No, we aren't changing the name of this blog. But it looks like we are getting the band back together!!!
LET'S PLAY SOME HOCKEY!!!
Let's be honest here.... the Lockout sucked. Sure, I may not have been posting as much as you would all have liked me to... but over the course of the 113 days of the NHL Lockout, I was able to complete the most difficult accomplishment for any hockey blogger.... a TRH HAT TRICK!!!
#1) COMPLIMENT FROM A CURRENT NHL PLAYER
Pat Conacher. What a player.
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) December 20, 2012
While watching my 187th Vintage Hockey Game during the lockout, I stumbled upon Fox Sports West re-airing of the classic LA Kings - Toronto Maple Leafs Conference Finals Game 6 and 7. And I began to Tweet out all the memories that were flooding back to me from that amazing series. And that led to this Tweet from 2-Time Stanley Cup Champion, Colin Fraser.
@theroyalhalf I can't wait to see what you tweet about me in 20 years
— Colin Fraser (@colinfraser) December 20, 2012
A picture is worth 1000 Tweets, Mr. Fraser.
#2) CHIRPING FROM A RETIRED NHL PLAYER
Thankfully, the only 21 & 12 I have to fear now is Randy Jones and Denis Gauthier returning to the LA Kings.
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) December 21, 2012
When December 21st, 2012 came and went without the slightest threat of the end of the world, I Tweeted out the above to remind recent LA Kings fans of the real apocalypse... Denis Gauthier and Randy Jones patrolling the LA Kings blueline.
So much history in just one photo.
Within 24 hours, I received a reply from Monsieur Gauthier:
@theroyalhalf What # were you again funny guy?Oh ya,you never played.My bad!
— Denis Gauthier (@DGauthierRDS) December 23, 2012
And in true French Don Rickles fashion... Monsieur Gauthier let me know that there were no hard feelings.
@theroyalhalf Happy holidays anyway!
— Denis Gauthier (@DGauthierRDS) December 23, 2012
#3) SARCASM FROM A NHL FRANCHISE
Congrats to the Columbus Blue Jackets on their most successful season in franchise history since 2004-05.
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) December 20, 2012
As the old adage goes... When there is nothing left to Tweet about... just make fun of the Columbus Blue Jackets. So when the Lockout continued deep into December, I Tweeted out one of the oldest "Blue Jackets During a Lockout" jokes in the book. And as it turns out... apparently the LA Kings shipped over their Social Media Department to Columbus in the Jack Johnson trade.
@theroyalhalf Thanks! Oh...wait.
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 20, 2012
There you have it... the TRH HAT TRICK. I mean, the only thing rarer than that is getting a Direct Message from Hall of Fame Hockey Reporter, Helene Elliott, right? RIGHT?!?
Can I RT this forever? RT @willie_mitch33: @helenenothelen your clogging up my twitter feed, 140 characters or less :-)#thisisnotablog
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) December 30, 2012
Oh, Helene... you so crazy.
No... seriously... you are mentally unstable.
The 2013 NHL Season is only a week and a half away... so we don't need to talk about silly things like Twitter anymore... no, we can talk about what brings us to the rink each and every day... DOWNLOADABLE WALLPAPERS WITH IDIOTIC THEMES FROM YOUR FAVORITE OVERPAID HOCKEY DEFENSEMEN!!!
Oh man... this is a hysterical photoshop that is obviously done with total sarcasm
and in no way could be rea...
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???
So, um... maybe I was too busy at the end of last season watching my favorite hockey team win the Stanley Cup to notice that apparently this #ControlledChaos is actually a real thing:
Johnson said playing with fellow American defenseman James Wisniewski has helped the transition immensely, and the two have become fast friends on and off the ice. He said they refer to their defense pairing as “controlled chaos,” among a list of other names they’ve come up with in their six games together.
Look, if Jack Johnson and James Wisniewski are going to try and create some iconic brand of two close friends who are big guys playing their sport... then I suggest a more retro theme than the #ControlledChaos poster above.
Finally... I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly annoying it's been to chat with Jesse Cohen and John Hoven from Mayor's Manor during the All The Kings Men Podcasts we've recorded during the NHL Lockout. And now that hockey is back... well, it's just as annoying. You can check out a Brand New episode of All The Kings Men here, subscribe to it on iTunes or listen below.