Get the Puck Outta Here!!!!

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 shoutin...

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 ...

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...

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!! PRE-SEASON HOCKEY STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!! No, I'm not excited at all. This is the best time of year. The leafs are starting to turn (and will still not make the playoffs), everyone is starting to wear sweaters (my fave is #71, but I'll wear any Union Blue past or present), and the gloves will be dropping again, along with the pucks. Our first pre-season game is against the dirtiest of the dirty birds, the team-that-shall-never-be-named, and the team of the Crysby. Kessel, Crybaby, and Malkin are not going to be there, according to the local press, as Kessel and Malkin are playing in their Tuesday game. Apparently, Crysby has a tear duct infection to deal with, and is day to day. I've been counting the days down to this event. This is our first step to a special season for us. With the addition of Saad and Campbell, and being healthy, we are looking at a season where teams are not looking forward to seeing the Union Blue on the other side. ...

Seems like there is a lull. It's been a quiet hockey week. NHL.com posted some stories about our beloved CBJ last Saturday (that I've been kicking myself that I didn't repost them here last week), so for your re-viewing pleasure (if you haven't watched, your viewing pleasure), here is one of the stories , with a video overview from two guys at NHL.com about the Columbus Blue Jackets. Since it's a slow week, CBJ wise, I will use this time to talk about a March. No, not the month of March, but the March of the Union Army. The 2nd annual March of the Union Army  will happen the evening of October 9th, which just happens to be the opening night game of your.... COLUMBUS BLUUUUUE JACKETS!  It's as if the CBJ planned that for us...... Anyway, we will start off at the Patio of the R-Bar  around 5:30, and march to the Nationwide Arena. Last year's march was amazing, and this years is looking even better. This is a great way to show your CBJ Pride, march down th...

For the CBJ, the first two games are in the books. Both of them wins over the Buffalo Sabres and the New Yawk Rangers. I got to watch the CBJ-Sabres game at R Bar downtown. The atmosphere at R Bar was electric. Everyone one excited and jacked up for the game. I have to admit it surprised even me how people were excited for the game. It was really good to see that. Got to hang out with some great people, including Kevin Valentin, Alex Sawyer among others. 97.1 was there, and just a great time to be had. Saturday. The home opener, I got downtown around 2 or so, and you could already feel how excited the fans were for the game to start. I didn't get to see the red carpet as I decided to hang out with Teressa and the rest of the Arch City Army (Brian, Jerod, Zach, et al). I'm glad I did. It was a great time with fellow fans and just plan great folk. Got to see Dancing Kevin again, who, as I've said before, is a GREAT guy and very approachable. I love the fact that his video...

March of the Union Army. Let’s Go Jackets!!!! Let’s Go Jackets!!! 1 st Line (Sounded by lead group) C (Sounded by Lead Group) Ryan (Front group) Johansen (Back Group) RW (Sounded by Lead Group) Cam(Front group)  Atkinson(Back Group) LW (Sounded by Lead Group) Nick (Front group) Folingo (Back Group) D (Sounded by Lead Group) Jack (Front group) Johnson (Back Group) D (Sounded by Lead Group) David (Front group) Savard(Back Group) G (Sounded by Lead Group) Sergei (Front group) BOBROVSKY (Back Group) 2nd Line (Sounded by lead group) C (Sounded by Lead Group) Artem (Front group) Anisimov (Back Group) RW (Sounded by Lead Group) Alexander (Front group) Wennberg(Back Group) LW (Sounded by Lead Group) Scott(Front group) Hartnell (Back Group) D (Sounded by Lead Group) James (Front group) Wisniewski (Back Group) D (Sounded by Lead Group) Tim (Front group) Erixon (Back Group) G (Sounded by ...

The nightmare is over. The Ryan Johansen ordeal is over with. He has been signed to a three year contract. The terms are all over Twitter and Facebook, so I'm not going to re-hash it here.  Bottom line is that it's a fair contract that is backloaded. I like it, and he's back with us. I'm happy, and with the addition of Skille, I think we've improved our team. In other news, Kerby Rychel has been assigned to Springfield. I'm a little surprised by that, as I felt he played better then Wennberg, as much as I was pulling for Wennberg. I'm sure Richards saw something that I obviously missed. I'm glad Wennberg made it, but was also pulling Rychel. I hope to see them both, as I mentioned that to both of them at the Zoo event last week. Brian Gibbons is on the IR, which would be why I didn't see him the last two games. I hope he comes back soon, as I think he's a GREAT addition to the team. Get well soon, Brian. With the last pre-season game in the...

Here is a rough draft of the Sounding off for the March of the Union Army on October 11th. March of the Union Army. Let’s Go Jackets!!!! Let’s Go Jackets!!! 1 st Line (Sounded by lead group) C (Sounded by Lead Group) Player First Name (Front group) Player Last Name (Back Group) RW (Sounded by Lead Group) Player First Name (Front group) Player Last Name (Back Group) LW (Sounded by Lead Group) Player First Name (Front group) Player Last Name (Back Group) D (Sounded by Lead Group) Player First Name (Front group) Player Last Name (Back Group) D (Sounded by Lead Group) Player First Name (Front group) Player Last Name (Back Group) G (Sounded by Lead Group) Player First Name (Front group) Player Last Name (Back Group) Repeated for each line. In between the lines, alternate CBJ and Let’s go Jacket Chants After the 4 th line is sounded off, All groups go We Are the 5 th Line!!!! Also thinking about adding in the coac...

As we get closer to the start of the season, teams are starting to make cuts to get their rosters down. The Columbus Blue Jackets made their roster moves this weekend. I have to say, nothing surprising about the moves so far. Most have been or are expected to go to Springfield, with one going back to their Junior club. From what I've seen and read about in regards to the pre-season games so far, all I can say is that I'm excited. Excited for the future of CBJ hockey. As it stands right now, (barring a signing of Ryan Johansen, which I would welcome), I see Wennberg getting the call to come to Columbus over Rychel, although it would be very close call. I got to see Kirby thrown down at the Penguins game, and I must say I was impressed. I like Wennberg, and his style of play, which seems to fit well with how it's done in Blue Jacket land. But, that said, I wouldn't be disappointed if Rychel got the call either. With the status of Nathan Horton up in the air, it's ...

Over the past few days, book ending my OSU game I attended, I've been able to listen to a couple of podcasts. The first one I listened to was called Blue Jacket Racket. You can find that podcast here . It is on the air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 5pm, although that is subject to change come the start of the regular season. The gentleman who runs that is Kevin J VanManen. You can find him on Twitter @k_vanmanen. His guests that day were the guys who run the twitter account @boones_goones. They were on to talk about the CBJ, and announce their 2014-15 World Tour. They are visiting various towns in Ohio during the Columbus Blue Jacket Season. They are bringing some giveaways to each stop on their World Tour. I enjoyed listening to Blue Jacket Racket. The passion that Kevin has is undeniable. But he is also honest. I'll definitely catch his podcast when I can. He will have the creator of the March of the Union Army Kevin Valentin on his pod cast this week on Friday at 5p...

I do want to thank Greg May for including my blog yesterday on his CBJ Daily  on Ryan Johansen. Three posts in, and I'm linked. Thanks. I just learned that Johnasen's camp made an offer. What it was, is up for ALOT of speculation. My take from this is, that the door is still open. I'm not caring at this point what the offer was, or why it was rejected (although I think hurt feelings may have played into it). What do I want, as a fan? A fair deal, that also allows us to sign our Top Cop Sergei Bobrovosky, and maybe some room for another free agent next year. I don't think that is asking much. I hope Joey is of the same mindset. Everyone one know Joey wants to be here. The Blue Jackets want him here. Something will give, and Joey will be here. I have faith in Jarmo, Davidson, and the Management team. On to happier news, the first preseason game is this Sunday. It is against the St. Louis Blues (Columbus is doing a split squad in Carolina as well). This will be my fi...

I'm excited to be a Columbus Blue Jacket fan. I've been a fan off and on since about 2009. It really b egan to take hold of me last season, when I attended several games, one of which I got to high five the team as they went out on the ice with my son. Last season, we got bit hardcore by Stinger, and my girlfriend and I decided to get full season tickets, so we would be able to go to any game we want. We got to watch Game 4 of the first playoff round at Nationwide from one of the suites at Nationwide. This was an amazing experience for us, and just left us wanting more. We got to go to the draft party at Nationwide Arena in June. Got a few pictures with Prout and Letestu, both of whom are completely awesome. We've been to Cannonfest, which was a great time. We got to go to a Meet and Greet, and got to meet Boone Jenner, get his autograph and a picture with him. I've meet some great people via the Blue Jackets as well. I'm hoping to meet many more throughou...