A Player Appearance Gone Wrong – Video Style
Hey team – Happy St. Patricks Day! My family name, a handful of generations ago, actually used to be O’Burne, til my however-many-great Grandpa moved across and chucked the “O” in the middle to avoid persecution. Or so the story goes. Either way, I claim to...
A Brief Wander, Followed By A Serious Rant On Agitators
ohmigodTigerscomingbackatthemasters Ahem. Sorry. I finger-puked on the keyboard. He shoots, he scores! Tiger Woods has confirmed the speculation. He’s making his return to professional golf at Augusta. You may have noticed by now that I kinda sorta enjoy that golf tournament. ...
Don Cherry, Get Fuzzy and Video Review
Before I let the Matt-Cooke-on-Mark-Savard-hit go (and keeping in mind that once I do, Savard will still be dealing with weeks/months of photo-sensitivity and inability to exercise without dry-heaving for few minutes), I thought I’d run the Coaches Corner where Don Cherry addressed the situation...
Jeff Bourne: 2010 Sledge Hockey Preview
For those of you who’ve been long-time blog readers, you know my brother Jeff is one of those people you’re blessed to get to know. Us, with our fantasy camp's VT Cup. Familiar? ---> A number of months ago, Jeff was accepted to be one of Canada’s hosts for the Paralympic...
Chris Chelios: Double U. Tee. Eff?
{Qualifier: the author of this blog respects the career and accomplishments of NHL great Chris Chelios. But, you know… come on now.} Okay, let’s talk about this: Does he need money, or hate his family? Give me a third possible reason for why he’s still playing, and know that...
Inside The Dressing Room: Kangaroo Court & Apologies
I’ve written before about players putting money towards the team pot for big wins. In that bit, I danced around the best aspect of raising that year-end fund (which, of course, goes to a pizza and pop party that definitely wouldn’t involve, say, a strip club). Kangaroo Court. A...
No Suspension For Cooke – Idiocy Revealed
I received a great email from a reader today, which I think people should see. He made the following point: “Campbell said the Richards hit set a precedent. I’ve not had a problem with the NHL’s suspensions and reasons for suspension this season unlike many others, but this one...
The Call-Up I Should’ve Declined
Here’s my favourite call-up story: As you probably know by now, I’m engaged to Clark Gillies Daughter, Brianna. At the time of this story, I was playing for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL (that’s me on the left, shortly before my coach became the 64th one I’ve had tell me to...
I’ll Take Potpourri For A Thousand, Alex
Not that my blog is particularly focused in the first place, but I’m due to unload a whole crapload of half-baked thoughts. Some may be on the same page as you, some may be a complete waste of seconds of your life, but hey – I’m pretty sure it was the variable interval schedule...
Options For Avenging a Cheapshot Are Pretty Limited
Interesting timing – I was going through some columns that I had deemed unfit to release from a few months ago, and found this one about what David Booth can do to avenge getting his brain shaken by Mike Richards (short answer: nothing). But after Matt Cooke played the role of Richards in...
A Little Insight Into “Show Dough”
Occassionally, I’m going to do a little feature called call-up madness, explained, where I’ll answer any questions you have (email me) about what goes on behind the scenes of an NHL farm system. Today, I’ll talk about something I never personally got to experience, but still know...
The Trade Deadline Ends. Thankfully.
Not sure if you caught it yesterday, but David Booth squared up and fought Mike Richards last night, which was the greatest thing in the history of the NHL ever. I think. Oh, and he had a goal and three assists. And he’s on my fantasy hockey team. I love David Booth. Puttin' on...
Trade Deadline Live Blog
There’s nothing more deflating than waking up for the ever-exciting trade deadline day and realizing it probably won’t be that exciting, ever. That said, there’s too many teams missing puzzle pieces for nothing to happen, so let’s hold our breath until it does, and talk it...
Buy and Sell: Some NHL Teams As Stocks
Snap back to reality, and just like that, the multicolored rings, skin-tight lycra and Giant Inflatable Beavers are a thing of the past. Last night, the puck dropped on Colorado – Detroit, and some very important points changed hands. Before last nights NHL game, I was seriously contemplating...
Team Canada Finds Olympic Glory
First, a major thank-you to the Americans and all the other countries for being, from what I’ve read, great guests up in Vancouver, BC. After starting the Olympics on such a horrible, sad note, it sounds to me like things pulled together nicely, save for a few not-so-serious gaffes. Apparently...
I'm a hockey player turned writer. After playing for Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA (NCAA), I carried on with a NHL tryout (New York Islanders in 2007) before spending a couple seasons in the AHL/ECHL. My father, Bob Bourne, won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in the '80's, as did my fiancee's dad, Clark Gillies. I'm now a columnist for USA Today, The Hockey News and Hockey Primetime.com.