Roll Call 2018-19 Stanley Cup Finals Roll Call

[Robb_K]

Long time reader, first time poster. Even forgot my pervious account.

I’m from Budapest, Hungary, so not your traditional European supporter but we have some pretty diehard Blues fans over there (I know around a dozen who followed the team through the years)

31 yo avid hockey fan with no STL background, my first full Blues season was 05-06 after the lockout, so, yeah… but I’m also fall in love with baseball which kind of compensate it that year, love the Cards also. Especially since my local football team chokes really hard for the past two decade, ’06 and ’11 means a lot. Hoping for ’19 with the Blues as well!

LGB!!!

WOW!!! 12 Blues fans in Budapest! How many in Buda, and how many in Pest? I didn't know that Hungarians even cared about ice hockey. My great grandfather used to play Bandy on The frozen Tisza River during the late 1860s and early 1870s, before he and his family moved to Antwerpen, and to Den Haag in the early 1890s.

 

[Robb_K]

Hi, my name is Charlie and I'm a Bluesaholic...
Not really sure what to say, flattered to be thought of @EastonBlues22 .
Here are some cliff notes on my background:
- born and raised in StL in the late 80's thru mid 2000's
- Blues fan since birth
- hockey player of unremarkable skill from age 5 or 6 thru present
- value this community and being able to adsorb the knowledge of the many posters smarter than me

I see that chemists have really weird senses of humour!

 

[Robb_K]

It's a holiday weekend, but I'm still going to start summoning people a few at a time.

@Robb_K
@Majorityof1
@Lord Helix

Ooops! Didn't see this thread. Checking in for the duration, before receiving the dreaded summons! I guess I represent Canada, USA, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, as I live in all those countries for chunks of each year. Been a Blues fan since 1967. On this forum since early 2007. Started on The Blues' Official NHL Forum in early 2001, then The Asylum in 2003, also Let's Go Blues Forum since 2003, and Blues' News Forum since 2014. I remember a lot of you from the early 2000s. Nice to see such a big turnout on this thread.
Let's Go Blues! Win this thing!

 

[Hrkac Circus]

Good game day morning Blues fans! For the first time in 49 years our Blues will be playing in the STANLEY CUP FINALS! LET'S GO BLUES! from Vienna, IL.

 

[hockensm77]

WOW!!! 12 Blues fans in Budapest! How many in Buda, and how many in Pest? I didn't know that Hungarians even cared about ice hockey. My great grandfather used to play Bandy on The frozen Tisza River during the late 1860s and early 1870s, before he and his family moved to Antwerpen, and to Den Haag in the early 1890s.

Speaking of Hungary & hockey, next time you're looking for a fun book to read check out "Ballad of the Whiskey Robber" by Julian Rubinstein. It's a true story about a bank robber/terrible minor league goalie named Attila Ambrus who became a sort of folk hero in Budapest in the '90s. At least that's how the book portrays him -- I'm curious what our Hungarian posters thought of him, if they knew of the story at the time. Either way the book is really entertaining. Makes you want to sit down and have a couple drinks with the guy.

I'm a librarian so while you all provide the hockey knowledge, I can contribute book recommendations.

I've been to Budapest once and loved it. On that same trip we spent some time hiking in Slovakia -- there were tons of Blues fans there at the time thanks to the Demitra/Handzus/Bartecko connection...

 

[StLHokie]

Hey Hey Hey hey and Hey

@StLHokie love to hear you my friend. Still in Germany? Hey tell your background, pretty neet your story about hockey etc. and about what you know about some blues players.

Haha I haven't been around too much as of late. I moved back to the US about 2.5 years ago. Finished up my 2 years in Germany and moved to North Carolina. It's a lot easier watching games at 8pm than it is to wake up at 2am every other night to watch! I'm guessing it's become second nature for you though.

As for Blues background, I grew up down the street from Paul Cavallini and his family in St. Louis. I played a lot of street hockey and a couple years of high school with his oldest son and also Geno's oldest son. Paul also seemed to love me despite me being a terrible hockey player. Interestingly enough, Sean Ferrell (current video coach of the Blues) was actually our high school coach for a couple of seasons. I think he was running the Hockey Academy at the time too, where a bunch of Blues players at the time would go for offseason workouts. I'm guessing that's how he got his "in" to the organization.

 

[TruBlu]

Live in the southern part of Illinois, a little shy of a 2 hour drive from St. Louis. My uncle owned a valve company in St. Louis before he retired. His company had season tickets to Blues games every year, and he'd send two tickets periodically to my grandpa and I to go to the games. I was immediately hooked. This will be the first time I've seen them play in the Stanley Cup in my lifetime (now 40 yo). I look back on the season and it is absolutely amazing what they've accomplished. I'm hoping to see them finally hoist the cup. LGB!!

 

[Zamadoo]

I was born in Ferguson, but moved to and grew up in Festus. A lifelong Blues fan, I'm 31 now living in Cape Girardeau after a stint in the Navy and going to SEMO.

I lurked here (and the asylum) for a long while, and I can't say enough how much this place (and the asylum) meant to me while I was in the Navy. Most notably, Robb's play by play allowed me to follow the games while underway or when I couldn't find a stream. Living in San Diego where even the few hockey fans were Kings fans during 2011-2013 was awful, and my best Blues brother died shortly after seeing our last game together. This is the place I come to live my Blues fandom to the max.

LGB!

 

[stl76]

I see that chemists have really weird senses of humour!

Haha ya got me Robb!

Although after a quick google search of absorb vs adsorb...maybe adsorb might be the better adjective to describe my surface level knowledge

 

[Honeycutt]

Add tennessee to the list of states! Born and raised in southern I'll, but been in the south for about a decade. Pretty sweet being a blues fan down in nashville! Cant believe tonight's the night in have waited for for 30 plus years!

 

[PocketNines]

I remember you banging the drum for Garrison a lot. You had me convinced he was the best choice. He later nixed a trade to St Louis anyway (or was it turned down an UFA deal, I can't remember). In hindsight, I don't think he would have been so great here, so it worked out.

You're right – Armstrong tried to get Garrison as UFA that 2012 summer and also later tried to trade Berglund to Vancouver to get Garrison even after he had seen Bouwmeester on the ice in a bluenote. Garrison had the clause & negged the deal. He had three solid seasons after the summer of 2012, and then Theodore would have started to get ice time. The good version of Bouwmeester is better than Garrison, for sure. But Calgary was not good back then and the Giordano targeting was before he really took off. I have zero regrets preferring to put energy into getting Giordano over Bouwmeester and then putting Garrison & Theodore over a one-way up & down decent D in Bouwmeester, and nobody else really should either.

 

[Lacika]

WOW!!! 12 Blues fans in Budapest! How many in Buda, and how many in Pest? I didn't know that Hungarians even cared about ice hockey. My great grandfather used to play Bandy on The frozen Tisza River during the late 1860s and early 1870s, before he and his family moved to Antwerpen, and to Den Haag in the early 1890s.

And we are nothing compared to the Avs, Wings, Pens, Ducks etc. Winning Cups helps I guess. But I’m sure we can handle the incoming waves of fair-weather newcomers this summer

Hockey: niche sport, but has its history and fairly popular in Hungary. We even become somewhat relevant nowadays (promoted to the IIHF World Championships in 2009 and 2016). Our National Team easily draws 10k and the best club team 3-4k (they will get a bigger arena soon). Main sports tv channels have NHL and KHL here, and the NHL Playoffs are always live with Hungarian crew since ~2000. (but actually worst than NBC)

Another interesting thing is in Székelyföld - the Hungarian/Székely populated area of Transylvania (former KoH, now Romania) – ice hockey is huge, it is kind of a mini hockey Mecca. Big part of the Romanian National Team is ethnic Hungarian from this region.

Speaking of Hungary & hockey, next time you're looking for a fun book to read check out "Ballad of the Whiskey Robber" by Julian Rubinstein. It's a true story about a bank robber/terrible minor league goalie named Attila Ambrus who became a sort of folk hero in Budapest in the '90s. At least that's how the book portrays him -- I'm curious what our Hungarian posters thought of him, if they knew of the story at the time. Either way the book is really entertaining. Makes you want to sit down and have a couple drinks with the guy.

Yes, he was absolutely a folk hero back than in the 90s. He is kind of a celeb now since he left the prison (I mean in a right manner, because he escaped once), so he is on number of shows, numerous books about him and even a successful film in 2017. Strangely, as far as I can tell, he seems like a very decent guy, at least for a former criminal. But he is polarizing of course. Two interesting thing about him (1) he is from Székelyföld, the hockey hotbed I mentioned and (2) he played for my team Újpest.

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

WOW!!! 12 Blues fans in Budapest! How many in Buda, and how many in Pest? I didn't know that Hungarians even cared about ice hockey. My great grandfather used to play Bandy on The frozen Tisza River during the late 1860s and early 1870s, before he and his family moved to Antwerpen, and to Den Haag in the early 1890s.

Robb is literally the most interesting man in the world.

 

[tomin]

Hey all,
I joined end of 2014 after lurking for a year or so.
I post very infrequently. I'd say my biggest HFB contribution was the video of Jaskins hit on Sanford during preseason a couple years ago which resulted in broken collarbone. I was taking a quick video for a friend and it just happened right in front of me. Basically I'm known for breaking big time team news.

Live in STL, U-City and am a season ticket holder.
Blues fan my whole life. Took a break in the mid 2000's with HS and College. Jumped back in heavy right around 2011. Some really good looking teams and years with that earlier core. It is awesome to see such a complete team compete right now.
Over the years and now within the right role I'm a big Steen fan. This year besides the obvious big boys I've really loved Sunnys game.
Tonight is going to be amazing. The hour leading up to puck drop I am going to be very very happy! I love this team and the note and am so happy and excited for this run to continue.

 

[BangarangxRufio]

@BangarangxRufio

yes?

 

[BangarangxRufio]

Oh i get it now @Vincenzo Arelliti lol. thank you for tagging me.

Hey everyone. Im Dave. Grew up in Soco, went to Mehlville. I have lived all over this city and now live in Soulard. I lived in California & KC for a total of 4 years. Besides that St. Louis has been my home. I love the Blues. I love this city. I cannot put into words how excited and nervous I am for this series. If the Blues win, I will be getting a tattoo of smiling Sundqvist on my body at least 5 inches in size (i put it on twitter in January @davemou5) This community has been an amazing addition to my life for 3 years and I cannot wait to be here for years longer.

I guess the only thing left to say is LETS GO BLUES!!!!

 

[Robb_K]

Speaking of Hungary & hockey, next time you're looking for a fun book to read check out "Ballad of the Whiskey Robber" by Julian Rubinstein. It's a true story about a bank robber/terrible minor league goalie named Attila Ambrus who became a sort of folk hero in Budapest in the '90s. At least that's how the book portrays him -- I'm curious what our Hungarian posters thought of him, if they knew of the story at the time. Either way the book is really entertaining. Makes you want to sit down and have a couple drinks with the guy.

I'm a librarian so while you all provide the hockey knowledge, I can contribute book recommendations.

I've been to Budapest once and loved it. On that same trip we spent some time hiking in Slovakia -- there were tons of Blues fans there at the time thanks to the Demitra/Handzus/Bartecko connection...

Don't forget Nagy!

 

[hockensm77]

Don't forget Nagy!

I KNEW there was another Slovakian phenom in that mix!

 

[Robb_K]

I see that this thread's list of "represented countries doesn't list Canada and USA, because they are the 2 NHL countries, and their provinces and states are listed, instead. But why is Manitoba not listed? I am from there, and spend a couple months there each year. We also have a couple other forum members who live there now, although they haven't yet signed in on this thread. I'm pretty sure we have members from ALL 10 Canadian provinces, and also The Yukon, and The Northwest Territories, (and, I think I even remember a post or two from someone from Nunavut.) They need to sign in on this thread so Canada will be fully represented.

 

[m1a2lt]

Late on this: a closer to death than birth Blues fan.

Born in Europe but emigrated with my family in the early 70s. Lived on the East Side and my dad taught at SIUE. Grew up through high school in the area, went to SIUE, and left for the Army. Met my wife when I delivered her a pizza in college and we hit twenty years this year. Army has taken me to Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and back to StL for a couple years (oops, how did I forget Korea?!?!). Now reside in Northern Virginia with two daughters, an about to die dog, and a stupid cat. I will retire from the Army next year and plan to move back to the StL area once the last kids are out of the house.

My family were never Blues fans but many of my friends growing up were. We would play pond hockey on the lake behind my house or around town. Never played in any leagues and, quite frankly, was never any good. But we'd always hit a couple games a month during school (1980s) and sit in the nose bleed section, throwing things at Chicago fans, and jeering Dave Lowry in preskate. Kinda forgot about hockey after leaving for the Army but got back into it when we moved back to the StL area in the late 2000s.

Favorite in St Louis hockey memory was taking my future wife to a playoff game in 1996 against the Dead Things. She could see Gretzky, Hull, MacInnis, Pronger, Corson, McRae, MacTavish, etc. and she focused on a fight between Twist and someone (can't remember; always liked to imagine it was Probert but he was playing for the Crackhawks at the time). Twist is still her favorite player but I made a life long fan. We won't be watching the game tonight since when we both watch, the Blues get scored on and if we turn it off, the Blues score. Instead, we'll be listening to Kerber, Vitale, and Kelly tonight on the radio while building a 2000 piece Enterprise Center ice puzzle.

Most unfortunate Blues moment: I would like to say me and my buds getting our asses kicked at the Chicago Stadium but the worst was when we were visiting family in Toronto in November 2000. I had just gotten married and was about to leave for Armor Officer Basic Course so we went with my parents. We went to a game in Toronto against the Blues (my uncle had season tickets) and after the second period, with TOR up 5-0, I had had enough and said let's leave. We left and headed back to Burlington and, when we got home and turned on the TV, we saw the final score. Didn't realize how momentous it was at the time but kills me now.

Oh, my avatar is because I lost a bet. I forget what the bet was but whoever lost had to wear an "I love Andy Murray" T-shirt to the game. Decided to add the bag and my wife played along with the "I'm with stupid" T-shirt.​

 

[NLBlues]

Hey blues fans. Adding to the threat. I am a longtime lurker and been a Blues fan since 1996. Have to Thank NHL96 for that one. I had to choose a team to play with and there is No logo or color more beautiful than that bluenote.

After the heartbreaks in the 2000s and the totally waisted post-Laurie years this is finally happening!

Being from the Netherlands I Will Try to squeeze in Some games during the night.

Have fun everyone and Lets hope for a Stanley Cup!

 

[Old Blueser]

Name change for privacy reasons, but been around for a good while. Infrequent poster, but do appreciate others more in depth knowledge of the Juniors, AHL, and hockey X's and O's. Thanks! Let's go Blues!

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Hi, my name is Charlie and I'm a Bluesaholic...

Not really sure what to say, flattered to be thought of @EastonBlues22 .

I've posted a bit of my background in other threads before. Won't go into too much detail here because I enjoy the anonymity that a forum like this provides and am generally wary of sharing personal information online. Plus my story is frankly not that interesting.

Here are some cliff notes:
- born and raised in StL in the late 80's thru mid 2000's
- Blues fan since birth
- hockey player of unremarkable skill from age 5 or 6 thru present
- moved west for college and currently live in Colorado
- friend I play hockey with happens to be a former HF board moderator and suggested this site to me in 2015
- value this community and being able to adsorb the knowledge of the many posters smarter than me

Hi Charlie!

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

What’s the name of the guy with an illustrated polar bear in a blue note? Started with a B?

 

[ChicagoBlues]

What’s the name of the guy with an illustrated polar bear in a blue note? Started with a B?

BleedingBlue?