Au Revoir Mike Cammalleri

Stunning news out of Montreal as the Canadiens have traded Forward Mike Cammalleri, Goaltender Karri Ramo and 5^th round pick to the Calgary Flames for Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland and next year's 2^nd rounder. This comes almost exactly 24 hours after Cammalleri made some ugly but some say truthful comments about the state of the most famous franchise in hockey.

"I can't accept that we will display a losing attitude as we're doing this year. We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it's no wonder why we lose.”

Yes it is an absolute circus in Montreal right now with hiring Randy Cunneyworth and some of the comments of owner Geoff Molson, but such words from a player of the ilk of Cammalleri should never be uttered to the media. No matter what the situation is.

It appears Mike Cammalleri lost the room.

Whether you play 35 seconds a night or you make 9 million bucks a year when you are in the room you are an equal and those are your brothers and you must always have their back. Clearly I am speaking from a standpoint of rec league hockey but everything through books and such things as 24/7 I have seen, the dynamic isn't inherently different except they drive nicer cars to a way nicer rink and wear way nicer clothes.

When you are part of a team, it doesn’t matter who you are outside it matters who you are on that ice and to those guys. You must be dependable, loyal and must always have your teammates back. This is why comments like these are so damning, how can a teammate ever look at him the same way?

These comments that Mike made, were told to the wrong people, they would have been best served for in the room or at the very least in the coaches office. Intentional or not this is where he messed up, he broke a trust and threw his boys under the bus. No matter what you gotta be good in the room.

- Joe DeTolve
goodintheroom.blogspot.com

I Love The New York Rangers

Alex Ovechkin - Top 10 Funny moments

Alex Ovechkin Commercial: Is He A Russian Spy?

Bruins Hockey Rules_Date

Alex Burrows: Tribute Video - Forever (HD)

Looking for the Face of GetRealHockey

GetRealHockey is getting ready for the launch of our URL (GetRealHockey.com).

We are looking for the face of GetRealHockey to make videos for us.  The style of presenter we are looking for can be seen below.  We want someone witty and funny.

http://www.getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/protest-against-canadiens-de-montreal.html

The obvious aim is to get a fan base for the site and hopefully some of the original material will go viral.

The effort to send GetRealHockey viral will start with the marketing of our theme song. You can hear the GetReal song by clicking the link below

http://soundcloud.com/getrealtickets/get-real

On a closing note, we also want to speak to businesses which want to market unique NHL experiences (in conjunction with our team).  As you know, we ran this story in regards to an alumni cruise with the Canucks.

http://getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2011/11/vancouver-canucks-alumni-present-hockey.html

We are looking for similar experiences.  Anything outside the box is welcomed.

Please email us @ getrealhockey@gmail.com.

Nail Yakupov Show

2012 NHL Entry Draft Preview

Ryan Ellis Bound to be a Star for the Nashville Predators

When Predators captain Shea Weber missed games with a concussion last month Predators fans feared for what the repercussions of this could mean for the team.  Very few people realized that the repercussions of not having Weber in the lineup would be the emergence of a future NHL star on the Predators blue line.  Predators fans and those who have seen Ryan Ellis play throughout his junior career and his times with Team Canada at the World Juniors knew it was just a matter of time before Ellis cracked the NHL lineup on the consistent basis, but no one could have predicted it to happen as soon as possible. 

Ellis stepped up right away proving that his lack of size is not going to affect his play in the NHL.  Ellis has been a player who thrives on the power play, much like Weber, his whole career and he fit into that role in Nashville right away.  Through six games this season for the Predators he has produce two goals and two assists for four points including a two game goal streak Ellis is currently on.  However Ellis’ offensive production is not the only thing that has allowed him to stay in Nashville even after Weber was reinserted into the lineup.  Ellis has proved to be solid in the defensive end of the ice holding a +2 rating through his first six games.  

During a season when Predators fans have to worry about whether or not their top two defensemen will return next season(Suter and Weber), Ellis is proving to be a bright spot of hope for the future for Predators fans.  Ellis has been a dominate player at all levels he has played at whether it was the OHL, or World Junior Championships, or even the AHL.  Ellis was named an AHL All-Star for the 2012 All-Star game proving his dominance at even the AHL level.  Predators fans everywhere can be thankful for this first round draft pick as potential changes loom in the background throughout the rest of this season.  Ryan Ellis has all the makings to become the next big defenseman to wear the sabre tooth tiger logo, and represent the city of Nashville.  So Predators fans be thankful and enjoy watching Ellis through the years because he is bound for greatness. 

- Isaac Berky

             

PatrickKane and JonathanToews - Funny Moments

Top 10 Goalies Gone Wild

Top 10 NHL goalie pads 2011-2012!

The Get Real Guide to the Fife Flyers

Colours: White, Gold, Blue

Home Rink: Fife Ice Arena (Formerly Kirkcaldy Ice Rink), Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Founded: 1938

Whilst the name of the Fife Flyers may not be instantly recognisable to many new fans of British ice hockey they are in fact Britain’s oldest ice hockey club. Nestled across the Forth from the Scottish capital the Kirkcaldy ice rink has been home to the Flyers since 1938.

Since their first game against the Dundee Tigers in October 1938 the Flyers have survived everything from wartime black outs, strikes, fires and financial crises whilst other teams such as Ayr Bruins, Dunfermline Vikings and the Paisley Mohawks who were also formed around the same time petered out of existence.

The Flyers were an almost instant success attracting over 3,000 fans to their first game and taking their first league title (Scottish League) title in 1940. The war though put paid to a repeat but the Flyers did host travelling teams from the army and in the post war period hosting Swedish side Vastra Frolunda and the World Champion Team Canada before regaining their league title in 1949 and 1950.

The post war decade was a lean time for the club as trophies became hard to come by as a result of a downturn in attendances and money. It was a trend that was occurring throughout British ice hockey and in 1955 the league was abandoned but the Flyers did manage to keep playing until the hay day’s returned in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

This period saw the team start to cement a reputation as the trophies began to come in including the STV and Grandstand (televised competition) trophies. It also saw Fife play on the British stage with the formation of the Northern League.

The success continued in the 1970’s with the team winning the Northern League in 1977 and 1978 as well the British Championship in the same years. 1977 also saw the Flyers win the British Grand Slam for the first time and became the first Scottish team not to drop a point in a season.

With an increase in money in the sport the Fife Flyers were part of another boom in British hockey. This time however they were not to be as successful being the nearly team of the decade but they did win the Heineken Premier League title (British Championship) in 1985.

The 1990’s and the money race that happened was not kind to the Flyers. The aging Fife Ice Arena with its small capacity and lack of plexi glass and other facilities saw the team miss out on the Superleague. However the Flyers remained a force in the British National League taking a grand slam in 2000 and the BNL title again in 2004.

Without improvement to their facilities the Fife Flyers were cast out of a place in the EIHL when the EIHL took over the BNL in 2005. That decision was one that split ice hockey and saw Fife and Dundee (who leapt to Fife’s defence) cast to the bottom of the hockey pile. The Flyers duely took their place in the Scottish National League again and won the title in 2006 and 2007 as well as the Northern League title in 4 out 6 years.

The Flyers time in the cold finally game to an end in 2011. The side under new ownership gained some investment and could improve their facilities. This tied in with the vacancy in the EIHL caused by the loss of Newcastle and finally after over 15 years the Flyers were a top-flight team again.

Their first season in the EIHL may not have been the most successful so far with problems around import signings and a late start to the season. But it has seen raising attendances and has brought a good feeling back to British ice hockey in writing a very wrong act.

Honours

Celtic League Playoffs: 2008/09, 2009/10

Celtic League Cup: 2008/09, 2009/10

British National League: 1999/2000, 2003/04

Grand Slam: 1977,

British Champions: 1976/77, 1977/78, 1984/85,

Scottish Premier Hockey League Champions: 2007/08

Scottish Premier League Play-off: 2007/08

Northern League Play-off: 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11

Northern League Champions: 1976/77, 1977/78, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2010/11

Autumn Cup: 1949/50, 1972, 1975, 1976, 2005, 2008

Grandstand Trophy: 1964/65, 1966/67

Spring Cup: 1974/75, 1975/76, 1976/77

Anderson Trophy: 1938/39, 1946/47, 1948/49, 1949/50

Airlie Trophy: 1953/54

McPherson Trophy: 1939

Silver Jubilee Trophy: 1948

Coronation Cup: 1948/49

Scottish League: 1939/40, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1963/64, 1990/91, 1995/96, 2005/06, 2006/07

Scottish Cup: 1984/85, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10

Skol Cup: 1964, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1970/71, 1973/74, 1976/77

Scottish Canada Cup: 1949/50

STV Trophy: 1964/65

Directors Trophy: 1965

Cola-Cola Trophy: 1964/65

Slapshot Trophy: 1977

Evening News Trophy: 1976/77

Forth Challenge Trophy: 1983

Northumbria Cup: 1976/77

Taws Trophy: 1990/91

Christmas Cup: 1999/2000

Caledonia Cup: 2002/03, 2003/04

Findus Challenge Cup: 2001/02

Links

www.fifeflyers.co.uk

- Neil Tucker

Islanders Upset the Red Wings (Game Recap)

Detroit started this game without Pavel Datsyuk, out with a lower body injury and Ty Conklin started his 2^nd game in a row after an impressive game in Chicago Sunday night.

The opening exchanges in this one were fast and furious as both team put a lot of puck on net. Pandolfo and Rolston had shots from the circle that Conklin kicked away before Emmerton tipped a Helm pass onto the post and Helm put the rebound wide with a gaping net. Grabner then got in behind the RedWings defence but Conklin made the save as the forward tried to score on his backhand.

The Islanders continued to create the better chances as they put 13 shots on goal in the first 10 minutes alone but they were finding Ty Conklin on top form at the start of this one.

The Islanders couldn’t force home any of this pressure though and Detroit had a great chance on a late powerplay but Nabakov made a huge save diving back in his crease to get his stick on a

This set of a spell of powerplay chances as Brad Stuart then sat 4 minutes, 2 for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and 2 for Roughing.

As he sat the Islanders took the lead a Moulson tried to centre the puck across the crease to Tavares which hit Drew Miller’s skate and went in through Conklin’s legs. This was within the first 2 minute penalty on Stuart.

Another 2 minute penalty before the end of the period on the Islander’s Andrew MacDonald levelled the men on the ice for the 2^nd period but the home team had really dominated in spell’s during that 1^st period, taking 17 shots and a 1-0 lead into the break.

The 2^nd period started with Tavares taking a puck straight to the side of the head as Kronwall tried to dump the puck in. The Islanders forward was shook up and he went straight down the tunnel for treatment.

As the penalties from the end of the 1^st period started to expire Detroit got a 41 second powerplay and Nabakov pulled off more big saves, keeping out a blast from the point and then acrobatically getting across to Franzen on the rebound to get his foot and stick up as the Swedish powerhouse looked to put it home. Tavares was back on the ice without missing a shift after his scare at the start of the period but it was Detroit starting to do most of the pressing in search of an equaliser.

However, It was Tavares who got the 2^nd goal as he skated in down through the circle and fired a puck high into the top corner over Conkling glove side.

Okposo made it 3-0 with just under 9 minutes left in the 2^nd as Tavares led the 2 on 1 breakout. He fed it across to Okposo to give him the easy chance of putting it back across Conklin to give the Islanders the big lead.

Grabner then made it 4-0 as a bad pass from Holmstrom as he tried to keep the puck in the Islander’s zone saw the puck go straight to .... and he sent Grabner in to bury it in the net. It was the Islander’s 3^rd goal on only 4 2^nd period shots.

2.36 of the 3^rd saw Kindl throw a soft wrist shot towards goal which Justin Abdelkader tipped and it found its way in behind Nabakov to get Detroit on the board.

Fillpula had a great chance to get a 2^nd on a powerplay shortly after but he missed an open net and then had a 2^nd effort smothered by Nabakov.

With 11 minutes left Nabakov pulled off another huge save as he foiled a Dan Cleary shorthanded breakaway to keep the Islander’s with that strong 3 goal lead.

It was extended to a 4 goal lead with 6 minutes left as Moulson got his 2^nd of the game. He was left alone in front of the net and Streit fired the puck straight onto his stick as he tipped it in behind Conklin.

Detroit’s defence had been awful all night with possibly the exception of Conklin who still managed to give up 5 goals. He did however make some huge saves in that 1^st period especially and was left out to dry on a number of the Islander’s goals.

In contrast, the Islander’s were extremely good defensively and Nabakov had an outstanding game as well. They were clinical with the chances they got in the 2^nd and 3^rd period proven by 3 goals on 4 shots in the 2^nd.

- Adam Yates

The Ottawa Senators Bring the Heat in 2011-2012

Pittsburgh- The biggest surprise at the half way point of the 2011-2012 NHL season isn't the slow start by historically strong teams such as the Penguins or Capitals. It isn’t the massive goal differential by the Boston Bruins, currently at +70. Heck it really isn’t Sidney Crosby still feeling the effects of the concussion and not playing. The biggest surprise in the NHL are the Ottawa Senators.

Coming off a disappointing season which saw a coach fired, several cornerstone players traded and questions about off-seasons signings, first year head coach Paul MacLean looked like he was set up to fail in Canada's Capital.

The first big move actually occurred last season by trading for goalie Craig Anderson, who had a Vezina Caliber season in 2009-2010, however couldn’t recapture that magic the following season. He has been a solid netminder during his first full season in Ottawa. Not stellar but good enough to win the big games, however big performances will be needed from here on out.

First was the questionable trade for Nikita Filatov for a third round pick. Everyone in the hockey world  was predicting that this would be a massive bust for GM Bryan Murray. The former 6^th overall pick did not pane out in Ottawa and by December 18^th he was back in Russia and playing for CSKA Moscow.

Paul MacLean's first season started out horribly as the Sens began 1-5 and some voices in Ottawa began questioning if MacLean was the right man for the job.

Then after a 7-2 embarrassment to Philadelphia on October 18^th, the team managed to win 7 straight and get right back in the thick of the east. This streak was spurned by the unbelievable production of Defencemen Erik Karlsson and Left Wing Milan Michalek. Karlsson through January 10th is 2^nd in the NHL with 35 assists and Michalek is tied for third with 22 goals. Not to mention Centre Jason Spezza is leading the team with 44 points and Captain Danial Alfredsson is having quite the comeback season with 33 points at the tender age of 39.

Alfredsson, the most popular player in Senators history was widely talked about during the summer as perhaps being dealt in the middle of the season to a contender for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Due to this start, one would now begin to think that the Senators may be dealing for veteran talent to solidify this rather young team for a Cup run.

This brings us to perhaps the second gutsiest move Murray has made in his tenure in Ottawa other than trading Dany Heatley. That move would be trading David Rundblad for Kyle Turris on December 17^th. Turris had been holding out in Phoenix and finally signed with the Coyotes so that could play this season with the full hope and intention that he would be dealt out of the desert. There was no harder critic of the young star than yours truly. His production in his first few seasons was next to nothing for a player of his caliber and the fact he demanded supposedly a huge contract was absurd. But the more I see him play and interact with the team, it was a ploy to get out of a toxic situation in Phoenix. Kyle  has been a great 2^nd line centre with 8 points in 11 games and appears to be fitting into the room perfectly with other young talent.

That young talent is probably the biggest reason for this turn around. Colin Greening, Zack Smith, Erik  Condra and Kaspars Daugavins all helped the Binghamton Senators win the AHL's Calder Cup last season. Nick Foligno has 27 points thus far and 20 year old Jared Cowen appears to be settling in nicely on the blueline.

Excitement is high in Ottawa right now especially with the All Star game coming at the end of the month for which four Senators Alfredsson, Spezza, Karlsson and Michalek were voted starters. It will be a chance for the entire hockey world to have their eye on the nations capital and get a look at an up and coming team with the right mix and right coach to make some noise in the playoffs this spring and for seasons to come.

Joe DeTolve

@Goodintheroom