Hockey Night in Houston

We had a great time at the Houston Aeros game tonight.  They lost 3-1 to the Milwaukee Admirals, but it was still a good time.  Reminded me of the old days when we used to go to the old Compaq Center to see the Aeros games.  

Aidan had a pretty good time.  I asked him tonight before bed (he was exhausted and up 3 hours past his normal bedtime) what was his favorite part of the game.  He said, "The fighting."  As he put up his dukes.  

He had a ball with the table hockey game.  He also took some shots with a stick on the concourse.  It was a pretty fun night.  The weather even cooperated to make it feel like a hockey night.  It was 42 degrees at game time.  

Heartbreaker: USA loses in Overtime to Canada in Hockey Gold Medal Game

Tough way to end the Olympics.  But the USA Hockey team played their butts off.  If you missed the game, you missed hockey at it's very, very best.  If you missed this Olympic tournament, you missed the best Olympic hockey tournament of all time.  It was fabulous.

Say Hello To An Old Friend... Sir Stanley!

The game was GREAT. So satisfying to watch these kids win the cup. I watched it in a cramped Galveston hotel room on a standard def TV, so I can't wait to rewatch it tonight on my dvr on the nice widescreen 58" HDTV. :)

I also can not wait to get home next month and buy some Penguin Stanley Cup Champs gear!

Freakin' Talbot is the man.

Ohhhh, Make Me a Milk Shake Malkin!

Mike Lange is a Pittsburgh institution. Only Mike Lange can capture the emotion of a Penguins win. This is coverage from Game 4.

"Donna Needs a Donut!"
"Slap Me Silly Sydney!"
"You'd have to be here to believe that!"

How fun is that?

On to Game 7. I can't wait.

A Hockey Night in Pittsburgh

This is a great little article by John Buccigross at ESPN. Traveling to the 'Burgh brings me back to my hockey roots

Here is a little excerpt:

Mike followed me in his car for the 40-minute drive from Steubenville to downtown Pittsburgh, the trip culminating with that familiar visual once the automotive burrowing of Mount Washington is complete -- the Pittsburgh skyline that appears like a giant pop-up book.

It almost looks artificial, it is so overwhelming. One goes from a claustrophobic, dingy tunnel to an explosion of ideas, commerce, water and life. To make the trip more exciting, you now have 2.7 seconds to decide which road to take on your journey. I enjoy these kinds of death-defying moments. You'd better be good in the corners to drive in downtown Pittsburgh. It's a dump-and-chase city.

I checked in to the hotel and took my third shower of the day. I like me some clean. The Omni is a short walk to the Pens' arena, a rink I instinctively refer to as the Civic Arena. It's the kind of rink I prefer -- a place with character and low ceilings and one that actually shakes when the home team does something exciting.

I have really been into the playoffs this year and catching quite a bit of the Pens chase for the cup. It is a really fun group to watch. Those back-to-back cup days were wonderful and this run seems magical as well. But, the Red Wings are a tough veteran and talented team. It is going to just be fun to sit back and watch it unfold.

I look forward to catching game 4 tomorrow night from the Igloo. Isn't hockey in HD GREAT?

Houston Penguins?

Sadly, it looks like the Pittsburgh Penguins days in the 'Burgh are numbered. If the end up anywhere but in Pittsburgh, I hope it's here in Houston.

Mario Lemieux said, "and we will begin to explore relocation offers in cities outside Pennsylvania."

Among the cities known to be interested in the Penguins are Kansas City, Houston, Winnipeg and Portland, Ore.

But, even on our Houston Hometown newspaper's sports page today it barely gets listed as a story. And even an AP story at that. I guess there is little interest. Les Alexander is the Rockets owner and he has been the only real serious person interested in bringing the NHL to Houston.

If the Pens move... please come to Houston.

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