Seeing as this blog got it's first even mention via Twitter this past weekend, this post if for my good buddy Scott Giroux. In no particular order, here are my thoughts:
* I had the opportunity to attend the Memorial Cup on the weekend. Not only were there good times with good friends, but some pretty good hockey to watch as well. Given what I saw, regardless of their showing against Saskatoon on Sunday, I have trouble seeing anyone other than Halifax win it all. To me they looked a little tired against Saskatoon on Sunday. I would imagine they gave it all against Portland on Saturday to try to send the message there was no debate as to who the number one team in Canada was.
* Goaltending will hurt Portland. Mac Carruth is not that good. As per conversations I had this weekend, he is an average at best goalie lucky enough to play behind a very good team. Halifax got him seven times and the Shane McColgan goal last night stunk something awful.
* If I were the Colorado Avalanche heading into the draft, my mind is made up on Nathan McKinnon. He is a lot bigger than I thought, skates like the wind, has great hands; all the intangibles needed for a good career in the NHL. Blowing past Seth Jones like he was standing still on Saturday was beautiful.
* While I went to Saskatoon questioning the worthiness of Saskatoon being in the tournament, I quickly found myself rooting for them. Should they go on to win it all, all those naysayers will need to quickly be quiet as for the Blades it will take defeating the three league champions in four nights; a very monumental task.
* The one thing the Blades clearly have going for them is the play of their goaltender. To this point Makarov has been brilliant. He alone kept the Blades in it on Friday against London when in all reality they should have been done 3 - 0 in the game's first five minutes.
* Overshadowed by McKinnon, Drouin and Jones in Saskatoon this week is Max Domi. The son of former tough guy Tie Domi, Max has great speed, tremendous hands (see between the legs saucer pass for goal on Monday) and is clearly very solid on his feet. Ask Shane McColgan about that one.
* I would almost bet my mortgage that the organizing committee in Saskatoon never imagined they would get this type of attendance. They are yet to pack 10, 000 into the CUC this week.
* Going to Jr. A hockey the Weyburn Red Wings hired Bryce Thoma to become the team's next head coach. Talk about big shoes to fill.
* Down the road in Estevan the Bruins are still to name a new Head Coach. A deck conversation on Rowles Road Saturday night led to speculation that my inner circle may know who the new man is; time will tell.
* The Riders are a little more than a month from kicking it off for real. Still people lament every personnel change the Riders make which to me is just an excuse to cover up another sad existence.
* One of these weekends, Weyburn's own Graham Delaet is going to break through on the PGA tour. Today's 64 certainly didn't hurt.
* I can't stomach the thought of watching the NBA Play - off's. I would seriously rather watch 19 Kids and Counting.
* I honestly feel bad for the Toronto Maple Leafs. To make it worse, given the way the Rangers have looked against Boston, the buds would have had a legitimate shot at the Conference Finals.
* Did Daniel Alfredsson really say that he doesn't think the Senators can come back and beat the Penguins? I know Pittsburgh presents a real challenge but that is not the type of talk you want from your leadership. Don't make the Messier guarantee but certainly give your fans reasons to believe in your chances.
* The Toronto Blue Jays are still a disappointment.
* Are the New York Islanders really only a solid goalie away from becoming a legitimate contender in the NHL's Eastern Conference?
* OUT.....HM
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