That time we went to Williams Lake to broadcast hockey.

These are my ramblings from a weekend road-trip aboard the fish tank.

SATURDAY
4:05 AM - I f_____g hate mornings.

5:15 am - Officially aboard the Smithers steelheads bus, rain & snow falling from the heavens. Could be a slick ride to Williams Lake.

10:30 - Slept soundly, drooled all over my jacket. Woke up to find the bus in Prince George pulling into the Bon Voyage inn.
Best moment at breakfast. Steelhead defenceman Eric Smith discovers that the Bon Voyage Inn doesn't have any strawberry Jam. #24 seems appalled by this. "Strawberry is the only jam" -- Eric Smith.

11:00 am - On the road to Williams Lake.
Movies of choice. Super Troopers, Trailer Park Boys christmas special and Old School.

3:00 pm Arrival in Williams Lake, check into the Sandman.


4:30 pm  JC and I meandering around downtown Williams Lake to find Oliver sports bar. Pretty solid pub.  Watched the first period of the Canucks vs Leafs game, great scenery and the food wasn't bad either.

5:00 Spotted in Williams Lake: “The Bassment all ages sober night club"  Does this make any sense?

6:15 pm

This is how nicknames are born. We’re standing outside the Caribou Memorial Complex. Houston Luckies captain Alonzo Slaney is chirping Skylar Hassel for his stylish Beige sweater and matching  Beige pants. Calls him 'sears' and then 'GQ' He also delegates Hassel to run around the building to open the door for the rest of the team, due to him being the "fastest" JC and I decided that GQ should be Skylar's nickname.
John Morry was hardly impressed with Skylar's garment.  " You can't wear Beige with Beige, that's not GQ" Morry has high standards and I agree but the nickname is too awesome. Hence, Skylar (GQ) Hassel

6:30 pm Setting up the Caribou Memorial Complex,great facility. Much like the claude parish in houston, there are only stands on side. The PA announcer has the crowd revved up with some good pregame arena tunes.

10:30 pm -- Post-game after a 10-6 win for Williams lake in a frantic, wide-open hockey game. Williams Lake goalie Justin Foote gets pulled and still gets the win.  On Nov 26th the same 2 teams played a 1 - 0 game. tonight 16 goals featuring the same two teams... Gotta love the CIHL

1:00 am
Overlander night club in Williams Lake is apparently the spot.
Standing in line among the wild behaviour. One guy leaving the club upchucks his dinner on the way out... nasty. Then an african canadian cop walks by. Rare.
We also happen to run into possibly the drunkest man in northern BC on Saturday night.

Drunk Guy: Do you realize you’re the only black guy in here?
Jo2: Really?
Drunk Guy: Seriously... like, you know that right?
Jo2: There’s a black cop standing right over there, you should go have a word.
Drunk Guy:...... *Confusion is strewn all over his face.

A quality night out on the town featuring a few steelheads.

SUNDAY
11:30 Am Sunday morning
I’ve decided that Denny’s tastes better from 3am to 8am. Couldn’t be more average during regular-people-breakfast-hours.

12:30 The chant on the STeelheads bus. 13 is weak, 14 is the streak”  They seem focused.

4:30 Game over Smithers obliterates Williams Lake 7 - 1 final. Stampeders only have 12 skaters.

5:00 pm: Pizza, beer and an 8 hour trip home featuring the Peak broadcast team (JC and I) The Smithers Steelheads and Lisa (Former peak receptionist)

6:00 pm I attempted to sneak to the back of the bus to have a quick nap... Devon Hayhurst cuts me off

Devon: Where you going?
Jo2: uhh, just to have a nap
Devon: No. There’s no way that’s happening. GUYS JO2 THINKS HE’S GONNA  NAP.
Steelheads: CMON JOE!!!!!
Devon: Here’s a beer


10:30 pm Quick stop In prince George. Rob Millar #37 is a beauty. That is all.

1:15 am Arrival in Smithers after a long trip home featuring singing, a ridicolous amount of chirping and a copious amount of laughter.


o2 out!

Questions. Comments. Concerns
jo2@thepeak.ca