Great job Hartnell & Richards! (Photo: Josh Smith/flickr)

The one good thing about the lockout? The boys are able to do things they wouldn’t normally have been able to do. For instance, play a charity game in Atlantic City that raised $500,000 for victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey. The money will be split between the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, New York’s Empire State Relief Fund, and the American Red Cross.

As Gary Loveman, Caesars Entertainments’ president, chairman and CEO, stated during the press conference to present the money raised:

“I think those of you who follow professional sports like I do know that when you need a professional athlete to help out in a pinch, the first call you ought to make is to a hockey player.”

I couldn’t agree more. As a hockey fan, I want to say a big THANK YOU to Todd Fedoruk, Scott Hartnell and Brad Richards for putting on this great event as it not only helped my hometown but gave me a chance to see a great hockey game. You can read our coverage of the game on It’s Always Icy On Broad Street and Black & Blueshirts.

Below is video of the check presentation.

» Continue reading “Operation Hat Trick Raises Half A Million For Sandy Victims”

This week we’re traveling all the way back to December 28, 2005. There are a few interesting things to note about today’s fight:

1. They were still the Mighty Ducks, not just the Anaheim Ducks. Pre-uniform change.

2. It took place the season after we lost a year to the lockout.

3. Two heavyweight fights dropped the gloves. Many of the enforcers hadn’t yet changed their games or forced out by the evolution of the game.

Not much else to say, let Fridge and Shelley do what they do.

Final note: if you haven’s seen the X-ray of Todd Fedoruk’s skull, you really should. Mainly so I’m not the only one whose dreams are haunted by it. Yup, that is a whole lot of metal and screws holding his face together.

Remember to thank your enforcer. Their job isn’t easy.