THE JOE

A HOCKEY TRADITION - THE OCTUPUS

2009 NHL ALL STAR IN MONTREAL

The 2009 NHL All Star is taking place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada this weekend. Today, Saturday, January 24th is the Superskills at 7:00 p.m. when the best of the best show off their moves on the ice, the speed and the bone-breaking slapshots. Tomorrow, Sunday, January 25th at 6:00 p.m. is the All Star Game between the Western and Eastern Conferences. Since I could not be there, I thought posting photos of the Canadiens when they were in St. Louis on November 16, 2008 would be appropriate. Only Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues (photo above) is on the All Star Roster. Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk from my beloved Red Wings are on the Team. My husband said that if it was up to me, the entire Detroit Red Wings would be the All Star Team :)

Montreal Canadiens vs. St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri - Sunday, November 16, 2008

CENTER ICE

Center Ice Spot and Circle - A circular blue spot, twelve inches in diameter, shall be marked exactly in the center of the rink, and with this spot as a center, a circle of fifteen feet radius shall be marked with a blue line two inches in width. The width of this line shall be included in the radius. (Rule 106, Official Rules of Ice Hockey)

STEVE YZERMAN 19 - DA CAPTAIN

MASKED MEN ON ICE

Goalies are different - a puzzling group of unique athletes who form an almost secret society. A goalie knows he is the last line of defense, often the final person standing between victory and defeat, often blamed when the puck got inside the net but not given enough credits when the team won.

Chris Osgood is one of the brave masked men who guard the net for the Detroit Red Wings, stopping slapshots travelling 100 mph. Need proof that Osgood is So-Good? How about two Stanley Cup Championships?

Goalies such as Terry Sawchuk, Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour are known for being a little wacky. Goaltenders have always been special hockey players. And they are accentric, superstitious and do peculiar things. After all, only a brave man would stand between the posts, get ready to greet those bone-cracking slapshots and try to stop the icy puck with his body.

The last goalie to play without a mask was Andy Brown in 1974.

FACEOFF

Face-Off - The action of an official dropping the puck between the sticks of two opposing players to start play. A face-off begins when the Referee indicates its location and the officials take their appropriate positions, and ends when the puck has been legally dropped. (Official Rules of Ice Hockey)
Game 1 Stanley Cup Final - Saturday, May 24, 2008 - Detroit Red Wings v. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Above - Detroit Red Wings v. Chicago Blackhawks - Sunday, April 6, 2008 at the Joe. A great game between two Original Six teams. It was a birthday present from my husband to his lovely wife aka Hockey Junkie.

St. Louis Blues v. Calgary Flames - November 2007 (Photo Above).

Center Ice Faceoff - Above - St. Louis Blues v. Columbus Blue Jackets - Sunday, April 5, 2008.

End Zone Faceoff - St. Louis Blues v. New Jersey Devils - Tuesday, December 30, 2008. (Photo above)

Center Ice Faceoff - St. Louis Blues v. Boston Bruins - Sunday, December 21, 2008. (Below)

2009 WINTER CLASSIC

I don't remember when and where we purchased the above ornaments. Or why I did not purchase the other Original Six teams. Perhaps these were the only two that particular store carried. Or it could be that I knew that the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks would play in the 2009 Winter Classic game on January 1st at Wrigley Field. We thought of going to the game but decided that it would be too cold. Besides we would not be able to get tickets anyway. It was a great game as the Red Wings won 6-4.

MY BELOVED DETROIT RED WINGS

It is only fitting (and it is my blog) that the 2nd post in this blog should be a showcase of my beloved Detroit Red Wings.