Reigning national champions from 52 countries around the globe
(Reinado dos Campeões Nacionais de 52 países ao redor do mundo)
18-08-08

ZURICH – The 2008-2009 hockey season is around the corner as many national league championships will start in September. Here is a complete list of all 2008 ice hockey champions from 52 IIHF member countries who completed a national championship competition. Some of the champions are famous professional clubs who have won multiple titles in their glorious history and some of the club names on this list are virtually unknown to the general public.

But they have one thing in common – they are champions.

Zurich - A temporada 2008-2009 de hóquei está ao virar da esquina como muitos campeonatos da liga nacional que terão início em setembro. Aqui está uma lista completa de todos os campeões de 2008 do Hóquei no Gelo/IIHF de 52 países membros que completaram um campeonato nacional. Alguns dos campeões são famosos clubes profissionais que conquistaram vários títulos na sua gloriosa história do clube e alguns nomes nesta lista são praticamente desconhecidos para o público em geral.

Mas eles têm uma coisa em comum - eles são os Campeões.

Armenia		Urartu Yerevan
Australia *		Sydney Bears
Austria		Red Bull Salzburg
Belarus		Keramin Minsk
Belgium		White Caps Turnhout
Brazil		Hipica de Campinas
Bulgaria *		Akademika Sofia
Canada (best NHL team)		Montreal Canadiens
Canada (Memorial Cup)		Spokane Chiefs
China		Qiqihar
Chinese Taipei		Chaiyi Sharks
Croatia		KHL Mladost Zagreb
Czech Republic		Slavia Prague
Denmark		Herning Blue Fox
DPR Korea		Pyongyang
Estonia		Kalev-Valk Tartu
Finland		Karpat Oulu
France		Dragons de Rouen
Germany		Eisbaren Berlin
Great Britain		Sheffield Steelers
Greece		Iptameni Athens
Hong Kong		Dragon Centre
Hungary		Alba Volan Szekesfehervar
Iceland		Skautafelag Akureyri
India		Jammu & Kashmir Blue team
Ireland		Dundalk Bulls
Israel		Haifa Hawks
Italy		Bolzano Foxes
Japan (Asian League)		Oji Paper Tomakomai
Japan (national league)		Seibu Tokyo
Kazakhstan		Barys Astana
Korea		High1 Chuncheon
Latvia		Liepajas Metalurgs
Lithuania		Energija Elektrenai
Malaysia		Fangs Kuala Lumpur
Mexico		San Jeronimo Osos
Mongolia		Otgon od Ulaanbaatar
Netherlands		Tilburg Trappers
New Zealand *		Botany Swarm
Norway		Storhamar Dragons
Poland		Cracovia Krakow
Romania		SC Miercurea Ciuc
Russia		Salavat Yulayev Ufa
Serbia		Partizan Belgrade
Singapore		Harrys
Slovakia		Slovan Bratislava
Slovenia		Acroni Jesenice
South Africa *		Western Province
Spain		CG Puigcerda
Sweden		HV71 Jonkoping
Switzerland		ZSC Lions Zurich
Thailand		Curve Coyotes Bangkok
Turkey		Polis Akademisi Ankara
Ukraine		Sokil Kyiv
United States (NHL)		Detroit Red Wings
United States (NCAA)		Boston College

http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/article/we-are-the-champions.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=201&cHash=b5b695b2dd

Fonte: Capelle

]]> http://talleywhackers.wordpress.com/?p=336 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:16:56 +0000 pinkjerseyssuck http://talleywhackers.wordpress.com/?p=336 Hey-O! If you're a super cool Sabres Insider like me, then you know Buffalo is a finalist for the super cool 2011 IIHF World Under-20 Championship. The event is pretty (excuse me, super) cool because most of the kids that play, especially for America, Canada, and the Slavic teams, eventually enter the NHL. So it's like college football to real football but way cooler cause it's hockey (and translates better, imho)(ha! I used imho. I'm in 2000 on aol IM). There's 10 countries, 31 games, and 12 days (so some would be played at Niagara U, but all the final games are played in the arena).

The other 2 cities in contention are Minneapolis-St. Paul and Grand Forks. So here's my breakdown as to why Buffalo should get it.

- I've never heard of Grand Forks (is this it?). And I was an American Geography major in fourth grade. So, that's pretty major.

- Minneapolis-St. Paul and that other city have both hosted the Championship already! So for fairness sake, it's our turn. Come on.

- Um, newest Hockeytown? Hello?

-Our proximity to Toronto and Montreal ensures the team Canada games will sell out

- Of all the American NHL cities, Buffalo has the most 18-34 year old male fans, the most female fans, AND the most high-income fans, even with our economy and population in a not-so-great spot.  Our fans/residents have a huge passion for Hockey and will indeed attend most games, and definitely sell lots of them out

- We have awesome food and a giant waterfall to offer to everyone who shows up

- We could use the money

-Lots of Sabres have played in the event, 17 at last count, including our boys Stafford, Vanek, Roy, Mair, Connolly, Sekera, Paetsch, and even my man Schutz. So these kids need to start figuring out how to get around town.

-Minneapolis-St.Paul is 2 cities. Not fair.

Please feel free to add more reasons. I'll keep you updated on the negotiations (meaning once they choose). And there will be no need to thank me when we win, everything I do I do for the sport and the city, not for myself. Thank you.

NHL, Russia agree to respect contracts
Ex-Bengals receiver Henry suspended by the NFL

NHL brass has their panties in a wad once again over upstart Russian hockey league the KHL ("the 'K' is because it's eKstreeeeme!"). Seems the Russian petrogoons who run the KHL may or may not be violating the "truce" negotiated between the two leagues a few weeks back, and are once again attempting to lure Russian players back to the motherland with promises of fine beluga and classic ZIL limousines, such as the one pictured above.

Last time, it was rumors of Evgeni Malkin being lured to Magnitogorsk. This time, it's...Alex Radulov?! And Viktor Tikhonov?! Nooooooo!

How will the NHL survive if the Nashvilles and Atlantas of the league can't fill out their third lines with barely passable Russian-sounding guys? I mean, "Russian" means "scores a lot," right? (As a Blues fan, I know better, having suffered through the ill-fated bait-and-switch of the Two Vitalis, Prokhorov and Karamnov.)

From a principle standpoint, the NHL's position is understandable. You can't have these Russkies just coming in and signing guys away. But from a practical standpoint...who cares if Alex Radulov misses his mama's borscht? It is only ever going to be fringe NHL players who are lured back to Russia for buckets of cash.

Until the KHL obtains the Stanlikov Cup, the NHL shouldn't be too worried. After all, we've already imported all the best from Russia; you think Maria Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Anna Kournikova actually live in Russia? Hahahahaha. Not to mention the lifetime contract that Yakov Smirnoff has signed in Branson. What's left for these guys to go home to? If Nikita Filatov has a sudden hankering for that one blintz place in Novgorod, more power to him.

contract that is significantly larger than what he would be earning with the Predators. Radulov was a restricted free agent with the Preds yet he still was able to jump ship for Russia. The KHL is trying to argue that they came to terms with the deal before July 10 when the NHL and KHL agreed to respect existing contracts. Even if the agreement was reached before the deal, doesn't that argument say they aren't really taking the deal seriously? This is a developing story the Rangers need to pay attention to, recently acquired Nikolai Zherdev is a restricted free agent next season. It's not out of the realm of possibility for a similar scenario to occur. Say Zherdev has a less than stellar season in NY, or simply does not enjoy playing in the spotlight, could he decide to ditch the team if he gets an offer from Russia? Which he most likely will. This could leave the Rangers high and dry with no compensation.

Nikita Filatov's contract was suspended by the IIHF due to a different reason. The KHL wants the NHL or

the Columbus Blue Jackets to pay compensation to Filatov's Russian team, even though he was no longer under contract. The IIHF can't keep him from playing in the NHL but they do have the power to suspend him from international events. Although it may eventually cost the Jackets a good amount of money when all is said and done, they're in a good position because Filatov has little to no interest in playing in Russia and wants to play in North America and the NHL. I wish as much could be said for Alexei Cherepanov, whose intentions and desires are not so clear. He has said he wants to play with the Rangers after he was drafted and then his actions and interviews later have given a different message. Cherepanov's contract with Omsk-Avangard ends after this season. He can then sign with the Rangers but if he does, Omsk is sure to seek compensation from the Rangers. The Rangers may just find out why he fell to the 17th pick in the foreseeable future if a transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL is not reached.

Hockey Canada points out that these leagues:

They profess to have a better program yet often operate without a constitution, by-laws, create their own rule book and do not provide adequate insurance for their participants. Further, they offer the lure of "Rep" or "Junior" level competition when this is clearly not the case.

In addition Hockey Canada provide clear and distinct guidelines for suspension, and ineligibility of people participating in these organization. Hockey Canada went even further to not allow municipalities/arenas who endorse/support these leagues to host National, Regional, or affiliated leagues' championships, which includes the Canadian Hockey League (major junior).  Additionally, they will no longer sanction tournaments being held in arena/municipalities that support these organizations.For example, in the Greater Toronto Hockey League no teams will be permitted to use, or hold tournaments in Thornhill Community Center because the Toronto Canada Moose of the GMHL operates out of there.

It is clear that Hockey Canada wants nothing to do with these leagues, and dispises of their existence. Some question if these tactics are legal, others question based on who exactly is affected. Some also think that this will just go to drive more houseleagues to these outlaw leagues due to the lack of governance, what many at the houseleague level have called for.

For more information regarding this policy click here.

URL Link:http://www.ohf.on.ca/web_pages/headlines_news.php?ID=181

Grã-Bretanha e Canadá disputarão o Ouro na Divisão I.

O Brasil buscará a medalha de bronze contra a Australia no jogo de amanhã (28/06).

GO BRASIL!!!!

Defendendo a Divisão I, o medalhista de Ouro, Brasil conquistou pelo terceiro ano consecutivo a vaga para a semi-final, depois de derrotar a Hungria por 5 x 3. É a primeira vez que a Hungria fica fora da disputa de medalha.

Não foi fácil para o Brasil vencer os persistentes Hungaros, que pareciam ter a resposta para cada gol.

O primeiro período acabou em 2 x 2. No terceiro período o Brasil , mostrou a diferença e aumentou o placar para 4 x 2.

A Hungria, conseguiu diminuir a diferença para apenas 1 gol. Porém com o gol de Luiz Almeida, garantiu a vitória para o Brasil e sua classificação para a semi-final.

Resultados dos jogos do dia 26/06

JAP 4 x 5 AUS
BRA 5 X 3 HUN
CAN 9 X 1 BUL
BGR 7 X 0 NZL

Grupo A   Grupo B
SWE (1)       FIN(2)
AUT (4)      GER (3)
SLO (5)      USA (6)
SVK (8 )     CZE (7)

Grupo C    Grupo D
BRA (9) NZL (10)
AUS (12)      HUN (11)
GBR (13)      JPN (14)
BUL (16)      CAN (15)

JOGOS

21 de Junho
AUT - SVK

22 de Junho
HUN - JPN (2)
AUT - SLO (3)
AUS - GBR (4)
GER - USA (5)
CAN - NZL (6)
SVK - SWE (7)
BUL - BRA (8 )
CZE - FIN (9)

23 de Junho
HUN - CAN (10)
AUS - BUL (11)
GER - CZE (12)
NZL - JPN (13)
FIN - USA (14)
BRA - GBR (15)
SWE - SLO (16)

24 de Junho
JPN - CAN (17)
USA - CZE (18 )
GBR - BUL (19)
FIN - GER (20)
NZL - HUN (21)
SLO - SVK (22)
BRA - AUS (23)
SWE - AUT(24)

Some say nothing—the lure of the buck, they reason, has always brought over all the bona fide stars and always will. I disagree, particularly where Russia is concerned. I think you're going to see individual owners (read: oligarchs) in the Russian Super League become aggressively protective of their young stars, using a combination of cash incentives and financial bulwarks to fight the departure of players they previously would have lost for a measly 200,000 greenbacks. 

The landscape has changed folks. The days of treating Russia as the OHL are over. These are genuine pro leagues, with decent (albeit drunker) crowds, paying real dollars. Any player worth a $200,000 transfer fee to an NHL team is probably worth that or more to his home club. So if NHL owners want these players, they'll have to offer either huge salaries, or richer buyouts to the clubs. Even then they may face shady tactics, given the pliability of Russian law these days ...

If you doubt me, consider the worries surrounding the young Russian power forward, Kirill Petrov, in advance of this week's NHL entry draft (scroll about halfway down in this piece). He's a top-5 pick by talent alone, but some figure he might not go until the end of Round 1. 

If you fail to make the NHL remember you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did your best and couldn't cut it. You will have no regrets.

A moment of silence will be observed at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chez Maurice, le bar convoité par les joueurs de la LNH

by Manwhore

Juste pour ne pas qu'un tata vienne me dire que la photo a été prise à l'Opéra. Je le sais, OK! Mais je la trouve bien drôle. En plus, Ovechkin et Kostitsyn était au Championnat du Monde de Hockey.

Lors du championnat mondial a Québec, les différents pays présents pour cette compétition ont choisi le night-club chez Maurice comme lieu de prédilection pour oublier leurs problèmes et faire la fête.

Russes champions dans tout

On peut vraiment dire que les Russes auront remporte le titre de « Party animals » en plus du championnat mondial. Ils étaient régulièrement chez Maurice, et en plus, ils n’y allaient pas avec le dos de la cuiller. Danny Markov était tellement désagréable lors d’une soirée (il renversait de la bière sur le monde et autre truc comme ca) qu’on lui a demandé de quitter les lieux. Évidemment, en bon athlète professionnel qu’il est, il a évidemment refusé et continuer à faire la fête. Ilya Kovalchuk est très généreux. Lors de cette même soirée, il a acheté deux bouteilles de scotch…et pas n’importe quel, du chivas afin d’en donner a tout le monde qui se trouvait près de lui. Bon, je sais qu’il est plein aux as, cependant il n’était pas oblige de partager sa boisson avec les Québécois, il aurait pu la garder pour lui et ses coéquipiers.

L’équipe championne a d’ailleurs eu leur party de championnat dans ce même bar. Je n’y étais malheureusement pas mais a ce qui parait, Ovechkin se promenait dans le bar avec le même chandail de la Russie qu’il avait utilise pour remporter le titre quelques heures auparavant…ca devait sentir bon ca!!!! Ils ont du se déchainer, puisque même lorsqu’ils avaient une rencontre le lendemain, ils repartaient tous très drunk.

Médaille de bronze…who cares???

Les Finlandais qui sont arrivés vraiment tardivement a Québec, puisque leurs matchs de premier tour étaient a Halifax, ont tout de même eu le temps d’expérimenter le Maurice, et ce la soirée avant leur match contre leurs rivaux de toujours, les Suédois, pour la médaille de bronze. Bien qu’ils n’aient pas fait autant de bruits que les Russes, ils sont tout de même reste au bar tres tard et je peux garantir que quelques joueurs devaient avoir mal a la tête le lendemain.

J’ai eu la chance de voir bien d’autres histoires a Québec pendant mon séjour, cependant plusieurs de ces histoires ne sont pas racontables…Appréciez celles-là pour l’instant!!!

See who the players are(.pdf)

Не буду описывать матч, те кто хотел и мог видели сами или читали обзоры, но эмоции.. Я не писатель, и мне не передать всех чувств, которые я испытал. Наверное я был рад больше всего за Команду, они этого заслужили.

Как русскоязычный житель Латвии у меня есть 2 команды, за которые болею - Латвию и Россию. Про Латвию - отдельный разговор, уровень хоккея такой, какой есть. Мы конечно стараемся, но и иллюзии не надо строить, без помощи в ТОР 6-7 сборных нам не войти.

Другое дело Россия - страна большая, богатая и хоккейная, может в России хоккей конкурирует с футболом по популярности, по результатом же - глупо сравнивать. Не застал я времена Суперсерий, о советско -канадском противостоянии могу только мечтать. Вернее, мог. Канадский финал, как мне кажется, не переломит что-то в мировозрении Россиян, но он дал плоды, плоды того труда, который вложили в сборную не вчера, не позавчера.

Победу России над Канадой, в самой Канаде, на их мелких площадках, в год 100-летия ИИХФ, я расцениваю как победы советской школы над сереро-американской. Да, эта победа в овертайме, но это делает ее ещё приятней.

Россия могла собрать команду из НХЛ-овцев, но у нас и "своих" хватает, они не хуже, были бы хуже - не взяли бы их.

Итак, дорогие любители хоккея, нас ждет очень интерестное время - создание лиги-конкурента НХЛ, а также 2 олимпиады, в Канаде и России, и я надеюсь что наша команда не остановится на достигнутом. Русские в хоккей играют за идею!

"One day, a woman complimented me on my painting 'At the Crease', which she referred to as, "That painting you did of the goalie, Ken Dryden". She said that she had long had a print of it in her home and really enjoyed it. I thanked her, but also explained that, "It isn't an image of Ken Dryden". Looking puzzled, she replied, "Yes it is." I responded, "No it isn't. " After a long pause, she loudly exclaimed, "Yes it is!" I quickly apologized, with the sudden realization that she was right. It's really whomever one wants it to be."

He's right. I guess I should have thought it was an image of me! But now I've decided the subject is Vladislav Tretiak. Today the IIHF's all-time all-star team was announced and to nobody's surprise Tretiak was selected as the goalie. I went searching for Tretiak photos and the first one I found was the one you see above. Is it not scarily similar to Danby's painting? At the time of the painting we were living in fear of the Reds so there's no way Danby would have truly made it look like Tretiak by using the same helmet/mask (besides, the stark white mask is far more powerful). But the painting was released in 1972, the same year Tretiak was introduced to the world with his stellar play in the Canada-USSR Summit Series.

I don't know if Danby ever acknowledged one specific subject for his iconic painting and sadly he passed away last fall so I will never have the chance to ask him. But I guess I know what his answer would be anyway... "of course it's Tretiak, it's whomever you want it to be."

Vuosi on siis aikaa kerätä rahaa lippuja ja matkaa varten. Vaihtoehtoja on useita ja kustannuslaskelmia on käyty mm. lentojen, automatkan yms. vaihtoehtojen välillä. Paras vaihtoehto tällä hetkellä on halpalentoyhtiön kautta lento Frankfurtiin Saksaan ja sieltä asuntoauton vuokraus ja reissu Sveitsiin, mutta vaihtoehtoja on muitakin.

Tässä blogissa seurataan fanien valmistautumista kisoihin ja kisojen koittaessa raportteja matkan varrelta sekä luonnollisesti itse kisoista.

Pittsburgh schlägt Philly in 5 Spielen und steht nach 16 Jahren erstmals wieder im Stanley Cup Finale.

Nachdem Pittsburgh die ersten 3 Spiele der Serie gewann, konnte Philadelphia wenigstens noch das 2. Heimspiel für sich entscheiden und so zumindest ein weiteres Spiel erzwingen. Doch im 5. Spiel in Pittsburgh drehten die Penguins dann nochmal richtig auf und schossen die Flyers mit einem deutlichen 6:0 endgültig ab. Die Pens rund um die Stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Jordan Staal und Keeper Marc-Andre Fleury zeigten sich in den Playoffs, wie auch bereits in der Vorrunde, in bestechender Form und stehen völlig zurecht im Finale um die begehrteste Eishockey-Trophäe.

Die Flyers wiederum können mit ihrem Abschneiden diese Saison mehr als zufrieden sein. Kaum jemand hätte ihnen zugetraut, so weit zu kommen. Nicht zuletzt nach der desaströsen Leistung, die das Team letzte Saison abgeliefert hatte. Zudem musste man in den Playoffs komplett auf den verletzten Star Simon Gagne verzichten und beinahe die gesamte Serie gegen Pittsburgh fehlten verletzungsbedingt die beiden Top-Verteidiger Kimmo Timonen und Braydon Coburn. In Bestbesetzung hätten die Flyers auch das Duell mit den Erzrivalen aus Pittsburgh vielleicht etwas spannender gestalten können. Aber egal, dieses Team hat auf jeden Fall Zukunft, denn es besteht aus vielen jungen Spielern wie Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger, Joffrey Lupul, Scottie Upshall oder Scott Hartnell, die diese Saison schon einen großen Beitrag zum Erfolg geleistet haben, aber (hoffentlich) noch lange nicht auf dem Höhepunkt ihrer Karriere angelangt sind.

Auf wen die Penguins im Stanley Cup Finale treffen, entscheidet sich erst noch in den nächsten Tagen, da die Dallas Stars durch 2 Siege in Folge Detroits Führung in der Best-of-7-Serie auf 3:2 verkürzen konnte. Ich denke aber trotzdem, dass sich die Red Wings die Finalteilnahme nicht mehr nehmen lassen werden.

Die Eishockey-WM in Kanada ist derweil auch zu Ende gegangen. Russland holte in der Verlängerung Gold gegen Gastgeber Kanada und Finnland bezwang Schweden im Bruderduell um die Bronzemedaille.

Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft verpasste leider den Einzug in's Viertelfinale und somit die direkte Qualifikation für Olympia 2010, aber mit Siegen gegen die Slovakei und Lettland lieferte man zumindest eine halbwegs akzeptable Leistung ab.

1:55 into the OT period, Rick Nash was whistled for delay of game and just 45 seconds later, Ilya Kovalchuk scored to win the game for Russia.

Fedor Tyutin had an assist in the game.

***

A total of four Rangers players participated in the tournament:

Lundqvist did not play in the bronze medal game against Finland.

I'm sittin' in the den, patiently waiting for the game to start, when BAM.  Mike Green pops up on my tele.  That made my day :)

And, tchyeah.  Talk about a bonus:  Nabby & Greeny in the same game.  2 for 1, baby!  

I remember the other day, in Hearst, I saw Plekanec on the...

Wai-

Aw, crap.  1-0 for Russia already.  Ouhhh, Semin scored. 

...

AHHHHHHHH YAY BURNES SCOREDDDDD.  And, like, duh, Green was on for the goal.

Anyway.  I better get back to watching the game. 

Peace.

[edit of intermission boredom]
Odd Facts about ME

DO YOU SNORE?: No (p.s. I hate it when people snore)
LOVER OR A FIGHTER?: Lover?
WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?: Drowning or falling under the ice and being stuck under water.
AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO BUILDER?: I think so...
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY TV"?: I find it fake. But I can't get enough of America's Next Top Model. It's my guilty pleasure.
DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?: Hahaha yeah.
WERE YOU A CUTE BABY?: IMO, no. But everyone else thinks I was :/
HOW IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU?: It gets dull.
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD?: Black.
DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER?: Heck yeahs!
HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED?: Nuu.
ANY SECRET TALENTS?: Secret? Haha, no.
WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT?: EUROPEEE :(
HAVE YOU EATEN SUSHI?: Umm, no. Gross.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "DONNIE DARKO"?: YEAH OMIGOD. It was sooo messed. Holy crap. Big hunk of whack.
DO YOU GIVE A DARN ABOUT THE OZONE?: Well, yeah. It's kinda important.
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?: Okay. Question: WTFH is a "Tootsie Pop"?
CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS?: Hmm..Never tried...
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON AN AIRPLANE?: Yeahh. Scareskin airlines :P
ARE SPEEDO'S HOT?: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *DIES* EWWW
WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING?: I really, really, really, don't like it. Or family doesn't hunt at all.
IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?: Well, I darn well hope so.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?: Sometimes, yeah.
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?: I think I have a minor allergy to cats. I THINK.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU": To my parents, LOL. I'm so lonely.
IS TUPAC STILL ALIVE?: UHH, NO!! (see, I'm not that slow)
DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS?: Pfffahahahaha. No.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?: Eggless. I despise them.
ARE BLONDES DUMB?: ...No. Brunettes can be just as dumb, trust me.
WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP?: ............AHAHAHAH I almost said something naughty. Ahem. I dunno where they go.
WHAT TIME IS IT?: 2:29pm
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?: Alex, Alexi, Al, Egghead. LOL booooring.
IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING?: Okay, umm, no? Its the only decent fast-food joint in Kap next to KFC. I like it...UNTIL A&W COMES ALONG BWAHAH.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR?: Umm. Friday.
DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS?: Showers.
IS SANTA CLAUSE REAL?: ???????????? YES???????????? ;)
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: I used to, but not anymore.
WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO?: Hockey..mmmmm.
CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER?: Depends on my mood.
HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE?: Nope.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY?: Once.
IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE?: Yuppers. Unless you consider hockey as a drug ;)
ARE YOU WEARING SOCKS?: No... ahahaha I'm still in my PJs. *IS LAZY*
HAVE YOU EVER HITCH HIKED?: No.
WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?: Green.
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: Oh, snap. When I watched Grey's Anatomy a couple of weeks ago.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE?: Yes.
WHOSE LIFE IS BETTER?: Geez, I dunno.
ARE YOU PSYCHIC?: Actually, I have seen creepy stuff that happens the next day in my deams. Does that count??
HAVE YOU READ "CATCHER IN THE RYE"?: Nooo, but I will on day. I have it in my room P:
DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?: I played the trumpet last year in music class! Werd up!
CAN YOU SKATEBOARD?: Ahahaha I wish.
DO YOU LIKE CAMPING?: Not when theres alot of bugs. Ugh. But other than that, yeah.
DO U SNORT WHEN U LAUGH?: Sometimes! Hahahah it's funny when it happens.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?: Ohhh ohhhh~ *sings* Isn't that a song?
IS A DOG A MAN'S BEST FRIEND?: No. I'm a man's best friend. Bahahaha.
YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE?: Sure.
CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK?: Nope.
DOES YOUR MOM KNOW YOU HAVE A MYSPACE?: Myspace is for losers ;) I don't use it.
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?: Mmm home-made cookie dough.
DO YOU WEAR NAILPOLISH?: Yeahh.
DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE RIGHT NOW?: Not really.
WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL?: Anything cheap-home-made. Ohhh my god those are cheesy. Or maybe those 78353576 hour long info-mercials.
DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE?: Heck yeahs.
FAVORITE BAND AT THE MOMENT?: Breaking Benjamin/Muse<3

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The Perfect Guy

Hair color?: medium to dark brown
Eye color?: pale green or blue
Height?: 6'1, 6'2..
Six pack?: mmm yes..nomnomnom
Long hair or short?: medium?
Glasses?: nah.
Piercings?: ...nah.
Eyebrows?: yes, I do prefer my men with eyebrows. (wtf) Oh, no unibrows or bushy beasts, please :)
Big butt or little?: tight butt ;) I don't really look there anyway. preferably not bubble, though.
Chest hair?: EWWW no, please. no.
Buff or skinny?: In between..
Teeth?: again, I like my men WITH teeth (straight an white. no hill-billy!)

Section 2
Funny or serious?: funny! but he also has to know when to tone it down.
Party-hopper or more stay-at-home?: Meh, whatever. I wouldn't want him to cruise other girls at parties, but other than that, I ain't picky.
Should he be able to bake or cook?: mmm, that would be pretty cute.
Does he have a best friend?: Hahahaha preferably, yes.
Is it okay for him to have a lot of female friends?: Yeah, sure.
Out-going or shy?: Awww, in between. But not too shy that he can't make the first move, though.
Sarcastic or sincere?: Hahahah I like a tad of sarcasm.
Does he love his mother?: Yes!
Should he watch chick-flicks?: Hahaha sure. I don't watch many chikc flicks, though. So he doesn't have to worry about me forcing him.
Would he be a smoker?: No.
How about a drinking?: Not too much.
And swearing?: hehehe, well. I really don't mind. I can get pretty potty-mouth at times...
Would he play with your hair?: :O That's just adorable. YES.
Would he have more than one girlfriend at a time?: HAHAHAH WTF? Do people actually say yes to this question?? No fraking way, man.
Would he pay for you when you're on a date?: That would be nice, yeah.
Does he kiss on the first date?: It depends on how much I'm interested. A hug would do the trick ;)
Where would you go for dinner?: I dunno, a cool, simple little place.
Would he buy you flowers?: mehh, I guess it could be cute.
Would he lay under the stars with you and spout random philosophies?: ....BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Wtf. I don't even do that and I'm weird. We could lay under the stars, but no "spouting random philosophies".
Would he write poetry about you?: Ummm, no.
Would he use endearments?: I guess so.
Would he hang out with your and YOUR friends?: HECK YEAHS.
How about you hanging out with him and HIS friends?: Yeah!
Would he walk you up to the door at the end of the evening?: Aww, yeah.
Would you hold hands?: Hells yeah!

Section 3
Does he play soccer?: Yes.
Baseball?: Yes.
Football?: No.
Basketball?: No.
Water polo?: Hahahah, no.
Golf or something equally boring?: Hahahaha, sure.
Does he surf?: If there was surfing here, yeeah.
Skateboard?: Yeah.
Snowboard?: Yeah.
Can he sing?: he tries ;)
Play the guitar?: Nah.
Play piano?: Hahah, no.
Play the drums?: He tries!
Can he keep his room clean?: A bit.
Is he an artist of sorts?: Mmm...maybe.
Does he write his own music?: Nah.
Does he have pets?: Yeah. Dogs or cats.

Section 4
Does he use the word dude?: LOL cute! Yeah.
How about tight?: Equally cute! Yes!
Would he watch the sun rise and set with you?: ... I don't do that. So, he doesn't need to either.
What kind of car does he drive?: ??? A hummer! Nah, I dunno.
How old is he?: My age or a it older.
What's his name?: Pff. I dunno yet.

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[edit @ 4:51]

ahahahahahaah 5-0 for Pitsburgh at the end of the 2nd.  Oh, yeah, Biron's such a freaking god.  Someone hand him the Vezina.

I don't mean to say I told you so, but... I TOLD YOU!  Habs were shooting ON Biron.  Pitsburgh found the holes ;) 

REVENGE OF A BITTER FAN BWAHAHAH.

The win didn’t change the landscape of the game right away. It was a shocking and unexpected victory, but more importantly, it inspired a generation of American kids to play the game. When USA won its next important international event, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, almost every player on that team pointed to the Miracle on Ice game as their inspiration for wanting to play hockey.

In time, the win also assured the international community that America would be part of the top nations. In the 1976 Canada Cup, for instance, the roster was a who’s who of minor leaguers and collegians. Soon after 1980, that never happened again. 

This game was and remains the greatest moment in international hockey because of its impact at the time and its continued impact over time. For 20 college players to defeat a team that trained year round and won virtually every game it played before and after truly is, in a sporting sense, a miracle. There is no other word for it. 

That this miracle became something lasting and enduring makes it all the more significant. The greater miracle is that it took a nation with nothing more than a mild interest in the game and made it into a world powerhouse that can today beat any other great nation on any given day. There have been greater teams which have accomplished greater feats over greater periods of time in international hockey, but there is only one game, one team, one moment, that can truly be called a miracle. And nothing can outclass a miracle. Nothing.

And the IIHF also announced the Centennial All-Star Team. The list is Soviet heavy with Tretiak, Fetisov, Salming, Kharlamov, Makarov, and Gretzky. Methinks the voters were weighed towards Europeans, but then again this is an All-Star team for international hockey, and the Soviets dominated international play, so maybe it's right. It's interesting that Gretzky's contributions in the Canada Cup is counted considering it was not an IIHF sanctioned event. But then again, IIHF was not obtuse enough to ignore the great impact the Summit Series and the Canada Cups had on international hockey, even if they were not officially sanctioned events.

The six members of the All-Star Team are:

Goaltender: Vladislav Tretiak (Russia)
First Defenceman: Vyacheslav Fetisov (Russia)
Second Defenceman: Borje Salming (Sweden)
First Winger: Valeri Kharlamov (Russia)
Second Winger: Sergei Makarov (Russia)
Centre: Wayne Gretzky (Canada)

The panel comprised 56 ice hockey experts from 16 countries representing a balance between North American and European countries, and included people who have worked in the game for an extended period and whose opinions are universally respected. One of the 56 votes represented the collective opinion of the staff of The Hockey News.

Tretiak received 30 votes, Fetisov 54, Salming 17, Kharlamov 21, Makarov 18, and Gretzky 38.

Some speculate that Gary Bettman is celebrating at NHL h.q. that the semifinals are an all-American affair. Maybe so, but Canada remains the league's bread and butter, and there are signs our attention is wandering (you know: more than usual).

This may result in a TV ratings shellacking for the NHL in the next few days, though we'll have to wait a few weeks for the results. The matchup: Canada v. Sweden tonight at the IIHF championship in Halifax (TSN), versus the Dallas Stars and the Other Swedish National Team (a.k.a. the Red Wings) on Saturday. As Hockey Canada honcho Bob Nicholson notes, last year's IIHF gold medal game from Moscow pulled 1.8 million viewers—despite a poor time slot compared to tonight's 5 p.m. ET semi.

Ratings for the NHL semifinals are not yet available. But the comparatives to this point don't look good. In the second round, the most-watched game out of the U.S. (Dallas v. San Jose, Game 6) drew a measly 800,000 here in Canada. Even the Habs and Flyers were drawing in the 1.75 million range on CBC. The sponsors must be getting restless.

Now we have a star-studded Canadian team in contention in a tournament that is being played on home soil, and might well provide better hockey than the NHL playoffs. If I can choose only one game over the next two days, I know which one it will be.