We're on the air early Friday beginning at 5:30pm as Rick "The Bear" Wile does a live show from Interior Savings Center leading up to our 7pm face-off on Radio NL,
Bear will also sit in and do some color commentary for the opening weekend before heading down to do the post-game interviews. You can listen online at either www.radionl.com or www.blazerhockey.com
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The WHL This Week - Radio edition is almost set. The plan is to have Commissioner Ron Robison on to kick-off the 45th season of the WHL.
We will also hear from Red Deer Rebels F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who had a busy summer. He know heads into the season as the top-rated WHL'er for the NHL entry draft next summer. Portland Winterhawks Head Coach / General Manager Mike Johnston will also join us. The Hawks head into the season as one of the favorites.
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The Kamloops Blazers are back on the ice this afternoon for practice. It's expected that newly acquired G Jeff Bosch will meet his new teammates today. A sprained ankle may keep him out of practice though.
It's already been announced that G Jon Groenheyde will get the call in goal in the season opener against the Prince George Cougars. His play in the pre-season has definitely earned him that right.
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We should know more later today on the fate of the five Blazers still away at NHL camps. I'd expect the Blazers to have most, if not all the players back in time for the season opener. D Corey Fienhage may get a longer look in Buffalo based on his over-age status.
The player his teammates call "Moose" is going to be a sturdy guy on the back-end for the Blazers this year.
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For those back in Saskatchewan....remember Bill O'Donovan? He did sports on CTV Regina years ago and also hosted a show called Sports Journal. I remember it well. He's now in Kamloops anchoring the local TV station's supper hour newscast and doing public address announcing for Blazer games.
His son Tim works in the Blazer office and does a good job handling team video and media requests.
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This is a shot of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and the Trail Smoke Eaters from yesterday up in S.A. Turns out it was my first ever BCHL hockey game. I made the hour long trip North along with former Trail Smoke Eaters play-by-play broadcaster and Radion NL employee Ian Douglas.
Former Swift Current Broncos Assistant Coach Tim Kehler is now the Head Coach/GM in Salmon Arm. Heading into yesterday's game, the Silverbacks were a league best 4-0. But, they couldn't solve a hot Smoke Eaters goaltender for most of the game and suffered their first loss of the season.
Trail has done a good job of graduating broadcasters on to the WHL. Drew Wilson (Prince Albert), Shawn Mullin (Swift Current), and A.J. Jakubec (former Edmonton Oil Kings broadcaster) have all come out of Smoke Eater country.
The drive north to Salmon Arm is a nice one as many know. You follow Shuswap Lake for most of the trip starting at Chase. Yesterday the lake was like glass around Copper Island. The sockeye salmon run is just starting. You could see the fish jumping from the highway.
The drive compares to the trip south to Kelowna where you follow Lake Okanagan through Vernon and onto to Kelowna. The summers are going to be nice out here.
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Swift Current Broncos F Cody Eakin is in Washington, DC at Capitals main camp.
It's expected he will see some exhibition games. The Caps will take a good long look at Eakin. Bronco fans shouldn't expect him back for opening weekend
Capitals Head Coach Bruce Boudreau is a fan of Eakin's game. Don't be surprised if Eakin isn't back for a few weeks. Not the news Bronco fans want to hear but good for Cody nonetheless.
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Have a good week.... There will be plenty of work to do from now until Friday night....
Jon
2 comments:
Keener,
Not that you live out west, time to start spelling and saying things right. It's dinner not supper and spelled Shuswap. Have fun with the season opener.
Helpful. thanks.
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