hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
Recapping the 1st Half of the Seattle Kraken's Inaugural Season
There was a lot of buzz and hype around the National Hockey League's 32nd franchise, even before the team found their new home. The buzz increased when it was officially announced that team #32 would play in Seattle, and the progression of the countdown to Seattle's debut included a new arena, jerseys, and the official name: Kraken. The Seattle Kraken made their anticipated debut this season, and they have played 41 games--putting them halfway into their inaugural season.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedOil Spill: Analyzing the Edmonton Oilers' Skid
It always seems to be something with the Edmonton Oilers, especially in this current era. The Oilers are coming off finishing 2nd in the makeshift North Division last season, but it saw them swept out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' opening round by the Winnipeg Jets, adding to their recent list of playoff disappointments. In what proved to be another blow against the "North Division sucks" narrative that plagued the previous season, the Oilers got off to a strong start, going 16-5-0 in their first 21 games, leaving many to suddenly believe that the team could contend for a Stanley Cup this season.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedWe Lived For Friday Night Hockey!
I was telling a story the other day regarding an observation a friend and I made a few decades ago. He and I were coming up the ranks in our weekly Drop-In Hockey and Adult Hockey leagues. We were young, and together we were looking around the locker room and noticed we were the youngest in the locker room. It is incredible how fast the tides have turned. We are now the oldest in the room.
Jeffrey ClosPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedJohn Jay Field Hockey Falls Short to Lakeland in Section Final Heartbreaker
John Jay completed their season at 11-2-3, and seeded third, a sectional championship was within reach. Of course, the 12 time defending champs of Lakeland would be in the way, and a Halloween matchup proved a scare that the top seed didn’t bargain for. Still, Zoe Eliades' pained response said it all. “So close,” she lamented the 2-1 loss. But the senior left it to her teammate to bring proper perspective.
Rich MonettiPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedIs There No End to the Vancouver Canucks' Freefall?
One of the many things that stood out to me during the "bubble" Stanley Cup Playoffs of 2020 was how well the Vancouver Canucks did. The Canucks entered the 2019-20 season still looking for something, anything that would spark them to a possible Stanley Cup in the near future. Of course, that season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Canucks would get their chance in the modified playoffs that took place in the late summer and early fall of 2020. What we saw from the Canucks was an amazing run the likes of which we have never seen since they fell one win short of the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago in UnbalancedThe Agony and Ecstasy (but mostly Agony) of Being a Toronto Maple Leafs Fan
1967. 1967. 1967. 1967. Am I getting annoying yet? Imagine listening to that constantly from followers of rival teams when you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. It was their favourite chirp, and we’ve heard it so often, it doesn’t even bother us. We’ve heard the best and the worst of insults for decades from haters, but the one thing they don’t realize is, nobody hates the Leafs more than their own fans.
Cathy holmesPublished 3 years ago in UnbalancedA Family That Plays Together Stays Together
Just a year ago, I wasn’t all that into hockey. Both my husband and son played in several leagues, but the sport did not appeal to me. My daughter played volleyball, and that felt more like my speed. But COVID-19 delayed the volleyball championships and cut her club season short, leaving us with little to do outside the house and few live sports to watch. That year, we watched the Stanley Cup playoffs as a family, and thus began my obsession with hockey. (Or, as my husband likes to say, my transition to “bona fide hockey junkie.”)
Diona L. ReevesPublished 3 years ago in UnbalancedNHL 2021-22 Pacific Division Preview
The Pacific Division is fascinating for many reasons, with one of them being that it took the least effort to form in the 2013-14 season. How was it formed? Simple. The remnants of the five team iteration--the California teams (Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks) and the Arizona Coyotes)--were put together with the Northwest Division's Canadian teams (Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. That's it. The Vegas Golden Knights became the Pacific's eighth team when they began play in the 2017-18 season, and the Seattle Kraken (the NHL's newest franchise) replaced the outgoing Coyotes in the Pacific, due to the Coyotes moving to the Central Division. It is the only division not to feature a team who switched conferences, and it is the only one to not have an Original Six franchise.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 3 years ago in UnbalancedNHL 2021-22 Central Division Preview
When news of the NHL realigning their divisions broke eight years ago, I was wondering how they would look. Not surprisingly, I was immensely happy with the look of the four divisions, but the one I couldn't help but gush over the most was the Central Division. I literally salivated over this; it looked like it was going to be a very, very fun division to watch.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 3 years ago in UnbalancedNHL 2021-22 Metropolitan Division Preview
The NHL has used geographical names for their conferences and divisions since the 1993-94 season. For five seasons, the Western Conference (formerly the Campbell Conference) had the Pacific and Central Divisions, while the Eastern Conference (formerly the Wales Conference) had the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions. When the divisions were realigned in the 1998-99 season, two more were created: the Northwest and Southeast Divisions. The league went back to four divisions in 2013-14, and among the division names was one that stood out the most: Metropolitan. That's not exactly geographical, but it fits the division because of the cities represented. So for the last eight years, we've had the Metropolitan Division (nicknamed "Metro" for short), and it's a pretty fun division to watch.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 3 years ago in UnbalancedNHL 2021-22 Atlantic Division Preview
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, hockey fans of all ages: the NHL that we know is back. 82 games, an October-April stretch, an All-Star break, and yes, normal divisions. The localized divisions from the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign were fun to watch, but I am happy that the normal divisions and conferences are back, because each of the four divisions have a historical connection. Each of these divisions were formed in the 2013-14 season, with the NHL realigning the divisions for the first time since the 1998-99 season--the year that kicked off the NHL's six-division format.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 3 years ago in UnbalancedLearning From The Bench: Year 1 in Coaching
What a crazy year to just jump right into it, right? I’ve been involved in hockey for over 20 years now. I started at 9 years old, which is late by today’s standards, and now at 29 years old, I am fresh off of my first season as a “head” coach. If you ask most coaches, they’d say they learn as much or more than they teach their players. I am no exception.
Matthew MarateaPublished 3 years ago in Unbalanced