Hockey for the Ladies

Monday, January 11, 2010

Crosby Pictures of the Week

Out of all of them, the top one is my FAVORITE!!! I really enjoy when you can see the intensity on his face (and in his actions!)!!

Here we have Sid pleading his case once again. He's been doing that alot lately probably because

http://bellmobilemag.bell.ca/

Eastern Conference Eye Candy: Luca Caputi (Pittsburgh Penguins)

I'm certain it hasn't escaped any of your attention that Luca Caputi is fairly "easy on the eyes," so choosing him as our next Eye Candy is pretty much a no-brainer!!!

HOCKEY FACTOR:

Caputi began his hockey career in the minors for the Mississauga IceDogs (OHL) playing for four seasons (within which the IceDogs moved and became the Niagara IceDogs) - his final season being his most successful with 51 goals (ranking him third in the league) and 111 points (ranking him fourth in the league).

He was named to the OHL Second All-Star team in 2008.

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round of the 2007 Entry Draft (111th overall).

Currently, in his second appearance on the Penguins NHL roster to fill the spot left while Chris Kunitz recovers from surgery, Cuputi has two point (1G, 1A) in three games, including his first goal of the season against the Atlanta Thrashers on January 5th; is averaging 11:56 minutes of ice time per game; has 26 points (13 G, 13A) in 36 games with the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Baby Pens (AHL); appeared in five games, posting one goal and four penalty minutes for the Penguins last season.

HOTNESS FACTOR:

Since Caputi is new to the NHL (and not much is written about them during their time in the AHL / OHL other than 'stats'), I couldn't find much about him as far as his personal life, but all we need to know may be what we see of him on the ice. He's a pretty sizeable forward (6'3, 209 pounds) and can keep up with Malkin on the second line.

His given name is Gianluca [Luca] Caputi.

Look at him and look at his team photo (above, not to the right) ... is that shadows created from his cheekbones or is that some type of zaney mustache / sideburns combo he has going on there?!! And he kept it for picture day?? BADASS!!!

He must also be a little bit of a "rebel-rouser" as he was reassigned to the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) last season in March 2009 to be disciplined for "violation of team rules." According to the Citizens Voice Penguins Insider blog, that wasn't the first for Caputi to be disciplined (first offense was in January 2009). My question at the time was, "doesn't he know how good he has it? He's playing with the Penguins organization and was lucky enough to be called up - that was stupid!" Anyway, here's what HC Todd Reirden had to say about that incident:

"It’s a violation of team rules and that’s how it’s going to stay for now."

"It was a policy the players understood. … I’ve been in discussion with (Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma) during the matter as I am with the entire organization. I think our players understand how it will be dealt with now."

How long will Caputi and D'Aversa's stay in Wheeling? "That will depend upon how they do and how their work ethic and attitudes are at that level."

"In this case, the message we want to send to our players is it’s a privilege to be under an NHL contract, a privilege to be in an NHL organization, a privilege to be in the American Hockey and more importantly, it’s a privilege to be in Wilkes-Barre, which we think is the best place to play in the American Hockey League. For now, he’s been sent to Wheeling to learn from there."

DAMN STRAIGHT it's a privilege!! Honestly, I'd say he must've got his shit together to be recalled by the Penguins once again to fill in for Kunitz (good for him!)!! He's lucky (not many people get more than one second chance!)!!

It probably wouldn't surprise you, after reading the above, that he's a pretty good fighter that won't back down and has a few fights under his belt in the OHL and AHL. His latest was on December 9th VS Jonathan Sigalet (Syracuse Crunch). See more on the fight including video HERE at hockeyfights.com.

Sidney's NEW Tim Hortons Commercial

LOTS of endorsements by Crosby these days (almost as much as Talbot!)!!

Here's the latest from Tim Hortons -- it's a really cool commercial (THANKS to all of you who emailed me links to let me know about it!)!!!

ENJOY!!

WATCH COMMERCIAL

I also found an article about it HERE.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Where My Ladies At?

THESE ARE OUR STORIES
(How I Became a [Female] Hockey Fan)!

My Dad has played hockey from when he was a little kid, through high school, and even now on adult, street hockey leagues. Since I am an only child and my Mom has zero interest in hockey, he needed someone to bond over the sport with him and started to take me to Pens games when I was 7. Thanks to his job, he would get season tickets and surprise me all of the time with hockey tickets, even in the middle of the week. Those nights of driving into Pittsburgh with him, just the two of us and sharing peanuts together at the games remain such an important part of my childhood. I'll never forget how cold walking up the hill to Mellon Arena is or how slippery it can be either. I remember not really understanding the game at first but loving every minute of it just because it meant one-on-one time with my Dad when he would talk defensive strategy with me (even though I had no clue what he was talking about).

It didn't take me long to start loving the game though. Watching games on TV is still fun but being in the crowds is like no other feeling. I LOVED getting there early and watching the team warm up and flick pucks at the fans. I was also a little too interested in the fighting and brutality of the game. I would actually sit and hope that a fight would happen because it always gave the team a boost of morale.

This was all during the late 90's and so I remember the good old days of Darius Kasparaitis kicking the crap out of people and Kovalev moon-walking after a hat trick. (Kasparaitis was actually my first favorite player). I was also there, when Mario first came back to the game and scored a goal less than 30 seconds after hitting the ice. We even have a picture of that goal framed in my house because you can see my Dad and I in the background freaking out together.

So I guess my Dad was the original reason that I fell in love with hockey. I already idolized him so it was natural for me to want to love something that was important to him. However, as I've grown up and moved away from Pittsburgh to go to college, hockey has been something that ties me back to my family and the city that I love so much. It's special to me because I know how much the Pens organization appreciates it fans and that I know first hand how the game can become a central part of a relationship between two people. Plus, above all else, hockey is the most fun game to watch in person OR on TV.

Rachel

This is a really touching storing ... the bond between a girl and her "daddy" is one of the most precious and what a wonderful thing to bond over (it reminds me of me and my dad although our connection was basketball and his teaching me how to play for the girls team in high school --- I'm an only child too, so I was the only one he could pass down his interest to!)!! Those players bring back memories too ... LOVE both Kasparitis and Kovy (I just read an article about his doing the moonwalk not to long ago!)!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing such a personal story, Rachel!!

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).
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 in addition to the ones that are already posted in some of the "comments" sections here that I'm hoping to re-post. 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!)!!
thesteelcitysportsfan@gmail.com

Thursday, January 7, 2010

REASON #55
He's Got Malkin's Back!
(and you can probably say the same for Malkin!)

I figured I better 'clean' up my act and get a little more serious this week seeing as how the past few "Let Me Count the Ways" posts have been kinda naughty (and OH SO FUN!)!!! ; )

My inspiration for this one was from my reading an article this week in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about how Malkin blames himself for the last loss. Of course they went to Sid for his side of it and his quote couldn't be MORE PERFECT and made me fall in love with him even more than I already do (which is why I started this weekly post in the first place!)!!!

"I don't think he's getting asked so many questions if we win a few games," Crosby said. "That's kind of the natural thing; when you struggle as a player and you start losing, guys like us get looked at. That's fine.

"I don't think he's got to change a whole lot. He's one shot away from being back where he wants to be. He's playing good, and it's just got to go in for him."

I have NO IDEA how I've never seen this picture of the two of them, but ISN'T IT ADORABLE?!!!

Orpik - Like You've NEVER Seen Him!!

I am really beginning to like Brooks Orpik more and more everyday!! I've always felt he was an awesome defenseman (FREE CANDY, anyone?!), but the more I read about him, the more appealing he becomes as a human being ... he seems to be a really great, genuine guy!!! I especially like the fact that he says exactly what's on his mind (FSN has said that on more than one occasion).

The latest article I read was the one in Maniac Magazine (the one I did a post on yesterday with Talbot). Well, thanks to Sunshine36616, I was finally able to see Orpik's article and if you haven't read it, YOU SHOULD - good stuff!! My favorite part is this quote:

AND this (ALL HP's have to have large butts - it's just the nature of the beast ... just think about how they work those muscles on the ice to skate, eh!) ...