What I'm Thankful For

Last year the Greenville Road Warriors were in the midst of a four-game road trip through Wheeling, West Virginia and Kalamazoo, Michigan over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was a fantastic trip as the Road Warriors won all four games as part of a streak that helped propel them to the top of the South Division standings. The one downside, though, was that it was the first Thanksgiving that I had to spend away from my family. They did get to attend the game in Wheeling the day before Thanksgiving and we visited briefly after the game before boarding the bus to Kalamazoo. It was tough to say goodbye, but there was definitely some comfort knowing they were listening back in Pittsburgh the next time I was on the air.

This year, the ECHL schedule makers were a little more generous and with a week off between games, I loaded up my car (4-month old puppy included) and drove nearly 700 miles through fog and rain to spend Thanksgiving in Grafton, Illinois with my parents and brother and sister. It is only the second time all year that my whole family was able to get together, and will probably be the last time we're all together until the summer. Since I arrived here on Monday night I've been thinking a lot about Thanksgivings as a kid at my Grandma's house - tossing the football in the back yard with my cousins and brother, eating mashed potatoes off of the beaters of the mixer, and always taking a post-dinner nap on the couch while the adults cleaned the dishes. Traditions and memories like that, I think, are things that people are universally thankful for at this time of the year. I'm certainly one of them. With that in mind, I wanted to give you a list of what I'm thankful for hockey-wise. It'll be a little different than the standard "I'm thankful for friends, family, turkey, etc." lists that you see.

I'm Thankful For:

• Being blessed with the opportunity to work in pro hockey. I'll never take for granted that I get paid to watch and talk about hockey for a living.
• Working with a head coach like Dean Stork. A coach that is as honest and forthcoming with information as him is a breath of fresh air compared to most coaches who guard information as if they were standing in front of Buckingham Palace.
• The Road Warriors fans who spend their money to support the team. Without all of  you, I wouldn't be able to do what I do. Not sure if there are enough ways to say thank you for that.
• Nic Riopel being back in a Road Warriors uniform. I think he is good enough to be a regular in the AHL, but after failing to secure a roster spot there he is back in Greenville. With an 8-1-0 record so far it's without doubt that Riopel is the MVP of the Road Warriors and, in my opinion, the MVP of the ECHL at this point.
• Jyri Niemi's slap shot. Watching this kid shoot a puck is just fun. When he's out on the power play keep an eye on #2 and the bombs he can unleash with a one-timer. Heck, even show up early to catch warmups to watch Niemie turn it loose. You won't be disappointed.
• Jeff Prough and Justin Bowers on a line together. Bowers is one of the top playmakers in the ECHL and Prough is a perennial 30-goal scorer. With those two working on Greenville's top line and top power play unit I think you can expect a lot more fireworks out of that pair.
• The chance to watch Jason Wilson develop his game. Wilson has the potential, because of his size and skating ability, to be an elite power forward. To me, he is a throwback type of player who can contribute regularly on offense and also intimidate the opponent with physical play or by dropping the gloves. I think he'll become a fast fan favorite in Greenville.
• Tour bus-style buses. On long road trips it's so nice to have the buses with bunks for everyone to sleep in, electrical outlets for the iPads/iPhones/other gadgets, and a satellite TV. Twelve hour trips don't seem nearly as long on those buses.
• Hugely thankful for the bus drivers who do such a great job hauling long hours through the night to get us to our destinations safely. Those guys don't get nearly enough credit for the work they do.
• All of the off-ice officials who volunteer their time to work the thousands of ECHL games every season. They are the guys who work as goal judges, time keepers, penalty box attendants, and statisticians in the press box. Without them, the games simply don't get played.
• A captain and popular player like T.J. Reynolds who understands his role as a leader of the team from an off-ice capacity. He is always willing to help with community appearances and media appearances and players like him make my job infinitely easier.
• ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna. He has been at the helm for a few very turbulent years for the league. After losing two teams mid-season and having the league's last remaining original team be forced to relocate he has added four teams to the league in proven sports markets that should make the ECHL as strong as it has ever been.

I'm hopeful, and confident, that there will be much more for Road Warriors fans to be thankful for come springtime, but there's still much to be determined as we're only just closing in on the quarter pole of the season. Regardless of what takes place this season, though, don't forget to enjoy the journey and be thankful that we're able to come along for the ride.

I want to wish all of you a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving with your families. I can't wait to see you again at the BI-LO Center on December 8 when the Road Warriors return home to take on Gwinnett.

Binge and Purge

The inspiration for the title of this post is my favorite song by a band named Clutch. I'm not going to post a link to the song for certain reasons, but I encourage you to look it up. And if I ever come back to Earth in another life as a professional fighter you can bet that it will be my entrance song.

The reason the song is the inspiration for the title and theme of this post is that, like a person who binges themselves on food or drink, random thoughts have been piling up inside my head since my last entry. It seems like every time I've meant to sit down and write something for the blogosphere, someone or something pulls my attention away and I have to wait until another day. It's like sitting down to start watching a movie and having your mother call you on your phone and since you haven't talked to her in a month you have to answer and spend an hour talking to her.

But now that I've found some time so sit down and pound away at the keyboard it's time to purge everything that's been building up. Let's start with the Road Warriors' opening weekend.

• What a sight it was to see such a great turnout on opening night! Obviously the end result was not what anyone wanted or expected to see, but to me that part is irrelevant. There was so much going on in Greenville that night and yet the second-largest crowd in GRW history came out to celebrate the start of the season. It makes me believe that there is a very bright future for this team in this great city.
• As for the on ice product The Road Warriors should be 1-1-0 after the weekend. The 44 shots on goal on Saturday night against Reading were the second most the Road Warriors had ever taken in a regulation game. I'd venture a guess that of the 44 shots at least 15 were high-quality scoring opportunities. Most nights that is more than enough to win, but Joe Palmer stood on his head that night. Unfortunate, but it shouldn't discourage the players or the fans. On Friday against Wheeling maybe it was a case of nerves, maybe some overconfidence set in from scoring the first goal 47 seconds in; I'm not really sure one way or the other. But I think, like that wacky 8-6 game against Gwinnett last year, that you can write off a 6-1 defeat as an aberration for this team. It won't be the norm.

Thoughts on this weekend coming up:

• It's good to get in to divisional play now, and I think it's good to do it on the road. Gwinnett will be the team facing the pressure to go out and perform well in front of a big crowd on opening night. The Road Warriors get the pleasure of going out and playing the role of party crashers. I think the first 10 minutes of Friday's game will be critical. If the Road Warriors can stem the tide of the early energy and momentum, maybe even grab a lead, I think they should be in good shape.
• Coach Stork was quick to pull the trigger on getting fresh bodies into the lineup from Friday to Saturday last week. I'll be curious to see if there's any continuity in the lineup or the line combinations from last Saturday to this Friday. 
• I'm especially curious to see if Brendan Connolly is moved back to center from wing where he spent much of opening weekend. With his speed he is certainly a dangerous weapon on the wing that could stretch the defense on breakouts and plays through the neutral zone. But is he comfortable there? Last season he led the league in +/- at +28 and had 50 points in 45 games while playing primarily as a center.
• Can Jerry Kuhn rebound? I would expect him to start on Friday night and be given a chance to improve on his 30-for-36 effort on opening night against Wheeling. He showed at the end of last season and in the playoffs with Idaho that he can come up big in pressure situations. He'll need to find that resolve and mental toughness if he wants to make a bid to be the Road Warriors #1 goalie.
• Is it possible that Jeff Prough can stay hot early on? He has scored all three of Greenville's goals so far, and had the Road Warriors managed a win or two last weekend he would have been a candidate for Player of the Week. Obviously he'd trade in the individual success for a couple of wins for the team, but three goals in two games is still an impressive way to begin the season. Plus the Arena at Gwinnett Center is only 15 miles away from his birthplace of Snellville, Georgia so I'm sure the desire to perform well will be amplified a bit for Prough.

Thoughts on Dan Wheldon and his Indy Car crash:

• For those of you who don't know (i.e. looked at a TV, picked up a newspaper, or browsed the internet this week) two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon was killed in a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. I was deeply saddened by the news because of the tragedy and because Indy Cars were one of my first loves in sports. One of my earliest sports memories is watching the 1992 Indy 500 with my Pap and jumping up and down for joy when my favorite driver, Al Unser Jr. won in amazing fashion. I was able to attend my first, and only, Indy 500 with my aunt and uncle in May of 2000 and it is still the most memorable sporting event I've ever been to in person. I have a deep respect for the way those drivers risk their lives every time they step behind the wheel of a car and I pray that Wheldon's death will affect some safety improvements that will make deaths like his much less likely. 
• The tragedy of Wheldon's crash also struck me because it brought back to mind a night where I witnessed a professional athlete's career end. On Wednesday, November 11, 2009 the Johnstown Chiefs were hosting the Reading Royals. With just over four minutes left in the third period Johnstown's Mike Knight, a defenseman, was going back into his own end for a loose puck. He was pressured by Reading's Olivier  Labelle who gave Knight a slight shove just above the goal line. Knight lurched forward, fell, and hit the boards head first. He was the Chiefs' captain, their best defenseman, and he would never play again because of the injuries sustained from that hit. Knight was there all three years I worked in Johnstown and, to this day, remains one of the classiest and most professional men I have had the chance to work with. And when I think about what happened to Knight, and Wheldon, it certainly makes me appreciate how much these men risk to play a game that they love and give us an amazing form of entertainment.

Thoughts on family:

• On our first episode of "Between the Pipes" there was an interesting discussion that came up when I brought up the Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday to Dean Stork and T.J. Reynolds - my guests. It revolved around family and how difficult our chosen profession can make things around the holidays. For those involved in professional hockey - as coaches, players, or support staff - certain sacrifices have to be made to pursue the dream. It so happens that the biggest American holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, fall right in the heart of hockey season. Games are always scheduled around these holidays, too, because they almost always draw well. That means those of us who work in the sport have to forsake our family traditions for the game we love. Now our jobs aren't nearly as important as the doctors, nurses, EMTs, and police officers who also have to work on the holidays, but the time away from family can sting just as much. Now I was blessed to work in Johnstown, PA for my first three years which was relatively close to my extended family in Pittsburgh. So no matter how close our games were to Thanksgiving or Christmas (they were never actually on the holidays) I could make the 60 mile drive west, spend time with the family, then come back for work in plenty of time. Last year that all changed with coming to SC. Luckily we had a week off around Christmas so I could drive the 600 miles home, but Thanksgiving was no such luck as we were on a road trip. This year it looks like a trip home for Christmas is out with two home games right around the big day. It was a weird conversation with my mother this past Monday as we discussed spending the holiday apart for the first time. Maybe if I'm persuasive enough I'll convince them to come spend a Southern Christmas this year!

Thoughts on failed goals:

• Some of you reading this may know that I had planned to run in the Greenville Half Marathon on October 29. I had been training since April and had run more this summer than I ever have in my life. The highlight of the training was finishing the Paris Mountain Trail Run 11K in an hour and six minutes. I was on target with my training through September, but then training camp hit. Hours at the office got very long and I started missing training sessions. The missed workouts piled up quickly and before long I hadn't run in two weeks. So I tried to give it a go tonight and log seven miles which is my longest training run. I couldn't nearly finish and am certain that I cannot be ready for 13 miles in one week. It's quite frustrating that I won't be able to run a half by the end of the year like I wanted, but now I've got something to shoot for in 2012.

Well I certainly feel better to have gotten all that off of my chest. And I hope you enjoyed reading it! With a clear head I'm going to turn in for the night and get ready for an exciting weekend of hockey in Duluth, GA. I hope if you are not coming to the games that you'll tune in to catch my broadcasts on America One. You can listen to the free online radio stream by clicking the listen live link at www.greenvilleroadwarriors.com or you can visit www.americaone.com to find the internet TV broadcast of the game.

Until next time, take care!

10 Questions to Open the Season

Earlier this evening (Thursday, Oct. 6) I stepped onto the BI-LO Center ice for the first time since they put the new sheet down. The ice had only been in for two days, and it was the first time the BI-LO Center had seen ice since Chris Kushneriuk ended Greenville's season in overtime of Game 7 in the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs on April 27, 2011. It was around 6:30 and the setting sun was peeking through the open exit portals on the west side of the arena. The lighting at ice level was an eerie color yellow and there was a light fog hanging a few feet off of the ice. It was such an appropriate scene for the time of the year.

The fog made it impossible to see clearly to the other end of the rink, but you still had the familiarity of your surroundings. Compare that to the beginning of a hockey season where you know when the season ends, and you pretty much now what you'll get when you get to the end. But you can't see the end, not right now. There are too many things clouding your vision and the only way to clear away the fog and haze is to start moving forward. And just like someone about to journey through a fog is confronted with questions, so are we confronted with questions about the Greenville Road Warriors. Bit by bit they'll begin to be answered beginning with the open of exhibition play on Oct. 7 against South Carolina. As we get set to embark on the journey that is the 2011-12 season, these are the 10 questions that are preeminent in my mind.

10) Who's in Net?

• When Greenville broke camp last year, it was a comfort to have the veteran presence and championship experience of Dov Grumet-Morris in goal. Without him, it's likely the Road Warriors don't get off to such a hot start. This year that luxury, like Dov who went to play in Norway, is long gone. Two rookies and a journeyman third-year pro are competing for the two spots. Here's how they stack up.Jason Missiaen is a 6-8 tower who plays angles well and takes up a lot of net. He didn't have good numbers in juniors because he played on not so great teams, but he had enough skill for Montreal to draft him in the fourth round three years ago. The Canadiens never signed him, but the Rangers were there to scoop him up. Jerry Kuhn, another rookie, was never a full time starter at Western Michigan until weeks went by in his senior season in 2010-11. Once he took over, Kuhn led the Broncos on a 14-game unbeaten streak from mid-December to mid-February. He went on to play well for Idaho down the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs before the Steelheads bowed out to eventual champion Alaska. Finally there's Billy Sauer who has already played for six ECHL teams in his first two years as a pro. He was a star at Michigan (fifth all-time at the school with 71 wins) and was a seventh round draft pick of Colorado in 2006. He has never played more than 29 games in a season, but has shown he can steal a game. Anyone remember the Teddy Bear Toss game last December? If Sauer isn't in goal for Gwinnett Greenville probably wins that game 6-0. Coach Stork has said each will get equal playing time in two preseason games so it's totally up in the air who will take control of the crease.

9) Revenge on Their Minds?

• Of all the opening-night match-ups, the most intriguing one is right here in Greenville. Last spring the Road Warriors and Wheeling Nailers played a nasty, controversial, and drama-filled series that culminated in a seventh game at the BI-LO Center. Brendan Connolly improbably tied the game at three with 23 seconds left to play and sent the game to overtime. Ultimately, the Nailers forced a turnover that led to a 2-on-1 and the series-clinching goal. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Road Warriors who went 6-0-0 against Wheeling in the regular season. With nine players on the current roster who skated in that game, you have to believe they are eager to get another shot at Wheeling on opening night. But is there a danger in being too revved up for the first game of the season? It can sometimes be difficult to find that proper balance of playing with emotion/aggression and playing controlled. 

8) How has Stork Evolved?

• The ECHL isn't just about developing players for the next level of pro hockey. Their coaches are also trying to climb the ranks towards the NHL and many have succeeded including former Las Vegas coach Glen Gulutzan who was hired by the Dallas Stars this summer. As a rookie head coach, Dean Stork made a distinct first impression by leading his team to the best record in the Eastern Conference, getting named as an All-Star coach, and finishing runner-up for Coach of the Year honors. Stork is fiercely competitive, though, and losing in the second round of the playoffs did not sit well with him. He has shown that he can assemble a team and succeed at a high level during the regular season, but what can he do differently this time around to earn more success in the playoffs?

7) Out of the Infirmary?

• Returnee Connor Shields and newcomer Brett Robinson are each looking to return after injuries cut short very promising campaigns a season ago. Shields was in the midst of a lengthy call up to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League when he went down in late March. He was a strong point producer (47 in 55 games) with Greenville and would have been a strong addition to the playoff roster had he been available. Robinson was on pace for a 50 point season which would have nearly doubled his point production from his rookie season. But an injury derailed him in early December and he didn't play again for the Cyclones. They will each be counted on for production, and leadership, in the Greenville lineup so keeping them healthy will be important. You also have to wonder if there are any lingering issues from their injuries?

6) Can Hayes Avoid Sophomore Slump?

• In the present it is very hard to gauge the Matt Schekpe for Ryan Hayes trade the Road Warriors swung this summer. The best barometer I can find is comparing their rookie season stats and they're nearly identical. Hayes had 50 points (23G, 27A) and he was an even +/- on a poor Trenton Devils team. Schepke had 46 (26G, 20A) with Charlotte and was a +17 on a first place team. After injuries limited Schepke to 15 games in Greenville last season, Stork swung the trade that brought Hayes to town. Hayes is a little shorter and lighter than Schepke, but possesses the speed, shot, and playmaking ability to put up points in bunches. Can he avoid a letdown in his second season? The Road Warriors are banking on that.

5) Which Rookie(s) Will Shine? 

• In 2010-11, rookies were all over the Road Warriors' highlight reel. Shane Harper was scoring at nearly a point per game. Marc-Olivier Vallerand was an All Star and led the team, and all ECHL Rookies, in goals with 28. Blake Parlett was also an All Star and was leading all league defensemen in scoring when he was called up to Connecticut in February. Brandon Wong scored the first hat trick in Road Warriors history. Nic Riopel was a steady goaltender and won 24 games in the regular season. With position battles still going on in camp, it's hard to speculate which first year players will have prominent roles, let alone make a similar impact. I have a feeling, though, there will be a couple of first-year Road Warriors that make you sit up and take notice.

4) Will Anyone Willingly Fight T.J. Reynolds?

• Nate Kiser, formerly of the South Carolina Stingrays, seemed to be the only combatant who was a willing combatant to drop the gloves with the Road Warriors' captain. For my money they were the top two heavyweights in the league. But Kiser has now retired. Reynolds used Danick Paquette as his personal punching bag a time or two when Paquette was in Gwinnett last season. But by the end of the year he wanted no part in the pugilism with No. 44.  Now a prospect in the Washington Capitals' system, and a member of the Stingrays, will Paquette's courage return? My money is that a rookie looking to prove himself will take a chance and end up regretting the decision.

 3) How Clutch will these Road Warriors Be?

• One of the things that made the 2010-11 season so much fun was the flare for dramatics that the Road Warriors constantly showcased. They lost the first two overtime games they played in, but after that it was almost always a positive result in extra hockey. In games that went past regulation (overtime or shootout) last season the Road Warriors were 11-3. Highlighting those 11 wins were three games: the 1-0 OT win thanks to Mark Voakes' penalty shot on Teddy Bear Toss Night, Connor Shields' breakaway goal with 7 seconds left in OT to beat South Carolina, and the 12-round shootout win in Florida in which the Road Warriors twice had to score to survive. Who knows how or why that team was so good at coming through in the clutch, but here's to hoping the 2011-12 Road Warriors have that same ingredient.

2) Can Greenville Re-capture the South?

• There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding last season's Road Warriors. How would the team perform under a rookie head coach? Could a team, basically built from scratch, find the right chemistry and come together? The uncertainty quickly faded and was replaced by wonder of how far could this team go? Was it a championship-caliber team? The Road Warriors emerged atop a very difficult South Division and now carries the burden of the bull's-eye on its back. Instead of uncertainty, now, there are expectations of success. Can this squad handle the pressure of those expectations?

1) Who Will Lead the Offense?

• I believe that with returning First-Team All-ECHL defenseman Wes Cunningham, captain T.J. Reynolds, second-year pro Sam Klassen all back on defense it is a solid core to anchor the blue line. What seems, to me, to be the biggest question on this team is who is going to step up to fill the skates left behind by Jimmy Kilpatirck and Mark Voakes. Kilpatrick, the team's leading scorer, has gone to play in Europe, and Voakes, second on the club in points, has earned a spot on the AHL's Rochester Americans. Bowers, Connolly, Wong, Vallerand, and Shields are all back up front and will definitely put up big points. The overall balance and depth of last year's team was such a weapon, though, and others are going to have to step up. I'm excited to see Jeff Prough, a perennial threat to score 30 goals, get a chance to play on a team that has more offensive depth than he was used to playing with in Trenton. I also think we could be poised to see a breakout season for Chris Chappell. In his second full year as a pro, I believe he's learning to use his size to his advantage more often and he could develop into a very good power forward.

So Summer Is Here

For this born and bred northerner, summertime in the South is more something to dread than look forward to. At home any temperature above 85 degrees is considered a sweltering summer day, but here in Greenville that's pretty much mild. When we start hitting the 95, 96, and 97 degree days you had best believe that it will be nearly impossible to find me outside of the office or my apartment. And those temperatures only serve to drive the dagger that is created by the five-and-a-half month void of hockey further into my side. If you couldn't tell, high temperatures or not, this is my least favorite time of the year. Sure it's nice to have weekends available again, and I don't miss trying to sleep in my bunk on the bus during long road trips, but I'll take the long hours and lack of sleep because it means there are games to call. For now the Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, and (yes even though Greenville has been eliminated) Kelly Cup playoffs will tide me over during the next few weeks.

Like all fans enjoying these series, there are two layers to them; what you want to happen and what you think will happen. See how your ideas and feelings stack up against mine:

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS:
What I Want to Happen - When it comes to the NHL playoffs, I want what is best for the league which means well played, exciting games between teams that offer up compelling storylines. The league needs that to draw attention to itself and gain fans in the U.S. and the formula above it what I think will achieve that goal. Last season's Stanley Cup final was a perfect example with an Original Six team that was starving for a title (Chicago) going up against an underdog that overcame long odds and had also gone a long stretch without a championship (Philadelphia). It also helped that these were two major market teams with storied histories.

Now I have nothing against Tampa Bay or San Jose, but I do not, under any circumstances, want to see those teams playing each other for the Stanley Cup. Sure the games will all sell out, and there will be arguments that the success of those teams in reaching that point will help grow the game in non-traditional markets. That's all well and good, but there is nothing juicy about that match up. To me, it would be as devoid of drama as any heavyweight boxing match in the last 10-15 years has been. What I want to see is the Boston Bruins, without a Cup since 1972, up against Vancouver which has been to just two Cup finals since it joined the league in 1970. There are plenty of ECHL ties to that series with Boston goalie Tim Thomas and former Greenville Grrrowl forward Alex Burrows lacing them up for the Canucks. I'd be happy to see either one get their name on the Cup. I want to see if Tyler Seguin, who has blossomed in the series against Tampa, can continue his rapid rise to stardom. I want to see if the Sedin Twins can find a way to create offense against Zdeno Chara and the rest of the Bruins' defense. I want to see Ryan Kesler and Milan Lucic battling one another for an entire series. I want to see the celebration that will ensue whenever one of two fan bases, which lives and dies with its team, see its team raise the chalice. I also want to see much, much more of this (fast forward to the 3:14 mark, and no it's not the flasher from the other night).

What I Think Will Happen - Boston and Vancouver will make it to the Stanley Cup final and Boston will win in seven games.

CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:
What I Want to Happen - The Calder Cup final is almost set as the Binghamton Senators swept the Charlotte Checkers in the East and they are waiting the winner of the Huston/Hamilton series which Huston leads 3-1. I don't have an emotional attachment to any of those teams so I'm pulling for the most dramatic storyline to play out. That would be Binghamton, which has never won a championship to come away with the title. Hamilton and Houston have each won a Calder Cup during their time in the AHL. Plus, I was truly pulling for Charlotte so I guess it wouldn't be so bad if the team that eliminated the Checkers went on to be champions.

What I Think Will Happen - Without having seen a single AHL game this season, it's hard to accurately judge where the championship will land. My gut tells me that with three of the top four scorers in the playoffs (Ryan Potulny - 25 points, Ryan Keller - 22 points, and Kaspars Daugavins - 18 points) that Bingo is in pretty good shape. I'll say the B-Sens take out Houston in six games.

KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS:
What I Want to Happen - Well my true hope was dashed in Game Three when Kalamazoo won 4-1 to make it a 2-1 series lead for Alaska. I was hoping the Aces, which had swept its first to series, to go undefeated through the tournament. That has never been done in the ECHL and I would've liked to see that historic occurrence. At this point, I am content to see either team win the title and am just hoping for a dramatic series. I have covered/worked with a number of players on each side of the series. Aces defenseman Russ Sinkewich played a season and a half in Johnstown and is a truly classy individual. Defenseman Steve Ward and forward Tyler Ruegsegger were in Greenville's training camp this season but, ultimately, didn't end up making the team. For Kalamazoo, goalie Ryan Nie set the single-season wins record for the Johnstown Chiefs in 2007-08 (my first season covering the team) at 29 while Wes O'Neill and Jon Landry patrolled the blue line in the 2008-09 season.

What I Think Will Happen - Home ice advantage doesn't always mean much in the playoffs, just look at Greenville's Game Seven against Wheeling, but I think it will in this series. Both Kalamazoo and Alaska play on very unique rinks. Kalamazoo's is smaller than regulation size and the team benches are on opposite sides of the ice sheet. Alaska plays on an Olympic size sheet of ice and is the only team in the ECHL that does as such. It seems likely to me that Kalamazoo will win one of the next two games in its building and send the series back to Alaska. But up north the Aces rule and will win the series in six games.

My prognostication skills have been known to be a little suspect so don't be surprised if those theories are blown out of the water over the next couple of weeks. And if I end up completely wrong on all fronts, who really cares as long as the hockey is good and us fans get the full enjoyment out of it. Maybe the best thing to hope for is all the series to go seven games so hockey season is extended as absolutely long as possible.

Fret not, though, about the season ending and thus me having nothing left to blog about. I'll be keeping in touch with you all summer with updates as the Road Warriors' roster begins to take shape and updating you with what's been going on with your favorite players during their summer. I'll also keep you updated on my goings on this summer as I train for my first half marathon! Very shortly I'll be signing up for the Spinx Runfest half marathon on October 29, 2011 so I'm going to be a real road warrior this summer as I pound the pavement to train for the race. I'll be running my first training race on May 28 at 8:00 a.m. which is the Paris Mountain 11K Trail Run. If any friendly faces would be willing to come out and cheer me on in support it would be greatly appreciated!

In closing I want to leave you with a couple of my favorite summer songs. Hope you enjoy!

Playoff Video Diary Day 22

It has been a season of firsts in the Road Warriors' inaugural season here in Greenville. Added to the list, tonight, will be the team's first game seven in the Kelly Cup playoffs. The game against the Nailers promises to be a heart-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat 60-minute (or more) affair to decide who moves on to play the Kalamazoo Wings in the conference final. The do-or-die nature of the game is sure to make any observer or participant quite anxious. How appropriate is it, then, that the Road Warriors have the most experienced Game Seven man in the ECHL manning the bench tonight?

Dean Stork has been involved in a league-record nine game sevens prior to tonight. Five have been as a coach and four were as a player. He has emerged victorious in seven of those nine game sevens. That includes wins in a pair of game sevens last season over the Charlotte Checkers (conference semifinals) and Reading (conference finals). The series win over Reading was history making because the Cyclones became the first team in ECHL history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit and emerge victorious. There might be only one person in the building tonight who won't feel the pressure of Game Seven and with that guy leading the Road Warriors, it certainly won't hurt their chances.

With that said, here's my look in at, and my thoughts from, today's morning skate.

Playoff Video Diary Day 21

It feels like the calm before the storm here inside the BI-LO Center. Ironic, somewhat, because it seems very similar to the weather outside. On that front, if the pre-game block party is canceled we'll make that announcement around 3:00 this afternoon. But here inside both teams have wrapped up their morning skates and the teams are off for the pre-game meals and requisite naps to get ready for this contest.

For the last couple of days, I've been trying to get a feel for how I think this game might go, and I haven't figured out a darn thing. The first four games followed a pretty standard pattern with Greenville dominating play for long stretches of time, but having trouble converting. Wheeling would answer back with a couple of chances of its own and usually cash in the real high-quality ones. Game Five was the abberation with Greenville putting up big offensive numbers, but also giving Wheeling more chances to score than it had in the other four games. All this while the Road Warriors were short two players due to suspension. Will tonight's game match what we saw in Game Five, or will it be back to the old standard from the first four games? Does Peter Delmas start after getting yanked not even half way through Game Five, and if he does how will he rebound? Can Nic Riopel piece together two strong starts and give Greenville its best opportunity to win tonight? How will the return of players from the AHL on both sides effect the respective clubs? So many questions to be answered over the 60 minutes of game time. In the mean time, here's my video diary from today's morning skate.




Also want to say happy 22nd birthday to my sister Tracy!

Playoff Video Diary Day 20

8:40 at night and the video is finally uploaded. What a crazy day it's been getting caught back up after a week up north in Wheeling. Still working on updating game notes and getting materials prepared for tomorrow's game. Already have that nervous excitement that I think everyone in the building will be feeling around 7:30 tomorrow night. Any good suggestions of what to do to take my mind off of it? Haha. Hope you all enjoy today's edition of my playoff video diary.

Playoff Video Diary Day 19

And on Sunday they rested. What a week it was in Wheeling for the Road Warriors. It was an emotionally draining trip, but after a couple of one-goal losses it ended as well as it possibly could. The Road Warriors appeared to clear a major hurdle as the offense broke out for five goals and chased Nailers goalie Peter Delmas a quarter of the way through the second period. The driving force behind the offense was the line of Justin Bowers (1G, 2A), Marc-Olivier Vallerand (1G), and Jimmy Kilpatrick (3A) which produced seven points in the game. That line had been largely in check during the series, but now they could be hitting their stride. Momentum is a tricky thing to figure out, but it seems like it could be swinging in Greenville's favor with the next two games coming up at the BI-LO Center. But for now, it's time to enjoy a nice day off on Easter Sunday!

Playoff Diary Day 18

There is no tomorrow for the Road Warriors now. It's exciting and nerve wracking all at once, from an observer's point of view. For the players who will try to avoid elimination tonight I think it will provide an acutely heightened sense of focus. These guys play the game they love for a living and if they don't win tonight they will not be playing competitively again until October. They would also be separated from one another as they go their respective ways to train for the summer and sort out where they will play next season. None of the guys in the Greenville dressing room want that because they have grown close over this season and enjoy playing alongside one another. The Road Warriors' fate is in their own hands and 60 minutes of play on a sheet of ice in northern West Virginia tonight will determine whether they will go home to Greenville for at least one more game.

One item that is out of their control is which players will be available tonight. The melee at the end of Game Four was an extremely unfortunate situation. Not only are the Road Warriors facing possible suspensions, but by engaging the Nailers in that fight they showed Wheeling how frustrated they are. It's an extremely emotional time of the year to be playing hockey, and of course the guys in blue and white were ticked at losing another one-goal game. But somewhere within yourself you have to be able to skate off to the dressing room and not give your opponent the satisfaction of knowing they got to you. But who knows, maybe the Road Warriors will be able to vent their frustrations more properly tonight by pumping some shots into the net. It was a light workload this morning at WesBanco Arena. Check it out:

Playoff Video Diary Day 17

Here we are on the morning of Game Four in Wheeling, West Virginia and even though we woke up to gray skies and chilly temperatures, I've had this song in my head all day:



In my opinion, this series is going to be the best, most exciting, and most dramatic of the Kelly Cup playoffs (every other second round series could end in a sweep). These teams match up with one another so well and compete so hard that every game promises to be an edge-of-your seat affair. Just look at the results from the first three games, each one has been decided by a single goal with the winner not scored until the third period or later. Plus there's the fact that the Road Warriors and Nailers players absolutely despise each other at this point of the series. I don't know how anyone could assume that tonight will be any different.

It's with that in mind that I'm just enjoying each minute of this day. It has been a long time since I've had a chance to cover playoff hockey and it's been a thrill to be a part of this series. The Greenville players have enjoyed it, to a degree, as well but they're not happy about their current standing in the series. They feel that they've out-chanced and out-played Wheeling for many minutes of the first three games but haven't gotten the results they want. You could point to four disallowed goals over the course of the series as one reason why Greenville is trailing at this point. You could also point to the play of a certain masked man for the Nailers (he will remain un-named in this space for the remainder of the series). But the fact of the matter is, the Road Warriors can control certain factors that would make those points non-issues.

As I mentioned in the blog yesterday operative number one is a better net-front presence in the offensive zone. Both goals in Game Three were scored on net-front plays - a tipped shot from the point and a rebound - so proof is there that the template works. That's the primary area where battles must be won tonight. Success in front of the net will translate to success in the other problem area - the power play. The Road Warriors got off the schnide with a PPG in Game Three, but it has to continue to improve. In the defensive end, I think it's steady as she goes. For the third straight game, the Road Warriors kept Wheeling under 30 shots in Game Three and severely limited Wheeling's quality chances. The Nailers just did an impressive job of cashing in their best chances. Greenville needs a superb effort in goal tonight like it got in Games Three and Four against Elmira and Game Two against Wheeling.

I'm going to have to work hard to stay busy today because if I'm not working, I'll be sitting watching the clock waiting for 7:35 to roll around. And just like a watched pot never boils or a watched phone never rings, a watch clock doesn't tick. One thing you all can look forward to is I'll check back in later in the day to update the blog with a behind-the-scenes look at the Road Warriors' dressing room area here at WesBanco Arena. That'll be around 4:00 once the room gets the full game day setup. Until then, enjoy Just Jack and this glory day!

It's a little later than expected, but here's the dressing room tour I promised!

Playoff Video Diary Day 16

Some folks in Wheeling seem to think that the Game Three win broke the spirit of the Road Warriors. Don't believe me? Check it out here. I, personally, think it's quite presumptive to think that about the team that earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference by being an extremely mentally tough club. After winning 19 games combined in November and December, call ups and injuries left the lineup looking vastly different and Greenville managed four wins in 12 games over the month of January.

That bump in the road did not knock the team off course, though, and the Road Warriors stormed back to win 17 games combined in February and March. All the while the South Carolina Stingrays were trying to chase them down for first in the South Division, and they, themselves, were reeling in Reading for first overall in the conference. They knew what their goals were, stayed focused, and fought hard to achieve them.

Sure, Wednesday's loss was disappointing because on the whole I thought Greenville out-played Wheeling. But that disappointment did not seem, to me, that it was weighing the players down. The mood at the team dinner after the game was subdued but there was no sense of panic. It seemed more like a quiet determination to regroup and get back to work. It was almost as if they didn't want to wait until Friday to hit the ice again. And I bet by the time the puck drops on Game Four, you'll see a Road Warriors team that's not disheartened, but motivated to play its best hockey.

Playoff Video Diary Day 15

We've been in Wheeling for just over a full day, now, and still have yet to see the sun shine. It's quite a big difference from when we left Greenville and the sun was shining most every day, but at least there hasn't been any snow like the flurries we got when we were in Elmira for the first round. The gloomy weather hasn't dampened the team's spirit, though, and from my point of view it seems like the players and coaches are in a good place mentally and emotionally. Last night's team dinner was really relaxed and fun with a lot of jokes being slung back and forth and a lot of laughs shared. Today, however, the laughs and jokes take a bit of a back seat as it's much more of a business-like mindset for the Road Warriors.

Tonight's Game Three at Wheeling is a huge swing game when it comes to the momentum in this series. Greenville has that elusive creature in its corner after the dramatic overtime win in Game Two, but how long will it stay there? Wheeling is back on home ice for three straight games and has home ice advantage in what has become a best-of-five series. Wheeling hasn't been at home since April 9 when it clinched a first round win over South Carolina. So I expect a raucous atmosphere here at WesBanco Arena that should, ultimately, give the Nailers a big jolt of energy. I have a feeling that the Road Warriors are going to have to weather a big storm early in this game, and a big factor in that will be whoever is the starting goalie. I've got some more thoughts on that in my video entry for today...check it out:

Playoff Video Diary Day 14

It's been a couple of slow days news-wise with the Road Warriors so that's why it's been since Saturday that I've checked in with a new entry. Sunday was a very light optional skate at the BI-LO Center with only a handful of guys turning out, and Monday was a quick workout with the entire team on the ice. We left Greenville on Monday at 11:00 p.m. and drove straight through the night to get to Wheeling. I made it through a period of the Red Wings-Coyotes game on the TV before crashing. We stopped just outside of Wheeling for breakfast at Cracker Barrel (Momma's French Toast Breakfast was great) and while waiting for everyone to finish eating I got in a game of checkers with Ryan Martin, our equipment manager. I'm disappointed to say that I was beaten pretty handily, but I'll do better in the rematch! Since most of you loyal fans won't get to see the inside of the Nailers' home I wanted to show you the quirky building that will host Games Three through Five of this series. Take a look:

Playoff Video Diary Day 14

I don't know about the rest of you, but my nerves are nearly shot from the overtime hockey we've seen in the playoffs so far. The seesaw of emotion when the next goal ends the game can really be excruciating haha! But it's so much fun to be a part of, as I'm sure you'd all agree. As fun as it's been, though, a full weekend off to kick back, relax, and watch some NHL playoff action is a beautiful thing. I can't remember, at all, the last time I've had back-to-back days off. It might go all the way back to Christmas! Since there wasn't much news on the team today, I got some footage as I was walking downtown to help set up a radio interview for T.J. Reynolds and Brad Cole. Check it out:

Playoff Video Diary Day 12

So Game One didn't quite go according to planned for the Road Warriors. Everyone saw firsthand that this Nailers squad is quite different than the one Greenville took down six times in six tries during the regular season. These Nailers like to push the pace, play physical, and make things tough through the neutral zone. It's up to the Road Warriors to respond tonight and make sure they don't head back to Wheeling down by two games. In my video below I share more thoughts on what Greenville needs to do better tonight than the team did in Game One:

Playoff Video Diary Day 11

I won't lie, I felt like a kid at Christmas when I woke up this morning. After four days of waiting the Eastern Conference semifinals are finally upon us. I got to the BI-LO Center early today and had a good talk with Coach Stork about what to expect out of the Road Warriors tonight, and what his expectations are for this series. He and I both agree that this is going to be a tight series, with a lot of one goal games, and that the Road Warriors' regular season record against Wheeling is worth about as much as a $2 bill right now.

Tonight's game will be critical for the Road Warriors' success in this series. Wheeling did an amazing job of going to North Charleston and taking both road games from the Stingrays to snare a 2-0 series lead heading back to Wheeling. The top-seeded Road Warriors couldn't pull off that feat against Elmira, Reading couldn't match the feat against Cincy, and neither could Kalamazoo against Florida. Now an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-seven series is a lot less daunting than in a best-of-five, but with three straight games in Wheeling looming, Greenville desperately needs to win at least one of these two games at home. In my video diary below, I give you a preview of what to look for from the Road Warriors tonight.

Playoff Video Diary Day 10

It was a crazy busy stretch to begin the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the Road Warriors. Four games in five days is tough during the regular season, but to do it in the amped up atmosphere of an opening-round series is downright brutal. I'm glad all I had to do was stand in the booth, watch, and talk about what was taking place on the ice. But now that there haven't been any games since last Saturday it feels like the wait has been forever for this second round series to start.

My first inclination when considering Wheeling and South Carolina as possible second-round opponents for the Road Warriors I naturally thought Wheeling was the more favorable matchup. I mean Greenville won all six against Wheeling in the regular season but just squeaked out nine wins in 17 tries against South Carolina. Should be an easy choice, right? But when you look deeper and see that Wheeling's roster has turned over so much since the teams last met I don't think you can put much stock in the regular season results. This Wheeling team is good, plays tough defense, and has a potent power play. This series will be an absolute test for the Road Warriors.

One factor worth keeping in mind, though: Wheeling might be a little weary coming into this series. On top of the travel to arrive here for Games One and Two, the Nailers have been taxed by the emotions of an arduous final two months of the season. After building up a 14-point lead in the North Division, the Nailers fell on hard times and lost all 10 games that it played in February. That streak put the Nailers in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack amidst a seven-team battle for the final four playoff spots. A strong turnaround allowed them to sew up the fourth seed, but I don't know how much might of their reserves were spent just trying to keep their heads above water in that crazy dogfight. Either way, the Nailers are here and ready to go so the Road Warriors have to rise up to meet the challenge. Here are my thoughts on the keys to a successful series for the Road Warriors:



Also, you saw the smashup car for the first time yesterday. This afternoon, a few of the Road Warriors players got their first shots at it:

Playoff Video Diary Day 9

Playoff time is my favorite time of the year. Everyone's emotions are running so high and every game feels like a life-and-death struggle. Each win makes your belief grow stronger, and every loss is a crushing blow to the dreams of a championship. For those of us with the Road Warriors organization, it gives us a chance to tap into those emotions and have some fun with the great fans who support us. It was in the spirit of fun that the idea was born to have a car decorated in the colors of our opponent, for this round the Wheeling Nailers, that our fans could smash up. Well, the idea has turned into reality, and I'm proud to give you a look at the car that you'll all have a chance to take a crack at on Thursday night. Enjoy!

PS: Of course I had to get a couple of early shots in :)

Playoff Video Diary Day 8

Well, I would have posted this entry sooner, but the first time I tried to upload the video, my laptop's internet connection dropped out and I had to start over. Did I ever mention that I love technology [/sarcasm].

Anyway, it was a slow day at the arena with only a team meeting in the afternoon to go over playoff booklets and the itinerary for the series against Wheeling. Since it's been so long since the Road Warriors and Nailers have met, I figured it'd be a good time to talk about a few players on Wheeling's side that I think will have a key impact on the series. On Wednesday, I'll break down the Road Warriors' line up and who I think will play a major role for the blue and white. Tuesday's entry is going to be reserved for some fun and shenanigans.

Playoff Video Diary Day 7

This is all I've got to say for today!

Playoff Video Diary Day 6

What a night last night! It was playoff hockey at its edge-of-your seat finest and the cherry on top was Greenville hanging on for the dramatic victory. And what great fan support, too. The 3,000-plus in attendance were so rowdy and loud and made for an incredible atmosphere at the game. I could feel the energy in the press box and I'm sure it was even greater for the players down at ice level. It'll take the same kind of effort tonight, so everyone bring your A-game. If you haven't seen, as well, we're having another block party before the game tonight so come out early to enjoy cheep food, drinks, and great music.

Playoff Video Diary Update

I have a love/hate relationship with technology. Love it when it works, hate it when it doesn't mostly because I don't know how to fix it. Anyway, I fell behind on my blogging due to some internet connectivity issues in my hotel room in Elmira. It really wasn't a good day all around for us with the Road Warriors. The show must go on, however, so I've got the entries from the last two days here as well as this morning's footage from the morning skate.

There's lots of work still to do to prepare for tonight's festivities so enjoy the videos and I'll check in with you here again tomorrow!

Playoff Video Diary Day 3

It might be rainy/snowy here in Elmira, but it's still a beautiful day in my mind because it's the first day of the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs. For the players and coaches, all of the preparation over the summer, all of the hard work during the season is about to be put to the test in a grueling two-month tournament that will determine the best team in the ECHL. The games are going to be fast, well played, and, if nothing else, intense as every player on the ice wants to do everything within his power to help his team to new heights. It's going to be a privilege to cover these games for you and it's my hope that we get to spend a lot more time together this season. I know it's unlikely that many Road Warriors fans will be able to make the 700-plus mile trip to see their team play in person, so today's video diary gives you a peek inside First Arena as the Road Warriors were going through the paces in their morning skate. I hope you enjoy!

 

Playoff Video Diary Day 1 and 2

Hey everybody! I know it's been a while since I last checked in and I hope you didn't miss me too much. If you did, well you won't have to worry about that now that it's playoff time. So that you can keep up with everything that's going on with the team in the postseason, I'm going to do a video diary every day. Whether we're at home or on the road. I might not always be able to update it on a daily basis, depending on internet access, but I'll update as often as possible.

Since there's no wireless internet on our bus anymore, I had to wait until now to upload the diary entry from yesterday and today. So you're getting two for the price of one! (Even though neither really cost you anything to begin with.) It should be a great ride through the playoffs, and I know I'm going to enjoy it because I haven't been involved in the playoffs since 2008.

Something I wasn't able to document on video, but was able to sit in on, was the Road Warriors' team meeting on Sunday afternoon before we left for Elmira later that evening. I was humbled that Coach Stork asked me to be there as I view myself as just a very small part of this team's makeup. But I was there, nonetheless, as he went over travel itinerary, scouting reports on the Jackals, etc. After all that everyone in the room took a turn telling a story about some experience they had in their life that dealt with winning (insert Charlie Sheen joke here) and what it took to get to the top. What I realized, more than anything, is how tight-knit this group of players is and how badly each guy wants to win for the others. It's a really encouraging sign and something that could help carry this team a long way over the next few weeks. No matter how long it lasts, I can't wait to share the experience with all of you great fans. With that, here's a look at my first two diary entries:

Recognize

One week ago today was the second benefit night the Road Warriors hosted this season and it turned out to be a wonderful event. Not only did the Road Warriors send the fans home from the BI-LO Center happy with a win, but the second-largest crowd of the season to that point came out to join in. Everything from the pregame ceremony to the intermission activities to the jersey auction appeared to go off without a real hitch. It was a smooth process in terms of putting on the event, but it wouldn't have been possible without the tireless work of many people behind the scenes. Since not many of them get public recognition, I wanted to take some time to give them their due.

Off the top the folks with the Rotary Club of Greenville deserve so much credit for the success of the night. Among the many who pitched in, I specifically want to thank Judy Prince, Charles Warne, Betty Parker-Ellis, and Robyn Zimmerman for heading up the efforts of planning and organizing the night. Late last summer the Rotary folks and Road Warriors sat down to brainstorm ideas on how we could help them raise money to reach their $30,000 goal to go towards the "End Polio Now" campaign. That was when "Stop Polio Cold" was born and the process of taking it from an idea to an event was a rewarding one. All of the Rotary Club of Greenville did an exemplary job of getting people to come to the game and raising awareness about the event. Without a great partner like them, none of what you saw would have been possible.

Everyone on the Road Warriors' staff had a huge hand in making the night great, as well, but a few members deserve special recognition. VP of Business Ops Matt Loughran was right there from Day 1 helping to make sure all of the details were sewn up so that there wouldn't be any surprises on game night. Also, Geoff Cheek was instrumental in working with Rotary on a daily basis in the weeks leading up to organize the volunteers, assist in distribution of tickets, and much more. Kathryn Williams, Peggy Kourlas, Carther Metcalf, Dustin McDaniels, Andy Linn, Simone Shahdadi, Katy Grindstaff, Emily Pittman, and Andrew Ullery all were on point with helping the jersey auction run smoothly to cap off the night. That crew had a wicked weekend overall because most stayed overnight at the BI-LO Center the next night to work as chaperones at Scout Night.

As well as the inaugural Rotary event went, I would expect it to become an annual occurrence and it would be a pleasure to work with Rotary every year on an event. I would be remiss, too, if I didn't take a moment to thank the fans who gave their support to this game. All of the hard work would not have mean a thing if fans hadn't come out in force as much as they did to help fill the building. The biggest key to a successful benefit night at a game is having a strong crowd to support it, and we had a great crowd last Friday. So, again, thank you Road Warriors Nation for helping to make "Stop Polio Cold" night a very memorable night.

It hasn't been easy being on the road so much this month of February and we're all looking forward to spending more time with you all inside the BI-LO Center in March. It's going to be a great run up to the Kelly Cup Playoffs and sharing it with the great Road Warriors fans will be a thrill. I hope you'll tune in and catch a game or two with me this weekend and get ready for a big three-in-three weekend next weekend. And don't forget, for those of you who want to see some new faces, there are only two home games against South Division opponents. There are a ton of North and Atlantic Division opponents coming in over the month of March and it will be fun to see new names and faces.

On, now, to this week's song of the week. It's that time of the year to be getting excited, geared up for the thrill of playoff hockey. So I think it's appropriate to have some pump-up music for this week. In my opinion, metal music is the best kind of pump-up music and since it's my blog I control the dial :). That being the case, I give you my favorite metal song going right now:

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

Well hello Road Warriors Nation! It has been a whirlwind three weeks with the team as we've been spending a ton of time away from the BI-LO Center. The odyssey continues tonight with a visit to Wings Stadium to take on Kalamazoo. It's a great opportunity for the team to finish off the week with two wins in three games and possibly further solidify its spot atop the South Division. Kalamazoo should provide a good test with its veteran club playing on home ice. I hope you'll join me on the broadcast side starting at 7:15 with the pregame show and then faceoff at 7:30. In the meantime, since I haven't had a chance to flush out any well-thought ideas into a post I have a collection of random thoughts from the road. In no particular order here they are:

• It's been great getting to catch up with some college friends on this road trip. I'm not very good about making phone calls/writing emails to stay in touch with old friends so being able to go to their towns and spend some time has been great.
• The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale is the best movie I have seen in a loooooong time.
• I now understand why retirees from the north go for winter homes in Florida.
• Being in a snow-covered town with absolutely zero chance to go skiing is akin to torture (to me at least). 
• I was happy to be away from the BI-LO Center while the circus was at the arena because I am afraid of clowns and probably would have had a breakdown if I had seen one up close.
• After the episode in Florida, it is a pleasure to work with fans as classy as the ones who attend Road Warriors games in Greenville.
• It was a pleasure to talk with former Grrrowl goalie and assistant coach Nick Victucci last night. Greenville fans were certainly lucky to have a person like that representing their town and team.
• The South Division is, without question, the toughest and most competitive division in the Eastern Conference, if not the entire ECHL. Don't be surprised if the last team standing out of the South is playing for some hardware come late May/early June.
• If you're ever in Toledo, the Blarney Irish Pub near the baseball stadium is really worth checking out. Had the bangers and mash for lunch there yesterday and it was delicious.
• Being on the road so much in the winter makes it hard to see concerts. Was a bit disappointed to miss Gaelic Storm at the Handlebar in Greenville a couple weekends ago.
• And, finally, if you're going to be traveling a lot a good blanket and comfy shoes are essential.

The last item of business for this post is the Song of the Week. After catching up with old friends over the last two weeks I was reminded of this song and how much I played it in the summer of 2006. It's "Swing Life Away" by Rise Against:

SONG(S) OF THE WEEK AND MORE

One of the true adventures of road trips is finding a place to eat on non-game nights. Hotel restaurants are only so good and, obviously, it's hard to get to anywhere outside of the hotel unless the bus is taking everyone, or you pay for a cab. Well tonight a few of us ventured out without a cab, hoofed it across snowy sidewalks, and crossed busy sidewalks to grab a bite. Now that I've made it back safe and sound, I wanted to catch up with you all.

I, unfortunately, missed out on last week's entry due to overwhelming business. I had a large part in helping plan the "Pink in the Rink" festivities for last Friday's game and it didn't leave much time for anything else. Needless to say, all the work was worth it because the game was well attended, the event ran smoothly, and we raised a lot of money for a great cause. A big thanks goes out to everyone with the Road Warriors, all the fans who attended and bid on the game-worn jerseys, and the ladies with Mary Kay who helped pull it all together.

Since I missed last week, it's double the fun with two songs of the week this week. Last week's selection is one that I'm betting none of you readers have heard before. The band is an outfit that was a regional success in Pittsburgh that never quite hit the national stage. I picked this song, in the spirit of full disclosure, because I had been pretty homesick over the last couple of weeks. When I was in high school it was on the local rock radio station nonstop, and hearing it now brings back a lot of great memories. I also love the kid in the video at the 1:37 mark. Everyone who has ever walked this earth needs to be moved by music like that at some point. With that I give you "Hurricane" by Buzz Poets:



This week's pick is a suggestion from a friend, sort of. We had been talking about music earlier this week and the band Say Anything came up. I have one of its older songs on a driving mix I had made back in college, but hadn't listened to any of its newer music. She suggested that I check out their new album, and I decided that I'd pick my favorite song to use for this week's entry. I gave every song one listen and this one stuck out to me right away so the choice was pretty easy. I am going to go back and give it another listen to see if the album is worth buying. Until then, enjoy "She Won't Follow You."



On the ice this weekend is an interesting matchup between the Road Warriors and a new opponent, the Reading Royals. Both lead their divisions, both are dangerous offensive clubs, and both defend well. On paper the Road Warriors and Royals seem like very evenly matched clubs, but there is a reason games aren't played on paper. For the first time in a while, it looks like the Road Warriors will be better off in terms of the depth of their lineup than their opponent. That's because I expect suspensions as a result of this fight to leave Reading without many key players. There hasn't been an official release from the league regarding discipline, but leaving the bench to join an altercation carries with it an automatic suspension and that was Reading's last game before the all-star break. For the Road Warriors, Andrew Carroll, Chris Chappell, and Dov Grumet-Morris could all return to the lineup after stints of varying degrees in the AHL. Advantage (should) go to the Road Warriors there.

Speaking of the All-Star Game, congratulations are in order for Dean Stork, Marc-Olivier Vallerand, and Blake Parlett. Stork continues to have a rookie head coaching season for the ages as he helped guide the ECHL All-Stars to a 9-3 win over the Bakersfield Condors. Vallerand tied for the team lead with three points (1G, 2A), and Parlett had the top plus/minus rating on the All-Stars Team with a +4. It's a pleasure to see the Road Warriors represented so well in Bakersfield, and hopefully their performances will help propel Stork, Vallerand, and Parlett up the pro hockey ladder just like past ECHL All-Stars have done. In the meantime, it will be great to see them back in the navy and white for this weekend's mini-series against Reading. If the Road Warriors can bring four points home with them, it will be a huge boost in the run up to the big Florida series next week.

I think it's safe to assume that no Road Warriors fans have made the treck north to see these games in person this week so I'm going to leave you with a few photos from inside the Sovereign Center to give you all a look at the home of the Royals. So you know, the picture of the team bench is the one the Road Warriors will sit at for the two games.

WEEKEND PREVIEW AND SONG OF THE WEEK

Happy Thursday everyone! I meant to get to this post earlier in the week but boring household stuff like cleaning and laundry got in the way. Not the snowstorm, though. I come from Pennsylvania so I'm used to that stuff. And for those of you who might have been worried, the games this weekend will not be canceled. Florida is already in town so things will go on according to planned with three games in three days. And what a huge set it is for the Road Warriors, especially after dropping all three last week. Two games against division rivals (Florida and Gwinnett) and one against a North Division foe that they have beaten twice already (Kalamazoo) make up this weekend's busy schedule. Here's how I view each opponent coming in and what might swing the outcome.

Florida: In much the same boat as the Road Warriors right now. Many players out due to injury and call-ups and playing .500 hockey over their last 10. These are still the top two teams in the South Division and I expect a tight, well-played game. Ultimately, though, I think the loss of Mitch Fadden to a blood clot in his leg is too much for the Everblades to overcome this night and a solid defensive outing by the Road Warriors leads to a win.

Gwinnett: Revenge will be the word of the day on Friday. Greenville has lost three straight against Gwinnett and is now 5-6-0 against the Gladiators this season. Aaron Bendickson was placed on the 3-day IR earlier this week and if he isn't back that puts even more pressure on the Road Warriors to shut down the line of Tim Miller, Pat Galivan, and Michael Forney - a line which torched them last weekend. Greenville has won three of five against the Gladiators at the BI-LO Center this season so home ice should be in their favor. This is a close one to call and I'm going to rule a push for right now.

Kalamazoo: The Wings are a tricky team to figure out, and probably to play against. They can score a ton and have skill up front and on the back end. In goal, Ryan Nie is a perennial 25-game winner in the ECHL and Riley Gill was the Goalie of the Month in October, and stellar in the Kelly Cup playoffs last year. Despite the goaltending, Kalamazoo's defense is one of the worst in the league. I think on Saturday Greenville's offense will have an awakening and help the team roll to a comfortable win.

So now that the serious matter of this weekend's games is out of the way, let's have some fun. My song of the week this week is something totally off the wall, and that's why I love it. It was suggested to me by Sheila Denard, but I have to confess that I almost didn't listen to it. The title is "Dirty Night Clowns" by Chris Garneau. Now the reason I almost just ignored it is because I am terribly afraid of clowns. If I see one at a street festival or fair you can be pretty sure I'm going to bolt the other way. My natural reaction when I saw the title of the song was, "Nope. No chance. I'm going to watch this video and have nightmares for weeks." But Sheila took the time to send it to me so I owed it to her to give it a chance.

And wouldn't you know that the song has been stuck in my head for days now. No nightmares, either, which is nice. The dancing skeletons and Grateful Dead-looking bears actually crack me up a good bit. I know for sure that a lot of people won't like this song as much as me, but that's too bad because it's my blog and I get to say what goes in it. Haha! So here's "Dirty Night Clowns," this week's song of the week.