Blades knock off hot Warriors

Winning streak ends at six for short-handed Moose Jaw side

Evan Fiala (#47) celebrates his winning goal with his Blades teammates.

    Evan Fiala’s off-speed knuckleball shot sent the red hot Moose Jaw Warriors for a loop.

    On Wednesday night at the SaskTel Centre, the Saskatoon Blades captain directed an odd-ball shot that found its way past Warriors netminder Brody Willms with 72 seconds to play in the third period. Fiala’s goal, which was his first of the season, broke a 4-4 tie and delivered the Blades to a 5-4 victory.

    Saskatoon’s victory ended a six-game winning streak for the Warriors, who fell to 16-5 but still lead the WHL’s overall standings. Earlier in the day, the Warriors were rated second in the newly released CHL Top 10 rankings.

    Fiala already expects the Warriors to be looking forward to getting some payback on Saturday when the two clubs meet in Moose Jaw, but the overage defenceman was pleased with Wednesday’s outcome.

Evan Fiala’s goal helped the Blades earn their third home win this season.

    “It feels really good,” said Fiala, whose Blades improved to 8-10-1. “We know that they are missing some guys and Saturday is not going to be easy.

    “It definitely puts a feather in our cap.”

    The Warriors entered Wednesday’s clash with a lengthy injury list. Moose Jaw was without defencemen Josh Brook, Jett Woo, Dmitri Zaitsev and Matthew Benson due to upper body injuries. Brook and Woo are listed as out week-to-week, Zaitsev is day-to-day and Benson’s timetable to return is still to be determined.

    For the fourth straight game, the Warriors were without captain Brett Howden with an undisclosed injury. Howden was injured playing for the WHL team that took part in Game 1 of the CIBC Canada-Russia Series on Nov. 6 in Moose Jaw and came away with a 7-0 win.

Warriors goalie Brody Willms was unable to prevent this Blades goal.

    The Warriors also scratched associate player in defenceman Drae Gardiner, who was called up from the Calgary Buffaloes midget AAA program, and left-wingers Tyler Smithies and Brecon Wood.

    Besides the injuries, Moose Jaw entered Wednesday’s game having played the previous night in Swift Current and downing the host Broncos 7-4.

    Centre Logan Christensen was the Blades only scratch due to injury, and he is still expected to be out for about two-to-four weeks. Defenceman Seth Bafaro sat out the second game of a four-game league imposed suspension for taking a checking from behind major penalty and a game misconduct in a 6-4 home loss last Friday against the Swift Current Broncos.

Winger Caleb Fantillo celebrates his first period goal for the Blades.

    Forwards Tyler Lees and Dryden Michaud were Saskatoon’s other two scratches.

    Despite missing a number of key players, the Warriors held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first period before Blades right-winger Caleb Fantillo deflected home a shot from linemate Cameron Hebig with 2:07 to play in the opening frame to force a 2-2 tie.

    The Blades jumped ahead 4-2 in the second, but the Warriors cut the gap to 4-3 heading into the second intermission.

    At the 8:39 mark of the third, Warriors 15-year-old defenceman Daemon Hunt converted a passing play from star forwards Noah Gregor and Jayden Halbgewachs to pot his first career WHL goal to force a 4-4 tie.

Justin Almeida (#8) breaks into the offensive zone for the Warriors.

    The Warriors selected Hunt in the first round and 15^th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft held last May and called him up from the Brandon Wheat Kings midget AAA team.

Hunt’s goal set the stage for Fiala’s dramatic winner late in the third.

    “I think we were a little fortunate that they played last night and looked a little sluggish,” said Blades head coach Dean Brockman. “We’ll definitely take the two points and run with it.

    “I think we took far too many chances still in the third. When you are doing that, you are playing with fire, especially with the guys they have up front.”

Alec Zawatsky scored his first WHL goal on Wednesday.

    Brockman was thankful Fiala scoring the winning goal for the hosts after Moose Jaw erased Saskatoon’s 4-2 edge.

    “It was a bit of a relief,” said Brockman. “The two-goal lead is the worst lead in hockey.

    “When you give that up, most of the time you lose those games. We found a way to get it done.”

    Alec Zawatsky, Braylon Shmyr and Gage Ramsay all had singles for Saskatoon. Zawatsky’s tally was his first career WHL goal. He had been with the Notre Dame Hounds in the junior A ranks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League earlier this season before joining the Blades.

    Gregor, Justin Almeida and Tanner Jeannot all had singles for the Warriors.

    Ryan Kubic turned away 34 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Willms stopped 46 shots to take the setback in net for the Warriors.

    Seconds after Fiala scored, the Warriors thought they scored the equalizer, when a scrum of players bumped into Kubic and the puck did go into the Saskatoon net. The goal was disallowed as the officials had blown the play dead after losing sight of the puck.

The Blades begin celebrating their win over the Warriors.

    Wednesday’s game marked only the third time the Blades have won at home this season in nine tries. While the crowd was sparse at 2,745, Fiala was happy his side could deliver a victory for the team’s supporters.

    “It is huge, and it is not only for us,” said Fiala. “It is for our fans too that come out every night.

    “We really want to give them a good game.”

    The Blades return to action on Friday, when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings (12-6-1) at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. The Warriors return to Moose Jaw to host the Calgary Hitmen (6-12-3) on Friday.

Hilltops in the house with Canadian Bowl

The Hilltops are honoured before Wednesday’s Blades game.

    The Saskatoon Hilltops were on hand at the SaskTel Centre on Wednesday night, and they brought the Canadian Bowl with them.

    The Hilltops were honoured for winning their fourth straight Canadian Junior Football League championship on Saturday in Windsor, Ont., when they bombed the host AKO Fratmen 56-11. Captains Jack Sloboda, James Vause, Tom Schnitzler, Cameron Schnitzler and quarterback Jordan Walls marched to centre ice to show off the Canadian Bowl.

    The Hilltops, who finished the 2017 campaign with an 11-1 overall, arrived on an invite from the Blades. A large contingent from the team watched Wednesday game in the section of seats behind the net of the west side of the SaskTel Centre.

    The victory over the AKO Fratmen marked the 20^th time the Hilltops have won the CJFL title.

Vetter receives WHL Milestone Award

Referee Reagan Vetter was give the WHL Milestone Award.

    Saskatoon product and veteran WHL official Reagan Vetter was honoured during a pre-game ceremony before Wednesday’s game for his years of service to the league.

    The 40-year-old, who has been a school teacher for the last 11 years, was presented with the WHL Milestone Award by Kevin Muench, who is the WHL’s senior director of officiating.
    The WHL Milestone Award is given to WHL players, coaches, trainers, officials and WHL championship teams for their outstanding achievements.
    Vetter has worked 20 seasons in the WHL, which includes six campaigns as a linesman and 14 as a referee.

    He has skated in over 650 regular season games, 11 WHL conference championships and seven WHL Championship series. Vetter was part of the officiating crew that worked the 2013 Memorial Cup tournament that was held in Saskatoon.

    Vetter makes his home in Saskatoon with his wife, Kristine, and their daughters, Neven and Quinn.

Former Tigers captain Valk makes NHL debut

Curtis Valk in action for the Tigers in the 2013-14 season.

    Curtis Valk found his way to “the Show.”

    On Tuesday, the 24-year-old former captain of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers made his NHL regular season debut with the Florida Panthers. He saw three minutes and 25 seconds of ice time as the host Panthers downed the Dallas Stars 4-3 after a tiebreaking shootout before 10,928 spectators at the BB&T Centre in Sunrise, Florida.

    The skilled centre played in 270 career regular season games for the Tigers from 2009 to 2014 piling up 125 goals and 130 assists. The Medicine Hat product picked up another 22 goals and 19 assists in 49 career WHL playoff games.

    All through his hockey career, Valk heard naysayers comment that he was too small to play hockey at an elite level and eventually make it to the NHL. He stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 170 pounds and has proved the naysayers wrong.

    After graduating from the Tigers, Valk played his first three professional hockey seasons in the farm system of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers before the start of this season.

    Before skating in his NHL debut, Valk appeared in 16 regular season games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, who are the Panthers’ American Hockey League affiliate club. He collected six goals and nine assists in those 16 games with the Thunderbirds.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Sanford deserves NHL shot

Lack of size stigma only obstacle in path of Tigers captain

Tigers captain Cole Sanford gets set for a faceoff.

    MEDICINE HAT - Cole Sanford chuckled at the notion that it might take an old Medicine Hat Tigers link to get a break at the professional level.

    The Vernon, B.C., product and current Tigers captain knows the fact that he stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 165 pounds is the biggest obstacle he faces when it comes to trying to get an NHL entry-level contract offer. Playing in Medicine Hat, the thought does get booted around that maybe Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins might take an interest in Sanford and create a chance for the skilled right-winger, who is small in stature.

    Desjardins was with the Tigers as head coach from 2002 to 2010 and also held the general manager’s role for the last five of those campaigns. He had a string of success utilizing smaller, skilled players, so naturally one would think there would be fit for Sanford.

    “Obviously, connections are nice,” said Sanford, who did attend Edmonton Oilers training camp in September. “If that happened, obviously, that would be exciting for me.

    “I am sure whatever came up or if there is any kind of opportunity, I’d be excited. It doesn’t matter where it is.”

    For his part, Sanford has already done more than enough to earn an NHL deal. After potting two goals and nine assists in 53 games as a 17-year-old rookie in 2012-13, Sanford had a break-out year as a sophomore netting 33 goals, 40 assists and a plus-47 rating in the plus-minus department.

    As an established star last season, he became one of the few players in recent WHL campaigns to crack the 50-goal barrier recording 50 goals, 45 assists and a plus-24 rating. Sanford missed some time this season with a shoulder injury, but he has still recorded 17 goals and 15 assists in 30 games on a Tigers team that has seen its lineup shuffle due to a number of key injuries.

    Those challenges have contributed to the fact the Tigers, who have made the playoffs for 13 straight seasons, sit an uncharacteristic 10^th overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 12-20-3-1 mark.

    Sanford is hopeful a professional shot will come.

Tigers captain Cole Sanford gets set to wire a shot on goal.

    “It is my goal,” said Sanford. “Right now I have basically half a year to find something and find an opportunity up there.

    “Obviously, that is everyone’s goal is to move on. We will see what happens.”

    As far as Sanford’s time in Medicine Hat goes, Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said the veteran forward’s value cannot be overstated.

    “He has had a great career here,” said Clouston, who is second on the Tigers career regular season coaching wins list. “He has been a player that other guys can look up to.

    “He has gotten better, because he has committed to improvement. He has found ways to elevate his game at important times. He has been a great Tiger.”

    Clouston added that the uphill battle for smaller players to make the NHL seems to never go away, but he said Sanford keeps consistently doing his best to turn heads.

    “I think it is always a challenge,” said Clouston. “I think any time that a player is not 6-feet tall there is a bit of a label.

    “They have to fight through that. They have to prove themselves more so than a lot of the other players. He is a guy that continues to prove himself year in and year out.”

    The veteran bench boss added that Sanford’s game is still getting better.

    “He is a guy that has really committed especially late in games to doing the right thing, whether it is protecting the lead, finishing checks and getting clears,” said Clouston, whose team won four of five games heading into the WHL Christmas break. “He has been a real go to guy during this stretch where we have had more success.”

Cole Sanford (#26) celebrates a Tigers goal with his teammates.

    Sanford has put together a standout WHL career playing with a few different linemates as well. When he broke out offensively in 2013-14, Sanford was the triggerman on a high octane unit that contained Curtis Valk at centre and Trevor Cox at left wing. That trio formed one of the most exciting lines the Tigers had ever seen.

    Last season, Steven Owre stepped in at centre between Sanford and Cox after Valk was lost to graduation. Due to injuries and trades this season, Sanford has played with a variety of linemates.

    “It is definitely a lot different than the last two years, but I think it is good for me,” said Sanford. “It is good for me to play with different guys and adjust to that.”

    Sanford said he is a player that has a tendency to shoot more than pass in the offensive zone. With that said, he had a couple of nice assists in his club’s 5-4 overtime home ice loss on Sunday to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The best helper came on the Tigers third goal, when Sanford slipped a feed that had eyes across the face the Lethbridge goal to Mark Rassell, who capitalized on the chance.

Tigers captain Cole Sanford follows through on a shot on goal.

    Since joining the team, Sanford said he has been fortunate to play on lines that contained smart playmakers, who had great vision, which has resulted in him being the finisher around the goal. During his time in Medicine Hat, Sanford has made a number of good memories, which included helping the club advance to the WHL’s Eastern Conference championship series in 2014.

    He also had the chance to play in the Tigers first home rink, The Arena, and the team’s new home, the Canalta Centre, which opened this season. No matter what happens on the professional front, the Tigers will always have a place in Sanford’s heart.

    “I’ve come a long ways with this team starting off as a 17-year-old and not playing too much and kind of earning my ice there as an 18-year-old and then getting the opportunity to play,” said Sanford. “Obviously, last season was a career year for myself. Everyone here has helped me lots.

    “When I was 15 looking at this organization, I was real excited to see all the videos and the rich history here. To be a part of that now with the new rink and obviously the old rink it is pretty cool.”

Canalta Centre looks sweet

A look over Tigers goalie Nick Schneider into the Canalta Centre.

    On first impressions, I think the Medicine Hat Tigers time in the Canalta Centre is going to be alright.

    When the moment came for the storied WHL franchise to play in a new home rink, there was a bit of a fear that something might be lost due to the fact the team was no longer playing in The Arena, which was the only home rink the franchise had known until the current campaign got underway.

    The nostalgia and the lively boards are two things The Arena will always have. The Tigers and their fans shared countless memorable experiences in that old rink including Brennan Bosch’s double overtime goal that won the seventh and deciding game of the 2007 WHL championship series. That building rocked in the post-season as sellout crowds of 4,006 packed the place in its final seating configuration.

    With those memories in mind, it was cool to see the Tigers playing in a modern home facility that seats 6,016 spectators in the Canalta Centre. There are no bad sightlines, and even though the building is bigger, you don’t feel far from the action.

    The view from the “Bob Ridley Broadcast Centre” press box and the box seating have to the envy of the league. You think the view from those areas would be far, but when you are in them you feel on top of the action.

    When the Tigers fell 5-4 in overtime to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Sunday, you could still sense a good atmosphere as 5,032 spectators filled most of the seats. The rival Hurricanes also brought a healthy contingent of a few hundred supporters, whose cheering helped engage the host side’s fans.

Tigers centre Chad Butcher gets set up in the offensive zone.

    The game was widely entertaining, and you could set the highlight video to the old Tom Cochrane song, “Big League.” Basically, that night was the Western Hockey League at its best.

    There was also a familiarity factor to the place, even though it is new. The majority of the game day staff from The Arena came over to the Canalta Centre, and all the Tigers ardent supporters came too. Anyone that was at the old facility would recognize most of the people at the new facility on a game night.

    There are still obvious signs that the move in isn’t complete. The Tigers are suiting up in what is supposed to be the visitors’ dressing room due to the fact the home one isn’t finished. The Tabbies still don’t have a merchandise store set up and none of the team’s banners are hanging in the rafters.

    All of those items will be looked after over time. There is only so much that can be done, when you undertake a major move, which also included issues with getting a framework down for a lease.

    There is also a bit of a sense that everyone is still getting used to the new building, but you do have a gut feeling the Canalta Centre will be the place to be during a long Tigers playoff run. The Tigers new home is sweet, and it will be interesting to see what a game experience will be like when the club has a full off-season to prepare for the Canalta Centre’s sophomore campaign without worrying about a move.

    Still, the Hat’s new rink even right now is a place you have to see.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this blog post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

The Arena will always feel like home, the fans inside will always be family

The Tigers raise a banner to salute the fans at The Arena.

    MEDICINE HAT - Seeing The Arena empty is enough to make you feel happy.
    Walking into the only home rink the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers have known for 45 years makes the mind go on a nostalgia trip for anyone that has spent time in the grand old barn. You look up into the rafters and you see all those championship banners.
    You look down upon the ice and into the stands any they only appear vacant for a short time. Quickly, the memory goes to work and the stands appear full of cheering fans. Willie Desjardins is behind the Medicine Hat bench swaying from side to side guiding the club as head coach.
    The Tigers are on the ice too. Brennan Bosch is once again scoring his double overtime goal to win Game 7 of the 2007 WHL Championship series. Rocky Thompson is out there winning a fight.
    Trevor Linden is no longer a 44-year-old man but a youthful forward aged 17 or 18. He is laying out crowd pleasing hits and wheeling coast to coast to score big goals.
    Kelly Hrudey is there too making big saves in that molded fibreglass mask that has a tiger face painted on it.
    Lanny McDonald and Tom Lysiak are again a magical dynamic duo leading the team to a league championship.

    In a more recent time, Curtis Valk is potting his 100^th career regular season goal, and Trevor Cox is diving into the net to save the souvenir for his linemate and friend.
    No one has passed on. Those images are not ghosts, but they are still there. They still seem real, and those moments somehow and someway are still playing themselves out.
    On Saturday, the Tigers lived out one of the final chapters during their time in the building that sits on Ash Avenue S.E. along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. They were playing their final regular season game against the Saskatoon Blades, who are a charter member of the WHL. The Tigers will play in the new Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre next season.

Trevor Cox follows through with a shot on goal for the Tigers.

    About 66 players were back in person from those old Tigers days, along with various former staffers, rink attendants, supporters and long-time fans on a night that just seemed perfect.
    Looking into the stands and despite the passage of time, there was a feeling things stayed the same. The fans were there cheering their hearts out like they always have. What is even better is the fact that in this rink you know them.
    In one corner is Medicine Hat's "Mr. Baseball" Lovell McDonnell. He has been a season ticket holder for what seems like forever. You can picture him walking over from neighbouring Athletic Park after doing some administration functions to watch the Tigers game with his grown up son Rob, who is a teacher and baseball coach in the Gas City.
    In the other corner of the rink is Sandy Morrice. He has volunteered his time at what seems like every sporting function in the Hat, and he has been a fixture at most Tigers games.
    Sporting goods store owner Hal Benson is there too visiting as usual along the walkway on the north side of the building that runs parallel to the South Saskatchewan River.
    You can go on and on naming and picking individuals in the crowd. They were all there in the past, and they were all there again on Saturday night.

Tigers captain Tyler Lewington celebrates a goal with Marek Langhamer.

    For the former players that returned, that made the gathering that much more special and so unique. At times, it would take 15 to 20 minutes to walk from one end of the building to the other.
    The trip was filled with handshakes, hugs and conversations that recalled the old days. Those interactions seemed endless, and at the same time, you didn't want them to end. You could run into someone you hadn't seen for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, but it seems like it was yesterday you saw them.
    For the former players, they wanted to see everyone. Those spectators in the stands were your former billets, teachers or buddies you hung out with away from the game. They all helped add to your life, and in reality, they are like a big extended family.
    Some brought old priceless mementoes in person or showed them on social media. One of those was a picture of late Tigers enforcer Derek Boogaard, who was carrying a young boy at a skate with the Tigers event. You almost couldn't believe that such a picture still existed somewhere.
    You could feel the love and the warm feelings in the air.

Brennan Bosch gives a stirring speech at The Arena.

    On the ice, the current Tigers were doing their part to ensure the night's festivities were complete. They rolled out to an early 3-0 lead and held a 6-0 edge after 40 minutes of play. It was a script that played out in some form many times before for a franchise that has won five league titles and two Memorial Cup championships.
    The team's coaches did their part and call off the dogs a bit. Backup goaltender Nick Schneider came in to relieve starter Marek Langhamer for the final 20 minutes. The third and fourth lines played most of the final 10 minutes.
    It felt like the visiting Blades didn't stand a chance in stopping the host Tigers from posting a 6-2 victory.
    When the final buzzer sounded, Bob Ridley stepped out of the broadcast both after calling his 3,617^th game as the Tigers play-by-play voice to be the master of ceremonies for a post-game celebration to commemorate the place. No one from the sellout crowd of 4,006 spectators left the building.
    The old players were brought out one-by-one to grace the ice surface one again to cheers. Bosch gave a stirring speech on behalf of the alumni. 
    Video messages were shown from former Tigers players, who are active in the professional ranks, expressing how much they appreciated their time playing at The Arena for the orange and black. A written message was red from Lysiak mirroring those same sentiments.

The fans at The Arena cheer on the Tigers.

    A video highlight reel was played showing the great moments that have been lived in the rink over the years. A banner thanking the fans was raised to the rafters and a big team picture was taken with all generations of Tigers players past and present on the ice.
    The night was better than anyone could imagine, and it won't be forgotten.
    Anyone that was at The Arena on Saturday night will now see those images when they walk into the hallowed old barn, especially when it is empty.
    Like all the great moments in the history of The Arena, the events from the final regular season game on Saturday night will keep repeating themselves in some way inside that building's walls without end. The memories will live on forever.

    If you have any comments about this blog, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. Check out the Twitter handle @stankssports to see more photos from the Tigers final regular season game at The Arena.

Cool things I saw in 2014

The Medicine Hat Tigers celebrate a goal in the 2014 WHL playoffs

            It still amazes me what all can happen in a year.

            As 2015 closes, a number of people are listing highlights from the year that was in 2014. For me, I wrapped up my time at the Medicine Hat News and made the move to Saskatoon for family reasons.

            Over the past year, I was able to witness a number of highlights. Actually, I can't believe how many different things I attended in so many different centres.

            It seemed like I was at everything from watching Olympic hockey with a big group, going to numerous WHL and CIS hockey games, hitting a number of CFL and CIS games, enjoying the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede and watching a talented music artist perform at home.

            Here is of a few of the highlights going from the start of the year to the end.

 

Watching gold medal win at the Buckle

You know you live in Canada, when you wake up at 5 a.m. on Sunday to watch Canada’s men’s hockey team win gold at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

After getting home from my Saturday work shift, I believe I slept two hours before waking up to watch the big hockey game. Turning on Facebook, I couldn’t believe how many other people were also up.

In the second intermission, I decided to motor down to the Buckle in the Hat to see the final period. The place was packed. Canada beat Sweden 3-0 in the final, and the place was rocking.

It was about 10 a.m., when I headed home for some real sleep. That was definitely a night I will never forget. Canada also swept the hockey gold at the Olympics with the women’s team also winning it all.

Huskies women’s hockey team win Canada West title

The Huskies celebrate celebrate a Canada West title

This was one of those unexpected highlights.

Thanks to having Sundays and Mondays off at the Medicine Hat News, I was able to make it to Game 3 of the Canada West Women’s Hockey Championship Series on March 2 at the Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon. I went because it was my only shot to see Huskies captain Cami Wooster play live with how busy my life was.

Following her and her team that season was great, because it was one of the few sports things I followed I didn’t cover. It got me back to just enjoying sports. Life was so busy in Medicine Hat, that there were actually times I didn’t enjoy sports anymore, so following Wooster and the Huskies was a nice change.

They beat the University of Regina Cougars 2-1 in double overtime in that deciding game to claim the Canada West title. Wooster had the Huskies first goal and the assist on Kaitlin Willoughby’s overtime winner. Captain Cami was so good, she was good.

They were all so happy that night. I had lots of energy for the game and seeing the celebrations. Looking back, it was a real good thing for me to make that game.

One final Tigers playoff run

Captain Curtis Valk in action for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Going into the 2014 WHL playoffs, I knew in my heart this would be the last time I would be covering a Medicine Hat Tigers playoff run for the Medicine Hat News.

I tried to soak in every moment as much as I could. I was hoping the moment would last as long as it could. Time was really busy.

The run closed with the Tigers playing 13 games over 24 days with a lot of travel. I definitely enjoyed the playoffs. Tigers took out the Swift Current Broncos in six games in the first round of the playoffs.

In the second round, the Tigers trailed a best-of-seven series 3-1 to the Kootenay Ice before rallying for a 4-3 series victory. The run ended in the WHL Eastern Conference Championships with a 4-1 series loss to the eventual Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings.

Watching the Tigers forward line of Trevor Cox, Curtis Valk and Cole Sanford was something else. That was the most exciting forward line I saw the Tigers put on the ice in the 10 seasons I covered them. Marek Langhamer was spectacular in goal.

It was still a strange feeling after I finished my stories after Game 5 of the series loss to the Oil Kings at Rexall Place in Edmonton. A tired Tigers team tried to pull out a win, but fell 4-3. After I finished writing, I went around shaking hands with the Edmonton sportwriters who were there and Oil Kings communications manager Paul Owen, who once worked as a sports reporter.

Walking out of there, I knew I had covered my last Medicine Hat Tigers hockey game. It was weird to comprehend then, and it still is now. It did feel in a way that I was able to go out on top, so that was a good thing.

The celebration of life for Crystal (Heisler) McGregor

Crystal (Heisler) McGregor circa 2001.

            A list from 2014 wouldn’t be complete without me remembering the passing of Crystal (Heisler) McGregor, who was a good friend to everyone.

            A point guard on the University of Regina Cougars Women’s Basketball team that won the 2001 CIAU title, McGregor passed after a lengthy battle with cancer in May. A big celebration of life was held for her at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.

            In the day before and the day of the celebration of life, I was able to reunite with the all the members of the Cougars team that McGregor played with. I went to school with all of them at the University of Regina.

            It was a great time to hang around with old friends. It is too bad it had to occur under such circumstances. It was also great to share memories of McGregor and of days that shouldn't feel so long ago.

            I think a few us are still waiting for her to approach us a say her typical, “Hey buddy.”

            RIP Crystal. You will be remembered forever.

Seeing MacKenzie Porter perform live

MacKenzie Porter at Kin Coulee Park.

I finally got to see MacKenzie Porter perform live on Canada Day at Kin Coulee Park in Medicine Hat, and she was so good.

It is very impressive to see how talented she is at making music. What is even better is the former Medicine Hat College Rattlers Women’s team soccer player is still the girl next door. 

She is still super sweet, and seems to remember everyone that passes through her life and treats them like gold.

My favourite part about seeing her perform in her hometown was saying in a break between songs, “There are like 50 people in this front row section I know personally. This is so great.”

There was a huge line of people to great her that night after she finished performing.
I still have her debut CD which is personalized autographed and also an autographed poster from that night. I enjoyed getting to see her again.

It is still very cool to hear her songs on the radio and see her music videos on television.

One last kick at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede

Saddle bronc riding at the rodeo in Medicine Hat.

Before pulling the last of my things out of Medicine Hat, I got out to enjoy the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede one last time.

Usually, the 2007 WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers team makes it back that week for a reunion, but that reunion happened earlier in the summer to fit everyone’s schedules. With that said, I still ran into a few old Tigers that week.

It was also a fun time as friends that don’t normally go out anymore went out that week. 

It made for a great last run to see everybody before I left the Gas City for Saskatoon. I saw so many good friends. Party wise, it was a great Stampede week.

Calder Cup celebrations with Derek Hulak

Derek Hulak and the Huskies with the Calder Cup.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Hockey team was one of the first key things that got me back to enjoying sports again, when I was in a funk of not enjoy sports due to life in Medicine Hat being so busy.

A big thing that helped was I knew pretty much all the players through covering the WHL. After the University Cup ended, I was pumped to see Derek Hulak join the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars.

The Stars were under the guidance of head coach Willie Desjardins, who was the former head coach and general manager of the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Texas Stars won the Calder Cup, and Hulak got to have the trophy for a day in August in Saskatoon.

He brought the trophy to the University of Saskatchewan, to the Saskatoon Blades offices and to his mom’s gravesite. Alina died in 2007 of Cancer.

There was a big gathering with the Huskies men’s hockey team and a whole bunch of other friends during the night at Boston Pizza on 8^th Street. That was a great night out.

While deep in summer, I believe all the Huskies men’s players made it out that night. That was a great thing to see and shows how strong the friendships are on that team. They are one of the best groups to hang around and spend social time with.

Labour Day Classic weekend in Regina

The Roughriders celebrate an Anthony Allen touchdown.

This will make the list every year as long as I can keep making it to the Labour Day Classic weekend in Regina.

I was at my 14^th Labour Day Classic game, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 35-30 thanks to a last-second touchdown by Anthony Allen. The Roughriders are 13-1 in the Labour Day Classic games I have attended.

The game was also Weston Dressler’s first game back with the Roughriders after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. He was signing autographs at the end of the game and just looked so tired after a whirlwind week.

Victory party in Regina was also so enjoyable, especially when it is the after party for the Roughriders cheerleaders. It was a fun overall party night.

Frank McCrystal’s last home game as Rams head coach

Frank McCrystal, right, answers questions in a post-game scrum.

      A Saturday in Regina that was a turn back the clock type day and night for me.

     The University of Regina Rams were closing out the regular season against the University of Alberta Golden Bears in what would be Frank McCrystal’s final home game as Rams head coach. The Rams pulled out a 35-31 victory to make the Canada West playoffs.

     The stands were filled with a whole pile of old friends from my old Rams days at the University of Regina. A number of people traveled in for the game from all different points on the map.

     There was an alumni gathering after the game, and it was so fun to see a whole bunch of old faces. Lots of old stories were told and a lot of catching up was done.

     It also felt like an end of an era. I am sure the Rams will have a bright future, but things won’t be like what they once were.

Reconnecting with the Saskatoon Hilltops

The Hilltops celebrate their PFC Championship victory.

One of the unexpected good things that happened in my move to Saskatoon was reconnected with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Those involved with coaching and running the Canadian Junior Football League team are as classy as you will find anywhere. Until the 2014 CJFL season, it has been 12 years since I last talked to Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

It has been about four to six years since I last saw my old bud Sheldon Ball, who is the team’s offensive coordinator. It was cool to see how good of a coach Ball has become. We became friends when he was first the quarterback of the Hilltops and later the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

The Hilltops started 1-2, but closed the campaign with eight straight wins. They improved a lot as the season went on. It was great to be at the Prairie Football Conference final, where they dumped the Calgary Colts 27-7.

Saskatoon then moved on to down the Rams in Langley, B.C., in the CJFL final 39-14. I really enjoyed visiting the team’s directors. If life allows it, I will try and make it more of a priority to be around their events next season.

Other good memories

Nelson Nogier gives his stick to a little Blades fan.

            Other highlights of the year include getting to watch my cousin, Nelson Nogier, played a lot more with the Saskatoon Blades before he was traded to the Red Deer Rebels.

            It has been good to get to know some of the new management with the Blades and reconnect with some long time staffers.

            I also enjoyed getting to see a number of the former Medicine Hat College Rattlers players, who now life in Saskatoon, again.

            It has also been cool to see how much of a life superstar University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women`s Basketball team point guard Kabree Howard is. It is cool to see her involved in so many community events. She does so much to give the Huskies a good name, and they will miss her when she graduates from their program later this year.

            Now, it is time to see what 2015 has in store for all of us.

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