Sunday, April 29, 2007

What's Wrong with Franson?/Keystone Centre Name Change

Congrats to the Giants and Tigers for winning their respective conference's, and what a matchup it will be in the Western Hockey League final.
These two teams met just twice this season - both in the Hat - with the Giants beating the Tigers 5-4 in overtime in early November before the Tigers recorded a 3-2 win January 12th.
Once again both games were played at the Arena in Medicine Hat.
The last time the Tigers were in Vancouver was January 16, 2006 in a 3-2 win.

Matt Keetley was in goal for the Tigers on that night while Dustin Slade took the loss for Vancouver.
Remember no matter what happens in this series the Tigers are assured of a birth at the Memorial Cup.
In saying that the Tigers want another WHL Championship banner to go with the one they captured three years ago with a four game sweep over the Everett Silvertips.
This time it won't be so easy.
My prediction?
Tigers in 7.
The only reason I say that is because of home ice advantage.
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What's happened to Giants overage d-man Cody Franson?

You would have to think he's playing injured considering his lack of point production in the WHL playoffs?
Just 5 points in 15 playoff games is surprising considering he had 51 points in 59 games during the regular season and was named the Western Conference Defenseman of the Year because of it.
Some suggest Franson shouldn't have been named the West nominee for d-man of the year - Blazers 20-year-old Ray Macius should have been!
Franson had just 15 points after Christmas while Macius had a whopping 30!
Of those 30 points - 17 were goals.
Makes you think the media got it wrong in voting Franson the conference's best blueliner?

Macius wasn't just great after the break, he was consistent all season long putting up 70 points in 70 games.
Franson is against the Tigers Kris Russell at the WHL awards banquet this week in Calgary with Russell the shoe-in to pick up the award.
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Okanagan hockey fans should be somewhat interested in the 'dub' final.
Westbank resident Scott Wasden plays for the Tigers. Wasden has 7 points in 16 playoff games.
Giants d-man Cody Franson is from nearby Sicamous.
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The Tigers get home ice advantage in the WHL final because they had 7 more points than the Giants during the regular season. The Tigers had 7 more wins than the Giants yet the same number of regulation losses - 17.

The Tigers scored 9 more goals than Vancouver during the regular season while the Giants allowed 32 fewer goals.
To make matters even more interesting the Tigers had the best power play during the regular season while the Giants had the best penalty kill.
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When was the last WHL final where the host of the Memorial Cup that season also advanced to the championship series?
The Kamloops Blazers hosted the Memorial Cup in 1995, and advanced to the league final against Brandon.
The Blazers would win that series in 6 games before the two teams again met at the Memorial Cup.
The Blazers would win Major Juniors top prize.
Rockets assistant coach Ryan Huska was a member of the Blazers that season, winning a Memorial Cup title for a third time.
Who was the Blazers head coach that season? Current Giants bench boss Don Hay.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings have a new arena..sort of!
The facility remains the same, but the name has changed.
The Keystone Centre is now known as Westman Communications Group Place!!
I don't like the name either.
The name change is effective May 1st.
The 'Cable Box' is expected to get some upgrades like a high definition monitor enhancements
on the concourse and an electronic reader board messaging system.
My thinking is forget the technology.
The first order of business should be getting rid of the smell of cow crap from the building.
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And I think it's well documented that I am not a fan of the Canucks.
I got a kick out of this picture making the rounds on the internet.


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