What hockey is. What hockey isn`t.

Hockey is watching a kid take his first strides on the ice.
Hockey is being the first one out on a freshly flooded rink.
Hockey is the sound of a slapshot ringing off the post.
Hockey is the wind in your face.

Hockey is catching up with old friends at the rink during the holidays.
Hockey is that first swig of beer after an old-timers game.
Hockey is the retired lady selling 50-50 tickets.
Hockey is the coach helping a kid tie his skates.

Hockey is hotdogs and hot chocolate.
Hockey is slapping the goalie`s pads.
Hockey is the first team jacket.
Hockey is volunteers.

Hockey is an early morning car ride with your Dad.
Hockey is the pride in the cut or the lost tooth, ``It happened playing hockey``.
Hockey is rosy cheeks and snotty noses.
Hockey is looking for a lost puck in the snow.

Hockey is knowing the difference between a jersey and a sweater.
Hockey is about the team.
Hockey is the link between generations.
Hockey is recounting a goal or a save.

Hockey is road trips and tournaments.
Hockey is lessons learned.
Hockey is sore muscles and aching bones.
Hockey is us.

Hockey isn`t billionaires and millionaires.
Hockey isn`t salary caps and mediation.
Hockey isn`t lawyers and accountants.
Hockey isn`t just the NHL.

Hockey isn`t back. Hockey never went away.

The time has come for the Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky trophies.

   You might say that the last thing the National Hockey League needs right now are another trophy or two added to their already well stocked hardware shelf, but a case could be made for the point of view that the time to create a Bobby Orr trophy and a Wayne Gretzky award has now come.

   Right now we have the Art Ross, the Hart, the Norris, the Rocket Richard, the Calder, the Vezina, and the Lady Byng as what one might consider the as the first tier regular season individual trophies. Add to that the Conn Smythe trophy, and we pretty much have it covered.

   Some fans and observers have mentioned that perhaps renaming certain trophies, like, for instance making the Norris trophy the Bobby Orr trophy, or have the Hart trophy become the Wayne Gretzky trophy could be a solution.

  Personally, I'm not a fan of the renaming route. The original names help in passing down hockey history through the generations.  These trophies help tie players like Red Kelly to players like Zdeno Chara. Or guys like Howie Morenz to Sidney Crosby.

  No, rather than change what we now have, adding the Bobby Orr trophy and the Wayne Gretzky trophy would probably do the trick.

   Award the Bobby Orr trophy to the NHL's top scoring defenceman, and the Wayne Gretzky trophy to the Stanley Cup playoffs leading scorer. Those are both accomplishments which legitimately deserve to be honoured. And for those who figure that the Orr will almost always come to the winner of the Norris, or that the Conn Smythe trophy winner will more often that not also add the Gretzky, consider this...

   Since the NHL lockout, the winners of the Norris trophy have been:

Lidstrom
Keith
Chara
Lidstrom
Lidstrom
Lidstrom

   The winners of the Bobby Orr trophy, had it existed of course, would have been:

Visnovsky
Green
Green
Lidstrom
Niedermayer
Lidstrom

Only one two occasions would there have been a simultaneous Norris and Orr trophies winner, and that would have been Nicklas Lidstrom.

   As for the Smythe-Gretzky comparsion we had the following Conn Smythe trophy winners

Thomas
Toews
Malkin
Zetterberg
Niedermayer
Ward

Over that same period, Gretzky trophy winners would have been

Krejci
Briere
Malkin
Zetterberg
Alfredsson
Stall

   Again, we see only two instances where there would have been a simultaneous Smythe-Gretzky winner. In this case, Malkin and Zetterberg.

   So how long before the NHL adds some more trophies? Who knows, but the time has come for the Orr and Gretzky awards.

   

It's a hockey sweater.

   Today was Hockey Day in Canada. A great tradition started about 10 years back by the folks at CBC Sports. It gives us all a chance to reflect on what the game means to us both as individuals and as a society.

   We've heard all the cliches before. Hockey is like a religion. Hockey is what binds us together as a country. Hockey defines us as a people.

   Hockey has also given us expressions and vocabulary that is unique to us as Canadians. Things such as "changing on the fly", "two-hander", "playing in traffic", and "top shelf". 

   And in much the same way that we spell words such as "colour" and "centre" differently than they do in the United States, the vocabulary of the game of hockey is also different to that used in what are considered American sports. Two examples of this are the use of the words "jersey" and "locker rooms".

   Unfortunately these words seem to be creeping into the hockey vernacular. They are terms which are used by the NHL by the CBC, and by the Canadian Press.

   As the NHL is mostly an American corporate entity, that it lacks awareness of the traditional Canadian hockey vocabulary is not all that surprising. The CBC and CP on the other hand, should know better.

   At the risk of being accused of nitpicking, here in Canada, it's a hockey sweater and a dressing room. In the words of Hockey Night in Canada's Jim Hughson, "a jersey is a cow", and there are no lockers in a hockey dressing room.

   So in the spirit of keeping the Canadian game Canadian, let us therefore commit ourselves to using the proper terminology when discussing hockey. A good place to start would be the proper use of the terms hockey sweater and dressing room.

You say goodbye, I say hello.

   Just as I was about to sit down and write a few words about how Montreal GM Pierre Gauthier had no choice but to move disgruntled left-winger Michael Cammalleri following the latter's recent indifferent play and comments to the press, it started. "It" being the Twittersphere.

   Cammalleri had been traded, but no one seemed to know where. Or more importantly for Canadiens fans, for whom. Minutes passed... Then word came... Calgary. A few more minutes passed... Rene Bourque was going to Montreal. Surely there was more in return, people wondered.

   Fast forward a few minutes and out came Pierre Gauthier with the news. Cammalleri, goaltender Karri Ramo, and 2013 5th round pick, in exchange for Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland and a 2012 2nd round pick.

   At first blush, it appears that Gauthier may have moved as reaction Cammalleri stating that the Habs had a losing attitude, prepared like losers, and played like losers. It was also reported that Cammalleri stated that he was satisfied with his level of play.

   No sooner had these reports been published that the outcry came. "How dare he call his teammates losers?" and "How dare he say he's playing well?". Not to mention that he appeared to be throwing newly appointed interim head coach Randy Cunneyworth under the bus.

   Pierre Gauthier stated, when announcing the trade to the media, that this was not a reactionary move, but something that he had been working on for a few weeks, only that now the "timing" was right to pull the trigger.

   One thing is certain, Cammalleri had to go. And fast. Especially on the heels of recent public relations disasters. Montreal does not suffer public relations disaster gladly. Especially when it involves a player perceived as having slighted the almighty CH logo.

   Gauthier has already started spinning the story as acquiring Rene Bourque is a move that gives them someone who plays the game with a high degree of passion, a tough, physical player. We'll have to wait and see how that turns out, because Flames fans were accusing Bourque of some of the same sins as those attributed to Cammalleri. Indifferent play. Inconsistent effort.

   So for what it's worth, I think Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster wins this one. In the short term, Cammalleri gives them some needed scoring punch. Sure, he hasn't shown it much this season, but it's a safe bet that he will kick the intensity up a couple of notches over the course of the next few weeks.

   If the Flames, do end up making the playoffs, Cammalleri has shown that he can be very valuable in that setting.

   If they fail to make the playoffs, Feaster could potentially deal Cammalleri at the deadline for much more than he paid to get him.

   Because think what you want of Cammalleri, he can play, and he can score. And he can score in the playoffs.

   We'll have to wait and see...

  

 

Patrick Roy was not happy.

   The Victoriaville Tigres defeated the visiting Quebec Remparts last night by the score of 5-4 in overtime, before 3420 fans who were treated to one heck of a hockey game.

   And while this game could very likely just be a preview of a playoff series come spring, what is dominating the airwaves and papers in the land of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today are Patrick Roy's post game comments.

   In this latest episode of Roy's Rants, the Hall of Fame goaltender, Quebec City hockey icon, and Remparts coach ripped into the officials, specifically the video officials, for their decision to allow Victoriaville's 3rd goal, breaking what was then a 2-2 tie, in the second minute of the third period.

   At issue for Patrick Roy is the fact that the on ice official seems to have been overruled by the video official as to whether or not the puck was kicked in by Victoriaville forward, Phillip Danault.

   Whether or not the goal ultimately should have counted, it's not for me to say. And I have no real problem with the coach of a hockey team griping at the officials either during or post-game. 

   Patrick's detractors, and there are many, do hoewver have a point when they question whether or not it is proper for one of Quebec's most influential hockey personalities to comment in such a way in front of reporters.

  Even if you don't understand French, have a quick listen to this, and read on lower if you wish.

Patrick Roy's postgame comments following Remparts OT loss to Victoriaville.

   So among all of the cursing and swearing, Patrick Roy qualifies the Victoriaville off-ice officials as what might be roughly translated as a "bunch of effin' amateurs". He goes on to say that it was a disgrace, and that the official should lose his job.

   He may be right in that assessment, and he may be wrong, far be it for a regular Joe Hockey Fan like me to say. 

   But it's fair to question the way in which Mr. Roy went about showing his displeasure. Because rightly or wrongly, fairly or unfairly, there are many of us who believe that Patrick Roy has a responsibility as one of the game's greatest players to conduct himself with a certain degree of decorum.

   It wasn't lost on me that the outburst occurred in Victoriaville, the town where legendary player, and universally recognized symbol of the classy hockey person, Jean Béliveau grew up. Can't quite imagine Le Gros Bill, as he was known in these parts, flying off the handle and cursing a blue streak in front of a group of reporters.

    Make no mistake about it, Patrick Roy has been good for the QMJHL. He's a solid coach, icing a competitive squad year after year. On paper, as they say, he seems to be a legitimate candidate for a job at higher levels of the game, should he so wish.

   But there are question marks. Two big question marks. Is Patrick Roy a loose cannon, and can a if so, can a loose cannon coach in the NHL?

   It would be fairly easy to demonstrate that Mr. Roy has a propensity to blowing gaskets, as we say. Sure, it was many years ago, but think back to when he stormed past then-Montreal Canadiens' coach Mario Tremblay and haughtily declared to club president Ronald Corey, something along the lines of "I've played my last game for this team", thus tying the hands of the organization and forcing a trade. Hardly a graceful exit.

   There was also the incident involving his son, at the time the Quebec Remparts goalie, attacked the opposing goaltender, Chicoutimi's Bobby Nadeau, and attempted to beat him senseless, even though it was clear that Nadeau wanted no part of the fight. You might argue that these were the actions of a player, and the coach is limited in his ability to control what players do on the ice, but not many buy that argument as it relates to that particular incident.

   Post game blowups and verbal attacks on a wide variety of subjects have become part and parcel of Mr. Roy's coaching career. Part of it is easy to understand. He is obviously an ultra-competitive person. One does not achieve the things that he has without a very high degree of passion. He cares about winning. Deeply. It's one of the traits that made him so popular with fans. 

   But there are limits to what people can say, and certainly limits as to how to say things. Some cursing and swearing while voicing displeasure about a situation is one thing. Ripping into officials, calling their competence into question, and saying you hope they lose their jobs is quite another.

   Surely the league officials will want to have a listen to these comments, and an appropriate penalty will be levied. You simply can't have the integrity and competency of officials called into question in such a public way.

   Just ask New York Rangers coach John Tortorella. He was fined by the NHL for much milder criticism of officiating during the recent Winter Classic that pitted the Blueshirts against the Flyers a few days ago.

   It's a basic fact of life. You can't go blasting the bosses or the company in public. If you don't think that's true, give it a try. Let us know how you make out.

   So, to be sure, Patrick Roy crossed a line here. It's not the end of the world, but it deserves some sort of reprimand.

   But ultimately the loser in all of this could end up being Patrick Roy himself.

   You have to think that the people Bell Centre offices, headquarters of the Montreal Canadiens, have noticed as well.

   You have to figure that eventually, if it ever gets down to deciding whether or not to approach him about coaching in Montreal, someone is going to ask the question "Is Patrick Roy well suited to coach, and represent, our hockey club?".

   Stuff like last night's outburst certainly doesn't help his case.