The Engleson Files

It’s a done deal - I have made my selection. From this day, November 14th in the 2009 year of our lord I hereby pledge my undying allegiance to the Phillies of Philadelphia baseball team of the National League Division. This was a very difficult process and one that was carefully thought out - but through the process there were a few key players involved that helped sway my decision. One - my cousin Jason (who going to university in Philadelphia became a big Phillies fan) pushed very hard to bring me into the fold. Two - Kevin Chow who gave (without question) the most passionate of pleas for why this team is the right choice; and I simply could not turn my back on that. We discussed great Phillies backcatcher names of the past such as Choo Choo Coleman, Smokey Burgess and the one and only Peaches Graham - and from that was immediately hooked. I am now a Phillies fan! So thank you gents, it is because of you both I have come on board and will now do my best to study up, learn this team (and its history), see what we need for next year and become a true, blue fan - I’m proud to be apart of the Phillies brethren!

I have always been fascinated by the goaltender in hockey. As a child I loved looking at their hockey cards, reading their statistics and spent many hours drawing their wonderful equipment - especially the mask. Fifty years ago today, Jacques Plante was corked in the face with a puck decided he had had enough and told Toe Blake he was going to wear something over his face from here on in; and since then the goalie mask has evolved to new and wonderful measures. During my childhood the masks I loved were: Ken Dryden, Tony Esposito, Mike Palmateer, Gerry Cheevers, Rogie Vachon, Mike Liut and John Davidson. I loved them all. There was/is just something so interesting about the position itself and all the wonderful equipment that goalies wear. While the masks are certainly not as cool as they were in my childhood, they continue to evolve as the game grows and the appeal of the mask (and the person behind it) has not changed.

Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about my Major League problem with not having a team to cheer for - click here for a refresher of my dire situation. Anyways, I have now narrowed it down to two teams: The St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams match the must be a National League team criteria, both are old school teams and both backcatchers wear the old style mask - now I just need to make a choice. I have been trying to follow the current World Series to see if it can help sway my decision but I have not been that successful so I am still not too familiar with the team. Remember: this is a decision for life so it is not one to be taken lightly. Last chance to help out here folks, but we now have a race of two!

Once again the Barkerville Goldpanners are strongly situated to run for their third championship in 10 years. The little town in the hills has got the fever and once again another Goldrush may ensue!

Goldpanners Roster

Forwards

Pavel Datsyuk
Ryan Getzlaf
Jerome Iginla
Jeff Carter
Johnathon Toews
Teemu Selanne
Sam Gagner
Claude Giroux
Blake Wheeler

Defence

Dion Phaneuf
Alexander Edler
Christian Ehrhoff
Brent Seabrook

Goaltender

Henrik Lundqvist

Well, we are days away from the 2009/10 season and so far everything in Canuckville seems to be running smoothly. As I have said before, one thing Canucks fans are bred to have is hope and once again I begin the new year with much of it. Are they a Cup contending team? Not too sure about that, but I do like what I see so far. Obviously we live and die with Luongo but I will take that any day; defense is great and up front our bottom two lines are solid, but I do worry about secondary scoring after the Sedins. I am also very excited to see young Cody Hodgson (hopefully) make the team. So, let’s hope for a year with no injuries and one that moves the team further ahead in its pursuit for the Stanley Cup. Go Canucks Go!

Here’s a little clip to officially get you into the hockey spirit - oh yeah, the 2009/10 season is now underway!!

Today (thanks to Gramma Judy who scooped us some freebie tickets) Magnus and I were able to go down to the local ballpark and watch the newly acquired Victoria Seals play a game of baseball. The opponents were the dreaded Calgary Vipers, and both of us had a great afternoon down at the park. Once Magnus was fully dialed in with who the “bad guys” were versus the “good guys” he actually retained great interest for the game for two solid innings (which I think is pretty good!); he asked many questions and generally seemed to enjoy himself. The game was 6-1 for the Seals after the 6th inning but then allowed the bad guys to hit 8 runs in the 7th to continue their losing ways. The game was 3 hours long after 7 and Magnus had had enough sitting around by then; but for the price of admission it was a great day down at the ballpark watching some great (well, maybe good) baseball. Go Seals!

I have said it before and I will say it again: I like baseball but I am not a huge fan - it’s too long of a season but come October the game is as good as it gets. But, as I sat and watched the Seals game live I realized that I like baseball more than I thought I did; being outdoors, the sound of the wood striking the ball, the heckling fans, the manager kicking dirt at the umpire - it’s great! And as I contemplated my enjoyment for the game I realized that I do not have a true team that I cheer for in the Majors. As a kid I liked the Expos, jumped on the Blue Jays wagon in their glory years and will always have a soft spot for my geographic brethren in Seattle - but for a long time I have been searching for a team that I can get on board with for life - my team, but I have not found one that has solidified itself yet. So, this is where all of you come in - I want you to help me find my team. I have a very strict set criteria that I want you incorporated into your research and see if you can find me my team - this criteria is set in stone and is non-negotiable.

Here is my criteria:

- The team must be in the NL - no stupid AL designated hitter crap!
- The team must have traditional roots - we’re talkin’ 80+ years in the league here people.
- The team doesn’t necessarily have to be good, or even have a winning tradition.
- And, the back catcher on my team cannot wear the new stupid mask - it has to be old school - even this preferably!

So, there you have it folks. Your job now is to take all of these factors and find me a team that I will cheer for for life - this is serious business! I will get the hat, research the team’s history, learn everything I can and get on board! Good luck!

Not too sure how or why it happened but one small tradition I have picked up since returning home from China every summer has been enjoying the annual baseball all-star game. I am by no means a baseball fanatic but do enjoy and respect greatly the traditions of the game (minus all the stars and stripes rhetoric); and the all-star game is a game where they really play off the game’s history and traditions, which is great. It is also a game where the skill of the players is truly on display in a pure competitive venue: meaning the game is not dummied down (like the NHL) and played at three-quarter speed. So, for the past 5 years or so, Joe and I always grab an ice cold rum and coke and just enjoy watching this game together and last night was another notch in that tradition - and now I can go back to not caring about baseball.

Word on the street is that today Joe Sakic is going to retire from his professional career in the NHL. Joe Sakic is a hell of a hockey player and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him as a player and a person. On the ice he was a superstar who, every season, led his team by example with pure offensive prowess; even when the Quebec Nordiques were a lost cause he still put up amazing numbers. It was great to see him play his entire career in with one organization and have the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup twice with them (even though it was not in Quebec!) Internationally he was always there for Canada and was tournament MVP in 2002 when Canada took gold. My main thoughts of his talents were as a speedy, clutch and intelligent player who had a hell of a wrist shot. Off the ice he conducted himself with nothing but class and was a role model to all who followed his career. I am going to miss watching him but am glad that he is going out on his terms, and it is only a matter of time when he will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thanks for the memories Joe, your talents were a pleasure to watch and will be sorely missed!

I said it before and I’ll say it again: you gotta love them Penguins!! Yes, with the young phenom Sidney Crosby hoisting his first Stanley Cup today it certainly looks as though the dawning of a new hockey dynasty could be eminent. The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals was a fantastic series and both teams played their hearts out. I gotta give full due to the Penguins who, being the underdogs, showed great poise and resiliency and definitely earned full credit for their championship. The Red Wings will continue to ice a great product and (who knows) we could see it all again for a third time next year. I am sure Marion Hossa is wondering what he did to the hockey gods to deserve such a poignant slap in the face, but therein lies another charming story in the lure of the Stanley Cup. Congratulations to Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions!

I’m not saying they are winning the Cup yet, but geez, do the Detroit Red Wings look good right now. They are truly like no other team in the league who is able to play a total team game that just runs you into the ground game in and game out; every single player is a part of a system that collectively is just too good to beat. I think GM Ken Holland is a hockey genius and Mike Babcock should coach Team Canada. Initially I was cheering for the upstart Penguins but have since changed my mind simply out of respect - the Red Wings are the real deal! Hope your enjoying the series Joe!!

What has happened to the Montreal Canadiens this season? My god, I don’t think I have ever seen a team fall from grace this hard and this fast. While I am not a true fan of the Canadiens I do love and respect what they mean to hockey, and to not have them make the playoffs in their centennial year would be tragic. With roughly 10 games left in the season the time has come to summon all of the spirits of this storied franchise (which are many) and let them lead the way to where you should have been!

Well, it is that time of year again: curling season! or more importantly The Brier! Yes, its that classic once a year Canadian institution that truly sets us apart from the rest. The game of curling is a beautiful and quirky metaphor for Canada - with a classic Scottish flavor to cap it off - and I just love its rich and storied history. I enjoyed many years playing this game both competitively and just for fun, and I am not at all in favor of the new Olympic standard the game is reaching for. I believe curling’s charm lies in cozy little curling rinks, cardigan sweaters, bonspiels, whiskey, tobacco and pipes, corn brooms and all the crazy characters who play the game and hang around it. But with that said, I still believe that the Brier is the greatest curling spectacle on the planet and I truly miss watching the action on a daily basis - Click here to see a 10th end, skip’s last stone barn-burner of a shot!

And click here for a little bit of that charm I was talking about earlier.