Joe Nieuwendyk was one of the players interviewed by ABC/ESPN after the NJ Devils won the Stanley Cup. He also was among the first 5-6 players to hoist the Cup after Gary Bettman awarded it to the team.
I was struck, for the first time, that this may be Joe's last NHL season. He is pushing 40 (and those wrinckles show!), and that is "old" in any professional sport, let alone ice hockey.
Though not a Devils fan myself, I am nonetheless happy to see a Cornellian on the winning team. Perhaps Joe will bring the Cup back to Ithaca again when it is his turn :-P
Joe will only be 37 when the next season starts, had a decent year considering the middling status of the Devils as far as goals scored goes and is still one of the top faceoff men in the league. I haven't heard any talk about this possibly being his last season (unlike with Ken Daneyko); in fact, I've read articles speculating that he may want to go to Toronto next season, or possibly back to Dallas. Top faceoff players tend to hang around, like his ex-Stars teammate Guy Carbonneau and Adam Oates. Assuming his injury is one from which he can heal during the offseason, I'd be surprised if this season or next is his last one.
Healing at 37 is a lot tougher than healing at 27 or 32.
I would love to see him go to Toronto, his hometown team, or back to Calgary, since to me he'll always be a Flame. One great comeback season with 60-70 points would go a long way towards the Hall of Fame.
Post Edited (06-10-03 16:07)
Tom wrote:
"Perhaps Joe will bring the Cup back to Ithaca again when it is his turn."
Since you said "again," does that mean he brought it to campus either of the last two times?
Beeeej, feel free to chime in here, you @$@$%^. :-(
joe tore an oblique muscle - not sure if it was internal or external but he should be able to heal during the offseason no matter his age.
avash, he brought it the last time he won it
i found out the day after :-(
QuoteRobb Newman wrote:
Beeeej, feel free to chime in here, you @$@$%^. :-(
I think the phrase you're looking for is "you lucky @$@$%^."
Nope, Robb was precisely right.
Anyway, I hear there's a good chance that Joe and the cup will make a return visit this year.
Post Edited (06-11-03 10:15)
Next time you're at Dunbar's, check out the pictures above the bar (on the left side when you walk in the front door, at the end closest to the door, unless they've moved them since the last time I was there). He brought it back after he won it with the Stars in '99.
Joe had the Cup in town for a "formal" celebration up at Moakley House and then he and Lord Stanley made the rounds. Dunbars and, I believe, the Glenwood Pines were stops in town.
Wouldn't it be great if he brought the cup to Ithaca during the one week I'll be in upstate NY in the next couple years? (July 5-11, this year) :)
If anyone hears any news on this, I'm planning on making a mid-summer weekend trip to Ithaca anyway... I would so be willing to time it to see the Cup. Don't be shy about sharing :-D.
I believe the last time Joe was in Ithaca with the Cup it was a Tuesday, or some day equally evil for out-of-towners to handle. I should have gone anyway.
Last time--I believe--was the Tuesday after the alumni game and annual golf outing--which this year are July 11 and 12 respectively (or at least I think that's right).
But I suspect the scheduling is dependent upon the plans of both the league and the Devils organization...so who knows?
Yeah...this year made me delve into my drawer to find my "I drank from the Cup at Dunbar's" t-shirt that I got back in 99...signed by Joe too...mmmm... E-bay anyone? :-D
It was such a weird week too...because earlier in the week a couple of my friends were hanging out at a very empty Dunbars and there was some short guy standing in the back corner waiting for the bathroom. The short guy was none other than Mike Richter just hanging out in Dunbars for the night. Needless to say...my friend who is an Islander fan gave him the business..he took it with good humor too.
:-)
And actually...you should confirm this...but another friend of mine ran into the Devils by complete accident at a bar in West Orange, NJ the night after they won the Cup. He spoke to Joe and asked him about bringing the Cup up to Ithaca again...and Joe did indeed tell him that he was planning on going up on July 11th.
Hope this helps..
Post Edited (06-13-03 11:24)
Today, the NHL.com website has that photo of Joe and Mike Tallman with the Cup on its home page.
http://www.nhl.com/
QuoteCowbell Guy wrote:
Nope, Robb was precisely right.
Anyway, I hear there's a good chance that Joe and the cup will make a return visit this year.
Post Edited (06-11-03 10:15)
{shaking fist}
Damn you Beeeej!
{/shaking fist}
On Saturday's (1/30/2010) Only a Game (http://www.onlyagame.org/2010/01/saturday-january-30-2010/#4), there was an interview with author Kevin Allen who has written a book called Then Wayne said to Mario (http://www.onlyagame.org/2010/01/then-wayne-said-to-mario/) about the adventures of the Stanley Cup.
So I wonder if any of Joey's trips with the cup made it into the book? ::woot:: They didn't get any mention in the 15 minute radio segment. The segment is available from the Only a Game website and also iTunes/podcasts