Patrick Burke (left), Rick Mercer of the CBC (center), and Brendan Burke (right), marching in the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, July 1.

You Can Play: Three small words, one monumental message

By Kim Pollock
Posted on 07/06/2012 at 12:00 pm

This past Sunday, when most hockey GMs were poring over endless notes and taking phone call after phone call regarding potential free agent signings, Toronto’s Brian Burke marched in the Toronto Pride Parade in honor of his late son, Brendan. Brendan’s brother, Patrick, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, marched with his father and other family members, alongside members of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Brendan was the first person who was associated with the hockey world as being openly gay. He was the student manager of the University of Miami hockey team, and had a …

On Competing and Conceiting: Trade Deadline thoughts

By Bob H
Posted on 02/28/2012 at 6:00 am

Blame it on the fact that what I do for my bread and butter is sit for 40 hours a week in front of a 13″ TV and digest a constant stream of information. This was not a national holiday for me, and its responsibilities no different from any other. The reality of days like today is that it is nothing more than a last-ditch opportunity for clubs teetering on the brink of something to appear like they are doing everything to tip the scales in their favor. So when Paul Holmgren or any man in charge of the other …

Five Questions: What should fans expect to happen at the trade deadline?

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 01/26/2012 at 12:00 pm

Flyers Faithful asked Bill Meltzer from HockeyBuzz, NHL.com, and PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, Joshua Janet from GCobb, Michael DeNicola from Orange and Black Pack, and our very own Bob H five questions about the second half of the season. We are very grateful that they took the time to share their opinions and predictions with us. Each day of this week, we will run the answers to one of those questions. Today’s question is: What should fans expect to happen at the trade deadline? What do you think should happen at the deadline? Bill Meltzer: I think the Flyers will look to add a …

A conflicted response to the banana-throwing incident

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 09/23/2011 at 11:36 am

As far as I can tell, we have two facts in the case against Mr. Bananathrower: 1. A banana or a banana peel was thrown on the ice while Wayne Simmonds was on the shootout. 2. Wayne Simmonds is black. It’s hard to ignore the apparent connection between these two facts and come to the conclusion that this was an act of racism. Unfortunately, the person who threw the banana was not identified and escaped without any repercussions. As a result, we cannot accurately determine this person’s intent. But it seems obvious. What reason would anyone throw a banana on …

RICE & MICE: Mind Games

By pavialax
Posted on 11/09/2010 at 9:00 am

RICE & MICE will periodically review injuries that are common, uncommon or just plain unique in hockey. I hope to provide some insight to the “how’s, why’s, and when’s” of the injuries that might keep players out of the lineup. “The NHL player is a marvelous subject for everyone but his physician; they will happily and freely lie to you with a smile on their face about their health,” said Toronto Maple Leafs GM, Brian Burke, in a recent Sporting News article. When a player gets “dinged,” has his “bell rung,” or just plain gets “knocked out,” a concussion by any …