MAPHL 'Ship

On Friday February 22nd I attended the Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League Championship between the Gonzaga Purple Eagles and Calvert Hall Cardinals. Gonzaga won by a final score of 6-1 but that was not what I took from the game. Yes, the game was very good and there were many plays to marvel about throughout the game but what amazed me most was the crowd on hand.

(Photos courtesy of DCSportsFan.com)

About a half hour before the game, the lines to buy tickets filled the lobby of the ice rink and long before the teams took the ice, fans from both schools filled the arena. The stands were split between the yellow and red fans of Calvert Hall and Purple fans of Gonzaga. Throughout the pre-game ceremonies and warm-ups the student sections chanted, yelled, and shook the bleachers.

Never before have I seen a high school sporting event in this area fill a arena quite like this. Especially attending public school for most of my life, no games ever attracted attention like this. It was amazing to see the school pride on display from both sides throughout the game. My hopes are that in the future public schools catch on to the moving experience of school sporting events.

I realize that the crowd on hand was there to see the Championship game and the fact that Blair never reaches State Championships is depressing, but maybe one day, and if it comes, Blair better be ready.

A Sad Time of the Year

As we have reached mid-February with nothing more than a couple two-hour delays, I have come to the realization that another winter will pass with no snow. Also, winter coming to an end marks the end of the hockey season.

Last Thursday the Montgomery Blair hockey season came to a conclusion with a 8-1 playoff loss to the two-time defending state champion Washington County North Stars. It was an unfortunate end to a strong season for the Blazers.

In addition, my travel season most likely only has two weeks remaining. This weekend is the league playoffs and the following is the state championship series. Lossing in the state championship serious would in turn bring a conclusion to the season.

Another factor in the ending of hockey season is the coming of baseball season. With March 1st right around the corner the baseball team will hit the field first thing to start training for the soon to come season.

This time of year brings many changes to every day activities.

A recap of the Blazers final game of the year can be found here.

Silver Spring Swag

For those of you wondering what its like to live in such an awesome place as Silver Spring, MD, check out Max and my video. One thing is, we aren't always blessed with snow. Hope you enjoy :)

NHL is back

Wow, how great it is to say those words. Finally, the NHL will return to the ice this weekend after missing over half the season. All the NHL stars have begun to return from overseas and begin practicing with their teams again before everyone hits the ice this Saturday. What a day it will be for hockey fans everywhere. The season opens with numerous rivalry match-ups including a rematch of the high-scoring, intense, exciting playoff match-up between last years 4 and 5 seeds in the East, cross-state rivals, the Pittsburg Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Saturday includes Montreal v Toronto, Boston v NY Rangers, and New Jersey v NY Islanders. Saturday will be a fun exciting day of hockey as the great sport returns.

The season has been abbreviated due to the time off and now only includes 48 games played between only same Conference teams. This means no East v West rematches of past Stanley Cup Finals. With a shortened season there's no time for slow starts, thankfully most players will come into the season in great shape after playing overseas with the absence of the NHL.

The greatest sport on earth is back and one thing the shorten season will do is make the whole season a playoff push meaning top level hockey with important games from now through the middle of July.

Nothing could've made any hockey fan in the world more happy than this great news. The NHL is back and it feels as though everything has been fixed.

9.79* - ESPN Films: 30 for 30

Daniel Gordon's film 9.79* is an ESPN Film as a part of their 30 for 30 collection of sports documentaries. Gordon's film captures the hype and controversy surrounding the 100 meter final at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. The race was highlighted by some of the fastest runners in history, performance enhancing drug (PED) scandals, and a world record time.

Gordon focuses on the eight runners that ran in the 100m final in 1988, including the world record holder at the time, Ben Johnson of Canada, and his teammate Desai Williams, along with the United States' Carl Lewis, Calvin Smith, and Dennis Mitchell. At the time, these were the fastest men in the world, but this was also a time when knowledge of PEDs was increasing and scientists had a new, better understanding of how to utilize these drugs to the advantage of an athlete. Gordon's main focus throughout the documentary was on the growing rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. Over the years, the two went head to head in races all over the world. In the most recent history, Johnson had been consistently narrowly edging Lewis and Lewis was suspicious as to why. Gordon's film analyzes the historic 1988 final and uncovers the truths behind the use of PEDs in the majority of the runners from the race. Gordon's main goal is to display the evidence that is in the history books, while adding each runners point of view, but he chooses not to add his own.

Gordon's film does not touch on any dramatic aspects as all footage used is archival footage or in person interviews with doctors, scientists, and athletes. The only time Gordon chooses to have other types of film, is when he uses recreations of lab testing of urine.

When filming each interview, Gordon used multiple cameras to capture each subject from multiple points of view. Then, when editing them together, he wisely chose an appropriate angle for the mood of the quote. Gordon's camera men also use their fancy focus and unfocus skill to capture the emotion of the subject of an interview. Especially when the film reveals a major component of the scandal, the camera men very carefully capture the emotions.

Gordon's film does the subject very well, capturing the various points of view on the topic and the truth behind each runner's story. For any sports fan, I strongly suggest this film for an in depth look at the largest issue with sports today, PEDs. The race that should be well known to sports fans as the dirtiest race in history, is perfectly covered by Gordon to the enjoyment of the audience.

9.79* is rated 80 minutes long and is appropriate for all audiences. The film can be found on ESPN OnDemand and at select times on the ESPN stations. 

Yum

On Friday night I went to the restaurant Family Meal in Frederick, MD and was very pleased.

First, the restaurant was in a former car dealership, so the walls were huge windows like the show room and provided a very interesting atmosphere.

Second, the food was delicious. I have to say that the fried chicken was some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. The chicken had a wonderfully crunchy exterior, that was perfectly seasoned. While the interior remained succulent and came out perfectly cooked.

Growing up in a northern household, I am unaccustomed to wonderful homemade fried chicken. I can proudly say that I have only been to Pop-eyes and KFC a limited number of times so fried chicken is lovely to see on a menu.

Also, the French fries were fried in duck fat and were server with amazing dipping sauces. Despite the seemingly unhealthiness of this meal, my stomach cannot resist such beautifully prepared food.

It's not food you can eat every day but quite delicious it was.

Oh, December

My dream December is highlighted by snowy nights, crisp weather and freezing temperatures as it marks the beginning of the winter. Such weather brings snow days and with luck a frozen pond. Unfortunately, I've grown up in the wrong place for that. This weekend, for example, provided shorts weather and a rainy day. It's insane. December's bring the holiday spirit, and no one wishes for anything more than a snowy Christmas.

Since I was a child, my parents, who grew up in New England and Canada, spoke of going to the closest pond or park to play a little pick-up hockey. I've had tastes of such lovely things, the crisp air on your face, and your sharp blades cutting threw the crisp natural ice. There's nothing like it. In MD, winters can come with weather in the 50s. Not only no pond hockey but no sledding, days off, or snowmen. Don't get me wrong, I know we aren't going to have a white winter, with endless days off, but I pray for just a few days of winter weather.

As we move into the holiday season, it still feels like the end of fall. The stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break provides four five-day weeks. It would be such a delight, for one day off in the middle, provided by the weather.

Maybe I should move up North. That may be the only solution. Or maybe a snowpocalypse will bless our area with its presence. Either way, I long for a true winter.