Well…that’s that I suppose.
I could get all angry and critical at this point. I could yell and curse about our lack of energy. I could complain to the referees (the penalty on Kronwall was already ridiculous enough though). I could yell at Huet for a ridiculous game four. I could shout about the stupid, pointless penalties we took. I could criticize the defense for not knocking that pesky Holmstrom out of the way. Or I could, plain and simple, scream at the entire team that we, straight up, did not show up. But, I’m not going to do any of those things. I will though commend Detroit on their skill and general dominance throughout the entire series.
But, Lord, I am hoping the Pens take it to them. So I’ll be putting on my Pittsburgh hat and jumping on the bandwagon once again this year. Who’s ready for a rematch?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
We Have Our Final Matchup
Former NHLer Peter Zezel Passes Away at 44
Peter Zezel will be remembered by most as part of the Philadelphia's "Young Turks" from the mid 1980s and a key component of the Toronto Maple Leafs appearances in the 1993 and 1994 conference finals.
Many Toronto area children will remember him as the man who helped them learn to skate or improve their hockey skills, regardless of playing level. Zezel operated successful hockey and sports camps in the Toronto suburb of Markham.
Zezel was single and had no children. He leaves behind his parents Valerie and Peter Sr, sister Neda, brother-in-law Richard, two nephews, and a niece.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Goodbye Caps
Goodbye Caps
Conference Finals
Here again at last!
If you didn't catch the handshake line last night, you missed a quite a site. Talk about emotions! Reminded me of this quote from the movie 300:
"Arcadian, I've fought countless times, yet I've never met an adversary who could offer me what we Spartans call "A Beautiful Death." I can only hope, with all the world's warriors gathered against us, there might be one down there who's up to the task."
Sid was up to the task. Conference Finals. LET'S GO PENS!
Read More......
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Phoenix - It Sure FEELS Personal
I am dismayed and appalled to find my team once more embroiled in controversy, financial and otherwise. Whatever happened to that quiet little team plugging away at gettin better in the desert?
Money happened... or is that lack of? Since the team got here back in 1996 it seems like we have been unable to find ourselves some firm footing.We've been the bastard children of the NHL since we arrived in Phoenix. It seems like pretty much the entire world has been holding its collective breath waiting for our demise. And now with the impending bankruptcy filing, everyone can't wait to express their joy and say 'I told you so, Phoenix sucks'.
It hurts. As a pretty die hard fan I can't seem to accept that this is business, not personal. It feels personal. The jabs about a lame fanbase. The snide asides about my chosen city. The overt disdain about the franchise's operation, players, history and overall game. There are a LOT of petty people in the world. I am shocked by the amount of vitriol being shovelled our way though. Hockey fans are some of the kindest and most loyal folks on the planet usually. But apparently not with regards to the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Yotes have suffered through some of the worst ownership, one of the worst arenas, one of the worst scouting teams, some of the worst personnel decisions and probably some of the most apathetic media in all the NHL. Yet we still persevere.
We are growing the sport at the local level like wildfire (a model that has made Dallas a very successful group). We are giving youth a prominent chance (a model that has paid off handsomely for Chicago). We have built an arena that is as state of the art as any in the league. We have award winning marketing. We have upgraded our prospect pool to the point of envy. We have maintained an average attendance of more than 14,000 + per game (although I admit that we do need to raise our prices a bit so that these numbers do more for our bottom line contribution to the league). What more can we do to get a little respect?
Win? You say that like we haven't been building towards that very thing over the last 4 years. It would be a damn shame if all that hard work culminates into success somewhere else although.I'm pretty sure those same mean spirited people would point to the success and say 'see! told you it was all Phoenix's fault'. This makes me sad to contemplate.
I just want to say thank you to those kind souls (many of them here at HLOG) who have sent caring and supportive thoughts our way. Many of you have even signed up to help us save the team. Special thanks to the Predator fans who have gone through this agony most recently and are amongst my brightest moments in this ugly battle.
I should do more writing on this whole battle for HLOG but right now most of my wordsmithing is going towards trying to get information out to my fanbase and rallying the troops to fight this move to the hopefully, triumphant end. I will try to get an entry or two up in the coming weeks as the bankruptcy filing hearing and Save the Coyotes rally get closer to fruition.
I hope you will all keep us in your hearts as we battle, we can use all the friends we can get.
PS if anyone has been on the planning end of a rally, I could suuure use advice/suggestions etc.
Sunday Seven
As you may have noticed, there hasn't been a Friday Five in a while. I've been crazy busy. Sorry about that, school ate my soul. Unfortunately this summer I will not have internet access for the most part of the summer, so if someone wants to take over, have at it! I'll post my final one today.
1.) Who do you want to win the Cup?
2.) What are you most looking forward to this summer?
3.) Do you have any sweet scars? Did you make up an awesome story to go with them?
4,) What is the best kind of breakfast cereal?
5.) Do you like camping?
6.) What NHL player age 25 and under would you like to kidnap?
7.) What is your favorite chick flick?
Friday, May 01, 2009
Do you love hockey?
Got this from some of my hockey ladies, Wrap and Dani, and since I'm already booooorrrrreeeedddd with the offseason, I figured I'd cut and paste questions and answer them--yay! Answers include AMS and NHL bits.
(x-posted to I Mean, We Got Guys...)
1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
AMS and Carolina hurricanes
2) What's your least favorite team?
Chiefs, 'Tips, Detroit Red Wings
3) Who's your favorite player?
Eric Staal, Tomas Kaberle, and this (past?) season, Mitch Fadden
4) Who's your least favorite player?
Mitch Wahl, Dustin Tokarski (sorry Wrap), Boogaards, Brooks Orpik (broke Erik Cole's neck)
5) Favorite American team?
umm, the Americans. Carolina Hurricanes.
6) Favorite Canadian team?
Maple Leafs, umm, Kelowna Rockets except this (past?) years' playoffs...
7) Favorite International team?
CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Cam Ward, Tyler Weiman :)
9) Least favorite goalie?
Kent Simpson. Martin Brodeur (if you know me, it's often a compliment when you're my least favorite--it means you've done some damage against my team)
10) Favorite fighter?
uhhh Cam McCaffrey, Brendan Shinniman LOL, Clayton Stoner, Logan Stephenson
11) Least favorite fighter?
Alexander Semin. Did you see him bitch slap Marc Staal? epic.
12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/swea
wow, there's so many fugly ones. Kelowna's stupid cartoon dragon, umm...Nashville's old baby shit brown/yellow 3rds
14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Depends on the team. I lurve Carolina's new black 3rds. I have GOT to get me one of those.
15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
Carolina!! or Pittsburgh. I'd be ok with Chicago as well
17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Cole Butterfield. Tomas Kaberle.
18) What about a beer?
my AMS (lol, all underage--OOOOPS! good thing this isn't real), the Staal brothers (hear they get silly), Ryan Kinasewich (maybe a bad idea...) CHAD LAROSE!!!
19) How about just watch the game with?
Dion Phanuef. Or anyone else who is pretty but stupid so watching the game wouldn't involve much conversation.
20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
Don Nachbaur. Darrell Hay. Any player who's not just a pretty face, but also not someone who will just feed me tired cliches. Guess that's why the question says "in-depth" eh?
21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
Signed jerseys, signed sticks, trying to build up collection of game-worn jerseys...
22) If so, what's your favorite card?
no cards. Favorite stick is the one BFF got the whole team to sign for my b-day in 2004 :)
23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
Probably not a lot of monetary value in the shit I have collected, but a whole lot of sentimental value.
24) Do you live by any hockey players?
umm, creepy questions, I have no idea? None that I'm aware of.
26) Do you play hockey?
Nope
27) What do you wear to hockey games?
Usually jeans, AMS hoodie. or red or blue sweater over white tee. try to either wear team gear or at least a lot of red and/or blue.
28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
Must be to rink in time to see warmups. Red Rope licorice.
29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
Western Conference playoff series against Spokane 2008, b-day 2004 (see stick story), kissing Stanley Cup, Carolina's cup run 2006
30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
Verizon--"Best baby in the world!" I also liked the "is this the year?" ads? great use of great photos.
31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Mitch McColm. Clayton Stoner. Jarrett Toll. Jason Reese.
32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
Dylan Stanley.
33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
The Staals, Tomas Kaberle, Mitch Fadden (to me), Brooks Macek (it just cannot be denied people), Clayton Stoner, Benoit Pouliot.
34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
Goalies like a tight 5-hole.
35) Why do you really like hockey?
It's amazingness. I slip and fall even looking at ice, these guys play a fast-paced exciting sport while flying around on thin metal blades strapped to their feet. It's the speed, the non-stop action. It's the smell of the rink (sweat, ice, diesel, concessions). It's the way the ice reflects the light after being zambonied. It's bodies slamming each other, all for the chance to get 6 ounces of galvanzied rubber past a crazy person who willfully puts himself (or herself) in a position to be attacked by hard rubber pucks coming at crazy speeds.
