Happy 2010!

On Thursday, December 10th, I went to Gammage Auditorium to see a performance of "Little House on the Prairie-The Musical". Melissa Gilbert, who was Laura in the TV show, was Ma in the musical. There were a lot of cool backgrounds. The girl who played Laura did a fantastic job. Kate Loprest, who played Nellie Olsen, was amazing.

On Saturday, December 12th, I saw the Sharks play the Phoenix Coyotes. The final score was 2-1. The Coyotes won!! Dan Boyle of the Sharks got hurt at the end of the game.

On Monday, December 21st, Mr. Moss, the COO, invited members of the Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club to come sit in his suite with him. The Coyotes won 5-2. I had a lot of fun.

Some of the things I received for Christmas were: an autographed Shane Doan Winnipeg Jets McFarlane, a Mats Sundin Jersey Card, a Bobby Orr Boston Bruins Card, a Paul Kariya Jersey Card, a Guy LaFleur card with a piece of Joe Louis Arena Boards, a Mike Modano Jersey Card, a Ben Bishop Rookie Card, a new Coyotes hat, a Boston Bruins Winter Classic hat, a new subscription to the Hockey News, and an amazing display case of my KidKaster items. My uncle brought down a truck load of snow from Flagstaff, and we had a great snow ball fight.

On Saturday, December 26th, Liberty Wildlife was at Estrella Mountain Regional Park to do a presentation on their two Bald Eagles, Libby and Sonora.

On Tuesday, December 29th, I went to the Phoenix Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks game. The Coyotes won 3-2. We beat the Nucks!!! I love to see Canucks fans get all loud and pumped up, and then leave the building with their tails between their legs.

On Friday, January 1st, I watched the Winter Classic from Fenway Park. Derek Morris, a former Coyote, got an assist. Marco Sturm scored the game winner in OT. The final score was the Boston Bruins 2, the Philly Flyers 1 OT. Go Bruins!!!

On Saturday, January 2nd, we went to an Archery Clinic at Ben Avery. It was a lot of fun. Archery is hard on your brain and fingers.

The same day I went to the Yotes vs. Red Wings game. There was a booster club meeting before the game. The Red Wings won 4-1. I hate loosing to the Red Wings.

On Monday, January 4th, I went to the Phoenix Coyotes practice at the Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale. I got Petr Prucha's broken stick. Nearly all of the members of the team signed my hat.

Happy New Year!!!

Hockey Freak

Ottawa Senators Game 12-5-09

At the Ottawa Senators vs. Phoenix Coyotes game on the 5th at Jobing.com Arena, the Sens trainer gave me Jason Spezza's stick!! I was so excited. Spezza's stick is a black Reebok 10k. He uses a composite shaft and a wooden blade. The lower shaft has a hairline crack in it. It has a really wicked curve on it. The tape is all beat up from pucks. The Coyotes won 3-2. Petr Prucha, Taylor Pyatt, and Ed Jovanovski scored goals. Pyatt has two goals in two games. He has three this far in the season.

Happy Holidays,

Hockey Freak

Calgary Flames Practice 12-4-09

I went to watch the Calgary Flames practice on December 4th, at Desert Schools Coyotes Center in Peoria. Jarome Iginla signed a puck, two cards, and an All-Star hat from Atlanta in 2008. He is extremely nice, and wished me Merry Christmas. Dion Phaneuf signed two cards, my All-Star hat, and my McFarlane base for me. When I asked him to sign the All-Star hat he said, "Atlanta 08. I was there." One of the cards I had him sign was his rookie card from 05/06. The other was an Artifacts. Dion is a great guy off the ice. Mikka Kiprusoff signed two cards for me. Curtis McElhinney and Rene Bourque signed a Flames puck for me. Eric Nystrom, Brandon Prust, and Adam Pardy signed a practice puck for me. Jay Bouwmeester signed two cards for me. Daymond Langkow signed a card for me. Fredrik Sjostrom, Brian McGrattan, Brandon Prust, Nigel Dawes, Olli Jokinen, and Daymond Langkow are former Coyotes. The Flames had a fast paced practice.

Happy Holidays,

Hockey Freak

Meeting Gary Bettman and Bill Daly

November 16, 2009 - Dave (Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club VP), NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Heather (Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club President), me, and Siobhan

Before the game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club President Heather told me that Bill Daly and Gary Bettman were in attendance. I had them sign a game used puck. Gary and Bill are two of the nicest guys in the world. My sister had them sign a puck also. Heather had Bill sign three Yotes pucks, and Gary signed three also. She will do a silent auction at a game, and auction them off.

See ya,

Hockey Freak

Dallas Stars Practice

Marty Turco, Dallas Stars goalie, with my sister, Siobhan, and me

We went to Desert Schools Coyote Center to watch the Dallas Stars practice on November 13th. They skate really hard!! Marc Crawford does not let them slack off! After the practice, my sister and I had several players autograph cards and pucks. Steve Ott was joking with us, pulling on my Minnesota North Stars cap, and blowing raspberries at my sister's Coyotes cap.

Mike Modano, Brad Richards, Mike Ribeiro, Stephane Robidas, Toby Peterson, Nicklas Grossman, Jeff Woywitka, James Neal, Matt Niskanen, Karlis Skrastins, Alex Auld, Marty Turco, and Coach Crawford signed autographs for me. My sister and I had our picture taken with Marty Turco.

At the very end, the rink attendant gave me Steve Ott's stick , an Easton S 19 Torx, (broken in half), and Mike Modano's stick, a Warrior AK 27 (with a broken blade).

Montreal Canadiens game

On November 12th, we went to the Coyotes vs. Montreal Canadiens game. The Coyotes lost, 4 - 1, but Carey Price, the goalie, gave me his stick after the game. I was standing beside the visitor's tunnel, getting high fives from the players, when he handed the stick over the railing. He said, "Here you go, buddy." I was so excited!! It's a red Warrior goalie stick with a wicked curve.

11/05/09 Fox Sports Arizona/Sanderson Ford Lincoln Mercury KidKaster

On November 5, 2009, I was the Fox Sports Arizona/Sanderson Ford Lincoln Mercury KidKaster at the Phoenix Coyotes vs. Chicago Blackhawks game.

On October 17th, Fox Sports Arizona held auditions for the KidKaster program. I was the first person to audition that day. Some of the questions they asked were: Why should you be the Fox Sports Arizona/Sanderson Ford Lincoln Mercury KidKaster? How long have you been a Coyotes fan?

I received a call in late October saying I had been selected as the KidKaster for the November 5th game against the Blackhawks. I was so excited. KidKasters recieve a behind the scenes tour of the Fox Sports Arizona production truck, four tickets to the game, dinner, a tour of the broadcast booth, and five minutes in the broadcast booth with Dave Strader, the play by play announcer, and Tyson Nash, the color analyst.

I had a ton of fun. The production truck is so cool. At least twenty people work in the truck. Two people work on the graphics. They were searching the Internet for graphics and statistics during the game. The truck is like controlled chaos during the game. It is amazing what they do in there. One whole wall is covered in television moniters. The technical director had a sound/video board in front of him that was a least 4 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep.

Here are some of my favorite photos from that night.



Getting ready to interview Coyotes Captain, Shane Doan



Coyotes Captain, Shane Doan

As soon as Doan came in, he immediately recognized me from previous times I had met him. He said, "Hey, buddy!!" I thought it was cool when he came in wearing his jersey, hockey tights and was barefoot.


In the FSArizona production truck with my sister, Siobhan



Eddie Olczyk, Chicago Blackhawks Color Analyst

Before the game, Eddie Olczyk was in the Yotes broadcast booth chatting with Dave Strader. As he came out, I met him, and he autographed my press pass.

Several of the Blackhawk's dads were at the game. I saw Patrick Kane's dad, Jonathan Toews's dad, and Patrick Sharp's dad on the media level.

Tyson Nash (Phoenix Coyotes Color Analyst), me, and Todd
Walsh (Phoenix Coyotes Host and Reporter) before the pre-
game show

Todd Walsh was great! He gave me lots of tips and pointers before the pre-game show, and was really nice. Even though he is a Yankees fan, and I love the Red Sox, we both love hockey!

Graham Taylor (Director) and Mike Roth (Producer)



In the broadcast booth with Dave Strader and Tyson Nash

Dave Strader and Tyson Nash were both really nice. Tyson was laughing and joking with me. Dave Strader didn't even seem to mind when I called him "Strades" by accident during the broadcast! Dave Strader and Tyson Nash make the broadcast look very easy, but there is a ton of prep involved. They always have someone talking in their headset through out the game. It is very hectic during the game.

Everyone was great, but I would like to give a special thanks to Brett Hansen and Rhydon Tigerman from FS Arizona. Also, I would like to thank Mike Roth and Graham Taylor from FS Arizona. They spent a lot of time with me, and made the evening really special.

It was awesome that we finally beat the Blackhawks.