In Canada, there is a long standing tradition of hockey players growing a beard for the playoff run during the Spring.  I am unsure of where this tradition started or why it started, but nevertheless it is part of the hockey culture.  Last year I promised myself that I would grow a beard if the Nashville Predators made it to the playoffs.  The Predators slipped into the eighth spot so the beard desire went to fruition.  The beard will continue to grow as long as the Predators remain in the playoff hunt.  Also, I have recruited a few Predators fans to grow beards as well.  One of my elders, one of the members of the congregation, (which I think is super cool) and hopefully my Brother are growing playoff beards.  This makes the enjoyment even better having people participate in this wonderful project.  If you see me on the street, I will be looking like a real Canadian hockey player.

I am going to the Nashville Predator’s Hockey game tonight.  In fact, I am taking six of the nephews with me.  The Nashville nephews and the Oklahoma nephews.  The Oklahoma nephews have never been to a NHL game before.  It will be exciting for them.  Also we are going to see Alexander Ovechkin.  He is a young superstar.  I am excited about seeing this player.  I just hope he does not play well because the Predators need to make it into the playoffs.  They are close, but not in yet.  It will be a great time of hockey too because I will end up playing some street hockey with the boys too.  Another beating of them, I believe.  Andrew please remind them of this on Sunday.

This week I was at the Nashville Predator’s game.  Charity and I went as a date, more for me than for her.  As a true hockey fan, the heckle from the crowd is an art form.  A well thought of and researched understanding of the put-down is a great hockey tradition.  Any one can say something unkind during the game, but a comment full of hockey knowledge is a masterpiece.  Unfortunately, my wife does not consider this to be a attribute of pride.  But I certainly made a lot of people laugh throughout the game with insightful jabs.  Of course as a Christian, I never say anything distasteful or inappropriate.  While at the game, I was honored to hear Canada’s national anthem, which I sang as loudly as possible.  This is another treat of the hockey experience, singing about Canadian pride.  And before the big game, I played a little hockey with the nephews.  They are getting better, but still are no match for me.  They grew up in the wrong country, which I often remind them of, as I tell them that Canada always wins any international hockey competition.  (Andrew, please remind them of this on Sunday).  Needless to say, I had a great time at the game.  Also to clear up the idea of hockey being violent because of fighting.  We did get to see a fight, it was a good one.  Some people question my Christianity because I enjoy a hockey fight.  People who state this do not understand the game well.  Those players who typically fight are happy to do so.  Most of them would be making considerably less if there was not fighting in the league.  They would be making 35,000 instead of 550,000.  Fighting is part of the game, just like hitting is part of football.     

Since the dad went to the Predators Game on Monday Night, Charity dressed the children up to show their support. These are the best looking Predator fans around. I am sure they would win Fan of the Game. Soon the children will be coming with me to the games.

As I am writing this blog, I am wearing my Nashville Predators jersey to support the team. I am heading to the game tonight against those terrible Red Wings. We have great tickets, in fact they are 150 dollar tickets. And no I did not pay for them, going with the brother-in-law and the nephews. The brother-in-law got them through business contacts. He is a big man in the business world. Anyway, enough bragging. I am pumped about this game. I love going to hockey games. It is by far the best entertainment on the planet. Before the game, I am going to be playing some hockey with the nephews. They played hockey for the first time this season and they feel that they can beat me now. But they do not realize that I am from Canada and there is a ton of more skill that they have never encountered. So here it is to hockey, the greatest sport on earth.

There are hours left on the table for the local ownership team to complete the deal with the City of Nashville. This is according to the Nashville paper. The reason is that the city must have time to reflect on the deal. The new ownership team wants to have some of the tax revenue that the team generates. This seems fair to me because the money would not be there if it was not for the Predators. Also, many of the shops in downtown Nashville create tax money for the city. If the Predators were to leave town, there would be large amounts of money flowing out of the city. The team is not playing well now, but this is fine as long as the team remains in Nashville. This is nervous times for me.

The Predators are a great team. They are deep with talent and skill, but the one major problem is that the Predators do not have one main top Canadian foward in the lineup. There are a lot of good players, but no great player yet. It would be my wish that the Predators play well this season, then bomb the next and draft John Tavares. He is a special player that has the skill to score goals. There is some issues with his speed in skating, but he knows how to score. This is what the Predators are missing. One top end talent to build the team around.

Every year my heart becomes excited as I see the advertisement for Yahoo’s fantasy hockey league. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, this league is completely free, I am not gambling, but just having a ton of fun. Every year my brother sets up a league with his friends and me. And for the last two years, I have spanked the brother and his friends. Last you they cried about how I won, but it was by good picks and well timed trades. I love managing my fantasy hockey league and by the end of the season my wife is sick from hearing about it. But here it is to another season and another go round. And after the season is over, I will be champion again for the third year in a row. I am the fantasy hockey king. So to Brother, Derek, and Matt, you are all going down this year again. I will be drinking from the fantasy hockey cup.

My Nashville Predators are still in drama mode. It seemed like local ownership was going to buy the team for sure. They still plan to. But there is these tax issues to deal with. They want some extra money from the city and some extra promises. There is a ton of debate in Nashville now about if the city should help or not. But in my opinion, the city makes a fortunate on the team, and if the team left it would be a major tax hit to the local city and businesses. I am ready for this drama to end with the team securely staying in Nashville.

I love a good hockey book and this publication does not pull any punches. He is plainly honest and insulting to those he dislikes. There is a lot of internal fighting within the NHL. Why would we be shocked. There is a lot of money in the league. Phil has lived a interesting life in and out of the NHL. I likes people and he hates people. In the book you see his passion for life and the game. Do not stand in his way, because just like the front of the net, he is going to do whatever he can to dominate. These hockey books, I cannot put them down.