COHF to Provide Content for Fadoo.ca Hockey Website

What a great hockey season it has become for the COHF blog! I am proud to announce the working agreement to provide original content for Bob McCown's Fadoo.ca I have been a real fan of Bob's broadcasts because they were always discussing hockey in a round table format. His tinted sunglasses view and grizzled attitude won me over along with the interaction he got from his guests and panelists. If you have Sirius satellite radio, you can pick up Prime Time Sports on Ch. 97.

The website does a better listing of credentials:

McCown is the host of FAN590's Prime Time Sports, Canada's top rated sports radio talk show. Heard nightly on the FAN in Toronto and around the country, the show is also simulcast on Rogers Sportsnet.

So, I am thrilled to be tapped to write some content for the website. I consider this an honor.

After looking around the growing website, I see that even in it's own mission statement that Fadoo will take on the same attitude which made Bob so popular in the Greater Toronto Area media.

Fadoo.ca's sole purpose is to spark debate, and maybe even incite a riot along the way. Led by the always combustible Bob McCown, the tone of this site is to inform and illicit a response.

But not only will bloggers be writing for the website, you can too! Sign up now to comment and pen your own opinions by becoming a registered fadoo.ca member.

Quebec City Meets With Bettman for Possible Nords Return

In a surprising story that I hope doesn't fizzle away into "just a tease" category. It was reported today that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had a positive meeting with former Quebec Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut and Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume.

It immediately made me think of this news item that I highlighted several years ago. But since I have not heard anything else about the progress towards rebuilding the Hartford Whalers, I hope that this idea for Quebec is not just a tease gift-wrapped up in wishful thinking.

"It was very welcoming, very profitable, very worthwhile," Labeaume told the media. "But we'll get back to you in a few days -- we still have work to do."

Take note that it was not Bettman who said this quote, but the Mayor who does not have any stake in the current NHL business plan nor "La Commissionare"s reputation with Canadian fans.

Personally, I think it would be great to see a revival of the Montreal/Quebec rivalry.

[Rogers SportsNet]

Battle of Pennsylvania 2009-10: Game 1

Another season for the Battle of PA rivalry began tonight as the bragging rights stakes were geared up a little higher now that the Penguins are defending champs and the Flyers collected a lot of "muscle".

As Game 1 ended, it was going to be another game where it adds to the Flyers/Penguins lore. All through the game, the Flyers were trying to intimidate the Penguins by throwing heavy hits and provoking fights. Even when the game had its share of fights, one last brawl between Hartnell and Letang which resulted in Letang's hand recieving a bite mark. Of course, Penguins fans are sure not going to forget this along with the Flyers fans not able to live it down. Gotta love this rivalry, right?

The game was in Philadelphia this time around as the Flyers fans seemed to be bursting with bloodlust from the start. The Flyers would get caught with a 2 minute Briere hooking penalty and the Penguins would make them pay with an Evgeni Malkin Power Play goal just 48 seconds into the game. But that wouldn't deter the Flyer-ladened goon squad as many more dumb penalties were exchanged. But with all of the fighting, there was some goal scoring as Jordan Staal remined the hockey world just why Emery was not a great goaltender. Staal faked Emery with a great side-to-side switch with the puck before making it hit the twine.

Second period saw the Flyers bring back some respectablitiy where they kept up on the scoring sheet. Briere added his 2nd goal of the night, but not before the ageless Penguins veteran Guerrin knocked one by the goal as well. The game went into the locker room intermission with a fragile 4-3 lead. Whoever could capture the game's momentum in the third would have the better chance of winning.

The third period saw the Flyers flop and fumble their way out of the game as they continued roughousing and taking stupid penalties. The Penguins Tyler Kennedy would make it a 5-3 game at the period's halfway point. But not to be outdone, Jeff Carter surprised everybody by scoring his 4th goal of the season. That again heighened tensions back in Flyers favor with a chance to tie things late or frustrate the Penguins to make a big mistake.

That didn't happen as the Penguins brawled their way out of Philly with a 5-4 win.

[Via: Yahoo! Sports]

Penguins TV Ratings Reach Record

Now that the Penguins have climbed back to Stanley Cup prominence, all of the fans that are now interested in the team again have been a small part of a historic night in more ways than just one. With the Stanley Cup banner that went up on Friday, so did the ratings to a phenomenal degree.

Friday night’s telecast of the Pittsburgh Penguins season opening 2009-10 game versus the New York Rangers registered a 10.5 average HH rating on FSN Pittsburgh, according to Nielsen Media Research. The telecast, viewed by more than 120,500 households in the Pittsburgh DMA, set a new record rating as the highest ever for a Penguins season opening game telecast

I am amazed at the record being that high! Congratulations to the Liberty Media Group who runs the FSN Pittsburgh studios.

Did they count in the research that the FOX Sports Network telecast was seen in homes all across North America having been simulcast on the NHL Network?

[Via: Pittsburgh Penguins Official Website]
[Cross posted: Michael's Adventures in Broadcasting]

COHF Blog Continues The Fight Against Cancer

For the duration of October, the COHF blog will be using one of it's many alternate versions of it's logo. I am not going to make a case for my readers to make a conscious effort to do anything for any specific charity, but....

I would just like to point out that the disease epidemic of cancer has torn apart too many lives to the point that I think everybody knows at least one person in their lives that have been befallen to this tragedy.

If you would like to see a short list of the charities that I blogged for a couple of years ago COHF (Blogathon), I endorse them all and recommend that you at the very least educate yourself about the disease during this time.

Crosby Boasts the Bling!

[Warning: All Crosby-haters look away now!]As the saying goes, "to the victor goes the spoils" so too go the rewards of winning an NHL championship. As the new NHL season is about to begin, the Pittsburgh Penguins have one last chance to revel in their Stanley Cup success today as they were all given their championship rings.

Bill Guerin, who has done this two times before already sounded like it was his first time all over again.

"The ring is the icing on the cake," he said. "It is hardware, but it's not hard to wear. Just like everything else with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's first class."

And I agree with that statement about the classiness, but what about the gaudiness of the size. The ring in the picture looks like the ring is half the size of Crosby's fist.

I would also want to know what the players really do with these rings? Do they put it in some safety deposit box or will they have to hire armed guards around it 24/7? After the rounds that the Steelers championship team made with the local media, I am sure that the standard question Crosby and company will get first will be to ask to see the cup ring.

Crosby showed off the white and yellow gold band decorated with 167 diamonds, which was enough ice to replicate the surface at Mellon Arena.

With all those diamonds, the players could wear them during the game and reflect the light in such a way that the goalie or defender is stunned.

[Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

St. Mike's Day of 2009

Each year when this date rolls around, I try to spend a little time blogging about two certain schools with not only important hockey programs, but bearing the special name in dedication to my patron saint.

The St. Michael's Majors of the OHL have already begun their 2009-10 season. Their last victory was on the 26th against Sarnia 9-2. St. Mike's is looking to build this season on the successful season they had last year taking the OHL quarterfinals before losing in the semis. I was able to see these players in Erie last season and I strongly encourage other fans to take in a game this year. But if you can't make it, check out the official merchandise page.

St. Michael's College in Vermont is another school where both men and women pursue both academic and athletic success. Earlier this month, the Purple Knights Men's Ice hockey team announced that one of their alumni had just signed a professional player contract in the SPHL. I am glad that they are able to develop players that reach beyond the Division II level. The men's team is looking once again to equal their last efforts of back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference Tournament titles.

The Women's Ice hockey team succeeds in building great students with the academic credentials to lead others to do the same. Recently, one of their assistant coaches moved on to RPI and are now looking for an assistant coach for this upcoming season. Do you know anybody that could join them?