George Gwozdecky interview with Chris Botta

Wow, some good stuff in this interview. For Sioux fans at the 1126 mark of the interview George Gwozdecky talks about playing in the REA and the game where he was thrown out after his dance on the dasher. George Gwozdecky on the game he was thrown out in, 'REA is a tough game to play in and officiate in and the officials were being intimidated by the crowd.'

Update on DU's Jesse Martin

Edmonton Journal Picture...



Here is an update from the Edmonton Journal on DU forward Jesse Martin, its good to see that Jesse Martin now has to halo off and is wearing a neck brace. This article kind of puts life in perspective; that there is more to life than sports and that your family is one of the most important aspects in a person’s life.

EDMONTON - It's little wonder Terry Martin and his family don't know what to give one another for Christmas gifts this year.

They have all they need: Each other.

The past year could have torn the Edmonton family of four apart. Terry's wife, Jacquie, was diagnosed with a brain tumour just before his daughter, Natasha, was injured in a car crash and required emergency surgery.

Then his son, Jesse, a 22-year-old senior who plays hockey for the University of Denver Pioneers, was injured in an Oct. 30 game against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and carried off the ice on a stretcher with a spinal cord injury. Three days after getting home from visiting with Jesse in the U.S., Terry had heart attack.

"We're all having a little trouble buying Christmas gifts this year," Terry says. "I mean really, what material things could we give or receive that could provide greater happiness than what we are experiencing by simply being together?"

It's the gift of family.

"The serious medical challenges each of us faced recently certainly tested us as individuals with respect to inner strength and character. But how we came through it all is also a testament to how closely knit our family is," Terry says.

Jesse's injury -- a crush against the boards when he was looking down -- got a lot of attention because of a YouTube video of the hit. As of Monday, the video had been watched 131,192 times.

"Like every family, we have had our ups and downs, but the common thread has been that we never forget that we are there for each other no matter what, and we are always able to lean on each other for support," says Jesse.