There is always something “special” about the home opener. Yes, the points count the same as  any other regular season game; yes, it’s not the intensity of a playoff game; and yes; in reality it’s just the start of a long grind.

 

Players, coaches, fans, always get excited about the first game at home,  At this time of year, there is hope, promise belief and confiidence.  How long the feelings continue varies from  team to team and city to city.

 

The Prince George Spruce Kings are home this weekend for the first time in the 2012/13 BCHL regular season as they entertain the Trail Smoke Eaters tonight and the defending national champion Penticton Vees Saturday.

 

The first word that comes to my mind when I think about this year’s Spruce Kings is “New” as in mostly new players, a new captain, a new division, a new Conference and a new playoff format.

 

Sure some things remain constant such as the Head Coach, GM, Communications Director and the archaic facility (Coliseum) but the team is really about the players and that is where significant changes have been made.

 

There is a tendency to believe that “new” can represent rebuilding, which can be looked at as an excuse if the season does not progress as planned.

 

The Spruce Kings have six returning players; and none of their top 10 scorers are back from last season, but that just gives opportunity for others to show they belong on the team and in the league. Prince George got off to an excellent start at the Showcase weekend in Chilliwack with a 4-1 victory over the Merritt Centennials followed by a 6-5 overtime triumph over the Langley Rivermen. Of course, no one should read anything into the results of just two of 56 games.

 

Goalie Kirk Thompson is an example of someone who could not be blamed for having a chip on his shoulder. Last season, Thompson was the Spruce Kings number one goalie until Ty Swabb arrived at the trade deadline. Swabb started three of the four playoff games, all losses to Merritt and now is departed. For the record, Thompson stopped 52 of 58 shots in the first couple of games (2.90 GAA) and has regained his starting position.

 

There are many stories of players similar to Thompson that have either been rejected from other teams or even rejected from their own team that are determined to bounce back.

 

The Spruce Kings had been the doormats of the BCHL for many seasons prior to last year. In 2011/12, they appeared to turn a corner with much better attendance and a solid third place finish (33-21-2-4 record), but even with the top scorer in the league (Paul De Jersey) and arguably the best line, they bombed out in the playoffs.

 

This season, it’s likely the Spruce Kings will either build on last year’s improved season or take a giant step back and retreat to being a bottom feeder.

  

Excuses such as the absence of Edmonton Oilers third round draft pick Jujhar Khaira (Michigan Tech) are not part of the equation to be successful. Keep in mind, most BCHL teams have huge turnover in players every year, so there is nothing unique to Prince George having no less than 15 new faces.

 

For the first time, the Spruce Kings are part of the Mainland Division in the Coastal Conference. Geographically, this decision makes no sense. Four of the five teams in the division make the playoffs (80 per cent) compared to four of eight (50 per cent) last season.
Qualifying for the post-season should not be the goal. It’s far too low a standard. For the old Spruce Kings, that goal would suffice.

Ultimately, having playoff success is what energizes a franchise and is the building block to gaining respect as a credible organization.

 

It’s easy to suggest the Spruce Kings will not do well because of whom they “don’t” have, however winning teams focus on who they “do” have.

 

Will the Spruce Kings be “new” and improved or “new” and unskilled? Yes, it certainly is captivating how the same word can be interpreted.

 

 

Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, the guests included people from various professions – a policeman, a teacher, a baker, a dog catcher. Wait, my mistake, those were actually the replacement NFL referees on the other channel. 

 

 

 

A video from the NFL season opener of the Cowboys’ owner getting his son-in-law to clean his glasses has gone viral. Just another in a series of Jerry Jones spectacles. 

 

Anger Management star Charlie Sheen admitted to using steroids to beef up for the film Major League. Let’s all pray Bud Selig can suspend him for 50 episodes. 

 

 

The Nationals shut down Stephen Strasburg a start early, with Davey Johnson saying “I feel it’s as hard for him as it would be anybody to get mentally, totally committed in the ballgame.” Uh, by that standard, shouldn’t we also shut down the Red Sox?

 

Roger Clemens said he only wants to pitch for the Astros in 2012 if he can pitch against a “contender.” So he can “knock them right out of the playoffs” And Barry Bonds is thinking – “And they thought I had a big head?” 

 

Art Modell has died. For those too young to know who he was, think of a white, Jewish, LeBron James. 

 

 

A study reveals that 33% of Americans have high blood pressure. If you remove the ones living in Bellingham that have to share their space with cross border shoppers, that figure drops to 24%.

Tiger Woods is the first golfer to make $100M on the golf tour. Tiger is also famous for carrying little or no cash. That’s because his earnings go ‘direct deposit’ into The Swedish Bank of Nordegren branch in Florida.

 

 

 

 

Finland’s Ere Karjalainen threw a cellphone 332 feet to capture the 13th annual world championships in Savonlinna, Finland. On the down side, he incurred a long-distance charge. 

 

 

 

Some Yankee fans are confused about the new Joe DiMaggio postage stamp. One asked, ‘Where’s Mrs. Robinson?’

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

 

 

Note: Bill Littlejohn, a regular contributor to my column and many others, is taking a break from comedy. Thanks Bill for many funnies and all the best in the next phase of your life.

 

 

 

A study suggests that bad memories can be erasable. Which is the best news to come along in years for Maple Leafs fans.

 

 

Comedy writer Jim Barach  (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)