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HomeSportsHart AttackHartley Miller’s Hart Attack – July 31, 2015 Edition 534

Hartley Miller’s Hart Attack – July 31, 2015 Edition 534

Let’s see if this adds up. On Friday, March 20th, 2015 the Prince George Spruce Kings announced that head coach Dave Dupas, after 4 ½ years on the job, tendered his resignation due to family reasons.

The Spruce Kings stated in a news release that Dupas felt it was important to be closer to his family who lives in Kelowna.

His departure came in the same month he guided the Spruce Kings to the second round of the BCHL playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Fast forward four months to another Friday, July 24th, 2015 and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL announce that the same Dave Dupas has been hired as an assistant coach to work under head coach and GM Tom Keca. Huh?

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Last I checked, Prince George to Kelowna is 440 miles and Fort McMurray to Kelowna is double that (877 miles).

Without knowing the inside story one could assume there had to be a falling out between the 53-year-old Dupas and Spruce Kings GM Mike Hawes.

Why else would a person with a winning record (124-105-9-24) go from a head coach in one Junior A league to an assistant in another?

In addition, why would one take a job twice as far from the family home?

In the hockey business, friction, tension, hostility and frustration are at all levels of game. The Spruce Kings have had more than their fair share.

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The host Prince George Posse were moved up a classification from B to A2 for the Provincial Midget Lacrosse Championships at the Kin Centre.

The decision was a wise one since the Posse were competitive. They posted an overall 4-1 record with their only loss in the gold medal game, 7-2 to Port Moody.

One has to wonder why the Vanderhoof Bears, with the addition of three players from Mackenzie, were playing at the C level and not bumped up to B.

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Vanderhoof, with just nine players, won all four of its C games by a combined score of 56-4, including 9-2 over Juan De Fuca in the final. In round robin play, the Bears blasted Fort St John 18-0, Williams Lake 17-0 and Juan De Fuca 12-2.

I’m sure the Bears were thrilled with their dominating effort, but they could of used the challenge of a more rewarding tournament had they faced the better calibre B players.

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The standings reflected Canada’s best ever showing at the Pan Am Games.

Spurred on by a vocal hometown crowd in Toronto, Canadian athletes were beaming with pride after amassing a national record 217 medals, including 78 gold. It was a solid second place finish behind the Americans 103 gold and 265 medals.

Of the three Prince George athletes that had the honour of representing their country, two have an achievement of a medal as a souvenir.

Amanda Asay played a prominent role on the Canadian women’s baseball team that earned silver, dropping the final to the U.S. 11-3.

Asay batted in the clean-up spot and in the final game showed her versatility as a DH, relief pitcher and first baseman.

Her final tournament offensive stats: 4-for-18 for a .222 batting average with 4 RBI’s & 2 runs scored.

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Earlier, boxer Kenny Lally fought his way to a bronze in the 56 kilos bantamweight class. In addition, PG’s Alyx Treasure was 7th out of 16 in the women’s high jump.

Yes, the Games are now a memory but the experience gained for the P.G. and Canadian athletes will benefit their goals for higher achievement in future international competitions.

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One could suggest David Hearn lost the RBC Canadian Open after having the lead on the back nine in the final round.

In reality, the popular Jason Day won the tournament by finishing with three clutch birdies, including a 21-footer on the 18th.

Day was one of the few stars on Tour that made the effort to play at Glen Abbey, just three days following the conclusion of the Open at St. Andrews.

The 27-year-old Australian was a fan favourite even though most of the crowd was hoping that Hearn would become the first Canadian in 61 years (Pat Fletcher in 1954) to win the event.

“I’ve never felt so much at home, and I’m not even from Canada,” Day told reporters after his victory.

Day has escalated from #9 to #4 in the world golf rankings. Although searching for a Major, he has 4 PGA Tour victories.

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The well respected Day is gracious win or lose and has a personality that makes him marketable. Despite battling vertigo he never offers excuses in the tournaments that he comes up short.

Meanwhile, Hearn still hasn’t won on Tour, but is making great strides.

The Brantford, Ontario native missed a handful of birdie putts on the final few holes as nerves and pressure played a key role in his 3rd place finish, two shots behind Day and one back of world #3 Bubba Watson.

The 36-year-old Hearn gave this honest assessment to reporters: “I gave it my all. I didn’t quite have my best game. I’m real proud of the way I played, and I’m really proud to be Canadian.”

It would have been a superb story had Hearn won but at the end of the “Day” it was a deserving Jason all the way.


From the Quote Rack:

According to a study by Sports Illustrated, Philadelphia Eagles fans are ‘the most hated in the NFL’. Conductors of the poll commented that, boy, it sure was cold up at the North Pole.

An alligator was found in the dugout prior to the minor league game between the Daytona Tortugas and Charlotte Stone Crabs. Animal control reportedly tranquilized the gator and returned him to his natural habitat at the local golf course .

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

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The Houston Astros have made Taylor Swift move her tour date at Minute Maid Park from Oct. 13 to Sept. 9 because the team may be headed to the playoffs. Wonder how long it will take for Swift to write a bitter song about the brush-off.

And we don’t think professional athletes have problems. Josh Smith, who just signed with the Clippers for the veterans’ minimum, talking about his finances: “At the end of the day, you know, I do have a family. So it is going to be a little harder on me this year. But I’m going to push through it, you know.”
Smith will make $6.9 million this year.

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

Toronto has hired long-time Devils GM Lou Lamoreillo. Who but the Leafs would add a 72-year-old as part of their youth movement?

One of the Deflategate balls sold at auction for $44,000. This means it won’t become a Brady family air-loom.

Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com

Donald Trump tried to buy the New England Patriots in 1988. If that happened, can you imagine the logo of their “Flying Elvis” with his sideburns combed to the back of his head and then forward?

Rapper 50 cent is bankrupt. He will now change his legal name by just removing the “5”.

Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)

And in case you missed it:

President Obama just became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison. He hasn’t seen that many inmates since he welcomed the national-champion Florida State football team to the White House.

Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald

Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller

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