http://www.92citifm.ca

Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

Two first period goals by 18-year-old Marie-Philip Poulin was all Canada needed last night as our national women’s hockey team beat the United States 2-0 to claim the gold medal at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Shannon Szabados made 28 saves to get the shutout as Team Canada won its third straight Olympic women’s hockey gold medal.

The Canadian men’s team were in attendance at Canada Hockey Place last night and tonight it’s their turn. It will be Canada and Slovakia at 8:30 p.m. in the semifinal of the men’s hockey tournament. In the other semifinal, the United States will face Finland, 2 o’clock on CTV. The Canada-Slovakia semi will be live right here on 92-CITI-FM.

Another great day for Canada yesterday. After the women’s hockey gold and Joannie Rochette’s bronze in figure skating, Canada now has 17 medals: eight golds, six silvers and three bronze and remains in fourth place in the medal race just two medals behind third-place Norway as we head into the final weekend at the Vancouver Games. Yesterday another great day for Canada: Cheryl Bernard’s team from Calgary defeated Switzerland 6-5 and will play Sweden for the gold medal at 5 o’clock today while Kevin Martin’s men’s team beat Sweden 6-3 in the semifinal and will face Norway – and their pants — in Saturday’s gold medal game.

Today, medals will be handed out in biathlon, women’s snowboarding slalom and in men’s and women’s short-track. Canada has a great shot at a couple of short-track medals.

The Manitoba Moose got another solid performance from goaltender Cory Schneider and earned a 3-2 win over the Houston Aeros in Houston last night. Tonight and tomorrow night, the Moose play in San Antonio to wrap up their seven-game road swing.

In CFL news, the Edmonton Eskimos have released former Blue Bombers Kelly Malveaux, and Jerome Haywood.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

Tonight in Vancouver it’s the semifinal of the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament and for Team Canada the job is simple: Have the stars play well, get good goaltending from Roberto Luongo, convert chances, don’t give up a lot of chances and forecheck, forecheck, forecheck as Canada takes on Slovakia at 8:30 this evening.

Remember, the game can be heard live, right here, on 92-CITI-FM beginning with the pre-game show at 8 o’clock.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

(Complete this live on Tuesday after the Shelby American 427 in Las Vegas)

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Two first period goals by 18-year-old Marie-Philip Poulin was all Canada needed last night as our national women’s hockey team beat the United States 2-0 to claim the gold medal at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Shannon Szabados made 28 saves to get the shutout as Team Canada won its third straight Olympic women’s hockey gold medal.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

1) For the first time in 50 years, Canada has beaten Russia in an Olympic hockey game.

2) the last time Canada beat Russia in an Olympic hockey game was in Squaw Valley in 1960.

For what happened last night, it was worth the wait. Corey Perry scored twice as Team Canada drilled Russia 7-3 in the quarterfinals of men’s hockey at the 21st Olympic Winter Games. It was a dominating performance for the Canadians who outshot their arch-rivals 42-28. Canada will now meet Slovakia, that’s right Slovakia in the semifinal tomorrow night. Slovakia managed only 14 shots on goal but beat defending gold medalist Sweden 4-3 in the late game early this morning. In the other semifinal, the United States will face Finland. The Canada-Slovakia semi goes tomorrow at 6:30 live on 92-CITI-FM.

What a spectacular four-medal day for Canada yesterday. After adding a bronze medal from former Winnipegger Clara Hughes in the women’s 5,000-metre speedskating event – Hughes sixth Olympic medal in her final Olympic race — and then a silver in the women’s short-track 3,000-metre relay, Canada claimed gold and a silver in two-person women’s bobsleigh, Canada now has 15 medals: seven golds, six silvers and two bronze and has moved back into fourth place in the medal race behind the United States, Germany and Norway as we head into Day 14 at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Today, Canada’s Cheryl Bernard takes on Mirjam Ott of Switzerland in the women’s curling semifinal and there are medal events in the women’s giant slalom, the women’s cross-country skiing relay, Nordic combined individual little hill/10 kilometre race, men’s freestyle aerials, ladies figure skating with Joannie Rochette of Canada in third after the short program.

And, in women’s hockey, tonight, Canada will face the United States for gold. So far, Canada has outscored its opposition 46-2 while the United States has outscored its opposition 40-2. This will be a dandy game between the only decent teams in the tournament. 7 p.m. on CTV.

The Manitoba Moose return to action tonight when they face the Houston Aeros in Houston. Then on Friday and Saturday, the Moose play in San Antonio to wrap up their seven-game road swing.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

You know what? If Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer show up for this Olympic hockey series tomorrow night, there is no telling what Canada will do to its opposition.

Last night, during a 7-3 win over the Russians, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Toews, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Shea Weber and Duncan Keith, the youngest players on the team, were outstanding as Canada moved into the semifinal against Sweden. If the the big stars show up to play this weekend, no other team will be close.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup boys are in Las Vegas for the Shelby American 427.

However, former NASCAR star, Geoff Bodine will be in Vancouver. Bodine, a former Daytona 500 champion, is now building bobsleds for the United States Olympic team. In fact, six years after he won Daytona in 1986, Bodine visited Lake Placid, N.Y., fell in love with the bobsleigh and has been building American-made bobsleds for the past 18 years.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

For the first time in 50 years, Canada has beaten Russia in an Olympic hockey game. In fact, the last time Canada beat Russia in an Olympic hockey game was in Squaw Valley in 1960.

For what happened last night, it was worth the wait. Corey Perry scored twice as Team Canada drilled Russia 7-3 in the quarterfinals of men’s hockey at the 21st Olympic Winter Games. It was a dominating performance for the Canadians who outshot their arch-rivals 42-28. Canada will now meet Slovakia in the semifinal tomorrow night at 6:30 live on 92-CITI-FM.

Is it just wishful thinking or is it real? Regardless, it’s the rumour that won’t go away. In fact, it’s the rumour that has been completely debunked by the two local newspapers and the broadcast rightsholder of the Manitoba Moose and yet it still won’t go away.

In fact, it has grown louder by the day.

Here’s the original rumour as Joe Aiello and I commented on it at 92-CITI-FM 10 days ago: Wealthy David Thomson of Toronto, the man who most of the shares of the MTS Centre and True North Sports and Entertainment in Winnipeg, has purchased the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League and will move them to Winnipeg for the 2010-11 season. The Moose will move to Saskatoon. The announcement will be made right after the Olympics. Yeah, right. Believe whatever it is you want to believe.

Despite the fact, we clearly wrote: “Believe whatever it is you want to believe,” the rumour struck a chord. It seemed as if everyone in North America had an opinion and people — along with plenty of radio stations — from all over the United States and Canada called, interviewed and kept the rumour alive, a rumour that had originated from within the MTS Centre (that’s right, ground zero for this rumour appears to have been True North Sports and Entertainment itself).

A couple of days later Tim Campbell in the Winnipeg Free Press, the radio rightsholder for the local AHL team and then Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun all declared the rumour “categorically untrue,” and, I’m sure, expected the talk to end.

But it didn’t end. Either no one reads the newspapers or no one believes what’s in them, but the rumours not only continued, they multiplied. Dates for news conferences to announce the return of the NHL started manifesting themselves. Thoughts that the team wasn’t Atlanta after all, but might be Phoenix, started to circulate. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was said to have passed through town. People from within the MTS Centre started calling their friends to say they’d been told that this was the final year of the “Manitoba” Moose. There was even a rumour that Estevan would be the new home of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades so the Moose could move to Saskatoon. The talk got downright crazy.

And as crazy as it is, it won’t go away. At our special Tom and Joe luncheon at Hu’s Asian Bistro today, our lunch winners from Manitoba Hydro refused to let the rumours die. In fact, they were convinced every rumour was true. Of course, eight diners at another table all stopped by to say they’d heard that the NHL’s return to Winnipeg was coming next week.

I’ve never heard Winnipeg like this. Ever. There is not only a fleeting hope out there, but it seems, a real, honest belief that the NHL will return to Winnipeg soon.

I will continue with my original position: Believe whatever it is you want to believe. But I will also add this: Be careful what you wish for. I believe the NHL will eventually return those failing Sun-Belt franchises to Canada, I’m just not sure that now is the time.

Then again, I’ve been really, really wrong before. How’d you like that Colts-by-two-touchdowns pick?

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

It will be Team Canada against Russia in the quarterfinals of men’s hockey tonight. As you heard right here on 92-CITI-FM last night, Canada got a pair of goals from Jarome Iginla and drilled Germany 8-2 in the qualification game at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver last night. With the win, the Canadians earned the right to move on to the quarters. Tonight’s quarterfinal goes at 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

In the other quarter-final games today, the United States faces Switzerland, Finland battles the Czechs and Sweden meets up with Slovakia. Hardly needed a round robin to determine all that.

Meanwhile, in women’s hockey, tomorrow night, Canada will face the United States for gold. So far, Canada has outscored its opposition 46-2 while the United States has outscored its opposition 40-2. This will be a dandy game between the only decent teams in the tournament.

After adding a gold medal from Ashley McIvor in women’s ski cross, Canada now has 11 medals: six golds, four silvers and a bronze and remain fifth place in the medal race behind the United States, Germany, Norway and Russia as we head into Day 13 at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Day 12 was another good day for Canada at the Games. In women’s curling, Canada beat Britain 6-5 in 11 ends to clinch first-place in the round robin, then whipped Russia 7-3 last night to finish at 8-1. Canada will now face Mirjam Ott of Switzerland in the semifinal match tomorrow at 11 a.m. On the men’s side, Kevin Martin’s team drilled China 10-3 last night to finish 9-0 in the round-robin. Canada will face the winner of today’s Great Britain-Sweden tiebreaker in tomorrow’s semifinal.

Today, there are medal events in men’s cross-country skiing relay, the women’s 5,000-metre speedskating, the women’s giant slalom, the women’s fours in bobsleigh, the women’s 3,000 metre short track relay, and women’s freestyle aerials.

The Manitoba Moose return to action tomorrow night when they face the Houston Aeros in Houston. Then on Friday and Saturday, the Moose play in San Antonio to wrap up their seven-game road swing.

In the CFL, the Blue Bombers made it official. They signed former Saskatchewan Roughriders’ backup quarterback Steven Jyles and then released last year;’s starter, Michael Bishop, and backup Casey Bramlet. The Bombers also signed receiver D.J. Hall off the Oakland Raiders practice roster. Meanwhile, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats released former Blue Bombers all-star Dan Goodspeed.

And in the NFL, one day after LaDainian Tomlinson was released by the San Diego Chargers, Brian Westbrook, the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, was released by the Philadelphia Eagles.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

That was better, but now reality sets in. Last night at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver, Team Canada whipped Germany 8-2 to move into the quarter-final against Russia.

The Canadians played a much better game against Germany than they did against the United States, but more importantly, they got some scoring. Canada outshot Germany 39-23, but this time, they played better around the opposition’s goal and put up an eight spot. Now they have some confidence and they’re going to need it tonight.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Week 3 in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season goes this coming Sunday in Las Vegas as the circuit meets up for the Shelby American 427 at the outstanding D-shaped oval in the desert.

Hometown boy Kyle Busch is the defending champion while four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson won the race in ‘05, ‘06 and ‘07. The big boys will be ready to drive hard in Sin City at 2 p.m. Sunday on Fox.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

It will be Team Canada against Russia in the quarterfinals of men’s hockey tonight. And this will be one of the most important hockey games ever played in Canada.

As you heard right here on 92-CITI-FM last night, Canada got a pair of goals from Jarome Iginla and drilled Germany 8-2 in the qualification game at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver last night. With the win, the Canadians earned the right to move on to the quarters. Tonight’s quarterfinal — Canada-Russia — goes at 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

After a gold medal from the ice dancing team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the first ice dancing gold for any North American pair, Canada now has 10 medals: five golds, four silvers and a bronze but has fallen to fifth in the medal race behind the United States, Germany, Norway and Russia as we head into Day 12 at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Day 11 was another good day for Canada at the Games. In men’s curling, Kevin Martin’s team beat the United States 7-2 to go to 8-0 while in women’s curling, Cheryl Bernard’s team topped Sweden 6-2 to improve to 6-1 and claim a playoff berth.

And here is the biggest non-surprise at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Canada will face the United States in the gold medal game of women’s hockey. Yesterday in the semi-finals, the U.S. blasted Sweden 9-1 while Canada shut out Finland 5-0. The gold medal game goes Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

On the men’s side, as we told you yesterday, Roberto Luongo will start in goal tonight as Team Canada, at 1-1-1 in the tournament, will face Germany tonight in the qualification game. The winner moves on to face Russia in the quarterfinal tomorrow night. Tonight’s qualification game goes at 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

Today, Canada’s women curl against Britain at 11 a.m. and then Russia at 9 p.m. while the men face China at 4. Medals will be handed out in the men’s 10,000-metre speedskating event, women’s biathlon relay, men’s giant slalom, the nordic combined relay and women’s ski cross.

The Manitoba Moose are off until Thursday when they face the Houston Aeros in Houston. Then on Friday and Saturday, the Moose play in San Antonio to wrap up their seven-game road swing.

In the CFL, the Argos released Stephen Reaves yesterday and now have no quarterbacks on their roster. Sound familiar? Meanwhile, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Niagara Falls product, kicker Sandro DeAngelis, a free-agent from the Calgary Stampeders.

And in the NFL, no surprise here, the San Diego Chargers have released former league MVP, 30-year-old runningback Ladainian Tomlinson.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

Roberto Luongo will start in goal tonight as Team Canada, at 1-1-1 in the tournament, will face Germany tonight in the qualification game. Now Canada must play better on defence and the scorers must score if Canada intends to move on.

Speaking of moving on, the winner of tonight’s game will go on to face Russia in the quarterfinal tomorrow night. Tonight’s qualification game goes at 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Granted, we’re only two races into the 2010 NASCAR season, but could be there a changing of the guard this year?

Drivers who failed to make the Chase in 2009 already hold seven of the top 12 points positions through: Kevin Harvick (first), Clint Boyer (second), Jamie McMurray (fourth), Jeff Burton (fifth), Matt Kenseth (seventh), David Reutimann (eighth) and Joey Logano (ninth). OK, so there is plenty of time left but if three or four hold on, that’s significant.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Here is the biggest non-surprise at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Canada will face the United States in the gold medal game of women’s hockey.

Yesterday in the semi-finals, the U.S. blasted Sweden 9-1 while Canada shut out Finland 5-0. The gold medal game goes Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Winnipeg time. But tell me, why is women’s hockey an Olympic sport when only two countries are any good at it?

Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

The United States got a terrific goaltending performance from Ryan Miller and two goals from Brian Rafalski as the Yanks beat Team Canada 5-3 in the Olympic hockey round-robin last night, despite the fact Canada outshot the U.S. 44-22. That leaves Canada at 1-1-1 in the tournament and they’ll now play Germany tomorrow night in the qualification game. The winner moves on to face Russia in the quarterfinal. Tomorrow night’s qualification game goes at 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

In the other games yesterday, Russia beat the Czechs 4-2 as Evgeni Malkin scored a pair of goals and Alexander Ovechkin had two assists while Sweden knocked off Finland 3-0.

After Jon Montgomery’s gold medal in the men’s skeleton on Friday and Kristina Groves’ silver in the 1,500-metre women’s speedskating event last night, Canada now has nine medals: four golds, four silvers and a bronze and remains tied for fourth in the medal race behind the United States, Germany and Norway as we head into Day 11 at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Despite the hockey score, Day 10 was another good day for Canada at the Games. In women’s curling, Cheryl Bernard’s team from Calgary blasted the U.S. 9-2 in seven ends and then lost 6-5 to China but remain in a tie for first at 5-1. In men’s curling, Canada’s Kevin Martin topped the Swiss 6-4 to improve to 7-0.

Today, the Canadian men curl against the United States at 11 a.m. while the women face Finland at 4 p.m. In women’s hockey, Canada plays Finland in the semifinal. It’s also a medal day in team ski jumping, mens’ and women’s cross-country skiing, and ice dancing. Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir lead after compulsories and have a real good shot at gold.

After splitting games in Rochester and Toronto this weekend, the Manitoba Moose are off until Thursday when they face the Houston Aeros in Houston. Then on Friday and Saturday, the Moose play in San Antonio to wrap up their seven-game road swing.

In CFL news over the weekend, the Blue Bombers re-signed quarterback Adam DiMichelle and offensive lineman Ryan Donnelly and extended the contract of wide receiver Adarius Bowman. It’s likely quarterback Steven Jyles will sign today. And there are a couple more quarterbacks available. Yesterday, Toronto Argos head coach Jim Barker released import quarterbacks Kerry Joseph and Cody Pickett and import linebacker and former Bomber Zeke Moreno.

In auto racing, four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson won the Auto Club 500 at Fontana, Cal.

In baseball, former Yankees leadoff man, 36-year-old Johnny Damon, has agreed to a one-year $8 million deal with the Detroit Tigers.

And finally, congratulations to Taylor Dickin of the Selkirk Steelers who, last night, was named the most valuable player in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

They say that in a short series or tournament, it’s all about having a hot goaltender. Last night the United States had one and Canada didn’t and that’s why the U.S. has advanced to the quarterfinals and Canada has to play a qualifying game.

Last night, Canada once again controlled the play and out shot its opponent 44-2, but Ryan Miller was better than Marty Brodeur and the U.S. beat Canada 5-3. Expect Roberto Luongo to be in net tomorrow night against Germany.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Pretty hard to argue this one. Jimmie Johnson is the best driver in stock car racing today and maybe, just maybe, of all time.

Yesterday, Johnson held off a charge from Kevin Harvick to win the Auto Club 500, his fifth victory at Fontana, California and the 48th of his Cup Series career. He’s a four-time consecutive winner of the Sprint Cup and he could be on his way to a fifth.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

The United States got a terrific goaltending performance from Ryan Miller and two goals from Brian Rafalski as the Yanks beat Team Canada 5-3 in the Olympic hockey round-robin last night, despite the fact Canada outshot the U.S. 44-22.

That leaves Canada at 1-1-1 in the tournament and they’ll now play Germany tomorrow night in the qualification game. The winner moves on to face Russia in the quarterfinal. Tomorrow night’s qualification game goes at 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner in the shootout while Marty Brodeur shut down the upstart Swiss in extra time as Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team got the job done last night — barely. In a bit of a shocker, Canada beat Switzerland 3-2 in a shootout as Canada improved to 2-0 in the round robin. Canada outshot the Swiss 47-22 through the five-minute overtime period but Jonas Hiller, the Anaheim Ducks goalie, was spectacular in the Swiss net. Canada will now play the United States Sunday night at 6:40 p.m. live right here on 92-CITI-FM. Joe’s Sunday Night Sports Show has been moved to 5 p.m., live from Boston Pizza on Kenaston. In the other games yesterday, the United States beat Norway 6-1 while Slovakia upset Russia 2-1 in a shootout.

After Christine Nesbitt’s gold medal in the women’s 1000-metre long track race yesterday, Canada now has seven medals: three golds, three silvers and a bronze and remains in fourth place in the medal race behind the United States and Germany as we head into Day 8 at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Day 7 was another great day for Canada at the Games. In men’s curling, Canada’s Kevin Martin improved 4-0 with an easy 7-3 win over Sweden and an even easier 12-5 victory over France. The women improved to 3-0 with a 10th-end 6-5 win over Germany.

Today, the men curl against Denmark at 4 p.m. while the women take on Denmark at 9 p.m. And it’s the compulsory round in ice dancing. The Canadian team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the 2008 World Silver Medalists, will be Canada’s medal hopefuls.

The Manitoba Moose face the Rochester Americans in Rochester tonight and then head back to Toronto to face the Marlies tomorrow night as Manitoba’s tough seven-game road trip continues.

In CFL news, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have hired former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Doug Berry as their offensive co-ordinator. And it looks like the Bombers are going to sign Steven Jyles, the former Saskatchewan Roughriders backup as their new No. 1 quarterback heading into camp.

Tiger Woods says he’ll address the media this morning at TPC Sawgrass. It will be a prepared statement read into a camera and won’t last more than 5 minutes.

And explain this one? Although both newspapers in town plus the Manitoba Moose broadcast rightsholder have debunked all the rumours about the Atlanta Thrashers coming to Winnipeg, the rumours not only won’t go away, they are getting stronger and they are getting louder. Either people have stopped reading newspapers, or they don’t believe a word in them. I had more than a dozen people in Winnipeg stop me yesterday to either ask me about the NHL-to-Winnipeg or to feed me another rumour they’d heard in the past 24 hours. This thing has a very strong life of its own. And you simply can’t tell people the rumours aren’t true. So it is true: People will believe what they want to believe.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

Whoa, that was a bit of a shocker, wasn’t it? But you sure have to give a lot of credit to Steinbach’s Ralph Krueger, who has done an incredible job during his entire career as the head coach and director of hockey in Switzerland.

Have to admit, didn’t see last night’s 3-2 Team Canada shootout win coming. I look at those two teams and see Canada by five and yet once again, Krueger out-coaches whomever Canada puts behind the bench and the Swiss get some goaltending and almost steal another one. How has Krueger NOT been in the NHL all these years?

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

They’ve gone from Daytona to Fontana and now they’re off to Sin City. It’s Vegas baby.

After two classic 500-mile races, it’s time to get to fancy at the D-shaped oval in the dessert as the NASCAR Sprint Cup boys take on Kyle Busch’s hometown track in the Shelby American 427. And guess who won here last year? That’s right, the man in the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota, Kyle Busch.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner in the shootout while Marty Brodeur shut down the upstart Swiss in extra time as Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team got the job done last night — barely.

In a bit of a shocker, Canada beat Switzerland 3-2 in a shootout as Canada improved to 2-0 in the round robin. Canada outshot the Swiss 50-22 through the five-minute overtime period but Jonas Hiller, the Anaheim Ducks goalie, was spectacular in the Swiss net. Canada will now play the United States Sunday night at 6:40 p.m. live right here on 92-CITI-FM.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

The men’s Olympic hockey tournament continues today in Vancouver and also live, right here on 92-CITI-FM. Yesterday, Finland beat Belarus 5-1 as the Flames Niklas Hagman scored twice for the Finns. Defending gold medalists, the Swedes, knocked off Germany 2-0 and Czech Republic beat Slovakia 3-1. Team Canada plays again tonight against the Swiss. Remember, the Swiss beat the Canadians 2-0 in Turin back in 2006. Tonight’s game: 6:30 right here, live on 92-CITI-FM.

After Marianne St-Gelais’s silver medal in women’s 500-metre short track speedskating last night, Canada now has six medals: two golds, three silvers and a bronze and remains in fourth place at the 21st Olympic Winter Games. It was another good day for Canada at the Games. Our women’s hockey team blasted the Swedes 13-1 in a meaningless game yesterday. Canada, who has outscored its opponents, 41-2 is already into Monday’s semifinals. Meanwhile, Canada’s Cheryl Bernard and her team from Calgary went to 2-0 in women’s curling with a 7-6 win over Japan.

As well, yesterday, the greatest American female skier of all-time, Lindsay Vonn, won the women’s downhill, as expected, defending Olympic champion, American Shaun White won the snowboard halfpipe (that was spectacular) and defending Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 1000-metre speedskating event, American Shani Davis, won gold once again.

Today, Canada’s men curl against Sweden at 11 a.m. and then France at 9 p.m., the women face Germany at 4 p.m. and there are medal events in women’s biathlon, women’s super combined slalom, women’s 1,000-metre speedskating, men’s biathlon, men’s figure skating and women’s snowboard halfpipe.

The Toronto Marlies beat the Manitoba Moose 4-3 at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto last night. The Moose play in Rochester tomorrow and Toronto again on Saturday as the seven-game road trip continues.

In CFL news, just one day after re-signing receiver P.K. Sam, the Toronto Argonauts traded him to the Calgary Stampeders yesterday in exchange for receiver Jeremaine Copeland.

And finally, Tiger Woods says he’ll address the media tomorrow morning at TPC Sawgrass.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

Will be read live on Friday morning’s show, after the Canada-Switzerland game tonight.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

The second race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season goes this Sunday in Fontana, Cal. It’s the Auto Club 500 and after a 35th place finish at Daytona, the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team of Jimmie Johnson has spent a week tinkering with the car.

Johnson has won four straight Sprint Cups, but unless Johnson is better on his home track this week, there won’t be a No. 5. The big race goes Sunday at 2 on Fox.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

The big news yesterday? The greatest American female skier of all-time, Lindsay Vonn, won the women’s downhill, as expected, defending Olympic champion, American Shaun White won the snowboard halfpipe and defending Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 1000-metre speedskating event, American Shani Davis, won gold once again.

So far, the United States owns the podium. But curling and hockey are underway. It’s time for Canada to shine.

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

The men’s Olympic hockey tournament opened in Vancouver last night as Team Canada walloped Norway 8-0 as Jarome Iginla fired the hat-trick for the Canadians and Roberto Luongo made only 15 saves to record the shutout. It was the most goals Canada has scored in an Olympic game since the NHL was permitted to participate in 1998. In the other games, the USA beat Switzerland 3-1 while Russia drilled Latvia 8-2. Team Canada plays again tomorrow night against the Swiss.

With Maelle Ricker’s gold in the women’s snowboard cross yesterday, Canada remains in fourth place at the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. So as we head into Day 6 today, Canada has two golds, two silvers and a bronze. And Canada had quite a good day on Day 5. In curling, Canada’s men beat Norway 7-6 in an extra end and then beat Germany 9-4 while the women knocked off Switzerland 5-4. Today, the Canadian women curl against Japan while the Canadian women’s hockey team, already headed to the semifinals, faces Sweden. It’s also a medal day in mens’ and women’s cross-country skiing, luge doubles, ladies 500-metre speedskating and men’s snowboard halfpipe.

The Manitoba Moose opened a seven-game road trip with an impressive 6-3 win over the Rochester Americans in Rochester last night. Matt Pettinger had two goals and an assist. The Moose will play in Toronto tonight.

Finally, Aharon Eggleston and a number of Goldeyes playing in the Colombian League this winter encouraged Goldeyes manager Rick Forney to sign a power hitting first baseman-outfielder named Carlos Sosa. Well, Sosa won the Colombian League triple crown and now he’s a Goldeye. Forney announced the signing yesterday.

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

OK, so it took a few minutes, but when Canada got its act together on Tuesday night, that 7-0 win over Norway was a pretty impressive way to open the Olympic hockey tournament.

In fact, Canada outshot the Norwegians 42-15 and 17 of 20 players had points. Things should only get better tonight when Canada plays Switzerland, 6:30 p.m. live on 92-CITI-FM.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

Last week it was Jamie McMurray at Daytona. This week, who will reign supreme at Fontana?

The Sprint Cup Boys head west to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California this Sunday for the Auto Club 500. Matt Kenseth is the defending champion while native Californian Jimmie Johnson won the fall race. Jeff Gordon, another Californian, has the track record. This should be a great race.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

31-year-old Maelle Ricker, who almost didn’t qualify for the 16s, ended up winning gold at a wet, icy Cypress Mountain snowboard course yesterday as Canada won its second gold medal of the Games.

Ricker, who wound up in the hospital in a race won by American Lidnsay Jacobellis back in 2006, didn’t even have to face Jacobellis in yesterday’s final. The American stumbled in the semifinal and didn’t even make it to the final four. Congratulations to Canadian snowboarding veteran Maelle Ricker.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010

Scott Taylor’s CITI Sports Reports

92 CITI FM IS AN OFFICIAL STATION OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC RADIO NETWORK.

After Mike Robertson won silver in the men’s snowboard cross yesterday, Canada is now fourth in the medal standings with one gold, two silvers and a bronze as we start Day 5 of the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Yesterday, the Canadian women’s hockey team beat Switzerland 10-1 and advanced right to the semifinals. They’ll play Sweden tomorrow in a meaningless game. Today’s big events include the start of the preliminary round of curling as Canada’s men face Norway at 11 a.m. and Germany at 9 p.m., the men’s figure skating short program goes today as does the women’s snowboard cross.

The big news? The men’s Olympic hockey tournament begins today. It will be the USA against Switzerland, Russia against Latvia and Team Canada against Norway in the openers. Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo will start in goal tonight for Canada. The Team Canada game goes at 6 p.m. right here on 92-CITI-FM.

Remember, the 2010 NHL season is on Olympic hiatus until Monday night March 1, when the Detroit Red Wings face the Colorado Avalanche. At the Olympic break the Washington Capitals lead the way with 90 points. Edmonton is last with 44. Alex Ovechkin leads in points with 89 while Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby lead in goals with 42. When the Olympics end, it’s going to be a great race to the finish.

So are the Atlanta Thrashers about to wind up in Winnipeg? NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says that the Thrashers ownership must get it together or else. The “or else” we aren’t sure of, but we do know this: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Thrashers are 28th in the NHL in attendance, averaging 4,000 fans fewer per game in the 10th year of their existence (13,204, according to inflated announced figures) than in the first (17,205). The rumours get louder and it could be that the Thrashers are about to get a new owner: Mark Chipman’s partner David Thomson. Again: Believe whatever it is you want to believe.

After splitting a weekend series with the Toronto Marlies, the Manitoba Moose return to action tonight in Rochester, N.Y., and tomorrow night in Toronto as the Moose start a seven-game road trip. The Moose got some good news yesterday as the Vancouver Canucks re-assigned defenseman Nolan Baumgartner to Winnipeg.

And finally, congratulations to provincial men’s curling champion Jeff Stoughton, Dan-o…..

7:15 OLYMPIC HOCKEY REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the Coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Hockey Report. Brought to you by MAACO Collision and Auto Painting at 983 Wall Street.

The Olympic hockey tournament starts tonight for Team Canada and GM Steve Yzerman says there is no pressure on Canada to win gold. Bullfeathers. Based on all of the national media’s pre-Olympic hype, this team MUST win gold or else Yzerman and the rest of the Team Canada brass will be run out of the country by CTV.

Team Canada opens the Olympic tournament tonight against Norway. It’s live right here at 6 p.m. on 92-CITI-FM.

8:15 NASCAR REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM NASCAR REPORT. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

It was an odd and almost miraculous 52nd running of the Daytona 500 for Jamie McMurray.

McMurray won in his first start with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, which is also the team’s first victory. The last driver to win in his first start with a new team was Michael Waltrip in ‘01 at the Daytona 500. And McMurray became the 34th different winner of the Great American Race.

5:15 PM OLYMPIC REPORT

Hi everybody, it’s the coach Scott Taylor and it’s time now for the 92-CITI-FM Olympic Report. Brought to you by 3M Automotive and Rondex. At 177 Isabel, Rondex is celebrating 38 years of auto body supply service.

It’s done. History was made Sunday night as mogul skier Alexandre Bilodeau of Rossmere, Que., won Canada’s first gold medal on home soil laying down a near-perfect final run at Cypress Mountain.

Now let’s just stop. Let’s stop with all the media pressure and let’s just enjoy the Olympics. The monkey is gone. Canada should do very, very well. But let’s tell the corporate media to stop demanding gold medals.