No rest for the Wicked....Hockey in July, Sweet!

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Two hours until I smell ice again sweet year round hockey ice....I know it was only a few days ago Kissane and I toured the Team Ireland/Dundalk Bulls facility in Armagh, Ireland but this will be NHL prospects hockey. To me the best stuff, a house of dreams, blood sweat and tears.

It has been a season of change for the Chicago Blackhawks,a new coach and with the death of Bill Wirtz his son Rocky at the helm of the ship a new course seems to be in place. Yes, this gardener is going to take her kit and look for the snowdrops, the new growth in this storied franchise. Congratulations Rocky Wirtz, you did it, I'm back interested in local NHL hockey from the bottom up thanks to your new perspective on making hockey more accessible to the common fan. Thanks to the Rockford IceHogs and their organization and product. A team that is consistently fun to watch and the best arena atmosphere in the AHL.

Today Blackhawk prospects will gather for rookie camp at "The Edge" arena in Bensonville it will be a week of practice skates and scrimmage games against Blackhawk and Icehog vets. The new kids will be eager to strut their stuff and prove themselves. The Hogs class of 07' will be looking to move up to the Hawks, this is the stuff dreams are made of.

The guys with stars in their eyes that I will be keeping my peepers on today will be...
#11, Akim Aliu, forward, played a few shifts with Rockford last season, has a bit of a colourful past. But Aliu could be the find of the decade for the Hawks, give this kid a chance to prove himself!

#17 Evan Brophy, forward, played with the Hogs last season, born Kitchner Ont, a real hockey town.I expect to see him move up.

#48, Jonathan Carlsson, any Swede playing defence interests me, coming from Sweden he probably has the skating skills but will he be aggressive enough for the North American game?

#24 Peter Leblanc, born in Hamiton, Ont, playing currently for New Hampshire.A col legate program that consistently develops quality players, also watch fellow Green Mountion Boy # 54 Kruise Reddick.

Lastly, a goalie: # 34, Joseph Palmer from Utica NY the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, has came up through the ranks of NY junior teams around Syracuse and Utica. Presently playing for Ohio State, Toledo.

Two hours to go, I can just smell the ice now.....Hockey in July, who says it's just a winter sport?

Thanks for the Memories, Wolves/Ice Hogs series...

The series ended last Tuesday night. In the last few days my in box has been filling up with notes from Rockford and Chicago all saying pretty much the same thing, great series, both teams left it all on the ice, too bad one team had to loose. It is the nature of sport that one person or team is defeated, even if it is not bettering a personal best. Last Tuesday night was the end of a great series. Both teams played well, coaches poured out their hearts and fans living only 90 miles apart traveled with their teams and frankly the atmosphere in the arenas was incredible. I have been looking at the hundreds of images on my hard drive. Perhaps in an effort to say goodbye to a singular fortnight of hockey but I can't quite let it go without sharing some of the faces and moments of the Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Ice Hogs 07' playoffs.

Enjoy...








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How much time is left?

One of the regular features of attending Wolves games at the Allstate Arena is the guy in 204 who shouts out with a minute 5 seconds left in the period, "how much time is left in the period" The house announce answers "there is one minute left in the period, the crowd replies"thank you". It's a nice custom, hockey fans are so polite. Today as I write there is one game left to play in the series of the Rockford IceHogs and the Chicago Wolves, time is running out in this roller coaster ride also. The Wolves beat the Hogs handily in game six on Sunday in Rockford insuring a game seven.

Game six wrap up is short and sweet, the score was 4:3 Ice Hogs scored in all three period, well done. The Wolves scored all four goals during the second. Hogs discipline broke down and penalties followed allowing four goals on power plays. Rule #1 in playoff hockey, stay out of the box. Rule #2 if your opponent is in the box, capitalise on mistakes. Third period was tightly fought with the Wolves hanging on to their lead by tenacious play. In the closing seconds of the game there were unscheduled fireworks. A total of 160 PIMs were handed out including 20 for a game misconduct, "Coach Obscenity" on Rockford's Mike Haviland.

Indeed, hockey is a passionate game, played by the passionate!






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Now bring on game 7!

Do or die for the Chicago Wolves, Hogs win in the Wolves Den

There was no joy in Mudville Friday night when the home team lost in a blowout involving some of the prettiest goals ever seen in a playoff game.

What does this photog know after looking through 1200 odd images this morning? The stats may not show it but Joe Motzko, Joey Crabb and Kevin Doell are hustling for all their lives are worth. Game 6 is going to be a ring tailed tooter and Kissane and I will be there!

Here are a few images of the game.




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The Battle of Chicago Hockey,Game 1, Wolves- 4 Rockford -1

If there is one thing I love about playoff hockey it is the weather, often the biggest question of the day is do you dress for the weather outside the arena 70-80 degrees or the 60+ degrees inside? Ah, playoff hockey where even Chilly Willy is wearing only a tee shirt or a camisole under her jersey. In this playoff series pegging the Rockford Ice Hogs against the Wolves, jersey? Which jersey? That was the second question, as long time readers of this and it's sister blog Patrick Kissane's "Sit down and Shut Up" will know we have been loyal followers of the UHL Rockford Ice Hogs for several years. What sweater indeed, Wolves or Hawgs? Kissane in his usual diplomatic way had the answer, he would wear the classic Hogs "Hammer" sweater and I my Wolves. I can tell you we got some reactions that ran the gamete from surprised to hostile from the Wolves boosters that had no idea we were of mixed loyalties. However the usual suspects from Rockford in attendance who for the last few years had partied, cheered and loved the UHL Hogs with us did not seemed troubled at all. In fact we have an invitation for a pre game dinner on Sunday- Thanks Elvis and Elvis Fan! Somehow I doubt pork will be on the menu though.

The game itself started without any of the predicted fisticuffs in the pregame skate, just the usual photo ops and warm ups. During the first period both teams stayed on their own games and seemed very well matched. Smart money says this series will hinge on just a few things, the stat whores have been analyzing feverishly and basically these teams are beautifully matched with the Wolves having a slight edge on the PP. It will come down to in my humble opinion staying out of the penalty box,heart and a bit of dumb luck. Last night the Wolves showed more discipline in the second and third periods earning them more goals and less time in the box. The sole Rockford goal came late in the third period as part of a last ditch effort to avoid a shut out. This series is going to be a long one, game 2 is 7:00 Saturday night at the Allstate. All I wish for is great hockey, with no injuries. If Rockford wins good, if Wolves win better!




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BlackHawk/ITT game Sunday 2:00 Be there!

Don't forget Sundays match between the Hawks and ITT Alumni!

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).

Here is an updated list of the Hawks Alumni that will be taking part in the game on Sunday. More players are expected to be added to the list. As soon as I get them I'll post them here.

Dave Mackey,Grant Mulvey,Cliff Koroll,Steve Poapst,Brain Noonan ,Reggie Kerr,Peter Marsh,Bruce Cassidy

And one of my all time favorite blueliners and two time Olympian.....Bobby Nardella of the Chicago Wolves/Rockford IceHogs

Associate Members:

Jack Collins,Tom Dillon,Mike Mullins,Kyle.Mulvey,Tom Gearan,Larry Coons

All proceeds of this game will benefit the American Diabetes Association. Hockey for a good cause, what's not to love!

02/16/08 Chicago Wolves down Rockford Ice Hogs

Is this the taste of things to come for these two teams, in sold out a arena of just over 6,000, 1,000 were Wolves fans that braved the weather forecast of an ice storm to see a regular season contest between two teams a mere hour by interstate. The rivalry is in full glorious bloom and making ready for the playoff run that one or both of these teams will make. The shooting is going to be great and the roller coaster ride for Chicago fans is going to be remarkable.

It is past time to come out of the closet so to speak. I have been a fan of the Rockford Ice Hogs for several years, I fell hard on St. Patrick's Night looking out on the ice and seeing Hammy in the spotlight shamrock in his hat, holding the flag for a local school choir singing the anthem. It was over, I became a total fan as they scored moments later and the crowd got up and danced, a hockey crowd dancing you say? Yes, I was hooked. My dual loyalties existed quite peacefully since the Hogs were a UHL team and the Wolves were AHL, when the Wolves were out of town we went to Rockford and had a great time, it helped that somehow Rockford seemed to bring out the best in me artistically. Then last spring the Hogs made the move to the AHL, would we be able to deal? I struggled, finally in the last month I decided to just give up, I still love both teams and yes, I know this set of "Hogs" are really from VA. The most important thing to me is that the "Hawg soul" is still there. The front office staff remains the same,the crowd spirt is still there. The faces on the ice may have changed but the intangibles that make going to games in Rockford such a good time have transitioned to the AHL nicely.

So there is, I deal, so now you can deal, I love two AHL teams within a few miles of each other. Life is good!

Now some images showing Wolves -vs-Hogs, great hockey, two good netties last night. IMHO the difference was the Wolves defense was far more consistant. No team will ever win a game unless there is someone waving his fanny in the goalies face,ready to score, Hogs are you listening?




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The New Born Rivalry, a good healthy howl..

Saturday night as the song says is alright for a fighting and indeed it was. The Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Ice Hogs rivalary is moving from the weak mewings of a newborn to the strong healthy cry of a infant eager for life.

The game started out easy enough. The usual clutch and grab, then the hits started getting harder. Then near the end of the first period the goal net was knocked over on to Andrre Pavelec with no call being given by referee David Banfield.


Second period the pace stepped up, with 41 seconds remaining Andre Pavelec again made contact with the goal post during a breakaway. This time ending up laying in a crumpled ball on the ice grasping his right(stick) hand, again no call. After assessmemnt by Chicago trainer Kevin Kacer, Pavlec finished the period. The defensive line of Brian Fahey and Nathan Oystrick standing guard over the shaken goalie, practically daring any Hog to come near. As soon as the buzzer sounded Pavlec made a bee line to the locker room and full medical attention. Everyone, Wolves and Hogs fans alike were happy to see #31 starting the 3rd periond, sporting a well taped right wrist. Hogs fans saluting him with their trademark cowbells as he entered the crease.


Third period wore on. The score was 3:2, when Rockford coach waved nettie Cam Crawford to the bench, however the extra man was eager to even the score and force OT. A whistle blows, to many men on the ice...this was to prove costly for Rockford, and the Wolves quickly scored on the power play. Now things started to turn ugly. Rockford goalie Crawford fired the puck into the celebrating Wolves, a major breech in the unwritten "code". With 4.5 seconds left in the third period the Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Ice Hogs decided to throw a yard sale in front of the Wolves bench. At the end of the festivities a total of 114 minutes in penalties had been given out including both Fahey boys earning Game Misconducts (75.5iii) resulting from a tussle where linesman Al Stensland fell to the ice squished between them.

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I hope the images do justice to the game, it was as they say a Ring Tailed Tooter!!

Less said the better...

As per usual I will refer readers to my partner Patrick Kissane at "Sit Down and Shut up, Read the Blog" and his blog for a full blow by blow report on the Wolves/Admirals game of last night, linky at right.

Last night the Milwaukee Admirals shut out the Chicago Wolves 4:0 at home after a lack luster game. A small crowd mainly of season ticket holders got to see that it's not just those of us that have "day jobs" phone it in sometimes. Last night everyone associated with the Wolves bench seemed to be in a fog. As crowd dispersed we all murmured prayers that it was a single game hiccup and motivation will return tomorrow night. The Rockford Ice Hogs will not give any quarter to wimpy Wolves at the Metro,we will see what tomorrow brings.

Not everyone took the night off, here are a few images of the game caught by yours truly...


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Admirals host IceHogs for the first time

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Last night at the Bradley Center the Milwaukee Admirlas hosted the Rockford Ice Hogs for the first time. The usually eager traveling fans for the Hogs were fewer in number than expected. The usual suspects were there. Elvis and his gracious wife to be sure and probably 50 others to stand when the red light over Pekka Rinne's head went on. They were not to go home disapointed. After lack luster first and second periods the Hogs reorganized and fiinally moved a man on to point. 30 minutes later the victorioius Hogs had won in a shoot out.

It's nice to see the new kid on the block making a name for it's self agains't your biggest rival. Now for some images of the game.




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Chicago Wolves/Rockford IceHogs a War of the Roses, or just a fight with a Tudor?

There were no red and white roses given out at the door but there might as well have been. The rivalry between the Wolves and the IceHogs continues to heat up. The consistent deciding factor every time these two fine teams go head to head is discipline and who stays out to the penalty box. A feat easier said than done with Tudor Floru wearing the referee stripes. It has been said good teams over come and win through inconsistent refereeing. Last night both teams had to work hard not to let the other team get under their collective skins and tempt them into costly mistakes. At the end on the night the Ice Hogs were the victors on the score boards and of the head game. For a full discussion of AHL referee Tudor Floru I will refer you to Patrick Kissane's site "Sit down and Shut up" linkage at the right.

Here are a few images of the game.



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