Would you want to bring HIM home to your family?

I am sure that he will still be booded and jeered every time he comes on the ice. The image is still prevalent to Islander fans everywhere.

The Stars got totally pasted last night against the Devs. NJ looked awesome and Turco was definitely not himself. I am sure that Mr. Tippet will have these guys pumped for tonight. Dallas has not started that well, and this will be a game to make a serious point.

The Isles in the good game, bad game mode, are in for a good game, and with three days off, the guys should be ready to breathe fire. DP will be in net for the first time in the home sweater. Interested to see how the fans react to him. Kudos to MacDonald for the great job that he did. I hope that Gordon will work on using him more frequently than other coaches that used their backups.

Will be in the Blog Box tonight for periods 1 and 3. I will sit in my seat with my wife in period 2. Well - I have not been there this season, and I need to feel that old seat for a little while. I will try and blog during the game. If you are on AOL, IM me (nyibc1), or on MSN (nyiboosterclub@hotmail.com).

See you then!

Now as Islander fans - we do not like the Rangers, etc…

However, when you hear this, your heart drops. My thoughts and prayers go to the Cherapanov family and the Ranger community on this totally tragic loss.

From TSN -

New York Ranger prospect Alexei Cherepanov collapsed on the bench at or near the end of Omsk’s Kontinental Hockey League game and died a short time later, he was 19.

Omsk head coach, Wayne Fleming said Cherepanov collapsed on the bench during the third period of the game and did not see anything that happened on the ice that may have contributed to it.

Fleming also said medical authorities tried to get Cherepanov’s heart beating again after it had stopped.

Sources in Russia tell TSN that the ambulance that is normally at all games had already departed and had to be called back.

It is not clear exactly how long it took for Cherepanov to be transported from the rink to the hospital but one source in the arena told TSN it was “probably 15 or 20 minutes.”

Also, there is some question as to whether defibrillators at the arena were in good working order.

No further details are available at this point.

The news of Cherepanov’s untimely death has shocked the hockey world.

“We are extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Alexei,” said New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather. “On behalf of the New York Rangers organization, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family. Alexei was an intelligent, energetic young man, with tremendous talent and an extremely bright future.”

“He was a great kid,” Cherepanov’s agent, Jay Grossman told TSN. “He had a great smile and was an outstanding player with a great future on and off the ice. It’s both shocking and devastating news for all of us. ”

He had seven goals and 12 points in 14 games played this season in KHL.

Cherepanov helped lead Russia to a Bronze Medal at the World Junior Championships in 2008, scoring three goals and adding three assists with a plus-three rating over his six games at the tournament.

Cherepanov was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round, 17th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Now that the coach is in place, (like or dislike) it is not time for the lads to get themselves ready for camp. We are now less than a month from the start of camp in Atlantic Canada. Now is the time to start having those protein shakes, beginning the dry-land workouts. Getting the skates sharpened, and working on the power drills.

Time to concentrate on the fitness.

What does that mean for fans….

Basically no talk at all. There are a few free agents that are still on the market, but for the Isles, I believe that we are done, and with about $12,000,000 in extra money. We are above the salary floor, but we are not that many steps above it.

So relax, faithful of the blue and orange… Enjoy the summer season. The weather is nice (at least this weekend, it is), so get out and get some rays. I will be at the Ducks tonight - so it should be a nice evening at the ballpark.

And my Toffees are back (for you just Islander fans - you can pass on this…). Everton FC have started their English Premier league campaign this day, as Blackburn Rovers visit Goodison Park in Liverpool, home of the Everton side. With US Goalkeeper Tim Howard at the helm, the Toffees are looking to move up this season and reach the top 4 in the league, which gains admission to the Champions League, the best cup competition in soccer each year. As I am writing this, however, Everton is down 1-0, and they do not look sharp at all. The team is missing a few starters (one to injury and a few are at the Olympic Games in Beijing) and they just do not look as sharp as they should be.

Also - I went to see Neil Diamond (no - not the guy in the Islanders Booster Club) at MSG on Thursday night. Good show. He talk lyrics more than he used to, but it is still a good show. A lot of verses of Sweet Caroline….

Wo, wo, wo….

Anyway - have fun as the summer winds down, and we will talk, should anything important come up. BY the way, I am hoping that I will be a part of the Islander Blog Box this season. I hope to hear soon about it. That would be nice for me… Wish me luck!

Yes - the Gordon’s Fisherman… Yea - I get it…. Shut up Rangers fans, already… Worry about your OWN team….

Scott Gordon is now the newest head coach of the Isles. I was not totally sold on him at first, but the resume does speak volumes… AHL coach of the Year - 70 games over 500 for his career in Providence.

Yes - we got another New Englanduh in the mix. That is no problem. Communicate and motivate the players, and you can have whataver accent you desire.

I was still leaning toward having a face that would be NHL recognizable, but again, I will move forward on it. I see a lot of similarities of Gordon to one Peter Laviolette. That is not bad comparisons. All we now have to do, is KEEP this one….

I think he will work well with the young crop, and he deserves the shot to say the least. It is nice to see that a good number of young guns are now getting shots to take a team at the top level. John Anderson, who won a Calder in Chicago, now takes over the Thrash. New coaches in Florida, and San Jose, are showing that ‘ol boys club is not the norm anymore. Well - Mullet Melrose screwed up that equation for all of us.

Anyhow, I am confident that Garth is putting all his eggs on Scott to lead this team. With 35 days to go, until camp begins, get the homework going now… Islander fans have been beaten more times, that a “B” actor in a spaghetti western. It is time, to make us the aggressors.

Good luck, Scottie!