http://www.gongshowhockey.com/ Gongshow Hockey en-us Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:18:28 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly Gongshow Hockey News http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.gongshowhockey.com/images/logo.gif http://www.gongshowhockey.com/ http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=565/ Mike Milbury is still at it, spewing the same garbage out of his putrid mouth every Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada. Last night, March 5th, 2011, Milbury voiced his irrational displeasure with fighting in the NHL and stated he agreed with the suspension of New York Islanders forward Trevor Gillies. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:18:28 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=564/ For most hockey players and fans, March is one of the biggest months for hockey. In the show, the trade deadline has past and teams are fighting for a playoff spot or clinching their division. The great teams separate themselves from the good teams before entering the playoffs where anything can happen. Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:06:02 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=563/ Injuries seem to be a hot topic in the NHL but doesn’t seem like anyone is coming to any solutions on how to fix them. The NHL is worrying to much about eliminating head shots and preventing injuries, when in reality head shots and injuries will always be in the game. They need to look at ways to reduce these injuries, not eliminate as that is an impossible task. Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:16:08 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=562/ Over the years the NHL has always tried to improve the All-Star break. This year we saw one of the biggest changes by adding the Draft. I thought I would bring up my two biggest issues with the draft. Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:40:00 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=561/ The grit. The toughness. The punishment he puts on himself and his opponents. The stache. We may only be halfway through the season, but Leaf fans are witnesses to some of the toughest hockey we have ever seen, and it is all coming from one man -- Mike Brown. Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:39:16 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=560/ 'stepping off the bench feeling the cold hard ice beneath your skates as you glide effortlessly toward the puck'. What the fuck is that? This isn't some dumb ass article so people can look at hockey as a pretty fucking poem. Hockey is about hard work and glory becuase you know when hard work is there so will be the glory. Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:38:45 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=559/ Goalies are the quiet guys. When you spend half the game alone with your thoughts while the boys dangle in the offensive end, you've gotta learn to stay focused. In the dressing room, while the forwards are arguing over who benches more, who wheels the best broad, and who has the dirtiest flow, the goalie sits in his normal spot, packing a lip and contemplating the game ahead. He knows exactly what numbers on the opposition will go glove side, which ones will hack, and which will chirp the hardest. But none of that matters to the tendy. He's not the biggest guy on the team, but he's the Arnold Schwarzenegger of mental strenghth. Tonight, he could be facing the league's leading goal scorer, all alone on a breakaway while the sold out home crowd places all their playoff hopes on his shoulders. Is he rattled? No. Is he nervous? No. He's ready to step out onto the ice and giv'r. One too many pucks to the head has made him realize that there's nothing to fear. He spits out his chew, cleans out the spice rack with some water, and laces up the pads that will protect him from 90-miles-an-hour shots, and protect his team from losing their shot at the championships. 'Cause when you're a goalie, every day is a great day for hockey. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:26:03 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=558/ There’s something special about hockey boys, no matter how old they are, or who they play for, whether they’re trying to make it pro, just living the dream for another year, or reliving the past glories in men’s leagues. Everyone who plays hockey shares a bond, a connection with everyone else who has ever laced ‘em up. Everyone who missed Fridays in middle school for road trips, everyone who moved away from home at 16, everyone who’s struggled to get out of bed for 6am practice, everyone who’s gone bardown from the top of the circles, and everyone who knows…how you look is just as important as how you play. People outside the circle just don’t understand. They don’t get the culture – the chirps, the chews, the brews, the babes, and most importantly, the game itself. Other guys try to fight us, girls think we’re cocky assholes and are disgusted when we pack a lip in the back of class. But we all know that there’s something special we share from all the blood on the ice, sweat in the weight room, beaks in the locker room, and laughs at the bars. Half the reason people don’t get hockey players is because they have no idea what we’re saying. One time we’re talking to these girls at the bar, and our goalie starts slurring in his Alberta accent, “So I’m chirpin’ this plug for his bender boots..” The one broad looks at me like what-did-he-just-say, and I tell her, “He was beakin’ a guy for his dusty wheels…uh I mean he was making fun of someone for having bad skates” Not the first time it happened, and it definitely won’t be the last. If someone listened in to a hockey team talk for a day, they’d have no clue what’s going on. Snipe, dangle, wheel, duster, gongshow, chirp, the list goes on. We take it for granted, but it’s another thing that separates us from the rest. The hockey lifestyle makes us one-of-a-kind. Our priorities are different, we are consumed by the game. Early morning workouts, late night praccys, and weekend road trips make our schedules different from everyone else. How many times has someone talked about a party on Friday night, and you had to say “I can’t….I have hockey.” Still, we all know it’s not just about playing the game…it’s about living it. When we’re not at the rink, we’re probably playing NHL10 on Xbox, watching a game on TV, or reading about trades online. Or else we’re posted up at the bar with the beauties on our team. Everyone flocks to us, the owner sends over free drinks, and we run the place. When you wake up, you swear she didn’t look this bad last night, and plus hey, it’s for the story in the locker room anyway. As hard as we work, we play just as hard. Hockey teams are different from teams in any other sport. Our team is our family, our brother who we’d do anything for. Good hockey teams are built on hard work, loyalty, respect, and sacrifice. I know I’d do anything for my teammates on or off the ice, and I’m sure most hockey players would say the same about their team. There’s something special you share with the people in that locker room. The stories, the laughs, the blood, the tears…they all go into making that group. After a season-ending loss you’re sad and pissed off, but the next day is even worse when you realize that you’ll probably never play with that exact same group of guys again. Even the best players in the world are the same as the rest of us. The Ducks were practicing at the rink before our game one time, and they’re exactly like us, just a lot better and a lot richer. Ryan Getzlaf, a Stanley Cup champion, absolute slampiece, Gold Medal, All-Star, everything, cellied after every goal and would chirp whatever defenseman he walked then the goalie he sniped. Yeah, they’re in the show, but they play hockey for the exact same reason as us…they love the game. NHLers are always talked about as the nicest pro athletes, cool people, and good to hang out with at the bar. One time we were out in St. Louis, and I was wearing a Gongshow hat. Next thing I know, Patrik Berglund sees the hat and asks if I’m a hockey player. We talked for the next hour like we were best friends. Hockey players are the same no matter where you go. And it’s the same at all levels, NHL, minors, NCAA, CHL, midgets, high school, ACHA, it doesn’t matter. All the kids livin’ the dream, all the kids trying to make it, all the kids who play just because it’s what they’ve done their whole life…we all share something special. We share a lifestyle, we share a culture, we share a language. Girls might get pissed at us, guys might try to fight us. People will say we’re arrogant, selfish, and that we’re assholes who think we’re better than everyone else. But ya know what? We play hockey…so we are better than everyone else. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:19:01 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=557/ Unless you are deaf, blind, both or Axl Rose, chances are you have by now heard that the Leafs have finally strapped the 18th Captain's "C" onto the chest of Dion Phaneuf. Regardless of whether or not he had deserved it yet, it remains hard to deny the considerable impact that he had on the team when he was acquired in January. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:52:41 GMT http://www.gongshowhockey.com/News/article/sid=556/ I wrestle with my bag, as a juggle my pads and sticks. it doesn't help that the home town rinks parking lot is icyer the the rink its self. it so cold out, and the wind blows threw my team mandated dress pants. The puck doesn't drop for two hours, but its a routine, my routine. The lobby is empty, and only half the lights are on. i head down the long hall way under the empty stands. it sounds like and empty cave. but in two hours it will sound like a roaring ocean, filled with music, people voices and shuffling feet from the rafters above. my back and arms ach from the weight of my gear, so i kick open the door to the dressing room. the lights come on automatically and i drop my gear infront of my spot. Same spot every time. i now i have 30 mins alone, to breath in the atmostpher, to go over the possiblities. i sit. i close my eyes. i invision. top of the crease. square to the shooter. mind your post. left point shot angle, left foot to blue line dasher, right foot blue line dot. one foot out top of the crease. right side point shot, same, right foot blue line dasher, left foot blue line dot. one foot out of crease. Adjust accordinly. glove up, stick down. the boards are lively, glass is dead. take the shooter. talk to the defence. comunication. paddle down, legs closed. #7 hard shoot, ususally low blocker. # 76 toe drag back hand. # 4, sets up on back door. for the next hour and a half, i repeat that in my head, adding more and more information. playing out senerios. reviewing past tilts. i start putting on my gear as the boys show up. i keep to myself as i go threw my routine, and listen to the guys telling their stories. i know i don't fit in, if i fit in i wouldn't be a goalie. the noise of the crowd grows and grows, and the boy start settling down, getting their game faces on. i have already played 3 games in my head. i am almost ready. coach gives as the game plan, reminds us of our mistakes and threatens suicides to who ever disobayes. he says nothing to me, he just nods. the buzzer goes and we hit the ice. Tue, 18 May 2010 15:25:38 GMT