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...
A Golden Thought: Do We All Win With a US Victory?
This is just a thought, Canadians, so take a xanax, have a glass of wine, and give the logic a chance: We love us some hockey north of the border. Air, ball, bubble, floor, roller, dome, knee, tonsil, ice, field, whatever, the prefix isn’t important, as long as it ends in “hockey”, we’re...
Canadian Women, Olympic Questions
First, here’s the link to my article for The Hockey News, explaining why Canadians want the US hockey team to fall on their keys (that really hurts, BTW). ***** I am officially a fan of the Canadian women’s hockey team. Honestly, that gold medal celebration got them goalie bags full...
Canada-Russia, Rambling Theory on Journalism
…And the collective blood pressure of Canadians recedes to a normal level. That felt good, didn’t it? ...until we meet again, friend. How quickly Canadian outlook turned around. All the sudden we’re in the final four with Slovakia, the USA and Finland, which is a draw we’d...
Canada/Germany, America Cares, Easton Z Shock Helmet
Canada vs. Russia, the widely predicted gold medal game, has shown up wayyyy too early. But still, aren’t you kind of glad it’s happening? If the Olympics are only every fourth year, you’d hate to go through the whole thing and not play the American and Russian squads, and...
Canadian Lines, Getzlaf, and Ovy on Jagr
I ran this song a while back, but I figured I’d run it again because I’m “Beggin’” Team Canada to figure it the f**k out. ***** Goooood morning! It’s a new day, and I’m feeling much better after spending yesterday dealing with Canada’s loss like...
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.