The torch for the Winter Olympics....

.... before going back to Canada and the opening for the winter Olympics ceremony came to me: THE AMBASSADOR.
In the picture from left to right, James Wright, Gregor Robertson, the Olympic Torch and me the Hockey Ambassador (Nick Wright).

GO CANADA GO!!!!!!

The Ambassador is officially declared!!!

If there is any shadow of doubt check here!!
I've been named the official SENS UNDERGROUND AMBASSADOR TO THE UK

http://www.sensunderground.com/storage/episodes/S5Episode4.mp3
I really recommend these guys!!!!!

9 out of 10

A result to scary even the bravest souls in professional hockey history, ten games and only one lonely victory.
well, this pumpkin must summarize the feeling that both Larry Tanenbaum and Richard Peddie must now be experiencing. F**** scaring isn't it????
In 2008 the Maple Leafs where valued at US$ 1.75 billion, today I wouldn't pay a fiver. Indeed they could offer it for free, I wouldn't take it. Thanks but no, too many troubles, on the other hand, the SENS, only happiness nothing to say abou these guys, as Johnie would say: Keep on going...

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a fact people on the other side of the Atlantic don't really know how much pleasure there is in a good street hockey in the end of the afternoon. Here is just a few pictures to tease. Great game, great guys.

Autumn is here therefore THE LEAFS ARE FALLING!

"The falling Leafs drift by the window.
The falling Leafs of white and indigo".

It is with an inexplicable pain in my chest (maybe the fact that I've been laughing so hard could explain the chest pain, you never know), that I come now to this blog to speak about the Leafs. How depressing has their performance been?? Well the answer seems pretty clear -- very depressing. Six games and not a single victory. They battled les Canadiens, which cannot be considered a hard opponent, as their performance has been extremely inconsistent. But the Leafs??? On the ground, as autumn leaves should be. Then came the Capitals. We are talking after all about a team that holds a realistic prospect of making the playoffs. So ok this one the Leafs could get away with: Leafs 4, Capitals 6. Third game and here comes a team that the Leafs love to beat -- the Ottawa Senators. Hstory has told that most of the games where these two Canadian rivals meet, the Leafs end up with the victory. But noooo, not this time. Toronto 1, Ottawa 2. Not a great victory for the Sens, but still a victory. Three more points on da big board! The citizens of old Hog Town must be having a hard time sleeping.
Three more games, three more humiliations. Pittsburgh scored 5, Rangers 7 and Colorado 4, and the Leafs adding up their goals from those 3 games could only muster what Pittsburgh got in one -- 5. It`s been 40 years since their last Stanley Cup, and it is now looking like it will be 41. It might be a good idea to consider creating a Don Cherry cup to give to the poor things. A trophy for the competition spirit and never giving up --I mean competing for 40 years and loosing season after season, many teams would have already hung their skates. Maybe the Leafs are a case of TAS. For those unfamiliar with the acronym here is what it means: "Try Another Sport". Who knows maybe... curling. I can see it now – “TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS CURLING CLUB". With luck, the Leafs` fans wouldn’t even notice the difference.

My Top Ten Must-See Hockey Games of the 2009-2010 Season

Thanks to the hockey blogosphere I got the idea of making a list of my Top Ten MUST SEE Hockey Games of the 2009-2010 season. Here they are, in reverse order of importance, starting with number 10. I've also given the reasons I wouldn't miss them for the world. Count on it, I'll be watching these games with interest!

Must-see Game Number 10

Sens on ice again

On September 15th Ottawa faces the Halifax Panthers in their first pre-season game. This will be my first chance to see the Sens in aciton in almost 5 months. Go Sens Go!

Must-see Game(s) Number 9

Sens vs. Montreal

On September 18th the Senators meet the Canadiens in an exhibition game that will have lots of drama! Wearing a new Senators jersey former Canadiens star player Alex Kovalev will face his erstwhile teammates at the Bell Centre, Montreal's home ice. (I’ll probably watch all Sens vs Montreal games – long-standing historical and family rivalries are at stake!)

Sens vs Toronto

On October 6th the Sens face their arch nemesis those miserable Maple Leafs in their very first game of the season! Go! Sens! Go!

Must-see Game Number 8

Opening game of NHL season – Montreal vs Toronto

On October 1st we have a treat of 4 Canadian teams making up the 8 teams who face one another on fthe first day of the NHL 2009-2010 season. This is when it all begins and will set the tone for the season to come. I'll be watching the Montral vs. Toronto game. A great chance to see the Sens two biggest rivals in action.

Must-see Game Number 7

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ first game of the season

On October 2nd we'll have a chance to see what form last year's Stanley Cup winners are in after the summer training. Its at home in Pittsburgh and it will be fun to see the home crowd go wild for their heroes. It'll also be a chance to see how Canadian player Sidney Crosby is doing keeping his inclusion in the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team in mind.

Must-see Game Number 6

Penguins vs. Capitals First Face-Off

It'll be great to see these VERY competitive local rivals lock sticks for the first time of the season on October 6th. Should be entertaining hockey.

Must-see Game Number 5

Buffalo vs. NY Islanders

I hate the Buffalos Sabres, so grab any chance I get to see them get thrashed! I think the NY Islanders have the best early-season chance of humiliating them.

Must-see Game Number 4

Hockey Day In Canada

On January 30th 2010 all six Canadian teams play each other! There will be great CBC coverage and HOURS of hockey-related Canadian TV. Its a great thing when Canadians dedicate a day to their favourite sport.

Must-see Game Number 3

All the hockey games in the Vancouver 2010 olympics

Canadian will be playing its national sport on home ice for the first time since the 1988 Calgary Olympics. I'll be watching as the Canadian team goes for Gold! There will be lots of great talent represented on all the competing national teams and it's always interesting to see the combinations of players the are created in the olympic teams.

Must-see Game Number 2

The 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Final

Self-explanatory, I think.

...and my Number 1 Must-see Game of the 2009-2010 season is....

The last Sens game of the season

Whether it be an early scheduled game, eastern conference final game, or, here’s hoping(!!), a Stanley Cup final game, I know I’ll be watching!

Comprehensive beginners' introduction to MY culture

Dear reader,
Until now, I have somewhat neglected my duties as an Ambassador! I should be representing MY hockey culture and way of life to those who are reading this blog. I have found the perfect video to introduce an absolute hockey beginner to hockey culture, Canadian hockey culture, Canadian culture, and Ottawa hockey culture...MY culture.
Here is a list of the words and phrases that will help you in understanding the video. Please watch carefully and look up any terms you don't understand online (maybe wikipedia would help). I think this video and vocabulary could serve as anyone's introduction to the culture I know and love.
Sincerely,
The Hockey Ambassador

Ottawa - Birthplace of the Stanley Cup

Rideau River

Lord Stanley

Stanley Cup

80 years ago

Senators

Senators Fans

HNIC (Hockey Night in Canada)

HNIC Music - Theme

1992 - Senators Reborn

Don Cherry - Don Cherry's suits, Don Cherry's straight talk

Ron McLean

Jackman

Superstition

Neil

Rock 'em Sock 'em

OPP

Oh Canada

Oh Canada in French

Playoff Beards

The Maple Leaf and the Canadian flag

1927 - last win over Boston 3:1

Referees

Face Off