Hockey This and That

by Lisa Ovens

December is such a busy time of year, especially when the Olympics are now just weeks away. Keeping up with all of the sports news is a tall order for anyone.
That's why we have Hockey This and That: these are some stories that are capturing my attention right now...

  Markus Naslund: Sportman of the Year

Being a big fan of Markus Naslund I was happy to read this New York Post article written by Larry Brooks naming Naslund Sportman of the Year. Throughout the end of Naslund's time in Vancouver I was often furious with the way fans and media treated the Canucks highest scorer of all time (346 goals- 756 points). Naslund's work on the ice revived Vancouver's passion for Canucks hockey. His work off the ice helped change lives.

This is a good read for the true fans of Markus Naslund.

The above photo is from Mesh Galleria at hockeyandhighheels.com. Please visit the gallery for more now!
 Mesh Galleria

Free Preview: Centre Ice on Shaw!!!

Having access to more games for the next few days has me re thinking my weekend schedule! Vancouver Hockey fans...if we are hit with the snow that's supposed to fall, well, what a great excuse to OD on NHL hockey this weekend!

Shaw's Centre Ice Package is free Dec 7th to Dec. 13, 2009. Click here for more information and scheduling

When asked about Tiger Woods, Lisa said...

"I don't really care," she said. "Let's talk about Hockey."

"I don't think anybody really watches Tiger Woods any more."


Winter Classic

New Years Day isn't far away
Dan is the Man
and he'll make the ice
so Fenway Park will look really nice

Yes, my Winter Classic Poem is kind of lame, but the event is far from it. The third Winter Classic features the Philadelphia Flyers vs. The Boston Bruins playing an outdoor game at Fenway Park on January 1st, 2010. And World famous ice maker, Dan Craig arrives in Boston today to get started on the rink.
Here's the story at NHL.com

Hockey Night in Canada...As Per You!

By Lisa Ovens

Hockey Night in Canada online viewers have a new toy to play with: control your game view by way of 360 degree camera technology and a few mouse clicks. CBC Sports and HNIC teamed up with Immersive Media Corp. to create an exciting perk for watching NHL hockey online. 

From Immersive's press release...

Immersive Media Corp. (www.immersivemedia.com), the world leader in immersive, interactive video experiences, today announced its live, streaming video technology will be used by Hockey Night in Canada at the Bell Centre for the Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens game. The All-Access Camera will give online users at CBCSports.ca one of the best seats in the house for a uniquely individual viewing experience.


Making its debut on CBCSports.ca/hockey for the landmark game is Hockey Night in Canada All-Access presented by Chevrolet. This live, interactive feature provides users with a virtual, in-arena, customized viewing experience. The view of the game can be controlled by users with just a click of their mouse. Hockey Night in Canada All Access presented by Chevrolet will be available for select CBC's HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA broadcasts throughout the remainder of the season.

And about the camera...
 
Immersive Media Corp. is the pioneer and leading provider of 360degree, interactive video experiences. Its one-of-a-kind geodesic camera and full production services - including rental equipment, training, filming, postproduction and distribution options - create high-resolution, immersive video for a variety of uses. From mapping and exploration to monitoring and surveillance to branding and entertainment, Immersive Media customers and agents produce the deepest, most engaging video experiences possible. 
 
 For more information, please visit http://www.immersivemedia.com/ and to see a very cool demonstration video, visit this page...http://www.immersivemedia.com/#demo11
 
Unfortunately yours truly was not present in front of a computer during Friday night's 100th Anniversary game (Habs and Bruins) at Bell Centre in Montreal. But I have read some good reviews about it in cyber space. It sounds like fans are having some fun with it, and at the same time so surprised the CBC pulled something like this out of its bag of tricks!
 

Flyers Can John Stevens..Now Stevens Has to get New Car

On the upside, Peter Laviolette might be the next one to take the wheel!

Upper Body, Lower Body?

by Jan Snyder


Is it just me or is anyone else tired of hearing about upper and lower body injuries in hockey? Seems to me that before this season, the designation of upper and lower body happened only during the playoffs when the teams searched for any possible edge on their opponents.

  Forrmer Red Wing, Jiri Hudler, reeling from a hit

during the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs

But this year we hear it constantly, now, during the season. Why? If we see one of our favorite players hardly able to walk, we can assume it’s a leg injury. If they go over the ice dragging their arm, the problem could be a shoulder injury. Why can’t we, as fans, know what’s wrong so we have some idea when the player will be coming back?

After all an upper body injury could be anything from a hangnail to a paper cut to a dislocated shoulder or cracked rib. A lower body injury? An ingrown toenail? Blisters? Torn ACL? How can we know? What if you are like me and travel to see teams. Maybe there is a particular player you really want to see in action. Right before you are to leave you get the news of the dreaded “upper body” injury. Should you cancel the trip? Hope he’ll recover from whatever the malady is in time for the game you are attending?

Or am I being too harsh? Does non-reporting of injuries keep the players who have shoulder injuries from being slammed into the boards with a little extra gusto when they return to the lineup?

The Pittsburgh Penguins stated earlier this year that they would be willing to say what the player injuries are, but if they did, they put their players at a disadvantage because the other teams aren’t fessing up. I just don’t like surprises, good or bad. If a player is hurt, I’d like to know what the problem is so I can have some kind of feel for when he might play again. I just wonder why this is happening this year when it hasn’t before.

Injuries and More Injuries

Maybe I’m just noticing this lack of reporting because there have been so many major injuries to so many big name players. According to USA Today, more than 230 players have missed at least one game with injury. Some teams have been fielding, in essence, minor league teams because so many of the regular players are out. Cam Ward, Carolina goalie, suffered a horrible cut from a skate while broken arms and legs, torn up knees and assorted other major problems have kept a plethora of players out of lineups. Poor Ottawa goalie, Pascal Leclaire, was just sitting on the bench when a puck came out of nowhere, struck him in the face and fractured his cheekbone. And how about Florida goalie, Tomas Vokoun, who suffered the ultimate – a smack in the head from his own defenseman! Angry, that he’d let in a goal, Keith Ballard, swung his stick with a lot of force, meaning to hit the goal post. Unfortunately, Vokoun’s ear got in the way and he crumpled to the ice, bloodied and dazed. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher. Talk about a tough day at the office!

Hopefully, this won’t be reported as an “upper body” injury, since everyone in the hockey world saw what happened – but I won’t be surprised if it is.

Why We are Such Good Hockey Players

        


By Uncle Skeppy





Watching the Penguin's Sidney Crosby score another amazing goal the other night, evoked memories, not of Sid so much, but rather a forward line with as much flash and dash as any in the annals of Hockey. These three guys would create a crescendo of cheering and yelling as they stick-handled, passed and scored the "clutch" goal for another team victory.

Old time hockey gloves. photo: Lisa Ovens

You have probably never heard of them, unless your in your Sixties, lived in a small Ontario town and grew up lugging your duffle bag to the local ice-box. And by golly, it was an ice-box. No heaters in the old Port Colborne Arena on the shores of Lake Erie. No sir; which wasn't a bad thing for the kids who played hockey. The layers of clothing helped on the ice too, when one of those over-grown six foot defensemen whammed you into the boards.

But this old arena, with its steel girders blocking your view if you couldn't get a better seat, hosted some of the best hockey ever played.

There were only six NHL teams at the time and the caliber of players in our Senior and Intermediate teams was exceptional. So many of the NHL wannabees played in the AHL or senior teams on this side of the border, so we got to see some of the best action at the lowest price.

Speaking of the cost of a ticket, one of the off-ice challenges in those days was to be able to secure a pair of tickets to a Maple Leafs Game...90 miles down the highway. Many of our juvenile hockey peers did so: the tickets were the prize in a local Billiards room draw once a week !

But we digress... the memories we refer to at the beginning of this article are reserved for the Port Colborne Sailors Line of Mahoney, Katzman and Spence. The way this trio performed on the ice was an inspiration to all who saw them ...including many of the kids in the Bantam, Midget and Juvenile leagues throughout the area.

This is one example and there are thousands more across this great country, of why we develop the
best hockey players in the world.

Vancouver Canucks 2009/10 Yearbook: Cool Gift Idea

by Lisa Ovens

The Vancouver Canucks put together a beautiful, glossy soft cover Yearbook that celebrates a very special year for Vancouver. Along with staff and player biographies, the publisher also included some Winter Olympics information and trivia. Afterall, the biggest International tournaments for men's and women's ice hockey will be taking place in the Canucks' barn; that spectacle will be a page in Canucks history. Let's hope we have some medal success for our favorite Canuck players!!

The Canucks 2009/10 Yearbook is available at Authentix, the Canucks team store at GM Place. It costs $10.00 and is definitely a keepsake and will make a great gift for the Canucklehead in your life. The paper stock is very high end for those into that sort of thing (okay...I'm guilty of that). It is a little advertisement heavy, but what isn't these days!

Another fabulous gift idea for the jewelry enthusiast in your life: A Canucks Fanbangle Bracelet.

Each FanBangle bracelet is hand-crafted with sterling silver and Swarovski crystal in your team's colors and anchored by an officially licensed team logo charm in sterling silver. The bracelet feels good on the wrist. It has weight and will add a little sparkle to your game night outfit.

Washington Capital’s Club Scarlet writer, Leslie (aka Hockey Mom from Musings of a Hockey Mom) teamed up with jewelry designer, Ann Carney and created FanBangles, offering sports fans a unique line of sports inspired jewelry that goes from hectic work day, to dinner, to ARENA with style!

The FanBangle is a great gift idea for the ladies who probably already own a team jersey, hat, scarf and tee. Don’t let their wrists be naked!!! Available in most NHL team colors.To order your Fanbangles, please visit the website...Fanbangles

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Brendan Shanahan Retires

by Lisa Ovens


Brendan Shanahan played a whopping 21 seasons in the NHL, and he had this to say...

"I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League. I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream."

Here's an interesting Shanahan statistic: he leads the league with 17 career Gordie Howe hat-tricks. That's pretty impressive stuff. Plus Shanahan is the only goal scorer to score over 600 goals and tally over 2000 penalty minutes. (total goals 656, points 1354). Shanahan is one of only 22 hockey players in the world who have won a Stanley Cup, and Olympic Gold Medal and a World Championship.

Teams Brendan played for...

New Jersey Devils
New York Rangers

Detroit Red Wings  - won three Stanley Cups here- woot!
Hartford Whalers
St. Louis Blues 

Brendan Shanahan may have retired from the game, but the hockey world should hope he finds a position where he may offer some input and guidance to the National Hockey League or the NHL Player's Association or both.

During the2004/05 NHL Lockout he intstigated a summit with a prime directive calling for some desparately needed changes to the game. This event led to the forming of the Competition Committee and those changes being implemented, making the game what it is today.

Above all of that, Brendan Shanahan is a really funny guy :o)

Best of Luck, Shanny!

 The above photo: The Brendan Shanahan card is a cut out hockey card from a box of Kraft Dinner. This was part a promotional series of hockey cards from "The 1998/99 Kraft Collection." My sweet Mom, Stella cut out the Shanahan card and gave it to me.

Shanahan Swag from Lisa's Hockey Collection...