Frederick Stars Hockey

I was just reading the news and saw an article on CNN.com about a pediatrics group that says we should have labels on certain foods warning that they pose a choking hazard, similar to labels on toys.
http://us.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/22/children.choking/index.html?hpt=C2

So next time you're out there eating hot dogs in the lot... remember, it's DANGEROUS!

Ending the painful eleven month estrangement from the world of ice hockey, James Pryor (Frederick Stars, 77, Defense 2005-2009) stepped onto the frozen surface of Eissporthalle Mainz on Wednesday night for a session with the Mainz Midnighters.
The Midnighters run a tight ship with set drills and iron fist discipline. The extra 13 feet of width of the international rink is just as unlucky as the numbers make it out to be. Especially if one has not skated in nearly a year.

After a series of drills designed to break the spirit of the weak, the Midnighters form teams for a nearly hour-long scrimmage. A scrimmage void of any breaks. "Bring it all, or go home!" They say.

The session ends at 15 minutes before midnight, promptly. By 14 minutes to midnight, the German-born beer is flowing in the locker room and shower area. A stern lecture from the teams patriarch regarding more serious preparations for an upcoming international tournament ends with a hearty "Prost!"

Drink up boys! It's good to be back on the ice.

We opened a couple of boxes that finally arrived in the mail today.
My first present?
A Blue Snuggie from my wife's grandma! Awesome!
I've been drinking coffee in bed in the mornings lately and this is just what I needed to make the chilly experience a little better.

What did you guys get?

Here we are two weeks into the NHL Regular Season. I've watched a handful of games. A couple Caps wins and a couple of losses. I'm halfway through what I believe is a Caps defeat at the hands of Detroit. I haven't finished watching yet so don't confirm that for me. My ESPN360 subscription is working out fine so far.

I've never been so excited for October to come in my life. Being away from hockey for the last six months has been a real test of endurance for my entire being. My body, flabby from the lack of any real exertion, longs for the ice, the sweat, and the beer. My mind longs for the exercise of statistics and schedules. My eyes; Oh my eyes; as the European sun rises to lower and lower apogee every day, my eyes long to squint at the bright glare of NHL-white ice on a huge High Definition television.

Alas, living in Europe has become painful. No local adult recreational hockey leage, no American HD TV, no vitamin D created by exposure to the sun's lucious UV B rays. Fifty degrees north latitude is only joyful in Canada.

I'll still be watching NHL hockey. I've purchase the ESPN 360 streaming NHL package. I'll watch a few games live (they'll start at 1 or 2 am for me) and the rest I'll see on an 18 hour delay.

Let's just hope the bandwidth holds out!

All right all you Europe-based Stars Hockey fans... Get ready to pull an all-nighter! In a press conference held at Noon CEST on Monday the German based ESPN8 "Die Acht!" announced the station had finally settled a long standing contract dispute with the Frederick SFAHL Division C ownership and players association allowing them to televise games live and with minimal commercial interruption.
As a result, Monday's Stars/Huskies matchup will be shown nationwide in Germany starting just after 1AM Tuesday CEST.
So have a nap and prep your Bier Stein for a late night hockey fest!
GO STARS!!

From the heart of Rhein Main hockey region... this is James... signing off.

I was shocked to read this morning that cocaine use (along with ethyl alcohol, hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol, Xanax, and Valium) was a factor contributing to the death of legendary pitchman Bill Mays. Well, maybe I wasn't shocked, or even surprised. Actually, I'm relieved. Knowing now that Billy Mays was artificially hyped up about all those products he hawked lets me know he was a real human being. You'd have to be pumped full of drugs to get that excited about fabric adhesives, two-part epoxy putty, and questionable health insurance. So here's to better advertising through chemistry! Bottoms up!

Here is the latest bit of evidence that seems to point to Obama being evil (some say Antichrist):

The time between the day Hawaii became a state and the day Obama was born was:

61,689,600 seconds

Notice there are 3 groups of numbers, all beginning with the number 6. So that's 666.
If you add up the individual digits (6+1+6+8+9+6+0+0) you get 36... again, three six... 666.

Others have pointed out that Barack Hussein Obama has 18 letters. 18=3x6 again... three and six... that's 666.

Still others have pointed out that Obama's zip code in Chicago was 60606. Obviously three sixes.

But the real reason Obama is evil, I think, is because he'll never be able to stop the Yosemite Supervolcano from erupting.
No, wait... I said it wrong... He's evil because he's a politician. DUH!

Best. Hockey. Fight. Ever.

Today my hopes for one day being tapped to play in the NHL were sparked to life. Capitals web producer Brett Leonhardt was called up from the IT department to fill in as backup goalie for an injured Jose Theodore (hip flexor) until Hershey's Simeon Varlamov could get to the arena. Varlamov couldn't make it for the opening of the first period because the Bears were still in Texas. The Bears lost 3-0 to San Antonio Thursday and are scheduled to play in Houston Saturday at 8:35 PM.
At 6' 7", Leonhardt would have tied the record for the tallest goalie to ever play in the NHL. At 6' 2", 168 pounds, I would be the scrawniest player in the NHL. But I'm open to the opportunity despite my wiry composition.
Leonhardt had to sign an amateur tryout contract before game time. I, for one, would love to see the terms of such a contract.
Player gets zero compensation for any performance. Player understands it's likely he'll get pulverized if given the opportunity to take to the ice during game play...."

So here I am, NHL! Come and sign me!