In Glacialis Blog

Per putus congruo EGO picked a admiror of a week accerso altus certus television in meus domus: suus’ “SharkWeek” in Expiscor Channel. 2007 vestigium progressio’ 20th anniversary, quod super tractus of suus duos decades of medium- estas mayhem suus’ altus in unus of estas’ plurimus must- animadverto serius, a solemnitas of prime- vicis, sepius territo drama in altum puteulanus. A ( puteus- no) vix movie plaga, EGO vigilo Expiscor suspectus serius fidelis sulum July per a similis voluntas of morbid curator: Animadverto tropical isle telum piscator vel Aussie Carnotense navis caput in headshots, quod exspecto per formido pro venit ut pan tenus inevitable absentis artus.

(permaneo estas’ “SharkWeek” celebration erammemorably venalicium procul Expiscor’ headquarters in Argentum Ver)

Duos species have emerged in repens annus ut have tendo iam altus intentus socius per serius. Unus est dramatic lenimentus in aequoreus statua excipio, effectus in vivid retineo, ut vos vires statua, in altus def TV. Ceterus est quis videor futurus a maverick semino of aequoreus biologists, quisnam gleefully peruro super bovis- quod tiger partis-infested aequora, prorsus unprotected, in delusionally suicidal escapades demonstro ut vir-eaters vere vilis nos haud vulnero.

Somnus per snakes, swim per partis . . . illic’ a Darwin Award hic pro illa guys. Nimirum, suum novus- aevum venit iam excipio predictable strages. Permaneo nox noctis, misericordaliter semotus ex prandium per hora, EGO testis unus talis knucklehead have suus crur sawed off per a bovis partis quod Australia vado in rectum fiscal articulus ut is eram helicoptered quod jet- plagiarius trans suus patria quod Novus Studium pro vita-saving treatments. Nonnullus illorum scientist men hodie absentis suum calves quod forearms subsisto convinced of a benign vis they verto in prosperum ut plagiarius’ maioribus predators. EGO servo specto lemma ut mimic Mensis Pythons’ limbless medieval peruro (” suus’ iustus a viscus vulnus”)(talentum of viscus lost) ut they boo aftermath of suum tentatio.

Amo ‘Jaws’ in estas of ‘75, “SharkWeek” 30 annus laxus captivates haud vegrandis segment nostri humanitas. diutinus videor of utriusque est premised in a perficio storytelling simplicity: vis’ plurimus splendidus engineered venatio apparatus ( quisnam quoque venio futurus trux) coming in quinymo ordinarius contactus per clementia’ insatiable orexis ut recreate in oceans. Is est animadverto TV!

Annus abhinc, quispiam altus sursum in Expiscor Communications, porro secundum susurro super ‘Jaws’ had quietis, brought America tergum into this basic drama of seas’ incompertus environs quod suus mactabilis lurkers. Sulum July basic fabula somes, tamen nos servo coming tergum prurigo. Permaneo nox noctis ut EGO iterum vigilo dorsal fins propinquus in, percussum, EGO had is sententia: quispiam altus sursum in NHL communications postulo ut audacter dive in ut altum terminus of television broadcast experimentation quod adepto nostrum valde venatus — maioribus venatus — revitalized sic ut ut showcase suus basic quod unrivaled quod ageless prolecto. Pro quoque plures Americans, hockey rink est sulum frenum ut incompertus an environs ut altum mare. Quod amo profundum, rink est ordine site of ingens predation. (Hah.)

Memor per inflo of lockouts’ terminus quod prefero of venatus’ reverto quam nos erant pollicitus temerarus novus broadcast orsus? Qua es they? Alius forsitan nonnullus levis technological tinkering, quis’ changed? Ut vulgaris TV visum, nusquam. Si aequoreus biologists can reperio mores ut broadcast profugus exemplum of Valde Niveus 2,000 feet profundus in Mitigo, cant’ a hockey puck quod suus negotium exsisto melior chronicled quam is currently est? Nimirum is can.

Nos quisnam ex nostrum own usus per hockey teneo is futurus optimus-kept specialis in totus of lusum devenio ut ratio non quoniam nos havent’ saluto baseball diamonds vel soccer pitches tamen subtilis quoniam nos have. Permaneo annus Ron Weber told mihi ut in a primoris saluto ut an NHL rink a newcomer can sepius usus voluntas desparatus, quod exsisto inconditus per hockeys’ idiosyncratic sceptrum ( alio changes in no, nam). Tamen tribuo hospes three saluto quod Webers’ regimen “ quod EGO can adepto him camur in hockey pro vita. . . hed’ nunquam volo ut famulor alius basketball venatus” is added. Suus’ sic verus.

Inquam vitally necessarius television revolution can venio, is decade, quod EGO puto ut illic es populus hodie in possessio of visum gero is off. Tamen NHL has haud scius gubernatio pro talis a communications incumbo, certainly non ex Mandatum Melior. Concurrently, illic’ a gelu escendo of disincentive ut upgrade hockeys’ broadcast usus ex usitas broadcast exitus suspectus. Torpeo sceptrum dies. Tamen nonnullus dies, forsitan nunc, nonnullus communications tycoon est iens ut agnosco potential in hockey rinks’ laxamentum parumper riveting hiberna’ nox noctis boo in altus certus, quod hes’ iens ut underwrite revolution.

Does Expiscor have ullus altus- ordo hockey fans?

Tutaminis Keith Seabrook, drafted per Caps in 2006 (52nd super), has certus utlicentia Denver Pioneers iungo Kelly Kisios’ Calgary Hitmen. obscoena blueliner mos suo Caps’ 2007 primoris rotundus pick Karl Alzner in Calgarys’ defensabiliter somes.

Seabrook, iunior frater of Pullus Blackhawks Brent Seabrook, had universa suus vegetus season pro Denver, ustulo 2 calx praecessi per 11 succurro in 37 venatus pro Denver. Suus’ specto ut is mos stipes magnus minutes pro Hitmen, quod ero duco in laboro significant vicis in vox lascivio.

Caps’ site has posteri Mike Vogels’ praeclarus spatium per defenceman Steve Magnificentia; reprehendo is out hic.

Lavatio Caput have renuntio ut they have re- subcribo tutaminis Milan Jurcina ut a duos- annus pactum. In effectus sic, they have parco arbitro arbitror processus quod eram ut ingredior Monday. In servo per stipes excolo, financial terms of paciscor erant non promptum.

Quis promptus is odd headline? Wyatt Russell, filius of Kurt “Herb Revolvo inMiracle” Russell quod Aurum Hawn, has trado ludo pro Universitas of Alabama-Huntsvilles’ NCAA Divortium EGO progressio tunc annus.

21-annus- vetus Russell, a goaltender pro Brampton Caput is preteritus season in Ontario Provincial Junior League, mos usus per escendo change tunc annus in altum Meridianus. Dum nusquam mos caput capitisAshley Judd pro contraho hockey celebrity cachet, Kurt & Aurum mos certainly verto nonnullus caput capitis procul UAH venatus.

Astute Caput fans may memor ut Russell eram procul Caps’ developmental castrathree annus abhinc. Cogo Glen Hanlon invited tener netminder ut castra ut a ventus ut suus golfing buddy Kurt Russell ( quod quoniam Caps had tantum three calx prospicio procul vicis, quod necessarius a quartus).

Kudos ut Russell pro jugis suus hockey tutela, quod erudio, procul UAH.

Meus weekend has iam coepi, tamen illic’ exsisto parum otium prurigo: Im’ moving, ex unus prodigium of Montgomery Duco ut alius. Gus est caput capitis sursum ex Haud. Va. valde mane Imbuo oriens in suus van iuvo sicco. Northmanni, vel in vexillum of a bonus amicus, talis a negotium est drudgery, tamen super hauling in meus permoveo est vercundus, quod is unus portatus a proprie appealing payoff in ut nostrum valde primoris van trinus mos vindico non unus tamen duos torqueo novus LCD television sets ut novus blog substructio.

Ut amplus est a fabula in ipsum. In prothoplastus locus, Ive’ nunquam erus a altus-def television pro. Mereo moments secundum Id’ sedatus in meus novus domus meus mens natio nationis ut altus sollicitudo, gnarus ut EGO volo, quod could afford ( genus), ut dynamic entertainment usus. sollicitudo centered in meus res minor volubilis per technology quam GEICO specus. EGO emailed Vogel, pro dum nos erant in Moscow una is ver is recounted mihi monastica usus of addo altus-def in suus domus. Is vindicatum scio parum magis super technology quam EGO operor, testimonium quorum may have supervenio ut is restituo per “ adepto ut Ambitus Urbs quod iustus sumo picture vos amo optimus. Ut’ quis EGO did.”

Bonus amicitia can exsisto utriusque diabolus quod angelus in vestri umerus humerus. Nonnullus es chums satis futurus utriusque simul. Nuper, meus Sumptus-membershipped materia Michael led mihi per ut quaint garage plenus of bonus, per effor voluntas of succurro mihi emo altus-def television pro meus novus domus. Prothoplastus perturbo subcribo of splurge illic eram Michaels’ obses a tergum in meus behalf. Vere, duos nostrum pulsus inter unus illorum industrius vires currus ut videor in hauling concepta ut replicate a crane in rota. Caps’ paratus baculus would postulo unus illorum ut transport teams’ loricatus ex pulvis ut airport.

Meus intentio, prior ut Michaels’ intervention, eram ut obsido in a nice- amplitudo TV pro meus victus area — a manus manus of species 36-inch altus-defs can iam exsisto had pro minor quam $800 si vos shop puteus — quod modernize meus bedroom per an appreciably minor unus EGO had a budget, vos teneo.

Ut Michael eram per per suus caries peregrinus ( nota ut suus pera eram super in suus bluejeans) Id’ auditus ex him “Can vos verum have nimium TV?” . . . tunc, dum per nostrum cargo quod nostrum currus nos clausus sicco sol solis in reprehendo versus, is secuutus vobis“ teneo, vos can usquequaque reverto alter giant; vos have 90 dies ut reverto effercio hic” EGO had magis quadratus pes of TV quam EGO did victus tractus.

Meus abbas, scisco ut significantly ut is did in meus probus arts erudio nonnullus annus tergum, est iens futurus proprie awestruck per orgia of “Idiot arca archa” technology iam eliminating hospes sessio in meus novus domus.

Im’ plurimus sollicitus super Gus quod suus absentis of misericordia is weekend — mos is reverto domus ut suus uxor quod parvulus secundum an introduction ut technology toys? Nimirum is mos; weve’ tamen Nats quod Os’ in tube illa canis dies.

Super three hora secundum Gus quod EGO suscipio graviter quod hauling Imbuo oriens Comcast cable guys supervenio annecto novus sets ut meus novus visual limes, quod mos impendo is cado ut comprehendo, EGO dico vos is oriens aliquanto breathlessly, NHL CenterIce. Analog Kid verum est morphing in Digital Vir.

Nimirum Ive’ seen meus partis of altus-def TV vices, in bars quod in basements of amicitia, tamen prefero Im’ usus is week res celebratio ut meus own talis broadcast est dissimilis quisquam Ive’ utor pro.

Iam Orderedchaos, res vir super totus res novus interventus, has ludio ludius suus secui, quoque, pressing in digital existence ullus numerus of celebratio quod visual dictata mihi. Ut Saturdays’ oriens quod meridianus opus transitions in vesper RR&, EGO postulo succurro constituo quam optimus ut Sarcalogos Nox noctis 1 in altus certus. Have procul is.

Sedo Muir of Lusum Illustrated nuper orator per Britones Hull super hockey rulebreaking. Hull est a ego- praeconor impono quisnam audaciter flaunted NHLs’ vesica- curvo restrictions; is quoque confero alius mores ludio ludius have curvus vel infractus sceptrum parumper competitive commodum.

Dum illa delictum stilus ut foedus ut effectus-enhancing venenum quod alius woes currently vomica baseball, basketball quod football, Muirs’ article etiam planto pro an interesting lego.

OFB has philologus of a novus opinio attributa ut Lavatio Caput. Lisa Tumulosus has iunctus Comcast SportsNet ut an anchor/ opinio. Lisa mos servo ut primary opinio pro networks’ Lavatio Caput occulto. Per per suus pius per Caput, is ero anchoring networks’ ago cotidie novus ostendo, SportsRise quod SportsNite.

Lisa eram prognatus quod sublimis in Ottawa, Ontario quod coepi suus tutela in broadcasting ut a imperator assignment opinio pro CHUM Television in Pembroke, Ontario. Is tunc commotus ut Calgary, Alberta, opus pro TSN anchoring weekend emendo of SportsCentre quod vestis Flamma per per NFL quod CFL. Suus plurimus repens assignment pro Comcast SportsNet instituo suus tergum procul CHUM in 2005 ut an anchor/ opinio pro A-Channel Ottawa.

A lusum fanaticus quisnam diligo tennis quod swimming, Lisa said is super suus officium in broadcasting.

“EGO diligo interaction of broadcasting. highlight of cotidie est res donatus vicis surgo propinquus per populus in defero.”

In consummatio ut suum occulto of an underserved pello pepulli pulsum, Comcast SportsNet has remuneror Captivus’ fidelis per a seasoned hockey opinio. OFB exspectata Lisa ut suus secundus populus’ caput quod is est nostrum spes ut is addo ut suus novus pello pepulli pulsum a Canadian sensibility pro vestis hockey huic burgundy quod aurum urbs.

Per Mike Vogel inDump quod Fugo, Revolvo Laich ero pensus $725,000.  Is est a unus- via paciscor.

Jason LaCanfora had valde veneratio of vindico eulogy pro Dave Fay is preteritus weekend. Jason got scio Dave per puteus ut they partis Caps’ pello pepulli pulsum pro certantibus newspapers pro quinquennis. Is eram a moving quod insightful recounting of Daves’ vita quod opus.

Jason quod Daves’ uxor Pat erant pius satis ut solvo plenus text of eulogy ut Caput’ textus site. Unus obduco in proprius scamnum sicco volo:

EGO memor saluto Dave quod Pat domi quod in hospitium in 2004, quod res opprimo per suus zest laboro etiamtunc. Id’ scisco him crebro quare is eram in talis a vado impetro tergum ut ut gelidus, decrepitus rink in Odenton, quod refero eram usquequaque idem eadem idem.

Hed’ narro, “[…] si EGO dont’ progredior quod occulto ut meditor, nemo mos”

Dave usquequaque vereor ut suus paper would ignarus Caps si is didnt’ pulsus sic ferreus tectum sulum venatus domus quod via, vel ut infirmus, quod, quisquam minor, ut him, wouldnt’ exsisto mediocris ut lusum, fans, ludio ludius, team.

Verus lacuna have nunquam been orator.

Per permoveo ex an semotus quod ancient Tabesco Orchards rink ut opportunus quod parcus Balston facility — pariter ut incrementum of blogs dedicated ut Caput — meditor super uncovered may exsisto a res of preteritus.

Miserabile, Daves’ alius vereor, ut newspapers would ignarus Caps vacuus suus incursus, est etiam a sollicitudo partis per plures. Newspaper circulation quodad vectigal esdown; ut ususfructus minutum, sic does species quod occulto. Opinio es incrementabiliter having utocculto magis humus ut cuts es no, sic vis vel hockey- familiaris opinio facio ferreus choices super qua ut obsido suum angustus vicis.

Verus lacuna, vero.

More from OFB’s friends at Sovetsky Sport:

These days Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar and other Russian NHL players are sweating at their training camp in St Petersburg. Sovetsky Sport decided to pay the guys a visit.

It is quite rare to see a dozen [Russian] NHL players live and train together. Such a training camp was conducted in Chicago last year by Vladislav Tretyak. He thought that an informal setting and “togetherness” would help the players better prepare for the World Championships in Moscow. But now there is no need to go so far to the Windy City. St. Petersburg is closer. And there is plenty of wind.

Nashville forward Alexander Radulov is the first to arrive… Alexei Semenov is next, followed by Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin (who stays with Gonchar even in St Petersburg).

Dmitry [the trainer], how many [Russian] NHL players are attending your training camp this year?

Let’s see. Ovechkin, Gonchar, Malkin, Semenov, Radulov… Viktor Kozlov is coming over tomorrow, and Sasha [Alexander] Semin is coming on Sunday. Andrei Taratukhin is also here. Andrei Nikolishin also came over but had to go back to Moscow.

What is so new about your training routine?

There was nothing new invented in the last 100 years. I used to work with figure skaters before — Olympic champions Tatyana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. Then I switched to hockey players.

What kind of shape is Nikolishin in? Would he still be able to cut it in the NHL?

He is in the best physical shape [compared to others]. His major flaw is that he doesn’t know when to stop… [He follows] the Dynamo Moscow school. But one needs to rest as well to let the muscles repair.

Do you have Ovechkin do a lot of weight lifting?

No, he is working with a quarter of his [maximum] load. It is enough. This is because a hockey player doesn’t need to be beefed up like an elephant, but needs to be flexible and have great endurance.

Is he staying with you?

Yes, it is more convenient. And more useful. For example, I taught him how to wash dishes . . .

[At this, Ovechkin yells: “I knew how to wash the dishes!” Ovechkin is on the treadmill, then working with weights. In between he asks about the news.]

I read in Sovetsky Sport that Dynamo Moscow want to get Jeff O’Neal [to play in Russia]. Is it so?

Not exactly. Dynamo President said that they are talking with a Canadian player who was a first round pick. Eric Lindros and Jeff Friesen also fit that description.

No, those two won’t come. I heard that Lindros was going to retire. And I talked with Friesen when he played in Washington. I suggested he try to play in the Superleague. But he thinks that wild bears roam the streets in Russia. He said that he would find a team in the NHL.

How do you have fun here?

We go to the movies. Not long ago Malkin, Radulov and I went to see Transformers.

Alright, I have to go train some more.

You don’t spare yourself, Alex.

Enough rest! The new season is almost here!

Translation courtesy of Dmitry Chesnokov. Full article (untranslated) is available online at Sovietsky Sport. For the translated Ovechkin interview posted earlier, click here.

While we enjoy our summer cookouts and fun in the sun, Alexander Ovechkin is hard at work training for the 2007-08 NHL season.

Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport recently spoke with Ovechkin during his hockey training regimen. Below is a translation of the article “Washington Forward Alex Ovechkin: We Live Here Like It’s a Pioneer Camp!” for your reading pleasure.

Alexander Ovechkin returned to St. Petersburg from Saransk, where he took part in the national Shumbrat, Finno-Ugria festival. Alex arrived back at the gym fresh and upbeat, even though he was coming straight from the airport.

Alex, what took you to Saransk?

I was invited to go there. My mom also came, as did Alexei Nemov [Olympic gymnastics champion]. We loved it! I gave a “master class” to kids, showed them a few hockey tricks. Two teams battled for a prize — my hockey stick. A new arena was built there; hockey in the republic [of Mordovia] is on the rise.

Do you follow the news from the NHL? Your friend Dainius Zubrus signed a contract with New Jersey not long ago.

Yes, I spoke with Zubie three days ago. It’s a shame that he was traded from Washington. But at the end of the day, Dainius got what he wanted. I am very happy for him.

What do you think about Yashin returning to the Superleague?

I don’t know all the details, although Yashin probably won’t lose anything in this situation. I think NHL clubs will still be interested in him. Alexei himself can play in Russia at [Alexei] Morozov’s level. Remember how great he played in the Superleague during the lockout.

This is the last year of your contract with Washington. Do you realize that you have to have an exceptional season to raise your earnings?

If I think only about money, nothing good will come of it . . . But I changed my preseason training schedule. I started [training] in the beginning of July, just like other guys from the Superleague. That’s about a month earlier than last season. My training [last year] did not go well. I went to Canada to train with my personal fitness trainer. The training load was OK but not “physical”, just weight lifting for various parts of the body. Most of the time not [focused on the body parts] that a hockey player needs. That’s why during last season sometimes I felt like I didn’t have enough strength.

But here in St Petersburg it is great! We all train together, help each other. We are hanging out like it’s a pioneers camp [like Boy Scouts]. Dmitry [their trainer] the coach is our team leader. Sergey Gonchar kept saying how well he trained here before the start of last season. He suggested I come here too. And I don’t regret it!

I was told that in the beginning Gonchar could hardly handle the new training system . . .

And I didn’t even finish my cross-country run the first time! My pulse was 210, but now it is 176. The progress is evident.

Do you run listening to music?

Yes, everybody has a player. I play Eminem. Because of it running is especially rhythmic.

Why did you decide to stay at the trainer’s house in St Petersburg?

There are always parties at his house. There are always a lot of beautiful girls, a dance floor. And in the bedroom there is a huge disco ball and a pole to all the way to the ceiling… [Ovechkin says it with a straight face, but then can’t hold it any longer and bursts out laughing.]

Our Canadian colleagues [from CBC traveling with Sovetsky Sport] were amazed: if Sydney Crosby went to an ordinary city gym in the States he would be torn apart for souvenirs. You just come here and train with regular people.

That doesn’t bother me. Yes, I do see that people recognize me. But this is the difference in Russia that no one throws themselves at me and don’t disturb my personal space.

Crosby has already signed his extension with Pittsburgh. How are your negotiations with Washington going?

I don’t want to talk about it. The fact that Crosby signed his new contract and I have not doesn’t make my pulse rush.

Translation courtesy of Dmitry Chesnokov. Original article (untranslated) is available online at Sovetsky Sport.

I read no new Harry Potter this past weekend and instead familiarized myself with details about likely indictments in baseball (Barry Bonds) and basketball (NBA referee Tom Donaghy). In Saturday’s Washington Post, Dave Sheinen had a fascinating account of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig’s startling indifference to Bonds’ inevitable home run record. The commissioner — the chief executive officer of the sport — is apparently uncertain if he’ll be in the ballpark this week or next when Bonds passes Hank Aaron’s home run record.

Necessarily, and instantly, I drew a parallel between Bonds’ record pursuit and Wayne Gretzky’s with Gordie Howe’s most goals scored one more than a decade ago. This summer, neither Selig nor Hank Aaron have much stomach to be seated near home plate when Bonds rounds the bases for the 756th time. I call it The Silent Indictment.

In March 1994, as Gretzky honed in on his 802nd goal, both Commissioner Bettman and Gordie himself followed #99 in the L.A. Kings’ games. Gretzky being Gretzky, he didn’t have them travel all that long, scoring the record goal precisely where he should have, in Edmonton. It was the among the mightiest of individual records that was about to fall, much as Aaron’s is in baseball, and Bettman and hockey royalty accorded it its full weight in commemoration.

It’s a staggering juxtaposition. The most significant testimonial to the record-breaking moment on the diamond this summer will likely be offered by the game’s TV play-by-play voice. And even there, you wonder what manner of reaction he’ll offer. Elation? Relief? Contempt?

There’s a queer and almost perverse juxtaposition, too, in place when comparing the physical makeup of the athletes who pursued these hallowed records in different sports. Wayne, who likely never lifted a weight in his life, let alone entertained thoughts of injecting horse hormones into his bloodstream, surpassed the brawny shouldered, iron-elbowed, and menacing demeanor and determination of hockey’s greatest power forward, Mr. Hockey. There could be no second-guessing about the legitimacy of Wayne’s virtuosity or his rightful claim to the record. Aaron was the Wayne of his era, diminutive in physical stature but a world-altering presence with his talent. Today he’s pursued by a fraud, a freak, a pariah, an emblem of our judgement-free sports culture.

The cage into which Gretzky scored his record-breaking goal today resides at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Perhaps Bud Selig will follow hockey’s practice and establish a commemorate display of Bonds’ record at Cooperstown one day: an encased syringe.

Here is our first look at Alexander Ovechkin wearing the new logo and colours, courtesty of OFB friend Dmitry Chesnokov of Sovietsky Sport. On the right, fellow Russian and new Capitals teammate Viktor Kozlov poses with Ovechkin.

Love the Washington Capitals? Enjoy getting paid? Well perhaps you can start receiving paychecks stamped with the Capitals’ new logo: the team is looking to hire a Guest Services Specialist. While the Capitals have only one listing at the moment, other hockey jobs on NHL.com include a webmaster for the Devils, a huge array of sales and marketing jobs, and a personal wet nurse for Jaromir Jagr (ha).

Herewith, our attempt to devise a depth chart for the Caps to coincide with the recent completion of the team’s annual Rookie Development Camp. It’s important to note that with it we are not forecasting specific line combos but rather attempting to slot players by position according to their professional production and most recent performances in evaluative settings. It’s also important to note that a number of forwards in the Caps’ system play more than one position up front. The Russian elites and Matt Pettinger appear locks on the left side for well into the next decade, whereas the right side seems to carry many more question marks.

We’ve envisioned this as a file hopefully sparking spirited reaction and respectful challenge. We welcome your proposed modifications.

Our friends at PutCancerOnIce.org will be holding their monthly charity hockey game on July 29th from 2 3:30 pm at Kettler, and will be donating the proceeds to Hockey Fights Cancer in the name of the recently departed Dave Fay.

Please take a moment to head to their website and see how you can get in some summer-time puck and help a good cause while you are at it.

The news that the Islanders have lured Hall of Fame Coach Al Arbour out of retirement to come back and coach a single game behind their bench on November 3 has the smell of misguided gimmick to it. (He’ll sign a one-day contract the previous day, which the league  apparently will honor.) Certainly the move doesn’t bolster the credibility of the long ridiculed length and alleged meaninglessness of NHL regular season games. And if the Penguins and Islanders are entwined in a tight affair late that night, does Ted Nolan really want a man removed from NHL bench leadership by more than a decade making the vital line calls? Perhaps Arbour won’t, in which case this is a genuine gimmick of credibility demeaning nostalgia. A long disorganized and unserious organization has this week freshly reminded us of the merits of its laughingstock status.

Nolan, apparently, is particularly disturbed that Arbour’s games-coached tally has been stuck on 1,499:

“Every day last season I would walk by that big board outside our locker room at the Coliseum that lists the franchise’s award winners and milestones,” said Nolan. “And every day it would kill me when I’d see Coach Arbour made it to 1,499 games.”

Aren’t players and coaches supposed to leave the game when their genuine and general effectiveness is finished, irrespective off well-rounded-off participation numbers? Isn’t that at the heart of credibility in our games?

To some extent hockey is prone to these showmanship stages of stupidity. Remember Gordie Howe’s appearance in a Detroit Vipers’ uniform at the age of 69 in 1997? It was an outlandish attempt by Howe to obtain credit for “skating professionally” in his sixth or ninth decade. Mr. Hockey has no greater admirer than yours truly, but there were forays in his later years that invited universal criticism for irrefutable unseemliness. And of course there’s the ubiquitously negative association, explanation altogether unnecessary, with Gary Bettman’s “Glo-puck.”      

I’d be interested to know what Don Cherry’s take on this Isles’ prank is this morning.

But here’s a big “but” to my critique of hockey’s looking to the past and attempting to honor it. Such attempts, when appropriately conceived, can be enriching events. Not long after my early visits to Kettler Capitals this past season I had a few discussions with various members’ of the team’s communications staffers about the general appeal and terrific possibilities associated with the Caps’ annual Alumni game. In this shinny new showcase home the game, I told them, could be must-see affair for Caps’ fans of all ages and patronage periods. We all agreed that sooner rather than later the stands would be teeming with puckheads embracing a glimpse of the team’s past.

That alumni game has drawn largely middling participation from Caps past, most commonly of those who’ve remained reasonably near D.C. after their careers ended. But with the team’s uniform unveiling and Entry Draft party last month, we saw the dawning I think of a refreshing embrace of that past, by the team and its alumni, with the likes of Langway, Sylvan Cote, and especially Mike Gartner returning home. I would expect all three to skate in next spring’s Alumni Game, schedules permitting.

Now then, I have this idea for expanding the production values and overall quality of that game. There should be an audio call of it, broadcast in Kettler and on the team’s web site, by a broadcaster lured, for one night, out of his retirement. That same night, this broadcaster should be honored with his own banner raised in the rink. His name is Ron Weber.     

Two more promising young players have re-upped with the Caps: center Dave Steckel signed a two-year deal, and defenseman Jamie Hunt is in the fold for 2007-08, the Caps announced today.

Steckel is coming off his finest season as a pro, scoring 30 goals and adding 31 assists in 71 games in his second full season with the Hershey Bears. He  tied for the AHL lead with five shorthanded goals last season.

A first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2001, the 6′5, 220-lb. Steckel is widely considered a strong candidate to win a roster spot with the Caps this September. He is renowned for his defensive ability and ice smarts.

Hunt, 23, was signed as a free agent by the Caps in April 2006. The Calgary native completed his first pro season last year, scoring 2 goals and adding 10 assists in 36 games for the Bears.