By Don Mcintosh /
Hello again hockey fans. For those of you who are mainly NHL or Junior fans, the season is truly well underway, with the NHL approaching the 20-game mark and the WHL the 30-game mark, and lots of excitement already.
Canuck fans are enjoying a dominating, dare I say, 07/08 Red Wings puck possession kind of game. Dub fans are enjoying the rebirth of the old Rockets-Giants rivalry and the emergence of top guns on both teams, including the top two guys in the WHL scoring race at press time (Nov. 20): Evander Kane 15-22-37 and Jamie Benn 21-15-36 after 21 games. And both have teammates hot on their heels with the Giants Casey Pierro-Zabotel at 7-27-34 and the Rockets Colin Long just a point back at 14-19-33. Also right there – another BC story, rookie Jordan Weal of North Vancouver, at 9-25-34 playing for the Pats in Regina.
For many minor hockey teams though, the season is just getting started, with the first regular season games played only last weekend. So it’s a great time of year for them as they begin the battle for banners with a clean slate and the season full of promise.
We continue to increase our coverage of local minor hockey reports this issue. And plan to add more as the season progresses. So, if there’s no report this month for your association, contact us and we’ll put the wheels in motion to make it in an upcoming issue.
Also, we’ve been getting queries on when Hockey Now minor hockey rankings will start – look for them in the Dec. 6 issue.
Lots on the horizon too as Christmas approaches.
This year, B.C. hosts the World U-18 tournament in Port Alberni; while Ottawa hosts the U-20s (World Juniors), with Team Canada on the Drive for Five. That’s five straight gold medals. Rare territory indeed.
We’ll have plenty of coverage of both tournaments in our next two issues, with training camp news in early December, and an in-depth preview of both tournaments in our Christmas issues. And we’ll start 2009 with a wrap of both tourneys in our first New Year’s issues.
So hockey fans, lots of great things ahead. See you in the rink. |