This one's for the lady in the house.

Two years ago today, my girlfriend and I were in Las Vegas. Some people don't like Vegas, with the Eiffel Towers and fake Venices, but we had a great time. We played a little, shopped a lot, hung by the pool, and saw Cirque du Soleil's "Love".

But before we knew it, it was time for my wife and I to fly back home.

Had a nice chat with Jaroslav Hlinka the other day.

If I don’t have fun or don’t like to play, hockey becomes just like regular work and you just do it for the money. Money is important, everybody cares about it but I want to have a lot of fun during the season as well.

See the whole story here or keep reading below.

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Lucas, the multitalented hockey dude, has thrown his hat in the ring and composed a new theme song for Hockey Night in Canada.



MacGyver shoots, he scores!

About thirty years ago, I was standing on wooden stands set next to an outdoor hockey rink, watching my father in a game. He was wearing an orange sweater, and if my memory serves me correctly, he was the fastest player on the ice.

Then, out of pure pride, and excitement of the game, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Go, Dad!"

Everybody around me laughed.

It took me - literally - years to figure out why they laughed. And then I realized (and this still just my theory) that they thought it was a) cute and b) a little dumb to yell just "Dad" and not use his name. There were probably a lot of Dads out there.

But I know my Dad heard it, and felt good, and skated even faster.

Finns love hockey. Really. I'm repeating myself, I just said the same thing in my latest piece on IIHF.com. Well, read it here, or below.

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What's the best method of bumping into people you know at a hockey game?

Is it best to stay put and watch the people walking by, letting them do all the work, or is it better to walk around the arena so you can see the ones staying put, and the ones walking around the other way? That way, you'd miss the ones who walk just in front of you or just behind you.

I always walk around the arena. I've done it since I was a kid. So, in case you're looking for me, stay put. I'll find you.

When you're a kid, the world is pretty small. I remember having friends who I only met at school because they lived so far away: across the big road. My hood was about a block, and then the hockey rink up the hill.

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I've watched this maybe a dozen times, and I can't get enough. Now I need to buy the book.

I saw my first game of the 2008-09 season today, at an arena that used to be my home rink, in the mid-1990s. Just before the game, they played David Lee Roth's "Just Like Paradise" and while "this must be just like living in paradise/and I don't wanna go home" is how I feel about hanging out at hockey rinks, I also wondered when that song was last played. Anywhere.

I'm sure Lucas would know.

Working on a story about how to talk on the phone - this is how far down we have become - I realized that my phone habits are probably quite different from the average. Because I never call anybody that I can email.

Also, I've never worked in an office where this has been an issue. I thought offices were quiet these days.

Hockey is Canada, and Canada is hockey. Here's a little something I wrote for iihf.com during the World Championship in Quebec City in May.

“The Canadian coaching training is excellent, and Canadian coaches are willing to learn new things all the time. I’m 60 years old and I’m still learning,” adds Goulet, smiling.

Read it here or continue reading below.

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