I hope you all enjoy the E-Card we put together. The link is below to share, and please do share. Again, thanks for all the support and for reading my ramblings.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Puckin Hostile: 2013 Season E-Card
I hope you all enjoy the E-Card we put together. The link is below to share, and please do share. Again, thanks for all the support and for reading my ramblings.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
We're Getting the Band Back Together
The end of the lockout is a double edged sword for those of us that write these amateur rags, especially the ones that write game recaps, like The Committed Indian and Hockee Night. We have all had plenty of time to get reacquainted with our families and friends, just to have us cast away into the dungeons of Blog-o-spheres. Not to be confused with BLAGO-SPHERE. I'm not going to lie, this abbreviated season is going to wear on us all. Those of us that are used to recapping 2-3 games a week are going to be on the hook for 3-4 games a week. I know, just be happy it's back, and I truly am.
Moving onward, with the looming CBA ratification we have so much to smash into 10 days. First you have the re-opening of free agency, very brief training camps, and then game one on what looks like the 19th or 20th. Nothing like hitting the ground running.
The Blackhawks have 49 players under contract, so the chances they will sign anyone else is virtually nil, but there will be RFA, and UFA signings across the league. On the RFA front, PK Subban, Mike Del Zotto and Jamie Benn are the three biggest unsigned names, and those teams best be busting their hump to get those players in and signed.
On the other hand, in the UFA pool the most curious name might be former Blackhawk for a minute, Chris Campoli. Campoli was a major thorn in the side of the owners during this entire CMA negotiation, all while not having an NHL contract. Will the Owners hold a grudge?
Luckily, not much of that has anything to do with the Hawks, but what does concern them is the roster of this 2013 team. This is how the team shapes up:
Jonathan Toews
Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp
Marian Hossa
Michael Frolik
David Bolland
Marcus Kruger
Viktor Stalberg
Jimmy Hayes
Dan Carcillo
Jamal Mayers
Brandon Bollig
Andrew Shaw
Bryan Bickell
Defense
Duncan Keith
Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Steve Montador
Johnny Oduya
Michal Rozsival
Nick Leddy
Sheldon Brookbank
Goalies
Corey Crawford
Ray Emery
That is what is referred to as a full boat. As of this morning, Hayes and Leddy have yet to report, but it's assumed that they will. This list isn't even including Brandon Saad or Jeremy Morin, either.
The big question will be: Who fills the #2 Center spot? I am maintaining that Patrick Sharp should be the only option, if Kruger can't hold the position, and I'm going to say Kruger won't hold that position. Even though Kaner did alright with the transition, he struggled to put up the points that he's accustomed to. Get him back on his wing, where he feels most confortable.
Otherwise, it looks like you will see a top six of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Stalberg, and maybe Kruger. Third line could skate Frolik, Bolland, and Bickell, with the rest of the slugs (Carcillo, Shaw, Bollig, Mayers and possibly Hayes) battling for the last 3 spots. If Hayes is brought back, him and Kruger could be shuffled anywhere up and down the lineup.
On Defense, the Blackhawks look pretty solid on paper, and there is quite a bit of paper between these gentlemen. The simple fact is that one has to go, unless they plan on letting the mouth breathing golden child skate his minutes in Rockford. I just can't see the team scratching two defensemen every night. The most logical player to be cast away is Hjalmarsson, but that is not happening in the next 10 day. If they are kosher with over 3 million dollars a night wearing their Sunday best in the press box, then so be it. I could be wrong, but I remember the Blackhawks crying poor for the last 110 plus days.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Lockout Ends - The Players and League Reach Tentative Deal
Some, including myself, had doubted this day would come, this season, but the Lockout is over. In the early morning hours this morning, a tentative deal was reached between the spoiled players, including the Hawks Jamal Mayers, and the greedy owners. Per TSN and ESPN the new CBA includes the following details:
The players' share of hockey-related revenue will drop from 57 percent to a 50-50 split for all 10 years.
The league coming off their demand for a $60 million cap in Year 2, meeting the NHLPA's request to have it at $64.3 million - which was the upper limit from last year's cap. The salary floor in Year 2 will be $44 million.
The upper limit on the salary cap in the first year is $60 million, but teams can spend up to $70.2 million (all pro-rated). The cap floor will be $44 million.
The 10-year deal also has an opt-out clause that kicks in after eight years.
Each team will be allowed two amnesty buyouts that can be used to terminate contracts after this season and next season. The buyouts will count against the players' overall share in revenues, but not the team's salary cap.
The salary variance on contracts from year to year cannot vary more than 35 per cent and the final year cannot vary more than 50 per cent of the highest year.
A player contract term limit for free agents will be seven years and eight years for a team signing its own player.
The draft lottery selection process will change with all 14 teams fully eligible for the first overall pick. The weighting system for each team may remain, but four-spot move restriction will be eliminated.
Supplemental discipline for players in on-ice incidents will go through NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan first, followed by an appeal process that would go through Bettman. For suspensions of six or more games, a neutral third party will decide if necessary.
Revenue sharing among teams will spread to $200 million. Additionally, an NHLPA-initiated growth fund of $60 million is included.
Teams can only walk away from a player in salary arbitration if the award is at least $3.5 million.
The NHL had hoped to change opening of free agency to July 10, but the players stood firm and it remains July 1 in the new agreement. But with a later ending to the season, free agency for this summer will start at a later date.
Also, a decision on NHL participation at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be made outside of the new CBA. While it is likely that the league will participate, the IIHF and IOC will have discussions with the NHL and Players' Association.
The agreement will have to be formally voted on, and the document will have to be drafted, but it's safe to say that within the next two weeks games will start.
What does this mean? Sloppy hockey, and a large number of out of shape players. Ones that didn't take their services overseas or to the AHL will be behind the curve. Hello Adrian Aucoin!
For me, this will mean two things that aren't much of an adjustment from the last 100 plus days and I encourage all fans to do the same, even though I know most won't.
First of all, I will NOT buy any licensed NHL merchandise. This will be hard, because I have two small children that would look darling in some Blackhawks gear. For at least this season, the NHL can tickle my taint.
Second, I will NOT pay to go to an NHL game. If I come across free tickets, I will go, but I'm not paying a single dollar out of my pocket after this fucking ridiculous charade.
Most fans will go about their business, as if nothing happened, but there are alternatives. Fans can watch games from local bars in the area, to give them back business, and boost profits. Fans should continue to support the AHL, because they brought a product to hockey fans while the lockout was toiling on.
I can hold a vengeance, as my almost decade long boycott of Dollar Bill Wirtz, so I'm sticking by my guns with this. The league and players stuck to theirs, so it's the least I can do. Call me a curmudgeon, but I'm still not exactly thrilled with the situation.
More to come, but lets hope that this is the beginning of the end for Gary Bettman.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Children of Boredom
Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr, this is what the the Blackhawks blogsphere has been relegated to. Writing about barely significant Blackhawks of my childhood. Thanks, Fucktards.
AnyWHO, Considering I am almost a generation older than most of the current Blackhawks fans, I've seen some things. Excluding the early 90's and 2010, most of those things regarding the Blackhawks have been downright awful. So much so, that sometime around 2001, I stopped giving a fat rat's ass about the organization altogether. Some of that had to do with one person in particular, William W. Wirtz, and the rest had to do with the fact that they were just a complete joke of a franchise. I didn't have the time to devote to a franchise that didn't even respect for itself. They KNEW that Wirtz had run them into the ground, and could do nothing about it.
But I digress; I'm not here to go into a homicidal rage about Dollar Bill's rotting, worm infested, pickled carcass.
This is a fun little exercise to jog some of your minds, and introduce others to some of my personal favorites from the 80s and 90s.
Bob Sauve
This one is a given. I wrote about it on Second City Hockey, and reposted it here. Just click the link to see the story, because I hate repeating myself; unless it is about how right I am.
Rick Vaive
Sam Fels of The Committed Indian wrote a great piece on Vaive, back when they were still Second City Hockey, and I too was a big fan. He reminded me of RoboCop because of the amount of equipment he wore. He was a big body, with some silky mitts, that would park himself in front of the net and take massive amounts of abuse. He came with three 50 goal seasons already under his belt in Toronto.
When I say big body, I don't mean by today's standards. Six foot and 180 lbs isn't big at all, in today's NHL, but in 1987 that was large. He only played a season and a half for the Hawks, but he netted 61 goals in 111 games, including 49 total goals in his only full season with the organization.
He came to the Hawks, with Steve Thomas (featured later in this piece) and cementhead extraordinaire Bob McGill, in a trade for Al Secord and Eddie Olczyk. Some pretty notable names of the time.
Rob Brown
We now turn our attention to one of the most recent infamous Blackhawks, Rob Brown. Most of you have probably ready the Blog of Sean McIndoe, better known as DownGoesBrown on twitter. Well, that moniker refers specifically to an incident that happened to Brown while playing for the Hawks. Take a gander for yourself:
And here Brown himself discusses the fight.
Shenanigans aside, I was a closet Brown fan. First of all, who doesn't love a player wearing the number 44 (I know he briefly wore 22, also)? Second, He came to Chicago with a great deal of scoring potential. Brown was also one of the few players to play for both the Blackhawks and Wolves. Brownie was one of those players that would put up Gretzky like cartoonish numbers in the minors, but never really consistently reached those levels in the NHL. If you look at his stats, these point totals smack you in the face: 259, 212, 173, 155, 143, 117, 115, 115, and 107. The problem was that, save for the 115 points in Pittsburgh in 88-89, all of those seasons were in the minors. He still had himself a nice NHL career with 438 points, but one could argue that his true potential was never fully realized. He only managed to play 40 games in a Blackhawks uniform, but as you witnessed above, he made them count.
Gary Nylund
Nylund is probably more famous for his signing as a restricted free agent with the Hawks or for being a less than stellar third overall pick (Hello Cam Barker!), but number 22 had a run with the Hawks organization for 2 1/2 seasons in the late 80's. Another cementhead defenseman, Nylund was generally better with his gloves off and hams up. His best NHL season was, in fact, with the Hawks as he racked up 27 points in the 86-87 season.
As compensation for signing with the Hawks, Toronto received Jerome Dupont, Ken Yaremchuk and a fourth-round pick in '87 (Joe Sacco). Originally, they had asked for Eddie Olczyk, whom they eventually acquired in the Rick Vaive trade.
Here is a video of of Nylund eating Bob Probert's fist, with cameos from the previously mentioned Bob Sauve and everybody's favorite color man, Eddie Olczyk.
Stu Grimson
One of the more infamous names of Blackhawks lore, his name fit the role he played. He was John Scott before there was John Scott.
I have to take that back and apologize to Stu Grimson, because nobody could possibly be that fucking terrible. Please, don't punch my face, Stu.
At 6'6" and 240 lbs, he was considerably bigger than a majority of the players of the day, and used that size to his advantage. He made a living doing one thing, pounding faces, and he did that very well. The chants of "Stuuuuuu!" still rattle around in my head from time to time. There really isn't much more I can say, that these videos don't already showcase, so enjoy:
Keith Carney
Keith Carney is one of the less clownish players on my list. He had himself a nice career as a second tier NHL defenseman. Nothing Carney did was all-star worthy, but what led him to play over 1000 NHL games was that he was consistently consistant. Regularly a "plus"player, he was a top notch shut down defender with very good skating skills. After his time with the Hawks, he played in the '98 Olympic games. I would compare him to a less physical Brent Seabrook. With Chelios and Suter logging the top minutes, Carney was an excellent compliment to that first line duo. He played five seasons with the Hawks and was traded to Phoenix for slugs Chad Kilger and Jayson More. Brilliant move.
More recently Carney has been back with the Hawks organization as a skating instructor and player development coach. Judging by his appearance at the Hawks prospect camp he looks like he could step back out on the ice and contribute, today.
James Black
Steve Thomas
Thomas appeared with then Leafs prospect Peter Zezel in the movie Youngblood as Hamilton Mustangs teammates.
Reto Von Arx
This one is sort of a throw away that I added to the list because of his bad ass name. Von Arx is currently playing in Switzerland along with his brother Jan, after only 19 games and 3 NHL points, all with the Blackhawks. Too bad his talent didn't match up with the hype.
Von Arx never scored more than 21 goals at any level, so it looks as though he was a throw away 9th round pick. Then again, aren't most 9th round picks?
Ray LeBlanc
Nonetheless, LeBlanc appeared in all eight Olympic games for the United States, compiling a record of 5–2–1 with two shutouts, gaining brief fame, and later playing for the upstart Chicago Wolves.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
HockeeNight meets Puckin Hostile Puckcast
The Cheat Sheet for the Puckcast
Last night the fine gentlemen at HockeeNight.com asked to be a guest on their weekly puckcast. Since I'm an avid listener of their program, I had to oblige. Thanks to this glorious lockout, we didn't have a great deal of hockey to talk about. Luckily, being the talkers we are, we filled the time admirably.
I would like to graciously thank Forklift and CT for inviting me, and I hope I can join them again sometime, when there is actual Blackhawks hockey to discuss.
Until then, there are a few handy links and tools for you:
Here is the direct link to the player with the episode:
Click here for the direct MP3 download link
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Rockford IceHogs at Chicago Wolves - Win Recap
Every time I write one of these Ice Hogs recaps, I think to myself, "Self? I hope I'm far too busy writing Blackhawks recaps the next time a Hogs/Wolves game rolls around to be able to partake". Of course each time, I've been wrong. I have got nothing against the AHL, the Rockford Ice Hogs, or the Chicago Wolves (well, unless you factor in that they are the baby Canucks), but recapping games that feature sand bagging baby Blackhawks in small arenas, in STANDARD DEFINITION are not what I signed up for. I'm a snob and I make no bones about it. I want NHL hockey in High Definition. That is just how I roll, ladies and gents. Of course I'm interested in what happens in Rockford with the prospects, but Chris Block does a much beter job than I, at covering the Hogs. Thanks to the colossal failure that all NHL fans are in the middle of, I'm stuck keeping myself busy by recapping late November minor league hockey. Look at me go!
The Ice Hogs didn't start out so hot, to say the least. They gave up a terrible goal just over a minute into the game, which put them in a rough situation. They seemed to bounce back fairly well, and went into the intermission down only one. That is about the best they could have hoped for, especially outshooting the home team 15-11. The Wolves rebounded in the second, outshooting the Hogs 18-10, but the teams tied the period with a goal each way and the Wolves had a chance to bury them, but the fortunes turned. The third period was all Hogs, with some help from flurry of stupid Wolves penalties. Rockford pulled off a comeback and left with a huge win.
- After a rough first two minutes, the Hogs ended up peppering Matt Climie with 15 first period shots. At least the boneheaded play didn't get them down.
- The Hogs cut the Wolves lead on a late second period 3-on-2. Brandon Saad hit the third man in, St. Pierre, who was left with a gaping net and didn't miss.
- Jeremy Morin and the Hogs took advantage of a powerplay and some lively board, to tie the game up five minutes into the third period. A wide shot by Clendening ricocheted right back out in front of the net. Saad fought to get possession and blindly shoveled it in front to an open Morin, who chipped it past Climie on the short side.
- Ben Smith redirected a Brett Lebda slapshot just a couple of minutes after the game tying goal, to give the Hogs their first lead of the game. A pretty simple play, as Smith was left wide open. I'm not sure I agree with the Wolves approach on that defensive strategy, but the Hogs will take it.
- Shaw closed out the Wolves night by picking off a blue line pass attempt and getting the empty netter to give the Ice Hogs a 4-2 win. Looks like his time off due to suspension has paid off. He was a plus 1, with a goal, 2 PIMS, and a team leading 6 shots on net.
- Brandon Saad continued his improved play with 2 points, and a plus one on the night.
- Jeremy Morin looks to be getting a little full of himself. He tried to stickhandle through about 3 Wolves defenders as his teammates went for a change. Of course, he turned it over at the Hogs blue line and it ended up a quality Wolves scoring chance. Just plain stupid.
- Andrew Shaw led a 3-on-1 just over halfway through the first period, which was turned into a 1-on-1 when Kevin Connauton cut off the passing lanes and the Hogs forwards felt it was best to hold hands and hug, rather than spread the ice. Shaw was left with only one choice; shoot. Climie nicely beat him with the glove.
- A late second period Paradis boarding penalty ended up leading to a Jordan Schroeder Wolves powerplay goal, when Shaw, Leblanc and Lalonde got happy pants and tried to run a shorthanded odd man break. The Wolves took advantage of a covering forward and Leblanc was caught out of position. Schroeder was left all alone on the back door and Hutton had no chance. It was scored just after the penalty expired, but it was virtually a powerplay goal.
- The Hogs blew a huge 5-on-3 powerplay at te end of the second and into the third period. I probably counted 4 shots the entire advantage, which is completely unacceptable. Baby Blackhawks they are.
- Not much more than a minute into the game and the Hogs are picking the puck out of their own net. Clendening and Saad treated the puck like a rotten egg, and it squirted off a board scrum and into the middle of the Hogs slot, where Zack Kassian was standing by himself. Stop me if you know how this one ends. 1-0 Wolves.
- It's pretty clear that Carter Hutton is pretty fucking bad at handling the puck. The first period was a Shanghai Shitfest, when it comes to the Hogs defensive puckhandling, Hutton included. His stickhandling prowess did't get any better as the game went on.
- Kyle Beach took the worst of a scuffle with Zack Kassian, when he voluntarily put himself into a headlock. Really, enough with the theatrics, gents.
- Sam Fels and Chris Block weren't lying when they brought up the parade of penalties that the Hogs take. They continuously shoot themselves in the foot with needless infractions. Believe it or not, as bad as the Hogs were, the Wolves were even worse.
Kyle Beach-Brandon Pirri-Andrew Shaw
Ben Smith-Jimmy Hayes-Leblanc
Jeremy Morin-Martin St.Pierre-Brandon Saad
Philippe Paradis-Rob Flick-Brandon Bollig
Klas Dahlbeck-Ryan Stanton
Adam Clendening-Nick Leddy
Brett Lebda-Shawn Lalonde
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Rockford IceHogs vs. Chicago Wolves - Loss Recap
On the same day the NHL announced the cancelation of the the Winter Classic, the Ice Hogs hosted the Chicago Wolves, which meant Chicago area fans were able to take advantage and see some of the baby Hawks play on TV. Good for us, but bad for the Hogs.
The Ice Hogs showed they truly are the baby Blackhawks, by starting off VERY slow. Evn though they outshot the Wolves 15-10, they were down 2-1 going into the first intermission after some very lackadaisical defense. The second period was just more of the same for the Hogs. Three goals on a total of 10 shots still left the Hogs down by 2 goals with 20 minutes to go in the game. There was no big third period comeback in their one. Even though they were able to put 11 shots on net, the Hogs were outscored 2-1 for a third straight period, and sent the Wolves away with a 6-3 win.
- I know there were issues with Bill Sweatt and the Hawks organization, but damn it would be nice to have him wearing a Hogs Jersey. The guy is SO fast that he looks like Stalberg. He turned Brett Lebda around like a top, late in the first.
- Just when you think Kyle Beach was a useless sack of skin and bones, he snaps off a laser of a wrist shot to tie the game at 1-1. Flick picked up the faceoff and chipped it over to Paradis. Paradis dropped it back to Beach, who was camping out high in the slot. Beach didn't exactly break and speed records getting the shot off, but he beat Lack to the stick side with an accurate shot. It's about time Beach did something constructive.
- The powerplay unit of Kruger, St. Pierre, Smith, Lavin and Pirri brought the Hogs back within two goals, late in the second period. Lucky Pierre and Smith worked a little game of catch until Kruger was able to create a little room for himself. St. Pierre hit Kruger for a one timer that was blocked by Smith, but the puck squirted out to Pirri. Pirri just turned and fired it into the net past Lack.
- Somehow the Hogs centers dominated in faceoffs. I say somehow because they have been so bad lately that Chris Block has reported that Kruger, and Pirri weren't even lining up for their own faceoffs.
- Kyle Beach snapped off another wrist shot that found it's way through Lack for his second goal of the night, with 4 minutes to go in the game. The goal brought the Hogs within 2 goals, but that's all they could muster up.
- A Joe Lavin miscue a the Wolves blue line led to a couple of great Wolves chances and eventually the puck in the back of the Wolves net. Lavin tried to make a rush all by himself, had his chip pass blocked, and then dropped his stick. From then on out it was time for the Shanghai Scramble. Eventually, a pass was slickly slid under Lavin and to a streaking Andrew Gordon, who beat Hutton for a 1-0 Wolves lead.
- Lavin's bad first period didn't stop with the goal. He was repeatedly caught out of position and gave the Wolves scoring chances.
- Jeremy Morin really has some snarl to his game. He took quite a few exceptions to some chippiness, which will land him in te ox more than Quenneville would like
- The Hogs powerplay breakout looks exactly like the anemic Hawks powerplay. Four players skate to the blur line and drop it to the trailer, who then has to try and maneuver through 8 players. It doesn't take a scientist to put the brakes on that one.
- Beach's hug-a-thon with Kevin Connauton was a snorefest. Probably the easiest 5 minutes either of those guys ever earned.
- Two goals on 4 shots in the second frame was just unacceptable.
- The Hogs got caught about halfway through the third with a forward (Pirri) covering on defense, and the Wolves took full advantage. Chris Tanev was the lucky recipient of what turned out to be a 2-on-0, and Richard had no chance.
- Hawks for a second Andrew Ebbet was left completely uncovered with just over 2 minutes to go in the game, and he put the little piggies to bed.
- Brett Sterling raced up the middle of the ice on a late first period powerplay and through 4 Hogs players. When all was said and done the Hogs were all staring each other in the face with mouths agape. Sidney Crosby shouldn't walk through 4 players, much less Brett Fucking Sterling. Of course Joe Lavin was the last player to get his hands on Sterling before the puck went in the net. Brutal.
- The Wolves Jordan Schroeder and Tim Miller completely clowned the Hogs shorthanded unit, that was killing a Bollig delay of game penalty early in the second. Miller squirted past Clendening who completely whiffed on a half ass hit attempt, and then slid a pass through Olsens legs to a wide open Schroeder. Schroeder was able to snap of a shot and beat Hutton stick side for a 3-1 Wolves lead.
- Another stupid Brandon Bollig penalty led to a Wolves powerplay and eventually a Bill Sweatt powerplay goal. Peter Andersson was left wide open in the slot, and Jordan Schroeder hit him on the tape with a nice pass. Andersson's shot was stopped by Hutton, but Lavin couldn't tie up Sweatt, who just swept it in the net. That was the end of the nights action for poor Carter Hutton. In came the next sacrificial lamb, Alec Richard.
- The needless penalties are just mind numbing with this team.
- The Hogs goalies were not on their game for this tilt. Six goals on 25 shots won't get you a win in many leagues.
Ben Smith-Brandon Pirri-Jeremy Morin
Brandon Bollig-Marcus Kruger-Andrew Shaw
Peter Leblanc-Martin St.Pierre-Jimmy Hayes
Philippe Paradis-Rob Flick-Kyle Beach
Klas Dahlbeck-Ryan Stanton
Adam Clendening-Dylan Olsen
Brett Lebda-Joe Lavin
Saturday, October 27, 2012
News Flash - Fans DO Miss Hockey
Champs for Charity a Huge Success
Last night some former and current Blackhawks played a charity game against some other NHLers for the Ronald McDonald house, at the All State Arena in Rosemont. Anyone showing up to this event thinking it was going to be anything other than a lighthearted schmoozefest, well, the joke is on them.
There were "missed" calls, all penalties were penalty shots, there was a mob style mugging of Dan Carcillo, and there was a goalie on goalie penalty shot. This was a CHARITY game with a bunch of highly paid, when they are actually playing, professional players. No one was going to risk serious injury for a charity game. The players yucked it up for the crowd and took a primary role as "entertainers", rather than "cattle", and the overall theme was laughs and tom foolery.
With an announced crown of just under 12,000 people, and over $323,000 raised, it's safe to say that people in Chicago miss their hockey, or at least their Blackhawks.
Blackhawks Star Patrick Kane did exactly what you would expect him to do, by scoring 5 goals and winning the MVP trophy, just in time to head over to Switzerland with mom.
Here is the recap of my live tweeting:
-Kaner comes out to cheers and a standing ovation
-Joe Corvo (Boston, but playing for his hometown Hawks) rocking the killer Mohawk
-Mike Brown (Toronto) is rocking an EPIC lockout beard.
-Wizzzer (Columbus) with an Atrocious turnover and the hawks team down 0-2
-Jared Boll (LA Kings) for a 3-0 World team . Ouchie
-Kaner give the Hawks team life. 3-1 world
-Tazer breakaway goal on a "missed" offsides for the hawks second goal.
-Ladd (Winnipeg) brings out the dagger for 3-3 tie
-Craig Adams (Pittsburgh) on the penalty shot for a 4-3 hawks lead
-Jordan Staal (Carolina) ties it back up at 4s
-Kaner puts the hawks back ahead with under a minute left in the 1st.
-Ladder (Winnipeg) scores again to incite the canoe celebration and the daggar again.
-Sharpie scores for a 7-4 hawks lead.
-Lockout beard (Mike Smith of Toronto) scores to cut the lead to 7-5.
-Anderson (Ottawa) turns puck over to leino (Buffalo) for a world goal.
-Goligoski (Dallas) ties the game up at 7-7.
-Burish (San Jose) does a ned braden striptease after putting the hawks up 8-7.
-Timonen (Philly) ties it up again After a huge Anderson save.
-Tazer with goal 9 for hawks.
-Correction sharpie with 9 followed by kaners hat trick goal.
-Corvo (Boston) on the delayed penalty. 11-8 hawks
-Bobby ryan (Anaheim) scores the 9th world goal.
-Staal (Carolina) with #10 for the world.
-World ties it up 11-11 By Brookbank (Hawks but playing for the World).
-Ladder (Winneipeg) hat trick puts the hawks back up 12-11.
-Penalty shot goal for Jake the Snake Dowell (Minnesota) for a 13-11 Hawks lead.
-Detroit sucks chants loooouuuuud and clear. (TRUTH!!!)
-Carbomb (Hawks but playing for the World) pulled onto Hawks bench to fight Ryan Dempster, Wizzer, and Burish
-Thornton (Boston) goal to bring the world back within 1. 13-12.
-Backstrom (Minny) scores on the first goalie on goalie penalty shot. 13-13. Sandstorm ensues
-Miettinen (Winnipeg) pits the world up 14-13.
-Wizzer turnover = carbomb goal. 15-13 world.
-Kaner goal brings the hawks back within 1. Gould throws the challenge flag and loses.
-Kaner ties it up with the goalie pulled and 1:42 left. Crowd on their feet.
-After watching Wizzer play this game Scott Howson just shot himself. Shootout time.
-Tazer hits crossbar.
-Bobby Ryan scores
-Shooter evens it up
-Staal stopped by anderson
-Kaner scores to put hawks up.
-Leino stopped by anderson
-Ladder Stopped
-Timonen beats anderson to tie it up
-Brouwser no goal.
-Carbomb Scores to win the game on the kaner stop n go
-Kaner wins MVP
-$323,500 raised for Champs For Charity
Some videos for you to enjoy:
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Several Cup Winning Blackhawks to Return for "Champs for Charity" Game
"We're Getting the Band Back Together!"
Former Blackhawks fan favorite Adam Burish headed up a news conference, yesterday, and announced the plans for a Champs for Charity game at the All State Arean on October 26th. Joining Burish on the ice for the game will be several former and current Blackhawks from the 2010 cup winning team. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com. The intention is for the game to raise hope to raise $250,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.
Joining Burish on the ice will be Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Brian Campbell, Dave Bolland, Jake Dowell, James Wisniewski, John Madden, Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg. Other NHL players that are set to join the former champs are Bobby Ryan, Ryan Suter, Jack Johnson, Ville Leino, Mike Brown, Antti Miettinen, Jared Boll, Tom Gilbert, Alex Goligoski, Al Montoya, and Kimmo Timonen. Rumors are also being thrown around suggesting that Sidney Crosby will be on the ice, as well.
As far as tickets, there are 100 VIP tickets for $500 and include glass seats, an event jersey, and a pre-game meet-and-greet with the players from 6 to 6:45 p.m.. There are also $60, $30, $15 and $10 tickets available.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Rockford IceHogs at Chicago Wolves - Loss Recap
Well, here we sit, on October 15th, and the only hockey we can manage to watch is the joke that is the KHL through some kind of ESPN pirate feed, or the AHL. Lets be honest, neither is the quality we are accustomed to, but it will have to do, given the circumstances. Mind you, the fans aren't even offered the AHL team most Hawks fans WANT to watch; unless the Wolves are facing the IceHogs. This madness is all we have, while the NHL and NHLPA continue to measure each others dongs and argue about the length and girth differences. It's getting old REALLY fast, assclowns.
We were given a morsel of Blackhawks hockey on Saturday, as the Wolves beat the Hogs 1-0 in a shootout, and Sunday was game 2 of the opening AHL weekend. No one expected a double shutout and a shootout on the opening night of the season for these two clubs, but that's what they got. The supposed firepower that the Blackhawks left the Hogs with was rumored to provide some serious goal scoring, but that was nowhere to be found against Eddie Lack and the Wolves Saturday night. We were all hoping for something a little more "scorish", for this contest. See? This recap thing is like riding a bike. Right back on for another ride.
The first period opened like a thoroughbred race, going end to end and back, but slowed into a fairly boring period, as the period went on. The Wolves outshot the Hogs, 8-6 for the opening frame, scoring on one of those 8 shots. The Hogs came out in the second period, and looked more focussed, but a shorthanded goal took the wind out of their sails REAL fast. For the remainder of the period, the Wolves had a wild Hog hair up their ass and ended up going into the second intermission up 2-0. The Hogs pulled a page out of the Hawks book, dominating in shots, but tied in goals 3-3 for the period. That was all the Wolves needed to send the Hogs packing and winless for the season. Final Score, 5-3 Wolves.
The Good
- Nothing against Jim Cornelison, but Wayne Mesmer will forever be my favorite anthem singer. Memories of the old Barn, and the '91 All-Star game.
- It was really nice to not have to watch 100 of those insufferably brutal Binny's commercials.
- Martin "Lucky" St.Pierre is a slick little player. This is the first I've seen of him, and he has some serious stick skills. From what I've heard, it's his off ice antics that kept him out of the NHL.
- Dream Warrior, Lucky Pierre, and Scorin Morin hooked up for the first Hogs goal of the season, on the powerplay, if you can believe that. Not really much to it, really. Kruger lugged it around the net and dumped it off to St.Pierre, who took a second and fired it to a wide open Morin across the crease. Morin just jammed it past Lack to breaks HIS shutout streak.
- Just a few minutes after the Morin goal, Marcus Kruger snapped a nice wrist shot past Lack on yet another powerplay.
- Morin scored the third Hogs goal of the game on a very simple play. He skated up the middle and snapped a wrist shot that looked to be slightly redirected by a Wolves defender.
- Seeing people in Hawks color sweaters wearing the numbers 18, and 21 is really strange. Most people might not even notice it, but those numbers stuck out like a sore thumb to me.
- The Wolves finally broke Hutton's scoreless streak about halfway through the first, as the Hogs had major trouble getting the puck out of the zone, and Former Hawk for a second Andrew Ebbett scored on what looked like a deflection from outside the left circle.
- Couple of minutes into the second period, and the duo of Leddy and Stanton got caught up, and left the Wolves with a 3-on-1. Luckily, Patrick Mullin hit the post, with Stanton diving to try and poke the puck away. Some things never change, Leddy. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for Leddy in his own end. Hawks fans have seen THAT a time or two.
- Brandon Saad had two GREAT chances in the middle of the second period and was robbed blind by Lack. The Canucks have to feel really good about their goaltending future with Corey Schneider and Lack in the system. Eddie Lack is a man among boys in the AHL.
- The Wolves took a two goal lead back just after a bad Dylan Olsen penalty, in the third period. Longpre took a pass in the low slot and snapped it by Hutton. St.Pierre got caught reaching for Longpre and Olsen was late getting back into the play following his penalty.
- Former Hawks draft pick Bill Sweatt put the final daggar in the Hogs, as he took a nice feed in the slot and snapped it past Hutton with about 3 minutes to go in regulation.
- Not a minute into the game, and Joe Lavin got his dick absolutely knocked into the dirt by Steve Pinizzotto. Head up, kiddo.
- Shawfacts was up to his usual shenanigans, spearing a Wolves player in the back of the knees after a whistle that negated an upcoming Hogs a powerplay, at the end of the first period. Quenneville would have sat his dumb ass for the next 3 weeks for that shit, minimum.
- Nathan Longpre took advantage of Jeremy Morin playing the point on the Rockford powerplay, and ended up one-on-one with Hutton. Longpre did just what a sniper should do when he's in all alone, shorthanded no less. What is the fascination with this organization and forwards playing the point on the powerplay? 2-0 Wolves.
- Just to prove that they are affiliated with the Hawks, the Hogs showed off their very own dogshit circus powerplay. They finally found their legs in the third period, but they ended up 2-13 for the weekend, with a shorthanded goal against. When you outshoot a team and have 7 powerplays, you should win.
- Brandon Pirri pulled some shenanigans of his own, late in the second, elbowing the Wolves Kevin Connauton in the dome. This could very well lead to a suspension for targeting the head. Way to show off your poise and maturity.
- Noted Canucks Dickbag Zack Kassian took exception to the Pirri elbow by throwing a flying shoulder to the head of Ryan Stanton. I guess the douchebaggery was being spread like a case of herpes on spring break, in Rosemont. Jimmy Hayes was kind enough to rush in and offer up his face as a fist magnet, while coming to Stanton's aid. Hayes earned himself a deuce of his very own for his troubles.
- The third goal of the game was as ugly as they come. Ben Youds turned the puck over on the near boards, and Brett Sterling picked the puck up and threw a simple shot towards the net. Easy play unless Dylan Olsen kicks it into his own cage, which he did. Hutton got NO help from his defense in this affair.
Brandon Saad-Marcus Kruger-Jimmy Hayes
Peter Leblanc-Martin St.Pierre-Jeremy Morin
Ben Smith-Brandon Pirri-Andrew Shaw
Brandon Bollig-Rob Flick-Kyle Beach
Nick Leddy-Ryan Stanton
Ben Youds-Dylan Olsen
Brett Lebda-Joe Lavin