Saturday Morning Special

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Another busy show this weekend as The Pipeline Show looked ahead at the coming NHL season and bravely predicted this year's Calder trophy winners and candidates - with the help of an old friend from Hockey Night In Canada. We also went South to check in on the Barons of OK City as they prepared for their one and only pre-season tilt in advance of the regular season. Our 2011 eligible guest is considered the top player available from the AJHL. And after a wild affair last night in Regina we were joined by someone who was not only in the building but had the call of the brawl between the Pats and the Oil Kings.

"If you missed it live... click the archive!" but continue reading for more of a re-cap.


First off Dean and I discussed Friday night's pre-season tilt between the Flames and the Oilers. Could Calgary d-man T.J. Brodie crack a roster that still has 9 other guys with NHL experience vying for their own spots?

If it comes down to Liam Reddox, Ryan Jones, Ryan O'Marra and Chris Vande Velde for the 13th and 14th forward spots with Edmonton, who would you pick? What about the 7th blueliner where it looks like a 3-horse race between Shawn Belle, Theo Peckham and Richard Petiot?

In Segment 2 we brought in Jeff Marek from HNIC for our second annual Calder Trophy Predicitons. We didn't do so well last year as none of us had Tyler Meyers on the radar but we think we've got it nailed this time around. Which one of us do you think didn't take an Oiler as their favorite to win it all?

Segment 3 took us down to Oklahoma City where Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman gave us the rundown on Barons camp. The team is off to Austin Texas to take on the Dallas Stars affiliate, the budding arch-rival for OK City, but some players haven't even arrived yet. Who has looked good so far? Aber filled us in.

At the top of the second hour of the show we brought in "The Action Man" Dan Plaster, voice of the Regina Pats. The morning after the big brawl between the Pats and Edmonton Oil Kings still had people talking and He gave us his account of the way it all unfolded. Plus, are the Pats completely rebuilding or do they have thoughts of pulling out of the Eastern cellar?

Our 2011 Draft Prospect on this show was Sam Jardine who plays for the Camrose Kodiaks. The big AJHL Showcase is underway in Spruce Grove where NHL scouts are watching Jardine and his Kodiaks. The defenceman has already committed to Ohio State and he told us why he picked the Buckeyes over the Warriors of Merrimack where his brother is going. (Photo: Pro Sports Photography / AJHL)

Finally, Dean and Guy went over some observations from recent CHL activity. Near the end of the show we mentioned that Oiler prospect Jeremie Blain has only played in a pair of games this year with Acadie-Bathurst but weren't sure what the injury was. Seconds after the show ended we were texted by Edmonton head scout Stu MacGregor who was listening to the program on his drive between Calgary and Medicine Hat. MacGregor directed us to a report on the QMJHL site that indicates Blain has a hairline fracture in his foot and is expected to be out for 2-3 more weeks.