Babies, firings and a whole lot more

Well the 2009-2010 Season was insane. There was some drama and trades and the off season brought babies, medals and firings. Ilya, Anssi and Kari were all traded bringing in a few new faces including Johnny Oduya, Evgeni Artyukin, Patrice Cotehmier (spelling), and a couple of others. Although Patrice never apeared in a game or on the roster he was one of the guys we got in the Anssi/Ilya trade. Patrice is 19 and was banned from the OHL for a couple fights. Everyone was mad and saying that Ilya shouldn't have left but he WANTED to leave and GAVE UP! so why not let him go? In other news Coach Anderson was fired and I heard somewhere that all of the assistant coaches were let go as well, but that was not comfirmed any where else. Craig Ramsey has just been named as head coach. Ramsey was the Bruins coach for the last 3 years. Don Waddell, everyone's least favorite GM was promoted to president- yay! (NOT) The more power we give this man the worst it'll be. In happy news Ondrej Pavelec (my favorite thrasher goalie) was the gold medal winning back up goalie in the world championships while Max won sliver with Russia. Also in happy news Scott Misfud got married, Chris Thorburn beacame a dad for the first time (a son named Bennett) and Colby Armstrong also became a dad (a son named cruise). One of my former boys also became a dad yes ladies and gentleman JC Sawyer became a father to a little girl named Taylor who I had the pleasure of seeing at come and get it hockey. In signing/drafting news the thrashers have signed Carl Kling berg and drafted Alex Burmistrov. The Gladiators have signed Sean Hurley, Andy Brandt, Phil Youngclaus, matt Francis and Sam roberts. Sean and Phil are on the protected list as well as 6 others. As more info and news comes in I will post more.

Star Player: Dan Sullivan (and his wife liz)

I wish I could say that I'm honoring my prayer partner for some great play or some awesome goal he scored but the reason I'm honoring him is because he is so amazing as a person. His motto in life is "just do it". Sulli runs a camp during the summer for kids called "Come and get it hockey" and his amazing wife Liz helps out. I met Sulli the year he came to be a gladiator (in 2008-2009) he wasn't my prayer partner then but I became his prayer partner in 2009 (during the summer). He is such a sweet genuine guy. I met his wife during the 2009-2010 season at the last after party. I love them both, they just are so amazing. Dan scored 15 goals and 18 assists in the 2009-2010 season. While that stat is impressive for a guy who told me "well I can't score goals so I might as well fight" I wanted to honor Sulli and Liz for their work at come and get it hockey. They had 68 campers at the June 7-11 camp I loved hanging out and doing little things as they came up to help. It was so crazy but we all survived for the most part. Dan had surgery in may so he wasn't able to go out on the ice. He is so good with those kids though. He had one kid who couldn't hardly skate his 1st year at the camp and Dan had to help up if he fell so finally Dan told him that he would have to get up on his own next time and the boy did and this little boy is now 11 and is now so good at playing compared to where he was and I believe it was all because Dan invested in the kid. Thank God for Dan and Liz. They do sooooooo good camp. Dan congrats on all you have done and Liz God bless you for helping Dan and dealing with his maddness!!

star player Adam berti!!

In keeping with what I started when the season ended I wanted to honor Adam Berti for scoring the most points on his team (the gwinnett Gladiators). Adam was one of my buddies this season. He was on the Gladiators in both the 2008-2009 season and the 2009-2010 season but had to split his time between the gladiators and the fresno falcons in the 2008-2009 season. This season Berti scored 41 assists and 16 goals for a total of 57 points!! That's why I wanted to honor Berti!! He is such a sweet guy and pretty goofy. He's from canada and played in the OHL and the AHL for a while before coming to the Gladiators. He's also on the "protected list" this up coming season. I'm completely excited to see him this upcoming season and I wish him the best of luck!!

Retro Bio--- Mike Eruzione

Mike Eruzione, or Ritz, was the captian of the 1980 olympic hockey team coached by Herb Brooks. Mike was born on October 25, 1954 in Winthrop Massachussettes. He was the captain of his high school Varsity team. Ritz attended both Berwick Acedamy and Boston University. He went on to play for the USA national team for the '75 and '76 world Championships, then played for the Toledo goal diggers in the IHL. He won the rookie of the year award while playing in Toledo and lead his team to the turner cup 1978. He played 2 years in toledo then scored the winning goal in the miracle on ice game. The goal was voted the best highlight on ESPN in 2008. Ritz turned down a contract with the rangers after the olympics to retire. He went on to announce at Rangers and Devils games for the USA network and for 5 Olympic games. Ritz currently works at Boston University as director of special outreach he was the assistant coach for 3 seasons at boston college. He's the member of many halls of fames and is part owner of the USHL Omaha Lancers. He's a motivational speaker and helps the Winthrop High School hockey team. In 2007 he appeared on the TV show "I got a secret", his secret was that he was the captain of the 1980 Olympic hockey team. In the 1981 made for TV movie "miracle on ice" he was played by Andrew Stevens but was played by Patrcik O'Brien Dempsey.

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!

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!

The problem with last games and practices

The problem? After that that's it- no more weither or not you're in playoffs. Last games are hard on coaches, players, staff and fans. I went to the last game for the Gladiators on April 3rd. It was kinda sad because this was the 1st time in the 7 year history of the team that there would be no playoffs. It was time for goodbye. I went with my friend Kelsey-who is awesome by the way- and on the way we kept talking about how sad it was that this was the end. What made it easier was I knew coach wouldn't get rid of everyone, he might but it was unlikely. The boys were playing the stringrays for at least the 2nd time that weekend. It didn't feel like the last game, it just felt like a game. I was happy to see Krystal since wasn't at the last game I went to so I went over to say hey-I absulutley love her, she's awesome. I told her since I had gotten to be friends with forney and a couple of the other guys that I may cry and she told me that if I cry she's cry too. I was good during the game- I didn't cry. It was an aweful game though, my boys didn't try. They had somewhere around 10 shots on goal where as the stringrays has about 40. David Brown, the goalie, was a rockstar letting only 3 in. There was some shoving matches but nothing too major. Chad Denny tried to insert hinself into the begining stages of a fight and ended up being the only one drawing a penalty for it. Now I love Chad and I love his rough style but why would you butt in on the begining of a fight? Sadly it ended being 3-0. That's right my boys got shut out in THEIR house, on THEIR last night. Over the season someone told me because I had prayed over them that the boys were now my brothers. So "my brothers" came and saluted the fans and the booster club president. It was then that I realized I had seen them for the last time. We stayed for the end of the season slide show thing and some of the jersey of their backs auction but it was time to go eat @ the after party!! We had gotten there, found a place to sit and ordered when Phil and 3 other boys came in, it was only going to be 4 there that night, it was then that I decided to go deal with a little problem me and Phil had. So I went to say hey to the boys. I went over to Phil and patiently waited for him to get done talking but he looked at me and smiled, "hey what's up?" I smiled and said "Hey! I justed wanted to talk but it can wait til you are done." SO he finished up and we walked over to his table, "So what's up?" So I told him what I had to say and he just smiled and said that it was ok I didn't have to apologize it was ok! He smiled again and can I just say that I love his smile, I don't get to see it much but I love it- it's sweet and simple. So I went back to Kelsey and ate. I felt sooooooo bad because I kept leaving her. I loved it (besides feeling guilty for leaving Kelsey) because I got to talk to Kelsey and my boys, I also met Liz (sulli's wife) and just had fun. At some point I looked a Phil then said something about him to Kelsey and she laughed and said "Did you just say something about his butt?" I laughed and leaned over saying "Well since you're accusing me of looking I am now!!!!" I know I know I'm running a ministry but I'm human. I'm not proud of it but I checked him out. It was pretty funny and I know Phil won't be offended. At the end of the night I went to say good bye to the 4 boys and Liz. I went to Pat 1st and he hugged me. I about cried when he told me he MAY see me next season then I had the same situation with Jason. What is it with my boys wanting me to cry?? Then I went to Phil and he was the only one not to hug me or even really say goodbye. It was then Sulli's turn and he hugged me and told me that he'd see me at camp over the summer if I came to help out. So after I talked to Liz for a while we left. I got home at 1 and Kelsey and I sat and talked for a little bit. Finally at 2:30- 3:00 I was getting ready for bed and at 4 I was falling a sleep. Getting up for church was hateful. The wednesday after the game I went to see bogi practice for the las time. So practice went on as normal nothing too exciting. Bogi came off the ice and I told him I'd see him in september. Then Evander Kane and Ondrej Pavelec came out from putting their gear up to sign some autographs. I told Ondrej I wanted to be a goalie because of him and he seemed shocked (and kinda delighted) that I wanted to be a goalie but humbled that it was because of him that I made this desicision. He's a really amazing goalie. When Evander and Ondrej tried to get back in to the locker room they were locked out. I walked behind them to go to my car and I didn't feel like I had just said goodbye to them. The next day they had their last practice and I didn't go I had just got done with 1 house sitting job and was on my way to another. While unpacking my stuff from the 1st job I was unpacking the stuff that I wore to say goodbye and the stuff I had signed. It was kinda sad because it was like it was really real that all the in person stuff was over. I watched the last 2 thrasher games on TV. The 1st one they lost with Pavs in goal and the last one was a shut out (and a win) with Moose in goal. I guess I picked the wrong goalie to look up to. So it's all over and all I have to do is wait until I know who may be coming in for next season and write blogs.

Star player--- Coach Jeff Pyle!!

I think Gladiator fans have a pretty solid arguement for best coach. Coach Jeff Pyle has been the coach since the Gwinnett Gladiators since the 1st season in 2003. He was also the coach for the Mobile Mysticks before they became the Gwinnett Gladiators. Coach has been a constant supporter of my ministry allowing me to pray over the boys once this season. I enjoyed that experience with coach's support I felt like I was actually doing something and that I was needed. He has lead our boys to playoffs 6 of the last 7 years, which really isn't bad when you take into account the trades, injuries and all out craziness that goes on in the minor leagues. I know many times I would mention coach to one of the boys and they would just say "yeah I love coach" and just go on about all the great things about coach. He is so calm and encouraging to the boys. I had sent him a letter in 2009 about the ministry and since then we've been emailing back and forth. The 1st time I saw him at the ice forum I went up to him and introduced myself to him and everytime he's seen me he has made some effort to say hey or something to me. If it's true what some of my friends had said about the boys being my brothers since I prayed over them that would make Coach Papa Pyle!! But in all seriousness coach has had to deal with a lot of craziness in the past few years and I'm so proud of the way he has handled everything and how he has treated the boys. If someone mentions you to a lot of people you have coached and none of them can say one thing bad about you then you're doing something right!! Coach, I thank you for all of the support you have given to the ministry and the oppurnity you have given me, it means the world to me. I can not say enough good things about you coach. Good luck with everything coach!!

Hockey Monday,Saturday, Friday, sunday and friday

Monday March 8 I planned on putting in applications then go to the gym and then to the game. Grandma had a bad feeling for me to go to the game by myself so I wasn't going to go until I found someone who was available last minute. Then mom called me telling me that she had some tickets from work. I had to call Grandma to say that I was going w/ mom and someone she knew from work. She was happy that I was going with someone. When we got to the game we walked around for a while which turned out to be a good thing because I saw mama Linda. Mama Linda is the team mom for the Gladiators and she is awesome. I guess I'm one of her adopted kids. When we got up to the suite warm ups were almost over so I went to the end of the suite to watch. As I stood there I felt important, like I was the owner or at least the owner's kid. The boys looked good, strong and confident. When the game started coach met their confidence. I get so worried for coach during games and I don't know why! It's like I'm his daughter or something. It started out good with the my boys scoring a goal. In the 1st and 2nd periods Michael Forney got a penalty one for hooking the other for interference. Also not to be out done or forgotten Tim Miller got a penalty in the 1st and 2nd, one for roughing and the other for fighting. It's no suprise that he got those penalities, he's a bad boy but I love it! Then the Cycolones answered back with a goal. Then in then in the second both teams scored twice. Not to be defeated Mr. fancy pants, Tom Zanoski, scored a goal. My boys won 4-3! That saturday I went with Grandma and Aunt Patty to see the Gladiators practice. Practice was almost over when we got there but we still got to see my boys. After practice I got some of the boys to sign a hat for a girl at church. After a few signed I found my way to Michael Forney. When I found him he had his mouth gaurd hanging out, typical Michael. When he saw me the mouth gaurd went in and he said "Hey Christina!!" Grandma and Aunt Patty turned to see who said hey to me as I answered him. We talked for a while then I called Grandma over to meet Michael. He was so cute when I called her over he was like "Yeah grandma come say hey to me." I smiled at him as he wiped off his hand to shake hers. Grandma kept asking him all these questions about their road trip and the bus. After each question he'd ask me a question or try to say something to me. It made me feel special that he cared enough about me and my work out to want to know more. After I talked to Michael I went to get Phil to sign the hat for the girl at church. The following friday I went to check out bogi and Chris "Cheli" Chelios. Bogi looked up to Cheli when he was younger. Cheli was so sweet with bogi, playing around with him and laughing. I gave Bogi an early birthday card at the end of practice. Sunday I went to church then to the game. It was awesome but it almost wasn't. They played the Devils for the second time that weekend and both teams scored in the 1st then the devils pulled ahead in the 2nd. I was so hopeful that my boys would win and sure enough in the 3rd my boys tied and pulled ahead of the devils! It was 4-2!! Dan "Sulli" Sullivan about jumped in his team mate's arms after the last 2 goals. We won!! YES!!! So the devils went down IN Georgia and started a fight on the ice after the game ended......sore losers!! The following friday I went again to see bogi and Cheli, this time Grandma went with me. My boys were playful that day. Slava Kozlov knocked Arty's stick out of his hand and skated away laughing only Arty wasn't laughing. Then Max hugged (yes hugged) one of his teammates while laughing. What the crap is happening with my boys? Then Bogi was chilling by the bench box with coach Rob when the rest of the boys came rushing by. Coach told Bogi to jump into the bench box he did but he messed up the landing and I was left looking at his stick and the top of his helmet. Grandma asks "he's ok right?" I started laugh harder then composed myslef long enough to say "yeah his egos just bruised." Yes Ladies and gentleman my beautiful baby boy fell in front of his hero and his fans. Then after I composed myself coach had them run another play but he stopped them to yell and curse at them. Then they seperated the defense men from everyone else. I asked Grandma if she wanted to go with me to the far end of the rink where bogi was and she said no, she recognized Max from the Olypmics so she stayed with him. I went to be with bogi . Toby enstrom and Johnny Oduya were there too. I love Toby he's so precious and sweet, quite but sweet. Toby looked me up and down while I was watching Bogi but I caught him and gave him the confused puppy look. He continued to look at me and then skated away. I watched them work on drills for d-men. I mainly watched bogi- he did good but he went to hit someone (full body) but spun last minute to avoid contact. After a few drils the boys came off leisurely and grandma got to see them close up.