...in the NHL draft. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=667710 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Jones_(ice_hockey)
Honestly surprised no one is more interested in this story, with the guy playing in your own backyard... is that because this is old news to ya'll, or is it just a hockey thing? I've got to think this guy is going to clean up with sponsorships. There have been some good black NHL players, but they're usually mixed guys from Canada like Jarome Iginla. To have someone with that sort of potential, as an African-American from Texas, I can see a very huge niche developing for the guy that a lot of companies will buy into, not to mention he has the storyline of being an NBA players kid. The whole story is just interesting.
Man, minor league hockey is the best. I'm not "into it," and I don't even really like or follow the NHL (although I respect the hell out of those guys), but I grew up with a team about a half hour from my house, down in Southaven, Mississippi, a suburb of Memphis. Being a minor league team desperate to give out tickets, we used to get random free tickets all the time, and damn, those guys would beat the hell out of eachother way more than in an NHL game. Maybe it's just my lack of perspective on it, but I always thought they really got a lot more physical in the minor league games. If nothing else, it was fun to check that out on a random Monday night just to see some dudes beat the shit out of eachother and see how the teams would react to that the rest of the game.
Board activity is light, with the Blazers not playing. Most basketball fans know nothing about hockey, including me. But like you, I really respect hockey players. It's the only sport which requires major skill just to stand without falling. I learned how hard it is when I put my kid through about 3 years of skating and hockey lessons.
I went to one of the playoff games a few weeks ago at the RG. Good time! The fans are great. Winterhawks are kickin' ass this year! WHL Championship starts on Friday. http://www.oregonlive.com/hawks/index.ssf/2013/04/portland_winterhawks_whl_champ.html
I love the Winterhawks, and knew about Seth Jones, Tye Rattie, Mac Carruth, etc.. I think there isn't a big mixture of both Hawks and Blazer fans, to be honest.
i have season tickets to the manchester monarchs here in NH, and also run a spotlight for their intros occasionally they are in the AHL, the "AAA" team for the LA Kings, was cool to see so many of the guys i know win the cup last year the fights can get pretty badass, but the level of play is pretty impressive as well, most of the kings roster came through manchester
They had Popeye Jones on local sports radio a year ago to talk some NBA and about his son being a badass hockey player. I got the sense they were trying to work in the whole "black kid playing hockey" bit, but the way the interview went, it never fully got worked into the conversation. I think it's great, though. Been to a couple games this year, and he's legit. Not a huge hockey fan, but the Winterhawks are fun to watch a time or two per year. Even though I'm not a huge hockey fan, I lightly follow throughout the year, and I enjoy hearing when they're doing well, how their former players are doing in the NHL, etc.
