October. A sports fan’s nirvana.

Posted on October 13, 2015 by tysonhinschberger

Skinny Kyle Lowry dropped 40 points on the Timberwolves last night. In 28 minutes. A sign of things to come?

October, if for no other reason, could be the greatest month of the year based solely on the mountainous availability of major sports. Just this week alone we’ve been privileged enough to witness the Blue Jays in the postseason, the start of the NHL season, pre-season NBA action, copious amounts of NFL football, and the President’s Cup of Golf.

October baseball is a special, special gift from the sporting gods. Despite the “America’s Pastime” moniker, the prevalence of the Blue Jays has enthralled the vast majority of us up here in the great white North (where we catch nearly as well as our Southern neighbours). Even with the slow start to the ALDS, the Jays have shown the same resilience and conviction that brought them the AL East title and their first playoff birth in 22 years. Baseball in general is outstanding this time of year- from exceptional pitching performances, to roaring comebacks and Cinderella stories- but the Blue Jays’ participation this time around means we’re in for even more of a treat.

The NHL season kicked off with a bang on Wednesday night. And by “bang”, I mean a hilariously soft Max Pacioretty goal on Jonathan Bernier, which is likely a good indication of the years both Montreal and Toronto are in for. Hockey Night in Canada is a national institution, and for my money, the best way to spend a Saturday evening between now and April. Plus, Rogers’ Hometown Hockey was just in Kitchener this past weekend to celebrate some of the best local hockey stories past and present- of which there are many. The storied Kitchener Rangers franchise, the old Bruins’ Kraut Line, Mike Hoffman’s stand-out rookie campaign last season; each were on full display as hockey pride oozed throughout the region all weekend long.

We got our first glimpse of the Toronto Raptors new logo, and their new point guard- Skinny Kyle Lowry- as well. Lowry leads the NBA averaging 30.3 points per game this preseason, while shooting 68.3 percent from the floor. With a new brand, new optimism, and a few new faces in Anthony Bennett & Luis Scola, the Raps are poised to contend for the Eastern Conference championship this season, with the Atlantic Division being all but theirs from the onset. Should be an exciting NBA season in the 6ix, especially if the Kyle Lowry of the preseason hangs around for the better part of the year.

All in all, October consistently proves to be a beautiful month. The leaves become vibrant, the temperature is comfortable, the fall activities are abundant- and you can ignore all of those things and enjoy day after day on the couch absorbing the constant wonder that is October sports.

Looking Ahead: Canada’s 2014 Olympic Hockey Roster

Posted on July 23, 2013 by tysonhinschberger

I think I did the same thing.

We all remember where we were that fateful February evening in 2010.

I was in the living room of my student rental in Guelph. I vividly recall sharing stunned disappointment with 5 of my best friends watching Zach Parise take the Gold Medal Game to overtime with a scrappy, dirty goal as the clock wound down.

More so, though, I remember the pure, unparalleled elation that followed a short time later. The “Iggy!” cry. The 5-hole squeeze by Ryan Miller that was just a touch too slow. The Sidney Crosby corner jump, crowd-screaming, gloves-flying celebration that comes with a victory of that calibre. A joy that only comes along once in a while. We were the best. And there’s no better feeling than being the best.

In 2002, when Canada ended its 52 year gold-less drought, my Grandpa and I took to the streets of downtown Kitchener. I waved a huge Canadian flag out the passenger window while we sat in a slow parade of King St. traffic, soaking it all in. It was amazing. One of my favourite childhood memories.

Naturally, we recreated the feeling again in 2010. Downtown Guelph was buzzing, justifiably so. We broke the horn on my old ’97 Monte Carlo, whaling on it while people screamed and cheered on the sidewalks and in the bars.

To say that the Olympics are just another hockey tournament would be a massive understatement. It’s easy to see just how big a deal it is, not only for the players but for the entire country. Winning those 2 hockey games did arguably more for our nation’s psyche than any other event over the past 11 years.

It goes without saying then, that the team in charge of selecting the upcoming 2014 Olympic hockey roster has their work cut out for them. Pressure? Yeah, they’ve got a ton of it. And unlike any other hockey team, this one has 33 million fans expecting them to win. Hardly a cakewalk with the hockey world as competitive as ever.

So, given that I have no pressure to include, or not include whoever I want, I thought I’d put together my own team. Just for fun, here’s a look at my picks for the upcoming 2014 Sochi roster:

Forwards

Not too many remain from the team that took home the gold in 2010. Some ageing players from that team are no longer in their prime, and while still beyond serviceable in the NHL, aren’t as mobile as in years past. With the international tournament being played on the larger ice surface used overseas, that speed and agility is paramount when competing with the European teams (See: Miracle). This means the likes of Jarome Iginla, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Pat Marleau don’t crack my roster. This opens room for a couple young players with a pedigree of World Junior Championship success. This is what I project the lines to look like:

Steven Stamkos- Sidney Crosby- Martin St. Louis

Claude Giroux- Jonathan Toews- Patrick Sharp

Corey Perry- Eric Staal- James Neal

Taylor Hall-John Tavares- Jordan Eberle

Patrice Bergeron

The kid line of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and John Tavares has the chance to be a difference maker in the tournament. They’ve piled up points and been clutch on the international stage for Canada before. The Perry-Staal-Neal line is very much a puck-possession line. It features 2 sizey, prolific goal-scorers centred by another big guy with tremendous vision. I had Rick Nash in Neal’s spot, but decided that if coming through under pressure mattered, Neal’s successes of late far trump those of Nash.

The top two lines both feature elite skill and scoring prowess. The second-line features 3 versatile guys who can put up points while being strong in their own zone. The first? Well, between them they have 3 Art Ross trophies (Most Points), 3 Rocket Richard trophies (Most Goals) and is simply a combination of the 3 best players in the NHL last season. Hands down.

The forward units aren’t structured like the NHL clubs. The players are all elite-level talents, no grinders or enforcers to be found. Even Patrice Bergeron in the 13th spot is capable. Though he finds himself in the same “extra man” role he played in 2010, expect big things from him as he can jump into any spot in the lineup if the need arises.

Defence

Canada has always been known as a strong defensive team. Even in 1998 in Nagano, when Canada didn’t medal, the team featured 6 of the 7 best Canadian defencemen of the last 20 years. Consider though, that with the game being played on larger ice, even a D corps featuring Rob Blake, Ray Bourque, Adam Foote, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens in their prime would be scrambling to keep up. These are my picks to fill the 7 back-end spots:

Shea Weber- Kris Letang

Alex Pietrangelo- Drew Doughty

Duncan Keith- Brent Seabrook

Pernell Karl Subban

There are some fantastic skaters in this mix, to say the least. I’d deem Seabrook and Weber the least mobile of the set, and even then, it’s hardly a drawback. Every single one of these guys can play on both sides of the puck, and when the latest Norris winner is the 7th-best defenceman on your team, you’re in pretty good shape.

Goaltending

This one’s pretty easy. I get to pick 3 of maybe a half-dozen or so potential candidates, only 2 of which are really standouts.

Roberto Luongo

Carey Price

Corey Crawford

Seen as Canada’s most glaring weakness, let’s just remember that we won gold with Roberto Luongo last time around as well. Granted, it may have been as much in spite of him as was because of him, the fact remains that his performance was…sufficient. We’ll go with that.

Luongo figures to be Canada’s game 1 starter, with Carey Price the clear-cut #2 option, if not a solid 1B. These two guys are essentially locks to make the team. The third spot is up in the air between 3 other goalies: Mike Smith, Corey Crawford, and Braden Holtby; who you figure might’ve made the cut as Marc-Andre Fleury played his way out of a spot in the last two post-seasons. I give the nod to Crawford based on the stellar numbers he put up this season, backstopping the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup. Plus, if we win, we might get the chance to hear another one of his off-colour parade speeches. And wouldn’t it be glorious. All we have to do now is win the thing.

Note: If I’m way off base, let me know in a tweet or comment. For another opinion, check out my pal Brandon Decoppel’s (@bdecoppel) Team Canada roster: http://bdecoppel.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/sochi-14-my-team-canada-roster/

For Sale: The Fisher-Underwood Mansion in Ottawa

Posted on June 18, 2013 by tysonhinschberger

Celebrity homes are great. Most of them make more money than we ever will, and as a result, their houses are a heck of a lot nicer than our own. MTV Cribs made a ton off our thirst to gawk at these awesome places for a few minutes at a time. We love it.

I see a ton of cool features in homes, and compile them into a “someday” list. It’s really just a big tease, but hey, that’s what the lottery is for.

Topping my list are: fantastic wine cellars (I’m not even a big wine guy), theatres and sharp rec rooms. Toss me a hot tub or a pool in the backyard and I’d be pretty content.

Well, needless to say, I’d be through the roof locking down a place like Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood’s pad in Ottawa (even though Carrie’s not included). Jesus definitely took the architect’s pencil on this one, the place is a masterpiece. It’s somewhat understated, but when it’s one of 3 or 4 places you own, they can’t all be over the top.

They’re asking $2.2M for this 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom estate; basically a half year’s salary for the poor one of the family. It seems like a pretty great deal considering that the elliptical that toned a certain pair of legs can probably be lumped into the price. Equipment like that doesn’t come along every day, guys. I’ll assume the majority of the workout gear’s been moved out for a while, since I would’ve expected that gym to be a little more stocked. That or Mike doesn’t do the whole “working out at home” bit.

Anyways, take the full tour. The video’s down below, the MLS listing is here, and it’s a pretty good way to kill 5 minutes. Let me know what you think. Or hey, if you want to buy it, we can take a trip up to Ottawa too. I can be available.

Ultimate Power Rankings: May 24

Posted on May 24, 2013 by tysonhinschberger

This idea came to me not too long ago, so we’ll see how it pans out. If you’re a sports fan like me, chances are you’ll hit a couple different sports websites on a regular basis, each of which will probably have some sort of power ranking system. The problem: rarely do any of us have time to read power rankings for each sport individually. Below is my solution to that problem. Please share some feedback if you give it a read, because otherwise I’ll just assume it’s great.

The Ultimate Power Rankings: Week of May 24th

1. The miami heat

Whether or not LeBron travelled on his game winning shot Wednesday night, and whether or not Roy Hibbert should’ve been in the game when it went down is completely irrelevant. Their logo couldn’t be more appropriate. These guys are on FIRE these days. It all starts with the league’s MVP up front. Since LeBron entered the NBA, nobody else has made more than 5 game-tying/go-ahead shots with the shot clock off. He’s 7 for 16. Oh, and not to mention, the Heat have won 46 of their last 49 games. Who’s going to beat them in a Best of 7? Nobody. It’s one thing to have a good team, but a good basketball team that can call upon clutch shooting? Look out.

2. the san antonio spurs

Those who know me know I’m not a basketball guy. I’ll kick it to the back burner most of the time in favour of nearly anything else. But every once in a while, there’s a captivating story or two that’s just impossible to ignore. Cue the renaissance of the San Antonio Spurs. Right now, they’re a bunch of old dudes playing like they did in the mid-2000’s when they won 3 out of 5 NBA Championships. Tim Duncan just became the 3rd oldest player to be named an NBA First-Team All-Star and on Tuesday, Tony Parker rattled off a 15-point, 18-assist performance to put the Spurs up 2-0 over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals. The win brought the Spurs’ record to 10-2 in these playoffs, the 2 blemishes being games against Golden State where Steph Curry just took over. Anything less than a Heat-Spurs final would be a huge shock at this point.

3. the cincinnati reds

The Cincinnati Reds are the hottest team in the Majors right now. After going 8-2 over their last games, they trail the St. Louis Cardinals by a game and a half for the best record in all of baseball. Canadian Joey Votto has picked up right where he left off last season, and the 3-time all-star is continuing to stake his claim as one of the league’s premier first basemen. Last week, Votto took home NL Player of the Week honours, going 14-24 at the plate (.583), with 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and drawing 5 walks. This is what his heat chart looks like so far this season. Note to pitchers: Don’t throw strikes.

Easy on the ball Joey. Sheesh.

4. the pittsburgh penguins

Hey, hockey! Finally!

The Penguins haven’t been as dominant as most expected they’d be this post-season. After battling goaltending woes in their series with the Islanders (the polite way of saying Marc-Andre Fleury was hot garbage), the Pens have settled into some degree of normalcy on the back of 36-year old back-up goalie Tomas Vokoun. The former Nashville Predator & Florida Panther has amassed a .943 SV% so far this series, staking Pittsburgh to a 3-1 series lead over the Ottawa Senators. Despite the additions of Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray and Brenden Morrow, the Vokoun free agent signing is looking more and more like GM Ray Shero’s best move of the season. They’re a double overtime, hardnosed, Colin Greening goal away from already having a spot in the Conference finals. It’s looking like it’s only a matter of time until they book their ticket.

5. the detroit red wings

For starters, I’m a big time Detroit fan, but I promise this ranking is completely justified. The Red Wings have gone 11-4 over their past 15 games, 11 of which have been played against teams seeded either 1st or 2nd in the Western Conference. Couple this with the 4 straight wins they strung together just to get into the playoffs and it’s plain to see that Coach Mike Babcock has his team heading in the right direction. Detroit has gotten contributions from everywhere, including a couple surprises. Not the least of which is Jakub Kindl, the former Kitchener Ranger who drew into the lineup after Danny DeKeyser broke his hand as was declared out for the remainder of the playoffs. Kindl scored the game-winning goal in last night’s 2-0 victory, and led the team with 5 shots. They’ve has also been spoiled with stellar goaltending from the underrated Jimmy Howard, who has stopped 86 of the last 88 shots he’s faced, and who has excelled to the tune of a .977 SV% over the past 3 games, all Detroit victories. Closing out the top-seeded Blackhawks will be a tough task though, as the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patty Sharp can take over a game at a moment’s notice.

honourable mention: the toronto blue jays

The Blue Jays are winning? Holy crap. It’s no secret that the team hasn’t lived up to the hype that surrounded their off-season moves, but if the past few games have been any indication, the team may be headed in the right direction. The Blue Jays are 7-3 over their last 10 games, making them the hottest team in the American League over that stretch. Not to mention that in those 7 wins, the Jays put up double-digit runs in 4 of them. Despite some pitching issues (Ricky Romero, R.A. Dickey’s back, Sergio Santos’ arm, Josh Johnson’s everything), the bullpen has been decent, and Casey Janssen has continued to flourish in the closer role. If the big bats of Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia can stay hot, maybe this team can find it’s way back to .500 and beyond.

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