It's gorgeous out there friends, Johnny's been to breakfast with Mrs. Johnny, out on dire wolf walks and yet he's still thinking about missing Joe Louis Arena after this afternoon's tilt with the New Jersey Six. So many GREAT memories there for Johnny. Atheist Johnny used to cross himself and point at the giant picture of the Production Line just inside the Gordie Howe entrance when he passed in and out of JLA. He was talking to the Hockey Gods, not the Sunday school one. He almost hit Sergei Fedorov with his hat the night #91 scored a hat trick. Chris Chelios carried Johnny's unique hat on the end of his stick the day Martin Lapointe scored a hat trick on Johnny's birthday. He took his friend Kevin to a Wings playoff game in 2008 vs Nashville and Darren McCarty scored 2 minutes in for him. Before the netting he remembers sitting six rows above the glass behind the Wings net and ducking (along with everyone else) when Al MacInnis would wind up for a 100+ mph slapshot. Johnny remembers drinking with friends and players at The Post nearby JLA til all hours, hitting the coney island and leaving downtown Detroit as those who were coming downtown to help run the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade were just arriving.
*SIGH*
The new place will be a dream but it won't be "home."
Showing posts with label joe louis arena. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joe louis arena. Show all posts
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Original Six nirvana tonight kids -- Red Wings vs Rangers
What a tasty matchup NBCSN has tonight for us puck junkies and for those who just enjoy a good game on a snowy March night. The Rangers, playing well and near the top of their division head to the Cathedral of Hockey®, Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Wings are hot as well and looking to jump over Tamp Bay in their divisional race. Both teams as you read here yesterday will have their newest additions on hand and in the lineup tonight. Keith Yandle will make his Blueshirt debut while Marek Zidlicky and Erik Cole will play for Detroit.
Ranger fans, we know you're all about tradition as Johnny is. Whether you've loved or hated Joe Louis Arena this will be one of your last couple trips there. The new arena will be built in a couple years time and the history that is JLA will be gone. There weren't a lot of big moments between the teams over the last 35 years, the Domi and Probert bouts come to mind, but it's always nice to have old friends over for a warm comfy old barn.
Oh, by the way Rangers fans, the number you'll again be asking yourselves the answer is 54. 54 banners hanging at JLA. And simply to talk some shit, our retired #9 is better than both your #9's combined.
Ranger fans, we know you're all about tradition as Johnny is. Whether you've loved or hated Joe Louis Arena this will be one of your last couple trips there. The new arena will be built in a couple years time and the history that is JLA will be gone. There weren't a lot of big moments between the teams over the last 35 years, the Domi and Probert bouts come to mind, but it's always nice to have old friends over for a warm comfy old barn.
Oh, by the way Rangers fans, the number you'll again be asking yourselves the answer is 54. 54 banners hanging at JLA. And simply to talk some shit, our retired #9 is better than both your #9's combined.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
It's Hockey Day in America!
From banner-barren San Jose to Boston, from Newark to hockey's newest-home-to-be in Las Vegas. From the cathedral that is Joe Louis Arena in Detroit all the way to the wasteland that is hockey in Miami and the Panthers.
We love the game, some of us live the game, and we around these parts all pull hard for the USA.
We love the game, some of us live the game, and we around these parts all pull hard for the USA.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Johnny's going to take a moment and pay tribute to one of the truly great hockey players
Nothing to do with the Devils or Rangers, sorry, Johnny's an unapologetic Red Wings fan. Tonight Red Wing fans are going to do what we do best, celebrate our own greatness as a franchise. The number 5 will retire to the rafters in the cathedral of hockey tonight, Joe Louis Arena. Nicklas Lidstrom, the Perfect Human, St. Nick, or however you know him will receive the ultimate sports honor tonight in Detroit. His number 5 will be retired in a ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm (NBCSports Network and NHL Network) and will join such legends as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel, Terry Sawchuk, Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman. Johnny could start some mess with Bruins fans and come right out and say Lidstrom was simply THE best defenseman ever to play in the NHL and there are quite a few numbers that would back that up. For now we'll just say that NHL fans now have their top all-time defense pairing set with Bobby Orr and Lidstrom.
So a heartfelt THANK YOU to St. Nick from a Red Wings fan. You have played with great distinction, honor, and pride. Steve Yzerman said you were the best played he'd ever had the chance to play with. High honors indeed. Now enjoy your evening and your hockey immortality.
Here now every playoff goal by Lidstrom is all his Stanley Cup winning seasons with the Wings, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008.
So a heartfelt THANK YOU to St. Nick from a Red Wings fan. You have played with great distinction, honor, and pride. Steve Yzerman said you were the best played he'd ever had the chance to play with. High honors indeed. Now enjoy your evening and your hockey immortality.
Here now every playoff goal by Lidstrom is all his Stanley Cup winning seasons with the Wings, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
It's the Jersey Devil vs the Nain Rouge tonight
Two legends collide tonight at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit as the Jersey Devil takes on the Nain Rouge. While the legend of the Jersey Devil is well known to many perhaps Detroit's own ghastly legend, the Nain Rouge, isn't. Have a read on the Nain Rouge, or Red Devil of Detroit if you prefer, while you contemplate the actual New Jersey Devils taking on the actual Detroit Red Wings.
The #6 seed in the east takes on the #4 seed in the west tonight at the Joe. Would it be the worst thing for the Devils to you know, whoops lose a game and finish 6th with a much better chance against Florida than Malkin, Crosby, and the Penguins? No way. In fact it would benefit them. Rest assured the Devils who are on a 4 game winning streak want to continue their sharp play heading into next week's tournament. To wind up in 5th place however the Devils need only to lose one or have the Flyers win once to make this last paragraph moot. David Clarkson should play tonight though no word on who is replacing oft-injured rookie Jacob Josefson. Late last evening Stephen Gionta was ruled out from the trip to Detroit.
The Red Wings may well show a greater sense of urgency as they are in the #4 slot and trying to keep it, currently one point ahead of Nashville with both having two games left. The Red Wings played last night in St. Louis beating the homestanding Blues 3-2 in a shootout. The bad news for Devils fans in that injured players like Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and the Mule, Johan Franzen appear to now be in much better form then a few days ago.
You all know Johnny's a Red Wings fan but tries to give the Devils love when deserved and give them a fair shake. Detroit played last night on the road in a very labor intensive game. If they can keep it close for a couple periods the Devils could sneak out with a point or two. If New Jersey were to give up a couple early goals our guess is that contentment with the #6 seed may set in and the Wings could win big. Either way Johnny will still be at the Rock Saturday cheering on the Devils in what will most likely be a tame nobody get hurt kind of affair.
Oh, and C'mon Buffalo, we'd love to see a Henrik Lundqist vs. Ryan Miller first round matchup.
The #6 seed in the east takes on the #4 seed in the west tonight at the Joe. Would it be the worst thing for the Devils to you know, whoops lose a game and finish 6th with a much better chance against Florida than Malkin, Crosby, and the Penguins? No way. In fact it would benefit them. Rest assured the Devils who are on a 4 game winning streak want to continue their sharp play heading into next week's tournament. To wind up in 5th place however the Devils need only to lose one or have the Flyers win once to make this last paragraph moot. David Clarkson should play tonight though no word on who is replacing oft-injured rookie Jacob Josefson. Late last evening Stephen Gionta was ruled out from the trip to Detroit.
The Red Wings may well show a greater sense of urgency as they are in the #4 slot and trying to keep it, currently one point ahead of Nashville with both having two games left. The Red Wings played last night in St. Louis beating the homestanding Blues 3-2 in a shootout. The bad news for Devils fans in that injured players like Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and the Mule, Johan Franzen appear to now be in much better form then a few days ago.
You all know Johnny's a Red Wings fan but tries to give the Devils love when deserved and give them a fair shake. Detroit played last night on the road in a very labor intensive game. If they can keep it close for a couple periods the Devils could sneak out with a point or two. If New Jersey were to give up a couple early goals our guess is that contentment with the #6 seed may set in and the Wings could win big. Either way Johnny will still be at the Rock Saturday cheering on the Devils in what will most likely be a tame nobody get hurt kind of affair.
Oh, and C'mon Buffalo, we'd love to see a Henrik Lundqist vs. Ryan Miller first round matchup.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tonight Johnny gets to say hello to an old friend, Brendan Shanahan
Since Shanahan recently signed with the Devils, and will hopefully be playing tonight vs Montreal, Johnny will get to say hello to Shanny all over again. Johnny was a regular at Joe Louis Arena (aka The Church) in Detroit for Wings games for years and years. Shanahan as many of you know played in Detroit for many years and won three Stanley Cups. He scored many big goals and beat down many enemy skaters (In Game 4 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals in Detroit, Colorado Nordilanche loser Eric Lacroix reached into a fighting scrum of humanity and managed to pull out one very pissed off Brendan Shanahan as his fight partner. Shanny beat him to the ice like a narc at a biker rally). It'll be good to see him again.
Ya know, when Shanahan used to score goals in Detroit the Joe Louis Arena audio guru would play an Irish jig over the PA. Might not be a bad idea for The Rock to try the same thing.
Ya know, when Shanahan used to score goals in Detroit the Joe Louis Arena audio guru would play an Irish jig over the PA. Might not be a bad idea for The Rock to try the same thing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
