A fun piece from the New York Times today looks at the interesting split between right-handed and left-handed shooters in hockey.
Canadians, it seems, tend to shoot left-handed with a split of as much as 70 to 30 percent. About 60 percent of American hockey players shoot right-handed, however, and this all comes despite the fact that there is little difference (outside of the world of hockey) between the percentage of people who are right- and left-handed in the two nations.
In Canada, the hierarchy of music could go something like this:
1. The Canadian National Anthem
2. “The Hockey Theme”
3. Anything by Rush
Two of those became one, in a way, on Thursday night with the debut of Rush drummer Neil Peart’s percussion-heavy version of “The Hockey Theme.” The one-minute tune premiered during the first intermission of Thursday night’s broadcast of the game between the Flyers and the Maple Leafs.
UPDATE: And now you can see it here:
Of course, the move comes with a touch of controversy. “The Hockey Theme” was — and to many Canadians always will be — the “Hockey Night in Canada” theme song on CBC. A couple of years ago, the CBC was unable to negotiate an extension for the rights to use the song and rival CTV snatched it up. “The Hockey Theme” now plays on TSN’s broadcasts of hockey games.
Still, Peart said it was an honor to give his take on a song known throughout the land.
“I gave a little speech in the studio before we started [recording] saying: ‘Every mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, child, moose and beaver will see and hear this,’ the St. Catherines, Ontario, native told Allan Maki of The Globe & Mail. “I’ll be very curious to know how Canadians respond to this.”
He took the job seriously, taking about 60 days to record the minute-long piece of music, and using a 17-piece orchestra behind him. Peart was filmed recording the song, playing on a custom drum kit by DW, that bore the logos of all 30 NHL teams. The drum kit will be displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Check out the video below for a quick take and some words from Peart about what it meant to do this job:
Maurizio Terrigno, the owner of an upscale Calgary restaurant who told a few news outlets that members of the Edmonton Oilers refused to pay their full bill of nearly $18,000 on New Year’s Eve, now says he’s reached an agreement with the team, according to the Edmonton Sun.
“I have come to an agreement with the Edmonton Oilers,” he told the Sun. “I am very ecstatic with the agreement.”
Allan Watt, a spokesman for the team, didn’t confirm or deny any agreement, but clearly wanted to move on from the entire ordeal.
“The Edmonton Oilers has nothing more to say about this issue,” he told the Sun just before the team’s game in San Jose, Calif., against the Sharks. “I have nothing more to say on this issue … we consider the incident done with we have nothing more to add.”
In case you missed it, the Order of Canada honorees were announced this week and Governor General Michaelle Jean included NHL legend Mario Lemieux of Montreal, film director Ivan Reitman of Toronto, and folk rocker Neil Young of Winnipeg among the 57 honorees for the year,
All three men were given the honor of Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honors which recognizes “a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation.”
We here at Canadian of the Week figure if they’re good enough for the Governor General, they’re good enough for us, and we’re therefore proud to bestow the additional honor of Canadian of the Week on all three of them.
Here are their citations from Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean:
Mario Lemieux For his contributions as one of hockey’s most gifted players, as an inspirational role model and mentor, and for supporting charitable initiatives through the Mario Lemieux Foundation.
Ivan Reitman For his contributions as a director and producer, and for his promotion of the Canadian film and television industries.
Neil Young For his contributions as one of Canada’s greatest musical talents whose unique voice and iconic songs have influenced generations of musicians, and for his support of educational and charitable organizations.
The Flames-Oilers rivalry is reaching a whole new level.
A Calgary restaurant owner is calling unsportsmanlike conduct on some Edmonton Oilers players he says skipped out on part of a huge New Year’s Eve bill, following the team’s 2-1 loss to the hometown Flames.
TSN.ca reports that Osteria De Medici owner Maurizio Terrigno says the players partied in a group that included 45 people, and the drinks were flowing to the tune of $8,200, and the total bill came to nearly $17,000.
The restaurant owner says the players demanded a discount when they got the bill, and eventually left $12,000 before leaving.
He’s decided to donate the the money he did get to an earthquake relief fund for people in L’Aquila, Italy.
Oilers spokesman Allan Watt told TSN.ca the restaurant was recommended by some Calgary friends of the players and they had a prearranged meal and menu.
“They received the bill which they felt was outrageous,” said Watt.
“They inquired about it and they were unhappy about it and were unhappy with some of the charges. The restaurant adjusted it by $7,000.”
Watt said the players paid the adjusted bill and added a $1,900 tip and left the restaurant.
Los Angeles-based Canadian writer Linda Massarella posted a list of the 10 most influential Canadians in the United States in 2009, and Canadian of the Week fully endorses it.
Massarella kept her list to what she called “those who are most boldly Canadian, who exude Canadian-ness in their speech and actions, who when interviewed say, ‘I’m from Canada,’ and give as much time to their homeland as to their adopted town.”
Coming in first was Luc Robitaille, the former left winger-turned team president of the Los Angeles Kings. As an L.A. native now living on the east cosat, and former Kings’ season ticket holder, I love this choice. I just worry that it’s a little too insider-y, but big points for sticking to the national sport and honoring a man who has made hockey successful in L.A. for nearly three decades.
Also making the list were recent Canadian of the Week picks James Cameron and William Shatner.
He may be 40 years old, but Simcoe, Ontario, native Dwayne Roloson proved on Monday night he’s still got some serious skills in net.
The New York Islanders’ goalie made a pair of saves within a couple of seconds that could each qualify for save of the year. Unfortunately for Roli and the Isles, in came in a 4-2 losing effort against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the saves are worth checking out below.
The “American Idol” and the Canadian hockey star are getting married.
Carrie Underwood’s spokeswoman and her hockey beau himself confirmed the engagement after about a year of dating.
“I’m happy to confirm that Carrie Underwood is engaged to Mike Fisher, and the couple couldn’t be happier,” Underwood’s rep told Us magazine. “No wedding date has been set at this time.”
Mike Fisher, a center for the Ottawa Senators, confirmed it himself for the Ottawa Sun, saying, “It’s true. We’re both obviously excited and very happy. I’m not sure exactly when (the wedding will take place).”
Fisher’s friends and teammates were happy for him, and giving him a hard time almost immediately.
“It’s great. It’s a long time coming. There’s going to be a lot of broken hearts here in Ottawa with all those girls that are in love with Mikey,” Senators winger Chris Neil told the Sun. “He’s met an awesome girl. We’re ecstatic for him.”
Underwood, was erroneously reported to have been moving in with Fisher earlier this year, tells Self magazine in next month’s issue that she’d love to have a small family.
“Not that I have a husband to have one with yet, but someday I’d like a family — not a big one, but not a small one either,” she told the magazine. “Two kids is good, three is fine. Four? Somebody’s getting something done, because we ain’t having five!”
This could be the best U.S.-Canadian pairing since Will Arnett and Amy Poehler!
With excitement building for the NHL’s annual outdoor Winter Classic, guest blogger Perry Espardinez takes us on a little trip down an icy memory lane:
This New Year’s Day, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins will square off in the Winter Classic, an NHL annual event that brings ice hockey out of the arenas and into the cold of winter. This regular season match tries to bring the sport back to its roots, plus gives sports fans something to watch aside from the usual New Years hangover helpers of parades and college bowl games.
Now, the NHL is considering a Canadian outdoor game each season, which should make us wonder why the Winter Classic isn’t already played in Canada.
In fact, it was … on a technicality.
The Heritage Classic, as it was billed in 2003, was the NHLs first regular season game to be played outdoors.
Hosted by the Edmonton Oilers, it was held on a rink set up at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The Montreal Canadians beat the home team 4-3 with 57,000 in attendance.
Keeping with tradition, the NHL plans to feature Canadian teams in an outdoor Canadian venue in the new annual outdoor game, which would start. All six Canadian NHL teams have expressed interest, but there’s been no announcement on when or where the game would be played.
A nationwide faceoff is going on across Canada after a neurosurgeon said at a seminar over the weekend that TV hockey analyst Don Cherry is partially to blame for the serious injuries and concussions sustained by hockey players.
For those unfamiliar, Don Cherry is a divisive, controversial and beloved coach-turned-commentator who is a weekly highlight of the CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada.” He dresses like Liberace, but maintains his tough-guy image, and Dr. Charles Tator says that tough-guy persona is part of the problem. Tator referred to Cherry’s approach as “an aggressive, lack-of-respect hockey,” according to a CBC report.
“If he took a strong stand against no hits to the head, it would help,” Tator said at the conference, even praising Cherry’s previous work in the 1990s when he promoted “STOP,” an effort to prevent hitting other players on the ice from behind.
The story has had Cherry’s supporters and detractors lighting up message boards in support or to jump on the effort against him.
Cherry’s boss at “Hockey Night in Canada” was one of those quick to jump to his defense.
“Everything from championing on-ice rules and equipment changes to leading the STOP sign campaign, he has been the leader in teaching tough, smart hockey and promotes respect amongst players at every level,” executive producer Sherali Najak said Sunday in a release.
“Everyone who has watched Don over the years knows this, and any indication otherwise is misguided and a short-sighted misrepresentation of the facts.”
A fun piece from the New York Times today looks at the interesting split between right-handed and left-handed shooters in hockey.
In case you missed it, the Order of Canada honorees were announced this week and Governor General Michaelle Jean included NHL legend Mario Lemieux of Montreal, film director Ivan Reitman of Toronto, and folk rocker Neil Young of Winnipeg among the 57 honorees for the year,
The Flames-Oilers rivalry is reaching a whole new level.
The “American Idol” and the Canadian hockey star are getting married.
A nationwide faceoff is going on across Canada after a neurosurgeon said at a seminar over the weekend that TV hockey analyst Don Cherry is partially to blame for the serious injuries and concussions sustained by hockey players.
