16 AJHL coaches in a room for a day. Should be interesting.
The AJHL coaches meetings run today in Red Deer before the governors get together for the AGM on Saturday.
I caught up with AJHL President Craig Cripps to get his thoughts heading into the meetings.
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After making a major purchase at Duty Free in Heathrow Airport in London I am curious if anyone in Bonnyville is up for a Scotch tasting. Just a note but if you are ever in Lethbridge and into your scotch give the Andrew Hilton for their scotch tasting calender. They tend to run September through December and offer some high quality samples.
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More pub for the Old Man's Book... Check it out... if you want your copy signed then drop by the Andrew Hilton in Lethbridge weekly from September through December.
The Robb Hunter Blog
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
MAY 26 -- Back to work.
FROM AJHL.CA
BONNYVILLE, AB – The Bonnyville Pontiacs and NewCap Radio’s KOOL 101.3FM announced today that they have agreed to terms to continue broadcasting games for the 2009-10 season. For a third consecutive season, KOOL 101.3FM will continue to be the flagship radio station for all 60 Bonnyville Pontiacs regular season hockey games as well as the AJHL playoffs. Play-by-play man, Robb Hunter, has also signed on for a third season.
The Bonnyville Pontiacs are one of the only AJHL teams committed to broadcasting all regular season and playoff games via radio, keeping fans up to date on the road and at home. Game broadcasts will be available locally on 101.3FM as well as www.1013koolfm.com.
NewCap Radio’s KOOL 101.3 is a family friendly format that plays new adult hits along with songs their audience grew up with. They play a variety of hit songs from the 80’s, the 90’s and Now!
It has been a pleasure working with the Pontiacs organization and with the AJHL, while it will be our third season covering every single Pontiacs game it will actually be my 4th year calling games for the club as Kool's "Pontiac experiment" started with a feature "game of the week" what seems like way back when.
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They play a variety of hit songs from the 80’s, the 90’s and Now!
Or as Assistant Coach Ryan Pollock tells me on a regular basis "you guys have the most messed up play list I have ever heard. You're the only station in world that will randomly throw on Britney Spears right after Nirvana and I think I heard you guys play Guns and Roses once."
I don't pick the music although I do enjoy the variety.
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Memorial Day is great for afternoon sports coming out of the States but that left nothing on last night. Had to watch the season finale of Survivor which the wife had PVR'd before our trip to Germany. The reunion show didn't get taped and we ended up missing the final vote to see who had won. I had to call my old buddy Dave Tymo to find out what happened. Dave used to be morning man at Kool before taking a job in Camrose. He is doing well and is looking forward to hockey season starting again to try and get me back for losing a bet when the Pontiacs beat the Kodiaks early in the year last season and he had to travel up to Bonnyville and sing the national anthem before the rematch.
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The Windsor Spitfires lifted the Memorial Cup on Sunday which allows me the opportunity to once again post one of my favorite YouTube videos.
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Trip was good. Spent most of the time in Munich, Germany with a quick side trip to Salzburg, Austria. Interesting pictures to follow.
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Luca Toni is a bum.
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Too bad about Canada's Sledge Hockey team dropping the semi to the USA while I was away. Like I told Matt Cook though, better to let them have the World Championships this year then lose in the Olympics next year. Matt is currently back packing through Europe.
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Congrats go out to the Voice of the Oil Barons Dustin Nielson on his recent engagement.
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My favorite vacations are the ones I take oversees. I've been to Europe 4 times, lived in Asia for 4 years when I was younger and am looking forward to where ever I can get to next but always, EVERY single time I travel, I realize just how much I love this country.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
THURSDAY -- more audio
Hey folks,
Some more audio from Banquet night:
Ross Herzog
Tyler Henry
Tyler Pugh
Julien Laplante
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Who did CBC get working the camera for Game 3 of the Canucks/Hawks series? I almost got sea sick trying to follow the play. Hopefully they figure it out tonight.
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I see from Rod Pedersen's blog that the Pats have a shortlist of two. Check it out.
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Canada's National Sledge Hockey Team takes to the ice this weekend for the start of the 2009 National Championships being played in Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
Some more audio from Banquet night:
Ross Herzog
Tyler Henry
Tyler Pugh
Julien Laplante
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Who did CBC get working the camera for Game 3 of the Canucks/Hawks series? I almost got sea sick trying to follow the play. Hopefully they figure it out tonight.
-----
I see from Rod Pedersen's blog that the Pats have a shortlist of two. Check it out.
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Canada's National Sledge Hockey Team takes to the ice this weekend for the start of the 2009 National Championships being played in Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Interesting Times
With the Regina Pats letting go of their coaching staff earlier this week I see Pontiacs head coach Chad Mercier's name popping up as a possible replacement.
This from The Pipeline Show official website at http://www.thepipelineshow.blogspot.com/. Their link is in the blogroll to the right:
5. Chad Mercier-Bonnyville Pontiacs-AJHL
Chad was an assistant coach in Regina for 5 seasons, serving under Lorne Molleken and Bob Lowes. He was passed over for the job when Curtis Hunt was hired, and Mercier headed north to Saskatoon to rejoin Molleken. Mercier is a former Pats goaltender and has strong ties to the club. For the past 3 seasons he's been the bench boss in Bonnyville and led the Pontiacs to a 35 win season and a 4th place finish this year. Mercier reportedly received an interview last year and could be on Brent Parker's radar again this season.
4. Marc Habscheid-Nowhere
Habscheid's name has come up for nearly every vacant WHL job in the last couple of years. But what also usually follows is word that he wants to much money and to much control. He was fired after one season in Boston when Dave Lewis got the axe, and is still getting paid by the Bruins, so he's pretty picky about what job he'll take. He was interviewed last year as well, and was in the running for the job in Prince George from what I heard, but his terms were to high for both teams. He does bring plenty of WHL experience as he coached for 7 years in Kelowna and Kamloops winning the Memorial Cup with the Rockets in 2004. He also coached Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2003.
3. Boris Rybalka-Camrose Kodiaks-AJHL
He's the biggest long shot on the list and some of the polish has come off his reputation after a down year in Camrose this year, but he's won plenty in the past. Up until this year the Kodiaks were perennial RBC favorites and have produced plenty of great players. Mason Raymond, Joe Colborne, Mike Connolly. The question is would Rybalka leave a very cushy gig in Camrose for a possible rebuilding club in Regina?
2. Curtis Hunt-Binghamton Senators-AHL
Did Brent Parker make the move on gassing his head coach today because Curtis Hunt suddenly became available again? I have a hard time believing Hunt would leave the AHL to return to the WHL, but if he was going to be let go by Ottawa for the second time it could happen. Hunt was fired along with Craig Hartsburgh but was given the head coaching job for the Sens farm team in Binghamton. He led the baby Sens to 15 wins in their last 32 games but came up 2 points shy of a post season berth. His name came up several times today in conversations I had about who replaces Derkatch.
1. Dean Brockman-Humboldt Broncos-SJHL
Many people don't know this but I've been told Brockman very quietly received an interview last year before the Pats settled on Dale Derkatch. Did they go for sizzle instead of steak? Some people think so. Brockman is the SJHL's version of Boris Rybalka with more bling. He's coached the Broncos for 11 years and has won 40 plus games the last 3 seasons, including 48 a year ago when Humboldt won a National title beating Rybalka's Kodiaks. The Broncs have won the SJHL title the last 3 years including 08-09 and are back at the RBC looking to defend their title.
Like the Boys said, Mercier would be more likely than Rybalka because of his ties to Regina although both seem to be in pretty good situations right now I'm sure both would at some point in the future want to move up. Is the future for Mercier right now?
With a new contract signed last summer security isn't an issue and I would imagine money isn't either, he has family in town and with a young daughter and newborn son I would think he appreciates the support system. There is also a feeling of unfinished business in Bonnyville. Mercier has been here three years now and has put together solid teams in the last two seasons and with his comments at last Saturday's awards banquet, "it's time to break down that door", it just doesn't seem like the timing is right.
However, these jobs don't come available very often and there has got to be a pull to want to go back to a team you grew up playing on and that gave you your start to your coaching career.
Mind you this is all mere speculation from a bunch of junior hockey bloggers that don't have much else to do but speculate. I have not spoken to Chad about his feelings and I certainly have not talked to the GM of the Pats Brent Parker about who his short list candidates might be.
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Flaming and Milllard are great. I had a chance to work with Flaming when I covered the Edmonton Oilers for Sportsticker. They both really know their stuff.
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Want more Mercier speculation check out Rod Pedersen's blog. Pedersen hasn't offered his short list yet but many of his readers have and if you can't trust a person who posts annonymous comments on a blog then who can you trust.
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Speaking of the Awards Banquet, I did catch up to Chad Mercier after his speach.
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This audio from the players was supposed to be up yesterday if some lady hadn't slammed into my car when it was parked at the Muller Plaza. My poor car was just minding it's own business when Whammy .... oh well. Instead of getting on the blog I spent the day getting estimates.
Denis Fontaine
Michael Westfall
Marc-Antoine Juneau
Jeremy Gerhardt
Ashton Hewson
Steven Seigo
Craig Cuthbert
This from The Pipeline Show official website at http://www.thepipelineshow.blogspot.com/. Their link is in the blogroll to the right:
5. Chad Mercier-Bonnyville Pontiacs-AJHL
Chad was an assistant coach in Regina for 5 seasons, serving under Lorne Molleken and Bob Lowes. He was passed over for the job when Curtis Hunt was hired, and Mercier headed north to Saskatoon to rejoin Molleken. Mercier is a former Pats goaltender and has strong ties to the club. For the past 3 seasons he's been the bench boss in Bonnyville and led the Pontiacs to a 35 win season and a 4th place finish this year. Mercier reportedly received an interview last year and could be on Brent Parker's radar again this season.
4. Marc Habscheid-Nowhere
Habscheid's name has come up for nearly every vacant WHL job in the last couple of years. But what also usually follows is word that he wants to much money and to much control. He was fired after one season in Boston when Dave Lewis got the axe, and is still getting paid by the Bruins, so he's pretty picky about what job he'll take. He was interviewed last year as well, and was in the running for the job in Prince George from what I heard, but his terms were to high for both teams. He does bring plenty of WHL experience as he coached for 7 years in Kelowna and Kamloops winning the Memorial Cup with the Rockets in 2004. He also coached Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2003.
3. Boris Rybalka-Camrose Kodiaks-AJHL
He's the biggest long shot on the list and some of the polish has come off his reputation after a down year in Camrose this year, but he's won plenty in the past. Up until this year the Kodiaks were perennial RBC favorites and have produced plenty of great players. Mason Raymond, Joe Colborne, Mike Connolly. The question is would Rybalka leave a very cushy gig in Camrose for a possible rebuilding club in Regina?
2. Curtis Hunt-Binghamton Senators-AHL
Did Brent Parker make the move on gassing his head coach today because Curtis Hunt suddenly became available again? I have a hard time believing Hunt would leave the AHL to return to the WHL, but if he was going to be let go by Ottawa for the second time it could happen. Hunt was fired along with Craig Hartsburgh but was given the head coaching job for the Sens farm team in Binghamton. He led the baby Sens to 15 wins in their last 32 games but came up 2 points shy of a post season berth. His name came up several times today in conversations I had about who replaces Derkatch.
1. Dean Brockman-Humboldt Broncos-SJHL
Many people don't know this but I've been told Brockman very quietly received an interview last year before the Pats settled on Dale Derkatch. Did they go for sizzle instead of steak? Some people think so. Brockman is the SJHL's version of Boris Rybalka with more bling. He's coached the Broncos for 11 years and has won 40 plus games the last 3 seasons, including 48 a year ago when Humboldt won a National title beating Rybalka's Kodiaks. The Broncs have won the SJHL title the last 3 years including 08-09 and are back at the RBC looking to defend their title.
Like the Boys said, Mercier would be more likely than Rybalka because of his ties to Regina although both seem to be in pretty good situations right now I'm sure both would at some point in the future want to move up. Is the future for Mercier right now?
With a new contract signed last summer security isn't an issue and I would imagine money isn't either, he has family in town and with a young daughter and newborn son I would think he appreciates the support system. There is also a feeling of unfinished business in Bonnyville. Mercier has been here three years now and has put together solid teams in the last two seasons and with his comments at last Saturday's awards banquet, "it's time to break down that door", it just doesn't seem like the timing is right.
However, these jobs don't come available very often and there has got to be a pull to want to go back to a team you grew up playing on and that gave you your start to your coaching career.
Mind you this is all mere speculation from a bunch of junior hockey bloggers that don't have much else to do but speculate. I have not spoken to Chad about his feelings and I certainly have not talked to the GM of the Pats Brent Parker about who his short list candidates might be.
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Flaming and Milllard are great. I had a chance to work with Flaming when I covered the Edmonton Oilers for Sportsticker. They both really know their stuff.
-----
Want more Mercier speculation check out Rod Pedersen's blog. Pedersen hasn't offered his short list yet but many of his readers have and if you can't trust a person who posts annonymous comments on a blog then who can you trust.
-----
Speaking of the Awards Banquet, I did catch up to Chad Mercier after his speach.
-----
This audio from the players was supposed to be up yesterday if some lady hadn't slammed into my car when it was parked at the Muller Plaza. My poor car was just minding it's own business when Whammy .... oh well. Instead of getting on the blog I spent the day getting estimates.
Denis Fontaine
Michael Westfall
Marc-Antoine Juneau
Jeremy Gerhardt
Ashton Hewson
Steven Seigo
Craig Cuthbert
Friday, May 1, 2009
FRIDAY
The Edmonton Oil Kings took a late round flier on AJHL tough guy Darren Kramer of the Grande Prairie Storm in the WHL's bantam draft. Yes it's a draft of guys born in '94 but the Oil Kings used their last pick of the draft on the '91 born Peace River native with an eye towards next year instead of adding just another prospect.
Oil Kings General Manager Bob Green had a chance to watch Kramer in game 2 of the Doyle Cup in Vernon and liked what he saw from the Storm's penalty minute leader.
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Mark Letestu and the rest of his WBS Penguins kick off their second round AHL playoff series in Hersey tomorrow night.
Letestu had 4 assists in 5 games in the first round.
Jon Kalinski had a goal and two assists in four games but is wasn't enough as his Phantoms were swept out of the first round. Good to see Kalinski doing so well after such a devastating leg injury earlier in the year knocked him out of the Flyers lineup.
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I've been told we aren't allowed to call it Swine Flu anymore because it is upsetting the pig farmers in Canada. My news director hasn't said anything about not calling it 'choking' anymore because it might upset Sharks fans.
Oil Kings General Manager Bob Green had a chance to watch Kramer in game 2 of the Doyle Cup in Vernon and liked what he saw from the Storm's penalty minute leader.
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Mark Letestu and the rest of his WBS Penguins kick off their second round AHL playoff series in Hersey tomorrow night.
Letestu had 4 assists in 5 games in the first round.
Jon Kalinski had a goal and two assists in four games but is wasn't enough as his Phantoms were swept out of the first round. Good to see Kalinski doing so well after such a devastating leg injury earlier in the year knocked him out of the Flyers lineup.
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I've been told we aren't allowed to call it Swine Flu anymore because it is upsetting the pig farmers in Canada. My news director hasn't said anything about not calling it 'choking' anymore because it might upset Sharks fans.
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