Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta

by Anne

Ok, by no one's definition am I a gangsta. Not even a gangsta's friend, I'm not even someone a gangsta would put a hit out on. I'm just not righteous enough.

Moms and I saw Mamma Mia last night and I actually enjoyed it. It was surprisingly more emotional than I anticipated. I was expecting ridiculous fluff, but Meryl was in it, so how could it be anything but sweet? There was a stretch in the middle where they could've done without one of the 8 songs they had in a row, but it was fine.

I keep forgetting to mention that I've seen that dude that hosts "Power Play" like 3 times in the last couple of weeks. Well it's either him or his doppelganger. Just FYI he's more attractive in person, like he's got like a really great body which you can't really tell on the show. However, he has this perma-expression of disgust on his face, like something around him smells bad. If that's just the way his face is then, whoops! Sorry dude whose name I don't feel like looking up!

I feel as per usual, I should acknowledge that we've signed a new player, yet there's been so little fanfare and he's signed a 2way contract, so I don't feel as jazzed. However, seeing as how I have no new "Tim Connolly: The Guy You Can't Take Home to Mom, But Mom Might Take Him Home To You" stories, I suppose this will have to do.

Welcome Aboard, Mathieu Darche!

• Born November 26, 1976 in St. Laurent, QC
• He was not drafted
• He plays LW
• He's 6'1", 210 lbs
• He signed with the Blue Jackets in 2000
• Has played for Columbus, San Jose and Nashville, most of the time with their AHL affiliates
• He's spent most of his career in the AHL, last season he appeared in a career high 73 NHL games - before that the most he had played in one season was 14
• In 2005-2006 he played in Germany
  
• Last season he had a career high 22 points (7+15) while playing for Tampa, which made him like their 5th highest scorer, ha. No, but he was 9th, in all seriousness. Our 9th was Pie-YAY and he had 35
• We signed him to a 1 year 2-way deal which means he'll probably spend most of his time in Portland, but they do need a big brother there, so Gerbe can have someone to hide behind when he's hurling insults at those pesky Hershey Bears, we really don't have much grit down in Portland at the moment, especially if Kaleta and Weber make the move to the big time
  
• His brother plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, he's a long snapper
  
• He's not even slutty so I can be pacified if we lose Timmy. His GF forum says that 1. He's a good guy 2. He's married and 3. He's "amazing" That is NOT what I was hoping for
• HE PICKED US OVER SIGNING WITH OTTAWA. I SUDDENLY LOVE HIM. GOOD BOY, MATHIEU!
• He has a degree in Commerce... what exactly does that mean?
• He was only the 154th player out of the Candian University Hockey system to be signed to the pros
• He had 125 hits last year, around 15 minutes of ice time per game and played on Tampa's PK, which was ranked 18th (ours was 11th, FYI)
  
• He was -14, but for Tampa, that's good. Dan Boyle was -29, Vinny was -17
  
• After the deadline he played the enforcer role sometimes on a line with Vinny Lecavalier
• Umm, that's about all I can find out about him.
• He's a Sabre now so he's way cooler than every other player on any team... except Iggy
• He would've been able to shower with Ryan Malone this season had TB re-signed him. Ouch. That one's gotta sting. I hope he'll be able to come to terms with that.
  

BTW, we need some players who are better at winning face-offs because we ranked 25th in the league in Face Off Win % with only 48.6%. That's BAD..... although Pittsburgh came in dead last, and Detroit came in #1. Interesting.

Mathieu is ready for training camp to start


From when he played in Germany
Maybe he and Yo-yo can swap stories about romps through the German countryside?

Have a good Saturday everyone!