the Staaal Brothers are on.

Ovie was there with Sid looking mighty handsome.

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

Both guys in rented tuxs.....

AO said "I love to watch this guy" (SC)....

SC said "No, I don't practice "the goal" when asked....

after seeing him, I hope the Caps get Jordan Staal in the draft- he's got huge hands, like Ovechkin.

TAK would be impressed with some of the rimouskitage on display....

let me add that the NHL TV had tallied the votes and the best goal of the year belongs to Ovie in the prone position.

Good Luck Ovie

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

A complete statistical ripoff of Old Chelsea from the thread at official- who votes for what:

Ad hoc committee - Lester Patrick

NHL Broadcasters Association - Adams

NHL general managers - Vezina

NHL Players Association - Lester Pearson

Professional Hockey Writers Association - Calder, Conn Smythe, Hart, Lady Byng, Masterton, Norris, Selke

Statistical trophies - Crozier, Jennings, Richard, Ross and a couple of purely commercial trophies (Bud Light Plus-Minus and NHL/Sheraton Road Performer)

Tom Cochrane (formerly of Red Ryder) is the entertainment....

Ron McLain on, and we're  about to get under way (or is it under weigh? I always tend to think it's a nautical term).

The Cup is cracked

 

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

New Stanley Cup story- the Canes' equipment manager dropped it when he went to pick it up and it has a crack in the bowl now (going to be repaired)....

first award: Pearson.....

and, the winner is- Jaromir Jagr!

WOOt Jammin Jags

 

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

Should have mentioned TC was backed by a band called 54-40....

next award: Lady Byng.

And, the winner is... Pavel Datsyuk!

Next up, the Jack Adams- an interesting award, considering the nominees.

McLain blows the introductions calling Ted Nolan Marc Crawford....

The winner is.... Lindy Ruff!

I am glad Lindy got it.

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

It's Vezina time.

The winner? Miika Kiprusoff!

Woot Miika!!!!!!!

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

Miika also wins the Jennings Trophy.

The Masterson is next, presented by Brian Burch and Tom Cochrane.

And the winner is.... Teemu Selanne.

Entertainment time- 54-40 again. Good backup band, the filler music hasn't been all that great, not bad but not great. The production could be better- I think they're using the regular microphones the announcers are using, and it reflects on the performance; you can barely hear the vocals at times.

More awards.... the King Clancy!!!! Olie Kolzig, the winner!!!!

Next are the Ross and Richard awards.

No surprises here- Joe Thornton the Ross, and Jonathan Cheechoo the Richard.

move along nothing to see there

 

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

The Selke is up for grabs....

Rod Brind'amour!

next year in the USA

_____________________________________________
100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- Wayne Gretzky

It's Norris next....

ho-hum.

Nicklas Lidstrom.

Two left...

the Calder, and the Hart.

And the awarding of the Calder Trophy goes to.....

Alexander Ovechkin!!!!!!

Hart Memorial Trophy.

Joe Thornton!

 

 

Looking back, an overall good show. I'd like to see more outsiders though, to show the not-yet-hockey-fans that there is a growing interest in the game, and the people who play it.

Get Shania on there, and people who never saw a game in their lives would watch. The same for a couple of Hollywood types, or other folks from the world of music- hockey needs to pull people in, not live in their own insular world.

From NHL.com:

Other honorees included Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. Ovechkin was a near-unanimous selection, receiving 124 of 129 first-place votes and five second-place votes for 1,275 points. The 20-year-old Moscow native led all rookies in scoring with 106 points and became the second rookie in history to tally 50 goals and 100 points in a season, following Winnipeg's Teemu Selanne in 1992-93. Ovechkin also led the NHL in shots with 425, the most ever for a rookie, and ranked third among all players in points.

Of course, the folks in Pittsburgh feel just a little differently about the voting:

OVECHKIN EDGES CROSBY FOR CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY
06/22/2006

Alexander Ovechkin edged Penguins rookie Sidney Crosby on Thursday for the Calder Memorial Trophy, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

And now, 1st team All Star honors for Ovechkin, as well:

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/06/275492.html