Stanley Cup

Meeting Lord Stanley

by The Ref on October 4, 2011
in Off Topic

Yesterday was one of the coolest and hardest days of my life. We’ll get to the cool part, but first the hard part. The cool part is worth the wait. Trust me.

So, the hard part. Mike Russell’s wake. It was hands down, the hardest wake I have ever gone to in my whole life, and that includes my own father’s. The show of support was incredible. I saw many, many people I hadn’t seen in years. It was awful circumstances in which to see old friends, but it was nice to see them nonetheless. I was obviously very emotional, and seeing each of the kids and the parents trying to be strong for each other was amazing. They are a tight knit group for sure, and I hope to see them all again, only this time, at a joyous occasion. RIP, Mike. You are going to be missed.

Now, for the cool part. Caroline and I got to meet Lord Stanley yesterday! The Bruins put together a thing for the season ticket holders. It was really neat to see the Cup up close, and to get to touch it. I wanted to put Caroline in the actual bowl, but they said she was too big, so we had to settle for a couple of shots of us touching it, whilst wearing a very serious face. I think she’s pissed because right where our hands are is a Montreal square. Lucky she didn’t puke on it.

Along with having the Cup, there were a couple of booths set up for Bruins Stanley Cup memorabilia, and some used equipment as well. Among the locker placards, I found Brian McGrattan. Do you think 2 bucks is too much to spend? Me neither. The defense begins Thursday evening, and I for one can’t wait!

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T’was the Night Before Stanley

by Chris on June 14, 2011
in 2011 Playoffs, Vancouver Canucks

Here I sit in the dark, staring at this blinking cursor in disbelief. My new daughter, Caroline, is out cold – dreaming of ripping a wicked wrister top drawer to win an Olympic Gold Medal. MOL is dreaming of the day when I no longer look like a crazy Amish hockey fan exiled from the village for my refusal to utilize modern shaving technologies. Or wear pants. I’m thinking, naturally of the Boston Bruins, and the looming spectre of game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.

To say I’m excited is an obvious understatement. I was not yet alive in 1972, the last time they won the Cup, but I remember my father speaking in hushed tones and with reverence when uttering the names of Cashman, Orr, Esposito and Cheevers. Gone from the chilly playing surface are those mighty men, but time and destiny have replaced them suitably with the likes of Lucic, McQuaid, Marchand, Bergeron and Recchi. This is a team that can, and will, repeat history tomorrow night â€“ with or without their jaw-dropping home ice advantage. This is a team capable of bringing Lord Stanley’s sacred vessel back to 100 Causeway Street.

The local team has the weight of the world, or at least a blood-thirsty and slightly overweight fan base, on their shoulders. In my beyond-fevered mind, and those of many other faithful Boston fans, the team is now charged with some lofty expectations – Winning the big game for my father (who I would have thoroughly enjoyed watching this amazing playoff run with) and every other dearly departed Bruins fan. Bringing a love and respect for hockey back to an original six city that’s become awash with a disproportionate number of Sox and Pats fans. Walking on water. Curing cancer. It’s tense. It’s big.

As I type the 2010-2011 Bruins are preparing themselves in Vancouver, waiting for the chance to have their names etched on that holiest of holy hockey grails. For some, like the ageless Mark Recchi, it’s probably the last kick of the can. Players from Tyler Seguin’s generation can hopefully look forward to many more long June runs wearing the black and gold. The anticipation of what is about to take place has driven me to a level of nervousness I don’t think I’ve ever reached. I feel like I’m anticipating actually suiting up and PLAYING in game 7. I can’t imagine what the boys in BC are feeling right now.

So, my words for the Bruins now are this – Do it for Jim Cornett. Do it for all the other long suffering Bruins fans. We’re behind you. We always have been, and always will be. Finish them off for everyone fighting for our country today with a Bruins pin on their body armor. Do it for Nathan Horton, who as an aside looks fantastic for a guy dealing with the type of injury he has. Do it for all the parents and coaches that helped get you to the NHL. But mostly – do it for yourselves. You have reached the ultimate goal for a hockey player. Now, realize the dream and win it all. Believe.

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Working on a Shocked Face

by Chris on April 27, 2010
in 2010 Playoffs, Chris, GoonSquad

I am very surprised the Bruins are moving onto the second round. Sort of. You see, I am not the guy that was calling into 98.5 all season saying the team lacked heart (or in Bostonese: Hahhhhhhhht!) and that I wasn’t renewing my season tickets. I am also definitely not the guy that was saying they don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell at making the playoffs. Not me. No – I am the guy that said, I think they’ll make the playoffs, but get bounced in the first round. I said that when I thought they were going to finish up 8th and play Washington, a team the have matched up very with poorly all season.

When the draw came out as Buffalo, I said Bruins in six. How convenient for me they won in six eh? No, it’s true. Ask Dave, the guy around the corner. He told Miller, Milan and I he thought we’d have a lot more time for walking in about a week the morning after game 1. I told him, nope, Bruins in six. He looked at me like I was crazy. On the other hand, I get the you’re fucking crazy look quite a bit.

The point is, and yes I do have one, the Bruins have picked the best time of the year to play their best hockey. The Bruins just beat the third seeded team featuring arguably the best goalie all season long in Ryan Miller. They accomplished this by following their blueprint for success. Get physical. Don’t get pushed around. Fight. Their compete level was high all series, with the exception of game 5, and their goaltending was stellar. In fact, it was almost too good. The boys are starting to rely on Tuukka Rask a bit too much, and it is affecting their breakout. With the feeling they will get bailed out by the goalie, the passes have been less crisp to start the breakout (Dennis Wideman, I am looking at you) and have subsequently been scored on by Buffalo. They need to tighten that up, if they are to advance to the next round.

I love the way this team is playing right now, and I am impressed they have done this well without some key cogs in the wheel. Marc Savard was cleared today, and will play next round. Dennis Seidenberg is close. I am not sure on Mark Stuart, but he has to be close too. Marco Sturm and Blake Wheeler should be getting the memo the playoffs have started any day now, and can only help this club when that happens. Bottom line is, this is a dangerous club right now, and I would not want to play them next round. Glad I was wrong about you, boys! Go Bruins!

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