Lots, But No IP's

This one is on the trading block. Send me offers, Flames players!






We ended up getting free tickets to the Saskatoon Blades game last night and were heading in the the city so thought what the heck. The Blades were playing the Prince Albert Raiders, who sit in 7th spot in the WHL. Scott Hartnall is a Raider Alumni also so it's always fun to watch the 'DUB' Teams. The was no real chance for an autograph but after the game, the Blades always have a player profile who would come up and sign for people, last night was Duncan Siemans. The Blades will sell tickets for a game used jersey, I have come so close to Schenn's and Zahn's. I dropped $15 hoping I could get it signed after the game, missed it by 200 numbers...rats....I have a real interesting video of Lukas Sutter, son of Rich Sutter who was chirping another player prior to puck drop. Once a Sutter always a Sutter. Within a few minutes, the gloves were dropped and Sutter does what a Sutter does...He was like a pitbull on the ice. This is not his draft year but he will go to someone, either 2011 or 2012. My stash is from the mail two days ago. 4/4 from Brett Hull, sent a long time ago, actually gave up on them since I met him in Oct and got the puck and jersey signed. Schenn pic from the Blades game, $3, and the Panini cards from eBay. I had to get my hands on the Craig Conroy Heritage puck, signed before retirement. I will get the Schenn photo signed maybe TTM, here it would only take about 10 days if they're in town.

Johnny Bower and the Rocket

Johnny Bower told this one about The Rocket.
He was with the New York Rangers when this happened. He commented that the fans in New York were nasty and would throw anything that was not nailed down at the players. The night the Rangers were playing the Habs, Rocket scored the first goal. Rocket looked at Johnny and said, "Hey Bower, thank you for #1."
Now, remember, Mr. Bower was telling this story and was repeating it with a French accent. Rocket scored the second goal of the game and sure enough skated by Bower and said, "Hey Bower, thank you for #2." Bower said at this time, he was a little mad at the situation. He yelled back at Rocket, "Hey Richard, what are you going to say next?"
Rocket laughed and said, "Thank you for #3, of course."
Bower said within a few minutes, Rocket raced in and Bower said he had the post hugged tight, shifted his weight just a little and Rocket got his third goal of the night. Bower said there was not very much to see, let alone get a puck through and Rocket did just that. The Ranger fans started throwing garbage on the ice and Rocket skated by Bower and said...You guessed it, Rocket said. "Hey Bower, thank you for #3!"

Johnny Bower and Russ Courtnall Stories

The Pink Warrior Classic had a different method of delivering the speakers for the night. Kelly Gatzke, the PWC Founder, facilitated the first series of questions then the audience asked some. A few stories were really funny so as always, I recorded some and will retell some. I will post one everyday for the next five days.

The first one that comes to mind was a story Courtnall told. In his fist year or two as the Hound Line, Wendel Clark came to him before a game in Detroit. Wendel said, "If something happens and I'm not there in 3 secs, you're on your own."
So the faceoff was at center ice and Wendel was against Bob Probert, Leeman grabbed someone, and Courtnall with a rookie named Basil McRae. Courtnall said Wendel was really hammering Probert and Mcrae had a chock hold on Courtnall. He said he was turning purple and could not breathe. He heard Clark yell at McRae as he was punching Probert, "Basil, if you don't let him go, I'm going to come over there next!"
Courtnall said McRae threw his hands up in the air instantly and wanted no part of Clark. He added when Wendel had a healthy back, he was by far one of the toughest ever.

Johnny Bower and Russ Courtnall

Signed at the Pink Warrior Classic in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan. This a incredible fundraiser for breast cancer awareness operated by a remarkable couple.