The Rise, Fall, and Return of Jonathan Cheechoo

Growing up I was like most kids I liked sports but my interest would constantly be changing.  As most of you know my favorite sports team is the San Jose Sharks.  When I was a younger I would love watching the Sharks but I didn't really know any of the players names or what hockey really was.  To me it was just something fun to watch and it was special but I wasn't a real "fan" yet.

My fandom for the Sharks didn't truly form until Jonathan Cheechoo arrived and changed everything. Cheechoo was one of the first pure goal scorers the Sharks had ever had and he played with an exuberance and excitement that made the game better to watch as well as to cheer for.  Cheechoo was fan favorite and would probably be on my favorite all time list of Sharks players.

The videos below give a glimpse into what Jonathan has been up to since his Rocket Richard trophy winning season.  I know that it is unlikely to happen but seen Cheechoo back with San Jose would be great.

Cheech we hope to see you soon.

click Full Screen to get a bigger image

The NHL has no idea how to market their products or Brand

As many of you all know I love hockey.

I know that Hockey is not for everyone but  it seems like the NHL is trying to reinforce that fact with a recent crop up of horrible conceived Team Merchandise that can only described as douchetastic.

(Images are of Sharks merchandise- Items can be purchased with other teams as well)

Evidence # 1:  NHL Fan Ink sleeve

This piece of wonderment let's any Hockey fan know not only the team you love but you are dumb enough to get a sleeve of ink to show your love for said team.    But what makes it that much better is it has all the charm of a real tattoo without any of the time constraints of being permanent.  So if the season starts and you are super optimistic at the chances of your team to win the cup you can put it on and as soon as your fair-weather feelings go away you can take it off.

I am not against Sports teams tattoos I just think a real fan would never wear this.  They would get an actual tattoo and then laugh at the idiots who put this on and think it looks cool.

Evidence #2:

Behold the Champagne Women's Jersey.  Notice the rhinestones and glitter that adorn this ultimate piece of female expression.  I don't have very many female readers but if any of you think this looks nice or that you would actually wear it in public please let me know.  Cause I just don't get it.

The only explanation for either one of these terrible products is the NHL desperately trying to reach out to mainstream america anyway possible.  I would be surprised if either one of these items sells well at all and if I go to a hockey game and see either one of these...I am going to  cry for those people, especially if they are Sharks fans.

Let me know if you've seen other bad sports clothing/ accessories you can buy.  I think these two take the cake though.

What is wrong with this Picture?

I recently received an e-mail from the NHL with this picture in it.

Do you see anything wrong with the image?  I see at least 2 problems with this image.

Please leave a comment with what you think is wrong.

Hockey Appreciation- 77,823 fans couldn't be wrong

As many of you know I love hockey.  As far as I am concerned anything that helps the sport of Hockey grow or spread is good.

the IIHF World Championships started up recently...

During one of the preliminary games this picture was taken.

(click on image to make slightly embiggened)

What you are looking at is 77,823 screaming hockey fans enjoying a game in Germany.  To give you an idea of exactly how many people that is when compared to the NHL...It would be like comparing a track meet at your high school to the olympics.

The Chicago Blackhawks, on average have 21,356 in attendance for a home game.

My San Jose Sharks, on average have 17,558 in attendance for a home game.

(all stats courtesy of espn.com )

So this crazy behemoth arena in Germany can fit more then 3 times the number of people then the largest NHL arena.

I know that there are very few NHL teams that would be able to sell out a venue that was this size but it would be pretty amazing to be in there with everyone yelling for the home team.

Another pretty cool thing would be to potentially play the Stanley Cup Finals in a venue like this...it would negate home ice advantage but it would still be insane

Super Awesome NHL Video - Little Joe is the Man

the NHL has had a pretty good commercial campaign this post season, entitled "History Will Be Made"...


Joe Pavelski has been the best Sharks player this post season.  And as such he has gotten himself his own commercial spot.

Game 4 aka Bowling with Doug Murray and Joe Pavelski

Game 4 of the Western Conference Quaterfinals was a pivotal game for the San Jose Sharks.

Many writers, bloggers, and fans wrote the Sharks off after their Game 3 loss and chalked it up to the Sharks choking again.

What happened  in Game 4, Dan Boyle redeemed himself by scoring the First Power Play goal for the Sharks in a great while.

In general, the Sharks played a solid game.  There were the usual defensive breakdowns and inability to set up the offensive zone effectively.  But the Sharks stuck to their game plan and the system that won them the 1st in the West.

As the previous 3 games have gone... Game 4 went to OT which brings us to the title of this posting.

Sharks' Defenseman Douglas "Crankshaft" Murray hasn't had the best playoffs so far.  Game 1 - 3 Murray has been a Minus 2 with no points.

In Game 4's OT, Crankshaft decided to change that.  Bringing the puck into the Offensive Zone, Murray tried to dump it deep only to be met by 3 Avs players.  So what did he do, he single handedly took them all out.  The puck landed perfectly on Joe Pavelski's stick and he sent it straight into the back of the Net.

My initial reaction of seeing this was total and utter amazement.  I'm pretty sure I scarred the crap out of my Wife and friend Elysia when I yelled with great glee and excitement over seeing the puck in the back of the net.


One thing  that still needs to be worked on for the Sharks is the scoring by the Top Line.  The normal Sharks feeling of being able to score at will by our Best Snipers is no longer feeling possible.  I don't know what it is going to take for Heatley, Marleau and Thornton to wake up...

But, I hope it happens soon, preferably in Game 5 on Thursday.

That's all for now...

Keep you Head Up

Sharks Fans... We are in a best of 3 Series now.

Game 1 - Thoughts

So I've had about 12 hours to sleep on what the hell happened last night at the Shark Tank.

And the biggest thing I can come up with is the ability to change ones game plan.

The Sharks only had 3 shots on net during the 2nd period of play.  For a Team that is built to be an offensive power house, the strategy  last night simply didn't work.

Nabokov had an okay game.  The first goal allowed is one I believe who could have stopped, but he was screened so making the stop would have be difficult but in the playoffs to win  you have to make those difficult stops to keep your team in the game.  The second goal wasn't Nabby's fault... It was Rob Blake's and his inability to pressure the Avs players in his own zone.

As far as the rest of the team  if Ryan Clowe and Devin Setoguchi weren't on the ice, it would have looked like a bunch of teal sweaters coasting around the ice.

For Game 2 the Sharks must be able to adapt to what the Avs throw at the them and respond in an  effective  way.  Whether that means changing our offensive scheme or changing line combinations.  The effort and the heart needs to be increased.

This might be premature to say but...

Game 2 is a must win for the Sharks.  If the Avs go back home winning both games then they can play .500 hockey the rest of the way and still win...

Here's hoping McLellan can get some better effort out of the Sharks on Friday.

I will be watching that game as well and hopefully I will be writing a more positive post after the game.

As always...

Keep your head up...

(I know I'm trying too)

Tonight is the Night...

Who will raise the cup

I've eagerly waited for this night for a little under a year.

Many sleepless nights of what could have been or  in my view what should have been.

Tonight the Sharks from San Jose begin another trek to the mountain top that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  I'm not going to make any predictions, it is obvious what I would like to happen, but even though I sometimes think otherwise...

What is going to be happening on the ice over the next few weeks is completely outside of my control.  My only wish this year during the playoffs is that the Sharks play up to their skill level.  If they can do that any/ all outcomes will be a little bit "easier" to swallow.

With that all being said...

I'm going to be watching the game tonight with much anticipation and exuberance.

To all the Sharks fans out there...

Godspeed on your journey, I hope to see on the Mountain top.

As always,
Keep Your Head Up

And GO SHARKS!!!!

This is how you win a Hockey Fight

Hockey fighting is often looked at in a negative light.  I am of the school of thought that Fighting has its purpose in the game.  If you give a dirty hit to one of the other team's star players you can expect some repercussions for your actions.  Also, if you continually antagonize a player don't be surprised if he drops the gloves and comes at you.

The following is an example of the later...

Evander Kane of the Atlanta Thrashers should consider signing up for MMA training after this monster 1 punch KO on Penguins antagonizer Matt Cooke.

The best part of all of this is Kane is a forward who isn't suppose to be fighting.  This is an example of when it is better to just do the job yourself.

As always....

Keep your head up there

It's that Time of the Year again...

So once again that time of they year has arrived.

It is playoff time.

One strongly held tradition during this time of the year is the growing of playoff beards. The growing of beards was started back in the 80's by the then dominate New York Islanders.

The idea behind the tradition is each member of your team grows a beard that starts with the first day of the playoffs and the beard is to not be shaven off until the team wins the Stanley Cup or is eliminated.

To show my support of my team I will be joining the Tiburons from San Jose in growing a beard.

While many of you know that I already have a beard...this tradition(at least for me) requires some sacrifice. I am going to completely shave my beard off in the next few days. And let the hair grow hopefully well until June.

I encourage all male Hockey Fans out there to join me in this showing of support for your favorite team.

I'm going to be posting Pictures periodically of what my playoff beard looks like.

We still don't know who the Sharks are playing in the First round but I'm hoping for a Detroit Win tomorrow. That is the only time you will ever hear me rooting for Detroit.

That's all for now...

Here is something to get you all excited for seeing someone raise Lord Stanley's Cup

Remember keep your head up...