Welcome To 2025

With the old calendar in the recycling bin as of today, 2025 is officially underway. I've seen lots of "best of 2024" lists and polls, but I'm not really interested in tracking that kind of stuff. If you liked something, that's yours to own and no one can say otherwise. I don't have any Spotify "most played" lists mainly because I don't subscribe, and I don't make resolutions because it gets done if something needs to be done. HBIC isn't undergoing many changes this year as I plan to continue to blog about things that interest me, but it should be noted that this is entry 6357 on this blog. That's a lot of writing, so who knows how long I'll keep adding a daily article in the future.

We're not going to start 2025 off with negatives, though, as there are a pile of things to which I'm looking forward. We'll start with the end of January where the 2025 Female World Sport School Challenge will run from January 30 to Febraury 2. This tournament always has me pumped for the future of women's hockey as we get to see a pile of U SPORTS- and NCAA-bound players before they hit the university circuits. Getting to see this great hockey, working with the amazing people in and around the St. Mary's Academy Flames throughout the tournament, and working alongside great people at the broadcast table has me excited to get back to it in 29 days!

Another event to which I'm looking forward is the annual NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs contest we run on The Hockey Show known as Survivor: NHL Playoffs! Sixteen people will be granted entry to the contest that will open in late April, and those sixteen people will watch their selected teams compete for prizes through the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Wayne is the defending champion after the Florida Panthers won him a pile of prizes in June, but we had fifteen fun, hilarious, and intelligent exit interviews that show how knowledgeable and creative our fans are. Survivor: NHL Playoffs is always a good time!

I haven't quite decided where yet, but there will be a hockey road trip next year as well. I had a pile of fun checking out the OHL in Sudbury and the ECHL in Fort Wayne in 2024, so it might be time to take a trek somewhere in 2025. Of course, the Canadian dollar has nosedived since I got back from my work trip at the end of November, so that may limit the number of places and games I can see. What I do know is that I'll be saving my nickels and dimes where I can because I had way too much fun watching hockey while road tripping.

I will say there will be trip to Brandon at some point, and I plan on not only stopping to see the WHL's Wheat Kings, but I want to see the MFHL edition of the Wheat Kings as well. Brandon's explosion of hockey is something that should be embraced and celebrated, so I'm hoping to get out to the community before the end of the season to catch a few games in southwestern Manitoba. Of couse, I'd love to the University of Brandon with a hockey program again, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards in the foreseeable future.

Beyond these items above, I'm open to suggestions. As you know, The Hockey Show is available to broadcast from your event if you want our presence there, so don't be afraid to ask! If you're holding a hockey tournament or some sort of special game or fundraiser, we'd be happy to help by lending our medium and show to the cause. HBIC will certainly accept invitations to events as well, so feel free to fire me an email for both HBIC and/or The Hockey Show on UMFM. We'll look at every request and see if we can fit into our calendars!

I'm ready for a big 2025 with all sorts of fun and adventure, so let's get this year rolling! Maybe I'll see you during my travels!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!