hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
The Iconic History of the Hart Memorial Trophy
For many years, I've been fascinated by the National Hockey League's individual trophies, with the main one being the immensely prestigious Hart Memorial Trophy. The Hart Trophy is awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the entire NHL, the highest individual honor in the league. Regarding other leagues, the NBA and the NFL's MVP awards cover the solitary league, while Major League Baseball awards MVPs in the American and National Leagues. But regarding the NHL, there's just something about the Hart Trophy. It covers 82 games of a sport that is grueling, difficult, and stressful, but often worth the headaches.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 22 Recap: Down in the Desert
The red-hot Colorado Avalanche, coming off a big win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, took their winning tear far west for a three game road trip. First up, a stop over in Tempe to face off against the Arizona Coyotes, a team who has been a surprising challenge for the Avs in recent years. The two teams have only been division rivals since the 2021-22 season, which saw the Coyotes moved to the Central Division to make way for the expansion Seattle Kraken's placement in to the Pacific Division. As an Avs fan, I do thank the Coyotes for allowing us to acquire Darcy Kuemper. We only had him for that season, but it resulted in a Stanley Cup.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
There's Something Rotten in Edmonton
You know, the phrase "jumping the shark" has been thrown around for decades in the world of television. The phrase comes from that infamous episode of Happy Days where The Fonz jumps over a shark on his motorcycle--a plotline that many saw as a desperate and odd ratings ploy. Since then, anytime TV shows do something wild, crazy, and unexpected for ratings, that phrase comes up: jump the shark.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 11 Recap: Chaos, Chaos, and More Chaos
Thankfully, we Colorado Avalanche fans had a lot of time to lick our wounds after the drubbing in Vegas. Two days off, followed by a return to the team's beloved Ball Arena for a three game homestand. First up, the New Jersey Devils, who are off to a good start after a season where they reached the Elite Eight. It's always nostalgic for me when the Devils and Avs get together, mainly because this was the Cup Final in 2001.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 10 Recap: Lemons
Every fan of a certain team has a list of certain games they look forward to the most. For Colorado Avalanche fans, one of them was played already--the first meeting against the Seattle Kraken. The second one, has to be...has to be the first meeting against the Vegas Golden Knights. We are talking about the last two teams to hoist the Stanley Cup; the Avs did it in 2022, and the Golden Knights did it last year. For me, I was definitely looking forward to this, because this was the Avs chance to basically tell the Knights, "Hey, you know that Cup you guys won? Yeah, we're gonna want that back."
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
The 2023-24 Sharks: Worst Team Ever?
You know, I had spent the last two weeks wondering what my first hockey story of this young season should be. There are a lot of good storylines that have developed within the first month of the season. So many amazing things have occurred this season, and a lot of them are definitely worthy of a piece on Vocal.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 9 Recap: Back on Track
While the month of October had been kind to the Colorado Avalanche, the last two games hadn't been. The Avs went 6-2 in the season's opening month, but the last two games were shutout losses on the road--in back-to-back games. The Avalanche's November kicked off with a home game against the St. Louis Blues, only their third home game of the season. In addition, this was the first "Division Rivalry" game of the season, which sees the Avs donning their alternate third jerseys for the game.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 7 Recap: Roadblock
For the third time in franchise history, and the second time since the move, the Colorado Avalanche are 6-0-0, a perfect point percentage. The winning streak continued with their win over the New York Islanders, and their next destination was Pittsburgh to face the Penguins. The Avalanche looked to match their best start in their overall franchise history, as the 1985-86 Quebec Nordiques started the season 7-0-0.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 6 Recap: Red Hot
The Colorado Avalanche's weird schedule continued with the beginning of a three-game East Coast swing that will end the month of October. First stop: Long Island. The Avs faced off against the New York Islanders, the very team that Devon Toews used to play for before the Avs acquired him following the unorthodox end of the 2019-2020 season. The Avs were coming off a big win against the Carolina Hurricanes, a game that saw a lot of goals. The Islanders haven't been known for offense, so it seemed like it would be a quiet-paced game.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 5 Recap: Goals, Goals, Goals
Every team has to face that one tough test at some point in the NHL season. For the Colorado Avalanche, that test came in the form of the Carolina Hurricanes. The biggest talk in this young season is that these two teams are the most favored to win the Stanley Cup this year. Basically, the court of public opinion is saying that this is a preview of this year's Stanley Cup Final. If this is what we will get in June, I say bring it on!
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 4 Recap: Home Sweet Home
After three straight home games to start the season, the Colorado Avalanche finally returned to their home ice at Ball Arena for this meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Avs have a strange schedule to open the season; started with three road games, then it's two home games, followed by three more home games. On the bright side, there has to be a home stand somewhere in this season.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 3 Recap: Payback
With two road wins under the team's belt, the Colorado Avalanche finished off their three-game road trip against a very familiar foe: the Seattle Kraken. As we recall, the Kraken's breakout sophomore season included a stunning playoff series victory over the then-defending champion Avs in seven games, and as soon as the schedule was released, every Avalanche fan (myself included) had this date circled on their calendars.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
