Monday, February 23, 2009

A Few Thoughts on Last Night's 'Hawks-Wild Game

1) Hey, Dan Fritsche is now playing for the Wild!  Heard his name come up a few times during the first period.

2) What is up with Cristobal Huet's goaltending?  He sure does love to leave the crease and play the puck.

3) Denis Savard is doing analysis for Comcast SportsNet Chicago now?

4) CSN-Chicago's take on the One Goal Blackhawks commercials kinda sucks.  Half of the hosts and commentators can't even skate.  Except for this one lady who can skate and dribble a basketball at the same time.  Now that's talent.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Monday, February 16, 2009

Another reason I like hockey players

Give it up for the boys of the Indiana Ice, who came to the greet the return of one of the team's equipment helpers, who just got back from winning several gold medals in the Special Olympics for speed skating.

Greenwood, Indy competitors earn gold medals at Special Olympics


Stamper and four other Indiana Special Olympians returned to Indianapolis on Sunday. Among them was Randy Hurt, a 16-year-old Indianapolis speed skater who brought home three gold medals.

"I'd never been in anything like that before," Hurt said of his three races before thousands of fans. "All the clapping, it can make you kind of nervous."

Awaiting Hurt's arrival at Indianapolis International Airport were about a dozen members of the Indiana Ice hockey team. Hurt, who loves playing hockey as much as he does racing, has been an equipment helper for the team for two years.

The Ice players said they were glad to lend their support to his accomplishment.

"He always has a smile on his face for us, whether we are winning or losing," said forward Zack Golenbiewski. "Plus, we just really respect what he has done."

Hurt, a student at Damar Academy, a special-education school of Damar Services on Indianapolis' Westside, won golds in the 500-meter, 777-meter and 1,000-meter skating events.

"I really got tired in the second race, the 1,000 meters, because that's a really long race," Hurt said.



View this gallery at IndyStar: Special Olympians return home

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Ice full of all-stars

Way to go boys!!  They seem like great guys.

Is it any wonder the Indiana Ice (24-11-2) are having fun at the rink with a Russian phenom, a tall father figure on defense, a goalie who hates the cold, a 135-pound surprise and a California free spirit who fits with a newcomer sporting two tattoos?

Defenseman Joe Hartman and goalie Brett Bennett will be joined by wingers Stanislav Galiev, Brandon Richardson, Shane Berschbach and Mike Cichy at tonight's USHL All-Star Game in Sioux Falls, S.D. Each is a first-year Ice skater in the tier one junior league.

"Even though they have different aspects on life, they're able to get along very well," first-year coach Jeff Blashill said. "It's made for a lively locker room, for sure, and I think it helps us on the ice."

Here's what the All-Star six add to the mix:

Joe Hartman (6-4, 200, St. Cloud, Minn.)

The big guy with scars on his chin has played in juniors for a couple of years, so helping teammates is second nature. "I've been in the games and I know a lot of what these guys are going through," he said.

Hartman logs a majority of ice time as the blue-line backbone.

"There's times when I think he's more mature than me," Blashill said.

Brett Bennett (6-2, 185, Buffalo, N.Y.)

The quirky cold stigma aside, he has 21 victories in 33 games and a 2.57 goals against average. Phoenix liked his skill set enough to draft Bennett in the fifth round in 2006.

It helps that he rooms with Hartman, too. His buddy appeases by starting the car to get it warm.

"Joe is the type of guy where he puts the thermostat at 70 and I put my side at 85. I just don't like it cold. The muscles get tight."

All joking aside, Bennett says the Ice squad "is one of the closest teams I've ever been on."

Brandon Richardson (5-11, 197, San Clemente, Calif.)

Personality starts with the California kid who wears wacky shirts and shoes. Known as "Richy," the team's top point man (27 assists) has thrived on a line with Galiev and the recently acquired Cichy.

"I definitely have a little different style than everybody else," Richardson said.

He played in Canada juniors the past two seasons, and the experience shows with linemates who can put the puck in the net.

Stanislav Galiev (6-1, 177, Moscow, Russia)

He just turned 17 and is already on the NHL scout radar. But he made quite a first impression with a mullet haircut, wearing tight short shorts and not knowing enough English to do anything but nod or shake his head.

The mullet and shorts are gone and he's more vocal. He also leads the Ice with 17 goals.

"Moscow was so big and such a crazy town. A lot of people," he said. "(Indy) is a nice city. I like the city."

His teammates now needle him to bring back the mullet. He smiles, not knowing if they are serious. "New year, new style," he said, laughing about his shorter cut.

Shane Berschbach (5-8, 135, Clawson, Mich.)

He's rumored to be that weight soaking wet. But he removes doubt about his size on the ice, not necessarily because of his speed but with his intelligence.

"He plays like he's 200 pounds," Richardson said of Berschbach, who had 30 points in 37 games. "That kid has enough courage to knock down anything."

Adds Blashill, "A lot of people weren't sure he was ready to play at this level and he's obviously proved them wrong."

Mike Cichy (5-11, 188, New Hartford, Conn.)

Already an All-Star when the Ice acquired him three weeks ago, Cichy showed his stuff with 14 points in his first seven Ice games. That's not all he has shown. He rivals Richardson in the wild 'n' crazy guy department with two tattoos, one on his shoulder and the most recent body art the words "It's a fine, fine day (. . . )" on his butt.

He had been traded to the Ice and wanted to do something fun with his Tri-City teammates in Nebraska.

"I used the team fine money to do it," he said of the locker-room fund. "It was kind of a joke, a going-away present."

Monday, December 15, 2008

More on the passing of Indiana Ice's President Michael Schupay

This one is a good one from the Indianapolis Business Journal.

The author makes a great point: the local media more or less ignores the Ice, which is so sad.  One would be lucky to get an article a week out of the Indianapolis Star, and maybe once a season out of the television stations, and only if something legal happens.

Schupay will surely be missed.  I really hope the team continues to thrive and grow in Indianapolis.  I mean, if Des Moines has an AHL team, why can't Indianapolis have hockey, even at an elite junior amateur level?


Friday, December 5, 2008

6 games and anger management evaluation: What the heck?

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/20823-Sean-Avery-handed-sixgame-suspension-from-NHL.html

Sean Avery has been suspended six gams by the NHL for inappropriate comments to the media prior to Tuesday's game against Calgary.

The suspension is retroactive to Tuesday's game, meaning Avery will have to sit out four more games.

"Mr. Avery has expressed remorse for his recent comments and has sought a professional anger management evaluation," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement issued by the league. "I will require that he follow through with that process as a condition of his returning to the ice and that he complies with any and all recommendations."

Avery, who signed a four-year, $15 million deal with the Stars in the off-season, was condemned by his coach Dave Tippett, GMs Les Jackson and Brett Hull, owner Tom Hicks and some of his teammates for his remarks.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Stefan Legein on HNIC Radio

About a five minute interview on Hockey Night in Canada Radio (Sirius Satellite Radio) with Stefan Legein (interviewed by Jeff Marek & Cassie Campbell).  Some notes of what I remember.

  • He sounded great, happy, doing well, glad for the decision.
  • He quelshed the rumor that he worked for Boston Pizza.  He simply ate there.
  • He said he started training again about a month ago with the St. Catharines Falcons. The itinerary I read online is the timeline he gave.
  • He doesn't regret his decision, though he also doesn't regret all the things he did before he got burned out.  He said he needed the time to decide what he really wanted.
  • He advised all the young players out there to find time for themselves; not necessarily take time off like he did, but still, take time off in the offseason.
  • He said he would have never walked away during the season.  He would have stick it out.  He also said Howson was understanding.  He hopes the Jackets players will give him a chance.  He also said the Steve Mason was doing an awesome job.
That's all I can remember.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Michael W. Schupay (1961-2008)

USHL's Indiana Ice president passed away on Friday.  Thoughts go out to his family, friends, and the Indiana Ice.

Schupay joined the team for the 2006-07 season and quickly made an impact on the Ice and the U.S. Hockey League. The league's owners honored him as the top USHL executive. He was in charge of day-to-day operations and strategic planning.