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6:30 the Ol’ Dome is filling up - for those who can’t be here I guess Hockey Canada is going to stream a feed live from here, check out www.hockeycanada.ca

Sounds like the 2nd period may not be all special teams afterall.

6:34 I guess there is is pre game skate for a scrimmage.

Players are wearing their numbers from the NHL, like team White has two 12’s, E.Staal and Iggy. Team Red J Staal and Dan Cleary both 11, you get the picture.

6:41 Crowd still coming into building it is starting to fill up, I will be away for 45 minutes I have to go do an interview.

7:26 They are booing Heatley, and chanting LOOOOOO for Roberto.

Great goaltending so far.

The Flames will never play a pre season game with this atmosphere.

Cleary robbed 3 times already by Luongo.

Hey they are taking tv time outs.

Full house, and there is people still coming in.

7:36 with 5:53 to go Boom complaing that the hockey gods are against him since he picked over 7.5 goals this afternoon.

Flames players all in on the play, but nothing to show for it.

1:24 Jordan Staal penalized for running Luongo.

So much for the penalty shots on penalties Staal got a 2minute minor.

3 seconds to go Marty Broduer robs Jason Spezza, unreal save.

1st period over White 0 7-shots Red 0 17 Shots - goalies are terrific.

Beezly’s is doing the announcing but they also have a french announcer for a bi-lingual game.

7:58 - 2nd period about to start - Luongo out Cam Ward in for team white - Marty Broduer still in for team Red.

Team White 0 for 1 on power play

18:25 Capt Canada scores - Ryan Smyth for Team White a goal off Marc Staal’s stick

GOAL - 1:35 R. Smyth (1) unassisted

Cam Ward stopped a Team Red 3-0 - with Shea Weber getting robbed

Team White Penalty to Cory Perry for tripping

Just an aside it looks like the coaches want to play a straight up game now with now funny situations.

15:21 to go in the 2nd White 1 Red 0

Penalty to Perry over Red 0 for 1 on PP

13:43 to go Red ties it I think Jeff Carter

GOAL - 6:17 Jeff Carter (1) assists to Richards (1), Morrow (1)

13:01 to go in the second Red outshooting White 24-9

first collision of the night Pronger tripped over Jordan Staal

Boy oh boy Nash, Crosby, and Iginla looks like it could be somthing.

Penalty to the newest Flame Jay Bouwmeester, he got a great ovation from the crowd.

10:02 to go in the 2nd and tied at 1 - White changes goalies Fleury in.

Goalie numbers so far - White’s Luongo 17 for 17 in 20 mins - Red’s Brodeur 11 for 12 in 29:58 of work

White now 0 for 2 on PP

Penalty to White Crosby gets a hooking call and he chirps the ref going to the box.

Red 0 for 2 on PP

5:45 to go 1-1 tie

Jarome really strong on the back check tonight.

3mins to go in 2nd shots 27 for red and 12 for white

Red Goal by Patrick Marleau on a terrible give away from Seabrook

GOAL - 18:06 Patrick Marleau (1) unassisted

9 minutes into his game Fleury faces first shot.

8:32pm 2nd period ends - 2-1 team Red

2nd period summary
Red - Carter (1), Marleau (1) - 13 (30) shots
White - Smyth (1) - 7 (14) shots

8:54 the 3rd period begins

Steve Mason now in goal for Team White - numbers for Ward 10 of 12 in 20 minutes.

2-1 Red to start the 3rd.

Well there not playing 4 on 4 to start the 3rd either, maybe they will finish that way.

Roy Toews and Iginla the line to start the 3rd for White and Phaneuf is now playing with Doughty so the lines getting juggled.

Pronger nearly gave up a 2 on 0 for Red when he broke his stick but instead he just pushed the pieces into the players feet he cheats even in a scrimmage.

Penalty coming up to Red Jordan Staal for hauling down Ryan Smyth

White on PP for 3rd time 0 for 2

Steve Mason nearly gave away the puck to team Red, but Dion bailed him out.

Red penalty over - Team White now 0 for 3

2nd goaltender interference penalty as Perry bumps Fleury

Red goes on the PP for the 3rd time 0 for 2

2-1 Red with 11:50 to go but Red on PP

Drew Doughty is a stud he is out there blocking shots killing penalties.

Red takes another penalty - Lucic for tripping

White on PP 0 for 3 so far and trailing 2-1

POWERPLAY GOAL WHITE 2-2

GOAL 10:59 White Cory Perry(1), assists to Dan Boyle(1) and Ryan Smyth(1)

2-2 tie with 8:31 to go shots Red 36 White 20

NEWSFLASH - Crosby is good

No 4 on 4 in final 10 minutes either - alright somebody was lying

Players are sure taking the puck to the net hard for a scrimmage.

I think Thornton just kicked in the go ahead for red

I believe we are going to have gaol waived off - wowwwwww

5:29 to go still 2-2

Heading downstairs to beat the rush will bask soon

Finishes 2-2 in regulation now on to the shhot out.

2 point game for Ryan Smyth

In Goal for Red Fleury

White shooter Iginla - no goal

In Goal for White Mason

REd Shooter Marleau - goal

can’t keep I am sorry I quit I’ll give you a wrap up hopefully

Mason hasn’t stopped a shot oopss yes he has Richards just missed the net

9:38pm its over quite a game sorry scrimmage, by the way the Red won the Shoot Out over White 6-2

Have a great night

Team White

Nash Crosby Iginla
Roy Toews St.Louis
E Staal Spezza Perry
Smyth Lecavalier Sharp

Pronger Boyle
Regehr Doughty
Phaneuf Seabrook
Hamhuis Robidas

Luongo
Ward
Mason

Team Red

Marleau Thornton Heatley
Morrow Richards Carter
Lucic McDonald Cleary
J Staal Doan

Niedermayer Weber
Bouwmeester Burns
Keith Green
Beauchemin M Staal

Brodeur
Fleury

1st period 5 on 5 – penalties are a penalty shot
2nd Period 10 minutes 5 on 4 fro one side the final 10 the other team on PP
3rd Period 10 minutes 4 on 4 and final 10 minutes 5 on5
Shoot out with all forwards

The 10:45am practice started a bit earlier today, about 15 minutes early.

Simon Gagne is not out on the ice this morning for team White, will update when we get details.

A lot of buzz about Team Whites top line of Nash, Crosby and Iginla the mind boggles at the potential doesn’t it. In many ways Nash might be the wild card on that line since for a big man he generates a lot of break away opportunities and maybe the best Canadian on breakaway at this camp in my humble opinion.

Mike Babcock hinted that he may changed the lines at some point in camp, but for the start of day number two they have remained the same. See my blog from the first practice for a complete list of lines and parings.

There is an army of TV production people here at the camp working on a documentary that I am sure you will be able to buy at the end of the Olympics.

Interested observer at todays practice was Flames Owner Harley Hotchkis, again at the risk of repeating myself few have done as much for Hockey Canada’s grass routes programs more quietly then the Flames owners.

As some of you may have figured out I am a big fan of the Dan Cleary story, here was a guy who was on his way out of hockey all together at a very young age but beat the odds and redefined himself as a player. I had a chance to talk to Cleary about his journey and we will be playing that this afternoon on the show with no name. Also I spent some time with the longest tenured coach in the NHL for a fun interview and we will play that this afternoon as well.

Brent Sutter and most of his staff are in attendance for this mornings practices.

Just watching Iginla in a PK drill, I remember when #12 used to kill penalties but that was PIM (pre Iron Mike), I hope we see him doing it a littl emore this season.

The first practice is underway way surprisingly fairly low key, not a lot of noise out on the ice.

Red Group is out first, both Dion and Robin in this group, so much for the rumor that swirling around that Phaneuf was suffering from a career ending injury.

Babcock is very hands on for most of practice he handles all of the drills rather then having assistants do them.

Ryan Getzlaf is here but not skating because of hernia surgery, he is watching practice though, from the exact same spot he used to watch the Flames practice when he was with the Hitmen.

Boomers guy Cam Ward not on the ice tonight becasue of a back injury.

Forward lines:
Red

E Stall Thornton Perry
Lucic Lecavalier Carter
Marleau Spezza Cleary
Smyth Roy Sharp

White

Nash Crosby Iginla
Morrow Richards Heatley
Gagne Toews St.Louis
McDonald J Stall S Doan

D-Pairings:
Red

Pronger Doughty
Hamhuis Boyle
Regehr Seabrook
Phaneuf Robidas

White

Keith Niedermayer
Beauchemin Weber
Bouwmeester Burns
M Stall Green

Goalies:
Red

Luongo
Mason
Ward *injured

White

Brodeur
Fleury

The 09/10 hockey season began for me today, that’s the reality of it and I am okay with it, this was by far and away my shortest off season ever, but a good one too.

Starting today you will get even more of me as I am now going to be on from 2-6pm everyday, because what the world was screaming for, more me! I actually take it as a bit of an honor as Kelly wants Boom and I have to more time to debate stuff. By the way as I understand it (subject to change) there is now no name for the show its just Rob and Boomer or something like that.

I think it is very unfortunate that the public will not be allowed into the Dome for Team Canada practices, they were in Kelowna in ’05 but not at Father Bauer in “01. Hockey Canada is sighting cost as a major prohibiting factor, they would be on the hook for all of the security needed if the building was open. After footing the bill for the entire insurance costs for the players they are probably a little tight for cash.

Tickets are on sale now at the Ticket office here at the Dome and I hear there are a ton left, and as of the writing of this blog no real long line ups.

Today is an odd day here at the old Dome the “Consortium” (i.e. TSN and everybody else) are trying to pre record a ton of interviews and profiles with every player to use during their coverage. That means probably more then half of what they use will never been seen. They tend to be a little strange their studio is located next to ours and rather then closing the door to ensure silence they have a curtain draped over the door and a guy outside “SHOOSHING” who ever walks by and every once an a while they come in and tell me to be quiet. The funniest thing is watching them chase after women and telling them not to walk so loud. Our TV overlords are fun and arrogant all at the same time.

A sure sign that the world is coming to an end, somebody in Hollywood has begun to cast a remake of “Red Dawn”, that’s awesome.

Listened to Dany Heatley’s conference call from last Friday, I have talked to Dany on a few occasions but I have never heard him like that. Clearly he was coached and he was prepared and you got the sense from him that it was like riding a bull just stay on it for 8 seconds and get it over with. Two points that stuck out for me:

First, he might have been better to just say that he didn’t want to go to Edmonton and leave it at that, but to avoid the question and hide behind the word “options” it sure came off weak.

Secondly, maybe it’s time that reporters in Canada took a step back and not take things like this personal. I can tell you it is harder and harder, since everyone is being cajoled into writing and saying more and more opinion and less and less fact. A number of the reporters on the conference call sounded childish, and about what. Yes I know, I know I get mad at the San Jose Sharks for their media notes but that is kind of an inside joke, but at some point this is just a game.

As far as Heatley is concerned he has brought this upon himself, that’s not a shot at him or anything like that, but the reality is in this day and age there is no wear to hide from the scrutiny. Do I like what he has done? No! Could he play for me? Yes! I was told by one NHL source that the interesting story here is what has actually taken place; I am still not sure anybody really knows the circumstances, but that won’t change public perception.

The Theo story broke just before I left for holidays, I am not sure much has changed over the past two weeks, other then he has talked that it is indeed true he would like to come back. I haven’t changed much from my original thoughts, I hope it works I have my doubts and I can’t see it happening here in Calgary.

We will carry the Team Canada press conference live at around 4:45 this afternoon and we should be bloging from practice tonight as well.

Have been speaking to a number of former Flames this week, yesterday I spent some time on the phone with Mike Commodore for Hockey Calgary Magazine (show returns this fall). Mike had some great advice and stories for minor hockey coaches and players, and as usual he did it in his gregarious style.

Mike is working out with Chris Chelios in Los Angeles, he says it is some of the most grueling training he has ever done. Commodore says Chelios is working hard and looks like he is good shape, but Mike has avoided asking Chris if he is coming back.

Also corresponded with former Calgary goalie coach David Marcoux, as first reported by Vikki Hall of the Calgary Herald he has agreed to work with the Moose Jaw Warriors and their goalies, but he says as a consultant not a full time coach. David does plan on working with some other junior clubs as he bides his time until an NHL job comes open.

David is staying in Calgary and will be available for private goalie coaching, visit his website for more details.

http://www.dmsg.ca/

Loved Jeremy Roenick’s retirement speech yesterday, especially his story about watching Gordie Howe at a Hartford Whalers practice, it is in the audio demand section at www.fan960.com.

Heading out on holidays for two weeks, but when we get back we will be hitting the ground running with the Olympic orientation camp, the Labor Day Classic and right into Flames training camp, get your rest while you can.

Spent some time with former Flame Sheldon Kennedy today in preparation of the new season of Hockey Calgary magazine. A full recount of the trials and tribulations of Sheldon’s hockey life isn’t necessary I am sure, but he has done an amazing job turning a negative in his life into a positive for others. Sheldon is part of Respect Group Inc. a company that has partnered with the Red Cross to promote respect in sport. At the end of this month we will have an in depth conversation with Sheldon about www.respectinsport.com.

Was asked by more the one person about the rehab for Dion Phanuef this office season, some light checking (haven’t talked to the player or the GM) has indicated everything is good and he is on pace to be at Team Canada’s camp in just over 2 weeks.

Sportsnet reported last night that this seasons NHL trade deadline will be March 3rd 2010 just 3 days after the Olympic games end. The local hockey hero’s will be at home to the Minnesota Wild that night. Peter Maher gets mad every year when the NHL continues to have the deadline on a day with games, Pete, rightfully so, argues that the league should shut down and let the annual mad scramble take place. The other aspect of this years deadline that intrigues me is the fact that the NHL will be shut down for just over 2 weeks prior to the trade deadline allowing for rumours to percolate and boil for some time in the idle minds of the media, fans, and GM’s.

Agent Alan Walsh twittered last night that the NHL has sent out a memo saying players will not contracts if they are injured at Olympic camps this off season. The league has joined the NHLPA in raising concerns over the safety of players at the orientation camps, but the league is the one who made the decision to participate in the games and the NHLPA are the ones demanding that the relationship continues into 2014. Either your involved or your not, make up your damn mind.

I have no real information to back up my observations, but I can’t help but think there is an issue within the Calgary Stampeders locker room these days. The 2-3 club are still answering questions about the rather public physical confrontations between team-mates from last week and the answers all seem just cliché like. Talking to Nik Lewis yesterday I was a little taken by how the usually very upbeat Lewis seemed disheartened. Dressing room issues are not new to the Stamps or any team in the CFL, I think we have seen evidence of a bunch of them this year, and they are solvable but if you’re the leaders of the team you have to do it toot sweet.

As a guy who doesn’t have a real rooting interest in any particular team (if the Stamps win everybody seems happier that I admit) I’m loving the start to this CFL season. Montreal, a couple of weeks ago, was supposed to be the class of the league (and still maybe) but I would argue that the most consistent team lately has been Hamilton.

To quote Nik Lewis “It is what it is!”, that quote pretty much defines the Stamps 2-3 season so far, they deserve their record. I think the Red and White will be a force by the end of the year, but there is no giant conspiracy keeping the team down.

If it were me I would deal with the penalties and go from there.

Montreal appears poised to get an MLS team (that’s a Rob Kerr Blog first a soccer story), that would bring 3 to our country, will this finally be the pro league option that so many of lamented the lack of in our development program. While it isn’t a passion of mine, I do find the idea of having a formidable National program something that appeals to me. Having talked to enough soccer officials in this country over time, I know that some semblance of a pro league is vital to developing players who want to play for Canada.

The local hockey heroes continue to have a busy summer, in the past week dealing away Wayne Primeau, and getting younger potential role players back in Anton Strahlman and Colin Stuart. Then coming to terms with RFA Dustin Boyd last week on a one way/one year deal late last week.

Unofficially the Flames have 23 guys coming to camp that tells me 3 things:

First, camp will be very competitive and there likely will be a surprise or two as Darryl Sutter maintains that he wants a least 2 young guys to graduate to the big club.

Secondly Calgary is prepared to pay a least a couple of big league salaries to guys in the AHL.

Finally Jim Playfair is likely going to have a hell of team for the folks in the lower mainland to come out and cheer on.

The reports of the demise of Jim Balsillie’s NHL dreams may have been premature, in Arizona this week Judge Redfield T. Baum had no problem saying that despite all of the fussing of the NHL “Hamilton Jim” has given the best and biggest bid so far. Add to that the team’s biggest creditor has endorsed the “make it seven” guy.

The battle is far from over for all sides, Baum also was quick to point out this week that what ever his decision is he expects there to be counter suits.

For what it’s worth I don’t believe that the NHL is anti-Canadian, I believe it is anti-Balsillie, and will go as far as saying their will be another Canadian team in the next 5 years, but it will be under the leagues terms (who will pay the most to the owners for the right, not come in the back door and move a team).