Remember the subject of our first installment of Tales From the AHL? That’s right; Old Pumpkin Head has called it a career. I was thinking to myself, right before I saw this news yesterday, where is Rob Skrlac? That Albany team is going to be pretty tough, with up and comer Cam Janssen, and Gladiator Champ Mike Sgroi doing the heavy lifting. Pumpkin Head is getting a little long in the tooth, so he called it a day. It was awesome to see him make the show for a couple of games last time the NHL played. He was called up as a thank you for years of service to the New Jersey organization, and wasted no time letting the organization know he was thankful. He had a pretty good scrap with Stephen Peat on a Saturday afternoon ABC game, and the crowd erupted to thank him right back. Good luck in the future Rob. Don’t forget to share that huge pillow with your new wife!
Goons
Lowell Gets Nasty
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!
NHL Goes to Camp
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?
Boston Signs Orr
This is good news for Bruins fans. Colton Orr is as tough as they come. He’s a "classic" Bruin that would have fit in with the Big Bad Bruins of old. For those of you that haven’t seen him in Providence, this kid will be a fan favorite, and fast. Good to see the organization get this done.
Enforcersaurus?
After a very rough Friday night, I read a very interesting article on ESPN.com written by Scott Burnside. I think Mr. Burnside makes a few good points regarding enforcers’ roles in the new NHL. It has been my fear that with the new CBA, roster spots are going to be a lot more valuable then they once were, and teams are going to have to think long and hard about how to fill them. Do you want to spend the 450K on a Kip Brennan in Anaheim, who really only brings one thing to the table, or do you spend that cash on a guy that can play a little bit, but can also defend himself?
I love hockey. I love a good hockey fight. In my opinion carrying a guy that can fight is as important as carrying a guy that can score. Even if they never see the ice, or get a couple of shifts a game, I think it keeps the opposition honest. I have seen first hand what the lack of an enforcer can mean to a team. Lowell hasn’t had a tough guy willing to fight in several years. Opposing teams know when they come into the Tsongas; they get a night off from fighting, and a green light to start running around. It seems in the new NHL, GM’s are counting on the game being faster, and wide open. I think rosters are going to be filled with more skilled players, and the resident "tough guy" will be a guy that can skate, but also can defend himself if need be. Will this give opposing teams the green light to start taking liberties with other guys?
Near the end of the ESPN article, Burnside cites the Lightning as having won the Cup, with no real enforcer to speak of. Interestingly, Tampa Bay signed 6’7" Monster Mitch Fritz in the off season. Here we have the very definition of a tough guy. A guy that brings one thing to the table, and only one: Fighting. There is no way Fritz can play at the NHL level. The man can not skate. So why sign him? I wonder if the true tough guys in hockey today will be kept on ice, no pun intended, in the AHL, and get the call if they are expecting a real grudge match type victory. Is this the beginning of enforcers as a Carnival Side show?
Ducks Making Moves
Well, I was thinking Trevor Gillies might get a shot in Anaheim, but it looks like he’s going to have to compete with Kip Brennan now. I was thinking that with Gillies getting dealt out there earlier in the week, they were going to roll the dice on Trevor being able to stay at the NHL level, and worst case, they would have a very capable young man protecting farm hands in Portland. Now it would seem the Ducks are looking to have a couple of Heavies slug it out in camp for the role in the show. Kip Brennan is no stranger to the AHL either, having racked up 854 PIMS in 152 Games in the American League. I am not sure they will be able to keep both guys, and Kip would appear to be the favorite to stay in the NHL, but it sure will be an interesting Camp.
Best Fight Videos Of 2003-2004
HockeyFights.com’s VodkaFish has just posted his collection of the best fight videos of the 2003-2004 season – including: Brown vs. Vandermeer, Simon vs. McNeill, Fedoruk vs. Lessard and several more. You can download them and watch morbidly transfixed again and again! He’s also enabled voting, so you can ‘big up’ your preferred pugilists. Well done, VF. We’ll be watching. Unhealthily.
Breaking News
Well, it looks like the Gillies Brothers won’t get a chance to play together after all. Trevor got dealt to the Ducks today. If he stays in Portland, and I suspect he will, we Lowell fans will still get to see him in action. Trevor is a good kid, and I hope he cracks the line up in Anaheim.
PJ Stock – Ass Kicker
Rough weekend boys. Friday I went to dinner and drank too much, Saturday me and MOL went to the Peelers, and drank too much. Sunday was the Crue at Verizon. I tried to drink too much, but the brew was shut off right as soon as the show started. Makes sense with Motley Crue I guess. The Crue was a great show by the way. I was standing in the middle of the Blue Line closest to the entrance of the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. Great show. Being in the building really made me look forward to the upcoming season.
I heard a rumor that PJ Stock had to call it quits due to vision problems. It’s strange, because at the Crue, I was looking around scouting out some seats that might be good for hockey, when I thought to myself, "Hey Self, Wouldn’t Stocker look good in a Lockmonster Uniform?" I answered, "Yes." Point being, when PJ Stock was in Boston, he was a total fan favorite, a guy that was always willing to go with anyone. He had two great fights with Stephen Peat, a dandy with Reed Low, and a couple of Donnybrooks with Eric Boulton. He may not have won them all, but he never backed down from anyone. I think the way the Bruins treated him was pretty crappy. They signed him to a two year deal, then sent him to Providence, and from there, loaned him to Philadelphia. I always enjoyed PJ’s play, and he will be missed.
The Gillies Brothers
I wonder if Trevor and Nathan Gillies are going to have to fight each other in camp? I saw Nathan in Danbury last year when he was with Elmira. He’s not a bad hockey player at all. I think he has more hockey skill than Trevor does, or ever will for that matter, but you have to give the nod to Trevor in the fisticuffs department. I do know that last season when Bridgeport gave Nathan a shot at the end of the season he had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in his first game. He sure seems willing to prove himself at the next level. Good for Nathan, I hope he makes the team.
Busy weekend on tap. Nothing tonight, but I was thinking of taking in some Ballet Saturday, Canadian Style of course, then Motley Crue on Sunday night! I saw those guys in March in Boston, and it was a great show. I am looking forward to some brew, and the Crue! Other than that, I’ll be in and out here, so stay tuned. Have a good weekend everyone!