because tonight he busted out a white suit with big colourful flowers all over it. That's playoff wear, baby.
And Good lord Cherry was on fire today.
He really does hate Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson. I think he might actually hate Wilson more than Sean Avery and french people put together.
He spent a good 5 minutes ripping up Ron Wilson, his record, his tactics, and sarcastically called him "the genius" several times.
Although... Don doesn't hate Sidney Crosby now. Which is strange, and new, and breaks the mold of his normal Coach's Corners. Well, partially... he did have a photo from Afghanistan...
Anyway, definitely worth the watch if you missed it.
Seriously Jian, back away slowly and don't make eye contact.
Also worth a watch (but not hockey related...) is Billy Bob Thorton's appearance this week on CBC Radio's Q with Jian Ghomeshi. I'm not really sure who's side i'm on with this. Thornton is truly a moron, but apparently the producers of the show promised Thornton that his acting experience wouldn't be discussed. Regardless... it's pretty damn funny. Taking bets on how many shots of whiskey Thornton is metabolizing at the point this interview was taking place.
Why Montreal should really beat the Penguins.
Currently watching the Pens and the Habs. I would prefer if the Habs could win (and the Rangers lose tomorrow) that would reverse the two teams in the standings and the Habs would end up with the Washington Capitals instead of the Bruins.
Why? Because I don't think Montreal can handle the Bruins. I have no idea why they can handle Ovechkin and their former Montreal Mafia goldenboy Jose Theodore...and not the Bruins, but I just do. In fact I think they may have a better chance at inventing time travel so they could re-do this mess of a season than they do at beating the Bruins in the playoffs.
Sure, everyone says the Canadiens always manage to beat the Bruins in the playoffs. But I think it's going to be different this year. The Canadiens room is in turmoil. Scary Price has clearly had some sort of emotional breakdown since this time last year and is trying to solve it with eating oreos every night. Kovalev is... well who really knows, he's like a teenaged girl. And team captain Saku Koivu has been playing on the fourth line?
You kinda have to wonder when the team will just spontaneously combust.
Actually spontaneous combustion is probably a better way to go, than to have the city of Montreal go on some sort of post-season looting rampage and tear the players apart like a soccer player who just scored an own-goal.
The only thing the Habs have going for them is they're the underdogs. Major big time.
Every year the CBC spends the day broadcasting from a small town somewhere in Canada. They also manage to get three games in there, featuring all six Canadian teams and as well as hockey stories and minor league games from across the country. It is extremely cute and gives Ron MacLean ample opportunity to make puns.
It went well, I spent the day plunked on my chesterfield being completely lazy (although i did play a bit of pond on the the terribly soft ice we've got right now) and now I've got some thoughts on the games.
Game 1 — Kovalev's revenge.
Alexei Kovalev was forced by GM Bob Gainey to sit out the last two-game road trip. With that trade rumours swirled and fans wondered.
Apparently there was more than met the eye (and the media).
Kovalev told reporters that he has felt tired this season, has inexplicatly lost weight (which blood tests have been unable to explain), and he felt the break given by Gainey was good for him.
"I have no idea why this has been happening for the last few months, but I feel better now," he said. "The last few days are going to help me."
Well it seems like it did help.
Kovalev was on fire the entire game. He made a lot of beautiful passes and scored a classic Kovalev goal where he stripped the puck from a Senators defensemen and put one away with his super-quick release.
Also it seems the fans were pulling for him too. A friend of mine was at the Bell Centre for the game (jealousy) and he sent a text to say that Kovalev recieved the biggest pre-game cheer from the crowd.
Perhaps sentiments helped along by the fact that "party-gate" came out while Kovalev was on his break.
Another thing I noticed was the powerplay of the Canadiens. And for once it wasn't because it was deplorable.
I've joked about the news that the Canadiens have traded for Mathieu Schneider — but it almost seems to be working. They had a deplorable roadtrip in Washington and Pittsburgh (although when Ovechkin does this sometimes it can't be helped.)
But the powerplay looked fabulous last night. They were passing like the Canadiens of last year and Schneider seems to have fit in nicely as the new PP quarterback.
On the other side — Ottawa had Mike Comrie in the lineup. No this isn't 2007, the Senators traded for him.
The Senators general manager reacquired Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli from the New York Islanders for centre Dean McAmmond and a first-round draft pick.
To help understand what draft pick the Senators traded away I am using an excerpt from CBC.ca: "The 2009 first-rounder heading to the Islanders originally belonged to San Jose, which included the pick in the Andrej Meszaros-Filip Kuba trade with the Senators on Aug. 29, 2008."
Got it? No? Oh well.
What I think this is trying to say is that the Senators will still have their own first round pick should they tank their season (which is very possible). So don't worry, Sens fans, your dreams of Victor Hedman are still very much alive.
Comrie is an unrestricted free agent on July 1. I'm betting this will be one of those one-night stands. However Campoli, a puck-moving defenseman is making less than a million and he's under contract until the end of next season.
Oh yah... the final score: Montreal 5, Ottawa 3
Game 2 — The Return of the Sundin.
It's the kind of stuff that makes you think hockey might be fake... you know, like wrestling. Someone is scripting this stuff, right?
Stuff doesn't work out this perfectly.
Sundin makes his return to the team he played for for 13 years (on Hockey Day in Canada, no less) and scores the final goal in the shootout to win it for the Leafs Canucks.
I am pleased to see that the Leafs fans didn't act like a bunch of fools and boo him. During a television timeout he received a huge standing ovation that lasted until it was time for puck drop, for which he was on the ice. The refs stood back and let him gather himself.
Good job Toronto fans.
Score: Canucks 3 Leafs 2 (Shootout)
Game 3 — Squeezing the stick a little too hard. Edmonton... to win a shootout you need to hit the net. All three shooters for the Oilers couldn't even get a shot on Kiprusoff.
Sam Gagner actually lost the puck on the way into the net. The look on Craig MacTavish's face was absolutely priceless.
Score: Calgary 3, Edmonton 2 (shootout)
Overtime — Final thoughts on the day.
- I am actually really sick of "Hockeyville". It was cool the first year, but it's beginning to get repetitive and kind of seems like filler.
- I was a bit skeptical about the CBC picking up PJ Stock as their sort of... well.. what does he do? Anyway, he has really grown on me. He cracks me up, his self-deprecating humour is refreshing. You could tell it took some time for him to work out the kinks of broadcasting but I think he's got it now... he's definitely brought some spice to the CBC set which can sometimes seem a little bit too serious. His blog posts also crack me up, I can just picture him saying this stuff.
- Alexander Ovechkin is absolutely dismantling the NHL this year (see video above) — he got his 43rd goal today (8 more goals than the nearest challenger... although Crosby and Malkin both have more points) and he had a slow start. Unreal. Crosby and Ovechkin had a little battle through the media today. Ovechkin said Crosby talks too much and Crosby said he doesn't like Ovechkin's showboating on the ice. Not exactly Avery versus Phaneuf but still fun.
And that's it for my epic Sunday afternoon post. Somebody get me a beer.
Sorry about the hiatus, I just started my internship at CBC Radio Charlottetown. My first day was yesterday. Still getting the hang of stuff, they threw me right into working.
I will probably start posting more regularly after I get the hang of this stuff.
I must say that I missed the Canadiens game, but Ryan O'Byrne apparently put the puck into his own net on a delayed penalty. He passed it back to Carey Price, who wasn't actually in the net. That actually tied the game for the Islanders.... and then they won in a shootout. Bill Guerin was credited with the goal.
I'm writing this crouched underneath a table. I figure the sky will fall fairly soon.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat Ottawa.
It's only a matter of time. Duck and Cover.
Hangover.
And that's what happens when you don't play for a whole week. The Canadiens haven't played since Monday. It looks like Carbonneau should've just played Tanguay for the whole game. Because he was on fire.
Jaroslav Halak started the game because Carey Price had the flu. But Price ended up in the net in the end.
Holy Hockey Batman.
All teams are in play tonight! I heard that this is the first time that absolutely every team is playing at once in a while. Something about the lockout was mentioned. Or 2005? meh. There's a lot of hockey tonight.
Strombopoopoobus.
"And he went after me when he was on Stopulopulus," said Don Cherry on Coaches Corner tonight.
He was referring to the comments made by Sean Avery when he was a guest on The Hour, hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos. Close Don... real close. (Actually it's a helluva lot closer than i would've expected. But I can't give you any points since you actually work in the same damn building as him.)
Bad Prediction?
Um, so far the Lightening are playing like the women's Italian hockey team. Apparently the team is in disarray. On the Satelitte Hotstove, Al Strachan even said that the players are not on the same page. He also said that the GM came into the locker room at intermission during the Europe trip.
There's something wrong here... I didn't realize it was winter... or 1970. I totally missed out on New Years, must've slipped my mind. Is Pierre Trudeau running? Where am I?
CTV reported today that it has bought the exclusive rights to the Hockey Night in Canada theme that CBC failed to secure after using the song as it's theme for 40 friggin years. TSN will now use the theme on its NHL on TSN broadcasts, and the 2010 Olympics.
This move by CTV has now solidified it's obvious goal of stealing absolutely everything from CBC (and take over the world... but that one was obvious). Don't believe me? Check out the sentence above. 2010 Olympics. CTV managed to pry the rights away from CBC for the Olympics back in early 2005. Two years later they narrowly missed grabbing the rights to all NHL games in Canada.
Since they couldn't get they're grubby hands on that they went on to grab the rights to the CFL, after about 50 years on CBC. No big deal. It's only 50 years.
Only 50 years? Not impressive eh? Well fine, let's take the Curling Brier from CBC, they had that for like 60 or something.
Let's not even mention one of TSN's most gifted hockey colour commentators, Chris Cuthbert, was swooped up after CBC decided to drop him during the CBC lockout of 2005. I'm sure Ron MacLean would've followed if there hadn't been a national uprising (via e-mail... the Canadian way) to defend MacLean.
The only redeeming thing about CTV stealing CBC's song, is apparently Stompin Tom Connors would be open to licensing his equally famous song "The Hockey Song" to the CBC. Which, would be much better than some crappy song that'll win the national contest that's proposed.
Before our nation's politicians jumped on this shitwagon.
Ottawa should defend Hockey Night theme: Liberals No breakthrough in licensing agreement talks between CBC, composer
Last Updated: Friday, June 6, 2008 | 4:48 PM ET CBC Sports
According to Scott Moore, the executive director of CBC Sports, negotiations to keep the Hockey Night in Canada theme song are continuing. According to Scott Moore, the executive director of CBC Sports, negotiations to keep the Hockey Night in Canada theme song are continuing.
While all was quiet at the CBC Friday regarding the status of the Hockey Night in Canada theme song, talk heated up in the nation's capital.
"The Hockey Night in Canada theme is part of Canada's culture that goes beyond sport," said Coderre. "This is a great opportunity for the heritage minister to finally get off the bench by defending an important Canadian tradition."
Coderre's comments came on the heels of published reports Thursday that CBC Sports no longer wishes to enter into a new licensing agreement with Dolores Claman, the composer, owner and administrator of the HNIC theme tune.
Later Thursday, CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore told Newsworld that negotiations for a new licensing agreement are continuing with Copyright Music & Visuals, the Toronto agency representing Claman.
"We're prepared to do a deal, we're prepared to talk, but we're not prepared to do a deal at all costs," said Moore, adding his numerous calls to Copyright Music and Visuals had not been returned Thursday.
The CBC had nothing to report on the status of negotiations Friday.
"We have nothing to announce right now," said spokesman Chris Ball. "The status [of negotiations] is pretty much the same as it was [Thursday].
"I don't know what the plans [for discussion] are moving forward for the weekend yet. We're just basically in wait-and-see mode."
Ball was unable to confirm whether a Friday deadline of 5 p.m. ET for the CBC to respond to Copyright Music & Visuals' latest proposal remained in effect.
Copyright Music & Visuals said it had offered the public broadcaster a chance to renew its licence to use Claman's song — a staple on HNIC since 1968 — on terms that were "virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade."
Previously, each use of the song cost the CBC about $500, the company said.
After the first two years of a new agreement, the rates would rise about 15 per cent, an increase Copyright Music & Visuals president John Ciccone called an industry standard.
A call made to Ciccone by CBCSports.ca was not returned Friday.
Moore said if an agreement can't be reached, the CBC would hold a nationwide contest for Canadians to submit a new theme song.
"This musical theme cannot be treated like any other song and certainly not reduced to a simple economic commodity," said Coderre. "If [Verner] wants to show that she cares about Canadian heritage, this is her chance.
"When it comes to arts and culture, this minister and this government have shown themselves to be minor leaguers at best."
Claman, who has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, is also credited with the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband Richard Morris in 1967.
CBC has dropped the Hockey Night in Canada theme song (see story below). Is that allowed? If the Canadian government blocks the sale of the Canadarm to the United States, how is the Hockey Night in Canada theme allowed to be dropped from Hockey Night in Canada. Isn't that sacrilegious or something? Apparently there has been a raise in the royalties being asked for the tune and the network couldn't afford to keep it. Answer me this? Where else do the royalties for this song come from? Is it really wise for this silly company "Copyright Music & Visuals" to charge so much that their only customer gives them the middle finger and says... Peace out homies. We'll get the Tragically Hip to write a song? Who else is going to buy this song? The odd documentary, sure. But Hockey Night in Canada provides steady income...every week. That is now gone. Stuuuuuupid. My guess is the company will cave for a cheaper price.
Dolores Claman the composer of the song also seems like a real peach. Back in 2004 she sued the CBC for copyright damages but was all smiles when the station decided to do a story on the 40th anniversary of the song.
TORONTO — The famous Hockey Night in Canada theme that has introduced thousands of great games over the years may not be heard again when the puck drops next season.
The agency that represents the song's composer said the CBC will no longer use the familiar hockey anthem.
CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore would not comment on the claim when reached at his Toronto office. The network was expected to issue a release later Thursday.
The licence agreement CBC had with composer Dolores Claman ended with this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, which wrapped up Wednesday night.
John Ciccone, whose company Copyright Music & Visuals controls use of the song, said he was given a deadline until noon Wednesday to reach a new agreement. The CBC sent him an e-mail later in the afternoon telling him they would not renew the contract.
``We looked at it every different way we could,'' he said. ``Whatever it takes, let's try and come up with something.''
It cost the public broadcaster about $500 every time it used the theme, but Ciccone doesn't think it came down to an issue of money.
One of the ideas Ciccone said he offered involved maintaining the same contract for two years, then increasing the rates by about 15 per cent, an increase he calls an industry standard.
He says he has yet to hear back from the CBC, but that he would always be open to starting negotiations again.
``We're always here,'' he said. ''They've got our number.''
Claman could not be reached for comment but released a statement on the website hockeytheme.com.
``I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada theme after our lengthy history together. I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction.''
Claman wrote the song in 1968 after it was commissioned by McLaren Advertising. The company was looking for something big, adventurous and brave to go with the broadcast.
Some good news. The Penguins lost the Stanley Cup, but hey, at least Sidney Crosby can finally shave that greasy stash he's got going on.
The Detroit Red Wings are expected to have their Stanley Cup parade on Friday. I have found no word on what kind of accident the Cup has endured this year. It's only a matter of time.
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