BS: Hockey is back Again!!

Subject: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 10:50 AM

The NHL rookie camps are open, teams are preparing for preseason. Salary cap moves have changed nearly every team.

I'm in a quandry. Last season was fun but Ottawa disappointed me with the best roster they will probably ever have while the team 2 hours up the interstates, the Team I'll get to see on free TV, won the Cup. Common sense tells me its time to switch, but emotionally, I'm dragging my feet.

Any hockey thoughts?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 11:00 AM

Yes, we just had to pass last night on what would have been fun-- a game between Future Prospects who held their camp this year at nearby Elmira's stadium (where the UHL Jackals play). Had to pass on attending the open sessions of the camp, too. There's another game Sunday we may make.

The UHL itself had major upheavals this past year, with half of its teams folding and a complete restructuring required to make travel possible so that remaining teams can have somebody to play against. The Jackals did an about-face on their crappy hockey and crappier management, bringing in a new GM who seems to be making a real team this year instead of a tax write-off for the owner. ;~)

In the NHL, Neil Smith had a brief tenure returniung to NHL GM-ing and got bounced almost immediately when he couldn't live with the totally dysfunctional management structure to which he was subjected.

Russian Evgeny Malkin went walkabout and turned up stateside to get into a waiting Penguins slot before his draft deadline ran out. (He defected, in other words.)

The Oilers were dismantled and are being rebuilt-- now that one is REALLY sad.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Becca72
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 11:09 AM

My only thought, Jack is that a real fan sticks with the team even when they have a disappointing season and are farther away.

I personally am a Washington Capitals fan from southern Maine...my best friend is a Montreal Canadiens fan living in Tennessee....

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: bobad
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 11:11 AM

Sheesh, it's still summer - hard to start thinking about hockey, but I must admit I scan the sports pages for hockey info.

I can understand your quandry as Ottawa, the best regular season team, continues to disappoint in the playoffs, but I'm sticking with them because they rekindled my interest in the game.

I, like many others, lost interest and stopped following not long after expansion when the game got diluted and degenerated into clutch-and-grab hackey. When I moved into the Ottawa area I started watching again and discovered that the Senators were playing a game built on speed and skill - just like the old days - exiting.

The rule changes have, by and large, also improved the game tremendously - much faster and more entertaining, and it will only get better as teams build around skill and speed and dump the old deadwood like Tie Domi.

Go Sens!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 11:50 AM

Becca72,

I grew up as a Maple Leafs Fan, long suffering under the evil Harold Ballard. After one more year of barely making the playoffs then selling the young talent. I cut myself adrift, looking to cheer for teams who wanted to build champions. When the Islanders dropped the Leafs in the first round, I cheered for them. Went through a few years of underacheiving by them then they won the cup four times. I thought, its time to move on. Mario Lemeiux caught my eye, I went through pretty much the same process. Then I moved to Ottawa. The disappointment ratio in Ottawa has been tremendous. But in the past few years, at least they have really tied to win. On the other hand. Its not satisfying only being able to see your team a couple of times a year, including playoffs.

If I start following Carolina, I'll be able to see them on TV a lot and maybe a time or two live and I can really get to know the players. So, I feel, that I must force myself to cheer for the defending Cup champions. Because of the salary Cap. They start this year worse off than they finished last year. It will be interesting to see if they can sustain their success.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 12:10 PM

We followed and cheered for several teams last year, not becuase we shunned our hometown Blackhawks but because the sport itself is exciting enough to follow more broadly and deeply than just one team. Also, the current market for coverage is such that it's next to impossible to really follow a team you cannot see, but there are lots of games you CAN see depending on your cable package and/or free network and Fox coverage in the US, and what regional stuff that coverage includes.

That doesn't mean one can't still root for the home team, but getting more familiar with the players, teams, coaching, and playing styles they will play against doesn't hurt, either. Just because we watch a team the Hawks will play-- and enjoy doing that-- doesn't mean we don't hate that team's guts and curse 'em for every faceoff won and goal scored. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: gnu
Date: 02 Sep 06 - 03:51 PM

Goodness gracious!! Hockey? I am sunburnt from painting, tarring, mowing, and the like. The only ice I care to see is in a glass.

But, there are some great deals on Christmas decorations in the stores... pushy bastards!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 06:40 AM

Go Leafs Go!

Never switched my loyalty from team to team. Been a Leaf fan since very early childhood, watching games with my older brother and our Dad. Probably taught me a lot about loyalty. When they win the cup, and they WILL win the cup, I will be among those saying "I told you so". For better or for worse, I say.

I will follow Ottawa once the Leafs are eliminated, and after that no other particular team though I prefer "the six", and I'll still watch. Don't care for the Flyers much.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 08:23 AM

The plural of Leaf is surely 'Leaves' (at least it is according to the Oxford English Dictionary? Therefore it's 'Maple Leaves' n'est ce pas?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 02:41 PM

"Never switched my loyalty from team to team. .... Probably taught me a lot about loyalty."

They taught me about loyalty too. Its a two way street and needs to be earned. You don't break a 13 year old's heart by selling the best players for the sake of a few dollars more on the bottom line.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: GUEST,mack/misophist
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 11:55 PM

Hockey may be back, but the question in the mouths of all true sports fans is....WHY?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 12:03 AM

Flippin' RIGHT hockey is back! Maybe this year them Leafs will go all the way, eh? It'd be about flippin' time!

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 07:11 AM

Strange over here we would cancel a hockey match if the pitch was icy!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 07:42 AM

Who cares??

Bobert (another Caps fan...)

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 07:44 AM

Strollin' Johnny...Plural of Leaf is Leafs where hockey is concerned, the Oxford dictionary notwithstanding, Google might help. Hockey's not a great pillar of literacy, lunacy maybe.

Jack...I mostly agree except the team for me is the group that are on the bench and what idiot management do to them is often shameful. I hung in there during the Ballard years as much to beat the bastard as to beat other teams. Sad, ain't it! There were years when it was hard to wear my Leaf sweater, now I wear a home or away sweater often.

Go Leafs Go!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Becca72
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 12:13 PM

Sorry, Jack...it should be about the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back...some of the players don't even understand that.

Come on, Bobert....GO CAPS!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 01:13 PM

NHL Hockey is a business.

Ballard showed contempt for his customers, the fans. He lost my business and in the thirty years since, the Leafs have not presented a product worthy of me going back. Fool me once, shame on you....

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 05:11 PM

Jack...Wonderful to have the choice, ain't it?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 05:16 PM

...yeah... go caps...

sorry, becca, but it gets harder and harder to be a sports fan in the D.C. area 'cause out teams have been under a bad case of snakebite for a long, long time...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Becca72
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 10:41 AM

Agreed, Bobert. I have no love for DC itself, but I do love the team. In fact, I wouldn't mind at all seeing the Caps move...Quebec City would be my choice...then they could still be the Capitals (nationale) in the minds of the Quebecers :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 12:49 PM

Penguins Sign 2004 First Round Pick Evgeni Malkin

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed Evgeni Malkin, the second overall selection in the 2004 Entry Draft, it was announced today by General Manager Ray Shero.

Malkin, 20, finished third in the Russian Super League in scoring during the 2005-06 season, recording 47 points (21+26) in 46 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Malkin led the league in plus/minus (+28), ranked second in goals and ranked third in assists. He added 15 points (5+10) and 42 penalty minutes in 11 Russian Super League playoff games.

Malkin starred in international competition as well during the 2005-06 season. He was the second leading scorer at the World Junior Championships, recording 10 points (4+6) in six games and was named the tournament's top forward and most valuable player, captaining Russia to a second place finish.

At age 19, Malkin was the youngest player on Russia's entry in the 2006 Winter Olympics, tying for second on the team with Alex Kovalev in scoring by recording six points (2+4) in seven games.

PeNS E-News Service

************************************** Tuesday, September 5, 2006 **************************************

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 12:53 PM

Penguins are building nicely. They will be fun to watch this year.

It is great to have a choice! When I was 90 miles from Atlanta, I felt guilty for not being a Trashers fan. But I never felt at home there. This is home.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 04:27 PM

ANY game is great to watch, IMO, and any game featuring a team you love is even better, and any game featuring a team you love that is from your hometown-- that's the best.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 10:10 PM

"Penguins are building nicely. They will be fun to watch this year." You could probably get the title for most optomistic mudcatter.

Let's go AV'S!!!!!!! We need to sign Svatos before training camp starts so that we're not left with the biggest bare bones team in hockey.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 10:35 PM

Well, I'm up playing in the Detroit area for half of the month of September and - damn if the Wings don't start the pre-season but a moment after I've left town.

I'll see 'em in Dallas though when they come down here to "Hockeytown South" - Stars fans don't call it Hockeytown South but there's a whole lot of red jerseys in the arena when the Wings come to town. I'll have my Shanahan shirt on despite his jumping ship (I forgave him after reading Mitch Albom's column on the departure)and The Captain is gone, but we've still got some great
established, as well as up-and-coming players in Lidstrom, Chelios, Williams, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lang and the rest of the gang. We'll give 'em hell this year. GO RED WINGS!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 01:42 PM

The Wings have Hasek don't they?

If he stays healthy this year. He could be the difference in the playoffs.

Big if though.

Jhh,

I don't think the Pens will make the playoffs, but they will be fun to watch. Especially if Malkin and Crosby play on a line.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 02:07 PM

Jhh, I dunno if you part of the Mudcat hockey mania last year, but it was a notable thread for its lack of people putting down others' teams. It was nice to be able to salute each others' teams efforts and let the playing speak for itself.

JtS, from the Pens' talk so far it's more likely the two young hotshots will each run a line of their own.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 02:14 PM

Jhh, I dunno if you were part of the Mudcat hockey mania last year, but it was a notable thread for its lack of people putting down others' teams. It was nice to be able to salute each others' teams efforts and let the playing speak for itself.

JtS, from the Pens' talk so far it's more likely the two young hotshots will each run a line of their own.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 04:29 PM

Maybe, but then there's the POWER PLAY!!!!!!

Yeah WYSIWYG is right.
Last year it was a sorta, "Let's see how they do at the end of the year."

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 05:43 PM

Oh yeah, the PP! I am SERIOUSLY in need of remedial TV-watching!

BTW, Forsberg skated this week AND they only did the one ankle.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 06 - 10:31 PM

PRESEASON GAMES are on now, on radio. Not NHL radio (regular season only)-- go to your team's site to see which AM/FM station carries them and streams online.

Some TV will carry them-- Fox Sports, for one.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 06 - 10:11 PM

Malkin's first night in the skates tomorrow night, Wednesday!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 19 Sep 06 - 11:58 PM

Buffalo Sabres all the way this year tho' they ain't gonna sneak up on the rest of the NHL this year...one game away from the Cup finals--and they wouldda won. Carolina? They have ice there?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: GUEST,dax
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 01:12 PM

Strolling Johnny,
   Plural is Leafs, Leaves is wat dey do when dey lost.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 01:40 PM

you cannot know how excited i am with this news

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 02:03 PM

Which news izzat, Rap?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 02:16 PM

And oh yeah, there's this:

NHL board approves minor rules changes

CHICAGO (AP) -NHL players will be allowed to use stick blades that are curved three-quarters of an inch - a quarter-inch more than last season - under a series of minor rules changes approved Thursday by the league's board of governors.

During regulation time or overtime but not shootouts, a player found to have a stick curved in excess of three-quarters of an inch will be assessed a minor penalty and a $200 fine for the first offense. A second offense in the same season will be accompanied by a minor penalty, plus a fine of $1,000. A third offense will result in a game misconduct penalty and an automatic one-game suspension. The suspension will double in length for any subsequent violation.

During shootouts, an opposing team may request the measurement of a shooter's stick prior to the shooter's attempt. If the stick is found to be legal, the complaining team will forfeit its next shootout attempt and the player listed for the challenging club's next attempt will not be permitted to participate until all other eligible players have participated. The team will be fined $5,000 and the coach will be fined $1,000. If the stick is illegal, the offending player will become ineligible to participate in the shootout and the club will forfeit that shootout attempt. The team will be fined $5,000 and the player will be fined $1,000.

The board also approved enhanced measures against diving and embellishment of actions in the attempt to draw a penalty. The first such infraction will result in a warning letter being sent to the player. A second infraction will be accompanied by a $1,000 fine. A third infraction will result in a telephone hearing with the Director of Hockey Operations and a possible one-game suspension. The length of the suspension will double for any subsequent violation.

The board also approved a rule change that will give the home team the choice of shooting first or second in a shootout.

09/14/2006
http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/09/281954.html

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 10:54 PM

Go Leafs Go.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 02:36 AM

From: GUEST,dax - PM
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 01:12 PM Strolling Johnny,   Plural is Leafs, Leaves is wat dey do when dey lost.

lol!!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 09:54 AM

How's YOUR team doing in the PRESEASON STANDINGS?

Pens doin' fine!

Hawks doin' even better!

GO HOCKEY!

~s~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:54 AM

...and Domi is news even off the ice, confusing one stick for another.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: GUEST,Mooh
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:56 AM

Now, how the heck did I get guested? I gotta guestify!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:58 AM

Who's Domi?

(brainfart day)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 07:58 AM

BOTH my teams won! Go Hawks! Go Pens!

Pens new owner looks like a great choice.

Go Stadium!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: 3refs
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 08:05 AM

Toronto 6
Ottawa 0
Hell has frozen over so I'm goin down for a hockey game!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: closet-folkie
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 08:37 AM

Ultimate Fighting Challenge on ice; that's all we need. I'll wait for Olympic hockey, thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 09:24 AM

Find out who domi is here.

http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Nov 06 - 10:54 PM

Of course, YouTube has hockey fights, and good ones, too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 03:59 PM

Search for Gainey's daughter suspended

By The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 12, 2006


LUNENBURG, Nova Scotia - The U.S. Coast Guard's aerial search for the daughter of hockey great Bob Gainey was suspended Monday night, three days after she was washed overboard in the Atlantic during a storm while working on a sailing ship bound for the Caribbean.
Laura Gainey was on the deck of the tall ship Picton Castle on Friday night when a large wave swept her overboard. Petty Officer Larry Chambers said the U.S. Coast Guard's search about 475 miles off Cape Cod was on hold, but the Picton Castle would continue looking for her.

U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard aircraft had scoured the ocean for Gainey since Friday, Chambers said from U.S. Coast Guard district headquarters in Portsmouth, Va., where the search was being coordinated.

The U.S. Coast Guard continued to oversee a search Monday evening by a merchant vessel and the ship from which Gainey fell, Chambers said. The Canadian Coast Guard aircraft — which had been swapping shifts with the U.S. Coast Guard — also ended its search Monday.

The 25-year-old daughter of the Montreal Canadiens' general manager was thrown from the 180-foot boat Friday night without a lifejacket.

The water temperature in that part of the mid-Atlantic is about 68 degrees. The U.S. Coast Guard said Gainey, a strong swimmer wearing protective clothing, probably could survive for about 36 hours. However, Chambers said, after 70 hours in the water "the likelihood of survivability" would "diminish rapidly."

"The reasonable time for survivability has already been expended," Chambers said Monday. "I just want to make clear that suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we can make."

Matthew Brooks, a civilian search and rescue specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard, said U.S. air rescuers used infrared night-vision goggles to search the dark waters late Sunday. American and Canadian search aircraft later dropped data buoys in the area.

"They talk to us via satellite, and they send us positions on the hour," Brooks said. "This is the best way to tell us how the water is moving."

Less than two weeks ago, the tall ship set sail from the Lunenburg for a six-month tour that would take it to the Caribbean. Gainey was a member of the crew, with responsibility for certain watches and instruction of volunteer trainees.

The ship's senior captain read a statement on behalf of the crew.

"They are tired and, like us, they are devastated," said Daniel Moreland, who was in the ship's home port of Lunenburg when Gainey was reported missing. "But they soldier on. They have a job to do. So do we."

Canadiens assistant general manager Pierre Gauthier is handling Gainey's duties during his absence. Gauthier, team president Pierre Boivin and other club officials visited the dressing room Monday before practice to update the players.

"Everyone's in a state of shock now," said coach Guy Carbonneau, whose team hosts Boston on Tuesday night. "But the best thing for us to do now is to hope for a miracle and keep winning. I think that's what Bob wants."

Carbonneau, who played with Gainey in the 1980s and later played for him in Dallas, knew about the disappearance Saturday morning. He chose not to tell his players before or after their 3-2 shootout loss to Buffalo that night.

"I didn't want to distract the players," Carbonneau said. "I could have told them after the game, but I wasn't comfortable with that. Bob is a very private and discreet person. The name hadn't been released and Bob wanted that it not be known for as long as possible."

A member of the hockey Hall of Fame, Gainey won five Stanley Cups with Montreal during a 16-year career as a forward from 1973-89. He also won a championship as general manager of the Dallas Stars in 1999. His wife, Cathy, died of brain cancer in 1995 at 39.

Carbonneau has been in daily phone contact with Gainey. He said the GM was concerned about the team, but Carbonneau urged him to set that aside.

"That's the worst thing for a parent — to lose a child, no matter what the age," he said. "For sure, he was in a state of shock, but he's still strong mentally. Even today (Monday), he was as solid as he was Saturday morning when he called. He's still hoping like everyone else."


Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey is back Again!!
From: Beer
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 04:17 PM

Very sad.
Beer