Let It Be…Classic

This is a very rare personal plug as it is something I really hate doing. However, this news is simply too awesome to go without mentioning.

Next Friday, October 1st, will be the premiere of my brand new radio program called Let It Be…Classic. It will be heard once a week from then on at www.spiritlive.net, my university's own radio station, from 6-8pm EST.

Let It Be…Classic will offer a variety of some of the most phenomenal music ever recorded from bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, U2, Aerosmith, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and many others! The show will include legendary tunes from the Psychedelic Era, time honoured rock anthems, imaginative ballads and new music from classic rock artists.

Throughout the show, intriguing commentary about the music will be discussed. The show will also include a co-hosted talk segment as well as the always popular wrap-up segment, “The Last Gasp”. All I ask is that you tune in, sit back and lower your expectations as our show entertains you with the best music on the planet!

The Future Starts Today

The future of the NHL now hangs in the balance as the board of governors voted unanimously yesterday to lock the players out until a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached. Negotiations have been taking place for the better part of the past year but no agreement was reached between the NHL and the NHLPA.

The NHL and the owners are intent on implementing a salary cap system to level the playing field and make it easier for weaker markets to compete with the high rollers, not to mention, preventing the owners from being forced to hand out ridiculously high priced contracts to even average players.

The NHLPA has made it clear they will never agree to such a system and that they believe players have the right to an open market system. With both sides so focused on getting their way, there is no telling how long this lockout may go on for. Unless a deal is reached by December, the 2004-2005 season will likely go by without a single match being contested.

Canada Is On Top of The World

In what was the most important international hockey game for Canada since the 2002 Winter Olympics, Team Canada took on Team Finland in the finals of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Fans from all across the country tuned in knowing this game likely would be the last high-end competitive hockey game they would be seeing for quite a while with the potential NHL lockout looming large. There was bittersweet excitement throughout the nation as “Gretzky’s Boys” were about to embark on the final journey in their quest for world hockey supremacy!

It was clearly evident as the tournament progressed that this group knew what had to be done and that they were intent on accomplishing their goal. Another disappointment like the one that occurred at the 1996 World Cup at the hands of an American defeat was certainly not an option this time around. For many fans, there seems to be a comfort level around a team managed by the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Pat Quinn. When crunch time comes, for some reason, it is felt the team will get the job done. They got it done in Salt Lake City and this time around, Team Canada was not about to let this tournament slip away.

This team of respected veterans and numerous young stars seemed to come together almost instantaneously under the direction of Gretzky and Quinn. Each game, the team improved until they reached the final when the peak of their improvement was realised. Throughout Team Canada’s schedule, players who are used to being the main man on their NHL clubs took on reduced roles; anything to help this team win. “I am just happy to be a part of this team, whether I’m on the top line, a checker, the water boy, it doesn’t matter when you play for Canada,” quoted Joe Thornton, a perennial all star, in a post game interview. This was clearly a special team of players who all had one common goal of a championship in mind.

Team Canada got off to a great start in the game by scoring before one minute had been played. Canada allowed a tying goal before the end of the first period but retook the lead in the second period. Again, Team Canada was unable to hold the lead going into the intermission as Tuomo Ruutu of Finland tied the game on a brilliant one man rush late in the second.

Team Canada showed their urgency as soon as the third period got underway by scoring the go ahead and eventual game winning goal, again before one minute had been played. From that point on, everybody showed a commitment to defense including world class offensive stars like Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla. Iginla made a potential game saving play in the final minute by backchecking right down into the Canadian slot to tie up a loose man as he was about to fire a point blank shot. Martin Brodeur, who started despite suffering from a very painful hand injury, played very well and made a couple of big saves late in the game. In the end, Team Canada came away with a 3-2 victory infront of a deafening crowd at Air Canada Centre.

This team has a lot to be proud of. Not only did they win the big prize but they suffered through some serious adversity along the way. Team Canada was without some of there highest profile defensemen in Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis before the tournament even got underway. Along the way Ed Jovanovski and Wade Redden were injured forcing the internationally inexperienced Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester into action. Both responded phenomenally! Martin Brodeur was unable to play in the semi final game against the Czech Republic forcing an undoubtedly nervous Roberto Luongo into the net. He too responded phenomenally backstopping Canada to a heart stopping overtime win!

Perhaps the most difficult thing of all was that Team Canada won this tournament on home soil infront of crazed fans that sometimes can increase the pressure felt by the players. For that, this team will go down as one of the best to represent Canada on the world stage. You can be assured that the next time it comes time to reassemble Team Canada, a lot of these players will be back to give it another go. Well done men!!!! Go Canada Go!!!!!

Czech Republic Checks Out

Under the most anxious circumstances the game of hockey can provide, a sudden death overtime in an elimination game, Team Canada eliminated the Czech Republic and sent the Air Canada Centre crowd into a state of bedlam. With their win by a score of 4-3, Team Canada advanced to the finals of the World Cup of Hockey which will be played on Tuesday. They will face Team Finland, coming off an upset victory over the Americans last night by a score of 2-1. Team Canada was without their number one netminder Martin Brodeur who suffered a broken hand during the team’s quarter final win against Slovakia. Roberto Luongo replaced him and played very well.

Team Canada managed to win despite playing with a careless attitude at some points during the game. During the first period, the Czech Republic looked like the stronger team. They often beat Canada in battles for the puck and were able to generate more quality chances; however, Canada was able to escape that period without allowing a goal.

In the second, Team Canada looked to have more energy and played much better than they did in the first period. They built a 2-0 lead but surrendered one goal before the end of the period.

The Czech Republic tied the game early in the third but Canada retook the lead on a rocket shot from Kris Draper, a shot Czech goalie Tomas Vokoun likely should have stopped. Although on the ensuing faceoff at centre ice, Team Canada went to sleep allowing the Czech Republic to win the face off and walk in untouched to score the tying goal within in six seconds of the puck drop.

Canada again got a slow start in overtime allowing the Czechs to get some early chances. Luongo was forced to make two or three extremely difficult saves under the pressure of knowing that a birth in the World Cup final was on the line. Luongo handled himself spectacularly during this game and gave Canada a chance to win the game. Team Canada got the winning marker on a brilliant rush by Vincent Lecavalier. After being forced behind the goal on his original rush, Lecavalier went to the net and was able to jam in a rebound from five feet away.

This victory showed the kind of character and heart that the Canadians possess. Despite not playing their best all around game, key players were able to come up with big plays with the game on the line, an attribute that has been forever synonymous with Canadian hockey. Canada will need to come up with one more bit of magic Tuesday night when they will attempt to become the World Cup of Hockey champions.

Canada Easily Moves Past Slovakia

Team Canada took on Team Slovakia in the quarter finals of the World Cup and came away with a commanding win by a score of 5-0. A fairly evenly matched first period with few chances going to either team resulted in a scoreless first period. Team Canada came out charging in the second period and quickly took the lead 2:28 into the period on a goal by Vincent Lecavalier. From there, Team Canada never gave up their relentless attack and added three more goals by the end of the second period giving them a 4-0 lead. Jarome Iginla would add another goal for Canada in the third period capping off a very impressive victory for Team Canada.

Coach Pat Quinn did not make any changes to the lineup for this game and given how well this team is playing right now, it likely it will stay the same unless an injury should force a change.

Without a doubt, Team Canada played their most effective game of the tournament and similarly to Salt Lake City, they seem to be peaking at just the right time. With their win tonight, Team Canada will take on the Czech Republic in the semi – finals. The Czech Republic beat Team Sweden in a fairly commanding fashion as well by a score of 5-1.

Canada Finishes Off Perfect Round Robin Schedule

Team Canada took on the Russian squad in their final game of the round robin portion of the tournament tonight, capping off their perfect record with a 3-1 victory. With that victory, Canada clinched top spot in the North American pool ensuring they will play the fourth seed this coming Wednesday in the quarter finals and all their remaining games in Toronto.

The game started with the Russians putting a lot of pressure on the Canadians but as the game wore on, Team Canada was able to take over and generate constant scoring opportunities. Team Canada opened the scoring in the second period with a short-handed goal from Brad Richards. Kris Draper added a second goal minutes later by tapping in a loose puck infront of the net. Joe Sakic scored Team Canada’s third goal in the third period also by tapping in a rebound from in close.

Team Canada made one lineup change out of necessity for this game by inserting Jay Bouwmeester in place of the injured Wade Redden. Redden injured his shoulder in Team Canada’s previous game against Slovakia. It is touch and go as to whether he will be able to play again for Canada in this tournament.

At the end of the round robin portion of the tournament, Team Canada seems to be rounding into a very powerful unit. The offensive attack looks lethal no matter which line is on the ice. The defense has been solid and the goaltending, provided by Martin Brodeur, has also been spectacular.

Team Canada is off until Wednesday when they will take on which ever team finishes in the fourth seed of the North American pool in the quarter finals at Air Canada Centre.

Solid Effort Takes Canada Past Slovaks

Team Canada played their second game of the round robin portion of the World Cup tonight against Team Slovakia and skated to a commanding 5-1 victory while also correcting their major weakness from their previous game against Team USA. Team Canada managed to beat Team USA last night despite not playing with enough energy throughout the whole game. Tonight, however, Team Canada dominated the game for the entire sixty minutes, outplaying, outworking and out shooting Team Slovakia. Slovakia certainly saw a much different Team Canada tonight than they did in the exhibition round.

Kris Draper and Scott Hannan were inserted into the lineup for this game in place of Brendan Morrow and Ed Jovanovski, respectively. Morrow had not shown the coaching staff anything close to resembling solid play in the games he has been in and Jovanovski was injured in last night’s game against Team USA. His injury was more serious than first expected. After being diagnosed with a cracked rip and a sprained medial collateral ligament, Team Canada Executive Director, Wayne Gretzky, declared him out of action for the remainder of the tournament.

Ryan Smyth and Vincent Lecavalier were arguably Team Canada’s best players in tonight’s game. Smyth scored two goals and was robbed on a late chance in the third period which would have given him a hat trick had he scored. Lecavalier was dangerous all night creating chances with some spectacular one on one moves.

With their victory tonight, Team Canada is now assured of first place in their pool providing the Russians, who have yet to play a game, do not win all three of their games. Team Canada is off until Saturday when they will take on Team Russia in Toronto at Air Canada Centre.

Feelin’ Hip

Ever since attending the Tragically Hip’s concert at the Molson Amphitheatre, I have been listening to more Hip music than I had listened to before. Many of the bands little known songs have grown on me to the point where there are few remaining Hip songs that I will change when they come on my stereo at random. Here is a list of my top ten favourite Tragically Hip tunes:

1 Vaccination Scar
2 Three Pistols
3 Fifty Mission Cap
4 My Music At Work
5 As Makeshift As We Are
6 A Beautiful Thing
7 The Darkest One
8 You’re Everywhere
9 Little Bones
10 Poets