Pay For Play(offs)
The last five Devils games have been an exercise in testing fan patience. Five losses in a row, all to potential first-round playoff opponents (not counting Chicago, of course). Six goals in five games. One power play goal with 18 opportunities, versus going 15 for 22 on the PK? These are the signs of a [...]
Parents Code Of Conduct
While I’m on a roll tonight, here’s my proposed hockey parents code of conduct. It’s not going to be adopted by any governing body, or printed on nice posters to hang around rinks, but it reflects how I think hockey parents at all levels should behave, at all times. I will cheer positively for my [...]
Putting Things In Perspective
It’s tht time of year when we’re about three weeks away from politics, heated debates, long arguments, claims of nepotism, favoritism and special interests overshadowing the real issues at hand. I’m not talking about anything going on at the Federal Reserve, in the Capitol Building or along Pennsylvania Avenue: I’m talking about hockey tryouts, conditioning [...]
Twist Of The Tails
What a week for Princeton Hockey: The Tigers’ Zane Kalemba was named ECAC Player of the Year, won the Ken Dryden award for most outstanding goaltender, and then was named one of the 10 finalists for the
Backstory On Kelly Zajac
Sure enough, Kelly Zajac (freshman at Union College) is a younger brother of Devil Travis Zajac. Nothing like searching for internet broadcast information on tonight’s Princeton-Union deciding game and finding Ken Schott of the Schenectady, NY Gazette.
Ending, Beginning, or Cycle
I have just returned home from a youth hockey tournament in southeastern Pennsylvania, likely the last youth hockey tournament in my immediate future. It was a tough year for our Bantams; entering this weekend they had tied a pair, won once, and lost close to 40 games while always skating with their heads up, their [...]
Zajac the Younger
Bubba and I caught the Princeton-Union ECAC quarterfinal game last night at Baker Rink. It’s always a wonderful trip; the ice equivalent to a Wrigley Field or Fenway Park pilgrimage. Built in 1922, Baker Rink has been refurbished and re-introduced more times than David Cone. It has, and always will, hold a special place in [...]
Fanning The Flames
Calgary did better at the trade deadline than any other team. In addition to picking up a first-line center in Olli Jokinen, they grabbed D-man Jordan Leopold to add to a blueline previously defined only by the slightly scary visage of Dion Phaneuf. First game together as a line, Cammalleri-Jokinen-Iginla light up for 3 goals [...]