For hockey fans...

[Brooklyn]

IIHF!


onhockey.tv site

[Brooklyn]

USA in finals thanks to a very tough win vs Finland:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbHmiBpjYo



referees really stunk big time in this tough match but our heroes overcame the bad calls with their intense and determined play - finale will be against Sweden

[Brooklyn]

USA all the way!



Capitals' Chesley, Leonard Capture Gold As USA Defeats Sweden To Close Out World Juniors; Leonard Scores Critical Late Goal
The Capitals saw two prospects capture gold as Team USA defeated Sweden to close out World Juniors.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washingto ... usa-sweden

The Washington Capitals saw two of their top prospects capture gold at World Juniors on Friday, as Ryan Chesley and Ryan Leonard helped Team USA to a 6-2 win over Sweden to close out the IIHF World Junior Championships.

Leonard scored late to make it 5-2 and help ice the game for Team USA, powering to the front and winning a physical fight for the puck before sneaking in a quick shot. He then celebrated by blowing a kiss to the crowd.

Leonard played on the third line with Gabe Perreault and Will Smith, who also found the scoresheet in the win, and he had also a couple of nice looks and drives on a power play in the third before his goal. Chesley skated on the top pairing with Lane Hutson and helped shut down Sweden's impressive young arsenal




more ...


IIHF to come to the Twin Cities after next year ~ should be fun as per usual

[Nigel]

When Bonnie Shea suited up to play ice hockey back in 1951, she didn’t realize at the time that she was paving a road for future generations of young girls and women in the sport. She just wanted to play.

More than 70 years later, despite evidence to the contrary, Shea still doesn’t view herself as any sort of trailblazer. But, when you’re the first at something – she was the first girl to play organized hockey in Duluth, Minnesota – those accolades come with the territory.

Now nearly 80 years old, Shea loves the game as much as always, is still playing (with WHAM, the Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota), and, despite her own humble objection, continuing to blaze trails.

Recently, Shea was recognized with a banner-raising “Bonnie’s Night at the Rink” in Duluth, celebrating her accomplishments and contributions to the game.

Shea took the time to talk to us about her amazing journey in the game


USA Hockey: How does it feel to be known as a trailblazer, being the first girl to play organized hockey in Duluth?

Bonnie Shea: It’s an honor to even be recognized. I never thought of myself that way, but I guess I was. I joined because I lived across the street from a skating rink. As a girl growing up, what do you do? You sled, ski or skate. Most of my friends were boys so I just started playing hockey with them and the coach saw me and said would you like to join our team? He was such a nice man to let me play. Nobody knew I was a girl because I put my hair under my stocking cap. I just enjoyed playing, so never thought of myself as a trailblazer.

USA Hockey: What was the experience like for you back then?

Shea: When I first started it was fine. Fortunately, I became a very good center and was a good scorer. Articles would be put in the Duluth newspaper including my name and then other teams realized I was a girl. So, when I was 10 or 11 years old, the other players would look to hit me, even though checking wasn’t allowed. So, I had to be alert and skate better and faster than the boys. My teammates supported me 100%. They didn’t care, they just wanted me on the team.

But when I turned 15, I had to change rinks because not every rink wanted girls playing. Then, my high school principal said we can’t have girls playing hockey, even though the coach, who was also my teacher, thought it would be good for me to try out. At that point there was nothing left for me, except for playing pickup games against the boys for fun. So, for 25 years I didn’t play. Then I was watching TV and heard that UMD was starting a club team for women, and even though I was 40, they said sure I could come since I did graduate from there. So that was the start of my story with women’s hockey. I was 40 playing with 20-year-olds. Now I’m 79 playing with 30- and 40-year-olds.

USA Hockey: What’s changed the most in the women’s game since you started?

Shea: It’s much more aggressive, with more body contact. It’s become highly competitive. Now we have girls coming up the ranks that have had very good coaching and get to play high school hockey. Then after high school or college they have a place like WHAM, so, as a result it’s much more competitive and with the physical part that we didn’t have before. They’re young and want to win, so you want to do your very best.

USA Hockey: Did you ever envision yourself playing this long?

Shea: Oh, heavens no. Before I started again at 40, I thought I’d never get to play organized hockey again. I was a teacher and a counselor, so I would play with the kids outside my school. Robb Stauber (eventual Hobey Baker Award winner, NHLer, 2018 Olympic Gold Medal coach)was one of my students and would always say, ‘shoot on me, shoot on me.’ We would play floor hockey in our gym classes. At that point of my life there was nothing for women, so I never dreamed of playing this long. Now everybody thinks it’s a big deal, but I don’t think I’m any different than the gals I play with. Every year to me is just another year. I love the game and always have. It’s funny, at 8 or 9 o’clock, I’m at home getting dressed to go into town and play and my friends are going to bed.

USA Hockey: What do you love most about playing hockey?

Shea: It fulfills me. After a game I feel so excited and full of energy. That’s the best. I also love the camaraderie and meeting new people and keeping active. I think it’s important as an older person. People tend to isolate themselves or think they can’t do things. The game revitalizes you.

USA Hockey: What are your keys to longevity, preventing injuries and staying in good health?

Shea: Part of it is genetics. My mother and father lived to almost 97. I think it’s also about being active. I live on a lake and there’s lots of heavy chores. Maybe it’s having good home cooked meals and less processed foods. I really just think I was given the gift of being an athlete. I think you’re born with certain talents. I can’t sing, but some people are naturally singers or artists. I was given the athletic gene. I played softball, I curl. I’m just an athlete. As far as injuries, I would say now I play more cautiously. I’m not skating as fast as I probably could because I don’t want to get tripped or catch an edge. My muscle mass isn’t what it once was. So, I’m just playing smarter.

USA Hockey: What would you say to others who may be in their 50s or 60s or beyond, who are thinking about playing again, but are nervous about it?

Shea: Give it a try. We do have a team starting up with some mothers, some young people. Many of our players started at 50. A lot of people worry about falling and there’s no question you’re going to fall sometimes. But I believe you should try anything at any age if you have a desire. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to play hockey. You’re giving up weekends to drive to the Cities and play. Any sport demands dedication if you want to excel at it.

USA Hockey: Any advice for players who are young now, so they can stay in the game the rest of their lives like you have?

Shea: Try. Keep at it. Practice. Don’t give up. When doors shut there’s always another one open somewhere. That’s what happened to me.

USA Hockey: What has the formation of WHAM meant to you and other female skaters across the state?

Shea: It’s provided organized women’s hockey and it’s grown immensely. I heard we were one of the biggest organizations in the U.S. We have divisions with college grads that play and it goes all the way down to people who can hardly skate. But they are skating. These young gals that just started playing together struggled, but they were together. I can’t tell you the amount of women that are excited about playing.

USA Hockey: How important is it that we continue to expand opportunities for girls’ and women’s hockey and equality in the game?

Shea: It’s wonderful what’s happened. As a kid I didn’t know. I thought, why couldn’t I play hockey? Because I was a girl? I never thought of it as something I shouldn’t do. We’ve proven women can play. Now that there’s women’s teams at least we’re on the same plane, playing against each other. And we have a pro league now. I think women have proven they should have their own sports. It’s great.

USA Hockey: How long do you think you’ll continue to play?

Shea: I’ll play until I can’t, or until our team here folds and I don’t see that happening. Or, until life puts me on a different perspective. But so far, so good. I’ve had some injuries and had to skip games, but never because of a hockey injury. It’s always been something else, like pulling something from doing too much work or something. Hockey is in my blood. I had the opportunity to play, they took it away from me once, and I’m not going to have that happen ever again. I just love it.

[Brooklyn]

Watched a hockey double header tonight:


NY Rangers > Calgary 2-0

lots of physicality in this gem of a game

https://www.bing.com/sportsdetails?q=Fl ... &isl2=true&




Beanpot:

https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/02/1 ... ates-2024/


Northeastern > Boston U


It took OT for the Dogs to win it. GREAT game. Almost had a pro style atmosphere.



Over the years I've always wonder why NYC did not have its own version of a Philly Five basketball and Bean Pot Tournament. It certainly has enough bball programs but never developed good DI puck programs, sad to say.

[Brooklyn]

Game of the Year & one for the ages ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUOGe-mx0l4 - game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wldb6qHh7U - old school fight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kwoxThB5r0 - winner



79,000+ in Jersey for the game. NHL attendance was about 160,000 for today's and last night's game. WOW!

[Brooklyn]

NYR rookie makes his mark - and gets his mark - big time:




New York Rangers center Matt Rempe


https://twitter.com/i/status/1764118680089030761


This fight came just over a week after Rempe and Nicolas Deslauriers fought in the NHL fight of the year.
Rempe has captivated fans for both his style and willingness to fight. It’s been years since we’ve seen a player so willingly engaging in fights — the kinds you used to see where guys would just throw repeated blows back and forth. Four fights in only 7 games.

Wow. That's a tough way to make a living.

[Brooklyn]

Edina state hockey Champs!



https://twitter.com/YouthHockeyHub/stat ... 9746737244
https://highschool.si.com/minnesota/202 ... nship-game
https://www.therinklive.com/high-school ... -broadcast



Broadcaster and coach Lou Nanne retires after 60 years in puck. He is held in very high regard here in Lake Wobegone. Reportedly, a record attendance for the game and the series. Sure was fun to watch.

[Nigel]

Congrats to Hobart!

NCAA D-III Men’s Hockey Championship Game: Hobart goes back to back, downs Trinity 2-0

https://www.uscho.com/2024/03/23/ncaa-d ... inity-2-0/

[Brooklyn]

Gophers advance to the Frozen Four:


https://athlonsports.com/college/minnes ... tournament


Minnesota battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits and advanced to the Sioux Falls regional final with a 3-2 win over Omaha in the first round of the NCAA men's hockey tournament Thursday night.

Jaxon Nelson scored the tying and game-winning goals in the third period for the Gophers, who will play Boston University on Saturday with a spot in the Frozen Four in St. Paul on the line.

The Gophers trailed 2-1 after Omaha scored at 4:28 of the third period, and that seemed to spark some extra energy for Minnesota as they tied the game 2-2 on Nelson's first goal of the night with 10:45 to play.



Heck of a game. Both sides played with much intensity.

[Brooklyn]

Frozen Four Finale!


Denver wins Frozen Four title at the X with a local flare


https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/de ... 5236&ei=15

Who said the NCAA men's Frozen Four in St. Paul didn't have a bold Minnesota presence, even with the Gophers or any other state team absent from college hockey's premier event?

Two days after Tristan Broz, a Bloomington native and ex-Gopher, scored the overtime winner for Denver in a semifinal win over Boston University, Jared Wright, a former St. Thomas Academy standout from Burnsville, broke a scoreless tie in the second period for the Pioneers and sent them on their way to a 2-0 victory over Boston College in the national championship game.

Rieger Lorenz, a second-round draft pick by the Wild, stretched Denver's lead in the second period to 2-0 to add some more Minnesota spice.

Pioneers goalie Matt Davis was outstanding, making 35 saves, including an amazing third-period stop as the Xcel Energy Center crowd of 18,694 roared. All of this against a Boston College team, stacked with four NHL first-round draft picks, that hadn't been shut out all season.


The victory gave Denver (32-9-3) it second national championship in the past three years and its record 10th overall, breaking a tie with Michigan. The Pioneers, the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament, ended a 15-game winning streak for No. 1 overall seed Boston College (34-6-1). The win was Denver's second this season against the Eagles, following a 4-3 triumph in Chestnut Hill, Mass., in October.

Boston College goalie Jacob Fowler made 24 saves.



more ...



Awesome game.



Since the amateur hockey season is now over, I turn my attention to local roller hockey league and await the NHL playoffs. Today's NYR > NYI game was a gem!

[old salt]

If you have ESPN+, you gotta watch Mon's Red Wings - Canadiens game from mid 3rd period on.
One of the most exciting finishes I've ever seen. The octopus still works. The Red Wings were down 4-2 when the octopi made their appearance. Watch the Red Wings broadcast, it's an instant classic.

[Seacoaster(1)]

If you have ESPN+, you gotta watch Mon's Red Wings - Canadiens game from mid 3rd period on.
One of the most exciting finishes I've ever seen. The octopus still works. The Red Wings were down 4-2 when the octopi made their appearance. Watch the Red Wings broadcast, it's an instant classic.

That sequence that resulted in the Wings' fourth goal was just unbelievable.

[Brooklyn]

@Salty + @Sea



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUM6RJ5VZUg


Atmosphere appears highly charged. Thanx for mentioning it - would love to have been there.

[Brooklyn]

inspiring story from the world of hockey:



https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/sports/ ... edMZ?t=240

[Nigel]

inspiring story from the world of hockey:



https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/sports/ ... edMZ?t=240

Leila Anderson, Champion! Nice post Brooks.

NOW, on to the CUP!

[Brooklyn]

Kings Jeff Carter to retire.



In a genuinely classy move, the NYI all congratulate him on his great career:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqsx1v0ZdJs


career stats = https://www.hockey-reference.com/player ... eje01.html


Awesome player hangs up the skates.