Get used to seeing rinks like this one. (Photo: Natalie Litz/ Flickr.)
Yesterday a report was released that the Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at the Big House will not be the only outdoor game of the 2013-2014 season. Instead, the plan is to start a “stadium series” which will include five more games taking place outdoors during the second half of the season.
Here is the proposed schedule:
• Anaheim Ducks vs. LA Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
• New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
• New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
• Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
• Ottawa Senators at Vancouver Canucks, BC Place, March 2
Rumor is the Devils and Islanders will be the home teams for the games at Yankee Stadium, while no word on who is the home team between the Ducks and Kings. The other two, the home team is obvious due to the location.
The difference between these games and the actual Winter Classic? These games don’t get the 24/7 treatment to our knowledge. (If they do, my reaction changes.)
2010-11 Crown Royale Voices of the Game Daryl Reaugh and Darren Pang Autographed
If they were to hold a draft for hockey analysts and colour commentators, you’d see a goaltender go first. I know you’re thinking “Oh, yes. I could listen to Ilya Bryzgalov talk all day about “space danger” and bears in the forest. He’s just so strange and entertaining.” Let me tell you two things. First, Bryz has nothing on Gilles “Gratoony the Loony” Gratton and second, not while I’m here.
But what is it that makes goalies such standouts as the talkies behind the microphone? The analysts who break down the games for us after we’ve done nothing but curse at the television for two and a half hours? Darren Pang, whose NHL career saw 3 seasons with the Blackhawks (alright, his first season consisted of one game) and 5 seasons of goaltending experience in the IHL and AHL, sums it up nicely and rather simply. Goaltenders “have the ability to see a lot of things from [their playing] position.” [x]
“I think more than anything else, your goalies are pretty much individuals on team sports… We all have different thoughts and we all handle things differently. I don’t think you have to be the best goalie to be an analyst, just the ability to put it across the air and have people understand it better.” [x]
Oh, and he also adds this detail to the mix: “At the end of the day, a lot of us are yapping guys, a lot of us are talkative people and outgoing people.” [x]
One thing comes to mind when viewing this fine card of Patrick Roy. That thing is: ARRGGHAAABBLL. You know that’s the sound of goalie’s spraying water in their faces.
We’re a few short days away from the return of the NHL. We’re impatient. We’re ornery. Here’s something to help get you through.
Featuring the Minnesota Wild, because… well, look at them.
Alexis is out today, dying of the plague, so I’m subbing in for her.
Today is the last HDHC before Christmas, so we’re going with a change of format here this week. Here now is the classic Christmas carol, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”… in hockey card form.
It’s no secret that this Aerys writer is a big fan of Nate Thompson. While he has made a name for himself as a grinder with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he isn’t the first guy to come to mind when looking for a solid hockey fight. Ian Laperriere on the other hand…
Savard is dealing with concussion issues. He doesn’t need to be dealing with a lockout too. (Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr)
As the lockout moves into it’s second month, the players are getting annoyed. Hopefully this brings about a push for actual negotiations. Until that happens, our only means to hear from the players is through twitter. Fortunately Donald Fehr hasn’t muzzled the players as Gary Bettman has the owners.
Twenty-six years ago today Blues forward Matt D’Agostini was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario!
Last season D’Agostini missed many games while recovering from a concussion, however he did score nine goals and nine assists in 55 regular season games played. In addition, he tallied one goal in four playoff games.
But what has D’Ags been up to recently, you ask? Well, he signed with SC Riessersee of the second tier German league. Fellow NHLer Rick DiPietro is also signed with Riessersee for the duration of the NHL lockout. There’s a very interesting video that interviews the two. I don’t quite understand it in its entirety as I do not speak a bit of German, but it’s definitely worth a watch.
It appears that D’Agostini is so far pointless in two games played for Riessersee. Hopefully that will be changing very soon. Good luck and happy birthday, Matt!
Travis Hamonic is the only Islanders player to have finished both of the last two seasons with a plus-rating. (Photo: Robert Kowal/flickr)
This week Unsung Heroes pulls another body out of the Atlantic Division to fill its ranks. This particular player is a serious unknown for many reasons, a big one being the team he plays for, and another being his position. No matter the circumstances, though, Travis Hamonic is certainly a name you don’t see or hear among the highlights.
Through the magic of Upper Deck’s “Day With The Cup” card inserts, fans got to celebrate the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup Championship. That’s goaltender Tuukka Rask in a hot tub. Was the sauna occupied?
Disclamer: this is one of my all time favorite hockey fights. For the sheer scale, goalie fight, bench threatening glory of it all.
It was April 4th, 1999 and New York Islanders’ goalie Dan Cloutier went absolutely insane on Tommy Salo. Forget that Cloutier is now more known for this and Salo for a glaring mistake at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
What starts off with many guys squaring off (including Trevor Linden, Zdeno Chara, P.J. Stock, and more) leads to Cloutier literally dragging Salo along the ice and threatening the entire Rangers bench.
Stick with it, things really get interesting around the 1:12 mark.
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