Best Team Videos - Halloween

A few of the teams released some all access videos for Halloween this week so here is a look at some of the best ones

I love that a) Bugsy wants to make it clear that he is not associated with Mike Smith at all and b) Stamkos admits his inability to grow facial hair









(I'm going a little crazy with the videos here but I had to include this video only for Erik Cole's answer)



The Blackhawks always have the best video features - come on, Blackhawks TV won some Emmy's! - so obviously when it came to Halloween videos, they did not disappoint

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!! With no games scheduled today - the only day of rest the entire season that isn't related to Christmas or the All-Star Break - the players will get a chance to celebrate. The Blackhawks this year are no exception:

I love Stalberg's reaction to Sarah Spain's meatball jokes. I'm sure he never hears those kind of teasings.
My fave Halloween special that any NHL team has ever done has got to be the Penguins though. Who doesn't love looking back at pictures of them dressed up as a kid? I'm sure they appreciated their parents/girlfriends sharing those pictures with Potash.

Happy Halloween!!

Army is a Stand Up Guy

Colby Armstrong was named the "ESQ Community MVP of the Month" for the month of October:

COLBY ARMSTRONG
The October 2010 ESQ Community MVP is Colby Armstrong. As soon as he arrived in Toronto, Colby demonstrated his passion for community involvement. In October, Colby volunteered his time teaching over 40 youth at a Leafs Hockey Development Clinic. He also participated in numerous promotions for season seat holders, signed up as an ambassador for Easter Seals and purchased a gondola which he will be donating to Camp Trillium, an organization that is dedicated to bringing children with cancer together through recreational experiences."

Army is MVP!

I love Army and was hoping for the Penguins to pick him back up this past season but hey, three years on my hometeam? Not complaining!

I also love that he was excited to come to Toronto - well, who wouldnt be excited about making 3 mill a year, but his wife was excited too! She posted these pics of their dog and their little baby!

Unfortunately, MVP Army got hurt in a game the other night and is going to be out for a month, with surgery on his hand probable. Get well soon!

Best Team Videos - Ask the Bolts

Tampa Bay Lightning have taken a page from the Carolina Hurricanes and started up a Q and A feature on their website with a fun twist - the fans get to ask the questions.



I'm sure there will be more fun features to come but as of now, this is it. I've gotta say, I love Stamkos's full hat with sunglasses a-top style. I am anxious to see if he reps it in all of the features. Stay tuned.

Re: Big Night for Tyler and Taylor

I think its safe to say that the Boston faithful aren't missing Kessel...



(In case you can't tell, the fans are chanting "Thank you Kessel" - i.e. thanks for getting out of here so we could get Seguin)

Big Night for Taylor and Tyler

The top two draft picks of the 2010 draft both had big nights last night.

Taylor Hall notched his first NHL goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets


Tyler Seguin also got a goal - it wasn't his first, but it was against the Toronto Maple Leafs - the team he surely would've ended up on if Brian Burke hadn't used the Leafs' first round draft pick as part of the deal in the trade that sent Phil Kessel to the Leafs from the Bruins


I can't wait to see how long it takes Bettman to try and turn these two against each other in an attempt to make the next big hockey rivalry

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Mike Comrie hasn't had a lot of luck as an NHL player when it comes to his teams making the playoffs. The last time he played in post-season games was with the Senators in the 2007 Playoffs and before that, it was way back in the 2003 Playoffs! Mr. Hilary Duff has been a Pittburgh Penguin for 10 games now but his wifey may not have gotten the memo that her hubby will hopefully NOT just be in Pittsburgh until April. Jinxer!

Player of the Week: Joe Thornton

Jumbo Joe had quite the night tonight, with a hat trick and 2 helpers, to give him a 5 point night and the first star of the game.



Thornton, named captain of the Sharks this year with the retirement of former captain Rob Blake, was also the captain of the Boston Bruins for three years, won the Art Ross and Hart Trophy in 2006, won gold in Vancouver and will soon reach 1000 points (he is sitting at 931 at the start of this season and with his lowest point total for the past 5 years being 86, there is no reason to think he won't hit 1000 this year). But hey, he is just like you and me (just a really good hockey player):

Unfortunately for him, he sucks at being a ventriloquist. Tough life.



He is good enough to fool his fellow teammates though!

Best Hockey Videos - Ottawa Senators

My hatred for the Sens is second only to the Capitals and I only want to see them lose their games but hey, many people would disagree with me so I have to try and have an open mind and keep my feelings to myself. The Sens have done a collection of all access player videos as well and here are a few:





So not as good as the Blackhawks or Penguins even though they barely do any (I couldn't resist a dig at them)

Hockey Gems of the Week

I actually did this collection as a guest post for one of my fave blogs, The Hockey Junkies. I was like a giddy little child when they ended up posting it so I decided to include it here as well (I did make a few minor changes though, so it's not EXACTLY the same)

This week seems to have been packed with hockey drama and hilarity. Here are some of the best:

Where can I find a Swedish person?

I can't believe I didn't know about this before! A radio station in Chicago has a weekly feature – Sharp Attack – where Patrick Sharp calls in. This past week, both Viktor Stalberg (I'm still upset the Leafs traded him) and Patrick Sharp talked to the radio hosts. Stalberg tells us “Yeah, I go to IKEA everyday. I hangout there everyday, obviously – all Swedes do.” Patrick Sharp agreed and shared a story about how he was trying to find Niklas Hjalmarrson last year: “I was calling IKEA to try and find what aisle he was in.”

Sharp Attack!

Adam Burish apologizes for causing a fan to lose a heated battle – with his friend in NHL 11. 

Last weekend, Alex messaged the Dallas Stars with a complaint:

I was recently playing a game of EA Sports NHL 11. I was down by one goal against my friend, I was on a 2 on 0 and was impeded by #16 Adam Burish, and was unable to acheive a scoring opportunity, I ask that Adam Burish publicly apologizes to me for he had cost me that game of NHL 11. Thank you for you cooperation during this crisis.

Sincerely,
Alex

Adam Burish got right on responding to Alex:

The Leafs' Celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving

Kris Versteeg is a Thanksgiving feast chef’s worst nightmare (also we learn of the existence of “brown turkey meat” – I’ve only ever heard of dark meat, but he has me intrigued) and Colby Armstrong disgusted all Canadians by admitted he likes sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top.

The Leafs Give Back

One of the best things about the Penguins is that they do the "in-person season ticket delivery" before the season starts every year. Makes sense - the fans love it and it makes the players more accessible and gives them a chance to meet some of their loyal followers in person. The Leafs... Well, I love them but they are not exactly known for giving back to their fans. Well, here is an interpretation of what happens when they try a page of the Pens book:

Crosby tries his hand at acting

He was adorable in his pre-Olympic Tim Hortons commercial so I guess Dempsters thought they could use some of that charm to sell some bread! The commercial reveals that Sidney Crosby loves turkey on whole grain sandwiches – and apparently always walks down the street with a huge awkward smile on his face, giving his fans little nod. (I love that the YouTube video description is "AWKWARD AWKWARD AWKWARD". So true)

Go eat a popsicle!

What a guy! James Wisniewski clearly saw that Sean Avery was in a bit of a crabby mood and decided that returning to his childhood would help out - he thoughtfully gestured to Avery that he should go eat a Popsicle!! Wait... what?? What do you mean, that's not what that gesture means?

How to be an NHL Defenceman

Down Goes Brown always has the best blog postings ever and this one is no exception. 

Best Team Videos - Blackhawks 'One Goal' Commercials, Take 2

With the new season starting and the Hawks looking for a second Stanley Cup win in a row, they've come out with another round of "One Goal" commercials. They are more intense and emotional/meaningful (I had trouble figuring out what word to use) than last years but hey, ending their playoff drought last year was just that.





I liked Keith's the best, just because he is so hardcore

Player of the Week: Paul Bissonnette

Paul "BizNasty" Bissonnette is pretty much blowin' up on Twitter. After getting the boot (from his agent) from his original Twitter account (because of his Tweets on Kovalchuk's contract rejection - "Kovalchuk's ganna have to give lap dances for 20 years instead of getting them now that he got rejected. sorry communist, back to the soviet"), he's came back bigger and better than ever!

He played in the Penguins organization for several years, split between the Penguins and their AHL and ECHL affiliates, before being picked up by the Phoenix Coyotes.




He doesn't play a lot of minutes but he doesn't even have to to get fan attention - people are already starting to talk about voting him into the All-Star game (to which he responded "I'd be the first player in all star game history to be a healthy scratch lol.")

Some of his fave things are speedos, his parents Cam and Yoli, tattoos and PT Cruisers - oh wait, he absolutely hates those

Get a Bod Like Crosby

Sidney Crosby is definitely one of the hardest working players in the NHL during the off-season (well, during the regular season as well). While Ovechkin was out and about in Turkey (in a horrific speedo... images burned into my brain, holding back the vomit), Crosby was doing what he does best - working out. He recently talked about the training that he does





What. A. Stud.

Best Team Videos - Rookie Initiation

Fans probably already know all their favourite vetrans on the team so all access videos of them are just fun. But obviously no one is as familiar with the rookies. What better a way to initiate them onto the team than to force them into doing videos??

Don't throw your teammates under the bus guys. THERES NO DIRECT EVIDENCE OF IT!!!



The interview always comes FIRST





Tangradi, Subban and Couture... You little rebellious devils!



You are going to sit here and sign until you sign these cards like you made it through KINDERGARTEN!



Okay, there are seriously so many of these videos and they are all hilarious. I could go on all day but I'm only going to add one more. If you enjoyed them though, check them out on youtube, there are a bunch!

Fight of the Night

Coltor Orr of the Toronto Maple Leafs is definitely known as one of the toughest fighters in the league. Derek Engelland of the Pittsburgh Penguins has made it past training camp but still has to prove himself to stay on the roster. What better a way to make a name for yourself than to fight one of the toughest guys in the NHL - oh yeah, and win.



What a punch! This obviously brings to mind two other fights: the worst hockey fight I've ever seen...

and the best...

Who Does He Think He Is?

Jordan Eberle clearly doesn't realize he is an Edmonton Oiler - you guys were last in the league last season, you shouldn't be pulling short-handed goals like that. You will ruin your standing! Luckily, his teammates agree and show their disappointment

 

(Note: this is obviously a joke - even though all the teammates were able to keep perfectly straight faces! They deserve Oscars)

Best Team Videos - The Sharks are Lousy

The Sharks have found out that they are pretty lousy at everything but hockey...



"I won't bounce it"







"I don't believe in that stupid Dopple-radar thing!"



Hungry....

NHL Season Opener Night!

The NHL is finally back! We got our share of some pre-season action but its not the same as the regular season. Pumped!

I *love* Malkin's little totally stone-faced shaking of his head at the sticking pins in the Crosby bobble head. Amazing. As is this one...



Tim Thomas for Boston "This is our year."
Crosby "...Nah..."

Lets go Pens!!

Go Leafs Go!!

New Season!

The 2010-2011 NHL season is just around the corner! Before the season starts, it is important to review the rules of being a hockey fan!


(Especially not a Habs fan! At least it wasn't a Sens fan.)

Player of the Week: Ryan Getzlaf

The Anaheim Ducks have named Ryan Getzlaf as their new captain for the 2010-2011 season after being voted in by his teammates. A nice way to start the new season, especially after a disappointing lack of playoff appearance the season before. Luckily, he has his Olympic gold medal to console him for that. Oh right, and his Stanley Cup ring from 2007. We think he's doing okay.

And just in case that's not enough, he has his bestie Corey Perry

Despite them being besties, they must get sick of each other sometimes. Guess they find a way to let off steam somehow..

(I think it's safe to say that Geztlaf wins that fight...)

All joking aside, he is quite the phenomenal hockey player and will hopefully just continue his past performance in his first season as captain. It must be tough to try and play hockey in a city where ice is found mainly in alcoholic beverages... I guess he finds a way to make do though...

Best Team Videos - Washington Capitals

Welcome to the only post and only time ever that I will write about the Capitals without pure hatred and disdain. Putting aside the fact that they are my least favourite team league-wide, they have made their share of player all access videos and do have a few fans (all right, all right, I know it's more than a few) that enjoy learning more about the guys





I wonder why they didn't ask Alexander Semin about his first (slap) fight...



You know what, I am going to be honest, I do enjoy Brooks Laich. His boyfriend/life-long bromance partner in crime Mike Green is quite right when he says he's a stud