Midweek Musings

It's Wednesday, it's bitterly cold, and it's late. What does this mean? Hockey season in Canada, especially the outdoor games, have started, and that bodes well for this writer. After reading through multiple articles today, I've got some ideas and thoughts about hockey. And I also have a special announcement, so this article is full of info and good stuff. I hope. Some of it will just be my own personal insanity, but you come here often enough to see that, right? Alrighty then. Let's get this party started.

• According to KDKA.com's Andy Sheehan, the new arena going up in Pittsburgh will be named differently than what their current home is. The Mellon Arena, aka "The Igloo", will be replaced by the brand-new, state-of-the-art Consol Energy Center... or Arena... or whatever. Personally, this new name offers a pile of fun nickname opportunities. "The Power Plant" is currently my favorite, and one I will wholeheartedly endorse. Any other solid new nicknames for the Pittsburgh Arena? Lemme hear what you got.
• A reader by the name of John has asked that I give him a shout-out for his game. Can you name all 30 teams in three minutes or less? Try it here. Lots of people have already tried, and it really takes some concentration. While it is very similar to another game featured on this blog, it's still a great way to kill three minutes or less.
• Mark your calendars for January 30, 2009. The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers will be looking to jump back onto another You're Wearing That? article with the announcement that they will honour disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich when they take to the ice that night against the Victoria Salmon Kings. "The Wranglers' uniforms will feature broad, horizontal black and white stripes with mock prison numbers on the back of each jersey that begin with "ILLGOV" followed by the players' actual number", and all jerseys will be auctioned off at the end of the game with proceeds going to support the various charities with which Wranglers are associated. Despite me thinking that this sort of thing should be discouraged, the money is going to a good cause, so I'll let it slide.
• The AHL is offering something up for all fans this weekend, and it's something you should definitely get in on. Wanna watch up to eight games for free this weekend? Welcome to AHL Live. AHL Live features "high-quality live AHL games not available anywhere else on the Internet and gives hockey fans an opportunity to tune into their favorite team with a simple Internet connection". AHL fans will be able to access the free preview Sunday, December 14 starting at 6am ET. Here are your choice of games:

Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) at Toronto Marlies (TOR), 4:00 ET
Manchester Monarchs (LA) at Providence Bruins (BOS), 4:05 ET
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) at Worcester Sharks (SJ), 4:05 ET
Portland Pirates (BUF) at Albany River Rats (CAR), 5:00 ET
Peoria Rivermen (STL) at Lake Erie Monsters (COL), 5:00 ET
WBS Penguins (PIT) at Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI), 5:05 ET
San Antonio Rampage (PHX) at Chicago Wolves (ATL), 6:00 ET
Syracuse Crunch (CBJ) at Rochester Americans (FLA), 6:05 ET

Ok, as for the special announcement, this one is a landmark for me. At 3:13pm CDT today, someone from Freehold, New Jersey hit my site for a total of four seconds while searching for an image. Why is that four seconds important? Mr. Freehold, New Jersey was the 100,000th visitor to this very blog!

Let me state that in Year One, running from January 20, 2007 to January 20, 2008 that there were 33,183 visits to my humble blog. You guys - the readers who stop by here - have now pushed me over 100,000 in Year Two, and that's a staggering number to me. I've angered people, I've made people laugh, and I've brought as much hockey from all different leagues and tournaments to the forefront. And I keep doing it because I get routinely get hundreds of you stopping by to read and occasionally comment.

Yes, I'd like everyone to comment, but I know that some people don't want to. However, I want to comment on something right now:

Thanks for stopping by and making me and my passion for hockey a part of your day. You guys make me smile, laugh, and want to talk about hockey as much as possible, and this 100,000 landmark is a testament to you as readers as much as it is to me as a writer. Without you, I probably would have stopped writing a long time ago. So it needs to be said again and again. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!