Milwaukeehockey.com

Preseason recap

October 1, 2007

Work and computer issues have kept me busy this week, so this entry is overdue, I know.

I made it to every preseason game last week, and I am feeling very good about our team. Granted, these exhibition games use a bunch of UHL and ECHL guys hoping to impress the coaches for a future call up, but I liked what I saw from the guys who will begin the season in Milwaukee.

The trip to the game in Vernon Hills, IL, on Wednesday was a short one for me, as I live near the state line. I enjoyed an easy drive down Highway 41 (avoiding the toll road), but I ended up in a frustrating traffic jam on Kennedy/Townline Road. It took me 20 minutes to go two miles. I honestly don't know how people can live like that... sitting in traffic morning, noon, and night. No wonder why Chicagoans can be so testy.

Once there, I grabbed a seat in the top row, and later realized I was sitting next to Admirals goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris' family. Dov was born in the northern Chicago burbs, so this exhibition was a homecoming of sorts for him. His younger brother kept track of the shot/save totals on a pad of paper, and kept me entertained with his enthusiastic conversation with his friend about all things hockey.

The Admirals won that game 8-4, but the score didn't matter much for me. I went into the evening with three purposes.
1. Enjoy a hockey game.
2. Learn the tendencies of the new prospects.
3. Experiment with my new camera.

The pictures I took at the first game weren't the best, as I this camera has many more settings than my last one, and learned a lot of what not to do at a hockey game. Not to mention, the lighting in the building was poor. The picture quality improved greatly in the final two preseason games, and I cannot wait to see how well it performs at the BC.

And I gotta say, I feel for Pekka Rinne. I really thought his chance at the NHL had come. It must be a let down for him to lose the job in Nashville to Dan Ellis. Nothing against Ellis, mind you. I'm jazzed to have either one of those guys in Milwaukee, but I think I can speak for most Milwaukee fans who want to see Pekka succeed at the next level.

Unfortunately, I will not be at the season opener at Peoria. Saturday's are a long day for me at work, and I would have trouble making it to the Carver Arena in time, so I will have to wait until the home opener on October 12 to see the entire team in action.

If I can find the time, I'll give my first impressions of the new guys on the team in another entry later this week or after the weekend.

posted by Todd # 8:04 PM

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