Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, folks! HBIC is closed today with very little hockey outside of Russia being played. You might ask why the Russians are playing games, and it's because Orthodox Russians celebrate their Christmas Day on January 7. Being that my care for anything Russian is as low as it can be, they can have their hockey while I spend time with my family. I hope you'll be doing the same.

I'm looking forward to a beautiful day with great people, delicious food, fun gifts, and lots of smiles. I know some people will take to social media to post images of what they received, but let's not forget that some people may not receive gifts for a variety of reasons. Be mindful of the privilege it is to be able to exchange gifts with all that's happened in the world, and be grateful that you have the ability to be able to both give and receive.

May you and yours be safe and sound today, and here's hoping everyone having another healthy and happy holiday season whether you're celebrating today or not! I'll be back tomorrow with both the 2024 World Junior Championship and the 2023 Spengler Cup starting, so make sure you're ready for an avalanche of hockey tomorrow when teams get back at it!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!