First, the Komets break the Turner Cup. Now, the Spokane Chiefs do this to the Memorial Cup.
OK, when I broke something as a kid, I always thought the key was to act like nothing happened, not stand there stunned. They didn't get that message in Spokane, I guess.
But, clearly, they don't make Cups like they used to.
In other strange news, anyone who has followed the Stanley Cup Finals -- Go, Wings! -- has probably noticed that sudden nomenclature changes. When did Mikael, as in Samuellson, get the pronunciation "Michael?" When did Michel Therrien become "Michael Therrien?"
Or is this just Manchester native and esteemed broadcaster Mike Emrick dumbing down the verbiage for us?
A few years back, Komets star Michel Massie decided to go all "Michael" on us. He explained it was for two reasons: A) He was sick of the constant mispronunciations; and B) More importantly, he felt Michel was too feminine in the States.
Coincidentally, Massie played for Therrien in juniors.
OK, don't change your name just because Versus can't get it right. (They don't get anything right.) And certainly don't do it because it's not tough enough. (This is hockey, after all.)
Speaking of the finals, isn't it amazing to see Darren McCarty, he who began his season with Flint of the International Hockey League, two games from hoisting the soon-to-be-broken Stanley Cup? Amazing.
I wonder if he could score on Nick Boucher now.
And every time I see Paul McLean behind the Red Wings' bench, I flash back to the late 90s, him in the Memorial Coliseum locker room, celebrating his victories coaching the Kansas City Blades with a can of beer. I also remember his time with the Quad City Mallards.
I don't remember him breaking the Colonial Cup, though.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
I had a great convo with a guy at work today. He was actually wearing the McCarty jersey. My first question was, " Why are you wearing that here.?" His answer was, " It's Redwings playoff night." I asked him if he knew that McCarty's comeback started in Flint, which I let McCarty know about his debunked rock band. He had no clue that the Komets actually played McCarty on his comeback. I pubbed the IHL. I should honestly be a PR guy for the IHL.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | May 28, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Or yeah, GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | May 28, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Of course Crosby HAD to score 1st. GO PENS!
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 28, 2008 at 09:23 PM
make that twice
Posted by: lovelost | May 28, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Sid the Kid has to keep this up to help the NHL out!!! Let's hope it go to game seven, 3 OT's, and then the Wings can win it!!!
Posted by: Hoss | May 28, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Good to know we aren't the only ones! :D But I agree. Standing there looking stunned just makes it worse. The really weird thing is that in that clip, it looked like the Memorial Cup just fell apart on its own. What the...? Has trophy manufacturing been shipped overseas or something?
I hope the Penguins do make it interesting. I like both teams, but I guess I'm rooting for Detroit. It just feels like their year.
And on a completely ridiculous note -- Can we talk about the number 13? That's my lucky number, so I've made a list of a few interesting points.
The regular season for the Komets ended on April 13 with an overtime loss to Flint, snapping their home winning streak. That just happened to be the same night that the decision was made to cut #13 Maxsim Shirokov from the playoff roster. For a while, the Komets appeared to be struggling, but they eventually prevailed. They won the Turner Cup shortly after midnight on May 13 after playing in a total of 13 playoff games and scoring exactly 13 goals at home in the final series against Port Huron. Spooky, isn't it?
he-he. Meaningless statistics can have a strong influence on the weak minded.
Posted by: Wendy | May 28, 2008 at 10:35 PM
A Kansas City Blades mention!!! You made my night! Thanks!
Long time reader (since before the KC Outlaws debacle), and I'm finally making my first comment in here. Keep up the great work (and the Blades references!) and thanks for being a must-read in my RSS.
Posted by: KCBladesMan | May 28, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Love the Blades. Not as much as the Grrreenville Grrrowl, but close.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | May 28, 2008 at 11:49 PM
For 13 being such an unlucky #. Sure was lucky for the Ks. BUT yes Wendy it is strange. Go WAYYYYYYY back and Henley returned on Dec. 13th against no less against Port Huron, Durdin was signed on Sept. 13th,Komets set a franchise record of 113 pts. Last but not least Jan.13th Reiter registers back to back shut-outs.
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 29, 2008 at 01:44 AM
The Pens showed up tonight. Although not a fan of either team Im going for the Pens. Im NOT a Crosby fan BUT I do like Sykora. Im a Ducks fan and hes a former Duck.
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 29, 2008 at 01:49 AM
That WAS funny...another Cup breaking...must be contagious!! I think they are not being made overseas, just in shop classes at the local high schools or something...nah, they'd probably do a better job, so yeah, probably in some underpaid factory somewhere!
Wendy, the #13 is my lucky number too! I was born on June 13th, and my birthday is on Friday the 13th this year (actually my luckiest bdays are on Friday the 13th, so I am looking forward to this one!). Thanks to everyone for all the 13th trivia...very cool info to know, especially for me! Everyone drink for me on Friday June 13th!
Posted by: Cat Eyes | May 29, 2008 at 08:38 AM
GO PENS!!!!!!
Cohny, it's going to be announced that the Hawks/Wings are going to be playing New Years Eve at Wrigley Field.
Can ya get the paper to have a contest? And rig it so I win?
Posted by: Junior | May 29, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Oh, yeah...forgot...GO PENS!!!!!!!!! I fell asleep after the second goal by Crosby, secure that we would win the game, and was so glad this morning to know my faith was not in vain!!
Posted by: Cat Eyes | May 29, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Nick Bootland is the new head coach in K-Zoo
Posted by: Brandon | May 29, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Bootland as head coach. Will Crylander and Lil' Willy be his assistant coaches?
Posted by: Shawn | May 29, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Vancouver Canucks Defenceman Luc Bourdon was killed early this morning in an automobile accident. He was 21 years old.
http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=364711
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 29, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Blackhawks Wings @ Wrigley. Ummmmm That is the Superbowl to me! I will pay whatever is needed to get to that one!!! The Bleachers better be general admisson!!!
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | May 29, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Sale= Penquins-Crosby jersey-sz.52-black-250+C patches-single layer sewn on name + numbers=$125-new with tags/ I bought it and it was too small./k-zoo should be better than last place.
Posted by: mightbite | May 29, 2008 at 05:50 PM
that piece of JUNK known as wrigley will crumble and fall apart with all that commotion.
avalanche/red wings at mile high stadium would be sweet
komets/kwings at memorial stadium hahahahaha
Posted by: JW | May 29, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Don't talk bad about Wrigley- them's fightin' words! :) Back to the 13th thing, wasn't one of the exhibition games on October 13th? I think that was the first game I went to this year since I skipped the Wednesday night one.
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | May 29, 2008 at 07:38 PM
And I totally read that Nick Bootland thing wrong, I thought it said Nick Boucher and about fell out of my chair... it's been a looong day.
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | May 29, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Hey, thanks for the additional info about the Komets and the #13! I suppose it makes sense when black and orange -- traditional Halloween hues -- are the team's colors.
Hey wow, Cat Eyes! It's your lucky number, too? No birthday in my case, but it goes back years. It just always seemed like good things always happened to me that day. As a Capricorn, I "rule" all sorts of dark and sinister things -- or so says a coffee mug I once bought. :D
And speaking of sinister (meaning tending to go left)... so you're ambidextrous, FiveMinuteMajor? And of Scottish descent? Very spooky, indeed. I actually started out right-handed but switched in grade school. And my father's family supposedly has its roots in the Scottish border country. I do have a temper, but I'm more stubborn and willful than anything else.
Posted by: Wendy | May 29, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Wendy -- I'm a Gemini -- split personality, so they say...my middle school's colors were black and orange, so i suppose i was destined to love the komets! and my absolute favorite holiday of the year is halloween, ask anyone...i am definitely not ambidextrous, nor can i spell it...lol! my family was for sure irish...my dad's grandparents came over from ireland, and we have the tempers to prove it! ha ha! i am really more stubborn than anything, but can definitely be described as having a short fuse at times. deuce on this blog has known me for about a million years, and he can attest to that short fuse...he's kept me out a more than a few bouts of trouble that i can recall...but i have mellowed a bit with time! just a bit, though! you are right, five minute major, i think we all would get a long really well!! we will have to have a meeting in person...october 18th seems like a good time!! ha ha!!
Posted by: Cat Eyes | May 30, 2008 at 09:14 AM
I am a Pisces AND 75% Irish. Bad combo.
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 30, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Hey, wow! Halloween is my favorite holiday, too -- with St. Patrick's Day coming in second. It's the Celtic influence. The Scottish, as we know them, actually came from Ireland originally. So it's all good.
I've known a couple of Geminis and they always seemed to fit with that. As a Capricorn, I'm supposed to be kind of unlucky to begin with, so it makes sense. Two negatives make a postitive.
I do have a temper. I'm just good at hiding it. It's easier to take your enemies by surprise that way. :D
October 18 sounds pretty good to me! With Halloween just around the corner, there is sure to be magic in the air. But then, isn't that always the case on nights when the Komets play?
Posted by: Wendy | May 30, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I'm a Leo, fire sign, fiery temper... that's a bad combo too! Especially before my morning coffee. :)
October 18th seems like a long way off. I love summer and everything but I just don't know what to do with myself right now. Well, besides keeping Netflix in business!
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | May 30, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Ah... Leo. Nice. Hey, I went to Leo! :D
What about Chinese astrology? I'm a dog. Woof!
As for passing the time, I watched one of the Komets playoff games on tape yesterday. I didn't know where to find the broadcast until the playoffs began. And I'm still listening to my Zambonis CDs. That helps.
Posted by: Wendy | May 31, 2008 at 05:52 AM