This is what I get.

And that's what I get for having the man learn hockey instead of me over the summer. 

In other news:

1. Enbeauce.com made a formal apology and removed the image.  A ton of thanks to all of my readers who wrote letters or tried to leave comments encouraging them to do the right thing. Those who did were professional and polite about it, and though the company ultimately took the path of least resistance which was to both expected and acceptable, it was a victory for artists and photographers...so thank you!   A special thanks too, to my lovely Jasmine in Montreal for helping to translate all that legal nonsense into the french language for me.   As soon as they received the french version, they cooperated. Go figure.

2.   A bit of news from around the world...mostly Europe. Fergie-stealing Europe.   Kevin Deeth did well in his premiere, but of course he did.   Brock Wilson is probably feeling a ton of pressure over in England prepping with the Nottingham Panthers who really really want that title that keeps evading them because their defense has mostly sucked.  They're hoping Brock will change things around.  I have confidence in him and the fact that they picked him to begin with tells me they're thinking the same thing.   In the meantime, we've got Shea Guthrie with the Coventry Blaze, also in England, and a rival of the Panthers.  The Blaze have a tradition of prepping before everyone else, so they'll surely bring the heat on Brock.  Best of luck to both boys, even though that means pitting them against one another.   JP Lamoureux has been impressing just as we expected over there in Austria, and Simon is, as I've mentioned before, continuing to be the badass we were spoiled with last season.    And last but not least, Andrew Engelage was picked up as a new prospect for the Calgary Flames and was invited to play in the Young Stars Tournament over the weekend and into this week.   Several several writers have picked him among the top players to keep an eye on, and, of course, I heartily agree.   The games have been livestreamed and there is one more tomorrow.  You can watch them at 4 PM PT, on http://youngstars.insinc.com .  ENJOY THE SHOW.  

3.  We have got some very interesting adds to the roster with the rookie Podge Turnbull from the college circuit and defenseman Lampl from the Steelheads.   *excuse me while I dance around* LAMPL. You know those guys you watch in a different sweater kicking your ass on your own ice and making you wish he was on your bench? That's Lampl. 


4.  I'm going to repeat an earlier post and warn you again that the blog is about to undergo some major changes, but I promise they'll be worth it.   At least, I sure hope so.   Expect to see it rolled out sometime this weekend or next week.

Big Changes are Coming.

The Youareahockeyfan blog is growing exponentially and to accommodate all of the new features Goliath and I have planned for the upcoming season, the blog, as you now know it, is going to have to change.  At this moment, I have a revamped site being constructed that will mean the end of a lot of things.  All of the comments on past posts and pages will be gone (feel free to repost them at your leisure if you want once the new site is up)...though we've considered leaving the original blog intact for a while, all of my stats will be gone,...all of those pageviews gone...back to zero!  And I've no idea what this will mean for our exposure for a while, so it may be harder to find us on the web until pageviews build up again, BUT

*purists....breathe now...breathe*

BUT....I really believe this is going to benefit everyone tied to the blog: myself, Goliath, the players and the readers.  We'll no longer be confined to the blog itself, which means more media options, more networking options, and even a store where players, their family, friends, and fans will be able to  purchase photographs from the games.    Commenting will be easier.  Contacting us will be easier. Goliath will have his own blog now (Saints preserve us!). Game recaps will now have a better option for photographs and video, which I feel is going to make the entire youareahockeyfan experience better in the long run. 

This change has meant that we've had to incorporate and incorporating isn't my idea of a cup of tea, but, I promise you...players and readers alike, it'll still be the same old us, photographing the game, hanging out in the lobby, tossing snacks and cornering players for five second interviews.    Goliath will still regularly amuse me, and I'll still regularly puzzle him.  And our obsession with churros has not and will not subside. 

Thank you so much, guys, for all of the support.  I can't believe how far it's come.  See you there!

PORTAL.

 

 

 

 

 

~~~WELL DONE, ORANGE, WELL DONE...I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT MYSELF~~~