I don't mind going early, I actually prefer it. But my brother and I have season tickets, and we carpool and he can't be bothered to go that early. But since he's on his own this weekend, I'm game for going early. If Snoop-Jasie-Jas (snid) doesn't want to, we can get him his ticket early.
I've never won any "move of the game", but last year I was named the "Cat Pride Club Fan of the Game" (by random drawing at each game) for which I won a gift certificate to a local restaurant, and at a game the year before I won the "Get A Piece Of UVM Hockey History" raffle (they raffle off a game used jersey from previous seasons at every game), got me Graham Mink's road jersey from a couple years back (played a few games for the Capitals, now playing in Worcester for the San Jose Sharks' AHL team). Oh, and earlier this season they had the annual "teddy bear toss" where you bring a teddy bear to the game, then during the first intermission everyone tosses their bear on the ice and they are subsequently given out by the players to kids at the local children's hospital. Anyhow, you write your name on the tag on the bear, and they select five lucky winners. They picked me and sent me a copy of the yearbook/media guide with every player's page signed by that player. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a couple of the ones who have been drafted go on to long and successful NHL careers!
My last game console was an Atari 5200, but I've gotten pretty good (in the few weeks I've had it) at mastering all the buttons and doo-dads on the 360. I haven't played the original xbox, but my bud Rob (whom you've met a couple times) has an original xbox (he's a former Microsoft employee, no less) and after playing with my 360 at xmas, he said that they've really improved the controller over the original xbox. But having never played it, I can neither confirm nor deny that observation. I'm getting the hang of NHL 07, I like it. I hooked it up to the web so I could download all the latest rosters (so guys like Leetch were dropped from the roster, etc.). Good clean fun.
The Denis Lemieux autograph was from the outfit up in Quebec which is officially licensed for all things Slap Shot related, "Mad Brothers". Got one for me and one for my brother. I've gotten a few sigs in person (John LeClair, Marty St Louis, Ray Bourque, and the one and only Bobby Orr, who was a really nice guy), the rest on my "wall of fame" in my home office are from various reputable sources (like the Cam Neely auto'd puck from his number retirement ceremony, which I got from the Bruins Pro Shop at the rink on the night of the ceremony). I haven't met Bill Clinton, but I did get a graduation card and a letter from him when I graduated from UVM. Nothing from Marion Barry, though. Only other sigs I've gotten in person (that I can think of) are Jim Rice (Red Sox) and Robert Parrish (Celtics). But I did once sell a pair of boots to Donald Sutherland. Really. Oh, and a few years back Rob went to a book signing and got me an autographed copy of a book by Michael Palin (of Monty Python).
But I'll be happy to sign any sticks, pucks, 8x10 glossys, etc. I don't charge much.
West Leb to here is 87 miles, so however long 87 miles (nearly all on the interstate) takes you. I've done it in an hour.
Solid game by the Bs today. They resisted the urge for a third period collapse. They still got outshot 14-8 in the third, but Timmy held the fort and shut them down in the shootout. After four goals in the first (two for each), it turned into a pretty good goalie duel, with 35 saves for Miller and 34 for Thomas. Miller made some crazy saves, but Timmy made one more save at the end, when it mattered most. Gotta love that goal at 19:59.1 in the first period. Talk about waiting until the last second. And the Bolts won too, with a goal and an assist from Marty plus an assist for UVM classmate Eric Perrin. A very satisfying day in the NHL for UVMers.
Very solid pick-up game tonight, bounced back well from Sunday's train-wreck. Even made a couple "oh no you didn't!" level saves, one with the blocker and one with the glove. Very satisfying. Had the music from Terminator 2 stuck in my head (I think it's the music from when they lower Ahhhnold into the smelter near the end). As usual, I have no idea why.
-Ricardo
