Trashy's World

Cool. But it woulda been better with Stompin’ Tom…

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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FORTY-EIGHT year old Chris Chelios has signed with the Thrashers.

He has to play in the minors until he is called up, but you can betcha that he will get the call before the end of the season!

Woo-hoo! Go old guys, go!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Gawd – I LOVE this crazy country so freakin’ MUCH sometimes!

Nowhere else in the world would the announcement of the members of a national sports team garner so much rapt attention. Say what you want about the dissection and analyses of the choices for the World Cup teams (you know, the tournament that Canada almost never makes it to…) but Canada’s national obsession can go toe-to-toe with any other nation – bar none!

Yes, today at noon is the announcement of the members of the Men’s Hockey Team that will take to the ice in a few short weeks and try to recapture the gold medal in the one sport where we – Canada – see sour supremacy as our birthright!

It will be euphoria for those whose names are called and crushing disappointment for those left off a team that will have the rare opportunity to battle for gold in its home country.

No country cares more about hockey than Canada, or has the sheer number of world-class players to choose from. Star players will be left out. Debates will rage over who should or shouldn’t have been picked.

As Martin Brodeur recently put it: ”It is the ultimate for hockey.”

Steve Yzerman – a legend in his own right – and his team have agonised over the decision for months. There are really only a couple of sure things: Sid the Kid will be on the list as will Martin Brodeur. As for the rest, who knows? Though I think all three goalkeepers are pretty much no-brainers.

Yzerman will have to balance skill with toughness and offense with defense…. all the while ensuring that he has the right mix of players to have a good chemistry on the bench.

For what it’s worth – here is my prediction.

FORWARDS
Rick Nash
Sidney Crosby
Jarome Iginla
Dany Heatley
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Vincent Lecavalier
Mike Fisher
Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Smyth
Mike Richards
Shane Doan

DEFENCEMEN
Chris Pronger
Scott Niedermeyer
Shea Weber
Mike Green
Drew Doughty
Duncan Keith
Jay Bouwmeester

GOALTENDERS
Martin Brodeur
Marc-Andre Fleury
Roberto Luongo

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Hee. Sens suck.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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TMLHC – Canada’s team.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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After almost 2 decades, Mats Sundin is hanging up the blades.

He was the face of my beloved Leafs for a long, long time and when he is inducted into the Hall, it will be in the Blue and White.

Tack, Mats

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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My blue and white blood desperately wants this to work out. Phil Kessel is a class act. Talented. Young. Tough. Potential to lead us to the Promised Land… fer sur.

But something about giving up 2 first rounders and a second just does not sit right. Based on history, Kessel may be soft, end up on the sidelines for an extended period and all that has been given up will never be regained.

I hope I am being really paranoid.

On the up side, they kept Kaberle. All along I have been saying why give up a puck-moving d-man for picks, spare parts and potentials… Tomas is the real deal and would be a first liner and PP guy on ANY team… and I like his style… hope he is around for a long time to come.

The TMLHC – Canada’s team

I need a Cup.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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I frickin’ love this country.

First, there is a national debate on whether Hockey Canada should have been allowed to use the crests that it has used for a number of years on the sweaters worn by the team at the next years Vancouver Olympics. The IOC said no, so a search for a new logo was launched.

Now, splashed across the front pages of several of the MSM outlets today is – in living colour – the new crest and sweater(1) as designed by a First Nations person in B.C.
Taa-daa!

I couldn’t find a downloadable pic of sufficient quality to see the details in the crest, but they are pretty danged impressive (check out today’s G&M).

Other countries give this much attention to elections, wars, the economy, scandals, etc. But I have to wonder if the front page of the L.A Times would herald the coming of a new symbol for the U.S. basketball team. Or the Daily Mail making a huge issue out of the new jerseys to be sported by athletes representing the three lions in the rowing competitions.

I don’t think so.

This is so like Canada.   The economy is in the crapper. Massive forest fires and drought in the West. H1N1 flu. And THIS the biggest story on the front pages and around the water coolers?

Cool.

Go Canada go!

1. Note I say “sweater” and not “jersey”. “Jersey” is just not right in the context of hockey. Nor is the use of the term “locker room”. It’s a “dressing room”. Are we clear on this?

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Zezel was one of my fave Leafs back in the early 90’s when we came oh-so-close to ending the drought.

No a big D-man – especially by today’s standards – but was a tough checker who held his own against larger players.

I remember reading about his rare and horrible disease a few years back. It was, by all accounts, really tough on the guy… especially the meds that he had to take to control the disease  – which caused massive weight gain.  For an ex-pro athlete, losing control of your body like that must have been hellish.

So long Peter, Leaf Nation mourns your loss.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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So Bettman and his merry band of jokers at the NHL head office are now suggesting that another team in Canada ain’t such a bad idea after all – just not in Hamilton like that uber-evil Jim Basillie wants. Maybe Winnipeg but more likely to another desert hot hockey hotbed, like Vegas! Bettman is really that full of himself and relocating one of the loser American teams would be a direct slap in the face and repudiate what he has tried to do since becoming the Commish.

This has definitely become personal if it wasn’t so already.

This is driving Canadian fans crazy! Why not move to a city that will actually support their team!? Hamilton, Winnipeg, Québec City, Halifax?????? Hellloooooo!!????

Kansas City? Been there, done that.

Vegas? ????? Have they even HEARD of hockey there?

We all know the reason why a Canadian city has not had a chance in Hell in acquiring a team – and his first name is Gary. But that may change…

Thanks Jim Basillie for setting up the campaign to “make it seven”. It could just as easily be “make it ten” because hockey is Canada and Canada is hockey. Take the teams outta those places that do not deserve them and are not supported by their communities and bring ‘em home where they’ll be loved!

Bye-bye Phoenix, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Columbus!

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Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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