Boulder-rado Outtie

Time to take a little VaCA - heading out west to tour every brewery I can find visit with friends.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend and Go Pirates/Wolfpack/Everybody else playing football!

Bretican Rumor-du-jour

Ok Bret, you got it. Retire!

In a moment sure to stir up controversy in Caniac Nation, an anonymous commenter fed Bubba's post yesterday with some apparent "insider information" regarding Bret Hedican and a possible retirement.

I'll believe it when I see it. Don't be surprised to see Dwayne ripping it today with an (e3) however. Damn he's been good to us for most of his career in Carolina - but isn't it about time to hang the skates up considering the Canes defensive corps this season?

The question is - if and when he does - do we get CB's man crush Danny Markov?

A Little More Uniform Leakage

Prospect photos now on the Canes official site are showing up in the new uniforms. Granted it is only a bust shot - but the "white piping" (stripes) are certainly prevalent. (NHL Tourney of Logos)

For an almost live video of the new unis in action, check out this website that might make you wish you spoke German. They don't make video games like Pitfall and River Raiders anymore do they?

B. Sutter to B. Sutter

Nice article on Hurricanes 11th overall draft pick, Brandon Sutter and the relationship with his Pops. (Can West News via Kukla)

Are You Ready For Some Football?

College football is kicking off the regular season this weekend all over the country. At the very least, we get some decent sports entertainment other than golf, baseball or tennis (or all-Vick-all-the-time).

The one game that I am looking forward to the most is East Carolina U @ Virginia Tech. This is the site of ESPN's College Gameday and it is great exposure for the Pirates to have worldwide eyes on them. Someone else who was looking forward to it was Rob Kass, the projected starter at QB for ECU. He had a liiiiittle too much fun getting his party on last weekend as he was arrested for DUI with a .19 blood alcohol content in Greenville.

You're getting ready to play the biggest game of your life. Everyone is watching because it is VT's 1st major sporting event since the April tragedy. A big WTF? to him. Brett Clay or Patrick Pinkney will get the start in his place and I hope they smoke him out of the water. Granted, the Pirates will probably lose this game, but what a better way to teach him a lesson?

Brian Bailey of Bonesville.net:

"The start of game week at East Carolina is a time I always look forward to — unless an off the field activity dominates the conversation. East Carolina quarterback Rob Kass’s arrest on a DWI charge from early Saturday morning put a real damper on the excitement surrounding the opener...
It’s hard to believe that any student-athlete would work that hard all spring and summer, and then get into a situation like this one."


On a lighter note - the Queen City Bastard of Southern Fried Football (who will also be in Blacksburg this weekend) had the best quote about it today:

"ECU? I thought their mascot was the Pirate, not Captain Morgan"

Vote For The Hurricanes Logo

Because we're getting swamped in the competition right now!

HURRICANES VS. DEVILS @ The NHL Tournament of Logos

Voting ends Sept. 2nd @ midnight.

College Hockey on the Boob-Tube

Would you watch local college hockey if it was on TV?

Survey by Quibblo

Coming Soon!: Watch Hockey From The Commode!

With news released this weekend that the Flyers are converting the goal judge's seats into private luxury suites at the Wachovia Center - teams are getting creative and doing all sorts of innovative and experimental things with their seating. Next thing you know, you'll start seeing this kind of BS:

For only $225,000/per season - you can have your own private luxury suite encased in tinted glass. Best of all, you can overlook the ice while sitting on the crapper! That's right - it may be a little expensive but isn't it priceless to be able to do your business while you watch the sport you love?

Some Fun For Friday

Buy Your Friends A Beer, They'll Thank You

The Conquests of Kevin Arnold (Ladies Of The Wonder Years)

Melrose Rocks Disputes the New Senators' Logo and Trojan condoms:
Barry Melrose Rocks: New Senators Logo Not to Be Confused with Trojan Man

A Dinosaur Could Whip David Beckham: (Reuters)

Dave Letterman's Top 10 Michael Vick Excuses (FanHouse)

If only he were in the jersey.

Charlotte Checkers Happenings

The Checks have unveiled a new logo for their 15th anniversary season. Let's hope that they don't decide to place new pucks into bathrooms as urinal cakes. Their regular season schedule has been released for the upcoming year as well.

Caniac Carnival

Well,

We're exactly a month away from this year's Caniac Carnival. That's a very good thing because I've got the hockey DT's so bad I can't stand it. And the Carnival means that it is hockey time once again. So I should be excited about this, right? Unfortunately, (maybe it's the heat) my pessimistic streak has kicked in with a vengeance. But I just can't seem to get excited about the Carnival itself anymore. I mean, I think it's great that they do this event every year. Not only is it fun for a lot of the hardcore fans, it also gives thousands of local people who would otherwise never support the team the opportunity to come out and leech freebies off the organization and attend a game without actually having to support the team. I know that is a mean characterization, but I've witnessed this phenomena in person for the last several years. If I were truly vitriolic, I'd suggest they change the name of the event from the "Caniac Carnival" to the "Bandwagoner Barbecue".

But enough of my petty bitching!

There is one part of the Caniac Carnival that is always worth a visit: Wally's Used and Surplus Equipment Sale. That is always worth a gander. There are usually some great items available for purchase and some are a bargain. I've even seen a few odd things for sale that made me wonder...

So without further ado, I give you my 2007/2008 inaugural "Top 10" list:

Top 10 Items Least Likely to Find a Buyer at Wally's Used Equipment Sale:

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10. A Paul Maurice Autographed Eye Patch

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9. Two Ziplock Bags Containing Mike Commodore's 2006-2007 Sideburns

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8. Game Used Pair of Ray Whitney's Shoe Lifts

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7. Jeff O'Neill's Attorney Business Card Collection

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6. A Partially Inflated Cow Shaped Promotional Blimp

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5. An Unopened Case of official "Carolina Hurricanes 2002 Stanley Cup Champions" Hats

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4. A Lightly Used Pavel Brendl Practice Jersey (Several Krispy Kreme Glaze Stains on Front)

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3. Pavel Brendl

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2. 2 Game Used Danny Markov Teeth

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1. Joe Vasicek's "Road" Neuticles

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[Honorable Mention: One Badly Worn Pair of Tripp Tracy's Kneepads]

One more month. I'll never make it...

Cam Ward: ARRRRGGGH Me Matey!

Reports from the Canes training camp are saying the Wardo has arrived with yet another new paint scheme on his ever revolving goalie mask. This time - Blackbeard the Pirate has taken over the dome piece of Cam. I haven't even seen it - but I must say - It's got to better than Nickelback. The NB mask design-wise wasn't that bad. It was the fact that it paid tribute to one of the cheesiest, corniest, and regugritated bands in the known rock universe.

IMHO, Cam needs to return to his original '05-'06 mask that he rose to glory in.

Quick Notes

Added to Carolinas Hockey Links:

UNC-G Club Hockey, Wake Forest Club Hockey

Added to BlogRoll - Melrose Rocks (this kid is hysterical)

Only 48 days until we can get out of the heat and next to the ice... I just may poo myself in anticipation.

"Helloooooo Caniacs!"

The Story Behind "Green Eggs & Hamilton"

Rather than try and dive into a story about one of the newest Hurricanes - I found a great, must-read article about Jeff from the Yale student newspaper.

Hamilton's Hockey Heart & Hustle - Yale Herald March 2001

Among my favorite items mentioned on him:

whenever a freshman scores his first goal, Hamilton makes it a point to pick up the puck himself or to have the referee pick it up so that the team's equipment manager can commemorate the moment.

It sounds like JR knew that Hamilton is another "good guy" that would fit right into the Canes organization. Pretty impressive that he was Ivy League player of the year (twice).

Come On & Get Me, You Make Me Go Beep! Beep! Ape! Shit!

Please forgive me for bashing the work of the lovely Cheri D & 13 Stories. I've seen the group at the Pour House in Downtown Raleigh at least once and she was very nice and fan-friendly. But the Ford commercial featuring the "Beep Beep" song that played at least once during every break in the Hurricanes TV coverage last season - must be put out of its misery. I can't recall how many times the clip would play even twice in a row during a commercial break. I found myself DVRing the games and finding something to do between 7:00-8:00. Then tune in so I could fast forward through the commercials.

That being said - another that must die is the "Silly Little Fairy" Dodge commercial.

Between the two of those - I would catch myself violently awaking in cold sweats after the reoccurring nightmare of replaying those clips in consciousness (or un).

It is almost as if its a marketing ploy by the team. "Buy your Hurricanes season tickets now: You won't have to watch it on TV and be subject to the death rattle of our two commercials." Then again, I can recall hearing Beep Beep on the pre-game warmup speakers at the RBC.

Give us 2:00 minutes of staring at the color bars screen. Give us NHL commercials. Play elevator music. Just don't give us anymore torture this season with our commercial breaks.

How Gerber Got His Groove Back

Old friend Martin Gerber is dressed in his best Doc Holliday suit and square dancing on film. News at 11:00.

Via Scarlett Ice thru the Universal Cynic

The Universal Cynic: Martin Gerber wants you to love him...

Eh?

Stopping through at NHL.com today - look at the headlines and read:

"Canes, Blackhawks make trade"

Although both players involved are former Carolina players - Jimmy Boy and the Hurricanes remain dormant with acquisitions or signings. The deal sends K-Ad to the Hawks with Radim Vrbata headed to the desert to be a Yote. A simple typo from the braintrust at "The War Room" of NHL.com.

Caniac Nation wishes nothing but the best to Mr. Adams (another new Daddy) in his upcoming venture.

Read on:
Jes Golbez's take at the FanHouse

Jeff Hamilton, AKA: ???

I am working on an in-depth look at Carolina free agent aqcuisition Jeff Hamilton for a future post. In the meantime - it would only be proper for the fanbase to assign him a nickname. You know the story; Anson Carter is The Chocolate Rocket - Chad LaRose is
The Chuck Norris of Hockey - Brind'amour is The Face of Hockey & Rod The Bod, etc...

Though Luke Skywalker would work with the looks - we need something a little more embarrassing fitting for Mr. Hamilton (who is a new Daddy, Congrats!)

I'm thinking something along the lines of "White Lightning". That could just be my love of moonshine talking though. Your welcome to suggest possible nicknames or alter-ego profiles for Hammy (would Hammy work?).

Ingmar Bergman Shoots...And Scores!

A nice look at the history of hockey mugshots... after the jump.

Ingmar Bergman Shoots...And Scores!: Staals arrested - Still have a long way to go..

Also - check out Bergman's fun with Photoshop:

That Southeast Is Sooo Hot Right Now

So damn hot - the birds have to use potholders when pulling worms from the ground. This picture was snapped at 5:15 PM on my way home Thursday:



Scientists are buzzing about global warming and the influence it may have - but we all really know what is causing the freakish weather:

An Interview With Stalker Face Anton Babchuk

Anton Babchuk speaks out in an interview with Russian prospects. Wisely, he does not bash the Carolina management and team (which still owns the rights to him after making a qualifying offer).

One part he mentions from his experience in North America:

"go out to the ice and show the maximum of your ability".

Maximum of your ability? Is that what the kids are calling it these days? If coming out and throwing the softest checks that hockey has ever seen is his max, no wonder he didn't pan out over here. The best thing going for Anton was his 100mph+ slap shot - unfortunately he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the puck on most nights.

Tip 'o the hat to McErlain of OffWingOpinion.

Free Wesley 3: The Rescue

I want you to try something. Do a Wikipedia search on "Glen Wesley". A decent bio shows up, picture included, on our veteran blueliner.

What threw me off at the bottom is:

See also: "Free Willy 3: The Rescue"

First thought was that some Buffaslug fan somewhere tweeked with the page trying to be funny. But low and behold - the Wikipage for Free Willy 3 informs us that the crew of whaling ship is named after members of 1996 Hartford Whalers! Glen, Kevin Dineen, Geoff Sanderson and Robert Kron each have their last names used! You learn something every day!

Why Free Willy the third though? Couldn't they have done that for the 4 names of fighters in Gladiator? Or any thing better than Free Willy? I suppose any recognition is nice!

This blogger - among others - is looking forward to writing about some real hockey news! 55 days and counting until opening night!

So is Glen.

Congrats To Mr. & Mrs. Staal

Eric & Tanya tied the knot last Friday the 3rd after almost 4 years of dating. Best wishes on a happy and fruitful life together!

Swim With The Fishies

Having a little summer pooltime fun with my new underwater camera case:



There are a few cannonball videos that would make fat kids proud everywhere.

La Musica Favorita

Somehow, I missed Magnolia Mer tagging me for the top 5 songs post. Here goes nothing (click on song title for clip via Amazon):

1. "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

2. "Spirit In The Sky" - Norman Greenbaum

3. "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" - Nirvana

4. "Jolene" - Dolly Parton

5. "Fox On The Run" - The Dillards

Runner-up: "My Name Is Jonas" - Weezer

A Bloggety Review

Taking a few moments to recognize Caniac blogger friends:

CasonBlog is still a daily hit - and Scotty just revamped his format with a shiny new look. CB was one of the original Canes bloggers and he just celebrated 2 years of the gig. Hat tip to him for always having the backs of newbies and showing support. I'm especially digging his new feature: "CB Spotlight".

Bubba of CanesCountry is the newest Southeast Shootout contributor and continues to always come through with a thoughtful and informative daily post. He houses a great forum and message board through his site that is not overwhelmed with members. It's kind of nice having an intimate group to share your disapointments, rants or raves with as opposed to having hundreds of people such as with the more mainstream forums.

Her Majesty, AQ, was recently mentioned in the whole "Eklund Takedown" as the anonymous hockey "blogger" was after her in more ways than one. You don't mess with her. She can out-wit anyone.

Storm Surge has burst onto the scene this week with a South Park influenced banner. He digs Hurricanes and Beer. I like him already.

D-Lee of Redandblackhockey has been come-and-go with his posts this offseason - but he can always be counted on for breaking the glass with the latest scoop. He was the first to post about the leaked "new uniforms". I expect he'll be back with more frequency when the season gets rolling.

I have nominated the following two for Hockey Ladies of Greatness:

Magnolia Mer of Paperwhitesinseason always brings the funny with her daily frustrations or music raves from her wide array of taste.

Beth Ellison of Beth & Hockey is putting together a team for the Pete Friesen Leukemia/Lymphoma 5k run that the team is sponsoring. What a great idea! Herr Wuff is all about philanthropy.

Hurricanes History: The Molson Miracle

Stumbled upon this YouTubeage of the '02 Playoff Run. Good stuff.

Featuring:

• A young Bates Battaglia doing his thing
• The emergence of Nicky Wallin as "The Secret Weapon"
• Ronnie Franchise assisting, assisting, then assisting some more
  
• Brind'amour kicking ass, as usual
• A pre-roid rage Sean Hill
• Sami Kapanen (one of my favorite ex-Canes, classy guy)

I was a senior in college watching this game and can remember vividly almost jumping through my apartment window when each of these goals were scored. Enjoy!

The Molson Miracle

A Life Lesson From Coach Bear Bryant

This was passed along to me after several e-mail forwards. After reading it, I felt inspired and inclined to share it. It is somewhat of a lengthy read, but well worth your time.

"Remember to be nice."