Except for Micheal Haley, who’s still under the weather, and Nathan Lawson, who was off to the Island for tests (“He wanted to skate, but he’s got to go through all that first,” Jack Capuano said), everybody went this morning. All nine defensemen, including Dustin Kohn. The other 13 forwards, including Tyler Haskins. Guys looked tired, but they were feeling much better. The hope is that the threat is past.
There were Feats of Strength, too. Pascal Morency was in the doorway to the runway, talking to Kimber Auerbach, when Jamie Fraser was trying to get off the ice. Fraser gave him a little (friendly) push, c’mon, get outta the way. Morency finished up with Kimber, and then they mock-stared each other down. “You wanna go?” Fraser deadpanned. And so they did, wrestling for about 30 seconds (Dennis Packard deftly dodged around them to get off the ice, without barely a glance at them). They pinned each other against the boards, got each other in headlocks briefly. They finished up with a laugh, and Fraser came off with his arms in the air. “1-0!” he shouted. “Put that in the paper.” Nah. But maybe we’ll find someplace else to put it.
Been asked to note that, besides Sunday’s Teddy Bear Toss, fans can bring toys anytime this weekend. The Sound Tigers will be collecting them all three days for local charities and hospitals.
Chris Botta’s got Dave Baseggio joining the Anaheim organization as a pro scout, and we join in the congratulating chorus.
While talking to our buddy Michael Sharp about burgers (don’t ask), noticed this little stretch of schedule next month: Saturday, Jan. 10 against Hartford at home, then right back up to Hartford that Wednesday, Jan. 14, to begin four-in-five. The three-in-three portion is an East Division smackdown: Hershey here, Binghamton there, Wilkes-Barre here at 1. Take a couple of days off, and then it’s the week on the road (for me, at least) — up to Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 21*, then to Portland back-to-back, Jan. 23-24. Have to figure that at least a couple of players will join me on the swing down to Worcester for the All-Star Game the following two days. Take a deep breath, and get ready for the February/early March of Doom.
Today is the start of the high school hockey season. Cheshire-Fairfield looks kind of interesting tonight at Wonderland; there’s a doubleheader at Darien Ice Rink, ND-West Haven vs. New Canaan, then Hamden at Darien. If you dig this sort of thing, I’ve noticed four high school hockey games before Sound Tigers games: Jan. 7 (Masuk vs. the Brookfield/Bethel/Danbury co-op, 4:30, then Houston); Jan. 10 (Enfield-Milford at 4, then Hartford); Jan. 31 (West Haven-North Haven at 3:30, then Portland); Feb. 13 (Amity-Branford at 4, Philly to follow). Look like four competitive games, actually.
Speaking of local high school players, there are a couple on this Connecticut Wolves team that won the Tier I New England Regional last month. One of the other players is Brendan Woods from Palmyra, Pa., who I’m guessing is the son of Hershey coach Bob Woods.
And also speaking of local high school players (or at least one who once was), Hamden’s Jon Quick was called up on emergency.
Q: How is this blog like any number of cyclical fashion trends that I’m too out-of-it to know about?
A: Patrick Williams is back posting at the CANadian Online Explorer, so it took so long to get the blogroll changed that it’s finally right again.
Graham Mink seems like an OK enough guy and blogger. He’s just not as funny as Ben Lovejoy. It’s OK: He links to Kip Brennan fight videos, so that’s not so bad.
Joss Whedon reviews… his own DVD.
And finally, science comes through: Have scientists explained yawning?
*-While running tape in at least two places at home: Season 5 of “Lost” premieres that night.