|
|
Hockey
May 11, 2007 15:12:31 GMT -5
Post by inuvik on May 11, 2007 15:12:31 GMT -5
I meant to post this at the time, but better late than never. What a treat for the troops!
From May 2/07, CBC.
Temperatures may be pushing 40 C, but all thoughts were on hockey in Kandahar Wednesday as Canada's chief of defence staff arrived with 19 former NHL players and the Stanley Cup.
Gen. Rick Hillier arrived at the main Kandahar base with the group of former pros, who include Bob Probert, Dave (Tiger) Williams, Ron Tugnutt, Réjean Houle and Yvon Lambert.
Along with showing off the Stanley Cup, the group plans to play a couple of ball hockey games with some of the more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers stationed at the base and get a tour of the region.
The Hercules transport plane touched down on the Kandahar airstrip Wednesday morning and a large blue case was rolled onto the sweltering tarmac.
Soldiers, hockey players and journalists clustered around as the cup was removed by its white-gloved handler. At one point, Hillier kissed his fingertips and touched the gleaming cup.
It's the first time the trophy has been in Afghanistan or a combat zone.
The trophy, originally known as a Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, has evolved over the years since it was first awarded in 1893.
The original trophy, now under glass in the Hockey Hall of Fame, was in the shape of a bowl. The trophy taken to Afghanistan is known as the Presentation Cup.
Hillier praised the hockey players for taking time out of their busy schedules to travel halfway across the world to show their support and boost morale on the base. Eight Canadian soldiers were killed in roadside bombings and one died in an accidental fall last month.
"I think our men and women are going to appreciate it immensely," said Hillier.
"It's our duty to support our men and women over here. They've got a tough job," said ex-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Williams.
Probert, an enforcer with the Detroit Red Wings for most of his career, said they are in Afghanistan to "play a couple games of ball hockey and just have fun."
Playing and watching ball hockey is an important ritual for the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, with the teams playing for the Kandahar Cup, a pint-sized version of Lord Stanley's coveted trophy.
Last month, the owner of the Ottawa Senators visited the base, donating $50,000 worth of hockey gear. Eugene Melnyk brought hockey sticks, pads and jerseys for the soldiers.
|
|
|
|
Hockey
May 11, 2007 16:50:10 GMT -5
Post by bjobsessed on May 11, 2007 16:50:10 GMT -5
I saw footage of this on Hockey Night in Canada. It was great to see everyone smiling and having a good time for a change. What a great memory that will be in the midst of so much violence and tragedy.
|
|
|
|
Hockey
May 14, 2007 15:55:39 GMT -5
Post by inuvik on May 14, 2007 15:55:39 GMT -5
We so rock in hockey!
MOSCOW - Canada won its 24th world hockey championship Sunday, getting two goals from Rick Nash in a 4-2 victory over Finland.
The Canadians went undefeated in winning their first gold since 2004. Canada has won 24 senior and 13 junior world titles, as well as seven Olympic golds and five Canada Cup and World Cup titles.
|
|
|
|
Hockey
May 14, 2007 16:07:44 GMT -5
Post by Chris on May 14, 2007 16:07:44 GMT -5
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! You certainly do rock, karma to one hockey-obsessed Canadian ;D My team didn't do bad either they ended up tenth which apparently is their best result since 1949  Take care and keep smiling - Chris  |
|
|
|
Hockey
May 14, 2007 16:13:36 GMT -5
Post by inuvik on May 14, 2007 16:13:36 GMT -5
My team didn't do bad either they ended up tenth which apparently is their best result since 1949 Good for them! It's great that they are improving. |
|
|
|
Hockey
May 14, 2007 16:20:55 GMT -5
Post by Chris on May 14, 2007 16:20:55 GMT -5
Good for them! It's great that they are improving. Improving??? Maybe so, but slowly, I mean 1949 is a looong time ago  Truth is, I don't know much about hockey but heard that they became tenth, and apparently they have improved a lot lately so I probably should stop mocking them. So, sorry, guys, you did good  - Chris |
|
|
|
Hockey
May 14, 2007 20:01:56 GMT -5
Post by bjobsessed on May 14, 2007 20:01:56 GMT -5
Good for them! It's great that they are improving. Improving??? Maybe so, but slowly, I mean 1949 is a looong time ago Truth is, I don't know much about hockey but heard that they became tenth, and apparently they have improved a lot lately so I probably should stop mocking them. So, sorry, guys, you did good - Chris It is a long time ago, but at least they're getting better which is more than I can say for the Leafs most of the time. It's been 40 years since they won the cup. Here's an email I got the other day. Leaf fans are always in for a lot of jokes. I love this! Canadians in Hell Two guys from Sudbury die and wake up in hell. The next day the devil stops in to check on them and sees them dressed in parkas, mittens and toques warming themselves around the fire. The devil asks them, "What are you doing? Isn't it hot enough for you?" The two guys reply, "Well, you know, we're from Canada, the land of snow and ice and cold. We're just happy for a chance to warm up a little bit, eh." The devil decides that these two aren't miserable enough and turns up the heat. The next morning he stops in again and there they are, still dressed in parkas, toques and mittens. The devil asks them again, "It's awfully hot down here. Can't you guys feel it?" Again the two guys reply, "Well, like we told ya yesterday, we're from Canada, the land of snow and ice and cold. We're just happy for a chance to warm up a little bit, eh." This gets the devil a little steamed up and he decides to fix these two guys. He cranks the heat up as high as it will go. The people are wailing and screaming everywhere. He stops by the room with the two guys from Canada and finds them in light jackets and bucket hats, grilling sausage and drinking beer. The devil is astonished, "Everyone down here is in abject misery, and you two seem to be enjoying yourselves." The two Canadians reply, "Well, ya know, we don't get too much warm weather up there in Sudbury so we've just got to have a cook-out when the weather's THIS nice." The devil is absolutely furious, he can hardly see straight. Finally he comes up with the answer. The two guys love the heat because they have been cold all their lives. The devil decides to turn all the heat off in hell. The next morning, the temperature is below zero, icicles are hanging everywhere; people are shivering so bad that they are unable to do anything but wail, moan, and gnash their teeth. The devil smiles and heads for the room with the two Canadians. He gets there and finds them back in their parkas, toques, and mittens. NOW they are jumping up and down, cheering, yelling and screaming like mad men!!! The devil is dumbfounded, "I don't understand, when I turn up the heat you're happy. Now it's freezing cold and you're still happy. What is wrong with you two???" The two Canadians look at the devil in surprise, "Well, don't you know? If hell freezes over, it must mean the Leafs have won the Stanley Cup!!!" |
|
|
|
Hockey
May 15, 2007 5:56:58 GMT -5
Post by Chris on May 15, 2007 5:56:58 GMT -5
ROFL!!!!!!! This is too funny, Canadians are very optimistic people, aren't they? ;D Karma to one devoted Leaf Fan ;D Take care and keep smiling - Chris |
|
|
|
Hockey
May 15, 2007 11:10:49 GMT -5
Post by inuvik on May 15, 2007 11:10:49 GMT -5
What an awesome joke! I'll be forwarding that one for sure.
The Sens are well on their way to winning 4 in a row to be the eastern champions! Just one more to go! Currently 3-0 over the Sabres.
|
|
|
|
Hockey
May 19, 2007 16:23:29 GMT -5
Post by Duchess of Lashes on May 19, 2007 16:23:29 GMT -5
Congrats to the Ottawa Senators - going to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history !
Under normal circustandces, as a storied Toronto Maple Leafs fan I wouldn't allow myself to cheer for those Sens. But, good Canadian that I am still, I have no choice but to cheer for the remaining Canadian team.
GO! SENATORS! GO!
|
|
|
|
Hockey
May 19, 2007 22:27:08 GMT -5
Post by bjobsessed on May 19, 2007 22:27:08 GMT -5
Congrats to the Ottawa Senators - going to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history ! Under normal circustandces, as a storied Toronto Maple Leafs fan I wouldn't allow myself to cheer for those Sens. But, good Canadian that I am still, I have no choice but to cheer for the remaining Canadian team. GO! SENATORS! GO! My thoughts exactly! I don't like Ottawa, but there is no one else I can cheer for. |
|
|
|
Hockey
May 20, 2007 13:41:29 GMT -5
Post by inuvik on May 20, 2007 13:41:29 GMT -5
Even if they lose, they are still the Eastern Champion!
Let's hope they break the curse of the last 3 years eh.
2004--Calgary "losing" in the Cup finals
2006--Edmonton losing in the Cup finals
Third time lucky!
My paper on Friday had an article about the Canadian hockey teams. It was saying how in the States, when a local team loses, people don't start cheering for another. I guess we do it because there are so few Canadian teams we just want our cup home! And yes, it is ours--Lord Stanley gave it to Canada.
|
|
|
|
Hockey
Jun 3, 2007 12:35:12 GMT -5
Post by inuvik on Jun 3, 2007 12:35:12 GMT -5
Hooray, the Sens aren't done yet! Now just to win Monday and tie it up....
|
|
|
|
Hockey
Jun 3, 2007 12:57:58 GMT -5
Post by Duchess of Lashes on Jun 3, 2007 12:57:58 GMT -5
Feisty, aren't they? Who was that team that took the ice last night? Certainly not the same guys who skated last week in California!!
And it looks like the NHL has finally decided that Chris Pronger needs to have another cooling off period - a deserved one at that - even if the refs didn't call a thing on the ice on either one of those hits!
Go Sens!!
|
|
|
|
Hockey
Jun 5, 2007 17:20:34 GMT -5
Post by Duchess of Lashes on Jun 5, 2007 17:20:34 GMT -5
Things aren't looking really good for the Senators right now - down three games to one, they are heading back to Anaheim. While it would be terrific to keep Lord Stanley's Cup where it belongs, in Canada, I must admit that it wouldn't break my heart to see Teemu Selanne skate around the ice with that cup hoisted over his head.
In his 16 years of contribution to the sport, always playing as a gentlemen, he has never had occasion to win the cup. Looks like this might be his year!
But I still have to say it, cause it's not over til the scoreboard says so - GO SENS GO!
|
|
