Many hockey insiders feel Johan Franzen (6’3, 222) of the Detroit Red Wings has earned the reputation as the top power forward in the NHL. Move over Johan, there is a new kid on the block. 

 

Dustin Byfuglien is having the time of his life. It is hard to believe, but it was only a few years ago he was considered an enigma while playing with the Prince George Cougars. Now he is pumping in goals on a regular basis for the Chicago Blackhawks playing with the NHL’s premier playoff line alongside Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. His scoring prowess is not ordinary either as the bruising 6-foot-4, 257 pounder Minneapolis native has tallied four game winners in his last eight games since moving up from defence in the Nashville series. Three of these goals were game winners during the four game sweep of San Jose; including the game three overtime marker.

 

(at right, Dustin as a P.G. Cougar)

 

Entering the Stanley Cup finals against Philadelphia, Byfuglien has eight goals and 10 points in his last 10 games. He was a “huge” reason why Chicago defeated Vancouver and he kept up that pace against the Sharks. There is no question that Byfuglien is an imposing and intimidating figure in front of the opposition net. Furthermore, his line mates skill; make it a difficult chore for other teams to pay extra attention to shut him down.

"He creates so much space when he does get to the net. He's a hard body to move, has a decent set of hands. Physically, he can be overpowering sometimes”, said Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.

 

Byfuglien was asked by NHL.Com if the winner in game four was the highlight of his career. “I don't know if it was as big as the last one, but I think it goes right up on top. I had some chills going down through the body."

 

The 25-year-old winger even has the ability to be a multi-dimensional player. He can beat you with a finesse shot to the top corner or by crashing the net on a rebound. "If they both go in, I'll take them both," he said. "It doesn't really matter. I'm just doing work for the kids and finishing it up. I have faith in myself."

 

Byfuglien has also earned tremendous respect from his teammates. Patrick Sharp is quick to point out that “It seems like he likes the spotlight. He likes being the hero. He steps up big-time.”

 

It may be ironic that Kane and Toews are both high first round picks yet Byfuglien was a long shot to make the NHL especially as an impact player. Chicago selected him in round eight of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 245^th overall.

 

 

I certainly remember when his years in Prince George were marred with inconsistency. He frustrated Cougars Head Coach Lane Lambert and his assistant Stew Malgunas at the time because one game he would look terrific, a bull with a canon of a shot who was determined to dominate. Yet, in other games, he often played like a slow and uninterested overweight pussycat.

 

Nevertheless, his talent and potential always was transparent. Byfuglien suited up in 178 regular season games for the Cougars from 2002 to 2005, mostly on the blue line, with the odd shift as a forward, just to shake things up. He scored 47 goals and added 93 assists for 140 points. He even led the Cougars in scoring during the 2004-05 season with 58 points (22 goals and 36 assists) to go along with 184 penalty minutes in 64 games.

 

Byfuglien never grabbed the playoff spotlight in P.G. as he only played in the post-season in 2003 collecting 4 points in a five game losing series.

 

Some Prince George hockey fans will be delighted to know that the Stanley Cup final will definitely hold a Cougar twist as Blair Betts has overcome numerous injuries to be a productive player with Philadelphia. His role with the Flyers is to spearhead the checking line. While he has just one assist in 17 playoff games, Betts is seventh overall in face-off percentage in the NHL playoffs, winning 56.6 %
of the draws he has taken.

The 30-year-old Betts had 187 points, including 71 goals, in 215 regular season games while in Prince George from 1996 to 2000. When the Cougars reached the Western Conference Finals in 2000, Betts racked up 11 goals and 22 points in just 13 games to lead the team offensively. 

 

Byfuglien is anxious for the championship series to begin. He has a 50-50 chance of being the first former P.G .Cougar to hoist the Stanley Cup. “We don't get to see those guys too much. I'm always up for the challenge. It's going to be exciting and I can't wait to get this going.”

The Byfuglien-Betts angle may garner some local interest; however, it will be when Byfuglien battles 6-foot-6, 220-pound Flyers defenceman, Chris Pronger that will harvest national headlines. Now there is a match-up of MASSIVE proportions.

 

 

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For the gypsies that love to predict the future, I'm calling for the Blackhawks to win in six. This season has certainly proven that West is Best and by the way, there is no chance of Marian Hossa losing a third straight Stanley Cup Final. Is there?

 

 

The new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey will host the first cold weather outdoor Super Bowl in 2014. The halftime show will be performed by Vanilla Ice.

 

Brett Favre told the Southern Mississippi baseball team that if they make it to the College World Series, he'll play for one more year. Favre also told the Chicago Cubs that if they make it to the Major League World Series, he'll finally retire.

Fans at the French Open commented on Venus Williams' underspin shots. And when they finished discussing her outfit, they discussed her tennis.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

A new psychological study finds that a woman's touch can influence a man's decision making and behavior. And, it can definitely screw up his golf swing.


New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler was in possession of a bag of marijuana when cops stopped his car in New York. Chandler explained he has a chronic problem that requires medical
marijuana; he plays for the Knicks.

 

 

Pres. Obama is telling LeBron James that his Chicago Bulls have a “good core”. If LeBron is interested in a good core, wouldn’t he be looking in the Big Apple?

 

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

 

Hope Dworaczyk, Jason Kidd's former girlfriend, is the Playboy's 2010 Playmate of the Year. In other words, both know their way around the staples center.

 

Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times   

 

So MacGruber pulled in a whopping $4 million during its opening week as it heads for movie oblivion. This is the biggest dud to come out of California since the SF Giants offense.

 

Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

 

Residents of Toronto were shocked when an airplane fell out of the air and landed on the roof of a building. Jays fans were relieved it wasn’t their team crashing back to earth.

A report out of NY says the NHL Islanders have cancelled a training camp trip to China. Team owner Charles Wang is quoted as saying he isn’t sure what went Wong.


A study released has shown 10 solid ways to tell if the person you are talking to is lying. The number rises to 11 if you count people who say they thought the Philadelphia Flyers would be in the Stanley Cup final.

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

Last Sunday was the final episode of Lost. And besides the Sharks getting swept out of the playoffs, a long-running American television show about castaways aired for the last time.

 

Dorothy Kamenshek has died at the age of 84. She was a star in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and helped inspire the Geena Davis character in the movie “A League of Their Own.” Dorothy was an amazing player; rumor has it she once even got a hit off Jamie Moyer.

 

 

Jennifer Hudson is featured on the cover of the latest issue of People Magazine showing off her new shape. The singer-actress has dropped from a size 16 to a 6. Some say it’s the most amazing loss of useless flab since the Raiders cut Jamarcus Russell.

 

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

 

A rally driver who was leading a race in New Zealand is upset that a mooning bystander caused him to lose control of his car and crash. What's the big deal? He's not the first driver to get knocked out of a race after being rear-ended.

 

 

 

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.