Swedish Wings Autograph Signing
So I went to the autograph signing last night at the Fan Zone in Westland Mall featuring the five gold medalists (Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Kronwall, and Samuelsson). I had pre-bought a signed 16×20 photograph of the five. I must say that I am very pleased with my purchase. Not so pleased with Fan Zone. But the photgraph will look great in my shrine (aka my room).First off, I was told I could pick my photo up right at 7pm. I thought I’d have to wait in line with the rest of the people who only bought the 16×20 photograph. I waited an hour and a half officially killing my knee. Secondly, I was bummed that I spent $150 and wasn’t even allowed to take a photo inside the room of the players. people who spent $20 to get let’s say got Kronwall to sign an 8×10 photo got to shake his hand, take photo(s), talk to them, AND get the autograph. I felt shafted. Oh well, I’ve only gone to like 4 autograph signings so I’m still learning the ropes and I do like my purchase a lot. It made my entire family jealous. 
Here are some photos from the event. Sorry that they are blurry and not the best, but we weren’t allowed to take photos in the “room” so I shot all but one (which I quickly took inside) outside and people kept walking in front ruining my shots. The first two photos are of my 16×20 photograph & certificate of authenticity. I hope to scan both of them in whenever I can over the next couple weeks, but for now these quick photos will have to work! The guys were lined up with Samuelsson closest to the room’s entrance with Lidstrom farthest away (thus, he’s in maybe one photo).
My beautiful 16×20 photograph signed by the Swedish Five
Certificate of Authenticity
All five of them (ok, four of them since you can only see Lidstrom’s hat)
Samuelsson and a kid posing for a photograph
You can see Lidstrom in this photo all the way to the right
Kronwall
Holmstrom
The room
Zetterberg
Update: A girl on the Lets Go Wings forum took some sweet pictures of the signing, which you can view here. My personal favorite includes this photo below:
Johnson remains a Wolverine
Jack Johnson decided to be smart and play it safe by sticking around in the NCAA instead of heading off to Carolina where he could’ve helped the team in its run for the Stanley Cup. Personally, the Wolverines need Johnson more than Carolina does. Plus, we’ve seen his quick temper (ie. World Juniors) and he would do best by giving it another year to maturing plus another year in the Division of Kinesiology wouldn’t be too bad either.Anyways, here’s a clip from The Michigan Daily on Tina Jackson’s reaction (his mother).
Once the Wolverines were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, many expected Johnson to sign immediately. “Our phone was ringing with people asking what Jack was going to do before he had his skates off in North Dakota,” Tina Johnson said.The Hurricanes clinched a postseason berth Monday night and are considered a contender for the Stanley Cup.
“We support Jack in whatever decision he makes,” Tina Johnson said. “We value his education, and Jack really loves Michigan.” Johnson has been a Michigan fan his entire life. His mother and grandfather are University alumni. He has attended Michigan games for as long as he can remember, a fact that likely informed his decision to stay.
Because Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford said he would fit into their lineup immediately, Johnson can expect another offer in July or August. “Jack is a high-skill defenseman that can really play in all aspects of the game,” Rutherford told The Michigan Daily last October. “From the Hurricanes’ point of view, he’s an ideal fit. We needed some younger players to balance out the guys we have right now.”
Jack Johnson
To: Carolina Hurricane fansI thought I would post a snippet of an article from the Michigan Daily, the University’s paper regarding Jack Johnson’s future. Now, the paper is known for not being 100% accurate so take this however you want.
During the weekend of Jan. 6 and 7, before the Wolverines were took on Alaska-Fairbanks, Johnson and Carolina officials met for lunch, said a source close to Johnson, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the situation’s delicacy. The source said the team offered Johnson a contract, similar to the longtime contract Sidney Crosby - a friend of Johnson’s - received from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The source also said the team was going to insert Johnson into the lineup as soon as possible. But the source said Johnson turned down the offer. The source also said that Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson was alerted of the situation and gave Johnson the go-ahead to talk to Carolina.Then, two weeks ago, following Michigan’s second-round CCHA playoff sweep of Ferris State, Johnson was unusually straightforward with reporters about his intentions for the future. “The only way you’re going to get me out of here is by gunpoint,” Johnson said.
Now, Johnson seems uncertain. “At this point, I’m kind of up in the air, I guess,” Johnson said in an article published yesterday in the Raleigh News and Observer. “I still feel hesitant on making the jump. I want to make sure. I’m going to talk to a few people who I really confide in, and after talking to them try to make a pretty good decision. Right now, I’m really torn.”
Johnson can still sign with the Hurricanes and join the team for its playoff run. According to the article, the first year of his contract would roll over to next season if he played in 10 or fewer games.
The loss of Johnson would be a big one for the hockey team. Johnson was fifth on the team in points (32) and was the top point scorer amongst the freshman. Johnson also broke the all-time record for most penalty minutes in a season with 149 minutes.
On behalf of the University of Michigan student body, Jack Johnson please stay and play for the Maize and Blue!
Happy Birthday Dad
I would like to wish my Dad a happy birthday! He’s the one who got me hooked on the Wings at a young age and is my only family member who is always willing to hear me babble on about Detroit’s hockey team. He goes with me to every game that we can get tickets for and he’s the best Dad a girl could have. Love you Dad and I can’t wait to go to some playoff games with you!
Igor Larionov Signing
I attended the Igor Larionov DVD signing at the Best Buy in Novi (the one I actually always go to). Anyways, I got there about 50 minutes early and was between the 5th and 10th person there. I enjoyed the wait very much as I got to talk to 4 wonderful Wings fans about all of their previous Wings encounters the entire time. When 2pm came around, the line started moving.To get an autograph, you had to purchase a copy of his DVD for $25. With that $25, you got the DVD, autograph on DVD, autograph(s) on any other Wings items you brought (stupid me brought nothing else), and a photo taken of you and Larionov. A Best Buy employee took the photo with his own digital camera and they printed it out for you right there. For once, I actually like how I look in the photo - amazing!
Anyways, I don’t have a scanner at home so once I get one from my parents’ office, I will scan in the autographed DVD cover and photo. I’m also going to Westland Mall on Tuesday to pick up my 5 Swedish Olympian Wings photo and autograph. All of those items will be scanned in for your viewing pleasure, but probably not until this weekend since I have 3 exams and a paper starting today through Thursday.
Until then, these photos below will have to do. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize they were this fuzzy (they looked perfectly fine on that little digital screen - otherwise I would’ve taken more).
The Best Buy in Novi
Larionov signing a guy’s coat
Larionov posing for a photo with the same guy
Autograph Signings
I have two autograph signings that I would like to notify my fellow Detroit area readers: Igor Larionov and the five Swedish Wings who played in the Olympics and won gold.Igor Larionov Signing
This weekend, Igor Larionov (aka The Professor) will be signing copies of his DVD entitled “Farewell from Moscow: The Igor Larionov Farewell Game.” This Saturday, March 25th, he will be at the Best Buy in Auburn Hills from 2-4pm. The following day, March 26th, Larionov will be at the Best Buy in Novi from 2-4pm. A portion of all his DVD sales will benefit The Igor Larionov Youth Hockey Charitable Foundation. The excerpt below has been sent to me by IMJ Communications, LLC.
After an unparalleled 27-year career, one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Larionov bid farewell to the game on December 13, 2004. An inspiration on-and-off the ice, Larionov continues to give back to the community and to the hockey world through The Igor Larionov Youth Hockey Charitable Foundation. Founded by Igor Larionov in 2004, The Igor Larionov Youth Hockey Charitable Foundation is concerned with improving the condition of youth hockey leagues throughout Russia. During his visits to facilities where young, aspiring hockey players in Russia skate, practice and play the game, Igor was strongly affected by the lack of equipment, use of shoddy and broken gear by the young players, and disrepair of the ice rinks. He also saw first-hand, the poverty that plagues towns in the periphery of Russia’s major cities. The parents of children growing up there can hardly afford used skates and equipment and new gear is wholly unattainable. Larionov was so moved by the dedication of the Russian kids to the game that he decided to create a foundation to provide new equipment, repair locker rooms and rinks and motivate the youth to continue to pursue their passion for the game of hockey.In a short span of a year since his retirement from hockey, Igor has made several trips back to Russia, both to the major cities and to the periphery with new equipment, lots of new skates and funding to commence the process of repairing hockey facilities. Through his foundation, Larionov plans to devote substantial time, efforts and funding to building the future of hockey for many years to come.
Since the January 13, 2006 premiere of the documentary at Michigan’s Royal Oak Music Theatre sales of “Farewell From Moscow: The Igor Larionov Farewell Game” have continued to raise funds for the foundation.
Touted as one of the best moments in sport’s history, Larionov’s farewell game, was masterfully captured by Chrome Bumper Films in its entirety and has been incorporated as part of the recently released, cutting-edge documentary/DVD. The fast-paced signature style of A-list director, John “QUIG” Quigley, known for his creation of music videos and other work for leading music artists, including Eminem, brings a vibrant, youthful energy never before seen in a documentary. Under Quigley’s direction, Chrome Bumper Films has remarkably weaved countless hours of footage, both on and off the ice, into a captivating masterpiece befitting a legend. Working closely with Larionov, Quigley threaded a refined, articulate and intelligent portrait of the man who captivated fans worldwide with his talent for nearly a third of a century.
“A Farewell From Moscow-The Igor Larionov Farewell Game” is a must-have for the sports-lover’s collection. The DVD chronicles all the excitement, energy and passion of Larionov’s powerful and emotionally-charged final game while also giving fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at Larionov with candid interviews from him and former teammates and coaches. The DVD is also loaded with many extras, including game highlights spanning Larionov’s career, more than 150 photos and footage tracing the players’ entire weekend in Moscow.
The “Farewell From Moscow: The Igor Larionov Farewell Game” DVD can be purchased at Best Buy. The Auburn Hills Best Buy is located at 300 Brown Rd. The Novi Best Buy is located at 21051 Haggerty Rd. in the High Point Shopping Center.
Five Swedes Signing
This upcoming Tuesday, March 28th, Fan Zone in the Westland Mall will be hosting an autograph signing with the following Red Wings players: Nick Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson, and Nik Kronwall.The signing will start at 7pm. You can pre-order your tickets today by calling 734-762-9618. Here are the prices:
- 16×20 picture of 5 Swedes & signed by the entire group = $150
- Lidstrom is $40 flat / $50 everything else
- Zetterberg $25 flat / $35 everything else
- Holmstrom $25 flat / $35 everything else
- Sameulsson $15 flat / $20 everything else
- Kronwall $15 flat / $20 everything else
The above information was found at Lets Go Wings forums. I called that number inquiring about the group photo and autographs. When I called right before 7pm, there was less than half of the 300 photos remaining. You can order it over the phone with a credit card (like I did), but do it ASAP!
Wings lose in shootout
Last night the Wings played the Nashville Predators for the sixth of eight meetings this season. Due to a meeting, I was unable to watch the entire game and just got the beginning and the end. Since that is the case, I will recommend that you check out the always interesting game recaps from IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman. Here is one example of his always entertaining game thoughts.
When I see Chelios going after Kariya, my first instinct is to put some John Denver on, call the kids into the living room, drink some warm cocoa and revel in the family moment. You just can’t beat that kind of fun.
Anyways, the game ended in exciting fashion with a shootout. Now the shootout, for me at least, is always exciting to watch because you get to see the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and even my favorite The Captain deke out the opposition. However, I just hate that it decides the game (and I’ve been saying that the entire year, not just because we lost last night). Sure it’s better than having ties, but I guess I’m just an OT girl. I can’t wait for the playoffs and those good ole nights staying up real late because the game goes into double or triple OT.And why did Babcock choose Holmstrom in the shootout BEFORE the likes of Yzerman, Shanny, and the other sharp shooters we have on the team. Don’t get me wrong, Homer is a great guy. But for the shootout? Bad idea. But then Yzerman went up to center ice to get his shot at Vokoun. My heart was pounding like crazy. My mouth went dry. I started going crazy in my single dorm room. I mean I was clapping and chanting “Yzie, Yzie, Yzie” (what my family and I call him). The Captain just had to make the shot. Missing wasn’t even an option. I mean this is the Steve Yzerman. He’s been captain of this team longer than I’ve been alive. From the looks of it, everyone at the Joe was standing and acting crazy. And then Yzerman, like the pro he is, smoothly deked Vokoun and tied the shootout up. IwoCPO had similar thoughts:
Steve Yzerman skated to center and winning meant nothing. An extra point wasn’t even a consideration.The only thing going through the mind of every Wing fan anywhere was this, “I do NOT want to see Steve Yzerman fail.â€
Deals with the devil were made on the spot, “just let Yzerman score…if we lose, I can handle it. K? I’ll take the loss, but not this way. Deal? Great, thanks.â€
He did. The Captain scored low on Vokoun’s right side…and the deal was done. The devil was due.
But the Preds scored on their next opportunity and Shanny failed to get the puck in the net so the Wings lost in a closely contested game and shootout.Unfortunately, I don’t have time for anymore thoughts since I must go to my English class. As I mentioned in the last post, I had a 17 page paper due Tuesday and 3 exams and another paper due next week so I’m going to be pretty busy. I’ll post when I can. Behind the Blog won’t return until I have time to send out a batch of questions. If you’re interested in participating, send me an email or leave a comment. I already have one person waiting (Mike Chen) but I need a few more.
Chelios’ son, Dean, comes on road trip
Remember the father/son trip to the southeast last December? Well Chris Chelios is giving it another try, but this time with his older son, 16 year old Dean, on this 4 day road trip to western CanadaIn the southeast father/son road trip, Dean couldn’t tag along with his dad and younger brother, Jake, because of his own hockey schedule (he plays for Cranbrook who recently won a DIII state championship). Since his high school hockey season just ended and this is his spring break, Chris Chelios asked head coach Mike Babcock and GM Ken Holland if he could bring Dean along on this trip (answer: yes).
Since Dean was born the summer after his dad played in the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals in Montreal, he’s been growing up with his dad playing in the NHL. However, this trip is giving him a new perspective on the NHL & Wings (much to the jealousy of his Cranbrook teammates). On Friday night, he went to dinner and then a movie with the team. He even got to pick the movie, The Hills Have Eyes. Following the movie, the team returns to the hotel where Dean got to sleep in his own room, “a luxury usually reserved for 10-year NHL veterans who have played 600 or more games.”
“There’s not too many players that can say their kids are old enough to be able to do this,” said Chelios, 44, the NHL’s oldest active player. “And just in case, if I don’t play next year, at least he’ll have been able to do this once.”He’s a laid-back kid, almost to the point where it drives me crazy. But I can tell (he’s excited). He never gets up in the morning at home, but he’s gotten up two mornings in a row now on this trip.”
“My other son plays like I play — he’s a knucklehead,” Chelios laughed. “I don’t know how the new NHL rules are going to help him, but Dean is perfectly suited for it. He’s a goal-scoring demon.”
Again on Friday, he played a 20 minute game of “keep-away” with Pavel Datsyuk, his favorite NHL player. The next day he “spent an extra half-hour on the ice working on shooting and skating drills with assistant coach Paul McLean and Chris Osgood, among others.” While Dean certainly isn’t at the level of an NHL player, he is already three inches taller than his dad at 6′2″. Unlike his dad, he plays forward (left wing or center).
“I haven’t been on one of these (road trips) in a long time, since I was maybe five years old, so I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “But it’s just awesome - better than I expected. It’s amazing. This has just been really fun.”
Note: Updates have been and will be less frequent. I have two papers due this week, 3 exams and a paper due the week of the 27th, and 2 presentations in the following week (one = 30 minutes). Thus, I will update when I can, but I can’t make any guarantees. Thanks.
The Captain scores twice in Wings win
The Detroit Red Wings defeated fellow Central Division and Original 6 team, the Chicago Blackhawks, last night at the Joe, 6-4. The following Wings scored (in order of goals): Pavel Datsyuk, Steve Yzerman, Mark Mowers, Henrik Zetterberg, Kris Draper, and Yzerman. Want to know more about what happened in the game? Read On the Wings’ and Abel to Yzerman’s game recaps.Aside from a Wings win, Chelios had another reason to celebrate yesterday. His son, Dean, had two assists in the Division 3 state championsip game, which his team won 4-0. Dean is a junior at my high school’s rival school, Cranbrook. My high school’s men’s basketball team won it’s district final game, 103-57, and will play next on March 15. It’s so weird being an alum and not at these games. Anyways, go Yellowjackets!
Okay, back to hockey. After coming close to scoring a hat trick last night, plenty of people have something to say about my favorite hockey player, The Captain. Here’s a collection of what they all had to say…
Steve Yzerman scored two goals (one a power play) for the Wings to lead the way. It was Yzerman’s first two-goal game of the season.”I just hope he can continue to get better,” said coach Mike Babcock of Yzerman, who raised his season total to nine goals. “He’s going to help us obviously. Guys want him to do well.”
Yzerman’s first goal, on a nice pass from Robert Lang, gave the Wings a brief 2-1 lead in the first period, and was one of the nicer goals of the night. “It was a great pass from Robert and I wasn’t really expecting it,” Yzerman said. “But it was nice for it to go in.”
Chicago captain Martin Lapointe, a former Red Wing, admired Yzerman’s performance. “He works so hard on every shift,” Lapointe said. “He keeps battling, blocking shots, he just plays so hard. I’m sure his body aches every morning he wakes up. But he just leads his team. It’s pretty to watch.”
Chicago coach Trent Yawney expects more from Yzerman after that.”He’s still one of the best leaders in the game,” Yawney said. “I wouldn’t judge him by what he’s done so far this year in terms of statistics, but I would watch in the playoffs what he does for this team.”
The first note I made after the 1st intermission was that Steve Yzerman looks very good. He’s moving better and he’s driving to the net more. Also, The Captain has turned into a mucker. He’s hanging around the crease, taking cross checks, waiting for dirty rebounds. We still see the patented pull-up along the wing, but more and more it seems he’s created a role for himself closer to the net.
Yzerman, who appears re-energized of late, continued the onslaught by scoring his second goal of the game with 7.2 seconds to play in the period during a two-man advantage. It was his ninth goal of the season.”He can continue to get better,” Babcock said. “I don’t know if he was necessarily better than he has been, except that he scored a couple of goals. The better he gets, it’s going to help us. The guys want him to do well.”
“It was nice to see,” Mowers said of Yzerman’s performance. “We know he can score some goals. I expect it’s going to happen more often towards the end of the season.”
On Yzerman’s first goal, he tapped in a sweet feed from Robert Lang after rookie defenseman Dustin Byfuglien lost the future Hall of Famer in front.“It was nice to see one go in, but Khabibulin almost made the save,†Yzerman said.
3/10 Notes
Eric McErlain talked on Sport Bloggers Live about the most hated players in the NHL based on a poll and his own opinion. Ex-Wings Derian Hatcher (2%) and Dominik Hasek (5%) weren’t placed very high in the poll results. However, Eric did say that the most beloved active player must be Wings captain Steve Yzerman and I couldn’t agree more. Admittedly Yzerman has been captain longer than I’ve been alive, but he’s my favorite hockey player of all time.
To be the most loved figure, it usually means you’re closer to the end of your career than the beginning. If we’re talking active players, the most beloved has to be Steve Yzerman. Talented, hard working and unassuming. You would always know what you were getting when he showed up at the rink.
Igor Larionov autograph signing on Saturday at 1pm
The Professor, Mr. Igor Larionov, will be signing copies of the recently released DVD documentary, “Farewell From Moscow-The Igor Larionov Farewell Game,” this Saturday (March 11) at 1pm at Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (Big Beaver & John R).
The documentary remarkably weaves countless hours of footage - both on and off the ice - into a captivating masterpiece befitting a legend. “A Farewell From Moscow-The Igor Larionov Farewell Game” chronicles all the excitement, energy and passion of Larionov’s powerful and emotionally-charged final game while also giving fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at Larionov with candid interviews from him and former teammates and coaches.
Personally, I really enjoyed watching that game and I would like to buy this DVD myself. I would go to the signing, but I’m attending a Gift of Life (organ/tissue donation organization) volunteer training session in Detroit all day so that’s not possible. If you’d like to buy the DVD, you can do so at his website for $20.Playoff ticket news
I am incredibly excited! My dad managed to buy two seats (aka their playoff tickets) for this season from my dad’s company’s customer. Since the company is paying for it, he’ll have to take some of his employees which works since I won’t be able to go a lot of times (finals in late April, then 4 days in Florida on vacation, followed by 8 days in Cinci for surgery) but I’m going to attend at least one playoff game this season- my first playoff game in my life!