It's finally here. For the past three months I've been able to block the events of June 4, 2008 - the night where I wanted to punch holes throughout my apartment building. That was the culmination of probably the most exciting spring of my life. The playoff run that I had been waiting for since I started watching hockey. But it ended with a Sidney Crosby shot that almost trickled behind the goal-line at Civic Arena. Expletives were aplenty after the horn sounded on game 6 and the 2007-08 Penguins season.
The Pens training camp opened yesterday at the Igloo and unfortunately the Collegian's travel budget wasn't able to accommodate our Pens gurus (myself, interwebz masters Ian Brown and Erin Prah along with whipping boy Kevin Zitzman).
But, hey, the Pens drop the puck on Oct. 4 (although the Pens web site says the game will only be televised on CBC) in Stockholm. Now, if Steiggy and Errey aren't there to call the game on FSN Pittsburgh, it looks like the four of us will have to move our Pens party from State College to somewhere in Ontario, although if any of you guys know who to steal Canadian TV channels, let us know.
Anyway, there's a complete roster turnover. Gone are playoff heroes like Pontius Hossa, Adam Hall, Upper St. Clair's own Ryan Malone, WWGRD, Jarkko Ruutu, Georges Laraque and ConkBlock.
However, there's no reason to worry if you're a Pens fan. We have Satan. And Matt Cooke, Eric Godard, Ruslan Fedotenko and maybe most importantly Janne Pesonen. Plus, they were able to resign the Flower, Genocide and Free Candy all for reasonable contracts.
So, strap up the skates, turn on The X for Mike Lange and the ole' 29er because the bingo game is ready to roll.
-- Shorts
