Goaltender in the Making

By ecnewman
Posted on 03/22/2013 at 3:00 pm

I went to a Rockford IceHogs game last Saturday (my third this season, which is pretty cool) and during the first intermission (much like at the Philadelphia Flyers’ games) they had kids playing hockey. I noticed that there were a few girls on the ice which made me happy. I don’t know much about women’s hockey, but I would definitely like to learn. The goalie for the side I was on was female. And yes, the kids don’t move too fast along the ice, but there were a couple of bounces on the almost goal in the last seconds and …

The Gagarin Cup Playoffs: KHL Postseason Starts Today

By Craig F
Posted on 02/20/2013 at 3:17 pm

The KHL playoffs start today, as 16 of the league’s 26 clubs compete for the Gagarin Cup. Since the NHL and KHL are huge competitors, it’s interesting to look at the players on the current KHL playoff teams to see just how many are former Philadelphia Flyers or NHLers. On top of that, some clubs’ prospects are in the 16-team field. It’s also worth noting some of the teams that received help from current NHL players who played a good chunk of the season with a certain KHL season before the lockout concluded. With that being said, here are the previews …

One Win

By ecnewman
Posted on 01/25/2013 at 3:00 pm

…but it’s so relieving. I didn’t even think I was going to watch Thursday night. I had a faculty party to attend at a coworker’s house and they had NHLN and were nice enough to let me watch anyway. Now my jumping up and down or maintaining the fetal position while watching hockey is known to all who were there. At least I didn’t curse like a sailor like I usually do. Although I was still taunted because the Blackhawks are 4-0. And I have to repeat, I don’t hate the Blackhawks, I just like the Flyers better. It’s like …

Friends in High Places

By ecnewman
Posted on 09/07/2012 at 12:00 pm

One of the cool things about living not in the South is that I run into more people who care about hockey. Sure, it’s still a small number when you compare it to football, but at least here, I can have a decent conversation about the NHL once a week or so. The man who does the marketing at the school I teach at used to work in journalism for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was a public relations assistant that helped launch the team in fact. He’s a wealth of information about the ins and outs of that side …

Then and Now: Triston Grant

By Craig F
Posted on 08/29/2012 at 9:00 am

Jannik Hansen hasn’t missed a single game for the Vancouver Canucks since the start of the 2010-2011 campaign. After he posted 16 goals and 23 assists in the 2011-2012 regular season, Hansen notched a goal in Vancouver’s Western Conference Quarterfinals’ match-up with the Los Angeles Kings before they were dismissed in five games. Hansen was picked 287th overall by the Canucks in the ninth round of the 2004 NHL Draft, one slot after the Philadelphia Flyers selected left winger Triston Grant. After his final season with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, Grant signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flyers’ organization …

Then and Now: Kyle Greentree

By Craig F
Posted on 07/11/2012 at 9:00 am

Kyle Greentree has played in 373 AHL games, but has only taken part in four NHL games. Two of his four games in the NHL were with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2007-2008 season. Although he has yet to register a point in the NHL, Greentree has four 20-goal seasons in the AHL. After his third season at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Greentree joined the Philadelphia Phantoms for the end of the 2006-07 season. The left winger deposited two goals in eight games, as he scored in back-to-back contests. Greentree’s presence on the team didn’t matter much, as Philadelphia …

Icehogs and Danny Syvret (Peoria)

By ecnewman
Posted on 04/13/2012 at 12:00 pm

A few weeks ago, I finally got myself to an AHL game. Specifically, Rockford Icehogs vs. Peoria Rivermen. For those (like me not so long ago) who don’t know, the Icehogs are the Chicago Blackhawks farm team and the Rivermen are the St. Louis Blues farm team. I invited a friend of mine, who actually grew up watching Rivermen games. Her mother also informed her that to get into the playoffs, the Rivermen had to win this game. I decided to go to this game because of Danny Syvret, who was traded to the Blues/Rivermen last year from the Flyers/Phantoms. …