Yesterday In Thrasherdom

Let's see here, this is pretty bad ass. Toby-o signs a little extension that helps kick-start the THRASH0RZ 4 LYFE campaign that he is apparently spear-heading (let's keep Kovy out of this for now, mmmk?). Methinks this is a good thing. Wait, scratch that - it IS a good thing. Toby (originally typed as TONY) is one of those players who really gets his job done and that's quite shocking as he's a member of the Thrashers. Let's see if we can name the last great defenseman of the Atlanta Thrashers, shall we?

Speaking of Toby, it looks like he wants to bring out the Niko Kapanen haircut. Please take note:


Exhibit A - Toby Enstrom as of September 24, 2008. Clicking on that pic enlarges it like woah, so be prepared. But please notice the poofiness that's slightly protruding out of the sides of his helmet. There's no mistaking those Swedish blonde locks. And now...


Exhibit B - uh, Niko Kapanen.

All I'm saying is compare the hair (ha!), not the play, not the player, and certainly not the game. I hope I'm not the first to say it aloud and, by doing that, I hope that I'm not the gypsy who puts the Kap-Kurse on poor Toby-o. Shhhhhh!

With that said, I guess I misled, like, everyone by saying that I was going to practice on Saturday. I was all gung-ho about it all week long, and then corn dogs and funnel cake took over my body the nite before and I couldn't muster up the courage to make the trek to Duluth the following morning. Really, it just came down to gas prices and making multiple trips up to Atlanta in one day that was the kicker. BUT! But I finally made it up there on Wednesday morning and had a great time. At long last, I was able to really check out Mr. Bogosian and note that while he wasn't the best player on the ice on Wednesday morning, he definitely looks like an NHL player. Is this manchild really only 18? That's INSANE. He's a lock for the team, mark my words, but I just pray that he gets over the overwhelming part of the NHL quick. Once he does that, I think he can have a very solid season for the Thrashers.

I also caught a glimpse of Jason Williams, and was I shocked when I initially assumed that he looked like Justin Williams (why does he have an official website, BTW?). They are quite the opposites. Didn't keep too much of an eye on Marty Reasoner and definitely didn't peek at Ron Hainsey, but I guess I'll just save that for either another trip up later on or game time (woo, it's soon!).

Can I also say for the record that it was instantly odd to know that Marian Hossa wasn't there? I dunno, but I felt very... empty... that he wasn't at camp. I just had to say it. But as Filburt Turtle once said, "You turn the page, you wash your hands..." Bew to that! :(

Enough of my chatter about the practice, here are what you really want - pics!







For 26 more pics, check out the album at the Flickr.

It was unfortunate that Erik Christensen was not in attendance at this morning's session, but I guess that all is not doomed for our mystery center. I only say that because he had such a limited time with the Thrashers last season (due to injury) and now there's this strike against him when there are a lot of hopes for this guy to pull through and produce for the Thrashers. Let's hope his body can get things together!

Hmm, what else? I think that covers it for my Thrashers Wednesday.

On another topic, I'm kinda confused about how I should feel about this next issue. I'm in two fantasy leagues this year - a first for that - and while the second league hasn't drafted yet (sign up NOW!), the league I'm running is all set to go. The only thing is that one team, uh, lucked out (?) and secured the two goalies who are dearest to me.



You see, my wife and I have the two absolutely adorable kittens who I'm fairly positive will dominate the world. Seeing how we're kinda goalie fanatics (especially from the Finland region of the world), we named these two cats Miikka (red, obv) and Vesa (grey). Seriously, y'all, I'm kinda torn about this. The guy who drafted 'em did it through the auto draft, so I'm sure it was fate that led him to these guys. But really? I mean, if I go up against him for a week, how can I find it in my heart to root against Mr. Miikka and Mr. Vesa? Sure, you can make the completely logical argument that I'm only "facing" the human goalies and that has zero relation to our cats. But I counter your logic with my illogical standpoint that while these two goalies are indeed human, our cats are mere extensions of their awesomeness and if they do bad, ill-will could ensue towards these seemingly innocent felines. And if I DO root for them during that week, I end up losing in fantasy. It's a lose-lose situation, you see. It puts a whole other spin on fantasy for me this year and I honestly don't know how it will play itself out.



These cats are fucking adorable, y'all - don't even try to deny it!

Photos: Training Camp, 2007/09/14 (clicky)

I went to the opening day of the Thrashers training camp up in Duluth on Friday morning and took a few pictures. I love going up there for practices because, to me, it's so informal, you get so close to the players, and you get so close to the action - it's unbeatable.

Training Camp Opens Tomorrow! (clicky)

And so it continues - the soap opera that is the upcoming hockey season. This all happens is stages, you know.

June starts with the Stanley Cup and ends with the NHL Draft. Then there's the free-for-all free agency grab in July. August comes around and brings the baby Thrashers to town for a few days to get a taste of the big leagues for a change. And now that we're nearing the halfway point of September, training camp starts up and everyone invited has that chance of making the team.

Of course, players like the Kovys, the Hossas, the Karis, etc. don't have to worry much about making the opening day squad. But the great thing is seeing the younger bunch of players trying for their shot at a full-time membership of an NHL team. This season, unlike others in recent memory, offers the best chance for the young'uns to show up on October 5 and know what's at stake (i.e. the raising of the Southeast Division Championship banner) and more.

What really matters the most to the casual (or any, really) hockey fan is the notion that the fans are one more day closer to the start or another professional hockey season in North America. The game we all love is about to return and the opening of training camp tomorrow morning is one more step closer to that.

All of the subtleties are becoming apparent now and aren't distant memories anymore - they're simply reminders of what's to come. For example, if you're crazy about the Atlanta Thrashers and have attended a game (or 23) at Philips Arena last season, I'll list some things that will get you excited about the upcoming '07-'08 season. If you don't feel a thing from these little snippets, then God help you.

• the beeping of the ticket scanning machines, granting you entry into the Arena.
  
• drowning in a sea of BLUE as you make your way throughout the Arena.
  
• a temperature difference once waking through your designated portal.
  
• getting the first over-priced beer... or that huge brew before the game in the CNN Center.
  
• the smell of the ice.
  
• scrolling text messages (and apparently the over-abundance of Chuck Norris shout-outs).
  
• the sound of the Zamboni.
  
• the booing that meets the referees.
  
• Steve Craig.
  
• Rabid Fans, Heatmisers, and the entire Nasty Nest.

You know, the list is actually pretty endless. I had to stop myself because I was getting tons of chills down the spine and I couldn't put words to my thoughts and the visions that have danced in my head for the past few months.

The same also applies to hearing Blur's "Song 2" on the radio during the summer. Or GNR's "Welcome to the Jungle". Or that damned Tom Petty song that plays whenever the Thrashers get scored against. (Note to self: I HATE that Tom Petty song... because of hockey?)

Tomorrow, all of these things come closer to repeating themselves all over again. The thrills of victory, scoring the OT winner, watching Kari sprawl in the crease to stop that shooter in the shootout to preserve a winning outcome, Ilya going on one knee after he burns the back of the net by his low-percentage (bew-hew!) slapper from the point and the agonies of prolonged stays on the IR, the opposition ending the game by scoring with .5 seconds left (thanks, Carolina!), and ridiculously bad breaks from our own boards are about to be reinvented and revisited (hopefully none of the agonies will return!).

Who's gonna be the playmaker this season? Who's gonna be the rookie to steal the show for the Thrash? Or will ANY rookie step it up?

What's the story going to be for this season? Only time will tell and I'm so excited to know that the Thrashers will keep on improving and become even stronger than before.

You better believe I'll be there tomorrow, with tons of other supporters cheering on the team as they take the ice collectively for the first time since crap went down in April and new additions started trickling in in early July. I'll be one of the many sporting some sort of winter-weather wear (!), my Blueland scarf, and my camera.

See you there! And...

LET'S GO THRASHERS!