my first year in Montreal

This was going to be a post about my first year and a review of 2012, but I don't want to talk about New Year's, so it's just going to be about my first year in Montreal. Yes, it has been a full year since I moved here [actually a year and a month because I didn't get this written or posted before now].

I've had some ups and downs but it has definitely been a great year! 

Click 'read more' to see some of the highlights, most that I have blogged about, some I haven't.

that time I went to see a movie with the Montreal Canadiens...

Opps I never finished writing this, thus it was never posted. I told you I was a bad blogger! Last week at work a co-worker asked me if I had stalked seen any hockey players lately. Unfortunately, I haven't but since the blog world hasn't heard this story yet, here it is.

So I really did see a movie with the Canadiens. The fact that we didn't arrive together and that they didn't sit with me is a minor technicality! Find out more after the jump [might even be a few pics]...

some times all you need is a little street hockey

I know, I know. I haven't posted in forever. I have no excuse. I get up go to work, come home from work, check stuff online, sleep and repeat. I haven't had any great stories to share or anything to really post.
I want to say I've been hiding because the lack of hockey going on. But I haven't even been struggling with that until recently. I've unfortunately let work consume my life. The sad thing is I work at a call centre, I show up on time, do my job and leave when my shift is over. I think it's the early mornings that are killing me.
At any rate this post is not going to be about work. It's going to be about hockey!! or more importantly hockey players!!

Free agent Frenzy!!!

So I don't follow the draft we found that out last post. So it should come as no surprise that the first of July [Happy Canada Day, eh!], I don't spend it glued to my computer or TV for the Free Agent deals. I do, however, never leave home without my cellphone, which includes my TSN updates and Twitter up dates.

NHL #DraftPartyCH 2012

I go through the motions every year. I half pay attention to the draft. If I knew who was being drafted I might actually care...I know with the internet and all I could find out pretty easily but there are 30 teams and at least 7 rounds, I'm not gonna do the math on that but that's a lot of players. Sure the first 30 or so are the most important but even at that, I don't feel like I could know enough about all of them to be interested [if you know about them, good on ya! I have no problem with people that are crazy into the draft.] That being said, a few weeks ago [June 7th] I entered to win a couple of tickets to the draft party at the Bell Centre, I also sent the link to my sister because she is the lucky one. [Did you enter, Gen?!]. At any rate, I entered and forgot about it, which is what I usually do. I don't win stuff but I like to enter and pretend I actually have a chance to win.

The LA Kings are the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions!!

It's obvious that hockey is my favourite sport, so it's pretty exciting for me when the season starts and sad when it ends. But every year I forget just how much I love the night the Stanley Cup is awarded!!

This year was just like every other...only it took a couple more games than I expected [I would have been happy to see them win in 4 games but 6 allowed them to win at home the less and I love those home town wins, especially Stanley Cup wins].

Stanley Cup Finals - NHL Playoffs

If we were to go by my previous predictions of the final two teams I would be cheering for the Devils to win it all. But honestly I am torn.
First of all where the heck did the Kings come from?! Seeing them lift the Cup would be sweet.
Then again it would be pretty awesome to see a Brodeur win it as a 40 year old goalie.
I haven't watched any [besides highlights] of the playoff games since the Penguins were eliminated but I think I will tune in to the finals.

NHL Playoffs - Round 3

I wish I was betting on these playoffs...if you are keeping score I only got 2 series wrong!! ...yes, I am going round to round instead of picking my top 2 right off the bat but still! ...also I am not picking the amount of games, but I find that too tough! haha

Here are my previous predictions Round 1 and Round 2.

Playoffs - let's start round 2

Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs gets underway tonight and I am cutting it close on my predictions. So without further a do [oh wait, I have to mention that I only got 2 series wrong!!! And one of them was the team I really want to win it. Forget who I picked, see it here.]

an exciting Friday night, spent at home

So last night, I was doing my usual following the NHL playoffs. More importantly the Penguins game. See just a few days ago they were down 3-0 in the best of 7 series and some of the games had been 'rough'. I predicted [read hoped] that the Penguins would advance to the next round. So I hadn't had a chance to see the games, but followed the activity on twitter [yes, I spend more time on twitter now, it's more up to date and more things going on then facebook]. So for game 4, I had to watch, if the Penguins were going to lose I was going to watch Sidney's last game of the season! Well how I survived game 4, I have no idea, with all the holding my breath and heart stoping action. I somehow managed it and the Penguins beat the Flyers! [I knew they weren't going out that easily.]
So for game 5, last night, I was way calmer. I have no idea why, the Penguins were still down 3 games to 1. But after the Penguins took the lead in the game 3-2, I just knew they were going to win, and they did! Game 6 is in Philly, so we'll see how that goes!

Playoffs-round 1

OK so I am jumping on this bandwagon, with my pick for the playoffs.

I haven't been following hockey too closely this winter so these picks are strictly how I feel/think they'll go down [or how I'd like to see them go down].

in the EAST

NYR vs OTT - I pick the Rangers. I'm not sure why, Ottawa has had some good playoff runs in the last little while but I think I'd like to see the Rangers advance, not that I want to see them take it all, just advance.

BOS vs WAS - I pick the Capitals. ABB [Anybody But Boston] applies here. Again I don't want to see the Caps win it all but I don't want to see Boston win anything so. I say Caps to round 2.

FLR vs NJD - Florida. This is another case of cheering for the 'underdog' [the Devils finished lower in the standings but I say the Panthers are the underdogs].

PIT vs PHI - Pittsburgh, for sure. This should be a good series but I want to see the Pens go far [maybe as far as hoisting the Cup]. I just hope that the Flyers don't beat the crap out of them along the way...

in the WEST

VAN vs LAK - I'm picking the Kings. Maybe it's because I don't want to cheer for a Canadian team, simply cuz they are in Canada. Or maybe it's because I have a soft spot for the Kings. Maybe it's because the Kings' goalie's last name is Quick? haha At any rate I will not be cheering 'LOOOUUU'.

STL vs STJ - This is a tough one, I've liked the Sharks before but I'm gonna pick the Blues.

PHX vs CHI - I'm picking the Coyotes. The Blackhawks have been there done that in recent memory. And Phoenix is always trying to prove themselves, now is their chance. [Also he might not even see the ice during the playoffs but Paul 'Biznasty' Bissonnette. That is all.]

NSH vs DET - Well I was cheering for Nashville before I realized who they were playing. Now without a doubt Smashville!! I've never really been a fan of Detroit so I would have cheered for whoever they were playing but I also read this article which sold me on Nashville.

I haven't thought too much a head to the next rounds or even the finals and like I said I'd love to see the Pens go far [yes, I know for other teams I've said they's gone far in recent memory but with Sid missing most of the season, Malkin playing great, etc. I'd love to see them go far. Call me a hypocrite or whatever, this is just my opinion.].

I saw this and thought it was perfect [maybe if you read The Hunger Games you'd understand].

~believe.