You’re reading Snipe City, 36 Crazyfists frontman and Alaska native Brock Lindow’s weekly take on hockey. 36 Crazyfists’ new album, Time & Trauma, will be released on February 17th on Spinefarm Records. You can read about that here.
The NHL All-Star events kicked off this last weekend in Columbus, Ohio at the Nationwide Arena. The draft was led by Chicago Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews and Columbus Blue Jackets host team captain Nick Foligno. The skills competition has become a little too comedic and less about actually finding out who holds the nastiest dangles. But if it grabs the average viewer and builds the game then, hey, I’m all for it. Hats off to Nashville Predators stud Shea Webber for the NHL’s hardest shot, as he blasted his final attempt to a blistering 108.5 mph/ Can you imagine playing D and having to try and block that? Eff that!
The All-Star game was a complete goal fest, with Philadelphia Flyer Jake Voracek’s three-goal, six-point performance in Team Toews’ 17-12 win over Team Foligno.
In my obviously non-biased opinion, Jake deserved MVP honors, plus the new 2015 Honda Accord EX-L that comes with it. However, he was shunned the rig and was passed over as MVP even though he’s the current NHL leading scorer, is tied with Mario Lemieux’s All-Star record for most points in a game and even though the first-time All-Star played his first three seasons in Columbus and fans there still adore him. You really can’t fault the fans for voting in their guy —Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen— considering this was more of a showcase than a game.
Perhaps the MVP voters can be excused for being homers and gifting the MVP to Johansen, who had two goals and two assists in a losing cause. All in all, it’s a fun weekend, for the fans and the boys. It was also a much-needed rest for any injured players, as the second half of the season kicks off on Tuesday.
My “Fight of the Week” has to go to any and all of the melee that ensued in last week’s Flyers vs. Penguins game in Philly. These two teams make no bones about playing nice; frankly, they’re not friendly at all, by any stretch, as demonstrated by the second period, a fight-filled frenzy. If I had to pick, I’d say the lesson Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn gave Pens agitator Steve Downey was a south paws’ dream. Left after left connected on Downey’s face and in turn lead the fired up Flyers to overtime victory with Captain Claude Giroux knocking in a loose puck at 3:57 of the extra frame. A perfect way to head into the All-Star break!
With nine days left before the boys and I head to kick off our world tour record cycle for our new album Time and Trauma and hang with the most loyal fans in the world, I will be looking to dive into a bit of coverage for the European leagues while I’m in their cities.
It’s -3° in Anchortown today and that leads to some prime conditions for me to hit the outdoor rink and work on my high knee crossovers or bag skate myself for the awful performance I had last Thursday night with my beloved Anchorage Lumberjacks of the Beer League Elite! I did however get a +4 rating in the locker room where I shotgunned three Miller Lights and one Mountain Dew; don’t try the latter at home kiddies. I received a Standing- O from the boys that lasted all of three seconds.
So there ya have it, friends. Bundle up and when I say bundle, I mean grab one here www.36crazyfists.net.
Keep your head up,
Brock
