Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Category Archives: About Me

Money Snow – Pens WIN 1-0

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on December 8, 2011

Rare that I ever get the feeling of, “I can’t believe I actually did this” when it comes to hockey. A few scenarios come to mind. First is when I traveled to Winnipeg to watch the Pens play the now defunct Manitoba Moose. Second would be when I traveled to Charlotte to watch the Pens take on the Checkers. Third would have to be when I woke up in Hershey during All-Stars, drove to work in Wilkes-Barre, then back to Hershey for the All-Star game then back home all in one day in the face of an ice storm.

Well tonight, with a wintery mix of snow and rain, as soon as I stepped out of my truck into the streets of Binghamton, I had that feeling again.

But, it paid off as the Pens won this game 1-0 on a Scott Munroe shutout and Matt Rust’s first pro goal. Really exciting, playoff like intense game tonight.

Munroe vs. Rohin Lehner. Radio said that Zach Sill is due back this weekend and Brian Day is practicing in a regular, full contact jersey.

First Period: Binghamton killed an early Josh Godfrey hook, then right after off of a face-off in the offensive zone, Matt Rust scored his first goal as a Penguin. My buddy Eric P from the Wilkes-Blog has video and Penguins beat writer Jonathan Bombulie has a description of the event straight from the horses mouth. Halfway through the period, shots were already 15-4.Then, Criag Schira would fire a puck which new acquisition Rob Klinkhammer would deflect but Munroe made the stop.

Second Period: Highlight of this period was a pane of glass in the corner behind Munroe’s net which popped out of its stanchion which needed about a five minute repair. Munroe made a daft toe save on an offering to keep it 1-0.

Third Period: Lehner made some ten bell saves throughout this period. I had the feeling that if the B-Sens got one goal, Lehner would win the game for him because he was virtually unbeatable tonight. Both goaltenders were really. Then, Joey Mormina would sit for a slash and Munroe would face a shooting gallery but with him unscreened he saw everything. That was basically the big wave which needed avoiding and the Pens would hold on and win.

Three Stars: 3) Robin Lehner (35 saves on 36 shots) 2) Scott Munroe (25 save shutout) and 1) Matt Rust (game winning goal, +1)

Really a decent effort defensively with the corps so depleted.

Around the Division: Syracuse and St. John’s was the only other AHL game on the schedule tonight and the Crunch beat the IceCaps 5-3.

Standings: WBS gets sole possession of first with 31 points. Hershey and Norfolk are tied at 29 points. Syracuse sits fourth with 25 points and Binghamton sits last with 20 points.

Conference: 1-StJ (34) 2-CT (31) 3-WBS (31) 4-HER (29) 5-NOR (29) 6-MCH (29) 7-ADK (28) 8-ALB (27)

Penguins are not in action Friday and are back in action Saturday in Hershey. Hopefully by that time we get some help back from Pittsburgh for the blue line. Updates as they come here on the blog. You can always catch me on Twitter as well.

Let’s Go Pens!

About Me, Postgamer

The Fodder Express

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 23, 2011

Business is picking up. A boatload to get to. Here we go…

<-> Pittsburgh sent three more to Wilkes-Barre today. Bryan Lerg, Zach Sill and Keven Veilleux are in transit to the Wyoming Valley.

<-> Wilkes-Barre opens camp on Monday. Full schedule here.

<-> The September 28 game in Saratoga Springs vs. the Adirondack Phantoms will not be on the radio anywhere. Not in Wilkes-Barre, not in Adirondack. You can, however, follow Michael Cignoli from The Saratogian for updates as I will not be there to give them.

<-> Jerseys from the Black and Gold Game are up for auction. This should be interesting to see what the jerseys go for and how high people will pay to get them.

<-> Back to camp, you can find a full list of camp invitees over at the Penguins Insider. Jonathan has broken down the names which may not be familiar to some. The most notable name to me is Devin DiDiomete, who was a New York Rangers prospect previously and an agitator. With Jesse Boulerice retired, does DiDiomete step in as Wilkes-Barre’s hired muscle?

<-> If you aren’t familiar to the way waivers work, @Ozman51 has a nice article explaining the process with an emphasis on the tweeners still up in Pittsburgh who may or may not see time here in Wilkes-Barre.

<-> If you missed it earlier, I was a special guest on the Power Play Post Show. Always nice to talk puck. You can hear me at about the 1:01:26 mark, but if you can, listen to the whole thing.

<-> Finally, my AHL Previews are complete. I will have a full schedule of whats to come in a few days. They should debut September 28.

Last weekend without hockey for a long time. Enjoy the calm before the storm everyone!

About Me, Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

Chirping on the Radio

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 23, 2011

I played radio show guest with Bob Howard and the Power Play Post Show, which is a talk show entirely dedicated to the American Hockey League.

You can find the interview here. My segment is at about the 1:01:26 mark. We chatted up tweeting, fan blogging, the relationship with “real media,” last year’s season, the Black and Gold Game, what to expect this year and Scott Stuccio. You even find out what “nafsnep” means, if you haven’t been cavalier enough to figure it out already.

I want to thank Bob for the opportunity to come on the show and talk hockey.

About Me, The AHL

Blogging in the Dark

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on August 29, 2011

Hurricane Irene knocked out the power at the house Sunday at 8 a.m. and I have been without it for going on 36 hours and counting…

I am moonlighting things at my sisters house. All I really ask for is the ability to take a hot shower, drink cold beer and blog. So sitting here I saw that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins Booster Club released its 2011-2012 trip schedule for the upcoming season:

October 22, 2011 To Hershey (Based on interest)

November 18-20, 2011 To Portland, Me, Manchester, NH and Worcester, Ma.

December 10-11, 2011 To Long Island, NY ~~Big~~ (Pittsburgh)* Pens V.S. Islanders (yes, overnight)

January 22, 2012 To Syracuse (Our Annual Trip where Booster Club Youth members travel for just the cost of the ticket)

February 18-19, 2012 To Albany, NY

March 9-11, 2012 To Providence RI., Bridgeport, Ct., and Springfield, Ma.

April 15, 2012 To Bridgeport

They are, based off of the information listed on the page, looking at a Pittsburgh trip too but that may or may not happen.

I’d be looking at the Portland trip and the Providence trip. I would be doing all of those on my own anyway, what with tickets, gas, hotels and such it is likely more cost effective to make the trip with the Club versus on my own. However, if I am not able to get on one of the buses to go with the Club, I will just go myself. There is no way I miss these trips.

I really hate blogging from a place that is not my home. Such is my current state of affairs.

Keep chirpin’. Go Penguins.

* – blogger edit. I hate with a passion the “big” and “little” descriptions between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre. It’s a long story.

About Me, Travel, WBS

Pressing Questions…

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on May 25, 2011

Today, this blog passed 30,000 views. For only existing for about 9 months I would have to say for a blog which covers an AHL hockey team in Northeastern Pennsylvania that isn’t too bad. It pales in comparison to the bigger blogs such as The Pensblog, Faceoff Factor and others, which probably get 30K hits a day. Thank you all for reading!

I have no journalistic experience. I was a business major in college and push paper all day long in a big building in the city. However, “covering” the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and the AHL in general has become a sort of a hobby for me.

That said, I have had the itch to take this “hobby” of sorts to a higher level so to speak and had an open debate on the Twitter side on whether I should apply for press credentials for the 2011-2012 season. None of anyone who chirped in on the Twitter side said it would be a bad idea.

However, I have gotten to 30,000+ views here from giving you the “fan” perspective. Heck, the description of this blog is “A fan blog (emphasis added) about the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins”

One of the things that I worry about if I ever were to apply for and be given access to said credential I would be trading away the “fan” perspective and graduating to actual “media” member. Which means the following,

1) This blog would be held to a higher standard.

2) My interaction with the players would change.

3) My interaction with the team in general (front office, tickets, media) would change.

4) We already have one of the best, if not the best, individuals in Jonathan Bombulie covering the team since the very beginning. He’s done so for a reason, as in he is extremely good at what he does. Someone with no experience walking into a credential with no journalistic experience covering the second best hockey circuit in the world? Who is going to want that?

I do not want to trade in my opinions which are reserved for fans, that is, say anything I want (with class) without having to worry about upsetting the wrong person. I have gauged some other bloggers from around the AHL and they all say pretty much the same thing in that no matter how involved you get in your credential, you are still held to some standard of accountability. In saying that though, I don’t think I would have any issues operating under that protocol, but the biggest fear for me would be trading in my “fan” card for the credential.

What do you, dear reader, think I should do?

About Me, Just Rambling

Mail Time!

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on November 17, 2010

I have gone ahead and created an e-mail account specific for this blog for anyone who wants to get in touch with us (me) via e-mail.

Hit me up at nafsnep@gmail.com if you care to.

I am still a blog neophyte, but would like to maybe do a weekly feature of a mailbag or something along those lines. Can’t do it if you don’t e-mail questions.

We have also gone ahead and added it to the right of your screen for easy accessibility.

No practice today for the Penguins after the dominating performance last night in New York’s Capital District. Boys will prepare for the weekend tomorrow morning at Coal Street.

About Me

Putting it in perspective…

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on November 15, 2010

Just a little Monday morning humor from Stephan Pastis, creator of Pearls Before Swine comic strip. This was today’s strip from the 2010 desk calendar.

About Me

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