A Call to Arms for all Islanders Fans

A call to arms for all Islanders fans: It's your time to shine.

I'd like to say something to all the fans in this video that my friend Johnny Z from YES!Islanders shot at last night's draft party. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7zkEW6nwT0&feature=player_embedded

Okay all you long suffering dynasty-era die-hards, you got what you wanted. Garth Snow went up to the podium and made the obvious choice. Now is the time for you to show the Canadian and North American media that you exist.

We have spent years living in the shadow of the Broadway Blueshirts. The Canadians told John Tavares Isles fans were as rare as a Sasquatch sighting and that he would languish in obscurity if he was chosen to join us. It is our turn to prove them wrong.

How many times have you read that we don't even DESERVE a new arena or a hockey team at all? How often did you almost spit out your morning coffee reading non-hockey analysts making fun of not only the team on the ice but the plain folk wearing their jerseys?

Personally, I'm sick of it. Yes, we had a horrible season. But we endured it and now there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But the only way to get that light to turn into a beacon is to not become complacent.

Continue to make your voices heard when it comes to the Lighthouse project. Show up to the summer player signings and community events. Contribute to the Islanders charities and if you can, once the season starts, attend the games.

You would not only be doing it just to see John Tavares, you would be doing it to show the rest of the hockey world you exist and you have a voice. And you know us New Yawkers; we can be loud as hell when we want to be.

The draft hoopla is done, and now there is real work ahead. Don't let the good time feeling we had from last night fade into the summer sun. We have a beautiful island, with all of it's faults. We have a great fan base. One day, we will have a winning team. Every journey starts with a single step. The first step was last night, the next will be free-agency. Put on your walking shoes, unpack that jersey and join the parade.

There is no off-season in Islanders Country. We are NYI-365!

Everybody Wins

Are you happy now fans? John Tavares, the young man figured to be the first overall draft pick of the 2009 Entry Draft actually DID go first to the NY Islanders.

Even when I don't think Garth Snow can surprise me, he does. I never thought he'd go for the easy choice. Good for him. Good for the fans.

I have info on this at www.hockeybuzz.com, but I can't say certain things over there.

Everyone notice how calm Garth Snow looks when he doesn't think the cameras are rolling? Wasn't it interesting that Bruno Gervais was at the draft table? Was he the only one they could bring that speaks French?

ITV did a fabulous job airing live from the draft party. It was a fabulous turn out. I'm so glad that the TSN cameras could also see that yes, hockey is alive and well on Long Island.

They still have a lot of work to do, but for once the fans can feel as if they have something to cheer about. This is what Garth had warned us about during those town hall meetings. You build a winning team by drafting well.

As I said in that Newsday video, Garth will forever be judged by this choice his entire NHL career. Garth did his part, now it is up to Mr. Tavares to live up to his side of the hype, I mean bargain.

They expected him to be NHL ready. Let's hope he is.

Welcome to Long Island John.

BIg Hard Sun

Beating on the Big People in a Big Hard World. - Eddie Vedder

Isn't that the most appropriate lyric for today in the NHL? Especially for our GM, Garth Snow. It's Showtime Mr. Snow. The hockey world awaits your decision.

Personally, I'm going to hide.

I've come to a few conclusions this morning as the alarm clock went off at the ungodly hour of 5 am. No one in this business actually really sleeps. They are all nocturnal animals who write all night long. Compared to them, I am a slacker.

Hockey fans are not only the most passionate in all of sports, they are also the most well read. When they chose to comment, there are almost as many that can write small versions of War & Peace as those who are satisfied with simply telling a writer "You Suck!"

I know that there will probably more media people in the Bell Centre today than actually are employed by the NHL. Because of this fact, I know that Gary Bettman will not receive the warmest of welcomes when he ascends to the stage.

I hope Garth Snow receives not only a warm welcome, but a rousing round of applause when he announces the first overall draft pick. Wait, let me rephrase that. I hope Garth Snow actually ANNOUNCES the first overall draft pick. We know anything can happen before they actually start the draft. Those sneaky GMs have those phones at each table and they all like to make last minute deals to shock the crap out of the fans. Those deals are also made to throw the other GMs off their game plans for the balance of the draft. Again, sneaky!

I'd like to thank David Cossilo from Newsday for his article today about fan fears. My mother has always wanted to see my name in Newsday. I told her it would probably be attached to an arrest, so this is good. You made her happy.

To those going to the Coliseum tonight I'd like to point out if you watch David's video, there's a Carnival behind Chris Botta in the Coliseum parking lot. That wasn't a subliminal message about the Islanders. (No, no. The Big Top Circus is now in Tampa, thank you hockey gods.) That's actually a Carnival meaning you may have to walk a little when you park. Just be prepared.

Once inside the Coliseum, there will be a jersey customization station. I think you should all wait to hear the name called before ordering your brand new Tavares jersey. Just a hunch.

Have a great day of hockey people. It's going to be an amazing one.

Media Meltdown and the World's most Expensive Sandwich

So this is what it takes for the NY Islanders to be in the headlines of every single sports outlet? Losing so badly that we get the first overall draft pick? Well, we should enjoy the notoriety for now, because I can't see it happening again. If it does, I think Garth Snow will have a stroke.

Check out the media mayhem yesterday on HockeyBuzz. I'm still learning the ropes over there so none of my links work and I can't post my own photos. boo hiss bummer... we know how I like my own photos!

Meanwhile, back in reality, I'm still using up the 5.75 lbs of lobster that I bought on Sunday for Father's Day.

Sunday was Lobster Quesidillas for my husband and dad. Monday we went to a sports dinner, so I didn't use any. Tuesday was the worlds most expensive Lobster Club Sandwich. It was a thing of beauty. Over a lb of sliced lobster tails, crisp Turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato and tarragon mayo. Heaven.

Last night was Lobster & Shrimp Thermador (the easy way).

Sadly, I didn't' take a picture of it. But it was also pretty easy if you just happen to have cooked lobster & shrimp around the fridge along with some mushrooms, a can of sliced white potatoes, a can of cream of chicken soup, white wine, milk and instant mashed potatoes.

I have an abundance of tarragon in my yard, so it's ending up in a lot of things. But it's a really nice addition to the cream soup, 1/2 can of milk, 1/4 can of white wine and three mushrooms sliced and sauteed in some butter. So, you heat all that in a saucepan until mushrooms are soft and the sauce is blended.

Place the sliced potatoes on the bottom of a casserole dish, top with the lobster and shrimp, pour over the sauce mixture, pipe the mashed potatoes through a pastry bag over the top of the dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and paprika and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

I lost you didn't' I? I know I did.

Okay, then... Back to Hockey. All my friends and blog competition are flying out to Montreal today for the big party. I'm going to work. I wish them well... even though I hate them around now.

Where Have all the Bloggers Gone....

The bastids are going to Montreal without me, that's where!

But then again, trying to explain to the husband that I want to travel out of the country with four men really didn't sit well, even if those men are all young enough to be my sons.

Nope, so the Mother Blogger stays on Long Island hopefully getting the information about who our next logo wearing prospect is over her little LG Amish phone.

Here is the run down on what our NYI Blog Box has in store for all of us that can't make it to Montreal.

If you'll be at the Coliseum for this monumental night, make sure you look for Stephen from IslesNation.com who will be broadcasting live from the Coliseum floor.

Also live from the crowd of what could be potentially 18,000 participants will be IslandersCrazy who will be blogging live with fan reaction, along with contributions from Doug of Islanders Official Outlook.

And Now For Something Completely Different.

I'm not sure if HELL has indeed frozen over or if this is one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse, but something way out of my realm of possibilities has actually happened.

The Blogger Mom (also known as that pain in the ass that emails) has now joined HockeyBuzz. Yes, THAT HockeyBuzz. I know. Shocking. But I'll give it a go and see if I can handle the pressure.

I'll keep this blog going for my more personal musings, recipes and photos.

I'll write more tomorrow, I just figured, I'd throw it out there to the blogosphere and see what sticks.

The Human side of the NHL Entry Draft

So much has been made of the top three candidates in this year's NHL Entry Draft. So much has been written about them, so much discussion, so much TENSION.

But seriously, how many young men are in this draft of 2009? Hundreds? Thousands? How many young hopefuls are spending sleepless nights wondering who they will be drafted by or if they'll be drafted at all. Do we forget about them?

The NHL is an elite group of men who get paid to play a game at an exceptionally high level. There are few job openings and a short career life. To be standing at the doorway of this group must be a fascinating yet stressful experience. I can't even imagine.

Years ago the NHL Draft wasn't carried out in the same spotlight as it is today. So many young men had to be called from the fields where they toiled at their summer jobs just to get the phone call that they had been drafted. Some may not have known for a day or so.

There was no huge convention, no minute-by-minute press coverage and no televised suspense. It was more a low key, but we've gone Vegas Baby. Now the fate of so many young men will be on national television covered by countless media outlets. Of course, it will also be Twittered in real-time. You can't get better coverage than we will get this year.

To all of the candidates this year, I wish you luck. It doesn't matter where in the rounds you are drafted. To even be eligible is an accomplishment of great proportions. Thank your parents, your coaches and your teammates for all they have done to get you to this point. And know that from Friday night on, the rest is up to YOU.

I'm certain there will be plenty of human interests stories to come out of this year's events. I look forward to them as we wait for the future stars of the NHL to step up to the podium. Just remember that not all of them will make it. But at least, this is their start.

For one NHL hopeful, his start will come on Long Island. I'm just hoping he gets a warmer welcome than Josh Bailey did.