Golf Season's Here! / Hockey Update

Probably my favourite hole at Yorkton's Deer Park Golf Course, the Par 3, 102 yard 8th, right on your left as you drive in off Broadway Street. I actually won closest to the pin at the Dollars For Scholars (I think) tournament... and I never win anything. You tee off WAY uphill, onto a large green down below... and I'm usually lucky to even hit the green. I took the pic from my car yesterday (WED), so you can't really tell, but there is water infront of the green, and a whole lot of open grass short to the right. I usually flub one into the water or carry the green into the trees at the back.

But the Deer Park's Driving Range opened yesterday (WED) at noon, although with a hurricane-type wind blowing straight in, it wasn't much of a "range day," so most people kept the clubs at home for another day. They're hoping to have 9 holes open by noon Friday, but it is weather permitting, and it's supposed to cool off again (are you kidding me?).

York Lake opened 9 holes on Tuesday and are hoping to have the full 18 up and running by the weekend.

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With the local hockey scene all done, I haven't talked a lot of hockey here lately... but here's a little fix for ya if you like.

Anavet Cup
Portage Terriers 4 @ Humboldt Broncos 1
(Portage leads 3-1.. Game 5 tonight)

Surprised? I guess I am a little. Just simply because Humboldt just lost back to back games at home, which I don't believe happened all year. The Terriers can wrap it up tonight in Humboldt if they can pull out a third straight win at the EPA, and if they don't, they'll have 2 cracks at it in their own rink Saturday and Sunday. Portage is a win away from going to the RBC for the first time since 2005 when they went to the National Championship tournament in Weyburn.

We always knew the Victoria Grizzlies would be in the RBC, being this year's host, and now we know the Pacific Rep will be another 'V' team from B.C., with the BCHL Champion Vernon Vipers polishing off a 4-game sweep of the Grand Prairie Storm, the AJHL Champs last night with a 5-2 win.

Other Jr 'A' news... the Neepawa Natives are looking for a new Coach/GM, after Curtis Bateman resigned from the post. That makes 4 coaching vacancies in the MJHL. Swan Valley, OCN, Steinbach (Beausejour), and now Neepawa.

WHL Conference Finals
Calgary Hitmen 6 @ Brandon Wheat Kings 4
(Hitmen sweep series)

The Calgary Hitmen have SWEPT their way to the Western Hockey League Championship. That's right. 12-and-0 so far in the post season, sweeping the Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes and now the Wheat Kings. Calgary had 6 different goal scorers in Game 4, and held Brandon to just 16 shots. They'll face either the Vancouver Giants or the Kelowna Rockets in the final. The Giants lead the West Final 2-1, with Game 4 tonight in Kelowna. As for the Wheaties, they're hosting the Mem Cup next year and will be a powerhouse, provided they can keep their guys. Keith Aulie will be 20, and as a high Calgary Flames pick could probably play in the AHL next season. Also '91 born Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie will also be high first rounders in this year's draft, and will be back in junior unless they make the NHL. Schenn could, but shouldn't. So many 18 year olds are getting wrecked by making the jump too soon these days. I was pulling for them after all the SK teams lost out. I would have liked to see an upset, plus their radio guy Bruce Luebke's a good dude. Check out Lubers Lounge for a great recap.

John Tavares and the London Knights WILL NOT be playing in the Ontario Hockey League Final. In a series that saw all 5 games go to overtime, the Windsor Spitfires won the Conference Final 4-games-to-one. Final scores were: 4-3 WSR (OT), 6-5 LDN (OT), 5-4 WSR (OT), 4-3 WSR (OT), and 5-4 WSR (OT). Remember young Ryan Ellis, a defenseman for the World Junior team? He plays for the Spitfires and is outstanding. Taylor Hall's their top forward and will likely be the #1 NHL Draft Pick in 2010. You also see the rumours that Tavares is apparently dropping as low as #3 on some rankings for this June? I still think he'll be #1. As I'm typing this they've got Tavares on SportsCentre, talking about his last ever Junior game. No question he'll be in the show next year, most likely with the Islanders. Windsor will probably play the Brampton Battalion in the OHL Final. Cody Hodgson and the Battalion lead the Belleville Bulls 3-1 in the other Conference Final. In Quebec, the Memorial Cup host Rimouski Oceanic were swept in their division final by Drummondville. The Voltigeurs await a winner between Shawinigan and Quebec.

Telus Cup "AAA" Midget Championship
in Selkirk
Notre Dame Hounds are now 2-0-1 after an 11-3 win over Moncton. The Hounds play the Host Winnipeg Thrashers tonight (THU). Looks like it'll be for first place, as the Thrashers are a point up on Notre Dame at 3-0. The Hounds are coached by former Swan Valley Stampeders' bench boss Del Pedrick.

NHL
I know you don't come here for NHL scores and already know what happened... but here you go anyway.

Boston 4 @ Montreal 1
(Bruins sweep)

I'm a Leafs' fan, but I don't dislike the Habs. At least I didn't used to. Now I do. Mike Komisarek's a true idiot for messing with Milan Lucic... he finally dropped his mitts, got pumped, so he crosschecked Lucic in the face near the end of the game. Josh Gorges, already got beat up by PATRICE BERGERON in the series... and he was still acting tough in Game 4... was that also Lucic? I was more interested in the NYR/WSH game.

Washington 1 @ NY Rangers 2
(Rangers up 3-1)

Washington's so fun to watch, but they could be in trouble, and thus, so is my playoff pool. Simeon Varlamov's been outstanding but looked awwwful on Chris Drury's game winner. And PLEASE get Sean Avery out of this league. He's THE definition of MEATBALL.

Chicago 4 @ Calgary 6
(Tied 2-2)

This is a fun one to watch. Chicago scored first, Flames got up 4-1, Hawks tied it, then the Flames got two in the third. Going back to Chi-town even-steven.