Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots May 8th

Friday, May 08, 2009 03:45 AM

The BC provincial election is heading down the stretch with decision day Tuesday, but let’s be honest; this two horse race certainly doesn’t capture the same enthusiasm of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In politics, the public supports the lesser of the two evils, while in hockey the buzz right now is about whether the evil (a player) should be suspended or not?

Let’s see, if suspensions were handed out to politicians (those who crossed the line), then, perhaps the political game might garner some genuine interest. But, then again, there may not be any politicians left.

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Hockey Canada has modified the Royal Bank Cup schedule compared to when this Junior “A” hockey tournament was held two years ago in Prince George.

The RBC semi-finals in Victoria are scheduled for today (Friday) with the winners to meet in Sunday’s championship. That leaves Saturday as the off day.

Flash back to PG in 2007… Friday was the off day and the semi-finals were played on the Saturday. So, what’s the big deal? After the Aurora Tigers beat the Pembroke Lumber Kings 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the first overtime; the game that followed was a classic. The host PG Spruce Kings edged the Camrose Kodiaks 3-2 in five overtime periods, a game that ended just after 1am Sunday. In other words, the Spruce Kings were forced to play the final later the same day (a 3-1 loss to Aurora).
This new schedule allows for a bit of a break prior to the championship game. It may not seem like much, but the Prince George RBC definitely left a legacy.

By the way, not one Spruce King from that tournament received any of the six individual major awards. Looking back, it certainly seems odd that the runner-up team would be shutout.

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Speaking of awards…. Boston’s Claude Julien, St. Louis’ Andy Murray and San Jose’s Todd Mclellan are nominated for the NHL’s (Jack Adams) coach of the year. Excuse me! Am I missing something here? Is this the same Mclellan that guided the Sharks to a first round playoff bust against Anaheim? I realize voting is based on the regular season and San Jose earned the President’s trophy for most points, but a change in selection criteria is needed. I am not suggesting that the other awards should include playoffs, however, in the case of coach of the year, the post-season should be considered. I don’t think McLellan will beat out Julien and/or Murray for this honor, but just think of the embarrassment if he did.

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Here’s one final suggestion for change. Why did the Canucks receive home ice advantage against the Blackhawks? Chicago finished with more points and should have been rewarded. The league’s perspective is that Vancouver won its division and Chicago didn’t, but the reward doesn’t need to go beyond the first round, if that.

Then again, this is the “New NHL”, the only league to award a point to a losing team in the regular season should a game go beyond regulation time; the only league to have one set of rules in the regular season (shootout) and then decides a change for the playoffs. So, does it make sense that when two teams meet in the playoffs, more regular season points doesn’t necessarily grant you home ice advantage?

No wonder the game is floundering in many U.S. Markets.

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Want further proof that an extended layoff between rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs is much better than having a quick turn around ? I have always believed the more rest teams have, the better, while the opposite view is that rust can settle in to a team, especially in game one, when there is too long a spread between games.

Well, the Canucks, the Red Wings and the Bruins all swept their Conference quarter-final opponent and each team was idle for more than a week. In the Conference semi-finals, Vancouver, Detroit and Boston all won their openers. Their opposition, Chicago, Anaheim and Carolina all were playing after two just days off. End of discussion!

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Sunday is Mother’s Day. Each and every one of us knows someone that is a Mom. Take a moment to do something special for your Mother and/or a person that has been a Mother like figure in your life. Forget the commercialism! If you can’t (financially) afford a gift, or even if you can, time spent with your loved one can be as precious as one could ask for.

Happy Mother’s Day!

From the quote rack:

It's bad in Mexico. They're not allowing anyone to go to the soccer games. They're playing them, just no fans are in the stands. Just like soccer here in the United States.

David Letterman of CBS on the swine flu.

Mexico is in the grips of a very serious outbreak of swine flu and I feel embarrassed because I thought swine flu was when you got sick of athletes hamming it up in front of the camera.

As a nod to the swine flu epidemic congress admitted this was the second worse pigskin related tragedy of the year after its hearings on BCS playoffs.

Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

Sports fans are being asked to stay home in Mexico because the flu spreads in large crowds. In New York, they’re trying a similar thing at Yankee Stadium by making sure the prices for tickets are so high that no one can afford them.

Jimmy Kimmel of ABC

Could it get any worse for A-Rod? Today the Yankees told him they were pleased with his rehabilitation from his hip injury, but they thought he should spend his last weeks on the DL training in Mexico.

A new tell-all book on Alex Rodriguez alleges that besides using steroids, the slugger would tip pitches for opposing batters when he was with the Rangers. This is unbelievable. Any batter would need help against Rangers’ pitching?

After yet another early round playoff ouster, should the San Jose Sharks change their name to the San Jose Oysters? Because they can be great, but only in months with an “R.” .

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

What's next, Susan Boyle attempting a hostile takeover of Manchester United?

Dan Daly of the Washington Times, on rumors that singer Celine Dion might try to purchase the Montreal Canadiens.

A British couple was married Sunday while running in the London Marathon. They both had blisters when they were all done; and there were some on their feet, too.

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

If Brett Favre unretires again, the IBF and WBC will give him honorary Championship belts.

Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was formally arraigned on a marijuana charge. Well, there goes the Wheaties box.

A 17-year old Los Angeles area marching band girl fended off two muggers with her baton. Too bad Stanford didn't have her against Cal back in '82'.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

The makers of M&M's announced that the popular candy is now available in the colors of all 30 NBA teams. Enhancing the authenticity, the Clippers M&M's even melt in your hands.

Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times

And in case you missed it:

According to survey by USC, twenty-two percent of Internet users have canceled newspaper
subscriptions because the content can be found on line. The other 78 per cent asked 'What is a newspaper' ?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.

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