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Hello? Meteorologist ... I Think There Has Been a Mistake!
Greetings fellow Bloggies/Blogettes! I want to start with a question: "Is it just me or did Jack Frost nip at your nose too whilst heading out the door this morning?" What a rude awakening, but I guess that is to be expected with the wacky weather we have been experiencing! The warm & gentle embrace of the sun was great while it lasted! Let's hope that there are fewer cold snaps and more warm fronts heading our way!
Speaking of warm fronts, I have been warming up my HD channels for ... you guessed it ... PLAYOFF Hockey! Yee Haw!!!!! I must admit that the Playoff Bug has wasted no time nestling itself securely in the depths of my hockey passionate bosom eagerly awaiting to share with the world a boisterous war cry ... "GOALLLLLLL!" as the team I cheer for loses in Overtime :(
It is important to remember: we may be defenseless when it comes to battling the illusive elements outside, but you always have control of what is on your TV!
Until next Time,
Cheer Loud, Cheer Long, Cheer Often!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
THIS DAY IN HOCKEY HISTORY!
THIS DAY IN HOCKEY HISTORY!
March 24, 1946 Montreal's Toe Blake scored twice and added two assists in the Canadiens' 8-2 win over the Black Hawks, in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals, in Chicago.
March 24, 1973 Goaltender Tony Esposito recorded his 36th career shutout to lead the Black Hawks to a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Flames at Chicago Stadium. Jim Pappin scored a goal and set a team record with four second period assists.March 24, 1978 Phil Esposito set an NHL record with his 29th career hat trick and added an assist, as the Rangers beat Washington 11-4. Espo broke the mark of 28 hat tricks set by Bobby Hull.
March 24, 1984 Detroit's Ivan Boldirev scored four goals (his 11th and final career hat trick) and added an assist, as the Red Wings lost at Los Angeles, 9-7.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
In the Spotlight!
Today in the spotlight is Daren Puppa!
Daren Puppa's native Kirkland Lake has been to hockey what great soil has been to farmers, a fertile place with a history of healthy crops. Long after names like Duff, Backstrom, Watson, and Hillman had moved on to the NHL, Puppa stepped onto the ice and established a reputation as a talented youngster known primarily only by the locals. And although the Belleville Bulls of the OHA drafted him, Puppa had his sites set on obtaining a scholarship with an American university. He eventually settled on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York State where he attended classes and backstopped the schools hockey team from 1983 to 1985.
Having chosen an academic path, Puppa remained unknown to most scouts and to the Central Scouting Bureau of the NHL. His discovery occurred in 1983 when his fathers cousin, former Montreal Canadiens star Ralph Backstrom, then the head coach of the University of Denver, had called Sabres GM Scotty Bowman to inquire about a Swedish goaltender. During the conversation, Backstrom mentioned his disappointment about not having been able to entice Puppa to play in Denver. Bowmans ears immediately pricked up at the thought of a goaltending sleeper coming out of Kirkland Lake. In response, Bowman sent his scouting spies up into Ontario to get second, third and fourth opinions about his secret prospect. As the picture became clearer, Bowman had a hunch that Puppa was worth the risk. He drafted him, sight unseen in 1983.
With the Sabres, Puppa made an instant splash in his NHL debut, shutting out Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers 1-0. But the bigger challenge he faced was to wrestle the number-one stoppers post away from incumbent Tom Barrasso. That took three years of patient waiting.
He finally got the starting job in 1989-90. As a strong, stand-up goalie in the tradition of Ken Dryden, Puppa won 31 games and was runner-up to Patrick Roy in balloting for the Vezina Trophy. But over the three seasons that followed, Puppa struggled to regain his form. He had a tendency to allow bad goals, especially through the five-hole, a favorite target for NHL shooters. In 1993, he was shipped to the Leafs where he played eight games before being claimed first by the Panthers and then by the Lightning in the Expansion Draft of 1993. Puppa assumed starting duties with Tampa Bay for his first three seasons. By year three, his strong goaltending began to reflect itself in the win/loss column as he racked up 29 wins, 19 losses, and nine ties, topped off by the Lightnings first trip to the playoffs in 1996.
But from that point on, a nagging back injury created havoc for Puppa. He managed to hang in with the club over the four seasons that followed but was able to appear in a total of only 50 games. He then hung up his pads for good in 1999-2000.
Daren Puppa's native Kirkland Lake has been to hockey what great soil has been to farmers, a fertile place with a history of healthy crops. Long after names like Duff, Backstrom, Watson, and Hillman had moved on to the NHL, Puppa stepped onto the ice and established a reputation as a talented youngster known primarily only by the locals. And although the Belleville Bulls of the OHA drafted him, Puppa had his sites set on obtaining a scholarship with an American university. He eventually settled on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York State where he attended classes and backstopped the schools hockey team from 1983 to 1985.
Having chosen an academic path, Puppa remained unknown to most scouts and to the Central Scouting Bureau of the NHL. His discovery occurred in 1983 when his fathers cousin, former Montreal Canadiens star Ralph Backstrom, then the head coach of the University of Denver, had called Sabres GM Scotty Bowman to inquire about a Swedish goaltender. During the conversation, Backstrom mentioned his disappointment about not having been able to entice Puppa to play in Denver. Bowmans ears immediately pricked up at the thought of a goaltending sleeper coming out of Kirkland Lake. In response, Bowman sent his scouting spies up into Ontario to get second, third and fourth opinions about his secret prospect. As the picture became clearer, Bowman had a hunch that Puppa was worth the risk. He drafted him, sight unseen in 1983.
With the Sabres, Puppa made an instant splash in his NHL debut, shutting out Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers 1-0. But the bigger challenge he faced was to wrestle the number-one stoppers post away from incumbent Tom Barrasso. That took three years of patient waiting.
He finally got the starting job in 1989-90. As a strong, stand-up goalie in the tradition of Ken Dryden, Puppa won 31 games and was runner-up to Patrick Roy in balloting for the Vezina Trophy. But over the three seasons that followed, Puppa struggled to regain his form. He had a tendency to allow bad goals, especially through the five-hole, a favorite target for NHL shooters. In 1993, he was shipped to the Leafs where he played eight games before being claimed first by the Panthers and then by the Lightning in the Expansion Draft of 1993. Puppa assumed starting duties with Tampa Bay for his first three seasons. By year three, his strong goaltending began to reflect itself in the win/loss column as he racked up 29 wins, 19 losses, and nine ties, topped off by the Lightnings first trip to the playoffs in 1996.
But from that point on, a nagging back injury created havoc for Puppa. He managed to hang in with the club over the four seasons that followed but was able to appear in a total of only 50 games. He then hung up his pads for good in 1999-2000.
Monday, March 22, 2010
With Bat Sightings on the Rise, are Boy Wonders soon to Follow?
Greetings Fellow Bloggies/Blogettes,
It is Official (at least according to the Calendar) ... Spring has Sprung and with it hopes of Blissful Days in the proverbial arms of the softly caressing sun. Or something like that! But before I put away my one piece Long-Johns and my woolly socks, I eagerly await the distinct tune of a long awaited avian friend - The Robin.
As Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters "A" through "Z" and the number "0123456789," Spring is brought to you, year after year, by the Red-Breasted Robin. I do not know how the Robin does it, but I tell you this, like Canada Post, the Robin always delivers. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for Springs Official Messenger!
Until Next Blog,
Cheer Loud, Cheer Long, Cheer Often!
Thomas Barker
Conference Event Coordinator
It is Official (at least according to the Calendar) ... Spring has Sprung and with it hopes of Blissful Days in the proverbial arms of the softly caressing sun. Or something like that! But before I put away my one piece Long-Johns and my woolly socks, I eagerly await the distinct tune of a long awaited avian friend - The Robin.
As Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters "A" through "Z" and the number "0123456789," Spring is brought to you, year after year, by the Red-Breasted Robin. I do not know how the Robin does it, but I tell you this, like Canada Post, the Robin always delivers. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for Springs Official Messenger!
Until Next Blog,
Cheer Loud, Cheer Long, Cheer Often!
Thomas Barker
Conference Event Coordinator
Sunday, March 21, 2010
THIS DAY IN HOCKEY HISTORY!
THIS DAY IN HOCKEY HISTORY!
March 21st
1965 Toronto's Red Kelly scored his 4th (and final) career hat trick and an assist, George Armstrong had two goals and two assists, and Andy Bathgate added a goal and three assists in the Maple Leafs' 10-1 win over the Rangers, at New York.
1971 Goaltender Tony Esposito recorded his 23rd career shutout to lead the Black Hawks to a 2-0 win over Detroit at Chicago Stadium.
1973 Chicago's Jim Pappin scored the game-winning goal for the 200th of his NHL career, in a Black Hawks' 6-2 win against the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to HHN Honoured Member Bob Nevin! Robert Frank Nevin (born March 18, 1938 in South Porcupine, Ontario) is a former professional ice hockey right wing who played 18 seasons in the NHL between 1957–58 and 1975–76.
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