http://merciad.mercyhurst.edu/sports6.html

The above link is a news article featured in my college's weekly newspaper and online paper site. This year, me and a good friend of mine decided to take on a tough task. We decided to jump start a broadcast for Mercyhurst ACHA D1 hockey. At first, our discussions were to do live radio feeds. We didn't get that type of publicity. We took it a step beyond that. We went big time with a local television station run out of our school's communication department. HurstTV, Ch. 19, in Erie, Pennsylvania, is now the new home of the Mercyhurst Lakers ACHA D1 Men's Club hockey team.

Yes, I said Club Hockey team. Granted, the first thing people say are things like, "Club hockey isn't real hockey" or "Oh, it's not the NCAA men's team?" John Baranowski, my broadcast partnet, decided to gain some respect for the program. Last year, I was taken on as Video Coach for the squad, and it was a low budget type of deal. This year, with the television broadcast, we have given my Video Coordinating and Coaching position a whole new dynamic. I am doing color commentating for the broadcasts (with a few games here and there with Play-by-Play which is usually done by Baranowski). I tell you, this is the most fun I've had in my whole life, and it gives you more respect, appreciation, and understanding for the game. But, my main reason for jump starting this broadcasting effort is primarily for the players and their families. Their families deserve the opportunity to see their boys and the successes of their upbringing in the hockey world and as adults.

Starting in January, I'm going to be adding a segment to the broadcasts during the intermissions called "Lacing Up the Skates with David Stearns." I'll be doing like a Cool Shots style interview off and on the ice with the players individually so that the viewing audience can see the players for more than just what they are on the ice. College athletes do a great job of balancing their lives on and off the ice, and I felt that it needed to be recognized.

And of course, I'm endeavoring into the hockey world even further by reaching out to the populous of Erie, PA and the colleges who receive Ch.19 outside of Mercyhurst, the chance to catch up on NHL hockey. I'm going to be premiering a new show called "Hockey Week in Review with Rant Man and Johnny B." This show will be a half hour feature on many topics in the NHL along with recapping highlight games of the week.

So, all in all, I thought I'd give you all a glimpse into the world of the ever so busy David Stearns the Rant Man, and all the fun things I do in the hockey world. If you're interested in knowing more about the Mercyhurst Lakers, you can check out their website at: http://hurstathletics.cstv.com/sports/c-hockey/mery-c-hockey-body.html

If you'd like to catch me in action doing play-by-play, and you're in the Buffalo area, Friday January 18th, 2008, at the AMHERST PEPSI CENTER, I'll be there to broadcast the matchup between the University of Buffalo Bulls and my Mercyhurst Lakers!

Any questions, comments, don't be afraid to email me @ NHLhockeyrant@hotmail.com

This is for my Sabres followers. I figure I could fill you in on what I think of dropping a game to both the Ducks and Kings:

Well, after giving it hard to the Carolina Hurricanes before hitting the tarmac at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, you would think the Sabres being winners in 6 of their last 7 games prior to boarding the plane could carry the momentum. Things didn't turn out to be so. Coming off a 4-1 loss where the Sabres grabbed a relatively early 1-0 lead against the Ducks, and then the next night Buffalo gets pummeled by the slumping Kings 8-2, where do they go from here? Well, obviously, into San Jose.

What concerns me the most at this point is that the Sabres took on the weaker teams of the Pacific in the last two games. The Ducks were merely 5-4-1 in their last ten games, and the Kings were a measly 2-7-1. Now, the next game will be against a stronger, 7-1-2 in their last ten games, San Jose Sharks team. The problem? They're getting hot like they should have been in the beginning of the season and carry some big fire power from Thornton, Cheechoo, and Marleau. Though Cheechoo and Marleau are having a slow start this season, Thornton is getting fired up with a team leading 12 goals and 22 assists.

Ok, enough with the scare tactics. The good news is that the Sharks playing the Phoenix Coyotes the night before they play the Sabres. Why is this good news? The Phoenix Coyotes will, by chance, tire out the Sharks before they take on the Sabres (Please, Bryzgalov, let them win, but make it tough). It seems as though the league has a weird way of showing its difference in parity among teams. When a team loses one night, expect them to play like hell the next. That's where I find that if the Sharks win out on Friday, the Sabres will pound them on Saturday.

Desperate teams will play with desperate measures. The Sabres couldn't do that tonight against the Kings considering they starting out with the cold Thibault in net. Will the Sabres go will Miller on Saturday? Of course they will! Do I think Thibault should be blamed solely for tonight's loss? I think he deserves 50% of the blame. Which leads me to my big question: Do the Sabres make a trade at this point in the season to pick up a strong offensive forward? Or do they trade for a top defenseman? Or...do they not even trade at all?

I think Rochester is deep enough for the pickings. Why not try out someone on the point like Mike Funk or Andrew Orpik? Why do I suggest those two in particular? Because size does seem to matter in my mind of defensive zone coverage. Punishing the man with the puck can help create offensive breakouts. You take out the offense of your opponent, let you faster forwards sweep in and take control of the defensive zone breakout, and you'll see some odd man rushes. We need intensity on defense, folks. There's no doubt about it. Brian Campbell is doing a fine job. Jaro Spacek can do great things in the offensive zone, but when it comes to playing defensive hockey in the D-zone, he'll run around like a headless chicken. Until Lindy reintegrates Dimitri Kalinin and Henrik Tallinder, try out some size on defense to toughen things up. Maybe then can our offensive talent show their stuff as the defense crushes the opposition. Think about it.

Of course, many of you critics will tell me, "Lindy's system is fine. It just needs some fine tuning." The Sabres don't have the offensive talent anymore, and our defense is crumbling at the hands of newly constructed offensive super teams. They need to reform now before it's too late. I don't care if the Sabres are 6-4-0 in their last ten, the team is in the basement of the Northeast Division...BEHIND TORONTO! I think Buffalo is doing fine coming back from the very shaky start, but maybe they do need a little something extra. Or I could be dead wrong, and maybe Kalinin and Tallinder are the missing links...Teppo Numminen, get well soon (faster is better). The Sabres need your leadership here, Tep. They need your skill, but mostly your leadership to lead this team through adversity.

Oh, and a long distance "Welcome back!" to Scott Niedermayer. I can't believe it took you 5 months to figure out how to say the word "Yes" or "No". I understand it's a tough decision, but now you think coming back will save the team. No, I doubt that. Temmu Selanne, if you're reading this, "Congrats on the new baby"..."PS.- If you're short on cash because of the new kid, come back and play for the Ducks." Now there is a guy you should be talking to. This guy is what can fix the team. Oh, and, of course, Dustin Penner. Well, the Sabres gave the Ducks some confidence after their 4-1 win. Now lets see if Burke's team can roll with it.

Show 45: Hockey Recap and Highlights

This show is a nice little touch of everything that stands out at this quarter point in the season. Check it out.

Download Show 45 right here

The Season is Heating Up!

Yes, I wish there were more of me to do all the things I'd like to accomplish in the short time I would like to get things done. Life is just one giant mess of things for me right now. I've been all over the place and things aren't slowing down just yet. I have finals and term papers to get done, then for a mass majority of the season, my undivided attention will be to all of you and your hockey fixes.

The Sabres are rolling on a five game win streak. Miller and Thibault are looking good between the pipes. Some injuries happened in the mix, but nothing too serious to slow the momentum. I attended three of the games to scope out the Canadiens and Senators clubs to see how things are shaping up in the Northeast. I would like to get the opportunity to travel to Pittsburgh to scope out a game and figure out why the Penguins haven't made an offer to Curtis Joseph yet (the lovely unemployed goalie with a chance). Then, if I could get my wish, I'd love to shoot back up to Buffalo to check out the Boston Bruins when they come to town. I've banked on Tim Thomas as my starting goalkeeper for my fantasy team and I'm simply surprised how successful he's been. I know that Claude Julien was banking on Fernandez to be the starter, but the injury proved to be a good thing for the old school Thomas and for Tuuka Rask, the young kid backup, as well.

The Northeast and the CENTRAL divisions are looking tight; except Toronto in the NE, of course. It's only a matter of time before Fergie Jr. fires Paul Maurice or goes for a trade. They are hurting big time. But I am considering doing something new for you all. I'm going to begin doing a weekly power rankings on the blog and then run down the whole thing on the podcast. It should be exciting. The Chicago Blackhawks are looking hot right now. The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking really good. Detroit Red Wings continue to roll out the scores. St. Louis is doing well in the mix. As I write this, there's a three way tie in point at 26 in the Central with the odd ones out being Detroit with 32 and Nashville within reach with 24. All teams are looking good being over 23 points in 23 games, taking a lot of the top spots in the playoff bracketing. Lots of fun to watch is the youth in Chicago with Kane and Toews.

The Atlantic is looking like a dog fight more and more with a powerhouse offense in Philadelphia and New York Rangers fighting for the top spot. Two of the three hottest teams in the Eastern Conference (at this point in the season) are the Rangers and Flyers. The difference makers? Former teammates Daniel Briere (Flyers) and Chris Drury (Rangers). There are lots to be discussed when it comes to these two teams, but tonight I got to watch the Bruins take to the Flyers with an easy win 6-3. Martin Biron looks solid in net, but with Antero Nittymaki getting some starts, the numbers don't justify what the team is like on the defensive side of the game. Mike Richards is also a strong factor in feeding to the Flyers success, as well. He's struck it rich for me on the my fantasy team, that's for sure. The team may go through the motions though like the other top dog in the east, Ottawa, has as of late. The Senators have been showing their human side since their visit to Buffalo last week Wednesday. They have lost three in a row to bottom feeders Buffalo and Pittsburgh, but Buffalo has recharged themselves into a new team after a slow start, and the Penguins of Pittsburgh are battling hard to get themselves back to the top especially after knocking down the blazing Thrashers in a 5-0 win.

The Thrashers, of course, started 0-6, fired Bob Hartley, GM Don Waddell took the team to a 10-4 record following the firing and found help in Johan Hedberg in net after Keri Lethonen bowed out of the lineup due to injury. The Thrashers may have been blown out, but the flame that has sparked them up in a firestorm isn't going to go out. Though suffering two shutout losses in a row to New Jersey and Pittsburgh, Ilya Kovalchuk's 19 goals, 14 assists, and Hedberg's 2.96 will remain as the key factors to victory. As Lethonen stays on IR, Hedberg will continue to deliver as he revamps his form back to his glory days when he was a Pittsburgh Penguin.

So, to sum it all up, lots to talk about when I get through the other side of my recently busy life, and you'll hear from me often when I get through the recent fun mess. I do enjoy doing this blogging, reporting, and podcasting for all of you, but unfortunately it doesn't pay the bills. The love of the sport only pays me back with the passion to pursue following it's luster, but until I find the paying job in the sport, I'm just going to have to keep prioritizing toward what can be done when time permits. So, with that being said, you'll hear from me when I find the next opportunity I have to talk to you all, and keep your emails coming because I enjoy them very much.

NHLhockeyrant@hotmail.com

itunes: Hockey Rant w/David Stearns

Sometimes I'll write different articles and blogs on other sites, so scope me out at the following places, too:

www.hockeyscape.com
www.hockeybuzz.com
www.bleacherreport.com
and more to follow once I get back into the swing of things.

The tentative date for full return to the hockey world: December 19th, 2007
SO LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!

Remember to vote for your all-stars for the XM/NHL All-Star Fan Balloting - Presented by 2kSports

Thanks for reading, and keep checking back for another blog, another podcast, and updates!

~The Rant Man~

Show 44: The Answer to Life's Questions

All the answers are here...well, most of them.

This show reviews all the topics on the blog page, well most, of which I mentioned. If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about go to the blog page: hockeyrant.blogspot.com. Then, maybe you'll know what I'm getting at.

Download Show 44 right here