Phendrana Drifts

I am often horrid at posts like this - looking at my blog obviously I have to move form cheering for the Flames to the present day. Also, I was on vacation in Florida up to now, so the transition has to progress.

First, Walt Disney World was fantastic. A beautiful place to visit and bond with my family and I also noticed a lot this time. Also, despite the lack of inversions, Expedition Everest was a fantastic roller coaster and was likely my favourite ride. Allie will have a metric tonne of pictures put up on her Flickr profile likely in the coming weeks, so I'll try and remember to share some photos later.

Second, it would seem the world survived my departure for the week and a bit. I still haven't caught up in news and goings-on so I won't try and post about the budget or other events, but Alberta seems to be happy. I also note the conversation about the environment continues in earnest, and while the discussion on "issues" based on "facts" may still be waiting for next week but I'm happy the discussion is happening.

Third, too bad about the Flames. I still stand behind my assessment that virtually any team could win the cup and that only one team will - meaning that the Flames are a competitive team and massive changes aren't what is demanded. That said, the talent pool of the Calgary Flames will eventually begin to dissipate and the time to win is soon. Retaining Huselius and Langkow seems unlikely given the modern reality of the salary cap. Nevertheless, moving on to the second round, I'm now suddenly interested in the Eastern Conference, with both the still undefeated Penguins and the nation's favourite Canadiens are garnering interest. Go Pens! Go Habs! Boo Rangers! Boo Flyers! In the west Allie's longstanding beef with the Dallas Stars means I'm disappointed with the Stars 2-0 lead in that series and I'm largely indifferent to the Wings battering of the Avs.

Labels: alberta politics, hockey, inane

I am very happy to see the Flames fight back with four unanswered goals following allowing three goals in the opening three and a half minutes - go Flames go!

I'd bet that this will be the last post I have a chance to make before heading to Florida - wish us fun, and cheer for the Flames while I am gone.

Labels: hockey

Wed., April 9, 2008 at 8:00pm - Calgary at San Jose
Thurs., April 10, 2008 at 8:00pm - Calgary at San Jose
Sun., April 13, 2008 at 8:00pm - San Jose at Calgary
Tues., April 15, 2008 at 8:00pm - San Jose at Calgary
Thurs., April 17, 2008 at 8:00pm - Calgary at San Jose (if necessary)
Sun., April 20, 2008 - San Jose at Calgary (if necessary)
Tues., April 22, 2008 - Calgary at San Jose (if necessary)

I still stand behind my prediction that every team has a one in seventeen chance or so in winning the cup, save Detroit which has a two in seventeen chance (twice has much any other team). I'm not a good odds-maker however, but I do believe it is painfully close. Consider that only 10 points separate the Eastern Conference winner Montreal and their opponents, the Boston Bruins.

Labels: hockey

Exact placing isn't done yet, but I'm looking forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs - I'll be in Florida for the first bit, but my excitement is palpable all the same!

Labels: hockey

In real life Six Meetings Before Lunch asked my opinion on a new arena for the Edmonton Oilers, what with all the hubbub (I'm not sure hubbub is a real word, like brouhaha) around the new report recommending a $450 million new downtown arena. Not being a native Edmontonian nor a committed fan of the Edmonton Oilers (I still hope they make the playoffs of course) I'm not terribly invested in the conversation. I do not want to say I am indifferent - after all when they say "public investment" they really mean "Duncan's tax dollars" but I do not have a strong desire one way or another. However, two thoughts from opposite arguments:

I'm too lazy to figure out inflation pre-1988. StatsCan has it following 1988, at an average of 2.5% a year - let's assume it was like that between 1974 to 1988. Rexall Place was built 34 years ago at a $19.4 million, with our 2.5% annual inflation that works out to $45 million in 2008 dollars. Is the new stadium really going to be ten times the arena Rexall is?
If Edmonton, centre of the Alberta oil sands boom and an epicentre of Canadian hockey awesomeness can't have a modern, fantastic hockey arena, why does Broward County in Florida get one? Or the massive American Airlines Centre in Dallas at a cost of $420 million?

Labels: hockey

Dear Sharks, Wild, Ducks, Stars, Canucks, Avalanche, Predators, Coyotes and Oilers:

When you play any team, especially those inside our division other than the Flames, please do not let the game go to overtime. Whatever happens, win or lose, just stop the three-point games. That is all.

Love,
Duncan

Labels: hockey

The Flames won 5-1 tonight against the Nashville Predators, a mere day after signing Miikka Kiprusoff to a six-year contract worth $35 million. Tonight's game is a good sign he's worth every penny. Already the Flames franchise leader in shutouts (and very nearly adding to that total tonight), Miikka is a fantastic goalie and the kind of number one goalie that gives you a chance to win every night. Most importantly, he looks like the goalie you have in net when you want to go deep into the playoffs.

Labels: hockey

As I doubt there is a good way to go, I guess double overtime is not the worst way to lose a round in the playoffs. But it sure stings. Go Ottawa go!

Labels: hockey

Yesterday afternoon was certainly a disappointment, but from all accounts the Flames played better than games one and two even if the score didn't reflect that. But I'm feeling much more confident about tonight, and if Calgary is successful, back to Detroit for game seven.

Labels: hockey

I honestly meant to do a recap after each game, but I missed the first two games by in large for various reasons (dinners and complete lack of sight) but with my new found eyes, I watched my team win! Go Flames Go!

Labels: hockey

In a bizarre twist in the hockey world, the New Jersey Devils, currently competing to be the number one team in the Eastern Conference, fired their coach, Claude Julien yesterday. Why? I can't figure this one out at all. Lou Lamoriello, the man named the second best general manager by The Hockey News, has pulled quite the bizarre stunt. He has replaced the coach of the Devils before in circumstances that would other coaches being hailed as saviours, but this one isn't after a string of bad losses or any outward sign of problems. Weird.

The Calgary Flames have a chance to wrap up their clinching of a playoff spot tonight... I'm on, as daveberta would say, on tenterhooks.

Labels: hockey

A year and a bit after former Chr�tien chief of staff Jean Pelletier was fired as President of Via Rail (twice no less) by former Prime Minister Paul Martin, he is apparently going to go back to work. That's got to be awkward. "So, did I miss anything?" Yeah, a little M. Pelletier. And admittedly, I had the thought that the string of revenge against Paul Martin by Jean Chr�tien continues - which I'm not complaining about.

I feel bad about not blogging of late, so some thoughts:

Ed Stelmach's Throne Speech: Solid and balanced, but I've always been holding my breath for the budget.
Federal election: No idea. Maybe. Maybe not.
The Ryan Smyth trade (I live in Edmonton, so I hear about this a lot): Good hockey management decision, but look at the last seven losses - Kevin Lowe seems to have gutted the Oilers spirit. But for three first rounders...
Work: There is too much of it. There should be less.
Electronic footprints online (how much you learn about me by Googling me, Facebooking me, reading my blog, etc.): There might be too much of it. I don't know if there should be less, but I'm worried about mine - Google certainly returns a fair enough of it.

Labels: federal politics, hockey, misc

Twitter Updates