The Business of Hockey - If you understand it, we want to hear from you

The NHL is home to the best hockey action on the planet.  It is also a gigantic enterprise which has spawned many offshoot businesses and opportunities.  The business of hockey is a huge opportunity with very favorable demographics.

http://info.rjmetrics.com/blog/bid/44958/The-Stanley-Cup-Advertising-Finals

We want to explore that demographic and talk about the marketing opportunities to that demographic. With that in mind we are looking for a blogger who can write about the business of hockey.  If you think you want to blog with our team; please email us @ getrealhockey@gmail.com.

We are tightening up our group of bloggers for the launch of our official site. Our team has been busy building a new version of GetRealHockey.com.  We expect this to be finished in the coming days or weeks. The site will be cutting edge and we will feature the best NHL experiences for fans in North America and Europe.

http://getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/getrealhockey-gets-ready-to-move-ina.html

The Alexa ranking of our site keeps climbing so we think we can provide a good platform for a blogger looking for exposure.  We are also big on Facebook and this link shows that many NHL stars are following our postings.

http://getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2011/12/getrealhockey-has-ton-of-nhl-stars-on.html

GetRealHockey has also started a following on Pinterest which we expect will grow quickly.

http://www.getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/getrealhockey-family-hits-pinterest.html

The business of hockey will be featured prominently on the new site. We expect this will result in more back links being added.  Right now we have groups like Huffingtonpost.ca linking to our blog. This exposure is good for anyone blogging for our site.

The Habs Are Looking for a Turn Around Post All-Star Game

The roller coaster Canadiens have been one of the top NHL stories so far this season.  They have suffered key defeats to the likes of the Columbus Blue Jackets and struggled against historical rivals like the Boston Bruins.  On top of that the Habs have had to deal with language issues in a Province which seems to put politics ahead of everything and everyone.

http://www.getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/protest-against-canadiens-de-montreal.html

Despite all the issues, it appears that turnaround is underway in Montreal. We saw signs of a turnaround for the Habs on New Year's day 2012 with the signing of Josh Georges. This signaled to us a commitment by the Habs to the rebuilding process.

http://getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/signing-of-josh-georges-sign-of.html

Josh Georges tucked the big contract under his arm and stepped into the role of a leader and the expected results are starting to shine thru.

The turnaround with the Habs continued when they got rid of "magic" Mike Cammalleri. This guy was supposed to be a leader in Montreal but when times got tough he turned to the media to bad mouth the organization and his team mates. The tiny Tasmanian devil has made his way to Calgary and we wish him the best.  Karma is a "bitch" and once "magic" Mike figures that out he will be riding the bench again in Cow Town.  

http://www.getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/getrealhockeycom-community-is-almost.html

We think that the Habs will rebound faster than expected.  There is no time to waste for Canadiens management but the rebuilding process seems well underway for the time being.  It is an exciting time to be a Habs fan. Some good drafting and some solid trades should keep the NHL buzzing about Montreal for the next 3-5 years.

The Habs showed this promise by clobbering the Red Wings last week by a score of 7-2.  It might be a one off for 2012 but it is a message to the rest of the NHL that Montreal is not a push over anymore.  The team has got its spunk back and if you clash with the Habs you are going to have to put up a hell of a fight to win.

http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/montreal-canadiens/Breakdown+Habs+clinic/6052453/story.html

We need a blogger to cover the Canadiens for us as soon as possible. If you are a big Habs fan and you want to blog for the new GetRealHockey.com please email us @ getrealhockey@gmail.com.

http://www.getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/getrealhockeycom-community-is-almost.html

Georges, Subban and Price will be the core of the team and you as blogger will bring all the latest Habs' news to the Montreal faithful on a game by game basis.

Super Surprises at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game

As one grows older you realize that All Star Games are strictly for children and for the league's corporate sponsors. So I must say that even though I think the NHL All Star game itself needs to go away, the SuperSkills Competition is more alive than ever.

Its a great showcase for the players themselves to showcases their talents and more importantly their  personality to viewers that may not always get to see them.

Whether it was Patrick Kane donning a Superman Cape and Sunglasses in an ode to the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard from the NBA Slam Dunk Contest a few years ago.

Cory Perry scaring some sponsors momentarily who thought he was recreating the striptease scene from Slapshot. Then proceeding to take a shinny stick out of his pads and use that for his shot and scoring to boot was awesome.

Logan Couture once again wearing his old Ottawa 67s jersey in front of the home crowd.

Moments like those can't be recreated by some PR rep at the league offices nor should they be, people watch to get a small glimpse behind the curtain even if it is just some players personality.The All Star game this year was without question missing three huge stars in Crosby, Ovechkin and Toews. But in some respect that could have a PR blessing in disguise because tonight we as fans got to see moments of spontaneity and surprise from players maybe who aren’t always in the spotlight.

Hockey (at least in The United States) consistently gets chastized not before publicizing their stars the way other sports do. I for years have disagreed with this because I don't think the issue is marking their top two or three players its marketing everyone else. Everyone knows Sidney Crosby even if you aren’t a hockey fan. Ask the same person who Phil Kessel is? A night like tonight allowed for other stars to shine and I think the excitement from the hijinks of Super Stars competition has opened the eyes of some fans to a players they maybe don't know anything about.

The best way for the game to grow is to showcase the whole collection of talent not just the top echelon.

- Joe DeTolve

www.goodintheroom.blogspot.com

Alexander Ovechkin from Show Boat to No-Show

The NHL All-Star game is a go tonight without the crown prince of show boating.  Of course I am referring to Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.  Looks like Ovie who was suspended for three games by the NHL has taken his circus to South Beach. It seems the sun and fun in Miami is a good place to heal your wounds and faltering ego.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/alex-ovechkins-suspension-was-unfair-his-reaction-was-uncool/2012/01/25/gIQAJyfPQQ_story.html

We got to give to the man (or boy).  He knows how to squeeze the press and it appears that although all the big boys in the NHL are in Ottawa; Ovie  has managed to snag some face time while dipping his toes in the Atlantic.  Real fans don't seem to give a flying you know what and the show marches on without him.

http://www.canada.com/sports/Note+Ovie+missing+great+time/6063343/story.html

We will all miss his flash and panache but rest assured someone else will step and reach for Ovie's crown.  This was a bad PR move by the Russian rocket and it will cost him in the end. I hope he gets a comfy seat and he watches the whole game with a pina colada in his hand.  He is going to need it once he realizes he has made an ass of himself and cost himself some big dollars in the process.

Logan Couture - Great guys do finish last

The NHL is a very unforgiving league.  Fans cheer and then they forget.  Managers go to bat for you and then they let you sink.  Scott Gomez , Jose Theodore, and Michael Ryder all know what I am talking about.  NHLers are always being singled out by the media, their employers and their fans.  Rejection and derision make you stronger in the NHL and if you survive, you can earn the fat pay checks that confirm you as a star. 

There is a new twist on rejection in the NHL and the "worse" of the best seem destined to endure it for the foreseeable future. The crack marketing team at the NHL has decided in their wisdom to do away with traditional splits for the All-Star clash and now they now let team captain pick teams. Yes indeed, a child's game which is played by men is now being triaged in a big-boy version of the traditional back yard pick-see strategy.

This new All-Star madness was spotlighted at last year's game when Phil Kessel was picked last for 2011 version of the game.  The media ate it up and Kessel lived with that tag all season.  He was only able to shake it off this year when he came out of the gate screaming and led the NHL in scoring.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/01/28/sp-fantasy-draft-asg.html

Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks was the unfortunate soul who was picked last in this year's edition of the All-Star game.  Don't feel too bad for young Logan. If recent history is any indication Couture should have a hell of a season in 2013-2014.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/couture-a-good-sport-about-being-picked-last/article2316855/

I guess this is the one occasion where it is good or even excellent to come in last.  I will be watching this year's All-Star game to see Logan Couture in action.  I think anyone reading this should also pencil in the young man as a pick for their fantasy team for the 2013-2014 edition of the NHL season.

Bruins Love the Habs ?

The heated rivalry between the Bruins and Habs is the stuff of legends.  Cashman , O'Reilly, Lafleur and Robinson represented that rivalry for the modern hockey fan and guys like Chara and Subban have kept up that tradition to this day.

That was true until January 27th, 2012.

Last night was the official thawing of tensions between the two power houses.  In front of a packed house; Zdeno Chara picked Carey Price for his squad in this year's All-Star game.  This pick was the highlight of the NHL's 2012 love fest (All-Star game).

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/carey-price-near-spit-nhl-star-draft-handshake-022514343.html

It seems official now that the Bruins love the Habs. This seismic shift in hockey etiquette and tradition caught Carey Price by surprise and shocked the daylights out of the Habs and Bruins faithful.  The dark black line has officially been crossed and the question is where do we go from here.   Is the hand holding at this year's All-Star going to lead to an easing of tensions between Montreal and Boston ?  What's next ?

How about Subban and Horton going for a coffee ?

Maybe Tyler Seguin and Zdeno Chara can have streets named after them in downtown Montreal ?

This move by Chara was a downer for everyone who lives for rivalries in the NHL.  An Original Six rivalry is the backbone of the NHL.  It is good for fans and good for the NHL.

Hopefully, things will get back to normal and these foes will get back to "hating".  Sugar and spice and everything nice has no place in the HL.  Not even at the love fest which is the NHL All-Star game.

EPL Gears Up for the Stretch

As the Steeldogs boarded the bus for the Thursday night trip over the Pennines to Manchester they welcomed a new face. Raivis Kurnigins joins the Steeldogs for the remainder of the season from Latvian league side JLSS Zemgele where he had scored 17 times this season.

Kurnigins joins the team with fellow Latvian sniper Janis Ozolins a fan favourite at Ice Sheffield already. The Steeldogs also announced the signing for academy player and Great Britain Under 18 player Shaun Wild who will also be in the side in time for the clash with the Phoenix.

The Steeldogs signings mark the start of the end for the EPL season and this season it is closer than ever. Going into Thursday game between the Manchester Phoenix and the Sheffield Steelers the top 5 were separated by 6 points with about 20 of the 54 game season remaining.

The Guildford Flames still top the league and remain slight favourites for the title following Sundays win against the unbeaten in 9 Manchester Phoenix. The Phoenix’s run over the new period, which included wins over fellow title chasers Milton Keynes, Guildford, Sheffield and Slough had lifted them back into contention. However in a tight chasing pack the Manchester Phoenix currently lie 4^th one spot ahead of tonight’s opponents Sheffield but level on points with the Slough Jets.

Slough’s rink problems over last weekend had led to the postponement of their scheduled home game which meant that the third place Jets slip 4 points behind the Flames but with a game in hand over their Surrey rivals. Milton Keynes on the other hand lies 2^nd in the table level on games played with the Flames but 3 points behind and with a new signing of their own in the team.

This situation makes it all to play for and the Steeldogs moves in the transfer market make it clear they mean business heading down the stretch. Whether it will make the difference for the Yorkshire club is a difficult question. A set of legs on the bench will freshen the team up but if they don’t gel together quickly (and Kurnigins doesn’t speak English) things could go wrong.

Momentum will be key for the eventual 2012 champions. Manchester’s 10 game winning streak proves that any team out side of the top two this year can make some ground to challenge the top. However they will need to keep it going whilst those at the top now will know they cannot afford to drop points.

Crucially Slough’s rink problem last weekend could proof to be the difference.

With a game in hand they can move up the standings quickly but it is an extra game to fit in.  All eyes in the EPL playoff race will be on the last three weeks when Manchester face Guildford, Sheffield and Slough. Whilst the last weekends fixtures sees Guildford hosting the Steeldogs and a home and home series between the Milton Keynes Lightning and the Slough Jets.

The game in Manchester was a typical feisty war of roses match up. There were penalties a plenty but the break through game in the third period when Duggan, Cingel and Koulikov netted to give the Phoenix a 3 – 0 win.

That moves the Manchester outfit up to 2^nd in the table now 2 points behind the Guildford Flames who have 2 games in hand.

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com