Good Old Fashioned Hockey

So, for my first post of the New Year, how about some good, wholesome, family fun?

A compilation courtesy of our friends at Hockeyfights.com.

A couple of observations - you see a lot of Boston Bruins in this, a pretty accurate portrayal of them as the dirtiest team in the NHL.

Aaron Downey has the only lights out punch in the bunch. That's pretty much the highlight of his 3 minute Dallas Stars career.

I find it ironic that the NHL, like the NFL, is trying to cut down on hits to the head and the resulting concussions - and yet they still allow fighting to go on unchecked. Sure, the combatants get 5 for fighting, but you don't see any further punishment for being one of the two legitimate participants in a stand up fight.

Dallas' Pro Sports - An Update

Well, we're in summer, and the Texas Rangers are doing very well and in first place in their division. I guess that means their inevitable annual implosiion after the All Star break will just have that much further to fall. It's nice to see them win. It sucks to know it won't last.

A judge has once again halted the sale of the Rangers. MLB, Bud Selig, Tom Hicks, and Nolan Ryan's ownership group are livid. Some of the creditors Hicks owes are doing anything they can to block the sale, to try to get he bidding reopened so that they can get more of what they are owed back. These A*holes have absolutely no interest in the team, Baseball, or its fans - it's just the all mighty dollar causing them to SUCK. There is some talk going around that Selig may fold the franchise, just to end this mess.

STARS! Say it ain't so, Mo! Mike Modano has told the press that he's 75/25 for coming back next season. The problem is, the Stars' management may not want him. Their youth movement may not have a slot open for an aging, though talented, forward. Mike has stated to some reporters that if he does decide to play this coming year, it will probably have to be with another team.

THIS IS A CATASTROPHE!

Mike Modano in another team's uniform is sacriledge - almost as bad as, well, Emmitt Smith going to the Cardinals for his last season. What a pile of dog puke that was ...

Stars management - don't you dare let this happen. If you can't put him on the ice, then give him a front office contract. Keep him a Star for life. If you don't, you SUCK.

Mike, don't sign with another team. Even if you can't play for the Stars, don't go elsewhere. You'll hate it, it will anger the hockey Gods, and you'll lose a lot of your incredible fan base here in DFW and in Minnesota. Don't do it ... PLEASE!!!!!

Dirk Nowitzki has chosen to buyout the last year of his contract and go into free agency this week. He is giving up a guaranteed 21.5 million this coming season to test the free agency market. Local concensus is he's trying to get Mark Cuban to give him a long term contract - if Cuban doesn't give him what he wants, there will be a lot of teams out there who will. Seeing Dirk in another team's uniform would be as bad as Modano.

Come on, guys! Pull your collective heads out of your butts.

Update - Well, the Stars stepped in it today (6/29). GM Joe Nieuwendyk (once a teammate of Modano's and a good friend to Mike - at least he was yesterday) announced publicly that the Stars will not offer Modano a contract for the upcoming season. So, If Mike wishes to play, he has to look for a new team. Joe did say that if Mike wanted, the Stars would find a place to fit Modano into the organization in a non-playing role. What a backhanded bullshit offer that is. If Joe was serious, he would have offered Mike a specific position prior to the announcement, to save Mike the embarrassment of having his team turn its back on him.

Mike is reportedly really pissed off about this - I don't blame him. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to sign up with a direct competitor with the Stars, just to try and get back at them - much like Emmitt did with the Cardinals. I really hope he doesn't - he needs to be a Star for life.

ATTENTION STARS MANAGEMENT - I will continue to be a fan of the team's but do not count on me showing up and spending any of my money to support you this upcoming season. You just do not do this to the most important player the franchise has ever had. Very poor decision, and very poorly handled.

The Hockey Gods Smiled

Last night, the Dallas Stars played the Anaheim Ducks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The 81st game of the season, between two teams not going to the playoffs. The last home game of the season for the Stars. A meaningless game ...

... that turned into the second most memorable game in Dallas Stars franchise history. The Hockey Gods surely were watching over Dallas last night.

Mike Modano, Marty Turco, and Jere Lehtinen, all long time Stars, all unrestricted free agents this summer, all critical parts of the Stars team, may very well have played their last home game in Dallas.

Modano has been the franchise's golden boy since he was drafted #1 by the then Minnesota North Stars back in 1988. Now 39, he has spent his entire carerr in a Stars' uniform. He is the leader in American born hockey players for goals, assists, points, and just about every offensive category the game keeps track of. He has not announced his plans, but every hint so far has him retiring rather than sign another contract with the team.

Turco has been the starting goaltender since the 2002/2003 season. A multi-time All Star, and NHL record holder, Marty has been a key part of both the team and the community. The last couple of years has seen his consistency fall a bit, to the point the Stars have signed a young goalie of the future. Chances are the team will not offer Marty the number of years or dollars he will feel he deserves, and those around the team have said its a foregone conclusion he will sign with another team. What a shame, this town loves Marty.

Lehtinen has been a quiet, reserved, extremely productive forward. He has spent his entire NHL career with the Stars. Jere has shown a lot of class and style, while playing a huge part of the team's offensive and defensive success over the years. He is likely to retire this summer and return to his native Finland.

The Hockey Gods must have written the game's script ...

Modano and Lehtinen teamed up to pass the puck to youngster Jamie Benn for Dallas' first goal, which tied the score 1-1.

With 5 minutes left in the game, a video tribute triggered a 3 minute standing ovation for Modano. Seen on camera on the bench, he was visibly hit, tears streaming down his face. The ovation would have lasted much longer, the linesman dropped the puck to get things going again. And then, the Ducks scored to go ahead 2-1.

With less than 2 minutes left, a shot from the point was deflected into the Duck's goal by Modano, tying the game. There was a question as to whether he high sticked the puck, which would have invalidated the goal, but it held up under review. The score held 2-2, went to overtime, and then to the shootout to decide the game.

Modano went second in the shootout order for the Stars, and scored. Lehtinen followed him and also scored. Turco held the Ducks scoreless in the shootout, for a Dallas win. Modano's goal was the game winner.

The three stars for the game were 3) Turco, 2) Lehtinen, and 1) Modano. The game couldn't have turned out better.

All kudos to the Ducks, who were patient with the tributes and classy with their respect. They knew what was going on, and were stand up guys for participating.

Even though I suspect that will be the last time I see those three on home ice for the Stars, I truly hope that isn't so. Modano still has what it takes to be a productive forward. However, there is no way that he, Marty, and Jere could top what happened last night with another year. What a wonderful way to close out their time with the team.

Modano has one more tribute hurdle to come. The Star's last game of the season is at Minnesota - the place where he was drafted and started his career. The hockey fans in Minnesota are still very fond of him. It will be another tear jerker, I am sure.

The only game in Stars history that tops this one, as far as I am concerned, was Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, where Brett Hull scored THE GOAL to beat Buffalo (BUCK Fuffalo!) to win that season's championship.

Thank You Mike!

Thank You Marty!

Thank You Jere!

Gratuitous Hockey Violence

You've heard of the Lingerie Football League? How about the Lingerie Hockey League?

Forgive me, but how about a little Dallas Stars' Ice Girls in action? It's OK, this is produced by the Dalls Stars themselves, and is available on their web site - I'm just sharing it here.

Go STARS !!!!!

This Ain't Figure Skating, Folks ....

Mike Ribeiro, forward for the Dallas Stars, was injured in last night's game against the New York Rangers. He was hit in the throat, inadvertently, by an opponent's stick. Although it did not look at first to be anything serious, it quickly became clear that he was in a lot of distress. He was helped off the ice and immediately taken to a local hospital.

Ribeiro was operated on to fix the damage, including a tracheotomy needed to allow him to breathe. The Stars have placed him on injured reserve, and don't anticipate him returning to the lineup for 4-6 weeks.

Razor sharp skates ... a vulcanized rubber puck traveling at up to 100mph ... sticks (now almost all composite) that can be used as weapons, intentionally or unintentionally ... large men flying around the ice at speeds that are hard to comprehend ... rules of the game that make physical hits legal, indeed encouraged ... a game where fighting is expected ...

It is a violent game that takes a lot of talent to play, and a lot of luck to keep from getting seriously hurt.

Here is Mr. Ribeiro in some more pleasant times ....

I Respect This Man

Meet Stephan Robidas, defenseman for the Dallas Stars.

Robidas originally joined the league with the Montreal Canadiens, his hero team since he grew up in Quebec. His coaches there didn't care for him, telling him he would not make it in the NHL. Dallas picked him up, released him, then picked him up again.

Robidas has fought hard to improve his game, to the point where he is now considered a top tier defenseman, with an All Star game under his belt. He is under consideration for the Canadian Olympic Team, an honor for Canadians just short of winning the Stanley Cup.

Robidas is a stand up guy. I've seen him multiple times greeting fans, and he always has a smile on his face, and jokes with the fans. He never ducks the autograph line, unlike some of the more 'prima-donna' members of the team. I hope he decides to stay int he Dallas area when he retires, he is a credit to the Stars and the community.

Robidas, 32, has been injured multiple times in his career. His nose is flat against his face, from being broken so many time. He plays through pain that would have others lying in hospital beds - and he never brings attention to himself, never complains. He was recenly rewarded with a long, lucrative contract that will keep him a Star for several more years.

Why am I mentioning him here ... Robidas was hit int he face with a puck during Sunday's practice. He noticed something was wrong ...

"I saw a dent there, so I knew something was wrong. My cheek bone caved in a little bit. They had to do an incision on the side of my head and pop the bone back out. It was causing a little bit of pain."

Robidas had surgery Monday morning to move a cheek bone around inside his head.

Robidas was on the ice playing his normal game Tuesday evening when the Stars played the Chicago Blackhawks.

That's pretty tough ... most everyone else would be laid up on pain pills moaning and telling everyone around them how badly they hurt. Not Stephan ... we wouldn't have even known this had happened if sources on the team hadn't pointed it out (and of course the face mask he was required to wear during the game).

Bravo, Mr. Robidas ... we're proud to have you here!