One hockey season ended too late (June 19th) and now before fans catch their collective breath, another is just around the corner.

The "Old NHL" at least had a bit of a break. I would never want to be a "stick in the mud", but I do offer a few, free of charge observations on the Stanley Cup playoffs:

Conn Smythe Trophy: It’s hard to dispute the playoff MVP trophy going to 22-year-old Carolina rookie Cam Ward of Sherwood Park. However, I still would have voted for the Oiler’s horse on the blueline. Chris Pronger elevated his game to a level where he has to be considered the league’s top defenceman. And to think Edmonton almost stole him from St. Louis for ex Cougar, Eric Brewer (remember him?) and some pocket change.

Momentum is overrated: One team gaining the momentum is an old cliché that is overused and overrated, which was proven again in the Hurricanes-Oilers series. When Carolina built a 2-0 series lead Edmonton was written off. However, when the Canes took a big slap on the chin in game six, a 4-0 pasting, the Edmonton bandwagon was overcrowded, with Oiler supporters suggesting that with energy on their side the Cup was about to be theirs. As we discovered, momentum can change quicker than the weather.

Home Ice Advantage: I’ve always thought home ice advantage isn’t that big a deal, especially early in a best of seven series. However, I believe it really matters, late in the final rounds of a Stanley Cup Drive. The home team has won 6 straight and 11 of the last 12 game sevens in the Stanley Cup final, numbers one can’t argue with.

National Pride: I don’t mind admitting I’m pleased that Montreal (1993) remains the last Canadian team to win the Cup. Edmonton (with a roster of 15 Canadians that participated in the playoffs) was embraced as Canada’s team, however, if you cheered for Carolina that doesn’t make you anti-Canadian. How could you not be happy for Campbell River’s Rod Brind’amour, and Red Deer’s Glen Wesley? The Hurricanes roster has 11 Canadians including their top four playoff scorers, and MVP goalie. Carolina also has more BC boys on its team than Edmonton. Wesley played a total of 1480 games over 18 seasons before winning his first Stanley Cup. He embraced his family with tears streaming down his face before commissioner Gary Bettman presented the Cup to Brind’amour. "I don’t know what to feel, this is the best feeling I’ve ever had," said Wesley. That pretty well sums it up.

New NHL Survey: I chuckled when I read the results of a survey conducted by Decima Research that suggests Canadian hockey fans are overwhelmingly happy that the NHL threw the rulebook at its players. I certainly wasn’t among the 1,000 respondents. One can’t convince me the Oilers-Hurricanes series was better than the Lightning-Flames championship back in the Old NHL, just two years ago.

Power Plays: Whether you like the new NHL, or not, I think we should all agree that it was fitting that the Stanley Cup game winning goal came on a power-play. As well, it was a very exciting, intense third period, but one knew there had to be a penalty called in the late stages. After all, it is the "New Wave of hockey".

Now, the bandwagon jumpers can make their way back to their respective teams.

Up next, the NHL entry draft Saturday, which may be an exciting day for PG Cougars defencemen Ty Wishart and Jesse Dudas. Then it’s the free agent frenzy, beginning July 1st. Next year, maybe the league can schedule games into July? Just think of the excitement. A player could play game 1 of the Cup final with one team, and then be with the opposition by game 7.

With the "NEW NHL" anything is possible.

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From the quote rack:

"Turns out it wasn’t a good luck charm -- Gary Bettman had just dropped the ad revenue from this year’s finals.’’ . . .

Jeff Funnekotter of Calgary, after the Oilers Ryan Smyth found a coin buried in the ice at Raleigh’s RBC Center.

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"The Stanley Cup finals on NBC in prime time last night got a two. Not a two rating. Two people watched.’

NBC’S Jay Leno, after one of the Oilers-Hurricanes games, which is believed to be the lowest-rated prime time television show in U.S. history.

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"It’s the World Cup in soccer and the Stanley Cup in hockey. Americans are so confused, we don’t know what sport to ignore."

Leno.

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"The Colorado Rockies are using iPods to review game tapes, even when the game is in progress. They’ve also invented a celebration dance called the "iPod Shuffle".

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, CA

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"Rumour has it, he wants to be their agriculture critic: ’Pot for every chicken. ". .

Regina Leader-Post political columnist Murray Mandryk, on the possibility of Toronto Argonauts running back Ricky Williams being a candidate for the Marijuana Party, which is now being officially recognized in Saskatchewan.

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"Anna Nicole Smith is pregnant. If it’s a girl Anna is going to name it Gold, Digger for a boy".

Comedian Alex Kaseberg

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"Clemens’ contract with the Astros is so rich that Anna Nicole Smith is already claiming that he’s the father".

Comedian Argus Hamilton, on Houston pitcher Roger Clemens getting a $12 million, three month contract.

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And in case you missed it……..

From the Detroit News, after a New York fan in the right field seats at Yankee Stadium asked Detroit Tigers reliever Todd Jones to "give me a ball!" Jones replied:

"No."

And the fan shouted back:

"That’s OK. I’ll get one when you pitch."

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. Hartley’s e-mail address is hmiller@94xfm.com