#arizona coyotes one shot

[frasermints]

if you want to go more into the utah thing, pls do

okay, so i feel the need to preface all of this with

tij iginla deserved to be drafted high in the first round. i'm glad he went high in the first round. he worked hard to earn the place he was drafted. that being said, i do not think his technical ability is the only reason utah drafted him.

let's take a look at utah's owners.

the smiths are mormon, and follow most standard hypocritical mormon doctrine. they have five children and live in provo. can't find much on ashley but ryan went to business school at BYU provo because his dad worked there before he got cancer and also that's what good little mormon boys are expected to do after they go on their colonizer missions to brown countries.

link to the archived deseret interview, written by the mormon church

he often speaks to church officials about money and tech, since he owns multiple businesses in the tech space and owns four sports franchises. the above link is an interview he did with a mormon elder about allocation of church funds. from the horse's mouth, they admit to hoarding billions of dollars and wanting to convert essentially the entire african continent to mormonism for clout.

now. this is where we get into tij's selection.

if you aren't as autistic about mormon history as i am, tl;dr up until about like pshhh iirc it was like 10 or 15 years ago it was literally like not possible for black mormons to hold positions of power in the church. mormon children were taught that dark skin was a sign of being "cut off from god" (lamanites) and depending on where you lived, that if you weren't white, you wouldn't be able to reach the highest level of heaven (in mormonism there are different tiers of the afterlife - three levels of heaven [celestial, terrestrial, and telestial] and then "outer darkness" which is basically just hell. you can only reach the celestial kingdom if you're the perfect mormon and pretty much anyone goes to the telestial kingdom, even like. rapists and murderers. you go to outer darkness if you defy god to his face basically. mormons are wild. yes i am judging you) which is like beaten into you from birth to be the worst fucking thing in the world because if you don't reach the highest level of glory you're separated from your family in the afterlife, and that would suck! that's what you spent your entire life trying to do! so by default getting denied that simply because you produce more melanin is. rancid!

so. career mormons, as i call them - or mormons that come from long lineages of pre-established mormons, especially utah or texas or idaho mormons (like ryan's family, and i'm going to assume ashley's family) - they very very very often have deep racism beat into them practically since birth. they might not think so, but it's there, and it comes out at the wildest times in the wildest ways. like, i grew up in an area with a LARGE mormon minority. a group of mormons tried to lynch one of my friends as a "joke". they literally tried to fucking lynch him. one of the only black kids in the area. because they thought it was funny, and couldn't conceptualize why that was wrong or why that action - committed by that specific religion, too - carried immense weight.

moving onto the hockey part of the ask.

i stared at coyotes stats for way too long last night.

tij iginla is a left shot forward.

we all know arizona was uhh. not the greatest when they made their exit from the league. tij put up some gorgeous numbers when he finished out this year in the w, and if he does well at development camp i think he does have a very good chance at being a name on the roster. i do.

i don't think he was the smartest choice for them technically, though.

like, come the fuck on.

and like i get that they're. they still have all summer. it's whatever. but out of their thirteen forwards, nine are left shots. they are not hurting for him!!

and like. okay. you could argue like. of those, bh and bo38 are rfa at the end of this season, mc53 and ak15 and mm63 and jm22 are ufa next season, they're practically bled dry for RWs.

and they have signed defensemen since day one of the draft. unsure how td33 is going to do with his injury over the summer, but if he comes back they'll be at the numbers they need.

i still don't think he was the pick utah needed technically. i don't think he was the perfect fit. i think the owners decided for the franchise and were able to justify it well enough with his numbers to themselves and everyone else to make it work, but i really truly deep down think that part of it was "look at us we are a brand new team. we are two perfect people that wear cool youth pastor clothes to fancy pants events. we're so hip and chill, we're going to make this black kid's dreams come true by drafting him higher than his dad. we're going to make him the face of the Utah Hockey Club" and then IMMEDIATELY put him in a fucking jersey that says property of. like that is deranged.

i know from an outsider's perspective this all can seem very reach-y but when you have lived with these people and been inside their minds and been raised inside the culture it is all very very thought out. it's deliberate. everything these people do is intentional. so i really honestly can't see these people doing this for any other reason than to make themselves look good. yes, i think tij is a very talented hockey player that deserved to be drafted high in the first round. but i think he belongs somewhere else, somewhere that will treat him well and somewhere he will be safe. because i guarantee you, he is not safe on that team. not when ryan and ashley smith own it.

[thenhlteaissuperhot]

Karel Vejmelka interview - "Coming out is still taboo in ice hockey."

Three weeks ago, Karel Vejmelka - the number one goalie of the Arizona Coyotes - did an interview in Czech and I thought that some of the stuff he said there was interesting or funny enough to deserve to be translated and put out on here:

How popular is ice hockey in Arizona? Is it the sport number one there?

Oh, absolutely not. Not many people come to the games, it's like the fifth or sixth most popular sport there. The first is of course baseball, American football, basketball... No one really wants to come to an ice rink. Unfortunately, hockey hasn't found its place there. People have a different mentality. ...In every sport in the US, you see fans who are binge-eating hotdogs, fries and not really watching the game. Sports are a show for them, people go there to have fun not to watch the sport itself. It is actually funny to watch them sometimes when I am not just playing, look into the stands and see what they are doing there, you know, pizza falling under their legs and so on. After the game it is always an absolute mess in the stands.

What about some entry rituals when you come there (to Arizona) as the new guy, do you have to do something, some task or challenge?

We had karaoke there, you had to pick a song to sing and it was funny because we were just going from the teambuilding in a coach and I had to go to the front of it where the microphone was and sing a song. I chose Sweet Caroline and said to myself that it is the smallest evil. But the boys helped me, they sang along, though I still had to suffer through it.

Do you pay some fines, for late arrivals, first zero in the net?

Yes, we do. We have a price list for the different fines. I paid 1000 dollars for the first zero, that was the biggest so far. I told them back then that they should be the one paying me for catching all the shots. It accumulates over time for the big end-of-the-season dinner.

You have been in the net several times when the team played against Connor McDavid (Edmonton), is he for you as a goalie something unique?

He is unique in a way that you can't guess what he's gonna do. In the case of some other players, I more or less assume where are they going to shoot or skate, but in Connor's case, you can't guess anything because he is so fast and has such skilled hands that he always does something different. He is on a completely different level than everyone else.

Can you smoke as players, do chewing tobacco, that's popular among the players, no?

You shouldn't be smoking. Tobacco is like a substitute for that, personally, I don't do it, but most of the other guys do. We have a lot of doping tests throughout the season, this year we had one already during pre-season. In the beginning, we go together as a team and during the season, they can randomly choose like ten guys. I have been chosen like that as well quite a few times actually.

I am not sure whether you have noticed it, but a few months back a lot of people were discussing the coming out of the soccer player Jakub Jankto, it was a huge thing cause no other player on the national team has ever done so. I have never noticed this happening in hockey, is it still taboo to announce that you are a homosexual because it is this sort of masculine sport?

I think so. Not everyone can realize and admit it even within themselves, let alone publically announce it like this. He (Jakub Jankto) is amazing that he had done so, I believe it must have helped him a ton. I personally have a positive attitude towards this, why shouldn't one come out, why should they hide when sooner or later it (the truth) will surface anyway? ... However, there are those "funny remarks" when someone is for example shaving their legs, we do joke about that in the locker room.

[korshrimpski]

merry utah hockey club inaugural season: here's a bingo sheet i made to celebrate

UTAH HOCKEY CLUB BINGO:

own goal

trade deadline meltdown

at least 5 players play 82 games

nick schmaltz 10 ppg

goalie faces 40+ shots

maveric lamoureux gets called up

too many men on ice penalty

a line brawl

clayton keller 90 points season

Arizona coyotes is mentioned 3 times

win 40 games

liam o'brien 100 pim

free space

josh doan hatty

win the regular season series against the bruins

leafs curse gets reinstated

josh doan and logan on the same line

10 game lose streak

rivalry against the avs is started

2 players skate into each other

someone who isn't clayton keller (ck9) leads in goals or assist

player on the bench looking dead inside

10 game points streak

dylan guenther and jack mcbain costco picture

fan meltdown about the rebrand

CONTEXT below the cut (ones marked with "----" are were i don't feel like additional context is needed)

own goal: ----

trade deadline meltdown: ----

at least 5 players play 82 games: last season only 3 players played in all 82 games (those 3 players were logan cooley, alexander kerfoot and matias maccelli)

nick schmaltz 10 ppg: last year he got 10 and i'm hoping he gets 10 again

goalie faces 40+ shots: ----

maveric lamoureux gets called up: i just really want mav to make his nhl debut

too many men on ice penalty: yotes had the second most too many men on ice penalties last season (we had 12 tied with ana, van had the most)

a line brawl: ----

clayton keller 90 points season: the closest he got was 86 in the 2022-23 season (yotes franchise record btw) and if he can stay healthy this season there is no doubt in my mind that he can break it

Arizona coyotes is mentioned 3 times: ----

win 40 games: we won 35 games last year, this year we go for 40

liam o'brien 100 pim: he lead the nhl in pim last season with 153 minutes

free space: ----

josh doan hatty: he got close in his debut with 2 goals and i believe he can get a hatty (pls i just really want josh doan to get a hatty)

win the regular season series against the bruins: the coyotes win record against the bruins was the worst and the yote haven't won a series against them since 2011 (to put that in perspective logan cooley was 7 years old)

leafs curse gets reinstated: for some reason the yotes had the best win record against the leafs and for some reason only last year did the maple leafs beat the coyotes in their own building since 2002 (to put that into perspective josh doan was 7 month old the last time the leafs beat the coyotes in their own building) so if the utahn's (yes this is what they are called) win in the scotiabank arena the curse is reinstated.

josh doan and logan on the same line: this is purely for me. I just want to see them on a line together

10 game lose streak: yotes went on a 14 game lose streak last year so this is achievable

rivalry against the avs is started: i just recon a rivalry with the avs will get started because they are next door neighbours. plus the coyotes and avs never liked each other; like we didn't have a rivalry but for some reason the games always felt heated

2 players skate into each other: this has already happened in preseason so i will not be surprised if this happens in the regular season

someone who isn't clayton keller (ck9) leads in goals or assist: for the past 2 years clayton keller has lead the coyotes in goals and assist and its high time someone else leads in goals or assist

player on the bench looking dead inside: ----

10 game points streak: i put points streak because i hate this team and don't want them winning 10 games (i have a very complicated relationship with uhc)

dylan guenther and jack mcbain costco picture: dylan guenther and jack mcbain live together (for better or for worse idk they forgot to pay their water bill last year) but whenever they are bored they go to costco and I am waiting for a fan to take a picture with both of them in a costco

fan meltdown about the rebrand: utah hockey club is a stand in and we will have proper branding next season, but i just know people will be fighting about it

[annieqattheperipheral]

athletic's very detailed report on Alex Galchenyuk's arrest

TW: slurs + violent threats

Alex Galchenyuk allegedly threatened to kill a police officer and the officer’s family and used a racist slur toward an officer at the time of his arrest Sunday evening, according to a police report detailing the incident.

The Scottsdale (Ariz.) Police Department report, obtained by The Athletic, sheds further light on the details surrounding his arrest, which ultimately led to the Arizona Coyotes cutting ties with the 29-year-old forward after signing him to a contract earlier this month. Galchenyuk’s charges include private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest and threatening or intimidating, the Scottsdale Police Department confirmed to The Athletic.

The police arrived on the scene after a report that the driver of a white BMW struck a curb, a sign and a parked SUV in a parking lot and that the driver, later identified as Galchenyuk, was walking around in an “unsteady fashion” and had been seen “lying down in the parking lot,” according to the report.

In the report, an officer detailed how Galchenyuk was curt and profane when the police began asking him questions after seeing him laying on the ground approximately 20 feet from a car and a sign that was damaged. According to the report, Galchenyuk was helped back into the car by a second individual (later identified as his father) and began making erratic movements once inside the car. Galchenyuk told an officer “I will chop all of you f—s” and began to reach under his seat, prompting a warning from the officer.

The officer described a struggle while Galchenyuk was placed under arrest, leading the two officers on the scene to assist in placing him in handcuffs while on the ground.

With Galchenyuk in the back of the patrol car en route to the police station, he allegedly made a number of threatening comments to the officers, according to the report, including:

“I’m gunna (sic) chop you and your daughter.”

“Let me go or I will make one phone call.”

“You’ll never see your family, how scary is that?”

“One phone call and you’re all dead, your whole family, your whole blood line is dead.”

Galchenyuk told one officer that he’d make one call to Russia and have the officer’s wife and daughter’s kidneys “cut out.”

“He then began to make racially charged slurs toward (the officer), calling him (a racial slur) on numerous occasions.”

The officer also alleged in the report that Galchenyuk was “heavily impaired” with “heavily slurred speech, blood shot watery eyes and an odor of alcohol that emanated from him.”

One of the original arresting officers said that Galchenyuk yelled: “I will kill you c— f—s and your entire family” and threatened “1 phone call and you’re dead.” The officer, who identified in the report as African American, said Galchenyuk repeatedly called him a racial slur: “I asked Alexander to not refer to me using that term. He continued to say that derogatory meaning and threatening violence on to me until arriving” at the station, the officer wrote.

Typically, when an NHL player is involved in an incident involving alcohol or arrested, that player will be contacted by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for evaluation. Galchenyuk will still be eligible to utilize the player assistance program despite his contract being terminated.

Galchenyuk’s agent declined to comment when reached by The Athletic on Thursday.

The Coyotes placed Galchenyuk, who signed a one-year $775,000 deal on July 1, on unconditional waivers on Thursday and terminated his contract on Friday.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the Coyotes consulted the league on the club’s decision to terminate the contract. The NHLPA, which has 60 days from the date of contract termination to make a decision on whether to file a grievance, said it was “reviewing the matter.”

(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

[strigops]

really kills me when wildlife tries so hard to repopulate areas of their range they were extirpated in but just can't get a foothold for whatever reason. the male jaguars that wander into arizona like it enough to stay for years but always go back to where they were born, likely because there are no females here. wolves tried SO hard to expand into colorado on their own but they kept getting hit by cars and shot by people who mistook them for coyotes. the asiatic lions that are basically stuck in gir forest because most of the ones that try to disperse are killed. so much other wildlife that are relatively abundant in other protected areas but not outside them because they're unintentionally or intentionally killed. they're trying so hard to go back to old homes but its so hard to rebuild that.

[mitchbeck]

WOLF PACK AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD NATE SUCESE

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Nate Sucese on a one-year, standard AHL player contract. Sucese, 28, recorded a career-high 23 goals with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves during the 2023-24 campaign. Overall, he recorded 37 points (23 g, 14 a) in 72 games played, which were also career highs. The native of Fairport, NY, finished second on the Wolves in goals and fifth in points in his second season with the club. The 5’9”, 174-pound forward has appeared in 220 career AHL games with the Wolves, Iowa Wild, and Tucson Roadrunners, scoring 81 points (44 g, 37 a). He turned pro on March 20th, 2020, when he signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Before turning pro, Sucese played four seasons at Penn State University (NCAA). During his time with the Nittany Lions, Sucese recorded 140 points (61 g, 79 a) in 147 games. He is the program’s all-time leader in goals with 61 and points with 140. Additionally, Sucese is second all-time in shorthanded goals (five) and shots on goal (470) in Nittany Lions history. His +47 +/—rating is fourth in the program’s history. Verizon sponsors Hartford Wolf Pack transactions during the 2024-25 season. The Wolf Pack will open the home portion of their 2024-25 schedule on Friday, October 18th, at the XL Center against the Springfield Thunderbirds. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Full-season tickets, 20-game plans, 12-game plans, and flex plans for the 2024-25 season are on sale now! Visit hartfordwolfpack.com or call 860-722-9425 for more details! About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

[eventseeker789]

NHL In Full Swing: Washington Capitals Go Up Against Chicago & Arizona in Washington

Washington Capitals Vs. Chicago Blackhawks

The Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks are set to clash in what promises to be an electrifying showdown on the ice. As two of the NHL's powerhouse teams, both squads boast formidable rosters stacked with talent and experience.

The Capitals, led by their dynamic captain Alex Ovechkin, bring a potent mix of offensive firepower and defensive prowess to the table. With skilled playmakers like Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson anchoring the lineup, the Capitals have consistently been a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

On the other side, the Blackhawks boast a rich history of success and a roster brimming with skilled players. With stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Alex DeBrincat leading the charge, the Blackhawks are known for their speed, skill, and tenacity on the ice.

When these two teams collide, fans can expect a fast-paced, hard-hitting game filled with end-to-end action and highlight-reel plays. Whether it's Ovechkin unleashing his lethal shot from the point or Kane dazzling defenders with his slick stickhandling, there's never a dull moment when these two teams face off.

With both teams vying for a crucial win to bolster their playoff hopes, expect nothing less than a fiercely contested battle from start to finish. As the puck drops and the action unfolds, hockey fans around the world will be treated to a thrilling display of skill, determination, and passion on the ice.

Watch this match at the Capital One Arena on MArch 09, 2024 at 7:00p

Washington Capitals Vs. Arizona Coyotes

When the Washington Capitals clash with the Arizona Coyotes, it's a matchup that pits experience against youth, skill against determination. The Capitals, with their seasoned veterans like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, bring a wealth of knowledge and talent to the ice. They're known for their physical play and potent offensive attack, capable of scoring goals in bunches.

On the other side, the Arizona Coyotes boast a young, hungry roster eager to prove themselves in the NHL. Led by emerging stars like Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun, the Coyotes play with a tenacity and energy that keeps opponents on their toes. While they may lack the experience of their counterparts, they make up for it with speed, agility, and a never-say-die attitude.

When these two teams face off, fans can expect a fast-paced, hard-fought game from start to finish. The Capitals will look to control the pace of play with their disciplined defense and potent offense, while the Coyotes will rely on their speed and relentless forecheck to create scoring opportunities.

Whether it's Ovechkin unleashing his trademark slap shot or Keller dazzling defenders with his slick stickhandling, there's no shortage of excitement when these two teams meet on the ice. As the game unfolds, hockey fans will be treated to a thrilling display of skill, strategy, and passion as both teams battle for supremacy on the ice.

Watch this match at the Capital One Arena on March 03, 2024 at 7:00p

Author Name Barkat Dhanji

[topreviewin]

SAN JOSE – overlook the San Jose Sharks shedding streak and each unsightly evening which was part of it. Put away the record guide for the present time. The Sharks, nearly a month after their particular period started, have actually acquired a winnings. Thanks to a frequently dazzling overall performance from goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and objectives from Anthony Duclair and William Eklund, the Sharks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Tuesday, closing an 11-game season-opening losing streak that tied an NHL record very first created in 1943. Has Tomas Hertl desired to win a game title since poorly because one? “Yeah, maybe in playoff time,” Hertl stated moments following the Sharks presented a quick celebratiion of their very own dressing area. “No, probably never.” Eklund’s objective had been the champion. And after he scored in the 16:18 level associated with the 2nd duration, offering the Sharks their particular very first two-goal lead associated with the period, Eklund endured two dozen legs from the leaflets web and let-out a-roar, a release of types after three-plus days of disappointment. “It was a big relief,” Eklund stated of their 2nd aim of the summer season. A objective by Joel Farabee with 1:11 kept inside 2nd duration slice the Sharks’ trigger 2-1. To start with, it showed up Blackwood made a great glove-hand conserve, but a video clip analysis unveiled that puck had entered objective range. Still, Blackwood completed with 38 spares, together with Sharks required every one. Three times before Tuesday, the Sharks presented a one-goal lead entering the next duration simply to drop it each and every time. Tuesday, Blackwood made the real difference, preventing 15 shots across last 20 mins since the Sharks prevented making NHL record. The just in other cases a group features lost its very first 11 games associated with the period had been in 1943 if the nyc Rangers moved 0-11-0, plus in 2017 and 2021, if the Arizona Coyotes moved 0-10-1. “It’s a lot of relief in here,” Blackwood stated. “Everyone’s happy. It’s been a long time coming and now we can take a breath and start to try and put some more together.” After offering their group a tongue-lashing Monday, basic supervisor Mike Grier desired to observe they might vie against the leaflets, what number of puck battles they won, and exactly how they might react should they encountered adversity. “A lot of it is them being honest with themselves and looking themselves in the mirror, and just worrying about the things that they can control,” Grier stated. “You can take control of your energy, your compete, your details, and when everybody else does that, after that ideally you are capable win a game title 3-2, and that is exactly how they’re likely to get self-confidence. San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) obstructs an attempt before Philadelphia Flyers’ Travis Konecny (11) inside 2nd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay region Information Group)  “They’re not going to get confidence until they win again, to be honest with you. No one needs, ‘Oh, we played we played well today, but we lost.’ We’re past that. They need to win a game and start feeling good about themselves.” It’s a chicken and egg situation when it comes to Sharks, which had a need to win to achieve a little bit of swagger, but to achieve that variety of self-confidence, they want very first flavor some success. For near to a month, the number of twenty-some people only hadn’t discovered the proper formula, because they merely lacked a few aspects of why is an NHL group effective in 2023: A puck-moving defenseman who is able to quarterback an electrical play, rate, ability, and level between the forward team, protecting as a five-man product, and self-confidence. How can the Sharks develop some self-confidence whether they haven’t claimed a game title however? “Playing shift by shift,” Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro stated.

“We’re going to build confidence by seeing one good shift and making it in two good shifts, and every good shift leads into the other. We’re going to build confidence by seeing each other work, seeing the guy next to us work, go out there and do his job and have a good shift and then we’re going to follow it up ourselves.” San Jose Sharks mascot SJ Sharkie waves a flag after their particular 2-1 make an impression on the Philadelphia Flyers in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund (72) battles when it comes to puck against Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker (26) in the 1st duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) only misses a target against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) inside 3rd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Givani Smith (54) battles with Philadelphia Flyers’ Nicolas Deslauriers (44) in the 1st duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl (48) can’t get an attempt past Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) and Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker (26) inside 2nd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) celebrates their objective with teammates, including San Jose Sharks’ Mikael Granlund (64) from the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1st duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Mario Ferraro (38) manages the puck before Philadelphia Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway (19) inside 2nd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl (48) scuffles with all the Philadelphia Flyers inside 2nd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund (72) hits when it comes to puck against Philadelphia Flyers’ Travis Sanheim (6) inside 3rd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) can’t obtain the puck past Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) in the 1st duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl (48) hugs San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) after their particular 2-1 make an impression on the Philadelphia Flyers in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) can’t get an attempt off against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) and Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker (26) inside 3rd duration in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) tosses a puck in to the really stands after their particular 2-1 make an impression on the Philadelphia Flyers in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) and San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (36) skate associated with the ice after their particular 2-1 make an impression on the Philadelphia Flyers in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) Cathy Wolfe, from San Jose, appears before the woman check in mention of the the film Galaxy

journey, during warmups ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers online game from the San Jose Sharks in the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Region Information Group) #Blackwood #shines #Eklund #yells #San #Jose #Sharks #nightmare #ends

[atlanticcanada]

Bedard shines as Canada preps for New Year's Eve matchup with Sweden at world juniors

Brandt Clarke was manning his position on the blue line early in the second period when the action abruptly stopped.

The Canadian defenceman knew Connor Bedard just had the puck on his stick.

Then he didn't.

There were gasps and cheers moments later Thursday night from the red-clad crowd inside Scotiabank Centre when they -- along with the officials and Bedard's teammates -- realized what happened.

The 17-year-old phenom had perfectly placed a shot from a tight, near-impossible angle under the crossbar on the unsuspecting Austrian netminder for his first of two goals in what would turn into an 11-0 romp.

"Very sudden," Clarke said when asked his perspective following Friday's practice. "Then you look at the replay and you're like, 'What in the world?' It was literally a puck-width of space and he put it in there only like he can.

"Pretty remarkable."

It has, quite frankly, been a remarkable week at the world junior hockey championship for the 2023 NHL draft's presumptive top pick.

Bedard has 14 points to lead the tournament -- linemate Logan Stankoven is second with seven -- and he's tied Jordan Eberle's national record of 14 career goals at the men's under-20 event.

The North Vancouver, B.C., native also knotted a Canadian single-game mark with seven points in Wednesday's 11-2 drubbing of Germany before putting up six more against Austria.

"Pretty special," said forward Dylan Guenther, a member of the Arizona Coyotes loaned to Canada for the tournament.

"You don't see that -- ever."

Except you might when No. 16 is on the ice.

And Clarke, a member of the Los Angeles Kings, believes Bedard could play in the NHL right now.

"He's got the drive, he's got the skill, he's got determination," Clarke said. "There's not exceptional status for the NHL.

"But if there was, he'd be the No. 1 candidate."

The star centre for the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats -- coincidentally where Eberle played -- is also just four points back of the record 31 put up over three world junior tournaments by Eric Lindros.

It's unlikely, however, the event will ever see Bedard again with a straight-line path to the NHL coming after this season.

The world junior records are nice, but what Bedard really craves is a moment like the one Eberle is truly remembered for -- his dramatic tying goal in the dying seconds of the 2009 semifinals in Ottawa against Russia.

"If you ask anyone in the country, they'd want to be scoring that goal," Bedard said. "It would be nice to score a big one like he has."

With the tournament hosts set to meet Sweden on Saturday in a New Year's Eve matchup with massive seeding implications, Canadian head coach Dennis Williams said Bedard would trade each of his points for another gold medal after also winning August's pandemic-delayed showcase.

"Everyone loves scoring goals and being on the scoresheet," Williams said. "But getting to know him deep down, he's here for one thing -- he wants to repeat.

"He'll do whatever it takes."

That drive comes, at least in part, from Bedard's appreciation of his dad's profession.

Tom Bedard is a logger in B.C., often starting his days before dawn and spending hours on the road getting to and from his gruelling job.

"Pretty hard worker," Connor said of his father, whose birthday is Saturday. "His schedule's probably tougher than most. He comes home and he's still the most positive guy.

"Realizing what he does makes me feel so lucky just to play hockey."

And Canada feels lucky to have Bedard.

"First played with him at the under-18 tournament," said defenceman Jack Matier. "He was the quiet kid. Coming back here, I really notice his confidence, but also his humility off the ice.

"And a very special player on the ice with his highlight-reel goals and all the skill in the world."

Clarke was asked what he thinks pushes Bedard, a player already being mentioned in the same breath as Connor McDavid.

"People get motivated in different ways," he said. "A guy that knows his abilities, likes to put on a show for people, likes to make plays with the puck, has the utmost confidence in himself. The drives him. He wants to be better than he was last game.

"Just the kind of person he is."

His country couldn't ask for anything more.

SEEDING SCENES

Canada enters the final day of Group A action with six points from three games. Sweden leads with eight, followed by Czechia with seven.

Canada dropped its opening game to Czechia. A regulation win for the Canadians over the Swedes would guarantee them second place ahead of Monday's quarterfinals.

Czechia -- the country commonly known as the Czech Republic -- takes on Germany in its round-robin finale.

MILIC GETS THE CALL

Williams announced Thomas Milic would start in goal ahead of Benjamin Gaudreau.

The only player not drafted when eligible on the Canadian roster -- Bedard and Adam Fantilli get their turn in June -- the 19-year-old netminder has used that as fuel.

"I'm pretty proud," Milic said of backstopping a star-studded roster. "(Not being drafted) is always something that's in the back of my mind. But right now my top priority is this tournament and helping the team.

"If you're playing good, you're playing good. That's all that matters in tournaments like this."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2022.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/JtCa9N2

[starrybethany]

Clayton Keller: Part 6

Word count: 2252

I groan, stirring against whatever hard surface I’m laying on. Wait, why am I laying on a hard surface and not my bed? My eyes open and I recognize the legs of my dining room chairs before anything else. Did I really sleep on my kitchen floor last night? Why would I do that?

My muscles cry as I lift myself into a sitting position and my head throbs as I rise to my feet. Oh, I passed out while drunk. That’s why.

There’s already a bottle of Tylenol and a glass of water sitting on my kitchen counter, along with a note from Tyler wishing me luck after getting as blacked out drunk as I did. I guess all of the stress got to me last night with the cherry on top being the fight with Clayton that I figured the only way to make it better for a little while would be alcohol.

My muscles and my headache relax significantly as I shower, pulling on some leggings and a baggy sweatshirt, letting my wet hair fall over my shoulders as I gag over some crackers in the kitchen.

My phone is nowhere to be found in this room and I didn’t see it in the bathroom or my bedroom, so I head to the living room to find it. It takes ten minutes but I finally find it in between the pages of a book, which I should have noticed immediately since the width increased immensely.

All I want to do today is sleep and watch movies from the early 2000s, but I grab my backpack and head towards the library knowing I should study for these midterms so I don’t flunk out of this college that I’m oh so desperately trying to afford. It’s not as hard with a paycheck from Clayton, though.

I’m two units deep into my early American literature class when someone slides into the booth across from me. I finish the line I’m reading before looking up, smiling when my eyes meet Paige’s eyes.

I feel bad for leaving her last night, especially just to have a shitty interaction with Clayton. Instead of that I could’ve been comforting my old friend and shoving some more Oreos down her throat.

“I wanted to thank you for being there for me last night. I know we’ve kind of drifted apart, but I’m glad to know that I can always turn to you,” she tells me in a hushed voice.

My chest gets warm at her words. I was feeling so guilty for ditching her but all along she just cherished that I was there in the first place. “You’re welcome, Paige. Andrew’s a douchebag, you know that, right?”

She shrugs. “I’m getting there.”

I turn back to my laptop while she pulls out a notebook, scanning along the pages with her finger. An hour passes before she speaks again.

“So what are you doing Wednesday night?”

I bite my lip in thought. “Probably the same thing I’m doing right now.”

“Well, if you’d like to take a break for a couple of hours, let me know. I got tickets for the Coyotes game against the Blues and I was supposed to take Andrew but-”she shakes her head. “Just let me know by tomorrow if you’d like to go.”

“I’d love to go,” I smile at her. I might not know how hockey works despite the WAGs trying to explain it to me, but I am a woman who loves to see a bunch of hot, grown men sweaty and beating each other up. Plus, Clayton will be playing, and I want to watch and partially understand this time to see what he does that makes him so rich.

“Okay, cool, I’ll pick you up at six. You still live in the same apartment, right?” She asks, packing up her stuff. Some people give her looks as her volume has risen out of excitement, but I ignore them, nodding to her question. “See you then.”

“Bye.”

I watch her leave, pulling out my phone and beginning a text to the hockey player himself.

Hey, sorry for how things went the other night. Just wanted to let you know that a friend and I will be coming to watch your game against the Blues on Wednesday. Score a goal for me.

I hesitate before sending the message. I don’t like to apologize, deep down I know when I should apologize but I tend to not do it because of the issues I have buried within. It isn’t fair for the other person, especially for someone who might as well be putting his name on the check for Debbie, and I identify that it’s an issue that I need to work on.

I click send before I chicken out. I’m afraid of the response- I don’t know if he’ll still be angry with me, or perhaps even more angry- angry enough to cancel our contract or lower my pay.

He responds right away, just asking me where the seats are. I’m a little annoyed at the question, feeling like he should at least acknowledge the apology, but let him know that I have no clue where we’re sitting.

He leaves it at that and I go back to studying.

When Paige texts me details about our hangout on Wednesday night I tell Clayton where our seats are. Section 205, the middle section of the rink on the home side. He gives me a one word answer so I’m still left in the dark of how he feels.

Paige doesn’t own a jersey and neither do I so we just wear nice sweaters and jeans to the rink, unsure of how you exactly should dress for a hockey game. We find our seats and sit down, making small talk as we wait for warmups to begin.

When the players skate onto the ice, everybody cheers in excitement and my eyes find Clayton almost immediately.

It’s electrifying to watch him doing what he loves. He skates with a passion and a purpose, like every step and every move he’s going to make will be better than the last. He lifts his head towards the two hundred section and I lean in to talk into Paige’s ear. “Um, I should probably tell you something.”

She looks at me curiously. “What is it?”

“You see number nine? On the Coyotes?” I try my best to point at him. She nods. “He’s actually my uh, sugar daddy.”

She laughs, raising her eyebrows at me. “Are you kidding?”

I shake my head.

“You have a sugar daddy?”

“I have to pay the tuition somehow,” I defend, surveying her expression.

“I’m not judging,” she quickly reassures me, “That’s very progressive of you. Get that coin, girl.”

I grin at her, returning my attention to the ice. Almost as soon as I do my eyes meet familiar green ones. Green ones that I was looking at the other night while he was telling me that I’m not spending enough time with him.

I see him smile behind his helmet and the pressure from my heart lifts with the action. Thank god he’s not still mad at me. I don’t know why I cared so much anyways- I know he wouldn’t break the contract or pay me less, that’s not the type of guy that he is.

Maybe it’s because I had just a little bit of fear that he would leave. If he left I wouldn’t get to hear his crappy jokes anymore or listen to him talk about Fortnite or ignore Christian’s smirks in the morning as I leave their house.

Clayton maintains eye contact with me, lifting his hand to his ear in a phone motion. My eyebrows furrow in confusion.

“He wants me to call him? Right now? But he’s on the ice right now,” I ask Paige.

He must sense my confusion because he puts his hand in front of him, pointing at it with his finger like he’s pressing different ‘buttons.’

“Oh, he wants me to text him?” I inquire.

“I think he just wants you to watch your phone for when he texts you,” Paige clarifies.

“He’s not good at this whole charades thing,” I giggle, watching all of the players skate around the rink, stretch, and shoot pucks at the net.

They leave the ice and I pull out my phone, waiting patiently for it to ring or vibrate or do whatever the hell Clayton’s going to do.

It vibrates with a text and I open it, immediately rolling my eyes.

Clayton: Stay after the game.

Of course he wants to instantly get back into the argument as soon as I think we’re done. The game starts and hockey is a lot more confusing without help than I thought it would be. I would ask Paige a question and she’d give me an answer of what she thinks the answer is, and when she has a question I return the favor. When we definitely don’t know the answer, we use Professor Google.

The Coyotes win in the end, that much I know, and Paige and I remain in our seats searching up the answers to our questions while we wait for some more communication from Clayton.

A woman appears after a while, leading us downstairs to wait outside the locker room. Some of the players leave the locker room in their suits, giving us curious glances on their way towards their cars.

Christian grins like a cheshire cat as soon as he lands his eyes on me and I roll my eyes, giving his shoulder a shove.

“Oh hey, Y/N. Are you coming over tonight?” He questions, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive way. Paige giggles at that and I see Christian’s eyes sparkle at the sound.

“I don’t even know anymore, Christian,” I answer.

“Who’s your friend?” He asks, eyeing Paige with a flirty smile.

She looks shy and I grab her hand, feeling overprotective since she just had a traumatic and recent breakup.

“Out of your league, dude. Get out of here.”

He rolls his eyes but gives us a wave, heading down the hall. “See you at home, Y/N!”

“Sorry about that, Paige,” I apologize to her.

“No, it’s fine, um,” she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, “He’s actually kind of cute.”

I give her a soft smile. “Just let me know when you’re ready. I can give him your number.”

She nods. The intimate moment is broken as Clayton leaves the locker room, heading our way as soon as he sees us. I introduce the two to each other and the brunette turns to me.

“Are you coming home with me tonight? I won’t be playing Fortnite, don’t worry,” he adds a snarky comment.

I raise my eyebrows at that. “I apologized, okay? Remember when I apologized on Monday and you completely ignored it?”

“Remember how you completely ignored the fact that you’re in a contract to spend time with me?” He retorts.

“I don’t have to spend every second of every day with you, Clay-””Hey, uh, guys? People are starting to stare,” Paige interrupts us worriedly.

I look around. It’s true. Some of the workers and lingering people are so clearly eavesdropping on our argument- well, now they know that Clayton has a sugar baby. Even though I’m shameless, I know better than to continue this argument in a public place.

“Let’s go back to my place,” Clayton nods towards the hallway towards the parking garage.

I turn to look at Paige but she nods at the tall man. “Go, I’ll be fine. Work out whatever you need to work out.”

I give her a gracious smile, falling into step beside Clayton as we head down the hall. “Go to my place, I have some studying to do tonight after this conversation.”

~

Clayton and I sit down after getting back to my apartment, having a conversation where we’re both completely honest with each other and laying out all of our thoughts and emotions. I think we’ve both come to the realization that although we both lead busy lives, we need to make time for each other. However, that doesn’t mean dropping everything at the other’s beck and call.

“Say it,” Clayton gives me a toothy grin.

“I promise to make time for you.” I stick out my pinky finger. “Now you say it.”

“I promise to respect it when you can’t make time for me.” He attaches his pinky finger to mine and we shake on it.

“Okay, now I need to study before we do anything else,” I inform him, grabbing the textbook from the coffee table and pulling it into my lap.

He pulls me across the table into his lap, looking over my shoulder. “What is this?”

“Anatomy,” I answer, trying to find the place I left off at when we left for the game.

“Gross.” He says that but I can feel him reading over my shoulder, even resting his chin on my shoulder to get a better view.

A half an hour passes before Clayton gets antsy, shifting below me and turning his head.

“Okay, time to pay attention to me now,” he declares, pushing the book off of my lap and onto the floor.

“Clayton!” My protests fall on deaf ears as he yanks me below him, hovering over me and pressing his lips onto mine.

I can’t even help but to laugh.

[tessisawriter]

The Next Step (Clayton Keller)

Request (anonymous): 24 and 33 w/ Clayton Keller

Warnings: A few sexually suggestive comments

Word Count: 1.8k

“Yes!” you said a little too loudly as your boyfriend, Clayton scored the overtime goal and secured a win for the Arizona Coyotes. Everyone in the classroom looked at you, and you quickly closed the tab that had the NHL tracker on it.

“Miss Y/LN? Is there something you would like to share with the class?” Your professor said from the front of the room.

“N-no sir,” you stammered.

He shook his head before continuing the lesson. You looked at the clock on your laptop: only five more minutes until you were free from your awful night class.

Your best friend Nicole, whose pen had laid slack on her notebook for at least a half hour, started writing urgently on a page and turned it towards you.

“Did they win?” it said.

You took the pen out of her hand and wrote back: “Yes, Clay in OT.”

She smiled, took the pen out of your hand again, and wrote, “Can’t wait to go out tonight. The usual place?” You couldn’t help but let out a small giggle, which thankfully went unheard by your peers this time, and nodded.

“All right, class, next time we’ll talk about the stock market,” your professor announced, and you closed your laptop, shoved it in your bag, and jumped out of your seat. Nicole was right behind you as you scurried out of the classroom and towards the front door.

“Ugh, that was the most boring lecture yet!” you lamented as the two of you exited the building and started walking towards your car. “Why did we have to get stuck with an 8-10PM lecture?”

“Because we’re cursed,” Nicole muttered, and you laughed in response.

Your phone started to ring, and you didn’t even have to look at the screen to know it was Clayton.

“Hey, babe, great game!” you said. “And you scored the OT goal—I’m so proud of you!”

You heard Clayton chuckle on the other line. “Thanks, babe. I’m guessing you watched it on your laptop during class?”

You sighed while opening the door to the passenger’s seat of your car, Nicole already heading for the driver’s seat. She knew without even asking that you wanted to talk to Clayton. You buckled your seatbelt, gave Nicole the keys to your car, and put the phone on speaker before replying, “Guilty.”

“Babe, I love when you watch my games, but school is important.”

“But the class is so boring, and it’s late at night! Why pay attention when I can watch you?” you said as Nicole pulled out of the parking lot.

“Because you want to pass the class, right?” Clayton replied.

You gave a noncommittal grumble in response, but he laughed, knowing that you did indeed want to pass.

“I just don’t want you to get in trouble, Y/N, especially not because of me. One of these days, your professor is going to catch you and confiscate your laptop.”

“She almost got caught today,” Nicole butted in, and you glared at her for ratting you out.

You heard Clayton sigh on the other line. “Please be careful, Y/N.”

“I will! I’ll be more careful, I promise,” you said before changing the subject. “So, everyone’s going out to celebrate, right?”

“Yeah, at the usual place. Are you and Nicole meeting us there?”

“Yep, we’re already on our way.”

“You’re not driving, are you?” Clayton asked, panic in his voice.

You rolled your eyes. Clayton meant well, but he was so overprotective. “Of course not! Do you think I want to get in an accident?”

“Well, considering that you almost got caught in class today watching my game…”

“Come on, Clay, you know me: I’m responsible, especially around cars,” you asserted.

“I know,” he replied. “So I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah, we’ll be there in ten. Love you!”

“Love you, too,” Clayton replied before you hung up the phone.

“God, you guys are too cute,” Nicole said. “You even argue like an old married couple.”

“We do not!” you protested.

She giggled and stopped the car at the red light before putting her hands up in defense. “I’m just saying, Y/N, you guys are the only couple I know that I think will last past graduation.”

You smiled. You had been dating Clayton for over two years now, and your relationship was completely solid. All of your friends kept saying they thought he would propose after graduation next spring, and although you dismissed them whenever they brought it up, you secretly hoped he would. If someone had told you five years ago that you would want to get married at twenty-two, you would’ve laughed and said they were crazy, but everything changed when you met Clayton. You loved him and wanted to spend the rest of your life with him, and now that Clayton had signed an eight-year extension with the Coyotes, it felt like the timing was right.

“You’ve got that look on your face,” Nicole said with a knowing smile.

“What look?” you asked, startled.

“The look you get whenever you think about Clayton,” she said. “I’ve never seen you look so happy as you do when he’s on your mind.” Nicole was your best friend since you were in elementary school in Glendale, and you lived together in an apartment while going to college in Phoenix. When you first met Clayton and told her about him, she was initially wary, worried that as a hockey player, he would break your heart, but she quickly changed her mind.

“Really?” you said.

“Really. You get all googly-eyed and smile really big,” Nicole confirmed. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but Clayton’s going to ask you to move in with him tonight. And before you say no,” she added, noticing that you had already opened your mouth to speak, “I’m totally fine with it. My parents said they’ll pay the rent for this year.”

“Are you sure?” Clayton already asked you to move in with him last year, but you didn’t want to leave your best friend behind. She had always been there for you, and you refused to abandon her. With that said, you did want to live with Clayton for a while before getting engaged: it seemed logical for that to be the next step in your relationship.

“Positive. You’re my best friend, and I want to see you happy. Clayton does that,” she said as she pulled into a parking space that happened to be open right next to the club and put the car in park. “And we’re here.”

“Thanks, Nicki,” you said, reaching over to give her a hug. Only you were allowed to call her Nicki; if anyone else tried, they had a death wish.

“Of course,” she replied. “Now let’s get in there and find your man!”

You giggled as you got out of the car and closed the door. Nicole met you on the curb, and you wrapped your arm around her as you walked into the club.

When you arrived in the VIP area, you saw the boys were already drinking quite a bit.

“Hey, it’s Y/N and Nicki!” Jakob Chychrun shouted. You looked over at Nicole, thinking she was going to kick his ass, but she blushed and smiled at him.

“Hi, Jake,” you said to the tall blonde boy in front of you. “Where’s Clay?”

“Actually, I have no…”

Someone’s hands started tickling your sides, and you cut Jakob off with a scream. You turned around to find Clayton standing behind you. “You scared me!” you said.

“Sorry, babe, I saw an opportunity and had to take it.”

“You’re not sorry,” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re right: I’m not,” he replied, leaning in to kiss you on the lips.

“Hey Nicki, do you want something to drink?” Jakob asked your best friend. While you were still in Clayton’s arms, you pulled away from the kiss and leaned your head on his shoulder in order to eavesdrop on their conversation. Jakob had a crush on Nicole for a while now, and she felt the same way about him. You were hoping he was going to finally make a move.

“I can’t drink tonight. I’m the DD,” she said.

“Okay, wanna dance instead, then?”

“Sure.” Nicole was absolutely beaming when she took Jakob’s hand, and you winked at her before she turned away.

“Yay!” you cheered when they were far enough away to not hear you.

Clayton laughed. “God, stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Nothing. I just love how much you support Nicole,” he said while wrapping his arms around your lower waist, his hands resting on your hips.

You blushed at the contact. “Are you trying to seduce me?” you asked.

“Why, is it working?” he smirked.

“You know it is!” you said, laughing before schooling your face to take on a serious expression. “But I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it, babe?” Clayton asked, a look of concern flashing across his face.

“It’s nothing bad, it’s just…Nicole said on the way over that you were going to ask me to move in with you.”

Clayton sighed. “Ugh, she wasn’t supposed to tell you! I should never have told her.”

“Actually, I’m glad you did,” you said. “The only thing that was holding me back from moving in with you last year was Nicole—I didn’t want to abandon her. But now that I know her parents are going to take care of the rent, I can rest easy.”

“Are you saying that you’ll move in with me?” Clayton asked, a grin slowly overtaking his face.

“Yes,” you replied, and Clayton picked you up and spun you around a few times before putting you down.

“Let’s go back to my…I mean, our place,” Clayton said, still grinning.

“Definitely, let me just tell Nicole we’re…” Your eyes landed on Nicole and Jakob making out on the dance floor. “On second thought,” you giggled, “I’ll text her. I don’t want to ruin the moment.”

Clayton looked over and chuckled. “Good idea. Thank God he made a move, I was getting real tired of ‘Nicole this, Nicole that,’” he said, mimicking Jakob.

You laughed. “All right, let’s get out of here. Do you need me to call an Uber?”

“Nah, I already called for one about five minutes ago; they should be here any minute,” Clayton said.

You smacked him lightly on the arm. “A little presumptuous, are we?” you joked.

“My team just won a game, my girlfriend looks absolutely gorgeous, and she agreed to move in with me. I think we both know where this night is headed,” he said.

“Oh my God, Clay! Your mom would wash your mouth out with soap if she heard you say that,” you giggled.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Clayton said with a blasé tone, and you grabbed his hand and made your way out of the club.

[1800dontcallme]

Sorry to be annoying with self promos but I make hand painted jackets and stuff of both hockey and non-hockey variety so if anyone’s interested please message me! I really love making these and I really would love to make them more often!

[hockeybabestars]

all my friends - clayton keller

song: all my friends by aj mitchell

A/N: this in in Clayton’s POV 

“Kells… you good?” Jakob asked as he pulled up chairs to our booth with his girlfriend. I focused back on the people in front of me. The small cafe in Scottsdale was packed on this Saturday night, and the guys wanted to have dinner and just hang out. So naturally I agreed to what I thought was going to be a boys night. Turns out this little shindig was open invite to better halves as well and I had no idea.

“Uh yeah I’m good.” I think I would rather jump off a bridge than sit here and watch Lawson and his girlfriend continually call each other by a different pet name every five minutes. Schmaltzy and his girlfriend sat down literally on top of each other and I realized that this was going to be a long night. I hadn’t felt so...single, until now.

“You sure bout that?” Lawson asked.

“Yeah guys I’m fine, what do we wanna eat?” I let them debate about it before the girls decided for them and I couldn’t help but feel out of place. Tonight was just another reminder that (Y/N) was gone and had been for a few months now.

Chalk it up to bad timing or our lives becoming busier by the day or just feeling like there was something else out there for us but for whatever reason, we broke up. And every day without her I had felt like something was missing. And while I was dealing with the aftermath of what our relationship was, all my friends were falling in love. Maybe it was the honeymoon stage where the rose colored glasses never came off for them, but they seemed more invested in their girls than anything else tonight. It made me miss her.

It made me miss us.

“Kells you been seeing anyone new?” Nick asked.

“Umm not really.” I frowned, eager to divert the topic.

“Clayton can’t seem to settle down.” Lawson said, “Every time I try to set him up he refuses.”

“I just don’t want to go on a blind date, that’s all.” I said.

“Nah, he’s just waiting on (Y/N) to come around. I told him if he wants her back he’s gotta-”

“You guys, enough with my love life kay?” I laughed.

I talked with them for a little bit longer after our food came out. Mostly them telling me that new love will come and making a sad stupid little pouty face like they pitied me while they were cuddled up with their loved ones. I slipped out as soon as possible and headed towards my car in the parking lot. I don’t really think any of them noticed. I don’t think they know that Saturday is actually for the boys, or maybe they just forgot with the distraction they call a girlfriend hanging on their arms.

“Ouch.” Lost in my thoughts I collided with someone and knocked them down. And when I apologize and offer my hand, I see the face only pictures could remind me of the past few months. And I couldn’t deny the spark I still felt when she latched her hand on my mind.

“Clayton? Wow I wasn’t expecting to see you around. How are you?”

Her sweet smile drew me in and when I spoke I didn’t even know what words were coming out of my mouth. “Umm yeah I’m good, god it’s been a minute since I’ve seen you around. You look good. You look really good.”

I just blew that on the first try wow.

She laughed like she didn’t care, like she knew this was my personality, because she does, and it eases my nerves a little bit. “How’s the team? The boys still taking jabs at ya?”

“Yeah they’re good. It’s all in good fun.” I smile.

She relaxes a bit, “All in good fun, of course. Well hey, I’ve gotta go, I’m meeting some friends but it was good to see you again.”

I didn’t want to lose her again. Although seeing her again was nice, having to “catch up” like this wasn’t. I don’t want to pretend like we’re almost strangers. I want her back.

“(Y/N).” I grab her wrist lightly to hold her back. She turns to look at me, cheeks lightly flushed, dark curls framing her face and I honestly don’t know how I hold it together when I say it but I do. “I don’t want the only way I see you now to be meeting by chance in some random parking lot. I miss you. I want to see you all the time.”

Her eyes go wide and she blushes as she says, “I miss you too. A lot actually. I don’t really even remember why we broke up.”

“Me either.” I say, gently using the hand that somehow was now clasped in mine to guide her into my arms.

“I was waiting on you to come around.” She mumbles into my neck, and when she pulls back I lightly peck her lips.

She pulls me back down and her lips move slowly against mine. It gave me little flutters in my stomach and I couldn’t help but smile against her lips. And as much as I don’t want this moment to end I know she has people waiting on her.

“Don’t you have friends you’re meeting?” I say pausing for a second.

“Yeah but they can wait a little longer.” She laughs and kisses me yet again.

Chuckling I say, “Can’t argue with that.”

[throw-the-torch]

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Olives & Caramel Sauce (Requested)

A/N: Enjoy some good old fashioned fluff. Big thanks to @psychospeak-blog for giving a read through before I shared it with all of you. 

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1.2K

Request: Hi! Could you do an imagine with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Maybe a romantic proposal one.

“Babe” you whispered, poking Oli in the side to hopefully wake him up a little. He was squishing you to death and his hair was crowding your space. Oliver was already a touchy-feely kind of guy but the moment he fell asleep he took it to a whole other level. No matter how you tossed and turned during the night, Oliver’s sleeping figure would find a way to attach himself to you. Deep down it made you warm and fuzzy to think that even in his sleep, Oliver would look for you but at this very moment you were overheating and had Oli’s hair in your mouth.

“Mmmm sorry babe” Oliver’s sleepy voice mumbled before he flipped his hair out of your face and removed one leg from its draped position over you. That left just his arm and his head resting on you, which you could deal with. You started running your hand through his hair, no longer tired but not ready to get up. Soon enough you heard soft snores coming from Oliver so you continued playing with his hair and used your other free hand to scroll through Twitter. You’re not sure how much time passed but a little while later and you heard mumbling coming from Oliver.

“No I don’t want olives on my ice cream” the words came out clearly. You had to cover your mouth to stifle a laugh. Sometimes when Oli was really tired he would sleep talk, it didn’t happen often but, when it did it always gave you a laugh.

“What do you want on your ice cream?” you asked quietly so that you didn’t startle him.

“I need to pick up her ring” he answered and your fingers stopped running through his hair, you weren’t sure if you heard him right.

“Whose ring?” you asked, hoping he wouldn’t go off on a random tangent.

“Y/N’s wedding ring silly,” he said and there was almost a laugh in his tone. You didn’t know what else to ask so you continued running your hand through his hair until the questions in your head died down and you fell back asleep.

“Hey sleepy head, I’m gonna head to the grocery store and run some errands. Do you need anything?” Oliver’s freshly showered figure was leaning over the side of the bed, his hand gently pushing some hair out of your face. You leaned into his touch, enjoying his warm embrace.

“No I’m okay,” you said.

“Still on for sundaes tonight?” he asked and you looked up at him, the mention of ice cream triggering something you couldn’t remember.

“What did you say?” you asked, still slightly asleep.

“It’s our anniversary tonight remember? Asking if you still want sundaes like we do every year?” he asked and now it was his turn to look at you weirdly.

“Yeah, sure. Sorry, I’m still in dreamland a little” you replied, rubbing your eyes in the process. Oli let out a smile and leaned down to give you a kiss before heading towards the door.

“See you later beautiful,” he said with a wave before jogging down the stairs.

After some more lazing around in bed you finally pull yourself together and headed to the kitchen to get started on some breakfast for yourself. The majority of your day passed in a lazy blur until you started getting ready for dinner with Oliver. At the beginning of your relationship, you guys always went out for a fancy dinner and then came back to share a sundae as an homage to your first date ever. Now after 7 years together you were happy to make some pizza and lounge around in PJs to share your ice cream. You were just finishing up the pizza dough when Oliver walked through the door.

“Hey I’m back, sorry it took so long, there was traffic everywhere,” he said as he deposited the bags on the kitchen counter.

“No worries my love, the dough is ready so if you wanna put something more comfortable on we can start building out pizza,” you said, leaning forward to give him a kiss.

“Sounds good, be back in a second,” he said before heading to the bedroom. While he was getting ready to take the time to roll out the dough and put the sauce on so that all that was left was the toppings and it to bake it. Once that was done you grabbed the grocery bags from the counter and started putting them away.  

“I got it babe, you get back to the pizzas,” Oliver said once he came back down, shoo-ing you back towards the counter and he grabbed the bags.

“What do you want on yours?” you said, pulling the bowl of sausage towards you.

“Sausage, cheese and lots of olives,” he said, pulling a jar of sliced olives from the bags.

At the mention of the olives, last night events came flooding back to you. Oliver’s body heat and hair waking you up, his sleep talking, and the mention of a wedding ring. You must have stood there frozen for a minute because Oliver’s voice broke through your thoughts.

“Baby are you okay?” he said, and now he was standing in front of you, a concerned look on his face. 

“Yeah I’m fine,” you said quickly and went back to the pizzas. 

“Are you sure? You seemed pretty out of there” Oliver said, pulling you back towards him, a concerned look plastered on his face. You looked at him and couldn’t help but feel bad like you had intruded on something when you listened to his sleep talking last night,

“You were talking in your sleep last night,” you said, picking at Oliver’s shirt to keep from looking at him.

“Okay so?” he said, obviously confused as to where the problem was. 

“And you mentioned something about a wedding ring and I’m sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, you just woke me up by squishing me and then you started talking and-” you started to babble until Oliver cut you off.

“Baby, oh my beautiful Y/N. I wanted this to be special for you but I guess I ruined it in my sleep.” Oliver said as he fiddled around to grand a little velvet box from his back pocket. All you could do was say his name in disbelief as he opened the little box to reveal the most beautiful diamond ring. 

“I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you Y/N, I love waking up to your beautiful face, and I love that you sleep in my hoodies when I’m on road trips. I love that you deal with me putting caramel sauce all over the sundae when you only like chocolate. What I’m trying to say Y/N is that I want to share my ice cream with you for the rest of my life, even if it means only chocolate sauce” he said with a smile “will you marry me Y/N?” 

You couldn’t find the words to respond to Oliver so you just looked at him standing there with the ring in his hand as he looked at you, waiting for an answer. An overwhelming wave of love washed over you before you jump up, giving Oliver less than a second to catch you before you attached your lips to his.

“I’ll take that as a yes?” Oliver asked once you guys separated lips for air. 

“It’s a yes” you smiled back “it’s a yes to you and your caramel sauce”.

[the-penalty-box-imagines]

Reward for a Champion

Author: Emmalee

Player/Team: Clayton Keller/Arizona Coyotes

Prompt: i don’t know if you’re still taking requests but fluffy mini golfing w clayton keller

Rating: Pg

Word Count: 400 Words

A/N: Enjoy girlies! Lots of updates coming tonight!

You pull your sweatshirt over your t-shirt, the cold air making your skin break out into goosebumps. You have just finished dinner with your boyfriend Clayton. He broke it to you during dinner that he actually has another surprise for you afterwards. He took you outside and led you across the street to a quaint little mini-golf place.

“Thanks, Clay. You’re the bestest boyfriend,” you say, squeezing him tightly.

Not to fluff your ego, but you’re pretty good at mini-golf. The only thing you struggle with is that stupid windmill. You breezed through the first 12 holes but now, you are standing across from the stupid windmill.

You line up to take a putt, but stop short before you actually take a swing.

“Ugh. Clayton, I hate these. I hate these stupid windmills,” you say.

“Here, I’ll help you,” he offers.

He winds his arms around you, creating almost a frame around your body. He explains to you how to time it correctly. You’re listening in the beginning you swear, but after a few minutes, you just lay your head back onto his shoulder.

“Got it, babe?” he asks and starts to walk to away from you.

“Wait...what?”

“Were you even paying attention?” he laughs.

“Um...for a while. I’m sorry. You’re just very...distracting,” you say, looking sweetly at him.

“Oh?” he asks, coming closer to you.

You bite your lip. “Yah. Sometimes.”

His hands gently and smoothly slide around your hips and turn you back towards the ball.

“Okay, well I’ll make you a deal. If you listen and pay attention and get this ball in that hole, I’ll give you a little reward after.”

“Sounds like a deal, baby.”

He starts whispering in your ear, telling you again how to time it.

“Okay,” you say.

“Together?” he asks.

You smile and kiss his cheek.

“Together.”

You both swing your arms gently, but perfectly synchronized. The ball rolls right between the spokes of the windmill and into the hole.

“Yess!!”

Clayton starts to move on but you clear your throat.

“Ahem. Where is my reward, young man?”

He smirks and comes back, dropping his club and lifting you up. He presses a kiss to your lips and spins you around. When you pull back you smile.

“Reward fit for a champion.”

“I expect one from you when I win.”

“Ugh as if. I’m winning 100%,” you laugh.

Thanks, loves!! Xx Em 

[mitchbeck]

HOWLINGS REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Time once again to empty the Howlings Reporter's Notebook. The New York Rangers have their new head coach Peter Laviolette in place, and the Wolf Pack have Kris Knoblauch in Hartford set for his fifth year. Joining Laviolette's staff is one-time Yale/Sacred Heat University assistant coach Dan Muse, who has been steadily climbing the ladder to this spot. Last year Muse coached the US National Development team in the USHL and worked with the Nashville Predators when Laviolette was head coach as head coach of the Chicago Steele (USHL), where he won the championship. Muse was the head coach of the US's U-18 gold medal-winning team this past spring and played at Stonehill College when they were a Division III program. The Rangers signed defenseman Zac Jones to a two-year, one-way deal at a cap-friendly price tag of $800K / $825K-NHL. Jones is likely being given a shot to make the Rangers' third pair to play with Braden Schneider. He'll compete for that spot with Ben Harpur, who earned the spot and the last available contract last year. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup in overtime over the Coachella Valley Firebirds at 16:19, 3-2, in the last North American hockey of the season played in the California desert at the Acriusre Arena. The Jack Butterfield Playoff MVP was Hunter Shepard, who helped knock off the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division conference title last month. The Hershey Bears won their 12th title in the 75 years of the franchise. Mark Vecchione scored the first Game 7 overtime winner in the Bears' long, illustrious history overcoming a 2-0 deficit and an early OT PK situation. Henrik Borgstrom didn't play in their opening playoff series against the Charlotte Checkers. He stepped in when Mike Sgarbossa went down with a season-ending injury. He had strong right-wing corner puck possession, won a one-on-one battle with the Firebirds' Ryker Evans, and flipped it out in front. It was the second overtime winner in the last 70 years of the AHL. The Firebirds sought to become the first AHL expansion team since the Texas Stars in 2010 and just the third in league history to do so. Ex-Pack and Hershey team captain, Dylan McIlrath, with his daughter ice-side, getting a kiss from Daddy with the Calder Cup in his hands, won his second Calder Cup title in his career and handed it off to ex-Sound Tiger Aaron Ness. Other CT connections winners for Hershey were former Yale Bulldog Joe Snively and Quinnipiac University Bobcat alum San Anas, who lost in last year's final as a member of the Springfield Thunderbirds. Ex-Pack Stu Bickel, assistant coach for Coachella Valley for a second year in a row, came up short last year in Springfield with Anas. So did ex-Yale John Hayden and QU Brogan Rafferty. Hershey head coach Todd Nelson completed his piece of Calder Cup history as he has now won two titles as a head coach, assistant coach, and player. This summer, he will be strongly considered for an NHL coaching opening. Ex-Pack Steven Kampfer signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Arizona Coyotes, who acquired him at the trade deadline spending it in Tucson. The value is $775K-NHL/$225K-AHL. Mathieu Olivier, the son of former New Haven Knights Simon, signed a two-year, one-way deal with Columbus for $1.1M per year. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article