Lately I've heard a lot of Top Gun references on TV and movies and commercials. Almost like it's the new Star Wars. Everyone wants to allude to Maverick and, of course, his famous wingman, Goose.
As for the Penguins, it seems as though they "lost that lovin' feeling" for their own Goose, Alex Goligoski.
Maybe that sounds a little more personal than it really is.
Trades, as I explained to my brother Evan, leave me with mixed feelings. I get attached to the players, kind of like members of an extended family. As fans, we watch them play day in and night out, celebrate their successes, show concern when they're sick or injured, and even dress ourselves like them.
As for Goligoski, the then 22 year-old draft choice joined us from the University of Minnesota WCHA. We called him Gogo. Like the rest of our young team, we watched him mature into a Stanley Cup champion. When Gonchar headed to Ottawa, he helped quarterback the power play. His nickname transformed to Goose. We saw his strength on defense and enough offensive prowess to make him the 25th leading scoring defenseman in the NHL this season.
Honestly, I'm not sure how the players deal with trades. Knowing it's always a possibility--heck, knowing it's likely to happen at some point in the career unless they're deemed a franchise player (and even then there's no guarantee) must be hard. To pick up your life and family and job and move somewhere you may not even like--well, personally I would feel powerless.
When I was part of a bank acquisition, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I didn't feel like a person so much as a commodity. Fortunately, there was no relocation involved, but suddenly I was working for a company where I did not choose to work.
As for Goligoski, the Stars have revealed he's worth two players, and I hope the Minnesota man acclimates well to Texas.
I know that Shero makes good trades. He has the ability to see the big picture while maneuvering all the interlocking pieces. And since we haven't even reached the deadline yet, more dealings may be in negotiation. While I have trouble letting go, I do like acquiring new players. Learning to pronounce their names. Studying their tendencies. Observing how the team chemistry changes.
Obtaining Neal and Niskanen should be good for the team. While Niskanen is the even steven trade for Goose (a D-man for a D-man), the focus of all expectations seems to be on Neal. The fabled hockey gods know could use the offense right now.
Goose, I will miss you. But I know I'm not alone in wanting to see how our new wingman fits in.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Hockey Party!
Yesterday it was back to hockey after three days off. The week had one of those scheduling anomalies that involved only two Penguins games within an eight day span. For fans like me, those gaps are torturous.
Before the game against Chicago, Gregory had a birthday party to attend. His friend Codie turned eight, and he was hosting a hockey-themed sledding party.
The two boys have been friends since Codie's mom baby-sat Gregory and Olivia. You may recall mention of him in "Our Little Secret" as the friend who does karate. After that post, his mom Erin told me of a hockey program they're trying to get Codie into and she was wondering if Greg was interested. Given the choice of hockey or swim lessons, Greg chose hockey, but the beginners program is still vying for ice time.
The party was at Camp Eastman, just across the road from Lake Ontario. While there were mounds of snow still on the beach, it had all melted from the ground. Alas, no sledding.
When we arrived, Codie and his dad, Codie's cousin Bailey, and a friend were shooting around. I don't think Greg was so sure if he wanted to join in, so he came inside the cabin with us instead. Soon the kids would all be headed to the playground to burn off a little energy before the indoor activities.
A little later on, the boys were shooting around again. Gregory picked up a stick, and I showed him how to grip it. He was still staying back from the net, the other boys, and any of the action.
The ball went back past him into the grass. He ran back with his stick, lined it up, and tried to hit it toward the others. One of the older boys made a remark about him golfing. "Great," I thought. "The first time he tries to play, someone's going to make fun of him, and he'll never want to do it again." Maybe he didn't hear, or maybe he didn't care, since he kept playing.
The ball came back to him again, this time on the asphalt. He steadied it, wound up, and shot it along the ground into the net. The other boys were amazed because he was further back than any of them. He did it a couple more times, each time getting a goal and each time impressing the others. I was so proud of Gregory. And I told him so.
Most of the boys went back into the party. I went in to look for George because Greg wanted to see his dad shoot the ball. "My dad watches hockey," he told the remaining boys.
Codie's party was a lot of fun, and of course we enjoyed his cake that looked like a hockey rink. There was even a neat light blue translucent glaze over it to make it look like an ice surface. We hope he enjoys the hockey cards we got for him; we know he'll enjoy spending the gift card. What kid doesn't?
By the point we arrived home, the Penguins were already into the second period of play. I watched as they came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits. They skated through overtime and took the Hawks to a shoot out.
I'm in the party that believes that one point in a shoot out loss is certainly better than no points, especially considering how depleted our ranks are, but it was a bit of a disappointment still. I'll be watching for Jordan Staal in tonight's game versus the Caps to see how he made out after taking a Letang shot to the face in the overtime period.
And as pretty as the pass was from Talbot to Cooke for the shorthanded goal in the second frame, the highlight of my day, without a doubt, was watching my son shoot the hockey ball for the first time, seeing him put it in the net, and witnessing how his face lit up when the other boys praised him. And telling Gregory again before bed just how proud I am of him.
Before the game against Chicago, Gregory had a birthday party to attend. His friend Codie turned eight, and he was hosting a hockey-themed sledding party.
The two boys have been friends since Codie's mom baby-sat Gregory and Olivia. You may recall mention of him in "Our Little Secret" as the friend who does karate. After that post, his mom Erin told me of a hockey program they're trying to get Codie into and she was wondering if Greg was interested. Given the choice of hockey or swim lessons, Greg chose hockey, but the beginners program is still vying for ice time.
The party was at Camp Eastman, just across the road from Lake Ontario. While there were mounds of snow still on the beach, it had all melted from the ground. Alas, no sledding.
When we arrived, Codie and his dad, Codie's cousin Bailey, and a friend were shooting around. I don't think Greg was so sure if he wanted to join in, so he came inside the cabin with us instead. Soon the kids would all be headed to the playground to burn off a little energy before the indoor activities.
A little later on, the boys were shooting around again. Gregory picked up a stick, and I showed him how to grip it. He was still staying back from the net, the other boys, and any of the action.
The ball went back past him into the grass. He ran back with his stick, lined it up, and tried to hit it toward the others. One of the older boys made a remark about him golfing. "Great," I thought. "The first time he tries to play, someone's going to make fun of him, and he'll never want to do it again." Maybe he didn't hear, or maybe he didn't care, since he kept playing.
The ball came back to him again, this time on the asphalt. He steadied it, wound up, and shot it along the ground into the net. The other boys were amazed because he was further back than any of them. He did it a couple more times, each time getting a goal and each time impressing the others. I was so proud of Gregory. And I told him so.
Most of the boys went back into the party. I went in to look for George because Greg wanted to see his dad shoot the ball. "My dad watches hockey," he told the remaining boys.
Codie's party was a lot of fun, and of course we enjoyed his cake that looked like a hockey rink. There was even a neat light blue translucent glaze over it to make it look like an ice surface. We hope he enjoys the hockey cards we got for him; we know he'll enjoy spending the gift card. What kid doesn't?
By the point we arrived home, the Penguins were already into the second period of play. I watched as they came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits. They skated through overtime and took the Hawks to a shoot out.
I'm in the party that believes that one point in a shoot out loss is certainly better than no points, especially considering how depleted our ranks are, but it was a bit of a disappointment still. I'll be watching for Jordan Staal in tonight's game versus the Caps to see how he made out after taking a Letang shot to the face in the overtime period.
And as pretty as the pass was from Talbot to Cooke for the shorthanded goal in the second frame, the highlight of my day, without a doubt, was watching my son shoot the hockey ball for the first time, seeing him put it in the net, and witnessing how his face lit up when the other boys praised him. And telling Gregory again before bed just how proud I am of him.
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