Monday, May 17, 2010

Retro blog Herb Brooks


To continue what I started before the Olympics of 2010 I wanted to honor the man who kinda made the miracle on ice possible, the coach. Coach Herb Brooks is one of the best coaches in the history of the game. Sadly I never got to meet him he coached before I was born and died in 2003 shortly after production of the movie about his 1980 Olympic team, Miracle. He was only 66 when he died but you could only imagine all of what he could tell you if you sat and listened. Coach was born August 5, 1837 in St Paul Minnesota and played Hockey and baseball at Johnson High School. His high school hockey team won state in 1955 while he was on the team. Herb went on to play for the university of Minnesota from 1955-1959 and almost played for the 1960 Olympic team but was cut a week before the games (USA won gold that year). The night USA won gold in 1960 Herbs Brooks Sr. told Herb that "it looks like coach Riley cut the right guy"!! Could you imagine your dad saying that to you about you? It would be awful!! From 1960-1970 Herb played in 8 Olympics and world championships. Coach Herb Coached at the University of Minnesota leading them to the NCAA Championships in 1974, 1976 and 1979. In 1983 Herb had the oppurinity to coach at Michigian tech but turned it down to coach at St Cloud state Unoversity. Of course we all know that in 1980 he coached the Olympic team but did you know that he was the 1st American coach to lead a hand picked team to victory against the soviets in 20 years? After the Olympics he moved to Switzerland to coach for a year. He then coached the Rangers from 1981-1985 becoming the 1st american born coach in Ranger's history to win 100 games. He was also the coach for the Minnesotta North stars, New jersey devils, the Pittsburg penguins and the 1998 French olympic hockey team. Herb returned to coaching US olympic hockey in 2002. He was inducted into the US hockey hall of fame in 1990, the international hockey hall of fame in 1999 and then the hockey hall of fame in 2006. Coach Herb will be remembered forever as america's coach. He died August 11, 2003 when he fell asleep driving not wearing his seatbelt sadely he may have survived if he did wear it. He will be missed! Rest in piece coach!!

Late star blog!! Brett Sterling


In the 2008- 2009 season Brett was a thrasher breifly but this past season he was a Wolf. I believe this is the 1st time I honored a wolf since adding the wolves to the ministry earlier this year but sadly it will be short. Brett had one of the highest amounts of points this season and even went to the all-stars!!! He had 34 goals and 22 assists in the regular season, 2 goals during the all star game and

he had 4 goals and 6 assist during post season play. They recently got knocked out of the Calder cup race. They had been doing ok in the 1st 2 rounds but it got worse as the playoffs went on. Brett has done very well in his career going to the Calder cup and the all star game 3 times. There is no doubt this 26 year old Califorina native will make it to the NHL very soon for a full season, Don't give up Brett it will happen! Never give up, never back down!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Star player Nik Antropov


In light of the thrashers and gladiators not being the play offs I decided that I would look at all 3 teams in the ministry and decide who should be star player based on points scored. I checked the thrashers 1st and noticed Nik Antropov had scored 24 goals and 43 assists this season. I had no clue he did so well if I had I would have honored him a lot sooner. So I apologize to Nik for not giving him a shout out sooner (believe me he's huge, I don't wanna make him mad). Nik was signed by Atlanta as a free agent on July 2, 2009 after playing with both the maple leafs and rangers in the 2008-2009 season. He is orignally from Kazakhstan but now lives in Canada with his wife and 2 kids. At 6' 6" 240 he's the 2nd biggest guy on the team (Boris Valabik is the biggest @ 6' 7" 245) and one of the fan favorites. He is so sweet smiling and signing stuff for fans at practices. He actually won the MVP award this year at the last game of the season. Nik is such a good guy and I wish him nothing but the best. I hope in all of the changes that the thrashers are going through that Nik is able to stay with the team!

Congrats on all the goals and the MVP award and good luck next season Nik!