The Professor Gets an A++ and the Killer B's Attack

- Posted in Chuck Loves

Last night, the Bruins faced off against the struggling Ottawa Senators and WUYS fave (and Foxy Friday honoree) Patrice Bergeron notched is first career hat-trick in the Bs 6-nil win over the Sens.

Un. Deux. Trois. (photo by @NHLBruins)

The Garden crowd thought that Bergy got the hat trick at 14:07 of the 2nd and launched their caps on to the ice, only to have the official scorer credit the goal to the Little Motorscooter, Brad Marchand.  Celebration fail, folks and everyone goes to the Pro Shop to buy new hats.

But Bergy would not be DENIED.  He kept grinding and hustling and eventually got his hat trick with 5 min left in the 3rd.  Cue hat toss (for reals this time)

Nouveau Chapeau gone to waste...

After this win and their stunning victory over the Pens on Monday – 4 goals in last 3:30 min (sorry Pants) – here’s to hoping that the Bruins can capitalized on the momentum, which unfortunately they really haven’t been able to do much of this season.  The B’s are a talented team with arguable the best goaltending duo in the league (Thomas and TUUUUUKKA Rask) and four solid lines that can all score goals.

While they only boast two all-stars this year, that doesn’t really reflect how good of a team they are.  Keep an eye on the Bruins as this season goes on.  If they continue to spread the point production and stay consistent, they could just be a team to reckon with.

Watch out Pants.  Be aware Dawn.  The Killer Bs are coming for ya.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Everybody Loves All-Stars

- Posted in Newsies

Pretty much every team has posted their All-Stars’ reactions to being selected, so there are a ton of videos.  But I like this one best – it’s Team Dawn and Team Pants.  I think these two are the only Capitals NOT in a bromance, despite the enthusiasm of their on-ice hugging. [Video]  PS: I still hate the Caps.

Ovi, who cuts your hair?! Backstrom?

Mike laughs because he'd kinda scared.

Ovi wants to be on Mike’s team so he doesn’t have to check him.  But you know he kinda hopes to, just to see what everyone else is so excited about.

And I randomly picked the Lightning because Squishy made the ASG team.  Chuck and I think he is the besteset.  And I still think of him reading his NHL Awards speech off his PDA – presh.  Stammer is so blond, that could the power of their NHL Guardian.  Invisible due to lack of pigmentation. [Video]

You can't see me.

And the hometown boys, mostly because Eric Staal has a billion points for me this season.  He doesn’t smile once in this interview, while Cam Ward can’t stop.  How fun to play in front of your home crowd. [Video]

Captain Serious

Cam gets bonus points for starring in one of my fave commercials so far this season.  It’s just so southern!

In a related story…

- Posted in Randomness

There’s nothing going on today and I keep dwelling on the Penguins 3rd period meltdown last night… so let’s lighten the mood.

Our countdown comments:

10) God those Anaheim sweaters were ugly.  Not as ugly as the first purple & teal ones, but that stripe at the bottom is awful.

9) Sid’s landlord will totally deduct for that scratch in the stage.

8 ) Shut it Letterman, or I’m coming for you.

7) That hair is AMAZING.  Gretzky love.

6) Reaction shot: Bylmsa = awkward genius.

5) Please let this never, ever happen again.

4) Why is Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc wearing skates?  That’s not ice.

3) Look at Ginger Staal in the background, trying not to be ginger.

2) OMG THAT HAIR IS EVEN BETTER.

1) Conan needs that helmet to fit over the ridge atop his head.

2011 All-Star Roster

- Posted in Newsies

The complete All-Star Game roster has been selected and let me tell you – HALF of my fantasy hockey team is on here.  No wonder I’m killing it!

Ward and EStaal - Hometown Favorites

There are tons of first-time All-Stars (21), though it kind of makes me wonder how some of these guys weren’t All-Stars last year. Steven Stamkos split the Richard Trophy with Crosby, but he wasn’t an All-Star.  Mike Green was a Norris Trophy nominee and first team all-season All-Star in ’08 (both feats he would repeat last year) and he wasn’t an All-Star. [link]

"Squishy, we made the team!"

Here’s the full list.  Highlighted guys are on my fantasy team, so Crosby will know who to draft to make my ultimate All-Star Team. [Photo Roster]

FORWARDS
David Backes (St. Louis), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh)*, Matt Duchene (Colorado), Patrik Elias (New Jersey), Loui Eriksson (Dallas), Claude Giroux (Philadelphia), Ales Hemsky (Edmonton), Jarome Iginla (Calgary), Patrick Kane (Chicago), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver), Phil Kessel (Toronto), Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh)*, Rick Nash (Columbus), Alex Ovechkin (Washington), Corey Perry (Anaheim), Brad Richards (Dallas), Daniel Sedin (Vancouver), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver), Patrick Sharp (Chicago), Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay), Eric Staal (Carolina), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay), Jonathan Toews (Chicago)*

If Jordan hadn't been hurt, it would be Staal City.

DEFENSEMEN
Dan Boyle (San Jose), Brent Burns (Minnesota), Dustin Byfuglien (Atlanta), Zdeno Chara (Boston), Tobias Enstrom (Atlanta), Mike Green (Washington), Erik Karlsson (Ottawa), Duncan Keith (Chicago)*, Kris Letang (Pittsburgh)*, Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit), Marc Staal (N.Y. Rangers), Shea Weber (Nashville)

Sharp, Keith, Toews and Kane... what's Kane looking at? Squirrel!

GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh)*, Jonas Hiller (Anaheim), Henrik Lundqvist (N.Y. Rangers), Carey Price (Montreal), Tim Thomas (Boston), Cam Ward (Carolina)

NYRFan Steph can wear her Lunqvist jersey in Greece that weekend.

ROOKIES
Logan Couture (San Jose), Evgeny Dadonov (Florida), Jordan Eberle (Edmonton), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Phoenix), Tyler Ennis (Buffalo), Cam Fowler (Anaheim), Michael Grabner (N.Y. Islanders), Taylor Hall (Edmonton), Tyler Seguin (Boston), Kevin Shattenkirk (Colorado), Jeff Skinner (Carolina), Derek Stepan (N.Y. Rangers)

I've been to 4 Sharks games this year, think Couture had a goal in every one.

So that’s it till the All-Star Game draft on Friday, Jan 28.  It will air on Versus.  Who do you think will be the captains?  Who was left off this ASG roster? Someone’s gotta be fired up – only one Red Wing?  Only one Flyer? Last I checked (2 seconds ago), they were #2 and #3 in overall points in the NHL standings…

UPDATE: Here are the 2011 All-Star Game Jerseys.  I rather like the blue one… hope Tanger ends up on that team.

Prom dresses.

Oops. Did I Do That?

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Newsies, Randomness

Not a good weekend for some goalies. Tim Thomas ended up watching this one go straight down the five hole LITERALLY. Which was a complete oddity given that Timmy the Tank was playing so well. When I saw it happen live I was screaming at the TV and Mr. Cherrie because I had sent him to kitchen to get me a throw-back Pepsi (god I love those thing – next back thing to main lining pure chocolate!) God Bless instant-replay but for the love of all things Canadian, the people who do those always pull the feed that show the fat fan jumping into the frame at the crucial moment! WHY?!?

Anyway, you could see that Thomas couldn’t believe it either. It was like in a movie where you see the good guy screaming “Nooooooo!” is slow motion but this time there was no diving to save the pretty girl. Only Timmy standing there like every one else, watching Peter Puck waving adios as he slid by, waving a fine how do you do as he tapdanced over the goal line tallying the first goal for Montreal. It was a pretty amazing game but Chara starting playing rock ’em sock ’em robots at the end and I don’t know why he didn’t get a suspension. He was popping Canadiens WITH his gloves on left and right like it was groundhogs day! (see goal at about 1:20 mark)

The LA King’s goalie Jonathan Quick started out having an awesome day but with a freak squeak it started a landslide of swarming blue jackets and he almost lost it for my sweet Drew, AKA, touched by God, Doughty. But it did give a kid his first NHL goal – Calvert which is a good thing but it also gave Columbus some momentum and the Kings almost lost the game after a 4-0 lead!

BUT – on to the happiest news of the weekend – BESIDES the last part of the post to come – Martin Brodeur who was playing BACK-UP, no that is no a typo, was put in net for New Jersey this weekend and although he didn’t win the game, he didn’t implode. He got the start for the next game and they WON!  Not only did they win, he went for the holy grail for goalies, a GOAL! He didn’t get it but he got an ASSIST! Mr. Cherrie was so excited he about peed his pants. He LIVES for that moment in hockey when goalies try for that.

http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter/embed.swf

Lastly, Ovi returned to true form this weekend and I had to blink repeatedly because I SWEAR I was rewatching an old game which I have resorted to doing. I miss watching him score, so to pull myself out of the grumpy grumps, I rewatched the Caps 10 greatest game pack.  That would make 7 games to watch. So I got a little confused – was it live or was it memorex? And it was LIVE BABY! WAHOO! YAY!



Mikey Monday

- Posted in Mikey Monday

Dawn’s talking about the Pens, I’m talking about the Caps – it’s like Freaky Friday in here. (Okay, maybe not.)

Ovi: Do you see Dawn? She's watching the Pens, isn't she? It's the hair. Mike: Er, um... this isn't where I parked my scooter.

There are days when you’re the guy, and days when you aren’t.  Mike Green was definitely the guy in the Caps’ Saturday night win over Florida.  First, he made this pass to Eric Fehr from behind the net to tie the game 1-1. [Video]  I’m trying to find the replay from above so you can see how tight this pass is – you couldn’t get a Vespa through there.

Then he took a pass from Fehr to get this go-ahead goal in the second.  This is a goal-scorer’s goal, getting to the sweet spot between four defenders and dumping it into the net. [Video]

Ta very much.

Mike was the broadcaster’s Player of the Game and he deserved it – 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots.  The Caps have won 6 of their last 8, even while struggling with goal production (2.2/game over that stretch).  Note: I DO NOT LIKE when they win a lot. But they need consistent production from guys like Green and Fehr to put Ws on the board.  They play Florida again on Tuesday.

And, as any publicist would suggest, Mike fixed his hair up to talk about his performance.  That might even be a clean shirt. [Video]

Bend and snap.

Mike’s ice time is down a bit lately (24:10 or less in last 4 games), but his point production is up: 2 goals and 3 assists in the last 5 games.  For an offensive defenseman, that’s a pretty fair trade.

24/7 Secret Admission… From a Caps Fan.

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Randomness

um where is THIS Macy's?

When Pants and I were Twittering during the various 24/7 episodes, there were a few things I came to realize, Kris Letang is HOT. He is the only Penguin I will cop to that about.

Secondly, way before this blog and 24/7, MAF caught my eye because a fan put a sign up against the glass for him to ‘spin like a ballerina’ so he did!

Mr. Cherrie and I were actually watching that game and I thought it was absolutely ADORABLE but got death ray eyes from Mr. Cherrie to ever THINK a Penguin was adorable. THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED! But after watching 24/7’s 4th episode I had mentioned to Pants that MAF reminded me of the Macdonald’s commercial in Canada – the goalie Sweet Petite. Now Puck Daddy is mentioning that same thing! But I forget that not everyone can watch the CBC. So for your viewing pleasure …

But back to the Caps, Kris Letang nailed my beloved Ovi in the Winter Classic and there is an AWESOME photo of it. While I cringed at the hit, it was beautiful and you didn’t see Ovi whine about it. He took it like a man and I’m sure Kris will have to keep his head up the next time they meet. Although I wouldn’t have minded getting between the two of them! What a tasty treat that would have been! 😉

hip check mate

But honestly, the person who stole 24/7 was Mike Green and his Vespa. SERIOUSLY. I know we posted this already but I can’t get enough of it. He got a goal and an assistant on Saturday. Ovi scored like his bad ol’ self too. I think you should make this your cell phone background just because it’s screamin’ awesome!

go speed racer, go!

Warning: This Post Contains Gratuitousness Caps.

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Randomness

In honor of the Caps current winning streak. Many of you may have already seen this but I don’t care. I love seeing Mike banging the drums, Ovi shaking his ass and Brooksy trying to look dangerous. Plus, I think it is just a vat of plain gratuitousness of awesomeness, rolled around in sparkly sprinkles of chocolately cupcake deliciousness. I warned you this time Pants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_OrE0yKuY

I Am a Hockey Nerd Not a Comic Book Nerd – Sorry.

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Randomness

Ok – I’m going to apologize upfront here. I’ve never read a comic book – EVER.  Not once. And it took marrying Mr. Cherrie for me to discover the greatness of hockey and that is after many years of married bliss. Even when he first pointed out Ovi, I glanced up from reading my Glamour Magazine, saw a zit-face Cro-magnon freak, stared blankly at Mr. Cherrie, gave him the obligatory wife nod, and went back to the fashion do’s and don’t section and immediately forgot about him.

Where am I going with this? Well Stan Lee created THE GUARDIAN PROJECT where each day until the All Star game he is revealing an NHL ‘guardian’ based on each NHL team. Sounds cool? If you are a comic book nerd. I suppose it’s a wet dream of a life time. Really. Honest. And if you are a hockey-comic-book nerd, you’ve hit the mega-millions!



But you know what? I had a deja-vu moment. Mr. Cherrie was prattling on about this Stan Lee Guardian Project and superheroes and all I heard was the NHL and superheroes and I kept waiting for the villain Stanley. I kept waiting for ‘cup’ to follow Stanley. But it didn’t. Finally in exasperation I asked, “What does the Stanley Cup have to do with all this?!” This time it was Mr. Cherrie staring blankly back at me. “The Stanley Cup? What are you talking about?” Then it dawned on him what I meant and he started laughing. “I bet no one else in the world would even think that but you!”

Gee thanks! Really? Come on? No one? No one. No one else hears STAN LEE and the NHL and is waiting to hear CUP drop after all that? SERIOUSLY?! Well then, I guess I’m just blessed with a lovely dry sense of humor.

But if you want to check out all the fabulous superheroes created by STAN LEE and not the STANLEY CUP, go to www.guardianproject30.com or if you’re single and want to impress your comic-book nerd neighbor and get a date, send him there, he’ll be impressed that you know about it. And no need to thank me, thank Mr. Cherrie.

Foxy Flashback Friday But Should Also Be Kick Ass Friday!

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Foxy Friday

As I’ve said before, I Heart Goalies and just because he’s retired, doesn’t mean he isn’t a hot piece of French Apple Pie with a side of Sweet Sweet Back’s Sweet Ass Baby Back Ribs to-go for Mama!

Booya YAY!

He’s won the Conn Smythe Trophy THREE TIMES!  He’s won that sweet thing he’s holding over those baby blues in THREE DIFFERENT DECADES! He’s THE ONLY HOCKEY PLAYER EVER, to have done that – TAKE THAT OH GREAT ONE! – He has 151 play off victories. No goalie will be catching up to that any time soon. Brodeur is next in line with 99.  Love ya mucho but see ya baby! The Hockey News listed him as the #2 best all-time Goalie – I call BS. He’s behind Terry Sawchuk. Potatoe/Potato.  He’s hotter anyway. He won four Stanley Cups, three of which with teams that weren’t even supposed to win which was why he got the Conn Smythe. Need I go on and on? Cause I could.

the perfect mullet - it even LOOKS GOOD!

He changed the way goalies play by PLAYING the puck and coming out of the goal. He was FEARED.

OK - this would give ME nightmares - the puck would rather DROP than go into the goal

He also knew when to QUIT. He went out at the top of his game. So although he isn’t playing, I still think he is FOXY and deserving of a post. I miss the fact that he also kicked some SERIOUS ASS when he played. You simply didn’t mess with him. If Ovi had tried what he did with MAF at the WC with Roy, it would be a completely different outcome. Roy would  man-slap Ovi back into the Cold War Era. And believe it or not, I would be rooting for Roy!  Or maybe Ovi would have enough respect to not lay a finger on him in the first place – we’ll never know. But that’s  just a fantasy as Aldo Nova would say and that’s how Foxy I think he is!

don't mess with the best!

O. M. Geno.

- Posted in Dammit Geno

There are five lanes of traffic and a trolley track between my office and this newspaper rack.  I said “No way!” out loud to the whole sidewalk, then almost got hit by a bus taking this photo.  Most of these ads are a stretch (Jenna Elfman?), as is this one unless you’re a Pens fan.  But I cheer!

Just another day at the office.

Malkin is the, um… unobvious?… choice for an ad campaign, but that’s what makes it so fun.  He’s an All-Star.  He’s a big deal.  Most people seeing these don’t know Crosby either so share the love.  Any mainstream ad campaign starring an NHL player is good with me.  And the TV spot is just priceless:

We love our office Flip Cam, though no one does stick handling drills.  It’s more zombie flash mobs and superhero costume parties around here.

To Concuss Or Not To Concuss?

- Posted in Newsies

Did Slewfoot Sid get his bell rung in the WC from Steckel or did he get it the next night during SCOREFEST 2011? That is the TOPIC THUNDER-GATE TODAY! Either way, the kid is down and out and snuggling with the Flower for a week and the Penguins have a big PR problem on their hands. If they KNEW Sid had a GPS problem and couldn’t locate the puck and played him anyway against the Lightning, that’s a big NO-NO. Who would take their mint vintage Barbie out of the box and use it when they don’t need to? It wasn’t a play-off game! But the Pens are sticking to their story that he was fine, domo arigato, Mr. Roboto!

You make the call… either way, Sid, you gotta toughen up kid, this is the NHL and dudes are gonna hit you. XXOO

PS: We don't like you.

- Posted in Hall of Shame, Newsies

Dawn is up in arms that I didn’t mention Handshake-Gate 2011, which I actually just forgot.  Glad you brought that up!  Because here is the  single HBO FAIL for this whole series. They say it happened in every other Classic, but don’t believe everything you hear on TV.

The Penguins did not line up for handshakes with the Caps.  Yes, this is exceedingly lame and petty.  It is not, however, really that surprising.  There was also no handshake after the first Winter Classic in Buffalo. The Pens won the shootout, the Sabres skated around for a minute, got bored and just left.  Since the Pens are the only team to have played in a WC before and it wasn’t done then, who knows?  Does something that happened 66% of the time constitute a “tradition?”

That said, I think it should happen.  It is totally douche-y not to do it. People argue that you don’t shake hands after other regular season games, but that’s being pedantic: this is hardly your average game. It’s just that no one seems clear on whether or not it’s actually done.  I think BB had the right reaction: Screw ’em, we won, who cares?! See it at 5:54 of this video:

The handshake is a sportsmanlike beacon in a game that detractors call too violent and thuggish.  On the biggest stage on the biggest day, the two biggest teams should be exhibiting this for the casual or potential fan.  Professor Snape takes 10 points from the Penguins for skating away.  As the captain, Crosby should be making sure this happens.  But let’s all be honest (even me), Sid does not lose well.  He’s snubbed this before and hey… they HATE the Capitals.  So why kiss them goodbye when you’d rather the door hits them in the ass on the way out?  Still, Crosby gets a time out for being bratty.  I even put them in the Hall of Shame.

Take it like a man.

Another thing I forgot is a brief moment at the end of 24/7 that shows the Caps’ Ovechkin fighting NYR’s Dubinksi (thanks to Kimmy for the correction, my video feed sucks!).  As they tumble to ice, having punched the crap out of each other, they’re both saying, “Good job, buddy.”  THAT is sportsmanship, THAT is something that non-hockey fans don’t understand and THAT is what I hope they take away from this.  However inconsequential, Crosby and the Pens not shaking hands is a childish mistake I hope they wouldn’t make again.

Leave it on the ice.

From Russia with Love but Denied The Friendly Skies!

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Newsies

The Russian WJC team was kicked off their flight home because they were too drunk! God bless-their-basically-under-aged-in-most-countries-but-Canada-hearts! We’ve all been there and done that and tomorrow I’m sure they will be wishing they hadn’t but will be remembering how much fun it was! You only live once!

“The crew of flight 1266 (BUF-ATL) opted to deny boarding to 30 passengers displaying unruly behavior to ensure the safe operation of the flight. These passengers will be rebooked on a future flight. According to police, the players were thrown off of a Delta flight scheduled to leave Buffalo-Niagara International Airport because members of the team were intoxicated. Team members were seen sitting in the baggage claim area after their flight took off. After lounging around the baggage claim area when denied boarding to the Delta flight, the source said they were last seen boarding buses for a local hotel. The team was scheduled to take a round-about trip to JFK Airport in New York through Atlanta before heading to Moscow the source added.”

They were also seen singing the following song:(BTW my cats could hear this in SEATTLE!)

24/7 – Episode 4: Classic

- Posted in Newsies

The NHL’s biggest mainstream media events of the season are over, but man were they good.  HBO’s 24/7 finale was a beauty; the Winter Classic was worth all that hype in the end.  Highlights from the last episode:

– Matt Cooke’s son in the matching suit.  That is gangsta.  And then his dad throws some muscle around in the game.

When I grow up...

– Marc-Andre Fleury taunting everyone in the shootout. He should wear a mic every single day and do running commentary.  Like one of those web channels that just shows kittens day and night. “@wyshynski: Think we just discovered what the F in MAF stands for.”

-Jordan Staal: Way to make a comeback count. Great practice at Heinz Field, great game in the WC.  Really cool to see Bylsma debating with him whether or not he could play. [Video]

Jordan pretends to be patient.

– Capitals celebrating NYE by pretending to go to sleep early.  Where was Ovi?  HBO didn’t catch him sneaking out of the hotel?  Bah!

– The locker room footage of Crosby all loopy after the unexpected hit.  After he skated off doubled-up, NBC never mentioned it again.  They didn’t have the HBO access.

– Boudreau’s SO happy at the end of the Classic, it made me happy.  For the Caps.  What is wrong with me?

Ovi starts a new trend.

I hope NBC watched HBO for camera angles and other technical tips.  The aerial shots of the Classic on NBC were nauseating and distracting – people complain that it’s hard to follow the puck on TV, then NBC makes it much worse by shooting from space.

We all learned a lot from 24/7 and we’ll miss it terribly.  Not least of all for the ridiculous moments where HBO pulled no punches and just went for the joke.  Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog captured this one: Note to Mike Green: Who wears a tan belt? (Yes, it’s a belt.  An embarrassing belt. Some HBO producer keeled over laughing.)

Goodnight, everbody.

Am I Psychic?

- Posted in Dawn Loves, I'm Always Right, Well OBVIOUSLY.

He was Foxy Friday a few weeks back but now Mike Babcock, coach of gold medal winning Canadian Olympic Team and the Detroit Red wings, can confirm Drew’s status and then some: “Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty: “He’s just been touched by God.” Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty(notes) on Mike Babcock: “I don’t know why he’s saying that.”

Well we do Drew! We do!

updated status: godlike

Epic fail, eh.

- Posted in Chuck Loves

Dear Canada,

What’s up with your World Junior Team?  Last year, you lose to the US in overtime of the Gold Medal game, when John Carlson goes all Snoop Dogg and drops it like it’s hot, totes faking out your goalie.  And then last night, you collapse like the Metrodome in a snow storm.  You give up 5 GOALS to Russia in the 3rd period (5 goals!).  That is 1 goal every 4 minutes.

What is up with that?  I thought that Canada was supposed to be the all-mighty hockey powerhouse of the world.  Canadian players pretty much dominate every NHL rosters and I’m pretty sure that all Canadian children are issued hockey skates upon birth.  Pick up the birth certificate and a shiny wee little pair of CCM Crazy Lights.

Granted these players are very young and are bound to make some mistakes but this collapse was just epic.  Kudos to the Russian players for sticking to it and not packing it in when they were down 3-0 at the beginning of the 3rd period.  This win will also give a HUGE boost to the popularity and prestige of the Russian Junior League, which started in 2009.

 

счастливый танец = happy dance

Could this loss be a sign that Canada’s hockey empire is beginning to crumble?  The sport is expanding and growing not only within the US, but also in countries all over Europe.

 

Very sad Canadian pandas.

Which countries do you think are the next to emerge on the world hockey stage?

 

Other random Tournament Notes:

Tournament organizers project the 11-day event will finish with an overall attendance figure of more than 330,000, which would make it the second-most attended junior tournament behind Ottawa, which drew 453,282 in 2009.

More than 60 percent of the tickets sold went to Canadian fans as Buffalo is a 90-minute drive from Toronto.

USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean anticipated the large Canadian turnout, and indicated future tournaments in the U.S. will be awarded to cities close to Canada. The U.S. is next set to host the World Juniors in 2018.

USA Hockey spokesman Dave Fischer said 2.8 million ounces of beer were sold before Wednesday.

My House Is Bugged Part II

- Posted in I'm Always Right, Well OBVIOUSLY.

Here is a novel idea, a post that’s not about the Caps or the Pens or about some hot, young hockey buck! I KNOW! The HORROR! But Puck Daddy had a link from a site called VIEW FROM MY SEATS by Matt Reitz that listed 30 things he was looking forward to in 2011. On it was something that Mr. Cherrie called to my attention that sent me into a fit! A fit of the YES I AM ALWAYS RIGHT and the SEE I TOLD YOU SO and the ever popular I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS ALL ALONG!

Although I am loathed to mention that I called Vancouver for the westcoast side for the Stanley cup, it doesn’t mean I heart the Cancuckled-heads. I hate them. Yes, they are the closest NHL team to me but I’d rather fly across the US and see the Caps play and pay $500 or $1000 in airfare plus hotel and god know what else – basically a small fortune – than drive 2.5 hours for gas money and change – oh but I forgot about the nazi-esque pat down at the border now – to see Vancouver play unless it’s next year when they actually play Washington.

OK – my point? Matt said and I quote PROUDLY: “Vancouver Canucks: I can’t wait for the moment that people realize Roberto Luongo isn’t quite as great as people think he is.”

the real roberto luongo

I know, this contradicts my prediction that Vancouver is the west coast team for the Stanley Cup but that would make me happy to be wrong. LA Kings Anyone?

An Epic of Epicness of Epicnessnessness

- Posted in Newsies, Well OBVIOUSLY.

Stamkos vs. Crysby TONIGHT

Pick your side and step right up to snorefest, I mean, SCOREFEST 2011! It’s Slewfoot Sid verses stampeding Stamkos! One night only! Not really but it sounds good since they will be playing each other again but when you have two scoring machines like these two *ouch* my – fingers – cramping – sorry – Ovi – must- continue –  I can’t help it you are in a scoring slump dammit! – I wish I was writing about yet another impossible goal but instead I’m writing this, so shut up and let me finish.

POINTS: 56 GOALS: 31

Tonight MAX TALBOT will be cockblocking for Sid and the Flower will try not to wilt under the glorious lazerbeam accuracy that is Stamkos and the little munchkin who foiled Ovi and the Caps last night, Martin St. Louis (I only wish there was audio to say his name)! Plus, they picked up 41 year old (ancient by hockey standards)  goal tender Roloson from the NY Islanders and if his game against the Caps last night is any indication, then Stevie Yzerman is a fricken Swamie!

POINTS: 65 GOALS: 32 WHINING: PRICELESS

My prediction, it will end much like the Ovi/ Stamkos showdown last night: goose egg to goose egg and Fleury will have to make something else for Sid for breakfast.

So place your bets because they, choke, do have better numbers than my beloved Russian Machine, so far this year, although the year is not over. And I did call Vancouver for the West Coast half of the Stanley Cup!  So let’s hear from you all because I pick neither tonight!

UPDATE: Stamkos: goose egg  Crosby: one assist but no goal. I almost called it but I did call the SCOREFEST with the Penns slamming the Lightening 8-1! Holy Cow! Lecavalier must have been dreaming of his snugglefest with Green(everyone wants a piece!) last night and been plain worn out with some late night lovin’! And I bet Backstrom and Stamkos did a little swedish fishing and greek dancing too! Who wouldn’t?! Can you imagine how cute their kids would be? Let this be a lesson to the Lightening, “No matter how adorable the Caps are, don’t let them take you out after the game! No matter how luring Ovi’s BOOM may be!”

Stamkos also caught a case of the Greenies:

Home Ice, Open Ice

- Posted in Chuck Loves, We Love

There are a lot of things that I really love about New England.

Fall foliage, apple picking, and cider donuts.

Springtime strolls through the Public Gardens and late summer games at Fenway Park.

But perhaps my favorite thing about New England is backyard hockey rinks.

My future backyard

My favorite college professor (and former hockey writer for Sports Illustrated), the late Jack Falla, wrote a wonderful book titled “Home Ice” about his own beloved backyard rink, the Bacon Street Omni.

In his book, he writes about how his rink and the sport of hockey not only brought his neighborhood together but also how it influenced his relationship with his wife and strengthen the bonds with his children.

 

The Bacon Street Omni

If you love and appreciate the sport of hockey, you should read this book.

In watching the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, it was hard to imagine any player out on the ice not thoroughly enjoying himself – its how they grew up, after all.   On the backyard rinks and frozen ponds of New England, the Midwest, and Canada. 
Stinging wind in their faces. 
Rifling wrist shots into the snowbanks that lined the rink. 
Practicing their triple deke while their little brother plays goalie. 
Saying “5 more minutes, Mom” even though the winter sun is fading and dinner is waiting on the table.

My kid shows Little Pants how it is done.

I don’t have any children, but when I do, I want them to grow up like this.