Mr. January: Brooks Orpik (Rockin' that Hair!!)

Am I the only one who thinks this picture is amusing??  DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE me some Brooks Orpik (especially his toughness and leadership on the ice), but this just seems to be so unlike the player we've come to "know" (you know, the guy on the ice).

It also seems to me that he's been becoming "soft around the edges" over the past few years (like the woman in his life is good for / to him) which is really a great thing ... every tough man needs that good woman behind him to keep him in touch with that soft side and balance him out (one of the many sexy things about men in general)!

This picture is (I'm assuming) from the day they took video of the guys for their pre-game, gametime, etc., shots and this one doesn't come close to amusing me as much as the video of him does because ... IDK ... I usually lean over to my husband to add the following commentary (like I'm Brooks speaking during the shoot) because it's always what comes to mind and makes me laugh everytime:

"I'm Brooks Orpik and I friggin' rock this hair.  See the curls, I like them - that's right! Don't laugh or I'll kick your ass ... I'm friggin' BROOKS ORPIK!!"

Now, when you attend the next game, please feel free to use that statement or have it come to mind while you watch Brooks during the pre-game video!! ENJOY!

Western Conference Hottie REWIND: Niklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)

[Delicious UPDATE thanks to loyal HftL follower, Deanna!!]
I really don't think I have to preface this with much, but Deanna posted a link in the "comments" which revealed the most BEAUTIFUL pics of Lidstrom from the Swedish magazine, Café.  CLICK HERE to read the article courtesy of "Google Translate." Um ... thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Deanna!!! ; )

YOWZA, mommy!!
(wait ... I can't see ...)
LOL!!

I'm guessing that alot of you are missing HftL's regularly scheduled posts as much as I am (aside from the fact that we get new readers / followers on a regular basis who may have missed some of our delectable offerings that have already been "covered"), so I decided that something is better than NOTHING and that I will "REWIND" to those irresistible players that have already been featured here on the blog (when it's a little "slower" around here). I hope none of you ladies have any objections, but I really doubt that you will - who doesn't want to re-explore "conquered" territory?!!

; )

THE FIRST "REWIND" IS DETROIT'S NIKLAS LIDSTROM(original post date - October 29, 2008; written by Kena L. with a few comments of my own thrown in) 

Before submitting myself to all of your conjectures, let me reiterate that I am not a Red Wings fan. That being said, I can't help but notice hot guys where ever I find them and now that I've admitted to that, lets get on to the good stuff, shall we? Great.

Here we have Niklas Lidstrom. I think he's the first defenseman we've scrutinized in this series (of articles) so far. Which is kind of strange, considering the fact that one of my favorite things about hockey is watching good defense. Oh well, onward...

IMPORTANT HOCKEY STUFF: It's hard to prove your mettle as a defenseman with numbers, but Nicklas Lidstrom has won pretty much every single honor of distinction available to someone who's specialty is defense. Starting with those 5 (I might be one off in either direction) Norris Trophies, Olympic Gold Medal, several World Championships, etc. He's the only European to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He has 10 appearances in the All-Star game. His coach says that “he's the most professional person (in fact, he's so professional he rarely gets any penalty minutes which is unusual for a player who has caught my eye), I've ever seen,” and “he just doesn't make any mistakes.” When I get to watch, I always see him setting down there, just waiting like a cat to pounce on some unsuspecting forward. Yes, he's that good.

THE REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF: 6'1” 198lbs. Dark blond hair (which he thankfully keeps fairly short), with one of the most dangerous looking blue-eyed stares I think I've ever seen. [This video demonstrates it well - it starts at about 6 sec. in] I mean, the intensity of his stare is highly disconcerting. Kinda makes you want squirm, (and not just in a good way, either). In fact, he actually does make me squirm. I have every confidence that if he were in law enforcement, he could simply stare at criminals and they would confess every traffic ticket they ever received. It's no wonder everyone finds it hard to score on him. I'd really like to try, though (and I don't just mean hockey with that statement either). In other bonuses, he's got 4 beautiful boys (all of which are blond), so I get to be jealous of that too.

I can't imagine what it would be like challenging him on the blue line. Enough can not be said about his leadership capabilities. He leads by example. Nothing ever flusters him (although, again I'd like to try, [sly grin]).

[there's really no denying that Lidstrom is sexy - an attractive older man - distinguished (look at the bottom pictures). Kena will laugh at me for this!]

Crosby and Neal Pictures of the Week: Let's Ring in the New Year Edition ...

I am tired of being mopey (about hockey and life IN GENERAL), so I thought some pics of my hockey men would help and I figured they wouldn't hurt you ladies either - YOU'RE WELCOME - lol ; P

BTW, if I haven't said it lately (which is likely since I've been "hiding" for the past few weeks) ... I MISS SID and I'd be lying if I didn't add that I'm starting to get a little concerned ...

ENOUGH OF THAT, Stephanie (or I won't be working on one of my MANY new year's resolutions!!!!  Do you ladies have any that you'd like to share???  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST COMMENTS (you'd be doing be a favor -- I need to take part in some conversation with my ladies - hockey or OTHERWISE!)!!

NOW ... on to the GOOD STUFF (most of them are of my Nealy [THANKS to my good buddy, Debbie!] because, as you are all too aware, Sid is in hiding : ( )  OOPS - there I go again, so I must GET TO THE PICS!!!!

 ENJOY, Ladies!!!

That SMILE, ugh - just HIM (he's PERFECT!)!!
[swoon!]



THANK YOU, Debbie!!  I LOVE this one (and I REALLY MISS the fu!)(Debbie doesn't take credit for creating this masterpiece, so if you recognize it LMK and I'll post credit!)





TOO ADORABLE!!
(so WHY do I always focus on his hands???!!!) ...
AND who wouldn't want to have his babies???!!!!!!
Am I the only one who thinks how he wears his cap is sexy??!!!!
OMG - NEXT PICTURE, STEPHANIE!!!



oh, yeah ...
moving to the next picture helped LOTS!!!
This one ... this one I'm blowing up 'life-size,'
putting it up in my bedroom and
my husband WILL JUST HAVE TO DEAL
LOL ; P

Ladies and Gentlemen ... I Present to You "THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN HOCKEY"

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!  This is turning out to be ONE GREAT HOLIDAY BREAK for me so far (and it's just started) ... the above is what I found waiting for me in my email inbox just a few minutes ago (see how nice I am to drag my ass up off the floor so I could share it with all of you?!)!!! ; )

That is a whole-lotta-sexy-goin-on right there ... don't even get me started on that "staring at me with those 'looking-at-a-face-off-puck' eyes!"  [TAKE ME NOW!!]  And THEN they had to make the title "THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN HOCKEY."

Dear baby Jesus why do you do this to me?!!!

THANK YOU, THN, for finally acknowledging that (1) he IS a MAN and (2) he's the most powerful one in hockey (even if it is for a silly-little-poll!)!!  The rest of us know what exactly that really means (and all the layers of the meaning!)!!

Well, I'm off to clean all the [*DROOL*] off my laptop!!  ENJOY, LADIES and GENTS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

In Light of Crosby Being Placed on IR ...

NO PICS OF THE WEEK ... I'M IN MOURNING!!! :* (

But in his honor ...

Please Come Home for Christmas

BON JOVI

Bells will be ringing the glad, glad news

Oh what a Christmas to have the blues

My baby's gone (my baby's gone) I have no friends

To wish me greetings once again

Choirs will be singing Silent Night

Those Christmas carols by candlelight

Please come home for Christmas (please come home)

Please come home for Christmas (please come home)

If not for Christmas by New Year's night

Friends and relations send salutations

Just as sure as the stars shine above (yes they do)

This is Christmas, Christmas my dear

The time of year to be with the one that you love

Then won't you tell me, you'll never more roam

Christmas and New Year (Christmas and New Year's)

Will find you at home

There'll be no more sorrow, no grief or pain

Cause I'll be happy (happy) that it's Christmas once again

(on a lighter note) ...

Bon Jovi is donating proceeds from their Christmas song,

"I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas"

to the Special Olympics

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ladies!!
*****************

I'm hoping / wishing for something under my tree that alot of us probably are

but none of us may be able to have this year
(or with any consistency for any Christmas to follow)

EVEN THOUGH - I HOPE I'M WRONG!!
: (

GET WELL, SID ...

we miss you
(but your health should always come first ...
it's just not the same without you!!)

how eerily Sid's career echos that of his mentor ...

It's A Boy!!

LOTS of babies these past few months (funny how the hockey world works in "cycles" - weddings in the summer (off-season) and babies in the winter (conceived around season's end!))!!  This one is a few weeks old, but still baby news, nonetheless!!

Detroit's (former Dallas Stars') Fabian Brunnstrom and his wife Sandy welcomed their first child into the world on Friday, December 2 -- a baby boy they named Alexander Noah.

CONGRATULATIONS TO FABIAN AND SANDY!!

It's A Boy!!

THANKS to Nichole H. for the info!

The Staals (Eric, Tanya, and Parker) welcomed the second boy into their family earlier today -- Levi John who weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds, 5 ounces (WOW!) -- definitely another hockey player!!

From the Carolina Hurricanes twitter:

Congrats to Tanya & capt Eric Staal (+big bro Parker) who welcomed Levi John Staal (9lb5oz!) today in Raleigh!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIC, TANYA, AND THE STAAL FAMILY!!