Things To Look Forward To!
By Frank Rekas
The anticipation of the season is making me feel like it’s Christmas! I can’t remember the last time I have so anxiously awaited the start of the season. Oh wait. Yes I can. The year after the lockout. But that was for different reasons. So here we sit just a few days before Florida Panthers rookie camp begins, which is Saturday September 11th for physicals, and Sunday September 12th for the first open practice. I plan on going, how about you? Here’s the schedule from George Richards and his blog On Frozen Pond.
While that’s the first thing I’m excited about, I thought I’d put together a list of other items that I”m looking forward to as the season approaches. Not in any particular order then this is how they came to my little brain. Well, ok maybe a couple were strategically placed but who cares. Let’s play some hockey!
First I’d like to welcome David Lasseter to The Rat Trick. He’ll be joining me here with his views and comments regarding the worst beloved(?) team in South Florida . Here’s his first post in the event you missed it.
* Hockey Night In Canada’s season opening montage. Here’s the one from last season. I tell ya, no one. No one does it better than CBC.
* Coaches Corner with Don Cherry. Love the wild jackets and love the comments. Always entertaining.
* The Hot Stove League between the second and third period on the HNIC broadcasts on Saturday night.
* Ice Dancers. Why? Well in Sunrise, Florida, they’ll be about the only thing you’ll want to look at. See for yourself.
* Yelling at Little Stevie from my seat in the building, “Hey you little weasel, hit ’em with your purse”! Yea, that’s been me all these years.
* Counting down the days of the Peter DeBoer regime. C’mon, you don’t think he’s a lame duck?
* Saturday October 16th, when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Bank Atlantic Center for the Florida Panthers home opener.
* Wednesday November 24th when the Boston Bruins visit the Bank Atlantic Center, and we can all boo that lazy ass Nathan Horton every time he touches the puck. Which may not be to often if he hasn’t changed his style of play. Nathan, playing for Claude Julien will be no peach!
* Seeing David Booth fully recovered and playing the entire season injury free and scoring 30 goals. That would be quite the accomplishment.
* Thursday October 7th. The opening night of the season. Less than 30 days away. In the states that is.
* Watching both Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin to see if they are the real thing!
* Hoping that Florida Panthers Erik Gudbranson the third overall pick makes the the team. I think I have a man crush on him! Can’t believe I just admitted that, but he’s gonna be a good one.
* Waiting to see if Keith Ballard takes out Roberto Luongo after Louie gives up seven goals!
* The first big highlight goal of the season!
* The first huge save of the season.
* The first big hit of the season, and watching it from about four different angles!
* Hockey Night In Canada Radio is back on the air October 4th! The Drive home will be sooooo much better!
* Last but not least, for this post anyway, I cannot wait for the Chicago Blackhawks to raise the Stanley Cup in their home opener against Scum on Saturday October 9th. That will be a thing of beauty! Get the kleenex ready. I’m gonna need it!
What are you looking forward to?
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Cheers, and Happy new Year to those celebrating Rosh Hashana.