My prediction of the Stanley Cup Champions once again was not what I wanted to see. For two years in a row now, a Canadian team has lost in the championship series. In Edmonton, we clearly remember the loss to Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06 Stanley Cup Championship.

This play-off series only brought reminders of that play-off championship last season and the majority of Canadians, I’m sure wanted to see the Ottawa Senators win the prestigious mug.

Which Canadian team will it be next season? Can we break the slump in 2008? Let’s hope the Edmonton Oilers make it back to the championship showdown.

CAREY PRICE KEEPS ON WINNING EVERYTHING

Hamilton, ON - Ajay Baines’ shorthanded tiebreaking goal midway through the third period propelled the Hamilton Bulldogs to the American Hockey League’s 2007 Calder Cup championship with a 2-1 win over the Hershey Bears at Copps Coliseum.

The Bulldogs, top development team of the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens, defeated the Bears four games to one to win their first AHL title.

Carey Price made 29 saves in the decisive Game 5 and finished the playoffs with a record of 15-6 with a 2.06 goals-against average, a .936 save percentage and two shutouts. The 19-year-old Price, the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft who made his professional debut with the Bulldogs on April 13th, earned the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Price becomes the third goaltender in AHL history, and the first since Patrick Roy in 1985, to lead his team to a Calder Cup title as a teenager. It’s the culmination of a season in which the Williams Lake, B.C., native was named the tournament MVP for Canada at the 2007 World Junior Championships and the outstanding goaltender in the Canadian Hockey League.

Carey Price is an aboriginal from British Columbia. Carey’s mom, Lydia, is the Chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation.

THE CROSBY SHOW AT THE NHL AWARDS

Toronto, ON - "The Kid" became "The Man" in the NHL on Thursday — and the young Penguins were validated at the NHL’s awards show at the Elgin Theater in Toronto.

Sidney Crosby earned the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player most valuable to his team, and the Lester B. Pearson Award, for the most outstanding player as selected by the NHL Players Association (NHLPA).

His teammate, Evgeni Malkin, claimed the Calder Trophy as the league’s outstanding rookie.

"It looks like a very bright future," Crosby said. "It’s a statement to how far we’ve come in the past year. … We should all be excited that there are a lot of guys that have made an impact and will continue to make an impact."

Also a winner of the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league with 120 points, Crosby, 19, is the youngest player to acquire the three prestigious honors in the same year.

Crosby bested goaltenders Martin Brodeur of New Jersey and Roberto Luongo of Vancouver for the Hart. He topped Luongo and Tampa Bay center Vincent Lecavalier for the Pearson.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper handed Crosby the Pearson Award to start the show, and NHL legend Gordie Howe presented him with the Hart Trophy at the event’s conclusion.

Crosby is the youngest player to win the Hart Trophy since Wayne Gretzky in 1980. Gretzky won a record nine Hart Trophies.

"Sid might get there," said Lecavalier, winner of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy for leading the league with 52 goals. "There was a lot of competition, but you always have to come back to Sidney and what he did at 19 — it was pretty amazing."

Crosby was joined at the ceremony by coach Michel Therrien and teammate Jordan Staal.

"When I look at those kids, I see a little bit of our great teams in Colorado," said Joe Sakic, a Lady Byng Trophy finalist and two-time Stanley Cup champion as captain of the Avalanche. "But maybe they are more like those Edmonton teams that I watched growing up in the (1980s). If Pittsburgh can keep that group together, (it) is going to be great for a long time."

EDMONTON OIL KINGS SELECT NORTHERN KID IN THE 2007 WHL BANTAM DRAFT IN CALGARY

Calgary, AB – The Edmonton Oil Kings began the process of populating their roster at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary.

Sherwood Park’s Mark Pysyk was the Oil King’s first draft pick, selected third overall. The 15-year old defenceman from the Strathcona Warriors of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL) scored 15 goals and 33 assists this season, and recently played in the Alberta Cup Bantam hockey tournament. He measures 6’ tall, 165 pounds.

The Oil Kings traded the 23rd overall draft pick (1st pick, 2nd round) to the Regina Pats in exchange for the Pats 35th overall pick (2nd round), the Pats third round pick (57th overall), and a yet to be named player in the upcoming WHL expansion draft.

For the Oil Kings second pick (35th overall, 2nd round), they selected 14-year old T.J. Foster of Slave Lake, Alberta. The 5’10”, 140-pound center for the Spruce Grove PAC Timberwolves of the AMBHL scored 60 points (31 goals and 29 assists) in 33 games.

The Edmonton Oil Kings, the new Western Hockey League franchise in Alberta’s Capital City, will play 36 games at Rexall Place, providing hockey fans with a golden opportunity to watch the next generation of NHL star develop before their eyes. For families, the Oil Kings will also provide a fun and affordable evening out for all ages.

With just over three months to go until the first puck drop of the 2007/08 WHL season, the franchise is already off to a great start. The team’s first ticket offering of 1,200 premium seats, the Founders Club, is fully subscribed, and a large number of fans added their names to a Season Seat waiting list.

“This is what hockey fans have been waiting for is the chance to secure their seats for the Oil Kings first season,” said Nick Wilson, Vice President of Business Operations for the Oil Kings. “With the overwhelming success of our Founders Club offering, and the interest we’ve been receiving from hockey fans throughout Northern Alberta, the Oil Kings will be returning in fine form.”

Oil Kings Season Seats will average between $16.66 - $22.20 per game, and will be located in the lower bowl of Rexall Place. A complete list of Season Seat packages, including prices, is now available at www.oilkings.ca, where fans can also purchase their seats.

KA KANATAHK – O CANADA IN CREE

What a great end to this year’s National Hockey League season. There are more Aboriginal players to cheer for and watch throughout the league arenas. Ted Nolan is back in the NHL as a head coach for the New York Islanders. Wow!

Also this past NHL season, we had two history making events in Alberta. Akina Shirt and Bobbi-Jo Beaver both sang the national anthem in their Cree language at a regular season NHL game. Akina sang at the Calgary Saddledome for the Flames game and Bobbi-Jo sang at the Edmonton Oilers home game at Rexall Place.

These two young rising stars need to be encouraged to keep on going with their music and singing of the national anthem in their Cree language.

In talking to Bobbi-Jo, she has a very busy schedule ahead for performances throughout Western Canada as she sings Country and Gospel music.

Bobbi-Jo Beaver is presently 14 years old and has been singing for 9 years. She started at the age of 5 years when she entered a talent show and won her category and as they say, the rest is history. Since then, she has accumulated countless awards and recognitions to her credit and traveled extensively throughout Canada.

STANLEY CUP MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY TANNED NEXT SEASON

Anaheim, California U.S.A. - The Stanley Cup has landed in Anaheim. It was not to be the Senators year as they lost the series 4 games to 1 at the Honda Center.

Lord Stanley's Cup got some much-needed time in the sun in Anaheim as it was taken on a tour of the Orange County coast.

The Cup and its handlers started in San Clemente for breakfast at the Beach Garden Cafe. From there it was Dana Point Harbor, Main Beach in Laguna, Fashion Island, Balboa Island and finally Huntington Beach. At each spot, the Cup was taken out of its blue carrying case and spontaneously unveiled to the delight of most of the bystanders (although, a few didn't know what it was). But most of those around were thrilled to see it up close, as they took pictures with it, touched it, read the names on its side and asked if they were allowed to hold it up (they weren't). 

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