Alumni in the Pros, January 2009

Mike Iggulden scored a game-winning power play goal with less than a minute to go in overtime, Friday night in Bridgeport's 2-1 win over the Philly Phantoms.

Even though the December 2008 thread is getting more posts, glad I saw this before creating my own...

Iggulden has been selected for the AHL All-star game again this year. He seems to be doing pretty well for himself these past few years.

[theahl.com]

nr53
Even though the December 2008 thread is getting more posts, glad I saw this before creating my own...

Iggulden has been selected for the AHL All-star game again this year. He seems to be doing pretty well for himself these past few years.

Iggy might be the All-time Most Improved Player to come out of Cornell, measuring from freshman year to career apex. He's gone from a nondescript underclassman to a solid role player to a successful professional. I'd love to see him get regular TOI in the NHL someday to cap it off. Serious heart.

Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

KeithK
Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

When we recruited Iggulden out of Ridley College, few people had ever heard of him. But, Mike Schafer thought that he had found a diamond in the rough and predicted that he would be a special player.

KeithK
Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

I even remember a thread a friend of mine started complaining how he was useless and did nothing on the ice but skate in circles and fall down.

Trotsky
Iggy might be the All-time Most Improved Player to come out of Cornell, measuring from freshman year to career apex.

Well, I know that someone who might run a certain hockey forum you may have heard of will tell you "told you so" about him based on his opinion during Iggy's freshman year, but given the way you defined your metric there, that's a fair statement. When I think "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career, I always think of Sam Paolini, who went from a role that was essentially being a walk-on from the Rochester area his freshman year to becoming a prototype cog in the PP machine of the early '00s to scoring an ECAC championship-clinching goal his senior year.

French Rage

KeithK
Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

I even remember a thread a friend of mine started complaining how he was useless and did nothing on the ice but skate in circles and fall down.

Wasn't that you?

Josh '99

French Rage

KeithK
Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

I even remember a thread a friend of mine started complaining how he was useless and did nothing on the ice but skate in circles and fall down.

Wasn't that you?

No, it was the Indianan.

French Rage

Josh '99

French Rage

KeithK
Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

I even remember a thread a friend of mine started complaining how he was useless and did nothing on the ice but skate in circles and fall down.

Wasn't that you?

No, it was the Indianan.

Oh right, speaking of useless.

French Rage

Josh '99

French Rage

KeithK
Iggulden was hurt a bunch as an underclassman, which slowed his development a bit at Cornell, and then was locked into a defensive role in Schafer's system (paraphrasing Iggy's words from a couple years ago). I seem to think he came in with a little more promise/potential than he showed as a freshman/sophomore. Unfortunately we weren't talking on this board about the potential of recruits back in 2001. (Actually we weren't talking about anything on this board in '01 and I can't recall how much recruit discussion we might have had back on the CHDF.)

I even remember a thread a friend of mine started complaining how he was useless and did nothing on the ice but skate in circles and fall down.

Wasn't that you?

No, it was the Indianan.

Indianan???

I've been here almost 5 years, and haven't heard "Indianan" used very often. Most people say "Hoosiers" (or Boilermakers if they bleed black and gold rather than cream and crimson ).

RichH

Trotsky
Iggy might be the All-time Most Improved Player to come out of Cornell, measuring from freshman year to career apex.

Well, I know that someone who might run a certain hockey forum you may have heard of will tell you "told you so" about him based on his opinion during Iggy's freshman year, but given the way you defined your metric there, that's a fair statement. When I think "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career, I always think of Sam Paolini, who went from a role that was essentially being a walk-on from the Rochester area his freshman year to becoming a prototype cog in the PP machine of the early '00s to scoring an ECAC championship-clinching goal his senior year.

Don't think it's not killing me to keep my mouth shut, but by this point even I'm tired of saying it. While I'll agree that Sam is worthy of the title, the stories of him being an unrecruited walk-on are greatly exaggerated.

Rita
Indianan???

I've been here almost 5 years, and haven't heard "Indianan" used very often. Most people say "Hoosiers" (or Boilermakers if they bleed black and gold rather than cream and crimson ).

I've been in CT for 3 years now, and I'm still trying to get a better answer to what a Connecticut native is called. I mostly get "Nutmegger" for an answer. Not Connecticutter or Connecticutian, either of which is fun to say. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go find some nuts to meg.

RichH

Rita
Indianan???

I've been here almost 5 years, and haven't heard "Indianan" used very often. Most people say "Hoosiers" (or Boilermakers if they bleed black and gold rather than cream and crimson ).

I've been in CT for 3 years now, and I'm still trying to get a better answer to what a Connecticut native is called. I mostly get "Nutmegger" for an answer. Not Connecticutter or Connecticutian, either of which is fun to say. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go find some nuts to meg.

"Honky"

RichH
I've been in CT for 3 years now, and I'm still trying to get a better answer to what a Connecticut native is called.

Ahem.

ugarte

RichH

Rita
Indianan???

I've been here almost 5 years, and haven't heard "Indianan" used very often. Most people say "Hoosiers" (or Boilermakers if they bleed black and gold rather than cream and crimson ).

I've been in CT for 3 years now, and I'm still trying to get a better answer to what a Connecticut native is called. I mostly get "Nutmegger" for an answer. Not Connecticutter or Connecticutian, either of which is fun to say. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go find some nuts to meg.

"Honky"

DEAD honky.

Trotsky

RichH
I've been in CT for 3 years now, and I'm still trying to get a better answer to what a Connecticut native is called.

Ahem.

That's a good answer, but this is a more modern portrait.

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League announced a four-for-one trade that sends center Travis Banga to the Texas Brahmas in exchange for former Cornell forward Topher Scott, center Matt Byrnes and a pair of future considerations.

[ecachockey.com]

nr53
Even though the December 2008 thread is getting more posts, glad I saw this before creating my own...

Iggulden has been selected for the AHL All-star game again this year. He seems to be doing pretty well for himself these past few years.

[theahl.com]

Ryan Vesce was also selected for the AHL All-Star game. He's #1 in scoring on the Sharks AHL affiliate and #15 in the league:

[www.ecachockey.com]

CowbellGuy

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League announced a four-for-one trade that sends center Travis Banga to the Texas Brahmas in exchange for former Cornell forward Topher Scott, center Matt Byrnes and a pair of future considerations.

[ecachockey.com]

FWIW, Banga spent his freshman year and the very beginning of his second at UNH before transferring to New England College for the remainder of his sophomore (you don't have to sit out if you transfer to a DIII school), junior and senior years.

The CHL is chock-full of former NCAA hockey players; Topher's new teammates include players from Princeton (Grant Goeckner-Zoeller), Western Michigan (Nathan Ansell, Daryl Moore, Brian Bicek), Alaska-Fairbanks (Wylie Rogers, Aaron Lee), Michigan State (Zak McClellan), Minnesota-Duluth (Jay Hardwick), Notre Dame (Evan Rankin), Robert Morris (Christian Boucher), Merrimack (Matt Byrnes), RIT (Stephen Burns), and Elmira College (Nicolas Dumoulin, who was briefly Topher's teammate with the Elmira Jackals last spring after they finished their respective college careers).

Also, "Killer Bees" is a great name for a team.

RichH

Trotsky
Iggy might be the All-time Most Improved Player to come out of Cornell, measuring from freshman year to career apex.

Well, I know that someone who might run a certain hockey forum you may have heard of will tell you "told you so" about him based on his opinion during Iggy's freshman year, but given the way you defined your metric there, that's a fair statement. When I think "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career, I always think of Sam Paolini, who went from a role that was essentially being a walk-on from the Rochester area his freshman year to becoming a prototype cog in the PP machine of the early '00s to scoring an ECAC championship-clinching goal his senior year.

You may be right that Paolini was the "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career (recruited or not). But Greg said freshman year to career apex and Iggulden certainly has had a higher career apex than Paolini.

KeithK

RichH

Trotsky
Iggy might be the All-time Most Improved Player to come out of Cornell, measuring from freshman year to career apex.

Well, I know that someone who might run a certain hockey forum you may have heard of will tell you "told you so" about him based on his opinion during Iggy's freshman year, but given the way you defined your metric there, that's a fair statement. When I think "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career, I always think of Sam Paolini, who went from a role that was essentially being a walk-on from the Rochester area his freshman year to becoming a prototype cog in the PP machine of the early '00s to scoring an ECAC championship-clinching goal his senior year.

You may be right that Paolini was the "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career (recruited or not). But Greg said freshman year to career apex and Iggulden certainly has had a higher career apex than Paolini.

Aw, man, the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies get no respect.

CowbellGuy

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League announced a four-for-one trade that sends center Travis Banga to the Texas Brahmas in exchange for former Cornell forward Topher Scott, center Matt Byrnes and a pair of future considerations.

[ecachockey.com]

Gee, I wish I still lived in Brownsville. Oh, wait, no I don't.

Beeeej
Aw, man, the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies get no respect.

Very little. Which is why they're now the Stockton Thunder.

KeithK
You may be right that Paolini was the "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career (recruited or not). But Greg said freshman year to career apex and Iggulden certainly has had a higher career apex than Paolini.

Right. Which is why I agreed with his conclusion given his metric. When I redefined the metric to something that people might also like to discuss, I made another comment.

RichH

KeithK
You may be right that Paolini was the "Most Improved" over the course of his Cornell career (recruited or not). But Greg said freshman year to career apex and Iggulden certainly has had a higher career apex than Paolini.

Right. Which is why I agreed with his conclusion given his metric. When I redefined the metric to something that people might also like to discuss, I made another comment.

touche

Don't look now but Romano is scoring above a point per game this year with his new team... ::sigh:: what could have been

nr53
Don't look now but Romano is scoring above a point per game this year with his new team... ::sigh:: what could have been

Nah, he just would have been suffocated in the Cornell defensive system.

nr53
Don't look now but Romano is scoring above a point per game this year with his new team... ::sigh:: what could have been

Well...at least as a Devils fan, I can look forward to the day when he is playing on the wing with Parise and Zajac and putting up similar numbers.

Even with the Devils now playing more wide open and in the top third of the league in scoring, while the Rangers play a trapping style and not well, he'll have to play well defensively to play for Lou and Sutter. But Lou wouldn't have drafted him if he didn't think he had that potential.

He's also by far the oldest player on the team. Maybe when he's 30 he can return to Cornell and contribute something... like some nonexistent monetary donation from the nonexistent NHL contract he'll sign with the Devils when they get a load of his nonexistent mad skills.

Douglas Murray finally nets his first point of the season: an assist on a Brad Staubitz goal in San Jose's game against Edmonton which is still in progress.

I didn't even hear about this call-up (likely because it happened early this morning due to the 1PM game time) but I turned on the Bruins vs. Hurricanes game on NESN to hear Jack Edwards mentioning that Byron Bitz had been called up and is on the bench for this game, live right now on NESN.

Bitz is wearing an interesting #61, and playing on the 4th line with Shawn Thornton and Petteri Nokelainen for the time being. He just had a very good shift.

Edit: They just showed Bitz's parents on tv, and they apparently flew in from Sasaktoon last night, so the call-up obviously happened yesterday.

sah67
I didn't even hear about this call-up (likely because it happened early this morning due to the 1PM game time) but I turned on the Bruins vs. Hurricanes game on NESN to hear Jack Edwards mentioning that Byron Bitz had been called up and is on the bench for this game, live right now on NESN.

Bitz is wearing an interesting #61, and playing on the 4th line with Shawn Thornton and Petteri Nokelainen for the time being. He just had a very good shift.

Edit: They just showed Bitz's parents on tv, and they apparently flew in from Sasaktoon last night, so the call-up obviously happened yesterday.

He just got the crowd going with a big hit. He then promptly lost the handle on a wrap around chance.

Byron's getting interviewed during the 1st intermission now.

sah67
Byron's getting interviewed during the 1st intermission now.

And gets an assist in the second!

Chris '03

sah67
Byron's getting interviewed during the 1st intermission now.

And gets an assist in the second!

It did deflect off a Carolina skate before coming to Stuart for the goal, but they give Bitz an assist anyway. First NHL point in his first NHL game - way to go Byron!

Several props for Byron from the broadcast team during the 2nd intermission.

He just made a great pass on a 2 on 1 and Nokalinen shot it over the net.

Thornton gave him props in the postgame too, saying he did an "unbelievable" job coming up and playing so well on short notice.

He really did play a solid game. He had a few big hits, an assit, but ended up even thanks to a deflection that went in to the back of the net in slo-mo. And I had almost forgot how well he skated for a big guy.

As well as the Bruins are playing, injuries have them a little thin at forward, and I don't think he hurt his chances of getting another call up today.

More bits about Bitz.

ACM
More bits about Bitz.

He's just a "grinder." Keeps this up and he'll make it to "roll" player.

Al DeFlorio

ACM
More bits about Bitz.

He's just a "grinder." Keeps this up and he'll make it to "roll" player.

If they trade him to Philly will he become a puck hoagie?

And his linemate in Providence is Wacey Rabbit? Shouldn't that be Wacey Wabbit?

Jeff Hopkins '82
And his linemate in Providence is Wacey Rabbit? Shouldn't that be Wacey Wabbit?

I read the article, saw the name, knew there must be a joke in there somewhere, but didn't come up with it. You nailed it.

andyw2100

Jeff Hopkins '82
And his linemate in Providence is Wacey Rabbit? Shouldn't that be Wacey Wabbit?

I read the article, saw the name, knew there must be a joke in there somewhere, but didn't come up with it. You nailed it.

I was working on something involving "Puck Season" vs. "Rabbit Season," but never quite got there.

Jeff Hopkins '82

Al DeFlorio

ACM
More bits about Bitz.

He's just a "grinder." Keeps this up and he'll make it to "roll" player.

If they trade him to Philly will he become a puck hoagie?

And his linemate in Providence is Wacey Rabbit? Shouldn't that be Wacey Wabbit?

I think you meant Wascally Wabbit.

fullofgas

Jeff Hopkins '82

Al DeFlorio

ACM
More bits about Bitz.

He's just a "grinder." Keeps this up and he'll make it to "roll" player.

If they trade him to Philly will he become a puck hoagie?

And his linemate in Providence is Wacey Rabbit? Shouldn't that be Wacey Wabbit?

I think you meant Wascally Wabbit.

Would that make his wife/girlfriend a puck bunny?

ACM
More bits about Bitz.

A friend of mine with a hockey blog is a Bruins fan. He was excited about Bitz's first game.

Bruins' forward Phil Kessel (who helped the Gophers beat us a few years back) is out with mono. I wonder if that means Bitz will be getting more playing time? Lots of injuries on the team right now.

ftyuv
Bruins' forward Phil Kessel (who helped the Gophers beat us a few years back) ....

Kessel wasn't on that Minnesota team. His only year was '05-'06, the season after we played them.

Phill Kessel was not on that team at that time,would be nice for Bitz if he got more time to prove himself.

Hm, mea cupla. I could have sworn he was, but I guess that just goes to show why swearing is bad, mmkay?

I have to admit, it's a bit bittersweet for me. On the one hand, I'd love it if Bitz turns magical, but on the other hand, I hope all these injuries don't hold back the team.

jkahn

ftyuv
Bruins' forward Phil Kessel (who helped the Gophers beat us a few years back) ....

Kessel wasn't on that Minnesota team. His only year was '05-'06, the season after we played them.

He was on the awesome squad that lost to Holy Cross.

Byron Bitz was never sent back down to Providence and is on the game roster for Boston's game tonight against Montreal. Ryan O'Byrne is still with Hamilton and will not be on Montreal's roster for the game.

French Rage

jkahn

ftyuv
Bruins' forward Phil Kessel (who helped the Gophers beat us a few years back) ....

Kessel wasn't on that Minnesota team. His only year was '05-'06, the season after we played them.

He was on the awesome squad that lost to Holy Cross.

With chokers like him and Tim Thomas on the team, I don't expect the Bruins to ever win anything.

Bitzy had nearly ten minutes of ice time tonight - no goals, assists, or penalties, +/- of 0. Did a workmanlike job on the ice, but nothing spectacular.

Douglas Murray on a scoring tear. He just picked up his second assist in the past week and of 2009.

(Yeah, I know, and season, but 2009 sounds much better considering the date and that it took Murray ~ 41 games to get his first point!!).

Murray looked like he was making a run for the Gordie Howe Hattrick, but only got 2 minutes for "roughing" with Jeff "I'm a scholar not a fighter" Halpern.

Iggulden still hasn't been called up by the Icelanders for some inexplicable reason, but yanndanisforhobey.com played most of their game against the Rangers tonight after Joey McDonald left with a leg injury and, I'm happy to report, was on the short end of a 2-1 score.

Not Cornell, but Yann Danis got a start for the Isles last night when their second string goalie also went down.

DeltaOne81
Not Cornell, but Yann Danis got a start for the Isles last night when their second string goalie also went down.

You don't say.

Beeeej

DeltaOne81
Not Cornell, but Yann Danis got a start for the Isles last night when their second string goalie also went down.

You don't say.

I gave deltaone81 a break.. I just figured he had a tough morning joisey's many highways and hadn't had his yet.

Heh. By 9 I'd had my coffee . I saw Josh's post started with Iggulden, so I probably figured no one had posted about Danis yet. Sue me (not you, Beeeej).

The Abbotts collectively recieved the first star in Rögle's recent win over Frölunda

Cam had two goals and an assist, Chris had a goal and an assist.

Video highlights at Rögle TV


Theeeeee second Rögle goal was scored by number 24, Cam Abbott (ABBOTT!!), assisted by number 29, Chris Abbott (ABBOTT!!)

imafrshmn
The Abbotts collectively recieved the first star in Rögle's recent win over Frölunda

Cam had two goals and an assist, Chris had a goal and an assist.

Video highlights at Rögle TV


Theeeeee second Rögle goal was scored by number 24, Cam Abbott (ABBOTT!!), assisted by number 29, Chris Abbott (ABBOTT!!)

Basically what the announcer says is "[lots of Swedish words I don't understand] Cam Abbott [lots of Swedish words I don't understand] Cam Abbott [lots of Swedish words I don't understand] Chris Abbott [lots of Swedish words I don't understand] Cam Abbott [lots of Swedish words I don't understand]."

I like how he pronounces "Powerplay"...

Also, it's sad that the SEL has better quality highlight videos than the NHL.

Two assists already for Murray in tonight's Sharks game--and they're only ten minutes in!

After ten minutes of the first period, Doug Murray has assists on both Sharks goals. Five points in five games - Murray is on fire!

For lack of a better place to put this:

Discussing Ryan Whitney during this afternoon's Rangers-Pens game, the NBC broadcasters pointed out, "His brother goes to Cornell University." Hooray for free publicity!

Yeh. I heard it also... too bad it was following a minute long discussion of BU's "trademark white gloves"

Byron Bitz didn't return after going down early in the 2nd period of the B's loss to St. Louis today. No details yet.

boston.com game blog

dargason
Byron Bitz didn't return after going down early in the 2nd period of the B's loss to St. Louis today. No details yet.

boston.com game blog

Yes he did. He took his regular shifts in the third.

Bitz was interviewed in the NESN post game show. He had a big cut on his lip, and they joked about him not getting the memo to go to make up before the interview after taking a high stick during the game.

Unfortunately, no Cornell mentions. The questions were aimed at his transition from Providence to Boston and how the veterans had helped him as well as about the current state of the Bruins.

Under Bitz's name, there was a stat showing a little over 11 min with 3 hits. Even our forwards main stats are hits.

oceanst41

Yes he did. He took his regular shifts in the third.

My bad, I wasn't watching...just read the game blog afterwards. Glad he's ok.

dargason

oceanst41

Yes he did. He took his regular shifts in the third.

My bad, I wasn't watching...just read the game blog afterwards. Glad he's ok.

I wish I hadn't watched. I don't buy the call that essentially ended the game, there was contact with the puck above the crossbar and it should've been a no goal.

I'm going to relax with a beer now, and take some aspirin for the headache that ending caused me.

Unfortunately the Sharks called up 43 year old Claude Lemieux who hasn't played in the NHL in 5 years over Vesce who was leading their AHL team in scoring. Guess they were looking for more grit than skill.

Whoever is doing play-by-play for TSN (on NHL Network in the states) keeps talking about number 61, Byron Ritz.

The announcers on Vs. keep calling Bitz "Ritz."

I'd say Bitz had his best game since his debut last night vs. the Leafs. He was strong on the boards, had a nice cycling shift that that led to a long possession and a goal for the next line, and nearly scored his first NHL goal (Toskela robbed him with a two pad stack). He played 11:46 too, which is his highest game total. Julien is big on rewarding good play with ice time, and his last three games have each increased in time on ice.

Habs recall O'Byrne.

[canadiens.nhl.com]

Ryan Vesce had a good showing on his home ice in Worcester in last night's AHL All-Star Game Skills Competition; Mike Iggulden not so much. Vesce won his heat against Worcester teammate Derek Joslin in the Puck Control Relay, hit four targets in five tries in the Accuracy Shooting competition, and scored against Mike Brodeur in the Breakaway Relay. Iggulden was denied by Minnesota alum Jeff Frazee in the Pass and Score competition and again by Daniel Larsson in the Breakaway Relay. (Corporate sponsors in event names intentionally omitted.) Vesce's PlanetUSA team beat Iggulden's Canada 18-12 in the Skills Competition; the All-Star Game itself will be played tonight.

Josh '99
Ryan Vesce had a good showing on his home ice in Worcester in last night's AHL All-Star Game Skills Competition; Mike Iggulden not so much. Vesce won his heat against Worcester teammate Derek Joslin in the Puck Control Relay, hit four targets in five tries in the Accuracy Shooting competition, and scored against Mike Brodeur in the Breakaway Relay. Iggulden was denied by Minnesota alum Jeff Frazee in the Pass and Score competition and again by Daniel Larsson in the Breakaway Relay. (Corporate sponsors in event names intentionally omitted.) Vesce's PlanetUSA team beat Iggulden's Canada 18-12 in the Skills Competition; the All-Star Game itself will be played tonight.

Remind me again why the AHL and NHL all star festivities compete with each other.

Chris '03
Remind me again why the AHL and NHL all star festivities compete with each other.

Because both leagues are run by idiots.

Bitz has some stones.

Threw down the gloves and squared off with Donald *stick to the head* Brashear in the B's OT win over Washington tonight.

He looked good for the first minute of the fight while they wwere just eyin geach other with knuckles up and air- sparring. Once the jerseys got ggrabbed Brashear's experoence showed clearly...before he eventualy flattened Bitz with a left.

At least Bitz got in 2 to the back of the head if I remember right. Definitely fired up the squad at a late point in what was then a 2-2 tie.

p.s. Saw him take a 20 second shift - never seen one that short before.

Douglas Murray fought Chris Stewart to the 2nd period tonight. He won a very lopsided scrap.

Vesce had a goal and an assist and was -1; Iggulden didn't put up any points (2 shots on goal anyway) and was -4. Vesce's PlanetUSA team was victorious, thanks largely to the all-NCAA-alumni line of Jared Ross (UAH), Jeff Taffe and Ryan Potulny (both Minnesota). Ross set AHL ASG records with six assists and seven points, Potulny had six points, and Taffe had a hat trick and two assists.

abmarks
Bitz has some stones.

Threw down the gloves and squared off with Donald *stick to the head* Brashear in the B's OT win over Washington tonight.

He looked good for the first minute of the fight while they wwere just eyin geach other with knuckles up and air- sparring. Once the jerseys got ggrabbed Brashear's experoence showed clearly...before he eventualy flattened Bitz with a left.

At least Bitz got in 2 to the back of the head if I remember right. Definitely fired up the squad at a late point in what was then a 2-2 tie.

p.s. Saw him take a 20 second shift - never seen one that short before.

Postgame interview with Bitz: [link.brightcove.com]

And Thorton's thoughts on Bitz: [link.brightcove.com]

ftyuv

abmarks
Bitz has some stones.

Threw down the gloves and squared off with Donald *stick to the head* Brashear in the B's OT win over Washington tonight.

He looked good for the first minute of the fight while they wwere just eyin geach other with knuckles up and air- sparring. Once the jerseys got ggrabbed Brashear's experoence showed clearly...before he eventualy flattened Bitz with a left.

At least Bitz got in 2 to the back of the head if I remember right. Definitely fired up the squad at a late point in what was then a 2-2 tie.

p.s. Saw him take a 20 second shift - never seen one that short before.

Postgame interview with Bitz: [link.brightcove.com]

And Thorton's thoughts on Bitz: [link.brightcove.com]

More reactions: [www.boston.com]

ugarte

ftyuv

abmarks
Bitz has some stones.

Threw down the gloves and squared off with Donald *stick to the head* Brashear in the B's OT win over Washington tonight.

He looked good for the first minute of the fight while they wwere just eyin geach other with knuckles up and air- sparring. Once the jerseys got ggrabbed Brashear's experoence showed clearly...before he eventualy flattened Bitz with a left.

At least Bitz got in 2 to the back of the head if I remember right. Definitely fired up the squad at a late point in what was then a 2-2 tie.

p.s. Saw him take a 20 second shift - never seen one that short before.

Postgame interview with Bitz: [link.brightcove.com]

And Thorton's thoughts on Bitz: [link.brightcove.com]

More reactions: [www.boston.com]

And now video:

As long as we're posting fight videos,


here is the Murray-Stewart scrap.

cbuckser
As long as we're posting fight videos,


here is the Murray-Stewart scrap.

I really don't watch much NHL hockey. What's the etiquette on helmet removal before fighting? In the Murray fight, Murray had taken his helmet off, but Stewart didn't. It would seem this would give Stewart quite the edge in the fight, while at the same time saying, "I'm afraid of you." So...what's the deal?

andyw2100

cbuckser
As long as we're posting fight videos,


here is the Murray-Stewart scrap.

I really don't watch much NHL hockey. What's the etiquette on helmet removal before fighting? In the Murray fight, Murray had taken his helmet off, but Stewart didn't. It would seem this would give Stewart quite the edge in the fight, while at the same time saying, "I'm afraid of you." So...what's the deal?

The deal is that Murray wears a visor and so is obligated to take his helmet off. Stewart does not wear a visor and is under no such obligation. I think that this situation is pretty standard and it is not necessary for one to take off a helmet just because the other does.

Thanks for the explanation.

Roy 82
I think that this situation is pretty standard and it is not necessary for one to take off a helmet just because the other does.

I would argue that because Douglas took his helmet off it would be common courtesy for his opponent to also do the same. With the discussions going on around the league, fights may soon be ended when a helmet is lost. I don't know what would happen to the visor fighting issue then, but obviously something would have to change.

I may get attacked for being a wuss for this, but to me, the whole thing of the "etiquette" of fighting is a big part of the reason why I don't like fighting in pro hockey. I like that it's a high-octane sport, so when players get into actual "you're going down, asshole!" fights, I'm fine with it. But those kinds of fights don't have rules of etiquette, because the whole point of them is to express your anger in as primal a way as possible: beat the crap out of the guy you're angry at. The etiquette-filled fights -- the ones that start off with 10 seconds of calculated skating-around-and-sizing-up crap, are just cheap sideshows to hockey.

I guess what I'm saying is, if you want to fight a guy cause you're actually pissed off at him, then screw the etiquette -- just lunge after him with all you got and don't stop until they pry you off him. If, on the other hand, you're calm enough to skate around him for 10 seconds in preparation, then just suck it up and keep playing. Give him an extra hard hit next time around if you're still sore about it.

Roy 82

andyw2100

cbuckser
As long as we're posting fight videos,


here is the Murray-Stewart scrap.

I really don't watch much NHL hockey. What's the etiquette on helmet removal before fighting? In the Murray fight, Murray had taken his helmet off, but Stewart didn't. It would seem this would give Stewart quite the edge in the fight, while at the same time saying, "I'm afraid of you." So...what's the deal?

The deal is that Murray wears a visor and so is obligated to take his helmet off. Stewart does not wear a visor and is under no such obligation. I think that this situation is pretty standard and it is not necessary for one to take off a helmet just because the other does.

There is nothing official about having to take off helmets (with or without visors). Few people that fight in the NHL actually wear a visor, so it's rarely an issue. It's just one of those common courtesies, like not punching the guy when you take him down to the ice.

Flyers1037

Roy 82

andyw2100

cbuckser
As long as we're posting fight videos,


here is the Murray-Stewart scrap.

I really don't watch much NHL hockey. What's the etiquette on helmet removal before fighting? In the Murray fight, Murray had taken his helmet off, but Stewart didn't. It would seem this would give Stewart quite the edge in the fight, while at the same time saying, "I'm afraid of you." So...what's the deal?

The deal is that Murray wears a visor and so is obligated to take his helmet off. Stewart does not wear a visor and is under no such obligation. I think that this situation is pretty standard and it is not necessary for one to take off a helmet just because the other does.

There is nothing official about having to take off helmets (with or without visors). Few people that fight in the NHL actually wear a visor, so it's rarely an issue. It's just one of those common courtesies, like not punching the guy when you take him down to the ice.

There is actually a rule where you are punished further for "instigating" while wearing a visor, but this doesn't apply to mutually agreed to fights.

ftyuv
I may get attacked for being a wuss for this, but to me, the whole thing of the "etiquette" of fighting is a big part of the reason why I don't like fighting in pro hockey. I like that it's a high-octane sport, so when players get into actual "you're going down, asshole!" fights, I'm fine with it. But those kinds of fights don't have rules of etiquette, because the whole point of them is to express your anger in as primal a way as possible: beat the crap out of the guy you're angry at. The etiquette-filled fights -- the ones that start off with 10 seconds of calculated skating-around-and-sizing-up crap, are just cheap sideshows to hockey.

I guess what I'm saying is, if you want to fight a guy cause you're actually pissed off at him, then screw the etiquette -- just lunge after him with all you got and don't stop until they pry you off him. If, on the other hand, you're calm enough to skate around him for 10 seconds in preparation, then just suck it up and keep playing. Give him an extra hard hit next time around if you're still sore about it.

You're a wuss. That being said, I agree.

steve moore and steve kampfer would like to disagree...while the song and dance in the nhl can be annoying, there needs to be some set of gentlemanly rules to police the most dangerous and cowardly acts in fighting

tretiak
steve moore and steve kampfer would like to disagree...while the song and dance in the nhl can be annoying, there needs to be some set of gentlemanly rules to police the most dangerous and cowardly acts in fighting

You could just as easily have the league police things by issuing fines and suspensions for dangerous and cowardly acts.

Let's face it, taking off the helmet is an advantage to Murray, he looks scarier without it.

French Rage
Let's face it, taking off the helmet is an advantage to Murray, he looks scarier without it.

He's 6'3" 245 either way; I don't think the helmet hair adds much to his intimidation factor.