EDMONTON — Hockey Day in Canada and I have mixed feelings.  While here for the Flame-Oiler game my hometown is hosting this day of great hockey celebration in my hometown.

   Campbellton, N.B. is where I first started broadcasting at the age of 15 while still in high school. My play-by-play broadcasting would come later in the 70′s when the Campbnellton Tigers won 2 Canadian Championships and finalists a third time.

   I was fortunate to start my PBP broadcasting when the Tigers had an outstanding team and hockey interest at its peak.  I got to broadcast all their games some 60-80 a year on radio as I learned the craft. As I look back it was amazing that a town of 8,000 could have enough businesses sponsoring hockey broadcasts that I’d get to go all over Canada following the team as well as through New Brunswick.

   I can say that without that experience, I wouldn’t be in Edmonton this weekend or have had the pleasure of broadcasting a few thousand games in the greatest hockey league in the world. Obviously, I have a special place in my heart for my hometown, which hasn’t changed a great deal over the 30 years I’ve been away. Still a passionate hockey community although the intermediate-senior Tigers are no longer in operation.  I was blessed in so many ways. Right place, right time, etc.

   The Flames now look to put the Oilers a greater distance in their rear-view mirror just as they did with Thursday’s victory in Minnesota. A win Saturday would give Mike Keenan’s crew a 15-point lead over their provincal rivals.

   Winning, though, has gotten a little tougher in the immediate future with 21-goal man Rene Bourque and 18-goal scorer Daymond Langkow sidelined with injuries.

   Bourque’s high ankle sprain could keep in out 6-8 weeks, although he told me Friday am that he had an ankle injury a couple of years ago and this one doesn’t seem to be as bad.  Langkow has a hand injury and could be back soon.  He’s listed as day-to-day. Def. Mark Giordano has an upper body injury from Thursday game and is out as well.  Jim Vandermeer will move back to his regular defense position vs the Oilers.

   Jamie Lundmark and Kyle Greentree, one and two scorers in Quad City, has come up from the AHL and will play against the Oilers. 

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