Chirps from Center Ice

I have found that summer hockey blogging is like a leaf in your yard. You don’t burn one leaf every time you see one. You rake them all into a pile and then burn them (at least in my neighborhood) Much like summer hockey blogging, every tidbit of information seen isn’t worth its own blog post.

Never fear, NHL Draft is this weekend then the following weekend is the start of NHL Free Agency. I will do my best to stay on top of how each move directly / indirectly affects WBS from both inside (players signed, traded by PIT) and outside (players signed, traded by other East Division teams)

Here are some of the leaves I’ve gathered to fire off (or burn) another blog post:

–> In collaboration with the January 20, 2013 Outdoor Game in Hershey, the Bears announced an Alumni Game to be held the day before, much like the Alumni Game the Penguins held in their tenth anniversary. The only problem I see in this game is who will play goal. In the Penguins Alumni game, Scott Stuccio and David Weninger tended the nets for the Penguins Alumni. Not surprisingly, the Penguins didn’t announce any goaltenders in their own release. I have virtually no idea who the Penguins can call in for this Outdoor Alumni Game. If you do, comments are open.

–> Meet the new Wheeling Nailers coach, same as the old Wheeling Nailers coach.

–> Calder Cup Champions Mike Angelidis and J.P. Cote are heading to Syracuse. If I am reading the articles correctly, Cote signed an AHL deal while Angelidis re-signed an NHL deal with Tampa Bay.

–> Not officially announced, so no link here but Pittsburgh is expected to make qualifying offers to Robert Bortuzzo, Alex Grant, Carl Sneep, Brian Strait and Keven Veilleux. They aren’t going to offer Alex Picard or Cal O’Reilly and forgotten souls Boris Valabik, Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Mattias Modig.

–> Here is your WBS Penguins Season in Review for April.

–> Wilkes-Barre officially announces details on the October 13 college game between Penn State and American International College on Saturday October 13. If you are a full-share season ticket holder, you get a ticket to the game included with your season tickets which is pretty cool.

–> Jacob Micflikier, who terrorized the Penguins as a member of the Hershey Bears, Charlotte Checkers and Albany River Rats, is taking his talents overseas to Switzerland. The link is in German, untranslated, you are on your own playing “Fun with Babelfish.”

So that’s all I have compiled in the last six or so days. I will have a draft recap and any news on trades or whatever probably Sunday, or if it is something major possibly sooner than that. Penguins color commentator Mike O’Brien will actually be on the ground in Pittsburgh this weekend covering the Draft. Follow him for official updates @MikeOBrienWBS or at facebook.com/mikeobrienwbs

Stay cool.