[The second in an on-going series with Timothy Oshie, father of Blues forward T.J. Oshie. Send your questions to the Coach at the address listed below and have them answered here.]

Today, a letter about Gus Kyle and Dan Kelly (above) takes the Coach down Memory Lane.

I received a fantastic message over the weekend from a gentleman by the name of Bill Nash, a Blues fan living on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.  I'd like to share his story:

"A Blues fan since 1969, growing up watching them in the St. Louis Arena. My father worked for a construction company at 1319 Mackland Avenue and upon occasion would run across the street to a little coffee shop / diner to grab a bite to eat. 

"On a regular basis my Dad would see Gus Kyle and Dan Kelly, both of whom were new broadcasters for the Blues. They brought excitement to the ‘new' game that not too many people in St. Louis understood (except for the great fights). Gus seemed to know everyone in the diner and in short order gave my father some tickets to the Blues vs. Montreal Canadians game. My father phoned me and asked me to come into St. Louis from Rolla where I was going to college. We were in the rafters and in between periods, Dad and I went up to the press box as I was introduced to Mr. Kyle.

"The Canadians went up 2-0 quickly in the second period but the Blues battled back to eventually win, 3-2, on a long slapshot by Jimmy Roberts off the right wing.  Everyone in the building was on their feet as well as the broadcasters and public address announcer."

Bill went on to say that he was a volunteer at the Scottrade Center when St. Louis hosted the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four.

I bring this story to your attention for the sole fact that it brought me back to my childhood days in Anoka, Minnesota, where I attended elementary and junior high school. I played  hockey from Mites through Bantams for the Anoka Tornado Youth Hockey program. I spent countless hours listening to Al Shaver, the radio voice (830-AM WCCO) of the Minnesota North Stars, at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, MN. I was fortunate to have two cousins, Henry Boucha and Gary Sargent, both of whom played for the North Stars back in the 70's. 

It's a gift to have the talents of men like Dan Kelly and Al Shaver, who could absolutely paint a perfect picture for the fans listening to them on the radio. As a young hockey player, I would actually watch the North Stars on television while listening to Al Shaver on a radio.

Now, with the advancement of technology, we watch the NHL Center Ice package to view almost every game, every night in the NHL. It's my belief that technology has certainly enhanced multi-media, but hearing those crisp adjectives and screams of joy over the airwaves ... I'd take that forever.

So, to my new friend from Washington, D.C., thank you for taken us down memory lane.

Ask Coach Oshie:

What irregular duties do you carry as the father of a hockey player (and a good one at that)?  Also have you ever covered your son or will you ever?  How would that experience be for you? 

-Gabe Simonds

Thanks for your question Gabe.

Continue reading this post »

So I have to jet home tonight after work so as I'm typing this sentence, it's 2-2 in the third period. So the links are a little ... early. Let's hope they pull this together and get a dubya. (Update: Blues win!)

Blues news

• This page should have the Blues results. How? Magic. [Yahoo! Sports]
  
• This is from before the 'Yotes game, but the Blues are feeling the crunch of the slow start. [Belleville News-Democrat]
• Andy Murray says Mike Weaver is one of the best d-men. So, of course, he was a healthy scratch last night. [STLtoday.com]
• Former Blue Red Berensen makes the St. Louis Hall of Fame (Stick tap to LuvHockey). [University of Michigan]

• The Blues assistant GM Doug Armstrong is helping pick out members of Team Canada. Kinda makes you wonder why Happy Meal Andy McDonald was the only Blue to go camp. [The Canadian Press]

Hockey news

• How the league fared last night. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Tonight's games. [Yahoo! Sports]
• The KHL is going to Sweden. The Blues immediately petition to join the KHL and join the Swedish team's division. [ESPN]
• The Canucks cut in line. Not cool, says everyone in first grade. [ESPN]
• The Carolina Hurricanes have put Cam Ward on long-term IR and Eric Staal on IR. They also announced they probably won't be needed playoff tickets this year. [TSN]
• Alexei Kovalev is heading to Russia, but not for the KHL. He's mother-in-law has passed away and he's going to the funeral. [TSN]
• The Oilers blog takes a look at a famous Gretzky quote, 26 years later. Pretty cool stuff. [The Copper and Blue]

• Things getting hot in Calgary. [Puck Daddy]

Other links

• Going sailing? Find out if the sea is fit. [Is the Sea angry?]
• From NatetheGreat., you can get things really cheap in Detroit. Is this going to be a new homeless shelter? [CNN]
• Clients be bitchy. [Clients From Hell]
• Just your average video game about Nazi dinosaurs. [Topless Robot]

Video

This is my favorite thing ever.

Poor College Student has the weekend shift. Send him stuff. Gametimelinks(at)gmail.com. Holla.

Cats are fighting outside my apartment. They need to shut the hell up so I can watch T.V. Reason No. 1452345 why I love dogs more.

Blues news

• Blues vs. Coyotes tonight at the Scottrade Center. Here's a preview. [Blues]
• Good news Blues fans, now you can text the DrinkScotch personnel to complain about the escalators not working. [Blues]
• Patrik Berglund is playing "too safe." Huh, I thought he was playing "too shitty." [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
• Bruins fans take a look at the Brad Boyes/Dennis Wideman deal and pose the question: Would the teams do the trade today? [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
• Silent Jay McClement is the designated party starter. [STLtoday.com]
• David Backes and Paul Kariya are struggling to score/be useful. [Belleville News-Democrat]
• Jeremy Rutherford will be chatting today at 1 p.m. It's like Ask Coach Osh, but without Bermuda Cup jokes. [STLtoday.com]
• Windsor Spitfires defenceman Mark Cundari, one of the Blues prospects, is playing well as a shutdown d-man. [Windsor Star]

Hockey news

• Last night's results can be found here. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Game-splosion tonight. [Yahoo! Sports]
• ESPN hands out some award-winners at the quarter mark. [ESPN]
• Sidney Crosby carried the Olympci torch yesterday. [CTV Olympics]
• Ryan Smyth will miss up to a month with an injury to his lower body. [TSN]
• As posted on here, Fragile Jay McKee is hurt. [TSN]
• The Blackhawks are still trying to sign Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. [ESPN]
• It's safe to say Alex Ovechkin doesn't like being hurt. [Japers' Rink]

Other links

• Was the video game Contra supposed to Arnold and Stallone vs. Alien? [The Daily What]
• Because of this site, I am now Czar Joelax the Savage. Fuck and yes. [Make Me Mighty]
• Some people have some kick ass Holiday cards. [My Amazing Holiday Card]
• Famous last Facebook status updates. [College Humor]

Video

Remember that 80s dating video PCS linked to a few weeks back? (And then I did a day later because I'm a moron.) Well, there is a part two. Enjoy.

gametimelinks(at)gmail.com. See you all later.

Do the Blues still play hockey? I sure do miss them.

Blues news

• You know those big books your parents used to use to look up "home" phone numbers? The Blues are on the cover of one. [Blues]
• The Blues have eight healthy d-men. Don't think for one second that the team won't stay that way for a few games. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
• Kelly Chase talks about playing with Brendan Shanahan. I'm just going to go ahead and say it, the fans love for Shanny lasted way, way too long for how little time he spent here. People still wax nostalgic about a man who played just four out of 21 years wearing the 'Note. [NHL.com]
• Alex Pietrangelo should stay, but the Blues are being tight-lipped about what will happen with the youngster. [Belleville News-Democrat]

Hockey news

• Here is your schedule for tonight. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Last night's results. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Bob McKenzie on TSN is reporting on potential deals for Patrick Kane, Jon Toews and Duncan Keith. Second City weighs in. [Second City Hockey]
• Things are not going good for our friends, the Leafs fans. [Pension Plan Puppets]
• Everyone is hurting, which may cause some salary cap issues. [From The Rink]
• Talented Blue Jackets forward Nikita Filatov is leaving the NHL for the KHL. [ESPN]
• Filatov says hes leaving because the Jackets are not letting him play his style of game. [Puck Daddy]
• Alex Ovechkin scores in his return from injury. [ESPN]
• With the way the Blues are playing, let's look at the NHL draft! [TSN]
• Caps goalie Jose Theodore has left the team for personal reasons. [TSN]
• Markus Naslund will team up with Peter Forsberg — for free. [TSN]

Other links

• I'm really kind of glad I haven't met this girl. She seems like a total bitch. [Craig's List]
• Some people invent the weirdest things. [Totally Absurd]
• Get to know some famous Captains, Eric Brewer not included. [Pixlmonster]

Video

So this video is going around the intertubes and I thought I'd share it with you. Seth MacFarlane has a formula.

More photos » by Bill Boyce - AP

Is the Petro-dactyl in danger of becoming extinct for the rest of the season in St. Louis?

Browse more photos »

I'm horribly sorry for the pun in today's title.  I am currently running on about four hours of sleep, had to talk about fascism *all day long*, and now I get to sit here until 5 (4 Central) listening to 7 high school boys yell at each other about policy debate.  I know that's not a viable excuse for bad pun-age, but it is seriously the best that I can manage right now.

Anywho, for those of you who are not as sleep deprived as some of us, the title is in reference to our youngest defenseman, Alex Pietrangelo.  The article in this morning's Post Dispatch raises a question for the Blues, the ownership, and the fans hanging in the balance - do we let half of our 2nd coming of MacInnis and Pronger go back to juniors?

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by NIKLAS LARSSON - AP

Former NHL veteran Mats Sundin makes a celebrity face-off before the game Detroit Red Wings v. St. Louis Blues, an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 in Stockholm. Blues Alexander Steen, left, and Red Wings Niclas Lidstrom.

Browse more photos »

 [With Sweden already a month behind us, here's a final look back by our own DanGNR who attended the event and provided us all with great pictures and video during the trip.]

 I was lucky enough to go to Stockholm Sweden for the NHL Premiere Stockholm, between the St. Louis Blues and the .... the... fan ta detroit.  I took LOTS of photos and several videos during our trip, both of the Blues-related activities and the city itself.  I tried to make as many fanposts and fanshots to help show what was going on that other media outlets weren't covering.  But due to time constraints and the fact I didn't want to spend time indoors reading and typing away instead of sight seeing... well I hope you understand. 

By the way, this is the picture I took of the celebrity face off:

After the jump, the story of what we experienced as well as details that will likely make every one of you jealous (and envious) of those that can now no longer afford to make their mortgage payments for the next year....

Continue reading this post »

[The first in our series of "Ask Coach Oshie" articles featuring Timothy Oshie, father of Blues forward T.J. Oshie. Feel free to send him your questions at the email listed below and look for them to be answered here.]

Hello Mr. Oshie!  Your son T.J. is my favorite player right now (I think pretty much every Blues fans favorite). How humbling of an experience was it to hear the entire ‘Scott' crowd chanting "Oshie!"?

-Jimmy B.

 It was perhaps one of the greatest feelings our entire Oshie family could ever imagine hearing. So many passionate St. Louis Blues fans chanting our name in unison was memorable and very special. 

I could hear the chant while watching the NHL Center Ice package from my residence in Grand Forks, ND, after his NHL Goal of the Year vs. Vancouver, then again with his huge hit on Rick Nash Part 1. But I first witnessed it in person on Friday, April 10, 2009, in front of a sold-out Scottrade Center crowd. It was the night the Blues clinched a berth in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs in defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1. It goes without saying I was filled with emotions knowing how hard T.J. had worked throughout his young life and the sacrifices and adversities he had endured on his hockey journey.

The message I pass on to all the young athletes is to always be a good, solid person (solid hockey person = solid hockey player); one who your friends and teammates can always trust and rely on; to be the greatest teammate you can; to be humble and compassionate in your successes; to have dignity in defeat.

Thank you Jimmy for your question today. You are the first Blues fan to ask a question on "Ask Coach Oshie."

Continue reading this post »

Well, I think it is safe to say that my laptop is dead. We had some good times together.

Blues news

• Norm Sanders takes a look at the putrid offense. UPDATED with working link. [Belleville News-Democrat]
• Know your history: Before there was the Red Berenson Cowboy, there was the actual Red Berenson, one of the most exciting players in franchise history. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
• Alex Pietrangelo is in limbo. With the Blues carrying 8 defensemen, a decision is forthcoming on where he finish out the season. [STLtoday]

Hockey news

• Here are your Monday winners. [Yahoo Sports!]
• A look at what is going on tonight. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Our old friend Brandon at Defending Big D, you know the guys who love Steve Ott, is going to be in charge of the hockey coverage at SB Nation. I for one welcome our new blogger overlord. [Defending Big D]
• Old hockey head James Mirtle weighs in on the goings on in Phoenix. The Coyotes are still bankrupt, in case you forgot. [From the Rink]
• A Murray on the hot seat? Now where have I heard that? Anaheim Calling debates if the Ducks should fire GM Bob Murray. [Anaheim Calling]
• The Leafs are still trying to figure out who is the No. 1 goalie: Jonas Gustavsson and Vesa Toskala. [TSN]
• Peter Forsberg is staying in Sweden. For now. Until he decides otherwise in two-to-three weeks. [ESPN]
• Cha-cha-changes in Florida Panthers. New owners for the franchise. [ESPN]
  Alex Ovechkin should be back tonight. [TSN]
• Nikita Filatov might be heading back to Russia. He's struggling with his confidence and declining ice time. Patrik Berglund could not be reached for comment. [The Columbus Dispatch]

Other links

• Reminder: Vote for Atlanta and Carolina. [ESPN America]
• I found out this weekend that a friend of mine had a rat tail in high school. I can only hope it looked like this. [The Daily What]
• The only thing I hate more than children? Old people. Senile old people. [This is why we love them]
• Holy shit, this is the best way to get out of late fees. [Blockbuster Employee of the Month]

Video

Ever wondered what would happen if Quentin Tarantino made the Ninja Turtle movies?

gametimelinks(at)gmail.com

Good news: I thought we were going to have to have a moment of silence for Mr. Dell Laptop. On Sunday afternoon, my laptop just decided to shut off and not turn back on. I had to switch to the work laptop I use to report from the road. Back, by some miracle, the old p.o.s. turned back on at 11:30. He's resting now, but it looks like I won't be out a laptop. Anyway ... let's get to the links.

Blues news

• David Perron is a hard-working kid who seems to finally get "it." [Belleville News-Democrat]
• With a little break in the schedule, the Blues are reflecting on their less than stellar play. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

Hockey news

• Every game Sunday was decided by just one goal. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Monday's games. [Yahoo Sports!]
• Here are your Monday standings. [NHL]
  
• Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble will be out nearly amonth with a broken finger. [TSN]
• If the Coyotes keep winning but the Phoenix fans don't care, do they actually win? Yes. Yes they do. But, they might not stay in Glendale if the seats don't get filled. [TSN]
• Andrew MacDonald has been called up by the Islanders. I'm thankful that he doesn't go by Andy. [Lighthouse Hockey]
• The Boston Globe is reporting that Marc Savard will re-up with the Bruins. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
• The Anaheim Ducks are a struggling bunch. [ESPN]
• Joe Sakic will be going to the Hall of Fame. The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. [ESPN]
  

Other links

• This guy responds to classifieds. As is often the case, hilarity ensues. [Ned Wingfield]
• Google's autcomplete is both awesome and scary. [Autocomplete Me]
• Cross Check Raise has a Project Mayhem idea. I'll let him explain: "Watching a web feed this weekend, it was broadcast by ESPN America, which is the overseas face of ESPN. They were running a poll for which game to broadcast on Thanksgiving weekend 11/27: CGY vs DET or CAR vs ATL. I figure we can screw DET and help Hildymac's Thrashers by stuffing the ballot box here. Let's keep Fuck Detroit from their Euro-Phruit fans. The UK face (hence, English) of ESPN America is here. The poll is towards the bottom of the far-right column. When I voted, it was 78/22 in favor of DET." [ESPN America]

Video

This is what happens when I watch South Park and do the links. You get videos like this. Enjoy.

Gametimelinks(at)gmail.com

What's the formula? Sacrifice a live chicken? More Brad Winchester lap dances? Shave a rookie or a sophomore? Let us know what you'd do in the comments.

Blues News:

• Blues lose. Fuckin...fuck!
• Splodeybones gets the Steve Ott flu out of his system, TECHNOVIKING is admitted to being in a funk, and Eller needs minutes in Peoria. Read all about it.
• There's an opportunity to meet former Blues D-man Jeff Brown on Thursday, the 19th.
• Hildymac knows "Whose Responsible This" cold streak: Top 6 forwards.
• You might have heard John Davidson is in the Hall of Fame now. The Blues honored him before Saturday's game.

NHL News:

• Spectr17 has the video down in the FanShots. Here's Puck Daddy's take on the goal review in the Hawks/Leafs game on Friday.
• 10 year old gets to play with the Great One and Hayley Wickenheiser (Doug's cousin) of Canada's Women's Hockey Team. I played with Gretzky once. It was on the SNES, but...
• Scores.
• Only 3 games scheduled for Sunday
• An article about Jacques Lemaire that makes no specific mention of the trap? I don't believe you.

Other Stuff:

• Be sure to mouse over the photo. I had a flashback to the times when I was Poor Elementary School Student.
• Wanted: Fried chicken and menstruation.
• This is my kind of Thanksgiving turkey.

Video:

Holy jumpin' schnike!

And that's all I've got. Maybe AverageJoe has some wins in him. We can only hope so.

Gametimelinks (at) gmail.com