the hockey thread

[.Walt]

Jaimoe, can you explain how broadcasting the games in Canada works? In the States every team has their own announcers and staff...etc. But it seems like most Canadian games aren't by locals.  Just wondering how that all works.

The Leafs game was in HD the other night!!!  But it still seems they don't show HD for the majority of games between two Canadian teams. I love watching the Nucks, but damn it I wish it was HD. Although the game they were playing the Avalanche, and the FSN CO announcers were just in love with the Sedins. It was almost like they wanted the twins to tear shit up!  ;D

[Jaimoe]

Jaimoe, can you explain how broadcasting the games in Canada works? In the States every team has their own announcers and staff...etc. But it seems like most Canadian games aren't by locals.  Just wondering how that all works.

The Leafs game was in HD the other night!!!  But it still seems they don't show HD for the majority of games between two Canadian teams. I love watching the Nucks, but damn it I wish it was HD. Although the game they were playing the Avalanche, and the FSN CO announcers were just in love with the Sedins. It was almost like they wanted the twins to tear shit up!  ;D

Good questions, one I'll do my best to answer them without doing any digging.

First off, all Canadian teams have their own crews and in the case of Montreal, they have two: English and Francophone (TSN and RDS, the latter being the Quebec French version of TSN).

The national sports-only cable networks, TSN and Sportsnet (but not including the Score), produce regional and national games during the week, but they'll often use a specific team's crew. But in the case of the CBC, they have their own guys (and gals) and certain crews are assigned to cover a specific team for Saturday's HNIC and the playoffs (Toronto always gets the A CBC crew; Ottawa has it's own CBC crew; Atlantic, including Quebec-English gets #2; French language CBC cover only Montreal; and the west gets two or three crews). In most cases, working for the CBC is exclusive, but some play-by-play guys do double or triple duty (the Leafs have their own specialty channel but their crew also does broadcasts on TSN or Sportsnet, but NEVER the CBC).

BTW, Sportsnet has 4 regional networks (East, Ontario, West and Pacific) and are exclusive to the region, unless the Raptors and/or Jays are playing, which are considered national teams and are subject to national coverage, unless you live in the Maritime provinces, which has a decidedly New England and Red Sox focus.

Oh, and all games should be in HD (since all the networks I mentioned have long gone high def). I'm not sure why you can't see some Canadian games in HD other than you might be on the wrong channel.

I hope this isn't confusing. At least I didn't bring radio into all of this. In a nutshell, Canada has our teams covered on many levels.

[.Walt]

Jaimoe, can you explain how broadcasting the games in Canada works? In the States every team has their own announcers and staff...etc. But it seems like most Canadian games aren't by locals.  Just wondering how that all works.

The Leafs game was in HD the other night!!!  But it still seems they don't show HD for the majority of games between two Canadian teams. I love watching the Nucks, but damn it I wish it was HD. Although the game they were playing the Avalanche, and the FSN CO announcers were just in love with the Sedins. It was almost like they wanted the twins to tear shit up!  ;D

Good questions, one I'll do my best to answer them without doing any digging.

First off, all Canadian teams have their own crews and in the case of Montreal, they have two: English and Francophone (TSN and RDS, the latter being the Quebec French version of TSN).

The national sports-only cable networks, TSN and Sportsnet (but not including the Score), produce regional and national games during the week, but they'll often use a specific team's crew. But in the case of the CBC, they have their own guys (and gals) and certain crews are assigned to cover a specific team for Saturday's HNIC and the playoffs (Toronto always gets the A CBC crew; Ottawa has it's own CBC crew; Atlantic, including Quebec-English gets #2; French language CBC cover only Montreal; and the west gets two or three crews). In most cases, working for the CBC is exclusive, but some play-by-play guys do double or triple duty (the Leafs have their own specialty channel but their crew also does broadcasts on TSN or Sportsnet, but NEVER the CBC).

BTW, Sportsnet has 4 regional networks (East, Ontario, West and Pacific) and are exclusive to the region, unless the Raptors and/or Jays are playing, which are considered national teams and are subject to national coverage, unless you live in the Maritime provinces, which has a decidedly New England and Red Sox focus.

Oh, and all games should be in HD (since all the networks I mentioned have long gone high def). I'm not sure why you can't see some Canadian games in HD other than you might be on the wrong channel.

I hope this isn't confusing. At least I didn't bring radio into all of this. In a nutshell, Canada has our teams covered on many levels.

Thanks man, that explains a lot. I think I get it. So when I watch the Nucks play, I'm probably watching Sportsnet West? I kinda like their announcer. Not sure what his name is, but he does have a unique way he says, scores. I like it!

I know we've talked about HD in games between two Canadian teams. They still haven't fixed that here. Not sure why they don't show it in HD if they have the ability.  

[Jaimoe]

Jaimoe, can you explain how broadcasting the games in Canada works? In the States every team has their own announcers and staff...etc. But it seems like most Canadian games aren't by locals.  Just wondering how that all works.

The Leafs game was in HD the other night!!!  But it still seems they don't show HD for the majority of games between two Canadian teams. I love watching the Nucks, but damn it I wish it was HD. Although the game they were playing the Avalanche, and the FSN CO announcers were just in love with the Sedins. It was almost like they wanted the twins to tear shit up!  ;D

Good questions, one I'll do my best to answer them without doing any digging.

First off, all Canadian teams have their own crews and in the case of Montreal, they have two: English and Francophone (TSN and RDS, the latter being the Quebec French version of TSN).

The national sports-only cable networks, TSN and Sportsnet (but not including the Score), produce regional and national games during the week, but they'll often use a specific team's crew. But in the case of the CBC, they have their own guys (and gals) and certain crews are assigned to cover a specific team for Saturday's HNIC and the playoffs (Toronto always gets the A CBC crew; Ottawa has it's own CBC crew; Atlantic, including Quebec-English gets #2; French language CBC cover only Montreal; and the west gets two or three crews). In most cases, working for the CBC is exclusive, but some play-by-play guys do double or triple duty (the Leafs have their own specialty channel but their crew also does broadcasts on TSN or Sportsnet, but NEVER the CBC).

BTW, Sportsnet has 4 regional networks (East, Ontario, West and Pacific) and are exclusive to the region, unless the Raptors and/or Jays are playing, which are considered national teams and are subject to national coverage, unless you live in the Maritime provinces, which has a decidedly New England and Red Sox focus.

Oh, and all games should be in HD (since all the networks I mentioned have long gone high def). I'm not sure why you can't see some Canadian games in HD other than you might be on the wrong channel.

I hope this isn't confusing. At least I didn't bring radio into all of this. In a nutshell, Canada has our teams covered on many levels.

Thanks man, that explains a lot. I think I get it. So when I watch the Nucks play, I'm probably watching Sportsnet West? I kinda like their announcer. Not sure what his name is, but he does have a unique way he says, scores. I like it!

I know we've talked about HD in games between two Canadian teams. They still haven't fixed that here. Not sure why they don't show it in HD if they have the ability.  

I'm not sure why HD doesn't come in when two Canadian teams play each other. It may come down to US cable and carrier deals. I have Rogers as a cable provider (Rogers owns the Jays and Sportsnet) and they are the largest cable provider in Canada. However, they don't have a deal to broadcast AMC in HD, even though all their rivals do (which includes Bell). I'm particularly mad since AMC is showing the new Walking Dead series this weekend. My friends that use other providers are laughing at me, but I'll still watch it in SD (Standard Def); Rogers is still the best cable company with the nicest picture and sound quality (and I get tons of HD channels, just not AMC for some maddening reason - although I hate that they edit movies and/or show poor transfers).

I'm not sure who carries the Canucks in the west. It may be Sportsnet Pacific and/or it could even be a local channel. The CBC also covers Vancouver on Saturday nights and their crew is excellent.

[capt. scotty]

Jordan Staal was supposed to be coming back this week, and now breaks his hand after getting hit by a puck in practice and is out another 4-6 weeks. Damnit!1...Only good thing is that Mark Lestestu has been playing very good as the 3rd line C this year and hard to say where he'll be playing once(if!) Staal ever comes back as I see him getting more minutes than a 4th line player.

We've played ok considering Staal has been out all year, Malkin has missed the last couple games, and especially because Fleury has looked terrible so far this year. 1-5, 3.35 GAA, .863 SV%  :-/

[.Walt]

Anyone getting the new Ovechkin movie? Jaimoe?

You can watch some clips here.... http://alexovetjkin.blogspot.com/2010/11/alex-ovechkin-on-fox-5-to-talk-about.html

[Jaimoe]

Anyone getting the new Ovechkin movie? Jaimoe?

You can watch some clips here.... http://alexovetjkin.blogspot.com/2010/11/alex-ovechkin-on-fox-5-to-talk-about.html

I'm not sure I'm interested. I still must watch the Don Cherry bio-pic; it won a few awards at the Canadian Gemini ceremony last week (Canuck Emmy's).

Off topic, but sports related:

Have you been following the folly that is Marion Jones and her current revisionist book tour along with the ESPN 30 for 30 doc? Oh, she's still lying and leaving major things out of her past brushes with the law, even to Jon Stewart the other night on his show.

BTW, the fans in T.O. want Ron Wilson's head.

[.Walt]

Anyone else watch the Big Chill this weekend? Pretty cool!

I'm going to the Wild vs Detroit game in a couple of weeks. And MN State vs Denver mid January. Both should be fun! My MN State Mavs just swept the U of MN last weekend at home. What a great series. First time we swept the gophs.  8-)

[capt. scotty]

Pens on a 12 game win streak, still without Staal and Malkins missed the last handful...Fleury back to looking near elite thanks to improved D play..Crosby with an 18 game point streak (20 goals, 16 assists) and further asserting himself as the best player in the NHL

[Jaimoe]

Just curious: Do any of you guys play hockey, skate or at one time play the game?  

[capt. scotty]

Just curious: Do any of you guys play hockey, skate or at one time play the game?  

I played roller hockey for a few years when I was like 12 or so.

I suck at ice skating

[Jaimoe]

Just curious: Do any of you guys play hockey, skate or at one time play the game?  

I played roller hockey for a few years when I was like 12 or so.

I suck at ice skating

You more or less have to be taught how to skate at a young age, not unlike swimming or throwing a baseball like a man. Although if you have any interest, try to find a league with similar-skilled players or go to hockey school and/or power-skating.

I am having a tougher time than I expected coming back after a 16 year retirement from hockey. When I quit, I was a very good player. Now, I'm one of the worst on my team (I didn't skate or shoot a puck for 16 years either). I literally have to re-familiarize myself with the finer aspects of skating, especially finding another gear and skating backwards with speed. My timing is brutal too and I have no confidence stick-handling. The good news is that I have two great outdoor rinks across the street from my place, so I can practice when I'm not playing games.

You boys that know a little thing about NHL history would love where I play some of my games. I get to play in the same arenas where many Hall of Famers and current NHLers developed: St. Michaels and Upper Canada College being the most famous.

[.Walt]

Just curious: Do any of you guys play hockey, skate or at one time play the game?  

I can skate. I never played organized hockey, but I played pickup games on the outdoor rinks. I was alright. There's no way I could play in a men's league. Alot of my friends that play played high school hockey and they get killed by much older guys. Plus I haven't skated in a probably 5 years.

That's cool you're in a men's league. I didn't know about the rinks you're playing in, that must be pretty damn cool! How's the season going for you?

[peafunk31]

Pens on a 12 game win streak, still without Staal and Malkins missed the last handful...Fleury back to looking near elite thanks to improved D play..Crosby with an 18 game point streak (20 goals, 16 assists) and further asserting himself as the best player in the NHL

Sorry the Fly-boys broke the Pens streak ;) Looking forward to the battles they'll have going forward this season! That was one hell of a game the other night!

[.Walt]

Pens on a 12 game win streak, still without Staal and Malkins missed the last handful...Fleury back to looking near elite thanks to improved D play..Crosby with an 18 game point streak (20 goals, 16 assists) and further asserting himself as the best player in the NHL

Sorry the Fly-boys broke the Pens streak ;) Looking forward to the battles they'll have going forward this season! That was one hell of a game the other night!

That was a great game last night.

What the fuck is up with the Hawks this season. A couple guys have been out, but they look horrible. The goalies can't be the only problem.

[capt. scotty]

Pens on a 12 game win streak, still without Staal and Malkins missed the last handful...Fleury back to looking near elite thanks to improved D play..Crosby with an 18 game point streak (20 goals, 16 assists) and further asserting himself as the best player in the NHL

Sorry the Fly-boys broke the Pens streak ;) Looking forward to the battles they'll have going forward this season! That was one hell of a game the other night!

That was a great game last night.

What the fuck is up with the Hawks this season. A couple guys have been out, but they look horrible. The goalies can't be the only problem.

Well, they did lose like a third of their team from last year, some key guys included like Buff, Versteeg, Niemi, etc.

[Jaimoe]

Well boys, the World Junior Championship (U-20) starts up on Boxing Day with the US defending their title. Canada has a pretty deep team, but the US has 8 returning players. The tourney is being held in Buffalo and already 300,000 seats have been sold. I can't wait. This tourney rivals the the Olympics and Stanley Cup in importance and intensity (I think it's more intense than the Olympics). Canada is in a tough pool: Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic and Norway (the only easy team). The US are in the easier of the two pools (A): Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Swiss (Canada played the Swiss in a warm-up a few days ago a beat them 8-0).

Canada beat the Swedes last night in another warm-up, 4-1, at the Air Canada Centre (sold out game). I think the US will make it to the final - they have a great team. I'm looking forward to watching Jerry D'Amigo (Toronto Maple Leafs); the US has lots of underage AHL experienced players.

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/

I think NHL Network is carrying the games live too.

[.Walt]

Well boys, the World Junior Championship (U-20) starts up on Boxing Day with the US defending their title. Canada has a pretty deep team, but the US has 8 returning players. The tourney is being held in Buffalo and already 300,000 seats have been sold. I can't wait. This tourney rivals the the Olympics and Stanley Cup in importance and intensity (I think it's more intense than the Olympics). Canada is in a tough pool: Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic and Norway (the only easy team). The US are in the easier of the two pools (A): Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Swiss (Canada played the Swiss in a warm-up a few days ago a beat them 8-0).

Canada beat the Swedes last night in another warm-up, 4-1, at the Air Canada Centre (sold out game). I think the US will make it to the final - they have a great team. I'm looking forward to watching Jerry D'Amigo (Toronto Maple Leafs); the US has lots of underage AHL experienced players.

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/

I think NHL Network is carrying the games live too.

It's nice to see Buffalo selling tickets. I see that the US is Finland on Saturday. I'll probably watch it. I agree that the WJC is a little more intense than the Olympics, really fun to watch! Do they show college hockey on the NHL in Canada?

The Canucks vs Blue Jackets game was a shit show tonight. Since my fantasy hockey is all Nucks and Hawks players, it was fun to watch.

[Jaimoe]

Well boys, the World Junior Championship (U-20) starts up on Boxing Day with the US defending their title. Canada has a pretty deep team, but the US has 8 returning players. The tourney is being held in Buffalo and already 300,000 seats have been sold. I can't wait. This tourney rivals the the Olympics and Stanley Cup in importance and intensity (I think it's more intense than the Olympics). Canada is in a tough pool: Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic and Norway (the only easy team). The US are in the easier of the two pools (A): Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Swiss (Canada played the Swiss in a warm-up a few days ago a beat them 8-0).

Canada beat the Swedes last night in another warm-up, 4-1, at the Air Canada Centre (sold out game). I think the US will make it to the final - they have a great team. I'm looking forward to watching Jerry D'Amigo (Toronto Maple Leafs); the US has lots of underage AHL experienced players.

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/

I think NHL Network is carrying the games live too.

It's nice to see Buffalo selling tickets. I see that the US is Finland on Saturday. I'll probably watch it. I agree that the WJC is a little more intense than the Olympics, really fun to watch! Do they show college hockey on the NHL in Canada?

The Canucks vs Blue Jackets game was a shit show tonight. Since my fantasy hockey is all Nucks and Hawks players, it was fun to watch.

By all accounts, the US are the favs this year. They should beat the Finns fairly soundly, although the Finns play more of a North American style of game; it should be entertaining on Saturday (or is it Sunday? I thought the tourney starts traditionally on Boxing Day).

Too bad not many (if any) NHL teams are letting their 18-19 year-olds play in the tourney this year. It's becoming less and less of a trend since 18-19 year-olds are having a bigger impact in the NHL. Heck, Evander Kane in Atlanta, John Tavares on the Island, Skinner in Carolina, Edmonton's Taylor Hall, plus Colorado's Matt Duchene and Boston's Tyler Seguin are all young enough to play for this year's Team Canada. Still, outside of a few youngsters in the NHL, the World Juniors have most of the best U-20s in the world (most have already been drafted in the high rounds). BTW, any player you see playing with a full face-screen is underage/17 years-old or younger and not drafted. It's a rule that 17 and under must wear a cage.

Keep an eye on Canadian underage forward Sean Couturier; he's projected as the #1 pick in the 2011 draft. Projected #2 is Swedish forward  Gabriel Landeskog, who plays in the OHL for Kitchener Rangers (he's also their captain); this kid doesn't play like the stereotypical Swede - he's a power forward, very tough/fights and speaks better English than we do.

As for college TV coverage, we get very little, but Leaf TV carries the odd NCAA game and sometimes we get games on slow nights. Canada barely shows our own University hockey on the sports channels (we get some playoff games). The CHL (OHL, WHL and QMJHL) is the main focus after the NHL (the AHL comes in a distant third). BTW, Canadian university hockey is close to on-par with NCAA, but it certainly remains undervalued. 

[BigBossMan]

U-S-A!! U-S-A!!