Hocketownwest

It was purchased at a Grand Rapids Griffins booster club charity dinner and it did not come with any certificate. All items they auctioned are authentic and were gotten directly from the Red Wings. I have a copy of the list of items from the dinner. I would be keeping it except I had another Yzerman Jersey that Steve signed for me personally at the Fanfest last Sept. and I don't need 2.

Yep even writers in Canada thought so "Officials tipped toward Pens' favour in final Tony Gallagher, Canwest News Service Published: Sunday, June 08, 2008 VANCOUVER -- Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the Detroit Red Wings and any emotion from any one particular game has faded, we would be remiss if we didn't seriously ask some questions about what actually took place in that final series with respect to the officiating. Having been around the NHL pretty much since the dawn of man, I have watched a lot of games and have seen a lot of good and bad calls by good and bad referees, and I rarely address this topic. By and large the NHL officials are outstanding individuals whom any corporation would be thrilled to have represent them in almost any situation. When the way the game was officiated swung back and forth in pendulum fashion over the years, you knew that these guys were always just doing what they were instructed to do by the New York office. And when the most important games were played, the most experienced, senior officials were front and centre. And even though the referees of the day would frequently call virtually nothing once the third period began and the game moved into overtime, there was never any sense of anything fishy. The breaks involved in officials' judgments always seen to balance out over a series of games. There was no such feeling at this year's final. While nobody really wanted to say so, how could you have possibly watched the calls in that series and not had the feeling that somehow, consciously or more likely unconsciously, there was a slant toward favouring the Pittsburgh Penguins? While it seemed to be prevalent most of the series, at times to a far lesser extent, the final 20 seconds of Game 6 illustrated the problem perfectly. With Detroit just having given up a power-play goal that allowed Pittsburgh to get to within 3-2 with under two minutes to go, the Pens had their goalie out and the Wings under siege. But with about 18 seconds left, Pavel Datsyuk of the Wings managed to skate free with the puck, skate it out over the blue-line, but as he readied a shot toward the open net, he was hauled down with an abundantly obvious stick foul so blatant that Helen Keller would have been forced to raise her arm. No call. Pittsburgh then got the puck, stormed the other end and nearly tied the game in the last second. This call wasn't missed. There is absolutely no conceivable way it could have been missed. But the officials chose not to end the Penguins' season. In fact, for the first time in all my years of viewing hockey, I was overwhelmed by a sense that there existed a desperate need to keep this series going for the good of the game, no matter how far rule interpretations had to be stretched. The most difficult part came once the series began to gain momentum and it became abundantly obvious the television ratings in the U.S. were building with every game and the league was sending out press releases to one and all that this was the case. That's when things began to get a touch malodorous. With Detroit leading 2-1 in the third period of Game 4, the 1:26 of five-on-three time awarded Pittsburgh comes to mind. In OT of Game 5, with the series a goal away from extinction, the two goalie interference calls that had Detroit head coach Mike Babcock steamed enough he felt compelled to complain to the media the following day didn't seem to pass the smell test. There was Dallas Drake's charging penalty when in fact he was scarcely moving and barely made contact. The fact that one team had virtually all the five-on-three time, often for extended periods, was troubling. And then there was the Datsyuk no-call, one that would have set off an absolute firestorm for hockey had the Pens sent it to overtime. Of 10 experienced media types consulted about the officiating after the series, not one said they thought it was all right. The responses of most can be summed up with a simple head shake and the response "not good." Much has been made by some of the fact that the league didn't seem to use the most experienced people, but instead those who were vigilant about calling the touch stick fouls that have improved the game. And that may have been a factor. But the fact remains the officials who were used are generally very good at their craft. Sorry, but there was something just not right about the way that series went down. Vancouver Province"

It would not have been even close except the refs felt sorry for the Pens and decided to swallow their whistles when Datsyuk was tripped up going for the empty net. Game should have ended with the Wings on a powerplay at the very least. But then again that wouldn't have been very exciting now would it.

Id give each of them a big middle finger before I shook their hands.

When asked about Jonathan, "I've never seen him play," Perry said. Now you've seen he can play and beat you like the little fairy you are. You might not have feared the Pain Train but watch out for the Big Rig.

Thats what I get when I am pumped up and don't proof read.

You'll love Brown's opinion... "I don't think it was dirty at all," Brown said. "He had his head down and I lead in with my shoulder. I don't know what would be so dirty. He had just gotten rid of the puck. It wasn't late or anything." Ummm the puck was way gone, your bigger and you saw he had his head down, yet you still ran him with your shoulder and you "don't know what would be so dirty" You are too dumb to breeth

The other thing that made me laugh about Carlile saying the hit on Hudler was fine because "this is a contact sport and your allowed to hit people" and in the next breath complaining about Franzen knocking the goalie over after the puck went in. "The video doesn't lie" Waaaaaaaaaaaa Thats right Randy, take a look at the HEAD shot.

You should see all the ****** bag Duck fans posts on their board, every other post complaining about a supposed Detroit penalty the ref's missed. Oh and of course the hit on Hudler wasn't dirty Late hit to the head "elbow or not" and its not dirty. You can bet if it happened to their player they would be posting outrage.

Tortorella is a undisciplined hot head, I can't imagine he is liked much less respected. He and Avery are perfect for each other. "Sean you must do as I say not as I do" Yeah thats going to work. Tortorella just lost any control he may have had over Sean I can't wait to see game 6

After watching the video it looks like he was prodded by the girl he was with to go do it, he kept trying to sit down and she kept pushing him to go do it. Lessons to take from this. 5) Wait for a stop in play. 4) Take off your Wings jersey to camouflage yourself and give yourself more time for the element of surprise. 3) Don't hesitate giving the opposition the opportunity to see what you may be doing. 2) Don't waste time trying to stuff it through the camera hole, go find a row not blocked by the net and throw. 1) Never let your girlfriend tell you WHEN to do it

I assumed the Sharks would eventually collapse but I thought that would be if we wound up playing them. If I had to pick I would rather the Wings face the Sharks than the Ducks, the Ducks for some reason just seem to be in the Wings heads and give them a hard time. The fat lady hasn't sung for them yet but game 3 is real crucial for the Sharks. They win this and it could be a series, if not, then wow.

As far as the refs go, it will be like last year, call all the stupid crap on the Wings and the other team gets away with murder. SCF Game 6 Datsyuk tripped leaving the zone, no call. The NHL does not want the Wings to win the cup this year.

The easiest time I have had getting out is the Hockeytown cafe shuttle. The JLA garage and the people mover is a cattle crawl nightmare thats best avoided.

:rotflmao: Thanks for that

Ahh it always warms my heart to see former players come back to bite us, not. I believe Joey will shut us out. Yep a shutout for Joey No doubt about that shutout. Nothing to watch here, the best team in the NHL losing to the worst with that shutout by Joey.

I smelled this coming before it even started. I even said "please and thank you" and this is what I get.

WoW, unf'in believable. Game over

Dear Wings, Please take them seriously, do not lose to the worst team in the NHL. Thank you.

Thats classic Duckguy

Game is being replayed tomorrow on the NHLN @ 2:00pm

Thats just one of the bonus's of the RedWings welfare program

4th line out after a goal......bravo

Got 2 free at training camp

I wore my fake $55 WC Datsyuk to the Griffins game the other day and was approached by people saying how nice my jersey was. Although not an exact copy it is far better made with better materials then the $225 "real" one I saw at Hocketown with its thin material and iron on D.