Lord Thunderin.

are. you. serious?

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.

overtime heroes.

The Bruins and Canadiens played back to back games Saturday and Sunday and both games went to overtime, with each team having a hero steal the win. The teams next face off on Tuesday, the Canadiens lead the series 2-1. Canadiens did not play well in either game, expect Carbonneau to have a fit and the Habs to bounce back. Looks like they might not have taken the Bruins seriously, and who can blame them, they have beaten them 13 straight up until last night.

Another interesting game will be the the Senators and Penguins game that is on tonight (8pm AST). Interesting, because we wonder will the Senators actually show up tonight. There is a possibility that after last game they're so mad they might actually make an appearance tonight and they are playing at home. or not.

Canada wins World Curling Championship


Canada's team Martin won 6-3 over rivals Scotland. The men follow up on the recent win by Canada's women (Team Jennifer Jones) so Canada owns both titles for 2008!

Semifinal: Men's World Curling Championships

Canada vs Norway

First end: Martin looked to be in big trouble with Norway pretty much covering the button with three stones. Martin made an incredible shot that JUST cleared the centre guard to score 2. Score 2-0 Canada.

Second end: Almost a steal. Came down to a measurement and it was so close they did a second take on the measurement. Norway just scored 1. Score: 2-1 Canada.

Third end: Canada scores another 2. Score: 4-1 Canada.

Fourth end: Norway with the hammer, blanks. Score: 4-1 Canada.

Fifth end: Martin completed a beautiful double with his first shot, forcing Norway to rethink and freeze to one of the two Canadian stones in the rings. Ends up in another blank. Score 4-1 Canada.

Sixth end: pretty boring end. Canada playing really good defensive game. another blank. Score: 4-1 Canada.

Seventh end: Canada, lying two with a guard out front forced Norway to draw for one. Canada finally regains the hammer. Score: 4-2 Canada.

Eighth end: this end was very similar to the last end but reversed. Canada was forced into scoring one point. The blank was not there as an option. Score: 5-2 Canada.

Ninth end: couple of big mistakes in this end. Canada ended up lying two for Norway skip's last rock. Not ideal as Norway now needs to steal two just to tie. Score: 5-3 Canada.

Tenth end: Norway steals 1, which is not enough. Score: 5-4 Canada.


Canada moves on to the Finals tomorrow versus Scotland

QMJHL PLAYOFFS! Round 2 Game 2.

It was game 2 of the Battle of Nova Scotia, and it didn't disappoint. The Halifax Mooseheads pulled out the win 5-3 over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, and the two teams traded goals throughout the game until the Moose finally pulled ahead. The game was fast paced, and as usual a mix of both teams' fans. Unfortunately the officiating played a big part in the game. There was rarely a few moments strung together without a call, and most of the goals came from special teams (in fact, all of the Eagles goals were power play). A particularly brutal series of events occurred near the end of the second period, and I was sitting in the front row on the goal line so this was quite clear to me...

A Mooseheads forward went in on the goaltender on a quasi-breakaway, and was pushed from behind by a Cape Breton forward, as the Mooseheads player went full force into the goaltender he threw the puck behind him to another forward who threw it in the net. Not only did the ref call the goal back. But he also issued a penalty to the Moosehead forward who was pushed in to the goalie. Needless to say, of COURSE Cape Breton tied it up 3-3 with another power play goal.

Overall, I think the Moose played well, but if they're going to go on in the playoffs, they're going to need to play a bit better on the penalty kill and just better defensively overall. The team many times found itself scrambling in their own zone, icing the puck to get out of trouble, defensive zone turnovers and general confusion.


Games 3, 4, and 5 will be held in Sydney Centre 200, but the two teams have 3 DAYS off. I'm sure it's because that 5 hour drive between Halifax and Sydney is outright unbearable.



P.S.HABS beat the Leafs, and to clinch first place overall they need Pittsburgh to lose. An overtime loss would suffice. Tomorrow is the final day of NHL regular season play.

Also Canada (Team Martin of Alberta) got it's first win at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota against Denmark, winning huge 9-3.

And check out this news release from the Canadiens. It is their logo for the 2009 All-star game, being held in Montreal to commemorate the team's 100th anniversary.

Not a great year to be a Senator

I know... I haven't been around the past few days. I've been working all day and then have been dragged off to some local watering hole by friends. It's that time of year in Canada. We're all starting to go a little loopy waiting for winter to end. And gosh darnit, a nice Mojito really hit the spot. So there's lots to talk about. Let's get started.

NHL
Anyway. The Habs pulled out a huge win last night at home... wait, no they weren't at home. It just felt that way. Scotiabank Place was about half full of screaming, noisy, Canadiens fans, who could be heard chorusing "ole, ole, ole!" right from puck drop. To top it off Carey Price got a shutout (3-0) and those fans sang a rendition of "Goodbye" to the Senators in their own rink.

A couple amusing points around this game. Previous to the game Jason Spezza was asked if his team wasn't performing because they were "lazy". Spezza responded with, "That's Bullshit, that's bullshit". Most hockey pundits last night expected the team to come out angry and pull out a win. Perhaps this would be true, if Jason Spezza wasn't too lazy to even commit to being lazy.
Also there are two games left and the once-mighty Senators (who in early November were touted to be the ones to finally bring home the Stanley Cup to Canada) need to win these last two games or risk not making the playoffs.

Conversely, the Canadiens tied up the top spot in the Northeast, are guarenteed at least the top two seeds, and are neck and neck with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Eastern Conference title.

Curling

Jennifer Jones and Team Canada captured the World Curling Championship in front of the home town crowd in Vernon, British Columbia. The Final grabbed record television ratings and it also marked the first time an Asian team would finish in the medals, with China finishing with a silver.

QMJHL PLAYOFFS! Round 1 Games 5 and 6

The Halifax Mooseheads were back into their old form. Winning game 5 and 6 by healthy margins (7-2, 7-0) to win the series. Next up: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. aka the Battle of Nova Scotia.

Is today real?

am i really writing this blog right now? This is a test. Maybe i'm just asleep... and when i wake up tomorrow this post won't exist because what I experienced as March 29 wasn't March 29 at all. I was just dreaming about what March 29 would be like, if March 29 was a really gawd-awful, terrible day.

The day was going pretty good, I was hanging out this afternoon watching Jennifer Jones play Japan after losing to China yesterday and having to play an extra game to go to the finals of the World Championships. Jones came back from 3 points back, to steal a point in the extra end which sent them to the final to face China for a third time... third time's a charm?

Anyway, everything started going downhill shortly after that. I was enjoying a few brewskis at the Midtown Tavern in Halifax when suddenly i found myself sulking into those brewskis.... the Toronto Maple Leafs... yes that team that is neither going to make the playoffs, but isn't terrible enough to qualify for the top draft pick in the lottery... beat the Montreal Canadiens.... the team sitting atop the Conference.... 4-2. 4-2!??! are you serious?

To make it fair... the Canadiens were without a slew of important players. Defensive specialist Mike Komisarek is still out, captain Saku Koivu is out with a "foot injury" (Alexei Kovalev was wearing the "C") As well unsung hero Mark Streit who can play either D or forward was also out with a "foot injury. To make matters worse, Francis Bouillion took a nasty slap shot to the inside of the knee. He didn't leave the game but it didn't look like it tickled. Not to mention that Halak started in net instead of Price and let in some questionable goals.

Ok wait, let's talk about the fact that Halak started in nets instead of Price. When the Christobal Huet trade was executed, it was said that this solidified Price's spot as the top goaltender. If this is the case, why are the Canadiens starting Halak down the stretch to the playoffs? It is understandable that Price played last night and faced a lot of shots, but generally you want your goaltender on a roll and hot going into the playoffs. Besides, Price needs to get used to playing a lot... it's not exactly something that he's had a lot of practice at this season, since he and Huet basically alternated up until the trade deadline.

To make matters worse, i just got home and i'm really craving a flatbread pizza, which i can't make because i forgot to buy cheese this afternoon at the grocery store.

Team Kevin Martin wins Brier

Team Kevin Martin from Alberta won the Brier (Canadian Men's Curling Championship) today with their final shot a draw right to the button. They beat Team Glenn Howard in the final going 13-0 in the entire tournament and is off to the Worlds in Grand Forks, ND.