Stanley Cup Alert: Hockey's holy grail is scheduled to be in East Lansing on July 5 with Anaheim Ducks rookie Drew Miller.
In other Spartan hockey news, I was at a BBQ at my boss' house the other day and ran into a gentleman named Art Underwood there who covered the Spartan hockey team for The State News back in the old days when Amo Bessone ran the bench in Dem Hall. He was a newspaper reporter, but said that the team would list him as the backup goalie on the roster so he could travel with the team to away games. It was such a different time back then. I've read stories about how Amo would invited the referees and opposition over to his house following games for dinner. Imagine that happening in today's world of sports.
Below is a video I created about the Michigan State Spartan's national championship run of 2007. I'd like to invite you to observe it.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Who said that expansion hasn't worked for the NHL?
Congratulations to Patrick Eaves and and James vanRiemsdyk, who were the first two selections in the draft, and the first two Americans to be picked back-to-back in Draft history. Eaves is from Buffalo and vanRiemsdyk from New Jersey, and it goes to show that while TV ratings in the states aren't necessarily breaking records, participation is at an all-time high in America and more and more players are coming out of the country.
I think it was a pretty good draft for the Red Wings as well. Their first-round selection of Brendan Smith, a puck-moving defenseman should fit well in the team's future for when Nicklas Lidstrom retires. Plus, he's 6-foot-1 and has the ability to be a physical presence on the ice as well. He'll be attending Wisconsin and should be fun to monitor over the next two years.
I've finally finished the tribute video I've been working on in regards to the NCAA National Champion Spartans and look for me to post that soon.
Congratulations to Patrick Eaves and and James vanRiemsdyk, who were the first two selections in the draft, and the first two Americans to be picked back-to-back in Draft history. Eaves is from Buffalo and vanRiemsdyk from New Jersey, and it goes to show that while TV ratings in the states aren't necessarily breaking records, participation is at an all-time high in America and more and more players are coming out of the country.
I think it was a pretty good draft for the Red Wings as well. Their first-round selection of Brendan Smith, a puck-moving defenseman should fit well in the team's future for when Nicklas Lidstrom retires. Plus, he's 6-foot-1 and has the ability to be a physical presence on the ice as well. He'll be attending Wisconsin and should be fun to monitor over the next two years.
I've finally finished the tribute video I've been working on in regards to the NCAA National Champion Spartans and look for me to post that soon.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Congratulations to Nicklas Lidstrom for winning his 5th Norris Trophy and Pavel Datsyuk for winning his second Lady Byng Trophy Thursday, June 14 at the annual NHL Awards. Lidstrom is in an elite class of his own and Datsyuk is one of the most electrifying players to lace up the skates in the NHL today. Both had stellar seasons. The NHL doesn't have an award for "Toughest S.O.B." but if it did, Tomas Holmstrom would surely claim that hardware.
Speaking of Red Wings, the pieces are starting to come together for next year. Chelios just signed a one-year contract and Hasek announced his return for another run. Signing Chelios is a bargain. He makes under a million dollars, plays with a warrior mentality, and is a great teacher for the younger kids. And obviously Hasek coming back is huge. The Dominator was stellar all last season and won't claim much salary, allowing the Red Wings to go after free agents.
The National Champs
The 2007 National Champions of college hockey have garnered a lot of attention state-wide. One of the first things I remember in my time interning on Mackinac so far was a co-worker from the sister paper here telling me how awesome that game was. Granted this person is a U-M fan and a CMU grad.
Matt Bishop, who is currently interning for the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), told me that the Spartans are slated to visit the White House sometime in June and that Rick Comley threw out the first pitch at a Tigers game a few weeks ago. Apparently, the crowd gave him a great ovation that impressed first-base coach Andy Van Slyke.
Snoop
In a previous post I mentioned how great a CBC interview with rapper Snoop Dogg was at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game. Below is the link to the video. It's a can't miss.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EbOomu0mo-Y
Speaking of Red Wings, the pieces are starting to come together for next year. Chelios just signed a one-year contract and Hasek announced his return for another run. Signing Chelios is a bargain. He makes under a million dollars, plays with a warrior mentality, and is a great teacher for the younger kids. And obviously Hasek coming back is huge. The Dominator was stellar all last season and won't claim much salary, allowing the Red Wings to go after free agents.
The National Champs
The 2007 National Champions of college hockey have garnered a lot of attention state-wide. One of the first things I remember in my time interning on Mackinac so far was a co-worker from the sister paper here telling me how awesome that game was. Granted this person is a U-M fan and a CMU grad.
Matt Bishop, who is currently interning for the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), told me that the Spartans are slated to visit the White House sometime in June and that Rick Comley threw out the first pitch at a Tigers game a few weeks ago. Apparently, the crowd gave him a great ovation that impressed first-base coach Andy Van Slyke.
Snoop
In a previous post I mentioned how great a CBC interview with rapper Snoop Dogg was at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game. Below is the link to the video. It's a can't miss.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EbOomu0mo-Y
Friday, June 08, 2007
Congratulations are due for the Anaheim Ducks for winning the 2007 Stanley Cup. I'm particularly happy for Teemu Selanne and Drew Miller. Teemu has had a tremendous career, is an ambassador to the sport in his native Finland, and seems like an all-around good guy. Drew only played two games in the Finals, but now will have his name on the ultimate prize in all of sports. And as I said in previous posts, this will completely wash away the disappointment of not being on the MSU National Championship team of 2007. Good for both of them.
Reflections from the Finals:
I think you have to give a lot of credit to Anaheim's defense. They were able to shut down the highly touted threesome of Dany Heatly, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson. At the same time, you have to give credit to the Detroit Red Wings forwards for not disappearing in their series with the Ducks. If the injury-riddled Red Wings would have found a way to have won their series against Anaheim, there's no question who would be Cup Champions this season. And with a healthy Matt Schneider and Nicklas Kronwall, I think the Wings get there.
A lot of people enjoy making a big deal about how low-rated television ratings for the Finals were in America. I really don't care. I'll care when the buildings don't fill up with fans and fan ship continued upward trends in the NHL last season. The bottom line is that Anaheim is still a franchise in its infancy and doesn't draw a lot of national attention as opposed to an Original Six team or team they can actually market like a Pittsburgh Penguins.
It should be a very interesting off season, from free agency to observing the steps the NHL is continuing to make. Stay tuned...
Reflections from the Finals:
I think you have to give a lot of credit to Anaheim's defense. They were able to shut down the highly touted threesome of Dany Heatly, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson. At the same time, you have to give credit to the Detroit Red Wings forwards for not disappearing in their series with the Ducks. If the injury-riddled Red Wings would have found a way to have won their series against Anaheim, there's no question who would be Cup Champions this season. And with a healthy Matt Schneider and Nicklas Kronwall, I think the Wings get there.
A lot of people enjoy making a big deal about how low-rated television ratings for the Finals were in America. I really don't care. I'll care when the buildings don't fill up with fans and fan ship continued upward trends in the NHL last season. The bottom line is that Anaheim is still a franchise in its infancy and doesn't draw a lot of national attention as opposed to an Original Six team or team they can actually market like a Pittsburgh Penguins.
It should be a very interesting off season, from free agency to observing the steps the NHL is continuing to make. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
In Monday night's Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson wound up and ripped a slapshot at Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer in the final seconds of the second period. It drew a scuffle before the teams exited to the locker room. I thought it was hilarious. There's nothing that says you can't do that, so I don't have a big problem with it. Plus it could get your team fired up and the other team frustrated. Obviously, I don't want to see that happen 82 games a year, but I don't really have a problem with it every now and then.
Don Cherry on NBC
Seeing Don Cherry make his American TV debut on NBC in the second intermission of Game 4 was such a treat. That guy is outspoken and controversial, but he's great. I personally love the guy and admire his patriotism toward Canada in addition to his love of the game. The conversation he had with Brett Hull about how the fans love fighting is genius. Are you listening Gary Bettman? Do you see the current fascination in UFC and other fighting leagues? Fighting = Entertaining. I don't want the league turning into a gong show, but fighting has a place in hockey. It brings back sweet memories of Joey "KO" Kocur, Bob Probert, and Stu Grimson.
Don Cherry on NBC
Seeing Don Cherry make his American TV debut on NBC in the second intermission of Game 4 was such a treat. That guy is outspoken and controversial, but he's great. I personally love the guy and admire his patriotism toward Canada in addition to his love of the game. The conversation he had with Brett Hull about how the fans love fighting is genius. Are you listening Gary Bettman? Do you see the current fascination in UFC and other fighting leagues? Fighting = Entertaining. I don't want the league turning into a gong show, but fighting has a place in hockey. It brings back sweet memories of Joey "KO" Kocur, Bob Probert, and Stu Grimson.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Hockey Dawg
Did anybody catch Snoop Dogg's interview with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada after the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals? It may have been one of the best, most humorous bits I've ever seen. I've seen pictures of Snoop Dogg at Anaheim Ducks games and cameras have often spotted him in the crowd, but that was a treat.
I think that's why CBC's hockey coverage blows away NBC's and Versus' so much. NBC and Versus are too locked in on bringing you everything hockey about the game itself. They over-analyze matchups, try to take you inside the glass with that idiot Pierre McGuire between the benches, and try to be all cute and perfect. They should watch a CBC game - they have fun with the broadcast. It's not perfect, but they don't care. Coach's Corner with Don Cherry has a crappy set, host Ron MaClean constantly reminding Cherry how much time they have left, and not a lot of video for reference. In essence, it's two guys sitting behind a desk talking. And it's a can't miss! I don't mean to completely bash Versus and NBC because they do offer decent coverage, but they should take a page out of CBC's book. More fun, less attention to useless detail.
A leader in Comley
As part of my summer internship here on Mackinac Island, I had the opportunity to interview Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's husband, Dan Mulhern, at a book signing Thursday, May 31. He told me that he wants to have MSU head hockey coach Rick Comley on his weekday, hour-long radio show soon to talk about leadership.
Spartan accolades
Congratulations to MSU goaltender Jeff Lerg and incoming defenseman Jeff Petry. Lerg was awarded as USA Hockey's Player of the Year and Petry was honored as USA Hockey's Junior Player of the Year.
Lerg led the Spartans to their 3rd national championship last April and started every game of the 2006-07 season for MSU.
Petry is the son of former Detroit Tigers pitcher Dan Petry and at 6-foot-2, should be a tough customer on the MSU blueline for years to come.
I think that's why CBC's hockey coverage blows away NBC's and Versus' so much. NBC and Versus are too locked in on bringing you everything hockey about the game itself. They over-analyze matchups, try to take you inside the glass with that idiot Pierre McGuire between the benches, and try to be all cute and perfect. They should watch a CBC game - they have fun with the broadcast. It's not perfect, but they don't care. Coach's Corner with Don Cherry has a crappy set, host Ron MaClean constantly reminding Cherry how much time they have left, and not a lot of video for reference. In essence, it's two guys sitting behind a desk talking. And it's a can't miss! I don't mean to completely bash Versus and NBC because they do offer decent coverage, but they should take a page out of CBC's book. More fun, less attention to useless detail.
A leader in Comley
As part of my summer internship here on Mackinac Island, I had the opportunity to interview Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's husband, Dan Mulhern, at a book signing Thursday, May 31. He told me that he wants to have MSU head hockey coach Rick Comley on his weekday, hour-long radio show soon to talk about leadership.
Spartan accolades
Congratulations to MSU goaltender Jeff Lerg and incoming defenseman Jeff Petry. Lerg was awarded as USA Hockey's Player of the Year and Petry was honored as USA Hockey's Junior Player of the Year.
Lerg led the Spartans to their 3rd national championship last April and started every game of the 2006-07 season for MSU.
Petry is the son of former Detroit Tigers pitcher Dan Petry and at 6-foot-2, should be a tough customer on the MSU blueline for years to come.
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