Why I can't wait til October

I'm still down here in Brunswick posting more often than I thought I would be able to. The one thing though is that I can't wait on is October because that starts hockey and football season. Technically the season never ends for the coaches and players cause when they are back from outings and vacations it's back to camps, recruiting and training. I seriously can't wait even though I won't be there for the beginning I may be there for a little bit of it. It's sad because I was looking forward to it and now I won't be there for it! But I also will know that I'm a month away from coming home for thanksgiving! SO I'm completely excited and hopefully they'll add more games to the TV schedule!

Congrats to Freeto!!

OK so if you know me at all you know I love the braves and this includes the Gwinnett Braves. My favorite player for the G-braves is Freddie "Freeto" Freeman and as you can see from this picture taken at spring training Freeto was either bored or tired! Freeto has been doing so good he hasn't made that face in a while! Recently I got 3 pieces of news about Freddie that made me happy and proud. 1st off Freddie got named National league rookie of the year, then he was put on the national League post season all star team and finally as if that wasn't enough he got called up to play with the major league braves for their push for the play offs!! All I could do was smile and call my grandma to tell her the news then I went into the art room to make him a painting! I can't wait to see what will happen next! Also I can't forget he has been an uncle for almost a month! Wow! That's a lot in 1 month!! I'm very proud! Congrats freddie and enough everything!

Enjoy it now, we're after you now!

Nesbitt

This will be the first time I get to see what kind of numbers Derek Nesbitt can put up, I got into hockey after Derek had left so here's the article:

http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/news/article.asp?art=1462

I hate this!

I love Adam Berti! He's such a sweet and genuine guy! I was only able to talk to him briefly this past season but I still like him and was kind of sad and surprised when the Gladiators' traded Berti to bakersfield. Here's the article:

http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/news/article.asp?art=1464

Sidney, hot but annoying!!

He's so cute

When did sex start to equal love?

I was putting up an article about the G-braves on my wall and I pointed out the part about Freddie Freeman and one of my roommates said "You love you some Freddie, y'all haven't had sex yet but you love you some Freddie." OK so 1st off how is it any body's business if I've had sex or not? And 2nd when did sex get mistaken for love? I love a lot of guys and I've never had sex! So why is sex love? I really have no clue! People need to know that Sex is not love!! What happens when I say I love my friend Alli? We're not going to have sex cause I don't roll like that, so we really don't love each other? I don't understand it at all! So I guess I'm not going to love anyone until my wedding night because that's when I plan to lose my virginity

Dan Sullivan comes back

OK so if you have read my blog at all you would know that I really like Dan Sullivan, so I was happy to see that the Gladiators are bringing Sully back. I hope he does well. Coach always has good things to say about Sully. In the article posted on the Gladiators' homepage Coach Pyle said that Sully has worked really hard and has been learning a lot. I know that this past season he had to lose weight just to play. Here's the article:

http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/news/article.asp?art=1467

Star Player:Jason Krog

Jason Krog plays for the Chicago wolves and is being prayed for by one of our awesome youth group kids. The funny thing is the youth group kid wanted to adopt him because he thought the last name Krog was cool! I was told by a friend to honor Jason because of his points and sadly I don't really have much to go on for him besides what I can find out by googling him. These star player blogs are getting harder and harder to write. Well Jason has been playing professionally since leaving the university of new hampshire. He has made 8 appearances in the NHL but has spent a lot of his time the AHL. In his 8 NHL appearences 1 of them has been with the thrashers and the majority of them has been with the New York Islanders and his most recent trip up to the NHL was in 2008-2009 with the Vancouver Canucks. So I wanted to honor Jason because of his points and so I could be a good friend. This past season Jason has spent all of his time with the Chicago wolves and scored 14 goals and 61 assists in the regular season and 5 goals and 6 assists in the post season. Congrats Jason on those numbers and hopefully we'll see ya in the NHL this season!

Boris Valabik

I love Boris and what's not to love? He's a complete beast on the ice taking anyone and everyone on, including fighting with Chris Thorburn during practice! Off ice is a complete different story, he makes my day whenever he smiles. Boris is a giant but it doesn't seem to intermediate anyone (even me) . Boris is not only huge he is very smart and knows 3 languages (German, Slovakian, and English) . I love watching Boo bear during practice he doesn't smile much but when he does it's a very wonderful moment. Boris is a 6 foot 7 250 pound teddy bear who was born February 14 1986 in Nitra Slovakia. We are literally 10 months and 1 day a part in age and have connections to the same small country!! Boris is very driven and loves his family when he has a summer break he doesn't go on vacation he just goes home and hangs out with his loved ones. I don't blame him, I know if I wasn't home for a while (like when I went off to School) I would just wanna be home. Boris was our draft pick in 2004 (the year before I graduated from high school). He went in the 1st round (10th over all). He is mainly just the enforcer (meaning he's just there to give dirty looks and fight) scoring no goals but getting hurt a lot. I miss him when he's hurt and unable to practice with the team. Boris is the enforcer but he is soo sweet to fans and to his teammates. one day Zach Bogosian asked him what to do for a drill and he explained it to Zach then shoved Zach behind him telling him to watch and observe what to do. I love Boris for that. Going back to the whole enforcer thing, boo-boo hasn't scored any goals with the thrashers but scored a few goals with his AHL team and OHL team and even a few with his Slovakian team! In 2002-2003 he was playing in Juniors in Slovakia making 2 goals and 12 assists! In 2003-2004 he played only for the Kitchner Rangers (OHL) where he scored 3 goals and 13 assists. The 2004-2005 and the 2005-2006 was split between Kitchner and Slovakia. His 2005-2006 Kitchner stats were better than the 2004-2005 stats, in 2004-2005 he only scored 4 assists and in 2005-2006 he scored 1 goal and 9 assists. The Slovakian stats were similar, in 2004-2005 he scored he only scored 1 assist and in 2005-2006 he scored 1 goal and 5 assists. In 2006-2007 he played for the Chicago wolves where he scored 2 goals and 7 assists. The following 2 seasons were split between the Chicago wolves and the thrashers. During the 2007-2008 season he scored no goals or assists with the thrashers but scored 1 goal and 7 assists with the wolves and in the 2008-2009 season he scored 5 assists with the thrashers and 1 goal and 2 assists for the wolves. This past season (2009-2010) he wasn't able to play that often because of his injuries but he did manage to score 2 assists. He made it to the play off in 5 seasons (2003-2004 ,2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008) but only scored 2 assists in the 2005-2006 playoffs for kitchner and 1 assist in 2007-2008 with chicago. He is doing pretty decent but I think he needs to gain more confidence in his scoring abilities, since he's been playing since he was 6 he should be confident enough in his game to be able to score more goals. I do however love his tough hit people ask questions later style of play. The Thrashers GM (Rick Dudley) was quoted as saying that he thinks that Boris would be a big part of the team if he was more comfortable but I think if you're comfortable enough to hit people than you're comfortable enough to score goals. I love Boo-boo and hope he's healthy enough to play a full season this season. Good luck Boo-boo!!

Putting a price on my dream

I want to be a goalie so far it's looking expensive! Here's some of the stuff:

Skating lessons: $30/30 minutes
leg pad, blocker and gloves: $565
Chest protect: $189
skates: $190

See what I mean? insane

Pure

There's so many uses for the word pure. I know that people who are "saving themselves for marraige" are pure and a whole lot of other things can be pure! One thing that I thought was kinda funny is that one black guy at job corps looked at me and Jaqi's hands (both of us are white) and said "oh my gosh look how pure!" I've never heard anyone call white people's skin pure. it's kinda funny to me!

Drama

I hate drama!! I really do! I have a roommate who likes to stir it up! I fussed her out now I'm scared to face her! I loved my roomie at TTU and I like my 1 roomie here, I have no clue how I feel about my room leader yet and now I may be moving so as soon as I get to move the better! Gaw I hate this because I'm actually here cause I want to be here! Blah Catch y'all later

Boris Valabik injury

I love Bo-Bo and I miss him terribly he's the only Sloviakian I know and that is sooo important to me because I'm part sloviakian. He had surgery twice this season so I feel so bad for him!!I can't find a full article about Boris' injury but what I did find is that he had messed up and tore his ACL in his knee and had to have surgery he said he'll be ready for the camp this up coming month. He's insane and should watch out, he plays so rough! I'm honestly scared that next time he gets hurt that will be it! We can't lose Bo-Bo, I don't wanna lose that connection to my heritage!!!

Old school ovie

I got this and a few others off a European draft sight! Look at how sweet he looks!!

Why I'm not a puck bunny

OK so I know that I already covered what a puck bunny is but just in case you forgot a puck bunny is a girl who is interested in hockey only because they want to be romantically involved with a player. I have the motto if I date a player fine if not great! I'll still be there for my team! I'm not there to get dates I'm there for the game! Yes I talk to the boys at practice but that's just being friendly! I honestly love my boys but it's in a "I've got your back" kind of way not the "I wanna have my way with you" kind of way! So there I'm not a puck bunny!

Forney before he was a glad

He looks so young!!

Look at the guns on Bo-bo

Seriously LOOK! they're massive!!

Hurley

I was in florida when the news hit of Sean Hurley being signed again to the gladiators he such a sweet guy and was a little upset when I told him I wasn't going to be home for the first part of the season atleast I love this kid!! so Here's the story!
http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/news/article.asp?art=1425

Not wanting to go but not wanting to stay

I live in the small town of Loganville, it's the kind of town where people leave or wanna leave right after high school. I kinda left by moving in with my grandparents to go to school close to their house but I didn't officially leave until 2007 when I went to Tennessee Temple but then had to come back at the end of the semester and not return. I hated coming back even though I kinda liked it to begin with I grew to hate it. I had a taste of freedom and I wanted it back. After a while I started to not mind it as much I started find a niche and I loved it but then me and mom fought a lot and it got to where I wanted to leave again. So I started the application process 2 times with job corps and actually stuck with it the second time. Then I got the call for the over the phone interview and was told that on the 31st of August I would be leaving for the program, which was fine. The next week I got a call that they wanted me to come on August 17th which was the following Tuesday which threw all of my plans out of whack and stressed me out sooooo bad. But I got it all finished and I had sometime the day before I left to do some stuff I wanted to. So on August 16th I got ready and jumped in the car not really knowing what the plan was but knowing I wanted to do something. So I first headed off to drop off a gift for Freddie Freeman at the field, then headed to the ice Forum to say goodbye to krittle (who wasn't there) and then it was on to get the release forms signed for the doctors. After I did that I went to my high school to see coach Godfrey. We sat and talked for a while then our little catch-up session got cut short by a phone call but as I hugged him I felt as if letting go was letting go of stuff that was safe and secure and familiar. I hated this small town now I don't wanna leave it so goodbye small town!

star player blogs may be few and far between

I turned the blog log in info over to 2 people and so they may not post that much especially in the way of star player blogs which aren't those cool profile blogs telling about the players but those ones that tell why certain people are awesome (the ones that seem to continue to get worse and shorter). Just wanted to let you know

This is so cool

This is what happened to wrigley feild when the winter clssic came to town!

Thank God for interstate best buddies

I was reading an article on Freddie Freeman, in the article it was talking about the cool tight bond between Freddie and Atlanta Brave Jason Heyward. Up until the home opener this season Jason and Freddie played together ever since they were both were drafted by Atlanta. Heyward started off with a home run and has continued to do well Freddie was having issues to begin with but has calm down and matured a lot. Freddie and Jason are a month apart in age (both turning 21 this year) which makes it even more awesome that they can be roommates and friends. Freddie is from California and Jason is from Georgia.The fact that Freddie isn't from around here showed the night that Jason made us all proud by hitting his first home run. Freddie was on his way when he got stuck in traffic and decided to turn around and watch the at bat at home, he got there just in time he later went out with Jason and the heywards after that game. I've been learning a lot about friends lately. I have one best friend who I have known for 3 years, her name is Alli we were the same age as Freddie and Jason when we met. I don't know what it is about 20 year old kids and being away from their families that makes it easy for them to click quickly but it seems to have happened multiple times. I love that there's at least one friend we all have that seems to always be there for me one of those friends is Alli (who I mentioned earlier). There are some bad things about having a friend who lives in or is from another state, the distance. If they leave near you and they aren't from where y'all live then they would be away from family or if they do live in another state then you wouldn't get to see them as much. But distance could be a good thing because when you do get to see each other it's that much sweeter! I know whenever me and Alli see each other it's like a treat! I loved seeing her the last time that I saw her. She came up and we got to visit for a while before she had to drive the rest of the way to North Carolina.

Boris pre thrasher

Yes this is boris Valabik Before he was a thrasher, I couldn't believe it either

Job corps, miss home

Hey Guys! I bet you weren't expecting me to be in real time but I am. I thought I'd post something in one of the breaks in the schedule stuff to up date you guys. I am down in brunswick Ga at job corps I'm still figuring out stuff and learning my way around. I'm sure if I like it yet. I'm still in the Carreer placemant period where you learn what job corps is about and what you can and can't do and we also take test to see if we can go straight into our trade or not. If someone needs a GED or high school diploma they take a test for that. I graduated high school so I took my test and I have to take math courses and may test out later. I like some people here others are very dramatic and cause issues but that's expected. I found some people to talk to and happy to have someone. I'll be home for thanksgiving and Christmas and I can't wait!! maybe I'll sneak in to practice or a game so watch out. I miss home and had a good cry my 1st full day but I'm ok now and can't wait to go into my trade so I can come home for good!

our cool mascot

Goergia teams have some of the coolest mascots ever!! So one of my friends wrote a blog all about thrash!! Check it out
http://gettingpucksdeep.blogspot.com/2010/08/people-of-blueland-thrash.html

Changes with schedule cause frustration

ok so by the time you get to see this I'll already be gone. You see, my date to leave for job corps got moved to the 17th. In preperation for this I had scheduled a bunch of posts so that whoever took over my blog could come in at their lesiure and my readers wouldn't have to wait so long to have something to read. If someone didn't come in then I would have at least posted something for everyone to read. I also had to find someone to take over my ministry I soon found out noone would step up and run it for me which broke my heart. Other than that the only stressful part was getting everything together! SO I guess this kinda goodbye until I post something in real time again!

Bo-bo's built like a tree

If bo-bo is a tree what does that make us normal people? Sprouts?

thank God for miracles

I'm glad phil is ok but I'm so mad that he was drinking and driving and not wearing a seatbelt! Here's some links! I'm praying for you Phil

http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/news/article.asp?art=1456
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/localnews/headlines/100315344.html
http://atlanta.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/gwinnett-gladiators-hockey-player-involved-in-dui-crash-.aspx?googleid=283666

Special Star player blog: Ryan Lochte

This week I watched in amazement as Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps in two races at the national championships. That's right, the perfect one has fallen. I was waiting for this to happen, I just didn't realize it would be Ryan who would do it. Ryan had the talent and the speed but just couldn't pull it out, until now. A lot of people couldn't believe it until they saw it again or looked it up but my Grandma Florene thought it was the best thing for Phelps to lose those races because he would learn that you can't always win and it would also humble him. I totally agree with grandma so much so that Reezy had became my favorite swimmer (even before the 2 races). Ryan has the talent, speed and personality that makes him likable. He is a little crazy and maybe a little too much for some people but there's nothing wrong with being a little crazy as long as you know when to pull it back. So here's to you Ryan thanks for FINALLY beating Phelps!!

funny picture

This is Kari Lethonen before the whole injury and trade thing kind of a funny picture! Bored there Kari?

Bogi Picture

This is Bogi when he played for chicago in the 200-2009 season my friend Emily S. took this picture

mariane's picture

I like this photo, I don't know if it's because they have a truck on the ice or the fact that there's a 6 foot tall lion in the truck

a picture find!!

Ok so google is a God send look at the sweet face I found!! This is IIHF gold medal and thrasher goalie Ondrej Pavelec! can you say cute?

Amanda's pictures 2nd edition

I really like this picture as well it's very cute and playful. Big props to Amanda for a job well done!!

Happy 90th Birthday

This is my Granny and she is turning 90 today (the 9th)!!! In the picture she is holding her great great grandson!! She is awesome and I love her very much

Amanda's pictures

I like a lot of pictures taken by Amanda, she does an awesome job and when I wrote about come and get it I used her pictures. But there is one I really liked of my friend Krystal. in the picture Krystal looks like she's givint the "haha I did it now you try" look. Love it!

krystal turning into sid the kid? (krystal pictures by amanda)

I love Krystal, she normal skates around and pulls stuff of like this!

Then during a session at come and get it she struck a pose similiar to sidney crosby's after he won the gold medal! see for yourself!

come and get it hockey (pictures by amanda)

ok so the last week of July I was at come and get it hockey camp hanging out and helping where I could. This is the 2nd time I did that this summer. This time was a little different. First thing that was different was some of the workers from last time couldn't make it. Danny Taylor had a wedding to go to, tom Zanoski wasn't there, Chris Thorburn was there but to skate with some of his friends during one of our breaks and Liz was only there 2 days. It was ok that they weren't there because we had Sulli's amazing family as well as Josh Johnson and Matt Auffrey. Of course all the other workers that were there last time were there this time including a parent volunteer. Another thing that was different was that Sulli was able to get out on the ice which I could tell made him happy. Last time Sulli was still recovering from surgery so he wasn't allowed out on the ice (but I did see him walk out on it a few times). We also had girl campers this time which was completely awesome (proud supporter of girl power). We also had some kids that were there last time but not this time, which was ok because we had new kids and I was completely stolked about the girls being there. We knew what to expect a little more this time which made it easy not having Liz there. I had probably the same amount of down time this time as I did last time which was ok but I would have likt to have been able to have done more at both camps.One thing that was kinda the same was that something special happened on wednesday. Last time Bogi showed up this time my friend Alli stopped by for a visit! She got to meet my peeps (I almost said that with a straight face). I loved seeing her again I just wished she could have stayed long. But I truely love this camp and I think if it's still around when I have kiddos my kids will be enrolled at this camp! one thing I also liked was Sulli's family they were amazing!! His grandma looked at me and was like "so.....when are you coming to brampton?" I told her as soon as I got my passport I would be on my way! She was just so cute! I honestly can't wait to see if I'm able to atleast drop by next year! look the camp up y'all!

bittersweet signing

We all have issues with people especially when it comes to any kind of guy/girl relationship (romantic or not). I recently had issues with one of my boys (so have a few of my friends) and because of that I was scared to start the season. But I was able to go to the come and get it hockey camp the last week of July with the boy I had issues with. It was kind of like a preview of how the season may go. We pretty much avoided each other and then I tried to make small talk with no luck. It didn't mater later when I found out that I was going to job corps. So here's the story about the boy's signing
http://gwinnettgladiators.com/news/article.asp?art=1424

More news thrashers style

Please look through these links for all the good news that is coming in about the thrashers


http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533970 (Eric Boulton)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535621&navid=DLATLhome (klingy/sweden)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534567 (prospects)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534199 (assistant coach mike)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534035 (assistant coach john)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533734 (jaime and jared)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533608 (Mike)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533519 (chris mason)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533236 (noah)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532889 (burmi)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532842 (more burmi)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532663 (Coach ramsey)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532603 (D-man trade)

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532601 (more trades)

Happy happy joy joy

Ok so I love goalies, mainly because I see how hard these guys work and I want to be a goalie but there is a current goalie who stole my heart last season. His name? Ondrej Pavelec. This 22 year old baby boy has been the object of my affection since I first laid eyes on him at traing camp in 2009. so sweet when I told him my ancestors came over when Czechoslovakia was one country he was so happy! SO I was completely stoked when he was resigned! Read the Whole artical here:

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534835

Mannino, Ladd, and Eagger news and the rest of the todd white sory

Yay for new people even though we have lost a few people ot's always good to get fresh meat! So we signed Peter manino, Ben Eager and Andrew ladd. I also mentioned briefly about losing todd white so please click on the below links to find out all the details!!
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535114 (eager)http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535165# (mannino)
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535155 (ladd)
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535320 (white)

My future realized

After I left Tennessee Temple university in 2007 I was looking at all my options, which didn't look good. The economy soon tanked and I was left still living at home with no job and very few options. So finally I got the ball rolling with Job corps which is government ran program for people from 16-24 who need their GED (which I don't need) or hands on training for a career (which I do need) and the best part is that it's all free AND you get paid!! SO I did all of my paper work and I thought that I would be a shoe in because of me being out of a job for so long and being an adult. There was one problem, I never heard back from them and I kept having to call and check on my application and paper work. The poor advisor was probably sick of hearing from me but it paid off. Recently I heard from the center I would be going to down in Brunswick Ga and they accepted me into their medical program. Obviously being a thorn in some one's side pays off. The one bad thing is that we're not completely sure how long I'll be gone. So I may be gone for all of hockey season which would kinda be awful! I know it's good for me to get training and all but I don't wanna be gone for all of hockey season! So the plan is for me to go in do the 4 week orientation and adjustment period and then work as hard as humanly possible (times 10) so I get back in a few months so maybe I can see some hockey! so hopefully I can work something out so I can see hockey. I also hope I can find someone to run the ministry and the blog while I'm gone thankfully I found out 3 weeks before I had to leave. I actually leave the 31st of August! So excited!! I'll keep y'all updated!

My love/hate relationship with Sidney Crosby

If you've known me for a while you know that I love hockey, you also know that because of my heritage I feel some kind of loyality towards players with my heritage (like Boris Valabik) and it is for that reason I started to really hate Sidney Crosby. You see Sidney is one of those guys who hits everyone but a lot of the time gets upset when other people hit him well one day he hit the wrong person, in the wrong body part and in the wrong situation. Boris was in a fight with a Penguin and when he leanes over Sidney throws a punch hitting Boris below the belt from behind. I felt so bad for Boris, as big as Boris is he could have squished Sidney like a bug! Sidney is only 5 foot 11 and 200 pounds where as Boris is 6 foot 7 and 250 pounds. Then there's the whole thing about him not liking ovie's rough style of play to which ovie says "that's how I play!....what is he going to do? Cry?" God I love ovie! So there's the main reason I don't like Sidney but I also don't like him because he just seems like he has this huge ego. I do have to say that I watched a video of him on youtube (which I will post later) and saw how goofy he was and how sweet he was with kids and that egotistical, jerkish picture started to change. So there he was the 22 year old stanely cup AND gold medal winning superstar just being him and I was the 23 year old woman who couldn't make up her mind about him! Sidney is talented and nice but I just have no clue if I completely like him just yet. Sidney does have this amazingly young, fresh personality that is so over due. There are people in the world of sports who have an idea of how athletes should act and it sometimes stale! Yeah I'm all for them being nice and keeping in mind kids are watching them but that doesn't mean they can't act youthful and like they are having fun isn't that what sports are all about? I also love the fact that Sidney is determind. I saw a quote on quote daddy by Sidney that said "I think to be great, you have to prove that you're the best year after year and show that by winning. I think that's something you have to earn. You have to prove that. I don't really think about it. I think that's something that's too far ahead for me." He knows he should have goals but wants to enjoy the present and man does he have a lot to enjoy, winning both the gold medal in 2010 and the stanley cup the year before! There are so many people who hat him because of the whole "crybaby attitude" he has when he gets hit or something doesn't go his way. But of course a lot of Canadians and penguin fans love him. I am one of the token people who is not in one of those categories who happen to (somtimes) love him. I completely forgot the girl reason I like him, he's flippin' hot! I know that this a blog for my ministry but I can't sit here and totally act I haven't noticed that he's very good looking even though I can do without the facial hair he sported while playing for the stanley cup. ANyway there you have it! that's my view on sid the kid!

Retro Blog: Mark Johnson

Good Ole Mark Johnson, he played center for the 1980 Olympic hockey team and in a strange twist of fate he coached the 2010 women's hockey Olympic team. Mark "Magic" Johnson was born on September 22, 1957 in Minneapolis Minnesota but was raised in Madison Wisconsin. Mark played for the University of Wisconsin for three years. While he was there his dad, Bob Johnson, was the coach. In 1977 (his first year at the university) the team won the NCAA national championship and Mark won rookie of the year. He was also the schools 2ND all time scorer and a 2 time all American. In 1976 he played 11 training games with the US national team for the Olympics. In all he played in at least 8 world Championships, 3 Canada cups and 2 Olympics (including 1980). In the Miracle on ice game of 1980 Johnson scored 2 of the 4 goals, 1 of the goals caused the soviet coach to pull the goalie from the game. One thing I wondered is if Johnson kept the puck? You see coach told the boys that if you scored on the Soviet goalie you need to keep the puck because it doesn't happen that often, if at all. After the Olympics Mark went on to play in the NHL for 5 teams including the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh penguins. Since then Mark has become coach Johnson! He coaches at the university he used to play for but he coaches the women's team there. Before being the head coach for the women he was assistant coach for the men for about 6 years. In 2006 he was named the head coach for the American women's hockey team and in 2010 he lead the team to a silver medal loosing of course to Canada! In the 1981 made for T.V. movie he was played by Michael Cummings then in the 2004 movie Miracle he was played by Eric Peter-Kaiser. Eric and Mark were so much a like that Mark's wife told them they were freaking her out because they were so much alike. I think that is a HUGE compliment! SO Coach Johnson, I thank you for inspiring the country in 1980, and then coaching our girls in 2010. Best of luck to you in the future.

Thank God for Coaches

Have I already said how much I adore Coach Pyle? If I haven't already then I will take this moment to say that I absolutely love Coach. He has been so lovely to me and so welcoming. He has been supportive of my ministry even allowing me to pray over the boys. I can honestly say that if coach has a bad quality or trait I have not found it. I kinda joke around and call him papa Pyle but looking at it now he is kinda like a dad or an uncle because he is just so up beat finding at least one good thing in every situation and he is just so encouraging. Recently I got accepted into the Job Corps medical program in coastal Ga and the day I found out I emailed coach to tell him the ministry will go on but it may just be someone else running it and then I explained why. I was so sure that he'd say something like "Well don't worry about it, we'll be fine" but he didn't he told me good luck, that they wished me luck and to keep in touch. I honestly felt like he understood while I wanted to be there and have things the way they were last season I just had to do this for me. I thank God for sending coach Pyle to us and to me. I also wish him so much success this season. And coach, let's win the Kelly Cup this year!!

good bye to a Russian and a "great white"

Vyacheslav Kozlov, better known as Slava, has left the team. I wasn't shocked or broken hearted over this one. Slava had been bad mouthing coach anderson to anyone who would listen and he didn't end the season doing too well. So I'm hopeful to see if we will have any Russians next year, and if so how many and will they stay? We've had bad luck with Russians but hopefully this year will be better for us both in wins and with people staying. I wanted so much for there to be a heavy Russian influence for baby Alex (burmistrov) but with Slava having issues with coach bashing what would he teach Alex? You teach and lead by example. You can only speak so lound but your actions speak louder! If only he would have seen that you can't play bad and bad mouth a coach and expect to stay at a origization even if the coach does leave. I was wondering if Slava would have changed his mind about wanting to leave after coach left but now we all know he can't change his mind. Even though I lost respect for him after the coach bashing I still wish him luck. Also Leaving is Todd White who is being traded for 2 Rangers. Although I didn't know much about Todd or had much interaction with him, it's still sad to say goodbye. SO I wish both guys luck!!

Prospect:Akim Aliu

Akim is one of those guys that going into prospect camp I only heard the name and maybe have seen pictures. So here is what I learned about Akim. This 6 foot 3 219 pound youngster was born on April 24, 1989 in Okene Nigeria but then moved to Keiv Ukraine and then from there moved to canada. Akim still speaks fluent Russian which may serve him very well seeing as how the thrashers always has atleast 2 Russians on the team. Last season Akim played for both the Taledo Walleyes and the rockford ice hogs. He has played for 6 different teams in the past 6 seasons. In the 2004- 2005 season he played for the Milton Icehawks where he scored 0 goals and 2 assists. In the 2005-2006 season he split his time between the Windsor spit fires and the Sudbury wolves. With the spitfires he scored 3 goals and 4 assist where as he scored 7 goals and 6 assist with the Wolves and went on to score 1 assist in post season play. The 2005-2006 season was not drama free for him. Akim refused to take part in a hazing of rookies, this didn't sit well with Akim's teammate steve downie. so Steve crossed checked Akim hard and knocked 3 of Akim's teeth. Afterwards Steve was supsended for a few games and made to go to counseling. In the next season (2006-2007) he stayed with the wolves scoring 20 gaols 22 assists in regular season and 1 goal and 5 assists in post season. The 2007-2008 season was another split season for him as he played for both the london Knights and the rockford ice hogs. He scored 0 goals and 0 assists for th ice hogs and 28 goals and 33 assists for the Knights in regular season, 2 goals 1 assist in post season. 2008-2009 was another split season while he played for the london Knights, Sudbury wolves and the rockford ice hogs. With the knights he scored he scored 8 goals 10 assists, the wolves he scored 10 goals 16 assists in the regualr season and 2 goals 1 assist in the post season and with the ice hogs he scored 2 goals in regualr season and 1 goal in post season. This past season he scored 11 goals and 6 assists for the ice hogs and for the walleyes he scored 5 goals and 9 assists in regular season and 1 goal and 1 assist in post season. Akim was part of the group we got in the Marty reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morrin trade. I truely hope he makes it because we lost a lot of good guys to get him here! So good luck and see ya this season in blueland Akim!!