powerplay should be interesting. I'm looking for a bounce back year from Eric.
BOBBY RYAN (Anaheim): After an off year last year it is really hard to predict what might happen with Ryan this time around. He is still very young, but had a poor year as did a number of his teammates. The possiblity of him being traded has only added to the intrigue surrounding his value.
Sleepers
James Van Riemsdyk (Toronto)
Braydon Schenn (Philadelphia)
Peter Mueller (Florida)
Nick Backstrom (Washington)
Jordan Staal (Carolina)
Mikko Koivu (Minnesota)
Olli Jokinen (Winnipeg)
Jeff Carter (Los Angeles)
Matt Duchene (Colorado)
Matt Moulson ( New York Islanders)
Jarome Iginla (Calgary)
Jiri Hudler (Calgary)
Huge Breakout Potential
Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado)
Cam Atkinson (Columbus)
Jamie McGinn (Colorado)
David Perron (St. Louis)
Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay)
Don't Give Up On Them
Ray Whitney (Dallas)
Jaromir Jagr (Dallas)
Andy MacDonald (St.Louis)
Teemu Selanne (Anaheim)
Milan Hejduk (Colorado)
Patrik Elias (New Jersey)
Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa)
Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay)
Martin Erat (Nashville)
Rookies!
Nail Yakupov (Edmonton)
Vladimir Tarasenko (St.Louis)
Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida)
Damian Brunner (Detroit)
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