Puck Deux
Fri, 2011-02-11 14:30
#1
Puck Deux
Fri, 2011-02-11 14:40
#2
Catchfire
My sister knows Sean Avery and she suspects that he actually hates playing hockey, but is just good at it. So he keeps going because he makes so much money, but his pest role is kind of a drag.
Sat, 2011-02-12 02:55
#3
Yeah, I think people don't realize how talented even the lesser well-knows in professional hockey really are. There have been a lot of athletes come and go in pro hockey leagues. To be an NHLer, my talent scout brother in law says, the first requirement is that they have to be able to skate. And not just be able to skate but skate really well and to keep up with the pace of the game. I knew an ex- NHLer who skated fairly regularly even later on into his 70s. It was his life. I think today's players have to be much more dedicated to physical conditioning and maintaining skills.
Sun, 2011-02-13 16:13
#4
It's just above freezing now. The boys were out playing hockey on the rink, shirtless, a few minutes ago.
Wed, 2011-03-02 22:37
#5
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/concussions/nhler-bob-probe... Bob Probert suffered from degenerative brain disease, scientists find[/url]
Of the 40 brains studied so far, CTE has been found in more than 30 former elite athletes – several of whom committed suicide – including boxers, professional wrestlers and more than a dozen former National Football League players. Since CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, the athletes died unaware that protein deposits and damaged neurons in their brains that are typical of the condition may have contributed to symptoms including memory loss, erratic behaviour, depression and eventually dementia.Dr. Cantu said of Mr. Probert’s results: “They’re not nearly as severe as we’ve seen in a number of other athletes in other sports like boxing or football, but nonetheless it’s unequivocally there.”
CTE can result from what Dr. Cantu called “total brain trauma” – which includes concussions but also hits to the head that cause the brain to rattle off the skull, something that doesn’t always result in a concussion.
Wed, 2011-03-02 23:17
#6
Catchfire
My adopted city, Vancouver, just picked up two of my favourite ex-Habs. I saw Maxime Lapierre score his first goal (although he's become a bit of a chippy player these days), and Chirs Higgins was an old fan favourite before he fell out of favour with Guy a few years ago. I might have to start cheering for the Canucks' fourth line come playoff time.
Wed, 2011-03-02 23:31
#7
RevolutionPlease
Am I missing something or is somebody going to fix the title of this forum?
Wed, 2011-03-02 23:37
#8
RevolutionPlease
And I know I was against spelling flames in another thread but that was about individual posters, not a website.
Thu, 2011-03-03 02:03
#9
Am I missing something or is somebody going to fix the title of this forum?
Yes and no.
The kid who had the water bottles didn't make it to last night's Midget game, so the boys had to do with gatorade, etc., from the rink canteen. They didn't appreciate my telling them that back in the 70s we weren't allowed to drink water during games. Water causes stomach cramps.
Thu, 2011-03-03 03:36
#10
Back in PeeWee (circa 1973), during a special series with another town, our rep team got the bigshot treatment of having quartered oranges to suck on between periods. They brought trays of sliced oranges into the dressing room. I musta had two oranges worth each time.
One of the house league coaches got completely pissed and came into the room to give us an impromptu pep talk. All I remember is that he kept saying how when he played someone broke his hands. And he was drunk. I just giggled and ate oranges throughout his whole spiel.
Thu, 2011-03-03 03:41
#11
Yeah, I think people don't realize how talented even the lesser well-knows in professional hockey really are.
Right on.
A friend of mine is a very good good athlete since high school; now in his 40s, he plays in a good house league that includes in summer a few minor-leaguers and guys who have been called up to the bigs.
One guy was on his line who had been called up briefly to Dallas. My friend was in awe of his skills: the puck would arrive "right on the tape... and at 100 miles an hour" every time, he said.
Thu, 2011-03-03 07:47
#12
I can remember being very thirsty after a league game when I was a kid. The local outdoor rink had an outdoor fountain from artesian water flowing from the hills a few miles away. We had kids come from all over town to play at our rink some Saturdays. Ron Francis and Vial bros would show up sometimes. We'd throw our sticks in the middle and choose teams that way. Then we'd skate like hell and whack away for two or three hours or until the snow came down in sheets. Or until we broke a stick. That was terrible for most of us as we'd usually have just the one. It was game over for us poor slobs by that point.
Thu, 2011-03-03 14:22
#13
Researchers at Boston University have found a degenerative disease in brain tissue donated by former NHL enforcer Bob Probert.
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy issued a statement Thursday saying that Probert had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died last July of heart failure at age 45.
Probert, who lived in Windsor, Ont., played 16 seasons in the NHL for Detroit and Chicago between 1995-2002. His 3,300 penalty minutes make him fifth on the league's career list.
Probert, who struggled with drinking problems during his career, is the second hockey player from the Boston University program to be diagnosed with the disease after death. The other was Reggie Fleming, a 1960s enforcer who played before helmets became mandatory.
Details of Probert's brain tissue analysis won't be made public until they are reviewed by an academic medical journal, the centre said in its statement, but the Probert family requested that the CTE diagnosis be made public to raise awareness of the danger of brain trauma in sports.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/03/02/sp-probert-degenerative.html#ixzz1FZ9lIXpg
Sun, 2011-03-20 00:15
#14
Well, the Leafs' playoff chances are slim, but it was still a lot of fun watching those kids beat Boston tonight.
Manitoba's James Reimer held the fort while Tukka Rask and Tim Thomas were each chased from their net.
How about Saskatoon's Luke Schenn? He can go coast-to-coast and score, yet he rarely gets power play time. Did you catch Dog River's Keith Aulie score? (OK, everyone I know from Roleau hates that show, but we wouldn't care much about their opinion had they not come from Dog River).
I always wanted to be the first Lebanese-Canadian to score for the Leafs, but I'm happy that Nazem Kadri finally got one.
Sun, 2011-03-20 00:29
#15
Go Kadri! I dislike the Flyers very much, so last night the enemy of my enemy was all powerful due to me willing them to win.
Sun, 2011-03-20 01:04
#16
Foster Hewitt doing the play-by play as Bill Barilko scores the Cup-winning goal in 1951.
I got a bit teary-eyed as Howie Meeker and Bill Barilko's sister dropped the puck in the ceremonial faceoff tonight.
Mon, 2011-03-21 08:35
#17
P.K. Subban doesn't remember the last time he recorded a hat trick. It never happened during his junior career and he wasn't even sure if he ever scored three goals in a game as a youngster.
Not only did he do it Sunday night in the Canadiens' 8-1 rout of the Minnesota Wild, he made history. When Subban beat goalie Niklas Backstrom low on the glove side less than 90 seconds into the third period, he became the first Montreal rookie defenceman to have a hat trick.
Thu, 2011-03-24 01:03
#18
How much would you all discount the Canucks' position in the standings due to their benefiting from weak divisional opponents?
How many points would they have if they were in the Pacific division this year?
Thu, 2011-03-24 01:21
#19
The Canucks are 12-5-2 against teams in the Pacific division so I don't see how that would make a significant difference. Obviously it doesn't hurt being in the Northwest but the Canucks match up pretty well against every team I've seen them play this year. The real question is how high would Anaheim, Chicago or Nashville be in the standings if they were in the Eastern Conference? I think any of them could be top 3.
Thu, 2011-04-07 14:47
#20
I thought y'all might be interested to know that our hockey team will hold its windup in Don Cherry's tonight.
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Thu, 2011-04-07 14:54
#21
Saint John found out Thursday afternoon it will not host the 2012 Memorial Cup.
Shawinigan, Quebec was announced as the next host city for the junior hockey championship.
One Saint John fan said his confidence had wavered a bit when former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien threw his support behind another bid.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/04/07/nb-2012-mem...
Fri, 2011-04-08 13:11
#23
How much would you all discount the Canucks' position in the standings due to their benefiting from weak divisional opponents?
How many points would they have if they were in the Pacific division this year?
I wouldn't mind seeing the Canucks win a cup, and I'm a Habs fan.
All they have to do now is get to the finals, like all that league-leading Washington had to do last year. They just had to brush aside the lowly Montreal Canadiens before accepting their destiny was all.
It's a brand new season. History will be made.
Sat, 2011-04-09 18:54
#24
Oh yeah, speaking of tackiness, there were a lot of shiny-new Canucks sweaters being worn by the patrons in Don Cherry's when we had our windup. I speculated that most of those guys were diehard Senators fans three years ago, and a teammate said they were probably Oilers fans before that.
Sat, 2011-04-09 19:10
#25
I really hope 'Couver reaches the finals. That would be great. And Canucks-Habs for the cup would be even better. A cup final to remember.
Sat, 2011-04-09 19:34
#26
N.Beltov
A good start for the Canucks would be to throttle that monkey by the name of Chicago on their back. They actually went into Chicago this year and thumped them, with Luongo in net I might add, so it's not really that big a deal. But it would be a good start for a Canucks Cup run to finish off the defending champions in a business-like manner.Anaheim would probably be a more difficult opponent; Dallas, if they make it, are a team that the Canucks had little difficulty with this season.
After that, who knows? What may become important down the road is that if Vancouver, Detroit and San Jose all make it to the 3rd round, the latter two (Detroit and San Jose) will play/beat up each other. And that could be very good for Vancouver if they make it that far.
I am very impressed with the coaching and general management of the Canucks. The leadership of the team among the players is also excellent. The twins (Henrik and Daniel) set a very workmanlike example that is contagious and very positive. Ryan Kestler has transformed into a real power forward who can go to the "dirty" area in front of the net, avoid retaliation that he might have been known for at one time, be a monster when on the powerplay with the twins, and so on. He's an American who's easy to like. Canucks players are careful and well coached to focus on what is most important - the team - and trivilalize, to some degree, individual achievements. It's all good. The Canucks have faced a tough sequence of injuries on defence this year - and come through with flying colours despite those injuries. They are still missing a few - Malhotra in particular - but many of their defencemen are back just in time. This is a team that is so strong that at least one network skipped over the issue of which team was the strongest candidate and went straight to the question of who was 2nd best.
17 years ago I had to turn away from the TV and could not watch the third period of Game 7 against the Rangers. I couldn't bear to watch. This time, I will not turn away, whatever happens.
Sat, 2011-04-09 22:09
#27
Sat, 2011-04-09 23:59
#28
Catchfire
Bruins in the first round? Yes, please.
Sun, 2011-04-10 00:04
#29
I'll go with the Habs even sans Max Pacioretty, gladio'd last month during a game in Montreal.
Sun, 2011-04-10 00:33
#30
Thanks for the chuckle.
Yes, Zdeno Chara is a CIA operative sent from Mars to sneak thermite grenades into Habs' jockstraps.
Sun, 2011-04-10 03:34
#31
No problem. And besides, the Leafs know all too well about being gladio'd out of the playoffs by their own guys. It's an inside job for that team every spring. New coach and management might help. Yep, I'd start with the dudes at the top. In the meantime Kadri, Frattin, and Kessel are making the Leafs' upper manag' look bad. They'd best get rid of those franchise players for some quick cash and third or fourth round picks in 2025. Crooked bastards. Yep, it's definitely been one long running inside job in Hog Town. And since we owned the Bruins de Boston during the reg season...
Club de Hockey in 6!
Mon, 2011-04-11 15:01
#33
I'm predicting Chicago in 6.
Mon, 2011-04-11 15:20
#34
I think the Leafs could well be just a few players and a couple of years of seasoning away from being a contender. It looks to me as if they have a few younger guys now with which to build the team around. Picture Chicago a few years ago. I think the Leafs might not be so far behind that kind of team development. Their is definitely some chemistry happenin' there. Frattin and Kadri showed some flash against the Habs in game #82. Leafs could have brought Kadri up a few games earlier than they did according to the big tie and loud blazer guy. I think they have something.
Mon, 2011-04-11 15:26
#35
N.Beltov
For the Leafs it's 6 years in a row without making the playoffs. This is sort of a sick joke, but perhaps a plane crash would help them?
Mon, 2011-04-11 16:05
#36
Yikes! A plane crash?
Recall that no player on the Leafs has been there longer than Luke Schenn and N. Kulemin's three years, so they can't be faulted for the past six years' record. Other important cogs in the future Big Blue Machine, such as James Reimer, have been on the team only since January.
It's easy to say the Leaves are but two or three players short of being a contender, as long as those two or three players are guys like Sid Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf and Jonathan Toews.
Mon, 2011-04-11 17:58
#37
And I can remember a number of people saying the Habs would be creamed in the first round last April. Obviously they didn't know what they were talking about then either.
Mon, 2011-04-11 18:16
#38
Northern Shoveler
I'm predicting Chicago in 6.
Maybe if they had last seasons team but not this version. The owners were too cheap to keep their rising young players and that will cost them.
Canucks in 5, just for the joy of eliminating them in Chicago.
AlQ that is what bandwagons are for. If the Nucks go deep ointo the playoffs they will have most of the country on it with them. I love the fact that the year after their Olympics Montreal won the league and then the Cup as did the Flames in 89. Vancouver is half way there having won the league.
Mon, 2011-04-11 18:43
#39
Ya I think the Hawks are missing some key guys from last spring, like Ladd and Byfuglien. Oh ya, and Sopel. Glad the Habs were able to pick him up. Those guys' names are on the cup from last spring, too. Key grinder guys who complemented Toews and Sharp and Kane quite well. The chemistry is different.
Why did the Leafs get rid of Versteeg? There's a young guy with a Stanely Cup ring on his finger already, and then they send him to Philly, a team in the same conference? WTH? Yes, a house cleaning really is on order in Toronto.
Mon, 2011-04-11 19:14
#40
I actually think the Leafs are getting close if Reimer proves to be the real deal. A centre to play with Kessel and Lupul and they've got a pretty decent top six. Their D is finally playing well as a unit apart from Komisarek.
I agree about Chicago, their big strength last year was their depth. Byfuglien, Ladd, Versteeg, and Bolland killed us last year. Obviously they still have some great players, they clearly like to play us and it should be a good series but I don't think they have the horses this time. The big difference for Vancouver from last year's edition is our depth on D. We don't have a Pronger or a Weber but there isn't a weak pairing. Ballard and Salo are the fifth and sixth defensemen and we have three good possible substitutes too. The team has shown a lot of poise this year, it's hard not to feel good even knowing the history of disappointment here. I'd like to see a Van-Montreal final. Hopefully, they can send the Boston goons to the golf course.
Mon, 2011-04-11 19:27
#41
Yes I'd really like to see the Bruins hit a rough patch starting Thursday. Stingy defence and goaltending. Habs will have to utilize speed and get to the net. The physical play and shot blocking will be much more intense in the playoffs. Hope the Habs get going. If Habs do get under their skin, look for the Bruins to resort to the rough stuff.
Couv has a powerful offense and money goaltender. They should get past the Hawks without too much hub-bub this time. Canucks in five.
Mon, 2011-04-11 21:24
#42
Maybe if they had last seasons team but not this version. The owners were too cheap to keep their rising young players and that will cost them.
AlQ that is what bandwagons are for.
The owners weren't too cheap to keep those guys, the salary cap made it impossible for Chicago to hang onto all that high-priced talent.
Speaking of high-priced talent, Brayden Schenn isn't doing a lot (except scoring the goal that sent the last game into overtime, I suppose) for the Blades against Kootenay these days, as his team is down 2-0 in their series. I went to the game on Friday; the Ice kept him out of the play pretty effectively.
Mon, 2011-04-11 21:55
#43
N.Beltov
Maybe if they had last seasons team but not this version. The owners were too cheap to keep their rising young players and that will cost them.Canucks in 5, just for the joy of eliminating them in Chicago.
The fifth game is in Vancouver. How about Canucks in 4?
Tue, 2011-04-12 11:45
#44
Northern Shoveler
Maybe if they had last seasons team but not this version. The owners were too cheap to keep their rising young players and that will cost them.Canucks in 5, just for the joy of eliminating them in Chicago.
The fifth game is in Vancouver. How about Canucks in 4?
Doh
AlQ I agree the cap caused some of their problemns. That is why I am so impressed with the Canucks since they have aquired players who have taken less money to get on the team. These guys are playing for each other at this point and that is a factor that may give them the extra edge.
What Chicago did reminds me of is the Nucks in the mid-Nineties when the gutted their lineup by getting rid of their "heart" players and tried to win with old legends instead. Except of course Chicago won a Cup before doing the gutting.
Tue, 2011-04-12 13:55
#45
Catchfire
What Chicago did reminds me of is the Nucks in the mid-Nineties when the gutted their lineup by getting rid of their "heart" players and tried to win with old legends instead. Except of course Chicago won a Cup before doing the gutting.
Remember when Ottawa had two franchise defencemen coming up for contracts and had to pick one, so they picked Wade Redden over Zdeno Chara? Hee.
Wed, 2011-04-13 02:20
#46
Keep in mind it's a brand new season. All playoff teams start out with zero points. The fact that the 3rd place Bruins racked-up two more wins than 6th place Habs means nothing now.
And don't be too surprised if at least one first place finisher is knocked out in the first round. Stuff happens in the Spring. And I can tell that it's Spring time. The Habs are in, the Leafs are polishing golf clubs, and it smells like dog crap outside.
[url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559404]Computer picks Bruins to win it all[/url] Sorry Canucks fans. Of course, the sports-puter likely never played the game, so take what it says with a grain of silicon.
Wed, 2011-04-13 11:21
#47
Northern Shoveler
I am relieved it wasn't an octopus doing the picking since they are far more reliable seers than computers.
Wed, 2011-04-13 23:38
#48
Catchfire
Vancouver, consider Christopher Higgins our gift. Signed, Montreal.
Thu, 2011-04-14 01:44
#49
Yeah Higgins was a nice pick-up. Gillis has been really good at snagging the necessary pieces here and there without giving up much in return. The Nucks looked good tonight. Chicago is going to run their stars into the ground if they keep shifting them like that. This game bodes well for Vancouver.
Thu, 2011-04-14 23:00
#50
Thu, 2011-04-14 23:27
#51
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK0l0XEW3Dw]Montreal Stand Up, by Annakin Slayd[/url]