Wudrick, Riders, Tribe and more....

Canada opened up the U-18 summer tournament in the Czech Republic with a 3-2 shootout loss to Sweden. Broncos forward Geordie Wudrick didn't factor into the scoring.

Before he left I tracked him down for a few questions.

JK: Geordie, I've known you as a guy that always looked forward to wearing the Maple Leaf, the way you talk about the World Junior tournament leads me to believe this is a huge honour.

GW: It was an unbelievable feeling. It's something you work towards your whole life. Like watching the world juniors it makes me really proud even watching the guys on TV so when I was told I made the team it was an incredible feeling I felt so proud. Even putting the jersey on for the team picture... all the boys in the dressing room had huge smiles on their faces, it was just awesome.


JK: This is the first step towards the big club, the U-20 team, this bodes well for you to make that team in the future.

GW: This is the first big step. Up until now since the bantam draft this is the biggest thing that has happened to me. Now being part of the Program of Excellence I hope the next stage is that team. After that there's tons of paths after that like the World Championships and the Olympics.


JK: Tell me about your overseas or travelling experience... have you ever been overseas?

GW: To be honest I haven't been too far out of Canada, I've only been to two U.S. states - Michigan and Washington. But I have a little bit of international experience. Back in bantam our Abbottsford club team we played this Russian team and we actually beat this high-powered team. I have little bit of a taste of their kind of style. And just playing against the Euros around the WHL and being around out two Czech players Daniel Rakos and David Steiler was helped me. They play a different, puck possession style and use the big ice well.


JK: What is the mindset for Team Canada right now?

GW: Our motto is "we're hunting for gold" and that's what we have in mind. Going there we are going to shoot for the top, anything less would be a disappointment for us. We have an incredible team, by far the best team I've ever played on - we could have made two teams out of camp to compete at this tournament. We're hunting for gold.

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I called the Riders ticket office this morning and it's not good for those looking for a ticket. They have some remaining in sections 201 (nosebleed goal line) and 15/16 (corner end zone). They take on the Eskimos Saturday night and a few of us are going to check it out.


Are there any season ticket holders not going to the game that wouldn't mind parting with their tickets? (we'll pay for them of course). I have a few leads already but nothing certain. Plus we have media passes here at the station but I would much rather just be a fan... much more entertaining. You can't exactly cart a couple beers into the press box without getting a few glares from the media throng...not that I've tried.

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GO TRIBE!

The Indians face elimination tonight in Okotoks after a wild game three last night. Okotoks emerged with a 7-6 11 inning win when Dawgs' third baseman Travis Drader hit a walk off home run to win it in front of nearly 1900 fans.


The Indians too a 6-5 lead with two runs in the top of the 9th, Okotoks tied it up 6-6 but on the same play the potential winning run was gunned down at home plate to force extra innings.

The Tribe will send Brandon, MB native Matt DeGagne to the mound. Not sure how many arms the team has left. The bullpen had to pitch over six innings last night between Cody Hovdestead, Bobby Alcala, and Shawn Lee.

If the Indians win they will force a 5th and deciding game back here tomorrow night. Wouldn't that be a game to be at?

Join Ryan Switzer for all the action beginning at 6:50pm with the pre-game show, play-by-play at 7:05pm from the Doc Seaman Stadium

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Here's some quick sports news.... former Bronco A.C. Rob Daum is officially joining the Oilers coaching staff. Daum was the Broncos Assistant in the early 90's.

Courtesy TSN.CA

The Edmonton Oilers announced Monday that the club has hired Rob Daum as an assistant for its coaching staff.

Daum, 49, replaces Craig Simpson, who resigned his position with the team's coaching staff to accept a broadcast position with 'Hockey Night In Canada'. He will work alongside Charlie Huddy and Bill Moores.

"He's a great teacher, he understands the game very well and we think he's going to bring a little bit of a different dimension to our organization,'' said Oilers vice president of hockey operations Kevin Pendergast.

Daum returns to Edmonton after spending the past two seasons as the head coach of the Houston Aeros. In his professional coaching debut, Daum registered a 77-67-16 record with the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate from 2005-06 to 2006-07.

That's all for today,
Jon