Chat » "I felt a little bit mechanically off

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Mr. Fraser, It looks like Martin Brodeur is coming back to play for the Blues. I was wondering if you have any great stories or fond memories of your time on the ice with Brodeur - in the NHL, or maybe even the Olympics. Thanks, Ryan, Waterloo, ON Hi Ryan: If Martin Brodeur finishes his illustrious NHL playing career in a St. Louis Blues jersey the next acquisition to Martys hockey wardrobe will certainly be a Hockey Hall of Fame blazer. I doubt anyone who watched Brodeur record his first win in his very first NHL game on March 26, 1992 could have predicted that Marty would record more victories than any other goalkeeper in the history of the game. His more traditional standup positional style of play was a throwback against the modern butterfly approach most goalies had implemented. I for one wouldnt have guessed the incredible success Brodeur would ultimately achieve even though I had the best seat in the house that night when the Devils beat the Bruins 4-2 and I looked directly into the young goalies mask. While it was far too early for anyone to predict the goalies greatness I did recognize something different about this particular fresh face behind the mask. Goalies are a very special breed of player unto themselves. Beyond the pressure of being the last line of defence for their team, it takes a unique psyche to hurl your body in front of 100-plus mile per hour slap shots and to fight for space as attacking players encroach inside the blue paint or crash the crease. The position between the pipes demands concentration like no other. Many goalies I encountered displayed survival skills that ranged from highly aggressive personalities, overtly superstitious, insecure or cocky to the point of arrogance. Billy Smith and Ron Hextall had a not-so-passive remedy for keeping their crease clear as they used their goal stick and blocker for more than just stopping pucks. Ed Belfour was just as intense but had superstitious quirks that every ref learned about the first time he entered Eddies crease area. Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon were different cats! Roy slew-footed me from behind at the goal line outside his crease in Denver one game as I was skating backwards and crossing over to move to the other side of the net on a dump-in. I went airborne from the goal line and fortunately tucked my chin to my chest to keep my helmetless head from striking the end boards. In the Shark Tank during a playoff game Vernon took three stutter steps to his left with the puck on his stick in order to line me up as I stood against the side boards at the goal line. The enraged goalie then proceeded to shoot the puck directly at my head as he feigned an attempted clearing shot. I moved my head ever so slightly to avoid the puck as it whizzed past my hair. I then gave Verny a smile when I saw his eyes widen as big as saucers inside his mask from the realization that he had just tried to hit the ref in the head with the puck and became fearful of an ejection from the game and potential suspension. I think you get my point Ryan; many of the goalies I encounter were cut from a strange bolt of cloth. Martin Brodeur, on other hand, was a happy-go-lucky guy who just loved to play the game. Whenever I looked into his mask I saw a smiling face looking back at me. I never saw Marty get rattled and he was the epitome of calm even when he felt the need to bear down and battle. Marty, like Hextall, could handle and pass the puck better than most defencemen. In the Devils transition from a Mickey Mouse team (as Wayne Gretzky infamously once referred to them) to Stanley Cup Champs that the maestro, general manager Lou Lamoriello orchestrated, Brodeur became the key cog: the dependable stopper that carried them to victory. Marty wasnt flashy - he just did his job better than anyone else. During the last lockout and prior to a settlement, former Flyer Todd Fedoruk was instrumental in partnering with Caesars Casino to organize a charity game in historic Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City to benefit the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. The game certainly had a Flyers-Rangers colour theme to their non-NHL logo sweaters but it was more like an All-Star Game given the star players from other NHL teams that turned out to support the cause and get back on the ice. Henrik Lundqvist was in the Rangers colours while Brodeur defended the home goal in Flyers black and orange. Flyers fans are loyal to their team colours but booed Brodeur loudly from the opening warm-up to the final horn for daring to wear the black and orange. Marty had a shaky start that night and with each of the five goals that blew past him the partisan Flyers crowd gave him a rousing Bronx cheer. I could see that it never phased Brodeur one bit as I once again had the honour of looking into the goalies mask at ice level. Marty is a very proud guy and I saw him dig deep and battle back in that game to make some incredible saves as his Flyer teammates mounted a comeback. Like so many times while dressed in a Devils uniform, Brodeur was giving his team a chance to win. In the third period Brodeur made a save and redirected the puck to a teammate that resulted in a rush and a goal past King Henrik that pulled the Black and Orange to within one. I awarded the goal at the timekeepers bench and told them to make sure they announced a second assist to Brodeur. Prior to the announcement I went to Marty and told him to be prepared for the P.A. announcement. The fans cheered wildly as the goal scorer and first assist were announced but the roof almost came off the historic old building with the thunder of booing that immediately resulted once Brodeurs name was broadcast for the second assist. A big smile shone from deep inside Martys painted Devils mask. The Hall of Fame goalie turned to me and in his modest, happy way said, I love it! At the private after-party hosted by Caesars for players, sponsors, VIPs and dignitaries, Marty was extremely gracious with his time to pose for pictures, sign autographs and answer questions for all the fans that formed a long line in front of this humble superstar. Before Brodeur departed the function he slid over to say goodbye to me and my family and to thank me for earning him $100 in the game that night. My look of confusion was quickly cleared up when Marty informed me he had made a bet with his friend that the goalie would get an assist in the game. The winning bet might have contributed to Brodeurs smile within the mask but somehow I doubt it very much. Martin Brodeur just love to play the game and compete. What a class act. Wishing you the very best of luck in St. Louis my friend. Thank you for the memories and the honour of stepping into your crease and looking into your mask from time to time. Balenciaga Sneakers Buy Uk . Raonic, the No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., fired 11 aces and did not have a double-fault as he comfortably advanced to the third round at the Masters Series event. Balenciaga Sneakers Discount .twitter.com/xBTpoAKLJk — Daryl Zerr (@darylzerr) May 29, 2014 @BarDown I give to you the @SquirrelsNCHL aka the Fighting Squirels. http://www.balenciagaoutletuk.com/ . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. Balenciaga Sneakers Sale Uk . With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Balenciaga Outlet Online Uk . Anaheim Ducks Reassign D Colby Robak to Norfolk Admirals (AHL). - Team Website D Eric Brewer (foot) removed from injured reserve.SEATTLE -- Hisashi Iwakuma was impressed with his likeness on the bobblehead the Seattle Mariners handed out on Saturday night. The fans who got them were likely more impressed with the real version on the mound. Iwakuma pitched a career-high 8 2-3 innings, and Kyle Seager and Robinson Cano homered to lift the Mariners to a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. Iwakuma fanned five of the first six batters he retired en route to eight strikeouts overall. The right-hander allowed five hits and faced the minimum in all but three innings. After giving up a single to start the ninth, the right-hander retired two straight, but Brandon Moss two-run home run chased him from the game, one out shy of his first complete game. It also snapped his 20-inning scoreless streak, the longest by a Mariners pitcher this season. It was the 12th time in 63 career starts that Iwakuma pitched at least eight innings. "Just looking at the numbers today, the results today, Im very happy with that," Iwakuma said. "Having that being on the bobblehead day is special. We have a lot of fans out there, very electric out there. "The last game of the first half (for me), I wanted to finish strong. Im glad that I did finish strong." In his last three starts, Iwakuma is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA (3 earned runs in 21 2-3 innings), 25 strikeouts and no walks. Brandon Moss two-out, two-run home run off Iwakuma in the ninth. The successful stretch follows a forgetful two games in which Iwakuma allowed a combined 10 runs. "I think one of the things that probably hurt him a little bit is his game planning," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Not so much on his part, but on my part. Might have become a little bit predictable. "Hes got a nice mix, hes in and out, hes up and down, hes using all his pitches. I think that makes him pretty tough..dddddddddddd" Seagers fifth-inning home run -- a two-run shot -- was his 15th of the season, and 13th at Safeco Field. His 42 RBIs in 47 home games leads the American League. Canos ninth-inning, three-run home run was his seventh of the season, and gave the Mariners a 6-0 lead. Dustin Ackley gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead in the second with a single that scored Corey Hart from second. Hart came within feet of hitting a home run, but the ball caromed off the top of the wall in left-centre field, and the Seattle designated hitter settled for a double. Oakland starter Jesse Chavez allowed three runs and a career-high 10 hits. He walked two and struck out six in 5 2-3 innings. "I felt a little bit mechanically off as far as my landing," Chavez said. "I wasnt able to get on my front side a little more, which caused a lot of balls to be inside, and then having to get back even in the count having to come back over the plate, which is usually something I dont do til I need to." As left fielder Yoenis Cespedes threw out Willie Bloomquist trying to score from second in the eighth. It was Cespedes major league-leading 11th outfield assist this year, and his 30th since 2012. NOTES: Oaklands Stephen Vogt extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the sixth. ... Oakland OF Josh Reddick (strained right knee) is scheduled to start playing rehab games in the next couple days. ... Oakland LHP Drew Pomeranz (broken right hand) allowed a run and one hit, and struck out seven in four innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (shoulder soreness) threw a three-inning simulated game and is expected to start for Single-A Everett on Thursday. ... Seattles Chris Young and Oaklands Sonny Gray will face off Sunday in the series finale. ' ' '