I Need Hair Spray

• It`s another windy day in Rimouski as the Memorial Cup officially begins tonight with the Rockets facing the Oceanic. The good news is the sun is shining, but the wind makes me feel like I`m back in my hometown of Swift Current. If you want to keep your hair in place, strong hold hair spray is a requirement.
• The shuttle service here is amazing. A car is always available any time we need a ride to the arena from our hotel, which is about a 25 minute walk. The same is true when we step outside of the Colisee as a car is waiting to shuttle you back to the hotel. Renting a car isn`t needed unless you are interested in doing some touring on your own.
• The people of Rimouski are a friendly bunch. It has been nothing but a positive experience when interacting with volunteers of the event. While we have been here just three short days, we feel extremely welcome. People are bending over backwards to make sure things are going smoothly for us.
• I had a chance to set up my radio gear in preparation for tonight`s game. My sight line is at the blue-line looking directly towards the Rimouski bench. That radio location is also being shared by the Windsor broadcasters and a french broadcast crew. The Oceanic radio broadcast booth is directly across the ice.
  
• The Rockets took part in a pre-game skate in advance of tonight`s game. The boys looked sharper on the ice then they did in Thursday`s workout when the ice was chopped up. The ice conditions were less than ideal because the Rockets were the third team on the ice that day.
• Bring a coat. If you are thinking of watching any games at the Memorial Cup, a jacket is required inside the building. The on-ice crew have made sure that the temperature inside the building is cold enough so that the ice conditions won`t be compromised. It`s down right chilly in there. It feels like the old Memorial Arena in Cranbrook in December.
  
• The city of Rimouski is excited about this event. Banners, signs and Memorial Cup logo`s are all over town. Even if you are not a hockey fan you would get the general impression that this event is a big deal.
  
• In made a quick stop in one of the local super markets this morning and the language barrier is an issue. The only saving grace for me is everything is in Canadian funds, so dealing with different denominations isn`t a struggle when making a transaction. I was told about 20 percent of the population in Rimouski speak English.
• I conducted an interview with Sportsnets Peter Loubardias for an intermission during tonight's game. Loubardias is one of my favourites and I could talk shop with him for hours. He`s a real pro, yet isn`t afraid to let down his guard and get real with you. He`s a quality guy!
• Richard Doerksen, the VP of Hockey for the WHL will be my second intermission guest tonight. Doerksen is appearing in his 30th Memorial Cup. The only one he`s missed was in 1985 with the birth of his son.
• The low glass at the Colisee could be an factor. The side glass is 2 feet lower than at Prospera Place, and the end glass is also shorter than what is a requirement in the WHL. So the Rockets defenceman will have to be extra careful when clearing the puck off the glass into the neutral zone.