A Catastrophic Error

Folks,

I come to you today with hat in hand, begging your forgiveness. In my excitement to tabulate the final pool results, I completely forgot the bonus section - select the Conn Smythe winner for an extra 10 points. (In my defence, this is the first year we've done that.)

There were two poolies to select Evgeni Malkin as their Conn Smythe winner. One of them is Philip Ling. Congratulations.

The other is Geoff Hastings, the man who heretofore was just four points behind Jeff Madill for first place. With the 10-point bump, Geoff has taken Jeff and the $420.

To Jeff Madill: my sincere apologies.

To Geoff Hastings: way to go!

The updated standings read as follows:

1.Geoff Hastings..........271...9.

2.Jeff Madill.............265...8.

3.Jordan Stein............245...10.

4.Philip Ling.............244...11.

5.Rob Kovac...............240...6.

6.Mary Kay Hosfield.......230...10.

7.Arthur Casement.........226...10.

8.Colleen Turnbull........225...10.

8.Jeremy McParland........225...10.

10.Mark Brennae...........223...9.

11.Steve McKinley.........221...11.

12.Dale Oviatt............219...9.

13.Lloyd Mack.............218...9.

13.Ron Strate.............218...11.

15.Barry Horeczy..........217...11.

16.Mike Macaraeg..........216...11.

17.Laura Drake............214...13.

17.Justin Lee.............214...9.

19.Liam Lynch.............210...14.

20.Chris Lackner..........209...14.

21.Adam Fulton............207...10.

22.Dave Gross.............206...13.

23.Marcel Chelkowski......203...13.

23.Richard Woods..........203...13.

25.Sean Hutchinson........202...11.

26.Jack James.............198...12.

26.Ryan Plesko............198...13.

28.Richard Warnica........197...13.

29.Chris Chapman..........196...15.

30.Don McGowan............195...14.

31.Peter James............190...12.

32.Rob Shaw...............189...13.

33.Leanne Boyd............182...15.

34.Mike Barber............181...14.

35.James Gordon...........180...12.

36.James Peters...........177...14.

37.Keith Bonnell..........173...15.

38.Sydney Washburn........172...12.

39.Terry James............171...11.

40.Jeff Sandelli..........169...12.

41.Brad Bouzane...........164...12.

42.Shannon Proudfoot......161...14.

42.Mike James.............161...13.

44.Steve Ayres............160...15.

44.Lisa Watson............160...14.

46.Debb Coghlin...........156...14.

47.Dave Washburn..........141...17...FROZEN!

48.Cliff Hosfield.........137...11.

49.Mary James.............136...16.

50.David Forbes...........113...15.

51.Jenn Hosfield..........111...17...FROZEN!

52.Carolynne Burkholder...105...17...FROZEN!

53.Julianna Nowaczek......104...17...FROZEN!

54.Brendan Kennedy........100...17...FROZEN!

Final Player Update - Jeff Madill is your winner!

Congratulations are in order to Jeff Madill, this year's Sons of Manitoba Playoff Hockey Pool Player Side Champion!

Mr. Madill's deft selections focusing on Detroit and Pittsburgh players took him to victory, and a payoff of $420!

Well done is also in order for Geoff Hastings, who matched Madill closely, but for a single pick, Johan Franzen.

Thanks so much to everyone for entering. I haven't discussed this with Pete, but since my involvement began a few years ago, this has probably been the best SOM pool ever. The prize portion certainly added a great deal of interest, and it's something we'll likely reprise next time around.

See you all next year!

1.Jeff Madill.............265...8.

2.Geoff Hastings..........261...9.

3.Jordan Stein............245...10.

4.Rob Kovac...............240...6.

5.Philip Ling.............234...11.

6.Mary Kay Hosfield.......230...10.

7.Arthur Casement.........226...10.

8.Colleen Turnbull........225...10.

8.Jeremy McParland........225...10.

10.Mark Brennae...........223...9.

11.Steve McKinley.........221...11.

12.Dale Oviatt............219...9.

13.Lloyd Mack.............218...9.

13.Ron Strate.............218...11.

15.Barry Horeczy..........217...11.

16.Mike Macaraeg..........216...11.

17.Laura Drake............214...13.

17.Justin Lee.............214...9.

19.Liam Lynch.............210...14.

20.Chris Lackner..........209...14.

21.Adam Fulton............207...10.

22.Dave Gross.............206...13.

23.Marcel Chelkowski......203...13.

23.Richard Woods..........203...13.

25.Sean Hutchinson........202...11.

26.Jack James.............198...12.

26.Ryan Plesko............198...13.

28.Richard Warnica........197...13.

29.Chris Chapman..........196...15.

30.Don McGowan............195...14.

31.Peter James............190...12.

32.Rob Shaw...............189...13.

33.Leanne Boyd............182...15.

34.Mike Barber............181...14.

35.James Gordon...........180...12.

36.James Peters...........177...14.

37.Keith Bonnell..........173...15.

38.Sydney Washburn........172...12.

39.Terry James............171...11.

40.Jeff Sandelli..........169...12.

41.Brad Bouzane...........164...12.

42.Shannon Proudfoot......161...14.

42.Mike James.............161...13.

44.Steve Ayres............160...15.

44.Lisa Watson............160...14.

46.Debb Coghlin...........156...14.

47.Dave Washburn..........141...17...FROZEN!

48.Cliff Hosfield.........137...11.

49.Mary James.............136...16.

50.David Forbes...........113...15.

51.Jenn Hosfield..........111...17...FROZEN!

52.Carolynne Burkholder...105...17...FROZEN!

53.Julianna Nowaczek......104...17...FROZEN!

54.Brendan Kennedy........100...17...FROZEN!

Pens win! So does Rob!

Good evening poolies and congratulations to Rob Kovac, the 2009 Sons of Manitoba Team Side champion. Rob will take home $420 as the first cash prize winner for the pool as a whole since 1999. The player side winner will be announced soon.

Rob won by being one of eight poolies to correctly predict a Pittsburgh triumph, which the Penguins did with a 2-1 win in Game 7 over Detroit on Friday night. Geoff Hastings, Natalie James, Yours Truly, Keith Bonnell (who, by the way, hesitated from entering because he was afraid of posting an embarrassing score), James Gordon, Mike Macaraeg and Don McGowan were also correct, but all get $0 for their effort.

Jeff Madill, who would have won the $420 if the Wings had been able to close out the Penguins in either Game 6 or 7, will now have to await his fate on the player side, where at last report he was leading.

Below are the final standings, but first a big thanks to everyone who entered this year. It was nice to see such a robust turnout for the pool again. James and I appreciate any feedback (both positive or negative) or suggestions you have for next year.

Have a great off-season everyone!

1 $Rob Kovac 60 Congratulations! But now the pressure is on to repeat.
2 $Geoff Hastings 58 Best score among poolies who didn't win
3 $Natalie James 48 Best score among people related to me
4 $Peter James 44 Best score among pool organizers
5 $Keith Bonnell 41 Best score among people at a wedding rehearsal dinner during Game 7
T6 $James Gordon 40 Best score among poolies who blog about hockey
T6 Mike Macaraeg 40 Best score among poolies who teach school
T8 $Jack James 39 Best score among poolies who are grandfathers
T8 $Jeff Madill 39 Best score among poolies who are in southwestern Ontario
T8 $Don McGowan 39 Best score among poolies who shun social media (tied with Jack James)
11 $Justin Lee 35 Best score among poolies who didn't finish in the top 10
12 $Mike James 33 Best score among poolies who are celebrating their grad during Game 7
13 $Phil Ling 32 Best score among poolies who had an embarrassing photo taken of them at work this week
14 $Mary Kay Hosfield 34 Best score among poolies with the last name Hosfield
T15 $Arthur Casement 31 Best score among poolies who are engineers
T15 $Sean Hutchinson 31 Best score among poolies with a nickname containing the word, 'incomplete'
17 $Lloyd Mack 30 Best score among poolies from Kenora
18 $Ryan Plesko 29 Best score among poolies who are also related to the spouse of a pool organizer.
T19 $Cliff Hosfield 28 Best score among male poolies with the last name Hosfield
T19 Jordan Stein 28 Best score among poolies who are former Res Security staff
T19 $Sydney Washburn 28 Best score among poolies married to a sports desker
T22 Adam Fulton 27 Best score among poolies who I still haven't visited with since returning to Ottawa over two years ago
T22 Colleen Turnbull 27 Best score among poolies who just sold a condo
24 $Steve Ayres 26 Best score among poolies who didn't finish in the top 2 and who I don't know
T25 Laura Drake 25 Best score among Edmonton-based poolies (a tie)
T25 Barry Horeczy 25 Best score among poolies who cheer for a team that hasn't won a Cup since 1961
T25 Debb Coghlin 25 Best score among poolies who cheer for Colorado
T25 $Mark Brennae 25 Best score among poolies who set some sort of record for most consecutive Expos games listened on the radio back in the day
T25 $Richard Warnica 25 Best score among Edmonton-based poolies (a tie)
T25 $Steve McKinley 25 Best score among poolies who undoubtably yelled 'whoo-whoo!' after the game
T25 $Terry James 25 Best score among poolies who will be getting up early to go to the lake
32 $Marcel Chelkowski 24 Best score among poolies named Marcel
33 $Dale Oviatt 23 Best score among poolies who are also my boss
T34 $Brad Bouzane 22 Best score among poolies who scored three bingos in one scrabble game this week
T34 $Jeff Sandelli 22 Best score among poolies who are also Dion Phaneuf apologists
T34 $Mary James 22 Best score among poolies who probably didn't mind not watching Game 7
T34 $Richard Woods 22 Best score among poolies who I'm having a hard time coming up with a line for
T38 Chris Chapman 21 Best score among poolies who won this pool during a lockout year
T38 $Dave Gross 21 Best score among poolies who are likely thankful there wasn't overtime
T38 $Jeremy McParland 21 Best score among poolies who surname starts with Mc (but not Mac)
T38 Roman Zakaluzny 21 Best score among poolies whose soccer skills can be described as 'amazing'
T42 $Carolynne Burkholder 20 Best score among cat-obsessed poolies
T42 $Chris Lackner 20 Best score among poolies who double as arts editors
T42 David Forbes 20 Best score among poolies who taught me in university
T42 $Liam Lynch 20 Best score among poolies whose last name is synonymous with mobs
T42 $Mike Barber 20 Best score among poolies who just discovered time shifting
T47 $Dave Washburn 19 Best score among poolies who lost four scrabble games to me this morning
T47 $James Peters 19 Best score among poolies who organize this pool and live in Western Canada
T47 Mike McGuire 19 Best score among poolies whose new house is currently under construction
T50 Leanne Boyd 17 Best score among poolies who is also a vet
T50 Lisa Watson 17 Best score among poolies who have a turtle with a Flames tattoo
T50 Rob Shaw 17 Best score among poolies who were NNA finalists
53 $Shannon Proudfoot 16 Best score among poolies who share a hometown with Tyler Kennedy
54 Ron Strate 13 Best score among poolies who have entered multiple years, but I've yet to meet
T55 $Brendan Kennedy 12 Best score among poolies who bought three world junior packages from me
T55 Jenn Hosfiled 12 Best score among poolies who are also my cousin
57 $Julianna Nowaczek 9 Best score among poolies who didn't reach double digits

Long-Awaited, Much-Anticipated Player Side Update

You blink your eyes, and before you know it, it's the Stanley Cup final.

Well, the moment our parents' refused to name us Jeff/Geoff, we were out of this race. And in fact, it's all but over as it is.

Upon close scientific examination, the only difference between the squads of Jeff Madill and Geoff Hastings is the presence of Johan Franzen on the team of the former. That means this is pretty much decided already. Good on both of the Jeffs/Geoffs for having terrific rookie years.

Oh, also, I'd like to welcome Dave Washburn to the realm of the FROZEN!

1.Jeff Madill.............245...8.
2.Geoff Hastings..........242...9.
3.Jordan Stein............228...10.
4.Philip Ling.............224...11.
5.Mary Kay Hosfield.......213...10.
6.Rob Kovac...............212...6.
7.Colleen Turnbull........208...10.
7.Jeremy McParland........208...10.
7.Mark Brennae............208...9.
10.Arthur Casement........207...10.
11.Laura Drake............206...13.
12.Ron Strate.............205...11.
12.Steve McKinley.........205...11.
14.Barry Horeczy..........204...11.
15.Mike Macaraeg..........203...11.
16.Liam Lynch.............202...14.
16.Dale Oviatt............202...9.
18.Chris Lackner..........201...14.
19.Justin Lee.............199...9.
20.Lloyd Mack.............198...9.
21.Dave Gross.............196...13.
21.Marcel Chelkowski......196...13.
23.Richard Woods..........192...13.
24.Adam Fulton............191...10.
24.Chris Chapman..........191...15.
26.Jack James.............190...12.
27.Don McGowan............188...14.
28.Ryan Plesko............187...13.
28.Richard Warnica........187...13.
30.Sean Hutchinson........186...11.
31.Peter James............180...12.
31.Rob Shaw...............180...13.
33.Leanne Boyd............177...15.
34.Mike Barber............173...14.
35.James Peters...........172...14.
36.James Gordon...........170...12.
37.Keith Bonnell..........168...15.
38.Sydney Washburn........164...12.
39.Jeff Sandelli..........159...12.
40.Terry James............157...11.
41.Steve Ayres............155...15.
42.Shannon Proudfoot......153...14.
43.Lisa Watson............152...14.
44.Brad Bouzane...........151...12.
45.Mike James.............150...13.
46.Debb Coghlin...........148...14.
47.Dave Washburn..........141...17...FROZEN!
48.Mary James.............134...16.
49.Cliff Hosfield.........122...11.
50.Jenn Hosfield..........111...17...FROZEN!
50.David Forbes...........111...15.
52.Carolynne Burkholder...105...17...FROZEN!
53.Julianna Nowaczek......104...17...FROZEN!
54.Brendan Kennedy........100...17...FROZEN!