The 2014 Calgary Stampede kicks off in Calgary tomorrow, with ‘The Best Outdoor Show on Earth’ in its 102nd year.
Cochrane has always boasted a decent showing at the Stampede, and this year is no different, with Straws Milan again competing in the rodeo’s steer wrestling event, a handful of young Cochranites flaunting their entertainment skills in the Stampede Talent Search and Stoney Nakoda Nation in the parade and Indian Village.
The Stampede is quite the event, bringing in 1.4 million attendees for its centennial event in 2012, and has seen some memorable moments for Cochrane over the years.
Straws Milan winning the big $100,000 prize for steer wrestling in 2011; Grant Profit’s retirement run in the chuckwagon races in 2012; just to name a pair.
Hopefully this year will bring another moment for Cochrane.
Can Straws bring home the grand prize for steer wrestling again? What about Kaleigh Jo Kirk, Sydney Mae (Schweitzer) or Emma Duffy? Can one of these young Cochranites win the Talent Search? Time will tell.
The Cochrane area will have its fingerprint all over the Stampede this year, whether it’s rodeo, young talent, the Indian Village…Cochrane, Morley and the area will be well represented, so head into the city and support those from the community who are brave enough to put their talent on display.
Mason Raymond has come home…well, close enough.
The Calgary Flames announced on Canada Day that Cochrane’s very own NHL player would sign a three-year contract with the team, bringing Raymond from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Flames, just hop, skip and a jump from his hometown.
The 28-year-old Cochranite was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2005 during the second round, 51st overall. Last year with the Maple Leafs, he scored 19 goals and assisted on 26 for a total of 45 points. Not too shabby.
Raymond suffered a near career-ending injury in 2011 during Game 6 of the NHL Final against the Boston Bruins when he was hit and received a fractured vertebrae, rendering him largely immobile for a couple of months.
Raymond’s three-year deal is reported to be worth $9.5 million.
For Cochrane residents who attend Flames’ games during the season, there will be another reason to cheer on the boys in red…a young kid from around the corner will be suited up for them for the next few seasons.
How can you beat that?
Check out page 40 for more on Raymond’s signing.
