Tis the holiday
season. Relax with this Yule
Log/Festive Fireplace.
Watch
a sample of Roger's work as the host of Toronto Marlies
hockey from the 2008/09 season.
It was a successful shoot
in Southern France in June. Wardell Productions
was on-site documenting the Brampton Concert Band's trip and
performance in La Croix Valmer Music Festival, Les Anches
D'azur. The band celebrating its 125th anniversary
performed three times and visited may sites including St.
Tropez, Cannes, Eze and Monaco.
A
couple of players that had a tough time proving their worth
in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization are going to get a
look with the Detroit Redwings. Brampton's Kris Newbury
and Saskatchewan's Jeremy Williams have each signed
1-year, 2-way contracts with the Redwings. Newbury
and Williams were two of the best Marlies over the past few
seasons. Last season Newbury got into one game with
the Maple Leafs. In 33-games with the Marlies he
picked up 29-points and was a physical force before being
hampered by a shoulder injury. Newbury spent 6-years
in the Leafs system picking up 6-points in 44-games in the
NHL. Jeremy Williams had 7-points in 11-games with the
Leafs last season and another 27-goals in the minors.
The Minnesota Wild have
signed defenceman Jaime Sifers. The
26-year-old Sifers played 23 games with the Toronto Maple
Leafs last season and 43 with the Marlies.
The
captain of the Marlies Ben Ondrus will be back next
season along with Ryan Hamilton. Both players
have signed one year deals with the Leafs organization.
Tough guy Jay Rosehill who was second in the AHL in
penalty minutes last year has signed a 2-year deal.
20-year-old Richard Greenop has signed an entry level
contract after winning the Memorial Cup with the Windsor
Spitfires last season. The 6'4", 235-pound
Greenop was 6th in the OHL in penalty minutes last season.
Also, Tim Brent signed a 2-year contract. He
was originally a draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks and led the
Rockford IceHogs in scoring last season.
Greg Gilbert will
not be back as the head coach of the Toronto Marlies.
Brian Burke, the G.M. of the Toronto Maple Leafs made the
announcement on June 5. "Greg has been a valuable
and loyal member of our organization," according to
Burke. The assistant coaches Jim Hughes and Joe
Paterson have been given permission to pursue other
opportunities. Roger says "Greg Gilbert, Joe
Paterson and Jim Hughes are true professionals. They
were a pleasure to deal with as a member of the media and
I'm sure they'll find coaching jobs in the AHL, NHL or KHL
in the near future." Gilbert is a former Head
coach with the Calgary Flames. Jim Hughes has
worked as an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins and has
been a head coach in the AHL and KHL. Joe Paterson has
been a head coach in the AHL and played for the Red Wings,
Flyers, Kings and New York Rangers. (A few interviews
from the coaches from the past season are shared below).
Greg Gilbert is the only
player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup with both New
York teams. Greg talks about getting called up from
junior hockey to play with the Islanders Dynasty in the
early 1980's. Greg
Gilbert interview.
Joe Paterson talks about
his days playing with Marcel Dionne and the Los Angeles
Kings. Joe
Paterson interview.
Jim Hughes returned to the
Marlies as an assistant coach after a stint as a head coach
in the KHL. Jim
Hughes interview.
Roger continues to produce
and Anchor First Local, a daily news and sports show
on Rogers TV in the region of Peel. He also hosts
Toronto Marlies television broadcasts. The Marlies
were eliminated in round one of the AHL playoffs.
Wardell Productions is
preparing to shoot a documentary in late June in Southern
France.
Remember
to check the ESPN Bottom Line at the bottom of
every page of rogerwardell.com. It'll give you up
to the second updates on all of the scores from the major
sporting leagues. Hey, why not check out the scores
from around the leagues while you listen to your favourite interviews.
