Hugs-a-Lot Bear

I'm on a bit of a Caps-win-and-cold-medicine-induced high, so I figured I'd truck on over to the HLOG and introduce you all to the coach of the Washington Capitals, Glen Hanlon.

Dubbed "Hugs" by fans here in DC for his gentle approach and guiding hand, Hanlon is possibly the best thing that could have happened to this Caps team. Hanlon coached the Portland Pirates for three years before joining the Caps behind the bench as assistant coach to Bruce "Butch" Cassidy in 2002. After a season and a quarter of Cassidy's antics he was thankfully removed and Hanlon took over as bench boss.

The poor guy was given the unenviable task of coaching Jaromir Jagr and a roster of overpaid and underachieving players before watching the team be dismantled in a pre-lockout fire sale. He was left with a skeleton of his former team and the promise of a relatively unknown Russian superstar as the league headed into a year of uncertainty.

The Caps returned from the lockout in full rebuilding mode with Hanlon at the helm for his first full year. It was a group of young, mostly unknown players and one rookie sensation, with a few veterans sprinkled throughout. They weren't supposed to accomplish anything; many even predicted their record would rival that of the inaugural Caps team - an illustrious 8-67-5 in that first season. (Yup, that's a rich hockey heritage we've got here in the District...)

But Hanlon demanded hard work from his players and stressed the importance of team chemistry, a combination that soon made the Caps a very tough club to play against. Their never-say-die attitude when a game was seemingly out of reach endeared them to fans and other teams alike, and they could often punish the team that took them lightly. Although they finished the season at the bottom of the league, many NHL insiders praised the Caps and Hanlon for what they had accomplished.

So another year, another offseason of critics saying the Caps were going nowhere - yet here we are almost halfway through the season and the scrappy Caps are right in the middle of the fight.

And it's not hard to see why - Hanlon's style of coaching has been the perfect fit as he helps guide this young team to their best start in years. He is a big part of Ovechkin's continued evolution as a complete hockey player and is a key reason why so many players are showing more confidence in their game. While the emphasis in the locker room is now on winning, Hanlon continues to teach at every opportunity - he uses the timeout more than any coach I've ever seen and has an affinity for the wipeboard that is often the target of many a good-natured joke.

Glen is usually soft-spoken with the media, praising his players individually when they deserve it and acting like a proud papa when the team comes together. When the performance is bad, it's not anger but rather disappointment on Hanlon's face. He won't single out an individual player on a bad night or call out someone for not adhering to the system. Like a parent he knows what this team is capable of and is visibly upset when they fail to live up to their potential.

He also is not afraid to stand up to anyone pushing his boys around. Hanlon became infamous following that well-known brawl against Atlanta last month, not only for using his enforcers to send a message but also for flapping his arms like a chicken at Atlanta coach Bob Hartley and having a shouting match with him in the hall after the game. His antics cost him $30,000 in fines but won him the respect of every single Caps fan.

In my opinion, Hanlon is one of the classiest coaches around because of his obvious love for this team and everyone on it. When he talks about a solid team win you can see the emotion and pride in what his young squad has accomplished, and he has a real desire to make the Capitals a contender for years to come.

Many have speculated that the performance of the Caps so far even makes Hanlon a potential candidate for Coach of the Year. While he may have to wrestle that one away from Lindy Ruff in Buffalo or Randy Carlyle in Anaheim, I think you'll find many people here in DC who would nominate him in a second.

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Puck Fittsburgh

I'll get to the weekly topic and creative challenge sometime in the next day or two, because I love love love the Caps coach and as Jordi mentioned I've already done the songlist, but first I feel a rant coming on.

Before I get to ranting I need to preface this with a warning: I know we're going for representation of all 30 teams, but if anyone from Pittsburgh ever joins this site I think they will automatically hate me...and I wouldn't blame them. I tend to lose all tact and levelheadedness when I talk about the Penguins and their fans (you'll see in a minute). Having said that, there are only about 2 or 3 Pens bloggers out there and they're all male, so we're probably okay.

So let's move on to the rant portion of our morning, shall we?

I was at the Capitals-Penguins game last night - you know, Ovechkin vs. Crosby V: The Calder Revenge - and I'm still bitter. Sure, it was an exciting game. Yes, all the young superstars played like, well, superstars. And yes, the NHL bigwigs were probably thrilled at both the way this game was played out and how it ended.

But for me it was the most painful loss of the season. How on earth do you blow a 4 goal lead? How do you dominate a game for 30 minutes and then just fall apart?

Apparently you put on a Caps sweater, that's how.

Now any loss is bad and any loss to the Penguins is worse, particularly like that. What made this game awful, though, is how Penguins fans not only invaded my arena (as usual) but how they conducted themselves once they were there. In my section there were no fewer than 3 fights and a handful of ejections - and that was in the first 15-20 minutes of the game.

I don't know how many of you have ever attended a game here in DC, but if you haven't you should know that Caps fans as a group are pretty tame and quiet. That's not to say the ones who go to other buildings can't get obnoxious, because they absolutely do, or that the fans at Verizon Center are angels, because they're not. They're just boring. Uninvolved. Unmotivated. Fights just don't happen that often here because no one cares all that much - but enter Pittsburgh and suddenly men are hurling themselves over seats to get to some obnoxious guys in yellow and black.

Pittsburgh fans are really an interesting group - you have your usual suburban families and your fratboy-looking fans, and they're usually okay. But enter: the Mullet Squad. You've seen them, right? Dirty mullets worn proud and long, ugly Penguins jerseys under gaudy yellow Steelers jackets, yellow and black jams to complete the ensemble, beers in hand, teeth missing...

Too far?

You'd think so, but I swear I saw at least 20 people who looked just like that last night. You can't make this stuff up - it's truly a sight to see. They're loud, vulgar, obnoxious and exactly what I associate with my least favorite team.

I don't know, there's not really a point to this rant - just some observations. And maybe I'm just bitter about the loss and the manner in which it occurred, and maybe I'll get over it.

Maybe...but probably not.

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Capital Showdown

Alright, ladies, it's time to get pumped up - tonight is Round 2 of the nation's capital tilt here in the US capital featuring, well, the Capitals...

Oh, yeah, and the Senators. Sorry. It just didn't sound as funny.

The Caps took game 1 of the season set in a thrilling OT victory a month ago. Great game - funny story of the night, we had two Sens fans sitting next to us who wore paper bags over their heads...during the entire game. Now that's commitment. Anyways, something tells me they will be sans bags tonight, as Ottawa comes in red hot with wins in 9 of their last 11 and 4 straight.

Okay, not bad. But the Caps are on a bit of a hot streak themselves, with wins in 3 straight and looking for their longest winning streak since January of last year...actually, maybe I shouldn't share that little tidbit - it looks even sadder here.

So anyways - Ottawa fans, Caps fans and just plain hockey fans (at least those in Canada who will be able to view this nationally-televised matchup on TSN, you lucky dogs), I'd tune in for this one, it should be a good one. I was lucky enough to be invited by my stepmother to attend with her, so if you catch a shot of two lunatics screaming and jumping around about 11 rows behind the penalty boxes, well, that's us.

May the best capital win!

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Some Laughs, A Little Carnage, A Little Mayhem

[A little cross-posting action going on - I put this on my blog but thought it might be interesting over here, too.]

We’ve seen it happen so much over the last two seasons – there’s a hit, a scuffle, a brawl ensues, line after line goes to the penalty box or the locker room, the ice is littered with gloves and other equipment...

Suddenly fans from both towns are frantically looking at their calendars, seeking out that inevitable rematch. Dates are circled in red. Tickets are purchased in bulk. The message boards virtually explode with fans talking trash about the other team, their fans, their uniforms – anything to get the bile flowing and the adrenalin pumping. We’re all thinking that obviously after such a hate-filled, intense, boxing match-like atmosphere, the next game is going to be nuts...there won’t be a player left on the ice!

...right?

It’s something that has obviously been on a lot of Caps fans’ minds lately, I’m sure. In the next two to three weeks the Capitals will visit Atlanta and Buffalo – one team that the Caps hate, one team that hates the Caps. Common sense tells us that these two games will be filled with fighting majors and followed up with possible suspensions and fines. And yet in recent years, the actual odds of such a thing happening in reality have diminished.

Take for example the faux playoff series between the Caps and the Canes that closed out last season. They met 5 times in 2 weeks – the first two games were fairly calm, but by game 3 it looked like things were starting to ramp up. There were 4 fights spread throughout the game and lots of chippy, physical play - a natural outgrowth of seeing each other far too many times in such a close period. We all expected game 4 to be a big one, we waited expectantly for fights to erupt, and then...nothing. Nada. Zilch. Game 5, more of the same. Close games, both one goal affairs, but nothing out of the ordinary on the penalty sheet.

Clearly the NHL spoke to both teams and told them to cool it or else...makes sense, since the whole reason for the tensions can be traced back to such a weird schedule created by the NHL.

To cut back on fighting, pit the same teams against each other every night for two weeks – brilliant!

But it’s not just in the ‘new’ NHL – I’m sure you all remember that infamous game between Ottawa and Philadelphia back in ’04. A record 419 penalty minutes were handed out as every line on the ice fought, including the goalies. By the end of the game, there were maybe 4 or 5 players on each bench. Everyone was certain that the next game would be the same way, but alas, it was not to be. Maybe it was because there was a month in between games, maybe the NHL stepped in there, too...I don’t know.

It just makes me wonder if the animosity that seems to carry over from game to game isn’t felt more strongly in the stands than it is in the locker rooms. I certainly hope not – it’s not that I want to see fighting every night, especially at the extreme level that some are predicting for these upcoming games. I just want to see a little passion, a little momentum – he hit your guy, now you go hit their guy...that’s hockey. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Until then I’ll hope for the best, so get out those red pens – December 15th, Caps visit the Thrashers. December 26th, Caps in Buffalo. To quote the Capitals' message boards...is it too much to ask for a little mayhem and carnage?

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On Being a Caps Fan - A Response

I was going to just leave a comment on Heather's earlier post but it started to be as long as what she wrote so I figured I'd just offer my response in the form of a post :)

First of all, Heather, I think it is clear that you are nothing like the very small but vocal group of Buffalo fans who are saying obnoxious things about Ovie. And let's face it, Sabres fans may be in the spotlight right now, but we all have fans like that in our own buildings - this is not a specialty of people in Buffalo, believe me. I think that your argument has a lot of merit and more importantly is written in a calm and mature manner.

So let's get to the issue at hand - the hit on Briere by one Alex Ovechkin. I'll echo Heather and say please read this whole post before assuming that I think Ovie did nothing wrong...

I originally watched the hit and thought that a game misconduct was such an overreaction by the officials that I couldn't believe it. I thought double minor, maybe a major at the most for that hit. But the more I think about it and the more I read other people's opinions on the matter, the more I completely support how the situation was handled. Any hit from behind is so dangerous, whether the intent to injure is there or not, that it absolutely deserves an ejection - not taking that action just gives others carte blanche to continue to push the limits.

I'm still torn though about whether it deserved a suspension - there is a part of me that thinks suspensions should be kept for repeat offenders or in cases where the intent to injure was clearly there. That said, I would have understood if Ovie had received a one-game suspension because it was a really dangerous play. I do have to comment, though, on people who think Ovechkin got off with no suspension because of who he is - I think that's completely false. The NHL (albeit not always wise in their decisions) knows that allowing anyone to get away with something they don't deserve to get away with is a dangerous precedent.

And can I just say that the NHL definitely doesn't see Ovie as their golden boy or their poster child...give that trophy to the elegant Mr. Crosby, or as I call him Sidney Cry-Baby. (Sorry, guys, I know most of you are fans of his and I think he's an amazing player, but I have to stay true to my Penguin-hating roots...represent!)

Sorry, that was surreal. Moving on...

I'm also still torn about whether he could have stopped - I have seen the tape so many times and I've read Ovechkin's interviews. To me it looked like 2, maybe 3 seconds from the time Ovechkin leaves the Buffalo zone and the time that he hits Briere. In my opinion that doesn't give him a whole lot of time to stop. Who knows, though - I've never skated, especially in a hockey game, so I don't know how long 2 or 3 seconds can seem to a player during a game.

Still, it was definitely a stupid and careless play - the second Briere's back was turned Ovie should have been at least trying to avoid the hit, which he doesn't seem to do. I do believe that it was an accident, though, mostly because that's not the kind of player that Ovechkin is. He loves to hit guys, but he really loves to see their face when he knocks them over - you can see it, he just gets energized by laying a clean, hard hit on someone. He's never been one to board, crosscheck, elbow, any of those things.

I would like to apologize for any of my fellow Caps fans who have even remotely implied that Briere dove. That's just such an obnoxious thing to say and I'm embarassed to even be on the same side as someone who would say something like that. I'm a big fan of Briere and I know he's a classy guy. Just because he is able to return to the game after falling like that doesn't mean it was fake - he probably was shaken up a bit by the hit, he obviously was bruised and sore, but hockey players are tough and I was relieved to see him back out there.

As Heather pointed out and as I have said on my blog, there is a huge size differential between these two players...had they connected against the boards in a nice, legal hit I have no doubt that still would have been a spectacular fall, and that's not to take anything away from how strong Briere is, it's just a fact. Ovie's a big guy.

Incidentally, I thought it was a bit ridiculous that they threw both Gaustad and Mair out of the game, and I was impressed with how the Sabres responded to the hit - I would expect nothing less out of my own team.

Overall I was so proud of the way my team played before and after the hit - Buffalo is such a tough team to play and I really thought that the Caps would have trouble just staying in that one. If anyone was going to get 7 goals, I was certain it would be the Sabres - they have the kind of offensive depth and speed that I dream of and that I hope is starting to develop in the Caps organization. If the Caps were lucky enough to catch one of the best teams in the league on a slightly off night (and let's just point out that even on an "off night" they still kept the Caps on their toes) and take advantage of it, that can only be good for them.

Now...let's all hold hands and sing "Kumbaya"!

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So Much Hotness, So Little Time

Ladies, may I present the hottest team in the NHL: the Washington Capitals.

You can keep your Lundqvists and your Sourays - I'll see you and raise you one entirely hot lineup from goalies to forwards...(click on the picture below to get a better look, they're kind of small)

Clockwise from top left: At batting practice (Heward, Clark, Ovie, Pothier, Bradley, Beech & Sutherby); Ben Clymer; Ovie; Brooks Laich; Matt Bradley; Ovie and Dainius Zubrus; Men in Suits; Kris Beech; Brent Johnson & Matt Bradley; Zubie; Matt Pettinger; Olie Kolzig

Just some seriously gorgeous men who incidentally can play a damn good game of hockey from time to time - it's been increasingly enjoyable to be a Caps fan over the last two seasons, that's for sure!

Of course, the thing I find the sexiest in a man is his sense of humor (followed immediately by his eyes, lips, arms, chest, abs, etc.) and this is a Caps team that is obviously very funny. Take for example this conversation overheard by a Washington Post sports blogger:

Clymer [complaining]: My caller ID hasn't shown Sutherby all year.

Brian Sutherby [explaining]: He's not on my line any more.

Clymer: See, that's how you've changed.

Sutherby: Hey, some of us are moving up in this world.

Clymer: That's what happens when you get a letter on your shirt. [Note: Sutherby was given the 'A' at the beginning of the season.]

Laich: I don't rememer there being an 'A' in Sutherby.

Clymer: You had to think about that one, didn't you.

Or take this exchange a few weeks later regarding music:

Bryan Muir: [...] So we've got a guy like Brads who likes Oasis....

Brent Johnson: Oh, and Enrique Iglesias.

Muir: Brads, we're talking about music, come tell him your favorite song. And maybe give him a little lip sync. Put it on and give him a little lip sync.

Matt Bradley: Nick Lachey?

Johnny and Muir [in unison]: Enrique!!!

Muir: He likes one of Enrique's song. It's kind of a tradition, because we always win when he plays it, so....

Me: What's the song?

Muir: Brads, what's the name of that song?

Brads [insulted]: "Escape."

Muir [apologetically]: "Escape." Sorry buddy, I didn't know.

Hilarious.

(By the way, for more entertaining things like this I recommend just reading the Caps archive from this blog, called the DC Sports Bog...it's great for a look behind the scenes of a hockey team.)

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You Have to Start 'Em Young...

Since we've been talking about fighting both here and on people's individual sites, I thought I would toss this out there. I found this today and thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen - it's actually on a blog via another blog via yet another blog, but I'm going to help out my fellow Caps blogger and link to his site (I'm such a homer): http://khfanclub.blogspot.com/2006/11/hockey-fight.html

Seriously, watch it all the way through. I've been sitting here at work trying not to laugh.

Who says all fighting is bad?

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Thanksgiving Eve Thrashing

If you follow hockey at all I'm sure you've heard what unfolded at the end of the Caps-Thrashers game last night. If not, then let's put it this way...all hell broke loose.

It's been really interesting seeing more and more information about the incidents during and after the game start to trickle out into the media. There are things you should never hear about - players grabbing another player's face mask, etc. - and things you wish you had seen - Caps Coach Hanlon flapping his arms like a chicken at Atlanta's Coach Hartley.

It's definitely the first time in a long time that I've seen anything like it happen here in DC. The last one I can remember was years ago against the Bruins, which included the ever-popular goalie "fight" (although the goalies were friends and weren't really fighting, but still fun). The Caps, while a tough team with a good work ethic, are not really known for their full out fights. The well-placed hit, sure; the occasional retaliatory roughing or cross-checking, absolutely. But coming into last night's game they were last in the league with only 3 fighting majors.

They surpassed that last night, as both teams combined for 105 penalty minutes and 8 game misconducts handed out in the last two minutes. Not a record by any stretch, but pretty impressive. As a result, the NHL has handed down suspensions to two Capitals and one Thrasher, as well as fines to both coaches.

Throughout the Caps blogosphere, reactions to the extended boxing matches have been mixed. I personally enjoy the occasional fight - it's not something I need to see every game and last night was definitely overkill, but it's an interesting phenomenon. Regardless of what Caps' bloggers think of fighting, though, there seems to be an almost unanimous sentiment that what happened needed to happen, if only to send a message.

So I put this question out there to all of you ladies - no need to create a weekly topic (unless you want to); you can just post a comment or e-mail me: what do you think is the role of fighting in the 'new' NHL? Do you think fighting should be banned or do you like the occasional knockdown, drag out fight between two warriors on skates? What do you think of the NHL's ruling, both on the participants from last night and in general (i.e. suspensions for the instigator penalty, fines for the coaches, etc.)?

I may follow HockeyGirl's lead and create a superpost on my blog with the results...let me know what you think!

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All I Want for Christmas is My 2 Front Teeth...

Introduce us to your team captain.

Let me first preface this by saying that in Washington, there is no question who the captain has been for the last 10 years - and he's not the guy with the 'C' on his chest. Olie "the Goalie" Kolzig is the longest-tenured player in franchise history, having been in the Caps system for 17 years and making it clear that he wants to finish his career in DC. He's always outspoken in the media but is tactful and direct, and very funny. He's known to be vocal both in the lockerroom and on the ice, and has broken quite a few sticks in his day.

When the captaincy was left vacant in the offseason, players were asked who should fill the role - without missing a beat, every single one of them (including the guy who would eventually wear the 'C'...I'll talk about him in a minute, I promise) said that it didn't matter because Olie was the true leader of the team. That alone speaks volumes...this is truly Olie's team.

Now, having said that, I have to say that this in no way takes away from the work of the current captain, Chris Clark. Those of you from Calgary probably remember him, and anyone who has been following DC-area sports over the last week (come on, you know you have the Washington Post bookmarked...) has heard of him. The recent media flurry wasn't for his stellar play on the ice, although it has been great, or for any antics off the ice, because there are none. No, it's simply because he blocked a shot.

With his mouth.

And stayed on the ice despite losing two teeth and fracturing his palate.

Ew.

Said Olie Kolzig after the game, "I've never seen anyone get hurt like that...[i]t was gory. To take a puck in the mouth like that is one thing. But to finish his shift, work his butt off to get the puck out of the zone, that's the reason he's our captain." Coach Hanlon said it was likely the most courageous thing he'd seen in hockey.

Clark's reason behind finishing his shift? "There was no sense in laying on the ice...[l]aying on the ice wouldn't have made me feel any better. That's never been my way to do it." He underwent intensive oral surgery the day after the game, which I won't describe here, then was upset when he wasn't cleared to play the next day.

But that's nothing new - Clark has been one of the tougher players on the ice and the most modest player off the ice since he arrived here last season. He has become a true leader of this young team and is a key part of the success of the Caps top line, which also contains Dainius Zubrus and Alex Ovechkin. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Caps have lost the last two without him in the lineup.

There was talk in the offseason that the new captain would simply be a placeholder for Ovechkin, someone to keep it warm until Ovie was ready. Don't get me wrong, Ovie will get the 'C' eventually, but Clark is so much more than just a 'C'-warmer. What Clark brings to the ice every night is a work ethic, an energy and an attitude that sets an example for everyone else in a Caps sweater.

He is truly one of the most underrated players in the league and one of my favorites.

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All-Star Shakedown

It's All-Star time, ladies! Voting is supposed to open today, although I haven't seen it anywhere. Anyways...while I think the NHL did a good job this year of including some people that should be in but may usually be overlooked, there were, as always, deserving players who missed the cut.

Here are my picks for this year's oversights:

- Vyacheslav Kozlov – Believe me, no one hates the fact that three Atlanta players are leading the NHL in scoring more than I do. But how do you include two of them on the ballot and not the third? Kozlov not only has the same number of points (26) as Kovalchuk, but he also is +6, showing that he is a more complete and defensively responsible player. Incidentally, Hossa and Kovalchuk are +2 and 0 respectively...

- Michael Komisarek – He may only have 4 points, but I think we sometimes forget that defensemen are supposed to be, well...defensemen! That means they defend the goalie instead of rushing up ice for the glory. Komisarek is a young talent for Montreal and is +8 on the season. And if you need those shiny offensive numbers, he’s leading the league with 2 shorthanded goals – not bad for a kid.

- Vesa Toskala – I've said it before, but I'll repeat myself - Toskala was really robbed this year. He’s got great numbers and has continued his solid play in net from last season. How he was missed in favor of ‘Bulin is beyond me.

- Dainius Zubrus – Okay, I may be a little biased here, but come on – why is no one taking notice of what this guy is doing? I guess it’s because he has a linemate who’s kind of famous, but still...Zubie has been really amazing this season, netting 11 goals on only 36 shots, winning over 50% of his faceoffs and taking care of his defensive responsibility.

I'll put this up as a potential discussion topic - who do you think was left off the ballot that should be there and why? Feel free to spread those biased wings and pick every player on your team. It's never stopped me...

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Are Eagles Democrats or Republicans?

Introduce us to your team's mascot. Do you love or hate it?

Back when the Caps came to town in 1974, everything about the new team was patriotic. The colors were red, white and blue, the parking lot at the arena was divided into monuments, and of course the mascot was a slightly goofy looking eagle named Winger. (Who knew that eagles came in red, white and blue??)
The kitschiness of the '70s soon wore off and when the Caps moved into new digs in the heart of DC, they unveiled a new look and a new mascot - and so on November 17, 1995, a giant egg hatched at center ice...

...and thus was born Slapshot the Eagle.

Slicker and with more attitude than his predecessor, Slapshot soon developed a penchant for soaring down out of the rafters and trying to eat the heads of opposing fans in the stands. Of late he has become renowned for his own brand of daredevil mayhem, starring in a series of 'Slapjack' clips that are featured during TV timeouts.

Like 'Jackass'...get it? So clever.

Slapshot is also the reigning DC champion of the all-bird mascot tournament, held last year between the Baltimore Orioles' Bird, Screech the Nationals eagle, and American University's Clawed. Not that it was ever really a fair fight - he's one bad dude, our Slapshot (plus have you seen Screech? Never met a donut he didn't like, I'm sure...)

I don't really consider myself a fan of Slapshot, but it's nothing personal - I just have a fear and distrust of people dressing up in big costumes...mascots, clowns, the characters at a theme park. All of them give me the creeps.

Plus I hate birds.

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Me and My Magic TV

Share your earliest hockey memory and why you stuck with the boys. I mean, game.

Honestly, I'm not sure I could pick out just one memory - it's more of a random grouping of memories across the board. A Wal-Mart of nostalgia, if you will.

I remember being very small and very innocent, sitting next to my father in my little Caps t-shirt and watching in awe as these huge men ran into each other on ice right in front of me. I remember a woman a few rows behind us who used to bang a cowbell whenever the Caps scored. I remember waving the white pom-pom during a playoff game and bringing it home afterwards, placing it lovingly alongside the other 5 or 6 I had accumulated that all looked the same but were all treasured possessions. I remember falling asleep in the car during the long ride home from a game as my dad listened to the postgame wrap-up on the radio. I have a very vivid memory of a growth chart with a lifesize picture of Scott Stevens on it, and I remember thinking he was the biggest man I had ever seen. (He is a big guy, but to be fair I couldn't have been more than 7 years old so my frame of reference was a little skewed.)

As I got older, I learned more about the game and grew to love it even more. I memorized the names and numbers of the players, developed a hatred of other teams, and kept the firm belief that the Caps would never actually lose a game that I watched on TV. I also found a connection with my dad in hockey - it was and still remains something that we can talk about when everyone else in the family is sick of us. When I was younger he would patiently explain what icing and offsides were over and over again, even though he knew I would ask again the next game. Now he'll sit and tell me stories about watching Bobby Orr play and suffering through those infamous first seasons of DC hockey, and he can't resist picking on me over my love of the Canadiens.

I think I stuck with hockey partly because it was so ingrained in me (and partly because the players are so darn cute), but also because I have yet to find another sport quite like it. Baseball, football, basketball - no other sport in my mind has the speed, the sheer skill level that makes hockey so thrilling. I turn into a kid again whenever I go to a game, and I bounce around impatiently until the puck mercifully drops for the opening faceoff. My walls are still decorated with pictures of my favorite players, although I've upgraded from the free giveaway posters to actual framed and signed photographs.

And 24 years later, despite repeatedly seeing evidence to the contrary, I still turn on the TV knowing the Caps can't lose while I'm watching.

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Yes, There's Hockey in the South...

I am so proud to be the very first representative of the Southeast Division on the hlog...that's right, I said proud and I'm sticking to it. I live in an area where hockey is an afterthought, so I'm glad to find a community of people who love the greatest sport in the world. I can be found ranting about my favorite guys almost daily at A View from the Cheap Seats, my own personal outlet in a world gone mad.

1. Where are you from? What do you do?
I was born and raised in the land of excitement that is Northern Virginia, where the Redskins are kings and hockey is that weird sport played in eskimo country. I spent 4 years in Montreal for school and developed a serious love of all things Canadian, than returned to my birthplace. After a year of commuting into the city for work and more importantly for hockey games, I finally moved into the District and have been there ever since. I work for an association management company (it's not as exciting as it sounds) and my priorities are clear - for example, I am a ten minute walk from the arena and a half-hour bus ride from work. Makes perfect sense to me.

2. What's your favorite team? Why?
My favorite team is, obviously, the Washington Capitals. Don't feel sorry for me, it's actually very entertaining. I have been going to games since I was a baby and have always been a fan, and I've learned that if you stick with them long enough they make it worth your while. For anyone who has only caught glimpses of our little Ovechkin over the last year, trust me - it's a nonstop thrill ride to watch him play every night and I look forward to many more years with him in a Caps uniform.

3. Your least favorite team? Why?
There really are so many, but I'll have to go with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Old rivalries are hard to get over, and that one has really stuck with me. I'm still convinced that the whole Jagr thing was a conspiracy by Pittsburghians to bring down the Caps.

4. Your favorite player of all time & now?
My favorite player of all time is Scott Stevens, with Olie Kolzig a close second. Both players came into the organization during my formative years and are really two of the first players I noticed growing up. My favorite player now is Ben Clymer - I just love the way he plays with such grit...plus he's really cute.

5. If you had to punch one hockey player or member of the NHL organization, who and why?
Jaromir Jagr.

I don't think I need to explain.

6. What you'll be looking forward in this group blog.
I love the fact that female hockey fans are coming together to show that not all sports fans are male. While there are a number of blogs that only discuss Caps hockey in the DC area, I'm pretty sure I'm the only female. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my insanity!

7. What you don't like in general?
Players that dive, George W. Bush, drunk Pens/Flyers/Rangers fans, brussel sprouts, that stupid new penalty for shooting the puck over the glass (unless it's in the Caps favor, then yay for the new rules), car alarms, the Predators' third jersey, and the word 'bling'.

8. What role do female fans play in keeping the game alive?
We show our friends some pictures of the hot players to lure them to games and they end up loving every minute. Come on, you know you've done it.

9. What role do female fans play in picking heroes for the community?
I think that men tend to follow the numbers while women follow the player. We know how active they are in the community, what their family is like, and whether they have a presence that makes people take notice. The players that come across as a good guy on and off the ice will earn our respect, and men will simply follow our lead (as usual...)

10. Hockey just isn't the same without the Patrick Division.

11. If you were on a deserted island, which player would you pick to stay with you?
Ovechkin - just for the sheer entertainment value. Plus he's superman, so he'd probably figure out a way to get us off the island.

12. Crosby, Ovechkin or Phaneuf (hey he tried!)?
Um, no contest. Ovechkin, hands down.

13. The player you'd like to take for a grand night out/a movie/a boring event.
I'd probably take Ben Clymer for a grand night out - what can I say, the boy looks good in a suit. For a movie I'd probably go with Dainius Zubrus...he seems like the most cerebral of my boys, so we'd be able to discuss the movie after seeing it. I'd bring the whole Caps team to a boring event - they seem like a fun group, the night would probably get more interesting.

14. If you could make your own team, regardless of whatever players, what would it be called and where will it be/how would it be like?
I'd keep the team in DC but I'd name them the Washington Monuments (sorry, that's dirty). Then I would remove all Redskins and Wizards fans from the city limits. Actually, I'd just remove those teams from the city limits, even better.

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