pink hockey

For the 2nd year in a row I went to the 2nd game in the pink in the rink series. It was awesome. At this point I was fully focused on the Gladiators for ministry purposes. I was in constant contact with Michael Forney and Coach Pyle, both are awesome guys. This was the 3rd game I went to this season for the Gladiators. Pink in the rink is a series of games where they wear special jerseys (this year it was through back jersey for the knights) and the ice is painted pink- hince the name pink in the rink. So the saturday before last I skipped the gym and was cursing the snow and ice. It had snowed the day before after I had left my gym and by saturday alot of it had not melted. I started to get ready slowly, just in case we didn't go. What I didn't know was that my stepdad was cleaning off the driveway so that we could go. My boys are not important to him but I guess he didn't want to lose money on our tickets. This was my Valentine's day gift from my parents so I joked with my boys that they were my Valentines and let me just say that I had the best Valentines ever!!! We finally did get to go and the roads were pretty clear. We up held a long standing game day tradition by going to Johnny Carrino's (very yummy!!) and then we headed on to the arena. When we got there we went in and walked to our seats but not before we ran into Krystal. She is soooooo awesome and kinda crazy (proven by our little people watching session at the gym where she called a guy a puffer fish). We got to our seats and there was time before the warm ups so I went to cash in the vochures and get a shirt. When I got back I saw one of my friends outside our section, she's a Mary Kay sales person, so I talked to her for a while but decided to sit down in my seat to watch my boys warm up. I tried to get some pictures of Chad Denny but I only got a few because Tim Miller kept blocking my shot. When the game finally started I was so excited to see the goalies from the MLK game back in goal, it was going to be good again. I love watching my boys they actually try to play well, although sometimes they do give up. I'm now a little Gladiator (little because some of the boys are taller than me) and I try to be very focused during games. They did really good in the 1st period scoring 2 goals I believe. They are so great at playing quick and physical hockey. I remember laughing at Phil Youngclaus about shoving people randomly, he's a good guy I love his smile and his style of playing. I also remember noticing that Phil had hair during warm ups. I love that boy both bald and with hair. the 1st period ended with those goals and a fight and a few shoving matches. I was really like the game even though the 2nd period was a snore fest. There was a few shoving matches but for whatever reason the refs wouldn't let them go, I hate when that happens- they should let them go. In the 3rd period there were more trips and shoving it was awesome remaing 2-0 which is completely awesome and I was hopping it was going to stay that way for Brownie and for coach. I kept looking over at coach just to see him and how he was, he looked pretty confident. I was cheering but not as much I ussually do, I was kinda tired. Brownie was a beast in goal!! I love that kid! I was noticing his mask which had pengiuns on it (not the cute cuddly version though, the pittsburg version) and that's why I call him Brownie the pengiun. I was yelling during the 3rd period, it was going to be a shut out!! Then at the end the checkers got 1 goal---ick!!!! Coach just had this look of "what the heck boys cover your goalie!!!" I was just as frustrated as he was, Brownie even made a face. I love that kid. so the game ended and I was kinda wanting to go to the after party but I knew the boys were heavy drinkers and I knew if they were playing fiesty they may have gotten fiesty in a completely different way. I do love my boys and I'm happy they at least won!!

Star Player David brown

In November David "Brownie the pengiun" Brown was without a job like many Americans, the difference was that David had the oppurinty to play with the pengiuns! The reason David was with out a job was that te Pengiuns released him because he had mono. So some where around December/january Coach Pyle called David's agent once he was cleared by the Doctor's to play. I wanted to honor this guy because of his shear talent. I'm watching him just in awe. I went to a game and the only time David allowed a goal was when he fell flat on his back. He's pretty wild, at least 40 shots on goal and only 1 let in! I was talking to David after practice friday and he is such a good guy very sweet. When I was at practice thursday I was standing on the peice of board that the gate rest on and he was kneeling in front of me just so curious as to why I was there but once coach explained he still looked curious but was very respectful and sweet. I'm sorry all of these are so short recently but almost all of these boys are either new are not so chatty but I wish him all of the best.

picture blog

I have a lot of pictures that may not fit into a blog but I wanted to let them be showcased, these are either taken by me or friends or found on google I'll let you know!!

My favorite or at least one of them from last season!! Andy Brandt!!

Taken by lindsey. This was me and turple after a game in 2009 (@ the end of the 2008-2009 season) he's awesome!!

Colby Celbrating a goal another product of a late night on google

Jim Craig. Obivously I got this from google but I like it. Jimmy is so cool!

star player: Sam Roberts

Sam joined the Gladiators this season just in time to be considered for a poll as one of the best new comers I didn't actually see who won the poll but I think Sam pretty much had it. Roberts joined Drew paris for the all-star game and skills competetion. In the game he scored 1 goal and 1 assist. This season he has scored 9 goals and 18 assists. Sam took a short stint on Lake Erie's AHL team. All of this is why I wanted to honor this young man. This young man is a fan favorite because he is a very sweet guy. I believe he came straight from his unviserity (Xavier) so he's doing well for this being his 1st professional season. Sadly I have very little experience with Sam and very few stories to tell about sam but I will gather some and post them during Sam's Bio blog. As usual I wish Sam well!

Retro Bio- Jack O'callahan

Jack O'Callahan (OC), oh goodness where to start? OC was known as the guy who'd be the 1st to drop glove, even fighting during practice when he played for the Olympic team. Time for the basics of this "bad boy". He was born on July 2 1957 in Charlestown Massachusetts. He graduated from Boston latin school in 1975 and then attended boston university from 1975-1979 where he was the team captian for 2 seasons (1977-1978 & 1978-1979). He was also a 2 time all star, All New england, All american, 2 time team MVP, beanpot MVP, NCAA tournament MVP and a 2 time Cochrane award winner. OC played for team USA at the 1979 world championships. In 1980 he played for the US Oylmpic hockey team but was hurt in an exhibition game and returned for the miracle on ice game where he tied the scpre at 1 by putting a massive hit on a soviet and setting up Buzz. OC was drafted by the black hawks in 1977 but played with the AHL New Brunswick team 1st after the 1980 olympics. He did eventually play for the black hawks from 195-1987 and then played for the NJ devils. OC retired after the 1989 world championships. He returned to Chicago and works in Financial Services on the Chicago Mercantile exchange. He also founded beanpot finanicial services with Jack Hughes who played in the NHL. In a 1981 T.V. movie he was played by Peter Horton but then in 2004 he was played by Michael Mantanuto. Michael played for Boston U and university of maine. He got the part of OC after he got into a fight at tryouts. OC was tough but talented so he would be most like Alexander Oviechkin, Dan Sullivan, Tim Miller, Michael Couch, Eric Boulton, Myles Stoesz and Boris Valabik (among others like them).

Retro Bio Jim Craig

What's to be said about good old Jimmy? This guy is what got me thinking about playing goalie. This 52 year young goalie was born May 31, 1957 in Easton Massachusetts. He played at Boston University and led Boston to the championship in 1978. He was the NCAA all star in 1979 and was inducted to the schools hall of fame in 1989. In 1980 Jim played goalie for the US team in the olypmics (which was his mom's dream). In the "miracle on the ice" game against the Soviets Criag deflected 36 of 39 shots. After the game (which they won in an upset) a flag was put around his shoulders while he was looking for his dad and the flag is now in the sports museum of America in NY. Jim was drafted by the Atlanta flames in 1977 but didn't play for them until after the olympic break in 1980. In the 1980-1981 season he played for the Boston Bruins. He played for the national team for the 1981 Canada cup but missed the tournament because of an injury. He spent the next sason with the Erie blades (a minor league team). In 1983 he played for the US again but this time it was in the IIHF pool B tournment in which he was named goaltender of the tournment. The Minnesota North Stars signed him to a free agent contract and he played in 1984 beofre retiring from hockey. He is now in high demand as a motivational speaker, spokesperson, marketing and sales strategist. Jim was also a sales and marketing ezecutive and strategist. He is the president for a promotions and marketing firm called gold medal strategies. Jim was played by Steve Guttenburg in a 1981 made for T.V. movie. He was also played by Eddie Cahill in the 2004 film Miracle. Eddie also played in Friends and CSI:New York. Today we have a few people who play like him or have made "Craig like plays". The boys who play like Craig include (but not limited to) Danny Turple, Craig Kallawski, Ondrej Pavelec, and Kari L. (when he is not hurt). Danny can sympothise with Jim about being moved around lot. All the boys named have the fluid butterfly, dive for the puck style Jim had. I was told that I should mention that in a recent game Johan Hedberg, also known as Moose, made a save that was pretty spectacular and there for Jim like. Jim was an amazing goalie and I wish so much that I could have seen him play. I also wish that I could meet him. Thanks Jimmy for inspiring the country when we needed it the most.

We finally got rid of him!!!

The guy I compare to Jeff Gordan is now gone. I don't pity the devils at all, as soon as Ilya gets tired of being in NJ he'll give up on doing good to get traded which worked in Atlanta. The bad thing in all of this is that Don our GM is getting a lot of the blame for the trade. The thing is that Ilya wanted to leave so he gave up. Why blame a GM when faced with a guy who WANTS to leave. So don't blame Don blame Ilya for being selfish and giving up. If he wanted to go he could have told Don and Don would have arranged it since Ilya would have been a free agent anyway. Oh to all of those who ripped up their season tickets: 1) you were stupid 1 guy doesn't make up the team!! 2) you could have given them to me!! Also in the trade maddness Anssi Samela left as well. In return we got a top prospect, a rookie and a d-man!! so we're good!! BYE BYE ILYA! We'll miss ya (NOT)!