BTB: Bethany’s Hockey Rants
It’s been a long time coming, but the Behind the Blog feature is back and our first interviewee of the season is Bethany of Bethany’s Hockey Rants. She recently moved her blog to a new domain, which is hosted by yours truly. She covers a Central Division opponent, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and is enjoying a surprisingly good start to the season. Bethany was kind enough to answer ten of my questions about her team, the NHL, and her blog.
Want to partake in a Behind the Blog feature? Interested in free hosting under my account like Bethany did (she just paid the $8.88 it cost to buy her domain)? Drop me an email.
Q.1 – You started Bethany’s Hockey Rants back in January of this year. Why did you decide to start up this blog?
I started the blog just as a way to vent about my team and about hockey.
Q.2 – When and why did you become a Columbus Blue Jackets fan?
I became a Blue Jackets fan at the beginning of the 2006-2007 season. I had always been an Anaheim Ducks and Red Wings fan before then. But, then I started to notice the Blue Jackets because they seemed like such a good team and they were close to home. I was able to watch them grow and develop and especially under Hitch.
Q.3 – As of November 3, the Blue Jackets are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Does that come as a surprise to you? Why or why not?
It’s a total surprise. I knew that under Hitch we were a better team and the team was more prepared than in years past, but, I never expected us to be doing us as well as we are.
Q.4 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next year?
With my blog I just hope to keep having a good time and to keep covering my boys.
Q.5 – The NHL held its first regular season game overseas in London. Would you like to see the NHL hold more overseas games to start off the regular season?
Actually, no. I felt really bad for the way the Ducks started the season. If it’s going to affect them that much, I don’t want them to do it.
Q.6 – What do you think was the biggest move the Blue Jackets made over the summer?
Firing MacLean and hiring Howson. We needed the change, desperately. But, if we’re talking player move, signing Peca was huge. He’s centering our top line a lot and has been a great addition.
Q.7 – I had the chance to watch Jared Boll play with the Plymouth Whalers last year in the OHL. What are your thoughts on the Columbus rookie?
Jared Boll amazes me. He just seems thrilled to actually be in the show. He stands up for his teammates, and can score. I think the more experience he gets the better he is going to be. He reminds me a lot of Sean Avery and can really get under the other teams skin. He’s not afraid to fight.
Q.8 – What team has surprised you the most to start off this season? Disappointed you?
Surprised? The Blue Jackets obviously. I never expected this good of a start from us. Disappointed me? New Jersey, Marty got off to an awful start. Also, the Rangers…does Gomez even have a point?
Q.9 – A lot of people dismiss Columbus as a hockey city. Do you think having the NHL Draft in Columbus this summer helped improve people’s perception of Columbus as a hockey city?
It had to help improve our image. I had the opportunity to be there and the fans that were there amazed me. They were loud, and supportive of our team.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
There are tons of blogs that I look to for inspiration. I love Canucks & Beyond, Army of Ohio, Battle of California, all my HLOG girls are amazing, and of course Behind the Jersey. Everyone has such a different style of writing so it’s hard to pick just one blog.
Behind the Blog: Legends of Hockey
Today’s Behind the Blog features Joe Pelletier, the blogger behind Legends of Hockey and 1972SummitSeries.com. With around 400 player profiles/biographies, Legends of Hockey is an excellent resource when it comes to hockey history. He has written about the big names like Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Bobby Orr as well as lesser known names that you can find on his blog. I’d like to thank Joe for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for BTJ.
Joe has written about many Wings including Larry Aurie, Syd Howe, Gordie Howe, Red Kelly, and Steve Yzerman among others.
Q.1 – Why did you start Legends of Hockey and 1972SummitSeries.com? How did you get the idea to write biographies about hockey players?
I have two main interests in hockey: careers of hockey players on a case by case basis, and international hockey.
As for my online contributions, in both cases I was filling a cavernous void. There really isn’t a lot online pertaining to hockey history, particularly well cultivated biographies and profiles. And when I started 1972, there was absolutely nothing online about the Summit Series. I made that site in time for the 30th anniversary back in 2002 and enjoyed tremendous direct and spin-off success with that.
As for writing biographies, for years I’ve been collecting biographical information on any and every NHL and international player. I have 10s of 1000s of files on my computer, and maybe 1000 books in my closet. This is truly a life long passion for me.
Obviously all that information is doing a lot of good in my closet or on my hard drive. I feel this is the best way to share this information with the world.
Q.2 – How do you find time to write all these biographies while writing books like World Cup of Hockey and Legends of Team Canada? How long does it typically take you to write a biography for a single player?
When I was writing the books, which was about a 2 year process where I devoted most of my writing energies to the books, I didn’t do a lot of player profiles. I continued to collect and save articles, features, etc of players past and present, so my catalogue continued to grow. But I wasn’t writing the biographies like I am now.
An average player biography would typically take me 3-4 hours. Much of the material is readily available in my life-long collection, so those profiles are relatively easy to churn out.
I won’t write a biography unless I feel I have enough in my collection to properly honour the player and to create a proper experience for a reader. So there are many players I continue to search for more materials, often more to give me writing inspiration moreso than player details.
Q.3 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next few years?
This is the first season for my blog. I’m viewing this year as experimental, to see what works and what doesn’t work, and as a foundation builder. Since basically September I’ve posted 400 player profiles, which gives me a great catalogue.
I think next season I want to do more than just continue to add player profiles. I want to have the front page have more relevant information for the events of the day. I will always add more and more player profiles, but I want to make the blog more inviting for casual and modern fans. That will drive my visits and page views up.
In the long term I want to be the one stop blog for hockey history. I feel I’m off to a good start in terms of establishing my territory. I’m also hoping for spin-off projects. 1972 paved the way for two books, and dozens of articles in a variety of places including The Hockey News. I’ve already been approached by two major sources for commitments concerning hockey history. I think those opportunities will only get bigger.
Q.4 – You have profiled so many great players even those playing before the 1950s. Who is your favorite hockey player (either current or retired player)? Why?
This is truly a question I can not answer. I try to appreciate every player for what they offer. I love superstars as much as I love role players. I love defensive defensemen as much as I love power play specialists.
If I had to mention all of my favorite players, you would need more bandwith! Wayne Gretzky is near the top of the list though. He played the game so intelligently, so beautifully, so dominantly. As for current players, Vincent Lecavalier ranks right up there for me.
Q.5 – Out of all the players you have written biographies on, which one do you think was the most overrated? Underrated?
That’s real tough to say. When writing my biographies I try to be as objective as possible, and let the reader make the ultimate decision.
Most over-rated? I’m tempted to say Mark Messier. History looks upon him very kindly, largely because the New York media loves him. I always felt Brian Leetch and especially Mike Richter deserved more credit for the 1994 Cup win. I also think Vladislav Tretiak is greatly over-rated. He had some great games against Canada and the NHL, but most of his career accomplishments came against incredibly weak competition. Also, if you look at the stats for the final four games of the 1972 Summit Series, Tretiak was actually quite brutal. The Russians should have won had Tretiak played better. But that is overlooked because of his incredible play in the first four games.
Most under-rated? Probably most of the older guys, guys that few people can say they saw play; guys that video footage is all but non-existent. To give you a more modern answer, I’d have to look at a guy like Mark Howe.
Q.6 – As an author and a hockey fan, what has been your favorite hockey book to read? Why?
I have probably 1000 or more books in my collection. Hockey books is what I collect, but I’m pretty picky, believe it or not.
My favorite? Lawrence Martin’s The Red Machine provides the best English history of Soviet hockey. I really enjoy that one. Andrew Podnieks headed a group of authors who wrote Kings of the Ice
My favorite hockey author is probably Roy McGregor. His writing style makes me so envious because I could never write like him. He’s a subtle genius. Stephen Brunt made a huge impression on me with Searching for Bobby Orr
Q.7 – Since this interview is for a Wings’ blog, which Red Wings player (past or present) has had the biggest impact on their team and the sport of hockey in your opinion?
The two obvious answers are Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman. Together they are the face of the franchise. They transcended the game more than any player in Detroit. While I’d love to champion the importance of a Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel or Niklas Lidstrom, there’s no bumping Howe and Yzerman. Maybe Terry Sawchuk in his time, but history will always remember Howe and Yzerman first and foremost.
Mike Illitch deserves a lot of credit too.
Q.8 – Which two teams do you think will play in the Stanley Cup finals?
I’m making these on the record predictions on Saturday, so I don’t know the playoff brackets just yet, nor the final injury concerns.
Regardless, I’m really liking Buffalo in the east. They have so much depth and a great coach. If I had to pick a Cup winner before the playoffs, which is always a silly thing to do, I’d pick them.
It’s more of a coin toss in the west, as probably 6 of 7 teams have what it takes to go all the way. It will come down to health, depth, and a little bit of luck. I do think Minnesota could make a lot noise, although I probably just have jinxed them. I think they have the cagiest coach.
Q.9 – Which team has surprised you the most this season (whether good or bad)?
I think both Pittsburgh and Vancouver have surprised me in a positive way. I’m a Canucks fan, but even I was on record as saying they would not make the playoffs this season.
On the negative side, Philadelphia is an obvious one, as is Carolina and Edmonton. I really expected more out of the Rangers this year too.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
I look to the big boys – Eric McErlain, Paul Kukla, James Mirtle…that’s the stature I want to achieve.
Any additional comments?
I just wanted to thank you for this great opportunity. When I first started blogging I wrote you to tell you how much I enjoyed Behind The Jersey and the Behind The Blog series, and that I had made it a goal to build my site to the point where you wanted to profile me. I guess I can check that accomplishment off. It is truly an honour.
Behind the Blog: Gorilla Crouch
Today’s Behind the Blog feature highlights a relatively new Red Wings blog, Gorilla Crouch. The blogger behind it all, Dave, is a transplanted Wings fan living in Chicago so while he primarily focuses on the Wings, he also talks about other Michigan sports including the Tigers and U of M football and basketball. Gorilla Crouch is a great read as Dave analyzes games and all the recent Wings’ news.
Q.1 - According to your archives, you started Gorilla Crouch on September 1, 2006. Why did you start a hockey blog?
I started the blog because being a Red Wings fan in Chicago made it difficult to find people to talk Red Wings hockey with. I’ve met some Wing nuts while watching games at bars in Chicago, but the blog has been a great way to express my thoughts and opinions on the team and to interact with other Red Wings fans.
Q.2 - When did you become a Detroit Red Wings fan and what made you do so?
I became a serious Red Wings fan back in the late 80s, when the Wings were still in the Norris Division and played the Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota North Stars on a regular basis. The rivalry between Steve Yzerman’s Red Wings teams and Wendel Clark’s Leaf teams were just so intense and they had some great playoff matchups in the late 80s and early 90s.
I couldn’t follow the team as closely when I first moved to Chicago so I’d follow the team by going to bars to watch big games and of course to watch the playoffs. With Center Ice I can now catch most of the games.
Q.3 - What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next few years?
I’d like to develop the site to the point where there will be more interaction with Red Wings fans. There are a few regular visitors who comment and I’d like to see more visitors comment as that makes it more of a conversation which I particularly like.
Q.4 - You also discuss other Detroit/Michigan sports in your blog, but primarily cover the Wings. Why is hockey your favorite sport to talk about?
Hockey just has so many variables and to me that’s what make it interesting to discuss. I usually try to focus on the forward lines and part of that is because they do change frequently and it makes a big difference. At the start of the season Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg played on different lines and the team struggled to score goals. Then they were reunited and became the hottest line in the NHL. You can talk about similar variables in other sports but I find that doing so with hockey is more interesting because there are so many options as far as the makeup of the lines is concerned.
Q.5 - Who is your favorite hockey player (either current or retired player)? Why?
Steve Yzerman really got me hooked on hockey so I’d have to go with him. I was also a big Bob Probert fan and actually met him when he rented a movie at a video store I worked at as a kid. He seemed like a pretty cool and laid back guy which doesn’t fit the image at all considering he was one of the greatest fighters in the NHL. People talk about how down to earth hockey players are compared to other professional athletes and I have to agree completely due to meeting Probie.
Q.6 - Why do you believe Detroit is such a great sports city? Which Detroit team (including UM/MSU football and basketball) do you think will win the next national or league championship?
I think it’s a great sports city for the same reason it’s always been a great music city - the passion and devotion that the fans have for the teams. I mean if a franchise as backwards as the Detroit Lions can have strong fan support, what does that tell you about the city? Detroiters are just crazy for sports.
I think for the first time in a long time the Red Wings are not a favorite to win the Cup, so it will be interesting to see how they respond without the “target on their back” so to speak. I wouldn’t peg the Red Wings’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup as being great, but I think Mike Babcock has them headed in the right direction and I look forward to seeing how they
do in the playoffs.
I think Michigan football is in great shape to make a national title run this year. Their schedule is perfect for making it to the BCS championship game. The Detroit Tigers addressed their biggest need this offseason when they traded for Gary Sheffield, so they have an excellent shot at winning the World Series. But the AL Central is going to be ridiculously competitive, so much like the situation with the Red Wings I am optimistic but my expectations are tempered about the Tigers’ prospects for winning a
championship. The Pistons have a great chance to win the Eastern Conference but I think the West is too tough so the NBA champion (I won’t go very far out on a limb by picking Dallas) will likely come from the West.
So I’ll go with Michigan Football.
Q.7 - What changes would you like to see the Wings make in the upcoming offseason?
The only real area where I think the Wings are behind the times is in their relationship with their fans. George over at Snapshots has really done a great job covering this issue and it’s something that I don’t notice as much being an out of state fan. The organization has to do a better job reaching out to their fans and competing for their attention and devotion due to the competition from the Pistons, Tigers and from both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. I am hopeful that the competition, combined with a difficult economic situation in Michigan, will force the team to address this shortcoming sooner rather than later.
Q.8 - Pavel Datsyuk has been rumored to want a $6.5-7 million per year salary. GM Ken Holland is likely to give him $5-6 million per year. What do you think will happen?
I think that if Datsyuk is to resign with Detroit it will be for somewhere between $5.75 million and $6.5 million per year.
Q.9 - Which team has surprised you the most whether it was because they did or did not make the playoffs?
It’s a bit early given that the playoffs haven’t started yet, but I think Vancouver has been really impressive. Dave Nonis trading for Robert Luongo in an unbelievably one-sided deal has really put the Nucks in a great position for the playoffs. They don’t score a ton of goals but that looks like a team that is built for the playoffs. I don’t think you can call a team that currently has 101 points a darkhorse candidate for postseason success but it wouldn’t surprise me if they had a solid playoff run.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
As Red Wings fans we have a lot of great resources, from Kukla’s Korner/Abel to Yzeman and Snapshots, to Let’s Go Wings and to Red Wings Central, and of course Behind the Jersey and On the Wings. As far as outside of Detroit Red Wings coverage I like James Mirtle’s blog, Off Wing Opinion, and I also really like Tom Benjamin’s blog. As far as inspiration goes, there are two sites in particular that I really like.
The first is Kukla’s Korner because it is an excellent resource for reading articles on everything going on around the NHL and I probably check out Paul’s website more than any other as a result.
Another website that really impresses me is Red Wings Central. They have really carved out a niche by tracking Red Wings prospects. They do a great job and I am a big fan.
Any additional comments?
Thanks for including me in the Behind the Blog series!
Behind the Blog: One Fan’s Perspective
PB at One Fan’s Perspective answered 10 questions about his blog, his favorite team (the Phoenix Coyotes), and the NHL in the latest Behind the Blog feature.
Q.1 – According to your archives, you started One Fan’s Perspective in September 2006. Why did you start a hockey blog?
My brother started writing blogs this past summer and he got me interested in writing one too. I found out that I liked writing about sports – it must be the frustrated sports writer in me. The blog was initially about my two favorite sports, football and hockey, but after people commented about a hockey blog from Phoenix, it just morphed completely into hockey. I didn’t mind the transformation one bit as I found writing about hockey more fun.
Q.2 – When did you become a Phoenix Coyotes fan and what made you do so?
I became a Phoenix Coyotes fan during the 2005-2006 season. My wife and I just moved to the Valley from Florida, and we are firm believers in supporting the home team. It just so happened that Wayne Gretzky took over the coaching reigns so the transition was very easy. I still follow the Tampa Bay Lightning, but when these two clubs meet, I’m a Coyotes fan.
Q.3 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next few years?
I would like my blog to become synonymous with Phoenix Coyotes hockey. In other words, if someone wants to know about the Coyotes, they will want to read my site. Even though I link to the articles from my local paper(s), I’m not really impressed with their coverage. It is still the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Arizona Cardinals – in that order, before it gets to the Coyotes. I don’t have any inside connections and it’s just my perspectives on what I see on television and how I analyze issues that affect the team. However, I do want the blog to get access to more behind the scenes/bench coverage. It will take awhile and right now I’m just happy enough to write and that some people find it interesting enough to read it.
Q.4 – You also discuss other sports in your blog specifically football. NFL is clearly the most popular sport in the US and the NHL is not even seen as a major league anymore by many sports fans. What should the NHL do to try and regain its place as a US major league sport?
I think there are three issues that can be addressed for the NHL to become a major player:
First, somehow, someway, get better media coverage. If one looks at the NFL, they have Sundays set aside where football is the center piece. All the Fox, CBS, NBC affiliates carry a game and it becomes a weekly spectacle. The NHL needs to better enhance its media coverage. Versus is not carried in every cable household. With ESPN, they had the coverage they needed and they promoted the hell out of the games. I knew what game was playing and at what times. With Versus, I have no idea. At least with the weekly games on NBC, they are stepping in the right direction. The minute that football season is over, they should have weekly games on NBC and it should be a glorious spectacle. Ray Ferraro, Brett Hull, and Bill Clement should have an hour long pre-game show with analysis and they are just long-winded enough to pull it off.
Next, develop good, quality grass roots hockey programs in the markets where the NHL is carried. Maybe subsidizing equipment costs through sponsorships for those that want to play but can’t afford the equipment.
Finally, players should be highly visible in the community. I have found that hockey players are top quality people. Showcasing them in ways that they are not just players with no teeth or thugs with sticks will go a long way. If the casual fans know the players well, they may tune in and pull for them.
Q.5 – Who is your favorite hockey player (either current or retired player)? Why?
I have three favorite hockey players, one current and two retired. Keith Ballard is one of the best Coyotes players on the blue line. He plays the game rugged, but clean, he’s the hardest working player on the ice, and he has that inner quality that when anyone sees him play, they know he just that good. I’d bet those franchises that had him in their systems before he came to Phoenix are slapping their foreheads right about now.
Dave Andreychuk is one of the two retired players. He wasn’t the best skater, but he was an excellent teacher to a young Tampa Bay Lightning franchise that was learning how to win. I firmly believe that if Dave was not with the team, that they would not have won a Stanley Cup. He adapted and changed his role so that the team can win. I have seen very few players emulate his example passing the torch by teaching the young players how to prepare and play the NHL game.
My third favorite player is Wayne Gretzky and for all of the obvious reasons. He may be getting heat from around the media outlets about his coaching, but I still think he’s the guy. So I’m a homer – so be it.
Q.6 – If you had to predict the two teams to play in the Stanley Cup finals, which teams would they be?
Right now I’d put good money on Nashville and either Tampa Bay or Buffalo. Buffalo needs to survive their injury issues and Tampa Bay needs to continue having solid goaltending. Nashville is just plain scary right now. (Sorry Christy!
Q.7 – What changes do you think the Coyotes need to make to improve both their marketability in Phoenix as well as improve the team in the standings?
Win. Just kidding…
Phoenix is a very interesting community as a large amount of its residents have come here from some place else. Therefore, those transplanted sports fans hold onto nostalgic experiences and pull for their former home teams whenever their teams are in town. I’d bet there was one Red Wings jersey for every one Coyotes Jersey. Marketing the local teams makes it tougher in this instance.
Bringing in older veteran players is a very huge risk and we saw that risk this year. I only see success in the current CBA salary cap era of the NHL in terms of the draft and the foundation in the minor league affiliate systems. The Coyotes need to draft better, both in 2007 and 2008. They need to build their teams through the draft and carefully pick those players that are willing to teach the younger ones how to prepare. I would carefully analyze the Lightning, the Sabres, the Ducks, the Sharks, and the Predators to see how they built their systems. They need players with no pre-conceived notions about how to play in the NHL.
Finally, they need stability. Let the coaches and management use the years they have on their contracts to put pieces in place and not pay attention to the records as they build the franchise. Having a sustainable hockey club that appears in the playoffs multiple years, and not for just one year, will develop the marketing that the franchise covets. If after five years, the Coyotes are still floundering, then I would expect the ownership to clean house. Is that a rare deal? Absolutely, but look at Lindsey Ruff, Barry Trotz, and John Tortorella for examples of what can be done if allowed enough time to get the pieces in place.
It’s always the long run that matters.
Q.8 – What are your thoughts in regards to Wayne Gretzky as head coach of the Coyotes? Good decision? Bad decision?
Good decision. However, he is growing as a coach where others have had to learn by paying their dues in the minor league systems. So, we get to see the mistakes that he is making. Gutsy by him because everything he touched seemingly worked out well for him and as a coach it has been a struggle. He became a legendary player through hard work and perseverance – hopefully, using the same persistent efforts, he will become a great coach. There are plenty of former players who are coaches now and just because he’s the Great One, he takes more heat than any of them did when they started. But, those coaches were out of the limelight so we didn’t know about any of it.
I think he needs to find a better balance between being their good pal and being their coach. It seemed at the beginning of the season he liked his players too much. I think he’s learning that balance.
Q.9 – Which team has surprised you the most this season (whether a good or bad surprise)?
Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Nashville all have surprised me the most – in a good way.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
I really can’t answer that as I tend to read them all and I like all of them for different reasons. J It’s amazing that all of these writers have distinct voices and that the writing is very, very good. I’ve been able to meet the writer of CasonBlog as he paid off a wager when the Coyotes stomped the Carolina Hurricanes in December. From what I have read so far, hockey bloggers, just like the hockey players they write about, are quality people. I hope to meet more of them in real life.
Any additional comments?
I was trying to come up with something witty, but nothing comes to mind. So, I’ll be serious and sappy by saying that I think the future of the Coyotes is a bright one. Gotta have hope!
Behind the Blog: Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog
After a long break, BtJ’s Behind the Blog feature is back up and running. To start us up again, Mike Chen of Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog answered 10 questions about his blog, his favorite team (the San Jose Sharks), and the NHL. Next Monday, PB of One Fan’s Perspective will be in the spotlight. If you would be interested in participating in a BtB interview, please send me an email!
Q.1 - According to your archives, you started Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog in September 2005. Why did you start a hockey blog?
Honestly, it was originally just a normal blog back in June or so of 2005. The idea was to get blog posts for search engine optimization for my copywriting business. Problem was, I had no idea what to write about and I got bored REALLY fast. I posted a few things about the impending lockout and people, for whatever reason, actually found them and read them. In September, I deleted the non-hockey stuff and rebranded it as a hockey blog. So the whole thing about the blog helping out my business went out the door really fast but I’ve had fun becoming part of this very cool hockey blogging community. Plus I now make a little money off advertising. That blows my mind.
Q.2 - You recently started blogging for Fox Sports and Battle of California as well. How did these opportunities come about?
The Fox gig came about because Lyle “Spector” Richardson recommended me and a few other bloggers to his editor at FoxSports.com, and for that, I’m super-mega-ultra grateful. I’m hoping the exposure will lead to bigger and better things. BoC came about because the illustrious James Mirtle started it last playoffs to go with the Battle of Alberta site. He needed bloggers for all of the California teams; PJ from SharksPage and I signed up for the Sharks, and Mirtle dug up the awesome Earl “That’s Not My Real Name” Sleek for the Ducks. They’re actually auditioning Kings bloggers right now if anyone is interested.
Q.3 - When did you become a San Jose Sharks fan and what made you do so?
I grew up a Chicago Blackhawks fan living in the Bay Area because the Hawks team of Roenick, Chelios, Larmer, Graham, Goulet, Belfour was ALWAYS on SportsChannel. They were awesome to watch for an impressionable middle-school kid — they ran over people, beat them up, and scored at will. Then the Sharks came into existence and they were my #2 team. In the late 90’s, Evil Bill Wirtz screwed over Hawks fans everywhere by getting rid of all that talent and destroying a Cup contender. When they got rid of Tony Amonte while he was still putting up 30-40 goal seasons, that was the last straw and I renounced my Hawks fandom. The Sharks went from #2 to #1. My dad, however, is still stupidly loyal and the Hawks and Sharks are still his #1-#2. When they play each other, though, he generally cheers for the Sharks because they need the points for the playoff race and the Hawks are always in the basement.
Q.4 - What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next few years?
It’s really hard to ask for anything more other than more readers. I’ve met (via email) some really cool bloggers and hockey fans, I’ve become part of this great community we have, and I write for a mainstream website now. I think in the future, I’d like to try and get a press pass for some Sharks games. I’d like to write a book about the Sharks history some day, and I think the blog and FoxSports will definitely help with that. So if there are any publishing agents out there who’d like to help me out, please contact me!
Q.5 - Who is your favorite hockey player (either current or retired player)? Why?
Growing up, it was Jeremy Roenick and Wayne Gretzky for two different reasons. JR was awesome in his prime because he did it all and he always said stupid but funny things in the media. I loved watching how Wayne played because he was so cerebral with his game; he always pulled these insane passes out of nowhere and made it look easy.
Today, my favorite players are Patrick Marleau and Peter Forsberg. Marleau’s a homer pick, but it’s pretty special watching a gawky teenager transform into your team’s captain and one of their top players. I’ve always loved how fearless Forsberg is; even though that’s led to his injured body, when he’s healthy he’s still a beast out there. Right now, I have to say that I watch Pens games almost exclusively to see what Sidney Crosby will do. If I had to pick him or Ovechkin, I’d go with Crosby.
I should note that Ben Clymer is also one of my favorite players just because a bunch of my friends and I all have our random crappy players that we like (this spawned the Crappy Player Pick ‘Em on my site). I’m actually going to send Ben Clymer an invitation to my wedding. I figure JR and Forsberg get a lot of fan mail and probably don’t read most of it but a fourth liner like Clymer might actually read something he gets!
Q.6 - Obviously things may change by the time you answer this question and the trade deadline, but which two teams to do you foresee making the Stanley Cup finals?
Right now, Nashville’s depth is frightening, but I think Anaheim will come out of the west (I can hear Earl Sleek laughing from here). I think the Sharks will peak next season when their defense matures a little bit but I just don’t see them having enough to get past Anaheim. Every time I see the Ducks play, their defense just controls the whole game. It’s really not fair.
The easy pick out of the East is Buffalo, but it’s kinda boring to say Anaheim and Buffalo so I’m going to go with a slightly insane sleeper pick and say Tampa Bay just because of the way they’ve been rolling over opponents since 2007 began. It’s eerily similar to the year when they won the Cup. The only issue is whether or not Holmqvist will fall apart.
Q.7 - The debate about fighting in the NHL has gone on over the past year and the Sabres-Senators brawl has only hightened this debate. Where do you stand on this issue?
The Sabres-Sens brawl almost seemed like a circus act to me. Something about it seemed a little different from the vitriol of the old Avs/Red Wings brawls. I’m all for standing up for your teammates but I don’t like it when it ventures into WWE territory. The last Sharks/Ducks games had Scott Parker and George Parros basically scheduling a date to go at it. That kind of stuff seems very staged to me and I’m not a fan of that. There was a game a few weeks ago where Patrick Marleau fought someone, and it was out of pure emotion and leadership. That’s the kind of thing I like to see. When two squads dress their goons and they have their requisite fight, that just seems very stupid and phony.
That being said, I do like the move to free up the instigator suspension because I think it should be clear — if you mess with Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkin/Joe Thornton/etc., our goon will beat you down. It establishes a necessary level of fear to protect the skill player while not letting it be a free-for-all total brawl.
Q.8 - If you could change one thing about the NHL to increase its marketability in the US, what would you do and why?
ESPN. I think the ideal thing to do is keep Versus programmed like the pseudo-NHL network with a lot of hockey, then make a side deal with ESPN for at least one game per week. The important thing is that ESPN will not allow advertisers for competitors, which it sees in the NHL/Versus deal. The NHL’s great new ad campaign is being missed by millions of viewers because they can’t get on ESPN. If they could get SOME exposure on ESPN, then they could make their in-roads by advertising during Monday Night Football, etc. ESPN’s done it before with the NBA’s dual deal with ESPN/TNT, so I don’t see why the NHL wouldn’t want to attempt this.
Q.9 - Which team has surprised you the most this season (whether a good or bad surprise)?
Columbus. I thought they were an 7th/8th team with reasonable depth at forward. To see them implode, mostly because Rick Nash and Nik Zherdev have had awful seasons, was a bit of a surprise.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
Every blogger who answers this question winds up giving a “most hockey bloggers are great” answer and I have to do the same. Whether they’re team focused or general, every one of the successful hockey blogs has its own unique tone that makes it special. I think that any blog that has sustained itself for more than a few months and posts regularly is pretty much worth reading. So I’m not going to play favorites here because I really do read a bunch of them and I respect the hell out of every one, whether they’re funny, informative, or analytical. My only standard is that I need to read something that is written well. The blogger doesn’t have to be an English major or a journalist; I just need a basic sense of grammar in anything I read.
I do think that Paul Kukla, James Mirtle, and Lyle “Spector” Richardson should be acknowledged for their dedication and quality work. They’ve done so much to establish hockey blogging as an accepted form of information and entertainment, and they should be applauded for that.
Any additional comments?
To Doug Wilson: Please trade for some defense. Please.
Behind the Blog: HockeyFights.com
So this week’s Behind the Blog is a bit shorter than normal. I had sent some questions to David Singer, owner of HockeyFights.com, for my English paper and decided to share the responses with you guys as part of the BtB feature.
1) Why did you start HockeyFights.com?
It started very small, as a personal site where I just wrote about the Islanders and focused a lot on any tough guys they had on their team. I was just a fan of the type of game they played, and whenever I met players they seemed to be the friendliest off-ice. The site just kept growing and I kept writing about more league-wide events. Eventually I decided to just move it to its own domain and hockeyfights.com was the obvious choice. Took me a while to get it from a squatter though.
2) What do you see the current role or purpose of fighting in the NHL and how as it evolved over the years?
In today’s NHL fighting either comes from gameplay or is used as a way to spark a team. The history of fighting? Well, as succinctly as possible: Fighting didn’t necessarily have some sort of “role” many years ago. Players would get into fights for whatever reason they had. Eventually teams liked to have at least a couple of players would could fight well as owners wanted to protect their stars if a brawl broke out. Eventually, teams, like the 70s Flyers, realized fights could be used to intimidate other teams and it helped them win games. Other teams eventually counteracted with their own tough guys and you started to see players who’s sole purpose was to fight. Like any other element of the game, it evolved from one team trying to match what another did when winning. Even after the intimidation edge left, the entertainment value was still there, as was some form of deterence in having an enforcer on your team. Rules changes in the game have phased out much of the original purpose of the role, but haven’t wiped it out completely. The players who fill that role now are generally more complete players than they were 10 or 15 years ago.
3) How do you think fighting helps the league or better yet, what would happen to the NHL if there was a ban placed on all fighting?
I still think fighting has a place in the game, keeping players honest. It can act as a deterent, but only as much as the league lets it. The roar of the crowd when players drop the gloves is a reminder that the fans still like it.
Ban or no ban, fights would still happen. Critics of fighting will say it’s “banned” in other sports, but yet, there it is, on tv, players in other sports fighting. Many believe a ban on fighting, let’s say automatic game misconducts or suspensions, could increase stickwork and dirty play due to players not having to worry about what the consequences might be other than a penalty. There is the instigator rule already, preventing one player from really seeking out another, so it’s hard to say if those actions would change much. However, I do think it would hurt the hardcore fan base who see the game as less passionate as it once was. Also, players aren’t robots. Knowing you can get suspended hasn’t prevented players in other sports from fighting and it won’t in the NHL either. Incidents like Todd Bertuzzi jumping Steve Moore don’t happen because of any rules set in place. They happen for the same reason bean balls are thrown, players aren’t robots and emotion can get the best of anyone. They happen without the thought of consequences, no matter what they are. Restricting fighting and attempting to have players bottle up their emotions even further could potentially turn some into powder kegs, for lack of a better term, and you might see more of these types of incidents.
4) What is your favorite fight of all time?
From a purely entertainment standpoint, I might go with Marty McSorley vs Bob Probert, Feb 04 1994. It was just a marathon of an open-stanced fight with the crowd going wild as they fought up and down the ice. Their teammates on the benches were all standing up and neither player went to the penalty box without a few pats on the back from their teammates on the ice.
5) Is there anything else that you can think of that may help me out with my paper?
I think the black and white way the media sometimes looks at fighting is pretty ridiculous. They talk about fighting in the NHL as though it happens every game, but I keep the stats and last year 70% of games were fight-free. The number isn’t far off this year. Then we hear about other leagues not having fights as we watch the latest bench clearing brawl on tv.
The entertainment aspect can’t overrule the game being played to win, it’s not about that, but at the same time, you can’t toss it out the window. Sports are businesses now and if the fans, the paying customers, enjoy it, you can’t ignore that.
You could write about how few injuries are from fights. It happens, but does it happen more than a vicious body check?
Behind the Blog: Scarlett Ice
Today’s Behind the Blog features Sherry @ Scarlett Ice, a blog with all things about the Ottawa Senators. Sherry also writes for HLOG with me and a bunch of other female hockey bloggers.
Q.1 – Scarlett Ice only started up in September of this year. What made you create a hockey blog and why the name Scarlett Ice?
I’ve been writing all my life and even played with the idea of going into journalism but realized that I wouldn’t be good at it, haha. I was debating about whether or not to start a hockey blog since the summer. I live blogged the Stanley Cup Finals in my original blog for a couple of my friends who couldn’t watch it but I think the rest of my friends got annoyed at reading all of the hockey content. I didn’t really have anyone I could rant and rave about hockey to and then I realized, hey, this is the Internet, I can rant and rave to whoever I want. Fortunately, there are a lot of people out there who actually like to read my crazy ramblings. You people all need lives.
The name is sort of a long story. In short, it basically encompasses all of the blood, sweat and tears that goes into hockey and it reflects my tendency to wax poetic and be melodramatic.
Q.2 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next year?
Hopefully have it keep on running! I tend to give in to laziness but I’m really committed to this venture and I’d like to keep it to a pretty high standard. I really am surprised by the amount of people that are reading it and how many of my favourite blogs that I’ve been reading for awhile actually think I’m worthy to be linked. I’m not a professional or anything and I really don’t expect anybody to use it as a news source but I’m hoping it’ll be something people will enjoy reading on a regular basis. Readership is one thing, but I’ve really met a lot of great people through the blog-o-sphere [especially the ladies at HLOG, represent!].
Q.3 – When and why did you become an Ottawa Senators fan?
It really was just a matter of being the right place at the right time. I grew up a couple of minutes outside of Toronto so I grew up a Leafs fan, but over the years I just sort of stopped caring about the team. I felt like there was nothing to look forward to with the Leafs anymore. It also coincided with me falling more and more out of love with Toronto the city and more in love with the city of Ottawa. I watched a Sens game against Pittsburgh for the first time a couple of years ago and everything sort of just clicked. I really appreciated what they did on the ice; how they mixed the bare bones of hockey that we all know and love with style and entertainment. Despite some changes to the team, I’ve been a devoted fan ever since.
Q.4 – The Senators have gotten off to a rough start this season after leading the Eastern Conference this year. Why do you think this drop in the standings happened and do you see them turning the corner?
There are about a million reasons fans will point out for their drop. Their lack of goaltending, Murray’s a horrible coach, Muckler’s a horrible GM, Spartacat’s lame, etc. etc. I think there are a ton of reasons we can point to for the drop and actually make a convincing argument for but the real reason is probably in the players’ heads. You can’t dispute the talent on this team and why that’s not translating onto on-ice success is anyone’s guess. Perhaps they’ve finally caved in to the constant pressure of being perrenial Stanley Cup favourites and always coming up short. Maybe the players have the pressures of the playoffs hovering around in their heads and forgetting the fact that they still need to play 82 games to make it to the big dance.
In large part, I think the team is still adjusting to one another. They made more changes in this past off-season than they’ve ever had previously and hopefully are just suffering through some growing pains. I haven’t had any objections to Muckler’s signings in the off-season and I actually thought Martin Gerber was a good pick-up. I’m in the camp that think Muckler’s a good GM, but maybe it’s time that the Senators saw somebody new upstairs. I also feel that Murray has great hockey sense but if he’s done all that he can with this group, than maybe he should move upstairs and get a new bench boss. It’s not a pretty sight to watch this team go through its awkward adjustment period but perhaps, somewhat naively, I believe this team can succeed in the end. I do see them being able to turn the corner and start winning more games, but the team has to make a lot of changes to their work ethic in order for it to happen.
Q.5 – Like me, you are turning 20 in the next couple of months. Do you find it hard to maintain a blog while trying to succeed in school as well?
At times, but I’d think I’d have a hard time succeeding in school regardless, haha!
Maintaining a blog and making sure it’s not just another lame website from somebody with too much time on their hands really takes a lot more time than I had originally expected. I figured my natural brilliance would have taken care of that.
Seriously though, I try to have fun with it and if I didn’t have an hour or two to devote to reading the blogs and writing in it, I’d probably go insane from all of the schoolwork I have to do. It’s a welcome distraction. School is all about time management anyways and it’s good practice for when you go into the real world and have to manage between work and recreation.
Q.6 – Are there any changes you would like to see the Senators make this season? What about the NHL? These changes can include team play, players, marketing and advertising, rules, etc.
I think there are a lot of holes the Senators have tried to fill over the years without a lot of success. Goaltending has always been an issue with them but I don’t want to give up on Gerber yet, but Emery’s clearly earned the playing time and I hope that the Senators don’t feel compelled to play Gerber more, simply because he has the bigger contract.
An actual second line centre would also be nice. I love Mike Fisher but he’s more suited for a specific role on the third line and I think a veteran or someone with a lot more experience could take off some of the pressure on Jason Spezza and add some more scoring touch.
We seem to have an overflow of mobile, puck-moving defencemen which is well suited for the new game but having someone with a bit more grit could really help energize the team and give them some more sandpaper, for lack of a better word. Nobody’s going to replace Zdeno Chara save for a tree, but a more physical player will probably help.
As a marketing student, I actually pull out my hair at how horrible the NHL marketing can be at times although they seem to be making some changes in that department. They have enough resources financially to put together a great advertising campaign but they’ve used it in the wrong way. They have the ultimate asset: the product on the ice and they’ve got players who are extremely marketable. There’s a specific way to market everything and they need to find who their target is and how hockey is viewed within the mind of their consumers.
Like most other people are sayind, I’d also like to see the schedule changed so we can see more Western Teams. I have no objections to Toronto and Ottawa battling 8 times a season because I live in Toronto, but it does get kind of stale after awhile. I’m actually also a fan of San Jose so I definitely would like to see the West more.
Q.7 – Do you believe NHL players should have to wear a partial visor or do you think they should have the option to make their own personal choice?
I can definitely understand arguments for both sides but I believe that the NHL should try to make an effort into grandfathering visors into the league. I may be a little bit biased because my brother almost had his eye gouged out when he played hockey. If anything, I think the bigger issue is to teach players from a young age to be a lot less reckless and to try to have more control over their sticks so freak injuries don’t happen. We saw in the playoffs last year that it’s still possible for sticks to go up and under visors. Asking players who aren’t used to play with them to automatically make the adjustment could be asking for too much, but if it’s something that’s slowly phased in, it could be eventually just become the norm.
Q.8 – Which player has surprised you with their start to this season? Disappointed you?
From the Senators, probably Chris Neil. He’s not the type of guy who will score highlight reel goals, but he’s consistently a hard worker and adds some much needed grit to the team. For the West, I’ve really been surprised by Taylor Pyatt’s performance so far on Vancouver. He only scored 6 goals last year in Buffalo and he’s already scored 8 on a team that definitely needs some offensive punch.
Of course Martin Gerber hasn’t turned out to be the stud we had hoped he would be, but it’s still early and with Emery back, we can ease up on him for awhile. Right now I think it’s just a matter of earning your starts with these two and Emery has made a strong case for himself.
Q.9 – What do you think the role of a hockey blog should be admidst the team, media, and fans?
I think the teams should be thrilled with the amount of hockey blogs and how vocal their fans are. Considering how fast information moves and far reaching the Internet is, having a blog wholly devoted to your team is advertising that you don’t even have to pay for. Because the fans are a large part of how each team as a business is run, I think it’s important for teams to listen to what the bloggers are saying because most of the credible hockey blogs out there actually have a lot of great things to say. Those with reputable blogs have very well-informed opinions and actual useful input that the brass at each team could actually use. Granting bloggers press-passes is a great idea because you’re proving that you’re fan friendly but at the same time, you can’t be granting it to every chump with a keyboard. Blogs in general have become extremely culturally relevant and reading them and working together with them, I feel, is a very improtant part of understanding your fanbase.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
About a million! Every single blog I have in my links section I try to read on a regular basis and they all have something great to contribute. James Mirtle’s Hockey Blog was the first that I ever read and I really enjoy it because it’s both informative and humorous. Golbez’s Hockey Rants is another classic. “Behind the Jerseyâ€, Hockeygirl’s “Double D(ion)†and Jordi’s “Girls Don’t Love Hockey†are blogs that really inspired me to start my own blog because it was nice to see a movement of female hockey fans with actual things to say getting their voices out there.
Any additional comments?
Definitely thanks to everybody who’s been reading so far and leaving me such nice comments. Thanks to Christy for allowing me to take part in this wonderful feature! If you haven’t noticed, I tend to talk a lot about things I’m passionate about. A special thanks to all of those hockey bloggers out there who have welcomed me with such open arms. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’ll try my best to make my blog not suck if you guys promise to still love me.
Behind the Blog: Gloveside
Today’s Behind the Blog features the new blog, Gloveside, which covers the Detroit Red Wings as well as other hockey teams near Kalamazoo. Johnny and Brennan are the brains behind the operation and so there will be two answers for each of the ten questions.
Their logo:
Q.1 – Gloveside has started only just recently. Why did you decide to create this blog and why call it Gloveside?
Johnny: It was Brennan’s idea to start the blog; I think the catalyst was the longer than expected off-season for the Wings. We had both been frequent readers of blogs, and I (at least) had started to comment more and more. Then I began to start checking sources, which was fun for some reason. Brennan suggested starting the blog; we decided the beginning of training camp was a good time to launch.
We wanted the blog (which focuses mainly on the Wings) to be centered on hockey here in Michigan. We’re from Kalamazoo, and there is a lot of hockey in our general area. Michigan’s lower peninsula resembles a mitten (as anyone knows when asking for directions), so we thought Gloveside was fitting and we could tie it in with hockey in our logo (ala Brennan).
Brennan: I’ve been an avid reader of weblogs for many years. I’ve tried writing personal blogs a few times, but never really found myself that interesting. Last season, I started devouring as many hockey blogs as I could get my little mouse on, in addition to all the personal blogs I read, and realized that if I wrote about hockey, I’d almost always have something to write about.
We were looking for a name that reflected us being in Michigan, we thought about names w/Mitten in the title, but eventually it morphed into Gloveside, like Michiganside, but a sorta punny hockey theme.
Q.2 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next year?
Johnny: I’d like to become better at researching, get some street cred, maybe some real creds! I’d also like to cover more of the local hockey: K-Wings, Griffons, WMU Hockey, and even the “beer” leagues, which I play on Friday nights.
Brennan: Hopefully we can get some more folks to come visit, maybe interact a bit w/our comment system, have a chuckle or two. Maybe hold up to our commitment to cover local hockey a bit more.
Q.3 – When and why did you become a Detroit Red Wings fan?
Johnny: When I was in high school I dated this girl, and if I wanted to hang out with her at her house, (her dad DID NOT TRUST BOYS) I had to hang out in the living room with her and the family. This was ‘86-’87 and more often than not her dad was watching the Red Wings. He started to warm to me and pointed out on the fuzzy screen the “kid” that was going to turn this team around, how he could score at will. I started listening less to him and watching the game more. Yzerman quickly became the first athlete that I would follow and he never flinched under my scrutiny. He just got better (as you all know) and I was sold.
Brennan: I’m a recent hockey convert. I’ve never been much of a sports fan, but I swear that’s because I wasn’t exposed to much hockey growing up. I became a hockey fan and a Wings fan at the same time. I mean, I’m from Michigan, who else am I gonna root for, the Thrashers?
Q.4 – The Wings had a rocky start, but are in the middle of an 8 game winning streak. Where in the league standings do you see the Red Wings finishing this season? Why?
Johnny: This season more than any before could drive a betting man nuts. I’d really like to hold off on that comment until they complete this Western Canada road trip. Saying that, I think they’ll be 2nd or 3rd in the western conference. It’s going to be really tight with the Ducks, Wild, Stars, and Sharks. The Wings have been all defense on this streak. If and when the offense starts firing on all cylinders they could take the top seed.
Brennan: I’d love to see them finish up near the top, not on it. Considering the trouble they’ve had in the playoffs when they’ve won the Presidents Trophy, I wouldn’t mind seeing them sitting a slot or two down from the top of the West.
Q.5 – Do you like the current NHL schedule or do you think it should be changed? If so, what schedule would you suggest?
Johnny: I would love to see the Wings in the East. I’m a working guy and suffer through the next day when they play out west. I really think they should see each team once. That doesn’t seem unreasonable.
Brennan: I’d love to see every team at least once. That being said, I don’t think the league can really do much in the way of schedule changing until we find out where the Penguins land. Kansas City is pushing hard for a team, as well has Southern Ontario. If a move is on the horizon, or expansion is a possibility — we need to wait. I’d really love anything that allows more than handful of original six games for the Wings.
Q.6 – What are your thoughts on the Red Wings relations with their fans? Do you agree with George’s article on the issue or do you have a differing opinion? If so, what is it?
Johnny: I have never even been to the JLA!! Because I work in construction and in the winter months I have to be prudent with my cash. Going to game on the other side of the state, paying what you have to for nose bleeders and driving all the way back hasn’t been possible. I also hate to see the lower corporate seats sitting empty.
Brennan: I don’t live in Detroit, so signings & what have you don’t affect me much, but I haven’t had trouble getting tickets the past few seasons. I think the franchise is run like a business, and like all businesses the bottom line is king. The way you make money is by doing as little as you can to get as much as you can. I’d love to see the Wings more involved in their community, and to make their organization more fan-friendly, but until they stop selling out tickets and making a killing on merchandise, I don’t think we can expect much of a change.
Q.7 – After a year of play, do you think the lockout hurt or helped the NHL?
Johnny: I enjoy the faster play, the parity is good…I just don’t know about supporting teams in places where no one cares about the sport.
Brennan: I think the lockout has at least as much to do with the state of the NHL as the change in rule enforcement. The year off seemed to give the league time to do their marketing and planning w/out having to keep up with current news and scandal. Maybe a few fans walked away, but I think in the long run the repackaging, and changes in marketing the lockout allowed will bring more and more fans into the fold.
Q.8 – Which team has surprised you with their start to this season? Disappointed you?
Johnny: The one two punch in Pittsburgh isn’t so much surprising as it is breathtaking. I’m afraid the term “you got Philadelphiaed!” is going to become quite the slam. All dark clouds converge over the Flyers…It’s surreal.
Brennan: The Penguins have come out strong, and incredibly fun to watch. A young, fast team could really go far with the new enforcement guidelines. The Flames, on the other hand, have just fallen apart. While I’ll never forgive them for escorting the Wings out in the second round, Kipper & Co. have found a place in my heart.
Q.9 – If you had to pick two teams to be in the Stanley Cup finals right now, which two teams would they be?
Johnny: Buffalo and…er…ahem….Detroit.
Brennan: I’m hoping the Sabres represent the Eastern Conference, I think they deserve it. If by some horrible awful twist of fate, the Wings don’t wind up in the rink for the West, then I’d love to see the Wild in there.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
Johnny: I love A2Y and was lost for a while without it. I also love the antics at Covered in Oil.
Brennan: I love Abel to Yzerman, and I’m overjoyed at its return. I think Sidearm Delivery, as well as Orland Kurtenblog and Covered in Oil are way up towards the top of my list these days. There’s also this fantastic girl that writes a great wings blog… I can’t remember the name, but she’s got a slightly morbid fascination with ligaments and cartilage…
Any additional comments?
Johnny: Thanks for the interview, Christy, and thanks to any one else out there who reads Gloveside, were hoping to bring a little more humor there.
Behind the Blog: End of the Bench
After a few weeks off, the Behind the Blog feature is back and today’s BtB highlights the Columbus Blue Jackets’ blog, End of the Bench. Even though Drew is an Ohio State grad, it’s a great read and he always keeps me up to date on the Blue Jackets. He is also planning something for the NHL draft in Columbus next year so that should be fun!
Q.1 – End of the Bench started as a printed newsletter in 2003. What made you start this newsletter and then why did you switch it over to the web?
Until very recently, there has been no local press that would evaluate the Blue Jackets realistically. The Columbus Dispatch was always praising the team and the management, but never addressed the shortcomings apparent in the way things were being run. I was fairly new to hockey, but I felt very strongly about the team. Hockey, as a game, spoke to me in a different way than baseball and football ever did. While the losing bothered me (and still does), it was the attitude from the organization that it was okay to do so which really got under my skin. Every time we would sign a free agent or make a trade, a career third or fourth liner (Grant Marshall, Todd Marchant, etc.) we were told through the press and the team that this was the missing piece. Playoffs were on the way. I got tired of hearing this, so I decided to put together my own assessment of how things were going. I only produced four issues, and the circulation was near zero, but I enjoyed the chance to get my thoughts down on paper. In 2005, I was running a blog for my family to keep in touch and I’d made a few posts there during the lockout. Most of what I wrote there was very short, but when I chose to write about hockey, I’d easily get 1,000 words out in a very short amount of time. The more I stewed on it, I knew I had to write on hockey. The web seemed to be a great medium to do so, so I launched the original End of the Bench on February 2nd on the Blogger platform.
Q.2 – When and why did you become a Columbus Blue Jackets fan?
I became a Blue Jackets fan on June 25, 1997 when the NHL awarded Columbus an expansion franchise. I’ve lived in the Columbus area since 1985, and my list of favorite sports teams included the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Browns. I’ve always wanted a professional team in my hometown that I could feel was rightfully (geographically) mine. Columbus had dabbled in professional sports for the prior ten years, with the Ohio Glory (World Football League), arena football (the first venture was called the Thunderbolts, I think), basketball (both the Columbus Horizon and Columbus Quest), the Columbus Chill (East Coast Hockey League), and most recently the Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer). With the exception of the Crew (and the AAA baseball Clippers), every other professional team that came through Columbus was gone shortly thereafter. The Ohio State Buckeyes have ruled this town for decades, and the sports fans here have a tough time accepting losing (which all expansion teams do). When the NHL said they’d be in Columbus, it was the first time one of the “Big Four†sports was venturing into town in my lifetime. I decided right then that I’d learn about hockey. The more I watched and learned, the more I enjoyed the sport. When the puck was dropped for the first time on October 7, 2000, I was hooked.
Q.3 – The season has not gone very well for Columbus, when do you see this team turning it around? In a couple years?
My knee-jerk reaction to this question is that I think the Jackets can start sniffing the playoffs next year. Prior to this season starting, I said this might be the year but it’s pretty apparent that the squad is having a difficult time believing that they can do so. I think that in a year, the younger talent will be developed even more and it would be really nice to see the team make a move for a difference making player via free agency or trade.
My honest answer to the question is that I think the team will have a very difficult time finding success as long as the current management is in place. Doug MacLean is making it very tough for the team to win, and if they do make the playoffs in his tenure it will be in spite of his better efforts. Overpaying for talent (Marshall, Marchant, Foote, Berard, Carter, Sillinger, Modin, etc.) has been the modus operandi of the MacLean front office. Fans are finally starting to see what is going on, and my greatest fear as a Blue Jacket fan is that the city will reject the franchise and John McConnell will either leave or sell before swallowing his pride and firing the General Manager. As a Browns fan, I lived through a greedy owner stealing a franchise. Now as a Blue Jackets fan, I fear I’m watching a clueless owner letting his hirelings kill what should be a great thing for Columbus.
Q.4 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next year?
The ultimate goal would be to increase readership, especially in the local market. The more that local people can begin to see how the team management is taking advantage of their relative naivite, the better. It’s not enough anymore to be happy with setting franchise records for points while still finishing in third place in the division. I don’t honestly believe that I’ll help get MacLean fired, but if I can help one or two fans see the light, I’ve done my job. I made a recent addition to the site with my guest writer series, Dose of Reality. It’s written by a local knowledgeable hockey mind under the psuedonymn Truth Serum. I like the fresh opinions that Truth Serum is able to add to my own at the End of the Bench, and I hope that my (our) readers feel the same way. I think his columns will help me achieve my goal of increasing the fan awareness of poor management, as well.
Q.5 – Since I go to U of M and you are an OSU alum, what’s the best UM-OSU joke you’ve ever heard?
My favorite joke:
Q: Why don’t the Michigan players have cold water on the sidelines?
A: The guy with the recipie for ice graduated.
My favorite saying: “Go north until you smell it, then west until you step in it.â€
My favorite story: Woody Hayes and one of his assistant coaches were returning from a recruiting trip in Michigan, and as they neared the Ohio/Michigan border the assistant’s car ran out of gas. The assistant coach wanted to walk to the nearest gas station to get enough to have them on their way. Woody told the coach that the day he gave one of his pennies to that State Up North would be the day he died. They pushed the car a few miles into Ohio.
Q.6 – What do you think was the biggest move the Blue Jackets made over the summer?
Biggest as far as players involved was Marc Denis to Tampa Bay for Fredrik Modin. I’m waiting until the end of the season to pass judgement on this trade. It really depends on how Denis, Modin, and Pascal Leclaire play. At the time, I didn’t think it was a terrible trade. I think Leclaire is ready for his baptism by fire, and he’s doing okay at this point. Modin has not played to expectations as of yet, and I understand that Denis isn’t exactly tearing it up down south. So we’ll see in a few months how this will go.
The biggest move the Jackets made in my opinion was getting Nikolai Zherdev back to Columbus. He’s not the most important offensive force on the team, that would be Rick Nash. But he adds an element that other teams must prepare for, and a level of excitement that gets fans in the arena.
Q.7 – Do you think the schedule should be changed so that each team plays every other team at least once or do you like it as is?
This seems to be a hot topic among the hockey blogs lately. Personally, I’d like to see the schedule modified a bit so that every team plays at least once. It would make travel tougher on some clubs (Vancouver for example), but I think it would go a ways towards marketing the young stars (Columbus fans don’t get to see Ovechkin, Crosby, Lundqvist, or Kovalchuk in town this year). Even if every team plays at minimum a home and home with clubs from the opposite conference, there would be 52 games left for their own conference. Sure, you can’t split those evenly between division and non-division opponents, but I haven’t met anyone yet who’s married to an 82 game schedule. Take a few games away, and make it work. So yeah, I’d like to see the schedule a little more balanced.
Q.8 – Which team has surprised you with their start to this season? Disappointed you?
The team that has surprised me the most has to be the Atlanta Thrashers. Kari Lehtonen is playing very well right now, and the offense is doing what we expected with Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk wowing the Georgia crowds. Buffalo, Minnesota, Anaheim, Dallas, and San Jose are all doing well but I think Atlanta has been the biggest surprise so far. Pittsburgh has also been a pleasant surprise as well.
The team that has disappointed me has definitely been the Blue Jackets. After starting out of the gate 2-1-0, they’ve dropped seven of their last nine and are having extreme difficulties getting things going. The team has to start believing in each other, playing good team defense, and shooting the puck. Getting outshot by a 2-1 margin in some games will not win you points in the standings.
Q.9 – Which sophomore sensation would you like to have on the Blue Jackets the most? Ovechkin, Phaneuf, Lundqvist, or Crosby?
Great question, since I can only pick one. Do I go offense and help the worst goal scoring team in the NHL, or do I go defense and help one of the worst teams as far as shots allowed? I’d probably have to pick Alexander Ovechkin. He can score, produce points, and hit. He’s the most fun for me to watch. But honestly, I’d take any of them you named except Henrik Lundqvist. I don’t think he’s miles above Pascal Leclaire in terms of talent, and I think they both have a similar amount of potential.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
My favorite reads consist of the following: Abel to Yzerman, CasonBlog, Behind the Jersey, Army of the Ohio, and Off Wing Opinion. I have to give special thanks to Bill at A2Y for linking to a post I did regarding the crowd in Joe Louis Arena. It was the first time I’d gotten more than twenty hits in a day, and getting linked from a great blog such as his has helped keep me going some days when I’m not sure if I want to keep the monster alive.
Any additional comments?
Thank you, Christy, for having me be a part of a great feature you run. It’s a pleasure to be invited, and I hope your site continues to grow even as you make your way through school.
To all you hockey bloggers who may be considering attending the next NHL Entry Draft in 2007, I’m tossing around the idea of running some small event for us amateur hockey writers in Columbus. If you have any ideas or think you might make it to our fine city, give me a yell.
Behind the Blog: Double D(ion)
Our third Behind the Blog features the lovely Kriste (aka hockeygirl) at Double D(ion). It’s a pretty new blog covering the Calgary Flames, but it’s a fun read and creates a new perspective on the team that previously was not out here in the blogosphere.
Q.1 – Double D(ion) has only been active for a few months. What made you create your own hockey blog?
Well, it’s kind of funny story. My resident Flames fan had been talking about starting a Flames blog for the whole summer and was searching out hockey blogs. I started looking as well just to see what was out there and started looking for blogs by female hockey fans, coming across your site, Girls don’t love hockey, hot oil and so very obsessed. I didn’t find very many general Flames blogs and none by females. I started it as something fun to do and have been pleasantly surprised by the readership I’ve gained. I was also lucky to be linked to by Paul Kukla at NHL.com which brought over 250 visitors. Crazy!
Q.2 – When and why did you become a Calgary Flames fan?
I became aware of a love for the Flames during the 2003 draft when they picked up Dion Phaneuf. I had watched him play with the Red Deer Rebels and always have kept a watch on the WHL players as they move along. Like I mentioned on our hlog, I live with a Flames fan and it was hard not to start to like the team after hearing and watching them as they were always on. I admire Darryl Sutter’s style of hockey, respecting his no B.S. attitude. After watching the Flames during their 2004 playoff run, I found myself getting really excited about the games. We lived in Vancouver so it was super to watch the Flames stick it to the Canucks. We travelled to Calgary in hopes of getting tickets to the game 6 versus the Red Wings but were unable to so we watched on a huge screen at a sports bar. When Martin Gelinas scored, I think my heart was won over.
Q.3 – Many bloggers and media pundits have picked Calgary to top the Western Conference and at a bare minimum, win their division. Do you agree? Why?
It’s interesting. I’ve never given much thought to the end result. In the past, I’ve felt that I watch with too much emotion to make the prediction of the team winning the whole shebang because I don’t want to be crushed at the end of the season if they don’t. It’s been the same way when I watched the Kootenay Ice go to the Memorial Cup in 2000. I do agree that they will have a great season. I think the key to winning is having Jarome Iginla return to form and Alex Tanguay could be the new Craig Conroy, being a perfect linemate. It sounds like Tanguay did his homework on Iginla and I hope it pays off. The defence pairing of Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr on paper looks like a match made in hockey heaven, here’s hoping it works on the ice.
Q.4 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next year?
Hmm, that’s a good question. Since I didn’t really have a goal at the beginning of the blog it’s hard to say. I’m hoping to continue posting from the heart, offering my perspective on the game, gaining knowledge of the game and improving my writing skills. I think being involved in a great hockey blogging community and being part of the hlog will help. I think it’s important to represent the female fans who enjoy the game and want to learn more but also want to have a good time.
Q.5 – What are your thoughts on the new NHL ads featuring Cheechoo and Forsberg?
They are certainly amusing. I don’t know how effective they are in bringing new fans to the game. I read an interesting piece by Linda Cohn at ESPN.com and she talks about how the NHL shouldn’t be aiming their ads at current fans but more at bringing new fans to the game. She mentions how hockey season starts just as the NFL is in the middle of the season and MLB playoffs are starting. It seems to me that the NHL is recognizing this and feels the need to remind people that hockey has started. I think in Canada it differs from the US as hockey seems to be everywhere and just about everyone you talk to knows its on, even if they don’t follow any team.
Q.6 – What do you think was the biggest move the Flames made over the summer?
As I mentioned earlier, picking up Tanguay was a good move. I don’t think I’ll miss Jordan Leopold, Brian Marchment and Shean Donovan. I think Chris Simon’s size will leave some space on the ice, but I don’t know if that will be good or bad. We were in Japan this summer and were constantly checking the transaction reports online and the Tanguay one seems to be the one that made us most excited.
Q.7 – I have to ask, what are your thoughts on former Wing and current member of the Calgary Flames, Darren McCarty?
I think he’s awesome. I love his passion for the game. He seems very genuine and loves playing the game. I respect his hard work on and off the ice with respect to his charity for cancer. He was traded to Calgary a few days before my grandpa passed away from a long battle from cancer and there was a story in the paper with a quote from McCarty talking about his time in Detroit and what it was like leaving and he said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” My grandpa loved hockey and those words offered comfort during that time.
Q.8 – If you had to pick the best signing or trade of the summer, which one would it be and why?
I think with the hype surrounding Ovechkin and Crosby last year, it will be interesting to see what Malkin can do once he gets healthy. Having a young Russian on the Penguins is kind of like having the two sophomores be one rookie called Croskin.
Q.9 – As your blog title suggests, why are you such a big Dion Phaneuf fan?
I started being a fan while he played for the Rebels and was impressed by his defensive skills. He was named to the CHL First All-Star Team in 03-04 and 04-05 and won the Top Defenseman award in 2004. He really stood out when he played on the Canadian team at the 2004 World Juniors where he was named to the Tournament All-Star Team and won the silver medal. In 2005, he played on the team again, this time winning the gold medal and picking up the award for Top Defenseman. He was also touted as the number two prospect behind Alexander Ovechkin in their draft year. I like his style of play, he can be a stay-at-home defenseman or he can drive to the net.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
I am inspired by Girls don’t love hockey because Jordi writes with a lot of humour. I also turn to Scarlett Ice because Sherry follows the game closely and adds technical insights. I like Metrognome’s write-ups at Hello Hockey Fans. It’s like he’s my eyes in Calgary.
Any additional comments?
Thank you for profiling me on BtB. I am happy to be part of the female hockey blogosphere and think that we are going to bring new voices to the game. It’s important for women to be have a place where we can talk about the players and game without the macho-ness of the male sites. Women add a different perspective and more can be seen at our hlog.