kiwi wingnut

Hope you don't mind Flashy, but I liked the idea of the boys laughing at the boys as women (As disturbing as the whole thing is!)  So Jim B, the goalie coach, now has a copy of the GDT pic in his inbox, to do his worst with later!

Feel you guys might like this update...

 

After the Edmonton game, which was super loud and super fun and capped off a great "trip of a lifetime" to see the Wings, I went to a bar by the hotel for a beer.  I was in the bathroom when this guy asked me about the game, said it was great, and he introduced himself, Jim Bedard, the Wings Goalie coach! 

 

So we talked a little, and I told him my story, I guess he thought it was a good one and he invited me along to their practice yesterday.  It meant I had to change my flight back to Mexico and spring for another night in a hotel, but for a once in a life time opportunity, it was well worth it!  So in the end I had a private tour of the Joe, met a bunch of the support staff, photos in the locker room, had a chat with Kyle Quincey who had spent 7 days in NZ on a kind of promotional USA vs Canada tour a couple of years back (he didn't play, it was all minor league guys, but was there as the meet a real live NHL guy).  Waiting for the practice, Ken Holland (Super nice guy) came out and had a chat for a while, mainly about golfing in NZ.  I hope he doesn't get to go golfing there until retirement, since to go in the right season we'd need to be knocked out of the playoffs...

 

After practice Jim told me to wait in the locker room, so I got to sit around while the guys ripped into each other, I was especially glad to hear them all giving Brunner plenty of "you're lucky to be at the Wings man, best place ever", here's hoping he listens!

 

Tootoo was sitting next to me shoulders all iced up so I asked, was it just general recovery or for something specific (hoping for general recovery).  His answer was awesome!  "oh just general soreness...  shoulders, elbows, arms...  knuckles......."  Knuckles!  Love it!!!

 

Anyways, a fairy tale ending to an awesome first ever trip to the Joe Louis arena to see our beloved Red Wings.  I reckon I'll never be able to thank Jim enough for opportunity, Everyone I met, the support staff, the admin guys, all the way to Ken H, were wicked nice people.  We're lucky to be fans of such a fantastic organisation.

Way cool WA! I too hope you're going tomorrow, I'll be there and will have to hunt you down to call you a lucky b*****d in person!

Aussies started playing baseball about 35 years ago. So they are expanding their range. But there is a decent population between the 2 countries, they have the wealth to play, and they do like contact sports.

This is pretty much true - Aussie has a pretty strong National League already, Melbourne where I was based would sell out the National league games, I think around 1500 spectators.  Also hosted the Div II world champs with Oz, NZ, Serbia, and the juggernauts of hockey, Mexico, Belgium, and Nth Korea.

 

Also they are starting to get a couple of young good juniors from the US or Canada to play in the National League teams.  So it is only going to get stronger.

 

NZ is a bit behind, but I can see it catching up, the bottom half of the country has a climate similar to Detroit I guess, so winter sports in general are really taking off.  Also we love beating Aussies - so I guarantee there are a bunch of people working very hard to get us to that level!

Oh, and as for Oz & NZ being nations to develop the sport, from my experience playing there, we have a ton of guys who keep tripping up on that pesky blue line, and generally fall over randomly.  Played against a guy who's nickname was "Tumbledown" in fact.  Well earned.

 

Anyway - the next Dan Cleary will come from Australia or New Zealand.  Bank on it kids...