Thursday, February 24, 2011

What does "grit" mean in hockey?

Or... Don't trade for Chris Neil

Grit, moxie, truculence, character, "The Will of the Warrior", these are all words and terms that are thrown around at this time of year when the NHL trading deadline picks up steam. Otherwise unassuming players like David Clarkson, Marty Reasoner or, duh, Chris Neil get thrown around in potential trades on message boards, blog posts and radio stations.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

NBA back to Vancouver?

Despite what you may read in the Globe and Mail today, as cool as it would be to have an NBA team back in Vancouver, it probably won't happen.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Mario Lemieux speaks the truth

Preface: Don't worry, I'm not trying to go all Damien Cox or Adam Proteau here. Finding a reasonable column in print media on fighting is about as tough as finding Dire Straits on FM radio in Canada, but I'll give it a shot in online form.

Frequently, when a fight breaks out in another sport, I feel a tinge of pride that a baseball player, basketball player or elephant polo player doesn't fight like a hockey player. But that doesn't mean every clean hit needs to result in fisticuffs or that every accidental running-of-the-goalie needs to result in a scrum around the net. There's a little too much testosterone in the game, and last week we saw the epitome of it.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

I have a confession regarding Matt Cooke



Everybody has that one shunned jersey in the back of their jersey closet, which collects dust as Phil Kessel collects his press clippings this season. You might have a jersey that was an ill-advised throwback to a favourite player who had no chance of lasting with the team. You might have a jersey with a name and number combination that has found its way onto Puck Daddy's Jersey Fouls page.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

If you watch one coach blowup today, make it this one

Full grades given out to Melville Millionnaire coach James Fiesel for this performance in an Saskatchewan Junior A game. This came on Friday night against the Yorkton Terriers.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

People should stop asking Brian Burke for his opinion on things, cause you know what it will be

Can you guess which outspoken National Hockey League GM is up in arms over the results of the NHLPA player's poll that CBC rolled out this weekend at the All-Star Game?

If you guessed "Brian Burke", congratulations. You have a firm grasp on the obvious. Turns out Burkie took exception to a couple of the answers that the players ended up with.