Wednesday Update

Today's blog post is unofficially brought to you by the good folks of Innovation Credit Union.

This isn't a multi-million dollar sponsorship package, nor will this blog be referred to as the "I-blog' but the marketing staff are good people and have been a big supporter. Thank you.

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I caught the final minutes and then overtime of the Spokane/Vancouver game last night on Shaw. Good series, good ending. Vancouver and Calgary are one step closer to a WHL super series for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Let's see if Kelowna or Brandon have something to say about that in the next week.


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I finally spoke with Broncos D John Negrin on Monday. Negrin's world has been turned upside-down the last two weeks since his Bronco season came to an end. Just three nights later he was in a Calgary Flames jersey playing in Minnesota.

He's played three games now and is enjoying every minute of it. I asked him about his "welcome to the NHL moment":


"There's been a lot. When I went out in warm-up (in Minnesota), half the building was already full. It was pretty amazing. I spent most of the time looking up in the stands and looking around. To see myself in the Flames jersey, and see the players I was on the ice playing with and against, that was probably the biggest moment. I kind of realized and was like wow, I'm here and I'm going to do this."

Negrin also played this past weekend in a home-and-home series against the Edmonton Oilers in the Battle of Alberta.

"With the Flames, it's crazy. Especially playing against Edmonton, the big rival. They were two really exciting games, pretty fast-paced, and I enjoyed it."

The WHL wanted to hear Negrin's story. He'll be featured on WHL This Week - Radio Edition when the new episode comes out sometime on Friday.
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We had our annual radio station NHL draft last night. There was seven of us - down a couple from last year. The motley crew included Trent "Zoo" Redekop of CKSW morning show fame, Program Director Ryan Switzer, Colin Powers and Dono Fehr from the news department, Sales Manager Carla Congdon and Sales Rep Nancy Anderson's husband Dale.

We rattled off 16 rounds in about an hour and fifteen minutes. I'm all about the Bruins, Sharks and Devils with one or two Red Wings in the mix. I had the 5th overall pick and settled for the Bruins Marc Savard. I debated between him or Joe Thornton of the Sharks.

The strangest pick of the night belonged to Trent Zoo who selected the Wings Ville Leino with his sleeper. I'm not a Wings fan and I haven't paid too close attention. Who is this guy??

Switzer, with no allegiances to the Canucks whatsoever, took 10 of them. His plan was semi-foiled by Colin Powers who was able to wrangle Roberto Luongo with his goaltender pick.

Not one New York Ranger was taken - the only team to be shutout.

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Broncos F Cody Eakin appears to be a "role-player" at the U-18 Championships in North Dakota. Judging by his linemates and his ice-time, he's predominately playing a checking role. I know he won't have any problem with it but he's capable of putting up some offensive numbers if given the opportunity. He has two goals in the tournament so far.

It's probably the best fit for Eaks considering. If he continues to advance to the World Junior evaluation camp in a year or two, that's the role Hockey Canada would be trying to fit him into.

Canada won their pool with a 4-2 win over Sweden and a berth in the semi-finals.

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More snow today. Looks like the golf clubs will be on the shelf for the time being. Have a good rest of the week.

Jon