Voting for the President of the NHL

Both Mitt Romney and President Obama are in Ohio today campaigning for the Presidency of the United States.  I love government, but I am so tired of politics – especially living in a swing state.  The last four years have been very frustrating to me.  Washington has become a bitter partisan battlefield while entitlement and politicking take away the importance of sound leadership in government. 

The only things these two men have in common are $10,000 wrist watches.

So, to take a break from my frustrations, I imagine both Mitt Romney and President Obama are campaigning for the imaginary position of Presidency of the NHL, lockout notwithstanding.  If you can admit to yourselves the short comings of the current administration and the misguided good intentions of the contending candidate, you’ll be able to enjoy the 100% hockey humor below.  If you’re Canadian, just keep on enjoying the exchange rate.

Dear voters for the Presidency of the NHL,

I had the privilege of spending 15 minutes with both candidates running for the Presidency of the NHL.  I called in years of favors to be able to spend a few minutes with each candidate.  Ohio is an important state to both candidates for the Presidency of the NHL as the 2013 NHL All-Star game is scheduled to be played in Columbus. Ohio has seen tough times in the NHL - both with the Barons and  Blue Jackets.  These last 48 hours are important to both candidates, which is why they are blitzing Ohio with political ads.  There is so much crap on TV right now that it's hard to know fact from fiction.  An Obama ad suggests that Romney wants to eliminate the Boarding Penalty, and Romney runs a spot suggesting that Obama wants to eliminate luxury suites from NHL arenas.  To clear up confusion and to help voters choose, I take the time to definitively list their stance on NHL policy after interviewing both gentlemen.

Obama - his official hockey nickname would be "Barry."

-          Supports funding money losing teams by implementing luxury tax on NHL teams making more than $250,000 per year in operating income.

-          Would have raised the luxury tax on the Browns to keep the Cleveland Barons from folding.

-          Wants to eliminate fighting and the blue lines from the game.

-          Supports free agency at the age of 38, 4 year max lenght contracts, elminating salary arbitration, but is somehow calls himself pro-player.

-          Despite the financial struggles of teams in non-traditional markets – supports two expansion teams in Seattle and Kansas City while refusing to let existing teams relocat to foreign countries
-          Career Game played in order to qualify for full pension benefits has been reduced to 50 games played.

-          Any hockey player refusing dental treatment will be fined by the IRS.

-          Believes backup goalies should make the same money as starting goalies.

-          Wants to outlaw “butterfly style” goaltending.

-          Wants to reduce the size of goaltending pads further to increase scoring.

-          Mike Milbury will be appointed as Czar of the Goaltenders union.

-          Bobby Clarke would be appointed Czar of Rookie Development

-          To create jobs, rosters would be expanded to 35 players and increase the league minimum salary to $5million, with a single player cap at $7 million.

-          Eliminate all funding to Junior ROTC programs in order to support youth hockey in Houston, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands.

-          Two-thirds of all tickets to NHL games are to be free, the remaining one-third cost $1200 a piece.

-          Referees and linesmen are no longer required to have previous officiating experience prior to becoming an NHL official.

-          Team apparel shops will be required to sell American made merchandise only, guaranteeing that jerseys will cost $600 a piece.

-          Has never visited a Canadian NHL team or city before, but vows to prevent them from ever losing their NHL franchises.

-          The Canadian National Anthem would be sung at all NHL games.

Clearly Obama is anti-goalie and pro-expansion.  From his days in Chicago, he helped make it illegal to own a goalie stick in his district.  While in youth league hockey, his appointments to the youth hockey board repeatedly stated that the NHL rule book, while having provisions for goalie equipment, doesn’t guarantee a team’s right to a goaltender.  Financially, 15 out of 30 NHL teams have lost money since the lockout, but he supports expanding the league further in non-traditional markets.  Currently, he blames the lockout on the rich owners.  While a big proponent of bringing the NHL to non-traditional markets, do the rest of us have to pay higher ticket prices so 30 million people in Seattle and Kansas get an NHL team? 

Romney - his official hockey nickname would be "Rommers."

-          Believes that a team losing money and not attracting fans can move to a market that will best serve the popularity of the sport.

-          Teams must have an average attendance above 90% capacity in order to receive financial assistance from the league.

-          Blames loose expansion policy for the subsequent relocation of the Cleveland Barons.

-          The ‘puck over the glass’ would no longer be a penalty, but assessed like icing.

-          Paul Ryan will make it legal to replay fights in arenas.

-          Publicly funded arenas must have passed a vote or referendum in order for the team to receive financial assistance from the league.

-          Wants to re-institute the two-line offside pass.

-          Would relocate two US NHL franchises to foreign countries, like Canada.

-          Full face shields would be mandatory, taking away a player’s right to choose.

-          Wants to eliminate the instigator penalty and touch-up icing.

-          Didn’t support the WHA merger or putting two NHL teams in Florida.

-          Supports eliminating the salary floor so that guys who wouldn’t be first line players in the AHL aren’t making $3 million dollars in the NHL

-          Re-runs of AirWolf would be played during all intermissions league wide.

-          Teams receiving assistance from the league would not be eligible for the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

-          Player’s pension plans would be privatized.

-          Would fire Gary Bettman within 7 seconds of winning the election.

-          All NHL broadcasts would be on FOX and feature Foxtraxx and the glow puck.

-          The limit on stick curvature will be changed to one inch.

-          Limits on goaltender equipment would be repealed.

-          Players would be required to be naturalized citizens before receiving team medical treatment.

-          Any player who signs with a KHL team will receive a lifetime ban from the NHL.

Romney is clearly a pro-capitalism, supporting the owners provided they show fiscal responsibility for their teams.  He does seem to want to set the game back a little by bringing back the two-line pass, eliminating the instigator penalty, and making people watch Airwolf during the intermissions.  How can we trust a guy who’s never had to worry about where next month’s travel hockey dues are going to come from?  He was in charge of Massachusetts youth hockey program after the Mighty Duck hockey bubble burst.  Youth hockey saw a dramatic decline as the Bruins sucked while the Patriots and Red Sox were winning championships.  He also will take away the players right to choose by implementing full face shields as required equipment.  Oddly enough, Planned HockeyMomHood doesn’t provide skate sharpening services.  Romney feels that the league has grown too large in size while being on an unsustainable financial path.  Even with hundreds of millions in financial assistance to less fortunate teams, 15 teams have lost money since the last lockout.  NHL teams should have the latitude to make decisions to get a return on their investment, even if it means relocation.

The decision is yours to make in that voting booth, and regardless of which way you decide – GET OUT AND VOTE.  If you do nothing else, get out and vote!!!  After that take a few minutes each week, outside of partisan ideals, and educate yourself on the role of government in this great nation.

Joe Biden could reprise the role of 'Dominic Santini.'

Lockout Negotiating brought to you by Bud Light

A while back, from 1999-2000 Bud Light ran some very clever hockey ads.  The premise of these TV spots started as clever little commercials, simple 30 second TV spots featuring little bubble hockey players that come to life trapped in their little bubble world.  I loved these commercials because it felt like people who grew up playing hockey were in charge of these commercials, as evident in one of my favorites called, "Old Timer."  ...Punk.

The commercials were popular because they were on ESPN and ESPN 2 which means lots of people saw them.  Hockey was first portrayed a simple fun game - like these TV spots were.  Eventually, as the popularity of these commericals grew, these clever little guys got their own league, the BBHL - the Bubble Boy Hockey League.  Like any modern league, it had a commissioner - Wayne Gretzky - and the players had representation - Phil Esposito.  Budweiser dragged these commercials out, determined to ruin them like Bud Bowl.  The last two or three of these commercials weren't nearly as fun as the original 5 or 6 and people lost interest in the commercials.

These last 3 or 4 Bubble Boy commercials that lost people interests were about - you guessed it - labor negotiations.  The first five of six of these commercials are all over youtube and are funny and clever.  The last 3 or 4, featuring Gretzky and Espo negotiating about salaries and revenue seems to kill the momentum and popularity the first commericals had.  See where I'm going with this?

I only found one of the final TV Spots featuring the labor negotiations - the commerical below introduces the negotiations.  In this commercials it seems to the outside observer that the player rep is driving a hard bargain.  But really, if you're on the inside, there is little seriousness between the two parties in hashing out a lasting deal.

I wish I could find the last few commercials in the series.  One shows Esposito reading off a list of demands to Gretzky as commissioner. Demands that start with the request for a large bonus to the players ultimately settling for a free turkey on Thanksgiving.  In that commercial, it's evident that commissioner doesn't seriously consider any of the players proposals.  And in the last of the series, Gretzky and Esposito are on the golf course laughing about the state of the league while the fans and players think the two sides are hard at work in a heated session negotiating in best efforts and good faith.  Pretty much where things are with the NHL today.  There's dual duality in this post - one, Budweiser took what was a clever marketing campaign and killed it by trying to make it something bigger and two, the consumers lost interest because the commericals were no longer about cute guys with funny accents playing hockey, it was about labor negotiations.  The marketing campaign that came after the 'Bubble Boys' was the hockey cliche-in-a-can "Hockey Falls" series featuring mullets, slut moms (listen to the game broadcast in the background #CBJ fans), and mouth-breathers.

It's funny how silly beer commercials from a decade ago have some significance and relevance today.  I really wish I could find those last two commericals on the internets.  One free beer to anyone who can find those last two commmercials and send me the link.

A Recipe for Lemonade

[Cross-posted from Greg's Full Mental Jackets blog.  What a worthy organization! - Tom]

Two days ago, I cross-posted an article by Tom Fellrath (The Dark Blue Jacket) that really resonated with me. In that article, Tom proposed that CBJ season ticket holders take the lemons they have been handed by the NHL owners and players and turn them into lemonade by donating part of their season ticket refunds to a local charity. I'd like to take things one step further and suggest to you a local charity very worthy of your consideration. That local charity is CASA of Franklin County.

Disclaimer: What follows next is blatant pandering. Therefore, I feel it is only fair to warn of you that up front. I am guilty. Nolo contendere. However, I urge you to read further before passing sentence on me.

If you are like most people in this community, you haven't heard of CASA of Franklin County. I want to try to change that. That is my personal mission as a member of the board of the directors for CASA.

Court Appointed Special Advocates ("CASA") of Franklin County advocates for abused and neglected children by providing them with a voice in the juvenile court system. CASA recruits, screens  trains and supports community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA stands up for children who, without us, would be powerless to stand up for themselves. This short video explains further:

How does CASA give these desperate children a voice? Through the appointment by the court of a CASA-trained guardian ad litem ("GAL"). A GAL trained by CASA becomes a voice for a vulnerable child navigating the overburdened legal and social services systems.  After an extensive screening and training process, volunteers are officially sworn in as officers of the court.  GALs get to know the children well enough to make objective recommendations to the court about where the children should live, if and when they should see their parents and siblings, and many other crucial decisions about their well-being.  Most people don't realize that our court systems simply do not have the resources to fully investigate these types of things. Our CASAs do this work for the court system, gathering information on each case by making regular visits with the child, speaking with professionals and other adults involved with the family, attending meetings regarding the child's welfare, and appearing in court on behalf of the child.

The work that CASA does is not only critical for the well being of these children, but also to the future of this great community. Statistics show that without our assistance, these abused and neglected children are more likely to drop out of school, more likely to get involved with drugs, more likely to end up in jail, and more likely to continue the cycle of abuse when they have kids. The odds are stacked against these children. Through the work of our passionate volunteers, CASA helps give these kids a real chance to rise above their  dreadful circumstances and lead productive lives, and in doing so they help this community become a better place one abused and neglected child at a time.

Tomorrow, on November 1, Blue Jackets season ticket holders will be entitled to request a refund from the team for actual games not played. If you like Toms' idea and want to make some lemonade by donating a part of that refund to a local charity, I ask you to consider CASA of Franklin County. You can make a donation online at: http://www.casacolumbus.org/

But making a monetary donation is only one of the ways you can help this wonderful organization. You can become a CASA (info provided on website), you can help us with fund-raising in these difficult financial times and, perhaps most importantly, you can help spread the word about CASA. Give them a Like on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter.

On behalf of the volunteers, the staff and the board members at CASA, I thank you sincerely for your consideration and generosity.

Hurricane Sandy doesn't stop the "Hatched and Hungry"

Let’s just say by the end of these next few days, there might be a farm no longer. Hurricane Sandy is demonstrating her thrash, wreaking havoc along the East coast. Now us here in Springfield haven’t been affected yet, with the storm looming over New York City. However, just like my dad has always told me: “The only sports that are not cancelled in bad weather are hockey and skiing.” Well the Falcons didn't do too much skiing this weekend, but they did play some Hockey!

This past weekend was one of much success for the Springfield Falcons. With two victories, the Falcons slid into the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Hurricane Sandy is coming for our farm!
Photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

On Friday night, the Falcons traveled to Providence to take on the Bruins and defeated the Boston Bruin farm team 3-0. Just one week prior, it was Providence on the winning side of the ice, taking the game 3-1.This time around it was all Springfield. goalie Curtis McElhinney recorded his second shutout in five games while Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson and Ryan Russell scored the goals.

Moving on to Saturday night, things were a little different. The Falcons hosted the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and eventually lost in a shootout 3-2. The UMass Amherst graduate and back-up goalie Paul Dainton played well, recording 36 saves in the loss.

For those of you that don’t know much about Paul Dainton, let me give you some insight, for I have been watching this guy between the pipes for a while now. Back at UMass, Dainton was a stud. Pretty much every time the guy made a save, the hundreds of “Mullins Maniacs” (UMass fanbase) wave their hands up and down praising their goalkeeper. In four years between 2007 and 2011, Dainton finished his career with a .908 save percentage, 2.79 goals against average and a career record of 45-16-12. My guess is that he will be a solid backup for McElhinney and will be an asset down the road.

In their last game of the weekend, the “Hatched and Hungry” Falcons took on the Portland Pirates in a Sunday matinee. Springfield scored three times in the first frame while outshooting the Pirates 19-4. Then, with McElhinney back in the cage, held off Portland down the stretch to close out the weekend with a 3-2 victory.

That’s it from here on the Farm, now back to you!

Time for a Glass of Lemonade

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." - originally attributed to Elbert Hubbard

Let's be upfront about this: We want to watch National Hockey League-brand hockey in Columbus.  Sadly - and for reasons beyond our control - it's not happening.  As we write, it won't happen until December 1, 2012 at the earliest.  If there was hockey being played, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

But the NHL has given the fans lemons, so we're going to suggest that the fans make some lemonade.

As Columbus Blue Jackets ticket holders, we are entitled to request refunds from the team for games not played.  The official team policy is this:

IF YOUR ACCOUNT FOR THE 2012-13 SEASON IS PAID IN FULL YOU WILL HAVE TWO (2) OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: Option 1: Keep Money on Account and Receive a Credit of 4% Toward Future Ticket Purchases Season ticket payments can be left on your account with the Blue Jackets and applied towards future ticket purchases such as remaining payments towards additional tickets for the 2012-13 season (i.e. single game tickets, group tickets, suite rentals, additional season tickets or playoff tickets) and/ or the renewal of your season tickets for the 2013-14 season. Season Ticket Holders electing this option will be provided a credit of 4% calculated using simple interest. Interest will be calculated from the point at which a particular game is cancelled to the last day of the month for which the credit is owed. Option 2: Request a Refund For Payments Related to Games Officially Cancelled Season Ticket Holders requesting this option will be provided a full refund for any games officially cancelled. Refunds will be processed within ten (10) business days of the last day of each month beginning in November and will be based upon the number of games officially cancelled in the applicable month. Refunds will be processed using the same method of original payment (i.e. if you purchased your Blue Jackets ticket package using a credit card we will issue a credit to that same credit card). If you paid for your tickets with cash or check, we will issue a check made payable to the Season Ticket Holder of Record and mailed to the address we have on file. Please log on to www.MyBlueJacketsAccount.com to verify that we have your current address on file.

If you want to keep your money with the club and get your four percent annualized interest, more power to you.  If, however, you wish to receive a refund, we'd like to offer a suggestion that will make our community that much better by your actions:

Donate the value of at least one of your refunded tickets to a local charity.

Our thinking is this: We as ticket package holders have already given our money away (granted, in the hopes of receiving entertainment).  Thus, the refund - which will be distributed by November 10th at the latest - is somewhat unexpected money.  So why not carve off a slice of that to help a local non-profit do good works?

In the next day or two, we'll offer a suggestion for a local charity to support.  And, as long as this lockout lasts, we'll offer a new charitable suggestion at the end of every month.

The lemons are here.  Let's get moving on making some lemonade.

Tom & Greg
Dark Blue Jacket and Full Mental Jackets

Big weekend down on the farm..

Nick Drazenovic scored the lone goal vs. the Providence
Bruins last Saturday. Photo courtesy of Masslive.com

The Blue Jacket affiliate Springfield Falcons have an action packed weekend in store for them. They have three games in a row lined up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night, the Falcons will travel to Providence, RI to take on the Bruins in a rematch of last Saturday’s 3-1 loss. Center Nick Drazenovic scored the lone goal for Springfield.

Following Friday night’s game, the Falcons will hop on the bus and travel back to Springfield to host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday and the Portland Pirates on Sunday.

Now with the NHL Lockout STILL looming over our heads, we continue to look at our prospects keeping their blades sharp down on the farm. What might be interesting to you is that in the Providence Bruins game, the Cam Atkinson, Ryan Johansen and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault was nonexistent. Instead, the second line of Matt Calvert, Thomas Kubalik and Drazenovic played well all night, often producing scoring chances and converting one in the first period.

Curtis McElhinney has been playing well for the Falcons. Playing all four games, McElhinney has posted a 1.76 goals against average, picking up a shutout along the way. UMass Amherst graduate and backup goalie PaulDainton is expected to play one game this weekend according to coach Brad Larsen.

And So Shines a Good Deed

Charlie, he so dearly loves his CBJ no matter how bad
things get in Columbus.

I realize I’m not affectionately received as a positive guy when it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets and social media.  But as twitter darlings @johntkemp and @osujoe will attest, all you need to do is sit down for a beer (or six) with me to understand where I’m coming from.  I’ve had a chance to sit down with the co-contributors on the blog, and aside from me absolutely loving the different viewpoints we all have, they understand I’m far from a troll or hater – just a disappointed fan with passionate hockey knowledge. 

I would imagine this is largely how I am perceived by the
CBJ twittersphere.   "But I want a CBJ win NOW daddy!"

The Blue Jackets have been very disappointing to me for some time.  It started with their slide into the 08-09 playoffs and the subsequent embarrassment by a team that had been playing hockey for 20 out of the last 24 months.  The team has done little since to make me think they were doing anything other than minimizing financial losses.  Howson’s rent a coach system was embarrassing.  But the the last straw for me was when the #CBJ traded for Jeff Carter.  Everybody that knows someone in an NHL front office knows what kind of guy Jeff Carter was/is.  I couldn’t believe that for one second Scott Howson actually thought Jeff Carter would be a good fit in Columbus.  You’ll notice I seldom, if ever, “rip” and NHL player.  But Jeff Carter is not one of those “Work hard, Stay positive, Good Lord willing one day things will turn out” kind of people, but good God can he shoot a puck.

As I dig out from daddy patrol on paternity leave, something positive, very positive has happened to the Columbus Blue Jackets.  John Davidson will be hired as president of hockey operations, and if reports are to be believed, he will report directly to ownership.  I see John Davidson more than the president of hockey operations, I see him as a turnaround consultant.  But like all successful turnarounds, the ownership group must give Davidson 100% autonomy to do what must be done with the workforce from the top to bottom – nothing is taboo.  This cannot be a political battle, like a Viet Nam where we asked our generals to follow a political protocol.  Davidson must be given full control to win the battle that this team has asked so many to join.  At a glance, it would appear he has been given that power.

John Davidson has also been given the power to Rock!

For me, this is the first positive thing this team has done in a long time – and a bright spot to lift my CBJ spirits.  This is something that should have been done years ago, but I won’t start down that path.  I’m very happy that a knowledgeable person with ‘turnaround’ experience is here to get this team headed in the right direction.  But the thing about turnarounds is that the majority shareholder or owner is ultimately looking to sell the business once its cash-flow is positive again.  But don’t worry, I won’t get into that now.  Right now I’m happy that this franchise has finally made a move at the top which makes sense and gets this team closer to winning and being competitive.

And no, it’s not lost on me that the author of “Hockey for Dummies” is now Scott Howson’s boss – and I’m very happy that he is.

First Alex Selivanov, then Craig Patrick, and now John Davidson.
Are the CBJ really playing 6 degress of Phil Esposito?

Petition drive to revoke Nationwide Arena deal

Courtesy of local sports writer and enthusiast Justin Boggs comes this link to the Columbus Coalition for Responsive Government's "Dare 2 B Fair" site.  Specifically, the organization appears to be organizing a petition drive to reverse the deal that put Nationwide Arena on the public rolls.  This would be accomplished either through a Columbus City Council or through a public referendum.

This link takes you to a PDF of the petition.

I share this development because it is germane to the public dialogue over the Columbus Blue Jackets.  I know nothing about the organization that is promoting this campaign.  I cannot speculate on their viability toward their goal of reversing the arena deal.  That said, it's worth remembering that which the Coalition notes:

We note that publicly funded arena proposals have been defeated at the polls on five previous occasions.

Five times.  FIVE.  That tells me that as long as there is an avenue for recourse, the issue of financial responsibility for Nationwide Arena will remain open.

New faces down on the farm

With the looming NHL lockout, you Blue Jacket faithful have seen some familiar faces hop in a plane and travel out to Western Massachusetts to play for the AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons. Players such as right wing Cam Atkinson, center Ryan Johansen and defenseman John Moore and David Savard were all solid contributions on the ice for the Blue Jackets.

Cam Atkinson played in 27 games last season for the
Columbus Blue Jackets. Photo courtesy of Masslive.com

Last season, Johansen and Moore played the most games for Columbus out of the bunch. They both played in 67 games for the Blue Jackets. Johansen, a center, scored nine goals and had 12 helpers combining for a total of 21 points on the year. Moore, a physical defenseman, had just two goals and five assists totaling seven points in his season for Columbus. 

This season, Johansen has been playing well for Springfield. Through four games played, the center has two goals and an assist. As for Moore, he has contributed a goal and an assist to the Falcons offensive outpour this season (averaging over three goals a game this season).

Next comes Savard. The 6’1” 217 pounder from St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, played 31 games wearing the Columbus red white and blue, scoring two goals and adding eight helpers to total 10 points. This season for the Falcons, Savard has started the season strong handing out two assists in four games.

Lastly, the player in this group with the least experience in the NHL last year with the Blue Jackets is having the biggest impact with the Falcons this season. Boston College graduate Cam Atkinson has put together four points in as many games this year in Springfield. 

With one goal and three assists, this is a good chance for Atkinson to showcase his talents to the Blue Jacket front office. Last season with Columbus, the 5’7” right winger played in 27 games with the Jackets and tallied 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists).  

Atkinson was one of the more talked about players this off season. My roommate had a chance to check out the training camp evaluations as part of the Springfield College Exercise Science major. He will be interning with Falcons Head Strength Coach Dan Gregory next semester. According to him, “Cam showed off his speed and strength in training camp, with the fastest short sprint time, and even though being of smaller stature, was lifting with the big guys.”

The Falcons are off to a great start this season. Through four games the team is 3-1, losing only to the Providence Bruins this past Saturday. The Falcons will look to avenge this loss when they travel to Providence this Friday to take on the Bruins on the road.

Follow Jon Santer on Twitter: @JSanter5

Check out Jon's personal Hockey East Blog: collegehockeyeastpuck.wordpress.com
Twitter: @HockeyEastBlog

Feathering the nest

Falcons coach Brad Larsen doesn't appear to be amused by DBJ's weak play on words.

One area where this blog has been lax has been in coverage of the Columbus Blue Jackets farm system.  In part that's circumstantial - all of the writers are from Central Ohio, and I don't think any of us are glued to our computers to watch pixellated streams of minor league hockey games.  It's also a matter of personal preference, as I and my writers (each under no obligation to write about anything in particular) generally choose to write about that which we see on a day to day basis.

Enter Jon Santer.