Happy Sunday! Pats Game Day

For some reason, I'm quite excited about tonight's Pats game in the Brandt Centre. The struggling Queen City Kids host Kyle Beach and the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 6:00pm in Regina on 620 CKRM (5:35pm Press Box Sports Bar Pats Pregame Show).

The mountain got higher for the Pats last night, as Edmonton gained a point from an overtime loss against Moose Jaw and now lead the Pats by 7 points for the final playoff spot. Regina has two games in hand, and seven games left overall.

Do I have a good feeling about this bunch making the playoffs? Not necessarily. But there's a chance and therefore we're not going to the rink for a meaningless game.

See you tonight!
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While celebrating the birthday of Molson staffer Jeff Strachan at Regina's Chili's on Saturday, I was tipped off to a superb hockey website by Dean Manz (of Wascana Golf Club fame).

Check out... http://www.thefourthperiod.com/ for all the latest NHL trade rumours heading up to the deadline.
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An interesting scenario at the Saddledome last night. We get this report from hitmenhockey.com:

CALGARY – The Kelowna Rockets foiled the Calgary Hitmen’s bid to tie a Western Hockey League record on Saturday night.

Kelowna defenceman Collin Bowman scored a power-play goal at 5:09 of the third period and the Rockets held on to beat the Hitmen 2-1 in front of 16,690 fans at the Pengrowth Saddledome

“I look at the game tonight and I don’t think we had enough guys come prepared to play,” said Hitmen Head Coach Dave Lowry, whose squad’s winning streak ended at 12 games. “Kelowna played a great game. I’m not going to take anything away from them.”
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The emails from positive and well-intentioned Pats fans can keep your spirits afloat.

There's a lot of folks who support this franchise win, lose or draw and although they're not happy with what's going, they're still very interested in the team and haven't threatened to burn their season tickets (as some guys have).

I wonder why these people don't leave comments on the blog, but prefer to send me private emails instead?

It doesn't really matter, but I wish they would.
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I was a proud Saskatchewanian yesterday when I was asked to provide Stefanie Lawton's cell phone number to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall so he could give her a call of encouragement before yesterday's playoff game at the Scotties.

She didn't win, but she finished 3rd in the round robin and we're all proud of her. I'm sure it was a spectacular experience.

And like my Mom said yesterday, the Saskatchewan female skips have suffered a lot the past two years around Scotties time. Remember Michelle Englot had to attend her father's funeral right in the middle of last year's national championship in Saskatoon.

Way to go Stefanie!
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We hosted one of those parties you'd have to term a "new millenium party" last night. Yes, a Wii party. What a great way to bring friends over and still have your kids involved..

My stomach still hurts from laughing at my cousin Robin's pathetic attempt on the aerobic stepper, and her partner Darren's ensuing string of insults (which included Forrest Gump impersonations).

Good clean fun. And the kids are addicted to it.
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I signed up for an email service from The Canadian Press so any urgent news is sent to my BB along with CP's features "Sportsbreak" and "Sports Minute". As a contributor to CP, they've given their blessing to me using their updates on this blog. So since there's no newspaper today, here's what's going on in the world of sports on this first day of March:

Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones goes after her second straight Canadian
women's curling title tonight in Victoria, where she takes on B-C's
Marla Mallett in the final at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Jones reached the final with a 12-8 victory over Quebec's
Marie-France Larouche, and a victory over Saskatchewan's Stefanie Lawton
in the 3-4 Page Playoff Game Saturday afternoon.
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Jarome Iginla will look to become Calgary's career scoring leader
when the Flames end a three-game homestand against Tampa Bay today.
Iginla has amassed 829 career points and is just one behind Theo
Fleury's club record. It's one of six games in the N-H-L today,
including four afternoon matinees. Tonight, Columbus is at
Vancouver.
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NEW YORK -- There is a report that legendary broadcaster Paul
Harvey has died at the age of 90.

A-B-C News says it has learned Harvey has died but does not give
a source for its report.

Harvey's career lasted more than 60 years.

He was best known for his features "News and Comment" and "The
Rest of the Story" that ran on radio stations across North America
for decades.
(ABC)
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Roy Halladay tossed two scoreless innings, but B-J Ryan
allowed four runs in two-and-a-third innings for Toronto, as the
Blue Jays lost to Atlanta 6-3 in Grapefruit League action.
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Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden resigned today.
The move comes a week after it was initially reported he's part of a
federal investigation into the skimming of signing bonuses given to
Latin American prospects. Bowden has been the only G-M the
franchise has known since moving from Montreal before the 2005
season.
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Corey Koskie is looking to return the majors via Wrigley Field.
The 35-year-old third baseman from Anola, Manitoba signed a
minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs. He'll report to
training camp after playing for Canada at the World Baseball
Classic. Koskie was bothered by post-concussion problems, and
hasn't played in the majors since July, 2006.
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Matt Cassel is no longer playing in the shadow of Tom
Brady. The New England Patriots traded Cassel, along with
linebacker Mike Vrabel, to Kansas City, for a
second-round draft pick. Cassel hadn't started a game since high
school, and was thrust in a starting role when Brady went down with
a knee injury in the opening game of last season. With Cassel at
the controls, the Pats finished 11-and-5.
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The Dallas Mavericks look for their fifth straight home win
tonight when they host the Toronto Raptors. Toronto hasn't won in
Dallas in nine years. A total of nine games today in the N-B-A.