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.
A Few More Thousand "Words" to Look At
The feedback has been pretty positive for the photo collections I have been creating on here from the September 15th Winnipeg Jets' Training Camp/Fan Fest day, and seeing that I have a few hundred shots on my hard drive that are all just aching for an audience, here's a few more.
By Marjorie Roden7 years ago in Unbalanced
Confessional Time
Like many Canadian kids growing up on the Prairies, I had dreams of playing hockey at a higher level. Believe it or not, playing in net as a goaltender was, at the time, a huge part of that dream. I worked hard at trying to make myself a faster, stronger, and more resilient player whom any scout would be crazy to overlook. I didn't tell anyone in case it didn't work out, but now I am at a point in my life where I think writing about this side of myself is a safe thing for me to do.
By Marjorie Roden7 years ago in Unbalanced
A Picture Can Tell 1000 Words, Part 2
A few more shots from the ones taken during the public training camp skates at the Winnipeg Jets' annual Fan Fest held at the Bell MTS Iceplex just off the perimeter in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After getting my shoes a bit less muddy from the walk from the closest bus stop (hint to anyone running in the Winnipeg civic election, ADD A BUS ROUTE OUT THERE as the half hour walk, which has a good chunk of it along the Trans-Canada highway, is more than slightly scary!!! Ok, rant done... for now, LOL), several hundred shots were taken during the camp so these moments that many hockey fans could not watch could be shared with them. Above is a shot of Jets' assistant captain Mark Scheifele early in the morning action as he watches for a pass to come his way.
By Marjorie Roden7 years ago in Unbalanced
Finally Home: John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the 2018-19 season looked terrifying enough already. They have a trio of talented, young stars that can only get better, a new general manager that embraces change and a solid core they are now confident in. And then they signed John Tavares.
By Shandi Pace7 years ago in Unbalanced
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
A few shots from Saturday September 15th at the Winnipeg Jets training camp. That day was the “Fan Fest Day” which meant that all of the training camp drills were taking place in front of a rather substantial crowd at the Bell MTS Iceplex that morning, where both veterans and prospects alike were competing to solidify their spots on the Winnipeg Jets’ roster for the 2018-2019 National Hockey League season. Above is a shot of Canadian-born veteran Brandon Tanev saucering a pass to Finnish rookie prospect Kristian Vesalainen.
By Marjorie Roden7 years ago in Unbalanced
The Hockey Drought Is Almost Over
Hockey lasts from September to June. After the Stanley Cup is awarded, the season awards, NHL draft, and free agency all take place in late June and through July. That leaves us with August. If there is one month that is devoid of real news, substance, and action that we all crave it is August.
By Matthew Maratea7 years ago in Unbalanced
The Bullies Are "Crushed"
Sports in general is supposed to teach people—children especially growing up—about the idea of fair play. And we are assured, as children, that if we play a nice clean game, no matter what, the adults in charge who are acting as referee's shall make sure if someone fouls us up, the person fouling us up will pay the price through a penalty of some sort. It was an idealistic view that the referees, or "zebras" as some of us call them, would make the playing area a safe place to be. Because after all, sport is supposed to be about fun, and not about maiming a fellow human being.
By Marjorie Roden8 years ago in Unbalanced
"Why Yes, I Was in 'Mr. Hockey'!!!"
Five years ago, I had what could only be called an epic experience working on the CBC made for television movie Mr. Hockey, which looked at the year Gordie Howe decided to come out of retirement and play alongside his two eldest sons Marty and Mark in 1973. At the time, he was 44 years old, and it was known as one of the biggest comebacks in professional hockey.
By Marjorie Roden8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Making of an Epic Remake
During the third round of the NHL playoffs, after game two, a number of Jets fans were feeling rather glum about the loss. I had been working with Winnipeg Harvest, dressed up as the Tiger Lily Fairy, "Whiteout Edition," the two hours previous to the game and stuck around for the street party, where I sat on one of the concrete benches in the family section behind the Millenium Library in downtown Winnipeg. I watched the game on a huge big screen which was showing the CBC broadcast of the Jets/Knights game, alongside a lot of families who appreciated a family friendly cosplayer spending their time with them. Truth be told, I hate drunks, and knew none were allowed in this area. But the people there recognized me from a brief interview I did after the viewing party held in Bell MTS Place, when the Jets won over the Predators in game seven in the second round.
By Marjorie Roden8 years ago in Unbalanced
A Delayed Story: March 27, 2018
WRITER'S NOTE: I submitted this for another paper, but as there wasn't room for it, it was not used. As people have been asking me what I did write up for this particular NHL hockey game, I felt I might as well publish it here, and get some feedback. Apologies to any Jets' fans for the lateness of this getting made public for reading. And yes I always do my nails blue, hence why I chose the graphic I did to accompany this story.
By Marjorie Roden8 years ago in Unbalanced
Vegas Is in the Cup! Oh, and So Are the Capitals
These are the two teams the league (or most of it, at least) did not think were going to make it to the finals this season when the playoffs started. A lot happened in ways that helped Vegas make it and helped Washington. In many ways teams that were in the playoffs, schedules and even fans were just some of the things that aided the teams in getting this far.
By Dominic Berning8 years ago in Unbalanced
A Vegas Cup? It Seems Quite Possible
Something strange has been happening in the beautiful world of hockey. And no, I don’t mean the Capitals actually winning in the first round of the playoffs. I mean the expansion team who has a horrible name (but this is a story for later), the Vegas Golden Knights, and their amazing potential to win a Stanley cup. This has never been done by a first year franchise, might I remind you. Now, by now they only have a 3-1 series lead, but in the realm of sports that's nothing, and it can easily be busted and lost.
By Dominic Berning8 years ago in Unbalanced
