10/4 Quick Hits
Wings dealing with injuries
Both Chris Chelios and Tomas Holmstrom missed last night’s preseason game due to knee injuries. While Homer hopes to still play this weekend, Chelios is out for 3-6 weeks with a fractured tibia. Pavel Datsyuk has been missing action thanks to a groin injury, but hopes to play this weekend because developing chemistry with linemate Marian Hossa is very important to him.
Wings defeat Toronto, 5-3
Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs visited the Joe and left after a 5-3 loss at the hands of Johan Franzen & Co. Franzen scored twice including the game winning goal with just 1:57 left in the third period. In his four exhibition games, Franzen has three goals and two assists. Thus far, Franzen has been on the same line as Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler so that certainly helps with your offensive production.
ESPN the Magazine
Earlier this week, I was invited to answer some questions for ESPN the Magazine about the upcoming NHL season. You can check out my responses along with numerous other hockey bloggers’ opinions over at their website.
The Kronwall Brothers
Thanks to the tip from George at Snapshots, Staffan Kronwall was inspired by his brother’s success this past season. Like his brother, Staffan has had to deal with numerous injuries over the past three years and hopes to become a regular in the NHL. In last night’s game against Detroit, Staffan played on the third defensive pairing in just his third exhibition game this preseason.
“I kind of felt like it was me raising the Cup,” the 6 foot 4, 210 pound Staffan said. “We’re as close as brothers can be and I was so happy for him.
“It definitely gave me inspiration and motivation to work even harder. If I learned one thing it was how important you have to work as a team. There was no doubt after that first game which team was going to be raising the Stanley Cup.”
Congrats
Kurt @ Mack Avenue Tigers is a blogger by night, but a sports writer for the Mining Journal by day. We would like to congratulate Kurt, one of our favorite Detroit sports bloggers, for a job well done and certainly a deserving honor.
Mining Journal sports writer Kurt Mensching won the top award in the category for three columns on topics as diverse as the beginning of baseball season, Northern Michigan University football and high school sportsmanship at the Superior Dome.
Judges said Mensching’s writing was “funny” and “stood out as very clean.”
Mensching thanked the people of the Upper Peninsula for sharing their stories and for reading his.
“I’d also like to thank all my teachers at Manton High School, especially my English teacher, the late Diane Schimpke,” Mensching said.
Soap Opera Actor Cheers For Wings
During the playoffs, soap opera actor Thorsten Kaye blogged on NHL.com and attended games at the Joe. The NY Times printed a piece on Kaye’s loyalty to the Winged Wheel.
“Look at that,” Kaye said, pointing to an empty Champagne bottle signed by all the Red Wings after they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup last season. “I wish I was there to celebrate with them that night.”
Kaye saw three games of the finals in Detroit but could not make it to Game 6 in Pittsburgh, where the Red Wings raised the Cup. He was in the studio that day, but he watched most of the game in character, through his cameraman’s lens.
“My camera guy put the game on his viewfinder so that I could see it while we were filming,” Kaye said.
Still Friends
Despite Scotty Bowman leaving the Wings to advise the Chicago Blackhawks, Wings head coach Mike Babcock and Bowman will remain friends and continue to talk hockey. The two have already discussed how the Wings will be able to repeat. As you may recall, Bowman’s teams in ‘97 and ‘98 were the last to repeat as Cup champs.
“Why wouldn’t you call your friends?” Babcock said, sitting in his office while the Stanley Cup champions took a day off from training camp Thursday. “I’ve talked to him a number of times since he joined Chicago.
“A lot of the things we talk about are not just pertinent to the Red Wings, but to hockey. I can’t see that going away, I just can’t.”
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3 Responses to “10/4 Quick Hits”
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October 5th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Thanks, Christy! I even swear I’ll blog again! I really have no choice after all these pledges I’ve made lately, do I?
October 5th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Haha. I know you’ll blog again, but with the season the Tigers had I can’t blame you for not really wanting to talk about it.
But it’ll certainly give you plenty to discuss this off-season!
October 6th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
[…] off, a big thanks to everyone who congratulated me, whether by blogposts or dropping by to comment or on facebook or by e-mail or […]