Bethany's Hockey Rants

The Blue Jackets Help

by Bethany on 10/23/08 at 01:41 PM ET
Comments (2)

Sometimes, you don’t need to worry about the goals, the shutouts, and the struggling defense, you need to worry about something else. Today the Blue Jackets helped out Flashes of Hope. It’s a non-profit organization that takes photographs of children fighting cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. Rick Nash, Fredrik Modin, Jared Boll, and Jason Chimera went in to take pictures with the kids.

I think this is something that everyone can relate to. We all know someone who has been affected by a life threatening disease. For me, it was my Uncle, who passed away three years ago in February with complications stemming from his leukemia. It was a great way for the Blue Jackets to do something meaningful and to help these kids have a reason to smile, in the toughest time of their young lives.

Here’s Fredrik Modin on the afternoon.

“There are lots of people going through this kind of thing, lots of families that are affected,” he said. “I mean ... for us to be able to help them, even for an afternoon ... it’s something you feel good about. It makes the kids feel happy, but it makes us happy, too.”

Onto, some other news.

Steve Mason is preparing for his comeback, and any day will be headed to Syracuse. It’s great to hear about him on the ice, and to be able to skate with the players. It’ll be even better to see him winning games for the Crunch, and when the time comes,getting called up to the Blue Jackets and proving that he is our next “goalie of the future.”

Michael Peca is finished with this suspension, which is a VERY good thing. He is getting over his anger, which is another good thing. He seems to have my opinion on his suspension which is, yes, it was an unfair amount of games for touching a ref, but you have to set an example out of him, and let everyone know that you should never touch a ref. Here’s what he said:

“I can’t hold bitterness anymore,” Peca said. “I still feel like five games is an unfair amount of games. But if I put myself in the commissioner’s position, obviously he wants to make sure his officials are looking at him as though they’re protected by him and the league.”

“From that perspective, I have to accept it, based on the letter of the rules. You can’t touch these guys no matter what.”

Onto, tomorrow. Nikolai Zherdev makes his return to Nationwide Arena. I have been saying it all along that he’s going to do something big against us. We have been playing better which is a good sign, but the Rangers are on a roll, Zherdev is on a roll. It’ll be a good test tomorrow, and I am anxious to see how we come out, and if we can play all three periods.

And, if you can’t get enough of me. I will be participating in chat with AcidQueen and other Carolina Hurricanes bloggers during their game tonight starting at 7:30 P.M.. Join in the fun here! I was also on The Rink Podcast earlier this week, unfortunately I was sick and sound horrible, but it was a fun time.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, , MIchael Peca, , | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Flashes+of+Hope, Michael+Peca, Nikolai+Zherdev, Steve+Mason,

Comments

When I read Portzy’s story I had a huge smile on my face (and i’ll admit a bit of happy tears as well). This is the team I love!

I think Midwestern/Middle America/smaller market teams does this extremely well (giving back to the community). It is that character that thrives here, and it get absorbed into the team as well. That, and maybe the character of the area attracts like-minded players. It is not something I hear from larger-market teams such as NY, Chicago, et. al., but maybe that is because good news is no news…

I know some in the Colts organization gives back to Indianapolis, especially coach Dungy & Peyton Manning, which is always nice (and of course makes me like Manning even better than Tom Brady! ). I think it’s a great way to strengthen fanbase (because really, who would want to like a team full of snobs anyways? ).

I really hope this continues in Columbus, and continue to hear such stories about the good work of Nash & Modin & Chimera & Malhotra, and hear new ones of Voracek & Boll & Russell & Mason & Filatov & Brassard &....

Posted by pam from Lafayette, IN area on 10/24/08 at 10:41 AM ET

oops, of course I should actually start remembering what i read and put Bull with the first list of names ("Nash & Modin & Chimera & Malhotra") and not in the second list of names :|

Posted by pam from Lafayette, IN area on 10/24/08 at 10:45 AM ET