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Crashing the Crease: Tools of the Trade

This week’s installment of Crashing the Crease is about the gear we use as goalies that seems to entitle the public to the criticism and bad goals that everyone loves (the title wasn’t self-referencing, despite what my teammates may say). For those who haven’t put on the pads before or have done so incorrectly, this should serve as a primer on what it is we wear and hopefully provide some insight should you decide to don the gear. I’ll address some of the manufacturers and tweaks guys have made to their gear in a later post. Because goalies are creatures …

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Then and Now: David Printz

In the 2001 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Swedish defenseman David Printz 225th overall in the seventh round. The blue liner was selected two picks before the Colorado Avalanche chose Marek Svatos and four picks before the New Jersey Devils chose Aaron Voros. Printz joined the Flyers’ organization in the 2004-2005 regular season, as he spent time with the Trenton Titans and the Philadelphia Phantoms. The d-man only played in two games for the Titans recording an assist in the process. He participated in 50 regular season games with the Calder Cup winners posting a goal and five assists along with 66 PIMs. For …

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Around the Net 10.16.2012

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. False hope or a real chance? Tuesday’s upcoming meeting might bring new proposals from both sides as players miss their first paychecks. [Philly.com] [CSN Philly] [Hockeybuzz] He’s as mad as hell and he isn’t taking it anymore. Kevin Smith hates the lockout: [ESPN] Trenton takes the first one The Titans win in their opener: [The Checking Line] The owners care! (well, sort of) Perception is reality to the NHL owners apparently: [Puck Daddy] That’s all for this week, join …

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The Reason I Love Sports

It was just over two weeks ago that I sat in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field and began to cry. It was not because I was sad, nor was it because my beloved Eagles were losing. I wasn’t crying because I knew hockey season was non-existent and showed no signs of resuming any time soon. The tears were like curtains upon my eyes because the Philadelphia Eagles were doing what was right and honoring the great Brian Dawkins for a career well played and life well lived. There have been hundreds of stories written about B-Dawk leading up to …

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CBA Chatter

  Everything you wanted to know about the CBA but were afraid to ask Here are your latest updates on the ongoing collective bargaining agreement talks from around the Web. Well, we have our weekly meeting in which both sides try not to blink. Here’s to hoping someone has the guts to try to actually make a deal and not try to “win” this labor war. [Kuklas Korner] [ESPN] [Puck Daddy] [Spectors Hockey] Don Cherry has thoughts on the players and the lockout:[Toronto Sun] For up to date info on the lockout and the labor talks, follow @KatieStrangESPN,@SpectorsHockey and @Eklund on twitter. …

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RICE & MICE: Lisfranc injuries

Thankfully, one of the injuries that hockey players are not prone to getting are Lisfranc injuries. Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes will miss the remainder of the season with the dreaded injury and, unfortunately, many athletes just don’t come back 100 percent from damage to the Lisfranc area. Lisfranc injuries are also called Lisfranc dislocations, Lisfanc fracture or Lisfranc fracture-dislocations, tarsometatarsal injury or just simply a mid-foot injury. It is named for Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, when he performed an amputation of the forefoot to the tarsometatarsal joints during the Napoleonic Wars. Ever since, the mid-foot where the metatarsal bones meet …

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Then and Now: Jamie Fritsch

Jamie Fritsch only played one game in the NHL. Unfortunately for Philadelphia Flyers’ fans, his big break could have waited a little bit longer. Similar to this season, the Flyers played the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 playoffs, as the Pens held the fourth seed in the East and Philly finished fifth. During the 2008-2009 season, however, Philly had a hold on the fourth seed in the East going down the stretch while the Pens had to hope for a shot at home-ice advantage. Going into their final game of the season, all the Flyers needed to do was register a point …

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Around the Net 10.09.2012

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. In Russia, knee hurts you. Jake Voracek will be out of action for 4 weeks:[Philly.com] Phantoms are ready to go Adirondack cuts down the roster to 25 and the Trenton Titans are the real winners:[Broad Street Hockey] [Hockeybuzz] Eastbound and Down A look at all the Flyers playing overseas:[The Checking Line] That’s all for this week, join me next week for more links from around the web on the Flyers and the NHL.       

Thanks to Craig F.

This Week in Flyers History 10/7-10/13

Welcome to the next installment of the second series of “This Week in Flyers History,” which aims to dredge up old memories, good and bad, of Flyers feats in the recent to distant past and to provide good fodder for trivia buffs. As it was during the second half of last season, we’ll be here every Sunday through what would have been the first part of this season, choc full of facts, figures, names and dates you need to know to gain that true depth as a Flyers fan. October 7, 1976: Islanders 3, Flyers 0 – Coming off their …

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CBA Chatter

Everything you wanted to know about the CBA but were afraid to ask Here are your updates from the past week on the ongoing collective bargaining agreement talks from around the Web. Well, here we are after another week of not meeting and not negotiating. The NHL wants the NHLPA to submit another proposal,while the NHLPA wants the owners to meet them closer to the middle. This could be a long work stoppage. [Toronto Sun] [ESPN] [CSN Philly] Adam Proteau has a one-on-one with Donald Fehr:[The Hockey News] Danny Briere and Claude Giroux are going to Germany:[CSN Philly] That’s all for this …