I just wanted to find a hockey video featuring some youngsters, since they are still playing unless they are grounded, which would be totally unfair. Their math teachers are TOTALLY mean, and how can they expect them to do two pages of homework when they have practice, and besides, their English teacher wants them to read two chapters of the book by the end of the week and their little brother doesn't even have ANY homework, so I'm SORRY if they forgot to do ONE FREAKING ASSIGNMENT.

Anyways, youth players are still playing unless they have been grounded, and there are videos of them out there on the internet. This one stands out because of the dance music for one simple little Russian hockey goal. If there is no NHL, we might as well dance...

In case you hadn't heard, we almost had a deal today! Well, the NHL made a proposal, then the NHLPA made a counter offer. Initially, it seemed like there was some good negotiating ready to happen. But then, the NHL decided that they weren't really going to talk... they just wanted the PA to sign their deal, even though it cut deep and didn't actually solve any problems. So are we going to have hockey any time soon? I wouldn't bet on it, but if you want to take that chance here are some sports betting sites.

That means BMR needs to find another purpose, another direction. But what? 

Well, this started as a hockey blog, right? Schultz posted every day, with scores and updates and opinions and ice girls. Why can't we keep it up? We could talk about the KHL, or college hockey, or even the Olympics! Quick, anybody have a good Ferris State joke? No? No. I tried a KHL post one time, but I think that's all it will ever be. 

The name IS Barry Melrose Rocks. What if we just started posting pictures of a whimsical Barry Melrose?
 

Lookin' fresh, BM!

Yeah, OK, that's creepy.

Well, what if we made it Canadian sports friendly? Barry is Canadian, hockey is a sport. There are 2 national past times in Canada, I hear. Hockey is 1, lacrosse is the other. Lacrosse? La freakin crosse?
 
Are they wearing skirts? Oh hell no. Loser Domi is the only person around here allowed to wear a skirt, and I BELIEVE she prefers pants. (Schultz is grandfathered in as well. He is also allowed to wear a skirt)

So, um, what else is there? Rocks? Could we talk about rocks? I don't know. I'm really at a loss. We'll figure something out. 

I am beyond excited for the first games of the NHL season! I am really just ready for hockey to start, as I am sure most of you are! The first nationally televised game of the season (in America, anyways), will be the Bruins and Flyers. Check out the entire schedule of season openers here! The Wild are playing on the 13th against Colorado, and I am so excited.
It's been so long since we had hockey, and I am just ready for it to be back. Who is with me? Hockey! One week! Let's go (North) America!

I don't think we are going to see the NHL until 2014. Something good happened for the Wild this offseason, so something very bad is bound to happen, and a two year lockout definitely fits. If you want to follow some professional hockey with NHL caliber talent, you need to look at Russia (as well as the 6 other countries that have KHL teams). I'm hear to help you work through which team you should be cheering for. 

The Florida Panthers were among the first teams to lay off staff, and among the terminated was team mascot Stanley C. Panther. Follow along as we join the lovable mascot on three journeys through unemployment.

Hey everyone! I know I haven't been around as much as I should be, but I'm ready and raring to go for the 2012-2013 NHL season! I'll be setting up the fantasy league once again as your fearless commissioner and...

Wait...what? 

You're kidding me. 

WHY CAN'T I HAVE NICE THINGS?!

Minnesota is, as they say around here, the State of Hockey. If you only followed the NHL, you would think this is a wee bit ironic, considering the Wild are an ever dissapointing bastion of mediocrity, but youth hockey, adult league hockey, high school hockey and even college hockey. Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State-Mankato and Bemidji State are all Division 1 schools, and all 5 have a a history of success on a national level, especially Minnesota. 
Today the NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus!) came out with their college hockey schedule today, and as a resident of Minnesota and a fan of the state and its commitment to hockey, I thought I would run down all of the games that feature teams from my home state this fall.

None? What?! Four games from Nebraska-Omaha, but NONE from any school in Minnesota? What in the purple hell?

This is Bettman's fault. 

And Gary Bettman counters with a hearty f*ck you!

I will prove to you in a series of quotes over the last several days that the CBA negotiations are nearing their end. First from Gary Bettman yesterday:

''I'm trying to get us on to the same page,'' Bettman said. ''I'm trying to get us on to a common language.'' 

Also from Bettman, but when the Owners were reviewing the Player's proposal:

"It's clear to me that they didn't put it together in an hour or two, and as a result we're going to need to take a little bit of time to evaluate it," Bettman said.

And now again from yesterday, but this time a quote from Montreal player representative Mathieu Darche. 

''It didn't take them five minutes to write it and it won't take us five minutes to read it.''

 WEll, if that doesn't sound like common language from Bettman and Darche, I don't know what does. Yes sir, we've just about got this thing licked.

Dave Lozo of NHL.com is following the Stanley Cup around and tweeted this picture of Jeff Carter serving a drink out of the Cup. This looks like a terrifying proposition. I've been the unwelcome victim of the chin dribble while trying to enjoy a frosty beverage. It's embarrassing and messy and waiting to happen when drinking out of the Stanley Cup. I hope you brought a change of clothes, lady. Second, note how she is wearing white pants. Those babies are definitely getting wet. Not a situation you want to be in. 
The lockout better not happen, because the Kings spending any extra time with the cup sounds like an entirely unpleasant scenario.