You read that right. It's time I put this blog to better use. Rather than posting pictures of cats with poorly spelled captions and drooling over hockey cakes I think it's time to use the blogs powers for good.
Um, and talking about the Everblades. We sometimes talk about the Everblades on this blog too.
Anyway, here's the deal. Meet a friend of the blog, Caity. She's working pretty hard to win a contest the Florida Panthers are running to become a special reporter.
You may remember Caity did on-ice interviews for Everblades games in the 09-10 season.
So, how do you vote? All you guys have to do is head on over to the Florida Panthers Facebook page and click the like button. Then, you scroll down until you find Caity's video. Click the like button and you've voted for the candidate with a Blades connection and a passionate hockey lady.
Look who's back... Evan Stephens! I love that the team announced this right after a full on whine-tastic post about not getting any signings. Whatever. I'm still hapy. Mr. Ivy League returns.
- I've also been reminded that there was no need to drown any sorrows because we still hold Bobby Raymond's players rights. If the B-Sens send him down, he has to come here. I have no words. No words.
- I can't decide if this hockey stick coat rack is neat or icky. Oh well, it's still a cool idea.
- Your Wikipedia hockey page for today- "Anyang Halla"
- It's pretty cool that our assistant coach has an article on Greatest Hockey Legends.
Last night, a friend and fellow fan happened to mention the Blades haven't been announcing signings. I have to admit, I've been mildly irritated by this. The last singing announcement was the return of Ryan McGinnis on the 17th. Since then, we've been told about a preseason game and a trade of player rights. That's it.
Did I mention there is about a month and a half left till hockey season starts?
How about the fact that we only have five forwards and a defenseman under contract?
Of course, this lack of any information or updates is what I've come to expect from a team in which the front office can't be bothered to do anything beyond the bare minimum in any situation.
Maybe I'm being sensitive. Maybe I'm overreacting. I just don't know.
In order to support my opinion that the Blades front office is particularly cruddy I randomly checked rosters around the league. I learned two things:
Our roster is about the same size as all the teams I checked.
There are some truly horrible team websites out there. Like eye burningly bad (I'm looking at you Royals. There is such a thing as too much purple).
So, it turns out I am overly sensitive and I am overreacting. Irt looks like all the ECHL teams are basically in the same position.
To be fair, this off season has been very long and Bobby Raymond signed a two way contract with the Binghamton Senators which means he may be sent down to the Elmira Jackals.
Today's video comes with a little history lesson (that is vaguely related to the Everblades, hang in there).
First, the video of an epic brawl from the the early years of the ECHL:
Oh, did I forget to mention the goalie fight? Silly me.
Anyway, you just saw a showdown between the Hampton Roads Admirals and Greensboro Monarchs. Teams eventually left the ECHL to become AHL franchises. The Monarchs became the Carolina Monarchs and played for a single season in 1995-96. They were forced to fold when the Hartford Whalers NHL franchise moved to the area and became the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hampton Roads Admirals left the ECHL for the AHL in 2000, and became the Norfolk Admirals.
Do you see the (tenuous) connection to both teams? I really do have a knack for pointing out the Blades connection in everything, huh?
I'm sure you guys have been absolutely lost without your weekly dose of random hockey links.
- First, some roster news: Ryan McGinnis is coming back. I feel horrible that I really don't remember anything about his time as an Everblade, but that was the season Anton Khudobin was in net and Brad Zannon and Ryan Lang were being all amazing and gingeriffic. Honestly, how was I supposed to notice any other player? Um, anyway, yay! Welcome back dude!
- You guys know I can't get enough hockey cakes. I don't think I could adore this pond hockey cake more.
- I'm not saying someone should buy me this, but I'd be very happy if I received this as a present.
- Your Wikipedia hockey page for today- "Legion of Doom"
- You guys know I love the Third String Goalie blog. I was wondering how I could love them any more than I already do. Then they announced that they were looking for jersey submissions from their readers. It's true love now. I just have to decide which of my jerseys need to be send in.
The longer the off season stretches, the more stuff I realize I miss. Case in point: Mini Mite intermission hockey. Because there's nothing cuter than 1/4 sized hockey players.
If hockey season takes any longer getting here I might start missing those terrible arena cheeseburgers and horrible $1 beer.
I promised a re-cap of the Blades news from the last two weeks and here it is.
- The Blades signed forward David Rutherford (you can find him on twitter here). This video of him in action is pretty spectacular.
Anyone want to wager on when he gets poached by an AHL team? I give it two months into the season.
- Maybe it's just my hatred of change, but yay! Tyler Helfrich is back!
- Other good news: Mike McKenzie and Matt Beca have re-signed with the Checkers. I find it hard to believe that McKenzie will be back, but I'm pretty pumped at the prospect of seeing Matt Beca in action again.
- Possibly not good news (depends on how you feel I guess): Trevor Hendrikx and Brad Good are headed to the CHL. Brad Snetsinger is headed to play in Europe with an Italian team.
- The team announced Kevin Reiter's replacement. We get... the Nailers broadcaster? OK... I guess it's at least a weather upgrade for him. I can't make any judgments on his style as I rarely had to listen to the other teams broadcaster. So, uh, yay!
- The team announced the preseason games this season will be against one of the two new... or maybe three, do the Titans formerly known as the devils count? Either way, we play the Chicago Express. I love that we get an early introduction to one of the newest teams in the league.
- Last, but not least, all the Everblades related blog stuff is updated. The roster, calendar, map, affiliations and league chart are all current. Remember, the calendar has the games and players birthdays and will have the special promotions when those dates are announced.
I have to apologize for the unplanned blogging vacation. It's a bit of a long story, but let's just say that I'm now enrolled in TLA (tangelo lovers anonymous). You just don't realize you have a problem until those delicious little bits of citrus come into season. Next thing you know, you wake up covered in tangelo rinds in the produce section and some very angry Publix employees are suggesting that you pay for the two dozen tangelos you ate.
Anyway, uh, back to hockey blogging! I'll post a full summary of the Blades news that's happened since my last post. Until then... goalie derby!
They have to do this during a couple of intermissions next season. This is twenty times better than watching yet another race to put on gear and shoot competition.
