One last thing before I'm off to Canada...

Su Ring, good friend up at King5 Sports in Seattle keeps track of all things hockey related in that area, but also the rest of the WHL. She's been posting a series of really great interviews with former WHL players and I point you to the most recent, on former Tri-City American Logan Stephenson.

Normally I'd be tempted to just cut and paste, because I'm lazy like that and I know sometimes people don't want to click links and stuff, but it's a long interview, and really very well done.

So you can just click right HERE to read up on what Logan's been doing (hint...it involves moving around a lot).

Thanks to Su for giving me the scoop that this was coming up :)

Catch my dreams, sugar

I present to you, Ryan Ortiz. **swoooon**

ahh baseball

Whos' this fresh-faced piece of delish? Why that is Ryan Ortiz, here in Oregon State colors, now he plays for the Vancouver Canadians. (note the weak shit pinkness of their website)

The Canadians were in town tonight against the Tri-City Dust Devils and I got sweet tickets with some of my incredible connections (huzzah and huge thanks McP!). I took some pictures, I'll try to get uploaded tomorrow.

This is part of my quest to be more of a baseball fan. I'm really trying. However, I don't get many sports channels and the ones I do get, I am left with the Mariners. ppfftt. Besides, I've never been able to get into televised games. In person is a whole different story. I've gone to several Salem-Keizer Volcanoes games back home with the family and have had a good time. Sports are always better in person.

Now, don't worry, this isn't going to become a baseball and hockey blog, but holy shit, the NHL draft was boring and the off-season SUCKS. But I cannot write baseball like the amazing Eyebleaf over at Sports and the City. No one can. He makes me believe!!!1! in the Jays when I've never even seen them play. If that site is not in your Google Reader add it now...I'll wait...

But I digress. It was a great game, Dust Devils won 8-3. Two of those Canadians runs were scored while we were in line at the snow penis (long story--not really, but I just don't want to explain it LOL).

We had great seats behind home plate, got to root root root for the home team, and look at hotties. Srsly. There are some damn fine guys that play baseball. With tight asses (for you bkblades). These great seats also gave me the chance to be, once again, a traitorous whore, gazing at the spectacularly gorgeous Ryan Ortiz, catcher for the Canadians. I twittered (tweeted?) about kidnapping and making babies with him all night.

I don't know all the stats or WTF all the TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS means on the stats sheets, but I do know how the general game works. Anyways, it was a lot of fun and hopefully we can get to plenty more games.

Also, the chick in front of us was really funny (and we made her laugh, always a plus) till she said she was a Chiefs fan, and especially loved Tokarski. I threw up my $1 hot dogs in my mouth a little, gave her a polite smile, and moved on. Just kidding, she was really nice, knows the Dust Devils team stuff pretty well.

My question of the night? Are girly followers of the Dust Devils called Dust Bunnies? I'd like to think so.


"see where this bill goes" oh yeah? It went down my bra. Suck it George!


How'd I do on my first baseball post Eyebleaf? :)

It's NHL draft day and I'm nervous and excited

and apparently I can't read a calendar, I for some stupid reason thought draft was happening while I was on vacation. dumb, it's not. it's today.

Why am I nervous and excited (read, nauseous)? No, not cuz AMS will be drafted, but because I'm buying a house. yikes!

Anywhooooo, the Herald has a piece today on the draft and that no AMS are likely to be drafted. I give you the good bits:

The NHL draft will be held in Montreal today and Saturday, but don't look for any Tri-City players to be taken in the first five rounds, let alone fifth overall.

A mock draft on nhldraftsite.com, does not feature any Tri-City players in the first five rounds -- which includes 150 players.

"They (the Americans) were a young team last year," said Glen Sanders, a North America western scout for the Nashville Predators, who is based out of Montrose, British Columbia. "I think most of the kids will catch the eyes of teams next year. They have a good program there and they don't have anything to worry about. It (no drafted players) happens to a lot of teams."

Tri-City forward Kruise Reddick, who was passed over last year, and Adam Hughesman, who was highly touted at the end of the 2007-08 season but has disappeared off the Central Scouting ratings, are dark horses to get selected.

Goalies Drew Owsley and Brett Martyniuk are pretty much out of the running after seeing limited time behind Chet Pickard, and the three overagers -- Brett Plouffe, Jarrett Toll and Johnny Lazo -- are ineligible.

"Kruise is a good player, but sometimes size is an issue and players don't get that recognition," Sanders said. "Teams are changing. Nashville has always had small teams, but we are trying to get bigger to compete with teams like San Jose. This year, there are so many good kids from all over the world. Not being selected is not a snub to any team or individual. Guys like Kruise are likely to get (NHL) camp invites."

If no players are drafted this season -- and barring any trades -- it will be the first time since the team rolled into town more than 20 years ago that the Americans will open the season without a drafted player on the roster.

"I don't think that is any cause for concern," Reddick said. "We have a lot of depth coming back. Last year we had two (drafted players). This year if we don't have any, we will persevere."

The rest of the article here.

I'm not surprised Adam dropped of the radar, he had the textbook "Sophomore slump" though he was brilliant in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that isn't likely to be enough.

Kruise is small (duh) and doesn't have the goods like other small guys that have come through Tri--Yellowhorn and Fadden--to catch the eye of scouts. Same with Johnny.

Don't even get me started on how the 3-goalie system Bob used was a disservice to Martyniuk and Owsley and their development. I might shank someone thinking about it, I'm that shakey today with the house buying emotions.

Truth be told, I'm not even paying that much attention to this years' draft, I haven't gotten sucked into it like in years past, probably because I know none of my boys will be picked, who knows.

A little fun before my vacation

It's been awhile since I've looked through the search terms that have led people to this site. Mostly because readership is down here in the dreadful offseason. Which you can share the misery with your own "I hate summer" shirt, find them here.

Search terms:

• Spencer Asuchak 2010 NHL draft (ooo, I like that!)
• Calgary Hitmen puck bunnies
• Cute girls and ball hockey
• Chet Pickard great country name (guess he'll fit right in in Nashville)
• Shaun Vey lazy (I'm leaving this alone)
• Bethany Nash (ooo, just your dream Bethany!) :)
• Brett Martyniuk NHL (like that one too)
• Spencer Asuchak good skater (hmmmm...)
• OH MY GOODNESS in Slovak (yes, in caps too)
• Brendan Shinniman facebook (beware of stalkers Shinny...)
• pictures of max talbet with his shirt off and girls (I left spelling as it was typed in)
• beautiful boy gay (ok, what?)
  

and the grand prize winner for weirdest way to find my site:

• Naked mud wrestling

I kid you not.

New look just in time to leave

So I'm leaving for Manada Canada in a couple days. I'll be tootling around Kelowna and Kamloops with Sister for over a week. I canNOT wait. THE DIRTY JERSEY, THURSDAY, JULY 2 (you know who you are...) This Saturday I'm hosting my annual Canada Day party, also anticipating a shit ton of fun.

Anywhooo, why I am I telling all this, I mean, this is a hockey blog? Obviously, I'll be missing the NHL Draft and opening day of Free Agency crap on July 1st. OMG, where will Vincent Lecavalier end up? Who cares, the Tampa organization is deeply flawed.

Speaking of Tampa, via Lightning Strikes, the "Bolts" (Dolts?) have released info on Prospect Camp and I really really wanna go. Oh Mitch Fadden, I miss that crazy red hair. rawr!

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced it will introduce its top draft picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft to fans on Saturday, July 11 during its 2009 Tampa Bay Lightning Young Guns Camp, a prospects camp, to be held July 8-15 at the St. Pete Times Forum. The team will hold a fan festival on Saturday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m. to present its top draft selections while holding a scrimmage and super skills competition between prospects. The entire camp, including the festival, scrimmage, super skills competition and all practices, are free and open to the public.

Expected to attend (not including 2009 draft picks): Goaltenders -- Riku Helenius, Dustin Tokarski, Bryan Mountain; Forwards -- Justin Courtnall, Kyle De Coste, Steve Downie, Mitch Fadden, Tommy Grant, Johan Harju, Denis Kazionov, Dmitri Kazionov, Alexander Killorn, Chris Lawrence, Matt Marshall, Matt Read, Juraj Simek, Paul Szczechura, Dana Tyrell, James Wright; Defensemen: Mark Barberio, Erik Gustafsson, Scott Jackson, Vladimir Mihalik, Kevin Quick, Ty Wishart, Luke Witkowski.

Rumor has it the Lightning will also be having some camp stuff in Vancouver later this summer, I may or may not be attending the crap out of that.

Once I'm back from vacation, I'll begin on pre-season stuff I have floating around in my head, including over-ager analysis, and then I'll probably take a look at the individual players and my expectations for them for the upcoming season. I know, you're already giddy with excitement, aren't you? Well, you'll just have to wait, sorry to tease.*

I may have computer access in Canada, if so, I'll post some vacation pictures, just to make you jealous. :)

*not really, I've been known to be a tease.

Pre-season schedule (still too far away)

AMS released pre-season schedule today. From amshockey.com:

Today, Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory, along with the Western Hockey League, unveiled the team's 2009-10 pre-season schedule. The team also announced that its 2009-10 Home Opener will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 vs. the Kelowna Rockets at the Toyota Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

This season's exhibition schedule again features two separate tournament appearances for the Americans. Tri-City will participate in the 6th annual Everett Silvertips Pre-Season Tournament, scheduled from Sept. 4-6 at Comcast Arena in Everett. It will be the franchise's third consecutive visit to the Silvertips' tournament and their fourth since the 2004 season.

Then, the Americans will return home and prepare to host the Red Lion Hotels Pre-Season Tournament, scheduled for Sept. 10-13 at Toyota Center in Kennewick. The Tournament will again feature a Thursday afternoon game as well as some new and familiar faces to the schedule. This year's tournament will feature the host Americans, along with the Spokane Chiefs, Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks and the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

2009-10 Tri-City Americans Pre-Season Schedule
Friday, Sept. 4
Tri-City vs. Everett, 7:00 p.m., Comcast Arena (Everett, Wash.)

Saturday, Sept. 5
Tri-City vs. Spokane, 3:00 p.m., Comcast Arena (Everett, Wash.)

Sunday, Sept. 6
Tri-City vs. Prince George, 11:30 a.m., Comcast Arena (Everett, Wash.)

Friday, Sept. 11
Portland vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center (Kennewick, Wash.)

Saturday, Sept. 12
Spokane vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center (Kennewick, Wash.)

Sunday, Sept. 13
Lethbridge vs. Tri-City, 1:00 p.m., Toyota Center (Kennewick, Wash.)

-----------------------------

2009-10 Red Lion Hotels Pre-Season Tournament Schedule
AT TOYOTA CENTER

Thursday, Sept. 10
Everett vs. Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 11
Everett vs. Lethbridge, 2:00 p.m.
Portland vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12
Lethbridge vs. Portland, 2:00 p.m.
Spokane vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 13
Lethbridge vs. Tri-City, 1:00 p.m.

new look

Whattya think? I'm rather pleased. Feedback welcome in the comments :)

Reader's Challenge Saved the Best for Last...or something

OMG OMG you guys, it's Puck Daddy himself, Greg Wyshynski. He has linked this trainwreck of a hockey blog on a couple of occasions, for which I am eternally grateful. Even when it linked to that rant when I went off on one of his guest "writers".

Wysh probably doesn't read this drivel every day, I mean, let's get real. But he was super kind enough to respond when I asked him to contribute to the Reader's Challenge. He apologized for taking so long to respond, but he probably doesn't know (till he sees it here) that I'm so grateful, I can barely put it into words.

PD (Wysh and the other contributers) have always been supportive of hockey bloggers, even those of us that cover Juniors. I know I'm not alone in being grateful for all he has done for the hockey blogging community. And he's a saint for putting up with Yahoo commenters. Srsly. So here's Puck Daddy!

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team? New Jersey Devils

2) What's your least favorite team? Anyone not the New Jersey Devils

3) Who's your favorite player? Milan Lucic

4) Who's your least favorite player? Right now, Chris Pronger

5) Favorite American team? NJ Devils

6) Favorite Canadian team? Montreal Canadiens

7) Favorite International team? Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL

8) Who's your favorite goalie? Martin Brodeur

9) Least favorite goalie? Dan Cloutier (Does he still count? If not, Marty Turco.)

10) Favorite fighter? Daniel Carcillo

11) Least favorite fighter? David Koci

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater? Chicago Blackhawks home (which we all know should be their road)

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater? The Ottawa SNES sweater

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best? Home, which should be away.

15) Who do you want to win the Cup? N/A

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with? Retired: Igor Larionov. Current: Sean Avery.

18) What about a beer? Tim Thomas, for the potential of violence.

19) How about just watch the game with? Pavel Datsyuk, for the broken English and beer.

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with? Martin Brodeur

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc? No.

22) If so, what's your favorite card? N/A, but I do love the one with Joe Juneau and the sled dog.

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth? Don’t have a hockey card worth a damn. But I have an Upper Deck baseball set sealed with a Griffey rookie.

24) Do you live by any hockey players? No.

26) Do you play hockey? Poorly.

27) What do you wear to hockey games? Jerseys.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird? When I was a kid, I believed that a glass of pink lemonade could make the Devils win.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?) Being in the Meadowlands for Game 4 of the Final against the Red Wings in 1995, seeing the Devils win the Cup.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial? Oh, Cup Raise. No competition.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met? Rick Nash

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc? Actually haven’t met one that would qualify yet.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite') Uh, pass? ;)

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments? If hockey players were half as funny on mic as they are off mic, the NHL would be bigger than the Beatles.

35) Why do you really like hockey? Because it’s the single greatest sport in the world, speaking to our primal emotions and entertaining us a different way every night. Why else?

OMG OMG Another 'Canes Fan!! Reader's Challenge

I may or may not have gotten super excited when this Reader's Challenge entry arrived in my inbox. This submission comes from KateTheGreat, a fellow Carolina Hurricanes fan! I totally adore her just for that! Throw in the great responses here on the survey, and it's overwhelming the amount of BAMF going on. Well, minus her not liking 'Canes 3rd jerseys, but I suppose I can let that slide.

I've been an avid Hurricanes fan for years, I got my first taste of blogging at NHL Connect under the alias "KatetheGreat." Yeah...pretty dumb. I wasn't aware you couldn't change it.

Anyway, since then, I've gotten a gig with Triangle Offense, the sports
blog of the Independent Weekly, a Raleigh magazine.
(http://www.indyweekblogs.com/sports/) I go to home games and write them up afterward; it's a blast.

I also cover the 'Canes for www.thehockeywriters.com. I'm the sports editor for my school paper and I've written for various other publications, but hockey is my true love and that's what I want to do forever and ever and ever, preferably.


1)What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
Carolina Hurricanes

2) What's your least favorite team?
Washington Capitals

3) Who's your favorite player?
Eric Staal

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Oof…three way tie? Sean Avery, Alexander Semin and Brooks Orpik, for very
different reasons. Chris Pronger is a close fourth, but only because he
hasn’t done anything particularly douchey lately.

5) Favorite American team?
Hurricanes. Chicago is my Western Conference team.

6) Favorite Canadian team?
Toronto! YouTube personality SteveDangle made a be-Leaf-er outta me.

7) Favorite International team?
Cana…I mean…USA. (shhhh.)

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Cam Ward. I’m pretty predictable. If we’re going oldies, I really miss
Arturs Irbe. If we’re going non-‘Canes…Roberto Luongo. Very VERY glad I
don’t have to see him six times a year with Florida any more.

9) Least favorite goalie?
Tim Thomas

10) Favorite fighter?
The Boogy Man!

11) Least favorite fighter?
Alexander Semin. But then again, he gave me one of my favorite,
laugh-till-you-cry vids with his ridiculous pat-down on Marc Staal, so
maybe at the same time he’s my favorite fighter? It’s a conundrum.

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
I’m currently saving up for a red B’Hawks jersey. I love that logo,
politically correct or no.

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
I’ve been really pissed at the Ducks ever since they dropped the “Mighty,”
ditched the logo and cut the Disney ties. Just…uncool, guys, uncool. Hans
would be so disappointed.

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
“Third” is stupid, in my humble opinion – a passing fad. I think the
‘Canes’ thirds are ugly, which probably contributes to that strong
dislike. They’re far too black. The ‘Canes wear red at home, and while a
lot of people don’t like that, I lurve it. I know purists love home
whites, but why not show off your colors in front of the fans?

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
Crap…missed that boat. I bet Pens in 6, though, so I was close.

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Brandon Sutter seems like a cool guy.

18) What about a beer?
Well, someone would have to buy me said beer, so they’d have to be over
21…I’ve always wished I could party with Mike Commodore, he’s quite the
character.

19) How about just watch the game with?
Ray Whitney would keep me in stitches.

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
I haven’t mentioned Jordie yet, have I? Jordan Staal. Though I’d probably
just gawk at him the entire time - a little bit of hero-worship there.

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
Oh yeah. I’ve got dozens of t-shirts, bobbleheads, posters, figurines,
ect. No cards, though.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
:(

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
:(

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
When I’m at school in Raleigh, I imagine so.

26) Do you play hockey?
Never on ice. I’ve played roller hockey, though.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
These days, I wear nice dress pants, a respectable top, heels (if it’s an
important game or the playoffs, usually flats if it’s not) and my press
pass…but if I’m sitting with the crowd, my uniform consists of my 2XL
autographed Staal jersey, jeans, my humongous red earrings and my red
Chuck Taylors.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might
consider weird?
Only the amount of swearing I do at the television – HBO would be
impressed. And occasionally, if I’m at home, I’ll change clothes midway
through the game if Carolina’s losing badly. Oh, here’s a weirder
one…sometimes I’ll knit. I used to bite my fingernails until they bled,
but now I’ve found a more constructive outlet. I’ll usually knit scarves,
and if bad memories are associated with the scarf (losing streak, tough
loss, ect.) I’ll give it away to a friend. If it’s associated with
winning, I’ll usually donate it to charity. Is that weird? I imagine so.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
June 19, 2006, hands down, because I was there in the lower level with my
dad and have never been happier. The parade the next day wasn’t bad
either. Beating Boston in the Semis this year was also fantastic. Still
the cup win, though.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
“...You said fantasy!”

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Cam Ward really helped me out when I was just starting out with the press
thing, standing in the locker room like a deer in the headlights and
probably looking utterly terrified. He offered to talk to me, then assured
me that I shouldn’t feel intimidated. He was really sweet about it,
though, all smiles. I really, really appreciated that.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
Player? Umm…there are a few I suspect don’t like to be interviewed, but
none of them have been rude.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Well, now that I’ve seen that infamous picture of Victor Hedman…hmmm….

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
I saw something on a website the other day… “Just because there’s a goalie
doesn’t mean you can’t score.” What an awful – but great – metaphor. I’m
using it.

35) Why do you really like hockey?
Hah. This is funny to me because my friend and Red Wings enthusiast Mariam
texted me today with roughly the same question. I launched into a long and
detailed description of why hockey was the best sport around, requiring
more athleticism, more teamwork, and was faster-paced than any other sport
out there. As it turns out, she was trying to make a joke...she just
wanted me to text back “why?” so she could say “Because real men don’t
play with balls.” Whoops.
But no, really. I’ve covered and been exposed to a lot of sports. My
parents have had college football and basketball tickets since I was born
and my dad is a huge Cubs fan. There’s NASCAR, NFL, NBA and more in North
Carolina, but for some reason I latched onto hockey. The game is just
incredible – intricate rules that not everyone understands, which is good
for an elitist such as I (kidding…sort of?) You’re only as good as your
teammate, especially if you want to win, which you can’t say about the
prissy, overpaid prima donnas in the NBA. Hockey has finesse, fights, and
the nicest athletes anywhere. I will never love any one sport as much as
hockey.

Reader's Challenge Jackin' my style so I'm jackin' it back.

I rave and link to the fantabulous Ms. Conduct so often, I don't even know if she needs an introduction at this point. She did do the Reader's Challenge, but over at her site (and go ahead and click on over there, it's had an amazing facelift. I may or may not be totally jealous and plotting a makeover of this site as well...)

Totally ripping this from Schultzie. Sorry girl, but this blog has gotten so boring without Aeros coverage. Also, Mr. C has a bunch of friends over playing video games and I'm looking for ways to basically just avoid that whole scene.

One of them is singing You Oughta Know by Alanis Morrisette (they're playing Rock Band right now). Seriously, I may just have to leave the house.

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
Aeros and Wild

2) What's your least favorite team?
Ducks, Habs, Rockford

3) Who's your favorite player?
Cal Clutterbuck, Barry Brust

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Darcy "Mother" Tucker, Chris Pronger "is a pussy"

5) Favorite American team?
See #1

6) Favorite Canadian team?
Calgary

7) Favorite International team?
Canada

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Brusty, in the minors. Turco, Thomas, and Brodeur in the NHL.

9) Least favorite goalie?
Kipper, but just because he fucked up my fantasy hockey this season. I really don't have it in me to dislike a goalie.

10) Favorite fighter?
Who else but Mitch Love?

11) Least favorite fighter?
Anybody beating up one of MY boys.

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
Love the Kings new third. Love the Wild red (but hate the uniform all together). Love seeing the Aeros in their darks.

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

Florida, Atlanta's and Sen's thirds

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Tend to like the thirds just because they're different. Though only in the NHL. Alternate sweaters in the AHL are usually pretty fug.

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
Anybody but the Ducks

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Any goalie.

18) What about a beer?
Chris Holt!

19) How about just watch the game with?
I've enjoyed JBourne's bloggeration of the playoffs... I suspect he'd be pretty fun to watch a few frames with.

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
Again, any goalie. Or really, any bum off the street. I just love to talk hockey, but if I can learn something, the more the better.

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
No. More to dust. Just my Legace stick and a few Aeros bobbles.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
N/a

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
How much will you give me for the Curtis Murphy bobble I've got? It's a big one! But it's very dusty.

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
Not as far as I know, unless you count Coach Stalin. Now, if I lived in Sugarland...

26) Do you play hockey?
Absofuckinlutely.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
Gotta go biz-caz for my writing gig, so it's slacks, a nice t-shirt, and my light jacket with lots of pockets for my writerly things.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
Not really, no.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
The Cal for Calder thing was pretty fun.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?


31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Haven't actually met too many. Hard to say.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
Same answer. Of course, there are guys I don't like but they're probably pretty nice off the ice.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Mikko Koivu. Dane Crowley. Both make me catch my breath a little. Okay, a lot.

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
None that I'm okay with putting here.

35) Why do you really like hockey?
The grace and skill contrasted/combined with the speed and violence. There's just nothing else like it. That these guys who are so easy going off the ice are such warriors on it. It never gets old for me. My happy place is sitting up at the top of 108 watching the boys do their thing. I'd rather be there more than any other place.

But on the flip side, I'm equally amazed that *I* can play this game, in my own assbackward way, a couple of times a week and am ALMOST as happy as when I'm covering a game. I dunno. Hockey has been completely transformative for me. I owe it a lot.

Reader's Challenge--Representing Detroit

We're winding down the submissions for the Reader's Challenge here, I want to thank everyone who has participated, it really means a lot to me. It's been a blast reading through everyone's answers, seeing how hockey fans are the same--and yet different.

Today's entry comes from Jessica, a Red Wings fanatic. And still a sweetheart, imagine that! ;) She started writing over at NHL Connect and has since branched out (she has included link). To make things easy (for me, since it is all about me) here's her cut-and-pasted bio/info from NHL Connect, enjoy!

Name: Jessica
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Blog Site: http://jlewings.blogspot.com

Career:
Position: Fan
Drafted: Detroit Red Wings 1996
Acquired: selected 7th round, 210th overall
NHL Seasons: 13

Bio:
Jessica hails from the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan where, after attending her first hockey game on a college campus visit, she fell in absolutely in love with hockey and subsequently chose to attend Lake Superior State University. GO LAKERS! College friends turned her on to the Detroit Red Wings and she has been a devoted “Wing nut” ever since - attending as many games as her finances will allow. Jessica currently resides in Ann Arbor, MI and works as a Media and Event Coordinator for the University of Michigan. She is also working towards becoming a professional photographer. GO RED WINGS!!!

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
Detroit Red Wings

2) What's your least favorite team?
Anaheim Dirty, Dirty Ducks

3) Who's your favorite player?
Current: Lidstrom and Zetterberg

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Monster Goon Pronger

5) Favorite American team?
Red Wings

6) Favorite Canadian team?
ummmm..... dunno. I don't like Calgary for sure. I guess Toronto since I've been pulling for them to get better.

7) Favorite International team?
USA and Team Sweden

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Chris Osgood. I still have mad love for Manny Legace too. What can I say? I'm loyal.

9) Least favorite goalie?
Marty Turco - he's always trying to castrate Holmstrom.

10) Favorite fighter?
Darren McCarty!

11) Least favorite fighter?
Bongo-beatin' Semin. hahahaha!!!!

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

Wings jersey - classic

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
Wild (Christmas all year long) and Sharks (Teal - ew)

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Home

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
Detroit!!!! #12 baby!!!!

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Yzerman, Hossa, Alex Delvecchio, Filppula, Legace, Zetterberg

18) What about a beer?
Datsyuk, Maltby, Draper, Osgood, Holmstrom, Ty Conklin, Ted Lindsay, Lilja, Ovechkin, Franzen

19) How about just watch the game with?
Chelios, McCarty, Lidstrom, Yzerman, Mickey Redmond, Ty Conklin

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
Lidstrom, Yzerman, Larionov, Shanahan, Redmond

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
memorabilia - yes. Hockey cards - no.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
n/a

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
I have a 16'x20' team picture of the Wings on the ice right after they won the 2008 Stanley Cup. I think I need like 5 more players to sign it and I'll have them all. Not sure what it's worth but I have to guess that when it is completed that it will be worth quite a bit.

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
nope

26) Do you play hockey?
nope - played broomball in college though. haha!

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
jeans and a jersey

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
Not really. I am part of a private chat group that 'meets' online for every game so I take part in that if I am at home and not actually at the game or watching it somewhere else. I am always trying to determine if there is any correlation between what I am wearing and whether they win or lose. So there are certain shirts that I won't wear during the games. Ok there's something - I always wear a Wings shirt when watching the game.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
The Stanley Cup being given to my team in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008. The first time I saw a live hockey game (at Lake Superior State University in 1995). The first time I got to go to a game at the Joe in 2002. The first playoff game I went to. The 2009 Winter Classic. Steve Yzerman's jersey retirement (favorite but also most sad). The parade to celebrate the 2008 Stanley Cup win. Training Camp 2008. The Toast of Hockeytown where I actually got to talk to my hockey heros.... It's really great to be a hockey fan - and specifically a Red Wing fan.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
"Best baby in the world!" - Hockey fans aren't like other fans
Fantasy night commercial (french maid outfit and full-on goalie gear for the guy)

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Steve Yzerman. I met many of the Wings at the Toast of Hockeytown and I was incredibly impressed by how genuine and nice they all were. Unreal. And Kenny Holland was a gem. Filpulla was the sweetest guy I met.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
I haven't met any pros that I thought were mean or rude.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Yzerman, Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Hossa, Maltby, Conklin, Ericsson

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
Damn, it's good to be a Red Wings fan!!! GO WINGS!!!

35) Why do you really like hockey?
Because it is beautiful. And it is rough. It is incredibly fast so if you turn away for a moment you will miss something. There is no other sport that requires as much of its players. And the men who play the game are overall humble, respectful, and really good people. I look at men like Steve Yzerman and I think about how truly amazing the players in this sport are and I use the lessons that I learn from him (integrity, leadership, team first mentality, perseverance, courage) and apply them to my life. The game is interesting and fascinating and the players are fantastic people. How can you ask for more from a sport?

Reader's Challenge new fans always welcome!

AMS fans are the most awesome in the universe, I'm convinced of it. Sure, there's always a few bad seeds, just like with anything, but today's not one of them.

New-ish fan Aersilyra is today's Reader's Challenge submission. She seems to have a thing for Brooks Macek--who the hell can blame her? She's already contacted me about participating in liveblogs next season to which I enthusiasically replied "hell yes! anyone is welcome!" Well, I'll let her tell the rest, here's Aerislyra!

Right. So, I'm a new fan of the game. :D My first Ams game was 10.31.08 and it wasn't very long after that that I totally fell in love with the team and hockey itself. My life is forever changed! lol Seriously, though, it is. No joke. Anyways, I stumbled upon this awesome blog shortly after this season was over for the Ams and have been lurking ever since. BUT! I fully intend on participating in liveblogs and whatnot once next season comes around (if that's cool with you guys), so yeah. So far, I'm really only familiar with WHL teams, so that's pretty much what I've based my answers on...

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
Tri-City Americans

2) What's your least favorite team?
Spokane Chiefs

3) Who's your favorite player?
Brooks Macek and Chet Pickard

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Tyler Myers and Ryan Letts

5) Favorite American team?
Tri-City Americans

6) Favorite Canadian team?
Tie between the Vancouver Giants and Calgary Hitmen

7) Favorite International team?
Canada

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Chet Pickard

9) Least favorite goalie?
Dustin Tokarski

10) Favorite fighter?
Mitch McColm (so sad he's been traded, omg), Tyler Schmidt and Brendan Shinnimin

11) Least favorite fighter?
That asshat Letts

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
Ams blues

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
That god-awful Kelowna thing. I mean seriously. Do they like having the ugliest uniforms in the Dub?!

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Away

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
Well, for the Memorial Cup, the Ams of course, but I'll settle for ANYONE but the dirty Chiefs. (Yeah, I'm a new fan and can't stand the Chiefs already, lol) As for the Stanley Cup, I don't really care. I don't have a favorite NHL team yet, though my ex-boyfriend had gotten me kinda hooked on the Pittsburgh Penguins, so the Pens I guess.

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Jarrett Toll

18) What about a beer?
Spencer Humphries! May not be legal but he'd be a total riot, I'm sure.

19) How about just watch the game with?
Brooksy? Though that's probably not such a good idea. I so wouldn't be paying any attention to the game, lol

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
Chet Pickard

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
Yup, I've got an Ams hockey wall and jersey collection going.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
Brooks Macek's U.S. Cellular card, just because.

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
I doubt it's worth anything but all of the stuff I've collected so far is priceless to me.

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
Not that I know of. I live the next street over from the lady that does the Ams' jerseys, though.

26) Do you play hockey?
Nope

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
One of my Ams jerseys, usually with a random Ams t-shirt underneath (for double the good luck), and jeans.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
Well, for home games I have to get there before the doors open then I walk several laps around the building 'til just about game time, picking up a program, a pop, and 50/50's along the way. I change the order of what I pick up if they've been losing. Think I might have to change the whole thing up a little next season to fit warmies in, though.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
Meeting Jarrett Toll and getting a picture with him when he was signing after the game. He's such a sweetie!

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
The Custodial Engineer Goalie one is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I just about die laughing every time I watch it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIpA9sow6Vo
"Hehehe poke check!" "Hey, buddy! Just waxed there! ...Jerk." ROFLMFAO!
I love the Road Trip and "LOSER! LOSER! BEST BABY IN THE WORLD!" ones, too.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Jarrett Toll. And Fadden was sweet to stop and sign my jerseys in the parking lot before the game on his birthday. :)

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
I've only met a few of the guys and they were all pretty nice.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Babyface Mace all the way! <3 Oh, and Chetter. And Toller. And Schmidt. And Humps. And... well, hell. The whole damn team is pretty hot.

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
Is it next season yet? No? ...Shit.

35) Why do you really like hockey?
I love hockey for pretty much all the same reasons that the other fans here have mentioned. The speed, the skill, the intensity. The dedication that the players have to be as good as they are. The passionate fans. The teamwork, the amazing plays and the amazing saves. So many reasons, I couldn't possibly list them all. I've never fallen hard for any sport until I was introduced to hockey. It's just so bad ass in so many ways.

Reader's Challenge from across the pond

It just shows there's hockey fans everywhere. And they're all freakin' awesome.

Today's Reader's Challenge comes from Ellie who writes over at Cherry-Pucking the Opposition. It's a great read, interesting to see how things are different yet similar (as far as hockey goes) in the UK compared to North America.

There's a great post about what it may or may not mean to be a puck-bunny, here's a slice:

On further investigation I realised that there was much debate over these
so-called ‘puckbunnies’. The term clearly implies that these ladies are not
dedicated in their support and are merely interested in the pursuit of the
players and their sexual attractiveness. My question being…in the age of Bettman
and his NHL marketing strategy is it a good thing to have plenty of young girls
and women lusting over hockey players?

The rest of the post here, I strongly encourage you to give it a read. But onto the Challenge, here's Ellie!

Transatlantic Hockey fan. I stumbled across hockey during my University years due to academic insomnia and was hooked from the 1st. I'll sound off about hockey to anyone who is willing to listen, much to the dismay and confusion of many of my friends on this side of the pond! I'm a Penguins fan through and through, though I have enormous respect for any player and team, their skill is just astounding to me!! I also follow British hockey (EIHL) where I am an avid Sheffield Steelers follower, and try and get to as many games as possible!! I've been described as having a "vomit-inducing love affair" with this game, it's woven into my life and I can't imagine my day without it!

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
Pittsburgh Penguins, Sheffield Steelers (EIHL), more recently been following Frölunda HC

2) What's your least favorite team?
Er, the very dirty dirty Ducks of course!

3) Who's your favorite player?
Ok, this is hard...I've gotta go Lecavalier(SHOCK HORROR!)

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Chris Pronger

5) Favorite American team?
Penguins

6) Favorite Canadian team?
I gotta go Montreal

7) Favorite International team?
Canada...I would say GB, but that would probably be a bit of a joke (though they did do well this year!)

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Right now I'm going with Osgood. I've been recently drawn into to some serious Oz-love!!!!Hahaha! I really like Mike Smith though, I'm hoping Tampa don't break him...he has the potential to be so good! On this side of the pond Jody Lehman has been such a standout for Sheffield this year...I just love him!

9) Least favorite goalie?
I've never got the Luongo love-in! Maybe I missed something.....

10) Favorite fighter?
Who doesn't love to watch Hartnell fight, hahaha!

11) Least favorite fighter?
None that I can think particularly repulse me...sure a number of isolated incidents I didn't like but that's
about it!

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
Of course the Penguins black, white and gold, I'm a sucker for the Dallas gear though too!

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
Ouch, Tampa Bay's third jersey, something about the Rangers jersey makes me want to projectile vomit too!

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Home

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
I don't want to talk about it! Hahaha!

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
I'd sit and share a latte with...mmm...Sid I have to say, I surprised myself with
this one!

18) What about a beer?
EIHL's Rod Sarich...I'd raise a beer with that man any day!

19) How about just watch the game with?
Geno....he wouldn't have to talk much then...just point and spout random Berlitz phrase book inspired words!

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
Lidstrom....I would have so much to ask!

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
No, I wish I did!

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
n/a

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
n/a

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
Oh, maybe like an hour away so that's not near enough that I care!

26) Do you play hockey?
Ouch....Age:13 Location:Hull Ice Arena Reason:School skating lesson Incident: Fell on my ass...sorry, having a flash back, the answer is no!

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
Staple wear...jeans, jersey or t.shirt over long sleeved top...whatever tickles my fancy that day!!

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
I don't watch the final two minutes of Penguins games anymore. I always have a glass of water to hand...dry nervous mouth and all!

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
Gotta go British this time. Sheffield not only taking the League title this year, but also the playoff title. They were such a deserving team and love every single one...they are all grinders!

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
The Sedin boys shaking their thing was pretty awesome..or shocking!

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
I've never met any NHL players, though I do hope one day to rub shoulders with one of them! I once saw an EIHL player in a club....does that count? Ok, ok so I may have embellished that story at some point too.....

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
Like I say......geographically I'm at a serious disadvantage!

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
I gotta go with the lastest squeeze Ericsson...is there any other answer?

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
"At the end of the day, I hate Chris Pronger for undisclosed personal reasons!"

35) Why do you really like hockey?
I'm not sure....I surely shouldn't have liked it considering I come from a family whopredominantly like soccer and F1. I've always been stunned at the level of skill these players possess,I have no problem saying they are some of the most skilled sportsmen in the world. The passion, the strength,
the committment, the emotion...need I say more...oh and the fans are just outstanding!

Reader's Challenge: another WHL fan

Next up in Reader's Challenge is another one of my new favoritest people in the world, MotleySu. MS follows the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Everett Silvertips (split loyalties, eh?) and keeps everyone informed over at The Daily Su. She has more access than the typical blogger (like me) because she also works for King 5 Sports out of Seattle. With that position she is able to get interviews with players, and former players. In fact, there's one coming out soon on former Tri-City American Logan Stephenson. I can wait, I heart the Logan! Additionally, I've been asked to write up a pre-season thing on the AMS for King5 so that's a pretty sick deal, I'm very excited.

But enough about me, here's MotleySu!

1)What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
WHL: I like all the Washington Teams (T-Birds, ‘Tips, Americans, Chiefs);
AHL: Any team that has a former WHL’er on it, but especially Houston Aeros, Manitoba Moose, WBS Baby Penguins, Worcester Sharks, Manchester Monarchs;
NHL: Penguins, Canucks, Sharks

2) What's you least favorite team?
I don’t have one. Not really.

3) Who's your favorite player?
All-time: Mario!
Now: WHL: Thomas Hickey (yeah, I know he’s AHL now, but he was WHL until April!), Kyle Beach (go ahead and scream, Jennifer!),
AHL: Benoit Pouliot, Mitch Love, Alex Goligoski;
NHL: Jack Johnson, Geno, Kris Letang, Ryan Clowe, Patty Marleau and yes, Sid.
Oh, and I have a secret, "dark alley" crush on Ovie.

4) Who's your least favorite player?
WHL: Ryan Letts;
AHL: no one;
NHL: Jarko Ruutu

5) Favorite American team?
Pens and all the WA state WHL’ers

6) Favorite Canadian team?
Vancouver

7) Favorite International team?
Team Canada, especially this year because of Chet Pickard and Thomas Hickey.

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
WHL: Chet Pickard and his brother Calvin;
AHL: Cory Schneider; Anton Khudobin
NHL: MAF, of course. Also like Tim Thomas, Nabby and Ozzie (former T-Bird!)

9) Least favorite goalie?
Don’t really have one. Okay, I lied. I didn't like the goalie for Team Sweden who played Canada in the WJC Championship. He kept coming out of the crease and his helmet kept flying off. I think he was doing it on purpose.

10) Favorite fighter?
Georges Laraque, although I like him more for the stuff he does OFF the ice; Mitch Love- my favorite scrapper, hands down, although I heard Logan Stephenson goes quite a lot.

11) Least favorite fighter?
Kyle Beach. Love him as a player. Hate him as an instigator.
And I agree with Christy. I don't like seeing stars trying to scrap. Just play the damn game and leave the scrapping to those who know how to fight.

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/swea
ter?
WHL: Love the dark blue T-Birds jersey;
AHL: Moose;
NHL: Pens black home jersey. I also like the classic Rangers jersey

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
WHL: Calgary Hitmen- their jersey scares me, Brandon Wheat Kings;
AHL: Peoria Rivermen;
NHL: Columbus

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Pens: Home. T-Birds: Away

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
MemoriaCupl: I wanted the T-Birds but that didn’t happen. Then I wanted Tri-City but that didn’t happen. Then I wanted Kelowna to keep it WHL but that didn’t happen.

Calder Cup: I wanted the Houston Aeros but that didn’t happen. I wanted the Baby Pens or Baby Sharks but that didn't happen. Then I wanted Providence but that didn't hapen. So now I’m pulling for the Moose.


Stanley Cup: Pittsburgh, of course!

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Thomas Hickey and Sid. And maybe Mario. Although I think I would be too tongue tied to speak.

18) What about a beer?
Geno and Kyle Beach, maybe Mitch Love. Ryan Clowe seems like a nice guy to get hammered with.

19) How about just watch the game with?
Mitch, Chet, Thomas, Sid, heck, everyone!

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
No one. I’d embarrass myself with my dearth of knowledge. Meaning, I really know next to nothing about hockey. I just fake it very well.

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
Jerseys: Sid, Geno, Cheli, Ovie, Mike Bossy, Hickey and a generic ‘Tips. Autographed pucks: Luc Bourdon, Kris Letang, Benoit Pouliot, Sid, Geno, MAF, Thomas Hickey, Kyle Beach, Roberto Luongo

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
No clue. The WHL players' pucks I have are from their draft days.

24) Do you live by any hockey player
No. Wait, that's not entirely true. My hubby played hockey in juniors, the USHL and college. Does that count?

26) Do you play hockey?
I’m learning to skate so I can learn to play.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
If I’m covering the game, nice jeans and nice top.
If’ I’m going as a fan, casual jeans and a jersey.
If I’m singing the anthem(s), jeans and the home team’s jersey.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
I cannot watch a game with Stu. I have to be by myself. Also, I wear the same jersey until a team loses. Then I wash the jersey and don’t wear it again until they win. Lame, I know.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
The “Miracle” – 1980 Olympics. My dad rigged up our TV in Germany so we could watch the game. Amazing.
Also, when I sang at a T-Birds game v. Prince George this season, I got a nice “pre game” show from Joe Caligiuri (he flashed me in his skivvies as I headed up the tunnel to the ice) Oh, and singing the anthem at a T-Birds/Spokane game in Feb, then seeing Calvin Pickard shut the Chiefs out 3-0.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
I like the one with Joe Thornton trying to butter toast. Also the Sedin “Swedish Twins” one.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
All the T-Birds and Silvertips, and Logan Stephenson was very nice on the phone. The only pro I've met is Owen Nolan. I met him after a Sharks/Leafs game in '95 in San Jose. He was very nice. And very cute.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
I havent met anyone rude but I don’t want to meet Ryan Letts because I’m bound to punch him in the face for his hit on Chet.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Too many to name here. Okay, I'll name a few: Ryane Clowe (we came sorta face to face before the Sharks/Wings game in Jan. He looked right at me and my knees went weak); Benoit Pouliot (he is just beautiful); Sid (he can leave his socks under my bed any day or night).

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
Hmmm… I’ll have to let you know.

35) Why do you really like hockey?
I love the skill, the passion, the beauty. I think it’s intense and amazing. I don’t have words. It’s just magnificent.

Reader's Challenge still going strong!

CC is today's contestant on the Reader's Challenge. She's a young lady from the east coast who is a recent addition to my readership (w00t!). Another one to add to my list of awesomeness. Srsly.

I'm a 23 year old from central VA, grew up here but spent some of my summers in Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan with family. Graduated from college last year in atmospheric science... work at a TV station currently. Umm.. what else.. I think the survey pretty much covered everything else hockey-related. My relatives are all Wings fans but I grew up here so the Caps take precedence for me, but the Wings are a very, very close second. Umm.. I've never really had a lesson in hockey but I've played pick-up games before, for the most part street hockey, only a few times on ice because ice time here is hard to come by and very expensive.

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
Washington Capitals

2) What's your least favorite team?
Pittsburgh Penguins

3) Who's your favorite player?
Pavel Datsyuk

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Chris Pronger

5) Favorite American team?
Caps :)

6) Favorite Canadian team?
Hmm... I like Montreal and Vancouver, not sure which I like more, maybe Vancouver.

7) Favorite International team?
USA

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Dominik Hasek, all-time. But for current players... I am really starting to like Varlamov but he hasn't been around long enough sooo... maybe Lundqvist, Toskala, Bryzgalov, Luongo or Backstrom. One of those. Or Steve Mason. Yeah, I dunno, I haven't really felt strongly about a goalie since Hasek.

9) Least favorite goalie?
Tim Thomas or Marty Turco.

10) Favorite fighter?
are there really any anymore? I guess Brashear.. he might be one of the only few left. If not him, then maybe Milan Lucic.

11) Least favorite fighter?
Daniel Carcillo and superstars that try to fight. Just don't do it!

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

probably the Wings jersey and I really like the new Caps jerseys too. Pretty much any team with red as their color, I think it's a great sports color.

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
The Bandwagon Baby Blues as I like to call the Pens third jersey. I also hated the Caps old style.

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Home

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
Detroit

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
wow.. that's a tough one. All-time, maybe Phil Esposito. Current players... one of the Finns. Maybe Kiprusoff.

18) What about a beer?
Nicklas Backstrom.

19) How about just watch the game with?
Mickey Redmond

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
Craig Laughlin

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
yes

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
Nick Lidstrom

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
I don't think any of them are worth anything much really.

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
haha yes...?

26) Do you play hockey?
not regularly

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
pants, tennis shoes, a jersey if it's a pro game, sweatshirt if not

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
for playoff games, I have to put the jersey on right before the puck drop. Can't wear it all day long and can't put it on halfway thru the game. When the Caps were still in it, I had to watch elimination games in my room by myself in silence.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
Ummmm anytime the Wings won the Cup. Beating Boston 10-2 last year in DC is pretty up there on my list too because I was actually there.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
a few of the more classic ones - I like some of the old Fedorov ones, and I like the Swedish Twins one. And the NHL All-Star Road Trip commercial was funny too.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Haven't met any pros. So I'll just say any of my friends that play :)

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
Mmm one of the beer leaguers that takes beer league way too seriously.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
That I've met? Or just in general? Well we already said I haven't met any so I guess in general... Hank Zetterberg

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
"Keep your legs closed, you whore" - said to goalies

35) Why do you really like hockey?
You have to learn how to move before you can learn anything else, it's the fastest sport in the world, it's one of the more international sports in the world, you get to watch the games in air conditioning and controlled climate, players really give it their every effort and it takes some of the best conditioned athletes to play it. It's a different and more down-to-earth culture than in other sports, and, if you're just really smart, you can defy the odds and not just make the best league, but be a star in it.

Reader's Challenge new readers always welcome!

When I saw the website was called "Buckeyes Are Deadly Nuts" I was intrigued. And giggly.

Today's Reader's Challenge comes from Aubrey, a Pittsburgh Penguins fan in central Ohio (hence the buckeye bit). The best part, in my opinion, is after each game she has 3 "awards" she "gives out"--Bright Shiny Gold Star to the best player; Summer's Eve award for biggest douche; and the "WTF?" Media award. It's good stuff right there. I give waffles. I like the Summer's Eve thing. I may steal it. Or come up with something similar but different. Who knows. Here's Aubrey.

I'm a new reader of yours (in rural Central Ohio) and I'm really enjoying all your "Reader's Challenges." I figured it was only fair to send you mine since I "borrowed" it already awhile back as a way to carry me through the hockeyless days before the Conference Finals started. You're welcome to post it if you like, but please don't feel like you have to!

Aubrey

I originally posted the Challenge here.

1) What's your favorite team?
Pittsburgh Penguins

2) What's your least favorite team?
Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals and Red Wings are a close second, followed by any team in a state where “prepare for winter” means to turn the air conditioner off.

3) Who's your favorite player?
Pens: Kris, Max, Sid, Geno, Brooksie, Scuds…all of them!
Other: Martin St. Louis, Alexei Kovalev, Mike Commodore, a lot of the Blackhawks, and former Buckeyes Ryan Kesler and RJ Umberger. I kind of like Patrick Elias in spite of his being a Devil.
All time: Mario

4) Who's your least favorite player?
Other: Zach Parise, but I don’t know exactly why. The Sedins because they’re just creepy. Caps diva Alex Semin because he can’t back up his trash-talk, he’s a little chauvinistic and is a self proclaimed prophet. Also "David" Steckel and Chris Pronger.
All time: Many spring to mind, but chief among them is Eric Lindros.

5) Favorite American team?
Um, the Pens… I just said!

6) Favorite Canadian team?
Vancouver or Calgary I guess. More by process of elimination than anything else. I don’t like Toronto or Ottawa, get sick of hearing about the Canadiens, and just can’t like the Oilers.

7) Favorite International team?
What kind of American would I be if I didn’t say the United States?

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
Pens: Daisy. It’s a roller coaster relationship, but I’m definitely along for the ride.
Other: I kind of like Tim Thomas. I’m glad we’re not playing him this round and I can continue to do so.
All time: Patrick Roy. Best hockey quote ever: “I can’t really hear what Jeremy (Roenick) says because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.”

9) Least favorite goalie?
Current: Vesa Toskala. His six closets, sparkly Mickey Mouse t-shirt, and man purse creep me out.
All time: Ron Hextall, Olaf Kolzig, John Vanbiesbrouck, Chris Osgood. I always thought Eddie Belfour was kind of gross.

10) Favorite fighter?
Pens: Right now? Max Talbot. Doesn’t matter that he got his butt kicked. We won Game Six and we wouldn’t have without him or that fight. Shhh…
Other: Now, a lot of people are listing Alex Semin as their least favorite fighter because of this clip. I personally find it hilariously gay! Girl fight!
All time: Pr’y Bob Probert.

11) Least favorite fighter?
Current: I never really cared for Donald Brashear even before he was a Capital. Jody Shelley annoys me because of the adoration he received from lunatic newly minted Blue Jackets “fans” that thought hockey was just about beating people up (although I don’t really think of him as much of a fighter).
All time: Tie Domi

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
Are you not paying attention? P-E-N-S! (Outfit? Has anyone ever heard a hockey fan use the term outfit? If you did, I hope you hit them!)

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
I hate the Pens baby blue “throwbacks”.
1. They are bad luck.
2. We’re just hanging on to the edge of respectability with our team name. Penguins are not even semi-scary creatures, and jerseys in such a juvenile color don’t exactly scream toughness either.
3. They are tacky looking from a fashion standpoint.

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
Home or away doesn’t make any difference to me. Third jerseys were conceived by some moron to make a buck. I will never buy one ever.

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
The Pens, obviously!

*** I would like to preface these next few questions by saying that, if I should happen to find myself in any of these situations, I would completely clam up and not be able to utter anything remotely resembling an intelligent comment! That said the answer to all of them is Kris Letang ;) I must talk about him too much because I just ran across a link for my own blog when I Googled him! ***

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
Pens: Kris Letang
Other: Former Buckeye, current Blue Jacket, and native Pittsburghian R.J. Umberger. If I could manage to squeak out a sentence or two, there seems to be enough common ground to carry on a conversation.

18) What about a beer?
Pens: Kris Letang (And also Sid, because it would be fun to see how many beers it would take before you could get him to say something really mean about anybody.)
Other: Any number of the current Blackhawks; Toews, Sharp, Burish, Keith, Campbell, etc. They seem like fun guys.

19) How about just watch the game with?
Pens: Kris Letang
Other: I’m surprised to find that Mike Commodore of the Blue Jackets is growing on me. He’s well-spoken and patiently puts up with the local interviewers really stupid questions, while still managing to have a personality.

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
That’s a scary thought. I would only show how pathetically limited my hockey knowledge is! I’ll bet Tanger would be really nice about it though…

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
Not actively, but I have.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
I don’t really have a favorite card. I do remember how excited I was when I pulled my first autographed one though: Mike Modano, signed in blue Sharpie.

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
Don’t have a clue.

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
I don’t know where any hockey players live, because frankly that’s taking fan-ship a little too far. Though I imagine most of the Blue Jacket players live in the nicer areas of Columbus, which I’m nowhere near.

26) Do you play hockey?
Ha ha ha! Excuse me while I get up from laughing myself out of my chair. I’ve never tried to ice skate. I can barely roller skate, and my aim is so bad that our dog doesn’t bring me her ball to throw unless she’s desperate. My athletic prowess runs more to lawn games. I can kick your ass at bocce.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
Jeans, some sort of hockey shirt, and tennis shoes. I also put all my essential stuff in my pockets and leave my purse at home, ditto for a coat or anything else I’d have to find a place for during the game. There’s no extra room in the cheap seats.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
Most people here in Central Ohio find watching hockey a weird ritual in and of itself. For the playoffs I’ve been sporting a “playoff beard”. That has really freaked people out. Also, I’ve worn the same thing for almost every Pens playoff game day, switching things up a bit after a loss. A note of caution to female hockey fans: Be sure to select your Game One wardrobe carefully! I didn’t and as a result I am stuck wearing one of the most uncomfortable bras I own.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
In 2004 the World Cup of Hockey came to Columbus for a couple of exhibition games. I was lucky enough to go to the Canada vs. USA game and attend morning practice for the US and Russian teams. I'd only been to a handful of games (two NHL and half a dozen Ohio State) and had never attended a practice before. I hadn't thought of myself as the type to be “star struck”, but I spent the first ten minutes of the practice saying to myself, “I am sitting less than three feet away from Mike Modano. If it weren’t for this glass, I could touch him!” (This is why I’m not hopeful that any of the aforementioned meetings would turn out well, lol!) Bill Guerin kept banging the glass in front of me and even though I knew he was gonna do it, I jumped every time. Consequently, he became one of my least favorite players. (Until he wound up in Pittsburgh this year!) It’s an experience deserving of its own blog. I’ll see if I can upload some of the pictures too.

(I'm also kind of proud that I told a "hockey expert" back in 2002 that nobody would win the Art Ross Trophy with as few points as Iginla ever again, and except for St. Louis in '03-'04 I'm right so far.)

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
All time: Nike's out-of-work goalies
More recently: the NHL Road Trip ad with all the hotel shenanigans.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
I’ve never met any player.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
Once again, never met one.

33) Who's the best looking? (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Pens: Kris Letang!!!
Other: Sheldon Souray’s pretty hot.
All time: Mario is still a good looking man.
Hmm, apparently I have a thing for Franch Canadians...

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
Pierre McGuire is creepy and every analyst on TV has the same opinion, often in exactly the same words. I miss John Davidson!

35) Why do you really like hockey?
I firmly believe that hockey has the best parts of other sports (the physicality and aggression of football, the fast paced action of basketball, the tradition of baseball, the athleticism of soccer) made more challenging by playing on skates. It's graceful and violent at the same time. Hockey lacks the constant drama of steroids and jail time. The players are frequently sexy and usually very articulate. Even those whose first language is not English are easier to understand than many American football and basketball stars. Also, nearly all hockey players are nice guys. You don’t have to look hard to find photos or videos of players from any given team visiting children’s hospitals or attending charity events.

Reader's Challenge Maple Leafs Represent

What's that you say? Another Ontario hottie into the Maple Leafs? These things cannot be helped people. I need to look into moving to Ontario. Or stop getting bizarre crushes on these gorgeous hockey fans that are so far away. It cannot be healthy.

Today's Reader's Challenge comes from bkblades from the awesome Fallen Leafs. He's also a regular commenter/poster over at Pension Plan Puppets.

bkblades says: "I'm yet another Torontonian hockey fan legend (this city just breeds handsome and absolutely scholarly gentlemen, doesn't it?). Admirably, I'm tied down to the Blue & White of the Maple Leafs, but so far, it has been a one-sided relationship. I'm willing to take the abuse because as the great storyteller of Dexter Holland has repeatedly told me, "The more you suffer, the more it shows you really care...Right?" Though I've gotten to really know "Dave Schultz" only recently, I was a long time lurker and quite possibly the only Maple Leafs fan who joined her in cheering for the Carolina Hurricanes in this year's run. That's probably why they lost in the end. Sorry."

Is it inappropriate to say I find it sexy that he admits to lurking around these parts? With hockey season over, his site is one more resource for my bandwagon fandom of the Blue Jays (or BJs as it's fun to say). "It's [his site] nothing exciting though - it's mainly where I fawn over cute girls and Roy Halladay. I'm in the midst of a post about duck - virtues as food, not as part of the animal kingdom. It's a work in progress."

1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?

Toronto Maple Leafs

2) What's your least favorite team?

Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers

3) Who's your favorite player?

Luke Schenn, Nik Antropov, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith

4) Who's your least favorite player?

Cam Janssen. Chris Drury (not his fault per se, but I can't stand the media fawning over him about his "leadership")

5) Favorite American team?

Nashville Predators

6) Favorite Canadian team?

Toronto Maple Leafs

7) Favorite International team?

Team Canada. And strictly because of my repeated viewings of D2, Trinidad & Tobago for their celebrations with steel drums.

8) Who's your favorite goalie?

Felix Potvin. Curtis Joseph...But I'm more of a defenseman kind of guy. Ask me about defensemen and I can list like 50 of them.

9) Least favorite goalie?

Ron Hextall. Martin Brodeur.

10) Favorite fighter?

Ray Emery. Only he would smile the whole way through with an artistic rendition of Mike Tyson on his mask. Wendel Clark is in a stratosphere of his own, so I didn't count him.

11) Least favorite fighter?

Donald Brashear. Mike Komisarek. That fat guy in Philadelphia who fell into the penalty box when Tie Domi sprayed water on him.

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

Blackhawks always had it right. LA Kings purple & yellow uniforms were pretty regal back in the day.

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

Nashville Predators puke green-yellow alternative jersey. I would have loved to sit in during that meeting when someone convinced the head honchos that the colour of puke would be a spectacular choice. "Hear me out guys. Yes, I passed out, but before I did, I looked at my vomit and I wasn't disgusted. Somehow, we need to colourize my revelation."

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?

Home. The Leafs 32-point Maple Leaf vintage is best, but obviously that makes too much sense to make it a regular jersey. Really like the third jerseys of Minnesota Wild, too.

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?

I admit with the Leafs out of the playoffs the last few years, the Stanley Cup has been a passing affair for me. I cheered for the Ducks and went on the Carolina bandwagon as well, but those were flirtatious in nature. Nothing serious. I desperately want to make sweet playoff love to the blue and white again.

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?

Jarome Iginla. Cassie Campbell. Yeah, I know she's not playing right now, but she seems really down to earth and I would so hit on her when Jarome goes to the washroom.

18) What about a beer?

Patrick Sharp. Marc Savard. Pavel Datsyuk.

19) How about just watch the game with?

Alex Ovechkin. Tim Thomas. Georges Laraque.

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?

Dave King. Igor Larionov. Bobby Orr.

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?

I used to collect hockey cards. Oh, and some hockey POG.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?

A 3D gold embroidered card of Patrick Roy. It's just so ostentatious and for a lack of a better word, bling-bling.

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?

Probably my Curtis Joseph or Rob Blake rookie card. But most likely, it's some Magic the Gathering card with a picture of a Lotus Vale (brief period of time when I lost my grasp with the mortal world and got into Magic. I'm over it. Really).

24) Do you live by any hockey players?

Not that I know of, but Toronto's a pretty big city. My binoculars only go so far.

25) No question given, but I was born in majestic NY. That's right, ladies - North York, former municipal/district of Toronto.

26) Do you play hockey?

Only ball hockey. But I'm a superstar player in my mind.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?

Having never been to a hockey game, I'm only speculating. But my Maple Leafs Starter(TM) cap with lightning bolts coming out, jeans, simple long-sleeve shirt with a warm jacket/coat sounds about right.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?

I talk to myself and frequently comment on particular plays, players, hot fans, etc. I usually don't watch hockey sober with a lot of people because they think I'm loud/crazy with my inane observations.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)

The entire 1993 season. That was the year when the entire city was immersed in the revelry and jubilation of the Blue Jays winning the World Series and the Leafs busting out as a fantastic hockey team. My teacher introduced me to Doug Gilmour, my parents embraced my new-found love for hockey to get closer to their son, and the Wayne Gretzky/Kerry Fraser debacle permanently drove me to become a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?

Those Nike commercials with those French Canadian goalies were good times. "Learn how to make a kick save!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytG2X_93JlQ&feature=related

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?

I once met former Leafs Brad Boyes and Carlo Colaiacovo at the Air Canada Centre before they made it to the NHL. They were very patient, even when I was pretty obnoxious myself as I couldn't pronounce Carlo's last name and nervously said, "Colai, Cola, well, whatever. You know your name." Sorry Carlo.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?

Can't say that I've met any rude or dismissive athletes.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')

I'm cheating here, but I'm going with field hockey player Ellen Hoog of the Netherlands. Cute and can throw a mean body check I'm sure.

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?

I'm not the first, nor will I be the last person to rant about this, but those Lululemon pants make me confused as a guy. A 50 year old or so woman wore one today and I peeked a glance at her butt, not realizing who that tush belonged to before it was too late. Damn you, yoga stretch pants. I'm supposed to be checking out ladies my own age. This has nothing to do with hockey, but I assume many women wear them to hockey events. After all, they're worn everywhere nowadays. They're like Uggs for your ass.

35) Why do you really like hockey?

There's something endearing about the amount of missing teeth being directly proportional to how much respect someone gets - the more teeth you lose, the more love you get from people. Only in hockey and that's why I love it.

Pens win!!

PENS WIN!! Yeah, they beat my 'Canes. But they beat the effing Red Wings!! Hossa and Conklin both now on suicide watch. Possibly Jordan Messier as well...


You can't really see Bettman's Sid-boner here
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images



Another Staal on the Cup!
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images



Geno making kissy faces in the *exact* spot I kissed the Cup!!
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Reader's Challenge--One of my new BFFs!

oh. em. gee. You guys, today's Reader's Challenge submission comes from one of the awesomest people I've met in the last 2 weeks. hahaaaaa!!

In all seriousness, this entry comes from JoJo. We may or may not be twins, separated at birth (and I've aged and she hasn't, ruining the metaphor). I'm trying to convince her to get here for pre-season tournament--let's make it happen people!

JoJo also supplied some information about herself for this introduction, so I'll let her get started!

Ok...so, I'm Joanne aka JoJo aka TealGirl730 depending on the website you're at...I have only known what a blue line is since January 5th 2008 (my first Sharks game). I got into hockey after I moved to California after living my entire life (23 years) in NY. I got my first taste of hockey blogging at NHL Connect and haven't been the same since. I have taken on being the AHL bitch...and I go back to the East Coast whenever I can and always make time to check out the Baby Sharks while I'm there. Thanks to our lovely friend Su, I got to cover the 2009 AHL All Star Game with press creds and it was the best time of my life...I am a sarcastic bitch of a New Yorker who demands to be taken seriously as a hockey writer yet can't seem to get the images of rippled abs and hot jock straps out of her mind...

Just so you get the jist of the kind of gal I am...word it however you like, I know it will be FAB!!!!!! Anything else you wanna know, let me know...
Oh! And here's my blog...http://10minutemissconduct.blogspot.com/


1) What's (Who's?) your favorite team?
NHL - San Jose Sharks
AHL - Worcester Sharks

2) What's your least favorite team?
NHL - To be honest, the honor of the number one spot fluctuates between the Ducks, the Hawks, the Wings and the Bruins...but really, the hatred and utter disgust for all four is usually in full affect 24/7/365
AHL - Providence Bruins...I cannot understand how they even maintain a fan base.

3) Who's your favorite player?
NHL - Dan Boyle and the BAMF himself Scott Hartnell
AHL - Jamie McGinn and Mike Santorelli

4) Who's your least favorite player?
NHL - Corey Perry and Mike Ribeiro
AHL - Paul Bissonette and Jason Krog

5) Favorite American team?
NHL - Sharks
AHL - seriously...

6) Favorite Canadian team?
NHL - Montreal
AHL - Mantioba by default...but really just Cory Schneider.

7) Favorite International team?
Canada

8) Who's your favorite goalie?
NHL - The Nabbster...
AHL - Tuukka Rask just because he's bat shit crazy.
WHL - Dustin Tokarski (Sorry)

9) Least favorite goalie? (aka most overrated)
NHL - Tim Thomas and Marty Brodeur
AHL - Taylor Dakers (and Tuukka Rask...because he's bat shit crazy.)

10) Favorite fighter?
NHL - Jody Shelley and Scott Hartnell
AHL - Brad Staubitz and Mike Moore

11) Least favorite fighter?
NHL - Jordin Tootoo, Zach Stortini
AHL - Paul Bissonette, Kevin Westgarth

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
NHL - Sharks Black Armor, its sick...or the Flyers home Jersey.
AHL - Milwaukee Admirals home jersey

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?
NHL - The Ducks sweater is disgusting...hideous...an abomination.
AHL - Worcester's gray third jerseys are a joke.

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?
I'm really in love with the Pens' powder blue mess...it truly makes my heart pound.

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?
If we're talking about George Parros's schweaty crotch cup, then I'm ok with either the Wings or the Pens. Have at it boys.

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?
NHL - Marty Biron...that would be the best coffee ever...granted we went to TimmyHo's and he bought me Timbits.
AHL - Jamie McGinn

18) What about a beer?
NHL - Brian Boucher...I wouldn't mind getting that man liquored up.
AHL - Mike Santorelli...because DAYUM.

19) How about just watch the game with?
NHL - Brenden Morrow, because really, what else is he doing?
AHL - Cody Franson or Chris Borque

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?
NHL - Max Talbot...because that would be the best damn hockey conversation.
AHL - Rory Fitzpatrick because he's old now...he knows the in's and out's of it all.

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?
yes...random crap...signed pucks etc.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?
I have a sick ass Eric Lindros card.

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?
who knows...

24) Do you live by any hockey players?
unfortunately for them, no.

26) Do you play hockey?
this chick + ice = bad bad news...but then again, I've never been taught...I have a feeling that if I was taught, I would tear it up. It would be awesome.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?
I switch it up...sometimes my Milan Michalek jersey, sometimes my Black Armor jersey, sometimes my Boosh shirt, sometimes my Ryane Clowe shirt, sometimes my Dan Boyle All Star shirt, sometimes my 2009 AHL ASG shirt, sometimes my St. Patty's Jeff Carter shirt, sometimes my plain Worcester Sharks shirt...like I said, I switch it up...but always...ALWAYS teal undies.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?
Like I said...teal undies (thong or brief...only the color matters) on game day....

29) What's your favorite hockey memory (as a fan?)
NHL - I'd have to say, Game 5 against Anaheim this past post season. That or January 17th against the Wings...or the home opener street rally at HP Pavilion...or the Sharks - Philly series...
AHL - 2009 AHL All Star Weekend - that was a friggen trip.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?
I still love the DTV commercial...there was a point where it got annoying but...I miss it now.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?
Brad Staubitz

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?
I didn't meet him, but I saw him interacting with a fan and was appalled...Jeremy Roenick.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')
Hahahahahahaha....see above..............

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?
I'm pretty sure Brian Boucher knows I'm in love with him...because he has seen me making obscene gestures and movements in his direction during warm-ups...but thats ok.

35) Why do you really like hockey?
Like? Its love baby...it's hard to put my finger on why I love it...it was just love at first sight and somehow that love has gotten stronger every day since. Its a lifestyle, not just a sport. Its' fans are the best human beings in the world and its' players are so hardworking and humble. It's just the greatest sport that exists...the speed, strength and talent required to play just absolutely boggles my mind...and season in, season out, the guys who play never cease to amaze me.