Eric Francis
- None, Calgary Herald
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Articles by Eric Francis
10 Gardening Moments That Prove Small Things Can Bring Hope Back Into Our Lives
Gardens have a funny way of holding onto things. A plant can remind you of someone you lost. A patch of soil can become the place where you finally start talking to a neighbor. Sometimes you plant something because you don’t know what else to do, then discover months later that you were growing more than flowers. These 10 stories are moments when gardening brought people comfort, happiness, connection and a little hope when they needed it most. My daughter was 9yo when we lost her grandfather.
Buzz over Tij Iginla dominates Flames narrative ahead of draft
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Buzz over Tij Iginla dominates Flames narrative ahead of draft
CALGARY - Will they, or won't they? Should they, or shouldn't they? The Calgary Flames ' season is over, and the draft lottery is still weeks away. Yet, the local buzz has fans frothing over the possibility the club will add Iginla next year. No, not Jarome - he's a cinch to step up his front office duties with the team. The fervour revolves around his 17-year-old son, Tij.
Calgary Flames Apologize to Disappointed Fans After Fourth Straight Loss
Key points: The Calgary Flames apologize to fans after their fourth straight loss, acknowledging their poor performance The Flames received boos from the disappointed fans for their lackluster play Head coach Ryan Huska expressed disappointment in the team's work ethic and called for improvement The Calgary Flames took a scathing review of their performance after suffering their fourth consecutive loss in a 3-0 defeat against the lowly St. Louis Blues.
Controversial Hit on Patrik Laine in Flames vs Blue Jackets Game Raises Concern and Hints at Potential Retaliation
Key points: Johnny Gaudreau's former team, the Flames, faced off against the Blue Jackets in a game that ended with a controversial hit on Patrik Laine. Rasmus Andersson delivered the hit, resulting in a game misconduct penalty. Gaudreau expressed concern for Laine and hinted that there may be retaliation in their next matchup.
Expect new GM Craig Conroy to make a big splash in Nashville
CALGARY — Things promise to be a whole lot spicier for the Flames at this year’s NHL Draft than last summer when the team did not have a first round pick, and selected just three players. That number could double or triple in Nashville where new Flames GM Craig Conroy will be a popular fella.
Now on PWFM: We are all in East Palestine. Conflict of interest? Get off the case. Demand split sampling for dioxins and furans.
Dioxin story breaks through to mainstream, Associated Press Friday evening. News hook is the letter from Sens Brown and Vance to the EPA, below. Program notes are on Substack. All show announcements go out via this platform — please sign up for a free or paid subscription. You can also register for an account on the PWFM site and comment here. But I can’t find quite where to do that…thank you for helping support the program and all of the work of Chiron Return.
Instead of dousing Oilers’ hopes, Flames give their rivals the spark they needed
EDMONTON – The Calgary Flames had a chance to pour gasoline on a tire fire. Instead, the spark they provided the Edmonton Oilers may wind up being the turning point on their rival’s season. Up 2-0 after the first period at Rogers Place, the Flames did the one thing they knew they couldn’t against a team with the two best players in the world: give them the man advantage. They did it twice in a four-minute span, allowing Evan Bouchard to score on a pair of carbon-copy point shots through traffic.
America’s Doctor - It’s not just that he’s so boring: Celia Farber comments on Anthony Fauci.
The real scientists were horrified. Suddenly a guillotine was present. A new and strange terror. People were “guilty,” of thought-crimes like “HIV denialism.” Fauci had made political correctness the new revolutionary language, see? And that meant if you were “bad,” if you didn’t push agenda driven science, everything was taken away from you. And the media cheered. And anybody who didn’t was destroyed, vilified, harassed, fired, in a word, canceled.
Husker Spring Game canceled
Posted: 6:29 PM, Mar 16, 2020 Updated: 2020-03-16 19:29:27-04 Eric Francis <p>LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 10: A Nebraska Cornhuskers helmet sits on the bench before their game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2012 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska beat Penn State 32-23. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)</p> LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos announced Monday that the 2020 Spring Game is canceled. The game was scheduled for April 18.
Nebraska Launches First-of-its-Kind Brand-Building Program for Student-Athletes
On Monday, Husker football head coach Scott Frost teased an announcement that would make Nebraska a leader in the name-image-likeness arena for student-athletes. On Tuesday, Nebraska announced a new partnership with Lincoln-based social media startup Opendorse to launch the Ready Now Program, what Nebraska is calling a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to help student-athletes build their own individual brands.
3 Thoughts from Nebraska's 81-76 OT Loss to Northwestern
Nebraska’s losing streak has now stretched to 14 games. Northwestern has two wins in 19 conference games this season, both against Nebraska. The latest came in a 81-76 overtime win over the Huskers Sunday afternoon inside Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers are now 7-22 on the year. Here are three thoughts from the game.
Huskers part ways with offensive coordinator/receivers coach Walters
LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — The Nebraska football program announced Friday that offensive coordinator/receivers coach Troy Walters and the Huskers have mutually agreed to part ways. Walters had been on the Nebraska coaching staff the last two seasons, and served on head coach Scott Frost's coaching staffs for the past four years overall. “Troy has been a valued member of our coaching staff for the past four years,” Frost said.
Nebraska Continues Strong Start, Rolls to 65-50 Win Over Wisconsin
Ten of the Badgers’ first 12 points came in the paint. Wisconsin held a 10-5 lead midway through the opening quarter Thursday night. Nebraska was out of sorts a bit. Then, as Nebraska has done so many times this season, the Huskers found the right recipe and proceeded to roll. Their 13th win of the season, against just two losses, and their third win in four conference games, was the result as Nebraska downed Wisconsin 65-50.
Huskers hang on to beat Hawkeyes in Lincoln
OSI CollegeOSI Nebraska HuskersOSI Huskers Mens Basketball Posted: 10:11 PM, Jan 07, 2020 Updated: 2020-01-07 23:11:21-05 Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Eric Francis <p>LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - NOVEMBER 18: Nebraska Cornhuskers mascot Herbie Husker before their game against the Central Arkansas Bears at Pinnacle Bank Arena November 18, 2014 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Sweet, Sweet Victory Sends Nebraska to the Sweet 16
No. 5 Nebraska had to dig deep on Saturday night after dropping the first set to Missouri, but the Huskers rallied to win in four and punch their ticket to the Madison regional in the final match of the year at the Devaney Center. After three attack errors in the first set, junior opposite hitter Jazz Sweet played error-free the rest of the night to power the Huskers (27-4) to a 20-25, 25-20, 32-30, 25-18 victory over the Tigers (22-8) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Cam Talbot’s spectacular performance giving Flames more options in net
ANAHEIM – Perhaps the only thing as rare as a Calgary Flames win in Anaheim was the scene on the bench caused by Cam Talbot. In the latter stages of an intense goaltending duel in the Flames’ designated house of pain, Talbot came up with a late save so sensational it prompted a standing ovation by his teammates.
Huskers blown out at Minnesota
OSI CollegeOSI Nebraska HuskersOSI Huskers Football Posted: 9:47 PM, Oct 12, 2019 Updated: 2019-10-12 22:47:25-04 Eric Francis <p>LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 10: A Nebraska Cornhuskers helmet sits on the bench before their game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2012 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska beat Penn State 32-23.
LOOK: Photos from the Huskers' 35-21 Win over South Alabama
Nebraska defeated South Alabama, 35-21, on Saturday to kick off the 2019 football season. Take a look at the photo gallery of Nebraska's win by photographers Eric Francis and John Petersen. Loading gallery... Join our free email list
Have tree debris? Henry Doorly Zoo will take certain branches for animals
OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - A homeowner's headache could make some elephant really happy.Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is asking residents to consider bringing fallen branches from certain tree species to the zoo to give to some of the animals.There are a few stipulations: Branches from trees that have been treated for pesticides cannot be accepted. Branches from trees that are dead, dying, or diseased cannot be accepted.
Nebraska men's basketball announces TV games, start times for 2018-2019 season
LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) - The Nebraska men's basketball team announced its TV and start times for nearly every game in the 2018-19 season on Thursday. The contest against in-state rival Creighton will tip off at 5 p.m. on Saturday December 8. Thursday, Nov. 1 Wayne State (Exhibition) Pinnacle Bank Arena BTN Plus 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6 Mississippi Valley State (HOF Classic) Pinnacle Bank Arena BTN Plus 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov.
Calgary Flames cap space gives them room to manoeuvre in free agency
Calgary Flames Mark Jankowski celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Scotiabank Saddledome Saturday, April 7, 2018.
Francis: Could Bo Levi Mitchell be destined for the NFL?
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.
Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving ‘riverboat gambler’
Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving answers media questions in Calgary on Friday June 30, 2017 as he discussed the team's recent acquisitions and the free agent deadline.
Calgary's Annabelle Ackroyd qualifies for pair of coveted U.S. golf tournaments
There are a million ways to put off studying for a Grade 11 science final.Annabelle Ackroyd just came up with two spectacular new ones.In a pair of days leading up to her last exam at William Aberhart High School on Thursday, the 16-year-old took a run at qualifying in Denver for two of the biggest amateur golf tournaments in the U.S.Much to her surprise, she passed both tests with flying colours, earning spots in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and then the coveted U.S. Amateur.Yes, the...
Francis: Flames part ways with former first-rounder Poirier
Calgary Flames Emile Poirier and Michael Spoon celebrate a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Edward Pasquale that was scored after the second period buzzer on Monday September 18, 2017 in Edmonton.
Francis: Flames admit they aren’t done adding help
Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving speaks about his team's moves after the NHL trade deadline at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Monday, February 26, 2018.
Calgary Flames make necessary move to change dressing-room dynamic
Don’t be fooled into thinking the Calgary Flames came out on the short end of their five-player swap Saturday.It was a win for both sides as Carolina Hurricanes new owner demonstrated change is afoot and the Flames addressed several issues in one fell swoop.First and foremost, Dougie Hamilton had to go.So did Harvard hot-shot Adam Fox.Micheal Ferland offered up a tremendous array of tools and upside but essentially priced himself out of the market this season with a breakthrough campaign that...
Francis: GM Treliving should feel pressure to bolster Flames roster
Calgary Flames GM, Brad Treliving (file photo) Al Charest / Postmedia There are few players in the NHL who would look better on the Calgary Flames top line than Wayne Simmonds.A powerful, prolific right winger who threatens the 30-goal mark every year he plays, he also provides the type of muscle required alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.His cap hit is dreamy at US$3.95 million, and the 29-year-old is chock full of character, which is what the Flames covet most.The danger is he only...
Francis: Darryl Sutter, done with NHL coaching, returns to the farm
Had the Calgary Flames called this spring to inquire about the possibility of him returning to coach, Darryl Sutter admits he might have considered it.However, since the Flames opted to go with Bill Peters, Sutter’s mind was made up – he’s retiring.“I would have listened for sure,” said Sutter of a possible return to the organization he spent eight years with.“Brad (Treliving) made a great choice in Bill, as did Todd (McLellan) in Edmonton, getting Gully (Glen Gulutzan) to join.”With no...
Francis: With Hoffman dealt twice, Flames hoping trade activity picks up
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 11: Mike Hoffman #68 of Ottawa Senators celebrates after scoring to 1-1 during the 2017 SAP NHL Global Series match between Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators at Ericsson Globe on November 11, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Francis: Hakan Loob called in to help rekindle Calgary Flames glory days
Calgary, Alberta-20080919 - After just six years in the NHL, former Flame Hakan Loob returned to Sweden with a Stanley Cup championship to his name.
Calgarians can celebrate World Cup 2026 bid despite stadium issues
Go ahead and lament all you want about how Calgary isn’t world class enough to play host to a World Cup soccer match in 2026.But be realistic.Sure, there’s no question this once-thriving city has certainly stagnated due to a reeling economy and anti-business leadership at all three levels of government.A new arena is a pipe dream, and it remains to be seen if city council will bungle a potential Olympic bid.None of that has anything to do with the fact this city was never on anyone’s radar to...
Calgary Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell hopes Johnny Manziel falls flat
As good as Johnny Manziel is for the CFL, Bo Levi Mitchell thinks what’s best for the league is a Johnny Football face-plant.It sounds harsh, perhaps even petty from the mouth of the Calgary Stampeders quarterback.But listen to ol’ Bo’s rationale before judging.“What’s better for the CFL on the whole is for him to come out here and struggle, just to show this is not a joke of a league — these are real defenders, and this is real football,” said the always-engaging veteran on the eve of his...
Francis: Glencoe and its Invitational flooded with accolades
The fifth hole at the The Glencoe Golf & Country Club outside Calgary on Wednesday June 13, 2018.
Best outcome for CFL in Johnny Manziel experiment would be for him to ‘struggle’: Bo Levi Mitchell
As good as Johnny Manziel is for the CFL, Bo Levi Mitchell thinks what’s best for the league is a Johnny Football face-plant.It sounds harsh, perhaps even petty from the mouth of the Calgary Stampeders quarterback.But listen to ol’ Bo’s rationale before judging.“What’s better for the CFL on the whole is for him to come out here and struggle, just to show this is not a joke of a league — these are real defenders, and this is real football,” said the always-engaging veteran on the eve of his...
Eric Francis: Olympic beer-league hockey players dream big
The dressing room banter before the game and on the bench is no different than any other beer league hockey team in Canada.Everyone has a nickname, no one is safe from ridicule, there are more punch lines than forward lines, and everyone wears a grin.However, what sets the Press Box Kings apart from any other team in the land is that its roster is made up almost entirely of Olympians.Problem is, none competed in the IOC’s five-ring circus as hockey players.“I got gear four years ago,” said...
Francis: Mat Robinson’s Olympic bronze opens familiar door
Team Canada's Mat Robinson, from Calgary, hopes to return to the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022.
Losing a long-distance friend never easy
It is with profound sadness that I announce the loss of a dear friend, suddenly at the age of 15.Shortly after noon Saturday in the hills of the Hamptons my friend was subject to a violent ending to an otherwise brilliant life.My emotions are still quite raw after witnessing the incident first hand, and I can’t help but feel a tad responsible for how it all unfolded.That might seem like the hardest part right now, but moving forward I know it’s only going to get harder.We met in a pro shop...
When coach becomes predator: Victims urge government to make sports safer for kids
Amélie-Frédérique Gagnon, left and Geneviève Simard, two victims of Bertrand Charest, pose for a portrait after a press conference at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre Calgary, on Friday June 8, 2018.
Francis: Flames could learn a thing or two about showmanship from Vegas
Lee Orchard as the Golden Knight, right, battles Zack Frongillo representing the Washington Capitals during the pregame show before Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup final on May 28, 2018 in Las Vegas.
Entertainment brought in by host teams in Stanley Cup Final pays off for NHL
Lee Orchard as the Golden Knight, right, battles Zack Frongillo representing the Washington Capitals during the pregame show before Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup final on May 28, 2018 in Las Vegas.
Flames enter crucial month with lots of decisions to make
Will the next chapter of Emile Poirier’s attempted comeback story be written by the Calgary Flames or another hockey club?Will Hunter Shinkaruk or Morgan Klimchuk have their dreams of playing for their hometown team be re-routed?Is there any chance Tyler Wotherspoon would consider staying in a Flames organization that keeps placing him farther and farther down its depth chart?These questions and plenty of others will be answered in June, the most important month of the year for the Flames.For...
Bret “Hitman” Hart comes full circle with honorary MRU degree
Former professional wrestler Bret Hart is shown at a news conference in Calgary, Alta., Monday, March 7, 2016.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh ORG XMIT: CPT112 If not for a last-minute decision by a pal, Bret Hart is confident he may very well have been able to live out his dream of being a filmmaker.As it turned out, he settled for being the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.At least that’s how he was so famously dubbed while performing as one of the greatest...
Bellevue West's Chucky Hepburn receives scholarship offer from Huskers
Bellevue West guard Chucky Hepburn has received a Division I scholarship offer to play for the Nebraska basketball team. Hepburn announced this via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Extremely blessed and honored to receive my first D1 offer to play at the University of Nebraska!!! #GBR☠️🔴⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/215zVkIsm6— Chucky Hepburn (@chucky_hepburn) May 29, 2018 The 6-foot, 176-pound guard just finished his freshman year at Bellevue West and would be a member of the 2021 class.
Brian Burke offers apology to Marc-Andre Fleury, Stanley Cup pick
Brian Burke’s apology was as sincere as it was unexpected. In the midst of an on-air chat with Vegas Golden Knights saviour Marc-Andre Fleury, the Calgary Flames prez-turned-Sportsnet analyst felt the need to apologize to the goaltender. “What I said on the air was I never trusted him on the ice,” said Burke, in a wide-ranging interview ahead of the Stanley Cup Final. “He’s had some poor playoffs and some meltdowns, and I didn’t think he could carry the load like he has.
Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving about to bring in assistant coaches
Brad Treliving is on the verge of announcing his assistant coaches.Following an exhaustive search that included interviews with a vast number of candidates, the Calgary Flames GM is confident he’s found the right men.Flames fans will be happy to hear one hire is a veteran coach with a proven track record running power plays.The other will oversee the defensive side of things.Expect an announcement this week.Stockton Heat head coach Ryan Huska is still very much in the mix as part of a search...
Despite injured shoulder, Flames blue-chipper Gawdin solid in CHL playoffs
Glenn Gawdin, currently playing for the WHL Swift Current Broncos, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames.
Tragic accidents link former Flames Regehr with Humboldt crash survivor Straschnitzki
Two bright headlights positioned an arm’s-length away from his face.That’s the last image Robyn Regehr had before impact, and the first thing he saw every time he closed his eyes for weeks on end.It has been 19 years since a late-evening drive to his childhood home in Rosthern, Sask.
Tragic accidents link former Flames Regehr with Humboldt crash survivor Straschnitzki
Two bright headlights positioned an arm’s-length away from his face.That’s the last image Robyn Regehr had before impact, and the first thing he saw every time he closed his eyes for weeks on end.It has been 19 years since a late-evening drive to his childhood home in Rosthern, Sask.
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