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Up Front: Happiness from a team’s loss
Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express
Call me a bad Canadian, call me insensitive, call me whatever you would like... I’m going to admit that I’m overjoyed by an Alberta team’s failure.
As many of you know, I am an avid Edmonton Oilers fan (which is very hard to admit this year, yet I cannot pull myself to be a bandwagon fan.)
Maybe even more accurate than saying I’m a die-hard Oilers fan, I should tell you I’m actually an ABC fan. I will cheer for “anybody but Calgary”.
Is it wrong of me to relish in the fact the Flames will not be making the playoffs this year? I can’t contain the joy I feel to say they will be golfing alongside the Oilers later this month. Better yet, they are the first losers in the West Division, meaning they will not qualify to be in the draw for the top draft pick.
I may actually have lost a little of the passion I once felt as I watched the best game on ice. At one point I couldn’t miss a game. If I were on the road or at work where there was not a television, I would simply crank a radio and listen to Rod Phillips’ play-by-play. Some do not like him because he over-gratifies the plays the Oilers are making. I personally think he brings a lot of colour to the game.
Unfortunately, as I was recently talking to a friend of mine, I realized how little I truly care about NHL hockey now. He seemed interested in talking about hockey for four hours (non-stop) about which team would make the playoffs, who should win the cup, and which player is in fact the best hockey player in the world.
Maybe my increasing age has made me realize hockey is at the bottom of the totem pole of importance.
Maybe the rush-rush lifestyle we all lead has overwhelmed me, and the main concern has become paying bills, working, trying to find time for my beloved family, or just simply allowing myself five minutes to take a deep breath of fresh air.
I’m thoroughly disappointed hockey has taken the backburner, but lets face it, it just doesn’t have the same appeal as when I was a teenaged girl.
Now I get more of a thrill talking about politics, land prices, and matters that affect our daily lives. Maybe that is what my parents were talking about 10 (plus) years ago when they would say, “Emily, one day you will not live and breathe for hockey.”
Despite my lack of interest in committing all my time to watching NHL teams, the Oilers will always peak my interest.
Thus, to observe the Flames’ disappointment makes me extraordinarily happy.
Support our local school band
The Georges P. Vanier band will be making their way to Ottawa this spring, and I’m hoping individuals in the community will rally together to help the students raise the last bit of money they need to go on their trip.
Eleven families of the students will be holding a garage sale at the Falher Regional Recreation Complex curling rink this weekend as a fundraiser for the trip.
In my opinion, this is a chance of a lifetime for all these students.
They will not only be able to take part in clinics to improve their musical skills, they will also have the opportunity to visit monuments in our country’s capital that will impose a lasting impression on these youth.
If you are interested in supporting the band’s garage sale, the event will be held April 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
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