Just a couple of days ago, the Detroit Red Wings gave themselves and their fans a great Valentine’s gift: setting the NHL record for consecutive home game wins with their 21st victory.

They haven’t lost at home since November 3, and they’ve now bested the 20-game record that both the 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers and 1929-30 Boston Bruins held.

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

The home crowd, of course, ate this up, shouting “21! 21!” during the final minutes of the game. The Joe Louis Arena fans were acknowledged by the Red Wings as the players stood at center ice and raised their sticks to the fans after the final buzzer sounded. It seems like the team is keeping their wits about them by not basking in the glory of the streak. Said coach Mike Babcock after the game: “I’m proud of the guys, they’ve worked hard—and now let’s get on with it.” I couldn’t agree more.

The team has looked incredible of late, putting together wins better than they were earlier in the season. They’re going to need to keep that going too. As I write this on Thursday afternoon, Detroit leads the league with 39 wins and 80 points. The Rangers, however, are just a point behind them and have played three fewer games. Plus, in the Central Division, St. Louis, Nashville and Chicago are all in striking distance of the top spot.

The Red Wings have two home games coming up this weekend—Friday night they host Nashville and Sunday San Jose comes to visit in a game that airs on NBC at 12:30pm ET.

It’s possible, I’d even go so far as to say likely, that we’ll see the 22nd and 23rd consecutive wins by the time the NBC telecast ends.

Before we look to the upcoming games, let’s take a quick look at some key things that happened during the 22 games that played since the last time I posted:

• Of the 22 games, the guys in red won 16 (10 home and 6 away) and lost 6 (all away, obviously).
• The road still gives the Wings trouble. There were two devastating away losses during this time: a January 10 5-1 loss to the Islanders and a January 25 7-2 wipeout courtesy of Montreal. After a shootout win at Dallas on the 17th, Babcock said this about away games; “We talked a lot about that today. We’re averaging 1.7 (goals against) at home and 2.7 against on the road.”
• All-Star goalie Jimmy Howard’s been out with a broken finger since the February 2 Vancouver game. Joey MacDoanld got called up and was in net on February 4 after Ty Conklin got pulled after the first period. Joey Mac was the net minder for the record-tying and –breaking games and kept the Wings in the running for the record.  Since then MacDonald has won more games in a shorter period than Conklin has, some fans are calling for Conklin to be sent down when Howard returns. No word on if that will happen, but Joey Mac certainly looks like he’d be better to have in the backup seat.
• Speaking of Howard, he put away his 100th career win during the January 12 game against Phoenix.
• On February 10, Tomas Holmstrom played his 1,000th Red Wings game. Only five other players have hit that milestone.
• Then, in the game against the Flyers where the Wings got their 20th home win, Nicklas Lidstrom played his 1,550th game, which is the most by an NHL player who has spent his entire career with a single team. The record was formerly held by another Red Wing, Alex Delvecchio.
• The biggest announcement of all came February 9 with the official word (after a month of speculation) that Red Wings will host the 2013 Winter Classic at the Big House in Ann Arbor as well as a Winter Festival in Detroit during December. With the Red Wings/Maple Leafs game in the huge Big House, the NHL will shatter previous Winter Classic attendance records. I am going to do my best to be there for this historic game. Road trip anyone?

The next two games are going to be great to watch. Not only is there the usual drama as the Red Wings try to pick up four points against Western Conference rivals, there’s also that streak that needs to be extended.

First up is Nashville, Friday night at 7:30. Nashville is 5th in the West and 8 points behind Detroit. Their record in February is 2-4 after a five game win streak at the end of January. They’re going to be hungry for a W to give them two consecutive wins (they won Tuesday vs. Chicago), but the odds will be stacked against them coming into the Joe. A major question mark here could be the return of Jimmy Howard. It’s possible, though not a sure thing at this writing, that he might play. It’ll be great to see him back, but I hope they have Joey Mac on the bench just in case he needs to step out. Regardless, I see this as a win, probably by a couple of points.

Sunday brings San Jose into Red Wings territory. This is such an exciting rivalry to watch, but the Sharks haven’t been on much of a roll lately. For February they are 3-3 (they’ll play two more games before they hit Detroit). Sunday’s game is at the mid-way point of a nine game travel stint and, while they’ve got Saturday off, I expect them to be road weary.

They  need the win though, with only 68 points they are behind. Rest assured they’d like nothing more than to snap the Red Wings home streak. I don’t think they’ll get the satisfaction, but this one I can see going to shoot out because the game will be won or lost by a point.

Glee Factor Continues to Play Well: Glee is on a streak of its own with some excellent episodes so far in 2012, which is great for this fan. It was the funny and romantic Valentine’s Day episode, “Heart,” which aired as the Red Wings shattered that record Tuesday night.

Glee episodes aligned with the Wings two other times since 2012 started. On January 17, the “Yes/No” episode featured the engagement of two main characters and the team got a 3-2 shootout victory at Dallas (talk about a great engagement gift). The outstanding “Michael” episode, which was the long-awaited Michael Jackson tribute, aired on January 31 and a 3-1 win at Calgary was posted.

One wrinkle to the Glee factor—reruns don’t always have a positive impact. We’ve seen some cases in the past where solid reruns have aired on winning nights. However, the January 10 rerun of the hysterically funny season two episode “Sue Sylvester Shuffle” aired as the Wings were collapsing against the Islanders.

There’s one more Glee to air before the show goes on winter break.  As the Wings meet up with Chicago on February 21, “On My Way” will air and feature the annual glee club trip to regionals. This is usually a standout episode for the season, so I’m looking for a road win here.  After that, the show won’t be back until playoff time in April.

Alabama’s Frozen Tide Rolling Strong in the South: In late January I made my usual trip to Bama to see family and friends. This time out the trip included a trio of games played by the University of Alabama Frozen Tide. After “watching” many games play out on Twitter, it was a treat to watch them take the ice in person at the Pelham Civic Complex, which is one of their two home rinks. The occasion was the Tide hosting the SECHC Showcase, which featured 10 teams playing 11 games over three days.

It was outstanding watching the Tide destroy two opponents: winning 8-0 over South Carolina and 9-3 against Georgia. Their third game was a 5-4 loss against Central Florida.

I also caught the Florida/Old Miss game, which was a 4-3 win for Ole Miss.

There’s really excellent hockey getting played amongst the SECHC schools. For any hockey fans in the south, you should check out the team near you to see some strong competition. You’ll also find reasonable prices. A weekend pass to the Showcase was $25. I don’t think you can get into any NHL rink for that price and the games were just as exciting to watch. Possibly more so because, at least at the Pelham rink, you could sit so close to the ice it was almost like you were on the bench.

Another bonus of the trip was to introduce one of my best friends, along with two of her daughters, to live hockey. I also got to take in a couple of games with my mom, which was great since we hadn’t been to live hockey in a few years.

The Frozen Tide heads to the SECHC playoffs next weekend as the #1 seed in the SECHC West (their record in SECHC play is 10-0). They’ll battle South Carolina (#4 in the SECHC East) at 8:40pm CT at the Huntsville, Alabama IcePlex. I can’t get there in person, but I’ll certainly be there in spirit. I’m hoping to see Tweets about a Frozen Tide championship on Sunday, February 26 (the championship game plays at 2:30pm CT).

Hockey: The Musical! into Hockey Hall of Fame: It’s true, there is a show called Hockey: The Musical! I first encountered this show back in early 2008 when its creators got in contact with the New York City Gay Hockey Association to see if we could help them do some fund-raising. I jumped at the chance to help because it’s not often my love of hockey and musicals get meshed together into such a tight package.

It was at the fund-raiser, which was an exhibition hockey game between NYCGHA players and a team of “Straight Arrows” the producers put together, where I first heard some of the music. Hockey: The Musical! went on to make its world premiere as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival in July 2008. A cast recording soon followed the premiere. While I’ve never seen the show staged, I’ve enjoyed the CD and some of the songs have made it into a constant shuffle rotation on my iPod.

A huge honor was bestowed on the musical at the end of 2011 as it was announced that a collection of show memorabilia—including a cast-signed copy of the script, a playbill, postcards and poster—became part of the collection at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

So what’s the show about? Here’s the show’s quick synopsis: “The show follows the story of Pavel Riccardino, a gay, professional hockey player who is forced to keep his private life a secret from his teammates, his friends, and the world. An unfortunate series of events leads to his outing, and a public sex scandal erupts, which creates a strain on Pavel’s life both on and off the ice. When it seems that all is lost, his teammates rally around him, and their mutual love of the game keeps them together and leads them on to glory.” The creators say there’s more work to be done on the show. Currently it’s a 90-minute show, but they are working on turning it into a full-length, two-act musical. You can learn more about the show, hear some song clips and get details on getting your own cast album here.

You can follow Jeff on Twitter at @hockeyguynyc

I figured since “my guy,” Rangers’ forward Marian Gaborik, won the MVP award at this year’s NHL All Star Game, perhaps I should say something about the event. The NHL All Star Game does not tend to be an exciting event. The game itself is a diet version of an average hockey game. There is little to no checking involved since no one wants to get hurt over this meaningless game (as opposed to the MLB ASG in which the winning conference gets home field advantage during the championship game at the end of the season).

It is a high scoring game but that is more due to the lack of physicality, as I just mentioned, which then lends to the goalies not having as much of a chance of stopping the puck. So the high scoring is a result of an overwhelming advantage for the players and not so much a result of “exciting play.” Players due make an attempt to showcase their talent during the game but in my opinion I believe the Skills Competition is where we really get to see the stars’ abilities on display. 

I approached the 2012 NHL All Star Game with a bit of dismay and disinterest. I have been disappointed in particular the last couple of All Star Games due to the fact the Sidney Crosby was not able to attend them. This year would unfortunately be another year without Crosby at the ASG as a result of the return of his post-concussion symptoms some weeks back. However, this year not only would Sidney Crosby be missing the ASG but Alexander Ovechkin would be out as well. Ovi decided he did not want to participate in the ASG in response to the league leveling him a 3-game suspension for a hit he made during a game.

Not to get into this topic too much, but personally I feel he was right for opting out of it. First off the ASG is supposed to be a fun break for the players from their normal schedule. If Ovi would have went he would undoubtedly been bombarded by the media about the suspension and what was supposed to be a fun weekend would have turned into a migraine.

Second, what does Ovi miss out on not going to the ASG? The un-competitive game that does not have any meaningful gain from winning?

The media circus and constant pressure they create (again for a meaningless game)? I do realize that I am going on giving excuses for how lame the ASG is and why it was alright for Ovi to skip it, while at the same time starting this chatter by saying that his absence was making me less interested in the ASG (meaning his absence would be having an impact).

So while I do feel Ovi was in his right to choose not to go I will admit it did have a negative impact on the ASG. And the reason for that is because Ovi has been one of the main attractions at the ASG.

His antics during the Skills Competition (such as putting on the straw hat and using 2 sticks during the breakaway competition) and his celebrity-personality are great attractions for this venue. Without him (and Crosby) I thought the ASG would lack greatly in entertainment.

I believe the Skills Competition is the real showcase of the NHL All Star Game (and not the game). We get to see star players compete against each other using the skills that make them stars. Those that are great at speed, race each other.

Those that are excellent “snipers” test their abilities in the Accuracy Competition. Etc. While there is plenty of humor and showmanship taking place during the Skills Competition, you can tell that they really are trying their best to excel at the skill they are competing to be the best in. 

The 2012 NHL All Star Skills Competition was a surprise hit for me, even without Ovi (or Crosby) and that is because others stepped up to the plate and put on a good show. Two rookies bested the veterans in the Fastest Skater Competition. Zdeno Chara destroyed his previous record in the Hardest Shot Competition by blasting the puck at 108.8 mph (previously it was 105.9).

But what really impressed me was the Breakaway Challenge. John Tavares and Sean Couturier displayed some magic with their abilities to control the puck.

The goalies (Carey Price and Brian Elliott) had fun trying to throw off the shooters by acting unusually, such as jumping around and waving their arms, covering their masks, or facing the wrong way. Corey Perry was entertaining by skating about five feet in, stopping, throwing his gloves and stick away, and then pulling out a mini-goalie stick with which he skated in on the goalie low and scoring. But the player who really stepped up to the plate and “knocked it out of the ballpark” was Patrick Kane. 

On his second attempt he donned a Superman cape and Clark Kent glasses and then proceeded to skate down the ice, purposely fall to go into a slide (as if flying), and then, using his hand, threw the puck onto his stick to knock the puck in to the net. On his third attempt, still wearing the cape and glasses, he skated in and took a slap shot at a puck that exploded into three pieces, demonstrating his “super” strength. The majority of fans agreed with me on this and voted Kane the winner of the Breakaway Challenge. 

The Skills Competition did not disappoint. So, while this year’s NHL All Star Game may not have featured THE players that would usually steal the show, the players who participated shined bright and proved why we call them Stars. See you in Columbus!

Stuff the 2013 ASG ballot box with the entire NYCGHA squad. You can follow team captain, Scott, on twitter: @moridin87

I’ve been a bit crankier than normal these first few weeks of 2012. I hit the holiday party scene pretty hard – too much food with the family, immediately followed by too much drink to get over spending so much time with the family. I’ve been doing the diet thing. Jennifer Hudson and me – we’re counting points, y’all! I Believe!

A dieting Brian isn’t always a sane or kind Brian, so perhaps I was hasty when I wrote a really long post (still unpublished) saying the Devils were going nowhere this season and that Parise wasn’t going to re-sign so Lou should trade him now.

Meanwhile, in Newark, something has been brewing since the All-Star Break. The Devils are 4-0 with all the wins coming against current playoff teams (and Montreal.  Sorry, @mattsko, I don’t know how I could mistake the Habs for a playoff team). 

Leading the second-half charge has been Ilya Kovalchuk, which gives the PB boys a reason to run the odd Kovy pillow fetish pic (though I wish they’d show the one which flashes his hairy legs and a one helluva calf muscle). During the four-game winning streak, Kovalchuk has 10 points (3G, 7A) and the winning shootout goal in the Rangers game.  

There have been times in his career when people (fans usually) have questioned Ilya’s passion for the game. 

I’ve heard Devil fans say that he’s only concerned about his own offense and that he’d never fit in with the Devils’ philosophy. I say those people aren’t paying attention to the games. 

Kovy’s game has changed this season; there have been fewer blind passes, fewer 1-on-5 plays, and it’s led to fewer bad turnovers and more goals. He’s worked so hard on his defense that he’s taking regular shifts on the PK; this weekend he notched his third shorthanded goal of the season (he only had three in his career before this season).

He’s playing with incredible passion – check out this clip of him tying Tuesday’s Ranger game.  Catch his post-goal reaction – Rich Chere tweeted that he was swearing in Russian. This is a guy who wants to win, especially against the Rangers.

More proof?  Check out Saturday’s game.  Kovy puts up a Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, an assist, and a fight). The fight came as a response to Zach Parise receiving a cheap slew-foot by the Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo (who was fined by the league for his treachery). Kovy went after Rinaldo, who refused to engage. Brayden Schenn stepped in for his gutless teammate to fight Kovy, and this is what happened. I could watch that all day. Here’s a longer cut of it, if you want to hear Chico Resch compare Kovy’s legs to a powerlifter’s. 

Lastly, I offer a moment from Sunday’s game.  The Devils took a 2-0 lead on the Penguins when Kovy returned a pass to Anton Volchenkov, who slid the puck into an empty net for his first goal as a Devil (and first in a Gomez-ian 104 games). There’s no good video of it (I saw it during a between-period interview) but Kovy’s overjoyed for Volchenkov; he made sure he rescued the puck for his teammate and had a giant smile on his face.

So, even though I don’t think these Devils are Cup contenders, and that I’d totally trade Parise and Bryce Salvador for Jonathan Bernier, Sasha Voinov and a #1 pick, I’m giving Kovy, Parise, Elias and the Devils a couple more weeks to win me all the way over. I’d like nothing more than to eat my words. After all, words are zero points.

Follow Brian on Twitter, zero points but major satisfaction: @trot71

While you’re making the transition from peewees to playing high school hockey, somewhere along the line you realize you’re gay. Did it impact your play?

Zach: I’ve kind of known since I was at a very young age.  I remember in second grade, I was attracted to one of my friends, and it’s just…  That’s just kind of like you don’t voice that feeling.  You’re just kind of like…  When all your buddies are talking about their crushes and all these other girls, you’re kind of sitting around and in your own mind wondering why you think you like him more than you like her, you know what I mean?

As far as the relationship of that to hockey, it’s kind of just always been something that’s always been left under the table. I haven’t really mentioned at all, I haven’t really said anything about it. But eventually, that curiosity leaks out. You don’t keep that in. 

You eventually start talking to people and doing things, and…  I think right around that transition time is really when I was kind of like, “Ok, I’m up in the big leagues now.”  I want to say that hockey actually helped give me that kind of epiphany like “All right, I’m in high school now.  I should start doing high school things.” 

Zach: That’s when kind of like that experimental phase came in, and I figured out what you like, what you really don’t like, and we’ll just leave it at that.  And so I think as I’ve gotten older, as I’ve moved up in high school, I’ve obviously gained knowledge in a number of topics, but more specifically that worldly knowledge of “All right, what am I going to do with my life?” “When am I going to stop caring?”  

And I think, just kind of over the past summer, it kind of started to lead me to come out to more people, and it’s been a good experience, especially having a core group of friends that are really accepting, really caring and understanding, and I think that has helped me come out to the majority of my team right now.

You’re in a good spot.  You’re very lucky. A lot of kids don’t have that core group. 

Zach: Yeah, very true. There are some people that I do know that don’t have that core group and wouldn’t be able to be in the same situation that I am, but I am fortunate.

So, you’re out to a majority of the team.  Did you tell them or did they just hear rumors and put two and two together?  How’d that all go, and how’d they react?

Zach: The first thing you have to understand is how liberal my school is.  I go to a private school that, basically…  It’s a school that as a rule, teaches being gay is ok.  So I think that whole aspect of the school itself preaching this acceptance, I’m sure it’s helped to deal with it in that aspect. 

But you also have to realize that a majority of highly conservative kids were kind of ignorant.  That’s another issue. You know, they won’t send their kids to this very liberal school, and so the majority of the student body is very liberal overall, but also in general even more liberal as far as kind of the, what’s the word… socially progressive. So that whole thing has helped a lot.

It softened up the ground and provided you a little bit of cover – that the school culture was accepting.

Zach: There two girls at school I’m real close with, we’re very close. In June of this past summer, I came out to both of them.  One of them dates this kid that also plays hockey, James [pseudonym]. I’ve been able to share a lot with her about what I have to deal with. It’s good to have someone to talk to, And she often talks to James about that,  which I was perfectly fine with.  James was really cool about it, and he talked to me about it at the beginning of the year, and the three of us have actually grown to be really close friends especially over the last couple of months

So James actually ended up telling a couple of kids on the hockey team who just really wouldn’t care.  Sometimes I’ll make jokes, just kind of simple jokes that eventually people have caught onto, in the locker room, I’m talking about jokes that kind of some of the kids who I haven’t flat-out told or James hasn’t flat-out told or somebody else hasn’t told. That kind of hinted that, and somebody will.. . Everything is gay when you’re playing hockey. Everything is gay and everyone’s a fag.  That’s one thing that you just have to get over- it’s like, “That’s gay,  you’re a fag.”  That’s just what it is.

So, somebody calls something gay.  Like, “Kyle, you did that. That’s so gay.”  And I’ll just turn and be like, “What’s wrong with that?” and just kind of smirk.  So these comments and these kind of jokes which are harmless but can be pretty funny catch on, especially when people know that I’m actually gay.  That’s funny. 

It’s just as funny if you don’t know, but eventually whenever you say the word “gay” or you say “fag” or something like that, why is he making a joke?  Well, that’s because he’s gay. (laughs) That’s been basically the main strategy of how I’ve come out to the majority of my team, and I’m convinced that – I would say 90% of my team knows-the other 10% is just either oblivious, ignorant or they just don’t understand.

So have I had any problems from that?  No, I haven’t had one kid legitimately be like disgusted or whatever or despise me for it, and that’s been one thing that’s encouraged me to come out to more people.

It’s like, honestly, I’ve heard “gay” and “fag” so many times for so many years, it doesn’t offend me anymore.  That’s one thing that I think eventually those words are going to be just as off-limits as the n-word or something like to where you don’t say them in front of people. Until then, it’s humor or whatever you want to call it. 

But what was it like though as a younger kid hearing “gay” and “fag” thrown around the locker room, where you might not have felt so comfortable? What was it like hearing that?

Zach: I never…  It really took that epiphany when I transferred from youth hockey to high school hockey of realizing like, “Oh man, is this word actually me?” And before that epiphany, it’s been really just a word. 

The word didn’t have any true meaning to me until I really realized, you know, “Man, this is who I am. This is what I’m attracted to.”  And so, I think, realistically, it didn’t really offend me at all.  I didn’t think twice of hearing it, you know, quite a few times I didn’t think twice of saying it, until I had that realization, I was gay.

Do you think Coach knows, and if not, how do you think the coach would react? 

Zach: It’s actually funny you ask that, because just this past weekend we had a tournament, and I came out of the locker room after we won.  I came out with one other kid and our coach was watching the game that was following ours, and we were just up at the glass and people started texting, and my coach was like, “What the heck, guys? You come right out of the locker room and as soon as you do that, you start texting your girlfriend.  What’s up with that?” 

And the kid next to me was like, “Oh no, this isn’t my girlfriend.  I’m texting my mom.”  And I’m like, “Oh no, this isn’t my girlfriend.  I’m texting my, umm….  Umm…  Nevermind.”  And I kept texting. And the coach is like, “What? Your significant other?  Your whatever? I don’t care what you guys do, whatever you want to call it.” 

And so I mean it’s like-I don’t think it will be long before my coaches know.  Do they know now?  I doubt it.  They’re not involved in our everyday life enough to really fully get to know that.  They’ll ask a teammate about another teammate’s social life randomly if they have a question about it, but in general it’s like they’re not going to find stuff out on their own.

Just the fact that he floated “significant other” tells me the guy can handle it.  You’d said before that you probably didn’t think it was necessary or appropriate to do the big, dramatic, “Hi, team. I’m Zach, I’m gay.”  Do you still feel that way because pretty much everybody knows?

Zach: I mean, as of right now, I’m planning on – I want to take my boyfriend to the prom.

We’re voting for you for prom king.

Zach: Thank you! (laughs).  I think the prom is in April and I think that it will be kind of like, “If you didn’t know, here’s evidence, morons,” kind of thing.  As of right now, I don’t think there is  a reason for me to stand up in front of my whole team and flat-out tell them. 

I think if you were to spend any amount of time with the team, you would understand where the reasoning for that comes from in that everything is turned into a joke.  So I mean, realistically, there’s no reason for that.  If they’re really questioning, they can ask me, and I will tell them, but I don’t think they care enough to really need that personal statement from me.

Next: A gay NHL player and thoughts about his favorite team

Vinny: What do you think of the Ovi suspension and subsequent hubbub after he removed himself from the All-Star game?

Ted: While I did think Alex Ovechkin would get some sort of suspension for his hit on Zbynek Michalek, I was surprised of the length of the suspension. I thought he would get a game or two based mostly on his prior history – most notably the hit on Brian Campbell in 2010 – but did think three was a bit excessive for the play.

What really surprised me was no discipline or fine on Michalek for his elbow to Jason Chimera, as people have seen, that can be a dangerous play and thought that definitely merited at least a fine. To do nothing on that play really sent a mixed message, in my opinion.

As for the All-Star Game, I think the suspension overlapping the event put him in a tough spot, either having to answer questions about the suspension there or not going at all. For a weekend that’s supposed to be fun for the players who go, I really understand why he’d want to skip it and don’t have a problem with it.

Vinny: Do you believe Alex Semin stays longterm as a Washington Capital? Is Mike Green’s tenure with the club nearing a conclusion as well? And what’s the latest on the Tom Poti situation?

Ted: The Alex Semin case will be interesting for the Capitals, as they’ve signed him to a one-year deal for back-to-back years and now will have to decide again to bring him back.

For a while, he appeared to be the likely candidate to get moved to create cap room for a potential deadline deal – if they could find a taker – but now with Mike Green on long-term injured reserve, they certainly don’t have to move him in that case. I could see Semin coming back if he would accept less money from his $6.7 million deal this season, but the KHL will likely make him a good offer to go back to his native Russia.

I don’t see a whole lot of market for a winger who doesn’t bring a whole lot in terms of marketing by not speaking English and a bit reserved, and one who still has to prove he can carry a club on his own – although this stretch certainly gives him a chance to prove that.

I think there is reason to be worried about Green’s future, as even after spending time rehabbing, he did not look good at all in his one full game against Calgary, even admitting afterwards he wasn’t happy with his performance.  He seems to be struggling with a long-term problem, and the team is hopeful surgery will correct the issue. But he has played very limited time since last February, so there will be concern with the rest of the year and when he becomes an RFA this summer. 

Tom Poti is the worst-case scenario, he appears like he won’t return to the NHL again, which is a shame since he has worked hard to try to come back to no avail. Poti was a decent puck-moving defenseman and certainly could have helped this club right now.

Vinny: Can you articulate the biggest changes to the Caps culture pre-Leonsis and now?

Ted: Since Ted Leonsis took over the club in 1999, the club has certainly been viewed as more fan-friendly and taken steps to undo some of the damage done to the fan base when Susan O’Malley did some very damaging moves, such as selling large blocks of Stanley Cup Finals tickets to a Detroit travel agency in 1998.

The move had limited success before the lockout, but with the addition of Ovechkin in 2004 and then the blend with an exciting team to watch – not to mention the lack of success by Washington’s other pro teams – the confluence of these events helped create a buzz about the sport that hadn’t been seen since the 1980s in this area.

The blend of a superstar, a talented club and other factors have made the Capitals’ experience one of the best in the NHL at the moment, and it will be interesting to see if the team can sustain the ticket demand and excitement long-term.

Vinny: What, distilled to one issue, is the reason for this years Caps team, to be struggling so mightily? Do they need to make an acquisition to shore up a playoff spot?

Ted: The Capitals are woefully thin at center, and the fact that Backstrom, who has helped mask some of the problems in the middle – has been hurt shows that they need to get a pivot at the deadline. The center spot is so important since not only does it impact the offense and its ability to generate and sustain chances, it also impacts the ability to breakout of the zone. Not a coincidence since Backstrom has been hurt, Washington’s shot total has gone down and shots allowed has gone up. Washington also could use another depth defenseman, particularly with Green’s status unclear.

Vinny: Did Boudreau have to pay the price? Was that the right move long-term?

Ted: I think the Caps had tuned Boudreau out, and in this sport more so than any other, coaches have a short shelf life. Boudreau was such a motivational coach over a tactician – several people who talked about Boudreau for Red Rising noted his ability to get a team to believe in its abilities – once that was gone, he couldn’t get a whole lot out of his players.

The organization had certainly eyed Dale Hunter for a long time as a potential coach, there was talk he almost took over in 2007 when Boudreau was interim coach, but the team’s change ended that, so I wasn’t surprised they brought him down from the OHL. Earlier this year, Leonsis talked about how Hunter wanted to implement one system for the regular-season and playoffs, so you’re seeing some of the changes and growing pains now. Personally, I think one of Boudreau’s biggest mistakes was not using the offensive talent and its advantage more when he converted his system, as a good coach will make a system that fits his players, not the other way around.

Vinny: When do you think crotchety old people like us will get home white jerseys back?

Ted: I grew up watching hockey in the 1980s and just got used to seeing home teams wearing white, and in MLB and the NBA, it’s the way it goes.

I can understand to a point while they changed – allowing easier use of third jerseys but also to boost sales for dark jerseys – but I really am still not a fan of seeing the road team bringing in a blander uniform in. It used to be seeing a colorful array of visiting jerseys, now, you don’t see that.

For Washington fans, it’s a shame they can’t wear the retro white jerseys at home, because it would require an opposing team to bring another set of uniforms with them to Verizon, so they’re wearing them 16 games – all on the road. If the NHL wanted to keep the dark uniforms at home, I’d at least do what the league did during the 1991-92 season, have the teams play the first half in home whites and the second half in home colors. At least it’s some variety.

Vinny: As one of the NuNHLs chosen few, is the Caps fanbase with it’s influx of new blood still steeped in history?

Ted: The interesting aspect if you look at the Capitals’ fan base over the years, Washington had good support during the 1980s, but it was a different demographic, skewing older during its time in Landover and also drawing more from the Maryland suburbs. Once they moved downtown, the fan base has shifted to Washington and Northern Virginia, and also become more of a younger crowd. It’s become a bit more hip to be a Caps fan than in years past, and you’re seeing the merchandise on par with the Redskins in local retailers, which is something unheard of even five years ago.

The dynamic between old-school and new-school Caps fans is interesting, there is some animosity between the long-term fans and the newer ones, but I suspect the Capitals’ ownership is quite happy to have both on board.

Vinny: Speaking of that history, who is your favorite player you’ve dealt with in your time covering the team?

Ted: I have a lot of respect for Mike Knuble, he’s usually there answering questions win or lose, takes his time to answer questions and is honest, which is something a reporter loves.

He’s a veteran and knows his stuff, and usually can count on him for a candid and thorough answer if you need one. He even gave the best quote of last year when DJ Pauly D was in the Capitals’ room, replying “I’m sorry. I wasn’t listening. I was watching DJ Pauly D.”

Vinny: Now, I can ask the question I’ve been waiting to: Is Dale Hunter’scheapshot on Turgeon the most disgusting moment in Caps history?

Ted: Depends on your use of the word disgusting. Hunter’s hit on Turgeon after the whistle in Game 6 of the 1993 Patrick Division Semi-Finals certainly was a black mark on his career, and earned him a then-record 21-game suspension from new commissioner Gary Bettman.

This is a team that played its first-ever game in white hockey pants – which quickly showed why teams shouldn’t wear white pants with the grime and wear. Also one that sold off thousands of tickets to an out-of-town travel agency during its biggest playoff series in franchise history, so there’s a lot of different ways to define it.

Vinny: Does he know how much Long Island still despises him? Have he and Turgeon ever talked and buried the hatchet?

I’m sure Hunter is aware having played there after the suspension, but the visit in March will still stir up a lot of anger, I’m sure. Turgeon told my colleague Steve Whyno that he had put the incident in the past, and thought Hunter would do well as coach, but of course, the two are linked in history for the incident.

Vinny: Alright, Ted. I have to ask… Am I to infer from our tweets that you’re a Mets and Bills fan? You poor, poor man.

Ted: Not a Mets fan, but follow an equally hapless franchise, the Nationals. The Bills I have been a fan of for decades but they continue to deliver nothing but snark.

You already follow Ted on twitter, so add Vinny: @RoseTintedVisor

Jonathan Quick

The Kings are definitely not who we thought they were.  They cannot score.  Their power play is downright AWFUL.  Jonathan Quick has been spectacular this season however the team has been largely inconsistent, which cost a very nice man (Terry Murray) his job last month. Good news is the players are still pretty good-looking, so if this hockey thing doesn’t work out I’m sure most of them could be models.  Whether it be for John Varvatos on the runway or whether it be on the menu at IHOP. Yes, that’s right…Dustin Penner hurt himself while eating his wife’s “delicious pancakes”

   Good lord I hope this wasn’t a euphemism for something that no gay man wants to hear about.  I’d look up old Flapjacks’ stats, but they are incredibly disturbing considering his huge salary.  He’s underachieving and incredibly overpaid. 

Fact is, Dustin Penner missed a game because of a bad back that he aggravated whilst eating pancakes.  Were he in my group of friends, he would have immediately been crowned “fattest of the fat 2012”. Regardless, Penner is a total beard-o-sexual and I would buy him beer and a short stack any day. 

Speaking of beer, our new coach totally has bitter beer face.  I know for a fact that I am not the only one who thinks this.  Really not much I can add to that. 

Darryl Sutter has bitter beer face.  The end. 

Brad Richardson

On the other hand, Brad Richardson has a serious case of gay face.  There is no way around it.  Brad Richardson is quick, has hands of stone, and cannot finish at all.  But god damn is he pretty. He looks like that super hot go-go boy you saw on go-go boy appreciation day in West Hollywood a while back.  Yes, a city sponsored go-go boy appreciation day.  Have to love it.  

This past offseason my parents and I decided to save some money and move our seats back a few rows.  They are more nosebleed but much more affordable, as well as close enough to the press box that we can hear all the announcements that so and so left the game with an upper body injury and is not expected to return, and that tonight’s attendance is 18,118. 

What they don’t tell you is that there’s a reason seats are cheaper up there…Section 320 is a death trap and a lawsuit waiting to happen!  Things are just fine and dandy in rows 1-7.  The stairs in row 8 have caused no less than 150 people to trip this season.  I will say for this for Kings Fans, 150 stumbles, 0 beer spilt.  Priorities people!  I don’t know if it is a design flaw in the blue prints at Staples Center, or maybe the architect is a Ducks fan.

Speaking of the Ducks, 8-1-1 in their last 10 and they are still only 13th.  2007 seems like a very long time ago doesn’t it?

Follow Greg on twitter: @gpmurphy.  If he’s not there, try The Eagle. He’s buying.

Sitting here while gearing up for the NHL All-Star Weekend, a series of events that I have always enjoyed but have grown fonder of in light of last year’s changes, I find myself lost in reflection of the Flyers’ season thus far. 

The first 48 games contributed to a dramatic storyline that saw the hardship we hoped would be avoided this year roar up from many seasons of continuous heartache. While the emergence of a solid rookie class has surprised all in Philly, the loss of Chris Pronger for the season (and career?), the constant revolving door of concussions and other injuries, and the disappointment of Ilya Bryzgalov between the pipes are all reasons to be concerned. 

Granted, the rookies have filled in nicely and, while some would argue that the Flyers haven’t missed a beat with the injuries, I would rather say that they held up quite nicely and exceeded expectations (with some faltering, as is to be expected).

No, I don’t look at the defense and scream “get back!” this year, and getting the puck on net is, thankfully, not an issue.  Should a puck be fired at our own net, however, I cover my eyes like I’m 8 and I just walked in on my parents having sex. This year, I once again turn to the goalie carousel emerging before the All-Star break and leading us into the second “half” of the season. 

Signed to a $51 million dollar, 9-year contract in the off-season, the NHL’s #1 free agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, has played, at best, like Kris Humphries in a room of Kardashians… slow, dumb, and repeatedly confused. I’ve had it, and I’m here to make my stand. Let’s proceed.

The fact that Bryzbee (his level of play changes like the wind…get it? Frisbee?…oh boy) arrived in Philadelphia, one of the largest NHL markets and most sports-crazed cities in North America from the little blip on the sports map that is Phoenix, certainly makes an impact.

The shock and nervousness associated with playing in front of a raucous, diehard fan base must be overwhelming for any player.  Maybe for about two or three games. After the initial butterflies are expelled, the talent should shine through. Right? Bueller?

To date, we as fans have seen nothing more than consistently inconsistent play comparable to Michael Phelps simply forgetting how to swim this summer.  He flops around worse than a fish out of water. His reaction time is slower than the captain of that Italian cruise ship that crashed last week.

His post-game interviews are cryptic puzzles of nonsense. He’s terrible. We can no longer wait for him to become the number one goalie we all thought he would be. In 32 games played, Bryzbee has an 18-10-4 record with a GAA (Goals Against Average) of 2.99 and a SV% (Save Percentage) of .895.

His backup, Sergei Bobrovsky (affectionately nicknamed Bob) has an 11-4-1 record with a GAA of 2.42 and a SV% of .919. On Tuesday, he recorded the Flyers’ first shoot out win of the season and is riding high after winning three of his last four starts.  The hot hand, clearly, belongs to Bob. The team plays better in front of him, the fans don’t have random heart attacks when the  opposing team enters the zone, and Bob is playing like a man with nothing to lose because, well, he has nothing to lose.

As we approach the home stretch of the season, there has been more than enough time to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a team of randoms that came together in the offseason and have put together one hell of a season thus far.

A lot of that has to do with Peter Laviolette who, I believe, should be a front-runner for the Jack Adams Coach of the Year Award (a whole different topic for a later time). With four lines of offensive dominance and a young, consistent defense led by a veteran core, the attention turns to the disappointment in net.

Ed Snider clearly wanted to get the goalie we in Philly have been crying for since the days of Ron Hextall. The move in the summer to secure Bryzbee was a good one, in theory, but not all risks pay off. It’s time to lose the baggage, hand over the reins, and put the last piece of the puzzle together before we get any closer to the playoffs. Bench Bryzgalov.

All we wanted to see from him was a little fight to show that somewhere inside that loopy mind of his, a top-notch goalie exists. On Sunday vs. Boston, we saw Bryzbee throw some punches after getting steamrolled in the net. The fight, I believe, came too little, too late.

Follow Joseph on twitter now: @phillydekes

“In any given NHL season, there are anywhere from four to ten teams with a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup.

After 47 games, I’m fairly certain the New Jersey Devils (as currently constructed) are not one of those teams. 

It’s likely they’ll make the playoffs, but I don’t see them making any kind of charge at the fourth Cup in franchise history.  “Why”, you ask.

They can’t beat good teams.  As noted hockey fan Theodor Geisel once said, “They can’t beat them at home, they can’t beat them in Nome.  They can’t beat them on the road, they can’t beat them with a toad.”  (Really.  He said it to me at a Rangers-Leafs game a while back.)

Alexei Ponikarovsky

The trade for Alexei Ponikarovsky makes it seem like the Devils consider themselves contenders, which seems desperate – which isn’t surprising, when you consider the financial struggles (here’s a nice synopsis) and their strong desire to retain Zach Parise, who maintains that his primary requirement for his next contract is to play for a team that will compete for the Stanley Cup. 

It’s important that they put up a good front, but the proof is going to be on the ice and I just don’t think they have the team to make any kind of playoff run. “Why”, you ask again.  (Seriously, you’re like a 5 year old with all the “Whys”). Here’s why, ya rotten kid.

The Goaltending ain’t good enough.  Brodeur (2.84 GAA/.893 SV%) simply isn’t playing at an “elite” level (or even a “good enough” level) to lead a team through the playoffs.  No way, no how.  And Hedberg’s been good (2.45/.909), but he’s probably not the answer here, either. The Devils are not a good 5-on-5 team.  According to behindthenet.ca, the Devils are the 5th worst team in the league at full strength.  The four teams below them?  The Oilers, Sabres, Blue Jackets and (sorry Vinny) Islanders – not exactly playoff teams.  This might not be so bad, except… The Devils are downright awful when they have the man advantage. 

Adam Oates

So awful that behindthenet says that if the Devils were 5-on-4 for an entire 60 minutes, they would only outscore their opponents by 1.9 goals (Vancouver, by comparison, would outscore their opponents by 7.6 goals).  They’ve managed to cut down on the shorthanded goals against recently, now it’s time to score more PPG.  There’s too much offensive talent on this roster for this power play to be so bad.  Some have repeatedly called for Adam Oates to be relieved of his PP coaching duties (cough, cough, ILWT, cough) and it’s hard to argue with them.

Zach Parise

Hopefully, the Devils will continue beating on the weaker teams and make the playoffs.  Considering their financial status, the bonus money (tickets , concessions, etc.) provided by two (or, fingers crossed, more than two) home playoff games would mean a lot to the franchise. 

The Devils continue their longest home stand of the season (6 games, they’re 1-3 so far) with a shoot out loss against the Sabres Tuesday, ugh.  If you’re local, you should get to The Rock -  these may be the last chances to see Zach Parise in a red and black sweater.”

Brian looks good in any color sweater so follow him on twitter: @trot71

“The two players stare and linger around each other. One or both nod. The sticks drop, the gloves come off and the fists come up. The crowd rises to their feet and cheer. Hockey is dying.
 
Now, l am not going to start here and debate whether fighting should or should not be eliminated from the game of hockey. My view on the matter will be made clear but what I want to discuss is something in the midst of the debate. There was something bothering me for the past few weeks. Well, more like something has been bothering me for a long period of time but has begun to surface more in the last few weeks. Yet I could not exactly put my finger on what it was.

I knew it was in the category of violence in hockey, i.e. fights, headshots, knee on knee hits, etc. but I was not sure exactly what about it that was annoying me. I continued to watch and attend games with this gnawing feeling in the back of my mind. And then a few days ago, I realized what it was. It was how easily logic and reason are thrown out by the NHL when it comes to this debate, which makes me feel like the people selling this product think I (we) are stupid.
 
Violence in hockey is a hot topic right now. It is not without controversy and everyone has an opinion on it. Most seem, ironically, willing to fight to the death to defend their point of view. So I know I am delving into a subject that is potentially going to get me some backlash and angry comments. My objective here is not to upset or insult but to share my thoughts on the matter, which after all is the reason why we blog about things.

 
First of all, most people, including myself, when they say they are against violence in hockey, they are not saying they want to eliminate all the “physicality” from the game. We do not think that legal checks, battles along the boards, etc. need to be eliminated. Rather it is the “violence” as I mentioned above; “staged” fights, headshots, (intentional) knee on knee hits, etc. that we would like to see gone from the game.

Just to clarify, when I say “staged” fights, by this I mean the fights that take place between two goons after talking about it for a bit. I do not mean the bouts that erupt sporadically after a bad hit or the like. Those I do not think will ever be fully eliminated from the game. But the violence I mentioned above I think needs to be gone. It takes away from what makes the game of hockey the greatest game in the world. And if the consequences for these violent acts were more severe than they currently are, they probably would drop drastically.

But I will get into that a little more later. So when someone says they are against violence/fighting in hockey, to respond that they want to take everything physical out of the game is incorrect. So here is what I do not get, the illogical defenses given by those at the highest levels of the game’s institution, i.e. the NHL, as to why there is no reason to change the game the way it is now. I do not understand how they can look at the game, in its current state with regards to violence, and think nothing is amiss. Sidney Crosby, Claude Giroux, Colby Armstrong, Marc Savard, and Marc Staal are just several names of NHL players who have missed time playing this season due to concussions.

These are players who are key to their teams’ successes and so their absence is tremendous. Sidney Crosby and Marc Savard have been out since last season, with Crosby having had a short return this season before stopping again due to the return of post-concussion symptoms. Marc Staal just returned to the Rangers’ lineup at the 2012 Winter Classic on January 2nd after getting concussed last season on February 22nd, 2011. That is almost a year’s length in time that he was out. Yet, while players continue to drop like candy, the NHL thinks everything is hunky dory.

The punishments for those who cause serious injury to other players baffle me. While injuries (including those other than concussions) can keep players out of the game for such long periods of time, as demonstrated above, what are the consequences given to the players who cause those injuries? A few games. Sometimes they are not even punished for their crime.

Dan Carcillo

Chicago Blackhawks’ forward Daniel Carcillo was suspended 3 times this season. The first time he was assessed a 2-game suspension and the last one just 7 games. This is not his first season of getting multiple suspensions. This is an example of what I mean when logic and reason go out the window. I would like to know why the NHL thinks that the suspensions they are handing out have any effect on players “behaving” themselves better? Carcillo obviously did not think it was too much of a price to pay to seriously injure another player as he has done it so many times now. How does the punishment fit the crime?

Players are injured and miss months of being able to play, while the culprit sits out only for a couple of weeks, max. In 2006, during an NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, a brawl broke out between players on the court. 9 players were suspended including Pacers’ player Ron Artest who got the most, 86 games (73 regular season games and 13 playoff games). And guess what? There has not been an altercation like that since. The suspension was so severe that no one would want to risk that much for violating the rules.

But if that had happened in the NHL, I would guess he would have gotten maybe a 3 or 4 games suspension. After all, Carcillo seriously injured someone and got 7 games and in the NBA altercation no players were hurt, so it probably would be fewer. Where is the logic?  I also do not get how players who seriously injure other players are fined merely a few thousand dollars some times, while John Tortorella was fined $30,000 (!!!) for just saying something negative about the referees from the Winter Classic. I get that you are not supposed to “question” the “authority” but how is saying something worse than physically harming someone?

Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, said when asked if fighting is dangerous, “Maybe it is and maybe it’s not. You don’t know that for a fact.” Seriously?!? Here is the Merriam-Webster definition of the word:  danger: exposure or liability to injure, pain, harm or loss. 

How does that not fit with two huge guys trying to punch each other in the head as hard as they can … wearing skates … on ice??? This is what I mean by the NHL thinking I am stupid. The commissioner of the NHL thinks that he can say that two people fighting (forget about that added effects of skates and ice) is not “dangerous” and that me, as a fan, is supposed to accept that as a valid answer. Of course it is dangerous! That is why we do not see skilled players like Patrick Kane, Claude Giroux, or Steven Stamkos being sent out onto the ice to fight each other. That is left to the goons like Steve Ott or Colton Orr. 

Also, why is it taking so long for the NHL to deal with headshots? They say they need time to analyze and study it. “Things cannot change overnight.” And so forth. Again, what am I an idiot? The NHL has proven that when it wants something done it can do it, even overnight. The “Sean Avery” rule was created overnight. When Avery used his stick to block the view of Devil’s goaltender Maritn Brodeur, the very next day the NHL put out the rule (though they called it a “reinterpretation” of a rule) making that play illegal.

In 2010 the NHL was quick to intervene when the New Jersey Devils tried to sign forward Ilya Kovalchuck to a 17-year deal. The NHL quickly rejected the deal and forced the Devils to come up with a new one. In 2002 the NHL was fast to make changes to the arenas when tragically a little girl died as the result of getting hit in the head by a puck that shot out of the rink. So when it wants to (or feels pressure to) the NHL can move very quickly. So why is player safety not a good enough reason?

I love hockey. I will say it over and over again (because apparently there are those who believe that if you are against violence in hockey you hate the sport). I do not believe that fighting will ever be truly eliminated from the game and I do not want to see the physicality removed either. I do not want to see any player on any team (even the Islanders) get injured so badly that they miss months or never return to the game. I just want players to play by the rules and for the league to not treat me as if I was dropped on my head.”

Follow Scott, #87, on twitter: @moridin87

When did you start to play hockey. Were you always a D-man?

Zach: It was rough at first.  I kind of switched off through squirts and in peewee I found myself as defender for my first two years.  You know peewees, bantams - you know all those terms, right?

We don’t know much about the kid ranks. You started playing as a squirt?

Zach: Your first year, you start as a mite.  You have Mite 1, Mite 2, Mite 3, then you’ve got your two years of Squirts, your two years of peewees, and  your two years of bantams. So, as a bantam, you’ll be an eighth-grader and then, or a as a second-year bound you’ll be a freshman in high school, and then your three years of high school will be high school hockey.

Walk us through the early years. 

Zach: I played 3 years of mites, and that’s standard, but my birthday’s in lateso I’m rather young for my grade, so one of the options was to stay back an extra year on that peewee -bantam switch.  I did never play bantams. I just went right from – I played peewee for 3 years, an extra year playing with the kids younger than me, as an A-peewee they were a grade under me, and then I went right from my third year of peewees to play JV at my high school my freshman year. 

How old were you when you started as a mite?  Is that like 5 or 6?  7 or 8?

Zach: I’ve been skating since I was, I want to say when I was two, my parents bought me a pair of skates  and they basically brought me to skating lessons.  I actually learned more of the motions of figure skating for the first two years, so that was as a 3 or 4 year-old, maybe I think a 4-year-old. 

As a 4-year-old I was kind of learning the basics of skating, doing fish patterns on the ice  and stuff like that.  Finally, as a 5-year-old, they put me in Mites – maybe a little bit early, and I started with the hockey equipment, started to kind of kind of do drills and stuff like that – not playing in games yet, but doing drills and skating in between cones, and sliding under sticks on cones and whatever else we did back then.

You came from a hockey family and your dad was a coach. Did he play?  Brothers that played?

Zach:  My dad’s the youngest of large family and he’s got four older brothers and all of them played hockey.  So, he grew up in a hockey family.  When he was a kid, he used to flood the grass area right by his house to kind of make his own ice rink, and he would shoot pucks back there. 

So, he was playing very young as I believe a sophomore in high school, he was playing football with his buddies and he was injured. He was done for hockey.  He grew up around here, you know-hockey blood.

What does playing that mean to a family?  It’s a commitment all the way around, right?

Zach: It’s more of a commitment, and then it really turns into a lifestyle.  You’re not only- it’s not just adding hockey to your schedule, it’s making hockey your schedule, and that’s one of the big things that I don’t think people realize.  Yes, there’s some really intense families in other sports and stuff like that, but there’s really no kind of hockey on the side, hockey as a kid. 

If you’re in the sport, you’re in the sport. It’s that commitment that not only you make as a kid, but your whole family has to make, and I don’t think most people fully understand that.  I mean, it’s really 24/7, you know, playing hockey all the time.  Hockey this, hockey that- it’s never anything different.

Did it define your social circles as well, where your best friends played too?

Zach: As far as even my parents’ friends and stuff like that, they’re no longer their old friends from high school or whatever.  Their core friends are my hockey team’s parents, so there’s really that bonding experience even from a young age.  I remember playing squirts and peewees, and my parents would be bonding with- especially in an out-of-town tournaments, you know- living in the cities, we travel around the state. We play a weekend tournament, we stay in a hotel, the whole nine yards. 

I remember my parents and a whole bunch of other teammates’ parents- there’s this annual hockey tournament that takes place, and we all stay in the same hotel.  For three years of peewees my parents went up there with all these other hockey families – basically, you end up with the same group of kids and their parents. 

They’d get drunk and party [laughter]. You have parents climbing on tables, and I mean this is a true bonding experience, for the kids especially, kind of watching this weird side of their parents that’s coming out, but also, this is how our parents got to be really close friends.  So I mean, really- it does define your social circles- your hockey experience, your hockey team, your hockey family all become more than just your hockey family.  They more or less become your core group of friends when you play hockey.

What was it like making the transition to high school play?  You skipped a year of bantam and went to playing JV?

Zach: I skipped two years of Bantam. I skipped Bantams over all.  Realistically, I could have played Bantams U, which is youth hockey- it’s not through the high school- up through my sophomore year, and then as a junior I could have been playing my first year of high school hockey. 

I actually transferred schools my freshman year high school, to a private school.  It would have been very hard to still play for the youth association socially, but also the drive would have been absolutely ridiculous to get to hockey every day. Skipping bantam made sense and we made the right choice, switching me over to play JV hockey as a freshman.

What sort of player were you growing up? characterize where your performance.

Zach: You know, one thing that’s really overlooked, especially nationally, when you live in a hockey state like I do, and you have a kid in hockey and you kind of realize it a little more, youth hockey is big politics shit.  It gets bad. I mean, you have your best players sometimes playing on the worst teams because the parents don’t get involved in the details, and the parents don’t plan little events for the hockey teams or plan parent parties or do shit for the team or the association.

It’s really, it gets bad, so as far as my skill level, I would say I was better than average.  As far as the team that I played on, I was usually…  There’s A squirts, A bantams, A peewees, there’s B-1 and B-2, which B-1 is sort of a step up from a B+ team, I guess, and B-2 would be a B- team, and then the C scores would be a C team.  I would typically play in the B+ team. 

A few times, I think one, maybe two years, I was on an A team.  As far as the difference between teams go, you get a couple more games, a couple more out-of-town tournaments, maybe one more out –of-town tournament as an A team player compared to a B team. C at any level is pretty much a joke.  You can’t expect much from it.

Next: “Out in the locker room.”

Note: None of the Mites pics are of Zach. They were all pulled from the web to add simple graphic elements to the post.