TRAINING CAMP!!

Sorry to go all Kanye West on you guys...but IT'S THE START OF TRAINING CAMP!!!

Photo credit: www.predators.nhl.com

After taking most of the summer off from all things hockey-related, I spent a good chunk of my weekend in the frozen comfort of the Centennial Sportsplex.  And, I have to admit that I was less than familiar with quite a few names on the roster.  A lot of things changed over the summer and I am still trying to come to terms with what the team looks like without the Jason Arnotts, the Dan Hamhuises and the Dan Ellises.

So far, Taylor Beck has caught my eye, in a good way.  Colin Wilson, while always on my radar, managed to make me notice him even more due to his increased speed on the ice.  With these two as an indication of a new turn for the Predators, along with the younger leadership of Captain Shea Weber (and newly-minted alternate captain, Ryan Suter), this team could be on the verge of becoming something completely opposite of everything we have seen in years past.  Granted, it's only the beginning of pre-season but I might as well start the year out hopeful, right?

The early scrimmages have brought an added element of excitement to Predators pre-season hockey this year.  These games have also upped the competitive edge for most players quite significantly.  Based on yesterday's scrimmage, you would have thought that everyone on the ice had spent their last few seasons in the AHL.  The drive, determination and competitive spirit of the NHL veterans was an eye-opener for me.  These guys know they are still fighting for a spot on the team.  They are willing to work for it, prove themselves and earn that spot again.

Most of the time, pre-season games are typically throw away games.  However, this year, they could prove to generate some great, desperate hockey moments.

It's hockey time in Nashville again.  Do work, boys!

Hockey Movie Sunday: Week 6

With training camp right around the corner and rookie camp opening on Monday, this is the final week of Hockey Movie Sunday.  There is no greater hockey movie to end this series with other than Miracle. 

If you don't think so, you are un-American and have no heart.  And while it's okay to be un-American (hello Canada and anywhere else in the world reading), it is certainly not okay to not have a heart.  Well, Russians probably have a hard time re-living this but we all know how I feel about the Russians.

This story resonates with a lot of people and has spawned plenty of imitations.  One of the most well-known internet memes of last year came from one of the cutest kids in the universe, Tennessee's own Josh Sacco:

While a tad bit overplayed, this video will never not be cute to me.

Fall is in the air and hockey season is literally (for me, since the Sportsplex is so close) right around the corner.  I've had a hard time keeping up with everything this summer, much to my chagrin. [Notice the time stamp on this post and you'll see how long my days have become.]  My work life is about to get even crazier so I hope I still have enough time to keep up with things around here. Hockey is my only sanity some days and I don't want that to change anytime soon.

Happy Viewing everyone!  If I don't have a chance to write again before next weekend, see you at Training Camp.  I'll be there all weekend so stop by and say hey.

Hockey Movie Sunday: Week 5

Getting right down to business, this week's selection is The Cutting Edge starring Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney.  I know it's not a total hockey movie but it involves the Winter Olympics too.  You should all know by now how much I love the Olympics.

The original trailer for this movie is kind of ridiculous and hilariously 1990's all at the same time.  My favorite part is the voice over guy's line when he says "and she's got a nickname that rhymes with 'rich'".  That's classic.

Happy movie watching, everyone!  Have a great holiday weekend.