Trick or treat

Happy Halloween! Students at WES were all decked out in their costumes today. There was quite an array. As I sit here at coffee time I have had three mini chocolate bars :) my daughter is dressing up as an elephant. I have been telling everyone at work she loves chocolate bars and chips ... She's only almost 6 mths old. Guess dad will have to help her with those.

The riders coach and vp of operations ken miller announced today he is stepping down at the end of the season. A tremendous coach who had a rough year. The team needs an overhaul and this is a start towards that. I think he was awesome as a coach and it's too bad about the season. I say Dave dickenson would be awesome as the top bench boss and current Eskimos qb Kerry Joseph would be awesome as Durants qb consultant.

Casting my ballot on sports topics

Here is a snippet from my weekly column that will be coming out on Halloween...I propose a few questions and who I would vote for...of course they are sports related...

 With the election just a week away in Saskatchewan, I thought I would go with a voting theme. Since there is another week until the election, this is part one of a two-part voting column.

Starting in the CFL, which team has been the most surprising this year from a positive perspective? The choices are the B.C. Lions who got off to a dismal start and turned it up rattling off multiple wins in a row; the Edmonton Eskimos who went from basement dwellers last year to the top dogs; and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who could not get a win when it was close last year but were first in the east heading into the weekend. They also adapted the phrase swaggerville to their name as they have been playing relatively good.

My vote: While the Lions have been unreal right now and the Bombers have turned their ship around, I am going to have to go with Edmonton. After adding Eric Tillman as the general manager, the team went through an overhaul of sorts and has got things turned around in a hurry. I don’t think anyone would have predicted the Eskimos to be in first in the west this late in the season. 

To the NFL and who has the best chance at getting the first overall pick in next year’s draft? The winless Miami Dolphins who are going through quarterbacks like there is no tomorrow; the St. Louis Rams who were thought to have a decent year but were 0-6 last week; or the Indianapolis Colts who miss Peyton Manning as their quarterback.

My vote: The Colts. You can tell that the 0-7 team misses their injured quarterback and they have yet to get much going. However, Manning does not run the defense and giving up 62 points to the New Orleans Saints does not bode well. What it does bode well for is the first overall draft pick, which could be a quarterback if Manning’s injury persists.

My NHL question pertains to the Winnipeg Jets and is more of a dream for fans of that club. Who should the Jets acquire next? The choices are former netminder Nikolai Khabibulin who is also known as the ‘Bulin Wall. The tender played with old Jets team, albeit near the end of its tenure in the city; Teemu Selanne, the finnish flash. Selanne was the Jets for many years, setting a record for most goals scored by a rookie; Jonathan Toews. The captain of the Chicago Blackhawks is a native of Manitoba and a Stanley Cup winner.

My vote: ‘Hawks captain Jonathan Toews. Toews is the face of that franchise and would easily be the face of the Jets for years to come. Having a local guy as the team’s captain would not only be amazing but also raise interest to the team like never before. I know that there is enough interest there right now but adding Toews would be pretty cool. My second choice would be Selanne. I am a fan of retro stuff so adding the finnish flash to the organization would be incredible, although it would probably only be for a year since he has been contemplating retirement for the past few seasons. In his hey day, Selanne was simply outstanding.

Friday stuff

A few things for this Friday...

-Riders need to score a touchdown...if they don't in the first little bit it will be the longest drought in their history.

-Darian Durant is starting and Henry Burris is not...Drew Tate gets the ball for Calgary, never thought I would see that this year as Burris gets the bench, feel bad for him...Durant on the other hand, while he is one of my favourite qbs, I am not sure why he is playing especially since Riders are out and he has a problem with his foot...coach Ken Miller said they want to win regardless and that is why the move is made. If the Riders beat Calgary tonight, it will be their first W against a west opponent this year, ouch never thought I would see that...I will say Calgary takes it by 12 tonight.

-Hoping to do some golf this weekend--have never done a round so close to my birthday! The course in town is closed so good ol Nokomis or Young will do! Hoping for good weather :)

-Lots going on athletically in town...girls vball today, football next weekend and more volleyball as well.

-Flames need to start rebuilding, I don't think they will get to where they need to be...

-And from a portion of my column - The Point After - that will be in this Monday's paper, I give you my predictions for the NHL season...have a great weekend. Blessings.

This year, I think people could see quite a few teams make a surprise run. I have a feeling Montreal could be one of those teams along with Colorado and Los Angeles.

Starting in the eastern conference, Washington and Pittsburgh will again have great years but I also think Buffalo makes a charge for tops in the conference. Boston will again reach the postseason with Carolina, Montreal, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.

Now Leaf fans will be up in arms with me because of their hot start but I don’t think it will last. Toronto will finish either ninth or 10th. Ottawa and Winnipeg will be battling it out in the basement.

If Sidney Crosby returns, Pittsburgh finishes first at the end of the year followed by Buffalo and Washington. Montreal takes the fourth seed and will see Philadelphia in the first round. Boston will sit sixth overall as they battle that notorious Stanley Cup hangover while Tampa Bay is slotted in the seventh spot followed by Carolina.

In the playoffs, Pittsburgh beats Carolina, Tampa Bay takes out Buffalo, Washington edges Boston and Montreal takes out Philly.

Pittsburgh would then beat Tampa while Carey Price and the Canadiens defeat Washington. Advancing to the Stanley Cup finals would be the Penguins in six games, thanks to strong goaltending by Marc-Andre Fleury.

In the west, Vancouver and Detroit will try to battle it out for tops. Chicago and Nashville will not be far behind. After a disappointing season, the Avalanche are back in the playoffs along with Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose.

Vancouver will defeat the Sharks in the opening round while Detroit takes out Colorado. Chicago will be in tough against Anaheim but will prevail and Los Angeles will beat Nashville.

 Los Angeles will carry its momentum forward by eliminating Vancouver while Detroit will handle Chicago. The Red Wings, like they have done so many times before, will beat the Kings and once again it will be the Penguins versus the Red Wings. This year I am going with Pittsburgh to take the Cup, Crosby’s second silver mug.

As for the other Canadian teams, despite a guarantee to make playoffs by Flames’ general manager Jay Feaster, the team finishes 10th while the Oilers sit 13th.

New digs

Had the chance to check out the new long term care facility being built in watrous. Here are a few shots of the inside. Residents are expected to be moving in by next June.

Friday's fast facts

I have been battling the cold or flu or something so haven't really had much of a chance to post on here. Here are some random thoughts as we head into the weekend....

-Loved Thanksgiving weekend, I know I need to get a pair of stretchy pants for next Thanksgiving if I will eat as much as I did this year.

-What is wrong with the Riders...three games and only nine points to show, the last game they only scored one! They have given up 99! I admire qb Darian Durant for playing hurt, on a broken foot in fact, but with the season basically a lost cause, I would put him on the bench and let him heal for next season. Let some of the rookies get a shot so that the team can see what they are like for next season.

-Coach Ken Miller and GM Brendan Taman have a year left on their contract, they will be back another season in some capacity. Andy Fantuz I would say is up in the air. I think he will either sign with Riders, Edmonton or Toronto.

-Flames are 1-2, beating Montreal last night. Miikka Kipprusoff got a win last night and took over first spot in the all-time wins column as a Calgary Flame surpassing Mike Vernon. Kipper would be in my top three favourite all time Flame tenders. Fred Brathwaite and Trevor Kidd take the other two spots.

-Summer is definitely gone as temps are cooling off. Apparently some snow flakes in Lanigan area today but blue clouds around here. Temps are to be in the mid teens so it makes for some beauty fall weather!

-Hope the Eagles get a win this weekend, they need to get on track and Washington would be a good start heading into their bye.

-Grey Cup is coming to Regina in 2013! Not only that the Memorial Cup was awarded to Saskatoon for the same year---what a cool opportunity for fans to check out.

-Hoping to play some football this weekend, long time coming for that :) should be a good time.

-Enjoy your weekend, today is a great day to curl up and read a good book or if you are youth leader like me, then it is a great day to play mission impossible tonight....blessings!