It Was A Great Day ........!

As "Badger Bob" Johnson once said, "It's a great day for hockey". . . . and so it was in Calgary as the hardware for the 2006-07 Bailey NHL Hockey Pool was handed out May 1st.

Media interest was intense as a crowd gathered in a SW Calgary neighbourhood watering hole for the presentations. Last year's winner, "HerKelly's" was unable to attend (due to having four wisdom teeth extracted) but was ably represented by her famous and youthful-looking father Raymondo.

With the backdrop of the Canucks-Ducks game, first up was the newly-anointed winner, Theodopolis! Ted was nearly lost for words (unusual for him) as he tearfully accepted the trophy (and a $20.00 cash award). "I've reserved a special place for this special trophy" said Bailey, as he placed the cup on a shelf above his newly minted HD TV. The cash award quickly disappeared into his wallet.

Matthew Bailey, youngest of the entrants showed up big-time this year, pulling down a cool $8.00 for his third-place finish and a share of the prize money. The assembled photographers and media reps were temporarily blinded by the flash of his white smile.

Second-place finisher, Douglas W. Bailey, was unfortunately unable to attend to collect his $12.00, but his older brother kindly offered to hold it for him until the next family golf game can be arranged.



This year's festivities also featured a new award, won handily by Laurel Bailey. The "Jason Spezza Underachievement Award", commemorating the last-place finisher in the Bailey Pool was presented amid much fanfare. "There was no question who deserved this award", said Raymondo as he presented the lucide prize. "This 'laurel' could only go to 'Laurel' as she set an all-time record for being so far behind the next-lowest contestant, let alone the winner", said the senior Bailey. Even sidekick Copper showed more than his usual excitement as he nearly swallowed the prize before Matt put him in a double-fisted headlock to save the award for next year's presentations.

The evening's festivities continued with drinks all around, and the recognition that every day truly is "a great day for hockey"!