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Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:33 am EST

Puck Headlines: Attempting to rain on the Blackhawks love-fest

By Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Morning Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• The Chicago Blackhawks are getting heaping spoonfuls of love from the media as the Winter Classic nears. Eamonn Brennan collects the clippings, and would like everyone to take a deep breath and think about the fact that they really haven't accomplished much of anything yet. "The Blackhawks have a great short-term opportunity. It's worth getting excited about. But let's not drop all perspective at the first sight of outdoor hockey, hmm? The Hawks have a long climb yet." [Mouthpiece Sports]

• ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski says the Chicago Blackhawks going from also-rans in the Western Conference to Winter Classic stars is like "Barack Obama asking Sarah Palin to hold the family Bible for the swearing-in ceremony." And that's how ESPN covers hockey, folks. [ESPN]

• A few weeks back, we mentioned this guy UniWatch discovered who creates DIY replica hockey jerseys. His latest project? Making a Chicago Blackhawks Winter Classic jersey with Jonathan Toews's name on the back. Not too shabby.

• Regarding the Vancouver hysteria over Mats Sundin's arrival: Alanah reports that it's at a Beckham-like level of celebrity fawning. To the point where Canucks.com may live-stream his first skate with the team. [Canucks and Beyond]

• Another jersey foul from a St. Louis Blues game -- drink up the "OUNCES" No. 40 jersey. [Joe Sports Fan]

• We've been meaning to post this for a while, but please do check out Adam Sherlip's efforts to bring hockey to the children of Kashmir. [Hockey Volunteer]

• The history of Montreal Canadiens hat tricks. Pretty much the only list that can bring together Rocket Richard, Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau and Oleg Petrov. [Habs Inside/Out]

• Among the sports luminaries on hand for the Winter Classic: Cubs Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams; Bears Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus; and Ted Lindsay and Bobby Hull, who are reportedly going to take part in the ceremonial faceoff. [NHL]

• Washington Capitals prospect Dmitry Kugryshev has a blog on IceDaily.com, and OFB points out a post in which he actually calls out an HF Boards poster for questioning his size and strength. We eagerly await the day when Dmitry Kugryshev and "BrooklynCapsFan" can put this all behind them. [On Frozen Blog]

• From Puck Daddy reader Alex comes the image below from the Dallas Stars Web site: "Thornton vs. Grossman. Doesn't exactly make me want to reach for my wallet and buy tickets. If that is the matchup, then Stars are in worst shape than I thought. That is like pocket Kings against pocket 3s."

• Kari Lehtonen is getting yanked around by the Atlanta Thrashers, who should really just be thankful that he's healthy for at least a few days. [Fire Wagon Hockey]

• Former Idaho Steelhead hockey player Mike Hanson will appear on Friday night's edition of "Wheel of Fortune" as a contestant. If he drops the gloves with Sajak, he deserves a medal. [Statesman]

• Spector believes there is no miracle cure trade for the Ottawa Senators. [Fox Sports]

• Finally: "Miller Donnelly hopes his YouTube video, 'The Magic Hockey Helmet,' exposes what he feels is a major problem in minor league hockey: angry fans yelling at young players." If you haven't seen this, it's all sorts of adorable. "When I go to a friend's backyard rink and I'm only wearing a toque, ad-ults treat me much nicer." [Sudbury Star]

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo

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42 Comments

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  1. ScottyWazz
    1. Posted by ScottyWazz Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    If it was Glenn Anderson, he's split those pocket 3's.
  2. Katebits
    2. Posted by Katebits Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    i would like to nominate miller donnelly to be the official spokesperson for.....everything good. that was some highly persuasive work.
  3. Hans Gruber
    3. Posted by Hans Gruber Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Since no good beer comes in 40 ouncers, that is an epic failure.
    Anyone who slaps Pat Sajak should get a million dollar bonus.
  4. carl_vs_mastershake
    4. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    To lil' Miller Donnelly: Nice pants jackaze
  5. carl_vs_mastershake
    5. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    To Wysh: I though you covered the Jersey Code or whatever nonsense you labeled it. Just keep all the pictures and a monthly gallery or grid to show case the worse on ONE slow news day.
  6. .................................................!
    6. Posted by .................................................! Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    The Senators need to rebuild around Spezza. Trade Heatley, Alfredsson, Phillips for picks and prospects. It's time for them, the sooner the better.
  7. Ch M
    7. Posted by Ch M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    The Phoenix Coyotes were on Wheel of Fortune, wouldn't you know it, they spun "bankrupt" each time.
  8. Sobu
    8. Posted by Sobu Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

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    I watched the Stars' broadcast last night and even they mentioned Thornton twice as much as Grossman.
  9. redwinger
    9. Posted by redwinger Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    @ Wysh
    Oleg Petrov... that is frickin' awesome! You are a big Petrov fan too? LOL
  10. Panda God
    10. Posted by Panda God Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    @Ch M
    Low blow, but +1 anyway, good sir.
  11. Bubbabanjo
    11. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    This is a real story unlike the sorta real story above.
    December 29, 2008
    BY LEN ZIEHM lziehm@suntimes.com
    Turning Wrigley Field into a hockey venue hasn't been easy for NHL staffers.
    First a Zamboni fell off a truck after its arrival at Wrigley. Then temperatures soared into the 60s over the weekend, delaying the painting of the ice. In addition, some workers had flight delays, which kept them from making it back to Wrigley on time after a three-day holiday break.
    Still, Don Renzulli, the league's vice president of events, declared the preparations ''well beyond where we were last year,'' when Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium was readied for the Winter Classic in a week because of a Bills football game.
    The NHL staff, which started work at Wrigley on Dec. 17, resumed preparations at full force Sunday. Three hundred workers cleaned snow off the seats from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday. That hard work probably was unnecessary because the warm weather Saturday would have melted the snow anyway.
    ''Mother Nature took a little turn on us,'' Renzulli said, ''but we're still doing pretty well.''
    The painting of the ice, a 10-hour project, began Sunday. The ice had puddles on it after Saturday's rain, and officials considered tearing it up and starting over. According to Dan Craig, the league's facilities operation manager, a sheet of ice can be built in 48 hours.
    Instead of that drastic step, however, the base was left intact with holes drilled to eliminate air pockets.
    According to weather.com, temperatures will range between 21 and 41 degrees today and Tuesday, then drop on New Year's Eve to a 19-to-27 range. The game-day forecast calls for a high of 31 with a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
    ''We're on schedule on our side and ready to go,'' Craig said.
  12. Bubbabanjo
    12. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Must be sumthin in the air....more zamboni incidents:
    Police charge man with OUI on Zamboni
    By David Hench Portland Press Herald Staff Writer December 30, 2008 11:25 AM
    A Portland man faces charges of drunk driving and burglary after police found him atop an idling Zamboni inside the Cumberland County Civic Center this morning.
    Firefighters and police were called to the civic center at 2 a.m. for a fire alarm. It turns out someone had been driving a forklift inside the facility and had hit a sprinkler line, damaging the system and setting off the alarm.
    Officers investigating the damage found Adam Patterson, 25, sitting on the Zamboni which was running but not moving. He appeared extremely intoxicated, police said. There were signs that the building had been broken into, police said.
    Patterson is being held without bail at Cumberland County Jail because of a charge of violating bail conditions. He also is charged with aggravated criminal mischief, burglary and operating under the influence.
  13. Bubbabanjo
    13. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Oh and one more...............would you believe zero emissions Ice Cats will replace zambonis??? Long article:
    http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/12/toronto-is-putt.html
    Zambonis rule! Wyshynski you still stink!
  14. Moraxian
    14. Posted by Moraxian Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    It should be noted that Pat Sajak is a long time Washington Capitals season ticket holder and is a fan of the club along with other minor celebrities like Larry King, Pat O'Brian, Michael Weiss, Goldberg (the wrestler) and John Walsh (from America's Most Wanted).
  15. Almost Lewboski
    15. Posted by Almost Lewboski Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    @Wysh, your poo pooing the Hawks sounds alot like Mikko Koivu.
  16. N. Y. NIGHTMARE
    16. Posted by N. Y. NIGHTMARE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    @ bubba
    whaaaaaa?
  17. blurt
    17. Posted by blurt Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

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    Gene Wojciechowski is a cast member of the Walt Disney Company.
  18. rwl060
    18. Posted by rwl060 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Nobody is bashing the 'Hawks ... Its true, they haven't accomplished anything yet. People act like they are a certain Cup winner. Its the same thing with Sundin, nothing has happened yet ... Although to be honest, the 'Hawks probably deserve more hype. They've at least won 9 straight. Sundin probably hasn't even washed his jock yet.
  19. Bubbabanjo
    19. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    My flight got cancelled..............bored now. Mind wanders....more than usual.
  20. Scotty G
    20. Posted by Scotty G Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    Wysh...why are you not in the "Yahoo! Friends and Family League"...that should be the real Puck Headline
  21. MONKEY MAN
    21. Posted by MONKEY MAN Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    I think Vanna White needs to become a 'sloppy second'
    I'm sure Sajak's been going 'five-hole' for years.
  22. Jennifer
    22. Posted by Jennifer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Um, just an FYI, I'm fairly sure that screen from dallasstars.com is photoshopped. The Stars rarely ever have a splash page, there wasn't one at all when I looked at the page several times in the last few days, and that just looks shopped to hell. Maybe you should investigate before posting.
  23. G8K33P3R
    23. Posted by G8K33P3R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:47 pm EDT

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    Well, to be honest the Hawks HAVE accomplished some things. In a mere 365 days, they have turned around the fan base in this city. Will they win the cup? Maybe/maybe not. But, at least they are winning, and filling the stadium. Something they had yet to do in damn near 10 years. This isn't going to be "slide into the last playoff spot on the last day". They'll have a pretty good seed, baring a complete meltdown or a Lynyrd Skynyrd style plane ride. Lets give them a little credit. They are moving in the right direction. That's more than I can say for other major market teams like the Islanders, and Kings.
  24. G8K33P3R
    24. Posted by G8K33P3R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:47 pm EDT

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    Well, to be honest the Hawks HAVE accomplished some things. In a mere 365 days, they have turned around the fan base in this city. Will they win the cup? Maybe/maybe not. But, at least they are winning, and filling the stadium. Something they had yet to do in damn near 10 years. This isn't going to be "slide into the last playoff spot on the last day". They'll have a pretty good seed, baring a complete meltdown or a Lynyrd Skynyrd style plane ride. Lets give them a little credit. They are moving in the right direction. That's more than I can say for other major market teams like the Islanders, and Kings.

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