We Got Skills

- Posted in Newsies, We Love

The NHL announced the Skills Competition format for this year’s All-Star Game.  This has always been our favorite part of ASG weekend, because there is lots of skating without helmets.

Lunchtime poll: Will Letang wears a helmet or not? He’d need a headband for sure but it’s a sin to cover up that hair.  Maybe a baseball cap?

Exactly how I sleep on a plane.

The All-Star Skills Competition games are:

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater
Is a race! 6 players from each team compete in heats.

BlackBerry NHL Breakaway Challenge™
3 players from each team compete to deliver the most creative shootout attempt.  They get 4 shots a piece and we get to vote via text.

McDonald’s NHL Accuracy Shooting™
Like Crosby’s puck pyramid and Ovi’s weird Russian dressing mess, six players per team will shoot at foam targets in the four corners of the goal.

G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™
New event and it’s a big one!  16 players from each team in four relays.  Each skill must be completed before the team can move on to the next.  Two relay groups per team.

  • One-timer: shoot over an 8″ obstacle
  • Passing: put a pass into each of 6 nets set up around the ice
  • Puck control: Slalom cones while keeping the puck on the stick
  • Stick handling: Keep the puck on the stick through a series of obstacles
  • Accuracy shooting: Knock out four targets.

XM NHL Hardest Shot™
If you can’t figure this out, Chara gets to shoot at you.

Discover NHL Elimination Shootout™
Musical chairs for the shootout, like the Penguins have mastered.  Only they make people grow mustaches and run to the top row of a football stadium.  In this, it’s 1 point per goal and a lot of bragging rights for whoever makes it to the end. [Graphic from NHL.com]

We kinda hope Tanger and Tazer end up on opposite teams so they can showdown in the shootout challenge!

Mine. Mine. Mine.

You Read it Here First.

- Posted in Dawn Loves

He was First Star of the Game, had a crushing hip check and NOW … he’s has the HIT OF THE WEEK!!!! Yes, boys and girls, it’s my man DREW – TOUCHED BY GOD – DOUGHTY! But you got it first from me because as the only Kings Fan in the world, I was the only one watching the game to post about the hit! Well, actually, that can’t be true if he got the HIT OF THE WEEK! But let’s give a round of applause for the hottie from Canada and his hot hockey butt! Here is his post-game interview:

Professor Letang on H2-Olalalal …

- Posted in Dawn Loves, We Love

And so it begins. A very important lesson why we all need to drink more water. ‘Because d’eye-dra-shun’ iz bad. Very bad. And za-coaches, zay, ‘el me, eye need to drink more. I don’t know ey, but I do. ‘ Nuf said’  Point taken – watch, learn and go get yourself a long, very cold – SHOWER! His seriousness is endearing and ADORKABLE. I don’t know anyone who can talk about d’eye-dra-shun for over a minute. But I was riveted. One suggestion though, it helps when you get it IN YOUR MOUTH. – just sayin. Oh and if you want to see him shirtless, that too.

LOLspazz

- Posted in Dammit Geno

I don’t know who made this, but I’ve been laughing for half an hour.  I just… Malkin.

86 Degrees and It's Looking Great To Me.

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Randomness, Well OBVIOUSLY.

I only wish the weather report was brought to me every day like this. And I was right; even Kris admits he tries not to think. It’s OK. I’ll do all the thinking for us, I mean you. I could have been a member of Mensa but it was far too nerdy for me – I had enough issues. This makes me wish Seattle had an NHL team.

Letang on Top and Doughty on the Bottom – Please – Shirtless/Clotheless

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Randomness, We Love, Well OBVIOUSLY.

i love those lips

Ok – Mr. Cherrie is out of town with no internet access so I have to get this post out of my system because he is mad as a hornet that I have a crush on Kris Letang. And if you haven’t guessed, I don’t do anything half-assed. Spell check is telling me that is not a word but I know it is! So I have become all things annoying like actually watching a Penguins game! I did pointed out the at least Sidney is not playing but I did gasp when they had a Tanger-cam going. And lately, when I like a player, they seem to show him all the time. Yay me!

And Pants sent me an e-mail saying the search of  Letang shirtless has skyrocketed …. hum. And Doughty too. GUILTY as charged Judge Nancy! ALL RISE!

It’s like porn to me – HOCKEY PORN. And when it’s good … I could stare at it all day! I reminds me of American Psycho when he yells at the girls to not just stare at it! I won’t continue because if you haven’t seen the movie, it’s not worth going there.

So for MY VIEWING PLEASURE and hopefully yours, I GIVE YOU GRATUATIOUS KRIS LETANG. Unfortunately, I know from looking, Drew does not like to take his shirt off for photographers. Sad panda face.

if i had a thought, it would be of dawn

Pants, do you like my hat? again ...

i'm not telling you to look at the package but look at the package

I know what he's looking at above and I would be too!

i never wanted to be a fish so badly in my life

All About the Benjamins

- Posted in Newsies, Pants Loves

Jonathan Toews scored his 100th career goal on Sunday.  Way to go, JTown!

Awww shucks.

Blackhawks TV did a nice little “Milestone Minute” on the event [Video] and it made me teary-eyed.  He is the 4th-youngest Blackhawk to reach the century mark… wait.  WHAT?  Jonathan Toews is 22 years old and three guys beat him to the punch? I guess Denis Savard, Bobby Hull and Jeremy Roenick are pretty impressive company.  It’s bound to happen a few times in 85 years of Hawks hockey.

Here’s probably my fave Tazer goal.  I mean SHUT THE FRONT DOOR, that is ridiculous.  Whoever uploaded this video captioned it best: “Hoooooooooooly crap.”

The Blackhawks are having an okay season – but there’s still a lot of hockey left to play.  Last year they won their division and finished 3rd overall in points.  At the moment they’re hanging around the dreaded #8 spot in the West.  Still they’re only 6 points out of #3 (Optimism, people!  This hockey team is half full!)  If Toews, Kane and Hossa can get hot for the second half we could have a run on our hands.  Patrick Sharp and his perfect hair can’t do it all by themselves.

I have to sit next to Kane EVERY day.

Jon did a great interview about the All-Star Game before captains were announced [Video] – you can tell he doesn’t want to be one, and he got his wish.  But no one ever asks WHY IS YOUR HELMET TOO SMALL?  Always with the red marks.  And then there’s this:

Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp.

Hockey Memories of Section 8

- Posted in Chuck Loves, College Hockey

As a hockey fan living in New England, it is virtually impossible not to be a fan of or follow college hockey.  After all, Hockey East is arguably THE most competitive conference in Division I college hockey.  Since 1993, Hockey East teams have won 7 National Championships (and the last 3 in a row!) Can you say “Domination”?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

When I was an undergraduate at Boston University, my winter social life pretty much revolved around the Terriers’ hockey schedule.  Hockey game, party on West Campus, recover, rinse, repeat.  I sat in Section 8 of the old Walter Brown Arena, where the seating bowl was weirdly elevated so that when I stood up from my 2nd row seats, my head was completely above the board.  While definitely unsafe (errant puck to the head, anyone?), it did make for an unimpeded vocal corridor right to the opposing team’s sieve..er…goalie.

Section 8 was especially adept at taunting these poor souls.  We had a knack for coming up with very creative insults and epitaphs to hurl at the visitor’s goalie.  My personal favorite (coined by some drunk dude in the 4th row) – “Your grandmother doesn’t love you.”  Another favorite wast the “Ugly Goalie” chant.  [Every time the opposing goalie would take off his mask, our crowd would yell “UGLY GOALIE!” over and over again.  Then when he’d put his mask back on, the crowd would cheer “YAY!”]

Random?  Yes.

Juvenile?  Maybe.

Effective?  You betcha.

You make her feel shame. Disappointment and shame.

 

On more than one occasion, an opposing goalie would hear one of these jeering affronts and quizzically look to his right.  Yeah, that’s right, buddy.  We’re talking about you.

SIEVE!

The team has since departing the charming Walter Brown and moved into the swanky Agganis Arena.  The seats are more comfortable and less precariously situated.  Section 8 has morphed into 2 spirited student sections at each end of the ice, but the cheers remain as lively and clever as ever.  I’ve been a  season ticket holder since my undergraduate years (minus a 4 year stint when I was living in LA) and I don’t think that I will every give up my seats.

College hockey is too special to give them up.  Special because you get to see players grow and develop.  You see their progression from skinny 4th-line  freshman to Hobey Baker finalist to NHL star.  College hockey is an imperfect game.  The goalie is not going to make every save.  The forward is not always going to score on the breakaway.  The defensemen is not always going to land that perfectly timed hip check.

But it is because of these imperfections of the college game that make it so enjoyable to watch. You feel like are a part of something just on the brink.  You are witness to these players on the edge of the diving board, ready to make the leap into the deep end of the hockey pool.

I, for one, cherish this and it makes me proud to be a college hockey fan.

No, no. Thank you!

Lucky Sevens

- Posted in Newsies

Since NYRFan Stephanie is about to become my landlady, I was going to post Marion Gaborik’s goal extravaganza vs. Toronto last night.  But I got distracted by the pop-up on the Rangers site:

Luck be a Lundy tonight.

Let’s just say that if Steph could get back east, she would love to double down with these two.

Hit me Henrik, one more time.

Last night’s game was really something: the Rangers beat the Leafs 7-0.  Gaborik had 4 goals and 1 assist, Sean Avery had 3 assists and ran his mouth at Phaneuf all night.  They also announced that Brandon Dubinksy is out 3-4 weeks with a stress fracture in the left leg.  He already had a slap fight with Green and went a few rounds with Ovi, so he got bored.

Here’s Gaborik’s one-man show [Video].

You want another hug? Oh okay.

The Rangers play Carolina tonight – we love a good round of Staal vs. Staal.

Hockey on Hulu

- Posted in Newsies

On vacation, sans Center Ice, I discovered that the NHL is now on Hulu! So if you’d rather watch outdated hockey games you know the ending of than Underworld for the 80th time, now you can: www.hulu.com/nhl.

Cleeeeeek on me.

The content is a little outdated, but you can watch condensed games (known as highlights to the rest of us) and full games.  For the Penguins, the last highlights are 1/12 and full game is the Winter Classic.

Each team’s site also has features, like “A Day in the Life” and player profiles, like this ridiculously cute footage of Martin St. Louis and his kids – Squishy and Squishy Jr and Lil’ Squishy! All were previously available on NHL.com [Video].

Can I wear my helmet to school?

There are even classic games – and I screamed when I saw a Whalers jersey.  The broadcast was so lo-res it hurts my brain, but the power of Zarley Zalapsky restored me!

It's a hockey stadium. In a mall.

This is very exciting if you travel, or if you get annoyed when they don’t even show the good parts of Scott Speedman and Kate Beckinsale making out on TBS.

The Captain's Chair

- Posted in Newsies

EStaaaaaaal and Nick Lidstrom are the 2011 All-Star Game Captains and I have to say WELL DONE, NHL.  This is so fun already.  And Eric is smiling.  I haven’t been this excited about a Captain since Malcolm Reynolds.

Team Staal, all the way.

This is the ultimate olive branch because even if you hate the Wings (slowly raises hand), you love Lidstrom. The man is 40, classy as all get out and just about as awesome now as he ever was.   In this video, EStaal jokes about MStaal (boo) and Patrick Sharp (yay) telling him they want to be picked early in the draft.  Because Thunder Bay looks out for Thunder Bay.

“Staal is from my hometown, so he better be drafting me,” Sharp said. “But I have a feeling he’s going to make me wait it out.” [Chicago Tribune]

Sweet Carolina

No surprise in these selections.  Hometown Hero and the Gentleman Jockey.  Could be Lidstrom’s last season and it could be a while before Raleigh gets excited about hockey again.  We love the players for choosing these guys.

I’m all Team Staal, since he’s my fantasy hockey team captain too!  Chuck is Team Lidstrom.  Eric better take my calls on draft day because there is some strategy to be discussed.  And I will even let him pick Ginger Staal so long as he picks Letang or Green first.

11 All Star Games, 4 Stanley Cups... yes captain.

The 'Hit's' Just Keep Coming!

- Posted in Bromance, Dawn Loves, Randomness

please keep your clothes on until we're done

Biznasty’s been busy but not on the ice. If you are in the Arizona area, pick up your free copy of Scottsdale’s Men’s Health because this month’s cover boy is none other than Paul Bissonnette! (video here) Teammate Keith Yandle does a fabulous interview to help his teammate promote the ‘free’ publication and much like Ovi, you get the feeling Paul doesn’t like to keep his clothes on.

Ok, For No Other Reason But The Photo.

- Posted in Bromance, Dawn Loves, Well OBVIOUSLY.

It totally made me scream, laugh and cry when I watched it happen on 24/7.  Now  I have a photo of it, I have perma-grin. This is now my new desk-top photo, my cell phone photo and anywhere else I can think to put it. Don’t tell me Ovi and Green aren’t in love! I don’t remember who else was sitting there but really! He can’t help but look too! HILARIOUS! It must be impressive because I’m sure it’s not the first time nor will it be the last.

From watching Ovi’s DVD, he likes to run around with the least amount of clothes possible in any situation including playing basketball with no, ah, shall we say, support.

does that hit the floor?

Who'd You Rather? or Secret Bromance?

- Posted in Bromance, Dawn Loves, Randomness

So now that the Cap’s ‘Guardian’ has been unveiled, I think it’s time for a WUYS poll:  If you were the last female, or hey, let’s not be unfair here, dudes too, on earth and had to reproduce with either of these ‘Guardians’ which one would it be; provided it was possible? And let’s suspend all disbelief here for shits and giggles because that’s really the point.

I can’t wait for the action figures and the movie to be honest because I’m going to make my own – Robot Chicken-style. Sonic Scream-my ass! SONIC BOOM is more like it where The Eagle gets all the chicks from with in a 30,000 mile radius!

THE PENGUIN
BIO:”The Penguin” as a character mirrors the recent history of the city of Pittsburgh. He was raised the son of a steel worker and he grew up watching his dad work in the steel mills. The toughness and gritty determination to provide left an indelible imprint on him.

However, he’s a visionary and he loves thinking about how to improve the world around him especially when it comes to his native Pittsburgh. He is a gifted inventor and has a love of science and innovation.

Of all the Guardians, the Penguin is the least willing to be placed into a box. He considers himself a renaissance man, able to adapt to a variety of conditions. In exterior appearance, the Penguin is an impressive looking superhero, mostly human features except for a set of Penguin like wings attached to his arms. The wings, like that of an actual Penguin, don’t enable him to fly but rather they allow him to maneuver both in the air and especially at sea.

OR

THE CAPITAL
BIO:The Capital’s back-story centers on his work for the U.S. government. He believes that he has spent the better part of his life as a CIA operative working on some of the country’s most highly classified details. He is a master interrogator and has a keen sense for assessing any situation. He can read people just by looking at them and predicting the actions of his adversaries is second nature to him. He’s spent more than a decade working as a spy and has travelled the world. He can speak any language and can adapt to any culture. In short, the Capital can blend in with any environment and manipulate any situation from the inside. To assist him in his undercover activities, the Capital possesses the ability of shape shifting, which is a necessity for a 7-foot eagle trying to blend in with the crowd.

The Capital takes the form of a giant half-man, half bird. He’s roughly 7 feet tall and his wingspan is twice that. He has the head and feet of an Eagle and the arms and hands of a human. He can soar to incredible heights and possesses the ability of telescopic sight allowing him to pinpoint objects from well over 30,000 feet. He also has a sonic scream that can physically destroy objects and bad guys.

Mikey Monday!

- Posted in Mikey Monday, Pants Loves, Randomness

 

rock out with your hawk out!

So I got left alone in the WUYS offices today while Pants and Chuck run amuck on the East Coast! I got left with cold coffee, stale do-nots and a post-it note from Pants saying “MM please”. I am assuming that means I’m left with Mikey Monday. God knows he didn’t do anything last night in the game to scream about except get plastered against the glass from Nick Foligno.

So I’ve spent the last hour watching paint dry and picking my toe nails but then I found this suspicious little nugget on youtube and if I didn’t know any better, I swear it sounds like Pants and Chuck disguising their voices. Note the odd change in pitch? And you can’t see their faces. They are certainly stalkers. They are both on the East coast right now. And they are congratulating him on his win LAST NIGHT. hum…. I don’t think it takes Sherlock Holmes to figure this one out. But one of you needs to shave your legs. I’m just saying!

Rumors, Whispers and Innuendos.

- Posted in Newsies

So the rumor mill has cranked back up again and supposedly Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are back on the auction block even though, like a fat chick loves cup cakes – well let’s be honest we ALL LOVE those sweet delicious treats, Calgary keeps saying “No, No. No.” But media speculation is high as the trade deadline nears and those in the know say all the other tweaks that Calgary has tried hasn’t worked, it’s cut bait time. The only thing left for Calgary to do is auction their biggest assets off to the highest bidders while they are still hot and rebuild.

class and hotness= love!

I have totes mixed feelings about this as Calgary has been my ‘other’ boyfriend for many years. And Nomie and Kippy are my boys. While I’d hate to see them leave, if they stay, they’ll never see Lord Stanley – and I mean Stanley cup, not STAN LEE. One rumor that persists is Nomie going to the LA Kings and I think we all know how I’d feel about THAT! Anyone for a ‘Touched by God’ and Nomie sandwich? I’d take 10 please!

As for Kippy-Pants, in my world, it all goes back to the Caps. I hope to all that is holy in Hockey, Teddy-boy is burning up the phone lines to Calgary. If Kippy is available, he’s PERFECT because THEY NEED A GOALIE. Sorry Neuvy sweetie – but you would sky-rocket if Kippy was your mentor. Then I would wish Varly on the Penguins! HA! No, I heart Fleury too much. He could go to Vancouver or back to the KHL. I really don’t care.

So we shall see if Calgary is going to make a big move. Because Iginla and  Kiprusoff both have no-trade clauses but once you waive it, it’s gone and the next team is free to trade you off if you don’t produce. Totes suckiness. So they’d have to agree and both have publicly stated they are not moving but the PTB say this is just to deflect the constant press pressure. Only time will tell.

Pst ... Dawn wants you in Washington to Win a Cup!

Lastly, a Sidney Crosby update – JUST FOR PANTS. According the Hot Stove on HNIC Saturday, they talked to Sid’s manager because the Pens weren’t talking ‘aboot’ his status. He is STILL day to day because he’s not good. He wakes up fuzzy, he’s clear for 5-6 hours and then crashes. NOT GOOD. Sorry Sid. We hope you get better – from everyone here at WUYS.

 

my head still hurts ... where am I?

 

 

Why I Love HNIC.

- Posted in Dawn Loves

it's a beauty - eh?

Evidently I am not the only one completely in love with DREW ‘TOUCHED BY GOD’ DOUGHTY. I was feeling like the only LA King’s fan in the WORLD and I may still be. But HNIC’s big game this weekend was Edmonton VS LA KING’s and not only were we treated to a special highlight of LA KINGS Legendary Goalie Rogie Vachon, it was basically a DREW DOUGHTY LOVE-FEST! ALL OF CANADA, or at least all the staff at HNIC is in love with DREW ‘TOUCHED BY GOD’ DOUGHTY. While the Washington Capitals have the Ovechcam, a camera solely focused on everything Ovechkin – total GOLD – this game had a DREW DOUGHTY-CAM.

touched by god

They even interviewed him during the first intermission. And when they weren’t interviewing him, they were asking his teammates what it was like to play with him! totes-awesomeness! He also got the first star of the game, had his third goal of the season, a crushing hip check on Taylor Hall which led to yet another interview, with Taylor Hall – ABOUT DREW ‘TOUCHED BY GOD’ DOUGHTY! and a huge dog pile on Drew, (he’s at the bottom of this pile) which he took like a man and came out smelling like a rose!

All and all, one of the BEST HNIC ALL YEAR! Also because LA won! Of course, until NEXT WEEK when the Capitals take Toronto! They love to hate Ovi! But last time Ovi was on HNIC they all but creamed their pants over him so can’t wait for that one. THAT WILL BE A SHOW. Two weeks in a row … GOD BLESS CANADA and HNIC! The Great Grapes will gripe and groan and Ovi will love it all! Whether he scores or not, Ovi always puts on a show for them. 😉

Foxy Friday: Colin Wilson

- Posted in Chuck Loves, Foxy Friday

Wow.  It’s been a while since I’ve posted a Foxy Friday and even longer since it featured a Boston University Terrier.  So, folks, for my 1st FF post of 2011, I introduce you to…

Colin Wilson

*phowar*

Even Shea Weber knows that you can't look directly at a guy as hot at Colin. It's like staring into the sun.

Aside from the obvious physical attributes (6’1″, 214 lbs) and hockey pedigree (Dad was an NHLer for 12 season), Colin or “Willy” as he is affectionately known, is a great young hockey player with serious superstar potential, poise, and a smile that can just mesmerize.  Don’t believe me?  Watch this.  (also, serious Gun Show at the 4 min mark)

Making us all fall in love...



Hey. How you doin'?

Now be honest…you sort of love him now, dontcha?   I know I do.  I want to wake up with him on Sunday morning and do crossword puzzles while we eat blueberry pancakes.  I believe that in a few years, Colin has the potential to become a great ambassador for the NHL and the sport of hockey, a la Sidney Crosby.  He’s handsome, well-spoken, and looks pretty at ease in front of the camera. (Pants, think you had some media training at COM?) Not hard to imagine him staring in CCM ads and Winter Classic teaser trailers.

While not putting up insane numbers or 8 bajillion point streaks (yet), he could.  Colin is the kind of guy that you’d want on your team because he is fun to be around, happy, and unpretentious. He’s sort of a geek with his love of video games, history, and Greek mythology and you know how much we at WUYS LOVE “adorkable” guys like this.  I can watch the History Channel with him and not feel bad about myself.  Also, his love of Greek gods is especially apropos considering that he pretty much looks exactly like one!

Willy, the God of Hockey

Now back to the hockey…which believe it or not, is the real reason for this post…

Other reasons why Colin is Foxy…

  • played two years at Boston University, where he helped lead his team to the 2009 National Championship
  • one of three finalist for the Hobey Baker, losing out to teammate (and fellow FF honoree) Matt Gilroy
  • was Team USA Most Outstanding Forward at 2009 World Juniors
  • USA Hockey College Player of the Year (2009)
  • Inside College Hockey Player of the Year (2009)

So, you see?  It’s really not that hard to see why Colin would make our Foxy Friday list.  He’s got it all.  Crazy hockey skills, movie star good looks, and a smile that can pretty much turn any woman into a pile of goo.

Plus looks like he can really bust a move…

Terrier Dance Party!

P.S.  As a BU season ticket holder for years now, I got to watch Wilson play during his two years there and even then you could tell that he was different. From the minute he stepped on the ice, you knew that this kid was destined for the NHL. He was big and every stride was strong, powerful, and pretty much effortless.  Like Teddy Riley and Blackstreet, Colin was on Another Level.

P.P.S. He also kind looks like hotter, American version of Irish singer, Brian McFadden (of whom I am a fan). Don’t you think so, Pants?

The Ultimate Hockey Break-up Song?

- Posted in Bromance, Dawn Loves, We Love

Here at WUYS we’ve always commented on how awesome hockey fans are. The video below only reinforces that notion. My only comment, well, no I have several as usual. I envision the morning after being Fleury and Sid, with Sid finding Fleury watching cartoons in a Caps jersey! Or J Staal and his girly legs in that jersey! But I leave it to your imagination and you can mix and match your favorite Bromance for this one. Enjoy!

This or That?

- Posted in Randomness

On the Caps site they do this re-donkulous thing called “This or That” and a week ago or so, they asked the question Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus but the way the question was asked, you don’t get the feeling it’s about THE MUSIC. Nudge nudge wink wink. But only Eric Fehr didn’t get it, god bless his heart.  So without any more ado, we don’t. Oh, and completely ignore Varly. He looks like Lon Chaney – totes seriously. I kid you not. [Video]

Erksine's mortified by this question.