Keepin' things positive around these parts, let's start today with Daniel and Henrik Sedin — doing their bit to spread the right words in our community.
The twins and their wives also stepped up financially on Monday, donating $35,000 in matching funds to the Vancouver Sun's
Adopt-A-School COVID-19 appeal to help feed underprivileged children while schools are closed.
The Sedins' philanthropy over the years has been well documented, and they continue to set a marvellous example in the community.
“Although our initial wish was to provide for things like school trips and after-hours programs they won’t be happening for a while,” said Henrik. “In the meantime the need for food takes priority.”
Daniel said: “It’s time for all of us to help each other in whatever way we can. We’re fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to do something for the community.
“We are hoping others — with the ability to help — will join us and see the need to feed these families.
“Is there anything else we can do?”
On a lighter note, I laughed when I saw this Tweet the other day — but still, they're setting the right example.
Thanks for all your entertainment suggestions from the last blog.
I have also been in the mood to listen to full albums again, for the first time in a very long time!
I listened to "Abbey Road" the other night, and right now I have "Buena Vista Social Club" piping through my DJ headphones. Thanks for the suggestion, Load Management — a great call for some good-vibe music to work by.
They've started a construction project outside my window this morning, so the headphones also help block out the industrial noise that seems to incongruous with our current reality.
I saw a news story this morning that construction on the New York Islanders' new Belmont Park Arena has been deemed an essential service in New York state, so that's continuing as scheduled for the moment.
Not sure if the same is true in Seattle. The last update on their arena construction page came nearly three weeks ago, on
March 4.
I thought the Stephen King discussion in the last blog was also very timely. When I was a kid, I used to get his new book for Christmas in hardcover every year. I have been thinking about "The Stand," — and have located it on my bookshelves. I may give it a look again once I finish this writing project, which I'm happy to say is progressing pretty well. I'm now past the minimum word count, with a few sections left to go. So — a little more writing, enough time for some polishing, and I should be able to meet my deadline!
But even if I'm staying home, it's important for me not to spend *all* my time on screens. I plan to do a home workout later today — and I also liked the idea of this 30-day spring cleaning schedule. It offers suggestions for tasks I might otherwise overlook, and breaks things down into manageable pieces. And there is a good sense of satisfaction that comes from cleaning, right?
I got a little ahead of myself yesterday and did a long-overdue cleaning of my stovetop. Today is officially Day 1 — microwave and oven — and they have a cool suggestion for how to steam the microwave clean using vinegar and water. I'll give that a try!
OK — on to hockey...
I did enjoy re-watching that '94 Canucks/Flames game on Sunday, although I would have preferred to see the non-condensed version. And while we're on the nostalgia train, as Cynuck pointed out in the last blog, Jim Robson's iconic "special hello to all the hospital patients and shut-ins, those of you who can't make it out to the game," is currently resonating in a completely new way.
If you missed it, the CHL announced on Monday that Canada's junior hockey season is now officially over — including the Memorial Cup, which was scheduled for Kelowna this May.
Here's a quick rundown of how the Canucks' junior prospects fared this season:
• Jett Woo - 2nd round, 2018 - Woo stayed healthy this year, putting up 7-39-46 in 64 games in his first season with the Calgary Hitmen. That's a bit of a drop from last season, when he had 66 points in 62 games with Moose Jaw, but he still led all Hitmen defensemen in scoring — and hit a new career high with 88 penalty minutes, keeping that bite in his game.
The Hitmen were in the first wild-card spot in the WHL's Eastern Conference when play was suspended, and had clinched a playoff spot with 75 points in 64 games.
• Ethan Keppen - 4th round, 2019 - After catching the Canucks' attention when he tied for second in scoring with the Flint Firebirds with 59 points in the 2018-19 season, Keppen took a bit of a step backwards this year. He had 29 points in 44 games before being shut down by an upper-body injury on February 1.
That being said, the Firebirds took a nice step forward as a team this season. After finishing second-last in the entire OHL last season with just 38 points in 68 games, Flint was sitting fourth in the OHL's Western Conference when the league was shut down this season. The Firebirds had 82 points in 63 games and were set to make just their second playoff appearance in the club's five-season history.
• Arturs Silovs - 6th round - 2019 - The rangy Latvian landed in North America with the Barrie Colts this season, where he ended up splitting duties with Jet Greaves. Silovs finished with a 16-13-2-2-1 record in his first season of North American hockey. His GAA of 3.87 and save percentage of .891 were both slightly better than Greaves, on a Colts team that was fifth in the OHL's Eastern Conference with a 29-28-4-2 record for 64 points in 63 games despite the fact that Warren Rychel had to take over as interim head coach after Dale Hawerchuk stepped aside at the beginning of the season as he battled stomach cancer.
Here's a fun fact I didn't know about Silovs, who turned 19 two days ago — he brought his wife Wendy with him when he came over from Latvia this season!
"It's special to share this experience with her," Silovs told
Josh Brown of the
Waterloo Region Record earlier this month. "When you have someone at home that is caring for you, it helps a lot."
The pair met in Grade 10...three long years ago... Since Silovs got a work visa to come to Canada after he was drafted and signed by the Canucks, marrying Wendy allowed her to join him on the journey.
They have been living together with a billet family in Barrie. The pair had also both been taking high school classes during the season, just like any other 18-year-olds.
"He has a good living arrangement with a really good family that has made them feel very welcome," said Colts' GM Jason Ford. "All of his teammates have made him feel welcome. I think he likes it over here."
With the OHL season just having been cancelled, I wonder if the Silovses will stay put for the time being, or will eventually try to make their way back to Latvia for the summer?
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