I think that as fans, we can all agree that NHL officials have a very difficult job. I think we can also agree that there are times when officials do their jobs VERY badly. Like, if a player has an opponent’s stick lodged in his visor, that maybe it’s high-sticking?

When “High Sticking” is an Understatement

Anyway, as fans, we can whine and complain about the officials. It’s what we do. And we’ll be sure to note that (obviously) the officials have it in for OUR boys, who are clean-living, honest and reverent, and would never dive, high-stick or surreptitiously punch an opponent.

Coaches, however, are not fans. And a coach should not be whining about the officials. Yes, I’m looking at you, Lindy Ruff.

The officials were not out to get the Buffalo Sabres in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins. Trust me on this. That goalie interference that Ruff whined about in Game 4 was identical to one called on the Bruins in Game 1. In six games, the Bruins were whistled for 34 penalties, the Sabres for 36. And the officials missed calls on BOTH sides.

What Ruff really should cry about is the fact that the Sabres went 0-for-19 on the power play. THAT would be understandable.

But no. At the end of Game 5 in Buffalo, Zdeno Chara was returning to the bench when he was slashed from behind by Paul Gaustad. Chara turned around and punched Gaustad in the face. And Ruff wanted Chara suspended as the instigator. (!)

“It’s a serious risk of an instigator when you come in throwing punches,” said Lindy Ruff. “They’ve got to take a hard look at that. Anything in the last five minutes is stupid to do. I like the fact that we had one grab him around the knees, one guy grab him around the waist, and another guy grab him around the neck. And the big man went down. You get in a situation like that, everybody knows the rules. You can’t start slugging people. That’s exactly what Chara was doing. Our response was good to that play.”

Look, you poke a bear, don’t be surprised (or outraged) when the bear turns around and slugs you back, or worse. Anyway, how Ruff could actually make a statement like that and keep a straight face is beyond me (He LIKED the fact that it took three Sabres to bring Chara down? And while we’re on the subject, where’s the penalty for third – and fourth – man in?)

For the record, Chara was given an automatic suspension, which was rescinded less than an hour after the game (probably amongst laughter and a few “are you kiddings”?). Here’s the official rule:

“An instigator of an altercation shall be a player or goalkeeper who by his actions or demeanor demonstrates any/some of the following criteria: distance traveled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season.”

Um yeah, so no suspension for belting someone who slashes you with two seconds left in the game.

Anyway, the bottom line is, blaming the officials for the failure of a team (and the failure, by extention, of the coach) is childish, classless and embarrassing. Lindy Ruff should be happy he’s not coaching in the NBA, or his wallet would be decidedly lighter. Like, $35,000 lighter.

I know I should be talking about something Avs related, like where Paul Stastny went during the first (and only) round of the Avs playoffs this year, but something more intriguing has me itching to blog.

For those who missed the big (snicker) news, some Canadian blogger named Gordon McIntyre lashed out at Darren Pang for calling twin hockey stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin “The Twinkies.”  McIntyre claimed that the term “twinkies” somehow questioned their playing abilities, their characters and their status as real men.

The debate has been raging ever since.  Did Panger really mean to use the term “twinkies” as a humorous nod to their, in fact, being twin brothers? (In my day, “twinkie” was very often used to describe, for example, two people who wore the same shirt to a party: “Oh look! We’re twinkies!”) Or was it something more sinister?  Most people laughed, with the majority of readers believing he really did mean nothing more serious than that, yes, they are twins.

Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

Let’s assume for a moment, that Darren Pang really did mean to refer to the twins as “twinkies” a term often used by the gay community.  Is this a bad thing?  Despite what McIntyre was able to dredge up from the oh-so-credible source, Urban Dictionary, the term “twinkie” is not necessarily, or even usually, meant to be derogatory.  Its origins in the gay community refer to a certain type of man -– one that is pale, slender and good-looking with boyish features.

So, let’s continue down this road and say that Darren Pang really was using this particualr definition of “twinkie” to describe The Twins.  Does that put him in the wrong?  Does that mean, as McIntyre suggests, that the slender, boyish, handsome men dubbed “twinkies” do not possess “character and altruism?”  Or, that they aren’t capable of such feats as winning the Art Ross trophy or playing all but ten games in the last nine seasons as the Sedin brothers have?   Or, even worse, that these men are “sissies” simply because they might be gay? Or at the very least, possess a certain look that the gay community finds attractive?  Is our friend Gord so homophobic that he can’t stomach the fact that an NHL player might be attractive to other men? Or God forbid, even –- dare I say it Gord –- be *gasp* gay?

Well, Gord, I have some news for you.  Studies indicate that 1 in 10 people in this world are estimated to be homosexual (and that estimate is now, generally, seen as low.)  That means statistically, there are at least 30 (and probably closer to 50-60) gay men in the NHL. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that at least a few gay men have won an award, title or Stanley Cup in the past 100 years or so.  Think men tough enough for hockey can’t be boyishly good looking, pretty or even gay?  I would think an educated Canadian like you would know better.

So really, the controversial character shouldn’t be Darren Pang at all. Regardless of what he meant, he said nothing wrong.  Rather, the odd, seemingly homophobic implications of one McIntyre should be what is in question.

Let us know what you think.

Photos: Daniel and Henrik Sedin by Goddess Kaatiya. Copyright 2007-2010. All Rights Reserved. Darren Pang from his official Twitter page.

Yep, the Colorado Avalanche are out. I don’t know why, but watching the kids this year scrap their way into a spot this year has really endeared me to them  — more so than many other teams.  Yes, they weren’t supposed to make it to the playoffs this year, and were slated to finish last in the NHL.  Yet I can’t help but feel a bit of heartache for the kids.

Maybe it’s because I know that I’ve probably seen Darcy Tucker for the last time with the Avs.  It seems like just yesterday when Goddess Kaatiya called me to tell me we had signed him.  One of my all-time favorite players, I was ecstatic.  Tonight, he waited until the rest of the team had exited the ice before giving the fans a big wave.  How could have time passed so quickly?  Still, we saw almost every single home game he played with the Avs

Then there are the kids.  Who doesn’t love to see a bunch of 18-to-mid-20-year-old kids play their hearts out each night?  I don’t know about you, but I’d rather see a bunch of kids over achieve than the team of old talent reach a quarter of their potential year after year.  Yeah, they made the games worth attending this year, and my heart breaks a little bit for them.

Maybe it’s that we’ve finally given up our season tickets for next year.  I’ll save the details for another post, but it was time.  I actually love this team more than I have in years, but the folks at Kronke Sports Enterprises and team management have proven to me this year that it’s not worth dumping another several thousand into the least fan-friendly organization in the league.  And it makes me sad knowing that we no longer have those 40 games to go to in the middle of winter.

I hope the future holds more energy and fire, and I’d love to see them pick up a talented, skating European — a Swede or a Russian would be nice.  But alas, the Avs seem to be an “all American, all the time” team anymore (with a couple of exceptions.)  Now THAT might bring me back to season tickets.

But that’s all in the future.  For now, I think I’ll just listen to the down and depressing music of the Drive-By Truckers and wallow in some self-pity.  I went to almost all the home games this year.  I deserve it.

Photo: Darcy Tucker by Goddess Sasha. Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved.

For Thrasher fans it’s the thing to do nowadays to pretend they never loved you. That they don’t have your jersey hanging in the back of their closet. That they didn’t pay to see YOU. That they didn’t want you anyway. That we’re better off without you.

I confess it is with a tiny bit of satisfaction that, despite your trade to what you called a “class organization,” you, my dear Kovalchuk, went out much like you would have with the Thrashers — except that with the Thrashers you probably wouldn’t have won that one playoff game.

That being said, I loved you Kovy. Part of me always will. Just like all the others who have come and gone: Hossa (a personal favorite of mine and the only Thrasher jersey this non-jersey wearing Goddess has ever donned), Marc Savard, Peter Bondra, Slava Kozlov (I could post forever about how much I love him and how he, along with the Red Wings’ Russian Five, are the ones who really solidified my love of hockey), and now you, Kovy.

With a bit of shame and a dash of schadenfreude, I can honestly admit that your tasting defeat in another uniform made me smile a little — but sadly. Sadly because I did love you. And despite what Thrasher fans say, they loved you too. I wish you well, wherever you land. I do believe you did a lot for the city of Atlanta. You provided hockey’s version of the Human Highlight Film on many occasions. You were always accommodating and polite to fans (this year’s Casino Night notwithstanding, in which you were a bit “off”). So adieu Ilya Kovalchuk and best wishes.

And, please forgive my little grin. You don’t really deserve it, but I can’t help it.

Note: This post was written by a completely biased Thrasher fan who, deep in her heart, really wishes him back. No objectivity implied, striven for, or accomplished.

Photos: Ilya Kovalchuk; and Ilya Kovalchuk and Vyacheslav Kozlov by Goddess Kaatiya. Copyright 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

I know nothing is certain in life.  The same is true of pro sports.  I learned this early when my hometown NFL team — the one I grew up loving and cheering for and singing along to the cheesy “Luv Ya Blue!” song and dressing like a Derrick Doll for Halloween (don’t ask!) moved to Nashville, Tennessee.  (RIP Houston Oilers.)

I know Hartford Whalers’ fans felt the same way. The Montreal Expos’ fans.  Los Angeles Rams’ fans. Even fans of teams that haven’t even moved yet, but are in jeopardy probably feel this sadness and trepidation. I won’t even mention the Winnipeg Jets fans, who seem to think they are entitled to have the Thrashers or the Coyotes because they allegedly have better fans — that’s an argument for another day. (But suffice it to say, it takes more than a few years to grow a fan base. And these locales have the corporate support that other cities probably don’t and won’t. I know, I know, bring on the hate.)

But I must say it is with some shock and surprise to hear HC Moscow Dynamo, former team of such stars as Alex Ovechkin, Maxim Afinogenov, Alexei Yashin, and Alexei Kovalev, is ceasing to exist. Reports indicate the venerable Russian team, founded in 1946, will be merging with another in the Kontinental Hockey League — HC MVD.

The embattled Jiri Hudler (still property of the Detroit Red Wings) has apparently already been released from the second year of his contract and could return to the National Hockey League next year.

When we were in Moscow in January, Goddess Sasha and I took in a meeting of Dynamo Moscow and Atlant Moscow Oblast (itself a remade team from the remnants of Khimik Voskresensk — the former club of my favorite player, Slava Kozlov). Looking back now, we were lucky to see the game at Dynamo’s home area — an old, somewhat decrepit looking building with lots of charm.  I can still hear the “DYNAMO!  DYNAMO!” chants in my head.  The crowds and arenas, compared with most NHL teams are small, but boy are they loud.  They put NHL fans to shame.  Such passion.  NHL cheers may as well be golf claps by comparison.

Russian fans cheer: “Dynamo! Dynamo!”

Dynamo’s implosion (or going away — whatever you chose), hits me where it hurts.  Being a fan of a team on the brink, so to speak, it frightens me.  If it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone. Particularly a team like the Atlanta Thrashers whose fanbase has been alienated and led on for years now.  Atlanta could be — nay, should be — a fantastic hockey city.  The people are there, the owners are out to lunch or just don’t give a damn. Oh! That’s right they have spent years in litigation fighting over a team they seem to care nothing about, just having pissing contests while they piss the team away.

Heatley had to leave.  I understand he had to run away (no judgement meant or implied, though he’s still running).  But squandering years of Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Marc Savard, Kozlov (obviously!), even a brief twirl with the great Peter Bondra.  It makes me sick the talent that has slipped through our (yes our) fingers.

I don’t want the Thrashers to be the next Dynamo.  Or Montreal Expos. Los Angeles Rams.  Or Houston Oilers.  Or even the Minnesota North Stars.   I’m just not sure what we, the little guys — particularly the die-hard fans — can do to stop it.

Photos/video: Moscow Dynamo stadium and Ilya Kovalchuk/Marian Hossa photo, and Dynamo stadium video: Copyright 2006-2010. Goddess Kaat. Maxim Afinogenov photo: Wikipedia commons, 2009.

Goddess Kaat and I were in Russia last month and between studying, working and playing, we managed to get in four KHL hockey games.  We went to three different venues and saw six different teams in total.  With five teams in the Moscow area these “devochki” could have seen twelve games in the fourteen days we were there!

We also got to take a trip outside Moscow to visit a friend who used to play in the NHL but has now found a home in the KHL.  Listening to his experience was fascinating, and something that goddess Kaatiya will publish a feature in a major online news site.

We quickly discovered that Russia is a different world.  Whereas Americans have seemingly endless amounts of disposable income, Russians have very little. The middle class is almost non-existent.  People either have money or they don’t, and even with the top end tickets going for a mere 500 rubles (that’s about $16 US) few people can afford to spend that kind of money on a regular basis.

So how is the average KHL team financed? We’ve all heard about the insanely high salaries these former NHL players are getting and it certainly isn’t from game revenue.  No, KHL teams are hobbies of Russian Oligarchs who gained control of the oil industry after the breakup of the Soviet Union.  There’s some advertising and sponsorship as well, but the low attendance certainly isn’t a concern.  Yet let’s not write off the fan experience, because it’s something everyone should enjoy in their lifetime if they can.   Here are some observations as a fan that I found interesting and vastly different from the NHL:

1.)  Going to a KHL game is like stepping into a time warp.  Imagine a 1970s NHL game – minus the beer (No alcohol is sold in any of the arenas.)  If you miss the organic experience with small, but hardcore, audiences, you will love most KHL games.

2.)  Most arenas are small and old.  Most seat less than a decent college arena.  Even the new ones are quite small by NHL standards, maxing out at 8,000-10,000 seating capacity and at best two-thirds of the seats are sold.

3.)  Security is tight — in some respects.  Guards dressed in intimidating military-type garb are quite prevalent in some arenas, sometimes requesting to check your bag 4-5 times before you get to your seat.  However, once you’re in, no one cares if you sit in an open seat that’s not yours and people are very respectful of other people’s seats.

4.)  Food and drink are not allowed in the stands.  At all.

5.)  Concessions are more like that at a high school football game: A couple of stands with candy or bread with salted fish and usually a table in the concourse with a woman pouring hot tea for around 25 rubles a cup.

6.)  At most arenas, both teams enter and exit at the end of the ice where the Zamboni doors are.

7.)  There are no rink-side seats.  Instead there is a walkway for rink/team personnel behind the glass.  Also, no one wants to sit low. The higher the better, and seats are sold from the top down.

8.)  Fans may be sparse, but they are extremely knowledgeable and are into it!  It’s like a European soccer match with organized chants, drums, bells and whistles.

9.)  Each arena reserves a section for the opposing fans that can also bring drums, bells, etc.  That section is understandably carefully guarded.

All this isn’t a negative from a fan’s perspective.  In fact, as I’ve said it’s a blast.

Now to the part you’ve all been waiting for and, of course, the hockey player in me won’t let me go without talking about the game.  As with the fan experience KHL hockey is really quite different than the NHL.

What makes it different?  It’s hard to grasp at first.  Our first game was CSKA (the famed Russian Red Army team) vs Ak Bars Kazan, a perennial contender in the KHL (and in the former Russian Super League.)  Talk to a few NHL players who play or have played there and they’ll give you contrasting opinions: “It’s slower, but more skilled,” or “It’s not as physical, but it can’t be because guys are so much faster.”  After watching, I don’t dismiss that these guys are fast or skilled, but as goddess Kaatiya artfully described, there was an awful lot of loitering at the blue line.

Like most of Russia, walking into the Ice Palace where CSKA plays is like walking into a time warp so perhaps the “ambiance” affected my perspective to an extent, but the first thing that struck me is how slow the game was.  It really looked like my husband’s recreational hockey team.  Sure, the guys were skilled and maybe the ice was a bit bad in the old arena but still, even sitting down low the play just looked slow.

The other thing that became immediately apparent was the lack of hitting.  Guys seem to go out of their way to not hit or get hit.  Seriously, I’ve seen more physical play in a women’s game, where hitting is illegal, than I saw in the KHL.

I have to say it was quite a shock.  I had heard so much about the league and the level of play. It has been touted by many players and staff as close, if not equal, to the skill of the NHL.  I often wonder if this isn’t wishful thinking, or some kind of justification for jumping ship when you just can’t hack the NHL.  Nikita Filatov of CSKA (and still property of the Columbus Blue Jackets) definitely stuck out as probably the most talented on the team, but even he has learned the art of slacking in the KHL.

I don’t doubt that the talent and skill are there. In Dave King’s book “King of Russia” he talks about the incredible training the teams do year round and the demands these players are met with every step of the way.  So one has to wonder where this tremendous skill is during the games.

The answer became clearer at our last game.  It was in Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast where Atlant plays.  This arena is new, built in 2007 and hosting that year’s World Cup.  Although small, it is incredibly modern for Russia.  One could enter from the lower level or above the seats and security forces were minimal.  More women and families were in attendance that night and the crowd was at near capacity.

Yet is the product on the ice that impressed us most.  Atlant was hosting Dynamo Riga of Latvia.  For those of you who know little of Soviet history, Latvia was once an unwilling republic of the USSR and now that they have their independence, hostilities run even deeper.  Of no coincidence is that two-thirds of the Riga players are Lativan and much to the annoyance of the Russians have added the Cyrillic “c” (which translates to a latin “s”) at the end of their surnames (e.g. “Janis Sprukts”).  Of course, these are displayed on the backs of their jerseys and are a proud statement of their Latvian ethnicity.

Such a rivalry produced a far better product on the ice than even the proclaimed “super match” between Moscow Dynamo and Atlant we had seen earlier that week.  Tempers ran high with former Columbus Blue Jacket, New York Ranger and current Atlant player Nikolai Zherdev playing an NHL-style, physical game.  Riga boasted former NHL players Sandis Ozolinsh and Marcel Hossa, clearly the best players on their team.

The pace of the game was fast and furious and, while still far less physical over than the NHL, we could finally see the speed of these players.  Atlant quickly got up 3-0, but Riga eventually found its wheels and began firing back, winning 4-3 in overtime.  It was by far the best game we attended, yet we were left wondering why it took four games to finally see the talent shine though.

All that being said, KHL hockey is a great product.  If you long for the nostalgia and  down-to-earth feel of the WHL days, this is the place for you. 

Like much of Russia, the production is a bit 1970s. Pre-game skates are rather informal and each team has its “puck bitch,” who has to collect the pucks at the end of the warm-up.  The same songs — pre-hair band, mid-eighties metal — are repeated throughout the game.  Both teams stand together patiently at the entrance of the ice during the pre-game festivities.  You can even see big stars like Nikita Filatov hanging out post-game at the pub adjacent to the arena with the few fans who can afford a beer out.  The big difference is, the talent on the ice is definitely 21st century, even if you don’t always see it.

That being said, we love Russia and its hockey-crazed fans, so much in fact that the goddesses are making a return trip next fall for more fun and hockey.  Heck, if I could land a job as a strength and conditioning coach for a KHL team I’d do it in an instant.  I love Russia and its people that much.  It’s not the fans’ fault they can’t attend more games.  And while the league is not dependent on ticket sales for revenue, perhaps it is going to take more fans to bring up the level of excitement and play in the league.  It may not be NHL quality, but it’s the closest you’ll find anywhere.

Only time will tell if they can compete with the NHL.  But don’t let anyone fool you.  It is a far cry from what the NHL is now and anyone who bolts from the NHL is doing so for the money, not for the level of play.

Photos: By Goddess Sasha and Goddess Kaatiya. Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Yes you, JIM SLATER! You took a penalty in the last two minutes of today’s crucial game against the Penguins — and they scored to tie the game. Then, they went on to win the game. This is the second time in three games that you, Jim, have taken a penalty in the last two minutes of the third period of a game. You should be in the press box while Slava Kozlov — world-class player — gets a chance. I hope that’s where you end up. I have no sympathy.

Thank you for your very untimely “contributions.” Now get the hell off Thrasher Island. You are the Mike Dunham of this year. And you’re as unwelcome in Atlanta now as he is. See ya and please … feel free to let the door hit your ass on the way out!

Goodbye playoffs and adios Jim!

Photo: Jim Slater by Goddess Kaat. Copyright 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

College vs. the NHL. It seems pretty simple. One is professional, one isn’t. One has guys who have physically matured earlier than the other. Some people claim that college is more “pure” and prefer to follow the youngsters, others enjoy the level of play at the professional level.

Me? I’m finding myself more and more torn. See, I work at a university with a Division I NCAA team. That, combined with other circles I’m in, makes me privy to all the dirt and some of the most personal information on these kids. I know first hand what brats — and worse – they can be (don’t ask, I won’t tell). In the past, I’ve rolled my eyes and passed on the discounted tickets to the games, preferring the professionalism and focus of the NHL. We are talking men as opposed to boys, after all. But recently, I have found myself pondering this very issue and wondering if indeed, the NHL is the better product.

In my last article, The Increasingly Vanilla NHL, I expressed my disgust at the media cleansing these poor boys go through. Stripped of all personality, we hear the same mantras from the players: “We’re not getting pucks in the net,” “We need to play the whole 60 minutes,” “I like to golf and play Xbox in my spare time.” There’s no need to interview these guys live anymore. Just pull footage from the archives.

Conversely, college players have yet to be muzzled. For example, the NCAA playoffs this past weekend had creative features. Guys wittingly tease each other in interviews. Open hearted and honest discussion of the game, the opponents and the players themselves appear in all broadcasts, and post game interviews reveal frustration, heartbreak and yes, even that dirty player you play against. Clever and creative comments abound from the boys. What a treat to see that hockey players actually do have personalites. And I’m not buying that it’s because they’re in college and hence smarter than your average professional hockey player. Remember, I know these kids.

But that’s not all. Go to a college game in your city. You’ll see how different the atmosphere is. Hang out post-game at the favorite local bar near the school on a Saturday night and you’ll probably see the players. Not only that, but they’re approachable and might even have a drink or two with you. None of the pretense is present, no walls are erected and no one is getting in trouble for hanging out with “commoners,” or fans as they’re usually called. These guys are still just kids having fun. I don’t know about you, but I find it quite enjoyable to see that there are real people under those uniforms.  

So, where does this leave me? It leaves me foregoing my season tickets to the Colorado Avalanche this year and instead purchasing NCAA hockey tickets for the first time ever. Yep, they’ve not only succeeded in driving any personality from the NHL, but they’ve succeeded in driving loyal fans from the game as well.

Gary Bettman, are you listening? I know I’m not the only one.

Photos: By Goddess Sasha. Copyright 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

April Fools.

That’s the Thrashers.

The Boston Bruins lost tonight. The Philadelphia Flyers lost. Both teams have 82 points. The Thrashers are chasing both of these teams and guess what? They lost too! The Thrashers remain at 80. Going nowhere fast. This isn’t the first time this has happened. The Thrashers have had their chances to climb into eighth place and pass some teams, but they just can’t or won’t (or a combination of both). As a matter of fact, all three teams I mentioned seem not to want to grab those last few playoff spots, but as a Thrasher fan I am so incredibly frustrated. They could have pulled closer — even in points tonight. But no. Of course not. These are my Thrashers. This is April. It’s time to take the pieces of my heart that I’d cobbled together after losing Heatley, Savard, Hossa and Kovalchuk and shatter them to bits.

I partially blame their failure on the fact that today the marketing department sent out information for playoff tickets. Kiss of death.

Playing the Washington Capitals didn’t help either.

As I say every year: “Oh Thrashers!” :-(

Photo/Image: From Atlanta Thrashers marketing e-mail, April 1, 2010.