My Kingdom For Some Shinny

The playoffs are in the air. Although my team failed to make it, one thing remains that is there every year.

An increased disire to play the game.
One problem, since my move to London, I have yet to attain friends who enjoy playing the game. Sure, some of them enjoy watching good enough, but none desire to strap on the blades and hit some rented ice, hell they wont even buy a cheep Canadian tire stick for some parking lot puck.

Join a beer league team you say? Thought about it, wouldn't work with my current employer, odd hours, on call shifts, etcetera.

I have played a few games with the kids on the street, but being senior on the field by over 14 years does not lend itself to the competition I need to get total satisfaction out of a game. Plus I don't want to come off as a goober by trying my best against a bunch of elementary school kids.

This is a plea, anyone in London or within a (Realistic) drive, got a game? Need an extra? Drop a line.

Have Net, will travel.

Staal Tactic

I hate the Staal brothers, I do. And I don't know why.

Wait, yes I do, I hate them because I went to highschool in Thunder Bay (said homeland of the sacred Staal foursome). I also played hockey there. Mind you I wasn't at their level, and I am a year older than eldest Eric and thus probably wouldnt have played with even him was I good enough. But all I ever heard about was 'The Staal's' going to highschool with a couple of em didn't help either.

I'm not spiteful...

Stupid Freaking Devils.

Leafers Make Better Lovers

I've been doing some research, yeah, imagin that, actual scientific logic in the hands of a Leaf fan (scary isn't it). The end to these means? To answer the age old question, what do ladies really look for in a man?

Do I have the answers? Why yes I do, turns out, they want a Leaf fan. They may say that they want a Sens fan, or a Flames fan or even a Ducks fan, ANYTHING but a Leafs fan. But what has my random and non-biased sampling of female hockey fans discover?

What they really want is a blue and white boy toy.

Out of 14 females polled (all REAL hockey fans) there were 2 Leaf fans, 5 Sens fans, 3 Flames fans, 1 Wings fan, 2 Oilers Fans and 1 Habs fan.
7 were from Ontario, 2 from Quebec, 3 from Alberta and 2 from Saskatchewan.

4 were married, all to Leaf fans
1 was engaged, to a Leafs fan
4 were in various stages of dating, 2 dating Leafs fans.
5 were single.

Of the single ladies, 2 had dated more than one Leafs fan for over 4 months
the other two had dated a Leafs fan at one time or another and the final had never dated a hockey fan before.

That leads me to believe one thing, the title of the post rings true

Le Sigh

Well I've had a week and a bit to come down from my swearing, sputtering, raging 'stupid Leafs didn't make the playoffs' mind frame and have come to one well thought out, realistic view on the subject.

They have alot of work to do.
Up front, they need to score more goals, plane and simple. Trim some dead weight and throw in a big name player to help out (hello Chris Drury)
Defensivly they need to stay healthy. That is really it, I can't find too much wrong with the defense other than that (Bryan McCabe is dead to me and will not be discussed further)
Goaltending wise, they need to ship in some help, be it a backup that can play big minuites if Raycroft falters (and he will) or be it a new number one for Razor to compete with, winner gets the starter spot, look what it did for Manny Fernandez last year.

That is all

There's Playoffs?

The title may just be a joke to ease the pain of the Buds missing the post season, or it may be some venting that will prevent the killing spree that may follow if Buffalo wins the cup.

But on a possitive note, Maggie Picked the Penguins over the Senators in the first round. That monkey is awsome. I some times thinks she knows more about hockey than the rest of the crew over at TSN.

Go Maggie Go!

Yes, There Is A Silver Lining

Took a look at the bad, now its time to point out the (few) bright spots that the Leafs had this year.

Kyle Wellwood - Welly was doing great, until his injury. He was, however, able to show what he is capable of with the puck. He finnished off the season a little shaky, confidence probably the issue. He will only get better and I have high hopes for his career.

Carlo Coliaccavo - Showed great promise in comming off one whopper of a concussion. Would have had a bigger impact had he been there the whole season.

Ian White - Made atleast one amazing pass a game, usually up the middle for a break away or odd man rush chance. Has good speed, good vision will be a great top 4 defenseman one day.

Hall Gill - While he wasn't spectacular, he wasn't god freaking awful as everyone expected. Plus he did a great job on the PK.

The Soviet Block - Pony and Antro showed that they do deserve a spot on the Leaf line up. Sadly they were over used and over hyped. Would be better suited to the second line winger pairing, me thinks.

Mats Sundin - Broke all sorts of milestones and passed all sorts of players all year. Took more crap from fans and the media and enemies (fans of other teasm) this year than every other year of his career. Played steady, played hard, racked up a fair ammount of points. If only (broken record) he had an appropriate winger to play with.

Thomas Kaberle - Kabby was great, did everything. One of the best D-men in the leuge. That is all.

It may not be much, but its all I got