Best Served Cold?

I met this fine individual on Friday night. His name is Steve. Steve's a funny guy who loves himself some hockey. In fact, he's one of the on-ice guys who comes out between the whistles to clear snow and do maintenance on the ice while there are stoppages in play at Winnipeg Jets games. We had a great conversation about hockey at the Pledge-O-Rama wrap-up party, and then he said he had a video to show me. Being curious, I gladly said I'd love to see not knowing whether I'd be watching some hockey highlight, an iPhone-recorded peewee game, or a snuff film. I really hoped it wasn't the latter.

Thankfully, Steve showed me a video of him working at MTS Centre a few weeks ago when the Dallas Stars were in town. Steve was going about his business when... well, I'll let the video do the talking.

Yes, that's Steve getting taken out by Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen! I'm pretty sure that "the Ice Crew Guy" wasn't responsible, but Lehtonen left the game shortly after his run-in with Steve. This, of course, prompted a pile of tweets that brought some slight notoriety to Steve!

Not bad, right? Steve has some fun with the AHL's Texas Stars over his injuring of Lehtonen, and everyone gets a chuckle out of it. Steve, however, tells me last night that the he thinks the Jets will win the rematch the Stars simply due to Lehtonen, who starts tonight, remembering "the Ice Crew Guy" in the corner and how he was taken out by this intimidating force.

And wouldn't you know it, but the Jets skated to a victory over the Dallas Stars tonight! Sure, it was a 2-1 victory in overtime, but Lehtonen couldn't stop the Jets when it counted. Maybe Steve had something to do with it, but the Jets won the battle. And that's what counts.

Then again, the Stars will return to MTS Centre on Saturday, December 14 for a 2:00pm battle with the Jets. Steve should ready himself in case he finds himself in the corner with Mr. Lehtonen again. One can't be too careful when it comes to a player seeking revenge!

Great meeting you, Steve, and we'll keep in contact! And keep your head up!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!