Our team got our asses kicked against some old timers last Sunday in Danbury, Connecticut. They have a nice rink right downtown and across the street is a decent micro-brewery called Colorado Brewery. I was stressed since the dude that runs the team called me that morning to play and I was running late and managed to find the place just before warmup.

A guy that looked like this scored about 4 goals for the "Crabs."

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.17.01/gifs/shrek-0120.jpg

I was playing defense and couldn't believe how this guy could skate right by me. I managed to poke check the puck away a few times. The players on my team were a little lazy in changing shifts. We definitely could have done better. Three 25 minute periods and only two incidences of potential dropped gloves. At the end of the game when everyone shakes hands and helmets came off, it was amazing how old the dudes were, gray hair, etc.

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Badgers came back from 2-6 in the third to win 7-6 in overtime!!! Awesome game!!! Sharing the joy:D :D :D When u say Wisconsin, you said it all!!!

Originally posted by Klassy_Kat
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Badgers came back from 2-6 in the third to win 7-6 in overtime!!! Awesome game!!! Sharing the joy:D :D :D When u say Wisconsin, you said it all!!!

Now I KNOW you are one Klassy Kat!! We just got back from Madison ... and the game ... and I'm too wired to sleep. Although I'm supposed to be at work at 7:30am. I blew out my voice in that third period ... so typing is good.

Five goals in the final 15 minutes ... unbelievable!! The first two periods Bucky still looked jet lagged from the Alaska trip. Which made the comeback all the more stunning.
ON WISCONSIN!! :)

Alright more hockey fans!!!!

Being from Wisconsin you gotta know and love Badger Bob Johnson, may he rest in peace.

One of the greatest coaches in hockey history.

Originally posted by Powerboss
Alright more hockey fans!!!!

Being from Wisconsin you gotta know and love Badger Bob Johnson, may he rest in peace.

One of the greatest coaches in hockey history.

Indeed. I was in attendance, the night the Badgers honored him, by hoisting a banner in the Dane County Colosseium bearing his favorite expression: "It's A Great Day For Hockey!"

The family was in attendance and actually unveiled the banner. There wasn't a dry eye in the house ... including mine. He was a great coach, and great ambassador of the game. He put the Badger hockey program on the national map. Wisconsin built a new practice facility a couple years back, named for coach Johnson.

He spawned a pretty darn good player in Mark, :) who is now a Badger assistant coach.

Thats great. I was at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on the night they had a memorial for him shortly after his death.

They gave every fan a battery powered candle, shut off all the lights and everyone turned on the candles.
It was so beautiful, and sad.
He is also LOVED in Pittsburgh. He took a talented team of primadonna (sp?) and made it happen, they won the Stanley cup . But Im sure you already know that.

It is indeed a great day for hockey.

I recall seeing footage from that night. Also had the chance to see that team at the Chicago Stadium. Prima donnas perhaps, but what talent!

I've really fallen away from the NHL. Yes, being a Hawks fan might have something to do with that (Hawks fans should bring a class action suit against the Wirtz family) ... but mainly because of the fighting.

I don't play the game, unlike you guys here, so maybe I don't quite "get it" ... but for me, it's an unnecessary interruption in the flow of the greatest sport on earth. If you want to see guys punch each other in the face, why not go to a boxing match? For years I've felt that was the reason the NHL couldn't get a U.S. national television contract; because it was the "goon" sport ... not too many steps removed from professional wrestling. (I never bought into the idea that "people just don't get hockey" ... at it's most basic, the game is less complicated than basketball, baseball and especially football.)

When the game is played without all the crap, it's the most beautiful, exciting game in the world. And so, AS NHL commissioner, I'd crack down on the goons with a vegeance. Any fight: game misconduct, 10 game suspension, $20,000 fine, ... spearing, slashing, high-sticking (to the head): 15 game suspension, $25,000 fine.

It's the only major sport I can think of, that doesn't protect it's "money" players ... the guys who bring the fans to the stands. I'm not going to pay $50 bucks for a ticket to watch goons smacking people with a stick. I can look out the window at the neighbor kids for that. :)

Anyways ... for that reason (and a couple others) I really turned to college hockey. Unfortunately, the college game is resembling the pro game more with each passing year. In fact, I pay more attention to college sports over the pros in general these days. Too many sports ... not enough time. Although I won't miss the Packer-Bears game tomorrow: "After further review, the Bears still suck!"

Sorry for the rant. Not sure it even made sense, as I'm sitting here sleeping and raving and typing.

LET'S GO RED!

Yeah, I had the fortune of living in Pittsburgh (and surrounding areas) from 79-96.
My dad had season tickets from 83-93, so I got to see a lot of them, and of course Super Mario.
They did have one hell of a talented team.
So did you watch the finals between the Pens and Blackhawks in 92? The Pens were playing some fine hockey in that series.

Im still a diehard Pens fan, just went to the Coyotes/Pens game last weekend. I got direct TV when we moved to Phoenix in 96, so I can see all thier games, boy am I a loser or what? :eek:

Anyways, before moving to Pittsburgh, I lived in Canada, and we used to go to the Junior games up there. You wanna talk violence... It was unreal. They literally dropped the puck, and commenced beating the shit out of each other.
I have mixed feelings about it. There is nothing better than CLEAN, hard hitting hockey, but it just gets the emotions going in players, and it leads to a lot of crap.. I dont mind seeing a good fight now and then, but I know what you mean when it gets out of hand.
As a player, I can say sometimes your emotions would just get the best of you, especially when someone was playing dirty and getting away with it.
As Mario once said, and was part of the reason he initallially retired, "The NHL and its officiating resemble a garage league."
And he's right.
The two ref system has helped, a little..

I havent lived in an area with good college hockey, I havent seen a lot of it, so I cant say anything about it , credibly, one way or the other.
I do watch it when its on the tube, and Ive got nothing better to do, but its rarely on TV.

BTW, I have a buddy, who lived in Waukesha for several years, and went up there to visit.
Beautiful area and countryside. Reminded me of Ontario, lots of lakes and trees and such.
Summerfest was a blast!
And yes, I had my brauts!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Powerboss
So did you watch the finals between the Pens and Blackhawks in 92? The Pens were playing some fine hockey in that series.

Oh man .... why'd ya have to bring that up? That's probably as close as I'll get to seeing the Hawks skate the Cup.
(Although I have fading memories of an incredible seven game finals against Montreal)

Hey ... speaking of sweeps :) ... Wisconsin swept North Dakota in the weekend series, winning 3-1 Saturday night.

There is nothing better than CLEAN, hard hitting hockey, but it just gets the emotions going in players, and it leads to a lot of crap.. I dont mind seeing a good fight now and then, but I know what you mean when it gets out of hand.

I've argued against fighting with other hockey fans more than once. I believe it's a league decision to "condone" fighting. All competitive sports are emotional, and football and basketball have plenty of contact. When the rare fight breaks out, the league comes down hard with fines and sanctions ... and the fighting is kept to a minimum. The NHL could do the same, if they truly wanted to clean up the game.

And it wouldn't be impossible for the current players to make the change, since fighting all but disappears during the playoffs.

I havent lived in an area with good college hockey, I havent seen a lot of it, so I cant say anything about it , credibly, one way or the other.

The college game has slowly become the NHL "farm system", ala football and basketball. Although the European players represent the biggest influx of new talent. Wisconsin has placed many grads in the league, the biggest name I think, being Chris Chelios.

Summerfest was a blast!
And yes, I had my brauts!

Summerfest .... gotta be the greatest music festival in the country. We're up there at least once during the 10-day run. This last summer, we saw Prince on the main stage.

Of course brats, along with cheese and beer, help make Wisconsin one of the most obese states in the country. Now there's something to be proud of! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Powerboss
As a player, I can say sometimes your emotions would just get the best of you, especially when someone was playing dirty and getting away with it.

That is the most important point and applies universally to everything really. Personally, like last night's game in Milford, CT, if someone does something cheap like an elbow or skate on skate trip, I kick it up a notch and try for an end to end skate with the puck and challange the sucker that did something to me to try to take the puck. So the rough play does help push personal performance. I don't do cheap shots, but usually try to even it up.

I love watching NHL hockey fights. As long as the zebras break it up if somone is at a disadvantage and can't defend himself. I am very much against the Eastern Euroization of the NHL.

Do you guys remember when the Russian Red Army team quit during a game with the Broad Street Bullies (Philly Flyers)? The Ruskies were quicker but they wouldn't fight so the Flyers had to "lay on the lumber" which caused the cowardly Russians to cry.

Yeah, I remember that well....around 1974 or so?

They had a MEAN team back then. Really mean.

I agree though, sometimes would just get a major adrenaline boost and do somthing spectacular (or at least try! :D ).

Sometimes though, I would just retaliate, but I generally didnt play any type of dirty game, I left that for the big guys, I tried to stick to scoring which is the ultimate revenge.

Its nice to see some of the europeans begin to start hitting and playing with a edge. Kasparaitis, Holik, and several others are not pu$$ies. Your statement about the europeans was even more accurate when they first stormed the league.

Summerfest .... gotta be the greatest music festival in the country. We're up there at least once during the 10-day run. This last summer, we saw Prince on the main stage.

Of course brats, along with cheese and beer, help make Wisconsin one of the most obese states in the country. Now there's something to be proud of!

Hee hee, I remember seeing Dokken, and after that I cant really remember....shame, shame.
I dont get hammered very often, but that was one occaision, and that was 7-8 years ago while I was 26 or so. Thats probably the last time I really got hammered, the feeling afterward..it just isnt worth it.

Aaahh... the good ol' broad street bullies. My dad used to have season tickets since they played their first game. Their way of drawing fans in from the WHL to the NHL would be to play hockey harder, rougher, and tougher than anybody else, and to this day, they still keep that tradition alive. Aside from being born in Philly, I love watching these guys because they're the most physical team in the league, and that's what part of hockey I embraced the most when I played it.

Snout, was that the new rink off of 7/84 right past the mall? I guest coached there, at the stadium one, wow, what a nice place, and just being finished too. I debate which one is closer now, yeah, we don't have our own rink, but Danbury is 25-30 mins, Wonderland is 15-20, Darien (blech) is 15-20, Twin Rinks is 20-25m, and Terry Connors is 20-25m.... everywhere BUT here.

I'd love to see a rink come up here, and get our program up to the level it was when I left it, the team now is a bunch of 5'6 130lb sophmores who get knocked around easier than the puck, hell, they even have a girl who mistakes the hockey stick for a broom. On a more positive note, I was invited to play this Alumni game, which is cool, I guess it'll either be class of 95-00 vs the current team (ouch) or like 90-95 vs 96-00. Should be an awesome game for our team, we nearly won the states, twice.

Well it is downtown Danbury, maybe the first exit or so after the mall on 7/84 and then a mile or 2 into the downtown restaurant area.

Milford Ice Pavilion is also 25 minutes (a real nice guy runs it, sharpened the skates for free the other day). Post when and where your game is those of us able to can stop by and cheer for you and your team, and maybe insult the opposing goalie. ;)

I'm thinkin its the 26th. It should happen, they're just deciding between a 90-95 vs 96-00 battle or a 95-98 vs now. With that in mind, I have to get some equipment soon, I need me some new breezers (pants, eh) a booket (noggin guard, eh) and my slasher (stick, eh).

And how can I forget Milford... heh, we had three bench clearing brawls there. One during season, one during a scrimmage, and one for the Saugatuck Sharks. I love how there's one exit from the back, and both teams are usually right next to each other in the locker rooms. After the fights were over, some kid usually stuck his head in and said some choice words, for which we'd empty our lockeroom into theirs. Ridgefield sucks.