Because hockey people are good people

Back in September, the wife and I had arguably the worst week of our lives. Nothing turns your life upside down like an unexpected tragedy. As the late great Phil Hartman would say during his SNL Frankenstein , "FIRE BAAAAD!!!".

Well as I returned from hiatus, I titled a post "I might have to buy a new jersey after all". My Roddy Brind'amour "A" jersey that I'd had since 2003 and worn (without washing) all through the 2005-2006 Cup run year was in the same condition as all of my other clothes: covered in a nasty yellow soot stain.

I had been tinkering around on the Canes Country Forum and made some e-friends, but had yet to meet any of them. We had been discussing joining up for a tailgate party before a Canes game.

It ended up being one of the 40 games we had against the Florida Panthers last season.

So there we were, having a grand 'ol time enjoying the pre-game festivities. My new friends and I were getting along like we had all known each other for years.

With about an hour or so before the 7:00 puck drop, people starting telling everyone to gather around me. Someone went to their truck to get something. He came out with a white bag from "The Eye" (the Hurricanes merch shop). Sure enough, they had bought me a shiny white new Rod Brind'amour jersey.

I was speechless. I still am. How could these people do something so nice for someone that they had never even met? With a poo-eating grin on my face, I happily accepted it and immediately threw it over my body. Fit like a glove.

So Thank you to Bob, Janey, Brian & East for what you did for me. I won't forget it.

A/V Delight

There is a tournament of sorts going on over at Canada's Orland Kurtenblog where you can vote for the greatest hockey hits of all time... I felt inclined to throw this up as your jaw-dropper of the day.

Grandpa Stillman Shows No Mercy

• Cory Stillman, scoring a natural hat trick in the 1st period against the Craps last night, made it look all too easy against a deflated Washington D. Let's just say that he "crashed" the 1st period for DC.
• Oldie Olie The Goalie to his team, "Hey, uh, guys? Ya'll there? They might as well be shooting 5 pucks at the same time! Hello?" - as he was hung out to dry.
• Chad LaRose got ROBBED in the 2nd period on a no-call, diving scoring attempt.
• Brent Johnson made some naaaaasty saves in the 3rd despite allowing one from "It's Staal Good".
• Frantastik Kaberle did not bring his "A-game" tonight as he let several point passes go witlessly adrift.
• The Matt Bradley vs. Tim Gleason fight was over before it began, as Timmaay absolutely crushed Bradley behind the Carolina net on a check before the spat.
• The David Tanabe penalty was garbage (as was his play for the most part last night). He was called for holding when in fact it appeared he was being held.
• Cam Ward gets a rare shutout win that he deserves. He was tested with a couple of quality Craps scoring chances early on that could have changed the pace of this game dramatically if he let them through.
• Hurricanes go from last weeks record against the Southeast Division of 0-2 to 2-2 during this all imporant stretch against these shitty rival teams.

Recaps:
Sweet Tea, Barbecue & Bodychecks
red & black hockey
Japers Rink Roundup

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.

Staals Get Schnockered Up

The NBA has a cheating ref, MLB has steroid abuse, NFL has dog fights, and we have:

Eric Staal, his little brother and cousins getting arrested the night of his bachelor party

No big deal here, I'll be the first one to admit I've done things much worse than what they did up there. Pretty funny, however. The important part is that nobody was driving!

Edit 7/26: Their mugshots are now out!

Happy Anniversary Caniacs!

One year to the date, our boys won the holiest of holy in trophy land. Seeing as the traditional 1 year anniversary gift is "paper":

What were you doing when the 'Canes won it all? I was drinking Grey Goose from the Cup with the boys. OK, so it wasn't Grey Goose, it was PBR. And I wasn't with the team, but some friends. Okay, so it wasn't the Stanley Cup, it was a red plastic Solo cup. The important part is that I was drinking something.