Now 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.
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.
I've also pulled the plug on Hockey Hounds Universe. 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.
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.
Peace.
Showing posts with label THL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label THL. Show all posts
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 31
We 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.
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.
"You can't teach speed and tenacity," Coach Dave told me.
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.
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.
A kick in the grass
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.
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.
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 Clearwater Sun.
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.
"You can't teach speed and tenacity," Coach Dave told me.
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.
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.
A kick in the grass
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.
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.
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 Clearwater Sun.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 30
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.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.
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.
Instead of Boston's Patrice Bergeron, Colin's best NHL buddy, it was, instead, Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin. Stunned by the gesture, Colin and I looked at each other with wide-eyed amazement.
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 incident earlier this season saw to that.
After Wednesday night's warmups, though, Colin now considers the matter closed.
"Apology accepted," he said.
The thumbs-down, too, was for the Lightning, not Seguin. I just hope that doesn't come back to haunt him.
He'll take it
Brett, owner of the top-shelf My Hockey Card Obsession 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.
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 team sheet to get signed.
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 Bergeron card Brett created for him a few seasons ago.
Not too smart, folks
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.
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?
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.
As for the Lightning, let's hope there was a lesson learned. As vigilant as they were about fans entering a game (bags checked, pockets emptied and a body scan with a metal detector), the organization showed a lack of foresight in handing out these items.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 29
It'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.
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.
To wit, according to several Hockey Bay hounds who put in more time than me:
~ "I'm not signing this trip." Boston's Zdeno Chara
~ "C'mon, it's game day." Boston's Tomas Kaberle
~ "(Bleep) you, you fat (bleep)." Boston's Tyler Seguin, during a testy exchange with a Hockey Bay hound (not me, though)
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.
Checking in
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, Patrice Bergeron.
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 Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, Johnny Boychuck, Shawn Thornton and Tomas Kaberle, among others.
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.
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.
To wit, according to several Hockey Bay hounds who put in more time than me:
~ "I'm not signing this trip." Boston's Zdeno Chara
~ "C'mon, it's game day." Boston's Tomas Kaberle
~ "(Bleep) you, you fat (bleep)." Boston's Tyler Seguin, during a testy exchange with a Hockey Bay hound (not me, though)
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.
Checking in
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, Patrice Bergeron.
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 Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, Johnny Boychuck, Shawn Thornton and Tomas Kaberle, among others.
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.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 28
Because 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.
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.
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.
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.
My response requires only two words: tough beans.
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.
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.
As for Boston, well, that's a different story.
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).
The fact that Colin was born near Beantown and grew up watching the Bruins, including his favorite NHL buddy Patrice Bergeron, 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.
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.
And then you have the cheap-shot sucker punches thrown by Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic. 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.
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.
For that, I'm appreciative. Go Bolts!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 27
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It's been awhile
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.
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.
Though we passed on a first-round game, we have tickets (not very good ones, mind you) 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.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 26
Just 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.
At the least, it means another opportunity, schedule permitting, to have Gilles Meloche sign a pair of pucks. I missed him by five minutes last Wednesday morning.
Getting caught up in the spirit of the playoffs, I couldn't help myself from commenting on Saturday's game on Facebook. Among them:
~ Shhhh! Listen. It's Pittsburgh.
~ Scoring a power play goal is the best way to deter dumb penalties. Except, of course, if you're Kris Letang. Bolts 8-2.
~ Uh-oh. The Pens care coming back. The multitalented Michael Rupp scores from his butt. You gotta like players who don't give up.
~ 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?"
~ Lightning 5, Penguins 0. Steven Stamkos wakes up with his second goal. The rout is on. Let's go Bolts!
~ The Consol Center's lacking a little energy right now, isn't it?
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.
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.
What would you do?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Quote of the week
"Hey, when's the last time the Sabres won a Stanley Cup?"
Colin, to me, after giving him some ribbing about the Boston Bruins falling behind early in their series against the Montreal Canadiens.
At the least, it means another opportunity, schedule permitting, to have Gilles Meloche sign a pair of pucks. I missed him by five minutes last Wednesday morning.
Getting caught up in the spirit of the playoffs, I couldn't help myself from commenting on Saturday's game on Facebook. Among them:
~ Shhhh! Listen. It's Pittsburgh.
~ Scoring a power play goal is the best way to deter dumb penalties. Except, of course, if you're Kris Letang. Bolts 8-2.
~ Uh-oh. The Pens care coming back. The multitalented Michael Rupp scores from his butt. You gotta like players who don't give up.
~ 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?"
~ Lightning 5, Penguins 0. Steven Stamkos wakes up with his second goal. The rout is on. Let's go Bolts!
~ The Consol Center's lacking a little energy right now, isn't it?
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.
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.
What would you do?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Quote of the week
"Hey, when's the last time the Sabres won a Stanley Cup?"
Colin, to me, after giving him some ribbing about the Boston Bruins falling behind early in their series against the Montreal Canadiens.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 25
When 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.
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 Marty St. Louis, Mattias Ohlund and Brett Clark walking around the facility.
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.
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.
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.
Bragging Daddy alert
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.
One goal came on a breakaway, shooting while he was "flying" through the air after being tripped.
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.
Programming note
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.
Beyond that, it all depends on how deep the Bolts go into the playoffs. As always, I appreciate your time.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 24
Well, folks, here we are at the end of the 2020-11 NHL regular season. Games today decide who keeps playing and who goes home. Some players will begin their beards. Others, far fewer in number, will be hitting the links.
Down here in Hockey Bay, our hounding campaign extends for the first time in four seasons. We couldn't have a better draw, either, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and all that means, meeting the Tampa Bay Lightning.
At the least, we'll get another crack or two at Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and, if we're lucky, Evgeni Malkin. Now, I'm not guaranteeing we'll get all three to sign, but I'll be happy with just one from any of them.
For the most part, and I pass this advice along to those just getting in the game, I'm going in with low expectations. If I don't get any of them, well, I have no reason to be disappointed. While it would be nice to snag a few, I don't base a trip or a season on two or three autographs.
Instead, my major target will be Penguins goalie coach Gilles Meloche. I bought Cleveland Barons and California Golden Seals pucks for him. If successful, those would be the first for each team of more than 2,300 autographed pucks in our collection.
As for the others, they'll be in the NHL for a long time. I'm certain, too, our paths will cross again. You have my word I'll be ready.
Road trip report
The ride south to Estero was long. The two games were a little longer, too. It seems we played two of the better teams in the Central Florida Hockey League. Let's just say we know how far we need to travel, so to speak, to become more competitive.
A certain someone also realized just how much effort it takes to play at this level. There's no striding and gliding, only skating hard. There's no standing around, only constant motion. Easy games, he learned, are a thing of the past.
To his credit, he played forward on a successful 5-on-3 penalty kill. As for fun, there's little to have when you're getting your fanny handed to you. In time, I'm sure he'll have some.
Win or lose, though, I want to thank the Hound Central 5.0 readers who indulge this hockey dad's sharing of his son's exploits. I know he's one of many, many thousands of kids with the same dream.
I'm hoping Saturday's games opened his eyes.
Quote of the week
"We can't win all of the time. Someone else has to win every once in a while."
Scott Clemmensen, Boston College hockey alum and Florida Panthers goalie, when asked what happened to the defending NCAA hockey champion Eagles this season.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 23
Later this week, Saturday to be specific, Colin takes the first step in the newest chapter of his youth hockey career -- playing in his first travel-team game for the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning. Rather than playing in the confines of his home arena, we'll be hitting the road.
Being new to this aspect of the game, we're looking forward to playing in new rinks. Part of the allure will be making the rides -- some longer than others -- to play new teams at different rinks. If it means a two-hour ride south, so be it. Same, too, for two trips later this spring to the Orlando area.
That's why it's called a travel team, right?
When we received the spring schedule last week, part of a teamwide e-mail blast, it meant that any response to that message would be received as well. Unfortunately, one response caught me off-guard: "Why are we getting HOSED with all the travel?"
Though I can relate to the many miles of highway travel that await us, it seems a bit odd that a parent who willingly pays for their child to play on a travel team is lamenting the need to travel. To me, the parent, and not the child, was whining.
Given that two youth hockey organizations combined to form one team, meaning 42 kids were competing for only 20 to 22 skating positions, there were a number of kids who didn't the team. For every family that felt the excitement, there were nearly as many who were disappointed.
To Mr. Whiner, I'm sure there is at least one family who would be willing to trade places with you over the next few months. Besides, it's about the kids, not us hockey parents.
If you want to stay home, sir, do us all a favor, please: just let the organization know.
Thanks Pat
Anyone who lives in the Hockey Bay area knew that last Thursday brought some severe weather to the area. Nine tornadoes were reported. A truck flipped over on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Thousands, as of Saturday, were waiting for electricity to be restored.
Though we may have gotten a bit damp dodging raindrops while hounding the Pittsburgh Penguins that day, it was to be expected. Sure, the overhang outside the hotel afford some protection, but strong winds pushed the rain sideways at time.
Where we didn't expect to get wet, though, was inside the St. Pete Times Forum later that night as we watched the game. Unfortunately, that's what happened as a steady drip fell on our seats.
After a few minutes, The Missus got up and found an usher. A supervisor offered her a seat in another section. Seeing that we didn't want to split up for the rest of the game. We ended up each sliding over one seat to the right. It didn't help.
This time, I went down and spoke to the usher. I was told to wait for a few minutes and the supervisor would return. Well, five minutes became 10. Ten minutes became 20. Needless to say, I was less than thrilled.
Finally, Pat, the supervisor arrived. I explained the situation, as The Missus had about 35 minutes earlier, and told her that we were less than satisfied with not only the situation, but the poor customer service as well. Pat asked for another few minutes.
True to her word, Pat soon returned. We gathered ourselves and belongings and followed her. At first, we thought we'd be moving to another section. Instead, we headed for an elevator. A quick ride down two floors and the doors opened to the club level. From there, Pat led us to an all-inclusive suite, complete with all-you-can-eat-and-drink service and leather seats. After out initial surprise, we repeatedly thanked her.
From where I sat, Pat made one heckuva save. It's nice to know that the Tampa Bay Lightning, under new ownership, cares about its fans.
Quote of the week
"Let me guess, Sidney signed?"
Puckhound, to Moody, upon getting a call less than 25 minutes after leaving the team's hotel and heading over the the Glazer Children's Museum with Colin. And, yes, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby signed for a few people before dealers bumrushed him not once, but twice. Moody, by the way, got a pair of autographs out of Crosby.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 23
It's doesn't take a rocket scientist or a ground-breaking psychologist to figure out the primary reason I go hounding. Above all else, it's the simple fact of adding to the hockey autograph collection that motivates me to drag my butt out of bed, make the drive across the Gandy Bridge and hang out near one of three hotels in downtown Tampa
To say that's the only reason, though, is far from the truth. There's much more to it than that.
Part of it is the camaraderie of hanging out with Hockey Bay's regular crowd. It's always nice seeing familiar faces, catching up and commiserating about long waits and players who say "no." That's what hounds do.
Another reason is simply getting out of the house. Beyond my real job at Florida's best newspaper, I keep myself pretty busy with freelance work. It pays for Colin's hockey and the other niceties within our lives. To avoid going bug nuts, though, I need to step outside the seemingly never-ending work routine. That's where hounding, as well as this blog, come in.
Last week, I was reminded of yet another reason why hounding is important.
Dave and Brad, a couple of hounds out of Michigan as well as faithful readers of our exploits over the past few years, made their annual spring trip to the Hockey Bay area. Part of their itinerary included hounding the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders.
I caught up with them last week. I was headed home, limited by work to only a morning skate of hounding. They were headed over to the Islanders hotel. There, I finally delivered a pair of signed Dave Andreychuk promotional cards I'd promised to send nearly a year ago. That, alone, made me feel good.
Over the past few years, I'd gotten used to seeing them show up about this time. We'd swap stories about teams and players. They'd tell me how cold it got up north, hanging out in heated cab of a truck waiting to snag an autograph on a brutal winter day. I'd tell them hounding in nearly 90 degrees, no matter how good it sounds, isn't a slice of heaven.
I know they've taken an interest in Colin's fledgling hockey career. I think we've spent enough time now to consider each other friends. Over the years, I've developed some pretty good friendships through my blogs.
And, that, is one of the better things about hounding.
For a good cause
I'm happy to report, too, that the charity hockey game between the St. Petersburg Police Department and Tampa Bay Lightning alumni proved to be pretty successful. The stands were packed and a lot of money was raised for the families of three slain St. Petersburg officers.
We did our part, too. Beyond donating a Tony Esposito-signed puck for the memorabilia raffle, Colin must have sold nearly $200 worth of raffle tickets.
It took a little encouragement, but he soon found his voice and got a number of people to dig deep into their pockets. Rather than highlighting a Steven Stamkos-signed jersey, a Vinny Lecavalier-signed stick or a $100 gift certificate to a tattoo shop, he opted to promote a pump soap dispenser featuring Thunderbug, the Lightning's mascot. It worked, as more people wanted to win that than anything else.
Wouldn't you know it, too, that Colin ended up winning one for himself. Martin Raymond, one of the Lightning's assistant coaches, agreed to buy five tickets but only if Colin would keep the chances. It was hard telling, thanks to matching mile-wide smiles, who was more excited when Colin told Raymond after the game that one of those tickets proved to be a winner.
As always, the hockey gods were present that night.
To say that's the only reason, though, is far from the truth. There's much more to it than that.
Part of it is the camaraderie of hanging out with Hockey Bay's regular crowd. It's always nice seeing familiar faces, catching up and commiserating about long waits and players who say "no." That's what hounds do.
Another reason is simply getting out of the house. Beyond my real job at Florida's best newspaper, I keep myself pretty busy with freelance work. It pays for Colin's hockey and the other niceties within our lives. To avoid going bug nuts, though, I need to step outside the seemingly never-ending work routine. That's where hounding, as well as this blog, come in.
Last week, I was reminded of yet another reason why hounding is important.
Dave and Brad, a couple of hounds out of Michigan as well as faithful readers of our exploits over the past few years, made their annual spring trip to the Hockey Bay area. Part of their itinerary included hounding the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders.
I caught up with them last week. I was headed home, limited by work to only a morning skate of hounding. They were headed over to the Islanders hotel. There, I finally delivered a pair of signed Dave Andreychuk promotional cards I'd promised to send nearly a year ago. That, alone, made me feel good.
Over the past few years, I'd gotten used to seeing them show up about this time. We'd swap stories about teams and players. They'd tell me how cold it got up north, hanging out in heated cab of a truck waiting to snag an autograph on a brutal winter day. I'd tell them hounding in nearly 90 degrees, no matter how good it sounds, isn't a slice of heaven.
I know they've taken an interest in Colin's fledgling hockey career. I think we've spent enough time now to consider each other friends. Over the years, I've developed some pretty good friendships through my blogs.
And, that, is one of the better things about hounding.
For a good cause
I'm happy to report, too, that the charity hockey game between the St. Petersburg Police Department and Tampa Bay Lightning alumni proved to be pretty successful. The stands were packed and a lot of money was raised for the families of three slain St. Petersburg officers.
We did our part, too. Beyond donating a Tony Esposito-signed puck for the memorabilia raffle, Colin must have sold nearly $200 worth of raffle tickets.
It took a little encouragement, but he soon found his voice and got a number of people to dig deep into their pockets. Rather than highlighting a Steven Stamkos-signed jersey, a Vinny Lecavalier-signed stick or a $100 gift certificate to a tattoo shop, he opted to promote a pump soap dispenser featuring Thunderbug, the Lightning's mascot. It worked, as more people wanted to win that than anything else.
Wouldn't you know it, too, that Colin ended up winning one for himself. Martin Raymond, one of the Lightning's assistant coaches, agreed to buy five tickets but only if Colin would keep the chances. It was hard telling, thanks to matching mile-wide smiles, who was more excited when Colin told Raymond after the game that one of those tickets proved to be a winner.
As always, the hockey gods were present that night.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 22
If you're not doing anything this Wednesday evening, and even if you are, you can bid on this puck, signed by Hall of Fame goalie Tony Esposito, during a charity hockey game between Tampa Bay Lightning alumni and members of the St. Petersburg Police Department at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar, Fla.The game, where a $5 donation gets you in the door for the 8:30 p.m. start, benefits the families of slain St. Petersburg police Sgt. Thomas Baitinger, Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz and Officer David S. Crawford. The three brave officers were shot and killed in two separate incidents within a month recently.
Scheduled to suit up for Lightning alumni are Dave Andreychuk, captain of Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup-winning squad, and Chris Dingman, who has his name etched twice into Lord Stanley's cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche and the Lightning.
I asked Mr. Esposito to sign the puck, which we're donating for a memorabilia raffle/auction during the fundraiser, before a recent Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He willingly obliged.
We hope to see you out there.
Chip off the old block
If you've been keeping score at home, it's little surprise that Colin has become quite the hockey hound this season. Thanks to his team sheets, he routinely scores more autographs than his old man. You'll soon see, in the days ahead, just how well he's done. An upcoming report for the Chicago Blackhawks, in particular, should prove my point.
You know what? I'm glad he has. It shows that the love of a game, from playing to amassing a nice little collection of pucks, cards, photos and sticks, has been passed from father to son. I get more enjoyment watching him rack up the autographs than any I'll ever get. Just like his hockey games, he's first on the puck, so to speak. He's even remembering to say thank you.
As we approach the end of the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign, we'll have two more regular-season adventures to share, including when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to Hockey Bay later this month. Seeing that he'll be on his spring break that week, we'll be able to put in a full day. Let's hope Sidney Crosby is healthy enough to make the trip. We have a McFarlane 2010 Olympic gold medalists base that has his name on it.
Quote of the week
"Colin will be playing for me this spring."
Coach Dave, letting me know that Colin made the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning's Squirts "A" team.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 21
As much as we try to live a well-rounded life, we also spend a considerable amount of time, energy and money devoted to hockey. I'm not complaining, mind you, it's our choice. And, to be honest, I wouldn't change much. There are stretches, though, where we go a bit overboard.
How much? Well, here's a glimpse at our most recent run of ice time. Over the past 10 days:
~ A two-hour skating session on March 2;
~ a Pinellas P.A.L. practice on March 4;
~ two P.A.L. games (the Stars won 5-0, but then lost 3-2) on March 5;
~ another two hours of public skating last Sunday;
~ Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning tryouts on Tuesday;
~ watched the Tampa Bay Lightning beat them, 4-3, in a shootout on Wednesday;
~ another P.A.L. practice on Thursday, and;
~ watched the Ottawa Senators beat the Lightning, 2-1, on Friday.
And that doesn't including hounding trips for the Washington Capitals (Monday morning), Blackhawks (all day Wednesday) and Senators (Friday morning) or the time spent working on Hound Central 5.0 and Hockey Hounds Universe.
Again, I'm not complaining. I am looking forward, though, to the end of the NHL season, even if it extends, by some stroke of luck here in Hockey Bay, all the way to June.
Until then, though, it's time to suck it up and enjoy our favorite sport.
In extremely poor taste
I was a bit surprised by a recent commercial on NHL Network featuring Boston's Zdeno Chara, who's caught some well-deserved flak for his nasty hit on Montreal's Max Pacioretty last week.
The spot shows the Bruins' freak of nature standing still, looking ominously into the camera. In the background, a speaker says "That was a head-crunching hit."
Given the seriousness of Pacioretty's injuries, as well as the freshness of the gruesome image, one would think that the NHL Network, operated by the league itself, would show better judgment.
Quote of the week
"There goes his profit margin for the week."
One Hockey Bay hound, who shall remain nameless, about another Hockey Bay hound/dealer, who also shall remain nameless, after Chicago's Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews wouldn't sign his 16x20 team photo.
How much? Well, here's a glimpse at our most recent run of ice time. Over the past 10 days:
~ A two-hour skating session on March 2;
~ a Pinellas P.A.L. practice on March 4;
~ two P.A.L. games (the Stars won 5-0, but then lost 3-2) on March 5;
~ another two hours of public skating last Sunday;
~ Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning tryouts on Tuesday;
~ watched the Tampa Bay Lightning beat them, 4-3, in a shootout on Wednesday;
~ another P.A.L. practice on Thursday, and;
~ watched the Ottawa Senators beat the Lightning, 2-1, on Friday.
And that doesn't including hounding trips for the Washington Capitals (Monday morning), Blackhawks (all day Wednesday) and Senators (Friday morning) or the time spent working on Hound Central 5.0 and Hockey Hounds Universe.
Again, I'm not complaining. I am looking forward, though, to the end of the NHL season, even if it extends, by some stroke of luck here in Hockey Bay, all the way to June.
Until then, though, it's time to suck it up and enjoy our favorite sport.
In extremely poor taste
I was a bit surprised by a recent commercial on NHL Network featuring Boston's Zdeno Chara, who's caught some well-deserved flak for his nasty hit on Montreal's Max Pacioretty last week.
The spot shows the Bruins' freak of nature standing still, looking ominously into the camera. In the background, a speaker says "That was a head-crunching hit."
Given the seriousness of Pacioretty's injuries, as well as the freshness of the gruesome image, one would think that the NHL Network, operated by the league itself, would show better judgment.
Quote of the week
"There goes his profit margin for the week."
One Hockey Bay hound, who shall remain nameless, about another Hockey Bay hound/dealer, who also shall remain nameless, after Chicago's Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews wouldn't sign his 16x20 team photo.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 20
It's a bittersweet moment anytime Colin gets a new pair of hockey skates. It isn't about the money, either. As any hockey parent knows, deep pockets are a part of the game.
Any kid will tell you that it's exciting getting a new piece of equipment. Doesn't matter if it's a helmet, gloves, stick or some other gear. Getting new skates, like this pair of Bauer Supreme One 100s, is different.Not only do they represent a fresh start, but they also show a continued, and deepening, commitment to a goal. Beyond that, it's keeping a promise to grow -- and not just in foot size.
The sad part, though, is retiring a pair of skates. Colin skated many miles in his Bauer Vapor XXVs, shown above, the second pair he owned. As you can see, they're plenty scuffed-up. Many Wednesday afternoons were spent in these skates, working on crossovers, stop-and-pops and building up speed and stamina.
To be honest, I was hoping we could've waited until fall for his latest pair. It wasn't that Colin's toes were getting cramped. No, after 18 months, we were running out of blade to get sharpened.
To me, his new skates represent the latest installment in the bonding of a father and son. In time, I'm sure he'll think the same thing. If I'm lucky, he'll continue this tradition, provided he's as blessed as we are, with his children.
It's something you just can't put a dollar value on.
Making the switch
After intermittent problems with metallic DecoColor paint pens over this past season, I've sent those silver and gold pens to the sideline for the rest of the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign. From here on in, I'll be using silver Sharpies for any remaining pucks I get signed.
Perhaps some of the gaffes were self-induced, brought about, from time to time, by hastened priming or trying to get one too many autographs out of a pen. The last straw came Wednesday when a pen with less than 15 autographs out of it hiccuped for Phoenix's Oliver Ekman-Larsson, leaving me with this stellar piece.
It worked enough for a somewhat legible autograph, good enough not to erase until I have another opportunity for him to resign the Coyotes puck. It was just too thin, even after priming, to use it for any other player. Funny thing, too, was after shaking the pen in disgust, the paint pooled on the tip, enough so that it splattered across some nearby foliage.
I'd be interested in hearing of others have experienced these issues or have some sure-fire tips they're willing to share.
Quote of the week
"Bull(hockey)!"
New Jersey's Henrik Tallinder, in fake-cough response to a Hockey Bay hound's assertion to Tallinder's Devils teammate Mattias Tedenby that he had heard that Tedenby, a fellow Swede, was one of the best players to come out of the Swedish Elite League in recent years.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 19
Going into this hockey-hounding campaign, I knew February was going to be a rough month. The Tampa Bay Lightning would find itself wrapping up a 12-game homestand, entertaining such Western Conference teams as the Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes and St. Louis Blues.
That alone, I thought, would make for some long days. Sadly, that's not what has made this month, even moreso this past week, especially painful.
In case you haven't heard, David S. Crawford, a St. Petersburg police officer, was shot and killed last week, the third member of the department to be killed in less than a month. Just as a city we now call home began to move along in the grieving process, this sad scene will play out again.
Rather than a wanted felon pulling the trigger, as what happened in late January when St. Petersburg police Sgt. Tom Baitinger and canine Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz were struck down, it's a 16-year-old boy who now stands accused in Officer Crawford's death.
Yes, a 16-year-old boy who, in an instant, destroyed two lives and shook an already stunned city to its core.
Before this unfortunate and senseless act happened, there was another twinge of sadness last week. Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of Tyler Dobies, a 15-year-old who participated in the same hockey program as Colin.
Sadly, Tyler died of a drug overdose. Yes, at 15. Before his death, Tyler was like an older brother to Colin, one of a handful within the program who'd taken Colin under their wings. Unfortunately, we knew nothing about Tyler's demons. Very few people did.
Last Sunday, as Colin skated on his home rink, he stopped to look at Tyler's No. 46 Pinellas Police Athletic League jersey hanging on the wall. Tears soon fell down Colin's cheeks. For good or bad, Colin misses him. He knows Tyler made a mistake. Colin also knows that's all it takes to lose your life.
Over the past year, Colin has kept one of Tyler's prayer cards tucked in his helmet. He also has a "TD46" written on his helmet. That hard lesson, as sad as it is, is the only good thing to come from it.
Thankfully, Colin remembers.
That alone, I thought, would make for some long days. Sadly, that's not what has made this month, even moreso this past week, especially painful.
In case you haven't heard, David S. Crawford, a St. Petersburg police officer, was shot and killed last week, the third member of the department to be killed in less than a month. Just as a city we now call home began to move along in the grieving process, this sad scene will play out again.
Rather than a wanted felon pulling the trigger, as what happened in late January when St. Petersburg police Sgt. Tom Baitinger and canine Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz were struck down, it's a 16-year-old boy who now stands accused in Officer Crawford's death.
Yes, a 16-year-old boy who, in an instant, destroyed two lives and shook an already stunned city to its core.
Before this unfortunate and senseless act happened, there was another twinge of sadness last week. Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of Tyler Dobies, a 15-year-old who participated in the same hockey program as Colin.
Sadly, Tyler died of a drug overdose. Yes, at 15. Before his death, Tyler was like an older brother to Colin, one of a handful within the program who'd taken Colin under their wings. Unfortunately, we knew nothing about Tyler's demons. Very few people did.
Last Sunday, as Colin skated on his home rink, he stopped to look at Tyler's No. 46 Pinellas Police Athletic League jersey hanging on the wall. Tears soon fell down Colin's cheeks. For good or bad, Colin misses him. He knows Tyler made a mistake. Colin also knows that's all it takes to lose your life.
Over the past year, Colin has kept one of Tyler's prayer cards tucked in his helmet. He also has a "TD46" written on his helmet. That hard lesson, as sad as it is, is the only good thing to come from it.
Thankfully, Colin remembers.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 18
Last Thursday, I started writing a post explaining the absence of reports earlier in the week. The reason was as simple as this: the Detroit Red Wings were in town. And, as any serious hockey hound knows, the team demands your full and undivided attention. That alone meant I didn't have time to finish it.
From the future Hall of Famers on the roster -- Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk come to mind -- to the history surrounding the Original Six team, the Wings always draw a big crowd. Thursday night, a sea of red nearly filled the St. Pete Times Forum, where the Wings spanked the hometown Lightning, 6-2.
A funny thing happened, though, when it came to hounding the Wings. While most of us expected big crowds, numbering into the high 20s at the least, the most at any one time was a baker's dozen -- 13. Not that we were complaining, mind you.
With baseball spring training camps opening up nearby, most of the dealers likely turned their attention elsewhere. Baseball, I hear, sells better than hockey. It helped us, too, that we kept it a secret the Red Wings stayed in St. Petersburg, not at one of the three Tampa hotels frequented by NHL teams.
Still, no complaints. It was nice being among friendly faces. And, as you'll read in the days ahead, once we share the bounty of trips for the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, the hounding wasn't all that bad.
Stepping up
It was with more than a little bit of pride that I sewed an "A" on Colin's Pinellas P.A.L. Stars jersey Saturday morning before his first game of the winter-spring campaign. Entering the fourth season with the program, his coaches saw fit to make him an alternate captain.
Gaining the "A" carries some extra responsibilities. Though he tries to lead by example on the ice, playing hard and as best as he can, he has developed a growing voice in the locker room, keeping his teammates, even some a little older, focused on the upcoming game.
For the record, too, the Stars kicked off the campaign in fine fashion, beating one of the Ellenton teams, 8-0. Colin had a goal and an assist.
A milestone for Moody
Here's a tip of Hound Central 5.0's battered, old Cooper SK600 to Moody on the one-year anniversary of his authoritative voice on collecting autographs through the mail, Moody's TTM Blog.
Between the in-person reports here at Hound Central 5.0 and at Hockey Hounds Universe, Moody's TTM Blog rounds out our comprehensive look at the hockey-hounding hobby.
Join me, please, in wishing Moody congratulations on his efforts -- over the past year and the many days ahead.
Quote of the week
"Go home, shovel snow!"
Our response to Red Wings fans chanting "Let's go Red Wings" at Thursday's game.
From the future Hall of Famers on the roster -- Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk come to mind -- to the history surrounding the Original Six team, the Wings always draw a big crowd. Thursday night, a sea of red nearly filled the St. Pete Times Forum, where the Wings spanked the hometown Lightning, 6-2.
A funny thing happened, though, when it came to hounding the Wings. While most of us expected big crowds, numbering into the high 20s at the least, the most at any one time was a baker's dozen -- 13. Not that we were complaining, mind you.
With baseball spring training camps opening up nearby, most of the dealers likely turned their attention elsewhere. Baseball, I hear, sells better than hockey. It helped us, too, that we kept it a secret the Red Wings stayed in St. Petersburg, not at one of the three Tampa hotels frequented by NHL teams.
Still, no complaints. It was nice being among friendly faces. And, as you'll read in the days ahead, once we share the bounty of trips for the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, the hounding wasn't all that bad.
Stepping up
It was with more than a little bit of pride that I sewed an "A" on Colin's Pinellas P.A.L. Stars jersey Saturday morning before his first game of the winter-spring campaign. Entering the fourth season with the program, his coaches saw fit to make him an alternate captain.
Gaining the "A" carries some extra responsibilities. Though he tries to lead by example on the ice, playing hard and as best as he can, he has developed a growing voice in the locker room, keeping his teammates, even some a little older, focused on the upcoming game.
For the record, too, the Stars kicked off the campaign in fine fashion, beating one of the Ellenton teams, 8-0. Colin had a goal and an assist.
A milestone for Moody
Here's a tip of Hound Central 5.0's battered, old Cooper SK600 to Moody on the one-year anniversary of his authoritative voice on collecting autographs through the mail, Moody's TTM Blog.
Between the in-person reports here at Hound Central 5.0 and at Hockey Hounds Universe, Moody's TTM Blog rounds out our comprehensive look at the hockey-hounding hobby.
Join me, please, in wishing Moody congratulations on his efforts -- over the past year and the many days ahead.
Quote of the week
"Go home, shovel snow!"
Our response to Red Wings fans chanting "Let's go Red Wings" at Thursday's game.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 17
For Colin, one of the best parts of going to a Lightning game is hanging out down by the boards, before and during warmups. He'll go off by himself, survey his surroundings and escape into his own little world. If there's a new issue for the game program, like there was last Sunday, he'll bury his nose in it until the lights come up, the music starts to blare and the players hit the ice.The real reason he heads down there, though, is to snag pucks. Rather than crowd into the Lightning's side, where fans stack up three to four deep, he prefers the visitors side. Not so much that he'll root for them, but there's often less competition for a player's gracious gesture. Some times it works, some times it doesn't.
There have been a few times, like last Sunday, when he shares the wealth. Though St. Louis' Vladimir Sobotka clearly intended to flip him a puck, his aim was a bit off and another little boy scooped it up. Though I thought he'd be disappointed, my little man surprised me.
After the little boy's mom walked over and tried to give him the puck, Colin told her that it was OK. Her son could keep it. He told her he'd gotten pucks before, and it was good to see another kid get his first puck during warmups.
Yeah, he's my kid, but I'm not sure too many others would've done the same thing. He may not always be the best behaved, and his hearing is a bit selective (ask The Missus, not me), but he's got a heart of gold.
Going solo
Of all the times I've waited outside the St. Pete Times Forum after a Lightning morning skate, I can't recall ever getting an autograph from Steve Downie. Mostly, it's because he's usually with Steven Stamkos, who seldom, if at all, stops at those times.That changed Thursday, when Downie appeared at a St. Petersburg motorsports dealer for a 90-minute, meet-and-greet signing session. After walking away with seven autographs, including the four cards shown above, it'll be a long time before we'll need to have anything else signed.
I'd heard through the Hockey Bay hounding grapevine that he'd sign multiple autographs during these appearances. After getting ours and watching some folks make multiple trips through the line, there's no doubt in my mind.
Even better, as gritty as he plays on the ice, he was pretty friendly with fans. When Colin told him about how he got yelled at for skating too fast at a mall rink, Downie looked incredulous.
"What's up with that? You got yelled at for skating fast?" he asked Colin. "Dude, that's just wrong."
With just a few words, I'm thinking Downie gained two new fans.
Quote of the week
"It's easier on the body, but I don't get the same buzz."
Bill Clement, a former NHL player and announcer, on the difference between his two occupations.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 16
I don't think twice anytime I have the chance to add the owner of an NHL team to our autographed puck collection. Though their names never end up on the score sheet, they're much more important than any star player.That's particularly the case down here in Hockey Bay. After the circus that was the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past few seasons, Jeff Vinik has brought stability to the franchise.
Hiring Steve Yzerman as the Bolts' general manager saw to that. The Guy Boucher hire has turned out pretty good, too.
So, when I saw Vinik pull into the St. Pete Times Forum not too long ago, I knew exactly what I'd do with the spare Lightning puck that had been kicking around the hounding bag.
Now, about those new uniforms. Well, I'm not sure about them. To me, they look like they were borrowed from the comic book character, The Flash. I'm wondering, too, if the team won't be soon known as the Sha-Zams!
Tip of the helmet
Just a quick note to thank you for stopping by Hound Central 5.0 and its family of hockey autograph blogs. Last month, HC5.0 posted its best-ever monthly numbers for visitors (1,885) and page views (4,341) since it went live in August 2009.
Not only that, but Moody's TTM Blog and Hockey Hounds Universe, the latest addition to the Hound Central family, had their highest numbers ever.
With all the blogs and sites available on the Web, we truly appreciate your time.
And to Moody and Al, Hound Central 5.0's two senior correspondents, as well as the others who've contributed over the past two seasons, a sincere thanks for all of your efforts.
Quote of the week
"I don't think a kid asking me to personalize a photo to him will end up putting it on eBay, that's why."
Freddy Meyer, an Atlanta Thrashers defenseman, to a pouty dealer wondering why Meyer signed two autographs for Colin and only one for him.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 15
It was a pretty sad time this past week down here in the Tampa Bay area. On Monday, two St. Petersburg police officers were shot and killed trying to serve an arrest warrant. The deaths of those two brave men -- both married and one a father of three children -- have left a hollow feeling across the area.
Over the 25-and-counting years of my newspaper career, especially in the early days, working the police beat was part of my job. For the most part, it was a fun and, to say the very least, interesting gig. There were times, though, mostly getting grieving families to share private moments, that weren't very much fun.
Through daily police blotter checks, as well as covering assorted felonies, nasty car accidents and the occasional murder, I'd gotten to know quite a few officers, deputies and state troopers. By and large, they were good people doing a very difficult and demanding job. Away from the job, and out of uniform, they were like most everyone else -- husbands, wives, parents and neighbors.
These days, we find ourselves, through the game of hockey, on the periphery of the law enforcement community. The hockey team Colin plays for, the Stars, is sponsored by the Pinellas Police Athletic League. Some of his coaches are detectives or deputies. A few teammates have parents who work in law enforcement. For that reason alone, the officers' deaths hit close to home.
On Friday, hours after the officers' funeral, we learned just how much closer this terrible tragedy nearly came.
A fellow Pinellas P.A.L. hockey parent was part of the first group to go inside the house that fateful morning. He saw colleagues get shot. He shouted "Officers down!" into his radio. And, sadly, he witnessed death. Of that small group who faced an armed fugitive (and now dead) holed up in an attic, only he went home to his family Monday night.
After a long, sad week, I'm hoping he's thankful for that. We are.
Over the 25-and-counting years of my newspaper career, especially in the early days, working the police beat was part of my job. For the most part, it was a fun and, to say the very least, interesting gig. There were times, though, mostly getting grieving families to share private moments, that weren't very much fun.
Through daily police blotter checks, as well as covering assorted felonies, nasty car accidents and the occasional murder, I'd gotten to know quite a few officers, deputies and state troopers. By and large, they were good people doing a very difficult and demanding job. Away from the job, and out of uniform, they were like most everyone else -- husbands, wives, parents and neighbors.
These days, we find ourselves, through the game of hockey, on the periphery of the law enforcement community. The hockey team Colin plays for, the Stars, is sponsored by the Pinellas Police Athletic League. Some of his coaches are detectives or deputies. A few teammates have parents who work in law enforcement. For that reason alone, the officers' deaths hit close to home.
On Friday, hours after the officers' funeral, we learned just how much closer this terrible tragedy nearly came.
A fellow Pinellas P.A.L. hockey parent was part of the first group to go inside the house that fateful morning. He saw colleagues get shot. He shouted "Officers down!" into his radio. And, sadly, he witnessed death. Of that small group who faced an armed fugitive (and now dead) holed up in an attic, only he went home to his family Monday night.
After a long, sad week, I'm hoping he's thankful for that. We are.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Hockey Life: Week 14
It has happened every winter, ever since leaving New England and setting up shop down here in Hockey Bay. There comes a time, most often on a Saturday night, when I miss taking the back roads and highways to attend an American Hockey League game.
Though I love attending NHL games, even down here in Hockey Bay, there was something a bit more fun about taking in a game at a minor-league barn. It wasn't just the cheaper prices, either. It was like the games seemed more real, the action closer and, in a way, the night more alive. Determination filled players' faces. Boards rattled and shook. You could even smell kernels becoming popcorn.
Taking it a step further, and perhaps closer to the point, I miss hounding after AHL games. The two rinks I frequented, in Portland, Maine, and Lowell, Mass., provided some of the easiest hounding I've ever encountered. You could stand outside the players' entrance, even to the point of holding open doors. If that didn't work, the team bus was, maybe, 20 feet away. It was that simple.
I can't recall ever being really bothered by the late-night cold, even on the clearest of nights when stars were the brightest. I'm sure it has something to do with growing up in western New York. Sure, our winters were snowy. They were cold, too. Over time, you got used to it.
For all of those reasons, as well as the memories etched in my mind, there was just something about those Saturday nights. Someday, maybe, I'll get that feeling again. Until then, Hockey Bay will suffice.
A little help here
I pride myself on being able to recognize most any autograph doled out by an NHL player. But faithful reader Brett, who runs the My Hockey Card Obsession blog, has me stumped with his latest "Who am I?" contest.
I have no idea about the identities of the three signers, even with his cryptic clue. Maybe you do. If so, let Brett know. Me, too, please.
Quote of the Week
"Where's the duct tape? Where's the duct tape? Where's the duct tape?"
Colin, responding, in perfect cadence, to a nearby Lightning fan's too-loud and constant chant of "Let's go Lightning!" during the Bolts-Blue Jackets game.
Though I love attending NHL games, even down here in Hockey Bay, there was something a bit more fun about taking in a game at a minor-league barn. It wasn't just the cheaper prices, either. It was like the games seemed more real, the action closer and, in a way, the night more alive. Determination filled players' faces. Boards rattled and shook. You could even smell kernels becoming popcorn.
Taking it a step further, and perhaps closer to the point, I miss hounding after AHL games. The two rinks I frequented, in Portland, Maine, and Lowell, Mass., provided some of the easiest hounding I've ever encountered. You could stand outside the players' entrance, even to the point of holding open doors. If that didn't work, the team bus was, maybe, 20 feet away. It was that simple.
I can't recall ever being really bothered by the late-night cold, even on the clearest of nights when stars were the brightest. I'm sure it has something to do with growing up in western New York. Sure, our winters were snowy. They were cold, too. Over time, you got used to it.
For all of those reasons, as well as the memories etched in my mind, there was just something about those Saturday nights. Someday, maybe, I'll get that feeling again. Until then, Hockey Bay will suffice.
A little help here
I pride myself on being able to recognize most any autograph doled out by an NHL player. But faithful reader Brett, who runs the My Hockey Card Obsession blog, has me stumped with his latest "Who am I?" contest.
I have no idea about the identities of the three signers, even with his cryptic clue. Maybe you do. If so, let Brett know. Me, too, please.
Quote of the Week
"Where's the duct tape? Where's the duct tape? Where's the duct tape?"
Colin, responding, in perfect cadence, to a nearby Lightning fan's too-loud and constant chant of "Let's go Lightning!" during the Bolts-Blue Jackets game.
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