“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols
While some would claim that you could take “music” and put in “hockey” instead, I am one of those who believe that a life with both is just as amazing.
I am in the possible minority of those who love the music clips of songs playing in arenas (I mean, given the choice between some 90s grunge song or a 16-year-old cartoon character screeching “GO (TEAM) GO” — I would hope most sane, rational hockey fans would choose “song clip!”) because it adds to the experience of being alive and watching your favorite (or least favorite) team play while hearing good music. Even if most of the time it’s not even the full chorus of the song, which just makes you the crazy person scream!singing the rest from the nosebleed seats because OCD is a helluva drug.
For the first few years of the Devils being in their new home Newark (and I will continue to call it their new home until we have a championship party in Championship Plaza and a drunken Travis Zajac ends up climbing the military tank that is there as part of the “Devils Army” stuff. You have your goals, I have mine) there was not a lot of change in the music for the pre-skate. I’m pretty sure it was just the first handful of songs on the Foo Fighters’ In Your Honor (just disc 1, not disc 2). Because of this, I’ll forever associate those songs with Alexander Vasyunov, who died in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crash, but had played for a handful of games in the 2010-2011 season
Somehow, possibly because Danius Zubrus went home to Lithuania a few years ago and instead of “Radio Disney” music, he came home with a bunch of club music to play for the pre-skate music, the music has been slowly getting out of ‘lonely teenage boy music for headbanging alone in their bedroom music’ and a little bit more ‘I can actually kind of dance to this!’ music. That being said, when my Patrik Elias played his 1,000th game and I was standing a row away from his wife, has forever been ruined by the fact that now any time I hear that weird Nicki Minaj & David Guetta song about robots and turning them on, I will think of the Elias’.
That’s all on you, Zubs.
Anyway, and when the game actually starts… depending on what season it is or how much we’ve upset the local Newark religious congregations, one of the greatest openings to a hockey game (ignoring that I’ve only seen 4 other intros live — trust me when I say I’m working on that) is AC/DC’s Hells Bells. This youtube clip isn’t the best (laughing Satan shows up way too late and it should be a lot darker), but it’s still pretty decent;
What songs do your teams play that you love (or hate. I’m always down for hate)? What songs do you hope they’ll be playing this season? I’m hoping Zubrus brings some Avicii – Wake Me Up to the masses at the Devils Arena this season.
Last night, the Flyers headed north to face off against the Maple Leafs. Although Scott Hartnell was not dressing for the game, he was still in attendance. With a camera following him, he attempted to gain access to the arena. What he found was a security person who not only did not recognize him, but was also requesting to see identification in order to allow him in.
Hartnell laughed the slightly embarrassing moment off and did get inside. For a full story and video captured, check out the SportsNet article here.
Saturday marked the opening of the season for many of the NHL teams, some with games, and some with FanFests. After a long summer away from hockey, I finally was able to get back into the arena and see some of my favourite players again.
The morning kicked off with the fresh faces of the prospects who took the ice at 8:30 a.m. and a surprising amount of fans showed up to support the players. By that time, the season ticket member (STM) lot was filled. STMs got free parking with their jerseys as well as free pizza, hot dogs, and pop on the club level. There, they also had access to special autograph sessions including newest Bolt, Valtteri Filppula, who was a big hit with the fans.
The new Bolts coach, Jon Cooper, and his staff were on the ice all morning during the three different training sessions, something that hadn’t been done before. With last year’s shortened season, fans did not get a chance to look at the prospects, so for many people, this was their first chance to look at the team’s future and quite possibly their present. After prospect practice came an interview with hockey legend and Tampa Bay GM Stevie Yzerman, in which the transactions over the summer were discussed and alumni autographs were handed out on the concourse.
The second group to hit the ice saw team favourites Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Ryan Malone and goalie Anders Lindback. This named only a few of the stars in this group, that also included the recent draft pick, Vladislav Namestnikov. This group didn’t fail to impress showing off that they deserved a starring role on this season’s NHL roster.
The third group, who took the ice after the charity hockey game, which featured the city’s fire and rescue personnel playing side-by-side with team alumni, had many players vying for a spot in the big leagues this year. Some of these players are ones fighting to stay in the NHL for the entire season. This includes Radko Gudas and Dana Tyrell who both split last season between the Syracuse Crunch and the Lightning.
From the look of the players so far, it seems as though Coach Cooper is going to have a tough time getting to the final roster. As of September 17, three of the prospects were cut including forward Brett Welychka, defenseman Jake Dotchin and goaltender Eric Brassard.
The Lightning roster now consists of 59 players, of those there are 32 forwards, 22 defensemen and five goaltenders. The Lightning will travel to Orlando on September 18th, for their first preseason game when they host the St. Louis Blues at the Amway Center at 7 p.m.
San Jose competed in their first preseason game last night, beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Following that game, today the Sharks assigned 11 players from their training camp roster to report to the Worcester Sharks in the AHL. These players will compete for a spot on Worcester’s roster as San Jose continues to get down to their 23 man roster before their first game.
Of the players assigned to attend camp in Worcester, there are 7 forwards, 3 defenseman, and a goaltender. Dylan DeMelo, a 2011 draft pick, was the only player reassigned to Worcester that dressed for San Jose’s first preseason game. He will be playing in his first full professional season this year. DeMelo, a defenseman, got into a few games with Worcester at the end of the 2012-2013 season along with forwards Chris Crane and Riley Brace, who were also reassigned. Defensemen Konrad Abeltshauser and Kyle Bigos and goaltender JP Anderson will be hoping to get into their first professional game this season.
Also among those reassigned are 5 players who have already played at least one season in Worcester, some of whom have become fan favorites. Forwards Jimmy Bonneau, James Livingston, Travis Oleksuk, Sebastian Stalberg, and Marek Viedensky will all report for the start of camp in Worcester.
Worcester will be opening their camp on Monday, September 23rd. San Jose continues their preseason schedule on Friday, September 21st and will likely be making at least one more cut before Worcester opens camp.
The AHL announced a complete schedule for the 2013-2014 preseason. There are 33 games on the schedule. Each of the 30 AHL teams will play between one and four games. The preseason kicks off with the Utica Comets, a new addition to the league, traveling all the way up to Abbotsford on September 22nd. The final preseason game takes place on October 3rd with Utica once again taking part, this time playing the Hamilton Bulldogs.
The regular season kicks off the very next day, on October 4th, with 5 games on the schedule. As the rosters start to take shape and players get reassigned from their NHL camps, these preseason games give teams a chance to get ready for their season openers. It’s also a great chance for fans to see some of the prospects. Check out if any teams are playing in your area!
Find the full schedule for preseason here and the full regular season schedule here.
The Boston Bruins found themselves starting off the preseason on the right skate, beating Montreal Canadiens 6-3. After signing as a free-agent this summer, Boston fans had mixed emotions regarding the former Flames Captain, Jarome Iginla. Many may remember the trade deadline debacle back in April, that left GM Peter Chiarelli apologizing to the city when Iginla signed with Pittsburgh. It’s safe to say if preseason form is any indication, Iginla will be a nice addition to the roster when regular season faces off. Netting two goals in last nights contest, a power-play goal in the first (08:29) and the 3-3 tie-breaking goal in the third (09:33). Iginla and his line-mates Milan Lucic and David Krejci were a force to be reckoned with, Krejci also had a power-play goal in the third (12:31).
Young prospect Zach Trotman had a solid game as well, finding comfort on the ice with fellow Providence Bruins team mates, Trotman showed Boston brass that he meant business, adding to the final 6-3 tally with a goal in the third period (PPG, 13:52) .
It wasn’t just Iginla who felt the magic of two early on in the season, Nick Johnson, who spent last season bouncing within the Coyotes’ organization managed to solve the scoring puzzle with two also, (PPG, 14:20 – 1st and 06:53 – 2nd).
Canadiens fans have loved the name Subban for many years, but now the name is one that Bruins fans will get to know and appreciate as the season skates on. Young Bruins goaltender Malcom Subban will likely develop his game in the American Hockey League this year for the Boston affiliate in Providence; but he took his chance to shine between the pipes last night. Chad Johnson defended the net for the first half of the game, allowing 3. Subban stopped all 12 shots that he faced, much to the disappointment of the fans in Montreal. Many were hoping to see older brother P.K. Subban shoot one past his younger brother. While P.K. managed to score during the second (PPG, 01:15 ) it didn’t cause family drama. Other goal scorers for Montreal, Travis Moen (12:07 – 1st) and Max Pacioretty (PPG, 09:09 – 2nd).
Boston outshot Montreal 40-20 and will look to keep the preseason going strong tonight against Washington in Baltimore, MD.
Coyotes forward Paul Bissonnette will be starting the season on a sour note. Bissonnette will serve a 10 game regular-season suspension, without pay, after receiving a game misconduct in Sunday nights’ preseason contest with the LA Kings. Bissonnette left the bench on an illegal line change to join an altercation. Per the NHL press release;
“At 12:09 of the first period, Bissonnette was assessed a game misconduct under Rule 70.6, which states: “A game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the player who was the first or second player to leave the players’ or penalty bench during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation, from either or both teams.”
A pricey way to start off the season, forfeiting $37,820.51 based upon his average annual salary.
Last week the National Hockey League cracked down on some wardrobe rules. The players will no longer be allowed to tuck their jerseys into their pants. In addition, they will not be permitted to have their elbow pads showing or cut their pants.
These rules have been in the book since 1964, but until this upcoming season, officials have let is slide without much concern. Some general managers across the league have requested this change due to player safety. The concern is that by tucking jerseys, exposing elbow pads, or cutting pants, the players are exposing more of their body than they normally would (which could result in more injuries).
If a player does break any of these new rules, he will be given a warning. On the second offense, he will be given a two-minute delay of game penalty. A third will result in a misconduct, and a fourth will result in a game misconduct.
While this rule seems relatively insignificant, there are many players who have made the “jersey tuck” part of their identity. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin is widely known for having his jersey tucked into the back of his pants, and he is not happy about the rule change. He plans to follow the new rule, but called it “kind of stupid,” in an interview with Katie Carrera of the Washington Post. Coach Adam Oates, along with others, are bothered by the rule as well.
In addition to taking away the players’ freedom of style, it also brings up the question, “what if it happens by accident?” One of the last things a player needs to worry about during a game is where the back of his jersey is. And since it can result in a two-minute penalty, the players will have to be more conscious of that. So when they are involved in a big hit, or bend down to get water, they will need to remember to check their jerseys, or it could cost them two minutes in the box.
It seems we have a new “most controversial (ridiculous) NHL rule” since the puck-over-the-glass addition.
This poster will be hung in NHL locker rooms to remind players of the proper way to wear their uniforms
This week we bring you, Pittsburgh Penguins’ defencemen Kristopher Letang and actor Marc-André Grondin. 2013 Norris Trophy nominee Letang is known for playing an offensive style of defence, while Grodin is best known for his roll of Xaver Laflamme in the 2011 smash hit Goon.
Think you have the perfect player, celebrity duo? Slapshot us an email pinkpuck@thepinkpuck.com
Letang
Grodin
We’re not the only one’s who noticed the resemblance. Grodin tweeted the picture below of Letang in a Halifax Highlanders baseball cap.
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