http://rapidshare.com/files/117577584/journey_-_dont_stop_believing.mp3.html

Maybe...just Maybe there is hope

Well..the American hockey market just got a bit more interesting, or colorful at the least.

Don Cherry is joining ESPN for the remainder of the NHL season. It should be fun.

With the Maple Leafs firing their coach this week, that may set precedent for Coach Quenville to leave the Avalanche. Good riddance, I day...and get rid of Granado too.

I made a bet with my buddy that the Penguins would beat the Flyers in the all Pennsylvania series. Hope they prove me right.

I just hope that Marty Turco can break out of his slump in Joe Louis arena. Turco is 0-7-2 all time against the Wings at home. He is playing out of his noggin right now though, so who knows.

Go Stars, Go Pens.

All good things must come to an end

Well, it had to happen.

I thought it was a good matchup. Not so much.

The Avs got dismantled by the Red Wings.

The series lacked the fire that it had in years past. It was not competitive, (mostly due to the Avalanche falling apart at the seams).

And now, with the 're-building' process looming, rumors of Joe Sakic retiring, and the firing (potential) of a coach, the state of the franchise is a little up in the air.

Things to look forward to:

The all Pennsylvania playoff. The Pens and the Flyers.
Marty Turco and the Stars try their luck against the Wings.

Jo-say? What happened?

Never fails. As soon as you give a guy props, he goes and disappoints you.

Jose Theodore, who I have supported all season, and had a brilliant start to the playoffs, was pulled from games 1 and 2 of the Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Redwings series.

The series comes do Denver tonight, and there is no word on who the starting goaltender will be, Theo or Budaj.

Supposedly, Jose had the flu in the first game, and didn't look strong in the second game either.

Whomever is manning the net for the Avalanche, they will need to stand tall against the Detroit onslaught.

It's good to know that Theo isn't the only one who is struggling.

in this article written by Scott Burnside of ESPN, he mentions that both goalies, who were exceptionally strong throughout the first round, are now struggling.

Tonight should see the return of Peter Forsberg, and Scott Hannan, and just in time too, as Ryan Smith and Woitej Wolski and Ryan Smith are sitting out.

Rivalry Renewed?

With the Avalanche and the Red Wings back in the mix for the first time in the playoffs since 2002, there has been a lot of pub. regarding the old blood rivalry between the two clubs.


Many stories regarding the old rivalry are being written...even currently.

Like this one.

And this one.

Here.

and Here.

Ill be able to judge the series fairly when the first puck has been dropped...bue even when i was paying today with some Wings fans, everything was tame.

The blood might start to boil a little later in the series...but for now, I don't think the rivalry is as bas as it used to be.

We'll see.
Go Avs.

Jo-se can you play?

I fell asleep a few nights ago still with fresh cheers of "Jose! Jose! Jose!" stuck in my head.

Jose Theodore, a much maglined goaltender, freshly departed from Montreal two years ago, was no more than an overpriced backup at the start of the season.

However, now, he is playing as well as any Avalanche goalie has played in recent memory...and is drawing comparisons to the fabled #33, *gasp*.

I have always been a Jose Theodore apologist. I always knew that he could play, but just couldn't understand why he couldn't.

A goalie myself, I understand what happens when you lose confidence. However, I have not gone from the high of winning the Vezina trophy to backup on a team struggling with their goaltending. Nor have I ever been largley distracted by this girl.

My men's league is a little different, so is my girlfriend.

Almost there

How about that Avs game the other night. Wow, simply, wow.

With an offense like that, there is no reason the Avalanche can't win the cup this year.

They got some solid goaltending from Jose (he can play) Theodore.

Tonight is a big game for the Avs. They have a great chance to take a 3-2 series lead and put a ton of pressure on the Wild coming back to The Can.

Other playoff series:

Congrats to the Pens, for sweeping the Senators. ( I can't stand the Sens, so I was pretty pleased).
The Caps/Flyers series, Philly is showing that they are a talented team, just one year removed from being the worst team in the league. Solid goaltending from Marty Biron. Ovechikin needs to get hot if they're going to have a chance.
Boston and Montreal: The Habs clinch tonight. Boston is done.
Rangers and Devils: Away from me Devils, Chris Drury said and he put them one 'W' away from the semis. Rangers clinch tomorrow night.


Anaheim and Dallas, the Ducks are cooked. Stars win it tonight.
Colorado and Minnesota: hope the Avs can grab the series lead.
Detroit and Nashville: The NHL would rejoice should the Wings lose, but I don't see it happening.
Calgary and San Jose: The Fins take another bite out of the Flames tonight. One thing is for sure though. Great. Goaltending.

Oh, and Sean Avery is Busch League.

Happy times are here again.

Playoff hockey. There is no more intense a situation.

Even my roommate, who is not a hockey fan at all, was even impressed with the intensity of last nights first round games.

You can take Barry Melrose's word for it, or mine.

Breakin em down.

Eastern Confrence:

The Pens and the Rangers were winners on Wednesday night.

I think that the defending Eastern Conference Senators are cooked. They're hurt, and the Pens have experience in key positions. It will be up to Marc Andre Fleury to play some good hockey, and this unknown kid to step up his game.

The Rangers have too much firepower and a goalie who can steal a game. The most overrated goaltender in the NHL has met his match.

Western Conference:

Melrose Breakdown.

Super Joe Sakic scored his ninth overtime goal to take a 1 -0 lead on the Wild.
Jose Theodore was solid in net, but the Avs' defense needs to step up if they will win the series, and the offense needs to find a way to continue to generate strong offensive scoring chances to keep it a short series.

The Flames took a bite out of the sharks, grabbing a one game series lead. It wont last, the sharks are too good.

Bouncer Assignment

Loud music, alcohol, fist-fights, not everyone has to put up with these sights and sounds in their nine-to-five.

Dan Wonstolen, a senior at Colorado State makes this a part of his daily life.

Dan works at the Drunken Monkey, a jungle themed bar in Old Town Fort Collins.

"The reason I applied for the job was because it was the only time I could work with my schedule."

Wonstolen also is a member of the Colorado State University Club Rugby team, and has to work around his class and Rugby schedule.

"With my classes set up the way they are and rugby Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights I didn't have time to work at any other time."

Dan mentioned that being a rubgy player has helped him be an effective bouncer.

"It helpful to be tall and strong because I don't need to rely on anyone but myself to manage physical situatons."

While most students wouldn't choose to devote their weekend evenings watching others consume, Dan doesn't mind.

"I enjoy working in a bar because I can be out on a Friday and Saturday night and not spend money and still have fun. I have saved more this year by not spending my money on beer."

However, being a bouncer and staying out to all hours does have it's drawbacks.

"The worst part would be cleaning up at the end of the night it is time consuming and very mundane." Wonstolen commented.

"Another thing that isn't so good about working Friday and Saturday nights as well as two nights a week is it takes away from my social life. I can't go out with my friends on a weekend night and it puts a strain on any girl relationships I have because I'm out all hours and they don't get to see me at night."

While time consuming, and with pros and cons, working around an atmosphere such as a bar provides some memorable moments.

"All of the fights are pretty memorable, the most recent one six guys got arrested and one went to the hospital. Another one recently that I broke up, one kid was stomping on the head of another kid."

Fights aren't the only attractions at the Drunken Monkey. "Another time we had a guy who was playing with fire attached to some chains try to come into the bar naked looking for tips."

Though it is a loud, fast paced atmosphere where almost anything can happen at any time of the evening, Dan enjoys his job as a bouncer at the Drunken Monkey.

"The people that I work with are a lot of fun and I enjoy joking around and hanging out with them."

Audio Project

http://profile.imeem.com/fbuUfc6/music/dKWvQILF/jb_prjectmp3/

Uno Mas

One more before the Four.

Playoff blog comin next time.

More Frozen Four

Frozen Four Action.

Enjoy
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/03/29_wemichigan.php

I miss 33...

Like father, like son...enough said.

Enjoy.

Playoff hockey comes a little early this year.

I love this time of year.
Teams are scrapping for every inch of leverage, every foot of ice, every possession, because they all know, that this may be their last few games of the year.

As the regular season winds down, some teams are fighting for their playoff lives, especially in the Northwest Division, where a minuscule amount of points separate the division leader from those who will be watching from a Lazy Boy in two weeks.

While the Avalanche, Flames, Canucks, Oilers and Wild all jockey for position in the standings, other teams are fighting for other things.

The Sharks and the Wings are battling for home ice advantage in the playoffs, an extremely underrated thing to have.

In the East, things are a little more settled, but not much. The Flyers, Leafs and Islanders are all gunning for one another. However, the Flyers seem to be in the best position to take it. The Leafs are with out Mats Sundin, and the Isles are without Rick DiPietro, (he F**ked his hip up again)

once the playoff picture is set, ill make sure you get a playoff synopsis...

until next time, keep your stick on the ice!

The sharks get a new pair of jaws...

Continuing our trade series...

Buffalo aquires Brian Campbell and a 2008 seventh-round pick from San Jose

San Jose aquires Steve Bernier and a 2008 first-round pick from Buffalo.

Lets be honest. Buffalo has underachieved this year, bottom line. From a team that was a series away from going to the Stanley Cup finals, to a seller at the trade deadline...how the mighty have fallen.

Buffalo really dropped the ball this season. They let the likes of Jay McKee, J.P. Dumont, Mike Grier, Daniel Briere and Chris Drury depart and didnt get anthing from them at all through free agency. They had to get something for Brad Richards...Did they get euqal value there? perhaps. .

Bernier, was a high draft pick for the Sharks, and got mixed up in the offensive talent that the sharks possess...A good young player to add to a suddenly rebuilding Buffalo Team.

One of the only knocks on the Sharks going into the trading deadline was their defense...They now add a tough, gritty, puck-moving defensive player who can take care of his goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Both teams once again come away with a godo deal here, although it is tough to see Buffalo go from Eastern Confrence powerhouse, to a place for the talents of Ryan Miller to waste away.

Until Next time...

It's been awhile

My apologies to you, faithful reader, for not posting last Tuesday. I was out doing "active research" about hockey.

Back to the trades.

Dallas aquires Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist from Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay aquires Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern, Mike Smith and a 2009 fourth-round pick from Dallas.

This may be the deal that could land Dallas the Stanley Cup come year's end. We could look back as Marty Turco hoists the cup, and say, "this is the one that sent them over the top".

Brad Richards is one of the most underrated players in the sport.

Lost in the underachieving Tampa Bay squad who was the final team to win the Cup before the lockout.

This is a great trade for both teams, Tampa was out of it long ago.

They had to get rid of Either St. Louis, Lecavalier, or Richards because they couldn't afford them all.

In return they get a young talent in Jokinen, an extremely talented goalie in Mike Smith, and a first round draft choice, to continue their rebuilding process.

My Rating: 3 and a half pucks for both squads. Bottom line: This could send Dallas over the top, it makes a great team even better. It helps Tampa continue to rebuild without trading away St. Louis and Lecavlier. Win-win for both teams.

Christmas time in Canada

Wow. I've had a few days to absorb and check out the games. The trades are in, and it was wonderful.
I've put together my own draft grades, and here they are. This was so much fun to do. I love this game.

I'll break down one trade per blog, which allows me to examine these trades and see how they have paid off.

My rating system is as follows.
4 pucks = Great deals. Could propel the team to the Cup Finals.
3 pucks = Strong work. Should provide some extra help.
2 pucks = Eh. Nothing gained. Nothing lost.
1 puck = What were they thinking?

Atlanta: Acquires Marian Hossa & Pascal Dupuis from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh: Acquires Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first-round draft pick from Atlanta.

My grade: 4 Pucks.

What a deal this was! Instead of Hossa headed to Montreal, which was all but a done deal, Hossa ends up in Pittsburgh. Hossa essentially is a 'rental player' but the acquisition of a young talent like Dupuis sends the message to the Pittsburgh faithful that this team is going after the Cup.

Hossa will most likely play on a line with Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin. Two very young and very talented players. Hossa's experience will most certainly rub off on these players, and you know Hossa is going to be looking to do well in Pittsburgh. He has been accused of mailing it in in Atlanta, and will be an unrestricted free agent next season. Hossa is looking for a big payday.

Next time, I'll take a look at Tampa Bay, and their trade of Brad Richardson.

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Gotta love the minors

I wrote this article for the Coloradoan.

LOVELAND- There wasn't a playoff hockey game being played at the Budweiser Event Center Saturday night, but there might as well have been. What was supposed to be a regular-season divisional matchup brought all the emotion, intensity, and bad blood that accompanies playoff hockey.

The Colorado Eagles (31-14-5, 67 points) and the Rocky Mountain Rage (31-14-5, 67 points) kicked off the first of back-to-back games that will determine which team will take sole possession of the Northwest Division lead.

Headed into Saturday's matchup, the Eagles trailed the Rage by two points in the standings. When it was all said and done, the Eagles were tied with the Rage atop the standings after a 4-1 victory at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Eagles wasted no time in jumping on top of their rivals to the south. Just four minutes into the first frame, Riley Nelson beat Rage goaltender Scott Reid's glove hand to put the Eagles on top.

Not four minutes later, Ryan Tobler added a goal of his own. To cap off the first period, center Ed McGrane notched a goal with less than two minutes left in the first period. Colorado went into the first intermission up 3-0 and the never looked back.

"If we hadn't played the way we did in the first period, this game might have been a lot different," coach Chris Stewart said. "We really coasted through the second and third period, we could have played a lot better hockey."

True to the rivalry and not willing to share the throne at the top of the division, the Rage were finally able to solve Eagles goaltender Sebastien Laplante as Rage defenseman Clay Plume was able to punch in a rebound halfway through an otherwise quiet second period. That was the only goal Laplante relinquished.

It proved to be a tough night for Rage goaltender Scott Reid, as the 6-foot-3, 205 pounder couldn't find a way to look big enough to stop the Eagles' first-period offensive barrage. Reid gave up three goals on the first 16 shots he saw.

Reid would keep the Eagles off the scoreboard through the second and through most of the third, until he was pulled for the extra skater. Fraiser Flipic was able to put in the empty netter for the fourth and final Colorado goal.

On the other end, Laplante was brilliant, stopping 30 of 31 shots.

"You don't make a big deal out of it; my job doesn't change because it's a big game." Laplante said. "I come into every game expecting to stop every shot."

Put Up or Shut Up

Let me just tell you, Rick DiPietro is a man. I'm not trying to be sexist, I just don't know any other way to put it. Dipierto is one of the few reasons that the New York Islanders are any good at all. DiPietro led his team to a shootout victory tonight, and he made a ridiculous glove save lying down across the crease. If you have a minute, take a look at it.
How about Put up or Shut off? Like shutting off Slick Ricks microphone during the NHL All-Star game. Ricky D, unknowingly dropped an F-Bomb during the all star game, after tweaking a hip injury while making a save during the shootout event.

WARNING: this clip does contain the F-word. Don't watch if you'll be offended.




Speaking of shootouts, my beloved Avalanche lost in a shootout to the Ducks tonight in a shootout. They didn't put up. The Avs have lost to the Ducks three times this season, and have suffered their first five game losing streak in almost a decade. Such is life, but if the Avalanche are going to try to make the playoffs, five game skids are not the way to go.

Trade deadline is coming up in the NHL, and as my good friend put it, "It's like Christmas day for me." I can't help but agree.

All I know is that Peter the Great will not be returning to the NHL. Or will he? I don't think Peter knows, but talk about put up or shut up, Peter needs to quit stringing these teams along, and just figure out what he wants to do.

The Montreal Canadiens put up huge and made a huge comback last night over the New York Rangers. See for yourself. There are few words.




That's all I got, till next time: Keep your stick on the ice.

Rivalry Week

So I've had a few hours to cool down. But wow, what a past few weeks. First, the Avalanche blow out the Vancouver No-Cups, also known as the Canucks.

Then the CSU vs. CU hockey game a few weeks ago.

Then the Avs get blown out of the water against Detroit tonight.

Rivalries all around.

First off, I would just like to say that I love college hockey. The more I watch, the more I fall in love. Whether it be watching #1 in the nation Michigan, or Colorado State in a club level division II leauge, it is played with so much emotion. I fully believe that emotion is something that sometimes lacks from college hockey's professional counterpart.

Don't believe me?

Fine. Go watch an NHL game, then let me hit you with some knowledge.

First Period
Second Period
Third Period

I just love the pure emotion that collegiate hockey is played with. It's like college football. The rivalries mean more. The games have more at stake, it's more for the hockey purist.

In other NHL news. Richard Zednick is out of the hospital and proabably won't return next season. But hey, after a severed artery, who can complain?

Until next time, keep your head on a swivel and your stick on the ice. (I still have a problem with that).

Another severed carotid artery (or black eye) for hockey

Once again, our glorious sport is in the news for all the wrong reasons.

If it's not a sucker punch , lockout situation, or bad press for the fighting in the game, this was the last thing that a recovering sport should have to deal with.

Last Saturday, Florida Panthers winger Richard Zednik suffered a horrific injury as a teammate was checked into the boards and his skate was sent up to head level. An unlucky Zednik, attempted to stop to avoid contact with the skate, but couldn't escape, and ended up severing his carotid artery on the blade.

The video can be found here, but be advised, its gruesome.

After the incident, Doctors say Zednik essentially saved his own life by having the intelligence to skate right to the bench. Had he not made it, he might have died on the ice.

Zednik was taken right to the hospital, and is recovering, and knowing hockey players, should be right back on the ice in a few weeks.

The amazing thing about this whole situation, is that the same athletic who worked on Zednik, was the same trainer who helped save the life of Kevin Everett.

Everett suffered a near fatal neck injury in week one of the NFL season, and barley survived, much less would ever walk again.

As it stands, Everett is doing fine, recovering, and it looks like Zednik will too.

Just hope that another shiner for the sport won't deter any more fans.

Zednik's life was saved, hope hockey's can be too.

Where's that trainer?

Takin Care of Business

The Peter Forsberg sweepstakes is starting to heat up. Recently, Forsberg declined offers from about ten teams, leaving about ten more in the mix for the oft-injured Swede's services. It should be interesting, but rumors say that his most likely destination is Philly, according to The Hockey News.

The Washington Capitals have their division lead after another win last night. Whoda thunk? After being left for dead and putting all their eggs into the Alexander Ovechkin experiment, this team was close to leaving the capital city. No longer. Behind the strong play of Ovechkin, and the always stalwart Olaf Kolzing, things are looking good in D.C.

The same cannot be said however, for the other golden boy of the NHL, as Sidney Crosby still hasn't played after injuring his ankle late last month. Without him, the Pens are struggling, and are anxiously awaiting his return to the ice.

And I only have to say to a certain friend of mine in California who happens to be a sharks fan.

Jose. Theodore.

Back to the action...

I write this while simultaneously watching the Avalanche game on an idle Monday night. By the way, watching hockey in High-Def is amazing, if you've never done it, I suggest you try it. I digress.

First things first, rumors are circulating that Peter the Great, or to those of you non-puckheads, Peter Forsberg, is considering a return to the NHL. While I'm not surprised, I am weary of this potential danger.

While Forsberg is a rare talent, in his prime scoring from anywhere on the ice and imposing his will on opposing defenders, he has been an injury liability. I would be weary to spend all the money it would take to sign him as a free agent, and then have him get hurt.

One of those teams who would consider signing the Swede would be my hometown team, the Colorado Avalanche. Speaking of the Avs, how about the play of maligned goalkeeper Jose Theodore? Jose has been playing exceptionally for a team that has been struggling offensively as of late, especially on the power-play. When someone really needed to step up for this hockey club, Jose has done just that. Don't believe me? Denver Post and ESPN hockey buff Terry Frei agrees.

Naturally, as I write this very blog, T.J. Hensick just put in his second power-play goal of the night. Shows what I know. Go Avs.

The first skate is always the hardest

No reason to be scared. It always hurts trying something new. Especially when you're falling tail-end first on the ice.

This may be a little different. I plan on bringing the heat. Consider this an open ice hip check.

All I hear is this talk that the graceful game is a dying sport, that soccer is taking over as the fourth dominant sport alongside basketball, baseball, and football.

Blasphemy! Even the NFL and MLB had struggles in their attendance numbers after lockouts.

Hockey is a graceful game, incorporating all things great from all sports. The physicality of football, the high-speed breakaway action like basketball, and the mental toughness to fight through anything like in baseball.

Not to mention that it moves much faster and is much more exciting than soccer...

Try it. The new rules have opened up the game. It's faster, higher scoring, and let me tell you...I'm a goalie and I still appreciate the skyrocketing offensive numbers.



Do yourself a favor. Go watch a game. I recommend anything with a right-handed goalie. Like Jose Theodore here. As a righty myself, I can attest, we make the games a little more exciting.