Latest news with #JasonBeck
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mariners vs. Cubs Highlights
Detroit Tigers' 2025 Turnaround: Secrets to Their AL Dominance! Dive into the Detroit Tigers' incredible 2025 season with Big League Buzz! From a tough start in 2024 to the best team in the American League in 2025, we break down their transformation with Jason Beck. Discover the strategies, key players like Tarik Skubal, and bullpen challenges driving their 100-win pace. Don't miss the latest on injuries, trade deadline plans, and why Detroit is buzzing! Subscribe for more MLB insights! 15:35 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Vancouver Sun
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
B.C.'s own Stanley Cup playoffs, in bubble hockey
Alas, the Vancouver Canucks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup this year — the 2024-25 team didn't even make the playoffs. This makes it 110 years since the Vancouver Millionaires won the city's one and only Cup in 1915. Even Victoria has had a shorter Cup drought — the Victoria Cougars won the trophy in 1925. But there is a place for local hockey fans to work out their B.C. Cup dreams: a new bubble-hockey game at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. The customized Super Chexx Pro game was unveiled at a Family Medicine Forum on Nov. 6-9, 2024, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where it was used in a recreation area at the event. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'They painted (the players) in Vancouver Millionaires and Victoria Cougars colours, so that you have the 1915 Stanley Cup champion playing the 1925 Stanley Cup champion,' explains Jason Beck of the Hall of Fame. 'Player names and numbers are on each player, so you've got (Millionaire) Cyclone Taylor facing (Cougar) Frank Frederickson. It's really cool.' It is really cool, with customized sounds and lighting that make it unique. The uniforms are beautiful: royal maroon jerseys, white pants and striped socks for the Millionaires, sky-blue jerseys, gold pants and striped socks for the Cougars. Radio personality Matt Price adds commentary ('The B.C. Historical Classic is underway!'). 'O Canada' plays before the start of the game. A siren goes off after someone scores. A Jumbotron scoreboard above centre ice reads 'Patrick Arena,' after the Patrick family that started up the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, where the Millionaires and the Cougars played. A history and photographs of the two teams are displayed on the base of the game, which is labelled: 'British Columbia Historical Classic, Electrified Ice Hockey Simulator Machine.' It also lists some of the innovations that Frank and Lester Patrick introduced into their league ('Blue lines! Penalty shots! Jersey numbers!') The historical classic is the brainstorm of Robert O'Connor, a family doctor in Metchosin, a Victoria suburb. Last year, O'Connor wanted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Victoria's Cup victory. So he bought a bubble-hockey game and customized it in his garage. 'It's a team effort,' he said. 'I did the art design and the direction and the concept, and we had some carpenters make a nice custom-cut oak base that you could roll around. 'My next-door neighbour Gaye had painted these little rocks and stuff for something to do. I said, 'Hey, did you want to paint some hockey players?' She said, 'Yeah sure, let's do it.' 'There's a sign shop down the street. You can make these tiny little jersey numbers for the backs, so we cut them all out and clear-coated them all and popped them back on.' Changing the sound meant a bit of 'ripping out the guts' and putting in new code for the commentary and sounds. But it was all done in a couple of months for the medical conference, which loved the idea. 'They have these things to kind of keep the docs and their kids occupied during the conference,' he explained. 'We said, 'Hey, do you want something different?' ' It proved very popular during the conference. 'It's something everyone can play of every generation and skill ability,' he said. 'It's a game of skill, but there's still a bit of luck involved. It's just fun, safe, family friendly. You see a family of kids and parents all playing together.' When the conference was over, he gave it to the Hall of Fame, where it can be seen and played by the masses — it's set up for visitors to play for free. It also travelled back to Victoria in March for a celebration of the Victoria Cougars winning the Cup. O'Connor was among thousands of people who lined up to get their picture taken with the Cup, which had been brought to Victoria for the 100th anniversary. Standing in line, he realized the bubble-hockey game would have been perfect for the occasion — and to his surprise, turned a corner and found it was already there, being played by kids. jmackie@
Calgary Herald
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
B.C.'s own Stanley Cup playoffs, in bubble hockey
Article content Alas, the Vancouver Canucks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup this year — the 2024-25 team didn't even make the playoffs. Article content Article content This makes it 110 years since the Vancouver Millionaires won the city's one and only Cup in 1915. Even Victoria has had a shorter Cup drought — the Victoria Cougars won the trophy in 1925. Article content But there is a place for local hockey fans to work out their B.C. Cup dreams: a new bubble-hockey game at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Article content Article content 'They painted (the players) in Vancouver Millionaires and Victoria Cougars colours, so that you have the 1915 Stanley Cup champion playing the 1925 Stanley Cup champion,' explains Jason Beck of the Hall of Fame. 'Player names and numbers are on each player, so you've got (Millionaire) Cyclone Taylor facing (Cougar) Frank Frederickson. It's really cool.' Article content Article content The uniforms are beautiful: royal maroon jerseys, white pants and striped socks for the Millionaires, sky-blue jerseys, gold pants and striped socks for the Cougars. Article content Radio personality Matt Price adds commentary ('The B.C. Historical Classic is underway!'). 'O Canada' plays before the start of the game. A siren goes off after someone scores. Article content Article content A Jumbotron scoreboard above centre ice reads 'Patrick Arena,' after the Patrick family that started up the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, where the Millionaires and the Cougars played. Article content Article content A history and photographs of the two teams are displayed on the base of the game, which is labelled: 'British Columbia Historical Classic, Electrified Ice Hockey Simulator Machine.' Article content It also lists some of the innovations that Frank and Lester Patrick introduced into their league ('Blue lines! Penalty shots! Jersey numbers!') Article content The historical classic is the brainstorm of Robert O'Connor, a family doctor in Metchosin, a Victoria suburb. Last year, O'Connor wanted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Victoria's Cup victory. So he bought a bubble-hockey game and customized it in his garage. Article content
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hurunui Proposes 3.3% Rates Rise, But Roading Budget Suffers
Hurunui ratepayers will be consulted on a proposed average rate rise of 3.31 percent. The Hurunui District Council's draft 2025/26 annual plan is out for consultation, with the council proposing to slash its roading programme in order to keep the rates rise low. In last year's 2024/34 Long Term Plan (LTP), the council had planned to spend $23.4m as it looked to catch up on years of under-funding on its roads, chief financial officer Jason Beck said at Tuesday's (April 29) council meeting. This would have required a subsidy of $12.2m from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, allowing for a 52% subsidy, and $11.2m from rates. But the council will receive just $5.4m from NZTA from the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), with a further $616,000 carried over from last year, Mr Beck said. After revising its roading budget, the council is now proposing to spend $13.5m this year, collecting $7.5m from rates. It means the rates burden will be significantly reduced, as the council had proposed a 14.49% rate rise in the LTP. The Hurunui district, which has a population of around 13,000, has around 900km of unsealed roads and 600km of sealed roads. It includes Amberley, Hanmer Springs and Cheviot. The council has estimated it needs about $3 million a year to maintain and upgrade its ageing network of 286 bridges. Four bridge replacements were included in the Long Term Plan, but the council received just $600,000 towards bridge replacement in the 2024/27 NLTP. It is planning to replace a bridge at River Road, Waiau, in this year's annual plan at a cost of around $1m. Another change from last year's LTP is a proposal to allow for more flexibility in the funding available to the Hurunui community, which includes Hawarden and Waikari. The Hawarden Community Committee had recommended a budget of $500,000 be set aside to upgrade the Waikari Memorial Hall. But councillor Karen Armstrong said the committee was reviewing the future of all community facilities in the Hawarden and Waikari area. ''Rather than just having the funding allocated for the Waikari hall, the committee has requested it be set aside for community buildings in the Hurunui area, while the committee's fact finding continues.'' The $500,000 will be debt funded and subject to a targeted rate. The Hurunui District Council's draft 2025/26 annual plan is out for consultation until May 30, with hearings planned for June 10. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Draft Annual Plan Maintains Momentum In Roading Improvements
A detour ahead for Hurunui ratepayers won't hinder Hurunui Council's draft Annual Plan 2025/26 from maintaining momentum in roading improvements. The draft Plan was adopted by Council at Tuesday's meeting with a proposed increase in the general rate of 3.31% - a significant reduction from the 14.49% proposed in the draft Long Term Plan. The proposed Annual Plan outlines Council's priorities for the year ahead, highlighting what has changed since the Long Term Plan was adopted last year. Council's Chief Financial officer Jason Beck said Roading funding had accounted for a major portion of the 14.49% increase in the Long Term Plan budgets. 'When the draft Long Term Plan went out for consultation last year, it included a significantly increased roading programme that was based on anticipated subsidies from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA),' Beck said. 'However, there has been a change of direction in funding for roading. NZTA has not provided the increase in funding that Council anticipated.' As a result, Council has reassessed the level of roading work it can realistically fund using ratepayer funding. The result is a roading programme that is close to the current year's at around $13.5 million. Beck said while this was lower than anticipated from the 'ambitious' roading programme anticipated in the draft Long Term Plan, the 2025/26 proposed roading programme was greater than past funding. Mayor Marie Black said Council was very aware of the 'cumulative' impact of rates increases over the past five years. 'With that in mind, and in the context of ongoing inflationary pressure, we've taken a careful and considered approach to this year's budget — balancing affordability with the need to keep delivering the services and infrastructure our communities rely on,' Mayor Marie said. In an addition that was not signalled in the Long Term Plan, the Hurunui Community Committee is now proposing to include a sum of $500,000 in the Annual Plan 2025/26 to provide funding for potential upgrades to community facilities within the Hawarden Waikari rating area. As part of the Annual Plan process, Council is also reviewing its Fees and Charges for the year 2025/26. Fees and Charges are the costs that Council recovers in providing specific services such as building consents, infrastructure costs, and more. Consultation on the draft Annual Plan and Fees and Charges closes on 30 May 2025. To have your say on Council's proposals, please go to More information and paper submission forms can also be found at all Council's service centres and libraries.
