Wolves Send Grand Rapids Packing3:6

The Wolves old and dear rivals the Grand Rapids were in town last night for a rare inter divisional game. Once upon a time Grand Rapids and the Wolves were the biggest of rivals. However since the redrawing of divisional lines years ago these two old rivals now see each other twice a year and the old feelings see more like old flames meeting at a bus stop rather than the regular brawls on ice of old. This time as old friends met it was the Wolves who shelled the Griffins goalies out of the net and sent them home packing 6:3. Her are some images of the game:




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Old friends and rivals, Griffins.

Saturday night and the Van Andel Arena was a welcome sight. Kissane and I had had a great meal with friends and after stowing our leftovers in the van we donned our Wolves colours and headded to the arena to watch some of the worlds greatest sport. As per usual I will refer you to "Sit Down ,Shut up and Read the Blog" linky at right for the full blow by blow of the game. My quick summary is that yes, the Wolves won, by keeping out to the penalty box and staying on their game.

Here are a few images of the game.




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The hockey road is calling...

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It's Friday, lunchtime and the computer system has been slow all day. So of course I choose to eat my lunch here, munching between thoughts. It has been a tough week in this hockey lovers day job and frankly, I just can't wait for that lovely time when I can hit the Kronos and put it behind me. In just four hours and twenty minutes I will be at Union Station boarding a train to one of my favorite places on earth. Believe it or not Michigan, yes Michigan. This transplanted New Yorker loves the land of cherries, Big Blue and year round ice. Kissane and I will be catching the Wolves/Grand Rapids match tomorrow night. I understand several fellow Wolves STH will be joining us up there. So lets see...that makes eight dedicated Wolves fans against an entire arena of Griffs enthusiasts. I'd say the odds look even.

Seems like a slump to me...

It's the middle of the season, the All Star teams have been chosen and it is a perfect time for injuries to shake up the line up and a lovely little slump. It was not a banner night for Wolves fans last night at the AllState Arena. The Chicago Wolves surrendered to the their old rivals the Grand Rapids Griffins 5:2. The good news it that rumor has it Kevin Doel is to return to the Wolves later this week. Joel Kwiatkowski plucked last Friday by Atlanta is doing well with the Thrashers, registering an assist and 17 minutes of play in last nights game. As much as I would like to see him back on the Wolves first line bravo and fair play to him!

As per usual here are a few images of last nights debacle...




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Traverse City, just the smell of the place...

No doubt about it after two months without hockey Friday night I slept like a 5 year old on Christmas Eve. Tomorrow come noon my favorite subject was going to open itself up to me for a new season of action, art and splendor. Traverse City is the perfect place to start a hockey season. First and foremost the volunteer staff at Center Ice make everyone from athletes, parents and press feel like family. Then there is the city it's self, TC is beautiful with an abundance of fine restaurants and wineries to keep you well fed and lubricated when not watching the worlds greatest sport. Lastly there is the atmosphere of Center Ice. The arena boasts of year round ice and it just plain smells different than the seasonal stuff we have in Chicago. If it could be bottled, that is what I would want my car to smell like. That way morning drive time would remind me of why I work hard at my day job-to support my hockey and photography passion.

I make no secret of the fact of my love of defensive game, three days deep into the tournament I have some good news for Grand Rapids fans and Peoria, you have some nice netties heading your way. However, to those in Iowa, hold on to your socks,the news isn't rosy. Tobias Stephan(6'175lbs,AHL Iowa) on Friday went into the net cold and gave a lack luster performance. Saturday JC Blanchard(6'2"190lbs Victoriaville,QMJHL) was lit up like a Christmas tree. He needs a year more in the hockey incubator and a look see next year, no shame there. But to put it bluntly unless management has a plan it could be a long season first ahead in Iowa.

Detroit's goalie on Friday was Dominic Vicari(5'10" 190lbs, ECHL Toledo), he looked good,light on his feet and quick to respond. At one point it looked like he was about to join in on a fight behind the net.(His gloves were off before he thought the better) I like a goalie with passion. Spending last year in Detroit's ECHL farm team the infamous Toledo Storm he looks AHL and Grand Rapids Griffins ready.

Peoria season ticket holders, Mike McKenna (6'2" 190lb, ECHL Las Vegas) was the surprise of the weekend. Nice butterfly, fast hands and the eye of the tiger. Best yet for photogs he has a graceful stance and an expressive face.I am so happy we will be possibly seeing so much of Peoria and McKenna in their net this year in our midwest nifty AHL bus league.




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Stefan Patryk Liv, he came, he saw and then went back to Sweden.

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Last April the Grand Rapids Griffins came to play the Chicago Wolves as part of the usual AHL intra division schedule. The Wolves and Griffs are old rivals and since the last rearrangement of the division these "old friends" do not see each other nearly enough. Now every time we meet it's more like a reunion rather than the bitter rivalry it once was. After the game I contacted a Grand Rapids sports writer, Dave Wolf (who is arguably the worlds greatest Griffs fan) and asked him just who was this Stefan Liv? He told me basically Liv was a hot Swede who has come into the Red Wings system to try out the North American game under a one year contract. In the ensuing months Wolf has reported on the Power Play Post Show(http://www.pppshow.net) Liv having seen the North American game in all of it's glory decided after one year to return home to the Land of the Midnight Sun and sign with HV71 of the Swedish Elites.


Stefan Patryk Liv has an interesting past, born 12/21/80 in Gdynia,Poland he was adopted by Swedish parents at the age of two and carries his birth name of Patryk as his middle name today. An Olympian, he was chosen as the third goalie for the 2006 Swedish Olympic team. Liv was part of the 2000 NHL draft where he was chosen 102nd in the third round by the Detroit Red Wings. Liv decided to stay in Sweden until this past year and signed a one year contract with the Wings. Upon his arrival he was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins and for a short time to their feeder or "farm team" the infamous Toledo Storm.
After a year of endless bus rides through the American Midwest and a view of the rough and ready AHL Liv apparently decided he had seen enough and went home. Fair play to him, you have to respect a athlete who knows what he wants, goes and gets it. Stefan Liv,veni,vidi,fere vichi...Hope to see you in the next Olympics, this time farther up the roster.