Category: Hockey

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Why there’s not more Canucks in HD

Listening to the Canucks This Week podcast from this past Monday, there was something that was asked to Dan Murphy that caught my ear.

Why are there not more Canucks games in high-definition, more so why Sportsnet doesn’t show any at all?

Answer: there is only one HD Sportsnet channel for all of Canada, but this doesn’t play well with the fact that all Canucks games on Sportsnet are regional broadcasts. NHL rules prohibit regional games from being aired nationally, and Sportsnet does not have the technical capability to blackout specific regions on their HD channel.

The network is in the process of moving into new facilities next year, which, according to Murphy, will include four, different HD control rooms that will enable them to show more games on Sportsnet in high-def. More than likely, all the network flavors will be getting the HD upgrade when that facility comes online.

Murphy did say “next year”, so I’m unsure if that implies 2008 or next season. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Keeping my fingers crossed, this might also see the Canucks pay per view go into HD. I wouldn’t bank on it, but a guy can hope, right?

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NHL refs are getting makeovers as well

Ok, I’ve come to like the new uniforms that the players will be wearing next season, as long as the designs that are applied to them are not gaudy. Trust me, I’m going to hold my breath until then. Just got a bad feeling that some teams (I’m looking at you Nashville!) will go a tad overboard.

This, however, is something I didn’t notice at the All-Star Game last night.

While most of the uniform-based attention at the NHL All-Star Game was focused on the players’ new Reebok-designed attire, another uniform story went largely unheralded and unnoticed.

Referees were wearing silver armbands, instead of their usual orange, and ESPN.com has learned that this change will be made permanent next season.

“It’s coming for next season,” NHL spokesperson Nirva Milord said in an e-mail from the All-Star Game in Dallas. “We’re just giving it a consistent look with the new NHL logo.”

That logo, introduced prior to the 2005-06 season, is black and silver, while the league’s previous emblem was black and orange, matching the refs’ current armbands. [espn]

No!!! This is a change that I do not care for, and it completely kills an idea that Rebecca and I had for Halloween costumes.

McGeoughI like the orange bands, if not for look, but for function. When the ref raises his arm to call a penalty, it’s more noticeable to catch the movement. The little, orange floaties are the first thing I think of when it comes to a hockey ref. At the same time, the effects won’t be nearly as good when McGeough comes flying in to call a no-goal and appear to be ready to fly away because he’s flapping his arms like a mad man.

As a side note, check out this post to see how GZ Expat would change the NHL even further. If you saw the interview with Gary Bettman[wiki] on the CBC’s coverage of the All-Star Game last night, then, like me, you will feel like absolutely nothing is safe in the NHL anymore. He now embodies everything I can think of when it comes to slimy businessmen.

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The NHL 2.0

montreal canadian allstar
Photo credit: Love the 214 on Flickr

I know that I am not the first one to call “The New NHL” by something so geeky. Look at everything that is going on in the NHL right now, in addition to the revamped rules in this post-lockout era. It’s faster and way more competitive than before. Okay, I think all hockey fans can be in agreement on that one, right?

Then there is the Buffalo Sabres‘ new logo, aka The Buffaslug. I already gave my opinion on it when it was unveiled, and it still doesn’t sit well with me. When I think about it in relation to everything else going on in the world of Web 2.0[wiki], there is this nagging comparison that I’ve been wanting to make. However, one team making a change isn’t enough, but check out this post that examines Web 2.0 logos in general.

Enter the new uniforms that will take over the league next season[rbkedgeuniform.com]. Lighter, water resistant, aerodynamic, and Sidney Crosby approved. That last point can really be ignored, but I know for a fact that there are going to be loads of people who will be saddened, if not pissed, by this change.

These are not what you can consider sweaters anymore. They are jerseys, and all this new technology that goes into them makes them uber expensive. Of course, they’re still brand spanking new, but $300 for a jersey? No thanks.

teemu selanne
Photo credit: Love the 214 on Flickr

Tighter fit also means less real estate to paste a logo on the front of your jersey. So if you resize and lose detail, might this be a good time to rethink your logo altogether? That might be pushing it, but what better reason to make a change when everything else a player puts on is changing anyway? Remember, this isn’t just about the jersey as much as it is about pants and socks, too(better hip protection and no more tape). Could next season be the year the “stick in rink”[hockeydb] comes back to replace the Orca Bay logo[hockeydb] for the Canucks? I wouldn’t be surprised, and the change is something I would fully support as long as it looks good with those new threads.

One thing that sticks out to me is the similarity to baseball jerseys around the hips. The way that the front and back dip down will ultimately change the way long time fans think about the traditional sweater. To me, those curves would make it hard to do that horizontal line at the bottom of the jersey. Perhaps when we see them next season, it will be a straight cut across. However, I kind of doubt it. The league is sounding pretty harsh on the topic, and there is threat of fining players next season if they make individual adjustments. I’ve also heard that the third jersey might go away completely and teams will have to wear white when playing in their home rink.

Alex Ovechkin
Photo credit: julie_h on Flickr

This is why I’m starting to call this the NHL 2.0. New rules, new wardrobe, and a lot of new faces are changing the way the game is played. Just look at the All-Star Game and how many people are going for their first time, not to mention how young a lot of them are.

However, to any team that is going to start changing logos, I pray that they avoid the mindset that has given rise to the Buffaslug. If there is any comparison to the world of Web 2.0 going on here, this is one design concept that I do not want to see when it comes to forging new logos. This is where I have to plead for staying as traditional as possible, however strange that might sound or actually end up being.

I’m okay with change. I am not okay with something that makes me think of Hello Kitty.

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The Crazy Canucks #18 – First half of the season down

We recorded episode #18 of The Crazy Canucks last night. Hurry and go download it now!

The plan was to have us all be online for this episode, but Dave got held up at work and couldn’t make it in time. The rest of the crew gathered to go over the rest of the road trip out east. Two wins over Montreal and Ottawa, and a shootout loss to Buffalo that didn’t seem as bad as what losing should be.

Record as of this episode: 27-19-2
Northwest Division: 2nd
Western Conference: 7th

It’s the All-Star break, so we take a little time to talk about the festivities and the new uniforms that have been unveiled by the league. They ain’t so bad, but the change might result in more than just new threads. Also, we can’t help ourselves from talking about the Bullis rumors of him wanting a trade out of Vancouver.

64:39 minutes
The Crazy Canucks

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CCM is RBK

I’ve asked this question to Rebecca numerous times, and it totally drives her nuts when I do that. Today, I actually remembered to look it up.

CCM Does CCM still exist on their own or have they been gobbled up like Nike did to Bauer?

The answer is that they do exist, but the brand name is owned by RBK, or Reebok. However, there is no direct melting of the two brands when it comes to hockey equipment. This is particularly interesting because RBK is the big sponsor behind superstars like Sidney Crosby, but CCM[wiki] is a long time leader in the manufacturer of hockey equipment. Reebok uses superstars to push their company, but CCM is such a staple in the sport that the name is strong enough to exist on its own.

When Nike grabbed up Bauer, the brand almost immediately became “Nike Bauer“[wiki]. For now, CCM is still sold on it’s own name. However, “CCM RBK” or “RBK CCM” is just way too ugly to say. Good to know that they haven’t devoured the CCM namesake, yet.

The same can’t be said for Koho[wiki]. They were an offshoot of CCM, so that was turned into what is RBK today. I used to drool over Koho goalie equipment all the time, and it stands to reason that even Roberto Luongo[wiki] uses their stuff almost exclusively. However, there is just something about Koho that is just not as cool as having RBK’s logo on your pads. Who else to use a side by side comparison for this other than Mr. Koho himself, Patrick Roy[wiki].

KOHO vs RBK
Tell me that having “KOHO” written all over your pads isn’t a tad more menacing than the swooshing, almost flowing RBK designs. Comparatively, Koho even stands out a heck of a lot more, meaning quality advertising. At least Reebok knew enough to not mess with the CCM branding… yet.

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Where hockey becomes a holiday

Ok, it’s not an official holiday, but it damn near should be. And to me, this Tim Hortons commercial is what Hockey Day in Canada is all about.

Off we go to GM to watch the Canucks beat the Leafs on the big screen. Should be a good time. Hope your hockey day has been good for you.

Update: The game was pretty cool, and that’s more than just the 6-1 win over the Leafs(who, I might add, suck). It was close to a real game experience. They blew the horn when the Canucks scored, gave away some free stuff at random points, and a fair number of Leafs fans for us to heckle were actually brave enough to hang out for the game.

True highlight? The first intermission of the UBC game that followed the CBC broadcast was a mini-game of some pee wee hockey kids. Check out the video I posted onto YouTube here. We actually left after that. Regina was up by three goals at the end of the first. Good action, but we were a little beat and ready to head home.

I have pictures from the event on Flickr. Pending review for quality control, look for some audio that Rebecca and I recorded at GM Place on The Crazy Canucks in the next few days.

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Not the Canucks at GM Place

We’ve decided to go check out this new fangled jumbo-super-tron that they’ve installed at GM Place tomorrow. It’s not a bad deal. $12 to watch the Canucks take on the Leafs on the big screen above center ice, then we get to catch some college hockey between the UBC Thunderbirds and Regina Cougars[canucks]. Will make for a nice Hockey Day in Canada[cbc] for sure.

We got our tickets ahead of time so we could ensure some decent tickets. The guy asked us why we wanted to sit further away from the ice rather than the closer seats we could have got. I told him that I didn’t want to strain my neck to watch the CBC coverage on the mega TV up above. He said that made sense.

Should be good, and I will take the recording gear along as well. Never know what I can capture, but will probably push that content out The Crazy Canucks feed.

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And the U.S. won the bronze

Very Canadian
I like to add that tidbit about the U.S. winning the bronze medal round against Sweden this morning because neither of their countries seem to care(World Junior Ice Hockey Championships[wiki]). There was probably a very slim chance of catching the game in the states, and there wasn’t much of a crowd supporting team Sweden in their home country. Lack of U.S. coverage and support is one thing, but Sweden? Come on. The core of the Canucks is made of guys from there.

Watching the young guys play is amazing. Truly the future of hockey to come. You just know that with the new rules in the NHL and the way these guys play in this tournament, the game will just keep getting faster and faster.

The other thing is, there is this new dynasty of hockey brothers in the game. I don’t think there are anymore Staals left, and little Tom Pyatt certainly shows some promise. I can’t be too sure about the boys from the states, but only three of those players don’t have pro statuses with the NHL listed yet. Still, not too many people there care.

Canada 4, Russia 2. Good game. I was hoping for a battle, and Russia fought hard to come back. Just wasn’t enough gas left in the tank to combat Canada’s onslaught. Combine this with Tim Ho coffee in my hand at 10:30 in the morning. Doesn’t get much more north of the 49th than that.

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The Crazy Canucks #14 – Five game streak high

Another one recorded tonight, and I think I’m really beginning to master Ubercaster more and more. You can download episode #14 now.

We all gather around for this episode, but Alanah has technical problems on her end that causes her to dip out early from the fun. You’ll have to ask her the full story, but let’s just call it a conspiracy by her furry friends of the four-legged kind.

Record as of this episode: 22-18-1
Northwest Division: 1st
Western Conference: 3rd

On a five game win streak right now, there is so much to rant and rave about. Edmonton, Calgary, and Dallas have all been our victims since the last recording. Linden’s hot, Naslund’s still struggling, and Burrows finally got that first (official) goal of the season. The rest of the team seems to be waking up, and fans are starting to love the Luongo. We also make some all-star predictions, dissect the mystery of the Northwest Division, and talk a little bit about the World Jr.’s.

44:11 minutes
The Crazy Canucks

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“Kansas City Penguins”

Let’s be honest. The “Kansas City Penguins” has no ring to it. It cannot compare to the way the words “Pittsburgh” and “Penguins” rolls off your tongue. Four syllables versus six. I don’t like the idea of Pittsburgh losing their NHL team at all[cbc].

IMG_2459 However, I do love Kansas City.

I have a lot of family who live in and around KC. I grew up making many trips to visit my grandparents and seeing the sights where my parents first met(don’t ask me how they ended up in Iowa). The long stretches of interstate 80 and 35 were the way that I learned how to drive on four lane freeways. It’s probably the main reason that I have longed to live in a metropolitan area for most of my adult life.

The odd thing is, I have never been to a professional sporting event in KC. I have been inside Arrowhead Stadium for the city’s sesquicentennial celebration(got to see Little Richard and Kenny Rogers in the same night), but that’s about it. You cannot dispute that there are die hard Royals and Chiefs fans in the city, and the record of each respective team does little to change that. I really can’t be too sure about the Wizards of the MLS, but the following can be seen for those who love the futbol.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Pittsburgh Penguins could play rent-free and be equal managing partners in the new Sprint Center if they move to Kansas City, under an offer unveiled Thursday by the arena’s operating group.

Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, said the Penguins would not have to buy into the management agreement. The $276 million Sprint Center is scheduled to open in October. […]

“They have told us they will make a decision within 30 days,” Leiweke said. “We will know within 30 days whether they are going to work out their issues in Pittsburgh and get an arena built, or whether they will ask the NHL for permission to move the team to Kansas City.” [espn]

There is no doubt in my mind that KC is fully capable of handling a hockey team. The Sprint Center[wiki] has been built specifically to lure a team from the NHL, there’s no disputing that. They probably would have lived with a minor league team, but the people behind the push wanted to go pro. Are the people of KC ready for it? I can’t be too sure.

IMG_2458 Chatting briefly with one of my cousins who lives in the area, he thought they already had a team there. And they did… up until about five years ago. Even then, the Kansas City Blades[wiki] were only an IHL team. Oddly enough, they were also an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks until the IHL folded in 2001.

Is my fifteen year old cousin a solid source for the mindset of the entire Kansas City metropolitan area? Probably not, but it kind of shows you that this will be more like when the Nashville Predators started into the league. You’ll have to start teaching hockey to a new legion of fans if the Penguins move to KC.

The one saving grace in all of this is star power, and we all know that the Penguins have that. I can already see car dealerships in the metro area of KC with Sidney Crosby’s endorsement or the lighting of the Plaza lights being done by Evgeni Malkin at the switch. The Sprint Center being in the downtown core of the city offers numerous possibilities to market the team and city at the same time.

It’ll be a daunting move if Lemieux takes the team to the midwest, and I’ve been itching to see that happen. The bitter rivalry of having the St. Louis Blues come into town will already brew an attraction for fans to come out and support the local team for a long time. I do wonder if they’ll retain the name if they move, but “KC Pens” does pop up in my head. You can already hear sports reporters saying it.

Also, don’t think for a minute that Missouri having two NHL teams is an overkill. That’s like telling someone from Alberta that they should only have one team in that province. It actually takes less time to drive between Calgary and Edmonton than it does for St. Louis and Kansas City.

When it comes down to it, I would really like to see the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh. If they have to move, then make it KC. The midwest needs more hockey.