It’s Saturday!

My two favorite songs to hear on a Saturday night:


“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” covered by Nickleback. This really gets me psyched for the next six hours of hockey. It reminds me of the “Are you ready for some football?” song from Monday Night Football, but in a good, non-redneck kind of way.


“Canadian Gold,” the new Hockey Night in Canada theme. This is the intro from last year–I can’t seem to find a video of this year’s shorter intro. Personally, I like the minute-long version instead of the truncated version. True, everyone likes the “old” theme song better. Having a new HNIC theme is like giving Star Wars a new theme. But “Canadian Gold” is still pretty awesome.

Bottom line, the only thing I want to do on a Saturday night is watch Hockey Night in Canada. A perfect Saturday evening starts with the “Saturday Night” song and ends with “After Hours.” Fortunately, my girlfriend is pretty understanding. Plus, she does not like going out on cold, winter Saturday nights anyway. Good thing hockey is not s summer sport.

Two Wrongs and a Right

Here are two wrong ways to use a hockey stick, followed by the right way.

WRONG WAY #1 – Using your stick to start a fight…between fans.
After being named the first star of the game, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer tosses his stick over the glass, intending to give it to a little girl. But his toss had bad aim, and the stick ended up in the midst of some adults who decided to fight over it.

WRONG WAY #2 – Using your stick to (literally) beat the goalie…on your own team.
Keith Ballard of the Florida Panther attempts to bang his stick on the goalpost after the Atlanta Thrashers score. Instead, he cracks his own goalie–Tomas Vokoun–in the head. Vokoun, who was removed from the game on a stretcher, was cut and needed stitches.

(You only really need to see the first 1:15)

RIGHT WAY TO USE A HOCKEY STICK
Now, check out this sweet goal by Chicago Blackahwks captain Jonathan Toews, who beats two defenders and the goalie, scores while getting tripped, and celebrates his goal in mid-air a la Bobby Orr.

Kids, that’s how you use a hockey stick. What an awesome goal. Too bad the Blackhawks lost that game 4-1.

Trailer: Forgotten Miracle

A new documentary about the 1960 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team will be released this week. That’s right, the 1960 team. Every four years, all the buzz among U.S. hockey fans is usually about the “Miracle on Ice” from 1980. But many of us overlook the fact that 20 years prior, the miracle first occurred when the U.S. team beat Russia, Canada and Czechoslovakia en route to U.S.A.’s first gold medal in hockey.

Here is the trailer to the documentary about the 1960 Olympic team, aptly entitled “Forgotten Miracle.”

Visit the Forgotten Miracle official website here.

2008-09 Blackhawks Intro Video

The past few years, I have thoroughly enjoyed the intro video shown before each Chicago Blackhawks home game. Though it changes somewhat each season, the story is basically the same: a villainous, black-clad hockey team is taken on by the Chicago Blackhawks on the frozen streets of Chicago. The 2008-09 video was, hands-down, my favorite.

Is that awesome or what? Here are some things to notice if you watch it again:

– The evil team defacing the ‘Hawks banner (0:15)
– Captain Jonathan Toews casting a watchful eye over “his” city (0:20)
Brent Sopel totally blindsiding that guy (0:30)
Adam Burish dropping the gloves to protect Brian Campbell (0:44)
Dustin Byfuglien charging across the Michigan Ave. bridge (0:55)
Toews smashing the sign at Wrigley Field (1:18)
Martin Havlat jumping over the tracks as a train approaches (1:59)

Ironically, the low point of the video are the actual game highlights (1:32 to 1:53) spiced in towards the end. Hockey is so much cooler when you play on frozen streets and have to avoid being hit by cars and trains.

FYI, there is a slightly different version of this video that shows soon-to-be-replaced coach Denis Savard towards the end, as well as Patrick Kane celebrating his goal at the very end.

EDIT: I just now realized why I like this ‘Hawks intro video so much. In many ways, it is reminiscent of the intro for Batman: The Animated Series. Watch it and you’ll see what I mean.



2009 Blackhawks Convention – Day Three

Chicago,IL
July 19, 2009

Shellie and I arrived at the convention around 8:30 am. I headed off to the VIP signing session that I had won, while Shellie went to wait in line for Murray Bannerman.

At 9 am sharp, we finally learned who will be signing for us–Stan Mikita! While I did get his autograph last year, I don’t mind getting it again this year. Mikita nicely signed this 8″ by 10″ photograph.


Look familiar? The same photo was used on a 1990-91 Pro Set card. Continue reading “2009 Blackhawks Convention – Day Three”

2009 Blackhawks Convention – Day One

Chicago, IL
July 17, 2009

July 17 to 19 was the Second Annual Chicago Blackhawks Convention. Sure, it’s the middle of July, but for 10,000 of us, all we thought about for the next three days was hockey.

As is my luck, Shellie and I were running a bit late, as we got there just before 5 pm. We could not get into the Grand Ballroom because to see the “Opening Ceremonies”, where they introduce the players who are attending the Con. Continue reading “2009 Blackhawks Convention – Day One”

Video – Mario Lemieux’s first retirement


When Mario Lemieux retired for the first time in 1997, he went out on a high note, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer. Here is a tribute video that was shown during the 1997 NHL Awards, followed by Lemeiux’s acceptance speech for the award. He is introduced by former teammate Bryan Trottier.

Check out more hockey related videos at the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.