TV Timeout Over

Looks like Time Warner's deal with the NHL worked out after all. I was able to call up and order CENTER ICE no problem this week. I'm still surprised that they waited to offer it so close to the start of the season but if it means I get to watch HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA on Saturday night then I'm a happy camper.

Time Warner is also offering the NHL NETWORK this season but I didn't bite. I've been able to see the channel when I've gone back to Canada (where it's been offered for a couple of years) and like a lot of similarly themed channels it's content poor. Sure it's great to see classic old games and the occasional behind the scenes piece but if you've got CENTER ICE, MSG, FSN, and SNY and VS. on offer already where are you going to find the time to watch more hockey? If you're a complete puckhead then go for it but the rest of us won't be missing much.

Besides if you're that obsessive, you can watch CENTER ICE ONLINE, ISLANDERS TV, DEVILS TV, and other team channels on your computer. No Rangers online channel yet as they have not succumbed to Gary Bettman's vision of "one league to rule them all" and think the NHL is equivalent to the Soprano family for even thinking of asking them to share rights and revenues. I'm not completely sold on watching games online yet but I hope it will be something that hockey fans outside of the US and Canada can take full advantage of. It could also come in handy if NBC decides to cut away from the conference finals again.

For all the complaints about the League not being on ESPN, we are definitely spoiled for choice in NYC. I wish people would stop thinking that Stan Fischler is this city's answer to Don Cherry but I'm always excited that we get to see as much hockey as we do throughout the season.

The Shame of Philadelphia ... and New York

If I were a Flyers fan I would be hanging my head in shame today at the classlessness of their organization. Steve Downie was suspended 20 games today for doing this



Downie who has a pretty bad history when it comes to this kind of thing said this on ESPN:

"My game is hitting and finishing checks," Downie said. "I'm just trying to earn a spot on a roster. It's part of my game and I apologize for him getting hurt. I thought I got him clean. Unfortunately he hit the boards after."

The last time I checked, leaving your feet to blindside a guy in the head was not considered a "clean hit" but I don't expect intelligent discourse from a caveman like Downie. I do expect better of Flyers management than this quote from Flyers GM Paul Holmgren...

"My reaction is that it seems like a lot of games, but Colin Campbell is in a very difficult position and we respect his position and his judgment in this case,"

A lot of games? For potentially ending a guys career? Maybe Holmgren's just feeling bad for the kid because now he'll become a pariah of the hockey world. Like Marty McSorley, who wasn't even allowed to play in England during his suspension. But wait ...

Campbell said Downie would be available to play in the Flyers' AHL affiliate.

Downie has not played an NHL game with the Flyers and was expected to start the season in the minor leagues. The 20-year-old said after the game he thought it was a clean hit.


So the guy is suspended for 20 games assuming he ever gets called up? In other words, he basically receives no punishment for one of the most vicious checks I've seen in 30+ years of watching hockey. If this guy does suit up for the Phantoms like nothing ever happened it will be a dark day in Philadelphia. It already is in the league offices here in New York.

For Colin Campbell, who let Chris Simon go after Ryan Hollweg the other night (despite the fact that Simon was already serving a suspension for doing that) and has now let this loser off scott free I have one question ...

Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

Chill Factor

As excited as I am for the start of the NHL season next week I'm even more excited about strapping on the skates and playing some hockey OUTSIDE. That's why I'm bumming about the current warm weather we're having in New York City. I want there to be a nip in the air. I want to start breaking out the sweatshirts and hoodies. And I want some ice!

The ball hockey rink that I play at doesn't have any lights and last night we would have killed for it to be as bright as the picture on the left. With sundown happening around 7 pm these days, it's safe to say that weeknight ball hockey is done for the season.

So make it cold already. I want to be at Lasker, or Wollman in Brooklyn or even Bryant Park. Stars above, ice below, skating around on the closest thing I can find to a frozen pond in New York City. I can't wait.

Prior Planning Prevents ...

Just a little FYI. If, like me, you got psyched to see hockey back on the airwaves this weekend and wanted to order up Center Ice for the season, hold on a little while longer. Time-Warner Cable doesn't have the package available for purchase yet and one of their customer service reps told me that "they're still negotiating the deal for that package". Seems a little down to the wire to me but I'm hoping that we will be able to get this before the season actually starts. If anyone does manage to order this up in the next few days, let me know. I need my Hockey Night in Canada fix!