Epicness ensues.
First from last Saturday Dec. 11 featuring the Leafs & Habs:
From tonight's Hockey Night in Canada, featuring Don Cherry:
Great idea by CBC to get DJ Steve Porter on board. These are awesome and according to Ron MacLean saying Porter will be doing five there should be three more to come.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Gotta get right back to where we started from
They say you never forget your first love and in terms of hockey for me that's definitely true. Though I did start watching hockey with Hockey Night in Canada there is one place that will always for me definitively be the birthplace of my hockey fandom and that place is with the Silvertips.
I didn't become a hockey fan the traditional way and if you read my first ever post on this blog you know that.
If you don't want to read that lengthy tale, I'll give you a short recap.
My first exposure to hockey was at a WHL game when I was about 6. It was between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Moose Jaw Warriors and it was a fight fest. Needless to say I hated hockey walking out of the game, I didn't understand all the fighting at my age.
Fast forward a couple of years and by some stroke of luck our TV had CBC which meant that I could watch Hockey Night in Canada. For a short while, my family would sit around and watch the Canucks play. We even went up to Vancouver for a game, back when the exchange rate wasn't crap. So yes, I was a Canucks fan for a bit. Yes, I feel shame for that people. I was young and impressionable!
Jump to 03-04, the WHL expanded and the Silvertips were born. After attending a playoff series clinching game over the Vancouver Giants to send the Tips to the WHL Western Conference finals in their inaugural season, I was full on hooked to hockey.
From that point, I began my quest to become an intelligent hockey fan. Even if I was the only hockey fan in my family. Really I learned the game from watching the seats of the EEC before and through the NHL lockout. Then when the NHL came back (after the word came out the lockout was ending on my birthday) I was a Penguins fan and then three years ago I became Blackhawks fan. And no, I don't plan on changing my fandom anymore even with my soft spots for the Oilers and Kings.
While I have been a fan of three different NHL teams in my team has a hockey fan, there has always been one team I have always cheered for and that is the Silvertips.
Thinking about walking into Comcast Arena, which I will always call the EEC, for the first time this season makes me giddy excited. Whenever I walk into the EEC, it's similar to coming home, where even after being gone for a long period of time, everything is still familiar and comforting. Maybe for you it's your hometown rink, the first rink you played at or where you watched your first hockey game. Tonight I'll be lucky enough to see my Tips take on my adopted team the Chiefs.
I know that everyone has their own story to share with stories from different rinks but the EEC will always hold a number of mine. It was the place where I left with my ears ringing from the train goal horn after the Tips knocked out the Giants to advance to their first ever Western Conference finals. The place I saw my first ever favorite hockey player, Zach Hamill pull the puck & his stick between his legs and score in the shoot out and another time come down on a breakaway and score right in front the goal my mom and I were sitting behind after my mom had told me he wasn't playing very well. The place where at my 13th birthday party (my birthday is in July) I got my then-best friend to yell at Brandon Dubinsky, "Hey boys!" as we sat right next to the visitor's bench as the Winterhawks took on the Tips. It's also the place I watched Kyle Beach play his last game with the Tips before getting traded unexpectedly, in which he scored & fought. I was also lucky enough to see a lot of now NHL players play there like Dubinsky, Peter Mueller, Luke Schenn, Carey Price, Tyler Myers, Gilbert Brule, Jordan Eberle, Shea Weber, etc. And that's only some of my memories.
Now that I'm away at school, if I'm lucky I get to go to a couple games at the EEC. I still attend WHL games since there is a team where I go to school but it doesn't compare to going to the EEC and rooting for the home team. I know that eventually one day with my career aspirations, I'll most likely end up having to move away from the WHL and not get to catch a single game at the EEC. But for now, I'm appreciative of getting to go to a game at home. Even if it's starting to make me feel old now that the bulk of players on rosters are years younger than me whereas before they were so much older. Plus I love getting to see great young players before they get drafted.
My hockey fandom grew from the ranks of junior hockey given my lack of an NHL team nearby, which will always give the WHL a special place in my hockey loving heart. So if you're lucky enough to go to a game at your favorite rink, cherish it. Memories from the rink are priceless.
I didn't become a hockey fan the traditional way and if you read my first ever post on this blog you know that.
If you don't want to read that lengthy tale, I'll give you a short recap.
My first exposure to hockey was at a WHL game when I was about 6. It was between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Moose Jaw Warriors and it was a fight fest. Needless to say I hated hockey walking out of the game, I didn't understand all the fighting at my age.
Fast forward a couple of years and by some stroke of luck our TV had CBC which meant that I could watch Hockey Night in Canada. For a short while, my family would sit around and watch the Canucks play. We even went up to Vancouver for a game, back when the exchange rate wasn't crap. So yes, I was a Canucks fan for a bit. Yes, I feel shame for that people. I was young and impressionable!
Jump to 03-04, the WHL expanded and the Silvertips were born. After attending a playoff series clinching game over the Vancouver Giants to send the Tips to the WHL Western Conference finals in their inaugural season, I was full on hooked to hockey.
From that point, I began my quest to become an intelligent hockey fan. Even if I was the only hockey fan in my family. Really I learned the game from watching the seats of the EEC before and through the NHL lockout. Then when the NHL came back (after the word came out the lockout was ending on my birthday) I was a Penguins fan and then three years ago I became Blackhawks fan. And no, I don't plan on changing my fandom anymore even with my soft spots for the Oilers and Kings.
While I have been a fan of three different NHL teams in my team has a hockey fan, there has always been one team I have always cheered for and that is the Silvertips.
Thinking about walking into Comcast Arena, which I will always call the EEC, for the first time this season makes me giddy excited. Whenever I walk into the EEC, it's similar to coming home, where even after being gone for a long period of time, everything is still familiar and comforting. Maybe for you it's your hometown rink, the first rink you played at or where you watched your first hockey game. Tonight I'll be lucky enough to see my Tips take on my adopted team the Chiefs.
I know that everyone has their own story to share with stories from different rinks but the EEC will always hold a number of mine. It was the place where I left with my ears ringing from the train goal horn after the Tips knocked out the Giants to advance to their first ever Western Conference finals. The place I saw my first ever favorite hockey player, Zach Hamill pull the puck & his stick between his legs and score in the shoot out and another time come down on a breakaway and score right in front the goal my mom and I were sitting behind after my mom had told me he wasn't playing very well. The place where at my 13th birthday party (my birthday is in July) I got my then-best friend to yell at Brandon Dubinsky, "Hey boys!" as we sat right next to the visitor's bench as the Winterhawks took on the Tips. It's also the place I watched Kyle Beach play his last game with the Tips before getting traded unexpectedly, in which he scored & fought. I was also lucky enough to see a lot of now NHL players play there like Dubinsky, Peter Mueller, Luke Schenn, Carey Price, Tyler Myers, Gilbert Brule, Jordan Eberle, Shea Weber, etc. And that's only some of my memories.
Now that I'm away at school, if I'm lucky I get to go to a couple games at the EEC. I still attend WHL games since there is a team where I go to school but it doesn't compare to going to the EEC and rooting for the home team. I know that eventually one day with my career aspirations, I'll most likely end up having to move away from the WHL and not get to catch a single game at the EEC. But for now, I'm appreciative of getting to go to a game at home. Even if it's starting to make me feel old now that the bulk of players on rosters are years younger than me whereas before they were so much older. Plus I love getting to see great young players before they get drafted.
My hockey fandom grew from the ranks of junior hockey given my lack of an NHL team nearby, which will always give the WHL a special place in my hockey loving heart. So if you're lucky enough to go to a game at your favorite rink, cherish it. Memories from the rink are priceless.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Blind faith only gets you so far.
I'm pretty sure the only way to classify this game is by calling it a train wreck.
Matt Duchene made sure he and Stastny could do their "Bang" dance post game by potting two goals, one of which was the game winning goal. And as always he looked like a little kid scoring his first ever goal. Who am I to get mad at him for that? Plus he just took advantage of an utterly awful defensive showing by the Blackhawks.
Brent Seabrook had a nightmare of a game, maybe his worst ever, it was definitely the worst I've seen. His turnover at the end of the game directly led to Duchene's goal. Honestly thinking about it at the beginning of the year I felt confident with the Blackhawks retaining their top 4 defensemen would leave them in good position. That hasn't been the case though. I've been more fearful at times of the pairing of Keith & Seabrook than others, which is saying a lot with Cullimore playing. Both Keith & Seabrook ended the night at a -4, team worst.
This is first and foremost NOT a goalie issue. Did the defense play like crap when Turco was in? Yup. Did it get better and then fall apart again with Crawford in net? Yup.
Don't put the utter lack of defense on the goalies. Could Turco could have played better? Of course he could have but Crawford was just as helpless when left out to dry by the defense and took the loss. No goalie can perform well with no defense.
If anything the defense might just feel better with the fact that Crawford will be able to cover their failings better than Turco. But the bottom line is the team's defensive game is what is losing games. Giving up goals seconds after scoring and not being able to clear the zone is on the five guys in front of the goalie.
What does the team need to fix this? Is it a trade? Maybe but something has to give. This might be the Blackhawks of 2010-2011 but 82 games is a long season. Maybe this game will be the wake up call.
In any case there's no way anyone in that locker room is satisfied with the way things have gone and it's clear from their post-game quotes.
"I feel bad for Marty. I think every one of us owes him an apology." - Brian Campbell on Marty Turco (I would have to agree with this statement) (source)
"Devastating, embarrassing, humiliating. I don't know what word you want to use, but it's not a good one." - Jonathan Toews (source)
Here's to a fired up squad wanting revenge on Wednesday or at least a better defensive effort.
Matt Duchene made sure he and Stastny could do their "Bang" dance post game by potting two goals, one of which was the game winning goal. And as always he looked like a little kid scoring his first ever goal. Who am I to get mad at him for that? Plus he just took advantage of an utterly awful defensive showing by the Blackhawks.
Brent Seabrook had a nightmare of a game, maybe his worst ever, it was definitely the worst I've seen. His turnover at the end of the game directly led to Duchene's goal. Honestly thinking about it at the beginning of the year I felt confident with the Blackhawks retaining their top 4 defensemen would leave them in good position. That hasn't been the case though. I've been more fearful at times of the pairing of Keith & Seabrook than others, which is saying a lot with Cullimore playing. Both Keith & Seabrook ended the night at a -4, team worst.
This is first and foremost NOT a goalie issue. Did the defense play like crap when Turco was in? Yup. Did it get better and then fall apart again with Crawford in net? Yup.
Don't put the utter lack of defense on the goalies. Could Turco could have played better? Of course he could have but Crawford was just as helpless when left out to dry by the defense and took the loss. No goalie can perform well with no defense.
If anything the defense might just feel better with the fact that Crawford will be able to cover their failings better than Turco. But the bottom line is the team's defensive game is what is losing games. Giving up goals seconds after scoring and not being able to clear the zone is on the five guys in front of the goalie.
What does the team need to fix this? Is it a trade? Maybe but something has to give. This might be the Blackhawks of 2010-2011 but 82 games is a long season. Maybe this game will be the wake up call.
In any case there's no way anyone in that locker room is satisfied with the way things have gone and it's clear from their post-game quotes.
"I feel bad for Marty. I think every one of us owes him an apology." - Brian Campbell on Marty Turco (I would have to agree with this statement) (source)
"Devastating, embarrassing, humiliating. I don't know what word you want to use, but it's not a good one." - Jonathan Toews (source)
Here's to a fired up squad wanting revenge on Wednesday or at least a better defensive effort.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
I swear it was a joke!
I have been severely neglecting this blog because school has literally take over my life, but with recent events, I feel need to address something.
Before dead week made it's attempt on my life though, there was this joke that Alex, you may know her as @Down2Puck, made one night not too long ago.
Before dead week made it's attempt on my life though, there was this joke that Alex, you may know her as @Down2Puck, made one night not too long ago.
Well eventually the idea grew and Alex went from making a joke to wanting to actually go through with this. My small contribution was telling her that she should aim for $1,000, donate the proceeds to charity and saying I would help with the PR for it. Along the way the #Down2PuckBunny hash tag and campaign was born.
From that point on we decided we should try and make the idea a reality. Alex even went so far as to set the date for the 2/18 Blackhawks/Blue Jackets game. We started making steps, such as Alex making a logo & me renaming the campaign Bunny for a Cause, along with planning how we would pull it off, and were ready to utilize our winter break to getting the word out.
However Alex parents found out about the idea today and shot it down with a threat financial abandonment. Given that we're both college students who's parents are paying for our education, Down2PuckBunny seemed dead in the water.
Lo and behold though @motherpucker caught wind of the idea and wrote about it. Suddenly our joke of an idea took off and a whole lot more people knew about it.
Now we have people offering to do it in Alex's place, even those that aren't Blackhawks fans.
The power of Twitter amazes me every single day.
So can Bunny for a Cause still happen? I hope so! If someone would like to join the cause and go through with it, we will be 100% supportive in any way we can.
Alex and I are even working on an alternate collaboration to still raise some money through charity without having to sport outfits.
I guess this just goes to show how truly awesome the hockey community is and how a random idea by two college sophomores can turn into a beautiful thing.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Three is a magic number
The Blackhawks returned to the UC and kept the winning streak going beating the TJ Oshie-less St. Louis Blues 7-5.
With a 5-1 lead at one point, the Hawks dominated, let up and then had to hold on as the Blues tried to fight their way back into the game.
With Marian Hossa out the Blackhawks once again called up Jeremy Morin from Rockford. Morin was impressive in his 11:38 TOI. He earned his first ever NHL point, an assist, on a crazy bounce off the boards that ended up perfectly placed in front of Troy Brouwer for a tap in on an empty net as Conklin was out waiting for the puck behind the night. He also got into a fight with Chris Porter which resulted in him needing 4 stitches. He ended the night as a +2, one of just 5 plus Blackhawks players. Link to Morin's post game interview here.
I'm curious as to what is going to happen with Morin. He has 10 games until his contract kicks in and has played 3 games already. I wonder if the Blackhawks will let that happen. Given the way Morin played tonight, if he can continues to play that way it'd be a mystery if he's sent back to Rockford.
Personally, I think Morin should stay up with the big club. He was out there making things happen and bringing energy which the Blackhawks definitely need on a consistent basis.
Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane both had a solid nights as well. Both putting up 3 points of the 2 goal and 1 assist variety with both Toews' goals coming on the power play.
Tomas Kopecky, who hasn't been the most popular Hawk with fans put up a solid night with 1 goal, 3 assists and a plus 3 in 16:51 TOI. Impressive considering he's not playing sidekick to Hossa.
Patrick Sharp, however just keeps chugging away on his All-Star game ballot spurned, handsome scoring train. He had a goal and assist tonight and has now scored a goal in 5 straight games. With 16 goals in 26 games he ranks 4th in the league and is ranked 6th in the league in points with 29.
Sometimes you just can't win: Nick Boynton isn't having such a great week.
He was involved in an accident during Blackhawks practice Monday in which he collided with Marian Hossa. The collision resulted in Hossa landing on IR for 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury.
Then as a result of his play tonight he ended up with his own hashtag, #BlameBoynton. Yikes.
And because a certain some requested it a picture of Jack Skille.
I'm going to apologize in advance if blog posts seem sporadic, it's getting to the always busy end of the semester and school is my number one priority.
Here's to making it four on Friday! Plus a win is always better over the Canucks ;)
With a 5-1 lead at one point, the Hawks dominated, let up and then had to hold on as the Blues tried to fight their way back into the game.
With Marian Hossa out the Blackhawks once again called up Jeremy Morin from Rockford. Morin was impressive in his 11:38 TOI. He earned his first ever NHL point, an assist, on a crazy bounce off the boards that ended up perfectly placed in front of Troy Brouwer for a tap in on an empty net as Conklin was out waiting for the puck behind the night. He also got into a fight with Chris Porter which resulted in him needing 4 stitches. He ended the night as a +2, one of just 5 plus Blackhawks players. Link to Morin's post game interview here.
(picture from the Blackhawks' Facebook page)
I'm curious as to what is going to happen with Morin. He has 10 games until his contract kicks in and has played 3 games already. I wonder if the Blackhawks will let that happen. Given the way Morin played tonight, if he can continues to play that way it'd be a mystery if he's sent back to Rockford.
Personally, I think Morin should stay up with the big club. He was out there making things happen and bringing energy which the Blackhawks definitely need on a consistent basis.
Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane both had a solid nights as well. Both putting up 3 points of the 2 goal and 1 assist variety with both Toews' goals coming on the power play.
Tomas Kopecky, who hasn't been the most popular Hawk with fans put up a solid night with 1 goal, 3 assists and a plus 3 in 16:51 TOI. Impressive considering he's not playing sidekick to Hossa.
Patrick Sharp, however just keeps chugging away on his All-Star game ballot spurned, handsome scoring train. He had a goal and assist tonight and has now scored a goal in 5 straight games. With 16 goals in 26 games he ranks 4th in the league and is ranked 6th in the league in points with 29.
Sometimes you just can't win: Nick Boynton isn't having such a great week.
He was involved in an accident during Blackhawks practice Monday in which he collided with Marian Hossa. The collision resulted in Hossa landing on IR for 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury.
Then as a result of his play tonight he ended up with his own hashtag, #BlameBoynton. Yikes.
And because a certain some requested it a picture of Jack Skille.
Hope Crash lights the lamp against the Canucks Friday! (picture again from the Blackhawks' Facebook page)
I'm going to apologize in advance if blog posts seem sporadic, it's getting to the always busy end of the semester and school is my number one priority.
Here's to making it four on Friday! Plus a win is always better over the Canucks ;)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Not for the faint of heart
Been disconnected for a few days & missed a few Hawks games spending Thanksgiving with family. But I'm back now!
Blackhawks finished the Circus Trip on a good note with a 2-1 win over the LA Kings.
Let me just say, this has been one of the most solid efforts that I've seen from the Hawks all year. There were no huge defensive break downs or giving up of goals within 30 seconds after scoring.
Patrick Sharp finished a 2 on 1 play on a pass from Patrick Kane for the first goal (Patrick power!). And Kaner had the other goal deflect in off his torso or glove, I'm not entirely sure, for the 2nd goal.
Corey Crawford played absolutely solid in net making some HUGE saves at key times. His only goal against was on a 5 on 3 kill. During which Cullimore picked up his first penalty of the season. (Shocking right?)
As far as a goaltending controversy, Crawford did end up getting 3 of the 4 wins on the Circus Trip. Really, I don't like these controversies but I do have to say, go with the hot hand and right now Crawford has it.
Other highlights? Viktor Stalberg was getting roughed up by the Kings and then finally took exception a questionably timed hit by the captain, Dustin Brown.
Who stood up for his teammate? None other than the Hawks captain himself, Jonathan Toews. He ended up receiving a double minor for roughing out of the fray. I personally was thinking WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU CAN'T FIGHT TAZER but it's nice to see the boys stick up for one another.. while Patrick Kane stood watching it all go down. But we all know it's better that way.
And the moment you've all been waiting for, John Scott's fight with victim Kevin Westgarth. (If you don't like blood don't watch)
Scott describes his fighting style: "I have long arms, kind of like a monkey-armed baboon swinging away." (source)
Poor choice Westgarth. As Pat Foley said he was thunderstruck!
This game really reminded me of the Blackhawks of before, a good 60 minutes, one in which I was stressed to watch but we pulled it out. I hope these Blackhawks stick around. The one thing I really want to see from this team is consistency.
Overall, a 4-2 record on the Circus Trip is something I will take especially when it ends on a 2 game winning streak. (That is music to my ears) Let's hope it keeps going as the Hawks return to the UC. Every win is definitely needed with the Hawks leading the NHL in games played. All the Hawks can control is how many points they pick up.
Keep an eye out later this week for recaps of what's been going on with the WHL & my experience at the game in Portland plus thoughts on the Circus Trip, after I make it back to school. (Wish me luck having to go over a mountain pass & having to deal with snow)
Blackhawks finished the Circus Trip on a good note with a 2-1 win over the LA Kings.
Let me just say, this has been one of the most solid efforts that I've seen from the Hawks all year. There were no huge defensive break downs or giving up of goals within 30 seconds after scoring.
Patrick Sharp finished a 2 on 1 play on a pass from Patrick Kane for the first goal (Patrick power!). And Kaner had the other goal deflect in off his torso or glove, I'm not entirely sure, for the 2nd goal.
Corey Crawford played absolutely solid in net making some HUGE saves at key times. His only goal against was on a 5 on 3 kill. During which Cullimore picked up his first penalty of the season. (Shocking right?)
As far as a goaltending controversy, Crawford did end up getting 3 of the 4 wins on the Circus Trip. Really, I don't like these controversies but I do have to say, go with the hot hand and right now Crawford has it.
Other highlights? Viktor Stalberg was getting roughed up by the Kings and then finally took exception a questionably timed hit by the captain, Dustin Brown.
Who stood up for his teammate? None other than the Hawks captain himself, Jonathan Toews. He ended up receiving a double minor for roughing out of the fray. I personally was thinking WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU CAN'T FIGHT TAZER but it's nice to see the boys stick up for one another.. while Patrick Kane stood watching it all go down. But we all know it's better that way.
And the moment you've all been waiting for, John Scott's fight with victim Kevin Westgarth. (If you don't like blood don't watch)
Scott describes his fighting style: "I have long arms, kind of like a monkey-armed baboon swinging away." (source)
Poor choice Westgarth. As Pat Foley said he was thunderstruck!
This game really reminded me of the Blackhawks of before, a good 60 minutes, one in which I was stressed to watch but we pulled it out. I hope these Blackhawks stick around. The one thing I really want to see from this team is consistency.
Overall, a 4-2 record on the Circus Trip is something I will take especially when it ends on a 2 game winning streak. (That is music to my ears) Let's hope it keeps going as the Hawks return to the UC. Every win is definitely needed with the Hawks leading the NHL in games played. All the Hawks can control is how many points they pick up.
Keep an eye out later this week for recaps of what's been going on with the WHL & my experience at the game in Portland plus thoughts on the Circus Trip, after I make it back to school. (Wish me luck having to go over a mountain pass & having to deal with snow)
