Monday Puckpourri: The snap seen 'round the world, plus a lineman KO'd & DON'T call it a "cat fight!"

The snap seen 'round the world
The screen grab from the video accompanying a story at NHL.com shows Steven Stamkos lying face-down on the ice, blurred gloves leaving do doubt he's pounding on the ice in pain. Video of the collision with the post that broke his leg has spread like wildfire over social media, but I won't watch it. I'm cringing enough looking at the screen grab. Although I can't see his face, I can tell he's in extreme pain. 

For non-hockey fans, this happened today during a game between the Lightning and Boston Bruins. Boston won 3-0, but I don't think anyone was focused on the game after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. 

Photo: Elise Amendola/Associated Press

This photo shows a different angle but the pain is still evident. Stamkos must have known as soon as his leg hit the post that it was broken. Stevie Y says he'll be out indefinitely after surgery to repair the break to his tibia, but knowing hockey players, he'll be back sooner than expected. I'm sure if he could play in a cast, he would. Sending healing thoughts his way.

Linesman KO'd
My friend Dee shared this video on her Facebook page. It shows linesmen trying to bring a series of on-ice brawls under control during a game between the Vernon Vipers and Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL. One of the Vernon players, swinging wildly, connects with a linesman's jaw and it's "lights out" for a few seconds. That ref's gonna have a big bruise on his face. That player's going to feel more than 2 minutes of "shame." And the team will probably be slapped with a somewhat hefty fine... 

How old are these kids again?




Don't call it a "cat fight"
Speaking of on-ice brawls, my friend Keri sent me this one between members of the Ohio State and Bemidji State (her alma mater) hockey teams, which broke the NCAA record for penalty minutes. This brawl at the end of their game racked up 287 minutes, including 18 fighting majors and a game misconduct. This shattered the old NCAA record of 268 PIM set during a game between Boston University and Maine in 2004. 

Oh, did I mention the record-breaking brawl was between Ohio State and Bemidji State's **women's** teams and the old record was set by men's teams? Ohio State's coach channeled Reggie Dunlop in his post-game comments. 

Here's the video. Click here for the accompanying story.



I'd forgotten Bemidji's team is called the "Beavers."  "Lady Beavers" sound even worse. 

Yes, my mind did go there.

Hockey Talk.. or... Talking Hockey...

I like to talk about hockey. 
I like to hear others talk about hockey.
It's a good thing, then, that I get to co-host a weekly show about... hockey.

My friend Cassie McClellan, who writes for the Tampa Bay Lightning blog Raw Charge (and other websites) and I kicked off the fourth season of our weekly radio show "CCPT Hockey" today, with a fun chat about the season so far and a look at PIM leaders (players and teams).

Logistical issues prevented us from starting the season in August like most other hockey radio shows, but we're really not stressed about it. Our show is more a live chat than a "show" in the "official" sense of the word. We have the occasional guest and even the occasional "high profile" guest, but for the most part, we have a fun group of people who take part in the live, interactive chat that takes place while our show's on the air, and have our hockey loving friends call in to praise or bitch about their teams.

Don't get me wrong. Cassie and I can talk stats like everyone else, but why would we want to? How boring is it to tune in every week for STATS. Seriously. How many of you with college educations really *enjoy* your statistics class? Okay, I know some of you still enjoy statistics. Otherwise, we wouldn't have statistics to talk about, right? I mean, it takes a special mind to come up with the number of times a player has scored on a Saturday night in November where there happened to be a three-quarters moon in the sky. 

I kid. I respect all of you statistically-minded hockey fans out there. The world needs you. I mean it. I really do.

I also digress.

When Cassie promoted our first show on Facebook, someone asked her why our show was named CCPT Hockey Show - and what's up with the Russian-looking logo? If you listened to today's show, you'd know the answer to both questions. If you haven't listened to the podcast version yet, here you go:

"CCPT" stands for CONNECT COMMUNITY PUCK TALK.  The show was created a number of years ago by our friend Justine (aka "Juice in LA") as a gathering place for hockey fans who became friends on NHL.com's (now pretty defunct) fan site: NHL Connect. In its heyday, NHL Connect was a breeding ground for fans who expressed their hockey love via essays, stories, limericks and more. I stumbled onto the site in 2008, while licking the wounds left by the Pittsburgh Penguins' heartbreaking SCF loss to Detroit. Juice and others welcomed me warmly, and quickly became my family away from home. Looking back, it's funny how most of my early Connect friends were Red Wings fans... I did some of my best writing while a member of that site, including my ode to the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team (and my dad), which was featured on NHL.com's homepage for several days (I wish I had saved a screen grab).

A handful of Connectors even managed to meet up in San Jose for a German dinner and game between the Sharks and Red Wings (Juice, JoJo, Al, Shannon, Kevin - did I leave anyone out?). Ahh... those were the days!

Alas, as so often happens in many Utopian societies, TROLLS discovered NHL Connect and tromped all over our thriving community, testing friendships, creating alliances, and basically shitting all over the place. A small group of us took our leave and our Flyers friend Matt told us about BlogTalkRadio.com. Juice created the show and we all happily joined in. When Juice's schedule became too hectic to continue, Cassie and I took over. We tried to make it an "official" show for a while, but reverted back to our carefree hosting style when we realized we weren't really having a lot of fun trying to be "official."

Which brings us to today.

Season 4 of the CCPT Hockey Show launched at 6pm ET/3pm ET on BlogTalkRadio.com. Cassie and I managed to fly through an hour of talking about standings, divisions, wild card (huh?), the incomprehensible, early implosion of the Flyers, the unbelievably great play of the Avs, Coyotes and a TEAM-THAT-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED (but whose initials are TBL). We also discussed PIM leaders so far:

Players:
1. Derek Dorsett (NYR) - 73 PIM in 17 games (fmr. Medicine Hat Tigers/WHL)
2. Radko Gudas (TBL) - 57 PIM in 16 games (fmr. Everett Silvertips/WHL)
3. Steve Downie (COL, PHI) - 53 PIM in 12 games (fmr.Kitchener/Peterborough/Windsor/OHL)
4. Antoine Roussel (DAL) - 52 PIM in 17 games (fmr. Chicoutimi Sagueneens/QMJHL)
5. Erik Gudbranson (FLA) - 51 PIM in 18 games (fmr. Kingston Frontenace/OHL)

Teams:
1. Flyers - 311 PIM in 16 games
2. Blues - 274 PIM in 15 games
3. Leafs - 279 PIM in 17 games
4. Caps - 273 PIM in 18 games
5. Rangers - 252 PIM in 17 games

Well, I seem to have encapsulated a lot of what we talked about on today's show, which means you have absolutely no reason to listen to it. In the event you do, here's the link to a story on CCPT Hockey Show's website that includes the podcast, and a few more statistics that are blowing our minds right now:  http://ccpthockey.blogspot.com/2013/11/were-back.html

If you find yourself with nothing to do next Sunday at 6pm ET/3pm ET (or the Sunday after that, or the... you get the idea), join us on the air or in the chat room. Here's our show page:  CCPT Hockey Show

You can also follow the show on Twitter: @CCPTHockey

Here's Cassie's Twitter handle: @dagmar27
And here's mine: @Motley_Su

A few interviews: Mueller, Spina, Helenius

It's been a pretty busy week, what with the WHL season finally underway and the NHL coming to Everett. The Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning organizations were great in helping me line up interviews with a couple of players who have ties to the greater Seattle area for the KING 5 hockey page.  Here are some links:

 Peter Mueller/Photo Courtesy: Brynna Owens
                                         
Interview with Peter Mueller (Phoenix Coyotes/Everett Silvertips)
http://blogs.king5.com/sports/2009/09/nhl-interview-with-coyotes-for.html

David Spina/Photo Courtesy: San Antonio Rampage

Interview with David Spina (Phoenix Coyotes/San Antonio Rampage/grew up in the Tacoma area)
http://blogs.king5.com/sports/2009/09/nhl-interview-with-phoenix-coy.html

 Riku Helenius/Photo: Su Ring

Interview with Riku Helenius (Tampa Bay Lightning/Norfolk Admirals/Seattle Thunderbirds)
http://blogs.king5.com/sports/2009/09/nhl-interview-with-former-tbir.html

Silvertips excited to host NHL preseason game in Everett (and we're excited too!)

The hockey season has been over for several months here in Western Washington, but recently, it seems to be all we're talking about, especially on the Everett Silvertips front. First, the team introducs a new head coach: former NHL player and coach Craig Hartsburg. Then, forwards Cameron Abney and Byron Froese are drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively. Now, Everett is bursting with pride again, as the Tampa Bay Lightning selects Comcast Arena as one of the stops on a pre-season tour in September.

On Tuesday, September 22, the Lightning, featuring the likes of Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and talented defensive prospect Victor Hedman, will take on the Phoenix Coyotes, featuring former Silvertips Peter Mueller and Shaun Heshka in the lineup-- and "The Great One" himself, Wayne Gretzky, behind the bench.

I could go on, but Jon Rosen, the Silvertips' Director of Broadcasting and Public Relations, has written a beautiful news release. You can read it below, then click here to visit the Everett Silvertips homepage for more information, and catch up with all the other happenings in Silvertips country.

The NHL is Coming to Everett!
Lecavalier, Doan, Mueller, Stamkos, Hedman to showcase skills at Comcast Arena
Everett, WA - Everett Silvertips Vice President / General Manager Doug Soetaert announced today that the Everett Silvertips will be hosting a National Hockey League preseason game between the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning at Comcast Arena on Tuesday, September 22nd at 7:35 pm.

The Phoenix Coyotes, coached by hockey legend and all-time NHL leading scorer Wayne Gretzky, feature former Silvertip and 2005-06 WHL Rookie of the Year Peter Mueller as well as defenseman Shaun Heshka, who appeared in 204 games for the Silvertips from 2003-06 and was recently acquired by the Coyotes in a June trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Tampa Bay Lightning feature a dynamic core of exciting youth, headlined by center Steven Stamkos, the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, as well as defenseman Victor Hedman, the second overall pick in 2009. Stanley Cup winners and five-time 30 goal scorers Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis are also featured on the Lightning roster.

Everett Silvertips season ticket and package holders will have the first opportunity to purchase discounted tickets prior to the Saturday, August 1st public on-sale date. All fans who have purchased season tickets or a ticket package will be receiving an order form that must be turned in to the Silvertips by Thursday, July 23rd to ensure their regular seats.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, August 1st at the Comcast Arena box office and via www.everettsilvertips.com. Prices range from $50 to $65, which does not include a one dollar facility charge. Starting Monday, August 3rd, the Silvertips Front Office will also be available to handle all ticketing queries.

For the best possible value, fans are encouraged to purchase one of two packages which will provide access to the NHL preseason game in addition to the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament, held from Friday September 4th through Sunday, September 6th. The Peter Mueller Package, priced at $88, includes an upper bowl ticket to the NHL game in addition to a lower bowl ticket to all nine games of the Preseason Tournament. The Wayne Gretzky Package, priced at $99, includes a lower bowl ticket to the NHL game and a lower bowl ticket to all nine games of the Preseason Tournament.

"This is going to be a great experience for hockey fans throughout Everett and greater Seattle," Soetaert said. "We're really excited to be able to provide an NHL game at affordable prices and look forward to packing the building and continuing our great game-night atmosphere."

For all ticketing information, including regular season seats and mini-plans, please call the Silvertips' front office at (425) 252-5100. Further updates can also be found on the social networking site Twitter, where the Silvertips operate under the handle WHLsilvertips, as well as Facebook under "Official Everett Silvertips".

The HEART of the NHL

I LOVE HOCKEY.

I freely admit it.

I love everything about the game: the speed, the grace, even the violence.
And after reading an article posted by Jodie over at “The Sidney Crosby Show”,
http://sidcrosby.blogspot.com/2008/06/oren-koules-is-awesome.html , I have another reason to love hockey, or at least, one NHL Team owner.

The article talked about a young hockey player named David Carle, who was projected to be drafted as high as the second round. And why wouldn’t he? By all accounts, the 18 year old was a terrific player, a talented defenseman headed to the University of Denver on a hockey scholarship. And I’m sure he set out for the NHL Combine with high hopes of passing every physical and intellectual test.

I don’t know if you’ve seen what goes on at an NHL Combine. I’ve seen video and it looks brutal. Players with their feet taped to the pedals of a stationary bike, being loudly urged to ride as hard and fast as they can. I’ve seen some kids throw up after this “exercise”. There are also other grueling looking “exercises” that I’m sure are meant to test endurance and mettle, including one where a guy does goes all out-- while breathing into a tube with his nose pinched shut while some drill-sergeant type guy yells at him to go faster. Like I said, brutal.

But I digress.

David went to the Combine. I don’t know how many exercises he went through, or whether he went through any at all. What I do know is an EKG uncovered a heart defect that had not been found in previous exams. More extensive tests at the Mayo Clinic revealed that the defect could cause a sudden, fatal cardiac arrest if his heart endures too much stress.

How this boy survived playing hockey for so many years with this defect boggles my mind.

But what happened next will stay with me forever.

His advisor notified all 30 NHL teams that David was taking his name out of the draft, since he can no longer play hockey. 29 team owners took it in stride, but one did something amazing.

Oren Koules, the new owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, used his last pick to draft David Carle. When asked why he did it, here’s what he said: "The kid worked his whole life to be drafted in the NHL, and I didn't see a reason he shouldn't be."

David Carle will go down in the books as the 203rd pick of the 2008 NHL Draft, because one team owner decided to forego adding to the fold, to make a young man’s lifelong dream come true.

So… the teen whose heart problem forced him to give up his dreams of NHL glory, got to live just a little piece of that dream, thanks to a man whose heart was bigger than his business sense.

This could be the end of David’s story.

It‘s not.

As they say in those annoying TV commercials, “BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!”

Remember the hockey scholarship to the University of Denver?
The school will honor that scholarship. David will get a college education, and the coach says he will be involved with the hockey program in some way. It might be small comfort to someone who has lived and breathed the game since he could walk, but somehow, I think he will be okay.

Want to read the article for yourself?
Here’s the link: http://www.adn.com/sports/story/443351.html

And after you’ve read it, ask yourself: What can I give from my heart today?

The answer may just surprise you.