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• Olympic Reflection

  • From: Sandy_at_School
  • Description:

    I always admit to the students I meet that I am now old, over half a century, and so that means they have to listen patiently when I start rolling on a good story. I am passionate about good stories, both fact and fiction. Sometimes, the old saying “Truth is stranger than fiction” can only be appreciated when a great true story unfolds. I started my job here at Rexall Place (then called Skyreach Centre) in the fall of 2002 and one of the most exciting things that happened that fall was meeting Trent Evans. I had watched all the televised Olympic hockey games from Salt Lake City back in February ‘02. My family and I agonized over the refereeing of the women’s final. I just had to learn more about Haley Wickenheiser when she skated out for her gold medal with her son Noah in her arms. After the men’s final, we all loaded in the car and drove through the streets of downtown Edmonton honking the horn and waving a Canadian flag through the open sun-roof. My Grade One class and I talked for some time about the little cartoon I had seen with a talking loonie before the men’s final. So I was elated to discover that a favorite grown-up author of mine, Roy MacGregor, wrote a book about that loonie. Loonie for Luck has chapters with great back stories about the origins of the coins we Canadians call loonies, the year 1987 and hockey superstitions. It just kept getting better for me. The man who put the loonie on top of the cold E Center concrete still works at Northlands. Trent Evans takes time, when I ask, to talk to boys and girls about his experience, even though he does not make ice anymore. When I was planning this blog, I wanted to be sure teachers could find my study guide for the book Loonie for Luck click here . Then, what should I start to hear from friends, but that they can’t find the book for sale. Fact checker that I am, I discovered this is so; back ordered everywhere. I am hoping it is because so many folks want to know this great true story. Just like Jacque Plante’s mask, I think every Canadian child should know about the guy who laid that loonie down and then, unselfishly, in fine Canadian style, passed it on to find a home in the Hockey Hall of Fame. And so I close with a chance to listen to author, Roy MacGregor, and Trent Evans talking about the book and the loonie click here and hope that before too long, you will again be able to buy a copy  . And if you own Loonie for Luck, pull it out, for goodness sake, and share it!

     

     

     

     

     

     

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• Ladislav Šmíd

  • From: hamsik
  • Description:

    Ahoj Lado, jsem konečně na stránkách Edmontonu. Jak se ti daří? Už jsi zdravý. Jestli nevíš o koho JDE - Martin - vnuk BABIČKY z Rumburka, mluvili jsme spolu v létě. Netušil jsem ani chvíli jsi že pro Hrál i za naše Berounský medvědy. Ozvy se Někdy, můžeš i mailem -- mh11@email.cz. Držím palce Aby jsi byl bez ZRAnení. Můj Kubík začal chodit do první, začli ho stavět už i za třeťáky, pohraje si už s pukem, tak je to dobré. Posílám ti fotku, je uprostřed. Ten brankář pod ním je malý Roman Málek. Měj se fajn Martin

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• Back @ Home

  • From: TBOZ
  • Description:

    Well  this is late and a bit shy of substance hopefully the Oilers will forgive me, I know we have had to forgive the same of them at times. I am probably the only Edmontonian who thought it was, for the most part, a good trip for the team. The points may not attest to it but I thought that we did well or at least we are on our way out of the fog we found oursleves in for much of the last month.

    The game against Ottaawa was one of the best I have seen in a long time, and the one in Columbus had great merit as well. Buffalo was a bit of a snoozer but even it had its moments. One thing constant throughout was our legs or the slow progression back to trusting that our speed can carry us a long way. We moved our legs and even once in awhile the puck smoothly. We had power, grit and tenacity finally and it came back oddly in the names Potulny and Reddox. The resurrgence of health in Gilbert Brule and probably the best handful of games I have seen from Ethan in two years. As for Cogliano.... he is the engine and the guy I would have out there whenever we needed a spark. Great job guys.

    I am not sure what happens when the homestand starts tonight but if the product we ice continues to live and die with energy things will go our way. Maybe not tonight but more and more the outcomes will favour the Oil. They are exciting, fast, and young, and yes you can add frustrating and infuriating but it beats bland and one domensional. I'll take the ride and the risks, we missed the last few years sitting on our hands and our hearts, I much prefer this. If every game is like the Ottawa game and we still are out in April... then what the heck it was a great ride.

    Play hard boys and welcome back

    Afterthoughts:

     

    Note to Pat Quinn: Dustin is a horse and a leader but not a shoot-out guy, Cogs, Reddox, even Souray blasting the death out there would be better

    It is nice to see Ales rounding into this team and finding a better fit... may every team be Columbus

    congrats to Dean Arsene one of the good stories of a new season,

    good luck and good health to Fernando, we hope to see you well soon

     

     

     

     

     

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• Western Conference Breakdown

  • From: OilersAddict83
  • Description:

    Here's the quarter pole breakdown of the Western Conference. There have been a couple of surprising starts in the NHL this year, the battle to make the final 8, in the west in particular, should be an extremely tight race. (records after Monday night's (Nov. 16th) games
    
    1. San Jose Sharks 14-4-4
    The Sharks are right where they've been for the past number of years. Getting Heatley has given them a pure goal scorer and made a good team even better. It remains to be seen if this perennial powerhouse in the regular season can take the next step and finally enjoy playoff success. Verdict: contender (although if history has shown us anything they cant seem to make it to the Stanley Cup Final)
    
    2. Colorado Avalanche 12-5-3
    The Av's came out of the gate with guns-a-blazing. They shocked all of the prognosticators who were picking them to finish near the bottom of the standings. They are a young team who is just starting to come back down to earth having gone 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. This is a more likely indication of what they really are. A young team that can take a few teams by surprise, but are essentially a .500 hockey team. Verdict: bubble playoff team, already starting to come back down to earth
    
    3. Chicago Blackhawks 12-5-2
    The Hawks proved last year that they are a true contender. There is no reason whatsoever that the Blackhawks shouldn't finish the season in the top 5. The Central division as a whole is very tough however. Especially with the likes of Detroit, Columbus and Nashville. It won't be easy to win the division, but they are certain to make noise come playoff time. Verdict: contender
    
    4. Los Angeles Kings 13-7-2
    For a long time people in hockey circles have been waiting for the great young talent in L.A. to take that next step towards a perennial contender. This year seems to be when they will take their first big leap. The Pacific Division is weak overall and without a doubt the Sharks and Kings are the 2 best teams. It would be a lofty expectation for Anze Kopitar and the boys to remain as high as 4th for the entire season, but they are certainly poised to once again be a legitimate playoff team.
    Verdict: Legitimate playoff team, but contention for a title is likely a year or two away
    
    5. Calgary Flames 12-4-2
    For the last number of years the Flames have consistently been the strongest team in the North West. Unfortunately for Flames fans once the playoffs begin they crumble and bow out in the first round. This year the Flames have one of the best, and deepest, defense corps in the NHL. Kiprusoff seams to be back to is Vezina candidate ways, and the Flames are finally getting the much needed scoring support they have long needed for superstar Jarome Iginla. Don't be surprised to see Calgary at or near the very top of the standings once the playoffs start.
    Verdict: Playoff contender, but need to show they can win a round before they can get to the Finals again. If they get past the first round they could go all the way
    
    6. Columbus Blue Jackets 11-6-2
    Columbus is another strong, young team. They play in a very tough division, but so far they're holding their own. Success for the Jackets will be making the playoffs. To expect them to finish anywhere from 6th-10th is reasonable. The entire group of teams in this range are all equally tough to play against.
    Verdict: A bubble playoff team, expect a finish of 8th or 9th, so barely in or barely out of the playoff picture
    
    7. Detroit Red Wings 10-5-3
    Last years Western Conference champs got off to a bit of a slow start at the beginning of the year. However, in their last 10 games they are 7-2-1 and appear to be back on track. They had some key losses in the off season, but with Datsyuk and Zetterberg leading the charge up front, one of the greatest defensemen of all time Nik Lidsrom on the back end, the Wings are still legitimate contenders. Detroit is a model franchise and are coached by one of the games best in Mike Babcock, so expect Detroit to finish near the top of the league, as they have for so many years now.
    Verdict: once again a contender to win it all
    
    8. Dallas Stars 8-5-6
    The Stars are definitely one of the teams who are in the mix for the eigth and final playoff spot. They have gotten, surprisingly, good production from their forwards and in goal Marty Turco has been extremely good. Their defense is non-descript, but if they can continue getting offense from surprising producers like Loui Eriksson and James Neal the Stars could creep their way into the playoffs.
    Verdict: a bubble playoff team that will have to fight hard to finish in 8th place
    
    9. Phoenix Coyotes 11-9-0
    With all the problems off the ice that the Coyotes have had, on ice they have been competitive so far. Their goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has been the hero for them so far this year. He has 3 shutouts already and has kept this team in every game. Upfront they aren't very deep, but they're a competitive bunch led by their captain Shane Doan. It may be too much to ask for this team to stay in the race.
    Verdict: Not good enough to make the playoffs, but not quite bad enough to finish last either. Expect an 11th or 12th place finish
    
    10. Vancouver Canucks 11-10-0
    The Canucks, on paper, should be a much better team than they've been. Injuries have hurt this team early on. With a goalie like Roberto Luongo, they've always got a chance. This team is fairly deep, though their defense is highly overrated. The next month is going to be critical for the Canucks. They have the talent to be a top team in the West, but they need to go on a roll soon or their season could be a massive disappointment. Verdict: They have the talent to be a playoff contender, come the end of the season they'll be a top 8 team............... I think
    
    11. Nashville Predators 9-8-1
    The Pred's goaltending has been solid, but their offense is horrendous. You have to score goals to win and this team can't do it consistently. They've been hot lately going 7-3 in their last 10, but is that just an aberration? Most likely they are barely a .500 hockey team. Where they sit right now, in 11th place, is definitely as high as this team and it's fans should expect.
    Verdict: Don't have what it takes to make the playoffs
    
    12. Edmonton Oilers 8-10-3
    It would be easy for the Oilers to blame their bad start to the startling number of injuries and sick days they've endured. However head coach Pat Quinn is right when he says that his team just isn't good enough yet. At times the Oilers have looked great, but more often than not much of the team has been bad. The only consistantly good play has been from Dustin Penner and Nikolai Khabibulin. This team has the potential to be better, but unless they go on a bit of a roll ther's no chance of the playoffs. Verdict: a bubble playoff team, could finish as high as 7th or as low as 12th
    
    13. St. Louis Blues 6-8-4
    This team is in the process of rebuilding, and it shows. They have go some great young talent in Erik Johnson and David Perron and goalie Chris Mason. Their future looks fairly bright, but playing in a tough division and an extremely competitive division will guarantee a top 10 pick in next years draft.
    Verdict: Likely 2 years away from being a playoff contender
    
    14. Minnesota Wild 7-11-2
    To sum up the Wild, they used to be a tough, boarder line playoff team. Now they're a team swimming in mediocrity. Unfortunately for the great hockey fans in Minnesota, this team just isn't good enough. They have a good, young goalie, blue chip d-men in Burns and Zidlicky, unfortunately not a whole lot else.
    Verdict: in the middle of a rebuild, a couple years away from contending again
    
    15. Anaheim Ducks 6-10-3
    Likely the most shocking fall of any team in the NHL. Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan are all great forwards. Selanne and Niedermeyer are still producing good even in the twilight of their Hall of Fame careers, yet this team is at the bottom of the Western Conference. The Ducks certainly have the talent to climb up in the standings, but need to keep more pucks out of their own net.
    Verdict: should be a playoff team, but with this terrible start they are only a bubble team
    
    Well this has been my quarter pole breakdown of the Western Conference, hope you've enjoyed it. Please leave comments both good and bad. It's been an interesting start to the season and it's going to be great to see how things develop over the coming months.

    also available at elitesportstakes.blogspot.com

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• Eastern Conference Breakdown

  • From: OilersAddict83
  • Description:

    
    As the NHL approaches the quarter pole we can begin to sort out the pretenders and contenders. So far this season there are a number of teams that have been worse than expected and some that have been surprises. Here's a rundown of the standings in each conference and my takes on each of the teams (as of Nov 13th):
    Eastern Conference
    
    1. Washington Capitals 12-3-4
    This deep is so deep offensively that even with Alexander Ovechkin injured they still win games. Nik Backstrom and Alex Semin are both great scorers in their own rights and combine that with the goal tending they've gotten from Semyon Varlamov and even Jose Theodore, there is no reason for them not to finish near the top of the league. Verdict: contender
    
    2. New Jersey Devils 13-4-0
    The Devils have well balanced scoring and what more needs to be said than a healthy Martin Brodeur. At 37 years old Brodeur is not only the greatest goaltender of all time, but he's still on top of his game and right near the top in every statistical category. Verdict: contender.
    
    3. Buffalo Sabres 11-4-1
    The Sabres are another team, not at all unlike New Jersey, that gets balanced scoring from all of their lines. Their goaltender Ryan Miller is an early candidate to be the starting goaltender for the U.S.A. Olympic team. Any team that is able to get balanced scoring and great goal tending is going to be tough for any team. Add to that the good speed and toughness that the Sabres bring every night and you have team built for the playoffs. Verdict: contender
    
    4. Pittsburgh Penguins 12-7-0
    The defending Stanley Cup champions, when healthy, ice 2 of the top five players in the world with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is expected back possibly as soon as tonight's game against Boston. The Penguins have a great goaltender in Marc-Andre Fleury. So while they may not have the dept of scoring that other teams may have, they have something no other team can boast...........2 100 point a season players. Combine that with solid defense and great goal tending and there is no reason to think the Penguins won't contend for a 3rd straight finals appearance.
    Verdict: contender
    
    5. Philadelphia Flyers 10-4-1
    The Flyers biggest question mark going into the season has been answered. Ray Emery is back to being a better than average goaltender in the NHL. Better than average is all the Flyers need with a core of players that include Mike Richards, Simon Gagne (should be back within the next 4 weeks), Chris Pronger, Jeff Carter and young up and coming superstar James Van Riemsdyk. Don't be surprised if the Flyers finish the season 1st overall. Verdict: contender
    
    6. New York Rangers 10-8-1
    A team with a healthy Marion Gaborik and a goaltender the caliber of Henrik Lundqvist is likely to finish with a playoff spot. The problem with New York is that after Gaborik there is reason to question their overall depth. Right no they're getting good production from Ales kotalik, Vaclav Prospal and a surprise early contender for the Calder d-man Michael Del Zotto. However, there is a good chance that these player's production could slow down so the Rangers are likely to be on the bubble all year. Verdict: borderline playoff team
    
    7. New York Islanders 7-6-6
    What can really be said about the Islanders? They have some great young talent and have gotten solid goal tending. They've been fortunate to collect points in overtime and shoot out losses. That means they've been able to stay in games and put up a good fight, but their lack of depth and their inexperience will catch up with them at some point soon. Having said that, the Islanders and their fans have a lot to look forward to over the next couple of seasons. The East is just too tough, but over the next 2 or 3 years they'll be a playoff team if they continue to develop the way they have to this point. Verdict: up and coming team, playoffs in 2012?
    
    8. Atlanta Thrashers 9-6-1
    Kovalchuk is one of the best players in the world, Rich Peverly has come out of no where to be a dominant scorer and the Thrashers have a couple of good up and comers. Evander Kane forced the Thrashers to not send him back to junior by playing extremely well right from the get go and Zach Bogosian and Brian Little are also true blue chippers. The Thrashers are going to finish between 6th and 9th. If they are able to make the playoffs, they'll be sure to be a tough matchup
    Verdict: borderline playoff team
    
    9. Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4-5
    Stamkos has been dynamite so far this year, Martin St. Louis has been good, Ryan Malone is a tough power forward and Vincent Lecavalier has started off slow, but is one of the most skilled players in the NHL. That's the good, unfortunately for the Lightning and the few fans they have the rest of the team is awful. their goal tending is shaky at best and their defense has more holes than a screen door.
    Verdict: making the playoffs will be an impressive feat.
    
    10. Boston Bruins 8-7-3
    The one team this far down in the standings that is far better than their record shows. As soon as Lucic and Savard come back from their injuries, the Bruins should be ok. They have arguably the best d-man in the league, Zdeno Chara, and Tim Thomas is a top notch goalie. Fans in Beantown can expect that come the end of the year the Bruins will finish between 6th and 8th and could upset one of the top seeds.
    Verdict: solid playoff team (when healthy)
    
    11. Ottawa Senators 8-6-2
    The Senators had a rough off-season, but came out of it a deeper team. Alfresson and Spezza are still the motor that makes this team go, but the additions of Kovalev and Michalek make this team deeper than it was a season ago. Between the pipes.............there is potential. Their defense is solid but underwhelming.
    Verdict: bubble playoff team
    
    12. Montreal Canadiens 9-10-0
    There was a lot of change in Montreal's lineup in the off season and it shows. They have a small, but skilled, forward corps and are descent on defense. Their goal tending situation is not without controversy. Jaroslav Halak has been good when he's been in, but the team continues to go with Carey Price. Price has been shaky at best. It will be interesting to see how this develops over the next 60 or so games. The Habs will push for the 8th spot. Verdict: bubble playoff team
    
    13. Florida Panthers 6-9-1
    This team is a brutal mess, but they are light years better than the next 2 teams.
    Verdict: they suck, no playoffs anytime soon
    
    14. Toronto Maple Leafs 3-9-5
    ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The joke is on Brian Burke, trading for Kessel was a good move except that there is no one for him to play with comparable to the talent he played with in Boston last year AND Burke had to give up way too much to get him. The Leafs are so bad they deserve an entire article in the future. Verdict: Hopeless......Helpless.......Hapless
    
    15. Carolina Hurricanes 2-12-4
    Poor Eric Staal and Cam Ward. The Hurricanes are the only thing standing in between the Bruins (thanks to the Kessel trade)and the first overall pick in the draft. I can't for the life of me figure out exactly why this team is so bad. I hope they improve somewhat and allow the Leafs to finish last so that Brian Burke looks like the moron we all know him to be.
    Verdict: They're making the Leafs look good......and thats B-A-D
    
    Hope you've all enjoyed this look at the Eastern Conference. There are about 11 teams fighting for 8 spots, so it should be fun to watch.

     

    also available at elitesportstakes.blogspot.com

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• Which digital camera batteries

  • From: bestlaptopbattery
  • Description:

    Ni-Cd rechargeable battery Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries with 1.6 times the voltage of charge, usually number of charge cycles for the 300 ~ 800 times. In the charge and discharge up to 500 times the capacitance after the fall, only to about 80%.
    Ni-MH battery using nickel oxide as the anode, as well as hydrogen absorption metal alloy as the cathode, potassium hydroxide alkaline aqueous solution as electrolyte. Ni-MH battery energy density than nickel-cadmium batteries large, the same volume of nickel-metal hydride battery capacity nickel-cadmium batteries can reach 2 times. At the same time it does not contain harmful metals, more environmentally friendly, while nickel-metal hydride Canon BP-2L12 battery basically eliminating the "memory effect." Its high charging efficiency can be adequate in 2 hours 90% capacity. But the impatience overcharge and excessive discharge, so this battery charger must be able to automatic power-off, otherwise, could easily lead to cell damage.Based on the above advantages, Ni-MH battery has almost completely replaced the nickel-cadmium batteries. Currently sales of digital cameras, MP3's computer on the market a standard AA, AAA Ni-MH battery cells the vast majority of mainstream AA Ni-MH battery capacity has reached 1500 ~ 2600mAH, the mainstream AAA Ni-MH battery capacity of 650 ~ 800mAH. While the capacity of only a few hundred mAH nickel-cadmium batteries can be seen only in some department stores, but obviously not the same nickel- metal hydride batteries cost-effective, is not recommended covet cheap price choose to use Canon BP-2L13 batteries . With regard to the capacity choice, but the current DC, MP3 and other products, increasing LCD screen should be used to select high-volume products.

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• best brand new Mitac bp-8x99 l

  • From: bestlaptopbattery
  • Description:

    1.) Always use your laptop on a hard surface.

    Laptops are portable and it's easy to set your laptop on your Mitac bp-8x99 laptop battery or on your bed and use it at your lesiure. That's one of the benefits of having a portable computer. Flexibility. But if you want to extend your battery life you have to watch out for overheating your laptop.Heat is one of the biggest obstacles to battery life longevity. Your laptop computer fan cannot circulate the air properly when your laptop is sitting on soft surface.

    2.) Do not keep your battery installed when you use your laptop on AC for an extended period of time.

    While your laptop is undoubtedly using a smart charger to charge your battery even a constant trickle charge over months can reduce your battery life. For best results, only charge your Mitac bp-8x99 laptop battery when you need to charge it, don't leave the laptop battery plugged in all the time.More importantly than the trickle charger affect is the 'storage' of a Li-Ion battery at elevated temperatures. The optimum storage temperature for a Li-Ion battery is at 0 deg. C. The optimum storage charge level is about 40%. Unfortunately we tend to store fully charged and at the temperatures found in a running laptop you'll find a significant reduction in battery for your laptop performance after only 12-18 months.

    3.) Use a full charge cycle before recharging

     

    Li-Ion and NiMH battery (which most Mitac laptop battery are), do not have a memory which you might find in NiCad batteries. However, each chemistry has a limited number of charge cycles, so use a full charge cycle before re-charging to maximize your Mitac bp-8x99 laptop battery usage. Because this may be very difficult to manage, you'll need to consider the cost-benefit ratio for keeping track of how far discharged the battery is before you charge it again.

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• Winning

  • From: OILERMAN1970
  • Description:

    When will this team become a winner? I will tell you when.  When they get rid of some over priced pylons!!!!!!  Who are these pylons,  Shawn Horcoff, Ethan Moreau, Fernado Pisani, JF Jacques, Marc Pouliot.  These are a gropup of guys who provide nothing but a waste of money.  Horcoff, 7 million and what 3 goals.  Boy are the Oilers getting their moneys worth out of him.  Moreau 1.75 million  3 goals.  Pisani 6 games played 0 goals, Jacues 550,000 2 goals, Pouliot 0 games 925,000.  For a total of 12,725,000  money well spent huh?  I think not.  GM Tambellini went out and got a great goalie but nothing else except bringing back Comerie. But at least he has 5 goals whis is only 2 goals less then the total of the players that are nothing but pylons.  I have been an oiler fan for 30 years and been proud to be one.  But if the management does not get rid of the dead weight the team is carrying soon it will be embarrassing to be an Oiler fan cause right now this team is nothing but a bunch of looser's who shouldn't be playing beer league hockey let alone being in the NHL>

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• OILERS PRAYER

  • From: oilerzfan4ever
  • Description:

    Instead of blaming everyone and everything, I just start each game day by saying a prayer.

    I have been a fan since 1984, so I know how it is to bleed Oil.

    It is still early in the season, there is plenty of game.

    I pray that the boyz are healthy and have good goal keeping, strong defense, and fast forwards that can connect a good play.

    It's not much, but a true fan would never give up on their team. I BELIEVE!!!

    Anywayz, that is my two cents,

    Coming from a woman hockey fan,

    Thank~You, OILERS <3<3

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• Roadie so far

  • From: jsharpe
  • Description:

    Well, I’m midway through my first lengthy road trip of the season – a cross-continental, 10-day marathon that takes the Oilers to exotic cities like Buffalo and Ottawa.
    
    Currently, I am sitting in the press box of downtown Buffalo’s HSBC Arena. Derek Van Diest of the Edmonton Sun sits beside me, and beside him is Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. Other than us three, we are surrounded by Buffalo media, scouts, and other people that I do not know but am sure do excellent work in their respective fields.
    
    Marc Ciampa is writing tonight’s game recap, so that frees me up to update you on the trip so far. Here are the highlights:

    DENVER, CO
    
    We flew to Denver last Saturday morning and arrived in the early afternoon. The Oilers practiced at a former air force hanger than was converted into two ice rinks (nicer than it sounds).
    
    While watching practice from the viewing area, about half a dozen of young hockey players descended on our group and asked if we were injured Oilers. I’m pretty sure they weren’t directing that question at me, but rather at our PR staff who kind of look like NHL players in that generic guy-in-a-suit-at-a-hockey-rink kind of way.
    
    JJ Hebert and Patrick Garland kindly corrected them, and then quickly directed the kids’ attention to former Oiler and current Sportsnet/PPV broadcaster Louie DeBrusk. To encourage Louie’s throng of fans (as if it needs encouraging), Bob Stauffer decided to pull up some of Louie’s old fights on YouTube.
    
    The old-school scraps and flowing mullets kept us all occupied for about an hour, at which point I joined Bob downstairs to gather quotes from the players and coaches. Then we hopped on our respective busses (one for the players and coaches, one for the media) and headed to downtown Denver.
    
    In the grand scheme of things, I’ve been to very few NHL arenas, but Pepsi Center is one of them and definitely one of my favourites. It’s located downtown and within view of the mountains and features a very large media lounge with wickedly delicious macaroni and cheese. Gold stars for everyone.
    
    As you may remember, the Oilers battled hard vs. the Avalanche and won Sunday’s game 5-3. I was down near the locker room at the final buzzer, and it struck me that there wasn’t much cheering or hollering after the victory. The boys hadn’t been playing very well up until that game, and you could tell that they were pleased with the win but knew it was merely the first step in the right direction.
    
    Our flight to Ottawa wasn’t scheduled until the following morning, so I had the luxury of finishing my post-game video and updating the website from the comfort of a hotel bathrobe and slippers.
    
    OTTAWA, ON
    
    Louie sits beside me on the Oilers flights, and we had over three hours to praise the onboard food options and discuss the advantages of my new Mac Book Pro en route to Ottawa. Like in Denver, we arrived in the early afternoon and promptly headed to Scotiabank Place for practice.
    
    As you may have heard, the Senators arena is located well outside Ottawa and nestled in a sea of parking lots. The commute’s a killer and the exterior façade isn’t so impressive, but it’s pretty nice inside. My favourite part was the hundreds (maybe thousands?) of Oilers fans in the crowd Tuesday night. I’m sure they’re not there every night, but it was nice of them to show up and make the place feel like home. So thoughtful!
    
    Although we played one of our best road games of the season that night, the Sens secured the shootout win and Bob and I entered the somber room for post-game comments. Although the loss was weighing heavily on everyone, one bright spot was call-up Ryan O’Marra.
    
    With Robert Nilsson out with a concussion and Steve MacIntyre snagged off waivers, the Oilers were faced with a depleted line-up Tuesday and placed the emergency call to Springfield.
    
    O’Marra, an outgoing 22-year-old, didn’t make it in time for warm-up and barely made the game. Minutes before opening puck drop, he was rushed into the arena, got dressed, and made his NHL debut. The chaotic day had Ryan in a happy daze by the time the game was over, and I don’t think Bob and I were the only ones to share his excitement.
    
    With the next game less than 24 hours away, I submitted my post-game audio and rushed out of the arena to catch the bus to the aiport. Destination: Buffalo!
    
    BUFFALO, NY
    
    I know how it feels to come from a city that people like making fun of, and so I won’t say any bad things about Buffalo. It’s on the water, there are plenty of old, warehouse buildings that have been converted into lofts and hotels, and apparently they invented spicy chicken wings. Buffalo could be my kind of town, but unfortunately I’ll be here for less than a day.
    
    We arrived very late last night, and after uploading post-game video and updating the website, I went straight to bed. Off to the rink this morning, then back to the hotel to file pre-game comments, then back to the rink for the game. I probably spent a grand total of 43 seconds enjoying the crisp New York air.
    
    The Oilers are currently down 2-0, so hopefully they can pull it together and head to a mini-break on a high note. We’ve got three days off in Atlanta, so there will be plenty of practicing and strategizing before the weekend.
    
    I’ll update you on the latter half of the trip next week.

    
    The flight to Denver from Edmonton.

    
    Young hockey players watching the Oilers practice in Denver.

    
    Oilers Hall of Fame broadcaster Rod Phillips watching practice in Ottawa.

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• Change Over

  • From: Sandy_at_School
  • Description:

    Since the end of the game against New York Rangers Thursday evening, Rexall Place has been going through a “change over”. This is the expression folks around here use for the transformation that happens when the building moves from hosting one type of event to another. In this case we are changing from hockey to Canadian Finals Rodeo and it is one of the more dramatic “change overs”. Friday morning, the Jumbotron was down to have CFR sponsor logos go on and the steel was being hauled in for the assembly of the rodeo ring, chutes and stock pens. Over the weekend 60 tandem truck loads of dirt come in and then the cowboys, cowgirls and stock start to arrive. By Wednesday evening, Rexall Place is “Where the West Turns Wild!” To get information about the rodeo, click here http://www.canadianfinalsrodeo.com/   

    But I am interested in stuff most rodeo fans will never see. They won’t meet Brad and Gary, two of the Rexall Place building attendant team, who had to find room to tuck away all the hockey glass, 3 Zambonis and the 6 sections of lower bowl seating. Or Ed, our Northlands’ tech boss, who checked the wiring for all the computers and networking so that security passes could be issued and event results recorded. Or Diane, our Rexall Place porter who will valiantly try to stay on top of the migrating dirt and dust, because she likes her building clean!

    But my favorite discovery was that the visiting coaches’ office is, for the next few days, the dressing room for “Barrelmen” and “Rodeo Clowns”. A change or not a change, that is the question.

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• Too many PPV games!

  • From: ste_ken
  • Description:

    What's with all the PPV games lately? 3 out of 4 games and 4 out of 6 games. We don't get to see the eastern teams, thanks!

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• The first study to tell lies i

  • From: bestlaptopbattery
  • Description:

    The first study to tell lies in phone conversations as they are in emails.The fact that emails are antomatically recorded-and can come back to haunt(困扰)you. APPears to be the key to the finding.
    Jeff Hancock of Cornell University in Ithaca,Mew York,asked 30 students to keep a communications diary for a week.In it they noted the number of conversations or email exchanges they had lasting more than 10 minutes,and confessed to how many lies they told.Hancock then worked out the numberof lies per conversation foe each medium .Hp dv9700 battery He found that lies made up 14 per cent of emails,21 per cent of instant messages,27 per cent of face-to-face interactions and an astonishing 37 per cent of phone calls.
    In Salt Lake City there were 69 arrests.But those captured were anything but terrorists,most of them illegal immigrants from Central or Sounth American .Authorities said the undocumented worker's illegal status made them open to blankmall by terrorists Many immigrants in Salt Lake City were angered by the arrests and said they felt as if they were being treated like disposable goods. Mayor Anderson said those feelings were judtified to a certain extent."We're saying we want you to work in these places,we're going to look the other way in terms of what our laws are,and then when it's convenient for us,or when we can try to make a point in terms of national security,especially after Sept.11,then you'er disposable There are whole families being uprooted for all of the wrong reasons,"Anderson said. If Sept.11 had never happened the airport workers would not have been arrested and could have gone on quietly living in America,probably indefinitely .Ana Castro,a ,amanager at a Ben & Jerry'sice cream shop at the airport.had been working 10 years with the same false Social Aecurity card when she was arrested in the December airport raid.Now she and her family are living under the threat of deporation.

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• All the gear, no idea...

  • From: TomParker
  • Description:

    When people find out I’m a big Ice Hockey fan, they usually ask if I play the sport at all. The answer, sadly, is no. As much as I love Hockey, to my mind you need the grace of a figure skater and the toughness of a Rugby player, and that’s before you even consider the ability to handle the stick. Clearly, I possess none of the above.

    Even aside from that, it’s difficult to get a decent amount of ice time over here. Ice sport isn’t as prevalent for us Brits, with rinks few and far between, and winters very wet but nowhere near cold enough for frozen ponds. For that reason, it’s only been on rare occasions that I’ve been able to take to the ice and, believe me, the NHLers have nothing to worry about.

    It’s not that I’ve always had such a massive lack of faith in my ability, though. While I was at University in Lincoln, some friends and I took a day trip out to Peterborough, home to one of the UK’s better rinks. Sporting an Oilers jersey (personalised with my own name) together with matching Toque, I certainly looked the part, and as I glided effortlessly around the rink, not falling once, I could almost feel the Rexall Place crowds calling out my name.

    That was, until I got home. One of my group, unwilling to participate in the skating, had instead filmed the day’s goings-on. Witnessing my performance on video was a stark lesson as to the reality of my skating ability. ‘All the gear and no idea’ springs to mind.

    For a start, I think it’s pushing it to even describe it as skating. As I viewed the spectacle of myself staggering gingerly alongside the boards, I reluctantly decreed that popping a couple of pairs of skates onto a donkey would have yielded a more graceful result.

    Downhearted but unbowed, I pledged that I wouldn’t give up. Within a year, I would have shown the drive and dedication to become a perfectly competent skater.

    …that was about five years ago. Do you think I’ve done it yet?

    Hey, I’m a busy guy, things get in the way! That’s not to say I’ve not been back on the ice at all. I tend to go skating once or twice a year and, although I’ve not since had the benefit of a video replay to judge my showing, I certainly think I’ve improved.

    However, let me get to the point of writing this blog. Christmas is fast approaching, and towns and cities across the British Isles have, in recent years, taken to a new tradition of installing outdoor rinks for the duration of the festive period. Because of that, it’s almost inevitable that I’ll be getting my skates on at some point over the next few weeks. 

    Now I’m a hockey fan in the public eye (I’ve been showing off this column to all my friends), I’m sure there’s going to be some level of expectation with regard to my ability on the ice.

    So, what I’m looking for is some reassurance – did any readers learn to skate as an adult? Am I beyond hope? And do you have any top tips that will suddenly revolutionise the ability of a clumsy 25-year-old?

    I await your encouragement!

    Until next time,

    TP.

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• Paul Sherman has announced the

  • From: bestlaptopbattery
  • Description:

    a light-weight modification of Slackware using the IceWM window manager: "Absolute Linux 12.1 Beta 2. This is another new kernel (2.6.23.12) which I compiled with tickless (for laptop lower-power,Acer batbl50l6 battery,Acer travelmate 4200 battery for battery life extension). Also switched preemption model to low-latency desktop, plus the usual extra includes instead of modules for user-needed stuff like MMC (SD) cards, USB mass storage, NTFS, etc. Other major change is for wireless - switched to wicd. Be sure to enable wicd daemon when installing if you want to use wireless, when you do this you will see the wicd tray icon next to the clock when using IceWM, you can configure wicd from there. Package highlights: GIMP 2.4.3, Firefox 2.0.0.11, GTK+ 2.12.4, libpng security fix, and about 100 other packages." See the release announcement and changelog for further details. three of the five top *locations* for issues are off-the-tree/binary drivers, and two of those are madwifi. More specifically, two of those are in the binary part of the madwifi atheros driver. That driver seems responsible for three of the top ten oopses, one for initializing the binary-only HAL and one each for the dynamic and static sysctl registration methods, which together account for 10,259 separate reports. Which is what you get when legal issues bind coding issues and you're stuck navigating around a blob with the software you can see.Acer aspire 5100 battery

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• A Win!

  • From: oilergirl2
  • Description:

    The boys persevered through adversity and they got a win.  The offense is good no matter how it comes about.  Hopefully, the sickness/injury bug will pass soon.  The boys played great given the circumstances.  Dustin keep the goals, assists, and effort coming.  Ryan Potulny and Liam Reddox were great also.  The Avs have rained on the Oilers parade enough times over the years; the Oilers were due to have a bit of good luck.  Thanks for the win guys; it made a long day at the hospital not so bad.

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• Heart

  • From: TBOZ
  • Description:

    Wow, I am not sure which way to go with this. I hate to slide too quickly into negativity and doomsday forecasting. I want to hang with good old our guys and write this stretch off to more of the flu.... but it just doesn't feel like the flu anymore. Or Sheldon being shelved, or Jf or Stone. It doesn't feel like new season jitters or any other excuse. It feels like an old coat we put away last spring. One we should put away for good but don't have the heart to.   

    Heart.
    
    What a week,  what kind of a stretch is it that we take solace out of the fact that we at least scored when we lost.  What are we now, 1 - 6 in our last 7 and if you take away the first half of the Detroit game we have been out scored 23 - 6 with one of those in a shootout? It is simply too many times shut out to be just a road bump, too many powerplays wasted to be just a work in progress and too many times that we have been humbled by the shot clock to be anything short of embarassing. At the very very least,  shoot. If you are going to go quietly into the night,  shoot. SHOOT and keep shooting until the net is full. It is time to get mad that our opponents run out their back-ups when they see us on the schedule... and they beat us. It is sad that we are the team that other teams pray to play when they need a win or have to get a shooter out of a slump. We are predictable and we play small and soft. If Hemsky drives down the right side and glides with the puck behind the net.... we already know he is going to hold it all the way to the sidewall and go cross-ice to the right defensman who hopefully has not fallen asleep or gone off for a change. Predictable. Do something different, drive in to the net, cut short after the net and wrap it around, heck bank it off the D coming back or maybe try SHOOTING on the fly in. If we finally get out of our own end they know we are going to dump it in deep and gasp to a line change which in turn allows the other team time to regroup and easily get out of their end. Predictable. Maybe we could try hemming them in for a change, work, hit, hussle, think. It is not illegal to force the play to the opposition, to get THEM running around, to pressure them into a mistake or a penalty. If we do get a powerplay we will either lose it at the line trying to gain the zone or get beat to the dump in. If or when we do get possesion in their zone we will cycle around the outside and back until either Hemmer or Nilsson will fail at a cross ice pass. Or our overload on the right hand side will self-destruct and trip over one another and again, easily cleared,  it slides all the way back down to be a waste of a special team chance. Predictable. Just shoot, and get Dustin and Zack to fight for their space and time in the paint. If they ever took away all the outside 4 feet in the attacking zone our guys would fall off the face of the earth, gone, their only safe retreat taken. Get off the perimeter, pay the price, fight. shoot, find some heart.
    
    Thursday night, the Rangers in town, our old mentor Glen Sather must have wondered how we accept this play after the years he moulded men here. In that game, I longed for Zack to hop the boards, so that we might have someone on the ice with some fire. That one line fought bravely and usually won every inch that they sought. If not for some bad luck and bad bounces they would have lit the lamp. Zack shoots, Ethan hits, Cogliano drives hard... shuffle the deck any way you want on that line but they do it all each shift. With Stortini, the more he shoots, the better he gets and when he combines that with his physical play he competes at a level our Uber forwards have been missing for at least eight games. He plays with tenacity, with fear of failure and love of the battle. Do we have to sit down our 'skilled' players and get Zack to show them what they are missing right now. Like the song says 'ya gotta have heart'.
    
    With the exception of one period against Detroit we have been a total wash. We are an easy team to play against. We have shown bits and pieces of something that resembles a team but that is all. A shift or two here or there, or a few guys will have a good night then evaporate. The one constant has been Khabibulin, and I hate to imagine just how low we would be feeling if he has not kept us from being totally humiliated night after night. He has earned more than he has to show for it. He deserves better. We all do. This is Oil country, we work hard, we pull hard and we find a way to succeed. We love our team, we live and die with the product we put on the ice. No matter the outcome we will fight and sweat with them as long as they in turn fight and sweat until the final buzzer blares. There is no mailing it in, no nights off and no more excuses. One by one the lights dimmed by Mac T's exit are being turned back on showing what this team is made of. The honeymoon is over and it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. One after the other players are returning to true form and now we will see who does and does not have heart.
    
    We have all known for awhile we have the skill but it is not enough. At the end of the day if there is not more in that dressing room then it will be in Tambelini's hands.
    
    have a good week
    
    afterthoughts:
    
    - Comrie sems to be getting his legs back and that bodes well for our team
    
    - along with Ethan's line and Khabi kudos for continued good work by Ladi, Chorney and Lubo on the back end
    
    - Justin continues to find new ways to shed the bad taste of last year even in bad times
    
    - two things will happen if Zack keeps going this way, the goals will start going in more freely and Lowe will sign him for seven years at 7.1 a year

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• Team Play

  • From: chandler
  • Description:

     hello gents, i have been a fan since 1980 and lived in another province and returned always a fan of the oilers. i wanted to make a constructive critique. defending is a team skill. every defending player has to aquire a man and paste himself "stick to stick". example of this is a point shot. when a point shot is made, the "stick to stick" needs to apply and not simply making room for the goalie, leaving an oponent capable of a rebound. let the goalie grab the rebound, that is what he does.i think this would decrease the shots against.

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• calgray flames suck

  • From: dasher48
  • Description:

    they suck oilers rule

     

     

      flaemas suck

     

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• Paul Lauriea Sucks

  • From: zacnaughton
  • Description:

    Is it just me or should the Oilers stick the fork in Lauriea all ready?

    I want to see a hot blonde with a good voice singing the national anthem's.

    And hopefully she doesn't speak french, so that when Montreal comes to town

    we don't have to here the french version.

     

    Maybe Comrie's old lady can do a better job then the fat guy?

     

    Oil for life

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  • 3 weeks ago
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