Live Tweeting SVHL

So, most everyone should now know I got a new cellphone, my first in quite a while.  Tonight was a hockey game in Outlook, and I cover them for the paper, but I also announce at them as well.  But tonight I did something else.  I live tweeted the entire thing.

 

I could have gone further and added who scored, but damn that Blackberry keyboard is tiny.  Take some getting used to.

However, this isn’t a bad idea, and I think it should be something suggested on the Sask Valley Hockey League forums.  Live tweet the games, using the hashtag #svhl.  If you’ve got a camera phone, upload a picture with the tweet.  It worked out okay tonight.  I think I’ll do that for other games as well, it’s a quick way to check on scores via twitter.

After all, I’ve never seen this in the SVHL before.  Good way to intermingle the league and social networking.

 

Hazy Shade of Winter

With apologies to Simon and Garfunkle (and the Bangles), it is rather hazy.  Even though it’s not officially winter yet.  There’s been a good amount of snow we’ve received, temperatures are very cool out (though, Environment Canada says we should get warmer weather next week), and to top it all off there’s an NHL Lockout and the possibility that the entire season will be scrapped.

There’s a good side to that.  The latter point, that is.  No NHL means no hockey broadcasts which means diehard hockey fans (does not include me) will have to go somewhere else for their fix.  This means that leagues like the WHL, the SJHL and even down to senior leagues like the Sask Valley Hockey League should benefit.  As an example, the Outlook Ice Hawks begin their season tonight with a tilt against the Conquest Merchants.  It’s an exhibition game, so it really shouldn’t matter because it doesn’t count to the rest of the season.  But it’ll be interesting to see the crowd support.

On the one hand, anytime Conquest is in town to play Outlook, there’s a good crowd.  Granted, most of those people are from Conquest (seriously, we aren’t talking thousands of people in the rink, I don’t think it can hold over 500).  So if there’s a good crowd tonight, it’ll be a so so indication, but we won’t know until the next home game against Lucky Lake on November 4.  If there’s a good crowd on that night as well, then it might be a better indication of things to come.

Granted, the Ice Hawks haven’t been a powerhouse in the league over the years.  That mark goes to the Rosetown Redwings.  Who haven’t lost a game in two years.  Still, there will be those NHL die hards who will show up for a lowly SVHL game just to get a fix.

The only real distraction that will come, might be if the Saskatchewan Roughriders make it to the Western Final or the Grey Cup, and a game is scheduled for that day.  Then no one, even those at the arena, will be paying attention to hockey as our sights will squarely be on football.

 

Behind the scenes

A lot of people know that I do the public address announcing at local hockey games.  But not many have seen, or heard me describe the tiny little both that I sit in.  Or what’s done after the hockey game comes to an end.

Twisted Sister is actually okay to play.

Games usually take place on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday evenings or on a Sunday afternoon.  There’s the rare occasion where a rescheduled game is played on a Monday.  Such as what happened this past season.  If the game is on a weeknight, I head down to the arena at 7:00 p.m., and get ready for an 8:00 p.m. start.  I’ve got a large amount of gear I take with me, just in case.  My camera, so I can have pictures for the paper.  My laptop, to keep track of goal scorers, assists, penalties, shots on goal and so on.  I also use the laptop to play music, which gets plugged into the arena sound system.  You have to be careful when choosing the appropriate music for a hockey game.  Ministry is not a good band for hockey music, while GnR, Metallica and Ozzy Osborn are just fine.  Especially if you use Crazy Train when the home team comes onto the ice to start the game.  Other good options for music are the classic standards.  Gary Glitter – Rock ‘n Roll Part II (also known as the Dr. Who theme), anything by Tom Cochrane (especially Big League and Victory Day), anything by Rush (especially Tom Sawyer), anything by the Tragically Hip (especially 50 Mission Cap and My Music @ Work), and Stompin’ Tom Connors the Hockey Song.  That last one is almost a necessity.  If you don’t have it, something is horribly, horribly wrong with you.  A few other staples include Theory of a Nickle Fault (Theory of a Deadman, Nickelback and Default), Blink 182 and any high energy dance mix.  ABBA and Queen are definitely out.

This would be so much cooler.

The booth itself is small, while the location is fine.  The entire length of the ice gets a decent showing, and everything is seen clearly.  There’s even a decent sound system in the booth, but no one really knows the best settings unless you go through trial and error.  Sometimes, during the game.  There’s a small phone mounted on the wall, which is connected directly to the time keeper’s bench (it’s beige, I wanted it to be red, then I could always answer “The Bat Line” but NOOO! couldn’t have that).  Along with the phone and sound system is a small bench to set writing materials and such onto, and a few stools.  From time to time I’ll get help with the music, so instead of using my laptop, an iPod gets used.  The last piece of equipment is the horn.  Just an air horn that sounds out loudly, and gets used for when the players hit the ice or when the home team scores a goal.

See? Scuff marks on the glass.

Taking photos through the plexiglass of the booth is a tad challenging, as you have to find the perfect spot so as not to get a scuff mark from a puck in the middle of the photos.  Believe it or not, sometimes a wayward puck will smack the glass outside the booth, and it leaves a nasty rubber mark on the glass.  And on rare occasions the shot is by accident.  Needless to say, it can often be a challenge to take a photo without some grey blob in the middle of it, usually obscuring a goal or a decent shot.  It’s Murphy’s Law as subjected to photography.

My desk... a mess.

Once the game is over, I take all the statistical information I’ve gathered and actually attempt to write a sports report on the game.  Lately, it’s usually involved the losing side of things for the home team Ice Hawks.  I will admit there have been some times when I’ve found some good things to write, especially from the efforts of individual players.  Always when I’m writing the stories and organizing the photos, my desk looks like a complete mess, as I not only have to deal with my desktop iMac but my Acer Aspire laptop as well.  On top of that, I have to transfer photos from my camera to my desktop and also from my laptop to my desktop (the laptop makes a handy storage device in a pinch).  You’d think that really I’d only have maybe three or four photos to worry about, but anyone worth their salt in photography knows that if you want a decent shot, one decent photo from a sporting event, you will have to sort through at least 250 to 300 photos (more if your only job is to take photos).

That, in a nutshell (a really big nutshell, mind you) is what goes on behind the scenes at a hockey game.

Until next time…

…keep ’em flyin’.

 

Fast paced and violent

Last night, the Outlook Ice Hawks played a close game to long time SVHL rivals the Conquest Merchants.  Some good skating in a real back and forth tight game.  The only slow down came in the second period.  A Conquest player did his job and finished a check on his man while going for the puck.  For the Ice Hawks player, Travis Erlandson, he lay on the ice as trainers, team mates and the crowd watched.  Travis took a pretty hard hit, and he took a ride in the ambulance as a result.

Was the hit malicious?  No, far from it.  The hit was exactly what the Merchants player was supposed to do.  Finishing his check.  Travis was even doing what he was supposed to do.  It’s just something zigged when it should have zagged.  These things happen.  Fortunately there were two nurses in the stands and they came out to assist as ambulance was called.

Hockey is a fast paced and very rough sport.  There’s a reason why players wear equipment.  Over the years, more and more safety features to protect players have been developed.  From the goalie mask that began with Jacques Plant, right down to the skates, neck guard, shoulder and shin pads.  Hockey isn’t the only sport that is that fast paced and violent.  Football is as well, but it’s in short bursts.  As TSN’s Chris Schultz said, it’s controlled chaos.  Hockey is fast and continuous.

The good news about Travis, he’s wearing a neck brace and is up and walking around.  He’s probably very sore and very stiff, but for the most part he’s alright.  I make mention of this not to give argument to those who find hockey to be such a violent game that it needs to be banned (because more than likely someone has had that thought).  But I mention this because these things happen.  Hockey is a sport, and the players know the risks of playing.  It’s a lot like the rest of us knowing the risks of living.  There was no malicious intent in the hit that Travis took, it’s just a part of the game.

The good thing is, that Travis is alright.

Until next time…

…keep ’em flyin’.

Sask Valley Hockey League  Standings :  2009/2010
Team	GP	Points	Wins	Losses	Ties	OTL	GF	GA	Last 5	Streak
Kyle Elks	8	14	7	1	0	0	72	20	5-0-0	7 W
Elrose Aces	8	14	7	1	0	0	50	23	4-1-0	1 L
Delisle Bruins	8	14	7	1	0	0	45	32	5-0-0	5 W
Rosetown Redwings	8	12	5	1	0	2	63	40	3-1-1	1 W
Lucky Lake Lakers	6	8	4	2	0	0	30	28	4-1-0	2 W
Loreburn 19ers	7	6	3	4	0	0	39	40	1-4-0	1 L
Conquest Merchants	8	6	3	5	0	0	34	35	3-2-0	2 W
Central Butte Flyers	9	6	3	6	0	0	26	48	1-4-0	4 L
Kenaston Blizzard	8	4	2	6	0	0	36	55	1-4-0	1 L
Biggar Nationals	9	2	1	8	0	0	32	77	1-4-0	2 L
Outlook Ice Hawks	7	2	1	6	0	0	28	57	1-4-0	1 L
GP – Games Played, OTL – Overtime Loss, GF – Goals For, GA – Goals Against

 

Sports Sunday

Canadian Football League

It was a long time coming.

History was made today.

You can use any cliche in the book you want, but the end result is still the same.  Darian Durant and the Saskatchewan Roughriders now get a two week rest before the West Division Final on the road to the Grey Cup.  They got there with a solid 30-14 victory over the Calgary Stampeders.  The Riders proved they were the best in the west after producing a solid win at home.  The best part, they don’t have to make travel arrangements, because now they stay home as the road to the cup goes through Regina.

Durant was picture perfect through the game, as he came through with clutch plays when they were needed.  When he couldn’t read the blitz, he played Houdini and managed to escape the pressure to find a receiver downfield.  And when he did read the blitz, he’d find someone for a score.

It wasn’t just Durant.  The Rider receiving corp has put up some impressive numbers over the course of the year.  All are dependable, and all have shown they can come through in the clutch.  Chris Getzlaf, Andy Fantuz, Rob Bagg, Weston Dressler, Jason Clermont, Jason Armstead.  Even out of the backfield, there’s Wes Cates and Chris Szarka (now also a member of Regina City Council, it should be added).

The Rider D also made some massive plays, holding Calgary to only one touchdown in the game, no touchdowns in the second half.  John Chick came up with a clutch play, sacking Stamps’ Quarterback Henry Burris on the one yard line.  Omarr Morgan broke up a pass between Burris and Jermaine Copland forcing the Stamps into a punting situation, which they wisely gave up two points instead of getting the ball into the hands of return specialist Jason Armstead.

The last time the Riders took first in the West was in 1976.  Back then the names were Lancaster, Reed, Aldag.  That’s 33 years without having to have that all important week off.  We’ll see just who is the opponent after the West Semi final of the Battle of Alberta as Calgary hosts the Edmonton Eskimos who ended their season with a win.

Sask Valley Hockey League

It sure doesn’t feel like hockey outside.

Nonetheless, hockey began in West Central Saskatchewan, as the Outlook Ice Hawks played two preseason games at home.  On Wednesday night, the Hawks hosted the Loreburn-Dinsmore team (combined this year from last year’s 19ers and Dynamos), and on Friday, they played host to the Lucky Lake Lakers.

I’m going to start by saying it’s only preseason.  Having said that, yes the Hawks did lose both games, but there were some high points to each.  Both goal tenders managed to get some ice time in the first game, which was a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Loreburn-Dinsmore.  The second game was a little closer, but still a loss to Lucky Lake, 7-5.

The first regular season game in Friday, November 13 at the Jim Kook Rec Plex in Outlook, as the Hawks play host to the Central Butte Flyers.  After the game is wing night, sponsored by Rain Maker Irrigation.

 

Around town, new stuff

Finally, the temperatures are starting to get back to something that resembles normal this year. A few days ago, you could look around and see snow all over the place. Today, the only snow is the piles located in more shady locales as people tried to clear the streets and sidewalks during our late winter. I guess that stupid ground hog was right.

Stupid ground hog.

Outlook, Saskatchewan has a new business. Okay, not a new business, but a new location for an existing business. Riverbend Co-operative has hunkered down in their new digs, and the place is quite impressive. Bigger than the previous store, with more selection, and grocery and pharmacy in the same building. And to that, it’s right next door to the Home and Agro centre for building supplies and farming supplies. I was talking to one friend when the new Co-op store opened up on Wednesday, and he retold a story of comments made by a child. The child said it looked just like Wally World (the nickname for WalMart in these here parts). Maybe not, but the new store is impressive.

That reminds me, I should make my grocery list and pick some items up tonight on the way home.

Congratulations have to go out to a couple of hockey teams. The Outlook Novice Ice Hawks ended their season on a high note as they captured the Fertile Valley league championship.

It should also be noted the Outlook-Hanley-Loreburn Hooters women’s hockey team captured the Busch League title. Congrats to them as well.

Now that all the important hockey is done, we can go about looking at that other league that plays into June. You know, the NHL.

The Saskatchewan government plans on holding information meetings around the province in the near future. Uranium in Saskatchewan, part of the government’s flag waving for nuclear energy in the province. I’ll have a blog (rant) about that in the near future.

With hockey and basketball looking toward their respective playoffs, many people are beginning to get their cleats and gloves ready for baseball, softball, fastball and slow pitch seasons. It’s been years since I was at a Red Eye, and the last competitive game of baseball I played was in Melfort in 1991. Before that, I played baseball for the Conquest Midgets when I was in high school. I wasn’t very good. But I am a good bowler. And neither of those two sports have anything in common. Perhaps the ball in each is round, and bowling pins can be argued to have the same shape as a baseball bat.

As sports go, I’m looking forward to the CFL season. The Ottawa Senators were knocked out of the NHL playoffs officially by the Florida Panthers a couple of nights ago. Now my interest in the NHL is even less than passive. Speaking of CFL, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were fined for going over the salary cap. The most unbelievable thing was that the Riders, even with a huge amount of injuries last season, didn’t complain. They did say that they would like to see how the cap is treated in the future, however, in the event that a large rash of injuries does hit a team as deep as it hit the Riders. Hopefully that trend does not continue this year.

That’s it that’s all for now. I may have other news later.

Until next time…

…keep ’em flyin’!

 

‘Hawks stylin’

Kinsmen club members presenting the Ice Hawks with new jerseys.

The Outlook Ice Hawks received a big boost of support from the local Kinsmen. The Kinsmen Club of Outlook presented the Outlook Ice Hawks with brand new uniforms just before the puck dropped at the home opener, November 7th. Ice Hawks captain Derek Derdall and assistant captain Blake Taylor accepted the new jerseys from Kinsmen members Keith Bowey and Jeff Gowan. The new uniforms sport the logos of the Kinsmen Club on the left sleeve, who support many projects throughout the community, and are always found at Ice Hawks games helping out, and AG Foods on the right sleeve. Royce Taylor and AG Foods have supported the Ice Hawks for several years.

Until next time…

…keep ’em flyin’!

 

You Outta Be In Pictures

I’ve really taken to snapping photos a lot lately. Not only is it a part of my job, but it truly is a wonderful hobby. And to think, my experience with digital cameras did not start that long ago.

My first digital camera was the Samsung Digimax D53. A pretty decent camera for simple point and click portrait pictures. I found that scenic shots came out great with this camera. It’s easy to use, and easy to transfer photos onto your computer for editing purposes, whether you have a simple photo manipulation program or are an expert Photoshop user. Light weight and easy to hold, this camera has the basic features needed to capture some very good shots.

With a high resolution image that it produces and a 2.4 inch LCD screen, that was just the beginning of what originally sold it for me. The 5 megapixel quality also was a selling point. But the camera had it’s share of problems for me.

I always found I had to remove the batteries, or even when turned off, it would drain the energy from them. It went through a pair of AA batteries like nothing. And the Energizer Rechargable batteries weren’t much of a help. There was one last problem. I take a lot of photos at the local hockey arena. And this camera just wasn’t up to the task. The photos would come out extremely blurry, and in some cases, motion blur filled the image.

I had to find something else.

After a long talk with a friend, she suggested I look at the Kodak line of digital cameras. So I did. I found the Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS. Compact, just like the Samsung, but it has so much more.

A 12X zoom, plus 8.2 megapixel resolution, this camera could also take the photos my Samsung was lacking in. Action shots. This camera also comes with a rechargable Li-Ion battery, and replaceable batteries are cheap. As well, it can handle a pair of AA batteries in a pinch.

As you can see, there is a slight difference in quality in the images taken. The top photo is of the Samsung Digimax D53, taken with the Kodak. While below, is the Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS, taken with the Samsung. Even before I began cropping down the images, I noticed a slight difference. The mug shot, that was taken with the Z812.

The nice thing about both cameras is they take the SD flash card. I already had one for the Samsung, so switching it over to the Kodak was no problem at all. I haven’t field tested the Kodak as much as I have the Digimax, but I hope that I’ll see an improvement. The Ice Hawks play at home to the Elrose Aces tonight, so I might just get a chance to see the camera in action.

Point. Click. Photo.

Until next time…

Keep ’em flyin’.

 

It’s almost here

Just a couple of weeks away before we can get that SVHL fix in. Until then we have to deal with that other hockey league. You know, it’s called the NHL.

The Outlook Ice Hawks are offering up tryouts again to start the new season. Information is in today’s edition of The Outlook for contacting Royce Taylor. First practice is set for October 17th, so looking forward to a new season of hockey in Outlook.

Until that first game…

Keep ’em flyin’.

 

Wallpaper Time!

I said I’d put some up, and here we are. For this first installment, I give you the Outlook Ice Hawks desktop wallpapers.

And there you go. Three variations of the Outlook Ice Hawks desktop that I created. Hope you like them. I’ll post up more at some other point.

Until then…

Keep ’em flyin’.