L2L HQ Relocating To The Midwest

Well folks, I’ve put off writing this post for far too long.  As the title indicates.  We are moving.  The Hub accepted a position with a company in Kansas City, Missouri and started work there immediately after last Thanksgiving.  The Kid and I will be following him there this summer.  Ever since making the decision to move, I’ve been unable to face writing it here.  Starting this summer, this will no longer be about my fan experiences here in Big D.  No more going to practices or games on a regular basis.  We do hope to make both when we are back for holidays and plan on trying to catch the Stars when they play in St Louis, a four-hour drive away from KC.  There are several NHL cities that are an 8-9 hour drive from KC, so I can see what the Hub and I might be doing for our little anniversary getaways in the future. 

We have found a great house in KC with a full basement where we plan to set up our hockey den (it’s already wired for surround sound) and with four bedrooms so we will have plenty of room for guests.  I plan on persuading as many of my online hockey buds to come visit as possible. 

So for now, L2L will remain on hiatus.  I’m far too busy trying to be a single parent, work full-time, get things sorted out for a move and get the house ready to put on the market.  Once we get settled, I plan on resuming my blog writing from the perspective of a displaced Stars fan and will be mounting a full-scale campaign to get a NHL team back in Kansas City!  Ha!

Stars 4 vs Red Wings 1

I’ve gone back and forth on whether I want to live blog this one.  I think I’m going with having this as an open thread during the game and leaving any writing for after the game.  If I’m not completely rung out emotionally.  So feel free to leave your comments below.  I’m sure I will be having a few things to say there as well. 

Wow.  That was the most complete game I’ve seen the Stars play since the 07-08 season.  That was pretty impressive.  Richards line was outstanding.  We finally started to see a little of the pre-suspension or post-Gary Roberts makeover Nealer come out.  Ribs line continued with the magic making they have had in the previous games.  And Kari Lehtonen?!?  What can I say.  The dude is good, really really good. 

The question of how would Mo be greeted was answered as I expected it to be, with a nice ovation during an early commercial break.  I knew Stars fans would be gracious.  As to Fistric’s hit on Franzen,  in replays it looked pretty clean to me but what do I know.  I can never figure those things out. 

I just read that Fabian Brunnstrom has cleared waivers and will be playing in Austin.  I hope it goes well for him and gets some solid playing time down there.  I feel like his situation has not been managed well from the get go.  I’m hoping for a fresh start for him. 

We will be attending tonight’s game against St Louis.  I’m hoping the Stars don’t let them get under their skin.  They have a tendency to let the Blues goonery get them off their game.  We are heading out early to meet up with the fabulous Sisters Ookie from Interchangeable Parts, our dear friend Patty (in Dallas) from Penalty Killing and the always enjoyable Caitlin from 1416 and Counting.  We are meeting for dinner before heading over to the AAC.  Can’t wait! 

So as always….

Go Stars!

Home Opener & Return of the Red Baron

Well, there will be big doings in Big D tomorrow night as the Stars have their season home opener and a certain player makes his triumphant return.   Blah.  Blah.  Blah.  Sorry, I really appreciate all that Mike Modano did for the Stars and hockey in Dallas, but they do still have a team here and there are some halfway decent players amongst them even.  The way the media is treating the Dallas Stars these days, you’d think they should just close up shop and go home since Mr. Modano is no longer here.  I feel for all the Stars players having to answer the same tired questions over and over in the next few days, when they should be talking about how excited they are for the new season and how things have gotten off to a good start.  Not great, there are still many issues to deal with, but still pretty darn good compared to what we were seeing last year. 

Oh well, at least we can get this over with and move on to something more interesting.  Like, will the chemistry with the Ribs/Morrow/Burish line continue to create goals?  Will Benn make a quick recover from his “concussion-like symptoms”?  Will Wandell be able to get through an entire game without getting injured?  Will Neal ever return to his pre-suspension bodybanging self?  Can Otter get through a game without being called for four penalties?  For the answer to these and many other questions that most sports media can’t seem to think of, check back here tomorrow night as I’ll have an open thread up for game. 

GO STARS!

Stars 5 vs Islanders 4 SO: Great Expectations!

EEEEKKKKK!!!  Can you believe it?!?!  Hockey season has begun!  Unfortunately, I am definitely not in game shape yet.  I worked late last night getting things ready for a new employee starting on Monday, totally forgetting about the time difference for the Stars game.  Dave calls me at 6 and says, “What are you doing?!?!” That was the first time it hit me that the game would be starting at 6.  ARGH!!  So I jump in the car with game on the radio only to hear Trevor Daley score twice for The Devils.  UGH.  I get home to find my house has been invaded by six, yes six, teenagers and no dinner.  Needless to say, I was a little distracted for the beginning of the Stars game.  Thankfully, they were just waiting for me to get home to get things rolling and played a pretty darn fun game to watch.  What can you say about Loui?  So thrilled.  I must admit after seeing two pre-season games I wasn’t expecting too much.  But they really surprised me.  So it is with great expectations that I look forward to tonight’s game.  Which starts at 6 central again tonight.  I will not fail twice!

Come by and join me for a live blog during the game! 

Pre-Season Stars 2 vs Avs 1: The Suite (Hockey) Life With L2L!

The Hockey Ticket Fairy came to visit us here at L2L HQ last week and we were amazed at how generous she was!  I got an email last Thursday from our very own little hockey fairy “taylor_bean” saying she had been given four tickets to the Stars preseason game against the Avs on Friday night and oh, btw, they were in a suite.  Would we be interested in three of them…for free???  Heck yeah!  I am so amazed at her generosity!  Thank you, thank you, thank you Taylor!!!  Another great thing to come from it was getting to meet Taylor.  We love meeting fellow Stars super fans and I especially like meeting another smart hockey chic! 

After meeting outside the AAC (and, yes, I had to hug her), we made our way to the suites levels.  Which was whole new adventure in itself.  While we have had tickets in just about every area of the AAC, we have never been in a suite before.  Dude, it is a whole different world.  We were on the Flagship level which is the lower level.  But is the perfect level for watching from, in my opinion.  It’s close enough to hear the great sounds from the ice level but high enough to have a great completely unobstructed view of the action.  The suite was amazing.  The seats themselves are very cushy.  There are video screens covering the game action and a big screen in the main part of the suite that allowed folks to keep their eye on the TCU – SMU game.  

I must admit I was a little overwhelmed and terribly distracted.  Especially once I noticed Adam Burish and Trevor Daley (including his lovely wife and adorable little boy) around the corner in another suite on our same level.  And even more so when our beloved captain showed up for the third period.  Gah.  Just gah.  I’m so easily “Star” struck. 

I did actually watch some of the game.  I was very impressed with Mr. Lehtonen in goal.  He made some serious saves.  After one particularly nice series of saves, JeffK played the theme from “Walker, Texas Ranger”, the really goofy one with Chuck Norris sort of singing it.  Loved it!  I can’t wait to see if they play it when we are at the Oct 16th game with our friends Patty (in Dallas) and the Sisters Ookie (Interchangeable Parts) who will be visiting from New Jersey.  The Ookies have had a strange love affair with “Walker, Texas Ranger” during this past year.

Of course, I was thrilled to see Otter score a power play goal.  But my favorite part of the game came when Robi checked one of the Avs players into the Stars bench.  And I do mean “into” the Stars bench, complete with him losing his stick (wonder how that happened?) and the appropriate amount of chirping from Ott.  However, the best part was as Robi was stuffing him into the bench, Robi pops his head up to look around for the officials, sees one coming, says “I’m screwed anyway” and stuffs the player in a little harder.  Too funny.  Probably not for the Avs player but Robi was enjoying himself.

In the end, the “House Is A Rockin” with a Stars 2-1 win over the Avs.  We headed home still in awe of what we had just experienced.  All thanks to our little Hockey Ticket Fairy, Taylor!  Taylor, we can’t thank you enough! 

I have more hockey content coming from the weekend as Patty and I went to the Open House on Saturday morning and the Hub and I took in Stars practice today, but that will have to come later. 

So for now, as always….

GO STARS!!!

And So It Begins!

Can you believe it Stars Fans?  Hockey season is finally starting.  It’s been a long long summer during which I’ve had little time to really think about hockey but now?  Now I’m totally psyched!  The buzz word for the Stars right now is “fresh”  as in fresh start, having a freshness to the new younger Stars, etc.  And from a fan’s perspective, it certainly seems different from last year.  Last season, there was no prospect camp or Ice Breaker.  Training camp came with little fanfare and the Stars presence on the inter-webs was nearly non-existent.  But this year, things are a lot different.  Let’s have a look.

First, there was Prospect Camp.  I never got around to writing about it but we did make it to Prospects Camp this year.  We spent the whole day that Sunday in Frisco and took in both the morning and afternoon sessions.  It was great fun as always.  There is nothing like the energy of all those earnest young hockey pups trying to do their best.  I am excited about our young goalies. 

Next was the Stars Annual Ice Breaker returned to the Galleria.  We didn’t make it out there but fellow Stars Twitter and Defending Big D devotee, PNLT_BX did along with her camera and got some fabulous shots of the boys and gave us our first real glimpse of Adam Burish as a Dallas Star.  Swoon.

Nisky Says Hi!

So Does Otter!

But here are my two favorites.  Of course. 

All along, we were getting snippets about the boys practicing unofficially out at Frisco.  And then plenty of buzz about Neal and Nisky not being signed yet and the upcoming Training Camp in PEI.  Finally, the day before camp, Neal and Matt were signed to everyone’s relief.  And there was a fun piece on Kari’s new Chuck Norris themed mask that made the rounds.  All thanks to the Dallas Stars discovering Twitter, our old favorite in a new place, ADSP, and of course the burgeoning Defending Big D. 

Which brings us to today and the opening day of Training Camp on Prince Edward Island (that’s in Eastern Canada, if you were wondering).  I’ve been catching all the updates from @RalphStrangis and @thedallasstars and @DallasStars, as well as @andrewsdsp who had to take 3 different planes to get there.  There have been some great tweets and videos. 

After going for what seemed like forever with practically no Stars presence on the Internet, suddenly there are lots of sources giving us fun little tidbits!  Thanks to everyone for all your hard work that allows us fans to get to ride along. 

Next up, Open House and we’ll be there, so look for our personal account coming up next weekend.  Until then, as always….

GO STARS!!!

Stars Thought of the Day: Adam Burish and RAW Stars TV

To say I was excited about Adam Burish becoming a Dallas Star would be a HUGE, HUGE understatement.  As you might expect, seeing that I am a huge Otter fan, I am a huge Burish fan as well.  I was thrilled to see the Blackhawks win the Cup this year.  Well, as thrilled as I could be by that time.  My enthusiasm for hockey had waned a bit by then after the season the Stars had had.  Anyway, my support of the Hawks in the Cup run was spurred more by their awesome marketing department than by the team itself though.  All season, I had followed what their marketing department was turning out.  They did a fabulous job of promoting the players and their personalities.  You should check out their media site on the Blackhawks main website.  I’m not going to link it because, well, it is a rival team’s website.  My personal favorites were Ladd and Versteeg going to a diner, Burish emceeing the Newlywed Challenge and the piece on Burish and Sharp as road roommates.  Which brings me to my thought of the day.  Burish is a natural on camera and the Stars have started something they call “RAW”.  I’m saying give Burish a camera and let him document his journey becoming a Dallas Star. 

Burish Emceeing Newlywed Challenge

Toews & Burish as Dumb & Dumber, Halloween game '09

 He got Captain Serious to dress as Dumb & Dumber at the Halloween game last year.  Capt. Serious????

Burish in Roommates video with Sharp

Did I mention that both he and Sharp are shirtless in that video?  Heh.  Heh.  Heh. 

THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN. 

I think I may have to send this to my Stars ticket guy.

Stars Thought of the Day: Hockey in HD

I love HDTV.  Movies are more fun for sure but sports are the best.  Golf is like watching a living painting.  The colors are amazing.  Baseball is astonishing.  The ballparks are such gems.  But hockey in HD is a beautiful thing to behold.  So crisp and clear.  Other sports are prettier in HD but with hockey, because the action moves so quickly, HD really makes a huge difference in being able to see the action and actually see the puck for a change.  I’m very excited to see that channel 21 will be taking over the local coverage of the Stars with all games in HD and pre and post game shows as well. 

But I have to say the very best thing about watching the Stars in HD is James Neal’s eyelashes.  So get that contract signed, Nealer.

From TuqueDeBison at YoungStars

 When searching for an appropriate picture that does his awesome eyelashes justice, I found what is possibly the most adorable picture I’ve ever seen of him, taken when he was at the All-Stars Game’s YoungStars Game.   Too Freakin Cute.

Random Stars Thought for Today — Jamie Benn’s Hair

Jamie Benn has really great hair.  No, I mean really, really great hair. 

It seems that no matter where or what he is doing, his hair is always fabulous.

 

Here he is in his WHL roster photo. A roster photo and it's gorgeous.

Pre-game, looking good.

Mid-game interview. Nicely tousled.

Post-game interviews. Perfectly toweled.

Accepting MVP award. Perfection.

Ok, he's honed his hair skills a little over the years.

Random Hockey Thought of The Day

I’ve been on a little hockey hiatus.  Not that there hasn’t been plenty of hockey stuff happening.  I just haven’t had time nor compunction to write about it.  So now, in an effort to have some fun with hockey again, yeah, I know, I’m the eternal optimist, I’ll be posting a random thought here and there. 

One of my guilty pleasures this summer has been watching “Glee”.  Yes, I know, it’s an absolutely ridiculous show but I love the music.  I’ve been a huge fan of musical theater for as long as I can remember.  So now, I’m hooked.  Anyway, every time I watch, I keep thinking how much Cory Monteith looks like James Neal.  So what do you think?