On Defection

by Jonathan Willis on Nov 19, 2008 8:14 PM MST

This is Franciszek Jarecki. In March of 1953, the twenty-two year old Air Force Lieutenant landed a stolen Polish MiG-15 on a Danish island. His knowledge of Soviet aircraft and tactics, as well as his providing of the opportunity to inspect the MiG-15 (it was returned a few days later) resulted in accolades from Poland's exiled government in London, an American citizenship, and a 50,000$ prize.

I am twenty-two (for some reason I told Staples a while back that I was twenty-three; silly mistake), but that's where the similarities end. I've been posting at OilersNation for awhile now, and trying to maintain this blog here, and it hasn't been much fun. Thus, I'm ending my work on this blog entirely, and will be writing exclusively on OilersNation from this point forward. Given that it's been 7 months and 310 posts, it wasn't a particularly long ride, but it was enjoyable.

Thanks to everybody who read this stuff, and especially to the folks who commented and linked here.

And I'll see you all in Denmark.

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Comments

I'll probably continue to drop by, if only to use your useful blogroll.

by Kent W. on Nov 19, 2008 9:52 PM MST reply actions

Jonathan: Thanks for all the fine work you have done on Copper & Blue. I'll miss this site, but will continue to sift through the various posts on ON to follow your stuff and some of the others'. No doubt we'll run into each other on neutral ice such as Lowetide from time to time.

Hope this consolidation works out for the best.

by Bruce on Nov 19, 2008 10:27 PM MST reply actions

Damn.

We're losing a good one.

by slipper on Nov 19, 2008 10:28 PM MST reply actions

I think it would be better if the other ON people posted on your blog. Seriously. A.) you have a b-roll and B.) the minimalist aesthetic touch here is far better than the ugly ON site.

by kris on Nov 20, 2008 1:48 AM MST reply actions

Good luck pal.

Jeez that Kent is a smartass, huh?

by Black Dog on Nov 20, 2008 7:07 AM MST reply actions

BD: Yeah. Smug too ;)

by Jonathan Willis on Nov 20, 2008 8:54 AM MST reply actions

Dont forget intelligent and really, really good-looking.

by Kent W. on Nov 20, 2008 10:37 AM MST reply actions

Thanks for all the great reads! Are you going to have a personal rss feed at ON?

by Sean on Nov 20, 2008 11:07 AM MST reply actions

It was great while it lasted. I have enjoyed the reads over the months I have followed your work. I'll keep reading your work at ON.

On a sad personal note: I am crushed cause this is the only OilerBlogosphere that has my friends and my site on its blog roll.

by B.C.B. on Nov 20, 2008 2:34 PM MST reply actions

Good luck Jonathan -- will be keeping up with you at the new digs.

by James Mirtle on Nov 20, 2008 10:36 PM MST reply actions

I am crushed cause this is the only OilerBlogosphere that has my friends and my site on its blog roll.

B.C.B.: Fixed.

by Bruce on Nov 21, 2008 12:00 AM MST reply actions

Just subscribed to ON's RSS. Good work on Copper and Blue Jonathan. Always interesting.

by Richard Pollock on Nov 21, 2008 2:46 PM MST reply actions

You kept my appetite for Oilers coverage satiated through the summer, and for that I thank you.

Your material is top-notch even if I'm not statistically inclined and your prose is among the best of the oilogosphere.

I can't stand some of the posters on the ON page and your entries along with Brownlee bring a certain flair to the site. For that, I'll continue to visit the site. Best of luck Jonathan.

by doritogrande on Nov 21, 2008 2:59 PM MST reply actions

Thanks for the kind words, everybody.

Sean: Probably not, and certainly not for some time. It's all for one over there :)

DG: Maybe I'm the only one, but I actually find writing about hockey easier in the summer, because I miss less things. Right now, there's so much happening that it's hard to keep up with the prospects, and all the items happening to the team. In the summer, it's much easier, and fewer things escape my notice.

by Jonathan Willis on Nov 21, 2008 3:13 PM MST reply actions

Thanks for all the fine reads, JW.

Would much rather visit you here than there, but ya gotta do whatya gotta do...

Because Jarecki turned out to be a double agent, didn't he? Or did that never come out?

by spOILer on Nov 24, 2008 12:05 PM MST reply actions

All the best....

Cheers,

by George B on Nov 26, 2008 12:23 PM MST reply actions

Good luck. Will be reading you on ON.

You're 22?

You must know my accountant buddy in Fort St. John.

by PunjabiOil on Dec 28, 2008 11:17 PM MST reply actions

PJO: I very well could.

by Jonathan Willis on Dec 29, 2008 9:07 AM MST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	54	34	15	5	73
Colorado Mile High Hockey	56	28	25	3	59
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	54	25	21	8	58
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	55	25	22	8	58
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	54	21	28	5	47

(updated 2.11.2012 at 1:04 AM MST)

21 - 28 - 5

Streak: Lost 2

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	12:00 PM MST
Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Wed 02/15	8:00 PM MST
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Fri 02/17	7:30 PM MST
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sun 02/19	7:00 PM MST
@ Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	Tue 02/21	7:00 PM MST

Last 5 Games

@ Detroit Winging It In Motown	Wed 02/08	L 2 - 4
@ Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Mon 02/06	L 3 - 6
Detroit Winging It In Motown	Sat 02/04	SO - W 5 - 4
Chicago Second City Hockey	Thu 02/02	W 8 - 4
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Tue 01/31	W 3 - 2