I went every year from 2003-2008, either the NWT (which is an amazing trip) or Ontario.

The NWT trip, you fly to Edmonton the first day which is the furthest north real "city" in Canada. Then you fly the following morning 700 miles north to Yellowknife (think Sicily, Alaska only about 17,000 more people and a couple of 4 story buildings), transfer to a float plane, then about 125 miles into the wilderness. 600 mile by 600 mile ice cold, crystal clear lake, only people are 400 aboriginals. Once caught TEN fish over 20 pounds in once day (9 lake trout, one pike). Could not straighten my right arm the following day. Not lying.
- John Jaeckel

i have lakes like that within driving distance

Isn't someone still flying DC-3s somewhere?

The problem with flying - to me - is not the old(er) planes - I would think if they weren't safe, the airlines wouldn't fly them (and don't accuse me of drinking the Kool-Aid - there is great incentive for airlines to fly safe planes).

It's what happens inside the planes that drive me nuts: the cramped seating, the old seats where you're sitting right on the hard board under it because there's no cushioning left, the inadequate overhead storage.

But - cramming 30%-40% more people on airplanes than was usual thirty years ago is how the airlines make money these days.
- StLBravesFan

They had a DC-3 flying in the Chicago Air & Water show IIRC.

Don't know about actually flying them commercial though.

Edit: Yeah, cargo life for the DC-3 nowadays.

Sept.13-16 Leafs rookie tournament in London Ontario featuring the hawks, penguins, senators as well as the host leafs.
- eagle50

I will be there for a couple games and will share my thoughts for everyone to check out.

Yeah, we flew in and out of Red Lake ,ONT. Amazing. I was so hung over both ways that I was numb that I was flying in a prop. I did enjoy the scenery and would HIGHLY recommend anyone do that. I was fortunate enough to do it twice back before kids, and it was by far the best vacation I was ever on. NO cell phones, no internet....just fishing, a ton of liquor, and a bunch of friends.
- SteveRain

Haha... Red Lake! Nice. I have a good friend from there.

You would have been on Bear Skin Airlines then?

What exactly is that?

My job isn't nearly as exciting, it's a disaster if our emails are slow.
- DarthKane

Couldn't control the nose up/down motion. Could not stop the airplane from climbing.

Couldn't control the nose up/down motion. Could not stop the airplane from climbing.
- Ogilthorpe2

Damn...I didn't know that was possible.

Almost September ..... who is getting shipped out fellas ?

i have lakes like that within driving distance
- SaskHawkFan

I have always wanted to fish Athabasca. I know guys who have.

One last one on the Kevin Hayes saga, I am struggling to even up the following points;

1. We have no real top 6 prospects

2. Kevin Hayes is top 6 prospect for everyone else

One last one on the Kevin Hayes saga, I am struggling to even up the following points;

1. We have no real top 6 prospects

2. Kevin Hayes is top 6 prospect for everyone else
- vabeachbear

We have TT and our other top 6 prospect has been currently playing on the second line with Kane.

On a team that's loaded with young top 6 talent, I think it's better off the way it is. Rather reload the depth players from the farm than pay 5 mil for David Clarkson or Dave Bolland. These days even depth players are fetching top 6 money.

Bickell has GOTTA be looking over his shoulder this season knowing what is down the pipeline next spring........that is.... Unless he's still sitting along the side of a riverbank somewhere in Canada ,with a blunt in his mouth ,a 6pack of Old Milwaukee at his side while casting a pole out in the water,which is how it looks like he plays most nights of the 82 game season,but then on the other hand it would be just our luck to trade that cat & then he turns into the next Phil Esposito! How true is this Matt Martin talk, or is it just Hockey Card GM talk? Any sources out of the Isle confirming this JJ?
- wonthecup10

Out of an abundance of respect for our Canadian friends, no self respecting one of "thy sons " would be caught dead with a 6 pack of Old Milwaukee.

Haha... Red Lake! Nice. I have a good friend from there.

You would have been on Bear Skin Airlines then?
- TyCamScore

It was a yellow floater plane from what I can recall.....I stayed at the crap hole across from the Snake Pit...The hotel was on a slope towards the lake, and had steel showers.

That's about all I can recall from Red Lake....the rest is fuzzy....

There are no big fish in Oregon.

One last one on the Kevin Hayes saga, I am struggling to even up the following points;

1. We have no real top 6 prospects

2. Kevin Hayes is top 6 prospect for everyone else
- vabeachbear

You know what gets you top 6 prospects? Losing.

Hawks have pulled TT and Saad in the middle of the 1st and the 2nd rounds. Not many teams in similar draft positions have drafted nearly as well.

I seriously doubt Hayes pans out to be top 6. As a pick I'd say it was blown as you had Emerson Etem and Charlie Coyle drafted a few picks later. Tyler Tofoli in the 2nd round. That draft was Dale Tallon's last so not really on Stan.

As far as top 6 prospects go - of winning teams I think only Anaheim has drafted better since 2010. The teams with more than a few top 6 prospects are Buffalo, Tampa, NYI etc.... Not trading positions with them after 2 cups during that same frame any day.

That said, Hawks need to do what they can to pull in more picks/prospects with older players on expiring contracts like Sharp. Timing is everything obviously. I can see him here for another run but they can't let him walk for nothing. They also need to take that approach with Seabrook.

One last one on the Kevin Hayes saga, I am struggling to even up the following points;

1. We have no real top 6 prospects

2. Kevin Hayes is top 6 prospect for everyone else
- vabeachbear

You're statement one is pure poppycock...just because the sports experts know only about the first half of the first round and love to talk about them, doesn't mean you can dismiss the LARGE configent of Hawk prospects playing all over who are very promising and have as much chance as being NHLers as not.
Maybe you have blinders on that TT is it, or that these other bad teams are three minutes from dominance with all the prospects they have drafted that are on the doorstep...
That is my word as an objective hawk fan...they have quality kids more than a list of ten...

If the Kevin Hayes matter is what is bothering you...the kid decided he would go to the highest bidderfor almost 4 MILLION dollars
( http://www.capgeek.com/player/3491 ) as an unproven college player.
They had little control over that --- unless they would have found a way to get Hayes and his agent LAST summer to agree to a big bonus signing after he a) injured, b) was still far from a plug and play one man show at BC, 3) had immaturity related team violation including pooping outside while blitzed. (yeah the Hawks should have offered "Rangers money last year...that would have set a real good tone to get each and every other draftees who is in college to think that is the standard.
They spent four years trying to build a relationship with the kid...who did that work?

I think this article by Brian Costello puts it in the best perspective.

http://www.thehockeynews....ers/#.U_S_cnh1fIM.twitter

It wasn't too long ago the Rangers spent huge sums in bonuses to secure a Hobey Baker award winner...remember that?

Matt Gilroy

Just saying there is a lot more to it to play and I am fairly sure Hayes knows what he will have to do training wise...but still lots more to the make up of an NHL regular than just size and training.

I just don't think the drafting and farm are a deficit if that is your point.
Just look at the early arrivals in the line-up and it is difficult to worry they won't get NHL players from the group that is taking a slow and steady developmental route.

Y. As a pick I'd say it was blown as you had Emerson Etem and Charlie Coyle drafted a few picks later. Tyler Tofoli in the 2nd round. That draft was Dale Tallon's last so not really on Stan.

- tredbrta

At the time Coyle and Etem and Toffoli all had warts in their games.

The Hawks chief scout was from the Boston area knew the kid the family and they figured it was a good fit.

Yeah drafts are really easy to go back and criticize...that's why I like to do it before and right after they occur so I am on record early.

Every one knew Toffoli was a great give and go puck guy with a shot in junior but EVERYBODY wondered if the NHL speed and size would overwhelm.

Emerson Etem is a Long Beach roller bladder who has nice hands but needs many many parts before he doesn't hurt you as a major leaguer.

Big Charlie Coyle always had the size but still doens't read or understand his jobs out there, and although he is working on improving first step quickness, is a work in progress. It s nice to look at these big guys like him and say "Why why didn't we...?"
and I just adding a little critical insight, not attempting to justify or understand team draft decisions.

At the time Coyle and Etem and Toffoli all had warts in their games.

The Hawks chief scout was from the Boston area knew the kid the family and they figured it was a good fit.

Yeah drafts are really easy to go back and criticize...that's why I like to do it before and right after they occur so I am on record early.

Every one knew Toffoli was a great give and go puck guy with a shot in junior but EVERYBODY wondered if the NHL speed and size would overwhelm.

Emerson Etem is a Long Beach roller bladder who has nice hands but needs many many parts before he doesn't hurt you as a major leaguer.

Big Charlie Coyle always had the size but still doens't read or understand his jobs out there, and although he is working on improving first step quickness, is a work in progress. It s nice to look at these big guys like him and say "Why why didn't we...?"
and I just adding a little critical insight, not attempting to justify or understand team draft decisions.
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz. I was playing "woulda coulda shoulda" based on how they look now. Hopefully we end up with a decent add next year with the 2nd rounder or use it to move up.

You know what gets you top 6 prospects? Losing.

Hawks have pulled TT and Saad in the middle of the 1st and the 2nd rounds. Not many teams in similar draft positions have drafted nearly as well.

I seriously doubt Hayes pans out to be top 6. As a pick I'd say it was blown as you had Emerson Etem and Charlie Coyle drafted a few picks later. Tyler Tofoli in the 2nd round. That draft was Dale Tallon's last so not really on Stan.

As far as top 6 prospects go - of winning teams I think only Anaheim has drafted better since 2010. The teams with more than a few top 6 prospects are Buffalo, Tampa, NYI etc.... Not trading positions with them after 2 cups during that same frame any day.

That said, Hawks need to do what they can to pull in more picks/prospects with older players on expiring contracts like Sharp. Timing is everything obviously. I can see him here for another run but they can't let him walk for nothing. They also need to take that approach with Seabrook.
- tredbrta

2009 was Tallon's last. Which produced, basically, Marcus Kruger. And Brandon Pirri.

Out of an abundance of respect for our Canadian friends, no self respecting one of "thy sons " would be caught dead with a 6 pack of Old Milwaukee.
- DirkGraham

You can add Miller, Coors, Bud, Schlitz, Pabst, Old Style, or anything with the word "light" in it to that list.

2011, as I've said before, could go down as one of the greater drafts for the Hawks at least—of all time: Danault, McNeill, Clendening, Saad, Dahlbeck, Shaw

You're statement one is pure poppycock...just because the sports experts know only about the first half of the first round and love to talk about them, doesn't mean you can dismiss the LARGE configent of Hawk prospects playing all over who are very promising and have as much chance as being NHLers as not.
Maybe you have blinders on that TT is it, or that these other bad teams are three minutes from dominance with all the prospects they have drafted that are on the doorstep...
That is my word as an objective hawk fan...they have quality kids more than a list of ten...

If the Kevin Hayes matter is what is bothering you...the kid decided he would go to the highest bidderfor almost 4 MILLION dollars
( http://www.capgeek.com/player/3491 ) as an unproven college player.
They had little control over that --- unless they would have found a way to get Hayes and his agent LAST summer to agree to a big bonus signing after he a) injured, b) was still far from a plug and play one man show at BC, 3) had immaturity related team violation including pooping outside while blitzed. (yeah the Hawks should have offered "Rangers money last year...
- wiz1901that would have set a real good tone to get each and every other draftees who is in college to think that is the standard.
They spent four years trying to build a relationship with the kid...who did that work?

I think this article by Brian Costello puts it in the best perspective.

http://www.thehockeynews....ers/#.U_S_cnh1fIM.twitter

It wasn't too long ago the Rangers spent huge sums in bonuses to secure a Hobey Baker award winner...remember that?

Matt Gilroy

Just saying there is a lot more to it to play and I am fairly sure Hayes knows what he will have to do training wise...but still lots more to the make up of an NHL regular than just size and training.

I just don't think the drafting and farm are a deficit if that is your point.
Just look at the early arrivals in the line-up and it is difficult to worry they won't get NHL players from the group that is taking a slow and steady developmental route.

Sorry I should have typed in read font, it was early this morning and I hadn't read in a while, have been on a trip (where all 4 planes took off and landed rather normally!)

It was a shot at everyone here downplaying our prospects, and everyone else outside of this board talking up Kevin Hayes as the next coming of Gret... I mean Steve Ott

Can anybody recommend a good advanced stats website now that the creator of extra skater has taken the site down after getting hired by the maple leafs?

2011, as I've said before, could go down as one of the greater drafts for the Hawks at least—of all time: Danault, McNeill, Clendening, Saad, Dahlbeck, Shaw
- John Jaeckel

Agree, it would be nice to have one of those every other year

You can add Miller, Coors, Bud, Schlitz, Pabst, Old Style, or anything with the word "light" in it to that list.
- Ogilthorpe2

25 years ago I stayed in Toronto and went bar hopping a few nights and was suprised to see the locals drinking Blatz. So much for self respect.

25 years ago I stayed in Toronto and went bar hopping a few nights and was suprised to see the locals drinking Blatz. So much for self respect.
- Cup-Bearer

Self respect goes out the window when you want a cold beer and dont want to pay extra for "hopiness" or whatever these craft beer snobs like to talk about.

So sick of the craft beer phenomenon (spelling?). I get that people might want to try to beers and such, but I just find it annoying when people have multi-hour conversations about a bunch of different beers and then you go and taste them and they are all pretty similar. Granted my palet isnt as refined as some of you guys but to sit there and tell me theres a monumental difference between some IPA and some other IPA or whatever, to me, its ridiculous.