Monday, July 19, 2010

Monday Puckpourri: Golfing w/ TJ Oshie, Dancing w/ Radko Gudas & Thomas Hickey's rehab

Cassie and I had kind of a fun show yesterday. Well, we had fun once things got into place! Our special guest, Timothy Oshie (Coach Osh) was driving through the Badlands of North Dakota and his call kept dropping. Before he joined us, I lost my focus and completely blanked out. However, Cassie, our first guest Ola and our friend and frequent guest Meg picked up the slack while I regained control and went hunting for Coach Osh. Once he was locked in, we had a great chat about he and TJ's upcoming charity golf tournament/auction/benefit on July 28 and 29 in Grand Forks, ND. He also talked about TJ's hockey beginnings and the battle over UND's "Fighting Sioux" name. If you missed the CCPT Hockey show, click here to get to the podcast. If you're interested in taking part in TJ Oshie's golf tournament, click here for more info.

Everett Silvertips fans are lamenting the fact that defensive star Radko Gudas isn't returning to the Cable Box. He turned 20 years old in early June, then a couple of weeks later, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the NHL Entry Draft. Radko and I had a great chat about the next step in his career, life in the Czech Republic, hockey fans and his special hobby: ballroom dancing. If you want to read about it, click here.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have been a huge fan of former Seattle Thunderbirds d-man Thomas Hickey for years. Since he left the T-Birds to join the Manchester Monarchs and try to crack the LA Kings lineup, he's had to battle more than other prospects vying for the same position. He's recovering from shoulder surgery and a high ankle sprain that pretty much sent last season down the drain. My friends over at Frozen Royalty caught up with Thomas at prospect camp and talked to him about rehab and what he's focusing on in his quest to make the team in the new season. Thomas was his usual honest self and I know I'm not the only one who's cheering for him to find the success he richly deserves. Click here to read more about Thomas.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Silvertips Snippets: Simpson, Gudas, Theriau drafted, Street Hockey challenge and pre-season tourney

The Everett Silvertips are celebrating a trifecta. Three 'Tips were taken in the NHL Entry Draft last weekend in Los Angeles. Goaltender Kent Simpson was taken #58 by the Chicago Blackhawks, while defensemen Radko Gudas and Alex Theriau went #66 and #109 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars, respectively. I'll be posting interviews with Kent and Radko up at the KING 5 sports site before the weekend is out. Unfortunately, I was not able to get in touch with Alex but I'm sure he's excited to be affiliated with the Stars. The Silvertips website has a number of stories about the three. You can find them by clicking HERE.  I did a post-Combine/pre-Draft interview that does not appear on the Silvertips website. However, it IS over at the KING 5 site so click HERE to read it.

                                                     Kent Simpson - now a Blackhawks prospect

                                                       Alex Theriau - now a Stars prospect

                                                      Radko Gudas - now a Lightning prospect

 The Silvertips are hosting a street hockey tournament on Saturday, July 17th. The action will feature 4-on-4 teams, with lots of prizes. Each entrant also receives a free ticket to the Silvertips' home opener against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, September 25th. For more information about the street hockey tournament, click HERE.

Everett is also hosting a pre-season tournament September 3-5 at Comcast Arena. In addition to the Silvertips, Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri City Americans, Spokane Chiefs and Portland Winterhawks, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL will take part in the tournament. Why Sault Ste. Marie? That was Head Coach Craig Hartsburg's junior hockey team. He also coached them, and very successfully, too. You can get the complete pre-season schedule by going to the Silvertips' website. Just click HERE.

T-Birds Tidbits: Calvin is an Av, Fan Photo Contest, and the LeBron sweepstakes

The Seattle Thunderbirds are pretty busy this off-season. First, they see star goaltender Calvin Pickard selected 49th overall by the Colorado Avalanche at the NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles. (Link to my Calvin story at the KING 5 sports page here).

 L-R: Russ Farwell/T-Birds GM, Calvin, Rob Sumner/T-Birds Head Coach  (Photo: Su Ring)

Having an NHL prospect just doesn't seem to be enough for our T-Birds friends. They've also decided to throw themselves into the free agent frenzy surrounding NBA phenom LeBron James.On their Facebook page, the Birds offer King James all sorts of perks, including (but not limited to):

*Grand Marshall of the Kent Cornucopia Parade
*Friendly billet families that will welcome LeBron into the Kent community.
*Free Preferred Parking at ShoWare Center
*Two free tickets to Opening Night of the 2010-11 season against the Portland Winterhawks in addition to a 24-Flex Ticket Package.
*Lunch with Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke (pending Mayor’s schedule) and Cool Bird.
*Use of both Allied Waste Zambonis for personal recreation.
*James St. leading to ShoWare Center will be renamed LeBron James St.
*A suite at ShoWare Center to watch the Backstreet Boys on August 5
*Entry fee will be waived for participation in the ShoWare Shootout 3-on-3 basketball tournament on August 6 and 7.
*Discounts at the Hockey Store in ShoWare Center

This fun promotion has been lauded and panned by fans and media alike. I look at it and see it for what it is: a bit of comic relief to help ease the summer doldrums. It's actually quite witty, if you think about it, especially the photo-shopped pic of King James in T-Birds gear.

LeBron James, new T-Bird? (Photo: Seattle Thunderbirds)

On a more serious, yet no less fun note, our friends in Kent have also launched a fan photo contest. They're looking for pix from all over the globe, featuring fans wearing T-Birds clothing. This contest kinda makes me wish I had planned a trip to Siberia or Antarctica. Click HERE for a link to the contest and let me see your best T-Birds fan pix!

The puck drops on pre-season play in early September (Sept. 5, to be exact), when the Birds take part in a tournament up I-5 at Comcast Arena, hosted by the Everett Silvertips. In addition to the T-Birds, 'Tips and tournament regulars Tri City Americans, Spokane Chiefs and Portland Winterhawks, expect to see the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (Silvertips Head Coach Craig Hartsburg's junior team). You can find the schedule and ticket info by clicking HERE.