There is only one word to describe this guy: Heart. I'm sure that stupid chimp loving kid on Captain Planet was only a filler until Captain Saku took over. Unfortunately he got a deal with the Canadiens and Saku Koivu officially became some sort of Demi God to the Habs.
He's a looker too, I mean he has a sweet rugged face and he always smiles. There aren't many good looking captains after all, well that's how I feel sometimes. To me, he's like Patty Marleau. They have cute smiles and great leadership qualities. Plus they play like wolves on the ice. Saku Koivu is arguably a natural player. He works hard, scores and makes his linemates look good (Latendresse you know). Like they say, you could put a monkey or a dead corpse next to Koivu and he would look good.
Saku Koivu is not the only Koivu. He has one brother playing for Minny and they're hopefully leading a franchise of future Koivu players. And recently on the homepage, they've updated with some little shorts of "Get to know your Canadiens". His answers?
Actor who would play you in a movie: Craig Rivet
Horror movies: "I don't like horror movies, I always get scared... I'm more of a comedy guy"
Worst Training Exercise: Lifting Weights
By the way with the other players, Dandenault wants Clive Owen (now that is taste) and Samsonov wants Matt Damon (nice try). Komisarek wants Brad Pitt! Squee!
He was as well once interviewed on CBC's TV show, The Hour where he exposed his sweet charm and great smile. For a captain, he's the most charismatic of the team and he will be remembered for quite a while. No one can really match the struggles he's been through and I doubt half of them would survive to tell the tale.
The As are awarded to Sheldon Souray & Craig Rivet (who has been with the team since 92). However Souray has a slight possibility that he might not come back as he will be a Free Agent next summer and there are rumours that he's looking... westward. Begin is one of the most popular Habs on the team and would most possibly be given one when available. Other future Habs leaders could possibly be Komisarek as he is feisty and if fostered, he could be great in arguing with refs. Higgins currently is a superstar and if he later on continues his great play, he could become the sort of basic captain based on skill.
I have endlessly talked about Koivu, just check my past posts. However it seems like he doesn't get enough recognition sometimes because he just looks like "the nice guy". He struggles, he plays hard and leads an example for everyone to follow.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Oh Koivu!
Captain Save-A-Ho
Howdy world, I'm Sasky fom the grand Old Land of OZ. I"m new around this blog but I've been on and off over at 8 Hour Trek to the Rink for a little while now. I'm a Bruins fan because they hold my most loves and I'm loyal even when they annoy me but there are so many other teams I love! You're unlikely to get a You guys suck from me! Oh and I play too.
1. Where you're from, what you do - basic things.
Born and Raised in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, the BEEF Capital of Australia. Though come February, I'll be in Brisbane (8 hours south, still the same state). I've just graduated high school and next year am going to Uni to study Arts/Law. Future Prime Minister of Austraaaaaaaalia.
2. Your team and why you like them
Oh dear god. I'm a player person more than a team person because I don't consistently get to see teams (Tomorrows Fox game one of 2 this week is Phoenix V Nashville? WTF? They're then replaying it on thursday morning at 3 am). But I'd say the Bruins. Why do I like them? Two reasons and they BOTH begin with B. Bergeron. Boyes. Initially it was Bergy and RayRay but.. *waves sadly*
3. Your least favourite team and why?
Um. Honestly, I totally don't know. I'm really not a big Rangers fan, Jaromir Jagr kinda creeeps me out. Something about his smile, and the hair and. yeah. Creepy.Not a big fan of either of the Florida teams, NJ, NYI.
4. Your favourite player of all time & now?
All time - Oh gee All time is like I mean the one I adore the most is always going to be Patrice Bergeron. But the one I idolise? Definatley Steve Yzerman. That's one of the first things i got taught in hockey. STEVE YZERMAN WAS GOD. He's the one active (well .. was) NHL'er that Australian inline players knew (beside the guy who's name was on their stick).
Now - Patrice Begeron, Brad Boyes, Andrew Raycroft, Christian Ehrhoff, Joni Pitkanen, Ilya Kovalchuk & Dany Heatley (They will always be ONE package in my head), The Leafy Trio.
5. If you had to punch one hockey player or member of the NHL organisation, who and why?
Last season it would have been any member of the Bruins coaching staff but this season I would have to say.... Oooh Geez. This IS a tough one. I dunno. Chris Pronger because hating onhim is a sport? Mark Bell for taking up space and not producing? Greg Campbell for being a dick?
6. What you'll be looking forward in this group blog.
To get to hang out and write and read with a group of ladies that love hockey as much as I do, like I do. A group that appreciates all aspects of the game in the way girls do.
7. What you don't like in general?
In General? Wow that's broad. Spiders. Stupid People. Homophobes.All -phobes and -ists that are bad.
8. What role do female fans play in keeping the game alive?
Because women unlike men do a FAR better job of being obsessive and sharing their passion for this game.
9. What role do female fans play in picking heroes for the community?
We pick heroes that might be more worthy. Not just for their play but for their contribution to the community, society, for their not being a skeez-ness.
10. Hockey just isn't the same without Steve Yzerman (and/or) hockey hair.
11. If you were on a deserted island, which player would you pick to stay with you?
Patrice Bergeron
12. Crosby, Ovechkin or Phaneuf (hey he tried!)?
I kinda don't mind all three. I'll say Crosby because watching him and Bergy and even them and Brad Boyes on a line was magic.
13. The player you'd like to take for:
A grand night out - Mark Smith - Because he would definatley definatley match my sense of style. Any one who has hair like that, and wears brown pinstrips with a vest and orange tie to their team photos. Oh yeah. Or Brad Boyes. I could watch those dimples all night.
A movie - Alex Bourret Mmmm he looks like someone you could have a good time with. Or Brad Boyes / Matt Stajan Got to love those innocent boys.
A boring event - Colby Armstrong - I'm pretty sure he'd be hella entertaining. The Chasing the Dream videos and everything else shows that.
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?
My own team, eh? Hmmm. Gosh I just don't know. I have to say I love my own team. Rocky Raiders represent!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sweden: Land of Ikea, Meatballs and Muppets
And by muppets, I mean ex-Muppet Daniel Alfredsson, captain of the Ottawa Senators and often the scape goat for the wrath of disgruntled Sens' fans for playoff failures past.
Born on December 11th, 1972 in Gothenburg Sweden, Alfie was the 133rd overall draft pick in the 1994 draft. Suffice it to say, I think he was a heck of a find as he went on to win the Calder Trophy in 1995-1996. He's been captain of our little team since 1999-2000 when Alexei Ya$hin held out for a new contract. When Yashin returned, he was denied the captaincy. Which, HAHA.
He's represented Team Sweden in three winter olympics, this last year winning the gold medal with his fellow countrymen Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg. Sundin broke his stick during one of the games in Torino and Alfie let him borrow one of his. Upon returning from Torino, he instantly played better. Coincidence? I think not.Alfie has two sons with wife Brigitta: Hugo and Loui. They've been married since 2004 and split their time between Ottawa and Saro, Sweden.
He's a bit of a politician as he's served on the NHLPA board and as the president of the European Players' Committee of the NHLPA for several years now, getting re-elected once again this year.
So do people like Alfie? Yes and no. It's true, he's been the face of the Senators for awhile but many people question his captain-ing abilities as he's seen as alot more reserved than most. Add to the fact that whenever the media brings his captaincy into question, his response is to...give the media more reason to bring his captaincy into question. After a slow start this year that prompted trade rumours because of the presence of scouts from the L.A. Kings taking in a Sens' game [actually, one of them was an accountant I think], he's been playing alot more consistently and is currently third in team scoring.
My take on Alfie? I'm just glad he got rid of the muppet hair.
Frankly, I don't know what this is either:
Yikes. Read More......
Monday, November 27, 2006
Calgary's Captain
I don't know how anyone can not like Jarome Iginla. He usually has a smile that makes me smile from its genuineness. Iggy was named the #3 captain with this as his description: "The Flames went to the Stanley Cup Final in Iginla's first year. Coincidence? We think not. Iginla is the emotional leader that drove that team to the pinnacle of its abilities. He is an elite player who inspires with his play as much as his words, but he is adept at both. His likeability and honesty attract teammates to him, making him the perfect go-between that season between the players and demanding and sometimes gruff coach Darryl Sutter that year. He is already a hero in Calgary and is well on his way to establishing himself as captain material for Canada in upcoming international competitions."
I have waxed on about Iggy during our community leader topic.
This sums him up in video form fo'sho' - make him mad and he will score more times than not.
His trophy case is full of hardware as well...
* George Parsons Trophy (Memorial Cup Most Sportsmanlike Player) - 1995Oh yeeeeeeeah, he also has represented our lovely country many times:
* WHL West First All-Star Team - 1996
* Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL Most Valuable Player) - 1996
* NHL All-Rookie Team - 1997
* Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team - 1996
* Named to NHL All-Rookie Team - 1997
* Played in 3 NHL All-Star Games - 2002, 2003, 2004
* Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy - 2002, 2004
* Art Ross Trophy - 2002
* Lester B. Pearson Award - 2002
* King Clancy Memorial Trophy - 2004
- 1996 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
- 1997 World Championship (gold medal)
- 2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
- 2004 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)
- 2006 Winter Olympics
Sunday, November 26, 2006
O Captain(s), My Captain(s)!
The Buffalo Sabres are the only team in the league (I think) with co-captains. They are Danny Briere and Chris Drury. One wears the "C" one night, the other wears it the following night. (The guy who isn't wearing the "C" wears one of the "A"s.) There are a couple of exceptions to the rotation. Chris always wears the "C" when the team plays in Boston. He has friends and family there and it's where he played his college hockey (Boston University, Hobey Baker winner). Danny always wears the "C" in Ottawa and Montreal since that's the area he grew up in. I wasn't crazy about the whole co-captain thing when we first started it, but I have to admit it seems to work pretty well. A recent article about Danny and Chris referred to them as the yin and yang of Buffalo hockey and their personalities do balance each other very well.
Danny is the vocal captain. He's the one who's going to put himself out there. He wears his heart on his sleeve. You can watch him play and know exactly what he thinks about the way he and the team are playing. You can tell if he's excited, if he's angry, if he's frustrated. He's not afraid to give someone an earful whether it's a teammate, a ref (in an appropriately captain kind of way, of course), or an opponent. But he also knows when a teammate needs support and encouragement. When call-up Mike Ryan put a puck in our net a couple nights ago, Danny was the one who pulled him aside and said, "Hey, don't worry about it. Half the guys in this room have done the same thing and we're going to win the game anyway." Danny's always one of the first guys to skate in to defend a teammate and if he feels like the other guy needs a swipe or a shove, Danny's going to give it to him, even if the other guy is 5 inches taller and 40 lbs. heavier. He plays with the fire and determination of a guy who's always been told that he's too small to make it in the NHL. When things are tight, when the game is on the line, he wants the puck. He's not afraid to fail or succeed in those situations. Because he's outgoing and talkative, he's the captain who usually deals with the media and fans. It's not that Chris doesn't like us, but Danny is a natural people person. He's particularly wonderful with kids, most of whom adore him. (Maybe it's the small stature and the baby face.) He almost always has a huge grin on his face.
Chris is quiet and painfully shy. (Seriously, if you ever have a chance to see him interviewed, you must watch. He looks like he's facing a firing squad, he stares at the ground most of the time, and he will answer as quickly and succintly as he can. Maybe he'll use full sentences if he's feeling particularly chatty.) But when he talks, woo-boy, people listen. It was allegedly Chris who told management that if they were serious about putting together a winning team, they needed to get rid of Miroslav Satan because while he was talented, he was also selfish and lazy on the ice and his bad habits were rubbing off on others. It was also allegedly Chris who took aside a cocky and obnoxious Derek Roy during training camp last year and told him, "Look, kid, you haven't earned that kind of attitude yet. Shut up and prove you belong here." Satan was on the next bus out of town and Derek returned later in the season with the same passion but a new attitude. Where Danny is fiery and excitable, Chris is very even-keeled. I have no doubt he's the one who kept last year's very young, very inexperienced team (less than five post-season games combined excluding him*) calm and focused enough to come within one period of the Stanley Cup finals. He's the one with his eye on the prize. He's the one who, even in the midst of the winning streak at the beginning of the season, kept saying over and over, "It's nice to win a lot of games, it's nice to start the season with a bunch of points, it's nice to bring some excitement to Buffalo. But we could win every regular season game and it won't matter. Our goal is the Stanley Cup." Certain fans who have trouble dealing with my team's success (you know who you are) say to me, "This doesn't mean anything. The Senators started the same way last year and then crapped out in the playoffs." First of all, I know, I was watching the entire flame-out since the Senators crapped out to MY team. Second of all, the Senators got overconfident. Regardless of what they said, they came into the series with Buffalo playing like a team who clearly thought they were better than their opponent. (The drama about Hasek's injury didn't help and everyone in Buffalo was happy that particular problem wasn't ours anymore.) That won't happen in Buffalo because the second confidence turns into overconfidence and success leads to laziness, Chris will be in the lockerroom knocking heads together. He works his ass off and he expects everyone else to as well. We could be up by seven goals or down by seven goals and if you're watching Chris play, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. As ESPN's John Buccigross said in his most recent column, "He (Chris Drury) plays every game like someone kidnapped his entire family and the ransom is winning the faceoff he is about to take." Danny is more gifted offensively - the man can do beautiful, beautiful things on the ice - but Chris is very solid on both ends of the ice. He's our top face-off guy, he plays the power play and penalty kill, and when it's up to us, he's on the ice against the oppponent's first line. Danny may be the face and voice of the team, but I think Chris is its heart and its conscience.
Due to salary cap issues and Danny's ridiculous arbitration award (I'm sure he'll be worth the five million before the season is over but it would've been nice if that had been the ending point of contract negotiations and not the starting point), it's very possible that we'll lose one of our captains this off-season. But I'm not going to worry about that right now. For now I just want to enjoy how far they're going to carry us this season.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Lock Up Your Grandmothers, Look Out, A-Rod... It's Alexei Yashin!
Arguably the most maligned captain currently serving in the NHL, Alexei Yashin is the face of the New York Islanders and recipient of the second-worst contract in the history of the NHL (see: DiPietro, Rick). Turtleneck-loving Yashin has earned a diva reputation over the years, even more so than previous captain, Michael "Chiclets" Peca. And it's been somewhat warranted. Okay, before you jump on me with the "somewhat" in that statement, understand that coming off an MVP-nominated season in Ottawa in 1999, Yashin was making a decent amount less than Alexandre Daigle. Alexandre. Daigle. All I'm saying is that he deserved to ask for more money. He definitely should've sacked up and played out his contract, but he also deserved a better salary. Alexandre Daigle. Dude.
Prior to this season, Yashin could best be described as the Alex Rodriguez of Long Island. He has appeared disinterested...lazy, even. All of the potential in the world, none of the motivation, none of the clutch play. And the lack of hustle shined like a beacon against the scrappy efforts of teammates like (Saint) Jason Blake, Trent Hunter, and Shawn Bates. This led Islanders fans to speculate that Yashin couldn't handle the pressure of being a captain. In fact, once the rumors of a contract buyout were squashed, gossip stirred that new coach Ted Nolan was going to strip Yashin of he "C."
But this year, Yash has jumped out of the gate posting serious numbers and logging chunky minutes on the penalty kill, power play, and at even strength. It seems that Yashin needed more pressure to feel useful. And luckily, Nolan has recognized that and adjusted accordingly. This seems like the first season that Yashin has really taken on the mantle of Captain.
I myself am not all that high on Yashin, although I did write him an apology letter and sent him a Mrs. Fields Sampler for calling him "a Dirt Devil of character" on SportSquee. So, I will excuse myself from extolling his virtues. But Yashin is doing really well and his teammates seem to love him. And he's married (or not?) to the aged patron saint of puck bunnies and raw food enthusiast, Carol Alt, who is 13 years older than he. So he has that going for him.
But he's not going to poetically inspire his boys, like Rod Brind'Amour. There is no way he'd take a puck to the face, like Chris Clark. Or beat the snot out of someone in the name of his teammate, like Jarome Iginla. And he doesn't have the skillz of a Joe Sakic to lead by example. But Yashin is only 32, and has at least 500 years left on his contract, so there is plenty of time to prove me wrong.
But know that if he craps out this season, I'm phoning (Saint) Jason Blake and Miroslav Satan to offer my services for Captain Campaign manager.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Captain Dallas from B.C.
Take heart and the ability to be heartless.
Add experience, and the savvy to get a message across. Mix in desire, and the wherewithal to instil that same desire in others, and blend in a heaping helping of leadership.
What have you got?
A National Hockey League captain.
Whether he's got his choppers in and smiling for the camera or he's showing grit and determination on the ice with a gaping hole in his grill, Dallas Drake is quite worthy of this honor. Even though the Blues have been in the lower part of the standings last season and thus far this one, Drake always plays his hardest and tries to set an example for the rest of his team. That's what a good leader does.
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.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Snazzy Nazzy
Meet Markus Naslund, six-year Captain of the Vancouver Canucks. Born July 30, 1973, in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, #19 is married to wife Lotta and has three children, Rebecca, Isabella and Alex. He's been a Canuck for nine years and is affectionately called "Nazzy" by Vancouver fans. He's received multiple awards over the years including the Lester B. Pearson Award in the 2003-2004 season, voted by his peers as the League's most outstanding player. And his mug even graced the cover of EA Sports NHL 05...
Good friends with Todd Bertuzzi, the thug who landed the neck-breaking hit on Steve Moore, the rumours say that Naslund's allegiance with Bert created a rift in the dressing room last year. Bertuzzi was traded to the Florida Panthers in the off-season, but unfortunately getting rid of that poison hasn't transformed the team into a winner. Nazzy hasn't been the offensive powerhouse the Canucks are sorely needing this season, with only 9 points so far.
The Canucks Captain has often been playing on a line with his fellow Swedes the Sedin twins (Daniel and Henrik), sparking a nickname for the line: "The Swedish Touch". That is also the name of a 'rub and tug'-type massage parlour in Vancouver, The Swedish Touch. Like the ladies in thongs and stillettos at the massage parlour, The Swedish Touch on the ice has been a tease, not producing as much goal-scoring as we hoped.
O Captain, My Captain!
I'm a smart college kid, I know my poetry! Or, I've just watched "Dead Poet's Society" more times than I should have [three different classes showed me that movie in high school]
In any case because our very own captain, Jordi is off in Sydney this week having fun while those of us in Canada are freezing our butts off, this week's topic shall be about captains.
Crashing the Net on NHL.com released their Top 10 list of Team Captains a couple of weeks ago. So introduce us to your team captain. Who they are, what they do, what type of ice cream they like if that information is readily accessible. Who do you think will make a great captain sometime in the future, immediate or otherwise. Also, if you have time to take a look at the list, tell us who you think was left off the list, who shouldn't be on the list and whether or not you felt that that was really the best picture of Joe Sakic they could have used.
The creative challenge was also suggested by Jordi a few weeks ago. Who on your team is in desperate need of a makeover? Actual brand names and stores needed and although photoshopped images are not mandatory, gold stars will be handed out if they are included.
