Below is an inspirational story about a Washington DC area hockey team that plays a special role in the community and in the lives of all the people it touches. It serves as a reminder of how large an influence hockey, and sports in general, can have on a child, a family and even a community.
Interestingly enough, Washington DC is where longtime autism spokesman and Athletes Against Autism founder Olaf Kolzig played for 16 years. Along with Byron DaFoe and Scott Mellanby they have "realized the importance of using their status and influence to make an impact on the over 1.5 million people in the United States alone affected by autism."
The trade deadline is approaching, the final quarter of the season is drawing near and it's officially time for the same old questions to begin. Who will make the playoffs? Who will miss the playoffs? Why are they still running those terrible commercials on the NHL Network? How is the playoff seeding determined? And, what is the NHL's tie-breaking formula if teams have the same number of points at the end of the regular season?
Here is the breakdown of how the standings will be determined for each Conference at the conclusion of the regular season, determined in accordance with the following priorities in the order listed:
a) First place in each of the three (3) divisions seeded 1, 2, and 3. b) The higher number of points earned by the Club. c) The greater number of games won by the Club. d) The higher number of points earned in games against each other among two (2) or more Clubs having equal standing under priority (b) and (c) ** e) The greater differential between goals scored for and against by Clubs having equal standing under priority (d).
** NOTE: For the purpose of determining standing under priority (d) for two or more tied Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the “odd game”) shall not be included. When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any “odd games”) shall be used to determine standing.
That's it, plain and (relatively) simple. Don't worry, the playoffs will be here before you know it.
The 1980s were an amazing time for NHL hockey. Those who lived through it will never forget those dynasty teams that dominated the league. Those who didn't lived through it should go out and buy some DVDs because there is much to be appreciated. Watching Gretzky and Bossy on YouTube doesn't quite do them justice. There are so many other great players and Hall-of-Famers from those two teams it's almost unbelievable.
History was being made during this decade. Legends were being created by young men who would one day become immortal. Records were set that may never be broken. And the league, after mergers, expansion and realignment had begun to look more similar to the one fans now know.
It was the heyday of hockey to most that remember it. It was a great time for a great league, great players, and the greatest of teams.
Below is the continuation of the Stanley Cup Championship Ring galley featuring the rings of the 1980s.
Calgary Flames 1989 Stanley Cup Ring
Edmonton Oilers 1988 Stanley Cup Ring
Edmonton Oilers 1987 Stanley Cup Ring
Montreal Canadiens 1986 Stanley Cup Ring
Edmonton Oilers 1985 Stanley Cup Ring
Edmonton Oilers 1984 Stanley Cup Ring
New York Islanders 1983 Stanley Cup Ring
New York Islanders 1982 Stanley Cup Ring
New York Islanders 1981 Stanley Cup Ring
New York Islanders 1980 Stanley Cup Ring
Coming Next...Stanley Cup Championship Rings of the 70s
The 1990s will forever be remembered as the decade that wasn't as weird and crappy as the 80s but lacked all the awareness and accountability of the new millennium. My mayor was still doing crack, MC Hammer still had his sweet pants, Dylan from 90210 still had his less sweet sideburns, neon had made way for denim and the NHL had no problem with letting Craig MacTavish skate around looking like Bob Ross with a stick. We had no idea what we were doing to the planet and George W. Bush was just one of five guys who owned a baseball team in Texas. It was a great decade.
It was an even better decade for the those hockey players fortunate enough to obtain the most prized jewelry in the game. No I'm not talking about those limited edition Larry Murphy belt buckles. I'm talking about a Stanley Cup Championship Ring.
Below is the continuation of the Stanley Cup Championship Ring galley featuring the rings of the 1990s.
Stanley Cup Championship Rings - The New Millenium
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs approach thoughts drift to visions of captains and legends raising the cup as teammates circle around to join in the realization of their childhood dream. Nothing else in professional sports carries with it the magnitude of watching the cup hoisted in the culmination a life-long pursuit by the the greatest hockey players in the world. Those lucky enough to have their name engraved on the cup are guaranteed to have it there for at least 64 years, but one day it will be removed to make way for other champions.
One thing that will never be taken away from any player is his Stanley Cup Championship Ring. Each one is unique for each team, each city, each individual, each era, and each cup. And it is in the spirit of what it symbolizes that therinkrat.com has compiled the below gallery of Stanley Cup Championship Rings. This post has rings going back to 2000 and is the first of many posts in this series. New posts will be made regularly featuring new decades and new rings.
Update: Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2009 Stanley Cup Champions and new ring owners.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup Ring
Detroit Red Wings 2008 Stanley Cup Ring
Anaheim Ducks 2007 Stanley Cup Ring
Carolina Hurricanes 2006 Stanley Cup Ring
Season Not Played
Tampa Bay Lightning 2004 Stanley Cup Ring
New Jersey Devils 2003 Stanley Cup Ring
Detroit Red Wings 2002 Stanley Cup Ring
Colorado Avalanche 2001 Stanley Cup Ring
New Jersey Devils 2000 Stanley Cup Ring
Coming soon...Stanley Cup Championship Rings of the 90s
