USA, USA

This is my team USA jersey.

Speaking of team USA. I just checked out the invite list for the US Olympic team orientation camp. http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_01_01_05&id=264078

I love this roster.

There is so much young talent that I can't wait to see in the stars and stripes.

Phil Kessel is super fast and shifty. Bobby Ryan is just sick, the Ducks were idiots for keeping him in the 'A' for so much of this season. Paul Stasny is old school cool and can get the puck to any sniper. Zach Parise is a top flite player on any team. Patrick Kane, Kyle Okposo, and TJ Oshie are all young studs.

I am just flat out excited to see this team play.

That being said, I am not predicting a medal for this team. Russia, Canada and Sweden are flat out better. But you never know, to quote the cliche "that is why you play the game."

I hate summer. There is just not enough ice in my diet.

drop in etiquette

awww, summer. Time for lazy days and fishing. But for a true hockey nut, summer means nothing but pick up games and longing.
Since it is drop in season I thought I would write down some of the unwritten rules of pick up hockey. Some people just don't know or care. But, drop in is a lot nicer if everyone plays nice.
First rule, and I have to admit I am bad with this one, if you don't have the energy to backcheck get off the ice. Nothing is worse than sitting on the bench waiting while some clown doddles his way back to the defensive zone.
Second rule, if there is no goalie, you play posts. Only outside iron off the ice counts. If it goes in the net it is a turnover and the other team starts it out of there zone.
Third rule, no checking. Most rinks have made this a written rule, but some yokels still don't get it. also, if you don't know the guys at drop in gauge carefully the amount of contact you make. Some people just want to play for fun, not the hitting.
Fourth rule, if you are a goalie stay in the net. There is nothing worse than a goalie skating to the bench for a rest or a drink. It is not fun for the players to shoot on an empty net.
Fifth rule, don't forget how to pass. As fun as dangling is, it is not fun for anyone but you. on the other hand, if you don't get a pass you have to just live with it. People are probably working on there game and stickhandling is a big part of that. But that doesn't give Moves McDangles liscense to become a blackhole where when the puck is passed to him it disappears. The fun in drop in is making pretty plays. That won't happen if people don't pass.
This is not a complete list, but feel free to leave more rules in the comments section.

Still Sad

I am still mourning the Red Wing's loss in game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. I was the most obnoxious self assured Red wings fan. Right up to the bitter end, I thought the Wings would pull it out. I thought Lidstrom would bury that juicy rebound. I thought Datsyuk and Zetterberg were going to catch fire offensively. But none of that happened.
Congratulations to the Penguins. Thanks for ripping my heart out and stomping on it with your skates.
As for all you people that decided to be Pittsburgh fans because you hate Detroit, piss off. There is nothing worse in this world than a hater. Haters can't stand to see other people happy. Haters think everyone should be miserable along with them. Don't hate.
The rest of my blogs will probably be about drop in hockey because that is all I have this summer.

The Finals

As you may know, I am a big Red Wings honk. I love Detroit hockey. The puck possession, the veterans, and the late round draft picks just get me going.
The problem is these finals are killing me.
It has been so back and forth. The Red Wings get a chance. The Penguins get a chance. The Wings score, The Pens score. The up and down play is enough to give a guy a heart attack.
The officiating has actually given me a heart attack. Missing offsides and too many men on the ice calls are forgivable. Blatantly ignoring the "new NHL" rules on obstruction is not. These blind squirrels are going to starve for sure. The sad thing is this crew is supposed to be the best of the best. But they are content to "let 'em play." It's a joke how poorly these ever important games are being reffed.
But, the series is knotted at 2-2 and home ice belongs to the Swedish national team... er, Red Wings. I believe the Wings can pull it out. But, not if they play the way they did in Pittsburgh.