The Great Harper Putin Hockey Match

When I saw the Star headline today I was stunned.  Could Stephen Harper and Vladimir Putin really be planning to face off against each other on the ice?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is making plans to play on a Canadian hockey team in two exhibition games against a Russian squad that will include Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, sources tell the Star.

“We’ve been told that the PM would love to be involved. It’s as relaxed as that,” said a person familiar with Harper’s plans.

But sadly, the answer was nyet. 

Early Monday, the PMO issued a terse communiqué that refuted the story.

“The Toronto Star is reporting that the Prime Minister will be playing in two exhibition hockey games against Russia,” the release stated. “This story is false.”

For obvious reasons.

Canada's Prime Minister has been known to coach a team of MPs who play in charity tournaments, but has said despite plans to write a book about the sport he isn't particularly gifted on skates.

Which I suppose is just as well eh? Because the last time Great Nerd Leader faced off against the Russians he made a complete fool of himself.  

Later, when the Prime Minister was asked about the matter, he suggested that the Russian planes had actually entered Canadian airspace. “This is a real concern to us,” he said. “I have expressed at various times the deep concern our government has with increasingly aggressive Russian actions around the globe and Russian intrusions into our airspace.”

Then, as now, the inaccurate accusations were clearly not appreciated by the United States. NORAD commander Gene Renuart took the unusual step of publicly correcting the Canadian ministers. The four-star U.S. general told journalists: “The Russians have conducted themselves professionally; they have maintained compliance with the international rules of airspace sovereignty and have not entered the internal airspace of either of the countries.”

And of course it could have been worse. The two dictators could have challenged each other to a singing contest. Which would be unfortunate...for Stephen Harper. Because not only is Putin a better hockey player.

A student of martial arts, and for a very short man an intimidating presence.

He's also a better singer...

And what more can you say eh?

Except what are those crazy Cons up to?

And who will save us from this nerd ?