Author Archive
Takin a T/O with BT: Daniel CarcilloùHe’s Not All Bad But Watch Out
Posted: 7th January 2010 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
Two years ago, had I asked you who the biggest pest in the NHL was, there were more than a few answers that could've been handed around.
At that point, Ryan Hollweg was in New York and frustrating Rangers' fans with senseless penalties and mis-timed fights. George Parros' had caught on full-time for the Anaheim Ducks, while Riley Cote of the Flyers was still running around slamming people through the boards ...
Takin’ a T/O With BT: The NHL Winter Classic’s Six Degrees of Separation
Posted: 4th January 2010 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
Every year that the Winter (or Heritage) Classic has taken place, there's been an indelible memory made.
When the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens suited up for the first attempt at an outdoor game, the frigid temperatures almost froze time: The legends game before hand featured some of the brightest stars from our past, the ice became brittle and cracked, and playing it under a night sky brought memories back ...
Takin’ a T/O with BT: The NHL’s Western Conference All Stars That Never Were
Posted: 28th December 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
Two weeks ago we nailed down the All-Stars from the Eastern Conference for this season.
Granted they won't be playing in any game (aside from the ones on this list who'll be going to the Olympics), getting the notoriety (Any Tiger Woods/Michael Vick bad press on the horizon? Nah...this is the NHL!), or winning any prizes (I'm stumpedùno enjoyable brackets on this one), but why not give the All-Stars their due.
So, ...
Takin’ a T/O With BT: Belarus’ Grabovski and Kostitsyn Chemistry Test
Posted: 23rd December 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
In sports, to be an effective team, you have to overlook the little differences.
You can hope and pray for a team nicely packaged with a neat little bow (This isn't a reference to Christmas...as far as you know) that's always going to get along and never squabble, but it doesn't happen.
I'm willing to bet that there have been very few championship teams in any sport that have ever featured each ...
Takin’ a T/O with BT: 10 Reasons to Tune in to the NHL Winter Classic
Posted: 15th December 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
It's become a yearly tradition in the NHL, and whether you agree with it's annual nature or think that it should be reserved for special occasions and only a periodic schedule, if you're a hockey fan, you'll watch.
It's the biggest, most-watched game of pond hockey in the world, played in some of the most historical venues known to the sporting universe, featuring some of the most gifted athletes.
In other words, ...
Takin’ a T/O with BT: The NHL All-Stars that Never Were (Eastern Conference)
Posted: 14th December 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
It's that time of year again!
Well, if it wasn't for the Olympics it would be.
While many people are spouting thoughts on who's going to make their Olympic dreams come true in Vancouver this year, there's one event that goes by without announcement because it's simply not happening.
The NHL All-Star game.
Because of the break while the players take to the ice in Vancouver, the NHL can't afford any more time out ...
Takin’ a T/O with BT: Anton Stralman’s Success Against the Numbers Game
Posted: 26th November 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
Simply put: Numbers games suck. Granted, "suck" isn’t the most gracious word to use for that, but it fits doesn’t it? The word "suck" is ugly and harsh—exactly what numbers games are. It’s harsh because those who win in the numbers games don’t always necessarily have the most talent or the attributes a team needs to complete a well-balanced roster, but it sometimes comes down to contract status ...
Takin’ a T/O with BT: Junior Seau and the Sports Jobs You Never Knew About
Posted: 19th November 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NFL
When youÆre young and you look out onto a sports field, or look up to your favorite athletes, you know what you want to be; who you want to be; where you want to be. Out there. With them. Playing the game you love. But what so many of us take for granted and overlook are the people behind the scenes. Sure, distracting a bull while the ...
Who’ll Line Up Beside the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Kessel in Future?
Posted: 18th November 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NHL
When the season started off with a slump for the Toronto Maple Leafs, LeafsNation fell into a panic.All of a sudden they were last in the league, the only team without a regulation win, and without a first round draft pick this year or next.What they were left with was a question mark, a question mark named Phil Kessel.For the first time in a long time, the Leafs had an ...
Takin’ a T/O with BTùBill Belichick and the Patriots Will See Another Day
Posted: 16th November 2009 by Bryan Thiel in NFL
It's amazing the amount of time it takes to change something, isn't it?
One play. One pass. A matter of seconds. A handful of yards.
It was all of those things that changed a game that looked like a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, please-for-the-love-of-God-hold-on win for the New England Patriots, to a state of rejoicing and 9-0 signs for Indianapolis Colts fans.
Good for the Colts. Good for Peyton Manning. Bad for the New England ...