Jan Snyder....One of Hockey's Greatest Gifts

Jan Snyder

It was one year ago today that hockey writer, Jan Snyder passed away. Tonight, Jan's hometown team, the Pittsburgh Penguins begin their season on the road in Dallas, and I can imagine Jan's spirit will be right their with them, helping to kick off this year's quest for the Stanley Cup.

My friendship with Jan was a double blessing. I cherish all the fun we had sharing our passion for this great game. Plus, I was so fortunate when she jumped on board to become a contributing  writer for my website, Hockeyandhighheels.com. For over six years, Jan brilliantly covered all things Penguins, along with conducting some fascinating interviews with a variety of hockey celebrities. She was a consummate professional, teaching me so much about EVERYTHING.

Jan was my fabulous, long distance hockey friend. We spent countless hours talking on the phone: with me in Vancouver, Canada and Jan in Houston,Texas, our conversations drifting from hockey to life in general and back again. We actually only met in person, twice...

What an awesome coincidence that she had a conference in Vancouver exactly one day before the Canucks were to play Game Seven against the Dallas Stars during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and I had tickets. That was a loud and crazy night in Rogers Arena, but I do remember Jan yelling, "I've never been to a Game Seven of Anything!!!" With so much hockey/sports in her life, I had a hard time believing that!

Our second meeting took place about six months later. I took the above photo of Jan while we were shopping for Pens merchandise in Pittsburgh when I was appearing at a Hockey and Heels event with the Pittsburgh Penguins. She flew in to support me at the event, graciously showed me around the city, and I was also lucky that she introduced me to her wonderful sister, Kim, daughter, Jen and son- in-law, Jim. What a terrific family!

From right: Jan, Jen and Jim

Even though Jan was a displaced Pittsburgh-er living in Houston, she always managed to fly home to catch the big games with her family whenever she could, including the Winter Classic at Heinz Field. Of course, once little grandson, Ethan was born, she had an even better reason to fly home!

She didn't limit her hockey travels to Pittsburgh: Jan traveled to several NHL All Star games over the years and even braved the elements in 2003 at the historic Heritage Classic outdoor game in Edmonton, Alberta. She was my hockey hero.

I still can't believe she is gone. I get choked up from time to time thinking about her. If I ever I was going through a tough time, Jan was always just a warm, comforting phone call away. She always had the most encouraging words no matter what the situation. I am always going to miss you Jan.

The Pens and Stars game is about to start, so, I should sign off and put on my Penguins shirt. Jan's sister, Kim emailed suggesting all friends and family don the Black and Gold today to celebrate our dear, Jan.

She truly is one of hockey's greatest gifts.


Go Pens, Go Jan!!

- Lisa O 

Lisa and Jan at the Igloo, Nov.2007

The Week That Was

by Jan Snyder

This past week was certainly a notable one for fans of Pittsburgh sports teams. The week began with the Steelers losing to Green Bay in the Super Bowl, as Green Bay turned the tables and beat the Steelers at their own game. They had three takeaways resulting in points and the Steelers just never caught up.

at least the cake looks good!

As the week moved along, we found out that Geno Malkin would have season ending surgery on his MCL and ACL, not good news for an already suffering fan base! We won’t see Geno again until training camp in September. A tiny ray of sunshine came through when Sidney Crosby returned to Pittsburgh and said he’s making progress with his concussion symptoms, but still needed time before he could even start working out on the ice. Although he said he hopes to play again this season, time will tell.

The Pens pulled out a nice OT win against the Kings when Staal scored with just seconds left in the OT period. So on to Long Island for a Friday night game with the Islanders. Keep in mind only nine days before Rick DiPietro started (and admitted to starting) a fight with Pens back- up goalie, Brent Johnson. Johnson took him out with one punch, but no one knew then that Ricky had broken bones in his face and that he’d hurt his knee. As the Pens laughed on the bench, mostly at the fact that Johnson was such an efficient fighter, the Isles took exception.

Art imitating Life in Slap Shot

So as I sat down to watch what I didn’t think would be a very good game last night, I was soon mesmerized and thought I had accidentally turned on “Slap Shot”. The Isles got ahead and way ahead so you knew something bad was going to happen, but no one could have predicted the scene that unfolded. I truly think some of the Islanders lost their minds! Really, what did Johnson do but accept an invitation to fight? All that caused all that???

By the end of the game, each team had only a couple of players left on the bench. As it was, the Pens were basically playing with a good chunk of the Wilkes-Barre team. We’re missing so many starters it’s not even funny and now we will be missing way more when the suspensions start being announced.

It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t hockey. Maybe the refs should be suspended and fined for completely losing control of the game.

So this week will end on another downer for Pittsburgh fans as we hear who’s out and for how long. Maybe this will be character building? We’ll see.

No “Woe is Me”



photo by Lisa Ovens

• 

by Jan Snyder



Seeing Malkin writhing in pain on the Consol Arena ice last night made it pretty clear that this was a bad injury. So when the news came down today that Geno has a torn MCL and a torn ACL, fans weren’t that surprised, but shocked, none the less.

In his first game back after missing several with an injury to the other leg and a sinus infection, Malkin was playing well when this unfortunate incident occurred in the second period. Being “Sid-less” and “Geno-less” was tough, but the boys hung in there and managed to win four games without either superstar. Jordan Staal’s return has made a big difference and we were hoping it was just a matter of time until the two big guys came back.

But Sid is still dealing with concussion issues and now Geno is gone, maybe for the year. So what happens now? Will Shero find a way to pull out a blockbuster trade to get another forward or winger? Oh, I forgot to mention that forward Mark Letestu, who has been a big part of the team too, is also down with a long term injury.

One thing is for sure – there will be no quit in this team or their fans. In the immortal words of former Steeler head coach Chuck Noll, “We play with who we have” (or something like that!) Taking another cue from the Steelers, the Pens have kept winning without important pieces of the team in place. When the Steeler quarterback couldn’t play for the first four games, the rest of the team hung together and won three out of those first four. The Pens have now won five in a row since before the All Star break and will have to keep winning until Sid gets back, Geno gets back, a trade is made – whatever. I have supreme faith in them and in the Coach. He will have them ready to play and they will play hard.

No one will feel sorry for us, least of all the Flyers, Caps, Rangers, etc. Each team deals with injuries, we are just dealing with two of our biggest stars going down at the same time. But, never fear! The fans will do their part and the Pens will certainly do theirs. We’ll all get through it and hope for the best during each game.

Let’s Go, Pens and Here We Go, Steelers, Here We Go!

Les Enfants Terrible

                                     A spin on Star Trek's "Borg" Nursery?
                                     photo from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette/ Bob Crytzer



Now that the NHL All Star weekend is over, some might turn their attention to the upcoming Super Bowl 45 Weekend in Dallas. I know H&HH.com contributor, Jan Snyder will be keeping up on the event: her hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steeler’s will be playing in the big game next Sunday.

She forwarded the above photo to me this weekend, and it really explains how early they get the kids into the black and gold over there in Pittsburgh…

They swaddle them in Terrible Towels, people!!!

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late

by Jan Snyder


Hello, fellow hockey fans! Here we are again starting the 2010 Playoff Season. I haven’t talked to some of you since that glorious June night when the Pens took the Stanley Cup. I’ve missed you and I’m glad we’re together again in cyberspace.

So Game One is history. Let’s all take a long, deep, cleansing breath and softly repeat: “Fleury will be fine, Fleury will be fine, Fleury will be fine.” Feel better?

Losing Game One isn’t the best way to start the road to the finals, but that’s what happened so we’ll deal with it. Despite the frantic push for a goal at the end of the game, the Sens won 5-4 sending the Pens home to ponder Friday’s game.

Let’s look at the bright side, shall we? Geno was awesome and Lord knows we need that from him to go very far. His two power play goals and one assist plus his physical play added a ray or two of sunshine. Scoring two power plays goals each at 13 seconds into the power play has to mean something – I just can’t figure out what! Maybe it signifies that Billy Guerin will score twice 71 seconds into a power play?

Sid was held down, but still managed three assists and we know he’ll work through whatever d-men the Sens put on him. Gologoski had a pretty good game, Max was involved picking up an assist and what about Craig Adams scoring his first goal in 112 games? The Pens managed a couple of slightly different looks on the power play and scored a couple of times, something else we’ll need as we move ahead.

A few other players need to step things up a bit but again, it’s only Game One. I liked how Coach Bylsma put it – it’s a Race to Four. Four games in four series and you take home Stanley. Let’s think of it that way and it’s a little easier to deal with.

Ottawa played well, even our old friendly rival, Jarkko Rutuu scored a goal. Alfredsson was quiet but that could quickly change. Their goalie, Brian Elliott, had a couple of rough patches too. Things will even out over the course of the series.

Since I was forced to watch the game on Versus instead of Fox Sports Pittsburgh, I heard different announcers than many of you. And I have to take exception with one comment that I heard during the telecast. I believe it was Billy Jaffe who said the Pens had to buckle down and not “feel entitled” to win the Cup. Maybe Jaffe has spent a little too much time in Pittsburgh over the past few days and has confused another Pittsburgh athlete with the Pens. No, Billy, that athlete with a feeling of entitlement plays for the Steelers. I’m sure the Pens know that a repeat of last year’s performance will take a Herculean effort from every man on the roster. I don’t think any of them are expecting another team to “allow” them to win. No referees are going to “give” them any breaks. They will go as far as their talent, hard work, and determination take them with no sense of entitlement.

Let’s look ahead to Friday and Game Two, another White Out Night at Mellon Arena. Will Sid score? Will Fleury bounce back? Will Carrie Underwood come to the game?

Whatever happens, we’ll talk about it again on Friday night.

What was your take on tonight’s game? Talk to me by email: texasjan@hotmail.com, or leave a comment below.

LET’S GO, PENS!

Random Sports Talk in the Third Week of July...

by Lisa Ovens

To begin, I'd like to share a very pleasant email I received late last week. It made my day that day, and isn't it a sweet surprise to have something make your day? Consider this a reminder: during the dog days of summer, take some time to make someone's day; with a compliment, greet stranger with a smile and a hello, or let someone know you think what they are doing is great...

“Lisa and the staff at Hockey and High Heels have created a great atmosphere for women interested in hockey and hockey fans in general. I am a huge fan of what you guys are doing for the sport. Keep it up!” - Mike Turtur, Hockey Director, mysportsdreams.com

Thank you Mike!

I heart pools...

And now for the Random...

ESPY Awards

For the first time in my life I caught the ESPY Awards, and what a slick affair. Sure makes the televised NHL Awards Show look a little on the hokey side. To put it into Entourage terms: the ESPY's get Ari Gold and the NHL Awards got "E". That pretty much says it all right there.

I still will give some props to the NHL for honoring its stars with a 1.5 hour telecast every June, unlike the other big, pro sports leagues. The NHL just needs to tighten up it's production. With two more kicks at the can hosting the event in Las Vegas, the NHL really needs to get it right in order to bolster it's image in the United States market. Get the tape for review...and get Samuel L. Jackson...y'all know that mother ****** likes the hockey!!

Shaq Attacks other Athletes

Okay, not literally, but he's taking on some the biggest and brightest sports stars...on their turf, playing their game. Beginning August 18th, 2009, B-Ball star Shaquille O'Neal will compete against pro's from the NFL, MLB, Volley Ball, Tennis, Boxing and Swimming. Shaq Vs. will air on ABC. Mark your calendars to see just how much game Shaq's got.

Brush with Shaq...many moons ago, I saw Shaq buy a carry case for his camcorder. We passed each other in the store. He's tall and I am small, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't speak about a brush with me :o(

Roller Derby Movie

I am a big fan of Drew Barrymore, and she’s directed her first movie. The film is titled Whip It and it’s about Roller Derby. This sport has been around since the early 1900’s, but as of the year 2000, women are ruling the Oval.

The film stars Ellen Page, and according to the Women and Hollywood blog...”think Juno on skates and without the pregnancy.” The release date is October 9th, so we can expect some members of the male sports media to reduce the movie to whatever their sexual fantasies might be at the time.

On Air Feud in Vancouver Lights up the Message Boards

It was a typical Monday afternoon in Vancouver. Sports fans were tuned into the Team 1040 for the Pratt and Taylor Show. During Dave Pratt's High Five segment, Pratt spoke about and praised older athlete's competing against the almighty youth (Golf's Tom Watson at the British Open was mentioned, along with a 79 year old poker player, Doyle Brunson and others) and wound up saying winning a poker tournament is one of the toughest prizes in sports". Don Taylor really took exception to Pratt labeling poker a sport.

Their sentences ran into each other's, their voices became louder, sarcasm spewed, leading to a "fumbling sound" from the microphone and Pratt leaving the studio. (Time for a really long commercial break) a little while later, Pratt is back and finished the show without Don Taylor. Neither host showed up for work on Tuesday.

Can you hear that? That's the sound of diehard sports fans around cyberspace arguing about what is a sport and what is not, courtesy of the Pratt and Taylor feud. Some of the arguments are histerical, debating what some people perceive to be gray areas like race car driving, curling, hot dog eating, chess, video games and more!

And can you hear this? This is the sound of media savvy diehards claiming the whole fight was staged. Yes, just like everything seems to be these days...


Big Ben Roethlisberger

The Pittsburgh Steeler's quarterback has a little situation on his hands: he's been accused of sexually assaulting a Nevada hotel concierge employee. I am not going to get into any the legalities of this lawsuit, but I would like to remind all people staying in hotels, especially you guys, and only because this case is similar to the Kobe Bryant situation a few years back: If you have a problem with any of the amenities/ features in your room, you are supposed to call the front desk first, who will then send a maintainnance worker to your suite.

And if you are a woman working in a hotel, and a guest asks you to enter their suite to fix something and you are not a maintainance worker, politely decline and call the front desk to arrange a maintainance worker to fix the problem. Please save yourselves from suffering though potential situations like this, people...don't give the world any more news to gossip about than it already has.
End random.


thank you for reading...BTW, you are fabulous...look at you there...fabulous you!
- Lisa