Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• I found it interesting that Ray Ferraro was behind the mic providing colour commentary for TSN on their coverage of the San Jose/Detroit game Sunday night. Ferraro may want be careful with his words when critiquing the Wings, considering his son Landon was drafted by Detroit in 2009. I am sure Ferraro won't ruffle any feathers.
• Former Rockets now playing pro hockey are slowly trickling back to the Okanagan. I ran into Mike Card Sunday afternoon outside the grocery store. Card played pro hockey in Europe this season and is again spending the summer living with former Rocket teammate Justin Keller.
• Speaking of the Rockets, their annual alumni golf weekend is planned for late July. Shea Weber, Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn have all committed to the three day event.
• No surprised to see the Calgary Hitmen up 2-0 in the WHL final against the Tri City Americans. Why? It always seems one team surprises the other when the east meets west in the WHL championship series. Look at the 2005 championship series as an example, or how about 2009 when the Rockets upset the Hitmen? The Rockets steamrolled the Brandon Wheat Kings in five games in 2005. The element of surprise was clearly evident. Not even pre-scouting for video analysis could show the Wheat Kings what type of intensity was necessary to win that series. The same could be said last year when the Hitmen hammered everyone in their path in claiming the Eastern Conference crown before losing the first three games to the Rockets in the championship series. I received some snide remarks on this blog when I stated that the Hitmen were still a year away from being in a good position to claim a league title considering the bulk of their team was still a year younger than the Rockets. Now with a deep core of 19 year-olds, they are two wins away from hoisting the trophy.
• Lopsided league finals are usually the norm. In 2008 Spokane beat Lethbridge in four straight games. The Giants rolled over Moose Jaw in four straight in 06 and the Rockets - as mentioned - took only five games to dispose of Brandon in 05. League finals like 2007 where Medicine Hat and Vancouver go the distance are the exception, not the norm. In fact, since 1995, only once, has a WHL final gone the distance.
• Having switched from Shaw to Telus TV in March, I have been unable to watch any of the WHL final series. In talking to those who subscribe to Shaw, the move to high-def has made the experience of watching the WHL final even that much more enjoyable.
• Please don't bitch and complain about the rain. Let's take all we can get considering the dry summer forecasted in the Okanagan. I am sick of going through the month of August with smoke filled skies and local residence fleeing for their lives as forest fires ravage the mountain side. I hope this rain is felt in Washington and Oregon state too. If forest fires aren't smoking us out here, we are usually getting it from our neighbors to the south.