Third Valentine, Jason Krog!

The time has come to welcome Jason Krog back with his summer Valentine. Last year when he signed with Manitoba the first thing I said to my contact in Winnipeg was how happy the team photographer was going to be. Jason Krog is one of the most photogenic players on the ice today. He looks great in a suit off the ice but put him on skates and sweat him up and he becomes Jim Morison on ice. Happy days are here again for Chicago based hockey photographers, Jason Krog, 2008 AHL Most Valuable Player and scoring machine is back on home ice!


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Has Hell Frozen Over? Wolves Fans Cheering for Milwaukee?

That quiet sound you you may be hearing tonight in Chicago from darkened basements is the sound of Wolves fans huddled around their computers secretly catching the Admirals game. Would you believe it Milwaukee has come back to force a game seven? Tonight we will find out if AHL hockey will continue in the area for another few weeks. For if the Milwaukee Admirals defeat the Houston Aeros tonight, the Manitoba Moose come charging into Milwaukee for the semifinals. That will mean more than a few sleeping Wolves fans will make the trip north to see the Moose go head to head against the Admirals.

BlackHawks about to begin another round. The possibility of seeing Jason Krog and Gui Desbiens on local ice again. If this isn't hockey heaven, please direct me!

Wolves Gored by Manitoba Moose 6:3

It was a game that started out with the of roar three goals in three minutes. Two for Chicago's Spencer Machachek at 1:44 and 3:33, Manitoba got into the action with Mark Cullen striking first only .33 seconds out of the gate. The crowd smelled excitement, hard hitting and dare I say it a hat trick? Well, there was hard hitting a plenty, but Chicago just seemed to run out of legs mid way in the second period against the Moose. For a game that started with such promise it ended in a whimper of a lopsided score.

There were a couple of bright spots during the pre-game warm ups I had a chance to watch Moose Assistant Captain skate. Not only does Nolan Baumgartner have a great presence on the ice he managed to pass a puck to every kid in the mid section with a smile and a wink. Nice work he made several kids nights by his actions, that's another example of leadership on ice all be it a softer one.

Chad Denny got out for a few shifts when he hit the ice for his first he introduced himself to Manitoba in his typical manor with two resounding hits. The kid plays like he is fighting for a roster spot, although Denny does not appear on the "Clear Day Roster" for the playoffs he can play in the event of an injury to a player on the clear day. Since it is likely that an injury is possible, it seems a shame a check and a shot like Denny's should be black aced. Since people with more hockey smarts than I make these roster decisions can they explain it to me? It seems there is so much talent warming the bench like this every year and that's this photog's rant on the subject.

Here are some images of the game.





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Chicago Wolves throw BBQ, defeat Moose 2:1

Last night at the Allstate arena the Wolves played playoff hockey, tight, powerful playoff hockey and a beautiful thing it was to see. If the team keeps this up they will not only make the playoffs but avoid meeting Milwaukee in the first round. A very tasty prospect indeed for the Wolves.

The game featured high SOG totals Manitoba's goalie Curtis Sanford faced 29 SOG turning away 27, while Ondrej fPavlec faced a challenging 46, only letting a single shot in. Pavlec is a tough nettie, he has been the primary stater for the Wolves since his return from injury. It is worrisome to many his frequent use. But he seems to be the hot hand and with a two home game winning streak and four days rest until Fridays Iowa game he might be considered for the road start also.

Here are some images of the game:


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If it is minus 40 outside it must be a Manitoba game!

Again, we are shivering in our boots in Chicago and again the Manitoba Moosers are in town, yes, they brought there weather with them. How nice of the boys from the north to have packed up a Alberta Clipper along with their gear.

Nice...

Last Wed night the Moose came to the Allstate Arena for one of their bi-seasonal matches against the Wolves. In the West we all miss the Meese, once the Moosers were part of the mighty west's regular schedule and we saw them,often . But like the Griffins of Grand Rapids they were moved to the north and our meetings have taken the form of old family reunions. Fun but kind of like seeing an old relative you don't really like but can't for the life of you remember why. This time both teams struggled for three full frames, finally deadlocked in a 1:1 tie. With just seconds left in OT when the specter of a shoot out loomed large, it happened. Was it a lunar eclipse, no Wolves Captain Darren Haydar passed the puck before the Moose goal through a maze of Moose and Wolves players. Moosie goalie Drew McIntyre then cleared the puck and shot it into the empty net of the Wolves, the Meese had won on the rarest of events, a netties goal!

As we all went into the cold darkness, finally remembering just why we didn't like this rival. They are good, very good, we may be seeing them God willing in May for the playoffs. The weather will be warmer and there are no eclipses scheduled. Still we better look sharp, but at least we know why we don't like this Canadian cousin once again.



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Don't forget the ADA Black Hawk alumni/ITT alum game in two weeks:

Sunday March 2nd, Time is 2:00 pm.
Location is Oakton Park Arena
2800 Oakton St.
Park Ridge IL
# 847-692-3357

Tickets can be bought now at the arena for the price of $10.00, along with tickets on game day there will be raffles of BlackHawk autographed sticks, a jersey,and pucks by present and former Hawks.($5.00 each).

At this time I do not have a final list of Black Hawk Alum that will be playing, However, the usual suspects who often generously give their time to alumni events are; Jack O'Callahan, Steve Konroyd, Steve Poast, Jerry Korab, Dave Mackey, Cliff Korroll, Peter Marsh, Reg Kerr, Jose Charbonneau, Grant Mulvey, and Troy Murray.

Manitoba Moose blow into town...

Tonight at the AllState Arena the Chicago Wolves hosted the Manitoba Moose for their sole regular season appereance. It was to become a memorable night for Wolves Goalie Robert Gherson, who gathered his first AHL shut out, winning 2:0. As per usual I will refer readers to my partner Patrick Kissane and his blog @ http:/ciachort.blogspot.com for a full report of the game. In the mean time here are a few images of the game to whet your hockey appitites.



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On a personal note, a good friend returnd to the AA after too long an absence. Welcome back, Princess!

Friends and places along the hockey road...

Hockey is an amazing sport,if you are lucky it grabs you when you are young like frozen toes and doesn't let go. Some discover it later in life, when they are probably old enough to know better and fall in love with the sport anyway. I was lucky, growing up on a pond I have a basic understanding of hockey, it's culture and players. However, I am far behind in game smarts. In the last few years several kind friends have tutored me in the finer points of the game as it exists today and not as I idealize it with childhood memories. Good teachers like Wolf, an AHL off-ice official and a good friend,who has taught me the importance of concentration at a game and owing a current rule book. Jessica with whom I can discuss the finner points of mechanism of injury as it relates to players,their recovery and performance. Last but not least Timmy and Princess who although they have great hockey minds their true calling is heckling. It is through their efforts that countless fans have been taught to see just what the ref is missing, understand how control of the play is lost and when the proper time it is to start the classic "ref you suck" chant. A rant that is far over used in most areas.

Then there are the amazing people you meet on road trips, the characters and friends you touch along the way are often the second compelling reason to make the journey. What is Grand Rapids with out meeting up with Badger and a drink at the VanDell bar? Hamilton and Manitoba, two cities that can boast of the most welcoming fans I have ever met. It is impossible not to have a good time in either of those towns. The local fans greet you with open arms, feed you, invite you to great parties and treat you like one of their own. Even in the hottest of playoff series, you can't beat Canadian hospitality.


Rockford,next year they will be an opponent but until now the Metro has been a second home, with Stinky, Elvis and others to liven up an already exciting game.




Lastly Toledo, the jewel in the crown of road trips. Last year the Storm closed their doors on a stadium that was not so lovingly described by one of their past players parents as a "hole". True, the halls in places were three shoulders wide, the ice had puddles and the air,well, could only be described as rank. But, the old girl had character,the kind that can't be bought. You know it when you see it, seats worn by the millionth bottom sitting in them, floors with grooves from fans rushing to seats. A great cup of coffee served with a smile during the third period to keep you awake for the long drive home. Although we never saw any I suspect the rats were only kept in check by the legion of feral cats that lived along Mawnee River just a few feet from the arena. Such a stadium could only attract great traditional hockey fans that are something out of "Slap Shot". The glass only came up to most adults chests, it was possible for a fans to reach down and make contact with players during play. During most games it was not unusual to see a fan was ejected for grabbing an opposing player. Something this photographer observed during the Gwinnett/Storm game we attended, it was treated as a common case of over exuberance on local a fans part. Security handled it quickly and everyone in the stands shrugged their shoulders.Powderhornhockey


Last April while driving home from Hamilton we read that the old girl was closing her doors and the Toledo Storm were taking a years hiatus from the ECHL. In the 08" season the new team with a shiny new stadium will take the ice. It will be new but I doubt that the stadium will get a mention in anybodies blog as a character it's self they have met on road trips.Bless the old girl, they probably miss you already.

Following the team on the road is one of the best parts any sport. It has been a long off season for Wolves fans and we eagerly await the Red Wings Rookie Tournament and Training Camp in September. The Rookie list looks good with a reappearance of last years Chad Denny and a hot Swede of our own to check out. In short..Drop that puck!