AHL

Lowell Gets Nasty

by Chris on September 24, 2005
in AHL, Chris, Trevor Gillies

No, not some Janet Jackson cover band you silly goose, the Lockmonsters will have Jon "Nasty" Mirasty in camp when it opens on Sunday. Mirasty signed a one game PTO with Colorado, and apparently has camp, and the October 1st Pre Season tilt against Hartford to prove himself. I have never actually seen Mirasty fight, but all reports indicate that he is ready, willing, and able to go with anyone. I for one am pumped. Lowell hasn’t had an enforcer that was willing to fight since Trevor Gillies was in town. Here’s hoping he stays on, and kicks some ass at the Paul all year.

Not much on tap for the weekend. I got stinkin shitfaced on the bus last night, so I am taking it easy tonight. I am headed for the Bruins pre season game at the Verizon in Manchester tomorrow. Here’s hoping they have a knock down, drag em out affair!

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NHL Goes to Camp

by Chris on September 14, 2005
in AHL, Chris, Goons, Trevor Gillies

First off, let me apologize for the long layoff. I have no excuse. I would like to tell you Bob Goodneow advised me to lock myself out, but I simply can’t. No excuse. I apologize.

Since we last met, things have happened. I waited in an excruciatingly long line Saturday to get Bruins tickets. I thought the organization did a good job getting people excited. At the Garden, people were allowed to skate if they bought tickets and a myriad of players were on hand for autographs, and meet and greets. While in line, I shook hands with Glen Murray, and Travis Green. I have long said there is not a more approachable, down to Earth athlete than a pro hockey player, and these two didn’t disappoint. Both guys were cordial, stopping for everyone, and taking pictures with the kids. I thought it was a great touch.

After being in line for about an hour and a half, the girl in front of me called Ticketmaster, to inquire about opening night. The sad news came, that game was sold out. Time for Plan B. I called Dave, and I am pretty sure I woke him. I inquired if the beloved Lockmonsters were playing on October 20th. With the precision of a Marine guiding in an air strike, he checked his laptop, and reported back to me, no, they weren’t. Now frig off. We had a new plan. Buffalo on the 20th. Well, little did I know I would have another hour to think about my decision. At the end we decided Buffalo sucks, let’s see Toronto on October 27th. After all, they have Tie Domi, and Eric Lindros. I figured Domi would give Orr a shot, and Jumbo Joe owes Old Glass Jaw one from last season. So, that’s what we did. The Goonsquad will be in the Garden Thursday October 27th. Hopefully our T-Shirts will be done by then. If you are there, and see us, stop and say hello. There are no guarantees we won’t be liquored, and belligerent, but hey, it’s worth a shot.

Camps have opened. Two places I think would be fairly tough camps this year. Carolina and Anaheim. Down South, the ‘Canes just added Jim Cummins to the roster. That means Gordie Dwyer, Jesse Boulerice, and Cummins are all fighting to stay in the Show. My guess is Boulerice and Cummins stay, Dwyer back to Lowell. Out West we have Trevor Gillies, Kip Brennan, Travis Moen, and Todd Fedoruk all trying to catch on with the Ducks. My bet is Brennan and Fedoruk stay, Gillies, and Moen down to Portland.

Apparently there have been a couple of decent scraps in Boston’s Camp as well. Anyone see them? Anyway, I feel like we are up to speed. I promise no more long layoffs. Three weeks to opening night, and I am like a caged animal right now. Do you think a Flux Capicator is a bit excessive for the Grand Prix? I can wait 3 weeks, can’t I?

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Tales From The AHL

by Chris on September 1, 2005
in AHL, Chris

I want to tell you a story I was thinking about the other day. It comes from a friend of mine, and I make him tell it often. I think Marine Drill Instructors, and hockey players are the funniest people on Earth. I think this story is hilarious, you be the judge.

A couple of seasons back, The Lowell Lockmonsters had Dave MacIssac on their roster. I have never personally seen MacIssac fight, but I heard he was pretty good in his day. Well one evening, the Albany River Rats are in town, and don’t you know, MacIssac, and Rob Skrlac of Albany get into it. By the way, Skrlac will heretofore be known as "Pumpkin Head". That boy has a huuuuuge cranium. Anyhow, the boys get into a bit of a dust up, and apparently Pumpkin Head didn’t like the outcome, so on the way to the box they have this exchange.

Pumpkin Head: (yelling at the top of his lungs) DAVEY BOY, WE GONNA GO AGAIN!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!

MacIssac: (Shaking his head, and grinning, totally deadpan) Whatever you say Rob.

That story KILLS me every time. Maybe it is one you had to be there for, or maybe it’s funny to you, but it slays me. I can’t wait for the season to get under way. No athlete in the world can trash talk or taunt as well as hockey players. I gotta go again! WOOOOOOO!!!!!

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Carolina Hurricanes/Lowell Lockmonsters

by Chris on August 16, 2005
in AHL, Chris, Transactions

First off, I am back from Maine, and I have to say, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There was boating, a few beers, and polite conversation. Plus the Sox game on a 103" screen in HD didn’t exactly suck either. Secondly, I had all weekend to think about Carolina re-signing Gordie Dwyer, Mike Zigomanis, and Colin Forbes to two way deals. Terms of the deal have all three making 450K in the Show, and 75K on the farm. How hard are these guys going to be trying to make the Hurricanes’ roster next month? My guess is:very. I was reminded of a conversation I had with Gordie at the end of last season about why he wasn’t fighting much in the A, see the recap here.

By my math there is a 325 thousand dollar delta between Gordie’s NHL, and AHL salary. That would lead me to believe that when camp opens, he and Jesse Boulerice will be fighting, literally, and figuratively, to be the guy that stays in Carolina. Does the line up have room for both guys? Perhaps. But should Dwyer be sent to Lowell, I would suggest he fight any and all comers to get himself back to the show.

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What’s the Deal With That?

by The Ref on July 23, 2005
in AHL, Chris, Goons

I was talking the other day with some friends about guys that are down in the AHL, that don’t want to fight because, as they say, it’s just the American League. The latest example is Lowell Lockmonster Gordie Dwyer. I asked him why he hasn’t been fighting as much this season, and he told me flat out, because it’s only the American League. I can see his point this year a little bit, because there is no call up coming, what with the lockout on and all, but this isn’t the first time I have heard of, or seen an enforcer unwilling to drop em down in the A.

I would think if you have been in the show, been a tough guy in the show, part of the reason you got there, is your pugilistic skills. I would think having had a taste of the NHL; you’d do anything possible to get back there. Do these guys not want to fight because they want to work on their game to play their way back into the show? Wouldn’t you think part of staying sharp would be to keep the fighting skills sharp? I think beating up some up and comer in the A would be just what the Doctor ordered to get some confidence, and keep the skills sharp. Gordie has been very quiet this year. Aside from a fight with Brendan Walsh early on, and a couple of scraps against Joe Rullier, and JF Soucy of Springfield, we haven’t seen much of him. The fight he was in weren’t even that memorable.

I have seen him go in the NHL. He had a pretty memorable fight with Darcy Hordichuk a year or so ago. It was memorable because Darcy beat him like a red headed step child. Is he any good? The Lowell fans are starved for an enforcer. Gordie can be it. Someone needs to sneak in the dressing room, and remove the tie downs on the gloves.

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