Alberta
Was the quick evolution of Draisaitl from prospect to standout THE biggest on-ice element in this positive building project?
It was a little more than three years ago when Wayne Gretzky predicted the Edmonton Oilers were on their way to big improvement in the National Hockey League.
And he did it in one simple sentence: “We’ll be a really good team when the big guy decides he wants to run his own line.”
Now it’s obvious that “the big guy” was, and is, Leon Draisaitl. Gretzky’s words came as a team-wide selection of alleged experts insisted the Oilers would reach their peak if then-coach Todd McLellan would leave Draisaitl and the remarkable Connor McDavid as allies on the same forward line long enough to allow some solid second- and third-line players to become consistently valuable.
The operative words in Gretzky’s sentence — “decides to” — became memorable only after Draisaitl matured enough to recognize his own potential. The specific turning point from bright prospect to budding superstar Is impossible to define precisely, but it certainly happened last season.
Until then, the German youngster remained only an intriguing prospect. He operated comfortably, and often effectively, with McDavid doing most of the work, getting almost all the attention and still scoring points at a ridiculous level
To state the obvious once again, Draisaitl’s status as scoring champion and likely winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player has erased any fear that he might fall short of the potential that showed in his junior career.
Now, he faces another step: showing his dominance — on his own line much of the time and in partnership with McDavid on Edmonton’s ominous power play. The Chicago Blackhawks are certain to see brilliance from their offensive co-leaders through at least three first-round playoff games, and perhaps as many as five games.
Since almost the moment, months ago,when commissioner Gary Bettman’s dream of completing a Stanley Cup playoff was first circulated, respect has grown for the Oilers as potential champions — this year, not next year.
Coach Dave Tippett and general manager Ken Holland have been extremely strategic in their public utterances: “sure we’re good, but we’re still growing,” is a shared outlook. Holland, in particular, has been cautious. His years of success as the operational head of the Detroit Red Wings showed him that depth and experience are essential to reach the top of any competitive ladder.
The season-long improvement of defender Ethan Bear and winger Kailer Yamamoto has done much to improve team depth, back and front. Evan Bouchard, Phil Broberg and Caleb Jones are all nearing regular play on a big-league blueline crew. Tyler Benson, Ryan McLeod, Ostap Safin show similar signs up front.
These future additions make it obvious the Oilers have potential as serious candidates, both short- and long-term.
Was the quick evolution of Draisaitl from prospect to standout THE biggest on-ice element in this positive building project? It’s hard to argue otherwise.
Coronavirus invasion of major league baseball was bound to happen sooner or later
President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Nate Horner issued the following statement about the ongoing negotiations with TEBA and the ATA:
“I am pleased to share that TEBA and the ATA met in an Alberta Labour Relations Board (LRB) resolution conference today to discuss the unfair labour practice complaint launched against the ATA, by TEBA.
“As a result of the resolution conference, the LRB issued a consent order, which is an agreement by the parties to resolve the complaint.
“The consent order clarifies that there are only three outstanding bargaining issues. They are:
- The timing for implementation of the unified grid;
- The ATA’s proposal for an annual 1.5% long service allowance for teachers at the maximum step of the grid; and,
- Coverage of the COVID-19 vaccination.
“This consent order makes clear that none of the outstanding items under negotiation are about classroom complexity, class size or support for students.
“Alberta’s government has already addressed these concerns though our current offer which would add 3000 more teachers to classrooms. In addition, Budget 2025 invested$1.6 billion to support diverse learning needs and complexity in classrooms. This includes $53 million for classroom complexity grants.
“I trust that this order will assist Alberta’s families and teachers in understanding the true nature of the ongoing negotiations.”
Alberta
Sylvan Lake high school football coach fired for criticizing gender ideology sends legal letter to school board
From LifeSiteNews
The letter on behalf of Alberta high school volunteer football coach Taylor ‘Teej’ Johannesson mentions ‘workplace harassment’ while demanding his job back.
A Sylvan Lake high school football coach who was fired for sharing his views opposing transgender ideology on social media in a video discussing his Christian faith sent a legal demand to his former school board demanding he get his job back.
H.J. Cody High School volunteer coach Taylor “Teej” Johannesson, as reported by LifeSiteNews, earlier this month was fired by his school’s principal because he spoke out against gender-confused youth who “take their hatred of Christians” to another level by committing violent acts against them.
School principal Alex Lambert fired Teej, as he is known, as a result of a TikTok video in which he speaks out against radical gender ideology and the dangers it brings.
In a recent update involving his case, local media with knowledge of Johannesson’s issues with the principal at H.J. Cody High School in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, confirmed a legal demand letter was sent to the school.
The letter reads, “From his perspective, this opposition is consistent with the Alberta government’s position and legislation prohibiting prescribing prescription hormones to minors and providing care to them that involves transition surgeries.”
In the letter, the school board’s “workplace harassment” procedure is mentioned, stating, “Any act of workplace harassment or workplace violence shall be considered unacceptable conduct whether that conduct occurs at work, on Division grounds, or at division-sponsored activities.”
The legal demand letter, which was sent to school officials last week, reads, “Given that Mr. Johannesson’s expression in the TikTok Video was not connected to his volunteer work, the principal and the division have no authority to regulate his speech and punish him by the Termination decision, which is ultra vires (“beyond the powers.)”
Johannesson has said, in speaking with local media, that his being back at work at the school as a volunteer coach has meaning: “It’s about trying to create some change within the school system.”
He noted how, for “too long,” a certain “political view, one ideology, has taken hold in the school system.”
“I’m hoping that this demand letter, and all the attention that they’ve gotten over this, causes them to make some change,” he stated.
Johannesson has contacted Alberta’s Chief of Staff for the Minister of Education about his firing and was told that there is a board meeting taking place over the demand letter.
According to Teej, Lambert used his TikTok video as an excuse to get rid of someone in the school with conservative political views and who is against her goal to place “safe space stickers” all over the school.
Teej has been in trouble before with the school administration. About three years ago, he was called in to see school officials for posting on Twitter a biological fact that “Boys have a penis. Girls have a vagina.”
Alberta’s Conservative government under Premier Danielle Smith has in place a new policy protecting female athletes from gender-confused men that has taken effect across the province.
As LifeSiteNews previously reported, the Government of Alberta is currently fighting a court order that is blocking the province’s newly passed ban on transgender surgeries and drugs for children.
Alberta also plans to ban books with sexually explicit as well as pornographic material, many of which contain LGBT and even pedophilic content, from all school libraries.
Mark Carney’s Climate Competitiveness Pitch Falls Flat
Canada Post is broken beyond repair
Maritime provinces can enact policies to reduce reliance on Alberta… ehem.. Ottawa
Yes Alberta has a spending problem. But it has solutions too
-
National2 days agoChrystia Freeland resigns from Mark Carney’s cabinet, asked to become Ukraine envoy
-
International2 days agoFrance records more deaths than births for the first time in 80 years
-
Energy1 day agoA Breathtaking About-Face From The IEA On Oil Investments
-
Business2 days agoOttawa’s so-called ‘Clean Fuel Standards’ cause more harm than good
-
Business2 days agoThe Truth Is Buried Under Sechelt’s Unproven Graves
-
Alberta2 days agoParents group blasts Alberta government for weakening sexually explicit school book ban
-
Health1 day agoCanadians diagnosed with cancer in ER struggle to receive treatment as Liberals keep pushing MAiD
-
International1 day agoFBI Director Patel challenged on handling of the Epstein files during oversight hearing