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While it is easy to laugh at the photo and point to the standings, the reality is that every team has had this unfortunate experience from time to time.

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Not only do the Vancouver Canucks play in a gorgeous city, they also have one of the most versatile color schemes in the league. Navy blue, white and black are basic colors that pair well with almost anything, blend well together or stand alone on their own in making a statement. Oddly enough, it’s actually their usage of green that really adds a beautiful dynamic to the mix. Green, especially the deep emerald, kelly hue tends to compliment a large array of skin tones, much more so than Bruins yellow, Islanders orange, or even Flames red. Right now, the marketplace is flooded with amazing green accessories from jackets and sweaters, to necklaces and bags. Lucky Vancouver fans (and a few other teams in the league, Minnesota, we’re looking at you), putting together an accomplished game night outfit should be fun!

The one fashion concept that I truly believe in; “find one statement piece you love and build your outfits around it”. The mixed pattern long sleeve coat is affordable, and certainly makes a statement. Pair the jacket with simple style, do not go overboard.

A pair of black skinny jeans, loose fitting jersey t-shirt, Keds and a simple black clutch will make the ensemble look effortless. Obviously adding a bit of team spirit to the mix is always nice, but sometimes adding it in a muted way is more appropriate — the whale tale necklace is simple and clean while paying homage to the Canucks. If you’re a fashionista (and even if you are not, get brave) try rocking a simple wool navy blue or black fedora.

As always, this look can be tailored to any team in the league, mix and match the colors but keep the same style principals!

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The Internet enforcers can rest.

The NHL has officially announced fan vote winner John Scott, will Captain the Pacific Division of the All-Star game despite his trade to Montreal last week.

Shortly after fan vote captains were announced, and the nontraditional choice Scott led the Pacific, he was part of a three team trade (his team, the Coyotes, the All-Star host Nashville Predators who voiced their distaste for his selection, and the Montreal Canadiens) that made fans and media question his eligibility.

Highly skilled John Scott tries to pick up his first fight

Highly skilled John Scott tries to pick up his first fight

A #FreeJohnScott campaign then took over social media .

The NHL has finally spoken

According to an NHL press release:

Scott, elected to the Pacific Division captaincy in fan voting while a member of the Arizona Coyotes, was traded Friday to the Montreal Canadiens of the Atlantic Division. The resultant change in division, and Scott’s subsequent assignment to the American Hockey League, created a unique circumstance that required review – the result of which was a determination to maintain the status quo for the All-Star weekend in order to preserve all parties’ pre-existing expectations, including Scott’s desire to participate.

 

“I am looking forward to enjoying a fun and unique experience at All-Star Weekend in Nashville with my family,” Scott said. “While being voted to the All-Star Game by the fans was not something I expected to happen, I am excited to participate in the All-Star events with my fellow players.”

The Pink Puck will be bringing you full NHL All Star coverage from Nashville later this month.

 

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(Photo: Dubuque Fighting Saints)

DUBUQUE, Iowa – On Monday, the Dubuque Fighting Saints presented a check to the Dubuque Veteran’s Freedom Center to the total of $13,309.60. A postgame jersey auction on Military Appreciation Night, which featured special, one-of-a-kind camouflage-themed jerseys with military branch crests on the back, raised all of the money towards the center.

“The people of the Tri-State area have shown great support of the Veteran’s Freedom Center through jersey auctions and many other initiatives,” said Jim Wagner, the co-founder and director of the Veteran’s Freedom Center. “Every dime that comes into the Veteran’s Freedom Center goes right to the veterans.”

Willie Knierim’s jersey raised $1,250 alone, which was the most money raised during this year’s auction on one jersey.

Jason Lammers (Photo: Dubuque Fighting Saints)

Jason Lammers (Photo: Dubuque Fighting Saints)

This season marked the fifth consecutive season that the Fighting Saints donated to the Veteran’s Freedom Center, which exists to meet the needs of active duty, reserve, and honorably discharged veterans in the Tri-State area.

“My father-in-law, who served in the Navy, was there on [Military Appreciation Night], and I thought a lot about my grandfather, who served in World War II,” head coach/GM Jason Lammers said. “Many of our players know somebody who does or did serve in the armed forces. The message on that night inspired our players to victory.”

Military Appreciation Night, hosted on November 13 at the Mystique Community Ice Center, was sponsored by Kwik Stop, Dairy Queen and Fazoli’s. The special jerseys were created and funded by the Dubuque County Commission of Veterans Affairs.

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About the Dubuque Fighting Saints

The Fighting Saints returned to USHL play in the brand new Mystique Community Ice Center during the 2010-11 Season, winning the Clark Cup in their first year back in the USHL. The Fighting Saints continued their success with a historic season in 2012­13, finishing with a franchise best 45­11‐8 record. The team claimed the Anderson Cup as the USHL’s regular season champions for the first time in 30 years, and also earned the Clark Cup for second time in three seasons. In August 2013, the team took the Bronze Medal while representing the United States at the Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia. The club has produced a number of players that moved on to NCAA Division I hockey and have been drafted by NHL teams, including Zemgus Girgensons and Johnny Gaudreau. The original Fighting Saints competed in the USHL for 21 seasons (1980­‐2001). The Club won the Clark Cup as playoff champions on three occasions (1981, 1983, 1985) under head coach Jack Barzee. One of the most well-known alumni of the original Fighting Saints was Gary Suter, a 17‐year NHL veteran, two time Olympian, Stanley Cup winner, and member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

 

About Northern Lights Hockey, LLC

Northern Lights Hockey, LLC is the company that owns and operates the USHL franchise in Dubuque, Iowa. The owners of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level.  Philip Falcone, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of HC2 Holdings, Inc. and former part owner of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, is the company’s principal owner. The ownership group also includes Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Mark Falcone, and Brad Kwong, Managing Partner of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC.  Philip Falcone, Chiarelli and Kwong all played hockey together at Harvard University in the mid- 1980’s. The group also includes local Iowan partners Mark Falb and David S. Field, M.D. Falb currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Westmark Enterprises, Inc. and Kendall / Hunt Publishing Company. Dr. Field has practiced orthopedic surgery for 30 years and has been the driving force behind hockey in Dubuque. Dr. Field also owned the Dubuque Thunderbirds, the USA Hockey Tier III team that competed in the Central States Hockey League through the 2009-10 Season.

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(photo: Dinur Blum)

The Philadelphia Flyers are finally starting to find their way under coach Dave Hakstol.

The team didn’t have much time to get acclimated to Hakstol’s system between training camp and preseason. The training camp and preseason only lasted a combined three weeks before the regular season started. After the first month of the regular season, the Flyers had a 4-4-2 record. The team’s record was 7-10-5 at Thanksgiving, but since then they have gone 13-5-3 and stockpiled 29 points to climb right back into the playoff race.

The major reason for the turnaround has been the players learning the system and what is expected out of them from the head coach. Hakstol has had time to figure out his players and what each can bring to the table. The two other major factors that have caused the season to turn around was the call up of defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and lines changes made by Hakstol prior to the game on December 15 and then again on January 2.

Gostisbehere’s was recalled after an injury to defenseman Mark Streit, who would be out six weeks. In his first game, he assisted on the game-winning goal in overtime. He is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman, who can get his shot through from the point. In 23 NHL games this season, he has six goals, nine assists, 16 points and is a plus five. Gostisbehere has three game-winning goals, which have all come in the overtime session. He replaced Streit on the first power play unit and has contributed four power play goals.

The Flyers offense has been pretty stagnant this season only scoring 94 goals, but they have been scoring more the past four games. Hakstol made line changes prior to the game on December 15 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He had Sean Couturier centering Wayne Simmonds and Jake Voracek, who made the move to left wing. The top line consisted of Michael Raffl, Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn. Since then Couturier has found his offensive game, driving to the net and shooting the puck  when he has the chance. He has six goals, six assists and 12 points in 11 games played.

Hakstol made more line changes during the game on January 2, against the Los Angeles Kings because Giroux was slumping. Voracek stayed on the left side joining Giroux and Simmonds on the top line. Couturier was now centering Raffl and Schenn. The line of Raffl-Couturier-Schenn has six goals, eight assists, 14 points and two game-winning goals since being put together. The line of Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds has three goals, nine assists, and 12 points since being put together, and they’ve had their fair share of chances, but haven’t been able to convert on them. The Flyers have 15 goals on four games since the switch was made.

The goaltending duo of Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth has been good all season for the Flyers, and helped them win some games. They have given up some soft goals, but have also made key saves at crucial times during games. The defense has been joining the play in the offensive zone and shooting the puck more. The defense can get caught out of position and the need to avoid the turnovers in their own end of the ice.

The Flyers special teams haven’t been great this season and have room for improvement in the second half. The power play has only converted on 15.4% of its opportunities, which is second to last in the league. The first power play unit has been getting chances, but just can’t seem to find the back of the net. There is a drop-off from the first power play unit to the second. The first power play unit has 16 of the 19 power play goals this season. and the second unit only has three. One of those three goals came from Sam Gagner, who is currently playing in the AHL.

The penalty kill ranks 24th out of 30 teams at 78.3%. The penalty killers have to do a better job of being in position/communicating and clearing the puck out of their own zone when given the chance. Mason only has a .788 save percentage on the penalty kill so he needs to be better too. While on the penalty kill sometimes the goalie has to be the best penalty killer and come up with some save and that hasn’t been the case with Mason this year.

If the Flyers want to stay in the playoff race then they need to improve the special teams and not get ahead of themselves and not look past any team on the schedule.

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Wrapping up my hiatus from The Pink Puck during the first half of the Syracuse Crunch Hockey Club (AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning) season, I have two more events (fashion included) to share with you all.  The first, took place at our Friday, November 6th game vs. the Albany Devils.  For this game I collaborated to execute my first theme night – #FlashbackFriday at the Crunch – which was a play on our beloved social media hashtag.

The ticket element from this event mirrored the price of tickets in 1994 – $12, offered for section 12 and each ticket purchased entered fans to win a swag bag comprised of retro Syracuse Crunch merchandise.  Fans were also encouraged to wear pre-Tampa Bay Lightning era jerseys to the game to purchase a $12 ticket as well.

Jon Mirasty participating in ceremonial puck drop. 11/04/15

Jon Mirasty participating in ceremonial puck drop. Photo taken by Scott L. Thomas 11/06/15

#FlashbackFriday took fans at the game back through the years all the way to when the Crunch held their first regular season game against the Devils on Sept. 30, 1994.  The night featured an appearance by former Crunch forward Jon Mirasty, complete with a limited number of fans receiving his bobble head.  The Crunch enforcer participated in the ceremonial puck drop and an autograph signing as well.

For #FlashbackFriday at the Crunch I wore a sheer, crème and black heart print baby-doll dress by Max Studio.  I paired the dress with black opaque tights and my Coach black leather booties.  For accessories, also from Coach was my purse for any essentials, rhinestone and gold bar earrings from Anthropologie, gold zodiac necklace that I received as a gift, diamond stud necklace from a local jeweler, vintage diamond with gold rings and my gold Nixon watch.

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11/06/15

My next event was “Watertown Community Night at the Crunch,” similar to that of the Oswego night that took place at our 2015-16 home opener.  The Syracuse Crunch Hockey Club reached out to their friends further north in Watertown, New York.  The Syracuse Crunch partnered with the Watertown Wolves of the Federal Hockey League for the game on Saturday, Nov. 14th when the team hosted the Utica Comets.

The Watertown Wolves were the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup Champions with the franchise just being brought to Watertown at the start of the season in 2014.  The Wolves ownership group, goaltender Josselin St. Pierre and mascot Blizzard the Wolf accompanied the Commissioner’s Cup to the War Memorial Arena to greet their fans and have photos taken with the championship trophy.

Watertown Wolves participate in ceremonial puck drop. Photo taken by Scott Thomas 11/14/15

Watertown Wolves participate in ceremonial puck drop. Photo taken by Scott L. Thomas 11/14/15

The night also served as a fundraiser for the CNY Veteran’s Outreach Center in Watertown, with a portion of the proceeds from the packages purchased from businesses and event single game tickets, being donated back to the Center.  Watertown Youth Hockey were also recognized in-game during an intermission.

“Press Level Fashion” for this evening included another dress from Max Studio – paired with navy blue opaque tights and brown leather booties from Anthropologie.  For accessories I carried a brown leather clutch purse from former Abercrombie & Fitch brand Ruehl No. 925, gold zodiac necklace, vintage gold Italian horn necklace, diamond and gold stud earrings, vintage diamond/garnet with gold rings and gold Nixon watch.  I put together a fun, arm party as well with bracelets from Alex and Ani, Anthropologie and Free People.

11/14/15

11/14/15

 

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(photo: IIHF Twitter)

Team USA earned their second straight Gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Under-18 Championships yesterday in dramatic fashion in front of a record crowd in St. Catharines, Ontario.

It was the classic match-up: Team USA vs. Team Canada for gold, and it lived up to the hype.

 

Fifty-five hundred sixteen people filled the seats, suites, and even the standing-room only section, making this the largest crowd ever to witness an IIHF WW U-18 game. And while they may not have liked the outcome, as the home Canadian squad left with silver, the game did not disappoint, especially for the young women playing in front of them.

At 13: 59 in the first, the home crowd and Team Canada thought they scored, but Alex Gulstene had made a spectacular pad save to keep the game scoreless.

The first period would not remain scoreless, however, as Canada got on the board at 17:55, giving them a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The second period was when the action really revved up. After Team USA nearly tied the game on a power play opportunity, Canada doubled their lead to 2-0 at 5:58 after several minutes of sustained pressure. Gulstene made another key save to keep the game from getting out of hand just moments later. “I’m not thinking anything,” she said about the save,

I’m just reading the play, looking where her stick was, just being in the moment.

Staying focused in those crucial moments proved invaluable for Team USA, who turned the game around in the second half of the period. Alex Woken forced a turnover, stealing the puck from Canada’s Codie Cross, then Woken flew down the ice and got the Americans on the board with 5:00 remaining in the second, putting the U.S. within one after two periods.

Canadian forward Emma Maltais admitted, “It definitely changed things when they scored that goal,” and Natalie Snodgrass also commented on the impact of getting on the board, saying “We got some momentum from that goal.”

So going into the third period, the Americans had only a one-goal deficit and a new-found confidence in their game, and they poured it on. At 8:03 of the third, they were rewarded as Natalie Snodgrass scooped up a shot that went wide and stuffed the puck in on a wraparound to tie the game 2-2. Gulstene kept the score even to ensure overtime as Canada had a late scramble in front of her.

As if a USA vs. Canada match-up wasn’t already a dream hockey scenario, the game going into overtime only added to the spectacle. But it didn’t last long; just 1:47 into the extra frame, Natalie Snodgrass worked her magic yet again, backhanding a loose puck into the net, and securing a Gold medal for Team USA for the second year running, breaking the overall gold medal tie with Team Canada.

I was in the right spot at the right time,

She said, “It was a nice shot from the point, deflected. I missed it the first time but buried the rebound. I threw my gloves in the air!”

Coach Joel Johnson expressed his pride at the way his team battled and overcame a two-goal deficit,

This is an amazing group of young women and they earned this tremendous victory

With her game-tying heroics and gold medal-clinching overtime goal, Natalie Snodgrass was named U.S. Player of the Game. Alex Gulstene, who also had an incredible game – and tournament for that matter, expressed her emotions after the win,

To win it here, on their home turf, is amazing – It’s beyond words.

 

 

 

DATE

OPPONENT

RESULT/TIME (ET)

U.S. PLAYER OF THE GAME
Fri., Jan. 8 Czech Republic W, 6-0 Grace Zumwinkle
Sat., Jan. 9 Russia W, 6-0 Alex Woken
Mon., Jan. 11 Canada W, 4-1 Rebecca Gilmore
Thurs., Jan. 14 Sweden (Semifinal) W, 4-0 Natalie Heising
Fri., Jan. 15 Canada (Gold Medal Game) W, 3-2 OT Natalie Snodgrass
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