Hello again hockey fans, today I am writing to you from hockey country, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Even without an NHL team in this great Canadian city, which I think is a shame, this city is all about hockey, it's not just a passion, it's religion like it is in any Canadian city. The temps are a little chilly, about 15 degrees outside, but it's a "dry cold!" You hear people from Arizona use that phrase a lot, but it's a "dry heat."  It might be dry, but it's still really hot or really cold depending on what side of the ledger you're on.

As for our trip to Winnipeg, so far so good. The people here are incredibly nice, here are a couple of examples. The hotel our team is staying at is right downtown, just a short 15 minute walk from the MTS Centre where the Manitoba Moose play. All over downtown there are underground and above-ground tunnels and walkways because the weather is so frigid and snowy. Yesterday on my over to the arena for the first time, I of course, got lost in the tunnel from the hotel to the arena, leave it to me, I get lost with or without a map! So a man that could just tell I was searching for the right escalator to get to, walked up to me and said, you need help on directions, he saw my Monsters coat and knew I was with the team and couldn't have been nicer to help me, he walked 5 minutes out his way to show me the right way! Pretty nice of him for sure. So then I get to the arena and, never having been in the building before I asked a man about the best way to get down to the locker rooms and ice level. He was very kind and gracious in helping me. Now that is true Canadian kindness!

As for the Monsters, Ryan Stoa and Justin Mercier are back with the team fresh off their week long call-ups with the Avalanche. I think by having both guys go up it will only continue to help the development and confidence of both. They had both been playing well before the call-up and I think that will continue here in Winnipeg.

Yesterday (Thursday), I bumped into Chris Durno and Brandon Yip in the hotel lobby and Durno was all smiles when he told me that he and Yip were going up. They are both great guys and I wish them both well in their call-ups!

Tyler Weiman gets the start in the net tonight vs. the Moose, he will look to rebound from last Saturday's 6-2 loss vs. Chicago.  I think he will here this weekend in Winnipeg.

You can hear both games here in Winnipeg live on ESPN 850 WKNR starting at 8:28 pm with the pregame show with Head Coach David Quinn. Coming up on Friday's broadcast, interviews with Manitoba native Brett Skinner and former Avalanche Stanley Cup winner Mike Keane, who is still playing for the Manitoba Moose. I will also have interviews with Phil Dupuis and Darren Haydar, both interviews have a Christmas feel to them. Saturday night I will have a lot more for you on the radio broadcast including an interview with Monsters Communications Manager Sarah Jamieson, who by the way has hooked me up with a fancy, new video camera I'm using on the road.  Those video features are called "On the Road," where I will be giving everyone updates and features while the Monsters are away from The Q. Just look for those updates and features on the right side of our website, LakeErieMonsters.com, in the videos section.

That's it for this edition of the "View From The Booth," I hope you're having a great holiday season!

Sincerely,

Ben Holden.

The View from the Booth Archive:
Volume 1 (10/21)
Volume 2 (10/23)
Volume 3 (10/28)
Volume 4 (11/03)
Volume 5 (11/16)
Volume 6 (11/24)
Volume 7 (12/04)
Volume 8 (12/14)