Done Like Dinner

Friday, May 26th:

Well...we didn't finish strong! The Vancouver Giants were draped all over us like a cheap suit and shut us out 6-0. What a sad ending to an exceptional season!

I had to quickly book a flight to Toronto. I'm on a WestJet flight at 6:30 this morning.

All in all, it's been a great year and we serve an awesome faithful God!

Next season...

See you later...

Fish

Breaking News From Moncton

Thursday, May 25th:

THE SUN CAME OUT! WOW! IT'S ACTUALLY SHINING AS I WRITE THIS POST!

GO PETES GO!

Fish

Ouch, That Hurts!

Wednesday, May 24th:

Yesterday (Tuesday) wasn't a good day for the Petes or for my laptop! My notebook computer caught a virus and had to go into the hospital (STAPLES) for some treatment. I just got it back tonight.

Last night the Petes and Vancouver played a lacklustre game in which neither team looked like Memorial Cup participants. The game lacked spirit and excitement and we ended up on the short side of a 3-2 score.

We had hoped to have a brief chapel service this morning with Ryan Walter but that was scratched due to scheduling problems (not Ryan's).

I've been able to spend some quality time this week with my fellow Hockey Ministries staff member, Bruce Smith from the St. John, NB area.

Tomorrow night the Petes play a tie-breaker with the Vancouver Giants. Hopefully they'll come away winners or...they'll go home losers.

We pray for the former, not the latter.

Go Petes Go!

Missing home,

Fish

Oops!!!

Monday, May 22nd:

A miserable day, weather-wise, here in Moncton. Saturday has been the only really nice day since we arrived.

Tonight the Petes and Moncton staged the best game of the Memorial Cup so far but our guys ended up on the short end of the stick 4-2. The Petes and the Wildcats appear to be the cream of the crop here and could end up in the final on Sunday.

Following the game I stopped at Boston Pizza for something to eat. After being shown to my seat I noticed a familiar face two booths down.

Ted & Rosemary Higgins and Ted's mom Mabel are here from Peterborough for the festivities. Although I knew who Ted was, we had never officially met before. Ted invited me to join them and we had a wonderful visit.

We said our "goodbyes" and I asked for my bill only to be told that it had been looked after by my friends. What a kind gesture! It took away some of the sting of defeat.

Tuesday night we go up against the Vancouver Giants.

More after the game!

Go Petes Go!

Fish

Maritime Moments

Just received this picture/scripture from my friend Stephen Weber at Daily Encouragement.net

It's typical of the landscape down here in the Maritime provinces.

Ryan's Hope

Sunday, May 21st:

This morning I attended Hillside Baptist Church where former NHLer Ryan Walter was the guest speaker. Ten (10) years ago Ryan challenged several hundred people at our Memorial Cup outreach breakfast in Peterborough and there was a significant response.

Hockey Ministries Atlantic staff member Bruce Smith and his son Joe picked me up at my hotel and took me to church. Ryan gave an excellent message. The church was decorated with a hockey theme and several dignitaries with Mem. Cup affilations were present.

Following church we had lunch with Peterborough Petes' head trainer Brian Miller. Brian, Bruce and Joe got to be great friends while Brian worked down here with the St. John Flames of the American Hockey League.

Tomorrow night we face off against the Moncton Wildcats. We'll gather up as many players as possible after the pre-game meal for "FIVE WITH FISH", a brief time of prayer.

Thanks for your prayerful support!

More tomorrow after the game.

GO PETES GO!

Fish

Saturday's Sights

Saturday, May 20th :

Today's weather was the best we've had since I arrived. I drove to Charlottetown, PEI across the Confederation Bridge. I always thought driving across an 8-mile long bridge would be hair-raising but once I got on it, it was a breeze.

My first stop, after Tim Horton's on the PEI shore, was the home of Lindsay and Mary Lou MacPhee just north of Charlottetown. Their son Kris played for the Petes several years ago and I've stayed in touch with the family. They gave me the royal treatment after appearing at their door unannounced late in the morning. I promised Mary Lou that I wouldn't mention that she greeted me at the door in her pyjamas and housecoat so I won't. Ha! Ha!

After treating me to lunch the MacPhees gave me a tour of Charlottetown, took me up to the beach at Cavendish, showed me where the Anne of Green Gables T.V. series was filmed and then took me to dinner at the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers restaurant. What a spread! What a special day!

While in Charlottetown we stopped to visit my friend Brodie MacLeod's parents. His sister Jill arrived just as we were leaving. Check out Brodie's new post on his Hope of His Calling blog. It's his first new post since April 10th! I insisted that he write something after I took the time to look up his mom and dad. He did!

We stopped at ex-Pete Mark Flood's home but they must have caught wind that I was coming and they disappeared. The cars were in the driveway, the house doors weren't locked but the Floods were nowhere to be found.

It was a wonderful day and my first-ever visit to Prince Edward Island.

Sunday I'll be attending a church service where former NHLer Ryan Walter will be speaking.

More later!

Fish

Petes Win...Petes Win!!!

Petes' Coach, Dick Todd

Friday evening, May 19th at 12:00 E.T.

The Petes got off on the right foot tonight by edging the Quebec Remparts 3-2. Steve Downie, Jamie Tardif and Jordan Morrison, with the winner, scored for the Petes.

David Shantz stopped 45 shots and was the game's #1 star! When Shantzy came off the ice he flipped me the game puck! What a memento that will be!

The team bus was jubilant as we drove back to the hotel! It's great to get that first win under our belts. Now we can celebrate the win for two days. The next game is Monday night!

On Monday and Tuesday we will have "FIVE WITH FISH"...five minutes in my room after the pre-game meal when we can get focused and pray!

It's off to PEI in the morning...the province former Petes' captain Mark Flood hails from. It was great to see Mark and his parents at the game tonight.

More tomorrow! Go Petes Go!

Fish

Foggy Friday

The guys just finished their pre-game meal. The bus leaves at 6:00 p.m. for the rink and the Memorial Cup celebrations will be under way. We play the Quebec Remparts tonight!

This morning I slept in so I didn't get to the Petes' practice. Instead I went to two places that I make it a practice to visit regardless of which Canadian city I'm in...the local Christian bookstore and Tim Horton's.

After a $15.00 cab ride to Blessings Christian Marketplace I decided to take local bus transit back to the hotel. About 2 hours and $2.00 later I was back.

The weather hasn't been great so far...cloudy, foggy, cool and windy. Hopefully it'll be better tomorrow when I cross the Confederation Bridge to get my first look at Prince Edward Island. I hear that bloggers who hail from PEI have a struggle to stay current with their blogs (isn't that correct, Brodie MacLeod?).

More tonight after the game!

Go Petes Go!

Fish

Beware the Cat

Thursday, May 18th:

I arrived here in Moncton around 12:15 p.m. today and rode with Pat and Stella Casey to the Coliseum where we picked up our credentials. Pat is one of the Directors of the Peterborough Petes and we were on the same flight this morning.

We caught some of the Petes' practice at the rink and then I checked into our hotel, the Crowne Plaza. The big Memorial Cup gala was tonight. The event was SOLD OUT so I went to Tim Horton's instead. That was a lot cheaper than the $125.00 per plate dinner.

The windows here in Moncton are filled with signs saying, "BEWARE THE CAT". The Moncton team in the tournament is called the Wildcats...thus the wording on the sign.

Tomorrow I'll go to the practice at 10:00 a.m and then prepare (pray) for tomorrow night's game against the Quebec Remparts, coached NHL legend, Patrick Roy.

Time to hit the bed now! I was up this morning at 4:30 so it's been a long day.

More tomorrow...

GO PETES GO!

"Fish"

Note: The clean(er)-shaven Trevor Hendrikx and David Shantz walk to the team bus from the Moncton Airport.

Off to Moncton

The Peterborough Petes fly out to Moncton today at 2:30 p.m. and I won't be too far behind them. I'll fly down on Thursday morning.

Throughout the Memorial Cup festivities I'll keep you posted!

GO PETES GO!

David W. Fisher or "Fish"