HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY SIDNEY!!!!!

ENJOY IT - YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!!!

Schedule of Events for Crosby's Stanley Cup Birthday Bash!!

You know when you were a little kid and your mom and dad threw you birthday parties set to themes like Barbie, Star Wars, etc.?

Well, today Sidney Crosby turns 22 and it's an all-day event set to the theme of the Stanley Cup and EVERYONE is invited!!!

Pretty cool, huh?!!! I think so and it couldn't be more appropriate for Sid!!!

This is the schedule of events that are planned for today that begin at 2:30 PM with a parade which I found on Cole Harbour Place webpage (complete with a map!).

Because today Sidney Crosby is

I'm hoping to get a first-hand account and a few pictures up from readers, so check back later!!!!!

And if any of you are lucky enough to be there and get some pictures, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SENDING THOSE ALONG TO SHARE!!!

REASON #33
He's "been hands-on throughout the process [of the Stanley Cup celebration in Cole Harbor] and doesn’t want anyone to be left out"

According to Metro News - Halifax, Paul Mason (head of the organizing committee for the Cole Harbor celebration) has been in contact with Sidney and his family on a daily basis in planning the event with all of them.

“He’s excited,” Mason said. “He wants to be involved in it and he’s not just going to show up and leave. The hard part, the challenge, is that he wants everyone to get a picture with the Cup, but realistically, it’s not physically possible.”

What a GREAT human being!! Seriously, to want to share the day like that with EVERYONE takes a pretty selfless individual and I'm sure he is excited (I'm excited and I'm not even going to be there!)!!!

And, come on, what an AWESOME birthday bash - it couldn't have been planned out better if it was scripted by Hollywood!!! But who better deserving than Sid??!!!!

Western Conference Hottie: Mikkel Boedker (Phoenix Coyotes)

I'm in a vanilla mood this week, so how can I POSSIBLY resist a smile like this one?? Or the rest of him for that matter?

I'm sorry, but this whole post is mostly bullet-lists because I only find short, individual details.

IMPORTANT HOCKEY STUFF: Played with James Neal, in the 2009 Young Stars game as one of the top rookies of the 08-09 season. Which you know makes big points, in my book. Having never actually paid any attention to him playing, till after I saw what he looked like. I must admit this section is kinda lame. However.

2008-09:
- Scored two goals for his first career multi-goal games vs. FLA, Nov. 8
- Scored his first career NHL goal at ANA, Oct 12
- Made his NHL debut vs. CBJ, Oct. 11

2008-09 Season highs:
Goals: 2 - Nov. 8 vs. FLA
Assists: 2 - Mar. 19 vs. ANA
Points: 2 - 4 times
Shots: 4 - 3 times
Plus/minus: +3 - 2 times
TOI: 22:52 - Nov. 8 vs. FLA

• Helped lead the Kitchener Rangers to the Memorial Cup final with six points (2-4--6) in five games.
  Finished tied for second with 26 assists and second overall with 35 points in 20 playoff games helping Kitchener win the OHL championship in 2008.
• Ranked third overall among rookies in points with 73 (29-44--73) and tied for second overall in the league with nine game-winning goals in 2007-08.
• Voted as the Best Skater in the OHL’s Western Conference in the annual Coaches Poll.
• He played on a line with Steven Stamkos at the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game, registering a goal and an assist.
• Participated in the 2008 World Junior Championships for Denmark alongside his older brother, Mads. He finished second in team scoring with six points (2-4--6) in six games.

REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF: Be still my heart. Golden haired angel come down to liveamong mortals (well, mortal hockey players, anyway) Ok, this may just be slightly over dramatic, but it's pretty close to what happened when I first dropped peepers on this guy. 5'11, 195lbs. of WOW!! Sorry, I keep getting sidetracked. You know, losing my train of thought. That sort of thing.

• He left his hometown of Brondby, Denmark at the age 15 to move to Sweden to play for Frolunda in the Swedish Junior League where they won the Swedish Junior Championships in 2006-07.
• Credits his dad for having had the most influence on his career for everything he has taught him as well as all of the hockey that he brought him to.
• His nickname is ‘Bodsey’ and he wears number 89 because his favorite number eight was taken and 89 was his mom’s suggestion.
• If he could invite any three people to dinner he would choose: Wayne Gretzky, Alexander Ovechkin and his brother, Mads.
• If he could be in any one movie he would choose “Remember the Titans” and if he wasn’t playing hockey he would be in construction.

FAVORITES
NHL Team: Minnesota Wild
NHL Player: Minnesota’s Marion Gaborik
Shootout move: “forehand deke”
Practice Drill: 2-puck
Video Game: Counter Strike
Movie: Gridiron Gang
TV Show: Two and a half men
Actor: Denzel Washington
Group: Linkin Park
Book: Da Vinci Code
Sport (other than hockey): Football
Activity away from the rink: Xbox 360
Place to shop: Downtown Copenhagen
Place to visit: Copenhagen, Denmark

So in summation, I just might have to look a little closer, when the Coyotes come to town this year. Oh eek, what am I saying... You all didn't hear that, did you, OK, good. I have to keep up my rep as a good loyal Stars fan.

Crosby Picture of the Week

This week's photo is a little "dated" and courtesy of Macleans magazine (summer 2008) who "asked dozens of rich and famous Canadians to tell us what they did on their summer vacation."

This was the featured photo along with this caption: "During the summer I enjoy spending time on the water. I find fishing both a challenge and a nice way to relax."

I don't know about you, but I think that's a really good look for him!!! I really like seeing him in this type of relaxed atmosphere (and he has his cap on backwards - that always gets my heart racing!!)!!

More Dates for Lord Stanley Visits

I've learned of a few more dates that players will have their day with the Stanley Cup:

AUGUST 29th - Miroslav Satan (Slovakia)

AUGUST 30th - Petr Sykora (Pilsen)

Next Up: Yesterday Was Talbot's Day with the Cup

Yesterday, July 31st, was Talbot's day to show off the Stanley Cup to his hometown in St. Bruno.

“It’s my home town, I lived here all my life, my family still lives here, I played my minor hockey here at the Palais des Glaces, I got bursaries from the city when I was in Major Junior. So it was an obvious choice,” Talbot said. “It was the only place I could think of to bring the Cup.”

He's one of many of the players who took the opportunity to raise money for charity. For the past few weeks, tickets were sold at $5 each and 125 pulled in a drawing to choose those who would be lucky enough to get their picture taken with Talbot and the Cup. The proceeds went to the Children's Wish Foundation.

The day included a parade (with a few familiar faces joining Talbot and his family on a flat-bed truck - Kris Letang and Iceburgh). Letang generously helped Talbot lift the Stanley Cup over and over again due to his recovery from shoulder surgery a few weeks ago. There were lots of activities for the kids, a band, and it ended at the Parc du Village and the neighboring school yard at the Ecole de Montarville where Talbot addressed the crowd from on stage. Later that evening, Talbot hosted a private party for 350 of his family and closest friends.

A video of Talbot talking on stage is posted below (and, unfortunately for some, he's speaking French):

UPCOMING (and past) DATES WITH THE CUP:
Thursday, July 30th -- Gilles Meloche (Rosemère)
Saturday, August 1st - Pascal Dupuis (Boisbriand)