Journey to Paradise 1-16-07

There comes a time in everyone's life where they make a decision to take a journey. Some take spiritual journeys. Some prefer to journey to the land of sun and sand. No matter the destination, when that call comes it is undeniable, hard to resist. It takes hold like a pit bull and will not let go until the journey is complete. This is what happened to me. The journey I needed to take was to the most notable of hockey towns. My destination was Toronto.........READ MORE

A Fresh Start 10-26-06

Is there anything more glorious than a fresh, new start? Ask any Flyer fan tonight and they will say, “no”. What went down at the Wachovia Center on Thursday evening was a rebirth of sorts. The old adage, out with the bad, in with the good, never rang truer........READ MORE

The Captain Speaks 10-25-06

After practice at the Skate Zone on Tuesday, Flyers captain Peter Forsberg spoke to the media. Of course, everyone wanted to know what his thoughts were regarding newly named Head Coach John Stevens and his staff. When he was asked how he thought his team would respond during the Thursday night game versus the Atlanta Thrashers, he simply stated, “We’ve got to give John a great start.” No truer words have been spoken yet this year........READ MORE

Sunday, Bloody Sunday 10-22-06

Some news you just don’t want to wake up to. But, today’s bombshell was a welcomed distraction to my usual morning chaos. The single fact that Bobby Clarke is no longer the “puppet master” of this team was the best news I had heard in a very long while........READ MORE

Spontaneous Combustion 10-20-06

Right about now, most people are numb. Our brains hurt from trying to figure out exactly why a team so loaded with talent is sinking like the Titanic. Here I will try to offer some insight and answers to why the Flyers are stinking like a diaper pail at the local pre-school.......READ MORE .

Pre-Season Hockey: A Colorful Commentary

Part 2 9-30-06

To continue on my musings of the other day I have a few observations from the past week or so. We call this time pre-season hockey. I attended the game between the Flyers and the Senators last Saturday........READ MORE

Pre-Season Notes 9-29-06

This pre-season has many of Flyers’ fans shaking their heads. First, we had to listen to GM Bobby Clarke excuse his poor off-season antics by saying, “We made our big signings last summer. We didn’t have to do that this year.” Excuse me? Are you serious?.......READ MORE

Pre-Season Hockey: A Colorful Commentary,

Part One 9-23-06

Having just arrived home after sitting through a Flyers pre-season game at the Wachovia Center, I just had to write a few thoughts. Admittedly, most of these thoughts came to me while watching practice yesterday morning........READ MORE

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 9-17-06

Keith Primeau said it in his retirement press conference last week. The most wonderful place to be is during springtime with the Philadelphia Flyers. No doubt he was referring to a deep playoff run. But, to get to that, you have to go through what truly is the most wonderful time of the year to all hockey fans. The last couple of weeks in September. The fresh ice. The fresh faces. The grown men acting like boys. Seeing the return of favorites taking the ice almost overcomes the sadness we may have felt for the few we have lost over the summer. This, my dear readers, is the start of training camp, and it is a thing of utter beauty.......READ MORE .

Character Flaws 7-5-06

If we have learned anything from this past NHL season, it’s what a team with heart and character can accomplish. What we have also learned is that this Philadelphia Flyers team is a team with a severe deficiency in this area. Was it an internal flaw or is the explanation right under our noses?

We just watched one of the best Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory. One single quality that stood out above all else is the strong leadership and character possessed by both the Hurricanes and the Oilers........READ MORE

Can They Fix It? 6-22-06

The first NHL season after the lock-out is over. A Stanley Cup Champion has been crowned. Now, we wait. There is a hefty 91 days until the first pre-season game of the 2006-2007. This will seem like an eternity to all those who worship the sport of hockey. So, where do we go from here? Do we look back on 2005-2006 or do we look forward? .......READ MORE

The Greatest Sport on Ice, Indeed 6-4-06

What classifies a sport as great? Is it the appeal to the masses? Is it the way it brings generations together? Is it the way families can rally around it and bond above all else? Well, actually is all of the above. Hockey, most particularly the NHL, has been a part of my life since the late 1970’s. I was born and raised a Philadelphia Flyers fan. At the tender age of 4 I watched the Flyers win the first of two consecutive Stanley Cups........READ MORE

The Agony of Defeat, Again 5-2-06

How does one describe agony exactly? As Philadelphia fans, we should have that description on the tip of our collective tongues. But, alas, all good things must come to an end. Was there any real good that came from this past Flyers season though? Nothing that can fill up this article.......READ MORE

Gut Wrenching and Heartbreaking: A Tale of Robbery 4-23-06

Never have I experienced such an emotional roller coaster during a NHL game in my life. That included the record breaking 5 overtime game in the Flyers last appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The difference? Keith Primeau scored to end that game, giving the Flyers the win. Oh, how we miss him!.......READ MORE

Heart and Guts Required 4-21-06

Armor is donned. Blades are sharpened. Helmets adorn shaggy heads of hair. Razors are thrown away. War? Well, sort of. It’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The most grueling and exciting tournament in the entire sporting world. It’s also the most gratifying and emotional event you will find anywhere........READ MORE

Two Headed Monster 4-16-06

Well, over the weekend we saw the two faces of the Philadelphia Flyers. We saw the handsome, movie star face. Then we saw the ugly, troll under the bridge face. Two separate games, less than 24 hours apart. What in the world is going on? Is this some kind of cruel joke? I’m not laughing if it is.

Is the only way we can win any meaningful games really upon the presence of Peter the Great? This zebra certainly showed its stripes today........READ MORE

Two Great Days, Part II 4-13-06

This week I had the privilege to partake in two wonderful days of events involving our Philadelphia Flyers. In Two Great Days, Part I, I talked about my experience at the Flyers/Phantoms Women’s Hockey 101 Seminar. But, I failed to mention that I was able to touch a Championship Ring. The Calder Cup Championship ring to be exact. It was a thrill. Not as thrilling as it would have been if it had been a Stanley Cup Champion’s Ring, but close. We still have a great chance to get one of those this year. If we can get the Flyers straightened out. That remains to be seen.......READ MORE .

Two Great Days, Part I 4-12-06

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs are bearing down on us it was very refreshing to be able to experience two great days of stress-free events. In a time when everyone in the NHL is on edge and focused on the task soon to be at hand the Philadelphia Flyers provided their fans with some wonderful diversions.......READ MORE .

Where do you go from here? 4-9-06

In the words of the rock group 311, ‘I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds but the lack thereof will leave me empty inside. Swallow my doubt, turn it inside out. Find nothing but faith in nothing. Wanna put my tender heart in a blender; watch it spin around to a beautiful oblivion……’. That has to be how all Flyers fans are feeling right now. After last night’s fiasco against the Toronto Maple Leafs many of us are left scratching our heads begging for answers. There aren’t any that make sense. Without sounding like the usual excuses anything this organization can tell at this point would be futile........READ MORE

I Need Some Oxygen 4-4-06

I’ve given my heart a moment to slow back down to a healthier pace. Having just watched what I feel to have been one of the most highly entertaining games of the year for the Flyers, I feel as though I’ve been through the ringer. And I didn’t’ even play the game. I can only imagine the emotion those players felt tonight. They always seem to downplay a game like this. Make no mistake though, this game meant everything to them........READ MORE

Can I See Some ID? 3-30-06

I may be a day or two late here but that’s how long it has taken me to mull over the latest Flyer loss. To say that I was shocked at the performance of this team would be an extreme understatement. One could actually wonder whether the players on the ice that night were really our Flyers. Did anyone check their ID’s before when they entered the arena?.......READ MORE

Bring On the Big Dogs 3-27-06

We have had the last week or so to take in the transformation of this Flyers team. They went from completely underwhelming their opponents to blowing them out of the water. Just what was the secret to this metamorphosis? You can site a couple of different changes that have taken place here. No matter which way you chose of go, the final result is the same. They have become the team they were supposed to be months ago........READ MORE

Carry a Big Stick 3-22-06

Having just watched our Flyers defeat the hated Rangers many fans are witnessing a re-birth of sorts. One of renewed confidence and spirit.

One of unwavering courage and desire. These are our warriors. They left everything out on the ice tonight. A worthy opponent skated off the ice scratching their heads........READ MORE

Up Close 3-20-06

Today I had the opportunity to partake in one of my favorite activities. I attended Flyers practice at the Skate Zone. Now, I’ve been there a lot already. I look forward to every trip to South Jersey. I get to watch some of the best athletes in the sporting world tune up for their next opponent. In this case, the New Jersey Devils. One of the best attributes of this organization is the simple fact that they let their fans, and anyone else for that matter, come and watch them in a very up close and personal setting. They are always available for autographs afterwards and are friendly and accomendating........READ MORE

Taking Us to the Brink, but Don’t Hit That Panic Button Yet 3-09-06

Beads of sweat dot foreheads. Breathing becomes shallow and shaky. Knuckles are white as sheets. Do you feel it? This, my friends is NHL hockey. This is the power of the most electrifying game on earth. It is wide open. The speed is exhilarating. The hits are bone jarring. The ending, well, you just cannot write this stuff. I am not reviewing the latest action movie out of Hollywood. I am not raving about the newest John Grisham novel. I am talking about the last month of the hockey season. The only unpleasant part is that the “good guys” do not always win........READ MORE

Anatomy of a Slump 3-05-06

What exactly is a slump? According to the dictionary, a slump is to sink or fall suddenly or heavily, decline sharply in value, and a relatively long period of time during which someone or something fails to perform well. Just the other day Ken Hitchcock told the media that his Flyer team was not in a slump. They were playing well enough to win. Therefore, obviously his definition of a slump is wholly different from Webster’s........READ MORE

Back To Business 2-27-06

Now that the 2006 Winter Games have come to an end, the time has come for NHL teams to get back to the business at hand. With only two months left in the regular season, many teams are fighting tooth and nail for the few playoff spots available. No one team is emerging as a definite favorite this year. The standings show who is leading the league in wins and total points, but the intangibles are what will set great teams apart from the average ones........READ MORE

All the World’s a Stage 2-26-06

As I sit here in the comfort of my living room watching the Gold Medal game at the 2006 Olympics, I have one thing going through my mind. Men’s hockey, on the international level, is simply a thing of beauty. Over the past two days I have watched four European teams compete for Olympic hardware. This was a refreshing thing from a fan’s standpoint as well as a writer’s. Of course, I watched every game that Team USA played. I also watched every game Team Canada played. I was disappointed at best. I was appalled at times. Hockey powerhouses they proved they weren’t. The Americans proved that a few members of their team were nothing more than over glorified prima-donnas.......READ MORE

Something Other Than Hockey 2-19-06

Now that the NHL is in the middle of a hiatus for the Olympics, I thought maybe I’d focus on some of the other things going on in the city of Philadelphia over the past few weeks. Some news bites have particularly peeked my interest.

As much as it pains me, I have to touch on the Donovan McNabb issue that took place Super Bowl weekend. I have sworn to myself that I would never talk about McNabb due to the fact that he is my least favorite Philadelphia athlete. I’m being nice when I say that. Personally, I despise everything he stands for. I think that he is a gutless, heartless, phony. But aside from that, he just doesn’t know when to let go and move on. The only thing he has proven is that he is a big crybaby........READ MORE

Back To Good 2-13-06

As the oft-dreaded Olympic Games have come, we find ourselves looking back on the beginning of the 2005-2006 NHL season. A season of rebirth for the league, its players and their fans. With new rules and a new attitude, there is a lot to assess here. Around the league there appears to be a renewed interest in the sport. And, quite honestly, that interest seems to have never waned........READ MORE

To Play or Not To Play, That Is the Question 2-03-06

It seems that the question on everyone’s mind is whether NHL players should play in the Olympic Games. It is a complex question to be sure. These players have nationalistic pride for the countries from which they hail. They also have loyalties toward the teams and cities for which they play. The decision is theirs and theirs alone........READ MORE

What a Difference a “C” Makes 1-31-06

Could it be that the wake-up call the Flyers needed was as simple as naming a captain? I thought so for weeks. I voiced my opinion on the subject stridently. The correct choice, Derian Hatcher, has been made. What remains to be seen is how long this train will stay on the tracks.

While watching the Flyers-Rangers game on Monday night I couldn’t help but think that this was a different team, at least one with a new attitude. The pace was quick. The bodies were flying. The offense was ample. The goals weren’t going in, but you just knew that eventually one was getting past Lundqvist........READ MORE

And The Captain Is…… 1-26-06

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you just have to say, “Enough is enough”. The time for that is now for the Philadelphia Flyers. They have waited long enough. They have made even the most practiced procrastinators look like amateurs. This team needs an ACTIVE captain. Now. Not tomorrow. Not after the Olympic Break. Now........READ MORE

Hextall Revisited 1-22-06

A long time ago, in a era far, far away…………..twenty years ago to be exact, there was a tall, cool goaltender skating onto the ice for his rookie season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The year was 1986 and that goaltender was Ron Hextall.

He had big shoes to fill in the eyes of some of the most demanding fans in professional hockey. His predecessors include Bruce Gamble, Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh, and Bob “Frosty” Froese. His first NHL game was played against the Edmonton Oilers on October 9, 1986. He won his debut 2-1. He never looked back........READ MORE

The Best Kept Secret In Philly 1-15-06

What’s the best kept secret in Philadelphia? Is it really a secret, or is it that people just don’t seem to care? The answer is simple. We have a team in this town that has lived up to all of the pre-season hype and expectations. We have a team in this town that is our best chance for a championship, quite possibly this year. That team is the Philadelphia Flyers........READ MORE

Sweet Revenge 1-08-06

On Thursday, January 5, 2006, the Philadelphia Flyers arrived in New York City for a date with the Rangers. They had one thing on their minds. They wanted, and needed, to mete out some revenge on the Rangers for the opening night loss they handed the Flyers. A game against this long-time rival is always one for the books, but this time it felt more personal. Philadelphia is being touted as one of the best in the NHL, a favorite to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. So, a loss to start the season was intolerable for the team and it’s fans. But, alas they were sent packing with a 5-3 defeat. So, it was time to make up for past shortcomings and show why they are one of the NHL’s elite teams........READ MORE