Sorry boys.... I love the dogs

The boys over at T3I are rabid about the Aeros allowing dogs into the game next week. I have absolutely no issue with it, assuming (and perhaps this is too much of an assumption) that the folks have figured out how to do it as successfully as other teams around the league have done it, including San Antonio and Milwaukee. I guess we'll see.

But anyway, Joe O'Donnell took John Lammers and Matt Kassian and a video camera out to the Humane Society to see the animals and play with the doggies and pimp the special evening supporting one of my very favorite causes, animal welfare.

I remember when we went to pick out a dog at the Humane Society over here off I-10, I just stood in the room with all the puppies in cages and started crying (I'm welling up now just thinking about it) because I had to choose only one of all these sweet faces. Heartbreaking! But Major the Dog is our kid and I'm so glad we did it, even if he was the worst puppy in the history of puppies. He's making up for it by being one of the best old dawgs in the history of old dawgs.

I'm pretty even keeled and don't get too impassioned about a lot of things, but pets and hockey are right at the top of my list of things I'll get red in the face and a little unglued about if pushed. So this is prime stuff for me. Mix in some foxy hockey players getting kisses from homeless dogs... Dear me. Anyway, this one's for the girls. Check out the blonde who really really wants to go home with Matt. Can you blame her?

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Aeros Functionality: Part 1

Joe O'Donnell, voice of the Aeros, brings us a meaty segment with Asst. GM/Asst. Coach Troy Ward talking about how the team breaks down responsibilities for the three coaches and, to start, how the coaches break the game down for offensive play.

Nothing earth shattering here, but I always enjoy listening to coaches get into the nitty gritty of hockey and Troy is a great teacher, so it's easy to follow if you're not all that well-versed in hockey systems.

(BTW, if the video doesn't work for you, as it didn't for me in Firefox or IE, it works in Safari. Could just be my system, but I figured I'd throw a solution out in case I'm not alone in my technical difficulties.)

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Funny story from the road

I read Stanzel's blog about everything he goes through to make the players' travel convenient and timely and comfortable, and I recognize that I would be absolutely awful at such a job and have quite a bit of respect for it as such.

So, Joe O'Donnell's tale of woe about Patrick Armstrong, Stanzel's equivalent for the Aeros, is particularly painful and funny. Check out his latest blog post here.

What struck me is that Justin Falk was the only one to get behind Patrick. Is he just a really nice kid or maybe thinks he'll get more press if he sucks up to the media guy? Either way, I thought that was kinda charming.

The boys have had quite a few days to recouperate and hopefully see some friends and family, being so close to home for some of them. Nice little recharge. Here's hoping it pays off on the ice Friday and beyond.

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FU Ike (and other stuff)

Hockey news up front:

• Fozzie did get signed with the Red Bulls. A.J. Thelen did not. Ouch! Sorry kid.
  
• Going to buy my pre-season game ticket for the Aeros on Oct. 3 today. I can't imagine they're sold out but I'll cry if they are. Beg, plead, offer to pay double, stand, whatever. I need hockey and I need it as soon as possible.
  
• Wild training camp starts Saturday. I'm excited to get Russo's reports from camp. He's had lots of interesting stuff from the pre-camp skates. Burnsie sure does get my blood pumping. What an exciting player he is. Should have signed him to 20 years or something. Lock that boy up.
  
• My boys are in the Third Place game in the Prospects Tourney. On TV tonight, so I'm pumped. 7 p.m. NHL network against the Red Wings prospects. It goes to a dramatic shootout finish. Wee!
• Joe O'Donnell was hired as the new Aeros voice. He's coming from the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL and had a blog on their site, which I hope he'll do here as well. Always fun to get a little candid chatter from folks on the inside.
  

Other stuff:

We survived the hurricane. Got power back night before last but the phones are apparently out until October. And of course, we have DSL. So no internet, and as a telecommuter for my real job, that's kind of a problem. I'm totally out of touch. I'm spending LOTS of time at Chick-fil-a eating chicken and using their wifi. Need to find a solution closer to home though. Looks like I might can get free wi-fi from AT&T at Starbucks. The trick is finding one with the lights on. Rawr.

Other than that, I don't have much to complain about. But you know I'll find a way anyway. :)

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