This came in via our MySpace profile from a reader called RunninAmok. We’ve met many great hockey fan folk through the MS network, and if you haven’t made friends with us yet please do so. 206 friends and counting!

“This was written by a member of Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fight Site from Vancouver, with some input from others that I added to it.”

I would like to congratulate Gary Bettman for doing his very best for improving the NHL as we know it. Gary, you have done a marvelous job since you have been Commissioner of the NHL. You have been instrumental in 2 work stoppages, half of the 1994-95 season (468 games), and a complete loss of the 2004-05 season.

Gary, great job in bringing back half empty arenas, and for moving two great Canadian franchises in Quebec City and Winnipeg. Sure, we have a “new” team in Ottawa, but you’re right, Carolina, Nashville and Miami are much better hockey markets. Nothing says “Old Time Hockey” like those blue, silver, and bright yellow jerseys of the Nashville Predators. I can’t wait until Pittsburgh, Edmonton, or Calgary move since we all know Houston, Kansas City and Las Vegas are such hotbeds for hockey!

Thank you Gary for bringing us a schedule where we don’t need to see each team every year. In a place like Vancouver, they have hundreds of fans who would like to see the Leafs, Habs or Bruins play the Canucks every season, but once again, you’re right, playing Calgary, Minnesota and Edmonton 8 times a season is much more entertaining than seeing an original 6 team like New York, Detroit, or Toronto. Who cares if the Stanley Cup Champions play here? Who cares if Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin or Staal play here every 3 seasons? Gary, you’re right, we don’t need them.

Mr. Bettman, how do you do it? How did you get such a sweet deal on OLN? Yes, having the NHL on a channel Americans have to pay for is much better than ESPN. The numbers don’t lie; OLN’s numbers prove that. ESPN, NBC, CBS, yeah, we don’t need that. We have Pay Per View; how fortunate are we! What ever happened to that Fox Trax puck? I miss that.

Getting back to the schedule, I really like how some games are worth two points and others three. It’s also so exciting to see no battles in front of the net or body contact of any kind. Hockey is such a great game now. I couldn’t stand watching Todd Bertuzzi slamming Chris Chelios or freight training Barret Jackman. Those bodychecks were so violent! We don’t need that in OUR sport. No way! I prefer to see Henrik or Daniel Sedin, able to stand unimpeded in front of the crease so they can tap in a rebound! I’m so happy that fighting is almost gone from the game. Now I have more time to go get some popcorn or a drink instead of wondering if Brian McGratton would fight Wade Brookbank. Wait, the Canucks got rid of Brookbank because he was tough. Also, that fight would only happen every three years.

Gary, I’m thrilled that there are so many Europeans in the game. Having Europeans on the third and fourth line is fascinating. Watching them cycle the puck back and forth behind the net is so exciting. I’m glad to see guys such as PJ Stock, Gino Odjick and Tie Domi gone from the game. They didn’t bring anything to the game that a fourth liner from Europe couldn’t. I really hated to hear those chants of Gino, Gino, Gino we used to hear when he went after Marty McSorley or Tie Domi. Like I mentioned fighting was a despicable part of the game. I now have time to go to the washroom, beating those intermission crowds.

I really enjoy watching five on four, four on three, or five on three games nightly. There’s nothing more entertaining than seeing more goals. I love seeing the stars racking up the points like Gretzky and Lemieux used to. We don’t need those old records that were set before you became commissioner. Players like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito or Bobby Orr aren’t important. They played in that era of fighting and limited power plays. These players had to battle nightly for space on the ice or in front of the net. I’m so glad to see that you don’t have to pay a price to score. What a chore that was. If Gretzky played in today’s game, he may have gotten 400 points, but let’s not get silly now.

And thank you for the two-referee system. Get some more people out there on the ice and call more penalties. Forty minor penalties per game is exciting and really gets the average Joe and Joan heading to the arena. In conclusion Mr.Bettman, I’d just like to say that the game, as you see it, could never be better & I hope you are thrilled with today’s product coming to a rink near you. By the way Gary, have you ever played the game, or even watched it?

Sincerely,

A WHL fan.

We decided to up the ante a little bit with GoonBlog’s second Podcast. We moved the recording studio from my bedroom in Boston to Chris’ couch in Acton. We incorporated some theme music for the first time. He didn’t drink at all. I drank less. And we ran about 3 minutes longer than our debut. It’s more informative and funnier, but we’ve got to work on not saying “uh” a whole heck of lot more.

If you enjoy what we’re trying to do, and even if you don’t, send an email to podcast at goonblog.com and leave a little something for our mailbox segment. Listen to Episode #2, subscribe to the RSS feed or even add it to your iTunes subscriptions - all by clicking the link below.

Listen to GoonBlog: The Podcast - Episode #2 NOW!

Live from Goonblog HQ, welcome to the Bruins best tilt so far. It’s technology heaven tonight here. MOL has taken delivery on her new cell phone, I am nerding it out on my new laptop. I am on my 5th Bud Select after a lovely pork chop dinner. Really, all is right with the world.

So far the tilt in St. Louis has been good. Great scoring chances by the beloved Bruins. I am telling you, as soon as Kessel finds the back of the net they are going to start pouring in. That was a NHL move to set up Bergeron on the goal. He got his bell rung too. Hopefully he comes back. An injury now would be bad for his confidence. If he comes back, he’ll know he can take a NHL hit.

Good scrap too. I always liked Bill Guerin. He is the type of guy that can do everything on the ice. He can fight, score, and can set up the play too. On the downside, he can be a very me first guy when it comes to contracts. At any rate, I didn’t see how the fight started, but he and Hoggan traded a few good blows. I thought Kevin Collins had come out of retirement to break up the fight, as it looked like he jumped in before the boys were done trading blows. C’mon boys! This is the new NHL we don’t see them go much anymore. LET ‘EM GO!! Hopefully the rest of the game is as good. If I don’t finish these beers, I’ll be back after the second.

SECOND PERIOD

That was a hit from behind from Billy Guerin.

My new favorite Bruin? Jeff Hoggan. That was the greatest interview ever. My new motto, “I’ll trade em with Billy Guerin anytime.”

I’m drunk.

THIRD PERIOD

Anyone that doesn’t think the Bruins are losing this game one of two ways. With 2 seconds left in OT, or via the shootout. Well, you just haven’t seen a Bruins game in a long time.

OT. SO.

I told you.

MOL is wicked smart. She has been going nuts on some paper for days. I really don’t know what it’s about because I asked her what she was doing, and it was hard to follow anything other than at, the, and…you know…little words. Tommy like wingy. The downside to her working so hard, is she’s been using our only PC. The upside? I have seen way more games on Center Ice than anticipated. Since I haven’t been writing due to a lack of hardware, I got a new Lenovo T60 through the employee store at work. I had them load Office as well, so I have my very own e-mail now. Drop me a line. If I get enough, I will answer them here. Have a little fun. The address is chris at goonblog.com. Here is what I have seen through the first week of the hockey season.

- Best fight I have seen so far: Colby Armstrong vs. Nolan Baumgartner last week. They threw the book at the Bomber, but it was a great tilt. I call the fight a win for Armstrong after being jumped by Baumgartner.

- The Lowell Devils have really cool merchandise.

- Sadly, I think it’s going to be more of the same for us Lowell fans. It wasn’t a very physical game the other night. I don’t see them having a lot of fights. No Lalond again. I like his attitude. I hope he plays this weekend.

- The Bruins looked good in the first period of their game Friday.

- Hal Gill looks awesome in a Leaf uniform.

- I think the West is going to win the Cup.

- The NHL is littered with former Bruins.

- Carolina looks like shit.

This weekend should be cool. The return of Worcester to Lowell. The Ref and I will try not to get as out of hand this Podcast. Well, try to try. Try to net drop $80 voice recorders between the rink seats.

There’s nothing wrong with getting mentioned on MSNBC. Nothing at all. I’ve always maintained that helping take the NHL digital, followed closely by sleeping with a woman, is one of my aspirations in life - and I am glad more and more people are taking notice. Kudos again to Mike Gardner for designing our logo, which is apparently the only thing keeping us in business according to most major media outlets. We’ll take it.

This Saturday will see the recording of our second GoonBlog: The Podcast, which should be live on the site by Sunday evening. Topics this week will include Georges Laraque, the Battle of Alberta, Cam Jannsen and a special behind the scenes look at the all-new Lowell Devils’ opening night (both Chris and I will be in attendance in the stands and backstage). Why were the fans in Columbus chanting Jody Shelley’s name last night? What’s up with the Hurricanes’ bad start? You’ll just have to listen in.

And while we’re on the subject, we’ve set up a new email address for Podcast related comments, questions and contributions: podcast at goonblog.com. Do you have a question for the GoonSquad? Do you want to submit a little listener mail? Is erectile dysfunction getting you down? We’re in Boston, so how is the Trailer Park Boys Movie, Canadians? Did we say something that deeply offended you? Please let us know so we can have a good on-air chuckle over all of it. We welcome any and all contributions. Talk with/at you this weekend. We’re just getting warmed up.

Hal Gill looks AWESOME in a Leaf uniform. Why? Because it’s not a Bruins uniform.

The day was not without its hiccups. Most of them were Molson induced, admittedly. But the first Goonblog Podcast is ready for listening, and Chris and I hope you enjoy it. Listen to it right here in the embedded player, or click the iTunes link below to download new episodes to your computer or iPod as they’re released.

Click here to get your own player.

Now, a few more notes on the day. The podcast you’ll hear is about half of what we recorded. After a shitshow at the Banknorth, including altercations, too much beer and a soul-sucking hockey game - I lost my goddamn digital voice recorder. So what you hear is what you get for this episode. I never said I was Walter Winchell, and I think our amateurish segues and hamhanded editing could have turned out a lot worse. See what you think, gooners.