It's Go Time

I was the total skeptic. I saw the raw, unbelieveable talent the St. Louis Blues had, I understood just what kind of impact players like TJ "Smash Brother" Oshie, Patrik "Bergalicious" Berglund, David Perron, Chris Mason, would have on this squad. I never would have guesed Chris Mason would dominate in net as much as he has, or that David Backes, netting only 13 goals last season, would breach the 30+ mark this time around. And as far as STL's worship of TJ Oshie goes, I knew he would be big, but not like he is. I knew the Blues had plenty of power under the hood, but as far as reaching the playoffs? I was a non-believer, if you will.

After losing Manny Legace to the Peoria Rivermen, captain Eric Brewer and superstar Paul Kariya to injury, and Erik Johnson to a freak golf cart accident, among others, leaving the Blues with only 5 players not missing time due to injury, shot-block grandmaster Jay McKee came close to losing his finger, Legace missed a good chunk of playing time thanks to a kick to the head, groin injuries, and Sarah Palin's carpet. Nikolay Lemtyugov and Marek Schwarz left for their home countries, knowing they're major prospects for the Blues (for the most part anyway). Fan-favourite Lee Stempniak was traded to Toronto. This really hurt me. It was bad enough hearing that one of the best the Blues had to offer was no longer going to be with us, but when I recieved the news, I was- no joke- in the hospital, just about the worst place I could be in to hear such news. Up until last week, I had maintained the same feelings of doubt that St. Louis would see the post-season.



Don't get me wrong, it's not like I didn't support my boys in blue. You ask me where I was during any given game, I'll tell you that my ass was in front of my TV, or in the seats of the Scottrade Center, sacrificing my voice just to show some love to the Soldiers. Because no matter what, you pretty much have to do what you can to, as David Puddy put it, "support the team." If you're a true fan, it's what you do. And it's definitely what I did. Despite all this support and still not believing in the team, some people questioned my loyalty, one even went so far as to question my hockey sense. But it didn't bother me, it was how I truly felt, until last week. Yes, it's true, while everyone around me was increasingly confident in our playoff chances, here I was, still gearing up for a Blues-less post-season. It took the almost last game of the season to convince me that we would indeed taste post-season hockey. Because that particular game was what would launch us into the post-season. I waited until the last possible minute to jump on the playoff bandwagon. Not that I regret it, I just wish I would have believed a little earlier. But that's just the way I am, I'm not the most confident person in the world when it comes to this kind of stuff. I'm hopeful, but confidence is another thing.

This whole time, I was a non-believer. I was a skeptic, a naysayer, or whatever. But all that has changed over the past few days. The Blues now have a chance to bring Lord Stanley's Mug to the Gateway City. The Blues faithful won't have to watch another playoffs without the Blues this time around, and I couldn't be happier. It's been increasingly hard to stay in a good mood lately, but earning a playoff run has made things a little easier.

It's our time. Our time to show why we made it this far, why we deserve to compete for the most coveted prize in all hockey. This season wasn't a fluke. It felt like it wasn't supposed to be a success at times, but even with all our injuries, even without our team captain, we made it. I was a non-believer up until last week, it took this long to finally realize, after how far we came, just how much this team is capable of. So if there any more non-believers out there, stand aside in fear. Everyone else, buckle up and hold on, Lord Stanley awaits. In the words of Izzy Mandelbaum, it's go time.

Holt's Days In STL Are Done... Now What?

News that one of the most significant players on your favorite NFL team has been released is some of the worst news a fan can possibly hear. Like last season when the Rams released Issac Bruce. That was pretty hard to swallow, and so is hearing that Torry Holt's 10-year tenure with the Rams is over, having been released.

How could this be, one of St. Louis' most beloved sports figures is no longer going to be seen in the blue and gold. Some believe making such a move is unthinkable, an unwise, foolish move. After all, he's done so much for the Rams and the city of St. Louis. In his rookie year, he was an integral part of the Rams' appearance in the 1999 Super Bowl, their first Super Bowl victory in decades. Let's not forget that Holt scored a touchdown that night. He may not have done as much as mega-star Issac Bruce that year, but second best is still good enough, having accummulated 52 receptions, 788 yards, and 6 touchdowns for the season, no doubt a big contribution to the team's lead over the entire rest of the league in passing touchdowns and total yards. He was the Rams' rookie of the year that season, as well he should have been.
Ever since that season, he has accummulated at least 1,000 yards until 2005, since injuries prevented him from doing the same in 2006. But no matter, he's still the only reciever in NFL history to accummulate 1,300 yards for 6 uninterrupted seasons. He has made 7 Pro Bowl appearances, in one of which he was a starter, and he is among the top 10 receivers in receiving yards and touchdowns. In 2000 and 2003, he led the league in receiving yards, and for receptions also in 2003. Also worth noting is that Holt holds the NFL record for consecutive 90+ receptions, 6 consecutive seasons to be exact.

Holt accomplished all of this while in a Rams uniform. His legacy as a St. Louis Ram is basically sealed.

As if that wasn't enough, after the 1999 season, he, along with brother and fellow NFL'er Terrence, began The Holt Foundation (in memory of their mother), supporting the fight against cancer. Also he is a spokesperson for the Diversity Awareness Partnership in St. Louis.
A player like Torry Holt will be hard to replace, if he can be at all. The future Hall-Of-Famer's now empty slot is waiting to be filled, possibly by the next big wide receiver for the Rams. If the Rams can get their hands on Michael Crabtree at the Draft, most fans wouldn't argue such a move. After all, he's considered a top prospect, especially at his position. With the possible exception of free agency, this is seen by many as the best way to make up for the loss of Torry Holt. Since the Rams will have the #2 draft pick, they better choose wisely. And choosing Crabtree would definitely be a wise move. I have heard nothing but good things from this young future star, and I believe he would be among the best ways to ease the pain of losing Holt.

Of course it won't ease the pain completely. This is a hurtful loss for the Rams. They are losing a significant piece of history, the likes of which may never be seen again by the Rams. The best thing we can do is wish Holt well, and hope that somehow, whether by way of the draft, free agency, or trades (primarily the draft), the Rams can make up for this loss. Longtime fans will be sour about this for years to come, including myself, especially considering future hall-of-fame tackle Orlando Pace was released also earlier in the week. Truly these are difficult losses to swallow. But in times like this, it's best not to dwell on the past, but to look to the future. Everything changes, but nothing really goes away, including strength at the wide receiver position. Sure there may never be another player like Holt, but we can still make the most of what we have now, or what we will have later on down the road.

Torry Holt will never be forgotten, and will forever be remembered by fans for years to come.

A Calder Cup In Peoria?

The Rivermen's last win (vs Chicago, 3-2) was Peoria's 4th straight win. That's their longest win streak all season long. On friday, the Rivermen will trek to Grand Rapids and try to make it a 5-game win streak when they face the Griffins.
The 'Men are within one point of a last-seed playoff spot. If they keep up the good work, they can try to overtake Chicago for a playoff spot. It won't be easy, the AHL's Western Conference, much like the NHL's own, has been quite competitive all season long. At the start of the season, Peoria had been hovering around the middle of the standings, both in the West Division and Western Conference. After the All-Star Classic, they started to lose ground, but they could be well on their way back up.

Let's take a look back, shall we?

3/8/09
PEO 3, CHI 2
- The latest in Peoria's 4-game streak. Chicago had the fans at the Allstate Arena smelling victory after scoring 2 quick, back-to-back goals in the 1st, but it was nothing the 'Men couldn't overcome. Manny Legace made 30 out of 32 saves, including 13 in the 3rd period, one of which was a pont-blank on the powerplay. This was merely minutes before Nicholas Drazenovic scored the game-winning goal. Also worth noting is Ivan "Vish Out Of Water" Vishnevskiy has scored 3 points in the last 4 games, this time tying the game in the 2nd period.

3/7/09
PEO 4, RFD 3
- If you're against the shootout, this wasn't a game I advise you look back on. Even though the Rivermen did win it, scoring on all 3 chances in the SO.
This was a close game from the opening faceoff. Goal after goal after goal after goal up until the end of the 3rd period. A nail-biter of an OT if there ever was one, the shootout-haters were quite unpleased. But even the most die-hard skeptics must have been pleased with peoria's effort, forcing 3 allowed goals out of AHL superstar goalie Corey Crawford. He isn't an easy goalie to beat by any means, but beat him the Rivermen did. More specifically, Nicholas Drazenovic, Carl Corazzini and alternate captain Steve Regier.

3/6/09
PEO 4, CHI 2
- All it took was a little over a minute for Julian Talbot to score to take the lead, which the 'Men never let go of. Chicago's Andrej Pavelec made some quite impressive saves this game, but it wasn't enough, simple as that. Not tonight. Especially that 2nd period one-timer started by Carl Corazzini, which led to a very beautiful goal by Ryan Reaves.
This game evened the series between the two teams at 4-4-0, at least until a few days later.
It's worth noting that during the 1st intermission, the Rivermen Hall Of Fame was introduced to two new inductees, Joe Rybar and Don Granato, the latter of which coached the 'Men to a Kelly Cup in 2000 during their ECHL days.

3/2/09
PEO 5, QC 2
- The game that started the streak. The powerplay was at it's best tonight, with 3 PP goals being scored tonight. The Rivermen's save of the year was tonight, as Manny Legace caught a David Van der Gulik slapshot between his head and shoulder in the 1st period. Unfortunately, he was injured in the 2nd. But thankfully, his backup, Chris Holt, was able to hold down the fort, making 12 out of 13 saves. This game made the R-Men's record against the Flames 7-1-0.

So can the Rivermen keep up the good work and achieve a playoff spot? If so, can they hold onto it until the playoffs begin in April? And if they can, will they be good enough in the battles to possibly come against the best teams in the Western Conference in a bid to bring a Calder Cup to Peoria?

I am not one for optimism, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but the Rivermen have been playing greatly this month, and they're seemingly showing no signs of stopping. They're scoring, making the most of powerplay time, and Manny Legace is doing everything an AHL goalie should, not to mention having a great backup in Chris Holt. Whether it's good enough to make a post-season run is questionable, but it's not looking as bleak as it was. And it was looking really, really bleak.
It can be done, but the Rivermen will really have to work harder than ever and pull a few rabbits out of their hats, because the division and the rest of the conference is going to be working just as hard.

Ice Hockey In The South

I'm tired of the banter, the one-sided debate, I want this settled once and for all.

Ice hockey in the south.

Now I know that there are some people here that will be ready to start a war as soon as their eyes see those words above. Before the condemners start going off here, I just want to say, this is not intended to cast you aside and totally ignore what you have to say. Your opinions are acknowledged. Okay? Cool.
Anyway.... I understand this can be a touchy subject. So many opinions supporting either side of this debate, it can get quite disorientating. I don't want that here. So what I'm going to do is acknowledge both sides of the argument before I say what I want to say, to be fair.

Hockey in the south be damned! Sound familiar? If you oppose hockey in places like Anaheim, Glendale, Dallas, Atlanta, Sunrise, Tampa, or simply any location in the southern portion of the US, then it should ring a bell.
You sure present quite compelling arguments. Of course warm-weather areas aren't exactly the first thing that enters one's mind when one thinks of ice hockey. 35 years ago, if you would have told a Winnipeg Jets fan that his/her beloved team would be relocated someday, they probably wouldn't believe you. If you told them the relocation would be to Arizona, they'd likely consider you insane. And who can blame them, it's what a lot of people thought when the Atlanta Flames entered the league. Sure they failed and were moved to Calgary, why wouldn't they be?They were placed in a bad market area, unfit for hockey. No suprise they never made it all that far in the playoffs, right?
Speaking of Arizona, as mentioned earlier, the Coyotes' financial situation is just killer, isn't it? Being in such a financial slump is bad enough, but such a team in a place like Glendale only muddies the waters, right? After all, it's definitely not a hockey market. Nontraditional, if you will. And when you consider the shape of the economy, well, we all know what's up there. And apparently so do those Canadian journalists who want nothing more than for the Coyotes to move up north again. And who can blame them? They lost their beloved Jets in the American desert. That's not the best way to make a Canadian fan happy. Or any fan at all. Unless you just happen to live in that particular desert, and you just HAPPEN to like ice hockey. In which case, that's exactly how to please a fan. But you're not a fan in the south, are you? Never mind the fact that the Southeast Division has churned out only 2 Stanley Cup champions in recent years, and 3 in the Pacific. Nothing to "ooh" and "aah" at. Unless the team is being moved, in which case, "ooh" and "aah" at will.
Perhaps the economy doesn't have to be all bad. It means Phoenix's issues are only made worse, thus strengthening the possibility of having them relocated, which is just what you want.
Phoenix and Nashville have their financial problems, the Atlanta Thrashers have never been too impressive in their time in the playoffs, the Panthers haven't made the playoffs since 2001. And they're all somewhere in the south. Coincidence? If you're not one for putting a hockey team in the deep south, maybe.

Long live southern hockey! This should be the battle cry for the thousands and thousands of fans who flock the BankAtlantic Center or the Jobing.com Arena to see their beloved ice-bound warriors give them a good show. After all, hockey is for everyone, right? No matter where you live? But of course.
Diversity is a truly great quality that should apply to everything. And ice hockey definitely falls under that category. After all, when the Lightning won the Cup in 2004, how many people do you think they proved wrong that hockey in a place like Florida could work out? In a place where college football reigns supreme, having a Stanley Cup from that area had to feel good, right? And ask any longtime Panthers fan if they were there when the Panthers made the Stanley Cup finals in 1996. Sure, they were swept. But they made it that far. Florida, of all teams! Of all places to base an ice hockey team in. Of course it's been over a decade since Florida saw the Cup finals. But they know their time is coming.
But back to the "diversity" thing. If you want more proof that diversity in hockey works, look outside the US and Canada. Look at other nations. Look at Australia. They have their own league and are a part of the IIHF, right? Just like Israel, the first Middle Eastern nation to be in the IIHF. Ice hockey in Israel has come a long way, but it's still running strong. Their men's squad was almost in the top division a few times. And the World Jewish Ice Hockey Tournament is coming up, to be held in Metula, Israel.

Ice hockey has existed in the south for a while now, long enough for a strong fan base to develop down there. What about the folks who spend more time at the Philips Arena or American Airlines Arena than they do anywhere else? What would they do if their favorite team was relocated? While attendance may be down in most southern arenas, there's still a decent enough showing. Fans who are just like any other. What makes a Coyotes fan any different from a Leafs fan? A Stars fan from a Rangers fan? A Thrashers fan from a RedWings fan? Absolutely nothing. So before you start fantasizing about the Coyotes moving back to Manitoba, think about those loyal desert-based fans who love their team as much as you love yours.
I grew up believing in diversity of all kinds, including locational diversity. When I first became a hockey fan, and I saw that there were places like Phoenix, Tampa, Sunrise, these hot-weather cities with ice hockey teams, I didn't think anything of it, it didn't seem unnatural because I really just liked hockey. I thought it was a pretty cool concept. It's different, and it gives the NHL (and hockey as a whole) more of a fan base, and thus more recognition. Ice hockey is a truly great sport. And sports have the power to unite people, and bring people together. Hockey should be no exception. To make it work, it should be played in places we least expect it to be played. The 3 other major sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL) have their teams spread throughout the country. The NHL might as well do the same. And of course they do. And in my opinion, it is a good move.