It's been a while since I sat down to write the blog, mostly because I'm either at the rink, sleeping, or with the boys. A lot has happened the past two weeks, a brief recap would include opening the season 1-4-0, being named assistant captain, parties with the fellas, roadtrips to Detroit and Evansville, scoring the first ever professional goal in the "Cereal City", and an injury bug that has bitten 9 players on our 18 man roster. So where should I begin? Bad news first, opening up with only one win is a pain in the ass that none of us were expecting, but we are improving and having 9 guys hurt hasn't helped. But now the good news, it was an honor to be named an assistant captain of this years team and pretty cool to score the first professional goal at home last Friday (I scored 2 in that game for anyone who missed the boxscore.)
The past couple weeks we've been able to settle into a nice routine of morning practices with an afternoon nap and the freedom to do anything at night. Between the two houses there is usually always something to do on any night, whether it's going into Kalamazoo, playing NHL 09 on xbox 360 at the other house, or watching Aimone and Nigel cuddle with each other while watching the WWE. Bottom line is this is a fun team to be on and everyone has been getting along. We've watched some first year guys jump in the lake to get out of raking and house duties on more than one occasion and had a guy get caught his game broken up by 3 girls in the same night. Trust me the entertainment is good enough to be a hit reality tv show.
Now we just need to steal a page from the Boston Bruins and start winning some games and things will be perfect.
I'll try to keep a better running tab of the days events more often on here. Feel free to post or ask questions.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Season Opener
Tomorrow night we open up our regular season on the road against Detroit at 7:30pm. It's been a good week out here in Battle Creek, on Monday we moved into our new house right on the lake. It's a great 3 bedroom house with 2 floors and plenty of space, for the time being we have 7 guys staying here 2 of the guys will move into another new house hopefully next week. It was nice to be able to move my clothes out of the car and into my own room. No more living in a cramped hotel room and not being able to fully unpack. A couple of guys on the team are building the locker room and making improvements so it will be done for our home opener next weekend.
Everything is really coming together out here and our accomodations are very good for a single A team. We've hung out as a team away from the rink a couple times and have taken the time to get to know each other as a team. It's funny a little more than a week ago we had 38 players trying out for this team and now we're down to 19. There were so many guys here that I didn't know everyone in the dressing room. Now that we have our team I've gotten to know everything and I think we have a very strong team.
We'll see how this weekend goes and hopefully we will come out on top in both nights.
Everything is really coming together out here and our accomodations are very good for a single A team. We've hung out as a team away from the rink a couple times and have taken the time to get to know each other as a team. It's funny a little more than a week ago we had 38 players trying out for this team and now we're down to 19. There were so many guys here that I didn't know everyone in the dressing room. Now that we have our team I've gotten to know everything and I think we have a very strong team.
We'll see how this weekend goes and hopefully we will come out on top in both nights.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Training Camp Wrap Up
That's a wrap, as it is said in Hollywood. Sorry for not writing the past couple days, but they have been wild ones. We finally ended camp tonight with an 8-3 loss in Detroit, going 0-4 in the preseason. Thank god they don't count yet. The 8-3 score is a bit of a misconception, we came out flat and were down 4-0 just 4 minutes into the game, 6-1 after 1. Maybe it was being on the road, maybe the 4 games in 4 nights wore some guys down. For me it was my 3rd game in as many nights, we lost to Chi-Town and Detroit at home Friday and Saturday. I played D on Friday and Saturday, but tonight I was up front centering the first line. We ended up scoring 2 of our 3 goals and played really well together so hopefully we'll stay together to start the season.
We had a great crowd of over 400 on Friday and just over 300 Saturday at home, not bad for a small barn. Training camp is tough because you're trying to get to know all the guys, but you know some are going to be released. It sucks to see them go, but it is a business. I won't lie, it is very nice knowing that it is over and now we know the hard work starts. Everyday our coach gets calls from guys looking for a place to play and we have to prove we don't need them.
Looking at the possible roster we should be very strong this season. Even though we started out 0-4, we have a ton of upside in the dressing room. A lot of first year pro players who need to learn the pro game and once they do will be very dangerous. We should be deep defensively and extremely solid up front. Once we start practicing as a team and get used to one another we'll be on our way.
It's late and I'm heading to bed. Until next time have fun out there.
We had a great crowd of over 400 on Friday and just over 300 Saturday at home, not bad for a small barn. Training camp is tough because you're trying to get to know all the guys, but you know some are going to be released. It sucks to see them go, but it is a business. I won't lie, it is very nice knowing that it is over and now we know the hard work starts. Everyday our coach gets calls from guys looking for a place to play and we have to prove we don't need them.
Looking at the possible roster we should be very strong this season. Even though we started out 0-4, we have a ton of upside in the dressing room. A lot of first year pro players who need to learn the pro game and once they do will be very dangerous. We should be deep defensively and extremely solid up front. Once we start practicing as a team and get used to one another we'll be on our way.
It's late and I'm heading to bed. Until next time have fun out there.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Training Camp Updates
Long couple of days out here in training camp, but I have a nice day off today as most of the rookies are playing against the Chi-Town Shooters in Dyer, Indiana. After the skate Monday morning, we had a scrimmage Team Blue vs. Team Black that was dominated by Blue, which didn't sit well with me considering I'm on the black squad. The beginning of the game there was a lot of adrenaline and guys running around with jitters and not really playing hockey. I think the second half slowed down a bit with guys starting to stand out a little bit. There was a light crowd on hand to check out the first day, as well as some media people from the Battle Creek Enquirer. We were on our own for dinner on Monday so after a little rest time at the hotel, myself and Aimone went out to Old Country Buffet for a meal.
We were back on the ice yesterday morning, again with the two teams divided up with Blue on the ice at 9 and Black on at 10. We did most of the same flow drills, break outs and regroups ended by a shootout for the goalies and to see who we can count on in a shootout this season. We had lunch delivered to us at the rink again by Fazoli's, this time it was sandwiches. And it was back on the ice at 1:30 again for another 2 hour scrimmage. This time the boys in black got the "W" as Team Blue was missing team captain Mark Allen, due to a slight groin pull. Yesterday was a tough one for me, in the scrimmage my back started tightening up and having some spasms. I hit the hot tub right when I got home last night and hit the hay early and luckily I'm feeling a little better today.
As mentioned before most of the rookies are playing Chi-Town today, in the very first BC Revolution game. Last night at dinner you could see the nervous looks on guys faces before their first ever pro hockey game. I remember my first one a couple years ago against Oklahoma City Blazers in a packed house in OK City. It's a nervous, but fun time as a young guy being able to realize a dream.
As for me today, I'll be enjoying an off day and lounging for most of it. I'll head out in a little bit to try to sell some tickets for tomorrow's preseason home opener. But other than that I'll just be taking it easy. So feel free to email or comment with any questions you may have.
We were back on the ice yesterday morning, again with the two teams divided up with Blue on the ice at 9 and Black on at 10. We did most of the same flow drills, break outs and regroups ended by a shootout for the goalies and to see who we can count on in a shootout this season. We had lunch delivered to us at the rink again by Fazoli's, this time it was sandwiches. And it was back on the ice at 1:30 again for another 2 hour scrimmage. This time the boys in black got the "W" as Team Blue was missing team captain Mark Allen, due to a slight groin pull. Yesterday was a tough one for me, in the scrimmage my back started tightening up and having some spasms. I hit the hot tub right when I got home last night and hit the hay early and luckily I'm feeling a little better today.
As mentioned before most of the rookies are playing Chi-Town today, in the very first BC Revolution game. Last night at dinner you could see the nervous looks on guys faces before their first ever pro hockey game. I remember my first one a couple years ago against Oklahoma City Blazers in a packed house in OK City. It's a nervous, but fun time as a young guy being able to realize a dream.
As for me today, I'll be enjoying an off day and lounging for most of it. I'll head out in a little bit to try to sell some tickets for tomorrow's preseason home opener. But other than that I'll just be taking it easy. So feel free to email or comment with any questions you may have.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Day 1
Hello from my hotel room in Battle Creek, just got back from our first on ice session and have a quick minute to get an update on here before our scrimmage. The team has been split up into 2 teams for now, half went on at 9am the second group went on at 10am. It was pretty basic for a first day practice, a lot of movement and flow drills trying to get the legs under us. We had a good meal delivered to us from Fazoli's, an Italian restaurant, for lunch at the rink.
All 37 guys in camp will be on the ice at 1:30 for a intra-squad scrimmage. If you're in the area come check it out. I'm roomed up with Brett Aimone, who I played with in Valley Forge last season. It's good to have someone you know in camp and better to room with them, you're just more comfortable around. Last night we went to a Meijer, which is like Wal-Mart back home, and then jumped on the bike and into the hot tub to make sure we had our legs under us today.
Time to head back over to our new digs at "The Rink" for the scrimmage. Check back later tonight I'll try to have more updates.
All 37 guys in camp will be on the ice at 1:30 for a intra-squad scrimmage. If you're in the area come check it out. I'm roomed up with Brett Aimone, who I played with in Valley Forge last season. It's good to have someone you know in camp and better to room with them, you're just more comfortable around. Last night we went to a Meijer, which is like Wal-Mart back home, and then jumped on the bike and into the hot tub to make sure we had our legs under us today.
Time to head back over to our new digs at "The Rink" for the scrimmage. Check back later tonight I'll try to have more updates.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
It's Here
First off I want to thank everyone on the message boards and people who have sent me emails for wishing me good luck and get well wishes. I try to respond to them as much as possible so if I have forgotten you, I apologize. So I'm finally close to being 100% and will be ready to go by opening night.
Bottom line is the season officially starts tomorrow out in Battle Creek, we have a meeting at 5pm to open up camp. I don't know what to expect to be honest with you, I'm very excited to start playing again and I'm anxious to see how the body responds. Hopefully everything will check out alright and I won't have any problems. The long journey starts later tonight, it will take about 14 hours to get from Boston to Battle Creek. I don't know how far I'll get tonight driving, I'm hoping to get a good 8 or 9 hours of the trip behind me.
A lot of times in this world I take things for granted, complain about long bus trips or playing in the low minors. It takes a lot to deal with the adversity we as players go thru, but our lives are still pretty good; we get paid to play a game, our housing is paid for, we get meal deals around the city and we get equipment for free. All in all it's a pretty good deal. I'm a country music fan so every song tells a story, some are happy and fun but others tell stories of struggle. Driving home the other night I saw a man living out of his car next to a laundrymat. I read a story in a magazine about a guy in a car wreck who crushed his pelvis, his heart was moved to the right side of his chest, both lungs collapsed, lost 60% of his blood, died 8 times on the operating table and lost 100 pounds...Three years later after learning how to walk and blink again he finished the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Those are problems, that's having a rough life. It put everything back into perspective for me, whether this is my last season before I move onto the rest of my life or just a stepping stone to the next couple of seasons I might as well have fun doing it. Some people aren't so lucky.
Stay tuned over the next couple days I will have daily updates from training camp.
Bottom line is the season officially starts tomorrow out in Battle Creek, we have a meeting at 5pm to open up camp. I don't know what to expect to be honest with you, I'm very excited to start playing again and I'm anxious to see how the body responds. Hopefully everything will check out alright and I won't have any problems. The long journey starts later tonight, it will take about 14 hours to get from Boston to Battle Creek. I don't know how far I'll get tonight driving, I'm hoping to get a good 8 or 9 hours of the trip behind me.
A lot of times in this world I take things for granted, complain about long bus trips or playing in the low minors. It takes a lot to deal with the adversity we as players go thru, but our lives are still pretty good; we get paid to play a game, our housing is paid for, we get meal deals around the city and we get equipment for free. All in all it's a pretty good deal. I'm a country music fan so every song tells a story, some are happy and fun but others tell stories of struggle. Driving home the other night I saw a man living out of his car next to a laundrymat. I read a story in a magazine about a guy in a car wreck who crushed his pelvis, his heart was moved to the right side of his chest, both lungs collapsed, lost 60% of his blood, died 8 times on the operating table and lost 100 pounds...Three years later after learning how to walk and blink again he finished the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Those are problems, that's having a rough life. It put everything back into perspective for me, whether this is my last season before I move onto the rest of my life or just a stepping stone to the next couple of seasons I might as well have fun doing it. Some people aren't so lucky.
Stay tuned over the next couple days I will have daily updates from training camp.
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