Bleacher Report - Articles by Sam Hansen

Dave Upton: A Farewell Tribute to No. 96

Sam Hansen — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:54:41 -0400

As fans of the Gold Coast Blue Tongues and AIHL we are used to seeing import players come and go each season. It’s not so often, however, that we find ourselves saying farewell to long-term local players, a position Blue Tongues fans find themselves in now with the departure of No. 96, Dave Upton, who is pursuing a Rugby Union career.

Dave Upton is one of those guys who can only be described as a freak. Naturally talented at most sports, Dave smashed his way into the AIHL with the Brisbane Blue Tongues at the age of 15, the youngest player ever to play in the league to date. Since then fans have watched Dave grow, not just as an extremely talented hockey player, but as a person.

There are many highlight reel moments over the years including amazing goals, blazing speed, and some of the best checking and hitting the Blue Tongues have seen. Fans may remember the massive open ice hit Dave put on a Central Coast Rhino a few years ago in Brisbane, or the countless times Dave’s passion and determination shone through as he worked hard to carry the team back into games.

It is fitting and pleasing then to know that Dave’s last game as a Blue Tongue was also a historical one; the Blue Tongues first ever AIHL finals game, a game that was the culmination of five years hard work, determination, and pure grit by players such as Dave Upton.

Dave’s departure from the Blue Tongues leaves more than just an empty roster spot, it leaves a “Davie shaped hole” in the very heart of the team, as one fan was recently quoted as saying. A lineup without Dave Upton will not feel like a proper Blue Tongues lineup.

We would like to thank Dave for the time and effort he has put into this team over the last five years, and want to express how deeply we appreciate the memories he have given us. Wherever the future takes Dave, we know he will excel and do well.

So to No. 96, Dave Upton: farewell and thank you for the memories.

Blue Tongues Two Games from History: AIHL Playoff Berth

Sam Hansen — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:20:11 -0400

The Gold Coast Blue Tongues stand on the edge of the most historical event, in its six-year franchise history, in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

This weekend, August 1 and 2, the Gold Coast Blue Tongues take on the Canberra Knights at Bundall on the Gold Coast. Getting six points from a back-to-back victory will be a huge boost for the Blue Tongues, but not so huge as the implication it will have heading forward.

If the Tongues can pull off a double this weekend, they mathematically eliminate the Sydney Ice Dogs from playoff contention, and in the process secure their first ever AIHL playoff berth.

This year's 11-6-3 record has been a major improvement for the Blue Tongues, who finished 2008 with a dismal 8-17-3 record, getting just 27 points and finishing seventh in last year's eight-team league.

A major part of the team's success this season has been the outstanding play of import forward, Brad Smulders. Smulders, a native of Canada, leads both the team and the league in goals (30), assists (35), and points (65).

This year has seen some major improvements both on and off the ice. Disciplined play, successful special teams, and an increase in crowd numbers have all been a huge bonus to the team's success.

2009 also happens to be the debut season of Ross Howell as team captain. Rosco, as he's affectionately known, is one of Australia's top defenseman and has played this season as both defense and forward, where his outstanding two-way play has been paramount to the team's winning record.

With just four games remaining in the AIHL season, all of them at home, the Blue Tongues have plenty of reasons to feel confident.

Dallas Get Their Goalie: Alex Auld Acquired From Ottawa

Sam Hansen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:23:51 -0400

The Dallas Stars have their guy.

Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk made the announcement today that they have acquired goaltender Alex Auld from the Ottawa senators in exchange for the sixth round pick (previously acquired from San Jose) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

“Alex is a proven NHL veteran with a track record of success in this league,” said Nieuwendyk. “He has size and ability, and we expect him to be an excellent goaltender for us.”

Auld has played 8 seasons in the NHL including four years in Vancouver under the coaching guidance of Dallas Stars head coach Marc Crawford. He also spent time in Florida, Boston, Phoenix and last season with the Ottawa Senators.

Auld, who has one year remaining on his contract will start the season as backup to Marty Turco who recently stated a need to lessen his workload.

In Defense of the Dallas Stars: A Look at the Skrastins and Woywitka Signings

Sam Hansen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:46:35 -0400

The day the free agency market opened, the Dallas Stars, like many teams, had holes which needed to be filled.

A top-line puck-moving defenseman, a right-shot scoring winger and a reliable backup goalie who would challenge Marty Turco for ice time were all areas that needed help on the Stars' roster.

What they got was Karlis Skrastins and Jeff Woywitka.

Both Skrastins and Woywitka are defensemen who worry just about the defense; they're not going to quarterback your power play and chances are, they're not going to put up anywhere near 40 points a season.

Which leaves me wondering, where is the logic in bringing two guys onto a team already packed with this type of defensemen already?

When you look deeper, there appears to be a purpose to these signings. I believe Joe Nieuwendyk stepped into his role with a well thought-out plan, and these signings are another part of that plan.

Karlis Skrastins is a solid defenseman who is a renowned shot-blocker and checker. The Stars have not had a reliable shot-blocking defenseman since Jon Klemm pulled on a Stars jersey. The 34-year-old defensemen also brings a wealth of veteran experience and for just over $1 million this coming season, he's a bargain.

Woywitka is more of a puzzle; there is no particular attribute about him that jumps out as impressive. In fact, the 25-year-old Woywitka is simply a solid young defenseman whose play is somewhere between Mark Fistric and Stephane Robidas.

These two signings give the Stars seven locked-up defenseman for the upcoming season (that is if you include Andrew Hutchinson in that group). There is a good chance the Stars will lock up Mark Fistric to a new contract and there are still hopes they can secure Sergei Zubov for another season.

This would give the team nine defensemen, which is possibly more than what they need.

The Stars are well aware that they still need to acquire an offensive defenseman and a good quality backup to Turco, especially now that "the monster" signed with Toronto.

You would not be in the minority to think that maybe the boost to the team's defensive core is not just to help improve the defense.

Not just to help block shots either.

No, in fact, if you're like many Stars fans, there is a good chance you're wondering if maybe the Stars front office is looking to move a few players to help fill the big holes.

One thing is for certain; Joe Nieuwendyk is discovering that being a General Manager of an NHL team is no walk in the park!

Burke / USA Hockey: Modano Has Usefullness at Olympic Hockey Level

Sam Hansen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:26:31 -0400

When USA Hockey announced the players invited to the men's Olympic Camp recently, it came as no surprise to see the team was young and youthful, and missing many of the familiar names often seen on the USA roster.

One veteran name, however, was on the invite list, a name so synonymous with USA Hockey it's hard to imagine the team without him: Mike Modano.

Since breaking into the hockey world in 1988, Mike Modano has represented the United States in 11 separate international tournaments including two World Junior Championships, three World Championships, one Canada Cup, two World Cup of Hockey appearances, and three Olympic appearances.

In 71 international games representing his country, Modano has put up 24 goals, 37 assists for 61 points, with 41 of those points coming at the senior level. In his three Olympic appearances, Modano has netted four goals and 10 points in 16 games.

In talking about Mike Modano, Team USA General Manager, Brian Burke commented, "Mike's production has fallen off, but his usefulness as a player has not," and went on to say "His role has changed and he's accepted that cheerfully."

Modano, who is entering his 20th season in the NHL, was honored to accept the invitation to once again represent his country at the elite level. “I am privileged to be invited to Team USA’s Olympic Orientation Camp,” said Modano. “I’ve been lucky enough to represent my country at the Olympics in the past and I would very much like to do so again in 2010. I’d like to thank USA Hockey for the opportunity to hopefully make this team. It would be an honor.”

The Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp runs from August 17-19 at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Illinois.

Joe Nieuwendyk and the Offseason: Plans to Fix the Dallas Stars

Sam Hansen — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:15:28 -0400

Going into the 2009 NHL offseason, Stars fans were left with a sense of “what now?”

Missing the playoffs is never an easy thing to take, not for fans and most definitely not for the players and management of the Stars' organization. Something needed to change for the Stars to be the perennial contenders they once were.

Tom Hicks made the first push for change when he reassigned Les Jackson and Brett Hull and hired former Dallas Star, Joe Nieuwendyk as the General Manager. Having spent time working under Brian Burke in Toronto, many believe Nieuwendyk will bring a strong level of grit and determination to the position.

Shortly after, Nieuwendyk made his first big move as general manager with the removal of Dave Tippett as head coach and the subsequent hiring of Marc Crawford. This move marks a monumental shift in "Stars Hockey."

As far back as many can remember, the Stars have always been a solid "defense first" team; however, Crawford prefers offense, speed, skill, and a lot of scoring. For the first time in years, fans don’t know what kind of hockey the Stars will play.

The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the first major step for Nieuwendyk and the front office to undertake. While Sergei Zubov’s return is still questionable, it’s no secret the Stars need a puck moving defenseman.

To the shock of some, and to the pleased smiles of others, the Stars did not in fact pick a defenseman with their eighth overall pick, their first first-round pick since 2006. Instead, the Stars' front office filled a void in many ways much more important: a right-handed, right winger in Brandon Wheat King’s forward, Scott Glennie.

He wasn’t the only right-handed, right-side player to be drafted by the Stars this year either.

There are questions as to why a solid defenseman such as Ryan Ellis was not drafted in the early rounds. I believe the Stars were smart. While picking up a defenseman would have helped stock their depleted defensive prospects, doing so would not help the team right now—when they need one.

They can wait a year or two for Glennie to improve; they can't afford to wait a few years to get Zubov's replacement. The Stars drafted smart and pulled off a big win in my opinion.

To solve the immediate need for a defenseman, the Stars are will need to look to Free Agency, which begins on Jul. 1. There are a number of good defensemen who will be available after Jul. 1, including Francois Beauchemin (ANA), Jaroslav Spacek (BUF), and Denis Seidenberg (CAR).

The question isn’t so much will the Stars go for a defenseman, I believe that is a given. The thing worrying most fans is if will the Stars get the "right" defenseman for this team.

Joe Nieuwendyk has shown he has a plan, so expect him to have an idea of the players he wants already.

Here's where I see the Stars going in the next few weeks:

I believe the Stars will try and pick up a No. 1 defenseman off the free-agency market, although I doubt they will be successful in getting the player they want. If they don't, expect there to be a big trade to acquire one.

I think it’s also quite likely that the Stars will look to find a permanent right-winger (scorer) for the top line. Depending on how the team goes securing a top defenseman, I would not be surprised to see a trade bringing a right wing to the Stars, possibly at the expense of a young defensive talent such as Matt Niskanen.

Nieuwendyk also needs to decide on the future of UFA players such as two-time Selke winner Jere Lehtinen and Zubov. Injury has hampered both of these players in recent years, so one could argue the dollars spent on them could be better put to use on younger, healthier players.

Jere Lehtinen will get interest from other teams around the league, and I do think the Stars will make him an offer. Whether we see No. 26 in a Stars jersey next season could very much be up to Lehtinen himself.

Zubov wants to play another season; the question however remains as to his health. When healthy, he is dangerous on the blue line and an asset to the team. He also brings a level of leadership to the young defensive group which is invaluable to the team.

I doubt we will see Mark Parrish or Joel Lundqvist back next season. Brendan Morrison could be keen to play under Marc Crawford again considering his best years were with the Canucks under Crawford’s coaching. Steve Begin proved to be a valuable defensive asset to the team last season so I expect he will return also.

The big question after last season was the play of goaltender, Marty Turco. In the last year of his contract, expect to see him bounce back and have a solid year.

The Stars do need a quality backup goalie who can challenge Turco for ice time, however, so depending on how they go signing Jonas Gustavsson, they may need to fill a gap there, too. I do believe Marty will come back strong after last season, especially with Crawford on his back to perform night in and night out.

As the days leading up to the Jul. 1 Free Agency market looming, tough questions need to be asked, and even tougher decisions need to be made.

For Joe Nieuwendyk and the Dallas Stars, the hard work has only just begun.

Holy Galvanised Rubber Bettman!

Sam Hansen — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:03:15 -0400

When I sat down to write this I was originally going to scribe something to do with Sidney Crosby's groin-like facial hair or Jim's Silly Balls and his bid to buy the Coyotes, but after noticing many articles already on these ever popular topics, I decided not to.

Instead I find myself drawn to the ever popular topic of hockey pucks. Yes, my friends, that black rubber biscuit we love so much is going to embrace us today much the same way hockey players do after scoring a goal; with a hug, a head tap, and a lovingly tap on the rear end.

The standard ice hockey puck is a remarkable item really. It's origin is many depending on who you talk to, but the general consensus is that the puck originated in 1875 by a ball being cut in half to make it slide on the ice surface, rather than roll.

Some say students at Boston University did this, but the validity of this is not known. The first reported use of a "half-ball" puck however was in Montreal, in 1875.

The standard ice hockey puck weighs in between 5.5 and 6 ounces (156 - 170g). Ironically, that's about the same weight as the local sports betting gave odds that Sidney Crosby would hoist the Stanley Cup this year. Much like sports betting odds, the weight of pucks can vary depending on variations.

Dimensions of the hockey puck are three inches in diameter (76mm) and one inch in height (25mm).

That equates to approximately two thirds of a cup of water in measure, or, the amount of General Manager skill that Brett Hull showed during his time with the Dallas Stars. Luckily for the Stars, Hull is now "re-assigned." Luckily for us, the puck stays the same.

Pucks can reach speeds of over 100mph (160km/h) during games when struck. That's about the same speed at which the NHL will step in and over-rule penalties if they want to show how stupid they can be. It's also the speed Gary Bettman can move when someone threatens to buy a failing team in a failing location.

So you see, while the world may be full of news about Bettman, the Coyotes, Jim's Balls and Crosby's Pubes, the fact remains...the hearty little puck outshines them all and can always be relied on for a good slapshot, a few goal celebrations and a good old fashioned game of hockey.

Veteran Leader Joins Blue Tongues

Sam Hansen — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:30:06 -0400

by Wendy Hansen, 28 April 2009 | Beat Writer | Blue Tongues Ice Hockey Club

Few players on the Blue Tongues roster can say they know first hand what it’s like to win the Goodall Cup - the third oldest prize in ice hockey around the world - but veteran forward Trevor Walsh, who recently signed with the Blue Tongues after his move to Brisbane with his family, can attest to what it takes to win the coveted trophy all too well.

“There is only one way to approach any game and that is to want to win. If you don’t want to win, then there is no sense playing a competitive sport. That’s what I love about the game of ice hockey - it attracts the most competitive people."

When asked what he can bring to the Blue Tongues line up this season, Walshie (as he’s affectionately known) replied, “It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks but I will give 100% every shift I play this season. I believe this year the Blue Tongues have a real chance to be successful and I am very happy to be a part of this team.”

And a part of any successful team is chemistry, on and off the ice.

“On ice chemistry being the most important of the two,” Walshie said. “Most teams have a lot of different personalities with many different off ice commitments which might prohibit a lot of interaction. It’s on the ice where the chemistry is most important.”

Walsh knows a thing or two about chemistry on the ice. In the last 9 seasons, he has scored 118 goals and 93 assists.

“Every member of the team must be on the same page. No one player can think he is bigger than the team’s objective. It is not an easy thing to achieve, but when the chemistry is right, it usually has a successful outcome and is a really fun thing to be a part of.

"I have been fortunate to be a part of this type of situation a couple times while playing hockey.” And not just locally either, as Walshie has represented Australia numerous times as part of the Mighty Roos, Australia’s National Mens team.

A hard-hitting and intense forward, the ever humble Walsh imbedded himself into the hearts of the Adelaide Avalanche (and now Adelaide Adrenaline) fans.

“Adelaide has a real healthy hockey following and I was very fortunate to play there for the last nine years. The people of Adelaide were very good to me and my family.”

When asked what he thinks the Adelaide fans’ reaction will be to his return to the ice in an opposing sweater, Walsh answered, “I think that they understand that a hockey player wants to play at the most competitive level for as long as he can.

"I missed out on a year and a half of the AIHL due to things out my control in Adelaide. I just want to finish out my career with a championship. I believe I can do that here on the Gold Coast. I think Adelaide fans will respect that.”

We hope he can finish his career with another Championship too, with the Blue Tongues!

Change is in the Stars

Sam Hansen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:23:46 -0400

No, there wont be any dancing involved and barring some strange twilight zone scenario you probably wont see any telescopes either. There will be Stars though.

For hardcore Dallas Stars fans this year has been pretty hard to watch, in fact possibly one of the hardest in recent years. From the get-go this has been a year when the Stars simply were not meant to go super-nova.

It all started right back at the start of the season when Brett Hull announced with a big smile on his face that the team signed Sean Avery to a contract worth twice his value for years double what you’d think right through and continued til recently when Brad Richards broke his wrist, only to break the OTHER one on his first game back!

Losing Captain Brendan Morrow sure didn’t help with the teams grand plans either, nor did Zubov being out for all but 10 games and a multitude of other injuries to players like Lehtinen, Parrish, and Brunnstrom. In fact at recent count over 300 man hours of games have been lost to injuries this season.

This season’s Dallas Stars remind me of the old nursery rhyme…“Twinkle Twinkle little star, how i wonder what you are.”

Who are you? Or, to be more accurate, what are you expected to be?

Brad Richards injury had the team turning to Mike Modano to fill his role. All of a sudden the 38 year old who has spent much of the past two seasons on the third line as a checking center was expected to play 22+ minutes on the second line and do so like he was in his prime.

Forgive me, but while Mike is a legend and still one of the best in the game, he’s not the guy he was when the Stars won the cup in ‘99.

The blue line suffered all year long with rookie mistakes, lackluster performances and a vast constellation of turnovers, pun intended.

It’s no wonder either considering you have Stephane Robidas and Nicklas Grossman expected to play No. 1 defenseman minutes with the same skill, tenacity and patience that Zubov delivered.

All that aside, mediocre defensive performances and less “punchy” top lines can still win games. Afterall, the last line of defense is none other than “the wall”, Marty Turco. Surely after his standout performances in last years playoffs he could help carry this depleted and fatigued to a playoff spot.

Right?

Normally, yes, but it would appear at some time between game one and game 71 of this season Marty Turco forgot how to stop pucks on a consistent basis. With no quality back-up goalie to challenge Marty for the net, it appears even Marty forgot who he is.

What a year! Many Stars fans will be happier when this season ends than they were when Sean Avery got the boot out of big D.

What now? Clearly this team needs a change. The Two-Headed Snake of Brett Hull and Les Jackson did not impress fans when they failed to deliver a No. 1 defenseman at the trade deadline, instead opting to get Brenden Morrison to replace Brad Richards. An ok move, but not one that really helped this struggling team.

The off season is now the focus for many Stars fans. What will this team get? What do they need? Who will stay or go? Here are some interesting points to ponder…

Sergei Zubov and Jere Lehtinen’s contracts are both up this year. Both are top players if they’re not injured. Is the risk too much to re-sign them? I believe both are worth keeping hold of if the price is right.

Neither of these guys are able to ask for big contracts due to their ongoing injuries, but the cost of not re-signing them could be too high.

Mike Modano has another year on his contract but many fans believe he’s done and should retire. I disagree. Age slows him down, but doesn’t deaden his passion. The team should not rely on Mike to be the player he was 10 years ago.

Even if Zubov returns, he’s no longer able to be relied on as the No. 1 defenseman. Should the Stars make a post season trade to get a Bouwmeester, Kaberle or Redden?
With Brian Sutherby getting a contract extension, does that mean Joel Lundqvist is one the way out?

Maybe we could send him to the Rangers in a deal to bring Redden here. Brothers unite!

Marty Turco no longer has a NTC I believe after his dismall play this year, so could the team look to ship him out?

If i were to make just one change to the current Dallas Stars system, it would be this. I would remove Brett Hull from the GM position and put him somewhere else.

While the co-GM situation was great for a while, the Sean Avery incident proved that Brett Hull is not, and possibly never will be a good General Manager of an NHL team.

I leave you with this thought. If the Dallas Stars had never signed Sean Avery, how do you believe the team would look right now?

Brad Smulders Warms To The Blue Tongues

Sam Hansen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:24:24 -0400

Brad Smulders is the Gold Coast Blue Tongues' latest addition to their import-player list for the 2009 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) Season.

Brad is one of those players who is easy to like. A slick puck-moving winger with an eye for the net, Brad has put up big numbers in North America and Europe.

Standing at 6'1" and 83kg, Smulders is a solid player, who is known to take the body, battle in the corners, and put the puck on net in order to help his team win.

His career stats are long and varied, but one thing has been consistent throughout his career: His ability to put the puck in the net. From his year with the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs (99/00) where he put up 35 goals and 80 points in 60 games to the 07/08 season when he tallied 20 goals and 42 points in 24 games, Brad has been a go-to guy in the scoring department.

When asked about playing on the Gold Coast with the Blue Tongues and what he can bring to the team he responded:

"I am definitely looking forward to coming to play in the Gold Coast and in the AIHL!" He went on to say, "I can bring scoring, hard work, and a winning attitude to the Gold Coast."

We also asked him which NHL Player his game most resembled.

"It's a tough question. I'd have to say maybe a Jason Spezza but a winger."

His winning attitude and scoring has won him accolades in Europe. He was awarded Top Scorer, Top Goal Scorer, and Most Assists in the WC Division 1 Group A in the Netherlands in 2007.

Specs & Details:

Born:	08.12.83, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Height:	187 cm / 6' 1"
Weight:	83 kg / 182lbs / 13st 0lbs
Position:	Wing / Forward
Shoots:	Left

Alexander Ovechkin's Style Key to the New NHL

Sam Hansen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:50:05 -0400

Alexander Ovechkin made an impression with his 50th goal celebration, and the slew of intensely negative reactions has surprised me.

Ovechkin is possibly the most talented scorer in the game since Wayne Gretzky, and he takes an almost childlike joy in everything he does on the ice.

His love for the game shines with every goal, every deke, and every slick move he makes.

However, it appears that most hockey pundits do not appreciate his style. Don Cherry, possibly the last person I would go to for insight on the modern NHL, came down extraordinarily hard on Ovechkin.

Seriously, what is the problem? Here’s the hottest goal-scorer in the game having some fun while pointing out that: “Yes, I am hot!”

The modern NHL needs people like Ovechkin. Yes, you heard me right.

The Modern NHL Needs This Type of Goofy Player

Each year we hear about how the NHL is trying to get people “into” the game. Any of this sound familiar?

More goals
Bigger nets
Smaller goalie pads
New penalties
Faceoff in the offensive zone on power plays.

It’s all about getting butts in the seats. Bettman’s NHL seems to believe that higher-scoring games will bring new people in.

You are wrong, Mr Bettman.

While high-scoring games may be good for a quick bit of fun, it's the 1-1 games where teams are battling to score for 60 minutes or more that keep fans watching.

But, I digress. Again, it’s all about getting people through the doors, which brings me back to Alexander Ovechkin and his over-exuberant goal celebrations.

Kids love this guy. There are eight-year-olds watching Alex thinking to themselves, “I want to play hockey!”

Children and adults alike are being drawn back to the game because players like Alex make it fun to watch. More importantly, he has people paying hard-earned money to watch hockey.

Jeremy Roenick went on radio saying:

“You know what? I love Ovechkin. I think this kid is great. He’s great for the game. He’s great for the young kids to watch. The energy this kid shows, the talent he shows, and what he does on the ice is just spectacular. And you know what, so what?

He goes and puts his stick down, and, you know, he is hot....He’s telling everybody that he’s red-hot, and his stick is hot."

Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt was quoted as saying:

“But the game has changed. You’ve got the instigator rule, so players can’t police each other without facing the consequences. It’s a different era, the new NHL, and I think the league wants to see more of it.”

Clearly, Alex does have some fans around the league.

And you know what? If letting "Alex be Alex" means getting new fans through those doors, I’m all for it.

Images courtesy of sports.yahoo.com and nhl.com

Blue Tongue Dave Upton Selected For Australian Hockey Squad

Sam Hansen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:13:27 -0500

By Wendy Hansen, Blue Tongues Volunteer

GOLD COAST—Most people have their Christmas wish list filled with items such as a new X-Box, the latest DVD release or even replacement hockey equipment—well, if you're a player anyway.

On Gold Coast Blue Tongues forward Dave Upton's wish list, however, was a nod to wear the Green and Gold for Australia on the national team, the Mighty Roos. It's a goal he has been working towards since he started playing ice hockey.

Dave's dream came true this Christmas Eve, when he was told of his inclusion on the 2009 Mighty Roos squad that heads to Vilnius, Lithuania in April for the IIHF's 2009 World Division I, Group A Championship—a division they now compete in thanks to their win last year in Newcastle, Australia, at the 2008 IIHF World Championship Division II Group B last April.

"It's an amazing feeling knowing that I have made the men's team; something that young players would aspire to and it's like reaching the light at the end of the tunnel," Dave said, when he was asked about his inclusion on the team's roster.

"This is my first time on the men's national team. I have previously only played for the junior team as I had study commitments during the under 18 team's championship."

Dave, 19, isn't the only young member of the squad, either. Lliam Webster, 22, a forward on the Melbourne Ice and a member of the 2008 Championship Mighty Roos Squad, and Jarred Seymour, 19, who was drafted in the OHL in Canada, join Dave in the Green and Gold jersey. This year's team, however, is vastly different to the squad that won the IIHF World Championships last year.

"There are a lot of young players in the team this year who have worked hard for their position, so there is no doubt that the skill is there, but more importantly I think it will add a lot of speed to the team, which will be needed in Division 1," Dave affirms. "One way or another, young players should be brought into the men's team, and what a great opportunity for it."

Following in the footsteps of previous Queenslanders, Don Burke and Mike Gough, Dave is the only maroon on this year's squad, making it an extra special position for Dave to hold.

"As the lone Queenslander, it is something special," Dave remarked. "Since Don retired, he has been pushing for me to make the team and I have, so a big thanks goes to him and Kevin Sands as the coach of the Gold Coast Blue Tongues."

The thanks to Coach Sands is not without merit. Under his leadership, the Blue Tongues had commenced strength and conditioning training a month after the end of the 2008 season—something which will help Dave prepare for the upcoming competition in April.

"All players on the men's team were given a training program which incorporates cardio workouts, weight workouts and agility workouts. It is a full training schedule which will definitely prepare us for the Championship."

And it will no doubt have Dave in great shape for the commencement of the 2009 AIHL Season, when Dave will again be on the starting line up for the Gold Coast Blue Tongues.

Top-Five Potential Future Winter Classic Matchup Ideas

Sam Hansen — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:44:28 -0500

So far we’ve seen the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the Buffalo Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Now that the 2009 Winter Classic is over with, fans are left wondering:

Who could be potential future matchups?

Before you can really start to make a list, you need to think about what goes in to a good Winter Classic game.

Rivalry is the most important feature in my opinion. Having two rival teams going against each other in the cold outdoors seems almost...fitting.

How about “old Vs new”?

I would love to see a matchup between the Dallas Stars and their old home-town “new team” Minnesota Wild. While these two teams may not have a rivalry, this game would provide plenty of excitement for fans.

So here’s my list of top five Winter Classic games I would like to see.

Dallas Stars @ Minnesota Wild. This gets No. 1 for two reason: 1) I'm slightly biased, being a Stars fan, but more importantly 2) because up in Minnesota, people still talk about how the Stars turned their back on the fans. Crazy, I know, but for fans, this game could be huge.
Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs. Is there a bigger rivalry?
Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers. The Winter Classic has seen Sid the kid, now it’s time to introduce it to Ovy.
New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins. A classic matchup if there ever was one.
Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins. The battle of Pennsylvania.

Gary Bettman and the NHL seem keen on focusing on the US teams for the Winter Classic, possibly in a hope to increase ratings within the US. While I understand the logic here, I do disagree with it. The Habs vs. Leafs game would be fantastic to watch, even for fans of other teams.

Dallas Stars Will Make the Playoffs Despite Slow Start

Sam Hansen — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:24:59 -0500

One of the biggest surprises this season has been the shocking start by the Dallas Stars.

Always a solid defensive team which dominated on both the power play and penalty kill, the Stars this season have been anything but good.

Sitting at the bottom of the West for much of the season, many are wondering if they have what it takes to bounce back and make the top eight.

Sadly, the Stars are without solid power-forward and captain Brenden Morrow and the ageless puck-moving master of the blue line, Sergei Zubov. As such, their power play has lacked power and their penalty kill has been riddled with more holes than a war-torn building.

But there is hope. Now that the Avery situation is a thing of the past, the team looks to be bouncing back. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, and have moved up three spots on the ladder to be just three points out of the top eight. Parity truly is their friend this season.

Most people would agree that the Stars have the line-up, and the potential to get a big streak going and dominate the latter part of the season. Marty Turco must have gone hunting lately as he appears to have found his game.

Brad Richards is leading the team with his quality playmaking and the youngsters Loui Eriksson and James Neal have stepped up to impress even the most negative of Stars fans.

Let’s not forget Mike Modano, either. At 38 he’s playing like he’s in his 20s. Each shift he takes he does so with passion and a die-hard attitude that screams “never say die”. Best of all, he smiles.

You can see that he’s enjoying the game again, and it’s showing in his game. He’s stepped up take on an offensive role after being in a checking role for the last season or so.

On the blue line, Robidas and Daley are leading by example, and the young guys, Grossman and Niskanen are improving their games.

And what of Fabian Brunnstrom, you may ask? He’s getting his game on also. Inconsistent maybe, but when you watch him play and you watch him score you see he’s a pure goal scorer. He has the type of natural talent you see in players like Kovalchuk, Hossa and Ovechkin.

He’s working on his defensive game, and is working his way into a more prominant role on this team. Give him time, i have no doubt he’ll be a force on this team in the coming year or so.

So the question is… can they do it? Can they come out of this hole they find themselves in and ride a solid challenge for the Cup?

Of course they can. I firmly believe teams like Detroit and San Jose are probably watching the Stars carefully, because they know all too well what this team can do if it gets it’s game on.

Australian Ice Hockey League Finals LIVE Online

Sam Hansen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:10:56 -0400

This weekend, the top four teams in Australian Ice Hockey come together in Newcastle, NSW for the 2008 AIHL Finals. The Sydney Bears (1), Melbourne Ice (2), Western Sydney Ice Dogs (3) and Newcastle North Stars (4) battled throughout the 28 game season to earn the right to play for the century-old Goodall Cup, the AIHL’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

For the first time, all three games of the AIHL finals are going to be available live online, thanks to the fantastic efforts of Slapshot Entertainment.

From the news release issued today on the Slapshot Entertainment website:

During the 2008 regular season, Slapshot amassed an excellent crew which allowed us to provide high-level ice hockey coverage in a way that has never been done in Australia before. With a 4-camera system (3 game play cameras and a score clock cam), vision-switched LIVE to the Internet using our technical director at our mobile TV studio, we were able to bring together a professional mix of live play-by-play and colour commentary, dynamic on-the-fly graphics, instant replays and mid-period activities such as player interviews. The resulting package was streamed live to the Internet and recorded to disk for delayed broadcast to Brisbane’s community Channel 31 (now QCTV), which is watched by nearly 40,000 viewers weekly.

Slapshot Entertainment brings not only this technical set-up to Newcastle for the Grand Final weekend, but also a background history and appreciation for ice hockey, the quality and feeling from which can be seen and felt in our broadcasts. It’s this passion that prompted our willingness to be involved at this grassroots-level of ice hockey’s growth in Australia. With enough enthusiastic support for this sport and the AIHL, we hope that existing and new fans alike will help it flourish, and Slapshot would like to be a big part of its growing success.

Tickets for the live-to- Internet broadcasts of the 3 games (2 x semi-final and one Grand Final game) are available on the slapshot.com.au website. Game passes can be purchased individually for AUD $11.95 or the 3-game VIP PUCKHEAD PASS can be had for $23.95. Prior to 28 August 2008, pre-sales single-game tickets will be 25% off and PUCKHEAD passes are discounted by 20%.

Saturday will see two games played:

Sydney Bears (1) Vs Newcastle North Stars (4) - 4:30pm AEST
Melbourne Ice (2) Vs Western Sydney Ice Dogs (3) - 7:30pm AEST

The winner of those two matches will play off for the coveted Goodall Cup on Sunday at 4:00pm AEST.

There is also talk of delayed streaming coverage so those in North America and Europe will be able to watch the games without needing to stay up in the early hours of the morning. Those that do, however, will be rewarded with the best level of hockey Australia has to offer—live and exclusive.

ESPN Puts the Fantasy in Hockey

Sam Hansen — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:54:25 -0400

ESPN revealed their much awaited Fantasy League rankings recently and, surprise surprise, they’re pretty much based in fantasy land.

Wait, did I say "much awaited?" My apologies, I meant “much overrated.”

Martin Brodeur gets the No. 1 spot overall, just ahead of Alex Ovechkin at No. 2 and Sidney Crosby at No. 3. In the top 15 players, ESPN actually lists seven goalies. Do they know something about the fantasy value of goalies that the rest of us don’t?

Interested in knowing just who makes up that list of seven?

No. 1—Martin Brodeur
No. 4—Jean-Sebastian Giguere
No. 7—Jose Theodore
No. 10—Evgeni Nabokov
No. 14—Carey Price
No. 15—Ilya Bryzgalov

According to the great minds at ESPN, Chris Osgood (22 overall), Marty Turco (58 overall), Henrik Lundqvist (31 overall), even Marc-Andre Fleury (28 overall) don’t get a shoe-in when compared to the great Bryzgalov (insert chuckle here).

In fact Marty Turco is ranked two spots lower than Boston’s on-again-off-again Manny Fernandez. Vinnie Lecavalier, a player whom most would rank in the top 10 in the league, is down at No. 24.

Hey, they do call it “fantasy” for a reason, right?

So, who are the worse players in the league, according to ESPN?

Well, not including prospects or rookies (who, let’s be honest, are impossible to rank anyway), Martin Gerber (Ottawa Senators) falls in at No. 370.

Just ahead of him are two more net-minders—Mike Smith (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Alex Auld (Ottawa Senators). Does ESPN predict Ottawa will bottom out this season?

I’m almost inclined to think ESPN stands for Exceedingly Stupid Prediction Noobs!

I doubt it matters all that much. In the coming weeks when the fantasy leagues open to the public, I imagine the rush of people heading to Yahoo to join leagues will quickly make us forget ESPN even has a fantasy league system!

Aussies Waiting for the NHL in Wintertime

Sam Hansen — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:38:13 -0400

The sun has just set and tonight, the temperatures will drop below freezing. There may even be snow on the ground tomorrow morning. You could be forgiven for thinking that the ideal evening pastime would be to get in the car, or in front of the TV, and watch the NHL.

For those of us down here in Australia however, these cold winter months are the worse time of year for dedicated NHL hockey fans. The NHL starts in our spring, just when the temperatures are warming up, and runs through to autumn.

So what do hockey fans do down here during the winter months? For the diehard hockey fans, Australia has the AIHL, Australian Ice Hockey League, which consists of eight teams spread across the country.

The amateur league is a far cry from the big lights of the NHL, but it has a growing fanbase from around Australia, and in fact, from around the world.

Over the last four seasons, teams across the country have had import players from a wide range of leagues, including the QMJHL, LNAH, CIS, AHL, and even the NHL.

Two big name players that have seen time in the Australian league are Steve McKenna (who played for the Adelaide Avalanche) and Rob Zamuner (Brisbane Blue Tongues).

The AIHL will be all over in the next few weeks, with the top four teams battling it out to take home the Goodall Cup (one of the oldest hockey trophies in the entire world).

After that, Australian hockey fans will begin to get excited about he upcoming NHL season.