Wednesday Puckpourri: Shreddies, Bobbles, Turkeys and Ice (I promise it's hockey-related!)

Time to eat your Wheaties... err.. I mean, Shreddies
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL), parent league of the WHL, OHL and QMJHL, is getting a little more exposure in supermarkets across Canada. Post Cereals will feature 6 CHL players (I'm guessing 2 each from WHL, OHL & QMJHL) on boxes of Shreddies, Honey Shreddies, Sugar Crisp, Alpha-Bits and Honeycomb. There's also the chance to (in their words) "collect up to 24 unique hockey cards" and someone will win a trip to the 2014 Memorial Cup. 

Photo: Post Foods Canada/CHL

I have two questions: 
1. With so many teams represented, how do they select which players will be featured on the boxes?
2. The press release is "Canada"-centric (as it should be) and talks about "52" CHL teams across Canada, I wonder whether any of the WHL's US Division teams get a shot at having a player featured on a box or card? My guess is "no," but a girl can ask. Now, who can I talk to at Kellogg's to get some WHL hockey love...?

KC and the Sunshine Band
Not really.
I was searching for a witty title to go with Kevin Constantine's initials and got... nothing.
Why am I talking about KC, you ask?
Aside from the fact that he's led the Everett Silvertips to their best start in some time (14-3 in 20 games - 14-6 if you add 3 OT losses - and 31 points & second in the US Division behind Portland), the team is celebrating his return with his very own bobblehead. Kevin Constantine Bobblehead Night is THIS Friday, November 15, when the 'Tips welcome the Portland Winterhawks to Comcast Arena. The puck drops at 7:35.NOTE: THERE ARE ONLY 750 BOBBLEHEADS, SO GET THERE EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA EARLY.
 

Isn't he cute?

'TIPS: SIGNATURE SATURDAYS

The next "Signature Saturday" for Everett Silvertips fans takes place THIS Saturday, November 16, following the game against the Prince George Cougars. The following players will take part:

Kevin Davis - Defenseman

Jujhar Khaira - Center

Dawson Leedahl - Left Wing

Austin Lotz - Goalie

(NOTE: Out of respect for the players and other fans, the Silvertips request that you limit yourself to two autographs per person. Also... the list of players scheduled to take part may change - read all of the details by clicking the link above)

SPEAKING OF BOBBLEHEADS...

The next Seattle Thunderbirds player to be immortalized in bobblehead form is d-man Shea Theodore (Anaheim Ducks prospect, to you NHL fans). The T-Birds are being a little more generous than the Silvertips. The first 2,500 fans to walk into ShoWare Center on Saturday, November 30, will get to take their own "mini-Shea" home with them. I can't find a sneak peek of the bobblehead anywhere, so just picture this in bobblehead form:

Shea Theodore/Photo: Seattle Thunderbirds

SPEAKING OF BIRDS...

The Seattle Thunderbirds have two fun events coming up:

 

1. Fred Meyer Turkey Shoot - Saturday, November 23

If you've never seen this, you're in for a treat. If you're a woman with a fairly good aim, you might get to take one of these babies home. I'm not even gonna tell you any more about it. Just watch the segment T-Birds PR guy Ian Henry did with KING 5 New Day Northwest last year to promote the Turkey Shoot and you'll get the drift. (Full disclosure: New Day Northwest is my day job and I produced the segment).

Graphic created by Toby Rigby/Spaceman Inceptions

2. Skate with the T-Birds - Sunday, November 24

All of the players, plus Cool Bird, will lace up their skates and take to the ice from 2-4pm at the Franciscan Polar Plaza in Tacoma (all right, Cool Bird may not skate, but he'll be there!) The guys will hobnob with fans, sign autographs, take photos (selfies are allowed, even encouraged - just don't lose your balance!). I expect there will be a pretty big crowd for this and I'm not sure how many skaters can fit comfortably on the ice at Franciscan Polar Plaza so make sure to arrive extra-early.

 

Wouldn't you love to skate with this guy?

WHL: T-Birds' Pickard named CHL Goaltender of the Week, ranked #1 among WHL goaltenders

                                              (Photo: Seattle Thunderbirds)


Congratulations go out to Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender Calvin Pickard, who has been selected the Goaltender of the Week by the Canadian Hockey League for the week ending November 15, 2009. The recognition is well-deserved, as Pickard posted 3 victories in 3 games, including 2 shutouts.

On Friday, November 13, the 17-year-old backstopped the T-Birds to a 7-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers, in Kamloops, BC. From there, the team hopped a bus and drove to Everett, where Pickard earned his second shutout of the season Saturday night, as the T-Birds beat a tough Silvertips team 4-0. From there, they hopped right back on the bus and drove back into BC, where they faced the Giants on Sunday afternoon. Again, Pickard was in top form, making 25 saves in a 5-0 victory over Vancouver and earning his 3rd shutout. For those who like to keep count, in his three latest wins, Calvin stopped a total of 76 of 78 shots and recorded a whopping .974 save percentage. He was also named the #2 "Star of the Game" in Everett and Vancouver. 


Calvin had lots of scoring help last weekend. On Friday, Jonathan Parker scored a hat trick and Prab Rai had 2 goals. Charles Wells and D-man Jeremy Schappert also scored in the 7-2 victory over Kamloops. Four different T-Birds scored Saturday: newcomer Brendan Rouse (former Brandon Wheat King), Sena Acolatse, Captain Lindsay Nielsen and Jonathan Parker. Acolatse and Rai each notched two goals on Sunday in Vancouver, while Wells added one.

In addition to the "Goaltender of the Week" honors, Pickard has also been ranked #1 among WHL goalies by Central Scouting in the first of 3 ranking reports this season. NHL teams use information compiled by Central Scouting to help them decide which players to draft in June. The group will release its mid-season rankings in January and final rankings in April. 

You can read more about Calvin Pickard's amazing achievements at the Seattle Thunderbirds website, and learn how to get an up-close seat to watch this talented young man in action, by booking seats in "Calvin's Corner" at the T-Birds' home rink, ShoWare Center in Kent. Just click here.