This and that

Interested where some former hockey Buckeye's are plying their trade these days? Well thanks to the heads up from BHG we get a look at some courtesy of the Buckeye's web site:

Four Buckeyes saw considerable ice time in the NHL. Former All-American R.J. Umberger became the first former Buckeye to join the Columbus Blue Jackets and helped lead the local team to its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance with 26 goals and 20 assists. In the postseason, Umberger had a team-high three goals, including the first playoff goal in franchise history. Dave Steckel contributed 19 points during the regular season for the Washington Capitals in their race to the playoffs. Steckel played exceptionally well during the postseason, with his best game coming on the road in Game Six against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, when Steckel won 73 percent of his faceoffs and scored the game-winning goal in overtime. As an alternate captain for the Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Kesler finished the regular season third on the team with 59 points. In the postseason, Kesler had two goals and two assists in the Canucks’ run and he was a Top 3 finalist for the NHL’s Selke Trophy given to the best defensive player in the league. Tyson Strachan made his NHL debut for the St. Louis Blues in December and posted a plus-eight rating during his 30 games with the team. Also logging NHL ice time were Sean Collins with the Capitals and Nate Guenin with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Johann Kroll, who also played 28 games in the AHL, won the ECHL’s Kelly Cup title with the South Carolina Stingrays. Collins ended the year with the American Hockey League champion Hershey Bears.

Andrew Schembri led Miesbach TEV in Germany in scoring with his 32 goals and 72 points. Jean-Francois Dufour also led his French team, Briancon, in scoring with 58 points.

Steckle really was unbelievable in the post season run for the caps. He's a guy I really enjoy watching find success at the NHL level.

Kind of strange that they didn't mention Tom Fritsche who played 48 games for the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL and notched 10g, 10a for 20 points.

Or Rod Pelley, who has also seen some time in the NHL, who played 75 games for the AHL's Lowell Devils notching 15g 23a for 38 points last year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get some more big league time next season with the NJ.

Outdoor games are certainly en vogue. Check this out:

The schedule for next May’s 2010 I.I.H.F. World Championship was unveiled on Tuesday, starting with the tournament opener in Gelsenkirchen between the U.S. and host Germany at the 76,000-seat Veltins-Arena — a game that may set a world attendance record for hockey.

The schedule appears on the I.I.H.F. web site. After the May 7 opener, Canada inaugurates its participation on May 8 vs. Italy at Adler Mannheim’s 13,600-seat SAP Arena. Two-time defending champion Russia begins on May 9 vs. Slovakia at Cologne’s 18,500-seat Lanxess Arena, the largest hockey-specific venue in Europe.

The guy who I would love the Jackets to land in RFA defensemen Denis Grebeshkov has re-signed with the Oil for 1 year @ 3.15 million.

That signing brings the Oil up to 55.5 mil with Ladislav Smid still left to be re-signed. Something will have to give in Edmonton especially if they want to add some more offense.

I certainly wouldn't rule out a trade with Howson and his former team as Edmonton will certainly look to unload a defensemen. The question is what do the Jackets have to give back offensively? Not a whole lot.

I think the NHL does a really good job with their fans but nothing can top the MLS...at least from what I've seen. I went to the game this past Saturday as part of a Jacket Backer event and the way the players show respect to their fans -- especially the Nordecke -- is incredible.

The topper for me was at the end of the game how just about every Crew player went over to that section and gave them a standing 'O'. Most of them even took their jerseys off their backs and gave them to individual fans. Franky Hejduk didn't leave the field until he slapped every last hand he could.

It's definitely one of my favorite aspects about soccer games.

As a CBJ die hard I just can't help but wonder what it would be like to have our own fan section? It could only really work in the lower bowl. Unfortunately the economics of the game wouldn't allow it -- the fact of the matter is that lower bowl tickets are just too damn expensive to be able to put something like that together. Still a fan can dream can't he? I mean how cool could that be?

I'm a little surprised at the current poll results. I thought there may be a little more hesitation towards the potential signing of Zubov. That clearly isn't the case as most of you out there would support signing him to a 1 year incentive laden deal.

I'll have a new one up in a bit asking for your thoughts on what you think Marc Methot will be awarded in arbitration.

Great interview with John Moore here from the pipelineshow.com. Click here to hear it.

Finally if you're interested in a great local charity event the inaugural Ryan Salmons Foundation Memorial Golf Outing is this Friday. Visit Puck-rakers for all of the details.

-LTL