Been awhile

How about them Blue Jackets? Hard to believe that my last post, they had lost their first two games, and now...they are heading for a playoff run. Now, they are going to make a deep run in the playoffs. This is a great time to be a Blue Jacket. I'm really enjoying this season.

The reason I'm posting right now, is that I just made a (voice) appearance on a great podcast called WithAnOhioBias. They are great guys, and made me feel comfortable. It was a great talk, and I hope to do more of them in the future, hopefully as we make a playoff run. Give these guys a follow at their website WithAnOhioBias.

Also, I want to unveil my good luck charm for the Blue Jackets. Last year, while the Monsters were making their Calder Cup run, Teressa and I went to a game. We got glass seats. The Monsters lost the game, but someone (not sure who, but we were alerted to it) took a picture of her. It was titled Resting Bitch Face.... I think this is what propelled the Monsters to the Calder Cup. Maybe it still has some mojo..

Don't shoot the puck, Fire the Coach, or the GM....

So, the first two games are done, and, like last year, the CBJ have lost both. Already, there are people screaming for Torts head on a platter. I'm not one of them, as it's ONLY TWO GAMES!!!!!!!!! What happens if he goes on a 80+ game win streak? Are you going to apologize for asking for his head on a platter? (Probably not.) I have some faith in this team right now, as it seemed like they started to head in the right direction at the end of the Sharks game. I want to see what this team does over the next two months before I make any type of move in the coaching area.


Something else that is really annoying me, is the guy in my section who thinks everytime that we have the puck in the offensive zone, they need to SHOOT THE PUCK!!!! He seems to only do it when we are on our shoot side. Dude, they can't hear you. I've been down on the ice, and it echos REALLY bad. The players also have people banging on the glass, the skates make noise, they have their teammates shouting at them etc, so our players can't hear you. Also, a player on the Edmonton Oilers has this to say.. click here to view the video

Hats off to the Columbus Blue Jackets for yet another awesome opening weekend celebration. Getting to see  the players walk the blue carpet and high five them. Also did the third annual March of the Union Army. It was a nice event, and hope to get it bigger next year. Thanks to Kevin Valentin, Mark Rucker, Marc Humker, Dennis Kelly and everyone else who showed up to march.

Tomorrow night, we take on the Chicago Chickenhaws. Last time we played this team, we beat them and we got to listen to all their sober and coherent fans talk trash about golf and stuff. Best part, had a Blackhawks fan yell at another one about being a jackass. If only those dirty birds would do that kind of thing to their own.

Below are a couple of pictures from the blue carpet last week. Two of my favorite guys, Scott Hartnell and Boone Jenner.

IT IS ALIVE!!!!!!

Yeah yeah yeah...haven't posted in awhile.....bite me. :)

Just dropping a quick line to help out a friend. He's started a little hockey clothing shop, named...what else, Little Shop of Hockey. You may POSSIBLY see some samples at Cannonfest 2016, being held at Dicks Last Resort on August 21st, 2016. Link to the store here, here and here. Yes, I know the guy who started it. He's a great guy, except for that Dallas Cowboy team he likes. But, can't win them all. Check out what he has, and I think you will like what you see...unless you are a *ens fan...then... GET OUT!!!!!!

More details here about Cannonfest. This is a great event, and serves, at least to this humble blogger, as the official start to CBJ fandom all over the globe.

Will I blog more here? Hell, I don't know. Time is a fickle thing.... But don't be SAAD if I don't. I'll do what I CAM to blog more often.

Oh...before I forget to mention this, the MARCH OF THE UNION ARMY is back for a third year. Yes....that march that likes to scream various CBJ Phrases, sing the praises of the CBJ, and all around attention getter on opening night IS BACK, BABY!!!! October 13th, when the Columbus Blue Jackets take on the BAAAAASTON Bhuins...we will march from Rbar to the Arena. Join us...it's fun, get your picture taken by various fans along the route, and maybe even get your picture taken with an actual Civil War veteran, Jay Hillegas. All that and more. Just go to the Union Blue Soldiers page on Facebook here to sign up and be a part of what has become a tradition at the beginning of the season. Click here to view the inaugural march from two years ago.

John Tortorella

Listening to the Post Game Presser with Torts...He was honest. And he said something that made me think, that I need to start a list of some of his comments. I'm going to call them #Tortisms. He's a straight shooter, and ya gotta love him for that at the very least. The first #Tortism is "Gotta have some Skin". The question posed to him was about the booing that was raining down on the players during the game.

He said that you have to get some skin to play in this league. You can't let them get to you (the players and coaches). They like it when they are winning, and the fans are cheering, so you have to be able to take the boos. And he repeated himself saying "You Gotta have some Skin".

The whole presser, he was honest, didn't hold back, but did it in a respectful way. This is a breathe of fresh air, and even though the record is 2-3 with the new coach, I feel pretty positive about this team. They won't win every game from here on out. But they won't lose all of them either, even though we feel that way right now. I'm still behind the Jackets, #CBJNoMatterWhat.


Oh, Blue Line Store, Where the hell is the Campbell jersey?

4 days later

Well, we are now 0-6-0. We haven't come close to a win. We seem to be feeding the notion that we are a joke of a team. We can't even get out of our own way. And now, the fanbase of the CBJ is turning on each other. Losing has a way of doing that to a fanbase.

Yes, I agree that changes need to be made. What are those changes? Who is to say. Four days ago, as stated in this blog, I felt that firing Todd Richards would be a bad idea. I've soften that stance a bit, but I'm concerned that there won't be a good candidate to replace him. Also, how would the players respond? There are so many variables in this that it's hard for me to say what, if any changes, should be made.

There have been confidence issues, that the CBJ Cannon spoke to at length here, and I happen to agree with his points. Sergei made mention he doesn't have any confidence in himself. The team itself doesn't have any confidence in itself, as evidence in last nights game in Chicago. Again, no answers will be found in this blog, but what needs to happen to get that back.

One thing that I noticed today, and I did myself, was that the CBJ FAITHFUL are tweeting the players, giving them positive vibes. The fanbase needs to remind themselves that this may be a bump in the road. Eddie Olczyk even said that the CBJ still have the talent and time to get to the playoffs. I happen to agree with him. We have the time and talent to still do this. We can still live up to our potential. We still play into May and June with this team. We don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater right now.

I have faith in this team. I have faith in the ownership and management team to make the right decisions for the present, and future, of our Columbus Blue Jackets. I may not agree with them, we all may not agree with them, but they are paid to make those decisions.

Short Blog, but I leave you with this inspiration video. and Go Jackets!!!

Oh......Boy......

The season has started for most teams. For the CBJ, it doesn't seem to have started as of yet. I'm concerned, like most fans, that this is indicative of another bad season. Our talent base is one of the best, if not the best, we've ever assembled. We, as fans, were hopeful, excited, and dreaming of a playoff run. Now, we just want to win a game. I know there are other teams that haven't one, including three other teams in our division. But, I'm not worried about those teams right now. I'm worried about my CBJ.

One of my main issues I'm having right now, are all the people already calling for major changes. Some are asking for HCTR to be fired. Some are asking for trades and call-ups. I've even seen someone calling for Jarmo to be fired. I don't get it. Why is everyone wanting these drastic changes? Has it ever worked for other teams in the past? I'm dumbfounded by all of the comments.

I've been a fan of the CBJ for a few years. I can't say I've been a fan since the beginning, as I lived in Boston when they started. I somewhat followed them. I have read about the bad years, of which there are alot in the 15 years of existence. But, I'm been bitten by the bug. I'm a diehard CBJ fan now. Win, lose, tie, shootout. I'm a fan. I stand behind them.

Does this mean I'll turn a blind eye to what is wrong? No. I will make suggestions to what I think will improve the team. Right now, support is what they need. They know they are playing like complete crap. I hate seeing them playing like this. But, I will still support them. I will not boo them, I will not ask for HCTR to be fired at this point. I won't ask to trade certain players right now. It's way too early for that talk.

I'm a fan. A loyal fan. Just like I am for Ohio State Football. I have faith right now that the CBJ will turn it around. We need to give them that. We want to keep this team a destination for some of the more talented players in the league. Let's show the hockey world that Columbus deserves the 6th best fan base in hockey according to ESPN. We owe the players that.

That said...where the HELL is my Campbell jersey at, Blue Line store?

Pre-season thoughts

So, we have five pre-season games in the books so far. I'm liking what I'm seeing so far. Campbell, who I'm more excited about, acquistion wise, is looking good. I haven't seen Saad yet (his first game was today), but I have high hopes that he is going to do well. That kid has some potential.

Switching gears one of the prospects that stood out to me was Oleg Yevenko. He had a fight during the game on Tuesday evening, and he reminds me so much of Chara from the Bruins. Big, bruising, and ready to protect his teammates. I'm hoping that he finds his way back to the Blue Jackets. He is one player that I feel is ready for the big leagues. And, he moves well for a guy his size. Something to be said for that.

Sonny Milano has impressed as well. He's had more game time, due to Saad's injury (puck to the face). This has given him some valuable ice time, and I think it's raised his stock. He seems to fit well with the team and has developed some chemistry with the vets. Respect is big, and he seems to have it.

Joonas Korpisalo. After watching the first game against the Penguins, that name is going to be known. He played a lights out campaign (save for the shootout) that night. I'm hoping that he is the best kept secret of the CBJ, meaning that his name never gets out. In my mind, and many others I spoke with, he is the new #3 goaltender.

We have one more home pre-season game, against the Nashville KittyCats. It's going to be a fun one, for sure. Hoping to see some of you there.

A few things I wanna plug before I go. First off, the March of the Union Army. If you haven't signed up, I have one question. WHY? WHY NOT? Go to the Union Blue Soldiers Page on Facebook to sign up. There is no basic training required other than yelling and walking. Want to see what it entails? View this YouTube video from last years March. This will give you all you need to know.

Also, my buddies at Boone's Goons have their own YouTube Channel. When they are not fighting off the Content Police of YouTube, they post some Most Excellent videos and are planning on expanding their offerings. You can go here to visit their channel. I know these guys personally, and I can say they are funny and honest off camera as well.

Although I was unable to attend, it seems that Flockfest was a huge success. A huge shout-out to Foligno's Flock for putting together an awesome event for a great cause. I'm hoping to make it next year, as judging from the pictures, it looked amazing. Unless I have another grandchild at that time, I'll trek up that way.

Lastly, a more personal one for me. On October 11th, I will be participating in the Autism Speaks Walk for Autism. I am the captain of the team for where I work. But it is also a personal endeavor, as my son was diagnosed with Autism in 2006. Since the first walk in Columbus in 2008, I have been a part of the walk. My team name is Melissa's Missionaries, after my late wife who passed away in 2011 of cancer. If you can't make the walk, please consider donating to my page to help raise awareness and fund research for those affected by Autism. My personal page, complete with a goofy picture of my son and I in our Blue Jacket sweaters, is here.

Thanks for reading my blog. Probably be the only blog I ever compose from the great state of Washington. If you ever get a chance, visit this beautiful state. The views that I've seen here, both of the mountains and the coast, have been breathtaking. For now, can't wait to see you guys at the Cannon at first intermission.