tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38713735939438319052012-01-27T14:23:37.741-08:00Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.comBlogger3221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-29398802674888538922012-01-27T14:23:00.001-08:002012-01-27T14:23:37.778-08:00

L.A Skyline & Sunset, Jan. 24, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Yeah, it's not hockey. But a little something from the workplace, taken a few nights ago. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-49703095698293224502012-01-03T19:53:00.000-08:002012-01-03T19:53:35.091-08:00

Attentive readers may recall that I purchased my first-ever Mammoth Mountain season pass earlier this year -- thereby guaranteeing one of the driest Decembers on record in the Sierra Nevada. My bad! Sorry! The upside is that the National Park Service reopened Tioga Pass Road to the Yosemite National Park high country on Dec. 19 -- a very rare move. The road is usually closed from early

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-62715575792087744122012-01-02T18:41:00.001-08:002012-01-03T19:41:54.652-08:00

Wonder if I can arrange for a flyover for Puckalolos season opener next Monday night. We are, after all, defending third-place champions and we pay our taxes and league fees promptly. Just sayin...

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-79174341260996799342011-12-26T00:10:00.001-08:002011-12-26T00:10:14.505-08:00

Los Angeles, Christmas Day 2011, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.No hockey today. Just a hike in the Angeles National Forest and this pretty nice view from Highway 2 in the Angeles National Forest above La Canada Flintridge. The key is to hang out until the sun actually sets, bringing a lot better definition to the coastline. Beyond downtown is the Palos Verdes Peninsula and beyond that is

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-57243451266674701652011-11-19T12:00:00.001-08:002012-01-03T19:58:21.656-08:00

ReIgn game, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Ontario versus Stockton. Lots of fights and beer league style mistakes. The building was freezing. Even for hockey. But it was cheap and fun. Best part: after the game we were walking through the parking lot and some chump took a leak on the side of a car and then got in THAT car and drove away. I'm trying to decide if that's super classy -- piss

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-34327064478057840712011-11-09T15:11:00.001-08:002011-11-09T15:11:11.005-08:00

Let's Go Kings, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Grabbed this one at last night's Kings-Preds game. Taken with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone -- great photo filters. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-14639480882454028732011-10-19T22:40:00.001-07:002011-10-19T22:40:42.994-07:00

Lonely Man, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Almost works -- unfortunately the guy's noggin is too dark. Damn iPhone 3GS. Hipstamatic app then processed more in Snapseed for iPad.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-64844500271198676972011-10-11T10:09:00.000-07:002011-10-11T10:09:01.179-07:00

Took this one after our game last night (we won!) with the iPhone Camera+ app. The new Pasadena rink, in a tent structure, is actually kind of photogenic. This photo didn't turn out well -- can't wait to get a new DSLR to replace the Nikon D5000 I drowned a couple of weekends ago in the ocean off San Simeon (flipped my kayak in the surf, dry bag wasn't so dry).

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-7146235608960411212011-10-09T21:51:00.001-07:002011-10-09T21:51:02.572-07:00

New rink, Pasadena, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Took this one last week with iPhone. Miniaturized with Camera+ app.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-62832795791336872072011-10-08T13:02:00.001-07:002011-10-08T13:02:06.653-07:00

Pelicans at sunset, Cayucos Beach, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.When not playing the manly sport of hockey, I like to take pretty pictures of birds.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-36103975064871503142011-10-07T14:11:00.001-07:002011-10-07T14:11:16.465-07:00

Beer Leagues, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Taken by yours truly at the new rink in Pasadena this week with the iPhone's Hipstamatic app.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-17062923272206642842011-06-25T17:58:00.001-07:002011-06-25T17:58:18.556-07:00

Old church, Santa Fe, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.When not causing mayhem on the ice, I get off taking iPhone pics of old churches in New Mexico. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-86870454557044003282011-06-25T17:55:00.001-07:002011-06-25T17:55:02.754-07:00

Radishes, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.When not playing the exciting sport of ice hockey, I like taking photos of colorful vegetables. This was at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-53787095803237192062011-06-09T19:11:00.001-07:002011-06-09T19:11:04.002-07:00

Bike & Shadow, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Screwing around with my iPhone while pedaling home. Hoping to find my team's new socks arrived in mail when I get there. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-27043390183658755212011-06-09T12:37:00.000-07:002011-06-09T12:37:41.726-07:00

This kind of cracked me up: an official rule book posted on the internet for adult hockey leagues at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Don't get me wrong. I think it's great the league has a rulebook. That makes sense. There should at least be rules trying to thwart cheap shots and the use of ringers. (I have no idea how much they're enforced or not). If there's a rulebook for the

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-70692032280003383902011-06-07T15:30:00.001-07:002011-06-07T15:30:07.398-07:00

Victoria Salmon Kings-Utah Grizzlies 8, a photo by liquid tension on Flickr.Playing near the crease deserves hazard pay, eh? The pic is from a Victoria Salmon Kings-Utah Grizzlies game. --S.H.--

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-30085074712760255642011-06-07T14:57:00.000-07:002011-06-07T14:57:14.444-07:00

  A friend of mine was in Vancouver over the Memorial Day weekend -- before the Stanley Cup Finals began -- and snapped this photo of locals driving around the city with a mock-up of the cup.  The Cup, I might add, the local team has not yet won. And I kind of get the feeling that after watching last night's spankdown of the Canucks by Boston, the momentum may have turned in the series to the

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-82037053717872556302011-06-04T23:37:00.001-07:002011-06-04T23:37:55.918-07:00

Horse in Round Valley, California, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.When not playing the manly sport of ice hockey, I like to take photos of pretty horses. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-43196263536960379822011-05-31T14:45:00.001-07:002011-05-31T14:45:14.371-07:00

Upper Panorama Gondola, Mammoth Mountain, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.I'm taking more interesting photos with my iPhone these days. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-36310277295039224972011-05-29T22:50:00.001-07:002011-05-29T22:50:19.730-07:00

Focus on Carey Price, a photo by infinite imagination on Flickr.Sweet shot of a minor league game.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-76107488102372280792011-05-29T16:54:00.001-07:002011-05-29T16:54:39.315-07:00

Chair 23, Mammoth Mountain, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Taken during the 20 minute span it was actually sunny today. Snowed the rest of the time. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-52969401225982000392011-05-29T09:37:00.001-07:002011-05-29T09:37:11.039-07:00

Hot Creek Geologic Area, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.High winds shut down most of Mammoth ski area on Saturday. Visited Hot Creek to scout some fishing holes. This shot was miniaturized with the iPhone Camera+ app. Oh--and endless winter continues in Mammoth. We got about two to four inches of snow last night and the avi guns were going off this morning. Headed to slopes now...not a bad

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-89138180556977484022011-05-27T23:09:00.000-07:002011-05-27T23:09:00.208-07:00

I have no idea what this is or what it means. A friend sent it to me and it's too good not to post. But it does raise the question of what the hell is going on up in Canada. Eh?--S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-19713103968791231322011-05-27T23:03:00.001-07:002011-05-27T23:03:15.826-07:00

Red Rock Canyon, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.One more from the road today. This was taken in Red Rock State Park, north of Mojave. I took it with an iPhone and amped it up and miniaturized in the Camera+ app. Kinda cool. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-6594959416367301292011-05-27T22:56:00.001-07:002011-05-27T22:56:45.179-07:00

Mt. Whitney, a photo by JulieAndSteve on Flickr.Enroute to Mammoth today. And I haven't forgotten about this blog. Just busy lately. More hockey soon!Got to Mammoth in time to see end of Boston-Tampa. That was a little intense, eh?--S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-34602935917927248002011-05-03T15:54:00.001-07:002011-05-03T15:55:28.810-07:00

Champions 2011: USA, a photo by _becaro_ on Flickr.I bet winning a trophy or cup must feel great. This is the U.S. women's team after defeating Canada in the recent world championships. Great photo. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-44847772429721015802011-05-03T15:41:00.000-07:002011-05-03T15:41:32.344-07:00

Kind of funny item on Puck Daddy today about a team in Maryland named the "Hat Trick Swayzes" -- a tribute to the late Patrick Swayze and his appearance in the hockey flick "Youngblood." I think the name is good but I like the logo better. My own league is populated by some pretty dull names. Not to boast, but my own team's name -- the Puckalolos -- is best. If you know anything about Hawaii,

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-8142932376725847332011-05-02T12:53:00.000-07:002011-05-02T12:53:28.808-07:00

  I took this shot last night of the game after my team's game at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center. The photo was taken with an iPhone and then processed with Instagram, my new fave app -- basically it provides a bunch of different filters to apply to otherwise crap photos to make them look vintage-like.  In this case, I took a stab at using the "tilt shift" function, which provides a select use

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-44156567333488664192011-05-01T14:39:00.000-07:002011-05-01T17:02:04.053-07:00

From the Dog Haus on Hill Street in Pasadena. Excellent dog and the tots were nice and crispy. Everything should look great on the ice later--hopefully the relish will hold its color. The photo was souped up with the awesome Instagram app for the iPhone.  --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-7652105232165344382011-04-22T17:29:00.001-07:002011-04-22T17:29:07.360-07:00

IMG_7501, a photo by paolobarzman on Flickr.Not much info accompanies this photo on Flickr, but I think it may be a Montreal Canadiens' practice session. Whatever it is, it's a cool shot.--S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-37928748896882924172011-04-22T16:07:00.000-07:002011-04-22T16:07:45.554-07:00

Photo by Julie Sheer. The Domesticated Partner has authored an exceptionally well-written post in a local newspaper on where to see wildflowers in the Santa Ynez Valley and requested that I help stir up some hits. Plus, she captured a very un-hockey like photo of me taking pictures of poppies on Figueroa Mountain. And, you know, there's nothing like having my photo in the newspaper that

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-64758042834145718832011-04-20T15:02:00.000-07:002011-04-20T15:02:39.729-07:00

A few thoughts on last night's epic 6 to 5 collapse by the Kings in game three of their playoff series against the Sharks: •I was sitting in the Kings attack twice end of the ice. And guess what? All six San Jose goal were scored in front of me -- five in the second period and the final one in overtime. •The 4 - 0 Kings lead was a bit of a deception. The Kings picked up a couple of cheap goals

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-34455812230923661392011-04-20T11:00:00.000-07:002011-04-20T11:02:14.027-07:00

Click above to see larger image. One of the recurring points of discussion on my beer league team is shift times: many of us (including me) are pushing for shorter, more energetic shifts while some players prefer longer shifts, which they view as a way to get more playing time. That's totally understandable. Who doesn't like to play? That said, if you watch a lot of hockey games with a

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-21923779489677809452011-04-19T14:47:00.001-07:002011-04-19T14:47:46.480-07:00

Big Save, a photo by _becaro_ on Flickr.Nice save by the Slovakian goalie against the Swedes in the IIHF Women's World Championships being held this week. The Swedes won 3 to 0. The IIHF website, btw, has this great headline about the Swiss women's team: "Swiss Misses Advance to Playoffs." Nice! --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-48126390965676573172011-04-19T14:35:00.000-07:002011-04-19T14:35:30.470-07:00

This clever little timeline was linked to by the Pasadena Ice Skating Center's website. I put it here as a reference in case there should be delays to the new NHL-sized rink -- you know, just in case five months isn't enough time. The good news is that the tent pavilion now has construction fencing around it. But it's hard to tell what, if anything, is actually happening. I walked past last

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-51573620065728419622011-04-18T07:55:00.000-07:002011-04-19T15:27:39.522-07:00

No game this weekend, so I spent the weekend in Santa Barbara County. A few non-hockey pics: Sunset at Arroyo Burro State Beach in Santa Barbara on Saturday night. Moonrise at Arroyo Burro, shortly after the above sunset. Poppies and lupines growing near the top of Figueroa Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest. A seagull at Butterfly beach in Montecito. Not a great image, but didn't

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-74944852532521957582011-04-15T13:53:00.000-07:002011-04-15T13:53:51.049-07:00

•My team had a game on Wednesday night -- which ended about 10:30 with a GLORIOUS 3-2 win in OT after we tied it with 90 seconds left in regulation. It took about 70 minutes to play the game; a few of us stood around talking about on the sidewalk outside the rink until 1 a.m. or so. Time to Play Game: 70 minutes. Time to Talk About Game: 150 minutes. After arriving home shortly after 1 a.m., I

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-52065518610239501152011-04-15T13:38:00.001-07:002011-04-15T13:38:24.098-07:00

Pond Hockey at the Fairmont Banff Springs, a photo by Banff Lake Louise on Flickr.This one was taken in Banff at the Fairmont Hotel. It's the only hotel I've ever heard about that offers hockey facilities for guests. Sounds smart. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-58018786349514748472011-04-13T09:20:00.000-07:002011-04-13T09:20:27.482-07:00

Everyone always looks so serious playing. It's understandable. Hockey is a damn hard sport. Here's a nice reminder how much fun it is, too. photo by sparky675, via SmugMug --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-56417637072122821042011-04-13T09:19:00.000-07:002011-04-13T09:19:41.691-07:00

When not obsessing about my lower division beer league hockey team, I like to go to the movies and support the hometown industry. In that spirit -- and since this is my blog -- I will offer occasional and very short movie reviews to spare you the mental anguish of having to read the pseudo-intellectual dipshit reviews in the local papers. "Win Win" is not really a sports movie. It's a well-acted

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-22028898912403554552011-04-12T13:33:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:33:27.505-07:00

I like to find videos that smartly break down beer league hockey games and point out mistakes. This one does that, reinforcing the point that it's the d-man's job to stay between the puck carrier and the net. Lunging for a loose puck may seem a good aggressive play, unless you don't get the puck. Then what? Watch the video! --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-33787582893743022712011-04-12T09:39:00.001-07:002011-04-12T09:44:20.383-07:00

Larry 9012, a photo by Kallik1 on Flickr.Have you blocked a shot or intercepted a pass lately? Not by accident--by making an actual effort? Inexperienced skaters should take note of how much this player is using that outside edge. The photo was taken of a kids game in Quebec. It's a great shot -- the photographer bumped his ISO to 3200 and used a shutter speed of 1/400th with a 500mm lens

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-50816610155958632802011-04-11T16:25:00.000-07:002011-04-11T16:25:07.691-07:00

•The Pasadena ice rink -- all 150 feet by 90 feet of it -- is adding two stick times on Tuesday nights -- at 6:30 and 7:45. There are also stick times at 7:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. It can be crowded but at least it's a chance to get out there with the puck and skate a little. •If you are hoping to see the Kings and Ducks meet in the second round of the playoffs, they both obviously

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-11173375415720485692011-04-11T12:15:00.000-07:002011-04-11T12:15:30.240-07:00

  My usual Sunday afternoon game is being played Wednesday night, leaving me with some free time. So the Domestic Partner and I enjoyed a nice spin through Los Angeles during the city's second CicLAvia event that shut down streets and turned them over to cyclists. Sweet.  That's a low-res photo above looking west down 7th Street toward downtown L.A. from the Westlake neighborhood. If you need a

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-77661930229881403432011-04-10T21:08:00.001-07:002011-04-10T21:10:48.334-07:00

The Mask, a photo by R. A. Whittaker on Flickr.Very artistic! I like it! The photo was actually taken at a goalie camp in Ottawa that focuses on skills for netminders of all ability levels -- including older dudes with injury and flexibility issues. It's called -- and you have to admire the simplicity -- Ottawa Goalie. Here's the camp's link for anyone who wants to decamp to the Great White

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-89653945357088929642011-04-09T12:13:00.001-07:002011-04-09T12:14:36.307-07:00

Pond Hockey in White Bear Lake, MN, a photo by scostello22 on Flickr.Can you imagine having this in your backyard? No drive to the rink with the hockey bag? Sigh. The photo was taken in 2008 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, which is outside the Twin Cities. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-88237367852747221552011-04-09T09:18:00.000-07:002011-04-09T09:18:33.249-07:00

Nice story in the Orange County Register this past week on Alex Patterson, who at 80 is still playing ice hockey with guys many decades younger. Alex is blind in one eye and has hearing problems -- but watch the video. The dude can still motor around the rink. My favorite part of the video: he brags about making a good pass, albeit one that his teammate couldn't snag. More people should worry

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-5112683602250246832011-04-08T16:38:00.000-07:002011-04-08T16:38:20.003-07:00

photo by Paul Lantz, via SmugMug If this young player can puck handle and skate on his outside edges like this, why can't you? Why can't I? Wish I knew. The photo was taken in Moosonee, Ontario -- yep, that would be Canada. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-69797507318071996702011-04-08T12:12:00.000-07:002011-04-08T12:16:01.879-07:00

•If you correctly found much of the NCAA basketball tourney a bore -- all those fouls, free throws and timeouts are NOT exciting -- the college hockey finals are tomorrow pitting Michigan against the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The game is at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Pacific time) on ESPN. Set your DVRs. •As I wrote recently, I think the fate of the Kings post-season rests with winger Dustin Brown,

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-8533534052760402162011-04-07T16:05:00.000-07:002011-04-07T16:05:38.688-07:00

Maybe my team should get some Ice Girls to give something for opposing goalies to contemplate. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-33571283573811411702011-04-06T13:59:00.000-07:002011-04-06T13:59:39.241-07:00

•I'm going to the Kings game tonight against Phoenix, which means the boys are unlikely to clinch a playoff spot because I'm there. The last two games I've attended, the sound system was turned up louder than a Who concert and it was nearly impossible to talk to the person next to me. Hey L.A. Kings management: I'M PAYING YOU TO WATCH PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NOT BE STUNNED INTO SUBMISSION!! The

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-85214042506954290062011-04-06T13:11:00.001-07:002011-04-06T13:11:00.688-07:00

Labatt Pond Hockey 2011, a photo by dhnieman on Flickr.A very cool photograph of a pond hockey tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., earlier this year. Looks a little wintery, eh?--S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-72638298031792261522011-04-05T13:23:00.001-07:002011-04-05T13:25:31.420-07:00

parada, a photo by beatrizor on Flickr. A nice closeup showing that hockey can be a game of inches and this goalie knows what he's doing. The photo was taken in Spain earlier this year. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-89291423400326099762011-04-05T13:20:00.000-07:002011-04-05T13:20:06.112-07:00

If you didn't see this at Puck Daddy, here's an awesomely executed power play in Finland in which all five players touch the puck before the goal. It's one sweet pass after the other. As Puck Daddy alludes, a lot of teams have trouble with the power play -- so much so that some would rather just play 5-on-5 instead of watch things go horribly wrong and surrender a shorthanded goal. The problem

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-45939140040758469762011-04-05T13:02:00.000-07:002011-04-05T13:14:24.038-07:00

I was doing some light grazing this morning on the cliches and quotes that dominate LAKingsInsider.com, when I came across this gem from Kings coach Terry Murray on his team's 6 to 1 drubbing at the hands of San Jose on Monday: MURRAY: “We weren’t in positions. Whether it was on the checking part of the game, without possession, or if we had possession we were not in the proper lanes. Our

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-5931245932168276022011-04-04T14:58:00.000-07:002011-04-04T14:58:39.695-07:00

•Local NHL fans: it still looks possible the Kings and Ducks can come in fourth and fifth in the Western Conference and then play each other in the first round of the playoffs. If the Kings can somehow wrestle the Pacific Division title from the Sharks, then there's a chance they finish third and would play the Ducks if the Ducks finished seventh. Got all that? •My lil' beer league team won 11

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-88665907726003555582011-04-03T14:02:00.001-07:002011-04-03T14:04:06.637-07:00

Slapshot, a photo by zibbelljr on Flickr.Cool shot from a Canadian Hockey League game -- the dude taking the shot plays for the Saginaw Spirit. Check out the flex of that stick -- my stick feels like a telephone pole by comparison, although I am assuming there is some user error. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-68734390619607428152011-04-03T13:56:00.000-07:002011-04-03T13:56:56.379-07:00

I'm on the verge of celebrating my one-year anniversary of being captain of a lower division ice hockey team in Pasadena. That encompasses three 12-week seasons at our local rink here in Pasadena, CA, and it's utterly amazing to me that I've survived this long. In the past year, I've gone from having no clue about what I'm doing to having mostly no clue about what I'm doing. Me being me --

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-62604666442779067482011-04-02T15:03:00.000-07:002011-04-02T15:03:23.449-07:00

I have to pay property taxes and hockey league fees in a week, income taxes in two weeks and was just on the receiving end of a vet bill that almost made me crap my pants. My natural response: I purchased my first-ever season pass to Mammoth Mountain yesterday for $659. The resort hadn't opened the sale of the "discount" -- cough, cough -- passes to the general public for a few years and I

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-68850942095434757632011-04-02T14:38:00.000-07:002011-04-02T14:41:17.029-07:00

Photo by geezerhockey, via their SmugMug page  A defensman in a geezer league game in Bethlehem, PA, tries to move a player right out the backdoor. See where the goalie is -- guarding the other post, meaning this O guy can't be allowed to enjoy this piece of real estate. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-16064227214857970202011-04-02T14:31:00.000-07:002011-04-02T14:31:46.420-07:00

The lower/intermediate division at the Pasadena rink starts spring play on April 10. The league is trying to expand from four to six teams and I hear one of the new teams still needs a few players. If you're interested, contact the rink at hockey@skatepasadena.com or call 626-578-0800. There are only two divisions at the Pasadena rink -- lower and upper. The lower is being renamed intermediate

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-86835796074852698882011-04-01T17:14:00.001-07:002011-04-01T17:14:34.042-07:00

Sunset with Vacant Pond Hockey Rink, a photo by fotochuk on Flickr.If I'm not too lazy I'll make this a regular feature. Or a semi-regular feature. As for this pic, it was taken somewhere in Canada according to Flickr. The caption says "The only reason it is empty is because it is -31 degrees. Generally hockey stops in Canada after it falls below -20." Interesting. It's 85 degrees in Pasadena at

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-4054957697935053972011-03-30T08:31:00.000-07:002011-03-30T08:31:50.808-07:00

Yeah, right. But playing a more disciplined game focused on scoring -- as I suggested in the previous post -- resulted in Brown scoring two goals in the Kings 2 to 0 win over Edmonton last night. And he missed an empty netter by a couple of inches that would have given him a hat trick. Of course, one dude on the LA Kings Insider blog took exception with my view that Brown should worry less

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-31432954116428079252011-03-29T17:31:00.000-07:002011-03-29T17:31:37.401-07:00

Does the Internet really need yet another blogger/expert/idiot weighing in on Anze Kopitar's injury and how it will impact the Kings' post-season chances? Did the Internet really need the video of me carving my holiday prime rib? No! But it got it anyway. So here's my decidedly non-expert take on the Kings: I think the next few weeks will offer a good chance for Kings captain and winger Dustin

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-57599201575287038752011-03-28T07:46:00.000-07:002011-03-28T07:46:05.073-07:00

As I've written before, this blog isn't the place for me to delve too deeply into issues concerning my team -- in particular the play of individuals. So I like to write around it and speak generally. So, generally speaking, a few random thoughts about my team's 4 to 3 loss yesterday in our league semifinals (note: there are only four teams in the league, so everyone qualifies for the playoffs):

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-60921420977334398312011-03-27T09:22:00.000-07:002011-03-27T09:28:58.684-07:00

I've seen dudes skiing with helmet-cams so I did a search on YouTube and -- surprise, surprise -- there were a bunch of dudes who used helmet-cams to record their beer league games. Of the ones that I watched, I liked this one the best, probably because the dude with the camera is actually involved in scoring a goal -- something I haven't witnessed from inside my helmet in a while. Not to

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-79116630475595584462011-03-26T15:11:00.000-07:002011-03-26T15:11:27.062-07:00

The other morning I awoke to find that one of my lazy rescue dogs was too lazy to get up in the middle of the night and wander over to the dining room table leg to take a pee. Instead, he just pissed on his bed and slept in it. Nice. In a statement that sounded kind of like "good morning," The Domestic Partner ordered me to clean it up. I dutifully took the cover off the bed and tossed it into

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-24362104256580679662011-03-25T14:16:00.000-07:002011-03-25T14:16:29.629-07:00

The Kings had a nice win over San Jose last night in a shootout, although they should have beat them in regulation -- instead, in typical Kings fashion, they gave up a goal in the last few seconds of the game and ended up giving the Sharks an unnecessary point in the standings. Still, as of this morning, the Kings and Ducks are both in position to qualify for the playoffs with eight games

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-65127416502494300352011-03-24T15:29:00.000-07:002011-03-24T15:29:42.875-07:00

I managed to wrestle the remote away from the Domestic Partner the other night to avoid watching another episode of "House Hunters" on HGTV. So instead of watching house porn -- and feeling even worse than I do about the decrepit state of my slob-pit domicile -- I caught the excellent overtime between Denver and the University of North Dakota. The awesome goal above by Matt Frittin ended the

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-65876691750498063412011-03-18T23:05:00.000-07:002011-03-19T09:38:27.599-07:00

Chair 23, Mammoth Mountain. Solo on Solitude run on Thursday. Great windblown powder. --S.H. Photos copyright Steve Hymon - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-81790433858053924422011-03-17T19:58:00.000-07:002011-03-17T19:59:01.945-07:00

St. Patricks Day at Mammoth. BTW, temps were in 20s with wind today--cold beer, cold balls (I assume).--S.H.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-88799430402837532642011-03-16T23:25:00.000-07:002011-03-16T23:26:35.548-07:00

No hockey clinic tonight: going skiing tomorrow. Just read the turdlings who run Mammoth never opened the town's ice rink this year. P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C!!!--S.H.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-73738516500150317272011-03-16T12:44:00.000-07:002011-03-16T12:44:12.765-07:00

I pilfered this from the Pasadena rink's website. It's from the fall season title game in December; I'm the guy in red on my ass -- not an uncommon position for yours truly -- either trying to score or trip anyone in the vicinity of the other team's goal. We lost, 3 to 0. Hmm. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-17095915377712901242011-03-16T12:34:00.000-07:002011-03-16T12:34:05.598-07:00

Just a heads up: the current lower division league at the Pasadena rink is is trying to expand from four teams to six for the spring season that begins April 10 and runs through mid-July. Tryouts for both the rink's upper and lower division leagues are Wednesday night, March 30, at 9 p.m. Here's the website. It should hopefully be the final season on the 150-foot rink at the current facility;

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-58068896676880996322011-03-15T23:43:00.000-07:002011-03-15T23:43:31.311-07:00

•I stuck around for pickup at the Pasadena rink on Monday night. There's always some very good players but there was one dude who I hadn't seen before that was literally skating circles around almost everyone. With that kind of speed and stick handling, I've spent most of today trying to figure out why he was playing pickup on a Monday night at the crappy Pasadena rink. I mean if he's not good

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-50330793963523556292011-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:002011-03-04T11:25:07.696-08:00

The New York Times has a very short feature on the recent Pond Hockey National Championships held in Wisconsin. Click here to see a truly awesome pic of the event. The above photo is from Flickr and was taken by Kent Landerholm. Here's an idea for the smart marketing people in California mountain towns: find a lake near a road and hold a state-oriented event. A lot of the guys on my beer league

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-89161005447432325522011-02-10T14:01:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:01:28.594-08:00

One of the guys on my team got off the ice after two hours of clinic and stick time last night and said it about as good as it can be said: "I'm like a little kid playing in the mud out there. It's that fun." That's right, brother. And I still think it's a complete travesty more adults aren't out there giving hockey a spin. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-32434567804756967622011-02-03T19:33:00.000-08:002011-02-04T20:21:57.356-08:00

Mesquite Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. I took a few days off from hockey to visit Death Valley National Park and play around with my relatively new Nikon D5000. Despite its reputation for heat in the summer, the park is actually quite chilly in the winter and the Furnace Creek area -- with a swimming pool, tennis courts and golf course -- would surely benefit from also having an ice

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-30710075209082340822011-01-26T14:46:00.000-08:002011-01-26T14:46:21.508-08:00

Interesting item at LAist today that says that the Kings are holding "Jewish pride night" at tonight's game (a cantor is singing the national anthem) and that a Jewish player has sued the Bakersfield Condors, alleging the coach subjected him to a bunch of anti-Semetic crap. Well, it's Bakersfield. Disappointing, but no surprise. And as a Jew who plays hockey (not always well, mind you), here's

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-52292347884843415292011-01-17T13:16:00.001-08:002011-01-17T13:16:17.052-08:00

I'm just a peon sitting here in Pasadena and I'm certainly not as smart as a high-paid National Hockey League executive -- you know, the guys that put the Stanley Cup Finals on a network most of the country can't see. Or the same ones that kind-of-sort-of don't want to see the NHL's best players maimed in a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship-worthy head shots. So here's my brilliant idea of

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-13144107097156909912011-01-12T16:37:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:38:13.393-08:00

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-39782590113051297652011-01-11T14:10:00.000-08:002011-01-11T14:10:35.234-08:00

Watch this goal by the Victoria Salmon Kings for good examples of deft stickhandling, teamwork and horrible, horrible defensive play. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-39727839706357022682011-01-09T12:42:00.001-08:002011-01-09T12:42:43.130-08:00

Thank you Nike Bauer for the crap stitching on my relatively new hockey pants. Rather than go with my old pants in today's season opener, I'm gonna go with the gray duct tape. Yeah it looks weird but it beats a surprise appearance by you-know-who during the game. --S.H.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-51368177038402856932011-01-03T15:15:00.000-08:002011-01-03T15:19:20.409-08:00

A friend of mine took this photo in Mexico City on a Christmas visit. It appears to be the world's smallest ice rink. As she wrote, "In the middle of el zocalo (think national mall) they have a ice skating rink.... and along with skates, people get walkers! So I guess this means we'll probably be skipping the speed skating in the winter olympics!!" Yes, it seems like it might be difficult to

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-2959242920990474552011-01-03T15:02:00.000-08:002011-01-03T15:02:56.731-08:00

It's cliche at this point to write that spouses and/or significant others of hockey players often aren't too crazy about the sport. It's a timesuck and no one who doesn't play can possibly understand how much fun it is and how hockey pretty much demands obsessive behavior in order to win. This recent story in the New York Times is about the increasing number of women -- and hockey moms -- who

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-5614657521621229552011-01-01T19:09:00.000-08:002011-01-03T14:44:14.447-08:00

The flyover for the Rose Bowl game, with the fighter jets circling past downtown L.A. and the coast in the background. The photo was taken from the Sam Merrill trail on Echo Mountain -- i.e. the trail that begins at the end of Lake Avenue. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-26873024093227311952011-01-01T10:17:00.000-08:002011-01-03T14:49:18.487-08:00

As seen from my bathroom in Pasadena this morning. --S.H.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-61084665431216496342010-12-27T11:40:00.000-08:002010-12-27T11:40:31.643-08:00

As I mentioned last week, my team made it to our league championship game and...lost three to zip. Not a blowout, but not exactly our best game. And if the Hockey Police had been present, I would have been arrested and charged with the following: The Crime: I'm at right wing and manage to get a shot off from outside the right face off circle. The goalie blocks the puck, one of my teammates

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-54877406075495383752010-12-22T19:17:00.000-08:002010-12-22T19:17:14.203-08:00

To change the topic from hockey for a second, check out these pics from the ongoing storms at Mammoth Lakes -- more than 130 inches in the past five days. Should be a good season, eh?

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-14337310163720499882010-12-22T15:33:00.000-08:002010-12-22T18:47:49.497-08:00

It took me a few days to even want to write about this, but my team lost our league championship game this past Sunday by a score of 3 to 0. Beer, tequila, chicken wings and sleeplessness followed. I won't even bother to mention how the slight altercation at the end when I thought -- erroneously I've been told -- that someone from the other team threw his gloves in my face, leading me to blow a

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-58066343134890329492010-12-13T09:17:00.000-08:002010-12-13T09:17:24.676-08:00

Okay, The Cup residing in the manager's office at the Pasadena rink looks like a mixing bowl I have in my kitchen at home mounted on a recycled piece of wood from a shipwreck. But nonetheless, my team has advanced to the lower division league championship game next Sunday, meaning we're playing for The Cup. Un-effing-real. This is only our second season together and it's only the second season

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-44474446103831555712010-12-10T20:11:00.000-08:002010-12-11T13:39:42.406-08:00

And the mistakes go on and on and on.... The Crime: Due to some kind of cosmic burp, I’m playing center. We’re up by a goal late in the third period, in the left faceoff circle and on offense. I kind of win the faceoff and pull the puck backward on a diagonal – a four o’clock direction – into a space unoccupied by any of my teammates. An opponent picks up the puck and heads down the ice

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-24500327288995929772010-12-08T15:32:00.000-08:002010-12-08T15:32:36.548-08:00

Like pretty much everyone else I know who plays hockey, I'm kind of obsessed with trying to develop a slapshot that consistently looks like, well...an actual hockey slapshot. My shot at the moment is a bit of a mess. So I went searching in the great wide open spaces of YouTube and found the above video, which I thought was helpful and helped break down a slapshot into easy-to-digest pieces.

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-44707348860424569672010-12-01T11:41:00.000-08:002010-12-01T11:41:16.753-08:00

  I just got back from a less than splendid eight days in Cincinnati, Ohio. One highlight: attending a Cincy Cyclones game and admiring the skating abilities of their mascot, Twister (at right), who when not flattening suburban neighborhoods can be seen tossing free T-shirts to hockey fans. I'm still mystified how Columbus, Ohio, managed to nab the Blue Jackets, the city's only major league

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-35933113149990341282010-12-01T11:24:00.000-08:002010-12-01T11:24:28.470-08:00

I don't spend a lot of time reading quotes from players on LAKingsInsider. Most of them are riddled with the same boring cliches. But I had to laugh when I read this one from D-man Drew Doughty on the Kings' loss to Anaheim on Monday and their recent slump: DOUGHTY: “We know, as a team, we haven’t been creating as many chances as we’d like, and we’ve got to get back to the basics. Getting pucks

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-69348768700015819562010-11-24T16:11:00.000-08:002010-11-24T16:11:30.385-08:00

I spent an unlovely week in Ohio and returned just in time for my team's most recent game. It was predictable that almost two weeks off resulted in some hockey plays that didn't quite work out for me personally or my team. In the world of spin in which we live, these errors could be called "unfortunate events." Attentive readers, however, know that I pull no punches on this blog and I can only

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-75688413823726864362010-11-23T10:26:00.000-08:002010-11-23T10:26:36.863-08:00

I was changing into my gear at the rink last night and noticed this sign about symptoms of a concussion. What bothers me about the sign is that during my games, I exhibit many of these symptoms -- even if no one has hit me: is confused about position -- check! Moves clumsily -- check! Forgets sports plays -- check! Shows behavior or personality changes -- check and I certainly hope so! As

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-33958377100902914902010-11-19T12:00:00.000-08:002010-11-19T12:01:00.526-08:00

Now that TSA is basically offering hand jobs at airport security, can I use my miles to purchase an upgrade?Have a minute to kill before my flight boards...--S.H. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-53681812417454175782010-11-14T22:40:00.000-08:002010-11-14T22:40:55.688-08:00

So, I had the good fortune to attend Saturday night's Cincinnati Cyclone's game against the Gwinnett Gladiators -- the Atlanta suburbs' answer to minor league hockey. It was the first time I had attended a hockey game at the Riverfront Coliseum (now named after some bank whose name I refuse to mention) since going to Cincy Stingers games there in the 1970s. The Stingers were one of the WHA

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871373593943831905.post-1017379320537849252010-11-12T19:16:00.000-08:002010-11-12T19:16:47.473-08:00

In the annals, or anals, of best all-time food to eat after playing hockey, I assume Skyline Chili -- a Cincinnati delicacy -- has to rank up there. I have to assume because I'm in Cincy and my hockey gear is regrettably 2,000 miles away, stinking up the driveway in Pasadena during my visit to a Red State. As for Skyline, some of you are probably wondering WTF is that in the above photo. Is

Steve Hymonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332392723514502468noreply@blogger.com0