With an off day today, let’s take a look at some of the goings on around the rest of the league.
– Some interesting news out of Portland as the Winter Hawks owner decided to take matters into his own hands. http://www.winterhawks.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=933&Itemid=1 Not sure what this means in the long run, but it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of the current regime.
– Voting is now under way for the nominations for league MVP (one player from each Conference is nominated). For my money, Seattle center Aaron Gagnon was the best player in the Western Conference this season.
– Prince George became the first team to book a place in the second round of the playoffs, polishing off a four-game sweep of Kamloops. Though the Cougars were the lower seed, this is no surprise. Kamloops was reeling, and the loss of star defenseman Ray Macias to injury just before the start of the playoffs was the death knell. That’s tough on Kamloops. For three-quarters of the season it appeared the most-storied franchise in the league was on its way back to prominence. Now it’s back to square one for the Blazers, who now have not won a playoff series in eight years.
– Everett isn’t the only top seed that finds itself locked in a battle. Eastern Conference No. 1 Medicine Hat is also tied 2-2 with its opponent, Red Deer. I imagine there’s a little concern in the Hat as although Red Deer would seem to be overmatched on paper, the Rebels have a coach in Brent Sutter who’s had a lot of success in the playoffs, including a Memorial Cup championship in 2001.
Oh, one more thing. A big “thanks” to Scott Johnson for giving me a hand and allowing me to drive back home today at a reasonable pace.
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