Women Win Gold

For the third straight time, the Canadian Women's Hockey Team took home gold, beating the USA last night 2 to 0.

Congrats to all the girls on the team.


Joannie Roucette, also held strong and took home a bronze medal in figure skating. For those not familiar with her story, Joannie lost her mother suddenly at the start of the week. The two were enjoying Vancouver in anticipation of Joannie's short skate when her Mom collapsed. She later died in hospital.

Joannie, determined to make her mother proud, fought on and continued in her quest for an Olympic medal. After turning in a great performance two nights ago in the short skate, Joannie broke down in the arms of her coach. Her skate put her in third place. Last night Joannie came out for the long skate and cemented her placing and took home the bronze medal.

Joannie you have made your Mom proud . . . you have made an entire nation proud.

The Big Red Machine

For those of you who have attended a Bruce Springsteen concert, you are aware of the masterful layering of songs that together create a collective so powerful you'd swear the roof was ready to be ripped off the building.

Last night, Team Canada layered Badlands on top of The Rising as they head towards the final two sets that will result in the roof ripping off of Canada Place in Vancouver.

Team Canada didn't merely come out and control the start of the game, they completely and decidedly destroyed the Russians. If I didn't know better I would have thought I was watching a pro team playing a beer league team. This was the most dominate two periods of hockey I have ever seen. Clearly the Russians didn't know what they were in for and were poorly prepared to face the Canadians.

If there was any doubt whether the chemistry witnessed in the prior game against the Germans was for real, it was quickly erased. After one period, Canada was up 4 to 1. The domination continued in the second period where Canada went out to a 7 to 2 lead.

In the third, Canada shut the Russians down, taking away any chance of them making a comeback, with fine defensive play. The final score was 7 to 3.

Earlier in the day, Team USA defeated the Swiss 2 to 0 on the back of another great performance from goalie Ryan Miller.

Both Team USA and Canada advance to the semi-finals.

Bring on Russia

Playing a qualifying game wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. In fact, it might just have been the best thing.

Why?

Last night's game gave Canada another opportunity to gel, to come together as a complete unit, to find chemistry. Canada's top line of Sydney Crosby, Eric Staal and Jerome Iginla used the game to come to life. Other key members of Canada's team hit the score sheet, helping to bulld confidence moving forward.

It also helps when you're playing a team that's goalie isn't named Ryan Miller. Once again Canada dominated the game, controlling the puck and running up their shots on goal. Unlike the game against the US, Canada was able to make good on a number of scoring chances and came away with an 8 to 2 win. Defenceman Shea Weber made it 2 to 0 in the second period when his slapshot from the point went right through the meshing of the net. Play continued and when the whistle finally blew, they went upstairs to review the tape.

In the end, last nights game will prove to be the defining moment for Canada in this tournament. It will be the game in which they all came together as a complete unit and the chemistry they were looking for was finally found.

We won't have long to ponder this, as Canada will take on Russia tonight in the quarter finals.

From here on, it's win, win, win.

Oh, and the loss to the US, set up the dream scenerio. If the US and Canada win their quarter final and semi-final games, they will meet for gold in the finals.

Let's go USA!!! Let's go Canada!!!

Ryan Miller and Brian Rafalski Sink Canada

In the stillness of night, I could hear what started as a faint bark grow louder and louder as the minutes and hours passed. In the end, it was an echoing roar that traveled up from the Buffalo/Niagara Falls border and pounded on my door over and over.

On the back of 42 saves, German Shorthaired Pointer pals, Will and Dexter rallied behind their local boy, goalie Ryan Miller as he led Team USA to a victory over Canada and first place in Group A.

Team USA will advance to the quarter-finals, while Canada now has to play a qualifying game against Germany on Tuesday; lose and Canada is out.

The USA came out flying and their hunger for victory was evident when they opened the scoring just 42 seconds into the game. Defenceman Brian Rafalski scored twice and added an assist to lead Team USA offensively.

Canada controlled much of the play, out-shooting the US, but their lack of finish cost them the game, as it did the tournament back in 2006 in Turin. Coming into the Olympics, many Canadians were worried that this entry would also have trouble scoring goals, and the last two games have confirmed that fear.

As the night slips away, a continued howl knocks on my front door and rattles the windows. On the winds of victory, I hear Sunny Lee and Winston join Will and Dexter in their celebration. Like any good optimist, I look to the future, namely Tuesday's game where Canada will rise up and defeat Germany and use this loss tonight to fuel their desire to take home the gold.

USA 2-0, Canada 2-0

Yesterday afternoon, Team USA defeated Norway 6 to 1 in Olympic hockey. The game was closer than the score suggested, but the US made good on their chances and ran the score up.

Last night, the story was a little different. Team Canada dominated much of the game, but Swiss goalie, Jonas Hiller stood tall in goal. Canada's past problems with finishing off their scoring chances came back to visit last night. In past Olympics, the team's lack of scoring did them in, both in 1998 and again in 2006. To be successful this year, their big scorers will have to bury the puck when they get the chance.

It took a shootout for Team Canada to prevail. Superstar Sydney Crosby made good on his second attempt and Canada won 3 to 2.

This victory sets up Sunday's match-up against the US. The winner Sunday, will finish first in Group A.

This has been the Rye Rye Report. GO CANADA GO!!!!

GO CANADA GO!!!

Yesterday marked the start of Olympic hockey. Being a Canadian dog, my Dad tells me that I must eat, sleep and romp hockey. I find this very strange, since Mom tells Dad to change the channel every time he's watching hockey.

Well, Dad told Mom that things would be different for the Olympics.

So last night we sat down to watch the game . . . until 9:00 pm anyway. That's when Lost started and Dad said not even hockey can get in the way of watching Lost.

That was okay, since Canada had the game in hand. It ended 8 to 0 and was a great start for Canada, especially since our top scorers hit the score sheet.

The U.S. won earlier in the day 3 to 1. Why am I mentioning the U.S. game? Well, I have a bet with my buddy Winston. He took the U.S., I took Canada and a pig's ear is on the line.

Don't worry O-Man, we PVRed, Idol.

So bring on the competition, Gold is ours and I'll be enjoying a mighty fine pig's ear.

In closing, I want to wish my pal Winston, good luck.

New Game

Following my good pals, Sunny Lee, Zaidie, Saphira and Izzy, I’m going to play their new game. Here are my eleven ways my Mom and Dad know I am me and not an evil cyborg created to look like me . . . serious, it could happen. I saw it in a movie.

11. Like Izzy and Sunny, I must have something in my mouth when my Dad or Mom step-through the front door. As soon as they’re in I rush off to find a stuffie, a sock, maybe Mom’s bra, a shoe, my bone, a pillow, anything that I can bring to them and shake like mad.

10. In the morning I’m waiting by the garage door for Dad to make his way to the car. I Eagerly follow him out and rush to the car to jump into the back seat . . . more appropriately known as my office.

9. As the car pulls into the train station, my head is poking out the sunroof and I’m searching for my Dad. Sometimes I’m also driving while my head is out the sunroof . . . really I am.

8. I will look at you, followed by a tap, followed by climbing on you, and lastly I’ll run to the cupboard and nose the handle until you get me a pig’s ear. If you don’t listen, I’ll do it all again.

7. I pee like a girl. Yes, it’s true. I raise my leg to mark, but to relieve myself, I always squat. I’ve burned more patches in the backyard you’d think you were walking in the temple at the start of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

6. I love to chew on electronics. I’ve polished off two Blackberrys, three phones and one remote.

5. I lean into people for a good pet. Doesn’t matter whether I know you or not. If you stop near me, in I will lean.

4. I’m always in search of the big one—counter-surfing that is. I surf at home or at the pet store check-out counter. One time Dad put the money in my mouth and I counter-surfed to pay.

3. I am the ultimate sleeper-inner. Dad swears I’m a teenager. I just love my sleeps. He gets up for work and I sleep. He tries to wake me for breakfast and my morning pee and I sleep. On the weekends, I only get up after both Dad and I have shared a good sleep-in.

2. When I hear the garage door open after my Mom returns from the barn, I instantly jump to my paws and do tight, little circles while making sweet cries. I'm usually still half-asleep. Dad laughs at the look on my face and my half-closed eyes.

1. If you don’t see my head pop up in the family-room window when the car pulls in, followed by a high-pitched cry and then a big running jump at the front door, I have been replaced by a Cyborg.

Have a great day, pals.

Merry Christmas to all my pals

I just wanted to give a little bark-out to all my pals.

I want to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


I want to thank my Gift Exchange partner, Tiberius for all of the great gifts. He gave me liver treats, a squeaky Santa, a squeaky chicken, and raw hides filled with something special. Dad showed me everything, but said I couldn't have it until Christmas. Tomorrow we're going to get a nice photo with all my stuff and cards.

After we open gifts we're going to go to the barn to say Merry Christmas to Daune. I hope she isn't cold. I told Dad she can sleep in the bed with us. I'd make room.

Thanks to Jia for organizing the gift exchange, and thanks to Dylan for organizing the Secret Santa.

Thanks to Santa Saphira for being my Secret Santa. I pieced it all together and figured out it was her. She sent me lots of meat--chicken nuggets, bacon and sausages.
I had Chipper as my Secret Santa. I sent him clues for 12 days. I had a great time thanks to Saphira and Chipper.

Thanks to all my pals that sent me cards and pawmails and rosettes. I know that a few of my cards have arrived. Keep checking the mail. I think the postman is slow in Canada getting the mail to the border. Dad has a good friend who is a postman--he'd give me a stern look after that comment. BOL!!!

Everyone, have fun with your families. Cherish your time together. To all those with angels at the bridge. I know they will all be watching over us and sharing in the love.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

from
The Rye Rye and family!

Christmas Tag

My pal Cooper tagged me for this super fun Christmas edition.

1. What do you like to get in your Christmas stocking?
That’s easy—liver treats!!!
I also love pig’s ears or pig’s pieces.

2. Have you seen Santa Paws this year?
No, and we have a gas fireplace so I don’t know how he’s going to get in the house. I guess I’ll have to leave the front door unlocked.

3. Do you like snow, and have you been in it?
We haven’t really had any snow yet this year, which Dad is really happy about. The last two years we’ve had a lot of snow. The year before last, when Dad was shoveling the driveway I would chase the snow he tossed in the air. If it’s really cold out, I don’t like the snow because my paws get too cold.

4. What do you want for Christmas?
This is the first Christmas I’ve been by myself. Last year, Rosie was with us, and the two before that Cookie was with us. Luckily my cousin dog, Bailey will be coming to visit. I haven’t met him before. He’s just a puppy. I’ll teach him a thing or two. I think what I’d like most for Christmas is a new friend. Mom and Dad tell me to be patient.

5. Have you ever posed in a picture with Santa Paws?
No. One year Cookie went for a photo with Santa.

I’m going to tag three other pals:

Saphira
Kirby
Duke

Noun Hound Winners

Drum roll please . . . Dad!!!! I said, drum roll please.

It's hard to find good help these days. My Dad is still mad at me because I spilled Code Red Doe Urine all over the carpet and the house smells. That's another story.

The four winners were:

Autumn
Kirby
Flicka
Ruby Dust

The answer is: Spectral Bat or False Vampire Bat

Rosettes are on their way.