LA Kings Cupcake Wars

How come none of my Kings followers ever told me about this?? ; P  THANKS to my FB friend, Laurie J-A., for this awesome find (this one went totally under the radar - by me - since December 2010!)!!

Cupcake Wars is another of the Food Network's weekly food show competition where four of the country's best cupcake bakers compete for a chance to win $10,000 and his / her cupcake featured in the "winning gig."

The show is in it's third season, but the episode involving the LA Kings was broadcast during Season 2 back in December 2010.  The "winning gig" was a chance to bake the winning cupcake for the LA Kings at the home-opener celebration to kick off the start of the [2010] season.  LA alternate captain, Matt Greene, makes an appearance as a guest judge!

I came across Laurie's FB link of this EARLY this morning (I was wide awake at 4:00 AM and no, unfortunately, I'm NOT kidding!), so I wasn't able to "prepare" for this post and didn't actually get to watch it (yet).  But THANKS to McSwarley, an LA Kings ["nonsensical disquisition of a life-long los angeles kings fan"] blog, I was able to get some good scoop (and screen-caps) on the episode with the "Cupcake Wars Recap" (AND acquire another great blog resource when I'm needing Kings info - it's a pretty cool blog!).

The major disappointment is that the Food Network decided to cut out any of Greene’s usual comedic wit in favor of this guy making bad hockey puns that none of the contestants understood. Such as: “Cupcake making is lot like hockey except here there’s no penalty for icing.” There’s not really a penalty for icing in hockey, either.

My first question is, why haven't I done a WCH on Matt Greene??!!!!  Ladies ... [mental note!]  He WAS a WCH (one of our more popular posts, too) -- CLICK HERE TO READ!!!  How adorable is HE (look at that dimple!)?!!!

Watch the episode below!!

Where My Ladies At?

THESE ARE OUR STORIES

(How I Became a [Female] Hockey Fan)!

I've always been a Daddy's Girl. I can't remember how old I was when I started watching hockey with my Dad. Some of my earliest memories with my Dad are times we sat and watched the Kings. I even remember getting my Dad a poster of Wayne Gretzky for Father's Day for his Birthday one year. I'm pretty sure it said "The Great One" and had Gretzky standing next to a bunch of pucks or something. Then my little brother came along and turned out to be a pretty awesome goalie. Hockey became a thing my whole family could enjoy together. We would go to games and even got to meet a few of the Kings players once. A lot of my guy friends have given me a hard time in the past about being a fan of a losing team etc. but I could never stop. Not only have I grown to really love the team and the sport all on my own (I spent my 21st birthday at a Kings game and they won in the most exciting shoot out I've ever got to see!!), it will always ALWAYS remind me of the time spent with my Dad. I'm 24 now and while I know that's not old I'm still a Daddy's Girl and would never ever trade any time spent with my Dad for anything in the world. I love hockey for a million reasons but one of the top reasons is for being a part of the amazing relationship I get to have with my Dad. (The rest of my family too!)

-Meg 

P.S. The hot guys helped me get interested a lot when I was in high school. My boyfriend now is a little jealous that I'd drop him in a second for Drew Doughty but he'll just have to live with that! :)

I think I've said it before, but I enjoy the stories that involve father-daughter relationships and how hockey played a role in helping them grow closer - it's a very special thing.  THANKS, Meg, for sharing that with us!!

Don't forget, if you wish to submit your story, I kindly ask that you email them directly to me so they don't end up being repetitive for some of the readers. Also, if you don't want me to include your name, please let me know that as well (what I'll normally do is put your first name and last initial if I have it OR just your screen name).

FEEL FREE TO INCLUDE A PICTURE!!

I also want to let you know I LOVE these stories (and so do alot of our readers) - I've always found it interesting no matter who the fan, so I'm enjoying ALL OF THIS IMMENSELY!! KEEP THEM COMING, but I ask that you email them please - THANKS!!!

Also, I ask that you please BE PATIENT as I'm still receiving TONS of stories (they'll be posted in the order I received them, to be fair). If you sent in a story, it will eventually be on the blog - I promise!! ; ) JUST BE SURE TO KEEP THEM COMING (the more the better!)!! AS A NOTE, I'm currently on stories I received back in March 2010!!!

thesteelcitysportsfan@gmail.com

If you haven't, you can READ MY STORY HERE
(how "yours truly" became a [female] hockey fan!)!!

REASON #86

He FINALLY Spoke Out
(not any information, but at least he spoke - AND we know he's still around!)

Yesterday, Twitter (and I'm guessing most of the internet - I just got all of my info from Twitter) heated up again with Sidney Crosby talk.  In fact (I think it's what may have started it to spark up again), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Dejan Kovacevic posted an article of which JUST THE TITLE stirred the pot for some (and really got things heated) - "Kovacevic: Crosby's silence indefensible"

The majority of Pens nation was upset / angry about it and didn't agree with Kovacevic's opinion at all, BUT (IMO) IT DID make the Penguins organization take notice and must've urged Crosby to finally speak because the article that the Penguins webpage posted later yesterday evening in response, "Crosby Visits Leading Specialists," INCLUDED A QUOTE from none other than Crosby himself!

“I appreciate all the support I’ve received from my family, friends, teammates and fans and from the entire Penguins organization,” Crosby said. “I know they only want the best for my health, and for me to be fully ready when I return to game action.”

But there IS a positive twist to Sid's current 'story' which "The Globe and Mail" published around the same time the Penguins webpage article was posted.  CLICK HERE if you want some "feel good" news about Crosby (and HERE if you want to read the post I wrote last night on it)!!

VIDEO: Kris Letang Training

These videos are courtesy of the Adrenaline Performance Center in Montreal where Letang is currently getting ready for this upcoming season (all I have to say is "WOW!") ... the guy helping him train is the owner of the training center, Jonathan Chaimberg, who has this to say about Letang, "Also a big welcome to NHL all-star Kris Letang from the Pens. He's already a stud. After a summer of training he will be a monster." - haHA and is it ME or does that look like James Neal in the video with them (I think I'm going to think everyone in a Pirates cap is James Neal!)?!!

There is one more video (a short :48 seconds in length) ... CLICK HERE to view!! And ONE MORE HERE (THANKS Holyroller17!)!!

ENJOY THE VIDEOS, LADIES!! Please be sure to LMK what's on your mind!! ; )

Cooke "Throws" First Pitch at Altoona Curve Game

Altoona, PA is home to the Altoona Curve and a little over 50 miles (45 minutes) away from where I live.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend this game even though I had originally planned to, but luckily for me (and the blog), my friend Laura who lives near Altoona was there and kind enough to share her story and some pics!!

Hi HftL fans! I had a great opportunity Monday night to meet Matt Cooke, as he was doing an autograph session in my hometown during the AltoonaCurve game. I arrived at the ballpark at 6:00, ready to run to a spot in line. By the time, I got to the autograph line, I’d estimate there were about 900-1,000 people in front of me. The game started at 7:00 with Matt and his son Jackson throwing out the first pitch of the game by way of slapping a puck into a net.

Matt quickly made his way to his table to begin signing autographs for his scheduled 90-minute session. While waiting, I got out of line to go take pictures because I was afraid it would be dark by the time I got to the table, if I even got to the table at all due to the line.

As we were almost to the table, a security guy passed us and I asked if we would make it through the line considering Matt had already been signing for over 2 hours. The security guy replied, not to worry, that Matt had already agreed to sign for anyone who was in lineand waiting. He also said that he estimated there were about 1,500 people in line that night.

Finally, after a 3-hour wait, I made it to the table. Matt was so incredibly generous with his time, making sure to autograph each person’s item and pause to allow them to take pictures with him.

When the game ended a half an hour later, there was still a line of people waiting to get through to meet Matt. I’m not sure what time he finished autographing, but my best guess would be around 10:00 or even later.

Say what you want about him on the ice, but off the ice, he seems like a great,stand up guy!

Many thanks to Rob Eagan, the GM of the Altoona Curve, the rest of the Curve organization, and the Penguins organization to plan such a wonderful night for all of us fans in Altoona! Hopefully this opportunity will continue for many summers to come!

Cooke and his wife, Michelle
courtesy of Trib-Review

MANY THANKS to loyal follower, Laura H., for sharing her story and pictures with us!!

Also, for those of you who were unaware like I was, that Cookey's wife was seriously ill last season (and was near death), CLICK HERE to read Rob Rossi's article about his family's ordeal this past season around the same time he was going through the suspension ordeal for "illegal" hits.

Nick D'Agostino (Pittsburgh's 2008 Seventh Round Draft Pick) by Aubri Covol

Aubri, a guest blogger who has previously written for HftL, has helped me out once again.  The ECEC and WCH have been sparse these past few weeks, so I decided to use a guest post again today.

For those of you who are new to HftL and may not know Aubri, READ HER STORY HERE (and my interview with her HERE). And to read Aubri's previous post, CLICK HERE.



Sid and Aubri (LUCKY girl!)

BIGS THANKS to Aubri, for her most recent post which is about another one of the many up-and-coming hot, young guns in the Penguins organization - NICK D'AGOSTINO (see what you think, but I think he bares a little resemblance to our one and only captain, Sid!). 

Most women love men with athletic skills, but usually that comes with the price of them having no brains to go with it. Well, this rising star is currently playing hockey at Cornell University and hopefully will be joining our Pittsburgh Penguins sometime soon.

Nick D’Agostino spent two season with St. Michael’s Buzzards of the OJHL, and in his first season there he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008 in the seventh round. He was named the OJHL central division’s top defenseman. Along with being the top defenseman in his division, he was also honored by being chosen to represent team Canada East at the World Junior A challenge in 2008-2009, helping them to finish in third place.

In the 2009-2010 season, D’Agostino racked up a total of eighteen points (4 goals, 14 assists), and plus thirteen in his 32 games played. He continued that success into the 2010-2011 season racking up seventeen points (7 goals, 10 assists), but sunk in the plus/minus category ending up being a minus eleven.

Nick D’Agostino is not only a good looking hockey player, he is also is extremely smart getting an education at Cornell University. He has the entire package of being a smart, good looking, and an athlete. Everybody wishes you the best of luck in your upcoming season at Cornell and hope you can join the Penguins organization soon!

Crosby and Neal Pictures of the Week

You know, I can't win with finding pictures of my guys (I found tons - I've been a little "PI" these past few days over the weekend)!!  But when I find LOTS, that usually leaves me with the dilemma of whether or not to post them all or hold off so I can have a few more weeks of posts covered ...

BUT I think I'm going to use all of them because they're just too good of a find and I'm too excited about them!! So, moving on ...

Even though there haven't been many new pictures of Neal pop up until now, it really looks like he's been keeping himself pretty busy this summer ...

Does everyone know that he's on Twitter (@jneal_18)?  It was THE talk for a while ... he went "live" on August 12th ... it IS legit (alot of the NHL players already on Twitter are following him and Talbot said so!)!!  He's pretty Twitter-saavy already ... he posted a few pics (one below)!

On July 2, 2011, James was one of a handful of NHLers who were paired up with a pro-angler and took part in the annual Fish TV Celebrity Showdown.  The charity fishing tournament raises money for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and was held in Palmer Park, Port Perry ON.  I am LOVING the Pirates hat because I think it shows just how proud / enthusiastic he is to play for Pittsburgh (and that just TICKLES me pink!)!!

 

August 17th was "Last Rep NHL Day at the Farm" and James Neal attended that too!!  Last Rep is a company that creates a training mix made from organic ingredients (that come from The Beretta Family Farm).  And "NHL at the Farm" is when a bunch of NHL players get together at the farm to train, but the only notable one (for ME, anyway) is Nealy -- in his muscle shirt and AGAIN with the Pirates hat (he LOVES Pittsburgh, ladies!)!!  UGH, this guy - can he get any more adorable??!!!!

Now on to my Sid ...

At the beginning of the month, SportChek started another contest involving Crosby (they also released some more amazing commercials which have also been making their rounds through the internet - do you know I have yet to watch one of them even though I've had plenty of emails about them?!!  I'm TOO BUSY!)!!

Anyway, the contest is called "SportChek Sidney Crosby Road Trip" and to enter, you must write an essay about why you want to meet Sid.  What do you win?  This is an awesome prize package almost too good to be true (I mean, to me, meeting Sid would be plenty, but the rest AND THEN SIGNED JERSEYS - WOW!)!!

• a meet and greet with Sidney Crosby
• return airfare for 4 to Pittsburgh, PA
• 2 nights hotel accomodations
• 4 jerseys signed by Sidney Crosby
• $500 CAD spending cash

CLICK HERE TO READ read the rules and regulations (and to ENTER the contest)  AND THANKS TO HftL FOLLOWER, Chloe, FOR POINTING OUT THAT THIS CONTEST IS OPEN TO CANADIAN RESIDENT ONLY!!

 

Why am I telling you this?  Because that's where the picture comes from, so I figured I'd also inform all of you of the awesome contest too (and I just threw in another one from REEBOK Sickick III for good measure - it may be old and you may have seen it before, but it's still a good one!)!! ; D

WHY, YES, I did save the best for last!!! : D Honestly, I don't think I need to say more, but I will ... I don't think I got up from off the floor and back into my chair for an hour or so after seeing this one (lost ALL consciousness!)!!!  Have any of you already seen this one?! If not, SEE FOR YOURSELVES!!!



from photographer Chris Woods' website