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Hartley Miller's Slap Shots - March 31st Edition

By Hartley Miller

-by Hartley Miller

It’s the end of March, the month-end bills are due, the clocks are about to move ahead, the pranksters
are getting ready for April fools day, and most importantly, the sports enthusiast’s appetite will be satisfied with the following smorgasbord of issues:

1. NO BLACK OUTS: I was quite surprised that the no blackout policy was in place for the PG Cougars-Vancouver Giants series. Shaw-TV and the WHL have an agreement that blackouts in a team’s home city are lifted when 60 per cent of the tickets are sold; however, this only applies to the regular season, and not the playoffs. The Cougars had their two biggest crowds of the season (4,888 for game three and 4,212 for game four) this week. Having the games televised enhanced the hype of the series and certainly added to the team’s revenue. Cougars Business Manager Brandi Brodsky supported the no black out clause saying “People want to be part of it, and it’s a lot better being in the building, so I don’t think it’s hurting us at all”. She added “I’ve haven’t talked to anyone that would rather sit on the couch and watch it rather than come down to the rink”. Yes, the exposure was terrific, and having the entire series televised helped with the bottom line. It’s just too bad the team laid an egg on the ice in game three, losing 6-0. It was because of that performance, and not the game being on T.V., that a smaller crowd showed up for game four, won by the Giants 3-2 in overtime.

2. A SIGN OF THE TIMES: The Ontario Hockey League has implemented a video replay system in all its arenas, just for the playoffs. Once the W.H.L can work out costs, and technology, one can rest assured that this league will follow its eastern counterparts. Because of needless delays, I don’t support this idea during the regular season, but I do think it’s an important tool on disputed goals in the playoffs, and well worth the investment.

3. CINDERELLA STORY: With the PG Spruce Kings long extinct, the interest in the BCHL playoffs is greatly diminished; however, the Victoria Salsa have been quite a story. The 22-25-4-9 Salsa finished 4th in the Island division, 35 points behind the first place Nanaimo Clippers and 34 back of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. In round one of the playoffs, Victoria whipped the Clippers 4 games to 1. To prove this was no fluke, in round two, the Salsa defeated the Bulldogs 4-2. Victoria overcame a 2-0 deficit after losing 13-2 in game two. The match of the series was game five where Victoria won on the road 4-3, in double overtime, despite being out-shot 77-38. That’s right; Keyvan Hunt made 74 saves. So, Victoria is into the Coastal Final against Burnaby, a team that finished 17 points ahead of them. Yes, even in the BCHL, there’s nothing like playoff hockey.

4. A SLAP IN THE FACE: The B.C High School Boys and Girls basketball All-Star games were held last weekend, and not one player from the BC Double-A champion Duchess Park Boys Condors was selected to play in the game. 24 boys participated, 12 on each team. I realize Triple-A is the show, but on the other hand Double-A isn’t chopped liver. On the girl’s side, 22 Triple-A and Double-A players took part, including Erin Beckett of College Heights, who scored three points.

5. THE MOOSE DOES IT AGAIN: As if Glen "Moose" Scott doesn’t have his fingers in enough pots (politics, senior lacrosse and stock car racing). Now, he’s a large force in bringing the West of the Rockies Pro Rodeo Championship to the CN Centre in October. One has to admire his take charge, get it done attitude. What’s next Moose? Australian Rules football? Don’t put it past him.

From the quote rack:
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• "I’m not the biggest fan of Elvis Presley. He’s all right, he gets the job done. But he’s not quite 50 Cent or Eminem."
Scottish tennis player Andy Murray, to BBC sport, on whether he plans to visit Graceland while playing in Memphis.

• "Best suggestion so far: The Tampa Bay Double A’s."
Tim Brown of the Los Angeles Times, on the plans for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to change the team’s nickname. 

• "That’s not a stutter, that’s Brad Lekkerkerker."
Bud Geracie of the San Jose Mercury News, on the re-signing of an offensive tackle with the Oakland Raiders. 

• "It’s about a man in Utah who has three families and seven kids with three different wives. Didn’t that used to be called the NBA?’’
NBC’S Jay Leno, on Big Love, the new show on HBO

• "Utah fans were appalled. They couldn’t believe Kirilenko only has one wife.’’
Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated, after the wife of Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko said she would let him sleep with one other woman each year.

And how was your week?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. 


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