AHHHHHHH So Much Bloggy Love

by Anne

OK. So first Pommer had a "blog" he updated like once every three months when someone from Sabres.com called him and asked him to.

Then Millsey had a blog for the playoffs which was AWESOME and we could actually comment on it, and he actually answered one of my questions because we're BFFL. Its TRUE.

Then Adam Burish kept us posted on the World Championships in May.

Then Tim Kennedy blogged about Development Camp, now about Rookie Camp, ok that was only once, hopefully he updates it again.

AND NOW Thomas McCollum, goaltender from Sanborn, NY drafted 30th overall this year by the Red Wings is posting a blog on fans.nhl.com. Wooohooo! Granted, he posted on Sunday but who ever said I was on top of things?

A few samples from another native son of WNY:

Hi everyone. First of all, thanks for reading.

No problem. I have homework to avoid doing, thanks for writing to help me avoid it.

And then, if I’m able to stop a couple of their forwards, I think I would be pretty happy.

Dear Thomas,

Please stop more pucks than you allow in. This is the basic job description of a goaltender. The higher percentage of shots you stop, the more likely you are to play in the NHL.

This has been "Hockey 101" with Anne. Thank you.

I’m actually really looking forward to meeting Chris Osgood. He’s a great goalie, he’s got tons of experience, and it will be really something to get a chance to talk to him.

Do be careful Tom, you ARE there to take his job one day. Don't get too attached to him.

He didn't have any good dirt on his teammates or amusing stories about half-man half-lobster creatures, but I suppose his next blog entry could hold more juicy details about his teammates. Someone's GOT to talk with their mouth full or never changes his underwear or steals other people's sock tape. (Ok I'm sure its not really called "sock tape." I don't know what its called but you all knew what I meant, didn't you?)

ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE IT JUST STARTED TODAY AND I FOUND IT BY CHANCE:

Thomas Vanek has started keeping an online "Diary" they're calling it. But, its a blog. Just say it Thomas, say blog.

Of course there are no rude attacks during those little games

Does everyone remember the Power Play episode where Kaleta talks about how he hit Vanek a little too hard in a scrimmage once? HA. I bet that doesn't happen anymore, hahaha.

Rookie camp is already under way and I got to know a few of the young guys over the last days when they were practicing with the veterans: Gerbe, Kennedy, Butler – we’ll be hearing a lot about those guys in the future

Ha. Unlike McCollum's blog which is the rookie looking to the vets, this is a vet a little more hesitant about the fact that Gerb-dogg is hot on his heels. Wooooo!!! I loves me some vying for roster positions. Not that Vanek has to worry about his spot at all, but its still funny to think about:

Anyway, the club did a good job at the draft and everybody at training camp will have to fight for his roster spot, no matter what he achieved in the last years.

Ok Tom, we get it, you are your own worst critic. Please stop now. Start being badass and talking smack and all that stuff. Please? It could go a long way towards your petition for #5.

So many Tom's blogging about hockey, I'm confused.

GASP! If Gerbmeister makes the roster, does that make ANOTHER player in the running for #5? So far its: Rivet, Sekera, Mair, Vanek and POSSIBLY Gerbe. CHAOS. Mair is the front runner followed closely by Vanek and Rivet. Sekera's gotta come out of the gates FLYING to make strides towards #5.

Oh yeah, I was in the Arena yesterday and other than the fact that it was EFFING FREEZING as they put in the ice surface, it was pretty sweet. I get to feel all important with my security badge. I don't think my security clearance allows me to hangout in the locker room or take pictures of the players as they exit the showers, but no one said anything about that specifically so I'll just have to assume I can. SWEET.

I have to go back for more training tomorrow. Awesome. I have to wear a hat. a HAT. I look TERRIBLE in hats. I already have to rock what I'm SURE will be a supremely unflattering unisex polo shirt, and now I also have to wear a baseball cap. Gross.

Whatev, is it really only Wednesday? Booooo. Less than 2 days until training camp!!! AHHHH!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

Whoop-Dee-QuarterFinals

by Anne

NHL:

I only watched the 3rd period which was exciting, especially the crazy scrum at the end with Ott and Holmstrom, yikes. I opted to watch Team USA v. Team Finland, more on that later.

Stars hang on to fight another day. Unlike San Jose, who boasts the red-headed Messiah on their team, no one seems to think that they can pull off a miracle, but they did, of course, mention the stats about coming back from being down 3 games to none, as is mandatory. I will say that it is quite a feat to limit the Red Wings to one goal. Well done, Dallas. I knew they were going to win this game, I knew they wouldn't be swept, just like the Rangers won their 2nd home game of the Pens series with them. Eh. Whatevs, GO PENS!


So the World Championship Quarter Finals were held yesterday. NOW the games are single-elimination.

We've already bid farewell to Andrej Sekera and Slovakia in this tourney, and now we bid farewell to Ales Kotalik whose Team Czech Republic was eliminated yesterday by Sweden in a 3-2 overtime game that was probably pretty exciting to watch. Sweden scored first, then the Czech Republic scored 2, then Sweden got the equalizer and the OT winner. Sorry Ales!

AL! DO NOT MOON THE SWEDES!

FYI: Sekera finished the Tournament playing in all 5 games, 1 pt (o+1), +3, 11 SOG, with 19:01 average ice time per game. Yay!

FYI: Kotalik finished the Tournament playing in all 7 games, 7 pts (5+2), 3 PPG, -1, 0 PIM. Awww no penalties, good boy, Ales!

Team Canada took on Norway yesterday afternoon and Heatley scored just 37 seconds in. Yeesh. The first shift hadn't even gotten their legs going and Heatley potted one. Whoops. Then they traded 5 on 3 opportunities and both scored, followed soon after by another Norwegian goal. It started out really really close....aaaaand then became the monstrous blowout I was expecting. Yay! Canada won 8-2! Yay! Derek Roy had himself a 4 point night (3+1)! Hat trick! Yay!!!!!

Next, Canada plays Sweden. Boooooo. I don't care that you have Nicklas Backstrom! You also have Henrik Lundqvist and while I have nothing against him personally, I don't like his team, so PHOOEY on YOU Sweden. I don't care HOW funny this picture is:

Swedish Indians?

Hey look! Someone once found my blog while searching for "Henrk and Joel Lundqvist shirtless"! Here ya go! I live to serve my readers, haha. I hope a large check or lots of booze was involved in the conceptualizing of this ad. I mean, look at Joel's shorts. I know, you it took me a while to notice them too, as I found myself lost in Henrik's pecs. 35 might just be my new favorite number. Sidenote: who doesn't love the classic "make yourself look bigger and more buff by crossing your arms and flexing every muscle in your upperbody" move. Good show, boys, good show.

Anyhoot, Russia defeated Switzerland yesterday 6-0. Afinogenov had 2 goals. Woohoo! Next, Russia takes on the winner of the USA v. Finland match up.

Speaking of which:

That game was painfully boring until the end of the 3rd period. It was 2-0 Finland until about 5 minutes left when Mr. Yick scored a goal. And then, oh JOY of JOYS! His first goal of the Tournament, Team USA's first shorthanded goal, 37 seconds apart... STAFFY!!!! YAY!!!!!! GOOD BOY, STAFFERS!! You're trying SO HARD to be my favorite again, and you just might do it.

Tooooooo bad they lost in OT, and are now eliminated from the tournament, finishing in 5th place. :( What the HELL am I supposed to do now?

Anyhoot, when it all comes down to it:

Pommer played in all 7 games, had 5 points (2+3), both goals were powerplay goals, was +1, 0 PIM and averaged 16:54 in ice time.

Staffy played in all 7 games, had 4 points (1+3), +4 (tied for the team lead), the only shorthanded goal for Team USA and averaged only 8:41 in ice time per game.

An excellent showing from the boys in blue and gold for Team USA. I guess it's all about Roysie, Max and Kalinin....ugh, ok it's all about Roysie:

Two of Roysie's three goal celebrations:

Typical happy smiley Roysie

Suddenly and inexplicably stony celebration by Roysie. Probably because at this point the score was like 7-2 and its just rude to overly celebrate when you're PWNING the other team

Sigh.

Well, Adam Burish heard my plea yesterday. On their day off:

Some guys took the opportunity to go fishing. For some, it didn’t go as planned. Kessel got pretty sea sick as he spent most of the time leaning over the end of the boat, so guys were joking with him about that the past couple days, and Mueller didn't fare so well at sea either. O'Sullivan and Backes came back with a pretty good tan, and I would say Greene did too but he had a bit more of a lobster red shade to him, ha! Over all they had a great experience catching a ton of cod. Other guys spent a lot of the day walking around the downtown Halifax area eating outside and shopping.

Ok, there was no specific mention of Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford, I'm going to go ahead and assume they were in the "walking around and shopping" group. Go ahead, try to picture Drew Stafford fishing... no, really, I'll wait...... doo dooo doo, done? Yeah, I couldn't really picture it either. I bet Derek Roy dragged Pommer to all the fancy euro-style boutiques and gave him a personalized Roysie-over while Staffy and Zach Parise threw water balloons at passing elderly ladies and capped off the day by eating their weight in Starbursts on a patio while Kaner and Tom Gilbert made clay flower pots for their mommies at the pottery cabin of Camp Morningwood.

And yes, I did snicker at the thought of Phil Kessel being a big wimp and reintroducing the contents of his stomach to the world, hahaha. I'm not very nice. Here's a question: what exactly did they do with all the cod they caught? I'm guessing you can't bring live or dead fish across international borders, fellas, so I'm gonna go ahead and assume they did a "catch and release" deal. I think Adam Burish has a crush on Matt Greene, not just a ManCrush, but like really thinks they'd make a great couple. Let's start that rumor....aaaaaand GO.

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Private to Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford:

It's ok, you tried. Too bad you won't be back at the World Championships anytime soon because the Sabres will never miss the playoffs ever ever ever again. Right? RIGHT? That's what I thought.

Love,
Anne

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Private to all our boys that have been eliminated:

SMOOTHIE TIME! WOOOOOO! GOOSE IS DRIVING!! No Al, you can't have shotgun, Sabretooth always has shotgun, its the rules. WOOOOO!

Love,
Anne

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Will Ry-ry finish off the Flyers tonight?!?! FINGERS CROSSED! Tomorrow is my last day! As Sissy would say: "YAAAHHHHH!!!!"

Team USA or Camp Morningwood? You Decide

by Anne

I was only kidding when I said Team USA Mini Camp was like Sleep Away Camp for NHLers. However, Adam Burish's recent blog post has done nothing to convince me that it's not. It's got such a "Dear Mom and Dad" feeling to it. Here's a sampling:

On Monday, we woke up and went to practice. Following practice the coaches informed us they set up an afternoon of paintballing for the team. So we all jumped on the bus and drove a half hour outside of Portland to a paintball field.

So the coaches are like the counselors, apparently. Are these kids so easily distracted and won't hang out with their teammates that they coaches have to create organized group outings for them? Did they have to pair off on the buddy system? They were the "old" (25+) guys v. the "young" guys (24 and younger). What is that like Halpie, Pommer and Tim Tom v. everyone else? Did Staffy and Zachy Poo use Gerb-dogg as a shield as part of their master plan of attack? Something tells me Tim Tom still fired at will. I bet Kaner was their Benedict Arnold. He totes chose new Big Brother Pommerdoodle over the Thrashmetal Zombie.

The funniest part of the experience was right when we showed up Matt Greene and Zach Parise went right to the middle of the field and on the count of three started shooting point blank at each other as we all looked on.

We've uncovered the secret to the downfall of the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils: Zachary "One smile and all is forgiven" Parise and Matt "Corner me and get me to tell you a story" Greene do not get that you aren't supposed to open fire on your own teammate. That is BAD for your team if your teammate is incapacitated. Way to alternately lead, Alternate Captain Zachy-poo.

Yes, ladies and gents, these fine young men represent our nation. Tears come to the eyes.

A group of lobstermen, who are men that catch lobsters for a living, hosted our whole team and staff for an unbelievable dinner of fresh caught lobsters, clams and mussels.

Thank you for clarifying, Adam Burish. Here I was, perpelxed that there was a host of gigantically-clawed half-men half-fish roaming Portland, Maine freely stuffing the faces of passing hockey players with seafood.

Although, yo, Team USA sounds like a BLAST. I bet Team Canada is all regimented and "DON CHERRY SAYS WE'RE THE BEST!" and don't have fun group outings. Even the massage therapist got in on the action and ate 3 lobsters. That's AWESOME. I would totally rather hang out with Team USA.

I hear Dmitri Kalinin is a funny guy. I bet he and Ovie are creating all sorts of glorious Soviet mischief and Afinogenov doesn't think its funny.

Team USA starts off the Tournament on Friday against Latvia at 7:15 EDT. You can watch the games here.

DID EVERYONE BUY THEIR KIDS DAY NEWSPAPER?

by Anne


I only got 3 1/2 hours of sleep the night before so I wasn't too emotionally invested in the Habs/Flyers game. I've resolved to only watch the 3rd period of hockey games that I don't give a hoot about. Had I watched ONLY the 3rd period of last night's game, it would've been waaaaaaaaay more exciting than watching the whole thing. Nice last ditch effort there, Montreal. Maaaaaayyybe you should've displayed some of that offensive ZIP earlier in the game? Maybe? No? Ok.


On to things more Sabres-related:


Pommerdoodle was NOT named Captain or Alternate Captain of Team USA. This saddens me. It doesn't surprise me that any of our other (Sabre and non-Sabre Buffalo) boyz were not tagged. I suppose the fact that Pommerdoodle is only pseudo-American could have contributed and Halpie is the oldest skater.


Zachy-poo is rocking an A. It's in place of his missing chompers. Probably by next season I'll stop mentioning his teeth everytime I mention him.


Staffy shouldn't be rewarded with a letter after his craptastical season. Who else was surprised that Staffy was on the PK for Team USA? How often so we use him in Buffalo on special teams? He's not the first player I think of when I think of "clutch special team performer". That title goes to Pat Kaleta, HA!


Anyhoot, Adam Burish is bloggin' it up about training camp. Having not yet perused it, I can only hope it is as "What I did on my Summer Vacation"-esque as Pommer's Blog is on Sabres.com.

Reading.....reading....reading...

Damn, he appears to be far more coherent and concise than Pommer, or, here's a THOUGHT, maybe there's someone who actually EDITS it for him? Sabres.com needs an editor like there's no tomorrow. There are so many typos and grammatical errors in that thing, it hurts my heart.


Apparently, what we can learn is that if you ever get chance to meet Matt Greene, ask him to tell you a story.

This man is very funny, Adam Burish wants you to corner him

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Private to Tim Tom:

You're 34 years old. In any other place in the world, you would still be considered young. However, in professional sports, particularly hockey, you're bordering on senility. And, on this extremely young Team USA, you're practically one foot in the grave. Please remember that, while you are still a young man, in the grand scheme of things, you are not, in fact, 23. Please do not act like you are. I much prefer you to be crotchety and old. Besides, I need you to keep Phil "Mr. Yick" Kessel in line. Apparently he and Gerb-O are tight. Please keep them apart when at all possible.

Love and Geritol,

Anne

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Private to Marty Biron:

I loved when you were laying down in the net and then the goal cam like zoomed in on your face. It was freaky and awesome. I really hope there's a picture of that up somewhere...I'll go investigate... poo, I can't find it, but it was totally great. One of my favorite sights in the world is when a goaltender just lays down on his back to cover the puck. It looks so weird, hahaha.

Ok I couldn't find it but I found your usual yammering wacky self on the Hockey Show. You're so insane and I love your purse and your attempts to justify everything in there . :'( I miss Marty.

You'd be the only reason I'd be happy if the Flyers won this series. Just you...and a little bit Danny, but only because he's never won the Cup and Slaggy over in New York has.

How's the new bambino?

Love and I'll totally babysits,

Anne

More Team USA-ness

by Anne

Ok, Dear Team USA, please just stop adding people to the roster. Camp starts today, so I'm gonna assume they're done for now. They can add other players again after a certain point but I can't remember what that cut off day is.

Adam Burish, Chicago Blackhawks
Forward


Mark Stuart, Boston Bruins
Defenseman

Welcome aboard, boys! I hope that you have fun continuing to play with your NHL teammates and make new friends in Maine. I hear Kaner is planning on making dream catchers for you all to remember camp by. There's a talent show at the end, Gerbe will sing a country western ballad and Tim Tom will be doing his ventriloquism act. It'll be grand.