It’s sometimes hard to believe I get to call games for Radio NL, the Blazers organization and this awesome City. Thanks to all who listen, tweet, interact, download the pod and love it just as much as I do. It’s the best gig in junior hockey. 20 WHL seasons just like that. 1/2
This is Karl.
📸: IG
@shuswapboating
He’s been working hard in the North Shuswap fighting fires since Saturday. These unsung heroes don’t get the recognition they deserve and most wouldn’t want the attention anyways. Our thanks to him. 🙏
Fraser Minten (right), part of the Leafs rookie night in Nashville. Full 🤠 getup with John Tavares & Matthew Knies. Tradition is for rookies to pay for the dinner but I’m told the Leafs told Fraser to keep his wallet at the hotel. Leafs have a strong team dynamic of inclusion.
We did a sit down interview w/
@LoganStankoven
today
@radionlnews
. I asked him about what Connor McDavid said to him in the handshake. It'll be one of his most memorable moments of his 1st NHL season.
#Kamloops
Memorial has started just off Tranquile Rd at airport perimeter. Local organizers from Brock invite everyone from the city to come and post a heart to show support.
#Kamloops
@RadioNLNews
We think of these young men who died as "hockey players". St. Albert's Stephen Wack proves there was much more to him than just hockey. Here's his youtube channel and it's pretty amazing.
Sounds like
@LoganStankoven
is on his way to join the Dallas Stars on the road in New York. They play the Rangers tomorrow. No word if he will be in the lineup yet or not.
#Kamloops
To all WHL players across the league heading back home today: Thanks for your commitment to the game and the sacrifices you/your family make for our entertainment. Go home, LAY LOW. Do your part to help limit the spread. Those bright lights will be back soon.
📸
@tea_mercuri75
It's actually incredible.
This will be Don Hay's 8th Memorial Cup (86, 90, 92, 94, 95, 06, 07, 23). Four times as an Assistant Coach, four times as Head Coach - winning three (94,95,07). His longevity & success is celebrated at this year's event in
#Kamloops
.
📸
@ADouglasPhotos
This is awesome...
Kyrell Sopotyk
@kyrellsopotyk
just won a Bronze medal in the 1500M Wheelchair event at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.
#Kamloops
📸 Lori Sopotyk
I try to avoid the personal posts on twitter... but while we were away, we got married in Cabos 🇲🇽
Looking forward to the July celebration in Kamloops, at the Delta-Marriott.
Thursday night is a big one.
@LoganStankoven
plays in Vancouver vs the Canucks and word is around 120 folks from
#Kamloops
will make the trek to watch him play. I'm told Logan flipped the bill for about 25 tickets for close friends & family.
📸James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Am i missing something? US Womens soccer is pumping Thailand 9-0 in Womens World Cup but still celebrating every goal with slides on the field, big team hugs. It’s pretty embarrassing.
Just off the phone with Kathleen Zary who started the GoFundMe account for the Sopotyk family. She’s in tears with the overwhelming support. An initial goal of $10,000 now sits above $42,000 this evening.
#Kamloops
#saskatoon
@sask_hockey
@TheWHL
Here’s video of tonight’s stick swinging incident at bench. Mcdonald gets Franklin and trainer Toledo Robinson. Broke his glasses. How this didn’t result in serious injury is a miracle. Match penalty.
Former Blazer Fraser Minten played his last game of junior hockey tonite. Class act all the way and will go down as one of my faves in 20 yrs of doing this. He texted the other night just to talk playoffs and how much he's enjoyed Sask.
Respect. All the best with
#LeafsForever
This totally caught me off guard tonight. 20 years.
Stingray’s Pete Angle, & President Ian Lurie caught me live on-air for this presentation in our pregame. Fitting the
@SCBroncos
are here for this one. That’s thoughtful. Really awesome decor for the booth. Thank you 🙏
How about some ‘likes’ for 15yr old
@DylanGarand31
who picked up his 1st WHL win making 31 saves in 3-2W. First ‘tender in 15yr old season to start for
@blazerhockey
since Devan Dubnyk in 2001-02
WHL fans/media...make sure to cut your local team a break right now. Most teams are operating at a mere shell of themselves pre-covid. Short-staffed, no revenues for over a year. Trying to implement vaccine policies while planning a camp... tough time to be throwing stones.
Sounds like Blazer F &
@MapleLeafs
prospect (2nd rd, 38th overall) will get an NHL ex. game Saturday. His rise and development this past year has been off the charts. To think he was the Blazers 5th selection in the 4th round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft... sometimes you hit.
The next
#Kamloops
track star?
"13 year-old Raiya Matonovich, ran the 800m on Thursday evening in 2:10.78. This is by far the fastest time for a girl her age in all of North America this year and 2nd fastest in the World." - From Kamloops Track & Field Club.
There is so much “Kamloops” in this pic. The hometown kid, T’kemlups representation, the confluence of the rivers, and world class weather.
📸 Candice Ward
“We’re optimistic Kyle will be ok, he’s being taken to hospital for further evaluation. Doctor said he wanted to get up on his own but they wanted to make sure on the ice.” - Don Hay
Annoying trend... Marking yourself "safe" from wildfires on Facebook. If you live in the middle of a city - VOID of any evac alerts or orders... you probably don't have to play that game. Kind of offensive to those actually evacuated or have had homes destroyed this summer.
Per source on the Leafs mindset for trading Mrazek:
“Toronto believes they will get a guy they have rated in the top 15 with their 38th and was able to offload Mrazek, as well”
Just a quick update... I had a good convo with head of security in the intermission. They've been spoken to on the concourse and I believe returning to their seats below. Thanks to
@SeattleTbirds
for looking after it once they were alerted.
What a WIN!
A massive 3rd period sees the Blazers score three in 2:47 to take a 4-1 lead. 4-2 the final.. 6-on-3 for a stretch of play to close out the game. Ernie strong.
Blazers win. See ya Monday night!
Forget the gameday skate and projected lines, the new
@NHL
tell for a player’s debut is to see if the parents are flying in. Travel for parents is now worked into most entry level contracts for the 1st game. Wes & Deana have made their across the continent today.
#Kamloops
Breaking: Some relief for BC Junior hockey teams.
@viaSportBC
now defines “local sport organization and may include participants who are under 22 years of age.”
This means entire junior hockey teams may practice together again.
I'm a fan of these 6PM starts. I know a lot of WHL teams do it on Saturday nights already. Makes sense and feeds the local economy a little more. Go for dinner/drinks after the game, it doesn't feel "late" yet. Kamloops restaurants & bars have been killing it so far.
Also…
#Kamloops
/ Monte Creek G
@KolbyHay
is headed for Florida Panthers
@FlaPanthers
camp. Here’s Kolby eight years ago before a Canucks game with
@strombone1
. Now, Luongo is working for the Panthers organization.
A perfect farewell for Don Moores today. Ken Hitchcock was the Master of Ceremonies. Great stories and memories from friends and family. Son Wade produced a video that didn’t leave a dry-eye in the Sandman Centre. Don is simply irreplaceable.
As the GoFundMe account approaches $155K, I asked
@ConnorZary
if he’s seen the 1400+ donations online: “I wish I could personally thank everyone for supporting and donating. I know the Sopotyk family will need it. Those donations will help in the future. Thanks everyone.”
Kudos to Saskatchewan for actually looking at the data overseas where Omicron has become the dominant variant and not buying into the hysteria and bubble wrap mindset of other provinces.
Thank you Don,
What a pleasure it was to learn from you the last four seasons. You’ve left a tremendous impact on how to be a professional through your actions and dedication to the game and to the Blazers.
A WHL trade involving two significant players is apparently close. Both players names have been out there for a while. Deal getting done before both teams begin training camp.
First look. The ice is back in with Memorial Cup logos this morning.
Jake getting a fresh flood on it. Scoreboard displaying logos of the four teams.
#Kamloops
End of the WHL road for Connor Bedard. It was sure a treat and a shame it was only two non-bubble seasons for the fans across Western Canada and the US fans who never saw him live. Regardless, the coverage and profile he brought the league should be celebrated.
Kevin Bieksa looks like he’s been doing this for 10 years... instead of 10 days. Really good presence on camera along with great info/analysis. He’s the Tony Romo of the NHL.
I want to give a shout out to the legendary
@EarlCFJCsports
who has announced he will retire at the end of Dec. The
#Kamloops
Sports Hall of Famer has left a lasting mark on the local sports scene. Here’s a guy that’s done it ALL. All my best and best wishes from
@RadioNLNews
Before the Blazer alum was introduced last night, Ken Hitchcock had them gathered in a room underneath to say a few words. Asked them all to look around the room, and take it all in. Likely the last time they will all be together. Emotional moment for many in the group.
#Kamloops
Unreal night. Couldn't have asked for a better game...
Blazers take 3-2 series lead. 5100+
Memorial Cup announcement. That's a tidy Friday night.
#Kamloops
Former Blazer
@kyrellsopotyk
wins 800M 🥇 at the Canadian Track & Field Championships in Langley.
Another accomplishment for the dual-sport athlete.
#Kamloops
📸 Cyclone Athletics
Parents on the move and travelling down to Carolina. This won’t be a take warm-up only thing.
@LoganStankoven
set to make his NHL debut tonight for the
@DallasStars
in Carolina.
Blazers franchise record for goals by a 16yr old is 29 - Rob Brown in 1984-85. Stankoven is now at 23 with 14 games to play. He broke the BC Major Midget scoring record last year, does he have another record setting season in him?
#Kamloops
If there was one absolute physical transformation of a player from a team I've covered... it was
@ALowsyPlayer17
. Barely recognizable from his 16yr old season.
“I’m grateful for masks! It hides the ugly cry when you’re up there (laughs). I was just thinking I don’t have to prove myself anymore. This was my dedication, my hard work. This was my ability to push through the pandemic, push through life. Those were tears of gratefulness.”
A big congratulations to
@spokanechiefs
longtime broadcaster
@MrMBoyle
who will call his 1500th
@TheWHL
game tonight in
#Kamloops
. He’s the swiss army knife of sports broadcasting and a great guy. Laughs for days. Congrats Boyler on the milestone!
Ethan Rowland
@ethanrowland158
was saying his goodbyes today. He’s set to likely go on waivers with the return of fellow 20 Daylan Kuefler. He’s handled this all like a pro. He tracked me down to say goodbye. Appreciate him doing that and shows great character. Good luck Rowly.
Since returning from World Juniors,
@LoganStankoven
has put up 24 points in nine games. (10-14-24). He’s now leading
@TheWHL
in points per game at 1.77 and has moved into 4th in scoring race with 55 points this season.
#Kamloops
📸 Rob Wilton
Feeling inspired and amazed after talking with
@kyrellsopotyk
. His attitude and outlook is just incredible after that devastating snowboarding accident. As
@blazerhockey
begins the season, Kyrell will be a special guest for our hour-long pre-game show
@RadioNLNews
#Kamloops
As predicted…
”Very pleased with where I landed, but I think it gives me so much more motivation to come out this next season and make sure those teams regret that they passed on me.” -
@LoganStankoven
⛽️