Now What?

It's a strange feeling as a broadcaster knowing full-well that it will be at least seven months or so before I get to call another SJHL game. For the first time in three years I won't be calling any hockey in mid-March and now I have to fill my time with other things. It is truly saddening that this weekend I will be hosting the Star's Awards Banquet without any hockey to follow. This elimination 'hang-over' probably won't officially go away until the Royal Bank Cup comes to an end in May. That's when things officially get going in the Battlefords again.

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The Battlefords North Stars are holding their Awards Banquet on Saturday night at the Civic Center. Cocktails are at 5:00, followed by supper at 6:00. Admission is $20 per person or couples get in for $25. It's always an emotional night, but it will also be fun to have one last hurrah with everybody before people begin to part ways.

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As for this blog, I have every intention of keeping it updated as the Spring and Summer wear on. I will do my best to keep it filled with North Star news, but I will also do my best to include other local content and personal anecdotes. Let me take this opportunity to thank those of you who loyally followed the North Star Nation blog for another year. When I started blogging regularly two years ago, I had no clue that it would blossom into what it has become. As much as I enjoy broadcasting, I have really come to enjoy the written component that has accompanied my role as "Voice of the North Stars." Thank you for your compliments, input and support and here's hoping that you continue to stop by and read my work on a regular basis.

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As for the SJHL This Week TV and Radio shows, those will still run regularly until the season concludes. I will have a new SJHL This Week radio show completed tomorrow morning. It would have been sooner, but the SJHL staff and I both felt that the show would be better served to be more of a playoff preview rather than a Survivor Series recap.

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It also looks like I will be doing the play-by-play for the North Saskatchewan River Hockey League championship series which should get started by the middle of the month. The Edam 3 Stars have already punched their ticket to the final after a three-game sweep of Maidstone, an either St. Walburg or Meadow Lake will be joining them shortly. I will let you know once broadcast times and dates have become official.

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Now that the season is over for me. My focus also shifts to April 4th, 2011 which marks the three-year anniversary of the Co-Op Leisure Time Sports Fix. Traditionally the anniversary show has been loaded with 'big-named guests' in the past, and this year will hopefully be no exception. Right now I have several irons in the fire, and I hope to confirm some guests over the next few days and weeks. Last year my guests for the anniversary show were: John McDonald (Toronto Blue Jays), Bob Nicholson (Hockey Canada) and Brendan Taman (Rider's GM). You can catch the CO-OP Leisure Time Sports Fix every Monday night at 8:00 PM on CJNB/CJNS.

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That's it for now. Today I'm in the midst of writing e-mails and making phone calls trying to narrow down my Anniversary guests, and I'm also trying to get updates on High School basketball, and Senior Hockey Provincials.

To all of my colleagues in broadcasting, here's hoping you have an enjoyable run in the post-season!

- DO