It’s that time again, the annual Year in Review. As I have done the past three seasons, I will break down the year in 3 parts: the stats, some fun with numbers, and a few memories of the season gone by.
Welcome to the final part, My Favorite Things (formerly called What I Learned). Considering the number of games I attended during the course of the season (about, oh, a lot), along with player events and post game interactions, there were quite a few interesting stories to remember this year by. Here’s just a few of my memories:
Now, I’ve made it pretty obvious that Mike Sislo has grown to be my favorite Devil. So, yeah, it was awesome to actually be on hand in Wilkes-Barre when he did this in November:
I’m still kicking myself for not going to Dunkin a month ago before the second job…then again if Dan Kelly saw me in line he’d probably make me pay up. Just because that’s the way he is with me.
Still laughing over #JoeWhitneyFacts in honor of Joe’s NHL debut back in January. Too bad most of them have disappeared since then.
Most awkward road trip? The schoolday fail in Bridgeport. Apparently half of Connecticut can’t drive in wet snow shower conditions. And a bunch of us from upstate NY could.
-And now the best of That Awkward Moment…
-when you check in at the hotel in Wilkes-Barre you discover you’re on the same floor as the team. During pregame naptime.
-when Brandon Burlon turns into Spiderman to retrieve a soccer ball in the ceiling.
-when watching soccer you volunteer to grab a loose ball…and end up kicking it further down Exhibition Hall.
-when half the team accidentally boards the wrong bus in Glens Falls. Don’t think you want to go to Philly with the Phantoms, guys.
-when Alexander Urbom nearly walks in front of your car as you’re leaving the parking garage. Pay attention, will you?
Then there was the easy way to replace the glass in the arena…and it happened twice in a month (first comes about :57 in):
Most adventurous road trip? A tie…getting stuck in a snow squall in November coming home from Glens Falls and my 600 mile odyssey through 3 different cities in early April (Syracuse to Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre to Glens Falls). I don’t know how these guys can play with that kind of travel…just driving it fried me. And the fact Interstate 81 between Syracuse and Binghamton is essentially a black hole of nothing.
Favorite postgame activity: being a temporary babysitter for Tim Sestito’s two kids. I couldn’t leave the building without at least a big hug from Sloane or having to chase Jude around to catch him.
Most used Twitter hashtag:
When it gets to the point where Harry himself (who would jokingly roll his eyes at us if we dared forget the signs) came up with his own to get him in the lineup (Young Caged), you know it’s bad. Other overused ones: #FreeHoeffel, #FreeScarlett, and very popular towards the end of the season, #whyisurbomstillhere. And the usual #Blame (insert ref here…a few got that treatment this year too).
And now a few thank yous:
-To my fellow AHL bloggers/tweeters for the support and kind words, especially during tough losing streaks and down the stretch getting into the postseason.
-To my friends in New Jersey for the laughs and countless jokes about a whole variety of things…and certain photos of Swedish defensemen…and the support in the postseason as well.
-To the crew at home for helping me with tweets, keeping me laughing even on days when games were going badly, and keeping the players (and goalie coaches) in line.
-To the players, thank you for being awesome and for the most fun I’ve had in four years of having the Devils back in Albany. Hopefully you can build on this going into next season.
And thank you for reading and following along! Just under 5 months before Season 5 begins…
Thoughts Inside The Box 