Happy President's day everyone!!!
In honor of president's day I went to the Flyers game day practice.
Here is the picture Link as always
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/neat1325/album/57646076239
0380845#page1
Game day practices are my least favorite to attend. They are generally
very short and not much goes on that is super interesting.
Today being a holiday the stands were crowded. It was not nearly as
crowded as Martin Luther King Day in 2006 but full.
I arrived on time which I think is a rare exception for me.
The stands were already starting to be full my favorite spots were
already taken so I walked down to the end and got settled into the top row.
To my Right there was a gentleman with a mullet that was reliving his
experiences at previous Flyers games and practices loudly for all to hear.
When I came in there were at least 2 camera crews. I guess since the
Fridge & Pitkanen incident it pays for CSN to come and tape practice.
Flyers were supposed to take the ice @ 10. 10:20 rolls around and
Robert Esche walks out to the ice. He is followed by Picard then
Leighton and Niitty. Leighton's pads have been updated to no longer
bare Ducks gold but Flyers white.
Carter warms up Esche while everyone is skating around. They are all
like little kids when they first get on everyone has to gets pucks and
fire them when they pass a net. Niitty who I think is starting tonight
was in a very happy and playful mood. He hooked Richards as Richards
tries to shoot at the net and then surprised Calder by passing to him
quite hard.
Everyone does their own little things to get going including stretching.
Whistle Blows practice is starting they do 3 on none rushes.
D men shoot on Esche
Forwards shoot on Niitty.
They go through a variation of this drill and we have a few forwards in
front of me now.
Richards, Carter and Umberger are all up against the glass and a few
girls come right up to the glass and take very close up pictures. (See pic)
John Stevens skates over and says something to them which my lips
reading did not grab all of it but to the jist of pay attention to the
drill and not the pretty girls taking your pictures. It did result in
all 4 laughing.
Ok now the stuff I know you really wanted to know the new lines since
Knuble is out.
The lines at practice were the following.
Gagne Sanderson Umberger
Calder Carter Upshall
Kappy Richards Eager
Fridge York Afansankov
Then they work on Zone breakouts and then what to do in the offensive
zone. Very basic simple stuff.
That was it. Practice was over. Upshall led the stretches. Practice
ended 10:52am
Now for after practices clinics as I call it.
At Center ice it was a face-off clinic hosted by Terry Murray.
Participants were
Richards, Carter and York
At the end closest to me cause I got up and moved to see better
Shots on Niitty
1 shot where you are 2^nd be as pretty as you want.
>From RW, C, LW
I noticed lots of players passing pucks over the glass and smiling back
at people while this was going on.
Chief worked on 3 on 3 play then 4 on 4 play at the other end with
Leighton in net.
Niitty then left and it was Esche in net. The drill changed to come
down along the boards and go top shelf over Esche. Poor Esche was lit
up like a Christmas tree during this drill. Some really pretty goals.
Then it changed again that is when I experimented and did the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8KmX4qRQqg
Esche took a break and we had a one timer from the top of the circle clinic
Participants were
Eager
Jones
Richards
Zhitnik
Some very hard shots on this drill. I was behind that net against the
glass.
Then less and less folks on the ice till we were left with Picard, Esche
and Leighton (this is why I think Niitty is starting). They got off the
ice finally at 11:30. Esche gave his stick away to a kid that had a
sign asking for it.
Then I went out to my car and there were a tone of people standing for
autographs. It was very cold and blustery out so I wasn't standing
there if you paid me. The Flyers were awesome enough to stop and sign
on their way out. See pics.
