Post-game notes (2 of 2): Coyotes at Kings 9/21/2011

Earlier we posted the recap from game one of the Kings - Coyotes split-squad game over in Arizona.

Here are ten post-game notes from the second contest, this one was in downtown Los Angeles...

* Slava Voynov looked strong throughout the game. He scored the Kings only goal in regulation (a power play marker at 5:53 of the second).

* Voynov had five shots, trailing only Dustin Brown and the Coyotes Patrick O'Sullivan (six) for most in the game.

* Coach Terry Murray on the play of Voynov - "I thought Voynov had a very good game. He’s got great awareness on the ice, with or without the puck. I wish he would sometimes shoot the puck a little bit more at times, but he has great composure."

* Jack Johnson played a whopping 32 minutes in the game. Voynov and Rob Scuderi had the second most on the team, around 24 minutes.

* Kyle Clifford led all LA players with 11 penalty minutes, including five minutes for fighting Ryan Hollweg in the second period. The Colonel lost the scrap.

POLL: Looking forward to what at LA Kings HockeyFest?

HockeyFest 2011 is this Sunday and it marks the official end of summer...or more importantly, the return of hockey!

Now, I didn't include 'the announcement of Drew Doughty signing' in the poll because I'll assume that would be the winner - in a landslide.

Instead, selecting from the events actually on the schedule (published earlier today here), what are you most excited about at HockeyFest this year?




SPECIAL NOTE: There's still time to enter the Drew Doughty contract contest! If you want to win a free t-shirt just by making a simple guess, click here.

The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:

HockeyFest 2011 full schedule and notes on previous events

10 Tidbits on HockeyFest 2010

HockeyFest 2009 - Day Two review - Triple Crown, Grimson, Norton, Ferraro, Hrudey

HockeyFest 2009 - Bob Miller seminar review

HockeyFest 2009 - Saving the Best for Last - with Nicholls, Hardy and Robitaille

LA Kings HockeyFest 2011 - schedule and past notes

For the third straight year, HockeyFest is on the move.

And if it's anything like the prior two, this is a can't miss event for Los Angeles Kings fans.

Each year the event has been tweaked slightly, largely based on feedback by fans and players attending the event.

What started out at LA Live in 2009, then moved to the team's training facility last September, and now returns to downtown LA - this time at Staples Center.

Regardless of location though, fans have come away each year raving about the festivities - with much of the praise being directed at the players, who have been very engaging.

Key highlights of the activities scheduled for this Sunday's HockeyFest include:

Moreau's highs and lows from Edmonton and Columbus

A few days ago Ethan Moreau got his first taste of being inside Staples Center as a member of the Kings. It between observing the work being done to the ice and taking photos with other guests, he shared several thoughts about signing his recent deal with Los Angeles.

First off, even though it's a one-year contract, he doesn't see this as his last year in the NHL. Sure, he's already played 900 games over 15 seasons in the league. However, he says he's finally healed up and ready for more - much more.

In fact, at 35, he says he wouldn't mind playing until he's 40.

Yet, that's the road ahead. And before moving on to training camp with the Kings in a few weeks, he reflected back on the travels that have brought him to this stage of his career.

"Going to the Finals was probably the high and the low point," he said, when speaking of his time playing in Edmonton. "We were one game away from winning a Stanley Cup. Then, losing was probably the low point because you come so close to realizing a dream that doesn't happen - you're left with a very, very empty feeling - which is motivation to get back there with this team and to win it. That's the only thing that will kind of make that feeling go away."

Things were different in Columbus, where he was limited to just 37 games last year due to injuries.

"It was exciting to start last season there. I had a lot of responsibility and I played a lot early in the season. Unfortunately, I broke my hand and had to have surgery, which really derailed my year. Like you said, I only played 37 games, so it was tough to get a great feeling for the organization or the city. But, I enjoyed my time there, even though it was short."

Although Moreau and fellow LA roster addition Mike Richards are very different players, one thing they have in common is knowing what it's like to play in a hockey-crazed market.

Richards has already acknowledged he thinks he'll like it better in LA, where he can focus more on the game and less on answering questions away from the rink.

Moreau already had a taste of a 'less intense' market when he was the Blue Jackets last year. Did he find it any easier?

VIDEO: LA Kings ice comes to life for 2011-12 NHL season

As most of you know from following along on twitter and facebook, there was a little bit of an NHL season kick-off at Staples Center on Wednesday afternoon. Ethan Moreau, Luc Robitaille, Bailey and others were on hand for part of the ice preparation leading up to the 2011-12 season.

Earlier, I posted some pictures from the event and comments from Moreau.

Now you can check out some time lapse video that shows the process from start to finish. According to Staples Center representatives, the process takes nearly two and half days to fully complete. As you'll see, things began following the LA Sparks game on August 30th and the ice was deemed 'ready for skating' earlier this afternoon.

SPECIAL NOTE: There's still time to enter the Drew Doughty contract contest! If you want to win a free t-shirt just by making a simple guess, click here.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

Dodgers' Tony Gwynn remembers LA Kings '93 playoff run

Last month Dodgers' first baseman James Loney and outfielder Matt Kemp stopped by MayorsManor to share a few thoughts on hockey.

As you may recall, Loney is eager to not only come out to Staples Center for a game, but he wants to suit up and take part in warm-ups. Meanwhile, the always laid-back Kemp indicated he was more the 'ceremonial first puck' type of guy.

Then, there's outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr. - perhaps a superfan in disguise...

Growing up, he says he spent summers in Long Beach with his grandparents. And although he never made it down to the old Forum for a game, that didn't stop him from cheering for the local hockey team.

"I was a huge Kings fan back when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993," Gwynn recently shared. "Back when they had Luc Robitaille and Wayne Gretzky, they had a bunch of good players. I remember watching the Vancouver series and when they won that series I was pumped up!"

Nearly 20 years later, is he still interested in the Kings?

Interview with pro wrestling legend Nick Bockwinkel

Marty O'Neill with Nick Bockwinkel
(photo: WrestlingClassics.com)

A sold out throng of fans packed Staples Center last night for the WWE's annual SummerSlam event. It was a glitzy affair, attended by many athletes and celebrities - including NHL defenseman Sheldon Souray sitting in the front row.

It wasn't that surprising really, as there's always been a loose link between hockey and wrestling - after all, they at the very least share the same arenas in most major markets.

One of the building's normal residents, the Los Angeles Kings, have their own ties to the squared circle as well. Ted Irvine, who helped set up the first goal in team history, is the father of former WWE champion Chris Jericho.

However, years before Jack Kent Cooke brought the NHL to Los Angeles - and a lifetime before AEG helped revitalize downtown - one of the hottest tickets in SoCal was for events held just a few blocks from the city's showpiece arena now located on Figueroa Street.

One man who helped make that much smaller venue an icon among sports buildings was Nick Bockwinkel. For those not familiar with the rich history of pro wrestling, he's a mulit-time world champion, Hall of Famer and had many classic matches with the fellow legends, such as Verne Gagne, Dick The Bruiser, Terry Funk, Larry Zbyszko, Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan.

"Before I came back to the Midwest, Los Angeles was where I first started wrestling and that's where my father wrestled for a number of years," said Bockwinkel. "A lot of my early matches were at the old Olympic Auditorium, back in 1955. The dressing room there was like a dungeon."

Luc Robitaille talks how and why LA Kings changed jerseys

...to sell more jerseys.

Of course, that's the obvious answer.

However, if you're reading this article, you probably want to understand some of the process and thoughts behind the change. So, here goes...

Last night, during a long one-on-one conversation with Luc Robitaille, Kings President of Business Operations, the team's new jersey was the first topic covered.

"When we came up with our third jersey a few years ago, we realized our fans seem to really take to it and they really enjoyed it," Luc began. "For me, as a player, I loved that era (late 80s, early '90s). We knew we couldn't quite come back to that. But, we tried to find something that would please everyone - which we could never do. We tried to do something as close as we could though."

He also recalled their 'unofficial' marketing survey - "Before we did the third jersey, once we thought we were close, we asked the players 'Do you like this?' They all said they loved it. I always feel that if the players love it, I know the fans are going to love it because we all want to be players."

So, how about moving from a black third jersey to a adding a white version and making them the primary set for the team...

Ryan Smyth Looking for Help From Seventh Attacker

Ryan Smyth had already played in 87 NHL playoff games, spanning 10 different trips to the post-season, before the Kings and Sharks met up on Thursday night.

Although that gives him the advantage of experience, each new series brings its own story lines, challenges and surprises.

After practice today, he spoke about a few of the elements surrounding the first two games in San Jose and looked ahead to tomorrow night's game three...

MM: You picked up an assist on Drew Doughty's power play goal Saturday night.  Has there been any reason for the power play to have suddenly taken off after so many struggles during the regular season?

RS: We're getting pucks to the net and we're getting them trough. Obviously, we're getting bodies there too, so that helps. I think good puck movement and good player movement helps all of that, for sure.

MM: Thoughts on the play of Jonathan Quick so far...

RS: He's been spectacular in the series so far and given us a chance to win on a nightly basis. I think goaltending is huge in the playoffs and he's rising to the occasion. It's great to see too.

MM: Can you share anything you said to some of the kids - like Kyle Clifford, Trevor Lewis, etc. - entering that first game there in San Jose?

Dustin Brown says 'It's on the players that are playing'

Last season didn't end the way the Los Angeles Kings had wanted or envisioned.

Returning to the post season for the first time in eight years - with a new General Manager, new coach and entirely new roster - they faced off with the Vancouver Canucks, a team they last saw in the playoffs following the 1992-93 season.

After splitting a pair of overtime games in Canada, the series was tied 1-1 and headed back to Staples Center. With the building as loud as it's probably ever been, the Kings offense exploded for five goals - three of them on the power play, including two by Michal Handzus - and downed the Canucks to gain a 2-1 series lead.

Vancouver took over from there, winning the next three games and closing out the series in six games.

Say all the positive things you want about 'learning to lose' and being 'a young team, they'll only get better' - yet, it was still a tough pill to swallow for a group that hoped of so much more.

Andre Ethier to drop puck at LA Kings - NY Rangers game

According to a press release earlier today from the Dodgers, outfielder Andre Either will be on hand for the ceremonial face off prior to the Kings game with the New York Rangers next Tuesday night.

Tuesday, February 2
Dodgers Andre Ethier and Hiroki Kuroda and former Dodgers Kenny Landreaux, Rudy Law, Bobby Castillo and Tommy Davis...will be on hand for day two of the Dodgers Community Caravan.

5 to 6:30 p.m. - ESPN Zone at L.A. LIVE Downtown Los Angeles
Dodger players and legends will be on hand for an autograph session.

7 p.m. - Ceremonial Puck Drop
Prior to the 7:30 p.m. L.A. Kings game versus the New York Rangers, outfielder Andre Ethier will head to Staples Center to take part in the ceremonial puck drop.

The full press release can be read by clicking here.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

Interview with Greg Hetson

Sports and music go hand in hand. I haven't been to an arena or stadium in the country that doesn't blare some music - usually rock music - during breaks in the action. So, it's not surprising that hidden among the 18,000 faithful that fill Staples Center most nights the Kings play is a true punk rock legend. In the last 25 years this man has toured the world over several times with multiple bands. He is a member of two of the most important and influential punk bands of all time, the Circle Jerks and Bad Religion.

And he's a Kings fan!

MayorsManor had a chance to chat with guitarist Greg Hetson recently; not just about music, but his other passion too - Kings hockey.

MM:  You were born in NY, but have lived in LA practically your whole life. So, how did you get into hockey?

GH:  I was pretty much hooked from the first time I saw it. I grew up in Hawthorne, so we went to the local ice skating rink - I think it was called Olympic Ice Arena or something like that over in Harbor City. We were just there for public skating but we couldn't skate because the ice was being used for hockey. I thought it was cool and just got into it from that moment. That was around 1971. Soon after I found out about the Kings and started going to games.

Being a fan for that long you've seen a lot of different players come through Los Angeles. Do you have one all time favorite?

Marcel Dionne. The guy was so talented. He was like Mario Lemieux, just about a foot shorter. Every time he was on the ice you just knew something great was about to happen. I loved watching him play. Actually, just recently I had the chance to meet him and he is a super cool guy. I played in Luc's celebrity game with him up in Park City. That was a lot of fun.

Sounds like it. What position did you play and did you score at all?

I was a winger. Unfortunately, I didn't get any goals. I did have about 7 shots on goal though. Just never put one in.

If you were a player on the current team, who would you be?

I'd have to be a forecheck guy. I'd be a pest. Not dirty, just a pest. Like maybe Esa Tikkanen back in the day. On the current team I'd probably be Wayne Simmonds.

Coming to games since the 70's means you've seen a lot of memorable games. Is there any one game that stands out in your mind?

Well, the '93 Finals. Of course, it was heartbreaking!  But it was good too. Good to actually see the Stanley Cup Finals in LA. There have been some double or triple overtime games in the playoffs that were pretty cool too. There was a game against Calgary back at the Forum with a disputed goal (the famous 1990 playoff game, where later Mike Krushelnyski scored to beat Vernon and win the game). I don't remember it being a goal, but they gave it the Kings.


And then there was the playoff game versus Detroit a few years ago at Staples. It went into several overtimes and my daughter had fallen asleep in my arms in the third period. I didn't want to move her. So, the longer the game went on the more numb my hand got. My pinky still has some slight nerve damage left over from that night. So, I took one for the team. (he laughs)

Athletes have lots of crazy stories from being on the road so much. What about you - anything significant stand out from all the touring you've done?

Probably the craziest thing I ever saw was a show Bad Religion did in San Sebastian, Spain. About 20 seconds into the first song the floor collapsed and all the fans fell through to the level below us. It was scary seeing all of these people in what looked like a giant sink hole. They were just looking up at us scared, not knowing what to do. Some of them had broken bones and stuff. The place was like 1,000 people over capacity. It was nuts.

Sounds scary. When you're in other countries that have hockey, like places in Europe, do ever get a chance to catch a game?

We did go see a Swedish game in Stockholm once. It was good quality, just not as intense as an NHL game. There wasn't as much hitting. I've also seen some Jr. games in Canada.

How about the Kings - do you ever squeeze in a road game while touring in North America?

Of yea, I've had the chance to see lots of road games - New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto. We actually went to a lot of those cities and saw the old buildings before they tore them down - like old Chicago Stadium, Boston Gardens and Toronto. I've seen a few of the newer buildings too.

Any memories from those games that stand out?

Well, I loved old Boston Garden. It was so cool. I even wore my Kings shirt and the fans there were giving me shit when the Kings scored. It was a great time.

You've played with lots of other musicians in super groups or whatever you want to call them...the Kings have several other musicians as fans. If there was a super group put together of just Kings fans who else would be in the band with you?

Rob Zombie, of course, he is a huge Kings fan. Jay and Greg (from Bad Religion) are fans too. They come to games with me sometimes. The guys in the Briggs are fans. Darrin from Goldfinger. And on the last Warped Tour I was talking with one of the guys from Bayside - he was a hockey fan too. Oh yea, and we can't forget Melvin (from NOFX).


Recently you've been DJing. That's quite different from playing guitar in a punk band. How did you get into that?

A friend of mine is the manager of a bar and just said he needed somebody and asked me if I was interested. He said he liked my taste in music. Its fun. I try to play some stuff that people probably don't hear otherwise.

Is that something you plan on doing more often in the future?

I don't know. I'll probably do it occasionally.

You've obviously been to tons of Kings games, have any players returned the favor and come see you perform?

The only one I know of was Felix Potvin. We actually met him back when he was in Toronto and he likes punk music, so he came to some shows. So that was pretty cool to have him there being that I'm such a hockey groupie. But, he's the only Kings player that I know has come to one of our shows.

I see a lot similarities between being on a hockey team and being in a band. Like, the travel, everybody needing to know their role, etc. Do you see any comparisons between the two?

For sure. First off, your paid to perform. The need for good chemistry. Communication. They're a lot alike.


Actually, both need a little dysfunction to be successful too. You need that grit to sometimes light a fire under the ass of some guys. In both professions you need that team captain to sometimes come into the room and get after the other guys. It's important.

You're getting ready to tour Australia soon. What's the story with that and any plans when you get back?

Well, we (Bad Religion) leave this weekend for a tour of Australia and New Zealand. We'll be playing with NOFX.


Then in October we have a couple of shows with Pearl Jam in Philadelphia. In fact, we're playing at the Spectrum and I heard it will be the last set of shows there before they blow the place up. So, as a hockey fan that's pretty special. The Flyers made that place famous.


When all of that is finished it'll probably be time to start working on a new Bad Religion record.

Finally, if Bad religion was going to play one last show, who would you pick to open up for you?

Oh, that's a tough one. I guess I'd have to go with NOFX.

Thanks for your time. Travel safe.

Thank you. Can't wait to get back to Staples for some more Kings games once I'm home.

---------------------

Big thanks to Greg for taking some time out of his busy schedule. It's always great to talk hockey with Kings fans, especially those as passionate as he is.

Someday when the Kings finally win the Stanley Cup, I hope it's Wild in the Streets all throughout downtown LA.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor


RELATED ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Interview with Joey from The Briggs - they sing the Kings anthem 'This is LA'

Interview with Luc Robitaille - Kings legend, member of Hockey Hall of Fame

Interview with Marcel Dionne - Kings legend, member of Hockey Hall of Fame


Old flyer photo courtesy of hardcoreshowflyers.com  *  Hetson photo courtesy of Denis Farley

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