tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541338108276198602024-03-13T04:09:41.179-04:00Hound Central 5.0Not-so-random thoughts and chiseled commentary about life, hockey and collecting autographs for the pure fun of it, certainly not for profit, during the 2010-11 season.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.comBlogger627125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-19757083852946990502011-08-21T20:49:00.000-04:002012-04-25T00:25:42.157-04:00New blogC'mon now, did you really think I'd stop blogging about hockey and hounding? well, I haven't. If that disappoints you, well, oh, well. If it doesn't, feel free to check out <a href="http://thl2011.blogspot.com/">The Hockey Life</a>.<br />
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It'll be a little different than the Hound Centrals. A little less on hounding, but a lot more about living the hockey lifestyle.<br />
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With Colin embarking on another season of travel hockey, making the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning Squirt A squad for the 2011-12 campaign, I'll share what it means to be a hockey parent.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-17183415326375307222011-06-26T08:30:00.002-04:002011-06-26T13:17:25.695-04:00Thanks for stopping byNow that the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign is over, and Colin finds himself immersed in travel team hockey, it's long past due for our priorities to change. That's why, as of this post, among the more than 2,500 I've written since I started blogging Sept. 10, 2005, Hound Central 5.0 has run its course.<br />
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It's been my pleasure, for the most part, to share our hockey-hounding exploits and misadventures with you over the past six years. I'm grateful, too, for all of the people who've helped out: Moody, Al and Mike among them. But it's time to redirect our energy, and as any hockey parent knows all too well, our resources.<br />
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I've also pulled the plug on <a href="http://hockeyhoundsuniverse.blogspot.com/">Hockey Hounds Universe</a>. All along, the focus was to chronicle the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign. Again, I appreciate anyone who took the time to stop by and everyone who helped. It truly was a learning experience.<br />
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As always, folks, thanks for your support over the years. I hope my efforts were worth your time. It was, and remains to be, truly appreciated.<br />
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Peace.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-34676227067821583382011-06-22T13:45:00.001-04:002011-06-22T13:46:31.041-04:00My 2010-11 NHL awards picks<b>Hart Memorial Trophy</b> (MVP): Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning<br />
<b>Vezina Trophy </b>(best goalie): Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins<br />
<b>James Norris Memorial Trophy</b> (best defenseman): Shea Weber, Nashville Predators<br />
<b>Calder Memorial Trophy </b>(top rookie): Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes<br />
<b>Lady Byng Memorial Trophy </b>(gentlemanly conduct): Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning<br />
<b>Frank J. Selke Trophy</b> (top defensive forward): Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks<br />
<b>Jack Adams Award</b> (top coach): Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay Lightning (<i>yes, I know he's not a finalist</i>)<br />
<b>Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy</b> (dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship): Ray Emery, Anaheim Ducks (<i>pretty weak field, too</i>)<br />
<b>Ted Lindsay Award </b>(players' MVP): Daniel Sedin, Vancouver CanucksPuckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-87399529089734548182011-06-19T08:37:00.004-04:002011-06-19T08:37:00.720-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 32When Colin was born, I reached out to the man whose named is listed on my birth certificate as my father. He had no interest in meeting his grandson, let alone his son. His concern, beyond being tracked down so many years later, was that the news would upset his family.<br />
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From that moment on, I vowed to be the man that man – <b>Vincent Wynn Parry</b> -- never was.<br />
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Over the course of my nearly 50 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have father figures who taught me valuable lessons about being a man, a husband and, most importantly, a father.<br />
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On this day, I don’t have one father to thank, but many: <b>Roy F. Saar</b>, <b>David Howard</b>, <b>Russell Saar</b>, <b>Harold McLeer</b>, <b>Fenton Thomas McGonnell II</b>, <b>Lester Baum</b>, <b>John Schurr</b> and <b>Russell Asquith</b>.<br />
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My only hope is that I pass these lessons to my son and become the father I never had. More than anything else, that's what I want as my legacy.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-43157718967766305942011-06-16T09:30:00.001-04:002011-06-18T00:29:51.312-04:00The thrill of victory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUg2YieI-27f6xa_FytVysmIg1A2hu-12hw1yLYJyzBYntMkPiYUP6IXtzTgzCRJ6VAngOkE4FElCRW0VjTd0T-gnriezP8EtA_H2-xI_6w95EpqSQHf8-Wi3X6MFbkvPCwMMGktYiQ4/s1600/DSCF7051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="333" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUg2YieI-27f6xa_FytVysmIg1A2hu-12hw1yLYJyzBYntMkPiYUP6IXtzTgzCRJ6VAngOkE4FElCRW0VjTd0T-gnriezP8EtA_H2-xI_6w95EpqSQHf8-Wi3X6MFbkvPCwMMGktYiQ4/s400/DSCF7051.JPG" /></a></div><br />
At practices Monday and Wednesday, Colin wore his Bruins <b>Patrice Bergeron</b> jersey, taking some ribbing from his teammates who, suddenly, were Vancouver Canucks fans. Well, after Boston's 4-0 victory Wednesday night, it looks like the Hockey Gods have once again smiled upon Colin.<br />
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At game's end, Colin donned his Bergeron jersey again and lofted a Stanley Cup in celebration. "I have a lifelong right for bragging now," Colin told me.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-19957474353502022942011-06-12T08:26:00.081-04:002011-06-13T22:08:43.503-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 31We were on our way to a Florida State League baseball game, braving rush-hour traffic as we headed to Dunedin, when my cell phone rang. The caller ID showed it was a call I wanted to take. It was Colin's coach from the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning, calling on the day when we'd hear whether he'd make the Squirt A squad for the fall and winter season.<br />
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After exchanging greetings, Coach Dave got to the business at hand -- Colin would, indeed, be sticking with the Jr. Lightning, having earned his keep, so to speak, over the course of the 10-game summer season. With 41 kids trying out for 22 to 24 positions over two teams, we were pretty psyched to get the news.<br />
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"You can't teach speed and tenacity," Coach Dave told me.<br />
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We've enjoyed watching him play this summer, learning from his earliest games against much-better teams that playing hard and engaging the competition would make a big difference. Since he started playing, I've stressed the need for him to skate hard and be active. In fact, Coach Dave related how Colin's name came up in conversations with teammates on the player they'd least want to go up against in one-on-one drills.<br />
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That doesn't mean, though, there isn't room for improvement. It's likely that Colin will play more defense than forward in the upcoming season, meaning he'll have to learn a more positional game and become a better heads-up stickhandler. Advice like that will give us something to work on over the summer.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">A kick in the grass</span></strong><br />
Over the years, we've taken Colin to many sporting events, mostly hockey and baseball games and a handful of Nascar races. Later today, we're attending his first pro soccer game as the FC Tampa Bay play the Atlanta Silverbacks at Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg.<br />
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Beyond having fun with a loud, vocal group known as Ralph's Mob, I'm hoping Colin draws some parallels from soccer that he can use in hockey -- relentlessness, playing your position, pinpoint passing and rock-solid defense.<br />
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For me, it'll bring back memories of watching the Tampa Bay Rowdies during my first tour of duty here in Hockey Bay as well as covering the team during my early days as a sportswriter for the <em>Clearwater Sun</em>.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-59837014294322337222011-06-08T10:36:00.002-04:002012-04-25T00:26:13.925-04:00Colin's new wheels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8aKOIoMXKXBmHuuAapMbufg2uM6lmoFtSgBCWfG7zPdPozQB_NHt20t8PYaPUvIBgFd_Dtin2rvwxmBiD8tq_D2461RvJRpdOhO1odmHxYW4ivj1VsDWYUsGrLMbBU-So562msnO0IU/s1600/DSCF7046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8aKOIoMXKXBmHuuAapMbufg2uM6lmoFtSgBCWfG7zPdPozQB_NHt20t8PYaPUvIBgFd_Dtin2rvwxmBiD8tq_D2461RvJRpdOhO1odmHxYW4ivj1VsDWYUsGrLMbBU-So562msnO0IU/s400/DSCF7046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
We went to a Sports Authority yesterday afternoon looking for a new pair of sneakers for me. Didn't see anything I liked that was within my budget, but Colin stumbled across these new Mission Helium Quatro 3500 inline hockey skates in a bargian bin.<br />
Once priced at $119.99, the price tag read $34.99. When we went to check out, though, the register rung up $19.99. Can't beat that, can you?Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-47403752993631658692011-06-01T00:01:00.036-04:002011-06-01T10:07:03.052-04:00Time off, baby!At the stroke of midnight today, I begin 16 straight days of vacation. Won't be traveling far, sticking mostly close to home. Aside from a few hockey-related activities, this vacation is more about chilling out and resting up than running around the Sunshine State or the East Coast like a sunburned, money-spending madman.<br />
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Instead, I'll get to watch the Bruins beat the Canucks, in seven games, to claim Lord Stanley's Cup. <br />
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With any luck, some pucks and cards, currently taking up space on any flat surface in the office, will also get put away and, possibly, some collections within the display case will be updated. <a href="http://hockeyhoundsuniverse.blogspot.com/">Hockey Hound Universe</a> also needs a few more posts, too.<br />
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What I'm really looking forward to, though, is spending the first week of Colin's summer vacation with him. We'll do a little fishing, fly some kites, look for trains and continue our search for the best pizza in Hockey Bay. Some joint in Tampa that serves deep-dish pizza is our first stop.<br />
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If you see us, don't be afraid to say hello. We might even offer you a slice, as long as you ask nicely.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-20720289410597611672011-05-29T08:25:00.004-04:002011-05-29T08:25:00.243-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs1LVbf8As4ExTblZ38CBxvrlgnaPoG-njw3-QvyDVjkDOPBZW2HbQV3wlDUsHom8FyVV_8tbNRMmQTzTXia0L95EMIQE44ImKGzs_XG2Q8L352IoUw8TvAe0ykcR3WILNx2V4eHYCYI/s1600/DSCF6721.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs1LVbf8As4ExTblZ38CBxvrlgnaPoG-njw3-QvyDVjkDOPBZW2HbQV3wlDUsHom8FyVV_8tbNRMmQTzTXia0L95EMIQE44ImKGzs_XG2Q8L352IoUw8TvAe0ykcR3WILNx2V4eHYCYI/s400/DSCF6721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611742558483610770" border="0" /></a>Last Wednesday morning, I stumbled upon two face-value tickets for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Wanting to put Colin in a position to watch his favorite team -- the Boston Bruins -- make the Stanley Cup Finals, it was a no-brainer to pull the trigger on the tickets.<br /><br />After picking him up from school and putting him through a quick skating session, we headed over to Tampa. As always, we followed our pregame routine, venturing down to the glass so Colin would watch the team during warmups.<br /><br />Only a few minutes in, a Bruins player skated up to Colin and tapped the glass in front of him. In his hand, he held a puck. Seconds later, he tossed it over to Colin. While this hasn't been that rare of an occurrence this season, the player who did it was a bit of a surprise.<br /><br />Instead of Boston's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Patrice Bergeron</span>, Colin's best NHL buddy, it was, instead, Bruins rookie <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tyler Seguin</span>. Stunned by the gesture, Colin and I looked at each other with wide-eyed amazement.<br /><br />For regular readers of Hound Central 5.0, it's common knowledge that Seguin didn't rank near the top of Colin's favorite NHL players, even despite playing for his hometown Bruins. A little <a href="http://bluegrafs5.blogspot.com/2010/11/hockey-life-week-6.html">incident</a> earlier this season saw to that.<br /><br />After Wednesday night's warmups, though, Colin now considers the matter closed.<br /><br />"Apology accepted," he said.<br /><br />The thumbs-down, too, was for the Lightning, not Seguin. I just hope that doesn't come back to haunt him.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">He'll take it</span></span><br /><br />Brett, owner of the top-shelf <a href="http://myhockeycardobsession.blogspot.com/">My Hockey Card Obsession</a> blog, is one of Hound Central 5.0's most faithful readers. As a result, he's very familiar with Colin's passion for the Bruins. Brett, however, is a Canucks fan. And with the two clubs squaring off for Lord Stanley's Cup, he proposed a friendly wager.<br /><br />If Boston wins, Brett will create a custom Stanley Cup Patrice Bergeron card for Colin to get signed. If the Bruins lose, though, Colin will create a Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Champions <a href="http://bluegrafs5.blogspot.com/search/label/team%20sheets">team sheet</a> to get signed.<br /><br />After consulting with Colin, he's accepted the wager and is looking forward to his new card. It'll look good, he said, with the other <a href="http://bluegrafs4.blogspot.com/2008/12/he-was-impressed.html">Bergeron card</a> Brett created for him a few seasons ago.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Not too smart, folks</span></span><br /><br />If you ask me, it was pretty freaking stupid for Lightning and Bruins fans to throw those plastic thunder drums onto the ice at the end of Game 6. Players from both teams got hit as did a few unsuspecting fans.<br /><br />I mean, what were people thinking? That this was cool? Hardly. All it showed was that a few numskulls, likely fueled by a few too many overpriced alcoholic beverages, fell far short of acceptable behavior. I wonder, too, how many kids followed the leads shown by their parents?<br /><br />It's one thing to cheer for your team or, within reason and boundaries of good taste, give an opponent a hard time. Tossing projectiles, however, crosses the line.<br /><br />As for the Lightning, let's hope there was a lesson learned. As vigilant as they were about fans entering a game (<span style="font-style: italic;">bags checked, pockets emptied and a body scan with a metal detector</span>), the organization showed a lack of foresight in handing out these items.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-80586292182549967982011-05-24T09:58:00.004-04:002011-05-28T18:37:53.602-04:00Big night tonightWhen Colin first tried out for the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning a couple of months ago, we heard that the spring season would serve as a warmup for the real deal -- the fall season. Well, after making the spring squad, Colin takes the next step in his journey tonight, when he tries out for the Jr. Lightning's fall squad.<br />
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So far, in six games with the Jr. Lightning, he has a goal and two assists and has earned a reputation for a tireless backchecker. To me, he's doing what he supposed to -- being a role player.<br />
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Last Sunday, he played his 20th game of 2011. Wearing the jerseys of the Jr. Lightning and the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, in travel-team and rec league games, he has scored 11 goals and has 12 assists. At more than a point per game, I'd say he's doing pretty good.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-82283962945364618942011-05-22T09:15:00.002-04:002011-05-22T09:15:00.230-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 29It's not too often that I've been able to try my hand at hounding during an Eastern Conference final. That changed last week, when the Boston Bruins came to town to play the Tampa Bay Lightning. And now that I think back, this is the first time.<br /><br />After two trips in less than 24 hours, however, I'd call it a waste of time. Though the coaches and lesser-known players will likely sign, it's apparent that most of a visiting team's bigger-name players are in shutdown mode.<br /><br />To wit, according to several Hockey Bay hounds who put in more time than me:<br /><br />~ "I'm not signing this trip." Boston's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zdeno Chara</span><br /><br />~ "C'mon, it's game day." Boston's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomas Kaberle</span><br /><br />~ "(Bleep) you, you fat (bleep)." Boston's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tyler Seguin</span>, during a testy exchange with a Hockey Bay hound (not me, though)<br /><br />Granted, it's easy to understand that the players are focused on the game, not signing autographs. At this stage of the season, players need to think about the task at hand. But to sneak out a hotel's back door to catch a ride, rather than walk out the front and politely decline requests, is, in a word, weak.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Checking in</span></span><br /><br />Because the Bruins were in town, Colin joined me for both of our hounding adventures. It wasn't so much to score autographs, but the trips represented opportunities for Colin to see his favorite NHL buddy, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Patrice Bergeron</span>.<br /><br />Unfortunately, Bergeron was one of the Boston players who ducked out the back, meaning Colin didn't get his face-to-face with the reason why he wears No. 37. We had made a quick trip Friday to the hotel's Starbucks, hoping to see him there, like we did <span style="font-weight: bold;">Milan Lucic</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nathan Horton</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Johnny Boychuck</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shawn Thornton</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomas Kaberle</span>, among others.<br /><br />To Bergeron's credit, though, he nodded at Colin as he stood along the glass during Game 3 warmups. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but Colin certainly appreciated the gesture.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-50393542764431444332011-05-15T11:54:00.011-04:002011-05-15T23:11:52.891-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 28Because I've been a gypsy journalist, working at papers large and small along the Eastern Seaboard, I've had the opportunity to follow a number of NHL teams -- the Carolina Hurricanes (the first two seasons after relocating from Hartford, when they were practically giving away tickets), Boston Bruins and, now, the Tampa Bay Lightning. It doesn't mean, though, they're my favorite team.<br /><p>The honor, for better or worse, goes to the Buffalo Sabres. From the days of the French Connection to Donny Edwards to Ryan Miller, I've always bled blue, yellow and white.<br /><p>That doesn't mean, though, that I can't, or won't root, for other teams, especially when living or working in a particular city, save for when the Sabres come to town. To me, it's a right of being a hockey fan.<br /><p>This issue has come to the surface recently, at home and on Facebook, over my stated hopes that the Lightning beat the Bruins in the Eastern Conference final. It seems I'm the only one in the house, besides the cats, who isn't rooting for the Bruins. And after a couple of pointed posts at Facebook, it's apparent I've stepped on a few toes.<br /><p>My response requires only two words: tough beans.<br /><p>For one, once the Sabres were knocked out, I wasn't going to sit idly on the sidelines. I'm too much of a hockey fan to not have a dog in the fight. So, for a couple of reasons, I'm sticking with the Bolts.<br /><p>In two tours of duty, so to speak, I've lived in the Tampa Bay area for nearly as long as I have in western New York. I may have been a kid in Machias, N.Y., but I grew up down here in Hockey Bay. It's where my favorite Bruins fan learned to skate and plays his hockey, too. And given that the Lightning has enjoyed a truly remarkable turnaround this season, it's not hard to appreciate the team's fortunes.<br /><p>As for Boston, well, that's a different story.<br /><p>I really love the city itself. It's steeped in history; you can walk on the very same streets as America's first patriots. It's great for people-watching, as its international appeal and many top-rate universities make the Hub of the Universe moniker deserving. And the Public Garden is one of the coolest places I've ever visited (I even know of one spot where you can sit, in summer's full bloom, and not see a single bit of the city).<br /><p>The fact that Colin was born near Beantown and grew up watching the Bruins, including his favorite NHL buddy <strong>Patrice Bergeron</strong>, practice and play, from Wilmington, Mass., to Boston and from Brandon, Fla., to Tampa, made it easy to cheer for the Bruins, but only when they weren't playing the Sabres and, now, the Lightning.<br /><p>My biggest reason for abandoning the Bruins in this series raised its ugly head last night. With the Lightning holding a commanding lead in the third period, I was appalled by the spacious gaps of empty gold seats at the TD Banknorth Garden. Rather than stay to the end and boo their team, as any loyal hockey fan worth his or her salt would do, the "fans" left. Unfortunately, a few knuckleheads stayed behind, throwing debris (playoff towels, perhaps?) at the Lightning players at game's end.<br /><p>And then you have the cheap-shot sucker punches thrown by <strong>Nathan Horton</strong> and <strong>Milan Lucic</strong>. Sure, it stinks getting embarrassed on your home ice. Rather than man up, admit that they weren't prepared and dedicate themselves to Game 2, all these two clowns did was disgrace themselves, their team and fans with their selfish actions.<br /><p>In both cases, it only solidified my decision to root for the Lightning. I made sure, as a father and a hockey dad, that Colin knew the fans' and players' actions, were teaching moments on how NOT to act.<br /><p>For that, I'm appreciative. Go Bolts!Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-73863827234940363962011-05-08T16:16:00.002-04:002011-05-08T16:19:29.972-04:00Moms rockIn lieu of another Hockey Life offering, I have but one simple wish: That all moms are shown love and respect not just today, but every day.<br /><p>To all of the hockey moms, thanks for all of the sacrifices you make. Behind every hockey player is a mom who cares not only about her child, but the sport as well.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-9479552900121702662011-05-04T11:27:00.006-04:002011-05-07T09:31:13.684-04:00Let's go Bolts!Never had the chance to witness a series-clinching game. Here's hoping it happens tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum. If it does, the joint will be rocking.<br /><p>Couldn't bring myself to drive over to Tampa this morning and hound the Washington Capitals. Facing elimination, I can't imagine them being in anything other than a surly mood. <br /><p>Doesn't mean, though, we won't see if some Lightning players aren't staying at a hotel. Got a lot of stuff for them we'd like to get signed.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-23205922191840115522011-05-01T08:37:00.007-04:002011-05-01T10:25:58.796-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 27<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzBL8UtcxdMbl1Lyyv9D99iQv2k6MlzdOQqOUC8BuTTvOmGepJSEFkYaqCreN0kuPF31KipxkmXOX2fJX7bbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><p>As a hockey dad, there's little more fun than watching your child play the game. Win or lose, as long as he's having fun, that's all that really matters.<br /><p>For the child, though, hockey is all about moments. The first time they step on the ice. The first time they make a team. The first time they play a game. And, yes, the first time they score a goal. Each one is a memory.<br /><p>Last night, in his home rink in Clearwater, Colin scored his first goal for the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning travel team. Once again, hard work, dedication and doggedness paid off. Even better, it came in an 11-6 victory for the Jr. Lightning.<br /><p>Though he's scored goals in the past, quite a few for his first team, the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, this one is pretty special.<br /><p>After admitting that he felt a bit intimidated in his first two games a couple weeks ago, I told him that hockey hasn't changed. It doesn't matter if the kids are a little bigger, skate a little faster or are any better than him. All he has to do is skate hard, play his best and good things will happen.<br /><p>That goal last night drove home the point. And now that he got the first one out of the way, let's see what happens.<br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>It's been awhile</strong></span><br /><p>In the five-plus years we've lived down here in Hockey Bay, the Tampa Bay Lightning, up until this season, had made the NHL playoffs only once. And, that, if memory serves me correctly, didn't go all that well as the New Jersey Devils easily dispatched the Bolts in the first round.<br /><p>This season, though, the Bolts are back in the playoffs and, possibly, making some noise. After knocking off the Pittsburgh Penguins, coming back from a 3-1 deficit, the Lightning surprised the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals.<br /><p>Though we passed on a first-round game, we have tickets (<em>not very good ones, mind you</em>) for Wednesday's game against the Washington Capitals. Still, to take in the excitement of an NHL playoff game, even if it's in the nosebleeds, it'll be worth every penny.</p>Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-57384612245821341392011-04-28T16:14:00.004-04:002011-04-28T21:22:36.808-04:00To my sonTen years ago today, at exactly the time this post went live, I knew what I was put on God's great earth to do. It wasn't to be a journalist. Nor was it to collect hockey autographs. It was to be a daddy.<br /><p>Happy birthday, buddy boy! I love you with all of my heart.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-61584332110170240122011-04-28T11:29:00.003-04:002011-04-28T11:32:47.947-04:00It's not over yetSeeing that the Tampa Bay Lightning left the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans slack-jawed last night, there's renewed life to hockey-hounding efforts down here in Hockey Bay. Sure, it means the "hound-friendly" Washington Capitals and their potty-mouthed coach, but it'll be worth at least one trip.<br /><p>It looks like we'll make one trip, next Wednesday, for the Capitals. We even have tickets for Game 4, in the top row of the St. Pete Times Forum. At least we won't have people yelling over our heads.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-70727923658535449202011-04-26T12:16:00.004-04:002011-04-26T22:10:53.479-04:00Life callsThere are times when life, as in being a daddy, entrepreneur or an employee, takes precedence over hounding an NHL team. Yesterday was one of those instances.<br /><p>Unless the Tampa Bay Lightning completes a comeback against the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow, my 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign has come to a close.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-12511245309635667112011-04-24T08:43:00.006-04:002011-04-24T08:43:00.097-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 26Just when I think the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign is coming to an end, the Tampa Bay Lightning shakes off the goal-scoring cobwebs Saturday and lights up the Pittsburgh Penguins to force a Game 6 back here in Hockey Bay.<br /><br />At the least, it means another opportunity, schedule permitting, to have <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gilles Meloche</span> sign a pair of pucks. I <a href="http://bluegrafs5.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-is-it.html">missed him by five minutes</a> last Wednesday morning.<br /><br />Getting caught up in the spirit of the playoffs, I couldn't help myself from commenting on Saturday's game on Facebook. Among them:<br /><br />~ Shhhh! Listen. It's Pittsburgh.<br /><br />~ Scoring a power play goal is the best way to deter dumb penalties. Except, of course, if you're <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kris Letang</span>. Bolts 8-2.<br /><br />~ Uh-oh. The Pens care coming back. The multitalented <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Rupp</span> scores from his butt. You gotta like players who don't give up.<br /><br />~ I love the grumpy look on the blonde's face behind the Penguins bench. I've yet to see her smile all game long. She must be thinking "I paid how much for this?"<br /><br />~ Lightning 5, Penguins 0. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Steven Stamkos</span> wakes up with his second goal. The rout is on. Let's go Bolts!<br /><br />~ The Consol Center's lacking a little energy right now, isn't it?<br /><br />Now, I don't have anything against Pittsburgh folks. I work with a few people from there. There's even a soft spot in my heart for the Pirates. It was just good to see the Lightning, a team that we've followed over our five-plus years here, respond to a challenge.<br /><br />The next big test comes Monday, when we'll see if the Lightning can maintain the momentum and force a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh. If not, I'll man up and take any heat that comes my way.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What would you do?</span></span><br /><br />Colin turns 10 Thursday, making it his first double-digit birthday, which, for that reason alone, makes it a pretty big deal. Though he'll get to open his birthday presents and head out to Cody's Roadhouse for his meal, we're waiting a week or so for his party.<br /><br />The problem, however, is that he has a practice that night with the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, his recreational league team. The Stars don't have any games left, but the rink owes them one more hour of ice time -- hence, the practice.<br /><br />Compounding the situation, he has a two-hour travel-team practice Monday, a 90-minute skating session with me Wednesday before another hourlong travel-team practice at another rink and two travel-team games on Saturday. That's a pretty busy week, if you ask me, even without the birthday factored in.<br /><br />I'm thinking, given everything else that's going on, there's no need for him to take part in the P.A.L. practice. He says he wants to attend the practice, as it's likely the last time he'll be a part of that team, one that he's served as an alternate captain this season. That appeals to the hockey dad in me. As a parent, though, I'm not so sure.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quote of the week</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Hey, when's the last time the Sabres won a Stanley Cup?"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Colin</span>, to me, after giving him some ribbing about the Boston Bruins falling behind early in their series against the Montreal Canadiens.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-24335006316151326382011-04-21T10:56:00.003-04:002011-04-21T11:09:49.121-04:00This is it<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZL0S1IPcXWnsjobeOahhYnia048Mo9WsJhFogD2jWkj76nwgqNnolVRfhxf2WMvs_7C7TjTHvcI4_8QNtg_ASKRK-oxhnzsT7z2FctAdZamiwwSVDOEj_YGGpjsYWgbOjmFGEBNzQSM/s1600/042111+-+PP+Cooke+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZL0S1IPcXWnsjobeOahhYnia048Mo9WsJhFogD2jWkj76nwgqNnolVRfhxf2WMvs_7C7TjTHvcI4_8QNtg_ASKRK-oxhnzsT7z2FctAdZamiwwSVDOEj_YGGpjsYWgbOjmFGEBNzQSM/s400/042111+-+PP+Cooke+.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598054242221810674" /></a>Unless the Tampa Bay Lightning win Saturday in Pittsburgh, I made my last ride over Tampa Bay of the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign yesterday. The rewards of the effort, however, were unspectacular.<br /><p><strong>Matt Cooke</strong>, serving a league-mandated suspension but traveling with the Penguins, was the only autograph I picked up in more than two hours. Love him or hate him, he's certainly worthy, considering his reputation, of having a puck. with it, it means the autographed puck collection stands at 2,302.<br /><p>Of all of the players to take part in the morning skate, only Cooke, <strong>Deryk Engelland</strong> and <strong>Aaron Asham</strong>, took the time to sign. Every other player, including <strong>Sidney Crosby</strong>, <strong>Evgeni Malkin</strong>, <strong>Kris Letang</strong> and <strong>Marc-Andre Fleury</strong>, didn't sign, heading straight for hotel courtesy vans or the team bus. They may have signed later, but I wasn't there.<br /><p>I missed out -- again -- on goalie coach <strong>Gilles Meloche</strong> by five minutes, relegating the Cleveland Barons and California Golden Seals pucks I had for him to storage.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-16968482468872346532011-04-17T08:19:00.007-04:002011-04-17T13:01:51.543-04:00The Hockey Life: Week 25When you travel in hockey circles, you'll never know who you're going to run into. Twice within a week, assuming the role of a hockey dad, I crossed paths with a few members of the Tampa Bay Lightning.<br /><p>In our search for s specific pair of hockey socks, we took a ride recently over to the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. It must have been a practice night for the Ice Bulls, as we saw <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Marty St. Louis</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mattias Ohlund</span> and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Brett Clark</span> walking around the facility.<br /><p>Last Sunday, at Colin's home rink in Clearwater, we saw St. Louis and Clark again, as their children played a Mites game against a Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning squad. One of the boys was easy to identify, as he wore the same number as his dad. The other? Well, a strong facial resemblance gave him away, though his jersey lacked a name and had a different number than his father.<br /><p>While there was a bit of a buzz going through the facility, and The Missus loaned a black Sharpie to one of Colin's teammates so she could get some autographs, at no time did I entertain the thought of hitting them up for autographs. Lacking any items on hand, it was easy to do. But even if I had items for them, and I do have a couple of pucks earmarked for St. Louis, I still wouldn't have asked.<br /><p>More than anything else, it was more out of respect for family time for these guys. They weren't NHL players when we saw them. No, they were hockey dads. Just like me, they were building a bond with a child over the game of hockey. No autograph is worth interfering with that.<br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Bragging Daddy alert</strong> </span><br /><p>Granted, it may have been an intrasquad scrimmage, brought about by the inattentiveness (apparently) of his home rink's youth hockey director, but any time Colin logs six points (four goals and two assists) in a game, I can't help but tell the world.<br /><p>One goal came on a breakaway, shooting while he was "flying" through the air after being tripped.<br /><p>Even better, one of Colin's linemates had nine points (two goals and seven assists) in his team's 10-7 victory. Way to go, Sophia. You rock, kiddo. <br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Programming note</strong> </span><br /><p>The next hounding adventure comes Wednesday, trying out luck for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Until then, I'll be taking a break from posts.<br /><p>Beyond that, it all depends on how deep the Bolts go into the playoffs. As always, I appreciate your time.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-45064486760763570852011-04-16T08:14:00.003-04:002011-04-16T08:14:00.164-04:00Team report: Florida Panthers II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq7prLAUtxBno711D7DKrx4-T0lfYvR1v6rCV3VpNwHuABYqNPMj2WAxoibSOXR9lvAHPu8LtsRTSMMPRxOKCQjRquksRC4yeURm_QoDoc4IStP5Q88dxrF7-x5m8OVVMDYRyLBeDKvY/s1600/041611+-+FP+pucks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595288852973149378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq7prLAUtxBno711D7DKrx4-T0lfYvR1v6rCV3VpNwHuABYqNPMj2WAxoibSOXR9lvAHPu8LtsRTSMMPRxOKCQjRquksRC4yeURm_QoDoc4IStP5Q88dxrF7-x5m8OVVMDYRyLBeDKvY/s400/041611+-+FP+pucks.jpg" /></a>Even if it was the last regular-season home game and the team visiting Hockey Bay was the Florida Panthers, I was a bit surprised for the sparse showing before morning skate. All told, there were four of us. Yes, only four of us. <br /><p>Maybe I've gotten used to bigger crowds, or perhaps people had run out of items to get signed, but it was a little disappointing that an NHL team, even one that's had so little success over the years, would draw so few hounds. <br /><p>A hounding opportunity, to me, is just that -- an opportunity to add to collections. Oh, well, I didn't let anything stop me from adding a baker's dozen of autographs to the collection, including the 2,300th puck of the collection.<br /><p>Signing the pucks were:<br /><p><strong>Top row:</strong> Sergei Samsonov (for No. 2,300) and Mike Santorelli; and<br /><strong>Bottom row:</strong> Tomas Vokoun and Stephen Weiss. <br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCshGdAry2Jj1gyKIya13rtdKKyrsQiMEOrBiQiZYaieO3c6J-zW_dCvQU-M9qD1RYOXleH-xYC-Cs4O1IuuOQenK_B6jU4ovq7dZmYIbK0GxerVJQPBxf96twN-XoO7kzi-XcFHF6J8/s1600/041611+-+FP+cards.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595288190457626738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCshGdAry2Jj1gyKIya13rtdKKyrsQiMEOrBiQiZYaieO3c6J-zW_dCvQU-M9qD1RYOXleH-xYC-Cs4O1IuuOQenK_B6jU4ovq7dZmYIbK0GxerVJQPBxf96twN-XoO7kzi-XcFHF6J8/s400/041611+-+FP+cards.jpg" /></a>Signing cards were, from left, <strong>Steve Bernier</strong>, <strong>David Booth</strong> and <strong>Darcy Hordichuk</strong>. <br /><p>Other highlights: <br /><p>~ Putting a trio of <a href="http://bluegrafs5.blogspot.com/2011/04/keep-this-to-yourself.html">specialty pucks</a> to good use; and <br />~ having goalie Scott <strong>Clemmensen</strong> sign my only remaining <a href="http://hockeyhoundsuniverse.blogspot.com/2011/04/useful-ill-tell-you.html">Lowell Devils puck</a>.</p>Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-49317850130226824682011-04-15T08:16:00.002-04:002011-04-15T11:38:05.694-04:00Keep this to yourself<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfMJiwgU8yh4aWg7X4M9ZVJ6zaac1MJActzU0hunANMogem2ymNew0Jakrsgiy-gV0LDaz7ZPwqCwv3_GQT84Bh0Hheo7LE4t7yw96sammeCSZqHDM-AJ_Ru5Rno_HM60MpzpIWTVIog/s1600/041511+-+FP+Bergfors+Kulikov+Weiss+pucks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595285748034636690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfMJiwgU8yh4aWg7X4M9ZVJ6zaac1MJActzU0hunANMogem2ymNew0Jakrsgiy-gV0LDaz7ZPwqCwv3_GQT84Bh0Hheo7LE4t7yw96sammeCSZqHDM-AJ_Ru5Rno_HM60MpzpIWTVIog/s400/041511+-+FP+Bergfors+Kulikov+Weiss+pucks.jpg" /></a>I'll let you in on a little secret. Using specialty pucks is one of the quickest ways to get NHL players to stop and sign. After seeing the same old team pucks, city after city and season after season, players gravitate toward something new to sign. <br /><p>Signing these three, during the Florida Panthers' visit to Hockey Bay last week, were, from left, <strong>Niclas Bergfors</strong>, <strong>Dmitry Kulikov</strong> and <strong>Stephen Weiss</strong>.</p>Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-49220244851093715042011-04-14T09:08:00.002-04:002011-04-14T09:08:00.411-04:00Only one more<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPV-h-GTe2o_i8r9ffWoPilT-tpjcTP8axG_598DnQ-fncWySAM7encuXph7LeXvRFPfcxf5-4yAuMICI1hQbp4ttqiHi75KJCPwAOVi7RL9a30P_Ro134BPl5YhHYct5WEa_jDnFEBs/s1600/041411+-+TBLa+Andreychuk+NJD+puck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPV-h-GTe2o_i8r9ffWoPilT-tpjcTP8axG_598DnQ-fncWySAM7encuXph7LeXvRFPfcxf5-4yAuMICI1hQbp4ttqiHi75KJCPwAOVi7RL9a30P_Ro134BPl5YhHYct5WEa_jDnFEBs/s400/041411+-+TBLa+Andreychuk+NJD+puck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595275829722939858" /></a>For all of the times I've crossed paths with <strong>Dave Andreychuk</strong>, the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup-winning team, you'd think I'd have completed my career collection for him, having him sign a puck from every NHL team he played for in his career.<br /><p>After this one, which he signed last week during a Lightning Radio show, we're down to just the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'm sure, too, we'll see him soon enough.Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-554133810827619860.post-84474781466087760612011-04-13T23:02:00.003-04:002011-04-13T23:07:29.291-04:00Making the connection<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHN6bw_QdjxjLXtkCWDg_Ea48PSBuhHg7mgbwdOPsuCuruKfHAErdHHKP9LINsC0Y9r2_gPonvqfpmZ9BvQ7gBZj6xziESgUMKA4K5MBfv3_HbBxiGQvQyrna8rT9uW8cMU4qKJtbki8/s1600/041311+-+TBLa+Bradley.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595269339205721890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHN6bw_QdjxjLXtkCWDg_Ea48PSBuhHg7mgbwdOPsuCuruKfHAErdHHKP9LINsC0Y9r2_gPonvqfpmZ9BvQ7gBZj6xziESgUMKA4K5MBfv3_HbBxiGQvQyrna8rT9uW8cMU4qKJtbki8/s320/041311+-+TBLa+Bradley.jpg" /></a>Colin got quite the kick out of former Tampa Bay Lightning player <strong>Brian Bradley</strong> last week when he signed this promo card for him at a Lightning radio show at a McDonald's in New Tampa.<p>Only the night before, Bradley ran a Lightning Made hockey clinic at the St. Pete Times Forum that Colin attended.<p>As Colin approached the Lightning's first All-Star to thank him for running the clinic, Bradley's face lit up:<p>"Hey, I remember you," he said. "You were at the clinic last night."Puckhoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957524025024642361noreply@blogger.com0