Plenty of Nothing

Luleå versus Skellefteå

Sweden has some of the best uniforms. Source.

Skellefteå's women's team has existed twice, the first time from 2002-03 till 2007-08, and then from 2017-18 onward. Last season Skellefteå played in the second tier of women's hockey, the Nationella Damhockeyligan or NDHL. The NDHL is made up of four regional leagues (North, South, East, West) that play from September to December. Each league includes one or two B teams of SDHL clubs. The top twelve non-B teams advance to the Damhockeyallsvenskan, made up of North and South leagues that play through January and February. The top eight of these teams go on to the playoffs. The two playoff finalists don't play each other; instead they face the bottom two SDHL clubs and the two winners that come out of that go into the SDHL the next season. Skellefteå earned promotion by beating AIK at the end of last season, but HV71 kept their place against Södertälje.

Skellefteå has three Canadians on its roster: goalie Camryn Drever and defender Isabella Pozzi, both from the University of Saskatchewan, and forward Marah Wagner, formerly of RPI. Drever is Skellefteå's number one goaltender, with 30 games this season.

Luleå's Johanna Fällman played for Skellefteå in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

This game and the one Sunday (also against Skellefteå) are the final two of the regular season. These two teams are likely to meet in the quarter-finals. If that goes to seven games they will have played nine in a row.

Previous results:

2024/10/15    Luleå 7 - 0 Skellefteå

2014/10/9      Skellefteå 1 - 2 Luleå

Kasaoka Horseshoe Crab Museum

The Kasaoka Horseshoe Crab Museum in Okayama Prefecture is horseshoe crab shaped. Source.

Kinngait Printed Textiles

Printed cloth from Kinngait Studios on Dorset Island. Source.

Sir George Williams University, 1969

94 student activists were arrested after police stormed the occupied computer centre at Sir George Williams University, now Concordia, on this date in 1969. Montreal Gazette.

Ottawa's Dagger

No military doubletalk in this World War Two funding drive, just naked bloodlust. Source.

Montreal at New York Americans, February 9, 1941

Toe Blake. Source.

Toe Blake came out of Northern Ontario. His early hockey was played in Cochrane, Sudbury and Falconbridge. In 1932 he joined the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA. In 1934 he signed with the Montreal Maroons but played only one game in their Stanley Cup run. He joined the Habs the next year and wore their uniform until 1948. He won the Stanley Cup with them in 1944 and 1946, scoring the cup-winning goal both times.

But it's as a head coach that he's remembered. He coached the Habs from 1955 to 1968 and won the Stanley Cup eight times.

He got the nickname Toe from his baby sister, who couldn't say Hector.

But back on this date in 1941 it was sixth-place Montreal visiting the seven-place New York Americans.

1st period: Toe Blake got his eighth goal of the season.

2nd period: Blake scored another. John Quilty put Montreal up 3 - 0. But then Wilf Field got the Americans on the board.

3rd period: Charlie Conacher and Lorne Carr evened it up 3 - 3.

Overtime: All New York as Carr, Peter Slobodian and Field each put it past Montreal goalie Bert Gardiner. 6 - 3 Americans.

Soccer Tangent

Vale of Leven celebrate scoring four against Carluke Rovers, 2023/2/18. Source.

It's the Scottish Cup, Round 5. Morton are off. The games are:

Ayr United 0 - 1 Hibs (yesterday)

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 1930.

Livi [3 - 0] Cove Rangers

This is their first meeting in the Scottish Cup.

St Johnstone [1 - 0] Hamilton Accies

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 1935.

Dundee [4 - 0] Airdrieonians

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 2006.

Celtic [5 - 0] Raith Rovers

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 1908.

Aberdeen [3 - 0] Dunfermline Athletic (tomorrow)

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 1906.

Rangers [0 - 1] Queen's Park (tomorrow)    Upset!

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 1879. [Queen's Park last beat Rangers in this cup in 1882.]

St Mirren [1 - 1] Hearts (Monday) [Hearts win on PK.]

These two first met in the Scottish Cup in 1887.

Championship:

Falkirk (2nd) [5 - 2] Partick Thistle (4th)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Consolation Cup Round One match.

Mortonalia:

Kirk Broadfoot has left the team. Logan O'Boy has been loaned out to Tranent.

Scottish Challenge Cup, SF (February 5):

Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 2 Livingston

Scottish Junior Cup, R5:

Downfield [1 - 1] Drumchapel United [Drumchapel win on PK]

Lowland League Cup, R1:

Broomhill 3 - 1 Berwick Rangers (February 4)

Civil Service Strollers 2 - 0 East Stirlingshire (February 4)

Cumbernauld Colts 0 - 5 East Kilbride (February 4)

Gretna 2008 2 - 3 University of Stirling (February 5)

West of Scotland League Cup, R4:

Arthurlie [1 - 2] Darvel

Johnstone Burgh [2 - 3] Auchinleck Talbot

St Cadoc's [4 - 0] Troon

St Roch's [3 - 2] Shotts Bon Accord

[Kilbirnie Ladeside 1 - 4 Thornliewood United]

North Regional Cup, R1:

Culter [4 - 1] Fraserburgh United

Concacaf Cup, Round One, leg one:

Forge 0 - 2 Monterrey (February 5)

Cavalry 2 - 1 Pumas UNAM (February 6)

2025 Japan Super Cup:

Vissel Kobe [0 - 2] Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Other matches:

Pollok 1 - 1 Largs Thistle (February 5)

Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 0 Brommapokarna (friendly) (February 6)

Keith vs Nairn County [postponed]

Civil Service Strollers [2 - 1] Tranent

BSC Glasgow [1 - 5] Carluke Rovers

Glossop North End [1 - 2] FC Isle of Man

Røa [4 - 0] Odd Kvinner (friendly)

Morton Women [0 - 2] Stenhousemuir (tomorrow)

HFX Wanderers have sold Massimo Ferrin to York United.

The last time each 2024-25 Championship club scored on Rangers:

2023/8/19      Morton

2023/2/12      Partick Thistle

2022/10/22    Livingston

2021/2/7        Hamilton Academical

2018/3/4        Falkirk

2018/2/11      Ayr United

2016/4/2        Raith Rovers

2014/8/26      Queen's Park

2014/5/3        Dunfermline Athletic

not yet           Airdrieonians

Which league has the most scoreless draws so far this season?

6    Premiership

8    Championship

9    League One

7    League Two

Historical Matches:

1941/2/8        Morton 2 - 6 Clyde

2003/2/8        Morton 1 - 1 East Fife

Goal for Stuart MacDonald.

Vale of Leven versus Carluke Rovers since 1968:

1968/8/19      Vale of Leven 1 - 5 Carluke Rovers     league

1968/9/21      Carluke Rovers 1 - 1 Vale of Leven       league

1969-70 (44)  Carluke Rovers 3 - 6 Vale of Leven      league       

1969-70 (47)  Vale of Leven 4 - 2 Carluke Rovers      league

1970-71 (24)  Vale of Leven 1 - 0 Carluke Rovers      league

1970-71 (45)  Carluke Rovers 1 - 1 Vale of Leven      league

1972-73 (16)  Vale of Leven 4 - 1 Carluke Rovers      league

1972-73 (36)  Carluke Rovers 2 - 0 Vale of Leven    league

1973/11/3      Carluke Rovers 3 - 1 Vale of Leven     league

1974/1/27      Vale of Leven 1 - 2 Carluke Rovers     league

1974/12/21    Vale of Leven 2 - 3 Carluke Rovers     WoSCup R2

1976/9/4        Vale of Leven 1 - 2 Carluke Rovers     league

1977/6/6        Carluke Rovers 3 - 3 Vale of Leven       league

1977/11/5      Vale of Leven 2 - 2 Carluke Rovers       Drybrough Cup R1

1977/11/12    Carluke Rovers 1 - 1 Vale of Leven       Drybrough Cup R1 replay

1978/1/7        Vale of Leven 0 - 2 Carluke Rovers     Drybrough Cup R1 2nd replay

1978/9/9        Vale of Leven 3 - 1 Carluke Rovers       league

1979/5/18      Carluke Rovers 0 - 1 Vale of Leven       league

1980/10/11    Vale of Leven 0 - 0 Carluke Rovers       Drybrough Cup R1

1980/11/8      Carluke Rovers 4 - 3 Vale of Leven     Drybrough Cup R1 replay

1980/12/13    Vale of Leven 2 - 0 Carluke Rovers       league

1981/4/25      Carluke Rovers 2 - 2 Vale of Leven       league

1981/9/19      Vale of Leven 2 - 2 Carluke Rovers       league

1982/4/24      Carluke Rovers 1 - 1 Vale of Leven       league

1982/9/18      Carluke Rovers 0 - 1 Vale of Leven       league

1982/10/30    Vale of Leven 4 - 0 Carluke Rovers       league

1998/11/28    Vale of Leven 1 - 1 Carluke Rovers       league

1999/3/6        Carluke Rovers 0 - 2 Vale of Leven       league

1999/11/27    Vale of Leven 3 - 2 Carluke Rovers       league

2000/5/13      Carluke Rovers 3 - 2 Vale of Leven     league

2001/1/27      Vale of Leven 3 - 2 Carluke Rovers       league

2001/3/24      Carluke Rovers 0 - 2 Vale of Leven       league

2001/10/1      Carluke Rovers 2 - 1 Vale of Leven     league

2002/1/12      Vale of Leven 1 - 1 Carluke Rovers       league

2004/12/11    Vale of Leven 3 - 2 Carluke Rovers       league

2005/4/9        Carluke Rovers 4 - 1 Vale of Leven     league

2007/3/31      Vale of Leven 1 - 5 Carluke Rovers     League Cup R1

2007/10/27    Carluke Rovers 3 - 1 Vale of Leven     league

2008/3/15      Vale of Leven 3 - 0 Carluke Rovers      league

2016/11/12    Carluke Rovers 3 - 2 Vale of Leven     league

2017/3/4        Vale of Leven 4 - 1 Carluke Rovers      league

2017/11/4      Carluke Rovers 3 - 2 Vale of Leven     league

2018/3/10      Vale of Leven 3 - 1 Carluke Rovers      league

2018/11/3      Carluke Rovers 4 - 1 Vale of Leven     league

2019/3/2        Vale of Leven 2 - 0 Carluke Rovers      league

2020/11/7      Carluke Rovers 6 - 0 Vale of Leven     league

2022/9/3        Carluke Rovers 1 - 3 Vale of Leven      league

2023/2/18      Vale of Leven 4 - 1 Carluke Rovers      league

2023/10/14    Vale of Leven 1 - 0 Carluke Rovers      ScJrCup R2

(Source: Vale of Leven website; WoSL website for 2022-23 and 2023-24.)

The Empress Matilda in Cotton Nero D. VII

Source.

The Agrippine Sibyl, by Lucas van Leyden

Source.

SpaceX Flotsam

Tiles from Starship 7 collected on the beach on Providenciales Island, Turks and Caicos. Source.