January 21, 2008 by maureen.ulrich.

This past weekend my husband and I drove to Lethbridge to watch our oldest daughter Robin play hockey with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

The Huskies won two close games, 3-2 and 2-1, eliminating the U of L from contention and bringing our girls closer to a fourth place play-off spot. If the Huskies do make play-offs, it will be for the first time since Robin joined the team in 2004.

There are six teams in Canada West – the top two of which will be headed to Ottawa in March to play in the national tournament. There are only three weekends left in the regular season. Our girls have two series left – at home against UBC next weekend and away against U of R on the first weekend in February. The Huskies have a bye the final week. Their record is presently 8 – 9 – 3.

Parity has truly arrived in Canada West. Although the University of Alberta Pandas and the University of Manitoba Bisons are sitting in securely in first and second place, they are not assured a trip to Ottawa. Anybody can lose to anybody on any weekend in this league. That’s the beauty of it!

Although the U of L Pronghorns have won only three games this year, I was on pins and needles watching both games. U of L is truly our nemesis. These girls NEVER go away, no matter what the score or their situation. On a number of occasions they have come from behind to win or tie games.

Next weekend the Huskies turn their sights on the visiting UBC Thunderbirds, who are presently six points back. One more win for the Huskies should clinch a play-off berth.
The Huskies are five points behind the third place U of R Cougars, but it’s not impossible for our girls to catch them.

We are so proud of all the girls in Canada West – not just the Huskies.

I understand that on Friday night the Bisons and the Pandas played before a crowd of 1000 people at the Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. U of A won 3-2 after a shootout with seven shooters from each team. The game was a fundraiser for breast cancer, and over three thousand dollars was raised. After the game, the U of A coach had his head shaved at center ice. Wow. I would have loved to have been there.

Finally, women’s university hockey in Western Canada is getting the respect it deserves. The overall caliber of players – both as athletes and students – has gradually improved since Robin started playing four years ago.

In November the Huskies were ranked in the CIS Top Ten for the first time in three years, and have managed to hold onto that ranking for several months. That means that four Western teams are ranked in the Top Ten in the nation.

Robin will have one more year after this one. I am feeling pretty wistful already. Only 28 more games left in her university eligibility.

It’s all going by far too quickly. . .

On a totally separate note, I am reading at the McNally-Robinson bookstore in Saskatoon on Saturday, January 26th at 3:00 P.M. My first appearance at a bookstore! I am very excited — and very nervous!

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January 11, 2008 by maureen.ulrich.

So the pre-Christmas frenzy has died down. But Power Plays reviews continue to be positive. I will be doing readings at bookstores in Saskatoon and Regina at the end of January/beginning of February. I am also booked for presentations at Lampman School and at ECS – the latter not until May.

I am still thinking about a sequel for Power Plays although I’m not sure when I will actually start writing it. I suppose I should just “jump in with both feet” and not outline the plot in too much detail.

I am off to Toronto at the end of February to visit my friend Joanne, brother Jim and family, and Randy’s cousin Keith. It’s been several years since my last trip.

I have a friend in Yellowknife – Merril Dean – that I am thinking about visiting next fall. With any luck, we’ll be able to arrange a few readings while I’m there. I’ve never been to the Yukon or Northwest Territories before, so any excuse will do!

I am currently working on two projects. One — Wave 2008 – is nearly complete. This year our production will be set in Egypt. It’s a safe bet that this is the last play of this type that I will write – or direct – for a while.

The second one I am writing in collaboration with the Theatre Arts class at Lampman and – if I get finished in good time – will be performed at the Regional Drama Festival in April. Lampman is hosting the Festival again this year. I hope it is at least half as much fun as the last one!

On Friday, Randy is off to Winnipeg to watch Robin play two games against the University of Manitoba Bisons. Hopefully the Huskies will come out of the weekend with two points.

As for me, I am attending the funeral of a former student, who died very suddenly and tragically. I worked with his mother at the junior high also, and she has been in my thoughts and prayers a great deal this week.

So far I have been quite negligent about my New Year’s Resolution to eat more fruits and vegetables. Ah well, there is always tomorrow . . . . but first, I think I’d better take down the Christmas tree and dismantle the Christmas village. . .

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