HoppyDaze
Well-Known Member
haha, hockey sucks
Lastly, may we suggest you remove your hat for a moment of silence for the legendary Budd Lynch. You will be missed at the Joe. RIP.
I didn't give a second thought to anyone playing overseas until I watched the KHL game last night on ESPN2 and Barry Melrose (I know, I know) started talking about how the low level guys can't go do that. The guys making league minimum (you know, the guys who actually depend on these paychecks) can't just get a job in Europe or Russia. They have to tough it out with no income coming in while the guys getting millions get paid slightly less millions during the lockout to play elesewhere. I actually agreed with Melrose, that's not solidarity in my eyes. Ovechkin doesn't care if the lockout lasts a year, he's got a job. By the way, did anyone see his goal last night? What was that crap?
I've always wanted to learn to play ice hockey. I can't even ice skate. However, I did buy some roller hockey stuff in the spring and my brother and I spent a lot of afternoons out in an empty parking lot skating around shooting balls at a net. We tried to get friends join us so we could maybe do some pickup games, but this town is small and any of the few who seemed interested either didn't have time or didn't have money to go buy roller blades and a cheap hockey stick.
Last winter sucked for pond hockey, but the winters before it did not. I suggest you buy yourself a pair of used skates, and hit the ponds around where you live with or without friends.
Just skating around with a puck shooting on an empty net is fun. If you can get a buddy then you're golden. Bonus is that if you go out alone for a bit, eventually you'll be joined by other like-minded people. Pond hockey is the best. Nobody cares if you're good or not.
I'm very sad today. The best time of year should be starting tonight.....
I hope we actually get a winter this year, there's a park rink half a block up the road. Hardly a slush pile last year, but it years past it's been hours of fun.
Tell me about it. Winter 2010-2011 was awesome. We were out at my buddy's pond every single Sunday. Used his ATV with a plow to shovel the thing, 2 nets, lots of friends, cold BMC light beer, we even dragged an old wood stove down and had that going. Amazing times.
Last winter - we got out once. ONCE. ONE EFFING DAY.
+1.
Big Rapids used to flood the soccer fields down by the hospital in the winter. A friend and I would sometimes go down there and pass the puck around.
Ferris has open skate at Ewigleben Ice Area and it's pretty cheap. Great way to get your ankles and balance in shape.
The 1/2 sheet on the other side of the locker rooms is where they have drop-in hockey. If you are half-assed on your skates, it's a good time. The skill level of the guys we played with was all over the map. Everything from barely being able to get up and down the ice before the puck did twice, to some fancy European players who could keep the puck away from 3 guys at the same time.
Everyone just takes their shift and guys jump over when it's their turn.
The Peewee kids play on that 1/2 sheet too. I always liked going in early to watch them play before the drop-in started.
Speaking of Ferris, I think their first home games are this weekend!!
Went to the opening night of the Chicago Wolves vs the Rockford Icehogs last night. As expected the crowd was split about 50/50 since the Icehogs are the Blackhawks AHL team. The game itself was actually very uneventful even with some good players on the Icehogs. Went to a shootout (which was exciting, some sick moves).
Now I'm drinking my experimental batch:
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arturo7 said:Any player who joined a European team should not be allowed a vote on the contract.
rjwhite41 said:I didn't give a second thought to anyone playing overseas until I watched the KHL game last night on ESPN2 and Barry Melrose (I know, I know) started talking about how the low level guys can't go do that. The guys making league minimum (you know, the guys who actually depend on these paychecks) can't just get a job in Europe or Russia. They have to tough it out with no income coming in while the guys getting millions get paid slightly less millions during the lockout to play elesewhere. I actually agreed with Melrose, that's not solidarity in my eyes. Ovechkin doesn't care if the lockout lasts a year, he's got a job. By the way, did anyone see his goal last night? What was that crap?
Lastly, may we suggest you remove your hat for a moment of silence for the legendary Budd Lynch. You will be missed at the Joe. RIP.
Flycal6 said:Those guys making the league min made $525,000 last year. Now they are getting $10,000 per month strike pay. If they're having trouble paying bills, they're idiots.
That being said, I'm on the player's side. The owners signed those contracts in good faith and they should pay them out. Especially when revenue keeps going up every year.
Ya I agree you should be able to pay your bills with what they made. But that's not to say that those guys don't have a more expensive life style than everyone else. Not saying they need it just saying they live it
Homercidal said:Exactly. There is no way anybody could have forseen this happening last year, or even farther back, and made plans appropriately.![]()
dudius said:If you're a pro, you obviously love hockey. I imagine some players look to the other leagues as a way to keep in shape and stay competitive. Yes, there's a paycheck, but for guys who've already spent years in the NHL I can't imagine the international leagues pay quite as much. I'm actually trying to find some information on the pay differences but having difficulty finding anything about what anyone is getting paid. Guess that means they aren't![]()
jtkratzer said:That's called financial planning and living below your means. It's called having 3-6 months of your coat of living minimum set aside for those unforeseen circumstances. Of all people, making $500,000 should be easy to work that out. Live on $100,000-$150,000 and bank the rest.
It's called being an adult and being responsible.
$10,000/month strike pat is $120,000 and should keep someone in a $100-$150k lifestyle afloat.
And you should be paying cash for everything and carry zero debt with that kind of income.
Not saying that I think this should happen just saying I think it probably does. A kid comes into the NHL at 18 and signs his 500k dollar contract. Buys probably 2 houses (one at home and one where he plays) and assumes he will have the money to continue to pay his bills. I get the financial planning thing but if your a grinder who makes 400k a year and you have a house and a family, your probably depending on your pay cheque.
I'm not gonna pretend I know how any NHL players manage their finances, but I can imagine a lot of them would be fine without playing a game this season. I'm happy to see some of my Red Wings are playing in the meantime, I gotta figure out how to watch some of those games.