February 21, 2010
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2009-2010 Stanley Cup Prediction
I know how this might seem. But for the first time ever, I can confidently mark the Chicago Blackhawks as my Stanley Cup prediction secure in the knowledge that it's grounded in merit and accuracy rather than my personal bias. Granted, their winning would be one of the most glorious sports-related moments of my life, anyone can see they have all the tools to make it happen. My only fear is that youth equals inexperience breeds lack of discipline leads to excessive penalties at inopportune times. This has surfaced at key times throughout the season. Fix it please, Joel.
As far as the Olympics were concerned, my original picks were as follows: Gold - Russia, Silver - Canada, Bronze - Sweden. However, Russia faces elimination against CZE today despite an overload of talent. Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, and Malkin on the same line? Forget it. On paper, they are a strong favorite but unfortunately for them, hockey isn't played on paper. Canada takes on USA at 6:30 in the games most marquee matchup this far. Go Canada.
In other hockey news, last year Neil Peart, percussionist and lyricist for Rush, was commissioned to write a new version of the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. “The Hockey Theme” was composed in 1968 by Vancouver native Dolores Claman. Over the next forty years, Dolores Claman’s theme became synonymous with the CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcasts. It is considered by many to be “Canada’s second national anthem,” as nearly every Canadian can hum that melody on demand, and serious hockey fans have the ringtone. Neil wrote an interesting piece on the experience here where he also worked in this nice little jab:
".....my bandmates and I will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in March of this year—along with Dolores Claman! A total, wonderful coincidence. And isn’t it funny that by then the band will have been represented in the Motorcycling Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriting Hall of Fame, and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame—but not yet in the “official” rock pantheon? Passing strange . . . "
Great point. You can listen to the song at Neil's site or it's available for purchase for $1.29 at Itunes. That's an easy purchase.
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