rossco

Is there such a thing at the moment as a strong currency anywhere ? Although I'd much prefer to visit the US where I get $1.70 for my £1 (although this is viewed at the moment in horror by the UK population who are used to closer to $2 for £1) than how you guys must feel when you come across here. Obviously the hockey over here isn't quite as good either

I'm going to Atlanta and also St Loo as I've not been to either arena - I make the most of my days when I'm over...well what else is there to do but watch hocley huh ....lol

Just some stuff I have read or in process of reading Searching for Bobby Orr - Stephen Brunt All Roads Lead to Hockey - Bill Boyd The Game - Ken Dryden - Everyone mentions this Etched on Ice - Michael McKinley Legends of Team Canada - Joe Pelletier Scotty Bowman A Life in Hockey - Douglas Hunter Blue Ice - Story of Michigan Hockey - John U Bacon Brett His Own Story - Brett Hull & Kevin Allen '67 The Maple Leafs - Damien Cox & Gord Stellick My Life In Hockey Jean Beliveau - Chris Goyens & Allan Turowetz Phil Esposito Thunder and Lightning - Peter Golenbock 100 Greatest Hockey Arguments - Bob McCown In the Bin - Lloyd Freeberg Hockey Town Life Before the Pros - Ed Arnold The Battle of Alberta - Steven Sandor Between the Lines - Ray Scapinello & Rob Simpson A few others that I have on the shelf for reading Mr Goalie Glenn Hall - Tom Adrahtas Minor in Name Only Adirondack Red Wings - Mike Kane On the Edge Women Making Hockey History - Elizabrth Etue & Megan Williams Great Saskatchewan Hockey Stories Guts and Go - Calvin Daniels Messier - Jeff Klein Hockey's Glory Days - Dan Diamond & Eric Zweig The Boys of Winter - Wayne Coffey Sidney Crosby - Gare Joyce In the Crease - Dick Irvin The Home Team Fathers, Sons and Hockey - Roy MacGregor The following have a distinct Wings slant Rinkside - Craig McCartney Hockey Gods - Nicholas J Cotsonika Blood Feud - Afrian Dater Gordie A Hockey Legend - Roy MacSkimming Motor City Muscle - Stan Fischler Red Wings Essential - Nicholas J Cotsonika What it Means to be a Red Wing - Kevin Allen & Art Regner Quest for the Cup - Detroit News 1997 History of Hockeytown - Bob Duff Hang 10 - Detroit Free Press 2002 Stanleys Back - Detroit News 2002 Forever Hockeytown - Detroit Free Press 2008

Hey you, I hope you are on the mend, as long as it aint your voice then I'm sure you will still be on top form ....lol Well much as I'd love to be there I'm actually trying to arrange a trip if it goes beyond game 4 ... but few small logistical things like , no time off work (may have to go sick) , no tickets and well errr no passport at the moment as I had to renew it recently and it hasn't come back yet....let's just say it will be a game time decision over the next week....anyways have fun and take care

Folks, I'm still alive despite problems with travel getting here...long story. I've been doing a trip log on a Hockey Forum in the UK, here's an extract on my thoughts on last nights game in Cowtown. Back to Calgary in plenty of time for the Flames game. Again a different perspective to when I visited the Saddledome in July during Stampede time. The Stampede Grounds now looked just like a big carpark!! I took up my usual puck bunny position behind the Wings bench for the warm ups and got a chance to speak with coach Babcock. I had an ice breaker prepared, a copy of the Ice Hockey News Review from 1987 which had a picture of Mike during his Whitley Bay days. He was impressed by his own stats and made a comment that he knew Whitley were no longer in the top league in the UK. I commented that neither ere Fife and he remembered Steve Moria. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Steve continued to play way after he did! I left him with the magazine and he hoped that I would enjoy the game. The Dome looked almost full for the start of the game which was preceded by a memorial for Flames prospect Mickey Renaud who at the age of 19 died suddenly at the start of the week. The Wings were still short on D with Jonathan Ericsson getting the call up from the Griffins. It was to get even thinner on the back end when after only a few minutes in Chelios blocked a shot from Aucoin which stung him and despite going out for another couple of shifts he was gone from the game. The Wings essentially rolled the remaining D for the duration of the game and Ericsson had an impressive outing in the circumstances. The story of the game as reflected by the 1st and 2nd Stars were the goalies. Ossie kept the Wings in it in the first half of the game and although the shots were fairly close at that point the quality chances were almost all from the Flames. Ironic then that what turned out to be the game winner was a complete fluke when Tanguay’s cross crease pass bounced off Lebda and behind Ossie. Phaneuf should have stretched the lead early in the 2nd but shot wide of a gaping net. Phaneuf is certainly worth the admission alone although I thought the hit on Kopecky was verging on the irresponsible after he had bodied him off the puck he continued to finish his check with Kopeck on his knees and his head against the boards. He also got away with a high stick on Drake where Drake was pleaded from the bench with his missing teeth in his hand but no call. The Wings brought it on for the second half of the game and when Kipper wasn’t stoning them then the pipes came to his assistance. First on a redirect from Hudler then a laser from Samuelsson. With those kind of breaks then the Flames should be a lock in for a play off spot. The wings had a 38-26 shots on goal advantage but despite pulling Osgood could not create a clear final chance and went down to the Flames for the 1st time this season. Maybe I might be pressed into a D spot tomorrow in Vancouver or maybe the coach can relive those heady stats from his early days…lol Russ, hopefully catch up with you later today.

Hi folks, my Wings tripfrom Scotland this season has me in Western Canada in Feb for the 3 game tilt against the local Flames/Canucks and Oilers. Got tickets for the first two just have to wait on the Oilers releasing in Feb. Wondered if anyone out there might be at any of the games and wanted to hook up before/during/after the games for a chat. My trip earlier this year I met a number of fantastic people, you know who you are guys, so would seem a wasted opportunity if other LGW'ers will be there and we don't make plans. You can get me here (not as often as i should be) or e-mail me. Happy holidays to all from Scotland.

No plans after the game ? If Moxies is an ok place with a TV then see you there anytime around 4pm and we can catch some of the HNIC early game. Cheers

Excellent, hope it works out for you. I'm staying pretty close to the arena, 3 blocks or so on 118. I was in Edmonton in the summer this year but other end of town close to the West Edmonton mall. First visit to Rexall. Cheers

Russ, good plan to be ready for doors open time, that's always my plan too, get some photos. If it's Moxies then sometime around 4pm or after. I'll be on my own, probably a red Zetter jersey and an Yzerman retirement night cap

Hey there, I'm Section 132 row 16. Would be good to see you if you can make it. Let me know if there is anywhere near by that is worth visiting before the game or if I should just head for the arena. I'm there the following night too for an Oil Kings game , game 8 on day 8 of my trip

Hey you...am I typing slowly enough for you to understand me....... thanks for the kind words and yeah it would have been fun to meet up again....someday I'm sure. Try and catch you online soon, I've been completely buried with work in the last few months. C ya

I'm staying up Robson St but have located Moxies and looks cool. Happy to meet up, give me an idea of time and who I should look out for, newspaper under arm, flowers in hair, Wings sweater with a particular number...that might do it should be there no problem. For anyone else out there then we could use the old favourite of meeting behind the team bench during warm up. Cheers John

Hey, good to hear from someone. Never been to GM before so if you have any suggestions of where to hang out then feel free to suggest. Is there anywhere you can catch an Eastern game for a bit on TV before going to the arena for example? I'm going to be in Vancouver from early morning after my flight over from Calgary so should be pretty flexible. Oilers tickets finally went on sale today so I'm all set now for my trip. Still time for anyone else out ther to say hello during my trip. Don't be shy, the worst that can happen is you have no clue what I'm saying GO WINGS

well I'm confirmed... section 107 row 8 don't like the sound of being bullied, I'm ok I'm Scottish, these Canucks are all my ancestors

so it's just me so far huh .... I understand tickets go on sale to the public this Saturday 15th Sept

Any sure fire ways of getting tickets, I'm using the sit on Ticketmaster approach which so far hasn't failed me but obviously that's not going to get us collocated. Also going to take in the Giants game the following night.

Interesting, I'm looking at making the West Coast trip to Canada in February , Flames Feb 22 Canucks Feb 23 Oilers Feb 26 Not quite as elaborate as my last trip but a step nearer the 30 .... 19 (not too shabby a number, maybe I'll stick at that...lol)

Hey nice pic...considering one of the subjects.... lol

Yeah very cool to meet the guys, I think I may have stretched Pavel's english although I'm guessing it was the accent he was struggling to pick up

Was cool to meet all you guys for lunch. My ability to remember names sucks so apologies for no name check

black male isn't an issue but I guess that's why you are retaining said pics

see you at first intermission! Look for us - we've got on tee shirts i had made front says Thanks Stevie 19 back says There Goes My Hero Ooops...I got your message when I got back to the hotel I got talking to some guys during the game in any case. I was gonna pop into to CJ's on the way past , damn. Great night, will see you at the weekend

Hey buddy...I'm impressed you were able to type this message so soon after the event Was a fun evening, get in touch with the pics (you all know the ones) jzr10@hotmail.com Talk later. Cheers John

Thanks for organising stuff V16 - I get a name check for the 4th time....remember I'm shy ....lol .... again hope to speak to some of you guys....even though you probably won't get half of what I'm saying

Look forward to meeting you guys .... just for the record i'm in section 118 row 5 but I'm sure I'll manage to find the Wings bench