Junior Hockey Blog

Best Montana Wrestler Ever?

2012-02-12T09:28:00.002-07:00

The 2012 Wrestling season has concluded with Kalispel Glacier winning the AA, Corvalis winning the class A, and the BC champs are the Forsyth Dogies. There were 4 Champions who won for their Fourth time, bringing that total to 23 in the history of Montana wrestling.

Of the 23 four time state champs there are 3 who went undefeated for their entire high school careers. They are Gene Davis of Missoula who graduated in 1963, Beau Malia from Billings Skyview who graduated in 2004, and Jade Rauser who graduated from Townsend in 2011.

However their are two reasons why Ben Stroh of Chinook (This years 189 pound 4 time champ headed for Wyoming to wrestle collegiately) could arguably be considered the best ever. First, the vast majority of the others started out their careers as 98 pound freshman, thus their first years tourney was spent wrestling against other freshman and not versus bigger and stronger upper classmen. Ben wrestled at 160 pounds his freshman year. He wrestled at 171 his Sophmore year, and then 189 his junior and senior years.

Secondly, and most astonishingly he set a NATIONAL record by winning his last 101 matches in a row BY PIN!!! For the last 2 years plus - he not only went undefeated, but he beat EVERY SINGLE opponent by PINNING them!!!

Anyway, Congratulations go out to this years 4 four time state champs. They are Luke Schlosser of Conrad, Cole Mendenhall of Great Falls, Luke Zieger of Glasgow, and as previously mentioned, Ben Stroh of Chinook.

Another former AWHL Player makes it to the NHL

2011-12-26T12:01:00.003-07:00

The Buffalo Sabres have called up Derek Whitmore from the AHL. He played for the Butte Irish of the old AWHL in 2001-2002.

Some other notables from the old AWHL to make it to the NHL are Former Billings Bulls goalie Chris Holt who played for the NY Rangers, Former Great Falls American Pat Dwyer who plays for the Carolina Hurricanes, and former Fernie Ghostrider goalie David LeNeveau who played for the Pheonix Coyotes.

Once again congratulations to Derek Whitmore on getting called up to the Buffalo Sabres!

Three Montana Wrestlers make it to Nationals

2011-03-21T16:59:00.003-06:00

At the NCAA Wrestling Finals in Philadelphia there were 3 Montana wrestlers competing last weekend.

Trent Sprenkle from Billings competed for the ND State Bison and went 3-2, Vince Salminen also from Billings and from NDSU went 0-2, and Cole Dallasera from Butte competed for Wyoming and went 2-2.

Penn State won the team title with Cornell finishing 2nd and Iowa finishing 3rd.

Former Billings Bull Goalie going to Nationals!

2011-03-14T17:08:00.002-06:00

While the Billings Bulls season is over, Former goalie Eddie Fritz who was traded to El Paso of the Western States Hockey League is going to Nationals in April with his new team, the El Paso Rhinos.

The El Paso Rhinos won their playoff series two games to zero over the Boulder Bison and are moving on to the WSHL Championship series versus the Idaho Jr. Steelheads. Both teams will be going to Nationals!

A little closer to home, The Helena Bighorns and the Seattle Totems are playing in the Nor Pac league finals with both teams having already qualified for Nationals. Former Billings Bulls player Stormy Knight is a member of the Seattle Totems.

Best of luck to all these teams at Nationals in April!!

Former Billings Bighorn is Boston Bruins Announcer

2010-10-18T16:26:00.002-06:00

While enjoying a free preview weekend of NHL Center Ice on DISH Network I flipped to between periods coverage of the Boston Bruins VS New Jersey Devils game and the studio host was none other than former Boston Bruin/Billings Bighorn player Gord Kluzak.

Kind of neat to see a former player like that!

Nor Pac Showcase

2010-01-14T17:49:00.003-07:00

The Nor Pac hockey league just finished their inaugural showcase tournament here in Billings MT. Eighteen games in 3 days. The Eastern division went 16-2 versus the West. The attendence figures for the 3 Bulls games at the Metra were 505, 1382, and 1309. The Bulls beat Medford OR 10-2, then they beat Seattle 4-1, and then on the final day they lost to Puget Sound 5-2.

The league said they were pleased with how well the tournament was run and many people in Billings hope that it will be back here again next year.

Two Billings Guys make Huge Leaps up in Hockey!!!

2009-09-20T10:10:00.002-06:00

First off, Billings native and former Yellowstone (Cody, Wyo.) player Jake Doty has tried out for and made the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. The WHL is a Major Junior Canadien Hockey League that often times feeds NHL rosters down the road.

Speaking of the NHL, They have just announced the hiring of Billings native Bryan Pancich as a linesman for the 2009-10 season. Bryan was a linesman last season in the USHL -- A Tier 1 Major Junior American League.

Congrats to both Jake and Bryan!!!

Billings Baseball Part 2

2009-08-16T19:07:00.002-06:00

Updating my last post:

The Billings Scarlets lost their next game and finished the tourney 2-2. Not bad.

The Boulder Arrowhead Little League team went 3-2 for the tourney losing their last game 9-7 to Salem Oregon.

The Laurel Dodgers class A Legion team lost to Kennewick WA 7-6 in the Regional Final. They took 2nd place capping off a great season.

Billings Baseball 2009

2009-08-09T18:08:00.002-06:00

Ussually when a Montana team makes it to a regioal tournament they pretty much go 0-2 and are done save for when we get to play Alaska then they go 1-2 and are done.

This year has definitely been an exception to the rule.

The Billings Scarlets American Legion team so far is 2-1 at their Regional Tourney in Oregon and looking to keep on winning and hopefully get a chance to make it to the Legion World Series see what happens with that. In the early sixties the Billings Royals took second in the Legion World Series led by Pitcher Dave McNally, losing to Louisiana in the championship game.

The Laurel Dodgers class B American Legion team are 2-0 in their regional and are hoping to continue their winning ways.

The Billings-Boulder Arrowhead boys little league team is also 2-0 in their regional and not only have a shot at the Little League World series in Williamsport PA but also have a shot at making it on ESPN2 for their regional final which even if they lose they still will have made it on to National TV.

Speaking of Dave McNally (who sadly passed away in 2002) his brother owns the Ford dealership here in Billings. The name of the business is Archie Cochrane Ford. Archie Cochrane was the brother of former major league catcher Mickey Cochrane, who played in the 1920's and 30's. Incidentally, Mickey Mantle is named after Mickey Cochrane. Wow, small world!!!

Pro Wrestling

2009-07-03T10:49:00.002-06:00

The other night on ESPNClassic they had what appeared to be a bootleg video from the late 70's of Nick Bockwinkle and Ray the Crippler Stevens VS The Crusher and Dick The Bruiser in a cage match.

It appeared to be filmed by a fan from the front row. The Crusher and The Bruiser defeated Bockwinkle and Stevens and bloodied them up pretty good to boot. Also as an added bonus they beat up Bobby The Brain Heenen when he tried to interfere.

While this was fun to watch now, it would have been 'The absolutely, positively, coolest thing in the whole world' if I had gotten to see it Thirty years ago!

Billings Bulls to Host Nor-Pac Showcase

2009-05-20T17:02:00.002-06:00

The Billings Bulls have announced that they are going to host a 3 Day 18 game league showcase January 7-9, 2010 at both the Metra and Centennial Ice Arenas.

All games count in the standings. The Nor-Pac Junior Hockey league has two divisions of 6 teams each and with VERY few exceptions the teams in the East almost never play the teams from the West. Each team in the league will play 3 games against teams from the other division. There will be scouts from the NAHL, USHL, and several colleges in attendance. With two rinks 5 minutes apart from each other this is an ideal place to hold such a major event such as this.

In addition to the Showcase the Bulls will also play two additional home games on Metra Ice on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2nd versus teams in their division, presumably Bozeman and Helena.

Bulls Goalie Headed to Southern Maine Huskies

2009-05-12T10:47:00.002-06:00

Billings Bulls goalie Tim Gerrish has signed a letter of intent to play for the Southern Maine Huskies for the fall of 2009. He is from Albany NY, so he will definitely be a little closer to home.

Congratulations and best wishes for success to Tim and the Huskies!

Former Billings Bulls Player Called up to NHL

2009-02-08T10:10:00.003-07:00

Former Billings Bulls Goalie Chris Holt has been called up by the St. Louis Blues this week. Chris played for the Bulls in 2001-2002. Chris played in one game for the New York Rangers during the 2005-06 season. The Surrey, BC native was 7-5-0 with a 1.70 GAA for the Peoria Rivermen this season before this recent call up.

Lincecum wins Cy Young!

2008-11-11T21:44:00.002-07:00

I have rooted for the San Francisco Giants for 32 years, and you know what they say 'There is a first time for everything'. Tim Lincecum has won the 2008 NL Cy Young award! I am extatic!

He went 18-5 for the year and captured the first Cy Young for a Giant since 1967. Once again congrats to Tim Lincecum, the 2008 NL Cy Young award winner!

Two Mustangs Leave Team

2008-07-27T11:18:00.002-06:00

The Billings Mustangs (farm club of the Cincinnati Reds) have had two players leave the team. The first thing that comes to mind is steroids or Pacman Jones type behavior.

Nope -- Training camp for Division I College Football. First baseman Andrew Means, who just hit two home runs last night, is the number one receiver for the Indiana Hossiers and Pitcher Will Hudgens, who had a 3-0 record, is the starting QB for the Memphis Tigers.

Best of luck to both this college football season!

Billings, MT makes TWO Nat'l Magazines in one Week!

2008-06-16T17:05:00.002-06:00

In this current weeks Sports Illustrated they mentioned in a must see minor league baseball article how at the Billings Mustangs games when a designated 'beer batter' gets a hit fans can gets beers for 4 for 10 dollars for the rest of the inning.

In this weeks People magazine there is an article about how an older couple adopted a 15 year old foster kid who they met on an airplane flight.

Not to often that Billings makes the National news, let alone twice in one week!

Central Washington Softball

2008-05-12T15:49:00.002-06:00

One week ago it was all over ESPN that two women's softball players from Central Washington carried a Western Oregon player around the bases who had blown out her knee during her home run trot.

Thought i'd add that one of them, Central Washington SS Liz Wallace, is from Florence, Montana. A small town just outside of Missoula.

These girls are a shoe in to win an ESPY award this summer.

Giants 17 Patriots 14

2008-02-03T20:59:00.001-07:00

%&#$@*^&*&$$%^@$%$# NY Giants!!!

Montana Team Makes Cover of SI

2007-12-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Carroll College Fighting Saints - Division 2 NAIA Football Champions - made the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. First time ever for a Montana team!

ROCKIES!!!

2007-10-02T10:15:00.000-06:00

How bout those Colorado Rockies! They just beat the Padres 9-8 in 13 innings in a one game playoff to advance to the NL playoffs VS the Phillies. One of the most exiting baseball games that I have ever seen.

Well so much for my WS prediction of Tigers and Mets -- that wont happen. Lets try football...My Superbowl prediction - Patriots 31 Cowboys 20. See what happens.

World Series Prediction

2007-07-24T10:26:00.000-06:00

Detroit Tigers 4 NY Mets 2

Dusty Jackson

2007-03-21T14:49:00.000-06:00

Former Billings Bulls forward Dusty Jackson has signed on to play for the Denver Pioneers next year. CONGRATULATIONS DUSTY!!!

Nice Guy Award #2

2007-02-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

A few months back I wrote about what a nice guy John Madden was. This time the Nice Guy Award goes to golfer Phil Mickelson.

A few years ago former NFL football player Conrad Dobler's wife was parylyzed in a hammock accident. All of their savings has been drained paying for her care and the NFL players pension is a joke so now that Conrad's daughter is ready for college they have no money to send her there.

Phil Mickelson -- who has never met the Doblers called them up and gave them the money to pay for four years of college for their daughter. That was a really classy and nice thing to do.

Tennessee Titans

2007-01-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Next year at this time everybody is going to be talking about the Tennessee Titans. They dodged a bullet by not losing Norm Chow to the Cardinals. He is as much of an offensive genious as Belichick is a defensive genious. Let alone the fact that anymore a team needs to have a two man partnership running things. Pioli/Belichick, Shanahan/Kubiak, or Parcells/Belichick to name a few. Gone are the dictator days of a Vince Lombardi, the league is too complex for that.

Jeff Fisher and Norm Chow make for a great leadership team and Vince Young is going to be a stud.

Super Bowl Prediction

2006-12-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

OK - I may be going out on a limb here but here goes:

Baltimore 28 Philadelphia 27.

I think that Philip Rivers will have a bad game and cost the Chargers, I don't think that the Patriots have the horses, and I don't think that the Bears can get there with Rex Grossman. Both the Ravens and the Eagles have veteran QB's and I think that that is where its at!

Cool Blog

2006-11-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Check out www.sports-law.blogspot.com

John Madden

2006-09-15T06:46:00.000-06:00

Most of you know that John Madden is the Hall of Fame Football announcer who just recently went from Monday night football to NBC's Sunday night football. But when he was head coach of the Oakland Raiders back in the 70's he was invovled in something where he was one hell of a nice guy.

In August of 1978 The Patriots were playing the Raiders in Oakland in a preseason game. Darryl Stingley of the Patriots was paralyzed in that game. He was taken to a local hospital and the Patriots were boarding a plane to go back to Boston. John Madden asked the Patriots coaches and management if anyone was staying behind to be with Daryll, they said no. Madden couldn't believe it so he himself, the coach of the other team went to the hospital and sat with Daryll that night and made visits up there in the coming weeks. Daryll's family was in Chicago and his teammates were in Boston so he had nobody else to talk to.

I couldn't believe this when I read it -- it shows how things have changed in today's NFL and it also shows what a nice guy John Madden is!

Steroids

2006-09-08T10:53:00.001-06:00

There has been a lot of discussion lately about steroids -- Good, bad, and undecided. There has been a lot of accusations about so and so did or did not take steroids, but one thing is fairly certain -- Manute Bol ( Seven foot six inch tall 150 pound center from Sudan who played in the NBA for several teams in the late 80's and early 90's ) probably did not take any steroids it is safe to say.

Bozeman Football Player

2006-09-02T16:04:00.000-06:00

Former Bozeman high school football player Travis Dortsch was cut by the NY Giants yesterday where he was trying to get on as a punter. He played his college ball at Purdue and had previously spent one season on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.

Drew Bledsoe

2006-07-20T09:52:00.000-06:00

In 2002 Drew Bledsoe was traded from the New England Patriots to the Buffalo Bills. He had at that time spent his entire 9 year career with the Patriots. Even though he was expecting to be traded, when his agent called him and said that it was a done deal it was still quite a shock. The only one at home at the time of the call besides Drew was his 3 year old son, so needing to tell somebody he told his son that he had been traded to Buffalo. His son was watching Bob The Builder on TV and said, "Dad get out of the way of the TV". "But, I've been traded to Buffalo", said Drew. "Why do you want to be a Buffalo?" said his son. "You don't understand", said Drew. "I am now going to play football for the Buffalo Bills". "Oh" said his kid, "What color are their jerseys?". Just goes to show that a little kid views the world from a slightly different angle than a grownup does.

Ben Roethlisberger

2006-06-14T12:45:00.000-06:00

Just want to say that Big Ben is one lucky guy in the fact that he didn't get killed, or break his neck, or lose an arm or leg in his motorcycle wreck! He still got banged up pretty good but at least it looks like he will probably recover! WOW!!!

I Bet You Didn't Know ...

2006-05-02T12:33:00.000-06:00

Actor Jon Heder who played Napoleon Dynamite is the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles Punt Returner Vai Sikahema.

Interesting Facts about Billings

2006-03-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some facts about Billings that most people do not know about. 1. The inventor of the Cobb salad is THE same guy that Cobb Field ( our baseball stadium )is named after. 2. The bleachers at our horse racing track came from the now blown up Seattle Kingdome -- where the Seahawks and Mariners used to play. 3. The only pitcher ever to hit a grand slam in the World Series was Billings' own Dave McNally (sadly he passed away from cancer a few years ago). I am sure that there are many more interesting things out there but these are a few that have caught my eye recently.

State Wrestling Tournament

2006-02-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was the All Class State Wrestling Tournament here in Billings at the Metra. The team champions were in AA - Kalispell, in Class A it was Sidney, and in Class BC it was Conrad. In Class AA at 140 pounds Cole Dellasera from Butte became just the fourteenth four time state champ when he won his championship match 6-2. Trent Sprenkle of Billings Senior at 119 lbs. won his championship match by pin and became a 3 time state champion. In one of the most competitive weight classes ever at 119 lbs. in Class A there were 3 defending state champs in the same bracket. Stedman from Frenchtown, Hipple from Havre, and Uffleman from Hardin -- In the semi-finals Stedman beat Uffelman 3-2 and Melby from Sidney upset Hipple. Stedman beat Melby 8-4 to win the championship, but both Hipple and Uffleman ended up losing again. Uffleman ended up taking 4th and Hipple ended up taking 5th in what was once again one of the most competitive brackets of all time. In AA Billings Skyview took 2nd and Butte took 3rd in team standings.

Steelers will win Super Bowl

2006-01-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

My prediction for the Super Bowl -- Pittsburgh 28 Seattle 17.

Go Patriots!!!

2006-01-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

The New England Patriots WILL defeat the Denver Broncos on Saturday. BET ON IT!!!

Too freaky not to be true

2005-12-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

I was killing time the other day at a bookstore in the mall and I came across a story in a baseball book, I am sure it is true or I don't think they would have printed it. In 1964 A young pitcher named Gaylord Perry (Yes the same guy who wound up winning 300+ games in his career) was taking batting practice and felt that he was hitting the ball real good that day so he went up to his manager and said,"If you need me to pinch hit I am hitting real good - I feel like I can hit a home run today!" His manager replied, "Gaylord the day you hit a home run is the day that we put a man on the moon." Needless to say Gaylord Perry did not get to pinch hit that day. His manager was not a dumb guy - Gaylord did not hit any home runs for 5+ years, Not until July 20th, 1969!!! Yes, You guessed it, THE very day that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon!!! What is the chance!

Bulls struggling

2005-11-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

The Billings Bulls lost to Helena last Saturday 4-3, Then on Sunday they lost 3-2 to Wasilla (But got one point for taking the game to a shootout). Then on Wed. nite they lost 3-2 to Wasilla. Its been a tough week.

Bulls get 3 new players

2005-10-15T09:38:00.000-06:00

The 3-3-1 Billings Bulls have 3 new players. Nick Del Rosso was thought to be lost for the year with melonoma but after his surgery the doctors said he can play hockey and continue his treatments up in Billings. Eddie Samuels arrived from Canada, and Martin Husicka arrived from the River City Lancers of the USHL.

Billings Bulls Preseason Scores

2005-09-15T19:10:00.000-06:00

In NAHL Preseason action the Billings Bulls beat Helena 6-3, lost to Helena 4-3, and lost to Bozeman 8-4.

Billings Baseball -- part 4

2005-08-14T13:40:00.000-06:00

The Billings Royals went 1-2 at the Regional tournament in Yakima, WA and were eliminated. Once again though the Royals and Scarlets both had great years. The Billings Heights little league went 1-3 in pool play at their regional in CA, and did not advance. The Billings Mustangs are off to a 4-8 start in 2nd half Pioneer league play.

Billings baseball -- Part 3

2005-08-05T17:49:00.000-06:00

Updating the Billings baseball scene... The Billings Royals beat the Billings Scarlets 4-3 in 14 innings to win the MT state legion championship. They next will move on to rgionals in Yakima, WA. The Billings Mustangs finished 2nd in the first half of the Pioneer league North division. They will need to win in the second half in order to make the playoffs. The Billings Heights Little league team has won the state championship and will be moving on to California for regionals,their first game is on Sat. Aug. 6th. If they make it to the final of their regional they will be on ESPN2, and if they win their regional they will move on to the Little League world series and all their games would be on ESPN or ESPN2.

Billings Baseball - Part 2

2005-07-26T18:13:00.000-06:00

The Billings Mustangs are 19-14, 4 games back in the northern division with 7 games to go until the end of the first half. Helena is in first place. In American Legion ball, The Royals and Scarlets finished one and two going into the state tournament, which will be held in Bozeman next weekend. The Scarlets are 50-14 and the Royals are 46-13. The winner of the state tournament will go on to regionals in Yakima, WA.

Australian wins World Series of Poker

2005-07-17T14:13:00.000-06:00

Joseph Hachem, a 39 year old chiropractor from Australia has won the 2005 World Series of Poker down in Las Vegas. The tournament will be shown on ESPN on tuesday nites starting July 19th and lasting for 3 months. The winning hand was a 3-7 straight, his winnings were 7.5 million dollars. Annie Duke, the top ranked women's player, was eliminated on day 4 of the tournament. She lived for a number of years in Columbus, MT (40 miles from Billings) and often played poker at the Crystal Lounge in Billings. She was quoted last month in Sports Illustrated as saying, "I would often drive 40 miles on sheer ice to go play poker." Joseph Hachem said that he is not sure what he will do with his winnings.

Cubs VS Cardinals

2005-07-11T11:37:00.000-06:00

While the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry seems to get more attention, The Cubs/Cardinals rivalry has a great deal of history and geography behind it. Since the late 1800's these two teams were as far west as National league baseball went. Starting in the 1930's games were broadcast on radio. St. Louis fans could get the games on radio as far away as Arkansas, Tennessee,Mississippi, Texas,Kansas, and Oklahoma. While Chicago Cub fans were listening in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota,Minnesota, and South Dakota. The state of Illinois was split in two,with northern Illinois primarily Cub fans and southern Illinois primarily Cards fans. Yes I'm sure there were exceptions to the rule, but for the most part the above rang true. It was like this for over 50 years, until the Dodgers moved to L.A. in the late fifties, and the American league's Braves moved to Wisconsin in 1953 thus forming a natural rivalry with the Chicago White Sox. Now two generations later allegences are still strong as ever in the mid-west having been passed down the family tree. I still believe the Red Sox/Yankees is the best rivalry in baseball, but the Cubs/Cards is not only a close second but definitely has a very interesting history to it.

Billings Baseball

2005-06-30T17:48:00.000-06:00

It is almost July and baseball season is in full swing here in the Big Sky Country. The Billings Scarlets are 41-7 and the Billings Royals are 34-10, both teams are playing great and hope for a state championship and a trip to regionals in Washington state and then a trip to Nationals in Rapid City, S.D. Stay tuned. The Billings Mustangs (rookie league farm club of the Cincinatti Reds) are off to a 7-1 start. This season they/we have the pleasure and the privelege of having Mark Boyle as our radio announcer, Yes the same Mark Boyle who is the play by play voice of the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. Sports fans you remember when Ron Artest bolted into the stands last December in Detroit -- well the first guy who tried to stop him was Mark Boyle, who broke 5 vertebre in his back on the play. He is recovering, and allegedly part of his treatment plan is coming to Montana for awhile(his wife is from Miles City). His nephew is former Rocky Mountain College point guard Scott Malloy of the basketball team. At any rate Mark is a great radio announcer -- while we have had some good radio guys in the past, they are often pretty new to the profession and unwilling to go out on a limb. For example during the Mustangs home opener Mark was thirsty and said over the air, " If somebody here at Cobb field is listening on a transistor radio would you please buy me a Pepsi and bring it up here to the announcers booth, I am thirsty!" Talk about great radio! He definitely does a great job of calling the games.

Last Saturday's White Sox VS Dodgers game

2005-06-22T18:46:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday's White Sox VS Dodgers game on WGN TV, While a great ballgame, The Sox won it on A.J. Piersynski's Home Run in the bottom of the 9th left me disapointed. Here is why -- Last week I was reading my USAToday's SPORTS WEEKLY and they said how it was going to be turn back the clock night not only with the 1959 uniforms but also that WGN would be using 1959 graphics and it would be in black and white and I cannot remember if they said this or if I imagined it but I thought they said they would throw in a little static as long as it wasn't while the ball was in play. I was really looking forward to checking it out last Sat. Anyway they only did the black and white thing for the first 15 seconds, then they went to color, and while they did have 1959 graphics up when a batter would come up and at the end of every half inning they also left the 2005 graphics at the top of the screen throughout the entire broadcast which took away from the 1959 'feel' of things. I did like the White Sox retro uniforms but the Dodgers ( i still am not sure if they were 1959 or 2005) were not baggy at all which I could be wrong but I am about 99% convinced they were not retro, which kind of took away the 1959 'feel' of the game. While it was still fun to watch I wish they would go all out when doing things like this and not just go halfway with it.

Billings Bulls new coach

2005-06-20T14:55:00.000-06:00

As many of you have heard the Billings Bulls have a new coach, Doug Johnson. But what most people do not know is that he grew up next door to former Billings Bighorn and former Boston Bruin Gord Kluzak. Gord influenced him to come to Billings in 1996 to play for the Bulls, Leading them to a Borne Cup championship in 96-97. Doug then played minor league hockey for several years before last year becoming an assistant under then coach Mike Aikens.

Billings bar scene

2005-06-02T11:34:00.000-06:00

For those of you folks who are in town to watch the Bulls or whatever other reason, and would like to know where to go to grab a cocktail, I can provide some info. Directly across the street from the Metra is Applebees, where one can eat and get a beer. Then turning right onto Main street, once again passing the Metra, stay on main to the bottom of the hill and take a right on 1st Ave. North -- this will take you to downtown Billings stay on 1st until you hit N27th street -- 1. if you want country music go right on 27 th til 4th avenue north and then you will go approximately 9 blocks to the Wild West -- it is country and is very crowded! 2. if you do not want country music take a left on 27th and go south one block and then turn left on Montana ave. Go down Montana ave. there is the Carlin,Traxx, Rainbow, and the Railyard. These are all "real good time charlie" kind of bars, all within walking distance of each other. All these bars are close to the Metra -- obviously there are other bars in Billings and i can write up about some of them later on. But today i thought I would just cover the ones close to the Metra since the hockey games do not get over until 10pm or so and who wants to drive all over hell.

memorial cup,IAHA,nahlforum.com

2005-05-26T17:13:00.000-06:00

While junior hockey is mostly overwith in the US, The memorial cup is going on up in canada. This is their National Championship- with 3 league champions and one wild card playing in the tournament. Rimouski, Quebec/ Ottawa, ontario/London,ontario/ and the defending champion Kelowna,B.C. Rockets playing in London Ontario. Thru round-robin play the Kelowna Rockets went 0-3 and are thru. Tonite Ottawa plays London for an automatic berth in the championship game on sunday nite. the loser of the Ottawa/London game must play a semi-final VS Rimouski on Saturday nite to get into the championship. Rimouski has Sidney Crosby, who is rumored to be the next Wayne Gretzky. We will see what happens up there the rest of the way. I would also like to comment on a new league that is forming, I believe they said it is called the Inland American Hockey Association. I know little more than what has been posted on glassrattler. According to the post their are franchises in Billings, Havre,and Great Falls, MT and Casper,WY and Lake Tahoe,CA. The only other thing that I have heard from one of my old college roomates who lives in Havre is that a guy that is in his church is telling people that he has been hired on as the Zamboni driver/ Team Chaplain. I grilled my old college roomate for more info. but since he is not a hockey fan he could not tell me anything more. The third thing I would like to comment on is nahlforum.com. It was similar to glassrattler but a slightly different crowd if I must say. It is too bad they shut it down. The jist I get is that the league told the folks running it to shut it down- which is a bummer-I cannot for the life of me understand why you would kill free publicity!!! I hope they do not shut down glassrattler!!! I enjoyed corresponding with many folks on nahlforum.com -- there was cuattherink from st. ste. marie Michigan,Phantom from Ohio,hollar13 from Fargo, Catapault from Bismarck, Marc Foster from Texas, master blaster from bozeman, hockey girl from bozeman, and init4laffs from Billings, and Alaska fan among many many others. Please forgive me if I left people out as I am sorry. I hope everyone has a Safe Memorial Day. -tm