We'll be doing a new series this season where we showcase your best personal hockey photos. So get your best shots together and send them in to hockeychump@gmail.com. JPEG files are preferred and feel free to send in as many as possible. We want to get them up here for the world to see :-)
They can be of you in action . . .
. . . or a cool action shot from a game you were at . . .
. . . or just something funny:
Get your photos in now so that we can get the on queue for the upcoming season!
Unfortunately for him, it’s not been the good sort of “busy”.
Last week, Simmonds was the subject of a racial incident at an exhibition game against the Detroit Red Wings in London Ontario. While coming in on a shootout attempt, someone threw a banana at him:
Then, just yesterday, Simmonds was again in the spotlight following a game against the New York Rangers. That’s because New York forward Sean Avery accused Simmonds of using homophobic slur against him during the game.
During the post-game interviews, Simmonds sort-of defended himself:
"Honestly, we were going back and forth for awhile there and I don't recall every single thing I said to him, but he said some things I didn't like and I said some things he didn't like. But, I can't recall every single word I said."
Sean Avery also brought up a somewhat rather valid point – that the NBA fined Kobe Bryant $100,000 earlier in the year for using the same slur during a regular season game.
Then, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, whose late son Brendan was openly gay, and who has since become an advocate for the gay community, came out with the following statement:
"Hate speech and anti-gay slurs have no place on the ice rink. The word that Simmonds used is the same word that is hurled at LGBT youth on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility. He should not only apologize for this anti-gay outburst, but the Philadelphia Flyers and the NHL have a responsibility to take action and educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable."
As a result of all this brouhaha, Simmonds was called into the League office today to discuss the incident. The verdict? There’s not enough conclusive evidence to prove that Simmonds was in the wrong.
Defending the League's stance, Colin Campbell had this to say:
"It is important to emphasize that the National Hockey League holds, and will continue to hold, our Players to higher standards with respect to their conduct both on and off the ice. While we recognize that the emotion involved in certain on-ice confrontations may lead to the use of highly charged and sometimes offensive language and commentary, certain lines cannot be crossed. Specifically, we have for many years emphasized to our Clubs and Players that commentary directed at the race or ethnicity of other participants in the game (or even non-participants), or that is otherwise socially or morally inappropriate or potentially hurtful -- including as it may relate to sexual orientation -- is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
I guess Campbell doesn't pay attention to the blogosphere much:
*Stick tap to Puck Daddy for pointing out this video.
I'm not a certified lip reader, but I think we can all take a pretty good guess as to the point that Simmonds was trying to make to Avery.
These two ugly incidents, coupled with the ridiculous amount of head hits and subsequent suspensions, is making the NHL look like it’s out there on the rink with two left skates on. Not a good start.
Not sure if you saw this from earlier in the summer, but this is some pretty cool stuff.
Prior to the 2011 NHL Awards Show, Anaheim Ducks forward and Hart Trophy candidate Corey Perry performed with the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas. Here are some photos from the event:
That's Philadelphia Flyers forward Jody Shelley who, today, was suspended for the remaining games of the preseason and the first five games of the regular season (a whopping 10 games total) for this obvious boarding incident on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darryl Boyce.
The damage? Shelley got a five-minute major and a game misconduct. He will also have to forfeit $67,073.15 in salary.
Hope it was worth it, guy.
Shelley is the second player suspended for boarding this week. Calgary Flames forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (who should really consider abreviating his name) was suspended for the remaining four preseason games and one regular-season game for hitting tryoutee Matt Clarkson of the Vancouver Canucks from behind.
Remind me again, guys - how do these hits help your team?
For the next few weeks, we’ll work on getting our stride back with some early preseason posts.
So what’s new?
The nets – the NHL started using their new nets during last night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.
Among the changes:
• Green goal-verification line
• Thinner mesh at the top of the nets
• Clear plastic lining near the goal posts
• Nets are four inches shallower — going from 44 to 40 inches
New green line in action.
The NHL’s Daniel Craig explains the changes better than I can write them:
Before the league goes forward and implements these changes, it’ll consult with the Players’ Association to make sure everybody’s in agreement with the changes. Personally, I don’t see why they wouldn’t. This’ll only help keep the game moving.
Both sides are shooting to reach a conclusion before the season so that they can implement the changes when the season begins.
