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The Puckhogs take second in national Song Quest contest

While everyone loves to win and “jump up and down and yell and hoot and holler,” a member of the local band The Puckhogs says the group is excited to have placed second in the Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest Contest.
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The Puckhogs — aka local musicians (from left) Brent Wohlberg, Sean Barrette and Chris Leblanc — are attempting to win Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest with their song, “For the Love of the Game.” Supplied photo.
While everyone loves to win and “jump up and down and yell and hoot and holler,” a member of the local band The Puckhogs says the group is excited to have placed second in the Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest Contest.

The Puckhogs' members — local musicians Sean Barrette, Chris Leblanc and Brent Wohlberg — co-wrote the song "For the Love of the Game" and entered it in the contest, which involved online voting.

In the end, Dave Gunning of Pictou, Nova Scotia, won the contest with his song "A Game Goin' On", The Puckhogs came in second, and Francis Arsenault of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, came in third with his song "Hockey Night Tonight".

Barrette admits he did feel a twinge of disappointment when the contest results were announced during the Winter Classic game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings on New Year's Day.

However, he quickly put things in perspective.

“There was 1,000 or more songs entered in this contest, and you're in the top two,” he said. “I was never good at decimals, but I can figure that out. So that's awesome. Honestly, the feeling of everybody who got behind us, it's incredible.”

Coming in second to Gunning, an established musician, is definitely nothing to be ashamed of, Barrette said.

“The dude can write a song,” he said.

Gunning has connections to Sudbury, too.

Sudbury's Bob Bale is Gunning's Canadian booking agent. One of Gunning's songs — "These Hands" — which won song of the year at the 2013 East Coast Music Awards, was written at Bale's home.

Gunning will be performing at Springfest in Sudbury on April 14, when he hits the stage with Cape Breton fiddler/bassist Allie Bennett.

Now that the Song Quest results are in, The Puckhogs are looking at what else they can do with their tune.

While Barrette doesn't want to reveal all of the group's plans right now, as they're still in the early stages of formulation, the musician said he'd definitely like to get the song some more radio air time.

“The philosophy I carry with me is oftentimes what you think you want isn't what you need,” he said. “It's that whole a door closes and another opens type of idea. I'm very philosophical about this.”

@heidi_ulrichsen

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Heidi Ulrichsen

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