FanHouse HockeyNightInCanada

With only ten days left before the CBC closes their HNIC Anthem Challenge on August 31st, I figured this would be a good time to check in on the contest and the infamous 'Hockey Scores' to see how it is all progressing. About a month ago, I took at look at 'Hockey Scores' which was the most popular song in the contest and had taken the internet by storm. With babies crying, sheep and gun shots it's hard to imagine how this isn't the most popular song on terrestrial radio right now.

But how have the babies and sheep held up? Are they still on top of the leaderboard? Well, you probably don't care but I'm going to tell you anyway.

With ten days remaining in the competition, Hockey Scores remains atop all the leaderboards. It lead in views, with twice the amount of views as the second place Take it Higher. It's also has more comments and a higher rating than any other anthem on the CBC's website. And with a facebook group that numbers more than 1,300 people it's clear whom the people have chosen -- if only jokingly -- to win the CBC's anthem competition.

The only obstacle left is to see whether or not the CBC is going to fix the vote, like the NHL may or may not have done during the infamous 'Vote for Rory' campaign. After all, the CBC smartly added the rule that their decision is final, regardless of vote count, rating or whatever else. If they don't pick Hockey Scores, there is sure to be an internet uprising. Somehow, I don't think they're worried about that. But there will be backlash, however big or small it may be and I feel like is not the last we'll hear about Hockey Scores. At least until the techno-geeks start raising hell after it gets brushed aside.

If you were to poll Canadians on the most recognizable song in their country's history, you'd probably think a Celine Dion ballad, a Brian Adam's soft-rock song, or a crappy Nickelback tune would be #1, wouldn't ya?

The truth? The theme song for Hockey Night in Canada, a song that has been around for five decades, is, BY FAR, the most recognizable tune in the Great White North. There is a reason why it's referred to as Canada's "other" national anthem.

Sadly, hockey fans may very well have heard the theme song for the last time. Money, as usual, is the culprit.

HNIC currently pays $500 every time they use the song, and the contract expired last night. The composer obviously wants more money than CBC is willing to pay in a 'raise', so the CBC might be looking for a new song.

In the end, everyone loses: The fans, the CBC, and the composer, Dolores Claman. Greed sucks, kiddos.

So, listen to the theme while you can. Doesn't it just make you want to watch a hockey game?

If you're someone who struggles with arithmophobia, you may want to turn away now. For the rest of you, here's another addition to what my FanHouse buddy Mirtle notes is a boom-time for hockey books: "Hockey Night in Canada: By the Numbers" by Scott Morrison, which lists and ranks the great players at every digit in NHL uniform history. As the Canadian Press mentioned in its piece about the book, Montreal forward Guillaume Latendresse has the distinction of wearing the last number from 0 to 99 to be filled, after taking on No. 84 in training camp last season.

Along with some inside stories about how players select numbers, Morrison and the usual gang of hockey aristocracy associated with HNIC -- Ron MacLean, Don Cherry, Scotty Bowman, Eric Duhatschek, Elliotte Friedman and the like -- voted on how to rank the top players at each number. For example, the CP reports that the Top 10 at No. 9 are: 1. Gordie Howe; 2. Maurice Richard; 3. Bobby Hull; 4. Andy Bathgate; 5. Mike Modano; 6. Ted Kennedy; 7. John Bucyk; 8. Lanny McDonald; 9. Charlie Conacher; 10. Glenn Anderson.

I've always been a media guide junkie, and I've actually played this game in my mind when reading the "By The Numbers" portion of the yearbook. As a Devils fan, that meant trying to figure out the best No. 9 out of a list that's included Neal Broten, Bernie Nicholls, Kirk Muller, Don Lever and now Zach Parise. (No. 4 is a bit easier to suss out; no disrespect to Myles O'Connor and Gord Mark, but make mine Scott Stevens, thank you.)

If you've never seen it, check out A to Z Hockey's "by the numbers" page, which was updated just before this season began. It's there you'll find fodder for your own numerical debates, from fairly easy ones like No. 87 (Donald Brashear, Sidney Crosby, Pierre Turgeon) to the 10,000 or so players that have worn No. 3 -- including unbelievably awesome hockey names like Sprague Cleghorn, Zarley Zalapski and Moose Sherritt.

Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Craig Simpson has left the team to head back to the broadcast boost with Hockey Night in Canada. He'll be a part of the 'A' team with Jim Hughson, relieving dinosaurs Bob Cole and Harry Neale of their prime duties. While this doesn't seem like much of a transaction of note, Oilers fans have some reason to rejoice.

Is Simpson a bad guy? A jerk? Hardly. Simpson is one of the nicest guys in hockey, and his good looks and verbosity translate well onto the small screen.

The reason Oilers fans will hold a keg party is that Simpson was responsible for running the Oilers Power Play into the ground with his constant tinkering and mind-boggling decision making.

The boys at Covered in Oil are celebrating this departure as only Oilers fans can: with a heavy dose of snark and derision.

This is, of course, double-plus-good news, as it means that (1) Simpson will now permanently be at least 100 yards away from the Oilers power play unit and only able to comment on how he wishes the forwards would stop moving around so much and just feed the puck to the point for the wild slapshot one more time; and (2) Canadians will no longer be primarily subjected to Bob Cole's mildly retarded, "He passes to the man and boom goes the dynamite," calibre of game-calling.

Personnel issues aside, the Oilers Power Play was less effective than Britney Spears' parenting.

Last season, the Oilers finished in 27th place with a putrid 14.2% success rate. The media was all over the Oilers for their lack of offensive firepower, and the lack of PP Prowess ultimately cost the Oilers a playoff spot. I'd say the Oilers looked like a bunch of headless chickens, but that would be an insult to decapitated poultry.

Although Simpson might not be a great bench boss, Simpson is one of the rising stars in the hockey broadcast community. Together with his sister, Christine Simpson, Craig will be a face you will get to know and love for many years to come. Consider this a good move for both hockey fans and the Oilers.