Go Hawks go!

In 2010, Richard and I were in Chicago to celebrate the Blackhawks win of the Stanley Cup. They won it again last night, after an amazing series. Wish we were there again this year to welcome the champions home.

Bye Bye Bruins

I've always been a Montreal Canadiens fan and last night they eliminated the Boston Bruins. It put me in mind of an old photo my brother took when he and I went to Dorval airport to greet the conquering heroes...in 1971! I was 10 years old. Someone ahead of us was swinging a poor teddy bear Bruin wearing Bobby Orr's number 4, hanging him in effigy. I remember my mother saying that that was mean. But...I was just happy the Habs beat the Bruins. Felt good in 1971 and felt pretty good in 2014 too! Go Habs go!

Go Canada Go!

So proud of our Canadian men and women's hockey teams for taking home the gold in Socchi, Russia at the Winter Olympics! Way to go, Canada!

Go Team Go!

Sunday brought us out to the Vankleek Hill arena...


...to watch our friend Yvette and Ken's daughter Sam, who is 14 years old, play hockey...


...against a team from Potsdam. It was an exhibition game, and a lot of fun so the score didn't really matter.


What did matter was the Mexican poutine we shared after the game. To read a review of it, click here to go to Poutine Chronicles!

Go Habs Go!

My favourite team in the world beat last year's Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, last night in game 7. Now onto either the Philadelphia Flyers or the Boston Bruins. Wowza!

Big and Small Fans

I take an exercise class twice a week and work out next to a great gal named Kitty. Like me, she's a big Montreal Canadiens hockey fan. Here we are wearing our classic Montreal shirts celebrating the Habs' 100th year, complete with vintage logos.


We're both huge Habs fans but I'm a bigger fan than she is...right?

Another Push for Hockeyville!

Only TWO days left to vote for Alexandria as Hockeyville. Just click here and scroll to the blue box at the bottom. Choose "Billy Gebbie Arena, Alexandria" and please vote for us! You can vote more than once. Thanks!

Hockeyville in My Little Town

The good folks at Kraft Foods announced the 12 contenders to be Hockeyville on Monday night. Alexandria, Ontario, my little town of 3000 folks, is one of the chosen 12. It's up against much larger places like Yellowknife, NWT and Cranbook, BC.


If Alexandria wins the title of "Hockeyville," it gets a $100,000 upgrade to its hockey arena as well as hosting a pre-season NHL game.


But the only way it will win is if it gets votes. So click here and vote for Alexandria as Hockeyville! Just go to the blue box at the bottom of the page and select Billy Gebbie Arena, Alexandria and vote. Thanks!

Hockey Stuff

In honour of Sidney Crosby scoring the winning goal for Team Canada against USA at Sunday's final Olympic event, check out this fun TV spot where he plays dryer hockey with Pittsburgh Penguin teammate Max Talbot.


And here's me at 12-years-old, playing street hockey. I guess hockey is in my blood!

Hockey is Our Game!

When Team Canada's Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal last night at the game between Canada and the USA -- the final event at the 2010 Winter Olympics at home in Vancouver -- I think all of Canada shouted in unison! Here's a video, narrated by Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, that kind of explains why hockey is so important to us Canadians.

Best TV Hockey Ads

This ad reminds me of growing up playing street hockey with my cousin Richard. I was usually the goaltender mainly because I had my own Sherwood goalie stick and was just crazy about Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Ken Dryden.
Saturday night was always Hockey Night in Canada at our house with my family gathered around the TV set, cheering on our beloved Canadiens.




This Tim Horton ad is from a few years back. I think it's so well done.




Another terrific Tim Horton's ad narrated by the great player Sidney Crosby. I think it kind of sums up what hockey means to many Canadians.

Hockey Night in Ottawa

Last night Richard and I headed up to Ottawa to see a hockey game.


Richard's beloved Chicago Blackhawks were making a rare appearance here so we just had to see them in action. My cousins Saul and Cindy gave up a pair of their season's tickets so we could go.


Fantastic seats! You could see all the action.


Unfortunately for the 'Hawks fans, most of the action was thanks to the Sens.


I'm a Montreal Canadiens fan so I cheered both sides! Chicago lost
4-1 but Richard was still cheering his team on right to the end.


And, we even found a poutine to share. Perfect outing I'd say.

Coach's Corner with Ron and Ronna

On the TV show Hockey Night in Canada, "Coach's Corner" with Ron MacLean and Don Cherry always appears after the first period. Well here I am with Ron -- I made him a cake 17 years ago (when both of us were looking a lot younger)! He's a great guy. Really nice and he liked my Montreal Canadiens sweater. So I thought I'd post this blog entry to celebrate the Canadiens making it into the playoffs for the Stanley Cup. Okay, so I'm not sure they'll beat Boston or even Chicago (Richard's team) but what the heck. Go for it guys!!

Earth Hour 2009

Last Saturday night was Earth Hour when you were asked to turn off all non-essential lights in your home.


Lights were turned off on the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and the Pyramids in Egypt. We turned ours out too.


The only light we had came from candles. Oh yeah, there was also the light from the TV. It seemed essential to watch the Montreal Canadiens play the Buffalo Sabres and see if they'd be closer to a playoff berth. (They lost but we're not giving up hope yet.)

Excellent Florida Adventure, Part 1

Last weekend, I went on a quick visit to Florida as a surprise to my oldest and dearest friend Roberta for her 50th birthday. I left Montreal after a dump of 25 cm of snow.


Three hours later I was flying over Fort Lauderdale where it was 85F.


I was whisked off to the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida to see the Montreal Canadiens play the Florida Panthers. Waiting for the doors to open, there were so many Habs fans that it seemed I was in Montreal instead of Florida...except of course that it was 70 degrees and there were palm trees...


Inside there was lots of action. I was a big surprise to my friend Roberta who came into the arena not expecting me to be sitting next to her. And we had fantastic seats! Four rows from the ice.

We met some of the team afterwards...


Yup, that's Guy Carbonneau, head coach for the Canadiens in the background...


...and despite the 5-1 loss to the Panthers Doug Jarvis, the assistant coach of the Canadiens was upbeat and happy to pose for photos.


Alex Kovalev, the alternate captain for the Canadiens was happy to sign Roberta's hockey jersey...


...and then pose for a photo with us. Very cool!

Hockey Legend

The hockey season has begun and it reminds me of Ken Dryden: author, lawyer, politician, and incredible goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens. I have been a fan of his since I was a kid.


I had the opportunity to meet him a few years back (when these photos were taken) but this wasn't the first time we had talked. Our paths have crossed numerous times in the past...


...and I hope they do again. After all these years I'm still a big Ken Dryden fan.

Hockey Night in Canada

Richard got tickets for last night's game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins in a pre-season match up.


Having been a huge Habs fan my whole life I jumped at the chance!


We had terrific seats being only 8 rows from the ice, to the right of the blue line.


The Bell Centre boasts one of the largest video screens in the world.


Above our heads were the retired numbers of some fantastic players of years gone by. And a nod to all the Stanley Cups won by our beloved Canadiens, the winningest team in professional sport.


The crowd loves a good penalty given to the opposing team!


My favourite part? Having a good ol' chat with Youpi, the Canadiens' mascot (and former mascot of the now defunct baseball team the Montreal Expos.)


Go Habs go! (By the way, we won 3-1.)