On The Fence: NHL Lockout 2012

I'm alternately pissed off and apathetic about the continuation of the third NHL lockout of my lifetime.  This is still about millionaires and billionaires pissing and moaning over how best to divvy up 3.3 BILLION dollars from the last CBA.  Then they'll tackle how best to divvy up that much (at least) going forward. 

It still all boils down to this: You're ALL friggin' rich beyond my wildest dreams.  Get over yourselves.  Drop the puck.

That said, I'm leaning more towards being apathetic this week.  The Gwinnett Gladiators are in full swing here in Georgia and I've got a couple of games in my sights thanks to some friends who know hockey peeps who got me discount tickets.  In Texas the Houston Wild  Aeros are playing their 2012-2013 season as well.  Be sure you're following Heather Galindo on twitter - she's the new Beat Writer for the Aeros!  As always, follow MsConduct10 for the kind of coverage only a goalie-stick-wielding-hockey-loving-chick can offer up.  For MN Gophers coverage there's our beloved Russo who's keeping his mad skillz honed at Mariuci Arena.  While the hockey players and the hockey owners are busy "doing what's best for the sport's future" we real hockey fans have tons of options. 

I know Coach Dave (make that President-Coach-Ref Dave) will have his hands full again this season, regardless of NHL play or not.  His oldest, Alex, will be playing for the Apple Valley High School Women's team, Varsity if all goes well.  I still have an issue with her sweater number- 17.  I mean seriously, will the foul taste of Filip Kuba never leave my mouth?  Coach (and Mrs. Coach) will be splitting the hockey mom/dad duties as they juggle getting Josh in PWA and Ryan in Bantam A, to their games as well.  If you're interested in how Dave is so knowledgeable in all things hockey related be sure to track his kid's teams through the AVHA website.  Or just ask the proud dad how his kids are doing!  

I have to admit I'm a bit on the very sad side of life over hockey in general since this will be the first season in Wild history that I won't be there on opening night.  It will be the first time in the last eight seasons that I won't be sitting next to my equally giddy hockey partner, Vicki.  It is a physical pain that overcomes me when I think about this.  There's a small but very real, selfish, part of me that says "go ahead you idiots, waste this season.  I can plan better to be sitting with Vicki next year anyway."  But that wouldn't be fair to any of us who simply want the game we love.  That would make me no better than the NHL and the NHLPA.  I don't care to be thought of in the same reference as either of those parties.  So I'll be the bigger person here and hope for a salvageable season this year.    

Whatever side of the fence you find yourselves sitting on - Pissed Off or Apathy - I hope that you're keeping current on the (non)events of the current situation with Russo's Rants, Puck Daddy, Backhand Shelf or your own personal favorite hockey writing sites.  One of my favorite reads during the lockout has been The Vent on the Puck Daddy site.

Some Of My Favorite Hockey Tweeters-
@geffman47

@keeperofthecup

@kassassination

@petbugs13 (for the BEST graphs/charts on the hockey lockout you'll ever see)

  
Defending The Blue Line
I'm calling out all of my fellow Wild fans.  Go support the charity game this Sunday night at Mariuci Arena.  You'll not only be doing a good deed for those who've served and are serving our country but you'll get to see some NHL players on the ice for what could be the only time this season.  This is a great way to honor the memory of Derek Boogaard and continue the work he and Brent Burns started in MN.  
And when you go please make sure you're holding very large signs that read: "Wes, Dee still loves you all the way from Georgia!"  My main man for all these years is strapping on the blades and skating along side: 

Last	First	Current NHL Team	Position	#
Parise	Zach	Minnesota Wild	F	11
Parros	George	Florida Panthers	F	16
Stoner	Clayton	Minnesota Wild	D	4
Ballard	Keith	Vancouver Canucks	D	4
Drewiske	Davis	LA Kings	D	44
Hillen	Jack	Washington Capitals	D	38
Bickel	Stu	New York Rangers	D	41
Powe	Darroll	Minnesota Wild	F	14
Braun	Justin	San Jose Sharks	D	61
Johnson	Erik	Colorado Avalanche	D	6
Wheeler	Blake	Winnipeg Jets	F	26
van Riemsdyk	James	Toronto Maple Leafs	F	21
Veilleux	Stephane	Minnesota Wild	F	19
Lundin	Mike	Ottawa Senators	D	10
Porter	Chris	St. Louis Blues	F	32
Okposo	Kyle	New York Islanders	F	21
Martin	Paul	Pittsburgh Penguins	D	7
Brodziak	Kyle	Minnesota Wild	F	7
O'Brien	Jimmy	Ottawa Senators	F	18
Clutterbuck	Cal	Minnesota Wild	F	22
Carter	Ryan	New Jersey Devils	F	20
Kassian	Matt	Minnesota Wild	F	42
Suter	Ryan	Minnesota Wild	D	20
Hendricks	Matt	Washington Capitals	F	26
Byfuglien	Dustin	Winnipeg Jets	F/D	33
Backstrom	Nicklas	Minnesota Wild	G	32
**Davenport	Troy	Cornell Univ.	G	37
Sexton	Dan	Anaheim Ducks	F	42
Jackman	Tim	Calgary Flames	F	15
Falk	Justin	Minnesota Wild	D	44
Walz	Wes		F	37

 **Note to Troy Davenport - get a different number on your sweater.  Nobody wears 37 but Wes.  I mean it, punk.     

To end on a lighter note - there are any number of videos on YouTube bemoaning the 2012 NHL Lockout.  Just type in hockey lockout song and you'll have a couple dozen of them. Here's my favorite one so far: