CannonFest beverage specials offer arena style - for less

You've seen the incredible CannonFest food specials at Buffalo Wild Wings, now check out what Greg May and his crew have concocted for beverage specials!

It's the closest thing to the hockey season without being hockey season.  Come share the joy!

You've always wanted one...and you can win it at CannonFest!

Another incredible raffle for Hockey Beats Down (cancer) courtesy of Superior Beverage's donation:

A genuine Columbus Blue Jackets neon beer sign..here's more from Full Mental Jackets' Greg May with the scoop on this particular giveaway.  Unbelievable.  CannonFest is going to be one incredible time, that's for sure!

Help Hockey Beat Down cancer...and win!

Permit me to offer a quick apology/explanation: I've been on vacation for the past 7 days, returning to Ohio late yesterday afternoon.  So - yeah - I had about four blog posts in the can and simply scheduled their release while I was having fun in the sun.  (The Tom Reed tribute was written after I got home, though.)  Thus, it's very safe to accuse me of mailing it in, because...well...I was.

But I'm back now, and we're three days away from CannonFest!  Like all great events where things come together in the closing hours, we've had a couple developments that deserve mention.  You know, for the three DBJ readers who are still on the fence about joining in the fun on Sunday.

The first big development is that the Jacket Backers' raffle of nifty stuff related to the Columbus Blue Jackets will be going to support Hockey Beats Down, a local effort to fight cancer.  What a terrific cause, and I'm excited that CannonFest is aligned in this way.

Lastly, the raffle itself.  Greg May has been working overtime to procure a couple outstanding raffle items that might interest everyone.  Here's one...

Congrats, Tom Reed!

Word is on the street that the Dispatch's Tom Reed has been picked up by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer for the Cleveland Cavaliers beat.  While I can't let this moment go without reminding poor Tom that he's going to Cleveland, and to cover a team that's locked out for the foreseeable future and one that plays basketball at that, I am genuinely pleased for him.  Seriously, put the playful snark aside.  I really am happy for Tom.

In the years that I've been a Columbus Blue Jackets fan, Tom Reed has emerged as my go-to writer at the Dispatch for some terrific coverage of the team, its minor league system and the many personalities behind all of it.  Reed's been the (apparently) number two Blue Jackets writer at the Dispatch, not to mention an (apparent) backup writer for the Columbus Crew MLS beat.  How to put it best?  Reed writes damned good copy.

Beyond that, Tom's been a terrific Twitter acquaintance.  Can't ask for more.  Gonna miss that.  Which is saying something as I've never met the man in person.

So now he's on to the "bigs" - to be on a major league sports beat at a top American newspaper.  Columbus' loss is Cleveland's gain.  

Good fortune to you, Tom Reed...if you're in town on Sunday, swing by CannonFest and I'll buy you a beer.

Time for the CannonFest food specials

You gotta love Greg May.  Not only is he a great Columbus Blue Jackets fan and blogger at Full Mental Jackets, not only is he perhaps one of the finest game-watching partners in town (I mean, "Drinks on Goal"?  Come on!)...he also happens to own Buffalo Wild Wings in Grandview!

So when it's time to bring Blue Jackets fans together, Greg rolls out the red carpet.  He's pulled together his two best specials and will be offering both for CannonFest 2011 attendees.  Can you not afford to come?

We hear that there's a beverage special to come as well...

CannonFest: Your CBJ preseason Tweetup

While I'm a frequent user of Twitter to communicate with other Columbus Blue Jackets fans - and other hockey fans, for that matter - I've never participated in a "Tweetup".

Or so I thought.

The Wiktionary defines Tweetup as:

A real-life meeting organised on the social networking site Twitter.

WAIT A MINUTE.  That's CannonFest!  I mean, go look at the recap of last year's CannonFest and tell me that doesn't meet the letter of that definition.

And this year only promises more of the same.  Hope you can make it, because it's a lot of fun and a great way to scratch that hockey itch in mid-August!

None shall pass

It's been a while now since Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson introduced his two prime acquisitions of the 2011 offseason, Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski, and I've been mulling this over in my mind (largely because CBJ-land has been so quiet since!).  Before I jump in too far, permit me to reacquaint you with the event:




Now read what HockeyBuzz's Eric Smith had to say about the juxtaposition of the two:

Carter is 6-foot-3 and a slender build at around 200 pounds and looks like a golden Labrador where you know he's athletic and is graceful but also he's thinking and analyzing the situation all the time.


Wisniewski on the other hand is listed at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds and the look of a pit-bull. Still athletic but will growl and bite you and ask questions later.


Looks can be deceiving but with these two, the look seems to fit their personalities too.

You can read more of Smith's perceptions in the piece, which I enjoyed, but that's where it hit me.  I think I have more of an affinity for defensemen than forwards.

Let's be clear here, though.  There are plenty of kinds of defensemen. Some, like Washington's Mike Green, appear to be more along the lines of a recovering winger than a true defenseman. Others are exclusively "puck movers," more inclined to look for the breakout pass or sprint with the puck to set up the offense.

Me? I like my defensemen stout. I like them with a snarl. I like defensemen who have the attitude that screams, "None shall pass."  Maybe it's a lingering affinity for Hitch-hockey, maybe not.  But who cares?  I like my defensemen with a dash of spit and vinegar.

I liked Mike Commodore in his time on the ice in Columbus. When Commie was on the ice, he had that demeanor. He might be a great conversation off the ice, but on the ice...well, none shall pass. He would push, plug, swipe, whatever it took. You could see that it pained him when he let someone by him - there's some professional pride for you - and it hurt worse when someone scored on him.  No better way to make up for it than with a well-placed hip-check...




In the same vein, I like Fedor Tyutin. (Of course, anyone who's been reading this blog for a while knows that I like Tyutin.) He's another robust blue liner, one who's slowly discovering his offensive side but needs no help clogging lanes and crushing the opposition to the boards.  Or maybe the open-ice cobweb-clearer...




So here's my thing with Wisniewski: I haven't watched him play much and readily admit that I need to do more.  But watch a clip compilation like this and tell me that his play isn't oozing with that "none shall pass" attitude:




Wiz isn't the biggest defenseman in the world - no towering tree like a Zdeno Chara - but Smith called it when he labelled Wiz a pit bull.  I'm thinking he was onto something...a pit bull with a bit of a snarl.

But it gets better.  Wisniewski apparently has a killer shot from the point, something that also is badly needed in Columbus.  As proof, I'll offer this clip package:




Pit bull attitude and a shot.  That's a lethal combination.  I think I'm now finally starting to see the player for whom Scott Howson opened up the proverbial McConnell wallet.

These are only impressions.  I'll probably try to catch a game or two of his before the season starts, but the real proof of my hunches will come on the ice this fall.  I've got a good feeling about Wiz based off his presentation in the presser and the few clips that I've seen, and boy do the CBJ need what he apparently has to offer.

If he delivers, I may have to break down and get some CBJ swag with a player's name/number on it...James Wisniewski's.

All three CBJ fan groups attending CannonFest 2011

One of the great surprises of last year's CannonFest, to me, was the Jacket Backers.  Those folks are one organized lot, and that organization, combined with their teamwork and enthusiasm, helped make the day as enjoyable as it became.  Talk about an awesome bunch of folks; I cannot say enough good things about what they've created over the years.  So when the organizers of CannonFest 2011 plotted out this year's activities, getting the Jacket Backers on board was a top priority.

Julie Maurer, the Jacket Backers' president, tell me that they'll be out in force again for CannonFest 2011.  They again plan to raffle off a host of CBJ items for charity, the exact items to be determined closer to the 14th.  I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeves this time around.

But wait!  Over the past season, two more fan groups formed.  One, the Arch City Army, literally stormed Nationwide Arena and turned all sorts of heads with their playful, soccer-style "hooliganism" (term used in the most positive light possible).  The other, Reclaim Our Barn, formed on Facebook to work to ensure that Nationwide Arena once again becomes one of the most feared arenas in the National Hockey League...for all the right reasons.

So why not invite all three to join in the fun?  Guess what?  They're all going to be at CannonFest, and they want to meet you!  So...

Fox Sports Ohio announces pre-season programming

[DBJ note: Looks like FSO is raising their game as they enter the last season of their current contract with the Blue Jackets.  Win for the fans!  Now, what about broadcasting every game in high-def?  And why no preseason game broadcasts?]

FOX SPORTS OHIO PREPS FOR BLUE JACKETS WITH THE

“COUNTDOWN TO FACE OFF”

Vote for your favorite Jackets Showcase Game on FOXSportsOhio.com. The top 4 will make the air!

Columbus, OH – Columbus Blue Jackets fans won’t have to wait until Opening Night to enjoy Blue Jackets hockey. As the team gears up for what will be an exciting 2011-12 season, FOX Sports Ohio is helping fans get ready too by featuring special Blue Jackets programming throughout the month of September in a “Countdown to Face Off.”

In the “Countdown to Face Off,” FOX Sports Ohio will feature replays of some of the best Blue Jackets games, as voted on by fans, as well as a Summer Tour road show, the Blue Jackets Slap Shots Summer Special, and a Morning Sports Report Special. A complete listing of the “Countdown to Face Off” schedule is below.

Ohio’s leading regional sports network will telecast four Blue Jackets Showcase Games. FOX Sports Ohio has gathered a list of nine of the best games in Blue Jackets history. Among the nine are the highest-scoring game in club history, the Jackets’ most lopsided win, the game that clinched their first playoff appearance, and a last-minute win secured when Rick Nash scored “the Goal”. The top four games, as voted on by fans via FOXSportsOhio.com, will make the air, with the first game on Monday, Sept. 5 at 6pm. For a complete list of the nine potential Showcase Games and to vote for your favorites, visit www.FOX SportsOhio.com/pages/countdown_to_face_off/. Fans can vote as many times as they choose until August 19.

FOX Sports Ohio further prepares for the start of the Jackets’ season with Blue Jackets Slap Shots Summer Special. This show is a replay of the production that originally premiered in July and picks up again on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6:30pm. The half-hour special takes a look at the team’s off-season player moves, from trades to the draft and free agency. Click HERE for more details about this program.

How do the Columbus Blue Jackets spend the off-season? Dave Maetzold and the FOX Sports Ohio crew take to the highways and byways of Canada to find out on Blue Jackets Slap Shots – Summer Tour. This four part series, premiering Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 6:30pm, is an all-access pass to the Jackets that every fan must see! Covering over 2,000 miles of the Great White North via minivan, this show will take fans to Quebec for a tour of Quebec City with Antoine Vermette. The road show then rolls into Ontario to check in with defensemen Marc Methot and Grant Clitsome in their hometown of Ottawa, catches up with captain Rick Nash at his cottage in the Muskoka region and has some fun with Steve Mason and his friends in the Toronto-area.

FOX Sports Ohio rounds out its “Countdown to Face Off” programming with Blue Jackets Slap Shots - Morning Sports Report Special, debuting Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30pm. In this 30-minute program, FOX Sports Ohio/Blue Jacket play-by-play commentator, Jeff Rimer, sits down with Nash, 2010 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Dino Ciccarelli, and Stanley Cup champion and national NHL analyst Ed Olczyk. Taped in late June as part of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission’s MORNING SPORTS REPORT event, the show highlights some of the discussion that took place in front of a live audience.

[Schedules after the fold...]

CannonFest: The Skraut video cometh!

If you haven't been following Skraut's Twitter feed, he's deep in the skunkworks at work on his next preseason Blue Jackets fan video...

As if you needed a better reason to come to CannonFest - because great wings and drinks combined with great hockey talk with friends new and old wasn't enough - check out Skraut's 2010 CannonFest premiere...



Blue Jackets - Requiem For a Season from Skraut on Vimeo.

Clear your schedules, because CannonFest is a really good time for Columbus Blue Jackets fans.